Want to see a real life Transformer? A Turkish company converted a BMW into one. Watch the video, bro. A report from Applied Animal Behaviour Science says that horses understand symbols and are apparently self aware. Within 14 days, 23 horses learned how to express if they were cold and wanted a blanket by touching a series of three symbols held by researchers. So, back in the '90s there was this dude offering breast enlargement through hypnosis. Results were mixed. It's been driving you crazy for years: Why do some monkeys have blue balls? This sounds like a great idea: Asteria, the wearable virtual assistant who will actually have a conversation with you. It records all the things you do, and then uses that data to relate with you on a more personal level. Because feeding a machine your most private information is way better than making friends with real people. Linguist Benjamin Bergen just released his book What the F: What Swearing Reveals About Our Language, Our Brains, and Ourselves, which discusses why cuss words are awesome, and why saying them feels good. Fuck, yeah, it does! YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Israel expand cooperation in various sectors, the Public Forum on the Armenian-Israeli cooperation was launched by the initiative of head of Armenia-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group Artak Zakaryan and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament (Knesset) of Israel, Head of Israel-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group Tali Ploskov. The idea that was formed last year today will serve as a platform for the two countries cooperation in scientific, cultural, technological, healthcare, tourism and various business sectors. Tali Ploskov said the two countries have much in common, and it is necessary to work towards strengthening the mutual ties. I think the two sides will be happy for expanding the cooperation, she said, Armenpress reported. The forum will be regularly held both in Armenia and Israel. It will include interested parties to develop and implement join projects, business investments, technology development opportunities and etc. Armenian MP Khachatur Kokobelyan said the two countries have a lot to pass to each other. I think we must work with active regime, he said. At the forum issues related to cooperation in various sectors, as well as the involvement of the Jewish community in Armenia, and the Armenian community in Israel, raising the diplomatic relations of the two states to another level, such as having Embassys in both countries were discussed. We must prove the leaders of the two states that it is very important for both sides, she said. The defense attorney of Arman Mikaelyan, one of 6 soldiers who are accused of beating a military unit commander in Syunik marz, warns that his client received more serious injuries during the incident than the commander, but found himself in the position of the accused. "My client has a chest injury; his nose has been fractured, whereas his captain does not even have any minor injuries. With all these, my client is not recognized as a victim, " said Mariam Mkrtchyan. According to her, the investigative agency introduced the incident in another way and filed a case against 6 soldiers. "In fact, one of the soldiers got involved in a verbal argument with the commander, since the latest cursed him. Then, the incident occurred. The other soldiers approached to separate them but received charges. said the attorney, noting that the captain got a bruise only. The criminal case is examined in the Court of First Instance of Syunik region; the first hearing of the trial will take place on October 5. The captain Karen Khachatryan was conditionally sentenced to prison with a year parole period. He was found guilty of refusing to perform his military service obligations. In addition he voluntarily left the observation post and returned next day. The soldiers, Yuri Hovhannisyan, Arman Mikaelyan, Vazgen Mkheyan, Arsen Hakobyan, Hakob Vardanyan, and Harutyun Asatryan are detained. Japan to establish new unified command to manage operations of land, sea and air forces French Foreign Minister calls on Russia to reconsider its decision on grain deal Ferrari unveils 499P hypercar with all-wheel drive Russian Foreign Ministry hopes that Putin, Pashinyan and Aliyev meeting will help conclude peace treaty Pashinyan to meet with Putin in Sochi, followed by trilateral meeting of Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani leaders Reuters: Border Agency building set on fire in Britain US recognized as most powerful country in world for seventh time Iran accuses Israel of organizing terrorist attack in Shiraz Reuters: NATO urged Russia to urgently resume grain deal Guterres intends to achieve resumption of Russia's participation in grain deal Resistance Movement calls rally on November 5 La Stampa: Italian farmers fear rising cereal prices due to disruption of grain deal Beglaryan: About 33% of the entire population of Artsakh gathered at the Renaissance Square in Stepanakert Sweden's new government is ready to supply Kiev with heavier weapons Babayan: Any proposal in which Artsakh will be considered part of Azerbaijan will be rejected Dozens of female students protest in Afghanistan Biden confuses number of states in U.S. Peskov: Russia cannot be someone's vassal Minibus carrying party members overturns in Ankara Dashnaktsutyun: Any document that will include Artsakh into Azerbaijan must be torn up Speaker: We hope that no document ignoring the Artsakh issue will be signed in Sochi Italian MFA comments on Russia's withdrawal from food deal Economist: High inflation took Western countries by surprise, which were wrong in their forecasts Artsakh National Assembly issues statement: Artsakh has never been and will never be part of independent Azerbaijan Parliament of Republic of Artsakh unanimously adopts statements NA holds extraordinary meeting in Artsakh: Big rally takes place on Renaissance Square (photos) Lavrov confirms Putin's readiness for negotiations with Ukraine La Repubblica: Italy supplied Kiev with 20-30 M109L artillery guns and PzH 2000 howitzers Typhoon in Philippines affects more than 932,000 people Source: Turkey conducts 'telephone diplomacy' on food deal Television and partially radio broadcasts will be turned off in Armenia for two hours on October 31 Borrell: The EU urges Russia to revert its decision Haiti PM Ariel Henry: The leader of a political party was murdered in the republic Armenia MFA expresses condolences to South Korea over Seoul tragedy Seoul receives more than 3,700 missing persons reports after crush Armenian Defense Ministry: Private received fatal gunshot wound Toivo Klaar: I emphasised the European Unions continued strong engagement in the peace process Arrested for assaulting Speaker Pelosi's spouse faces charges Major crush in Seoul: There are victims Britain needs air defense in connection with war in Ukraine France to plant 1 billion trees by 2030 Armenian FM meets participants of World Armenian Summit The Swiss are going to set record for longest passenger train in the world At least 146 people killed and 150 more injured in Seoul as they were crushed by crowd Europeans frightened by growth of household appliances exports to Armenia, Kazakhstan Russia requests UN Security Council meeting in connection with Ukraine's attack on Black Sea Fleet ships Michel Aoun: Lebanon could slide into constitutional chaos Zelensky intends to have Patriot SAMs, Abrams tanks and aircraft from US President discusses latest foreign political developments around Artsakh Azerbaijan officials considering opening embassy in Israel Pashinyan receives Youri Djorkaeff Thierry Breton talks Twitter purchase by Elon Musk: In Europe, the bird will fly by our rules Armenia PM, EU Special Representative for South Caucasus discuss regional security and peace Nikol Pashinyan, Garo Paylan exchange views on Armenia-Turkey normalization process Quake hits Armenia-Turkey border zone Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Garo Paylyan discuss prospects of normalizing Armenian-Turkish relations Armenia ruling party adopting new vision regarding Karabakh conflict settlement Russia MOD: Ukraine carried out terrorist attack on Black Sea Fleet ships, civilian ships in Sevastopol Premier: CSTO should plan force operation, restore Armenias territorial integrity BloombergNEF: Gas reserves from the U.S. will not be enough to fill the gaping hole left by Russia in Europe Armenia PM: All countries consider Karabakh to be part of Azerbaijan Armenias Pashinyan: CSTO does not exist Kremlin responds to question on extending mandate of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh Armenia premier: We need to know, ultimately, what Russian peacekeepers are doing in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia PM: Im ready to sign document, accept that Russian peacekeepers term in Karabakh be extended 10-20 years Armenias Pashinyan: We are ready to delegate border guard service operation to Russian border guards Finland, Sweden promise to join NATO together European Parliament calls on Armenia to consider diversifying its security partnerships Visiting Armenia MPs brief Canada lawmaker on recent Azerbaijan military aggression Armenia PM at ruling party congress: We declared repairing states foundation our primary task UK prime minister may freeze foreign aid for two more years Karabakh President: Russia leaders statement inspires certain hopes Armenia ruling party congress kicks off Man breaks into US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's home, demands to speak with her, beats husband with hammer EU-Armenia Joint Committee on Research and Innovation first meeting to be held in November Provincial governor of Armenias Gegharkunik: EU monitoring mission already started US accuses Russia of disinformation regarding Washington intentions towards Armenia, Azerbaijan Mexico fully legalizes gay marriage Newspaper: Azerbaijan not inclined to sign anything with Armenia in Russias Sochi Armenia ruling party convening closed convention Acting Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian, who is on a working visit in New York City, on Friday met with Walid Muallem, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Syria. The interlocutors exchanged views on the ongoing efforts towards the settlement of the Syrian crisis, and the respective international initiatives. Nalbandian, for his part, expressed the hope that the agreements, which recently were reached regarding the settlement of this crisis, will be respected and implemented, and that this would pave the way for the start of comprehensive negotiations to achieve a pacific resolution of the Syrian crisis. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. US President Barack Obama has vetoed a bill that would allow families of 9/11 victims to sue the Saudi government, reports BBC. President Obama said he felt "deep sympathy" for the families but that the law would be "detrimental to US national interests". Saudi Arabia's foreign minister had warned that the bill could cause his government to withdraw US investments. The country denies any involvement in the 2001 attacks which killed nearly 3,000 people. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers that targeted the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were Saudi citizens. If the bill became law, it would allow victims' families to sue any member of the government of Saudi Arabia thought to have played a role in any element of the attack. Congress overwhelmingly passed the bill earlier this month following a campaign by relatives. However it was known that President Obama had serious concerns about the billand was unlikely to sign it into law. The Obama administration argues that the legislation would remove the sovereign immunity that prevents lawsuits against governments, and could expose Americans to a legal backlash overseas. Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, who co-sponsored the bill, said he was "disappointed" and would press ahead and overrule President Obama's veto. "If the Saudis did nothing wrong, they should not fear this legislation. If they were culpable in 9/11, they should be held accountable," said Schumer. In 2004 the 9/11 Commission Report found "no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution or senior Saudi officials individually funded the organisation". Last year an inmate in US custody, Zacarias Moussaoui, claimed that a Saudi prince had helped finance the attack that flew passenger planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A fourth plane crashed into an empty field in western Pennsylvania. Saudi Arabia rejected the accusation, which it said was from a "deranged criminal" with no credibility. Iran has taken all the steps it had to, on nuclear related issues, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in her speech following the ministerial meeting of the Joint Commission on the implementations of the JCPOA. I just chaired the joint commission on the implementation of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, so called Iranian nuclear deal) on the ministerial level; the first ministerial level joint commission we held since last year, and one that was focused mainly on the state of play of the implementation of the agreement. The agreement is being implemented. We have three reports from the IAEA confirming that Iran has taken all the steps it had to, on nuclear related issues. As you know sanctions, nuclear related sanctions, were all lifted. This is thanks to the extraordinary work that has been done. We all reaffirmed very strongly the political importance, the historic political importance of this agreement that has shown to the world and to ourselves, that even the most difficult issues can be solved through dialogue and diplomacy and with a win-win approach, overcoming the zero-sum game approach that sometimes blocks us in some of our talks and some of our negotiations. Head of far-right Jewish organization was arrested after disrupting performance by Armenian Church choir in Jerusalem during arts festival. Bentzi Gopstein and another member of radical far-right Lehava organization were arrested on Thursday evening, the Times of Israel reported . They were arrested after refusing to obey police orders. During the performance by the choir of Jerusalems Armenian Church, the protesters began shouting and reportedly yelling Jew murderers! and Go back to Syria, Haaretz reported. Wadie Abunassar, the executive director of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops in the Holy Land, condemned the attack. Lehava strictly opposes Jewish assimilation, objecting to any personal or business relationships between Jews and non-Jews. It is opposed to the Christian presence in Israel. The Quartet of Middle East - the group, which comprises the United States, the United Nations, the European Union, and Russia - strongly condemned Israels settlement activity, which, according to mediators, risks the peace and implementation of a two-state solution. The statement of the Quartet had been released after mediators meeting in New York. The representatives of France and Egypt were invited to the meeting as well. The Quartet emphasized its strong opposition to the ongoing settlement activity, which is an obstacle to peace, and expressed its grave concern that the acceleration of settlement construction and expansion is steadily eroding the viability of the two-state solution, the Quartet statement reads. The Quartet also condemned the recent resurgence of violence and urged both sides to de-escalate tensions and show restraint. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24, ARMNPRESS.U.S. forces are using white phosphorus munitions in their fight against the Islamic State based on pictures and videos posted online by the Pentagon, but it is unclear exactly how the controversial armament is being employed, Armenpress reports, citing The Washington Post. White phosphorus shells are intended to make smoke screens or signals for advancing troops. When launched against soldiers and civilians, however, the munition can cause severe burn wounds that can be dangerous for medical personnel treating the injured. International humanitarian law stipulates that white phosphorus munitions should only be used in areas devoid of civilians. Even using it against enemy combatants has raised concerns, given that the munitions can cause horrific injuries. Photos posted on a Pentagon-managed public affairs website show a U.S. Army artillery unit in Iraq using white phosphorous munitions, specifically M825A1 155mm rounds. The M825A1 shell can create a smokescreen that lasts about 10 minutes and contains 116 felt wedges impregnated with white phosphorus that jettison and automatically ignite when they come in contact with the air. Col. Joseph Scrocca, the public affairs director for the U.S.-led coalition, said Wednesday that the rounds are used for screening and signaling. Coalition forces use these rounds with caution and always in accordance with the Law of Armed Conflict. When M825A1 rounds are employed, they are done so in areas free of civilians and never against enemy forces, Scrocca said in an email. On Thursday, Air Force Col. John Dorrian, the spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, revised Scroccas statement. In the foreground of the photo are 155mm white phosphorous rounds, which are used for screening, obscuring, and marking. When U.S. forces use these munitions, as required by the Law of Armed Conflict, they do so in a way that fully considers possible incidental effects on civilians and civilian structures, Dorrian said in an email. The U.S. military takes all reasonable precautions to minimize the risk of incidental injury to non-combatants and damage to civilian structures. Mark Hiznay, the associate arms director for Human Rights Watch, said he was wary of the U.S.-led coalitions use of white phosphorus munitions and was concerned about its possible use in the upcoming campaign to retake the Islamic State stronghold of Mosul. When white phosphorus is used in attacks in areas containing concentrations of civilians and civilian objects, it will indiscriminately start fires over a wide area, Hiznay said. U.S. and Iraqi forces should refrain from using white phosphorus in urban areas like Mosul because whatever tactical military advantage is gained at the time of use, it will be far outweighed by the stigma created by horrific burns to civilian victims. YEREVAN. Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan on Saturday received members of the Public Council, led by Council Chairman Vazgen Manukyan. Welcoming the delegation, the PM said that such meetings are very important as they provide an opportunity to discuss issues of concern to the public, the prospects for the countrys development, challenges, and possible solutions. Manukyan congratulated Karapetyan on being appointed Prime Minister and wished him productive work. The Prime Minister and the members of the Public Council discussed the current state of the economy, the existing problems, and the development vectors. In particular, the meeting addressed the governments economic policy, management efficiency, small and medium-sized businesses, education, science, banking, and several other domains. During the respective talk, the Prime Minister was offered a number of proposals on the issues raised. Karapetyan noted that the new government sees society as a partner in solving problems, and in this regard, the Council may serve as a bridge between the government and the public at large. According to the Premier, the state apparatus is seen as a flexible team, and this is why the government has launched structural changes. The PM noted that the changes do not only imply renaming, but major content and targeted functions. Introducing the rationale behind the proposed changes, Karen Karapetyan noted that the proposed Ministry of Investment and Entrepreneurship Support shall help entrepreneurs discuss matters of concern to them, and contribute to the elimination of obstacles in this domain. The Prime Minister stressed the importance of education and science as a basis for the development of each sector, and highlighted that the new government will give new impetus to the educational reform. Summing up the discussion, Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan recommended to the Public Council members to submit specific proposals and programs. In terms of military balance, the Armenian side has always had an advantage over the Azerbaijani one. Armenian Ex-Minister of Defense Vagharshak Harutyunyan said the aforementioned to Armenian News NEWS.am. According to him, during the first Karabakh war (in 1990-94), the Azerbaijani side had advantage in military equipment, aviation and ammunition by 2-5, 60 and 25 times respectively. But what did they achieve? They lost Karabakh and seven areas. This is also the case now. The issue here is whether the army is combat-capable or not, and combat readiness is not only the amount of equipment, but also its types. We have what they dont. We have tactical systems Iskander and strong air defense system, Harutyunyan stressed. In his words, the Armenian side has trained officer staff. Our officers are trained in Russia and the equipment is [also] Russian. Whereas part of their equipment is Russian, the other one being Israeli, still the third being Turkish. They are trained in Turkey. What can Turkey teach them if the equipment is Russian? For this very reason the preparation level of their officers is low, Harutyunyan noted, adding that the war proved this. Thus, we have advantage according to these criteria, as a result of which our army is more combat-capable, the ex-Minister said. Issues related to withdrawing cash from Kapitalbank ATMs are observed in Azerbaijan. Mainly pensioners cannot withdraw cash from ATMs, since most of them get money on their accounts exactly from that bank, haqqin.az reports. In Massalin district pensioners have even blocked the road as a sign of protest. They are not able to get their pensions, since the State Social Protection Fund of Azerbaijan transferred the amounts late. According to the source, this can be connected with the rumors on the upcoming new devaluation of manat. Acting Defense Minister of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan on Saturday visited the armed forces subdivisions located on the southeastern borderline of the republic. The aim of the visit was to get familiarized on the ground with the service carried out and the process of organizing the military watch. Ohanyan checked the reliability of defense and engineering facilities, as well as the work aimed at improving the reliability of defense positions at the military bases. The living and hygienic conditions of the soldiers carrying out military watch, as well as the quality and variety of their food, and conditions of keeping them, were also in the center of the Defense Ministers attention. On the same day, Ohanyan visited the relatives of Andranik Zohrabyan, an Armenian servicemen who died during the military actions of the four-day April war, being posthumously awarded Order of the Combat Cross of the First Degree. Thanking for the warm reception and congratulating Andraniks relatives on the 25th anniversary of the Armenian independence, Seyran Ohanyan expressed his support to the family of the soldier who died for protecting the borders of his homeland, noting that the Ministry is always ready to back them and the relatives of all the other soldiers as much as possible. During the meeting, which took place in a friendly atmosphere, Andraniks father, Atom Zohrabyan, recalled memorable episodes related to his son, as well as the precepts he gave Andranik a day before the latters joining the army. Zohrabyan also assured that he is ready to join the defenders of the homeland if needed. Acting foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian on Saturday received in New York the representatives of the American Jewish Committee headed by its Associate Executive Director for Policy, Jason Isaacson. Upon the request of the guests, Nalbandian briefed them on the steps taken towards developing the Armenian-American friendly cooperation, relations of Armenia with the neighboring countries, as well as Armenias stance on a number of regional issues. Apart from this, Nalbandian informed them on the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and Armenia towards advancing the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict. The implementation of the migration agreement with Turkey remains a priority for the EU. European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs, Dimitris Avramopoulos, said the aforementioned after the summit of Balkan route countries in Vienna. Implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement is a priority and remains our plan A, Avramopoulos said. According to the Commissioner, thanks to the cooperation with Turkey, the migrant flow in EU has drastically fallen from several thousands to several hundreds per day, RIA Novosti reports. In mid-March, heads of EU member-states and governments agreed with Turkey on a joint plan to fight against the migration crisis. Acting Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian has delivered a speech at the UN General Assemblys 71st session in New York, reports the Foreign Ministrys press service. September 24, 2016, 10:51 Azerbaijan stubbornly refuses to recognize Nagorno-Karabakhs peoples right to self-determination Edward Nalbandian STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 24, ARTSAKHPRESS: In his address, Nalbandian called the participants attention to the 25 anniversary of Armenias independence, the Azerbaijani-provoked intensive fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh in April, Turkeys unilateral land blockade of Armenia and other topics. Nalbandians official speech is provided below. Mr President, Secretary General, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to congratulate and wish success to Peter Thomson, the President of this session and to thank his predecessor Mogens Lykketoft. I would also like to take this opportunity to express our high appreciation to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his able leadership. Mr President, Two days ago, Armenia celebrated the 25th anniversary of its independence. In this relatively short period of time much has been done to strengthen democratic institutions, rule of law, good governance, protect human rights and advance economic reforms. We have been able to make a significant progress also with regard to the social and economic development agenda. However, challenges still remain. The needs of the most socially vulnerable groups have been placed in the center of Armenias Prospective Development Strategy for 2014-2025. Likewise, our Government has launched the Plan of Actions for its National Strategy on Human Rights Protection. In this regard, Armenia continues actively working with all UN human rights mechanisms, including special procedures and treaty bodies. Our new constitutional reform, which followed an inclusive process of broad public discussions aimed at achieving a new and improved governance system with increased transparency and accountability, was approved at a nation-wide referendum last December and welcomed by relevant international bodies. Mr President, The United Nations has a considerable role to play in changing the environment conducive to intolerance, racial discrimination, xenophobia, violent extremism and terrorism. On numerous occasions Armenia has condemned the crimes committed by DAESH, other terrorist groups, which threaten the peoples of the region and beyond. The war in Syria has a devastating impact on its civilian population, including national and religious minorities who face existential threats due to identity based crimes. The violence has not bypassed Syrian-Armenians, many of whom lost their lives. The Armenian settlements, churches, schools and cultural institutions were destroyed. One hundred years ago Armenian refugees found shelter in many Arab countries after the Armenian Genocide. Today thousands of Armenians, together with other people of the Middle East, again are forced to flee their homes. From Syria alone more than 20 thousand found refuge in Armenia. Therefore, we know what it means to be a refugee and to host refugees. The Government of Armenia has undertaken considerable efforts in assisting the refugees and facilitating their integration. We believe that wider international cooperation is needed to adequately address the challenges posed by massive displacement. The full implementation of the commitments of the New York Declaration on refugees and migrants adopted few days ago by this august body stands as an important milestone in this regard. We would like to stress the significance of addressing the root causes of large movements of people through the prevention of crimes against humanity, peaceful settlement of disputes and achievement of lasting political solutions. Mr President, Armenia has been continuously supporting and contributing to the elaboration of the mechanisms of prevention, in particular by regularly initiating Resolutions on the Prevention of Genocide in the Human Rights Council. As a nation who experienced the first genocide of the 20th century and continues to face the denial of this horror, Armenia reaffirms its strong support to the fight against impunity for genocide. 2016 marks the first anniversary of the UN General Assembly Resolution initiated by Armenia, proclaiming December 9th as an International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of Genocide. As the threat of violence continues to spread in different parts of the world it is crucial to make our joint efforts for peace and security more efficient. It is with this understanding that Armenia has participated in a number of UN and UN-mandated Peace Operations, thus actively contributing in the most direct way to the building of international peace and security. As the UN Assistant Secretary General noted Armenias support is important not only for its contribution but also for the Armenian history and the challenges overcome during it. Indeed, history teaches us that the security of one is closely connected to others. Mr President, This year marks the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the International Covenants on Human Rights, as well as the 30th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development. These major documents proclaim that All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. It is well known that the UN Charter underlines the respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples as a purpose of this organization. Aggressive military response of the state to the peaceful aspiration of people to exercise their right to self-determination only legitimizes such aspiration and deprives the aggressor of any claim to authority over such people. The UN Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order rightly stated that rather than perceiving self-determination as a source of conflict, armed conflict should be seen as a consequence of the violation of the right to self-determination. Azerbaijan stubbornly refuses to recognize the right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to self-determination. As part of Azerbaijans policy of ethnic cleansing and aggression, starting from the late 80s and beginning of 90s Armenians were massacred and expelled from their homes. Nobel Peace Prize winner Andrei Sakharov called it a threat of a new genocide of the Armenian people. This year again, in early April in blatant violation of the cease-fire agreement, Azerbaijan unleashed another large scale aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh, indiscriminately targeting civilian infrastructures and population. Among the victims were a 12 year old boy and 92 year old woman. Three captive soldiers of the Nagorno-Karabakh armed forces were beheaded in DAESH style, which was subsequently demonstrated in towns and villages and publicized through social networks. Furthermore, the leader of Azerbaijan publically decorated the perpetrators of this crime. During the exchange of bodies of the deceased between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan, carried out through the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, it was registered that the corpses transferred from the Azerbaijani side had undeniable signs of torture and were mutilated. Such despicable atrocities go beyond elementary norms of the civilized world and constitute gross violations of international humanitarian law. The April aggression severely undermined the peace process. To restore the trust in peaceful resolution of the conflict measures should be taken to prevent the use of force and to create conditions conducive to the advancement of the peace process. This was the main aim of two Summits on Nagorno-Karabakh held in Vienna in May and in St. Petersburg in June. First of all, it is imperative to implement what was particularly emphasized and agreed upon at these Summits - first, the full adherence to the 1994-1995 trilateral ceasefire agreements, which do not have time limitations; second, the creation of mechanism for investigation of ceasefire violations; third, the expansion of the capacity of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. Against all odds the people of Nagorno-Karabakh have been able to defend themselves and create a free and democratic society. Armenia, together with the mediator countries - Russia, the United States and France the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, will continue its efforts towards exclusively peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Co-Chairs have proclaimed a rather civilized formula for the settlement ballots instead of bullets. The proposal outlined by the presidents of the Co-Chair countries stipulates future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh through a legally binding expression of will of its population. The mentality that supports medieval barbarism, as witnessed in April, can hardly accept the civilized approaches of the modern world. Mr President, Armenia welcomes the integration of the Vienna Programme of Action for the Landlocked Developing Countries into the Agenda 2030 as an important step to promote sustainable and inclusive development. To ensure the effective implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action and mainstream it into our policies, the Government of Armenia has recently adopted a national strategy for its implementation. We deplore policies that stipulate unilateral economic measures as an instrument of political pressure. Agenda 2030 reconfirms once again that such measures are detrimental to sustainable development. The unilateral land blockade of Armenia by Turkey is a gross violation of international law. It continues to severely hamper regional transit communication routes, economic cooperation and integration. Mr President, Armenia welcomes the central role of the United Nations in the implementation of the new and comprehensive Agenda. We do not underestimate the challenges facing all of us - equally we should not downplay the opportunities. More than seven decades on, we must show the same insight and vision to safeguard the future of this Organization and ensure the best possible future for the peoples of the United Nations. Armenia is fully committed to these goals. Thank you. 608 | October 28, 2022 17:40 Putin to have private talks with Pashinyan and Aliyev 600 | October 26, 2022 17:43 10 residential buildings built in Ivanyan with the funds of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund will soon be put into operation 588 | October 26, 2022 16:27 Pediatric neurologists from Yerevan conduct free exainations in Stepanakert 576 | October 29, 2022 11:04 The statement of the President of the Russian Federation inspires certain hopes. We anticipate that the vital interests of the Artsakh Republic will be fully protected. President Harutyunyan 559 | October 28, 2022 17:54 Power supply may be restored, if Kiev recognizes Russias new regions Medvedev 548 | October 28, 2022 16:52 Zatulin: West seeks to push Russia out of negotiation process at any cost 534 | October 26, 2022 17:41 Pope Francis receives Armenian FM 531 | October 24, 2022 15:04 Video shows destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in Azeri-occupied Artsakh territories The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday said the Raj Thackeray ked- Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has no business issuing a 48 hour deadline to Pakistan actors to leave India. BJP leader Shaina NC said that "Let's distinguish between a priority and sentiment. There is a sentiment which is anti-Pakistan, where lots of people do not want Pakistanis at this juncture to even be on Indian soil, that is a sentiment. The priority of the government is to work with Indian Force, Police, Navy and NSG to ensure that Mumbai is safe and secure and clear of any kind of terror activity or terrorists," . "Now, if there is any political party that is only playing to the gallery and doing its own drama to attract attention, I think it's unfortunate, because in a democracy there are legitimate ways to protest within the parameters of law. Those who take law and order into their hands to deflect from the issue, only shows you that they have no issues left," she added. Saina further said that the Centre is serious about combating terrorism and terrorists activity and will not get distracted by the rants of the MNS. "Our government is serious about combating terrorists and terror activity. The coordination of national security advisers with the Force One, NSG, Police, Coast Guards and Navy, etc is completely in collusion, and we are not going to get distracted by any political party that is trying to resurrect itself and come up with sensational statements over an issue which is not a priority, it is a sentiment," she said. The MNS, on Friday, issued the ultimatum to Pakistani actors and artists to leave India, saying they will push them out of the country if they don't go back to home. The threat comes close in the wake of a terrorist strike that killed 18 Army soldiers in Uri. India has blamed Pakistan for the attack, as probe agencies reportedly recovered weapons and ammunition bearing Pakistani insignia from the site. Pakistan has, however, flatly rejected New Delhi's claims of involvement in the Uri terror attack, stating that the latter has a traditional tendency to point fingers at the former whenever a terror attack takes place on Indian soil. (ANI) The Pakistan Rangers has said that instances of activists of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) "willingly disappearing" should not be counted as cases of "missing persons" as it claimed to have found evidence suggesting that MQM founder Altaf Hussain had asked his workers to go into hiding. The paramilitary force shared its finding with the Senate Standing Committee's Functional Committee on Human Rights, led by its chairperson Nasreen Jalil, who expressed surprise and resentment over the absence of the provincial police chief and the Rangers director general from the meeting, reports Dawn. Several questions mostly related to the Karachi operation against criminals were put forth by the committee. On being asked by a member of the committee on the issue of missing persons, Colonel Qaiser Khattak of the Rangers said that disappearance of every person could not be put under that account. His explanation referred to a recent video of the MQM founder suggesting to his workers to go into hiding to avoid arrest. He, however, said that the findings of an investigation into the custodial death of an MQM worker and coordinator to the party's leader Dr. Farooq Sattar could not be shared because the process was still on. (ANI) Editor's note: The 2016 presidential race is seen by many as the most divisive and scandalous in the U.S. history. A team of Xinhua reporters recently toured several battleground states to get the firsthand accounts of what American voters really think before the Nov. 8 elections. Here is the third of a series of four in-depth reports they have produced. YOUNGSTOWN, the United States, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- At the Golden Hunan Chinese restaurant in Youngstown, the U.S. state of Ohio, owner Yang Li was tied up serving her frequent customers and taking carryout orders at lunch hour. Decades ago, she migrated to the United States from Tianjin, China in her teens with her family, but voting for president had never been on her table of priorities. Her mother, watching her very much Americanized daughter swiftly striding through the tables and checking with customers, said she never felt the politicians' agendas were aiming to benefit the hard-working Asian Americans. "Who has time to vote," her mother told Xinhua. "Look how busy she already is!" INVISIBLE VOTING BLOC "Neither the Democratic Party's platform nor the Republican Party's was representative of Chinese-Americans' interests," said Yumin Yin, who came to the U.S. in 1994 for graduate school and now works as a structural engineer in a construction design company in Columbus, Ohio. With the Nov. 8 election less than two months away, Yin, who called himself an independent, said he has not yet decided who to vote for. Education was the issue he cared about the most, said the father of two children. Many Asian Americans share his view. According to a survey by APIAVote, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting political participation in the Asian American population, 48 percent of Asian American registered voters think education "extremely" important, the most among election related issues. Some of the "affirmative action" legislation pushed by Democratic legislators effectively set up unfair barriers for Asian American children to access quality education, thus alienating some Asian American voters, Yin said. Yin believed that many newly immigrated Chinese Americans are more economically well-off and tend to favor lower taxes and small government, which are more in line with the Republican platform. But on other social issues like gun control and immigration, Chinese Americans would agree more with the Democrats, he said. "That's why so many of us are on the fence," he said. At a convenience store in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, Mr. Kim was busy arranging stuff at his counter. He came here from South Korea when he was 15 years old and is now a U.S. citizen. But for over a dozen years, he hadn't cast a single vote in presidential elections. "It will be the same, no matter who will be the president," he said. The lack of passion about politics is quite common among Asian-American voters in the battleground states of Ohio and North Carolina. Asian-American voters had long been left out in U.S. presidential elections. In 2012, only 47 percent of Asian Americans voted in the presidential election, compared with 66 percent of black voters, 64 percent of non-Hispanic white voters, and 48 percent of Hispanic voters. In the 2015 U.S. census, Asian Americans made up 4.9 percent of U.S. population, and are the fastest growing demographics in the U.S. But a closer look at the policy proposals by both major party candidates found that very few are aimed to court Asian Americans. Asian Americans are also much less likely to be contacted by political parties than other voters. According to the statistics by the National Asian American Survey in the 2012 election cycle, 69 percent of Asian American voters said that no one contacted them about the election. Another survey done in 2014 showed that only one in three Asian American registered voters reported being contacted by Democrats, while an even smaller proportion of voters -- 24 percent -- reported being contacted by Republicans. However, Asian Americans could be the tipping point for this election. If more people from this electorate cast their ballots, the result could be hugely swung, especially in battleground states. In states like Nevada, Virginia and North Carolina, data showed the number of eligible Asian American voters exceeds the margin of victory in the 2012 presidential poll. Yin recently went to a rally of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, attempting to ask him what was his plan to reach out to Asian Americans. "I haven't been granted a chance to ask questions," he wrote in a posting on China's biggest messaging service Wechat. THE UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES The electorate will be more racially and ethnically diverse in the 2016 election cycle, according to Pew Research Center. It is estimated that nearly one-in-three eligible voters on Election Day will be Hispanic, black, Asian or another racial or ethnic minority, up from 29 percent in 2012. In recent decades, both Republicans and Democrats are racking more brains to win over African-Americans and Latinos which form the bulk of the minority population. Polls showed Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton with a wide advantage among black and Latino voters. Trump, who has upset Mexicans and other minority groups with his tough stance on immigration, has also spent the past several weeks courting black Americans and asserting that President Barack Obama has failed the black community. However, voter disenfranchisement in the system was also on the rise. On Election Day, people will not be allowed to vote in 10 states unless they have identification. Although touted as a prevention of voter fraud, many argued that it added substantial barriers to vote especially for the poor and minorities. In many of the battleground states, stricter voter ID laws could definitely make a difference in the outcome, some voters feared. In last election cycle, a study released in October 2012 by Brennan Center for Justice in New York University showed, as many as 11 percent of eligible voters did not have government-issued photo ID. People of color were among the group with greater possibility of not having one. Even for eligible voters, enthusiasm for political participation is surely confronted by other factors, especially the depth of pockets. The disparities in political participation are continuing to be significant between low-income and high-income persons. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, less than half of Americans who earn less than 20,000 U.S. dollars a year voted in the 2012 election, while voter participation for people who live in households with incomes of more than 75,000 dollars was much higher at 77 percent. African Americans and Hispanic Americans are much more likely to be poor than white Americans, the census showed. During 2007 and 2011, poverty rate was 26 percent for African Americans and 23 percent for Hispanics, while less than 12 percent of white people were poor. In Lowesville, North Carolina, Vanessa Blalock, an African American woman, was sitting in front of her dilapidated trailer home under the summer sun. Vanessa doesn't know much about either of the two candidates, as she hadn't been watching TV for some time due to lack of electricity. Asked whether she would vote in this year's election, the mother of a daughter who is now living in New York, responded that in order to do that, she has to walk all the way to a bus stop, and take a bus. "It's difficult to travel," she stressed. (Reporting by Yuan Yue, Li Changxiang and Li Ming; Editing by Zhou Xiaozheng, Zhu Lei and Ding Yimin) This file photo taken on September 11, 2013 shows the logo of social networking website 'Twitter' displayed on a computer screen in London. Twitter on August 18, 2016 announced that it has cut off 235,000 more accounts for violating its policies regarding promotion of terrorism at the global one-to-many messaging service. The latest account suspensions raised to 360,000 the total number of accounts sidelined since the middle of 2015 and was helping "drive meaningful results" in curbing the activity, according to the San Francisco-based company. (AFP PHOTO/LEON NEAL) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Global Pulse initiative on Friday announced a partnership with Twitter that will provide the United Nations with access to the platform's data tools to support efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders in September last year. "The Sustainable Development Goals are first and foremost about people, and Twitter's unique data stream can help us truly take a real-time pulse on priorities and concerns -- particularly in regions where social media use is common -- to strengthen decision-making," said Robert Kirkpatrick, the director of UN Global Pulse. "Strong public-private partnerships like this show the vast potential of big data to serve the public good," he said. UN Global Pulse is an innovation initiative of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that harnesses data science and analytics for sustainable development and humanitarian action. The initiative was launched in 2009 based on a recognition that digital data offers the opportunity to gain a better understanding of changes in human well-being, and to get real-time feedback on how well policy responses are working. It tracks development progress and emerging vulnerabilities in real time by tapping into Big Data -- the enormous volumes of records that are automatically created by people's every interaction with the digital world. The first anniversary of the SDGs was marked at the opening of annual high-level debate of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. Also known as the Global Goals, the SDGs -- comprising a set of 17 Goals -- are a bold new agenda aimed at eradicating poverty and tackling the world's most pressing challenges by 2030. In its announcement, UN Global Pulse highlighted that every day, people around the world send hundreds of millions of Tweets in dozens of languages. Such social conversations contain real-time information on many issues, including the cost of food, availability of jobs, access to health care, quality of education, and reports of natural disasters, and the partnership will allow UN development and humanitarian agencies to turn the public data into actionable information to aid communities around the globe. The new collaboration builds on existing research and development that has shown the power of social media for social impact, such as measuring the impact of public health campaigns, tracking reports of rising food prices, or prioritizing needs after natural disasters, according to UN Global Pulse. "We are incredibly proud to partner with the UN in support of the Sustainable Development Goals," said Chris Moody, Twitter's vice president of data strategy. "Twitter data provides a live window into the public conversations that communities around the world are having, and we believe that the increased potential for research and innovation through this partnership will further the UN's efforts to reach the Sustainable Development Goals." CARACAS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's Minister of the Interior, Justice and Peace, Nestor Reverol, on Friday announced the activation of the National Plan Against Kidnap, to combat this scourge in different forms. During a ceremony here, Reverol said that the new plan seeks to address the problem, especially in the states of Carabobo and the Capital District both in the north, as well as in Miranda and Zulia in the west. "The objectives of this plan are to strengthen prevention, investigation, combat and neutralization of kidnapping, to provide protection for the Venezuelan people," said Reverol. The minister added that for this plan a total of 2,100 officials from Venezuela's national guard have been made available as well as over 100 members of the Bolivarian National Police and the Corps for Scientific, Penal and Criminal Investigations. The plan will also activate an anti-extortion and kidnap telephone line for citizens to report cases. This will allow the appropriate actions and "measures to be taken," said Venezuela's interior minister. "A National Commission with new strategies" will also be created in order to analyze all the situations and consequences of kidnapping, he added. The commission will also be in charge of the care process and assisting kidnap victims and their family members. "We are going to create a direct care unit for the kidnapping victims and their families as well as establishing protocols and care programs," said the minister. CHARLOTTE, the United States, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Forty-three-year old black man Keith Lamont Scott started Tuesday as a father of seven. After being fatally shot by a police who mistook him for someone else, Scott ended the day becoming a new icon for hashtag activism. While the news of excessive use of force against the black community in the United States had for long been part of the American life, the death of Scott once again highlighted the profound distrust among the black community of the law enforcement officials supposed to protect them. Three days after the deadly encounter between Scott and the police, the case still remained murky with two contradictory accounts of the shooting by the police and Scott's family leaving the public in confusion and anger. According to local authorities, police were searching for someone with a warrant when they saw Scott exiting the vehicle in a parking lot with a gun. Scott did not comply when officers ordered him to drop the gun, said Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney at a news conference after the incident. The account of the shooting by the authority was immediately disputed by Scott's family and a witness, who said that Scott was holding a book instead of a gun and was not acting aggressively towards the police. Speaking here at a press conference on Friday, Putney, also a black, confirmed that at least one body camera and one dashboard camera by police had recorded the incident. However, he refused to release the footage, arguing that the release of the footage could inflame the situation as the city was already on edge after three consecutive nights of mass protests against police brutality. However, Scott's family was allowed to see the footage Thursday afternoon and Justin Bamberg, a lawyer for Scott's family said in a statement that after watching the police videos, "It is impossible to discern from the videos what, if anything, Mr. Scott is holding in his hands." Stressing that Scott was shot as he walked slowly backward with his hands by his side, Bamberg urged the police to release the police videos to the public. It was not just Bamberg that appeared to be uncertain what the police videos might have pointed out. Earlier on Thursday, Charlotte Police Chief Putney also acknowledged that he could not merely determine from the police videos that Scott was holding a gun. "The video does not give me absolute, definitive visual evidence that would confirm that a person is pointing a gun," said Putney, adding that he could not see Scott's hands from the video. For members of the black community, the contradictory accounts of the shooting was not something that struck them as surprising, and with frustration and anger, they took to the street. "That seems to me the case in most of the shootings that have happened recently as far as there had been conflicting stories with level of frustration was heightened," Lasharee Rogers, a resident of Charlotte, told Xinhua. "Because people want the answer, and they want the truth. And it's not right to murder someone or shoot someone in cold blood, especially in the hand of someone who are supposed to protect." The killing of Scott has sparked two nights of violence in Charlotte since Tuesday, during which rioters clashed with riot police, smashed windows, vandalized cars, and assaulted innocent people and journalists. So far, 17 police officers and nine civilians have been wounded in the unrest, and 44 arrests have been made by the police. A state of emergency was declared in Charlotte Wednesday night by North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, who ordered the deployment of the state's National Guard and State Highway Patrol to assist with local law enforcement forces to restore order in the city. On Thursday night, a curfew order was issued in the city as hundreds of protesters marched peacefully through downtown to protest the fatal police shooting of a black man for the third night. "I assume that people are supposed to trust the police in the case when they say Scott was posing a threat to the police," said one black journalist present at the protest on Thursday night who only gave his first name as Justin. "But I also assume that the police are supposed to earn the trust of the people by being transparent." Given that few facts remain known to the public because of the police's refusal to release the footage any time soon, a possible cover-up by the police was on the minds of many locals. "You want to be able to trust the officer. You want to be able to trust those who are here to help you," said Rogers. "You want to trust the officer, but at the same time because of the track record of the officers, the community is hard to trust them right now." It was not the first time U.S. police was allegedly involved in covering up shootings of the black. In another deadly confrontation between police and a black man in Chicago in 2014, it was later known that the local police erased surveillance videos from a nearby Burger King, which may have captured the 17-year-old black teen Laquan McDonald's movement in the critical moment before the shooting, leading to a public outcry about a police cover-up. Initial police documents showed that several officers who witnessed the shooting appeared to give misleading information to investigators, with one account stating that Jason Van Dyke, the white officer in the case, had been injured by McDonald in the shooting. Across the country, the majority of the blacks had long been viewing the police force with great suspicion. According to a poll by the Pew Research Center in August 2014, a total of 62 percent blacks expressed at best "just some" confidence in local police to treat whites and blacks equally, with 46 percent expressing "very little" trust in police. "We have a situation where many minority communities for so long have felt that law enforcement was coming in essentially to enforce laws against them, not to protect them," said Loretta Lynch, the country's first African- American female attorney general, in July 2015. Lynch was not the only one to speak out. In May 2015, Vanita Gupta, the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division chief, said that the "lack of trust in the police is real and it is profound." A police officer stands guard as people take part in a protest in Charlotte, North Carolina, the United States, Sept. 22, 2016. A curfew order was issued in the U.S. city of Charlotte Thursday night as hundreds of protesters marched relatively peacefully through downtown to protest the fatal police shooting of a black man for the third night. (Xinhua/Lu Jiafei) CHARLOTTE, the United States, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Forty-three-year old black man Keith Lamont Scott started Tuesday as a father of seven. After being fatally shot by a police who mistook him for someone else, Scott ended the day becoming a new icon for hashtag activism. While the news of excessive use of force against the black community in the United States had for long been part of the American life, the death of Scott once again highlighted the profound distrust among the black community of the law enforcement officials supposed to protect them. Three days after the deadly encounter between Scott and the police, the case still remained murky with two contradictory accounts of the shooting by the police and Scott's family leaving the public in confusion and anger. According to local authorities, police were searching for someone with a warrant when they saw Scott exiting the vehicle in a parking lot with a gun. Scott did not comply when officers ordered him to drop the gun, said Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney at a news conference after the incident. The account of the shooting by the authority was immediately disputed by Scott's family and a witness, who said that Scott was holding a book instead of a gun and was not acting aggressively towards the police. Speaking here at a press conference on Friday, Putney, also a black, confirmed that at least one body camera and one dashboard camera by police had recorded the incident. However, he refused to release the footage, arguing that the release of the footage could inflame the situation as the city was already on edge after three consecutive nights of mass protests against police brutality. However, Scott's family was allowed to see the footage Thursday afternoon and Justin Bamberg, a lawyer for Scott's family said in a statement that after watching the police videos, "It is impossible to discern from the videos what, if anything, Mr. Scott is holding in his hands." Stressing that Scott was shot as he walked slowly backward with his hands by his side, Bamberg urged the police to release the police videos to the public. It was not just Bamberg that appeared to be uncertain what the police videos might have pointed out. Earlier on Thursday, Charlotte Police Chief Putney also acknowledged that he could not merely determine from the police videos that Scott was holding a gun. "The video does not give me absolute, definitive visual evidence that would confirm that a person is pointing a gun," said Putney, adding that he could not see Scott's hands from the video. For members of the black community, the contradictory accounts of the shooting was not something that struck them as surprising, and with frustration and anger, they took to the street. "That seems to me the case in most of the shootings that have happened recently as far as there had been conflicting stories with level of frustration was heightened," Lasharee Rogers, a resident of Charlotte, told Xinhua. "Because people want the answer, and they want the truth. And it's not right to murder someone or shoot someone in cold blood, especially in the hand of someone who are supposed to protect." The killing of Scott has sparked two nights of violence in Charlotte since Tuesday, during which rioters clashed with riot police, smashed windows, vandalized cars, and assaulted innocent people and journalists. So far, 17 police officers and nine civilians have been wounded in the unrest, and 44 arrests have been made by the police. A state of emergency was declared in Charlotte Wednesday night by North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, who ordered the deployment of the state's National Guard and State Highway Patrol to assist with local law enforcement forces to restore order in the city. On Thursday night, a curfew order was issued in the city as hundreds of protesters marched peacefully through downtown to protest the fatal police shooting of a black man for the third night. "I assume that people are supposed to trust the police in the case when they say Scott was posing a threat to the police," said one black journalist present at the protest on Thursday night who only gave his first name as Justin. "But I also assume that the police are supposed to earn the trust of the people by being transparent." Given that few facts remain known to the public because of the police's refusal to release the footage any time soon, a possible cover-up by the police was on the minds of many locals. "You want to be able to trust the officer. You want to be able to trust those who are here to help you," said Rogers. "You want to trust the officer, but at the same time because of the track record of the officers, the community is hard to trust them right now." It was not the first time U.S. police was allegedly involved in covering up shootings of the black. In another deadly confrontation between police and a black man in Chicago in 2014, it was later known that the local police erased surveillance videos from a nearby Burger King, which may have captured the 17-year-old black teen Laquan McDonald's movement in the critical moment before the shooting, leading to a public outcry about a police cover-up. Initial police documents showed that several officers who witnessed the shooting appeared to give misleading information to investigators, with one account stating that Jason Van Dyke, the white officer in the case, had been injured by McDonald in the shooting. Across the country, the majority of the blacks had long been viewing the police force with great suspicion. According to a poll by the Pew Research Center in August 2014, a total of 62 percent blacks expressed at best "just some" confidence in local police to treat whites and blacks equally, with 46 percent expressing "very little" trust in police. "We have a situation where many minority communities for so long have felt that law enforcement was coming in essentially to enforce laws against them, not to protect them," said Loretta Lynch, the country's first African- American female attorney general, in July 2015. Lynch was not the only one to speak out. In May 2015, Vanita Gupta, the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division chief, said that the "lack of trust in the police is real and it is profound." HAVANA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- China-Cuba ties spearhead China-Latin America relations and were made a model of solidarity and cooperation among developing countries, Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Zhang Tuo told Xinhua recently prior to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Cuba. At the invitation of President of the Cuban Council of State and Council of Ministers Raul Castro Ruz, Li, accompanied by his wife Cheng Hong, will begin an official visit to the Caribbean island country on Saturday. This is the first official visit by a Chinese premier to Cuba since the founding of People's Republic of China in 1949. In the interview, Zhang said that China and Cuba have learnt from each other on the path of building socialism with their respective characteristics, have exchanged experience in governance in an increasingly in-depth way, have supported each other on issues concerning their core interests, and have formed an intimate relationship as "good friends, good comrades and good brothers." Chinese and Cuban leaders have maintained frequent exchanges and established profound friendship, Zhang noted, saying both Cuba's revolutionary leader Fidel Castro and the current leader Raul Castro Ruz visited China many times and are old friends of the Chinese people. Meanwhile, the Caribbean country is one of Latin American countries most frequently visited by Chinese Communist Party and government leaders. In particular, during a visit to Cuba by Chinese President Xi Jinping in July 2014, Xi and Raul Castro Ruz exchanged opinions on bilateral relations, governance and other subjects in an in-depth way, jointly drawing a blueprint for future development of relations between the two countries, Zhang said. The high-level political relations are gradually turned into fruits of multi-level and multi-field trade and economic cooperation, the ambassador said. For consecutive years, China has been Cuba's second largest trading partner and an important economic cooperation partner, while Cuba is China's largest trading partner in the Caribbean region. In recent years, China has made new breakthrough in fields like investment and project contracting in Cuba, and has extended cooperation projects into such fields as port reconstruction, tourism development, industrial infrastructure construction, etc in an orderly way, Zhang said. With Cuba actively integrating itself into the international community and vigorously promoting the process of updating its economic growth mode, the two countries are expected to launch greater bilateral cooperation focused on such fields like infrastructure, agriculture, renewable energy, biotechnology and others, Zhang said. Tourism is expected to become a new highlight in future cooperation, Zhang said, adding that Chinese people have always been fascinated by Cuba's unique customs and culture. Direct flights from Beijing to Havana, officially launched last year, have become the first direct flights operated by Chinese air companies to the Caribbean region, significantly facilitating personnel exchanges, he said. Moreover, people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have been in the interest of both peoples, and educational cooperation has been on the rise, said the ambassador, who has worked in Cuba for more than four years. In recent years, thousands of Chinese students have received scholarships from the Cuban government and have studied there the Spanish language, medicine, tourism, education and so on, according to Zhang. Meanwhile, the number of overseas Chinese students in Cuba at their own expense has also increased. Cuba has become an important base for Spanish-language human resources training for China, while more and more Cuban people are becoming interested in learning the Chinese language, he said. Zhang concluded that both China and Cuba hope to enhance their friendship and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in the interest of both peoples as a result of Li's visit to Cuba. Hillary Clinton Democratic Presidential Candidate holds voter registration in Philadelphia on Aug. 16, 2016. (Credit:RUDYPHOTOGRAPHY/SIPA/1608171702) Editor's note: The 2016 presidential race is seen by many as the most divisive and scandalous in the U.S. history. A team of Xinhua reporters recently toured several battleground states to get the firsthand accounts of what American voters really think before the Nov. 8 elections. Here is the third of a series of four in-depth reports they have produced. YOUNGSTOWN, the United States, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- At the Golden Hunan Chinese restaurant in Youngstown, the U.S. state of Ohio, owner Yang Li was tied up serving her frequent customers and taking carryout orders at lunch hour. Decades ago, she migrated to the United States from Tianjin, China in her teens with her family, but voting for president had never been on her table of priorities. Her mother, watching her very much Americanized daughter swiftly striding through the tables and checking with customers, said she never felt the politicians' agendas were aiming to benefit the hard-working Asian Americans. "Who has time to vote," her mother told Xinhua. "Look how busy she already is!" A sign shows "Welcome to Downtown Youngstown" in Youngstown, Ohio, a city famous for its steel and metalworking operations. (Xinhua/Yuan Yue) INVISIBLE VOTING BLOC "Neither the Democratic Party's platform nor the Republican Party's was representative of Chinese-Americans' interests," said Yumin Yin, who came to the U.S. in 1994 for graduate school and now works as a structural engineer in a construction design company in Columbus, Ohio. With the Nov. 8 election less than two months away, Yin, who called himself an independent, said he has not yet decided who to vote for. Education was the issue he cared about the most, said the father of two children. Many Asian Americans share his view. According to a survey by APIAVote, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting political participation in the Asian American population, 48 percent of Asian American registered voters think education "extremely" important, the most among election related issues. Some of the "affirmative action" legislation pushed by Democratic legislators effectively set up unfair barriers for Asian American children to access quality education, thus alienating some Asian American voters, Yin said. Yin believed that many newly immigrated Chinese Americans are more economically well-off and tend to favor lower taxes and small government, which are more in line with the Republican platform. But on other social issues like gun control and immigration, Chinese Americans would agree more with the Democrats, he said. "That's why so many of us are on the fence," he said. Donald J. Trump, the Republican candidate for President of the United States, arrives for a campaign appearance at Briar Woods High School in Ashburn, Virginia on Tuesday, August 2, 2016. (Photo Credit: Ron Sachs/CNP/AdMedia//ADMEDIA) At a convenience store in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, Mr. Kim was busy arranging stuff at his counter. He came here from South Korea when he was 15 years old and is now a U.S. citizen. But for over a dozen years, he hadn't cast a single vote in presidential elections. "It will be the same, no matter who will be the president," he said. The lack of passion about politics is quite common among Asian-American voters in the battleground states of Ohio and North Carolina. Asian-American voters had long been left out in U.S. presidential elections. In 2012, only 47 percent of Asian Americans voted in the presidential election, compared with 66 percent of black voters, 64 percent of non-Hispanic white voters, and 48 percent of Hispanic voters. In the 2015 U.S. census, Asian Americans made up 4.9 percent of U.S. population, and are the fastest growing demographics in the U.S. But a closer look at the policy proposals by both major party candidates found that very few are aimed to court Asian Americans. Asian Americans are also much less likely to be contacted by political parties than other voters. According to the statistics by the National Asian American Survey in the 2012 election cycle, 69 percent of Asian American voters said that no one contacted them about the election. Another survey done in 2014 showed that only one in three Asian American registered voters reported being contacted by Democrats, while an even smaller proportion of voters -- 24 percent -- reported being contacted by Republicans. However, Asian Americans could be the tipping point for this election. If more people from this electorate cast their ballots, the result could be hugely swung, especially in battleground states. In states like Nevada, Virginia and North Carolina, data showed the number of eligible Asian American voters exceeds the margin of victory in the 2012 presidential poll. Yin recently went to a rally of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, attempting to ask him what was his plan to reach out to Asian Americans. "I haven't been granted a chance to ask questions," he wrote in a posting on China's biggest messaging service Wechat. A monument in Youngstown, Ohio, a city famous for its steel and metalworking operations. (Xinhua/Yuan Yue) THE UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES The electorate will be more racially and ethnically diverse in the 2016 election cycle, according to Pew Research Center. It is estimated that nearly one-in-three eligible voters on Election Day will be Hispanic, black, Asian or another racial or ethnic minority, up from 29 percent in 2012. In recent decades, both Republicans and Democrats are racking more brains to win over African-Americans and Latinos which form the bulk of the minority population. Polls showed Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton with a wide advantage among black and Latino voters. Trump, who has upset Mexicans and other minority groups with his tough stance on immigration, has also spent the past several weeks courting black Americans and asserting that President Barack Obama has failed the black community. However, voter disenfranchisement in the system was also on the rise. On Election Day, people will not be allowed to vote in 10 states unless they have identification. Although touted as a prevention of voter fraud, many argued that it added substantial barriers to vote especially for the poor and minorities. In many of the battleground states, stricter voter ID laws could definitely make a difference in the outcome, some voters feared. In last election cycle, a study released in October 2012 by Brennan Center for Justice in New York University showed, as many as 11 percent of eligible voters did not have government-issued photo ID. People of color were among the group with greater possibility of not having one. Even for eligible voters, enthusiasm for political participation is surely confronted by other factors, especially the depth of pockets. The disparities in political participation are continuing to be significant between low-income and high-income persons. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, less than half of Americans who earn less than 20,000 U.S. dollars a year voted in the 2012 election, while voter participation for people who live in households with incomes of more than 75,000 dollars was much higher at 77 percent. African Americans and Hispanic Americans are much more likely to be poor than white Americans, the census showed. During 2007 and 2011, poverty rate was 26 percent for African Americans and 23 percent for Hispanics, while less than 12 percent of white people were poor. In Lowesville, North Carolina, Vanessa Blalock, an African American woman, was sitting in front of her dilapidated trailer home under the summer sun. Vanessa doesn't know much about either of the two candidates, as she hadn't been watching TV for some time due to lack of electricity. Asked whether she would vote in this year's election, the mother of a daughter who is now living in New York, responded that in order to do that, she has to walk all the way to a bus stop, and take a bus. "It's difficult to travel," she stressed. (Reporting by Yuan Yue, Li Changxiang and Li Ming; Editing by Zhou Xiaozheng, Zhu Lei and Ding Yimin) CANBERRA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Families of migrants to Australia will be able to apply for a five-year temporary residency visa, in a move set to reduce decade-long wait list for families seeking a permanent residency visa, the Australian government has announced. The move was made after the government became aware of frustrations surrounding the current visa program, Assistant Minister for Immigration Alex Hawke was quoted by The Australian on Saturday. Currently, if family members of a migrant to Australia wish to join their family through a visa program, they are put on a lengthy wait list for a permanent residency visa. But under the new plan, migrants can sponsor their family's move, and they'll be given a five-year visa without waiting for long time. Families or the migrants will be required to contribute to the cost of the visa, a measure which has come about after a Productivity Commission report last week found the overall cost of hosting migrants' parents would be up to 2.5 billion U.S dollars once welfare, healthcare and other social benefits are given to them. Hawke said many migrants and their ethnic communities were upset at the long wait list which prevented families from being reunited in Australia. "We want to help families reunite and spend time together, while ensuring that we do so in a way that does not burden Australia's healthcare system," Hawke added. The government estimated that just 1,500 people migrate to Australia to join family members who were already living in the country. The government is yet to decide on a cost for the new, five-year temporary visa program, however it expects to implement the visa from July 1, 2017. MONTREAL, Canada, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- China and Canada should increase efforts in promoting bilateral cooperation and properly manage their differences, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday. Wang made the remarks when meeting with his Canadian counterpart Stephane Dion during Premier Li Keqiang's official visit to Canada. Hailing Li's visit as successful, Wang said the exchange of visits between the Chinese premier and the Canadian prime minister within a month, as well as a joint statement listing 29 achievements issued by the two sides, have sent a positive signal to the outside world. He said he hopes the China-Canada relationship can set an example for other Western countries. Wang called on both sides to take the necessary steps needed to strengthen their ties and turn the two leaders' words into action. He said the two countries should make efforts to promote cooperation and properly manage their differences and negative factors. Echoing Wang's views, Dion said Li has sent a message of deepening bilateral cooperation to Canadians from all walks of life. As both countries have outlined the future of their relations, the next step is to focus on how to consistently develop the relationship, he said. Dion said Canada and China enjoyed a friendly relationship in the past and will embrace a promising future. The two foreign ministers also exchanged views on cooperation in African affairs and the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Brazil' s state-run oil and gas giant Petrobras announced on Friday board approval for the sale of 90 percent of its gas pipeline, Nova Transportadora do Sudeste (NTS). NTS will be sold to Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (BIP) and its affiliates, including China's CIC Capital Corporation. NTS owns a pipeline network stretching 2,048 km across Brazil's southern regions. According to Petrobras, the sale amounted to 5.2 billion U.S. dollars to be paid in two installments. The first, worth 4.34 billion dollars, will be paid when the transaction is completed, and the rest will be paid five years from now. "NTS was sold through a competitive process and the transaction price was appraised by four financial institutions," the company said. The sale is an important part of Petrobras' divestment plan, which seeks to shed assets worth 15.1 billion dollars by the end of 2016 and a further 19.5 billion dollars by the end of 2018. The company is mired in troubles as a result of a corruption scandal, the country's continued economic recession and the devaluation of Brazilian currency real against the U.S. dollar. JINAN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's Xiwang Foodstuffs has acquired 100 percent stake of Canada's Kerr Investment Holding Corp, the Chinese firm announced on Friday. Under the deal signed in Canada on Thursday, Xiwang Foodstuffs, a private company in east China's Shandong Province, will set up a joint venture with Primavera Capital, a China-based global investment firm, to buy the Canadian company for 730 million U.S. dollars. A Shenzhen-listed firm specializing in corn oil production, Xiwang Foodstuffs holds 75 percent of the joint venture, while Primavera Capital owns 25 percent. The joint venture will set up a wholly-owned subsidiary Xiwang Iovate Holdings in Canada, which will then establish Xiwang Iovate Health Science International Inc. Xiwang Iovate Health Science International will first purchase 80 percent of Kerr's stake. The remaining 20 percent will be purchased three years later. After the acquisition, Xiwang Foodstuffs will make use of its domestic business network to bring Kerr's business to China's market. Wang Di, chairman of Xiwang Foodstuffs, said the company will strive to build itself into a top brand in the high-end health food industry. WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- In a dramatic about-face, former U.S. Republican contender Ted Cruz said Friday he would vote for his former arch-rival Donald Trump in the November presidential election. "After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump," Cruz wrote on his facebook page. Cruz, a conservative and former staunch critic of Trump, quit the Republican nomination race in early May after losing the primary in the state of Indiana. The Texas senator said two reasons led to his decision to support Trump. First, Cruz said he would honor the promise he made last year to support the Republican nominee. Second, he decided to support Trump mainly because he wants to prevent Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton from winning the race. Cruz's endorsement of Trump left behind a tense relationship between the two top Republican contenders, which was full of sarcasm, acrimony and even animosity. During the nomination battle, Trump regularly called Cruz "Lyin Ted" and even insulted his wife, while Cruz called Trump a "pathological liar" and "utterly amoral." The Cruz decision is expected to help bolster Trump's campaign by rallying conservative Republican voters. NAY PYI TAW, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar government has allowed 143 former citizens taking foreign citizenship to resume their Myanmar citizenship in accordance with law, parliament sources said Saturday. Minister of Labor, Immigration and Population U Thein Swe told parliament members that the 143 people were granted out of 198 applicants for resuming their Myanmar citizenship since 2013. The remaining applications would be processed, he said. Myanmar's former U Thein Sein government introduced a permanent residence system for overseas Myanmar taking foreign citizenship to return and stay back in Myanmar permanently to enable them to do their businesses. The system also applies to foreign technicians and investors, U Thein Swe said, adding that permanent residency was granted to 264 out of 319 foreign applicants from January 2015 to August this year. Meanwhile, the government is cooperating with the parliament in the process of amending the country's citizenship law, according to the minister. SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Shootings at a mall north of Seattle in the U.S. State of Washington killed four people on Friday night. State police in the U.S. Pacific Northwest state said a gunman is on the loose in the incident, which took place at Cascade Mall in Burlington. HARBIN/CHANGCHUN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities are searching for a can containing radioactive isotope that was missing during transportation in the northeastern province of Jilin earlier this week. The can, about 20 cm in height, was missing on Sept. 19, when a team of workers from a drilling company of the Daqing Oilfield were working in Songyuan City of Jilin, company sources of Daqing Oilfield in Heilongjiang Province confirmed Saturday. The can contained radioactive indium-113m, Daqing Oilfield said. The case was reported immediately to city authorities in Songyuan. Local police and environmental protection agency launched a joint search for the missing can. Environmental protection specialists said the content posed little threat to the environment, but excessive exposure could be risky to human health. Police in Songyuan have offered a cash reward of 30,000 yuan (4,498 U.S. dollars) for clues leading to its retrieval. BEIJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Trade volume between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan reached 95.55 billion U.S. dollars in the first seven months of 2016, down 9.8 percent year on year, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Commerce (MOC). Mainland exports to Taiwan totaled 22.57 billion dollars from January to July, a 12.7 percent year-on-year drop, while the island's exports to the mainland grossed 72.98 billion U.S. dollars, a decrease of 8.8 percent from that in the same period of last year. Taiwan is currently the seventh largest trading partner of the Chinese mainland. A total of 2,051 projects funded wholly or partly with funds from Taiwan were approved on the mainland during the seven months, up 32.2 percent. By the end of July, the Chinese mainland had 97,349 Taiwan-backed projects, and mainland's actual use of Taiwanese capital stood at 64.04 billion U.S. dollars, or 3.7 percent of the total overseas capital. SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A shooting at a mall north of Seattle in the U.S. State of Washington killed four people on Friday night. Washington State Patrol in the U.S. Pacific Northwest state said a lone gunman is on the loose after the incident, which took place at Cascade Mall in Burlington. Sergeant Mark Francis, a public information officer with the state patrol, tweeted a series of messages including a description of the shooter as a "Hispanic male wearing grey." Police were alerted about the incident at 6:58 p.m. local time. Shortly after 8:00 p.m., in one of the Twitter postings, Francis said that four people were confirmed dead in the mall, while the shooter, possibly acting alone, left the scene before police arrived. He also said the police were clearing the mall. An unknown number of people were wounded at the mall, about 105 km north of Seattle, the biggest city in the state. A blurry image of the suspect likely from a security camera was shown on TV stations. Thanks for visiting ! The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Thank you for your support! VIENTIANE, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Laos' ruling communist party, Lao People's Revolutionary Party, has vowed to strengthen efforts in fighting corruption, state-run online newspaper Vientiane Times reported Saturday. Taking a tougher stance in the battle against corruption and inappropriate bureaucracy was one of the most important decisions of the Third Session of the 10th Party Central Committee (PCC), according to the report. The PCC members agreed to strengthen their efforts after learning that corruption and burdensome bureaucracy were occurring in different forms and different levels throughout state sectors. The PCC agreed to put in place stronger measures to address undesirable practices within Party and government bodies and to improve the efficiency of state management and law enforcement. The two-day meeting, concluded on Wednesday, was chaired by Party Secretary General and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachit and highlighted the need for the government to further improve its operations. Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith vowed to fight corruption, a chronic problem for Lao society for decades, when he assumed office in April. A number of issues have since been addressed including inflated electricity bills, illegal logging, and fuel tariff exemptions. At the meeting, participants agreed to build the Party with transparency, encouraging Party members to devote themselves wholeheartedly to this cause. Addressing a nationwide meeting on personnel-organization affairs in August, Bounnhang said immoral members must be removed from the Party and stressed the importance of instilling revolutionary morality in them. Over the past five years, more than 1,800 Party members have failed to follow Party discipline, ranging from minor infringements to major acts of wrongdoing. Some people only joined the Party for their own benefit while others gave bribes in both direct and indirect ways so they could become Party members. The growth in Party membership over the past five years has been partly due to nepotism and, although the number of Party members has increased, the quality is not as high as anticipated. There are currently over 281,000 Party members nationwide, an increase of 27.7 percent compared to 2011. Of this number, 63,748 are women. Members aged between 18 and 39 represent 43 percent of the total figure; those aged between 40 and 49 make up 31 percent; and those aged 51 or more account for 26 percent. Laos is the least developed country in Asia and over the past 40 years, the Lao People's Revolutionary Party has led the multi-ethnic country to fulfil the two strategic tasks of national defense and development. As a result, socio-economic development has grown strongly and the number of poor people has declined continuously. HAVANA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming official visit by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to Cuba is hailed as the "best moment" of relations between China and Cuba since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1960. Li's visit, the first such by a Chinese premier to the Caribbean state represents a "perfect opportunity" to upgrade economic and political ties, Rafael Hernandez, a professor of international relations at the University of Havana, told Xinhua. "The Premier's trip to the island is part of the constant exchanges between the two nations. It will also allow the Chinese leadership to examine future joint projects and see how much China's experience has helped Cuba in updating its socialist model," said the renowned Cuban academic. "China has reached a high level of economic growth over the last 30 years while Cuba has achieved great social development. The possibility of exchanging experiences in these areas offers a very special framework for their relations today and for future development," Hernandez said. Relations between China and Cuba are at their "best moment" since the the two sides established diplomatic ties in 1960, he noted, saying "relations are well-balanced with good economic cooperation and solid diplomatic and political links." "Cuba also seeks to learn from reforms that have taken place in China and its experiences of developing a productive economy," he added. Since 2010, Cuba has undertaken a series of economic and social reforms. "The Cuban government has carefully studied Beijing's reforms over the years and has tried to learn what could be adapted to Cuba's conditions," he said. Hernandez cited China's policy on the development and application of science and technology as an example. "We must learn more from the Chinese on how to set up a coherent system that starts with research for promoting development and production," he said. "Economic cooperation between the two countries keeps growing and new opportunities arise in areas like biotechnology, health, renewable energy, industries, and environmental protection," Hernandez said. In addition, Hernandez believes Washington's possible lifting in the near future of its embargo against Cuba would be vital for the island's future economic development. HANOI, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The bodies of a 61-year-old woman and her three grandchildren aged three to nine years old were found in their room in Vietnam's northern Quang Ninh province on Saturday early morning. Coming home in Uong Bi city after a night shift, Vu Thi Thanh found the corpses of her 61-year-old mother, her 9-year-old daughter, his eight-year-old son and her 3-year-old niece (her elder sister's daughter), the municipal Police Department said. All the victims were stabbed and chopped to death. Many local people thought that thieves or robbers broke into her house to steel or rob assets, and killed the woman and the kids to cover up their crimes. Thanh's two-story house is in a densely-populated area. HANOI, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Vietnamese government has agreed with the Defense Ministry's proposal on relocating its frequent training flights at Noi Bai, Da Nang and Tan Son Nhat international airports to other airports, local media reported Saturday. The 921st Air Regiment will move from Noi Bai airport in Hanoi to Yen Bai airport in the northern province of Yen Bai which is under construction and will become operational from the second quarter of 2018, daily newspaper Giao Thong (Transport) reported. The 929th Air Regiment will move from Da Nang airport in the central city of Da Nang to Chu Lai airport in the central province of Quang Nam. The 917th Air Regiment will move from Tan Son Nhat aiport in Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho airport in the southern city of Can Tho which is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2017. The Defense Ministry has instructed relevant parties to hand over a 21-hectare area currently used for military training flight taking-off and landing at Tan Son Nhat airport to the Transport Ministry in October. MANILA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government joined Saturday the call for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Yemen as it continued to monitor the situation to ensure the safety of Filipinos there. In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reiterated the Philippine support for United Nations-brokered negotiations, in keeping with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Initiative and the National Dialogue outcomes. "The Philippines adopts the view that the conflict in Yemen should not threaten Yemen's neighbors and calls on all parties to ensure the delivery of humanitarian and medical assistance to the people of Yemen," the department said. It said the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh is closely monitoring the political and security situation in Yemen and is working to ensure the safe passage of Filipinos remaining in that country. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has said that 180 people have died and a further 268 were injured in August after UN-mediated peace talks were put on hold last month. Yemen has been locked in a civil war since the Houthis seized power and overturned the Yemeni government in late 2014. In March 2015, the Saudi-led coalition launched a bombing campaign to restore the legitimacy of the government. However, the military intervention has deepened the conflict and crises across the country. Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre (L) presents Chinese Premier Li Keqiang with the key to the city after their meeting in Montreal, Canada, Sept. 23, 2016. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) MONTREAL, Canada, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre and Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard on Friday, calling on them to continue to spearhead China-Canada cooperation at local levels. When meeting with Coderre, Li said Montreal is an economic, cultural and technological center of Canada and also a major destination for Chinese investors and tourists. He called on Montreal to deepen trade, investment, aviation and tourism cooperation with more places in China. Urbanization is an important component of modernization and China's industrialization will come along with urbanization, Li said. "During the process of pushing for a new type of urbanization, China is willing to enhance exchanges with Montreal to learn advanced city management and make it a new point of growth for bilateral local-level cooperation." Coderre said Montreal has good relations with Shanghai and is willing to strengthen cooperation with Shanghai and other Chinese cities in city management, environment protection, high technology and sustainable development. Coderre said he hoped the cooperation between large cities will play a big role in boosting the China-Canada relationship, adding that Montreal looks forward to the smooth progress of feasibility study of a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA). After the meeting, Coderre presented Premier Li with the keys to the city. When meeting with Couillard, Li said Quebec has a long history of friendly relations with China and that China will never forget the Canadian friends' unselfish assistance to China, represented by Norman Bethune. Li said he and Canadian leaders have reached important consensus on cooperation in a wide range of areas, and they are convinced that the stable growth of the China-Canada relations will provide a new opportunity for partnership between China and Quebec. Li said cooperation at local levels is an important part of bilateral relations and Quebec, which plays an important and unique role in Canada, takes the lead in cooperation with China. "China and Canada have reached consensus on launching the feasibility study of the FTA. China welcomes Quebec to play a positive role in this process," Li said. He welcomed Quebec enterprises to invest in China and encourages capable Chinese businesses to cooperate with Quebec to lay a solid foundation for bilateral practical cooperation. Quebec supports the feasibility study of the FTA and is ready to work with the federal government to push forward the free trade process between the two countries, Couillard said. He added that Quebec also hopes to enhance cooperation with China in carbon market and welcomes Chinese enterprises to diversify their investment there. Prior to the meeting, Li visited an exhibition featuring the China-Canada friendship and Norman Bethune, a well-known Canadian surgeon who arrived in early 1938 in China's Yan'an to provide medical services to Chinese troops during WWII and died of septicemia in 1939. Li arrived in Ottawa Wednesday afternoon for an official visit to Canada and will travel to Cuba on Saturday. He had attended high-level meetings of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly at the UN Headquarters in New York before visiting Canada. COLOMBO, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, is the world's fourth fastest-growing destination for international visitors, the 2016 Mastercard Global Destinations Cities Index said on Saturday. The index, which projects the number of tourists staying in 132 of the most popular cities worldwide, said that Colombo will see a 19.57 percent increase in foreign arrivals this year. Mastercard's latest list showed the growing international significance of Asia, as seven of the 10 most-visited cities in the world are in the continent, with five of those located in East or Southeast Asia. Bangkok is the world's most popular destination and is projected to welcome over 21 million international overnight travelers. The top four cities, according to the Index are, Osaka which will grow at 24.15 percent, Chengdu at 20.14 percent, Abu Dhabi at 19.81 percent and Colombo at 19.57 percent. TIKRIT, Iraq, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Two senior security officials of Iraq's central province of Salahudin escaped suicide bomb attacks in the province's capital city Tikrit on Saturday morning, a provincial security source told Xinhua. At least eight people were killed and 23 others injured in the twin bomb attacks, the source said on condition of anonymity. In the first attack, a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into the convoy of provincial police chief Maj. Gen. Dhamin al-Jubouri, near the northern entrance of the city, some 170 km north of Iraq's capital Baghdad, the source said. Minutes later, also at the northern entrance of the city, another suicide bomber detonated his car near the convoy of Sheikh Jasim al-Jebara, head of the security committee of Salahudin provincial council. The casualties were checkpoint security members and bodyguards in the convoys. In a separate incident, unidentified gunmen attacked al-Salam security checkpoint, north of Tikrit, killing four soldiers before fleeing the scene. No group has yet claimed responsibility for those attacks inside and near Tikrit. The Sunni-dominated province of Salahudin has witnessed a lot of deadly attacks since security forces and allied paramilitary units, known as Hashd Shaabi, retook the province from IS militants who seized a large part of it in June 2014. SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) --At least seven people were killed and nine others injured after a vehicle belonging to India's Border Roads Organisation (BRO) skidded off road and rolled down into a deep gorge in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said Saturday. The accident took place Friday evening at Tragbal area of mountainous Bandipora district, about 97 km north of Srinagar, city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. The victims were identified as labourers associated with BRO. "Seven labourers were killed and nine others injured when a vehicle carrying BRO workers fell into deep gorge," an official said. "Five labourers died on spot while two seriously injured later succumbed to injuries on their way to Bandipora hospital." Soon after the accident, police officials and locals rushed to the spot to rescue injured and retrieve bodies from the gorge. Hospitals authorities at Bandipora said nine people in injured condition were brought to hospital. Officials said the ill-fated vehicle carrying 21 people was coming from Gurez to Bandipora. The cause of accident was being ascertained, police officials said. Reports said driver of the vehicle was missing until last reports poured in and search to trace him was underway. The BRO is building roads and tunnels in the region. Deadly road accidents are common in India often caused due to overloading, bad condition of roads and reckless driving. Last year 146,133 people were killed and 500,279 others injured in 501,423 road accidents across India, a latest report released by India's ministry of road transport said. Global Road Safety Report - 2015 released by WHO last year, however, said India accounts for more than 200,000 deaths annually due to road accidents. SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A shooting at a mall north of Seattle in the U.S. State of Washington killed four women on Friday night. Washington State Patrol in the U.S. Pacific Northwest state said a lone gunman with a rifle was on the loose after the incident, which took place at Cascade Mall in Burlington. Police initially reported four people were killed, then changed the fatalities to three, before revising the number again. All four female victims were found at a Macy's department store in the mall which contains around 50 vendors. One male sustained life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, which was about 65 miles (105 kilometers) south of Burlington. The mall was located about 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Seattle, the biggest city in the state. Sergeant Mark Francis, a public information officer with the state patrol, told a press conference that the injured male "most likely will pass away." Throughout the night, Francis tweeted a series of messages including a description of the shooter as a "Hispanic male wearing grey." "Here is the shooter. We believe (there is) just one shooter ... armed with rifle," Francis noted, referring to a blurry image of the suspect from a security camera which was posted on Twitter social network. The police were alerted about the incident at 6:58 p.m. local time (0058 GMT). The shopping mall was evacuated, and searched by state and local law enforcement agencies. Federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were sent to the scene. The FBI has "no information to suggest additional attacks planned in WA state," the Seattle FBI office said in a Twitter posting. The Cultural Italian-American Organization, of Auburn, will host its annual Christopher Columbus Testimonial Dinner Sunday, Oct. 16, at the Holiday Inn, 75 North St., Auburn. Cocktails will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by an Italian dinner at 6:30 p.m. and homemade limoncello and Italian dessert. This year's dinner will honor retiring state Sen. Michael Nozzolio. The event will be hosted by WSYR anchor Dan Cummings, and presentations will be made to Nozzolio. Tickets should be purchased by Oct. 11; they can be purchased at Tesoro's Apparel, Sam's Shoe Service, Silbert Optical, The Flower Shop and Paul's Barber Shop, all in Auburn. Tickets are also available from CIAO board members, and reservations of 10 per table can be made by contacting Marie or Dick Paulino at (315) 255-1312. A program book will also contain congratulatory messages for Nozzolio; ads are available for purchase, with a deadline of Oct. 8. For more information, visit cayugacountyciao.org. BANGKOK, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) --Thailand's social media has been flooded with controversies as the Thai Culture Ministry banned a music video "Travel in Thailand is Fun" that promotes Thai tourism via epic characters. The video was released by the Thai Authority of Tourism earlier this month to promote domestic travel among Thais with a wacky depiction of traditional "Khon" characters having fun. The ministry said scenes showing the Hindu epic character Ravana, the masked demon king, riding horse, a jet ski, a go-kart, and a tuk-tuk as well as taking selfie and cooking Thai sweetmeat were inappropriate. The ministry asked the film's director to modify the video, which means almost 40 percent of the original one will be removed. Authorities said the character of Ravana-- the demon king abductor of women -- should not be portrayed doing "undignified" activities such as go karting or taking selfies. The Culture Ministry's move has caused an uproar in social media, with many netizens seeing nothing wrong in using Khon to promote tourism. Many social media users shared a drawing showing the back of a sad-looking Ravana with a message reading "I can't do this. I can't do that. I can't even cook sweetmeat ... Oh, please! I am grown up already." Some shared the picture of frozen-food box labelled "Frozen culture", and called on friends to sign the petition. There's been an outpouring of support for the video. A website posted Wednesday has already drawn more than 30,000 signatures requesting authorities to open mind. Ravana or "Thotsakan" is a character from the epics, who fell in love with Sida (Sita), wife of a human king. He kidnaps Sida, leading to a huge war between demons and humans. Ravana is the king of demons with 10 heads, and with his 20 arms possesses innumerable weapons and stoutly believes in his invincibility. In Thailand, Ravana is treated as a part of art, literature and culture. It is a character of an epic, rather than a religious figure. His masks and dramatic depictions can be found across various art forms in Thailand including temples and even the airports. Rescue workers carry the body of a victim from the capsized migrant boat in Rosetta, Egypt on Sept. 22, 2016. (Xinhua) by Xinhua Writer Wu Zhiqiang CAIRO, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The death of more than 160 people in the sinking of an overloaded ship off Egypt's Mediterranean city of Rosetta has once again focused world attention on the plight of refugees and migrants. And on the causes behind tragedies like this. The refugees, or migrants, however you describe them, were fleeing war and poverty for a safer, better life somewhere else. A multitude of reasons may be given as to what caused the wars and the poverty, but the West cannot shirk their responsibility. Colonial rule by Western powers in past centuries and their interventionist policies in recent decades both played a part. Rosetta, appearing in the datelines of so many news stories on the sinking of the ship with up to 600 people aboard, happens to bear the same name of an ancient rock stele now sitting inside the British Museum and that Egyptian authorities want returned. Dating back to 196 BC, the Rosetta Stone, which provided the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs, was once "owned" by Napoleon's troops and then ended up the "property" of Britain. And now the city of Rosetta is bearing witness to a tragedy partly of Western making. What a coincidence. The euphoric atmosphere permeating Washington and other Western capitals at the start of the so-called "Arab Spring" five years ago has long been replaced by hand-wringing in the face of bloodshed, chaos, and misery from Syria to Iraq to Libya, and the terror attacks that filled news headlines so often around the world. In a few hours, the foreign ministers of the U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and the European Union are scheduled to gather at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, in northwest United States. The serene campus of Tufts is a far cry from the turbulent Mediterranean seas, but the wars in the Middle East and the refugee crisis gripping the region and beyond sit near the top of the agenda when U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets his five counterparts. Rosetta and Medford, in the final analysis, are not too far away. One more death is too many. One day longer of suffering is too long. It is high time that the United States and other Western countries reflected upon their flawed interventionist policies that often featured imposition of their values and sought regime changes. It is high time that the West took constructive actions. They have a moral obligation and historical responsibility to do so. Chinese engineers go about their work at the Maputo-Catembe Bridge in Maputo, Mozambique, June 7, 2015. The Maputo-Catembe Bridge and its link roads, under loans of China EximBank, are likely to become one of the largest suspension bridges in Africa with a main span of 680 meters, leading to a substantial increase in economic, business and tourism development of the southern part of the bay after its completion in 2017. (Xinhua/Li Xiaopeng) MAPUTO, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- China will help Mozambique establish an industrial park as an effort to increase job opportunities in the southern African country, according to Chinese Ambassador Su Jian. Ambassador Su told Mozambican Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosario on Wednesday in Maputo that China is willing to continue supporting the country in different domains including increasing job opportunities through the establishment of an industrial park. The ambassador said the Chinese government would send a group of specialists to Mozambique next year to help establish the industrial park. "Mozambican government has already identified a number of potential locations. With that defined, potential Chinese and Mozambican companies can be invited to the initial phase of the project," said the ambassador. China is one of the major foreign investors in Mozambique and has been implementing a number of moves that tend to help Mozambique overcome the challenges it is going through in the economic domain. Those moves include debt relief and loans with low or no interests as part of the Chinese and Mozambique strategy to strengthen cooperation. Photo taken on Nov. 30, 2015 shows the Matchedje Motor Ltd. workshop, the only company assembling cars in Mozambique, which is as a result of a Chinese investment in Matola, the city adjacent to the capital city Maputo, Mozambique. (Xinhua/Li Xiaopeng) Photo taken on Nov. 12, 2015 shows the newly-built national highway road No. 131 in Nampula city of the northern Nampula province, Mozambique, built by a Chinese company. (Xinhua/Li Xiaopeng) Photo taken on Nov. 24, 2015 shows a five-star hotel that is being built by a Chinese company in the complex of the Joaquim Chissano Conference Center in Maputo, Mozambique. The hotel was launched in early 2014 by former Mozambican President Armando Guebuza. (Xinhua/Li Xiaopeng) Rescue workers carry the body of a victim from the capsized migrant boat in Rosetta, Egypt on Sept. 22, 2016.(Xinhua Photo) by Xinhua Writer Wu Zhiqiang CAIRO, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The death of more than 160 people in the sinking of an overloaded ship off Egypt's Mediterranean city of Rosetta has once again focused world attention on the plight of refugees and migrants. And on the causes behind tragedies like this. The refugees, or migrants, however you describe them, were fleeing war and poverty for a safer, better life somewhere else. A multitude of reasons may be given as to what caused the wars and the poverty, but the West cannot shirk their responsibility. Colonial rule by Western powers in past centuries and their interventionist policies in recent decades both played a part. Rosetta, appearing in the datelines of so many news stories on the sinking of the ship with up to 600 people aboard, happens to bear the same name of an ancient rock stele now sitting inside the British Museum and that Egyptian authorities want returned. Dating back to 196 BC, the Rosetta Stone, which provided the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs, was once "owned" by Napoleon's troops and then ended up the "property" of Britain. And now the city of Rosetta is bearing witness to a tragedy partly of Western making. What a coincidence. The euphoric atmosphere permeating Washington and other Western capitals at the start of the so-called "Arab Spring" five years ago has long been replaced by hand-wringing in the face of bloodshed, chaos, and misery from Syria to Iraq to Libya, and the terror attacks that filled news headlines so often around the world. In a few hours, the foreign ministers of the U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and the European Union are scheduled to gather at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, in northwest United States. The serene campus of Tufts is a far cry from the turbulent Mediterranean seas, but the wars in the Middle East and the refugee crisis gripping the region and beyond sit near the top of the agenda when U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets his five counterparts. Rosetta and Medford, in the final analysis, are not too far away. One more death is too many. One day longer of suffering is too long. It is high time that the United States and other Western countries reflected upon their flawed interventionist policies that often featured imposition of their values and sought regime changes. It is high time that the West took constructive actions. They have a moral obligation and historical responsibility to do so. A Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) soldier holds a gun at a containment site outside Juba on April 14, 2016. AFP PHOTO / cds / SAMIR BOL JUBA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan Army (SPLA) has convicted and sentenced 77 of its soldiers on charges of murder, rape and looting to imprisonment and death, its spokesman said. Spokesman Lul Ruai Koang told journalists in Juba that majority of the soldiers sentenced committed these crimes during the eruption of intense fighting on July 8 in the capital between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and sacked former First Vice President Riek Machar. "A total of 77 SPLA soldiers have been sentenced, some to death, some to so many years in prison. Two have been sentenced to 14 years in prison including a captain who was accused of rape. Another soldier accused of murder has been sentenced to death by firing squad," Koang explained. The soldiers were read to their charges ranging from theft, looting, loitering and embezzlement at a parade amid tight security. "This was a culmination of a legal process that took three months. After the July clashes the military leadership formed the General Court Martial (GCM) to try SPLA soldiers accused of different crimes," said Koang. He said the GCM cited the SPLA Act 2009 to punish those who committed crimes. "We are serious about those who have been tarnishing the name of SPLA. The message will be a deterrent to those who are still serving the SPLA that days of impunity are long gone," Koang said. He added that 31 of the sentenced soldiers were dismissed from the military and will serve their prison sentences in civil prisons. The intense fighting that forced the rebel leader Machar to flee the capital with his troops left about 300 people killed and thousands displaced. Massive looting of shops, rape, and vandalizing of properties were also reported. The renewed clash left the fragile peace agreement signed in August 2015 in tatters after Machar was replaced with Taban Deng Gai as First Vice President. COLOMBO, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Over 20 minority Tamil political prisoners held in prisons across Sri Lanka have commenced a hunger strike protesting against their detention, local media reported here Saturday. The prisoners have urged the government to release them without further delay and have demanded that if their cases are being further prolonged, then the cases must be transferred to a court in the northern towns of Vavuniya and Jaffna which are Tamil- dominated. Prison officials said they are considering transferring some of the prisoners on hunger strike to the Jaffna prison for the convenience of their relatives. Most of the prisoners were arrested during and soon after the country's 30 year civil war against Tamil Tiger rebels which ended in May 2009. The government this week announced that it had decided to offer rehabilitation to some suspects arrested under a controversial anti-terror law. The Ministry of Resettlement and Rehabilitation said that the rehabilitation offer is being made to 23 of 96 minority Tamils arrested over alleged links to Tamil Tiger rebels. The 23 pending cases and trials under the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) that are before Sri Lanka's High Court will be considered by the Attorney General's Department to facilitate a plea. The Ministry of Resettlement and Rehabilitation said the 23 suspects who will be offered rehabilitation had been arrested for minor offences. The former Sri Lankan government used anti-terror laws to arrest Tamil Tiger rebel suspects and their supporters but the current government has said it will replace the laws while maintaining national security. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang addresses the 6th Canada China Business Forum in Montreal, Canada, Sept. 23, 2016. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) OTTAWA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang witnessed here on Thursday the inking of 14 cooperation agreements, which observers believe will push bilateral economic cooperation to a new stage. Among the 14 agreements covering a wide span of fields such as trade, investment, finance, tourism, education and judiciary, economic cooperation is surely a high priority and closer economic ties are regarded as the common concern of the two countries. An improving Sino-Canadian relationship is the strong support for closer economic ties. Trudeau, in pursuit of a friendly attitude towards China, visited the Asian country last month. Li's trip to Canada, the Chinese premier's first official visit to the country in 13 years, was viewed as reciprocal. "We are willing to make China-Canada relations a leading model for China's ties with major countries in the West," Li told a forum in Montreal during his tightly-scheduled trip. Moreover, analysts pointed out that the economies between China and Canada are highly complementary, and the bilateral economic cooperation is mutually beneficiary. China stands to be Canada's second largest trading partner and enjoys an admiringly high economic growth rate, while Canada is struggling with a tepid economic growth rate and upward trend of world trade protectionism. In the field of bilateral trade, China-Canada's trade volume reached 55.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2015, on which base the two aim to double by 2025. China also ranks the second in terms of Canada's global export market and source of imports. They reached consensus to explore together the huge potential in the industries of high-tech, agriculture, energy resources as well as the Third-Party Markets. As the world's second largest country, Canada homes a comparatively small population of some 30 million. In comparison, China is the world's most populous country with less than 10 percent of the world's arable land, which spells the necessity of agricultural cooperation. The two decided to "expand market access to Canadian bone-in beef and to advance several key initiatives to support the trade of Canadian beef and pork, bovine genetics, Chinese pears and filled grain products," said a joint statement issued by the two sides on Friday. Concerning the Third-Party Markets, China and Canada agreed to enhance cooperation to encourage and support enterprises of both countries to pursue economic development opportunities in third-party markets, which certainly will enlarge the spectrum of cooperative chances between Beijing and Ottawa. Li also announced during his visit China's willingness to kick off talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) with Canada, making the North American country the first Group of Seven economy that China is seeking an FTA with. On the other side, Canada's decision to apply for membership at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank was applauded as one of the major achievements of Trudeau's visit to China. The membership in the China-initiated bank, as it was believed by Canadian politicians and researchers, would not only promote the economic development of the maple country, but also helps them explore business opportunities in the entire Asia. To guarantee the healthy growth of bilateral cooperation, the two countries also agreed to bring into full play, among others, the High-Level National Security and Rule of Law Dialogue, the Economic and Financial Strategic Dialogue and the Annual Dialogue between the Premier of China and the Prime Minister of Canada. Those in the economic sectors in Canada have hailed the bright prospects of Sino-Canada economic ties. Drew Stuart Dorweiler, managing director at Dartmouth Partners, stressed the fact that both Premier Li and Trudeau want to embark on this type of project (FTA), because it's "fantastic." Rainer Bollhorn, partner of Gibson Canadian & Global, noted that "for companies in Canada which are thinking about investing in China, it will be good, because the only way to go is to have a level playing field," adding that "China is making a big effort to open up to the world." The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) issues new stamps, as shown on the official UNPA website, to commemorate the 17th meeting of Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), known as CITES CoP17, slated for September 24, 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa.(UNPA official website photo) JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Pangolin, lion, mountain gorilla, white rhino and other endangered wild animals and plants found in Africa appeared on a set of 12 new stamps issued by the United Nations on Friday. The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) issued the stamps to coincide with a major world wildlife conference in South Africa. Two 18-month old lion cubs are seen at the Antelope Park, in Gweru, Zimbabwe, Nov. 8, 2014. (Xinhua/Xu Lingui) The 17th meeting of Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), known as CITES CoP17, will kick off on Saturday in Johannesburg and last until October 5. The stamps commemorate CITES CoP17 with 12 species of CITES-listed animals and plants found in Africa, including cape pangolin, lion, mountain gorilla, white rhinoceros, which are high on the agenda of the meeting. Sudan, the last male of remaining known northern white rhinos in the world, eats plants in central Kenya's Ol Pejeta Wildlife Conservancy, on April 28, 2016. (Xinhua/Pan Siwei) Africa is home to a rich diversity of wild animals and plants, including some of the world's most admired species. However, the loss of habitat and poaching driven by illicit trafficking, with the latter being the most immediate threat for some species, has decimated both charismatic species, like elephant and rhino, and lesser known ones, such as pangolins, in recent years. Some of these species are featured on the stamps. CoP17 has brought the world's governments and wider community of interest together to tackle these issues, not only in Africa but on a global scale in its largest ever gathering. Commenting on the issuance of this special edition of the UN Endangered Species Stamps, CITES Secretary-General John E. Scanlon, said: "It is almost two decades since an African country has hosted a meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES." Close shot of a female mountain gorilla in the Bwindi mountains in Rwanda (Xinhua/GAMMA) All eyes will be focused on South Africa and on CITES over the coming two weeks as its 182 Parties (181 countries and the European Union) take critical decisions affecting the future of some of the world's most precious wildlife, he said. Since July, the UN General Assembly has adopted two resolutions on tackling illicit trafficking in wildlife. It is therefore highly appropriate that the UN Postal Administration issues these special stamps to raise awareness of wildlife conservation and to mark CITES CoP17, Scanlon said. UNPA Chief Thanawat Amnajanan said the UNPA has been working with CITES for its Endangered Species stamp series for over 20 years. He said the United Nations is honoured to issue this special "Eye on Africa" edition of Endangered Species stamps to celebrate and support the important work of CITES and to promote the CITES CoP17 - the World Wildlife Conference. Crocodiles are seen on the bank of Mara River at the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, July 14, 2016.(Xinhua/Meng Tao) The 12 species of wild animals and plants featured on the "Eye on Africa - CITES CoP17" series are: Addax (Addax nasomaculatus); African lion (Panthera leo); Avonia Quinaria; Cape pangolin (Smutsia temminckii); Cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres); Disa uniflora; Grey crowned crane (Balearica regulorum); Madagascan mantella (Mantella madagascariensis); Mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei); Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus); Mystacidium Capense, and White rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). This is the 23rd edition on the UN Endangered Species stamps since the series started in 1993, featuring CITES-listed species each year. GARISSA, Kenya, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Humanitarian crises is looming in northeast Kenya's county of Garissa, which borders Somalia as thousands of pastoralists' families are hit by escalating drought that has led to drying up of water sources and depletion of pasture. Affected families have appealed to the government as well as the international community to speedily intervene as escalating drought threatens their lives and that of their livestock. Most water points have dried up forcing residents to heavily depend on inadequate remaining wells, which have changed color and developed foul smell due to contamination from the high number of animals and people converging at them for survival. Large population of those stricken by the raging dry spell have to trek, in some cases more than 30 km to find water for drinking and for domestic use. Ijara Sub-sub County, one of the areas hardest hit by the drought schools and health facilities are on the verge of shut down with respective administrators fearing keeping the children and patients could pose more danger to their health. According to residents interviewed, chances of water born diseases like cholera spreading were high because of lack of clean water. A spot check in some of the areas showed that children in the drought affected areas have already started showing signs of contraction of water borne diseases such as diarrhea. When Xinhua visited the only water dam in Korisa location in Ijara sub-county in Garissa, there was beehive of activities; local residents were seen busy drawing the visibly contaminated water with pungent smell and at some points compete with thirsty livestock and wild animals. "Thirsty wild animals are "fighting" with people over the access of the only water source in this area. Residents were forced to take turns day and night to keep way buffaloes from the dam, but now we have given up because it's extremely risky to ward off the thirsty wild animals as they come in big numbers and take a forcibly turn in drinking the water," a resident Haret Nasteh said. He said most livestock moved deep into Boni forest saddled between Ijara and Lamu as the drought situation worsen on daily basis in pursuit of greener pasture. "As you can see this is our only water source. We, therefore urgently appeal to the government and international community to come to our aid urgently because if the situation is fast going out of hand," he added. According to Garissa County's National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), the dry spell is at an alarming stage in the county noting that Ijara sub-county is the hardest hit due to water points have dried up. The authority said unlike previous dry spell, which only affected families on hinterland, the current drought also destabilized people living around the river line areas. Cases of human-wildlife conflict has surged up into alarming proportion, as thirsty wild animals invade human settlement in bid to get water to consume. Ijara sub-county administrator Mohamed Ahmed Dahir said the county government is overstretched with overwhelming number of families requiring water and food provision as it's impossible to provide all drought victims living different parts of the expansive county. "We would like to appeal to donors to intervene as the situation is getting out of hands," he added. JAKARTA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- A pedestrian bridge collapsed in southern part of Jakarta on Saturday, leaving 3 people dead and 3 others wounded, a police spokesman said. Strong wind was blamed for the collapse of the public facility, Jakarta police spokesman Awi Setiyoo told Xinhua via phone. The collapsed bridge also hit three cars which were passing below it, he said. All the victims have been rushed to a nearby hospital, according to the spokesman. The Zonta Club Of Auburn, along with members of our Z Club (our high school-based club), volunteer at The Episcopal Church of SS. Peter & John, 169 Genesee St., as part of our service mission. The soup kitchen there serves an average of 143 meals each Saturday, with 60 percent being women, 30 percent men and 10 percent children. The Zonta volunteers fill two shifts that help with food preparation, serving and cleaning up. One thing we do is volunteer our time and, of course, if we can donate, we do. But the satisfaction of helping others hands-on outweighs everything. To be able to talk and listen to people we serve is vital to their well-being. To hear their stories, to be a sounding board, to give empathy and to just listen is an important part of what we do. A lot of times our members can relate, can understand where someone is in their journey because one of us has been on that path as well. At the soup kitchen we serve women and children, but we have the ability to work with a lot of local men. Many bring their own children. Since the Z Club has joined our kitchen, there are so many more volunteers and we are able to cook, serve, clean and visit more. One thing that keeps us moving is knowing whom we serve, so talking with people pushes us more. We are thankful that SS. Peter & John does the only Saturday serving in Auburn and has allowed us to continue to participate with the church. This is a great partnership we have made over the years, and literally, one hand washes the other. There is an age limit in helping serve and cook; however, if you ever want to volunteer and bring a child with you to learn what it is to eat at a soup kitchen, please call and ask. You're never too young nor old to learn what giving is, as well as knowing what it is like to not have anything. Zonta: 39 Auburn High School students charter Z Club The Nov. 12 meeting of the Zonta Club of Auburn was full of celebration! We celebrated our c In 2017, the Zonta Club Of Auburn will cover the following dates: April 22, July 22, Sept. 23 and Dec. 23 at SS. Peter & John. The Zonta Club Of Auburn also has monthly collections of personal care items throughout year. Not only will we accept items for our local domestic violence shelter, but we continually collect items for county locations. These personal care items, such as shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothpaste and childrens diapers, are always needed. Many of the people who receive these items are women. Sanitary items are not covered by SNAP (food stamps) and are taxable items. Tampons, sanitary napkins and Depend adult underwear are always welcomed. We ask members of Zonta and any person willing to donate to please save items you won't use; Zonta will find a home for them. When I travel, I often bring my own shampoo, conditioner and soap, so each morning I take the hotel complimentary items and pack them up to bring back for our collections. Thankfully, housekeeping replenishes them every morning. These items are perfect for local shelters and food banks. Members' donations are given to the King Ferry Food Pantry and to the Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency. Last year, you read about the jean drive we did for the CSCAA. Our goal is to keep you aware of what is going on in Auburn. You can find out more about our Z Club and Auburn Club on our Facebook. We both put up our goals and monthly activities. If you are interested in ZONTA, feel free to contact President Jessica Cosentino. We're always looking for new members and service ideas. With our help, your help and great community organizations helping people, we all can help people in Cayuga County and continue to make a difference in the lives of many. ISLAMABAD, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- A pilot of the Pakistan Air Force was killed on Saturday in a crash of a PAF aircraft in Khyber agency tribal region, officials said. "Pakistan Air Force reports with regret that a PAF aircraft, while on a routine operational training mission, crashed near Jamrud (a main town in Khyber agency)," the PAF spokesman said. The pilot of the aircraft Flt Lt Omer Shahzad sustained fatal injuries and died later, the spokesman said in a statement. No loss of civilian life and property has been reported on the ground, he said. A board of inquiry has been ordered by Air Headquarters to determine the cause of the accident. Locals said the aircraft came down in a mountainous area and that the security forces were seen heading to the area after the crash. NEW DELHI, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Indian military chiefs from army, air force and navy on Saturday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence, India's official broadcaster - All India Radio (AIR)-- said. "Army chief General Dalbir Singh, Air Force chief Marshal Arup Raha and vice chief of Naval Staff vice admiral Karambir Singh today called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence," the broadcaster said. "During the meeting, discussions were held on prevailing security situation and India's response to Uri attacks." Earlier this week, four gunmen stormed an Indian army base in frontier Uri town of Indian-controlled Kashmir, killing 18 troopers and wounding over 20 others. The attack considered to be the deadliest in recent past in the restive region has heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. New Delhi blames Islamabad for the attack and accuses Pakistan based militants of carrying it out. Indian politicians and retired military officials are demanding a strong reaction to the attack. Pakistan, however, has strongly rejected the accusations of India and expressed concern at what it described the "vitriolic and unsubstantiated statements from India's civil and military leadership" in the aftermath of attack at Uri. The Indian government and its top officials have been meeting continuously ever since the attack in a bid to plan its diplomatic and strategic response to the attack in Uri. LIVERPOOL, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Left-wing politician Jeremy Corbyn held on to his job Saturday as leader of Britain's main opposition Labour Party. He beat off a challenge from one of his former front bench shadow ministers Owen Smith. The result of the leadership election was announced in Liverpool where Labour is holding its annual conference. Corbyn won 313,209 votes while his challenger received 193,222 votes in a straight fight. Corbyn captured almost 62 percent of the vote, a slight increase over last year's win, while Smith attracted just over 38 percent of the votes. In his victory speech, Corbyn called for unity, urging members and all Labour MPs to work together to defeat Theresa May's ruling Conservative Government. He said Labour could win the next election whenever May decides to call it. Currently it is due 2020, but some commentators believe it will come earlier. While Corbyn's win was a victory for grassroots party members, it leaves a big question mark over the reaction from the 172 Labour MPs who in June supported a no-confidence vote in Corbyn. Most of his own front bench team resigned as shadow ministers in another blow to the party, sparking the worse ever crisis for Labour. The fall-out between Corbyn and the majority of his MPs erupted following the decision by Britons in the June 23 referendum to leave the European Union. Labour officially backed remain, and Corbyn was partly blamed for what was seen as a half-hearted support by the leader. Although Corbyn insisted he attended Remain rallies across the country, he became estranged from his parliamentary colleagues. Corbyn had sat as a backbench MP for 30 years representing the London constituency of Islington North when he was plunged into the political spotlight. Following Labour's dismal performance at the 2015 general election, leading to a majority Conservative government, Ed Miliband quit as opposition leader. That sparked a Labour leadership election, with Corbyn joining the race at the last minute as a 500-1 prospect with a next to nothing chance of winning. The result sent shock waves across the political world when Corbyn won with a landslide victory. He won almost 252,000 votes, 60 percent of all votes. Runner up Andy Burnham got just under 80,500 votes, or 19 percent. The combined votes of Corbyn's three opponents would not have altered the result. Backed by the pressure group Momentum, Corbyn's popularity has continued to grow at grassroots level. In this year's leadership election Labour MPs decided on a single challenger to give their camp a better chance of winning. That led to MP Angela Eagle withdrawing from the leadership race. But the result Saturday shows MPs have a political mountain to climb to unseat Corbyn. WUHAN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Severe drought in central China's Hubei Province over the past three weeks has caused drinking water shortages for 237,000 people, local authorities said Saturday. The province received average precipitation of 10.5 mm since the beginning of the month, only 10 percent of the normal volume, the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters said in a press release. It said the northwest of the province suffered the most from the drought. In Shiyan and Yichang cities, the driest areas, 237,000 people and 170,000 head of cattle were suffering from a shortage of drinking water. Meanwhile, 123,000 hectares of cropland was damaged by the drought, posing severe challenges for this year's harvest. The provincial government has sent water wagons to relief thirst in the drought-hit villages and townships. JAKARTA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Flashfloods and landslides in West Java province earlier this week has left 33 dead, 22 missing with over 6,000 internally displaced, disaster agency officials said. In Garut district, rescuers have recovered 30 bodies and are searching for 22 other missing persons, Haryadi Wargadibrata, head of provincial disaster agency told Xinhua by phone from the province. A total of 6,361 people were forced to take shelters at government offices and military stations, he added. As many as 951 houses were damaged, swept by currents of rivers, and submerged by mud and waters in the district, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of national disaster management agency has told Xinhua via phone. Search and rescue operation for the victims involved 1,600 personnel, comprising soldiers, police and those from local search and rescue office, disaster agency office, and Red Cross, he added. One helicopter is combing the areas along the two rivers, whose waters overflowed banks after heavy downpours earlier Wednesday, to find the victims, Sutopo said. Separately, in Sumedang district 3 people were killed after landslides hit 2 houses, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, he revealed. Indonesia is frequently hit by floods and landslides during heavy downpours. MOSCOW, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Saturday that the United States had apologized to Syrian President Bashar Assad for the airstrikes against Syrian government troops. "Yes, they have apologized," Lavrov said in an interview with the Rossiya 1 television channel. Commenting on restoring truce in the war-battered country, Lavrov said it is only possible on a collective basis, which need the "sincere" cooperation from Washington to separate the so called moderate opposition from terrorist groups. On Sept. 17, the U.S.-led coalition airstrikes killed over 60 Syrian government troops and injured some 100 others in Syria's eastern province of Deir al-Zour, incurring a strong response from Moscow, which accused Washington of violating the cease-fire accord in Syria. On Sept. 10, Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced a nationwide cease-fire in Syria, which demands all warring sides stop attacks and airstrikes, and allow access to besieged areas, including Aleppo. However, crossfire has resumed in the first hours after the truce deal expired on Monday. DAMASCUS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Syrian forces backed by Palestinian groups succeeded Saturday to recapture a camp of Palestinian refugees in the northern province of Aleppo from the hands of rebels, according to state news agency SANA. The capture of Handarat camp, 13 km northeast of Aleppo, came after the Syrian army and Palestinian factions destroyed the last positions of the rebels there, SANA said. Bomb squads started dismantling explosive devices and roadside bombs the rebels had planted. Meanwhile, the rebels' Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, previously known as Nusra Front before breaking ties with al-Qaida, said that the Syrian army and the Palestinian Liwa al-Quds succeeded to take the camp under heavy airstrikes from the Russian air force. Wresting back control over Handarat consolidates the government forces' control over the key road of Castello, which had been used by the rebels as a main supply route to areas under their control in eastern Aleppo, before the army captured it a couple of months ago. In the beginning of last month, the rebels took control of the entire camp, following battles with the army. The camp has a strategic importance as it overlooks several rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo, which has become under tight government siege after the Syrian army captured Castello. The Syrian Defense Ministry announced Thursday the commencement of a new offensive against rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo, urging the civilians to leave immediately and the rebels to lay down their weapons. On Friday, Syrian warplanes dropped leaflets over eastern Aleppo, renewing calls on civilians to stay away from the rebel positions and advising the rebels to surrender. The renewed military showdown in Aleppo came just days after a Russian-U.S. brokered truce expired last Monday with no extension, due to the rising tension between Russia and the United States. The Syrian army said in a statement that the rebels violated the week-long truce over 300 times, adding that the U.S.-led coalition struck positions of the Syrian army during the truce in Deir al-Zour, killing 90 soldiers, which was deemed by Russia as the biggest violation to the truce. The U.S.-led attack on Syrian army positions in Deir al-Zour was the first since the coalition started operations in Syria two years ago. Washington said the attack was "unintentional," a claim totally rejected by the Syrian government, with President Bashar al-Assad saying the U.S.-led coalition intentionally struck the Syrian army posts in Deir al-Zour. Aleppo has a strategic importance for the warring parties due to its location near the Turkish borders, and being Syria's largest province, and once the economic hub of Syria. PHNOM PENH, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- A Cambodian court has formally charged eight suspects, including three women, in a Phnom Penh grenade explosion earlier this month that left four people wounded, a court spokesman said on Saturday. The suspects, five Cambodians and three Vietnamese, have been arrested this week after a thorough investigation by a National Police team. Phnom Penh Municipal Court's spokesman Ly Sophanna said the Cambodian suspects were charged with a premeditated murder, as the Vietnamese suspects were charged with an attempted murder. "The Court's Investigating Judge Nou Veasna decided to place them in a pre-trial detention," he told Xinhua. Under the Kingdom's Penal Code, the premeditated murder charge could face a life imprisonment, while the attempted murder charge could carry a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. At least four people were injured and four cars were damaged when a grenade went off in the evening of Sept. 6 in Phnom Penh's Chamkar Mon district. Security footage shows the grenade was dropped from a passing motorbike and exploded on the driver's side of a white Lexus SUV as it passed by. Phnom Penh Municipal Police Chief Gen. Chuon Sovann said in a press conference on Friday that Cambodian woman Sok Kimly, 41, who was arrested Tuesday night, had masterminded the grenade attack in an attempt to kill a man who was identified as Ear Kimhour. He said that personal revenge was the motive behind the grenade blast. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry(R) attends a high-level meeting on Syria at the Security Council Chamber at the UN Headquarters in New York, Sept. 21, 2016. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) MOSCOW, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister SergeyLavrov said Saturday that the United States had apologized to Syrian President Bashar Assad for the airstrikes against Syrian government troops. "Yes, they have apologized," Lavrov said in an interview with the Rossiya 1 television channel. Commenting on restoring truce in the war-battered country, Lavrovsaid it is only possible on a collective basis, which need the "sincere" cooperation from Washington to separate the so called moderate opposition from terrorist groups. On Sept. 17, the U.S.-led coalition airstrikes killed over 60 Syrian government troops and injured some 100 others in Syria's eastern province of Deir al-Zour, incurring a strong response from Moscow, which accused Washington of violating the cease-fire accord in Syria. On Sept. 10, Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced a nationwide cease-fire in Syria, which demands all warring sides stop attacks and airstrikes, and allow access to besieged areas, including Aleppo. However, crossfire has resumed in the first hours after the truce deal expired on Monday. TEHRAN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Iran has asked Denmark to participate in the country's water and power projects, semi-official Mehr news agency reported Saturday. Iran's Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian met his Danish counterpart Lars Christian Lilleholt in Copenhagen on Friday, reportedly discussed joint cooperation in the field of renewable energy, improving quality of water resources and wastewater treatment. Chitchian said that wastewater treatment is now being carried out in most of the Iranian cities, but taking advantage of modern technologies in water and wastewater treatment is still a venue for cooperation between private sectors of Iran and Denmark. The meeting also decided that top companies of Denmark would make a visit to Tehran in the near future to discuss venues for boosting bilateral cooperation in water and electricity areas. In a separate meeting with Esben Lunde Larsen, Denmark's Minister for Environment and Food, Chitchian also invited Danish firms to cooperate with their Iranian counterparts to alleviate negative impacts of climate change and to boost water management and irrigation efficiency in the agriculture sector. A 33-year-old Auburn man is facing felony and misdemeanor charges after an alleged domestic incident with a woman. Auburn police arrested Joseph Smith, of 7 Cayuga St., Friday night after he allegedly assaulted and strangled his girlfriend, who had an order of protection against him. Following the fight, police said Smith left the area of Seymour Street, driving to his home while intoxicated. He was also operating the vehicle with a revoked license and without an interlock device. Smith was charged with first-degree criminal contempt, a felony, for violating the order of protection. He was also charged with driving while intoxicated with a previous conviction and first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, also felonies. Smith is facing several misdemeanor charges, including obstruction of breath, third-degree assault and failure to use an interlock device. Smith was arraigned Saturday morning and remanded to the Cayuga County Jail where he was being held without bail. CAIRO, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian court on Saturday sentenced seven Islamists to death over charges of killing a police general in a firefight on the outskirts of Cairo in 2013, official MENA news agency reported. Another five defendants were sentenced to five years in prison in the same case, the report said. The defendants were accused of storming a police station, killing the chief, Nabil Farag, and wounding nine other policemen in Kerdasa on Aug. 14, 2013. The police station was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and then torched. In Aug. 2014, a lower court confirmed the death sentences on the 12 defendants on charges of killing Farag. The Court of Cassation ordered a retrial of seven of the defendants last year. The defendants were further accused of funding and administering terrorist attacks, assaulting the private life of citizens, harming the national unity and social peace, targeting public institutions and disturbing public order. A picture taken on August 14, 2016 in a abandoned village near the southern Iranian city of Sirjan shows dead pistachio trees at a field that farmers left behind due to the lack of water.(AFP photo) TEHRAN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Iran has asked Denmark to participate in the country's water and power projects, semi-official Mehr news agency reported Saturday. Iran's Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian met his Danish counterpart Lars Christian Lilleholt in Copenhagen on Friday, reportedly discussed joint cooperation in the field of renewable energy, improving quality of water resources and wastewater treatment. Chitchian said that wastewater treatment is now being carried out in most of the Iranian cities, but taking advantage of modern technologies in water and wastewater treatment is still a venue for cooperation between private sectors of Iran and Denmark. The meeting also decided that top companies of Denmark would make a visit to Tehran in the near future to discuss venues for boosting bilateral cooperation in water and electricity areas. In a separate meeting with Esben Lunde Larsen, Denmark's Minister for Environment and Food, Chitchian also invited Danish firms to cooperate with their Iranian counterparts to alleviate negative impacts of climate change and to boost water management and irrigation efficiency in the agriculture sector. URUMQI, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- In Urumqi, the geographic center of the Eurasian continent, delegates from 57 countries and regions are attending the 5th China-Eurasia Expo, which will conclude on Sunday. Pakistan, Belarus and Italy are among the 23 countries and regions that have participated in the event in northwest China's Xinjiang since it was first held in 2011, while delegates from dozens of Caribbean and African countries are attending for the first time. The expo's executive secretary Li Jingyuan said efforts have been made to upgrade the China-Eurasia Expo into a diplomatic platform for world leaders, especially from Belt and Road countries. At the past four expos, nearly 30 heads of state and directors of international organizations, along with over 700 ministerial-level guests, came together to work out cooperation initiatives on issues of common interest at nearly 40 high-level forums and special events. The expo has become an important tool for the Chinese government to implement its opening-up strategy and a major platform for communication and cooperation among Eurasian countries, Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen said at the opening ceremony on Tuesday. GROWING TRADE, GROWING POTENTIAL Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda of Tajikistan said the China-Eurasia Expo has played a larger and more influential role in promoting trade among Eurasian countries and building the Silk Road Economic Belt. Trade volume between China and Belt and Road countries exceeded 446 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of this year, according to the Ministry of Commerce. China has invested over 51 billion U.S. dollars in the countries since the initiative was proposed. Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, said the progress and achievements in implementing the Belt and Road Initiative over the past three years have exceeded everyone's expectations and demonstrated huge potential. As a co-organizer of the expo, the China-Britain Business Council has recruited British enterprises to participate in the expo and hosted fairs for investment and trade since the expo was born. Its executive director Kirk Wilson said the council has always valued the expo as the most important platform for trade cooperation and said he hopes British entrepreneurs can build relationships and find more opportunities. A total of 15 telecom operators from eight countries signed a cooperation deal at the Expo, pledging to enhance interconnectivity in telecommunications and jointly build an "information expressway." Chen Lidong, an official with China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said the "information expressway" will advance the development of the Belt and Road Initiative. Also at the expo, a technology company from Xinjiang signed a deal with UnionPay International and a commercial bank in Kazakhstan for cross-border payment service. Nearly 100 representatives from the World Health Organization and Belt and Road countries have collectively produced proposals on international cooperation in entry-exit health quarantines and vowed to build a collaboration network to promote regional mobility. EXPANDING CIRCLE OF FRIENDS Some Caribbean countries, including Jamaica and Haiti, and several African countries such as Angola and Zimbabwe participated in the expo for the first time. Also joining the expo's "circle of friends" for the first time were trade departments of various international organizations. Eustace Lake, Minister of Works and Housing for Antigua and Barbuda, said he values the opportunity to "build relationships and seek potential trade partners," and hopes to persuade participants that Antigua and Barbuda, located in the heart of the Caribbean, is a perfect choice for investors. Peter Mathuki, a member of parliament for the East African Legislative Assembly, outlined the broad prospects for investment in Africa's energy sector. He said East Africa has vast renewable energy resources, but their potential is far from being fully tapped. He hopes to use the expo to bring back advanced clean energy technology to ensure a brighter future for the region. As the key guest of honor at this year's expo, Belarus has sent 40 companies in fields such as machinery, energy and tourism. Ruslan Drozd is the director of the Belarusian Potash Company's Beijing office. Though the current international potash fertilizer market is weak, he is quite confident he can maintain the existing sales. "Our goal is to strengthen cooperation with Chinese companies, and the expo is a perfect platform for us to fulfill that," said Drozd, whose company sells 2 million tonnes of potash fertilizer to China every year. Tun Winn, Myanmar's deputy minister of agriculture, livestock and irrigation, said China needs his country's mangos and bananas, while Myanmar needs to import apples and kiwi fruit from China. "Both countries will definitely benefit from a fruit trade relationship," he said. About 100,000 merchants from more than 60 countries and regions have participated in the expo since 2011, with a total of 1.3 million visitors, organizers said. Policemen secure the area around pharaonic artifacts inside the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt June 23, 2016.(REUTERS Photo) CAIRO, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian court on Saturday sentenced seven Islamists to death over charges of killing a police general in a firefight on the outskirts of Cairo in 2013, official MENA news agency reported. Another five defendants were sentenced to five years in prison in the same case, the report said. The defendants were accused of storming a police station, killing the chief, Nabil Farag, and wounding nine other policemen in Kerdasa on Aug. 14, 2013. The police station was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and then torched. In Aug. 2014, a lower court confirmed the death sentences on the 12 defendants on charges of killing Farag. The Court of Cassation ordered a retrial of seven of the defendants last year. The defendants were further accused of funding and administering terrorist attacks, assaulting the private life of citizens, harming the national unity and social peace, targeting public institutions and disturbing public order. TIANJIN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- China is considering changes to its mineral deposit classification and reporting rules to bring them in line with international standards and open up its mining sector, government officials have said. Mining is an important sector for China's opening up, said Yu Haifeng, an official in charge of mineral reserves with the Ministry of Land and Resources at the China Mining Congress and Expo held in the northern port city of Tianjin. Compared with the standards of CRIRSCO (Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards), China's classification for solid mineral resources is suitable for government oversight, but has not allowed financial capital markets to be fully utilized, said Li Jian, another official with the ministry. Differences in classification and reporting standards have led to higher costs for China's mining firms in international cooperation, said Wang Jionghui, general manager assistant of China Minmetals Corporation. Modifying its system to be closer to the CRIRSCO standard system will enhance China's influence in the international mining market and help China build a highly efficient and sustainable mining market, said Wang at the expo. Formed in 1994, CRIRSCO is a grouping of representatives of organizations responsible for developing mineral reporting codes and guidelines in Australasia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Europe, Mongolia, Russia, South Africa and the United States, according to its official website. The combined value of mining companies listed on stock exchanges in those countries and regions accounts for more than 80 percent of the listed capital of the mining industry. China Mining Congress and Expo, which runs from Thursday to Sunday, is one of the largest mineral exploration and mining trading platforms. It plays an important role in communication and cooperation for mining communities globally. China has become the world's largest producer, consumer and trading nation of mineral commodities. Over the past five years, China's total production of primary energy hit 11.7 billion tonnes of standard coal and its total output of iron ore reached 6.8 billion tonnes, Minister of Land and Resources Jiang Daming told the congress. During the same period, China's total trade volume of mineral products was close to 5 trillion U.S. dollars, an increase of 81 percent, said Jiang at the opening ceremony of the congress on Friday. China has invested 568 billion yuan (85 billion U.S. dollars) in geological exploration over the past five years and discovered more than 730 large and medium-sized mineral deposits, Jiang said. As China's economy enters a new normal, the country's mining sector should seek new momentum through structural reforms, he added. The minister said China will gradually open up the exploration and development market in oil, gas and new energy and improve government supervision in the sector. All countries should strengthen exchanges in policy, technical standards and codes in the mining field to facilitate investment, he said. Booming global industrial cooperation and technological innovation have brought new opportunities to the mining industry, Jiang said. China has made continuous efforts in a bid to bring its system in line with international mining reporting systems. In 2015, China launched a program to establish technical standard systems for mineral reserves. CRIRSCO representatives said China has been proactive in bringing its standards in line with the organization and they appreciate what China has done in this regard. TEHRAN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Iran urged to boost trade ties among member states of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8) in line with the global trends of sustainable developments, local media reported on Saturday. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi called for "strong" economic ties within the organization, as he attended the extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers of D-8 on the sidelines of the 71st annual session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday. Araqchi said that D-8 states enjoy ample opportunities for economic cooperation, Tasnim news agency reported. As an organization for development cooperation among Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey, D-8 is striving to improve member states' position in the global economy, and to create new opportunities in trade relations. Araqchi also said that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a proper international framework that could help the D-8 members outline their priorities and promote cooperation. hinese President Xi Jinping (L) and Cuban President Raul Castro attend a signing ceremony for bilateral documents in Havana, capital of Cuba, July 22, 2014. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) HAVANA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming official visit by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to Cuba is hailed as the "best moment" of relations between China and Cuba since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1960. Li's visit, the first such by a Chinese premier to the Caribbean state represents a "perfect opportunity" to upgrade economic and political ties, Rafael Hernandez, a professor of international relations at the University of Havana, told Xinhua. "The Premier's trip to the island is part of the constant exchanges between the two nations. It will also allow the Chinese leadership to examine future joint projects and see how much China's experience has helped Cuba in updating its socialist model," said the renowned Cuban academic. "China has reached a high level of economic growth over the last 30 years while Cuba has achieved great social development. The possibility of exchanging experiences in these areas offers a very special framework for their relations today and for future development," Hernandez said. Relations between China and Cuba are at their "best moment" since the the two sides established diplomatic ties in 1960, he noted, saying "relations are well-balanced with good economic cooperation and solid diplomatic and political links." Passengers step down the first flight from China's Beijing to Cuba's Havana at the airport of Havana, capital of Cuba, Dec. 27, 2015. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) "Cuba also seeks to learn from reforms that have taken place in China and its experiences of developing a productive economy," he added. Since 2010, Cuba has undertaken a series of economic and social reforms. "The Cuban government has carefully studied Beijing's reforms over the years and has tried to learn what could be adapted to Cuba's conditions," he said. Hernandez cited China's policy on the development and application of science and technology as an example. "We must learn more from the Chinese on how to set up a coherent system that starts with research for promoting development and production," he said. "Economic cooperation between the two countries keeps growing and new opportunities arise in areas like biotechnology, health, renewable energy, industries, and environmental protection," Hernandez said. In addition, Hernandez believes Washington's possible lifting in the near future of its embargo against Cuba would be vital for the island's future economic development. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with British Prime Minister Theresa May, who is here to attend the Group of 20 (G20) summit, in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 5, 2016. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) LONDON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese official has called for his country and Britain to enhance mutual political trust and strengthen pragmatic cooperation to further promote bilateral relations. Du Qinglin, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, made the remarks when attending the ninth China-Britain Leadership Forum held on Wednesday and Thursday. The official hailed the forum as an important platform where parties and statesmen of the two countries could have in-depth communication and learn from each other. The relations between China and Britain were now at a critical moment in history, Du said. He noted that he expected the two sides to strengthen their political mutual trust, promote pragmatic cooperation, and enrich the connotation of the China-Britain Global Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the 21st century through frank and in-depth dialogue. Du added that the Communist Party of China was willing to engage in exchanges with the major British political parties in the parliament and learn from each other so as to promote bilateral relations. Chinese and British leaders recently reaffirmed that Sino-British relations were in a "golden era." The forum meets annually and alternates between the two countries. It aims to discuss, debate and establish respective positions on key issues both on a bilateral and international basis and build lasting relationships between statesmen in both countries. It also aims to contribute to the strengthening of the strategic relationship between China and Britain. BEIJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Saturday marked the 1,000th day since the establishment of the Central Leading Group for Deepening Overall Reform, which is headed by President Xi Jinping. Over the course of the 27 meetings convened by the leading group since its establishment on Dec. 30, 2013, hundreds of measures have been formulated and released to address hard-nut-to-crack problems in areas including urbanization, poverty alleviation, innovation and the market's role in resource allocation. REFORM WITH RESULTS In one case, Yang Linhai, principal of a local filter manufacturer in Weixian County of Xingtai City in north China's Hebei Province, said his application to run a company was approved within 24 hours, which was impossible in the past because of complicated approval procedures. He recalled that, prior to late 2014, one needed to submit at least 28 types of materials to five different departments. In December of that year, the province's first administrative examination and approval bureau was set up in the county to pilot reform. Yang's experience reflects the results of the country's overall reform to streamline administrative power and delegate power to lower levels. The reform is meant to stimulate entrepreneurship and support private enterprises and small firms, which play a central role in job creation. Since 2012, Chinese businesses have saved 640 billion yuan (95.97 billion U.S. dollars) under a reform plan to replace business tax with value-added tax (VAT), benefiting 5.92 million taxpayers, official data showed. VAT reform was completely rolled out starting in May 2016. VAT is favored partly because it can reduce double taxation and lift the burden on Chinese firms, especially smaller ones. With the deepening of reform, more than 500 billion yuan is expected to be saved this year, marking the largest tax reduction since the new government was inaugurated in 2013. Over the past three years, the plan has addressed some reforms that had long stalled, including judicial reform, fiscal and taxation reform, reform of the household registration (hukou) system, remuneration reform of state-owned enterprises, public hospital reform, and rural land reform. At the latest meeting of the leading group on Aug. 30, Xi called for solid efforts to press ahead with the planned reforms in accordance with the established timetable and roadmap. FIRST STEP, STRONG START Since 2013, the Chinese central authorities have made strides in carrying forward the comprehensive reform package to ensure people equally share the results and are satisfied with the reform. Liu Wenying, head of the pediatric surgery department at Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, has high expectations for strengthened reform of children's medical and health services. "The planned reform targets will force local authorities to do more to ease the shortage of pediatricians and hospital beds for children," Liu said, adding that the reform is highly anticipated by parents and doctors. According to the latest reform plan issued by the National Health and Family Planning Commission, China will have 22 hospital beds per 10,000 children and about seven certified or assistant doctors per 10,000 children by 2020. China's sixth national census in 2010 showed the country had 220 million children under the age of 14. The two-child policy is expected to bring a surge of births among the generation born after 1985, causing heavier pressure on children's health services. Authorities have also increased investment in poverty relief since 2013. In Qizhai Village of Dawu County in central China's Hubei Province, 12,000 mu (800 hectares) of tea was grown on formerly barren mountains thanks to the government's poverty alleviation program. The program has helped more than 200 poor households make ends meet, with an average increase of income of 20,000 yuan for each person. From 2012 to 2014, over 52 million -- almost the population of a medium-sized country -- poor rural residents were lifted out of poverty. And the country will need to do more to alleviate poverty as around 50 million people still live under the poverty line. Noting the first 1,000 days were just the first step in a long journey, Chinese central authorities pledged to continue comprehensively deepening reform and consider the public's aspiration for the reform process. Related: Xi demands solid efforts to advance planned reforms By Ndumiso Mlilo JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) kicked off in Johannesburg on Saturday with high expectations from participants. The conference will consider different or even conflicting proposals on ways to better preserve wildlife. Some participants told Xinhua that they expect their proposals to be considered and passed. Professor Lee White, Director at Gabonese National Parks Service, said his delegation will submit a proposal for ivory trade and push African pangolin and grey parrots to Appendix 1 of CITES-listed most endangered animals. The CITES prohibits international trade in specimens of these species except when the purpose of the import is not commercial, for instance for scientific research. Prof. White said what has been done is not enough to stop illegal poaching and illegal trade. Countries, where illegal trade is rampant, should do more to combat illegal trade, he said. Donald Lehr from the 29-member African Elephant Coalition (AEC) said they are advocating for a permanent ban on international trade in elephant ivory. The organization represents 70 percent of African elephant range states. Lehr said the organization will also propose for the closure of domestic ivory markets around the world. There should be an end to the debate on a mechanism to legalize ivory trade in the future, he said. "We want to improve management of ivory stockpiles and endorse their destruction, and restrict trade in live, wild-caught elephants," Lehr said. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will put forward a joint proposal for legalizing ivory trade. Michele Pickover, Director at the Environmental Management Systems Foundation, said a more effective international treaty is needed to truly protect wild animals. She said they would like to see all elephants, lions and African parrots moved onto Appendix 1 and no split-listings. Pickover said a proposal to legalese trade in ivory and rhino horns should be defeated. She said, "There will be a lot of political 'horse-trading' but ultimately the animals being discussed will be on the losing end. Obviously because of the mandate of CITES itself, but also because the illegal trade is massive and is operating under the cover of the legal trade, enforcement is generally wholly inefficient and corruption is rife. So my expectations are that enough will be done to protect our planet's wild animals." Pickover called on governments to change their policies and create a more caring society globally. She also criticized CITES for being a flawed process which facilitates the trade in wild animal body parts and therefore provides a mechanism for these animals to be heavily exploited and be killed. Pickover said, "The illegal trade is massive because there is demand. Demand has to be effectively tackled. Education has to take place on a large scale. Diplomats are sometimes involved (in illegal trade) and they are protected. This is a problem. There needs to be harsher sentences." The conference will also negotiate on administrative and financial matters. The EU is participating for the first time as a full Party at the CITES meeting, representing all 28 EU member states in one voting bloc. Africa is home to a rich diversity of wild animals and plants, including some of the world's most admired species. However, the loss of habitat and poaching driven by illicit trafficking, with the latter being the most immediate threat for some species, has decimated both charismatic species, like elephant and rhino, and lesser known ones, such as pangolins, in recent years. The conference, which will last until October 5, is bringing the world's governments and wider community of interest together to tackle these issues, not only in Africa but on a global scale in its largest ever gathering. Amanda Palmer presented an interesting theory in her song Ukulele Anthem, thatbasicallyif everyone in the world played the uke there would be world peace . We all can agree that thats the kind of movement wed like to see start in Albuquerque, so get your asses to the Albuquerque Ukekopelli Festival sometime between Sept. 23-Sept. 25 for a myriad of concerts, food, workshops and performances. Go online to abqukefest.com for the full schedule of (over 20!) classes, workshops and performances that last throughout the weekend. Performances from ukulele masters Heidi Swedberg, Daniel Ward, John Bartlit, Gerald Ross, Frank Leto and a dance performance fromthe students of the Desert Stars Polynesia Hula dance studio. Aloha! (Megan Reneau) A three-day celebration of the ukulele, featuring eight instructors and two island dance workshops. The food, music, and dance of Hawaiian and Polynesia will be celebrated at a luau and island dance recital, part of the Albuquerque Ukekopelli Festival, Saturday, September 24, at the African American Performing Arts Center, 310 San Pedro Blvd. NE, in Albuquerque. The catered luau begins at 6 p.m. and the dance recital, featuring the students of Patsy Jones at the Desert Stars Polynesia Student Company, begins at 7 p.m. The festival is a three-day celebration of the ukulele, featuring eight top-notch instructors, plus two island dance workshops taught by Jones. Participants may choose to attend the full festival, only morning or evening workshops Saturday, or only the dance workshops. From 10 a.m. 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jones will teach a beginning level Tahitian Otea class, which will be accompanied by a drummer. From 3 to 5:30 p.m., students can learn a beginning hula dance, which will be accompanied by the ukulele. The Friday night concert and Saturday evening luau may also be purchased separately, however the luau meal must be ordered through the website by Sunday, September 18, at midnight. The Saturday evening event kicks off with a catered luau, which for $20 per person includes Huli-huli chicken, teriyaki beef, Kalua pork, poi, macaroni salad, rice, a drink, and Haupia (coconut pudding) for dessert. After partaking of this delicious meal, visitors will be treated to a dance recital that will include both Hawaiian and Polynesian dances performed by the Desert Stars Polynesia Student Company. The group includes mostly adult students, with one as young as 11, from beginners to advanced dancers. The recital is a showcase of hula and Tahitian dance that the students have learned during the year. It is an opportunity for them to perform on stage dressed in traditional hula and Tahitian costumes for their family, friends, and this year, ukulele festival attendees. Jones says people should attend in order to, Experience an evening of tropical delights: delicious, authentic Hawaiian food catered by Kimos Hawaiian BBQ, followed by traditional Hawaiian and Tahitian dancing by the Desert Stars Polynesia Student Company. There will be guest appearances from the talented musicians of the ukulele festival. The Desert Stars Polynesia Student Company is affiliated with Starlet Dance Studio. For more information about Desert Stars Polynesia, contact Patsy Jones at (505) 480-2816 or email desertstars@comcast.net Their website is http://www.desertstarspolynesia.com and they are on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DesertStarsPolynesia/. For tickets and more information about the Albuquerque Ukekopelli Festival, go to www.abqukefest.com. Tickets may be purchased through the link to Brown Paper Tickets. Luau meals must be pre-purchased by Sunday, September 18, at midnight. The dance recital is included with either a weekend pass for the festival or the luau ticket. NEW DELHI, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Indian Air Force has test fired long range air-to-air MICA missile on a manoeuvring target from a combat aircraft, a statement issued by Indian government's Press Information Bureau said Saturday. "Tigers - the first squadron of Indian Air Force, successfully fired the recently acquired long range Beyond Visual Range (BAV) air-to-air MICA missile on a manoeuvring target from Mirage-2000 Upgrade aircraft," the statement read. Indian Defense officials said the missile achieved a direct hit on a target which was much smaller than an actual aircraft and flying at low altitude. "The target was destroyed on missile impact validating the launch envelope of the missile," the statement said. The government statement claims, with the success of mission, the IAF has become one of the few air forces in the world with the capability of such long range BVR air-to-air missile. Earlier on Tuesday India successfully test fired a new surface-to-air missile - Barak-8. The long-range nuclear capable ballistic missile, developed jointly with Israel, was launched off defence base in Odisha coast from a mobile launcher in the Integrated Test Range (ITR). by Larry Neild LIVERPOOL, Britain, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Jeremy Corbyn emerged Saturday as the undisputed leader of western Europe's largest political party. But whether Labour's army of more than 500,000 members will win the keys of 10 Downing Street for Corbyn was a burning question here after the result of the party's leadership contest was announced to cheers and applause at the city's waterfront arena. Political commentators have already described Saturday's result as historic, saying it takes control of the party from its Westminster-centric parliamentary group and has given it to ordinary followers at grassroots level. Corbyn won 61.8 percent of the votes, a total of 313,209 against the remaining 38.2 or 193,222 votes won by leadership challenger Owen Smith. Welsh MP Smith was the flag carrier for the 172 Labour MPs who in June passed a vote of no confidence in Corbyn as leader. Their civil war against Corbyn started when MP Angela Eagle launched a bid for the leadership in an attempt to show Corbyn the door. He stood firm and resisted all attempts to block his bid to defend the job as leader he won last September with a landslide victory. Eagle dropped out of the race, the hope being a single challenger stood the best chance of removing Corbyn. It was left to Smith to take on the people's champion. What will dismay anti-Corbyn supports is the votes he won from long standing party members, the group it was thought most likely to back Smith. Instead the number of members who back the 67-years-old left winger rose by over 46,000 to 168,216, with votes among registered and affiliated supporters also up. It almost certainly guarantees that Corbyn will not face another challenge and will lead Labour into the next general election. Corbyn said the party could defeat Theresa May's Conservative Government to take power, but it will mean all members of the party uniting to work together. Corbyn has handed out an olive branch to encourage his estranged MPs to come together. "Let's wipe the slate clean from today," he pleaded in his victory speech, saying "we have much more in common than divides us." Some of Labour's most experienced MPs have already indicated they won't serve in Corbyn's front bench team. One of those who have announced they will not serve is his challenger Owen Smith. Corbyn's rise to popular power spells an end to the New Labour project started under Tony Blair. He steered the party from its working class traditions to win broader appeal among areas of the country not traditionally considered as Labour voters. Corbyn, backed by a support group known as Momentum, has hit a chord with traditional Labour voters who felt left behind by Blair-style Labour and its successors. Many politicians and veteran commentators doubt Corbyn's style of leadership will deliver any chance of the party winning. They fear Labour will remain in the political wilderness until it realizes it needs broader popular appeal to stand any chance of getting the keys to Number 10. Deputy Leader Tom Watson said it had been a bruising summer for Labour, but he welcomed calls for the party to unite. Watson said an early general election in Britain was expected and Labour needed to focus on its general election priorities. Although Corbyn's victory was expected by all sides, the scale of his endorsement has strengthened his grip on the party. It could be some days before a picture emerged of whether Labour has finally ended its civil war. The consensus in Liverpool Saturday is that the war is far from over. In Britain, Labour is the official opposition party in parliament, but in the fall-out between the Labour Parliamentary Party and Corbyn, most of his front bench team resigned. One of the leading politicians to respond to the result was Ed Miliband, whose resignation after the 2015 general election, pave the way for Corbyn's rise to power. "Now is the time for the party to unite and to focus on the country," said Miliband. Looming on the horizon is a battle over how Labour's front bench team is chosen. Labour MPs want to decide who should go forward by himself as leader, a third of the names from Labour MPs and the other third from grassroots members. Ironically it could be Prime Minister May who blows the whistle on Labour's warring faction. If May calls an early general election, Labour will immediately end its squabbling to take on the fight. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Following are quotable quotes from the speakers at the General Debate of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly on Sept. 24: "The world needs to place the physical and moral well-being and the dignity of human beings above any other interests. The refugees and migrants situation remains unsolved and deserves our focused attention and support. There is a continued need for a joint solution to end this situation affecting thousands of people, including children." -- Rui Maria de Araujo, the prime minister of Timor-Leste. "I believe that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is within our grasp. We are indeed expected by our people, our children and our grandchildren to deliver on our commitments." "Opportunities are plenty." "But challenges are by no means few." -- Pham Binha Minha, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Vietnam. "For more than five years, the Syrian people, no matter their affiliations, have paid dearly for the crimes of terrorists who have shed the blood of Syrians and undermined their security, stability and livelihoods. Terrorism has spared no one, targeting even schools, universities, hospitals, places of worship and infrastructure." -- Walid al-Moualem, the deputy prime minister of Syria. "In Malaysia, we no longer work in silos. We have moved into a new working environment that we call the Blue Ocean and bid farewell to the archaic Red Ocean. We have introduced a unique national development strategy on creativity and innovation known as the National Blue Ocean Strategy or NBOS." -- Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the deputy prime minister of Malaysia. "The level of complexity and the degree of interrelation of the challenges that the United Nations is called to face today is unparalleled in the history of this Organization. The United Nations must adapt quickly to new global challenges, but also to the new opportunities offered by globalization, in order to be more effective in carrying out its mandate." -- Pasquale Valentini, the foreign minister of San Marino. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations and three regional organizations on Saturday called upon all the parties concerned in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to "exercise maximum restraint in their actions" and "refrain from violence" in the African country. The African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), the International Organization of La Francophonie (IOF) issued a joint statement on the DRC situation to voice their grave concerns on the recent violent events in the capital Kinshasa and elsewhere in the country, where protesters and security forces clashed, resulting in loss of life. "The four partner organizations call on all political actors in the DRC, including the presidential majority and the political opposition, to exercise maximum restraint in their actions and statements and to urge their supporters to refrain from violence," the statement said. "They also urge the authorities of the DRC to promote and protect human rights, and to uphold fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Constitution, including when managing public order situations," said the statement. "All stakeholders, including officials of judicial and security institutions, have an individual responsibility to act in full compliance with the rule of law and human rights, and will have to face the consequences should they fail to do so," it said. Meanwhile, the four partner organizations urge the DRC government to "remain engaged in the dialogue process," including through continued confidence-building measures, and encourage the political groups who are not part of the current talks to play a constructive role with a view to contributing to the holding of credible elections at the earliest possible date, the statement said. At least 17 people, including three policemen, were killed on Sept. 19 in heavy clashes between protesters and police in Kinshasa, reports said. According to the nation's Constitution, the country is scheduled to hold its presidential election on Sept. 20. However, the electoral commission said the election has to be postponed until a voter registrar is completed, which the opposition rejects. Syria's Deputy Prime Minister Walid Al-Moualem addresses the general debate during the 71st annual session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Syria's Deputy Prime Minister Walid al-Moallem reiterated here Saturday his government's commitment to moving forward with the UN-mediated Geneva peace talks to end the five-year-old civil war. Addressing the high-level debate of UN General Assembly that entered its fifth day, the prime minister said outside intervention fueled the rise of terrorism, and all solutions dictated from the outside are categorically rejected by the Syrian people. "Everyone knows full well that terrorism would not have spread through my country if it hadn't been for the external support of well- known countries," he said. Since the onset of the crisis in 2011, the Syrian government has declared that any solution must follow two parallel tracks; counter-terrorism track and a political track through an intra-Syrian dialogue that allows Syrians to determine the future of their country without foreign interference, he said. "We have always been open to a political track that would stem the bloodshed and end the prolonged suffering of Syrians. We reiterate our commitment to move forward with the Geneva track, under the auspices of the United Nations," he said. The UN-mediated talks, held between the Syrian government and opposition forces, aims to end the conflicts which have killed over a quarter million people and displaced millions of others. The first of three scheduled rounds of negotiations yielded 12 points of commonalities between warring factions. The issue of political transition was the major topic for the second round of the talks that was held in April. TEHRAN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- An Italian warship docked at Iran's southern port city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday in line with the two countries' plan to boost friendly military ties, Press TV reported. The Italian frigate, named Euro, arrived in Bandar Abbas for a four-day stay. Commander of Iran's 1st Naval Zone, Admiral Amir Hossein Azad, said Saturday that the Italian frigate has been dispatched to the Islamic republic with the purpose of improving political, cultural and military relations. Iran's enemies have always sought to spread Iranophobia, however, different countries' dispatch of military and naval forces to Iran and their participation in joint projects with Iran have proved Iran's importance to the world, said Azad. Also, the Italian navy announced Saturday that the frigate was part of a mission by the European Union to fight piracy. It added that the visit comes as part of the resumption of "historic and excellent relations" between the Iranian and Italian navies. U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (C) arrives at a ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of September 11 attacks at the National 9/11 Memorial, in New York, the United States, on Sept. 11, 2016. The United States on Sunday commemorated the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- With the recent health scare of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, a slim majority of Americans think that a president's health records should be made public, according to a new Gallup poll. The poll comes at a time when Clinton's health has raised questions after her collapse on Sept. 11 as she exited from a 9/11 commemoration ceremony in New York. A number of her adversaries, as well as pundits and press, are calling for the release of her bill of health. Fifty-one percent of Americans say a president should release all medical information that might affect his or her ability to serve as commander-in-chief, the poll found. Nearly half, or 46 percent, say a president should have the same right as every other citizen to keep medical records private. This is a change from 2004, the last time Gallup asked this question, when 38 percent said presidents should release all information and 61 percent said they should be able to keep records private, Gallup said. Indeed, the candidates' health has erupted into a central campaign issue as both Clinton and rival Donald Trump have fielded calls to release their full medical records. Instead, the Clinton and Trump campaigns have released records in a gradual fashion, leading some critics to suggest they are both being less than forthcoming, Gallup said. As with many opinion polls in this politically charged election year, there is a partisan split. Sixty-six percent of Republicans say presidents should release all medical information, while 34 percent say they should have the right to keep their records private. Democrats are more evenly split, with 47 percent calling for presidents to release their medical information and 50 percent saying presidents should be able to keep it private, Gallup found. Americans believe that a president's health is important to his or her ability to be a good leader. While that may seem like an obvious statement, Americans have long had presidents who were not in the best of health, and some concealed their health problems, Gallup noted. Former President Dwight Eisenhower was hospitalized for a heart attack, former President John F. Kennedy privately struggled with Addison's disease, former President Franklin Roosevelt was in a wheelchair, and former President Ronald Reagan may have suffered from Alzheimer's disease while in office, Gallup said. In this social media age, however, it is exceedingly difficult to hide much from the public. The health problem of presidents is likely impossible to conceal today. Along with scrutiny over tax returns, legal records and other personal effects, a presidential candidate's medical background has moved to the forefront of the presidential vetting process this year, Gallup found. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L Front) and his wife Cheng Hong are welcomed by Miguel Diaz-Canel, Cuba's first vice-president of the councils of state and ministers, upon their arrival in Havana Sept. 24, 2016. Premier Li arrived in Havana Saturday for an official visit to Cuba. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) HAVANA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived in Havana Saturday for an official visit to Cuba. Li's trip to Havana is the first official visit to the Caribbean country by a Chinese premier since the two countries established diplomatic ties 56 years ago. Although China and Cuba are far apart, the hearts of our two peoples are very close to each other, Li said on his arrival. "I'm looking forward to deepening the two countries' traditional friendship, enhancing pragmatic cooperation, increasing people-to-people exchanges, and working together and promoting cooperation at a critical time for both countries, so as to carry forward China-Cuba relations on a higher level," said the Chinese premier. Li, accompanied by his wife Cheng Hong and senior Chinese officials, is in Havana as guest of President of the Cuban Council of State and Council of Ministers Raul Castro Ruz. During the visit, he will meet Raul Castro over strengthening China-Cuba cooperation and friendship, and the two countries are set to sign nearly 30 intergovernmental agreements and business contracts covering a broad range of fields such as economy, technology, finance, industrial capacity cooperation, information communications, new energy, and inspection and quarantine. Li is also scheduled to visit Cuba's revolutionary leader and former President Fidel Castro. Rafael Hernandez, a professor of international relations at the University of Havana, said Li's visit represents a "perfect opportunity" to upgrade economic and political ties between the two countries. At the airport, a welcoming ceremony was held for Li, which was attended by Miguel Diaz-Canel, Cuba's first vice-president of the councils of state and ministers, and some other senior officials. China is Cuba's second largest trade partner, with sugar, tourism and biomedical research playing a key role in the island nation's economy. Cuba, the first country in Latin America to establish diplomatic ties with China, is the last stop of Li's America tour, following his attendance in the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York and an official visit to Canada. Egyptian rescue workers arrive on a boat carrying bodies of migrants, during a search operation after a boat carrying migrants capsized in the Mediterranean, along the shore in the Egyptian port city of Rosetta on September 23, 2016. (AFP/Xinhua) CAIRO, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi met Saturday with the country's top officials to discuss the recent capsized illegal migrant vessel that left at least 162 people dead, official MENA news agency reported. After meeting with the security committee including the prime minister, the interior minister and the general intelligence chief, the Egyptian president ordered tougher security measures and deterrent punishments against smugglers to limit illegal migration and urged a new anti-illegal-migration law to be soon approved by the parliament. On Wednesday, while the world leaders including Sisi gathered in New York to seek solutions for immigration problems, a migration boat carrying hundreds capsized off Egypt's northern coast of Rosetta killing dozens of passengers, mostly Egyptians. "The latest death toll until yesterday (Friday) was 162," the Egyptian Health Ministry's spokesman Khaled Megahed said Saturday, noting the morgues of nearby hospitals were all busy receiving the retrieved bodies. The Egyptian authorities arrested Thursday four members of the capsized boat crew over human trafficking charges, while a senior official said an anti-illegal-migration bill had been presented by the government to the parliament for approval. Illegal migration via Egyptian Mediterranean Sea shores rose over the past few years in attempts to reach Europe and flee difficult economic conditions in the financially-struggling Arab country, where unemployment rate hit 12.5 percent according to official reports. During Saturday's meeting, President Sisi ordered intensive marketing for the government's recent initiative to finance small and tiny enterprises for the youth, for which 200 billion Egyptian pounds (about 22.5 billion U.S. dollars) are allocated. Experts believe that Egypt has become a more common exporter of illegal migration through its Mediterranean Sea shores to Europe after Libya and Turkey lost their importance for smugglers in favor of the most populous Arab country due to security and other reasons. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a report in June that more than 10,000 people have died in attempts to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe since 2014. LAGOS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Authority of the Nigerian Army on Saturday confirmed that gunmen suspected to militants have killed one of its personnel in Bakassi area of south Nigeria's Cross River State in an attack. Spokesperson for the Army, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, who disclosed this in a statement reaching Xinhua in Lagos, said the troops killed two of the militants in the attack which occurred on Saturday morning. Other militants escaped with gunshot wounds, he added, noting that the attackers also burnt a buffalo pick up vehicle. Usman said that two soldiers earlier declared missing in the attack were found when reinforcement was sent to the area. He said the militants came in several speed boats and attacked troops deployed at Efut Esighi waterfront in Bakassi. According to him, troops' location has been reinforced with more gunboats and air component. The clearance and pursuit operation is ongoing, he added. Enditem Yilong Chen, Ph. D. General Director of Asia Pacific Affairs & Chief Representative in China Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) Yilong Chen received his Ph.D. degree in System and Control from Washington University, St. Louis, USA in 1984 and joined General Motors R&D Center in Detroit. Dr. Chen is one of the pioneers in developing GM's business in China. As the Chief Scientist and Director of Technology Development and Partnership of GM's China Operations, during the period of 1995-1998, he established and managed GM/Delphi-Tsinghua Technology Institute in Beijing and GM-Shanghai Jiaotong Powertrain Technology Institute in Shanghai. He initiated and managed technology collaborations with Chinese partners for GM. He also launched and managed the GM China Science & Technology award program with the Natural Science Foundation of China. After he came back to US in 1998, Dr. Chen has continuously built GM high level relation with China, and managed technical collaboration with GM's alliances in Japan. Dr. Chen received the GM President Council honor, which recognizes employees who represent the "Best of the Best" in terms of performance at all levels throughout GM. As a GM technical fellow, he led research in the areas of robotics, RFID and supply chain quality in GM Tech Center. He also received the GM McCuen Award, which provides recognition for extraordinary technical accomplishments and their economic impact to the company. Because of his outstanding technical contributions, Dr. Chen was elected an IEEE Fellow in 1999. Dr. Chen joined AIAG in 2006 and currently he is the General Director of Asia Pacific Affairs and Chief Representative in China, AIAG. Optimize supply chain with standards and tools to improve quality, materials management and e-commerce Gasgoo: Dr. Chen, thank you very much for joining us at gasgoo.com. We know that AIAG is a globally recognized auto industry organization, but it has just come to China not long ago. Can you give us a brief introduction to AIAG? Yilong Chen: Thank you for coming here to interview me. I know gasgoo.com is well-known in the industry and has done a lot for the Chinese auto parts suppliers. AIAG was founded in 1982 by America's Big Three automakers -- GM., Ford and Chrysler. People must wonder why the three competitors set up such an organization together. Let me give you a simple example, in the early stage of automobile industry, each of the Big Three auto-makers has its technical standards and requirements, therefore many suppliers have to prepare three different sets of products, which would definitely increase production costs on suppliers and these costs would be inevitably transferred to the Big Three automakers. Finally the Big Three realized that despite competition, they needed to establish a unified standard for the supply chain. However the Big Three could not walk into a conference room to discuss plans of establishing a unified industrial standard because back in 1982 the three companies dominated the American automotive industry and sitting together and talking about cooperation on setting up industrial standard would make them susceptible to antitrust laws. Therefore, they created a nonprofit organization called Automotive Industry Action Group, which has provided a legitimate platform for automakers and suppliers to establish unified industrial standards and to address and resolve issues affecting automotive supply chain. At AIAG, the Big Three can negotiate and discuss standards on quality, materials management and etc. But you cannot talk about prices; if you do, you and your company may be sued for the violation of antitrust laws. Nevertheless it's necessary to have such an organization in the United States. The establishment of industrial standards is good not only for automakers like the Big Three, it is also good for suppliers, not only the Tier 1 suppliers but also the Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers. Gasgoo: So it becomes the world standards for the auto industry after the American auto companies set up manufacturing facilities worldwide. Yilong Chen: Yes. Headquartered in Detroit, AIAG originally just provided service for the American auto makers. As globalization grows, other companies joined us. Take our Board of Directors for example, we have not only the Big Three, but also American Toyota and American Honda. Besides these OEMs, we also have some important Tier 1 suppliers such as Delphi, Lear, Johnson Controls, Goodyear, PPG, Federal Mogul; we also have some truck OEMs like Caterpillar, and some service providers such as IBM and EDS. Now AIAG has had more than 1500 member companies, including OEMs, suppliers and service providers. Gasgoo: Even the Japanese companies Toyota and Honda have followed the footsteps of AIAG. Yilong Chen: Yes. We are still discussing some issues with them. We have a lot in common, but they also have differences from us. However with the globalization and the development of auto industry, we all believe that quality, materials management and e-commerce are essential to the auto industry. Gasgoo: Can you tell more about the application of the standards on quality, materials management and e-commerce? Yilong Chen: The standards on quality refer to the quality systems and quality core tools established by AIAG experts. For example, TS16949 is a well-known quality system that defines the requirements on quality itself, materials management, lean production and etc. APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA and SPC are major quality core tools. APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) and PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) specify how each production phase should proceed. Suppliers always have to consult with OEMs at crucial phases before they can go ahead. In China people just want to manufacture according to the samples and give a price offer. But in automotive industry, they have to care about other things. Our materials management standard is MMOG/LE which is applicable world wide. MMOG (Material Management Operation Guide) was originally applied in North America only, and Europe had LE (Logistic Evaluation) only. Now Europe has also accepted the MMOG. Our standard on e-commerce is EDI (Electronic Data Interchange). Some small companies in China may trade with foreign companies just through telephone, fax or email. But if the customer is an OEM that needs to purchase auto parts (there are several ten thousands of parts in an auto) and other equipment, those methods are not enough to facilitate all the delivery and managers may be caught by unprepared faults. But EDI can synchronize the supply chain to achieve automatic incoming and outgoing transactions in time. We also pay much attention to working conditions. The aspect seems to be not so important before, but it becomes more and more important now. Last year, a copper mine in Brazil, which operated like a concentration Camp for slaver labors, was exposed by many media organizations. GM and Toyota's international reputations were damaged in this scandal too. We think a corporate citizen should care about its employees' benefits. From the viewpoint of business management, once a problem in the upper reaches causes production breakdowns, the operation in the lower reaches must also be affected. So the Big Three established some requirements on working conditions, health care, safety, materials management and etc. Gasgoo: Thanks for your introduction. I think after the establishment of the standards, the next step is to let the automotive corporations recognize and implement the standards, and offer trainings and certifications. Yilong Chen: Yes. In order to promote its standards, AIAG holds trainings for suppliers on TS16949 and the quality core tools and etc.every year. Suppliers must be certified by auditors who have obtained AIAG certificates. AIAG auditor's certificates are valid for three years only and AIAG will renew such certificates to auditors every three years if they can pass AIAG evaluations. Gap Assessment, Training, and Recommendation Gasgoo: Chinese suppliers find themselves not only facing language barriers, but also lack the understanding on the systems you mentioned. So they are not clear about how to improve themselves. Since AIAG has come to China, many suppliers are interested in joining AIAG training programs. But they have a question: can we get the OEMs' orders after we pass AIAG certifications? Yilong Chen: I think it's natural for suppliers to ask this question because it's crucial to their existence and development. Many suppliers start business from service parts, but if they want to have a better development, they must try to become an OEM supplier. In the past, it's not rational for OEMs to switch suppliers because of the risk on the quality and logistics of new suppliers. Now the pressure of cost reduction forces the OEMs to purchase in China, which offers good opportunities for Chinese suppliers. But there is a problem: on the one hand, the OEMs can't find enough suitable suppliers, so they can't achieve their cost reduction goals; on the other hand, most Chinese suppliers can't obtain orders even if they can offer a good price quote. AIAG is here to solve the problem by helping Chinese suppliers better understand the requirements of OEMs, such as TS16949. However, the trainings and assessments given by AIAG are not a guarantee for them to get an order. When I came to China in April last year, my first priority was to open a representative office in China. Our mission in China is to develop friendly and constructive relations with Chinese government agencies and Chinese suppliers. We will find out specific requirements that AIAG member OEMs and large Tier 1 suppliers have and help Chinese suppliers meet those requirements. Firstly, we will help the Chinese suppliers understand the requirements of their potential customers (i.e. AIAG member companies) on quality, materials management and e-commerce. Secondly, our experts will make on-site visit to conduct a gap assessment. We will come up with a detailed assessment report telling Chinese suppliers where they have met our standards and where they haven't and we will offer an action plan following the assessment. If the assessment shows that a supplier is qualified, we will recommend it to our member companies and it may be able to enter the OEMs' candidate supplier database. We will also provide many training programs on TS16949, quality core tools, MMOG/LE, EDI, working conditions, Lean and Six Sigma, and some Chinese and English technological documents. Gasgoo: The OEMs and large Tier 1 suppliers also have their own sourcing teams in China, and some have a team large than 100 people. They are also helping the Chinese suppliers. Can you make a comparison between the help of AIAG and the sourcing teams of OEMs and large Tier 1 suppliers in China? Yilong Chen: That's a good question. To answer this question, I have to first explain the OE sourcing process, which is different from the aftermarket sourcing process. The early stages in an OEM's sourcing activity are primarily focused on the pre-screening of suppliers. An OEM may first select one or two dozens of suppliers via telephone or internet (gasgoo.com for example). Then the OEM would check if these suppliers have passed TS16949 certification; if they have adequate production capabilities and if their financial status is good and etc. After that, the number of suppliers may be shortlisted to five or six. Later, the OEM would ask the suppliers (for example by telephone) questions like these: did you export your products before? did you sell your products to the OE market or aftermarket? And for which OEM do you supply your product? After that, the number of suppliers may be further cut to two or three. Next, the OEM would go to the two or three suppliers for on-site assessment. On-site assessment is necessary, because passing TS16949 is only the first step, and that's not enough. Even when a supplier has passed the TS16949 certification, an OEM still wants to confirm if the supplier has actually reached their standards. Experts from the OEM would make a detailed assessment in several days on a supplier's entire production process, from material purchase to the completion of production to quality control on itself and its suppliers and materials management practices. The assessment questions also include how to react to changed requirements; how to make sure the measuring instrument is always in good condition (if the instrument is not standard, it's useless to measure with it) and what is going on with the interior training and technology research and development. After the assessment on the factory is finished, the OEM will continue to conduct more assessments on price quote, the supplier's production capacity, technological requirements of some specific parts, etc. If everything is satisfactory, the OEM will finally sign an agreement with the supplier. Then the supplier should design and manufacture according to PPAP, APQP and the OEM's other requirements. So that's the whole process. To answer your question about a comparison between AIAG and OEM's work, yes, the Big Three have very large sourcing team, for example, GM has a team of more than 200 people. But these people are very busy because they have too many parts to be sourced. We can help them on the pre-screening of suppliers by the certification of quality, materials management and e-commerce systems and gap assessment because we are most familiar with these stuff. However, we are not involved in issues like the specific engineering requirements and specifications on auto parts, how to produce and deliver and price negotiations and so forth. In America, we also just help on the early stage. With our help, the OEMs can save much time and effort in the early stage so that they can concentrat on the latter stage. Gasgoo: So the suppliers must first improve on quality and management before they could obtain orders from the American OEMs. When opportunity comes, they can pass AIAG's assessments more easily and then they can talk about the specific requirements on certain parts with OEMs. Yilong Chen: Almost like that. I'd like to emphasize on two points. (1) We and OEMs can go to make gap assessment on some suppliers. And now UL is also authorized to do the gap assessments according to the standards of AIAG. (2) If an aftermarket supplier wants to develop in the OE market and they can't easily get the attention of OEMs, they can first come to AIAG for gap assessments, because we know the OEMs' common and some unique requirements. The detailed reports after the assessments are very helpful to suppliers. Potential of the Chinese auto parts exportation Gasgoo: China has become one of the most important supply bases for American automakers, and in 2006 China has overtaken Germany as an auto parts supplier for the Unite States. Could you tell me the structure of the auto parts and accessories that China exported to the United States? What's the trend for future exports? For example, Would high-tech electronic products become a new trend for future exports? Yilong Chen: Most of the Chinese auto parts are exported to North America and Europe. However it is difficult to make a distinction between the US and European markets because leading American automakers like GM and Ford also have huge operations in Europe. Therefore, I have only data of China's auto parts exports as a whole, not for individual countries. Currently, China's biggest single item for export is tire, which accounts for 21% of China total value of auto parts exports. The second largest item is electronic products, representing 17%; these two biggest items are followed by wheels 11%, body parts 8%, trailer parts 8%, brakes 7%, and engines 7%. Gasgoo: Does this include OEM and aftermarket or OEM market only? Yilong Chen: I think it includes the both. Gasgoo: What is the structure of the exported products for OEMs? Among exported products like casting, pressing, forging, rubber, electronic parts, which have more exports than others? Yilong Chen: For the time being, we don't have statistics that shows the export structure for OEM and aftermarket separately. The Chinese OEM suppliers usually started their business from providing service parts for aftermarket. Their experience and growth in aftermarket have prepared them to become OEM suppliers. As for stable exported products, I think tire and electronic parts should be on the top of this whole list. Global auto sourcing in China triggers the rapid growth of the Chinese auto parts industry. The auto parts exportation may has increased about 100 times in the past 15 years. Now China sourcing is still very promising. But the good momentum is still hindered by problems on quality, materials management, technology R&D, production capacity. The appreciation of RMB is also a challenge. About 95% of the Chinese auto parts companies are small business. There are only 38 large auto part companies and some of which are joint ventures. So most Chinese companies are not competitive in mass production, which is essential for the auto industry. The majority of China-exported auto parts are labor intensive products. But I think the prospect of China's high-tech industry is very promising. China has an abundant supply of technical professionals and there are more than one million engineering major graduates joining the labor market. In addition, the operation cost of R&D in China is much lower. In Europe or America, a regular R&D team is made up of ten people or so, but in China, you can hire 30 to 50 technicians and engineers. Chinese talents are also strong in creativity. However, average Chinese engineers are weak in the accumulation of technology development, the ability in market analysis, and the ability to choose a particular target for research. Once some leaders tell them what they need to do, setting targets and requirements for them, Chinese engineering team will accomplish their mission successfully. Gasgoo: Would the exportation be affected by the appreciation of RMB and lower exports tax rebates? What do you think of the prospect of China sourcing? Yilong Chen: I think China's trade surplus with the United States and the U.S pressure on China to allow free appreciation of Chinese currency have impacted China's exports, particularly in some labor intensive industries, like garments and toys. I'm not an expert in these areas, but I think these areas are less profitable than in the past. As for China's auto industry, I believe these factors have an impact on China's exports. However, China's auto industry is growing and it is more profitable than other industry sectors. And this situation will not change in the near future. My personal view is that China's auto industry and auto parts exports will be impacted, but I see no fundamental changes in this situation so far. I believe that China's auto industry and auto parts exports will continue to grow, though it may slow down a little bit. Gasgoo: do you mean to say China's auto parts export will continue to grow? Yilong Chen: Yes. Suggestion for the Chinese suppliers Gasgoo: Do you have any suggestion for Chinese suppliers? Yilong Chen: Ok. Now it's the best time for Chinese auto parts suppliers to become an OEM supplier. If you want to become a strong exporter, a global supplier, first, you have to understand the specific requirements of your future customers. Second, you need to take a good judgement on your strength; you have to improve yourself on quality, materials management and e-commerce where your customers are very concerned. Opportunity favors those who are better prepared. AIAG in China will not only support its members' needs, but also help Chinese suppliers improve quality, materials management and e-commerce. Your improvement will help the OEMs cut costs to a great extent, and ultimately help auto consumers buy a vehicle with higher performance-cost ratio. So this is win-win-win. AIAG is glad to help the Chinese suppliers to achieve that goal. Gasgoo: Thank you very much for your time. All rights reserved. Please notify the source for any use. PARIS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- French President Francois Hollande on Saturday pledged to completely dismantle the shanty town in northern Calais where thousands of migrants are still camping, vowing to disperse them in centres across the country "over the coming weeks." "We are in favor of the dismantling of Calais camp for humanitarian and responsibility reasons. There should be no camp in France," Hollande said. During a visit to migrants reception centre in Tours, southwest Paris, the French president stressed that the government's objective consisted in dismantling completely Calais "jungle", and to disperse migrants who are living in the French port city "with extremely difficult conditions." Presenting his plan to address the migrant crisis, Hollande pledged 9,000 places will be made available at "reception and orientation centres" for refugees living in the camp over the coming weeks. They will be dispersed into groups of 40 to 50 people for a limited period between three and four months. The migrants who fit the asylum criteria will stay in France while those who do not will be sent home, according to the French president. Hollande is scheduled to visit the shanty town on Monday as migration issue resurfaced as main hot topic months ahead next year's presidential election. A recent Elabe poll for news channel BFMTV said 57 percent of respondents said opposed to take in more refugees while 43 percent were in favor. The pollster also said eight out of ten respondents backed the government's decision to dismantle refugees camp in the northern city of Calais. However, majority of them said were against dispersing them across the country. Thousands of migrants from Africa and the Middle East have fled war and poverty in their native countries recently, leading to an unprecedented migrants crisis in Europe. Some of the migrants live in Calais where the French end of the Channel Tunnel is located, while they attempt to board lorries and trains heading to Britain to seek a better life. France promises to receive 30,000 refugees over the next two years. DUBAI, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Dubai Police launched here Saturday a smart app to combat human trafficking, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) state news agency WAM reported. The Dubai Police said the app is the first of its kind in the Middle East. Mohammed Al Murr, director-general of the general directorate of human rights at Dubai Police, said the service will help human trafficking victims to report, so that police officers could reach out and provide them with legal supports. He said the UAE has launched a number of programs and campaigns, as well as enacted stringent laws to "eradicate all forms and manifestations of the inhuman crimes." In July this year, the Dubai Police and the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children launched a five-year anti-human-trafficking plan with the objective to raise awareness among victims, witnesses and authorities to combat the crimes. A staff member takes a blood sample at the China National GeneBank (CNGB) in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Sept. 20, 2016. The CNGB was officially opened Thursday, aiming to promote human health research and the conservation of global bio-diversity. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian) WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. government researchers said they have found a gene that controls what could be our "sixth sense" beyond the basic five ones known as taste, smell, touch, sight and hearing. It's called PIEZO2, which affects proprioception, or how our brain understands where our body is in space, according to researchers from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). The discovery, published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine, was made with the help of two young patients with PIEZO2 mutations that caused them to have movement and balance problems and the loss of some forms of touch. Actually, the gene involved was not a new discovery. Previously, scientists have found it generates electrical nerve signals in response to changes in cell shape, such as when skin cells and neurons of the hand are pressed against a table. In this study, the two patients, one nine and the other 19 years old, are unrelated and have difficulties walking; hip, finger and foot deformities; and abnormally curved spines diagnosed as progressive scoliosis. A series of examinations suggested the young patients lack body awareness. Blindfolding them made walking extremely difficult, causing them to stagger and stumble from side to side while assistants prevented them from falling. When the researchers compared the two with unaffected volunteers, they found that blindfolding the young patients made it harder for them to reliably reach for an object in front of their faces than it was for the volunteers. Without looking, the patients could not guess the direction their joints were being moved as well as the control subjects could. The patients were also less sensitive to certain forms of touch. They could not feel vibrations from a buzzing tuning fork as well as the control subjects could. Nor could they tell the difference between one or two small ends of a caliper pressed firmly against their palms. Brain scans of one patient showed no response when the palm of her hand was brushed. Nevertheless, the patients could feel other forms of touch, such as the brushing of hairy skin. Stroking or brushing hairy skin is normally perceived as pleasant, but one of the patients claimed it felt prickly. Despite these differences, the patients' nervous systems appeared to be developing normally. They were able to feel pain, itch, and temperature normally; the nerves in their limbs conducted electricity rapidly; and their brains and cognitive abilities were similar to the control subjects of their age. These findings caused the researchers to believe that PIEZO2 is linked to proprioception and that when it is mutated people lose their "sixth sense". They also concluded that the patients' scoliosis and joint problems suggest that the Piezo2 proteins are required for the normal growth and alignment of the skeletal system. "Our study highlights the critical importance of PIEZO2 and the senses it controls in our daily lives," study leader Carsten Bonnemann, senior investigator at the NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, said in a statement. "The results establish that PIEZO2 is a touch and proprioception gene in humans. Understanding its role in these senses may provide clues to a variety of neurological disorders." UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday thanked Niger for its assistance in the international effort to fight the extremist group Boko Haram and its contribution to the UN peacekeeping operation in Mali. In his meeting with Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou, Ban reiterated the United Nations commitment to support the strengthening of democracy in Niger, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here. "The secretary-general commended Niger's efforts, with the countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, in the establishment of the regional Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to fight Boko Haram," the spokesman said. "The secretary-general also thanked Niger for its military contribution to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), and reiterated the importance of regional approaches to the stabilisation of the Sahel." Ban stressed the United Nations' continued commitment to support the efforts of the countries of the Sahel region to combat instability and its root causes, including through the implementation of the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel, the spokesman added. From the Atlantic to the Red Sea, going through the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa, the Sahel region covers 10 countries that include Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Eritrea. The region has seen a proliferation of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab and AQIM, that have been carrying out attacks in different countries. By end of November last year, at least 100 terrorist attacks had taken place in Africa with the majority in Sahel region. The number was equivalent to one third of terrorist attacks that happened across the world in 2015. TIKRIT, Iraq, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Saturday retook control of two villages and an Assyrian archaeological site from the Islamic State (IS) militants in Salahudin province, the provincial police chief told Xinhua. The latest gains against IS militants came hours after two senior security officials escaped suicide attacks and four soldiers killed in coordinated attacks in the province's capital city Tikrit, some 170 km north of Baghdad. The troops and allied paramilitary Sunni tribal fighters freed the villages of al-Zuwiyah and al-Namil in south of the newly-freed town of Shirqat, some 280 km north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, Maj. Gen. Dhamin al-Jubouri, the provincial police chief, told Xinhua. The troops also recaptured the archaeological site of Qal'at Shirqat, just south of Shirqat, al-Jubouri said. The archaeological site lies on the western bank of the river Tigris. It is a remnant city of the last Ashurite Kingdom, which flourished in mid-3rd millennium BC (about 2600 - 2500 BC) to the 14th century AD. Earlier in the day, a provincial security source told Xinhua that the provincial capital city of Tikrit was the scene of deadly attacks that killed a total of 12 people and wounded 23. According to the source, al-Jubouri himself and Sheikh Jasim al-Jebara, head of the security committee of Salahudin provincial council, escaped two suicide car bomb attacks targeted their convoys near a security checkpoint at the northern entrance of Tikrit. The two suicide attacks killed eight people and wounded 23 others, most of them were security members and bodyguards, the source said. In a separate incident, gunmen attacked al-Salam security checkpoint, north of Tikrit, killing four soldiers before fleeing the scene, the source added. On Thursday, the security forces and allied tribal fighters retook control of Shirqat and raised the Iraqi flags over its government headquarters. The liberation of the town, the last one under IS control in Salahudin province, is part of a major offensive to liberate the IS stronghold in Mosul, the capital of Iraq's northern province of Nineveh. The Sunni-dominated province of Salahudin has witnessed a series of deadly attacks since security forces and allied paramilitary units, known as Hashd Shaabi, retook the province from IS militants who seized a large part of it in June 2014. An Egyptian farmer works after the harvest of paddy rice in a field in Gharbia Governorate, Egypt, Sept. 17, 2016. (Xinhua/Meng Tao) by Marwa Yahya GHARBIYA, Egypt, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- "I expect the rice price will get lower this season, and it will be better for me to buy rice than to plant it," said Mahmoud Abdel Fattah, a 55-year-old farmer. The rice harvest season came in September in the Nile Delta area of Egypt. Farmers will be busy on harvesting, packaging and selling through the whole month, with the hopes to earn more to feed their families. According to the official data from the Egyptian government, the rice price has surged by about 50 percent this year. In supermarkets of Cairo, the price of one kilo rice has increased from 3.5 Egyptian pounds (0.4 U.S. dollar) last year to unprecedented 11 pounds three months ago. The hiking price encouraged more farmers to plant rice this year. However, this season is not a source of joy anymore since a ban of rice exports, issued by the government last month, aiming to control the price and preserve stocks for the local market. "For this season, I have spent 2,000 Egyptian pounds on 12 acres since this May, but now I can't expect a reasonable income," Fattah said while spreading the rice on ground to get drier, helped by his daughter and his two grandchildren. He said that after calculating the expenses of seeding, cultivating, farming, using machines, hiring workforce and harvesting, as well as the revenues, he has regretted planting rice this year. With the sound of reapers from behind, Fattah's family were collecting the crops by hand in piles. "I can't even afford 160 pounds per day to hire more hands," he added. Since the year of 2011 when the former president Hosni Mubarak was overthrew, Egypt has been trapped in economic stagnation and security problems. In 2016, food problem has become more serious because of the hiking prices. The failure to stockpile rice earlier this year has left it at the mercy of traders, who are usually not interested in domestic market, or prone to stockpile for a higher price. "I don't care about exportation, I just want the rice to be available like last year with cheaper prices," said Amal Moustafa, a housewife in her thirties, while buying some vegetables from the market. "The rice is a base for everyday dishes, and with high prices, I reduce the amounts of vegetables and meat to buy more rice," she said, noting the ban of rice exports is really important for poor people living in cities. However, farmers stand on the other side, regarding to the ban and lower price of rice. "Actually, we produce more than enough rice for the domestic needs, especially this year. I was told that the price of a kilo of rice might be lower than 3 pounds after the harvest season," a farmer named Abdel Shafy Qasem told Xinhua. He added that earlier this year, many farmers have planted rice and nobody expected that the government will totally ban the rice exports. "It was a bad decision to plant the rice this season. I have some other fields planted with garlic, carrot and corn, now they are my hope for the whole year," Qasem said. He said that for most farmers, this water-consuming grain has brought them more economic burden on irrigation, because they have to spent much to find water. "My land is located in a higher level, and I have to dig nearly 150 meters for ground water, which cost me and my neighbors 15,000 pounds," Qasem explained in details. According to Ragab Shihata, head of the Rice Department in the Industries Union of Egypt, halting the rice exportation will lower the price in a short time, but in a long run, the ban will increase the stock percentage, and make the rice vulnerable for spoilage. "The key problem is that nobody expected this policy earlier this year, so it will really harm the farmers' income," he said. At the same time, the expert called for a more balanced policy on rice. "For example, the government can open exportation for one million tons of rice to make balance between controlling the high prices in the local market and avoiding losses of farmers and businessmen," ZAGREB, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Croatian caretaker Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic said on Saturday there was a little possibility that migrants could enter Croatia through neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Croatia was ready for any option, but it was only a speculative possibility, Oreskovic said after Vienna summit, which brought together the leaders from the countries on the so-called Balkan migrant route. There were very few migrant passing through the country, about 100 in the last six months, he added. He said the leaders, who attended the summit on the migrant issue organized by Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern due to the rumours that the new migrant wave could soon start moving from Turkey to western Europe, agreed to step up control of the European Union's external borders. "In pursuit of this goal, we have agreed that the capacities of European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (Frontex) should be enhanced," he added. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Saturday that he is appalled by the military escalation in Syria's northern city of Aleppo. In a statement released by his spokesperson, Ban said Aleppo is facing "the most sustained and intense bombardment since the start of the Syrian conflict." Nearly 30 civilians were killed on Friday by bombardment in eastern part of Aleppo, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a local monitor group. The incident came one day after the Syrian Defense Ministry announced the commencement of a new offensive on rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo. Ban noted that since the announcement of the offensive, there have been repeated reports of air-strikes involving the use of incendiary weapons and advance munitions such as bunker buster bombs. "The Secretary-General underlines that the apparent systematic use of these types of indiscriminate weapons in densely populated areas may amount to war crimes," said the statement. Ban also called on the international community to "unite to send a clear message that it will not tolerate the use of indiscriminate and ever more deadly and powerful weapons against civilians," according to the statement. The renewed military showdown in Aleppo came just days after a Russia-U.S. brokered truce expired last Monday with no extension, due to the rising tension between Russia and the United States. Aleppo has a strategic importance for the warring parties due to its location near the Turkish borders. It is also Syria's largest province and once was the economic hub of the war-torn country. CHICAGO, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of students from elementary and high schools in Chicago gathered at Whitney Young Magnet High School Saturday to have a sip of traditional Chinese culture at the Chinese Cultural Festival. Students and their parents crowded into the hall of this prestigious public high school in Chicago, watched traditional Chinese lion dance, Chinese folk dance, and listened to Chinese music and songs. Performance of lion dance and martial arts draw the warmest applause. More than 20 exhibitors are also present showcasing Chinese culture-related activities such as Chinese calligraphy, paper-cutting, kite-making, Tai Chi, Wei Qi (Go game), Chinese language classes, and use of chopsticks. All attendees have a chance to try their hands and win souvenirs. This is the third year for the Confucius Institute in Chicago (CIC) and the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to host such an event. "Our Chinese Cultural Festival in the past two years was a great success, with more than 2,000 attendees from CPS and the general public," said Jane Lu, Director of CIC. "We want to share the fun and celebrate Chinese culture again this year." Being the third largest school district in the U.S., CPS runs one of the most successful "Chinese World Language Programs" in the country, with approximately 13,000 students in 45 schools learning Chinese and more than 60 Chinese language teachers. Joshua Bobbitt is a ninth grade student from Lindblom High School, and has studied Chinese for two years. He told Xinhua: "I'm trying to learn more about grammar and how to treat with respect like 'nin' instead of 'ni'." Joshua also learned a little bit about Chinese calligraphy at Lindblom, but he said Chinese language is his top priority now. "It is a very important thing for us to exchange views with each other, through language," said Hong Lei, Chinese Consul General in Chicago, in his address to the event. The total population of China and the U.S. now accounts for one fifth of the world's population; the total trade volume between China and the U.S. accounts for one fourth of the world's trade; the total GDP of China and the U.S. accounts for one third of the world's GDP. "There are a lot of common interest between us (China and the U.S.), and there are more important international responsibilities for us to shoulder. So we encourage our young people to know each other's language, to have more communications, to have more exchanges, ...to forge an even stronger China-U.S. relationship" Hong Lei said. DAMASCUS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army captured a key area in the northern province of Aleppo, as opposition activists accused Syrian and Russian air forces of intensifying airstrikes on rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo. State news agency SANA said Syrian forces backed by Palestinian groups succeeded Saturday to recapture the Handarat Camp for Palestinian refugees in Aleppo from the hands of rebels. The capture of Handarat, 13 km northeast of Aleppo, came after the Syrian army and Palestinian factions destroyed the last position of the rebels there, SANA said. Bomb squads have started dismantling explosive devices and roadside bombs the rebels had planted. Meanwhile, the rebels' Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, previously known as Nusra Front before breaking ties with al-Qaida, said that the Syrian army and the Palestinian Liwa al-Quds succeeded to take the camp under heavy airstrikes from the Russian air force. Wresting back control over Handarat consolidates the government forces' control over the key road of Castello, which had been used by the rebels as a main supply route to the areas under their control in eastern Aleppo, before the army captured it a couple of months ago. Following battles with the army last month, the rebels took control of the entire camp, overlooking several rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo, which has become under tight government siege after the Syrian army captured Castello. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the rebels unleashed a counter offensive to retake Handarat, adding that intense battles are raging in the vicinity of that camp. Pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV said that the Syrian army has repelled the rebels' counter offensive on Handarat. The UK-based watchdog group said the Syrian and Russian warplanes have intensified airstrikes against rebels over the past few days, following the end of a week-long truce, which expired last Monday without extension. The watchdog group said that 72 people have been killed in rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo city since Friday, as a result of the Syrian-Russian airstrikes. The Syrian Defense Ministry announced Thursday the commencement of a new offensive against rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo, urging the civilians to leave immediately and the rebels to lay down their weapons. On Friday, Syrian warplanes dropped leaflets over eastern Aleppo, renewing calls on civilians to stay away from the rebel positions and advising the rebels to surrender. The renewed military showdown in Aleppo came just days after a Russia-U.S. brokered truce expired last Monday with no extension, due to the rising tension between Russia and the United States. The Syrian army said in a statement that the rebels violated the week-long truce over 300 times, adding that the U.S.-led coalition struck positions of the Syrian army during the truce in Deir al-Zour, killing 90 soldiers, which was deemed by Russia as the biggest violation to the truce. The U.S.-led attack on Syrian army positions in Deir al-Zour was the first since the coalition started operations in Syria two years ago. Washington said the attack was "unintentional," a claim totally rejected by the Syrian government. Alfred Shum Executive Partner, China Ernst &Young The possible fuel taxation will have little impact on the auto market in the long run Gasgoo.com: The corporate income tax law in place since the beginning of this year marks the end of the preferential policy for foreign companies in China. Do you think this will affect the foreign investment in this country? And to what extent will it influence China's fast-growing automobile industry? Alfred Shum: Certainly the new law will affect the foreign investment. By unifying the corporate income tax standards for domestic and foreign companies, the Chinese government has sent a clear message - the earlier you come, the more benefits you get. All global auto-making giants have set up their manufacturing facilities in China in the past two decades thanks to the preferential tax policy for foreign investment and for high technology. But now the preferential treatment such government subsidies and low tax is starting to fade out, though it will not disappear immediately until some long-term contracts have expired. Now the unified tax standard for national and foreign companies is intended to provide a new platform for equal competition. I think this equality is a good thing. Will the new policy affect the foreign carmakers' investment in China's auto industry? In automotive financing, after-sales service, and other segments, the tax will become less, rather than more. I often tell foreign investors that it is wise of the Chinese government to shift the foreign investment from the labor-intensive manufacturing sector to the service sector. The manufacturing facilities of foreign investors have provided a lot of jobs for China's large labor force, but the production capacities have reached a high level, and now what China needs more is the upscale products in the industry chain, especially the counseling and other services. In a word, the Chinese government is shifting their focus onto the service industry and has reduced the taxes and fees in this sector. This is a right decision. Gasgoo.com: China has put the environmental protection, energy saving, emissions reducing, among many other important issues, high on its government agenda, so the fuel tax and environmental tax is in the pipeline. Will these taxes promote or deter the automotive industry - its manufacturing and service? Alfred Shum: China's economy is now developing in the same way as that of all other countries did in the past. At first, they once sacrificed the environment, more or less, for the rapid economic growth. Some people thought that foreign companies brought only old eco-unfriendly technologies to China, but that's not true. Only by using their latest technologies in their investment in China, can the foreign companies remain competitive in this world's fastest-growing market. China now is perhaps the world leader in engine manufacturing and energy-efficiency. It is right for China to integrate its environmental standards with the global ones and reduce the environmental pollution. This eco-friendly policy is to meet the demand of the people and will not hamper the auto industry. Gasgoo.com: Will this set the trend of auto sales and be favorable to the eco-friendly vehicle models? Alfred Shum: Not too much, I think. Why? Because it depends on the personal likes and dislikes. The Americans still like to buy large cars though the U.S. began to realize the energy problem much earlier. Many women like to drive a truck-size car. Actually, large and small cars have the same function and performance, and different people like different vehicles. The living standards of the Chinese people have greatly improved and many of them will buy better cars, large or small, regardless of the environmental policy. That will urge the carmakers to reduce the emissions level of their vehicles in the designing and producing process. Gasgoo.com: With the implementation of the fuel tax, the government will likely encourage the use of low-emission vehicles. Will this lead more consumers to buy cars of this kind? Alfred Shum: I'd like to say that a car's fuel cost is only a very small part of the expenditure for your daily life. The rising oil price has not influenced car-buyers' choice of cars in the world. If some of them like large cars, they will not buy small cars even when the gasoline / petrol price is surging. China's car-buyers can also adjust themselves to the fuel tax and oil price quickly, as people all over the world have been doing. As a strange exception, China has more business or corporate vehicles than other countries, and they may be slightly affected by the fuel tax policy. "Moving up the food chain" Gasgoo.com: Since the new Labor Law took effect in January 2008, the cost of labor force has been increasing. Will this lead the OEM service and auto-parts sourcing of foreign companies away from China to some other Asian countries with lower labor force costs, such as Vietnam, India and Thailand? Alfred Shum: At first you should see what parts of the auto-making industry. I think the impact of China's new labor law on the assembly facilities of global auto brands is negligible, because they will not employ contract workers and odd laborers to reduce the production cost. Neither will the rising labor force cost have any great influence on some parts of the vehicle prices, such as the engine price. The growing production scale and capacity will offset the rising cost of workforce. But the suppliers of low-end products will become exhausted and feel some impact. As one of the largest "world factories" nowadays, China has been very responsible for the global environmental issue and will continue to maintain the national, Asian, and global stability. The recent two measures taken by the Chinese government are a clear signal: 1. Driving the eco-unfriendly low-end manufacturers out of the country by increasing their production costs here; 2. Urging China's companies to invest in other countries and regions because these investments overseas will boost the image of China as a responsible and dignified "economic powerhouse" in the world. That is what China should do. Gasgoo.com: That means that China's auto industry is developing in a higher and more mature direction? Alfred Shum: Absolutely! It's not only the automobile industry, but all other industries as well. We call this "moving up the food chain." SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- A male victim who sustained life-threatening injuries in a mall shooting in Washington state passed away on Saturday morning. Sergeant Mark Francis, a public information officer with Washington State Patrol, tweeted a message confirming the 5th fatality of the previous night's incident at Cascade Mall in Burlington. A lone gunman shot and killed four women instantly at the makeup department of Macy's department store, one of about 50 vendors at the shopping mall about 65 miles, or 105 kilometers, north of Seattle, the biggest city in the U.S. Pacific Northwest state. While the suspect, described by Francis as a "Hispanic male wearing grey" the night before, is still at large, security camera images were released by a multiple agency response team of Skagit county, where Burlington is located, to call for public help to identify the shooting. The gunman, probably in his late teens or early 20s, appeared in an image before 7:00 p.m. local time to walk into the mall without a weapon, and showed up in another image holding a rifle. He was last seen on Friday night walking out from the enclosed mall toward the nearby Interstate 5 highway. Zhang Dejiang(L), chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, meets with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, in Helsinki, Finland, Sept. 23, 2016. At the invitation of Speaker of Finnish Parliament Maria Lohela, Zhang Dejiang made his two-day visit to Finland. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng) HELSINKI, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Top legislator of China said on Saturday the Chinese-Finnish relationship is a model that two countries with different social systems can develop close cooperation which is beneficial for both sides. Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, made the remarks in Helsinki during his two-day visit to Finland. Meeting Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, Zhang said the bilateral relationship between China and Finland is a model of friendship maintained by nations who have different history and culture, social systems and development stages. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Niinisto reached consensus in 2013 that the two countries should work to build a future-oriented new type of partnership. Niinisto said Finland would like to translate the good will to more achievements. China is willing to enhance the cooperation with Finland on global economic management, climate change and arctic issues, Zhang elaborated. Given the fact that Finland is a world known innovative country and China is entering a critical period upgrading its industries, the two countries have complementary economic advantages and huge potential in cooperation in many areas, Zhang said when meeting with Prime Minister Juha Sipila. Joint efforts should be made to explore and deepen cooperation in innovation, environment, tourism, culture and sports, he added. Zhang said he hopes Finland, a member of the European Union and the euro zone, continues to play an active role in promoting the ties between China and Europe, as well as facilitating free trade and investment. On his part, Sipila said he congratulated China on the ratification of the Paris agreement on climate change. Stressing the potential of cooperation concerning sustainable development, Sipila hopes to enhance cooperation on various areas and expects more Chinese tourists to visit Finland. Zhang started the trip at the invitation of Speaker of Finnish Parliament Maria Lohela. Zhang has been the first chief of Chinese legislature to visit Finland since the two countries established diplomatic relationship in 1950. The trip also highlighted the 60th anniversary of exchanges between the two countries' legislatures. In 1956, a 13-member Finnish parliamentary delegation visited China and was invited to attend a session of the Chinese People's Congress. Talking with Lohela, Zhang said he hopes to level up the current cooperation between the two legislatures, strengthen the mutual understanding and trust. The two countries should continue to improve economic ties, as well as to promote cultural exchanges, Zhang added. Lohela assured that the Finnish Parliament would play an active role in promoting friendship, improving cooperation and facilitating cultural exchanges. Briefing the latest development of the reform and opening-up in China and the new strategy the Chinese ruling party is adopting, Zhang attached China's achievements to the insistence on the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the socialist road with Chinese characteristics and the people's congress system. He said the Chinese people are confident in realizing the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation. The two sides also exchanged opinions on international and regional issues of common concerns. During the trip in Finland, Zhang attended a forum of Chinese-Finnish enterprises, and visited Aavi Technologies, a Finnish company producing filter free air purifiers that has been purchased by a Chinese investor. Shanghai, April 17 (Gasgoo.com) Starting as a small workshop in 1989, Shanghai Delang Auto Parts Manufacturing Co., Ltd. was established as a company in 2003 and since then it has grown into a supplier of auto radiators and car intercoolers for BMW, Ford, Volkswagen, Fiat, Chery and many other domestic and global auto-makers. Delang is now a leading professional OEM manufacturer for automobile cooling and air conditioning systems -- automobile radiators and heaters. The company has now 14 OEM projects, and its products are used in 75% of the domestically made sedans; the export rate of its products has topped 60%, and they carry the labels of half of the famous suppliers in Western Europe. Fang Qianqiu, general manager of Delang, worked as an engineer in Shanghai Behr Thermal Systems Co., Ltd. , an auto-parts maker for Shanghai VW, Shanghai GM and other upscale automakers. He has borrowed some techniques and lessons from Shanghai Behr to improve the product design and quality control in Delang. Not to compete with Shanghai Behr, Fang has oriented 40% of the products of Delang to the down-market automakers and the after-sales market in China, and the other 60% of them are made for export. However, most of Delang's technology and engineers came from Shanghai Behr, which guarantees the technical support, product quality and market share of Delang. About 20% of Delang's production capacity is used for OE / OEM projects, including the one from Shanghai VW, who makes courtesy cars for the Beijing Olympic Games. Over the past few years, Delang has explored its overseas markets remarkably. Following the rapid sales growth of its products in Europe, South America and the Middle East, the company has now made its foray into North America. Fang Qianqiu noted that Delang's products have entered into the Middle East market by low price and into the European market by high quality. Delang has cooperated with some European clients for over three years, mainly because of the high quality of its products. But in the American markets, many of Delang's current products cannot meet the demands of the clients, and they have asked the company to develop new products for them. So Delang plans to invest more in the product research and development (R&D) to boost its global market expansion. Jay K.Kunkel President Asia and Member of the Management Board of Continental Make every localization effort Gasgoo.com: In your eyes, what kind of mega-trends is the automotive industry heading for? And is that true for the Chinese market? Jay K.Kunkel: As the world's second largest supplier of the automotive industry, we see there're four megatrends-Safety, Environment, Information (or Connectivity) and Affordable cars. Considering the importance of the Chinese auto market worldwide--China has overtaken Japan as the second largest market, the megatrends also apply to everyone in the Chinese market. Safety, environmental problems, connectivity are more and more concerned by the auto manufacturers and consumers here, and for the affordable cars-I prefer to use affordable cars rather than low-price cars, as low-price often gives wrong impression, which may indicate bad quality and sacrifice of designing and enjoyment. Gasgoo.com: But the figures show that in 2007, the A-segment cars fell by 16 percent from 2006, while the sales growth of the C-segment cars tops all and C-segment cars take around 43 percent of the whole passenger vehicle market. Also Chinese buyers are inclined to choose a larger, more expensive and better car. It seems the Chinese auto market is going upward, not downward, isn't it true? Jay K.Kunkel: Yes, as the economy develops, certain part of the market is getting richer, but the trend of affordable car is worldwide and overall. You can see there're still millions of people in need of a car, most likely their first car. The motorization rate here is still low. The definition of affordable car differs from region to region. In Western Europe, it may be a car slightly below 10,000 Euros, like VW Fox; in China, it may be around 7,000 Euros to 5,000 Euros, like Chery QQ; in India, it may be below 5,000 Euros, like Maruti 800 and Tata Nano. Every market has affordable cars, and as for the developing stage of the Chinese market, the "affordable car" has more content and there's still large demand. Chinese car companies are betting on affordable car as their marketing campaign when they're exporting cars to the United States and Europe, so you can see the affordable car as a dominant trend. Gasgoo.com: As for environmental focus, what's your strategy to address the challenges here? Jay K.Kunkel: We've started cooperation with several local OEMs to develop mild hybrid system. As the world's only hybrid system supplier not tied to an auto manufacturer, Continental has been mass producing a mild hybrid since 2003. We're ready to bring our hybrid technology to China, as the programs prosper. Also we will supply the first-time volume production of a high-performance lithium-ion battery for Daimler's Mercedes S 400 BlueHYBRID from end of 2008 onwards. But there's no plan for the Chinese automakers to introduce such technology. In terms of environment protection, we improve the performance of powertrain system. From Continental's viewpoint, we see three levels-improved conventional combustion engines for the short and mid term; to back up combustion engine by mild hybrid cars in the mid term; and emission-free electric vehicles for the long term. And we're participating in all the three fields. We also have low rolling resistance tires, turbocharger, electronics and diesel fuel injector, etc. and all these contribute to fuel economy improvement and emission reduction. Gasgoo.com: With acquisition of Siemens VDO, Continental has more solutions for information management. So how is the integration now? Is there any internal competition? Jay K.Kunkel: There's no internal competition, we're one company now. We combined the R&D resources; we joined the employees and the sales channels. Who will get the biggest benefit? The customers! As they now have a combined and enhanced product portfolio and in some cases different technologies for the same product. We could say it is "one-stop shopping". We've integrated Continental's former automotive interior electronics part and the former Siemens VDO into one division. The products, especially in Asia, have almost no overlaps, but are highly complementary. For example, Continental is leader in terms of interior controls and navigation, while Siemens VDO is advanced in telematics and mobile device connectivity; for very few areas, there're maybe overlaps, but it's different technology or solution. There is a perfect fit for information management. JD Power identified future technologies in the automotive industry, and Continental's products now cover every category of the technology in JD Power Emerging Technology Report with the combination of Siemens VDO. We've achieved the whole system capability. In Asia, especially in China, It's a growth market; we need additional technology, engineers, sales people and manufacturing facilities to better serve our customers. We've got more than 60 customers in China and synergy doesn't mean cost-reduction only. Risk only "if not investing in China" Gasgoo.com: The business here is still in the process of developing and refining. Have you monitored any risk as for investment in the emerging Asia-Pacific market, especially China? Jay K.Kunkel: I'd rather see the risk if not investing in China. All the risks such as market fluctuation, rising raw material prices, appreciation currency, etc. are global issues. We've made larger and stable investment to cater the market. We are to construct two R&D centers in Shanghai, one is in Yangpu district and the other in Jiading district, and we moved our Asia headquarters to Shanghai from Tokyo three years ago. We encourage our engineers to innovate and give them chances for overseas training. Our first tire-making plant will be put into production in 2010, with the annual production capability of approximately 2 million units. Gasgoo.com: As a number of workers are displaced in the industry and operations continue to globalize, the need to retain knowledge regarding key process including engineering and manufacturing is increasing. How do you develop strategies to address this outgoing knowledge problem? Jay K.Kunkel: Certainly we understand the risk. We invest a lot in R&D facilities and we invest a lot in marketing and production. Engineers don't want to make adaptations in the technology brought from overseas market; they want to create, so we give opportunity to realize themselves and to develop locally customized products for the local market.. Our turnover rate or retention rate is roughly half the industry average-it means that we lose employees at half the rate of whole industry. Some say that Chinese engineers are not allowed to touch the core technology in an international auto company, but it's absolutely wrong comments. As for Continental, we're the first and only global supplier that offers Mandarin voice recognition technology for the hands-free communication system. We are and have been developing technology for and in the Chinese local market. Our engineers here are Chinese engineers (over 90 percent), and we give them all they need and want to do the innovative engineering and development work. The Chinese engineers are mainly working for projects with Chinese OEMs but also for other Asian or global OEMs. Gasgoo.com: How does Continental do the local sourcing work in China? Jay K.Kunkel: Well, localization includes local production, local R&D, local sales network and local sourcing. We have our purchasing department here, and they conduct the job in two approaches-to identify the potential suppliers and to help them to improve and qualify them; we also have a purchasing team to do production purchasing for 14 manufacturing locations we have in China. Some products we offer are highly localized, while some are still increasing in local content. In some cases where it's possible, we're also looking for suppliers able to supply out of China which do exist. In 2013 or 2014, one out of two cars worldwide will be manufactured in Asia, and much of the growth in Asian auto market will come from China. For the Chinese business, we aim to raise the contribution in the whole group considerably. Product, technology, quality and price are everything. It's a simple formula, but it includes many different aspects. I believe these backing forces can lead our success in the Chinese market. Dedicated support for Chinese OEMs Gasgoo.com: According to latterly report, BorgWarner's advanced dual-clutch transmission (DCT) systems would be put into production in a joint venture program between BorgWarner and multiple Chinese automakers. What if it happens to Continental? Jay K.Kunkel: We encourage such cooperation. The relationships with our customers are not just confined to the contracts. We're an innovation- and technology-driven company and it's our duty to support our customers--not only our customers coming to us, we also propose ourselves. We have developing projects with many Chinese automakers right now. The Chinese automakers will sooner or later export cars to European and American markets, and we feel that with our worldwide position and experience, we can contribute considerably to their global production plans and export plans. Confusion over transfer of PBR passes for maxis They expressed shock that Works and Transport Minis- ter, Fitzgerald Hinds, seemed to be reneging on an amnesty granted to them in January 2015 under the Peoples Partnership (PP) administration. Under the amnesty, a group of Route Two maxi owners were given permission to sell their maxis, with the understanding that the Minister of Works and Transport would subsequently transfer their Priority Bus Route (PBR) passes to the new owner. Red Band (Route Two Maxi Taxi Association) maxis operate along Trinidads east-west corridor; from Port-of-Spain to Arima, with the PBR serving as a key segment of their route. All vehicles operating on the PBR must have a PBR Pass. Prior to the 2015 General Election, three-quarters of those on the list received their PBR transfers. However the remaining 60 or so persons have spent the past year waiting on Hinds to sign their transfers. (Regarding) the socalled amnesty policy initiated under the former regime, Hinds said in his speech, the Act provides that the Minister shall authorise maxi taxis to use the PBR subject to conditions as he thinks fit. Over the years, there has been misuse of these permits by owners who have been granted permission to use their maxis on the route. Hinds speech was read by Permanent Secretary (PS) in the ministry, Clint Ramcharan, at the launch of two 18-seater OEM CNG maxis; one Green Band and one Red Band, at City Gate, South Quay, Port-of-Spain. Reacting to what they understood to be a shocking end to their amnesty, Executive member of the Route Two association and maxi taxi owner/operator, Deloris Marisa Martin, said, It is very heart-wrenching. I am a single parent, with two small children. Seeking answers, Martin and several others asked Ramcharan what was going on. He said Hinds never meant to imply such, rather, Hinds was seeking to inform other maxi taxi owners not to expect similar treatment. Ramcharan explained that Hinds sought a legal opinion to ensure he properly understands the amnesty before meeting this past Tuesday with the ministrys Legal Officer about signing off on the transfers. You will receive your transfers, Ramcharan assured the Route Two members. Businessman among 63 arrested He was detained by Northern Division police who later seized his 9mm pistol with several rounds of ammunition. After several hours of questioning, he was released pending further enquiries. Also, in the exercise officers arrested 62 persons for various offences such as robberies, rape, house breaking and outstanding warrants. Two hundred tickets were also served to errant motorists. Officers also detained four persons from the Laventille area who were the occupants of a vehicle with a bullet hole. The four suspects were previously charged with firearm offences. The exercise was led by Senior Superintendent Rajkumar and included Inspectors Vetus Hernandez and Mark Maraj, Sgt Peters, Matthew, Haywood and others. No new leads on Ria We all mean well, the weeping man said. I know we all love Ria and want to see her back home, and just as you want Ria I want her back too. I am asking you not to send out those flyers and delete all those numbers. Mark became very emotional when he called on relatives and friends present, to recall the posters issued in Rias name and displaying six telephone numbers which were not authorised by him. He asked that they be removed from social media as their presence was hampering investigations. Yesterday, relatives confirmed that their telephone numbers were taken off the list and that new flyers have been printed with new contact numbers. He advised persons with information on her whereabouts to call 679-3165/623-6793 or 800 TIPS. Sombre relatives and friends stayed up all through Thursday night into yesterday morning hoping for that one call that could bring them closer to bringing Ria, 34, home to Mark and children Elena, nine and Toraz, five. Their wait up to press time last night, however, was in vain and yesterday with the hours slowly ticking away since the young woman was last seen, police and well wishers intensified their search for her. Relatives and friends meanwhile continued to offer prayers for her safe return. Over the last 48 hours futile searches have been conducted in the Icacos, Cedros, Erin and other villages in the south western peninsula. Searches were also carried out in Moruga and environs. Yesterday, at the familys home in Ragoo Village, Extension, Wellington Road, Debe, a steady stream of persons came to offer support to the family. No ransom demand has been made. Inside the family home, Insp Don Gajadhar along with Sgt Narcis and officers of the Anti Kidnapping Unit (AKU) spent time speaking to relatives. Around 8.15 am on Thursday, Sookdeo was driving her red Nissan X Trail van and had just dropped off her children to classes at Picton Presbyterian Primary School in Debe when she was abducted. A report stated that a man dressed in a police uniform exited a black Nissan X Trail van that had blocked her path when she attempted to turn around her van. He bundled her into his vehicle and sped off. Rias cell phone and handbag remained in her vehicle. Her young children have been asking for her and relatives have informed them she is ill and had to be hospitalised. An elderly relative said it caused little Toraz to ask for help for his mother. He took one of her pictures and wrote behind it help Mummy, the emotional relative said. The girl is crying, saying she wants to get back her mummy. It is very sad, another relative revealed. On the day of the incident, police were the ones who took the children home from school. Relatives said the children know something is wrong because they keep questioning persons visiting their home. The children did not attend school yesterday. Their father couldnt tell them what really happen to the mummy, because he himself is crying all the time, another relative confided. Relatives said they kept vigil all night. No one has slept since this happened yesterday (Thursday), Newsday was told. Some have been searching, while others have been praying. Investigations are continuing. In a media release Member of Parliament Dr Roodal Moonilal expressed deep concern over the kidnapping and blamed government for the current state of crime in the country. The statement read in part: The abduction is another chilling example of the Rowley regimes failure to protect the nation despite lofty manifesto and platform promises and the appointment of three Ministers of National Security. Moonilal said Government had betrayed the country on crime, as it has done with respect to virtually every other area of national endeavour. While crime across the world is managed by effective public policy, the PNM Government - he said - has removed community patrols and other deterrent programmes, resulting in easier movement by criminals. Cane farmers begin collecting EU$ At this stage everybody wants their money, Sundaresan said. By next week you will see how much farmers will be coming to get their money. I am glad I got my money along with the other farmers. If the other farmers feel it is justified to go to court to get their money, that is their opinion. If I wait on the court, my children will have time dead. He noted that he lost $200,000 and there are other farmers who are losing by the hundreds of thousands. But for me, I say take what you get and move on with your life. Farmers came to me saying they want to take the money and they are glad because it is nine years we are waiting and I want to thank the prime minister for making the effort pay us. Addressing the media at the cheque distribution ceremony at the Eric Williams Financial Complex, Port-of-Spain, Robinson- Regis noted that the actual amount received from the EU (European Union) was $57,965,675 which is the amount Cabinet approved to pay cane farmers on July 28, and noted that there are no more funds to be obtained from the EU under this programme. She said the 2007 and 2015 to 2016 payments gave a total compensation package of $167,077,449 to cane farmers. There are 3,481 cane farmers to benefit from this in accordance with the number of farmers benefiting from the Caroni 1975 payment in 2007, Robinson- Regis said. To date, of the 3,481 eligible farmers, cheques have been prepared for 2,740 farmers totalling $ 24,151,385. Some 316 farmers have not signed the Agreement Letter and there are 425 queries to be addressed. Schoolboys body recovered According to reports, Zephryn was kept at home on Thursday because he had the common cold. Relatives suggested that he be taken for a sea bath to get rid of the cold and on Thursday, the Wallerfield family journeyed to the Balandra beach with the intention of having a fun-filled day. According to reports, at about 4 pm, while Zephryn was bathing with other relatives, he experienced difficulties and called out to a male relative who attempted to rescue him however, the schoolboy vanished under water. Frantic attempts were made in searching for him, but when the body was not found relatives alerted the TT Coast Guard and a party of officers from the Mathura Police Station led by Sgt Vikash Ramkissoon went to the scene. Yesterday, the body was viewed by a District Medical Officer who ordered its removal to the Forensic Science Centre, St James. Weeping relatives said they were at least grateful that the body had washed ashore so that the final rites could be carried out for young Zephryn. University degree not automatic entitlement to be hired Having a university degree is a significant accomplishment, but it is no guarantee of things to come, he told University of the West Indies St Augustine Campus final-year students on Thursday at the UWI World of Work (WOW) seminar and conference held at the UWI Sport and Physical Education Centre. Giving an example, Howell said whenever Republic Bank recruits a new staff member, We always look at what lies beyond the paperwork, the degrees, and the academic accomplishments. He said, We look at aptitude, but we are also very interested in attitude. The bank does not look at where the employee will be in the next six or nine months beyond the probationary period, he said, but where they will be in the next five to 15 years even if by that time they are no longer a part of the team. He noted that Republic Bank has sponsored the WOW programme over the past ten years and the bank has made it a priority. Noting that the bank has worked together with the UWI in the pursuit of empowerment through education, Howell said its contribution include the banks ongoing support to the UWI Development and Endowment Fund and its $80 million contribution for the construction of the new home for the Department of Creative Arts and the construction of the North Campus Plaza. In welcome remarks, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal Professor Brian Copeland said it was UWIs belief that while education was meant to empower the individual for the job market, given todays worrying state, education must ensure that society is maintained and developed. Noting the changes in todays world due to information technology and the internet and the impact it can have on ones career, he said that education and etiquette go beyond using the right knife and fork at a business dinner, but also knowing what not to post and how to build and protect ones online brand. Biafrans push TT politicians for help Chief among the delegations concerns was the ongoing detention of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, for the past 11 months, in defiance of orders of the Nigerian High Court instructing his release. IPOB continental representative, Leonard Anemene, told Newsday yesterday the group was holding similar demonstrations worldwide to tell the Nigerian government to conduct itself in accordance with the international charters that they are signatory to. The Nigerian government does not live up to the rule of law, although they claim to be a democratic government, Anememe said. We are asking the President (Carmona), Prime Minister (Rowley), Attorney General (Faris Al-Rawi) and Members of Parliament to use their good office and wealth of experience as to how things are done properly to teach Nigeria and to tell Nigerian President Muhammed Buhari to follow the law. Anememe said IPOB believes in dialogue, citing the civilised way in which Great Britain recently conducted its referendum to leave the European Union in its Brexit vote, a move IPOB could mirror by way of a Biafraxit. He complained that the Nigerian military/ police have killed 4,000 Biafrans in the past year, using excessive force on mostly unarmed persons who had committed no offence. On February 9, ten members of IPOB were killed by the Nigerian Army while at prayer at Ibo National High School, Aba, Aba State. Anememe said up to 200 Biafrans remain jailed by the Nigerian authorities, including leader Kanu, detained last October 14 to present. Man, 54, drowns at Macqueripe According to reports, Mervin Sanderson was with two friends at about 7.10 pm on Thursday walking along some rocks in the vicinity of the beach when the incident occurred. His two friends attempted to pull him from the sea but were unsuccessful in doing so. Coast Guard officers were alerted and they also carried out a search but, up until yesterday the body had not yet been recovered. Sanderson is the third person to have drowned between Tuesday and Thursday. Deosaran: Teachers must prepare next generation to save TT This was the call made by criminologist, Professor Ramesh Deosaran, as he addressed the Caroni District Teachers and Administrators Conference at the Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School in Couva earlier this week. Tackling the theme Sustaining a Peaceful School Culture Deosaran said, We cannot speak about a culture of peace in schools without considering the socio-economic environment in which the school is located. And over the years, that environment, the society that is, has been allowed to grow into the most toxic, nosiest and corrupt we have known since political independence. He said whatever teachers do in school is therefore seriously contested by the examples seen outside. Deosaran urged those in the teaching profession not to give up. The challenging role of teachers now is not only to instil a culture of peace in the schools, it is also to help reduce the deviance and corruption in the society by instilling the required values, attitudes and behaviours. Turning his attention to the issue of a dress code for teachers, Deosaran said teachers and school administrators must be careful not to appear as approving commando- s tyle dressing, nose-rings, alpagats or torn-up jeans noting that both Education Minister Anthony Garcia and Peoples National Movement (PNM) chairman, Franklyn Khan, expressed concern over the manner of dress of some teachers. The lack of discipline in this country, he says, is rooted in many issues. This goes beyond how teachers dress. I think the issue is not so much the imposition of a dress code, but that teachers themselves should know how to dress properly. When you look around, there is indeed a case to be made. He noted, however, that this should also apply to visiting parents and students. Kamla: I never walked out It is totally false to say that we orchestrated a walkout, said Persad-Bissessar. She said that during the debate she had found it offensive that Attorney-General Faris Al-Rawi had accused the Opposition of collecting money under false pretences, and so she had objected under the standing orders or rules of Parliament. I did not walk out, she repeated. I was put out because I made an objection to the lies and distortions in parliament today. She said Caroni Central MP Dr Bhoe Tewarie had stayed on, ready to continue the debate. Asked about the Speakers objection to the Oppositions use of accusatory words such as lies and nonsense, Persad-Bissessar told reporters to ask the Speaker which standing order she was concerned with, adding, I am not of the view that my behaviour was disruptive. Accusing the Government of brinkmanship, she said she was convinced that the Government did not want to pass the Bill, but wanted to scapegoat the Opposition for the Bills failure. She related that Dr Tewarie had stayed on to debate but that the Government had adjourned. Persad-Bissessar saw the failure of yesterdays sitting as an attempt by the Government to distract the population from what she expects to be a harsh Budget next Friday. However she said the Government will soon be forced to account for their expenditure over the past fiscal year and to state their plans, especially in the areas of the economy, crime and jobs. Tewarie said the House could have passed the Bill last night, and that Persad-Bissessar had initially told her MPs to prepare to work through to midnight. Barataria/ San Juan MP Dr Fuad Khan alleged that the Government had planned to truncate the debate. Caroni West MP Ganga Singh said it was a dark day for TT, as the Government had embarked on a course to sabotage the Bill and then blame the Opposition. It is a travesty of justice, on the eve of Republic Day, hit Singh. He hit Finance Minister, Colm Imbert, for yesterday allegedly making no attempt to gain consensus or common ground during the debate, but instead allegedly speaking with vitriol and bile as done at a Peoples National Movement (PNM) meeting on Tuesday night at Mount DOr. UNC leader: Fatca, a Budget distraction Telling reporters that the Opposition rejected the suspension and would not meet with the Government during this time, Persad-Bissessar quipped, Why should we go behind closed doors? Let us talk here in the Parliament so that the people could see. She charged that Government members distort and lie about conversations that take place in secret. Accusing the Government of brinkmanship, Persad-Bissessar said the Opposition wanted to pass the legislation but, but clearly the Government has its own agenda. During the vote on the suspension of the House, Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal was asked to leave the Parliament Chamber after he challenged a directive from Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George. Moonilal told reporters Persad-Bissessar should have been allowed to reply to Finance Minister Colm Imbert on the bill. When the sitting resumed, Chaguanas West MP Ganga Singh was the first and only Opposition MP who spoke, before the Opposition walked out later in the sitting. Singh questioned whether Government has already secured a commitment from the United States government about an getting an extension for FATCA compliance. The deadline for TTs FATCA compliance is September 30, Budget Day. Accusing Government of playing games, Singh said, Politics is not a game. Some Government MPs expressed amusement when Singh added, I speak as a patriot. Imbert: Too important to fail He explained that under the Houses Standing Orders should a vote be put to a vote and it fails, it cant be brought back under six months. Imbert continued, If we had allowed the Opposition to continue in the way they were behaving and we had been reckless and decided to put this matter to a vote...today for example...it is obvious that they would not have voted for it. Imbert said has this happened, TT would have been seen as an irresponsible country and, that would have sent an entirely wrong signal to the US Treasury... the American authorities. Saying this was Governments major concern, Imbert said he hoped to receive a response from the US Treasury for a FATCA extension next week. He also said US Ambassador to TT John Estrada, has said he would speak with officials in the US Treasury while he is in Washington DC. Imbert stressed this, is not a time for nervousness... it is a time for being purposeful. He rejected Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessars claim the bill was a distraction from the 2016/2017 Budget which he will present in Parliament on September 30- the FATCA deadline for TT compliance. Thats statement is ridiculous. Why would I want to distract from the Budget? he asked. Imbert said Persad-Bissessar was well aware of the Budget process and countered that it was the Opposition that was trying to hamper the Budgets preparations. Imbert indicated that since 5 am yesterday, the Government started working on amendments to the bill once it saw a newspaper ad from the Opposition on FATCA. Kamla: Champion the public good Our society remains stratified on social and economic grounds with an imbalance between the rich and the poor, which is a glaring defect in our Republic, Persad-Bissessar hit. Our economy is stagnating, crime is the worst ever, there is a growing army of jobless and a social safety net meant to protect the poor and vulnerable has all but disappeared. She said this state of affairs does not reflect the founding principles of the Republic. Some seem to have abandoned those who are less privileged in their quest for power and fame with the result that they have shifted the focus from a just society in which each of us would always remain free to enjoy the bounties of our state to one where a privileged few control the destiny of the masses. Still I urge you to never despair. Per sad-Bi s s es sar urged citizens to have big hopes and dreams, and be guided by virtue and high morals. Whatever our differences, we must continue to hold a positive passion for the public good. We must always strive to guard the public interest through service, not through power and glory, she said. And more than anything else, let us stand on guard and protect our freedoms, and those institutions that are the bedrock of our free and democratic state. She advised that now is a time to reflect on TTs road to self governance and whether we need to explore different routes to create a just society where everyone enjoys freedoms and lives as one family, as our Creator meant it to be. Perhaps now is a good time to ask if our constitutional arrangements need refreshing to suit the needs of our unique society and whether our institutions are serving us as they should. PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) Frankie urges Opposition to back Privy Council abolition The last vestige of our colonial past remains, Khan said, delivering Republic Day greetings as the Senate session opened. We urge the Opposition to support this venture during this second session of Parliament. All sides of the Senate yesterday sent greetings ahead of Republic Day observances. Senate President Christine Kangaloo praised the, bond of common excitement and pride. In the challenges and success that are yet to come may we find ourselves continuing to act as one people, said the Senate President. Independent Senator Dhanayshar Mahabir said there was need to understand the importance of the holiday. There are many people who need to know, he said. Opposition Senator Wade Mark said being republic was about sovereignty. He said foreign bodies like the US Congress, the IRS, the Judiciary or the IMF do not have the right to make laws in this country. During this session, for the first time, Senators will have to declare any conflicts they have during proceedings as the newly amended Standing Orders will take effect during this session. The announcement that the new rules have taken effect was made by Senate President Christine Kangaloo yesterday as the session opened. The new rules stipulate that, Before participating in consideration of any item of business in the Senate in which he has a financial interest, a member should disclose the extent of that interest. From Monday, the new rules which also see a special Parliament committee keep track of all promises made by ministers or parliamentary secretaries will also take effect. Any assurances made during Question Time, debates and matters on the adjournment will be recorded and monitored, Kangaloo said. At yesterdays sitting, Gerald Ramdeen was sworn in as a temporary Opposition Senator. Yesterdays opening of the session was punctuated by moments of good cheer. Kangaloo accidentally appeared to adjourn the Senate unilaterally without recourse of the Senators. Opposition Senator Wade Mark called for a count on the vote when one member jokingly shouted no in objection to adjournment to a date to be fixed. I think we want a division on that! Mark said. Cudjoe: Tourism a wealth of possibility She believes, however, that because the nation has become so accustomed to the benefits of being an oil producing country, it tends to disregard the potential of the tourism sector as a source of revenue. Cudjoe made the statements yesterday at a press conference held at the Ministry of Tourism, Tower C, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain to announce the countrys first Junior Minister of Tourism, 16-year-old La Quan Pearie. Cudjoe explained that increased public education on the possibilities of this sector must happen for that change in perception of tourism as a non-essential to a better economy. Theres nowhere else more attractive with a wide variety of tourism products and people so warm and friendly as Trinidad and Tobago, Cudjoe said. We have so much to offer and sometimes we sell ourselves short. So we need to get out there and spread the good word and get young people energised so that they could build careers and pursue careers in tourism. So we are doing that kind of work through the Ministry and through the TDC (Tourism Development Company) under a campaign called, Our Tourism, Our Business, where we will be getting everybody on board. Pearie will be one of the individuals helping Cudjoe to raise awareness about the importance of the tourism industry. Sony Xperia XZ Set To Arrive In India Next Week New Delhi, Sat, 24 Sep 2016 NI Wire We have already reported about Sony working on its new Xperia series. The devices have got launched in the other major countries, and now its time for the big release to happen in India. It has been learnt from sources that Sony is all set to release its Xperia XZ device in India, the handset would be available in store from next week. For the uninitiated, the all new Xperia XZ was first unveiled at IFA, Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin 2016 - global consumer electronics fair. And now the reports hint at its release in the Indian market. However, Sony has not made any official statement about the release of Xperia XZ in India. But in the recent few weeks, we have seen the company cutting down the prices of its prominent Xperia devices including: Xperia X, Xperia Z Performance. This has apparently made everyone anticipate that Xperia XZ is certainly on the offing and would soon make it to the market. Also, this happens to be the perfect time to seize Indian smartphone market. The festive season of Diwali is all set to commence with the onset of Dusshera on October 11. And Apple had already planned to launch its high-end iPhone 7 on October 7 to take full advantage of the festive season. Samsung too will be rolling out the Note 7 devices again, as the battery problem has been solved now. So, this time period will be really crucial and we will have the clash of titans taking place at full swing. Xperia XZ At A Peek Though we are yet to learn about the release date of the Sony Xperia XZ, let us just have a look at the features the device is expected to come up with. It has been learnt that Xperia XZ comes with a 5.0-inch full HD screen. The device is powered by Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor, with 3GB RAM, and 32GB/64GB storage. It houses a 2,900mAh battery. Xperia XZ camera is also very strong, it has a mammoth 23MP primary camera which comes decked with features such as 1/2.3-inch Exmor RS sensor, 24mm wide-angle G Lens F2.0 aperture quick launch (nearly 0.03 seconds), predictive hybrid auto focus, 5x clear image zoom, and Pulse LED flash. For selfies, the device comes with 13MP camera that has 22mm wide-angle lens with f/2.0 aperture, 1/3.06-inch Exmor RS for mobile image sensor, and low-light photo: up to ISO 6400. The additional features in Xperia XZ boast of fingerprint sensor, IP65/IP68 water-and-dust resistant certification, Dual-SIM (optional model), Wi-Fi Miracast, Bluetooth 4.2 wireless technology, High-Resolution Audio, Front Surround, and Stereo recording. It can be bought in colors of forest blue, mineral black, and platinum. Stay tuned to this space to know as to when Xperia XZ will finally make an entry into the stores! West Pakistan Refugees submit charter of demands to Rajnath Singh New Delhi, Sat, 24 Sep 2016 NI Wire A delegation of West Pakistani Refugees, led by its President Shri Labha Ram Gandhi, met Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh here today and submitted a Charter of demands. The Charter of demands included Citizenship right in the State of J&K, Special package for rehabilitation in J&K, Right to vote/ contest for the State elections, Allotment of land, Special recruitment, Right to education in technical/ professional institutions, Issuance of SC/ OBC certificates. The delegation also demanded for the appointment of Relief Commissioner for West Pakistani Refugees to look into and redress the grievances. While appreciating the sentiments of the members of delegation, Shri Rajnath Singh assured the delegation that he will look into the matter and take necessary action. He said that the MHA has appointed a Nodal Officer to exclusively coordinate with the refugee community for redressal of their day to day issues. He also said that MHA is working out a suitable provision to overcome the problems faced by the West Pakistani Refugees in terms of non-issuance of SC/ST/ OBC certificates by the State Government. The West Pakistani Refugees settled in J&K are citizens of India and they have the right to vote in Parliamentary Elections. However, they are not permanent residents of the State in terms of J&K Constitution. They do not enjoy voting rights to the State Assembly and Local Bodies. The conferment of Permanent Resident Status to the West Pakistani refugees settled in J&K falls within the purview of J&K Constitution, which will enable them for Jobs under State Government, for admission into the State Technical/ Professional institutions and the right to purchase/ acquire land/ immovable properties in the State of J&K. No separate proposal is under consideration of the Government to recruit the children of West Pakistani Refugees (WPRs) in paramilitary forces. However, these children were allowed to be recruited in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) without the condition of having domicile certificate from the designated authority of the State Govt. of J&K. Other proof such as names in the Parliamentary voter list, are to be taken as proof of their being refugees from West Pakistan and the certificate issued by the village Numberdar/ Sarpanch can be accepted and taken into account for the purpose of recruitment in CAPFs and Assam Rifles against the quota of the J&K State. The children of these refugees are eligible to apply against the vacancies in paramilitary forces earmarked for the State of J&K. In the wake of Pakistani aggression in Jammu and Kashmir in 1947, about 5764 families who migrated from the then West Pakistan are residing mainly in Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri Districts of Jammu Division. The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh and the Home Secretary Shri Rajiv Mehrishi were also present. Source: PIB Lenovo Moto M Images Surface Online, Hints At The Big Release! New Delhi, Sat, 24 Sep 2016 NI Wire Lenovo is going strong with its range of smartphones; every month the company is launching new flagships. And it is highly commendable that has even owned some major smartphone brands like the Motorola and Coolpad. Buzz now states that the Lenovo owned Motorola is soon to release the Moto M, which as heard from sources has also been approved by TENAA, Chinese telecom gear certification authority. In the recent past, Lenovo launched quite a few flagships under its new subsidiary - the Motorola, which is now addressed as the Moto. Together they even launched the Z series devices, and now sources have got updates about a device with code name XT-1662 - which has been anticipated to be the new Moto M. Some of the images of the device got leaked online which give a slight hint about this new device from Lenovo. Though Lenovo has not yet decided on the release date of the Moto M, but it is evident that the launch would happen very soon in the near future as the device has been certified by TENAA. One can expect the device to get launched in the coming few months. So, till the time Lenovo passes on the word about Moto M release, let us have a look at the features as perceived from the leaked images of the device. What Moto M Has In Store? As per the leaked images that have surfaced online, one can predict some of the vital features of the new Moto M. The images make it clear that Moto M comes with 5.5-inch full HD display which has 1,080x1,920p resolution. It is clocked at MediaTek processor, and runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS. For storage it has 32GB inbuilt memory along with 4GB RAM, while earlier it was said that device will have 3GB RAM. Moreover, Moto M has 16MP primary camera along with 8MP front camera for selfies. Earlier, it was stated that Moto M has 5MP front camera. Moving on, the device is packed with 3,000mAh battery. It was also in the news that Lenovo would launch Moto M (XT-1662) in sync with one more flagship, which bears the code as XT-1663 and houses 4.6-inch display clocked at MediaTek MT6750 processor. Just a week back, Lenovo had launched the Z2 Plus in India which comes in two models based on its RAM and storage configurations. The two models are going to be exclusively available on Amazon India for Rs. 17,999 from September 25. In the recent past, Lenovo shelled out many flagships including the Moto series devices such as Moto Z, Moto Z Force, and the Moto Z Play, along with the Vibe P2, K6, K6 Power, and the K6 Note. Lenovo is going strong and building a secured place in the smartphone hub in India; its Moto series are already catering a great show with wonderful designs and high-end features. And we hope that Moto M would continue to do so. Do stay tuned to this space to know when Moto M will finally be available! We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Morocco has officially submitted a request to regain its place as a member of the African Union (AU) during a meeting between Royal Advisor Taieb Fassi Fihri and the AU Commission Chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, on the sidelines of the 71st Session of the United Nations. The Kingdom of Morocco has officially submitted a request to accede to the African Union (AU) Constitutive Act, and therefore, become a Member of the Union, the AU said in a statement. In a speech last July, King Mohammed VI made it clear This decision does not, of course, mean that Morocco will relinquish its legitimate rights, nor recognize a pseudo entity lacking the basic elements of sovereignty which was imposed on the African Union, in flagrant violation of the latters charter. The Monarch added that Moroccos return to the pan-African organization reflects our keenness to continue defending our interests from within the African Union and to enhance cooperation with our partners, at the bilateral and regional levels. During the last AU summit, a group of 28 member states of the African union addressed a motion to the AU chair expressing support to Moroccos return to its African family and demanding the suspension of the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Republic from the pan-African organization. Morocco withdrew from the predecessor of the AU, the Organization of African Unity in 1984, on grounds of the biased decision of the organization, which violated neutrality in the Sahara conflict by admitting the Algeria-based SADR separatist entity as a full-fledged member. Since then Morocco has been conditioning its return to the pan-African body on the withdrawal of the Polisario membership and the respect of the UN-brokered political process to settle the Sahara issue. The stuff dreams are made of? Photo: Perkins Eastman The Port Authority Bus Terminal is gross. But last fall, agency officials approved a plan to build a $10 billion replacement for the crumbling 66-year-old structure. The agency hosted an international design competition and found some takers up for redesigning the massive bus station. Those proposals werent going to be made public, but residents and neighbors of the current and future bus terminal protested, and the Port Authority agreed to release the submissions for public input. The very detailed plans are available here, but below are a sampling of the five proposals. Curbed points out that there is a tiny catch: The Port Authority isnt obligated to go with these plans exactly, but the proposals and feedback from the community will all inform the final decision. Though theyre all winners when compared to what New York is presently dealing with. Arcadis of New York, Inc. Photo: Arcadis of New York; Inc. This proposal would allow for buses to have direct access to the terminal from the Lincoln Tunnel, avoiding street congestion. The design will include an elevated pedestrian plaza over Dyer Avenue, creating a car-free entrance to the new Bus Terminal. This plan would use only Port Authorityowned land, and would link to a new 7-train subway stop at Tenth Avenue and 41st Street. Photo: Arcadis of New York; Inc. Archilier Architecture Consortium Photo: Archilier Architecture Consortium Archilier says the Port Authority will become New Yorks Next Great Place. Their plan calls for a new 4-million-square-foot terminal that would connect the 7-train stop at Tenth Avenue, with a pedestrian path to the Eighth Avenue lines. And this sure sounds nice: a 9.8-acre rooftop park. Photo: Archilier Architecture Consortium Hudson Terminal Center Collaborative Photo: Hudson Terminal Center Collaborative This proposal would put the entire bus terminal underground, leaving the area where the old terminal once stood open for whatever the developers dream up. Photo: Hudson Terminal Center Collaborative Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects Photo: Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects Instead of the Port Authority Bus Terminal, Welcome to Times Square West. Photo: Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects Perkins Eastman Photo: Perkins Eastman This ones called Convergence. The firm proposes moving the bus terminal to the lower level of the Jacob K. Javits Center, marrying expos and commuting to Jersey. The scene of the soiree. Photo: Trevor Collens/AFP/Getty Images Last night, the panoramic World Trade Center observatory was packed with media luminaries toasting Slates 20th anniversary. The turnout of top editors for white wine, passed sliders, and schmoozing with a few story pitches snuck in was a testament to Slates lasting influence on the industry. Founded in 1996 by former New Republic editor Michael Kinsley, Slate was one of the first digital-only publications, known for its podcasts, verticals before they were called verticals, and argument-driven and often playfully counterintuitive stories that helped to shape the direction of online commentary. Daily Intelligencer took the opportunity to pick the brains of the powerful partygoers. We asked a skittish Nick Denton what hes up to (brainstorming a book, naturally), learned David Remnick is a fan of Between Two Ferns, and discovered Salman Rushdies love is that fickle, especially for Twitter. We polled the room on media-related anxiety levels. Some were pretty freaked out about the industry, the career prospects in digital media, and whether anyone can ever make a profit off enterprise journalism anymore. Others think things are better than ever. And, if its any solace, Malcolm Gladwells not worried. Nick Denton, Gawker founder What are you going to do? I have been part of an interesting story, and I can originally write it. Are you going to write it? Well see. Which media company is going to get bought next? People were gossiping about a Disney-Vice transaction. They have been gossiping about that for a while, but it hasnt happened yet. That would be interesting a wholesome Vice would be a very interesting proposition. David Remnick, editor-in-chief of The New Yorker Do you miss Gawker? I think it is awful to have this guy try to sue everyone into submission. I miss the best of Gawker. I dont think it is theoretical. You saw that suddenly Gabe Sherman was being surrounded. It is legal, but it is awful. It is not going to stop anyone from publishing what they should publish. Will anyone read stories in five years? People will read. I think people are hungry, for depth and language and thought, and sometimes it is entirely possible that cant be expressed in a 20-second video. I have nothing against a 20-second video. Today I watched Hillary Clinton navigate her way through Zach Galifianakis. It has value. So does Moby-Dick. Julia Turner, editor-in-chief of Slate Do you miss Gawker? Not as a daily read, but I miss its weird ambition. I think we are a poorer place for it not being in the world. How scared are you of Facebook? Anyone whose media strategy depends on Facebook has made a grave mistake. Ours does not, so not very. What is your VR strategy? I have to say Im kind of skeptical about VR for journalism. It has been cool to see people experimenting with new technologies, and we have another experiment cooking that well be launching over the next year, but the thing that is weird about it is you cant guide a person through the experience, and that is the job of the journalist. So it seems great for gaming and less good for storytelling. What is your nightmare scenario for the industry? Well, I think a lot of people have bought into a scenario that there will only be video in the future, but I dont think that is true. Best-case scenario? I kind of think we are living in it. Obviously, it is fraught times, for digital journalism and journalism broadly. But look at this campaign there are so many outlets doing really interesting, ambitious work. Ben Smith, editor-in-chief of BuzzFeed What digital brand do you find yourself consuming more than you thought you would? Snapchat. I talk to my kids on it, and I like their stories. I think their election stuff has been great, and better than anyone expected. Is there something faster than the 24/7 news cycle? I guess the 24-hour news cycle, we are talking about the 80s and 90s and the birth of CNN. It does feel like the news cycle now is much denser than its predecessor. This is actually something I think about. The challenge now is not just to tell your readers whats happening in the world but to help them navigate that whole information environment that is so dense. How do you do that? You have to assume that your audience is consuming everything, and tell them what is true and what is not true. Salman Rushdie, author Which media company do you consume more than you thought you would? Snapchat? I have no idea how Snapchat works. Facebook yes. I have abandoned Twitter. I had 1.2 million people on Twitter, and about two months ago I woke up in the morning and thought, I dont want to do this. I just dont want to do this. I stopped, I deleted the app from my phone, and I have not missed it for a millisecond. Why did you do that? I have come around to the Franzen position that it is a noise you dont want in your head. I think Twitter is very well-named. It is this twittering noise in your ear, and I just thought I dont need that noise. I tried it, I did it for three or four years, and I quite enjoyed it, and then it is like falling out of love. You wake up one day and you look at the person lying next to you, and you think, Im not in love anymore. Thats what happened to me with the little blue bird. Deborah Needleman, editor-in-chief of T Magazine What digital media company do you find yourself consuming more than you thought you would? Audible, all day long, and podcasts all day long, but I dont think that really counts as digital media. I feel like, for me, media is digital, but Im not that interested in digital media companies. Will people read articles in five years, or will everything go straight to Facebook video? This whole thing about people not reading is ridiculous. I think digital makes people read more. But also, people are reading super-long stuff; Im reading, this sounds super-pretentious, on my iPhone, Anna Karenina. It doesnt matter. How worried are you about Facebook? I havent been on Facebook in, like, seven years. I feel like someone could do an experiment. I dont know. I forgot my password, like, seven years ago, maybe I have been dropped. Do you feel better? All social media makes me miserable. Im already addicted to Instagram, which makes me incredibly unhappy. Malcolm Gladwell, staff writer at The New Yorker What do you think digital media companies will look like in 20 years? No idea. Do you worry about journalists being able to survive? No. More people are reading than ever, somebody is going to write the things they read, and Im optimistic theyll figure out the business model. Bruce Headlam, former New York Times media editor What will digital media companies look like in 20 years? I think there will be fewer of them, and I dont think they will be substantially bigger. I think it is a little bit of a bubble is the wrong word, but I dont think in the long run a lot of their plans are sustainable. I dont think online traffic, which continues to decline in value, is ever going to be able to support a lot of big players. Im the drag at the party. Who is the next media company to be bought out? I couldnt even guess. It is a tough, tough business, and it depends on endless inflows of 25-year-old talent who dont want to be paid very much, and at some point, I dont know that the economics are going to work. Online traffic keeps declining in value, so you get more, but it keeps meaning less. Jessica Grose, editor-in-chief of Lenny What is your worst-case scenario for the digital media industry? That the bottom will completely fall out of advertising. I want to see more enterprise journalism being funded, and I want to see more deep reporting being done, and as it is harder to pay for it, it is going to be increasingly harder to do. Whats your best-case scenario? My best-case scenario is that new funding strategies come to light so everyone is not so dependent on advertising to make a go of it, because that is obviously the problem going forward. There are tons of really smart people who are doing good work, and the problem is paying them. Will anyone be reading articles in five years? Yes. People still want to read. We have been hearing for years that video is the next thing, and I do think there will be advances in video, but people are mostly reading while they are at work. You cant watch videos while you are at work. Brian Stelter, senior media correspondent for CNN Do you miss Gawker? I have not missed Gawker yet, but I know I will. So far, most of Gawker is on Gizmodo, at least that is my perception, but I know there will be a point in the not-too-distant future where I will miss the site, and all eyes are on [Univision CEO Raju Narisetti] now. Are written stories destined to become a niche market? Oh god, no. As long as we all have eyeballs, we are going to want to read and watch. Im pro-word. What did Felix Salmon say We are post-text? We will never be post-text. Michael Kinsley, Slate founder Are you ever surprised by which digital media properties you go to? I was impressed, I would say, by HuffPo, really impressed, and I really admire Arianna Huffington. I suppose that is a bit of a surprise. I still read mostly the legacy publications. Eliot Spitzer, former governor of New York Do you miss Gawker? No, but missing them isnt the issue. Should outlets like that exist? Maybe yes, maybe no. But you dont have to miss them to recognize they have the right to exist. Jacob Weisberg, chairman and editor-in-chief of the Slate Group Which digital brand do you find yourself consuming more than you thought you would? Probably Vox. I listen to their podcasts. The Weeds is really great; Ezra Kleins show is really great. They are kind of an affinity brand for us. We are interested in a lot of the same things. I think there have always been some digital media companies that we really learn from. At the moment, I learn a lot from BuzzFeed and a lot from Vox. They are not the only ones, by any means, but it is a very collegiate business in that when we see other people doing smart things, there is still a sense that we are all rooting for high-quality content on the internet. What digital media companies will exist in 20 years? I think only digital media companies will be around in 20 years. If you are not digital in 20 years, you are not going to exist. How scared are you of Facebook? Im concerned about Facebook. I think they have to take seriously their role as a gatekeeper for billions of people in news consumption, and I dont think they have any hostility to editorial content. But I dont think they fully appreciate how important it is to their existence and their success. I think they have to figure out a way to support the content that is going to keep people coming back to Facebook. Baby photos wont do it on their own. Wildstein Photo: Peter Foley/Bloomberg via Getty Images After years of silence and mystery, David Wildstein, the confessed mastermind of George Washington Bridge scheme, finally took the stand this afternoon in the trial of two former colleagues from Governor Chris Christies administration. But his testimony, at least to begin with, was as notable for what it indicated about two individuals who were not in the courtroom, Christie and his former campaign manager, Bill Stepienboth of whom are now top figures in Donald Trumps presidential campaignas it was for anything he said about the actual defendants. In the first of what is expected to be several days of testimony, Wildstein recounted howfrom as early as a year after Christie first won electionthe governors administration began organizing to woo local Democratic officeholders to cross party lines and endorse him. Key to this effort, Wildstein said, was the use of the resources of the Port Authority to do things for Democrat officials that would potentially put the governor in a more favorable position. Though technically an independent agency, Wildstein described the Port Authority as functioning as something akin to a patronage-dealing arm of the governors office, using its power over things like tolls, public transit, commerce, construction projectsand its patronage jobsto woo targeted officials. Stepien, then a New Jersey state official, was the primary architect of this plan, but Wildstein testified that there were others who were directly involved. What others? asked prosecutor Lee M. Cortes Jr. Governor Christie, Wildstein replied Stepien is currently working for Trump as his campaigns national field director, while Christie is currently a top adviser who is planning his potential presidential transition. A third Trump campaign employee, Matt Mowers, also testified at the trial today, prior to Wildstein. A former employee of Stepienand later defendant Bridget Kellywithin Christies Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Mowers described drawing up a list of Democratic targets, mayors who were singled out for special favorable treatment. In January 2013, one of Christies aides sent out an email saying: Team, we have a green light to begin trying to secure [Democratic] endorsements for the campaign. Near the top the top of a list of approved targets below was the name of Mayor Mark Sokolich of Fort Leethe town that would ultimately end up being paralyzed by a traffic jam when its local access lanes to the bridge were shut down. For years prior to the shutdown, Mowers testified, Sokolich was wooed with a variety of inducements, including invitations to parties at the governors Drumthwacket estate, a family tour of the World Trade Center, a gift of steel salvaged from the Twin Towers after September 11, and tickets to a New Jersey Devils game. (Mowers testified that the mayor also asked Christie for a personal recommendation letter for his son, who was applying to Rutgers, but was turned down.) When the Port Authority agreed to finance a shuttle bus for the residents of Fort Lee, Stepien wrote Mowers an email, urging him to make sure Sokolich didnt forget the governor had approved the valuable service. All these interactions were duly noted in a Google Docs spreadsheet, which rated the mayors on a 1 to 10 scale, meant to reflect their likelihood to endorse Christies reelection. Sokolich ultimately turned down the governors overtures, though, citing his concern that crossing party lines would hurt his private business as an attorney specializing in zoning issues, for which he had contracts with several Democratic-controlled municipalities. Mowers testified that Kelly called him to check on the mayors status twice in August and September 2013just before and during the traffic jam. The question of when, how and why the governors allies allegedly shifted their approach from courtship to revenge-seeking is a question that is likely to be answered in the coming days by Wildstein. He walked to the stand with a purposeful gait, looking a bit hunched; he has lost weight and looks noticeably older than he did in photos from his tenure at the Port Authority. Earlier witnesses in the case have described him as Christies enforcer at the Port Authority, a description Wildstein more or less concurred with as he introduced himself to the jury. My responsibility was being very aggressive in making sure things got done, Wildstein said, speaking with a clipped, nasally New Jersey accent. Being the bad cop. Although Wildstein has a long history with Christie, having known the future governor since they attended Livingston High School together in the 1970s, the witness testified that he could only recall two occasions when he had talked with him one-on-one on the telephone. Once was in 1977, when they were both teenage volunteers on a Republican campaign and he and Christie were planning to travel together to a campaign eventIt was his first rally, Wildstein recalledand the other in 1995, when he was working as a political consultant and Christie was running for the state assembly. More important than his personal connection to the governor, he said, was his political connection to Stepien, as well as another top political strategist, Mike DuHaime. Wildstein said that he had a very close personal friendship with Stepien, and that he and DuHaime were two of only around 10 people who knew his well-kept secret: that for years, he had operated a highly influential New Jersey political blog, writing under the pseudonym of Wally Edge. (Edge was a 20th century governor and publisher, and Wildstein picked the name, he disclosed, because he knew one of his descendants.) Wildstein testified that he did not tell Christie the secretbut it is difficult to imagine that he didnt know, considering how close he himself was to Stepien and DuHaime. After Christies election, Wildstein recounted, he decided to give up his secret blogging identityin part because he thought it would be impossible to maintain his cloak of anonymity while covering Governor Christie, given his relationships with Stepien and DuHaime. Around this time, he said yet another political friend, defendant Bill Baroni, came to him with a job offer at the Port Authority, where Governor Christie had just placed Baroni as New Jerseys highest-ranking staff appointee. Baroni offered him a job as his second-in-command, and, after some initial resistance, Wildstein said that he realized that this could be a fascinating opportunity. Prior to the trial, friends of Wildstein and Baroni expressed great sadness over the fact that the two men have turned on one another. I would say Mr. Baroni was one of the closest friends Ive ever had, Wildstein testified. They met in 1999, when Baroni was working as a campaign counsel for a congressman named Bob Franks, whom Wildstein advised as a political consultant. (Stepien and DuHaime worked for Franks, too.) Wildstein recalled knocking on doors with Baroni when Baroni ran for public office. Wildstein told Baroni he was Wally Edge shortly after he started his site, Wildstein said, and he continued to advise Baroni on campaigns, even as he covered them on his blog. Baroni ultimately became a state senator. But when Christie hired him to work at the Port Authority, Wildstein advised his friend that his job as the governors appointee would be different. Wildstein said he would have to operate according to the one constituent rule, a term that the two men would use often at the Port Authority. The one constituent rule meant that the only person who mattered was Governor Christie, Wildstein testified. If it was good for Governor Christie, it was good for us. Baroni was no ones idea of a bureaucratic warriora garrulous pol, he has had a friendly smile attached to his face throughout the trialand Wildstein testified that Baroni hired him hoping to put the skills he had honed as a blogger to use. He said they talked in an intimate shorthand: if Baroni wanted something researched, he would ask Wildstein to Wally it. Referencing a feature from the blog, they would refer to politicians they liked as the Winner of the Week. In the instance of one email, shown by prosecutors, they referred to a Republican state assemblyman who angered them as the Schmuck of the Week. It was Wildsteins job to cause pain for those who strayed from Christies agenda. Mr. Baroni didnt enjoy playing the bad cop, Wildstein said. Mr. Baroni liked being the good cop. He felt that my particular kind of personality, which wasnt always entirely pleasant, would be helpful to him. At least in the beginning, though, Wildsteins role at the Port Authority was to make Democratic officeholders like Sokolich happy. The prosecution closed the day by showing a series of emails describing various inducements that the authority distributed to targeted officialspersonally approved in each instance by Kelly. One such program, which Wildstein said he devised, distributed flags that were flown over the World Trade Center site. He described overseeing an assembly-line process on September 11, 2011the 10th anniversary of the attacksto make sure that Christies office had 100 flags to give out to targeted municipalities. Stepien and Kelly oversaw the effort, Wildstein said. In another email exchange displayed by prosecutors, Wildstein described giving a tour of the World Trade Center site to another targeted mayor. Ill be prepared to talk about other things in the Port Authority goody bag, Wildstein wrote Kelly. I like goody bags! Kelly replied. Kelly was Stepiens deputy, and took over the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs after he left the state payroll to run Christies campaign in 2013. She was also dating Stepien around this time, and prosecutors showed a series of emails that were meant to show she enjoyed a warm working relationship with his friend, Wildstein. In one, the two discussed interviewing Kellys father for a patronage job at the Port Authority. Dont hold me against him and my craziness, Kelly wrote, adding a smiley face. Do you presume to think you can lecture me on craziness? Wildstein replied. Frankly I think that the qualities critical to this business are the dead-to-me gene and the insanity gene. Under questioning, Wildstein explained the reference to insanity by saying: I meant that my belief was that in politics, and New Jersey politics, we were all a little crazy. As for the dead-to-me gene: you can bet well be hearing much more about that next week. Tashala Dangel Geyer. Photo: Courtesy of YouTube/ramazone2 A live video was streamed on Facebook on Wednesday night of a black woman painting her entire body ghost white in protest of police brutality against black people. In the powerful 40-minute video, Tashala Dangel Geyer of Daytona Beach, Florida, explained that she purchased the paint at Home Depot to protect herself from getting shot by the police, Fusion reports. She is seen painting her naked body, and is heard telling black viewers that if they want to survive, they merely need to go white. Black lives matter, Chinese lives matter, but most important, white lives matter. But you know what? Bitch when I get pulled over by the police, bitch I aint got to do hands up; dont shoot, Geyer said in the video, per Fusion. They aint gon fuck with me, you know why? Cause Im white. The video was allegedly removed by Facebook and YouTube within hours of its posting. Facebook eventually restored the video to her page, though clips had already made their way around Instagram and other sites. This is the best shit I ever could have thought of. This is saving my life, Geyer said in the video. are there any older white men in hollywood not revealed to be super gross this year? Reply Thread Link Is this a trick question? Reply Parent Thread Link i would say it is rhetorical in nature. Reply Parent Thread Link revealed???? jim carrey has been publicly anti vaxx for years. he isnt shit Reply Parent Thread Expand Link hugh laurie? he did blackface in an old ep of jeeves and wooster. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link My worst nightmare Reply Thread Link im so confused Reply Thread Link Wow every A list white Hollywood male is revealing themselves this year whos next? George Clooney, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon... Reply Thread Link RDJ was already a drug addict who's been arrested more times than I can remember. Reply Parent Thread Link addiction doesn't make someone a shitty person Reply Parent Thread Expand Link George Clooney got something bubbling, got a feeling. And let's refer back to this comment when Matt Damon announces his divorce. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm pretty sure all these men have revealed themselves to be asshole in one way or another, Damon the most recent on Project Greenlight re: diversity. Reply Parent Thread Link my money is on Daniel Day Lewis Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Tom Hanks Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Matt said a LOT of shit during the martian/oscar campaigning iirc like, how LGBT actors should stay in the closet, some shit about diversity etc... Reply Parent Thread Link Matt Damon did already reveal himself to be a dick. Just not in anything personal life related. Reply Parent Thread Link All of those guys have done assholish things (RDJ besties w/ Mel Gibson, Damon publically dumping Minnie Driver, and all his terrible comments re: diversity and not understanding why gay actors should come out, Clooney saying dumb things about diversity and not doing anything to change it) but they seem inconsequential compared to the Depp/Pitt revelations. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link matt damon's been showing himself for the last year Reply Parent Thread Link tyler hoechlin remains perfect oh wait you said a list never mind Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The only one I can think of is Sebastian Stan. Fingers crossed for this unproblematic turtle who's still excited to live in a country where you can buy fresh fruit anytime. Oh, what about Patrick Stewart? Ian McKellen? ETA: also, overlooked the "A list". Seb, I love you, but you gotta pick better projects to get there. Edited at 2016-09-24 04:54 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Everyone tbh Reply Parent Thread Link i mean you just listed 3 narcissists so theres that. i hope ewan mcgregor isnt messy, i love him so much. if he is please no one tell me, let me live in oblivion. Reply Parent Thread Link RDJ filmed a movie in blackface and tries to tell Jews, Women, and People of Color that he has decided it's time to forgive Mel Gibson. RDJ can fucking rot. Reply Parent Thread Link who else did? I haven't been paying attention. Reply Parent Thread Link It really is the year of receipts Reply Thread Link Never had an STD cause I'm like Chuckie from Rugrats when it comes to sex/being slutty. I need all your paperwork signed by the president before anything is going anywhere near any hole. Like even making out with people makes my anxiety voice in my brain yell at me. Reply Thread Link You know it's kinda hard to test for herpes. I think you have to have an outbreak to get a positive result. oh and condoms are like the googles in that Radioactive Man Simpsons episode. They do nothing!!! Reply Parent Thread Link condoms do nothing? what? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Do you really think condoms do nothing? *puts you on the no fly list* Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The condoms zhey do nozing!! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link You do not have to have an outbreak to get a positive test result. There is a blood test, the PCR blood test, which can tell if you have it even if you don't have symptoms. After you think you were exposed, it's best to get tested again a while after, to make sure, because the antibodies might take a while to show up in your blood. You may be thinking of when they swab a sore to test if that spot has the virus. But yes, blood tests can tell even if you don't show symptoms. Reply Parent Thread Link Youre doing it right tbh Reply Parent Thread Expand Link smh im the same but i wanna be a ho Reply Parent Thread Expand Link lmao same here Reply Parent Thread Link I was a huge slut for many glorious years and never caught anything. Thanks std gods Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Same TBH. Reply Parent Thread Link HPV cannot be tested for in males, just saying. You've been lucky so far. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I'm not complaining but idk how I managed to escape ever getting an STD 'cause LORD KNOWS I couldn't be bothered with anything other than birth control pills until, like, my 20s. Reply Parent Thread Link Me too but I think I've turned into a ho since I've been taking the D on the other day. It was good. I kind of still wanna be a ho or thot or whatever y'all say these days lol cos it had been that a while!!! I need a bf that's it Reply Parent Thread Link fuck jim carrey (I mean actually don't bc of STDs) Reply Thread Link Mark Burton was still married to Catriona when she died. They only married for the green card. She had asked various Scientology friends to help her out, but Burton was the only one who said yes. Some of her close friends didn't even know she was married until she died. Mark and Catriona were Scientologists. At the time of her death, she was going through some weird ass purification process to cure her of her depression and drug abuse. Something like daily sauna sessions. Read all about it on tonyortega.org. Mark's dad was infamous for doing this shit for the cult. This smells like classic Scientology smear campaign and shake down to me. Reply Thread Link Yep. Any time a Scientologist is involved i become very skeptical. Reply Parent Thread Link oh wow i've thought jim carrey was creepy since that emma stone video but this sounds sketch Reply Parent Thread Link YES Reply Parent Thread Link omg i know nothing about this but i kinda believe it Reply Parent Thread Link Yep. And because of this lawsuit, lawyer Marty Singer has now come out and said shortly after Catriona and Jim started dating, Cat asked Jim to marry her and he turned her down. Also, prior to meeting Jim, she staged a fake wedding, hoping to fool immigration officials. But it didn't work. This girl was desperate to get that green card. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link MTE. She mentions Jim was "very generous with her financially" so you know all that money went to Scientology... Their text exchanges make her sound extremely manipulative, too. Sounds like Jim wised up to her creepy cult scamming and was cutting her off, so her cult leaders encouraged her to use the STD thing to reel him back in. He wanted her to sign some document, probably a DNR to protect himself, but she avoided it and that was the last straw. I do feel sorry for her, sounds like her mental illness was untreated and exploited by Scientology to get to Jim. Wouldn't surprise me if every part of her suicide, from her stealing Jim's pills to blaming him for leaving her in her suicide note, was all a direct order from Scientology to frame Jim. Now her Scientologist "husband" is trying to shake Jim down and whatever money he makes from this lawsuit will go straight to David Miscavige's pocket. Edited at 2016-09-24 03:09 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link ohhhhh shit :/ Reply Parent Thread Link Absolutely. Team Jim, tbh. There was also some shady shit with a scientologist "friend" removing shit from her apartment before the police arrived. Reply Parent Thread Link I usually don't have time for conspiracy theories, but when it comes to Scientology, I tend to believe all of them. Reply Parent Thread Link Damn. Like, I know what it's like to be fed up/angry with someone when you're trying to walk away and they won't let you, and I know that - after someone's died - our first response is always, "omg why weren't you more sensitive?" because we all think we're perfect all the time and never get angry or frustrated until we do, and his remarks look bad purely because we think that way. But basically, whether this is scientology-heavy or not, I feel so sorry for this woman. She clearly had some intense struggles going on & that was exploited. :\ Reply Parent Thread Link Probably. I had mutual friends with her at the time and they were all Scientologists. One was nice but the others... definitely mean-spirited and power hungry. Don't speak to them anymore but understand how they got attracted to being part of a cult. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I'm not surprised at any of this. Mess. Reply Parent Thread Link I had a feeling. Reply Parent Thread Link Messy Just to be clear I'm referring to Jim Carrey Edited at 2016-09-24 02:10 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Those texts are horrible. What a shitty person. Reply Thread Link Jenny McCarthy has Herpes and is open about it, so he likely got it from her. No way he doesn't have it. Reply Thread Link Oop Reply Parent Thread Link Right? That's the first thing I thought of. Reply Parent Thread Link Did she have it before dating him? Reply Parent Thread Link If she's on medication the transmission from female to male is pretty low... Reply Parent Thread Link All of Hollywood has herpes, he could have gotten it from anyone Reply Parent Thread Link Not just Hollywood, the general populace is swimming in it, too. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link yikes. getting an STD is my worst nightmare. it's difficult to explain to future partners and so shameful. Reply Thread Link It's not shameful to have an STD. Reply Parent Thread Link I mean, not all of them are permanent, and I don't think thinking it's shameful is a helpful mentality. Reply Parent Thread Link If someone is shaming you or making you feel bad about an STD they aint worth shit and should be dropped tbh. Reply Parent Thread Link Wow. Just wow. I got HPV from my husband. They can't test men for HPV and neither of us knew about the vaccine until it was too late. I had a cancer scare last year because of HPV. I feel no shame in explaining that to anybody, little alone a future partner I hope to be intimate with, if for whatever reason my husband and I separate or he passes away. Reply Parent Thread Link poor choice of words on my part. you're right, it isn't something to be ashamed about and it can happen to anyone no matter how careful you are. but it still would be something I would be very worried and scared about being judged for. Reply Parent Thread Link I got the hpv vaccine when I was 17..before I was sexually active and I got hpv from my boyfriend. Thankfully it wasn't the bad kind and it just went away on its own but it was still very scary. My gyno was so nice though. I was crying hysterically and she calmed me down by telling me how common it is. Reply Parent Thread Link Why shameful? It sucks when you get them, but you learn from the experience, take the prescribed medicine and you're fine. Reply Parent Thread Link i had chlamydia and took 4 pills and it was gone. no shame Reply Parent Thread Link Why is it shameful? Explain. Reply Parent Thread Link I disagree. Everyone I know with an (incurable) STD has gone on to have long term relationships, get married and/or have kids Reply Parent Thread Link I know what you're trying to say - you mean more that it has a stigma, and that can be embarrassing because some people are assholes about it. Reply Parent Thread Link wut @ nobody understanding that having an std can be a super shameful experience in our your-body-is-a-temple sex-shaming society Reply Parent Thread Link I'll wait for more confirmation on this. While there's enough of a trend in Hollywood to show that men can be like this, Mark Burton gotta pretty shady past himself. Basically its down to which man do you believe is the true PoS here. Reply Thread Link Same And the daily mail I'll wait Reply Parent Thread Link same. i'm skeptical of this whole thing. Reply Parent Thread Link i need jimmy fallon to get more shit from having trump on his show Reply Thread Link I saw people whining about Hillary getting softball question on Between Two Ferns and how Zach didn't get grief for it and Fallon did, but that's such a false equivalence. Hillary is a regular politician. Trump is terrifying and dangerous and stupid and actively encouraging white nationalism. I'm so sick of people who think they are the same. Honestly if it was an issue of both candidates need equal airtime then fucking don't have either one of them on your show if you're going to pal around with an anti-semite who thinks Mexicans are rapists, Muslims should be put in internment camps and stop and frisk is an acceptable policing strategy. Reply Parent Thread Link also Fallon's interview airs on national television, whereas Between Two Ferns is a scripted web series. Reply Parent Thread Link He had Hillary on right after that. He's not a journalist, so of course he's going to go easy on both of them. Reply Parent Thread Link i'm not gonna forget that image of him rubbing his hair anytime soon Reply Parent Thread Expand Link mte Reply Parent Thread Link I don't like raccoons but this is an insult to raccoons !! Reply Thread Link lmao Reply Parent Thread Link So guys, do you think Trump's flip from democrat to republican (i.e. loving hillary to hating her) was genuine or is he just doing whatever will get him the most attention? Reply Thread Link I agree with wavvy but I mostly think it's the latter. This is all about winning to him. Reply Parent Thread Link IA that it is both... i think he's really genuinely stupid AND has a personality disorder that allows him to flop around to whatever is most convenient yet makes him fervently believe anything he says/thinks. Reply Parent Thread Link I doubt he even really respected her (or any woman). I think he's a major suck up so he says nice things when they might benefit him, but now he's realized he can get away with saying outrageously offensive crap and dropped the act. Reply Parent Thread Link I don't think he respected her either for what it's worth, I think he was just ok with her bc at the time they were on the same page. And by ok I mean wasn't calling her a pig or whatever lol. Edited at 2016-09-24 10:44 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link I don't think he ever did or currently does actually hold a steadfast opinion on anything. I think he just says whatever is most convenient at the time - whatever requires the least original thought and gets him the reaction he wants. I think it's genuinely giving him too much credit to think he made any kind of plan about this. Reply Parent Thread Link i feel like obama being president is part of the motivation. idt he sees black people as deserving. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link He's a massive (or should I say, yuuuuuge) narcissist and will do whatever gets him the most attention/power. He found democrats easier to latch onto at first but now the alt-rightists are just the ticket to go fuhrer, I mean, further. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Attention. I mean, he's calling for her security to not have guns anymore. It's pretty crazy. I don't think he ever liked her. He's def a pretender. Reply Parent Thread Link "a guy who looks like a raccoon in a tanning bed" that's generous! Reply Thread Link raccoons are so cute, too, what an insult to them Reply Parent Thread Link someone get ja on the phone Reply Thread Link I am SO excited for the debate on Monday, you guys. It's going to be fascinating, tho I am fully expecting the media to paint Trump as the "winner" since the expectations for him are so low. Reply Thread Link lol i just submitted a post about the debates. he's inviting one of bill clinton's ex-mistresses. it's gonna be a circus. i feel bad for hillary tbh. Reply Parent Thread Link She supposedly accepted but I have a feeling she won't actually be there. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link jfc this whole thing is a jerry springer episode Reply Parent Thread Link His team is leaking stuff to the media about how he's done no preparation and everyone is like "lol, he's so stupid" but really by leaking that it sets the bar so fucking low that he'll get credit for not making up a country or some shit. I just hope Lester Holt calls him out. Reply Parent Thread Link It will! The media will declare him the winner just because he yelled the loudest. Fuck him. Reply Parent Thread Link nhf this slander of trash pandas Reply Thread Link same. raccoons are 100000% better than trump could ever be. Reply Parent Thread Link like wut r u mad abt here idg why ppl hate raccoons so much, I've always thought of them basically as oversized squirrels. Like they can be annoying sometimes but they're all awkward and fluffy and always doing crazy shit.like wut r u mad abt here Reply Parent Thread Expand Link They are so cute but ain't nobody want rabies. Reply Parent Thread Link they kill pets tho like they literally drown puppies Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I've already had rabies, I'm immune for another 6 years, give me 10 of them. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I hate squirrels though Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Here's one making direct eye contact with me while he eats my trash Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Lol irl at "trash pandas" Reply Parent Thread Link Pandas are actually useless for the environment as a whole, raccoons are not. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Trash pandas *snorts*. I'm using that Reply Parent Thread Link thank you for this new vocabulary, they are trash pandas henceforth Reply Parent Thread Link omg "trash pandas" i love it Reply Parent Thread Link They're the outlaws of the animal kingdom. Reply Parent Thread Link Apparently Trump invited Gennifer Flowers to the debate and she accepted because he was mad that Mark Cuban might be there. Everyone supporting this petty little weasel needs to be publicly shamed. Reply Thread Link I don't who told him it is a good idea to try and humiliate the wife for the sexual indiscretions of the husband. But then we live in a society where Aniston was mocked for ages because Brad left her. Reply Parent Thread Link Also, didn't he cheat on Ivana? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Wow. This article made me realize how much she actually cares and wants to connect with people: https://www.buzzfeed.com/rubycramer/hillary-clinton-wants-to-talk-to-you-about-love-and-kindness?utm_term=.ij9lQLLd3#.pl6yAVVPQ Reply Parent Thread Link yeah, it's funny, because the one thing that people doubt the most about her is the thing i've never doubted for a second. i disagree with her very strongly on a lot of things, but when she was my senator everyone who met her said that she was so present with them and so interested in their personal struggles and accomplishments. president obama gets a lot of credit for that, but because hillary is of a generation of women who had to act a certain way to be successful in male-dominated environments, her genuineness is always doubted. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Well polls show he's 10+ points behind where Romney was with white men, non college educated whites, conservatives, repubs, etc so I think there may be hope. Reply Parent Thread Link a guy who looks like a raccoon in a tanning bed screaming at the accuracy of this Reply Thread Link i have no horse in this race, but i'm thoroughly looking forward to seeing what a giant shitshow the debate will end up being. Reply Thread Link Now there are rumors about Johnson's VP wanting to drop out. Apparently Weld's inner circle has been talking to people. Reply Thread Link Yeah, I've def heard that Weld wanted to drop out if they didn't make the debates and support Hillary because he is terrified of a Trump win. I hope he does it, Gary "And what is Aleppo?" Johnson is a complete flop failure. Reply Parent Thread Link Weld is man with common sense. I hope he does drop out. Fucking Jill Stein still spends 24 hours of the day shitting on Hillary with rarely a peep about Trump. Reply Parent Thread Link Ya'll raccoons are known for killing cats, dogs, and other animals. If they are around water they'll try to drown them :( Judging by his sons Trump is probably the type to drown kittens lbr so it's fitting imo. Reply Thread Link Raccoons are vicious little bastards. One killed my dog a couple years ago. Reply Parent Thread Link Oh no, I'm so sorry :( Reply Parent Thread Expand Link In Japan in the 70's a cute cartoon caused this trend of having raccoons as pets, which surprisingly didn't work out well, so people released them into the wild, which was a worse idea than before. They're only native to North America, and have become a destructive invasive species. They've invaded parts of Europe too. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/childrens-book-behind-japans-raccoon-problem-180954577/ People who aren't formally acquainted with raccoons don't know what cute little terrors they are.In Japan in the 70's a cute cartoon caused this trend of having raccoons as pets, which surprisingly didn't work out well, so people released them into the wild, which was a worse idea than before. They're only native to North America, and have become a destructive invasive species. They've invaded parts of Europe too. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Ya'll raccoons are known for killing cats, dogs, and other animals. Every animal in australia is like this and all of them are better than trump (also cats are the devil for other animals so.) Reply Parent Thread Link Cruz: If Hillary picks SCOTUS, "my daughters' rights will be lost for a generation." Questioner: "Like the right to choice?" #TIFF16 daveweigel (@daveweigel) September 24, 2016 Third Q: "Do you agree with Trump that Putin is a stronger prez than Obama?" Cruz: "I have no intention to defend everything he says." daveweigel (@daveweigel) September 24, 2016 Then why the fuck did you endorse him, moron? Edited at 2016-09-24 10:49 pm (UTC) Also Cruz is getting bamboozled:Then why the fuck did you endorse him, moron? Reply Thread Link Fuck Ted Cruz. I think it's ok to support your candidate even if you don't like everything about them but how you can you support a racist, misogynistic pig. There is nothing on his Platform that is so important that it trumps (sorry) the fact that he wants us to rewind to the 1950s. I'd rather pay more in taxes than have him be in charge. Reply Parent Thread Link Ted Cruz is a gross idiot and I lost the small modicum of respect I gained for him when he told the RNC to vote their conscious. Reply Parent Thread Link ia lol, what a flop.that was the last tiny little shred he was hanging onto with his base and people in general. Edited at 2016-09-24 11:08 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link He's so spineless. Reply Parent Thread Link Venezuela, teetering on the brink of utter economic collapse, is rushing through a tender for billions of dollars of drilling contracts to boost oil production in the Orinoco Belt. Venezuela has seen its oil production fall slightly each year for more than a decade, but the declines have accelerated this year as scarce funds led to cutbacks by oilfield service companies. Venezuelas oil production is down about 250,000 barrels per day so far this year, dropping to 2.33 million barrels per day as of August. That is also about 330,000 barrels down from the 2015 average. The combined effect of low oil prices and falling production has pushed Venezuela to the brink. In an effort to staunch the bleeding, Venezuelas PDVSA said on Sept. 21 that it has awarded $3.2 billion in contracts to drill in the Orinoco Belt. The contracts, PDVSA says, will add 250,000 barrels per day within 30 months from about 480 wells to be drilled. The deal asks the drilling companies to pay for the cost of drilling and then receive compensation in future oil production. PDVSA described its drilling campaign as one of the worlds largest drilling projects. The project involves contracting integrated services for platform construction, drilling, completion and connection of wells for joint ventures Petrocarabobo, Petrovictoria and Petroindependencia located in the belt, PDVSA said. However, Reuters reports that some of the foreign companies involved are uncomfortable with the way the tender was rushed, and they also question how viable the contracts will be. A few of the winners have political connections to the president, and also have very little experience in oilfield services, raising questions about favoritism. Also, the cost estimates appear to be too high, a source from one company told Reuters. Moreover, some companies are wondering why PDVSA is choosing to invest in heavy oil when it can no longer afford to import sufficient volumes of lighter blending fuels to blend the heavy crude into a marketable product. PDVSA does not have enough cash to import the diluents, which will make heavy oil production difficult. Oil tankers with diluent have arrived at Venezuelan ports this year, but many have been forced to sit idle offshore awaiting payment. Some have given up and left. Related: The Natural Gas War Burning Under Syria Schlumberger Ltd., Horizontal Well Drillers LLC, and Venezuelas Y&V Group won contracts for the new drilling campaign, and Halliburton and Baker Hughes will offer provide some services. Schlumberger was one company in particular that had reduced its activity in Venezuela after not receiving sufficient payment for its services. The oilfield services giant appears to be mollified, however, and is sticking around in the troubled South American nation. Meanwhile, Venezuela and PDVSA are trying to convince creditors to accept a $7 billion bond swap to relieve the country of crippling debt payments falling due in the next two months. The proposal called for extending debt maturities out over the next few years, giving Venezuela some breathing space. Investors, according to Bloomberg, were not exactly warm to the idea, which offered nothing more than face value, plus PDVSAs U.S. refining arm Citgo as collateral. Related: Market Update: Oil Crumbles After Saudis Pull The Plug The value of PDVSAs bonds sunk after the news. Bloomberg reported that the cost to insure PDVSAs bonds against default jumped this week, and the price implies a slightly better than 50-50 chance that the company will default within the next year. We think its fair for all those bondholders who have been with us and enjoyed excellent profits to keep that profit that is now even a bit better and with much better guarantees, Venezuelas oil minister Eulogio Del Pino said. PDVSA needed to get this right, and they didnt, Russ Dallen, managing partner at Caracas Capital, wrote in a note to investors, according to Bloomberg. What this means for PDVSA is that default is ever more likely. Conditions for both Venezuela and PDVSA continue to deteriorate, as The New York Times detailed this week. PDVSA has tried to convince the financial markets and its creditors that it will bounce back, but that appears to be wishful thinking. As things grow worse, a default could trigger faster production declines. By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Russian government will plan its 2017-2019 budget based $40 oil for the countrys signature Urals blend of crude, according to Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. The minister added that the so-called budget rulewhich will stop officials from spending surplus revenue over a specified oil price starting in 2020will use a $40-a-barrel expectation to shelter the economy from market volatility. The remaining funds will then become part of the national reserves. The Brent barrel price, which is used to price the Urals blend, last fell under $40 in early April. Plans cant be made under the assumption that prices will grow and demand for our products will rise, Siluanov said at a conference in Moscow on Friday. The Finance Ministry always advocates a position against building exuberant plans, castles in the sky. Siluanovs ministry has proposed an increase to the fiscal gap budget from 3.0 percent in 2016 to 3.2 percent in 2017. The shortfall would decrease by one percent every year until the budget rebalances in 2020. The two-year oil price crisis has caused the longest recession in Russia in the past 20 years. Prices could rise if members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia agree on a production freeze to counter the effects of the supply glut during an unofficial meeting in Algiers next week. But Russian oil production reached a record high of 11.75 million barrels per day last week, and averaged around 10.71 million bpd in the month of August. Energy Minister Alexander Molodtsov said he would view domestic output of 11. 1 million bpd as a fully realistic level. By Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: From Brian. As most of you already know my wife Lorine has passed away. It was a great shock to myself, her family and many of you in the... Reprinted from Smirking Chimp With the advent of Donald Trump, what was once covert in the Republican message has become overt. Yesterday's dog whistle is today's screaming siren. Case in point: anti-immigrant bigotry, which was most recently expressed in Donald Trump Jr.'s recent "Skittles"-themed Twitter attack on Syrian refugees. Think about that. Don Jr. compared people who are fleeing horrific violence to ... tiny candies. This emotional inability to distinguish human beings from inanimate objects, and therefore to empathize with their suffering, seems to border on the sociopathic. Even Wrigley, the candy's manufacturer, distanced itself in a statement that said: "Skittles are candy. Refugees are people. We don't feel it is an appropriate analogy." But anti-immigrant arguments aren't always based solely on fear or dehumanization. Economically vulnerable populations are often told that immigrants "take our jobs" and drag down wages. Is it true? The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine appointed an interdisciplinary task force to look at that question. It found that, on the contrary, "immigration has an overall positive impact on long-run economic growth in the United States." Immigration, the report says, has "little to no negative effects on overall wages and employment of native-born workers in the longer term." Native-born teenagers who have not finished high school may work fewer hours, at least in the short term. (They won't lose jobs.) As far as the downside goes, that's pretty much it. On the upside, "the prospects for long-run economic growth in the United States would be considerably dimmed without the contributions of high-skilled immigrants" who create jobs for highly-paid and lower-income workers alike. And the study found that recent immigrants tend to have more education than earlier immigrants. "Immigrants," the report concludes, "are integral to the nation's economic growth." But if immigrants aren't weakening wage growth and job prospects, who is? Perhaps no group bears more responsibility for the plight of the middle class than billionaires. An IMF study confirms that increasing inequality, especially at the very top of the wealth and income scale, is weakening economic growth. "In contrast," the report found, "an increase in the income share of the bottom 20 percent (the poor) is associated with higher ... growth." And higher growth means more jobs. Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, a world-leading expert on inequality, writes, "Our middle class is too weak to support the consumer spending that has historically driven our economic growth." But instead of ensuring that lower-income and middle-class people share in economic growth, the opposite has been happening: even after last week's improved economic news, most of the economy's gains are still going to the wealthiest Americans. The 0.01 percent -- the 16,000 wealthiest Americans -- have as much wealth as 80 percent of the nation's population, some 256,000,000 people. Their shared wealth comes to $9 trillion. And at the end of 2015, a mere 536 people in the United States had a collective net worth of $2.6 trillion. Why? We now know what we have long suspected, thanks to political science research published at Princeton University: political decision-making in this country is driven by corporate and ultra-wealthy elites, not by the democratic majority. This oligarchical usurpation of influence has led office holders at all levels to implement policies that kill jobs, depress wages, and increase inequality. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). New York Times Building, NYC (Image by alextorrenegra) Details DMCA There has been a plethora of stories in the New York Times that cast Russia and its leader Vladimir Putin in a very negative light. So it was with great interest that I saw recently a 1998 article that explained how the US-Russia relationship was headed for serious trouble. It even prophesized the dire straits the two countries find themselves in today. Who was to blame for the problems? Given today's Times' condemnatory coverage of Putin, it was surprising to see that the newspaper fingered then-president Bill Clinton and his team. In contrast, the Times' coverage today attributes blame for the outcome to Putin. Hillary Clinton is very outspoken about Putin's culpability, ironically, with no hint of her husband's earlier role. Hillary has compared Putin to Hitler, accused Russia of being militarily aggressive, and lambasted Donald Trump for even thinking of trying to get along with Putin. So it appears that Kennan's prophesy for a new cold war has indeed materialized. The Times' hope that the unjustified NATO expansion simply wouldn't matter lamentably didn't pan out. Instead, a disaster emerged. Careful study of the circumstances shows that Russia's alleged "aggressions" -- such as in Georgia and Ukraine -- were indeed reactions to the threat of NATO advancement toward Russia's borders. What neither Kennan nor the Times foresaw, however, is the hyperactive counterfactual campaign to demonize Russia that has unfolded.It's presented endless factless allegations that have shaped American perceptions of Putin and Russia in the minds of many. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). On July 16, 1945, the United States conducted its first test detonation, dubbed "Trinity," of an atomic weapon. The following month the US became the first (and, to this day, the only) nation to use atomic or nuclear weapons in war. All in all, the US detonated more than 1,100 nukes in the 47 years between Trinity and Julin, its final nuclear test series, in 1992. The technology, it seems, has been thoroughly explored and then some. Four years after the Julin tests, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. US president Bill Clinton welcomed and signed the pact, but 20 years later the US Senate has yet to ratify it. Why? Your guess is as good as mine. The US has a half-century testing head start on any future would-be nuclear powers. Why wouldn't foreign policy hawks in the Senate want to stop the clock with that advantage on the scoreboard and with a UN mandate for keeping it stopped? These are the same politicians who in the past have gleefully turned to alleged violations of such pacts as the excuse for sanctions and war. On the dove side, such as it is, the charms of a test ban treaty are even more obvious. The world is awash in nuclear weapons -- between the world's eight or nine nuclear powers (Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and almost certainly Israel), more than 15,000 of them. Ending development of new weapons seems like a good first step toward getting rid of the existing ones. As the Cold War wound down, those of us who grew up in the shadow of potential nuclear holocaust began to breathe easier. The hands on the "Doomsday Clock" maintained by The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists were rolled back: Seventeen whole minutes to midnight! No more "duck and cover," no more "missile gap" propaganda, no more Cuba crises. Peace seemed to be just over the horizon. Today the Doomsday Clock shows three minutes to midnight. Russia and the US still have thousands of nuclear-tipped missiles aimed at each other and available for immediate launch. We're still one unforeseen incident and one itchy trigger finger away from possible extinction or something close to it. On September 23, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution renewing the call for all UN member states to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. I second the motion. Jill Stein (Image by cornstalker) Details DMCA Reprinted from shadowproof.com When Jill Stein ran as the Green Party's presidential nominee in 2012, media attention to her candidacy was rare. Now, with two of the most unpopular presidential candidates in history, she has received widespread attention. There seems to be record interest in third party campaigns, including Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson. The Nation published a debate between Socialist Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant and Nation contributor Joshua Holland. The editors gave Sawant's column the negative headline--"Don't Waste Your Vote On the Corporate Agenda--Vote for Jill Stein and the Greens"--but column does not hinge on loathing Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. Rather, it makes a positive case for supporting Stein by primarily arguing the need for progressives to build an alternative to the two pro-capitalist political parties in America. It has a long-term focus on bringing about radical change. Contrast the vision of Sawant's column with Holland's column, which is completely negative. It trashes the Greens and displays a brash contempt for democracy and those who are working to give voters more choices and more voices. It wholly ignores efforts for open primaries, open debates, and the need for reforms like ranked-choice voting or instant run-off voting, in order to have a system that has proportional representation and is more democratic. The argument is representative of the discourse among many progressive commentators throughout previous elections, especially since Ralph Nader ran as a Green Party candidate in 2000. Instead of taking responsibility for how the Democrats failed to elect Al Gore and the role progressives perhaps played in selling out, Holland is a progressive who would rather scapegoat the Greens. Hundreds of thousands of Democrats in Florida voted for George W. Bush. Tens of thousands of African American voters in Florida were disenfranchised. There were terrible issues with the butterfly ballot. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia helped deliver the White House to Bush with a 5-4 decision that prevented a recount. Gore did not win his home state of Tennessee. Yet, these are facts progressive commentators like Holland would rather ignore because they force them to confront dismal realities that require intense struggle to change. It is much easier to bear one's insecurity with the presence of the Green Party in a two-party system that does everything it can to silence and erase their candidates when they run for office at all levels of government. Holland relies on a fallacy that has become conventional wisdom among progressives--that the "Green Party's primary pitch to voters on the left is that there still isn't a dime's worth of difference between the two major parties." A line Stein has repeated this cycle is the following, "There are differences between the two candidates and the parties. But those differences aren't enough to save your job." In other words, under a Democrat or a Republican, voters can expect corporate free trade deals that will offshore more jobs, privilege business interests, and ultimately lead to more poverty and hardship for the poor and working class. Stein also told NPR in July, "I do not say there is no difference between the parties. What I say is that there's not enough difference to save your job, to save your life, or to save the planet. And the scary things, the horrific things that Donald Trump says, Hillary Clinton has already done. Whether it's massively deporting immigrants, whether it's threatening nuclear warfare." In other words, Clinton was talking about deporting refugees from Central America in order to "send a message" before Bernie Sanders confronted her on this issue, and she was concerned it would cost her politically. She also once threatened to obliterate Iran if it attacked Israel, a blatant threat of nuclear annihilation. "Put it this way: I will feel horrible if Donald Trump is elected, I will feel horrible if Hillary Clinton is elected, and I feel most horrible about a voting system that says: Here are two deadly choices, now pick your weapon of self-destruction," Stein contended. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Nawaz Sharif five days extensive lobbying for Kashmir in NY UNITED NATIONS: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif left New York on Friday after five days of extensive lobbying for Kashmir at the United Nations and in bilateral meetings with world leaders. According to an official of the prime ministers media team, he will arrive home on Monday morning after spending the weekend in London, where one of his two sons resides on a permanent basis and has business interests. Mr Sharifs meetings in New York did highlight the Kashmir cause, but not as much as they would have, had there had been no Sept 18 attack on an Indian army base in Uri which apparently was carried out by elements within the India-held region. Before the attack, prominent newspapers and television channels in the United States did a series of reports and articles on Kashmir, pointing out that Indian forces had killed more than 100 people and injured thousands in their efforts to suppress a peaceful civilian uprising. After the Uri attack, however, the focus shifted to militancy and the possibility of a war between Pakistan and India. The warnings about a possible war between the two neighbours strengthen Pakistans argument that the Kashmir issue, if left unresolved, could cause a nuclear conflict in the region. But the focus on militancy had a negative impact on the countrys efforts to show the world that the people of Kashmir were engaged in a peaceful struggle for their right to self-determination promised to them by the UN Security Council in 1948. Pakistans position was reflected strongly in a statement of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation which not only condemned the Indian atrocities but also emphasised the need for giving the Kashmiri people the right to decide about their future. In separate meetings with Prime Minister Sharif, other Muslim leaders also emphasised the two points, while Turkey announced its intention to send a fact-finding mission to the India-held region. The UN Human Rights Councils pledge to send a similar delegation also echoed at the General Assembly and Pakistan invited it to send the team to Azad Kashmir to expose Indias claims about that part of the region. Pakistans campaign to draw the worlds attention to the situation in India-held Kashmir also reflected in the US State Departments statement on the issue, but only partially. The department recognised the Kashmir issue as a bilateral dispute between Pakistan and India, rejecting the Indian claim that it was an internal issue. But it also urged Pakistan to cooperate with India in investigating the Sept 18 terrorist attack and to take immediate steps against externally focused groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. The United States is committed to our strong partnership with the Indian government to combat terrorism, the statement said. Asked if the US had been in contact with the governments of Pakistan and India for defusing tensions between them, a State Department spokesperson said Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken had spoken with Indian Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, expressed our condolences for the victims of the attack and their families, and offered assistance with the investigation. The spokesperson said US Secretary of State John Kerry had met Prime Minister Sharif at the UN and discussed the Uri incident. The secretary urged Pakistani cooperation in the investigation, the US official added. The official added: We encourage India and Pakistan to continue to engage in direct dialogue aimed at reducing tensions. Meanwhile, an opposition lawmaker said the prime minister should have straightway headed back to the country at a time when India was busy in warmongering. Invariably, whenever the prime minister has travelled to Europe or North America, he would spend some time in London at the much talked-about Park Lane apartments across the Hyde Park, owned by his son. The London flats of the Sharif family came into limelight following the Panama Papers leaks about offshore wealth and the opposition is pushing to get investigated through a commission the details of their purchase. From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As... Scotland Yard were investigating Saturday after reports that 3,000 photographs had been hacked from Pippa Middleton, sister-in-law of Britain's Prince William, and someone was trying to sell them. The pictures were reported by The Sun and Daily Mail newspapers to have been stolen from Middleton's iCloud account and included shots of her sister Kate plus Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Someone had been in touch with media via encrypted messaging service WhatsApp to offer them for sale, the reports added. The Sun said it had been asked for 50,000 (58,000 euros, $65,000) for the shots. The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: "On Friday, 23 September, police received a report concerning the alleged hacking of a personal iCloud account. "Specialist officers are now investigating. No arrests have been made. Enquiries are ongoing." Pippa Middleton, 33, is the younger sister of Kate and found fame after acting as bridesmaid at her sister's wedding to Prince William in 2011. She is engaged to hedge fund boss James Matthews and the couple are expected to get married next year. The allegedly hacked photos also reportedly included shots of her wedding preparations. Explore further Yahoo! devotes websites to royal wedding 2016 AFP In this June 5, 2014, file photo, people walk in front of a Yahoo sign at the company's headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif. Yahoo says the personal information of 500 million accounts have been stolen in a massive security breakdown that represents the latest setback for the beleaguered internet company. The breach disclosed on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, dates back to late 2014. Yahoo is blaming the hack on a "state-sponsored actor." (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) If a foreign government is behind the massive computer attack that compromised a half billion user accounts at Yahoo, as the company says, the breach could be part of a long-term strategy that's aimed at gathering intelligence rather than getting rich. Yahoo says the breach involved users' email addresses, passwords and other informationincluding birthdatesbut not payment card or bank account numbers. Although the stolen data could still be used in financial crimes, such as identity theft, experts say a foreign intelligence agency might combine the Yahoo files with information from other sources to build extensive dossiers on U.S. government or corporate officials in sensitive positions. "With state-sponsored attacks, it's not just financial information that's of value," said Lance Hoffman, co-director of the Cyberspace Security and Privacy Institute at George Washington University. "In the long run, if the state accumulates a lot of information on you, and especially if it corroborates that with other sources, it can assemble a pretty good profile." Governments have also been known to hack email accounts to keep tabs on their own citizens or dissidents. Experts believe that was one motive behind a 2010 hacking of Google Gmail accounts used by Chinese human rights activists. Yahoo hasn't revealed the evidence that led it to blame a "state-sponsored actor" for the latest attack, which the Sunnyvale, California, company said occurred two years ago and was discovered only in recent weeks. Some analysts warn that "state sponsored" can be a vague term. It might also be an easy excuse to deflect blame for a company's own security lapses, by suggesting it had no hope of defeating hackers who had all the resources of a government intelligence agency behind them, warned Gunter Ollmann, chief security officer at Vectra Networks, a San Jose, California, security firm. Yahoo declined comment, but its top security official, Bob Lord, has said the company would make that claim only "when we have a high degree of confidence." In a policy statement last year, Lord also said the company wouldn't release details about why it believes attacks are state-sponsored because it doesn't want to risk disclosing its methods of investigating breaches. This wouldn't be the first time that governments were implicated in high-profile hacking attacks. U.S. officials have hinted that China might be to blame for a 2015 breach at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, in which background files and even fingerprints of millions of federal employees were stolen. China denied any official involvement. More recently, news reports say U.S. intelligence officials have blamed Russian spies for the hack of Democratic National Committee files, although Russia's government has also denied this. Some security experts believe the OPM attack was carried out by the same hackers who also stole data files from large U.S. insurance and health-care companies in 2014 and 2015. It may have been part of an effort to gather sensitive or compromising information to blackmail or coerce individuals working at a variety of federal agencies. Hackers could also use such personal information to concoct bogus emails and send them to a person's Yahoo account, in what might be a sophisticated "phishing" scheme aimed at getting the target to click on a link containing "spyware" or other malicious computer code. "They'd have the ability to conduct targeted phishing attacks against individuals with potentially valuable information, without going through their government email accounts," said Tim Erlin, senior director of security and risk strategy at Tripwire, a cyber-security firm. Similarly, governments might want to target executives at multi-national corporations, especially if they're competing with companies based in the country that sponsored the attacks. In such cases, intelligence officials might share useful commercial secrets with their home-grown industries, said Jeremiah Grossman, an official at SentinelOne, a Silicon Valley computer security firm. He noted that the 2010 attack on Google was blamed on Chinese hackers who also targeted U.S. companies outside the tech industry. In any event, security experts warn that the Yahoo breach could still put ordinary users at risk, particularly if the hacked information finds its way to online marketplaces where stolen data are bought and sold. Many people use the same email address and password for a variety of online services, where they might also have provided financial information such as credit card numbers. And hackers with access to a Yahoo email account could try to reset passwords for other services, if a user registered for those accounts with a Yahoo address. 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. With the recent rains in the Flagstaff area, Flagstaff Fire Department fire managers are postponing three prescribed burns until weather conditions will allow to better meet objectives. The following areas will be burned at a later date. Naval Observatory: 33 acres immediately adjacent the Naval Observatory just south of the I-40 corridor. Rogers Lake Natural Area: 80 acres located within the Rogers Lake Natural Area. Observatory Mesa: Four separate burn areas totaling up to 230 acres on the western edge of the Observatory Mesa Natural Area In addition, Coconino National Forest fire managers have finalized the prescribed burn plan for fall and spring, which will reintroduce fire into the ponderosa pine ecosystem and reduce forest fuel accumulation in areas around northern Arizona communities. The plan calls for prescribed burns in the Kendrick Mountain area, near Lockett Meadow, Wild Bill Hill, the Peaks, Kachina Village area, Mormon Lake area, Blue Ridge Urban Interface, Upper Beaver Creek areas and the East Clear Creek areas. The dam, he says, is to ensure all-year rounding farming in a bid to get more youth into farming and enough food stock. But Edward Karaweh said in an interview with Accra-based 3FM that the promise is a sign of underdevelopment. He said: "Its a sign of underdevelopment. I do not see that as the way to go with agriculture development in this country. "If you promise every man, one motor bike, there will be chaos. If you promise every man, one car, it will create chaos. There will be chaos in agriculture." You see, what type of agriculture are you talking about? Are you saying everybody must be in agriculture? No, you are simply saying that if you are born in a particular village, because you have put the one dam there, you remain there and it will not be long, you will realize that that is not the aspirations of people, he said. Of course people must have access to agriculture; the solution is not one village one dam. The solution is making water available. The '1-village-1-dam' promise has also come under criticism from the governing National Democratic Congress. But the governing NDC says the allowances was preventing the nursing colleges from admitting to their full capacity. On Thursday, the nurses staged a protest in Accra, calling on the government to pay allowances due them. They also called on the government to employ graduate nurses who are still at home after two years of completing their training. But the General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia believes pushing the government to employ the unemployed nurses and also restoring the trainee allowances is a mark of insensitivity. He said: "You are insisting that the money that should be used to build more hospitals where you can get more spaces to work should be diverted to employ you, what you are saying is that, you want to be concentrated in the few major hospitals. If you are 10 nurses to one patient; you dont care so long as you take you salary." He also accused the leadership of the trainee nurses and midwives association of misleading the trainee nurses. He said none of the leaders is a student and therefore when they continually lead the nurses to protest against the government over the cancellation of their allowances and the academic calendar is disrupted, they will not suffer. The museum was designed by Ghanaian born British architect David Adjaye. David is the son of a Ghanaian diplomat and was born in Tanzania in 1966. He has described the museum as " a monument to understanding the African American experience." "It's a great thing that America is able to make a museum on its front lawn to make sure that conversation is never lost," he told Al-Jazeera. The museum is located on the same grounds African slaves brought from places such as present day Ghana were sold off to the highest bidders. Slaves worked as cheap labourers on large plantations and as domestic servants under harsh conditions by their white 'owners'. The museum overlooks many of America's national monuments including the Lincoln Memorial where Martin Luther King gave the I have a dream speech and is about 10 minutes away from the White House which was also built with slave labour. There will be a grand opening that will see appearances and performances by Stevie Wonder, Michelle Obama and George Bush Jr. Critics say a museum that celebrates African American history and culture has been long overdue. Barack Obama is the first black president of the United States of America and is in the last months of his eight year stay in power. The two parties clashed after accusing each other of seeking to manipulate the voter transfer exercise. The council warned that it will arm the youth in the community to protect lives and properties if the government fails to deploy the troops since they have lost confidence in the police. The community has become notorious for electoral violence over the years due to the margin of votes between the two parties. He said: The reason why we are calling on government to intervene in our peace is because we do not have trust the Police so we are calling on government to intervene to send military men to take the property and the people in the Asunafo South district. They destroyed a lot of properties, equipment, properties, computers. Who are they and where are they from? They have not arrested anybody and that is why we are calling for military intervention. We cannot say the people should go out but they will advise themselves if nothing happens. Everbody will arm himself or herself. They cant sit down for people from somewhere to come and attack the citizens of Kukuom." In 2010, two Flagstaff-based groups came together to do something extraordinary: improve the health of people in underserved countries and test a revolutionary technology for animal pest control. It was a unique merger of medical expertise and scientific research between the nonprofit, HERO - Humanitarian Efforts Reaching Out, and SenesTech, a company thats created a product that humanely controls rodent populations. SenesTechs platform technology has the potential to effectively manage all animal populations. The objective took them all to Mainpat, India. Next year, it will take them back. Dr. Julia Williams, HEROs founder, will take a group of volunteers with a commitment to complete a three-visit promise. The SenesTech team, headed up by Dr. Loretta Mayer and Dr. Cheryl Dyer, takes with it a stamp of approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, for their first product, for rodents. They are returning to Tibet to examine the possibility of a future product to help control dog populations. Both teams will travel to seven of the most remote and seriously underserved Tibetan refugee camps in the country. After the Peoples Republic of China absorbed Tibet more than 50 years ago, hundreds of thousands of Tibetans fled to India. Creating a place for those exiled from their homeland continues to be a high priority for the Indian government, one that has allowed the Tibetans to build communities that help to retain their culture and identity. However, overcrowded living conditions have contributed to an increase in public health issues. Thats where HERO comes in. HERO team members will provide dental care, nutritional support, vision testing and eye glasses. Medical care includes treatment of a variety of conditions widespread in these settlements like malaria, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, vitamin A deficiency, infectious diarrhea, diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. Veterinarians will work on improving animal health. An out-of-control dog population is where SenesTech comes in. Many of the dogs in Manipat are infected with rabies. The children are most affected by this issue as they play with the dogs and are often the first bitten. By the time rabies symptoms show up, it is too late to save the infected person or child. SenesTech hopes to test a product that helps to humanely reduce the dog population by targeting the reproductive capacity of both male and female dogs. This product could then be combined with a rabies vaccine and given to the dogs. Reducing the risk of rabies in the community is the focus of the SenesTech team. President Mahama has been chosen to deliver the keynote address at the first International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) on 26 September 2016. President Mahama is scheduled to speak on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions specifically elaborating on the role of media and access to information in promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, promoting access to justice for all and on building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. The event which is aimed at highlighting the key importance of Access to Information in the success of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will bring other guest speakers including journalists, NGO workers, entrepreneurs, academics etc. to share their experience and ideas on eleven SDGs with emphasis on how access to information will help in achieving them. The RTI Coalition believes that the selection of President Mahama to speak on such a day as the IDUAI and on such a topic, even though ironic given that Ghana has failed for more than a decade to put in place an access to information legislation, presents an opportunity for the President to make concrete commitments on the passage of an effective and efficient RTI legislation before the current Parliament lapses in 2017. More here: Parliament under pressure to pass Bill The RTI Coalition, in a statement, said it believes that the selection of President Mahama to speak on such a day as the IDUAI and on such a topic, even though ironic, given that Ghana has failed for more than a decade to put in place an access to information legislation, presents an opportunity for the president to make concrete commitments on the passage of an effective and efficient RTI legislation before the current parliament lapses in 2017. It said, The Coalition would like to remind President Mahama that the progress to secure the review and passage of the RTI Bill since 2013, when H.E resubmitted the Bill before parliament, has been very slow. In June 2016, the consideration of the Bill was stalled due to the lack of political will by the current parliament to prioritise the consideration of the Bill as they promised. As a Coalition, we are concerned that President Mahama has not demonstrated strong commitments to the passage of the RTI Bill despite his partys commitment to same in their 2008 and 2012 manifestos. Being an election year, the failure by the sixth parliament to pass the Bill before its tenure lapses would mean that the process will have to commence all over again with the new government and the new parliament. As a result of this, the Coalition sent a petition to President Mahama through the Chief of Staff on August 18, 2016, asking him to deliver on his partys previous manifesto promises on the RTI Bill. Till date, the Coalition has not received any response to the petition. It is interesting to read the NDCs 2016 manifesto promising as part of its 2017-2021 commitments to implement the Right to Information Bill when passed by Parliament, same promise that was made in 2012. However, the 2016 manifesto omitted the very relevant part of the 2012 manifesto on the passage of the Bill as follows: The next NDC administration willwork with the legislature to prioritise the passage of the Freedom of Information Act, meaning that government is not committed to engaging parliament to ensure the passage of the Bill before and even after the elections. Does this mean that Ghanaians should wait for another four years before this law is put in place? As the Co-Chair of Eminent persons on the SDGs and given that UNESCOs celebration this year is focused on powering sustainable development with public access to information, shouldnt the passage of an RTI law in His Excellencys own country be a priority now? At a workshop organised in Accra by the Petroleum Commission, a Deputy Minister of Finance, Mona Quartey, urged the banks not to balk at the huge capital required in the field. It is possible that the financial industry can support the oil and gas industry. Lets not balk at the numbers; lets look at the wider value chain, and lets make money whilst we offer service to them, she said. Millison Narh of the central bank echoed the position Mrs Quartey. The First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana added the central bank is coming up with measures to stimulate interest of banks in the countrys oil and gas sector. To finance the upstream petroleum industry, Mrs Quartey urged the banks to build capacity and risk management. This is particularly important as these institutions become more exposed to lending to smaller downstream and midstream companies in the oil and gas value chain, she noted. Theophilus Ahwereng, CEO of the Petroleum Commission, on his part said banks can also focus on less risky aspect of the sector such as the services. Citing examples, he said: If I win a contract to fabricate a portion of an FPSO, that costs US$5million, I mean there are banks in this country that, on their own, can finance this. But the banks want to be comfortable; they want to understand the businessnaturally, if someone doesnt understand what you are doing, he would not want to risk his capital, and that is the essence of the exercise we are doing. He disclosed that 20 percent contract value in the oil sector in the Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) has been reserved for local participation, urging banks to take advantage of this opportunity. The latest push to bring local banks on board comes on the heels of crippling debts owed them by the Bulk Oil Distributing Companies. Nonetheless, the MD of HFC Bank, Robert Le Hunte, said HFC's success can be traced to its investment in the oil and gas sector of the Republic Trinidad and Tobago. Lawyer and member of the New Patriotic Party, John Kuma made the allegation in response to Fiifi Kwetey's claims that the erstwhile Kufour administration managed a cocaine induced economy. Making direct reference to the arrest and imprisonment of Nayele Ametefe, the Ghanaian/Austrian who pleaded guilty to carrying 12.5 kilograms of cocaine to the United Kingdom, Mr Kuma slammed the transport minister for accusing the NPP of cocaine trade. "You have used the presidency to promote cocaine and you have the audacity to refer to MV Benjamin which a committee sat and came up to say that the 77 parcels of cocaine was somebodys figment of imagination and that there was no such thing, he said on Citi FM's Big Issue Saturday. What is his [Fifi Kwetey] credibility to raise dead propaganda issues over weightier matters like you have received GH248b and you have not accounted for it. On Thursday, Mr Kwetey resurrected the cocaine debate by accusing the Kufour administration of making Ghana the hub of cocaine trade. Addressing a press conference in Accra as part of the NDCs Setting the Records Straight series ahead of the December polls, Mr Kwetey said the NPP government had a lot of revenue from drug money but still found it difficult to transform the economy. It should be noted that; we tried not to even make reference to the fact that the NDC period was a period when the economy of Ghana was not inundated with massive cocaine cash as was experienced during the eight years of the NPP, when the floodgates of cocaine were opened and Ghana became a virtual cocaine hub, Kwetey said. Fifi Kwetey, however, argued that the cocaine cash flowing into the economy was curtailed by the Mahama-led administration when it took over power from the NPP. According to him, "Our objective to be considered by the electorate as a credible alternative to the NDC and NPP through a vigorous, focused campaign based on track record and what we are offering Ghanaians has been accomplished." On his Facebook wall, he said, "Some of our opponents who ignored us are now attacking us personally, frustrated, because they cannot break our persistent, principled campaign." He added that, "some opponents have started an ill-conceived campaign against Groupe Nduom. That company has a goal to be the best company compared with any other - our employees receive pay commensurate with their performance; they enjoy free health care insurance and life insurance; SSNIT payments are made for them without fail; a generous voluntary private pension is provided and funded; training is provided; among others. Thirty years of preparation, sacrifice and God's grace cannot be wished away." Below is his Facebook message: THANK YOU! The Progressive People's Party's National Convention was held on July 16th. Since then, the Party's "Don't Waste Your Vote On Those Who Have Disappointed You" campaign has has hit the right spot and achieved the desired results. Our objective to be considered by the electorate as a credible alternative to the NDC and NPP through a vigorous, focused campaign based on track record and what we are offering Ghanaians has been accomplished. We are active in the field - towns and villages, media etc. Many of our parliamentary candidates are working hard with the resources they have. Our unwavering commitment to all-inclusive administration using the best people has truck a positive chord with Ghanaians. Some of our opponents who ignored us are now attacking us personally, frustrated, because they cannot break our persistent, principled campaign. Just imagine this - some opponents have started an ill-conceived campaign against Groupe Nduom. That company has a goal to be the best company compared with any other - our employees receive pay commensurate with their performance; they enjoy free health care insurance and life insurance; SSNIT payments are made for them without fail; a generous voluntary private pension is provided and funded; training is provided; among others. Thirty years of preparation, sacrifice and God's grace cannot be wished away. We will not go away. The PPP has come to stay and we are gaining ground with our good ideas. Thugs from the party on Thursday stormed the Suhum office of the EC, ransacked the office and destroyed printers, disrupting the voter transfer exercise. The Suhum branch of the party has taken responsibility for the incident, saying it was due to miscommunication and apologised. "As a constituency executive, the only thing we can say to the Electoral Commission is that we are sorry. Probably there must have been a miscommunication. They [EC] are there for us and we are there for them," Suhum Constituency Organiser of NDC, Kofi Wayo, said. However, speaking on Citi FM Friday, the Director of Communications at the EC, Eric Dzakpasu, decried the criminal act. He said: Whether it is in the realm of politics or not people must be punished, law enforcement must work. Because the EC is not empowered to do anything beyond reporting to the appropriate authorities about this incident and some of these incidents happen and some of the security services know. "In the case of Suhum, my colleague indicated that the people who perpetuated this act are well known in the community. They are known to the police and those around so why should be allowed to go free? "What we are witnessing at some of these offices are now acts of criminality and ones they are acts of criminality; I think law enforcement must come to play otherwise all that would be witnessed would be impunity. The EC officer certainly went to the Police to lodge a complaint and that should be enough as a way of pressing for charges; and if a criminal comes to accept his criminality and apologizes I think in law, the appropriate sanctions must be applied especially where the people have come forward to accept criminality. EC offices in various parts of the country have recently recorded attacks over some disagreements in their respective areas. Clashes between supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Central Gonja District has led to the closure of the EC office in that area. Officers of the commission are said to have sought refuge at the police station after the two rivalry parties went on a rampage at the premises of the office over the on-going voter transfer exercise. The commission has therefore suspended all processes in the area. The Daily Post Newspaper reported the president as saying the tray fell from the girls head and the crowd trampled on the fallen eggs. The girl then burst into tears. Touched by what only he could see because of where he was standing, he ordered the man who commands his convoy (who was in his vehicle) to stop the convoy. The convoy thus stopped. President Mahama said he then took GH50 from his ADC, pointed to the crying girl in the crowd and then reaching down from the top of the vehicle, gave it to a woman standing by her thinking she was with the girl. However, he was surprised to see the girl still crying so he asked her if the woman was the mother. When the girl shook her head and he noticed the woman had moved away, he took another GH50 from his ADC and gave it to the girl. This drew wild cheers from the teeming crowd. The gesture, the president said in the interview was to compensate the little girl for what he had lost. The video, which has since gone viral, captured the president pointing to three individuals at different location gesturing to them to come close to him where he gave them the money. The account of the Daily Post newspaper was corroborated by the Deputy Minister of Education in charge of tertiary education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on Newsfile Saturday. The Daily Guide newspaper, Ghana's biggest private newspaper suggested the president was engaged in vote buying. "President John Mahama, in his inordinate ambition for re-election in the December general election, has been spotted sharing money on his campaign trail," the newspaper reported on Thursday. Earlier, the Chief of Staff Julius Debrah dismissed the video, saying the President Mahama could have been sharing leaflets and not cash. But the campaign coordinator for the re-election bid of the president said there was nothing wrong with what the president did. "The President is just like any other person and a Ghanaian so hes free to give gifts to people. There is nothing wrong with him doling out money to people, if indeed he did that," Kofi Adams said. Some Ghanaians have also expressed reservation about the president's video. They expressed anger as to why the president should be allegedly sharing money when they are living in hardship. The video I saw didnt make sense to me at all. How can the president go round sharing money when we are starving. Why didnt he bring us that money all along? Do you think because of votes, you can deceive us with money? We are not kids. He shouldnt think he can fool us any longer. Already, he has accused us of having a short memory. We are no more like that. We have become wise and this time, we will vote wisely, a trader at the Madina market told Pulse Ghana. For Auntie Abena, she has lost all hope in the president as what he promised is yet to be fulfilled. Our business has collapsed. We are dying. And yet when you have money, you decide to share them with people. He is wasting the tax-payers money on unnecessary things, while we sit here and suffer. He shouldnt think he will win with this. No matter what he does, he will lose. Even if he gives me some of the money, I will not accept it as it wouldnt influence me in any way, she said. He should stop sharing the money as that will not augur well for the countrys development. He thinks because of our so-called short memory, he can come and distribute money to us so we could vote for him. He doesnt care about us. He wouldnt have been sharing money to us if he did. His focus should be on how to help us grow our businesses and not to be sharing money. The president can be sharing money at the villages but not here. We are wise enough, a shoe-seller told Pulse.com.gh. A pre-election survey conducted by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) and released this August shows the governing National Democratic Congress is the most guilty of buying votes ahead of the 2016 elections in December. A total of 51% of Ghanaians surveyed believes the John Mahama-led government has been buying vote followed closely by Nana Akufo-Addo's New Patriotic Party with 32%. President John Mahama has explained in an interview with the Daily Post newspaper that he gave the money on compassionate grounds after a little girl with a tray of boiled egg fell and the crowd trampled on the fallen eggs during his tour of the Agbogbloshie market in the Greater Accra Region. "We have had a government that, for the first time, is bribing and sharing physical cash openly. It shows that John Mahama is very desperate. If you claim you have performed well in office, let those achievements speak for you.Why are you going about sharing money? Why are you buying Land Cruisers for chiefs? Why are you distributing sewing machines to people in the villages? If you claim the living conditions have improved under your government, why are you sharing these items to voters?Let the supposed improved living conditions of Ghanaians speak for you and allow the people to vote on their own convictions. It tells how desperate they are, Mensah-Bonsu said. It is accusing the government and past governments of neglect despite being the birthplace of Ghana's struggle for Independence. President of the group Dr Ransford Gyampo, a senior political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, also called on flagbearers to pay attention to "Ghana's political mecca." We call on government and indeed all presidential hopefuls to immediately turn their attention to Ghanas political Mecca. We have been abandoned for far too long and today we are prepared to mobilise the good people of Saltpond to boycott the upcoming general elections in protest against their marginalisation if we do not see any sign of concern from the ruling government and the opposition, he said. He also slammed "surreptitious scheme" to relocate the municipal capital to Mankessim because of stalled development. He described the development as "irresponsible" which does not befit the contribution of Saltpond to the development of Ghana. We sensed a gradual grand but surreptitious scheme to relocate the municipal capital to Mankessim simply because of Saltponds stalled development. We believe this approach is very irresponsible and a defeating solution to a problem that can easily be tackled to honour the role and contribution of Saltpond towards Ghanas development. Saltpond hubs the country's oldest oil field, the Saltpond Offshore Producing Company Limited. It is a major market centre for the Mfantsiman Municipality. Paa Grant, the founder of Ghana's first political party, United Gold Coast Convention, hails from Saltpond. We have to save Ghana from John Dramani Mahama, and secure the future of our country. The continued stay in office of John Dramani Mahama is a threat to the future of our country. That is why in December, Ghanaians are voting for change. We (in the NPP) are coming to change Ghana, and bring in a government that is going to return the country onto the path of progress and prosperity, he said at a mini rally at BBC in Tema Community 2, in the Tema West constituency, on Friday. The NPP leader said president Mahama, the National Democratic Congress flagbearer, has been at the presidency for eight years -- first as vice president and now as president-- but has achieved little. "He (President Mahama) says despite all these years he has spent in office, he wants another 4 years so he can show to Ghanaians what he will do for them. In 8 years, we dont know what he has done for the people, and he wants another 4 years? he asked. What does he want to continue? Is it the dumsor? Is it the record levels of unemployment? Today the NHIS has collapsed. Is this what he wants to continue? When schools reopen, every parent is in tears because there is no money to pay fees. Is this what he wants to continue?, he wondered. Touching on party unity, he asked voters in Tema West to disregard any cries of skirt and blouse and vote massively for Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, the NPPs parliamentary candidate of the constituency. A resident of the village, Adamu Sani, told newsmen that the suspect was armed with knife which he used in perpetuating the act at about 1am on Saturday. Sani said that the suspected killer attacked the victims in their homes located in different parts of the village and fled. The Secretary of the Local Government, Alhaji Mohammed Harbo, told newsmen that the assailant stabbed his first victim, Adamu Jibrin, on the nape which led to his death. Harbo disclosed that the suspect stabbed his second victim, Sale Umar, in the stomach while the two others Auwal Sani and Yusuf Suleman were stabbed on the shoulder and ribs, respectively. He said that that the three injured persons were on admission at the General Hospital in Jahun. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that two weeks ago, a suspected madman, Haruna Barde, also killed two people in Nahuce village in Jahun Local Government Area of Jigawa. ALSO READ: 2016 Hajj - Jigawa loses 2 pilgrims Spokesman of the Jigawa Police Command, Abdul Jinjiri, confirmed the incidents. Gun-related arrest Flagstaff police arrested a man on suspicion of pointing a gun at a group of people in a bank parking lot early this week. According to the police report, officers responded to a call about a person with a gun outside Compass Bank, located at 2 E. Birch Ave., approximately 7:50 p.m. Sunday. One of the reporting parties said he and three other people were walking to their vehicle in the bank parking lot when they noticed a man and woman arguing outside the car parked next to theirs. While the reporting party was trying to get into his vehicle, he said, the man threatened to shoot him, pulled a gun out of his own car's front passenger area and pointed it in his group's direction. The reporting party said the woman who had been arguing with the suspect then grabbed the suspect's arm, pushed it up so the gun was not pointing at them and tried to calm the suspect. The suspect confirmed he retrieved the gun from his car but did not say he pointed it at anyone. Police recovered the firearm at the scene. Flagstaff police arrested David Stephen Epperly, 27, on four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility. City and county residents who want to report a crime but wish to remain anonymous may call Silent Witness at 774-6111 or (877) 29-CRIME, submit a tip online at www.coconinosilentwitness.org, or text the word Flagtip along with your information to 274637 (CRIMES). Rewards of up to $2,000 are given for information that leads to an arrest. In a letter written to the university, the group accused the institution of bringing about doom to the country through the introduction of western education. You people are an embarrassment to Nigeria and are the people that brought in western education to Nigeria." "You doomed this nation and in turn you all are going to be doomed." "Most of you are going to die before Independence Day. You will not spend the Independence Day in peace, you and your students." Detonation will start going from tomorrow till Independence Day and there is nothing you can do as we are among you." "Even your little searches at the gate wont do anything. By the time we are through with you, your government will be sorry. Olatunji Oladejo, the Director of Communication of UNIBADAN dismissed the threat as the activities of mischievous people. He said, I also got it. Anyone could instigate such thing. Some people could be mischievous." "Our international students are having their carnival on the campus and everywhere is peaceful." "I attribute it to the handiwork of mischievous individuals and vehemently deny any commotion. The Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, confirmed reports of the threat. We have received the information. The state Commissioner of Police, Samuel Adegbuyi, working in concert with the other security agencies, has put in place all necessary security arrangement to forestall such an ugly incident." We have deployed our intelligence officers to provide adequate security in the school." "As it is, it is still a rumour but we dont want to take things for granted and because of this, we have provided adequate security, not only for the school, but for the people of the state." The development follows President Muhammadu Buhari's pleas to the international community for more assistance in helping victims of the terror group. The UK pledged additional 80 million pounds, while the U.S pledged 41 million dollars. The pledge was made at the high level side event on humanitarian crisis in the Lake Chad Basin, at the 71st UN General Assembly in New York. The Nigerias foreign affairs ministry on Saturday, September 24, in Abuja, quoted UK Minister for Africa, Tobias ELLwood, as saying this is in addition to the 90 million pounds of humanitarian assistance we have already delivered in the region. 50 million pounds will go toward meeting the needs of work in the affected communities in Nigeria, including food assistance and access to essential household items and services. And 30 million pounds to support those affected by the spread of Boko Haram into Cameroun, Chad and Niger. ELLwood said the UK is proud of its humanitarian contributions, but call on international partners to do the same. It is imperative that the international community and governments in the affected region redouble the efforts, he said. Our message to those millions affected by Boko Haram brutality is the same with our message to the Chibok girls and many others taken by the Boko Haram and their families. The world has not forgotten you, we are doing what we can to help. UK support for the region is unwavering, he said. Ms Samantha Power, U. S Ambassador to the UN, also announced an additional $41million in humanitarian assistance to the region. She said the U.S. Government has provided more than $380 million in humanitarian aid in the region since 2015, and we would continue to do our part and we recognise that we have to do more. The region is desperately in need of support, the citizens and governments of the region cannot do it alone as they made it clear today , we need to dramatically increase the international assistance we are dedicating to this. Power quoted the UN as saying that it needs $542 million to meet the unilateral needs of the people in the region just between September and December 2016. To give a sense of the human stance according to the UN, in Nigerias Borno alone, an estimated 134 children will die every day of severe acute malnutrition unless they are treated," Power said. At that rate over the course of this meeting, 12 boys and girls will die and that is just a slipper of the consequences when we come up short. This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, September 24, by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina. According to the statement, the President gave the commendation while addressing newsmen at the conclusion of his five-day activities during the UNGA71. He said the outing was successfull. Buhari also commended officials of Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for demonstrating that we still have capable officers in our Foreign and civil services. He saluted the Nigerian officers for the tireless effects in projecting a positive image to our country, even in difficult times. The president used the opportunity of the media parley to review all his major and side events during the visit. He highlighted the issues on which he sent a clear and direct message to world leaders. I highlighted the need for the international community to work together to liberate humanity from poverty, save our planet from the devastation of climate change and rid the world of terrorism for a more peaceful and prosperous future. I mentioned that the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) arising from Boko Haram terrorism is of particular concern to us. For this reason, we have taken concrete steps to address their humanitarian needs and to ensure that necessary conditions are established to enable the voluntary return of the displaced persons to their homes in safety and dignity, he said. The President acknowledged that Nigeria as a developing country had been adversely affected by the global economic downturn We are undeterred and have embarked on a wide range of reforms in our efforts to diversify our economy. And to shift emphasis to mining, agriculture, industrialization, infrastructure development and the creation of the enabling environment for Foreign Direct Investment, he said. ALSO READ: I prayed hard to God to make me President Buhari He also noted that fighting corruption remains of prime importance to his administration. Buratai spoke on Saturday, September 24, while responding to questions at a special congress of the FCT Council of the NUJ. The army chief, who said the military has routed the insurgents and is currently securing the region, noted that terrorism is complex and calls for patience. Buratai also calls on journalists to show understanding in reporting the insurgency for the sake of national interest. He recalled that there was mistrust in the past between the media and the army and assured of seamless flow of information as long as it does not affect national security. Earlier, the Chairman of the FCT Council of the NUJ, Mr Paul Abechi, calls for understanding between the military and the media in the interest of the nation. Abechi said that while Nigerians depend on the military for safety, they also depend on the media for information, urging both parties to work together. He noted the successes so far recorded in the fight against insurgency in the North East Zone and commended Buratai for providing the required leadership in the campaign. In his remarks, the National President of NUJ, Mr Waheed Odusile, stressed the need for the army to provide journalists with needed information to enable them report correctly. Odusile noted with satisfaction that normalcy is returning to Borno and other parts of the North East Zone and commended the leadership of the army. He said that the occasional conflict between the military and journalists often arise out of the different roles each party plays for the well being of the society. The Zonal head of the anti-graft agency, Mr Ishaq Saliu, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when some Niger Delta youths took a protest to the agencys office. The protesters, who were showing support for the embattled ex-former first lady, Patience Jonathan, alleged that the commission is selective in its anti-corruption war. The anti-graft agency had traced $15 million to Mrs. Jonathan's accounts. The monies are believed to be proceeds of corruption. There is nothing selective in the cases of EFCC. We are professionals to the core," Saliu said. Once an allegation is made, before somebody is even invited the invitation is the last leg of our cases. Bank documents and things we need to inquire would have been gotten." ALSO READ: Patience Jonathan says EFCC is a big thief Mr Amos Agah told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Otuoke on Saturday that passengers are now paying N800 instead of N400 from Otuoke to Onuebum. This was how it happened in October 2012, when flood took over the whole community, but up till now, there was no proper preventive measure put in place. We are expecting the government to come up with necessary measures to guard against future occurrence, but it is a matter of regret that such measures are not in place. The students of FUO will resume to school soon after their holidays, they are going to find things difficult if urgent action is not taken to mitigate the effect of the flood. I am calling on all relevant authorities to look into the matter because we cannot cope with it again this year. Also, Mrs Maureen Abute, a passenger, blamed Bayelsa Government for not properly utilising Flood Intervention Fund that was given to the state in 2012 to fight against flooding. She said that the people were suffering and they could not do anything because the government was not ready to live up to its responsibility of preventing flood and rehabilitating the road. A taxi driver plying the road, Mr Issac Chinedum, said the road was already in a bad shape before the flood sub-merged it. He implored the Federal Government to come to the assistance of the people of Bayelsa because the Bayelsa government had neglected the road over the years. Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Speaking to Channels TV, Mrs. Jonathan's counsel, Mr. Charles Ogboli, admitted that only three of the five accounts in question could be traced to the ex-First Lady and her mum. Ogboli, who is the third lawyer in three weeks to speak on behalf of Mrs. Jonathan, said: "The First Lady did not hold five accounts. They are three accounts. The First Lady was the signatory of one account and the mother was a signatory to the other two accounts. These accounts were not on a companys name; it is on a personal data name of the First Lady. If you check, the BVN showed clearly on a personal name. And if you go through the BVN, it shows that it is her personal account; it is not connected with the companies facing trial. The First Lady was never privy to the companies standing trial. The money that is in the account ($5 million) should be left to the First Lady. The lawyer stressed that the former Mrs. Jonathan had protested between 2013 and 2014 against the use of unknown companies to open accounts for her by her husband's aide, Dr. Dudafa Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel. He said: What I am trying to say is that the domestic servant, Dudafa, who was asked to open accounts, went ahead to use a companys account which the First Lady discovered and said I am not part of this. She said I am not a director of this company, neither am I a shareholder. I did not present any certificate of incorporation, I didnt ask them to open any account using a company or companies. The discovery was made between 2013 and 2014 and immediately she kicked against it. So, you dont link her with the company that she does not know anything about. However, some Senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are said to be rallying support for the ex-first lady in her battle with the EFCC over the freezing of about $19.8 million in her accounts. Some PDP Senators have been meeting on a daily basis on how to give support to Mrs. Jonathan. They even met on Thursday and the battle will involve a bit of propaganda too," The Nation quoted a source as saying. At the appropriate time, we will reveal the identities of the affected senators based on intelligence report. The corrupt will always protect their own. Some of these senators are even the ones bankrolling a part of this battle between the former First Lady and the EFCC, the source said. ALSO READ: The drama continues as EFCC freezes another Patience Jonathan bank account The report of the EFCC investigative team had implicated Mrs Jonathan. The report reads in part: Based on the investigation so far carried out, it has revealed that the four fraudulent VISA Platinum USD Card accounts used by Mrs. Patience Goodluck Jonathan has a cumulative balance of $14,029.881.79 which has been swept Post No Debit Card category. Again, her personal account, different from the four fraudulent VISA Platinum USD Card accounts, bears the balance of $5,841,426.17. Considering the above stated findings, we can safely conclude that a prima facie case of conspiracy to retain proceeds of unlawful activities, retention of the proceeds of unlawful activities, money laundering contrary to Section 15(3) and 18(a) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and forgery contrary to Section 1(2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation, 2004 have been established against the aforementioned suspects. Tambuwal, who laid the foundation on Saturday, said that Gudu has remained the only local government in the state without a Senior Secondary School. The governor said: The state government embarked on the project as the area had remained the only one out of the 23 local governments of the state without a Senior Secondary School. "The school will be a co-educational one, both for boys and girls. "It will also attract students from the state, other states of Nigeria and others from the neighbouring Niger Republic. Students of the school would be taught in both English and French." Tambuwal said that the contractor had since been paid 30 percent of the contract sum while the project would be completed in the next four months. The governor also promised to make funds available for the completion of the project on schedule and according to specifications. Education is key to success both in this world and in the hereafter. The school is aimed at improving enrolment, retention and completion of students across the state. It is also aimed at improving equal access to education for both the boy and girl child in the state. When you educate a girl,you educate the society and when you educate a boy, you educate only an individual, he added. Tambuwal also called on the contracting firm to complete the work on schedule, warning that compromise by supervising engineers would not be condoned. The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III, commended the state government for embarking on the project. Abubakar also stressed the need for all children to have equal opportunities to education. The monarch described illiteracy as a disease which makes people to follow others blindly. Abubakar decried street begging by some children, saying that such an obnoxious act was unIslamic. ALSO READ: Tambuwal says Nigeria will return to growth, economic stability The sultan further urged wealthy individuals to provide scholarship to children of the less privileged. The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Jabbi Kilgori, said that the project consists of 12 classrooms, laboratories, library, hostels, staff quarters and clinics among others. The party's state secretary, Godspower Keku, who said this in a statement, commended the judiciary for being critical defender of democracy in the 4th republic. He said it has on major occasions risen to restore confidence in the people and the fabric of the nation through various landmark judicial pronouncements. The said the Appeal Court judgement which upheld the earlier decision of the state election petitions tribunal affirming the election of Governor Seriake Dickson, was in furtherance of judicial development. It has been a major step in our nations judicial system, reaffirming the sanctity of the judiciary as the last hope of the common man. "The judgement of the Appeal Court reinforces our faith in democracy and the crucial role the judiciary plays in safeguarding the wishes of the people. Probating and reprobating at the same time as Sylva did was nothing short of desperation for power, Kenku said. ALSO READ: Seriake Dickson gives birth to quadruplets He lauded Dickson's efforts at developing the state, pointing out what he referred to as the divisive and hate propaganda of the opposition party to blackmail the governor in the state. The court had agreed to Ping's petition to re-examine results in Haut-Ogooue province, where Bongo was declared to have won 95 percent on a turnout of 99.9 percent. However, in a ruling late on Friday, it refused to accept copies of vote tally sheets provided as evidence by Ping, stating he had failed to prove their authenticity. "We will ensure the choice of the Gabonese people is respected. 2016 will not be 2009," Ping said. Ali Bongo came to power in a contentious 2009 election following the death of his father Omar Bongo, who was president of Gabon for 42 years. Ping, a lifelong political insider in Gabon who has also served as chairman of the African Union Commission, was a close ally of Omar Bongo. President Ali Bongo sought to ease tensions on Saturday, calling for dialogue and promising a new inclusive government. "I look forward to inviting members of all political parties to join our efforts and come with us to the cabinet," he told Reuters in an interview. He said the new government would "most likely" include leading opposition figures and did not rule out the possibility of reserving a place for Ping. However, he rejected the option of international mediation. A man walked into the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, about 65 miles (105 km) north of Seattle and began shooting at about 7 p.m. local time on Friday, Washington State Patrol spokesman Mark Francis said on Twitter. A man who was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries died overnight, Francis said in a statement early on Saturday morning. Local and state police officials were not immediately available for comment but were expected to hold a news conference later on Saturday morning. Francis said on Twitter that police and rescue workers carefully worked their way through the mall, clearing stores and evacuating shoppers, some of whom, according to local media, locked themselves in dressing rooms. He also said police were searching the area for the shooter, who was described as a "Hispanic male wearing gray" and was last seen walking toward a nearby highway away from the mall. ALSO READ: Charlotte braces for more riots after police shooting Local authorities searched throughout the night for the gunman, believed to be armed with a rifle, and warned residents to remain inside. "Tragedy has struck in Washington tonight. Our hearts are in Burlington," Governor Jay Inslee said on Twitter. The shooting comes less than a week after a man stabbed nine people at a mall in central Minnesota before being shot dead. The FBI is investigating that attack as a potential act of terrorism. "Our forces are advancing on the last holdouts of Daesh" in the only district of Sirte still held by IS, said the media office of the pro-government fighters, using an Arabic acronym for the jihadist group. Three car bombs driven by jihadists were destroyed before reaching their targets, it said. Sirte was an IS stronghold before forces loyal to the country's Government of National Accord launched an offensive against the jihadists in May. The hospital in Misrata, a town half-way between Sirte and Tripoli, to which casualties are ferried, said on Facebook that nine pro-GNA fighters were killed and 40 wounded. Suicide bombings and sniper fire from the cornered jihadists have slowed the offensive to retake Sirte, 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of the Libyan capital Tripoli. The local organization dedicated to supporting victims of domestic violence received a much-needed shot in the arm this week. Officials at No To Abuse graciously accepted a $10,000 donation from AT&T on Sept. 15. Robin Shope, program manager for domestic violence, said she and her staff are grateful for any additional assistance provided to the agency. With grants being what they are right now, any donation, especially from the private sector, is greatly appreciated, Shope said. Kerry Shilling, program manager at No To Abuse, said the agency provides a variety of services for those in need. We cover many different needs in the community, she said. From assistance to victims of domestic violence, to working with foster youth. We also have community support services, family support and parenting classes and many other services. No To Abuse Executive Board President James Oscarson applauded the donation during the check presentation. Oscarson is also Nevadas District 36 assemblyman, which includes Pahrump. The support and advocacy services are also provided to their non-offending family members, Oscarson said. Domestic abuse is rarely talked about yet it is all too common in households in our area. As a community we have a real opportunity to change behavior through education and support systems to create a healthy, familial environment. AT&T Nevada President Stephanie Tyler said No To Abuse connects the community to more than just resources. They provide the care and attention that is often unspoken about in the community, she said. All the while creating prevention training to help families every day. Were proud to support the good work they do every day and is often under the radar. Nevada Outreach Training Organizations Executive Director Rick Marshall said No To Abuse also provides services in the areas of anger management, crisis intervention and family support. The mission is to grow healthy organizations, people and environments across Nye and Esmeralda counties by partnering with individuals, organizations and agencies in a cooperative and collaborative effort to increase services and opportunities. The Muscatine Center for Social Action is getting a new beginning, thanks to a can of paint. Make that many cans of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. The downtown center, the former Muscatine YMCA, is getting a makeover for its family shelter courtesy of some help from across the pond, as they say. The non-profit was one of only 25 sites around the globe chosen as a winner in the Annie Sloan decorative Chalk Paint 25 anniversary project. By coincidence, the makeover comes as the center also marks its 25th anniversary. "We were all shocked (when they won)," said Jennifer Conard of Fresh Vintage, the Muscatine store that sells Annie Sloan paint. "It's almost unbelievable and there were only three winners in the United States." Conard and her mother, Cindy Tubandt, the store's owner, urged the center to get nominated for the worldwide anniversary project. Now the pair are coordinating the painting project, which will transform the homeless shelter's eight family suites. Conard said the project has snowballed with help and donations from a number of Muscatine businesses, including Kent Corp., which is providing new beds; Sherwin Williams, which also is donating paint; and Taco John's, which donated its old wooden chairs. "We did all the design work using Annie Sloan color pallets," she said, adding that the company sent shipments from England of its wall paint. "We've never used it before because it's not sold in the U.S." But they are looking for more help to do the painting over the weekends of Oct. 8-9 and Oct. 15-16. If you can help, call Fresh Vintage at 563-299-4940. Dentists offer free oral care Sure, we've all heard tales of people scared to visit the dentist. But that was not the case at Crow Valley Dental Care as it participated in Free Dentistry Day. Dr. Scott Holm and his team, who were joined by Dr. Tiffanie Smith and her Duck Creek Family Dental team, treated 34 Quad-City patients earlier this month as part of the nationwide initiative. "Unfortunately, many people do not see a dentist on a routine basis,'' Holm said. "We were honored to open our doors to those in our community and volunteer our time and resources to make sure they received the care they need and deserve.'' Together, the dentistry staffs provided more than $10,000 worth of dentistry work, including cleanings, fillings and extractions. An estimated one-third of Americans live without dental insurance and many cannot afford dental procedures. Free Dentistry Day events help thousands of patients receive millions of dollars in free services each year. LyondellBasell beautifies community centers LyondellBasell Clinton employees and their families gave a helping hand to the Mississippi River Eco Tourism Center and the George M. Curtis Mansion recently as part of the company's Global Care Day. More than 60 volunteers got dirty doing landscaping work as well as repaired an existing wheelchair ramp. "These projects are an opportunity for our company to show the community that we care,'' said George Sills, maintenance specialist. One of the world's largest plastics, chemical and refining companies, LyondellBasell had workers from 69 sites and 23 countries showing their care during the annual Global Care Day event. In the past 17 years, their efforts have added up to 163,000 volunteer hours. Park ranger Brad Taylor said their volunteerism "helps organizations like Clinton County Conservation get projects done that might not get done due to budgets or time." The spacious size of today's Lamrim Kadampa Buddhist Center in downtown Davenport is the first thing a visitor notices. Situated at 3rd and Scott streets, the center's front door opens at an angle to the street, a welcoming addition to the religious location. The Buddhist center was established five years ago upstairs in the building. Entrance in those days was off Scott Street, and a visitor climbed many steps to reach the upper level. Now, that area is mainly for the center's children, while the downstairs was renovated by volunteers over the summer and now is handicapped-accessible. "This space stood empty for years," Joe Gauthier, Buddhist teacher said. The space for meditation has doubled in size as the base of operations moved downstairs. There is a shrine space, also twice as large as it was previously, and plenty of room for amenities, such as a bookstore, and crafts area. While the center's volunteers are still working on the project to an extent, the meditation room features a royal blue wall behind the shrine. There also is exposed brick, which has been cleaned up nicely. Two rows of chairs fit easily into the meditative space, and there is plenty of room for cushions and kneelers. The shrine features Buddha. The smallish Buddha statue in place today will be replaced in December by one that is 3 feet tall, Gauthier said. It is flanked by other statues and religious items. The sitting room and book store space adjoin the meditation room. These walls are painted in a deep gold, a color that symbolizes increasing wisdom, and prosperity, Gauthier said. This area includes a book store, filled with books on meditation, and Buddhist teaching. Tea and water choices are stacked neatly together with a hot/cold water cooler. Hard-to-find religious items are for sale and include mala, or Buddhist prayer beads, to go around necks, or sized for wrists. The latter choice is popular, Gauthier said. In addition, the practitioners make their own kneeling cushions, and they also will fill statues on request, he said. "This shop area is pretty popular. It's hard to find these items somewhere else." The bottom floor is filled out with a handicapped-accessible restroom and kitchenette. Gauthier, who has recently returned from six weeks of Buddhist classes in Great Britain, noted the center will continue to use the upstairs area. That is still under construction, and includes an office, bath, sleeping room, and two rooms for children, including a kids' meditation room and sitting area. The center has attracted some new attention, including from Lou Blizek of Maquoketa, Iowa. Blizek knew about Buddhism before, but noticed the center and said it's been his first interaction with practicing Buddhists. The center in fact has made him think about moving to Davenport, and he especially likes the noon-time meditation sessions. For his part, Gauthier said the finished work is the result of many helpers. "A lot of volunteers worked really hard to do this." The center offers classes on Buddhism and meditation in the Quad-Cities. There are day courses, retreats and chanted prayers. EDITORS NOTE: The following article was written by John Dabeet, Business Department Coordinator and Economics & Statistics Professor at MCC, and Nancy Bird Luikart, Assistant Dean. MUSCATINE, Iowa - The mission of the Business Department at Muscatine Community College (MCC) is to develop business leaders and professionals with the knowledge and practical skills for a better future. As a business major at MCC, you can write your own business plan for life and you will receive the quality education and skills needed to do so. Employers are increasingly interested in hiring graduates who have had meaningful "hands-on" business experience during their college career. MCC Business Department works closely with businesses and accounting firms located in the Greater Muscatine area and places many students locally as interns. While at MCC, you can join Business Professional of America (BPA), CEO/LL65, Silver & Blue Volunteer Program, Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), MCC Annual Market Expo, Annual E-Day, among other student organizations. Our students rank locally and nationally at the BPA competitions. The students involvement in these groups often predicts success in finding employment. Our graduates attend colleges and universities all over and are employed at a wide variety of firms. The Business Department offers a short-term study abroad program in Amman, Jordan. Studying abroad can be one of the most enriching and rewarding experiences of your education. By stepping outside the conventional college environment and studying abroad, you can expect to experience and appreciate other cultures, gain a better understanding of your own country and way of life, expand your own views about the world, and learn more about yourself. Jim Elias has been teaching at MCC for 11 years. He is from Ida Grove, Iowa. His undergraduate degree in advertising/fine arts is from University of South Dakota. Elias went on to get an MBA from St. Ambrose University. I grew up in my parents small business and have been working in or helping small businesses grow my entire life, Elias said when asked about why he is at MCC. Corey Frad has taught at MCC since 2012 and is from Estherville, Iowa. Her BA is from Wichita State University and her MBA is from University Upper Iowa. I do what I do because I love teaching, Frad said. I enjoy helping students discover what they want to do with their lives. In 1995, John Dabeet joined MCC. He was born in Jerusalem, Palestine, and received his BA there at Bethlehem University. His Master of Economics and Statistics is from the Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and he has finished several classes towards a doctorate from the University of Iowa. Economics and statistics are a great fit for me, Dabeet said when asked why he was teaching at MCC. For anyone who likes to deal with challenges and risks, economics is the answer. Dealing with change is my ultimate favorite thing to do. Im also fluent in Arabic and have been a visiting professor at more than ten universities around the world. For more information regarding MCC Business Department, contact John Dabeet, 563-288-6064 or jdabeet@eicc.edu MUSCATINE On a range of issues, Democrat Hillary Clinton is the best choice for president, while Donald Trump will irreparably harm the U.S., Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on a campaign stop here Saturday. Vilsack made a series of visits to eastern Iowa on Friday and Saturday to campaign for Clinton. The former Iowa governor urged the 40 or so campaign workers and volunteers at a campaign headquarters here to talk up the former secretary of state to their friends, saying she has the best ideas on how to improve the manufacturing sector, fight terrorism, rebuild the countrys infrastructure, provide child care assistance and raise the minimum wage. "Our friends and neighbors need to see us talking about her passionately, and effectively, because then we can convince them to vote for her, he said. Vilsack also warned, darkly, that Trump would be a disastrous choice for the country. We do not, do not, want four years of Donald Trump. It will irreparably, irreparably damage this country, he said. "Shes got a plan and he doesnt. She cares about you. He couldnt care less. He said Trump had built his career by "stiffing" others and called the Nov. 8 election a choice between two types of America. Trumps Iowa campaign manager, Eric Branstad, responded that Donald Trump is a lifelong businessman who has created thousands of secure, well-paying jobs across the country. Hillary Clinton has never created a job in her life, and instead lost countless American jobs through her support of bad trade deals, high regulations and high taxes." Vilsack was in Burlington and Muscatine on Saturday, before heading to Mount Pleasant. He is one of a number of prominent surrogates that the Clinton campaign has dispatched across the state to plead the case for the former secretary of state. Recent public opinion polls say that Trump is leading Clinton by 6 to 8 percentage points in Iowa. However, Democrats are eyeing the onset of early voting on Thursday to try to gain an advantage over the Trump campaign and the Republicans, believing they have the stronger grass roots organization. Vilsack urged the volunteers here to work hard on the early vote, saying that building up an advantage will be important going into Election Day. Celtic Vespers debut at Gloria Dei Presbyterian The ninth series of Celtic Music Sessions and Vespers begins Sunday, Sept. 25, at Gloria Dei Presbyterian Church, 4200 12th St., Rock Island. Music starts at 4:30 p.m. with vespers at 5 p.m. The series features participatory worship with music in the Celtic tradition, and is led by the Rev. Drew Nagle. The sessions are monthly and are also planned for Oct. 30 and Nov. 27, 2016, as well as Jan. 29, Feb. 26, April 30 and May 28, all in 2017. World Affairs talks kick off with Muslims in America A panel discussion with five Muslims living in the Quad-Cities will highlight the Sept. 27 "Living as a Muslim in America" event, part of the World Affairs Council. Moderator is Dr. Lisa Killinger; panelists are Dr. Farah Khan, Dr. Matlub Ahmad, Samia Ahmad and Dr. Moutaz Kotob. The event begins at 7 p.m. at the Western Illinois University-Quad-Cities Riverfront Hall, Rooms 103-104, 3300 River Drive, Moline. Our Lady of the Prairie retreats in October Retreats at Our Lady of the Prairie, rural Wheatland, Iowa, are planned for several days in October: Oct. 13, "Knit One, Pray Too!" with Karen Brooke, Ann Green and Anne Johnson; Oct. 18, "Come to the Quiet," with Pat Shea; Oct. 21-23, "The Promise of Restorative Justice" with Fred Van Liew, author of "The Justice Diary; Oct. 29, "A Day of Respite" for people who care for those with dementia, with Jerry Schroeder, Alzheimer's Association, Davenport. For information: Call 563-336-8414; e-mail at: olpretreat@gmail.com; online at chmiowa.org Temple Emanuel sponsors Trivia Night event Oct. 15 Kosher hot dogs and drinks are on the menu for the Temple Emanuel Trivia Night fundraiser, set for 7 p.m. on Oct. 15. Cost of table is $80 with eight players or $10 per individual. A participant does not need a complete team to take part in the event. There will be cash prizes and a 50/50 raffle. No outside beverage are allowed but players may bring their own snacks. Reservations: Temple Emanuel at 563-326-4419 or Sue at 563-340-0668. One of the most dramatic recent-memory changes in the Village of East Davenport is snuggled against the railroad bridge at Mound and East 12th streets. Clinton-based couple Dorothy O'Brien and Charles Pelton turned a tired and structurally questionable Village cottage into a showplace of a wine-tasting room. A large deck on the Mississippi River side of the winery offers ample outdoor seating and another patio on East 12th Street makes room for more. The wave of costly renovation flows to the east. Beverly Benmoussa is an Ann Arbor nurse practitioner who also is on the faculty at Michigan State University and another graduate-school program at a college in California. She was looking for "a friendlier regulatory environment" that is close to Michigan when she visited and instantly connected with the Village. "I was looking at cottages, and I was told nothing was available," she said. "I figured it was just a matter of time. I have vision." She bought and fully gutted the cottage at 2107 E. 12th and hopes to open her Weekend Clinic in November. She also will relocate to the Quad-Cities to her apartment at Pierce School Lofts toward the end of the year. "They're so nice (at Pierce), and it's right across the street from the clinic," Benmoussa said. "I love the businesses all around me and the residences all around me. They are my customers. "I get very involved. I'll be very involved in the community." She already has befriended new neighbors, including John Wisor, who demolished the two cottages to the east of the Weekend Clinic. The cottages were razed last month, and Wisor is awaiting permit approval to begin construction on his next Village project. He is planning a two-story building with two professional offices on the first floor. Two two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments will occupy the upper floors. Each will have a covered patio with river views. Basement-level garages will permit tenants to drive in from the back of the property. The nearly simultaneous creation of the winery, clinic and commercial/residential projects, all in a row, were a happy accident to O'Brien, who is an attorney. Pelton, her husband, is a retired Scott County District judge, and the pair created Wide River Winery. She said the idea of opening another store in the Village came to her during a winter walk with her daughter, Ann Pelton, who also manages Wide River. "We were prowling around the Village in January and thought, 'Boy, there's a lot of hustle and bustle,'" O'Brien said. "We looked in the windows at 1128 (Mound Street) and that was kind of it. "The basement needed to be shored up, which was fairly major. It turned into more of a project than we thought, but it's a solid citizen now. "I feel pretty lucky to be here, too." PHOENIX -- Saying it doesn't place an undue burden on voters, a federal judge on Friday refused to block the state from enforcing its controversial law against "ballot harvesting'' this coming election. U.S. District Court Judge Douglas Rayes acknowledged that limiting who a voter can give his or her completed early ballot to for delivery might cause an inconvenience. But he said that hardly infringes on the person's rights, given all the other options for voting, both in person and by mail. Rayes also did not dispute arguments by challengers that there are no confirmed cases of fraud from ballot harvesting. The judge said, however, the state does not have to provide such proof. He said the mere fact that absentee voting presents a greater opportunity for fraud is sufficient justification for the restriction. And Rayes said the state's interests in ensuring fair election give lawmakers fairly broad latitude in enacting what he said are minimal restrictions like these. Friday's order does not end the legal fight. Instead, Rayes simply refused to enjoin election officials from enforcing the law while the case makes its way through the legal system, a process that could take months or longer. But the judge also said it is unlikely the challengers will succeed in their claims even after a full trial. There is another option: Challengers, led by the Arizona Democratic Party, can ask the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for an expedited review of Rayes' ruling ahead of the election. But time is working against them, with early ballots set to go out Oct. 12. Friday's ruling is a victory for Republican Secretary of State Michele Reagan, who was the prime force behind the law, which makes it a felony to collect someone else's voted or unvoted ballot, punishable by a year in state prison. Reagan actually acknowledged a partisan reason behind the measure. Speaking earlier this year at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference before the measure even had been approved, Reagan said the"outrageous loophole'' in Arizona law easy to "cheat.'' And she said it is "the radical Left who uses ballot harvesting.'' State GOP Chairman Robert Graham, in a statement issued Friday, echoed the theme. "Ballot harvesting is a practice used by the Democrats and their leftist allies in Arizona that was rife with opportunity for manipulation and outright fraud,'' he said. And Graham, like Republican lawmakers who pushed the measure, said the absence of any proof of fraud is irrelevant. The ruling drew the opposite reaction from the other side of the aisle. "Unlike the state Republican leadership, the Arizona Democratic Party does not believe that it should be a crime for one neighbor help another neighbor vote,'' said Sheila Healy, that party's executive director. The measure was clearly partisan, with only one Republican in the entire Legislature voting against it. That did not go unnoticed by Sen. Steve Farley, D-Tucson. "The problem we're solving is that one party is better at collecting ballots than the other one,'' he said during Senate debate. "The other tried and they failed,'' Farley continued. "And, therefore, it's time to change the rules.'' Among the claims of challengers is that the law significantly increases the burdens of voting. Rayes said that's not the case. "It does not eliminate or restrict any method of voting,'' he wrote. "It merely limits who may possess, and therefore return, a voter's early ballot.'' The judge said those who requested and received early ballots can return them themselves, either in person or by mail. And he noted that even under the new law, voters still can give their ballots to family members, those living in the same household and caregivers. Rayes also noted other laws designed to ease voting, including requirements to personally deliver ballots to those too ill or disabled to get to polling places, and requirements that employers give workers time off to vote. "Evidence indicates that many voters who entrust their ballots to collectors do so not out of necessity, but for convenience or because they prefer a trusted volunteer to deliver their ballots,'' the judge wrote. And he said for many voters the impact of the new law "results from a matter of preference or choice rather than a state-created obstacle, and therefore is not a substantial burden.'' Rayes also brushed aside claims by challengers that the law will impose severe burdens on rural voters who lack reliable transportation or access to secure outgoing mail. "It is telling that they have not produced a single declaration from a voter who fits this profile,'' the judge wrote. He also rebuffed a separate claim that the law violates the Voting Rights Act which prohibits states from enacting changes in election laws that has a disparate impact on minorities. Challengers said Hispanic, Native American and African American voters are more likely to rely on others to collect and return their early ballots. But Rayes said that argument lacks one thing: actual quantitative or statistical evidence. "Without this information, the court cannot compare the impact of the law on different demographic populations, not can it determine whether the differences, if any, are statistically relevant,'' he wrote. Anyway, the judge said, if much of the problem created is for rural voters, that's hardly evidence of unfair racial impact. He said there are many rural communities where white voters are the majority. Joe Seng was a champion of many things. The Democratic state senator from Davenport was a champion for his constituents, particularly those who had no other voice to speak for them, the Very Rev. Richard Adam, pastor of Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport, said Saturday at a funeral Mass celebrating his life. Seng, 69, died Sept. 16 following a long battle with brain cancer. The longtime veterinarian, who owned and operated the St. Francis Veterinary Hospital in west Davenport, was a champion of all creatures great and small and cared for them as if they were his own. He also was a champion of the former Marquette Academy, a small private school located at 6th and Marquette streets in Davenport. He had been a driving force behind the school, Adam said. He fought so hard to keep that school open, Adam said. Joe fought hard to fight the decline of the neighborhood and he believed that Marquette Academy would be an anchor for the neighborhood and its future. And he was a popular Quad-City political figure for more than 20 years. Seng revealed in the fall of 2014 that he had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. He said at the time that he was determined to seek treatment and continue in the state Legislature for as long as he was able. He served through the 2015 and 2016 sessions with the assistance of his wife, Mary, whom he wed last year. Lawmakers gave both of them an extended ovation before the session ended this spring. Ron Parker, staff director for the Iowa Senate Democratic Caucus, said Saturday that Seng was a better servant and state senator than he was a traditional politician. He recalled a story he heard from a constituent who had encountered Seng years earlier on the weekend before a November general election. The constituent told Parker he had been working in his front yard when Seng walked up and handed him a flier regarding a non-election matter. Seng then launched into a spiel about all the things he had to do that day: help people with a charity project, work at his clinic and play the accordion at an event. At that point, the constituent asked Im sure youre going to knock on some doors, right? The election is coming up on Tuesday, Parker said. He (Joe) just looked at me (the constituent) and sort of stammered and said Oh yeah, gotta do that, too. As a veterinarian, Seng was legendary for working out deals with people who could not pay their bills. That was just who he was and how he did things, Parker said. Seng also was a talented musician who played the keyboard, trumpet and accordion. It was not uncommon for him to break out the accordion and play the floor of the Iowa House and Senate, Parker added. Adam said during Saturdays Mass that the scores of people he spoke with following Sengs death described him in the same way. Joe was a cool guy, a good man, he said. He noted that Seng and Monsignor Marvin Mottet, a giant among social justice warriors in the Quad-Cities, died within hours of each other Sept. 16. The two men shared a common vision of peace and justice, he said. Both called on others, like each one of us, to be models of peace and models of justice, he said. Parker said Seng gave to so many as a politician, musician, veterinarian, father and grandfather, brother, husband and friend. We will all be forever grateful to have known Joe, to have worked for him, to have called him friend and family, and, most of all, to bask in his love and compassion. May we all carry a little bit of Joe with us. Thumbs up to Scott County Auditor Roxanna Moritz for standing up for the voters of late state Sen. Joe Seng's district. Seng succumbed last week to brain cancer, creating a vacancy in an otherwise occupied seat. Two Democrats, state Reps. Jim Lykam and Cindy Winckler, have expressed interest in the job. Both are also seeking re-election and already on the Nov. 8 ballot. Gov. Terry Branstad hoped to fill Seng's seat with a special election on Nov. 8. Branstad's initial push sure smells like an attempted gaming of the system meant to force the two Democrats to either abandon their re-election bids or not seek the seat. It's also unclear how the parties would have picked nominees or ballots would have gotten printed in time. More than one observer has accused the Republican Branstad of trying to swipe one of Iowa's most solidly Democratic Senate districts. Whatever Branstad's angle for the rush, Moritz applied the brakes. The new date -- Dec. 27 -- isn't ideal, but it sure beats the confusion of a last-minute special election. Thumbs down to confusion, poor communication and a traffic jam. Officials this week rerouted traffic in Bettendorf on Grant and State streets without notice. The area is already a mess due to the I-74 bridge reconstruction. And, without warning, highway engineers just added a whole new level of frustration. City officials weren't prepared for the lane shifts. The result was gnarled traffic, dangerous lane changes and businesses left without customers. Thumbs up to Davenport City Council for mulling urban chickens. We've said it before: backyard chickens are a key component to a changing American lifestyle that's enamored with sourcing foods. There are obvious zoning and planning concerns. We're confident city officials can sort if out and, hopefully, get a workable law on the books that brings hens to Davenport. SPEARFISH | An official for the consulting firm hired to build a real-time flood modeling system for the Big Sioux River basin met Friday with the state Board of Water and Natural Resources about the project. Jason Love, a senior vice president at RESPEC in Rapid City, said his team would develop pieces starting with the stretch of river from Sioux Falls to the confluence of the Missouri River and deliver them for use as they are ready during the next two-plus years. He said the completion target is late 2017 or early 2018 and the system would feature 25 inundation-mapping sites along the basins full length, including the headwaters. The state board last year requested $750,000 for the project. The Legislature approved the money this year. Jim Feeney, who oversees the finance division at the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said nine companies including four from South Dakota submitted proposals. He said RESPEC came out first after presentations and interviews. Feeney said the project would require more than $750,000 to complete. He told the board he would further discuss the situation at its November meeting. Love said RESPEC looks forward to the job. We were definitely excited to be able to work on this project, he said. One feature will use Iowas flood inundation system thats already developed and being continuously updated, according to Love. He said the Big Sioux flood information system will apply hydrology, hydraulics and mapping. What he described as a progressive design and phased delivery approach would put the tools in the hands of decision makers as they are completed. RESPEC is in consultations with federal and state agencies and with others along the river basin. That planning phase should be finished in October, according to Love, and next would come a real-time system covering Sioux Falls to the Missouri River to be launched in late winter or early spring. Were going to be pushing these out as we deem them useful, Love said. By the end of 2017 or early 2018 they would have the project complete for the full basin from the headwaters to the confluence with the Missouri River, he said. Sounds like an exciting project, Brad Johnson of Watertown, the boards chairman, said. Board member Gene Jones, of Sioux Falls, asked how much more money might be needed to finish. Love said they initially were looking at $1.2 million to $1.5 million but the final amount depends on how much more information people want. Feeney said people might want 30 inundation site maps, for example. Johnson said he knows the work would be costly based on the experience of gathering information upstream from the Watertown area. I think your estimate is significantly low, Johnson candidly told Love. This is not inexpensive, but it is critical work. BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. | More than 15 years ago, America was shaken by the most devastating terrorist attacks in our nations history. Though the enemies who now threaten Americas welfare may have changed, their intentions are similar. More than 350 Airmen from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, from Sept. 6-10, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. The mission of Inherent Resolve is to defeat DAESH, the terrorist organization commonly referred to as ISIS, to increase regional stability. The team of Airmen is a composite force with representation from the 11th Bomb Squadron, 20th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Squadron, and the 2nd Operations Support Squadron. While deployed, they will be combined under the 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron. The 96th EBS has participated in numerous operational training exercises in preparation for this deployment to include Green Flag East and Red Flag 16-02 and 16-03. This operational level training in conjunction with local training has prepared aircrews for current combat operations. The 96th EBS has trained hard over the past six months and is ready for combat, said Capt. Matt, 96th BS, who wished to keep his full identity disclosed for security reasons. We are excited and cannot wait to integrate and support our coalition partners in Operation Inherent Resolve, our continuing fight against ISIS. Barksdales B-52 Stratofortresses have been operating out of Al-Udeid Air Base since April of this year, when they replaced the B-1 Lancers for precision-guided bomb attacks against DAESH. The B-52 is well equipped for the current fight, said Capt. Matt, whos taking part in his first combat deployment. We have a long loiter and large payload which enables us to drop a host of precision and near-precision munitions. This deployment will also incorporate the first use of the B-52s new CONECT modification in combat which increases communication and situational awareness capabilities. One Airman on the team was charged with stepping up for a wingman at the last minute. I became a part of the team yesterday to fill a buddys spot who couldnt make it, said 19-year-old Airman 1st Class Pedro Aquiningoc, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, as he packed his gear to board the jet. I didnt get a chance to say goodbye to my girlfriend and her daughter, and even though its not going to be easy, I know Im needed. We have freedom to protect. This is what its all about. Its why we joined. CHADRON, Nebraska | An attempt to make a felony arrest in Chadron led to a multi-agency pursuit Thursday morning after a man allegedly nearly ran over an officer in his attempt to flee. Charles R. Canaday, Jr., 35, was eventually arrested in South Dakota, where he is awaiting extradition to Nebraska. According to a press release from the Chadron Police Department, the incident started around 8:45 a.m. when Chadron Police received a tip about Canaday's location. He was wanted on an active warrant for absconding from Nebraska parole supervision in July. Chadron officers arrived as Canaday was backing out of the driveway. They ordered him to stop the vehicle several times, but police say he continued to back across the street. One officer opened the drivers door of the truck and attempted to stop the vehicle, and Canaday nearly hit the officer near the passenger door, the release says. Officers pursued Canaday east out of Chadron. Oglala Sioux Tribe officers apprehended Canaday without further incident when his vehicle ran out of gas. The passenger in the pickup, Kaylaleigh C. Folkers, 22, was released from the scene. Canaday is in jail in Fall River County on the felony parole warrant. Once Canaday is extradited, he will likely face additional charges, including attempted assault on a police officer, use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony and operating a vehicle to avoid arrest. Other agencies involved were Nebraska State Patrol, Oglala Sioux Tribal Highway Patrol, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Sheridan County Sheriffs Department and the Chadron Fire Department. The man accused of being an accessory to the murder of Jessica Rehfeld has asked the court for a change of trial venue, saying the Pennington County jury pool is tainted given the cases widespread and sensational publicity. The defense lawyer for Michael L. Frye, in a court filing Sept. 16, said her client believes a local jury cannot be impartial since county residents already presume Frye and three other defendants are guilty. The attorney, Jamy Patterson, quoted numerous comments to various news reports and forums to show the publics antagonism toward the accused. Not only is there a presumption of guilt that the United States Constitution prohibits, Patterson wrote, but the hostility and hatred that is directed against Frye and the other remaining defendants demonstrate the inability for Frye to receive his constitutionally protected right to a fair and impartial jury in Pennington County. Authorities say Frye, a 25-year-old Rapid City resident, helped rebury the body of Rehfeld, 22, after she was killed in May of 2015. He was charged along with Garland Brown, 30, who last month was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to the crime. Rehfelds ex-boyfriend, Jonathon Klinetobe, 27, of Sturgis, is alleged to have masterminded the murder. Authorities say he hired two Rapid City men to stab her to death and help him bury her in the woods. Klinetobe then supposedly hired Frye and Brown to assist him in moving the body a couple of weeks later. Rehfeld was considered a missing person until Rapid City police said a witness came forward in May and led authorities to her grave site south of Rockerville. Patterson, in the court filing, said also that some news reports have been "highly prejudicial" against Frye since they include authorities' statements about his culpability in the crime. Frye has maintained his innocence. Patterson informed the court earlier this month that her client has decided to go to trial. The court is expected to take up the change-of-venue request at Fryes next hearing on Oct. 11. He is detained at the Pennington County Jail on a bond of $1 million, and the three other men on $2 million apiece. Chinese blogger Chase Dong, of Shanghai, is on an expedition across the United States to our National Parks and recently made stops in South Dakota. Dong is an outdoors enthusiast and is blogging his entire experience to inspire visitors from China and other countries around the world to visit our national treasures. Future stops on his trip include Casco Bay Islands, Portland Head Light, Odiorne Point State Park, Lake Massabesic, Killington Resort and Smugglers Notch State Park among others. He has been traveling for weeks already and most recently came from Wyoming. He had already visited Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Wind River Range and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Wong spoke to the Rapid City Journal recently during his trip to the Badlands National Park after also visiting Mount Rushmore, Devils Tower and Wind Cave, as the latest subject in our ongoing Newsmaker 5 Questions series. Why are you here and what do you hope to learn that will help you back in China? I have visited a lot of national parks around the whole United States, but for this particular trip its my first one Im trying to post on social networks more intensively. The route I chose is also different than what I have taken before, and what most people from China take. I wanted to see something that not a lot of Chinese people come to do. I wanted to do some new stuff by creating a new itinerary to introduce Chinese people to a different perspective of the United States. I have learned a lot of photography skills. For example, when I find good spots for photos, I have talked with fellow local photographers and they taught me how to shoot good photos of landmarks. Also, I have learned good outdoor skills. One of the particular things is a lot of packers, they pack light and the whole 'leave no trace principle.' Thats not the case in China. There is no such principle. They might know 'dont litter everywhere,' something like that. What are your first and ongoing impressions of South Dakota and its people? Its pretty warm here. I just came in from Wyoming, and we hit a snowstorm while out there. When we first got to South Dakota it was pretty warm, and the people are warm, too. We attract a good number of Asians to the Rapid City area as tourists. Are Mount Rushmore, the Badlands and the Black Hills on the radar for Chinese people who are considering where to travel in the world or in the U.S.? One reason I chose this area is because a lot of Chinese come through what they call the Grand Circle of Utah, Colorado and Arizona and Nevada traveling along U.S. Highway 89. But not that many people go to the north. I cant find a lot of information about the northern part of it, like Wyoming, South Dakota and Nebraska. And I think there is a kind of different stuff here, and especially the landscaping in the Badlands and Custer State Park. There is nothing like it, especially in China. And Mount Rushmore is pretty famous in China, but not that many people actually see it. So thats a reason I wanted to visit here. What is something that you think Americans should know about China that we do not? Do residents of the U.S. have an accurate impression of your country? I think there is some great landscapes in China, but the infrastructure in China not as good as in the United States. There are no authorities like the National Parks Service in China. The beauty of the landscapes is comparable to the U.S., but its difficult to access. China has a lot of natural wonder, and not just history and cultural stuff. What are you eating and drinking on this trip? What foods have you found to be objectionable, or conversely, very enjoyable? For all my backpacking trips, me and my partner, we are not good cooks. We have to eat things like instant noodles, a lot of instant noodles. Every time we get back to the human world, though, we eat a lot. Any kind of food thats tasty. WASHINGTON | Of all the absurdities in Donald Trump's rapid political rise, none is more puzzling than his reputation for toughness in the war against terrorism. Trump is a real estate developer who takes any domestic terrorist attack whatever the actual circumstances as confirmation of his views on a lax immigration system, as evidence of a law enforcement system hobbled by political correctness and as cause for more aggressive profiling of Muslims, Arabs, or whomever he is currently defining as the threat. Some of his followers seem particularly pleased when he edges toward declaring Islam itself to be the enemy. "Frankly," Trump has said, "we're having problems with the Muslims." This is complete madness. No serious counterterrorism expert (Trump may have unearthed some unserious ones to provide cover) believes that the task of confronting domestic radicalization of working with communities to identify threats and prevent attacks is helped by declaring a war on Islam. Those who regard Trump's use of the words "radical Islamic terrorism" as a counterterrorism victory are engaged in magical foreign policy thinking the deployment of incantations in a global conflict. Trump has hardly distinguished himself in reacting to that conflict, fed by the radiating disorders of the Middle East. As the Islamic State (also known as ISIS) rose, the GOP nominee said, "That's not our fight." And: "Let Syria and ISIS fight. Why do we care?" And: "Let Russia fight ISIS, if they want to fight 'em." But also: "Bomb the oil and take the oil" which would seem to require a choice between the two. Incantations are preferable to such gibberish. Trump's instinct is to lead from behind the intensification, not repudiation, of Obama-era policy in the Middle East. But one of the leading critics of this policy is also Donald Trump. "If (Obama) had gone in with tremendous force," he has argued, "you wouldn't have millions of people displaced all over the world." Those who believe that preening bluster makes up for willful ignorance and dangerously poor policy judgment have found their man. But this is not the worst of it. Anyone who has spent time working in the White House would attest that the single most important presidential attribute is leadership in times of crisis. We have no idea what challenges the next president may face an outbreak of deadly pandemic flu, the collapse of order in nuclear Pakistan, a cyberattack on the U.S. electricity grid. All we know or try our best to know is the character, stability and credibility of the president himself (or herself). On current and consistent evidence, Trump would jump to conclusions, entertain conspiracy theories and lash out in rhetoric that seems tough but actually complicates the task of leadership. Conservatives trying to justify a vote for Trump argue that the presidency itself will somehow mature him. Yet the Republican nominee has provided little reason to believe he is truly capable of learning or benefiting from good counsel. "My primary consultant is myself and I have a good instinct for this stuff," Trump has said. When I asked a former official of George W. Bush's administration (who wanted to be unnamed in order to speak more freely) about the requirements of presidential leadership in a time of national testing, the list was not a match with the GOP nominee. "It is really important to project a sense of calm," the official said. "A leader understands that people feed off his emotions in a moment of crisis. If he uses wild or frantic rhetoric, it will risk creating a psychological tsunami." The president may face simultaneous crises, the official went on, forcing him "to rely on others in the team to give good advice." And: "If the ego is central to a leader and a crisis occurs, it could lead to rash decision-making." And: "One cannot solve a crisis by blaming other people. This tone makes it harder to rally the whole nation." A leader has to "articulate a credible strategy" and honor the "American values that unite us." By all of these measures, Trump represents an extraordinary risk to the nation. On foreign policy, he is the worst of all worlds extreme and alienating in his rhetoric, confused, erratic and weak on matters of policy. When some of us talk about presidential temperament, this is what we mean. Trump has not shown the stability, prudence and judgment the presidency requires in moments of national testing. This is not only disturbing; it is disqualifying. The EU Google says the EU requires a notice of cookie use (by Google) and says they have posted a notice. I don't see it. If cookies bother you, go elsewhere. If the EU bothers you, emigrate. If you live outside the EU, don't go there. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. WASHINGTON (AP) Greenland is losing about 40 trillion pounds more ice a year than scientists had thought, according to a new study that used GPS to help estimate how much is melting. So instead of losing on average 550 trillion pounds of ice each year between 2003 and 2013, Greenland lost about 590 trillion pounds , said co-author Michael Bevis of Ohio State University in a study published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances . That's about a 7.6 percent difference. The Empire State Building weighs 730 million pounds, so 40 trillion pounds a year is the equivalent to more than 50,000 Empire State Buildings. "If you look at the last 15 years since we've been having these measurements, it's clearly getting worse, the ice loss," Bevis said. "It is pretty scary." Overall, though, it is still "a small percentage. I don't think it changes the picture of what's going on," cautioned study co-author Beata Csatho at the University of Buffalo. The extra ice loss adds a tiny amount one-sixtieth of an inch (0.4 mm) a decade to global sea level rise, Bevis said. Greenland melt adds a fifth of an inch 0.54 mm a decade, he said. "Not good news certainly as the values are already larger than we'd had wished, but not a dramatic change in the overall already very alarming pattern we've been seeing over the past couple decades," said Duke University climate scientist Drew Shindell, who wasn't part of the study team. Most measurements of ice sheet loss in Greenland and Antarctica use a satellite that measures changes in gravity and uses computer simulations to calculate the weight loss of ice. But the trouble is that as ice sheets melt, ground juts up to take its place, both instantly and slowly over centuries. The rocks that rise to replace the heavier ice are counted in the overall ice mass by the satellite and thus the satellites overstate how much ice there is, Bevis said. The new measurements that use global positioning satellites and other sources compensate for that and are thus more accurate, Bevis said. Erik Ivins, a senior research scientist at NASA's sea level and ice group who wasn't part of the team, called the study a significant breakthrough. NEW YORK (AP) The genetic ancestry of people living outside Africa can be traced almost completely to a single exodus of humans from that continent long ago, new studies suggest. Still, a tiny legacy from an earlier exit may persist in some native islanders in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. That's the conclusion from three studies of modern DNA from around the world, released Wednesday by the journal Nature. Our species, Homo sapiens, arose about 200,000 years ago in Africa. From there, it colonized the world, and scientists are still trying to understand the timing of that expansion. The new work takes advantage of the fact that human DNA accumulates tiny changes over time. That can be used like a clock to estimate how long ago two populations split off from each other. The approach can't reveal every migration out of Africa, just those that left a genetic legacy that has been handed down to this day. Scientists have long traced one such exit to a single population that left around 40,000 to 80,000 years ago, probably over time rather than all at once. But some other work has turned up potential signs of a previous migration as early as 120,000 to 130,000 years ago. One of the new papers says it found a trace of an earlier migration in native people of Papua New Guinea, which lies north of Australia. At least 2 percent of their DNA may come from a population that split off from Africans about 120,000 years ago, reported researchers from the Estonian Biocentre in Tartu, Estonia, and other institutions. The study analyzed the DNA of 483 people from 148 populations worldwide, including six Papuans. The two other papers concluded that if there was a genetic contribution from an earlier migration, it must be tiny. One studied the DNA of 300 people from 142 diverse populations, while the other examined the genetic codes of 25 Papuans and 83 aboriginal Australians. Overall, the evidence shows that the vast majority of modern human ancestry outside of Africa comes from a single exit from Africa, said David Reich of Harvard Medical School, an author of the 142-population paper. Joshua Akey of the University of Washington in Seattle, who co-wrote a Nature commentary on the papers, said linking that vast majority of ancestry to just one departure seems settled. Todd Disotell of New York University, who didn't participate in the research, said the reported hint in Papuans of an earlier migration might actually be due to something else. The analyses in all three papers are very complex, he noted. Everyone hopes that they are special and unique in some way. Whether it's a subtle uniqueness that only presents itself in being exceptional within our own little circle, or the kind of superhuman abilities that we attribute to those who live in higher strata of life: olympic atheletes, movies stars, you know, those kinds of people. But then there are those among us who become unique because of a natural aberration that leaves immediately marks them as a pariah or a freak. The obvious physical deformities that attract attention through no fault of the person exhibiting them, often to that person's detriment. Such is that life of Natasha, the central character in Ivan I. Tverdovsky's dramatic fantasy, Zoology. An eternal virgin well into middle age, Natasha lives with her mother in a dowdy, drab apartment in Russia and pays the bills by working as in the office of a major zoo. In every facet of her life, Natasha is a victim of the cruelty of others. In fact, she attracts the kind of venom from her co-workers that might be more appropriate had she committed adultery with their husbands. All of them. At the same time. But alas, Natasha didn't even have the privelege of enjoying that momentary satisfaction to earn the scorn of those around her, she's just a soft target and she doesn't fight back. Natasha's life of monotonous emotional torture is only broken up by her frequent visits to the animals in her zoo. She talks to them, brings them treats, narrates imagined small happenings in their lives, and communes with them in a way that she cannot seem to manage with her own kind. However, it soon becomes apparent that those she's wishes paid her some positive attention may not be her own kind at all. One day, you see, Natasha sprouts a tail. It reaches a little more than halfway down her leg, and seems to sprout from where her tailbone should end. The tail, hairless and a little bit thicker than what we might expect from a monkey's tail, seems to have a mind of its own. When Natasha decides to visit the doctor to have her new appedange examined, she referred to the radiologist for an X-ray. When she arrives in his office, she sees Peter, a handsome younger man who calmly asks if she can keep the tail still so he can get a good image. However, her tail has a hard time complying, perhaps betraying Natasha's own unexpected excitement at Peter's good looks and welcoming demeanor. As she is forced to meet him again and again to try to get a better X-ray image, Natasha and Peter strike up an unexpected romance. Perhaps not quite May-December, but certainly June-August. Natasha suddenly blossoms from a dowdy old woman who wears no makeup, and no dresses above the ankle into a picture of health and self-respect. A new haircut, a sparkly dress, and a spring in her step show us a new Natasha, ready for a life beyond her own misery. Meanwhile, in her town rumors spread of a witch with three tails who has come to spread disease. This small community is suddenly all aflutter with morbid tales of Satanic rituals and demon infiltration. Natasha enjoys her new life, blissfully unaware that the town around her has got itself in a tizzy over this perceived threat. How will this affect her and how will her newfound romantic relationship react? Well, it's a complicated answer that definitely muddies the moral of this story. Zoology is awash with metaphor. Natasha's new accessory represents many different things to many different people. To her it is a sign of uniqueness, a sign that she may not be destined to suffer at teh hands of others because she is not like them. To those around her it is an unseen menace that threatens their dull lives with danger and strikes out against the conformity that keeps them all safe in their minds. To Peter, it is something else entirely, a totem that ultimately proves to be difficult to resist. Unfortunately, the film has a hard time reconciling these conflicting metaphors, and that leads to an ending that nearly cuts off the film's nose to spite its face. There are certainly confusing and illogical elements of Zoology right from the start. The timeline of Natasha's awareness of her tail is muddy at best. The wildly differing reactions to her predicament between the general public (fear) and her doctors (bland acceptance) is a bit confusing, as though these doctors are immune to shock or even curiosity. Not to mention the ending of the film which appears to undo a lot of the emotional heavy lifting that Natasha had done throughout the story. However, all of these elements do a good job of underlining the films fantastical setting, this is not the real world, so why should the characters act as though it is? Director Tverdovsky has created an unusual beast in Zoology, and much like its central character, the viewer will likely be questioning the outcome of the film after the final credits roll. Natalia Pavlenkova, who plays Natasha, displays an admirable commitment and wonderful sense of freedom. She is clearly the best thing about this film which is otherwise populated with savage mean women and intentionally bland supporting cahracters. Pavlenkova breathes necessary life into the story, often allowing the viewer to escape the dreariness of the cold Russian setting and into her fantastical flights of happiness that don't require a bunch of special effects, it's all there in her face. This is a film that is difficult to discuss in depth without giving up some plot points that would be better left discovered by the audience. That being said, the film is sure to inspire a lot of conversation and definitely more questions than answers. That quality alone is enough to get a thumbs up from me, and so Zoology is a film worth recommending. It's an interesting journey for Natasha and the viewer, and it's one best experienced as cold as possible. In spite of what seems like some rather extensive plot summary above, I assure you, there is a lot more to absorb in Zoology, and there is a joy and satisfaction in that challenge. Nota del Bloguista de Baracutey Cubano La expresion algo huele mal en Dinamarca, escrita en la obra Hamlet de William Shakespeare, es totalmente valida en este asunto de los e mails de Hillary Clinton ... ************************** GOP lawmaker: FBI gave immunity to top Clinton aide WASHINGTON (AP) Hillary Clinton's former chief of staff, Cheryl Mills, and two other staff members were granted immunity deals in exchange for their cooperation in the now-closed FBI investigation into Clinton's use of a private email server as secretary of state, says a Republican congressman. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, told The Associated Press on Friday that Mills gave federal investigators access to her laptop on the condition that what they found couldn't be used against her. (FILE -In this Sept. 3, 2015, file photo, Cheryl Mills speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. A court deposition released by a conservative legal group shows that Mills, a veteran aide to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton discussed Clinton's private email server with a technical aide who helped set up and run the system. Mills said in five hours of testimony that the conversations took place after Clinton stepped down as secretary of state in 2013. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) Democrats on the committee said Friday the immunity agreements were limited in scope and did not cover statements made to investigators or to potential testimony before Congress. Still, Chaffetz said he was "absolutely stunned" that the FBI would cut a deal with someone as close to the investigation as Mills. By including the emails recovered from the laptops in the immunity agreements, the Justice Department exempted key physical evidence from any potential criminal case against the aides. "No wonder they couldn't prosecute a case," said Chaffetz, R-Utah. "They were handing out immunity deals like candy." Copies of the immunity agreements were provided to the House oversight committee by the Justice Department this week under seal. Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon accused House Republicans of "trying to make something out of nothing by rummaging through the files of a Justice Department investigation that was closed months ago without any charges whatsoever, and leaking selective details three days before the first presidential debate." "Congressman Chaffetz continues to abuse his office by wasting taxpayer dollars to try to second-guess the FBI in what amounts to a desperate attempt to boost Donald Trump's chances against Hillary Clinton," Fallon said. A yearlong investigation by the FBI focused on whether the Democratic presidential nominee sent or received classified information using the private server located in the basement of her New York home, which was not authorized for such messages. FBI Director James Comey said in July that his agents hadn't found evidence to support any criminal charge or direct evidence that Clinton's private server had been hacked. He suggested that hackers working for a foreign government may have been so sophisticated they wouldn't have left behind any evidence of a break-in. Chaffetz said in addition to Mills, others granted immunity include John Bentel, then-director of the State Department's Office of Information Resources Management, and Heather Samuelson, a senior adviser to Clinton. Beth Wilkinson, the lawyer representing Mills and Samuelson, said the text of the immunity agreements show investigators considered her clients "to be witnesses and nothing more." Her office declined to provide copies of the agreements to AP. "The Justice Department assured us that they believed my clients did nothing wrong," Wilkinson said. "At all points my clients cooperated with the government's investigation, including voluntarily participating in interviews with the FBI and DOJ." The latest revelation brings the total number of people who were granted immunity as part of the FBI's investigation to at least five. It had previously been reported immunity had been granted to Bryan Pagliano, a tech expert who set up Clinton's email server, as well as Paul Combetta, a computer specialist for a private firm that later maintained Clinton's email setup. Chaffetz said he is looking forward to asking Comey questions about the immunity deals when Comey testifies Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee. Chaffetz is also a member of that panel. Mills, who was among Clinton's closest confidants, voluntarily appeared last year for a lengthy interview as part of the House GOP's investigation into the 2012 attack on a U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, that left three Americans dead. Pagliano and Combetta, however, have refused to testify before Congress by invoking their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. On Thursday, the GOP-led House oversight committee voted along party lines to hold Pagliano in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with its subpoena. Friday evening, the FBI released 189 additional pages of documents from its investigation, including notes of agents' interviews with Mills, Samuelson, Bentel, close Clinton aide Huma Abedin and foreign policy adviser Jake Sullivan. The highlights of the interviews were previously summarized in the FBI's investigative report released earlier this month. Many of the documents released Friday were heavily redacted by the FBI, but some provided new details about the agency's extensive investigation into Clinton's email use. Included was a summary of FBI's interview with Marcel Lazar, a Romanian hacker who went by the name Guccifer. In it, Lazar admits he lied to a Fox News reporter about hacking Clinton's email server, though he had seen her private email address and some exchanges with her after successfully accessing the AOL account of Clinton friend Sidney Blumenthal in 2013. The new FBI documents also reveal that Clinton occasionally exchanged messages with President Barack Obama, who used a pseudonymous email address. Those exchanges have not been made public among the tens of thousands of Clinton emails released thus far by the State Department. Disappointed the FBI didn't recommend criminal charges, congressional Republicans are seeking to keep the issue of Clinton's email use alive through the November election. Clinton has called her use of the private server a mistake. In a statement, the campaign of the Republican presidential nominee criticized both Clinton and the Justice Department. "No one with judgment this bad should be allowed to serve as president of the United States or hold any public office," Trump spokesman Jason Miller. "What has become abundantly clear is that the Obama Administration is protecting Hillary Clinton from accountability at all costs because she will keep the rigged system in Washington in place." ************** Hillary Clintons Server Admins Refuse To Answer, Repeatedly Plead The Fifth Published on Sep 14, 2016 Video Transcript: During a House Committee Hearing, server "specialists" that worked on Hillary Clinton's secret server failed to answer a single question. JASON CHAFFETZ: Mr. Combetta, do you intend to make an opening statement? PAUL COMBETTA: On advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer and assert my Fifth Amendment privilege. CHAFFETZ: Mr. Thornton, do you intent to make an opening statement? BILL THORNTON: On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer and assert my Fifth Amendment Constitutional privilege. CHAFFETZ: Mr. Combetta, did you produce your immunity agreement this morning as required by the subpoena? CHAFFETZ: As I understand it, you were one of the two employees that signed a PRN in the Clinton account, did you send or receive this email? COMBETTA: On advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer and assert my Fifth Amendment privilege. CHAFFETZ: If I understand the email correctly, every single employee at [Platte River Networks] could have accessed some of the most highly classified national security information that has ever been breached at the State Department. Can you prove that no other individuals accessed this data or even passed it on to someone else? COMBETTA: On advice of counsel, I respectfully refuse to answer and assert my Fifth Amendment privilege. CHAFFETZ: Well, one last one here, Mr. Combetta, you're an IT guy who's paid by the Clintons. Generally, IT guys don't erase their clients emails unless they're told to do so. So, who told you to delete the emails? COMBETTA: On advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer and assert my Fifth Amendment privilege. ELIJAH CUMMINGS: Do you plan to continue to assert your Fifth Amendment rights? Is that your plan? Is that your plan? COMBETTA: On advice of counsel, I respectfully refuse to answer and assert my Fifth Amendment privilege. CUMMINGS: And you Mr. Thornton? THORNTON: COMBETTA: On advice of counsel, I respectfully refuse to answer and assert my Fifth Amendment. CHAFFETZ: Given that you have indicated that you do not intend to answer any questions out of respect for your Constitutional rights, we will now excuse you from the table. Mr. Thornton, given the vulnerabilities identified by DATO, are you aware of any hacks of [Platte River Network's] systems? THORNTON: On advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer and assert my Fifth Amendment Constitutional privilege. CHAFFETZ: Were you interviewed by the FBI? THORNTON: On advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer and assert my Fifth Amendment Constitutional privilege. CHAFFETZ: You can't answer the question about whether or not you were interviewed by the FBI? THORNTON: On advice of counsel, I respectfully decline. CHAFFETZ: Given that the witness does not intend to answer any questions out of respect for his Constitutional rights, we will now excuse Mr. Thornton from the table. *************** Clinton Aide Had Full Access To Her Server With No Security Clearance Published on Sep 13, 2016 Video Transcript: JASON CHAFFETZ: Did you have a security clearance at that time? JUSTIN COOPER: No, I did not have a security clearance. CHAFFETZ: When did you leave the White House? COOPER: 2001. CHAFFETZ: 2001, did you ever have a security clearance at any level after that? COOPER: No, I did not have a security clearance. CHAFFETZ: And you had full access to the whole server the entire time that you were working for the Clintons? COOPER: Yes, I had access to the server. Judge Napolitano argued that Cooper's testimony was the most informative yet. NAPOLITANO: The gentleman who testified before the House Committee this morning was the most informative weve heard. He was an employee of the Clinton family and of the Clinton Foundation and he had complete and total access to the Clinton emails - and he had no security clearance. STUART VARNEY: Who told him to smash one of the cellphones? Have they got to that yet? NAPOLITANO: He didnt answer. The Judge also said the truth about this whole saga might finally be revealed. VARNEY: Are we getting really close now to full disclosure of all these emails? NAPOLITANO: Senator Grassley - in part because of his personal tenacity and part because of his position in the Senate as the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee - is oh so close to exposing for the first time in this whole saga, the truth. He has demanded of the FBI that they separate the classified from the non-classified and as of this morning, hasnt gotten an answer from them yet. The FBI commingled classified with un-classified and put it all in the Senate safe room. Whatever is in the Senate safe room can only be viewed without a mobile device, without written materials and by signing an oath you wont reveal whats in there. Even though much of whats in there is revealable which is the non-classified. From the non-classified he has said if he could reveal it, it would be earth shattering. DOJ Gave Immunity To Triggerman Who Deleted Hillary Clintons Emails Published on Sep 9, 2016 Video Transcripts: TREY GOWDY: If the FBI and the Department of Justice gave this witness transactional immunity, it is tantamount to giving the triggerman immunity in a robbery case. I was stunned when I read the New York Times article last night and by the way, the same reporter who broke the article last night, is the guy who broke the initial email story so Im inclined to believe it unless theres evidence to the contrary. But it looks like they gave immunity to the very person youd most want to prosecute. Which is the person who destroyed official public records after there was a subpoena and after there was a preservation order. And that defies logic why some techie in Colorado would, despite a subpoena, despite a preservation order but after a conference call with David Kendall and Cheryl Mills decide on his own that he is going to destroy public records. And then you grant this person immunity which means, perhaps that he cannot be prosecuted - [FBI Director] Comey said hes not going to prosecute anybody. We need to ask the FBI, what kind of immunity did you give and why did you give it to the triggerman? Why did you give it to the person who actually destroyed government documents? So why would the FBI give the guy who deleted the emails immunity? GOWDY: Because they guessed wrong, thats why. They got it wrong, they blew it. They gave immunity to the triggerman. Thats why those of us who used to do it for a living, didnt like to give immunity. This is prosecutor 101: You dont give immunity to the person who actually robbed the bank. You may want to give it to the getaway driver, you may want to give it to the person who helped them count the money afterwards but you dont give immunity to the person who walked in and robbed the bank, that aint that complicated. But thats apparently what the FBI did. MBETTA: On advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer and assert my Fifth Amendment privilege.************ While horror films have been dominated by American directors and films, most casual horror fans seem to forget that some of the most unique, frightening and innovative horror films spawned from countries other than the US. Italy of course played a great part in this, bringing forth some of the most innovative directors. Started by Mario Bava (Black Sabbath 1963) and Riccardo Freda (The Horrible Dr. Hitchcock 1962) in the 60s, who inspired a list of great directors such as Dario Argento (Profondo Rosso 1975), Lucio Fulci (The Beyond 1981), Michele Soavi (Deliria 1987), Pupi Avati (The House With the Laughing Windows 1976), Lamberto Bava (Demons 1985) as well as the more exploitative cinema of Ruggero Deodato (Cannibal Holocaust 1980), Umberto Lenzi (Cannibal Ferox 1981) or Joe DAmato (Antroprophagus 1980). Still Black Sabbath The Italian films brought a dreamlike gothic vision to horror films that was as much artistic as it was frightening (and of course gory). Sadly this phase ended in 1994 with Soavis Dellamorte Dellamore perhaps being the last great Italian horror movie. While not as consistent as the Italians, the French also produced a number of great horror directors and films, among them Les yeus sans visage (1960), Les Diaboliques (1955) followed up by directors, inducing a similar surreal, oftentimes sexualized vision such as Jean Rollin (Requiem pour un vampire 1971), Walerian Borowczyk (La Bete 1975) Roman Polanksi, or Alain Robaks Baby Blood (1990), as well as Belgien director Harry Kummel (Daughters of Darkness 1971) Still La rose de fer (Jean Rollin) Spain had an uprise in horror, particularily in the 70s, bringing us horror from directors such as the legendary Jess Franco (Vampyros Lesbos 1971), Amando de Ossorio (Tombs of the Blind Dead 1971), Jose Ramon Larraz (Symptoms 1974), Jorge Grau (Let Sleeping Corpses Lie 1974) and Narcisco Ibanez Serrador (Who can kill a child 1970) each bringing their own unique vision to horror. (Notably also Bigas Luna (Anguish 1987) Still Tombs of the Blind Dead While not as abstract and artistic as the Italians, the UK have always been active in the field of horror, notably in Gothic horror with Jack Klaytons The Innocent (1961), Robert Wises The Haunting (1963), John Houghs The Legend of Hell House (1973) as well as Robin Hardys The Wicker Man (1973) or Nicolas Roeg's Dont Look Now (1973) to name a few. (And not to forget Clive Barker of course). Still The Legend of Hell House Still The Legend of Hell House Germany and Austria, having created some of the earliest horror movies in form of German Expressionisim of the 20s as well as the most iconic vampire movie ever made (twice), had another uprise in the late 80s, with directors such as Jorg Buttgereit (Nekromantik 1987) Olaf Ittenbach (Black Past 1989), Andreas Schnaas (Violent Shit 1987) whos films are perhaps more splatter than artistic (with the exception of Buttgereit whos films, while disturbing, still offer an artistic touch). Still Nekromantik The Swedish are also no stranger to horror, beginning with 1922s release Korkalen (which was followed by two other adaptations of the same source material) Bergmanns Vargtimmen (1966) and Peter Borgs Sound of Silence (1989) and would later bring forth the poetic Let The Right One In, while Norway spanned the Cold Prey as well as the shlocky Dead Snow series. Further notable is Czech director Juraj Herz's (The Cremator 1969) as well as Brazil director Jose Mojica Marins Coffin Joe series. Asian horror brough a lot of unique visions as well with Japanese films such as Nobuo Nakagawas Jigoku (1960) or Nobuhiko Obayashis Hausu (1977) and India horror films such as Do Gaz Zameen Ke Neeche (1971) and Jaani Dushman (1979) by Rajkumar Kohli to name a few. Still Hausu While Asian horror is still going strong today, with a lot of unique releases coming especially from Japan and Korea, one still has to wonder why European directors did not manage to keep up with the US market of horror films. This might be partly due to funding reasons, especially for Italy a country that has had so many great directors in the past, but as of yet has no funds for upcoming directors. Another reason is perhaps the commercialization of horror due to Hollywood productions, making films that are not of this formula more of a risk (obviously the same reason why the US has trouble bringing forth unique and daring directors) But luckily it seems that over the last years there has been an uprising in international horror. There was of course the New French Extremity wave, starting in the early 2000s. Extremely graphic, realistic and disturbing horror films such as Haute Tension (2003) by Alejandre Aja, A Linterieur (2007) by Julien Maury, Alexandre Bustillo or Pascal Laugiers Martys (2007) as well as Gaspard Noes visionary films and Bruno Forzani and Helene Cattet artistic reimagination of gialli films. Still Amer The UK is still going strong with directors such as Neil Marshall, Ben Wheatley or James Watkins, though these films still play it more save, adapting to the US market (with the exception of Wheatly perhaps), whereas Spain brought us REC (2007) and Alex de la Iglesias comedic horror films (El dia de la bestia 1995). Still A Field in England (Ben Wheatley) But it seems that a new generation of horror directors are finally stepping up, creating daring new forms of experimental narratives. Most notably being the young Austrian director and painter Kevin Kopacka (who was admittedly the inspiration for this article). His short filmography still showcasing a unique vision with clear influences from a cultural past. His dreamy debut short HADES (2015) an obvious throwback to Italian horror and gialli films, while still retaining an individual voice is told completely without dialogue, immersing the viewer in a drug like trip. Still HADES The sequel TLMEA (2016) being even more impressive and managing to create a voice of his own. Restraining from classic narrative form and a refusal to cater to conventional film formulas, his films evoked a feeling of cinematic art (and terror), that I hadnt experienced in a while. Another great film from Austria is of course Veronica Franz and Severin Fialas Goodnight Mommy (2015) which gained a lot of attention last year, and Germany bringing forth original productions such as Akiz Der Nachtmahr (2016) and Nikkias Chryssos Der Bunker (2015). Another impressive debut is Mexican director Emiliano Rocha Minters We Are the Flesh (2016) a hypnotic and disturbing little film as well as Belgien Still "We Are The Flesh" A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) by Iranian director Ana Lily Amipour as well well as fellow Iranian Babak Anvaris Under the Shadow (2016) both showcase intriguing horror visions, as well as Turkish horror such as Baskin (2015) by Can Evrenol, that finds its inspiration in Fulci, or the upcoming Siccin 3 by Alper Mestci. Still A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night What these directors all have in common is a vision of horror that tries to push boundaries, being aware of their own cultural background and not trying to rehash old stories and formulas. Its refreshing to say the least and lets hope this wave inspires a new uprising in original and interesting horror films! EDIT: As has been pointed out in the comments - while the title may be misleading, with this article I am not implying that US horror hasn't been taking strides, but only that in order to push a genre further, one has to be able to take risks and strive for something new. International productions are for the most part not as much influenced by the "Hollywood formula" and have their own cultural history and sensitivity. That's not to say that there aren't some very interesting US horror directors (Aaron Moorhead & Justin Benson, Kevin Kolsch & Dennis Widmeyer or Mickey Keating to name a few...) Snapchat has entered the hardware market, everyone, and late Friday they unveiled Spectacles, a set of sunglasses with a 115-degree camera built in that is supposed to approximate a person's natural field of vision. "Imagine one of your favorite memories. What if you could go back and see that memory the way you experienced it? Thats why we built Spectacles," writes the company in a blog post about the product. Spectacles come with "one of the smallest wireless video cameras in the world, capable of taking a days worth of Snaps on a single charge," and unlike the ambitious, cyborg-ish Google Glass, they're being marketed more just as a fun toy that captures 10-second snippets of video that can be then transferred to the Snapchat app as Memories. Also unlike Google Glass, they're cheap just $130 compared to $1,500 and they actually look cool. Also on Friday, Snapchat announced that the company would now be called Snap, Inc., which as The Verge explains is part of their strategy to position themselves as "a camera company" rather than a social media company, "a canny move given how Facebook dominates online communication." Below, the first promo video. Spectacles are one-size-fits-all, and come in three colors, black, teal, or coral, and they'll be commercially available this fall. With Spectacles, Snap Inc. is also attempting to reimagine the very way we take pictures, introducing a circular video format that can be viewed in any orientation of a cell phone, and is suppose to better mimic human sight. As Snap CEO Evan Spiegel tells the Wall Street Journal, the rectangle format is a vestige of when we printed photos on paper, and isn't necessary anymore and he says that people having to hold their phones up all the time to shoot video is "like [having] a wall in front of your face. With these glasses, you can now record snippets of life as its lived, with your hands free to do other things, like hug people and pick up children/dogs. And even though the company is not aiming for wide distribution of the glasses just yet, Spiegel hints to the Journal that Snap is essentially looking ultimately to "seize the means of image production" back from the smartphone, and dominate this new field. Google Glass faced some backlash for the potential invasion of privacy it posed you could never know if someone had his or her face computer recording you in public. But since these are sunglasses, it makes it more obvious if someone is using them indoors not to mention the fact that the 10-second limit to Snaps makes the act of recording seem less onerous. Snapchat itself has built a brand based on ephemerality and disposability, as well as discretion you're among friends, the app implies, and whatever happens on Snapchat stays on Snapchat (in theory). Spiegel certainly is on to something, with 150 million daily Snapchatters, i.e. 15 million more active daily users than Twitter. At 26, he's attuned to the ways in which mobile conversations are morphing into something multidimensional and media-rich, and the core of the business is going to remain the app for the foreseeable future. In fact, with so many active users in the prime 18-to-34-year-old demographic, Snapchat pitches itself to potential advertisers as being like a particularly popular television station i.e. what MTV was to marketers of the 80's and 90's. Except now most of the content young people are watching is shot on the fly by their friends, most of the time just doing something dumb or spontaneous to make each other laugh. But, also, he's 26, and mistakes are going to be made. The company has been known for some insensitive missteps all in the name of fun, like racist "lenses" for the app, and back when Spiegel was a frat boy at Stanford, his email signature included the phrase "fuckbitchesgetlaid," just to recall a tidbit the likes of the Wall Street Journal have forgotten. So, be prepared for these Spectacles to start showing up on beaches and in restaurants, and for a whole new round of discussion about what we want our future to look like, with everybody recording everything all the time. And a possible new round of backlash. Previously: Snapchat Once Again Proves Its Racial Cluelessness, Removes Slanty-Eyed Filter From bookshelves to China cabinets and built-in bookcases, there are opportunities to make a bold decor statement using a technique called shelf dressing. Shelf dressing is a technique long used by home stagers and stylists to add interest and creativity to spaces that may otherwise feel bland. Gone are the days where bookshelves are just for books, or built-in China cabinets reserved for only for China and crystal. These days, many homeowners want to display decorative items that can range from books to blooms, decorative items, travel finds and treasured mementos. When looking for ways to style bookshelves and built-ins, here are five general design rules to follow. 1. LESS IS MORE You don't have to have an item on every single shelf. Displaying fewer items will help your decor stand out. 2. USE FLORALS Florals not only add color, but texture as well. 3. LOOK FOR INTERESTING BOOKS From design books to those on fashion or those with colorful covers or splines, books can be an affordable decor item for shelf dressing. 4. MIX MATERIALS Don't be afraid to mix materials and finishes. Mixing glass with ceramics can be interesting and appealing. 5. GO METALLIC Metallics remain hot in home decor. From silver to gold and brass, feel free to mix and match different metallic finishes. Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert with offices in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Contact her at info@cathyhobbs.com or visit her website at www.cathyhobbs.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. _____ AURELIA, Iowa Paul Pingel hops in his truck and heads down the road toward Cherokee. Its a short drive from his Cherokee County farm, and Pingels first stop is Valley Veterinary Center. While he is there, the Northwest Iowa farmer talks to veterinarian Clayton Riedell about upcoming changes in antibiotic usage and picks up some supplies before heading home. Changing the way he cares for his hogs and cattle is not the only change for Pingel as he and other farmers deal with lower commodity prices and a sagging rural economy. The mood around here is cautious, says Pingel, who runs a wean-to-finish hog operation and a small beef feedlot and grows corn and soybeans. We had a bumper crop last year, and were sitting on a pretty good one this year, and that has pushed prices down. Weve all had to tighten the belt and spend money on only what we need. After several robust years, the ag economy has taken a hit over the past couple of years. Grain and livestock prices have tumbled in recent months as large supplies of grain and meat have boosted supplies. But that could be changing, says Ernie Goss, an economist with Creighton University in Omaha. Goss says he believes the ag economy has reached its low. I think the worst is over, he says. Its stabilized at a pretty low level for the moment, but I think weve seen the lowest. Goss says ag income is at the lowest level since 2002, adding net farm income is about 44 percent of what it was three years ago. Its dropped each year, but the drop has not been as bad this year, he says. A lot is going to depend on these grain yields, because in some cases the demand is not there. Land values continue to move downward, Goss says, and equipment sales have struggled as farm income has decreased. He says those woes are spilling over into the rural economy as small communities adjust to less spending from farm families. I think the urban and some of your larger rural cities are doing okay, but the smaller communities are feeling it, Goss says. Most of the Midwest is going through the same thing, although I think Iowa has been doing a little better than most, primarily due to lower energy prices. Lower commodity prices have taken a hit in farmer confidence, says David Widmar, an ag economist with Purdue University. He says the schools Ag Economy Barometer, a program that includes a monthly survey of 400 farmers across the nation, showed a significant drop in August. Widmar says a spring rally in grain prices boosted optimism among farmers, but a sharp downturn has eroded most of that. Farmers are looking at a lot of different strategies at the moment, he says. Land values and cash rent rates are moving down. There could be drops in P and K usage. Everyone is looking to save. Widmar says with a big crop in the forecast, carryover stocks will be large. He says that has pushed corn prices to the lowest they have been over the last decade. They saw those rallies and thought they were going to be able to get out of the rut and sell for $3.50 or $3.75, Widmar says. Prices are much lower, so that has hurt their outlook for this year. However, Widmar says farmers are optimistic about the future, particularly livestock producers. Despite the struggles, Goss says most Midwest farms seem to be in good shape. Im not hearing of any significant bankruptcies, and rural housing conditions remain very good, he says. Farmers are in pretty good shape financially heading into this, so things arent as dire as they might be. Pingel says land sales have been few in his area, with most transactions coming through estates. He has always tried to manage his farm efficiently, adding he and other farmers are looking for ways to trim costs. He says large amounts of corn remain in bins, but recent prices under $3 per bushel are too low to pull the trigger. Pingel says large supplies of hogs could also be a concern. The packers are working to find space for all these hogs coming out this fall and winter, he says. Pingel has sold the 230 head of cattle he has in his feedlot. Once those are gone, the lots will remain empty because of low fed cattle prices. He says farmers will continue to work on their risk management and to be more efficient. You used to be able to protect yourselves with the futures market, but you cant do that at the moment, Pingel says. Were all just trying to keep costs down and buy only what we need to buy. I think in the long run, everyone is going to be all right. NEW YORK Ralph Lauren, one of the giants of modern American fashion, is working on his autobiography. Simon & Schuster told The Associated Press that it will release the book in fall 2017, in conjunction with his company's 50th anniversary. The book is currently untitled. "His style is instantly recognizable to even the most casual observer, a triumph of business savvy and aesthetic sensibility that is unmatched anywhere," Simon & Schuster CEO Carolyn Reidy said in a statement. "How Ralph Lauren's business became the epitome of American style is one of the great cultural stories of our time," added Simon & Schuster publisher Jonathan Karp. Famed for his company's polo-pony motif, the 76-year-old Lauren has combined Americana, ruggedness and refinement to create an upscale look and a lifestyle known worldwide. He has risen from an immigrant household in New York City to founding an iconic brand that made him one of the world's richest men. Lauren stepped down as chief executive in 2015 and was succeeded by Old Navy President Stefan Larsson. Financial terms for the book were not disclosed. Lauren was represented by Washington attorney Robert Barnett, whose clients range from Barbra Streisand to President Barack Obama. Lauren previously collaborated on "Ralph Lauren," a coffee-table book released in 2007 that featured hundreds of photos. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe SIOUX CITY | In 1978, T.S.O.L. inserted themselves into a California punk scene that they didn't seem to belong to. "When we started, we were all surfer kids from the beach," said frontman Jack Grisham. "We weren't pale art students, we werent the victims -- we were the victimizers." But they had all the spitfire and ceremony of competing bands like Black Flag, X and the Germs -- which is why they're still selling out shows across the country. T.S.O.L. will reunite for a show at the Conservatory of Music at 9 p.m. Saturday. It will be their first local gig in five years. From their first release, T.S.O.L. set themselves apart with aggressive, crunching guitars and incendiary lyrics that fulfilled their destiny as a stereo staple for serious audiophiles and disenchanted youth alike. "It's strange," Grisham said. "The whole rock n' roll thing is so strange -- music changed. Nobody realized punk rock was gonna happen, and especially in punk rock these days, this is kind of the first time in history that it's cool to like your dad's band -- which is nuts. We have dads and their sons come to see us." Grisham admits he has no idea why T.S.O.L. has stayed relevant, but he knows he's lucky for it. One of the things the band is known for is constant musical progression. T.S.O.L.'s discography plays out like a shaky road map of what the guys were into at the time -- death rock, horror punk, hardcore -- while managing never to stray so far as to be unrecognizable. "God bless the Ramones, but I couldnt put out the same record over and over again," Grisham said with a laugh. Ron Emory, the band's guitarist, currently runs the Conservatory of Music with his wife, Gia. The Conservatory began as a modest nonprofit music center. In the past few years, it's exploded to include everything from a consignment shop to a swanky little cafe. Emory is a busy guy -- he and the band just returned from a month-long European tour. "[When I got my first guitar] my grandfather told me, 'I want you to learn everything you can about this instrument, all the different styles of music this instrument makes, take it apart, put it together, learn how it works, learn everything you can, and most of all have fun with it,'" Emory said. "'You'll look back and have made a career doing something thats never seemed like work.'" The fact that T.S.O.L. is still writing music and playing shows is an interesting feat, considering the breakups, naming rights battles and geographical setbacks. Even more interestingly, Emory and Grisham are still each other's best friends. "It's like family, you know? It's like brothers," Grisham said. "You dont always get along, but we're still together after all that time. We've been playing together for a long time, almost 40 years. And it's strange that we're still doing it." CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Technology has put powerful computers in billions of pockets, but an invention much more mundane than the smartphone -- the shipping container: a rectangular steel box -- also has changed the world. Because of it, two of today's preoccupations -- infrastructure and globalization -- are connected by a chain of events that began more than 60 years ago and today runs through Congress and to the wharves of Charleston's booming port. In 1934, Malcolm McLean, a North Carolina high school graduate struggling in the Depression, spent $120 earned pumping gas to buy a used truck. In 1955, running what would become the nation's fifth largest trucking company, McLean had an idea: The process of loading ships -- swarms of stevedores stowing (and often pilfering) cargo packed into ships' holds in different sizes of wooden crates -- was so slow that ships often spent more time in ports than at sea. Cargo brought to docks on trucks or rail cars and sealed in standardized containers could be loaded 20 times faster per ton, and for one-20th the cost. McLean was no Steve Jobs. He was, however, one reason your smartphone is so affordable, and one reason billions of people around the world, having been swept into the global trade system that McLean's boxes facilitate, can afford such phones. Protruding from one of the approximately 10,000 containers here are 13-foot-tall tires ($80,000 apiece) heading for off-road mining vehicles in Australia, Brazil and elsewhere. The tires are made in Lexington, South Carolina. About two-hundred miles inland, in the Greenville-Spartanburg area, there is a building boom ignited by the Charleston port, and now by the widening of the Panama Canal. Since June, the canal's new lane has the ability to handle enormous ships that carry 14,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) rather than the 5,000 TEUs on ships using the canal before it was widened. The big ships bring Asian goods to America's East Coast, and take American goods abroad. More than 6 million square feet of warehouse space is being built to enlarge the Greenville-Spartanburg area's role as a distribution center for imports, and for exports from throughout America's Southeast. Upstate South Carolina suffered when, beginning in the 1970s, Asian imports devastated the textile industry. But in that decade, Charleston's port was one reason Michelin (France) began manufacturing tires there. Since then, four other tire companies have come -- Giti (Singapore), Continental (Germany), Bridgestone (Japan) and Trelleborg Wheel Systems (Sweden). South Carolina manufactures 89,000 tires a day, and exports more tires than any other state. In the 1990s, BMW built an automobile assembly plant and this March exported its 2 millionth X-model vehicle through the Port of Charleston. Without the port, Mercedes and Volvo would not be building plants in South Carolina. Operators of the cranes that load the containers onto the ships often earn, with overtime, six-figure salaries. Every day, 3,500 trucks -- 70 percent owner-operated -- deliver and depart with containers. Do today's anti-trade politicians wish that South Carolina was still making towels and T-shirts for Americans rather than cars and tires (and Boeing aircraft, manufactured by more than 7,500 South Carolinians) for Americans and the world? The University of South Carolina's Moore School of Business estimates that more than 187,000 jobs -- one of every 11 South Carolina jobs -- and $53 billion in economic output are directly or indirectly related to Charleston's port. It, however, needs further dredging in order to handle more of the biggest ships, which is where Congress enters the picture: Unless it authorizes the project and appropriates the federal portion of the $509 million cost to augment South Carolina's already committed $300 million, the project will be delayed a year. The deepening project is only 14 percent of the $2.2 billion South Carolina is investing in its port facilities and related access. The biggest ships pay more than $1 million to transit the canal; if they miss their transit time, their fee is doubled. Until the port is deepened, too few can be handled here simultaneously, and they can only enter and leave the port at high tide. There is no controversy in Congress about this project. But unless Congress acts on it before the end of the year, the deepening will not be in the president's 2018 budget and will be delayed for a year, with radiating costs -- inefficiencies and lost opportunities. This is a mundane matter of Congress managing its legislative traffic, moving consensus measures through deliberation to action. It will illustrate whether or not Congress can still efficiently provide public works to enhance private-sector efficiency. Want to learn to use technology to remain smart and competitive? Then join Ramon Ray and Citrix ShareFile for two upcoming events in Denver, Colorado, September 27 and Austin, Texas September 29. The one-night interactive presentations both entitled 10 Ways Growing Companies Use Technology to Stay Smart and Competitive are designed to impart insights. Some of those shared insights will include how to use technology to save time and money and to increase productivity. See more specific details in the Featured Events section below. To see a full list or to submit your own event, contest or award listing, visit the Small Business Events Calendar. Featured Events, Contests and Awards #SmartBreak September 27, 2016, Denver, Colorado, USA Join Citrix ShareFile and Ramon Ray, best-selling author and technology expert for a one-night interactive presentation on 10 Ways Growing Companies Use Technology to Stay Smart and Competitive. #SmartBreak September 29, 2016, Austin, Texas/USA Join Citrix ShareFile and Ramon Ray, best-selling author and technology expert for a one-night interactive presentation on 10 Ways Growing Companies Use Technology to Stay Smart and Competitive. Leadpages Converted 2016 October 18, 2016, Minneapolis, Minnesota Converted 2016 will be an immersive experience taking place over two action-packed days in Minneapolis. Well share data-driven, practical tactics that will make a difference in the way you grow your business. Discount Code biztrends ($100) Lean Startup Conference October 31, 2016, San Francisco, CA A gathering of thousands of thought leaders at Pier 27 for a week of keynote talks, interactive workshops, speed mentoring, industry dinners, bootcamps, and startup tours at the scenic edge of San Francisco. The conference unites intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs from government agencies, international conglomerates, boot-strapped startups, and civic organizations in their mission to create radical change in their industries. Influencer Marketing Days November 14, 2016, New York, NY Influencer Marketing Days is a unique conference dedicated to all things influencer marketing. The event is for marketing professionals responsible for their companys influencer marketing strategy, campaign development, and relationship management. Whether you already run influencer marketing campaigns or youre investigating ways to leverage this powerful type of marketing, Influencer Marketing Days will equip, educate, and inspire you to make the most of your efforts. Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Training November 07, 2016, New York, New York This ?five-day ?program ?is ?a ?highly ?interactive ?training ?course ?in ?lean ?Six ?Sigma ?tools ?and ?methodology. ?You will learn how to apply ?Lean ?Six ?Sigma ?tools ?and ?methods to improve key business processes.Follow Us: @Vectorint Discount Code GBIL2016 (10%) NextCon16 November 14, 2016, Scottsdale, AZ No matter your industry, company size or role, you can take advantage of the fresh perspectives, creative strategies and expert advice shared at NextCon. You will walk away with actionable insight to take your business to the next level and gain the insight and inspiration to make an impact. More Events More Events 15th Annual Chicago Innovation Awards October 25, 2016, Chicago, Ill. This weekly listing of small business events, contests and awards is provided as a community service by Small Business Trends and SmallBizTechnology. See Also: Secrets Your Mentors Never Told You About Why Your Small Business Should Sponsor Events Obama on Friday vetoed legislation that would allow families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia in U.S courts, setting up a high-stakes showdown with Congress. Obamas move opens up the possibility that lawmakers could override his veto for the first time with a two-thirds vote in both chambers. 19 of 21 hijackers came from Saudi and lived in FL when Jeb Busch was governor. On 9/12, while all civil planes were grounded, one special plane was arranged with WH to let Saudi diplomats and relatives to fly back to their country. 28 pages on the 911 reports were blacked out until this year which revealed the saudi diplomats and their relatives had provided the hijackers the financial needs in US including their >$10k/hr flight training. For more than 10 years, people were told 911 had nothing to do with SA. While the population might still be fooled now, the 911 victim families know SA really had everything to do with 911. They want to sue SA and congress have sided with the families. But O8ma sides with SA as he bow to all king/emperors CHARLES COUNTY, Md. (Sept. 24, 2016)Deputy State Fire Marshals have made an arrest in connection with a house fire which occurred on Friday. The investigation concluded that Chermiah Laqueeke Brown, age 20, was responsible for setting a fire at 6470 Patuxent Woods Lane in Hughesville. An arrest warrant was obtained charging Brown with 1st Degree Arson.The one alarm fire was reported at 9:23 pm on September 23 and brought 47 firefighters from Hughesville and surrounding departments. The fire was brought under control within 10 minutes and caused an estimated $50,000.00 in total damages.Deputy State Fire Marshals determined the fire was intentionally sent as a result of a domestic dispute. Brown was transported to the Charles County Detention Center where she is awaiting a bond hearing. Charles County Sheriff's Office assisted with the investigation.If convicted of Arson, Brown faces 30 years incarceration and / or $50,000.00 dollars in fines. WASHINGTON (Sept. 24, 2016)The U.S. Department of Defense recently announced the following contract awards that pertain to local Navy activities., is being awarded acost-plus-incentive-fee contract for the completion of an engineering change proposal for the AN/ALQ-99 Low Band Consolidation (LBC) in support of the EA-18G aircraft. This effort will modify the existing Low Band Transmitter system, including the design, manufacture, integration, and test of the LBC Kit, and requires the delivery of three test articles to support future qualification and testing of the modified transmitter, as well as applicable technical data. Work will be performed in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, and is expected to be completed in September 2018. Fiscal 2015 and 2016 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $16,762,458 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302.1. The, is the contracting activity (N00019-16-C-0007)., is being awarded amodification to previously awarded contract N00174-14-D-0026 to exercise option two for the production of MK2 Man Transportable Robotic System (MTRS) series robotics systems, depot level repair parts, spare kits, approved accessories, consumable parts, reconditioning, conversions, engineering enhancements and configuration management services. The MK2 MTRS systems are in support of the Joint Service Explosive Ordnance Division program. Work will be performed in Waltham, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed by September 2017. No funds are being obligated at time of award. The, is the contracting activity., is being awardedfor firm-fixed-price delivery order 2502 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0021) for the procurement, fabrication, installation, and acceptance of the retrofit kits and workstation upgrades to 10 E-6B Block 1 aircraft, including labor, facilities, equipment, and material. Work will be performed in Richardson, Texas (94 percent); and Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma (6 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2017. Fiscal 2016 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount $7,513,321will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Theis the contracting activity., is being awardedfor modification P00214 to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-06-C-0081) for the procurement of two CH-53K system demonstration test article aircraft. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut (24 percent); Wichita, Kansas (20 percent); West Palm Beach, Florida (12 percent); Salt Lake City, Utah (9 percent); St. Louis, Missouri (7 percent); Rochester, United Kingdom (3 percent); Bridgeport, West Virginia (2 percent); Casa Grande, Arizona (2 percent); Windsor Locks, Connecticut (2 percent); Rome, New York (2 percent); Ft. Walton Beach, Florida (1 percent); San Diego, California (1 percent); San Jose, California (1 percent); Chesterfield, Missouri (1 percent); Twinsburg, Ohio (1 percent); Springfield, New Jersey (1 percent); Redmond, Washington (1 percent); Jackson, Mississippi (1 percent); Los Angeles, California (0.5 percent); St. Clair, Pennsylvania (0.5 percent); Forest, Ohio (0.5 percent); Phoenix, Arizona (0.5 percent); Tucson, Arizona (0.5 percent); Miami, Florida (0.5 percent); Stratford, Ontario, Canada (0.5 percent); Boylston, Massachusetts (0.5 percent); Enfield, Connecticut (0.5 percent); Minden, Nebraska (0.5 percent); Irvine, California (0.5 percent); Westbury, New York (0.5 percent); and various locations with the U.S. (3 percent). The work is expected to be completed in February 2020. Fiscal 2016 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $11,250,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is being awarded afirm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to procure the necessary hardware, production test stations, and technical support to integrate the Department of the Navy Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (DoN LAIRCM) on combat aircraft for the Navy, Army, Marine Corps, and U.S. Special Operations Command as well as the government of Australia. Hardware for this procurement includes weapon replaceable assemblies and support equipment: 492 advanced threat warning (ATW) sensors; 14 LAIRCM signal processor replacements; 27 control indicator units; 49 2103 signal processors; 12 infrared missile warning system sensors; 77 Guardian laser transmitter assemblies (GLTAs); 51 GLTA shipping containers; 20 multi-role electro-optical end-to-end test sets; 10 smart connector assemblies; and one ATW acceptance test station to meet necessary fielding requirements. Work will be performed in Rolling Meadows, Illinois (34 percent); Goleta, California (30 percent); Longmont, Colorado (11 percent); Columbia, Maryland (3 percent); various locations within the U.S. (19 percent); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (3 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2018. Fiscal 2014, 2015 and 2016 aircraft procurement (Navy, Army); fiscal 2015 research, development, test and evaluation (Army); and International Partner funds (Australia) in the amount of $143,165,455 are being obligated at time of award; $16,469,553 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The, is the contracting activity (N00019-16-C-0026)., is being awardedfor firm-fixed-price modification P00009 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-16-C-0006) to exercise an option for the procurement of 22 Lot 89 Harpoon missiles and associated containers and components for the government of India under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in St. Charles, Missouri (55.87 percent); Burnley, United Kingdom (13.68 percent); McKinney, Texas (10.16 percent); Elkton, Maryland (3.29 percent); St. Louis, Missouri (3.27 percent); Toledo, Ohio (2.62 percent); Grove, Oklahoma (1.47 percent); Ridgecrest, California (1.39 percent); Lititz, Pennsylvania (1.16 percent); Middletown, Connecticut (1.09 percent); and various locations with the U.S. (6 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2018. Foreign military sales funds in the amount of $81,271,024 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is being awarded acost-plus-fixed-fee contract to conduct risk reduction activities in support of the MQ-25 unmanned carrier aviation air system, including refinement of concepts and development of trade space for requirements generation in advance of the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the program. Work will be performed in Palmdale, California (98 percent); and Fort Worth, Texas (2 percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2017. Fiscal 2016 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $43,606,518 are being obligated at time of award; none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The, is the contracting activity (N00019-16-C-0086)., is being awarded acost-plus-fixed-fee contract to conduct risk reduction activities in support of the MQ-25 unmanned carrier aviation air system, including refinement of concepts and development of trade space for requirements generation in advance of the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the program. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri (99 percent); and Puget Sound, Washington (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2017. Fiscal 2016 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $43,354,421 are being obligated at time of award; none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The, is the contracting activity (N00019-16-C-0084)., is being awardedfor cost-plus-fixed-fee task order 0025 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-16-G-0001) for engineering and logistics support services to improve readiness, expand the interactive electronic technical manual/structural repair manual work packages, and maintenance planning in support of the F/A-18 and E/A-18G aircraft. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed in September 2017. Fiscal 2016 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $11,000,000 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is being awarded amodification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00174-15-D-0001) to exercise option one for Man Transportable Robotic System (MTRS) MK 1 production units, spares, parts, approved accessories, consumables, engineering enhancements and configuration management services. The MK1 MTRS systems are in support of the Joint Service Explosive Ordnance Division program. The work will be performed in Bedford, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed by September 2017. No additional funds are being obligated at the time of award. The, is the contracting activity. The Charles County Board of Education's School Naming Advisory Committee is holding a public hearing to accept information or comment on names submitted and to accept additional school naming suggestions from the public. The hearing is set forin the boardroom at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building at 5980 Radio Station Road in La Plata.The School Naming Advisory Committee is considering names for the new elementary school to be built off Billingsley Road in White Plains. The school is scheduled to open at the start of the 2018-19 school year.Board policy requires names of new schools to be of persons or places of significance to Charles County residents and community members. A person must be deceased to be eligible for consideration as a school name.Residents may begin to sign up to speak at 6 p.m. The committee will begin hearing testimony at 6:30 p.m. but will allow speakers to sign up until 7 p.m. Speakers will have three minutes to present, and committee members may ask questions about their nominee. The committee asks that speakers leave a copy of their written testimony for the record.The hearing will be aired live on the system website at www.ccboe.com and televised on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12.A complete list of naming suggestions submitted to the committee will be posted on the Charles County Public Schools website prior to the hearing.Charles County Public Schools is looking for a few good people to serve on its elementary school redistricting committee.The school system will select 11 parents to serve on the committeetwo each from the middle and high school levels and seven from the elementary schools. Additionally, the Board will select three community members for the committee, which also includes principals, county government planners and Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) staff.The school system is starting a comprehensive elementary school redistricting process that will create an attendance zone for the county's 22nd elementary school and reduce overcrowding at other elementary schools. The new elementary school will be located off Billingsley Road in White Plains. Construction is expected to be complete before the start of the 2018-19 school year. The committee will also develop rezoning proposals for Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School, which is scheduled for a renovation and expansion.The committee will review and balance student populations as needed at all elementary schools. The Board will approve the redistricting by June 2017, and the redistricting will take effect in the fall of 2018.Applicants must agree to fulfill a four- to five-month commitment of attendance at a weekly meeting. The meeting day will be Wednesday, and the time of all meetings is 6:30-8:30 p.m.Elementary, middle and high school principals are now accepting names from parents with interest in serving on the committee. Contact your child's principal to find out the deadline for applying and when the random selection will be made at the school. An application form is available online at www.ccboe.com/redistricting or can be picked up at your child's school.Community members must not have a child enrolled in any Charles County public school and must fill out an online application at www.ccboe.com/redistricting/ , or call 301-934-7221 to receive an application by mail. Members of the community must apply no later than Oct. 14.Each elementary, middle and high school will submit to the Superintendent the name of one parent to be selected at random from all expressing interest. The Board will place the name of a parent from each elementary school in a container and select seven names at random from the 21 submissions. Principals from each of the eight middle schools and seven high schools will follow the same process. The Board will randomly select two middle school and two high school parent members.Three community members will be selected from all applicants. Community members should not have a child enrolled in any Charles County public school and must fill out an application. The application can be completed and submitted online. Applications will also be mailed on request. Only applications received by Oct. 14 will be considered.Superintendent Kimberly Hill and the Board of Education will publicly draw the names of parents and the community representatives at the Board's Oct. 18 meeting, which is streamed live on the school system website and aired live on Comcast 96 and Verizon FiOS 12.Questions about the process can be sent to redistrict@ccboe.com or call 301-934-7221.The Board of Education of Charles County is researching alternatives to the school calendar for next school year and would like feedback from the community. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan recently announced an executive order that requires all public school systems in Maryland to start their school year no earlier than the Tuesday after Labor Day and end by June 15.The Board approved a 2017-18 school calendar earlier this year that does not reflect the mandated changes. The Board is seeking community feedback on two options developed to meet the new start and end date requirements. A short, seven-question survey is posted on the school system website at www.ccboe.com/calendar/calendarsurvey.php The Board solicits public input and feedback from the community annually when developing the school calendar, which helps staff identify options that work best for students, staff, parents and the community.Maryland law requires students attend school for 180 days per school year. The Maryland State Board of Education does not count hours towards days of student attendance. For example, a two-hour early dismissal day already counts as one of the 180 required days. While the executive order includes a waiver provision for school districts, no additional clarification or waiver guidelines have been published. The Diffuse X-ray emission from the Local galaxy, or DXL, sounding rocket launched from White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico on Dec. 13, 2012, to study the source of certain X-rays observed near Earth. Credits: White Sands Missile Range, Visual Information Branch. NASA Goddard In the last century, humans realized that space is filled with types of light we cant see from infrared signals released by hot stars and galaxies, to the cosmic microwave background that comes from every corner of the universe. Some of this invisible light that fills space takes the form of X-rays, the source of which has been hotly contended over the past few decades. It wasnt until the flight of the DXL sounding rocket, short for Diffuse X-ray emission from the Local galaxy, that scientists had concrete answers about the X-rays sources. In a new study, published Sept. 23, 2016, in the Astrophysical Journal, DXLs data confirms some of our ideas about where these X-rays come from, in turn strengthening our understanding of our solar neighborhoods early history. But it also reveals a new mystery an entire group of X-rays that dont come from any known source. NASA-funded researchers sent a sounding rocket through the suns dense helium wake, called the helium-focusing cone, to understand the origin of certain X-rays in space. (Conceptual graphic not to scale.) Credits: NASA Goddards Conceptual Image Lab/Lisa Poje The two known sources of X-ray emission are the solar wind, the sea of solar material that fills the solar system, and the Local Hot Bubble, a theorized area of hot interstellar material that surrounds our solar system. We show that the X-ray contribution from the solar wind charge exchange is about forty percent in the galactic plane, and even less elsewhere, said Massimiliano Galeazzi, an astrophysicist at the University of Miami and an author on the study. So the rest of the X-rays must come from the Local Hot Bubble, proving that it exists. However, DXL also measured some high-energy X-rays that couldnt possibly come from the solar wind or the Local Hot Bubble. At higher energies, these sources contribute less than a quarter of the X-ray emission, said Youaraj Uprety, lead author on the study and an astrophysicist at University of Miami at the time the research was conducted. So theres an unknown source of X-rays in this energy range. In the decades since we first discovered the X-ray emission that permeates space, three main theories have been bandied about to explain its origins. First, and quickly ruled out, was the idea that these X-rays are a kind of background noise, coming from the distant reaches of the universe. Our galaxy has lots of neutral gas that would absorb X-rays coming from distant sources meaning that these X-rays must originate somewhere near our solar system. So what could produce this kind of X-ray so close to our solar system? Scientists theorized that there was a huge bubble of hot ionized gas enveloping our solar system, with electrons energetic enough that they could release X-rays like this. They called this structure the Local Hot Bubble. We think that around 10 million years ago, a supernova exploded and ionized the gas of the Local Hot Bubble, said Galeazzi. But one supernova wouldnt be enough to create such a large cavity and reach these temperatures so it was probably two or three supernova over time, one inside the other. The Local Hot Bubble was the prevailing theory for many years. Then, in the late 1990s, scientists discovered another source of X-rays a process called solar wind charge exchange. Our sun is constantly releasing solar material in all directions, a flow of charged particles called the solar wind. Like the sun, the solar wind is made up of ionized gas, where electrons and ions have separated. This means that the solar wind can carry electric and magnetic fields. When the charged solar wind interacts with pockets of neutral gas, where the electrons and ions are still tightly bound together, it can pick up electrons from these neutral particles, exciting them. As these electrons settle back into a stable state, they lose energy in the form of X-rays the same type of X-rays that had been thought to come from the Local Hot Bubble. The discovery of this solar wind X-ray source posed a problem for the Local Hot Bubble theory, since the only indication that it existed were these X-ray observations. But if the hot bubble did exist, it could tell us a lot about how our corner of the galaxy formed. Identifying the X-ray contribution of the Local Hot Bubble is important for understanding the structure surrounding our solar system, said Uprety, who is now an astrophysicist at Middle Tennessee State University. It helps us build better models of the interstellar material in our solar neighborhood. Distinguishing between X-rays from the solar wind and X-rays from the Local Hot Bubble was a challenge thats where DXL comes in. DXL flew on whats called a sounding rocket, which flies for some 15 minutes. These few minutes of observing time above Earths atmosphere are valuable, since Earths blocks most of these X-rays, making observations like this impossible from the ground. Such short-duration sounding rockets provide a relatively inexpensive way to gather robust space observations. DXL is the second spacecraft to measure the X-rays in question, but unlike the previous mission a satellite called ROSAT DXL flew at a time when Earth was passing through something called the helium-focusing cone. The helium-focusing cone is a region of space where neutral helium is several times denser than in the rest of the inner solar system. The solar system is moving through interstellar space at about 15 miles per second, said Uprety. This space is filled with hydrogen and helium. The helium is a little heavier, so it carves around the sun to form a tail. Because solar wind charge exchange is dependent on having lots of neutral material to interact with, measuring X-rays in the helium-focusing cone could help scientists definitively determine how much of the X-ray emission comes from the solar wind, and how much if any comes from the Local Hot Bubble. DXLs data revealed that about forty percent of most observed X-rays come from the solar wind. But in higher energy ranges, some X-rays are still unexplained. DXLs observations show that less than a quarter of the X-ray emission at higher energy levels comes from the solar wind, and the Local Hot Bubble isnt a good explanation either. The temperature of the Local Hot Bubble is not high enough to produce X-rays in this energy range, said Uprety. So were left with an open question on the source of these X-rays. DXL launched from White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico on Dec. 13, 2012. DXL is supported through NASAs Sounding Rocket Program at the agencys Wallops Flight Facility at Wallops Island, Virginia, which is managed by NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. NASAs Heliophysics Division manages the sounding-rocket program for the agency. Related Links Article in the Astrophysical Journal NASA-Funded X-ray Instrument Settles Interstellar Debate Active Galaxy MPIFR German astronomers have measured the magnetic field in the vicinity of a supermassive black hole. A bright and compact feature of only 2 light-days in size was directly observed by a world-wide ensemble of millimeter-wave radio telescopes in the heart of the active galaxy NGC 1052. The observations yield a magnetic field value at the event horizon of the central black hole between 0.02 and 8.3 Tesla. The team, led by the PhD student Anne-Kathrin Baczko, believes that such a large magnetic field provides enough magnetic energy to power the strong relativistic jets in active galaxies. The results are published in the present issue of Astronomy & Astrophysics. The technique used to investigate the inner details of NGC 1052 is known as very-long-baseline interferometry, and has the potential to locate compact jet cores at sizes close to the event horizon of the powering black hole. The black hole itself remains invisible. Usually, the black hole position can only be inferred indirectly by tracking the wavelength-dependent jet-core position, which converges to the jet base at zero wavelength. The unknown offset from the jet base and the black hole makes it difficult to measure fundamental physical properties in most galaxies. The striking symmetry observed in the reported observations between both jets in NGC 1052 allows the astronomers to locate the true center of activity inside the central feature, which makes, with the exception of our galactic centre, the most precisely known location of a supermassive black hole in the universe. Anne-Kathrin Baczko, who performed this work at the Universities of Erlangen-Nurnberg and Wurzburg and at the Max-Planck-Institut fur Radioastronomie, says: NGC 1052 is a true key source, since it pinpoints directly and unambiguously the position of a supermassive black hole in the nearby universe. NGC 1052 is an elliptical galaxy in a distance of approximately 60 million light-years in the direction of the constellation Cetus (the Whale). The magnetic field by the supermassive black hole was determined measuring the compactness and the brightness of the central region of the elliptical galaxy NGC 1052. This feature is as compact as 57 microarcseconds in diameter, equivalent to the size of a DVD on the surface of the Moon. This amazing resolution was obtained by the Global mm-VLBI Array, a network of radio telescopes in Europe, the USA, and East Asia, that is managed by the Max-Planck-Institut fur Radioastronomie. It yields unprecedented image sharpness, and is soon to be applied to get event-horizon scales in nearby objects, says Eduardo Ros from the MPI fur Radioastronomie and collaborator in the project. The unique powerful twin jets at a close distance, similar to the well-known active galaxy M87, puts NGC 1052 in the pole position for future observations of nearby powerful galaxies in the oncoming era opened by the addition of ALMA, the Atacama Large Millimetre array, to the world-wide networks in radio interferometry. The observation may help solving the long-standing mystery of how the powerful relativistic jets are formed, that can be seen in many active galaxies. The result has important astrophysical implications, since we see that jets can be driven by the extraction of magnetic energy from a rapidly rotating supermassive black hole. Reference: A Highly Magnetized Twin-Jet Base Pinpoints a Supermassive Black Hole, A.-K. Baczko, R. Schulz, M. Kadler, E. Ros, M. Perucho, T. P. Krichbaum, M. Bock, M. Bremer, C. Grossberger, M. Lindqvist, A. P. Lobanov, K. Mannheim, I. Marti-Vidal, C. Muller, J. Wilms, and J. A. Zensus, 2016, Astronomy & Astrophysics, 593, A47 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201527951, preprint: http://arxiv.org/abs/1605.07100]. In this week's Rewind Robert Smith remembers some world class racing held over 60 years ago at Montreal's Richelieu Park. It was a defining time that paved the way to a new chapter in Canadian harness racing that brought the Continent's best horses to Canada. Genial Race Secretary and gracious host of the day George Giguere welcomes the winning horse Philip Scott and his connections following a huge victory in the International Pacing Derby at Richelieu Park. From left: Mr. Giguere, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Reed, co-owners and driver Frank Safford. Driver Safford stated that this mile would have been clocked in at least 2:00 at his home track Roosevelt Raceway (Harness Horse photo) Genial Race Secretary and gracious host of the day George Giguere welcomes the winning horse Philip Scott and his connections following a huge victory in the International Pacing Derby at Richelieu Park. From left: Mr. Giguere, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Reed, co-owners and driver Frank Safford. Driver Safford stated that this mile would have been clocked in at least 2:00 at his home track Roosevelt Raceway (Harness Horse photo) Sixty or so years ago what might be termed 'World Class Racing' was a rarity in Canada. That is until the folks at Richelieu Park decided to invite the Continent's best of both gaits and put on a really big show. Late in the fall of 1954 Richelieu Park brass agreed to allow their masterful Race Secretary Georges Giguere to literally 'pull out all the stops'. It was a promotional plan that was utilized with tremendous success on a number of occasions in the years that followed. To put it mildly, this was a bold move. On Sunday, October 10, 1954 a huge race was scheduled for the faithful at Richelieu Park. It was billed as "The International Pacing Derby". To attract the best available pacing talent on the North American Continent a huge purse of $15,000 was up for grabs. To put this in proper perspective that amount in today's dollars amounts to almost $360,000. As another benchmark, the highest purse offered at Richelieu on the under card this big Sunday was $2,000. That race was listed as a Class 18 Pace and was won by Barney Diplomat owned by Hector Clouthier of Pembroke and driven by Eric Conley. The Derby field drew a total of nine entrants with the majority being shipped in from the U.S. Representing local interests were Adio Abe, Star Volo and King Pola, all entrants in the just completed $5,000 Canadian Pacing Derby held just five days earlier at Quebec City. Adio Abe was the winner of that race, splitting heats with Star Volo. The other entries came from Philip Scott, Egan Grattan, Wilmington's Star, Chuck Volo, Hillsota and Ferman Hanover. The cast of drivers was somewhat of a Who's Who, allowing Montreal fans to see the sport's top reinsmen in person. The group of high profile drivers, mainly from the U.S. appear in a trackside photo at Richelieu Park. From left: Morris MacDonald, Jimmy Jordan, Howard Landers, Franklin Safford, Billy Haughton, Hugh Bell and Wendell Wathen. MacDonald was included as he was a late fill-in for John Simpson (Harness Horse) The group of high profile drivers, mainly from the U.S. appear in a trackside photo at Richelieu Park. From left: Morris MacDonald, Jimmy Jordan, Howard Landers, Franklin Safford, Billy Haughton, Hugh Bell and Wendell Wathen. MacDonald was included as he was a late fill-in for John Simpson (Harness Horse) As an announced crowd of 14,500 gathered on Sunday afternoon at Richelieu, absolutely no one went home disappointed (well, perhaps maybe a few unlucky bettors). The big race went in two heats and several records were shattered in the process. In the opening heat Egan Grattan, a Canadian-bred horse but now U.S.-owned, was the winner as he beat out Wilmington's Star and third place finisher Philip Scott. The mile in 2:03 2/5 set a new track record. In the second heat Philip Scott, driven by Frank Safford, was the winner and again lowered the standard pacing the mile in 2:03 flat. Both drivers were awarded a $500 bonus for bettering the track record. The popular Star Volo, well loved by Montreal fans, was eliminated in the first heat when another local horse King Pola stepped in his wheel. In the second try he was much more impressive but due to poor racing luck could finish no better than third. A new record was set this day when a total of $250,000 was wagered which bettered previous marks for both harness and thoroughbred contests held in Montreal. A short quote from the Oct. 20, 1954 issue of the Harness Horse magazine summed up the day. "Never before in the history of harness racing in this country has such an outstanding field raced together, much less on a Quebec track. The harness racing game that has been growing by leaps and bounds in our midst received a real shot in the arm, by the coming of these outstanding performers. This race has been the talk of the town ever since it was first announced." Just three short weeks exactly to the day, a repeat performance of the great pacing event was again scheduled but this time the $15,000 purse was for the best Trotters in the land. Mr. Giguere once again performed his 'magic' and yet another banner day was held on Sunday afternoon. On this day the crowd was announced at just 8,000, a large crowd by any standards but somewhat below the one from three weeks earlier. Much of the credit to the lower attendance was attributed to a considerably colder day; after all it was Halloween Day. Lanier Hanover, owned by Cleo A. Young of Timmonsville, S.C., was the winner of the International Invitational Trot. He is shown here in the Richelieu paddock with groom Charlie Coleman and driver John Simpson Sr. The five-year-old gelded son of Dean Hanover was one of the sport's top earners in 1954. (Harness Horse) Lanier Hanover, owned by Cleo A. Young of Timmonsville, S.C., was the winner of the International Invitational Trot. He is shown here in the Richelieu paddock with groom Charlie Coleman and driver John Simpson Sr. The five-year-old gelded son of Dean Hanover was one of the sport's top earners in 1954. (Harness Horse) On Sunday afternoon October 31, a large field of 11 of the best trotters the sport could muster lined up to headline another 'monster' day at Richelieu. Once again the bulk of the field shipped in from the U.S. side. While the race favourites were ship-ins, the Montreal fans had reason to be hopeful that at least one or more local horses could upset the odds makers. A total of four Canadian owned trotters headed by the very popular Ben Boy were the fan favourites, along with Aerial Gunner, Lord Brookville and Doctor Truax. In the opening heat Lanier Hanover prevailed over the field and in so doing set a new track record for trotters of 2:04.2, erasing the existing record held by Vic Song. For his efforts the Richelieu management rewarded driver Simpson with a cheque for $500 in similar fashion to what had happened in the pacing event. In the second heat a major upset occurred when the lightly-regarded mare Janets Girl was the winner, lighting up the tote board with a win payoff of $50.90. In the second heat much of the racing action was provided by local hero Ben Boy and driver Keith Waples as they cut out most of the early fractions and narrowly missed victory when the little "Benny" as the Press called him was nipped at the wire and finished third. Ben Boy was owned by Mrs. Ruth Wray of Schomberg, Ont. Several members of the Wray family are still involved in the sport today. All of the drivers lined up for a photo prior to the Invitational Trot at Richelieu Park. I have listed them with their horse's name in brackets along with the order of finish. From left: Marshall Moore (Don Scott, 11-9), Jimmy Larente (Aerial Gunner, 9-10), Percy Robillard (Doctor Truax, 6-6), John Simpson (Lanier Hanover, 1-2), Morrie MacDonald (Gene Mac, 5-4), Paul Compton (Marcia D., 2-11), Dave Smith (Janet's Girl, 7-1), Dick Williams (Lord Steward, 3-5), Ray Garrity (Betty Astra, 8-8), Keith Waples (Ben Boy, 4-3 ), Eric Conley (Lord Brookville 10-7). (Harness Horse photo) All of the drivers lined up for a photo prior to the Invitational Trot at Richelieu Park. I have listed them with their horse's name in brackets along with the order of finish. From left: Marshall Moore (Don Scott, 11-9), Jimmy Larente (Aerial Gunner, 9-10), Percy Robillard (Doctor Truax, 6-6), John Simpson (Lanier Hanover, 1-2), Morrie MacDonald (Gene Mac, 5-4), Paul Compton (Marcia D., 2-11), Dave Smith (Janet's Girl, 7-1), Dick Williams (Lord Steward, 3-5), Ray Garrity (Betty Astra, 8-8), Keith Waples (Ben Boy, 4-3 ), Eric Conley (Lord Brookville 10-7). (Harness Horse photo) Race days such as these were monumental in adding to the sport's history books. They were not just another day of racing, they were events that drew people like a magnet. At this time Richelieu Park was just emerging from a devastating fire late in the 1953 season that had claimed a number of horses and destroyed a portion of the grandstand as well as several stables. A huge rebuilding program restored the facilities, making it possible for great events such as these. It's Election season and our editor's mailbox is overflowing. Who do your neighbors support? Read about it here. WOODLAND Its been about seven years since Aaron Ridling lost his job when the Kelso nursery where he worked closed. Since then, the Castle Rock resident has bounced through odd and temporary jobs, but nothing seems to stick. Ive probably applied to half the town, Ridling jokes. He doesnt have a college degree and he worries whether hes faced discrimination because of his hearing impairment, he said. Its frustrating, the 47-year old said of the areas sluggish job market. More recently, hes helped his mother sell cut fresh flowers at at a local farmers market and commutes an hour every day to work as a temporary laborer for an Astoria-area cannery. But he wants to find something more permanent, closer to home and hopefully more service-based. Im more of a people person rather than being a person stuck on the assembly line, Ridling said. So it was with high hopes that Ridling joined about 300 other people hunting for work at Goodwill Industries first major job fair at Woodland High School Wednesday. Forty employers were present, advertising 200 currently open positions. Tori Skinner, event organizer and business development coordinator for Goodwill Industries, said she chose the location because there arent many job outreach programs in Woodland. The Woodland community is under-served, said Skinner, who coordinated the event with the Woodland Chamber of Commerce, Woodland High School, Woodland Action Center, Workforce Development Council, WorkSource and RiverCities Transit. After a spurt in job growth in Cowlitz County in 2013 to 2014, the job market has leveled off, said Scott Bailey, regional economist with the Employment Security Department. There were about 3,400 people searching for work in Cowlitz County in August, up about 200 from the same time last year. However, the number of continued unemployment claims was down to about 755 people, well below the 998 claims of a year earlier. There havent been any major job losses, but there havent been any big gains, either, Bailey said. The jobs outlook could get a healthy boost, though, if several proposed projects come online, such as the Kalama methanol refinery and the Cowlitz Tribes Ilani casino in north Clark County, Bailey noted. The casino expects to hire 1,000 people by the time it opens in spring next year. Representatives from Ilani Casino occupied one of the first booths by the door at the Woodland job fair. So far about 350 people have applied to work at the casino, although the tribe wont start hiring for non-managerial positions until later this year, said Jim Dougherty, assistant general manager for Ilani. Several people stopped by the Ilani booth, but many job seekers there were looking for something more immediate. Kalama resident Debbie LaRoy, 56, hoped to find a more permanent role than her temporary position at the Woodland Action Center. LaRoy is returning to work after a 20-year break in her career in office and clerical work to take care of her medically fragile foster son, who recently graduated from high school. Her family needs the extra money, and she wants to get out of the house more. I decided to go back to work because Im a busy person. I want to get out to be with big people now instead of just children, LaRoy quipped. Danielle Maney, 45, is returning to work after 15 years as a stay-at-home mother. Maney has been job searching for two to three years, but the long break in her employment history has presented a challenge. I get really discouraged easily, said Maney, of Longview. She said that her poor physical condition and back problems prevent here from physically active jobs. Instead, shes taken on volunteer roles, internships and signed up for courses with Goodwill to brush up her computer skills in attempt to find clerical work. Other job seekers were on the opposite end of the spectrum, starting out with little experience. Jon Kelley, 19, graduated from Mark Morris High School this year and is searching for his first real job. His mother, Stacie, who joined him at the job fair, said he has held off on working because of his Aspergers syndrome. Its literally impossible to get a job in Longview, especially when youre first starting out, Jon Kelley said. Well, not impossible, just hard, Stacie Kelley amended. But the effort paid off. By the end of the fair he had scored his first lead a temporary role at Pacific Seafood in Woodland. Its going to be very cold and stinky, he said, but he was pleased. I finally managed something. So far, so good. Hubble Space Telescope has spotted a planet that orbits two Suns located 8,000 lights years away. The planet is orbiting at a distance of 300 miles from both the stars and it completes one orbit in seven years. NASA scientists revealed that both the suns fall in the category of red dwarf stars and are located seven million miles apart. The Hubble observations represent the first time such a three-body system has been confirmed using the gravitational microlensing technique. Gravitational microlensing occurs when the gravity of a foreground star bends and amplifies the light of a background star that momentarily aligns with it. The particular character of the light magnification can reveal clues to the nature of the foreground star and any associated planets. The three objects were discovered in 2007 by an international collaboration of five different groups: Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics (MOA), the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE), the Microlensing Follow-up Network (MicroFUN), the Probing Lensing Anomalies Network (PLANET), and the Robonet Collaboration. These ground-based observations uncovered a star and a planet, but a detailed analysis also revealed a third body that astronomers could not definitively identify. The ground-based observations suggested two possible scenarios for the three-body system: a Saturn-mass planet orbiting a close binary star pair or a Saturn-mass and an Earth-mass planet orbiting a single star, explained David Bennett of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, the papers first author. The sharpness of the Hubble images allowed the research team to separate the background source star and the lensing star from their neighbors in the very crowded star field. The Hubble observations revealed that the starlight from the foreground lens system was too faint to be a single star, but it had the brightness expected for two closely orbiting red dwarf stars, which are fainter and less massive than our sun. So, the model with two stars and one planet is the only one consistent with the Hubble data, Bennett said. Bennetts team conducted the follow-up observations with Hubbles Wide Field Planetary Camera 2. We were helped in the analysis by the almost perfect alignment of the foreground binary stars with the background star, which greatly magnified the light and allowed us to see the signal of the two stars, Bennett explained. Kepler has discovered 10 other planets orbiting tight binary stars, but these are all much closer to their stars than the one studied by Hubble. Now that the team has shown that microlensing can successfully detect planets orbiting double-star systems, Hubble could provide an essential role in this new realm in the continued search for exoplanets. The teams results have been accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal. At present HST is the largest telescope present in space and it will be replaced by the James Webb Telescope in 2018 which has thrice larger lens (8 meters in diameter) than the HST. HST has helped scientists in peeking into the deepest corners of the universe since 1990. The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between NASA and the European Space Agency. NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, conducts Hubble science operations. STScI is operated for NASA by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy in Washington, D.C. hidden Decrying the "silence" of nuclear scientists on the alleged health hazards of uranium mining in Jharkhand, a group of activists on Friday said they handed over "radiation contaminated" soil and water samples from villages around the Jaduguda mine to a section of researchers here, as a form of protest. Alleging radiation exposure hazards from the mine is triggering deformities and neuromuscular weaknesses among villagers in the vicinity of the mine, activist group Jal Jangal Jameen passed on the samples to scientists of the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, who they said have turned a deaf ear to their grievances on radiation hazards. "Due to mutation from radiation, deformed babies are born. We conducted a health camp recently and we discovered 46 patients out of 193 families had various deformities," Chhandak Chatterjee, a member of the activist group which includes doctors, told IANS. The Jaduguda Uranium ore of Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) is located in the mineralised zone of East & West Singhbhum districts of Jharkhand. Mining operations at Jaduguda began in the year 1967. The mine has the distinction of being the first uranium mine in the country. "The radioactive waste seeps through water bodies and is impacting the village. However, the scientists are not considering the matter at all. They say it is due to malnutrition but we are questioning why there are high numbers of deformities in that particular area," said the activist. In addition, he pointed to the fact that the food canteens which the UCIL officials use, procure their produce from West Bengal and Odisha. "Vegetables and fruits also grow in area around the mine. If they claim nothing is wrong with the soil and water, then why do they procure produce from outside. If the samples are safe, they should be able to keep it with them in their rooms," added the activist. The forum plans to hand over similar samples to eminent nuclear physicist Bikas Sinha on Saturday. IANS hidden Facebook closed its acquisition of mobile messaging service WhatsApp, with the final price tag rising an additional $3 billion to roughly $22 billion because of the increased value of Facebook's stock in recent months. WhatsApp founder Jan Koum will receive nearly $2 billion in stock, vesting over a four-year period, as an inducement for him to stay with the company, according to a regulatory filing on Monday. The acquisition, which Facebook announced in February and recently received regulatory approval in Europe, underscores the sky-rocketing values of fast-growing Internet startups, and the willingness of established players such as Facebook and Google to pay out for them. WhatsApp, which has more than 600 million monthly users, is among a new crop of mobile messaging and social media apps that have become increasingly popular among younger users. Snapchat, a privately owned mobile app that allows users to swap photos that can disappear after a few seconds, is raising money at a $10 billion valuation, according to media reports. Facebook paid $4.59 billion in cash and 178 million shares of its stock for WhatsApp, as well 46 million of grants in restricted stock units for WhatsApp employees that will vest over a four year period. At Monday's opening Facebook share price of $77.17, the deal translates to roughly $21.8 billion. Koum, who will serve as WhatsApp Chief Executive and become a Facebook director, will earn a $1 annual salary, similar to Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg. Koum will receive 24.9 million Facebook restricted stock units, worth roughly $1.9 billion at Monday's share price. WhatsApp, which has more than 70 employees, will continue to be based at its Mountain View, California, location. Reuters tech2 News Staff On August 25, WhatsApp updated its content policy for the first time after being purchased by Facebook. A PIL was filed against WhatsApp and Facebook by petitioners Karmanya Singh Sareen and Shreya Sethi over privacy concerns after the policy change. Yesterday, the Delhi High Court allowed WhatsApp to share data with Facebook, but imposed restrictions on the data sharing. Here is what the ruling means for users in five easy steps. 1. WhatsApp is to scrub all data collected before September 25: WhatsApp is allowed to share data with Facebook, but cannot share any data collected before September 25. This is to ensure that users who signed up for the service based on the old privacy policy, continue to be affected only by the old privacy policy. Users can delete their accounts and opt out of the service, after which WhatsApp is not allowed to retain or share any data. 2. WhatsApp can only share data collected after September 25: Even for users who do not opt out of the service, do not delete their accounts, WhatsApp can only share data collected after September 25 with Facebook. This means that even for those who accept the new terms and conditions, the data collected over the previous years cannot be shared with Facebook or any other company. 3. WhatsApp can retain and uses some kind of messages: The ruling allows WhatsApp to use the messages shared over the platform to assist users in providing the service, which is a sweeping and unclear statement. The messages will not be shared publicly. While most messages are not stored in WhatsApp servers, some kinds of messages are retained on the servers. These include high volume multimedia shares, such as videos or images. A selective approach to what messages gets retained means that WhatsApp is in some way processing the contents of the messages as well. 4. WhatsApp can use more than the messages: Apart from just the messages, there is a lot of data that WhatsApp can use to provide more targetted advertising. These include the groups that you belong to, your profile picture, contacts, and links shared over the platform. Your last seen status, online status, and who chats and calls you can also be shared with and used by Facebook. The messages themselves may not be the most valuable source of data for Facebook, and users will have to evaluate whether or not they want WhatsApp and Facebook to use their data in this manner. 5. TRAI has been asked to regulate instant messaging clients: The High Court judgement asked the government to look into the matter of introducing a statutory regulatory framework for instant messaging clients. The process will be long drawn out though, if TRAI does decide to pick up the matter. The process would mean a consultation paper will be issued seeking feedback on introducing the guidelines. Stakeholders would reply to that consultation paper, and these responses would be churned into a regulatory framework for all instant messaging applications. A previous consultation paper may cover regulations for instant messaging clients. Dedicated to the Restoration of Progressive Democracy Women drug peddler given life term A court in Chittagong convicted on women drug peddler with life term imprisonment for alleged drug trafficking . The court of Additional District and Session Judge Md. Nure Alam pronounced the verdict on Thursday last after final hearing of the suit. The convicted drug peddler is Ms. Shahjada Akhter(40) , wife of Jafar Ahmed of pathergatha area in city. The convict Shahjada is now absconding after getting bail earlier, sources added. PP of the Chittagong Metro session judge Advocate Lokman chowdhury told that case was lodged against the convict under section 19(A) of Narcotics Control Act by the state in March, 2010 . He said the possession and trading of intoxicated drugs which was undoubtedly proved by the court and hence , the court pronounced this verdict , court sources said. 10 jailed for possessing Phensidyl in B'baria UNB, Brahmanbaria : A mobile court sent ten people to jail handing them a four-day imprisonment for possessing Indian Phensidyl syrup in Akhaura upazila on Wednesday. Those who were jailed are Sunny, 25, Zahirul Islam, 28, Rakib Hasan, 24, Munna Khandaker, 24, Asif Karim, 24, Nirjan Ahmed, 25, Sayedul Islam, 28, Arnab Ahmed, 26, Fazle Rabbi, 25 and Sagar Islam 18. A patrol team of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested the ten young men from Azampur bordering area in Akhaura upazila and recovered ten bottles of Phensidyl from their possession in the afternoon, said Commanding officer of BGB-12 Battalion Shah Ali. Later they were produced before a mobile court led by executive magistrate Moin Uddin which gave them four days' jail. Noise pollution turns alarming in Sylhet city S A Shofiee, Sylhet : Noise pollution has taken an alarming turn in Sylhet city area. Drivers on the city roads arbitrarily use hydraulic horns while a good number of city people play music over loudspeakers irresponsibly, thereby leading the situation to an intolerable level of noise pollution. Local people have alleged that irregular supervision by the authorities concerned has largely contributed to deterioration of the situation. "Drivers of most of the buses, trucks, microbuses and three-wheelers were using hydraulic horns creating deafening noise in the city as the authorities concerned were not monitoring the situation aptly," alleged Shafiqul Islam, a teacher of Nosiba Khatun High School in the city. Faruk Mia, a shop owner in Sylhet City market told this correspondent, "It became almost impossible to stay in the markets - both for the customers and sellers as owners of CD and DVD shops play music with deafening sound." "Humans can tolerate 45 decibel of sound. But the polluters are generating an unbearable level of sound by operating hydraulic horns and playing music in amplifiers," said Cardiologist Ruhul Amin of Sylhet M.A.G Osmani Medical College Hospital. He said, "Noise pollution has an adverse effect on human body. An intolerable level of the pollution may cause serious health hazards to children, pregnant women and patients suffering from cardiac and respiratory ailments." Tk 1.75b power bill lying unpaid Over Tk 1.75 billion has long been lying unpaid in arrear electricity bill for long in Sylhet Division. The amount includes about Tk 350 million with the different government offices and departments under different ministries. Although it was over Tk 1.66 billion at the end of fiscal year on June 30 last, the amount rose to Tk 1.75 billion by now, the official sources informed. The PDB, even on repeated attempts failed to realise the long standing arrears, especially lying with the government departments. They held meetings in different times and requested for clearing the dues several times. There had been no response over the payment, sources informed, adding, but, for reasons the PDB couldn't proceed much for disconnecting the lines. Chief Engineer of PDB, Sylhet zone, Ratan Kumar Biswas said many of the government departments don't pay the electricity bill just out of negligence although they get annual budget for the purpose. "But, we can't disconnect their connections as they are public organizations", he said, adding, "Whereas we can sue the private subscribers for the arrears." However, acute shortage of meter readers is also a problem, the official said, there is only five meter readers in the zone. Although a reader is authorized for covering 1250 subscribers every month, but they have to do the job for more and more, the official said. There are over 315,000 subscribers in the four districts of the zone, having a total demand of 400 mw electricity where as the power generation from the power stations in the region is 800 mw. Should schools let parents choose teachers? Samantha Cleaver : When Dawn Carrigan became the principal of Longfellow Elementary School in Portland, Maine, one of the first things she did was stop the practice of parents requesting their kids' teachers. At the time, more than 20 families hadn't gotten their first pick and didn't know why. "I didn't want to be the judge of whose request was valid or not valid," she says. Now, parents complete a questionnaire that addresses kids' interests and learning styles, and Carrigan uses the information to set up class rosters. Scheduling hundreds of students is a coordination challenge, to say the least, and fielding parent requests can be overwhelming for principals. Carrigan thinks that sometimes parents request teachers they think are "better" than others, based on popularity but little concrete information. And she suggests that kids have a variety of classroom experiences. "I think we do kids a disservice when we don't let [them] figure out how to work with other teachers," she says. On the other hand, author of Picky Parent Guide: Choose Your Child's School With Confidence Bryan Hassel says, "There is quality and there is fit. Some teachers are better than others, and some teachers are a better fit for your child than others." That fit can be everything from how your child's learning style matches up with the teacher's teaching style to how advanced your child is in a subject. Whether you agree that parents should be able to request teachers or not, research supports parents' ability to evaluate their school's teachers. Achievement vs. Satisfaction Lars Lefgren, associate professor of economics at Brigham Young University, and Brian Jacob, professor of education policy and economics at the University of Michigan, analyzed data from 12 elementary schools and 256 teachers during the 2005-2006 school year to learn just what parents were looking for in a teacher. "Parents have an idea of which teachers are good," says Jacob, "and they try to pick teachers who are good in achievement and satisfaction." But in lower-income schools (those with a higher percentage of students who received free or reduced price lunch), parents were more likely to choose teachers who ranked high on student achievement. In higher-income schools, parents favored teachers who had high satisfaction ratings. The difference across schools led Jacob and Lefgren to suggest that low-income parents were requesting teachers that they thought would help their kids achieve no matter what. "In general," says Jacob, "in higher poverty schools, there may be a lot of other distractions, problems or issues with learning or teaching in the school, so parents in those schools need to make sure their kids have a teacher [who's focused on learning]." In higher-income schools where those issues might not enter into daily life as much, parents can focus more on how much their child enjoys their classroom. Requesting Teachers So what's a parent to do? Whether or not your school solicits parent requests, there are some things you can do to help snag the best teacher for your child. Here are some tips: Get information. Talk to parents whose kids are like yours in terms of interests, learning style and aspects like ADHD or giftedness to learn more about the teachers at your child's school. Be polite. Follow the school's procedure and be polite. Scheduling often takes weeks or even months, especially for large middle schools. Be sure to meet every deadline. Put it in writing. If your school has a policy against letting parents choose teachers, approach the topic in writing. Explain what would work best for your child and why, Hassel suggests, and don't question a specific teacher's effectiveness. Be flexible. Once kids hit middle school, students are only with teachers for about 40 minutes a day. Not getting the first pick might not affect your child in the long run. Give it at least a few weeks before requesting a change, or talk with the teacher and your child to improve the situation first, before you go higher up the chain. The first day of school Diane Milne : We all expect that our children will be excited and a little bit nervous about the first day of school. The first step to calming fears is identifying them. Here are ten things that make kids anxious about school: New situations Whether your child is facing the first day in a new grade or the first day in a new school, it's normal to feel nervous in a new situation. Talk about what the first day of school will be like. "When children know what to expect, they experience less anxiety about a situation," explains School Psychologist Erin L. Enyart, Ed. S.. Remind your child that everyone feels a little anxious, and allow time for him to adjust. Point out that pretty soon, the situation will be routine and comfortable. If possible, adjust your schedule so that you have extra time with your child, especially right after school, for the first few days. Failure Kids worry that their schoolwork will be too hard, they won't be able to keep up, or they won't know the correct answer when called on in class. Remind your child that everyone makes mistakes, then praise her best efforts. Test anxiety Many kids are scared of testing situations. They worry ahead of time, and are unable to perform on the day of the test. One way to help is to offer to help your child study so he feels well prepared. Remind him that he knows the information, and that you are confident he will do well. Social anxiety Kids worry about fitting in, making friends, what others think of them, being teased, and being left out. Encourage your child to face, rather than avoid, social situations, and talk about ways to make friends. According to the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), teaching children social skills, problem solving, and conflict resolution supports good mental health. Grades Some kids worry about whether or not they'll be able to earn all A's in math, make the honor roll, or maintain a certain grade point average. Remind your child that you do not expect perfection. Stress Some kids become anxious or stressed out when they feel that their school environment is unorganized, or that classroom expectations are unreasonable. The NASP suggests that parents can help kids learn to deal constructively with challenging situations by offering to help come up with a solution together when your child tells you about a problem. Making the team Whether your child wants to make the cheerleading squad, get a part in the school play, or simply not be the last one picked for kickball at recess, it is important to remind him that not everyone succeeds every time. There are always other opportunities to be involved or be a part of a team. Practice together: fluff the pompons, rehearse the lines, or roll the ball to help your child master the skills of his choice. Peer pressure Kids just want to fit in, and they may worry about what their classmates expect from them. Encourage your child to talk about his concerns. Putting his fears into words may be helpful. Listen, but in most situations, the NASP says, "resist the urge to jump in and fix a problem for your child-instead, think it through and come up with possible solutions together. Problem-solve with kids, rather than for them. By taking an active role, kids learn how to tackle a problem independently." Being bullied Kids worry about others tormenting them in some way, and this can be extremely upsetting. Take their concern seriously. Explain that bullies feel powerful when they upset other students, and talk about ways to cool down without giving the bully the reaction he wants. Have your child practice ignoring teasing remarks, walking away, and getting an adult. Home situation According to Kidshealth.org, sometimes the reason a child doesn't want to go to school "actually has nothing to do with the school. They may feel they're needed at home because a parent is stressed or depressed, or because of something else affecting the family. If that's the case, the answer involves addressing the family issue." Enyart says if the fears persist into the school year, inform your child's teacher. At most schools, a guidance counselor, social worker, or school psychologist are available to talk with children and help them overcome these fears. There are also counseling groups led by these school staff members which address children's needs. Defying UN, North Korea vows to strengthen nuclear capability North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Friday. Reuters, United Nations : North Korea vowed on Friday to further strengthen its nuclear weapons capability, in spite of U.N. condemnation and sanctions, and said it would never abandon its deterrence while it was threatened by nuclear-armed states. In an address to the United Nations General Assembly, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho described his country's nuclear weapons as "a righteous self-defense measure" against "constant nuclear threats of the United States." "Going nuclear-armed is the policy of our state," he said. "As long as there exists a nuclear-weapon state in hostile relations with the DPRK, our national security and peace on the Korean peninsula can be defended only with reliable nuclear deterrence," he said, using the acronym for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name. Ri said North Korea "will continue to take measures to strengthen its national nuclear armed forces in both quantity and quality." Ri said the Korean peninsula was the world's "most dangerous hotspot, which can even ignite the outbreak of nuclear war," and the blame lay "squarely' with the United States. He accused the United States and South Korea of conducting massive "nuclear war exercises" aimed at "decapitation" of the North Korean leadership and occupation of its capital Pyongyang, while a call last year by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to replace the 1953 Korean War armistice with a peace agreement had been ignored. North Korea's nuclear and missiles tests have been condemned worldwide and have resulted in several rounds of U.N. sanctions, the most recent of which were adopted in March. Discussions are already under way on a possible new U.N. sanctions resolution after North Korea's fifth and largest nuclear test on Sept. 9. Ri said that by imposing sanctions on North Korea, the U.N. Security Council was "playing the role of covering up the highhandeness and arbitrariness of the United States." He accused the United States of threatening North Korea by flying B1-B strategic bombers over the military demarcation line on the Korean peninsula and warned: "We will never remain onlookers at it and the United States will have to face tremendous consequences beyond imagination." The United States flew two B1-Bs over South Korea on Wednesday in the second such flight since the Sept. 9 test. U.S. Forces Korea said the flights were a show of force and of the U.S. commitment to preserve the security of the peninsula and the region. Bombing leaves Aleppo `without water` Many Aleppo residents will have to resort to contaminated water, Unicef says the agency. Intensified attacks on the Syrian city of Aleppo have left nearly two million people without water, the UN says. The UN children's agency says fierce strikes on Friday prevented repairs to a damaged pumping station supplying rebel-held districts of the city. In retaliation, Unicef says, a nearby station pumping water to the rest of Aleppo has been switched off. Fresh strikes were reported in the city on Saturday, as the Syrian army presses on with its push to retake rebel areas. The latest offensive was launched after a ceasefire collapsed on Monday. Unicef deputy director Justin Forsyth told the BBC: "Aleppo is slowly dying, and the world is watching, and the water is being cut off and bombed - it's just the latest act of inhumanity." Unicef spokesman Kieran Dwyer said the lack of running water could be "catastrophic" as residents now had to resort to contaminated water and were at risk from waterborne diseases. He said water was being used as a weapon of war by all sides. The pumping station supplying rebel-held parts of Aleppo was damaged on Thursday and subsequent strikes had made repairs impossible, Mr Dwyer told the BBC. "That pumping station pumps water to the entire population of the eastern part of city - that's at least 200,000 people and then in retaliation for that attack a nearby pumping station that pumps water to the entire western part of the city - upwards to 1.5 million people - was deliberately switched off," he told the BBC.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based group monitoring the conflict, said 25 people had been killed in fresh bombardments on Saturday. Activists said both Syrian and Russian warplanes are taking part in the latest offensive, though Russia has not confirmed its involvement. Russia supports the Syrian government, while the US backs the opposition. The two powers accuse each other of failing to rein in their respective allies on the ground. Medical sources say 91 people were killed in Friday's bombardment. A seven-day truce brokered by the US and Russia collapsed on Monday. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday reiterated a call to revive the ceasefire "on a collective basis". He told Russian TV that a fresh truce could not be based on "Russia's unilateral concessions". The pause in fighting, agreed by Russia and US earlier this month, was intended to improve aid deliveries and lead to joint operations against Islamic State and other militant groups. Hopes that the truce would be extended collapsed as the US-led coalition apologised for killing more than 60 Syrian soldiers in one of its air strikes. And an aid convoy was attacked on Monday hours after the ceasefire ended, killing some 20 people. Syrian and Russia deny claims that their forces had been involved. Earlier this year, Kerry briefed US lawmakers that if negotiations with Russia failed then he would suggest a "Plan B"-reportedly tougher US military involvement. Kerry, too, has not minced his words, suggesting this week at the UN Security Council that his long-term sparring partner Lavrov was speaking from a "parallel universe." But on Friday, after they met for their latest fruitless encounter, he again tried to put an upbeat spin on the dialogue, suggesting there was room for maneuver. "We have exchanged some ideas," he said. "I think we made a little bit of progress. We're evaluating some mutual ideas in a constructive way, period." Kajol officially joins Facebook Kajol's fans who have been waiting for her to join the social media, here's some good news for you. The actress will finally be joining Facebook today. Kajol will be visiting the San Francisco Facebook office today along with husband Ajay Devgn. The couple who is currently in the US to promote Devgn's next directorial venture Shivaay, have visited New York, Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco will be their last destination where they will be visiting the Facebook office. Kajol is extremely excited to join Facebook and connect with her fans all over the world. All this while, the actresses' fan clubs were actively participating and posting news and pictures on behalf of the actress but now, her fans will be able to get first hand information, directly through the actress. Nazmul made BD HC to UK The government has decided to appoint Md Nazmul Quaunine, the ambassador of Bangladesh to Indonesia, as the next high commissioner of Bangladesh to the United Kingdom, said an official release on Saturday. A career diplomat Quaunine belongs to the 1985 batch of BCS (Foreign Affairs) Cadre. In his diplomatic career, besides being the ambassador of Bangladesh to Indonesia & the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he also served in Bangladesh embassy in Washington D.C, Bangladesh Permanent Mission to UN in Geneva and Bangladesh High Commissions in Islamabad and London in various capacities. He obtained an MBBS from Dhaka Medical College. He completed a post graduate diploma in diplomacy and international relations from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (GIIS), Geneva. The envoy is blessed with a son and one daughter, the release added. Right to Information Day on Sept 28 The government has taken extensive preparations to observe International Right to Information Day 2016 in the country on September 28. The Information Commission will organize the main programme of the day under the supervision of information ministry. President M. Abdul Hamid will attend the main function as the chief guest at Osmany Memorial Auditorium in the city at noon, said an official release. The programme will include a cultural function highlighting the issue of right to information. Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar will air the programme live. Corporal punishment induces school drop-out Sir Frank Peters : The sizzling hot question that's been asked in the red-carpeted corridors of power and throughout the United States right now is why did the State of Alabama paddle 19,000 students during the 2013-2014 school year? They're also asking why black males received the highest rate of paddling (corporal punishment). Though black males only made up 24% of the population, they accounted for 35% of the total male students that were paddled. That's an alarming and horrific blot to have on the school books of any state indeed of any country and the appalling statistics inadvertently pose the question, when is all of America going to become civilized? Surely in the land of mass communications, all Americans must know by now that corporal punishment is an archaic abominable practice that is totally ineffective; unless, of course, the prime aim of its use is to ensure that in later years the streets are littered with broken adults, that crime and civil disturbance is maintained at a high level, and it ensures a need for more jails. There have been countless studies published by eminent individual professionals; universities and organizations in the USA about the ill effects of corporal punishment and all, without exception condemn the evil antiquated practice. In her award-winning book, Breaking the Paddle: Ending School Corporal Punishment, Nadine A. Block from the Center for Effective Discipline, said: "Corporal punishment has absolutely no positive effects, but countless negatives attributes. Young American lives are being damaged and ruined unnecessarily through the effects of corporal punishment, and, consequently, an abhorrent society is being created." Block succeeded in banning the archaic and sometimes brutal practice in her native state of Ohio and has been tirelessly working towards achieving a national ban. The majority of States in the USA have banned corporal punishment in schools and stopped 'teachers' from venting their anger and/or receiving sadistic pleasure from beating defenceless children. Alarmingly, in Alabama schools, a child is beaten every four minutes, according to the latest available data from the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. Furthermore, the count is of individual students and does not indicate how many were paddled more than once. "I don't anticipate this being the focus of change that Alabama needs to move our student achievement higher," said Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, chair of the Education Policy committee in the Alabama House of Representatives. Collins said no one has brought up the subject of paddling in the legislature. "As a child paddled, and as a parent who paddled, I've not experienced the negative side of corporal punishment personally, only the positive side," Collins said. The man is disillusioned and fooling himself. There are NO positive aspects to corporal punishment whatsoever. As mentioned, thousands of studies prove this fact. Many thousands of youths drop out from school each year blaming corporal punishment. Are these children grateful to society for not protecting them in their vulnerable state? Of course not! They owe nothing to society except the hurt, pain and damage that society gave them - and they're likely to pay that back with interest You can't expect Godly results from children, if you're beating the devil into them. You reap what you sow. Dr. Amir Whitaker, an attorney at the Southern Poverty Law Center who has studied the effects of corporal punishment, says that Alabama policy contradicts national research. "It's a very convenient and knee-jerk reaction to discipline. And it does nothing but harm the child. All the research shows that, and all the experts know that," Whitaker said. Whitaker also points out that if he, as an adult, hit a child with a board, he'd be charged with aggravated assault, yet Alabama law allows adult educators to hit children at school. Meanwhile, American education and child advocacy groups, including the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Bar Association, the National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Association for Secondary School Principals, and the American Civil Liberties Union, continue to call for a ban, citing harmful long-term effects of paddling on children and the need to keep physical violence out of the educational environment. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry policy statement against corporal punishment, reads in part: "Corporal punishment signals to the child that a way to settle interpersonal conflicts is to use physical force and inflict pain ... Supervising adults who wilfully humiliate children and punish by force and pain are often causing more harm than they prevent." A recent study of all available research, called a "meta-analysis", on the effects of corporal punishment shows that paddling is not effective at controlling behaviours. "Instead of helping children to develop the desire and motivation to behave well of their own accord, corporal punishment teaches children that it is desirable not to get caught: rather than behaving differently next time, they are therefore likely to repeat the undesired behaviour and use strategies to avoid being caught." Whitaker at the Southern Poverty Law Center said that cultural acceptance of spanking children in the South makes it difficult to end the practice at school. Hypocrisy through imitation "As a society, we've acknowledged that bullying in schools should not be tolerated. Arming administrators and teachers with weapons and telling them it's okay to use their physical dominance on children, it's a form of bullying that shouldn't be tolerated," he said. "It sends a message that physical violence is an acceptable way to resolve conflict. In no other area is it acceptable to resolve conflict through violence. It shouldn't be tolerated in schools." The late Swiss psychologist, Alice Mille wrote: "There is no educational value from spanking, it only causes fear and in fear the child's attention is absorbed by the strategy of survival. They do not absorb messages about right behaviour in fear and thus stop learning from our words, but learn from our behaviour, thus learning violence and hypocrisy through imitation." Bangladesh recognized the flaws in its education tapestry and in 2011 Justice Md. Imman Ali and Md. Sheikh Hasan Arif outlawed the damaging and ineffective practice of corporal punishment in schools and madrasas throughout the nation. They declared it to be "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and a clear violation of a child's fundamental right to life, liberty and freedom". Unfortunately, there are still lawbreakers in the noble teaching profession, causing pain and suffering and, possibly, long-term damage to the very people they should be protecting. The famous Dr. Benjamin Spock said: "If we are ever to turn toward a kindlier society and a safer world, a revulsion against the physical punishment of children would be a good place to start. And just because a 'teacher' doesn't know, perhaps never learned, how to discipline a child correctly, that isn't justification for him or her to beat the child with their ignorance. To prevent mental or physical damage to their child, no enlightened parent should send their child to a school or madrassa where corporal punishment is practiced. No loving parent would. Sir Frank Peters is a former newspaper and magazine publisher and editor, a royal goodwill ambassador, humanitarian, and a respected foreign non-political friend of Bangladesh. Additional research material provided by Trisha Powell Crain. Fierce air strikes in Aleppo Many rebel held areas fall after Russian backed offensive A boy inspects a damaged site after airstrikes on the rebel held Tariq al-Bab neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria. (Inset) effected people inspecting their destroyed houses on Saturday. Ruters photo Reuters, Beirut : The Syrian army and allied militia seized ground north of Aleppo on Saturday, tightening a siege of the city's rebel-held east as it came under fierce air strikes in a major Russian-backed offensive that has left Washington's Syria policy in tatters. The capture of the Handarat camp a few kilometres north of Aleppo marked the first major ground advance of the offensive, which the government announced on Thursday. Residents of the rebel-held half of the city say warplanes have unleashed unprecedented firepower. Saturday's advance captured the camp for Palestinian refugees on elevated ground overlooking one of the main roads into Aleppo. Handarat had been in rebel hands for years. "Handarat has fallen," an official with one of the main Aleppo rebel groups told Reuters. An army statement confirming the advance said "large numbers of terrorists" had been killed. Dozens of people have been reported killed in eastern Aleppo since the army announced the new offensive late on Thursday, burying any remaining hope for reviving a ceasefire that was brokered by the United States and Russia, but which Moscow and its ally President Bashar al-Assad abandoned after a week. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was left pleading this week with Russia to halt air strikes, but was ignored. The collapse of peacemaking, and Assad's decision to launch an all-out assault on the last big urban area still in rebel hands, appears to mark a turning point in a conflict that was stalemated for years. Assad and his allies seem more determined than ever to crush the nearly six-year-old rebellion by force. Residents say air strikes on eastern Aleppo have been more intense than ever, using more powerful bombs. Rebel officials said heavy air strikes on Saturday hit at least four areas of the opposition-held east, and they believe the strikes are mostly being carried out by Russian warplanes. Video of the blast sites show huge craters several meters wide and deep. Western countries and international aid organizations say they fear for the lives of more than 250,000 people civilians believed to be trapped in the rebel-held zone of Aleppo, Syria's biggest city, divided into opposition and government sectors for years. The army says it is only targeting militants. "There are planes in the sky now," Ammar al Selmo, the head of the Civil Defence rescue service in the opposition-held east, told Reuters from Aleppo on Saturday morning. The group draws on ambulance workers and volunteers who dig survivors and dead bodies out of the rubble, often with their bare hands. It says several of its own headquarters have been targeted. "Our teams are responding but are not enough to cover this amount of catastrophe." Damascus and allies including Shi'ite militia from Iran, Iraq and Lebanon have encircled rebel-held areas of Aleppo gradually this year, achieving their long-held objective of fully besieging the area this summer with Russian air support. A pro-government Iraqi militia commander in the Aleppo area told Reuters the aim was to capture all of Aleppo within a week. A Western diplomat said on Friday the only way for the government to take the area quickly would be to totally destroy it in "such a monstrous atrocity that it would resonate for generations". A Syrian military source told Reuters the operation announced late on Thursday was continuing according to plan, but declined to give further details. The source said on Friday the operation could go on for some time. Asked about the weapons being used, the source said the army was using precise weapons "suitable for the nature of the targets being struck, according to the type of fortifications", such as tunnels and bunkers, and "specifically command centers". A senior official in an Aleppo-based rebel faction, the Levant Front, told Reuters the weapons appeared designed to bring down entire buildings. "Most of the victims are under the rubble because more than half the civil defense has been forced out of service," he said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based organization that reports on the war, said it had documented 72 deaths since Friday, including five children. Selmo of the Civil Defence said the toll was more than 100. "The raids are intense and continuous," Observatory Director Rami Abdulrahman told Reuters. The Syrian army says it is targeting rebel positions in the city and denies hitting civilians. "Every missile makes an earthquake we feel regardless of how far off the bombardment is," one Aleppo resident said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said a revival of a ceasefire in Syria depended on all sides involved and not only on "Russia's unilateral concessions". "One can only speak about the ceasefire revival only on the collective basis," he said in an interview for the TV news show Vesti on Saturday. 5 killed in Washington state mall shooting AFP, Los Angeles : Police were searching Saturday for a gunman who killed five people during a shooting at a mall in the US state of Washington, amid a raging national debate over gun control. Four women and one man were killed, police said in an updated toll. The man had been taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, but died there, police spokesman Sergeant Mark Francis said. Authorities say there was only one shooter in Friday night's attack at Cascade Mall in Burlington, located about 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Seattle, describing him as a Hispanic male wearing a gray shirt. Police released a closely cropped still from video surveillance of the young-looking suspect showing only his head and torso, though the full picture, published by local media, showed him holding what appeared to be a rifle. The debate over gun control is fierce in the United States, which has been wracked by gun violence. It's a hot issue on the campaign trail ahead of the November 8 presidential election. Police received calls around 6:58 pm Friday (0058 GMT Saturday) that shots were fired at the mall, Trooper Rick Johnson, another spokesman, told CNN. "Right now, we can't assume anything. So they're still interviewing witnesses and trying to get a good idea of exactly what action to take next. We're just asking people to, obviously, stay away from the area," he said. "Stay inside and obviously report anything suspicious that they may see." The suspect was last seen walking toward a local highway from the mall before police arrived, Francis said on Twitter. The mall was evacuated, police swarmed the area and medics rushed to the scene after the mall was initially placed on lockdown. Witnesses told KOMO News that a shooter walked into Macy's department store and opened fire. Nearby businesses were evacuated, the television station added. "I hear one shot and then stand kinda still and like two, three other people start running out saying 'gun' and then shot after shot after shot," said Armando Patino, who was working at a cell phone store. "I turn around and run to the store. Some people didn't know where to go. I just moved them into the store," he added. "We went in the back where we have a door and everything and we just stayed there until they told us to evacuate." Multiple law enforcement agencies and sniffer dogs were searching for the suspect. The FBI's Seattle field office said it was assisting local authorities in reviewing intelligence and was providing additional manpower. "At this time, #FBI has no information to suggest additional attacks planned in WA state," it said. Police took hours to clear the sprawling building, with Francis explaining that there were "a lot" of locked rooms and doors. They are now focusing on the investigation. Authorities were due to provide updates during a press conference at 8:00 am (1500 GMT). The mall said it would stay closed on Saturday as a mark of respect for the victims. "We are deeply saddened by the tragic event that occurred this evening. Our prayers and condolences are with the victims and their families," a Facebook message read. 5 JMB men get 7 yrs jail in K`chhari UNB, Khagrachhari : A special tribunal here on Saturday sentenced seven members of banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) to seven years jail in two separate cases. The convicts are Abdur Rahim alias Jahid Hossain, second in-command of JMB's Chittagong unit and a resident of Sutna village of Debidwar upazila of Comilla, Delwar Hossain, M Yunus and Shamsu Miah of Shantipur village of Matiranga upazila of Khagrachhari, and Shamim Ahmed of Sikarpur village of Burichong upazila of Comilla. Of them, Shamim was tried in absentia. The court also fined them Tk 2,000 each, in default, to suffer two years more imprisonment. Talking to reporters, public prosecutor advocate Bidhan Kanungo said a team of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-7 conducted a drive at a JMB training camp in Shantipur area of Matiranga upazila on the night of September 27, 2009 and arrested four JMB men-Jahid, Delwar, Yunus and Shamsu. Later, two separate cases were filed against five people, including the four JMB members, with Matiranga Police Station under the Arms and Explosive Substances Acts. On December 11, 2009, Officer-in-Charge of the police station M Mizanur Rahman, also the investigation officer of the case, submitted a charge sheet against them to a court. After examining witnesses and documents, Judge of Khagrachhari Special Tribunal and District and Session Judge's court M Enamul Haque Bhuiyan handed down the verdict. 5 killed in Ctg road crash Five persons were killed and many injured as covered van hit a standing bus from behind at Mirsarai Upazila on Dhaka-Chittagong highway on Saturday. Staff Reporter : At least five persons were killed and several others injured when a covered van hit a standing bus from behind at Mirsarai upazila in Chittagong early Saturday. The accident took place at Khaiyachhara on the Dhaka-Chitatagong Highway around 5:30am, reported our Chittagong correspondent quoting highway police. The tragedy occurred when a Dhaka-bound covered van rammed a bus o Shyamoli Paribahan, which was parked there, from behind leaving five dead on the spot and several injured others, Farid Uddin, local highway police outpost in-charge, told The New Nation. He said, among the victims, he said four died on the spot. They were waiting there for another bus. Three of the victims were identified as Syadur Rahman, 50, general manager of Karnaphuli Paper Mills, Khaliaur Rahman, 35, and Susmita Sen, 31. On information, the highway police recovered the bodies and sent those to local hospital morgue. Drivers of both the vehicles managed to flee the scene, police officer Farid Uddin said. KL deported man has no link with militant Staff Reporter : Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Miah said on Saturday that police did not find any link of Bangladeshi businessman Piyar Ahmed Akash who deported from Malaysia with militancy. He is now in Feni Jail in two arms cases. Akash is a wanted criminal in an arms case, but there is no evidence of his involvement with the Gulshan Holey Artisan Bakery attack or any other such attack, said the DMP Commissioner at a debate competition programme at Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) on Saturday. The DMP chief said, "We requested Interpol for arresting Akash, who went there few years ago despite arrest warrant against him. In view of this, the Malaysia authorities deported him on September 2. The Interpol also issued a red notice to arrest Akash." The deportation news of Akash came in the limelight after a Malaysian newspaper 'The Star' published a news saying that Akash had a relation with one of the suspected Gulshan cafe attackers Andaleeb Rahman. Earlier, Bangladeshi police sought help from International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) to bring back Akash. On August 19, Malaysian police arrested Akash in connection with money embezzlement and sent him to jail. Afterwards, the Malaysian authorities sent him to Bangladesh on September 2. When he arrived at the Dhaka airport, police arrested him and sent him to Daganbhuiyan on September 3. The following day, he was produced in the court and the court sent him to jail. Asked about the report, DMP Commissioner said: "We don't know what the Malaysian newspaper reported. But till now we haven't found his link with the Holey Artisan Bakery attack or any other terror attack." "Even Malaysia did not inform us formally or officially about such details. But we will scrutinise the matter," he said. According to case, Piayr Ahmed Akash, 35, son of M Ibrahim, an inhabitant resident of Nayanpur village in Daganbhuiyan upazila of Feni district, was accused in two arms cases around 11 years ago. He was made an accused in the cases filed with Feni Sadar Police Station and Sudharam Police Station in Noakhali in 2005 for stealing two AK-47 rifles from 10 truckloads of sophisticated weapons seized in Chittagong on April 2, 2004. Akash was arrested by law enforcers with an AK-47 rifle on September 18, 2005. But, he came out of prison on bail and fled to Malaysia in 2007. He was also acquitted from one of the cases while secured bail in another and then fled to Malaysia. Akash, along with other partners, opened a restaurant named 'Rashana Bilash' in Malaysia which earned a lot of fame for Bangladeshi food. Few years later, he opened his own restaurant following a dispute with his partners. Akash's uncle Abdul Quader claimed that Akash had been implicated in the arms cases as part of a conspiracy. He later traveled to Malaysia and opened a restaurant "Rasana Bilash" with another Bangladeshi, said Abdul Quader. Aslam Uddin, Officer-in-Charge of Dagon Bhuiyan Police Station, said, "We arrested him with the help of law enforcers at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and produced him in a Feni Special Tribunal on September 4, which sent him to jail in connection with the arms cases. `Dead` baby now in Dhaka, improving Staff Reporter : The newborn girl Galiba Hayat, who cried out at the graveyard when her relatives were preparing to bury her after a doctor declared her dead in Faridpur on Thursday, was brought to capital Dhaka and admitted to Square Hospital for better treatment on Saturday. Earlier in the evening she (newborn girl) was brought to the capital Dhaka by a helicopter. Her father, grandfather, and a nurse also flew to Dhaka with her. The newborn Galiba Hayat is now undergoing treatment in Neonatal Incentive Care Unit (NICU) of the hospital, according to the hospital sources. A businessman, preferring not to be named, arranged a helicopter to bring the baby from Faridpur to Dhaka as the poor family was unable to pay the helicopter fare, said Abul Kalam Mia, grandfather of the baby. A three-member medical team led by Khandakar M Abdulla-his Sayeed examined the health condition of the newborn at Faridpur Civil Surgeon Office before allowing her to shift Dhaka. "The baby is responding better than before, so she can be shifted to Dhaka by a well-equipped ambulance. We tried our best, but she needs treatment at a Neonatal Incentive Care Unit (NICU), Dr Khandokar told journalists before sending the baby to capital Dhaka. Abul Kalam Mia said as his daughter-in-law Naznin Akter felt labour pains around 9:00pm on Wednesday the family took her to Jahid Memorial Child Hospital in Faridpur town. "But the hospital authorities refused to admit her, saying there was no bed left unoccupied. And when we requested the doctor Rezia Alam to examine Naznin, who was due in January, the doctor refused, saying she would "attend her later," he said, adding Naznin gave birth to the girl normally in the doctor's room at midnight. "After some time, Dr Rezia Alam came out of the operation theatre and declared the infant dead. The kid was then kept in a carton on the hospital floor," he alleged. "We took the kid to Faridpur Municipality Graveyard for burial on the night. As it was still dark, an employee asked me to wait until the following morning. In the morning, Imam Abdur Rob while reciting from the Quran asked me to open the carton. As I opened the carton, the kid cried out," Kalam said. "The baby found alive after six hours its declaration of dead by the physician. Later she was taken to the same hospital, said Abdur Rob, Custodian of Alipur graveyard. Baby's father Mithu said the incident took place because of the negligence of the physician and their associates. A five-member probe body lead by Usha Chakrabarty, physician of Faridpur Sadar Hospital, was formed on Saturday to investigate the negligence of the doctors. The probe body has been asked to submit the report within seven days. Contacted, Rezia Alam said, she declared the baby dead as she did not find its pulse even though a long time passed after it was born. `BB heist probe report halted as requested by Philippine bank, US Fed` Kazi Zahidul Hasan : The government has halted the release of Bangladesh Bank's cyber heist probe report after request from the Philippines central bank and the US Fed. They made the request sending letters to the Ministry of Finance and Bangladesh Bank, officials said. "The government has decided to keep the report under wrap following request from the Philippines Central Bank and the New York Fed," a senior Finance Ministry official told The New Nation on Saturday. He said they made the appeal for the proper conclusion to the investigation into the sensational cyber theft in their countries and recovery of the stolen fund. The letter of Philippines central bank governor assured Bangladesh authorities to get back the stolen fund that was funneled through Philippines banking system. The government was scheduled to make public the findings the probe on September 21. A day before the planned release, Finance Minister AMA Muhith postponed its publication saying that the government stopped making it public as such a move can undermine efforts to retrieve the $81 million that is still missing. The Finance Ministry official also said that the government is seeking to get the $81 million heist fund back through negotiation with Philippines authorities. "Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has given the commitment that his country would return the fund to Bangladesh. A high-level Bangladesh delegation will visit to Manila next month to meet the Filipino President seeking his help to recover the money," he said. Cyber criminals tried to steal nearly $1 billion from Bangladesh Bank's account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in February, and succeeded in transferring $81 million to four accounts at Manila's Rizal Commercial Banking Corp (RCBC). The money was then laundered through the city's casinos, according to investigators. Earlier, a Philippine court ordered its central bank to return to Bangladesh a portion of recovered fund. The court also declared Bangladesh as the rightful owner of the funds, totalling $15.25 million. Quoting the letter of Philippines central bank (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) governor, the finance ministry official said, the bank held RCBC responsible for illegally transferring the fund because it did not follow a stop-payment request from Bangladesh Bank (BB). "If necessary, we would impose fine on RCBC for their wrongdoings and hand over the amount to Bangladesh authorities as part our commitment to return the full amount of the stolen fund," it added. The governor also expressed the optimism that his country would return $81 million stolen money within three to four months. Meanwhile, the Philippines central bank is yet to release the $15.25 million recovered fund to Bangladesh as a complexity arises over the mode of transfer of the fund. AL infighting in Kushtia Houses and shops vandalised Staff Reporter : At least two people were killed and over 29 others injured in a factional clash between two groups of ruling Awami League (AL) over establishing supremacy at village Machpara under Jhaudia union of Kushtia Sadar on Saturday morning. The deceased were identified as Iman Ali, 35, of village Machpara and Shahabuddin, 42, of village Bodyianathpur of Kushtia sadar upazila. Both the deceased were loyal to Keramat group and activists of AL Jhaudia union unit. Iman was gunned down while Sahabuddin chopped to death. Of the injured persons, eight were admitted to Kushtia General Hospital with critical injuries. Many of the injured persons received bullet wounds. According to locals and police, the clash began at about 6:00am and continued till 8:30am. During the clash, both the groups vandalised houses and shops. The activists of feuding groups also looted cash and other valuables from 27 houses. When contacted Proloy Chisim, superintendent of police of Kushtia district told The New Nation on Saturday afternoon that at least two people were killed and many others injured in the clash. "The whole area turned into a battlefield during the clash that left two people dead on the spot. Following the incident, a heavy contingent of law enforcers rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area. The situation is now under control," the SP said. Talking to the journalists, Jhaudia police camp in-charge Dilip Kumar, said two groups of AL -- one led by incumbent Union Parishad Chairman Keramat Ali and the other led by former chairman Bakhtiar - had long been enmity between them over establishing supremacy in the area. "The clash ensued following an altercation between two groups on Friday at about 6 in the morning. And since then the rival groups launched attacks on each other. At one stage on Saturday morning, both the groups equipped with firearms took position in the area and exchanged gunshots, triggering a clash that left two of them dead on the spot and 27 others injured," he said. Dilip Kumar said during the clash both sides fired gunshots and swooped on their rivals with lethal weapons Earlier on September 19, the activists of both groups launched attacks on over 100 hundred houses at Alinagar and Machpara villages of the union. During the attacks, the activists also looted valuables from each other's houses, police said. Local and police said, the feud between Keramat and Bakhtiar took a serious turn after the last UP polls held on June 11 where Keramat was elected UP chairman as an independent candidate defeating the AL nominated candidate Bokhtiar. Reports on Noor`s deportation not true: Anisul Staff Reporter : The government on Saturday denied media reports that Canada has scrapped an asylum plea by Noor Chowdhury, a self-confessed killer of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and ordered his deportation. Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq termed the reports as false while talking to journalists at his secretariat office in Dhaka yesterday. "After reports in Bangladesh media, the Foreign Minister spoke to me from New York. The High Commissioner in Canada also confirmed that it is totally untrue," the Law Minister said. He said, "We have contacted Bangladesh High Commission in Canada to know about the authenticity of the report and our envoy has informed us that the report is not true. Our High Commission also contacted Bangladesh desk in the Canadian Foreign Ministry but could not find any authenticity of the report." "Our efforts are still on to bring him back Noor and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her recent visit to Canada has talked to her counterpart Justin Trudeau regarding this. The meeting was very fruitful and the Canadian government is now considering the ways to send Noor back to Bangladesh," he said. Talking about Canada's stand against the death sentence, the minister said, "They have their constitutional obligations. They have told our Prime Minister that they are considering ways to avoid those obstacles." The court awarded Noor Chowdhury death penalty for the massacre of the family of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975. Noor is now a fugitive in Canada. Recently a report appeared in the country's media that Canada has canceled an asylum plea of Noor Chowdhury and ordered his deportation. The reporters asked the minister about Bangladesh's next step in bringing back the killer and making him face justice. Bangladesh has requested Canada several times to extradite Noor Chowdhury, but Ottawa turned down the request citing legal issues. Canadian legal system does not allow deportation of any foreign citizen who might face death penalty in the home country. Five of the killers of Bangabandhu and most of his family were hanged on January 28, 2010, after exercising all the legal procedures. Another six death-row convicts Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haque Dalim, Noor Chowdhury, Moslemuddin, Rashed Chowdhury and Abdul Mazed are now hiding abroad. Their cohorts Abdul Aziz Pasha died in Zimbabwe in 2001. Greed without patriotism has brought us where we are There is no pride for our Liberation War without democracy. To live in fear of insecurity is neither democracy nor freedom. We have to blame ourselves before we blame others for our helplessness. No people can be helped if they are not willing to help themselves. Our weakness is our punishment. Bangladesh was born to be an ideal democracy instead our system is clawing back to the authoritarianism of the past, we rejected. While the number of democracies in the world has doubled in recent times, our democracy is falling apart piece by piece. Only democratic institution, showing life and strength, is struggling to survive is the judiciary. For greed without pride of patriotism, we are poised to live in servitude. Hope to have a government elected by the people looks hopeless. So to be free and live in freedom the voices of patriotism have to be raised jointly. If there is no problem in accepting that the country belongs to all of it's people then we shall have no difficulty to live together in peace and prosperity. For the arrogance of the few and silence of the many we are forced to suffer insecurity of violence and use of arbitrary power. It must be stressed that as conscious citizens of a free country it is our prime responsibility to preserve and uphold the police strictly as law enforcers. Because, it is by abusing police power that a government is empowered to abuse human rights and subvert the rule of law as well as the democratic process if some remnants are still left. Unless freedom is protected freedom ceases. Every day media is filled with heart-breaking tales of grief- stricken families weeping for their loved ones killed in violence of local politics or accidents while traveling on unsafe roads or rivers. During Eid holidays the number of people lost their lives in such accidents stood at 265, besides 1153 were injured in 12 days. Death in police custody and patients dying in hospitals due to negligence are a regular tragedy we live with. We cannot have our country to be such where life is cheap and killing does not matter. The threat of terrorism however genuine cannot be the justification for the government not to guarantee protection of law for the safety of one's life and property. If that is not so then why fight terrorism? The power to arrest anybody as terrorist on mere suspicion does not value the people's fundamental right to personal protection and liberty. To arrest a person in the act of terrorism is different from arresting a person on mere suspicion. According to The New York Times unlawful detention and disappearances have become routine in Bangladesh. At one stage recently some 15000 people were arrested on suspicion in the context of militant attacks. As if the restraint of law or the Constitution has no meaning. When the police can arrest a person on their own without a court's warrant then they are placed above the law and their role as enforcers of law is badly compromised. Law is rendered helpless to protect the basic freedom of personal liberty, and both the rule of law and the judiciary become a mockery. Trial by police remand or crossfire is systemic anarchy and cannot be encouraged. Such acts are against civilised living because of denial of the due process of law as enshrined in our Constitution. What is most disappointing and potentially too dangerous is the use of Liberation War to create division, dissension and enmity among our own people for establishing dominance of the few over the whelming others. Here lies all the motivation for distortion of the facts and history. The Supreme Court is insisting not to arrest anybody and interfere with the individual liberty without a court warrant. When a person is to be arrested on suspicion of terrorism it is all the more necessary that a warrant should be taken out from the court. Let the court be satisfied about how strong is the suspicion. The role of the police cannot be that of prosecutor and judge combined. The court also disapproved plainclothes men to harass individuals. It is necessary so that the people are saved from false ones claiming to be police officials. Every sensible person has reason to feel deeply concerned for the lack of humanity, breach of human rights and waste of public money in our national affairs. The lack of coordination within the government explains the lawlessness outside. The government is helpless in controlling even the extortionists among its party workers. The development politics, in contrast to election politics that the government is highlighting, has mostly benefited the few corrupt ones at the top. What is going on is the celebration of joint venture corruption. Most of the projects are vanity projects unconnected with immediate needs of the people. The specter of economic hardship being borne by the mass people is going unnoticed and uncared for. Although our view is that terrorism is not yet strong enough in our country. But coming of weapons in the country via India is a strong indication that terrorism is being attracted and violent confrontation with emerging terrorism is a real possibility. Serious terrorism grows within the country if the ground is prepared for it. Without the people's participatory democracy and the rule of law firmly in place there will be fight between terrorism and counter terrorism. Guns against guns. Terrorism will not be ended, but of the two more vicious one will prevail. So our appeal to those who can afford to make their voices heard must do so before it is too late. We must have control over our police as well as the government to ensure freedom under good governance. We have to prove that we can preserve and protect our existence as a free people. What we are currently going through is the humiliation of our own failings. Our crisis is that of leadership and we have to rely on ourselves collectively for saving our dignity as a nation. Let us not join others to be the cause of the problem. Let us be the solution. Looking for the vulture assist with Neolithic burials 2 years ago 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." "We are in your emails and computer systems, watching and recording your every move, we have your names and addresses, we are in your emails and social media accounts, we are extracting confidential data and passing on your personal information to the soldiers of the Khilafah, who soon with the permission of Allah will strike at your necks in your own lands!" A computer hacker who allegedly helped the terrorist organization ISIS by handing over data for 1,351 US government and military personnel has been sentenced to 20 years in a U.S. prison. Ardit Ferizi , aka Th3Dir3ctorY, from Kosovo was sentenced in federal court in Alexandria, forthe Department of Justice announced on Friday.The 21-year-old ISIS-linked hacker obtained the data by hacking into the US web hosting company's servers on June 13, 2015.Ferizi then filtered out over 1,300 US military and government employees' information from the stolen data and then handed them over to Junaid Hussain , according to court filings [ PDF ].The stolen data contains personally identifiable information (PII), which includes names, email addresses, passwords, locations and phone numbers of US military service members and government workers.Junaid Hussain, who was a British jihadi and believed to be the then leader and creator of a group of ISIS hackers called the Islamic State Hacking Division (ISHD), posted the names and personal data of 100 US service member's families online.The Hussain's statements included:Hussain, who was also known as Abu Hussain Al-Britani and used the moniker TriCk, was later killed in a US drone strike in Syria in August last year.The US authorities also tracked down Ferizi to Malaysia, where he was arrested by the local authorities on October 6, 2015, while trying to catch a flight back to Kosovo.Before helping ISIS, Ferizi had served as an alleged leader of the Kosova Hacker's Security (KHS) hacking group and hacked into a number of government sites belonging to the Presidency of Macedonia, the Greek Ministry of Education, the Greek Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace (DAMT), Lifelong Learning and Religion. He also stole data from IBM and Greek mobile telecoms firm OTE.Ferizi was pleaded guilty on June 15, 2016, and faced a sentence of up to 35 years in prison, but the sentence was reduced to a maximum of 25 years after agreeing to plead guilty. However, defense lawyers said he meant no real harm and asked for a six-year sentence. Contact: Jim Kouri Jim Kouri copmagazine@aol.com The United Kingdom's notorious female jihadist known as the White Widow has created an elite secret army comprised exclusively of female terrorists with the goal of perpetrating a series of devastating suicide attacks in the West. According to an intelligence source, Robert Prescott, they travel with their children during their reign of feminized terror.British citizen Sally Jones became Europe's most wanted female criminal when she fled the U.K. to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Jones swore that she will help in destroying the country of her birth and she has since created an extremely dangerous new brigade female warriors hell-bent on instituting Sharia law in Europe, the United States, and other Westernized nations.Intelligence reports released to British news outlets indicates most of the women are war widows and they use their femininity to slip past security measures in order to launch savagely violent attacks. In many incidents they would think nothing of bringing their children on their merciless missions in order to fool the police or security services.Last week the French news media reported that a teenaged girl was shot by cops . She was allegedly part of France's first ever all-female ISIS terror cell which planned to attack a busy Parisian train station.The accepted story is that when Sally Jones' Islamist husband was killed by a U.S. drone strike, she began leading the all-female wing of the Anwar al-Awlaki battalion, which was named for another Western-born Muslim. Anwar al-Awlaki was an American and Yemeni imam and Islamic lecturer. U.S. government officials allege that he was a senior recruiter and motivator who was involved in planning terrorist operations for al-Qaida.An ISIS defector confirmed Jones' leadership position, saying:Jones supposedly now goes by the name Umm Hussain al-Britani. She is in charge of training "soldiers" in combat and in strategies for suicide attacks on western targets. The all-women battalion is made up of foreign fighters and designed to carry out terror attacks in the west.Sally Jones reportedly receives salary of 520-pounds per week, and sometimes a bonus of 226-pounds for being a high profile widow of someone recognized as a martyr for Allah.according to Joel Arends, founder and president of Veterans for a Strong America.In an email statement, Arends claims that since Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton refused to stop them - some may claim they even helped them - it's up to proud Americans to save the United States.said Arends a U.S. Army combat veteran.He believes America needs leaders like GOP presidential hopeful Donald Trump; leaders who understand if we don't turn back radical Islam now, we'll have more to worry about than lone-wolf terror attacks. The alternative to a true leader is someone like Hillary Clinton, who leads a political party that views air-conditioners as a bigger threat than ISIS. She also claims that Republicans - especially Trump - are more of an enemy than radical Islamists or murderous drug cartels and patriotic American men and women are 'deplorable.'said Michael Snopes, a former police detective working in an intelligence task force.Snopes noted. Pre-purchase property inspection is a relatively new thing in the United Kingdom. Its not something that most people have heard about, but it has become increasingly popular over the last few years with the rise in property prices and increased demand for high quality homes. What are the benefits of pre-purchase building inspection? What can you expect to find out when you pay someone else to inspect your home before you buy it? And what should you look for during an inspection? Many people want to know if theyre buying a house thats been well maintained or if its had any serious problems. If youve found a place on the market that seems attractive, but then discover some issues after moving in, you may not be as excited about buying it as you thought you were. Its important to do your due diligence when looking at properties. A lot goes into making a property appealing to potential buyers, from the landscaping to the flooring to the kitchen appliances. The same applies when inspecting a property there are many things that need checking over to make sure everything is running smoothly. Here are some of the benefits of performing a pre-purchase inspection: You get to see exactly what will happen to your money When you go shopping for a new car, youll probably be shown several different models. You might even be shown one that looks like a great value, but doesnt fit around all of the extra features that you want. When it comes time to actually buy the vehicle, however, you wont have seen how your money will be spent on it once you drive it off the showroom floor. Likewise, when you shop for a new home, you dont really know what youre getting yourself into until you move in. In order to get a feel for whether the home youre considering is what you want, you normally have to spend quite a bit of time inside it. This allows you to learn more about everything that youre going to be spending your hard-earned cash on. A pre-purchase building inspection gives you much the same kind of experience without having to spend thousands of dollars. Since youre paying for the service, you can expect to see exactly what youre paying for, instead of just seeing a vague idea of what you might end up with. You find out about potential major repairs Some buildings are very expensive to maintain, which means that owners often neglect them for the sake of saving money. While youre paying for a building inspection, youre also paying for a professional who knows how to spot signs of trouble and repair work that needs doing. If you notice that a particular area of your new home needs fixing right away, you can call in an expert to take care of it quickly. If you find that theres something wrong with your boiler, you wont have to wait weeks for a plumber to come over and fix it. Instead, youll have access to a solution immediately. You can save hundreds of pounds by finding out about potential problems early on One of the biggest expenses when you first buy a home is the cost of moving in. Many people dont realize this until its too late. Buying a home involves not only paying for the actual house, but also for moving costs, furniture, and other items that have to be moved along with the home. Having a good idea ahead of time of what youre likely to encounter can help you avoid these kinds of costs. If you know youll need to replace the plumbing system, for example, youll be able to put together a budget for the expense and plan accordingly. You can protect your investment by finding out if the homes been well cared for While there are plenty of people who think that houses always look better when theyre newly built, youd be surprised at how well maintained older residences can still look nice. Sometimes, though, those homes need some additional maintenance to keep them looking their best. This could involve repairs that arent so noticeable or small improvements that you wouldnt consider otherwise. Even worse, some houses have fallen into disrepair without anyone noticing. This is why having a professional perform a building inspection prior to purchasing a home is such a big benefit. Not only will it give you insight into the state of the property, but it will also give you peace of mind knowing youre not getting taken advantage of. As long as youre aware of the potential pitfalls, youll have less reason to worry about the state of your new home. You can use information gathered during a building inspection to negotiate a lower price If youre worried about buying a home because you suspect that it may need extensive renovation work, you may already have a rough idea of how much work youll need to do to bring it up to scratch. That knowledge can come in handy if you decide to buy the home. You can use all of the details that you gather during a building inspection to present a realistic picture of what the home is worth to prospective buyers. If a potential buyer thinks that the home is worth more than what you paid for it, you can try negotiating a lower price. You can sell your home faster and for more money If you decide to list your home on the market soon after buying it, youll need to price it accurately in order to attract buyers. But if youve already done a thorough building inspection, youll know exactly what work is needed and what the current market conditions are. In other words, youll be able to make a more accurate estimate of the amount of money youve invested in the home and how much its worth. If you find that youre selling your house for close to its full market value, you can use this information to convince the potential buyer that your home is worth the asking price. Even if youre planning to stay in the home for a while before you decide to sell, the fact that you did a thorough building inspection will give you more confidence when listing it. Prospective buyers will know exactly what theyre paying for. Your home will hold its value longer As mentioned earlier, the value of a home depends heavily upon the condition of the building itself. If your home is in bad shape, potential buyers wont be interested in buying it. On the other hand, if youve performed a thorough building inspection and know what sort of repairs are necessary, you can offer your prospective buyer a compelling reason to invest in your property. When you buy a home, youre essentially agreeing to have it inspected periodically to ensure that it stays in top shape. Not only does this allow you to avoid expensive repairs down the road, but it can also increase the value of your home. You can make smart decisions about property investments Buying real estate isnt as simple as just driving a couple of minutes to pick up a house. There are lots of considerations involved, ranging from location to cost. The same is true when youre investing in property. If you find a house that meets all of your requirements, youll want to make sure that you have a solid understanding of where it stands with regards to the rest of the market. If you havent spent enough time researching the area, you could inadvertently end up with a bad deal. There are lots of resources available online that can help you determine the overall level of competition in your area. They can also help you figure out if there are any properties that meet your requirements that you didnt know about. If you own rental property, you can use the information to identify tenants who might cause damage If you own rental property and youve noticed that certain tenants consistently cause damage, you can use the results of a building inspection to identify them. You can then contact them directly to let them know that youre watching them closely and that you dont appreciate the problem theyre causing. They might start taking better care of their homes, which would be good news for everyone. It could also be the case that youll find out that theyre responsible for previous damages that werent caught during a previous visit. You can make smarter decisions about hiring contractors If youve hired contractors to build or repair your home, you might want to ask them for references. However, unless you perform a thorough building inspection, you might not know exactly what to look for. For instance, maybe you only checked the roof for leaks or the walls for cracks. You might not have looked underneath the foundation for anything that could cause a future issue. By performing a building inspection, you can ensure that you hire reputable contractors who will be trustworthy with your money. You can avoid purchasing a home thats in poor condition Of course, the main benefit of structural inspections perth is that it helps you avoid purchasing a home thats in poor condition. Before you make the decision to buy a home, you should do whatever you can to find out about the state of the building. You can also ask your realtor about what sorts of inspections are typically recommended. Some agents say that its standard practice to check the heating system, the roof, the electrical wiring, and the floors. Others will tell you that they recommend that you check the entire structure. Either way, if you choose to hire an inspector, youll find out exactly what needs to be fixed and how much it will cost to do so. As a result, it can be concluded that a pre-purchase building inspection is highly important for the buyers because it provides transparency regarding the current conditions of the structure. Additionally, the building owner is made aware of any upgrades or repairs that are required, which could lead to a fair deal throughout the purchasing and selling process. Taxes, bonds, county commission makeup featured on other local ballots Alexander County voters will decide whether to allow countywide malt beverage and unfortified wine sales, along with ABC stores and mixed beverages. Taylorsville citizens (Alexander County) will vote on two alcohol referendums. One would permit the on-premises sale of malt beverages. The other would allow for mixed drinks in the town. Bertie County voters will decide on whether to permit countywide mixed beverages. Glen Alpine voters (Burke County) will vote on allowing ABC stores. Waco voters (Cleveland County) will decide whether to approve the off-premises sale of malt beverages. They also decide a similar measure for unfortified wine. Also in Cleveland County, Casar voters will decide two alcohol ballot measures. They'll be deciding on-premises and off-premises sale of both malt beverages and unfortified wine. Davidson County voters will decide four alcohol measures: Permitting the on-premises and off-premises sale of malt beverages, permitting the on-premises and off-premises sale of unfortified wine, permitting ABC stores, and permitting mixed beverage sales. Davie County voters will vote on ABC stores. Stanley voters (Gaston County) will decide three measures: ABC stores, on-premises sale of malt beverages, and on-premises sale of unfortified wine. Haywood County residents will have five alcohol measures: the off-premises sale of malt beverages, the on-premises sale of malt beverages, the on-premises and off-premises sale of unfortified wine, the on-premises sale only of unfortified wine, and the off-premises sale only of unfortified wine. Johnston County voters will decide by the on-premises and off-premises sale of malt beverages and the on-premises and off-premises sale of unfortified wine. Clayton voters (Johnston County) will have two alcohol referendums: the on-premises and off-premises sale of malt beverages, and the on-premises and off-premises sale of unfortified wine. Grantsboro voters (Pamlico County) will decide a mixed drink referendum. Badin voters, in Stanly County, will decide a mixed drink referendum. Vance County voters will also decide a mixed beverage referendum. Brunswick County voters will decide a $152 million school bond measure. Asheville voters will decide three bond measures. One is a $32 million transportation bond for streets, streetscape and pedestrian improvements, and bicycle paths. Another is a $25 million bond for low- and moderate-income housing. The third is a $17 million parks and recreation bond package. Woodfin voters (Buncombe County) will decide a $4.5 million parks and recreation bond package. Durham County residents will decide four bond measures: Nearly $20.2 million for community colleges, $44.7 million for library facilities, $14.2 million for museums, and nearly $90.9 million for schools. Forsyth County voters will decide three bond measures - a $350 million school bond, a $65 million community college bond, and a $15 million parks and recreation bond. Guilford County voters will decide four bond measures - a $25 million low- and moderate-income housing bond measure, $38.5 million for community and economic development, $34.5 million parks and recreation bonds, and $28 million transportation bonds. Wilmington voters will decide a parks and recreation bond package totaling nearly $30.5 million. Orange County voters will decide two bond measures - $120 million for schools, and $5 million for low- and moderate-income housing. Union County voters will decide three bond measures - $40.2 million for community colleges, $10.1 million for libraries, and $54 million for schools. Goldsboro voters will decide two bond measures - $3 million for parks and recreation facilities, and $7 million for infrastructure, including sidewalks and streetscapes. While voters in a number of North Carolina localities will have alcohol, tax increase, and bond referendums on their minds, citizens in the Forsyth County village of Tobaccoville will be deciding whether to recall their mayor.On Jan. 7, Tobaccoville Mayor Billy McHone resigned his office, but rescinded the offer before the Village Council could meet to accept it. This summer, the General Assembly passed a bill allowing the residents to petition for a recall of their mayor or village council member. To place a recall measure on the ballot, the petition needed the signatures of at least 20 percent of the registered voters in the village.The petition needed 343 verified signatures and it received nearly 400.McHone's resignation and reversal came during the council's discussion of two proposed ordinances. One would have restricted the discharge of firearms within 1,000 feet of an occupied building. The other would have banned the use of exploding targets, which explode when hit by high-velocity bullets. McHone backed the ordinances, but then submitted his resignation after property owners, speaking at the meeting, pushed back.McHone did not respond to a request to comment on the ballot issue.Voters in North Carolina's two largest counties - Mecklenburg and Wake -also will decide local ballot measures on Nov. 8.Mecklenburg County voters will decide three bond referendums - a $148.4 million transportation bond, a $15 million housing bond, and a $55 million neighborhood improvement bond. Among the uses permitted for the transportation bonds are street construction and improvements, streetscape and pedestrian improvements, parking lots, and bicycle paths. The housing bonds are for low- and moderate-income housing projects. The neighborhood improvement bonds would pay for infrastructure for curbs, gutters, storm drainage, sidewalks, and pedestrian and bicycle paths.Wake County voters will consider a 0.5 cent local sales and use tax on the ballot. If approved, proceeds would be used for public transportation systems.Voters in 13 counties - Bladen, Carteret, Clay, Cleveland, Graham, Henderson, Jones, Mitchell, Pasquotank, Rutherford, Stanly, Stokes, and Swain - will vote whether to increase the local sales and use tax rate by 0.25 cent.Two other counties - Gates and Halifax - have local school supplement tax referendums on the ballot.Voters in 15 localities will decide alcohol referendums:Along with Mecklenburg County, 10 other North Carolina localities will decide bond referendums:In addition, voters in Onslow and Polk counties will decide whether to approve changes in the makeup of their board of county commissioners. The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now. Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market. In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender. India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex. Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted. But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted? Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner. If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems. I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now. I want more variation in masturbation I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own. If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end. What is sex toys for Indian? Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation. It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms. They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable. Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner. The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner. It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past. In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping. Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order. In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing. Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome. Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own. But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance. More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around. Sextoy situation in India Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years. In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India. Mumbai Kolkata Bangalore Delhi Chennai Hyderabad These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India. In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well. If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too. If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it. What are Sextoys for beginner? Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms. Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy. I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion. I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy. If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma. Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it. Advantages of using sextoy for Indians There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways. Can have stimulating sex Can develop new sexual zones If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern. However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways. You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation. Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever. There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure. This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it. When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems. It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms). For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles [Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou... Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India. Sextoy for beginner men in India So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners. For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men! The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men Masturbator Cock rings Love Doll Sex Lubricants Toys for the prostate Lets check each one in detail. Masturbator The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products. It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands. Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands. They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.) Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much. Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! ! Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa SEXToys India PR (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018 Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood. If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ... [For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien... Cock Ring A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis. It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow. It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber. In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection. Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction. It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it. Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time. Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function. Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy. You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect. [Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat... Love Doll Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex. There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women. Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price. The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true. You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste. There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice. You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls. If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to... Sex lubricants Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules. It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution. Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse. There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent. Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent. If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here. What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many... Toys for the Prostate Another sextoy for men is prostate toys. The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line. Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men. Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men. What is the prostate? The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm. You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus. By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms. Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.) The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation. Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure. sextoy for beinner women in India The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy. The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy. Vibrator. Dildo Electric Masserger Lets check out what each one is in detail. If you want to check out womens toys, click here. [BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm... Vibrators A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator. Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy. It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy. Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women. For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators. Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex. Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself. This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual. Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men. When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons. Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most... Dildo A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis. It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass. A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it. They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well. It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device. A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo. Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands. For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis. This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one. To learn more about dildo, please click here. What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th... Electric Masserger A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores. It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low. Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels. Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation. It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure. For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm. It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out. If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager? To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here. What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th... How to choose a sextoy for Indian Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one. Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points: Does the size fit you (the partner)? Does the size fit you (your partner)? Is the environment able to produce sound without problems? Price range First of all, the choice of size is quite important. Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women. For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage. Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems. Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise. If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level. Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it. Finally, there is the price range. The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest. Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy. Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy? I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance. For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics. If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out. How to buy sextoys in India The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping. For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below. Sextoy is one of them. Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping. SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India. They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry. Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card. To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy. ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal. Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on. Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture. Cautions for Indians using sextoy When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind Keep sex toys clean Watch out for electrical leakage Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone. Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there. It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case. In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness. Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful. If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it. You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly. Summary What did you think? In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India. The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future. As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values. However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health. If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try? Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women. I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it. CARBONDALE On a single evening next week, organizers of a 5K run plan to raise enough money to feed 300 children in some of their orphanages for an entire year. Thats three meals a day for children served by the orphanages and schools in Bangladesh, said Shema Ruperto, director of For Kids' Sake and organizer of this event. For Kids Sake is an international fundraising project that helps children, schools and orphanages in Bangladesh. The 6th Annual For Kids' Sake Superhero 5K Run/Walk-a-Thon begins at 6 p.m. Friday , Sept. 30, at Lenus Turley Park; the park is at the intersection of Route 13 and Glenview Drive. Individuals and teams pay $20 per person to participate; the $20 goes toward the fundraising. Participating individuals and groups accept pledges toward the 5K Run/Walk-a-Thon. Last year, the run raised $32,000 for the charity, 85 to 90 percent of which went to fund the groups missions in Bangladesh. Since 2001, organizers have raised $1.3 million from the 5K events for their Bangladesh missions. A little bit of money goes a long way in Bangladesh; The country's gross domestic product, per capita, was an estimated $3,600 in 2015, compared to $55,800 per capita for the United States that same year, according to the CIA World Factbook. The organization also pays its teachers, on average, a monthly salary of $100, which is enough for them to live comfortably, Ruperto said. You can consider your registration as a donation, she said. The $20 registration will feed 57 orphans, so you can also consider that a donation. Free T-shirts will also be given to those who register. This years theme is superheroes, something that Ruperto says she challenges people to think about as they consider sacrificing their Friday evening to participate in the race or to donate money. A superhero puts aside their own agenda and their own desires and preferences for the sake of helping others, Ruperto said. Its a small sacrifice, and its for the sake of helping and literally saving the life of someone else. This year, she said the city of Carbondale has stepped up to help sponsor the event, and Mayor Mike Henry is expected to speak at the awards ceremony. She also said city firefighters are expected to bring fire trucks to the Turley Park area, which is down the street from one of the fire stations. The superhero theme might be played out with the runners and other volunteers, who have been invited to wear capes and other superhero designs. Superhero clothing is not a requirement, however; a prize will be awarded to the best Superhero costumes. For Kids' Sake had its beginnings in the 1940s, when a man who was orphaned as a child began founding the orphanages in Bangladesh. Before his death, he left his work to Sheikh Din Muhammad Abdullah al-Dayemi, who founded the For Kids' Sake organization. The project is hosted by the Dayemi Tariqat, a not-for-profit, religious, educational and service organization and a spiritual community based in Southern Illinois. Participants will received free cookies from Longbranch Cafe & Bakery, fruit and massages from John A. Logan massage therapists. Visitors can also buy a dinner of a beef chili-dog, chips and a drink for $5. Those interested in participating in the 5K are asked to pre-register by Sunday, Sept. 25 (they can register online at www.forkidssake.net.) Registration will also open at 4:30 p.m. on the day of the 5K race. CARBONDALE Interim Southern Illinois University Chancellor Brad Colwell announced the appointment of Elizabeth Lewin as interim associate chancellor for diversity on Thursday, according to SIU University Communications. The appointment will be effective Oct. 1. Lewin is a Carbondale native with bachelors and masters degrees from SIU, as well as an education specialist degree in education from SIU Edwardsville. She also earned a doctorate degree from the University of Sarasota in Florida. SIU says she was named as the first African-American female superintendent of the Carbondale Elementary School District in 1995. She retired in 2005. Lewin then taught in SIUs College of Education and Human Services. Lewin was Edwardsvilles first African-American school administrator, serving as assistant principal from 1988 to 1993, and then principal of Edwardsville High School from 1993 to 1995. SIU is reporting Lewin has extensive experience with diversity and inclusivity. A release from the school points to her experience at the Edwardsville school district, where she resolved several race-related issues resulting from an annexation of a rural community into the district. During her time in Carbondale, she started a program called Carbondale in Harmony that ran for two years. I am delighted that Dr. Lewin will be sharing her passion for education and her leadership skills at this critical time and in this key position, Colwell said. She has been a trailblazer throughout her career, and the university will benefit from her expertise and commitment. He added that the university plans a national search to fill the position on a permanent basis. For those who dont know, there is a total solar eclipse in about a year, and Southern Illinois will enjoy the greatest duration of totality. Local officials are projecting thousands of people will be coming into the area. Some officials, like the members of the Jackson County Board, have predicted numbers anywhere between 50,000 to 500,000 people. On Aug. 21, the first total solar eclipse over the U.S. mainland since 1979 will reach its point of greatest duration a few miles south of Carbondale, totaling about two minutes and 40 seconds when it arrives around 1:21 p.m. It will be the first total solar eclipse during which day will turn into night, complete with dropping temperatures and visible stars to traverse the entire mainland from coast to coast since June 8, 1918. Just in case those nearly thee minutes of daytime darkness pass you by, youll have a second chance when the centerline of totality roughly a 70-mile wide path of the moon entirely shielding the sun returns on April 8, 2024. The two centerlines seven years apart will intersect over Cedar Lake, bringing with them astronomers, students, first-time viewers and those who are known as eclipse chasers from around the world. If that isnt enough, the 2017 eclipse comes on Southern Illinois Universitys move-in weekend. There are some major questions that Southern Illinois towns and officials have to figure out. Like, where is everybody going to stay? Jackson County has recently discussed a camping ordinance where those letting individuals camp on their property would have to obtain a permit. Board member Keith Larkin said the state has a statute regulating campgrounds that operate more than six days a year, but there is nothing to regulate stays for a one- or two-night venture. The board is concerned about somebody with hundreds of acres looking to rent space to campers, but not having the proper facilities for sewage and trash for a potentially large group of eclipse watchers. The concern is not that we want to create a license that we can sell, Larkin said. The concern is that of public safety. Specifically with camping. He said the permit would be a way to know how many people are in the area, and so there would be a way to ensure the properties would be maintained afterward. The county hadnt passed an ordinance as of Friday, but the states attorneys office is working on drafting one. Jackson County isnt the only county working on what to do with the influx of people. Towns in Williamson, Perry, Johnson, Saline and Union counties are having informational meetings to decide what to do in less than a year from now. Visitors could pay a high price to stay a few nights in a hotel. That is, if they can even find an open room for Aug. 20-21. Several of the bed-and-breakfasts featured on tourism sites in Southern Illinois have been listed as unavailable. The Train Inn in Carbondale is actually selling its availability on eBay starting May 31, 2017. The online auction will run for 10 days, according to the establishments website. Based on searches by The Southern Illinoisan, there are no rooms listed as available at any of the Americas Best Inn and Suites, The Hampton Inn, and Holiday Inn, or Super 8 motels in the area. There were rooms available at the Econo Lodge, but rates are about triple its normal quote. The hotels website lists rooms at $196 in Carbondale and $150 in Marion for one night. For comparisons sake, booking a night for this Sunday, will cost $64 in Carbondale and $54 in Marion. The Comfort Inn in Marion has rooms starting at $250 a night, and the Comfort Suites in Marion has rooms at $180. A visitor could rest his or her head at the Quality Inn in Carbondale for $200 on Aug. 21 However, there was a room for the same night at the Marion Quality Inn listed at $87. The Best Westerns in the area are all booked up from Carbondale to Chester, but Nashville had a listing at $81. Hotels arent the only option these days for staying the night. Home rental sites like Airbnb, HomeAway and Flipkey can be sources for a nights stay. These websites typically list homes that have a room for rent, or the entire place for a night. The properties are typically owned by another person that could stay in the home with you for the evening. Renters would have to set up an account on these sites in order to rent a space. Searches by the newspaper revealed that Airbnb had 24 listings from the Paducah area to Mount Vernon. Some were listed as low as $20, but owners have the ability to set their prices as they see fit. HomeAway had five listings within the same parameters, and Flipkey showed five more locations, including a tree house in the Shawnee National Forest for $200 a night. Contact: Jesse Hunt Jesse Hunt jhunt@burrforsenate.com Raleigh, NC The Burr campaign today announced its newest leadership team, "Farmers for Burr." The leadership team, made up of over a dozen farmers, recognizes Senator Burr's concerted effort to reduce burdensome federal red tape for North Carolina farmers. Agriculture is a critical element of the local economy in North Carolina, and Senator Burr continues to fight for them, whether it is stopping harmful cuts to crop insurance or pushing back on federal policies that threaten North Carolina's farms and rural communities.- State Sen. Brent Jackson, Co-Chair of "Farmers for Burr" leadership teamJackson is the Founder, President, and CEO of Jackson Farming Company, Inc. located in Autryville, NC. For over thirty years, Senator Jackson has farmed thousands of acres annually in eastern North Carolina. Jackson has previously served as President for several agriculture industry related groups including the North Carolina Horticulture Council, Chairman of the Board of the National Watermelon Association, and Board Member of the National Watermelon Promotion Board.Dixon is currently the Agriculture Committee Chairman in the North Carolina House of Representatives. He was raised by parents who tended a farm in eastern North Carolina producing tobacco, corn, and other vegetables. Rep. Dixon now runs his family farm, where he raises thousands of chickens annually for Nash Johnson & Sons.Langdon is currently serving his 6th and final term in the North Carolina State House. He has been a member of the House Agriculture for all 6 terms and is a current Chair of the Committee. Rep. Langdon graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in Agriculture Education. He is a retired educator, farmer, and professional photographer.Harrell and Lorenda run Overman Farms, a family operation in Wayne County that included Harrell's father, who first started raising hogs after serving in the U.S. Army following World War II. After dating for two years, Harrell and Lorenda got married after graduating from college. Harrell earned a degree in agronomy from N.C. State University while Lorenda obtained a biology degree from Mount Olive College. Harrell and Lorenda have three children and hope for one of them to take over the operations of Overman Farms so the family can continue in the agriculture industry into the fourth generation.Doug Boyd is the President of 3 B Farms located in Beaufort and Washington Counties, North Carolina. 3 B Farms agricultural crops include corn, cotton, soybeans, and wheat.Brent and Sue own and operate Leggett Farming Partnership, a first generation family farm located in Nash County, North Carolina. Currently, they grow tobacco, sweet potatoes, cotton, cucumbers, soybeans, peanuts, and strawberries. Brent also serves as the Vice President of the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission.Richard & Ralph Renegar are lifetime farmer, and long time supporters of Senator Richard Burr. Richard, Ralph and their family own Hunting Creek Preserve in Harmony, NC. Richard also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the U.S. Tobacco Cooperative.Rob Hill is the President of Tull Hill Farms in Lenoir County, NC. Tull Hill Farms is a diversified farming operation producing tobacco, along with sweet potatoes, cotton, soybeans, corn, wheat and lettuce. In 2013, Tull Hill Farms was honored as the Farm Family of the Year by the Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina. In addition, Rob serves as the President of the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission.Jeffery Lee is the owner of Jeffery Lee Farms in Johnston, Sampson, and Harnett Counties. He tends approximately 225 acres of tobacco, 650 acres of sweet potatoes, and 600 acres of cotton. Jeffery has served and currently serves on several agriculture boards, including the Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina, NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, North Carolina SweetPotato Commission, United States Sweet Potato Council, and the North Carolina Agricultural Commissioner's Circle.Lawrence Davenport is the president of J.P. Davenport & Son, Inc., a 120-year-old family agribusiness located in Pitt County, NC. Lawrence serves on the Golden LEAF Board of Directors. He has served on the N.C. State University Chancellor's Circle, the U.S. Advisory Commission for Tobacco Inspection. Contact: McCrory Communications McCrory Communications govpress@nc.gov Raleigh, N.C. Governor Pat McCrory declared a State of Emergency for 11 counties today because of flooding from remnants of Tropical Storm Julia. The counties covered by the declaration are Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Northampton, Pasquotank and Perquimans.said Governor McCrory.Governor McCrory addressed the flooding earlier today. A link to video of the governor's comments can be found here.National Weather Service reports indicate rainfall amounts of five to nine inches across much of eastern North Carolina, while the Arrowhead Beach and Corapeake communities received more than 10 inches of rain. Windsor received more than 12 inches of rain in the past 72 hours.Governor McCrory declared a State of Emergency to facilitate the movement of any resources that may be needed to respond to and recover from the storm. He also issued an executive order that waives certain truck restrictions on weight and hours of service to facilitate quicker storm response.This morning, the state deployed five swift water rescue teams to help people stranded in floodwaters. As of this morning, 65 people have been rescued from homes and vehicles in Bertie County area. A Greenville-based medical evacuation bus is currently headed east to Bertie County to assist with the evacuation of a nursing home housing 52 residents.Schools were closed today in Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Gates, Hertford and Perquimans counties. Schools were delayed in Elizabeth City and Pasquotank, Northampton, Currituck and Halifax counties.One shelter was open overnight in Bertie County to house about 20 people.On behalf of Governor McCrory, State Transportation Secretary Nick Tennyson toured parts of Bertie and Chowan counties today to survey the extent of recent flooding and assess damage to roadways and bridges. Several roads remain impassable in the affected counties. US-13 in Windsor, NC 32 in Edenton and NC 37 in Gatesville are major roads that are currently closed.Secretary Tennyson said.For the latest road closings, click here and monitor NCDOT on Twitter. Emergency Management officials remind everyone when they encounter flooded roads to remember, "Turn around, don't drown."Latest reports indicate that waters are still rising and may peak later this afternoon. The Cashie River has reached record levels and nearly 60 homes are reported to have water inside the livable space.Click here to view Executive Orders 103 and 104 Hillary Clinton's higher education policy ideas have been taking a lot of criticism. Here, for example, is an analysis by economics professor Gary Wolfram, published in May by the Pope Center. And here's my take Apparently, opposition to Clinton's proposals is sufficiently worrisome to Democrats that on September 10, Robert Shireman (undersecretary in the Department of Education early in the Obama administration and a party loyalist) published aop-ed intended to rebut the criticism and convince Americans that if elected, Clinton will "fix college."He declares that "affordable higher education" is a major component of the Clinton campaign and that the arguments against her plan-that it would have negative unintended consequences-are "misplaced." Let's see.The key objective of Clinton's plan is to get more Americans into college, especially those from lower income families, and graduate more of them. That reflects two widespread but mistaken beliefs: that the cost of attending is the main reason why many students from non-wealthy families don't graduate from college and that getting a college degree would be very beneficial to them.First, while it is true that in general the cost of going to college has been escalating, there remain many options that don't cost much at all. Attending community college is an inexpensive way for students to begin their education-two years that usually provide them with marketable skills or get them half way toward a four-year degree. Pell grants cover most of the expense.As for four-year institutions, there are many public schools where tuition remains quite affordable. In North Carolina, for instance, the annual cost to attend East Carolina University is just $6,580. North Carolina State, however, is considerably more expensive, with an annual cost of over $23,000. That is unaffordable to some, but the higher education market is like the restaurant market: there are options for all budgets. When people shop around for higher education, almost no one is completely priced out.Furthermore, there are scholarship organizations such as the United Negro College Fund and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation that are eager to assist good students from poor families so they can attend colleges even up to the most expensive.Very few students are unable to afford any postsecondary education. Overwhelmingly, when students don't attend college, it's because they aren't academically prepared for or (even if academically prepared) interested in devoting more of their lives to formal schooling. Trying to lure them into college with free tuition is an extremely bad idea.At many colleges and universities, tuition and fees are unnecessarily high, but that isn't the same as being unaffordable. Almost all Americans are able to get through college with very manageable debts, as Sandy Baum points out in her new book. Although a few students have borrowed far too much for dubious programs, we shouldn't allow those stories to push us into panicky policies, she argues.I would call free college panicky.But would the students who, for whatever reason, fail to graduate from a postsecondary school be better off if they did? Isn't it a serious loss not to get a college degree these days? Clinton's plan is based on the belief that it is, and therefore federal policy must try to help students get the college credentials they need.There is a gigantic problem here that neither Clinton nor Shireman recognize-that America has already oversold higher education to the point where the labor market is glutted with degree holders. That's why we keep hearing about the college grads who can't find better work than serving coffee or delivering pizza or doing telemarketing.The economy does not automatically create more "good jobs" simply because more college graduates enter the labor market. Government policy aimed at "producing" more graduates will only mean more young people who are over-credentialed for the work available.America does not have a shortage of people with college degrees. What it does have is a shortage of jobs that pay well. Unfortunately, the Clinton plan would make that problem even worse.To pay for the enormous cost of subsidizing states that make tuition at their public colleges free, estimated at $500 billion over ten years, Clinton proposes higher taxes. As Shireman writes, the cost "could be paid for by closing loopholes for high-income taxpayers and small businesses...."Capital investment is the essential ingredient in economic growth and the creation of new jobs. Increasing taxes (and calling it "loophole closing" is irrelevant) on wealthy people and small businesses must mean less investment. Those people don't just keep cash idle waiting for the government to scoop it up. So at least some significant percentage of the money raised would have otherwise gone into investment.Thus, the Clinton plan "fixes" the imaginary problem of not enough people going to college, while it aggravates the real one of low capital investment.Another objection that has been lodged against the Clinton plan is that it will have harmful effects on private colleges and universities, since the "free tuition" policy will lure students away from them and into public institutions. Shireman informs us that this won't be a problem because the proposal "includes $25 billion in support for historically black and other private colleges that do not have large endowments and rich alumni."But that doesn't deny that these schools will lose students to free public ones; it simply promises to subsidize their revenue loss. What sense does it make to hand tax dollars to private schools that find themselves in financial trouble because of falling enrollments? None that I can see. Furthermore, the fight over which schools are poor enough to qualify for this new stream of federal money will ratchet up the wasteful lobbying for favor in the Department of Education.Finally, Shireman doesn't say anything about one of the most glaring unintended consequences of the Clinton plan, namely that it will put federal administrators in charge of state higher education systems to a much greater degree than at present (which is already bad). Federal money always comes with strings attached and the Clinton plan would give them enormous leverage to bend state officials to their will.Shireman, Clinton, and other "progressives" probably see that as a feature rather than a bug, but increasing control over higher education from Washington is the last thing anyone should want. It is easy to imagine zealous officials telling state schools that they'll have to change their curricula if they want to keep getting federal money.One target might be programs that emphasize teaching students about free markets and public choice theory. Many leftists abhor such programs and would like to see state colleges and universities drop them to save their "free tuition" bonanza. The heightened federal control over state higher education systems that this plan would bring about would undermine state authority in many ways.Education functions best when individuals pay for the knowledge and training they want, either with their own money or money others have entrusted to them. Despite Shireman's assurances, the Clinton plan squashes much of what is left of the market nexus in higher education, giving us something akin to a "single payer" system run from Washington, D.C.There is every reason to think that the Clinton higher education system would turn out just as badly as all other centralized, collectivist schemes throughout history. The 17-year-old Bamberg student accused of slapping a 5-year-old on a school bus wont have his trial on Monday. Instead hes applying for pretrial intervention, officials say. The teen male was accused of slapping the 5-year-old girl in the face on the school bus on Aug. 18. Attempts to reach the teens attorney, Carl Grant, on Friday evening were unsuccessful. Charlie Williams, the attorney representing the parents of the 5-year-old, said Friday he is certain the teenager is no longer riding the school bus. Neither is the little girl. The girls father has adjusted his work schedule and the family has made other accommodations so that the girl can be transported to and from school without riding the bus. Bamberg Police Chief George Morris and Williams said the teen is applying for PTI, a type of second-chance system for first-time offenders. Williams said hes concerned the teen wont be approved. My concern is that he wont get accepted into PTI because of his prior history, Williams said. Im glad hell get some help if PTI is a possibility. The teens application must first be approved through the Aiken County Solicitors Office, Williams said. Morris said the two students were riding a Bamberg School District 1 bus when the teen used another childs hand to hit the 5-year-old four times. Subsequently, the Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School teen was charged with third-degree assault and battery, a misdemeanor. SI Groups Orangeburg location has been recognized for its safety and health management systems with South Carolina Palmetto Star VPP certification. The certification is provided to worksites that have achieved injury and illness rates at or below the national average within the manufacturing industry. This certification reflects a collective effort and deep commitment to protecting our employees, communities and the environment in which we all live, said Jeff Prickett, senior director, southeast operations for SI Group. Were honored to partner with local agencies and other stakeholders in our continued efforts toward environmental health and safety, Prickett said. With this designation, the site becomes the largest certified chemical facility in South Carolina, and will be one of only about 2,200 sites recognized nationally. In recognition of this achievement, the site held a flag-raising ceremony Friday. We are proud of the hard work and commitment weve seen from SI Group and its employees as they worked together to become a VPP Star site in South Carolina, said Emily H. Farr, interim director of the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. SI Group has proven to be a leader in workplace safety, as only a very small number of employers achieve the Star site designation. They know that safety must be top priority in the workplace, Farr said. SI Groups sites in Tennessee and Texas are also VPP Star certified. The Voluntary Protection Programs recognize employers and workers in private industry and federal agencies who have implemented effective safety and health management systems and maintain injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages for their respective industries. In VPP, management, labor and OSHA work cooperatively to prevent fatalities, injuries and illnesses through a system focused on: hazard prevention and control; worksite analysis; training; and management commitment and worker involvement. VPP participants are re-evaluated every three to five years to remain in the programs. In May, the company received the Responsible Care Facility Safety Award from the American Chemistry Council. The Responsible Care Facility Safety Award is presented to companies with exemplary performance in employee health and safety. This is the companys 25th year as a Responsible Care company. In April, SI Group received a silver award for corporate social responsibility from EcoVadis, an international organization that provides sustainability ratings for global supply chains. SI Group was ranked among the top 13 percent of more than 25,000 worldwide companies assessed by EcoVadis. SI Group purchased the former Albemarle plant on Cannon Bridge Road in 2014. The company is a family-owned manufacturer of chemical intermediates, specialty resins and solutions. It operates 20 manufacturing facilities on five continents with $1.6 billion in annual sales. Appeals Court majority said police officer could challenge personnel decision because department didn't follow its own rules for promotions "An agency of the government must scrupulously observe rules, regulations, or procedures which it has established. When it fails to do so, its action cannot stand and courts will strike it down." In a first-of-its-kind ruling, the state's second highest court has held that public employees can sue if the state or local government units they work for don't follow their own procedures in an employment case. The Court of Appeals decision is likely not to be the final word in the matter, as the state Supreme Court is likely to weigh in.Kevin Tully is a Wilmington Police Department officer. In June 2007, he achieved the rank of corporal, and soon was assigned to the WPD's Violent Crimes Section. Through 2014, Tully worked on more than 50 homicide cases, clearing all of them for which he served as lead investigator. In 2011, he was named the department's officer of the year.That same year, Tully also applied for promotion to sergeant. The WPD's promotion process has several steps, beginning with a written test. To reach the latter steps in the process, a promotion candidate must score in the top half of those taking the exam. Tully didn't do so, seemingly ending his chances of making sergeant. But Tully said that when he reviewed the exam sometime later, he said several of the answers considered "correct" were based on outdated law, and that the responses he gave that were marked incorrect were in fact consistent with current law. Meanwhile, he said, several officers who advanced in the promotion process should not have because they received credit for answers that were in fact incorrect.The WPD's promotion policy states that "[c]andidates [for promotion] may appeal any portion of the selection process." Tully did that, but his grievance was rejected by the Wilmington's city manager, who explained that exam answers were not covered by the process.Tully sued, contending that the police department's failure to follow its own promotion process violated the Equal Protection and "fruits of their own labor" clauses of the North Carolina Constitution. Superior Court Judge Gary Trawick dismissed Tully's complaint; the officer then sought review before the Court of Appeals.North Carolina appellate courts never had considered a claim like the one Tully advanced. Two members of the three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals who heard the case were persuaded by the reasoning in of a number of similar federal cases. For example, the in a 1969 case called United States v. Heffner, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that:The 4th Circuit's decision in Heffner was based on the U.S. Supreme Court's holding in United States ex rel. Accardi v. Shaughnessy, in which the high court overturned as a violation of due process a deportation order after the Board of Immigration and Department of Justice failed to follow their own procedures.wrote Judge Linda Stephens for the N.C. Appeals Court.Accordingly, the Appeals Court overturned the lower court's ruling and ordered the case to proceed towards trial.Judge Wanda Bryant dissented.she wrote.That said, Bryant did urge the N.C. Supreme Court to look closely to see whether the state Constitution's protections extend to such cases.N.C. Court of Appeals decisions are binding interpretations of the N.C. Constitution unless overruled by the state Supreme Court. Because of Bryant's dissent, the high court is required to hear the case if Wilmington wishes to challenge the majority's holding.The case is(15-956). We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Today, when world still experience the impacts of global economic slowdown, energy, transportation and other interrelated components of connectivity are becoming more promising for economic and trade growth of our countries, said minister of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov at the Extraordinary Session of Council of Ministers of the ECO Member states in New York. "Therefore, it is important to highlight the development of transport and connectivity issues in general among priority areas, as an essential prerequisite for the regional trade development. Azerbaijan in collaboration with regional and international partners has contributed to regional cooperation by initiating and implementing energy and transportation projects. We are actively participating in realization of International North-South and East-West Transport Corridors. Establishment of Trans-Caspian International Route and construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway project, expected to be operational next year, are among the important projects. We are convinced that an early completion of the Gazvin-Rasht-Astara (Iran)-Astara (Azerbaijan) railway project which is a part of North-South Transport Corridor, will give new impetus to economic growth, expand transport opportunities for involved countries as well as the whole region."- minister said. According to Mammadyarov another promising sphere of common interest is enhancing synergy in sustainable development, including in the area of sustainable energy resources in line with new Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). "We are closely observing the recent trends and developments for establishment of ECO regional electricity market. Azerbaijan also initiated establishment of Data Information Network (DIN) on Renewables in Baku. Azerbaijan through its practical activities continues to contribute to the goals and objectives of ECO. This year we will host 4th ECO Business Forum that will contribute to enhance intra-regional trade and investment, as well as economic growth and development in ECO region"- he said. Among priority areas of cooperation within ECO is development of regional activities to tackle environmental challenges. "As a part of this agenda Azerbaijan has joined to global efforts on combating climate change towards global climate resilience via submission of its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) and signing of Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Current fruitful cooperation in science and research increase the capacity of ECO in identification and preparation of ECO projects. In this connection, we believe that the early establishment of the ECO Research Centre in Baku will give its contribution to ECOs future development via elaborating efficient economic projects, research programs as well as economic patterns for the regional states. Also we deem it expedient to promote implementation of regionally beneficial projects and closer cooperation with UN specialized agencies and international financial institutions to successfully implement economic projects of regional character. All in all, instead of spreading activities we should focus on core priorities common for the Member States and whole region, inter alia, transport, alternative energy, trade and investments, agriculture, information technology and tourism"- minister said. "At previous Council Meetings we stressed the necessity to find creative ways and means to improve the existing mechanism of cooperation within organization. The new ECO Vision 2016-2025 which is currently under elaboration needs to reflect the interests of all Member States. This reforming process should aim to enhance efficiency of current institutions and activities within ECO. Azerbaijan supports the reforming process that through joint efforts can provide a possibility for elaboration of actions for further development of the ECO"- he said. According to Mammadyarov, without resolution of protracted conflicts and ensuring security and stability in the region, ECO will fail to reap the benefits from comprehensive regional cooperation. "Ongoing military occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan by Armenia still remains a major source of instability and impediment to the economic development. Withdrawal of Armenian military forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and ensuring the return of the refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes will not only contribute to peace and security in the South Caucasus but also enhance full-fledged intra-regional cooperation"- minister said. Driving home from work the other day, needle on empty, I needed fuel if I was to return to work the next day. Five gas stations later, still no gas. I could get home but my 30-mile round trip the following day wasn't going to happen without more fuel. Oddly enough this experience happened not in Venezuela but in North Carolina.The catalyst of this week's gas shortage was a leaking pipeline in Alabama disrupting the supply of gasoline across the Southeast including North Carolina. Faced with foreseen shortages, regulators acted under the guise of protecting North Carolinians from high prices, but their actions only ensured more North Carolinians were denied access to fuel.On the drive home, a gallon of gas was worth far more to me than $2.15 a gallon - the posted price at most stations I saw. At this time I valued the gasoline at $5, $10, maybe even $15 a gallon just for two gallons of gas ensuring tomorrow's round trip to work. Instead I was faced with an empty tank and empty pumps. Those before me knew of the shortage but had no incentive to change their consumption habits, as prices were only slightly higher than normal. Not only did those before me fill up entire tanks of gas, many filled up extra gas cans to provide against the uncertainty in the coming days.I and other drivers needed a gallon or two to simply get to work. Many others could be in more dire straits for a few gallons of gas: perhaps an elderly couple headed for a hospital visit, a pregnant woman in case she goes into labor, or a parent to get to work so he or she can pay rent.The gas shortage was initiated by the leaky pipeline, but the state's anti-price-gouging legislation made the situation worse.In freely adjusting markets, prices fluctuate according to the supply and demand preferences of producers and consumers. A valid concern then arises: what to do in a natural crisis or an unforeseen malfunction?Unfortunately, eager politicians approached this problem by implementing anti- price gouging legislation, making increases in prices above an unnamed, arbitrary amount a crime. The thought behind such a law is those in need will be unable to afford the goods and store owners would be evil to benefit from a disaster. (Only politicians get to benefit from a crisis.)In reality, these anti-price gouging regulations are the reason for empty pumps. Price gouging regulations dictate it is better to have no gas than access to some gas at higher prices.Allowing prices to reflect market realities during a crisis ensures those needing gas can get it. Market price adjustments are the most moral path to distributing scarce goods. Yes, gasoline would be more expensive, but it would still be available.Consumer habits would immediately change. Individuals would forgo less urgent plans or delay unnecessary purchases in response to higher prices. At a higher price, consumers would buy only enough gas to satisfy their most urgent needs, knowing the benefits exceeded the cost.Storeowners increasing their prices are not necessarily benefiting during shortages. A service station needs to make up lost income for time it will be without gas. Even in a natural disaster, storeowners need increased prices to make up for lost income and for repairs caused by the disaster.Higher prices also drive entrepreneurs and companies to adjust distribution. If gas prices were allowed to increase, distributors would be incentivized to divert tanker traffic to distressed areas. And they could do it more swiftly, because they are simply responding to price signals, not costly, cumbersome government mandates. The shortages would be relieved far more quickly, and prices would begin to drop down again rapidly.Last month many Americans mocked the socialist policies of Venezuela that led to empty store shelves and no access to the most basic of goods. Sadly, North Carolina's anti-price gouging laws caused the same issues we read about in Venezuela I eventually found a station at $2.29 per gallon with gas and filled up my entire 16-gallon tank. When I drove by today, that station too was now out of gas. Luckily the crisis is set to be over in the next few days. However, this should be a reflection of how regulations caused our mini-Venezuela, and how government interventions into the market's pricing mechanism produce predictable, yet preventable, results.Some people joked a bit with news from Venezuela's shortage of beer or the entire country having no toilet paper , but these inconveniences soon escalated to serious problems. Whether it's the United States or Venezuela, government intervention into the economy causes the same problems.Empty gas pumps and empty shelves are caused by government, not the free market. Armenias armed forces have 9 times violated the ceasefire on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops over the past 24 hours, Azerbaijans Defense Ministry reported on September 24. Armenian army was using large-caliber machine guns. The Armenian armed forces stationed on nameless heights of the Krasnoselsk district opened fire at the Azerbaijani positions located on nameless heights of the Gadabay district. Positions of the Azerbaijani army also underwent fire from the Armenian positions located near the Yusifjanli village of Azerbaijans Aghdam district, Kuropatkino village of the Khojavand district, as well as from the positions located on nameless heights of the Jabrayil and Fuzuli 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. Former Israeli ambassador in Baku, Director of the Eurasia Department at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rafael Harpaz has praised tolerance in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is a role model for other countries in terms of tolerance, he told journalists. This is the cultural richness, the greatest treasure of Azerbaijan. Harpaz particularly hailed the attitude towards Jews in the country. The Jewish community has always felt safe and lived proudly in Azerbaijan. The former ambassador also highlighted Israeli-Azerbaijani relations. Located in geo-politically complex region, the two countries have maintained successful cooperation in a number of spheres. Our countries enjoy excellent partnership in energy sector. Azerbaijani oil accounts for 40 per cent of Israel`s overall oil consumption. On the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Harpaz expressed his hope that the dispute will end up successfully. The main goal is to achieve peace and stability in the region as this will bring about greater economic accomplishments, he added. First Secretary of the Azerbaijani Embassy to Canada Arif Mammadov has made a presentation at the University of Ottawa to inform students of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He highlighted the history of the dispute, Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijan`s internationally recognized territories, ethnic cleansing in the occupied lands, Armenian illegal settlement and economic activities in those areas. He also provided an insight into the UN Security Council`s and General Assembly's conflict-related resolutions, OSCE Minsk Group`s mediation mission, as well as the European Court of Human Rights' verdict on the case of "Chiragov and others vs Armenia". The event also featured a question-and-answer session with the Embassy secretary. Turkish police stepped up security measures in the mosques of Gaziantep province in the south of Turkey because of the threat of terrorist attacks by the terrorist organization 'Islamic state' (IS), Haber 7 reports on September 23. According to the newspaper, the police received intelligence about the preparation of terrorist attack by the IS in the Ulu Cami mosque during Friday prayers. Security forces cordoned off the mosque building, people were checked using special detectors. Early, the US Embassy in Turkey has warned its citizens of a possible terrorist attack in Gaziantep province. More than 50 people were killed in a suicide attack in Gaziantep on Augustust 21. Earlier, Turkish media reported that militants of the terrorist organization IS use Turkish province of Gaziantep on the border with Syria as a reference point, noting that there are 'schools' related to the IS in Turkey. Its crucial to avoid the collapse of the US-Russia agreements on Syria, meaning a fair and impartial investigation of the Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor incidents is needed, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at the UN General Assembly in New York, Russia Today reported. "The main thing now is to prevent the collapse of those arrangements [between Russia and the US], objectively and impartially investigate the undermining incidents in Deir ez-Zor and Aleppo, particularly, that theres many who want to sabotage the agreed approaches to the Syrian settlement, Lavrov said during the general debate at the 71st Regular Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Earlier in September, US-led coalition planes bombed Syrian government troops in Deir ez-Zor, and a few days later a UN humanitarian convoy was attacked in Aleppo. The minister stressed that its essential to fulfill the UN Security Council [UNSC] demand to dissociate the so-called moderate opposition from the terrorists. Here, special responsibility rests with the US and the members of their coalition. Their refusal or inability to do this in the present circumstances cant but strengthen the suspicion that its being attempted to remove Jabhat al-Nusra out of harms way and that the plans for a regime change are still on the table, he said, adding that it would be a grave violation of the UNSC resolution. Lavrov reiterated that resolving the crisis in Syria will be impossible without the suppression of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), Jabhat al-Nusra and other terrorist groups, which joined them. Its the key to strengthening the cessation of hostilities and achieving a nationwide ceasefire. Open sabotage of the political process by some representatives of the opposition abroad, which occurs as their patrons turn a blind eye, has a negative impact on the reputation of the UN and, again, suggests that the reason here is rooted in the desire to create a pretext for attempted regime change, he said. According to the Russian FM, it is also unacceptable to delay the start of intra-Syrian negotiations without any preconditions, as envisaged by resolution No. 2254 of the UN Security Council. A shootout has occurred in Lice city of Turkeys Diyarbakir province during the operation of Turkish armed forces against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) terrorist group, Hurriyet newspaper reported on September 24. One serviceman was killed as a result of the incident. However, the exact number of the injured hasnt been specified. Security forces have neutralized one PKK member. The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has continued for over 33 years and has claimed more than 40,000 lives. The UN and the European Union list the PKK as a terrorist organization. Goldman Sachs is cutting almost 30 percent of its 300 investment banking jobs in Asia outside Japan in response to a slowdown in activity in the region, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The Wall Street bank is reducing the number of bankers working on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and equity and debt capital markets deals, the sources said. Most of the jobs cuts are likely to take place in Hong Kong, Singapore and China, where Goldman's main Asian offices are located, they added. A Goldman Sachs spokesman declined to comment. The total value of M&A deals across the Asia-Pacific region has dropped to $572.9 billion so far this year, from $745.7 billion in the same period of 2015, according to Thomson Reuters data. Goldman said in July it had embarked on a cost-cutting plan that would save $700 million a year in response to a "challenging backdrop" for revenue.- Reuters UAE-based Arkan Building Materials said it has registered solid growth this year and is now aiming to increase exports to 20 per cent of the group revenues over the next three years. A leading construction and building materials company in the UAE, Arkan said its exports currently account for 10 per cent of the group revenues. Under a new strategy, Arkan now plans to enter new regional markets to create a much-needed balance and protect the company from market turbulence, revealed Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri, the chairman of Arkan. Al Dhaheri was speaking at the Linkages Between Industries forum organised by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce, with the aim of strengthening relationships between local companies from a range of different sectors. The company is presently operating in line with the Abu Dhabi governments development plans and Senaat plans, which aim to enhance the proportion of income generated from non-oil industries. Al Dhaheri said: "We are confident that Arkan will increase its market share of the local and regional building materials industry, despite the slowdown being witnessed by other sectors locally and globally." "What sets Senaat and its portfolio companies apart, is that they were established on solid investment fundamentals, which are sustainable and able to withstand change, making them less affected by adverse market conditions," he added. Abdelaziz Asad, the chief operating officer, gave a presentation about the company and its profitable product portfolios at the Abu Dhabi summit. In his presentation, Asad explained the wide range of products that Arkan has, including Anabeeb GRP Pipes, multi-wall kraft paper and plastic bags, the latter being supplied to a wide range of GCC markets and East African countries and used for storing building materials products such as cement, gypsum, dry mortar, fertilisers and dry chemicals. According to him, the company's current annual production capacity was four million tonnes of clinker and 5.7 million tonnes of cement per annum. Arkan, he stated, was able to increase its market share by 28 per cent in the local building materials sector and now plans to improve its performance in the future after showcasing the 26 products that are manufactured in Arkans factories. Its portfolio of concrete products, that range from regular to high-end architectural pavers, have been used in many prestigious projects in Abu Dhabi such as the Emirates Palace, he added.-TradeArabia News Service Contact: Attila Nemecz Attila Nemecz (252)-940-6387 The following classes are available through the Continuing Education Department at BCCC. To register, call 252-940-6375 or email continuingeducation@beaufortccc.edu.This course prepares individuals to substitute teach in the local county school system. It provides information on learning expectations, time management, monitoring student interaction and classroom management. While this class is geared towards Beaufort County and our service area, it may apply to other counties in the service area. Check with the local Board of Education to confirm the requirements to enrolling. Classes will only be offered during the fall. The next session starts on October 3 and runs from 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. It costs $21.75.This online course provides skills training in basic computer operations, medical terminology, medical law and ethics, medical office procedures, professional etiquette, grammar review and transcription editing, electronic health records and medical coding. There will be a few seated classes as the class progresses, but the majority of the coursework will be online. It costs $185 and begins October 4, running from 6:00-9:00 p.m.This class is based on the National Safety Council's (NSC) Forklift Training Program. Students will review forklift operation, inspection and safe use. Students will learn how to inspect the truck, and how to determine lift limitations. Students will discuss the center of gravity and its role in safe load-lifting. They will demonstrate proper use by completing an obstacle course, along with an inspection. A textbook is included in the cost and comes with a certificate and wallet card from NSC. Classes are held at the Beaufort County Skills Center located at 705 Page Rd. in Washington. This class takes place on Saturday, October 8 and costs $77.25For students interested in becoming a Nurse Aide I (NAI) or a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), BCCC is offering a prerequisite class is designed to explore both career pathways. This class will teach students study skills and note-taking skills to help throughout their education. Students will also practice various test-taking tips. In addition, both nurse aide programs require the Career Readiness Certification (CRC), and the workplace observation assessment along with the performance skills assessments, all of which will be offered as part of this class.The class will take place from October 17 through November 9 on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:15-9:15 p.m. and will be taught by Danielle Street. There is a $75 registration fee for the class which can be waived if the student meets one of the following criteria: is currently unemployed, has received notice of a pending layoff, working and eligible for the Federal Income Tax Credit, or working and earning wages at or below the two hundred percent federal poverty level. An additional $66 in assessment fees cannot be waived. Gulf Medical University in Ajman, UAE, said its college of dentistry has been granted permission by the Ministry of Health to offer one-year internship training program to graduates of dentistry from other institutions. The ministry has accredited the dental centres in Thumbay Hospitals in Ajman, Dubai and Sharjah as internship training sites that match international standards and meet the requirements of the Ministry of Health, UAE, said Prof. Gita Ashok Raj, Provost of the University. The internship will be offered in the dental centres of Thumbay Hospitals at Dubai, Ajman and Sharjah. The GMU has called upon graduates to fill the Dental Internship Application Form on its official website and submit it by October 1. The training will be provided under the supervision of dental consultants and specialists, said Prof Mohamed Said Hamed, the dean and head of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry at GMU. "Dental interns will be rotated in all the specialties during the training program. Backed by a high quality clinical training during the program with a diverse experience of treating a patient clientele rich in volume and a wide spectrum of dental disorders, the trainee interns are assured of developing into competent professionals," he stated.-TradeArabia News Service Abu Dhabi Ports, the master developer, operator and manager of ports and Khalifa Industrial Zone in the UAE capital, has won ISO 10002:2014 certification in customer feedback management system. This accomplishment reflects Abu Dhabi Ports commitment to customer service, long-term relationships and partnerships among its client base and the community and businesses it serves, said a statement from the company. In particular, the certification validates Abu Dhabi Ports advanced customer feedback management system and long-standing portfolio of customer service initiatives, it stated. The scope of the certificate covers all units of Abu Dhabi Ports and its subsidiaries such as Khalifa Industrial Zone, Abu Dhabi Marine Services (Safeen), and Maqta Gateway as well as facilities at Musaffah, and Zayed Port. Basem Obaid, the area general manager of Lloyds Register of Quality Assurance (LRQA) presented the ISO 10002:2014 certificate to Abu Dhabi Ports CEO Captain Mohamad Juma Al Shamisi at the Abu Dhabi Ports headquarters. The certification endorses the transparent, open-to-feedback approach adopted by Abu Dhabi Ports with regard to customer complaint resolution. Employees at Abu Dhabi Ports are routinely provided with stringent training and resources and subject to reviews and audits to guarantee an exceptional customer experience. On the achievement, Captain Al Shamisi said: "We are here to be an integrated, flexible and fast moving platform for businesses and to facilitate global trade. To realise this, we are committed to continually ensuring best-in-class customer services and work to establish regional and global benchmarks for excellence in this field." "We have a wide array of customer service initiatives including customer satisfaction surveys, a customer feedback management system, and a 24-hour customer service hotline. Attaining this certification for customer service excellence was a natural progression to boost our operations and fulfil our pledge to always maintain world-class customer services and smooth complaint handling," he added. The ISO 10002:2014 certificate offers guidelines to enhance customer satisfaction through creating a customer-focussed environment that is open to feedback (including complaints), resolving any complaints received, and enhancing the organisation's ability to improve its product and customer service. It also mandates top management involvement and commitment to ensure customer services that surpass expectations via adequate acquisition and deployment of resources, and personnel training.-TradeArabia News Service President Barack Obama on Friday vetoed legislation allowing families of victims of the Sept. 11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia, which could prompt Congress to overturn his decision with a rare veto override, the first of his presidency. Obama said the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act would hurt US national security and harm important alliances, while shifting crucial terrorism-related issues from policy officials into the hands of the courts. The bill passed the Senate and House of Representatives in reaction to long-running suspicions, denied by Saudi Arabia, that hijackers of the four US jetliners that attacked the United States in 2001 were backed by the Saudi government. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals. Obama said other countries could use the law, known as JASTA, as an excuse to sue US diplomats, members of the military or companies - even for actions of foreign organizations that had received US aid, equipment or training. "Removing sovereign immunity in US courts from foreign governments that are not designated as state sponsors of terrorism, based solely on allegations that such foreign governments' actions abroad had a connection to terrorism-related injuries on US soil, threatens to undermine these longstanding principles that protect the US, our forces, and our personnel," Obama said in a statement. Senator Chuck Schumer, who co-wrote the legislation and has championed it, immediately made clear how difficult it will be for Obama to sustain the veto. Schumer, the No. 3 Democrat in the Senate, issued a statement within moments of receiving the veto, promising that it would be "swiftly and soundly overturned." He represents New York, home of most of the Sept. 11 victims. Both the Democratic and Republican candidates for president, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, said they would have signed the bill into law if they were in the White House. If two-thirds of the lawmakers in both the Senate and House vote to override, the law would stand, the first such override since he became president in 2009, and possibly the last. Obama leaves office in January. Friday's veto was the twelfth of his presidency. An override has been expected, despite some lawmakers saying they had doubts about the measure. In a letter seen by Reuters on Friday, Republican Representative Mac Thornberry, chairman of the powerful House Armed Services Committee, said he would oppose the override. "My primary concern is that this bill increases the risk posed to American military and intelligence personnel, diplomats and others serving our country around the world," Thornberry wrote in a letter encouraging his fellow Republicans to sustain the veto. House Speaker Paul Ryan said Wednesday he thought there were enough votes to override a veto, but had concerns. "I worry about trial lawyers trying to get rich off of this. And I do worry about the precedent," he told reporters. The "9/11 Families & Survivors United for Justice Against Terrorism" group, which has pressed Congress to uphold the legislation, called Obama's veto explanation "unconvincing and unsupportable." The Saudi government has lobbied heavily to stop the bill, the European Union has formally opposed it and Gulf States have condemned it. Major US corporations such as General Electric and Dow Chemical have also pressed lawmakers to reconsider. "The bill is not balanced, sets a dangerous precedent, and has real potential to destabilise vital bilateral relationships and the global economy," GE chief executive Jeffrey Immelt said in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who supports the bill.-Reuters A Pakistan Air Force jet crashed on Saturday while on a training mission in the country's northwest, killing the pilot, the military said. The F-7 aircraft went down near the town of Jamrud, near the entrance to the Khyber Pass, and Flight Lieutenant Amer Shazad was killed, the air force said in a statement. The military has set up an investigation into the cause of the crash, which it said caused no civilian injuries on the ground. Pakistan's armed forces have had several air accidents in the past 18 months, including a crash that killed female jet pilot in another training exercise in November. In May 2015, a military helicopter carrying diplomats to inspect a tourism project crashed, killing seven people, including the ambassadors of Norway and Philippines. Another military helicopter being used as an air ambulance crashed in August 2015 near the northern district of Mansehra, killing 12 people.-Reuters India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised Pakistan on Saturday, accusing it of being an exporter of terrorism, and vowing to mount a global campaign to isolate it. The comments follow the Sept. 18 attack on an Indian army camp in Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan. The attack claimed the lives of 18 Indian soldiers, in the biggest blow to security forces in the disputed Himalayan region for 14 years. "People of Pakistan should question their leadership on why, when both countries gained freedom together, while India exports software, Pakistan exports terrorists," Modi said. India has long accused Pakistan of backing militant groups operating in disputed Kashmir as well as of sending fighters to other parts of the country to carry out acts of violence. Pakistan denies the allegations and says India has not provided adequate proof to support its claims. Modi was giving a speech at the national conclave of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kozhikode in the south Indian state of Kerala, which was dominated by the Uri attacks issue. The party leaders have said there should be a strong response to the attack. "India has and never will bow down in the face of terrorism," Modi said. Some military experts have called for cross border strikes against militant camps in Pakistan-administered Kashmir in the wake of the latest attack. But Pakistan has warned it will hit back against any Indian attack and the latest tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours are drawing concern. India is likely holding back from major military action for fear of igniting a broader escalation, and may instead mount a diplomatic campaign against Pakistan, experts say.-Reuters Colombia's FARC rebel group voted unanimously to approve a peace deal with the government on Friday, declaring an end to the five-decade war as it prepares to transition into a new political party. After four years of negotiations in Havana, the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia reached a final peace accord last month that will end a war that has left a quarter of a million people dead. "Peace is the most beautiful of victories," rebel leader Rodrigo Londono, who uses the nom de guerre Timochenko, told a crowd of hundreds of FARC fighters at the close of the guerrillas' congress on the southern Yari Plains. "We yearn that no Colombians will ever again have to take up arms to make their voices heard and their demands felt, as has been required of us," Timochenko said to cheers and applause, as thunder roiled the sky overhead. As part of the agreement, the FARC will continue to push for social change as a political party, receiving 10 unelected seats in congress until 2026. FARC's leaders have been coy on policy details but are expected to morph the group into a party rooted in Marxist ideals. Another congress to officially found the party will be held no later than May 2017, FARC commander Ivan Marquez said at the ceremony. Two-hundred delegates from FARC units around the country gathered at the Yari site, five hours by rutted road from the nearest provincial town, to review the accord and discuss re-organization in peacetime. "We inform the country and the government and the governments and people of the world that the rebel delegates of the congress have given unanimous backing to the final accord," Marquez said. The peace accord is due to be signed on Monday by President Juan Manuel Santos and Timochenko. Colombians will vote on the deal in an Oct. 2 plebiscite, the final go-ahead for rebels to demobilize. Polls show the accord will easily pass. The congress, the first ever open to media, marks the group's final meeting as a guerrilla army and will end with a music concert with non-FARC performers. Previous congresses, to decide battle strategy, were sometimes held via internet due to military offensives that prevented leaders from meeting. Although both leadership and rank-and-file fighters say they will prioritize political activism as civilians, the group has so far not provided examples of specific policies. "Our initial platform is the implementation of the Havana accords," Pastor Alape, a member of the FARC's secretariat, told Reuters at the congress. "Our political proposals will have to come from the suggestions of our base. "We started our political efforts clandestinely and now we aspire, legally, to open our initiatives, together with all sectors of society, to concretely cultivate the political space we are given," Alape said. The five-point peace accord covers agricultural reform, an end to the illegal drugs trade, victims' reparations, FARC political participation and demobilisation. Policies are being drafted and will be revealed in due time, FARC commander Bertulfo Alvarez told a news conference during the congress, when asked by Reuters to give examples of policy initiatives. One mid-level rebel fighter said the group wants to decentralise Colombia's government, including halving the size of Congress, in a bid to combat corruption and ensure communities have control over distribution of royalties from oil and mining projects. The FARC may find an electoral foothold among poor farmers and committed leftists, but many Colombians are worried that ex-fighters will join criminal gangs.-Reuters Stuffed animals on the back of a delivery truck arrive at the Sandton Convention Centre as preparations for the CoP17 continue, in Johannesburg, South Africa on September 23. The Conference of Parties (CoP) starts today as 3,500 delegates converge to discuss topics including poaching, the trade in rhino and elephant horn. EPA/Kim Ludbrook Damas, a leading jewellery retailer in the GCC region, has roped in A-list Hollywood celebrity Penelope Cruz as the brand ambassador for its newly-launched luxury jewellery brand - Sama. A spectacular gala event was held at the Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa recently to launch the premium line. Derived from the Arabic word Sumou meaning elevation or splendor, the Sama line is named as such for the fact that the pieces represent a higher stage of opulence. The launch marks a significant milestone in Damas rich history driving the brand to greater heights and further strengthening its position as a leading player in the market, said a statement from the jeweller. The unique pieces in Sama are high-end masterpieces with dazzling designs that boast a minimum of 40 carats of natural and beautiful precious gemstones that have been magnificently manufactured using the best goldsmiths and the most exquisite of jewels. With radiant rubies, enchanting emeralds, stunning sapphires and both colourless & fancy-coloured diamonds intrinsically embedded with three options of glittering 18K white, rose and yellow gold and platinum, the Sama range exudes an unmistakable facet of glamour and mystery that combine to create breath-taking pieces of art. Commenting on the new brand, CEO Anan Fakhreddin said: "Sama comes as a natural evolution of the great vision we set forth three years ago. It presents not just a product-line but an entire experience and showcases what lies at the heart of the brand what Dubai and the UAE has taught us." "It is a premium and luxurious offering that will capture the essence of the brand globally," remarked Fakhreddin. Sama carries exquisite white diamond 4-piece bridal sets - necklace, earrings, bracelet and ring - designed to offer the bride an unmatched element of brilliance and beauty on her special day, he added. Sama, he stated, was created on the basis that no two women are alike and so the jewellery they wear should be as unique as they are. "It offers discerning customers artfully crafted, exclusive, one-of-a-kind masterpieces that are so rare, there is only one piece of each in existence. A testament to Dubais passion for innovation and progressive culture, SAMA is the embodiment of the emirates impression on Damas," he noted. On the collaboration with Cruz, the Damas official said: "We are thrilled to be working with Penelope, an ambassador whose values and characteristics perfectly fit the heart of the brand. She is one of many celebrities we have tied up with but this is, by far, our most glamorous campaign." Sama, now available at select Damas luxury boutiques across the GCC, is just one of the major launches of Damas in 2016. Earlier this year, the brand partnered with Forevermark, a part of De Beers Group, to incorporate the rarest diamonds into their Damas Classics collections, said Fakhreddin. "With this launch, and the collaboration, we are truly moving from a famous jewellery retailer in Dubai to conceivers of a famous jewellery brand from Dubai," he added.-TradeArabia News Service The world's first deal to curb pollution from commercial flights is expected after United Nations-led talks kick off next week in Montreal, although European lawmakers remain sceptical that it would be tough enough. The agreement, backed by the United States, China and the United Arab Emirates, aims to limit rising airline pollution to 2020 levels after it takes effect in 2021, but has been watered down by being made voluntary for the first five years. It only becomes mandatory from 2027 for the world's largest emitters, and would cost airlines less than 2 percent of industry revenue. Although they have the option of later opting out, 55 countries now say they will join the first phase of the deal under discussion at the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) assembly from Sept. 27 to Oct. 7. While the European Commission supports the deal, European lawmakers are torn between backing the diluted version, or imposing their own tougher emissions trading scheme on foreign carriers and risking a trade war with China and India. "We would like a very ambitious (deal)," said European Union Climate Action Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete in New York. "The proposal on the table is not as ambitious as we would like but if there are sufficient numbers of countries participating in the beginning, we can work on ambition." Airlines support a global agreement because a patchwork of national and regional deals would be more costly, with the European one sparking a trade row in 2012 when it was temporarily imposed on foreign carriers. "In order for the Parliament to be satisfied that aviation does not need to be brought back under the scope of the (European scheme), ICAO will need to address these concerns (about the deal not being effective) in the coming days," said Seb Dance, a member of the European Parliament's Socialists party, in Brussels on Friday. Commercial aircraft emit 11 percent of carbon emissions produced from transportation. But aviation was excluded from December's climate accord in Paris when countries agreed to limit the rise in global temperatures to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. The ICAO deal would require airlines to limit their emissions or offset them by buying carbon credits from designated environmental projects around the world. By 2035, ICAO estimates the deal will cost airlines between $5.3 billion and $23.9 billion, depending on the future price of those projects. According to ICAO data, airlines would pay between $2,542 and $6,585 in 2030 to offset emissions from a flight between Dubai to Sydney aboard an A380, compared with $83,248 in jet fuel, based on oil prices this summer. While a simple majority of ICAO's 191 member countries could approve an agreement, the agency prefers to operate by consensus, with most states supporting a deal, said Annie Petsonk, international counsel for the green group Environmental Defense Fund. "What is at stake is the aviation sector's commitment to deal with its climate impact," Petsonk said. "It would be a very big precedent for other industries like shipping." Reuters Sugar prices exploded this week, pushing over 23 cents per pound, the highest level in over four years. Prices have more than doubled during the last year as a global sugar shortfall looms after two years of disappointing harvests. Sugar is produced around the world, extracted from sugarcane in tropical climates and sugar beets in higher latitudes, but almost half of all sugar production comes from just three countries: Brazil, India, and Thailand. All three nations sugarcane crops were hurt by the recent El Nino cycle, which stripped them of much-needed rains. As a result, global supply will likely fall short of demand again this year, which has led to rampant buying from end users and investors alike. As of midday Friday, raw sugar for delivery in October traded for 22 cents per pound in New York. Copper climbs Copper prices shined on a one-month high on Friday, nearing $2.20 per pound. Prices had been languishing near $2.00 for the last year, causing global miners to scale back production. Global demand, especially from the top-consumer China, has been tepid, but the cutback in production has led to a global supply deficit. If Chinas growth returns to its former levels, some analysts expect that the global copper deficit could turn to a shortage by 2018, which might take prices back toward the 2011 high over $4.50 per pound. Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity and heat, making it widely used in the manufacturing and construction sectors. Unfortunately for builders, as coppers cost is rising, so too is lumber, which is near the highest price since 2015. Cattle lunge lower After showing signs of life recently, the cattle market turned sharply lower at the end of the week, plunging on Friday. The drop came as U.S. beef prices fell to a three-year low, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Weak consumer demand for beef and overwhelming supplies of cattle are causing meatpackers to lower the price theyll pay cattle producers, driving the futures market lower. The market was especially active Friday as ranchers, meatpackers, and traders positioned themselves ahead of the USDAs monthly Cattle on Feed Report, which was released after the market closed. In 1982, a rancher found human remains on a remote stretch of prairie in southwest Wyoming. It took authorities 34 years to link the body to a serial killer now awaiting execution in California. But its unclear when if ever the Dating Game killer will appear in Sweetwater County to face the murder charge filed against him Tuesday. Wyoming authorities are unsure how long it will take a California court to determine whether Rodney Alcala will be extradited in connection with the 1977 killing of a woman outside Granger. Sweetwater County Attorney Daniel Erramouspe charged Alcala with first-degree murder Tuesday, but the Kings County court in California, where Alcala resides as a death row inmate, will have to decide whether he is mentally sound enough to be extradited to Wyoming. Erramouspe said Friday he did not know how long that decision will take. The Kings County Court did not return requests for comment Friday. Alcala is accused of killing 28-year-old Christine Ruth Thornton in Sweetwater County and dumping her body on remote public land northeast of Granger in 1977. Alcala has been found guilty of killing seven people in two states, though authorities estimate Alcala may have killed up to 130 victims across the U.S. He is known as the Dating Game killer for appearing on the popular television program in the late 1970s. If Alcala isnt extradited, the murder charge will remain pending in Sweetwater County Court while Alcala, now 73, would remain in California prison until his death. If he is extradited, Alcala will relocate to Sweetwater County Detention Center and prosecution will continue, though Erramouspe said he wouldnt seek the death penalty. Alcala was previously extradited to New York from a California prison in 2013 to face murder charges in the killings of two young women in the 1970s. If we were to go forward, we would not be seeking the death penalty, he said. Its an exhaustive process and would be a waste of energy. Along with the death sentence in California, Alcala was also sentenced to 25 years to life imprisonment in New York after pleading guilty to two homicides. An additional death sentence wouldnt change Alcalas life, though he would likely meet the requirements for seeking the death penalty, Erramouspe said. Were not worried about him walking the streets again or getting retribution, he said. Despite the previous sentences, its important to pursue sentencing options that dont require as much court time, Erramouspe said. In Wyoming, first-degree murder is punishable by death or life imprisonment with or without parole. Im not looking at whether this is a waste of time there is someone out there who lost a family member, he said. Just because it might not add anything to his sentence hes already on doesnt mean the crime didnt occur. Erramouspe said he and deputies from the Sweetwater County Sheriffs Office traveled to the Cocoran State Penitentiary, where Alcala is imprisoned, earlier this month. In a Sept. 6 interview, Alcala told the investigators he had been in the Granger area before, met Thornton and took a photo of her. He told detectives that Thornton did not leave the area with him and said, She was alive before I left her, according to court documents. That photo was the breakthrough investigators needed to move forward in a case that had been cold for decades. In 2010, California police released hundreds of photos of women and young boys they had found while searching Alcalas property. Investigators with the Huntington Beach Police Department hoped that releasing the photos might help identify more of Alcalas victims. In 2013, one of Thorntons sisters was looking through the photos and found one of her sister. In the photo, Thornton is smiling astride a blue and white Kawasaki motorcycle wearing a ring, brown watch, a yellow top, blue jeans and red flip flops. Investigators had previously found the same motorcycle disassembled in Alcalas Seattle storage locker. Two of Thorntons sisters, who had reported her missing in 1977, then registered DNA samples with a national database of missing persons. About a year later, a match was identified. The sisters DNA sample matched a sample from unidentified human remains submitted by the Sweetwater County Sheriffs Office. A rancher discovered the remains in 1982 along a two-track dirt road on the public land near Granger. Near the remains were a ring, a brown watch, a womens top, a pair of jeans and a pair of faded red flip-flops, according to the documents. A coroner estimated the woman was about six months pregnant when she was killed and that the body had been lying on the land for two to six years. Sweetwater County investigators determined that the remains had been found in virtually the same location as the photo had been taken, the documents state. After traveling to California to interview Alcala, Erramouspe charged him with murder. The last thing Mr. Alcala was expecting was for this case to be solved, Erramouspe said. Alcala worked as a photographer and often lured women toward him by asking them to pose for a photo, according to court documents. Alcalas known criminal activity began in 1968 when police discovered an 8-year-old girl raped and beaten in his Los Angeles apartment, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel. He fled the apartment and hid from police, eventually enrolling in film school at NYU and working as a counselor at a New Hampshire childrens camp under two aliases. In 1971, New York police found 23-year-old Cornelia Crilley raped and strangled in an Upper East Side apartment, according to The New York Times. Her case remained unsolved until 2011, when police connected Alcala to the crime. He was caught and arrested later in 1971, but the family of the 8-year-old girl had moved to Mexico and did not want to testify in his trial, according to the Sentinel. He pleaded guilty to assault in connection to the incident in 1972 and was sentenced to three years After serving his sentence, Alcala was placed on parole. His parole officer gave him permission to travel the country in the summer of 1977, which is when investigators believe he killed Christine Thornton. Between 1977 and 1979, Alcala killed four California women Jill Barcomb, Georgia Wixted, Charlotte Lamb and Jill Parenteau and one 12-year-old girl, according to the LA Times. He also killed 23-year-old Ellen Hover in New York City. Her body was found a year later on land outside the city, according to The New York Times. In the midst of the killing, Alcala appeared on The Dating Show in 1978 and won. A year later he was arrested at his parents home. Alcala was convicted of the 12-year-olds murder in 1980 and convicted in the killings of the other four California women in 2010. In 2012, he was extradited to New York, convicted of the killings of Crilley and Hover and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Alcala continues to appeal his conviction and sentence in California. If overturned, he would be sent to New York to serve his sentence there, the LA Times reports. George Flip McConnaughey Casper, Wyoming September 10, 1947 - September 21, 2016 A celebration of life for George Flip McConnaughey, 69, will be held on Monday, September 26 at 10:30 AM at Highland Park Community Church in Casper, Wyoming. Flip died on September 21. He waged a valiant and honorable fight against cancer the last 18 months, one that is a huge inspiration to us all. He is an amazing example of how to face adversity with perseverance partnered with God's miraculous strength and power. He was born September 10, 1947 in Casper, Wyoming to George and Phyllis McConnaughey, and grew up in Glenrock, Wyoming where he graduated high school in 1966. Flip graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Masters degree in Public Administration in 1972. While in college, he married Shelia Sutherland. Their 45 years together included lots of adventures and sharing life's simple joys. In 1976, their son Jeffrey was born followed by their daughter, Sarah in 1978. Following graduation, Flip served as the Administrative Assistant and Assistant City Manager in Casper from 1972-1976. In 1976, he became the first City Administrator in Wyoming. Together he and Mike Enzi, who became his lifelong friend, administered Gillette through almost seven years of the first boom. Following that, in 1981, Flip became the longest serving City Manager in Laramie. In 1996 he moved to Washington DC as Senator Mike Enzi's Chief of Staff and served in this position for 20 years until his death. He organized and managed a team that helped to get a record number of bills passed and managed staffs for Health, Education, Labor and Pension issues when the Senator was Chairman and ranking member. As Chief of Staff, he was the co-founder and board member of the Senate Bipartisan Chief of Staff group. Flip was honored to work with many amazing people throughout his career. He always said, If you like what you do, you never have to work a day in your life. Flip was known to have a knack for knowing when to encourage, when to kid and when to make you laugh. He was a friend and mentor to many who appreciated his self-deprecating humor, straight talk, professionalism, and was an inspiration as a public servant. During his lifetime, Flip was active in many professional associations. From 1990-1992 he was Regional Vice President of International City Management Association Board of Directors. He served on the Board of Directors for Wyoming Association and Municipalities from 1982-1996. Flip was active in the Senate Chaplain's weekly Bible Study, and the Men's Saturday Fellowship at Church of the Good Shepherd, where he was a faithful member. His family was one of Flip's greatest joys. He is survived by his wife, Shelia and his children, Jeff (Jen) McConnaughey, and Sarah (Ryan) Larsen; eight well-loved grandchildren, Fen (19), Tesla (15), Roma (16), Vitaliy (12), Bodie (11), Laird (9), Jude (7), and Tatum (5). He treasured his family by marriage, Larry and Kim Sutherland, Joann McConnaughey and niece and nephew, Janet and Jay McConnaughey. Flip was preceded in death by his parents, George and Phyllis McConnaughey; brother, John McConnaughey; and father and mother in-law, Gene and Erma Sutherland. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials in Flip's name be made to Host Ukraine, the organization whom brought his last two grandsons to the family. Donations can be mailed to: Host Ukraine Inc., 187 Pavillion Pkwy. #107, Newport, KY 41071. Memorials can also be sent to Central Wyoming Hospice 319 S. Wilson St. Casper, WY 82601. Bustard's Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. A federal court battle over the fate of wild horses in Wyomings high desert could have implications for the management of public lands across the American West. Wild horse advocates claim the Bureau of Land Management has ceded control over public lands near Rock Springs to local landowners. The federal agency claims it is only trying to fulfill its legal obligations to keep the horses off private grazing areas. Underpinning the dispute are lofty notions of the American mustang as a symbol of the countrys pioneer spirit facing off against ranchers who claim wild horses are feral nuisances, an invasive species competing with productive livestock for precious resources in the arid west. The debate centers on about 2 million acres of checkerboard land just east of Rock Springs. Created in 1862 as part of negotiations with the Union Pacific Railroad, odd-numbered blocks of public land were sold while the even-numbered blocks were retained by the federal government. Today, the Rock Springs Grazing Association owns the private blocks and uses the entire checkerboard area to graze sheep. With wild horses on grazing association land exceeding the numbers set by federal policies, the group sued the BLM in 2011, demanding that the bureau remove all horses from private land. The two parties settled in 2013, and the BLM recently announced plans to remove all horses from the private and public lands within the checkerboard area. The first roundup occurred in 2014. Its an impossible task for BLM to remove just from the private lands within the checkerboard area, the bureaus Rock Springs field manager Kimberlee Foster said. Its not fenced, the horses move freely they might be on private land and half an hour later theyre on public land. But under the Wild Horses and Burros Act of 1971, Congress stipulated distinct procedures for removing horses from private and public lands. The BLM argued and a U.S. District Court agreed that the bureau could treat the entire checkerboard area as private land for the purpose of removing horses. A group of wild horse advocates is now appealing that decision and argued before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver this week. Bill Eubanks, an attorney representing the horse groups, said that while he understands the challenge of managing the combination of public and private lands in the checkerboard, the BLM is still obligated to protect wild horses on public lands. The one thing you cannot do as an agency charged with implementing the Wild Horses Act is to throw up your hands and say were just going to violate the statutes, Eubanks said. If the BLM is allowed to treat public land interspersed with private holdings under the laws governing private land, there could be repercussions for federal land management across the country, Eubanks said. He said there were 20 checkerboard parcels of land across the country with wild horses; many other public lands with wild horses are adjacent to or surrounded by private land. Ive honestly never seen an agency treat public land as private, Eubanks said. If BLM can do this here, its a practice and approach that can be used everywhere across the country. Foster, the BLM field director, disputes the notion that the Wyoming fight will have any broader application. The Rock Springs grazers initially allowed some wild horses on their land before revoking their consent a situation Foster called extremely rare. Eubanks said that the bureaus obligation under the Wild Horses Act should never have been affected by an agreement or lack thereof with private landowners and that Fosters contention that the Rock Springs situation is unique is from an objective standpoint completely false. The Rock Springs Grazing Association did not respond to a request for comment. However, attorneys for the association argued in a court brief that the BLM should be allowed no discretion in removing all horses from the checkerboard area. [T]he only way any wild horses can be maintained on the Checkerboard is with RSGAs consent, the brief argues. The case is wrapped in acronyms, lengthy environmental reviews and legal precedents. The Rock Springs case centers on three herd management areas known as Divide Basin, Salt Wells Creek and Adobe Town. About half the area of those three pieces of land is taken up by the checkerboard. The BLM is obligated to set a range for the number of horses that each area can support. While the number of wild horses is not supposed to exceed that range, the bureau is also charged with ensuring the population does not fall below the range. Foster acknowledges that relocating all wild horses within the checkerboard area to off-site holding corrals may bring the horse populations in the three areas below their appropriate range. It just depends where the horses are, Foster said. Suzanne Roy, executive director of the American Wild Horse Campaign, said that instead of removing all the horses in the checkerboard area, the agency should move some of them to the public lands located outside the checkerboard area. This is a resolvable situation, Roy said. But Foster argues that because the population ranges were set based on the assumption that horses would be allowed to roam on the checkerboard land, once the district court ordered the BLM to remove all horses from that area, the remaining public land can no longer support the original population range. U.S. District Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal agreed, writing in her 2015 decision that moving the horses to the public land outside the checkerboard would only lead to them quickly returning to private land. This becomes a never-ending cycle of moving horses which roam or stray back, Freudenthal wrote. Foster said the Rock Springs BLM unit is revising its resource management plans and is looking at setting the appropriate population ranges for the checkerboard at zero to eliminate future debates of this sort. But a draft of the new plan wont be ready until summer 2017. The 10th Circuit of Appeals could release its ruling on the case within the next few weeks or months. In the meantime, the bureau is moving ahead with plans to remove the horses sometime after Oct. 15. Foster said the roundup is taking place in October because thats when new annual funding becomes available for federal agencies, not to squeeze it in before the court rules. But Roy remains skeptical of the agencys motives and adamant that the BLMs agreement with the Rock Springs Grazing Association is nothing less than abandonment of its stewardship duties. The BLM, especially in Wyoming, is an agency thats run by and for the livestock industry, Roy said. Since only 27 percent of BLM land in the state used for grazing had wild horses on it, there was no need for a showdown between horses and livestock, she added. Sometimes it sounds like wild horses are overrunning the West, Roy said. In reality theyre really on a small piece of the public pie. As for why Wyomingites should care about how the BLM treats wild horses, Roy said that congressional protection for the animals means its not a fight she needs to wage in the public arena and she argues public support for the animals is a given. I dont have to tell people to care about wild horses, Roy said. The fact these wild horses are still out there running unbridled and free on our public lands in the West is an important thing to many people. Cotherman values discussion when tackling problems. While a trustee of the Natrona County School Board, she worked to meet the needs of children. During my tenure as a district administrator, I found Dr. Cotherman to be knowledgeable about issues (e.g., budget, construction, curriculum, personnel, transportation), grounded in research, and open to acting on citizens' interests. With her help we raised the bar on high school graduation requirements and successfully budgeted for counselors in every elementary school. At times Audrey and I found ourselves on opposite ends of an issue when it came to carrying out an idea, but we shared resolve and interest in doing what was best for all children. Cotherman's years of experience will pay dividends in Wyoming's legislature. She is a dedicated public servant ready to address Wyoming issues, viz., the economy, jobs/pay, revenue, economic diversity, public lands, and education. Audrey sees diversity in viewpoints as a strength and will reach across the aisle to get things done. The legislature needs members who are able to answer tough questions together without drawing uncompromising lines such as working only with constitutional conservatives or far left progressives. We encounter candidates at times who fail to see dialogue, collaboration, and compromise as foundational elements in our democracy. Our Founding Fathers built the Constitution using these practices. I urge you to vote for Cotherman for HD 57! A candidate who values using these methods to do what is best for all Wyoming citizens. The state of Israel is planning to turn Lifta into a real estate development for luxury housing (and not, I think, for Arabs), but protesters (above), both Arab and Israeli, are trying to save the land, with the hope of turning it into a UNESCO World Heritage site. But this would depend on approval by the Israeli government. We watch as meetings toward this goal take place, and we see Mr Daum interview various officials and citizens about the project. -- which is no shoo-in, for sure. New York City personal appearances! On Saturday: a Q&A after the 7:15 & 9:20 pm screenings, with the Co-director, Oren Rudavsky, and on Sunday: a Q&A after the 3:00 pm & 5:05 pm screenings with Co-directors Oren Rudavsky & Menachem Daum The question of land, ownership, history and all that goes with is always problematic, no matter the location. But when the location is Palestine and Israel, this subject seems very nearly intractable. Over the years there have been a number of fine documentaries and narrative films that have tried to disentangle things --andare two films that have arrived already this year -- and now we have a very small and very personal little movie that tackles the issue via one single location,, the only Palestinian village abandoned during the 1948 Arab-Israel war that has not yet been destroyed or repopulated by Jews.As conceived and directed by, (shown at left on the poster, top), who appears prominently in the doc, and(shown at right, who co-directedand, with Mr. Daum, the excellent post-Holocaust-in-Poland doc,, the movie tracks the obsession of two men with this small abandoned village. Over the years, Mr. Daum has become increasingly concerned about Lifta because its actual story goes against much that he, as a Jew, had been taught by his elders and family about what happened there and why.The other man, Yacoub (at right on poster, top), was a resident of Lifta who, with his family, was expelled from their home and village during the(the exodus of more than 700,000 Palestinians who were forced from or fled their homes and villages during the 1948 war).As Mr. Daum, above, was born in a displaced persons camp in Germany to Jewish parents who had survived the Holocaust, we have a near-perfect combination of people who have suffered enormous displacement and feel powerful attachment to the same homeland. Can there be some kind of rapport and rapprochement to be made here?Add to the mix an actual Holocaust survivor still remaining alive, an old New York woman named Dasha (shown center, above), one of the few Jewish friends of Menachem who understands his feelings about Lifta. Eventually, Dasha agrees to travel -- at her age! -- to Lifta to meet and speak with Yacoub. The resulting meeting is fraught and difficult, and seeing and hearing these thoughts and feelings pour out is rather extraordinary. Yes, this is but one example involving only two, three people, but this scene -- in fact, this entire movie, gets at the very core of the Israel/Palestine conflict.Don't look for resolution. There is none here. But we understand, more deeply and fully, the ideas and feelings on both sides. So we've come a step closer, at least, in this -- one of the smallest and most personal of the many Israeli/Palestinian documentaries to have been released. Also one of the most successful.Distributed byand lasting only 73 minutes -- the movie needs no more time to make its points --opened at a single New York screen (the) yesterday, September 23, and will arrive next month on October 28 in Los Angeles atElsewhere? Nothing yet. But clickto keep up with any further scheduled playdates, cities and theaters. The head of the Federal Aviation Administration joined local officials on Friday to dedicate a new, state-of-the-art air traffic-control tower at Tucson International Airport. FAA Administrator Michael Huerta noted that the new tower is a vast improvement over Tucsons old tower, which was built in the late 1950s and was too short and poorly positioned by todays safety standards. TIA combines a growing number of commercial flights with F-16 fighter traffic from the airport-based Air National Guard 162nd Wing, corporate jets and general-aviation operations. An airport like this deserves a first-class air-traffic-control tower, and thats exactly what we have built, said Huerta. The new tower is 252 feet tall, nearly double the height of the old tower, and is positioned on the southwest side of the main runways to avoid afternoon glare that plagued the old tower. It will give our air-traffic controllers better views of the airfield, it makes it easier to see exactly where planes are on the ground and in the skies around our airport, and it also provides a more modern and comfortable work environment, Huerta said, adding that the tower was completed under its $42 million budget and ahead of schedule. The FAA chief also noted that the new tower and base building were not only built to be energy-efficient, but the facility generates its own power. A 1,600-panel, 500-kilowatt photovoltaic solar array generates much of the facilitys power, while another system makes ice that is used at night to help cool the building when the solar panels arent generating power. The electric bill for this facility is about $30 a month, and our goal is to get that to zero, Huerta said. We believe that investment and environmental responsibility are very much intertwined, and this tower is a shining example of our attempts to achieve net-zero energy usage, he said. Bonnie Allin, president and CEO of the Tucson Airport Authority, said the airport authority owns the old tower, which will be kept for offices or other uses and will continue to beckon travelers with its neon TUCSON signage. What better way to welcome visitors to our community as they land, than by looking out one side of the airplane window and seeing the historic, cultural icon representing Tucson and our history, and looking out the other side and seeing the newest, most state-of-the-art control tower in the country, she said. Allin said the airport continues to work with the FAA on airfield safety enhancements, including construction of a new taxiway and relocation and lengthening of a runway parallel to the main runway. Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild said the tower is a welcome improvement for the airport, which he called an economic engine for the region. He said the ongoing development of land south of the airport to provide a buffer to Raytheon Missile Systems sprawling airport operation and to create an aerospace business corridor will help drive the economy. He also cited a new nonstop flight to New York and new service to Mexico starting in October. These flights will increase tourism and Tucsons desirability as a meeting location while providing an important economic link for our regions trade and logistics sector, Rothschild said. The new tower sits atop a 13,000-square-foot base building that houses computer equipment, administrative offices and a backup power system that is designed to automatically activate in case of a commercial power outage. The tower and base building are built to LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Silver standards, with energy-saving features including a light-colored roof that reflects the suns heat, insulated windows, motion detectors for the low-energy indoor lights, and low-water-use native desert plants. The total project cost, including computer equipment, electronics, fire-suppression systems, and heating and air conditioning, was about $40 million, the FAA said. An FAA spokesman said information on the cost of the solar and ice-making systems and the time expected for their savings to cover their capital costs was not immediately available. While the new Tucson tower has the latest control equipment, the airport isnt yet in line for the so-called Next Gen air-traffic-control systems, which include a satellite-based navigation system, a text-based pilot communication system and other upgrades. Huerta said those systems are being rolled out at the largest airports first. The FAAs Metroplex program seeks to optimize airport traffic to save time, fuel and air emissions with the use of satellite-based navigation. But the system has prompted complaints in Phoenix and other cities where it has been implemented, after planes were routed over residential areas not previously subjected to plane traffic. The city of Phoenix and neighborhood groups are suing the FAA over the changes last September at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which resulted in thousands of noise complaints from area residents. Huerta said the FAA is still working to address the issues while pursuing the goal of optimizing air routes. Those represent changes, and that means we need to work through issues with communities and the airlines, to ensure we can find that right balance between how we get the highest level of safety and efficiency and how we mitigate impacts on communities, he said. You love the blog, so subscribe to the Beervana Podcast on iTunes or Soundcloud today! Yes, I'm going to mention the flaming cheese ... But the beloved Greek Festival is pumping out lots of new dishes to celebrate its 40 year anniversary. I tried a few of them, as well as some returning favorites. Info: The Tucson Greek Festival at St. Demetrios Orthodox Church continues throughout the weekend from 3 to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Click here for more info on parking and facilities. 1. Saganaki flaming cheese Location: In the "Greek Street" area in the front I have eaten most everything here and this is unequivocally the best. A team of "Saganaki boys" (as I like to call them) fry up slabs of grassy Kefalograviera, a sheep's milk cheese from northern Greece that holds its shape when it gets hot. Right at the end, they splash a fragrant Metaxa brandy in the pan, making for a crusty exterior and a fiery show. $6 2. NEW! Pork Souvlaki Location: In the "Greek Street" area in the front Right next to the saganaki booth you'll find a new tent with half a dozen people working different grills. This is the "street food" section. Later in the weekend they should have calamari and fried smelts a tiny freshwater fish but right now it's all about the fragrant pork kebab. Make sure you get it done up with the tzatziki yogurt sauce, which balances out the spice. $9 3. NEW! Pastitsio Location: In the "Greek Dinner Service" section in the back If you're willing to brave the 45-minute line in the back, you'll be rewarded with a hunk of pastitsio, a cheesy macaroni dish similar to lasagna. This was extremely well executed given the circumstances, with perfectly cooked noodles layered onto a gentle bechamel sauce. $12 for a plate 4. Sheep's milk feta cheese and pita bread Location: The deli inside the Hellenic Community Center Before I leave, I usually like to hit up the deli inside for some of that Kefalograviera cheese they use for the flaming saganaki. (It's actually really easy to make at home, even without the brandy.) But this time the cashier told me to try her "Skopelos" Feta, which she buys from a wholesaler in Scottsdale. Gorgeous. I get teary when I have really great cheese, and this did it for me. Salty, pillowy with just a hint of grass. It puts your supermarket stuff to shame. Also, get the pita bread. They bring it in from Chicago! $7 for pita, $4 for feta 5. Baklava sundae Location: Next to the pastries inside the Hellenic Community Center LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) The women in the La Placita Volunteer Fire Department outnumber the men and blow away the national statistics when it comes to the number of female firefighters. Located in San Miguel County's remote Gallinas Canyon, the department has six female firefighters and five male firefighters. In addition, there are three women who volunteer as support staff providing food, water and assistance during emergencies. Seven percent of the nation's career and volunteer firefighters are women, according to the National Fire Protection Association. In the La Placita department, female firefighters make up 55 percent. In addition, there are only 150 volunteer female fire chiefs in the United States, according to the International Women in Fire and Emergency Services; one of them is Karen Baldi, who has served at the helm for La Placita for four years. "That pioneer spirt," Baldi said when asked why the department has so many women volunteers. "There's that element still that no one's sitting around here." A number of these women have or had high-powered careers. La Placita firefighter Mary Kay Root is an attorney and head of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department Alcohol and Gaming Division in Santa Fe. Mary Shaw is a recently retired New Mexico Highlands University biology professor, while Baldi is a retired Air Force physician. And then there's 2nd Lt. Betty Martinez, who served as an administrative assistant for 17 years for Las Vegas Schools. Prior to that she drove a school bus for 14 years; her route included the narrow and winding Gallinas Canyon Road. "Betty is our best driver," Baldi said. "She's used to swinging school buses around." It's something Martinez, 61, loves. "Where else can an old woman drive a big red truck?" Baldi joked. "It's a rush." Martinez and her husband, Jack, were among La Placita's founding members. Its 34-square-mile fire district starts at the 9-mile marker of the Gallinas Canyon Road and includes El Porvenir, the home to Hermit's Peak and the cliffs bordering the canyon, nearby Johnson's Mesa and a portion of the Santa Fe National Forest. Firefighters receive more calls for wildfires than anything else, followed by searches for lost or injured hikers at Hermit's Peak and Johnson's Mesa, Baldi said. Shaw, 66, also helped start the fire department. "We're so far from town, maybe 12 to 13 miles" she said. "That narrow road and getting fire trucks up here takes time. You have to be pretty self-reliant." Baldi, 62, joined the fire department seven years ago. "The people here (in the fire department) are great," she said. "We have a good division of labor. The guys do the trucks and the heavy lifting, and I do the brain work - the computer and reports." That's not to say the women don't carry their load. "They get their hands dirty," Baldi said. "When we're up in the mountains, they have to grab hand tools and hike. You can't get a vehicle in there. It's too rugged." Assistant fire chief Jack Martinez trusts the department's female firefighters with his life. "We are used to being with each other," he said. "We look after each other's backs and we can depend on them to get the equipment. They are aggressive." Fire Capt. Paul Martinez agrees. "I do trust them and they know their stuff," Martinez added. "They're my friends, my neighbors and are actually like family." ___ Information from: Las Vegas Optic, http://www.lasvegasoptic.com A free forum later this month will focus on life along the U.S. Mexico border. The September 29 event, sponsored by Arizona Public Media and the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, is designed to be a live, interactive event and will feature four journalists who work along the border. Organizers aim to take the discussion beyond the often-debated topics of drug violence and illegal immigration. For example, panelists will discuss such issues as U.S.-Mexico trade relations and initiatives, as well as the ways political and cultural perceptions vary north and south of the border. The journalists also will discuss Donald Trumps and Hillarys Clintons positions on border and immigration issues and how those positions could impact business, trade and life along the border. Panelists include: Javier Garza: The longtime Mexican journalist has worked extensively to protect reporters working in Mexico, who are often targeted by drug cartels. Garza is a Knight International Journalism Fellow in Mexico. Nancy Montoya: Arizona Public Medias border reporter has 35 years experience in broadcast news in the United States and Latin America. With the Gadsden Purchase in 1854, her familys ranch went from being in Mexico to being in the United States almost overnight. Curt Prendergast: The Arizona Daily Stars border reporter has lived in South America and covered the border for the residents of Santa Cruz County from 2012 to 2015 as a reporter for the Nogales International. Fernanda Santos: The Phoenix bureau chief for The New York Times hails from Brazil and contributed to Latinos in the United States: A Resource Guide for Journalists. She is the author of The Fire Line, a book about the Granite Mountain Hotshots killed in the Yarnell Hill Fire. Moderating the panel will be Maria Hinojosa, anchor and executive producer of the long-running weekly NPR show, Latino USA. The event is free, but tickets must be reserved in advance. (See accompanying box) PHOENIX A federal appeals court on Friday upheld an Arizona law requiring minor parties to qualify for the ballot at least six months before the primary if they hope to run any candidates. In a unanimous ruling, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rebuffed claims by the Arizona Green Party that a February deadline to submit petitions is unconstitutional. Judge Margaret McKeown said attorneys for the party never demonstrated any significant burden on its rights. Conversely, McKeown said the deadline served Arizonas important interest in administering orderly elections. There was no immediate response from Claudia Ellquist, co-chair of the party, who was one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. The legal dispute stems from state election laws spelling out how parties get a space on the ballot for their candidates. Any party that gets at least 5 percent of the vote in the prior election is automatically qualified. So are those who have a certain number of people registered with the party. The Green Party met neither burden for the 2014 election. There is another option: Collect petitions signed by at least 1.33 percent of the total votes cast for governor in the last general election, a figure that translated out to 23,401 signatures. But the law requires they be turned in 180 days before the primary, a deadline that fell Feb. 27. Attorneys for the party filed suit, saying that date is one of the earliest deadlines in the country. They also noted that until 2000, the deadline was in May. The early deadline is unduly burdensome and invidiously discriminatory and not designed to allow a reasonable diligent minor party organization to qualify for the ballot, wrote attorney Robert Barnes for the party. But McKeown said there was something missing in all that: evidence. For example, we do not know how difficult it was for the Green Party to collect the required signatures, how much the signature-gathering effort cost (and), whether petition efforts diverted the partys resources from other endeavors, she wrote. McKeown also said the party never backed up its claim that voters are not focused on the election at the time of the February deadline or even whether the party had in fact tried to comply with the earlier deadline. Without any evidence regarding the practical consequences of the deadline, we find ourselves in the position of Lady Justice: blindfolded and stuck holding empty scales, she wrote, citing earlier 9th Circuit rulings upholding various election laws and deadlines. What that leaves, McKeown said, are the claims by state election officials that they need the time. Marana businessman John Kai Jr. is a changed man. Nightmares disturb his sleep and sometimes he wakes up from the images of reliving the moments he was shot twice bullets piercing his chest and head on the morning of May 4. The injuries resulted in the loss of his right eye. A former disgruntled employee, Ruben Duran Munoz, 63, was indicted on two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with serious physical injury and burglary. A long healing journey lies ahead for Kai, in which he faces more surgeries and counseling for his post-traumatic stress disorder. In an interview Wednesday, Kai, 69, recalled the traumatic events that occurred when he was at work at Kai Enterprises, 6088 W. Arizona Pavilions Drive, near Interstate 10 and North Cortaro Road. It had been years, said Kai, since he had seen Munoz, a former employee who worked mostly on Kais cotton operations in Marana, which at one time sprawled over more than 5,000 acres. In addition to cotton, the family farmed wheat and barley. Munoz worked for Kai family businesses for more than 25 years. The Kai familys roots run deep in Marana his parents were considered among the founders of the farming area going back to the 1930s. Today, the Kai family has dealings in agriculture, real estate, construction and other interests, and is one of Maranas largest landholders. John Kai is the brother of Marana Town Councilman Herb Kai. Munoz did what needed to be done on the farm, said Kai of the former employee whose work included irrigating and weeding the fields. He showed up at Kais office four months ago, wanting to talk to his former boss. According to court documents, after Munoz retired he subsisted on disability since 2013, and he was not been happy about the severance package he received from Kai. Munoz told Kais office manager that he wanted to talk to Kai and asked her to translate for him. The three sat at a large table, and Munoz told Kai that he should have been paid more for his years of service, state the documents. Kai and the office manager explained to Munoz that he had been fully paid out upon his retirement, including for vacation and sick time and that the business didnt owe him money. Munoz then asked for a $500 loan, and Kai told him he did not have the cash and showed him the limited amount of cash in his wallet. Munoz stood up, and Kai and the office manager saw that Munoz was holding a semi-automatic handgun. He said no one was going to laugh at him and that he was going to kill them both, according to the documents. During the interview, Kai said he remembers Munozs threats to kill and that he told workers to call 911. He said he can still picture how Munoz pushed the office manager, who slammed into a partition and fell to the floor. Then he turned to me and shot me, said Kai. I am slowly recovering. I dont have the sense of smell or taste, and I have to get adjusted to seeing from one eye. It is going to take time, he said. I still have a hole in the palate of my mouth, said Kai, describing the aftermath of his wounds. I may have to face another operation, he said, explaining that he underwent reconstructive surgeries during his treatment after the shooting. Surgeons operated on his mouth and eye, which needed to be removed because of the trauma caused by the bullet. He takes medication to relieve his anxiety and help him with PTSD, which can bring flashbacks and feelings of isolation and avoidance. I just want to stay low-key, said Kai, who is married and has four grown children and two young daughters, ages 10 and 12. It will take some time before I go back to work, said Kai, who mostly stays home and rests as a part of his healing. I try to get out a bit, but the ordeal of the shooting bothers me. I know I have to move forward. The Lord has more work cut out for me, otherwise I would be with him, said Kai, who said he finds comfort in his faith and attending Sunday Bible study group at Casas Adobes Baptist Church in Oro Valley. PHOENIX Arizona had fewer abortions last year than since the state began its current method of keeping track. But the reason for that is less clear. New figures from the state Department of Health Services show 12,659 recorded abortions in 2015. That compares with 12,900 the prior year and 14,401 in 2011. Statistics prior to that are not comparable. Cathi Herrod, president of the anti-abortion Center for Arizona Policy, cheered the report. Thats good for women and I would think for preborn children, she said. The report does not prove that more women who get pregnant are choosing to carry the child. The statistics show the number of live births also dropped last year. And, like the number of abortions, that figure also is at the lowest point since 2011. That leads Bryan Howard, president of Planned Parenthood Arizona, to conclude the abortion numbers are down simply because more women have access to and are using birth control. Fewer women are getting pregnant, he said. Even Herrod said she cannot dispute that without further analysis of the report. But she still views the declining abortion numbers as positive. Whether it is because more women are choosing life, or it is due to other factors, I celebrate each life saved, she said. The report is mandated by state law. It covers not just the number and rate of abortions but is broken down by other factors, including age groups and even the procedure used to terminate the pregnancy. For example, it shows the number of abortions on girls younger than 15, while just 25, actually increased by 16 percent from 2014. By contrast, there were fewer abortions of those from 15 through 24 and women older than 40; other age groups had an increase. It also shows that nearly two-thirds of abortions were done before the ninth week of pregnancy, with 67 pregnancies terminated at 20 weeks and 154 at 21 weeks or more. That figure is politically significant because lawmakers voted in 2012 to ban abortions at 20 weeks on the premise the fetus could feel pain at that point. That law was blocked by federal courts, a decision the U.S. Supreme Court refused in 2014 to overturn. There are things the report does not measure. One is the number of women who use emergency contraception in the form of the morning-after pill, essentially a high dose of hormones designed to prevent pregnancy. Howard also said sections of the report may be misleading, particularly in the number of abortions performed on residents of Mohave and Yuma counties, where the figures are low by comparison with much of the rest of the state. He said women there who want to terminate a pregnancy may choose to travel to Nevada or California, meaning the abortion is not reported to Arizona health officials and does not show up in the report. One reason numbers prior to 2011 are not comparable is that prior to then abortion providers filed paper reports. State health officials said that often led to problems keeping track of data. The current system requires clinics and doctors to file electronic reports. Health officials said that mandate, coupled with better training of abortion providers and their staffs, is designed to provide better statistics to use for comparison. OPINION: "Well, I finished by telling this person I knew his grandparents were huge Franklin Delano Roosevelt supporters. After being asked what point I was trying to make, I responded with something the late president once said: 'Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves. And the only way they could do this is by not voting,'" writes Tucsonan Mary Stanik. UK based channel Pick has acquired broadcast rights to observational series, Gold Coast Medical. The 10 part series, produced by McAvoy Media, was originally promised by Seven a year ago as part of its Super September line-up. But it is yet to air in Australia. The series follows the daily lives of people and staff at Gold Coast University Hospital and the Queensland Ambulance Service. Earlier this year producer John McAvoy defended What Really Happens on the Gold Coast amid criticisms the show was trashy and presented an inaccurate stereotype of the city. According to a McAvoy Media page, Gold Coast Medical is still coming soon. Source: C21 Help India! By Shafeeq Hudawi, TwoCircles.net Kozhikode: The death of a teenager due to malnutrition in Attappady, the largest Adivasi settlement in Kerala, has once again exposed the lack of an effective mechanism to ensure proper nutrition for children at various hamlets in the Adivasi settlement. Manikandan, a student of class 8 at the Government Tribal Higher Secondary School in Sholayur who was not provided with proper treatment, died last week due to anaemia. Support TwoCircles A report prepared by the health workers soon after the incident, says that over 3,000 Adivasi children in the hamlet are anaemic and there is a need for immediate and effective steps to address the nutrition issues. Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja Visiting Attappady To add to this, a health checkup camp organised recently by the Health Department at Sholayur Tribal Higher Secondary School found that 110 students of the school were suffering from severe anaemia. According to the figures with the department, a total of 567 students were screened during the two day camp. The death of this child in only the latest in a series of incidents; they are vulnerable to anaemia as their mothers are denied nutritious food during pregnancy, said Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha leader M Geethanandan. In 2013, s study initiated by the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, had found that 49 per cent of the Adivasi children in Attapadi hamlets were suffering from malnutrition. Doctors here say that anaemia cases are reported due to malnutrition or nutrition deficiency in the food, taken by the tribes people. The Adivasis have lost their land, where they can farm and produce their food due to encroachments from outsiders. Adivasis are abstaining from agriculture due to the less availability of land. This is the root cause of the crisis. Now, people here are given some rice and vegetables which are inadequate to provide sufficient nutrition, Geethanandan said. The AGMS leader alleged that the community kitchen programme, aimed at addressing the malnutrition among pregnant women, had failed to bring results. A few of the 197 community kitchens had shut down, denying food to the Adivasis. On Thursday, worms were found in wheat sacks which were brought to the community kitchens here. He wondered that how the government was carelessly dealing with the health issues of Adivasi people. Its high time Attappady needs a mechanism to address the malnutrition, being faced by the newborns and children here, he said. Meanwhile, in a response to the incidents, Health Minister K K Shailaja visited Attappady on Wednesday and reviewed the arrangements here. The minister asked the officials of Tribal Welfare and Health departments to take immediate steps to prevent deaths due to the failing health of pregnant Adivasi mothers. The minister said that community kitchens that have been closed would be reopened soon. She asked the officials of the Health Department to ensure that the nutritious food being distributed through the anganwadis maintained the necessary quality standards. Scanning facilities will be implemented at main hospitals so that stillborn cases can be detected before the delivery. Health Department officials must hold review meetings once in three months, she said. Help India! By TCN News, Mumbai: Considering the shifting socio-political situation of the country, All India Muslim Majlis e Mushawarat (AIMMM), an oldest advocacy group of Indian Muslims, has decided to hold series of meetings in a four day program and reflect on key issues facing the community. Support TwoCircles The program will be organized between October 13 to October 16, 2016 in Mumbai. A special public meeting will be held on October 15 which will be attended by National Muslim Leaders and Ulema, Mushawarat announced in a press release. As many as 400 policy makers, community leaders, academicians and activists are expected to attend the four day program and discuss on varying issues pertaining to the community in the wake of changing socio-political conditions in India. Mushawarat has a long history of serving the community in its struggle to get equitable justice, for Hindu Muslim unity, defending its religious and legal rights and in formation of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, AMU Action Committee for restoration of its minority character in 1967, in struggle for Babri Masjid by constituting Babri Masjid Coordination Committee and in reaching communal strife areas and extending help to the victims with its limited resources, it says in the press release. Mushawarat is an oldest advocacy group of Indian Muslims, launched 52 years back by Muslim leaders and its first President was Dr. Syed Mehmood, freedom fighter and former Minister in Nehru Cabinet. UNCW Votes Week Encourages Student Participation in the November Election The Office of Student Leadership and Engagement will sponsor UNCW Votes Week Sept. 26-30, 2016, to encourage students to register and exercise their right to vote in the upcoming election. The Student Government Association and student volunteers also helped organize the event. Events during UNCW Votes Week include a Red, White and Blue Dinner beginning at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 26, followed by presidential debate-watching parties at 8:30 p.m. in the Upperman African American Cultural Center (Fisher University Union Room 2021) and McNeill Hall Room 1051. Students may learn more about voting laws during a presentation on Sept. 27, which is National Voter Registration Day, in Morton Hall 100 at 6 p.m. A leadership workshop on citizenship will be held on Sept. 28 in the Wrightsville Beach Room, Fisher Student Center Room 2017 at 4 p.m. Throughout the week, OSLE will provide students with blank registration forms and information about the registration process. Completed forms will be submitted to the New Hanover County Board of Elections. The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 8 general election is Oct. 14, 2016. In addition to the closely watched presidential race, North Carolina voters will cast ballots for state and local government offices. Information about registration and voting, as well as a detailed schedule of the weeks events, is available on the UNCW Votes Week website. Follow UNCW Votes 2016 on Facebook or @uncwvotes on Instagram. -- Tricia Vance #SA When Donald Trump announced he was running for president last June, he instantly caught heat for labeling illegal immigrants from Mexico as "rapists" and "murderers." On an almost routine basis, Trump would go on to push the boundaries of offensive actions on the campaign trail, but one incident appears to have stood out more than others. Defending Trump Despite facing a world-wind of critics since the start of his campaign, Trump has found some friends in the media. Out of all those who support him, Trump's biggest fan might be conservative author and pundit, Ann Coulter. In her new book, "In Trump We Trust," the controversial conservative mouthpiece attempts to make her case for why the billionaire real estate mogul should be the next commander in chief. One issue that she tackles in her book was when Trump appeared to mock a disabled reporter, as pointed out by Jezebel on August 25. Serge Kovaleski, a reporter for the New York Times, wrote a column about Trump in regards to his stance on the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Kovaleski suffers from a musculoskeletal disorder known as arthrogryposis, which affects the joints. During a campaign stop last November, Trump referenced Kovaleski's article, mocking the reporter by twisting his arm close to his chest, appearing to mimic the disabled act while shouting, "Ahh, I don't remember, I don't remember!." In her book, Coulter defended Trump's questionable actions. "He doesnt jerk around or flail his arms," Coulter said of Kovaleski, saying "He's not retarded." Coulter went on to point out what she believes were the alleged differences between Kovaleski's disability, and the imitation that Trump was trying to pull off. In regards to what Trump was apparently trying to get across, Coulter said, "He was doing a standard retard, waving his arms and sounding stupid." Election impact Even with Trump's controversial comments about women, Muslims, African-Americans, and Hispanics, a recent poll by Bloomberg found that his mocking of Kovaleski was what bothered potential voters the most. While the GOP nomineewas able to get through the Republican primary, he's struggled to keep that momentum going in the general election. The updated rolling average from Real Clear Politics shows Trump trailing Hillary Clinton by seven points nationally, while also falling behind in key swing states. As the former host of "The Apprentice" continues to dig a deep hole for himself, most political pundits and members of the media believe Clinton will become the next President of the United States. North Carolina Republican Rep. Robert Pittenger just took home the award for the fastest-foot-in-mouth, bigoted blunder. The 68-year-old politician, whose districts include several outer portions of Charlotte, uttered an outrageous comment regarding the civil unrest and violent protests that have plagued Charlotte since the fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. On Tuesday afternoon, Charlotte police confronted an armed man, later identified as Keith Scott, while attempting to serve a warrant at an apartment complex on another suspect. According to Scotts family, he was sitting in his vehicle, reading a book and waiting for a school bus to drop off his son when police approached and gunned him down. Police said Scott refused to drop his gun. The shooting touched offthree nights of violence in the heart of Charlotte. Blacks hate whites because whites are successful? During an interview with BBC News on Thursday, Pittenger was asked about his view of the grievance that is pushing protesters to the streets. The grievance in their minds, the animus, the anger. They hate white people because white people are successful, and theyre not, the Congressman said in response. The backlash over the inflammatory comment came quick and hard. Fellow lawmaker Grier Martin, a Democrat and a member of North Carolinas House of Representatives, tweeted out: One of the most ignorant statements I have ever heard. Ashamed to have served with this fool. Government keeps Blacks in 'bondage.' Pittenger also placed blame for the violent reactions among the Black community at the foot of the Federal government, accusing assistance and outreach programs that put minorities in bondage. We have spent trillions of dollars on welfare, and weve put people in bondage, so they cant be all theyre capable of being, he commented. Apologies on top of apologies After being smacked upside the head by social media, Pittenger tried to backtrack, stating that the comment does not reflect who I am, andsuggesting that he was only quoting statements made by angry protesters. He later apologized again, stating that what is happening in his hometown breaks his heart;" he said his own internal anguish led him to respond to a reporter's question in a way that I regret. On September 24, 1994, three young men, all teenagers, were rounded up and sent to a concentration camp. Their crime? They refused military service on the grounds of their strongly held religious convictions an entitlement that ironically, one year later, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights reinforced as an acceptable concession that all world nations should adhere to. Nevertheless, down to this very day, Paulos Eyassu, Negede Teklemariam and Isaac Mogos all Jehovahs Witnesses remain jailed in the Sawa prison camp in the country of Eritrea, eastern Africa. Without the benefit of any legal framework, the men were detained without cause, without due process and incredulously, have never been formally charged with any crime. The prisoners have spent their youth behind bars. The three detainees are all now in the 40s. They have given up the primes of their lives the chance to wed and start a family and their opportunity to worship their God shoulder to shoulder with fellow believers. They quietly remain steadfast in their determination to endure for what they know in their hearts is pleasing in Gods eyes. It is in Eritrea, more than anywhere else in the world, that Jehovahs Witnesses experience the most intense persecution, says a report on the Jehovahs Witnesses web site, JW.org. The three men are among 55 other Jehovahs Witnessesjailed in Eritrea for either conscientious objection to conscription military service or for their peaceful religious activity. By this, all will know you are my disciples... In a country like Eritrea where a citizen and a solder and perceived as one and the same Jehovahs Witnesses stand out in stark contrast. They will endure prison camps, beatings and torture, but they will not join military ranks. They steadfastly believe in beating their swords into plowshares and not learning war anymore, says the book of Isaiah. Their international brotherhood practices love for one another. (John 13:34, 35) No Jehovahs Witness would ever be found in a battlefield, looking across at a fellow Witness, waiting to kill one another or anyone else. Jesus said in the verse cited above that all would know who his disciples are,if they have "love among themselves." If only all major religions practiced what they preached. US Department of State report. According to a US Department of State commentary on religious freedoms in Eritrea, citizens there are generally tolerant of those practicing other religions; exceptions included negative societal attitudes toward Jehovah's Witnesses and conscientious objectors to military service based on religious beliefs. Jehovahs Witnesses are the largest recognized religious organization whose members welcome disciplinary alternatives as opposed to taking up arms in wars. The State department report also details how government officials actively and intentionally single out Witnesses of Jehovah and subject them to unlawful actions and targeted discrimination. Although members of several religious groups were imprisoned in past years for failure to participate in required national military service, the government singled out Jehovah's Witnesses to receive harsher treatment than that given to others, the report cites, adding that many of the religions members have been detained for more than a decade and a half a term far beyond the maximum legal penalty of two years for refusing to perform national service. In addition,Jehovah's Witnesses in Eritrea have hadtheir business licenses revoked without cause, been evicted out of government-subsidized housing units and been denied common government paperwork needed for travel, such as passports and visas. Philip Brumley, general counsel for Jehovahs Witnesses: It is our fervent hope that the government of Eritrea will release all Witness prisoners, including these three men who have been detained for 20 years, and bring an end to the persecution of our fellow believers. The Rafale is a French multirolefighter jet manufactured by the French manufacturer Dassault. This is a famous French military plane manufacturer and had earlier marketed the Mirage and the Mystere. The Mystere was a subsonic plane while the Mirage was a low-level strike aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons. It could fly at Mach II and had the capability to fly at tree top level to evade enemy radar. This plane was used by the Israeli air force to destroy the nuclear reactor of Saddam, way back in the eighties of the last century. The Rafale The DassaultAviation has now brought out theRafale a multirole supersonic jet plane that can operate from both static airfields as well as aircraft carriers. The plane is in the market for any power to buy who had hard cash. The plane has been bought by the Egyptian and Qatar air force, and a deal for 36 jets has been inked with India. The plane is not the latest 5th generation fighter, and first flew in 1986 and after trials were inducted into the French Air Force in 2001. The French air force has nearly 180 Rafales in use.The aircraft is available at the cost of Euro 69 million in flyaway condition. A special aircraft carrier version is available but as yet no navy has purchased it. Performance In terms of performance, the Rafale is inferior to itscompetitors theSU-34 and the F-16/18. It has a top speed of 1.8 Mach at high altitude and 1.1 Machwhen flying at low altitude. It has a combat radius of 1800 km when used in alow-level penetration mission. Its general combat range with fueltanks is 3700 km with aservice ceiling of 50,000 ft. The plane carries guns and air to air and air to surface missiles. It can be used for ship attacks as it is capable of carrying the Exocet anti-shipping missile. It can also carry the ASMP-A nuclear missile, but this has little relevance for powers who do not have this weaponry. The aircraft incorporates the latest radar systems for detection and evasion. The Rafale is a potent combat weapon system and could be an asset in a tactical operation in support of the army. But its negative point is the prohibitivecost, and that must weigh against it. Did Maci Bookout and her fiance, Taylor McKinney, fake scenes for Teen Mom OG? During the show's premiere episode on Monday, Bookout was seen taking a pregnancy test with McKinney after claiming she had put on a few added pounds. During the premiere, Bookout and McKinney were seen sitting in bed when Bookout brought up the issue of her recent weight gain and claimed to be searching online for a new gym. While she searched, McKinney brought up the possibility of a pregnancy and Bookout went to take a pregnancy test -- which she just so happened to have handy. A Maci Bookout interview proves she didn't find out she was pregnant at home Although the premiere episode scene led viewers to believe that Maci Bookout was in the dark about her pregnancy up until that point, the network seemingly failed to realize that Bookout had already informed Us Weekly that she had discovered her pregnancy during a doctor's visit in January. In February, Bookout spoke to the magazine about the news of her pregnancy, claiming she was speechless when her doctor informed her that she and McKinney would be having another child. "I was at the doctor, ironically, to get my birth control prescription refilled!" Bookout said of the moment she discovered she would be having her third child. "I laughed at her! I mean, she's the doctor that delivered Jayde, so I was like, 'Ha ha, that's a funny joke!'" Fans aren't happy about Maci Bookout's alleged fakery In addition to Maci Bookout's interview with Us Weekly magazine, fans on Twitter weren't convinced that Monday night's scene was factual and took to the social media platform to air their grievances. On August 24, Radar Online shared a couple of their comments. "I love Maci, but she is so noticeably pregnant at her engagement shoot," one fan wrote. Another added, "I'd also like to say you knew about the baby." For more of Maci Bookout, Taylor McKInney, and their family, tune into new episodes of Teen Mom OG season six airing every Monday night at 10 p.m. on MTV. Chinese market alleviates EU agri-food crisis: European commissioner Updated: 2016-09-24 14:24 (Xinhua) ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands - Demand from China continues to drive European Union (EU) agri-food exports and in particular exports of pork which reached record high level this year, EU agriculture commissioner Phil Hogan said Friday. "China is a growing market and Europe wants to be involved in this market," the EU official told Xinhua. He is in Rotterdam attending a shipment of Dutch pork to China and the first shipment of Dutch veal meat to the United States. Hogan noted that pork as a top EU export product to China has registered substantial increase in the Chinese market in 2016. "The shipment of Dutch pork is another indication of the growing marketplace that China is offering to European farmers particularly this year," said Hogan. Boosting agri-food exports to China and other parts in Asia has become top priority for the EU as the block seeks new markets to offset the loss of sales to Russia. Moscow banned EU food imports since August 2014 in response to Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis. According to Hogan, 80 percent of the total value of exports to Russia have already been replaced by EU exports to Asian markets. EU pork exports in the first half 2016 have increased by 44 percent in volume and 39 percent in value compared to the same period last year. The Chinese mainland stands as the first outlet with an increase of 115 percent in volume, followed by Japan (+22 percent) and China's Hong Kong (+55 percent), according to figures released by the European Commission. Hogan visited China twice this year as part of a series of trade missions to open up new markets. Later this year he will visit Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore with a delegation of European agri-business people. In 2017, he plans to go to Nigeria, Canada and again China. "There are considerable opportunities for the European producers of agricultural products in China," the commissioner said, citing as most important factor the growing Chinese middle class. EU figures put China as the second biggest agricultural export market for the EU. In 2015, the EU exported 10.3 billion euros (about $11.5 billion) of agri-food to China, 39 percent up from previous year and representing 8 percent of all EU agri-exports. As the EU's leading producer and the world's second largest agri-food products exporter, the Netherlands exported 186 tons of pork to China in the first eight months of this year, noted Dutch minister for Agriculture Martijn Van Dam. Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur are just around the corner. These are the two holiest days in the Jewish calendar. This year Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset on Oct. 2, and Yom Kippur at sunset on Oct. 11. For an entire month prior to the holy days, Jewish people dedicate their time and energy to spiritually prepare themselves for the crucial days to come. During this month, called Elul, the shofar, a rams horn, is blasted each day as a wakeup call reminding the Jewish people to begin their process of reflection and introspection. One theme runs deep throughout Elul, Rosh HaShanah, and Yom Kippur teshuva. This Hebrew word is most often translated in English as repentance, but the more literal meaning is returning. During the High Holy Day season, the Jewish people return to themselves and the decisions they have made in the past year. They return to their thoughts, words, and actions and reflect on times they may have missed the mark, which is the central concept of the Jewish understanding of sin. If their words or decisions hurt other people, it is their responsibility at this time to return to those people and acknowledge what they have done to wrong them, and of course, ask for their forgiveness. The wrongdoing between people must be resolved before people can ask for the pardon of God and properly atone for their offense. As the month of Elul counts the last days of the year, the Jewish people await Rosh HaShanah, the holy day that starts the new year. Traditionally, Jewish people celebrate by eating plenty of honey, to symbolize a sweet new year. This is also the time that the Jewish people are returning God to the throne through their prayers, as the theme of kingship is ever-present in the liturgy. The Jewish people hope and pray to be written in the Book of Life in the new year to come, which means it will be a year of blessings. This does not imply that people are expected to be perfect; rather, it affirms that people are humans after all, and that the Jewish people have taken time to reflect on the significant moments in the past year, and have a better understanding of how to act in the coming year. This holiday is followed by 10 days, known as the Days of Awe, where the hardest work and contemplation is achieved for the day of atonement Yom Kippur. When the sun finally sets on the eve of Yom Kippur (all Jewish holidays start at sundown because in the days of creation, God created the evening first, followed by morning) the Jewish people are ready and vulnerable before God. After Elul, Rosh HaShanah, and the 10 Days of Awe, including all of the special preparation and self-reflection, the Jewish people return to God, with nothing but their deeds and prayers before them. It is traditional to fast from sunset to sunset without food or water, wear simple white clothing, and essentially become nearly angels, removing themselves from the human necessities and getting as close to God as possible. On this day it is just between each individual and God. The Jewish people ask for forgiveness for all of the moments where they missed the mark this past year. They ask for forgiveness for the times they unintentionally wronged themselves, a fellow person or God. The Jewish people ask for communal forgiveness, naming off sins together, allowing people to repent out loud for acts they might be hesitant to say alone for fear of human judgment. This is the last return to the moments of which people are not proud, and the meditation on the necessary steps to prevent the same mistakes in the future. The final test is in the complete tsheuva, returning, as the 12th century Jewish philosopher, Maimonides, explains. This concept happens when people return to essentially the same situation for which they once repented and are faced with the same decision. If they have learned from their reflection and prayers and choose a different decision this time, their act of repentance is complete. Re-elected head of Britain's Labour Party, Corbyn calls for unity Updated: 2016-09-24 20:10 (Agencies) LONDON - Jeremy Corbyn was re-elected leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party on Saturday, ending a "coup" attempt by more moderate lawmakers who say his left-wing agenda can never deliver victory at the polls. The veteran campaigner's triumph, by 313,209 to 193,229 votes, cements his authority over the divided party and will fuel his drive to turn Labour further left - a move many of his colleagues say will see them out of power and allow the ruling Conservatives free rein to set Britain's divorce from the EU. Welcoming the result, which hands him more votes than when he first won the leadership last year, Corbyn called on lawmakers and members at the party's annual conference in the northwestern city of Liverpool to come together to fight the Conservatives and bring "real change" to Britain. "Elections are passionate and often partisan affairs, things are sometimes said in the heat of the debate ... which we sometimes later come to regret. But always remember in our party we have much more in common than that which divides us," he said to roars from the crowd of mainly his supporters. "Let's wipe that slate clean and get on with the work we have got to do as a party together," he said, moving to ease fears that his re-election will widen the divide between the Labour Party's left and right wings and that he may trigger moves to force centrist lawmakers from the party. Death toll of Indonesia's catastrophes rises to 33 with over 6,000 displaced Updated: 2016-09-24 20:47 (Xinhua) JAKARTA - Flashfloods and landslides in West Java province earlier this week has left 33 dead, 22 missing with over 6,000 internally displaced, disaster agency officials said. In Garut district, rescuers have recovered 30 bodies and are searching for 22 other missing persons, Haryadi Wargadibrata, head of provincial disaster agency said. A total of 6,361 people were forced to take shelters at government offices and military stations, he added. As many as 951 houses were damaged, swept by currents of rivers, and submerged by mud and waters in the district, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of national disaster management agency said. Search and rescue operation for the victims involved 1,600 personnel, comprising soldiers, police and those from local search and rescue office, disaster agency office, and Red Cross, he added. One helicopter is combing the areas along the two rivers, whose waters overflowed banks after heavy downpours earlier Wednesday, to find the victims, Sutopo said. Separately, in Sumedang district 3 people were killed after landslides hit 2 houses, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, he revealed. Indonesia is frequently hit by floods and landslides during heavy downpours. Please turn JavaScript on and reload the page. Loading... Checking your browser before accessing the website. This process is automatic. Your browser will redirect to your requested content shortly. Please wait a few seconds. A night of worship that goes beyond denominational boundaries is a powerful thing, says Sean Feucht, founder of a grassroots global worship, prayer and missions organization. The common denominator that unifies us Charismatics, Presbyterians, Catholics is to worship in the presence of God, Feucht said in a telephone interview from Redding, Calif., where he lives. We want to experience the presence of God and get so touched by love that were radically changed. People who come together to sing songs of praise, leaving their doctrinal differences at the door, are often inspired in new ways to love God and care for others, he said. Feucht, a Montana native, has seen that happen not just in the United States, but in countries around the world. His ministry, Burn 24-7, has just celebrated a decade of imparting a passion among believers for reaching up to God and out to others. He will be the guest speaker at a night of worship Sunday in Billings that is open to all. The event, which is sponsored by Billings United, begins at 5:30 p.m. in the auditorium at West High. Feuchts dream is to witness a generation of "burning hearts arising around the world, with a renewed faith." He and other members of his team plant what they call furnaces, to lead people into worship, prayer and mobilizing outreach to others in need. He travels an estimated 250,000 miles a year to as many as 30 different countries. He and his family returned a couple of months ago from Iraq. The purpose there was not just to spend time in worship, Feucht said, but to meet the many needs the people of northern Iraq face after the devastation they've experienced. We had a huge project outreach to those affected by ISIS, Feucht said. We did everything from Bible distribution to building showers for them, and were getting ready to launch a kerosene heater project because it gets very cold there. Feucht has led worship in countries around the world, including Iraq, Morocco and Indonesia, the latter country the largest Muslim nation in the world. We were gathered with 4,000 or 5,000 Indonesians, he said. We worshiped into the night, and it was an amazing experience. Whether in the U.S. or abroad, Feucht has experienced that kind of unity that only comes with worship. I think one of the things thats so amazing is that regardless of language barriers or cultural barriers, its like worship is the language of the Spirit, he said. Its like the oxygen of heaven. Its what pulls us into an encounter with God. Josh Jones, the organizer for the Billings night of worship, has seen an increased hunger for the communal gatherings that Feucht describes. The first event Jones put together in July 2015 attracted about 500 people, and the most recent one drew closer to 1,000. He believes it has changed the faith community in Billings. An incredible unity seems to be forming between churches, with the removal of territorial boundaries, Jones said. More than 20 churches are involved in Sunday's event, and the band is made up of worship leaders and worship teams from six different churches. The previous events mainly included people from the Billings area, but the reach is expanding. Part of our vision for this is to spread throughout the state, he said. This time were including churches from Colstrip, Big Timber and Kalispell. Its been pretty cool. Jones has also seen how worship inspires people to action. One woman was moved to start a campaign to raise awareness and funds to fight sex trafficking. Asked what it is about worship that touches people, Jones quoted Christian author, pastor and spiritual mentor A.W. Tozer: Thirsty hearts are those whose longings have been wakened by the touch of God within them. I firmly believe that one encounter with God can rearrange a persons entire life, he said. To protect one of its economic engines Garfield County commissioners are mulling the idea of taking over management of Hell Creek State Park on Fort Peck Reservoir. The county commission will hold a public meeting at 6 p.m. on Oct. 3 in the Jordan VFW club to hear from the Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the land around the reservoir, what the county would need to do if it took over management of the park. We will tell them what that would entail, said Michele Fromdahl, lake manager for the Corps. They would have to meet state and federal requirements for safety, use of equipment, health. The Corps staff has said in the past it has no money to fund operations of the facility, yet no one has yet lobbied Montanas congressional delegation to seek money from Congress to operate Hell Creek, which it could do. Recreation, along with other purposes like irrigation, is one of the eight authorized purposes for which Fort Peck Reservoir is managed by the Corps. Going away Montana State Parks and its appointed board has said it will not renew its lease from the Corps when the lease expires in 2021, although the state agency has said if an alternative source of funding is found it may reconsider. Yet the same agency walked away from $1 million of a $1.5 million appropriation from the Legislature to upgrade the facility, saying it didnt want to put money into the park if the state was going to leave. So local and regional folks have taken it upon themselves to organize an alternative park management scenario. One option thats been proposed is creating a management team to oversee the park while the current marina concessionaire, Clint and Deb Thomas, take over running the campground. I just think there are a lot of advantages for the county to take over, said James Gustafson, a Helena resident who has been going to the site for more than 20 years and has been actively advocating for a new management scheme. Its something I like and want to see stay around. Stepping in Rep. Ken Holmlund, a Miles City legislator, has taken up the cause of making sure Hell Creek State Park stays open if the state walks away. Its really, really important to the people of Eastern Montana, he said. People from all over the state come. They come from North Dakota to fish and hunt. But hes unsure whether Garfield County has the expertise or financial wherewithal to step into the job. Even the states own review of Hell Creek stated: Management of Hell Creek State Park requires a complex structure of management of multiple resources. So Holmlund and Gustafson are touting some nonprofit groups as possible partners. Theres no hurry, Holmlund said. We have until 2019 before the state decides. Meanwhile Gustafson has backed the idea of an annual park pass as a way to gain initial funding. He pointed to the 10,000 acre Beaver Creek Park, outside Havre, as an example of a successfully run county public campground and recreation resource. The park is called the largest county-owned park in the nation. Beaver Creek charges an annual or daily park fee. Low rank Montana State Parks first proposed walking away from Hell Creek State Park in December of last year. It based its decision on an independent review of state parks that ranked them on several factors. Hell Creek was near the bottom of the rankings and also is in need of millions of dollars in infrastructure investment. That combination prompted the decision not to renew the parks lease. The move struck a nerve with many Eastern Montanans. Hell Creek is popular with anglers, hunters and campers, hosting about 30,000 visitors annually, mainly during the summer months. The problem has been accommodating increased visitation with facilities that are in need of improvement, including water and sanitation. Another challenging part is the road to get out there is 26 miles of potholes, Holmlund said. Despite such problems, Holmlund remains optimistic. Yes, I think it is possible to do it, he said. But it will take a commitment by people to take over management of it. Viet Nams leading retailer of mobile phones, The Gioi Di ong, has closed 22 outlets it had at the now Thai-owned Big C supermarket after failing to strike a deal. Photo zing.vn HCM CITY Viet Nams leading retailer of mobile phones, The Gioi Di ong, has closed 22 outlets it had at the now Thai-owned Big C supermarket after failing to strike a deal. MWG, owner of the mobile phone retailer, wanted to sell electronic products instead of mobile phones at the Big C outlets, according to media reports. MWG also owns giant electronics retail chain, Dienmayxanh. However, Thailands Central Group, which recently acquired Big Cs operations in Viet Nam, owns a 49 per cent stake in another major Vietnamese retailer, Nguyen Kim. This is the reason Big C ended the deal with MWG, according to media speculation. An MWG spokesperson told Viet Nam News in an emailed reply: The closure was completed last month. This is an unexpected happening. The Gioi Di ong has more than 1,000 outlets nation-wide, and the closure of 22 stores is not expected to affect its operations much. Experts said while the parting of ways is appropriate from Big Cs business perspective, it gives rise to a fear that Vietnamese retailers could be edged out of their home market. However, foreign retailers, including Thai, account for less than a 10 per cent market share. The Gioi Di ong eyes revenues of US$2 billion this year as they grow at over 50 per cent a year, as do profits. The MWG spokesperson said it was expected to overtake CoopMart as Viet Nams biggest retailer soon. Big C has 32 outlets around Viet Nam, while many other foreign retailers also have plans to strengthen their position in the country. VNS HCM CITY There is huge potential for co-operation between Vietnamese and Taiwanese firms in many areas, including MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and events) and medical services, a conference heard in HCM City yesterday. Vo Tan Thanh, director of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industrys HCM City office, said bilateral trade had grown strongly in recent years, reaching US$13 billion last year, with Taiwan enjoying a surplus. Taiwan ranked fourth among countries and territories investing in Viet Nam, with $31.9 billion as of July this year in 2,540 projects, he said. The number of Taiwanese travellers to Viet Nam steadily increased in recent years, reaching nearly 300,000 in the first seven months of the year, a year-on-year increase of 15 per cent, he said. Taiwan had also become an increasingly attractive travel destination for Vietnamese, with around 150,000 visiting last year, he said. Liang Guang Chung, director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in HCM City, said the MICE industry strongly developed in Taiwan thanks to the islands intensive investment in the sector. Since last November Taiwan has eased visa procedures for many emerging countries in Asia like Viet Nam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and India. Starting this month Vietnamese can get a long-term, multi-entry visa for 2-5 years. This would create favourable conditions to boost tourism co-operation between the two sides, Liang said. There is huge potential for co-operation between Vietnamese and Taiwanese firms in many areas, he said. Thanh said with incomes increasing, the number of Vietnamese going abroad to treat heart, cancer, and digestive problems and get cosmetic surgery also increased, with around 2,000 heading for Taiwan last year. "This is an area in which the two sides can boost co-operation," he said. Organised by VCCI and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), the conference saw executives from six Taiwanese MICE firms and two hospitals taking part. Delegates spoke about Taiwans MICE industry, MICE tours and medical tourism, and the incentives and support offered to overseas groups coming to Taiwan for corporate meetings and incentive travel. The conference was part of Taiwans trade promotion activities meant to expand bilateral co-operation with ASEAN countries in sectors like human resources, manufacturing, education, culture, tourism, and agriculture. VNS The Ministry of Construction suggests the State retain a controlling stake in Song a Corporation after its equitisation given the companys large-scale business operations. Photo cafebiz.vn HA NOI The Ministry of Construction suggests the State retain a controlling stake in Song a Corporation after its equitisation given the companys large-scale business operations. Song a Corporation is the largest hydropower construction firm in Viet Nam with a market share of 85 per cent. The company plans to expand hydropower projects to Laos and Cambodia in the future. Founded in 1960, the company also focuses on infrastructure, transport engineering, civil industrial works, installation of power transmission lines and sub stations at industrial zones and urban areas. In the equitisation plan designed for the company, which was submitted to the Government, the Ministry of Construction has proposed the State hold 51 per cent of Song a Corporations capital after equitisation and reduce it to 36 per cent by 2020. The gradual reduction in the States holdings is designed to ensure the companys business stability as well as keep in line with the view of restructuring the construction industry as approved by the Prime Minister, the ministry said. According to the companys financial statement by the end of 2015, its equity capital had reached VN2.65 trillion (US$118.6 million), but liabilities amounted to VN10.2 trillion with the debt/equity ratio of over 3.8 times. The ministry has proposed to raise the construction firms charter capital to VN4.5 trillion to bring the debt ratio to a more reasonable level as well as guarantee its dividend payment of 3 per cent in the years after equitisation. Song a Corporation is expected to issue 450 million shares at the face value of VN10,000 per share, with the State holding 51 per cent, strategic investors being offered 30 per cent, and 18.82 per cent to be auctioned in its initial public offering. The remaining shares will be sold to the companys employees. As for strategic investors, the selection criteria specify that the candidates have to register to buy at least 5 per cent of the companys charter capital, equivalent to about VN225 billion. In addition, prospective investors must have experience and capacity in the construction, electricity and real estate sectors. It is important that strategic investors must have a total asset value of at least VN1 trillion as of 2015 and an equity capital of VN300 billion. The candidates must operate in profit and be without bad debts. Song a Corporation expects to earn VND2.9 trillion in revenue and VN160 billion in pre-tax profits in 2016 after sales. Song a planned to make its initial public offering in July 2016 but it was forced to delay due to the complexity of evaluating the companys value. The Government Office has sent documents to the ministries of Finance, and Planning and Investment, and the State Audit Office of Vietnam to collect opinions on this equitisation plan. VNS Meirav Eilon Shahar, Israeli Ambassador to Viet Nam; Esther Barak Landes, CEO of Nielsen Innovate; Avi Luvton, Executive Director of Israel's Asia Pacific Department; Tran Quang Hung, UP Co-working Space Co-founder VNS Photo HA NOI The Israels Guide for Startups Conference held Wednesday discussed key requirements for building a strong startup economy and how to apply these elements to Viet Nams startup ecosystem. The panel argued that networking for startup businesses and investors and other financial and legal entities, as well as matching investors and companies through an established database, are necessary for the future of the Vietnamese startup ecosystem. "There are several components, including startups, human capital, academia, universities, foreign companies, venture capitalists and, of course, government. All of these things should contribute to the startup ecosystem, and the government should monitor and adjust them all. Each of these players should make an effort and the government should take responsibility for success, Avi Luvton, Executive Director of Israels Asia Pacific Department, told Viet Nam News. The 200 conference attendees included representatives of various Vietnamese startups interested in company building and fund raising. Attendees also dialogued with panelists on startup economy issues. Israel is a country with many small startup businesses. The nation did not develop from larger or multi-national companies. Israelis encourage their children to start doing business on their own, instead of working in government sectors or big businesses. This differs from the Vietnamese mindset. Viet Nams startup ecosystem is still in its early stages, which is also a good thing. I believe we are going in the right direction for the long term, said Nguyen Khanh Phuong, founder of the RoboFarm startup which just won third place in the US Embassys The Ambassadors Entrepreneurship Challenge. Other supporting entities, such as UP Co-working Space, are also important for promoting startup businesses in Viet Nam. They offer practical opportunities for networking and business matching through events such as the Israels conference. If the Conference helps connect startups with the Vietnamese and global business ecosystem, or simply prompts startups to find better economic models for their businesses, then I believe it is a big success on its own merits, said Tran Quang Hung, co-founder of UP Co-Working Space and the event organiser. The conference was part of Israel Startup Week in Viet Nam. It followed an earlier seminar that day which was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue and by the Israeli Ambassador to Viet Nam, Meirav Eilon Shahar. VNS Sustainable development is an inevitable trend and is increasingly popular in the business community, both globally and in Viet Nam. Photo baodansinh.vn HA NOI Sustainable development is an inevitable trend and is increasingly popular in the business community, both globally and in Viet Nam, said vice chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vietnam oan Duy Khuong at a Thursday conference on sustainable development and essential trends. The conference, designed to support businesses in Viet Nam and provide information on latest trends and topics related to sustainable development, as well as to create a forum for discussion and sharing experiences about current business practices, along with solutions for creating sustainable businesses. At the conference, speakers discussed sustainable development as being an inevitable trend of the times, therefore, implementation of sustainable development will create many opportunities for businesses to enhance their reputation and competitiveness, as well as attract human resources, investors and shareholders. With sustainable development, enterprises have to improve their productivity and reduce costs by making use of, and preserving, natural resources, enhancing employees productivity and raising the competitiveness of enterprises, as well as creating favorable conditions for businesses in the process of international economic integration. Speaking at the conference, Khuong, who is also president of the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD), said in implementing sustainable development in the business community, VBCSD had also succeeded in promoting the participation of businesses in the implementation of sustainable development throughout the country. Over the past 6 years, VBCSD became a bridge to link Government agencies with the business community, and helped in raising the voice of the business community, in the process of developing and implementing policies and programmes related to sustainable development and improvement of competitiveness, green growth and climate change, said Khuong. Nguyen Van Tai, general director of the Vietnam Environment Administration, told participants that sustainable development needed the participation of the entire society, especially from non-governmental organisations and the business community. Tai said Viet Nam was in the process of development, as were Japan, Singapore and South Korea in the 1980s. After a period of time, many investment projects started displaying problems due to environmental pollution. Therefore, Viet Nam was faced with a new turning point that requires strong measures to eliminate environmental problems and technologies that harm the environment. Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen The Phuong told participants that the best solution to eliminate problems regarding environmental pollution was that every businesses must conduct action plans by working towards a sustainable and green growth. In addition, the action plans should be deployed uniformly from the central to local levels, as well as shifting local economic structures and renovating technology. Further, Tai said it was time to reconsider foreign investment, obsolete technologies and monitor environmental assessments. Phuong also praised the role of enterprises and emphasised the importance of attracting the participation of the private economic sector, finance assistance from the Government and official developmental assistance. This will become a catalyst to attract and shape a favorable environment for the private sector to invest in the field of climate change, green growth and sustainable development. Phuong noted that to achieve this goal, Vietnamese businesses needed to focus on researching and identifying an appropriate model of economic development. Additionally, Khuong said it was time to build a fence of environmental protection by firmly rejecting obsolete technologies. Further, businesses that were using outdated technologies and causing environmental pollution would have to pay higher taxes. Leo Evers, managing director of Heineken Vietnam Brewery (HVBL), also presented a review of its sustainability report 2015 on Brewing a Better Vietnam. He said this was the second sustainability report that HVBL has released, which aims to demonstrate its long term commitment to sustainable development. The report focused on six areas: advocating responsible consumption, protecting water resources, reducing CO2 emissions, growing with communities, sourcing sustainably and promoting health and safety. VNS State officials are working to replace the antiquated process used to maintain the state's Sexual or Violent Offender Registry. The list contains more than 6,000 names and is updated during the week by two state employees. There are as many as 300 updates a day, which come from 70 different state agencies through either email, fax, the mail or by phone. Each month, as many as 50,000 searches are conducted by law enforcement investigators or by civilians wanting to know if there are any violent or sexual offenders in their neighborhood. Maintaining the list is a difficult and cumbersome process, said Butch Huseby, the Department of Justice's chief of the state Crime Information Bureau. The bureau hopes to have a more efficient system in place within the next two years. It is working with web designers to create a new site allowing county officials to enter information on the site themselves. Under the new system, the two analysts would only have to verify the information listed by the counties, Huseby said. Although sexual and violent offenders are compelled by law to register in their county, the state can't force county officials to use the state system, Huseby said. Many counties may continue to pass the information to the state they way they have in the past. The new site also wouldnt decrease the amount of time it takes to get an offender registered. Robert James Robbins was convicted of deliberate homicide in 2002 and then paroled in June. Although his name did appear on Yellowstone County's offender list, he wasn't listed with the state until Sept. 21, after The Gazette asked about the omission. Robbins and several others were late to the list because of a backup in fingerprint verifications, Huseby said. The states Identification Services Section, staffed by two fingerprint technicians, processes 383 criminal fingerprint cards and 533 civil fingerprint cards per month. That number increases drastically in the months before the school year starts, when all the school districts in the state send in more than 5,000 fingerprint cards for processing. The new website won't change the possibility of this type of delay. The majority of registering agencies still have a manual ink rolling system of capturing fingerprints for offender registration. Those fingerprints will still need to be sent to the state through the mail. Some agencies do have devices called Live Scans that capture fingerprints electronically and are then submitted to the DOJ. But the technology would be an extra financial burden on the offices of small county sheriffs, who are a large portion of registering agencies. In addition to trying to streamline the information being received by the state, the bureau is also encouraging violent offenders on the list who have stayed out of trouble for 10 years to file for removal from the registry. About 58 percent of the offenders registered are on the list for a violent offense. Another 40 percent are registered for a sexual offense and about 2 percent are registered for both. Sexual offenders are required to be on the list for life. Montana Division of Criminal Investigation agent Mike Howell is one of two DCI agents assigned to verifying those who need to be registered as a sexual or violent offender. When Howell comes across a violent offender registered for more than 10 years, he provides them resources on how to get removed from the list. The process can be intimidating, costly and time-consuming though, Huseby said. Offenders who have moved from the county where they committed the crime would have to complete the process through the original court. They might also need to hire an attorney. Reducing the number of offenders on the list, though, would help reduce the bureau's workload, even as it continues to increase, Huseby said. In the two years Huseby has overseen the bureau, the rules regarding monitoring sexual offenders have changed. The registry now keeps track of the 130 sexual offenders who are required to live at least 300 feet away from places where there are large populations of children, including schools and day cares. The 300-foot law was passed by the 2015 Montana legislature. Huseby's agents have already had a handful of these offenders relocate because of their proximity to children. The updating of the registry comes out of DOJ requested grant funding through the National Criminal History Improvement Project to improve criminal history data systems and exchanges across the entire state. HA NOI Imagining herself as the three-year-old Syrian boy who was drowned off the coast of Turkey, Nguyen Thi Thu Trang wrote a letter from the child to himself when he reaches the age of 45. The letter won the first prize in the 2016 International Letter Writing Competition for Young People held by the Universal Postal Union (UPU). In her letter, Trang played the role of the late Aylan Kurdi - the drowned Syrian child washed up on a beach in Bodrum, Turkey while trying to reach the Greek island of Kos earlier this year, as seen in the world-shaking photo on the tragedy of wars, conflicts and illegal immigration into Europe. Her letter, which was written from heaven about a world without violence or discrimination, won the first prize in the contest at the national level in May in Viet Nam. It was translated into French and English to be sent to the organising board of the 45th UPU International Letter Writing Contest based in Switzerland for the international round. Trang is a student in Nam Sach High School in the northern province of Hai Duong. She is the second Vietnamese to become the contests first prize winner. The first was Ho Thi Hieu Hien, a student from the central city of a Nang, who won the competition in 2010. Trang is preparing to go to the award ceremony held in Turkey on October 1.The annual International Letter Writing Competition for Young People has been run at the national and international levels since 1971, drawing in millions of young people up to the age of 15 from all over the world. The theme selected for the 2016 competition was: "Write a letter to your 45-year-old self." Children around the world are warmly encouraged to give flight to their imagination while writing a letter to themselves in the future. Our view of the world tends to change as we grow older, with the risk that the older person forgets or abandons the concerns and dreams of their younger self. The past becomes another country whose language we no longer speak, as written on the website of the UPU. Young people and children under 15 make up a quarter of the worlds population, yet their voices are seldom heard. Perhaps this is because the 45-year-olds do not realise what important things they themselves once understood and how much of value young people have to say. In this years competition, young writers are given the opportunity to reach across their own generation divide into the future. An important message can be sent before the language of youth is lost. VNS Le inh Quang Le inh Quang, deputy director of the Department of Labour Relations, under the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour, speaks to Lao ong (Labour) newspaper about the retirement age. In your opinion why is the upcoming National Assembly plenary meeting set to discuss increasing the retirement age for working people as part of revisions of the 2012 Labour Code? Increasing the retirement age for working people was raised during the previous discussion on the revision of the 2012 Labour Code and the revision of the 2014 Law on Social Insurance. However, during those discussions, trade union representatives objected to increasing the retirement age. They came up with various reasons, including working conditions, health and social issues. The 2012 Labour Code is scheduled to be revised in the NA full house meeting in 2017. So raising the working age of employees will again be discussed by deputies. In my opinion, it is the right time to discuss the retirement age. As we all know Viet Nams socio-economic conditions have changed; so has demand for jobs; health conditions have improved, with life expectancy of Vietnamese people increased considerably. Many people have said that the Vietnamese population has reached the golden age. That means the population is aging rapidly. Under the current law, Vietnamese men retire at the age of 60 and women at 55. This means male and female workers contribute to social insurance for a short time while they enjoy retirement benefits for much longer. The average Vietnamese man contributes to social insurance for about 28 years and a Vietnamese woman for 23 years while men enjoy the benefits for 18 years and women for 24. Looking at these numbers, in the near future the Viet Nam Insurance Fund will be imbalanced. It is time for Viet Nam to increase the retirement age for its workers to balance the time of their contribution to insurance funds and the benefits they receive when they retire. Another factor I want to emphasise is that Viet Nam has integrated internationally. So, Viet Nam should follow international labour standards, particularly the practice of equality between men and women, I mean the gap in retirement age between male and female employees. As I have mentioned above, Viet Nams socio-economic conditions have improved considerably, so has the health of Vietnamese in general and employees in particular. Last but not least, I want to talk about the health of public employees working in administrative offices and scientists. Their health is often still sufficient for their jobs when they reach retirement age. Many people have talked about increasing the retirement age for these groups of people. Whats your opinion on the proposal to increase the retirement age of employees in the up coming revision of the 2012 Labour Code? Up to now the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) has not adopted any point of view on the proposal. In previous years, the VGCL has rejected proposals to increase the retirement of Vietnamese workers, particularly for blue collar workers and business men. Of course, this time, the VGCL will consider the proposal to increase the retirement age for working people more carefully. However, for blue collar workers, we should keep the current retirement age. However, white collar workers and those who work in offices, science and technology we should come up with a road map to increase their retirement age. How do you respond to concerns that increasing the retirement age may lead to some people refusing to retire while highly educated young people cant find jobs? This is an issue we should take into consideration, particularly in administrative jobs. To solve this problem, I suggest that any new recruitment in the administrative sector, be announced publicly and recruitment procedures be transparent. This is the only way we will have a fair playing field for all applicants for vacant positions. VNS Ho Manh Tuan, deputy director general of Electricity Viet Nams (EVN) Northern Power Corporation, spoke to the newspaper Nong Thong Ngay nay (Countryside Today) about plans to ensure constant power supply during the monsoon season What are the negative impacts of severe weather on the power sector this year? Severe weather this year has seriously impacted the power sector. In recent years, the weather pattern has changed quite a lot. As a result, the tasks of preventing and dealing with natural calamities, and search and rescue of victims, have been incorporated into legislation. If in the past we only talked about preventing and fighting typhoons and floods, nowadays the phrase natural calamity covers a wide range of issues, including heat waves, snow, heavy rains and others. I can say that the weather in 2016 in Viet Nam is rather complicated due to climate change. At the beginning of the year, many localities were hit by severe drought, whirlwinds and heavy rains. The weather seriously affected the power sector and we have adopted several scenarios on how to protect and maintain a constant supply of power to consumers. Of course, we have also adopted various strategies to prepare for any mishap if it happens. What are the challenges that the power sector has faced in the complicated changing weather pattern? Due to climate change, the weather in the whole world, including Viet Nam is subjected to extreme heat and cold, severe draughts, floods, typhoons, landslides and others. A big typhoon is likely to bring down trees causing electric poles to collapse, or a power station could be hit by lightening. In such cases it would take us some time to restore power supply to the consumers although well do our best to have the power back as soon as possible. Due to climate change, frost or snow have been reported in many localities in the high mountains. Has the EVN Northern Power Corporation adopted plans to cope with those situations? In recent years, frost or snow has appeared quite often in Sapa in the upper northern province of Lao Cai or in some other localities in northern mountainous provinces. We have instructed consulting agencies to launch a study on designing electric equipment that can withstand such harsh weather. At present, in some localities which are often hit by snow, we have already installed special equipment that can withstand freezing temperatures. In addition, we have also worked out emergency measures to restore power as soon as possible following a natural disaster. Would you please tell us about some activities that the Northern Power Corporation has prepared to cope with negative impacts of climate change on the power supply? At present, the Northern Power Corporation manages 27 localities in the northern regions that have been seriously impacted by climate change. Right at the onset of 2016, we developed different scenarios on how to cope with negative impacts of climate change and established task force units to deal with emergency situations. In addition, we have increased inspection activities on the high voltage power transmission lines and electric grid to ensure they are in good condition. Has the Northern Power Corporation taken any steps to ensure a stable power supply to the 4,000 communes that have been returned to your corporation? Upon the instruction of the Government, over the past seven years my corporation has been charged with managing low voltage grids for almost 4,000 communes in the north. I must say that these grids were in very poor condition as they were constructed many years ago. Immediately following the return of these power lines to my corporation, we had to arrange a budget to upgrade them to ensure safety and steady power supply to residents of the 4,000 communes, particularly during the rainy seasons. In addition, we have launched many campaigns promoting safety in the use of electricity, particularly during the monsoon seasons. VNS President of the Philippines Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Photo AFP HA NOI President of the Philippines Rodrigo Roa Duterte will pay an official visit to Viet Nam on September 28-29, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced. The Philippines Presidents visit will be made at the invitation of his counterpart, President Tran ai Quang, according to MoFA yesterday. Since Viet Nam and the Philippines set up diplomatic ties in 1976, the bilateral ties have been nurtured based on amity, equality, mutual respect and cooperation beneficial to the peoples of both nations. The two countries upgraded bilateral ties to strategic partnership level in 2015 with a view to elevate the diplomatic level, intensity of bilateral exchanges and to harness advantages for common development. VNS Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh delivers speech at the high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development. VNA/VNS Photo HA NOI Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has affirmed the countrys all-out effort to ensure peoples right to development while addressing the high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development. The Deputy PM, who is also Foreign Minister, stated that since its inception, the Declaration on the Right to Development has been the inspiration for many important international development frameworks, particularly the historic 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Paris Agreement that was adopted in 2015. He affirmed the relevancy of the principles in the Declaration today, highlighting the right to development as an inalienable human right that is applicable to all people and is not bracketed to any group of countries. Everyone, regardless of race, gender, age, religion and ethnicity, is entitled to participate in development and enjoy the fruits of development. In a broader perspective, every country, big or small, is entitled to choose its own way of development and its means to ensure the right to development for its people, he noted. He went on: This noble principle also implies the importance of upholding international laws and ending imposition and power politics that only obstruct development and the right to development. As development is a comprehensive process, the right to development should be approached in a holistic and multi-dimensional manner, he said, noting that the right to development is inseparable from other rights, including the right to live in an environment of peace, security and prosperity where no one is left behind. As a developing country, Viet Nam has made all-out efforts to ensure the right to development for every Vietnamese. Always placing people at the center of development, we have, indeed, mainstreamed the right to development in our various policies, including in all three dimensions of sustainable development - social, economic and environmental policies. We have also worked tirelessly to create an enabling environment for the most vulnerable groups and ensure equal development opportunities for all people in our country, he told participants. He stated that the country is fully committed to the 2030 Agenda and other development frameworks and willing to work with other Member States to make the United Nations development system fit for purpose so that all people on this planet can enjoy their unequivocal right to development. Sideline meetings Viet Nam and Belgium will continue to tap their potential for cooperation in logistics, high-technology, green growth and vocational training. This view was shared by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel during their meeting in New York on Thursday (local time), which took place on the sidelines of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly. The Deputy PM and FM affirmed Viet Nams consistent policy of enhancing its relations with Belgium the countrys most important partner in the EU. He also called on the Belgian Government to continue granting scholarships to Vietnamese students. On the fringe of the UN session, the Vietnamese official also met with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov. He suggested Bulgaria accelerate the signing of the Europe-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and soon recognise Viet Nams market economy status. Following the meeting, the two officials signed an agreement on real estate of the two countries diplomatic representative offices. On this occasion, Deputy PM and FM Minh had a meeting with Hungarian Minister of External Economy and Foreign Affairs, Peter Szijjarto, during which they noted their hope to foster the two countries traditional relationship across fields. The Vietnamese official thanked the Hungarian Government for its cooperation with Viet Nam in development, including health care and fresh water supply.VNS 00:40 Newspoll finds budget unpopular with voters Half of Australian voters feel they will be worse off in the next 12 months due to Labor's first budget. 00:43 NAPLAN results show boys literacy rates plummeting Literacy rates among year nine boys have fallen to the lowest level since testing began, according to new NAPLAN data. 00:22 Penny Wong to visit Thailand and Brunei Foreign Minister Penny Wong is heading to Thailand and Brunei this week to renew relations with the region. 03:56 Government advised energy price caps must be done by November: Clennell Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says the federal government has been warned it must act prior to November if it is to implement energy... 00:36 Russia suspends grain agreement with Ukraine Russia has suspended its involvement in an UN-brokered grain deal with Ukraine. MITCHELLVILLE Michael Fritch has seen a little bit of the world and learned what it takes to be a leader, thanks in part to a program put together by the Iowa Corn Growers Association. The ICGAs I-LEAD program, like leadership programs from other agricultural organizations, offers a chance for young farmers to learn about international ag and to develop leadership skills. It was a very good experience, said Fritch, who was in the I-LEAD class of 2014 to 2016. The emphasis is that were here to develop that next generation of leaders. And that doesnt just mean leaders of the Corn Growers Association. Farmers, he said, need to learn about the world around them. They also need to learn to listen to the public, to consumers and to people from other countries. Finally, they need to learn how to tell their own story. This program is giving us the tools to tell our story, he says. For Fritch, the story is one of a kid from a family farm who left only to come home again. I was lucky, he said. About the time he graduated from high school his grandfather was reaching retirement. Fritch earned a degree in agronomy from Iowa State University in 2000. He took an agribusiness job, but in 2002 returned to the family farm. Today, he and his father grow corn and soybeans on the familys central Iowa farm. They have some hay and a small cow-calf operation. In the past, they raised meat goats. Fritch has three children who love life on the farm. One of his friends took part in the I-LEAD program and told him about the idea. His class consisted of 18 people who committed to the two-year program. They met about once every three months. Each two-year class includes a domestic trip and an overseas trip as well as a trip to Washington, D.C., for the Corn Congress. With his group, Fritch took a trip to Louisiana, where he visited port facilities as well as farms that grew rice, sugar cane and soybeans. His class chose to travel to Malaysia and the Philippines, where the members again visited port facilities and farms growing everything from corn to sugar cane to fish. Today, Fritch said, he is more knowledgeable about the issues facing agriculture and more able to talk to the public and lawmakers about those issues. Hes also more of a leader, not only in his commodity organization, but in his community. Cattle prices were losing value faster than autumn sheds daylight when the unexpected happened. China announced it was lifting its 13-year ban on U.S. beef. If you dont think a cowboy or two cried with joy, think again. China is the second largest beef customer in the world. Its expected to import 825,000 tons of beef this year. Thats the kind of shopper that could turn current prices around. The beef industry has suffered huge losses in the last 12 to 14 months, said Jim Peterson, who ranches near Buffalo. There are a lot of ag producers in both cattle production and farming who are looking for a light at the end of the tunnel. Calves are selling for almost half or less than half of what they were selling for last year. Calves selling for $700 to $800 now would have sold for $1,500 last fall. Peterson knows the China dilemma like few ranchers do. A former chairman of the U.S. Meat Export Foundation, hes traveled to China twice trying to undo the damage of a 2003 incident thats become known as the cow who stole Christmas. In late December 2003, a Washington dairy cow turned up with mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, BSE for short. Overnight, countries shut their doors to U.S. beef. Americas cattle market crashed, from $3 billion a year to $1 billion. Over the years many key markets returned. By 2011, exports had returned to pre-2003 volumes. But China was a holdout. Its been 13 years since our BSE incident closed that market, said Jim Peterson. Its taken forever to get beyond that Christmas cow. No one knows for sure why China announced it would lift its ban last week, said Kent Bacus, international director of trade and market access for the National Cattlemens Beef Association. However, demand for beef in China has never been higher. Last year, China imported $2.5 billion worth of beef, an amount just shy of all U.S. beef export sales before 2003, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Compare that to the $10 million in beef China imported the last year U.S. sales were permitted, and the excitement among American ranchers is understandable. Chinas middle class is booming, and so is its appetite for beef. This product is going to fly off the shelves, Bacus said. I think were going to have a great opportunity there. Theres still a lot of technical details that have to be ironed out. We dont have beef on Chinas shelves yet. When we do, well still have to promote the product and gain their trust. Peterson and other U.S. representatives who have met with Chinese officials over the years have always insisted American beef is safe. Persistence about U.S. beef safety, more than anything, is behind the proposed lifting of the ban, said U.S. Ambassador to China Max Baucus, a former U.S. senator from Montana. Youve got to be patient. Youve got to be positive. Youve got to be be persistent over here. Just stick with it, stick with it, Baucus said. Its hard to know when youre going to succeed because this country is so opaque. They just dont let you know when they are going to make a decision or not make a decision. Peterson said he thought China was close to lifting the ban two years ago, after he met Chinese officials during a trade mission with Montana Gov. Steve Bullock. The rancher wasnt sure how the meeting would go. A couple years earlier on a Beijing trip, Peterson had called out Chinese trade officials on whats known as the grey door or grey box route of U.S. beef to China. Peterson said the U.S. Meat Export Federation estimates that despite the ban, China has continued to import U.S. beef by acquiring it from Hong Kong or countries like Vietnam where U.S. beef is welcome. Peterson angered the Chinese so badly, they filed a complaint with the U.S. Embassy. Before the day was over, he was contacted by U.S. officials in Washington, D.C., and told to cool it. On his trip with Bullock, Peterson played it calm and left thinking the ban was about to be lifted. I came back pretty optimistic. Looking back at it, maybe I was too naive, Peterson said. Later, I was kind of disappointed and got to thinking I sure hope I get to see this in my lifetime. The pressure from Montana ranchers for a solution has been conveyed to Montana politicians. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., met with Chinese leaders in May to discuss many issues, including territorial conflicts in the South China sea as well as other trade issues. But when he got to the table, the only thing that filled his thoughts was the beef ban. It might be his only chance to raise the issue. They were the first words out of my mouth. When are you going to remove the ban on beef exports? Daines recalled Friday. It sort of shot out of my mouth. China still hasnt said exactly when the ban will be lifted, which has Melville rancher Bill Donald skeptical. Donald is a past chairman of the National Cattlemens Beef Association. He noticed that live cattle prices didnt increase when the news broke Thursday. There are still plenty of conditions to meet to get U.S. beef into the country, including an age cap of 30 months, a restriction Japan imposed on U.S beef until just a couple years ago. Given that U.S. beef is entering China through trade backdoors now, Donald said hes curious to see whether demand improves if sales are normalized. Like others, Donald sees a huge middle class in China that has money and wants to eat. Hes excited. Their middle class has just really blossomed in the last 10 years or 12 years. Its bigger than the population of the United States, Donald said. And the one thing people want when they have more money is high protein. That fuels the body. CEDAR RAPIDS Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton will return to Iowa for a campaign appearance Thursday the first day of early voting in the state. According to Hillary for Iowa, the former secretary of state will make her second visit to Iowa since getting the nomination in late July to lay out whats at stake in the Nov. 8 election and urge Iowans to vote early to support her vision of America. WATERLOO -- Bowl-4-Education will return to the Cedar Valley from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 11 at Maple Lanes. Theme is "Pajama Party." Team captains form a team of five to six bowlers. Each person on the team is required to raise a minimum of $65, which will sponsor two students in the Cedar Valley area. The pledge amount includes two games, shoe rental, a goody bag filled with Quaker Oats and General Mills products and a chance to win several prizes. Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa will host a kickoff party from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Maple Lanes. Participants can enjoy light appetizers, drink specials, pick up bowling materials, learn about online registration and fundraising tools. Event-goers are encouraged to dress up their coziest pajamas. For team registration and payment information, go to www.JAEasternIowa.org. JOHNSTON -- Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad on Friday activated the Iowa National Guard and issued disaster declarations for 13 northern and eastern Iowa counties experiencing flooding, including several in the Cedar Valley. The proclamation allows for state resources to be used toward flood mitigation efforts. Heavy rains in recent days caused rising levels on the Cedar, Shell Rock and Maquoketa rivers in Northeast Iowa, causing flooding in some communities and the likelihood of flooding in more across eastern Iowa. Officials expected the flooding to be significant, although not to the extent of the 2008 floods in eastern Iowa. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds visited Clarksville on Saturday, along with U.S. Sens. Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst, to survey damage there. A levee breach overnight Thursday caused significant flooding and some evacuations in that community overnight Thursday and early Friday. The nearby Butler County city of Greene also was hard hit, as was Waverly in Bremer County. Cities from Mason City all the way to the Mississippi River have seen flooding or could feel its effects by early this week. In a news conference at Iowa National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters on Friday, Branstad said the river is expected to crest in Cedar Rapids on Monday night, and in communities south of Cedar Rapids in the days that follow. We just have to deal with whatever situation comes our way. We need to be as well-prepared as possible, Branstad said. In a situation like this, in major cities like Waterloo and Cedar Rapids, obviously we have a little time to prepare and we want to do everything we can for the state to assist the communities and do the best job we can to avoid and mitigate damage. Branstad said the state already is working with communities to address flooding. He said the state dispatched more than 120,000 sandbags and four dump truck loads of sand, deployed 22 water pumps, 48 pallets of flood barriers and placed 50 traffic barricades. Adjutant General Tim Orr said the Iowa National Guard sent liaison teams to communities in the impacted region to determine what resources are needed. "I think the key to any successful operation is getting out in front of it," Orr said. "And thats what were really trying to do now, is identify potential needs so we have time to respond. Branstad, Orr, Reynolds and Homeland Security and Emergency Management director Mark Schouten on Saturday also toured Shell Rock and Cedar Rapids. Reynolds said they likely will visit more areas in coming days. Branstad said it is the first time he has activated the National Guard since flooding on the Missouri River in 2011. The disaster proclamation makes grant money available for low-income families impacted by flooding. The grants are available through the state Department of Human Services. Grassley said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service also are involved in flood response efforts. Volunteers and staff will be at Hy-Vee stores collecting money and food for the Food Bank. Shoppers will be given a flyer that allows them to add either $1 or $3 to their total grocery bill when scanned. Shoppers can also make cash or check donations or a donation of food. The total money and food items raised will go to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. WATERLOO -- A West High School student was injured in that school's homecoming parade near the school Friday afternoon, police and school district officials confirmed. The student was participating in the parade when struck by a vehicle. Police and school district officials said the student was taken to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Police were investigating further and no other information was available. Although I cant take you on an actual holiday this Saturday morning, you can easily de-stress and unwind while looking at Julie and Daves Mediterranean wedding day, which was held on the 19th of May 2016. As a compromise between Daves more traditional ways and Julies modern views, they decided to have a destination wedding that would feel more like a relaxing and fun holiday for them and their close family and friends. So, off they went to the Greek island of Mykonos for five days of sunshine, ocean views and of course, a mighty big celebration. My favourite aspect of their day was the way they extended the revelry by having cocktails with their guests before the I-dos. Not only would this have been exciting, but then they all walked to the sunset-soaked ceremony location (a picturesque lighthouse, no less) together as a group. Love this idea! The beautiful photos were taken by one of our faves here at WWW and Supplier Love member, Anna Pumer Photography. Thank you so much for sharing these delightful shots with us, Anna. THE PROPOSAL | Traditionalist Dave wanted the proposal to have meaningful significance and settled on Boston as the ideal destination. Were American and had lived there prior to London. It is where we first became a couple and had made most of our adulthood friends. During our visit, the plan was to get Julie to walk together through Boston Common where we first met in a running club, and propose there while a willing accomplice grabbed some paparazzi shots from behind nearby trees. Only minutes before Dave dropped to one knee, it almost hit a snag when some strangers chatted up the secret photographer. But all ended well with Julie saying Yes! After such a big occasion, the natural next thing to do was have an ice cream to celebrate (Coffee Oreo to be exact). Serendipitously, along the way we passed a couple taking wedding photos and the song Dear Future Husband was playing at the ice cream shop when we arrived (not part of the plan despite how much Dave wishes he could claim credit!). The final touch was a surprise gathering of some of our closest friends for a celebratory drink at Top of the Hub, overlooking the city. THE VISION | Although Dave pines for tradition, Julie, on the other hand, runs away from anything that falls under the heading of: because thats the way its supposed to be done wedding included. So after much debate, we agreed on an intimate, relaxed destination wedding that was meant to feel more like a vacation for all rather than a wedding. Wed both wanted to go to Greece and thought, Well this is as good a time as any! So we hosted 30 close friends and family members in Mykonos for 5 days; it was incredible and touching to watch people from different parts of our lives and different parts of the world bond and relax together during that week. THE PLANNING PROCESS | Julies good friend Siobhan had gotten married the year before and within 5 minutes of our engagement announcement, Julie had Excel templates and Pins in her inbox from her, ready to go! Were both natural planners, so between Excel, Pinterest, and the Moleskine Wedding Planner, Julie was invincible! However, her ambitions were quickly tempered when she realised that shed need to adjust her type-A tendencies to island time. The Greeks werent exactly on board with planning every detail 10 months in advance. We quickly adapted to doing everything we could do, then letting many of the day-of details ride until the last minute. BUDGET | Since we wanted this to be an experience and gift to our loved ones, we spent a majority of our budget on villas for our guests for the week. Seeing their reaction and gratitude to the beautiful accommodations was just what we were hoping for it was wonderful! Our spending on everything else was quite disciplined; it was a major DIY affair. Our friends are unbelievably talented, and they pitched in with the flowers, handmade decorations, and music. It was such a fun chance to show off everyones secret skills. THE VENUE | The venue(s!) are places that we still dream about and cannot wait to revisit hopefully sometime soon and one day with our future kiddos. We started with G&Ts in the breathtaking Villa Melmastia. Consuming celebratory drinks before the ceremony was a stretch for live-by-the-rules-Dave but Julie insisted. Then, the crowd informally proceeded on foot to Armenistis lighthouse, our favourite spot on the island; this is where we had the ceremony and watched the sunset together. Finally, everyone caravanned to the dinner and dance party at Zinas Villas. THE DRESS & ACCESSORIES | Even though Julie loves shopping almost as much as coffee and chocolate, she could not wrap her head around paying four digits for a dress that she would (presumably!) wear once. To get around this and because she likes to be different she had dreamed up wearing a non-white dress that would be reusable. Brilliant! But Dave the traditionalist had visions of white on the special day, so she complied and found a beautiful and simple white(!) wedding dress that had been gently used. It was the perfect compromise. As for jewellery, she found the perfect pearl earrings online but realised that the link was out of date and they were no longer made. In an amazing twist of fate, it happened that a friend owned the same pair and was thrilled to share them. Also, she wore an heirloom gold bangle; there were plenty of something-borroweds that day! Lastly, the Grecian blue shoes were from J. Crew. She was torn if they were special enough, but they felt casual and natural. FINDING THE DRESS | Dress shopping was one of the most fun and special weekends in Julies life. Siobhan (who once again was ready for the engagement) had insisted on a dress-shopping weekend somewhere between the friends two homes of Santa Monica and London. After a several-week debate of where to meet, Nashville kept popping up. After many hours of Instagram stalking, the shopping targets were The Dress Theory and its sister store for consigned dresses, LVD Bridal. For someone who originally had no interest in white dreamy dresses, Julie quickly adjusted. She loved every single dress in both boutiques, and the specialists were incredible; they know how to make a girl feel like the most beautiful person in the world. Another friend who was pregnant and wouldnt make it to the wedding joined too. It was a perfect weekend of shopping, incredible food, and time by the pool. GROOMS ATTIRE | A custom-made navy blue suit from Cad & the Dandy was Daves Christmas present, and a close friend (same as the earring-provider she was full of goodies!) bought Dave the perfect Grecian blue and white striped tie from designer Paul Smith. THE READINGS & MUSIC | Julies former boss-turned-friend Annmarie read an excerpt from Captain Corellis Mandolin. There was no plan for music at the outdoor ceremony; but while everyone was waiting for the ceremony to begin, Julies theatrical friend Emily (who also DJd the dance party) started an impromptu sing-along of Be Our Guest from Beauty & the Beast Julies childhood favourite movie. It couldnt have been more perfect; she was still doubled over laughing when the ceremony started. BEAUTIFUL BRIDESMAIDS | The guest list was so small that there were no bridesmaids; essentially all the females in attendance wouldve been in the bridal party. Its a complete coincidence that everyone matches perfectly in every shade of blue! THE FLOWERS | Sorry to disappoint but no formal flower appointments either! For the months preceding the wedding, wed been saving clay La Fermiere yogurt pots and brought them to Mykonos with us. The day before the wedding we found a local nursery and bought succulents and cacti and potted them in the pots and then scattered them around the reception site. There was also no bouquet plan, but our mutual friend Jess (who was also the officiant) insisted on a bouquet and just so happens that she worked in a florist shop during university. Voila talented friend to the rescue again! THE CAKE | Julie met the unbelievably talented Beth at a yoga retreat the year before the engagement. After a week of incredible eating, she took her information just in case Beth and her husband Zaid were really the stars of the week! They cooked one meal a day for the group to bond, including an out-of-this-world Mediterranean spread for the wedding meal and the cake. Non-conformist Julie didnt want a cake but acquiesced when Dave agreed to an Oreo cake. But dont try this at home (in the UK); four different friends all brought Oreos from the US to make sure that we had the authentic version, and it was so worth it. As for the outside Dave has never let go of his childhood love for dinosaurs, so the T-Rex topper was a surprise to him when he saw the cake for the first time. YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER | Anna Pumer of Anna Pumer Photography was a dream come true! We were apprehensive about having a photographer because we didnt want anything to feel staged or unnatural. In addition, we went back and forth on a videographer. Julie had visions of watching the wedding video each anniversary, but this idea added to the apprehension. However, Anna suggested Leanne Perrins of Blooming Lovely Films, as they had previously worked together, had great chemistry, and swore that neither would feel intrusive. And she was right! Both slipped right into our set of friends, and we really just wanted to hang out with them all week! Everyone kept commenting about how much fun they were having; it made us so happy that everyone was relaxed and having a great time. THE DETAILS & DECOR | Just like the flowers, the decor was somewhat ad hoc and just trusted that it would all come together, since we had such a gorgeous backdrop. Along with the succulents, wed bought fairy lights from Amazon, and that was pretty much it. The most amazing part is that we left our friends to do most of the decorating while we were getting ready. Daves friends put themselves in charge of moving furniture, and Julies friends arranged all the plants, set up the impromptu bar, etc. THE HONEYMOON | We havent gone on one yet (although theres not much to complain about; we take full advantage of living in Europe, so long weekend trips to amazing places abound!). But as soon as Julies done with grad school, we are taking a serious holiday. MEMORABLE MOMENTS | The absolute best part of the entire week was the ceremony. Every single thing was perfection. Miraculously, it stayed warm through sunset, was not windy on the cliff that evening, and all the little things that werent exactly on plan flowed into an effortless, gorgeous sequence of events. An important reason for this was our mutual friend Jess who officiated. She is just so dear to both of us and one of the few people who is equal part friend to both Dave and Julie (she and Dave were co-captains of the running club where we met). Throughout the whole ceremony we were laughing and crying, as she told her version of our love story; and she even found a flawless way to make it interactive with the guests who were huddled around us. She is an incredible human being and shared so much of herself with us during those 20 minutes and throughout the whole week. Some of our favourite candid moments were watching the inflexible guys participate in a group yoga session, seeing so many guests unintentionally coordinate their outfits in Grecian blue and white, and a perfectly-timed execution of a group shot throwing confetti from party crackers! ADVICE FOR OTHER COUPLES | Be willing to compromise on small things if your partner really has his/her mind set on them. Chances are, its not worth starting an argument over and it will pay dividends seeing the smile on your partners face on the day of the ceremony. Along those lines, Dave conceded that just because its the way you do things isnt a good enough reason to do something a certain way. Choose to plan things a certain way because thats how you want them to be done. Its your wedding, and while making sure the guests have a good time, its ultimately you that will have the most vivid memories of all the little things so do what makes you happy. Lastly, we found that finding ways to incorporate your guests into the ceremony and reception was very rewarding for both sides. When people ask, What can I do to help? take them up on it! It helps to reinforce the bond between the couple and the attendees, and for us, we liked that it took some of the attention away from us since neither of us like being the centre of attention. CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE | Photographer | Anna Pumer Photography *WWW wedding directory member* Venue | Villa Melmastia and Zinas Villas Dress | Katie May from lvd Bridal Suit | Cad & the Dandy Catering and Cake | Beths Bakes Film | Blooming Lovely Films Julie and Dave, thank you for sharing your awesome ideas and romantic festivities with us. It looked like it was a heavenly five days with your nearest and dearest. If photography and travelling are your thing, keep scrolling to find out about Anna Pumers upcoming workshop! Abby xx Abby xx *Anna Pumer is hosting an amazing photography workshop (Kick Ass Workshop) in the south of France for 3 full days from 11-13 October and is perfect for wedding photographers wanting to break away from the crowd, book their ideal couples and take super-fun photos. It also includes one to one portfolio review sessions and one or two epic styled shoots! 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search and rescue began looking for the 27-year-old at about 9 a.m. Friday using search dogs. The man, who was not identified, was found at about 1:45 p.m. near the Hyalite Creek bridge. In 2013, Nardo "Ned" Cabrera knew something was off. He had trouble navigating his way down stairs. He'd occasionally drop words from sentences and had difficulty reading and understanding emails at work. They were all things that could be explained rationally one way or another exhaustion, the hustle and bustle at work, the lasting effects of a kidney transplant years earlier but he had a feeling it was something else. And he had no idea that it would take until this August three years, numerous doctor's visits, countless tests and hours of evaluations to learn that, at the age of 53, he had a form of dementia that means he could have just a few years left to live. "My first response was, 'Great, we found something. We know what it is,' Cabrera said. "Second, I thought, 'It cant be me. I feel great.' And then I thought, 'People need to know about this.'" He was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia - primary progressive aphasia (PPA), a loss of nerve cells in the brain's frontal and temporal lobes that can severely affect language and communication functions. Cabrera and his wife, Lynn Mullowney Cabrera, executive director of the Alzheimer's Association's Montana chapter, are now figuring out how to wind down his career and enjoy the life they have together while sharing his story and coming to terms with an uncertain future. "We dont know how much time he has," Mullowney said. "If he has, say, five healthy years, how much life can we fit into those five healthy years?" In frontotemporal dementia, the damage to the nerve cells results in changes to or a loss of a person's behavior, motor skills, personality and communication skills, according to the Alzheimer's Association, which works with a wide range of dementias. There are an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 people in the U.S. who have been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, most of whom are between the ages of 45 and 65. As a progressive condition, the symptoms worsen over time and often cause death due to related complications. It's also a condition that currently has no cure, treatment or preventative methods. According to the National Institute on Aging, people usually live 2 to 10 years with it, but since each case is different, "it is difficult to predict the time course for an individual patient." But if Cabrera and his wife had not kept searching for a definitive diagnosis, they still might not know today. They hope their story will be of use to others. "Its OK to talk about it," he said. "Its not forbidden to talk about it." Diagnosis difficulty As an employee of the Alzheimer's Association for more than a decade, including the past 18 months running Montana's chapter, Mullowney is well-versed in the difficulties of getting a timely and correct dementia diagnosis. Less than half of those who present for screening and diagnosis leave with an accurate assessment, she said, and it takes an average of six years from when a person first worries they might have Alzheimer's or dementia to when they get an accurate evaluation. Cabrera's case took about half that long, but bounced him from doctor to specialist and through an exhausting battery of tests and meetings. "It was a tedious process," he said. In 2013, a close family member had recently died after living with Alzheimer's. Cabrera said what he was dealing with felt similar. Cabrera, who lives in southern California and is a unit manager for an aerospace company, and Mullowney began visiting with doctors and neurologists. Each time they came away with a different answer. About four years earlier, he'd had a kidney transplant to address a likely hereditary kidney disease, but that was ruled out. One doctor thought he had mild cognitive impairment, a sort of pre-dementia diagnosis. Another said, "we're all getting older, so you just need to be more mindful," while another said to start doing brain exercises and check back in two years. A neurologist said he might have early-onset Alzheimer's and recommended a medication, while a psychiatrist thought it might be related to depression and recommended medications for that. Each time, the family talked about it and decided to keep looking for a complete, definitive diagnosis. "We got typical and well-meaning, but inaccurate, responses," Mullowney said. "This is not a common disease, but what is common is the difficulty in getting to a diagnosis." Cabrera began to notice difficulties in his communication from the dementia. He couldn't make sense of long emails and had to ask coworkers to limit their messages to two or three sentences, while he'd think "happy birthday" while filling out birthday cards only to see that he'd written "happy anniversary." If people asked him a series of questions, one right after the other before he could answer, it confused him. "I just cant answer because Im still concentrating on the last one," he said. Eventually they connected with a memory specialist in California who performed a comprehensive set of evaluations and tests, ruling out one condition after another. On Aug. 22, a positron emission tomography scan revealed a gradually increasing dark area in Cabrera's brain. The specialist declared he didn't have Alzheimer's, that it was PPA and that some of the previous recommended treatments, specifically the medications, could have actually made it worse had he agreed to take them. Cabrera said that, having seen dementia before, the goal over those three years was clear. "I wanted to be sure," he said. "I didn't want to go through life not knowing and suddenly find out." Planning and living Cabrera and Mullowney have known each other for nearly 40 years, since becoming friends in high school growing up in the Billings area, and have been married for about 10 years. They can complete each other's sentences when describing their life together and now are figuring out how to spend their time and resources given the diagnosis. "It's hard for me to believe, to tell you the truth," Cabrera said. Mullowney said she finds different ways each day to deal with it describing watching the dementia progress as "an insidious creep" depending on what that day presents. They both said they're lucky to have the resources, such as Mullowney's work with Alzheimer's and Cabrera's steady job, for an early diagnosis and the ability to plan for how to deal with the dementia in the future something not everybody gets. "I'm going to enjoy life as much as I can," he said. "I'm realizing my priorities in life." One of the symptoms of Cabrera's dementia involves dropping bits and pieces from sentences, both in spoken and written communication. While it's a reminder of the condition, for Mullowney it's also an important reminder of her husband. "You would see words missing, letters missing, punctuation missing," she said. "Im going to, more than ever, cherish those notes and those letters, because they come from him." ST. LOUIS, MO, September 24, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Ranken Jordan hospital is not only well-known for giving children with cancer and other complicated illnesses unsurpassed, specialized medical care. They also excel at helping their young patients explore the world around them through their many interactive activities and programs. Recently, Ranken Jordan held their Farewell to the Field event on Sat., September 10 at their location in Maryland Heights. That day, the Junior Board members, who range from age 6 to 18 and hold a passion for helping other children, helped put on the family-friendly field day and assisted in various activities including face painting, beanbag tossing, spoon racing. Participants were also invited to leave their marks on the Farewell to the Field art project, which signified the final event on the hospital's multipurpose outdoor field before construction begins this October. Artmart, the local art supply store, graciously donated art supplies to help make this event a success. Children were able to use these art supplies to create unique works of art as a way of celebrating the field's closing and the beginning of the hospital's latest expansion. Artmart is also donating paint and more than 200 canvases for Ranken Jordan's upcoming event, Inspiration Gallery, which will be held Fri., November 4. These art supplies will help Ranken Jordan's patients to create and sell works of art as a means of raising funds to support the hospital's therapeutic art program. All are welcome to come and be inspired by these young artists, view their artwork, and learn how they express themselves and heal through artwork. "At Artmart, we know full well the positive healing effects that art and art therapy have on people of all ages," said Keith Baizer, owner of Artmart. "We are incredibly proud and honored to be lending a helping hand and donating art supplies to help make these events successful and enjoyable for all." Ranken Jordan is a pediatric hospital that bridges patient care between hospital and home. The children cared for at Ranken Jordan receive the highest level of treatment from specialized clinical professionals using state-of-the-art equipment. They are currently located in Maryland Heights in a newly-built 62,000 square-foot, 34-bedroom facility. The hospital houses ultramodern equipment and is specifically designed to help patients come out of their rooms and engage in daily life-centered activities. To learn more about Ranken Jordan or to make a donation, please visit http://www.rankenjordan.org. Artmart is located at 2355 South Hanley Road. They are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, please call Artmart at (314) 781-9999. # # # The Tecnis Symfony Intraocular Lens is the first lens that allows people with or without astigmatism to enjoy clear vision at near, intermediate and distance. HONOLULU, HI, September 24, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Hugo Higa, M.D., a dual-trained Ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic Surgeon based in Honolulu, is pleased to announce that he is among the first eye surgeons in Hawaii to implant the exciting new Tecnis Symfony Intraocular Lens into one of his cataract patient's eyes during a procedure earlier this month. Cataracts are a common condition, with almost 4 million cataract surgeries performed each year. In cataract surgery, the lens inside your eye that has become cloudy is removed and replaced with an artificial lens (called an intraocular lens, or IOL) to restore clear vision. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. However, cataracts do not just impact seniors. In 2016, it is estimated that nearly one in four cataract surgeries will be performed on people younger than 65. Marilyn, age 61, was diagnosed with a very high far-sighted vision of +8.00. Dr. Higa inserted the Symfony lens into her eye and she was tested at 20/30 vision immediately after the procedure. Marilyn is thrilled with her "new eyes" and reported being able to see far and read without glasses for the first time in many years. "The Tecnis Symfony Intraocular Lens is the first lens that allows people with or without astigmatism to enjoy clear vision at near, intermediate and distance," said Dr. Higa. "Originally, monovision lenses were the only choice for cataract patients, then multifocal lenses were introduced for both near and distance. Now, with the new Symfony Lens, there is a continuous near-to-far high-quality vision following cataract surgery, so this technology is really ground-breaking. Most of us live in an intermediate world with our computers and TVs. The Symfony Lens may reduce the need for prescription glasses throughout your day." Many people who have cataracts also experience other problems with their vision, such as presbyopia and astigmatism, which the Symfony lenses also address. Presbyopia, which affects most people over age 40, means people have lost the ability to focus on objects up close and often require glasses to perform near visual tasks. Astigmatism is when the cornea is misshapen, which causes blurry or distorted vision. "I would like to stress that the Symfony is the only FDA approved multifocal IOL that can also correct astigmatism," added Dr. Higa. "Astigmatism becomes a more common condition as we age, so this is an important feature of the new lens." The Symfony lens is approved in more than 50 countries around the world, and has been widely studied, with data from numerous clinical studies involving over 2,000 eyes. In clinical studies, the Symfony lens: - Provided seamless, day-to-night vision. Patients could see objects sharply and clearly at near, intermediate and far away distances, and points in between. - Provided high-quality vision. Some IOLs may leave patients with an inability to focus clearly due to competing wavelengths of light passing through the lens at different angles (known as chromatic aberration), or with vision that is not completely focused because of the shape of the lens (known as spherical aberration). The Symfony lens has been engineered to correct these issues. - Demonstrated a low incidence of halo and glare, which may be perceived as rings or blurring around bright lights. Glare and halo can sometimes affect an individual's ability to drive at night or to perform other visual tasks. Price-wise, the Tecnis Symfony Intraocular Lens is comparable to current multifocal lenses. Cataract procedures are covered by insurance and Medicare. However, the price of the multi-focal or the new Symfony lens is not covered. The official national launch for the Symfony lens is on October 1, 2016. DISCLAIMER INDICATIONS AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR TECNIS SYMFONY AND TECNIS SYMFONY TORIC EXTENDED RANGE OF VISION IOLs CAUTION: Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician. INDICATIONS FOR USE: The TECNIS Symfony IOL, Model ZXR00, is indicated for primary implantation for the visual correction of aphakia in adult patients with less than 1 diopter of pre-existing corneal astigmatism in whom a cataractous lens has been removed. The lens mitigates the effects of presbyopia by providing an extended depth of focus. Compared to an aspheric monofocal IOL, the lens provides improved intermediate and near visual acuity while maintaining comparable distance visual acuity. The Model ZXR00 IOL is intended for capsular bag placement only. The TECNIS Symfony Toric IOLs, Models ZXT150, ZXT225, ZXT300 and ZXT375, are indicated for primary implantation for the visual correction of aphakia and for reduction of residual refractive astigmatism in adult patients with greater than or equal to 1 diopter of preoperative corneal astigmatism in whom a cataractous lens has been removed. The lens mitigates the effects of presbyopia by providing an extended depth of focus. Compared to an aspheric monofocal IOL, the lens provides improved intermediate and near visual acuity while maintaining comparable distance visual acuity. The Model Series ZXT IOLs are intended for capsular bag placement only. CONTRAINDICATIONS: None. RISKS: Routine cataract surgery risks, irrelevant to lens selection, could be minor, temporary, or affect patients' vision permanently. Rare complications are worsening of vision, bleeding, or infection. Risks related to use of this lens include a slight loss in vision sharpness with decreased use of glasses. Even with glasses, loss of sharpness may worsen under poor visibility conditions such as dim light or fog. This may lead to driving difficulties, and not detecting road hazards as quickly at night or in fog. Patients may also notice halos, starbursts, glare, and other visual symptoms with extended range of vision IOLs. This may impact patients when there are bright lights at night. Patients should discuss all risks and benefits with their eye doctor before surgery. WARNINGS: A small number of patients may want their TECNIS Symfony IOL removed because of lens-related optical/visual symptoms. Patients with pre-existing diseases or conditions (i.e., diabetes and heart disease) may have higher risk of experiencing complications (e.g., more difficult recovery) after routine cataract surgery. Patients should not receive this lens if they have had previous trauma to their eye. Not evaluated for use in children. PRECAUTIONS: If the patient's eye is unhealthy (including glaucoma), vision may not be good even after cataract removal; patients may not get full benefit of the TECNIS IOL. Before surgery, the eye doctor will check for any eye diseases. Patients' vision with the TECNIS Symfony IOL may not be good enough to perform detailed 'up-close' work without glasses, and rarely, may make some types of retinal treatment (e.g., retinal tear repair) more difficult. Patients should take all prescribed medicines and apply eye drops as instructed to avoid inflammation and infection. Patients should avoid bending down and playing sports, which can harm the eye during recovery. The eye doctor will tell patients what activities to avoid. SERIOUS ADVERSE EVENTS: Serious adverse events observed during the TECNIS Symfony clinical trial were not related to the lenses. These events included swelling of the retina, inflammation and secondary surgeries. ABOUT ABBOTT At Abbott, we're committed to helping you live your best possible life through the power of health. For more than 125 years, we've brought new products and technologies to the world - in nutrition, diagnostics, medical devices and branded generic pharmaceuticals - that create more possibilities for more people at all stages of life. Today, 74,000 of us are working to help people live not just longer, but better, in the more than 150 countries we serve. Connect with us at www.abbott.com. ABOUT HUGO HIGA, M.D. Dr. Hugo Higa is a dual-trained Ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic Surgeon, practicing in Honolulu for almost 20 years. He received his B.S. in Biology at UCLA, and completed his M.D. Degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Following his internship year at the University of Hawaii, he returned to Madison where he completed his Ophthalmology studies. He then traveled to Australia where he completed his fellowship training in Corneal Surgery/External Diseases and Oculoplastic/Orbital Surgery at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1998, Dr. Higa returned to Hawaii where he worked with another Ophthalmologist. He opened a satellite office at the Pali Momi Medical Center in 2000, which has since expanded to a larger space, to serve his patients on the Leeward side of Oahu. In 2004, he opened another office in the Ala Moana Building, specializing in both the aesthetic and vision needs of his patients. In 2012, Dr. Higa moved his main offices to a larger space on the ground level of the Pan Am Building to better serve his patients and expand his practice to include additional cosmetic procedures, a full-time Optometrist, a full-service Optical Shop, as well as a Medi-Spa. And, in 2015, he built a state-of-the-art surgery center in the new Hale Pawaa building in Honolulu to provide a more convenient surgery location for his Honolulu patients. Dr. Higa has steadily built his reputation over the years and is one of the most recognized and trusted names in Ophthalmology, Optometry, and Cosmetic Surgery. He was recognized by Honolulu Star-Advertiser readers as one of "Hawaii's Best" in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Dr. Higa is also a dedicated member of the Kamehameha Lions Club and actively collects, cleans, and sorts glasses for donation to needy communities around the world. He also often participates in community talks, health fairs, and seminars on aging eye health and cosmetic procedures. He holds regular seminars for the education of local optometrists. HUGO HIGA, M.D. Tel. (808) 947-2020 www.hugohigamd.com FB: Hugo Higa, M.D. # # # NAIROBI, KENYA, September 24, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In January 2016, Universal Health Coverage (UHC) formally became part of the United Nations new Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030. In line with these global goals to ensure access to "quality essential healthcare services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all", Medic East Africa, the region's leading healthcare exhibition and conferences, returns to Nairobi, Kenya, for the fourth year on 27-29 September 2016 under the theme "Healthcare For All". Held at the Oshwal Centre in Nairobi, the conferences will promote stakeholder dialogue and knowledge sharing and will address the latest challenges and best practices via 4 CPD conferences accredited by the Kenya Healthcare Association. According to Simon Page, Managing Director, Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions, organisers of Medic East Africa, "In order to achieve universal health coverage, it is essential to work within an agreed framework for action. Through our motto "Exhibition with Education", Medic East Africa provides an important platform for discussion and education with leadership from East African ministries, healthcare authorities, healthcare providers, distributors and solution providers, in an ongoing effort to achieve these goals." Chaired by Dr Amit Thakker, Chairman, Kenya Healthcare Federation, the flagship conference - Healthcare Management - will provide a forum for lively discussion on best practices to integrate healthcare delivery, financial sustainability, healthcare governance and human expertise, among other topics. With 15 high-level speakers from across the region, the Healthcare Management Conference promises to be a premier forum for discussion on transformative healthcare. This year, Medic East Africa will host three new conferences streams. The Anaesthesia Conference aims to create dialogue and discussion around the latest guidelines and best practices among anaesthesiologists in East Africa. Co-chaired by Dr Madhu Patel and Dr Louis Litswa from the Kenya Society of Anaesthesiologists, key topics include regional anaesthesia and pain management, general anaesthesia and its challenges, the management of challenging cases, as well as a Masterclass on Procalcitonin in anaesthesia. With the goal of updating surgeons with advancements in technology, innovation and surgical techniques, the Surgery Conference is designed to cater to the special interests of General Surgeons. From new methods of effective lab management to the development of techniques in detecting diseases, The Medical Laboratory Conference will cover key topics to bring the latest cutting edge information on research and technology to attendees. This conference will focus on important areas like sustainable labs, theranostics, capacity building, molecular diagnostics and cytopathology. "With 3,500 healthcare professionals from across the region expected to attend the conferences at Medic East Africa, we are looking forward to seeing continued dialogue and the resulting positive impact beyond this important regional meeting, as the delegates return home ready to implement their learning from the conferences," Page added. As the leading platform for the healthcare industry to do business in East Africa, the Medic East Africa will also host 250 of the world's leading healthcare suppliers, manufacturers and service providers from 20 countries. Both the exhibition and conferences at Medic East Africa 2016 are free-to-attend for professionals from across the healthcare spectrum, including dealers and distributors, medical manufactures, healthcare professionals and all others involved in the delivery of healthcare in the region. Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions, in charge of the healthcare portfolio within Informa's Global Exhibitions division, organises 26 exhibitions yearly covering the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and US market, connecting more than 150,000 healthcare professionals worldwide and offering a range of marketing solutions for companies involved with the healthcare sector. Over 100 congresses take place in parallel with the exhibitions. Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions publishes four international healthcare magazines, offers Dothealth, a healthcare portal showcasing over 40,000 healthcare companies and runs Healthy Change, an online recruitment portal. www.informalifesciences.com # # # NAIROBI, KENYA, September 24, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions, the region's leading healthcare exhibitions organiser, has announced that the Medic East Africa Exhibition & Conferences will be returning to the Oshwal Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, on 27-29 September 2016. As the leading platform for the healthcare industry to do business in East Africa, with 250 exhibitors from 20 countries and an anticipated 3,500 attendees, the event is a B2B stage for healthcare professionals designed to stimulate trade and interaction with key government associations, C-level management from hospitals and dealers and distributors from the East Africa region. Now in it's 4th year, Medic East Africa continues to enjoy the support of a large number of key healthcare federations and associations across the region including the Kenya Medical Association, Association of Kenya Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers, Association of Medical Engineering of Kenya, Kenya Healthcare Federation, East Africa Healthcare Federation, Association of Private Health Facilities in Tanzania, as well as the Healthcare Federations of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, among others. Simon Page, Managing Director, Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions, said: "Medic East Africa has quickly become one of the most important healthcare trade shows on the African continent, stimulating trade and bilateral talks with the key players in the industry. The continued level of support that has been shown by governments, medical associations, regional federations and leading public and private healthcare entities, has been pivotal in the success of the show as a business and educational platform." In line with Informa's motto of "Exhibition with Education", Medic East Africa will host four CPD-accredited clinical and non-clinical conference. The conferences, accredited by the Kenya Medical Association, will address the latest challenges and best practices in healthcare under the theme "Healthcare For All" with the flagship Healthcare Management conference, along with new clinical conferences on surgery, anaesthesia and medical laboratory. In affirmation for the on-going support for Medic East Africa, Dr. Amit N. Thakker, Chairman of Kenya Healthcare Federation said, "We would like to reaffirm our ongoing commitment to supporting Medic East Africa as it continues to facilitate trade and promote medical education in order to improve healthcare within the region. Medic East Africa is the perfect opportunity to learn from best practices in business and healthcare delivery." Medic East Africa 2016 is free-to-attend for professionals from across the healthcare spectrum including dealers and distributors, medical manufactures, general practitioners, doctors, surgeons, hospital managers, nursing staff, as well as all other medical professions and those involved in the delivery of healthcare in Kenya and the region. Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions, in charge of the healthcare portfolio within Informa's Global Exhibitions division, organises 26 exhibitions yearly covering the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and US market, connecting more than 150,000 healthcare professionals worldwide and offering a range of marketing solutions for companies involved with the healthcare sector. Over 100 congresses take place in parallel with the exhibitions. Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions publishes four international healthcare magazines, offers Dothealth, a healthcare portal showcasing over 40,000 healthcare companies and runs Healthy Change, an online recruitment portal. www.informalifesciences.com # # # Sep 23, 2016 | By Tess A medical 3D printing alliance alliance consisting of Taiwans National Applied Research Laboratories (NARLabs), China Steels branch company ThinTech Materials Technology, the TongTai Group, and the United Orthopedic Corporation has been formed in order to advance the development of new medical 3D printing materials, specifically a new 3D printed artificial bone material. The alliance marks a significant step forwards for Taiwans 3D printed medical materials industry. 3D printed knee joint and acetabular cup On September 20th, NARLabs hosted a ceremony to launch the groups new 3D printing medical material, which recently underwent and passed the ISO-10993 biocompatibility international regulations verification. The artificial bone material, which is now being put through clinical testing, is preparing to be launched on the international market. The process of creating the new biocompatible 3D printing material has relied on all the companies involved in the medical 3D printing alliance. For instance, the implant material is made from raw material supplied by the China Steel Corporation, which is then grounded into a fine powder by ThinTech Materials. Once the 3D printing material is prepared, the United Orthopedic Corporation is responsible for creating an implant or prosthesis design, which is then sent to the TongTai Group for 3D printing. Significantly, the new and innovative 3D printed artificial bone material has already gained attention from a number of established metal 3D printing companies, including Renishaw, 3D Systems, and EOS. According to a source, these companies are seeking to establish ties with the alliance in order to use ThinTech Materials metal powder to create their own medical grade products and expand their services and business. The 3D printing material itself is made from a high quality titanium, which was extensively tested until it met all biomedical material requirements. Currently, the new implant material is undergoing its biomedical system certification process, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2016. Once this certification has been approved (the ISO-13485), the new material will officially become part of the biomaterials supply chain. Notably, as the new material gets cleared at a number of stages, the medical 3D printing alliance is continuing its work to create even more advanced, and even lighter titanium powders for the 3D printing medical industry. Currently, Taiwans first successfully tested 3D printing artificial bone material is undergoing human clinical trials in cooperation with the China Medical University Hospital. Subsequent trials, which will be done at the National Taiwan University Hospital, are expected to be completed within the next three years, and once completed results will be handed over to UL, a global independent safety science company who will choose whether to certify the new material. If all goes well, the certified material will then expand into the global market by applying for U.S. FDA approval. 3D printing has been increasingly used in the medical field in order to create custom prostheses and implants. Additive manufacturing has offered the medical industry a number of advantages over more traditional manufacturing methods, such as a much faster production time (a knee joint could take to as little as 17-18 hours to produce), and more complex implant designs (such as porous surfaces) which help to promote bone cell growth in the patient, thus reducing recovery time. 3D printed artificial bone plate According to statistics from Business Monitor International (BMI), an international research organization, the global medical equipment market size is currently worth around $323.9 billion, and is expected to rise to 382.5 billion by 2018. Even just looking at the artificial joint global market you can see the growth, as it reached a high $15.4 billion in 2015 and continues to rise steadily. As Lin Yansheng, the chairman of the United Orthopedic Corporation, points out, artificial joints will move towards customized 3D printed products in the future, which are tailor made to become an inevitable trend. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Jonathan Freedland at The Guardian: The man who for decades has been Israels best known literary voice is proclaiming his deep love for one of the greatest Jews who ever lived. Amos Oz recalls falling for this Jew many years ago, when, as a teenage kibbutznik, he became enchanted by his poetry, his humour, his compassion, his warmth, his simplicity. Ozs sweet hymn of praise is addressed to Jesus Christ. If that comes as a surprise, its not only because Oz is an Israeli Jew. Its also because hes written often and fiercely of the role centuries of Christian persecution played in nurturing the Jewish longing for a homeland. But whatever anger he harbours toward Christian Europe, for Jesus, Oz expresses only fond admiration. Even if, the writer adds with a smile, he and I disagree on many things like any two Israelis. Now aged 77, his spectacles attached to a cord around his neck, he is still blessed with the rugged good looks and spellbinding English that have made international literary audiences swoon since the 1970s. This autumn cinemagoers might join them, thanks to the release of Natalie Portmans film adaptation of A Tale of Love and Darkness, Ozs bestselling memoir-cum-novel. But for now he is in London to promote his latest novel, the first for more than a decade: Judas in English, it was published in Hebrew as The Gospel According to Judas. more here. Dwight Garner at The New York Times: Jane Jacobs (1916-2006) was a heroic figure of intellectual life in the second half of the 20th century, and she is nearly always instructive and cheering to read about. On the page, she gave us The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961), a pioneering book that was a flaming arrow it travels still, across the decades through the heart of soulless and arrogant urban renewal projects. Off the page, she fought against the worst of these schemes, including Robert Mosess plan to run a 10-lane elevated superhighway through much of what is now SoHo, Little Italy, Chinatown and the Lower East Side. Without her, New York City might resemble Los Angeles. Her Greenwich Village house, on Hudson Street, was her war room. So many people came in and out that Jacobs and her husband disconnected the ringer and left the door open at night. She offered guests what she called a West Village martini gin and vermouth and ice and an olive in any mismatched glass that was handy. You put your finger in it, she wrote, and go swish, swish, swish. more here. APGAR There are only two ways to become a citizen of these United States, and the chances of either happening inside Glacier National Park have long fallen in the range of slim to none. Which makes Sandrine Tochem and her fiance, Samuel Redfern, the rarest of couples. He became a U.S. citizen by being born in the park, to Americans who were on a salmon-fishing and huckleberry-picking expedition in Glacier in 1977 and werent anticipating his arrival that day. Thirty-nine years later, Tochem, who came to the United States in 2007 to escape a civil war in the central African nation of Chad, became an American when she took the naturalization oath near the shores of Lake McDonald on Wednesday morning. The Missoula couples two daughters, 5-year-old Eve and 2-year-old Alexa, were among about 100 people who watched the ceremony. Ive been waiting for that, Tochem said after U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen of Missoula convened his court in the Apgar Campground amphitheater and administered the citizenship oath to 11 new Americans. Ive been waiting since I came to the United States. Im very proud. As rare as human births inside Glacier are, naturalization ceremonies appear to be even rarer. It was, as far as anyone knows, the first time anyone renounced all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, and swore to support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, by taking the oath of citizenship inside the parks borders. Such ceremonies have been occurring throughout public lands administered by the National Park Service during this, the services centennial year. The first, naturally, occurred on Ellis Island at the Statue of Liberty this spring. Since then, new Americans have taken their oaths in places such as the Everglades, Mount Rushmore and the Grand Canyon. Wednesday it was Glacier Parks turn. Robert Looney, regional director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said his agency agreed to try to hold 100 naturalization ceremonies in parks and other NPS sites during the centennial year. And weve already crossed the threshold, Looney said. Were now at 105, in some of the most beautiful settings anyone can imagine. Their new citizenship comes with both benefits and responsibilities, and Eric Smith, deputy superintendent of Glacier Park, pointed out one of the former to the 11 people. You now own this national park, Smith told them. The new citizens come from Chad, Belarus, Germany, the Philippines (two people), Mexico, Ukraine and Canada (which accounted for four of them). Mandy Gad Dawson of Kila was the German. She came to the United States on a student visa in 1998, to study at the University of Miami, and has been in Montana since 2004. Her husband, Brian Dawson, and 7-month-old son Levi, were among the crowd in the campground amphitheater. Its just very special to me, Mandy said. Ive felt like this is where I belong, this is where my life is, for a long time. This is a country I love, and that has given me many opportunities. Although she arrived under far different circumstances, Tochem echoed some of those sentiments. For her, Tochem said, citizenship means freedom. We dont have that in Chad, she said. No political freedom, anyway. And there is a lot of opportunity here if you want it. She does. She is working on a degree in social work at the University of Montana after first studying business, and then, at Montana State University, architecture. She also works, in home health care, and is raising the two little girls with Redfern. Sandrines father was a diplomat in Chads capital city of NDjamena, and members of the family were targeted during the countrys latest civil war, which ran from 2005-10. Her dad worked to get her out, said Redfern. She was considered a refugee at the time, although legally, she came on asylum. Since she got here shes gone through the normal process, applying for permanent status and then citizenship. Its taken 10 years and a lot of money, but she feels a lot of pride. And a lot of people are proud of her. Musician Rob Quist, a friend of Judge Christensen, sang The Star-Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful at the ceremony. U.S. Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines read letters from their bosses to the new citizens. The beauty of America is the right to hold elected officials responsible, Daines, R-Mont., said in his letter. Tester, D-Mont., told them the true challenge of citizenship is not blindly embracing another culture and way of life; it is more about contribution, sharing and dialogue. It is about reaching across to your neighbors, understanding the dynamics of your community, and actively engaging it. Democracy loses its luster when we choose not to participate. The judge who administered their oaths, meantime, told them that among the items with which the Daughters of the American Revolution would present them were voter registration cards. Your becoming an American citizen coincides with the great American pastime of voting every four years for a president, Christensen said. Please, please, exercise your right to vote. And dont limit your involvement to presidential politics, he asked the 11. Find out about your neighborhoods. Take an interest in your schools and local governments, Christensen said. You are now a part of the great and diverse American family. That family now includes a man born a U.S. citizen in Glacier National Park, and a woman who became one there by choice. Only in America, you might say. Laws crafted by those elected should do most good for most people columns A Sheridan, Wyo., resident died in a head-on collision with a Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper on Thursday. The 23-year-old man, Michael Westika, was driving the wrong way on Interstate 90 and crashed into the patrol car at about 9:30 a.m. south of Sheridan. The trooper, David Motsick, remains hospitalized with injuries that were not life threatening, according to a release from the Highway Patrol. Motsick was driving behind an ambulance in his patrol car on Thursday when the report of a wrong-way driver came over the radio, according to the release. He was responding to a separate call at the time. The ambulance swerved to avoid an oncoming Chevrolet car, which was moving westbound in the eastbound lane. The trooper had no time to react, and the two vehicles crashed head-on, the release said. The ambulance at the scene provided medical help, and Motsick was transported to a hospital. Westika suffered "fatal injuries" at the scene, according to the release. He was not wearing a seat belt. Impaired driving is under investigation as a contributing factor to the crash. Deferred Debit or Charge Cards Usage Analytics by Card Scheme (AMEX-VISA-MASTER): Bulgaria provides the readers deferred debit or charge cards usage broken down by Card Scheme / Association for the period 2005 to 2014 Deferred Debit or Charge Cards Usage Analytics by Card Scheme (AMEX-VISA-MASTER): Bulgaria; is an exhaustive research report outlaying Deferred Debit or Charge Cards usage in Bulgaria. The report provides year on year statistics on Average Transaction Value, Frequency of Use, Number of Transactions, Turnover per card, Cards Issued and more by Card Scheme / Association covering American Express (AMEX), VISA and MASTER CARD. Download Full Research Report on Bulgaria Deferred Debit or Charge Cards Market @ http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/deferred-debit-or-charge-cards-usage-analytics-by-card-scheme-diners-amex-visa-bulgaria Key Findings A deferred debit card is linked to the customers personal bank account and is used to make card payments. At the end of the billing cycle, the value of all card payments made in that cycle are debited from the customers account in full. The report Deferred Debit or Charge Cards Usage Analytics by Card Scheme (AMEX-VISA-MASTER): Bulgaria report is the result of Verdict Financials extensive market research covering the cards and payments industry in Bulgaria. 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Read more related reports by Radiant Insights: Canada Credit Cards Market http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/credit-cards-usage-analytics-by-card-scheme-visa-master-amex-canada Canada Debit Cards Market http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/debit-cards-usage-analytics-by-card-scheme-interac-visa-canada About Radiant Insights Radiant Insights is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. It assist and facilitate organizations and individuals procure market research reports, helping them in the decision making process. The Organization has a comprehensive collection of reports, covering over 40 key industries and a host of micro markets. In addition to over extensive database of reports, experienced research coordinators also offer a host of ancillary services such as, research partnerships/ tie-ups and customized research solutions. Media Contact Company Name: Radiant Insights, Inc. Contact Person: Michelle Thoras, Corporate Sales Specialist USA Email: sales@radiantinsights.com Phone: (415) 349-0054, Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519 Address:28 2nd Street, Suite 3036 City: San Francisco State: California Country: United States Website: http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/deferred-debit-or-charge-cards-usage-analytics-by-card-scheme-diners-amex-visa-bulgaria Fact-based market research, penetrating industry insights and validated forecasts to help you make better decisions for a stronger future Global coal fired generation market are involved in developing new combustion technologies to improve conventional PCC (Pulverized Coal Combustion) efficiency. This is expected to boost the global market over the forecast period. Growing energy demand across the globe is expected to drive the global coal fired generation market over the next five years. Coal fired generation process is cheaper than other sources owing to abundant availability and low price of coal. Reliable and inexpensive nature of coal is expected to cater the increasing electricity demand over the forecast period. Oil & gas reserves depletion is anticipated to boost the market in near future. Regional government initiatives to provide power to all at affordable price mainly in emerging and developing countries is projected to bolster the coal fired generation market over the next five years. Browse Detail Report @ https://www.hexaresearch.com/upcoming-research/coal-fired-generation-industry Major electricity generation companies especially in Europe faced losses on account of using high price natural gas as a source to generate electricity. However, they have been constantly focusing on usage of coal as a major source of generating electricity to keep their profit high. Many European nations especially Germany has planned to open new coal fired generation sites on account of increasing energy demand over the next five years. Volatile oil & gas prices and uncertain supply are anticipated to foster the market growth over the next five years. Over 40% electricity is being generated using coal across the globe in 2011. Key participants in the global coal fired generation market are involved in developing new combustion technologies to improve conventional PCC (Pulverized Coal Combustion) efficiency. This is expected to boost the global market over the forecast period. Stringent environmental norms regarding greenhouse gases emission during coal fired generation process is anticipated to have a negative impact on the market growth over the next five years. Coal fired generation market is technologically segmented as PCC (pulverized coal combustion) and cyclone furnace. PCC was the largest technology segment in 2013 owing to low greenhouse gas emission and high thermal efficiency. High emission rates in traditional technologies are expected to cater CFB (circulating fluidized bed) systems growth over the foreseeable future. Commercial was the dominant application segment in 2013 accounting for over 55% of the total market. This is also anticipated to be the fastest growing application segment over the forecast period. Browse Related Category Market Reports @ Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) Market Pad Mounted Switchgear Market Energy Harvesting Market Asia Pacific dominated the global coal fired generation market in 2013 accounting for over 55% owing to increasing electricity demand in the region. The region is projected to witness fastest growth over the next five years. China was the largest consumer in the region due abundant coal availability and cheap prices in 2013. China reduced coal prices to offset high natural gas prices in the last two years. Emerging and developing economies such as India, Indonesia, China and Brazil are expected to witness considerable market growth on account of profitable power generation process over the next five years. North America is anticipated to witness stagnant growth owing to stringent environmental regulations associated with greenhouse gas emission. Some of the coal dependent nations include Germany (41%), U.S.A. (45%), Morocco (51%), Czech Republic (51%), Greece (54%), Israel (58%), India (68%), Kazakhstan (75%), Australia (78%), China (79%), Poland (87%) and South Africa (93%). China Huaneng Group was the market leader in coal fired generation market in 2013. The market is moderately fragmented. China Huaneng Group, Korea Electric Power Corporation, Shenhua Group Corporation Limited and China Datang Corporation are the major players contributed over 20% of the total market. Some other key players include E.ON SE, Duke Energy Corporation, American Electric Power Company Inc., and National Thermal Power Corporation Limited. About Us: Hexa Research is a market research and consulting organization, offering industry reports, custom research and consulting services to a host of key industries across the globe. We offer comprehensive business intelligence in the form of industry reports which help our clients obtain clarity about their business environment and enable them to undertake strategic growth initiatives. For More Information Visit https://www.hexaresearch.com Media Contact Company Name: Hexa Research Contact Person: Michelle Thoras and Ryan Shaw Email: sales@hexaresearch.com Phone: +1-800-489-3075 Address:Felton Office Plaza, 6265 Highway 9 City: Felton State: California Country: United States Website: www.hexaresearch.com/upcoming-research/coal-fired-generation-industry The International Association of HealthCare Professionals is pleased to welcome Tina S. Chung, DMD, MS, Dentist, to their prestigious organization with her upcoming publication in The Leading Physicians of the World. Dr. Chung is a highly trained and qualified dentist with expertise in all facets of her work, especially orthodontics. Dr. Chung has been in practice for over 20 years and is currently serving patients at her private orthodontic practice located in Clifton, New Jersey. She offers Invisalign, Invisalign Teen, and MYOBRACE Trainer System for children, teens, and adults. Following three years of education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Dr. Chung was awarded the prestigious honor of enrollment into the Early Admissions Program to the University of Alabama School of Dentistry. She combined her last year of college and the first year of dental school in one rigorous year that would allow her to reach her dream a year earlier. Dr. Chung graduated with her Dental Medicine Doctorate in 1996. Furthermore, she is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, and maintains professional memberships with the New Jersey Association of Orthodontists, American Dental Association, College of Diplomates of the American Board of Orthodontics. A highly respected orthodontist, Dr Chung is the recipient of numerous awards, including The Quintessence Publishing Companys Award for Excellence in Dental Research, Dr. Leon H. Schneyer Memorial Award for Excellence in the Dental Basic Sciences, an American College of Dentistry Award for Research Presentation, and the American Dental Association/DENTSPLY Corporation Student Clinician Award. Dr. Chung attributes her success to striving for success with her patients, and her passion for health. When she is not working, Dr. Chung enjoys traveling, food, art, and music. View Dr. Tina S. Chungs Profile here: https://www.findatopdoc.com/doctor/Tina-Chung-Dentist-Clifton-New-Jersey-07013 Learn more about Dr. Chung here: http://www.braceartist.com/meet-dr-tina-chung.phpand read her upcoming publication in The Leading Physicians of the World. About FindaTopDoc.com FindaTopDoc.com is a hub for all things medicine, featuring detailed descriptions of medical professionals across all areas of expertise, and information on thousands of healthcare topics. Each month, millions of patients use FindaTopDoc to find a doctor nearby and instantly book an appointment online or create a review. FindaTopDoc.com features each doctors full professional biography highlighting their achievements, experience, patient reviews and areas of expertise. A leading provider of valuable health information that helps empower patient and doctor alike, FindaTopDoc enables readers to live a happier and healthier life. For more information about FindaTopDoc, visit: http://www.findatopdoc.com Media Contact Company Name: International Association of HealthCare Professionals Contact Person: Lauren Email: lauren.findatopdoc@gmail.com Phone: 877-447-8360 Country: United States Website: www.findatopdoc.com A roundup of recent expansions, additions, new services and other news from firms across the country. ALABAMA Warren Averett Technology Group was ranked among the top 150 managed service providers in the world on the MSPmentor 501 ranking, at No. 140. AUSTRALIA Power Tynan, Toowoomba, Queensland, will join global firm association BKR International in October. Formed in 1969, the firm has six partners and a staff of 41, and offices in Roma and Stanthorpe. CALIFORNIA Gallina, Roseville, announced the launch of Gallina Executive Search Consulting, to offer companies of all sizes and industries help in identifying and hiring quality talent. Green Hasson Janks, Los Angeles, presented its 2016 Nonprofit Industry Forum on Sept. 15 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for almost 200 nonprofit industry leaders. The firm also debuted a whitepaper on the subject of the forum, Opportunities and Challenges in a High-Risk World, which is available online. CONNECTICUT Marcum LLP and the Connecticut Technology Council announced the winners of the 2016 Marcum Tech Top 40, which recognizes the fastest growing technology companies in Connecticut. The overall 2016 winner was Revolution Lighting. The list of all the winners is available here. GEORGIA Padgett Business Services, Athens, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its founding in 1966 by Walter Padgett. The company now has more than 300 locations across the U.S. and Canada, and primarily serves small businesses with fewer than 20 employees. It also recently announced a new Business Growth Program for Professionals that provides tax professionals who operate independent businesses a fully supported network. GUATEMALA Law firm Ral-n Orellana & Asociados Servicios Legales SA has joined Andersen Global. INDIANA The CPA Center of Excellence of the Indiana Society of CPAs launched an academic project in partnership with Indiana Wesleyan University and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David that will take students through a student-customized version of the centers Insight Toolkit to analyze their skill set and areas that may need improvement. IOWA Honkamp Krueger & Co. PC has been named a 2016 Top Workplace by the Des Moines Register. MAINE Albin, Randall & Bennett, Portland, was named one of the 2016 Best Places to Work in Maine by the Society for Human Resource Management - Maine State Council and Best Companies Group. MARYLAND Weyrich, Cronin & Sorra Chartered, Lutherville, is now offering a national certification program called the Certified Nonprofit Accounting Program that is designed to set a standard of accounting excellence in the not-for-profit sector. The program was developed and sponsored by the CPA and consulting firm members of The Nonprofit CPAs Alliance. The Maryland Association of CPAs will present its 2016 Women to Watch Awards on Sept. 30. The nominees for Emerging Leader Awards are: Nancy Buckley, of Herzbach & Co. Kelly Bugg, of Biegel & Waller Caroline Jiang, of Arthur Bell CPAs Edith Manney, of Howard County Community Action Council Amy Richardson, of RSM US Kimberly Spacek, of Dixon Hughes Goodman Mandy Wheat, of RSM US The nominees for Experienced Leader Awards are: Diana DeWitt, of Gross Mendelsohn Elizabeth Gantnier, of Dixon Hughes Goodman Tricia Griffis, of Frederick County Government Betsy Johnson, of PwC Sylvia Lagerquist, of Haines & Lagerquist CPAs Susan Nelson, of MedStar Health Marilyn Schneider, of Herzbach & Co. Eileen Sherr, of the AICPA. MICHIGAN Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP has been named one of Metro Detroits 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For by the Michigan Business and Professional Association. DeBoer, Baumann & Co. PLC, Holland, has launched a new Web site, with a new, user-friendly design, and features that include a blog dedicated to business news and important tax information, profiles of firm leadership, and detailed information on the firms services and industry specialties. Visit it at www.dbccpa.com. NEW MEXICO RPC CPAs + Consultants LLP, Albuquerque, is expanding into a newly renovated office building at 2424 Louisiana NE, now known as The 24s@ Uptown. The firm will occupy the entire third floor. NEW YORK Deloitte announced that it has elevated 623 professionals to partner, an increase of 4 percent from 2015. Twenty-six percent of the new partners are women, an increase of 32 percent from 2015. The Marcum Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Marcum LLP, raised a total of $242,841.95 for charity between June 1, 2015, and May 31, 2016, its first full year of operation as a national organization. The foundation is funded by Marcum partners and employees who contribute through a variety of channels, including a voluntary planned giving program that supports approximately 30 charities in the six Marcum regions. PENNSYLVANIA Rotz & Stonesifer PC, Chambersburg, will join global firm association BKR International in October. Established in 1986, the firm has four partners and a staff of 36 and additional offices in Greencastle and East Berlin. WISCONSIN The CLA Foundation, the charitable giving arm of CliftonLarsonAllen, has completed its second grant cycle, in which it awarded $300,000 to 17 organizations in communities across the United States that match its mission to promote and support diverse individuals and organizations by connecting networks, advancing work readiness, and creating career opportunities. Wipfli LLP, Wisconsin, has joined the Chamber of Digital Commerce, the worlds largest trade association representing the digital asset and currency industries. UNITED KINGDOM Global association Morison KSi has launched a new Web site at www.morisonksi.com. VIRGINIA Cherry Bekaert LLP, Richmond, has launched its Cloud Solutions practice, which will help companies understand and migrate to the cloud in three main business areas: ERP, CRM and e-commerce. It will be headed by Paul Doucet, the firms first national managing director of cloud solutions, and is part of THInc, Cherry Bekaerts practice area focused on innovation in the technology, health and life sciences, and industrial sectors. Send your firm announcements to AcToday@SourceMedia.com. By Claire Bernish FBI agents conducting undercover investigations have now been given the green light to impersonate journalists, the Justice Department determined last week effectively legalizing the governments most notorious propaganda program, Operation Mockingbird. Last Thursday, the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General published whats become the subject of outrage for journalists, civil and constitutional rights advocates, and legal experts A Review of the FBIs Impersonation of a Journalist in a Criminal Investigation. Allowing agents to infiltrate media organizations for any reason threatens to utterly undermine public trust, kill the very concept of journalistic integrity, and throttle the flow of information from sources and whistleblowers concerned with the legitimacy of journalists they contact. As shocking as the finding sounds, it only validates the practice in fact, the report centers around a case from 2007 in which an FBI agent pretended to be an Associated Press journalist to identify an elusive suspect online. At the time, the FBI did not prohibit agents from impersonating journalists or from posing as a member of a news organization, the report states. But even the ubiquitous, mainstream AP whose outlet became an unwitting pawn for the agency sharply criticized the DOJs announcement. The Associated Press is deeply disappointed by the Inspector Generals findings, which effectively condone the FBIs impersonation of an AP journalist in 2007, Associated Press Vice President Paul Colford said in a statement cited by US News. Such action compromises the ability of a free press to gather the news safely and effectively and raises serious constitutional concerns. In 2007, a high school student near Seattle emailed a series of bomb threats to his school, but his use of proxy servers thwarted police efforts to learn his identity so they asked for assistance from the FBIs Northwest Cybercrime Task Force. Agents devised a plan, and, as the Intercept summarized, An undercover agent sent the student email impersonating an editor for the Associated Press. The email included links to a fake news site designed to look like the Seattle Times. When the student followed the links, malware revealing his actual location installed itself. It wasnt until an ACLU technologist accidentally discovered copies of the bogus news stories in 2014 buried in pages the Electronic Frontier Foundation obtained from the FBI via a Freedom of Information Act request in 2011 that the plot to pose as journalists came to light, generating massive controversy and consternation. Furthering the contempt, FBI Director James Comey penned a letter to the editor of the New York Times defending the agencys impersonation, dismissively stating we do use deception at times to catch crooks, but we are acting responsibly and legally. The Associated Press and Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press didnt believe either the veracity or legality of Comeys statement, and sued the FBI to disclose documents relating to the practice ultimately obtaining a redacted memo in which the agency acknowledged the agents violated the FBIs own guidelines. However, the memo also stated that violation, under the circumstances, was not unreasonable. A review was launched by the OIG, but Thursdays conclusion simply confirmed the FBIs previous finding it had done nothing wrong and may proceed with future journalistic deception. In June this year, the FBI firmed up its rules for when an agent can pretend to be a journalist but the added rules havent quelled the ire. As long as agents receive approval from the head of the FBI field office, the Undercover Review Committee, and the deputy director of the FBI who then must meet with the deputy attorney general they are free to pose as journalists during undercover investigations. We believe the new interim policy on undercover activities that involve FBI employees posing as members of the news media is a significant improvement to FBI policies that existed, states the inspector general. But no one outside the FBI or DOJs Office of Inspector General who grasps the grievous threat to free speech and press or the potential slippery slope law enforcement co-opting the media represents agrees anything short of an abolishment on the practice could be acceptable. The FBI guidelines adopted in 2016 in response to this incident still permit the FBI to impersonate news organizations and other third parties without their consent in certain cases, and fail to address the host of other dangers associated with FBI hacking, Neema Singh Guliani, ACLU legislative counsel, said in a statement cited by US News. The Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press is deeply troubled by todays disclosure, David Boardman, RCFP steering committee chairman, wrote in a statement last Thursday, that the FBI believes that there is a place in this country for federal agents to impersonate journalists. Such a policy can seriously damage the publics trust in its free press and the ability of journalists to hold government accountable. We urge the Justice Department to take seriously the need for reform and the importance of protecting the integrity of the newsgathering process. Anyone with cursory knowledge of the U.S. governments nefarious programs to control its citizenry will undoubtedly see similarities between the FBIs fake journalism plot and the post-World War II CIA propaganda campaign, Operation Mockingbird. To ensure support for its operations and views, the CIA clandestinely recruited American journalists and media outlets, funded the creation of student and cultural organizations, launched purely propaganda-based print media, and, ultimately, worked its way into political campaigns and employed similar methods abroad. Mainstream outlets like the New York Times, the Washington Post, CBS, and many others, actively and willingly disseminated propaganda disguised as news through suppression, censorship, and selective focus, etc. in the interest of the government. Mockingbird covertly influenced national opinion for years, nefariously planting the CIAs narrative on the unwitting collective public mind before finally being at least partially exposed over a decade later. It wasnt until a congressional investigation in 1975 the putative full extent of the program was revealed. Although the CIA claimed it would no longer recruit journalists and media organizations into its folds, Mockingbird has oft been rumored never to have stopped. Besides the revelations in this article concerning the FBI, documents revealed the government actively tried to influence public thought about WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange, in 2011. It would seem Mockingbird endures to this day and whatever premise the government claims as reason to become the American media the public remains, for the large part, its oblivious, captive audience. Claire Bernish writes for TheFreeThoughtProject.com, where this article first appeared. Eros Internationals musical drama Banjo, directed by critically-acclaimed filmmaker Ravi Jadhav, featuring Riteish Deshmukh and Nargis Fakhri releases this Friday. The fabulous response to the trailer and songs has piqued everyones curiosity and the movie is highly anticipated. Here are five highlights of the inspiring story of street musicians, considered as first ever based on musical instrument Banjo! Riteish Deshmukh-Nargis Fakhri fresh pairing! Though Riteish Deshmukh and Nargis Fakhri have been part of Housefull 3 before, they were not paired opposite each other in the multi-starrer. The talented actors look good together on screen and people have been praising their affable chemistry in Banjo! Producer Krishika Lulla & director Ravi Jadhav collaborates for the first time! While Ravi Jadhav, known for his successful Marathi films including Time Pass and Balak Palak, was supposed to make Banjo in Marathi, it was Riteish who suggested him to make it in Hindi. However, when Ravi narrated the movie script to Krishika Lulla, she felt the story based on street musicians has a universal appeal and should reach out to a wider audience. Riteishs rugged rockstar avatar! Riteish Deshmukh plays Taraat, head of a banjo group from the slums. For the first time, the actor will be seen sporting long tresses for his character as a street musician and playing an authentic Maharashtrian character in a Hindi film. Music Composed by Vishal-Shekhar, the music of Banjo has hit all the right notes, as all the songs including Bappa, Udan Choo, Rada, Pee Paa Ke, Rehmo Karam and the latest party anthem Banjo Party' feature on almost every music charts. Real Mumbai flavour! To bring in the real local flavour, the makers had consciously decided to shoot Banjo in real locations in Mumbai including Worli Koliwada, The Asiatic Society of Mumbai and Horniman Circle among other places. Since the subject is a realistic one, the effort was to make it more appealing and relatable for the common man. RF Digital, a Heptagon company, and industry leading manufacturer of Simblee and other market leading wireless solutions has been selected by the team at GE Appliances FirstBuild for its annual Mega Hackathon. This years event is themed The Future of Cooking and over 300 designers, engineers, makers, students and foodies will gather in Louisville, KY over this weekend to design, build code and hack the next generation of cooking devices. The Simblee platform will enable participants to quickly prototype their ideas into a demonstrable, functionable product complete with a mobile app and cloud connectivity over the course of two days. Participants will have the opportunity to work within the Aurdino IDE to write code for their application and configure their Simblee device, as well as Simblees extended plug and play eco system. We are excited to support the FirstBuild model of inspiring innovation, said Patty Steiman, RF Digitals Senior Director of Business Development. We look forward to seeing the future of cooking come to life. We are opening FirstBuilds doors to show our state-of-the-art model of manufacturing that embraces the maker movement, said Justin Berger, community manager at FirstBuild. We want the community to envision what they see for the future of cooking, and with our great sponsors, help close the gap from mind to market. In addition to hardware and technical support, RF Digital and the Simblee team are offering a $1000 prize, a board layout review and a professional video for the team that builds the best SimbleeConnected product. About RF Digital RF Digital (www.rfdigital.com) designs and manufactures an extensive line of fully integrated, high quality, high performance, configurable Wireless RF Transmitter, Receiver & Transceiver Modules, suitable for nearly every type of application. For over 16 years RF Digital has supplied the aerospace, public safety, industrial and medical industries with reliable wireless modules, accompanied by excellent support. For more information about Simblee, visit www.simblee.com. About Heptagon Heptagon (www.hptg.com) provides complete 3D/imaging, illumination and optical sensing solutions for smart devices and the internet of things. With over 2 billion units shipped and 20 years of industry firsts in miniaturizing and integrating complex hardware and software systems, Heptagon has industry leading technology and services to enhance our customers competitiveness. Backed by world-class investors, Heptagon is a global company with research and development, sales and customer services teams located in Singapore, Zurich Switzerland, in Silicon Valley USA, and Shenzhen, China. About FirstBuild FirstBuild is a global co-creation community backed by GE Appliances, a Haier company, that harnesses the brainpower of the maker movement to change the way major home appliances are conceived, designed and manufactured. A physical state-of-the-art microfactory on the University of Louisville campus and online forum, FirstBuild speeds products from mind to market and enables customization through small batch production, without the costs and risks of traditional mass manufacturing. For more information about how to get involved, visit FirstBuild.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160923005885/en/ RF Digital Patty Steiman, 310-844-8821 Patty.steiman@RFdigital.com The Madras High Court today deferred till September 30 the post-mortem of a woman techie murder accused, who allegedly committed suicide in prison, after his father sought time to move the Supreme Court for nominating a doctor of his choice in the autopsy panel. Justice N Kirubakaran, who had yesterday directed AIIMS Delhi to depute a doctor for the post-mortem of P Ramkumar on or before September 27 while rejecting petitioners plea for including a doctor of his choice, ordered preservation of the body at the Government Royapettah Hospital till September 30. Even though the court was not convinced with the submissions of the petitioners counsel, the judge said he was granting the concession as a mark of sympathy. If the petitioner was unable to secure any order from the Supreme Court by September 30, Ramkumars post-mortem should be done on October 1, he ruled. Ramkumar, arrested on the charge of murdering 24-year old software engineer Swathi on June 24 at a railway station here, allegedly ended his life by biting a live wire in the Puzhal central prison on September 18. His father R Paramasivam moved the court seeking presence of a doctor of his choice during the post-mortem. A single judge rejected his prayer and directed setting up of a four-member team of government doctors to conduct the post-mortem. But the petitioner filed an appeal before a division bench. As the bench was split on its view over his plea, Justice Kirubakaran was appointed as the third judge to decide the issue and he ruled against allowing a doctor of petitioners choice, but asked AIIMS to depute a doctor, paving the way for conduct of the post-mortem. However, petitioners counsel R Sankarasubbu this morning made a mention before Chief Justice S K Kaul and wanted the court to pass interim orders staying conduct of post-mortem till the victims father moved the Supreme Court for remedy. He said since three judges had taken three different views the matter should be referred to a larger bench. Turning down the request, Justice Kaul said though the court understood the petitioners emotions, it could not do anything at this stage. If he still felt aggrieved, he can move the apex court. If he wants he can approach the portfolio judge, he said. The counsel then made a mention before Justice Kirubakaran, who heard the matter and passed the present order late this evening. During the hearing, Justice Kirubakaran rued that parties were politicising the Ramkumar autopsy issue. The Delhi High court on Saturday ordered Internet messaging service WhatsApp to delete all date of people who have deleted the messaging app from their devices till September 25, when its new privacy policy comes into effect. A bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal passed this order while responding to the petition filed by Karmanya Singh, who challenged the new policy of the messaging app, alleging it violates the fundamental right to privacy. The high court says that in order to protect the interest of the users we will pass three directions. The first direction is that users who want to completely delete or not use WhatsApp, WhatsApp will have to delete all of their data and that data cannot be shared with Facebook, said Karmanya Singh. The second direction is that if users, who knowing that their data will be shared, they keep continuing to use WhatsApp after 25th September, even for those users their data upto 25th September has to be deleted. It cannot be shared with Facebook, he added. The high court had also asked the federal government and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) to take decision regarding putting regulation on such messaging platforms. As per WhatsApp new policy it can collect and share information of its users with Facebook and all its group companies for the purpose of commercial advertising and marketing on its platform. This includes the sharing of phone numbers and information on a users contact list. A 19-year-old man was killed by Indian government forces after they fired shots at protesters demanding freedom from Indian rule in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, reported Al Jazeera. A police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity to the Associated Press news agency, said the man died in the northwestern Sopore area on Friday after soldiers opened fire on demonstrators who allegedly attacked an army convoy with stones. However, residents and family members said the man, Waseem Ahmad, was working in his orchard along with other people when soldiers fired. There was no protest or stone pelting. Everything was quiet. He was killed without a reason. It was a cold blooded murder. Abdul Rasheed Lone, victims cousin Ahmads cousin, Abdul Rasheed Lone, confirmed there was no protest taking place when troops fired the shots. Waseem was going along with a few boys toward his paddy fields to help his uncle when four army vehicles drove up and soldiers opened fire on him, Lone told Al Jazeera. There was no protest or stone pelting. Everything was quiet. He was killed without a reason. It was a cold-blooded murder. A local doctor told the Greater Kashmir newspaper that a round went through Ahmads back and hit his heart. The bullet had damaged his heart and caused instant death, said Dr Masood of District Hospital Baramulla in north Kashmir. Protesters took to the streets of the village after news of Ahmads death, chanting we want freedom and clashed with government forces. Fighting also erupted in at least three other places and at least 30 people were reported injured. A strict curfew was also imposed on Old Srinagar and south Kashmir. Government forces also blocked worshippers from Friday prayers at large mosques for the 11th consecutive week. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the two countries gained independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the territory in its entirety. Rebel groups have for decades fought Indian soldiers currently numbering about 500,000 demanding independence for the region or its merger with Pakistan. Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have died in the fighting. The latest protests were sparked by the killing of a popular rebel commander, Burhan Wani, in July. The demonstrations, and a sweeping security crackdown, have all but paralysed life in Indian-administered Kashmir. More than 80 civilians have been killed and thousands wounded, including hundreds blinded and maimed mostly by government forces firing live rounds and shotgun pellets at rock-throwing protesters. Two policemen have also been killed and hundreds of government forces hurt in the clashes. Source: Agencies and Al Jazeera North Korea vowed on Friday to further strengthen its nuclear weapons capability, in spite of UN condemnation and sanctions, and said it would never abandon its deterrence while it was threatened by nuclear-armed states. In an address to the United Nations General Assembly, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho described his countrys nuclear weapons as a righteous self-defence measure against constant nuclear threats of the United States. Going nuclear-armed is the policy of our state, he said. As long as there exists a nuclear-weapon state in hostile relations with the DPRK, our national security and peace on the Korean peninsula can be defended only with reliable nuclear deterrence, he said, using the acronym for the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, North Koreas official name. Ri said North Korea will continue to take measures to strengthen its national nuclear armed forces in both quantity and quality. Ri said the Korean peninsula was the worlds most dangerous hotspot, which can even ignite the outbreak of nuclear war, and the blame lay squarely with the United States. He accused the United States and South Korea of conducting massive nuclear war exercises aimed at decapitation of the North Korean leadership and occupation of its capital Pyongyang, while a call last year by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to replace the 1953 Korean War armistice with a peace agreement had been ignored. North Koreas nuclear and missiles tests have been condemned worldwide and have resulted in several rounds of UN sanctions, the most recent of which were adopted in March. Discussions are already under way on a possible new UN sanctions resolution after North Koreas fifth and largest nuclear test on September 9. Ri said that by imposing sanctions on North Korea, the UN Security Council was playing the role of covering up the highhandeness and arbitrariness of the United States. He accused the United States of threatening North Korea by flying B1-B strategic bombers over the military demarcation line on the Korean peninsula and warned: We will never remain onlookers at it and the United States will have to face tremendous consequences beyond imagination. The United States flew two B1-Bs over South Korea on Wednesday in the second such flight since the September 9 test. US Forces Korea said the flights were a show of force and of the US commitment to preserve the security of the peninsula and the region. Source: Reuters The terror attack on an Indian army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir could be a backlash to the atrocities in Indian-administered Kashmir, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said. The Uri attack can be the reaction of the atrocities in Kashmir, as the close relatives and near and dear ones of those killed and blinded over the last two months were hurt and outraged, Sharif told reporters in London on Friday, where he stopped on his way back from the UN General Assembly session in New York. The Premier rejected the Indian allegations on the September 18 Uri attack as irresponsible and without any evidence. Eighteen Indian soldiers were killed in the terror attack, which India has blamed on Pakistan-based militants. Sharif also wondered how India had hurled accusations against Pakistan only hours after the Uri incident without holding any inquiry or investigation. How could India accuse Pakistan only hours after the Uri incident without holding any inquiry or investigation. This is not reasonable, Sharif was quoted as saying. He said New Delhi should have held an inquiry and waited for the findings before pointing fingers at Islamabad. He further alleged that the whole world knows about Indian atrocities in Jammu and Kashmir. Talking about peace between the two countries, Nawaz deemed it impossible without the resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute, Pakistan Today reported. Not long after the Sacred Stone Camp took root near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, Ronya Hoblit asked the Bismarck-Mandan Unitarian Universalist Church if anyone would be interested in donating items to help the camp. Hoblit, a lay leader of the church and an Oglala Lakota enrolled at Pine Ridge, S.D., wasnt sure whether people would be willing to aid the spirit camp dedicated to stopping and raising awareness of the Dakota Access Pipeline. That was before the issue became national news, and before the camp swelled to thousands of people. But the response was quick and supportive. Church members involved in the effort have since lost track of how many trips theyve made to the original camp, as well as the larger Oceti Sakowin camp. It took on a life of its own, Hoblit said. Its in that spirit of community and listening to each other that our congregation had the opportunity to put our actions where our hearts are, said Minister Karen Van Fossan. Ronyas leadership in our congregation on this is crucial. The church, 818 E. Divide Ave., has become a collection place for donations to the camps -- not only from the Bismarck-Mandan community, but also from Unitarian Universalist churches throughout the country. Congregants will take another caravan of donations to the camps on Sunday following the first in a series of worship services with the theme Water Is Life. Van Fossan said the series will continue with one service per month through May -- but she expects it to resonate far longer. Its meaningful enough, and I think it speaks to an important spiritual reality that it will probably inform how we understand who we are and what we do far into the future, she said. The first service, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Sunday, will include some of the young people who ran from Cannon Ball to Omaha, Neb., to deliver a petition asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a complete environmental impact statement before issuing an easement for the pipeline to cross the rivers upstream from the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Hoblit said she was surprised at the enthusiastic reaction one of the runners gave when asked to speak at the church. The girl was excited that the congregation wanted to hear their perspectives. I didnt fully expect that enthusiasm, Hoblit said. A lunch is planned after the service, followed by a caravan to take donations and signed banners to the camps. Van Fossan said the Unitarian Universalist tradition draws on indigenous practices and religions as a source of faith. Many members of the church also feel strongly about the environmental implications of the pipeline and protecting water. But no matter the faith tradition or the reason for going to the camp, Van Fossan and Hoblit said all church members left there stronger in their faith and beliefs than before they arrived. Theres a real sense of being healed and receiving more than we could give, Van Fossan said. Hoblit is not a member at Standing Rock, but she does have a deep connection with the community after spending 13 years working at Sitting Bull College. She is heartened not only by the way the camps have become a gathering of historical significance for Native Americans, but also in how people across the world are being inspired to speak up for their own causes after watching what is happening in North Dakota. Hoblit also knows what she wants more than anything. I want clean water for my granddaughter and her descendants that I will never meet, she said. September 23, 2016 NEW YORK Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, speaking to Al-Monitor during his visit to New York for the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, addressed his countrys position on the Middle East peace process, US-Egyptian relations and the ongoing conflicts in Libya and Yemen, among other topics. Shoukry, who has served as minister of foreign affairs since 2014, is a career diplomat who formerly served as Cairos ambassador to the United States from 2008 to 2012. In his post as top diplomat, he has worked to boost Egypts regional standing and help it regain a role in the Mideast peace process. A transcript of the interview, conducted by Al-Monitors managing editor, slightly edited for clarity, follows below. Al-Monitor: As you know, the US Congress is considering a proposal to cut economic aid to Egypt in half, down to $75 million. What impact do you believe this would have on the US-Egyptian relationship? Shoukry: Its, I think, inconsistent with what we generally promote and what we also extract from many of our friends, both in the administration and in Congress related to the strategic nature of the relationship and the mutual desire to enhance it. The assistance program has been helpful to Egypt in the past in meeting its developmental challenges and providing assistance. But it has also been a symbol of cooperation and the relationship and partnership that exists between Egypt and the United States. And I dont think that cutting it by half is indicative of all of these meanings, so I would hope that the decision would be reversed. I would actually hope that the economic assistance to Egypt would be increased it has been scaled down from originally $800 million to $400 million [in 1999, and several more times since then] as a matter of recognition of Egypt, the economic circumstances that necessitated this scaling down. And this was a cooperative agreement reached by both sides in the context of our feeling that this assistance program is of mutual benefit to us and is of mutual ownership to us, both the United States and Egypt. So we sat down and we [came to an agreement on] organized manner in which to reduce the assistance program. Since then, on two occasions and this would be the third the US administration has taken the unilateral decision to reduce the assistance program. And in both cases, they did not sufficiently consult with Egypt, nor did they take into consideration the symbolic nature of the assistance program. So I would think that, for all of those reasons, we hope that the assistance program might increase so that Egypt can face the many challenges, especially in this phase of its history where it is transitioning to a more democratic, more inclusive government with a potential of regaining its stability in the region. Al-Monitor: Relations between Turkey and Egypt have been strained in recent years. What can you tell me about efforts to repair ties between Cairo and Ankara? Shoukry: I can't say that there are any substantial efforts underway. Relationships have been strained not for any actions that Egypt has undertaken. This is a conscious decision on the part of the Turkish government, which feels that it has the right to intervene and direct Egypts internal affairs in a certain manner. And this is, of course, unacceptable to us and has caused a cooling, if not a rupture, of relationships currently. But we have always indicated that we hold the Turkish people in every high esteem. We have a long history of association and cooperation with Turkey at the popular level and also at the official level, and [when] the Turkish government [decides it will not] interfere in the internal affairs of Egypt, and [decides] to conduct foreign policy on the basis of respect of the principles of legitimacy and friendly relations, [at this time] Egypt will always be in a position to [restore] the relationship. Al-Monitor: President [Abdel Fattah al-] Sisi was the first to reveal that Russian President Vladimir Putin was willing to host direct talks between [Israeli Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu and [Palestinian President] Mahmoud Abbas in Moscow, and has recently expressed a willingness to play a major role in a Mideast peace process. Given this announcement, what role does Cairo envision for itself in such a process? Shoukry: Well this is [part of] an ongoing role that Egypt has been playing since its peace agreement with Israel. We have been promoting a full resolution of the conflict and end of [the] Palestine/Israeli conflict and normalization of relations within the states of the region so that [these states] can tap into the vast resources of cooperation and take full advantage of that for the betterment of the people of the region. And of course, the issue of stability and security for all is a fundamental principle. And Egypt has constantly taken advantage of its ability to be an interlocutor with all sides. We have a very solid and stable relationship with Israel. We, of course, constantly support the Palestinian Authority in the peace process. And we rely on many multilateral organizations, whether its the Arab League or the United Nations, to promote the peaceful resolution of the conflict. We encourage and try to attract both sides to take flexible positions that will facilitate reaching a solution that guarantees the interest of both sides, both the Palestinians and the Israelis. And this is a commitment that we make that the issue is not a matter of coercion or pressure, but its a matter of reaching both the Israeli leadership and public opinion and [ensuring that] the Palestinian leadership and public opinion [recognize and are determined] to proceed with [a source of] peace to create a new environment in the region and new prospects for the people of the region. Al-Monitor: Yesterday, Russia implemented its ban on agricultural imports from Egypt after Cairo rejected a Russian wheat shipment that contained trace levels of a common fungus. Given that Russia is one of Egypts top export markets for fruit, this could have serious economic impact. Cairo announced it would send a team to Russia later this month to discuss the ban what other efforts are being made to calm growing trade tensions? Shoukry: Well again, it is primarily the ability to coordinate and have an open dialogue related to this issue. Of course, its of a technical nature and subject to the international rules and regulations that apply to agricultural exports. And I believe that, in view of the strong relations that we have, and in view of Russia being one of the major, if not the major exporters of wheat and Egypt being the major importer at the global level of wheat and also our need to continue to take advantage of the potential of increasing our agricultural export to Russia, that I would think we will be able to reach a mutually beneficial solution and find ways within the confines of a technical problem. Al-Monitor: On Sept. 20, teams from Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia signed final contracts for technical studies on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Does this step represent a milestone in overcoming issues between Egypt and upstream countries over the dams construction? Shoukry: Its certainly an important element within the confidence that has been being built over the last two years. The trilateral agreement that was signed in Khartoum by the three leaders of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia also the declaration that was issued between the president of Egypt and the prime minister of Ethiopia in Malabo all culminated in the implementation of the declaration and the agreement. And this is an important portion of that agreement. It is [reliant] on the scientific determination of an impartial consultant to determine the consequences and the impact of the Renaissance Dam on both Sudan and Egypt, primarily. So we believe that this is in the vein of confidence building [and this will be] in the vein [of] the interest of the three parties without any of them superseding the interest of the other, but reaching an understanding that maintains these interests. Egypt, of course, as you know, is a barren country with only the Nile as its sole source of water and with a population of 100 million almost. It is a very sensitive issue. And both Sudan and Ethiopia have other sources, but at the same time we recognize Ethiopias right to development and its need for energy generation clean energy generation. But there are international principles related to [the idea] that project should not result in significant harm [to] the downstream countries, and that any negative impact should be [avoided]. So we presume that these are issues that even have a moral dimension, and thereby, the signing of the consultants contract is, again, the determination of the three countries to faithfully implement the trilateral agreement of Khartoum. And we look forward [to] all the future steps [dealing] with this issue [being] undertaken in the same spirit of cooperation, confidence-building and mutual benefit. Al-Monitor: Since March of last year, the Egyptian air force has been participating in the Saudi-led military coalitions war against the Houthis. Could you expand further on Egypts role in Yemen? Shoukry: Well, Egypt has been a part of the coalition in support of legitimacy and its efforts to regain the stability and security of Yemen for the Yemeni people. Our military participation has been more concentrated [on] protecting the sea channels in the Red Sea and the entrance to the Red Sea. And we have been supportive logistically to the coalition, but at the same time we have been advocating for a peaceful resolution of the conflict through negotiations and dialogue upon the lines of the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] proposals and security council resolutions and the ongoing discussions that were undertaken under the auspices of Kuwait over the last period. We believe that whether it is in Yemen or any other conflicts of the region that peaceful resolutions based on negotiations and compromise on acceptance of the various political interest must be the manner in which to deal with these issues. We see the scale of devastation and human suffering and do not believe that a military solution to these problems is in the best interest of the people of the region. Al-Monitor: Egypt supports Gen. Khalifa Hifter, who refuses to recognize the UN-sponsored Government of National Accord and backs the Bayda-based parliament, while the [United States] has condemned Hifters recent moves to [take] militarily control of oil ports. What is Egypts view on this? Shoukry: Well, Egypts view is that we should not personalize issues. Egypt does not support any specific personality. And I think its important also to recognize that the parliament in Bayda is a parliament that is a sitting parliament that came to power on free and fair and monitored elections in 2014, and is the only representative body that we can safely say does reflect the will of the Libyan people. So it is a legitimate parliament. It is part of the political solution that has been endorsed by the United Nations, and it should be deemed as competent to have endorsed the national Libyan army with Gen. Hifter as its commander. So Egypts support is not personal support for Gen. Hifter; it is support to the legitimate Libyan professional army that continues to be constituted from professional military personnel. And [this army] continues to challenge the presence of terrorists in Libya [and] is responsible for the well-being and the safety and security and territorial integrity of Libya. Now, that does not discount that in the west of Libya and Tripoli there has been a usurpation of the capital by various militias some of them associated [with] some very radical organizations and that this is a situation that should be of much more concern than the activities of a professional army that is undertaking its responsibility with the approval of an elected legislative body. I think we should not try to oversimplify the issues. Libya is a very complicated situation with varying and competing forces. The last moves in that the Libyan army has now taken over for the protection of the oil fields I think one has to ask what gave relevance and credence to those forces that were previously there. They have no specific authority to be there or to undertake that responsibility. So its not a matter of competing forces, but I think its a matter of consistency. And again, I want to be very clear that Egypt supports and was fundamental in the success of the UN-brokered [Skhirat] agreement and the composition of the presidential council and the potential Government of National Accord that it will submit to the [legislature] for endorsement and to the House of Representatives. These are the institutions that were enshrined in the Libyan agreement brokered by the United Nations. All of these institutions should be preserved and should undertake their responsibilities as was envisioned by the accord. And it is of the application of democratic principle that the legislative body has oversight over the decisions and the composition of government, and that this is a matter of checks and balances. Of course, there are other issues in Libya that complicate the matter, particularly the presence of terrorist organizations. And there has been success recently in targeting them both in Benghazi and Sirte. And it is important also that the militias [there] are several and they have been a disruptive factor to the stability of Libya must now recede, must now relinquish their arms and rely on the organized police force and military forces to undertake the responsibility of the protection of the country. Authorities were able to seize a large amount of methamphetamine and more than $1,500 in cash after arresting an Altoona man on Friday, Etowah County Sheriff's Office said. Grover Carter Grover Carter, 38, was spotted by deputies while he was driving a four-wheeler on Mt. Pleasant Road in the Egypt Community at 2:24 a.m. Carter sped off when deputies tried to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, officials said. Carter wrecked his four-wheeler during the pursuit because he tried to turn onto a rural road at high speed. Deputies said they were forced to use a Taser on Carter because he wasn't complying with commands. The suspect was then taken into custody without incident. The FBI North Alabama Safe Streets Task Force also participated in the case. During a search, deputies said they found a half pound of meth, digital scales and $1,502 in cash in his possession. Authorities also discovered that Carter had outstanding arrest warrants with several other agencies for not paying traffic fines. Carter was transported to the Etowah County Detention Center on trafficking methamphetamine, attempting to elude, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest charges. His bond was set at $50,000 cash. When Birmingham City Schools Superintendent Kelley Castlin-Gacutan was fired Thursday night after 16 months on the job, she became the eighth person to leave the job in 17 years. Castlin-Gacutan's firing was sudden and seemed to spring from a conflict over large sums of money for capital projects -- including the renovation of the old Wells Fargo building on First Avenue North for an operations center and the proposed renovation of Ernest F. Bush K-8 School --- and teacher professional development allegedly being reallocated or spent without the board's approval. Board members who voted to terminate her contract say she hasn't been fiscally responsible. Other board members, however, said terminating the superintendent's contract was a rush to judgment, a sentiment backed by State Superintendent of Education Michael Sentance. "When I learned about the Birmingham City Board of Education was considering terminating the superintendent after just over a year, and after an acceptable evaluation just a few weeks ago, I asked the board to delay any decision until we had an opportunity to discuss the situation with them," Sentance said in a statement to AL.com. Efforts to reach Castlin-Gacutan were not immediately successful Friday. "Personal, petty, political" Despite claims of potential wrongdoing, school system attorney Afrika Parchman said Castlin-Gacutan was terminated without cause, and will be paid a severance package for her remaining compensation and benefits, which could total more than $400,000 for the next two years. The money will be dispersed on a monthly basis and not a lump sum. The termination was approved with a 6-3 vote of the board. Board member April Williams, who introduced the motion to terminate Castlin-Gacutan, said she asked for a forensic audit of funds allocated for capital improvement projects from 2013 to present. Williams said there are funds, namely a line item of $1.9 million for capital improvements to Ernest F. Bush K-8 School, that are no longer there. Williams said she wants to know what happened to that money. The superintendent is authorized to spend up to $50,000 without board approval for day-to-day operations, she said, but that doesn't mean the superintendent doesn't have to report those expenditures to the board each month. "We've asked for those expenditures as far back as July and the superintendent was not forthcoming with information," Williams said. "We emailed her as far back as July, saying those expenditures should be reported to the board. It's almost October, and it still wasn't done." Board member Daagye Hendricks echoed Williams' sentiments saying Castlin-Gacutan hasn't been fiscally responsible. She said the school system spent $2.5 million on a new reading initiative based on the superintendent's recommendations, but students haven't received their new books. Board member Randall Woodfin, one of three board members who voted against the termination, said the board is sending the wrong message to the system's 24,000 students, parents, teachers, 43 principals and administrators by firing the superintendent without cause. He said Castlin-Gacutan did nothing "egregious" or criminal to warrant an immediate termination. "When you fire a person without cause ... it means one of the following: personal, petty, political or about control. I am tired of the character assassination of this person who is no longer superintendent," Woodfin said. He said Castlin-Gacutan wasn't fiscally irresponsible. Woodfin said the board is being fiscally irresponsible for firing her without cause. Brian Giattina, who has served on the school board for six years and also voted against the firing, said the decision to terminate Castlin-Gacutan was hasty and without merit. He said the board gave her a satisfactory evaluation just the month before. Giattina said Castlin-Gacutan started July 1, 2015 and had to have schools open 30 days later. She had to get to know the board, district schools and the teachers. She had to hire staff, including a new chief financial officer. The new superintendent also had to get up to speed on Alabama's new law authorizing charter schools. That's a lot to undertake on its own, not to mention assessing the system as a whole and coming up with a plan to improve the system's 18 failing schools, opponents to the firing say. Giattina said he is "lost for words" as to why the board moved to fire the superintendent Thursday evening. If some board members felt they couldn't trust or communicate with Castlin-Gacutan, he questioned why they couldn't negotiate a settlement that would allow her to resign. "None of the issues that were brought up related to the financials, as far as I know, were ever investigated and (Castlin-Gacutan) was never given the opportunity to answer the questions," he said. "To me there was never a question of fraud or mismanagement," Giattina added. He said the board had planned to meet next week on the proposal for an outside firm to conduct an audit on the capital projects approved by the board for the last three years and determine where funds were spent. Giattina added that the school board didn't give Castlin-Gacutan enough time on the job in order to get results. 'She never had a chance' The state superintendent agreed, saying there was no need to take the action so quickly. "As there were no children at risk and other options were available to ensure oversight of fiscal concerns, there was no apparent reason for a rush to judgment," Sentance said on Friday. "The success of the Birmingham City School system is very important to the state," he continued. "The students deserve a functional system with strong leadership that provides quality education. We will continue to work with local leadership in any way possible to make sure Birmingham reaches its full potential and affords every one of its students an education that adequately prepares them for life after high school." Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham President and CEO Christopher Nanni said he couldn't speak to the specifics of whether Castlin-Gacutan should have been fired or not. But, as a community partner and funder of programs in the school system, the lack of stability at the leadership level does present challenges, he said. "Our funding is very competitive, and when the leadership is in question or changes frequently, it creates a challenge to work with the system and to fund projects," Nanni said, because there can be a lack of vision and support from the top down. Nanni said the Community Foundation supports projects in individual schools and funds other non-profits that provide services to schools within the Birmingham City Schools system. Jerry Tate, the parent of an eighth grader in the Birmingham City School system and the vice present of the Birmingham Council of PTAs, said Castlin-Gacutan had a vested interest in improving the school system. He said she has a child in the school system herself, and she made a concerted effort to communicate with parents. She held district meetings and had an open door policy, Tate said. The school board didn't give Castlin-Gacutan a chance to succeed, he said. "It takes you awhile to get in, assess the district and to implement programs," Tate said. "I don't think she had any chance to show the results of what she was getting ready to implement." He said the school board appeared to be behind her until this month. "The board has ... given her the stamp of approval to everything she had presented," he said. Tate said Castlin-Gacutan was continuing the positive results made through the Woodlawn Innovation Network and was launching a new reading program to improve schools. While some school board members said students hadn't receive the books for the new reading program, Tate said this was the first year in a while that all students appeared to receive all the books they need for their regular classes. Tate admitted, though, that Castlin-Gacutan may have ruffled a few feathers by not supporting the renovation of Ernest F. Bush K-8 School. "All of the decisions she made was for the district as a whole," he said. What happens next? "It is too early for us to say right now," said Chanda Temple, executive assistant to the superintendent and school board, as to what happens next, and when the search for the next superintendent will begin. School board president Wardine Alexander didn't immediately return messages seeking comment on this topic. A nationwide search for a new superintendent, though, typically takes three to six months. A new superintendent likely won't be in place until next summer. The school board appointed Larry Contri to serve as superintendent in the interim. Contri is the longest-serving employee with the Birmingham City School. He started with the system in 1967 and has served as a teacher, a principal at the elementary and high school level, a coordinator of research and planning and director of schools. "I'm very humbled and appreciative to the board for placing confidence in this position," he said in a statement. "My plan for the district is to continue our vision and to make it a quality school system - preparing every child for college and career when they graduate." Contri is a Birmingham native and product of Birmingham City Schools. He attended the now-closed Holman Elementary School and graduated from Woodlawn High School. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama, his master's degree from Samford University and his doctorate from the University of Alabama. Before the search for the next superintendent begins, Giattina hopes the board can move forward and "rebuild trust" amongst themselves. "I think if the majority of the board voted to get rid of the superintendent, than it is the right decision for the board," he said. Board Vice President Lyord Watson said he challenges parents to get involved, to attend school board meetings and share what they like and don't like about their district and their schools. "I would challenge parents who supported Castlin-Gacutan, and even those who didn't, to be vocal about what they want in a school district," he said. "I think there are a lot of people who have thoughts and ideas about Birmingham city. It is going to take the community" to move forward. AL.com columnists John Archibald and Roy S. Johnson contributed to this report. WASHINGTON Federal agencies have scheduled a listening session and tribal consultations in six regions of the country in response to concerns raised by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribes challenge of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The U.S. Departments of the Army, Interior and Justice on Friday invited representatives from all 567 federally recognized tribes to participate in formal, government-to-government consultation on how federal review of infrastructure projects can better allow for timely and meaningful tribal input. The consultations will focus on how the federal government can better ensure meaningful tribal input and will also explore whether new legislation should be proposed to Congress. The three agencies announced on Sept. 9 their intention to hold these meetings after issues raised by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other tribal nations regarding Dakota Access and other infrastructure-related decision-making. Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairman Dave Archambault II said in a statement the tribe welcomes the Obamas administration invitation. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe are fighting for our lives, our people and our sacred places because of a failed process for approval of the Dakota Access Pipeline, he said. Archambault added that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers should do a full environmental impact statement of the Dakota Access route. This invitation is a good start but the government has a lot more to do to permanently protect the millions of people who rely on the Missouri River for water and who are put at serious risk because of this pipeline, he said. A listening session is set for 6 p.m. Oct. 11 in Phoenix at the National Congress of American Indians 73rd annual convention. Pamela Casey.jpg Blount County District Attorney will appear on CBS' 48 Hours to talk about the dangers of teens connecting with strangers on social media. (CBS 48 Hours ) An Alabama prosecutor will appear on a national television show tonight that takes a closer look into the hidden dangers of teens connecting online with strangers. Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey will be part of CBS's 48 HOURS 29th season premier called "Killer App." According to the network, the episode will feature the stories of two families whose daughters got involved in online relationships that became a matter of life or death. "They're stories that will resonate with millennials, teenagers and parents who, thanks to so-called 'parent proof' platforms, often don't know what their kids are doing on their phones, laptops, tablets or computers, until something goes terribly wrong,'' CBS said in a press release for tonight's episode which airs in Alabama at 9 p.m. CBS's Peter Van Sant will look into the case involving 13-year-old Nicole Lovell who signed on to the chat app Kik looking for a friend. Nicole was a Virginia seventh grader who sneaked out of her house on the night of Jan. 27 to meet up with the older teen whom she met online and considered to be her boyfriend. Lovell's remains were found three days later in a remote area across the North Carolina border. "It's no longer a situation where you worry about your child meeting a stranger in the park," Casey says in a preview for the show. "You really need to worry about the stranger your child's meeting on the phone you gave them for Christmas. This is the new crime of our time." In January, Casey announced the arrest of 35-year-old Carlton Carvel Bates after a joint investigation by Blount County sheriff's deputies and Birmingham police. Authorities said Bates, a convicted felon from Birmingham, tried to check a girl out of her Blount County high school after meeting her on the popular Kik app. Multiple law enforcement agencies nationwide have issued warnings to parents about the app. Kik and similar apps allow users to send secure messages over the internet. Kik requires users to be over age 13 and to secure permission from their parents if they are a minor, but avoiding that restriction is as simple as providing a false birthday when registering for the service. The service has developed a reputation as a tool for sexting, because of its privacy controls and its anonymity -- users can communicate without revealing their real names or phone numbers, Masslive.com reported last year. Kik has released guides for parents and law enforcement that encourage responsible use of the application, but accountability is difficult. Kik does not track the content of messages or the phone numbers of users, making it difficult for police to find identifying information in child pornography cases, the website reported. In an interview last year, Pell city mother and attorney Jennifer Sellers detailed for AL.com the role she believes Kik played in her daughter's suicide on Dec. 7, 2014. Sellers found her 14-year-old daughter hanging in her bedroom. Weeks after Sydney's death, Sellers opened her daughter's to find a text conversation that apparently was ongoing when Sydney died. It was about erotic asphyxiation, or breath- control play, which is the intentional restriction of oxygen to the brain for the purposes of sexual arousal. "I looked further at her phone, at her Kik and I found 2 other people that had been making contact with her, one of them at 2:30 a.m. and very super sexual,'' Sellers said in that interview. "I've been married for 17 years and I don't have conversations like this with my husband. She was 14. She was playing a long with a little bit of it, but when they got serious, like send me a picture, she refused. " Prior to the announcement of the January arrest in Blount County, Casey had addressed the Kik app in a video released on her Facebook page. "I really can't stress enough to you that you need to remove this app from your childrens' phones. Just in the last week, two incidents have come to my office in relation to the Kik app and children, or teens that are in our community,'' she said. "I'm begging you to take your child's phone and delete the Kik app,'' Casey said. "There's nothing good that can come from it and it can be very, very dangerous for your child." flomoklown.jpg "Flomo Klown" as depicted on Facebook (Flomo Klown via Facebook.com) Law enforcement has made at least nine arrests across Alabama in a little more than a week involving threats by people identifying themselves as clowns. But what do you charge a threatening "clown"? Most prosecutors have chosen to charge the "clowns" with making terroristic threats. Seven, including two adults and five juveniles, face felony charges of making a terrorist threat. One juvenile faces a child in need of supervision charge. And the other, also a juvenile, faces a misdemeanor harassing communications charge from an incident in Rainbow City. "We wanted to make an example and crack down on clown-related activity in our city," said Rainbow City Police Chief Jonathon Horton. Many other police departments and sheriff's offices around the state have investigated complaints of clowns making threats on social media or jumping out an scaring someone. But investigations have either not identified suspects or are being chalked up to copycat pranks from incidents involving clowns reportedly seen in woods in North Carolina and South Caroline several weeks ago. In the Rainbow City case, a 14-year-old juvenile was charged with misdemeanor harassing communications following a social media post that hinted at a visit to Rainbow Middle School by a clown. Police tracked down the juvenile within one and a half hours, Horton said. Horton said Thursday that the juvenile, who was a student in another neighboring school system, wasn't charged with making a terrorist threat because the social media post didn't really interrupt school. There was no soft- or hard-lockdown of the school, he said. Rainbow City Police tried to make a terrorist threat charge from the incident but it didn't quite meet the standard for that, Horton said. But they wanted to charge the juvenile with something so they went with the misdemeanor charge to make a point, he said. Horton said the harassing communication charge is being added to other unrelated charges the juvenile was already facing. Also among the arrests statewide were two in Calhoun County. One is a 17-year-old male from Alexandria identified on social media as "Koko the Klown" who was charged with "child in need of supervision." The other one is a 16-year-old juvenile from Pleasant Valley charged with making a terroristic threat related to threats made by "Billy the Klown" to "shoot up" Saks Middle School. Randy Moeller, assistant district attorney for Calhoun and Cleburne Counties, would not talk about the two cases or even confirm the existence of the cases. But Moeller said that certain elements be met before someone can be charged with making a terrorist threat. You have to intentionally or recklessly terrorize another person, cause the disruption of school activities, or cause the evacuation of a building, place of assembly, or facility of public transportation, according to the law. "We've had a disruption of school activities for sure," Moeller said of the reports around the area. Adults could face Class C felony charges for a terroristic threat if a crime of violence is threatened, Moeller said. "Juvenile courts have a wide leeway on how to deal with juvenile offenders," he said. If you think it's a prank and you terrorize someone it could be considered reckless, even if you think it's just a harmless prank, Moeller said. In Escambia County the sheriff's department arrested a 22-year-old woman and two juveniles in connection with a 'Flomo Klown' incident Sept. 15. Makayla Smith, of Flomaton, was arrested and is being held on $200,000 bond on a charge of making a terroristic threat against a specific student at a local school. Two juveniles also face terroristic threat charges. The charge is related to information the Flomaton Police Department received that was believed to be credible threats through a Facebook post regarding students at Flomaton High School. The school was put on lock down for several hours as 30 law enforcement officials made a sweep of the campus looking for any possible threats. After an investigation the social media account was identified as "FLOMO KLOWN" and "Shoota Cllown." Mike Lambert, Chief Deputy of the Escambia County Sheriff's Department, said Friday that other terroristic threat charges could be added against Smith and the two juveniles if the investigation uncovers more victims. Lambert said that in his opinion the quick arrests of Smith and the two juveniles is a reason why "clown" reports have gone down. The original complaint was made to the Flomaton Police Department at 7 a.m. on Sept. 15, Lambert said. The Facebook post included a statement directed to a specific student that stated "I'll just kill you at school," he said. Facebook, at the request of Escambia County law enforcement took the Facebook account for FLOMO KLOWN at 2:30 p.m. that afternoon, Lambert said. But within three hours it had been created again and re-appeared on Facebook, he said. Facebook refused to take the second one down because it did not meet their criteria for removal, such as not including threats, Lambert said. Time restraints with identifying the owner of the original Facebook page through the different media carriers frustrated investigators, Lambertsaid. But Smith and the two juveniles had been identified and arrested by midday Friday. Not Charged Two juveniles also were identified in Troy related to a social media "clown" threat. But ultimately the two were not charged, according to troymessenger.com. The juveniles posted a Facebook video Sept. 18 under the account of "ClappyAndslappy DaClown." The two wore clown costumes and masks, wielded a knife and talked for nearly five minutes about "coming for you in Troy, Alabama.," according to the Troy Messenger story. Bruce Matthews, with the Pike County District Attorney's office, explained to the Troy Messenger why no charges were filed against the two juveniles. "The criminal law is very specific on the elements of the charge. In order for it to be a terrorist threat, the threat has to be made to a school, a building or some functioning location that would disrupt services," Matthews told the Troy Messenger. "To be a threat against anybody, it has to be a threat against somebody in particular. I had a discussion with the chief and there was no discernable threat to any individual. "Everything appears that it was a misguided prank with very, very bad timing. It was a horrendously erroneous prank," Matthews told the Troy Messenger. U.S. Space & Rocket Center U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville. (File photo) Many of Alabama's top museums and attractions are free Saturday to celebrate Smithsonian magazine's annual Smithsonian Museum Day Live! Included are the state's top attraction, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the USS Battleship ALABAMA Memorial Park in Mobile. Passes are available for free at Smithsonian.com/museumday. You must present either a printed pass or have it on your mobile device. A pass is good for admission for two people. Click here to see the full list of museums participating in Museum Day and open for free in Alabama Saturday. Also Saturday, the rocket center will host a panel on "NASA and the Long Civil Rights Movement." The panel discussion with current and retired NASA employees will be followed by a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of African American History and Culture. The panel discussion takes place in the Davidson Center for Space Exploration's National Geographic Theater at 1 p.m. The museum itself is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. A Jackson police officer wasn't shot by an unknown black man as she claimed on Sept. 13, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Sherry Hall, a recent hire at the Jackson Police Department, said she was shot once in the abdomen while wearing protective gear on duty. Authorities launched a manhunt for the shooter. On Friday, GBI charged Hall with making false statements, tampering with evidence, interference with government property and violation of oath of office. According to the GBI, Hall made up the story of her shooting, and no shooter was ever at large. Hall called over her radio at around 12:08 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13 that she had been shot, GBI said. Several law enforcement officers from the Jackson Police Department and the Butts County Sheriff's Office immediately responded to assist in the officer down call. In three separate interviews, Hall claimed she was shot when she approached an argumentative black man. Hall said she didn't engage her in-car video and audio recording equipment. GBI digital forensic investigators were able to obtain video and audio evidence from the hard drive of Hall's police unit and discovered inconsistencies in the officer's statements, witness statements and other evidence, according to the state law enforcement agency. Through the course of the investigation, GBI agents learned Hall was in possession of an additional departmental handgun issued to her on July 1. The weapon was located in Hall's residence. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the evidence led investigators to believe Hall shot herself, but GBI stopped short of saying those words. Hall was placed in a "private facility, of her own volition" on Friday, GBI said. She will be arrested and booked into the Butts County Sheriff's Office Detention Center following her release. Jackson is about 50 miles south of Atlanta. University of Mississippi Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter denounced the racially inflammatory comments made on Facebook by a student after about 100 students protested Friday. Ole Miss senior Jordan Samson wrote this to his Facebook page this week: "I have a tree with room enough for all of them, if you want to settle this Old West Style." The lynching remark was made in response to a video of the protests in Charlotte, N.C., following the officer-involved shooting of Keith L. Scott, a black man. The comment began receiving attention after New York Daily News writer Shaun King shared a screenshot of the Facebook post on Thursday. Student newspaper The Daily Mississippian reported about 100 students occupied the main administration building on the Ole Miss campus for about five hours on Friday "In light of our country's history, that comment can only be seen as racist, offensive and hurtful, especially to members of our African American community," Vitter said in a statement. Vitter's censure of the racially charged Facebook post came after the student protest. Students were angered the chancellor's first remarks on the social media post didn't directly mention Samson or the recent Facebook post. University NAACP President Tysianna Marino called for Ole Miss leadership to reprimand Samson for the comment and to condemn the violence incited in the post, the Daily Mississippian reported. Vitter met with student leadership on Friday and released a second statement that evening. "This afternoon I learned that a number of students had gathered at the Lyceum to express their concerns about a recent social media post and our response to it," Vitter said in a Friday evening statement. "Because I have an open door policy, I invited some of the student leaders to meet with me and other university leaders. The students helped me more fully understand the impact on them of national events and this particular social media post. They expressed great pain, sadness, and concern for their own safety. "To be clear, we condemn the recent social media post by one of our students that referenced lynching," he wrote. Unions, taxes, death penalty on readers' minds FILE - A Tuesday, June 23, 2015 file photo shows a carving depicting confederates Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis, in Stone Mountain, Ga. The "Confederate Memorial Carving" in a state park outside of Atlanta is once again stirring controversy, as Georgia officials try to decide what, if anything, to do about a huge sculpture that memorializes three of the South's Civil War heroes but causes offense to blacks and others. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File) (John Bazemore) Roy Faulkner, the man responsible for completing Stone Mountain, Georgia's now controversial Confederate memorial carvings, died on Friday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution confirmed. Faulkner was 84. His cause of death wasn't immediately released. A native of Porterdale in Newton County, Ga., Faulkner joined the Stone Mountain carving project in January 1964, according to the AJC report. This was more than 40 years after work on the carving began. The Stone Mountain carving depicts three Confederate figures during the Civil War: Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis. It is the largest bas-relief sculpture in the world. A welder by trade, Faulkner was initially hired to build an elevator to help workers move up and down the face of the mountain. He came up with the idea for carvers to use a shorter torch powered by kerosene, oxygen and fire. Even though he wasn't an artist, Faulkner knew how to carve and eventually took over as chief carver. And, Stone Mountain was the only piece of artwork that Faulkner ever attempted. According to the AJC, Faulkner spent nearly nine years working to complete the sculpture, which was finished in 1970. "I always keep in mind that I am carving the largest piece of sculpture anyone ever attempted, a memorial that will stand through eternity," Faulkner told Willard Neal, a reporter for what was then The Atlanta Constitution, in 1970. "You could hardly ask for greater satisfaction than that." The Stone Mountain Memorial Association issued this statement to the AJC: "The completion of the carving on Stone Mountain in 1970 can be attributed mainly to the talents and challenging work of Roy Faulkner. While Faulkner was not a trained sculptor or artist, his contribution cannot be overstated in completing the carving which is the largest piece of artwork of its kind in the world." Tropical Storm Karl gave Bermuda a glancing blow on Saturday morning and was moving away from the island. Forecasters still anticipated it strengthening into a hurricane over the next few hours. Another tropical wave in the eastern Atlantic could become a tropical depression next week and is on a path that could lead it into the Caribbean. And Lisa, written off for dead, unexpectedly strengthened back to a tropical storm. Tropical Storm Karl was the main story on Saturday morning. As of 10 a.m. CDT, the center of Karl was located about 125 miles east-northeast of Bermuda, according to the National Hurricane Center. Karl had made the anticipated turn to the northeast and was moving away from Bermuda at 18 mph. The storm had winds of 65 mph, making it a strong tropical storm, and the hurricane center said it could strengthen some in the next 48 hours and become a hurricane by Sunday. Hurricane force winds begin at 74 mph. A hurricane watch and tropical storm warning were dropped for Bermuda. The Bermuda Weather Service said tropical storm force winds with higher gusts would be possible on the island through the morning, but conditions were already improving. Rough seas, dangerous surf and rip currents were also expected to persist today but should begin to improve this afternoon, the weather service said. The hurricane center said 3-5 inches of rain would be possible on Bermuda through today, and isolated tornadoes were also a threat as storm bands move across the island. In addition to Karl there was also another named storm, Lisa, which unexpectedly strengthened back to a tropical storm on Saturday morning. #Lisa is the 3rd consecutive Atlantic named storm to weaken to a tropical depression and then reintensify to a tropical storm. pic.twitter.com/2BsKbK2MxC Philip Klotzbach (@philklotzbach) September 24, 2016 As of the last advisory, at 10 a.m. CDT, Lisa was located about 1,130 miles northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands and was moving northwest at 10 mph. Lisa's winds increased to 40 mph, and forecasters expected the storm to lose its tropical characteristics and become a post-tropical storm by tonight. The hurricane center was also tracking another tropical wave that was southeast of the Cabo Verde Islands on Saturday morning. That wave will be something for the Caribbean to watch because it was expected to race across the Atlantic at 20-25 mph for the next several days and approach the Lesser Antilles next week. The hurricane center thinks it has a decent shot at development and put the chances of a tropical depression forming over five days at 50 percent. The hurricane center's long-range outlook shows the wave potentially moving into the southern Caribbean south of Puerto Rico, and that path has already inspired a lot of speculation. The Atlantic hurricane season runs through Nov. 30. A Vance man was killed early Saturday morning when the vehicle he was driving left the roadway and crashed into several trees. Arnulfo Tlehuactle-Mayahua, 31, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Alabama state troopers. He wasn't wearing a seat belt and was partially ejected from the vehicle. The crash occurred at around 1:30 a.m. on Ed Stephens Road, nine miles north of Tuscaloosa. Troopers say speed may have been a factor in the crash. Tlehuactle-Mayahua was driving a 2000 Dodge Neon at the time of the crash. Troopers continue to investigate. Lowes.JPG Lowe's Home Center in Daphne, Ala. Lowe's is challenging its property tax assessments throughout Alabama including the store at Ala. 181 and U.S. 90 in Daphne. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). Lowe's, I've got to hand it to you. If your store prices went as low as your newfangled tax strategy, you'd have to change your name to Wal-Mart. It's not like we shouldn't have seen something like this coming. Big box retailers have a long history outsmarting the taxman, starting even before you move into town. First, you tell city and county governments that you might set up show in their hometowns if the deal makes sense, which usually means millions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives. Take the store you recently built in Hartselle, for example. The city council there was so eager to have a Lowe's store that they gave up $1.2 million in sales taxes. All you had to do was pretend to be on the fence, and the locals did the rest. How's that go? "You can do it! We can help!" Sorry, that's the other guys' slogan. Regardless, they gave up $1.2 million, just for you. That's money that could have gone to schools or public safety, but instead, it helped pay for your new store. All under the assumption that at some point the city would have the opportunity to make that money back later. At least then, the city would have something. And something is better than nothing, right? It seemed that way at the time, but now it's not so clear. Once you planted your flag here, like a lot of big box retailers, you exploited loopholes in our tax laws and invented new schemes to avoid paying tax here. Already you've used tax avoidance schemes to dodge tens of millions in state income taxes. And now you want to dodge your property taxes, too. It isn't enough, I guess, that Alabama already has among the lowest property taxes in the country. You want to see how low Lowe's can go. I get it. I do. According to your filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, you have more than $20 billion of property in the United States. That must be a heck of a tax bill. Unless, suddenly, it wasn't worth $20 billion anymore. As AL.com reporter John Sharp wrote this week, you have invented a new tax dodge called the "dark store" strategy. The idea here is that you want to value your stores, for property tax purposes, at what their market potential would be if you backed up a truck and moved on down the road, leaving an ugly cinderblock shell behind. I admit you have an interesting argument. When chain retailers and restaurants abandon their stores, it's often hard to find a new tenant. Just look at how many old Kentucky Fried Chickens have turned into Chinese restaurants or payday lenders, or how many old Wal-Marts and K-marts (may they rest in peace) have turned into thrift stores. Only you want to pay taxes now on brand new stores like they were already one of those ugly empty cinderblock boxes. It's a neat trick, and a lot of other big box retailers are watching to see if it works. If you are successful, you might cut commercial property taxes in half or less, for them and many others. That's clever, and if you reported to your shareholders that the $20 billion in property you have nationwide suddenly dropped the same way you want the tax man to appraise your stores, I might be inclined to accept it. But let's face it. If you told your stockholders tomorrow that you sunk $10 million into a new store somewhere and then saw those improvements lose 85 percent of their value in just two or three years, you'd have problems. If you told them that happened everywhere, you'd have a shareholder revolt. This isn't just a tax avoidance scheme. It's a scam. One perpetrated on cities and towns, big and small, all over this country. You come in with the promise of being an economic engine and then make them pay for the gas. The courts might find your scheme to be legal, but it sure isn't neighborly. Sooner or later, it's going to backfire on you. Just listen to Baldwin County Commissioner Tucker Dorsey who told Sharp that if a Lowe's building isn't worth more than $1.5 million to you, it might be better suited for some other public purpose. "If they feel that a Lowe's is worth $1.5 million, we can offer that to them and transform the Lowe's into a school," he told Sharp. That might sound like a lot of tough talk, but it's coming from someone who holds the power of eminent domain. It's time, Lowe's, for you to be socially responsible. What does that mean? "At Lowe's, it means we're accountable - to customers, to our people and to the communities we serve. It means we aim to do what's right - to find a solution that works for all of us. It means we strive to be trustworthy - to do what we say and keep our commitments." That's what your CEO Robert Niblock wrote in his CEO letter last year, which he titled "What does it mean to be socially responsible?" In retrospect, however, he seems to have meant that as a question rather than a statement. So it turns out Lowe's is a greedy, sneaky, opportunistic corporation. Surprise! Let's build some ill-will together. They want their stores revalued in Alabama and elsewhere, to save a gazillion dollars in taxes by arguing - with an implied threat to cut and run - that their stores really aren't worth beans. They want them valued as if they were empty shells. And Alabama state and county officials are up in arms, worried about losing $1.5 million every year if the do-it-yourself weasels do it their way. If Lowe's succeeds at getting these tax breaks, everyone else will try to do the same, they say. Imagine. There'll be no end to the greed. The fearful are right, of course. It's unctuous and slick and it feels as if Lowe's took one of their many screwdrivers and stuck it to us. But if Alabamians are shocked at corporate greed and tax scamming big box bandits they need to take a hard look at themselves. The problem for Lowe's is that it didn't get in on the ground floor of flim-flammery. It didn't come in with its hand far enough out. It didn't get it when the getting was good. It's laughable to see Alabama so outraged over the loss of $1.5 million in annual revenue. Alabama has, according to a database maintained by the group Good Jobs First, offered $3.4 billion - that's billion with a "B" -- on fat corporate cheese. It handed a billion-plus to the company formerly known as ThyssenKrupp, and hundreds of millions to the big-Alabama-three carmakers. It gave almost $70 million in incentives to the more controversial Remington plant, and more than $11 million to troubled Austal, a client of former Gov. Bob Riley. Alabama was so happy to lure a promised 300 jobs to the Black Belt that it gave $200 million in incentives to China's aptly named GD Copper plant. But the resulting jobs have been met with disappointment, especially with incentives that come to $666,000 a job. It's not just Alabama, of course. Companies across the nation have made an art of pitting state against state and county against county. They demand infrastructure and tax breaks and sometimes cash up front, with no guarantee the companies won't bolt to the next highest bidder when the freebies run out. But Alabama is notorious. Good Jobs First, which tracks subsidies across the nation, wrote that "Alabama's remarkable tax giveaways have not brought the state broad prosperity; indeed, it still has one of the nation's highest poverty rates - and one of the most regressive tax structures. Despite its $586 million FY 2011 budget deficit, Alabama raised the borrowing limit on its Capital Improvement Trust Fund by $400 million to provide $195 million to ThyssenKrupp." And on it continues. Because every politician believes every job they claim - real or imagined - gets them re-elected. But the key to prosperity, to jobs, jobs, jobs, is not to rent them until corporate greed and shareholder expectations cause companies to seek a bigger patsy elsewhere. Studies have shown increasing high school graduation rates has the same economic impact as luring a ThyssenKrupp. And the best incentive for a business you'd want in your state is an educated workforce, a healthy and safe community, and a stable government. Alabama needs to invest in itself as if it were a business looking for a place to land. Lowe's is no different from the others. Just another company seeking an unfair advantage in a government-subsidized marketplace. That ain't capitalism. It's just greed. And foolishness. I recently read Lloyd Omdahls opinion column Cigarette tax initiated to bypass stubborn Legislature regarding Measure 4. Im writing to point out several important aspects of Measure 4 that he did not discuss. Its a poorly written measure and includes nine pages of fine print and dozens of complicated changes to North Dakota law. And only four sentences describe what types of programs the funds will actually be used for. In plain English, its a blank check for bureaucrats and political insiders to spend new tax money. This is not the North Dakota way of managing taxpayer money. The amount of money projected to be spent from this huge tax increase is not small change over $70 million a year to a variety of programs with virtually no accountability to taxpayers to make sure the funds are not wasted. Plus the spending would be locked in for seven years, changing only by a two-thirds vote of the Legislature, even if there is waste, fraud, or abuse. This measure is a 400 percent cigarette tax increase the largest such tax increase in North Dakota history and doubles the tax on other tobacco from 28 percent to 56 percent while adding a brand new e-vapor tax at the same rate. One of the reasons cited by supporters of the measure is that the funds will be used for tobacco prevention and cessation. But what supporters arent telling you is that North Dakota already ranks number one in the country for allocating money to tobacco prevention (spending $9.5 million per year). The states Tobacco Prevention and Control Committee currently has a $45 million surplus to spend on anti-tobacco programs. We simply dont need this new tax increase. Another argument supporters talk about is money for veterans services. While we all want to help our veterans, this measure is flawed and forces a small percentage of North Dakota taxpayers to foot the bill. We all benefit from the sacrifices of our veterans, and all of us should be paying our fair share to help them. For businesses in North Dakota, this measure creates a number of problems which supporters are not talking about either. As president of the North Dakota Petroleum Marketers Association, I know first-hand what this means for retail business owners in our state, since they are my members. But as a business owner and taxpayer myself, I am also concerned: nothing in Measure 4 stops bureaucrats from spending this new tax money outside of North Dakota. If we are going to raise over $70 million in new taxes on North Dakotans, the money should be spent here! Measure 4 will hurt local businesses and my fellow retailers. Our local stores carry a variety of products and the targeted tax in Measure 4 hits their businesses hard. Increasing the excise tax could hurt legitimate retailers by encouraging adult smokers to shift purchase of their products from sources where taxes are lower or can be avoided altogether, such as across state lines or to other outlets, such as the Internet or Native American reservations. This would negatively affect North Dakota's 1,190 retailers. This could result in lost jobs, higher unemployment, and some small businesses closing. One of the four lines on spending shows that just 5 percent of the new money raised is appropriated to the department of health for the support of chronic disease, detection, prevention, treatment, and control. That doesnt even specify tobacco, and neither does the spending of the other 95 percent. How can they claim that this is all about stopping smoking? It also uses declining revenue sources to support our veterans. Close to home, Wisconsin raised its cigarette tax by 75 cents in 2009 and its revenue projection fell short by 39 percent. This should come as no surprise. If adult consumers shift purchases to other states or Native American reservations, the state government will collect less revenue than expected from the tax increase. When you add it all up, this proposal is poorly written, is bad tax policy and simply isnt how we should manage tax money. On behalf of retailers, their families and their employees all across North Dakota, I ask you to vote no on Measure 4 this November. Yes, you can transfer your domain to any registrar or hosting company once you have purchased it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain. Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred. For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here. Jim O'Neill is visiting fellow at the think-tank Bruegel and Chairman of the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance. We often take it for granted that any infection we encounter can be cured, and that all-powerful modern medicine will do precisely what it is supposed to do. But imagine an alternative scenario: you are diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening infectious disease that was once treatable in weeks or months, but you are told that your treatment will take at least two years, and will involve months of daily injections and some 14,000 pills, with severe side effects. You are one of a lucky minority to have been diagnosed and treated at all, but your odds of beating the disease are still only 50-50. Most of us would not associate this scenario with modern medicine, but it is a tragic reality for the ranks of people 500,000 and growing suffering from multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis. Multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is what happens when drugs lose potency against new strains of previously treatable infections. TB is now the worlds deadliest infectious disease, killing well over one million people each year, and MDR-TB continues to spread in low and middle-income countries as healthcare providers struggle to combat it. MDR-TB imposes a massive burden on a countrys public health system and economy, and it is a harbinger of what rich and poor countries alike can expect as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) becomes more prevalent. Without concerted action, drug-resistant strains of other common infections such as Staphylococcus aureus or E coli will become ever more common, with seismic effects on global health and healthcare systems worldwide. As AMR renders established antibiotics ineffective, untreatable infections will make relatively routine procedures such as organ transplants or cancer chemotherapy increasingly risky. Left unchecked, drug-resistant infections could claim 10 million lives annually by 2050, with the cumulative cost in terms of global gross domestic product reaching $100 trillion. by The human and economic toll of rising AMR could easily spiral out of control: left unchecked, drug-resistant infections could claim 10 million lives annually by 2050, with the cumulative cost in terms of global gross domestic product reaching $100 trillion. Only by launching an effective response immediately can we avert a bleak future. Fortunately, at the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China, earlier this month, world leaders put AMR on the groups agenda for the first time, signalling that the international community recognises AMR as a real threat to global economic development and prosperity. The G20 also made the largest effort to date to replenish stalled pharmaceutical-development pipelines for new antibiotics which are urgently needed to replace drugs that have become ineffective and to roll out diagnostic tests enabling clinicians to use the drugs they have more effectively. OPINION: Medicine is just for those who can afford it This weeks United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York presented another opportunity for global leadership on AMR. There, too, the issue was on the agenda for the first time, with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and world leaders pledging to confront rising drug resistance at a major high-level meeting. To stymie AMR, the UN must build on the work that the G20 started. As the largest, most inclusive global-governance forum we have, the UN is the only institution that can marshal the resources and leadership commitments the problem demands. But the UN will be effective only if it takes some crucial steps. First, UN member states should begin to integrate their responses to AMR across all regulatory bodies and relevant sectors, including healthcare, agriculture and finance. The UN is uniquely positioned to help countries do this. It can convene the worlds leaders and foster international and inter-organisational cooperation on global economic and social problems; and it can tap the power of its own agencies to mobilise global resources against AMR. Second, to keep things on track, the UN should establish clear benchmarks, based on measurable outcomes, and it should commit to putting AMR back on the General Assemblys agenda every two years. This would create a framework for measuring global progress, while also sending a strong message that the UN is in it for the long haul, and that AMR should be a high priority for the next secretary-general. Finally, the UN should appoint a Special Envoy for AMR to ensure continued progress in the coming years. The envoy would need to be defined as a high-level position, authorised to work with countries and multilateral governance bodies to maintain momentum in the battle against AMR. We can now be cautiously optimistic that AMR is finally getting the global attention it deserves. But the worlds attention can be all too fleeting, as those of us who have lived through previous and current debates about infectious disease know all too well. If we fail to hold our leaders feet to the fire, the consequences for everyone could be deadly. Eric Goosby, a former US Global AIDS Coordinator, is the UN Special Envoy on Tuberculosis. Jim ONeill is visiting fellow at the think-tank Bruegel and Chairman of the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Copyright: Project Syndicate 2016 On Antimicrobial Resistance, Its Now or Never Rodrigo Duterte has described any criticism from the US as a violation of Philippine sovereignty. No, I will only bring [up] the [arbitration case] face-to-face [with China] because if you quarrel with them now, claim sovereignty, make noise here and there, they might not just even want to talk, declared Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte before his global diplomatic debut earlier this month. The Filipino leader reassured his Chinese counterparts that he wouldnt even mention Manilas landmark legal victory against China during latest discussions of the South China Sea disputes at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. This was no trivial matter. In its arbitration case, the Philippines managed to convince an international arbitral body, constituted under the aegis of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to nullify the bulk of Chinas historic rights claims over almost the entirety of the South China Sea, a global artery of trade. Many observers expected the Philippines and other like-minded states to leverage the legal award in order to push back against Chinese island-construction activities, para-military patrols and military exercises in the disputed waters. Yet, the Philippines newly minted leader, who has opted for bilateral negotiations with China, made it almost impossible for the United States and its allies to rally global pressure on China, at least in the meantime. If anything, recent weeks have witnessed unprecedented verbal tussles between the Philippines and the US, two traditional allies, amid disagreements on human rights issues. Meanwhile, much of Asia has demurred from any further diplomatic confrontation with Beijing, which seems to be back in the regional driving seat and relishing the US troubled alliances. Strategic dissonance Only a few months earlier, tens of millions of Filipinos were in ecstatic mode. Their country had just scored a moral victory at The Hague, when an arbitration body affirmed the Philippines sovereign rights in the South China Sea and censured Chinese aggressive manoeuvres and mind-boggling island-construction in contested areas. The Permanent Court of Arbitration also made it clear that Chinas notorious nine-dashed line claim is inconsistent with prevailing international law. Washington hoped that the Philippines' arbitration case would provide a legal basis for deployment of greater diplomatic pressure as well as military assets to prevent Chinese domination of the world's most important waterway. by Some legal experts encouraged Manila to file additional arbitration cases, suing China for inflicting massive ecological damage ($177bn) within the Philippines 200 nautical miles Exclusive Economic Zone. Manila also had the option of calling upon major powers such as the US and Japan to conduct so-called freedom of navigation operations to challenge Chinas excessive maritime claims in the area. This way, the verdict from the court could be somehow enforced, even if an obstinate China refused to acknowledge its validity. The Philippines could also go on an international diplomatic offensive, rallying global opinion in favour a rule-based resolution of the disputes. OPINION: Dutertes game amid the spat with Obama If anything, it could also provide legal advice to other countries, which were contemplating a similar legal manoeuvre against China. The newly inaugurated Duterte administration, however, preferred to simply set aside the arbitration case in favour of re-opening communication channels with China. So it was left to a forlorn Obama to call for compliance with The Hague verdict during his participation at the ASEAN summit. The situation was so bizarre that one leading Filipino magistrate suggested that the US president should rather be named as the defender of Philippine rights in the South China Sea. Pivot in tatters Over the past few years, the Obama administration, under its pivot to Asia strategy, gradually mobilised the region against Chinese maritime assertiveness in the South China Sea. Washington hoped that the Philippines arbitration case would provide a legal basis for deployment of greater diplomatic pressure as well as military assets to prevent Chinese domination of the worlds most important waterway. Yet, this constrainment strategy was predicated on constant cooperation and coordination between the US and its regional allies, especially frontline states such as the Philippines and Japan. But as soon as it became clear that the Philippines itself was now unwilling to confront China over the South China Sea issue, however, almost all neighbouring countries shunned even mentioning the arbitration case at all. Almost single-handedly, Duterte undermined the US strategy against China. To the astonishment of almost everyone, all of a sudden Manila and Washington are now at loggerheads. OPINION: Obamas Asia legacy in peril The Obama administration has repeatedly criticised Manilas ongoing shock and awe campaign against drugs. In response, Duterte has embarked on a series of expletive-ridden tirades against Washington, including an impromptu speech at the East Asia Summit, where he singled out the US colonial era crimes against Filipinos. Duterte has described any criticism from the US as a violation of Philippine sovereignty. Most recently, Duterte has upped the ante by even threatening the expulsion of American Special Forces from the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. He has also called for cancellation of joint-patrolswith the US in the South China Sea, further complicating ongoing efforts at forging multilateral responses to Chinese assertiveness in the area. To assert Philippine independence from the US, the Filipino president has also openly suggested sourcing military hardware from Russia and China rather than the US. And these statements seem to be more than mere bluster. In recent days, senior Filipino defence officials and Russian arms exporters have been discussing potential military cooperation. It is also highly likely that Duterte will visit China in coming months, where he is expected to discuss possible areas of cooperation and how to peacefully manage the disputes in the South China Sea. All of a sudden, Beijing no longer looks like the villain, but instead a magnanimous neighbour, which is welcoming a new era of friendship with a smaller neighbour intent on asserting its independence from the US. Richard Javad Heydarian is a specialist in Asian geopolitical/economic affairs and author of Asias New Battlefield: US, China, and the Struggle for Western Pacific. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. The first national US museum devoted exclusively to African American history and culture has officially opened in Washington DC. US President Obama and his wife, first lady Michelle Obama, opened the new museum on the National Mall on Saturday by ringing a bell from a historic African American church with help from the Bonner family, the eldest of whom, Ruth Bonner, was the daughter of a man born a slave in Mississippi. The $540m Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is the only one of its kind in the country, exclusively dedicated to black American history. We are not a burden on America, or an object of shame and pity for America, Obama, the first black US president, said at the opening ceremony on Saturday. We are America. READ MORE: Museum sheds light on African American history He also said the museum will give people a better understanding of themselves by teaching them about others slaves, the poor, black activists, teachers. A clear-eyed view of history can make us uncomfortable. It will shake us out of familiar narratives. It is precisely because of that discomfort that we learn and grow and harness our collective power to make this nation more perfect. Thats the American story that this museum tells. One of suffering and delight. One of fear but also of hope, Obama said. The bell from one of the oldest black churches in America rings in the official opening of @NMAAHC! #APeoplesJourney https://t.co/0je8MHEH7G White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) September 24, 2016 The push for the museum began in 1915 with African American civil war veterans looking for a way to commemorate Americas black experience. Former President George W Bush signed the law authorising the construction in 2003. Bush also spoke at the opening ceremony and said the museum will inspire the nation to go further and get there faster on its journey towards justice. Bush said a great nation does not hide from its history, it faces its flaws and corrects them. Former President Bill Clinton, Vice President Joe Biden and Georgia Congressman John Lewis, who cosponsored legislation authorising the museum, were present at the ceremony. REPORTERS NOTEBOOK: When a museum becomes human Even though only 3,000 artefacts were available for viewing on the opening day, a total of 37,000 objects were collected for the museum, mostly through personal donations. The artefacts are grouped in 12 inaugural exhibits organised into three sections: history, community and culture. Highlights include the dress Rosa Parks was sewing before she was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus, abolitionist Harriet Tubmans hymn book, a $600 bill of sale for a teenage girl called Polly, and the coffin of Emmett Till, a teenager whose brutal murder in Mississippi in 1955 mobilised the Civil Rights Movement. Assailants hit a police checkpoint with gunfire and detonate a truck packed with explosives in Tikrit. At least 11 people have been killed in Iraq after attackers hit a police checkpoint and then detonated a car bomb at the entrance to the city of Tikrit. Iraqi police and military officials said on Saturday that there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack on the city, which is 150km north of Baghdad. Tikrit was retaken from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant ISIL also known as ISIS in April 2015. The attack came days after Iraqi forces recaptured the town of Shirqat, 100km north of Tikrit, from ISIL in preparation for a move on the northern city of Mosul later this year. Iraq: Security forces recapture Shirqat from ISIL One of Saturdays attackers was killed at the checkpoint after shooting dead four police officers at around 5am local time (0200 GMT), according to police and sources from Salahuddin Operations Command, which is responsible for security in the area. Two other assailants managed to drive about 7km to the city limits before detonating the explosives in their pick-up truck, killing eight people and wounding 23, sources told Reuters news agency. WASHINGTON -- A bill meant to promote tourism in Native American communities is on President Barack Obamas desk. The Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act, NATIVE Act for short, moved to Obamas desk last week and is awaiting his signature to become law. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., said she expects the president will sign the bill soon. Tourism is a big part of our economy, she said. We want to make sure that people understand that there is an opportunity for tourism among the Plains Indians. The act requires U.S. Department of Commerce and Department of the Interior, along with federal agencies involved in travel or tourism, to update management plans and tourism initiatives to include Native American tribes, as well as tribal and Native Hawaiian organizations. That includes identifying programs that support tourism infrastructure in Native American communities, developing visitor portals and assets that showcase Native American diversity, sharing local Native American heritage through bilingual signage and improving access to transportation programs to promote tourism and trade in Native American communities. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill by voice vote Sept. 12 after the Senate unanimously passed the bill April 25. The way to help Native American communities grow in population and create economic opportunities is to promote tourism, Heitkamp said, adding the bill also will help tribes retain their culture. This would really be an opportunity to talk about what cultural resources you need to enhance (communities) to attract that level of tourism, she said. The bill does not have a financial note attached to it, meaning agencies would use the resources it has to accomplish the acts goal. Its uncertain how many jobs or how much revenue the bill will generate. Heitkamp said Congress can add funds later if needed, but she is looking forward to the effects of the bill, adding Congress will hold the agencies accountable. We know that tourism can be a huge wealth creator, she said. Obviously, we are very interested in making sure that the resources that are spent on tourism dont all get spent in Disneyland but can get spent on making sure that this part of our history is told, American history is told, and that this cultural resource is respected and protected and advanced in a way that will benefit the tribes. Leftist group declares end to more than five decades of civil war that has killed more than 250,000 people. Colombias FARC rebel group has voted unanimously to approve a peace deal with the government, declaring an end to the five-decade war as it prepares to transition into a new political party. After four years of negotiations in Havana, the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia reached a final peace accord last month that will end a war that has left a quarter-of-a-million people dead. Peace is the most beautiful of victories, rebel leader Rodrigo Londono, who uses the nom de guerre Timochenko, told a crowd of hundreds of FARC fighters on Friday at the close of the groups congress on the southern Yari Plains. We yearn that no Colombians will ever again have to take up arms to make their voices heard and their demands felt, as has been required of us, Timochenko said to cheers and applause. As part of the agreement, FARC will continue to push for social change as a political party, receiving 10 unelected seats in congress until 2026. FARCs leaders have been coy on policy details but are expected to morph the group into a party rooted in Marxist ideals. Another congress to officially found the party will be held no later than May 2017, FARC commander Ivan Marquez said at the ceremony. Two hundred delegates from FARC units around the country gathered at the Yari site, five hours by rutted road from the nearest provincial town, to review the accord and discuss re-organisation in peacetime. We inform the country and the government and the governments and people of the world that the rebel delegates of the congress have given unanimous backing to the final accord, Marquez said. Colombias long road to peace The peace accord is due to be signed on Monday by President Juan Manuel Santos and Timochenko. Colombians will vote on the deal in an October 2 plebiscite, the final go-ahead for rebels to demobilise. Polls show the accord will easily pass. But Arlene Tickner from the University Del Rosario told Al Jazeera the first question is whether Colombians will vote in favour of the deal. The expectation is that it will pass, but there is huge opposition being led by two ex-presidents It is quite a profound agreement in terms of the types social, economic, and political changes it proposes, and I think there are certain sectors of the population mostly conservative sectors who are fearful of what this means for their interests. The congress, the first ever open to media, marks the groups final meeting as a guerrilla army. Colombias FARC apologises for past kidnappings Previous congresses, to decide battle strategy, were sometimes held via internet because of military offensives that prevented leaders from meeting. Although both leadership and rank-and-file fighters say they will prioritise political activism as civilians, the group has so far not provided examples of specific policies. Our initial platform is the implementation of the Havana accords, Pastor Alape, a member of the FARCs secretariat, told Reuters news agency at the congress. Our political proposals will have to come from the suggestions of our base. We started our political efforts clandestinely and now we aspire, legally, to open our initiatives, together with all sectors of society, to concretely cultivate the political space we are given, Alape said. The five-point peace accord covers agricultural reform, an end to the illegal drugs trade, victims reparations, FARC political participation and demobilisation. One mid-level rebel fighter said the group wants to decentralise Colombias government, including halving the size of congress, in a bid to combat corruption and ensure communities have control over distribution of royalties from oil and mining projects. Thousands march in Helsinki, and other cities, after a fatal assault on a man who protested against a Neo-nazi group. Tens of thousands of people, including the Finnish prime minister and a former president, have taken to the streets of several cities across Finland to demonstrate against racism and violence in the country. Saturdays marches under the banner Enough is enough were staged in response to the fatal assault on a 28-year-old man earlier this month in the capital Helsinki who had protested against a neo-Nazi group, according to Finnish broadcaster YLE. https://twitter.com/a0an0/status/779652918823755776 The man died on September 16 of his injuries, almost a week after he was involved in an altercation with members of the Finnish Resistance Movement. The man was kicked and hit his head on the ground after reportedly spitting in front of members of the neo-Nazi group. READ MORE: Finland far-right groups attack refugees A 26-year-old man, who police said was an active member of the neo-Nazi group, was on Wednesday remanded in custody on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter. Leading politicians, including Prime Minister Juha Sipila, condemned the incident, amid calls to ban racist organisations. I'm truly moved by the amazing turnout and atmosphere at the #antiracism and #antfascism demonstration in my beautiful #Helsinki pic.twitter.com/hQuypO2XAd Yonatan Kelib (@yonatankelib) September 24, 2016 Police in Helsinki estimated that 15,000 people joined Saturdays march to Senate Square. The rally concluded with short speeches by, among others, former president Tarja Halonen, music and a moment of silence for the deceased 28-year-old. Two anti-immigration protesters were arrested at two other locations in Helsinki, police said. READ MORE: Finland court rules against sending refugee to Hungary Sipila, the prime minister, attended an anti-racist protest on Saturday in the city of Kuopio. He said the government would soon announce new measures concerning extremist groups, YLE reported. Anti-racist events were also staged without incident in Tampere, Joensuu and Jyvaskyla. French President Francois Hollande has confirmed plans to close the Calais refugee camp in northern France, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for Europe to secure deals with third countries to assist in the return of migrants. Hollande said on Saturday that he hopes authorities can relocate as many as 9,000 refugees from the Calais camp, known as the Jungle, to reception centres across France in the coming weeks. Speaking during a visit to one of Frances 164 reception centres in the city of Tours, Hollande said conditions in the Calais camp are not acceptable especially for those who fled war to get there. Hollande, who is to visit Calais on Monday, insisted that we cannot have such camps in France. He said his country must show it is capable of being dignified, humane and responsible. READ MORE: UK slated over planned anti-refugee wall in Calais The reception centres will hold 40-50 people for up to four months while authorities study their cases, Hollande said. People who do not seek asylum will be deported, he added. Half of the Calais camp was dismantled in March but its population has since doubled. Hollande previously promised to shut down the camp by the end of the year, but did not give a firm timeline. The plan to relocate the refugees to towns across France has prompted vehement protests from many local conservative and far-right politicians, who say they fear the consequences of having refugees in their towns. Hollande indirectly criticised that resistance and called for more solidarity, noting that neighbouring Germany had taken in one million people, compared with the 9,000 that will be relocated from Calais. Separately, Merkel on Saturday called for Europe to secure deals with third countries to send back migrants who do not qualify for asylum. Speaking after talks in Vienna with leaders of countries along the so-called Balkan refugee trail into Europe, the German chancellor said the continent must stop illegal immigration while living up to our humanitarian responsibilities. To that end, it is necessary to get agreements with third countries, especially in Africa but also Pakistan and Afghanistan. .. so that it becomes clear that those with no right to stay in Europe can go back to their home countries, she told reporters. READ MORE: Inside the Bavarian refugee hotel Last year, hundreds of thousands of people, many fleeing the Syrian war, trekked from Greece through the western Balkans to northern Europe, in the continents biggest refugee crisis since 1945. In March, the European Union struck a deal with Turkey, home to more than three million refugees, under which Ankara promised to halt the flow into Europe in return for billions in aid. The difficulties of making it to the Balkans, especially after the EUs deal with Turkey, is thought to be prompting increasing numbers to takes to boats and attempt to cross treacherous waters from Libya or Egypt to Italy. More than 300,000 refugees have crossed the Mediterranean so far this year, the UN said on Tuesday. Around 3,500 have perished in the attempt. On Friday more than 160 drowned off Egypt. OPINION: Hungary should be kicked out of the EU Speaking also after the Vienna meeting, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that the EU should set up a giant refugee city on the Libyan coast and process asylum claims from refugees arriving from Africa there, and with the help of a new Libyan government. Without giving many details, Orban said the EUs external borders should be under total control including the Mediterranean border, in which Libya is instrumental. Orban, who has been scathing about Merkels open-door policy and has called immigration poison, has refused to take in a single refugee under the EU relocation scheme. Hungary has been widely criticised for its way of handling the flow of refugees to Europe. In July, Human Rights Watch accused Hungarian police and soldiers of severely beaten refugees and migrants before sending them back across the border to Serbia. In its report, the rights group also said that Hungary was failing to comply with international standards regarding asylum-seekers. Opposition candidate Jean Ping had alleged fraud and appealed against Bongos victory in the August election. Gabons constitutional court has upheld President Ali Bongos re-election victory, rejecting an appeal by rival Jean Ping who had called for a recount over widespread allegations of fraud. The decision, read late at night in an almost empty court chamber, raised the prospect of a repeat of the violence that erupted with the announcement earlier this month of Bongos narrow victory over Ping in the August 27 poll. Six died in riots that caused major damage in the capital, Libreville, and elsewhere in the country of some 1.8 million people. The court cancelled results from 21 polling stations in Libreville over irregularities but at the televised public hearing, the court said Bongo had taken 50.66 percent of the vote against 47.24 percent for Ping. Bongos family has ruled the central African oil producer for nearly a half century. In a speech immediately after the court ruling, Bongo renewed a call for an open political dialogue to bring his allies and opponents together to work together in the countrys best interest. When we come out of an election and families are having to mourn their dead, it means weve betrayed democracy, he told a crowd of supporters, who minutes later erupted into a rendition of Gabons national anthem. There has been little indication that Ping, who has claimed he won the poll, is ready to enter talks with the government. Al Jazeeras Nicolas Haque, reporting from Libreville, said most people were still unaware of the ruling since it came late in the night. The ruling was delivered around 1am so most people are asleep and dont know Ali Bongo has been confirmed as their next president, he said. But its also interesting to note that the judge, despite confirming Bongo as the winner, said there were irregularities in voting counts in both camps, suggesting that both cheated during the election. In his petition to the court, Ping alleged fraud in Haut-Ogooue province, where Bongo won 95 percent on a turnout of 99.9 percent. A European Union elections observer mission stated that it had uncovered anomalies in the provinces results. The court refused to accept copies of vote tally sheets provided as evidence by Ping, many of which it said were illegible. Pings legal team was absent from the courtroom as the ruling was announced. Security stepped up At the Libreville residence of the opposition leader a former African Union Commission chairman about a dozen of his supporters sat beside a swimming pool, watching in silence as a judge read the courts decision live on television. The government had stepped up security in Libreville in the days leading up to the court ruling, deploying extra police and soldiers on the streets in an effort to head off trouble. The streets of Libreville were empty before the ruling, with residents fearing a new bout of bloodshed. Officers in riot gear had begun fanning out through the city on Thursday, and by Friday morning, long queues could be seen outside banks and cash machines. Everyone is panicking, everyone is afraid, said Jean Rodrigue Boukoumou, a teacher who like many others was waiting to withdraw his money to stock up on food. Gabons opposition leader Jean Ping has rejected a ruling by the Constitutional Court that upheld the victory of President Ali Bongo in Augusts presidential election, which was mired by claims of voter fraud. Ping, who maintains he won the election, said on Saturday that the court had demonstrated bias in its unjust decision to validate Bongos narrow victory, which he also branded a miscarriage of justice. I will not retreat. [As] president, clearly elected by the Gabonese people, I remain at your side to defend your vote and your sovereignty, Ping told his supporters, according to AFP news agency. Referring to a contentious election seven years ago that first brought Bongo to power, Ping said: We will ensure the choice of the Gabonese people is respected. 2016 will not be 2009, Reuters news agency reported. Announcing its decision in the early hours of Saturday morning, the Constitutional Court also partially changed the results of the close vote, awarding Bongo more votes in his victory over Ping. Bongo took 50.66 percent of the vote against 47.24 percent for Ping, the court ruled, putting the incumbent presidents margin of winning votes at 11,000 up from the fewer than 6,000 votes initially announced after the August 27 election day. Concern has been growing that the court ruling in favour of Bongo, 57, could prompt more of the unrest the country witnessed in the immediate aftermath of the election. The European Union, which sent a monitoring mission to Gabon during the election, said in a statement on Saturday that its observers had been granted very limited access to the court review process, and that the Gabonese people had a legitimate right to question the integrity of the electoral process. The confidence of the Gabonese people about the integrity of the electoral process can, legitimately, be questioned, the European Commission (EC) said in a statement, and called on all sides to exercise restraint and refrain from violence, while adding that the security of policymakers must be guaranteed. Action by the African Union and the UN will be important to help the Gabonese in the search for a peaceful and just solution For future elections, the need for electoral reform is necessary, or a way to make them more credible, the EC statement added. Bongo sought to ease tensions on Saturday, calling for dialogue and promising a new inclusive government. I look forward to inviting members of all political parties to join our efforts and come with us to the cabinet, Bongo told Reuters in an interview. He said the new government would most likely include leading opposition figures and he did not rule out the possibility of reserving a place for Ping. However, he rejected the idea of international mediation. We dont need international mediation. Among Gabonese, we know how to talk to each other, he said. Post-election clashes between supporters of Ping and security forces resulted in the torching of the national assembly building in the capital Libreville and the deaths of dozens, according to the opposition. Authorities disputed that claim, saying that just a handful of people had died in the violence and more than 1,000 were arrested. In his legal challenge to the election result that was rejected by the court, Ping had demanded a vote recount in the Bongo familys Haut-Ogooue stronghold. Bongo won more than 95 percent of votes there on a declared turnout of more than 99 percent of registered voters. EU election observers said there had been a clear anomaly in the results from the province. Bongo and his ministers countered that claim, saying that there were election irregularities in opposition strongholds that required investigation. Young man killed by Indian army ignites fresh protests in northern Kashmir as uprising in valley continues. A 19-year-old man was killed by Indian government forces after they fired shots at protesters demanding freedom from Indian rule in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir. A police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity to the Associated Press news agency, said the man died in the northwestern Sopore area on Friday after soldiers opened fire on demonstrators who allegedly attacked an army convoy with stones. However, residents and family members said the man, Waseem Ahmad, was working in his orchard along with other people when soldiers fired. There was no protest or stone pelting. Everything was quiet. He was killed without a reason. It was a cold blooded murder. by Abdul Rasheed Lone, victim's cousin Ahmads cousin, Abdul Rasheed Lone, confirmed there was no protest taking place when troops fired the shots. Waseem was going along with a few boys towards his paddy fields to help his uncle when four army vehicles drove up and soldiers opened fire on him, Lone told Al Jazeera There was no protest or stone pelting. Everything was quiet. He was killed without a reason. It was a cold-blooded murder. A local doctor told the Greater Kashmir newspaper that a round went through Ahmads back and hit his heart. The bullet had damaged his heart and caused instant death, said Dr Masood, of District Hospital Baramulla, in north Kashmir. Protesters took to the streets of the village after news of Ahmads death, chanting We want freedom and clashed with government forces. Fighting also erupted in at least three other places and at least 30 people were reported injured. A strict curfew was also imposed on Old Srinagar and south Kashmir. Government forces also blocked worshippers from Friday prayers at large mosques for the 11th consecutive week. READ MORE: Kashmir A story of defiance amid grief Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the two countries gained independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the territory in its entirety. Rebel groups have for decades fought Indian soldiers currently numbering about 500,000 demanding independence for the region or its merger with Pakistan. Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have died in the fighting. The latest protests were sparked by the killing of a popular rebel commander, Burhan Wani, in July. The demonstrations, and a sweeping security crackdown, have all but paralysed life in Indian-administered Kashmir. More than 80 civilians have been killed and thousands wounded, including hundreds blinded and maimed mostly by government forces firing live rounds and shotgun pellets at rock-throwing protesters. Two policemen have also been killed and hundreds of government forces hurt in the clashes. Meawhile, tensions continue to rise between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue following the Uri attack in the Indian-administered Kashmir that left 17 Indian soldiers dead. No group claimed responsbility but India has blamed Pakistan and armed groups based in the country for the incident. Pakistans Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif denied his countrys involvement and labeled Indias handling of the uprising in Kashmir as barbarism at the UN General Assembly in New York last week. Sharif also called for called for an independent inquiry and a UN fact-finding mission into rights violations in Kashmir as well as for renewed talks with India. Human rights violations Earlier this month, India refused to allow Kashmiri human rights activist Khurram Parvaz to travel to Geneva to participate in a session of the UN Human Rights Council. Parvez was subsequently arrested for inciting violence, a move that outraged human rights activists worldwide. At least 50 international scholars, including Noam Chomsky and Arundhati Roy, have signed a petition calling for his release. Additional reporting by Rifat Fareed in Srinagar Mafraq, Jordan Hussein al-Azziz makes his way through rows of slouching peach trees on a vast stretch of farmland in northern Jordan. Their homeland in sight, Azziz and his fellow Syrian labourers remain just outside, braving the late summer heat to tend to Jordanian fields at peak harvest. Black plastic crates are filled with fruit and stacked into neat towers before being carried off by pick-up trucks. Ive worked on farms since I arrived three years ago, Azziz told Al Jazeera. I never went to the camps. I came straight here [to the governorate of Mafraq]. The 20-year-old Aleppo native had been doing this work illegally since 2013, before receiving a job permit through Jordans Ministry of Labour in early July. Though the countrys labour market has been open to Syrians for more than six months, many refugees have only recently started to come forward. EXPLAINER: Syrias civil war We feared the UNHCR [United Nations refugee agency] would cut the food coupons if we got permits, Azziz told Al Jazeera, referring to the World Food Programmes initiative to deliver food compensation to families in need. It used to be hard for me to work because I was constantly threatened by the authorities, but everything has become more comfortable. We stopped being afraid. Obtaining his work permit was a simple process, Azziz said: He had bloodwork done through the Jordanian Ministry of Health, and then brought the results and a photo ID to his employer, who subsequently obtained the permit from the Ministry of Labour. I really like this work, especially now that what I do is legal, Azziz said. The formal workforce has been almost completely closed to Syrians since they began fleeing to Jordan after the outbreak of Syrias civil war in 2011. In February, however, Jordan responded to international pressure over the refugee flow into Europe by pledging to create jobs for 200,000 Syrians in the coming years. In exchange, the European Union drafted a new trade agreement with Jordan later signed in July allowing tariff-free export to Europe of several Jordanian-made products, ranging from garments and chemicals to Dead Sea beauty products. For employers to benefit from the deal, Syrians would have to comprise 15 percent of their workforce within two years, and 25 percent after three. Meanwhile, a government decree, announced in April, offered a three-month exemption for Syrians from the standard work permit costs of 300 to 500 Jordanian dinars ($420 to $700), leaving only a nominal processing fee of 40 dinars ($56). The policy was extended for another three months in July and will be revisited again next month yet the path ahead remains fraught with challenges. Unemployment in the resource-scant kingdom reached nearly 15 percent during the first quarter of 2016, the highest rate since 2008, according to labour ministry data. Competing for work are some 650,000 Syrian refugees registered with UNHCR in Jordan, part of more than 1.2 million Syrian nationals in the country. Most of us have made the choice to stay in the region, and the work programme allowed us to trust our decision. Having the work permit allows me to stay in Jordan as I wanted to, close to Syria. by Hussein al-Azziz, Syrian worker In the past year, more than 26,000 Syrians have obtained work permits, most during the last three months up from a labour ministry estimate showing fewer than 5,000 people working legally before Jordans labour market opening in February. Maha Kattaa, the Jordan-based coordinator for the International Labour Organization (ILO)s response to the Syrian refugee crisis, said the uptick was an encouraging sign for the ILO and partner aid agencies leading initiatives to integrate refugees into the countrys formal workforce. Kattaa, who has spoken with Syrians in farms across the country, learned that in the beginning, many were concerned about obtaining a work permit because it required them to register with a single employer, meaning they could be left jobless at the end of that farms harvest season. When she relayed these concerns to local farming cooperatives, their leaders proposed alternatives. We asked farm owners to make work permits for Syrians in the cooperatives name so that the worker is eligible for all the farms within this 36-member coalition, Mansour al-Fawaz, one of the cooperatives directors, told Al Jazeera. Since this change was enacted in April, nearly 1,000 permits have been handed out each month in Mafraq, up from just 10 in April. READ MORE: Syrian refugees suffering on Jordans border The February deal announced by Amman aimed to attract foreign investors to Jordan while employing tens of thousands of Syrians, deterring them from leaving for Europe. But despite encouraging signs in the farming industry, leaders of other sectors say the response from Syrians has been underwhelming. In April, the ILO and its partner organisation, Better Work Jordan, teamed up with UNHCR to launch a programme to integrate an initial 2,000 Syrians into the countrys textile industry. Yet, less than 50 have entered the sector so far, said programme manager Tareq Abu Qaoud. Today, I only have four Syrians working in my factory, Sanal Kumar, the owner Jordans largest garment producer, Classic Apparel, told Al Jazeera. The UNHCR told me they had 2,000 people ready to go, but nobody turned up [to apply for work]. Garment operations like Classic Apparel are currently required to have Jordanians make up a quarter of their workforce, with migrants accounting for the rest. Abu Qaoud said it is unclear how Syrians will fit into this structure. Syrians will not be a replacement for migrant workers, and the government is not interested in Syrians replacing Jordanians in this sector, he told Al Jazeera, noting that factory owners agreed to pay Syrians 190 dinars ($270), the same wage given to Jordanian workers, but plans stalled when conservative Syrian women were unwilling to enter the factory alone, or were restricted by children. No one has much money, Reem al-Ahmad, a 19-year-old Syrian employee at one of Classic Apparels factories, told Al Jazeera. But its not normal for a Syrian woman to go out of her home and do this kind of work. Ahmad, who fled Syria with her family in 2013, said that before joining Classic Apparels 16,000-worker operation, she found informal jobs close to home or relied on male family members a prospect that became more difficult after her father made the journey to Europe. I need to make money for myself, and I also have to help relatives, she said with a shrug. I need to do it for them. READ MORE: Syrian refugees stuck on Jordan border have nothing Syrians currently comprise some 11 percent of the countrys workforce, according to labour ministry figures up from the two percent estimated before the February announcement. But UNHCR spokesperson Aoife McDonnell noted that introducing Syrians into the formal workforce is not a fix-all. Regularising refugee work has been an extremely important step, but expanding the number of job opportunities available to Jordanians and Syrians should also be a priority, McDonnell told Al Jazeera. Back at the farm, Azziz tossed a plump peach between his gloved hands. Since last year, he said, two groups of friends headed for Europe have called and asked him to join them. Both times, he refused. Most of us have made the choice to stay in the region, and the work programme allowed us to trust our decision, he said. Having the work permit allows me to stay in Jordan as I wanted to, close to Syria. Veteran socialist wins second mandate to run opposition party after bitter, summer-long battle within the Labour Party. Liverpool, UK Jeremy Corbyn has been re-elected leader of Britains opposition Labour Party after fending off a challenge from fellow MP Owen Smith. The veteran left-wing MP was announced the winner of the leadership race at the partys annual conference in the northern English city of Liverpool on Saturday, winning almost 62 percent of the 500,000-plus votes cast by Labour members and supporters. Corbyns win, by 313,209 to 193,229 votes, cements his authority over the Labour Party. Following the announcement of the results, Corbyn said he would now work on uniting the party and pressuring the government on creating a fairer economic order. I will do everything I can to repay the trust and support [of voters], to bring our party together and to make it an engine of progress for our people, Corbyn said. This is the time for all of us to focus every ounce of energy on exposing the Tories [Conservative Party] and the damage they are doing to our country. Corbyn was elected last year to lead Labour, which governed the UK between 1997 and 2010 but has lost two successive general elections. We have much more in common than that which divides us. As far as Im concerned, lets wipe that slate clean from today and get on with the work weve got to do as a party together. More than 750 Corbyn supporters celebrated his win at an event held by the pro-Corbyn Momentum organisation in Liverpool. Tom Skinner, a Corbyn supporter who joined the Labour Party at the start of the year, said the re-election was a message to those in the party who had spent months trying to oust him. After nine months of sabotage by some but not all of his MPs, Corbyns support in the party has increased, Skinner told Al Jazeera, adding that he expected the Labour leader to reverse the decline in polls. I feel that Corbyn, despite some discouraging polls and doubts in marginal constituencies, is our best hope. We were catching up, approaching neck-and-neck with the Tories back in March before the inner-party turmoil intensified. With the kind of movement no were building now, we can do it again and pull ahead. [We can be] the biggest party anywhere in Western Europe. READ MORE: The roots of Jeremy Corbyns support The win comes amid deep divisions within the Labour Party over the political direction it is taking and doubts over Corbyns electability. While Corbyn has the support of most rank-and-file Labour members, he has struggled to retain support of his MPs. The latest YouGov poll puts Labour at 30 percent nine points behind the ruling Conservative party. Natasha Josette, a Momentum activist, said the result was proof Labour could garner grassroots support. Hes got four years left until the general election and I think he is definitely electable, Josette said. We know decade after decade that Corbyn has been strong in his politics, and hes been steadfast. Thats something that hell take into a general election. To his detractors, the shortfall is due to a lack of appeal in his centre-left policies but his supporters argue disunity within the party is pushing the electorate away. Following Junes Brexit vote, Corbyns opponents within the party launched a leadership challenge where he was accused of not campaigning hard enough to prevent the vote to leave the bloc. UNICEF says nearly two million people without water as jets continue pounding Aleppo and Syrian army advances. Warplanes mounted a new wave of heavy air strikes on rebel-held areas of Aleppo on Saturday pressing on with a major offensive by the Russian-backed Syrian military to take back the entire city. The attacks came as a United Nations official said nearly two million people in Aleppo are without running water as security conditions deteriorate. AL JAZEERAS AMR HALABI IN ALEPPO CITY: Syrian and Russian air raids are ongoing against Aleppo city. Air strikes and all different kinds of rockets have hit different districts, leaving dozens of people injured and killed. Russian planes dropped cluster bombs on a market in al-Sakhor district, killing a whole family and destroying the market, a bakery and residential building. The civil defence teams say 15 people have been killed and dozens injured so far, and theyre still looking for people under the rubble. The field hospitals, which were already full, are trying as hard as possible to treat the injured. Im at a hospital and can see that theyre not fully equipped to treat all the people whove been hurt. Syrian government forces, meanwhile, seized ground from rebels north of Aleppo. The capture of the Handarat camp marked the first major ground advance by the government in an offensive that rebels say has unleashed unprecedented firepower against their half of the city. The captured area elevated ground overlooking one of the main roads into Aleppo had been in rebel hands for years. Handarat has fallen, an official with one of the main Aleppo rebel groups told Reuters. An army statement confirming the advance said large numbers of terrorists had been killed. Residents of rebel-held eastern Aleppo say it has been subjected to the most ferocious bombardment of the war since the government declared a new offensive that has killed dozens of people in the last three days. Sources told Al Jazeera on Saturday that at least 91 people had been killed in the past 24 hours. The raids are intense and continuous, Rami Abdulrahman, the director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based organisation that reports on the war, said. Scores killed as Syrian jets pound rebel-held Aleppo Rebels said air strikes on Saturday morning hit at least four areas of the opposition-held east, home to more than 250,000 people. The attack has drawn on ordinance more destructive than anything previously used against the area, and many buildings have been entirely destroyed, residents say. They are using weapons that appear to be specifically for [bringing down] buildings, said a senior official in an Aleppo-based rebel faction, the Levant Front. Most of the victims are under the rubble because more than half the civil defence has been forced out of service. The Syrian army said it is targeting rebel positions in the city and denied hitting civilians. Water sources cut Hanaa Singer, UNICEF representative in Syria, said intense attacks damaged the Bab al-Nairab water pumping station that supplies some 250,000 people in rebel-held eastern parts of the contested city with water. Singer said in retaliation, the Suleiman al-Halabi pumping station, also located in the rebel-held east, was switched off cutting water to 1.5 million people in government-held western parts of the city. Depriving children of water puts them at risk of catastrophic outbreaks of water-borne diseases, Singer warned in her statement released late Friday. Residents say more than 150 air strikes have been launched, crushing emergency service structures, as well as underground shelters used by civilians to hide from bombings. At least 30 neighbourhoods were targeted, Al Jazeeras Amr al-Halabi said, reporting from Aleppo. He added the relentless strikes hampered the ability of rescue workers to help civilians caught up in the fighting. Three centres for a volunteer rescue group known as the White Helmets were also hit. We have four centres in eastern Aleppo. The aircraft targeted three centres. Two of them are now out of service, Abdul Rahman al-Hassani of the White Helmets told Al Jazeera. He added that five vehicles belonging to the group were destroyed, including an ambulance. Our centres were the direct target [of the strikes], Hassani said. We feel the earth trembling and shaking under our feet. Aleppo is burning, said Bahaa al-Halabi, an activist from a besieged rebel-held district. The Syrian military, which is backed by the Russian air force, said it was starting a new operation against the rebel-held east. The Syrian defence ministry has called on residents to move to government-held areas, adding there would be no detention, or inquiry to any citizen who reached the checkpoints that divide the city. WATCH: How critical is the city of Aleppo in Syrias war? A high-ranking military source confirmed the intense bombardment was in preparation for a ground assault. We have begun reconnaissance, aerial and artillery bombardment, he told the AFP news agency, adding the strikes could go on for days before the ground operation starts. Aleppo was once Syrias commercial and industrial hub but has been ravaged by fighting and roughly divided between government control in the west and rebel control in the east since mid-2012. The announcement of the new Syrian army offensive on Thursday came as international powers failed to revive a collapsed ceasefire during diplomatic talks in New York. The Syrian war has seen more than 400,000 people killed and almost 11 million Syrians half the countrys prewar population displaced . A look at Chinas ghost towns and the bad debt they represent. Plus, why the work gender gap is still prevalent. The Chinese economic slowdown comes as no surprise to global analysts. As outlooks are adjusted accordingly, it isnt the countrys profit margins that are causing concern, but the decades of spending on unfinished building projects that have created a deluge of bad debt for China. Taxpayers point the finger of blame at the government and the lack of social change and development evaluations before money is squandered on the hundreds of unfinished projects, or rotten buildings as they have come to be known. Even with the general jitters, this kind of transmission can have an impact on all economies that export to China. by Sebastien Marlier, Economist Intelligence Unit According to the Chinese government, China currently has two billion square metres of empty residential space enough to house 100 million people. Economists echo the peoples sentiments with the reason for a potential crash placed squarely on the governments shoulders with its insatiable desire for hyper growth. As a result, a debt crisis is a serious possibility. But many continue to deny Chinas seemingly inevitable forecast, including the Chinese premier, Li Keqiang. We are fully confident of Chinas long-term economic growth. As long as we continue to reform and open up, Chinas economy will not suffer a hard landing, said Keqiang. Critics, however, remain doubtful the endless sea of deserted developments standing as evidence of their fears for the future. The economy is not getting better; I see that now. The factories are no longer thriving, and salaries have not gone up with our nations development. It has all changed. How did it come to this? Its terrible, laments former factory worker Meng Shi Jun. With China adamant that there are no real risks in its future, what can the global economy expect? Will there be ongoing, or even increasing, debt and banking problems? China is, by some measures, the biggest economy in the world, and it is very well integrated into the global supply chain anything that happens in China will have repercussions globally, says Sebastien Marlier of the Economist Intelligence Unit. The gender pay gap non-myth Gender equality is a UN sustainable development goal that continues to appear out of reach as the gender pay gap continues to exist in workplaces around the world. The World Economic Forum has forecast that it will be another 118 years before pay parity is achieved. Higher positions of management are also part of this inequality scale. The London Stock Exchange currently only affords seven out of every 100 women a managerial position. Also in the UK, the pay gap stands at 18 percent between men and women, deepening even further after childbirth. We speak to Robert Joyce from the Institute for Fiscal Studies about what is causing the gap and what can be done to speed up measures of equality. We also speak with Catherine Hill, director of research at the American Association of University Women about the deniers of gender pay inequality. BISMARCK The company building the Dakota Access Pipeline has purchased 20 parcels of land totaling more than 7,000 acres north of where protesters of the four-state oil pipeline are encamped on federally owned land and where the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe claims sacred sites were disturbed by pipeline construction, property records show. Dakota Access LLC bought the land from cattle ranchers David and Brenda Meyer of nearby Flasher for an undisclosed sum, according to the warranty deed filed with the Morton County Recorders Office. The companys Bismarck attorney, Lawrence Bender, signed the deed on Wednesday, Sept. 21. Dakota Access spokeswoman Vicki Anderson Granado confirmed Friday that Dakota Access purchased land in North Dakota but declined to provide any further details on the transaction. The Meyers did not returned phone messages left at their listed number Friday and earlier this week. The land they sold includes a segment of the pipeline route west of Highway 1806 where the tribe claims burials and other sacred sites were disturbed by bulldozers on Sept. 3, leading to a violent clash between angry protesters and the pipelines private security personnel armed with guard dogs and pepper spray. Both sides claimed injuries. The deed does not list the acreage sold, but legal descriptions of the parcels show it involved more than 7,000 acres, including the historic Cannonball Ranch located at the confluence of the Cannonball and Missouri rivers about 35 miles south of Mandan in south-central North Dakota. Bill Edwards, an investment firm owner in Aberdeen, S.D., said he sold most of the 7,400-acre ranch to the Meyers in two separate transactions in 2010 and 2014 totaling about 7,300 acres. Property and state tax records show the Meyers paid more than $5 million for 7,125 of those acres, all of which were part of this weeks sale to Dakota Access LLC. The ranch was started in the 1860s by R.M. Johnson, one of the first white settlers along the Cannonball River, and was the first ranch ever inducted into the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, in 1999, according to the halls website. Edwards said he owned it for about 10 years and still has a small piece of it. I had my fun with it. It was a fantastic ranch, and I was just onto other things, he said. Edwards said he doesnt know whether pipeline opponents have been on his land and is not really concerned about it. KX News of Bismarck reported that David Meyer said he sold the ranch to Dakota Access for liability reasons and that there were too many people on his property all the time and that it was a beautiful ranch but he just wanted out. LaDonna Brave Bull Allard, a tribal historian and founder of the Sacred Stone Camp, said the land switching hands from the Meyers to Dakota Access changes nothing for pipeline opponents. Theyre still our sites. Still our burials. Still our sacred sites. Nothings changed. They are the foreign people, she said, saying her first concern is whats going to happen to the buffalo that graze on the land. Dakota Access did not disclose the purchase price with the state tax office because the company claimed that the deed transfer falls under an exemption in state law for sales in which there is an indicated change of use by the new owners. The Meyers previously signed easements with Dakota Access LLC in February 2015 allowing for a 50-foot-wide pipeline easement and a 100-foot-wide construction easement, records show. David Meyer also has a grazing lease on 429 acres owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers just north of the Cannonball River where thousands of pipeline opponents have been camping for several weeks. Meyer is paying $4,865 annually for the lease, which began April 1, 2014, and expires Dec. 31, 2018, according to the Corps. The Corps granted a special use permit Sept. 16 to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to allow a lawful free-speech demonstration to continue on Corps land south of the Cannonball River but didnt act on the permit application for the north land because of the existing grazing lease. A joint task force led by the Morton County Sheriffs Department and involving the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation and federal Bureau of Indian Affairs is investigating the Sept. 3 incident, including whether Dakota Access destroyed any sacred sites. A team of archaeologists with the state archaeologist surveyed the area this week at the request of the task force, county spokeswoman Donnell Preskey said. The findings are still under review by the investigative team. State archaeologist Paul Picha referred questions to Preskey, who said she could not comment on who participated in the survey or whether it included representatives from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. In a post on his personal Facebook page, the tribes historic preservation officer, Jon Eagle Sr., wrote Wednesday that he was asked to attend a meeting that day at the Morton County sheriffs office with the BCI and Picha, only to find out that they were at the site conducting an investigation without us. A spokesperson for the tribe said tribal officials werent available for comment Friday, and Eagle and tribal Chairman Dave Archambault II did not return messages. Dakota Access has said in court filings that it didnt destroy any evidence or important historical sites when it bulldozed the route west of Highway 1806 on Sept. 3, the day after the tribe filed a document in court saying former tribal preservation officer Tim Mentz had identified burials, stone rings, effigies and other features within or along the pipeline right of way. Dakota Access questioned the veracity of Mentzs declaration, claiming that six of the sites he identified were directly over the existing Northern Border natural gas pipeline that parallels the Dakota Access route and could not possibly be original artifacts. The company also disputed that Mentz had permission from Meyer to survey the land. Far from being invited onto the construction site by the owner, Mentz trespassed on it and then notified the owner of his presence and asked forgiveness rather than consent. That forgiveness was granted until the owner understood Mentzs agenda and it was withdrawn, the company stated in a court filing. As the refugee crisis in Europe continues to divide the continent, world leaders gather in New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly, and the issue of refugees tops the agenda. Among European nations, there is a lack of consensus on how to proceed. One of the countries that very early decided to go its own way was Hungary, and it has been severely criticised for its approach. The right to a safe life is a fundamental human right, but picking a country where you would like to live in is not among fundamental human rights. So that's why I raised the issue whether you can consider anyone as a refugee, who crosses at least four peaceful countries, like Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, and then arrives to Hungary, because these people who seek for asylum had already at least four opportunities before Hungary to ask for asylum ... It's not only us, it's also the migrants as well who have to respect international and national regulations. by Peter Szijjarto, Hungary's foreign minister Last year, Hungary built a fence along its border with Serbia and is deporting anyone caught climbing over it. Our responsibility is to protect the border, and there are certain regulations in Europe which you have to comply with if you want to enter the territory of a country. And since there is no war in Serbia, there is no reason to let people come in into the territory of Hungary, breaking the European and national regulations, Peter Szijjarto, the Hungarian foreign minister, explains. The Hungarian government has refused to sign on to EUs programme forcing member states to accept refugee quotas something that has led to an open split. It became evident when the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, greeted the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban with the words: Hello, dictator. And Juncker has not been the only one to express his disagreement. Jean Asselbourn, Luxembourgs foreign affairs minister, recently said that anyone who, like Hungary, builds fences against refugees from war or who violates press freedom and judicial independence should be excluded temporarily or if necessary, forever from the EU. He argued it is the only way to preserve the cohesion and values of the European Union. But despite criticism, Szijjarto stands tall for the countrys refugee policy and challenges what he calls Europes political correctness. The greatest challenge that the EU has had to face since its foundation is the challenge of the refugees coming into Europe One of the root causes for this challenge, and the fact that we have not been successful to overcome [it], is that we are not brave enough when we have been speaking about this we have used a politically correct language, a very hypocritic one says Szijjarto. In fact, Hungary will hold a referendum in early October as the government seeks public support for its programme, and it is also teaming up with other Eastern European countries to push for serious policy changes in the EU bringing the bloc to an existential crisis. So what is next for the European Union? Whats Hungary approach? And what impact will Hungarys referendum have on the EU? Peter Szijjarto, Hungarys foreign minister, talks to Al Jazeera about Hungarys controversial border policy, the referendum, and his perspective on the refugee crisis. You can talk to Al Jazeera too. Join our Twitter conversation as we talk to world leaders and alternative voices shaping our times. You can also share your views and keep up to date with our latest interviews on Facebook. Randolph Bancorp in Stoughton, Mass., is undergoing a historic transformation. Earlier this summer, the parent of Randolph Savings Bank one of New England's oldest thrifts raised $57 million in an initial public offering and closed on its first bank acquisition in its history. Flush with cash from that IPO, the $456 million-asset thrift has also begun investing heavily in new technologies that Chief Executive Jim McDonough said will help it better compete for retail and small-business customers. It recently began offering person-to-person payments and will soon roll out new and improved online banking and electronic payment services for its small-business customers, as well as other new digital services. "We are committed to investing in the services and distribution channels that today's customers are demanding to make their financial lives easier," said Jim McDonough, who took over as CEO in 2013. "If community banks wants to compete today they have to be committed to being quick adopters of technology." The 165-year-old Randolph completed its conversion from a mutual thrift to a stock-owned company on July 1, and it used a chunk of the proceeds from the stock sale to acquire the $73 million-asset First Eastern Bancshares in Andover, Mass. In that deal, which also closed July 1, Randolph inherited a seventh branch its first in downtown Boston as well as seven mortgage loan offices in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. "A key component of our growth strategy has been investment in our residential lending business," McDonough said when the deal was announced last year. But investment in digital has also been one of McDonough's top priorities. These investments include both upgrading existing technology as well as adding new digital services it previously didn't offer. An example of the former includes its adoption of the Fiserv Mobiliti mobile banking platform, which allowed the bank to offer new features such as mobile P-to-P payments and a "quick balance" function that enables customers to see an account balance without logging in. It is also investing in a multichannel digital marketing solution, e-statements for business customers, and a service called Card Valet, which allows customers to manage their debit and credit cards such as setting spending limits from their mobile device. Christine Barry, a senior analyst with Aite Group, said small banks, despite their limited budgets, can't afford to skimp on technology. "Customers care about the sophistication of a bank's online or mobile capabilities," she said. "And even if a customer doesn't use mobile banking, they expect their bank to offer it." While many community banks have been content to offer technology that is just "good enough," Barry said "there's a growing minority of community banks" like Randolph "that are looking to provide the best digital services. Small-business banking should be a particular area of focus as competition from online lenders intensifies. "Especially for community banks, it's important to focus on small-business customers," she said. Community banks "tend to know these customers better and have relationships with them, so if they can offer the digital services small businesses want, they can really deepen that relationship. And when you consider all the fee-based revenue banks have lost on the consumer side, it makes sense for banks to focus on serving these customers." McDonough said as Randolph looks to grow, it will seek to strike a balance between providing cutting-edge digital services and maintaining the "human touch" that is a community bank's strength. "The personal touch comes in initially with the delivery of the services," he said." A customer doesn't have to fend for themselves as they learn a new technology, how to use it, and how to protect their privacy, because this is part of our conversations as customers try services for the first time. Then the next key is to ensure each customer can have an end-to-end experience, whether they use their phone, PC, or come into a branch. With an integrated experience we are able to see a customer's full relationship across multiple platforms." McDonough added that the bank "still has more work to do on bringing other facets of the changing definition of community into our products and services," such as finding better ways to integrate social media into its financial tools. "While we actively participate in multiple social communities with our customers we don't yet have a seamless way to bring that experience into our digital services," he said. Teri Carstensen, the president of bank solutions for Fiserv, said that the expectation now among consumers is that banks, no matter their size, will offer robust digital services. She cited a consumer survey conducted earlier this year by Fiserv in which 36% of respondents said they are using online banking more than they did a year ago, and 51% said they are using mobile banking more than they did a year ago. "This is the way people live today, and it's important for financial institutions to stay in step, especially as more providers enter the financial services landscape and competition grows," she said. Arkansas regulators have closed the $66.3 million-asset Allied Bank in Mulberry, the fifth institution to fail this year. The failed bank's operations, which include five branches, were sold to Today's Bank in Huntsville, Ark. The acquirer agreed to assume all of Allied's $64.7 million in deposits and will purchase essentially all of the failed bank's assets. The bank will reopen during normal business hours as Today's Bank. The failure will cost the Deposit Insurance Fund an estimated $6.9 million. Allied is the first Arkansas institution to fail since First Southern Bank in Batesville was closed in December 2010. Matt Rose, chief executive officer of the Berkshire Hathaway-owned Class I railway, said federal regulators should consider how the sharp decline in coal traffic is affecting the nations railways. Federal regulators should consider how the sharp decline in coal traffic is affecting the nations railroads, BNSF Railway CEO Matthew Rose said in Houston at the annual Intermodal Expo, which was sponsored by the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA). While the U.S. population has grown 30 percent since 1990 when IANA was formed, he said intermodal volumes have doubled, and at the same time, coal volumes are plunging. According to the Association of American Railroads, intermodal has grown from 27.3 percent of railcar loads in 1990 to 49 percent in 2015. In addition, coal loads have fallen from 29 percent of railcar loads in 1990 to 18.3 percent in 2015. At BNSF, coal accounted for $1.4 billion in revenues and 763,000 railcars in the first six months of 2016, or about 16 percent of overall revenues and traffic. This was down from $2.4 billion in revenues and 1.15 million railcars in the first six months of 2015, or 23 percent of overall revenues and traffic Rose said the U.S. Energy Information Administration is forecasting that in 2016, for the first time, more electricity will be generated by burning natural gas than coal in the U.S. The fact that coal is in a structural decline is important because revenues from all traffic over the years have provided stable returns that allow railroads to reinvest in and expand their networks to accommodate all growth, including intermodal traffic. A drop of the magnitude we have seen in coal has the potential to restrict reinvestment if not handled appropriately by our economic regulator, Rose said. He expressed concern about what he said were multiple, overlapping rulemakings before the Surface Transportation Board that he said began before the precipitous drop in coal. Rose said those rulemakings propose to change almost every element of the current economic regulation of railroads, which allow railroads to respond to markets real revenues and reinvest. The board must take the current economic climate into consideration as it finalizes rules or the consequences to our industry will be sizeable, he said. Comparing intermodal transportation to a relay race in which railroads are one member of a team along with ocean carriers, dock workers, trucking companies and freight owners, he said railroads have spent heavily on terminals and increased linehaul capacity to accommodate growing intermodal volumes. As examples, Rose pointed to BNSFs investment of $3 billion in its route connecting Southern California with the Midwest. It has steadily added double track since 1992. This summer, the railway completed the Pecos River bridge in Fort Sumner, N.M. The completion of that bridge means all but four miles of its 2,200 Southern Transcon corridor is double tracked, BNSF said. Along its northern corridor, the railway has spent $3.5 billion over the past couple of years, adding more than 1,000 miles of centralized traffic control, 139 miles of double track and 16 new sidings. He said BNSF is 16 percent faster, on average, than other Class 1 railroads. He also pointed to BNSFs investments at its intermodal hubs in Kansas City and Chicago, which have large amounts of adjacent warehousing. Rose said that truly fulfills the ultimate public policy vision of attaching warehousing right next to intermodal facilities, which reduces truck loads on our nations highways. Rose also said public policy can be a headwind or tailwind to railroads and intermodal growth. Taxes designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions could be a benefit to the intermodal industry but could be the death blow to the coal business of railroads. The decline in coal does have an upside for intermodal shippers BNSF is now able to use underused capacity in its network for intermodal service that would not have been possible in the past because of heavy coal traffic. BNSF this month started an intermodal service that connects Seattle and Portland, Ore. with Alliance, Texas. Rose said the service is two days faster than other intermodal options and has a transit time similar to that which can be achieved by a truck with a single driver. The current freight economy is in an energy depression, industrial recession and consumer is doing okay, he told his audience. There is no greater threat to intermodal growth than permitting delays or disapprovals for intermodal facilities, said Rose, noting BNSF is appealing a decision by a California court that blocked the companys plan to build a new, $500 million intermodal terminal about four miles from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Southern California is the second largest market for intermodal traffic in the country and that there is a clear need for more on-dock rail capacity with container volume expected to grow by 25 percent by 2020 at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and double by 2035, Rose said. He said the Southern California Intermodal Gateway was designed to remove billions of truck miles from the I-710 and other highways and would have included electric cranes and ultra-low emission locomotives. After eight years of study, an environmental impact review was approved by the Los Angeles Council, but seven lawsuits from the neighboring city of Long Beach and environmental groups challenged it. In March, a California state court judge voided the approval by the council. Preventing the facility from being built will affect not only BNSF abut everyone in this room Rose told the members of IANA. We are going to appeal if for nothing else, on behalf of transportation policy. It was a horrendous decision, Rose said. It will impact the ability to build anything by anybody in terms of transportation because it would force the cumulative impact of a facility to be looked at, not just a project as a sourcepoint. Rose said he believes that at some point, there will be intermodal rail service from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to the so-called Inland Empire where many warehouses and distribution facilities are located, but that BNSF does not believe the economics will work today. Americans will be watching the presidential debates closely not for policies or ideas, but for images and demeanor. This creates a clear opening for Donald Trump. Hillary has hidden behind flacks and party hacks and pandering and controlled media. Trump has behaved exactly the opposite way, speaking for himself, attacking party machines, and acting often unscripted. No one who watches the debates is really going to be interested in what Hillary says or does. Even her supporters can turn on the mute button when she is answering questions. In the last quarter-century, Hillary has never said anything new or original, and her strategy is to waddle behind the Obama presidency and hope no one pays much attention to her. Everyone who watches the debates is going to be interested in Trump. Is he going to say something outrageous? Is he going to somehow offend some group? Is he going to say something really dumb? Clearly Hillary hopes so, but dreaming that Trump is dumb or does not understand media or cannot learn is a brainless strategy. Trump has already learned how to command media attention while still doing really smart things like sharing the stage with Mexicos president and visiting disaster scenes and going to blighted black areas with Dr. Carson and, having supported police when they were clearly right, questioning what may be poor officer judgment in the Tulsa shooting. Trump also is a much nicer person than he has been portrayed by the leftist establishment media. People who actually know Trump like him, and when even your ex-wife has good things to say about you, that is saying quite a bit. Donald Trump, comfortable in front of the camera, can and ought to protect a pleasant and relaxed persona during the debates. He ought to recall that Ronald Reagan was smeared as an angry nut until Americans saw who he really was in the 1980 debates and came to really like who Reagan was as a person. Hillary, of course, is as nasty and dishonest and spoiled as any political figure in American political history. Not only is that image firmly fixed, but the image reflects reality. Her screeching voice, her arrogant indifference to others, her crude lust for power, and every other unappealing aspect of her nature, which is to say every aspect of her nature, ooze from every pore. Beyond all that, Hillary is clearly physically feeble, and if she has to sit down or if she wobbles on the stage or sweats like Nixon in 1960 or drinks too much water, then that will become the story of her appearance in the debates. Hillary is short, too. People judge leaders by height even if they pretend not to do so. Not only is the height difference between Trump and Hillary greater than between the major party presidential candidates in the last two hundred years, but Hillary, if elected, would be shorter than any president in more than two hundred years. Moreover, in the era of television presidential politics, every president elected except Jimmy Carter was about six feet tall. If Hillary was elected, she would be the fattest president since William Howard Taft, the shortest president since James Madison, and the second oldest president in American history. These very visible factors will quietly blend into the evaluation voters will make of her, whatever she says during the debates, especially as voters also try to figure out if she is really healthy or if she is lying about that, as she lies about almost everything. Trump, in contrast, exudes energy and health, and while he is even older than Hillary and while he is chubby, too, the way he carries himself bespeaks a different sort of person from Mrs. William Jefferson Clinton. What all this means is that Hillary enters the debate with a profound optics problem, an inalterable appearance of meanness and dishonesty, and she will rely, almost entirely, upon staying on her plump, wobbly feet, mouthing dreary cant and waiting for Trump to do something stupid. If he is smart (and he is smart), Trump will be confident, civil, strong, and clear...and if he does that, he will win. Recently, Jonah Goldberg and Hugh Hewitt debated how conservatives should respond to the rise of the so-called alternative right. The alternative right, is a disorganized movement centered on message boards, blogs, and social media. Based on their social media postings, blogs, and podcasts, it would be fair to call the alternative right a bigoted anti-Semitic movement. If your favorite podcast is The Daily Shoah, and your favorite blog calls itself The Daily Stormer, it is a safe bet that you belong to a bigoted and anti-Semitic movement. There exist, as with any movement, alt-right moderates and alt-right fellow travelers, but the core of the movement is racist, anti-Semitic, and generally vile. Those that dispute this characterization can look here for a fuller explanation. If the alt-right were simply confined to people like David Duke and Andrew Anglin, it would be easy for normal conservatives to distance themselves from it. Unfortunately, there exists what could be called a moderate alt-right, along with a larger universe of fellow travelers, sympathizers, and panderers. This broader universe of moderate alt-righters, sympathizers, and fellow travelers, has developed a fairly sophisticated critique of mainstream conservatism, a critique conservatives can ill afford to ignore. Probably, the best articulation of this critique comes from Jared Taylor's Open Letter to Cuckservatives. In order to give readers a full and accurate understanding of Taylor's views, I have quoted what I see to be the key passages of his letter. American conservatism can conserve nothing if it cannot conserve the nations founding stock. Ill put it bluntly: Nothing you love will survive without white people. Do you stand for limited government and a balanced budget? Count your black and Hispanic allies. Do you admire Thomas Jefferson? He was a slave-holder who will end up on the dung heap with the Confederate flag. Do you care about stable families and the rights of the unborn? Look up illegitimacy, divorce, and abortion rates for blacks and Hispanics. Do you cherish the stillness at dawn in Bryce Canyon? When the park service manages to get blacks and Hispanics to go camping they play boom-boxes until 1:00 a.m. Was Ronald Reagan your hero? He would not win a majority of todays electorate. Outreach doesnt work. You cant talk someone into loving what you love. Faith, patriotism, duty, and honor come from deeply cultural, religious, and ancestral sources you cant reach. You tell yourself that the things you love about America -- and I love them, too -- are rooted in certain principles. That is your greatest mistake. They are rooted in certain people. That is why Germans, Swedes, Irishmen, and Hungarians could come and contribute to the America you love. Do you really believe that a future Afro-Hispanic-Caribbean-Asiatic America will be anything like the America your ancestors built? Fundamentally, Taylor believes that the America we know and love can only be maintained by people of European descent Jared Taylor is fundamentally wrong. As I will discuss later, American culture and American institutions can survive non-white immigration, but he isn't totally off track, and in order to properly respond to Taylor conservatives have to acknowledge what he gets right. 1. America is a branch of Anglo-European civilization. Our constitution emerged from a particular tradition, it was not derived from pure reason. Veneration of the founding fathers and the constitution must be tempered with a recognition that the values embodied in that document are not universally held around the world. 2. The relationship of an American to his nation is not purely contractual. Nations are held together by a shared sense of identity and patriotism, not simply by a set of laws. 3. Large scale immigration makes it more difficult to maintain a common identity, because it results in Americans having less in common. 4. Multiculturalism aggravates these problems by emphasizing, encouraging and celebrating these differences. Diversity is nice, but it needs to be balanced by the things that allow us to maintain a common identity. Where Taylor goes wrong very wrong, in fact is in his unhealthy fixation on race. Taylor is correct that most of what we love about America was created by white people; he is wrong to believe that only white people can sustain American civilization. Interestingly, Taylors hypothesis has already ben tested. In 1959, Congress admitted to the union a state that was overwhelmingly non-white. Has that state transformed into a third-world hell hole? A dictatorship? No. By all measures Hawaii is doing pretty well. Hawaii's residents enjoy the eighth-highest median income of any state in the Union, according to 2014 figures. Meanwhile, West Virginia which is almost exclusively white has the second lowest median house hold income in the United States. If you believe the key to keeping America great is keeping America white, it's hard to explain why Hawaii is thriving and West Virginia is not. Non-Hispanic whites compose roughly 40% of New Mexico's population, with the rest being a mixture of Hispanics and American Indians. New Mexico isn't rich, (43rd in median income), but it isn't a third-world hell hole. A similar argument could be made for California, which has the third-highest median income. None of this obligates America to accept immigrants from anywhere -- this author tends to sympathize with the moderate restrictionist position as articulated by people like Mark Krikorian -- but we also have no reason to panic, and lose hope for the future. Which is the message one gets from Jared Taylor. The toxic combination of mass immigration and unbridled multiculturalism is bad for America, but it doesn't have to be fatal. A reduction in the raw numbers of immigrants along with an emphasis on a common American identity, will resolve many of our problems. If Anglo-American institution can survive on a pacific archipelago populated by Polynesians and East-Asians, they will survive the current wave of immigration. Here is what Will Rogers had to say about how mankind breaks down: There are three kinds of men. The very few who learn by reading. The several who learn by observation. The rest of them need to pee on the electric fence to find out for themselves. Let's hope Will was wrong. The fundamental difference between rank-and-file Democrats and Republicans is in their belief in government's role and potential. Imagine a "reasonable" Democrat. Let's call him "Bob." He believes that government is analogous to a mechanical pump. It sucks up resources from point A in the economy and delivers them to solve a problem at Point B. He selects political leaders by picking "engineers" who promise to keep the pump balanced to deliver the right amount of money to the right problem. The government pump also provides a time-saving service, making Bob's philanthropic choices for him and discharging his social responsibilities. It's very convenient. Anyone who objects to any service being delivered to any Democratic Party constituency must be very stingy, probably even racist. Now imagine a Republican we'll call "Jack." Like the framers of the Constitution, he sees government as a watchdog. Its role is to savage criminals who would do him or his family harm, whether they are domestic thieves or foreign despots. Jack knows that a vicious animal is necessary in a violent world, but it must be kept leashed and strong enough only to discourage the bad guys. If it becomes too strong, it will kill its masters. Jack sees that our government assumes increasing control over the lives of free Americans. As it regulates, requires, and forbids things it never did before, Jack says the country is fast becoming a tyranny. Reasonable Bob thinks Jack's a hysteric and a crackpot who's just afraid of change. Bob likes to see himself as a fearless and informed voice of reason. So Bob says in the most condescending voice possible, "Don't worry. Everything will turn out all right." Bob belongs to Will Rogers's third group. Either he's ignorant or he forgets the many hideously failed attempts to build his government pump. In America, fifty years of War on Poverty have produced only unemployment, "baby daddies," and anger at the haves from the have-nots. More sobering still, the Soviet Union, Communist China, Nazi Germany, and Communist Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge all promised to lift the lives of their underdog audience, whom they identify as peasants, the workers, or "lower classes." Instead, they ended starving and murdering tens of millions. We should all pale at Obama's similar promises to help his target audience, "working-class Americans," if only we let him seize more power. The model of government as a pump is hogwash; there is no feature on a mechanical pump analogous to the one in a too powerful government that operates gulags, concentration camps, re-education centers, or killing fields of the leftist governments of the 20th century or North Korea and Iran today. And 140 million victims in a century means it's not the laughably rare event Bob would like to believe it is. One of the common methods of leftist government mass murder was to have the victims dig a long trench. The victims then lined up at the edge, were shot, fell into the pit they had just dug, and were covered over. Imagine Bob and Jack standing at the edge of such a trench in their last moments. Jack turns to Bob and says, "Now will you believe me when I tell you they're evil?" Bob answers for the last time, "Don't worry. Everything will turn out all right." So, when should it have been obvious that Bob was the actual crackpot of the pair? What were the clues Bob missed telling him not to vote for the people who wanted to overfeed the beast and turn it loose? The big red flashing warning sign was called "scapegoating." M. Scott Peck* and history tell those of us in Will Rogers's first two groups that when a nation's population learns to scapegoat, human evil is on the prowl, and mass murder isn't far behind. Germany in 1932 was a cultured, civilized society. But when Hitler taught Germans to scapegoat Jews and other minorities for all their problems, he suddenly found enough willing German hands to help him exterminate 11 innocent million men, women, and children. Stalin scapegoated kulaks, tsarists, and Trotskyites and murdered 20 million. Pol Pot scapegoated city people, intellectuals, anyone with ties to the pre-revolutionary government, and ethnic Vietnamese, eventually murdering over a quarter of the population of Cambodia. Mao Tse-Tung turned the people's hatred towards landlords, intellectuals, "counter-revolutionaries," and hosts of others, murdering 60 million, give or take 10 million, by starvation, forced labor, and executions. We see scapegoating behavior being used to animate the political Left in America at an accelerating pace. Obama habitually scapegoats others for his screw-ups. Paraphrasing: "I didn't set a red line; the world set a red line." "I didn't see ISIS rising because the intelligence community failed." "Iraq's government and George W. Bush made me give away our Iraq victory." He scapegoats the Israelis for violence committed against them. He scapegoated George W. Bush, banks who wouldn't lend money, oil companies, lazy Americans, Japanese tsunamis, ATMs, and George W. Bush some more for the failure of his stimulus program for a year after he took office. Hillary's scapegoating is just as blatant. She scapegoated Monica Lewinsky and the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy for her husband's depravity. She scapegoated (and prosecuted) a filmmaker for her Benghazi debacle. This week she scapegoated Donald Trump for the violence of domestic Islamic terrorists that she and Obama promised and failed to defeat. Can Americans really be seduced into group evil and a mob mentality by corrupt politicians? Consider the man who explained the recent Milwaukee riots this way. "The rich people they got all this money, and they not tryin' to give us none." This man clearly refuses to take responsibility for his obvious shortcomings, preferring to scapegoat others. It's also clear that he didn't think up this scapegoat for his violence on his own. He learned from Democrats who talk about "the One Percent" and promise to strip and humble them for the sin of being affluent. Everywhere you look, there are people nursing grudges, and the Democratic Party is helping them sharpen their scapegoating skills. Of course, "common sense" gun control will also go a long way to making us helpless against them. What do you think, Bob? Was Will Rogers wrong, or do we have to learn about electric fences and mass graves for ourselves? Flattering yourself as the voice of calm and reason won't work after you find out too late that the symptoms of human evil were everywhere, and you chose not to know them. Today Will Rogers would probably say there are three kinds of men: the ones who recognize evil, the ones who never will, and the vast majority who will recognize it too late. * Dr. M. Scott Peck, People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil, Simon and Schuster, New York, 1983. Senator Ted Cruz announced he will vote for Donald Trump...but where is John Kasich? We need Cruz and Kasich to unify the party to defeat the Bubbas. Cruz has honored his pledge; it is time for Kasich to step up and honor his pledge by endorsing Trump. Trump responded in a gracious manner, thanking Cruz. Cruz's vote, while not a formal endorsement, is a practical endorsement that should convince some of the NeverTrumps to vote for Trump. The Republicans can win only if they are united to get the vote out, especially in the battleground states. There is talk that Trump may nominate Cruz to the Supreme Court. There is no question that Cruz is a brilliant attorney and constitutional scholar with conservative limited-government principles. Appointing Cruz to the Supreme Court would be a smart move for both Trump and Cruz. Cruz could accomplish more on the Court than in the Senate. Ohio is a key state that Trump must win. Kasich is a popular governor in Ohio, and as governor, he has control and influence over the state Republican apparatus that elected him governor. He knows the county chairmen and the fundraisers. Kasich took a pledge to endorse and vote for the Republican nominee; he has refused to do so. He will hurt his political future if he does not endorse Trump. Kasich's endorsement of Trump would boost Trump in Ohio to help him win. Kasich should endorse Trump now, before the first debate, and it would be a good follow up on Cruz's announcement to unify the Republican Party. The focus must be on defeating Hillary. Kasich may decide whether Hillary or Trump appoints judges to the Supreme Court. GRAND FORKS Each week at elementary schools in Grand Forks, the schools principals and staff lead the students in weekly all-school assemblies on the districts six pillars caring, citizenship, fairness, respect, responsibility and trustworthiness. Building those qualities starts young within Grand Forks Public Schools to ensure students understand the importance of diversity and inclusion. Public school districts in the region, including Grand Forks, are making more of an effort to raise awareness on issues related to diversity and inclusion by organizing educational events and working the topics into curriculum. This really has become embedded in the way we teach, said Terry Brenner, the director of curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development at Grand Forks Public Schools. Diversity education was put in the spotlight this week after a pair of racially charged social media posts attributed to UND students drew national media attention. Along with schoolwide assemblies, diversity and various other issues are taught in social studies classes as well as health classes throughout a student's time in the district, Brenner said. Those topics can include different parts of diversity, such as poverty, race and sexual orientation. Were not just talking about the color of somebodys skin, Brenner said. Were talking about people of all walks of life. The district has also done professional development for its teachers on working with English-language learners students. Devils Lake Public Schools have made an effort to reach out to its students who are Native American, said Scott Privratsky, the districts superintendent. Native American students make up about 30 percent of the districts population, Privratsky said, so the district has formed a Native American advisory committee made up of parents of Native American students. That group has monthly meetings and reports back to the school board twice a year to review the district's policy and to make sure they have an inclusive environment for all students, Privratsky said. We want to make sure we have a tie with the Native American community and good relations with all parents and students and provide the educational needs that may be different because of their culture, he said. The schools also offer cultural awareness days and diversity days during the school year, as well as have teachers do specific training on topics such as the LGBT community. Theres a lot that we do, and I hope we dont have to deal with anything like theyre dealing with at (the University of North Dakota), Privratsky said. Those social media posts are extremely disturbing, and you hope that we have become more accepting of other people. More than just tolerant, we want to be accepting of others views, too. The Grafton Public School District also plans programs and presentations throughout the school year that reinforce tolerance and diversity at the school, Grafton High School Principal Darren Albrecht said. That includes one day called Unity Day when the entire school comes together, wears one color and attends a presentation about tolerance and diversity in the schools gymnasium. Im proud and amazed at the tolerance that all of our kids show toward somebody who is a little bit different or comes from a different place, Albrecht said. The district educators try to teach about many issues of diversity and inclusion in the classroom through the novels they read and in social studies and history classes. Some of the best lessons students can learn are when they discuss current events issues, Albrecht said, by allowing students to debate or converse on those topics. The greatest teaching tool is the world today, he said. So a lot of this happens naturally. On Thursday, UND President Mark Kennedy vowed to improve the universitys education on diversity issues in light of offensive social media posts related to UND. One depicts two women and a man wearing UND apparel smiling in what appears to be a residence hall, captioned with Locked the black b**** out. The second image shows four people in blackface with the caption Black lives matter. The UND Police Department and the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities are in the process of investigating the two photos at UND, but it is unknown how long the investigation will last. Both photos were posted on Snapchat, a popular mobile app used to post videos and images, and went viral after Shaun King, a social justice reporter at the New York Daily News, tweeted the photos out to his more than 362,000 followers on Twitter. Over the years, I've seen many Mexicos. In the 1980s, I lived and worked in Mexico and saw an economy highly regulated and industries totally protected from foreign competition. For example, foreigners leaving Mexico found no problem selling all of their electronic appliances at garage sales. On Saturday mornings, Mexican middle-class couples would drive around looking for that American TV or stereo they couldn't buy at a local shop. I specifically recall selling my 7-year old stereo unit for about the same price that I paid for in the U.S. Mexicans wanted foreign appliances, from radios to washing machines and specially refrigerators. And they paid cash for everything! In the 1990s, Mexico agreed to NAFTA, and now everything is available down there. Garage sales are no longer a big deal because they can buy everything at Walmart or wherever. Since the 1990s, I've seen that NAFTA is a big political problem south of the border, too, as reported by Ioan Grillo: Nafta politics are as complex south of the border as they are in the north. Its advocates see it as a cornerstone of Mexicos opening to the world; its detractors, as a neoliberal tool of imperialist gringos. Some credit it or blame it for most of what has happened here over the last two decades, from the countrys moving to a multiparty democracy, to millions trekking to El Norte, to violent drug gangs ravaging border towns. With the United States economy 10 times the size of Mexicos, the effects of Nafta are far greater on this side of the river. It has physically reshaped Mexicos landscape, from its growing industrial cities to its emptying farming villages. It rocket-boosted trade between the countries, from $104 billion in 1994 to $583 billion last year, representing everything from sparkplugs to airplanes to Christmas trees. Thanks to Nafta, Mexico has become the biggest carmaker in Latin America, overtaking Brazil in 2014. But despite these gains, the Mexican economy is sluggish compared with that of developing countries such as India and China. It has grown by an average of 2.5 percent a year since Nafta, a similar level to the decade before it, and below that of the boom years of the 1960s. NAFTA's biggest challenge is that it was not sold properly down in Mexico. Back in 1994, NAFTA, or "el tratado," as many Mexicans call it, was presented as a way of putting Mexico on a path out of the Third World. It was hoped that Mexico could become like the U.S. and Canada. Unfortunately, NAFTA did nothing to reform the oil monopoly PEMEX or the agricultural sector, or to make the country more like Chile, the model economy of Latin America. NAFTA, without legal or labor reforms, won't fix it all. NAFTA wiped out local retailers and replaced them with large foreign stores. It also opened up Mexico's domestic markets to all kinds of international competition, from Chinese TVs to everything else we see up here. NAFTA helped Mexicans, especially professionals involved with some foreign company or Mexican exporters. It did nothing to help the millions of Mexicans who live in the countryside, the place most of the illegal immigrants come from. My guess is that the next president of the U.S. will find that Mexico is a lot more open to renegotiating the agreement. Will it happen? I don't know, but NAFTA is not popular south of the border. P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter. The late New York Times columnist William Safire famously called Hillary Clinton a congenital liar. Others have called her a pathological liar. Maybe what really ails her is what two researchers are calling unethical amnesia. Maryam Kouchaki of Northwestern University and Francesca Gino of Harvard describe this phenomenon as a defense mechanism that helps our minds by forgetting about the times weve acted unethically. In other words, when we cheat, lie, and act in other dishonest ways, our minds try to erase that behavior from our memories in order to protect ourselves from ourselves. Blocking out the truth makes people prone to believe their own lies. Were it not for the video proving otherwise, Clinton might still be telling the story of her courage in the face of heavy sniper fire on a tarmac in Bosnia. Over nearly three decades of public life, Hillary Clintons lies have been numerous and varied. A veritable cottage industry has sprung up documenting them, not only from conservative sources. Long before she lied about Colin Powell advising her to use private email for State Department business, about having only one mobile device, and about turning over all her email, Hillary Clinton was a prolific teller of tales. From suspicious profits garnered through cattle trades to the whereabouts of missing records to defending her husbands lies with lies of her own, the range of prevarication is vast. But ethical amnesia makes remembering lies difficult. A decade ago she accused U.S. generals of lying about Iraq, calling for a willing suspension of disbelief when General David Petraeus spoke, and at least tacitly endorsed MoveOn.orgs General Betray Us advertisement. But ethical amnesia kicked in on September 8, when she berated Donald Trump for trash-talking American generals. Clintons amnesia concerning the Libya policy she oversaw is an acute case. At first she took credit for toppling Moammar Gaddafi. A 2011 interview on CBS was interrupted when Huma Abedin walked in and handed Clinton a BlackBerry (one of her 13 mobile devices, contrary to the lie she told about having only one). Learning that Gaddafi was dead, she engaged in some impromptu Julius Caesar pilfering: We came. We saw. He died. It was an odd moment of triumphalism she would soon forget while portraying herself as a back-seat player in the ever worsening Libya situation. Her Libyan lies began when she said the Benghazi attack was a spontaneous protest over an obscure YouTube video. She repeated that lie to the parents of those killed. And then she lied again by implying that those parents were lying. Recently, defending the Libya mission, Clinton actually asserted that we did not lose a single American in that action. What else but ethical amnesia could cause her to forget her friend Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith, Glen Doherty, and Tyrone Woods, the three men who died protecting him? Bill Clinton seems to have a touch of his wifes disease, too. Recently he chided Trump for using the phrase Make America Great Again. The former president, a white Southerner, revealed his own thoughts when he said: If youre a white Southerner, you know exactly what it means, dont you? Was it the fog of unethical amnesia that caused him to forget the many times he used the slogan, both while running for president in 1991 and 1992 and while campaigning for his wife in 2008? Kouchakis and Ginos research suggests that as people get away with behavior others are punished for, their memories of that behavior fade. Predictably, those given latitude to violate ethical standards are more likely to do so than those who are not. Has anyone in modern political history been given more ethical latitude than the Clintons? Hillary Clintons gravest unethical act is selling access to the office of secretary of state for personal gain. Creating a way to hide that dishonesty, via her private server, came next. Her lies about the whole arrangement cannot end so long as she seeks public office. The more lies she gets away with, the more she forgets the truth and believes her own lies. Whether shes a congenital or pathological liar, or suffering from unethical amnesia, Hillary Clinton will surely continue to lie if elected president of the United States. Mexican former finance secretary: Of course Mexico can be made to pay for the wall Throughout his campaign, Donald Trump has made what would seem to be, at first glance, off-the-wall statements that upon further analysis turned out to be solid policy positions, supported by the Constitution and even supported by previous Democrat administrations. He has turned this ability into an art form. Nowhere is this more apparent than his position on building a wall between the United States and Mexico. When Trump first articulated his position a border wall with Mexico, and making Mexico pay for it I could almost hear the derision in the words of various pundits and politicos. Although most thinking people readily saw how easy it would be for Trump to get Mexico to pay for the wall, validation of his position now comes from an unexpected direction. In Thursday's edition of the Washington Examiner, Paul Bedard quotes a former foreign secretary of Mexico, Jorge Castaneda: "[H]e really wants Mexicans to pay for the wall, he has many ways of getting many Mexicans to pay for the wall, increasing the fee for visas ... increasing the toll on the bridges ... taxing remittances," he said at the Hudson Institute in Washington. What's more, he said that the wall is an extension of programs first put into place by former President Bill Clinton and extended under former President George W. Bush and President Obama. Mr. Bedard delves into several immigration sub-issues with Secretary Castaneda, from deporting illegals to making Mexico take back its citizens. In each of these, Castaneda appeared to believe that Trump's positions on immigration are not braggadocio, but rather eminently feasible and tenable. During the primary season, I supported other candidates. When Trump won the nomination, I somewhat reluctantly shifted my support to him, being more anti-Clinton than pro-Trump. The more I have watched him, the more apparent it has become that he is playing three-dimensional chess, while the media and political elites are still reading the instructions on the outside of the box the checkers came in. "We're gonna build a wall and make Mexico pay for it" is just one more example of this. Mike Ford is a sometime contributor to American Thinker, frequently edited by his lovely bride who is a retired high school principal. FBI files released on Friday indicate that President Obama used a pseudonym in at least some of his email exchanges with Hillary Clinton. The revelation shocked Clinton aide Huma Abedin, who wondered why the emails weren't classified. In March of 2015, the president told the press that the first he had heard of Clinton's private email server was through press reports. But Clinton never obtained a State Department email address, using clintonemail.com, which connected to her private server. How is it possible the president failed to notice that his emails were not going through official channels? And why would President Obama use a fake name to communicate with his secretary of state? Politico: The 189 pages the bureau released includes interviews with some of Clintons closest aides, such as Huma Abedin and Cheryl Mills; senior State Department officials; and even Marcel Lazar, better known as the Romanian hacker Guccifer. In an April 5, 2016 interview with the FBI, Abedin was shown an email exchange between Clinton and Obama, but the longtime Clinton aide did not recognize the name of the sender. "Once informed that the sender's name is believed to be pseudonym used by the president, Abedin exclaimed: 'How is this not classified?'" the report says. "Abedin then expressed her amazement at the president's use of a pseudonym and asked if she could have a copy of the email." The State Department has refused to make public that and other emails Clinton exchanged with Obama. Lawyers have cited the "presidential communications privilege," a variation of executive privilege, in order to withhold the messages under the Freedom of Information Act. The report doesn't provide more details on the contents of that particular email exchange, but says it took place on June 28, 2012, and had the subject line: "Re: Congratulations." It may refer to the Supreme Court's ruling that day upholding a key portion of the Obamacare law. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for all of this, right? I mean, there's no way that Obama and Clinton were trying to hide anything from public disclosure. The most transparent president in history used a fake name to communicate with one of his key advisers. If we can assume he wasn't trying to hide his identity from Clinton aides, the only explanation that remains is that he was trying to hide his identity from you and me. Only a few media outlets have picked up on Obamas' use of a pseudonym when communicating with Clinton. This would be an extraordinary revelation if it involved just about any other president, but for Obama, it is only a passing curiosity. The weekly document dump by the FBI has turned up some startling information. The Bureau granted at least partial immunity to five Hillary Clinton aides who were key players in the private email scandal now roiling the Clinton campaign. Clinton's I.T. aide, Bryan Pagliano, has already been held in contempt of Congress for refusing to testify, despite his being granted immunity by the FBI. The documents revealed that Hillary Clinton's friend and lawyer, Cheryl Mills, also received an immunity deal for turning over her laptop. This has incensed congressional Republicans trying to get to the bottom of Clinton's use of a private email server and why so many emails that were deleted shouldn't have been. They wonder why the immunity agreements did not include language that would have allowed the aides to testify before Congress. Politico: If the FBI wanted any other Americans laptops, theyd just go get them they wouldnt get an immunity deal, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), an oversight panel member, said in a phone interview. But everyone associated with the Clinton gets a different set of standards applied to them Its the strangest stuff I have ever seen. Republicans were also incensed that the immunity deals, which now cover five Clinton staffers at the heart of the controversy, did not require witnesses to cooperate with Congress, sources who reviewed them told POLITICO. Such agreements sometimes include language forcing the recipients to answer other investigative entities, but the Justice deals did not. Republicans have been trying to question several of those protected individuals, including: Clintons top IT staffer Bryan Pagliano, who set up the server; Platte River Networks engineer Paul Combetta, who erased Clintons email archive days after news of her email use became public; and John Bentel, a tech staffer at the State Department who told his subordinates never to speak of Clintons email when they raised concerns. This latest email flare-up comes at an inopportune time for Clinton, just days before her first debate against Donald Trump. Republicans said the timing of the immunity news was not intentional; they only learned on Friday of the arrangements with Mills, Samuelson and Bentel and almost immediately disclosed them to the AP, which first reported the story. Regardless, Clinton has been unable to shake the email controversy even after the FBI decided against recommending charges against her in July. Comey's decison not to prosecute Clinton can now be seen in a different light. The fact is, granting all these immunity deals is just another way to cover up the truth. No one under Clinton is going to be held responsible for the illegal deletions of emails or the mishandling of classified data, so how can you hold Clinton solely responsible? Where it looked as if, at one time, Clinton aides Abedin and Mills would, at the very least, be charged with mishandling classified information, the FBI made sure that no one would be held accountable. Roger Simon of PJ Media asks, "What Happens When You Can't Trust the FBI and the Department of Justice?" The answer is lawlessness in government at the highest levels. Which way will Samantha Power jump? As the Obama administration's policy to end the five-way civil war in Syria what Secretary of State John Kerry this week called the "greatest humanitarian catastrophe since World War II" has repeatedly unraveled, no one has likely been more frustrated than the United States ambassador to the United Nations. Samantha Power has reason to be. Humanitarian intervention is her issue. Before entering government, Samantha Power was one of the architects of the so-called "R2P" initiative. That's the idea, adopted at the 2005 World Summit to prevent genocide and other war crimes, that the U.N. and the major powers have a "responsibility to protect" civilians under the Genocide Convention and other treaties when a country's government turns homicidal towards its own people. Its proponents call it "a new international security and human rights norm." Its detractors call R2P malarkey and its proponents, like Samantha Power, members of the cruise missile left. Ambassador Power rejects both labels. In 2002, Power, a former war correspondent who covered the wars following the breakup of Yugoslavia, won the Pulitzer Prize for her scholarly work, A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide. In it, she chronicled the history of American indifference to genocide throughout the 20th century, beginning with the Armenian genocide during WWI and on to the Clinton administration's failures in Rwanda and Bosnia. It also noted how such U.S. humanitarian interventions such as Lebanon in 1983 and Somalia in 1992-93 went tragically wrong. It was those two episodes that first made "nation-building" something which America had done with notable success in post-war Germany and Japan a dirty word. The bitter U.S. experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan have only reinforced it. The Obama years have not been kind to R2P proponents. Darfur and Syria have become nightmares. And America's humanitarian intervention in Libya to oust Gaddafi went tragically wrong, as did the Arab Spring in Egypt. The Green Revolution in Iran was crushed, and the U.S. did nothing. The same story played out in Bahrain and Yemen. Dexter Filkins is reporting in the current New Yorker that the next humanitarian catastrophe will occur in the besieged Iraqi city of Mosul. Advocates of R2P like Power have, quite literally, no successes to point to on Mr. Obama's watch. Now comes this week's Russian bombing of the U.N. aid convoy in Syria to challenge the very credibility of American power in the Middle East. It was, of course, a war crime. But the issue is whether the Russian bombing will also prove to be, in Talleyrand's phrase, "worse than a crime, ... a mistake." What will President Obama do? Probably nothing. And that will present Samantha Power with an acute moral dilemma. Because if the Obama administration again refuses to act decisively in Syria, R2P is dead. In A Problem from Hell, Power was eloquent in her condemnation of the Clinton administration's refusals to intervene in Rwanda and Bosnia. And she especially praised the young Foreign Service officers who resigned over President Clinton's indifference toward Serbian genocide and war crimes. So: what will Samantha Power do? Samantha Power has a legacy to think about, too. Approximately three days ago Google released its latest messaging app, Allo and it seems three days is all it has taken for Allo to reach the top of the Top Free Apps chart on the Google Play Store. Of course, it could have reached the top spot sooner than three days but this how long it has taken for its reach to be noticed. Either way, it is certainly a quick ascension to the top for any app. In terms of the hard numbers and according to the Play Store listing, the number of Allo downloads currently stands somewhere between one and five million. Which again, is not bad work for an app which only become available three days ago and only even more recently, became available everywhere. Of course, then there is Duo the other app that Google announced during this years Google I/O event, along with Allo. In contrast to Allo, Duo was released a few weeks back but like Allo, was an app which largely achieved a similar level of impact with Duo also rising to the top of app charts quite quickly. In fact, after only one week, Duo had managed to rack up five million downloads. A number which then doubled to ten million downloads after only three weeks. Since then though, Duo has seemed to slow down somewhat. The big question though is whether Allo will be able to maintain the same momentum. In fact, this is likely to be a different story altogether as Allo is an app which had seen considerable hype and anticipation building before its launch. Although since then, the app has come under fire by many for various reasons, including being too limited, too dated and too basic. So whether it can maintain the top position and for how long, does currently remain to be seen. As does whether it will manage to reach the same five million marker as duo after only seven days or the same ten million marker as duo after only three weeks. Although, as it currently stands, it does seem to be very much on target with its 1-5 million in three days. If you have yet to give Allo a try, then you can always grab a copy of the app by heading through the link below. Google first debuted its self-driving car project back in 2010 and has come quite a long way since its inception. The companys self-driving cars have come a long way since then, now with the ability to share the road with cyclists, and to also detect the lights of emergency vehicles, thus being able to give way to them. While, the Mountain View company is no stranger to accidents involving its fleet of autonomous vehicle, with quite a number of accidents having occurred in the past few years, one of the cars in its fleet has gotten into quite a major accident this time around. It should be noted that Googles fleet of self-driving cars are rarely at fault when it comes to accidents involving them. One of Googles self-driving Lexus has recently gotten into an accident involving a commercial van. From what has been gathered so far, it seems like the van was at fault. This accidents also appears to be one of the worst accidents a Google self-driving has gotten into. If you take a look at the image from Twitter user Ron van Zuylen, which has been inserted at the end of this article, you can see that the right hand side of the car has been badly crumpled. In the background of the image, a commercial van can be seen being loaded on to a truck, and it can also be seen that the van has sustained some damage to its bumper. The location of the crash was at Mountain View, California, at the corner of W El Camino and Calderon Ave. According to witnesses at the scene, dazed Google employees could be seen sitting around after the incident, waiting for their tow truck. The witnesses also mentioned that the Google self-driving car was not at fault based from their perspective, and it was entirely the vans fault. Google has not responded to the accident yet, and it is unlikely to do so anytime soon. Instead, it is more likely that Google will detail this incident in its monthly self-driving car report which will be probably be released in the beginning of October. San Francisco-based consumer electronics company Jawbone hasnt been in the best of shape lately, considering rumors that the company was looking to sell, and considering the legal issues that the company has had with competitor Fitbit. To make matters worse, the former tech industry darling has recently been making a lot of headlines for all the wrong reasons as reports of the companys failure to make payments to vendors began surfacing, Business Insider reports. Exactly two weeks ago, Jawbone abruptly severed its relationship with the Portland customer service agency NexRep without paying it an undisclosed amount of money. While unaware of the exact amount, sources with an intimate knowledge of the matter claim that the said debt to NexRep was significant enough that the agency was forced to cut jobs. Back then, the San Francisco company described the sacking of NexRep as the first step in the process of restructuring its customer service and claimed that its accounting is reviewing the outstanding debt to NexRep. As reported by Business Insider, a source from NexRep now claims that its unlikely Jawbone will settle its bills anytime soon as theyve asserted that the California firm isnt even liquid enough to keep its inventory stocked. Whether or not this is true is unclear, but Jawbones website does display that every tracker they offer is currently sold out. The aforementioned source from NexRep also disclosed that immediately prior to being fired by Jawbone, the agency had issues with replacing its clients faulty and damaged devices for customers as product shipments have basically stopped in early September. The wearable manufacturer is yet to release a new fitness tracker this year and if these reports are to be believed, a new fitness tracker for 2016 may not happen. Jawbone is also currently involved in two legal battles with Fitbit over patents and trade secrets and given the aforementioned inventory woes, it might be more challenging for the California firm to find methods of generating revenue. While Jawbones representatives have already dismissed any possibility of a sale back in April, a subsequent report that surfaced last month suggests that option is now on the table as the companys attempts to raise additional funding have not come to pass. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. The long-lasting negotiations between the Armenian leadership and opposition over the Electoral Code gave their positive results. On September 23 five factions of the National Assembly signed an agreement which is aimed at installing more effective control mechanisms on the electoral processes in the Electoral Code. The agreement not only satisfied the opposition, but also the civil society representatives. This was the second document signed between the political forces over the reform of the Electoral Code. The same parliamentarian forces signed an agreement in June according to which amendments were made in the Electoral Code. The amendments concerned the use of preliminary online registration system of the voters fingerprint, however, there were some obstacles, and as a result the amendment was cancelled. According to the provisions set by the new agreement amendments are expected not only in the Electoral Code, but also in the Criminal Code. The agreement relates to the publication of signed election lists. The opposition for years demanded this, however, it has been always rejected by the leadership. But now, according to the agreement, the signed lists will not only be published, but also they will be scanned and will be posted in the Central Election Commissions website. Moreover, the new amendments require toughening the punishments for election violations. Despite that the Article 150 of the Criminal Code says that 3-5 years sentence can be set for violations, it also defines additional punishment and limits the right to be in the state or local government positions for a 1-3 year terms. The agreement says cameras must be installed in all polling stations and the online broadcasting of the election process must be provided through specific websites. At the same time the sides agreed that this agreement doesnt suppose consensus over the entire Electoral Code. The sides will seek to reach an agreement over other provisions during the further discussions on the Electoral Code. Shant Klghatyan YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. A criminal case has been filed over committing violence towards, abducting through the use of threat, as well as hindering Etchmiadzin city council candidate to fulfill his election rights by a group of people. Based on the investigation results Yerevan city resident A. K. has been arrested on September 23 in suspicion of committing the abovementioned crimes, press service of the Armenian Prosecution informed Armenpress. On September 18 Etchmiadzin city resident A. A. has also been arrested over the same case. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. US-based Muslim Cleric Fethullah Gulen blames Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on organizing the military coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, Deutsche Welle reported. Gulen said Erdogan planned to conduct the military coup several years ago, but he was waiting for the right moment. Gulen said Erdogan used the coup attempt to dismiss persons from their posts unwanted for him, to arrest them, and to strengthen his positions. He commented the deterioration of relations between him and Erdogan as Erdogans revenge who didnt justify the expectations. Erdogan hoped we were going to announce him leader of the Muslim world, that we were going to work on that throughout the world. When he realized such thing will not happen, he acted against us, Gulen said. He said he is not concerned that the US will extradite him to Turkey. The Turkish leadership blames Gulen on organizing the military coup attempt in Turkey on July 15 and asks the US to extradite him to Turkey. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. Acting Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian, while on a working visit in New York, met Foreign Minister of Syrian Arab Republic Walid Muallem on September 23, press service of the Armenian MFA informed Armenpress. The sides exchanged views on the efforts aimed at settling the Syrian crisis, as well as the international initiatives over this issue. Acting Minister Nalbandian expressed hope the agreements reached recently over the settlement of the Syrian crisis will be respected and implemented which will give a way to the launch of comprehensive talks over the peaceful settlement of the crisis. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24, ARMNPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister of Syria Walid al-Moallem on Saturday delivered a speech at the 71 session of the United Nations General Assembly held in New York, Armenpress reports, citing Sana agency. Everyone knows full well that terrorism would not have spread through my country if it hadnt been for the external support of well-known countries. It is no longer a secret that Qatar and Saudi Arabia have played a part in this, promoting their Wahhabist Takfirist ideology and their death fatwas that have nothing to do with Islam. They have bragged about supporting terrorism in every way, sending into Syria thousands of mercenaries, equipped with the most sophisticated weapons. Meanwhile, Turkey has opened its border to let in tens of thousands of terrorists from all around the world and has provided them with logistical support and training camps under the supervision of Turkish and Western intelligence. It has even supplied these terrorists with direct military support, as was the case in Idlib, Aleppo, and rural Lattakia, Moallem said. He referred to the international communitys efforts to counter terrorism in Syria, but stated that those efforts must be coordinated with the Syrian government, otherwise it will be a breach of sovereignty and a violation of the UN Carter. In this context, referring to the presence of the Turkish troops in Syrian territory, the official said, We also reiterate our condemnation of Turkish incursion into Syrian territories under the pretext of countering terrorism. This is a flagrant aggression and must be stopped immediately. Terrorism cannot be fought by replacing one terrorist organization with another. One cannot but wonder: how can a state that has been the main point of entry for terrorists and weapons into Syria claim to be fighting terrorism?! How can there be genuine and effective international counter-terrorism cooperation while relevant Security Council resolutions remain dead letter? by Kamran Chaudhry Activists appeal to the governments of the two countries to an end the war of words and solve peacefully the dispute. For the bishop of Faisalabad, war is no solution for culturally close countries. It is necessary to foster human rights and social justice to counter belligerent slogans. Lahore (AsiaNews) Christian and Muslim human rights activists have issued an appeal to the Indian and Pakistani governments to end growing tensions between the two countries over the contested region of Kashmir and solve their dispute in a peaceful way. Speaking about the issue, Pakistan Human Rights Commission secretary general IA Rehman said that "This fit of lunacy must stop. For him, it is about time people in both countries exert pressure on their governments to stop the escalation. The Pakistani activist spoke at a national conference entitled Democracy and human rights in Pakistan: Prospects and Challenges, organised by the Centre for Human Rights Education (CHRE) in Lahore, Punjab. As part of the event, promoters handed out white scarves and ribbons to participants to tie around the wrist as a sign of peace. Local Church leaders share this concern. Mgr Joseph Arshad, bishop of Faisalabad and president of the Commission for Justice and Peace of the Pakistani Bishops' Conference, told AsiaNews that "We choose peace. The two countries are culturally close; they should sit down and talk. We need to take care of the human rights of all Kashmiris. Sure, it's a sensitive matter but war is not the solution. " Relations between India and Pakistan alternate between periods of thaw and moments of open hostility. Since partition in 1947, the war of words between the two has never stopped and has intensified after 18 September when 18 Indian soldiers were killed in an attack on the Uri military base in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir. New Delhi blames the attack the deadliest in 15 years on the Jaish-e-Mohammed jihadist group, an e organisation based in Pakistan, a country the Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh has described as a "terrorist state". Pakistani Foreign Ministry replied swiftly slamming Indias "obvious attempt" to divert attention from human rights violations in the area. The attack against the Indian army came in the aftermath of massive street protests following the death of Burhan Wani, a well-known separatist leader, who was killed by security forces. Clashes in the past two months have left at least 90 civilians dead with more than 13,000 injured. Participants in this mornings conference in Lahore analysed the attack of 18 September and the events that caused the rise in tension between the two governments. For CHRE President Samson Salamat, a Christian, "white scarves reflect our desire for peace." Likewise, "dialogue is the only solution" to work out conflicts "between two nuclear powers" that endanger "millions of people". People, the activist noted, need "education, health and clean water." Other speakers at the conference also called for a stop to the "war of words" between India and Pakistan. Salman Abid, regional director of the Strengthening Participatory Organisation, said that the perception of Pakistan in terms of human rights and democracy is "critical". Hence, it is necessary to look at issues relating to social justice more closely and "counter belligerent slogans" that do not help the cause. Calls for peace and dialogue between India and Pakistan have also appeared on social media. On Facebook, Muslim musician Taimur Rahman wrote, Stop the sabre-rattling and emotional bullshit. We will not be manipulated into war with our neighbours. Share if you agree. The US president expressed "deep sympathy" for the victims families, but reiterated his opposition to a law that is "detrimental to US national interests." Riyadh threatens to break off economic agreements with Washington. Law sponsors pledge to overturn the veto with a two-thirds vote in Congress. Hillary Clinton is in favour of the law. Washington (AsiaNews/Agencies) Barack Obama has vetoed a controversial law passed by the US Congress, which allows relatives of 9/11 victims to sue the countries suspected of having supported the attacks, including Saudi Arabia, a longstanding US ally in the Middle East. In a statement, the White House said that US President Barack Obama expressed "deep sympathy" for the families of some 3,000 people killed in the attacks; however, he did not agree with the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act because it would be "detrimental to US national interests." Saudi Arabia is an old US ally. Out of 19 bombers who carried out the September 11 attacks in the US, 15 came from the Wahhabi kingdom. However, no evidence has come to light tying Saudi leaders to the attacks. The law, which was approved by the House and Senate, was criticised by Gulf monarchies because it contradicts the foundations and principles of relations between States", in particular, it undermines "judicial immunity". Obama has always been opposed to it because it could make the United States liable for legal actions by foreign governments. Moreover, the law threatens to undermine even more the already delicate relations with Riyadh, which has strongly criticised the US Administration's decision to strike a nuclear deal with Iran, Saudi Arabias historic enemy. In recent weeks, the Saudi Foreign Ministry has threatened to pull Saudi investment and cancel US-Saudi trade deals. Saudi Arabia has assets worth $ 750 billion in the US. Meanwhile, the Act backers, many of whom are Democrats like the president, are unhappy with the president and disapprove of his choice. Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, who co-sponsored the bill, said he was "disappointed" and would press ahead to overrule President Obama's veto. "If the Saudis did nothing wrong, they should not fear this legislation. If they were culpable in 9/11, they should be held accountable," Mr Schumer said. Obama's veto can be overruled by a two-third majority in both houses. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton too has parted ways from Obama over his veto. Shortly after Obama announced his intention, Ms Clinton said that if she was elected she would sign the bill. The rise of China as the opposite pole from the east in Asia-Pacific will have long standing ramifications on the Global Order. The Chinese dream to foist an order orienting from Beijing presents various economic and security challenges to countries in the region from the democracies like India, Japan, Australia and Indonesia to even the communist nations like Vietnam who are wary of the Chinese claims over the South China Sea and Western Pacific. The Chinese claims over the South China Sea based on the 9 Dash line and its land reclamations have put the Indo-Pacific into the spotlight of global power play. The UN Tribunal verdict of July 2016 invalidating Chinas claim over the South China Sea and Chinas utter disdain for international law is the perfect catalyst for countries in Asia-Pacific to rally around for the freedom of the navigation of seas, trade and security. The Chinese policy of bullying its neighbours into submission to its order could well lead to an alliance of democracies like India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam for strategic cooperation with a common objective of curtailing China. The growing Chinese behemoth with a $10 trillion economy, a huge trade surplus and a commodity-driven market presents a challenge for the region. China has been one of the prime consumers of coal, which is one of Australias biggest exports. China has a huge trade surplus with India, Australia and even the United States due to being the global hub for low-cost manufacturing. The slowdown in the Chinese economy and the perils of Climate Change are pushing Asia-Pacific to a potential conflict as the rules of trade and commerce over the navigation of the seas are trying to be rewritten. The Chinese very well know that those who control the seas; control the world. They have learnt this from the British Empire whose navy dominated the world and was succeeded by the United States post-World War 2. The US has been the prime power in Asia Pacific and the world with one of the largest naval fleets and bases from Djibouti to Diego Garcia to Guam to Okinawa. The US Navy leads by ten aircraft carriers; the largest by any country and maintains the freedom of navigation of the seas and is the enforcer of international rules. But as they say nothings lasts forever. The US naval dominance is now being challenged by China in the South China Sea and the Pacific region. The Chinese contempt of international law backed by its threat to impose an ADIZ (Air Defence Identification Zone) in the South China Sea could further augment an alliance of democracies in Asia-Pacific that share a similar strategic concern though the United States will continue to play a pivotal role in the region. While Japan and Australia already have a working relationship with the United States; India has only recently embarked upon a strategic engagement in Asia-Pacific with the US and its allies such as War Exercises like Malabar in the Pacific Ocean and the Military agreement of LEMOA. However, with the Chinese aggression only likely to escalate; it is crucial that these countries create a strategic multilateral and bilateral partnership among themselves instead of solely relying on the United States. This will have two advantages. Firstly, as the US vs. China battle gets bigger; the US military power will get stretched across the world with China igniting new theatres of conflict; and secondly; together India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Vietnam and South Korea etc., can present a formidable challenge to Beijings communist order in the region. We can already see the alignments slowly taking shape in the region. How should India, the worlds largest democracy shape its bilateral ties in the region? This article is part of a series focusing on Indias ties with countries in Asia-Pacific. In this article, we will focus on the Indo-Australian ties. The Indo-Australian partnership could play a critical role in the strategic alignment of democracies in Asia-Pacific. Both India and Australia are strategically located with India having access to the vast Indian Ocean from Africa all the way to Malaysia while Australia has access to the Pacific and Southern Indian Ocean. Together they can enforce the rules for the freedom of navigation of the seas in the Indo-Pacific region. In addition, both have a significant land mass of arable land that is available for cultivation and a vibrant agricultural sector. They are both gifted with mineral resources such as coal, uranium, thorium, iron etc. Thus, the Indo-Australian partnership is an important component of an alliance of democracies in the Indo-Pacific to counter Chinas aggression. While China and Australia have extensive ties, their recently concluded FTA has faced a lot of flak from various quarters in Australia. China is one of the largest importers of coal from Australia and the slump in its economy has only added to the unease in Canberra about coping with the changes in its significant commodity exports. Earlier this year, China also attempted to buy 1 percent of Australia through stealth which was stopped in the nick of time by the Australian authorities. This strategic purchase by China was aimed at not just owning land in Australia but also using it for foodstuffs and other agro products to feed its population back home given the paucity of arable land in Chinas Northeast like Tibet and Xinjiang. Chinas economic slump, its deceptive land purchase attempt that was thwarted and the Australian opposition to the FTA followed by its backing of the UN Tribunal verdict against China in the South China Sea resulted in a Chinese state media outlet, Global Times calling Australia a Paper Cat which will learn its lesson on the 30th July, 2016. The Chinese media openly mocked Australia by calling it a unique country with an inglorious history, established through uncivilized means in a process filled with the tears of the aboriginals serving as the offshore prison of the UK and said that its joint declaration with the United States and Japan stating that China must abide by the UNCLOS ruling smacked of blunt double standards considering Australia staked claim to over 42 percent of the Antarctic. While this is ironical considering Chinas expansionist agenda, it is par for the course for it. India too has borne the brunt of the Chinese hypocrisy in respect of its NSG membership in June this year which China objected to, on account of India not being a signatory of the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty). China has been one of the sponsors of the two prominent rogue nuclear states in the world: North Korea and Pakistan and this has been ably documented. The above also shows why India and Australia need to cohesively converge strategically and further enhance the strategic partnership as the nucleus of the alliance of democracies in Asia-Pacific against the Chinese order. Ties between India and Australia date back to the era of the British Raj when both the nations were colonies of the British Crown. While India attained Independence on 15th August 1947, Australia retained the Queen, the British Monarch as the head of the state while maintaining a functional autonomy with its Prime Minister. Both are a part of the Commonwealth group of Nations. Though both were on opposite sides during the Cold War era, relations between India and Australia started warming up post 1991 when India opened its economy for private sector and foreign investors. Since then, there has been no looking back on their economic ties. Exports from Australia to India that were $530 million in 1989-90 crossed a billion dollars at the start of this century. Trade between them grew by 24.6 percent between 2000 2009 making India, Australias 10th largest trading partner and 5th largest export destination. India is currently the 17th largest investor in Australia while Australia is the 22nd largest investor in India in terms of investment, trade and commerce. According to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), Australia ranks first in the world for actual arable land per capita at 2.67 ha/per capita. In comparison China has only 0.08 ha per capita. Australian farmers are among the worlds most productive and efficient; giving Australia one of the lowest global levels of severe land degradation. India has the second highest land bank of arable land in the world after the United States at 157.35 million hectares as per the World Bank. India has far more arable land than China; despite its holding only about 34 percent of Chinas landmass. Indias biggest problem is despite engaging over 50 percent of its landmass in agriculture; its contribution to GDP is only about 14 percent. Moreover, India has a massive population, the second highest in the world to feed. This has made India look overseas for the offshore farming of crops and cereals, a recent example being the land leases for pulses with Namibia. While Australia could also serve as an offshore hub for Indian pulses, there is great potential to deepen cooperation in this sector. They can collaborate on technology and farming methods to better the crop productivity and efficiency, making it easy for India to implement tools like the Soil Cards and crop analysis methods effectively. There is also great potential for Virtual Water Trade between the countries to produce crops that are not competitive but complementary. India and Australia together have the potential to become the food and bread basket of the Indo-Pacific region and convert their bilateral ties into a powerful geopolitical tool. With an impending water crisis in the future, much of which will be caused by Chinas extensive damming in the region; this partnership has the potential to disarm the enemy without firing a single bullet! We have covered Virtual Water extensively in our book: The New Global Order. When we combine Indo-Australian food dominance with their control over the Indian Ocean and West Pacific, the ramifications can be simply staggering. India despite being rich in rare earth minerals imports coal and uranium from Australia. The bulk of Australias exports to India are in the mining sector such as material, equipment, technology and services comprising 20 percent of its total exports in 2015. For India, coal is crucial. 78 percent of its energy demands are met by coal fired plants and most of this coal comes from Australia. India has been sadly unable to optimize its extensive coal reserves in Central and Eastern India on account of red tape and with it now becoming a signatory to the Climate Change Agreement, its mining activities within the country will become curtailed and open up new avenues for cooperation with Australia in alternate energy: uranium for its nuclear powered plants. Australia holds 40 percent of the global uranium reserves and produces nearly 70 percent of the worlds uranium fuel. Australia and India have already signed a deal during Prime Minister Abbots 2014 visit which was ratified in 2015 by the Australian Parliament paving the way for nuclear commerce between the two countries. Going beyond power, agriculture and mining; there is also further potential in the services sector which has been Indias prime export to Australia. The emphasis has been on the IT Sector and Tourism Information Technology and its related services. Nearly all major India IT giants like Infosys, Satyam, TCS, HCL, Polaris Software, NIIT, Wipro, Tech Mahindra, i-Flex, and iGATE etc. operate in Australia. Infosys, Satyam and HCL have setup software development centres in Australia while Polaris has established a performance diagnostic and testing centre in Sydney. Other major Indian investments in Australia include those by the Oswal Group (ammonia plants); Sterlite Industries (copper mines); Aditya Birla Group (copper mines); Gujarat NRE Co. (coal mines) and Asian Paints. Indian behemoth Reliance has entered into a partnership with Uranium Exploration, Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) has invested over AUD 100 million in Australias Legend Holdings phosphate projects with buyback arrangements and Indias National Mineral and Development Cooperation (NMDC) and Rio Tinto have entered into an agreement for joint exploration in India, Australia and other countries. The TATA Group has enhanced their investment in a mining joint venture (led by Vale of Brazil) in Queensland. Indias Adani Group, has acquired a coal mining prospect from Linc Resources in the Galilee Basin in Queensland valued at $1 billion. Adani has also acquired the rights to manage the Abbot Point Coal loading terminal for a period of 99 years at a cost of $ 1.83 billion. This deal has come under vociferous criticism from NGOs like Greenpeace who are opposing this citing clean energy. Greenpeace is trying to derail Australias mining exports as well as Indias development projects. It is running a smear campaign citing the damages caused by mining and farming run-offs in the Great Barrier Reef and has even admitted to falsely using a photo of a coral reef in the Philippines damaged by a super typhoon to warn of the perils facing the Great Barrier Reef for this purpose. Other major Indian exports to Australia are Gems, Pearls, Jewellery Leather goods, Textile, Chemicals etc. Tourism is another big avenue for Indian exports to Australia with the majority being education and student oriented. The number of Indian students studying in Australia has rapidly increased from 20,512 in 2004 to over 120,000 in 2009. Australia overtook the UK as the second most favoured destination for Indian students after the United States. India is now the third largest source of immigrants to Australia, after the UK and New Zealand and the second largest source of skilled professionals mainly comprising of teachers, doctors, accountants, engineers and IT professionals. Moreover, the Indian diaspora is widely spread across Australia and contributes significantly to the Australian economy. The presence of the Indian diaspora across Australia also has the advantage of harnessing Indias soft power and the export of its universal rules of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. With the addition of the World Yoga Day by the UN, India can now introduce its Yoga, music, art, dance and Ayurveda to Australia. In return, Australia can introduce India to its sporting prowess that creates world class athletes and a population that places great emphasis on physical fitness. The combination will be a perfect symphony of physical and mental wellbeing. The Indian Government recently organized a Festival of India showcasing dance, music, theatre and art including Yoga across seven cities in Australia, the first ever of its kind. Indias biggest cultural export to South East Asia and East Asia influencing the far off regions has been Buddhism and this is also an important aspect of its soft power diplomacy. Unlike China which spreads soft power in a hard way through Confucius Institutes where it promotes the Chinese way of life by dilute the culture of the host countries, Indian soft power is about universal peace, harmony and democratic values. We have seen how the bilateral relations between India and Australia have blossomed over the last decade or two; more so with the growing threat of China in Asia-Pacific. Another facet of the Indo-Australian cooperation has been visible at multilateral forums where India and Australia have complemented each other on complex issues pertaining to politics, conflicts, trade and economics. The ASEAN Summit and the East Asian Summit are ways for New Delhi to expand its influence over South East Asia and the East Asian countries giving an alternative to the smaller countries that are uneasy with the growing influence of China in their backyard. Australia follows a dual model of being a part of a US led alliance and advocating regional and multilateral ties. This is where India and Australia should align in creating a regional multilateral architecture outside the two power blocs of US or China in Asia-Pacific. Australia, a part of the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership) with the US and its allies has already advocated Indias entry into APEC, a global economic and trade governing body which could significantly elevate the role of India in the global arena. Australia has also been positive about India joining the NSG as a responsible nuclear power. Despite the immense of prospect of growth and cooperation between these two countries, India and Australia have some issues to be ironed out like the FTA and various clauses relating to Intellectual Property Rights and Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) which could further enhance the economic and trade partnership between the two countries. Apart from this, New Delhi and Canberra should now elevate their partnership to a strategic level and aim to build a consensus among the majority of the democracies in the region about following a rule based international order for the Freedom of Navigation of Sea, Trade and Commerce etc. It is also imperative for India and Australia to take the lead for creating a regional architecture on the lines of an alliance of democracies like Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam etc. against a prospective communist order that China seeks to impose on the region and the world. Nelson Mandela has said, I have cherished the ideal of a free and democratic society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities while Aung San Suu Kyi has said Democracy, like liberty, justice and other social and political rights, is not given, it is earned through courage, resolution and sacrifice. The time is ripe for the torchbearers of democracy: India and Australia to unite against a sharply contrasting ideology that threatens to envelop the Indo-Pacific and its existing civilizations. DSC_0112.jpg Some 700 motorcyclists, including Gov. Phil Bryant and Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell, participated in Saturday's HOG Ride and Festival to benefit the Home of Grace in Vancleave. (Warren Kulo/The Mississippi Press) Gov. Phil Bryant addresses the audience inside the sanctuary of First Baptist Church in Gulfport Saturday during the annual HOG Ride and Festival. GULFPORT, Mississippi -- Gov. Phil Bryant, accompanied by Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell, led a pack of some 700 motorcycles across the Mississippi coast Saturday during the 6th HOG Ride and Festival to benefit the Home of Grace in Vancleave. The massive convoy made its way from Pascagoula, where the ride began, along the coastline, then up to First Baptist Church, where the festival is held each year. "If I can help in any way, as long as I'm able and as long as they'll have me, I'll continue to be involved in this," said Bryant, one of the event founders. "I've had an exciting day," Ezell said. "I got to ride a motorcycle alongside the Governor of Mississippi." Todd Trenchard, one of the event organizers and perhaps the Home of Grace's most visible alumnus, said the event and Bryant's continued participation are crucial to creating more awareness of the problem of addiction along the Mississippi coast. "I think it creates greater exposure among our entire coastal community about the problem of addiction," Trenchard said. "That's the message the governor tries to stress. "As this event grows, more and more people are asking questions and are being made aware of this problem in our community." During an assembly inside the church sanctuary, Trenchard noted that 19 years ago Saturday he was "scraping a Coca Cola can trying to get a hit of crack. 19 years ago tomorrow, my mother brought me to the Home of Grace. "Now, here I am, 19 years later, making a presentation to the Governor of the State of Mississippi," Trenchard added before presenting Bryant with a shadow box containing the commemorative pins from the previous five HOG Rides. The event also raises funds for the Home of Grace. Numerous vendors were on site, lunch was served for all law enforcement personnel on hand, and the Pascagoula Police Department put on a motorcycle demonstration for festival-goers. In the best tradition of a Baptist preacher, Bryant encouraged the audience inside the sanctuary to stop by the collection buckets on their way out and make a donation. Bryant departed shortly after the assembly, saying he wanted to get back to the Governor's Mansion and his wife, Mary, and to spend time with his grandchildren. He credited his wife for bringing direction to his life. "Forty years ago, the Lord looked down on me and said `I got to help that boy,'" he said. Hi guys, Im new here and im here because i need your kindly help. I got a few question which confusing me. I hope you guys can help me out with it because your answer can help me to make a decision whether i should take the assessment or pending it. For your information, i'm planning to assess for sofware engineering. Here is my few question 1. I was graduated from IT major with Bachelor degree with 4 years working experiences (in total). Do you think i can pass the ACS Skill Assessment? Or i have to wait 1 year later so my experience become 5 years? 2. For the ACS Assessment, if my working experience meet the suitability criteria but not eligible for immigration point, will i fail in my whole skill assessment? Or i just can not claim the point but i can pass the skill assessment? 3. My last question, if my collected point is 60, do you think i can get state sponsorship and PR? Or i have to collect more point? I am very appreciate all of your comment and help. Also thanks before for your time Even if Anthony had a year to analyze and dissect each piece...(he couldn't tell if it would)... stand the harsh light of public exposure. WUWT insider Willis Eschenbach tells you all you need to know about Anthony Watts and his blog, WattsUpWithThat (WUWT). As part of his scathing commentary , Wondering Willis accuses Anthony Watts of being clueless about the blog articles he posts. To paraphrase: Click here to read more. Is the Innova Crysta petrol worth considering over its diesel siblings? We find the answer. The Innova Crysta has been a runaway success since its launch in May 2016. With two strong diesels and an automatic transmission, Toyota got all the important bases covered with this MPV. So why bother bringing in a petrol variant which, as history has shown us, had very few takers? It was the only way to sell the Innova in Delhi-NCR which, because of the ban on diesel engines over 2,000cc, could not be launched in this key market. The diesel ban has been lifted for now, but with anti-diesel sentiments being at an all-time high in the country, car companies are introducing petrol variants of their major models more as insurance. Toyota has made its petrol proposition as tempting as possible by offering the Innova with a 166hp 2.7-litre unit with the option of a five-speed manual and a six-speed automatic gearbox. Whats it like to drive? The Crysta's 2.7-litre VVT-i motor is the same one that does duty in Toyota's range of pick-up trucks, and this means the MPV can haul loads. As expected from any petrol motor, this four-cylinder unit feels smooth at idle and is quite responsive too. It pulls quite nicely from as low as 1,400rpm and all the way to its rev limiter at 5,900rpm. Though the petrol Innova weighs 80kg less than the 2.8 diesel auto, its not quite as quick as its torquier cousin. Still, with a 0-100kph time of 12sec just 0.54sec shy of the diesel automatic's time it is pretty quick for a 4.7-metre-long MPV weighing 1,790kg. Owners are sure to appreciate the refined performance of the petrol Innova. Toyotas six-speed automatic gearbox is smooth and is fairly quick for a torque converter too. However, theres a distinct pause when you demand a quick downshift at slow speeds, and that can be annoying. Also, if you are expecting a silent cabin experience, you will be a bit disappointed; this motor is not the quietest around. You can feel it at work even at low revs. Toyota could have insulated the cabin better to make it more quiet. We were certainly not disappointed to see him put on the aviator glasses, sit on the edge of the white cliffs of Dover and release a bunch of drones across the English Channel. It's a classic Clarkson moment and, some might add, still a better show than the new Top Gear. Even though he just started working for Amazon, the car show presenter is apparently calling some shots. Did he really need to make fun of the BBC again? No, but he probably wanted to, and it was okay with the Amazon people.Of course, Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries makes this an even more enjoyable video. With the drones in the background, it reminds us of a squadron of RAF Spitfires, flying to take France back from the Germans. And we know Clarkson likes to say "Spitfire" a lot.And now imagine Chris Evans doing this Amazon ad. It would probably come out all scripted and fake. Anyway, there's a debate sparking on the Internet about Clarkson's age. Yes, he looks old, but Tom Cruise is only three years younger, so it's no big deal.Now, we're not up to date with what the coolest drones are, but that looks like the DJI Inspire, the professional cousin of the Phantom. It costs a lot of money and no, you can't fly several of them with one remote. That's CGI, and we're sorry to have to point out the obvious.Amazon and drones go pretty much hand in hand, as the company has developed a heavy-duty unit to deliver its packages. The Prime Air is still in testing, but it could probably deliver 50 of those sticks at a time, so it's like the Lancaster bomber to the DJI's Spitfire. Only 50 units were produced in Lightweight specification, which makes for an exceptionally rare breed. The car pictured in this storys gallery is one of those rarefied monsters. It started life as a marketing vehicle for the Ford Motor Company in the late sixties, then it was sold to period engine specialist Dave Lyall. Care to guess for how much? One dollar! I'm afraid I'm not joking.But what Dave Lyall purchased for $1 under the agreement for factory-sponsored race cars is now worth $150,000 or thereabout based on the trend set by previous auction results. The car thats central to this story is slated to cross the block this October at the Mecum Auctions Chicago sale.Because its a Cobra Jet, this type of Mustang is motivated by a 428 cubic inch version of the FE V8. Specifically designed to churn out obscene amounts of horsepower and torque, the engine was central to winning a handful of Super Stock accolades. Finished in the Lyalls trademark racing livery and complete with Cragar SS wheels, this is one seriously wicked machine. Mecum Auctions highlights that this 1968 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet Lightweight is well documented with copies of the window sticker, plus Dave Lyall's $1 contract, the Michigan title search, Ford internal memos about the 428 Cobra Jet Lightweight Mustang program, and a Marti report. The seller also offers photographic documentation of the cars restoration.When you think about it, $150k isnt a lot of money considering that a Mercedes-Benz S600 luxobarge retails for just about $20,000 more. Months of waiting to receive approval of an application for a dealership license ended up in a rejection from Tesla at the Michigan Secretary of State office. This seems to have been the last straw for Tesla, as the company has filed a lawsuit against the state.According to Electrek , the plaintiff wants to vindicate its rights under the United States Constitution to sell and service it all-electric vehicles at Tesla-owned facilities in Michigan.In other words, Tesla wants to be allowed to own a dealer network in the State of Michigan, where it wants to be allowed to service and sell its models.The lawsuit filed by Tesla is an important legal battle, because Michigan is the American state with the biggest population that does not have a single Tesla store or service facility, which is an evident impediment for potential customers and existing clients.Tesla wants the whole nine yards on this action, as it requested an expedition of the proceedings and a jury trial was demanded. The automaker was banned from established service facilities and stores in the state in 2014, after Governor Rick Snyder, included a revision to the law that was supposed to clarify the states position on automakers employing a direct sales strategy without third-party dealerships.The bill mentioned above arrived after automakers lobbied against Teslas business model, which focused on direct sales instead of third-party dealers. Michigan is not the single state that has a ban on the direct sale and service of automobiles, but the state does have the worst policy when Teslas business model is concerned. Tesla built a store and service center in Detroit and then applied for a dealership license regardless, and the rejection that came last week led the company to the legal action against the State of Michigan.The ban is so strict that Tesla cannot even perform service and maintenance work on its vehicle in the state, which is an impediment to over 400 customers that reside in Michigan Not everyone owns cars these days. Car ownership, eventually, is dying. With services like Uber, car rentals are the trend. According to a new report published by the University of Michigan, the percentage of 19-year-olds owning a driver's license since the year 1983 has declined by 69% - a significant number. The decline has also been seen in people belonging to the older age groups. This indicates an apparent shift if the car ownership trend over the years. A start-up based in Netherlands called Amber Mobility is hoping to seize this pattern with another ride-sharing administration. The company will discharge a model of the car, named Amber One, in the year 2017. The production of the car will start in the year 2018, with the car will be seen running in the streets of Eidenhoven before making it to other countries. Talking of its capacity, the electric car is supposed to have a range of about 250 miles on a full charge, which is significantly high for an electric car. Golden Mobility is likewise guaranteeing it will achieve a top velocity of 93 mph and brag an increasing speed time of zero to 60 mph in 7 seconds. Amber Mobility is making it clear you can't buy the car through and through. The Amber One will be offered in a mutual membership administration you can sign onto for $37 a week. Considering that would come up to $1,924 for a whole year, it does not look like a terrible offer. Also, it comes with the satisfaction to not contributing to polluting the environment. Golden Mobility is also looking forward to building semi-self-governing components into the car. The start-up cases the car will include a secluded outline which will add upgrade convenience to it all through its lifespan. The ground explosion of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Sept. 1 was likely caused by a large breach of the helium system, the company said Friday. SpaceX, NASA and the FAA, among others, continue to investigate the cause of the fiery incident at Cape Canaveral that destroyed the rocket and its payload as it stood at Launch Complex 40 during a pre-launch test. At this stage of the investigation, preliminary review of the data and debris suggests that a large breach in the cryogenic helium system of the second stage liquid oxygen tank took place. All plausible causes are being tracked in an extensive fault tree and carefully investigated, SpaceX said in a statement. The incident, which sent black smoke overhead and loud booms across the area, has no connection to the airborne explosion of a SpaceX rocket last summer, when a faulty part caused an upper-stage oxygen tank to overpressurize, the company said. Meanwhile, investigators have catalogued the recovered pieces from this months burnup and are inspecting them in a hangar. SpaceX said it hopes to pinpoint the cause of the fault soon enough to resume its rocket launches in November, and is already busy preparing the nearby Launch Complex 39A. The explosion occurred a day before SpaceX was to send an Israeli-made communications satellite into orbit for use by Facebook. 24 September 2016 11:27 (UTC+04:00) Today, when the world still experience the impacts of global economic slowdown, energy, transportation and other interrelated components of connectivity are becoming more promising for economic and trade growth of our countries, said Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. Mammadyarov made the remarks at the extraordinary session of Council of Ministers of the ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization) member states in New York, US. Therefore, it is important to highlight the development of transport and connectivity issues in general among priority areas, as an essential prerequisite for the regional trade development, he noted. Azerbaijan together with regional and international partners has contributed to regional cooperation by initiating and implementing energy and transportation projects, said the minister. We are actively participating in implementation of the International North-South and East-West Transport Corridors, he added. Mammadyarov said also that the establishment of the Trans-Caspian International Route and construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway project, expected to be operational next year, are among the important projects. We are convinced that an early completion of the Gazvin-Rasht-Astara (Iran)-Astara (Azerbaijan) railway project, which is a part of the North-South Transport Corridor, will give a new impetus to economic growth, expand transport opportunities for involved countries, as well as the whole region, said the minister. Another promising sphere of common interest is enhancing synergy in sustainable development, including in the area of sustainable energy resources in line with the new 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he noted. We are closely observing the recent trends and developments for establishment of ECO regional electricity market, said Mammadyarov. Azerbaijan also initiated the establishment of Data Information Network (DIN) on Renewable Energy Sources in Baku, according to the minister. Azerbaijan through its practical activities continues to contribute to the goals and objectives of the ECO, he said. This year we will host the 4th ECO Business Forum that will contribute to enhance intra-regional trade and investment, as well as economic growth and development in the ECO region, he added. Among priority areas of cooperation within the ECO is development of regional activities to tackle environmental challenges. As a part of this agenda Azerbaijan has joined to global efforts on combating climate change towards global climate resilience via submission of its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) and signing of Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Current fruitful cooperation in science and research increase the capacity of ECO in identification and preparation of ECO projects, noted Mammadyarov. In this connection, we believe that the early establishment of the ECO Research Centre in Baku will give its contribution to ECOs future development via elaborating efficient economic projects, research programs, as well as economic patterns for the regional states, he added. Also we deem it expedient to promote the implementation of regionally beneficial projects and closer cooperation with UN specialized agencies and international financial institutions to successfully implement economic projects of regional character, he said. We should focus on core priorities common for the member states and the whole region, inter alia, transport, alternative energy, trade and investments, agriculture, information technology and tourism, noted the minister. At previous Council meetings we stressed the necessity to find creative ways and means to improve the existing mechanism of cooperation within the organization, said Mammadyarov. He also noted that the new ECO Vision 2016-2025, which is currently under elaboration, needs to reflect the interests of all member states. This reforming process should aim to enhance efficiency of current institutions and activities within the ECO. Azerbaijan supports the reforming process that through joint efforts can provide a possibility for elaboration of actions for further development of the ECO, he said. Without the settlement of protracted conflicts and ensuring security and stability in the region, ECO will fail to reap the benefits from comprehensive regional cooperation, noted the minister. The ongoing military occupation of the Azerbaijani territories by Armenia still remains as a major source of instability and impediment to the economic development, said Mammadyarov. The withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories and ensuring the return of the refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes will not only contribute to peace and security in the South Caucasus, but also enhance full-fledged intra-regional cooperation, he added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 September 2016 10:29 (UTC+04:00) The circles concerned over Azerbaijans development and its growing prestige, become active every time when an important event is held in the country, Valeh Alasgarov, deputy speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, told Trend Sept. 23. He added that Azerbaijans continuous development, improvement of its image, security and stability in the country always bother some circles. Therefore, when major events are held in Azerbaijan, those circles, under the pretext of democracy, organize a smear campaign against the country through media outlets and network of various NGOs, Alasgarov said. He said the Sept. 26 referendum is an internal affair of Azerbaijan. People will come to polling stations and vote by expressing their will, Alasgarov said. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed an order to hold a referendum on amending the Constitution on Sept. 26, 2016. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz In the contemporary world of growing intolerance, discrimination and violence based on religion or belief, intercultural and interreligious dialogue has become one of the most important tools in promoting tolerance, sustainable peace, stability and development, said Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. He made the remarks at the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Group of Friends Ministerial Meeting in New York, US. In this regard, the UNAOC plays an important role in fostering the global dialogue and cooperation for the promotion of tolerance, peace and better understanding across countries, cultures and civilizations, said Mammadyarov. Azerbaijan attaches primary importance to the promotion of intercultural and interreligious dialogue at all levels, he noted. Multiculturalism and tolerance is a longstanding tradition in my country that strengthens and consolidates our society, said the minister. For ages, people of different nationalities and religions have been living in peace and dignity in Azerbaijan. The year of 2016 has been declared a Year of Multiculturalism in Azerbaijan by the Azerbaijani president, he noted. Consequently, a special Plan of Actions has been developed that implies measures to safeguard and disseminate the humanistic ideals of multiculturalism both at national and international levels. On Apr. 25-27 2016, Azerbaijan hosted the 7th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations entitled Living together in inclusive societies, he said. This important event was attended by more than 4,000 delegates from 147 countries, including heads of states and governments, ministers, government officials, representatives of international organizations and media. The forums topics reflected the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which incorporates the promotion of inclusive societies as pivotal component for sustainable development, said Mammadyarov. Taking this opportunity, I would like to sincerely thank all those who organized and participated in that forum, he added. A major outcome of the Forum was the Baku Declaration, noted the minister. It strongly condemned any advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence and urged all member states to unite against violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations. He said also that the Baku Declaration should serve as guidelines for states and international organizations in promotion of intercultural dialogue and multiculturalism as a way to counter violence, extremism and xenophobia. Recognizing the special role of youth in the establishment and development of inclusive societies, the UN Alliance of Civilizations Youth Event was also held on the sidelines of the forum with the participation of more than 150 youngsters, noted the minister. In this regard, I would like to welcome the oncoming International Conference on The Role of Youth in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, which will be held jointly by the UNAOC and the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States on Oct. 20-21, 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey, he added. In April 2017, Azerbaijan will host the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, which is held biannually since 2011 within the so-called Baku Process, he noted. We invite all our partners and interested parties to take active part in that event, added the minister. I am also happy to note that based on experience of excellent cooperation, the government of Azerbaijan together with the UN Alliance of Civilizations has recently agreed to launch a new project called Baku Alliance of Civilizations Award for Intercultural Dialogue. I also fully share the view expressed by previous speakers that promoting intercultural dialogue, tolerance and countering violent extremism have gained increased importance in the context of large movement of refugees and migrants, said Mammadyarov. Azerbaijan has deep understanding of this problem, given the fact that we have one million refugees and IDPs ethnically cleansed out of their homes. Enabling safe and dignified return of refugees and IDPs must be at the center of international efforts. In conclusion, let me express my confidence that our todays meeting, as the previous ones, will successfully contribute to the joint efforts to counter mistrust, misconception and hatred, and to foster dialogue, mutual respect and understanding, added the minister. --- 24 September 2016 14:20 (UTC+04:00) Newly elected Vietnamese President Tran ai Quang has hailed his country`s cooperation with Azerbaijan as he met with ambassador Anar Imanov. Vietnam and Azerbaijan enjoy excellent cooperation, he said. The Vietnamese President pointed out the important role of mutual visits of heads of state in developing relations between the two countries. He expressed confidence that historic friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Azerbaijan will continue to strengthen. President ai Quang hailed the bilateral trade, saying it grows on a yearly basis. He said that apart from other sectors, it is important to ensure rapid development of economic and trade relations. Ambassador Imanov congratulated ai Quang on his election as President of Vietnam. He said Vietnam-Azerbaijan bilateral ties have deep roots. The ambassador said visits of Vietnam`s first President Ho Chi Minh to Azerbaijan in 1959 and of Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev to Vietnam as the First Deputy Chairp of the USSR Cabinet of Ministers in 1983 laid the foundation for friendly relations between the two nations. Imanov hailed the contributions of friendship groups at Azerbaijani and Vietnamese parliaments, joint intergovernmental commission on economic, trade, scientific and technical cooperation, Vietnam-Azerbaijan Friendship Society, Centre for Azerbaijani History and Culture Studies in Hanoi to the development of bilateral cooperation in various spheres. He said he believes Vietnam will soon open its Embassy in Azerbaijan, expressing hope that this will give impetus to cooperation between the two countries. He also asked the Vietnamese leader to consider the possibility of cancelling visa regime for Azerbaijani citizens. President ai Quang asked the ambassador to convey his greetings and best wishes to President Ilham Aliyev, and invited the Azerbaijani leader to visit Vietnam. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 September 2016 17:46 (UTC+04:00) Ongoing tensions with Iran, as well as lack of commitment from other oil producers, mean that Saudi officials will be hesitant to sign up to a deal to freeze oil output, analysts of the British economic research and consulting company Capital Economics believe. There have been signs in recent weeks that the sharp slowdown in the Saudi economy caused by fiscal austerity may have prompted the authorities to look at alternative solutions to deal with the collapse in oil prices, analysts said in the report, obtained by Trend. In particular, they mentioned, officials have softened their opposition to a deal to freeze oil output to boost oil prices, while a forthcoming bumper international bond issuance suggests that the appetite for further fiscal consolidation may be waning. But even though austerity seems to be pushing the economy towards recession, we expect policymakers to continue along this path, the analysts said. The informal OPEC meeting is expected in late September in Algiers. It is expected that the talks on oil production freeze will be held between OPEC and non-OPEC countries. The meeting will be held at the fringe of the International Energy Forum in Algiers from 26-28 September. Saudi Arabia is the largest OPEC oil producer and exporter. The Kingdom produced 10.605 million barrels per day of oil in August compared to 10.577 million barrels per day in July, according to OPECs latest estimates. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 24 September 2016 11:54 (UTC+04:00) Its crucial to avoid the collapse of the US-Russia agreements on Syria, meaning a fair and impartial investigation of the Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor incidents is needed, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at the UN General Assembly in New York, Russia Today reported. "The main thing now is to prevent the collapse of those arrangements [between Russia and the US], objectively and impartially investigate the undermining incidents in Deir ez-Zor and Aleppo, particularly, that theres many who want to sabotage the agreed approaches to the Syrian settlement, Lavrov said during the general debate at the 71st Regular Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Earlier in September, US-led coalition planes bombed Syrian government troops in Deir ez-Zor, and a few days later a UN humanitarian convoy was attacked in Aleppo. The minister stressed that its essential to fulfill the UN Security Council [UNSC] demand to dissociate the so-called moderate opposition from the terrorists. Here, special responsibility rests with the US and the members of their coalition. Their refusal or inability to do this in the present circumstances cant but strengthen the suspicion that its being attempted to remove Jabhat al-Nusra out of harms way and that the plans for a regime change are still on the table, he said, adding that it would be a grave violation of the UNSC resolution. Lavrov reiterated that resolving the crisis in Syria will be impossible without the suppression of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), Jabhat al-Nusra and other terrorist groups, which joined them. Its the key to strengthening the cessation of hostilities and achieving a nationwide ceasefire. Open sabotage of the political process by some representatives of the opposition abroad, which occurs as their patrons turn a blind eye, has a negative impact on the reputation of the UN and, again, suggests that the reason here is rooted in the desire to create a pretext for attempted regime change, he said. According to the Russian FM, it is also unacceptable to delay the start of intra-Syrian negotiations without any preconditions, as envisaged by resolution No. 2254 of the UN Security Council. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz In the first session of JCPOA Joint Committee, the foreign ministers of the group 5+1 reprimanded the US for misconduct in implementing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said. The ministers in the meeting strongly noted the US that what they do is not exactly in agreement to the JCPOA and that they should revise their work, when the US vowed to improve the procedure, Rouhani said upon arriving in Tehran from New York, IRIB news agency reported September 23. In New York to attend the UN General Assembly, the foreign ministers of Iran and the group 5+1 (the US, the UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) met as the first session of the JCPOA Joint Committee to review the implementation of the deal. While Iran is to make changes to its nuclear program under the JCPOA, the world powers are to ensure that Iran benefits from the lift of economic sanctions. Tehran, however, has been saying the US has failed to uphold the spirit of the deal by blocking its assets and not helping foreign banks and companies resign their fear of punishment for doing business with Iran. In late April, a US court blocked nearly $2 billion of Iranian assets in the States. The court said the money had to go to the American victims of terrorist attacks, including the 1983 truck bombing of a Marine Corps barracks in Beirut. Investigators of the court concluded that Iran was responsible for that attack, which Tehran has denied. The United States also left Iran hanging for airplanes it had bought from Boeing and Airbus. The US Treasury permitted the transfer of the airplanes to Iran only on September 21 nearly nine months after Iran made deals with the companies. Iran has had a hard time convincing foreign banks, insurance companies and manufacturers abroad to come forth for business for they fear being punished by the US Treasury. Tehran says the US has been violating its commitments under the JCPOA. --- Israeli and Palestinian authorities must take positive steps to reduce violence and settlement activity or a two-state solution will never become a reality, the Quartet said in a statement on Friday. Earlier in the day, representatives of the Quartet including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, US Secretary of State John Kerry and EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Federica Mogherini met to discuss a path forward on the Israeli-Palestine conflict. "The Quartet stressed the growing urgency of taking affirmative steps to reverse these trends in order to prevent entrenching a one-state reality of perpetual occupation and conflict that is incompatible with realizing the national aspirations of both peoples," the statement, issued by the US Department of State, said. The Quartet cited Israeli settlement activity, illicit arms-build up in Gaza along with resurgence in violence from both sides, as factors hindering the path to any possible solution. The statement directed Quartet Envoys to continue engaging with Israeli and Palestinian stakeholders on efforts to implement recommendations found in the Quartet Report of July 2016. The foreign ministers of Egypt and France joined the second part of the meeting to brief the Quarter on their respective efforts to support the Middle East peace process. In July 2016, the Quartet issued a report with recommendations for creating the conditions to resume meaningful talks between Israel and Palestine to end the occupation that began in 1967. --- Looks like Ricky Man on Dog Santorum has a new gig that is just perfect for his extreme homophobic skill set. The Washington Blade: In one fell swoop, Donald Trump has fortified the anti-LGBT positions he expressed over his campaign and tapped as an adviser former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, a two-time presidential candidate with a notoriously anti-LGBT history. The actions are the result of Trumps creation of a 35-member Catholic Advisory Council, which includes, in addition to Santorum, other individuals with anti-LGBT histories. Accompanying the creation of the council is a new statement from Trump outlining Issues of Importance to Catholics and reiterating his support for the First Amendment Defense Act, a federal religious freedom bill seen to enable anti-LGBT discrimination. Emphasizing his commitment to religious liberty, Trump hints at opposition to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in favor of same-sex marriage and President Obamas executive order barring anti-LGBT discrimination among federal contractors. Religious liberty is enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution, Trump said. It is our first liberty and provides the most important protection in that it protects our right of conscience. Activist judges and executive orders issued by presidents who have no regard for the Constitution have put these protections in jeopardy. If I am elected president and Congress passes the First Amendment Defense Act, I will sign it to protect the deeply held religious beliefs of Catholics and the beliefs of Americans of all faiths. In a 2003 interview Santorum brought up the then-pending U.S. Supreme Court case Lawrence v. Texas, which challenged a Texas sodomy law, and said that he did not have a problem with homosexuals, but a problem with homosexual acts, the right to privacy doesnt exist in my opinion in the United States Constitution, and sodomy laws properly exist to prevent acts which undermine the basic tenets of our society and the family. Santorum also stated: In every society, the definition of marriage has not ever to my knowledge included homosexuality. Thats not to pick on homosexuality. Its not, you know, man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be. It is one thing. And when you destroy that you have a dramatic impact on the quality. The AP also quoted Santorum as saying, If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything. and Whether its polygamy, whether its adultery, whether its sodomy, all of those things, are antithetical to a healthy, stable, traditional family. Share this: Tweet More Email Print This wonderful little video by Randy Olson lays out one argument for why as a public political speaker, Donald Trump is perceived to be such a crowd-pleaser, and Hillary Clinton gets weaker scores. It's all about narrative design. Mr. Olson is the author of the wonderful science communication book "Houston, We Have a Narrative: Why Science Needs Story." About this video analyzing Trump and Clinton's styles, Olson writes: Over the past year pundits have evaluated the speeches and debate performances of the Presidential candidates according to a variety of criteria including length of words, length of sentences, grade level of language and all sorts of other things. But here's a different way to look at what they say using The Narrative Index. It's a simple number that's just the ratio of the words But to And. "And" is a the most common word of agreement used in setting up narrative points. "But" is the most common word of contradiction, used for establishing a narrative thread. When you start to calculate these ratios simply the BUTS divided by the ANDS, multiplied by 100 to make it a whole number a world of patterns emerges. On an archival Reddit post, Olson explained where this line of inquiry comes from the Matt Stone and Trey Parker Comedy Central animated series "South Park." I found it in a narrative template I crafted and labeled as "The ABT." It comes indirectly from the co-creators of the Emmy and Peabody award-winning animated series, South Park. In a 2011 Comedy Central documentary about the show, they talked about their "Rule of Replacing" which they use for editing scripts. They replace the word "and" with "but" or "therefore" to improve storytelling so I turned it into the "And, But, Therefore" template (the ABT). It is now the central tool in my mission to keep people from being boring. I present it in my new book, "Houston, We Have A Narrative," use it in my work with individual scientists, and have built my Story Circles Narrative Training program around it, which I now run with scientists from NIH and USDA. Together, with this marvelous narrative tool, we are fighting to make the world a tiny bit less boring of a place. The BUT Candidate Vs the AND Candidate Edited by John Rael. Music by Andru Aesthetik. (Thanks, Mike Backes!) Salesforce.com and Google are two of the technology giants who have expressed interest in a possible buyout of the struggling social media firm Twitter, according to various reports. Reuters describes today's news leak as "the start of what is likely to be a slow-rolling auction of the high-profile but money-losing social media company." CNBC reported the Twitter sale talks rumors, citing anonymous sources. Twitter is in talks with companies including Google/Alphabet, and may receive a formal bid from them soon. Citing an anonymous source, Reuters says Salesforce.com is also pursuing Twitter. Reuters: Twitter and Alphabet Inc, Google's parent company did not respond to a request for comment. Salesforce declined to comment. Verizon, another company mentioned in media reports on Friday as a possible suitor, said it did not comment on M&A rumors but that it had not submitted a bid for the company. From Mike Isaac et al, at the New York Times: Twitter, based in San Francisco, is talking with Salesforce.com, Google and others about a possible takeover of the company, people briefed on the discussions said on Friday. The talks are in the early stages, these people said, with no guarantee that a deal will be reached. In particular, Jack Dorsey, Twitter's chief executive, is resistant to selling to some of the potential acquirers, they said. Twitter is also weighing a possible revamping that could involve divestitures and layoffs, the people said. Two divisions that Twitter is considering divesting itself of are Vine, the mobile six-second video service, and MoPub, a mobile advertising business, they said. The company is working with the investment banks Goldman Sachs and Allen & Company on its options. In related news, an important Buzzfeed report came out this week about the silence many harassment victims hear when they report abuse on Twitter to Twitter. Pteryxx writes, "Writer who has spent 30+ years in solitary has his own published writing censored from reaching him and his unpublished manuscript was destroyed in moving him to a different facility. " William "Billy" Blake is serving a 77-to-life sentence, and has been in solitary for 29 years, since he killed a guard in a failed escape attempt. He is one of the contributors to 2016's Hell Is a Very Small Place: Voices from Solitary Confinement, a book he's never seen, held or read; he's never seen his widely read essay "A Sentence Worse Than Death," which won Honorable Mention in the Yale Law Journal's Prison Law Writing Contest, in print. You can write to Blake at: William Blake #87-A-5771, Great Meadow Correctional Facility, 11739 State Route 22, PO Box 51, Comstock, New York 12821-0051. Jean Casella, co-director of Solitary Watch and co-editor of the book, reports that two copies of Hell Is a Very Small Place were mailed to Blake at Great Meadow Correctional Facility in upstate New York, where he is currently incarcerated. They were sent directly by the publisher, in accordance with policies laid out by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), but the copies never reached him. Great Meadow Correctional Facilityreferred to by most individuals serving time there as "Comstock," after the small town where it is locatedforwards all books entering the prison to the Facility Media Review Committee (FMRC). In deciding whether to allow access to a publication, the FMRC operates under a code of directives, or rules. After the evaluation, incarcerated individuals are issued an Inmate Disposition Notice, informing them of the FMRC's decision. Weeks after it was sent to him, Blake received a notice informing him that he was being denied access to his book. The reason for the denial of Blake's book reads: "Publication which incites disobedience towards law enforcement officers or prison personell [sic], presents clear and immediate risk of lawlessness, violence, anarchy, or rebellion agiainst [sic] governmental authority." The notice flags fourteen page numbers but fails to mention the content in violation or where on the pages that content can be foundboth of which are required by DOCCS Directive 4572. The first flagged page is part of co-editor Sarah Shourd's preface to the anthology. On this page, she recounts her visit to Blake in prison. She recalls his huge grin, lively gestures and long-winded storytelling. She wonders whether people on the outside would begin to question solitary confinement if they met Blake. A correctional officer declines to comment but implies he feels similarly. Writer in Solitary Confinement Is Barred from Reading His Own Book [Sarah Blatt-Herold] While the Environmental Protection Agency was at Mosaic examining the giant sinkhole on its property, calls to attorneys who filed the class action lawsuit against the company continued to roll in. Lawsuit calls Mosaic 'negligent' Morgan and Morgan fielding "hundreds of calls" Mosaic to respond to suit through judicial process The federal class action lawsuit calls Mosaic negligent, because it allowed 215 million gallons of radioactive wastewater to seep into the Floridan aquifer through a 45 foot wide sinkhole on its property. The lawsuit also calls out the company for waiting three weeks to tell residents. Were here to act on behalf of the people to get a federal judge to oversee this problem. We need judicial oversight, said John Yanchunis, one of the attorneys at Morgan & Morgan working on the case. RELATED: EPA visits Mosaic sinkhole site The lawsuits three plaintiffs are Nicholas Bohn, Natasha McCormick, and Eric Weckman. McCormick is a realtor who sells homes in the area. She told us over the phone shes worried about the health of the people and animals in the area, as well as property values. She said she found the lawyers on Google and asked Bohn to join her in the suit. Yanchunis said all of the plaintiffs want well monitoring, medical monitoring to make sure theres no adverse health effects down the line, and money to compensate for the possible decrease in property values. He went on to say Morgan and Morgan has fielded hundreds of calls, and its staff is trying to sort through where the people live, where they get their water, and how they use it. Were talking about our major water source in this state, the aquifer," said Yanchunis. "Theres millions of people in the Bay area and those people who draw their water from the ground ought to be concerned." RELATED: 210 well tests requested in wake of Mosaic sinkhole spill Resident Margaret Adams lives down the street from the Mosaic plant. Adams is one of 5,000 people who live within five miles of the sinkhole and depends on well water that could be impacted by the leak. She told us she's pondering giving the lawyers a call herself. Its just a mess. Were senior citizens. We live on social security. This is all weve got. We cant use our water now. And if they dont supply it from now on, what? Adams said. Mosaic said it is reviewing the details of this lawsuit and it will respond through the judicial process. J. L. BELL is a Massachusetts writer who specializes in (among other things) the start of the American Revolution in and around Boston. He is particularly interested in the experiences of children in 1765-75. He has published scholarly papers and popular articles for both children and adults. He was consultant for an episode of History Detectives, and contributed to a display at Minute Man National Historic Park. News / Local by Stephen Jakes A Bulawayo woman has been dragged to court after she allegedly faked a marriage certificate with an Egyptian man in an attempted to help him not to be deported.Marry Phiri (52) pleaded guilty to the violation of the Immigration Act when she appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Gladmore Mushove. She was sentenced to six months in jail.Three months of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour. The remaining three months were suspended for 105 hours of community service.The court heard that on the 10th of February 2014 at 10am in Bulawayo, Phiri crafted a counterfeit marriage certificate purporting to be married to Kamal Atla Ebada Boush who is an Egyptian so that he will not have any restrictions of being in Zimbabwe.On November 26 Ebada was arrested by the Immigration staff for remaining in the country illegal. Phiri went to the Immigration offices where she produced the fake marriage certificate leading to her arrest. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Guiseppe Barranco/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Show More Show Less 3 of 3 A federal magistrate judge has allowed Calvin Walker's attorney to withdraw as counsel in his conspiracy and defamation lawsuit and ordered the former Beaumont ISD contract electrician to hire new legal representation by Oct. 26. Maria-Vittoria Carminati, who represented Walker and former BISD employee Jessie Haynes in the lawsuit, cited several grounds in her request to withdraw, including a business move to Colorado and an increasingly hostile relationship with her former clients, according to court documents. To continue following the latest news and information for Bedfordshire and surrounding areas, simply enter your full postcode below WAR ZONE: In The Girl With All The Gifts are (l-r) Glenn Close as Dr Caroline Caldwell, Gemma Arterton as Helen Justineau, Paddy Considine as Sgt Eddie Parks and Fisayo Akinade as Kieran Gallagher In a world of entitled celebrities, scrambling for an identity, it's refreshing to meet someone like Gemma Arterton. Someone who has realised who, and where, she wants to be. Refusing to work with directors who lack respect, and shunning big-budget blockbusters which fail to address - and indeed eradicate - the gender pay gap, the 30-year-old Rada graduate has come a long way since her big-screen debut in 2007's St Trinian's. "It was a different time, and not just for me," she recently told The Observer. "When I started talking about how I didn't enjoy parts of my job, and talking about body image, I got in trouble. So I stopped. "It's easier to conform and shut up. That's the way it's always been with women. Easier than putting yourself out there and having an opinion, to which someone might retaliate. I'm sure there are people who don't want to work with me because they think I'm difficult - 'one of those feminist girls' - but to be honest with you, I don't want to work with them. And that's fine. Now." Arterton - strikingly beautiful, and sporting a statement silk trouser suit when we meet for our interview - has shaped a career she's proud of. This year alone, the Gravesend-born star has clocked up starring roles in A Hundred Streets, wartime romantic comedy Their Finest, French drama Orpheline, sprawling saga The History Of Love, as well as theatre stints in the West End's rip-roaring play Nell Gwynn and musical Made In Dagenham. The 2016 credits don't end there. Her latest jaunt sees her take on the zombie-thriller genre, a field she admits "is not usually my bag". Based on author Mike Carey's 2014 novel of the same name, The Girl With All The Gifts follows the terrifying vision of a post-apocalyptic Britain, where humanity has been all but destroyed by a fungal disease that eradicates free will and turns its victims into flesh-eating 'hungries'. Set at an Army base in rural England, Arterton plays Miss Justineau, the resilient teacher to a small group of children seemingly immune to the effects of the disease, including 10-year-old Melanie (Sennia Nanua), with whom she forms a strong bond. "I was sent the script without knowing anything about the writer Mike Carey or director Colm McCarthy and so I read it blindly," explains Arterton. "I got sucked into it. It's about relationships and humanity, that's really what moved me. "It's very thought-provoking. The zombie metaphor is deep when you think about it - humanity turning against each other, and humans eating each other and coming back from the dead. What does that mean? "It felt relevant because it's about this new young blood, the next step in human evolution, and who has the right to decide who gets to live and die. If nature is evolving then surely that's what takes precedence? And that really interested me." So, in a real zombie takeover, Arterton should fare pretty well now, right? "I don't think I'd be that great, actually," she admits, breaking into laughter. "The reason I like Miss Justineau is because I actually feel like I'd react that way. I look for the humanity in people all the time and I don't think I would feel at ease killing anyone, obviously. "And seeing children in that way is quite disturbing," she adds. "I'd find it hard, but I think I'd survive." But for all the questions the film raises, it also tackles some very real issues, including equality in Hollywood, enthuses Arterton, whose silver-screen credits also include Quantum Of Solace (she played Bond Girl Strawberry Fields) and J Blakeson's 2009 indie flick The Disappearance Of Alice Creed. "There are more roles out there," she says, in reference to strong female castings. "It's a great time at the moment, but [the roles] aren't easy to come by or easy to get made. "I know that our producer on this film, Camille Gatin, was told time and time again to change the sex of Dr Caldwell [played by Glenn Close in the film] or Miss Justineau, because they could easily be masculine characters as well. But she fought for it," Arterton adds. "This is the first gender-balanced, racially-balanced film I've done," she quips, clasping her hands together. "And I think that's really great! "It says a lot about where we're at in the UK at the moment and how films should be made. Colm has made loads of TV [Murphy's Law, Peaky Blinders] and is very experienced but this is his first film, and for him to be able to say that, is a really great example for other film-makers to follow." Arterton makes for easy company, perhaps because she's freed by her choice to surround herself with projects that suit her - which also includes an upcoming stint on stage as Joan of Arc in Bernard Shaw's electrifying theatre classic, Saint Joan, and The Escape, a film she's set to star in and is co-producing. "It's with Dominic Cooper and Dominic Savage is directing it," adds the actress, who is rumoured to be in a relationship with French director Franklin Ohanessian, following her separation and subsequent 2015 divorce from Italian fashion consultant Stefano Catelli. "I co-wrote it with Dominic Savage and it's about a couple who move back to their hometown once they've had kids and she loses her mind..." Returning back to her roots - the film is shot in Gravesham where she grew up - also means she gets to spend time with her nearest and dearest - "I'm very close to my family, so as much as I can see them, I do" - including her actress sister Hannah Arterton (The Five, Walking On Sunshine). The Girl With All The Gifts is in cinemas now Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing George Chittick at the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing George Chittick at the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) First Minister Arlene Foster has welcomed a deal reach over the three year old Ardoyne Orange Order parade dispute. The deal, however, remains subject to the Parades Commission allowing a return parade next Saturday, October 1 at 8.30 am. >>Read the full text of the agreement<< It will allow the lodges to complete their 2013 parade, with a commitment that Orangemen will not apply for future return parades without local agreement. The agreement will see the dismantling of the controversial Twaddell protest camp. A community forum will be established to build better relations among all those who share the part of the Crumlin Road concerned. Nationalist residents group Cara has endorsed the deal, however the more hardline group GARC has vowed to continue to protest against any Orange parade passed the Ardoyne shops. Speaking this morning at a DUP breakfast in Omagh Ms Foster described the deal as a "significant step". "The agreement reached between three Orange Order lodges in North Belfast and Ardoyne residents representatives comes about following engagement in a local dialogue process," she said. "The understanding they have reached is a welcome development and is a significant step given this has been an initiative between the Orange and local residents. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close File picture of Derry businessman Jim Roddy who helped reach an agreement between the Orange Order and the nationalist residents' group CARA that will allow Orangemen to march along the contested route past Ardoyne. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 23rd September 2016 - File picture of Derry businessman Jim Roddy, left, who helped reach an agreement between the Orange Order and the nationalist residentsO group CARA that will allow Orangemen to march along the contested route past Ardoyne. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 23rd September 2016 - File picture of Rev Harold Good who helped reach an agreement between the Orange Order and the nationalist residentsO group CARA that will allow Orangemen to march along the contested route past Ardoyne. Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 23rd September 2016 - File picture of Rev Harold Good who helped reach an agreement between the Orange Order and the nationalist residents group CARA that will allow Orangemen to march along the contested route past Ardoyne. Matt Mackey - Presseye.com Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 23rd September 2016 - File picture of Rev Harold Good who helped reach an agreement between the Orange Order and the nationalist residentsO group CARA that will allow Orangemen to march along the contested route past Ardoyne. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp File picture of Derry businessman Jim Roddy who helped reach an agreement between the Orange Order and the nationalist residents' group CARA that will allow Orangemen to march along the contested route past Ardoyne. "I said at the start of the summer that we all have a responsibility to show leadership and to continue to seek resolutions to contentious issues through discussion and to ensure any difficulties are identified and resolved peacefully. By doing so we become stronger as a community and a country. "I thank all those involved. We want to build a future that is respectful, inclusive and vibrant. Northern Ireland can have a very bright future built on respect and celebration of diversity." Presbyterian Moderator the Rev Frank Sellar praised the deal, and urged that "equal energy to be given to strengthening community relationships in the area". I welcome the agreement that has been reached between the lodges and residents of Twaddell Avenue after three years of dispute, and pray that it might now find peaceful resolution as we look forward to the future," he said. For all concerned this has been a long-running and seemingly intractable situation. For this reason I give thanks for the dedication, patience and persistence of all involved in bringing these negotiations to a resolution. What will now be important, as we mover forward, is for equal energy and persistence to be given to strengthening community relationships across the whole community." Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is Gerald Solinas the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is George Chittick during the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is William (Willie) Frazer during the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is George Chittick during the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is Gorge Chittick at the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is Gerald Solinas the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is George Chittick during the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is George Chittick during the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is George Chittick during the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Hundreds of bands march through west Belfast this evening to mark the 1000th day of protest at the Twaddle Peace Camp. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press Hundreds of bands march through west Belfast this evening to mark the 1000th day of protest at the Twaddle Peace Camp. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press Hundreds of bands march through west Belfast this evening to mark the 1000th day of protest at the Twaddle Peace Camp. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press Hundreds of bands march through west Belfast this evening to mark the 1000th day of protest at the Twaddle Peace Camp. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Twaddell Avenue Kevin Scott A protestor at Twaddell Avenue Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Loyalist protest in the Woodvale area of north Belfast Gerald Solinas, left, and James Small pictured at Camp Twaddell at Ardoyne in North Belfast with other protestors. Picture by Kelvin Boyes/PressEye Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Loyalists at the protest camp at Twaddell Avenue in north Belfast The loyalist camp set up in the Woodvale area of north Belfast / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is Gerald Solinas the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Justice minister Claire Sugden paid tribute to the facilitators and all those involved for their efforts. "I look forward to seeing this new agreement implemented and an end to the protest," she said. I also wish to take this opportunity to thank the Chief Constable and his officers who were at the frontline policing this situation over the course of the last three years, for their impartial and impeccable support to protect the entire community at the Twaddell interface. Belfast Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Chris Noble said he looks forward to being able to scale back the policing operation at Twaddell. "The Police Service welcomes the news of a local agreement in relation to the challenges surrounding parades and protests at Twaddell/Crumlin Road in North Belfast," he said. "I and my officers look forward to stepping back from the significant policing operation that has been ongoing for some time. "We will continue to work with all communities to secure a long term resolution of the issues surrounding parades and protests in Belfast." Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has also welcomed the deal. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing Gerald Solinas at the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is 1 during the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing George Chittick at the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing George Chittick at the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing Gerald Solinas at the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing Gerald Solinas at the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing Gerald Solinas at the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) On Saturday morning the County Grand Orange Lodge of Belfast added its support, commenting: "We look forward to the lodges and bands completing their 2013 Twelfth of July parade". In a statement on Friday evening the Rev Harold Good, a former president of the Methodist Church and Londonderry businessman Jim Roddy - who have been facilitating talks - said: "We are pleased to announce that a local agreement has been reached to bring an end to the difficulties surrounding parades and protests in the Twaddell/Crumlin Road area. "The agreement has the full support of the three lodges and the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association (CARA). "The full text of the agreement will be made available tomorrow." The agreement comes after a public meeting on Friday night. CARA said the deal represented the best for residents and businesses affected by the parade, the camp and the heavy police presence in the area "and the constant tension that comes with that". The hard-line Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective have not supported the deal. An Orange Order source said they had reached an agreement and the deal could only be done once the parade had taken place, which would be a matter for the Parades Commission. Secretary of State James Brokenshire added: "I welcome the agreement which looks set to see the end of the north Belfast parading dispute. "I commend the representatives of the Orange Order and the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association for their efforts in negotiating a solution. "This is a clear demonstration that local dialogue can work, and offers up the best chance of resolving disputes like this." The Police Federation for Northern Ireland, which represents officers welcomed the prospect of a resolution. A PFNI spokesman said: "This will immediately release the officers deployed in connection with that protest to be utilised in front-line duties in the communities they were extracted from. "It will also help to take some of the pressure off those front line officers who, on a daily basis, are struggling to meet demand. We obviously commend all those who played a part in making this resolution possible." Since 2013 the Parades Commission has prevented the annual Twelfth return parade past the Ardoyne shop fronts. In response the three Ligoniel lodges involved established a camp at Twaddell Avenue and held nightly protests over the determination. The flashpoint has previously witnessed serious loyalist and republican rioting when tensions boiled over. Dissident republicans had also used the nightly gathering of police in the area to target officers. The bill for policing the standoff was in excess of 21m. The Republic's Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan also welcomed the deal. He said: "I welcome todays announcement that a way forward has been found to resolve the difficulties that surround parades and associated protests in the Crumlin Road and Twaddell area of north Belfast. Expressions of place and identity can be very emotive and challenging. I commend the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect that has allowed a common understanding to be developed on how these parades can be managed. I encourage the wider community to give this initiative its full support. I acknowledge the hard work in a spirit of genuine engagement and reconciliation by all those who were party to achieving this new approach. I wish to pay tribute to those in the Orange Order and among local residents for their leadership and courage in achieving this agreement. I look forward to its full implementation in good faith and good neighbourliness. Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said he hopes the parade will be allowed to pass peacefully. "This will be an enormous relief to most," he said. "While the camp at Twaddell may have offered a focal point for justified frustration and anger in the early days of the impasse, it had become an expensive and ineffective initiative. "I hope the parade will now be allowed to pass peacefully and respectfully." Alliance Leader David Ford also welcomed the announcement. "After many months of disagreement, the announcement of a resolution of the dispute between members of the loyal orders and Ardoyne residents is very welcome," said Mr Ford. "I congratulate the representatives of the two sides on reaching an agreement and thank the mediators for their good work, despite the disappointments of the past summer. "I look forward to seeing the full details of the deal being published and most importantly, put into action." The PSNI commander in Belfast says he is looking forward to scaling back the policing operation at the Twaddell/Crumlin Road interface. In July the Belfast Telegraph revealed the bill for policing the loyalist Twaddell Avenue protest camp will be more than 21m. Read More Several attempts to resolve the dispute failed earlier this year. A protest camp has been in place at Twaddell Avenue since July 2013 when three Orange lodges were barred from staging their parade home along the Crumlin Road. The small site consists of just a caravan, a portacabin and some toilets, but sporadic violence means there has been a police presence there since it was set up. Last year, more than 20 police officers and a 13 year-old girl were injured when trouble erupted on the return leg of a Twelfth of July parade. However a break through was announced on Friday night Read More It is understood that - subject to Parades Commission approval - a return march will pass Ardoyne shops next Saturday morning at 8am. The parade looks set to bring to an end the dispute at north Belfast's Twaddell Avenue-Crumlin Road intersection. The deal will also see the dismantling of the controversial Twaddell protest camp. Belfast Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Chris Noble said he is looking forward to scaling back the significant policing operation at the north Belfast flashpoint. "The Police Service welcomes the news of a local agreement in relation to the challenges surrounding parades and protests at Twaddell/Crumlin Road in North Belfast," he said. "I and my officers look forward to stepping back from the significant policing operation that has been ongoing for some time. "We will continue to work with all communities to secure a long term resolution of the issues surrounding parades and protests in Belfast." Meanwhile on Saturday afternoon, First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness released a joint statement welcoming the deal on the dispute. Mrs Foster said the community is stronger following the deal. "The agreement reached between three Orange Order lodges in North Belfast and Ardoyne residents representatives comes about following engagement in a local dialogue process," she said. "The understanding they have reached is a welcome development and is a significant step given this has been an initiative between the Orange and local residents. "I said at the start of the summer that we all have a responsibility to show leadership and to continue to seek resolutions to contentious issues through discussion and to ensure any difficulties are identified and resolved peacefully. By doing so we become stronger as a community and a country. "I thank all those involved. We want to build a future that is respectful, inclusive and vibrant. Northern Ireland can have a very bright future built on respect and celebration of diversity." Mr McGuinness also backed the deal. "An agreement that has the full support of the three lodges and the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association is something I welcome and support," he said. "I commend the Rev Harold Good and Jim Roddy who have worked positively and considerately with everyone in the local community to reach this agreement. "We must resolve disagreements regarding parades, identity, culture and tradition through dialogue so that difference is celebrated and respected. "The next phase of our political and peace processes must be the development of a real reconciliation process. "As leaders we will work with Executive colleagues to ensure tolerance, equality and mutual respect are key tenets of our new shared future." News / National by Stephen Jakes Villagers in Mazowe Central ward 11 are reportedly living in fear after the ruling Zanu PF youths in the ward went around threatening them with violence and victimisation if they participated in the opposition political parties joint demonstrations under the national Electoral Reform Agenda.Heal Zimbabwe Trust indicated that on 16 September 2016, Zanu PF Youth Chairperson, Nesbert Gatsi and Zanu PF youths moved around in the ward threatening people against participating in the National Electoral Reform Agenda (NERA) that was supposed to be held on 17 September 2016.The NERA demonstration was to push government to implement electoral reforms ahead of the 2018 elections."The demonstration was supposed to commence at Muchirikuenda Business centre and end at Nzvimbo Growth point. Gatsi openly told people that Detective Kachigamba who is stationed at Chombire police station had given him a directive that they should write down names of people who participate in the demonstration so that they can be arrested," the trust said."Gatsi further assigned people to identify the addresses of the MDC-T District chairperson, Patrick Bhozha and MDC-T District Organizing Secretary Mavura Dembere whom they accuse of mobilizing community members to participate in the demonstration. Gatsi warned people against participating in the activities of opposition parties, as this will force Zanu PF to set up bases in the area as a counter strategy." Members of Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective (GARC) protest against an Orange parade in July 2015 Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye An Ardoyne residents group has slammed a deal over the Twaddell parade dispute as "shady" and vowed to continue to protest against any Orange parade through the area. The Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective has poured cold water over a deal struck between the residents group Cara and the three Orange lodges involved with long-running dispute. Read More The deal - which remains subject to approval by the Parades Commission - will allow a return parade next Saturday, October 1 at 8am. It with allow the lodges to complete their 2013 parade, with a commitment that Orangemen will not apply for future return parades without local agreement, and will dismantle the protest camp at Twaddell. Read More However GARC has insisted there has been no "local agreement between residents" and the Orange Order. "Instead there has been a shady deal, heavily influenced by promises of millions of pounds in funding, between Sinn Fein and the UVF," GARC said in a statement. "There has been no comprehensive consultation with residents. "A meeting of 30 or so invited people, mostly Sinn Fein members from various parts of Belfast, is not a comprehensive consultation representative of a community numbering thousands." GARC has vowed to continue to protest against any Orange parade passed Ardoyne shops. "Sinn Fein's end of the bargain, that there will be no future residents' protests, can not be guaranteed," the group said. "GARC will continue to provide residents with the opportunity to demonstrate their opposition to Loyal Order marches through this area. "While those who do deals with the UVF continue to count their blood money to get themselves to sleep at night." Last week a number of members of a Ballysillan Orange lodge threatened to quit in the earlier stages of the negotiations over the deal. Read More Two of the lodges backed the deal but there has been division within the third, Ballysillan LOL 1891. Up to eight of Ballysillan's members have either resigned or are threatening to resign from the Orange Order, claiming they felt "pressurised" into accepting the agreement, which they have slammed as a "dirty deal". In one of the resignation letters, a member claims that some Orange Order members have "bowed to pressure with a result they are now dancing to a Republican tune". They also express frustration at what they view as a "complete waste of time". The PSNI has been criticised over the "stealth" closure of a border police station. Castlederg barracks has been non-operational since February. A senior officer confirmed it had shut after enquiries from the Belfast Telegraph into its running costs. However, the news came as a surprise to some local MLAs. DUP MLA Tom Buchanan, who had led the fight to keep the station open, said he was shocked and angered after he was told that it had been closed since February. Ulster Unionist MLA Ross Hussey added that he had been told the facility was still available for use. Sinn Fein also appear to have been unaware that the base had been closed. Earlier this week, the party's West Tyrone MLA Michaela Boyle issued a statement headlined: "Boyle calls for closure of Castlederg police station". It came after Ms Boyle discovered around 850,000 had been spent on the upkeep of the station over the last five years - even though it has been vacant for much of that time. PSNI Chief Inspector Ivor Morton said: "Castlederg station was included in the service-wide estate review in 2015. "As it was no longer a reporting station and had not been for a number of years, the station was closed in February of this year. "Prior to this date it had been used as a base for the local neighbourhood policing team and as a temporary base for officers policing events in the area. The majority of costs relate to rates, some of which we are in the process of claiming back." Mr Buchanan said the news had come as a shock to him. "My understanding was that it was still being utilised by the neighbourhood policing teams and others, and that it wasn't just closed completely," he added. "This is a station closing by stealth." The Police said that the local Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) was told the station had closed. A spokesperson added: "The PCSP was made aware of the decision to make the station non-operational earlier this year. "No decision around the long-term future of the station has been made." But Mr Buchanan said it came as news to him. "I wasn't aware of this - it was my understanding the station was still open for neighbourhood policing and for a base for policing any time it was required," he added. "To come now and say that it is closed is alarming news and something that I will take up with the police. "I have been vocal on this police station's closure and yet I haven't got so much as a letter from any member of the PSNI to inform me of this. "It is an absolute disgrace that the PSNI has not sought to consult with local representatives on this." Mr Hussey, who also represents West Tyrone, has submitted questions to the Policing Board on the matter. He said he had been given assurances that the station was still open. "The police told me that the station was going to be used on the Last Saturday in August as a base for the police for their operation for the Last Saturday, and that the station would still be maintained for various parades and any other incidents that might occur in the Castlederg area," he explained. Castlederg PSNI station has been shut to the public for some time, but was used on occasions as a base for officers. The station was first earmarked for closure back in 2011, but was subsequently retained in 2012. Since then, hundreds of thousands of pounds have been spent on maintaining the site. In the last five years, the bill totalled some 847,314. This comprised 232,596 maintenance costs and 614,718 spent on rates and utilities. The figures were disclosed by Justice Minister Claire Sugden after an Assembly question from Ms Boyle. Tourists visiting Belfast and conferences held in the city generated 97m for the economy in 2015/16 - up 30% on the year before, it has been claimed Tourists visiting Belfast and conferences held in the city generated 97m for the economy in 2015/16 - up 30% on the year before, it has been claimed. Visit Belfast, which markets the city as a destination, said the period had been its most successful 12 months yet. The body added that the 97m referred to "the direct contribution that Visit Belfast delivers to the city through our sales and marketing activities". It measured spending by delegates during conferences and by cruise visitors using industry standards. It also used research company Milward Brown Ulster to measure the return on spending on marketing campaigns to attract short-break visitors. But there was a fall in the number of cruise ships docking in the city, from 63 in 2014/15 to 59 in the most recent year. However, the 59 ships from operators such as Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and P&O brought 116,000 visitors - up 3,000 on the year before. Visit Belfast said 303,000 guests spent the night in the city's hotels, up 4.5% on the previous figure. The number of conference wins for the city grew by just one to 70 during 2015/16 - but Visit Belfast said the value of conferences to the city was growing. However, figures from business advisers PwC on Thursday said hotels in Belfast had experienced falling average occupancy rates in the year to June 2016, from 79% to 75%. PwC also warned that the city's increasing number of new hotels meant that supply could outstrip demand. Members of the Orange Order at the height of the Twaddell Avenue dispute An agreement has been reached over the long-running north Belfast parade dispute. It is understood that - subject to Parades Commission approval - a return march will pass Ardoyne shops next Saturday morning at 8am. The parade looks set to bring to an end the dispute at north Belfast's Twaddell Avenue-Crumlin Road intersection. The deal will also see the dismantling of the controversial Twaddell protest camp. Policing the site has cost the public purse more than 20m since it opened in 2013. A meeting of local residents was called to discuss the issue of parades on the Crumlin Road and the Twaddell protest camp. The deal was facilitated by the Rev Harold Good and Derry businessman Jim Roddy. In a joint statement, the negotiators welcomed the deal. "We are pleased to announce a local agreement has been reached to bring an end to the difficulties surrounding parades and protests in the Twaddell-Crumlin Road area," they said. "The agreement has the full support of the three lodges and the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents' Association." "The full text of the agreement will be made available to the media tomorrow (Saturday)," the statement concluded. A spokesman for the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents' Association added: "This is the best deal for the residents affected by the parade. Evening violence will be eradicated. The removal of camp Twaddell will also let those in the area get on with their lives without a heavy police presence every night and the constant tension that comes with that." The Orange Order has also endorsed the proposal, following a hush-hush meeting held on Wednesday night. Reports indicate that an application is to be made to the Parades Commission for the three lodges who are party to the dispute to march up the Crumlin Road with two bands early next Saturday morning, thus completing their interrupted 12th July procession from the summer of 2013. In return, the protest camp at Twaddell Avenue will be taken down and no future application for a 12th of July return parade will be made without agreement between the Orange Order and the local residents. The deal was also welcomed by Secretary of State James Brokenshire, who said: "I commend the representatives of the Orange Order and the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents' Association for their efforts in negotiating this solution. "This is a clear demonstration that local dialogue can work and offers up the best chance of resolving disputes like this." A spokesman for the Police Federation of Northern Ireland said the agreement would "help to take some of the pressure off" those officers struggling on the frontline of the dispute. "We obviously commend all those who played a part in making this resolution possible," it added. by david young Dissident republicans will today launch a new political party aimed at challenging partition and bringing activists onto the streets in support of Irish unity. Stock image Dissident republicans will today launch a new political party aimed at challenging partition and bringing activists onto the streets in support of Irish unity. High-profile dissidents from both sides of the border are expected to gather for the launch in Newry. The party, which will be strongly opposed to the Good Friday Agreement, is supported by New IRA prisoners in Roe Four in Maghaberry jail. Previous Roe Four inmates include Colin Duffy, from Lurgan, and prominent Belfast dissidents Alex McCrory and Dee Fennell. The party's policy on contesting elections and taking any seats if successful will be disclosed today. The new group is supported by New IRA prisoners on E3 and E4 landings in Portlaoise prison. The New IRA is the largest dissident paramilitary group. In the past five years, it has murdered two prison officers - Adrian Ismay and David Black - and PSNI officer Ronan Kerr. The establishment of a political party is seen as a response to critics who say that dissident republicans have no political strategy. The first public sign that dissidents were considering forming a party came at an Easter commemoration in Tyrone in March when former Tyrone IRA prisoner David Jordan said that a "political vehicle" must be built. "The vehicle must be ideologically united on radical socialist republican objectives," he added. "It must be capable of formulating and implementing both short-term and long-term objectives." Meet Ceejay, the four-year-old honorary constable with the PSNI. Ceejay McArdle was diagnosed with leukaemia in September 2014. The determined youngster from Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, wants to join the Garda when he grows up. And in June 2015 he 'joined' the force as he graduated from its training college in Templemore. On Friday, to give him a boost after receiving his most recent dose of chemotherapy, he also became an honorary constable with the PSNI. Ceejay along with PSNI officers were on a special mission to find a robber who had been stealing all of the sweets from children in Belfast. He started his day with a briefing with Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin where he got full details of the important mission ahead, as well as being fitted with his own uniform. Ceejay even got a helping hand from Batman. And soon they were off on their journey, which started with a tour along the River Lagan on a police boat. Next they met the police dogs and set off in pursuit of some of the robbers who almost made their getaway with the coveted sweets. Ceejay then got the chance to operate the water canon - and to see the vehicles in action on the PSNI skid-pan. Follow the action on the PSNI's Instagram account and view their story at the top of the app The historic agreement on the longstanding impasse in north Belfast has been hailed by the UK and Irish governments and Stormont's political leaders Orangemen and nationalist residents who struck a breakthrough deal to resolve Northern Ireland's most volatile parading dispute have said they are committed to working in a spirit of genuine respect toward a common, peaceful and shared future. The historic agreement on the longstanding impasse in north Belfast has been hailed by the UK and Irish governments and Stormont's political leaders. The Twaddell/Ardoyne flashpoint has previously witnessed serious loyalist and republican rioting when tensions linked to a contentious Orange march boiled over on the main date in the loyal order parading calendar - the "Twelfth of July". A 24/7 loyalist protest camp was set up at the sectarian interface in 2013 when the Parades Commission - a government-appointed adjudication panel for controversial marches - prevented Orangemen belonging to three Orange lodges passing the nationalist Ardoyne along the Crumlin Road as they returned from traditional "Twelfth" commemorations. Nightly protests were held in the nearby unionist Woodvale/Twaddell area in the years since, with a protest parade every Saturday. The policing operation at the site has cost in excess of 20 million over the past three years. After protracted negotiations, mediated by cleric Reverend Harold Good and businessman Jim Roddy, an accord between the three lodges and the main nationalist residents group - the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association (Cara) - was announced on Friday night. On Saturday, further details of the deal were published. It will see the Orangemen complete the outstanding leg of their 2013 parade next Saturday morning at 8.30am. The Orangemen's accompanying bands will only play hymns as the parade passes the disputed stretch of the Crumlin Road while the lodges will limit the number of banners they display. In return, Cara will not apply to the Parades Commission to protest at the parade. Once the parade is completed the loyalist camp at the interface will be dismantled and all associated protests will end. Going forward, the lodges have agreed not to apply for any more return parades on the Twelfth until a wider agreement on the issue is reached. Cara will not protest at the lodges' already permitted outward parade on the morning of the Twelfth. A local community forum including representatives of Cara and the loyal orders will also be convened with the aim of improving community relations in the area. The agreement stated: "Both parties commit to implementing the complete package of measures in good faith; and in a spirit of genuine respect and co-operation commit ourselves to working towards a common, peaceful, shared future for all." A more hard-line residents group in the Ardoyne - the Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective (Garc) - has made clear it will not support the settlement. Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster welcomed the agreement. "The understanding they have reached is a welcome development and is a significant step given this has been an initiative between the Orange and local residents," she said. "I said at the start of the summer that we all have a responsibility to show leadership and to continue to seek resolutions to contentious issues through discussion and to ensure any difficulties are identified and resolved peacefully. By doing so we become stronger as a community and a country. "I thank all those involved. We want to build a future that is respectful, inclusive and vibrant. Northern Ireland can have a very bright future built on respect and celebration of diversity." Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "We must resolve disagreements regarding parades, identity, culture and tradition through dialogue so that difference is celebrated and respected. "The next phase of our political and peace processes must be the development of a real reconciliation process. "As leaders we will work with Executive colleagues to ensure tolerance, equality and mutual respect are key tenets of our new shared future." Belfast Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Chris Noble, said the police operation would be scaled back. "I and my officers look forward to stepping back from the significant policing operation that has been ongoing for some time," he said. "We will continue to work with all communities to secure a long-term resolution of the issues surrounding parades and protests in Belfast." When the agreement was announced on Friday, Northern Secretary James Brokenshire and Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan both welcomed the development. Johnny Adairs son Jonathan, who was cremated in Scotland yesterday Former terror boss Johnny Adair at the funeral of his son Jonathan Adairs loyalist colleague John White carries the coffin. Right, Gina Adair at the hearse. Far right, a young relative carries the coffin Former terror boss Johnny Adair at the funeral of his son Jonathan Former loyalist terror boss Johnny Adair said a poignant goodbye to his eldest son at his funeral in Scotland yesterday. Around 100 people, including a number of high-profile loyalists, attended the ceremony at a crematorium at Dreghorn, outside Irvine. Jonathan Adair Jnr (32) was found dead at a property in Templehill, Troon, South Ayrshire, on September 10. The death was initially treated as unexplained by police but it is understood he died from an accidental drugs overdose after being released from prison for motoring offences. His funeral was held at Holmsford Bridge crematorium near Irvine, North Ayrshire. Today's exclusive Belfast Telegraph pictures from the funeral in Scotland reveal a small and low-key event. There was no religious aspect to the service, which lasted for just under an hour. Joining Adair Snr and his former wife Gina - the mother of Jonathan Jnr and three other children, Natalie, Chloe and Jay - were senior loyalist figures, including former UDA leaders and convicted killers John White and Sam McCrory. Both men spoke at the crematorium service, paying their respects to Adair Jnr. Coldplay's Yellow, from the year 2000 album, Parachutes, was played in tribute. The hearse carrying the coffin had flowers spelling out dad, son and brother. A number of Adair Snr's associates and supporters from Belfast travelled to Scotland for the funeral despite "warnings" from loyalist paramilitaries to stay away. Adair Snr told the Belfast Telegraph newspaper earlier this week: "I just want to bury my son. I want to bury him with dignity and in peace. "The support I have had from back home has been overwhelming. "If a few individuals are trying to stop people attending (the funeral), it's because they are afraid of me. They are afraid of me regrouping and coming after them." The funeral passed off without incident. Adair Snr was a leading figure in the UDA during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, but his reign ended in a feud. He moved to Scotland with his family after being released from prison as part of the Good Friday Agreement and has lived in Ayrshire for a number of years. Both Adair Snr and Sam McCrory had fled across the Irish Sea a decade ago after Adair tried to take control of the UDA when he was released from prison as part of the Good Friday Agreement. The fallout led to a deadly internal UDA feud and the pair were forced from their old Shankill Road stronghold in west Belfast. Adair Snr eventually settled in the port town of Troon with a new girlfriend, while ex-gunman McCrory, moved to Ayrshire. Last year, four men were arrested in Glasgow and charged with plotting to kill McCrory and Adair Snr. Charges against one of the accused were subsequently dropped. The three other defendants, Anton Duffy, Martin Hughes and Paul Sands were convicted of the plot in July 2015. Johnny McDaid has had a permanent tribute to partner Courteney Cox tattooed on his wrist. The Snow Patrol rocker and the former Friends star broke off their engagement last November, after 18 months, but rekindled their relationship this March. It is not clear if they are still planning to head down the aisle, but Johnny has declared his love for Courteney in a lasting way by getting her initials tattooed on his inner right wrist. In a Instagram picture he showed off the body art - of a regular C and backwards C interlocking - as he touched Courteney's face, which was resting on his shoulder. In the accompanying caption, he wrote, "Ta-two", followed by a red love heart emoji. While the couple were initially tight-lipped about their break-up, Courteney recently opened up to TV survival expert Bear Grylls, revealing they had different approaches to love and that their split was "brutal". "We were engaged for over a year and then we broke up," she recalled on an episode of Running Wild With Bear Grylls, which aired in the States just last month. "He's from Ireland, and the way he regards love is precious. We have to treat it in a different way. It's more special. You coddle it, so I didn't know how to regard love the way he does. "I definitely made a lot of mistakes, that I see, whether it's co-dependency or people-pleasing. I didn't know how to bring it in. It was always external." The star added she had become a better person since the split and because both parties have worked on improving "parts that needed the most attention", the relationship feels new and different this time. News / National by Stephen Jakes The Zanu PF youths in Chinhoyi ward 3 reportedly vandalised the house of an MDC-T official they accused of mobilising people to participate in the National Electoral Reform Agenda (NERA) demonstration.Heal Zimbabwe Trust stated that on 17 September 2016, Zanu PF youths destroyed window panes at the house of MDC-T member, William Nyambi accusing him of mobilizing people to participate in the NERA demonstration that took place in Chinhoyi town centre."The youth also targeted the house of Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) Interim Chairman, Damson Mapfumo where they also broke windows and asbestos sheets," said the trust."At the time of the attack, Nyambi and Mapfumo had fled their homes after they received tip offs from locals in the area that they were being targeted. The Zanu PF youths who attacked the houses accused the two of mobilizing community members to participate in the NERA demonstration."The trust said the matter was reported at Chemagamba police station but no arrests have been made to date. A peer has warned that bailiffs will have to break down his front door to enforce a court order which he says was caused by an 80p mistake. A judge yesterday ruled that goods belonging to Lord Maginnis should be seized and sold to cover a fine he refuses to pay. The former Ulster Unionist MP appeared at Dungannon Magistrates' Court over an incident concerning a train ticket bought in England two years ago. He has been accused of boarding a train without a valid ticket. Lord Ken Maginnis was previously ordered to pay almost 1,500, but has yet to settle it. Yesterday, a judge issued a warrant for the recovery of goods to the value of the outstanding amount to be seized from the peer. The 78-year-old, who now sits in the House of Lords as an independent unionist, claimed he was being "rubbished" over an 80p mistake. He told the Belfast Telegraph: "I don't know how they go about it or whether you get notice, but my door won't be opened for them. This is all over an 80p mistake. It's an 80p shambles." Lord Maginnis said he was waiting on a hip replacement and was "in torture". He explained he was prepared to go to jail rather than comply with the court order. "I'm not sure I have any property. I don't exclusively own any property," he added. "It will be interesting to see what they do. What are they going to do? Are they going to come and lift my television? It won't happen. I will be in Maghaberry before it happens." Lord Maginnis, of Park Lane in Dungannon, represented himself at yesterday's hearing and sat in the benches usually reserved for the prosecution team. According to court papers, he was convicted of boarding a train without a valid ticket in London on March 5, 2014. The case initially appeared before South London Magistrates' Court where Lord Maginnis was ordered to pay a total of 1478.90, comprising a fine of 220, compensation of 19.90 and costs of 1,239. However, with nothing paid by November 23 last year, the case was ordered to be transferred from South London to Dungannon Magistrates' Court. Lord Maginnis advised the judge he was under time pressure, stating: "I have a hospital appointment this morning. I am waiting for the NHS to give me a new hip." The peer explained: "This is about a fine and more particularly about the system. "I was summonsed in London on two occasions and turned up both times. It was cancelled both times. On the third occasion I did not appear and they went ahead without me. I've been rubbished in terms of an 80p mistake. I resent that old age is treated so. "This is not only personal, it's a general issue. It has already cost me 3,200 in legal fees to ascertain why the court went ahead in my absence." District Judge John Meehan confirmed he had read the papers submitted by Lord Maginnis and described it as "an unhappy situation." The judge noted the matter had gone through an appeal at Crown Court in London, but was dismissed. It was then transferred to the Northern Ireland jurisdiction, ending up at Dungannon Magistrates' Court after the fine remained unpaid. He said: "I am at a stage where the matter is put before me for the fine to be addressed." It was explained that persons in this position could enter into a repayment plan to discharge the outstanding fine and costs. However, this was firmly rejected by Lord Maginnis. Judge Meehan ordered a distress warrant to be issued for goods to the value of the amount in question to be seized. The warrant will be served by PSNI. Lord Maginnis asked: "Does this mean, in fact, justice is denied?" Judge Meehan replied: "That's a philosophical issue and one I am not qualified to comment upon." Afterwards, Lord Maginnis contrasted his treatment with that of Sir Philip Green, billionaire former boss of BHS, who extracted large sums and left the business on "life support". "You look at what Sir Philip Green has got away with, and yet they chase me for the sake of 80p," he added."When the BHS employees get their pensions off Sir Philip then they can come and speak to me about my fine." A taxi driver accused of trafficking an Asian woman into Northern Ireland for sexual exploitation worked as a tour guide, a court heard yesterday A taxi driver accused of trafficking an Asian woman into Northern Ireland for sexual exploitation worked as a tour guide, a court heard yesterday. Chee Seng Chan was arrested at Belfast City Airport on Wednesday as he picked up a second female. Police claim the 55-year-old, from Greenlawn in Dublin, is part of an organised crime gang involved in a lucrative operation based in the Irish Republic. Interpol have also been contacted amid ongoing efforts to locate the alleged victim, who is now believed to have returned to Taiwan. Chan appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court charged with trafficking the woman into the UK just over four months ago. He was remanded in custody amid claims that potential evidence on a website that he runs could be removed or destroyed. The defendant, who is of Chinese origin but described as having Irish nationality, was detained by detectives from the PSNI's Human Trafficking Unit. He is not charged with any offences in connection with collecting the second woman from the airport. Defence lawyer Mark Crawford said: "She signed a statement yesterday that as far as she was concerned this man is a taxi driver and a tour guide." The alleged trafficking offence relates to the first woman, who is said to have arrived in Belfast on May 11. Four days later, she spoke to the police, but then left without making a formal statement of complaint, the court was told yesterday. An investigating detective revealed efforts were being made to trace her through Interpol. Opposing bail, he also claimed that Chan could flee or take up further "lucrative" human trafficking work. "The defendant has been using a website to advertise and I believe there may be evidence held on it which may take time to recover," he added. "There may be an attempt to destroy the evidence." But Mr Crawford argued that without a statement from the alleged victim, the case would be difficult to prove. He stressed that Chan drives a liveried Dublin cab and possesses all of the necessary documents. "He has a taxi driver's car and licence... could it not be the case that he actually is a taxi driver?" the lawyer asked. Refusing bail, however, District Judge Fiona Bagnall identified the potential risk of interference with the investigation. Judge Bagnall remanded Chan in custody to appear again on October 17. Jeremy Corbyn has been meeting key Labour MPs as he seeks to rebuild his frontbench team in the wake of his emphatic re-election as leader. The veteran left-winger's decisive 62%-38% victory over challenger Owen Smith has strengthened his personal mandate and dramatically reduced the prospect of further attempts to unseat him in the near future. Proposals to restore elections to the shadow cabinet in a bid to smooth the way for the return of moderates who quit in June made no progress at a meeting of the party's ruling National Executive Committee. Mr Corbyn, who has set his face against the changes, remained tight-lipped as he emerged from the hour-long meeting in Liverpool, where Labour's annual conference begins on Sunday. Deputy leader Tom Watson, who failed to secure NEC support for the reform earlier this week, said only that they had "started talking". Mr Corbyn issued a plea for party unity after being confirmed in his position, and aides said he had spent part of the day talking with MPs including Parliamentary Labour Party chair John Cryer and popular backbencher Jess Phillips, who chairs the women's PLP. Mr Corbyn issued a call for Labour MPs to "work together and respect the democratic choice that's been made". But critics said he should extend an olive branch by allowing MPs to elect the shadow cabinet and stamping out any threat of de-selections for MPs perceived as disloyal. Mr Smith, who quit as shadow work and pensions secretary to fight for the leadership, said he would "reflect carefully" on what role he could play in Labour's future, but urged moderate MPs not to split the party. But Labour peer Lord Mitchell indicated he will make good on his threat to quit the party if Mr Corbyn remained. Mr Corbyn said both he and his challenger were part of the "same Labour family" as he appealed for unity after receiving 313,209 of the votes cast, compared with 193,229 for Mr Smith. He acknowledged he had a responsibility to take action to unite Labour, but added: "It is also the responsibility of the whole party - Members of Parliament, councillors, party members and our wonderful supporters across the country - to work together and respect the democratic choice that's been made." Echoing the maiden speech of former Labour MP Jo Cox, who was killed earlier this year, Mr Corbyn said: "Always remember in our party, we have much more in common than that which divides us." The Islington North MP defeated his challenger in all three sections of the 500,000-strong electorate - full members, supporters from affiliated organisations like the unions, and registered supporters who paid a 25 fee to vote. But an opinion poll suggested that Mr Smith won a large majority (63%-37%) among those who were members before last year's general election defeat, in a clear sign of the shift to the left which has accompanied the trebling in Labour ranks to 550,000 over the past year. The Pontypridd MP - who has ruled out a return to the shadow cabinet - said it was clear that the party had "changed" under Mr Corbyn's leadership. But he set his face firmly against a split, saying: "I call on those party members disappointed by the result and tempted to look elsewhere to stay with Labour, and to stay involved." It fell to Mr Corbyn to heal divisions within the party and turn round its "dire" opinion poll ratings, said Mr Smith. "Jeremy has won this contest. He now has to win the country, and he will have my support in trying to do so." Mr Corbyn insisted the party was already coming together, with "lots of MPs" signalling their support. But he refused to support calls to rule out the de-selection of MPs, telling the BBC: "It is not my decision who is selected for a place or not. I am not a leader who imposes things on constituencies." Union leader Len McCluskey of Unite, one of Mr Corbyn's key backers, said the party's MPs should now listen to its members and stop the "sniping, plotting and corridor coups". But Labour MP Wayne David, who resigned from the front bench during the June revolt against Mr Corbyn, said: "Jeremy's rhetoric was of unity and olive branches today. The acid test, however, is what that means in practice." Another ex-shadow cabinet minister Lisa Nandy warned that Mr Corbyn - who visited a community cafe to cook with local children following his victory - needed to understand the scale of the challenge Labour was facing with the lowest level of support in opposition since 1935. "If don't start taking this seriously we will not win again. What the exit polls show is that the party is very divided," she told BBC Radio 4's The World At One. Mr Smith had "won convincingly among the more established membership ... the activists and councillors who were going out knocking on doors." Close Corbyn lieutenant Diane Abbott questioned the motives of MPs demanding a return to shadow cabinet elections, warning that party members would not accept "internecine warfare". Ms Abbott hinted critics of Mr Corbyn could now face a backlash from their constituency parties if they refused to fall into line. "If you look at some of Jeremy's fiercest opponents in the party, their local parties nominated Jeremy. What MPs have to do is start listening to party members," she said. Mr Watson said: "The most important thing is that both candidates said they want to bring the party back together, they want unity. I think we are looking at an early general election and that must now be our sole focus - taking on Theresa May and the Tories." Former leader Ed Miliband - who introduced the electoral system which delivered Mr Corbyn's victory - called on the party "to unite and to focus on the country". Liberal Democrat supporters circulated messages on social media with the hashtags #leavelabour and #joinlibdems, while newly-elected Ukip leader Diane James said the result gave her party an opportunity to become the "opposition in waiting". Greens urged Mr Corbyn to enter talks on a "grassroots-led progressive alliance" to fight Tories at the next election, in an apparent call for an electoral pact. But Conservative Party chairman Sir Patrick McLoughlin said: "Labour are too divided, distracted and incompetent to build a country that works for everyone. "Instead of learning lessons from the past, they have engaged in a bitter power struggle that will continue even after they've picked a leader." A cold war is in the offing after Iceland's government confirmed it was considering launching a lawsuit against supermarket Iceland over its name A cold war is in the offing after Iceland's government confirmed it was considering launching a lawsuit against supermarket Iceland over its name. Iceland's ministry of foreign affairs confirmed it may sue the frozen foods giant, 45 years after it was founded. "I can confirm that this is being looked into, but no decision has been made," said a spokesman for the ministry. A statement from the government of Iceland explained that a group of Icelandic parties, including the government, are looking at filing a "cancellation action" against the supermarket's Europe-wide trademark registration for the name "Iceland". Promote Iceland, an agency linked to the Icelandic foreign ministry, stressed it had no intention of forcing Iceland Foods to give up its brand, but wanted to ensure that the supermarket did not prevent Icelandic firms from registering the name "Iceland" across the UK or EU. The government said the chain had launched and won "multiple cases" against Icelandic companies for using the word. Law enforcement investigate a deadly shooting in the Macy's store at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. A gunman opened fire in the crowded mall north of Seattle, killing several people and critically wounding another before fleeing Friday night, authorities said. Washington State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Mark Francis said police were searching for a Hispanic man wearing black and armed with a rifle who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Law enforcement officers work at the crime scene outside of Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., where several people were fatally shot on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Authorities in Washington State say several people have been killed during a shooting at the mall north of Seattle and that at least one suspect remains at large. Sgt. Mark Francis says authorities are searching for a man wearing gray who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5 from the mall. (Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times via AP) A fifth person has died following a shooting at a US shopping mall 60 miles north of Seattle. The unidentified male victim died on Saturday morning at a Seattle hospital after a gunman opened fire at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington state. Authorities are continuing to search for the shooter. Four other victims, all female, died following the incident on Friday night. A Washington State Patrol spokesman said officers are seeking a Hispanic man wearing black and armed with a "hunting-type" rifle, last seen walking towards the Interstate 5 motorway. Authorities say the motive for the shooting is unknown at present. Officers are searching for a Hispanic man wearing black and armed with a rifle who was last seen walking towards the Interstate 5 motorway after the incident at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington State. The gunman's motive is not yet known. Police said four females died, a male is critically ill and another female suffered non-life threatening injuries after shots were fired at Macy's. The mall had been evacuated at about 8.30pm local time (4.30am BST) and emergency medical personnel were allowed to enter. One witness, Tari Caswell, told reporters she was in the women's dressing room at Macy's when she heard "what sounded like four balloons popping". She added: "Then I heard seven or eight more, and I just stayed quiet in the dressing room because it just didn't feel right. And it got very quiet. And then I heard a lady yelling for help, and a man came and got me and another lady, and we ran out of the store." Stephanie Bose, an assistant general manager at Johnny Carino's Italian restaurant near Macy's, said she immediately locked the doors to the restaurant after hearing about the shooting from an employee's boyfriend. "He was trying to go to the mall and people were screaming," she said. "It was frantic." Washington governor Jay Inslee said tragedy had struck the state. "We urge residents to heed all safety and detour warnings," he said. "Stay close to your friends and loved ones as we await more information and, hopefully, news of the suspect's capture." The Cascade Mall opened in 1990, and features JC Penney, TJ Maxx and Macy's stores, as well as restaurants and a cinema. On September 17, a man stabbed 10 people at a Minnesota mall. Dahir Ahmed Adan, 20, went on the rampage at the Crossroads Centre in St Cloud, Minnesota, before being shot and killed by an off-duty police officer. Protests have continued following the fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina (AP) Charlotte's police chief announced on Saturday that he would release body and dashboard camera footage of the shooting of a black man after several days of demonstrations that have coalesced around demands that the public see the video. Chief Kerr Putney said at a news conference that the video would be made available through a web link in a news release that was coming out within a half hour of him addressing media. He said that and other evidence they were releasing would corroborate their account of how things unfolded, including that Keith Lamont Scott was holding a gun when he was shot. He addressed reporters hours after several hundred demonstrators took to the street for a fifth day and marched around Charlotte. Putney said that he decided to release the footage after receiving assurances from the State Bureau of Investigation that it would not impact their independent probe of the shooting. Asked whether he expected the footage to quiet protesters, Mr Putney responded: "The footage itself will not create in anyone's mind as to what this case represents... the footage only supports the other information" such as forensic evidence and witness statements. He also said that his officers did not break the law but noted that the State Bureau of Investigation is continuing its investigation. "Officers are absolutely not being charged by me, but again, there's another investigation ongoing," he said. Mr Putney said that Mr Scott was "absolutely in possession of a handgun," and that officers also saw marijuana in his car - prompting officers to act. Amid anxiety and unease over the shooting of Scott, demonstrations in Charlotte have gone from violent to peaceful, although demands to see video of the encounter remained at the forefront of discussions for those taking to the streets. Many of the hundreds massed outside at the Charlotte police department building on Saturday afternoon chanted the name Keith Scott. The 43-year-old black man was shot to death by a black officer earlier in the week, and police have not released dashcam and body camera video. Protesters marched on Saturday through the streets of a city on edge after Mr Scott's shooting death. The demonstrations reached a violent crescendo on Wednesday before the National Guard was called in a day later to maintain order. The next two nights of protests were free of property damage and violence, with organisers stressing a message of peace at the end of the week. On Saturday, demonstrators changed, "No tapes, no peace" and raised signs including one reading Stop Killing The Black People. Community organisers said on Friday they anticipated that protests would continue in some form until the videos were released. Charlotte is the latest US city to be shaken by protests and recriminations over the death of a black man at the hands of police, a list that includes Baltimore, Milwaukee, Chicago, New York and Ferguson, Missouri. Earlier in the week, the Charlotte protests turned violent, with demonstrators attacking reporters and others, setting fires and smashing windows of hotels, office buildings and restaurants. Forty-four people were arrested after Wednesday's protests, and one protester who was shot died at a hospital on Thursday. City officials said police did not shoot 26-year-old Justin Carr. A suspect was arrested, but police provided few details. On Thursday, protests were largely peaceful after National Guard members came to the city to help keep order and the mayor imposed a curfew. AP The move sets Barack Obama up for a possible first veto override by Congress Democrats and Republicans have vowed to override US president Barack Obama's veto of a Bill to allow families of September 11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia for the kingdom's alleged backing of the terrorists who killed nearly 3,000 people. Mr Obama rejected the Bill on Friday, warning of a host of unintended and severe consequences if it were enacted. The legislation, according to Mr Obama, could leave American troops and diplomats overseas vulnerable to lawsuits in foreign courts from people seeking redress for actions taken by armed groups that are backed or trained by the United States. The Bill's proponents disputed Mr Obama's rationale, arguing the measure is narrowly tailored and applies only to acts of terrorism that occur on US soil. New York Democratic senator Chuck Schumer, who sponsored the Bill, said: "This is a disappointing decision that will be swiftly and soundly overturned in congress. "If the Saudis did nothing wrong, they should not fear this legislation. If they were culpable in 9/11, they should be held accountable." Fellow Bill sponsor, Texas' Republican senator John Cornyn, criticised Mr Obama for failing to listen to the families of the victims and said he looked forward to the opportunity for US congress to override the veto. The Bill, which has strained already tense relations with a key US ally in the Middle East, passed the House by voice vote earlier this month. The measure cleared the US senate in May, also by voice vote. Saudi foreign minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir had warned politicians they were on a path to turning "the world for international law into the law of the jungle". Saudi Arabia had no immediate comment on the veto, which came two days after senators voted convincingly to back a 1.15 billion US dollar (884 million) sale of American weapons to the kingdom. The legislation gives victims' families the right to sue in US courts for any role that elements of the Saudi government may have played in the 2001 attacks which killed thousands in New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania. Under the terms of the Bill, courts would be permitted to waive a claim of foreign sovereign immunity when an act of terrorism occurs inside US borders. Fifteen of the 19 September 11 hijackers were Saudi nationals, and speculation continues over alleged links at least a few of them had to other Saudis, including government officials. The allegations were never substantiated by US investigations into the attacks. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is at odds with Mr Obama over the legislation, saying through a spokesman she would sign the Bill if she were president. Jesse Lehrich added Mrs Clinton supports efforts to "hold accountable those responsible" for the attacks. Mrs Clinton's Republican opponent Donald Trump criticised the outgoing president for the veto, and also promised to sign the Bill if he enters the White House. A two-thirds majority vote is required in the US house and senate to override a veto. Mr Obama has vetoed nine Bills during his two terms in office, none of which were overridden. The senate's top Republican, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, said earlier this week that "our assumption is that the veto will be overridden". His spokesman, David Popp, said the senate will consider the veto override "as soon as practicable in this work period". With no recorded votes on the Bill, it is unclear exactly how many members will back the override. Many politicians could be having second thoughts about bucking the president after defence secretary Ash Carter gave weight to concerns the Bill could backfire on service members. Mr Carter said during testimony on Thursday before the senate armed services committee that it could be a problem if another country was "to behave reciprocally towards the United States". Meanwhile, Mac Thornberry of Texas, the Republican chairman of the committee, amplified the military's concerns and urged Republicans to study the Bill's consequences. "The risks of discovery or trial in foreign courts, including the questioning of government employees under oath, will disclose sensitive information and subject Americans to legal jeopardy of various kinds," Mr Thornberry said. Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal said he is confident US congress will overwhelmingly override Mr Obama's veto. "This veto denies Americans the opportunity to hold those evil extremists accountable through the very system of justice that they tried - and failed - to strike down," the Connecticut senator said. AP Preparations continue at the British Columbia Legislative Assembly in Victoria, Canada ahead of the arrival of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday September 23, 2016. See PA story ROYAL Canada. Photo credit should read: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire The gates of Government House, in Victoria, Canada, where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will stay with Prince George and Princess Charlotte during their visit to Canada. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday September 23, 2016. See PA story ROYAL Canada. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire Preparations continue at the British Columbia Legislative Assembly in Victoria, Canada ahead of the arrival of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday September 23, 2016. See PA story ROYAL Canada. Photo credit should read: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire The gates of Government House, in Victoria, Canada, where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will stay with Prince George and Princess Charlotte during their visit to Canada. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday September 23, 2016. See PA story ROYAL Canada. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire The gates of Government House, in Victoria, Canada, where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will stay with Prince George and Princess Charlotte during their visit to Canada. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday September 23, 2016. See PA story ROYAL Canada. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire Preparations continue at the British Columbia Legislative Assembly in Victoria, Canada ahead of the arrival of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday September 23, 2016. See PA story ROYAL Canada. Photo credit should read: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire Preparations continue at the British Columbia Legislative Assembly in Victoria, Canada ahead of the arrival of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday September 23, 2016. See PA story ROYAL Canada. Photo credit should read: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire Preparations continue at the British Columbia Legislative Assembly in Victoria, Canada ahead of the arrival of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday September 23, 2016. See PA story ROYAL Canada. Photo credit should read: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire Preparations continue at the British Columbia Legislative Assembly in Victoria, Canada ahead of the arrival of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday September 23, 2016. See PA story ROYAL Canada. Photo credit should read: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge begin their tour of Canada today accompanied by their two young children. William and Kate will introduce Prince George, aged three, and 16-month-old Princess Charlotte to the Commonwealth country during the eight-day visit. Highlights of the trip to Canada's east coast will see William and Kate experience the stunning natural world of the province of British Columbia and the territory of Yukon, where they will go fishing, mountain biking, sightseeing and meet First Nations communities. As a contrast they will also learn how the country is dealing with social problems like mental health issues, the refugee fallout from the Syrian conflict and drug and alcohol addiction among mothers, during visits to organisations and projects. The tour of Canada will be Charlotte's first official royal visit, but George travelled to Australia and New Zealand with his parents in 2014 when he was nine months old. He stole the limelight from his mother and father whenever he made an appearance - joining a playgroup in the New Zealand capital Wellington and enjoying a family trip to the zoo in Sydney. As the Commonwealth country is one of the Queen's 16 realms - nations where the monarch is head of state - the visit will be a homecoming for the Cambridges. The country's Globe And Mail newspaper has described the trip as a "match made in paparazzi heaven, featuring Prince William, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and their equally telegenic families''. Canada's prime minister invited the Cambridges to visit in July and the politician and wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau who have three children - eight-year-old Xavier, seven-year-old Ella-Grace and two-year-old Hadrien - are expected to join the royal couple for a number of events. The royal couple and their children will arrive late this evening, UK time, in a Royal Canadian Air Force jet which will touch down in Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. William and Kate will travel with a 12-strong entourage - three private secretaries, a communications team of four, tour secretary, operations manager, personal assistant, and - paid for privately - a hairdresser and nanny. They will receive an official welcome at the British Columbia Parliament Buildings in Victoria after their arrival and later meet with senior Canadian leaders at Government House where they will be based for their visit. Tomorrow the royal couple will travel to nearby Vancouver by sea plane where they will carry out a day of engagements. They will visit the Immigration Services Society of British Columbia where they will meet some of the thousands of Syrian refuges who have arrived from UNHCR camps and at a separate event learn about an outreach programme providing health and social services support to pregnant women and mothers with drug and alcohol issues. A Kensington Palace spokesman said: ''The tour will see them take in everything from the bustling global city of Vancouver - population 2.5 million - to the remote and beautiful Bella Bella, home to less than 2,000 people. ''Along the way they will meet as many Canadians as possible, and will help celebrate Canada's First Nations communities, its arts and culture, pristine and beautiful environment, and its compassionate and innovative charitable sector.'' It is one of those cases that make people wonder how it ever came to its present state. How does a peer of the realm end up being threatened with the bailiffs over what was originally an underpayment of 80p on a train fare, but which has now escalated to a fine of almost 1,500? Lord Maginnis says the bailiffs will have to break down his doors if they want to seize possessions to that value It is one of those cases that make people wonder how it ever came to its present state. How does a peer of the realm end up being threatened with the bailiffs over what was originally an underpayment of 80p on a train fare, but which has now escalated to a fine of almost 1,500? Lord Maginnis says the bailiffs will have to break down his doors if they want to seize possessions to that value. There seems to be acceptance that the original underpayment of the train fare was a mistake. He is hardly the sort of man willing to defraud the transport authorities of such a measly sum. Lord Maginnis says the fines mounted up because he was not present at the court case where the matter was heard. He claims that he turned up at two earlier scheduled hearings that were postponed. He feels he is acting on principle in refusing to pay up, even to the extent of being willing to go to jail. That is hardly surprising of a man who has a known stubborn streak - the sort of stubbornness that allowed him to face down numerous death threats from terrorists during his time in the UDR and in political life in Northern Ireland. He is not the sort of man to back down from a challenge or from a position when he feels in the right. He was a loyal supporter of David Trimble, now also a Lord, when he was First Minister in Northern Ireland and who, along with the SDLP, set the template for power-sharing and devolution. Ironically, David Trimble was virtually forced out of office by the two parties who now follow that same template, the DUP and Sinn Fein. One of the tests of any legal case is that the punishment should be proportional to the crime. While this newspaper accepts that wrong-doers deserve to be punished, it has grave reservations whether this case should have ever come before the courts. Most certainly it should not have escalated to this scale. This is really a case where a sledgehammer has been used to crack a nut, and the only winners will be the lawyers. News / National by Staff reporter THERE remains hope for some thawing in Zimbabwe-United States relations in the last few months of President Barack Obama's administration, Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi has said.He was speaking to Zimbabwean media here after meeting US assistant secretary of state for African affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield as part of regular bilateral engagements aimed at improving relations.The US imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe through the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act as a response to Harare's decision to redistribute land held by 6 000 white farmers to 300 000 previously disadvantaged black families.Zidera bars all international financial institutions in which the US has representation or shareholding from co-operating with Zimbabwe, contrary to claims that the sanctions are "targeted" at a few political elites.Zimbabwe has been engaging the US and the European Union, which also unilaterally imposed sanctions over the same reason, with a view to normalising relations. News / National by Staff reporter Political activist Sylvanos Mudzvova was yesterday discharged from a local hospital where he was receiving treatment after he was reportedly abducted and tortured by unknown assailants last Tuesday.Mudzvova - who was seized at gun point from his home - said he will seek medical attention in South Africa after doctors failed to ascertain a chemical he claimed to have been injected with by the abductors.Unknown gun-toting assailants are said to have driven him to an unknown location where they assaulted and interrogated him over funding of activities by the radical Tajamuka/Sesjikile pressure group, to which he is member."I have been discharged from hospital after a successful operation," Mudzvova said yesterday, adding that "I remain committed to the struggle and values of all the movements in this ruined country of ours".Mudzvova a veteran actor who once staged a one-man show in protest against President Robert Mugabe said he had lost count of his arrests over involvement in protest plays and political satires but teasingly remarks that it has got to a point that he does not know the difference of being "inside or out prison".He has had several run-ins with the police, dating back to 2007. In April this year, Mudzvova was arrested in Harare for staging the one-man play Missing Diamonds, I Need My Share in front of the Parliament building.This was after Mugabe had remarked that $15 billion in diamond sales could not be accounted for by foreign miners, including the Chinese.Mudzvova intended to stage the play at Parliament and at the Chinese Embassy but his plan failed to materialise after he was arrested five minutes into the act.At that time, he claimed he had been warned that he would "disappear" like fellow one-man protester and anti-Mugabe activist, Itai Dzamara, if he continued with his demonstrations.Back in 2007, Mudzvova and Tongani Tongani were arrested at the premiere of the controversial satire titled The Final Push.The play, written by the Mudzvova, was about the chairman of a building called Liberty House (Mugabe) and his political challenger (presumed to be opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai) who were trapped together in an elevator following a power failure. ein Google-Unternehmen Google-Dienste anzubieten und zu betreiben Ausfalle zu prufen und Manahmen gegen Spam, Betrug und Missbrauch zu ergreifen Daten zu Zielgruppeninteraktionen und Websitestatistiken zu erheben. 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News / National by Staff reporter Radical women's rights pressure group, Justice for Women, has threatened to demonstrate stark undressed to register displeasure at the way women are "ill-treated" by police.There have been howls of protests from across the country after women were brutally tortured, allegedly by the police while in prison.Addressing the media in Harare on Tuesday JFW spokesperson Coezette Chirinda claimed that women protesters are being stripped undressed by police as evidenced by shocking pictures that are circulating on social media which show two women with wounds on their buttocks."They strip us, beating us while we are undressed and this means they so much desire to see us undressed so we will display our bodies at their offices if they do not address our concerns in the next seven days," Chirinda said.Describing the country's police as partisan, Chirinda said it was worrying that the law enforcement agents were now devouring "anyone with a dissenting voice"."The recent abductions, assaults, detention and sexual abuse of female activists are deplorable and must be condemned with the contempt they deserve."As we speak, the record of brutality against innocent female Zimbabweans speaks for itself. Linda Masarira has been in illegal detention for more than 60 days, Kerina Gweshe was abducted, beaten and dumbed at Harare Central Police Station, showing a direct link between the perpetrators and the police."She further said the abuse of women is State-sponsored."We have seen the results of the inhuman treatment that has been exerted on women. These women were undressed whilst being assaulted and they have ghastly wounds on their bodies.""The State has a mandate to protect us as women. It has a mandate to ensure that our voices concerns are heard and acted upon without us being violated and our efforts being thwarted." News / Regional by Staff reporter The President, Robert Mugabe has returned home from New York, United States where he attended the 71st United Nations General Assembly.He was received at the Harare International Airport by the two vice presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, Minister of Defence Sydney Sekeramayi, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Chris Mushohwe, several other cabinet ministers and senior government officials.In his address during debate at the general assembly on Wednesday, President Mugabe said Zimbabwe is fully committed to the implementation of the agenda 2030 adopted by the united nations member countries last year.He added that Zimbabwe has even aligned the agenda with the country's economic blueprint, the ZIM ASSET, but the punitive and heinous sanctions imposed on the country are the biggest impediment to the full realisation of the agenda. First up, Joe Biden is thinking about dropping tariffs against China. But theres a spy in prison this morning that helps us understand why he shouldnt. Ill explain. Your second brief, If youre looking for a good paying job, you might consider being a CEO for a health insurance company. One executive made $142M dollars last year. Let's talk about that. And as always, Im keeping an eye out for developing stories. Put this one on your radar. Mexican cartels are grooming American kids online and paying them cash to traffic illegals or run drugs across the border. Ill share details. If you enjoyed this episode of the President's Daily Brief, remember to subscribe and listen daily at podfollow.com/pdb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Mewing is a TikTok trend that has blown up in the last few months. It is claimed that it can help shape your jawline as well as cure other ailments by actively pressing your tongue to the roof Opinion / Columnist In Bulawayo, this week began with a severe out of season windy and cold Monday replete with dark, none rain bearing clouds reminiscent of the misery of cold dreary winter days. I was reminded of Charles Dickens' Bleak House, from my days at Mzilikazi High School. This unusual weather extremity was as an unnatural and ironic a phenomenon as witnessing later in the week, my Mukanya, Saviour Kasukuwere, himself recently accused by his boss Robert Mugabe of corruption, addressing a press conference in the city pretending to be a convert of the values of devolution while simultaneously literally raping devolution by announcing the suspension of Bulawayo City Deputy Mayor Gift Banda and councilors Charles Moyo, James Sithole, Mzama Dube and Reuben Matengu for behavior incompatible with elective community leadership, or more poignantly for having been found by a committee which Kasukuwere had appointed to be corrupt.As I watched and listened to Kasukuwere I was reminded of the often quoted words of Friedrick Nietzsche that; 'He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby become a monster. And if thou gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will also gaze into thee.' My mind was cast back to the days of the beginning of the birth of the united MDC way back in 1999. I recalled that fateful weekend at the Zimbabwe Women's Bureau in Hillside, Harare, the venue of the First Working People's Convention, hosted by the ZCTU and attended by virtually all of civil society. I recalled us unanimously adopting the Working People's Agenda for Change and Ben Hlatshwayo, now Justice Hlatshwayo, then a colleague at the Faculty of Law, University of Zimbabwe, standing up to make the point that it was pointless to present the Agenda for Change to the ZANU PF government as its tenets and principles were anathema to ZANU PF and could never be implemented by ZANU PF. He received a round of applause and within a few minutes we had debated and agreed on the need for a new political party that would be faithful to the values and principles of the Working People's Agenda for Change. There was born the idea of the MDC with delegates rising to sing and dance to revolutionary songs with the adoption of that resolution.The mood was enthusiastic, optimistic, idealistic (with hindsight unrealistic). We were the new generation that would take on the monster and slay it within a few months and institute a people's government committed to social democratic values of justice, fairness, equality, open democracy in which government is accountable to the people through devolution of power, a just society in which the weak and poor are assured of a decent standard of living and equitable and secure access to social services in the fields of health and education; fair and equitable access to and distribution of land; unconditional respect for fundamental human rights; the eradication of all forms of discrimination including those based on gender, sex, ethnicity, religion, place of origin, etc; respect for cultural diversity within a united society built on the principle of just and fair national integration and the eradication of all forms of corruption.I recall that Sunday afternoon the overwhelming sense that I felt that it was our generational mandate to bring down the evil ZANU PF government democratically through the power of the people's vote and thereafter build a just, fair and prosperous Zimbabwe as I drove home to the sound and lyrics of Sam Cooke's timeless song, 'Change is Gonna Come'.This week listening to Kasukuwere, one of the baddest you can ever get in ZANU PF politics, chastise us in the democratic movement for corruption in running the affairs of Bulawayo through a 29 person council only 5 of whom were found to be untainted by allegations of corruption, made me feel very very sad as to how far we have strayed from the things we committed ourselves to that Sunday afternoon. Of course Gift Banda and the bulk of the councilors who stand so accused were not there that day, nor indeed were they even there in the MDC by the time of split. But still they have been put forward as the representatives of the democratic movement which is supposed to demonstrate through both words and deeds that we are as different from ZANU PF as day is different from night. There could be no greater irony than members of the democratic movement bound by the Working People's Agenda for Change which demanded that we eradicate all forms of corruption, standing accused of provable corruption by a representative of a party founded on corruption. It should never have come to this where there is an appearance of a moral equivalence with ZANU PF. The difference with ZANU PF should have remained as that between day and night.Reading the report on the goings on at City Hall, one cannot help but feel white hot rage. I kept having the sense that I am in a bad dream and will wake up to great relief. We cannot afford to have 'mafia gangs' disguised as councilors doing irregular issuing of tenders, corrupt land deals, nepotism and looting of council property for personal gain. It is incomprehensible that people elected on a democratic anti-corruption platform could do the things which are said to have been done. Bulawayo has since 2000 been afflicted by the scourge of de industrialization as a result of the governance incompetence of ZANU PF and has a housing backlog exceeding 100 000. How is it possible that persons elected by some of these houseless residents could loot as if there was no tomorrow?I know that in taking this drastic action, Kasukuwere claims stealthily maneuvers under the guise of both the national Constitution and related local government laws conveniently masking a known fact that the ruling party has a history of bullying opposition-controlled local authorities. Moreover, it is in the public domain that Zimbabwe is in a state of national economic comatose ONLY because Kasukuwere's boss is himself a treasure trove of galactic incompetence.I predict that the man is angling towards setting up a highly partisan commission to act as a funnel for political exploitation of Bulawayo's resources. Our city boasts an inimitable tradition of fending off the ruling party's diabolic and predatory advances, so one can assume that this is another of many ways that ZANU PF can exert their parasitic influence prior to the 2018 elections. Our main worry as citizens, is the medium to long-term impact of this arbitrary action, because history is replete with examples of cities and civilisations that disappeared due to bad management.Kasukuwere is neither a lawyer nor a town planner, so he lacks the intellectual depth to gauge the devastating economic, social and political impact of his primitive actions. The north African city of Heracleion is known to have been a prosperous city, like most Aztec cities of South America, that disappeared. Even in Zimbabwe, there is a possibility that local governance incompetence will subject cities and towns like Chitungwiza, Redcliff and Chinhoyi to 'disappearance' acts.Kasukuwere is a ZANU PF blunt instrument deployed to inflict his version of proverbial justice on towns and cities that do not owe their political existence to ZANU PF. Capturing these cities more than one and half years before crucial elections is a recipe for exploiting the associated infrastructures for the benefit of his party. He cannot, even if he attempted, masquerade as a corporate governance fundi, let alone constitutional expert. And yet to dismiss his intentions as 'public good' ranks as an award-winning accolade of stupidity.Unfortunately, in his wrongness, there is a streak of better-than-average judgement. As a party, my team has always elevated the virtues of accountability through a devolved local government system that gives provincial and municipal administration autonomy because of participatory governance. Through effective devolution as promoted by MDC in Chapter 14 of Zimbabwe's new constitution, our party shall encourage diverse stakeholder participation on major decisions while breaking the previously resented 'walls' between public leaders and citizens. This is only possible because local communities want to participate in effective monitoring through an enabling environment free of ZANU PF type intimidation and MDC-T type corruption.No town or city is too big to die. When MDC stalks the flames of devolution, we are clear on the benefits, yet ZANU PF will push for central authoritarian control as a means of subsidizing their national political agenda. Cities die because large groups of sensible citizens especially business move to places and countries that respect and support their investments. I do not think for once that all dead cities were a result of Assyrian/Babylonian-type military annihilations. Cities like London were once burnt to the ground in previous centuries but now thrive. Even as late as 1940s, most German cities were pounded to pulp by allied forces but today they boast the best metropolitan centres in Europe.My message this week is that as the nation moves towards the 2018 harmonised elections, we have learnt a tough lesson that our philosophy of devolution must not be a target for primitive ridicule but an alternative to breathe life back into an otherwise dying city devastated by the award-winning failures of the ZANU PF government. The democratic movement must never be seen to be adding to the woes of Bulawayo and feeding on the carcass of our beloved city. Lafa elihle. Best Rain Jackets For Men Presenting The Most Stylish Rain Jackets Of 2016 The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. For outdoorsy types, fall presents some of the years best opportunities for enjoying a healthy dose of fresh air. Whether hiking, climbing, running, biking or just trekking out for some post-peak season camping is more your speed, September, October and even November are some key months. Characteristically mild enough to avoid bulky layers, fall weather can be summarized as crisp light, fresh morning dews, and heavier precipitation, which begs for one wardrobe essential: the rain jacket. Besides price, fit and style, choosing a rain jacket basically comes down to two things. While some jackets boast being water-resistant, others are fully waterproof. A water-resistant jacket will be surface-treated with a Durable Water Repellency (DWR) coat to ensure that water doesnt embed itself into the fabric. (One way to tell if a jackets DWR coat is still effective is to notice if water beads and rolls off when in contact or if its absorbed.) On the other hand, real waterproof jackets are usually constructed like an onion (or tiramisu, if you prefer) with several waterproof layers to keep you dry underneath. This involves a sealed membrane, taped seams and insulated pockets. Now, depending on your needs, a water-resistant jacket might be more than sufficient. Since its less hardcore, its cheaper and sometimes more stylish. But if youre getting ready for a real adventure, opting for a heavier duty jacket is guaranteed to serve you well. To help you make up your mind, here are are our top ten rain jackets for 2016. Rains Breaker Raincoat For rainwear made fashionable, look no further than Rains, a Danish company making minimalist jackets and pants for men and women. Although not exactly equipped with the same utilitarian specs youll find with other outdoor wear brands, like Patagonia and Mountain Hardwear, the Breaker jacket is perfectly waterproof and more than sufficient for your urban day-to-day. It has welded zips, two decently-sized front pockets and a storm flap in the back. Hits just below the seat. $115.00 at Eastdane.com Outdoor Research Helium Jacket Made for kicking it in the outback, the Helium jacket uses Pertex Shield fabric, a waterproof PU membrane, and DWR coating to protect you from intense weather conditions. Seams are fully taped and zips are stormproofed to avoid any leakage through the cracks. The hood is adjustable with a single drawstring, while the stuff pocket comes with a carabiner loop for easy access. $158.95 at BackCountry.com United By Blue Steele Packable Rain Parka If you want a jacket that doesnt take itself too seriously but still covers the basics, this lightweight rain parka from United By Blue will do the trick. For under $50, you get a wind and water-resistant layer that will protect you in instances of light rain or outside moisture. Its extremely packable, fitting easily rolled up into a pocket. $48.00 at REI.com Muttonhead Rain Camping Pullover Depending on the conditions, this Muttonhead pullover can be used as a mid or exterior layer. Its not technically waterproof, but promises to keep you dry in both lightly wet and cold conditions due to its bonded fleece softshell and two-layer system. And since it's designed just like a regular hoodie, its comfortable and casual enough to wear around town or chopping wood at the cabin. Made in Canada. $131.95 at BackCountry.com Sherpa Adventure Gear Lakpa Rita Jacket Inspired by a real Nepalese sherpa, the Lakpa Rita jacket from Sherpa is cut out for extreme conditions. Its made of a DWR-treated ripstop nylon equipped with eVents for letting perspiration out while not letting anything in. Seams are strategically placed to avoid chafing with a pack, hip belt or harness, as are the pockets, which are tucked in high to stay accessible at all times (they also double as vents). Whats more, the stiffened hood brim can be shaped to deflect bad weather. Worth the higher price, if you can afford it. $396.00 at REI.com Snow Peak Rain Resistant Poncho If form meets function sounds good but you prefer a loose fit with plenty of room for freestyling, this poncho from Snow Peak is a streetwear-friendly option. Its made from water-resistant, DWR-finished nylon, and its hood is perfect for shielding you from breezes and light snow drifts. Plus, its super packable and easy to stash in your bag for when the weather takes a sudden turn for the worst. $167.97 at BackCountry.com Stockholm Stutterheim Raincoat For the last couple years, theres been a surge of Nordic or Baltic-inspired fashion, recognized for its simple, boxy silhouettes. Here, you get exactly that with the Stutterheim raincoat, imported from Poland. A jacket thats classy enough to slip into any setting, its made from a 100% PVC (polyvinyl chloride)-coated canvas with double-welded seams, underarm vents and drawstring hood. $295.00 at Eastdane.com Patagonia Insulated Torrentshell Jacket Besides from coming in a great tan option, the Patagonia Torrentshell jacket packs in some serious specs, including environmental friendliness. Designed for more extreme weather conditions, its made from a recycled two-layer waterproof shell and is insulated with recycled polyester fibers. Its front zipper is also equipped with a built-in storm flap and a microfleece lining to block drafts. Microfleece is also put to use in the hand-warming pockets, while the interior pocket is perfect for keeping essentials secure. $279.00 at REI.com Montane Minimus Smock Montane is a UK-based company producing endurance alpine gear thats wearable in every way. The Minimus Smock is waterproof, breathes easy and is lightweight a core tenet of the company motto so that you can quickly pack it into any pocket without it being a burden to carry around. Weighing in at about 151 grams, the seams are also micro-taped and the zippers are equipped with AquaGuard and storm flaps for a no-nonsense finish. $199.00 at Montane.com Mountain Hardwear Plasmonic Jacket From one of the most respected outdoor wear companies out there, the Plasmonic jacket is a new Mountain Hardwear classic. It features Dry.Q EVAP, a technology that combines waterproofness with breathability by dispersing body heat and perspiration throughout the garment so that it evaporates more quickly. Its 70D nylon exterior is wind and water-resistant, while being durable enough for terrain scuffles. The team at Mountain Hardwear recommends this jacket for hiking and backpacking in less than ideal conditions. $150.00 at MountainHardwear.com Related reading: - Best Down Jackets - Best Hiking Boots For Men - Best Backpacks For Men AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. To find out more, please read our complete terms of use. The Most Extensive and Reliable Source of Information Related to the Mexican Drugs Cartels. You will not find this level of coverage anywhere else, join us! WARNING: Posts may contain strong violent material, discretion is advised. COMMENTS: We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. Real Estate News All the single ladies are buying homes Of all the singles buying homes in Boston, women accounted for 70 percent of purchases. Julia Grunewald was living with seven housemates in North Cambridge when she purchased this Arlington home. Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff Living with seven housemates in North Cambridge, Julia Grunewald longed for a rental of her own. But when she searched for a one-bedroom apartment, she realized it made more financial sense to buy her first home. The math was simple and convincing: Her mortgage payments would be almost the same as her monthly rent. In mid-May, after months of looking at condos, the 27-year-old successfully bid on an old Arlington bungalow with 1,200 square feet of living space, three bedrooms, 1 bathrooms, a big front porch, and a secluded backyard. It was exactly the type of house Grunewald always imagined living in. And with the purchase, she joined the relatively large number of single women taking the home-buying plunge. Advertisement: The biggest home-buying demographic after married couples was single women in 2015, the National Association of Realtors reported in January. They accounted for nearly twice as many purchases as single men, across all age groups. In Boston, 70 percent of home buyers were married, 14 percent were single women, 6 percent single men, 7 percent unmarried couples, and 2 percent other buyers. Another way to look at the numbers: Of all the singles buying homes in Boston, women accounted for 70 percent of purchases. It might be a little bit daunting for single women to buy houses by themselves, Grunewald said. I think it was for me at first. But it makes a lot of sense, and I think single women are pretty sensible. Bloomberg predicted a significant increase in single-female buyers in 2016 and beyond, perhaps returning to pre-housing-crisis levels. Single women accounted for 21 percent of all purchasers in 2009, before tougher mortgage-qualification policies dramatically affected the real estate market. Bloomberg cited rising incomes for single women as one reason behind its forecast. Over the past three years, the share of women earning more than $100,000 has increased significantly. The largest increases occurred in Boston, San Francisco, and Seattle, according to the report. Meanwhile, in Boston, the share of men earning more than $100,000 actually decreased from 2012 to 2015. Julia Grunewalds bungalow has 1,200 square feet of living space, three bedrooms, 1 bathrooms, a big front porch, and a secluded backyard. Pat Greenhouse/Globe staff Grunewald, who works at a tech company, mentioned that two single women in her office recently purchased homes, too, but she doesnt know of any single-male colleagues who have done the same. Local realtors also offered anecdotal evidence of significant numbers of single-female buyers never married, divorced, widowed, young career women purchasing their first homes, executives relocating, and retirees downsizing and moving closer to children and grandchildren. And they buy homes of all types, from condos to multifamilies. Advertisement: Ive always had a lot of single-women clients, said Thalia Tringo, a Somerville-based realtor. Part of it is that there are a lot of young single women around here, and they get to a certain age and it often doesnt make a lot of sense to keep renting. And, lately, Ive had more single-women downsizers in their 50s, 60s, and 70s who want to come back to the city and are buying alone. My most adventurous buyer was a single woman with a low budget when the market was down. She was willing to buy a rundown two-family, which is now worth more than twice what she paid. She was willing to be a landlord. She was willing to do her own renovations. Now, she is making money off the tenant and has a wonderful place to live. Local realtors usually dont find single-female buyers eager for fixer-uppers, but caution that its difficult to generalize about any category of prospective purchasers. That said, several realtors who have worked with single women across Greater Boston relayed similarities in how they approach home buying and how they differ from single men and couples. Advertisement: According to the realtors, some single women worry that investing a large amount of money in a home will be a lifestyle commitment. And, unfortunately, negative stereotypes persist about women who choose to live alone. It can be very emotional for single women when they sign the purchase-and-sale and it becomes more real, said Robin Kelly, a realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and a single home buyer who recently purchased a two-family in Somervilles Union Square. Theres the sentiment that this is a life step that they thought they would be taking with a partner or a spouse. Weve talked about how its not a decision to be single versus being a couple; its a decision to be a homeowner versus a renter. Its an economic decision, not a lifestyle decision. Single men often come across as less emotionally invested in home purchases, those realtors say. When I work with single men, they tend to make the decision to buy property in a more detached way than women usually do, Tringo said. [They think]: This is a good financial move for me. If my life changes, Ill sell it and buy something else. As Kelly and her single-female clients consider square footage and number of bedrooms, some mention that they may decide to have a child. So, when looking with single-female clients, Kelly sometimes expands the search to properties large enough to accommodate a child. Advertisement: More commonly, single women raise questions about safety, sometimes eliminating properties on the first floor or with entrances set back from roads or parking lots. Kelly said its not unusual for a single-female client to ask, What will it be like to walk home at 10 oclock at night? Local realtors also commented that single-female buyers typically involve a lot more people in the purchase process. They tend to invite friends, relatives, and others to look at properties before they bid, then they do the same for inspections and other important junctures. When I did my inspection, I didnt know very much about old electrical systems or old plumbing. So, I actually brought Thalia, my father, and a friend of mine to my inspection to get more feedback from people who knew more than I did, Grunewald said. Its probably the case for everyone, but specifically for single women, if there are things that you dont know about, try to get as much help and be as informed as you can be. Still, even with feedback from multiple sources, single women can make decisions more quickly than couples with different priorities and tastes to negotiate. Minka vanBeuzekom, a Coldwell Banker realtor who works with clients in Cambridge, Somerville, Arlington, Watertown, and Wellesley, recently helped four single women one widowed, one divorced, and two young first-time buyers find homes. They had one quality in common vanBeuzekom said: They were the easiest because they knew exactly what they wanted. Advertisement: The widow and divorced woman, both older than 60, wanted properties close enough to walk places. The women also planned to make their new homes their last. One of the younger women wanted a condo within walking distance of the Red Line and with at least two bedrooms. The other first-time home buyer placed a priority on top-floor units because she liked the light and the air up there. I think single women like to buy homes because they like to be in control of their space, vanBeuzekom said. You dont ever have to leave unless you want to. That kind of home security, that stability seemed to be more important to those women who were doing it by themselves. It was certainly one of the reasons Grunewald made the transition from renter to buyer. And after nearly three months in her new house, she couldnt be happier. Its been nice to finally have the ability to have control over my living situation, Grunewald said. Because Ive been renting forever, its been really nice now to say: You know what the towel holder in the bathroom is really horrible. I can just buy a new one. I dont have to live with it for the next year or so. Im never bored. Ive been painting the whole house, doing all the trim work, getting it to look nice. Theres always something to do. I think it will be like that for the foreseeable future. I just love it. Advertisement: Shira Springer can be reached at [email protected] Follow her on Twitter @ShiraSpringer. Calendar of Events Want to know whats happening on campus? Youve come to the right place! From musical performances and thought-provoking lectures to signature events and the Privateers next big game, this new visual calendar gives you an overview of events at the University of New Orleans. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/09/2016 (2227 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. RIVERS Revitalizing the train station that breathed life into their community is not the only grand project on the horizon for the Rivers Train Station Restoration Committee. Add a labyrinth styled after a steam locomotive and a RV park, too. About 200 students from Rivers two schools descended on the entrance of the community fairgrounds Friday that will one day accommodate a circular maze and RV park, both inspired by the railway that built Rivers. Ian Froese/The Brandon Sun Donna Morken, chair of the Rivers Train Station Restoration Committee, is joined, clockwise from left, by Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa Conservative MP Robert Sopuck, Riding Mountain Progressive Conservative MLA Greg Nesbitt, former CN workers Kelvin Lamb and Heather Lamb, Rivers Train Station Restoration Committee member Marlene Hayhurst and Communities in Bloom president Raymond Carriere at a planting ceremony Friday for an innovative labyrinth in Rivers. The students joined community members in planting 235 little leaf lilacs to form the outline of the labyrinth, located at the northwest corner of Highway 25 and Poplar Street. Beside the labyrinth will become 14 stations for RV parking, used to likely handle overflow from Rivers Provincial Park. A monument acknowledging the contributions of the communitys railroaders will be established and there will be washrooms fashioned from an old shipping container. We do unique things here, and theres more to come, teased chair Donna Morken, after watching a group of kids, teachers and former railroad workers plant shrubs to honour the communitys heritage. Her committee has kept busy since its 2006 formation after benefiting from the seed money $400,000 worth set aside in the estate of farmer Bernard Goekoop, who liked to sit and watch the trains go by with his wife. Morken said benches have been made of train wheels and an arbour comprised of train rail at Millennium Park. The roof of the train station is being repaired this year. A maze that looks from above like the front of a steam locomotive would be another legacy project, launched Friday by a $25,000 grant from CN EcoConnexions From the Ground Up program in support of beautification projects nationwide. Morken said they wanted to do more than simply refurbish an old building to honour the rail lines ongoing legacy. A unique project like a labyrinth and RV park, influenced by the communitys heritage, can fund future initiatives. Ian Froese/The Brandon Sun Grade 6 student Nolan Perrault plants a shrub with Gordon Allen, who once worked at Rivers train station, during a ceremony Friday to mark the building of a labyrinth that will be shaped like a steam locomotive. The railroad is very important to us for all kinds of reasons. Its our history, its our heritage, Morken said. The town was formed because of the railroad. We wouldnt be here if it wasnt for the railroad. The rail line through Rivers is the only Via Rail stop heading west-east from Portage la Prairie to Melville, Sask., as well as the lone point between Dauphin and the U.S. border. About 30-35 freight trains pass through the main CN transportation route daily, Morken said. The rail line is part of Aeleen Sclaters childhood. She grew up beside a country elevator, about 13 kilometres north of Rivers. She sketched the labyrinth design a decade ago, and was on hand to see the design finally take shape. Helping those kids plant today, helping those little ones plant, she said, it was special to watch. Morken said there is no estimated timeline for the projects completion, since more funding is required. On top of that project, volunteers hope to reopen the Rivers train station for good in 2017 in commemoration of 100 years. They want to build a tourist information booth, a community museum, a headquarters for Rivers and Area Community Foundation and an office for Via Rail. Though the building was closed in the early 1990s due to declining use, Morken said their committee doesnt look at the abandoned building as a setback. Rather, its closure is the acknowledgment of changing times, and the promise of something new. Ian Froese/The Brandon Sun Students from Rivers planted lilacs Friday outlining an eventual labyrinth that is inspired by the rail line credited with building the community. We look at it as what it was and where were going in the future, she said. It seems that Rivers is all aboard. ifroese@brandonsun.com Twitter: @ianfroese Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/09/2016 (2227 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A man who armed himself with a rifle and briefly held another man captive has been found not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder. In making the ruling in Brandon provincial court on Friday, Judge John Combs accepted the prior testimony of a forensic psychiatrist who examined the gunman. The issue was whether the accused knew his actions were wrong. Wrong has been interpreted by our Supreme Court as not meaning legally wrong, but morally wrong, Combs said. The issue therefore is not whether the accused believes his actions were illegal or justifiable. The test is whether his delusions prevented him from knowing that his actions would be condemned by reasonable members of society. Combs ruled that Darryl James Oliver was suffering from a mental disorder that rendered him incapable of realizing his actions were wrong. Oliver was charged with break and enter, weapon offences, uttering threats and forcible confinement. While Oliver committed the acts, Combs concluded that the accused wasnt guilty of the offences due to his mental illness. Oliver, 35, stood trial held on Sept. 8, and the proceedings focused on his mental state at the time. Defence lawyer Ryan Fawcett said Oliver was aware of what he was doing, but wrongly believed that society would condone his actions because he was protecting himself and his family from perceived persecutors. For years, Oliver suffered from a complex delusion that there was a conspiracy to have him joint the Freemasons. The network of conspirators included the man he would take hostage and another who he accused of bullying him. In January 2014, he was involuntarily admitted to the Centre for Adult Psychiatry. He was diagnosed with a delusional disorder and prescribed treatment and medication. However, his mental illness intensified. Oliver believed that Robert Greenwood had something to do with him losing his job at Koch Fertilizer. The day of the hostage-taking, Nov. 17, 2015, Oliver happened to be going hunting when he stopped at a convenience store across the street from Greenwoods business, C & R Sheetmetal. In Olivers mind, hed exhausted all his options in trying to end his torment. Feeling intense anxiety, he picked up his rifle, crossed the street and smashed his way into the business that Greenwood co-owned. Other employees in the building escaped and called police, but Greenwood remained inside and Oliver eventually escorted him at gunpoint to a pickup truck. He was going to have Greenwood drive to Koch Fertilizer to confront his former co-worker there, Brent Hunter. Oliver believed Hunter had tormented him when he worked there, leading to a confrontation and the eventual loss of his job. Armed with the gun, Oliver intended to force Greenwood and Hunter to confess to persecuting him. The men would die to end the bullying, he told Greenwood, and Oliver suggested he was going to kill himself, too. Police arrived and intercepted the truck before it left the parking lot. Oliver surrendered, and from the truck police seized a rifle and a clip that held four rounds. At trial, Dr. Eric Johnson confirmed a diagnosis for Oliver of delusional disorder (persecutory type). He said Oliver believed his actions were morally justified and was incapable of discerning that his acts were morally wrong. Crown attorney Grant Hughes argued that, despite his delusion, Oliver knew he was acting immorally by social standards and therefore didnt qualify for a designation of not criminally responsible. Oliver has been in custody since the incident. He will now be handed over to the provinces Criminal Code Review Board, which will hold a hearing to determine a disposition. In general, depending on the level of threat a person poses to himself or others, dispositions can range from release into the community with or without conditions, to detention in a mental health facility subject to annual review. ihitchen@brandonsun.com Twitter: @IanHitchen Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/09/2016 (2227 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Katys Kookies is putting Brandon on the food map. Katy Unruh took home the silver medal on Wednesday in the Great Manitoba Food Fight for her Chocolate Cherries Jubilee Naturally Lean Bar, a new kind of win for the three-time pro figure athlete. I love silver, actually. Im very proud of silver, it matches our packaging, laughed Unruh. Placing second was a first for me I placed against a lot of people who were very highly esteemed. Erin DeBooy/The Brandon Sun Katy Unruh, creator of Katys Kookies in Brandon, won a silver medal in the Great Manitoba Food Fight on Wednesday for her Chocolate Cherries Jubilee Naturally Lean Bar. Unruh was one of 10 competitors to present their food creations and pitch a business plan to a panel of judges. Torque Brewing Company from Winnipeg placed first for its Witty Belgian Wheat Beer, while Flora and Farmer from Winnipeg placed third for their Applekraut. I placed second to someone who is highly esteemed in the agricultural world, Unruh said. Somebody marketing a beer and is going to create a lot of jobs and produce a lot of work so I think its great that they won. Originally, Unruh was unsure about even entering the competition, nervous about going through the Dragons Den-style presentation. I was unbelievably calm, thank goodness, Unruh said, adding she had the support she needed to calm her nerves. It was a fantastic experience to share with my daughter, having her by my side as my manager. She pitched with me and got to accept the award with me. I was excited we could have that moment together. Unruhs protein bars have done more than just win her awards theyve also improved her quality of life. After being diagnosed with lupus 16 years ago, a recent flare up causing rheumatoid arthritis to set in was a reminder of the importance of healthy eating, Unruh said. Ive been having a bar every day Its natural, my body knows what to do with it, my liver knows how to process it. I eat very clean. Its something that has to be maintained for me because of my disease. Now she is not only in full remission from lupus, but is back in the gym training for an upcoming competition, said Unruh. I cant give someone something I wouldnt eat myself, Unruh said. Im living what I preach, hopefully it will speak to many other people Im trying to bring joy back to the health world. Maintaining the all-natural recipe is crucial as Katys Kookies grows, Unruh said. The recipe hasnt been compromised, weve been able to keep it the same, Unruh said. Weve just hit a cap where we need more funds, we need machines to meet the capacity that people want. With the second-place award package valued at approximately $7,000, Unruh said she will be able to take the next steps to get the protein bars on more shelves. (The prize money) is going to be highly absorbed into our growth process. Food Fight really opened doors for us. Were now focusing on getting them up on shelves, keeping up with capacity, making sure the integrity is maintained and striking good relationships with the right people, Unruh said. A fifth Naturally Lean Bar is also on its way, scheduled to come out in about six months, Unruh said, adding she is also working toward localizing ingredients. Our next thing is to source out to local bee farmers and local buckwheat farmers so we can keep as many resources in our province as possible, Unruh said. I want to see my children be able to say this is a career they could do, its a family business they can be proud of and get involved with and if I can make Brandon proud of me for making it a focal point, that would be wonderful, Unruh said. Youll see the Wheat Kings eat them one day. edebooy@brandonsun.com Twitter: @erindebooy Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/09/2016 (2227 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Why are Canadians enraged about the relocation costs of a Prime Ministers Office official? After news reports revealed that relocating one unnamed staffer cost taxpayers more than $126,000 and another $80,000 in moving expenses alone Canadians are expressing their outrage. The PMs response was predictable: We followed all the rules set up by a previous government This has been a long-standing policy and we followed it. In other words, Justin Trudeau has chosen not to improve on past practices, but rather accept them at face value. Canadians elected Trudeau out of a desire for change, not because they wanted more of the same. In politics, there are two important elements symbols and substance. A government spending $200,000 on moving two officials is, by any reasonable calculation, a complete non-event in substance terms. Our federal budget is measured in the hundreds of billions, after all, so why get upset about $200,000? Its not even a measly rounding error on the federal governments spreadsheet. You and I, ordinary Canadians, have moved residences at some point in our lives. We certainly didnt benefit from $126,000 in moving expenses, nor a glib Trudeau backing up this profligacy. Try to run such an expense by your boss or Revenue Canada, for that matter and let me know how that works for you. We all understand moving. This is why we are so outraged. We may not understand a $300-billion annual federal budget, but we all know how much it cost the last time we moved. For Trudeau to hide beside the old rules is shameful. The fact these rules were introduced by a previous Tory government is equally shameful. Trudeaus Liberals are not the past government. They were elected to improve our nation, not to view themselves as equally entitled to sup at the waste trough. This issue isnt about partisanship most Canadians couldnt care less about the origins of this wasteful spending. This is about an entitled class who are unduly benefiting from the work of Canadian taxpayers. Count, of course, on Tory backbenchers to express their utter shock at this Liberal spending: I am shocked at the level of Liberal entitlement when it comes to spending other peoples money, cried MP Karen Vecchio, a Tory from Ontario. To blame this on previous governments just doesnt pass the smell test at least it doesnt for me. Rather, the same rules imposed on our Canadian soldiers should be appropriate for Trudeaus lackeys. There arent too many soldiers walking around having benefited from $126,000 moves. If this policy is good enough for our heroes, then it ought to be good enough for Trudeau and his flunkies, regardless of political stripe. If you wonder why Canadians are cynical about politics and politicians, this sad episode is a case in point. Its challenging to disregard the Liberal politicians racing around in luxurious, chauffeur-driven limos, while they are preaching prudence to the rest of us. Hard-working Canadians will not be long-tolerant of this profligacy, Mr. Trudeau. They will tire of your selfie culture and demand accountability. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/09/2016 (2228 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. It is human nature for us to think about the next moment, to plan for tomorrow and to look ahead to the future. We do this naturally as individuals, communities, nations and at a global level. This natural process induces hope a hopeful induction. In mathematics and economics, we often talk about forward induction and backward induction. Forward induction can be thought of as deciding forward by taking action (making choices) and when we get somewhere, we are happy about the outcome (e.g., future decisions are rational). As my parents would often say, if you keep doing what you are doing today, you better be happy with where you end up tomorrow. Backward induction can be thought of as deciding backwards by establishing an end goal and working backwards to see what actions (choices) need to be made to get there (e.g., past decisions are rational). My parents would simply express this as decide where you want to be tomorrow and make decisions today on how to get there. Brandon University mathematics professor emeritus George McMaster wrote a book about endpoint visioning. He suggests visualizing where you wanted to be and making decisions to get there. This uses backward induction. We tend to use both forward and backward induction approaches to make decisions and, today, we are the product of both of these as individuals, communities, nations and at a global level. Neither backward nor forward induction may necessarily lead to a sense of hope (e.g. hopeful induction), so what else is needed? I would suggest we need to have our decisions grounded in principles that inspire the best of and for humanity. For instance, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982) is informative as Article 7 states: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 states in its preamble that the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world. These principles dating back to 1948 and 1982 aim to inspire us to make decisions that promote just societies, nations and a world. Today, the population in Canada stands at 35.2 million and 7.4 billion globally. The population in Canada is anticipated to reach 40 million by 2030 when the world population will be 8.5 billion. In 2014, there were approximately 59.5 million people forcibly displaced and nearly four million of those were from Syria alone. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees suggests that this number was 63.5 million in 2015 with 4.9 million (now approximately six million) from Syria. Between 2014 and 2015, the rate of growth in the number of forcibly displaced people across the globe was nearly seven per cent. At this rate, the number of forcibly displaced persons will double by 2026 to 127 million. If we keep doing what we are doing (forward induction), then the level of tragedy and national border crisis will be more than double what it is currently. On the other hand, what goals have we set for ourselves (backward induction) that lead to or address these outcomes? These are not only questions for citizens and leaders in the United States, the U.K., Germany, Nigeria, South Africa, China or Russia we all need to ask ourselves these questions, too. The immediacy of the current refugee crises grabs our attention. However, this is not new or news. In 2012, I worked on a project in Kenya including visiting the refugee camp in Dadaab. This refugee camp was established in 1992 as a temporary solution. By around 2011, it had grown to nearly 500,000 people, making it one of the largest refugee camps at the time. Through World University Service of Canada and partnering institutions such as Brandon University, students from refugee camps around the world receive a new start and opportunity for post-secondary education. Today, some of these students are doctors, teachers, accountants and university professors across Canada. We have benefited from our hopeful induction. How do we provide this hope to others? We either make decisions to get there (forward induction) or we set goals to get there (backward induction). Either way, it will be our principles that determine whether we inspire hopeful induction. There are other issues looming before us. Just consider one: The future of work is evolving and employment opportunities for a new generation are uncertain. These uncertainties lead to conflict and, at times, we fall short of the best of our humanity. We have been making these decisions on the basis of forward induction, meaning one thing leads to the next and we assume we will be happy when we get there. It is unclear how we establish goals (backward induction) when we are not even sure about what some of the new technology means (e.g., artificial intelligences or artificial creativity and innovation). If there is to be hope and not despair, we again must rely on our principles of humanity to inspire hopeful induction. Hopeful induction is about the decisions we make going forward and/or the goals we establish for ourselves being integrated and based on principles of a shared bond and kinship across all of humanity. We have many decisions ahead of us we need hopeful induction, if tomorrow is to look better than it sometimes does today. Gervan Fearon is the president and vice-chancellor of Brandon University. He holds a Ph.D. in economics, a BSc. and M.Sc. in agricultural economics and a chartered professional accountant designation. His column appears monthly. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/09/2016 (2227 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. There appears to be a rather serious disconnect between the publics perception of immigration into Canada, and the federal immigration ministers belief that we need even more newcomers than we currently take in. A survey conducted by Harris/Decima and paid for by the federal government to the tune of $83,487, according to a recent Globe and Mail report found that Canadians are generally fine with current immigration targets. Over the last few years, about 250,000 new immigrants have come to Canada per year. When survey participants were told that number, of more than 3,000 participants, 59 per cent said that was the right amount, 25 per cent said that was too many, and eight per cent said that wasnt enough. Fridays Globe and Mail article also noted a Nanos Research survey of 1,000 Canadians conducted for that paper last August, which found that 39 per cent said the government should accept fewer immigrants in 2017 than the previous year, slightly fewer 37 per cent thought Canada should accept the same number next year, while 16 per cent believe we can accept even more. And yet, Immigration Minister John McCallum has been pushing for a substantial increase to the number of immigrants that Canada welcomes to our shores. I think we need immigrants because were aging, because we have labour shortages, McCallum said recently. And so that is the direction in which we are heading now. I think with our mindset of welcoming newcomers in the beginning, with the facts of the labour shortages, aging population, we have a good case to make, and I think we will be able to convince a higher proportion of Canadians that this is the right way for Canada to go, he said. There are, of course, good reasons for Canada to rely on immigration. As we have seen in Brandon, at least, a decade of immigration to our city has made our community more multicultural, with many newcomers starting up businesses as well. These workers have been brought in to fill jobs that Canadians seem not to want, and they keep our working-age population at strong levels, even as the aging baby boom generation moves into retirement age. As we have documented over the last several years, the rise in newcomers to Brandon has also put a strain on government services and our education system. There is now, more than ever, a need for English as an additional language training in our schools and our community generally, and our classrooms are bursting at the seams with an influx of students. However, immigration proponents argue that the strain on public resources is offset by increased taxation revenues from having higher populations and increased property values. A darker perspective on immigration tends to be that our federal government is inviting immigrants from countries with different values than those of the vast majority of Canadians, and that this is creating a great deal of animosity between naturalized citizens and those seeking a better life. This is especially poignant considering the tens of thousands of new refugees coming from Syria into Canada, and the problematic rise of Islamic terrorism around the globe. There are also concerns that at least some of the newly arrived Syrian refugees have resorted to using food banks in parts of the country due to a lack of money in part because the federal government has failed to put enough resources toward housing refugees, even as it looks to bring in more. McCallums stated beliefs on immigration fit well with this version of the Liberal party, which rode into power last year by being much more moderate than the former Conservative government that espoused Islamophobic rhetoric and anti-Muslim policies. But the Liberal party needs to tread carefully as it plans immigration targets for 2017. And not merely because increased immigration may provoke a negative reaction from a percentage of the general public. Yes, arguments can and should be made for strong immigration targets we should never close our borders for fear of the other. But this government also needs to ensure that safeguards are in place so that our new citizens and potential citizens dont overburden a public system that is already under strain. Shopkeepers in Dublin are on the look out for a person who defecated twice near their front doors. The mystery first emerged last week when Alan Buckley, owner of Clever Buys in Finglas, north Dublin arrived to open up and saw and smelled human faeces on the footpath. After talking to neighbouring businessmen he checked CCTV to discover the incident had unfolded in the middle of the night. "I haven't a clue why anyone would do this," he said. The first incident occurred on September 15 and a repeat offence happened on Wednesday of this week about 10 feet from the front door of his shop. "There was a load of toilet roll on the ground," Mr Buckley said. "I couldn't understand it. There's no-one wipes their dog's arse. And it was humongous. And the smell of it. It nearly made me sick." Mr Buckley said his security camera recorded a car pulling up in front of the row of shops before dawn on each occasion and a person getting out and opening the boot and spending a short time at the rear of the vehicle. "I wouldn't mind but we're the cheapest around for toilet roll. We do 40 rolls of toilet paper for a tenner. We're famous for toilet rolls," he said. Insisting he has not fallen out with any customers, Mr Buckley tried to make fun out of the incident by borrowing a toilet from a plumbers and piling up some of his stock of toilet rolls on the footpath beside his shop with the message: "We go that extra mile for our customers. Other shops couldn't give a shit." The Government has confirmed its withholding over 10m in funding from aid agency Goal. The US Agency for International Development launched an investigation in April into "alleged irregularities" relating to aid programmes in Syria. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs says she wants to see a referendum on a repeal of the 8th Amendment happen "as swiftly as possible". Minister Katherine Zappone, who took part in today's March for Choice, is confident that the Government is able to deal with the issue of abortion. Orangemen and nationalist residents who struck a breakthrough deal to resolve Northern Ireland's most volatile parading dispute have said they are committed to working in a spirit of genuine respect toward a common, peaceful and shared future. The historic agreement on the longstanding impasse in north Belfast has been hailed by the UK and Irish governments and Stormont's political leaders. The Twaddell/Ardoyne flashpoint has previously witnessed serious loyalist and republican rioting when tensions linked to a contentious Orange march boiled over on the main date in the loyal order parading calendar - the "Twelfth of July". A 24/7 loyalist protest camp was set up at the sectarian interface in 2013 when the Parades Commission - a government-appointed adjudication panel for controversial marches - prevented Orangemen belonging to three Orange lodges passing the nationalist Ardoyne along the Crumlin Road as they returned from traditional "Twelfth" commemorations. Nightly protests were held in the nearby unionist Woodvale/Twaddell area in the years since, with a protest parade every Saturday. The policing operation at the site has cost in excess of 20m over the past three years. After protracted negotiations, mediated by cleric Reverend Harold Good and businessman Jim Roddy, an accord between the three lodges and the main nationalist residents group - the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association (Cara) - was announced on Friday night. On Saturday, further details of the deal were published. It will see the Orangemen complete the outstanding leg of their 2013 parade next Saturday morning at 8.30am. The Orangemen's accompanying bands will only play hymns as the parade passes the disputed stretch of the Crumlin Road while the lodges will limit the number of banners they display. In return, Cara will not apply to the Parades Commission to protest at the parade. Once the parade is completed the loyalist camp at the interface will be dismantled and all associated protests will end. Going forward, the lodges have agreed not to apply for any more return parades on the Twelfth until a wider agreement on the issue is reached. Cara will not protest at the lodges' already permitted outward parade on the morning of the Twelfth. A local community forum including representatives of Cara and the loyal orders will also be convened with the aim of improving community relations in the area. The agreement stated: "Both parties commit to implementing the complete package of measures in good faith; and in a spirit of genuine respect and co-operation commit ourselves to working towards a common, peaceful, shared future for all." A more hard-line residents group in the Ardoyne - the Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective (Garc) - has made clear it will not support the settlement. Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster welcomed the agreement. "The understanding they have reached is a welcome development and is a significant step given this has been an initiative between the Orange and local residents," she said. "I said at the start of the summer that we all have a responsibility to show leadership and to continue to seek resolutions to contentious issues through discussion and to ensure any difficulties are identified and resolved peacefully. By doing so we become stronger as a community and a country. "I thank all those involved. We want to build a future that is respectful, inclusive and vibrant. Northern Ireland can have a very bright future built on respect and celebration of diversity." Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "We must resolve disagreements regarding parades, identity, culture and tradition through dialogue so that difference is celebrated and respected. "The next phase of our political and peace processes must be the development of a real reconciliation process. "As leaders we will work with Executive colleagues to ensure tolerance, equality and mutual respect are key tenets of our new shared future." Belfast Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Chris Noble, said the police operation would be scaled back. "I and my officers look forward to stepping back from the significant policing operation that has been ongoing for some time," he said. "We will continue to work with all communities to secure a long-term resolution of the issues surrounding parades and protests in Belfast." When the agreement was announced on Friday, Northern Secretary James Brokenshire and Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan both welcomed the development. A fifth person has died following a shooting at a US shopping mall 60 miles north of Seattle. The unidentified male victim died this morning at a Seattle hospital after a gunman opened fire at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington state. Iraqi government forces backed by the US-led coalition are "on the cusp" of taking Islamic State's (IS) last major stronghold in the country, Britain's Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has said. Mr Fallon, who has returned from a three-day visit to Iraq where he met senior government figures, said the operation to take the city of Mosul would begin "in the next few weeks". Two years after the RAF began military operations against IS - also referred to as Daesh - he said UK warplanes were stepping up attacks on the militants' positions ahead of the offensive, striking more than 100 targets in and around the city. "The RAF is now operating at the highest tempo in a single theatre for over 25 years," he told reporters at a briefing in London "There is no doubt that Daesh is facing defeat. We are on the cusp of liberating the last major city in Iraq - Mosul. "Having spoken to the commanders of the troops involved, their self-belief and determination is very clear. "Though Mosul is a large and complex city, it will fall and will fall soon. I expect the operation for its encirclement to begin in the next few weeks." Fallon, who reviewed the attack plan with commanders, said that Iraqi forces were moving into their tactical assembly ready for the assault. Lieutenant General Mark Carleton-Smith, the deputy chief of the defence staff (operations), said coalition air strikes were keeping up the pressure on IS, destroying "close to a billion dollars" in IS's illegally held "cash stockpile". "We are disrupting Daesh command and control with targeted strikes that are restricting their freedom of movement and their logistic resupply," he said. Mr Fallon acknowledged that the fall of Mosul would not mean the end of IS in Iraq, but said that it should be possible to drive them out of the country within the coming months. "There remain pockets of Daesh resistance. However, we estimated at the beginning a three-year campaign. Two years on we have made significant progress. Daesh is a failing organisation," he said. "We ought to be able to get Daesh out of Iraq over the next few months - the remaining months of this year and next year." Coalition defence ministers will meet next month to discuss how to deal with the estimated 8,000 foreign nationals fighting with IS - including around 400 UK nationals - some of whom are expected to try to return to Europe. "The partners in the coalition are very clear that their nationals who have gone off to fight and may have been involved in barbaric crimes should not be allowed to slip through the net without facing justice," he said. Mr Fallon acknowledged that the struggle against IS in Syria was "more complicated" but insisted that "significant progress" had been made. He accepted however that the "Syrian democratic forces", which the coalition hopes will provide the ground force to take the IS stronghold of Raqqa, would need strengthening before they were ready to take on the militants. The Defence Secretary also bitterly condemned the Russians whose warplanes he said "almost certainly" carried out the air strike on a UN aid convoy which effectively spelt the end of the brief ceasefire in Syria "Instead of inventing more and more unbelievable excuses it is time Russia came clean," he said. "If it was a mistake Russia should apologise. If it was deliberate then the Russian commanders should be turned in for prosecution." Jeremy Corbyn has been re-elected as leader of the Labour Party in the UK. Mr Corbyn polled 313,209 votes in the Labour leadership election to Owen Smith's 193,229 votes. In his victory speech, he thanked voters for their "trust and support" and told defeated challenger Owen Smith they were "part of the same Labour family". He added: "In our party we have much more in common than that which divides us." However, Mr Corbyn's re-election as Labour leader is unlikely to draw a line under the unrest within the party's ranks of MPs. Despite the renewed mandate from the party's grassroots, it was less than three months ago that 172 Labour MPs voted to say they had no confidence in his leadership, and few are likely to have changed their mind during the bitter leadership contest. Allies of Mr Corbyn hope that many of the senior MPs who resigned frontbench roles in protest at his leadership will return to bolster the party's ability to oppose the Government in Parliament now that their attempts to unseating him have failed. Although some of his critics have already said they will remain on the backbenches - including defeated leadership rival Owen Smith - the return of others could depend on whether elections to the shadow cabinet are restored. The resignation of dozens of frontbenchers in June left Mr Corbyn unable to fill all his shadow ministerial posts, and reports have suggested that as many as 14 may be ready to return. But others, including Hilary Benn, Yvette Cooper and Chuka Umunna are thought likely to focus on their bids to secure the chairs of influential parliamentary committees, which will allow them to take prominent roles scrutinising Theresa May's Government from outside Mr Corbyn's camp. Shadow home secretary Andy Burnham, who remained neutral in the leadership race, has set his sights on a career outside Westminster as Labour's candidate for the Greater Manchester mayoralty, while Steve Rotheram is pursuing the equivalent role in Liverpool. If elections by MPs to the shadow cabinet are restored, they could give centrist candidates a mandate to join Mr Corbyn's top team and attempt to shape his agenda. But the party's ruling National Executive Committee has so far failed to agree on a way forward, despite the Parliamentary Labour Party's support for the move. With a renewed mandate, Mr Corbyn could set about trying to strengthen his grip on the party machinery - reports have suggested his allies want a "purge" of perceived opponents at Labour HQ, with general secretary Iain McNicol thought to be in the firing line. But Mr Corbyn has insisted that the party has a "duty to unite" following the leadership struggle, and has promised to offer an olive branch to his critics. Labour MPs and supporters who cannot be reconciled with Mr Corbyn have been wooed by the Liberal Democrats, with Tim Farron insisting only his party can oppose the Tories. But it would appear unlikely that many in the Labour ranks will switch sides to a party with just eight MPs which until last year was in coalition with the Conservatives. Instead, Mr Corbyn's opponents face a series of stark choices - including splitting Labour in two, or launching another attempt to oust the leader. The possibility of a breakaway group, as happened when the "gang of four" formed the Social Democratic Party in the early 1980s, would be the nuclear option - leading to rows about funding and the potential splitting of the Labour vote in key seats. Perhaps more likely is Labour moderates biding their time in the hope Mr Corbyn's appeal within the party's grassroots wanes. A bad series of election results in local contests in England, Wales and Scotland in May 2017 could be the trigger for another leadership contest. Whatever happens, Mr Corbyn's next few months as leader are likely to be as turbulent as his last 12. US police are hunting for a gunman after four people were shot dead in a crowded shopping mall about 60 miles north of Seattle. Washington State police are searching for a Hispanic man wearing black and armed with a rifle who was last seen walking towards the Interstate 5 motorway after the incident at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, about 60 miles north of Seattle. The gunman's motive is not yet known. Police said four females died, a male is critically ill and another female suffered non-life threatening injuries after shots were fired at Macy's. CCTV image of suspect in the shooting. The mall had been evacuated at about 8.30pm local time (4.30am Irish Time) and emergency medical personnel were allowed to enter. One witness, Tari Caswell, told reporters she was in the women's dressing room at Macy's when she heard "what sounded like four balloons popping". She added: "Then I heard seven or eight more, and I just stayed quiet in the dressing room because it just didn't feel right. And it got very quiet. And then I heard a lady yelling for help, and a man came and got me and another lady, and we ran out of the store." Stephanie Bose, an assistant general manager at Johnny Carino's Italian restaurant near Macy's, said she immediately locked the doors to the restaurant after hearing about the shooting from an employee's boyfriend. "He was trying to go to the mall and people were screaming," she said. "It was frantic." Washington governor Jay Inslee said tragedy had struck the state. "We urge residents to heed all safety and detour warnings. Stay close to your friends and loved ones as we await more information and, hopefully, news of the suspect's capture," he said. The Cascade Mall opened in 1990, and features JC Penney, TJ Maxx, and Macy's stores, as well as restaurants and a cinema. On September 17 a man stabbed 10 people at a Minnesota mall. Dahir Ahmed Adan, 20, went on the rampage at the Crossroads Centre in St Cloud, Minnesota, before being shot and killed by an off-duty police officer. MOSCOW: Russia is ready to supply up to 500,000 tonnes of grain to poor countries in the next four months, with... BRUSSELS: The European Union will on Wednesday propose tougher legal limits on health-damaging dirty air and rules... Most people Buzz Aldrin's age are ensconced in a nursing home, their travels limited perhaps to an easy visit to the grandkids. But it should come as no surprise that the second man to walk on the moon is a little different. Former astronaut Buzz Aldrin will share his plans for colonising Mars in Canberra on November 7. Credit:Buzz Aldrin Enterprises He has had trips to the Rio Olympics and the Everest Space Centre in Nepal since the start of August, and in December makes his first visit to the South Pole. The 86-year-old's place in history was assured more than half a lifetime ago, but his boundless energy has long been focused on the next great space challenge putting humans on Mars. The announcement from ACT Labor that it would immediately ban the political donations of property developers is a good decision that has been a long time coming. The territory has faced criticism in the past for its position to allow the heavyweights of the development industry to donate large amounts of cash to both sides of politics. That the ACT could somehow be immune to the issues that cause other states and territories to have the ban in place is a laughable notion. While there has never been any evidence of wrongdoing, the very fact that such a donation structure has been allowed has cast the planning system in a murky light for too long. A man came up to me as I stood at Brisbane's Pride Fair Day on the weekend after an Australian Marriage Equality forum. "I just can't believe it," he said to me. "We've come so far." His words are particularly apt. At Fair Day, more than 2000 people gathered in the heart of Fortitude Valley. Joyful straight supporters, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community members stood alongside speakers from all levels of Australian government and paid tribute to the resilience and strength of the LGBTI community. These qualities have been amply demonstrated in calls for marriage equality. Brisbane Pride Festival march 2016 in Fortitude Valley.? Credit:Wendy Hughes To say that we've come a long way in a short time might be something of an understatement. The gains of the LGBTI rights movement in Australia have occurred at a dizzying pace. Within my lifetime, even till the early 1990s in Queensland, gay men could still be imprisoned. Lesbians were barely even publicly spoken about and had to wrestle with both stigma and invisibility. The widespread acceptance of marriage equality is a barometer of just how far we have come. In 2004, John Howard amended the Marriage Act to prevent same-sex marriage. His Attorney-General, Phillip Ruddock said the government has listened to, "significant community concern about the possible erosion of the institution of marriage." The Nelson Mandela Foundation has hit out at Liberal Party members who used the anti-apartheid icon's image on leaflets that make false claims about the dangers of same-sex marriage. The smear sheet distributed in suburban Sydney also uses the late leader's words "Children are our greatest treasure. They are our future" to argue against marriage equality. The Nelson Mandela Foundation said any suggestion the former South African president was opposed to same-sex marriage was a ''misrepresentation''. Credit:AP The leaflet is being distributed by a group known as Children's Future. Fairfax Media revealed on Friday that the three directors of the group are members of the NSW Liberal Party. Mandela's not-for-profit foundation has now hit back, issuing a statement overnight saying any suggestion that the former South African president was opposed to same-sex marriage was a "misrepresentation". She is probably the most powerful woman in the country that you've never heard of. And that is exactly the way she likes it. Not yet 40, Sally Cray sits at Malcolm Turnbull's right hand as principal private secretary to the Prime Minister, but don't let that meek-sounding word "secretary" mislead you. Principal Private Secretary Sally Cray, left, with Deputy Chief of Staff Brad Burke during the 2016 election campaign. Credit:Andrew Meares Cray is Turnbull's fixer-in-chief, his counsellor and guardian, privy to his most intimate political secrets, and a warrior on his behalf. A law graduate who got her first taste for politics as a high school student doing work experience in an MP's office, she is described as smart, highly professional, a skilled networker, vivacious and good company, but someone who can turn fierce when her boss's interests are at stake. "She can do the enforcer stuff" says an industry source. In recent weeks she has been glimpsed fleetingly on the nightly news, near Turnbull's side as he travels through Asia and the US. There has been much written about Roxy (The Never Ending Story) Jacenko's apparent absence from the visitor's room at Cooma jail where her husband Oliver Curtis has been serving his sentence after being convicted of insider trading nearly three months ago. But it would appear Jacenko has found a sympathetic shoulder to cry on in the interim, with the human publicity machine catching up with her former boyfriend, millionaire property developer Nabil Gazal, or "Junior" as he is known around the exclusive eastern suburbs enclaves in which he moves. Gazal, named after his late property developer father, came to attention back in 2014 when he fronted the ICAC to deny claims his well-connected family paid $10,000 a month to a Liberal slush fund in exchange for political influence as it lobbied for a lucrative shopping centre development. No findings were made against him. While he is yet to surface on Jacenko's highly-orchestrated Instagram feed, in the real world Gazal has been spotted out and about around Sydney with Jacenko, and with some regularity in recent times, enjoying dinners and appearing relaxed with each other. This 12-year-old girl has not had it easy. Bianca Maydom has Down syndrome and when she was assessed for disability funding in prep, she was assigned a teacher's assistant for five days a week. "All my friends are there": Bianca Maydom (right), with her mother Janine and best friend Electra, wants to attend her local high school. Credit:Paul Jeffers Since then, she has battled leukemia and her small body has been flooded with chemotherapy drugs. She has gone deaf in one ear and lost hearing in the other. Her IQ has also dropped. Illustration: Matt Golding In Caulfield North, sinkholes developed in a basement car park. At a Collins Street apartment tower, rain was coming through the roof. In Brunswick, 34 unit owners were told it would be easier to pay $1.4 million out of their own pockets to fix problems with water seeping into the complex, rather than pursue a deregistered builder in court. Strata Community Australia is calling for a new system, where developers have to put aside a "bond" worth 2 per cent of the cost of their residential development. Mould on a ceiling caused by a leaking membrane lining a shower. "Within two years of being built, they have to fund a defects report. If there are defects in the building, there is money in the kitty," Mr Beck said. "It may not be enough in a lot of cases but it's a very good start." An attempt to seal a leaking window in a Melbourne apartment. 'If it has a balcony, it will leak' Waterproofing (or the lack of it) is considered a leading and systemic problem for apartment buildings in Melbourne today, with many who manage the city's apartment towers saying "if it has a balcony, it will leak". Some apartments have become uninhabitable through water damage caused by poor construction methods, with water seeping through multiple levels where proper waterproof membranes have not been installed. Phil Dwyer, president of the Builders Collective of Australia, has no doubts about the damage poor waterproofing can wreak. "What might happen is that the water gets into walls or the structure of the floor, and it starts to rot the timber," he said. "It can do a lot of damage in a short period of time." . Windows have fallen out of high-rise apartments Another key problem in Melbourne is windows and glazed balconies leaking, falling out, warping or cracking when installed incorrectly or used for the wrong purpose. Express Glass managing director Adrian Grocott said glass installers were not licensed as a trade and mistakes were not being picked up by building surveyors before new residents moved in. "There is really nothing stopping anyone bringing in a container of product from overseas, installing it in a building and having that installer hand over a piece of paper saying this product complies with the building code in Australia," he said. "That's the end of it until something goes wrong. There is no policing of work that is being installed on a construction site." Do you know more about this issue? Email aisha.dow@theage.com.au Australian Window Association chief executive Tracey Gramlick said that when problems occurred they could cost many millions of dollars to fix, especially if the window faults caused water to leak into the walls and ceilings of apartment buildings. She said there was a growing national trend of cheaper imported glass and glazing being substituted during the design process to save money. Owners are left carrying the can But it is what happens when thing go awry that is perhaps the greatest cause for alarm. Consider the case of Amanda Frazer, a first-home buyer who bought in Ormond off the plan in 2012. When she went to inspect her two-bedroom home, she discovered something different to what she had signed up for. The developer had squeezed another unit into the building and significantly reduced the size of her property's balcony. Ms Frazer contacted her lawyer, who told her to settle on the property or risk being sued. She called the council. The council inspected the building and declared it illegal; because of the extra apartment jammed in, the complex no longer complied with the planning permit. Ms Frazer said an inspector found further breaches in the building code: the floors weren't level, the stairs were too steep and the ceilings too low. "It was a shoddy finish. You could see the lack of care," she said. Amanda Frazer says she has been so scarred by her experience she will never buy another home. Credit:Justin McManus Although the property had been approved by a private building surveyor following construction, her home remained "illegal" for three years, meaning it could not be sold. Ms Frazer said she would probably still be in the same situation if Mr Dwyer had not volunteered his time to help the owners get retrospective approval. "I would call the Victorian Building Authority and they would say call Consumer Affairs. Consumer Affairs would say call the Law Institute, and the Law Institute would say contact the surveyor or the council and it would just go round and round for months," she said. "I just think it's disgusting that in Australia you can buy a property and when it turns out to be illegal, it's the owner's responsibility. "Isn't this why we have councils? Isn't this why we have surveyors? They should just do their job properly. Because when I don't do my job properly, I get held accountable." Ms Frazer received no compensation from the developer and there was little point pursuing him for the lost value in her home and repairs (estimated to be up to $100,000) as his businesses went into administration. This is not unusual. Many apartment owners choose to fix thousands of dollars' worth of defects themselves, because the developer has gone bankrupt, or it would be too expensive to take them to court. What about insurance? Although domestic building insurance is mandatory for all Victorian homes up to three storeys, high-rise dwellings are exempt. Construction law expert Andrew Whitelaw, of TressCox Lawyers, said this meant if a builder went bankrupt, home owners and investors might have no choice but to pay substantial bills to fix building defects. "A purchaser who buys a lot for $350,000 might be looking at contributions to multimillion-dollar rectification projects that they had little or no knowledge of at the time they purchased," Mr Whitelaw said. "It's a fundamental flaw in the system." He said that while the "overwhelming majority of builders" did the right thing, things did still go awry, and when that happened "complicated and complex circumstances" needed to be worked through. The Andrews government is considering making changes to domestic building insurance arrangements before the next election, while a new body called Domestic Building Dispute Resolution Victoria will have the power to compel builders to fix problems, finish work or pay for the rectification part of a range of recent reforms in the sector. "We're strengthening consumer protection to avoid costly disputes and, if disputes do arise, [to] resolve them quickly and without the personal cost and financial stress of the old system," Planning Minister Richard Wynne said. The jury is still out on whether these changes will significantly help the home owners lumped with major defects, or prevent them in the first place. "I'm worried that they won't," Mr Dwyer said. While the new laws prohibit builders from appointing the building surveyors who are meant to check their work, Mr Dwyer said builders would still ask their clients to appoint their preferred building surveyors. Two young men seriously hurt in a high-speed rollover on the Western Ring Road are believed to be members of the Haddara family. It's believed the two men were in a car that lost control near Keilor East before it started fishtailing, struck a pole, flipped over, and smashed into a railing. A man is fighting for his life and another is injured after a crash on the Western Ring Road. Credit:Cathryn Tremain Both men, from Truganina, were trapped for about two hours inside the crumpled black Mercedes sedan before paramedics could pull them free of the wreckage. Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said the driver had injuries to his leg, while the passenger had abdominal and pelvic injuries. A 27-year-old Madora Bay man has appeared in court charged with grievous bodily harm over an alleged one-punch attack at a Mandurah pub that left a man fighting for his life. Jake Raymond Mosley was not required to plead to the charge and will appear in court again next month, reported The West Australian. Jason Goodwin is in an induced coma after an alleged unprovoked attack at Silver Sands Tavern. Credit:Facebook It is alleged he attacked Jason Goodwin, 27, at the Silver Sands Tavern on Tuesday. It's understood the victim had been playing pool at the pub and was standing with his hands in his pockets when he was punched in the face and fell back, hitting his head on the corner of a wall. Schwarber's 2 big swings went 756 feet, got Phillies nothing Kyle Schwarber had big swings on consecutive pitches for the Philadelphia Phillies when they needed a comeback in... A look back: The ghost stories that once gripped New Jersey The demerged undertaking, together with the existing EPC team of RIL, will create a focused EPC undertaking to cater to the needs of the group Financed by Tata Industries, Tata ClassEdge is the Tatas attempt at delivering or improving the quality of education provided by schools with the use of technology. Started in 2011, the interactive content developed to help teachers teach better soon spread to 2000-odd schools. Online ticket booking service provider is looking at expanding its reach to Tier-II and Tier-III cities in south India, as part of its efforts to increase its offers to more theatres. The coal ministry has issued a notice for termination to over its inability to pay the upfront amount for the Tokisud North coal block in Jharkhand. Unlock 30+ premium stories daily hand-picked by our editors, across devices on browser and app. Full access to our intuitive epaper - clip, save, share articles from any device; newspaper archives from 2006. Curated newsletters on markets, personal finance, policy & politics, start-ups, technology, and more. Pick your 5 favourite companies, get a daily email with all news updates on them. 26 years of website archives. The voting for the merger between Max Financial and HDFC Life Insurance ended on Saturday. Minority shareholders, led by financial institutions, have protested against the that will be paid to Max promoters, led by Analjit Singh. They said it is against the interests of small investors. Dev Chatterjee takes a look at some prominent cases where have come in the picture: Max India-HDFC Life Insurance Analjit Singh, along with other promoters of Max Financial, will get Rs 850 crore as from the merged entity of Max Insurance and HDFC Life Insurance, despite owning a 6.5 per cent stake in the new entity. Minority shareholders say other investors would end up paying an existing shareholder non-compete fees when he isn't even exiting the business is wrong and against the spirit of the law. Since HDFC Life has gone for a merger instead of takeover of Max Life Insurance, a case for non-compete fees was made. Mutual funds have promised to vote against the proposal. The results of the voting will come out next week. Samsung, which is meeting the civil aviation regulator next week following the explosion of one of its Note 2 handsets on an Indigo flight on Friday, is putting in place a strategy to contain the damage caused by the episode. After the broke out on Thursday that the US technology giant Apple has acquired a Hyderabad-based start-up Tuplejump, the deep technology in the city are excited as the technological innovations are being recognised all over the world at a good pace. Maharashtra Chief Minister today announced that a team of Airports Authority of India has given final approval to a proposed site for the Pune International Airport in Purandar tehsil of the district. "The team of AAI, which had conducted feasibility survey of proposed land in Purandar tehsil, has given its approval and AAI has agreed that the land is suitable. Since the approval has come, we will now start the further process and we are happy that the local people too are positive about the airport," he said. The government will now hold a meeting with Maharashtra Airport Development Authority, Fadnavis said. Initially, the state government was considering Khed teshil for the airport and AAI had carried out survey of two sites there. However, later the focus shifted to Purandar tehsil. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday said the government would go for branding of finer quality of khadi clothes made in the state to attract the "newer generation" through designer garments made of it. He said this at a function to mark the 'Rashtriya Charkha Diwas' here in a bid to promote the khadi industry in . Proper branding of khadi clothes would raise its demand among the people, the chief minister said, adding that the state Industries department has entered into an agreement with NIFT for "new design" khadi garments. In a bid to promote the khadi industry in Bihar, the state government would erect a Rs-17 crore building for it to set up showrooms, he added. "From October 2, the state government would offer a 10 per cent concession on purchase of khadi clothes," Nitish said. The state government was making "every effort" to popularise khadi in view of the centenary celebrations of Champaran satyagraha, Mahatma Gandhi's first major agitation against the British, he added. Industries Minister Jai Kumar Singh and Gandhian Razi Ahmad were present on the occasion among others. "Many people think that after five years your health is mostly back to that of a non-smoker, but that may not be the case" Tobacco smoke leaves its mark on DNA by changing a chemical code on the DNA molecule that can sometimes change gene activity, according to a new study. Manmohan Rathiya, a resident of Sithara village in the Dharamjaigarh block of Chhattisgarh, woke up to a deafening sound in the dead of the night. Before he could realise what was happening, a portion of his hut's back wall came crashing down. The Supreme Court appointed member of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), Pushpa M Bhargava, on September 24 said that the commercial cultivation of Genetically Modified (GM) mustard would be "disastrous" as it would eventually open doors for multinational corporations to control India's agriculture. "It's a disaster. If you permit it then you open the floodgates for other . Our agriculture will be in the hands of multinational corporations like Bayer. We will lose our independence," told Bhargava to IANS. Urging the civil society to protest against such a commerical drive, the noted molecular scientist also warned the government of "losing face" if it continued to ignore the ensuing protests of the civil society against . Environmentalist Vandana Shiva had earlier written to parliamentarians from the mustard growing states, cautioning them against the commercialisation of GM mustard. Arguing on grounds of seed sovereignty, Shiva alleged that "unfair activities" were practiced by MNCs like Monsato and Bayer, thereby, making it necessary for the parlaimentarians to enact liability laws before the GM mustard is commercialised. GM mustard could become India's first transgenic food crop released for cultivation by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), which regulates the testing and introduction of genetically-modified (GM) crops in the country. An Environment Ministry sub-committee report declared the GM mustard technology safe for consumption and environment, saying that it does not raise any public health concerns for human beings and animals, but environmentalists are not satisfied and have been demanding that the ministry should make all the documents on the study available. The ministry has put the sub-committee's 133-page "Assessment of Food and Environmental Safety of GE mustard" (AFES) online and invited public comments before the GEAC takes the final decision on GM mustard. Comments can be submitted till October 5. However, casting doubts over the committee's findings, Bhargava said, "My general impression of the AFES report, therefore, is that most of the important conclusions that have been drawn, have been arrived at on the basis of insufficient data and inadequate experimentation." The transgenic crop, Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 (DMH-11) has been developed by the Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP), University of Delhi. At present, GM cotton is the only transgenic crop commercially available in fields. Scientists involved in developing the GM mustard, however, claim that it is "benign" and beneficial for farmers as it provides a higher yield. Gujarat Chief Minister today hosted a "Twitter Town hall" and answered people's questions through the popular micro-blogging site. Questions were put to him using the tag #AskVijayRupani. While Rupani and ruling BJP termed the initiative as a huge success, opposition Congress and Aam Aadmi Party claimed that the CM could not answer most of the questions. According to a government release, as many as 20,000 questions were asked to Rupani during the day. Replying to several questions about the fix-pay regime in Gujarat, Rupani tweeted that fix-pay employees working with the government on five-year contract will be inducted as regular employees. On traffic congestion, Rupani informed that 45 cities in Gujarat will be covered under a comprehensive CCTV project to ease the problem. He also answered questions on Patidar and Dalit agitations, corruption, security situation in the wake of Uri terror attack, etc. Senior Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela claimed that Rupani tried to copy "another BJP leader" and failed. "Rupani tried to copy the idea of another BJP leader but miserably failed. It was a total fiasco as he could not answer most of the questions," said Vaghela. AAP too pooh-poohed the initiative. "Even after thousands of questions poured in, Rupani could not answer a single one. Despite the fact that this program was a total failure, Rupani tweeted that it met with huge success," said AAP in a statement. will convene gram sabhas in all panchayats on October 2, the birthday of Father of Nation. Gram Sabha will be convened in all panchayats on October 2, Chief Minister Raghubar Das said at Gumla, while addressing the South Chota Nagpur Division Convention of mukhias, panchayat secretariat assistants and self-help groups. Women's self-help groups from 31 blocks of five districts were present, according to a press release. Asserting that by 2019 all villages would be made self-sustainable, besides achieving cleanliness standard, Das said the administration would assist people in development works. Calling for a survey of poor families in all panchayats, he said they would get their rights. On the occasion, the Chief Minister gave Rs 1 lakh to one Sukru Devi to encourage the education of her grand son and grand daughter, the release said. Under the Ladli Laxmi Yozana, 203 beneficiaries got Rs 12.18 lakh ( saving certificates), it said. Another 54 beneficiaries got NSC worth RS 16.2 lakh under Mukhya Mantri Kanyadan Yozana, the release said, adding under the Grameen Vikas Yozana, 355 beneficiaries got Rs 7.10 crore. Appointment orders were given to newly appointed junior engineers and computer operators, the release said. Almost three years after the Saradha scam eroded the savings of millions of people in West Bengal, a resurgence of newer forms of financial scams have taken place in the eastern part of India. The Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government over alleged torture of a 16-year-old Dalit boy by 15 upper caste villagers in Agra by tying him to a tree on suspicion of stealing a buffalo. Expressing its deep pain and anguish over the "shocking torture" of the teenager boy, issued notice to the Chief Secretary, and Director General of Police, and sought reports on the incident with status of investigation of the case within four weeks. It has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that the upper caste villagers tied the boy to a tree, whipped him, poured petrol on his private parts after abducting him from home in Baskari village of Agra. The mother of the boy sought help but police took more than three hours to reach and rescue after the incident, the Commission said in a statement today. "Taking a serious view of the incident, the Commission has observed that the report discloses insensitive attitude of police and serious violation of human right of Dalit teenager by upper caste people, and police has also added insult to injury by not booking the upper caste people of SC/ST under the Protection of Atrocities Act and has washed its hand off by booking only 4 of the 15 upper caste people, for a non-cognisable and bailable offence of Assault u/s 352 IPC," it said. According to the media report, the victim is being treated at S N Medical College, Agra. He was saved by some villagers who witnessed the torture, it added. Chief Minister of Union Territory of Puducherry and Congress leader, V Narayanasamy urged the Karnataka government to release water, according to the directive of the Supreme Court. Various political parties in Tamil Nadu also condemned the Karnataka government's decision of not releasing the water from Cauvery to Tamil Nadu. Senior Congress leader has flagged the need for India to have a legal framework to deal with refugees and asylum seekers, while urging the government to use his private member's asylum Bill as a starting point. In a cramped lab in rural Pennsylvania, surrounded by technicians in obligatory white lab coats and fume hoods leaking an occasional acrid smell, Neil Pearson holds up a plastic model of a chemical compound that resembles a spidery piece of Lego. Pearson, a 54-year-old chemist and senior fellow at British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithkline , explains how he spent more than a decade tinkering with chemical compounds before engineering a molecule that may yield the industry's first truly new antibiotic in 30 years to fight the rise of superbugs that risk killing an extra 10 million ... A court here on Friday granted anticipatory bail to music composer in connection with a case registered against him by Haryana Police for allegedly hurting religious sentiments with his sarcastic tweet on Jain monk Tarun Sagar. District and Sessions Judge Deepak Gupta granted the bail setting certain conditions. Dadlani had filed for anticipatory bail on September 17. "It is directed that in the event of arrest of the petitioner-accused, he be released on bail on furnishing bail bond in the sum of Rs 50,000 with a surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the arresting officer, as and when he is sought to be arrested," the court observed. "This bail is subject to condition that he shall join the investigation as and when required by investigating officer and that he shall not leave India without permission of the court and will not make any attempt to influence the investigation," it further ruled. The public prosecutor submitted that since the petitioner had not cooperated with the investigation agency by not getting the recovery of the device effected from which he sent the tweet, so his anticipatory bail petition be dismissed. Counsel for Dadlani, however, pleaded that at no stage he has ever denied posting of the alleged objectionable tweets and therefore, non recovery of the device is immaterial. On September 21, Dadlani had met Sagar in Chandigarh and apologised to him in person for his tweet on the spiritual figure that had kicked up a storm. Ambala Cantt Police had registered a case recently against Dadlani and one more person under relevant sections including 153A (promoting enmity between classes), 295A (maliciously insulting the religion or religious beliefs of any class) and 509 IPC (uttering any word or making any gesture to insult the modesty of a woman etc). The case was registered on the complaint filed by Punit Arora, a resident of Ambala Cantonment and he is stated to be a follower of Jain monk. Dadlani came under sharp criticism from several quarters including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his tweet. After a barrage of criticism, he had tendered an apology for his tweet and also deleted it. The Jain monk had delivered a lecture 'Kadve Pravachan' at Haryana Assembly last month on the invitation of the state government. Prime Minister squarely targetted Pakistan on September 24, saying India will not forget the sacrifices of 18 soldiers killed in the Uri terror attack and will work to isolate Pakistan globally for exporting terror. Addressing the BJP Council meet here, Modi said that the Pakistan government was "misleading" its people on Kashmir. Speaking of the Pakistani leadership's talks about a "thousand years' war" with India, Modi added that the central government in Delhi was ready to accept its challenge. "Let me tell you that there is a government in Delhi that accepts your challenge," he said. However, mellowing down the rhetoric, the Indian Prime Minister called upon its neighbouring country to "fight the war" against poverty, unemployment and illiteracy and "see who wins". "The people of Pakistan should ask their rulers... PoK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) is with you, you can't even manage that. Earlier, East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, was with you, you could not manage that. You are unable to manage PoK, Sindh, Gilgit- Baltistan and Balochistan, and you are talking of Kashmir... They are misleading you on Kashmir," he said. Modi said he wanted to remind the people of Pakistan that before Partition in 1947, their forefathers also considered this land as their own. "I want to speak to the people of Pakistan. I want to remind them that before 1947 your forefathers too used to consider this country as your motherland and worship it," told Modi. Taking a dig at the nieghbouring country, Modi also asked as to how Pakistan had managed to export terrorists while India exported software. He said the "sacrifice of 18 soldiers" killed in the Uri attack "will not go in vain" and that India will continue to make efforts to "isolate Pakistan" in the global stage. Earlier in his speech, Modi had said that there was one nation in Asia that did not want peace or development and had been "exporting terrorism" in the world, adding that it affected India's other neighbouring countries including Afghanistan and Bangladesh. "In the world when reports of terrorism come, then this news also follows that the terrorists came from that (neighbouring) country, or like Osama bin Laden, have found a hideout there." He said Indian forces were giving befitting reply to all terror acts. Amid expectations of over 50 per cent increase in the cap of quantity allocation, iron ore miners in Goa are set to resume post-monsoon operations by the first week of October. The Union environment ministrys move to cut down on to meet global standards is now facing multiple uncertainties over its implementation. Private thermal power producers are struggling to meet the new deadline, as regulatory approvals for the project cost and equipment sourcing remain a challenge. President today had a bit of advice for Hillary Clinton, his Democratic Party's White House nominee, who soon faces Republican rival Donald Trump in the first presidential debate. Asked what suggestions he might offer Clinton ahead of the debate Monday, the president told ABC News: "Be yourself and explain what motivates you." He added that Clinton "is motivated by a deep desire to make things better for people." The nationally televised debate Monday, pitting the two major-party presidential candidates in a tight race just six weeks ahead of the November 8 election, is expected to smash audience records. Each word, gesture and look will be parsed minutely. In the ABC interview, Obama praised Clinton, a veteran politician who has so far failed to inspire much voter enthusiasm. "I've gotten to know Hillary and seen her work and seen her in tough times and in good times," he said of his former secretary of state. "She is in this for the right reasons." No woman has ever been elected US president, Obama noted, "so she is having to break down some barriers." When Elon Musk takes the stage of the 67th International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico on September 27, it won't be to rehash terrestrial concerns like a fatal Tesla autopilot crash or a poorly received merger proposal. Instead, the space and electric-car entrepreneur will be talking about realising his boyhood dream: going to Mars. Musk's keynote address, entitled "Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species," will tackle the technical challenges and "potential architectures for colonising the Red Planet," according to organisers. Translation: huge ... US Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are preparing for what may turn out to be the most important 90 minutes of American political history, set to unfold on Monday. Republican Trump and Democrat Clinton will face off for the first time in the first of three scheduled presidential debates on Monday at the Hofstra University on Long Island, New York. According to analysts, this debate could turn out to be the most watched events in television history with an audience expected to exceed 100 million. It could beat a record set in 1980 when 80 million Americans watched Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan battle it out, CBS News reported. Trump has began preparations in earnest on Friday when he finally broke from his hectic campaign schedule for a day without any public or private events so he could focus on his presentation for the 90-minute event that will begin at 9 p.m., with no commercial interruptions, the Guardian reported. Clinton, in contrast, has spent most of this week with close aides at her Dutch colonial home in Chappaqua, a hamlet north of New York city. According to sources, Trump has been watching videos of Clinton's best and worst debate moments, looking for her vulnerabilities, the New York Times said. The analysts have said that the two candidates were taking vastly different approaches and their divergent strategies revealed how the two and their campaigns see the race, their strengths and their opponents' weaknesses. Clinton's campaign has revealed that advisors to the former first lady were hurling a host of 'Trumpian' assaults and counter attacks at her to test her responses and adjust them as needed. Clinton is eager to play offense and try to get under his skin, by doing things like calling him "Donald" and questioning his net worth, the New York Times quoted campaign officials as saying. "I'll tell you I am going to do my very best to communicate as clearly and fearlessly as I can in the face of the insults and the attacks and the bullying and bigotry that we've seen coming from my opponent," she said during a radio interview earlier this week. Trump's campaign does not want to fill his head with facts and figures, but instead, they want him to practice staying focused on bigger themes, such as jobs, terrorism, protecting the homeland and closing borders, rather than picking fights on side issues. Working on her strategy, Clinton and her advisers have written out dozens of answers, and has tested some attack lines on the campaign trail to see what might work in the debate. If Trump expresses admiration for President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, she is prepared to evoke the hero of the Republican Party: "What would Ronald Reagan say about a Republican nominee who attacks American generals and heaps praise on Russia's president?" as she recently said. Trump's main strategy during debates is often to attack and insult opponents, the analysts said. He may tend to belittle Clinton to the point of rudeness when he is speaking off the cuff, such as by making fun of her for recuperating from her recent pneumonia, the New York Times noted. However, Trump has promised a clean fight in which he will treat Clinton with "respect" and not bring up her husband Bill's past sexual indiscretions, the Guardian reported. "I don't think I'm looking to do that," he told Fox News. "I don't know what I'm going to do exactly. It depends on what level she hits you with, if she's fair, if it's unfair, but certainly I'm not looking to do that." Clinton is expected to conduct at least one mock debate over the weekend, whereas Trump will not do a full-length mock debate, according to their campaign officials. The aim of these debates is to get a clear-cut understanding of how do the candidates differ from each other on all the issues that will be thrown at them. The debate will be divided into six 15-minute time segments that begin with with a question, NBC News reported. Each candidate gets two minutes to respond to the question, and then they can respond to each other. Whatever time is left the moderator can use to ask more questions or allow more debate. Moderators can extend sections to make sure both candidates get equal speaking time. The vice presidential debate is similar, but there's nine sections, each ten minutes long. The moderator for Monday's debate is Lester Holt, a journalist with a decades-long career, first at CBS, and since 2000 at NBC News. This debate will be followed by Vice-Presidential Debate at Longwood University, Farmville, Virginia between Democrat's Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence on October 4. The second Presidential Debate will be at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri on October 9. The third and final Presidential Debate will be at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 19. Just like the election, Clinton is seen by some strategists as having a slight edge in the debate, but it is really not clear which way it will go. The latest NBC/ Wall Street Journal poll gives Clinton a 6 point lead, 43 per cent to Trump's 37 per cent, among likely voters. Heavy Syrian and Russian air strikes on rebel-held eastern areas of city killed at least 25 civilians on Saturday, a monitor said, overwhelming doctors and rescue workers. The toll was expected to rise because people remained trapped under rubble, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The intense raids continued for a second night, after Damascus announced an operation late Thursday to recapture all of the city. Seven people were killed in a strike on the Bustan al- Qasr neighbourhood as they queued to buy yoghurt at a market. Bustan al-Qasr is along the frontline that divides the government-held west from the rebel-held east of the city. The attack left a pool of blood and bodyparts strewn at the site, according to an AFP correspondent. At least 47 people were killed in heavy bombing on Friday, among them seven children, according to the Observatory. There was massive destruction in several neighbourhoods, including Al-Kalasseh and Bustan al-Qasr, where some streets were almost erased by the bombardment. Unexploded rockets were still buried in the roads in some areas, and elsewhere enormous craters around five metres deep and wide had been left by the bombing. Residents and activists described the use of a missile that produced earthquake-like tremors upon impact and razed buildings right down to the basement level where many residents desperately seek protection during bombing. The civil defence organisation known as the White Helmets was left overwhelmed by the scale of the destruction, particularly after several of its bases were damaged in bombing on Friday. The group says it has just two fire engines left for all of east which, like its ambulances, are struggling to move around the city. With no electricity or fuel for generators, the streets of are pitch black and difficult to navigate at night, and the fuel shortage has also made it tough to fill up vehicles. In many places, rubble strewn across streets has rendered them impassable and has effectively sealed off neighbourhoods to traffic. This morning, the streets were nearly empty, with just a few residents out looking for bread. The approximately 250,000 people in east Aleppo have been under near-continuous siege since government troops encircled the area in mid-July. A truce deal negotiated between Moscow and Washington brought a few days of respite from the violence, though no humanitarian aid, earlier this month. But the deal has fallen apart, and on Thursday the Syrian army announced an operation to retake all of Aleppo, urging civilians in the east to distance themselves from "terrorists" and promising them safe passage to government-controlled areas. As the ugly divorce proceedings of a certain Hollywood couple help a different B-word vie for the title of this week's most irritating portmanteau, thanks are due to currency strategist Bilal Hafeez for shifting the conversation back onto the matter of Brexit. To those still of the mind that "one of the challenges of understanding the consequences of Brexit is the apparent lack of precedent for such an event," Hafeez offers this rebuke: you're not going back far enough. Digging deep into English history, he takes us to the reign of Henry VIII, whose 1534 break with Rome ... OPEC members aren't likely to reach a supply deal in Algiers next week, but an agreement to boost prices could be drawing closer after Saudi Arabia signalled for the first time in two years that it's willing to cut production. Saudi Arabia and Iran, whose rivalry thwarted a deal with other major producers in April, didn't reach agreement after two days of preparatory talks in Vienna, including the Saudi offer to pump less if Iran caps output at current levels, according to two people familiar with the negotiations. While the kingdom doesn't now anticipate any formal decision ... is not putting enough pressure on the Haqqani terror network and this is the reason that the US Defence Secretary is not giving the necessary certification for release of $300 million in coalition support funds to it, a top American general has said. "As far the strength of the Haqqanis, the Secretary of Defence in August in his response to Congress as a result of the National Defence Act and Authorisation Act of 2015, he was required to respond to Congress on whether there was adequate pressure being placed on the Haqqanis by the government," Gen John Nicholson, Commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan said. "And he said he was unable to certify that there was sufficient pressure being placed on them to justify additional coalition support funds to . Kind of a lengthy explanation, but it was his way of saying that there's not, not adequate pressure being put on the Haqqanis," Nicholson told Pentagon reporters during a news conference here. "I concur and with the Secretary's assessment on that. Then we, that the Haqqanis operationally have been able to conduct operations inside Afghanistan, they constitute the primary threat to Americans, to coalition members, and to Afghans especially in and around Kabul," he said in response to a question. General Nicholson said US troops in Afghanistan have been authorised by President Barack Obama to take any measures necessary to defend against the Haqqani threat. "We have authorities into terms of force protection, so we can act against them when we identify them. We track their actions very closely. Especially as relates to the Kabul threat streams. I have the authorities I need to defend us against that threat," he said. Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said that Islamabad has decided to write to Interpol for the extradition of Baloch separatist leader, Brahamdagh Bugti, who is now seeking political asylum in India after Switzerland turned down his request for further refuge. "The Federal Investigation Agency will send a formal reference to Interpol within the next few days for the extradition of Brahamdagh Bugti," the Express Tribune quoted Khan as saying at the headquarters of the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) on Friday. Nisar's statement comes days after Baloch Republican Party (BRP) Chief Bugti, visited the Indian consulate in Geneva to inquire about the process of seeking asylum in India. Bugti's application seeking political asylum in India has been received by the Indian Home Ministry which is examining it. Bugti, the grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader killed by the Pakistani army in 2006, has been living in exile in Switzerland. Islamabad has always blamed India for helping Bugti flee to Geneva in 2010 via Afghanistan. Commenting on the move, Pakistan's Foreign Office said that Bugti's request for asylum in India, was indicative of New Delhi's involvement in terrorism in Balochistan. "Their feelings about and their invitation to him unmistakably establish who is behind terrorism (in Balochistan)," Nisar said. "The government is doing its homework. In the next few days, we will be writing to Interpol about this person through the FIA [Federal Investigation Agency]. We will be sending a formal reference to Interpol, asking for his extradition to Pakistan," he added. Nisar also accused India of blaming Pakistan for the Uri attack without any concrete evidence. "The Indians don't have any evidence, so what sort of investigation can Pakistan carry out? They have blamed us just to defame Pakistan," he asserted. At least 18 Indian army personnel were killed in a dastardly terror attack on an army base camp in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district on Sunday. is to contact Interpol to extradite Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti, who is currently seeking political asylum in India. "The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will send a formal reference to Interpol within the next few days for the extradition of Brahamdagh Bugti," Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali said. Nisar's statement on Friday came a day after India's Home Ministry said it was examining Bugti's application for political asylum in India. Baloch Republican Party (BRP) Chief Bugti visited the Indian consulate in Geneva, Switzerland, to enquire about the process of seeking asylum in India. Nisar, to a question about India's offer of citizenship to the rebel Baloch leader, said the offer had made it clear as to who was supporting terrorism. "It has substantiated the Indian Prime Minister's statement of interference in Pakistan," he said, at the headquarters of the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA). "Their (Indians') feelings about Brahamdagh Bugti and their invitation to him unmistakably establish who is behind terrorism (in Balochistan)," Nisar was quoted as saying. The minister also accused India of blaming for the Uri terrorist attack without any concrete evidence. "The Indians don't have any evidence, so what sort of investigation can carry out? They have blamed us just to defame Pakistan," he said. Eighteen Indian soldiers were killed in a terror attack on an army base camp in Uri town in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This city's leaders, faced with mounting demands for transparency after a fatal police shooting of a black man led to rioting, resisted calls on Friday for the immediate release of video of the killing and argued that a rushed disclosure could compromise a criminal inquiry. The US today asked India and Pakistan to resolve their differences through diplomacy and not through violence. "We have long urged India and Pakistan to find ways to resolve their differences, not through violence, but through diplomacy," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters at his daily news conference. He was responding to a question on the death of 18 Indian soldiers at an army camp in Uri. "I've seen some of the public reports about this incident. You know, obviously, the United States strongly condemns acts of terrorism around the world," he said. Earnest said over the years, India and Pakistan made some important progress in that pursuit of resolving differences through diplomacy. "And you know, we're hopeful that they'll be able to continue to make the kind of progress that will bring greater stability to what is a rather volatile region of the world," he said. has rubbished reports that its troops will be holding joint military exercises with Pakistani forces in Gilgit Baltistan, which is a part of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and clarified the anti-terror drills will take place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. The denial came as Russian troops arrived in Islamabad on Friday for the first-ever joint exercises with Pakistani forces. The exercise begins from Saturday under the name 'Friendship-2016' and reflects growing military ties between the two countries. Deputy Director of Information and Press Department Yury Materiy said that holds such military drills with other countries of the region as well. "On Sep 23, Indra-2016 joint Russian-Indian anti-terror exercise started at Sergeyevsky training ground in the Primorye Territory," he added. In a statement from the Russian embassy in New Delhi on Friday, said that contrary to some reports appearing in a section of the press, the Russia-Pakistan anti-terror exercise is not being held and will not be held in any point of so-called "Azad Kashmir", or in any other sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit and Baltistan. The statement added the only venue of the exercise is Cherat, referring to a place in Kyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Russian Embassy added that all reports alleging the drills taking place at the High Altitude Military School in Rattu are erroneous and mischievous. A group of militants have reportedly attacked the Salang Pass,which is a key tunnel connecting the capital Kabul city with Afghanistan's northern provinces. According to the Khaama Press, the militants launched an attack in northern Salang, where they targeted a security vehicle. There are no reported casualities yet and security forces are currently engaged in a gun battle in the area. This is the second time that the militants have launched an attack on the Salang Pass within two months. The previous attack was launched on security check posts in July this year and was foiled by the Afghan security forces. Shares of Apple slid Friday amid speculation that German research firm GfK issued a report suggesting iPhone 7 sales would be lower than last year, based on data in Europe and Asia. Apple shares dropped as much as 2.7 per cent as reports spread. The stock was trading down 1.6 per cent at $112.80 at 3:11 pm in New York. Business Insider said people who have seen a copy of the report say it claims that iPhone 7 unit sales are down 25 per cent on an annual basis, compared with the iPhone 6S of last year. GfK's report doesn't measure sales in the US. "Numbers on sales or market ... The partial rollback of import duty on wheat from 25 per cent to 10 per cent announced on Friday by the Government of India would ease the availability of the grain to millers in most parts of India. A price correction is also anticipated and is likely to be more conspicuous in states closer to ports than central and northern India. The Congress on Saturday dubbed Russia's denial of doing military exercises with Pakistani forces in Gilgit-Baltistan as a tactical move by Moscow and urged Indian media to be cautious and be aware of the reality at ground zero. Congress spokesperson Tom Vaddakan told ANI, "This is tactical statement coming from Russia. It's apparently clear, the exercise is on, but only the locale is being changed," Vaddakan said. "There has been a lot of reports in Indian media that Russia had abandoned this exercise. But the fact of the matter is that the exercise is still on. The Indian news media needs to be careful when they use such material to know exactly what is the ground zero level," he added. He further said the question of India's relation with Russia and China, are issues that need an immediate attention from the MEA and the PMO because they are important nations as they are part of the entire security network. "It requires a little more activity from the MEA and from the Prime Minister, who himself is known to create good relations with different countries. I think therefore it's important that the focus remains and yes, there are issues on their accountability factor of the attack in Uri," he said. Earlier, Russia has rubbished reports that its troops will be holding joint military exercises with Pakistani forces in Gilgit Baltistan, which is a part of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and clarified the anti-terror drills will take place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. The denial came as Russian troops arrived in Islamabad on Friday for the first-ever joint exercises with Pakistani forces. The exercise begins from today under the name 'Friendship-2016' and reflects growing military ties between the two countries. Deputy Director of Information and Press Department Yury Materiy said that Russia holds such military drills with other countries of the region as well. "On Sep 23, Indra-2016 joint Russian-Indian anti-terror exercise started at Sergeyevsky training ground in the Primorye Territory," he added. In a statement from the Russian embassy in New Delhi yesterday, Russia said that contrary to some reports appearing in a section of the press, the Russia-Pakistan anti-terror exercise is not being held and will not be held in any point of so-called "Azad Kashmir", or in any other sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit and Baltistan. The statement added the only venue of the exercise is Cherat, referring to a place in Kyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Russian Embassy added that all reports alleging the drills taking place at the High Altitude Military School in Rattu are erroneous and mischievous. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Pakistan High Commission has said the latest threat by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) against Pakistani actors shows that environment in India is not conducive for events like 'Aalishan Pakistan' exhibition, and thus, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) has called it off. "The environment here is not conducive for such an event. We have seen in the past how right-wing parties reacted to such Pakistani events. The latest move by MNS against the Pakistani artistes is the point in this case," the Pakistan High Commission said in a statement. The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) said on Friday the fair that was aimed at showcasing Pakistani goods in India in September-October has been cancelled due to the current tensions between the two countries, which is beyond TDAP's control. The TDAP held the first edition of the event in 2012 and second in 2014. Relations between Islamabad and New Delhi have soured following the Uri terror attack on an army base in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed the lives of eighteen soldiers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) asked actors and artistes from Pakistan to leave India within 48 hours or it would "push them out", the president of the Maharashtra unit of the Samajwadi Party (SP), Abu Azmi, on Saturday dared MNS chief to send his suicide bombers to Lahore and Karachi instead of intimidating people coming to India from Pakistan legally with India visas. "Today, Pakistan is sending suicide squads (fidayeen) to India, if you have the potential and sympathy, then you should also send your suicide bombers to Lahore and Karachi to fight against Pakistan or you should stop intimidating people who have come to India legally on an India visa. Stop fooling around as it will further dent your vote bank," Azmi challenged Thackeray. "Forget about Pakistan, as you (Raj Thackeray) are a small leader and your reach is limited to Maharashtra only. Today Naxals are attacking policemen in Gadchiroli and Chandrapur, and if you are unable to do anything in Karachi and Lahore, then you send your activists in Maharashtra to save our security forces, and then I will understand that you are doing something practical," the Samajwadi Party MLA told ANI. Accusing the MNS of hooliganism and of breaking the law, Azmi said, "It is true that Pakistani people (terrorists) killed 17 (18) jawans, which had lowered our moral and we should take revenge from Pakistan, but it does not mean that you will threaten artistes and players coming from there." "If has the potential, he should go to Delhi and get the Pakistan Embassy closed, and he should also stop the Indian Embassy in Pakistan from granting visas to people to visit India, and then, I will understand that you have done something." "But you are threatening those people who have come here on Indian visas so that they come to you and you strike a deal with them, it is nothing but an attempt to make a fool of people. If you have so much pain and you want to push the Pakistani people out, then why only in Mumbai, you should work in the entire country," he added. The MNS workers' association on Friday said they would not allow the release of 'Ae Dil Hai Mushqil' and 'Raees' as the movies feature Pakistani actors while giving a 48-hour deadline to the stars from the other side of the border to leave India. MNS Chitrapat Sena president Amey Khopkar warned Pakistani actors that they would face serious consequences in India if they do not leave the nation within 48 hours. "We give a 48-hour deadline to Pakistani actors and artists to leave India or the MNS will push them out," said Khopkar. This comes at a time when tensions between the two Asian neighbours has escalated to a new level post the killing of 18 army personnel in a dastardly terror attack on an army base camp in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district. India has blamed Pakistan for the attack as the investigating agencies reportedly recovered weapons and ammunition bearing Pakistani marks from the site. Pakistan has, however, flatly rejected New Delhi's claims of involvement in the Uri terror attack stating India has a traditional tendency of pointing fingers at the former whenever a terror attack takes place on Indian soil. The Indian Air Force has successfully fired recently acquired long range air-to-air MICA missile on a manoeuvring target from Mirage-2000 Upgrade combat aircraft. A Defence Ministry release said that the missile achieved a direct hit on a target which was much smaller than an actual aircraft and flying at a low altitude. "The target was destroyed on missile impact validating the launch envelope of the missile. With the success of this mission, the IAF has become one of the few Air Forces in the world with the capability of such long range Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air missile," the Air Force statement said. The operational success of this mission confirms a critical capability of Indian Air Force. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The security forces had arrested two PoK nationals who had been working for Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror outfit and acting as guides for infiltrating groups along the line of control in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir. In a joint operation by the Army and Border Security Force (BSF), two PoK nationals were apprehended on September 21. During the investigation, the individuals have revealed their identities as Ahasan Kursheed @ DC, s/o Mohd Kursheed of Khaliana Kalan and Faisal Hussain Awan s/o Gul Akbar of Pottha Jahangir both in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. The duo was recruited two years ago by the JeM and was guiding terrorists to infiltrate across the line of control. The details provided by them are being examined and corroborated by the concerned agencies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Backing the Congress demand for the resignation of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Security Adviser Ajit Doval, the Janata Dal (United) on Saturday blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for the terror attack in Uri , Jammu and Kashmir, and added that India's policy towards Pakistan lacks strategic coherence and clarity. JD (U) spokesperson Pawan Varma told ANI that earlier Prime Minister Modi used to accuse the UPA government of being soft on Pakistan and at present he should take the responsibility himself. "I think the Prime Minister would be reluctant to fix responsibility for Uri because, in that case, he may have to actually identify himself as also responsible," Varma said. "I say this not because I doubt in any way the Prime Minister's bonafides, I say this because, so far the policy towards Pakistan has lacked strategic coherence and clarity. And, I believe, that ultimately as Prime Minister, the fact that two incidents have happened close to each other, where terrorists from across the border literally strolled into high security establishments like an air force base in Pathankot and then an Army base in Uri," he added. Stating that somewhere the current government should take responsibility, Varma said, "Prime Minister Modi, when he used to accuse the UPA government of being soft on Pakistan, always attacked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and accused of him having 'biryani', while our brave soldiers were dying. Why should he now not take the responsibility himself?" The Congress Friday said the Uri terror attack was the result of a "massive operational and intelligence failure" and added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should fix responsibility on the Defence Minister and the Security Adviser. In one of the worst attack in recent times, at least 18 soldiers lost their lives and over 20 others got injured post the terror strike on an army camp close to the headquarters of the 12th Brigade at Uri in Baramulla district. Chief Minister T R Zeliang, speaking on the sidelines of the Northeast Connectivity Summit here, has said that his government is totally against the idea of raising the barbed wire fencing between India and Myanmar. He rather suggested that instead of wasting money in fencing, both India and Myanmar should think about constructing roads and other amenities in the restricted area on both sides of the border, and added that in the absence of proper roads and communication, the area has turned into a fertile ground for militants. Zeliang said that considering the unique landholding system among the Nagas, the Government of India should consider an unfenced border along the India-Myanmar border, instead of raising barbed wire fencing. According to him, the improved roads will ensure better connectivity, improved trade and relations, as also effective counter insurgency operations by security forces. He said he wanted policy makers and planners to clearly understand the peculiar nature of the sector of the Indo-Myanmar border, which unlike other borders in the region does not have the problem of infiltration from across the border. According to him the situation is more or less similar in Manipur and Mizoram. The chief minister viewed that taking advantage of the absence of the road communication and security movement, the militants have turned this area into a breeding ground for new cadres and this can only be stopped with the construction of roads and development of the area. He asked the India government to start dialogue with Myanmar and come to a common conclusion for construction of roads and other developmental activities on both sides of the border. Zeliang informed that like India, Myanmar is also in dialogue with the majority of the Naga militant groups who are on ceasefire and peace talks are continuing. He hoped that by peaceful negotiation and talks, an amicable solution of the Naga issue can be derived. The Defence and Home Ministries have been imposing various restrictions on construction and other development activities in bordering areas due to security reasons. The summit has been organised by FICCI at Pragna Bhavan, Agartala with support of Govt of Tripura, Ministry of DoNER, North East Council and DIPP to formulate policies regarding connectivity in the region. Accusing the Congress-Communist Party of India nexus of cheating the people of Kerala, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said they should be asked as to what policy they had been following in the state. "The Congress is just cheating the people. What policy they (Congress-Communist Party) are following they should be asked. They are friends in Delhi but they fight in Kerala. We are getting a good opportunity to teach them a lesson," he said while addressing a rally here. Naid said as far as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is concerned, they don't discriminate on the basis of caste and religion. "Irrespective of caste, creed sex, region and religion India is one. One nation, one people one country the only party is Bharatiya Janata Party," he added. Taking a dig at dynasty politics Naidu said, "For the Congress, politics is dynasty, but actually it is nasty. Politics is nasty for congress and communist people. We have to put an end to dynasty." "The Congress and the Communist Party cast politics, religious politics, we have enough of it. Now the time has come to put an end to this religious politics and caste politics. We must all untie people on the basis of character and caliber and capacity," he added. Asserting that terrorism has no religion, Naidu said some people are trying to give it a religious colour so that these crimes can be covered. "In the Parliament also the government is doing excellent things in the reforms. Reforms are moving fast forward. "Adani and Ambani Congress ki meharbani", they both were born in the Congress rule," he added. Kozhikode in north Kerala hosted a three-day council meeting of the BJP which began today. At least 2,500 delegates including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his team of ministers attended it. The council meeting was dedicated to its ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyaya who became the president of the Jan Sangh, the BJP's forerunner. Upadhyaya was elected president of the Jan Sangh in 1937 at the party conclave in Kozhikode then known as Calicut. He was assassinated 41 days later in Mugalsari railway station in Uttar Pradesh. This is also Upadhyaya's centenary year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday said the Rafale fighter aircraft deal will enhance India's military capabilities. "For over two decades, we have not been able to procure any fighter aircraft. This decision had been pending for a very long time. It was revived, when on a government to government level Prime Minister Modi during his visit to France had revived it with the French president and today it has reached a culmination with the signing by our and the French Defence Minister," BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli told ANI. Kohli described this deal an important acquisition and said new aircraft technology would enhance India's military capabilities. Earlier, the Congress called on the NDA government to explain the advantages of the Rafale fighter jet deal inked between India and France. New Delhi and Paris signed the deal for direct acquisition of 36 Rafale fighter jets yesterday. The negotiations to buy the Rafale fighter jets came through on Wednesday and French Defence Minister Yves Le Drian arrived in the country on Friday to finalise the deal which will cost India 7.8 billion Euros. The development comes after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) discussed the deal and gave the green signal to go ahead with its signing to give a crucial boost to the Indian Air Force. Both India and France had hoped to wrap up the strategic order during French President Francois Hollande's visit for the Republic Day celebrations in January this year, but the bargaining over the price stalled the process. On Thursday, Parrikar had said that the two sides were yet to arrive at a decision on pricing. "It's a big purchase, we have to be careful and every 0.1 percent savings itself is hundreds of crores. So, let the exercise be done with some patience," he said. Hollande and Prime Minister Narendra Modi intervened in the troubled Rafale procurement last year, ordering government-to-government talks after commercial negotiations with Dassault had collapsed. The leaders agreed to scale back an original plan to buy 126 Rafale planes to just 36 in fly-away condition to meet the Indian Air Force's urgent need as it faces an assertive China and long-time foe Pakistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian comedian Raju Srivastav on Saturday said that he has cancelled his comedy show in Karachi which was supposed to take place on December 25, following the brutal Uri terror attack. Speaking to ANI, Srivastav said that he was saddened with the terror attack and the cancellation of his show is a symbol of protest against Pakistan. "We are artists. We cannot go to the border with guns. The anger that I have against Pakistan how will I express it. This cancellation is symbol of my anger, we support our Indian soldiers and will do like this. How can I go to Pakistan and do comedy shows," he told ANI. "This time they betrayed our trust by attacking us. Our soldiers were sleeping, unarmed. I saw one of the families of the braveheart who shouldered his grandsons' body. Seeing this how can I go to Pakistan," he added. When asked about his views on the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) 48-hours ultimatum asking Pakistani artists to leave India, Srivastav said that he supports the party's stand and urged the film industry to hire more Indian performers. "As far as MNS stand on Pakistani actors is concerned, I support them. This country has 1.2 billion people, we have top-notch artists here. I don't understand the need to hire people from across the border. Instead, more Indians should be given an opportunity. Some prominent Pakistani Ghazal artists came here and performed, some Pakistani actors are here. If they leave India, will Bollywood be shut down, will the film industry be shut-down?" he asked. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give an apt response so that no such attack takes place post Uri. "I think enough is enough and we should act immediately, I request Prime Minister Modi to take action and ensure that Uri attack be the final one," he said. Earleir, MNS Chitrapat Sena president Amey Khopkar warned Pakistani actors that they would face serious consequences in India if they do not leave within 48 hours. The Raj Thackeray-led party also threatened that they would not allow the release of film 'Ae Dil Hai Mushqil' and 'Raees' in India as they feature Pakistani actors. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Reacting over the recent orders by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) giving ultimatum to all Pakistani actors to quit India in 48-hours of face consequences, Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh said actors have always been the first ones to be targeted, no matter whatever the agenda is. "Artists are like soft targets, which is very unfortunate. The concentration is somewhere else and this is not the solution to it. If this was the solution then fair enough, but this is not the solution," said the 37-year-old actor. Meanwhile, the party also warned that it would not allow the release of Bollywood films featuring Pakistani cine or television stars including the upcoming Karan Johar's 'Ae Dil Hai Mushqil' and Shah Rukh Khan starrer 'Raees' as the movies star Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan respectively. The political party made the announcement after tension between the two Asian neighbours escalated to a new level post the killing of 18 Army personnel in a dastardly terror attack on an army base camp in Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district. India has blamed Pakistan for the attack as the investigating agencies reportedly recovered weapons and ammunition bearing Pakistani marks from the site. Pakistan has, however, flatly rejected New Delhi's claims of involvement in the Uri terror attack stating India has a traditional tendency of pointing fingers at the former, whenever a terror attack takes place on Indian soil. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the aftermath of the death of around 300 people due to the sinking of an overloaded ship off Egypt's Mediterranean city of Rosetta, Chinese media has blamed the interventionist policies of the West for the tragedy. "A multitude of reasons may be given as to what caused the wars and the poverty, from which these migrants were fleeing but the West cannot shirk their responsibility for this," said a commentary in the state-owned Xinhua. The commentary said that colonial rule by Western powers in past centuries and their interventionist policies in recent decades both played a part. It added that the euphoric atmosphere permeating Washington and other Western capitals at the start of the "Arab Spring" five years ago has long been replaced by hand-wringing in the face of bloodshed, chaos, and misery from Syria to Iraq to Libya, and the terror attacks that filled news headlines so often around the . "In a few hours, the foreign ministers of the U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and the European Union are scheduled to gather at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, United States, which is a far cry from the turbulent Mediterranean seas," it said. But the wars in the Middle East and the refugee crisis gripping the region are the top of the agenda when U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets his five counterparts. "It is high time that the United States and other Western countries reflected upon their flawed interventionist policies that often featured imposition of their values and sought regime changes," it said adding that it is high time that the West took constructive actions. They have a moral obligation and historical responsibility to do so. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Speculations about the cast of Sajay Leela Bhansali's next outing has been creating a stir in the B-town for quite some time now, and in a recent turn of events, actor Shahid Kapoor was spotted outside the director's office. Donning a geeky look, the 35-year-old actor seemed drowned in thought while making his way back after meeting the filmmaker. Reportedly, the visit came amid rumors that Ranveer Singh, who has recently been officially signed for the movie, wants Shahid's role to be crunched, reports Pinkvilla. As per sources the 'Udta Punjab' actor will be playing the role of Rani Padmavati's husband, Raja Rawal Ratan Singh, in the period drama. Shahid will be next seen starring alongside Saif Ali Khan and Kangana Ranaut in 'Rangoon'. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan is quite regular in sharing his updates with his fans on social media, may it be his behind-the-scene shots from the shooting locales or his vacay moments with the family. In a recent post, the 50-year-old actor is seen in an extremely cute picture with a toddler. The heart-warming snap posted by SRK's fan club depicts the soft side of the 'Dilwale' star playing with a toddler. On the professional front, King Khan has recently wrapped up the Amsterdam schedule of Imtiaz Ali's The Ring. The romantic drama featuring Anushka Sharma along with him is set to release in the coming year. Shah Rukh's next project 'Raees', will be starring Pakistani actress Mahira Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On 22 September 2016 Virat Industries will hold a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company on 22 September 2016. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 22 rebels were killed after the Syrian Air Force bombed one of their headquarters, a watchdog group said. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, the aerial attack took place on a cave where the headquarter of the Fursan al Haq was located in Homs province but its collapse made it impossible to know the fate of those trapped inside. Fursan al Haq is the opposition faction of the Syrian Free Army, Efe news reported. The rescue teams encountered serious difficulties clearing the rubble due to the ongoing bombing sorties by the air force. The Syrian Army indicated that "a number of terrorists" were dead or wounded after the bombing operations. The troops also destroyed four rebel tanks and three vehicles equipped with heavy machine guns. --IANS ss/ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least four persons were killed in a shooting at a mall in Washington on Friday night, police said. The shooter remains at large after opening fire at Cascade Mall in Burlington, Sgt. Mark Francis said on Twitter. Francis said it was not immediately known if there was more than one gunman involved, but authorities were searching for a man wearing grey and was last seen walking toward Interstate 5 highway -- the main interstate highway on the West Coast of the US -- from the mall, NBC News reported. Francis tweeted that survivors would be transported by bus to a nearby church. Reports about the shooting started coming in around 7 p.m., Washington State Trooper spokeswoman Heather Axtman said. It was not clear how many persons were injured, Axtman added. There is no indication that the event was terror related and there is no motive at this time, according to the spokeswoman. The Cascade Mall is an enclosed shopping mall that opened in 1990. It features Macy's stores, restaurants and a movie theatre, NBC News added. --IANS ksk Former Hollywood couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner stepped out together without their children for dinner. The estranged couple often enjoy vacations and dinners together with their children, but they were for the first time seen spending time alone on Thursday night, reports aceshowbiz.com. Affleck and Garner grabbed a dinner at The Hungry Cat restaurant in Santa Monica without their children Violet, Seraphina and Samuel. The duo arrived together in the same car around 8:30 p.m. before leaving the seafood restaurant together at 10 p.m. Affleck paused for a cigarette outside. The "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" actor, who sported a light blue shirt and brown pants, sat in the front seat of the car with their driver while Garner, who donned a white top and black trousers, sat in the back seat. The duo were spotted together with their children here on Tuesday. At the time, the "Gone Girl" actor sat behind the wheel of his black Ford SUV while the "Miracles from Heaven" actress was sitting next to him. They appeared to have an argument when talking about something and she even cried at one point. --IANS sas/nn/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Army on Saturday said it has apprehended two Pakistani nationals in Uri town who were acting as 'terror guides for Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) outfit'. Colonel S.D. Goswami, spokesman of army's Udhampur headquartered northern command, told IANS in winter capital Jammu that security forces had arrested "two Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) nationals who have been working for JeM terror outfit and acting as guides for infiltrating groups along the line of control in Uri sector". The two Pakistani nationals were apprehended in a joint operation by Army and BSF on September 21. "During investigation, the individuals revealed their identities as Ahasan Kursheed alias DC, son of Muhammad Kursheed of Khaliana Kalan, and Faisal Hussain Awan, son of Gul Akbar of Pottha Jahangir, both in PoK. "The duo was recruited two years ago by JeM and were guiding terrorists to infiltrate across the Line of Control. "The details provided by them are being examined and corroborated by concerned agencies," he added. The army has said four JeM suicide terrorists were responsible for the September 18 Uri attack in which 18 soldiers were killed and 30 others injured. --IANS sq/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Bihar youth's dreams of joining the Indian Army lay shattered after he lost sensation in his left hand owing to "medical negligence" following a surgery performed by a city doctor, his family claimed on Saturday. Muzzafarpur resident Rajan Sharma, 20, arrived in Kolkata in January for a surgery following a broken elbow bone. Sharma has undergone three procedures since then under the supervision of two doctors affiliated to two top state-run city hospitals. "I was preparing for my physical examination after clearing the written one, to join the Army. I was running and I slipped and fell and fractured the bone in my left arm. The first two surgeries were done by a doctor of NRS Medical College and Hospital while the third one was at Calcutta Medical College. After the first surgery in January, I started losing sensation in my fingers and gradually my hand became numb," Sharma told a local television channel here. "I have been asked to undergo physiotherapy and come back for a fourth surgery, if required," said a helpless Sharma draped in an arm sling. According to the youth's uncle, upon further examination, it was discovered a nerve had been damaged during the first operation. "Another doctor showed us an MRI scan and told us there was medical negligence. The nerve was damaged in the first procedure. The first doctor who we had consulted claimed the surgery that he would perform was the best," the uncle said. --IANS sgh/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US Department of Defense announced that it has awarded defence major Boeing a $81 million contract to supply 22 Harpoon missile systems for Indian Navy's Shishumar class submarines. A Department of Defense release said the Boeing, the weapon manufacturer, is being awarded the $81,271,024 contract for firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract to exercise an option for the procurement of 22 Lot 89 Harpoon missiles and associated containers and components for India under the Foreign Military Sales programme. The contract is expected to be completed in June 2018. In 2014, India requested the US government for the Harpoon missiles for Shishumar class submarine. The request was made under Foreign Military Sale. The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) had July 2014 said that the Indian government has requested a possible sale of 12 UGM-84L Harpoon Block II Encapsulated Missiles, 10 UTM-84L Harpoon Encapsulated Training missiles, 2 Encapsulated Harpoon certification training vehicles, containers, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, US Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $200 million. It said that this weapon system, to be employed on the Shishumar class submarine (Type-209), will provide enhanced capabilities for defence of critical sea lines of communication. "India has already purchased Harpoon missiles for integration on Indian Air Force's Jaguar aircraft and Indian Navy's P-8I maritime patrol aircraft. India will have no difficulty absorbing these additional missiles into its armed forces," it added. Sources in the industry said that a contract was signed this June between Indian Ministry of Defence and US Department of Defense for supply of Harpoon systems for the submarines. To execute this contract, the US government has to buy the missiles from Boeing to supply to India. --IANS rs/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Gauhati High Court has withdrawn all the judges from the District and Sessions Court of Mizoram's Lunglei district following mob violence in the court premises recently, an official said here on Saturday. After a mob attack on the district court buildings with stones on Thursday, Registrar General of the Gauhati High Court H.K. Sharma issued an order on Friday, withdrawing the three judges of the Lunglei District and Sessions Court," a senior official of the district administration told IANS. The judges withdrawn are Lunglei District and Sessions Judge R. Thanga, Additional District and Sessions Judge Helen Dawngliani and Civil Judge-cum-Judicial Magistrate First Class R. Malsawmdawngzuala. The official said that the Registrar General also asked Lawngtlai district Senior Civil Judge-cum-Chief Judicial Magistrate Laldinpuia Tlau not to hold any circuit court in Lunglei district (in western Mizoram) until further orders from the high court. A mob attacked the Lunglei district court buildings on Thursday and ransacked the official residence of a civil judge after a 26-year-old youth was produced before the court by police for allegedly killing another youth in Zohnuai locality in Lunglei district on August 27. Before attacking the court, the crowd had demanded to see the accused youth, but police had turned down their demand. Police arrested 17 people in connection with the violence and remanded them to judicial custody. Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla and the Mizoram Bar Association of Lunglei district branch strongly condemned the attack on the court buildings and ransacking of the official residence of a judicial magistrate by the mob. Condemning the attack, the Lunglei district unit of Mizoram Bar Association said in a statement that its members had stopped working in the court indefinitely in protest against the attack on the court buildings. Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, besides Assam, fall under the jurisdiction of the Gauhati High Court, while Tripura, Meghalaya, Manipur and Sikkim have separate High Courts. --IANS sc/nir/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iranian President Hassan Rouhani accused the US of not complying with the landmark nuclear agreement that took effect in January, and said American credibility would suffer if the accord was not honoured. In his UN General Assembly speech on Thursday, Rouhani criticised what he described as an American failure to adhere to obligations under the agreement, which relaxed many economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for verifiable pledges of peaceful nuclear work, the New York Times reported. Rouhani said that despite the intense diplomacy that had achieved the agreement between Iran and big powers, there was "not a very stellar report card by the US when it comes to fulfilling the agreement." He spoke a day after American export licenses were granted so that Iran could buy dozens of new planes from Boeing and Airbus, the biggest commercial transactions between Iran and the West. Rouhani called this agreement a model for how to resolve disputes peacefully. But he coupled it with a warning against "illegal actions" by Washington. He complained that American restrictions on banking and dollar transactions with Iran, which were unaffected by the nuclear agreement, have discouraged many banks from engaging with the country because they worry about possible penalties from the US, the New York Times said. While the lifting of nuclear sanctions has enabled Iran to produce and sell far more oil, and its economy is growing faster than in other oil-exporting countries, the nuclear accord has not led to a trade and investment boom in Iran, according to analysts. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday rejected the central government's proposal to set up an expert committee to look into the Mahanadi water sharing dispute. "We reject the proposal as it does not stop the construction by the Chhattisgarh government and the helpless Union government," he said while participating in a debate on the Mahanadi water sharing issue in the assembly. He said the state government received a letter from the Union Water Resources Ministry informing about the constitution of an expert committee to look into the Mahanadi issue without instructing Chhattisgarh to stop construction. Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti had proposed to constitute an expert technical committee at the tripartite meeting attended by both the Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh and Odisha on September 17. "I put forth the demand to stop construction by Chhattisgarh government on Mahanadi. Unfortunately the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh did not agree. Also the Union Minister did not support the issue," said Patnaik. Noting that the the construction of barrages by Chhattisgarh will seriously jeopardise the fragile eco-system such Satkosia, Bhitarkanika and Chilka etc, he said that his government has decided to take all steps both administrative and legal to protect the rights of Odisha. The Chief Minister also criticised both the then UPA government and present NDA government for the Mahanadi mess, saying it was created by the then UPA central government and the BJP government in Chhattisgarh. "UPA sarkar failed to discharge its federal responsibility as enshrined in the Constitution causing great injustice to the people of Odisha. What made it worse was the central funding of some of these projects which had interstate ramifications," he added. He said it is learnt that Chhattisgarh has prepared a master plan for utilising almost 120 percent of the utilisable water available from their catchment. "These plans of Chhattisgarh will seriously impact the Mahanadi basin. However, the present NDA sarkar for obvious political reasons is blatantly taking sides with the BJP-led Chhattisgarh Government. These narrow political considerations in this sensitive inter-state issue jeopardise the interests of Odisha," he said. The opposition Congress and BJP criticised Patnaik's statement. "The statement of the Chief Minister is unfortunate and deplorable. His statement is of Biju Janata Dal, not of a Chief Minister," said leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra. --IANS cd/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jet crash landed in Khyber Agency, killing the pilot, media reported on Saturday. "The pilot of the aircraft Omer Shazad sustained fatal injuries," The Express Tribune cited military's statement. The aircraft was on a routine operational training mission. "No loss of civilian life and property has been reported on ground," the statement added. Though officials claim the aircraft crashed due to a technical fault, a board of inquiry has been ordered by Air Headquarters to determine the cause of the accident. In 2015, a PAF fighter jet F7-PG crashed near Mastung during what officials described as a routine training operation. --IANS vgu/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech, lashing out against Pakistan, was closely monitored by the Pakistani media, and within an hour of its delivery on September 24 evening, excerpts were on websites of major dailies, with most describing it as venomous. The News, one of the major English dailies of Pakistan, ran the headline, "Modi threatens to 'completely isolate' Pakistan globally, while 'The Express Tribune' ran the headline, "Modi threatens to 'isolate' Pakistan globally". In the same vein, Geo TV, one of the leading news channel of Pakistan, said: "Indian PM threatens Pakistan". Geo further states, "Spewing hatred against the neighbouring country, Modi accused Pakistan of being 'the epicentre of terrorism' and claimed it was 'exporting terrorism' to the world." The News also termed Modi's speech as venomous and wrote, "Spewing venom, Indian PM Modi accused Pakistan of being 'the epicentre of terrorism' and claimed it was 'exporting terrorism' to the world." The Dawn also ran the headline, 'Modi says India will work to 'isolate' Pakistan internationally'. A pregnant Dalit woman was attacked by some upper caste people who barged into their home after her family refused to clear animal carcasses from fields in Gujarat's Banaskantha district, police said Saturday. All six accused have been arrested. The incident was reported from Mota Karja village in Amirgadh taluka in which Nileshbhai Dhunabhai Ranavasia and his family was thrashed on Friday night because they refused to go the fields of the assailants to remove carcass of cattle. His pregnant wife Sangitaben was brutally thrashed on the abdomen and abused by six persons, who also abused her in caste terms. "The moment we came to know of the incident, we got into action and arrested all the accused persons and are questioning them," Amirgath Police Sub-Inpector K.Y. Vyas told IANS. "They abused me and thrashed me before entering my house and beat my pregnant wife Sangita on the abdomen and all over her person with sticks," Ranavasia alleged in his complaint. He said they also threatened to kill Sangitaben if he did not go to the farm to dispose of the dead animals. District Superintendent of Police Neeraj Kumar told IANS that Deputy Superintendent of Police, Deesa, immediately took over the investigation "and within a few hours found and nabbed all the persons named by the complainant". Those arrested were identified as Batwarsinh Chauhan, Maknusinh Chauhan, Yogisinh Chauhan, Babarsinh Chauhan, Dilgarsinh Chauhan and Narendrasinh Chauhan, all of own family. Sections of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have also been invoked in the case. --IANS desai/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Syrian forces backed by Palestinian groups succeeded Saturday to recapture a camp of Palestinian refugees in Aleppo from the hands of rebels. The capture of Handarat camp, 13 km northeast of Aleppo, came after the Syrian army and Palestinian factions destroyed the last positions of the rebels there, Xinhua news agency reported. Meanwhile, the rebels' Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, said that the Syrian army and the Palestinian Liwa al-Quds succeeded to take the camp under heavy airstrikes from the Russian air force. Wresting back control over Handarat consolidates the government forces' control over key road of Castello, which had been used by the rebels as a main supply route, before the army captured it a couple of months ago. In August, the rebels took control of the entire camp, following battles with the army. The camp has a strategic importance as it overlooks several rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo, which has become under tight government siege after the Syrian army captured Castello. The Syrian Defense Ministry announced Thursday the commencement of a new offensive against rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo, urging the civilians to leave immediately and the rebels to lay down their weapons. On Friday, Syrian warplanes dropped leaflets over eastern Aleppo, renewing calls on civilians to stay away from the rebel positions and advising the rebels to surrender. The renewed military showdown in Aleppo came just days after a Russian-US brokered truce expired Monday with no extension. The Syrian army said in a statement that the rebels violated the week-long truce over 300 times, adding that the US-led coalition struck positions of the Syrian army during the truce in Deir al-Zour, killing 90 soldiers, which was deemed by Russia as the biggest violation to the truce. --IANS vgu/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Telugu teachers, who were rescued last week after over a year-long captivity by (IS) terrorists in Libya, returned home on Saturday. T Gopikrishna and C Balram Kishan reached Hyderabad from New Delhi in the early hours. They merely said they were happy to reunite with their families, but declined to answer any queries from the media or share their experiences in captivity. The two teachers of the University of Sirte were abducted by IS terrorists on July 29, 2015 while on their way to Tripoli airport to return to India. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had announced on September 15 that they had been rescued. Gopikrishna (35), an Assistant Professor at the University of Sirte, belongs to Tekkali in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, while Balram Kishan (52), a Professor at the same university, hails from Telangana's Karimnagar district. "I am very happy to reunite with my family. I don't have any words to express my happiness," said Gopikrishna talking to media persons at his residence in Nacharam, Hyderabad. He thanked the Libyan Army and the Government of India, especially the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). "Thanks to their efforts, I could safely come back and reunite with my family," said Gopikrishna flanked by his wife and daughter. "I am really excited to return home after long captivity. I have already given all information to the MEA as to what happened during my 414-day captivity," he said. Gopikrishna declined to speak on how they were freed and how they were treated in captivity. "I can't reveal all those details to you. I have given the information to the ministry," he said. The two teachers had reached New Delhi on Friday, after which officials of the MEA met and debriefed them. Balram taught English and Gopikrishna Computer Science at Sirte University. They were among the four Indians kidnapped by IS the same day. Two of them were released a few days later. Lakshmikant and Vijay Kumar, hailing from Karnataka, had returned safely following their release earlier. The New York Times on Saturday endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and called upon Americans to vote for her decades of professional experience as a public servant, her programmes and her ideas. The editorial, published in the daily's online edition and to appear in the print edition on Sunday, called Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump "the worst nominee put forward by a major party in modern American history", EFE news reported. Clinton, on the other hand, demonstrates the "intellect, experience, toughness and courage" required in a Commander-in-Chief, the paper said. The text of the editorial, which The Times said precedes another later piece devoted exclusively to Trump and what it views as his shortcomings, explains why one of the most influential US newspapers has renewed the support it already provided to Clinton during the primaries. Clinton "has a record of service and a raft of pragmatic ideas", whereas Trump "discloses nothing concrete about himself or his plans while promising the moon and offering the stars on layaway". EFE news quoted the paper as saying. Over her 40 years of public service, the daily added, Clinton has shown herself to be "one of the most tenacious politicians of her generation, whose willingness to study and correct course is rare in an age of unyielding partisanship". The piece recalled her activities as first lady, her eight years in the Senate and her four years as Secretary of State, and it emphasised her "detailed proposals on crime, policing and race relations, debt-free college and small-business incentives, climate change and affordable broadband", noting that it would be up to Congress to pass laws implementing any or all of these. The Times said that people should not vote for Clinton just because she's not Trump, emphasising that the former first lady is the most capable candidate and the one who has the "capacity to rise" to the "challenges this country faces". In the primaries, the daily backed Clinton for the Democrats and Ohio Governor John Kasich for the Republicans, EFE news reported. The New York Times has endorsed an uninterrupted string of Democratic nominees in the presidential elections since 1956, when it threw its support to the re-election of Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower, who won another four-year term and whom it had also backed for President when he ran for a first term in 1952. --IANS lok/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The terror attack on an Indian army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir could be a backlash to the "atrocities" in Indian-administered Kashmir, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said. "The Uri attack can be the reaction of the atrocities in Kashmir, as the close relatives and near and dear ones of those killed and blinded over the last two months were hurt and outraged," Sharif told reporters in London on Friday, where he stopped on his way back from the UN General Assembly session in New York. The Premier rejected the Indian allegations on the September 18 Uri attack as "irresponsible" and "without any evidence". Eighteen Indian soldiers were killed in the terror attack, which India has blamed on Pakistan-based militants. Sharif also wondered how India had hurled accusations against Pakistan only hours after the Uri incident without holding any inquiry or investigation. "How could India accuse Pakistan only hours after the Uri incident without holding any inquiry or investigation. This is not reasonable," Sharif was quoted as saying. He said New Delhi should have held an inquiry and waited for the findings before pointing fingers at Islamabad. He further alleged that "the whole world knows about Indian atrocities in Jammu and Kashmir". Talking about peace between the two countries, Nawaz deemed it "impossible without the resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute", Pakistan Today reported. --IANS vgu/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his meetings in New York did his best to highlight the Kashmir issue, but the Uri attack affected his campaign, a media report said. Sharif on Friday left New York after five days of extensive lobbying for Kashmir at the United Nations and in bilateral meetings with world leaders. Despite Sharif's striving to highlight the Kashmir cause, the effect was not as much as it would have been, due to the September 18 terror attack on an Indian army base in Uri, Dawn news reported. Before the attack, prominent newspapers and television channels in the United States did a series of reports and articles on Kashmir, focusing on the current unrest and the deaths in clashes with security forces that have left nearly 90 dead and hundreds injured. After the Uri attack, however, the focus shifted to militancy and a possible nuclear conflict in the region. The US has urged Pakistan to cooperate with India in investigating the September 18 'terrorist attack' and to take immediate steps against 'externally focused' groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. "The United States is committed to our strong partnership with the Indian government to combat terrorism," the statement said. --IANS vgu/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In his fiercest attack on Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the sacrifices of 18 soldiers killed in the Uri terror attack will not go in vain and India will totally isolate Pakistan in the international arena for "exporting terror". In his first public speech post the September 18 Uri attack, Modi termed Pakistan as the one country in Asia which is conspiring to spill "blood" across the continent and exporting terror to the world. He reiterated his statement, released after the Uri attack, that the perpetrators will not go unpunished. "Our 18 soldiers had to sacrifice their lives because of terrorists exported by our neighbouring country." "And terrorists should clearly hear us, that India will never forget the Uri attack," he said. Referring to remarks of former Pakistani leaders of fighting a 1,000 year war with India, Modi said: "There is a government in Delhi today which is ready to accept the challenge." "I want to tell the people of Pakistan - India is ready to fight you," Modi said, adding in a mellow tone, that both countries should fight against poverty, unemployment and illiteracy -- "let's see who wins". Addressing a public meeting here on the coast of Arabian Sea as part of BJP National Council meet, Modi said that the Pakistan government was "misleading" its people on Kashmir and a time will come when the people of Pakistan will rise against their own rulers on the issue of terrorism. Hitting hard at Pakistan, Modi said there was a sense of anger among people over the audacious Uri attack and the deaths of soldiers. In a dig at Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his address at the United Nations General Assembly, Modi said: "Today's rulers were reading a speech of patrons of terrorism and talking of Kashmir." His reference was to the wide belief that Sharif's UN speech was written by Rawalpindi, the Pakistan army headquarters. "Rulers of Pakistan listen, the sacrifice of 18 soldiers will not go waste. India has been successful in isolating you. We will force you to be left alone in the world. That day is not far when people of Pakistan will take to streets to fight against the rulers and fight terrorism," he said. Modi spent a large part of his forceful speech on the issue of terrorism with specific reference to the Uri incident. "India has never bowed before terrorism. Will not do so. We will defeat terrorism," Modi said. He also made a direct appeal to the people of Pakistan. "But today I want to speak to people of Pakistan. I want to remind them that before 1947 your forefathers too used to consider this country as your motherland, worship it. Keeping that in mind I want to ask a few things." "The people of Pakistan should ask their rulers... PoK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) is with you, you can't even manage that. Earlier, East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, was with you, you could not manage that. You are unable to manage PoK, Sindh, Gilgit- Baltistan and Balochistan, and you are talking of Kashmir... They are misleading you on Kashmir," he said. He said people of Pakistan should ask their rulers that both countries had become independent at the same time, "so how is it that India exports software, but your leaders export terrorists". Modi also said the Army and security forces had foiled 17 recent attempts by terrorists to infiltrate. "110 terrorists have been killed by the Indian Army. The terrorists have tried to strike 17 times recently, they were successful in one incident. You can imagine if they would had been successful in their attempts, how they could had harmed us," he said adding that the country is proud of its soldiers, their sacrifice and their solidarity. The Congress termed the Prime Minister's speech as "verbal belligerence" that can never be a substitute for policy and action, while the Left dismissed it as "nothing new" and said the BJP-led central government lacked concrete policies to deal with the Pakistan and Kashmir issues. The Janata Dal-United (JD-U) said India must explore all channels to isolate Pakistan diplomatically and economically on the issue of terrorism. --IANS bns-team/rn/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) I take the floor to exercise the right of reply in response to the long tirade of Pakistan about the situation in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Last week, the police booked 11 people in a housing society in the Mumbai suburb of Vasai for preventing the sale of an apartment to a Muslim. At a time when Hindutva-inspired social vigilantism is seriously straining public notions of tolerance in multi-cultural India, it is worth celebrating this little-publicised action. The police had a strong case in this particular instance because several members of the housing society concerned had sent a written resolution to the owner of the apartment - a Hindu - stating that selling the apartment to a Muslim would harm the "society's atmosphere in the future". It is worth noting also, that the Muslim buyer had sought a no-objection certificate from the society before he raised a loan to buy the one-bedroom apartment in anticipation of precisely this sort of opposition. The certificate, which the seller submitted to the local police station, enabled the police to book the objectors under Sections 295 and 298 of the Indian Penal Code, which cover injury to religious feelings and insult to religion. Taking a contradictory stand after his father and SNDP Yogam chief Vellapally Natesan attacked ally BJP, Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) President Thushar Vellapally on Friday said his party has no differences with NDA. "There is no difference with BJP. It is the view of SNDP and not that of BDJS," ThusharVellapally told reporters here after a meeting of party leaders here. His statement came hours after his father and Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) General Secretary Natesan, who was instrumental in the formation of the party in the run up to the Assembly elections,accused the saffron party of not keeping promises made to it before the Assembly elections. Thushar said he had met BJP National President Amit Shah last week and held talks on posts in boards and corporations. "I expect a decision on the issues soon," he added. BDJS is the key partner of BJP in Kerala. Asked about the statement of Vellapally Natesan, Thushar said his father had made the remark in his capacity as SDNP General Secretary. "He might have aired the feelings of some cadres," he said, adding he would attend the meeting of NDA to be held along with BJP national council meet at Kozhikode and also the function to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Raising the issue just ahead of Modi's visit to attend the BJP meet, Natesan earlier in the day said workers of the BDJS feel that "nothing" has been given to the party by BJP except promises. "The Prime Minister had promised to us during Assembly election campaign that the Central University in Kasargod would be named after Sreenarayana Guru. It has not been fulfilled so far," he said. Natesan, who tried to take Kerala's numerically strong Eazhava community to the NDA, said the BJP had made several promises to the BDJS during the time of elections in May this year, "but when it comes to making us a partner in power, we are being treated as untouchables". Asked whether BDJS was in favour of taking KC-M into NDA, Thushar said if BJP agrees to that, his party would take the initiative to rope in the party headed by former finance minister K M Mani. KC-M had recently severed its more than three-decades old ties with Congress led UDF Opposition and had decided to function as a separate bloc in the state assembly. The party has also resolved to have equi-distance from ruling CPI-M led LDF. Addressing a large crowd on the beachfront of this coastal town of north Kerala, Prime Minister on Saturday disappointed those of his supporters, and even some leaders in the BJP and the Sangh Parivar, who had indulged in war mongering and had expected him to do the same after last Sundays Uri terror attack where 18 Indian soldiers were killed. Thirteen people died when a panic-stricken crowd stampeded in a troubled town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials have said. "The incident happened when a drunken soldier in civilian clothes fired four shots from his gun, causing panic," the mayor of Beni, Jean Edmond Nyonyi, said yesterday. "Eight people drowned when they threw themselves in the river, four were killed in accidents and one person died of a heart attack," he said. Fears of gun violence run deep in Beni, which lies in a strife-torn, unstable region of the DRC. More than 700 people have died since October 2014 in massacres blamed on the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a partly Islamist armed group of Ugandan origin. Fifty-one people were killed in Beni on August 13, a gruesome slaying that touched off mass protests against the central government in Kinshasa. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Irked by the remarks of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in which he had questioned the appointments of dozens of secretaries by HPCC President Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu without his consultation, two secretaries resigned from their posts today. Pradeep Verma and Kusum Verma said they were "hurt" by the chief minister's remark who had failed to acknowledge their appointments. The duo said they had been "serving the party for more than 25 years with dedication and had held various responsibilities" but that the comments made by chief minister had "hurt" them and they are tendering the resignation. "We were appointed secretaries due to hard work done by us to strengthen the party after approval of AICC but the remarks of the chief minister have deeply hurt us," they said in a joint statement issued here today. Last week, Virbhadra Singh had expressed his displeasure over the appointment of too many secretaries by HP Congress chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu saying it was not in the interest of the party and had sought high command's intervention. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 23 people were killed when a minibus plunged from a mountain road into a river in a remote area of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, officials have said. The accident took place late yesterday at Nausehri, some 45 kilometres north of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, when the minibus driver lost control. The vehicle veered off a road, falling 100 metres into the gushing river, local government and rescue officials said. "More than 23 people were killed and three wounded in the bus accident," local government official Ashfaq Gilani told AFP. "We have only found three bodies and three wounded people. More than 20 other passengers and the wreckage of the bus have been swept away by the river," he added. "We have presumed them dead as there is no chance of their survival," Gilani said. Rescuers said the terrain was difficult and that they would resume the search for the remainder of the passengers at dawn today. has one of the world's worst records for fatal traffic accidents, blamed on poor roads, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving. Three persons were arrested today for allegedly robbing Rs 27.22 lakh at gun point from the salesman of a petrol pump at National Highway 8 in Rewari, police said. The police also recovered Rs 10 lakh in cash, a country made pistol and ten live cartridges from their possession. The accused were identified as Arvind, a resident of Gujriwas and Sukhbir as well as Dhanraj, both residents of Bhudla in Rewari district, a police spokesman said. He said that during interrogation, the accused informed the police that Arvind, who used to work at the same petrol pump, had quit job two months ago. He said that Arvind along with Sukhbir, Dhanraj and Rajpal had planned to rob the petrol pump. According to their plan, they committed the loot and thereafter Rajpal and Sukhbir fled on a motorcycle. While they were crossing NH-8, their motorcycle skidded as they were overtaking a vehicle. Rajpal got injured and is undergoing treatment at Aditya hospital. The spokesman said that out of the total amount looted by the accused, the police has recovered Rs six lakh from Sukhbir, Rs four lakh each from Dhanraj and Arvind. Besides, the police also recovered two motorcycles used to commit the crime, he added. Two motorcycle-borne miscreants had looted Rs 27.22 lakh at gunpoint from employees of a petrol pump on the Delhi-Jaipur highway near Jai Singhpur Khera village here on September 22. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three persons were killed in rain-related incidents in Telangana, with the Army being deployed in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts for rescue operations, even as heavy showers today lashed parts of the state and Odisha. According to an IMD report, a low pressure area lies over Telangana, south Chhattisgarh and Vidarbha region. In Telangana's Medak district, three persons lost their lives in separate rain-related incidents since last night, while four columns of Army have been deployed in rain-affected areas of Hyderabad and neighbouring Ranga Reddy district. The state government has approached Indian Air Force to rescue 21 civilians stranded in Medak district. "Three Chetak helicopters of the Indian Air Force have been assigned the task to rescue the stranded people. Two rescue attempts were made, but unfortunately aborted due to heavy rains in the area," a release said. The weatherman has predicted "heavy to very heavy" rains in isolated places of the state. Some of the low lying areas in Hyderabad are still cut off from the rest of the city. Following an instruction from Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, a 60-member National Disaster Response Force team has been kept on the standby in the city for rescue operations. In the national capital, it was a pleasant day with the mercury settling at 35 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year, while humidity levels oscillated between 81 and 43 per cent. "The maximum temperature was recorded at 35 degrees Celsius while the minimum settled at 25 degrees Celsius, both normal for this time of the year," a MeT official said. With heavy rains predicted for the next three days in Andhra Pradesh, the Water Resources Department is maintaining a steady level of 30 TMC ft of water in the K L Rao Sagar reservoir on river Krishna, up stream the Prakasam Barrage. While 1.62 lakh cusecs water is flowing into the K L Rao Sagar reservoir, 1.51 lakh cusecs is being let out. But inflow into Prakasam Barrage at Vijayawada has reduced to around 50,000 cusecs. Train services on Secunderabad-Guntur section of South Central Railway remained suspended for the third day today. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four women were killed and a man was critically wounded today in a shooting at a mall in the US state of Washington with the gunman described as a "Hispanic male" still at large. Police are searching for one shooter and are sweeping stores in the Cascade mall, Sgt Mark Francis said about the shooting in Burlington, about a 100 km north of Seattle. Authorities said four women were killed in the shooting while a man was critically wounded. Francis, a spokesman for the state patrol, said the victims were shot in the makeup department of the Macy's store. "We have one adult male victim from the Burlington mall shooting who arrived by air this evening to Harborview Medical Center at approximately 9:30 PM (local time Friday). He is in critical condition," hospital spokeswoman Susan Gregg was quoted as saying by CNN. Authorities released a surveillance image of the suspect apparently walking through a store and holding a rifle. Francis said police did not know the gunman's motive. He said the ages of the victims appeared to range from their 20s to elderly, but had no further identifying information. Washington Governor Jay Inslee said in a statement that many questions remain but state patrol and local law enforcement are on the scene working swiftly to locate the shooter and clear the area. "Trudi and I send our condolences to the families of the victims and prayers for anyone injured," Inslee said. "We urge residents to heed all safety and detour warnings. Stay close to your friends and loved ones as we await more information and, hopefully, of the suspect's capture." The FBI's Seattle office announced that it was assisting local investigators with intelligence reviews and manpower. The bureau said on Twitter that it "has no information to suggest additional attacks planned" in Washington state but did not elaborate. Tari Caswell told the Skagit Valley Herald she was in the Macy's women's dressing room when she heard "what sounded like four balloons popping." "Then I heard seven or eight more, and I just stayed quiet in the dressing room because it just didn't feel right. And it got very quiet. And then I heard a lady yelling for help, and a man came and got me and another lady, and we ran out of the store," Caswell said. Authorities also released a photo of a man believed to be the gunman. "Here is the shooter. We believe just one shooter...Armed with rifle," Francis tweeted. He said police are "actively searching for suspect, tracking leads. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five people were killed today in a shooting at a mall in the US state of Washington with the gunman described as a "Hispanic male" still at large. Police are searching for one shooter and are sweeping stores in the Cascade mall, Sgt Mark Francis said about the shooting in Burlington, about 100 kms north of Seattle. Authorities said four women and a man were killed in the shooting. Francis, spokesman for the state patrol, said the victims were shot in the makeup department of the Macy's store. Authorities released a surveillance image of the suspect apparently walking through a store and holding a rifle. Francis said police did not know the gunman's motive. He said the ages of the victims appeared to range from their 20s to elderly, but had no further identifying information. Washington Governor Jay Inslee said in a statement that many questions remain but state patrol and local law enforcement are on the scene working swiftly to locate the shooter and clear the area. The FBI's Seattle office announced that it was assisting local investigators with intelligence reviews and manpower. The bureau said on Twitter that it "has no information to suggest additional attacks planned" in Washington state but did not elaborate. Tari Caswell told the Skagit Valley Herald she was in the Macy's women's dressing room when she heard "what sounded like four balloons popping." "Then I heard seven or eight more, and I just stayed quiet in the dressing room because it just didn't feel right. And it got very quiet. And then I heard a lady yelling for help, and a man came and got me and another lady, and we ran out of the store," Caswell said. Authorities also released a photo of a man believed to be the gunman. "Here is the shooter. We believe just one shooter...Armed with rifle," Francis tweeted. He said police are "actively searching for suspect, tracking leads. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ruling AIADMK today lashed out at DMK chief M Karunanidhi for seeking a special session of Tamil Nadu Assembly to discuss the Cauvery issue, saying he came up with such demands as he was "irked" over Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's "repeated victories" in the inter-state row and wanted to "conceal his betrayals" in the matter. By making such demands, Karunanidhi was trying to "conceal his betrayals" in the Cauvery issue, an article in the AIADMK mouthpiece, 'Namadhu MGR', alleged. "While the repeated victories ensured by our mother (Jayalalithaa) in the Cauvery issue by approaching the Supreme Court have irritated Karnataka, they have irked Karunanidhi as well," it claimed. The Jayalalithaa-led Tamil Nadu government had approached the Supreme Court in the Cauvery issue, seeking a direction to the Centre for notifying the 2007 tribunal award in the Central gazette. It had also moved the apex court early this month, asking it to direct Karnataka to release water from the Cauvery river to Tamil Nadu. On both the occasions, the court had ruled in Tamil Nadu's favour. "That is why, he (Karunanidhi) makes meaningless demands like seeking a special Assembly session or all-party meetings to pretend as if he too is concerned about the Cauvery issue," the article alleged. It went on to say that while the recently concluded Assembly session had gone on for over a month, the DMK chief had not attended the proceedings but had just turned up to "sign the register". Karunanidhi is an MLA from Thiruvarur. The article claimed that "intelligent manoeuvres" by Jayalalithaa was leading the state towards a "permanent victory" in the water-sharing row even as it added that the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka was "stunned" following the apex court's directive, asking it to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. Karunanidhi was "unable" to stand the state benefiting in the Cauvery issue due to Jayalalithaa's decision to seek legal recourse, it alleged. The DMK chief had urged the Tamil Nadu government to convene a special session of the Assembly like Karnataka. In a special sitting of its legislature yesterday, Karnataka virtually refused to spare any more Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu as directed by the Supreme Court, adopting a resolution to use water only for drinking purpose. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MLA Imtiyaz Jaleel has condemned the recent terror attack at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 18 Army personnel were killed. "A tough reply should be given to Pakistan for carrying out terror activities," Jaleel, who represents, Central Aurangabad, in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, said last night at a rally here. Targeting the Congress-NCP for "neglecting" the problems of the minority community, Jaleel said Congress is trying to woo Muslims in view of the local bodies polls. Congress-NCP ruled Maharashtra for 15 years between 1999-2014. The legislator also hit out at NCP supremo Sharad Pawar over his accusation that the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) was terrorising Muslim youths on mere suspicion of being associated with outfits like ISIS. He claimed that during the Congress-NCP rule in Maharashtra, innocent Muslims youths had been arrested and jailed. "Why didn't Pawar raise this question (at that time)?," he asked. Jaleel also condemned the gang-rape of a minor girl in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. "During the last nine months, 107 rapes against Dalit women were reported in Maharashtra," the MLA claimed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today demanded that India must go for "limited retaliatory action" against Pakistan for "abetting" and "sponsoring" the terror attack on an Army camp in Uri of Jammu and Kashmir. "While the nature and type of retaliation should be decided by the Army, it must at no cost let the perpetrators of the terror attack go unpunished," he said. Speaking to mediapersons after flagging off 13 campaign vehicles here, Amarinder said that though he is a strong advocate of people-to-people contact as common men on both sides want peace and cordial relationship, that does not mean our Army should let the killing of our soldiers go unpunished. "It is a question of maintaining the morale of our Army and that is non-negotiable," he said. Eighteen soldiers were killed when Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists attacked an Army camp in Uri in Kashmir on Sunday morning, drawing outrage in the country. To a question on the possibility of some leaders joining the party, Amarinder said, "Congress is competent and confident of winning the polls on its own and it was not dependent on the support of outsiders". He, however, welcomed the homecoming of some party leaders, but not those who had "ditched" the party at a critical time. To a question about the possibility of the "fourth front" leaders joining or aligning with Congress, Amarinder said, "Let them make up their mind and let you ask them about their plans before asking me for our reaction." Days after announcing the launch of Aawaaz-e-Punjab, former BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu said they have decided against forming a political party as it is too short a time to prepare for Punjab Assembly polls, but added that they are open to "alliance" for betterment of the state. Earlier, during a function at Punjab Congress Bhawan, Amarinder flagged off 13 vehicles of the 'Punjab Congress Express', which will touch every nook and corner of the state as part of the 37-day-long 'Congress Liyao, Punjab Bachao Campaign'. Amarinder was accompanied by senior leaders including AICC in charge for Punjab Asha Kumari, Campaign Committee chairperson Ambika Soni, AICC secretary Harish Chaudhry, CLP leader Charanjit Singh Channi, former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, PCC senior vice president Laal Singh and others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of AMU students today took out a silent march to press their demand for holding Students Union election as scheduled after the varsity authorities put it off indefinitely citing "disturbing situation" on the campus. The protesters, including the candidates contesting the polls, also staged a dharna outside the Vice Chancellor's residence. They have rejected the university's proposal for holding elections at a later date. "We have been denied our democratic right on the ground that external elements have entered the campus and could vitiate peace," a spokesman of the protesting students said. "The entire responsibility of screening those who enter the campus lies with the university and district authorities. Why should we pay the price if the authorities have not been able to shoulder their responsibility," he asked. The varsity authorities had on Wednesday put off the elections, earlier scheduled to be held on September 26, citing "disturbing situation" due to the participation of expelled students and "criminals" during the poll campaign. Meanwhile, university's spokesman said another special meeting of the Executive Council is being held to review the report of the five member committee which was appointed on Thursday to resolve the matter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Exactly a month since Dana Majhi walked 10 km with his wife's body on his shoulder in Kalahandi district, Odisha Assembly today witnessed uproarious scenes with opposition Congress and BJP demanding a House Committee probe into the incident. The issue was raised by Congress Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati during Zero Hour when he strongly criticised state Health and Family Welfare Minister Atanu S Nayak's statement in the House yesterday. "It is unfortunate that the minister said Majhi took away his wife's body without informing the hospital authorities at Bhawanipatna," Bahinipati said. Alleging that the minister had "misled" the House by saying that Majhi "left the hospital against medical advice," Bahinipati said the entire episode should be thoroughly probed by the Assembly House Committee. "The minister is saying that Majhi left the hospital on his own but I have information that it took him around two hours to wrap his wife's body in a cloth. The hospital could have given a hearse van for transporting his wife's body," the Congress leader said. Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra, who had visited the hospital at Bhawanipatna, alleged that the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) had "completely failed" in discharging his duty. "Majhi's wife was declared dead by the doctors at the TB ward. The hapless tribal man had also sought assistance from the hospital authorities," he said. Stating that the right to dignity of a dead person had been violated by the authorities, Mishra said the incident had earned "shame and criticism" for the state. "The state government is taking the incident lightly. The demand for a House Committee probe into the circumstances leading to Majhi carrying his wife's body is justified. A neutral inquiry into the incident could give justice to the tribal man," Mishra said. BJP member Pradip Purohit demanded the Health Minister's resignation accusing him of "failing to give dignity to a dead body". The Congress and BJP members sought a ruling from the Speaker for the formation of a House Committee to probe the incident. While BJP members shouted from their seats, Bahinipati was halfway towards the Well, demanding a ruling from the chair. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has authorised opening preliminary investigations into allegations that President Michel Temer sought illicit campaign donations in 2012. The allegations were made under a plea deal by Sergio Machado, the former president of Transpetro, a subsidiary state oil giant Petrobras, which is embroiled in a massive bribe and kickback scandal. According to Machado, Temer sought donations from Transpetro in 2012 to support the campaign of a Sao Paulo mayoral candidate. The probe, announced by Judge Teori Zavascki late Friday, also cites several prominent policitians from Temer's Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), his Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) allies and the Workers Party (PT) of deposed president Dilma Rousseff and her mentor and predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Based on the findings of the preliminary probe, prosecutors will decide whether to launch a formal investigation into the president. Under the corruption scheme, Petrobras allegedly gave over-inflated contracts to other big firms, such as OAS and construction rival Odebrecht. The scheme was allegedly orchestrated by high-ranking politicians who took bribes from the contractors, for themselves or to fill party coffers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former prime minister David Cameron's chief of staff has been appointed Britain's ambassador to France, the Foreign Office announced. Cameron resigned in July after failing to keep Britain in the European Union in the June referendum. But now his closest adviser Ed Llewellyn will play a diplomatic role in the negotiations for Britain's departure from the bloc as London's representative in Paris. Llewellyn will take up his post in Paris in December. "He will help us make a great success of Brexit while ensuring that Britain is more engaged in the continent of Europe than ever," Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said yesterday. Llewellyn will succeed Julian King, who was recently appointed as the European commissioner for security on the European Union's executive body. "I look forward to representing British interests and to building on the very strong relations our country has with France," Llewellyn said. "As we embark on a new chapter with the UK's departure from the EU, I will work hard to strengthen our cooperation and to address the many common challenges facing our two nations." Llewellyn, who attended the elite Eton College at the same time as Cameron, was the chief of staff throughout his time as leader of the centre-right Conservative Party, from 2005 to his resignation. In his departing honours list, Cameron made Llewellyn a member of parliament's upper House of Lords. New Prime Minister Theresa May ditched many of Cameron's closest allies in her bid to create a clear break between her predecessor's administration and her own. Her Downing Street office confirmed that she had approved the appointment. Llewellyn is known in Hong Kong for his role as advisor to Chris Patten, the last governor of the British colony before it was handed over to China in 1997. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China has assured Pakistan of its support in the event of any foreign "aggression" and also supported the country's stance on the Kashmir dispute, a media report said. Beijing conveyed the message during a meeting of its top diplomat in the provincial capital with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the Dawn reported. "In case of any (foreign) aggression our country will extend its full support to Pakistan," Consul General of China in Lahore Yu Boren said in a press release by the Punjab Chief Minister's Office. "We are and will be siding with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. There is no justification for atrocities on unarmed Kashmiris in (India)-held Kashmir and the Kashmir dispute should be solved in accordance with aspirations of the Kashmiris," the report quoted Yu as saying. Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising after the September 18 terror attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers. India has blamed the attack on militants from Pakistan which has rejected allegations of its involvement. Yu, who called on Shahbaz Sharif yesterday to felicitate him on his 65th birthday, discussed with him the situation developing in Kashmir and the progress being made on various projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). A portion of the USD 46 billion CPEC passes through a part of the disputed region because of which India has raised objections over the project. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called for strong relations with Canada as he wrapped up a three-day visit to the important trading partner. "We have no excuses," Li told a Canadian-Chinese business council in Montreal yesterday. "China and Canada must have win-win cooperation." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Li announced Thursday an agreement to begin talks aimed at reaching a free-trade agreement. They set a target of doubling trade by 2025. China is Canada's second-largest trading partner after the United States, with trade last year exceeding USD 64.5 billion. Li highlighted the reboot in bilateral relations after a decade of cooling under the previous Canadian administration, calling for "a new golden decade" between the two countries. Li's visit to Canada came a month after Trudeau made a trip to Beijing looking to "renew and deepen" Sino-Canadian relations. "These back-to-back visits in less than a month shows that China-Canada relations are moving to a new stage," Li told reporters on Thursday. Trudeau echoed that optimism on yesterday. "This last month of strong collaborative engagement represents a new era in the China-Canada relationship," the Canadian premier said. "I'm excited to develop and maintain a real partnership that will benefit all our peoples for generations to come." Li, who arrived in Ottawa on Wednesday, is due to leave Montreal today for Cuba. It will be the first visit by a Chinese premier since the two countries established diplomatic relations 56 years ago. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton postponed a visit to Charlotte, North Carolina today after the city's mayor asked both major candidates to delay visits, her campaign announced. Earlier in the day, the campaign said Clinton would visit the city on Sunday after the police shooting of an African-American man triggered days of unrest. "After further discussion with community leaders, we have decided to postpone Sunday's trip as to not impact the city's resources," the campaign said in a statement. "She will plan to visit Charlotte next Sunday, provided circumstances allow." Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts had earlier asked Clinton and her Republican White House rival Donald Trump to delay visits, citing "very stretched resources for security." Keith Lamont Scott's death on Tuesday is the latest in a string of police-involved killings of black men that have fueled outrage across America. Charlotte has been rocked by three nights of violence-marred protests, prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency in the southern US city. Hundreds of protesters were out again on Friday night calling for the release of police videos of the shooting amid a greater security presence of National Guard troops, but the atmosphere was calmer than during previous days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress today squarely blamed the Modi government over Russia's decision to go in for a military exercise with Pakistan for the first time, terming it as a "failure" of India's foreign policy. "First time in the history of Russia, they are having a joint military exercise with Pakistan. According to me, it is a failure of our foreign policy," former Defence Minister A K Antony told reporters. At the outset, Antony recalled that from the time of Independence, Russia continued to be "our dependable friend". "Whenever Kashmir issue was raised in the UNSC, Russia always stood with India. Many a times they had vetoed also. Russian Armed forces always had a joint exercise with Indian Forces," he said. After Independence, at no time, Russia had a joint exercise with Pakistan, and that is what is "significant", he said when told about Russia's clarification that it was not holding any anti-terror exercise with Pakistan in "so-called Azad Kashmir" or in any other "sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit and Baltistan". Party spokesman Manish Tewari said that Russia's decision showed that the Government of India does not have a policy towards Pakistan. "It is unfortunate and tragic," he said. Congress leaders have been insisting for quite some time that Modi government's 'tilt' towards USA is resulting in countries like Russia distancing from India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Raising several questions over the Rs 59,000-crore Rafale fighter jet deal, Congress today said the absence of any provision of technology transfer would cost India "very heavily". Former Defence Minister A K Antony also demanded making public the inter-governmental agreement with France. He wondered how India would bridge the gap with respect to China and Pakistan by acquiring just 36 aircraft when the original plan was for 126. Addressing a press conference along with party spokesman Manish Tewari at the AICC headquarters, Antony lamented that the idea of 'Make in India' which was there in the original plan has also "gone" in the present deal. "During UPA, we had planned to buy 126 aircraft to strengthen IAF which was its urgent operational requirement considering security situation in the country," Antony said wondering why only 36 aircraft were being bought. "Is it enough to meet operational requirement of the IAF which has a sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons and.... At present there are just 32 squadrons?", Antony asked. A squadron has generally 18 aircraft. Suggesting that more aircraft were necessary for the operational requirement of the IAF, he said, otherwise, by 2022 the squadron available with IAF would be reduced to 25. "I don't want to comment on the present price before I know the exact details. Government must publish the details of the final contract," Antony said "Today we read inspired pieces in some media, which claim the present Government has saved money by hard negotiations. That's not true!", he said adding, "You can't compare the Rafale deal price during UPA Government's time and now." India yesterday inked a Euro 7.87 billion (approx Rs 59,000) deal with France for purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons and equipped with latest missiles that will give the IAF greater "potency" over arch rival Pakistan. Antony wanted to know from the government how it would equip the Air Force with more aircraft at a time when Pakistan is building its air strength. The former Defence Minister said that during UPA rule, he received complaints from many quarters, even from former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha, on the price issue because of the fact that the concept of life cycle cost has been introduced. "When there is a complaint that the price is high, we decided to enquire about that. We decided to wait for the final decision of the Finance Ministry," he said, seeking to know the decision of the Finance Ministry on the issue. Tewari said government needs to tell in deail what is the "fine print" of the contract which has been negotiated and what was the "fine print" of the contract which UPA Government was negotiating when it left office in 2014. Tewari sought to know whether it is true that when the UPA left, the non-negotiated price of the Rafale was in the range of Rs 715 crore per sircraft and what has been negotiated today for the 36 Aircrafts in a fly-away condition is Rs 1600 crore per aircraft which is 123 per cent escalation? "There are serious concerns which have been raised by the people who follow the entire gamut of defence and strategic affairs. So, isn't it incumbent on the Government to clarify or putting everything out in the public domain?",he said. He wanted to know whether the inter-governmental agreement which has been negotiated and the commercial contract which has been signed either do not have an 'Options Clause' or have a 'Part Options Clause?'. Not having an options clause means after the delivery of the 36 aircraft, if India wants to procure more Rafales, it will have to negotiate the price afresh with the company. "Is it really an inter-governmental agreement on the lines of the United States Foreign Military Sales Agreement or is it an agreement between the Government of India and the company with the French Government only providing a Comfort Letter?", he added. Congress today expressed concern over report of death of 17 children due to 'malnutrition' in the tribal-dominated Mohada tenshil of Palghar district of Maharashtra since July last. Expressing concern over reports to that effect, AICC Spokesman Dr. Ajoy Kumar, who was accompanied by the JPCC President Sukhdeo Bhagat, MLA, former Ministers Sarfraj Ahmed and Dulal Bhuiyan, said the Union government was not bothered about the prevailing conditions of tribal and dalit community in the country. For the first time in the country, the Union government did not spend Rs. 35,000 crore meant for the welfare of the tribal and dalits in the country, Kumar told a press conference here. Flaying Prime Minister Naredra Modi-led government, the AICC spokesman said the government miserably failed to deliver on all fronts owing to Modi's "selfie-centric and self-promotion policy". He further alleged the Jharkhand government was now hell bent on grabbing tribal land in Jharkhand by bringing about an amendment in decades-old Chhotanagpur and Santal Paragana Tenancy Acts framed to project the interest of the tribal community. This was aimed at pleasing the corporate and big industrial houses, who had spent Rs.15,000 crore on advertisement in the run up to the state assembly poll last, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) will hold a meeting on September 26 here, wherein the process to shortlist the candidates for upcoming state legislative Assembly elections will begin, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said today. Besides, the issue of proposal for an alliance with like-minded parties will also be discussed in the meeting. Congress is likely to soon announce the first list of candidates for the polls slated next year. "The first meeting of GPCC is going to be held on September 26. The consultation is taking place and where there is total unanimity and where there is no other candidate, we shall declare that candidate early," All India Congress Committee General Secretary Digvijaya Singh told party workers here. "Wherever there is (are) three-four-five candidates, we should have 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) of the Congress candidates within the party. If there is mahagathbandhan of every aspiring Congress candidate, then where is the dispute? "We have began consultations with the block and district committees andwe would like to confine to those candidates proposed by these committees," Singh said. "There may be differences about the candidates, we will take care of that. We have started the process. Most of the block Congress committees have sent the recommendations and the District Congress committee has to send theirs," the senior leader added. He said there are diverse views about alliance amongst the senior leaders in Goa. "Some leaders in Goa say that there should be 'gathbandhan' (alliance), some say there should be no gathbandhan, this should stop," Singh said. "Now we are close to elections, I would appeal the senior leaders not to make such statements. Each of the senior leaders who are here, they are either in coordination committee, executive committee or PCC, please let us discuss. "Don't worry more about what media is printing, worry about the issues. We should highlight the promises made by (former Goa Chief Minister) Manohar Parrikar and how much of those have been fulfilled," he commented. Parrikar before taking his assignment as the Union Defence Minister was the Chief Minister of the coastal state. Singh said Congress is preparing to contest in all the 40 seats in Goa. "We are preparing for all the 40 seats and the decision to have some coalition or not will be discussed in the PCC meeting where all the senior leaders will be present," he told workers. (REOPENS BOM10) "It will be discussed in Central Election Committee of Congress party too. We have to strategise. Do we want to form the government or don't want to form the government? Politics is a game of numbers. But at the same time, there has to be consensus amongst the Congress workers who will stand by the party," Singh, who is party's in-charge for Goa, said. "Therefore, we have to look at the sentiments of the Congress people. We are preparing for all the 40 seats, whether to have alliance or not is the decision that Congress party has to take and the PCC will deliberate on this. Therefore leave that decision to us," the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister said. Singh said that while deciding candidates, the local leadership would be given more authority. "I would be the last person to enforce any decision on the Congress party leadership of Goa. I am here to facilitate. We (AICC) don't have likes or dislikes, we don't have any candidates. We (AICC) don't have any favourites or least-liked," he claimed. "We (AICC) are here to facilitate the Congress functioning in Goa. We are here to sort of bring you to together so that the Congress brings an united face of the party," he added. Singh further said there is unanimity over the fact that the party wants to fight BJP and AAP and form the government in Goa. "People say Congress is divided and they have different views. But where are the different views? We all want to fight BJP, we all want to fight AAP, we all want to bring Congress party back," he added. Asking the local organisation to change the campaign strategy, Singh said, "in our public meeting only our Congress workers come, common man is not coming. We have to approach the common man. That is why we have decided frontal organisation and block committee will visit every house. We will give you charge-sheet against BJP". Taking a dig at AAP, the Congress leader said, "Similarly, there are several accusations against AAP in Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal had said that new experiment of AAP is taking place but it has resulted in 19 MLAs behind the bars on various cases." AAP is here to eat into Congress votes and not to win. We will also issue charge-sheet against AAP," he claimed. Jaipur unit of Congress will soon launch an agitation to protest against the increase in power tariff by state government in Rajasthan. President of Jaipur District Congress Committee Pratap Singh Khachariawas said the strategy for the agitation will be drawn at a meeting here tomorrow. "Power tariff increase has put burden on people and this is anti-people move. In the last three years, the government increased the power tariff by nearly 34 per cent and a big agitation will be taken up by the district Congress," he said. The decision was taken today at a meeting at Khachariawas which was attended by Rajasthan Congress vice president Archna Sharma, former MP Mahesh Joshi, former minister B K Sharma and former mayor Jyoti Khandelwa among others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A premier industry body on data protection in India today launched its Singapore chapter to encourage the exchange of information, sharing of knowledge and best practices on cyber security. Data Security Council of India (DSCI) Singapore chapteramong other things would be establish channels of collaborations on policy deliberation, industry development and capacity building on Security Privacy and Cybercrime investigation. It would also be building community to bridge cyber security skills gap between India and Singapore and exploring opportunities for developing niche capabilities in cyber security product space. "Cyber Security is a global issue and needs attention of all stakeholders. It is essential that countries become partners to address this issue collaboratively. "In the light of recent affirmative steps by both the countries in strengthening bilateral co-operation and exchange of dialogue on issue of cyber security, these initiatives reinforces the vital role played by global thought leaders like DSCI in bringing the stakeholders together to address this common issue," Vijay Thakur Singh, Indian High Commissioner to Singapore, said. "The formation of this chapter will be instrumental in building strong linkages between India and Singapore in the area of Cyber Security. "We are working with governments across the globe to charter the way forward to address the issues in the cyber space, including the cross border data flows, Internet governance, privacy and others," Rama Vedashree, CEO, DSCI, said. The chapter will act as a catalyst for growth of a strong community in the region to address the evolving cyber challenges, she said. "In the globally interconnected society, it becomes important to engage stakeholders and share the best practices and benefit from the learnings of each other. The need of the hour is to create credible deterrence, which should be done by law enforcement agencies through successful prosecutions," said Madan Oberoi, IPS officer presently deployed in Singapore. DSCI Singapore chapter needs to engage different stakeholders like regulatory bodies, enforcement agencies, industry, think-tanks, Internet governance bodies, academia, research organisations and other stakeholders and encourage them to contribute to the common cause for making the cyber space safe, secure and trusted, Oberoi said. DSCI has created and nurtured a network of over 4000 security and privacy professionals in India with 12 chapters operating successfully in different cities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a shocking incident, a five-month-old foetus was today found in a ladies' toilet of a city hospital in southwest Delhi's Jaffarpur Kalan area, police said. The male foetus was found in the toilet in Rao Tula Ram Hospital around 11 AM following which the authorities informed the police, a senior police officer said. An investigation has been initiated in the matter, he said. The foetus has been sent for post-mortem examination and a case has been registered under section 316 (causing death of quick unborn child by act amounting to culpable homicide) of the IPC against unknown persons, the officer said. Police said they are questioning the hospital staff to gain more details. The CCTV footage from cameras installed in the hospital premises is being scanned to ascertain the identity of the people who dumped the foetus, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Naval wing Flag Officer for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, Rear Admiral Alok Bhatnagar today called on Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao, here. A Raj Bhavan release described the meeting as "a courtesy call." Another release said, Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali also called on Rao to greet him on being appointed as Acting Governor of the State. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A four-year-old boy was killed near Saikheda village here after he was attacked by a leopard, forest officials said. The incident took place last evening when Sarthak Solse, a resident of Kutevasti near Saikheda in the district, was playing in the sugarcane fields where his family was working, they said. As soon as the wild animal attacked the child, his grandmother raised an alarm. But by the time locals reached the spot, he was dragged into the thick forest area by the leopard. Later, the animal disappeared into the jungles upon seeing a large crowd which had come to rescue the child. The boy was immediately rushed to a hospital in nearby Chandori village. However, the doctors pronounced him dead on arrival, the officials said. Divisional forest officer Ramanujam and his team have reached the spot. "We have placed a cage in the fields to trap the leopard. Earlier, two cages were placed only a kilometre away from this spot," said B R Dhakre, range forest officer. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Mizoram police, constituted to probe the robbery of smuggled gold bars worth Rs 14.5 crore in December last, has re-arrested five of the accused in a two-year-old attempted dacoity case, police said today. However, the five accused who were re-arrested were released on bail, DIG (Northern Range) LT Hrangchal told PTI. The five, including former commandant of 39th Battalion of Assam Rifles Col Jasjit Singh, were arrested again yesterday in a case of attempted highway robbery near the Bungbangla area under Bawngkawn police station on the night of December 13, 2015. The gold bar robbery was carried out on December 14, 2015 and Col Jasjit Singh, eight other AR personnel and four civilians were allegedly involved in it. Though the state government had issued a notification, handing over the case to the CBI on June 14, the agency was yet to make any response. The SIT has been making efforts to submit the chargesheet against the accused soon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana Government has issued revised guidelines related to land, admission and fees to grant minority status to educational institutes in the state. "The government will accord minority status to an applicant institute only if a minimum of its two-third members in the Society or Trust belong to the same minority community," a spokesperson said today, adding they must submit a certificate, issued by the Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), for each member as proof. "At the time of submission of application, the sponsoring body should be in possession of two acres of land either by way of ownership or on a perpetual irrevocable lease of at least 33 years if land falls in municipal limits and five acres if the land falls in rural area, he said, adding change of land use might be deposited as the case may be," he said. The society or trust will also submit an undertaking that the land will be only used for the proposed institution and not other institution would be formed or raised on the land, he said, in case of a degree college it would be compulsory to start at least two streams of instructions. Aims and objectives of the educational institute should be incorporated in its bylaws, which should clearly specify it is meant to primarily serve the interests of the minority community to which it belongs, he said. "The institution will not compel any student or employee to participate in any of its religious activities and it would observe laws related to educational institutions," the spokesperson said, adding it would do nothing which comes in the way of communal and social harmony. In aided minority institutions, admission from the community should say up to 50 per cent and on the basis of merit, he added. "The fee will be as prescribed by the affiliating university or the state government," he said, cautioning recognition can be withdrawn if instructions, rules and regulations are violated. The Principal Secretary of the Higher Education department will be the competent authority to grant recognition, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Various Hindu outfits today held a dharna in Karol Bagh after dismembered parts of an animal, claimed to be of a cow, were found in the area. Members of VHP, RSS, Bajrang Dal, Hindu Manch and some other outfits organised the protest outside Filmistan and blocked traffic on Rani Jhansi road and East Park. Tension had gripped parts of Karol Bagh area in central Delhi yesterday after dismembered parts of an animal were found in a park, with claims that these belonged to a cow. The cut parts of the animal were allegedly noticed by the RSS volunteers who reached the park at Kishanganj railway colony to hold their 'shakha' in the morning, according to local RSS leaders. A case has been registered and investigation has been taken up, a senior police officer said. RSS volunteers said recurrence of such incidents in the area was feared to be an attempt to disturb communal harmony. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On the eve of Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghuvar Das' scheduled visit to the USA to woo investors, the Congress today described these efforts as eye-wash, saying Industrial sector's contribution in the State GDP has dropped by 17 per cent in 2015-16. While the contribution of Industrial sector was 54 per cent a year before, it slid to 37 per cent in 2015-16, state Congress President Sukhdeo Bhagat said. Only the government could throw a light on why this happened, he told a press conference. The chief minister has toured Mumbai and Bengaluru to convince investors but did not take any step to revive feasible sick industries on the verge of closure, he said. "Neither any investment was made nor any development work was carried out during the last two years of the present dispensation," Bhagat said. Reliance group that had shown interest to invest in Energy section has winded up its project and Abhijeet Group of industries had been closed due to indifferent approach of the government, he claimed. "Actually", he said, "the state did not have adequate infrastructure for setting up industries". A conducive atmosphere including proper law and order was needed to attract investment but the state lacked on these fronts, Bhagat said, adding that 28 murders had been committed in the last one month in Ranchi itself. "The capital is considered the mirror of a state but the way a patient was served food on the floor of a reputed hospital exhibits the insensitivity of the government," he said. The JPCC leader was referring to an incident in which a female patient was served food on the floor of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, on Wednesday. To please big corporate houses, the government has chosen to amend Chhotanagarpur and Santal Paragana Tenancy Acts through Ordinance at a time when the state Assembly session was on, he alleged. "The state Chief Minister is a good disciple of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as they both are adept at not fulfilling promises," he said. A host of state leadership of the party including former Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay and Rajya Sabha Member Pradip Kumar Balmuchu took a rally in the steel city here today. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A three-day International Sikh Conclave ended here today with Governor Ram Nath Kovind making an appeal to the participants to visit Patna to celebrate the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh in January next. "It is a matter of great opportunity and challenge for the state government to organise the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj as 'Prakash Parv' who was the 10th Guru of Sikhs," Kovind said while addressing the valedictory session of the conclave organised by state Tourism Department. The 'Prakash Parv' would provide Bihar an opportunity to show-case itself on a global stage, Kovind said and urged the participants to visit Patna during the celebration to be held between December 30, 2016 and January 10, 2017. Stating that Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism evolved and grew in Bihar, Kovind said the state is the birth place of Guru Govind Singh. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his Punjab counterpart Parkash Singh Badal on September 22 inaugurated the Sikh Conclave, the first of its kind. They released a book dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh. Badal gave a cheque of Rs 10 crore to Kumar to set up a building to accommodate people coming to Patna to participate in the 'Prakash Parv'. The Conclave was attended by eminent Sikh personalities from the country and abroad that included union minister S S Ahluwalia, Uttar Pradesh B R Ramuwalia, former union minister S S Dhindsa, former chairman of National Minorities Commission Tarlochan Singh, Patna Saheb Jathedar Iqbal Singh, Ruby Dhalla, ex MP of House of Commons of Canada, R S Sandhu, and Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Licestershire, UK. Sikh historians and scholars took part in panel discussions the life and philosophy of Guru Gobind Singh. Tourism Department Principal Secretary Harjot Kaur welcomed participants who observed a two-minute silence in memory of the soldiers who were martyred in Uri attack. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet separately with American presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in New York tomorrow, an official in his office said. "The meeting was agreed to with Trump first, then we reached out immediately to the Clinton camp for balance," the official told AFP without saying who proposed the first meeting. Netanyahu is already in New York, where he addressed the UN General Assembly on Thursday. Analysts say the Israeli premier is trying to avoid any impression of interfering in the American electoral campaign. During the 2012 race for the White House, US officials criticised Netanyahu over his perceived support for Republican candidate Mitt Romney. Romney visited Jerusalem during his campaign and criticised President Barack Obama's policies on the Middle East. Trump had planned to visit Israel last December, but postponed the trip after his proposal to bar Muslims from entering the United States prompted worldwide condemnation. In May, he told Israel Hayom, a free daily newspaper seen as close to Netanyahu, that he would visit Israel "soon". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the Centre hinting at revising the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh today said the state will fully support whatever decision is taken by the Union government on the 1960 agreement. "The treaty has caused huge loss to Jammu and Kashmir" as the people of the state cannot fully utilise the waters of various rivers, particularly Chenab in Jammu, for agricultural and other activities, Singh, who is in the city to attend the BJP National Council, said. "The state government will support whatever decision is taken by the central government on Indus Waters Treaty," he said. The people of Jammu and Kashmir were already raising the issue of loss to the state on account of Indus Waters Treaty. If the central government takes any decision in this regard, the state government will definitely support it, he said. "We will support any move which will benefit the people of the state and any step that puts Pakistan under pressure," Singh said. India had earlier this week made it clear that "mutual trust and cooperation" was important for such a treaty to work. The assertion came amid calls that the government should scrap the water distribution pact to mount pressure on Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack. "It cannot be a one-sided affair," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said when asked if the government will rethink on the Indus Waters Treaty given the growing strain between the two countries. Singh also hit out at Pakistan for its "failure" to honour its agreements with India, particularly the Simla Agreement signed in 1972. "There is the Simla Agreement which Pakistan does not honour, there is Lahore declaration between the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the then President of Pakistan General Parvez Musharraf in which it was agreed upon that Pakistan will not use its land under its occupation to be used for sponsoring, aiding and abetting terrorism against India. "They do not honour this and instead are violating the declaration by sponsoring terrorism," the BJP leader said. "If they can violate such agreements and declarations why should we honour such treaties...They want India to honour this treaty on the basis of it being an International treaty. This cannot go for a long. It is to be seen in totality," he said. Singh said Pakistan was sending terrorists to create disorder in the Kashmir Valley but does not understand that terrorism will affect it more. "Pakistan does not understand that terrorism, which it sponsors, will ultimately affect it more. The country will not be able to keep itself united...We will expose the terror outfits in PoK," he said. On the unrest in Kashmir, he said normalcy was returning to the state and the central and state governments were taking all steps to restore peace. "The situation is under control now. Pakistan is directly sending terrorists and its people to Jammu and Kashmir to create disorder," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Parents of Karuna Kumar, who was stabbed to death with scissors in broad daylight in North Delhi's Burari area earlier this week, today met Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain and demanded appointment of special public prosecutor to ensure speedy trial of the case. After the meeting, Jain said the parents have made some demands which the Delhi government will look into, adding that criminals have "no fear" of law. "A criminal stabbed to death a girl in broad daylight as criminals have no fear of law. Parents of the victim made some demands including appointment of special public prosecutor so that there is speedy trial in the case," Jain said here. A Delhi Police constable Ram Niwas was yesterday suspended for allegedly leaking the video footage of the stabbing of Karuna by 34-year-old Surender Singh, who attacked her nearly 22 times in a span of two minutes as passersby looked on. Ram Niwas was suspended after it was found that he had made the video of the CCTV footage of the incident on his phone and shared it with media, a police officer said. The footage had allegedly incited the family members and the locals of the area who carried out a protest on September 21. The incident drew outrage as CCTV footage of the frenzied stabbing by Singh was aired by media, prompting the Centre to seek a report from Delhi Police. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today wished a speedy recovery to his Tamil Nadu counterpart J Jayalalithaa, who has been admitted to a private hospital at Chennai after she complained of "fever and dehydration". In a letter to Jayalalithaa, Vijayan said Kerala heard the about her illness "with sorrow". He wished her a speedy recovery to enable her to return to official duty soon. Jayalalithaa (68) was admitted to Apollo hospital on Thursday night after she complained of fever and dehydration. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three persons including a woman were killed and another injured in two separate incidents when lightning struck them in Yeola and Nandgaon in the district, police said today. The incidents took place last evening when heavy rains accompanied with stormy winds lashed the area. Santosh Gudghe (28) and his brother's wife Varsha Gudghe (25) were killed on the spot when lightning struck at Mamdapur in Yeola tehsil town last evening, police said. Varsha's husband Navnath, who was injured in the incident has been admitted to a rural hospital at Yeola. The victims were working in their field when the mishap occurred. In another incident at village Dorli-pada in Nandgaon taluka, a 13-year-old boy Dattu Chavan was killed by lightning near his house, nandgaon police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After holding protests in various districts of Maharashtra, members of the Maratha community will organise a silent march here tomorrow to press for their demands. The protest is scheduled to begin in the morning and is likely to go on till late afternoon. The organisers say they expect around 10-15 lakh people to turn up. "The march will start from Deccan Gymkhana and will traverse through Alka Talkies chowk, Laxmi Road, Nana Peth, and will end at the Council Hall," one of the organisers said. Under the banner of 'Maratha Kranti Morcha', the community has so far held rallies in various cities in Maharastra, including Akola, Jalna, Latur, Nanded, Nashik, Osmanabad, Ahmednagar and Navi Mumbai. Each protest has drawn huge crowd from the community. The Maratha community, which forms nearly one third of the state population, launched these protests following the rape and murder of a Maratha girl at Kopardi village in Ahmednagar. These marches are aimed at pressing for the community's demands, including justice to the victim, reservation for Maratha community in education and government jobs and scrapping of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Meanwhile, in view of the huge crowd that is likely to gather for the morcha, Pune traffic police have requested citizens to avoid commute in the city till it gets over. "Citizens are advised to avoid travelling till the march ends and people going to airport, railway station, bus stands for scheduled journey should especially make a note of it," said DCP Traffic Dr Pravin Mundhe. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Military and civil authorities brainstormed rear area security in active hostility scenario under the aegis of 51 Sub Area at Narangi Military Station here today. The Rear Area Security Exercise Antarik Suraksha was conducted with the aim to assess the effectiveness of Rear Area Security plans at the backdrop of changed operational dynamics to synergize efforts amongst all stake holders, said a defence release here. The keynote address was delivered by Assam Chief Secretary V K Pipersenia who expressed concern on the rapidly changing security situation and stressed the need for a dynamic, flexible and resilient Rear Area Security Plan. The role and task of all stake holders was discussed in detail by senior officials from Assam Police, BSF, CRPF, CISF, National Highways, Railways and Inland Water Ways, the release said. Major General Anil Kumar Jha, General Officer Commanding 51 Sub Area, deliberated upon the need of synergized operations to ensure that there are no disruptions in the combat zone during active hostilities, it said. General Officer Commanding (GoC) 101 Area Lieutenant General Satish Prabhakar Nawathe brought out the need of a Unified Command Centre duly integrating all stake holders - Army, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Civil administration - for the successful execution of the Rear Area Security Plan, the release added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress on Saturday slammed Raj Thackeray-led for asking Pakistani artists to leave the country, saying issuing such threats was against the law of the land and demanded that a criminal case be lodged against leaders who have threatened actors from Pakistan. Shiv Sena, known for its aggressive stand against entertaining artists and players from Pakistan, said this is not an issue to be solved through non-violent methods, while the BJP took a sarcastic dig at the seeking to know how long it would keep up the campaign over the matter. "In a democratic country, people can travel on a bonafide visa. Why should an insignificant party like the MNS dictate terms in a democracy? While popular sentiments are against Pakistan's terror activities, no one should be allowed to resort to dictatorship," Congress Secretary Al-Nasser Zakaria said. He also criticised the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for not taking action against the MNS leaders who on Friday said the party workers would disrupt shooting of films engaging Pakistani artists. "It is a shame that the Chief Minister, who also holds Home portfolio, allows people to make vicious comments and promote enmity. We demand that an FIR be registered against MNS leaders, Shalini Thackeray and Amey Khopkar for threatening to harm the foreign nationals," he said. Raising the pitch in the backdrop of Uri terror attack, MNS on friday asked Pakistani artistes like Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan to leave India immediately, failing which the shooting of their movies will be stalled. Mumbai Police, however, assured the actors they need not worry as they will be given protection. MNS general secretary Shalini Thackeray, along with the party's cinema wing president, Amay Khopkar, in an open letter, sought to know from Bollywood producers and production houses as to why they need to engage actors from the neighbouring country when enough talent is available in India? Shiv Sena said violence against them is not the solution to the problem. "This issue has been politicised. Sena since last many years is of the view that Pakistanis can not be allowed to earn fat pay cheques here while their country goes on killing Indian soldiers," Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande said. "Citizens are in a dilemma now. Whether to see movies with Pakistani actors or see news channels that show Indian soldiers getting killed on a daily basis," it added. Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh today accused the Narendra Modi government of targeting small traders and businessmen under the pretext of unearthing black money. "You have given amnesty scheme (for declaring domestic black money). People are coming out...Identify people, who have hundreds of crores of black money. You are targeting small traders, businessmen that should be stopped. We should stand up for these people," Singh said while addressing party workers' convention here today. "Today, in India most business people are very unhappy with Narendra Modi. He promised concessions to the business people, but economy is not growing. Raids are being conducted and they are targeting Congress people," he alleged. They have declared September 30 to be the last date on which the black money has to be declared. They have issued 900 thousand notices all over the country for people to declare money, Singh said. "Lot of people have spoken to me, asking what to do. When P Chidambaram was the Finance Minister, under amnesty scheme Rs 30,000 crore money came into the coffers. Now, Modi and BJP people had said that there is Rs 40 lakh crore black money parked outside the country and if that comes in every Indian will have Rs 15 lakh in his account. That money has not come back," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after meeting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, SNDP Yogam General Secretary Vellapally Natesan today maintained that Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) has differences with BJP, while his son and party president, Thushar Vellapally dismissed the remark. Talking to reportersafter a meeting of Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, an organisation of backward Ezhava community, at Alappuzha, Natesan said, "I have only expressed the feelings of cadres on the non-fulfillment of promises made by BJP when it entered into alliance on the eve of May 16 assembly polls." He further said, "SNDP is not a 'B' team of any political party." "BDJS has its own opinion and the party would go forward on it," he added. BDJS is a key partner of BJP in Kerala. Natesan's unexpected visit to Vijayan's residence last evening shortly after stating that BDJS has only suffered losses due to its tie-up with BJP, and his lavishing praises on the CPI-M leader had raised many eyebrows. His meeting with the Chief Minister and his tirade against the BJP, on the eve of National Council meeting of the party, had triggered speculation that BDJS was sending signals to CPI-M. However, when asked about his meeting with Vijayan, Natesan said he had met the Chief Minister to discuss certain things in the education sector. "No politics was involved in it," he added. Maintaining his contradictory stand on the issue, BDJS President Thushar Vellapally today said his party has no differences with NDA and the BJP. He said he would attend the NDA meeting called on the sidelines of BJP's National Council at Kozhikode tomorrow. BJP state leaders have asserted that there were no differences with BDJS and the warm relation which began during the tie-up period, still continued. Meanwhile, political observers pointed out that Natesan, known for his shrewed strategies, had aired the feelings of cadres with an intention to bring it to the notice of BJP national leadership, and to a great extent he had succeeded in his attempt. Natesan, who was instrumental in the formation of BDJS in the run up to the Assembly elections held in May,had yesterday accused the saffron party of not keeping promises made to it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Israeli official has confirmed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump tomorrow. Netanyahu is in the United States, where he met with President Barack Obama and addressed the UN General Assembly this week. Israel is a close ally of the US and presidential candidates often visit to meet with Israeli leaders. However, neither Trump nor Clinton have visited in the current election cycle. The Israeli official provided no further details on Sunday's meetings. He spoke on condition of anonymity pending an official announcement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scientists, including one of Indian origin, have created a new tool that can calculate the genetic risk score of people likely to develop coronary heart disease, an advance that may pave way for early and personalised preventive interventions. Genetic factors have long been known to make a significant contribution to CHD risk. Recent advances in genetics have led to the identification of many Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) - very small differences in our DNA that vary from person to person. By looking at over 49,000 SNPs, researchers created a score, known as a genomic risk score (GRS) and showed that the higher the GRS the higher the future risk of CHD. People with a GRS in the top 20 per cent had an over 5-fold higher life-time risk of CHD than those in the bottom 20 per cent. The study from University of Leicester in the UK is the first to look at a much larger number of SNPs to give a fuller picture of an individual's genetic risk of developing CHD. Currently, clinical risk scores are based on known risk factors for CHD such as cholesterol level, having high blood pressure or diabetes and smoking. However, such scores are imprecise and unable to identify a large proportion of people who develop CHD. The researchers showed that the GRS was independent of the clinical risk scores and by combining the two risk score tools they were better able to predict people who were at risk of developing CHD in the next 10 years. "This is the first really large study showing the potential benefits of using a genetic risk score over and above current methods to identify people at increased risk of coronary heart disease," said Sir Nilesh Samani from the University of Leicester. "We already know that CHD starts at an early age, several decades before symptoms develop, and preventative measures should ideally be applied much earlier, especially to those who are at increased risk," Samani said. "Current clinical risk scores are not good at evaluating risk until middle-age. On the other hand the GRS, which is based on your DNA, can be applied at any age," he said. "Earlier identification of people who would most benefit from lifestyle changes and medication to reduce their risk of a heart attack could save countless lives," he added. The research was published in the European Heart Journal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Francois Hollande, under pressure from the right wing, has stepped up his pledge to combat illegal migration, vowing to dismantle a squalid settlement near Calais and prevent similar camps from becoming established in France. "There will be no camps in France," said Hollande on yesterday, two days ahead of a maiden visit to the notorious "Jungle" settlement near Calais, where between 7,000 and 10,000 desperate migrants live. The Socialist leader spelt out promises to "completely dismantle" the Jungle and set up "reception and orientation centres around the country" to accommodate asylum-seekers. Hollande's government has vowed to scrap the Jungle "before winter" and a flurry of preparations underway there suggest the operation may begin shortly. Migration has been a low-key issue under Hollande's four-year-old presidency. But he has been forced to take a visible stance on the issue, under pressure from his conservative predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy -- who is hoping to make a comeback as president -- and far-right leader Marine Le Pen. Each are promoting platforms of security, patriotism and national interest in early campaigning for next year's elections. "We will provide a humane, dignified welcome to people who will file for the right of asylum," Hollande said. Those whose request has been rejected "will be escorted out of the country. Those are the rules and they are fully aware of them." He noted that France would accept 80,000 asylum-seekers this year, a fraction of that accepted by Germany. Separately, the top administrative office, or prefecture, for the Pas-de-Calais region said a Sudanese migrant aged about 30 died late yesterday when he was hit by a freight train near the port of Calais. He was the 13th migrant to die in the Calais area since the start of the year, according to an AFP poll. Most of the deaths have been people who have tried to board trucks heading to Britain via the Channel Tunnel or ferry. Meanwhile, Sarkozy returned yesterday to remarks on national identity that sparked a fierce row earlier this week. On Tuesday, Sarkozy said that once immigrants are granted citizenship "they should live like the French." "Once you become French, your ancestors are the Gauls. 'I love France, I learned the history of France, I see myself as French'," is what you must say," he said. The remarks sparked a storm, prompting historians to note that France has been a land of immigration for centuries and the line "our ancestors the Gauls" was an opening to history textbooks that today is widely derided. Yesterday, Sarkozy extended his "Gauls" reference and provided what he contended was a patriotic benchmark for Muslim immigrants to France. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Korea's foreign minister has told the United Nations that "going nuclear" is his country's only way to defend itself and vowed to further bolster its nuclear military forces. Speaking to the General Assembly, Ri Yong-ho yesterday said his country will "continue to take measures to strengthen its national nuclear armed forces in both quantity and quality." He spoke just two weeks after North Korea's fifth and most powerful nuclear test provoked worldwide condemnation, prompting the UN Security Council to begin work on a new sanctions resolution. "Going nuclear armed is the policy of our state," Ri, who has been foreign minister since May, told the world gathering. "As long as there exists a nuclear weapon state in hostile relations with the DPRK (North Korea), our national security and the peace on the Korean peninsula can be defended only with reliable nuclear deterrence," he said. North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests and test-fired more than 20 missiles this year alone. After the latest blast on September 9, Pyongyang claimed it had significantly advanced its ability and tested a miniaturised nuclear bomb for a warhead that could be mounted on a missile. In his address, Ri acknowledged that the nuclear tests "may not be easily understood by European countries," which he said were now "less sensitive" to security concerns decades after the end of the Cold War. But the foreign minister described the nuclear explosions as "practical countermeasures" against the United States and a demonstration of the "strongest-ever will" of North Korea's ruling party and people. Japan and South Korea used their addresses at the General Assembly this week to raise alarm bells over the threat from North Korea. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe demanded that the world find a new way to confront Pyongyang after a decade of UN sanctions failed to change its behaviour. "The threat to the international community has become increasingly grave and all the more realistic," he said Wednesday. "It demands a new means of addressing it, altogether different from what we applied until yesterday." South Korea's Foreign Minister Yung Byung-se suggested that the North could be stripped of its status as a member of the United Nations for refusing to accept the Security Council's decisions. "I believe it is high time to seriously reconsider whether North Korea is qualified as a peace-loving UN member," he said in his address on Thursday. However, such a proposal is likely to be opposed by China, Pyongyang's ally, which has repeatedly called for a de-escalation of tensions. North Korea's membership in the United Nations -- the only major international forum where Pyongyang has a voice -- dates back 35 years to when the two Koreas were admitted simultaneously. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) State-owned Oil India Ltd (OIL) today said it is investing Rs 1,200 crore to revamp the pumping stations of its trunk pipeline. "Currently, revamping of the pumping stations of the trunk pipeline, which have been operating for over five decades, is in progress at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore," a company statement said here. OIL operates a total network of 1,220 km long crude oil pipelines, with a capacity to carry 5.38 MMTPA crude. These pipelines transport crude oil produced from oilfields in Upper Assam to the public sector refineries at Numaligarh, Guwahati and Bongaigaon in the state. OIL Chairman and Managing Director Utpal Bora said at the Annual General Body Meeting that the company achieved highest ever production and sale of natural gas in its history during 2015-16 fiscal. "While natural gas production was 2,838 MMSCM as against 2,722 MMSCM during 2014-15, natural gas sales was 2,314 MMSCM as against 2,181 MMSCM during 2014-15," he added. Bora informed the shareholders that crude oil production was 3.247 MMT as compared to 3.440 MMT during 2014-15. The turnover of the company stood at Rs 9,764.87 crore as against Rs 9,748.23 crore, while the Profit after Tax (PAT) was Rs 2,330.11 crore against Rs 2,510.20 crore during 2014- 15, he added. Bora said the contribution to the state exchequer during the year was Rs 1,861 crore and that to the Central government was Rs 3,245 crore. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Afghan government controls over 60-70 percent of the country, while the Taliban has hold over the 10 per cent and about one quarter of the war-torn country is now being contested between the two, an American general has said. "The Taliban clearly controls 10 per cent and the government controls roughly 65 to 70 percent. So, these are rough percentages. We view 20 to 25 per cent of the country is contested, meaning the government and the Taliban are fighting for control of that," General Nicholson, Commander of US and NATO troops in Afghanistan told reporters yesterday. According to Nicholson, of the 98 US or UN designated terrorists organizations around the globe, 20 of them are in the Afghan-Pak region. "This is the highest concentration of the numbers of different groups in any area in the world," he said. "So while the numbers may be higher in some of these groups elsewhere, the concentration of groups in this region is important. So our presence there is critical to keeping pressure on these networks so they cannot realize their international ambitions," the general said. Nicholson said he is most impressed with about the Afghans is this desire to fight for their country. "They view it as a matter of personal honor that they are the ones defending their country, not us. And they deeply appreciate everything we're doing with them. They know they have things to work on. But they're very committed to winning this war on their own," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan has said it will approach Interpol for the extradition of Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti who has sought political asylum in India, a media report said. The Pakistan government has decided to write to Interpol for the extradition of Bugti. "The Federal Investigation Agency will send a formal reference to Interpol within the next few days for the extradition of Brahamdagh Bugti," interior minister Nisar Ali Khan was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune. Pakistan yesterday warned India that by granting asylum to Bugti, it will become an "official sponsor of terrorism". Bugti, who has been living in Switzerland, on Tuesday approached the Indian Embassy in Geneva seeking asylum in India and exuded confidence of a positive response from New Delhi. His application seeking political asylum was received by the Home Ministry in New Delhi which is examining it. Bugti is the President and founder of Baloch Republican Party. He is the grandson of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader killed by the Pakistan army in 2006. Pakistan government had blamed India for helping Bugti flee Pakistan to Geneva in 2010 via Afghanistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jet was crashed and its pilot killed today in the country's northwestern Khyber agency bordering Afghanistan, officials said. The PAF aircraft, F-7PG, was on a routine operational training when it met with the accident at Jamrud town, nearly 20 km from here, a PAF spokesperson said. Flight lieutenant Omer Shahzad was killed in the crash, he said. Initial investigations suggest that the jet crashed due to technical snag, the official said, adding that further details were not immediately known. A board of inquiry has been ordered by authorities to find the cause of the accident. Last year, a double-seat version of F-7PG PAF fighter jet, which was on a routine training mission, caught fire and crashed near Mastung district of Balochistan province. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : A lawyer has moved Madras High court, seeking a declaration that freedom fighter V O Chidambaram Pillai's birthday on September 5 be declared as Lawyers Day. A E Chelliah said Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan's birthday is observed as Teachers Day and Nehru's birthday is celebrated as Children's Day. Hence the birthday of VOC deserves to be called Lawyers Day, in his honour as he was an advocate, writer, social reformer and freedom fighter. The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan,however,said it was for the government to examine the issue as it fell within the administrative domain. There are a number of individuals who had contributed to the freedom struggle, but what is the nature of contribution, what day can be celebrated and in what manner, would fall within the ambit of decision of the government, they said Pointing out that no representation has so far been submitted to the government, the judges said if the petitioner submits a petition, the government could bestow its consideration on the matter. Chelliah submitted said that in 1906 Chidambaram Pillai launched Swadeshi Shipping Company, that earned him a sobriquet 'Tamil Helmsman'. He was later 'unfairly' jailed under British rule. In 1908, when VOC was in jail, Gandhi was yet to become a Mahatma and return to India from South Africa. Jawaharlal Nehru was just 19 years old and C Rajagopalachari was yet to enter public life. Chelliah also said that the British had stripped VOC of his law licence and returned it only after his 10 year jail term. He then appeared for K Kamaraj and got him acquitted in the 'all Madras Presidency conspiracy case'. Kamaraj went on to become Tamil Nadu chief minister, AICC chief and was instrumental in making Lal Bahadur Shastri and later Indira Gandhi Prime Ministers, he said, adding that Kamaraj also expanded noon-meal schemes to all schools and brought a number of factories and projects to this part of the country. Chelliah argued that while many other freedom fighters and scholars had got their due after Independence, VOCs contributions had not been properly acknowledged. Declaring his birthday as Lawyers Day would be a fitting tribute to him, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with farmers of five states through webcast on Monday. The Prime Minister will hold live telecast discussions with farmers from Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. "The Prime Minister will hold almost an hour long interaction session with farmers through live telecast from Hyderabad, Cuddalore, Jammu, Jorhat and Palampurand also release certain veritiesof flowers and other crops which can enhance the income of small and marginal farmers," said Dr Sanjay Kumar, the Director of Institute of Himalayan Bio-Resource Technology, Palampur. The first interaction will be with two farmers from Hyderabad. He will be presented with a new and highly productive turmeric variety named Pitamber, and plants of the same will be gifted to two farmers at Hyderabad. At Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu, a variety of Vetiver will be released and the Prime Minister will be presented plants of this aromatic crop in Delhi. Modi will also release the rose scented variety of Geranium flower. While prime minister will be releasing the two verities of Calla Lilly and Gerbera, ornamental flowersand the same will be presented to two farmers atCSIR-IHBT Palampur. Also, the North East Institute of Science and Technology is getting two verities of Citranella and Lemon Grass released on this day. Oil is extracted from thesetwo aromatic plants which is widely used in perfume industry. Farmers will discuss with Modi difficulties faced by small and marginal farmers of the area and how the government can help in mitigating them, Sanjay Kumar said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Launching a blistering attack on Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today warned its leadership that the Uri terror attack will not be forgotten and the sacrifice of 18 jawans will not go in vain. In his first public address after last Sunday's deadly attack by terrorists from across the border, he said India will mount an all out offensive to isolate Pakistan diplomatically to expose its activities in exporting terror, killing of innocent people and spilling blood. "Terrorists should hear out clearly that India will never forget the Uri attack.... I want to tell the leadership of Pakistan that the sacrifice of our 18 jawans will not go in vain," Modi told a largely-attended public meeting on the Kozhikode beach held on the sidelines of the BJP national council meet. Modi held Pakistan directly responsible for the Uri attack saying the country exported terrorists there due to which 18 soldiers sacrificed their lives. The Prime Minister said there is one nation in Asia whose aim is to spread terrorism and is working towards ensuring that the 21st century does not belong to Asia. "Every nation is holding only one country responsible for terrorism. Only one country in Asia is safe haven for terrorists. This is the only country engaged in exporting terror across the world. "Be it Afghanistan, Bangladesh or other nations, we have seen whenever the of terror incidents comes, terrorists have either gone from this country (Pakistan) or have settled there after committing the crime," he said. The Prime Minister said India had never bowed to terror and will never do so in future and will strive to defeat it. Modi said there were 17 attempts by fidayen attackers sent by the neighbouring country which have been defeated by the brave Indian soldiers who have neutralised over 110 terrorists which is the highest in recent years. "Terrorism is enemy of humanity. Humanitarians all over the world have to unite and condemn terror," he said. He assured the countrymen that India was safe and 125 crore people take pride in valour and bravery of its soldiers and security personnel. "The leaders of the neighbouring country who read out scripts written by terrorists are singing the Kashmir song. Today from here, I want to talk to people of Pakistan directly. I want to remind them that before 1947, your forefathers had saluted this land. "You should ask your leaders why they were not able to handle PoK, erstwhile Bangladesh, Pakhtunistan, Gilgit and Balochistan and were trying to mislead you by talking about Kashmir," Modi said. The Prime Minister said, "Pakistan's public should ask its leaders as to why despite getting Independence together what is the reason India exports software and Pakistan exports terrorism." Lashing out at the neighbouring country, he said its leaders used to say that they will fight for 1000 years with India and wondered where they are now. "I accept this challenge. I want to tell you that India wants to fight with Pakistan. If you have the courage then why not fight to end poverty, unemployment, illiteracy. Let us see which country wins, India or Pakistan," he said. He said his government will strive hard to end poverty and make India prosperous as envisioned by Jan Sangh founder Deen Dayal Upadhyay whose centenary celebration starts tomorrow. The crime branch and Pydhonie police today arrested four persons allegedly involved in a robbery last week where 6.56 kg of gold jewellery, worth Rs 1.87 crore, had been looted. The arrested men were identified as Shahnawaz Khan (22), Jahangir Sheikh (28), Prafull Gaikwad (36) and Ratan Singh. Another accused in the case is yet to be arrested. On the night of September 17, the accused robbed Mukesh Sanghvi, a jeweller, at Carnac Bridge in south Mumbai when he and two of his colleagues were heading for Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in a taxi. As the taxi reached Carnac Bridge, the driver, Shahnawaz Khan, pulled over saying he had to respond to nature's call. Sanghvi objected to it but within a few minutes, four other men approached the taxi, snatched two bags of jewellery after threatening Sanghvi of fatal consequences if resisted, and fled. Shahnawaz too fled with his taxi. Police arrested Prafull, the alleged mastermind, from Mira Road area as he was going to sell his share of the loot. After his questioning, police nabbed the other three accused, said DCP Sandeep Karnik of Zone 2. Police also recovered "a part" of the stolen jewellery, worth Rs 45 lakh, and were probing if any insider was involved in the crime, said DCP (crime) Mohankumar Dahikar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Terming as 'adamant' the stand of Karnataka government not to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu and Union Territory of Puducherry, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today said defiance of the Supreme court verdict would only lead to confrontation between the Judiciary and Legislature. Addressing reporters here after returning from New Delhi, he said, "The resolution adopted by the Karnataka Legislative Assembly refusing to release Cauvery water is an adamant stand and cannot be accepted as ryots in Puducherry and Tamilnadu needed water for samba cultivation." "The ryots in Karaikal region badly needed Cauvery water for the samba paddy crop. If the water is not available the farmers would face a situation of distress," Narayanasamy said adding Karnataka government should honour the directive of the Apex court. He said any defiance of the court verdict would only lead to confrontation between the Judiciary and Legislature. He further urged his Karnataka counterpart to ensure that the Tamils in that state were protected. Talking about the GST council meeting, the CM said, "The Centre has accepted the plea of Puducherry administration to compensate it for the fiscal lossthe Union Territory would suffer in the wake of implementation of the Goods and Services tax." He said he had made out a strong case at the meeting held on September 22 and 23 that Puducherry should be compensated for the loss of Rs 60 crores annually expected to emerge after the GST is implemented. "Rs 20 lakh annual turnover threshold for GST exemption would entail a loss of revenue of Rs 60 crores every year to the exchequer here and the Council had accepted to compensate the loss," he said. Noting that Puducherry had been included as a member of the GST council, he said this showed that the Union Territory had gained recognition on a par with bigger states. The Puducherry Assembly had ratified the GST Bill through a resolution in the recent budget session, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pope Francis today called for a "sincere dialogue" between Christians and Muslims as he met grieving relatives and survivors of France's Bastille Day attack, in which a jihadist ploughed his truck into a crowd. The pope, who this week denounced violence in the name of religion - declaring "there is no God of war" - met 180 people who were wounded, or left traumatised or bereaved by the July 14 attack in Nice which claimed 86 lives. "We need to start a sincere dialogue and have fraternal relations between everybody, especially those who believe in a sole God who is merciful," he said, speaking in the Vatican's giant Paul VI audience hall, and calling this "an urgent priority." "It is with a feeling of great emotion that I am meeting you, those who are suffering in body and in spirit because an evening of festivity turned into one of violence which struck blindly at all, without taking into account their origins or religion," the pontiff said. "We can only respond to the Devil's attacks with God's works which are forgiveness, love and respect for the other, even if they are different," he said. Members of 58 families were flown in especially from the French Rivera resort city of Nice. They were joined in Rome by 150 others who travelled from France by car and a delegation from a French regional interreligious group, including the Catholic bishop of Nice and Muslim, Jewish, Orthodox and Protestant representatives. Last month the Argentine pontiff met French President Francois Hollande to offer his support and condolences to a country which has been rocked by a series of deadly attacks since early 2015. While speaking out against violent acts carried out in the name of any god, Francis this week reminded the West that there were parts of the world being flattened by fighting. Speaking in the Italian town of Assisi on Tuesday he said, "We are frightened... By some terrorist acts", but "this is nothing compared to what is happening in those countries, in those lands where day and night bombs fall." Vincent Delhommel Desmarest, who runs a restaurant on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice where the attack happened, said he has been on sick leave ever since and now sees a psychologist three times a week. "I don't sleep at night. The whole scene of the lorry moving, the mutilated bodies, decapitated, the entrails," he said. The 49-year-old has decided to create a local association to support the victims of that awful night. French police on Tuesday arrested eight associates of Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, a 31-year-old Tunisian, who rammed a 19-tonne truck through a crowd of more than 30,000 people on the seafront Promenade des Anglais on July 14 before police shot him dead. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Dalit family, including a pregnant woman, was allegedly assaulted at Karja village in Gujarat's Banaskantha district after the members refused to dispose of a cow carcass, police said today. Six persons were arrested under the Indian Penal Code and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, police added. According to the FIR lodged by Nilesh Ranwasia, a group of around 10 people from Darbar community attacked his family including his pregnant wife Sangeeta last night after the family refused to dispose of the carcass. Six persons including Sangeeta and two other women sustained injuries. While Sangeeta was admitted to Palanpur civil hospital, Nilesh and others who had minor injuries were discharged after first aid, police said. Police immediately rushed to the village and within hours six accused were arrested, Banaskantha Superintendent of Police Neeraj Badgujar said. The arrested persons were identified as Batawarsinh Chauhan (26), Maknusinh Chauhan (21), Yogisinh Chauhan (25), Bavarsinh Chauhan (45), Dilvirsinh Chauhan (23) and Naredrasinh Chauhan (23). As tension prevailed in the village, police tightened security and intensified patrolling, Badgujar said. "We have provided protection to the Dalit families in the village and are doing our best to maintain peace and harmony among various communities," he said. Protests had roiled Gujarat recently after some Dalit youths were beaten up at Una by cow vigilantes. In the aftermath of the incident, the community pledged not to skin dead cows, a traditional occupation of a section of Dalits. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The assembly election in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Goa next year is "big challenge" for the Congress and fighting these elections is like waging a war against BJP and APP, senior party leader Digvijaya Singh today. "We have to enthuse the workers. We have to pump them up, we have to fight. The demoralised party cannot fight election. A demoralised army cannot fight wars. This is a war for us. The elections of Goa, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh are big challenges before Congress and we have to unitedly fight the BJP and AAP," Singh told party workers here today. Accusing AAP of contesting in all these states to give support to BJP, Singh said, "(Union Minister) Nitin Gadkari himself has admitted that AAP will eat into the Congress votes. We have been saying this right from the beginning. If there is any gathbandhan (alliance) in this country, it is between BJP and AAP." "They (AAP and BJP) are two faces of the same coin. They are together and each of them is helping the other. (Delhi Chief Minister) Arvind Kejriwal is a creature of Vivekananda International Foundation, which is a think tank of BJP and RSS. And he is only targeting Congress," he said. Kejriwal is a part of 'Congress-mukt Bharat' campaign of BJP-RSS combine, Singh alleged. According to him, Congress party represents all communities, castes, religions, but BJP only talks of Hindutva. "Hindutva has nothing to do with Hindu religion, they want a Hindu nation, which means just as Pakistan is an Islamic nation, they want India to be a Hindu nation, which is not possible and which is against the constitution," Singh said. "They (BJP) talk of Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution, but don't believe in it because the very fundamental issue of the Indian Constitution is that every person has a right to follow the religion of his choice. Therefore, no one can be forced to follow some other religion. There can't be forced conversion that one should understand," Singh said. He said next month, Congress will organise a conference of SC, ST and OBC communities, businessmen and farmers in Goa. "All block Congress committees should also hold workers' convention," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The apex consumer commission has directed a private educational institution in Bengaluru to pay a compensation of Rs 50 lakh to a student who suffered brain inflammation due to alleged negligence of teachers during a study tour. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission while disposing of an appeal filed by BNM Educational Institutions said the teachers accompanying this student and other children on the trip were negligent in performing their duty. NCDRC reduced the compensation amount from Rs 88.7 lakh granted to the girl by the state commission to Rs 50 lakh. "I have no hesitation in holding that since the teachers accompanying the complainant (child) were grossly negligent in taking her care despite taking such care being their mandatory duty ... The appellants (institutions and school principal) have rightly been held vicariously liable for the said negligence and accordingly have to duly compensate the complainant, to the extent such a compensation is possible," NCDRC Presiding Member V K Jain said. According to the complaint, Akshatha was among a group of students and teachers which travelled to North India as part of a study trip organised by the school in December 2006. On reaching Delhi, the girl had fever which was allegedly not taken proper care of by the teachers. The complaint further alleged that the girl was made to continue in the trip despite bad health. The bench, after taking note of medical reports and other documents, observed "a sudden blackout and becoming unconscious even for a minute or so, warranted immediate medical attention to the complainant by a qualified doctor. This was not something which could be ignored..." It also held that not taking the girl to a hospital, even after she had a repeat episode of blackout during the trip was a "clear indicator of the negligence, apathy and indifference" displayed by the teachers towards the health of the child." The school authorities, however, denied the allegations and claimed that the 14-year-old girl was not keeping good health for three months prior to the tour but this fact was withheld by her parents from them. They also denied negligence on their part in taking care of the girl. Noting that the girl was "not in a position even to identify her parents and her cognitive and perpetual abilities are seriously impaired", the NCDRC said she was stated to have "become vegetable like for all practical purposes and needs to be bedridden 24 hours." "Considering all facts and circumstances of the case, the appellant in my opinion should pay a consolidated amount of Rs 50,00,000 as an all-inclusive one time compensation to the complainant," the judge said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Race Course Metro station, located few metres away from the Prime Minister's official residence, will soon be known as Lok Kalyan Marg station, in line with the recent renaming of the iconic British-era road in posh Lutyens' Delhi. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) today initiated the process in this regard as per the Centre's directive. The first visible change will be in the form of new station name boards, the DMRC said. The whole process will take some time as the new name will have to be feeded into the metro's internal software that controls the digital boards and the announcement system in stations and trains. "The DMRC has initiated the process of changing the name of the Race Course Metro station to Lok Kalyan Marg Metro station as per the directive of the government. "Initially, the station name boards will be changed immediately followed by gradual changes in the automatic announcement system, maps etc as these will involve software updates," DMRC chief spokesman Anuj Dayal said. The Race Course Road was named after the Delhi Race Course, part of the Delhi Race Club, which was established in 1940. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) at a high-level meeting presided by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal recently changed the name of the iconic road in Lutyens Zone. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asserted that the sacrifices of BJP workers in Kerala will not go in vain and will bear fruit even as party president Amit Shah claimed that the saffron outfit will form the next government here. Referring to the big crowd at a party rally, Modi sought to link it with its increasing strength in a state where it has mostly been a minor player before emerging as a force to reckon by garnering near 15 per cent votes in the last assembly polls. "In Kerala, workers of Bharatiya Jan Sangh and BJP have sacrificed their lives. Their martyrdom inspires party workers in the rest of the country. Their sacrifice and sufferings will not go in vain," Modi said. "At some point of time, their sacrifice will bear fruit. Destiny of Kerala will change and BJP will be instrument to do it," the Prime Minister said, apparently referring to political violence in the state in which many BJP and RSS workers lost their lives. Hitting out at the CPI(M), Amit Shah said the attack against BJP workers is not new and they are facing violent attack even in the Chief Minister's constituency. "They are thinking that they would be able to stop the growth of BJP in Kerala through violent attacks. They are wrong. BJP will further gather strength despite such attacks," he said. Party will give a befitting reply to the forces unleashing violence through all democratic means, Shah said. Referring to the party's performance in the May 16 Assembly poll, the BJP president claimed he was confident that in the next polls in Kerala, the party would form government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nepal's first female Speaker of the parliament Onsari Gharti Magar today returned home after her week-long visit to China where she discussed bilateral ties with the Chinese Vice-Premier and invited investment from traders. Gharti hadflown to China's northwestern province of Gansu on September 18 to attend the Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Culture Expo (SRICE). During her visit, Gharti had a meeting with Chinese Vice-PremierLiu Yandong in which they discussed bilateral ties, including the Chinese President Xi Jinping's proposed visit to Nepal, according to a statement issued by the Speaker's office. Xi was expected to pay an official visit to Nepal within a couple of months at the invitation of Nepal's president Bidya Bhandari. Gharti also visited Yunnan, the southwestern province of China, on September 22 and 23 following the conclusion of expo. She also held a meeting with Yunnan Province Governor Chen Hao. During the meeting, Gharti also invitedChinese investors and traders to invest in Nepal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Syria's top diplomat has told the world's nations that his country's belief in military victory is greater now because the army "is making great strides in its war against terrorism" with support from Russia, Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah fighters. Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem yesterday said Syria is more determined than ever to eliminate "terrorism" from the country. The Syrian government refers to all those fighting to overthrow President Bashar Assad as "terrorists," including Western-backed opposition groups. Al-Moallem accused the "moderate armed opposition" of committing crimes and massacres against Syrians "that are no less barbaric" than those of the Islamic State extremist group and al-Qaida. The Syrian government in turn has been accused by the US and other western nations of the indiscriminate killing of civilians, dropping bombs filled with chlorine gas as a chemical weapon, and torturing and killing opponents. The Syrian official addressed the UN General Assembly's annual ministerial meeting after frantic but unsuccessful efforts by the US and Russian foreign ministers to revive a cease-fire that came into effect on September 12 but collapsed after a week following attacks by both sides. The truce was aimed at enabling the delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid and paving the way for a resumption of talks between the government and opposition. Syria was stepping up its military campaign even as talks were taking place between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the UN meeting on reviving the cease-fire. As of yesterday, rebel-held parts of the city of Aleppo had come under a blistering wave of airstrikes that residents said was without precedent in the 5 1/2-year conflict which has killed over 300,000 people and driven half the country's population from their homes. The airstrikes killed dozens, toppled buildings and sent wounded people flooding into poorly equipped clinics. Aid was never delivered to Aleppo, and on Saturday government forces captured an area on the edge of the city, tightening their siege around the rebel-held east. Global reaction was swift and condemned the new Syrian offensive in harsh terms. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon "is appalled by the chilling military escalation" in Aleppo and underlines that the use of indiscriminate weapons including incendiary devices and bunker buster bombs in densely populated areas "may amount to war crimes," his spokesman said, adding that Ban considers this "a dark day for the global commitment to protect civilians." US Secretary of State John Kerry, called the bombing of Aleppo "beyond the pale," accusing the Syrian government of "laying siege in medieval terms to an entire community." Speaking at Tufts University in Boston, he demanded that Russia help bring peace to Syria instead of "an unacceptable precedent ... For the entire world. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thousands of Sri Lankan Tamils led by Northern Province Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran today staged a demonstration in Jaffna to highlight issues faced by the minority community in the country. "It has been seven years since the war ended. Tamil people are yet to receive reasonable solutions to their grievances," he said, referring to the defeat of LTTE which was fighting for an independent state for minority Tamils. Army crushed the Tamil Tigers after a three decade-long conflict in 2009 and eliminated top LTTE leadership including V Prabhakaran who had made Jaffna rebels' capital. Tamil Makkal National Front organised today's protest march and a rally to highlight issues faced by the community. The demonstrators asked the government to halt Sinhala majority settlements and stop building Buddhist religious shrines in Tamil areas, return of the Tamil civilian lands held for military purposes, release of Tamil political prisoners and assistance in tracing missing people. Analysts said this was the first time the northerners took part in a public gathering of this scale since Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena took over in January last year. "Businesses remain shut in the Jaffna town in solidarity," the residents said. The main Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance, shunned the demonstration. "The TNA pledged Tamils a federal solution at the last election. So the Tamils can be only happy with a federal solution by merging the north and east," TNA lawmaker Dharmalingam Siddathan said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three naxals were today gunned down by security forces at separate places in Chhattisgarh's Bastar division. While two cadres were killed in Bastar district, another was eliminated in Bijapur, police said. In Bastar, the skirmish took place early this morning in restive Sanguel forest under Burgum police station area between a joint team of security personnel and ultras, Bastar Superintendent of Police R N Dash told PTI. "There was input from local informers that a group of rebels was heading towards Bastanar valley after crossing Indravati river to receive a top maoist leader. The same information was also with the state intelligence branch," he said. Acting on the inputs, a composite squad comprising District Reserve Group (DRG), Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) and district force launched an anti-naxal operation in the region, located around 400 kms from here. Security forces confronted the Maoists in the forests near Sanguel village following which a heavy gun-battle broke out. The exchange of fire lasted for about an hour after which rebels escaped to core forest, he said. "During searches of the area, bodies of two male Maoists, a 12 bore rifle and one SBML (single barrel muzzle loading) gun besides several other items were recovered from the spot," Dash said. The seized items include explosives,detonators, pipe bombs, codex wire, bags, magazine pouch, battery, electric wire and others, he added. "As per preliminary information, the naxals group reportedly belonged to Barsur Area Committee of Maoists and the same squad with which police had another exchange of firing in August last month," he said, adding that the identity of the killed ultras was being ascertained. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Donald Trump's campaign is planning for what it says will amount to USD 140 million worth of advertising from now until Election Day. The total, if executed, would include USD 100 million in television airtime and USD 40 million worth of digital ads, according to senior communications adviser Jason Miller. The plan represents a dramatic expansion for the billionaire businessman, who has repeatedly bragged in recent weeks about how much less he's spent thaN Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Through this week, the Trump campaign has spent just $22 million on ads during the general election, according to Kantar Media's political advertising tracker. That's dramatically less than Clinton, who has spent more than USD 140 million on general election ads so far. The Trump campaign is targeting key battleground states like Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania, along with Michigan, Maine, New Mexico, Wisconsin and others. Miller says about USD 40 million of the ads will play on national TV. Clinton's ad reservations going forward total about USD 11 million per week, but she can add to those buys at any time. The new Trump plan would average to about USD 16 million per week; Miller says the first $15 million ad buy was made Friday. The new spending represents a total higher than the campaign's current cash-on-hand. Trump's campaign had about USD 50 million in the bank as of Sept. 1, but in a release earlier this month the campaign said it had USD 97 million in cash when including his joint accounts with Republican Party allies. The campaign also has continued to experience strong fundraising online this month, campaign aides said. Miller said its upcoming national television ads would focus on Trump's key campaign themes, like the economy and law and order. The local ads, however, are expected to focus on ways Trump's policies might benefit local communities and families, Miller said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British Tornado and Typhoon aircraft stationed at a UK air base in Cyprus are pounding Islamic State targets ahead of a major offensive by Iraqi security forces next month to recapture the key northern city of Mosul from IS militants, a senior Royal Air Force officer says. Air Commodore Sammy Sampson said Iraqi forces are confident they can retake the country's second-largest city from IS and that British warplanes will provide the needed support to get the job done. "We'll stand by them. We'll support them. We will make it do-able for them," Sampson told reporters Thursday on a guided tour of the RAF Akrotiri base's operations. Sampson said the eight Tornado and six Typhoon aircraft flying out of RAF Akrotiri have in recent days destroyed numerous IS targets to pave the way for the start of the advance on Mosul in the coming weeks. Mosul is the IS group's last major urban stronghold in Iraq, 360 kilometres northwest of Baghdad. US officials have said for some time that they expect the Mosul operation to begin in October. One Typhoon strike last week hit an IS training camp just inside Iraq on its border with Syria, killing some 40-50 fighters, said Sampson. The aircraft later destroyed IS weapons stockpiles and rocket launchers north of Ramadi in support of Iraqi forces. But Sampson, who commands the UK's warplanes in the US-led coalition against IS, said air strikes to start reclaiming territory from IS both in Iraq and Syria are far from new. "We were striking targets to weaken (IS-held) Mosul from the very beginning of the campaign," said Sampson, who is based in the Combined Air Operations Centre in Qatar. Sampson said the same applies for the Syrian city of Raqqa, which the IS considers its de facto capital. He said air strikes in the Syrian city are "part of the plan" until the decision is made "how and when the liberation of Raqqa is going to be achieved." Sampson said air power has made the difference in beating back IS over the last two years as the extremist group has tried to carve a caliphate out of Syria and Iraq. "I've seen air power help transform the situation on the ground," said Sampson, adding that while IS militants were advancing aggressively two years ago, the group is now "on their heels, and we can see that every day." "The air component and the air support have helped partner forces on the ground. And in many, many areas, those partner forces have stopped Daesh (the Arabic acronym for IS) dead in their tracks," said Sampson. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scotland Yard is investigating hacking claims of Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton sister's iCloud account that contained private photographs, including that of Prince George and Princess Charlotte. 'The Sun' newspaper reported that it was offered the images of the British royal family by someone asking for 50,000 pounds within 48 hours. The photographs of Prince George and Princess Charlotte are believed to be among those that have been hacked from their aunt Pippa Middleton's iCloud account. "Police have received a report concerning the alleged hacking of a personal iCloud account. Specialist officers are now investigating," Metropolitan Police said in a statement. The haul from the hack is believed to include 3,000 pictures, and the anonymous seller has reportedly tried to sell them via encrypted messaging service WhatsApp. A spokesperson for Pippa said: "Thank you very much for drawing this to the family's attention. I can confirm that not only have the lawyers been informed but the police are about to be involved as well." Pippa was maid of honour when the Duchess of Cambridge married Prince William in 2011. Earlier this year, she and her boyfriend, hedge fund manager James Matthews, confirmed they are engaged to be married, with a wedding planned for next year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Terming reports of suspects being detained as "totally false", police today asked people not to spread "uncorroborated information" in connection with search for suspected armed persons who were spotted near the Naval base in Uran in Raigad district. The search for the "suspicious men" continued for the third day today even as local police reduced the number of personnel involved in the operation. "Uran operations are still underway and there is no success so far," Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagarale told PTI this evening. He appealed to people not to spread "uncorroborated information" about three suspects being detained by Panvel police at Gavhan village this afternoon, dubbing the reports as "totally false". Another senior police official said the people in the photos, which were being circulated on social media, were some labourers whose identity was established by their employers. The police also withdrew a part of the additional force which was deployed in the search operation but the elite National Security Guard commandos continue being stationed in the area. Indian Navy which had sounded highest state of alert after the first report of sightings of the armed suspects, called off its search yesterday afternoon. Normalcy seemed to be returning to the fishing town of Uran, located across the creek from Mumbai, with shops and commercial establishments opening up. Schools and colleges, shut since Friday, will also be resuming after the weekend. Some students of the Uran Education Society's school had reported to have seen some suspicious-looking armed persons on Thursday. Western India's biggest naval base, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, fertiliser plants, refineries, power plants and the country's largest container port JNPT are located in the close vicinity of Uran. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Influential US Senator John McCain telephoned former president and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and discussed bilateral and regional issues, including the tension between Pakistan and India. "Issues relating to the current situation as a result of war of words and hype in Indian propaganda against Pakistan were also discussed during their conversation last evening," the former president's spokesman Farhatullah Babar said today. Zardari told the American senator that Pakistan never supported terrorists and his Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and all Pakistanis have always condemned terrorists. He alleged that "India wants to hide its atrocities over innocent Kashmiris by this propaganda". The former president said that "Pakistan wants a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue through dialogue and in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir". "Dialogue is the only way forward," Zardari told McCain, who was the Republican presidential nominee in the 2008 election. 18 Indian soldiers were killed when terrorists attacked a highly-guarded army camp in Uri in Kashmir on Sunday. India has said it has evidence showing involvement of Pakistan-based terrorists in the Uri attack. The incident triggered a diplomatic dust-up with both India and Pakistan hitting out at each other including at the UN General Assembly. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) German Chancellor Angela Merkel, hurt by a string of dismal election results over her refugees policy, was in Vienna today for talks with leaders of countries along the Balkan migrant route. They included Hungary's premier Victor Orban, scornful of Merkel's "open-door" stance, Alexis Tsipras of Greece, home to 60,000 stranded migrants, and Boyko Borisov of newly under-pressure Bulgaria. Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern said that the aim of the talks, also attended by top EU officials, was to "accelerate" momentum towards ending Europe's worst migration crisis since 1945. He said that this included "massively improving" the securing of the EU's outer borders, more efforts to look after refugees in the region they come from and, longer term, a "Marshall Plan" for Africa. "At the moment there is a range of individual measures but no common European line," Kern told the Kleine Zeitung daily. Last year hundreds of thousands of people, many fleeing the Syrian war, trekked up from Greece through the western Balkans northwards, particularly into Austria, Germany and Scandinavia. Populist parties across Europe have stoked concerns about the new arrivals to boost support, not least Alternative for Germany (AfD). On Monday Merkel said the influx could have been better handled. In March, under pressure from Austria, Balkan countries closed their borders, and the flow has since slowed dramatically, although 100-150 still make it to Austria every day, Vienna says. The same month the EU struck a deal with Turkey -- home to more than three million refugees -- under which Ankara halted the influx in return for billions in aid and other sweeteners. The pact may yet collapse, however, in the wake of the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey. Kern said that the EU also needed to do similar deals with countries like Egypt and Jordan. Greece remains under severe strain, as illustrated by a huge fire at a refugee camp on the island of Lesbos on Monday. An EU scheme to relocate migrants stuck in Greece and fellow hotspot Italy is massively behind expectations, while extra administrative assistance promised by the EU has been insufficient. Bulgaria, the EU's poorest country, is home to around 10,000 stranded migrants although Brussels has promised Sofia extra help. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) is cutting almost 30 per cent of its 300 investment banking jobs in Asia outside Japan in response to a slowdown in activity in the region, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The Wall Street bank is reducing the number of bankers working on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and equity and debt capital markets deals, the sources said. It will be left with slightly more than 200 bankers across Asia. Most of the jobs cuts are likely to take place in Hong Kong, Singapore and China, where Goldman's main Asian offices are located, according to the sources, who said the process was underway. A spokesman declined to comment. The company, whose investment banking revenue fell 11 per cent to $1.79 billion in the second quarter, has been hit by a lacklustre environment for deals across Asia. The total value of M&A deals across the Asia-Pacific region has dropped to $572.9 billion so far this year, from $745.7 billion in the same period of 2015, according to Thomson Reuters data. Goldman said in July it had embarked on a cost-cutting plan that would save $700 million a year in response to a "challenging backdrop" for revenue. It still tops the Asia-Pacific M&A league tables but in the first half of the year it came third after JPMorgan and Citi as the biggest bank by revenue in Asia, according to data published on Friday by industry analytics firm Coalition. One of the sources said no managing directors in Asia were in the running to be made partners this year, while three existing partners in the region had been stripped of their titles. Retrenchment Goldman and other big investment banks are grappling with a harsh environment after the region's economies and markets failed to deliver sustained growth after the 2008 financial crisis. The banks' business has also been eroded by local competitors. In 2015, Goldman reduced the number of its investment bankers in Singapore, a hub for Southeast Asia, to about 35 from 50, several sources said. There have been further departures this year, including its Southeast Asia chairman Tim Leissner. Many of Goldman's European rivals have announced plans to scale down their operations in Asia. Barclays said in January that it would cut about 1,000 staff in its investment bank operations worldwide, with the bulk happening in Asia, while Societe Generale decided to close its equities research desk in India. Other European banks, including BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank, are expected to scale back operations in non-core Asian markets, while last year Asia-focused Standard Chartered shut down its equities franchise. Goldman employs just over 100 bankers in China, where it was one of the first foreign investment banks to start operations. But like other banks it has been hit by a drop in Chinese trading volumes and competition from local banks. At a time when global giants such as Google and Microsoft are exploring ways to incorporate Indian languages in their products and services, a government-run research organisation has developed a language interface that facilitates real-time translation of online content in more than 15 languages. Pakistan has cancelled a trade exhibition which was scheduled to be held next month in India, amidst heightened tension between the two neighbours after the terror attack in Uri. "Due to current situations between Pakistan and India which are beyond TDAP's control, the event planned for 2016 has been called off," Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) said in a statement yesterday. The third edition of 'Aalishaan Pakistan exhibition' was scheduled to be held in October in New Delhi. The TDAP was already working on holding the trade show after the success of similar exhibitions held earlier in 2012 and 2014. The exhibition was meant to promote bilateral trade between the two countries and bring buyers and sellers together on one platform, the Express Tribune reported. For the two countries, bilateral trade amounted to Rs 206 billion during July-May of the last fiscal year, of which Rs 42 billion was exported by Pakistan and Rs 162 billion by India. France has offered to help India revive the unsuccessful Kaveri engine project for indigenous Tejas aircraft and a host of other high-end collaborations as part of the offsets in the 7.87 billion euro Rafale fighter plane deal. The deal comes with a 50 per cent offset clause which means that Indian companies, big and small, will get businesses worth over 3 billion euros. Defence sources said that one main point of the offset was that 74 per cent of it has to be imported from India. This means a lot of business and job opportunities in India, sources said. They added that the offset, spread over a period of seven years, will be finalised soon. "The offset clause of 50 per cent in the Rafale deal will provide a great opportunity for indigenous manufacturers such as us who have put in years of effort in developing world class technology within the country. "It further outlines the commitment made by the Indian government to promote the Indian manufacturing industry and support indigenisation of defence needs of the country," Samtel Avionics MD and CEO Puneet Kaura said. . Under the offset agreement, French side has made a 30 per cent offset commitment for military aerospace research and development programmes and the rest 20 per cent for making components of Rafales here. The offsets will be carried out by French companies Safran, Thales, MBDA and Dassault, all part of the Rafale project. "Rafale's new export success demonstrates our ability, alongside Dassault Aviation and its partners, to constantly meet the customer's highest expectations through innovation, the mastery of advanced technology and industrial excellence", said Patrice Caine, Chairman and CEO, Thales group. As per the initial agreed points, the French have offered to provide stealth, radar and thrust vectoring for missiles technologies besides others to DRDO and domestic defence firms. "The French government has in principle agreed on these points under the offset commitments. Once a final contract for 36 Rafale aircraft is signed, the French government will give subject wise clearance and concrete talks will start," a defence source said. The French have also agreed in principle to collaborate on the Kaveri engine which lacks the real power thrust needed to fly the Tejas. An upgraded Kaveri engine with 90 kN thrust compared to the existing 72 kN can be developed with French cooperation which can eventually be used for Tejas which currently uses an American engine. "The negotiations on offsets were carried out last year with DRDO and some other agencies. Once the contract for the Rafales is signed, there will be a six-month window to finalise the offset," a source said. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) On the southern shore of Utahs Great Salt Lake, more than 100 boats are sitting high and dry in a parking lot, unable to sail the shallow, drought-stricken sea. North of the nearly empty marina, salt-loving bacteria thriving in the low water has turned the liquid pink. The massive lake, key to the states economy and identity, is skirting record-low levels after years of below-average precipitation and record heat. A few dozen lawmakers took a road trip Thursday to see the problems firsthand and learn how they can help besides praying for more rain and snow this winter. The lake, about 75 miles long (120 kilometers) and 30 miles wide (50 kilometers), is Americas largest outside the Great Lakes. Water levels have always fluctuated, but they have been dropping steadily since 2011. If this continues the ecosystem as a whole is under a pretty significant threat, said Jason Curry, a spokesman for Utahs Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. The state estimates that the Great Salt Lakes ecosystem has a $1.32 billion economic effect. It is a home or major resting place for more than 250 species of birds. Salt and other minerals are mined from the lake and used for fertilizer, melting snow on roadways and other products. Its waters are credited with helping produce dry, powdery snow that attracts skiers worldwide to the nearby mountains. Its generally three to five times saltier than the ocean, allowing swimmers to float easily. The lake is an unforgiving environment for most creatures, but a prime habitat for brine flies and brine shrimp tiny, clear crustaceans once sold as sea monkeys in the back of comic books, whose eggs are harvested and sold worldwide as food for other shrimp, crab and fish. As lake levels drop and the water becomes saltier, even those creatures are threatened. Brine shrimp are very resilient to salt but even they have a limit, and were reaching that limit, said Don Leonard, CEO of the Great Salt Lake Brine Shrimp Cooperative, a group of companies that harvest and sell the eggs. The low water levels stress the shrimp in a way that produces fewer eggs, Leonard said. Last year, the cooperative had a below-average harvest and had to pay to dredge its harbor just to get its boats on the water. He declined to say how much it affected the industry but said dredging has become a yearly, expensive endeavor to dig out a deeper path for boats. Lawmakers on Thursday took a quick tour of a storage area at a factory that harvests the eggs and visited a plant that extracts minerals from the lake. Joe Havasi of Compass Minerals said the company had to extend its canals that pull brine from the water by about 2 miles because the shoreline has receded by 6 miles. He said the company is eager for a planned breach of a railroad causeway later this year thats expected to allow some water from the southern half of the lake to flow north, where its operations are. Pouring rain caused lawmakers to scrap much of their tour, which will pick up Friday. Legislative staffer Ivan Djambov joked that it was the downpour they hoped for all summer. Its the wrong day for us, but were grateful its coming, right? he said. Last year, legislators approved spending $1.5 million to dredge the lake, which will add an additional 6 to 8 feet (1.83 to 2.44 meters) and create a passable channel for boats. Officials said they hope to start that project early next year. Republican state Rep. Mike McKell said lawmakers also will be looking at whether Utah should step up efforts to remove an invasive weed that sucks up tens of thousands of acre-feet of water every year. Lynn de Freitas, executive director of the conservation group Friends of Great Salt Lake, said Utah needs to look at how major water pipeline projects may divert fresh water from rivers that normally flow into the lake. Its dire, she said. We all have a stewardship responsibility for the lake and should honestly and actively own up to that. Chinese President Xi Jinping (front) and other senior leaders visit an exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Long March in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 23, 2016. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) President Xi Jinping on Friday called for carrying forth the spirit of the Chinese Red Army on the Long March eight decades ago, and striving fearlessly to realize the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation. Xi made the remarks during a visit to an exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Long March. The Long March spirit is characterized by working hard, fearing no sacrifice, and firm belief in communism and the ultimate victory of China's revolution. From October 1934 to October 1936, the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army soldiers left their bases and marched through raging rivers, snowy mountains and arid grassland to break the siege of the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) forces and continue to fight Japanese aggressors. Some of them marched as far as 12,500 kilometers. The maneuver was a turning point in China's revolution. Against all odds, the Red Army completed the march under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), a world-renowned feat that will be forever engraved in the history of China's revolution and the Chinese nation, said Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission. The Long March clearly demonstrated the power of revolutionary ideals, Xi said at the exhibition in the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution in Beijing. "Times have changed, the situation has changed, but the ideals and causes that we communists have been fighting for have not changed," he said. He called for remembering the Red Army's achievements and carrying forward the Long March spirit, in education, in patriotism and in revolutionary ideals. The people should be guided to march forward with confidence and courage, in "a new long march" that will bring prosperity to the country and realize the Chinese dream of the rejuvenation of the nation, the president said. Also present at the exhibition were Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli, all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. The exhibition tells the stories of major battles, historical incidents and important figures involved in the Long March. It displays 275 photos and 252 artifacts, as well as a great number of videos, charts, paintings and sculptures, showing the Red Army's fight against the Kuomintang regime and Japanese aggressors under the CPC's leadership. While addressing the exhibition's opening ceremony on Friday, Liu Yunshan said that the Long March was a turning point -- from setbacks to victory -- for the CPC and China's revolutionary cause, and it laid a solid foundation for national independence and liberation. The precious photos and relics, which show the hardships and great spirit of the Long March, are important for education in patriotism and revolutionary tradition, as well as a vivid lesson in socialist core values, Liu said. About 600 people, including veterans, Party, government and military officials, and public representatives, attended the opening ceremony. Irregularities found in a testing center for genetically modified animals and animal feed has exposed loopholes in the management of genetic modification in China, and deserves caution from authorities for more intensified supervision, according to an investigation. The irregularities at the Center for Safety Supervision, Inspection and Testing GM Animals and Feeds of the Ministry of Agriculture included faking inspection records and using students instead of certified technicians to conduct tests, the ministry said. The center, established by the Institute of Animal Sciences under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, had not issued any safety certifications for genetically modified products, the ministry said. It ordered the center to suspend operations and make rectifications in the next six months, and ordered the CAAS to seriously punish those responsible. Problems found at GM testing center The incident attracted public attention after Wei Jingliang, a former Ph. D. candidate at the institute, claimed online on Sunday that the testing center was involved in various irregularities. Neither CAAS, Wei nor the center responded for comment on Friday. "The response by the Ministry of Agriculture was quick," said Huang Dafang, a chief researcher at the Biotechnology Research Institute at the CAAS. "The incident has exposed management problems of some similar institutes, and serves as a warning," Huang said. Those involved in scientific research must strictly abide by professional codes, and management should also be strict to ensure that results are accurate and scientific, he said. "Academic misconduct and improper management in genetic modification in China does exist," he said. "Related authorities should intensify management in the sector, including of documents and dossiers, to put such testing centers under effective supervision and inspection." Meanwhile, the public should not be misled by such incidents to reject genetically modified products, as certified GM foods are safe, as agreed on by international academic circles, he said. Yang Chunxue, a researcher in economy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told Beijing News that all those involved in the irregularity should be punished, and sound management systems are needed in similar scientific research institutes to prevent reoccurrences. SHARE Local student receives Terry Foundation scholarship Del Mar College Summer 2016 graduate Robert Robertson received the Terry Foundation Transfer Scholarship, officials said. The scholarship is part of a Houston-based program founded to provide awards to outstanding Texas high school graduates and transfer students so they can attend designated public universities within the state. As part of the Terry Foundation student organization, Robertson received a $48,600 award to attend the University of Texas-San Antonio. The award equals to $16,200 per year for three years and will cover the remainder of his studies toward his bachelor's and master's degrees. He also received another award ranging between $5,000 and $15,000 to study abroad next summer based on the length and location he chooses. Robertson is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. The Terry Foundation Transfer Scholarship is intended to cover approximately 65 percent of the full cost of college attendance for up to six semesters or three years. For more information about the Foundation, go to www.terryfoundation.org/. Seminar focuses on cultural diversity A Negotiating across Cultures seminar Friday at Texas A&M University-Kingsville focused on the importance of recognizing and adapting to cultural differences between business negotiating parties, officials said. The seminar was hosted in the Business Administration Building on campus. A workshop on reading mon-verbal cues and clues will be from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday in room 104 of the Business Administration Building. This workshop will teach what different non-verbals represent and how they can be used to improve one's ability to understand others, officials said. Cost: $50. To register, visit www.tamuk.edu/cba/Negotiation.html. For more information, contact Dr. John Cicala, director of the Center for Negotiation at CFN@tamuk.edu or 361-593-4429. Compiled by Natalia Contreras GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Ken Trevino (left) and Annette Medlin SHARE GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Sam Susser (left) and Nueces County Judge Loyd Neal GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Suzelle Tinnell (left), Jackie Orchard and Trey McCampbell GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Leanne Mulholland (left), Maria Cavazos and Dr. Jose Cavazos By Staff Reports of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi has seen record enrollment and is on track to becoming an emerging research institute. Both are milestones highlighted by University President Flavius Killebrew at the State of the University event on Sept. 14. Killebrew, who's led the university the past 12 years, also announced plans to step down as president and CEO by the end of the year. The university hit a more than 12,000 figure of enrollment this fall. Killebrew said the university is on track to reach 15,000 by 2020. The luncheon kicked off with the university's fight song. SHARE By Beatriz Alvarado of the Caller-Times Resources were made available to help Texas schools adopt a campus model that's proved to be successful in bettering struggling schools throughout the nation. The American Federation of Teachers announced Thursday three state-level affiliates were awarded grants to kick-start the community school model at campuses in Texas, California and New York. The Texas AFT was awarded a $135,000 grant. The model of community schools provide students and parents with programs and services to overcome the consequences of poverty, a news release states. Each community school's network of educators, school leaders, parents and community groups decides what its students and families need. The federation's local affiliates spearhead the efforts. Schools that have adopted the model have facilitated in-school health and dental clinics, social workers, guidance counselors, tutoring and other academic interventions, before- and after-school enrichment programs, safe places for recreational activities, job and food banks, laundry facilities, and literacy programs for adults. President of the Corpus Christi American Federation of Teachers, Nancy Vera, said five CCISD schools are being targeted for the transformations. The federation is in the "infancy stages" of determining the feasibility of transforming Crockett, Garcia, Los Encinos elementary schools as well as Martin Middle and Miller High schools into community schools. "(The schools were not chosen) because of test scores, but the identified need," Vera said. "The levels of concentration of poverty and illiteracy. The concentration of obstacles they face is high and they need help." With the $135,000 grant, Texas AFT will hire a full-time statewide community schools coordinator. The coordinator will create and manage community school partnerships throughout the state. Texas AFT spokesman Rob D'Amico said six schools in Texas, in Austin and El Paso, have community schools. Low test scores at Austin's Webb Middle School and Reagan High School put them on the brink of closure. D'Amico said they are now among the highest performing in the state and are regularly being toured by district officials throughout the state. Schools in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio also are in the initial stages of establishing the networks at the schools. There are more than 200 community schools throughout the nation, according to the Coalition for Community Schools website. "(Having a coordinator) is key," D'Amico said of the new position. "You need someone who is overseeing projects ... working full time and working to assist these local programs." "This funding will help us organize a statewide network of community school practitioners working to ensure that public schools address kids' social, emotional and academic needs," Texas AFT President Louis Malfaro said in a news release. "Our state is overdue for a major shift away from test-and-punish accountability and toward neighborhood community schools that support children and families and bring together a broad set of partners and institutions that are needed to help all public school students in Texas excel academically." Twitter: @CallerBetty Law enforcement officers stand in front of the Macy's store at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., where several people were fatally shot, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Authorities in Washington State say several people have been killed during a shooting at the mall north of Seattle. At least one gunman is believed to be still at large. (Rick Lund/The Seattle Times via AP) SHARE Law enforcement officers work at the crime scene outside of Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., where several people were fatally shot on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Authorities in Washington State say several people have been killed during a shooting at the mall north of Seattle and that at least one suspect remains at large. Sgt. Mark Francis says authorities are searching for a man wearing gray who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5 from the mall. (Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times via AP) By KING-TV, Seattle (USA Today Network) SEATTLE A shooter killed three women at Cascade Mall in Burlington Friday night, according to Washington State Patrol. One woman has non-life threatening injuries and one man has life-threatening injuries. The man has been transported to Harborview Medical Center. According to the Washington State Patrol, the shooting occurred at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., about 65 miles north of Seattle. Sgt. Mark Francis tweeted that the suspect left the scene before police arrived. The suspect is believed to be a Hispanic man wearing a black shirt. He was last seen walking towards Interstate 5 from the mall, and officials believe he is armed with a rifle. Law enforcement encouraged residents to avoid the area while the search continued and to report suspicious activity to authorities.. Francis said emergency responders were entering the mall to attend to injured people inside. It wasn't clear how many people were hurt. The Cascade Mall is an enclosed shopping mall that opened in 1990, according to the malls website. It features J.C. Penney, TJ Maxx, and Macys stores, among other stores, restaurants and a movie theater. Skagit County Department of Emergency Management tweeted a photo of the suspect inside a store. Officials believe he is armed with a rifle: Here is the shooter. We believe just one shooter. Notify authorities if you see him. Armed with rifle. pic.twitter.com/GXeWCPYnx5 Sgt. Mark Francis (@wspd7pio) September 24, 2016 The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives said it was also responding to incident in Burlington. EMS planned to transport survivors to His Place Church near the mall. A man who called himself Armando, who works at the mall, was getting a coffee and heading to Macy's to use the restroom when the shooting happened. He said he saw two girls and a man run out of the Macy's before he heard the shots. "I was kind of curious of why they just ran, and the girls said, Gun, and I hear a shot," Armando said. "It sounded like a clap and next thing you know another shot and bang, bang, bang, bang." Armando said he heard seven or eight shots, and he dropped what he had in his hand and ran to the T-Mobile store to hide. He called police and waited to be escorted out. "Ive never been scared like that in my life, and people wouldnt think it would happen," Armando said. "It randomly just happens." Another witness shared the experience on Twitter: They just evacuated the entire mall, including the movie theater joshua joseph (@skeletonclque) September 24, 2016 Stephanie Bose, a restaurant employee near the mall, told the Associated Press she locked the doors to the restaurant immediately as people were frantically screaming upon hearing the news of the incident. Gov. Jay Inslee released a state expressing his condolences and prayers to those affected by the shootings. Tragedy has struck in Washington tonight, Inslee said in a statement on Twitter. "Trudi and I send our condolences to the families of the victims and prayers for anyone injured. Stay close to friends and loved ones as we await more information and, hopefully, news of the suspect's capture." Contributing: Charles Ventura from Los Angeles Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Stay up to date with all the latest news, features and reviews of all things food, drink, and entertainment with our weekly What's On email When 1950s crime drama Grantchester returned to the village for filming this week, one location didn't require much set-dressing just the trimming of some iconic whiskers. Toby Joseph, who runs the Blue Ball Inn in Broadway, shaved his beard off and donned a fake moustache for his role as the fictional landlord of the pub in the ITV series. But the 250-year-old building didn't need much dressing to give it a historic feel as it is famed for its authentic feel and period features. (Image: The Blue Ball Inn) Mr Joseph told the News: "Lots of tourists come here to find out where Grantchester is filmed. "We're a small pub, and we're not looking to fill it with tourists, but we get busier every year! We've been described by the Cambridge News as one of Cambridge's best kept secrets." This is the first time that the pub has been used as a location for the series, but it isn't the first time the crew has stepped through the door. "Over the time they've filmed [the previous series], they've come in as customers, so the relationship has built up," Mr Joseph said. "The team brought in antique furniture to give the pub more of a 1950s aesthetic, but we were lucky, as they didn't have to do too much to it." The crew covered the Blue Ball sign with an old fashioned blue and green signpost and also parked old cars near the establishment. (Image: GEOFF ROBINSON PHOTOGRAPHY) James Norton, Robson Green and other members of the cast were also out and about in Cambridge during the week, filming scenes for the third season of the drama. They took over the grounds of the Round Church in Bridge Street among other locations. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups A group of Cambridge yoga teachers bent over backwards this weekend to arrange a whole day of activities and raise money for a good cause. A 'Yogathon' event was organised by local yoga teacher Leyla Tureli today (Saturday) at the YMCA in Gonville Place, Cambridge which regularly runs yoga classes. Approximately 70 people turned up to the all-day event which aimed to raise money for the Child Refugee Crisis Appeal, set up by Save the Children to support refugees around the world. The Cambridge Yogathon boasted an entire day of yoga classes, with up to three different sessions held at any given time. Leyla told the News: We've had a really great day with roughly 70 people coming along. I really wanted to do something to help the refugees because it's been terrible watching what they are going through. A lot of people are getting donation fatigue by simply giving their money to charity, so we wanted to put on something good in return for people's donations. It's part of the yoga vibe to be kind and compassionate - and the yogathon was good value for money. People could go to a single class for a minimum 5 donation or the whole day for 20." Leyla added that the yogathon has raised almost 2,000 for the Save the Children Appeal - enough to buy hygiene kits for 120 families or nutritious family meals for 120 days. There was an impressive teaching line-up for the event, representing a diverse array of yoga styles from Hatha Yoga Flow to AcroYoga, Kundalini to Ashtanga. With most classes being open level, and a Tai Chi class thrown in, there was something for everyone. Leyla added: A massive thank you must go to everyone who came along, everyone who donated online, the other yoga teachers and the YMCA who gave us the use of the building for free. My family's support has also been amazing; I couldn't have done all of this without my partner and my daughter." For more information about the event or to donate, visit justgiving.com/yogathoncambridge Read more of today's latest stories here and don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to get the latest news direct to your social media stream. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups Television star Warwick Davis has lent his backing to a Cambridgeshire police seatbelt campaign adding that 'wearing a seatbelt can save your life'. The actor, who has appeared in the Harry Potter films and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, tweeted a photo of him in his car wearing a seatbelt to his 582,000 Twitter followers yesterday (Friday). As of Saturday afternoon the post by the 46-year-old actor, who lives in Cambridgeshire with his family, had gathered 650 likes and 160 retweets. The tweet read: Wearing a seatbelt can save your life in the event of an accident. Please #Think! & #BuckleUp, even in the back. @CambsCops #SeatbeltSelfie" Warwick's tweet was met with a reply from the Cambridgeshire police Twitter account, with officers thanking him for supporting the campaign. This September, drivers and passengers across the county are being reminded to buckle up as part of a month long campaign. Throughout the month officers from across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire will be stopping vehicles in which drivers and passengers are not wearing seatbelts and raising awareness of the dangers of flouting the law. So far officers from the British Transport Police and the East of England Air Ambulance have also supported the campaign, sharing images of them buckling up on Twitter. Inspector Philip Bloor from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Roads Policing Unit said: "Driver or passenger, front or back of the vehicle, the message remains the same - buckle up! "Wearing a seatbelt can mean the difference between life and death for drivers and passengers if they are involved in a road traffic collision. "We know that there are still people across the three counties who are taking a risk by not taking just a moment to fasten their seatbelts. This campaign is not just about fining people for breaking the law; it's also about giving them valuable advice which could save their life." Those caught not using the life-saving device can be given an on-the-spot fine of 100 and face a 500 fine if prosecuted. In 2015, 2,624 people were issued with tickets for not wearing a seatbelt across the three counties - 543 in Beds, 1,393 in Cambs and 688 in Herts. Calm has returned to the port city of Douala after Wednesdays cyclists crisis. ADS Following a crisis meeting between the Governor of the Littoral Region, Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua and commercial motorcycle trade union leaders, calm returned to Douala yesterday, September 22, 2016. Activities by motorbike riders resumed and continued normally after the tense standoff between riders and security forces and council staff on September 21, 2016. Yesterdays morning rush hours saw many motorcycles on the streets transporting passengers. Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua spoke the press in Bonanjo, Douala after chairing the crisis meeting on Wednesday, September 21, 2016: The cyclist crisis does not pose any obstacle to government measures. What happened was some kind of misunderstanding that needed mending. I have directed that checks of commercial motorcycles should be suspended until further notice. The measure is to give those who do not have the required documents to do so. I call on all of them to go the Transport Office and councils to secure the documents. The crisis erupted following checks of CEMAC number plates and council tax receipts. The Commissioner of the 12th Public Security Police Station, Douala, was manhandled by the aggrieved riders. According to the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO for Wouri, Naseri Paul Bea, before the crisis exacerbated on Wednesday, a group of commercial riders in Douala V Subdivision had on Tuesday stopped a Douala City Council truck and seized nine of the impounded motorbikes machines it was transporting. He told the meeting that the crisis of Wednesday was a continuation of Tuesdays protest in the Douala V Subdivision. The checks, according to the Governor, were in line with recent instructions by the Minister of Transport during meetings with trade unions, taxi drivers and motorcycle riders in Douala. He had directed that the transport sector be made more secure and attractive in view of the upcoming Female African Cup of Nations. Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua said he subsequently issued communiques calling on inhabitants to ensure hygiene and sanitation. Trade union leaders who were all cheers at the crisis meeting proposed a change of strategy by council staff and security forces. ADS Friday, September 23, 2016 at 5:24PM Theres a new rumour floating around that Google plans to launch its own Amazon Echo-like speaker during its October 4 event. The big thing about Google Home though is itll be US$50 cheaper than the Echo at $129 (around CA$170) when it comes out. Itll will have personalized base covers, which were first seen at Google I/O back in May will be seen in the final device. This voice-activated speaker is designed to be used across rooms to ask Google questions, stream music, check your schedule, and the like. Source: Android Police Friday, September 23, 2016 at 4:33PM If the recent reports are to be believed, it seems like Twitter is looking for a potential buyer before 2016 ends. Three big companies are already being named as potential suitors: Alphabet's Google, Salesforce, and Verizon. Microsoft is also being rumoured to be in the mix, if only to prevent Salesforce from acquiring the company. While Twitter has been struggling to get new users, monetize, and keep user engagement up, tons of real-time data and over 300 million active subscribers make for an attractive purchase. The social network is currently valued at US$18 billion and would make for a great investment if it starts to make the money the way Wall Street hopes it will. This recent round of rumours were enough to boost Twitters stock. But then again, they are still rumours and the companies have not issued any statements regarding these reports. Source: Droid Life He said the funding proposals lodged by organisers this year had aimed to have the government contribution to total event funding reduce to 35 per cent within three years, but next March was expected to be a roughly 50-50 public-private split. The bad blood between the two outfits has caused such dysfunction that Calvary's performance plan for 2016-2017 has still not been finalised and the hospital's departments are in the dark on their annual budgets, nearly three months into the financial year. The cameras can work without Wi-Fi, instead relying on Verizons LTE technology built in to a mount for the camera, meaning they can be placed in areas outside of Wi-Fi range. Verizon will also sell the camera, through its own website. It costs $199 and is due to ship from 17 November, though a subscription with the mobile operator will cost around $5 per month. The Flex is Verizons latest drive in to the connected home, which is expected to play a major part in the growing Internet of Things market, a segment mobile operators are keen to crack. Verizon already sells smart thermostats (Nest), Bluetooth trackers (Tile), and smart lightbulbs (Philips and Sengled). Depending on whos figures are being used, and whether they are including mobile devices, there is predicted to be between 20 billion and 50 billion devices that will be connected by 2020. All of these will need some form of connectivity, driving telcos like Verizon to invest heavily in the sector. On the launch of the Canary, Verizon said: The smart home just got smarter. Verizon and Canary today announced Canary Flex the first and only indoor/outdoor, weatherproof, HD security camera that can be used wire-free or plugged-in. And the 4G LTE Mount for Canary Flex an innovative accessory that adds 4G LTE connectivity to the Flex, exclusively available on the Verizon 4G LTE Network. Customers of LuxConnects DC1.1 data centre, situated at 4 Rue Graham Bell 3235 Bettembourg, will gain access to Hurricane Electrics IPv4 and IPv6-native network through 100GE, 10GE, and 1GE ports. LuxConnect has deployed more than 1,000km of fibre-optic cabling throughout the country. We are delighted with our latest move into Western Europes flourishing telecommunications market, said Mike Leber, president of Hurricane Electric. In July, the company launched its first African PoP and one month later opened a PoP in Wyoming. Due to its position as a strategic ICT hub and central gateway to Europe, expanding to Luxembourg was the next logical step to meet the rising demand for high-quality IP transit at an affordable cost. With the launch of this new PoP at the Bettembourg ICT Campus, Hurricane Electric will continue to solidify its role as the leading global internet backbone. Hurricane Electric has over 17,000 BGP sessions with over 5,700 different networks via more than 145 major exchange points and thousands of customer and private peering ports. 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. The Union Public Service Commission has released official notification of the detailed application form (DAF) for Indian Forest Service Main Examinations. Candidates who have been declared successful in the IFS Prelims exam 2016 can send the required DAT before October 6, 2016. The examination for IFS Mains has been scheduled to be held on November 12, 2016. Candidates are required to read the instructions provided by the UPSC before sending their DAF before October 6, 2016. Candidates are also hereby notified that the time-table of the examination will be made available with the e-admit cards. The main examination for the prestigious Indian Forest Service will be held at the following centres as reported by the UPSC: Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Dispur (Guwahati), Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Nagpur, Port Blair and Shimla. Candidates who are applying for the IFS mains except for female/SC/ST/PH candidates are required to pay application fee of Rs.200. Steps to access DAF: IFS Main 2016 Candidates have to log on to the official website of the UPSC. Click on the live link 'DAF" Indian Forest Service (Main) Exam 2016 Now click on the link appearing on the new page. Candidates will now be required to log in using their login id and password On successful submission of the above, candidates will be able to access their detailed application form. About IFS Indian Forest Service is one of the Civil Services of India and belongs to the apex All India Services group. IFS services are placed under various State cadres and joint cadres though they have the mandate to serve both under the State and Central Governments. The main mandate of IFS service is the implementation of the National Forest Policy which aims to ensure environmental stability and maintenance of ecological balance. An IFS officer is largely independent of district administration and exercises administrative, judicial and financial powers in their own domain. All top positions in state forest department are held by IFS officers. IFS: Question paper,s syllabs and preparation tips - click here In order to make room for the assembly of additional Duster SUVs, Renault is shifting part of the Dacia Logan MCV production from Mioveni, Romania, to Tangier, Morocco. The initial announcement was made by the Tangier plant director, Jean-Francois Gal, who was cited by French magazine UsineNouvelle, on Wednesday, saying: We will take over the production of this model (Logan MCV) currently made in Romania beginning in the first quarter of 2017. Subsequently, according to Reuters, Renault spokeswoman Celine Furet explained that only a part of the production of the Logan estate, which accounted for roughly 40,000 cars last year, or about 10 percent of the total Logan production, will move to Northern Africa. Furets statement is backed up by a short press release, published by the Romanian automaker hours later, which stated that the Mioveni plants employees will not be affected by this move and the facility will not produce less cars once the affordable wagon partially moves to Morocco, as more units of the Duster will be put together instead. The exact number of Logan MCVs that will be assembled in Tangier has yet to be made public, but it seems that the factory, which is currently manufacturing the Sandero, Lodgy and Dokker, will receive a 20 million ($22 million) injection before welcoming the estate. Another plausible scenario for Renaults move, one that is being highly speculated by the Romanian media these days, is the lack of a proper infrastructure to move cars assembled in Mioveni to export markets. PHOTO GALLERY Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company of Subaru, announced the recall of about 935,000 examples of the Legacy in order to fix an issue with their front windshield wipers. Models produced between 2009 and 2013 are the ones identified with the problem. The recall affects customers in 76 countries, including the United States where around 592,000 units of the Subaru Legacy are affected. The company also said in their statement that they are recalling around 107,000 vehicles in Japan. The remaining 236,000 vehicles were sold to Europe, Asia and Australia. Earlier this year, Subaru of America issued a stop sale and recall concerning certain units of the 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback models due to a possible steering defect. PHOTO GALLERY You could have the missing piece of the puzzle that will help the RCMP put someone behind bars. Here are some recent crimes that Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers hope you can help solve by calling our anonymous tips line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit our website at www.crimestoppers.net or text to CRIMES (274637), keyword Ktown. CRIME: THEFT OF ATV DATE: September 18, 2016 RCMP FILE: 2016-56440 A brown and green 2016 Polaris Ranger side by side ATV was taken overnight between September 17th and 18th from a residence located on the 700 block of Hwy 97 South near Peachland. The ATV had been parked in front of the garage door. The missing ATVs VIN number is 3NSRME579FE371283. The thieves also left with two Stihl gas-powered weed whackers and an Echo gas-powered weed whacker. Photo: Crime Stoppers If you know anything about this crime, or any other crime, call the Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers anonymous tips line at 1-800-222-TIPS or visit our website at www.crimestoppers.net. Your information will be kept confidential and could lead to a reward of up to $2000.00. CRIME: THEFT OF SEAFOOD DATE: September 19, 2016 RCMP FILE: 2016-56538 A commercial alarm was activated at 1:12 a.m. on September 19th at the Buy the Sea seafood store located on the 2200 block of Louie Drive in West Kelowna. Members attended and found that the front door glass had been smashed with a rock. Once inside the thieves stole a significant amount of lobster tails and crab legs from the front cooler. Photo: Contributed You can help catch these suspects and qualify for a reward by calling Crime Stoppers anonymous tips line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit our website at www.crimestoppers.net or text to CRIMES (274637), keyword Ktown. This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet. Photo: NewsKamloops.com Cougar sightings have forced the closure of a popular hiking trail above Kamloops Lake. A familys encounter last weekend led B.C. Parks to close the Battle Bluffs trail in the Dewdrop Ecological Reserve. The family had a four-year-old child along for the hike when they noticed a young cougar that appeared to be in poor health was showing no fear. They immediately picked up the child. Cougars generally leave adults alone, but have been known to attack children and pets. The trail is normally used by dozens of hikers on a typical weekend. Cougars usually keep well away from people. If one shows interest or aggression, you are advised to stand your ground and not turn your back to the animal. Carrying pepper spray is also recommended. A number of cougar sightings were reported in the area last winter. One animal, an older male, was shot by conservation officers in February near Little Fawn Daycare on the Tk'emlups reserve. NewsKamloops.com Photo: Contributed Actor Richard Hong has been identified as the man found dead early Friday at the Los Angeles home rented by television personality George Stroumboulopoulos. Police said Hong was a 41-year-old Canadian who lived in Los Angeles. They said he died of blunt force trauma. Stroumboulopoulos, the former "Hockey Night in Canada" host, said in a prepared statement that he's "heartbroken" after a "dear friend" was found dead. Stroumboulopoulos indicated he was in New York City when he learned of it. Officer Aareon Jefferson of the LAPD says witnesses directed officers who responded to the call to the body of an "apparent homicide" victim and told them that a man in a black jacket was seen fleeing the area. A search of the neighbourhood supported by a police helicopter and a canine unit was unable to locate the suspect. Stroumboulopoulos said the killing appeared to be the result of a break-in. "I am writing this from a plane en route to Los Angeles from New York, so I can be with my friends there, who are also devastated," he said in his statement. "There's so much to say but I'm at a loss for words so just love your people and I will have more to say when we know more about what happened." Photo: The Canadian Press President Barack Obama rejected a bill Friday that would have allowed the families of 9-11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia, arguing it undermined national security and setting up the possibility Congress may override his veto for the first time in his presidency. Obama's move escalates the fight over an emotional issue that has overlapped with the campaign debate over terrorism and the Middle East. The bill had sailed through both chambers of Congress with bipartisan support, clearing the final hurdle just days before the 15th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. The president said the bill, which doesn't refer specifically to Saudi Arabia, could backfire by opening up the U.S. government and its officials to lawsuits by anyone accusing the U.S. of supporting terrorism, rightly or wrongly. "I have deep sympathy for the families of the victims of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001," Obama wrote to the Senate in a veto message about the bill, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act. But, he said, "the JASTA would be detrimental to U.S. national interests more broadly." Congress is determined to try to overturn the veto, which requires a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate. Previous attempts to overturn Obama's vetoes have all been unsuccessful. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has said an override would pass in the Republican-controlled House. Yet the Senate would be the greater challenge. After furious lobbying to try to peel off supporters, the White House said Friday it was unclear whether enough had defected to avert an override. With lawmakers eager to return home to campaign, a vote could come early next week. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's office said the Senate would vote "as soon as practicable in this work period." Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the Senate's No. 3 Democrat and a traditional Obama ally, came out swinging against Obama while predicting lawmakers would reverse it "swiftly and soundly." "The families of the victims of 9-11 deserve their day in court, and justice for those families shouldn't be thrown overboard because of diplomatic concerns," Schumer said. A coalition of 9-11 victims' families, meanwhile, said they were "outraged and dismayed." In a response circulated by their lawyers, the families insisted the bill would deter terrorism, "no matter how much the Saudi lobbying and propaganda machine may argue otherwise." Though the concept of sovereign immunity generally shields governments from lawsuits, the bill creates an exception that allows foreign governments to be held responsible if they support a terrorist attack that kills U.S. citizens on American soil. Opponents say that's a slippery slope considering that the U.S. is frequently accused wrongly by its foes of supporting terrorism. "Americans are in countries all over the world," House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry, a Republican, wrote Friday in a letter urging colleagues to support a veto. "Many of those countries do not respect the rule of law, and we cannot expect their responses to be as measured and narrow as ours." Fifteen of the 19 men who carried out 9-11 were Saudi nationals. Families of the victims spent years lobbying lawmakers for the right to sue the kingdom in U.S. court for any role elements of Saudi Arabia's government may have played. Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally, strongly objected to the bill. Obama long had objected, too, warning that foreign countries might reciprocate by dragging American government, diplomats and military members before courts. The administration was also apprehensive about undermining a difficult yet strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia. The U.S. relies on the Saudis to counter Iran's influence in the Middle East and help combat the spread of terrorism. Since the bill's passage, the White House has lobbied aggressively to persuade lawmakers to withdraw support, and found some sympathetic listeners. The bill had passed by voice vote - meaning lawmakers didn't have to go on the record with their positions and the White House was hoping the prospect of a recorded vote would lead some Democrats to reconsider publicly rebuking their president. Debate about the bill has spilled onto the presidential campaign trail, as candidates vie to appear tough on terrorism. The issue is one of a few where Democrat Hillary Clinton, who supports the bill, has publicly disagreed with Obama. Trump, too, backs it, and said Obama's veto was "shameful and will go down as one of the low points of his presidency." The bill had triggered a perceived threat by Saudi Arabia to pull billions of dollars from the U.S. economy if it was enacted. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir said in May the kingdom never issued threats, but had merely warned that investor confidence in the U.S. would shrink if the bill became law. The House vote on Sept. 9 came two months after Congress released 28 declassified pages from a congressional report into 9-11. The pages reignited speculation over links that at least a few of the attackers had to Saudis, including government officials. The allegations were never substantiated by later U.S. investigations. ___ Associated Press writers Richard Lardner, Erica Werner and Lisa Lerer contributed to this report. Photo: Contributed Authorities in Washington state say four people have been killed during a shooting at a mall north of Seattle and that at least one suspect remains at large. The Washington State Patrol says on Twitter that the four were shot Friday at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, about 65 miles (105 kilometres) north of Seattle. Sgt. Mark Francis says authorities are searching for a man wearing grey who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5. Francis says it wasn't immediately known if there was more than one gunman involved. Francis said at about 8:30 p.m. that the mall had been evacuated and emergency medical personnel were cleared to enter and attend to any injuries. It wasn't immediately clear how many people were hurt. The Cascade Mall is an enclosed shopping mall in Burlington, Washington that opened in 1990, according to the mall's website. It features J.C. Penney, TJ Maxx, and Macy's stores, among other stores, restaurants and a movie theatre. Photo: The Canadian Press Liberal House Leader Bardish Chagger Chiefs of staff for two Liberal cabinet ministers are paying back almost $55,000 of the generous expenses they claimed for relocating to Ottawa, following the lead of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's top two aides. Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion's chief of staff, Julian Ovens, is in the process of reimbursing $32,130 of the $119,825 he claimed for moving expenses. And Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains' chief of staff, Elder Marques, is giving back $22,467 of the $103,997 that he claimed. The ministers' offices announced the reimbursements late Friday at the end of the opening week of the fall parliamentary sitting, which has been consumed by controversy over excessive moving expenses. On Thursday, Trudeau's chief of staff, Katie Telford, and principal secretary Gerald Butts apologized for accepting payment for "unreasonable" expenses involved in relocating their families from Toronto which amounted to a total of $126,669 for Butts and $80,382 for Telford. They announced that they'll reimburse a combined total of $64,000. The move was aimed at dousing the controversy but only seemed to add fuel, with Conservatives demanding Friday that other political staffers also pay back excessive claims. Butts' and Telford's claims were among the $1.1 million in moving expenses paid to some four dozen political staffers in various ministers' offices, according to figures the government revealed earlier in the week in response to a Conservative MP's written question. Although Telford and Butts said they wouldn't ask any other political staffers to follow their lead, Ovens and Marques evidently felt they had little choice. Their offices both said the decision to reimburse was "in line with the lead" taken by the prime minister's top aides. Photo: The Canadian Press A zookeeper screamed for help into her radio before she was fatally attacked by a Malayan tiger, but the 350-pound animal crushed her neck before her co-workers could reach her, an autopsy report released Friday showed. The Palm Beach County medical examiner determined that Stacey Konwiser, 38, died of a fractured spine, a lacerated jugular and other neck injuries suffered when she was attacked on April 15 by the tiger named Hati. The male tiger, then 12 years old, had been at the zoo for two years on loan from the zoo in Fort Worth, Texas. Konwiser had entered the tigers' night house, an area where they eat and sleep that is not visible to the public, to prepare for a presentation. The report by medical examiner investigator Aleita J. Kinman says the tiger's cage was supposed to be locked, but it was open, and Konwiser's view of the animal may have been blocked by a large box inside the enclosure. Hearing her screams, Konwiser's co-workers rushed to the tiger exhibit and found the tiger standing over her body. Zoo officials have defended their decision not to shoot the rare tiger, saying they feared a bullet could strike Konwiser or further enrage Hati if it didn't kill him instantly. Instead, they tried unsuccessfully to lure him into a cage before shooting him with a tranquilizer dart. Paramedics were able to reach her 17 minutes after the attack. She was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead. No cameras were operating in the area of the attack. Officials have said they are only used to monitor breeding efforts, so were turned off. Photo: The Canadian Press Former public safety minister Steven Blaney says he's considering a run for the federal Conservative leadership. Blaney is stepping down from his role as the official Opposition's public services critic to explore whether to make a bid for the party's top job. In a short statement, Blaney said he wanted continue "his reflection about the future of the Conservative Party and the crucial decisions that Canada must make in order to meet the challenges of the 21st century." Blaney was not available for an interview about his leadership plans or timelines for making a decision about whether to officially join the race. Blaney spent a decade on Parliament Hill as a Quebec MP before joining Stephen Harper's cabinet after the 2011 election as veterans affairs minister. Blaney oversaw changes to benefits that veterans groups felt didn't go far enough. Two years later, Blaney moved to the Public Safety portfolio and was minister when the Conservatives passed the contentious anti-terrorism bill known as C-51. Blaney, long the subject of leadership speculation, is the second Conservative in two days to make such a move; former immigration minister Chris Alexander confirmed Thursday he is mulling a bid as well. Alexander, a 48-year-old former ambassador to Afghanistan, was seen as a rising star when he ran in the Toronto-area riding of Ajax-Pickering in 2011. Two years later, Stephen Harper brought him into the cabinet as immigration minister. But Alexander became embroiled in controversy during last year's election campaign amid questions about the handling of the Syrian refugee crisis and for helping unveil a Tory promise to create a tip line for "barbaric cultural practices." Jason Kenney and Peter MacKay, former cabinet ministers and potential heavyweights, have passed on the race. Kenney is seeking the Conservative leadership in Alberta and MacKay says he wants more time with his young family. So far, MPs Kellie Leitch, Michael Chong, Tony Clement, Maxime Bernier and Deepak Obhrai have officially joined the leadership race. With the exception of Obhrai, all are cabinet veterans. Former veterans affairs minister Erin O'Toole and Lisa Raitt, who served as natural resources, labour and transport minister, are also weighing their options, but have not formally joined the race. Photo: Google Street View A payment processing company in Vancouver has been accused of being a "significant transnational criminal organization" by the United States Treasury Department. In a news release Thursday, the department alleges the PacNet Group has a 20-year history of laundering cash raised through what it calls "fraudulent solicitation schemes" involving lotteries and mail fraud. It alleges that PacNet has accepted and deposited millions of dollars in cash from U.S. victims, taken a cut and then returned the rest to "the scammers" via wire transfers from a holding account, which the department says obscures the money trail. The Treasury Department says PacNet's operations are conducted through a global network run by 12 people, through 24 businesses in 18 countries. In Canada, the department says it has offices in Vancouver and Ottawa, while two of 12 people named in the documents are also linked to separate properties in Vancouver and West Vancouver. Three people listed as principals of PacNet could not be reached for comment. In declaring PacNet a transnational criminal group, Treasury Department official John Smith says all PacNet property or interests subject to U.S. jurisdiction have been blocked, while the Department of Justice conducts searches and proceeds with criminal actions. "PacNet has knowingly facilitated the fraudulent activities of its customers for many years, and (these) designations are aimed at shielding Americans ... from the large-scale, illicit money flows that are generated by these scams against vulnerable individuals," Smith said in the release. Photo: The Canadian Press Energy bills arriving in Fort McMurray, Alta., months after a wildfire forced the entire city to evacuate have come as a shock to some residents still trying to restore some normalcy to their lives. Many have taken to a Facebook support group to vent their frustration at recent bills that lumped together months' worth of charges, in many instances demanding four-digit sums at once. Carla Young said she can't fathom how her bill came to more than $1,700 and has been struggling to get an explanation from her provider, Direct Energy. "I was not impressed at all," said the mother of three. When she got someone from the company on the phone, she said "they didn't understand it either." The city was emptied out for most of May while firefighters battled the blaze and crews worked to get basic services back up and running. People were allowed to return in phases beginning in early June. A Direct Energy bill of more than $1,100 was an unwelcome surprise for massage therapist Christine Unruh, who returned to her house in mid June to find it damaged by water. Unruh's bill includes charges spanning early April to early August. She couldn't figure out how the company came up with its final tally. The bill shows higher electricity usage for the month of May when she was out of her home than it did for April. But the sum includes credits to offset amounts charged between May 4 and June 4, including $85 for electricity usage and about $170 for distribution fees. aDirect Energy spokeswoman Wendy Tynan said there should be no charges for the evacuation period. It took time to individually apply all of the credits, which is why customers did not get bills for much of the summer. A message on the bills informed Fort McMurray customers of the one-time evacuation credits. But the company on Thursday added a more detailed question-and-answer section to its website to help better explain the bills' breakdown. Photo: Google Maps A man was shot dead early Saturday morning in Maple Ridge. Police responded to the area near 243 Street and 102 Avenue just after 2 a.m. to find a 32-year-old man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to the hospital but died from his injuries. The 24300 block of 102 Avenue will be closed as the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team investigates the murder. Police are calling the shooting targeted at this time. Anyone with information about the murder has been asked to call the IHIT tip line at 1-877-551-4448. Photo: IHIT Police have identified the man found dead in a vehicle Friday in Coquitlam, a death police believe involved foul play. Jason Leigh Zellmer, a Surrey resident, was found in a vehicle on the 4900 block of Quarry Road just after 6:30 a.m. From the evidence gathered so far, Mr. Zellmers death does not appear to be random, said Cpl. Meghan Foster with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. Investigators believe that Mr. Zellmer met with foul play and died as a result of the injuries he sustained. An autopsy is required to determine the cause of death. Police have asked the public to come forward with any information about Zellner's activities Thursday. They are also looking for information about a newer black Hyundai Elantra that was in the area Thursday night. Those with information about the death can call IHIT at 1-877-551-4448. Flash Taban Deng Gai, the first vice president of South Sudan, on Friday thanked China and other members of the international community for helping the world's youngest country in its efforts to end the conflict and rendering humanitarian aid to the people in need. With the help of the regional body, including the African Union (AU), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the European Union (EU) and China, "we reached and signed on Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan in August 2015, which are currently steadily implementing," he said while addressing the General Debate of the UN General Assembly. "Allow me at this point, to express our sincere gratitude and thanks to the United Nations for the humanitarian assistance it has rendered and continue to render to our people," the vice president said. "I would like to also thank IGAD, AU Troika, UN EU and China for their tireless efforts in ensuring that there was an agreement reached to end the conflict and return South Sudan to a peaceful and stable path," he said. "At the moment, I can report to you with confidence that the situation in our country is stable, peaceful and that my government is functioning and life is returning back to normal," he told the 193-member General Assembly, which is holding its annual high-level debate on Sept. 20-26. Gai's report at UN Headquarters in New York came after the July fighting between troops led by President Salva Kiir and those loyal to Vice President Riek Machar killed at least 272 people and forced more than 100,000 to seek refuge in neighboring countries. Kiir and Machar's forces had fought a civil war which broke out in December 2013 and left tens of thousands dead. A peace deal signed in August 2015 by the rival leaders under UN pressure failed to quell the renewed violence. Machar, whose whereabouts remain unknown, has vowed to fight on and overthrow President Kiir's government unless a protection force agreed upon by the African Union and the UN is deployed to the war-torn country. Catholic Family News A Monthly Journal Preserving our Catholic Faith and Heritage Home Latest Archives Subscribe CFN Media - videos Contact Us CFN Bookstore Oltyn Library Services 2017 CFN Daily Blog Originally started as a daily Blog update of news reports on the Papal Conclave and ongoing news on Pope Francis, it is now a general Blog updated daily on traditional Catholic topics Updated Regularly Book mark this page click here Luxury hotels in the historic center for a Catholic family. Only luxury hotels can provide a paradisiacal vacation for a big Catholic family. A high-level vacation for families, children and not only. The gorgeous views, divine service, and the best location are all luxury hotels. Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, and more. Everyone will find their place in this corner of paradise. Popular destinations Breckenridge, CO, United States In Breckenridge, Colorado, there are plenty of places to visit, whether you're a nature lover or thrill seeker. For nature lovers, the Blue River runs right through town and there are plenty of trails to explore. If you're looking for a thrill, Breckenridge is home to some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the country. There's also plenty of shopping and dining options in town, so you'll never run out of things to do. Breckenridge Luxury Hotels Savannah, GA, United States Savannah, Georgia is a beautiful city with lots of places to visit, including Forsyth Park, River Street, and the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace. Another place to visit is the Savannah History Museum, which is jam-packed with interesting exhibits on the history of the city. Savannah Luxury Hotels Naples, FL, United States Naples is known for its stunning white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. Its also home to a wide variety of attractions, including world-class golf courses, vibrant nightlife, and interesting cultural experiences. Here are five places to visit in Naples, Florida: Naples Pier: Stroll along the pier and enjoy panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico. Fifth Avenue South: This popular shopping and dining district is home to eclectic boutiques, award-winning restaurants, and lively bars. The Ritz-Carlton, Naples: This luxurious resort is set on 26 acres of pristine waterfront property and offers superb amenities, including a world-class spa and championship golf course. The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens: This zoological park is home to more than 700 animals representing 150 species, including flamingos, lemurs, and tigers. Tin City: This eclectic shopping and dining district is housed in a series of restored waterfront warehouses and features eclectic shops, galleries, and award-winning restaurants. Naples Luxury Hotels Naples Luxury Resorts Louisville, KY, United States Louisville is in the heart of Kentucky and is known for being the home of the Kentucky Derby. There are a lot of great places to visit in Louisville, including the Louisville Zoo, the Muhammad Ali Center, and the Frazier History Museum. There are also a lot of great restaurants and bars in Louisville, and it's a great place to visit for a weekend getaway. Louisville Luxury Hotels Galveston, TX, United States Galveston is a Texas coastal town that is rich in history and offers visitors a variety of places to visit and things to do. Some of the most popular attractions include the Moody Gardens, Schlitterbahn Waterpark, and Historic Downtown. There are also a number of museums and other historical landmarks, as well as plenty of shopping and dining options. Galveston Luxury Hotels Galveston Luxury Resorts Omaha, NE, United States The birthplace of Warren Buffett, Omaha, Nebraska, is a great place to visit. There are plenty of things to see and do in Omaha, from touring the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium to visiting the Durham Western Heritage Museum. Other popular tourist destinations in Omaha include the Joslyn Art Museum, the Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium, and TD Ameritrade Park. Omaha Luxury Hotels Columbus, GA, United States Columbus is a charming small town in Georgia that is worth a visit. There are several places to visit in Columbus, including the Riverwalk, the Chattahoochee River, the National Infantry Museum, and the Coca-Cola Space Science Center. The Riverwalk is a beautiful walkway along the Chattahoochee River that is perfect for a relaxing stroll or a bike ride. The Chattahoochee River is a great place to go fishing, swimming, or kayaking. The National Infantry Museum is a museum dedicated to the infantry of the United States Army. It is a must-see for history buffs. The Coca-Cola Space Science Center is a museum dedicated to space science. It is perfect for kids and adults alike. Columbus Luxury Hotels Anchorage, AK, United States Anchorage is a great place to visit if you're looking for an adrenaline rush. From skiing and snowboarding in the winter to rafting and fishing in the summer, Anchorage has something to offer everyone. In addition to its outdoor activities, Anchorage also has a variety of cultural and historical attractions, including the Anchorage Museum and the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Anchorage Luxury Hotels Portland, OR, United States Portland is a city that is located in the US state of Oregon and it is known for its art scene, food, and coffee. There are a lot of interesting places to visit in Portland, such as the Portland Art Museum, where you can see a variety of art from all over the world. Another place to visit is the Powell's City of Books, the largest independent bookstore in the world. If you're looking for a place to eat, Portland has no shortage of amazing restaurants, such as Pok Pok, which serves Thai cuisine, and Le Pigeon, which serves French cuisine. And, of course, no trip to Portland would be complete without trying some of the city's famous coffee, such as Stumptown Coffee Roasters. Portland Luxury Hotels Florence, Italy No trip to Italy is complete without a visit to Florence. This historic city is home to some of the country's most famous attractions, including the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, and Michelangelo's David. There's also plenty to see and do outside of the city center, including the picturesque Tuscan countryside and the vibrant university town of Arezzo. Florence Luxury Hotels Florence Luxury Villas Asheville, NC, United States Asheville is a city in western North Carolina. It is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Buncombe County. Asheville is home to the Biltmore Estate, the largest private home in the United States. The city of Asheville proper had a population of 84,236 in 2010. The city is known for its art deco architecture, mountain scenery and outdoor activities, and as the birthplace of American novelist Thomas Wolfe. It is also home to the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, the second largest craft brewery in the United States. Asheville Luxury Hotels Asheville Luxury Cottages Long Beach, CA, United States There's plenty to do in Long Beach, California without ever having to leave the city limits. If you're looking for a little adventure, head to the Aquarium of the Pacific for a glimpse of the ocean's creatures or take a walk on the boardwalk at Rainbow Harbor. If you're more of a history buff, the Queen Mary is a must-see. This retired ocean liner is now a hotel and museum with plenty of stories to tell. And no trip to Long Beach is complete without a visit to the iconic Vincent Thomas Bridge. Long Beach Luxury Hotels Long Beach Luxury Villas Cincinnati, OH, United States Cincinnati is a city located on the Ohio River in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Ohio. The city was founded in 1788 and named after the Society of the Cincinnati, an organization of Revolutionary War officers. Cincinnati is a major U.S. city and the metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million people. The city is well-known for its German heritage, Oktoberfest celebration, and its variety of chili dishes. Cincinnati is home to three major sports teams: the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals, MLB's Cincinnati Reds, and the NBA's Cincinnati Cavaliers. The city is also home to the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University. The city's historic neighborhoods include Over-the-Rhine, Mount Auburn, and Hyde Park. Cincinnati is a popular tourist destination and offers a variety of attractions and places to visit, including the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, the Newport Aquarium, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Cincinnati Luxury Hotels Laughlin, NV, United States Laughlin, Nevada is a great place to visit if you're looking for a fun and affordable vacation. There are plenty of casinos and resorts to choose from, as well as plenty of outdoor activities and attractions. Be sure to check out the local nightlife, and don't forget to take a trip down the mighty Colorado River. Laughlin Luxury Hotels Laughlin Luxury Resorts Anaheim, CA, United States Anaheim, California is home to both Disneyland and California Adventure Park. The parks are just a short walk away from each other, and make for a great day of exploration. Anaheim is also home to the Anaheim Angels and the Anaheim Ducks, so there's always a game to catch. If you're looking for something a little more low-key, Anaheim has a great shopping district and a variety of restaurants to choose from. Anaheim Luxury Hotels Santa Cruz, CA, United States Santa Cruz is a great place to visit! There are so many places to see and things to do. Some of my favorite places to visit are the Boardwalk, the wharf, and the University of California, Santa Cruz. The Boardwalk is a great place to go for a walk, ride on the amusement park rides, and eat some of the delicious food. The wharf is a great place to go for a walk, eat some seafood, and listen to the street performers. The University of California, Santa Cruz is a great place to visit to learn about the history of the area and to see some of the beautiful architecture. I highly recommend visiting Santa Cruz if you are looking for a fun and interesting place to visit!. Santa Cruz Luxury Hotels Eugene, OR, United States Eugene, Oregon is a great city to visit with a lot of places to see and things to do. One of the most popular attractions is the University of Oregon campus, which is home to a number of museums and a large football stadium. The city also has a vibrant arts scene, with a number of theaters and art galleries. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the dozens of parks and hiking trails in the area, and there are also a number of wineries and breweries in the area. Eugene Luxury Hotels Branson, MO, United States There's plenty to see and do in Branson, Missouri, from state parks and amusement parks to theaters and shopping. Here are some of the most popular places to visit: Silver Dollar City is a theme park with rides, shows, and craftsmen demonstrations. is a theme park with rides, shows, and craftsmen demonstrations. The Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Theatre puts on a variety of shows, including "The Legend of the Shepherd of the Hills" and "The Catfish Fry." puts on a variety of shows, including "The Legend of the Shepherd of the Hills" and "The Catfish Fry." Table Rock State Park has fishing, swimming, and hiking trails, as well as a nature center. has fishing, swimming, and hiking trails, as well as a nature center. The Titanic Museum features a half-sized replica of the ship, along with exhibits about the history of the Titanic. features a half-sized replica of the ship, along with exhibits about the history of the Titanic. Branson Landing is a shopping and entertainment complex on the waterfront. There's something for everyone in Branson, Missouri come visit and see for yourself!. Branson Luxury Hotels Panama City Beach, FL, United States The white sand beaches and emerald waters of Panama City Beach, Florida, are a popular tourist destination. The city is home to numerous hotels, resorts, and restaurants, as well as amusement and water parks. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, kayaking, and surfing. Panama City Beach Luxury Hotels Panama City Beach Luxury Resorts Monterey, CA, United States Monterey is a coastal city in Monterey County, California, United States. It stands at the southern end of Monterey Bay, on the Pacific coast. The city is also the home of the Naval Postgraduate School. Monterey is the largest city in the Central Coast region of California. The main attractions in Monterey are the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Fisherman's Wharf, Cannery Row, and the downtown area. Monterey Luxury Hotels Norfolk, VA, United States Norfolk, Virginia is a great place to visit for its historical places and military bases. Some places to visit in Norfolk are the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk Botanical Garden, and the Norfolk Naval Station. Norfolk Luxury Hotels Palm Springs, CA, United States Palm Springs is a vibrant city located in the Coachella Valley and is known for its year-round sunshine, resort atmosphere and Mid-Century Modern architecture. Top places to visit include the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Palm Springs Art Museum, Indian Canyons and Moorten Botanical Garden. For a truly unique experience, be sure to check out the Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale the worlds largest vintage furniture and design event. Palm Springs Luxury Hotels Palm Springs Luxury Resorts Palm Springs Luxury Villas Rochester, NY, United States Rochester is a city in western New York State and is the county seat of Monroe County. Rochester is known for its annual festivals, including the Rochester International Jazz Festival, the Rochester Fringe Festival, and the Holiday Folk Fair International. Places to visit in Rochester include the George Eastman Museum, the Strong National Museum of Play, the Rochester Museum and Science Center, and the Seneca Park Zoo. Rochester Luxury Hotels Pigeon Forge, TN, United States Visit the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge for a unique experience. This museum is dedicated to the Titanic, one of the most infamous ships in history. Tour the ship and learn about the passengers and crew who were on board. You can even see the actual artifacts recovered from the shipwreck. If you're looking for a little more excitement, head to Dollywood. This amusement park is home to roller coasters, a water park, and plenty of other rides and attractions. Plus, the park is themed around the life and music of Dolly Parton. No trip to Pigeon Forge is complete without a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains. These mountains offer a variety of activities, including hiking, fishing, and horseback riding. Plus, the natural beauty of the area is simply breathtaking. Pigeon Forge Luxury Hotels Jacksonville, FL, United States Jacksonville is less than an hour's drive from the beaches of Amelia Island and St. Augustine, and a little more than two hours from Orlando. The city has a lot to offer visitors, including a riverwalk, museums, and a vibrant arts scene. Jacksonville is also home to the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team. Jacksonville Luxury Hotels Minsk, Belarus Minsk, the capital of Belarus, is a city that has something for everyone. If you're looking for a little history, Minsk has plenty of it, with churches and monuments dating back to the 12th century. If you're looking for a lively nightlife, Minsk has that, too, with plenty of bars, clubs, and restaurants. And if you're looking for a little nature, Minsk has parks and gardens to enjoy. Here are just a few of the places you can visit in Minsk: The Holy Spirit Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Minsk, is a must-visit for history buffs. The National Library of Belarus is a huge library with more than 18 million items in its collection. The Opera and Ballet Theatre is a beautiful building that hosts performances of both opera and ballet. The Victory Park is a large park with a war memorial, a children's playground, and a lake. And for a little bit of nature in the heart of the city, the Botanical Garden is a great place to relax and take a break from the hustle and bustle of Minsk. Minsk Luxury Hotels Jaipur, India Jaipur is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. It is the capital of the state of Rajasthan and is known for its palaces, forts and temples. Some of the places to visit in Jaipur include the Amber Fort, the City Palace, the Jantar Mantar Observatory and the Hawa Mahal. Jaipur is also a great place to shop for traditional Indian handicrafts. Jaipur Luxury Hotels Chicago, IL, United States Chicago is a city full of culture and history. There are plenty of places to visit, such as the Willis Tower, Buckingham Fountain, and the Lincoln Park Zoo. Chicago is also home to many restaurants and bars, so there is something for everyone. Chicago Luxury Hotels Auckland, New Zealand Auckland is a beautiful city located on the north island of New Zealand. There are many places to visit in Auckland, including the Sky Tower, the Auckland War Memorial Museum, and the Auckland Domain. The beaches in Auckland are also worth visiting, especially Karekare and Piha. Auckland is a great place to visit, and I highly recommend it!. Auckland Luxury Hotels Auckland Luxury Villas Amsterdam, Netherlands If you're looking for a city that's got it all, Amsterdam should be your go-to destination. From the city's lively and vibrant nightlife to its charming and quiet neighborhoods, Amsterdam has something for everyone. Be sure to check out the Anne Frank Huis, the Rijksmuseum, and the Van Gogh Museum, as these are some of the most popular attractions in the city. And if you're looking for a little bit of nature, be sure to take a walk or bike ride through Amsterdam's many parks. Amsterdam Luxury Hotels Berlin, Germany There are so many great places to visit in Berlin that it can be hard to know where to start. From the iconic Brandenburg Gate to the fascinating Reichstag Building, there's something for everyone in this vibrant city. If you're looking for a bit of history, make sure to check out the Berlin Wall Memorial or the DDR Museum. And for those looking for a bit more fun, there's always the Alexanderplatz Christmas Market or the Zoologischer Garten. No matter what your interests, Berlin is a city you won't want to miss. Berlin Luxury Hotels Bangkok, Thailand Bangkok is a city of contrasts with its gleaming temples and skyscrapers, chaotic markets and tranquil canals. While it's a popular tourist destination, Bangkok is a city that can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages. Some of the top places to visit in Bangkok include the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, the floating markets and the Chatuchak Weekend Market. Bangkok Luxury Hotels Bangkok Luxury Resorts Bangkok Luxury Villas Bruges, Belgium Bruges is a city in Belgium that is worth visiting. It is full of medieval charm and there are a lot of things to see and do. Some of the places to visit include the Markt, the Belfry, and the Begijnhof. Bruges Luxury Hotels Brussels, Belgium Brussels is a city in Belgium that is best known for its chocolate, waffles, and beer. But there is much more to see and do in Brussels than just indulge in the local cuisine. There are a number of interesting historical landmarks to visit, such as the Grand Place and the Atomium, as well as a variety of parks and gardens. And, of course, Brussels is also a great city to explore on foot. Brussels Luxury Hotels Budapest, Hungary Budapest, Hungary's capital, is a city of thermal baths and medival, baroque and art nouveau architecture. Crowded with tourists, the city is bisected by the Danube River into the hilly Buda and the more developed and flat Pest. Among the main places of interest are the neo-Gothic Parliament, the Chain Bridge linking Buda and Pest, the Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion on the Buda bank, and the State Opera House and Heroes' Square on the Pest side. Budapest Luxury Hotels Playa del Carmen, Mexico Home to some of the best beaches in Mexico, Playa del Carmen is a favorite tourist destination for visitors from all over the world. With its lively nightlife, gorgeous coastline and ample shopping opportunities, there's something for everyone in this tropical paradise. Don't miss the opportunity to visit some of the area's most popular attractions, such as the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum and Coba, or the eco-friendly Turtle Beach. With its friendly people, delicious food and stunning scenery, Playa del Carmen is a place you'll never want to leave. Playa del Carmen Luxury Hotels Playa del Carmen Luxury Resorts Playa del Carmen Luxury Villas Denver, CO, United States Denver is a great city for visitors. There are so many places to see and things to do. Some of the top places to visit include the 16th Street Mall, the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Denver Art Museum, and the Colorado State Capitol. There are also plenty of great restaurants and shops to explore. Denver is definitely a city worth visiting!. Denver Luxury Hotels Dublin, Ireland Dublin is a city located in Ireland. It's a city full of culture, with plenty of places to visit. Some popular tourist spots are the Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College, and the Dublin Castle. There are also plenty of pubs and restaurants to discover. Dublin Luxury Hotels Dusseldorf, Germany Dusseldorf, Germany is a city with many different places to visit. The city has a mix of old and new buildings, and a variety of activities to do. The best places to visit in Dusseldorf are the Konigsallee, the Rhine Tower, and the Oktoberfest. The Konigsallee is an open-air shopping mall that has many high-end stores. The Rhine Tower is the tallest building in the city and offers great views of Dusseldorf. The Oktoberfest is a week-long festival that celebrates German culture and food. Dusseldorf Luxury Hotels Edinburgh, United Kingdom Edinburgh, Scotland is a beautiful city to visit. The architecture is very old and unique, and there are plenty of historical places to visit, like Edinburgh Castle. There are also plenty of parks and gardens, and lots of shops and restaurants. Edinburgh Luxury Hotels Rome, Italy Rome is a city rich in history and filled with beautiful places to visit. Make sure to stop by the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Pantheon. Also be sure to visit St. Peters Basilica and the Sistine Chapel while in Rome. If youre looking for a little more nature in your trip, head to the Villa Borghese gardens or the Janiculum Hill for some wonderful views of the city. And of course, no trip to Rome is complete without a gelato!. Rome Luxury Hotels Rome Luxury Villas New York, NY, United States There are many amazing places to visit in New York State. Some of my favorites are the Niagara Falls, the Adirondack Mountains, and the Finger Lakes. If you're looking for a city break, New York City is definitely worth a visit. There's endless things to see and do, from touring the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to visiting world-famous museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History. No matter what your interests are, you'll be able to find something to enjoy in New York State. New York Luxury Hotels New York Luxury Villas London, United Kingdom London is a city rich in history and full of amazing places to visit. Some of my favorite places are Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and the Tower of London. There is so much to see and do in London, you could spend weeks here and never run out of things to do. If you're looking for a city full of culture and history, London is the place for you. London Luxury Hotels London Luxury Cottages Madrid, Spain Madrid is one of the most beautiful and culturally rich cities in the world. From the Royal Palace to the Prado Museum, theres plenty to see and do in Madrid. If youre looking for a little bit of nature, Madrid has plenty of parks, like the Buen Retiro Park, to relax in. And dont forget to try some of the delicious tapas and wine while youre in town. Madrid Luxury Hotels Memphis, TN, United States The birthplace of rock 'n' roll, Memphis is a city rich in history and culture. From Graceland to Beale Street, there are plenty of places to visit in Memphis. Be sure to check out Sun Studio, where rock 'n' roll was born, and the National Civil Rights Museum, which tells the story of the African-American civil rights movement. Memphis is also home to some amazing food, so be sure to try some of the city's famous barbecue and soul food. Memphis Luxury Hotels Miami Beach, FL, United States There is much to explore in Miami Beach, from the famous Art Deco district to the vast beaches and crystal-clear waters. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, while history buffs can explore the ancient burial mounds at Miami Beach. Shoppers and foodies will find plenty to keep them busy, with vibrant neighborhoods like Lincoln Road and Ocean Drive offering unique boutiques and award-winning restaurants. And of course, no trip to Miami Beach is complete without a visit to world-famous South Beach. Miami Beach Luxury Hotels Miami Beach Luxury Resorts New Orleans, LA, United States You can't visit New Orleans without trying some of the local food. Beignets, Po' Boys, and gumbo are just a few of the must-try dishes. While you're in town, be sure to check out the French Quarter, Jackson Square, and St. Louis Cathedral. If you're looking for some nightlife, Bourbon Street is the place to be. And, of course, no trip to New Orleans is complete without a visit to Mardi Gras!. New Orleans Luxury Hotels Milan, Italy Milan is a city located in the Lombardy region of Italy. It is a popular tourist destination because of its historical and artistic heritage. Some of the places you should visit while in Milan are the Duomo, La Scala, and Castello Sforzesco. Milan Luxury Hotels Naples, Italy Naples is one of the most beautiful and historic cities in Italy. There are countless places to visit, such as the Royal Palace, the Museum of San Martino, and the Church of Gesu Nuovo. Naples is also home to excellent shopping and dining options. Be sure to enjoy a cup of coffee at one of the city's many cafes and take a stroll through the picturesque streets. Naples Luxury Hotels Paris, France Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It's home to iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum, as well as a thriving nightlife and restaurant scene. If you're looking to explore all that Paris has to offer, here are some of the top places to visit: The Eiffel Tower: This iconic landmark is a must-see in Paris. Climb to the top for stunning views of the city, or take a ride on the elevator to the bottom for a closer look at the structure. The Louvre Museum: This world-famous museum is home to some of the most famous works of art in the world, including the Mona Lisa. The Notre Dame Cathedral: This beautiful cathedral is one of the most famous landmarks in Paris. Make sure to climb to the top for some amazing views of the city. The Champs-Elysees: This famous avenue is a popular destination for shopping and dining. Be sure to wander down the street and take in all the sights and sounds. The Arc de Triomphe: This towering arch is another iconic landmark in Paris. Climb to the top for some amazing views of the city. Paris Luxury Hotels Paris Luxury Villas Prague, Czech Republic Prague is a city rich in history and culture. There are plenty of places to visit, including the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, and the Old Town Square. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars to enjoy, and the nightlife is vibrant. Prague is a truly unique city and a must-visit for anyone traveling to the Czech Republic. Prague Luxury Hotels Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Located on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana is known for its beautiful beaches and turquoise waters. This paradise is a favorite destination for travelers looking for a Caribbean getaway. Punta Cana is home to a wide variety of resorts and activities, from enjoying the sand and surf to golfing, spas, and shopping. Nature lovers can also explore the areas jungles, caves, and waterfalls. Punta Cana Luxury Hotels Punta Cana Luxury Resorts Punta Cana Luxury Villas Marbella, Spain If you're looking for an idyllic and luxurious Spanish escape, look no further than Marbella. Located on the country's Costa del Sol, Marbella is home to stunning beaches, top-notch resorts, world-class golfing, and much more. A visit to Marbella is the perfect way to experience all that Spain has to offer. Marbella Luxury Hotels Marbella Luxury Villas Marrakesh, Morocco Marrakesh is a city in Morocco that is full of culture and history. There are several places to visit in Marrakesh, including the Palace of the Bahia, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, and the Saadian Tombs. The souks (markets) are also a must-see, where you can find everything from souvenirs to spices to traditional clothing. Be sure to enjoy a meal in one of the many restaurants or cafes in Marrakesh; the food is delicious and the atmosphere is always lively. Marrakesh is a wonderful city to explore and definitely worth a visit!. Marrakesh Luxury Hotels San Francisco, CA, United States San Francisco is a popular tourist destination, and for good reason. There are plenty of things to see and do in this vibrant city. Here are some of the top places to visit: 1. Fisherman's Wharf: This neighborhood is home to a variety of shops and restaurants, as well as a popular pier where you can enjoy views of the bay. 2. The Golden Gate Bridge: This iconic bridge is a must-see for any visitor to San Francisco. 3. Alcatraz Island: This former federal prison is now a popular tourist attraction. It's a must-see for fans of history and crime dramas. 4. Chinatown: This colorful neighborhood is home to some of the best food in San Francisco. Be sure to check out the Dragon Gate entrance. 5. The Mission District: This trendy neighborhood is home to hip restaurants, bars, and art galleries. San Francisco Luxury Hotels Moscow, Russia Moscow, Russia is a beautiful city with plenty of places to visit. Some of the most popular tourist attractions are the Kremlin, Red Square, and Saint Basil's Cathedral. Other great places to see include the Bolshoi Theatre, Gorky Park, and the Tretyakov Gallery. There are also many churches and other historical buildings to explore. Moscow is a lively city with a lot of culture and nightlife. There is something for everyone to enjoy in Moscow. Moscow Luxury Hotels Venice, Italy Venice is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The city is built on a lagoon in northeast Italy and is known for its canals and gondolas. There are many places to visit in Venice, including the Grand Canal, St. Marks Square, and the Rialto Bridge. Venice is also home to many museums, including the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Venice Luxury Hotels Vienna, Austria Vienna, Austria is a city with a long and rich history. There are many places to visit in Vienna, including the Hofburg Palace, the Ringstrasse, and St. Stephen's Cathedral. Vienna is also home to some of the world's best shopping, including the Karntner Strasse and the Graben. Finally, no visit to Vienna is complete without experiencing the city's world-famous nightlife. Vienna Luxury Hotels Zurich, Switzerland Zurich is a marvelous city located in the heart of Switzerland. It is a city that has something to offer for everyone. From amazing restaurants and beautiful architecture to exciting nightlife and gorgeous parks, Zurich has something for everyone. Some of the most popular places to visit in Zurich include the Bahnhofstrasse, which is the city's most famous shopping street, the Lindenhof, which is a beautiful park with amazing views of the city, and Grossmunster, which is a stunning Romanesque church. Zurich is also home to some of the best museums in the world, including the famed Museum of Art and the Swiss National Museum. With its mix of old-world charm and modern amenities, Zurich is a city that is definitely worth exploring. Zurich Luxury Hotels Acapulco, Mexico If you're looking for a Mexican vacation spot with plenty of history and culture to explore, Acapulco is a great option. From the archeological wonders of the ancient city to the stunning coastal views, there's something for everyone in Acapulco. Plus, with its temperate climate, it's a great escape from colder winter weather. Acapulco Luxury Hotels Acapulco Luxury Resorts Acapulco Luxury Villas Nashville, TN, United States One of the United States' most interesting places to visit is Nashville, Tennessee. There's plenty to see and do there, from the Grand Ole Opry to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Music is a big part of the city's history and culture, so be sure to catch a show while you're in town. Other popular attractions include the Ryman Auditorium, the Parthenon, and the Jack Daniel's Distillery. Nashville is also a great place to eat, with a wide variety of restaurants serving up everything from barbecue to Mexican food. So if you're looking for an exciting and diverse city to visit, be sure to add Nashville to your list. Nashville Luxury Hotels Nashville Luxury Villas Atlanta, GA, United States What's not to love about Atlanta? From the iconic Georgia Aquarium to the World of Coke, from the Fox Theatre to Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta offers a wealth of destinations for tourists. Sports fans will want to check out the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and history buffs will enjoy the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. Braves fans can take a tour of SunTrust Park, and shoppers will enjoy the many boutiques and malls in the city. There's also a great restaurant scene in Atlanta, and music lovers will want to check out the many venues offering live music. Whether you're looking for a fun family vacation spot or a place to explore on your own, Atlanta is a great choice!. Atlanta Luxury Hotels Miami, FL, United States The Magic City is a top tourist destination for a reasonthere are endless things to do in Miami! From exploring the trendy neighborhoods and dazzling beaches to soaking up the Latin culture and nightlife, Miami is jam-packed with amazing places to visit. Here are a few of our favorites: 1. Wynwood Walls: This outdoor art exhibit is a must-see for any art lover. The colorful murals are awe-inspiring and definitely Instagram-worthy. 2. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens: This estate is dripping with luxury and opulence, from the grandiose architecture to the expansive gardens. It's the perfect place for a day of relaxation. 3. South Beach: This world-famous beach is a must-visit for any sun-seeker. The crystal-clear water and soft sand make for the perfect day-long beach getaway. 4. Little Havana: Experience Cuban culture at its best in Little Havana. From delicious food to lively music and dance, there's something for everyone in this vibrant district. 5. Art Deco District: This district is home to Miami's most iconic architecture. Take a stroll down the charming streets and admire the colorful buildings that make Miami so unique. Miami Luxury Hotels Miami Luxury Villas Tokyo, Japan Tokyo is a must-see destination in Japan. There are endless places to explore in this city - temples, shrines, gardens, and more. The Shinjuku district is a great place to start, with its neon-lit streets and myriad shops and restaurants. For a taste of traditional Japan, visit the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa or the Imperial Palace. Nature lovers will enjoy the Hamarikyu Gardens or the Hama-rikyu Teien Garden. And for a unique experience, take a trip to Mount Fuji. Tokyo Luxury Hotels Tokyo Luxury Villas Buenos Aires, Argentina There are plenty of places to visit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Some popular tourist destinations include the obelisk, the Casa Rosada, and the Puerto Madero district. Every barrio (neighborhood) has its own unique culture and flavor. San Telmo, La Boca, and Palermo are some of the most popular barrios. There are also many parks and plazas, such as Plaza de Mayo and Plaza de la Republica, that are worth checking out. Buenos Aires Luxury Hotels Hamburg, Germany One of the most popular tourist destinations in Germany is Hamburg. From the lively and colorful harbor district to the grandiose City Hall, there is plenty to see and do in Hamburg. Some of the other popular places to visit include the Reeperbahn district with its pubs and nightlife, the Planten un Blomen botanical gardens, and the architecturally stunning Rathausmarkt square. Hamburg Luxury Hotels Lisbon, Portugal The capital of Portugal, Lisbon is a city of fascinating contrasts. From its coastal location, visitors can enjoy stunning ocean views, while its hilly, narrow streets are home to a maze of charming traditional homes and lively nightlife. A city of 7 hills, Lisbon is a bustling metropolis with something for everyone. Here are some of the top places to visit: The Belem Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Lisbons most iconic landmarks. This 16th-century fortress and lighthouse is a must-see for visitors. The Alfama district, with its winding streets and tile-roofed homes, is the oldest district in Lisbon. This is the perfect place to get lost and explore the citys history. The Lisbon Zoo is a great place to enjoy a day out with the family, with over 2,000 animals from around the world. The Christ the King statue, located atop a hill in the suburb of Almada, offers impressive views of Lisbon and the river Tagus. The Lisbon Oceanarium, located in the Parque das Nacoes district, is home to more than 12,000 marine creatures and is one of the largest aquariums in Europe. Lisbon Luxury Hotels Lisbon Luxury Villas Malaga, Spain Malaga is an attractive seaside city in southern Spain with a long history. There are many places to visit in Malaga, including the Gibralfaro Castle, the Alcazaba fortress, and the Malaga Cathedral. Malaga is also home to a variety of museums, including the Picasso Museum. The city is well known for its beaches, and there are many delightful places to relax and enjoy the sun and the sea. Malaga Luxury Hotels Malaga Luxury Villas Munich, Germany When planning a vacation to Munich, Germany, be sure to include these top places to visit: The Marienplatz is a must-see square in the city center, featuring a beautiful Glockenspiel show and the Old and New Town Halls. The Englisher Garten, Europes largest city park, is a great place for a relaxing stroll or a picnic. OlympiaPark is home to the famous 1972 Olympic Stadium as well as a huge amusement park. The Frauenkirche is a stunning church in the old town with a Glockenspiel of its own. Beer lovers will want to visit the Hofbrauhaus, the worlds most famous beer hall. For a bit of history and culture, check out the LudwigMaximilians-University and the Deutsches Museum. There is so much to see and do in Munich these are just a few highlights!. Munich Luxury Hotels Granada, Spain Granada is a city in southern Spain that is known for its Moorish architecture and history. The city is home to the Alhambra, a palace and fortress that was constructed in the late 1300s. Visitors can also enjoy the citys many churches, including the Cathedral of Granada. Granada is also a convenient base for exploring the other cities and towns in Andalusia. Granada Luxury Hotels Bucharest, Romania Bucharest is a city full of history and culture. There are many places to visit, such as the Palace of Parliament, which is the world's largest civilian building. Other places to visit include the old city center, which is full of charming streets and buildings, and the Botanical Garden, which is the largest botanical garden in Romania. Bucharest Luxury Hotels Bologna, Italy Bologna, Italy is a beautiful city with plenty of places to visit. Some popular tourist destinations include the Piazza Maggiore, the Tower of Asinelli, and the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. There are also plenty of museums and churches to explore, and the city is full of charming restaurants and cafes. Bologna is an excellent destination for a vacation, and there is something for everyone to enjoy in this amazing city. Bologna Luxury Hotels Porto, Portugal Porto is a port city in Portugal that is well known for its wine. It's also a city with a long and rich history. There are many places to visit in Porto, including the old city center, the Dom Luis I Bridge, and the Clerigos Tower. Porto is also home to the famous Port wine caves, which are a must-visit for wine lovers. Porto Luxury Hotels Cologne, Germany Cologne, located on the Rhine River in western Germany, is a city well worth visiting. The city has a long and rich history, dating back to the time of the Roman Empire. Some of the city's most popular tourist attractions include the Cologne Cathedral, Hohenzollern Bridge, and the RheinEnergieStadion. Additionally, Cologne is home to a wide variety of museums, shops, and restaurants. In fact, the city has been ranked as one of the best places to live in Germany. So, if you're looking for a great European city to visit, be sure to add Cologne to your list. Cologne Luxury Hotels Istanbul, Turkey If you're looking for an exotic and affordable vacation destination, look no further than Istanbul, Turkey. Filled with historical places to visit and bargains to be found, Istanbul offers something for everyone. Be sure to visit the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Blue Mosque while you're there. Don't forget to bargain for the best prices when shopping in the bazaars, and enjoy some delicious Turkish cuisine while you're at it. Istanbul is sure to leave you with a lasting impression. Istanbul Luxury Hotels Istanbul Luxury Villas Dubai, United Arab Emirates Dubai is a fascinating and exotic city that offers visitors a mix of traditional Middle Eastern culture and modern, cosmopolitan life. There are plenty of places to visit in Dubai, from the towering skyscrapers of Downtown Dubai to the luxury shopping malls and luxurious hotels of the Palm Jumeirah. Don't miss a chance to experience an Arabian night out on an epic dhow cruise, or take a trip out into the Arabian Desert to see the stunning sand dunes. Dubai Luxury Hotels Dubai Luxury Resorts Dubai Luxury Villas Antwerp, Belgium Antwerp is a city located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital of the province of Antwerp and has a population of over half a million people. Antwerp is a popular tourist destination due to its many historical buildings, museums, and art galleries. Some of the most popular places to visit in Antwerp are the Cathedral of Our Lady, the City Hall, the Rubenshuis, and the Antwerp Zoo. Antwerp Luxury Hotels Lyon, France Lyon is a beautiful city in the south of France that is full of culture and places to visit. Some of the most popular places to visit in Lyon are the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere, the Place Bellecour, and the Vieux Lyon. The Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere is a beautiful cathedral that is a must-see when visiting Lyon. The Place Bellecour is a large square in the heart of Lyon that is full of restaurants and cafes. The Vieux Lyon is a district in Lyon that is full of old buildings and is a great place to wander around and take in the sights. Lyon Luxury Hotels Athens, Greece If you find yourself in Athens, there are definitely some spots you won't want to miss. The Acropolis, Parthenon, and Olympic Stadium are all essential stops, but there are plenty of others, too. If you're looking for a bit of history, the National Archaeological Museum is a must-see, while nature lovers will enjoy a visit to the botanical gardens. If you're looking to relax, take a walk along the beach in Glyfada or head to the Plaka district for a charming and picturesque setting. No matter what you're interested in, Athens has something for you. Athens Luxury Hotels Athens Luxury Villas Helsinki, Finland While in Helsinki, make sure to visit these popular tourist destinations: The Senate Square and Lutheran Cathedral The Sibelius Monument Ateneum Art Museum Market Square Helsinki Zoo. Helsinki Luxury Hotels Vilnius, Lithuania The capital of Lithuania, Vilnius, is a picturesque city with a rich history. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is full of charming churches, narrow streets, and pretty squares. There are also lots of museums and other places of interest to visit, including the Hill of Crosses, Gediminas Tower, and the Presidential Palace. Vilnius is a great city to explore on foot, and there are plenty of cafes, restaurants, and bars to enjoy in the evening. Vilnius Luxury Hotels Reykjavik, Iceland A city of remote beauty, Reykjavik is teeming with interesting places to visit. One of the worlds most northern capitals, Reykjavik offers stunning landscapes and a wealth of cultural experiences. From the iconic Hallgrimskirkja church to the popular Golden Circle tour, theres plenty to see and do in Reykjavik. Be sure to check out the citys lively nightlife scene, too you wont be disappointed!. Reykjavik Luxury Hotels Glasgow, United Kingdom Some of the most popular places to visit in Glasgow include the Gallery of Modern Art, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the Riverside Museum, and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. There are also many wonderful parks and gardens to explore, including the Botanic Gardens and Glasgow Green. For those interested in history and architecture, there are many fascinating old buildings to see, such as the Glasgow Cathedral and the University of Glasgow. And for those looking for a lively nightlife, Glasgow has no shortage of pubs, clubs, and restaurants. Glasgow Luxury Hotels Los Angeles, CA, United States As the birthplace of Hollywood and home to some of the world's most recognisable landmarks, there's no shortage of places to visit in Los Angeles. Start by exploring the city's iconic neighbourhoods like Beverly Hills and Hollywood, then venture out to attractions like the Griffith Observatory, Venice Beach and Disneyland. And don't forget to savour the city's world-famous cultural scene, with its abundance of museums, theatres and restaurants. Los Angeles Luxury Hotels Los Angeles Luxury Villas San Diego, CA, United States San Diego is a city located in California and is a major tourist destination. One of the main reasons people visit the city is for its many beaches. Coronado Beach, Mission Beach, and Pacific Beach are some of the most popular and are all within close proximity to the city center. Other attractions in San Diego include the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld San Diego, and the USS Midway Museum. Restaurants, bars, and shopping can be found throughout the city, and world-renowned museums, like the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, are also located in San Diego. San Diego Luxury Hotels San Diego Luxury Resorts San Diego Luxury Villas Washington, DC, United States Washington, D.C. is a city full of history and places to visit. Some popular places to visit are the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, and the Smithsonian. D.C. is also home to a number of monuments and memorials, like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Veterans Memorial. There are also a number of museums in D.C., like the American History Museum and the National Air and Space Museum. Washington Luxury Hotels Cancun, Mexico Cancun is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico. Aside from its beautiful beaches, there are plenty of places to visit and things to do in Cancun. Some of the most popular attractions include the ancient ruins of Chichen Itza, the eco-park Xcaret, and the nightclubs and bars in the resort district. Cancun Luxury Hotels Cancun Luxury Resorts Cancun Luxury Villas Virginia Beach, VA, United States Virginia Beach is one of the top tourist destinations on the East Coast. From the Virginia Beach Boardwalk to the miles of sandy beaches, there's something for everyone to enjoy. There are also plenty of restaurants, shops, and other attractions to keep visitors busy. Some of the most popular places to visit in Virginia Beach include: The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center : This aquarium is home to more than 20,000 animals, including sharks, dolphins, and rays. : This aquarium is home to more than 20,000 animals, including sharks, dolphins, and rays. The Virginia Beach Boardwalk: This 3.5-mile boardwalk is one of the most popular attractions in Virginia Beach. It features a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and amusements. This 3.5-mile boardwalk is one of the most popular attractions in Virginia Beach. It features a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and amusements. First Landing State Park: This park offers miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as a beachfront area for swimming and sunbathing. This park offers miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as a beachfront area for swimming and sunbathing. Cape Henry Lighthouse: This lighthouse is one of the oldest in the country and offers stunning views of the Chesapeake Bay. There are plenty of other things to do in Virginia Beach, including dolphin and whale watching tours, kayaking, and golfing. Whether you're looking for a fun family vacation or a romantic getaway, Virginia Beach is sure to please. Virginia Beach Luxury Hotels Virginia Beach Luxury Resorts Beijing, China If you're looking for an amazing cultural experience, be sure to add Beijing, China to your travel bucket list! With beautiful temples, charming hutongs (traditional alleyways), and a lively food scene, there's something for everyone in this bustling city. Plus, Beijing is home to some of the most iconic attractions in China, like the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City. So if you're looking for an unforgettable East Asian adventure, be sure to add Beijing to your list!. Beijing Luxury Hotels Seoul, South Korea Seoul is a metropolitan city that is home to over 10 million people. It is a city full of culture, history, and a vibrant nightlife. There are plenty of places to visit in Seoul, including the Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and N Seoul Tower. The Jeongdongne district is a must-see for anyone interested in art and culture, and the Itaewon district is a great place to go for a night on the town. Seoul Luxury Hotels South Lake Tahoe, CA, United States Known for its dramatic lake and mountain scenery, South Lake Tahoe offers visitors plenty of places to visit and things to do. Some of the most popular attractions include floating down the river on a tube, hiking the trails in the summer and skiing or snowboarding the slopes in the winter. The city also has a variety of restaurants and nightlife options, as well as casinos for those looking to try their luck. South Lake Tahoe Luxury Hotels South Lake Tahoe Luxury Resorts Daytona Beach, FL, United States Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, United States. It is approximately 40 miles northeast of Orlando, and 85 miles southeast of Jacksonville. The city is known as "The World's Most Famous Beach." Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Fun Coast region of Florida. The Daytona Beach area is a popular tourist destination. It is well known for its beaches, sports events, and motorsports. Daytona Beach was the birthplace of NASCAR and home to its first track, Daytona International Speedway. Dayton Beach also features a large number of tourist-oriented businesses, such as motels, restaurants, and bars. Daytona Beach Luxury Hotels Rio de Janeiro, Brazil The coastline of Rio de Janeiro is breathtaking, and the views from Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain are unforgettable. Rio's world-famous beaches are the perfect place to relax and enjoy the sun and the surf. The city's rich culture and history can be experienced in its many museums and in the lively nightlife. Rio is also a great place to shop for souvenirs. Rio de Janeiro Luxury Hotels Rio de Janeiro Luxury Villas Jaco, Costa Rica Jaco is a town on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. It's about an hour drive from San Jose and is a popular spot for surfers, sunbathers, and tourists. There are a number of beaches in the area, as well as restaurants, bars, and hotels. If you're looking for a place to relax and enjoy the Costa Rican sun and beaches, Jaco is a great option. Jaco Luxury Hotels Oslo, Norway Oslo, Norway is a city with plenty of places to visit. You can find the peace and tranquility of nature parks and green spaces, experience the city's vibrant nightlife, or take in the historical and cultural sights. Here are a few of the top places to visit in Oslo: The Royal Palace: Oslo's Royal Palace is the official residence of Norway's king and queen. The palace is open to the public year-round, and offers a glimpse into the lives of the royal family. Oslo's Royal Palace is the official residence of Norway's king and queen. The palace is open to the public year-round, and offers a glimpse into the lives of the royal family. Vigeland Park: Considered one of Oslo's most popular tourist destinations, Vigeland Park is home to over 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. The park is a great place to spend a sunny day outdoors. Considered one of Oslo's most popular tourist destinations, Vigeland Park is home to over 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. The park is a great place to spend a sunny day outdoors. The Maritime Museum: This museum is home to a variety of exhibits on Norway's maritime history. Visitors can explore everything from Viking ships to modern submarines. This museum is home to a variety of exhibits on Norway's maritime history. Visitors can explore everything from Viking ships to modern submarines. The National Gallery: The National Gallery is Norway's largest art museum, and home to a vast collection of paintings and sculptures from the country's most famous artists. The National Gallery is Norway's largest art museum, and home to a vast collection of paintings and sculptures from the country's most famous artists. Aker Brygge: Aker Brygge is a popular waterfront district in Oslo, home to a variety of bars, restaurants, and shops. The area is a great place to people watch and enjoy the view of the Oslo Fjord. Oslo Luxury Hotels Lima, Peru If you're looking for a city that's bursting with culture and flavor, Lima, Peru is the place for you! This vibrant destination is home to some of the most amazing places to visit in all of South America. From ancient ruins to lush rainforests, there's something for everyone in Lima. Here are just a few of the must-see attractions in this amazing city: The Larco Museum is one of Lima's top tourist destinations. This incredible museum is home to one of the largest collections of pre-Columbian art in the world. The Historic Center of Lima is a must-see for any history lover. This vibrant area is home to some of the oldest architecture in Lima, including the iconic San Francisco Monastery. If you're looking for a little bit of jungle in the city, head to the Parque de la Reserva. This lush park is home to beautiful gardens, a zoo, and even a butterfly farm! No trip to Lima would be complete without a visit to Machu Picchu. This ancient Inca citadel is one of the most iconic sites in all of South America. Lima Luxury Hotels Ankara, Turkey Ankara is the cultural and political center of Turkey. The city is home to many museums, including the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, and is a popular destination for tourists. The Citadel, the Ataturk Mausoleum, and the War of Independence Museum are all popular tourist destinations in Ankara. The city is also home to a vibrant nightlife and is a popular destination for students. Ankara Luxury Hotels Birmingham, United Kingdom There are plenty of great places to visit in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Some of the most popular places to go include the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, and the Black Country Living Museum. These places are all great for tourists, as they offer a variety of attractions, including beautiful gardens, interesting art, and a recreation of an old-fashioned town. Additionally, there are plenty of other great places to visit in Birmingham, such as the Jewellery Quarter and the German Christmas Market. Birmingham Luxury Hotels York, United Kingdom With a rich history that spans back over 1,000 years, York is a must-visit destination in the United Kingdom. Explore the city's medieval architecture and narrow cobblestone streets, or enjoy a leisurely walk along the River Ouse. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of cultural experiences, such as the York Minster cathedral, the Jorvik Viking Centre, and the National Railway Museum. There are also plenty of shops and restaurants to enjoy in York. York Luxury Hotels Inverness, United Kingdom Inverness, Scotland is a must-see destination on any traveler's list. Filled with rolling green hills, historical sites, and plenty of outdoor activities, there's something for everyone in this charming town. Start by exploring the city center, which is home to a variety of shops and restaurants. Make sure to check out the Inverness Castle, which offers commanding views of the area, and the Inverness Cathedral, a beautiful example of medieval architecture. Outside of the city center, there are plenty of other attractions to explore. The Loch Ness Monster is said to make its home in the loch here, and visitors can take boat tours to hunt for the mythical creature. If you're looking for a more active adventure, take a hike in the hills or go fishing on the loch. No matter what you choose to do, Inverness is a beautiful and welcoming town that is sure to charm you. Inverness Luxury Hotels Marseille, France The Vieux Port (Old Harbor) is the oldest port in France. It is a beautiful place to visit with its sailboats, restaurants, and cafes. The Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica is also worth a visit. It offers stunning views of the city. If you're looking for a more lively atmosphere, head to the La Canebiere. It's a wide avenue with plenty of shops and restaurants. Marseille Luxury Hotels Marseille Luxury Villas Honolulu, HI, United States Honolulu is a city located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, United States. It is the most populous city in the state of Hawaii and the county seat of the City and County of Honolulu. Honolulu is the cultural, commercial, and financial center of Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world and is located in Honolulu. Other places to visit in Honolulu include Diamond Head, the USS Arizona Memorial, and Hanauma Bay. Honolulu Luxury Hotels Honolulu Luxury Resorts Honolulu Luxury Villas Bar Harbor, ME, United States Famous for lobster and stunning ocean views, Bar Harbor is a popular destination in Maine. There are plenty of things to do in the town and its surroundings, including hiking, biking, whale watching, and exploring Acadia National Park. Bar Harbor Luxury Hotels Colorado Springs, CO, United States There are many places to visit in Colorado Springs. Garden of the Gods is a popular park with beautiful rock formations. Pike's Peak is a 14,115 foot mountain that offers great views and outdoor activities. The Broadmoor is a world-renowned resort with lovely gardens and a championship golf course. Royal Gorge Bridge is the world's highest suspension bridge and a popular tourist spot. Colorado Springs Luxury Hotels Fort Myers Beach, FL, United States Just an hours drive from the Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach is a popular tourist spot, especially in the winter when the snowbirds migrate down. The seven-mile-long beach is known for its white sand and clear water and is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, fishing, and kayaking. There are also a number of restaurants and bars in the area, as well as a few stores. Fort Myers Beach Luxury Hotels Biloxi, MS, United States There are plenty of places to explore in Biloxi, Mississippi from the citys iconic Beaches to the picturesque Bay Saint Louis. Venture into the citys downtown area to check out the many shops and restaurants, or take a walk along the shoreline. No matter what you choose to do, youre sure to have a great time in Biloxi. Biloxi Luxury Hotels Palermo, Italy If you're looking for a city with a rich and diverse history, Palermo is the place for you. This coastal city in Italy is teeming with medieval architecture, churches, and cathedrals. Be sure to check out the Teatro Massimo, the largest opera house in Europe, and the Palazzo dei Normanni, the seat of the Sicilian government. Don't miss out on the city's vibrant nightlife and vast array of restaurants that serve up some of the best food in the country. Palermo Luxury Hotels Palermo Luxury Villas Manila, Philippines The capital of the Philippines, Manila is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant culture. There are plenty of places to visit in Manila, including the walled city of Intramuros, the Rizal Park, and the Manila Bay. The city is also home to a large number of churches, including the Manila Cathedral and the San Agustin Church. Manila is a great city to explore on foot, and there are plenty of restaurants and shops to enjoy. Manila Luxury Hotels Zermatt, Switzerland Zermatt is an alpine village in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It is famous for its ski resort, mountaineering and hiking trails. The views of the Matterhorn from Zermatt are iconic. The village is car-free, making it a cyclists' and pedestrians' paradise. There are many places to visit in Zermatt, including the village's beautiful churches, impressive museums, and great restaurants. Zermatt Luxury Hotels Basel, Switzerland Basel is a city located in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine. Basel has a population of about 176,000 and is the third most populous city in Switzerland. Basel has many interesting places to visit, including the Basel Munster, the Basel Rathaus (town hall), the Basel Zoo, and the Munsterhof, the old town square. Basel also has a number of art museums, including the Kunstmuseum Basel, the Fondation Beyeler, and the Schaulager. Basel is a great city to visit, and I highly recommend it!. Basel Luxury Hotels Copenhagen, Denmark There are a number of places to visit in Copenhagen, Denmark. Some of the most popular tourist destinations include Tivoli Gardens, Nyhavn, and the Rosenborg Castle Gardens. Tivoli Gardens is a beautiful amusement park that has something for everyone. It is perfect for a day of fun with family or friends. Nyhavn is a charming canal district that is popular for its brightly colored houses and lively atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy a relaxing cruise down the canal or take a seat in one of the many cafes and restaurants. The Rosenborg Castle Gardens are home to a majestic castle as well as beautifully landscaped gardens. There is plenty to see and do in Copenhagen, Denmark. Copenhagen Luxury Hotels Steamboat Springs, CO, United States Steamboat Springs is located in northwestern Colorado. The town is named for the steamboats that traveled up the Yampa River in the 1800s. Today, the town is a popular tourist destination, known for its skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and rafting. Steamboat Springs Luxury Hotels Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and is home to many tourist attractions. Some popular places to visit in Abu Dhabi include the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Ferrari World Theme Park, and the Yas Island Waterpark. There are also a number of museums and shopping malls in Abu Dhabi, making it a great destination for those looking for a mix of culture and leisure. Abu Dhabi Luxury Hotels Abu Dhabi Luxury Resorts Abu Dhabi Luxury Villas Bogota, Colombia There's a lot to see and do in Bogota. Some of the top places to visit include the historical La Candelaria district, the cobblestone streets of Plaza de Bolivar, the Monserrate mountain, the Bogota Botanical Garden, and the Gold Museum. La Candelaria is home to many brightly-colored colonial buildings, churches, and plazas. Plaza de Bolivar is the center of Bogota and is surrounded by important landmarks like the Presidential Palace and the National Capitol. The Monserrate mountain is a popular tourist destination due to its stunning views of Bogota. The Bogota Botanical Garden is the largest in Colombia and features a wide variety of plants and trees. The Gold Museum is home to the largest collection of Pre-Columbian gold artifacts in the world. Bogota Luxury Hotels Cebu, Philippines Due to its location and its rich history, there are plenty of places to visit in Cebu. Some of the most popular tourist destinations include the Cebu Taoist Temple, the Fort San Pedro, the Yap-San Diego Ancestral House, and the Magellan's Cross. Cebu Luxury Hotels Cebu Luxury Resorts Lagos, Portugal Lagos is a small town in Portugal with a population of around 22,000. It's located in the Algarve region and is a popular tourist destination. Some of the places to visit in Lagos are the beaches, the old town, and the Marina. The beaches are beautiful and there are a lot of them to choose from. The old town is a maze of narrow streets and alleyways with lots of shops and restaurants. The Marina is a great place to walk around and watch the boats. Lagos Luxury Hotels Medellin, Colombia Some places to visit in Medellin, Colombia are: the Botanical Garden, the Ethnographic Museum, the Jardin Botanico, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Park of Lights, and the San Pedro Claver Church. Medellin Luxury Hotels Genoa, Italy While there are many places to visit in Genoa, one of the must-sees is the city's cathedral. Dedicated to San Lorenzo, the church features an intricate Gothic facade and a Renaissance interior. If you're looking for a place to take in some stunning views, head to the Genoa Aquarium, which is located on the promenade stretching along the city's harbor. Genoa Luxury Hotels Hoi An, Vietnam Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Vietnam. Its a bridge town thats best explored on foot. The narrow streets are a mix of Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese architecture. There are tailors, artisans, and lantern shops galore. The food is also some of the best in Vietnam. Be sure to try the local specialties, like Cao Lau and White Rose dumplings. Hoi An Luxury Hotels Hoi An Luxury Resorts Baku, Azerbaijan Baku, Azerbaijan is a city with a lot of culture and history. There are a lot of places to visit, like the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower. There are also a lot of great restaurants, like the Flame Club, which has a great atmosphere and delicious food. Baku Luxury Hotels San Luis Obispo, CA, United States San Luis Obispo is a city located in the central coast of California. It's known for its natural beauty, relaxed vibe, and abundance of things to do. Some of the top places to visit in San Luis Obispo include the Madonna Inn, Hearst Castle, and the Paso Robles wine country. The city is also home to a variety of beaches, parks, and other attractions. In addition, San Luis Obispo is a great place to live, with plenty of restaurants, shops, and other amenities. San Luis Obispo Luxury Hotels Colombo, Sri Lanka Colombo is the largest city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka. The city is located on the west coast of the island and is the administrative, commercial, and industrial center of Sri Lanka. Colombo is also the center of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, with numerous Buddhist temples. There are a number of places to visit in Colombo, including the Galle Face Green, the Dutch fort, the Pettah Bazaar, and the Sri Lankan National Museum. Colombo Luxury Hotels Yogyakarta, Indonesia The city of Yogyakarta in Indonesia is home to some of the most stunning temples and historical landmarks in the country. The city is also a great place to enjoy traditional Javanese culture and cuisine. Some of the must-see places in Yogyakarta include the Borobudur Temple, the Prambanan Temple, and the Sultan's Palace. Yogyakarta Luxury Hotels Cefalu, Italy Looking for a beautiful and historic place to visit in Italy? Look no further than Cefalu. This town is teeming with history and stunning architecture, and its location on the coast makes it the perfect place to relax and take in the stunning scenery. Don't miss the Duomo di Cefalu, a 12th century Norman church that is definitely worth a visit, or the Palazzo dei Normanni, a former royal palace. Cefalu Luxury Hotels San Jose, CA, United States San Jose, California, is home to a variety of tourist destinations. Some popular places to visit include the Winchester Mystery House, the Tech Museum of Innovation, and the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. There are also a number of lovely parks, such as Kelley Park and Plaza de Cesar Chavez, that are well worth a visit. San Jose is also home to a number of great restaurants, so be sure to check out the local cuisine. Whatever your interests, San Jose has something to offer visitors. San Jose Luxury Hotels Hong Kong, China Hong Kong is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in China. There are many places to visit in Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Victoria Peak, and the Temple Street Night Market. Hong Kong is also a great place to shop, with many high-end malls and markets. Hong Kong Luxury Hotels Hong Kong Luxury Resorts Orlando, FL, United States Orlando is a city in the central region of Florida, in the United States. The city is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the metropolitan area also known as Greater Orlando. Orlando is well known for its theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld Orlando. Other tourist destinations in Orlando include the Holy Land Experience, the Orlando Science Center, and the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. Orlando is also home to the University of Central Florida, one of the largest universities in the United States. Orlando Luxury Hotels Orlando Luxury Resorts Orlando Luxury Villas Philadelphia, PA, United States If youre looking for a place thats rich in history and culture, Philadelphia is the place for you. The city is home to numerous iconic landmarks, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Theres also a great variety of museums and other attractions to explore, such as the Philadelphia Zoo and the Please Touch Museum. And, of course, Philly is the birthplace of Americas favorite sandwich, the cheesesteak. So why not visit Americas most historic city and see for yourself what all the fuss is about?. Philadelphia Luxury Hotels Nice, France France is known for its many beautiful places to visit, and Nice is no exception. With its stunning coastline and mild climate, Nice is a popular tourist destination. Some of the most popular places to visit in Nice include the Promenade des Anglais, the Castle Hill, and the Old Town. There is also a wide variety of shops and restaurants to enjoy in Nice. If you're looking for a beautiful and relaxing place to visit in France, Nice is definitely worth considering. Nice Luxury Hotels Nice Luxury Villas Singapore, Singapore Singapore is a popular tourist destination, brimming with cultural and natural attractions. From award-winning restaurants to serene gardens and pristine beaches, there is much to explore in this diverse city-state. Here are some of the top places to visit in Singapore: 1. Marina Bay: This iconic waterfront district is home to stunning architecture, world-class landmarks, and a vibrant nightlife. 2. Gardens by the Bay: These stunning gardens feature a mix of plants from around the world, as well as towering sculptures and a biodome. 3. Chinatown: This lively district is home to traditional Chinese shops and restaurants, as well as vibrant street markets. 4. Little India: This neighborhood is known for its vibrant culture and colorful temples. 5. Sentosa Island: This resort island is home to sandy beaches, lush rainforests, and a variety of entertainment options. Singapore Luxury Hotels Singapore Luxury Resorts Nottingham, United Kingdom Nottingham is a city in the East Midlands of England. It is one of the United Kingdom's major cities, with a population of over 321,000. The city is home to two universities, Queen's Medical Centre, and seven football grounds. Nottingham is known for its lace-making and bicycle manufacturing. The city has a rich history, dating back to the Bronze Age. There are plenty of places to visit in Nottingham, including the Nottingham Castle, the Sherwood Forest, and the National Ice Centre. The city also has a lively nightlife, with a variety of pubs and bars. Nottingham Luxury Hotels Cannes, France Cannes is a city located in the south of France. Some of the places to visit in Cannes are the Palais des Festivals et des Congres, the Boulevard de la Croisette, and Le Suquet. Cannes Luxury Hotels Cannes Luxury Villas Park City, UT, United States Park City, Utah, offers visitors a wealth of places to visit and things to do. Main Street, with its charming shops and restaurants, is a must-see. The Park City Museum tells the town's fascinating history, and the Park City Utah Temple is a beautiful sight. For outdoor enthusiasts, there's plenty of skiing and snowboarding in the winter and hiking and mountain biking in the summer. And don't forget to visit the Olympic Park, where the 2002 Winter Olympics were held. Park City Luxury Hotels Park City Luxury Resorts Port Angeles, WA, United States If you're looking for a quaint, small town to visit in the US, Port Angeles is worth a stop. Located in the state of Washington, it's right on the Pacific coast with stunning views of the Olympic Mountains. There's plenty of things to do in the area, from hiking and fishing to whale watching and enjoying the local restaurants and breweries. Port Angeles Luxury Hotels Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States If you're looking for a fun-filled Florida getaway, look no further than Fort Lauderdale! With its miles of pristine beaches, world-famous shopping and vibrant nightlife, there's something for everyone in this seaside city. Here are some of the top places to visit in Fort Lauderdale: Las Olas Boulevard: This popular shopping and dining district is home to some of Fort Lauderdale's most upscale boutiques and restaurants. The Beach: With its wide, sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, Fort Lauderdale's beach is a major draw for visitors. The Everglades: Just a short drive from Fort Lauderdale, the Everglades are home to an abundance of wildlife, including alligators, bald eagles and manatees. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts: This world-class performing arts center is home to a variety of theater, dance and music performances. So what are you waiting for? Book your trip to Fort Lauderdale today!. Fort Lauderdale Luxury Hotels Fort Lauderdale Luxury Resorts Myrtle Beach, SC, United States Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is a popular tourist destination. There are plenty of places to visit in the area, including amusement parks, beaches, and golf courses. Myrtle Beach also has a lively nightlife, with plenty of bars and restaurants. Myrtle Beach Luxury Hotels Myrtle Beach Luxury Resorts Salzburg, Austria Salzburg is one of the most visited places in Austria. It is a city rich in history and culture. There are many places to visit, such as the Hohensalzburg Fortress, the Mirabell Palace, and the Salzburg Cathedral. There are also many hiking trails and parks to enjoy. Salzburg Luxury Hotels Pattaya, Thailand Pattaya is an amazing city with plenty of places to visit and things to do. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand, Pattaya offers something for everyone. There are lovely beaches, interesting temples, great shopping, and exciting nightlife. With its moderate climate and affordable prices, it's no wonder Pattaya is a favorite destination for tourists from all over the world. Pattaya Luxury Hotels Pattaya Luxury Resorts Pattaya Luxury Villas Dallas, TX, United States Dallas is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is the ninth most populous city in the United States and the third most populous city in the state of Texas. Dallas is also the main city of the fourth most populous metropolitan area in the United States. The city's prominence arose from its historical importance as a center for the oil and cotton industries, and its position as a major transportation hub for the South. Dallas is home to the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League and the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. The city's economy is primarily based on banking, commerce, telecommunications, technology, energy, healthcare and medical research, and transportation. The city is home to the world's largest airline hub and the third largest cargo airport in the United States. Dallas Luxury Hotels Kolkata, India Kolkata, also known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. The city is located on the east bank of the Hooghly River. It is the second most populous city in India, after Mumbai, and the third most populous metropolitan area in India, after Mumbai and Delhi. The city is notable for its colonial architecture, art and culture, and for its overwhelming poverty. Kolkata is home to the Indian Museum, the Calcutta Stock Exchange, the National Library of India, and the Indian Statistical Institute. Kolkata Luxury Hotels San Antonio, TX, United States San Antonio is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Texas. There are plenty of places to visit in this city, from the well-known River Walk to the exquisite Spanish missions. If you're looking for a fun place to spend the day, you can't go wrong with San Antonio. San Antonio Luxury Hotels Seattle, WA, United States There are many wonderful places to visit in Seattle, Washington. Some of the most popular attractions include Pike Place Market, the Seattle Space Needle, and the Museum of Pop Culture. There are also many parks and gardens, such as Volunteer Park and Seattle Chinese Garden, as well as plenty of restaurants and shops. Located on the other side of the world, Western Australia is a great place to visit for those looking for something different. Some of the most popular attractions include Rottnest Island, the Margaret River region, and Monkey Mia. There are also plenty of beautiful parks and gardens, such as Kings Park and Botanic Garden, as well as restaurants and shops. Seattle Luxury Hotels Liverpool, United Kingdom Liverpool is a city located in North West England and is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom. The city is known for its football teams Liverpool and Everton, The Beatles, and its maritime history. Liverpool is a popular tourist destination and is home to various tourist attractions including Mersey Ferry, Liverpool Cathedral, and Albert Dock. Liverpool Luxury Hotels Malmo, Sweden Malmo is Sweden's third largest city with a population of over 310,000. It is located in the province of Scania on the country's southern tip. Malmo is a vibrant city with a strong arts and cultural scene. There are plenty of places to visit in Malmo, including the Malmo Castle, the Botanical Gardens, and the Turning Torso skyscraper. Malmo is also home to a large shopping district and a lively nightlife. Malmo Luxury Hotels Gothenburg, Sweden Goteborg, Sweden's second largest city, is a major port on the country's west coast. It's a popular tourist destination, known for its lively nightlife, beautiful architecture and delicious seafood. Some of the city's highlights include the Liseberg amusement park, the Botanical Garden, and the charming old town district. Goteborg is also home to a large number of museums, including the Volvo Museum, the Maritime Museum and the Universeum science center. Gothenburg Luxury Hotels Ljubljana, Slovenia Ljubljana is the capital city of Slovenia and is a city full of culture and history. There are many places to visit in Ljubljana, such as the castle, the old town, and the cathedral. The city is also home to many museums, art galleries, and parks. Ljubljana is a great city to explore on foot, and there are many restaurants and cafes to enjoy. Ljubljana Luxury Hotels Sydney, NSW, Australia Australia is a vast country with plenty of stunning places to visit, but Sydney is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist destinations on the continent. From the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge to the beautiful beaches and lush national parks, there's something for everyone in this lively city. There's also a thriving food and nightlife scene, so you'll never run out of things to do in Sydney. Sydney Luxury Hotels Sydney Luxury Villas Melbourne, VIC, Australia There's a lot to love about Melbourne its lively arts and culture scene, its parks and gardens, its diverse range of restaurants and cafes, and its stunning architecture. Here are some of the best places to visit in Melbourne: - Federation Square: This iconic square is a great place to people-watch and take in the city's impressive architecture. It's also home to a number of museums and galleries, including the Australian Centre for the Moving Image and the National Gallery of Victoria. - Queen Victoria Market: This vibrant market is a must-visit for foodies and shoppers alike. It's the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere, and offers a vast array of fresh produce, meat, seafood, and souvenirs. - Melbourne Cricket Ground: If you're a sports fan, be sure to check out the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which is the largest cricket stadium in the world. It's also home to the Australian Football League, and has hosted a number of major sporting events, including the Commonwealth Games and the Rugby Union World Cup. - Royal Botanic Gardens: These beautiful gardens are a great place to relax and take in some of Melbourne's natural beauty. They're home to a number of different gardens, including the Australian Garden, the Sculpture Garden, and the Japanese Garden. Melbourne Luxury Hotels Melbourne Luxury Villas Vancouver, BC, Canada The top places to visit in Vancouver are Stanley Park, Granville Island, Gastown, and Chinatown. These are all must-see attractions that offer an array of activities, scenery, and history. Stanley Park is a world-famous urban park that features greenery, beaches, gardens, and a stunning view of the North Shore Mountains. Granville Island is a vibrant neighbourhood with unique shops, restaurants, and art galleries. Gastown is the city's oldest neighbourhood and is home to charming cobblestone streets and funky boutiques. Chinatown is one of the largest and most vibrant Chinatowns in North America and offers delicious food, interesting history, and vibrant culture. Vancouver Luxury Hotels Toronto, ON, Canada From the CN Tower and Hockey Hall of Fame to the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Distillery District, there are plenty of amazing places to visit in Toronto, Canada. With something for everyone, Toronto is a great city to explore. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your trip today!. Toronto Luxury Hotels Montreal, QC, Canada Montreal is a vibrant city with something for everyone. There are plenty of places to visit, including the Notre Dame Basilica, the Olympic Stadium, and Mount Royal. The city is also home to a lively arts and culture scene, with theatres, art galleries, and music venues. Montreal is a great place to visit year-round, with festivals and events happening throughout the year. Montreal Luxury Hotels Seville, Spain Seville is one of the most visited places in Spain for a plethora of reasons: its stunning architecture, tapas bars, flamenco and great weather. The Giralda Tower is a must-see when in Seville as is the Plaza de Espana. Andalusian culture is heavily present in the city and is best experienced by wandering the narrow streets and alleyways, popping into a lively tapas bar for a drink and some snacks or enjoying a flamenco show. Seville Luxury Hotels Seville Luxury Villas Ocean City, MD, United States Ocean City is a seaside resort town in Worcester County, Maryland, on the Atlantic coast. It is well known for its long promenade, its fishing, and its crab cuisine. There are plenty of places to visit in Ocean City, including the boardwalk, amusement rides, shopping, and restaurants. You can also visit the Assateague Island National Seashore, which is home to wild horses, or head to the nearby town of Berlin for more shopping and dining options. Ocean City Luxury Hotels Cambridge, MA, United States If you're looking for a quintessential New England town to visit, Cambridge, Massachusetts is the place for you. With its elaborate architecture and Colonial history, Cambridge is a lively town with plenty of things to see and do - perfect for a weekend getaway. Some of the places you won't want to miss include the Harvard University campus, the charming and lively shops and restaurants in Harvard Square, and the leafy paths of the Cambridge Common. Cambridge Luxury Hotels Laguna Beach, CA, United States Laguna Beach, California is a place known for its stunningly beautiful coastline, excellent restaurants, and art galleries. But there's more to Laguna Beach than meets the eye. Here are some of the best places to visit in Laguna Beach: Crystal Cove State Park: This state park is known for its coves, tidepools, and bluffs. It's a great place to go hiking, swimming, and snorkeling. Heisler Park: This park is a great place for a walk or a picnic. It's also home to some of the best views of the Pacific Coast. Downtown Laguna Beach: This charming downtown area is home to art galleries, boutique shops, and excellent restaurants. Aliso Beach: This beach is known for its excellent surfing and swimming conditions. It's also a great place to take a walk or enjoy a picnic. Laguna Beach Luxury Hotels Hot Springs, AR, United States In downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas, you'll find historic buildings, antique shops, and art galleries. For nature lovers, there are also plenty of places to visit, including the Garland County Arboretum, Ouachita National Forest, and Hot Springs National Park. Spa enthusiasts can enjoy a relaxing day in one of the area's hot springs. And no trip to Hot Springs is complete without a visit to the world-famous Bathhouse Row. Hot Springs Luxury Hotels Sedona, AZ, United States There are many places to visit in Sedona, Arizona. Among the most popular are the Chapel of the Holy Cross, Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, and Boynton Canyon. The town's unique red-rock formations and ancient ruins offer plenty of photo opportunities. Visitors can also enjoy hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Sedona is a great place to relax and take in the natural beauty of the Southwest. Sedona Luxury Hotels Sedona Luxury Resorts Boulder, CO, United States Boulder, Colorado is a breathtaking city nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The city is home to stunning views, ample outdoor recreation, and a lively arts scene. Outdoor enthusiasts will love exploring the city's many trails, parks, and open spaces. History buffs will enjoy checking out the city's museums and historic sites. Culture seekers will appreciate the city's many theaters, art galleries, and restaurants. No matter what your interests, you'll find something to love in Boulder. Boulder Luxury Hotels Key West, FL, United States Key West is a small island off the coast of Florida that is filled with history, charm, and fun places to visit. Its lush tropical setting and the laid-back vibe of the island make it a popular destination for those looking for a relaxing getaway. There are plenty of places to explore in Key West, from the charming historic district to the crystal-clear waters of the Florida Keys. Here are some of the top places to visit in Key West: -The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum: This iconic museum is dedicated to the life and work of Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway, who lived in Key West for over 20 years. -Duval Street: This lively street is the heart of Key West's nightlife and is home to many bars and restaurants. -The Southernmost Point: This landmark is located at the end of Duval Street and is the southernmost point in the continental United States. -The Key West Lighthouse: This picturesque lighthouse is a popular spot for tourists and offers stunning views of the island. -The African American Heritage House: This museum is dedicated to the history and culture of African Americans in Key West. -The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory: This attraction is home to over 2,000 butterflies and a variety of other tropical plants and animals. Key West Luxury Hotels Key West Luxury Resorts Key West Luxury Cottages Key West Luxury Villas Stockholm, Sweden Stockholm, Sweden is a city with many places to visit. One place is the Vasa Museum, which is home to a ship that sunk in 1628 and was raised from the ocean floor 333 years later. The ship is preserved and on display in the museum. Another place to visit is the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Swedish monarch. The palace is open for tours, and visitors can see the royal apartments, the throne room, and the Hall of State. Stockholm Luxury Hotels Destin, FL, United States Looking for a place to visit in Florida? Look no further than Destin! This city is home to beautiful beaches, wonderful restaurants, and plenty of places to shop. No matter what you're looking for, you can find it in Destin. Be sure to check out the Destin Harbor and the fishing pier for amazing views and plenty of things to do. If you're looking for a place to relax, head to the beach and enjoy the sun and sand. There's something for everyone in Destin, so be sure to visit this amazing city!. Destin Luxury Hotels Destin Luxury Resorts Ashland, OR, United States There are many places to visit in Ashland, Oregon. Some of the most popular places are the Shakespeare Festival, Lithia Park, and Mt. Ashland. The Shakespeare Festival is a great place to see some of the best plays in the world. Lithia Park is a beautiful park with a river running through it. Mt. Ashland is a great place to go skiing in the winter. Ashland Luxury Hotels Seaside, OR, United States One of the most beautiful places on the Oregon Coast is Seaside. With its wide, sandy beach and majestic promenade, Seaside is a popular tourist destination. There are plenty of places to eat and shop, and the Seaside Aquarium is a must-see. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, whale watching, or just taking a leisurely stroll along the beach. Seaside Luxury Hotels Newport, RI, United States Newport is a picturesque town located in southern Rhode Island that is home to some of the most visited tourist destinations in the United States. The city is known for its miles of beaches and historic mansions that line the coast. Some popular places to visit in Newport include the Cliff Walk, the Breakers Mansion, the Museum of Yachting, and the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Newport Luxury Hotels Siena, Italy Siena, Italy is a popular tourist destination, thanks to its well-preserved medieval city center. The city is famous for its art, food, and wine. Siena is located in the heart of Tuscany, making it the perfect base for exploring this beautiful region of Italy. Don't miss the Duomo (cathedral), the Piazza del Campo, and the Torre del Mangia. Siena Luxury Hotels Reno, NV, United States Home to the University of Nevada, Reno and a wide variety of cultural and natural attractions, Reno is a great place to visit. Some of the top places to see in Reno include the Nevada Museum of Art, the Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center, and the Reno Events Center. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy hiking and skiing at Lake Tahoe and biking and kayaking on the Truckee River. In addition, Reno is home to a diverse array of restaurants and nightlife venues. Reno Luxury Hotels Atlantic City, NJ, United States Atlantic City is a popular East Coast tourist destination, known for its boardwalks, beaches and casinos. There are plenty of places to visit in Atlantic City, from the Boardwalk Hall and the Absecon Lighthouse to the Atlantic City Aquarium and Lucy the Elephant. For a more thrilling experience, head to one of the city's casinos, where you can try your hand at blackjack, slots, roulette and more. Atlantic City also offers a wide variety of restaurants, from seafood spots to pizza places, so you're sure to find something to your taste. And if you're looking for some nightlife action, the city has you covered there too. Atlantic City is definitely a place worth visiting!. Atlantic City Luxury Hotels Atlantic City Luxury Resorts Lake George, NY, United States Looking for a place to visit in upstate New York? Look no further than the stunning Lake George. This picturesque locale is located in the heart of the Adirondacks and is known for its pristine beauty and terrific recreational opportunities. Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, boating, fishing, and skiing, among other activities. Don't miss the chance to take in the spectacular views from the summit of Prospect Mountain or from the water's edge. Lake George Luxury Hotels Buffalo, NY, United States If you're looking for a city that has it all, Buffalo is the place to be. From its vibrant downtown district to its abundance of parks and nature preserves, there's something for everyone in Buffalo. Here are some of the top places to visit in Buffalo: 1. The Buffalo Zoo - One of the top zoos in the country, the Buffalo Zoo is a must-visit for animal lovers of all ages. 2. The Albright-Knox Art Gallery - Buffalo's answer to the Louvre, the Albright-Knox is home to some of the world's most famous paintings and sculptures. 3. The Buffalo-Niagara Heritage Village - This living history museum offers a glimpse into what life was like in Buffalo in the 1800s. 4. The Buffalo River - Take a walk or bike ride along the Buffalo River, one of the city's most picturesque areas. 5. Delaware Park - This large park is home to a variety of attractions, including a zoo, a golf course, and a nature preserve. Buffalo Luxury Hotels Rochester, MN, United States Rochester, Minnesota is a city with plenty of places to visit. There's the Mayo Clinic, the Apache Mall, and several other shopping areas, as well as a variety of restaurants. There are also a few parks and golf courses. For those who love the outdoors, Rochester is also close to several state parks and the Mississippi River. Rochester Luxury Hotels Duluth, MN, United States If you're looking for an amazing place to visit, Duluth, Minnesota should definitely be at the top of your list. This city is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States, and there are plenty of things to do here that will keep you entertained for days on end. Some of the most popular places to visit in Duluth include the Aerial Lift Bridge, the Glensheen Mansion, and Chester Creek Park. Additionally, there are a number of excellent restaurants and shopping areas in the city, so be sure to explore everything that Duluth has to offer. Duluth Luxury Hotels Maputo, Mozambique Maputo is the capital of Mozambique and a city full of culture and history. There are many places to visit in Maputo, such as the Jose Eduardo dos Santos Museum, the Maputo Cathedral, and the Rua da Independencia. Maputo is also home to the Maputo Bay, which offers beautiful beaches and great seafood. Maputo Luxury Hotels Barcelona, Spain Barcelona, located on the northeast coast of Spain, is a renowned tourist destination and one of the most popular cities in the world. There are plenty of places to visit in Barcelona, such as the Gothic Quarter, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Parc Guell, La Sagrada Familia, and more. The city is also home to a lively nightlife and some of the best restaurants in the country. Barcelona Luxury Hotels Barcelona Luxury Villas Split, Croatia Split is a city on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. It is the second-largest city in Croatia and the largest city in Dalmatia. It has a population of over 200,000 inhabitants. The metropolitan area, which includes the City of Split and the surrounding towns, has a population of over 330,000. Split is a popular tourist destination and is the home of the Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other popular tourist destinations include the Riva, the Peristyle, the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, and Sustipan. Split Luxury Hotels Split Luxury Villas Dubrovnik, Croatia Dubrovnik is a city on the Adriatic Sea in Croatia. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea, a seaport and the administrative center of Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Dubrovnik is nicknamed "The Pearl of the Adriatic". Dubrovnik Luxury Hotels Dubrovnik Luxury Villas Byron Bay, NSW, Australia Byron Bay is a magical place. It's no wonder that it's one of the most popular destinations in Australia. The town is set in a beautiful location, surrounded by rolling green hills and the bright blue ocean. There's plenty to do in Byron Bay, whether you're looking for a relaxing beach holiday or an adventure-filled trip. Some of the top places to visit in Byron Bay include the iconic lighthouse, the stunning beaches, and the lush rainforest. There's also a great nightlife and plenty of restaurants and cafes to enjoy. If you're looking for an amazing Australian getaway, be sure to add Byron Bay to your list!. Byron Bay Luxury Hotels Wellington, New Zealand If you're looking for a little slice of heaven on earth, look no further than Wellington, New Zealand. With its gorgeous landscape and plethora of activities, there's something for everyone here. Whether you're a nature lover or a city slicker, Wellington has something special to offer. Top Wellington attractions include the Zealandia eco-sanctuary, the cable car up to the Botanic Gardens, and the sprawling Te Papa museum. For those who love getting out into the great outdoors, there are plenty of hiking and biking trails, as well as lovely seaside towns and villages to explore. And of course, no trip to Wellington would be complete without trying some of the delicious local cuisine be sure to sample a traditional Maori hangi feast! So what are you waiting for? 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Monroe County Courthouse Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. A symphony orchestra performs under a glass pyramid at the Louvre museum in Paris. Accenture Strategy has created a symphonic experience enabled by human insight and artificial intelligence technology. (Michel Euler / AP) Creative acts are one of the human race's defining characteristics. The ability to turn thoughts into music or art or literature for the purposes of self expression has always helped to separate us from less-sophisticated species. But computers are catching up. Advertisement The consulting firm Accenture recently commissioned an original symphony composed with creative input from both human musicians and artificial intelligence software. "Symphonologie, the Music of Business" was performed live Tuesday by a 50-piece orchestra in the famous Louvre museum in Paris. Symphonologie's blend of human creativity and technical ingenuity is not a first, but it speaks to a future in art and music in which technology is not merely a creative tool, but an active participant in the creative process. Advertisement Accenture tapped New York City-based programmer Hannah Davis to parse through 220,000 words from business publications about how technology is disrupting the modern workplace. Software she developed as a graduate student, called TransProse, assessed the sentiment behind those words. Trust, anticipation and fear were the most common emotions, she found. The software then proposed melodic patterns to match the sentiments of the text, and Davis was able to manipulate features of the music, such as the octaves or tempo. A French composer named Mathieu Lamboley then wove those musical threads into a cohesive, eight-minute symphony. "This project was more of a collaboration between humans and computers," Davis said. "People are a little bit nervous to do that kind of thing, especially when it comes to art creation. To me, it's not something to be scared of." A data visual display featuring words, such as "robotics," "cloud" and "mobile," swirled across a large screen above the musicians' heads as they played. It was developed by a graphic artist with the assistance of technology. If Symphonologie seems like a publicity ploy, well, that's because it is. Accenture is not ordinarily in the business of composing classical music and performing it in French museums. The consulting firm hopes clients see the symphony and its combination of technology and artistry as a metaphor for the services it offers. "There is a lot of art in (business). No two management teams would come up with the same strategy. No two management teams would execute a strategy in the same way," said Mark Knickrehm, group chief executive at Accenture Strategy. Lin-Manuel Miranda kicked off his shoes (to show off his "Sunday in the Park with George" socks), Chris Jones picked up a mic to beatbox and a few thousand lucky "Hamilton" fans gathered together in the sold-out room to hear where the conversation happened between Miranda and Jones on Friday night. The creator of the megamusical that opens in previews in Chicago on Tuesday was at the Lyric Opera for "Lin-Manuel Miranda in Conversation with Chris Jones," presented by the Chicago Humanities Festival and the Chicago Tribune. Advertisement Their conversation covered "Hamilton," of course, but also veered into Miranda's upbringing in Manhattan, his roots in Puerto Rico and tidbits including the making of the "Love is love is love" Tony Awards acceptance speech. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 29 Lin Manuel-Miranda and Chris Jones talk as part of the Chicago Humanities Festival. (Todd Rosenberg Photography ) In the moment that received the biggest applause of the night, Miranda freestyled to a beat provided by Jones. Reading prompts on cue cards, Miranda hit Chicago theater, the Cubs, Chance the Rapper and pizza. Advertisement "He's even got the breaks," rapped Miranda. "Chris Jones has got what it takes." Also the Blues Brothers (who make Lin "shake his tooshie") and Oprah (Miranda swept across the stage with, "You get a car! You get a car! You get a car!") Earlier in the night, Miranda talked about the real Alexandar Hamilton, whom he met through reading Ron Chernow's biography. Miranda paraphrased the section that caught his eye: "'I may be said to be building castles in the air and I hope you won't think less of me. But we have seen such schemes successful when the projector is constant. I shall conclude by saying that I wish there was a war."' ... that's the best musical theater character you can hope for." About his upbringing in New York, Miranda said his first job was working at McDonald's, with the shift beginning at 10 a.m. "I was the one you yelled at," he said, "when you were too late for breakfast." He stays rooted by staying close to where he grew up, with the people who knew him when. The people who will help him out when he's headed into a neighborhood store that doesn't allow puppies. "Relax Usnavi," Miranda recounted a "construction dude" saying to him, calling him by the name of the lead character in his first Broadway musical "In the Heights." "I'll hold him 'til you get back." Lin-Manuel Miranda speaks about his childhood in Puerto Rico, his recent visit to Humboldt Park and answers an audience question in these moments from "Lin-Manuel Miranda in Conversation with Chris Jones" at the Civic Opera House Sept. 23. (Chicago Tribune) Miranda also spoke about his connection to Puerto Rico, speaking of his trips there as a young person, swapping him between that country and Manhattan. "It's an excellent recipe for making a writer," said Miranda. "If you make your kid just a little out of place everywhere he goes." Advertisement Lin-Manuel Miranda reflects on the day of the Tony Awards at "Lin-Manuel Miranda in Conversation with Chris Jones" at the Civic Opera House Sept. 23, 2016. (Chicago Tribune) In one of the more poignant moments, Miranda recalled how the now famous "Love is love is love" speech came to be. The Tony Awards were televised the same day as the nightclub shootings in Orlando. He said the day was full of rehearsals and he only saw the news later in the day. "And then I'm alone with my thoughts. I was thinking about my wife, I was thinking about my child and I could not stop thinking about what had happened that day," he said. "My job is to musicalize moments and meet the moment as honestly as I can. And sometimes the moment is presented to you in real time." Miranda said the phrase "Love is love" was inspired by the spirit of the gay community. Lin-Manuel Miranda chats with Janine Schaults about his favorite movie, first concert and favorite Chicago rapper backstage before joining Tribune Theater Critic Chris Jones in conversation at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Sept. 23, 2016. (Chicago Tribune) (Janine Schaults/Chicago Tribune) The evening ended with questions from the audience. How to revolutionize Broadway? "Start by getting the job." Advertisement What keeps you up at night? "Twitter." Any advice if someone tells you to get a "real job?" "That's good advice." But then. "Do what you love." In response to a final question about New York, and if Chicago was the second greatest city in the world, Miranda called out the city's inferiority issues. "Can I say something?" he said, "what's with your complex?" Advertisement He went on: "Guys, you're Chicago. You're the home of Laurie Metcalf and Jessie Mueller and Steppenwolf. And a million, a million, a million brilliant theater practitioners. Where else would we go?" Twitter @MorGreene RELATED STORIES: Inside Chicago's 'Hamilton' and how Lin-Manuel Miranda changed musicals Six more months of 'Hamilton' tickets go on sale Chicago's 'Hamilton' and other cast members announced Advertisement 'Hamilton' ticket rush creates long waits; secondary market prices reach $10,000 'Hamilton': Hip-hop and Founding Fathers in dazzling Broadway musical Jeremy McCarter's best-seller more than stands beside 'Hamilton' 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) At some point, in the dim and distant past of Washington, D.C., the profession of politics could be pursued without resorting to personal destruction. Or to put that another way senators and their staffers of different parties could fight like dogs on the Senate floor and then repair to some Georgetown party for a cocktail. Imbibed together. Nakedly so, maybe. It's worth noting in this moment that Alexander Hamilton had to deal with some pretty nasty attacks on the part of his fellow Founding Fathers. In fact, you could argue that America was founded on bitter dissent. But in the liberal lockbox of the mind, anyway, that cozy era of convivial chitter-chatter came to an end with the rise of Ronald Reagan and the conservative ideologues from the House and Senate who rode to town on his coattails in the early 1980s. Thereafter, the argument goes, collegiality and cocktail diplomacy was dead, partisanship warmly embraced the bitter and Washington, and thus the country, and thus the world, was diminished by the number of legislators who only knew each other enough to hate each other. Advertisement "The City of Conversation," the truly superb, deeply involving 2014 play by Anthony Giardina about the death of inside-the-beltway conviviality, is set in the comfortable home of a Washington hostess and Democratic political fixer she's called Hester Ferris here and played at the Northlight Theatre by Lia Mortensen. It's 1979, the beginning of the end, you might say. The first crack in the formidable Hester's armor appears when her son Colin (Greg Matthew Anderson) arrives home from the London School of Economics with a new fiancee, Anna Fitzgerald (Mattie Hawkinson), whom his mother immediately recognizes as a dangerously ambitious climber. She's also a conservative. Colin a malleable child of privilege who lacks his mother's drive and ideological determination is entranced by Anna's beauty and brains. Sides are taken. When the fight over Robert Bork's nomination to the Supreme Court erupts and further trashes civility all politics now being personal Anna pulls out the most powerful weapon, access to Hester's young grandchild. Whom Hester loves. Is it worth folding your political tent for the love of a child? Advertisement The question makes you shiver, does it not? So. There you have a very juicy, well-made play that is no font of formative experimentation but is nonetheless a rarity in American theater a sharp commentary on Washington politics and personal behavior, then and now. Giardina clearly sympathizes most of all with Hester, who has to fend off this Minnesota Eve Harrington, but it's not an adoring portrait nor a characterization oblivious to the flaws and inequalities of the old system. To its credit, this sharply written drama, justly acclaimed when it premiered at New York's Lincoln Center, allows for the notion that all politics should be personal, especially since those legislative matters often make their way into the bedroom or the doctor's office. And it also acknowledges the argument that the old ways of drinks and persuasion were anti-democratic and served no one but those sipping the drinks. The rising young director Marti Lyons obviously figured out that Anna could not be a harpy, and she found Hawkinson, who comes armed with a performance that's at once appealing, warm and totally terrifying. I really admire this particular piece of acting mostly because of the way it captures, without resorting to stereotype, those who just are so certain of that in which they believe that they genuinely don't understand shading and nuance. Mortensen's performance still had a way to travel at the final preview I saw Thursday night, but the building blocks were there. And as the third member of this love triangle pulled until his head explodes, Anderson's work is also very clever in the way it reveals the truths of his man only over time. There's also a rich cameo from the formidable Natalie West as Jean, Hester's sister, and a gentler character who is there to remind us that power is fleeting, aging follows youth and that we might all do better to be guided by deeper values than you typically find drinking in Georgetown. Chris Jones is a Chicago Tribune critic. cjones5@chicagotribune.com Twitter@ChrisJonesTrib REVIEW: "The City of Conversation" (3.5 STARS) Advertisement When: Through Oct. 23 Where: Northlight Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie Running time: 2 hours Tickets: $30-$81 at 847-673-6300 or northlight.org Maine East High School teacher Jennifer Conlon is using a variety of methods to teach about this year's presidential election on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016 in Park Ridge. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Lizzie Teuber, an 8th-grade history teacher, is trying to balance competing interests this fall: a boy who wears a "Make America Great Again" T-shirt, a girl who strongly supports Hilary Clinton, and her own desire to help all her students understand an election process they will soon become part of themselves. It's a tall order that Teuber admits she was leery of at the start of the school year at Barrington Middle School's Prairie Campus, while across the country presidential candidates Clinton and Donald Trump continue to battle in what has been called one of the most negative political matches in decades. Advertisement "I think because it's a very emotional election, and very charged and very intense. ... I am fearful that their feelings will get hurt," Teuber said of her students. "I tell them all the time, 'Middle school is hard enough, we don't have to make it harder on each other.' " With less than two months until the November election, educators across the country say the nature of this year's presidential race has required thoughtful new approaches to teaching students about elections and how Democracy works. Advertisement A recent survey of teachers by Teaching Tolerance, a division of the nonpartisan Southern Poverty Law Center, found that more than two-thirds of teachers have students who have expressed concerns about what might happen to them or their families after the election. More than half of teachers have seen an increase in uncivil political discourse at school. And more than 40 percent are hesitant to teach about the election at all. Maine East High School social studies teacher Jennifer Conlon writes down issues her students think are important for this year's presidential election, at the Park Ridge school Sept. 20, 2016. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) Recognizing these challenges, Mikva Challenge, a nonpartisan organization in Chicago that aims to develop youths into active citizens and community leaders, has opted to focus on local political races this fall instead of the presidential election such as the contest between Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk and his Democratic challenger, Tammy Duckworth. "It's a controversial season for sure, and it is presenting some unique challenges," said Meghan Goldenstein, elections in action program director for Mikva Challenge. "In a time when the political climate is increasingly polarized... we're sort of playing the long game." Meanwhile, other civics and government teachers say they have retooled their lesson plans to focus less on the candidates and more on the issues or the election process. Still others say they have struggled to draw their students into the election at all perhaps, they say, because young people have been turned off by what they've seen. "There's just something about the candidates that they're having a harder time, they're just not that enthused about them," said Jen Conlon, who teaches government classes at Maine East High School in Park Ridge, which Clinton attended for three years. Conlon, who teaches Advanced Placement classes and leads the school's Government and Politics Club, said students' interest in the presidential election has been noticeably lacking this year. She plans to host a Debate Party in her classroom at Maine East for Monday's first face-off between the two candidates. She's not sure if anyone will attend. "I think my students are very caring people and they're concerned about their future. They will participate and they will vote," she said. "But I think they've been offended by the tone of some of the comments." At Nequa Valley High School in Naperville, AP American government and politics teacher Kelli Tufo said she has tried to seize the teachable moments that arose when students walked into classroom asking whether Hilary Clinton lied about her classified emails, or why Donald Trump's son would compare Syrian refugees to poisoned Skittles. Advertisement "It's actually really helpful as a teacher. They want to know, they want to understand," Tufo said. "We talk about it and we try to say, 'What is the issue?' " Tufo added, however, that as her students are continually exposed to and taught to decipher the negativity and name-calling from both parties, she worries how it will impact their perception of government in the future. "Democracy is fragile; it relies on the people," Tufo said. "If that belief in democracy is harmed, in the long term, are we eroding some of that trust in government, that belief in our system?" In Barrington, Teuber said it has been frustrating trying to instill lessons of respect and tolerance in her impressionable middle schoolers when the political leaders they are discussing don't always display those traits themselves. "I had a student say after class today: 'I don't understand why each chooses to put the other down when they can both rise above and be better' a 13-year-old!" Teuber said. These frustrations make it more important than ever for teachers to step in and assign some order to what students are witnessing, said Jonathan Zimmerman, a professor of history of education at the University of Pennsylvania, and author of a soon-to-be released book, "An Uneasy Quiet: Teaching Controversial Issues in American Schools." Advertisement Zimmerman said while teachers may be hesitant to show students their personal political leanings, research shows it isn't necessary for educators to pretend they are neutral when students know they are not. What's more important, he said, is that teachers make it clear that students are not expected to share their point of view, but are encouraged to become informed so they can make decisions on their own. "The burden on schools has never been greater than it is now, because we're in such a low point in our national civic discourse," Zimmerman said. "Our schools are a central public institution for preparing people for citizenship. Our schools have to counter. They have to fight and resist the nastiness and a mutual recrimination that surrounds all of us right now." To help educators with the mission, Teaching Tolerance, which began in the early 1990s as an effort to reduce all forms of prejudice and make schools more inclusive, has published tips for teachers on how to educate students about this year's election. They include protecting marginalized students by barring name-calling and setting ground rules, staying narrow in teaching objectives and not feeling obligated to discuss everything a candidate says, and encouraging media literacy to help students to fact-check all they hear, said Maureen Costello, director of Teaching Tolerance. At Bartlett High School, 17-year-old seniors Kristen Leever and Samantha Mead say stories about Clinton and Trump have been consistently showing up in their social media feeds for months, but that hasn't made either of the girls any more interested. "From what I've heard, I don't think either of them would be very good to lead a country," Mead said. Advertisement "I feel like it's almost like picking out of two things that you don't want, you just have to pick which is a little better than the other," Leever added. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Their civics teacher, Larry Pahl, will do his part next week to try to bring their interest back, when he and another teacher introduce a presidential mock election for 250 kids. For the exercise, students will be nominated to take on the roles of Clinton, Trump, and libertarian and green party candidates. They will give speeches recorded on video to be shown to each of the classes based on actual views of the candidates. Students will be assigned to research and write the speeches, cover them as reporters and ultimately cast their own votes. Pahl said that using video gives teachers the opportunity to edit language or behavior deemed inappropriate for the classroom. But as of now, that isn't his primary concern, he added. He's more worried that his students are already uninterested in the process. "I fear that when I say to my 7th-period class, 'Who wants to run for president?' I'm afraid I won't see any hands up." Advertisement vortiz@chicagotribune.com Twitter @vikkiortiz Lamar Chambers was ordered held in lieu of $1 million bail in the killing early Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, in the 5100 block of South Honore Street of Bruce E. Smith, 51. (Chicago police photo / ) A 25-year-old man has been charged with shooting to death a Back of the Yards man in front of his home this week, authorities said. Lamar Chambers was ordered held in lieu of $1 million bail Friday in the killing early Wednesday in the 5100 block of South Honore Street of Bruce E. Smith, 51. Advertisement Chambers is charged with shooting Smith in front of Smith's home about 12:35 a.m. on Wednesday. Smith was shot after he had an argument with someone, police said after his killing. Advertisement Smith was pronounced dead at 12:55 a.m. Wednesday at Stroger Hospital. He died from a gunshot wound to the chest, the medical examiner's office determined following an autopsy. Chambers, who is due back in court on Oct. 12, lives in the 11000 b lock of South Green Street, according to court records. Stickers are attached to a mailbox at the scene of a shooting Aug. 27, 2016, at Hoyne and Maypole avenues in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) A man found not guilty in the 2006 killing of a postal worker died this week after being shot while leaving a home in the West Town neighborhood in late August, according to officials and court records. Marvin Keyes, 33, was pronounced dead at 7:07 p.m. Thursday at Stroger Hospital following the shooting in the 100 block of North Hoyne Avenue on Aug. 27, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. He died from complications from suffering multiple gunshot wounds, the office determined following an autopsy Saturday. Advertisement Keyes was shot about 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 27 while he was leaving a home near Hoyne and Maypole, according to police. Someone got out of a silver car and opened fire, hitting Keyes in the head, arm and both legs, police said. He was taken to Stroger, initially in critical condition. Keyes had turned 33 the day before he was shot, according to public records. Advertisement Court and police records show no one has been charged in Keyes' shooting. Keyes, of the 3600 block of West Douglas Boulevard, was found not guilty in April 2009 of the Dec. 14, 2006, killing of Suzette Coleman, 44. Prosecutors had alleged Coleman died after she was caught in the crossfire of a shootout between Keyes and another man outside her home in the 1300 block of South Millard Avenue. After a hung jury in January 2009, Keyes was found not guilty of murder in April 2009. But he pled guilty in a separate shooting that took place earlier Dec. 14, 2006, on his own block on Douglas, and was given six years in prison, although he was credited with substantial time served. Court records show no arrests or convictions for Keyes since that time. Ernest DeCarlos Starks, 42, is wanted on a warrant from Peoria County on child pornography and aggravated criminal sexual assault charges. (Peoria Police Department) A sex offender from Peoria wanted on child pornography and sex assault charges who has been known to spend time in Englewood was arrested Friday afternoon, police said. Ernest DeCarlos Starks, 42, had a warrant for his arrest issued Tuesday after he was indicted in connection with incidents between June and early September, police. Advertisement Police on Wednesday asked for the public's help finding Starks, and about 4:45 p.m. Friday, Peoria police and members of the U.S. Marshalls Fugitive Task Force received information about where they could find him, according to a news release from Peoria police. He was arrested not long after in the 2700 block of West Forrest Hill Avenue in Peoria. Starks is a registered sexual predator because he was convicted in a 2005 case involving the aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a 16-year-old child when Starks was 37, and convicted in a 2011 case of a separate charge of sexual abuse of a child younger than age 13, according to the state sex offender registry and court records. Advertisement Peoria detectives obtained the search warrant after conducting a sexual assault and child pornography investigation, according to police. The former St. Boniface Roman Catholic Church, a fixture on Chicago's Near Northwest Side for more than a century, appears to have been saved from the wrecking ball as part of a proposed deal to turn the building into condos and a music school. The city's Department of Planning and Development said the property was purchased Friday by Stas Development, which intends to rehab the structure into 15 dwelling units. The plan also calls for a new 24-unit residential building and a Chicago Academy of Music school. Advertisement Without the sale, the building's previous owner could have obtained a demolition permit as early as next week, said Ward Miller, executive director of Preservation Chicago, an advocacy group. The shuttered St. Boniface Roman Catholic Church building, at 1358 W. Chestnut St., just north of Eckhart Park in Chicago, appears headed into redevelopment as residential space and a music school. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) "We're just elated," said Miller, who noted that the church had made the preservation group's first list of endangered Chicago buildings released in 2002. Advertisement Eleanor Esser Gorski, deputy commissioner of the planning department's historic preservation division, said the new owners are expected to submit a proposal to the city later this fall. A redevelopment agreement needs to be reached with the city, and public hearings must be held as part of the zoning process, she said. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > The former red-brick church, at 1348 W. Chestnut St., can be seen from the Kennedy Expressway with its four square towers rising into the sky. St. Boniface has been used only sporadically since it was shuttered in 1989 by the Archdiocese of Chicago, beset by the high cost of maintaining historic churches. A column lies on the ground on the east side of St. Boniface Church in Chicago on July 27, 2016. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) Organized in 1864 and originally housed in a wood-frame structure, St. Boniface survived the Chicago Fire of 1871. It was a refuge for Chicagoans displaced by the blaze. Many of them eventually moved to the surrounding neighborhood, building it up and constructing the brick edifice that was completed in 1904. In time, the parish became predominantly Polish. Decades later it became largely Latino. Today the neighborhood is gentrifying, with new condo and apartment buildings popping up. But the church's prospects for survival had appeared to be as rickety as the structure itself. In July, the city's Buildings Department issued a demolition permit for the building, then put a temporary hold on the permit after a developer who wanted to tear down the church bought the debt for the building from the bank that held the mortgage. lford@chicagotribune.com Twitter @ltaford Chicago auto mechanic Fidel Urbina, a suspect in the slaying of a customer, was captured by Mexican authorities after 17 years on the run, according to the FBI. Urbina was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in 2012. (FBI) Chicago auto mechanic Fidel Urbina was free on bond and awaiting trial in the brutal 1998 kidnapping and rape of a waitress when authorities say he struck again. This time, Urbina allegedly sexually assaulted and strangled a 22-year-old woman who'd brought her car in for service at the Southwest Side auto body shop where he worked, according to police. Authorities found Gabriela Torres' body stuffed in the trunk of a car, which had been pushed into the alley in the 2300 block of West 50th Street and set ablaze. Advertisement By the time police went to question Urbina, he'd vanished. On Friday, after 17 years on the run, Urbina was captured by Mexican authorities in a tiny village called El Polvo in a remote part of the border state of Chihuahua, according to the FBI. Advertisement Urbina, who was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in 2012 and whose case was profiled on the TV program "America's Most Wanted," was taken to a federal prison in Mexico City where he is awaiting extradition to the U.S. on federal charges of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, authorities said. He also faces pending criminal charges in Cook County in both the 1998 kidnapping case as well as in the rape and slaying of Torres, records show. Urbina, 37, last lived in the 2100 block of South Fairfield Avenue in the Little Village neighborhood. Police alleged that in March 1998, he offered a waitress a ride home from a bar after her shift ended but instead drove her to a garage and beat and sexually assaulted her. Later, he forced her to his residence where he raped her repeatedly, according to police. She was able to escape after he fell asleep and Urbina was arrested and charged several days later, according to authorities. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Urbina, a native of Durango, Mexico, posted 10 percent of the $70,000 bond and was freed from Cook County Jail, according to an FBI sworn statement filed with the flight charges. On Oct. 21, 1998, Urbina was working in the body shop when Torres took her car in to get the brakes fixed. Authorities allege Urbina raped, beat and strangled Torres inside the shop before binding her body and stuffing it in the trunk of a stolen 1990 Chevrolet Lumina. According to police, Urbina enlisted the help of two men to push the car into a nearby alley, where he doused the vehicle with gasoline and lit it on fire. The two men were seen running from the burning vehicle and were later arrested and charged with arson, although there was no evidence they were aware that Torres' body was in the trunk. Five days later, Urbina failed to appear for a court date on the rape case and a warrant was issued for his arrest, records show. His girlfriend, who lived with him at the time, told police he'd left their apartment abruptly on the day of the slaying, telling her "he was going back to Mexico," according to court records. An immigration court later held a hearing in absentia and ordered Urbina deported, federal court records show. Advertisement jmeisner@chicagotribune.com Twitter @jmetr22b This is a remarkable exchange from a recent interview with Donald Trump on "Fox and Friends": Questioner: "Lester Holt should he be a moderator, and just ask questions, or should he be a fact-checker, where he asks a question, and if somebody says something that he thinks is wrong, that he's gonna try to correct the record? What would you like to see a moderator, or a fact-checker?" Advertisement Trump: Well, I think he has to be a moderator. You're debating somebody, and if she makes a mistake, or if I make a mistake, we'll take each other on. But I certainly don't think you want Candy Crowley again. Questioner: (Snickers knowingly.) "She was wrong!" Advertisement Trump: "I really don't think you want that. That was a very pivotal moment in that debate. And it really threw the debate off. And it was unfair. So I don't think you want that. No, I think you have to have somebody that just lets 'em argue it out. "You know, I think there's a lot of pressure on Lester. I think Lester's a very good person, a very good man. I think there's a lot of pressure on him. You know, when I had the town hall with Hillary (Clinton), I did well, and I had tough questions. But the polls all had her taking a drubbing. ...They went after Matt Lauer, and I've never seen anything like it. ... That's what they're doing with Lester Holt and a lot of people are watching to see whether he succumbs to that pressure." As you may recall, during one of the 2012 debates, CNN's Candy Crowley gently pointed out that Mitt Romney was wrong when he said President Barack Obama had not immediately called the Benghazi attacks an "act of terror." The wrath of Romney supporters bore down on Crowley for days in the wake of this shocking transgression. But, despite the snickering on "Fox and Friends" about this, Crowley was basically right: On the day after the attacks, Obama said: "no acts of terror will ever shake the resolve of this great nation." It would not be unreasonable for the upcoming debates' moderators to hear Trump's allusion to Crowley and conclude that if they challenge him on the facts, they can expect to be subjected to days and days of rage and abuse from his surrogates and supporters, just as she was. After all, as he put it, "a lot of people" (i.e., his supporters) will see such conduct as "succumbing" to pressure from Hillary Clinton supporters, and they're "watching" for that. It's true, as Trump argues, that Clinton and her supporters went hard after Lauer after the recent town hall, because they were unhappy with his soft questioning of Trump, and that many went on to cite the Lauer failure as a cautionary tale for the debate moderators to avoid. This, as Trump notes, is also a form of pressure and ref-gaming. But the careful observer will note an important difference here. Many of those who criticized Lauer's performance faulted him for failing to challenge Trump's well-documented falsehoods in real time (in particular, his claim that he opposed the Iraq War). By contrast, Trump is telegraphing that his supporters will hammer the moderators if they do challenge his well-documented falsehoods in real time. In other words, one side wants the moderators to hold the candidates accountable, and the other doesn't. We can argue endlessly over whether those in the former camp are trying to game the debates so that Trump faces tougher questioning than Clinton. But the bottom line is that, given that it is simply true that Trump lies a lot more frequently, audaciously and egregiously than Clinton, and that it took many months before this was widely acknowledged in the press, most Clinton supporters would probably be just fine with equivalent treatment of both of their assertions at the debate, and if they aren't, they should be. Advertisement Some have argued that when it comes to how the moderators conduct the debates, there is an important difference between fact-checking the candidates and subjecting them to persistent follow-up questions, and that moderators should focus on the latter. But in a way, the distinction isn't really that important here. Trump essentially stated outright on Fox above that the moderators' proper role should be to get out of the way entirely and let the candidates go at it with one another a free-for-all format that he probably expects to dominate, given his reality TV experience. In other words, Trump is putting the moderators on notice that they have no business playing an aggressive role in trying to inform the public about whether what the candidates are saying is true or not. It's hard to imagine that any self-respecting journalist would willingly submit to Trump's directive. Washington Post Greg Sargent writes the liberal Plum Line blog for The Washington Post. Chicago continues to be positioned in the southernmost section of Canadian-source high pressure system centered north of Lake Huron. As the high shifts slowly east, our winds will again flow out of the east during the day Saturday, shifting more southeasterly on Saturday night. While there may be a few very light showers or drizzle, our next chance of significant rainfall appears to be Sunday afternoon, as a cold front moves into western Illinois and approaches the Chicago area. The cold front will likely pass through here overnight. Showers and thunderstorms are likely, with rain ending from west to east during the predawn and early-morning hours Monday. Advertisement Much cooler, more fall-like conditions will then move in with a low pressure system. Some showers will be possible Monday afternoon. Temperatures will top out in the mid- to upper 60s close to or just below normal for late September. It's been a long time since we've experienced below-normal temperatures in Chicago 12 consecutive days as of Friday, counting Saturday and Sunday it should reach 14 straight above-normal days before finally dropping below normal Monday. Brian Wogernese was driving on Bridge Street in Chippewa Falls with his wife, Kim, just over a year ago when they noticed an empty lot kiddie corner from what is now the Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce building. The McDonell Central Catholic High School alumni could see it plainly: A downtown hotel that would fit right into the community. Kim persuaded Brian, CEO of Cobblestone Hotels & Suites, to bring the idea to the citys planner, Jayson Smith. Under a year later, the couple stood with their children inside the finished product Thursday night during the hotels grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting. Im not a guy that comes in and tears down buildings, so had this site not been empty we would have kept driving, Brian Wogernese said. Now, the hotel on Bridge Street is the prototype of all Cobblestones main street hotels, one of which just broke ground in Stevens Point. Several others are in the works in Barron, Menomonie, New Richmond and Ashland. Theres a lot that came out of this project, Brian Wogernese said. This is our flagship property, and everything we do going forward we will always compare as a company what we did here. Some of the hotel features include cozy rooms, extended-stay suites, the already-buzzing Wissota Chophouse and a lobby that feels like your own living room, complete with a photo of the Leinenkugel Brewing Companys bottling line on the wall. Another personal touch, Wogernese told the ribbon cutting crowd the man in the background of photo is, in fact, Sidney Hebert, Kim Wogerneses grandfather. Business members of the community shared in the celebration, commending Wogernese on a truly spectacular building. As excited as they were for the family and staff of the hotel, Teri Ouimette pointed out it is also an exciting moment for themselves. We can congratulate him, and we do, but boy are we very lucky, Ouimette said. It will definitely have an economic impact on the community and the downtown businesses, hugely, from gas to groceries to shopping to boutiques to restaurants. Were thrilled with it. The location makes it simple for guests to leave the hotel and find plenty to taste, see, do and hear just a short walk up the street. Sheldon Gough, co-owner of Foreign 5, said he is certain the hotel will impact Lucys Delicatessen during the lunch hour. He hopes the businesss shops will benefit as well. He couldnt find any reason to be concerned. None at all, I think its great for the city and great for us, Gough said. Im looking forward to having them as neighbors. Jackie Boos, the Chambers tourism director, said the addition of another hotel in the city will also have an impact on the tourism industry. Over the last year in Wisconsin, room demand has increased by 2.1 percent, Boos said. While there are low selling times, Boos pointed out in the summer a variety of festivals increases the demand for rooms. You are hard pressed to find a weekend during the summer months where there is not a large scale event ... and during those times we see an overflow (of guests) into Eau Claire County or vice versa, she said. Increasing the citys hotel room tax collection also assists with the average daily rate of a hotel room, which is not only good for visitors but also assists with contracting groups. And thats where the businesses are impacted. Guests who spend less on hotels are more likely to have additional expenditures during their stay, Boos said. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. While campaigning earlier this year, Donald Trump insisted the unemployment rate in this state was 20 percent. In reality, it was about 4.5 percent then and has only dropped since. He said Wisconsin has a stagnant economy with a budget deficit of $2.2 billion. In fact, the state is on track to have a balanced budget. Lying. They say we all do it, sooner or later. But the cost of being discovered in a lie is painfully high. Usually. Like when Hillary Clinton absurdly said FBI director James Comey more or less exonerated her in her mishandling of emails while she was secretary of state because he didnt recommend she be charged with a crime. She was accused of lying because he actually said she had shown extreme carelessness in using a private server that could have compromised national security. She paid a high price, losing the confidence of many voters. But Trumps pattern of lying is so amazingly blatant there is no comparison. He has crisscrossed the country telling dozens of lies. During four and a half hours of speeches, Politico found Trump lied, on average, once every five minutes. In one town hall meeting, he lied 71 times. Trump falsely insisted for years that President Barack Obama wasnt born in America. Then he flatly lied by saying Clinton started birtherism and he finished it. He lied by claiming Obama and Hillary founded the Islamic State terrorist network. He said he lost hundreds of friends on 9/11. He did not. He said he saw thousands in New Jersey cheering when the towers fell. It did not happen. He said he is unable to release his tax returns because he is being audited. That is not true. The IRS says he could release them. He said its impossible to vet refugees. That is not true. Refugees face intense scrutiny, involving hours of interrogation and months of background checks. He said he gives millions to charity through his foundation. Since 2009 he has given no money to his foundation he used other peoples money, what he calls OPM. He used their donations to settle legal claims against him, according to The Washington Post. Character matters, and Trumps character is appalling. He is running because he is convinced he can win. A Trump presidency would be alarming. But worse is what he is doing to the already damaged national psyche. A Trump presidency would shred Americas waning optimism because he will not be able to do the things he boasts hell do create millions of high-wage jobs, revitalize inner cities, eliminate home-grown terrorism, and send undocumented immigrants home. It is foolhardy to believe he will. Not one of his policies stands up to even surface scrutiny. If elected, Trump will alienate allies, start wars, befriend dictators who are nice to him, cut taxes on the rich, ignore the middle class, perpetuate inequality and foster his business interests. (No law requires him to divest his real estate properties, nor would a blind trust work.) If Trump loses, he will say the system is rigged, causing more chaos and discouragement. This election is not about liberalism vs. conservatism, big government vs. individualism, a can-do, take-charge attitude vs. submitting to the status quo. This is about realism and whether we are willing to work for the countrys best interests long term. This election should not be about change if it means changing for the worse, destroying the fabric of our nation by electing a man who thinks nothing of routine lying, even knowing he will be caught. Many, not all, politicians have been dishonest. But we are in danger of creating an age of what is being called post-truth politics, where evidence and facts are scorned and the idea is not to search for truth but inspire passion, fear and hatred in supporters. Trump lies because he wants to tell people what he thinks they want to hear. People believe Trump because it takes more effort to disprove him than accept his lies. He never says he is sorry because he is not. That is not a great leader. That is a dangerously flawed, inherently insecure little man. Beijing aims to become one of the world's influential technology centers by 2020, a senior official said on Friday. Yan Aoshuang, head of the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, said during a news conference that the city has advantages in science and technological development and will carry out a series of policies to build itself into a center of innovation. According to the commission, by the end of 2015, half the academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering - the top think tanks in China - were working in Beijing. The capital is also home to 412 scientific research institutions, the most in the country. "Beijing will actively work on attracting national labs to the city," she said. "Meanwhile, the city will start several innovative projects, including ecological environment protection, food security, healthcare and city construction, in order to boost technological development." Beijing has 12,000 high-tech companies, accounting for one-sixth of the nation's total. There are 3,800 venture capital investment and equity investment management companies in Beijing, controlling 1.6 trillion yuan (US$240 billion), which provides strong capital resources for research development. According to the commission, almost six percent of Beijing's GDP was in the research and development sector in 2015. Li Changping, deputy head of Haidian District in Beijing, said the district has established 40-some funds with 17 billion yuan to support research. "The local government of Haidian District committed to invest around three billion yuan to introduce more social capital to promote commercialization of technological research achievements," she said. Based on the central government's Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integrated development plan, Beijing will cooperate with its neighbors to boost scientific research. "Beijing will accelerate technology imports, financial support and the transformation of intellectual property rights in the innovation sector, which can then be applied to other areas in China," said Lin Xiaofeng, head of the technology department of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform. The author poses at a scenic spot in Ruijin, east China's Jiangxi province, Sept. 21, 2016. Ruijin, which is known as the cradle of the People's Republic of China and the starting point of the Long March of the Red Army, once served as the capital of the China Soviet Republic and the Red Army headquarters. [photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Witnessing the 80th anniversary of the Long March is something I have longed for ever since coming to China eight years ago. I always wanted to get closer to where it all began - the historical roots of the momentous event that led to the founding of the new China. I became interested in China at a young age after my mother returned from a trip to China with books, magazines and amazing photos of interesting places. As a child, I was particularly fascinated by the delicacies, the vast plains and the captivating smiles of Chinese friends my mum took photos with. What was missing in those books and magazines were historical facts that made those smiles possible, probably because I couldnt read Chinese, but clearly there werent photos depicting the struggles that the freedoms fighters or the Red Army encountered on their way to victory. It wasn't until recently that I heard the stories surrounding the Long March. An epic miraculous story often ignored by western historians. Having read, watched and listened to historical accounts of the Long March, I was inclined to relegate it as just one of those miracles, but after subsequent reviews and in-depth research Im confident that this wasnt just any miracle. I read of the struggles. Imagine climbing through some of the highest mountain ranges on earth, fording flooded rivers without any boats or safety equipment, and crossing rickety rope bridges while under enemy fire. Imagine being one of the soldiers on this march This is the reality of the Chinese Red Army's Long March from 1934 to 1936. That struggle is still evident today, the resilience and the zeal of the Chinese people to be victorious and successful. Today, the world over, everyone wants to share in the Chinese dream, people come from far to witness the Chinese success story, a development model based on communist ideals and principles. A community built by the people for the people. Chinas development model has been explored by many experts around the world; it has received praise and acceptance as a world-class model suitable for a country the size of China. What most experts leave out is what exactly makes the model thrive and sustainable. From what I have observed is that spirit of the long march, that perseverance and the will to overcome every obstruction in the course of development. That is what most developing countries can learn from China - the never-give-up spirit. It is something that one only witnesses while living in China where migrants travel across mountains, hills and valleys to contribute in building the new China. That March hasnt stopped; it continues today, as people from all over the country connected by roads, rail and air march towards the Chinese dreams. That marched has transcended the borders of China, as Chinese development ideals and principles are exported to countries in Africa, Latin America, Europe and the Americas. Chinese investment is welcomed everywhere around the world. The Chinese model of development is a phenomenon unprecedented in history. It is recognised as an outstanding model by both developed and developing nations who are eager to replicate the model to their benefit. African countries, for example, having witnessed the success and achievements of China are increasingly engaging with China. The seeds of this model unknown to many were sown during the Long March. It is that same spirit that makes the Chinese development model thrives and sustainable. Personally, it has taken me long enough to accept that I cannot become Chinese but I can certainly share in the Chinese dream by telling the China story, the story of the Long March, the story of nation building, a story of true perseverance and the collective will to overcome forces of tyranny and oppression. It is that story that I intend to share with my fellow countrymen, all Africans and my friends around the world. Flash A 23-truck convoy was able to deliver life-saving assistance to 35,000 people trapped in the besieged Syrian town of Madamiyet on Thursday, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported Friday. "The assistance included food, medical supplies, nutrition, education, and non-food supplies. The trucks and the drivers returned safely to Damascus after delivery," said OCHA spokesman Jens Laerke. Located in rural Damascus, the area was last reached two months ago. Thursday's delivery means that almost 1.3 million people have been reached across the war-torn country since relief operations kicked off earlier this year. This has been done through 115 inter-agency convoys, 85 airlifts, and 122 airdrops, Laerke said. "We continue to plan for further cross-line and cross-border deliveries as soon as conditions on the ground allow us to do so," he added. Syria's five-year civil-war has meant that some 13.5 million civilians are in need of assistance, of which almost 5.5 million are living in besieged and hard-to-reach areas. Flash U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday vetoed a bill that would allow the families of the Sept. 11 terror attacks' victims to sue Saudi Arabia in U.S. courts. The bill, named Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), would remove the sovereign immunity in U.S. courts from Saudi government, which is not designated state sponsor of terrorism by the United States. In a letter of notice to the Senate, Obama said that he made the decision because the bill "would be detrimental to U.S. national interests." "Enacting JASTA into law, however, would neither protect Americans from terrorist attacks nor improve the effectiveness of our response to such attacks," Obama said. Obama listed three reasons behind his decision to veto the bill that was passed by both chambers of U.S. Congress. First, the bill threatens to reduce the effectiveness of U.S. response to a foreign government that supports terrorism, by taking such matters out of the hands of national security and foreign policy professionals who will designate a state sponsor of terrorism after careful reviews. Second, the bill would upset longstanding international principles regarding sovereign immunity, putting in place rules that, if applied globally, could have serious implications for U.S. national interests as the U.S. has larger international presence than any other country. Third, the bill threatens to create complications in U.S. relationships with even its closest partners, whose counterterrorism cooperation with the U.S. will be limited in future. Families of the Sept. 11 victims have been trying to sue the Saudi royal family, Saudi banks and charities in U.S. courts, on ground that the Saudi government provided financial support for terrorism. Bin Laden, the mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks which killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, Washington D.C. area and Pennsylvania, was a wealthy Saudi national. But the families' efforts have largely been stymied, in part because of a 1976 law that gives foreign nations some immunity from lawsuits in American courts. The JASTA has already drawn strong criticism from the Saudi government, a close U.S. partner in fighting terrorism in the Middle East, which has denied any role in the plot of the 2001 terror attacks. Saudi Arabia has also threatened to sell off hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of American assets held by the kingdom if the U.S. passes and enacts the bill. It requires votes from two-thirds of the members in the House and Senate to override a presidential veto. The White House is working hard to prevent the Republican-controlled Congress from overriding the veto, said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. "I can confirm for you that we continue to make a forceful case to members of Congress that overriding the president's veto means that this country will start pursuing a less forceful approach in dealing with state sponsors of terrorism and potentially opens up U.S. servicemembers and diplomats and even companies to spurious lawsuits in kangaroo courts around the world," Earnest told a news briefing Friday. Flash One man was fatally shot and another suspect detained Friday by police in the U.S. city of Baltimore, Maryland, local media reported. The shooting took place in the Brooklandville area in north of Baltimore, where police were responding to a robbery at the Wells Fargo Bank in the 1500 block of Reisterstown Road, the reports said. The victim was shot while fleeing the scene in a car, and the second suspect, reportedly involved in multiple other recent bank robberies, was wounded and taken to a hospital for treatment, police spokesman John Wachter was quoted as saying. Wachter said one of the police officers was wearing a body camera, but the police video was not reviewed yet. It remained unknown whether the officer with the camera was the one who fired the weapon. The identities of the victim and the second suspect were not released. Friday's shooting followed two other recent deaths of people engaged in some ways with county police, according to a report by The Baltimore Sun. A 21-year-old man named Tawon Boyd died on Wednesday after he was wounded in a confrontation with police on Sunday in Essex. The police have also been criticized for the death of Korryn Gaines, 23, who was fatally shot by an officer in her apartment last month. Police said she pointed a shotgun at the officers during the standoff. The Friday shooting also came after three days of protests and violence in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, that were sparked by Tuesday's fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, a black man, by a local police officer. You are here: Home Flash A shooting at a mall north of Seattle in the U.S. State of Washington killed four people on Friday night. [Photo/Xinhua] A shooting at a mall north of Seattle in the U.S. State of Washington killed four people on Friday night. Washington State Patrol in the U.S. Pacific Northwest state said a lone gunman is on the loose after the incident, which took place at Cascade Mall in Burlington. Sergeant Mark Francis, a public information officer with the state patrol, tweeted a series of messages including a description of the shooter as a "Hispanic male wearing grey." Police were alerted about the incident at 6:58 p.m. local time. Shortly after 8:00 p.m., in one of the Twitter postings, Francis said that four people were confirmed dead in the mall, while the shooter, possibly acting alone, left the scene before police arrived. He also said the police were clearing the mall. An unknown number of people were wounded at the mall, about 105 km north of Seattle, the biggest city in the state. A blurry image of the suspect likely from a security camera was shown on TV stations. Flash Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre and Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard on Friday, calling on them to continue to spearhead China-Canada cooperation at local levels. When meeting with Coderre, Li said Montreal is an economic, cultural and technological center of Canada and also a major destination for Chinese investors and tourists. He called on Montreal to deepen trade, investment, aviation and tourism cooperation with more places in China. Urbanization is an important component of modernization and China's industrialization will come along with urbanization, Li said. "During the process of pushing for a new type of urbanization, China is willing to enhance exchanges with Montreal to learn advanced city management and make it a new point of growth for bilateral local-level cooperation." Coderre said Montreal has good relations with Shanghai and is willing to strengthen cooperation with Shanghai and other Chinese cities in city management, environment protection, high technology and sustainable development. Coderre said he hoped the cooperation between large cities will play a big role in boosting the China-Canada relationship, adding that Montreal looks forward to the smooth progress of feasibility study of a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA). After the meeting, Coderre presented Premier Li with the keys to the city. When meeting with Couillard, Li said Quebec has a long history of friendly relations with China and that China will never forget the Canadian friends' unselfish assistance to China, represented by Norman Bethune. Li said he and Canadian leaders have reached important consensus on cooperation in a wide range of areas, and they are convinced that the stable growth of the China-Canada relations will provide a new opportunity for partnership between China and Quebec. Li said cooperation at local levels is an important part of bilateral relations and Quebec, which plays an important and unique role in Canada, takes the lead in cooperation with China. "China and Canada have reached consensus on launching the feasibility study of the FTA. China welcomes Quebec to play a positive role in this process," Li said. He welcomed Quebec enterprises to invest in China and encourages capable Chinese businesses to cooperate with Quebec to lay a solid foundation for bilateral practical cooperation. Quebec supports the feasibility study of the FTA and is ready to work with the federal government to push forward the free trade process between the two countries, Couillard said. He added that Quebec also hopes to enhance cooperation with China in carbon market and welcomes Chinese enterprises to diversify their investment there. Prior to the meeting, Li visited an exhibition featuring the China-Canada friendship and Norman Bethune, a well-known Canadian surgeon who arrived in early 1938 in China's Yan'an to provide medical services to Chinese troops during WWII and died of septicemia in 1939. Li arrived in Ottawa Wednesday afternoon for an official visit to Canada and will travel to Cuba on Saturday. He had attended high-level meetings of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly at the UN Headquarters in New York before visiting Canada. The 2008 financial collapse was eight years ago this month and the big banks are back to their old shenanigans. Venerable Wells Fargo has engaged in behavior that would have made a robber baron blush: It pressured low-wage workers with unrealistic sales targets, so these workers created 2 million bogus accounts over five years, causing customers to be hit with fees and damage to their credit ratings. Some 5,300 workers have been fired and $185 million in penalties assessed to the bank, but not a single high-level executive has been sacked or even forced to give back the tens of millions of dollars in pay earned based on the fraud. When Wells Fargo chairman and chief executive John Stumpf sat before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday, he represented a bank too big to fail, too sprawling to manage and too arrogant to own up to its failures. Cant Wells Fargo take back some of the executive payouts? Im not an expert in compensation, Stumpf said. Would he commit to investigate whether the fraud began in earlier years? I cant tell you that today. Did he learn about the fraud before reading about it in the Los Angeles Times? I dont remember the exact time frame. Stumpf informed the senators that what Wells Fargo did was not a scam, disputed that this is a massive fraud, and said he had no idea why people did this. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) encouraged Stumpf to make certain that the employees are not the scapegoat for behavior at higher levels. Stumpf repeated that the 5,300, for whatever reason, they were dishonest, and Im not scapegoating. If high-level bankers didnt go to prison for the subprime hijinks that caused the 2008 crash, its a safe bet that none will in the Wells Fargo scandal, either. But if arrogance were a criminal offense, Stumpf would be looking at a life sentence. The banks fraud, and the executives insolence, may have one salutary result: It takes off the agenda any plan to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, one of the post-2008 regulatory creations and a top target of Donald Trump and congressional Republicans. The Los Angeles city attorney and the Los Angeles Times may deserve more credit for exposing the wrongdoing, but the audacity at Wells Fargo shows that the industry isnt about to police itself. Stumpf also managed to create rare bipartisan unity on the Banking Committee in condemnation of his actions. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) was stunned, Dean Heller (R-Nev.) compared him to Sgt. Schultz of Hogans Heroes, Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) called the actions despicable, and Patrick J. Toomey (R-Pa.) told Stumpf: This isnt cross-selling, this is fraud. Populist firebrand Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said the Wells Fargo chief should resign, return his payouts and be subject to criminal investigations. If one of your tellers took a handful of $20 bills out of the cash drawer, theyd probably be looking at criminal charges for theft, she said. But you kept your job, you kept your multimillion-dollar bonuses and you went on television to blame thousands of $12-an-hour employees who were just trying to meet cross-sell quotas that made you rich. Stumpf blinked rapidly while listening to his accusers, as if sending Morse-code distress signals. His right hand, when he raised it to take the oath, was heavily bandaged. He offered obligatory statements of remorse (I am deeply sorry that weve failed to fulfill on our responsibility. I accept full responsibility for all unethical sales practices. We should have done more, sooner). But how is it fair for executives to take home millions after thousands of workers defrauded customers? Its a good question, Stumpf allowed. Answers, however, were hard to come by. Would he recommend taking back some of the $125 million payout to the head of the division that committed the fraud? Im not on the human resources and compensation committee. Was she at least fired over this? No, Carrie [Tolstedt] chose to retire. Half a dozen times, Stumpf repeated that the 5,300 workers fired were only 1 percent of his workforce much like an airline executive arguing after a plane crash that 99 percent of his planes landed safely. A fraud involving only 5,300 people? Every time you say that, you give ammunition to the folks who want to break up the big banks, Jon Tester (D-Mont.) told him. And heres more ammo: Stumpf, who presided over the whole thing, took home $19.3 million last year. When Wells Fargo chairman and chief executive John Stumpf sat before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday, he represented a bank too big to fail, too sprawling to manage and too arrogant to own up to its failures. Establishment of CADFund representative office in Nairobi seen as catalyst for growth The China-Africa Development Fund said on Thursday that it was poised to strengthen its investment efforts in the East Africa Community region with the establishment of its representative office in Nairobi, Kenya. The office, based in Nairobi, is the fifth in Africa after others in South Africa, Ethiopia, Zambia and Ghana. It is specially designed to cater to the EAC. The new Kenya office aims to support and guide more Chinese companies and financial institutions to invest and set up business in the EAC region. The CADFund is funded by the China Development Bank to stimulate investment in Africa by Chinese firms in major sectors including transport infrastructure and power generation. The EAC, for its part, is a subregional organization where six member countries - namely Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan - enjoy some of the highest economic integration and development on the continent. "The steady economic growth in Kenya, adding to its great economic potential after the completion of the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway next year, will help drive the economic development in the East Africa Community," said Chi Jianxin, chairman of the CADFund. Statistics indicate that by the end of July this year, China and Africa had signed 245 projects with a total contract value of $50.7 billion. Of that, $46.5 billion were commercial loans and investments. Chi said the figures demonstrated that the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation had provided a new impetus and become a new engine for China-Africa development. "We are glad to see that the Kenyan government is, by all means, encouraging the private sector to be engaged in the projects by way of the PPP (Public-Private-Partnership) model," the chairman said. He added that the CADFund believed that the private sector could play an important role in mobilizing resources for infrastructure and social development. "We are excited about the CADFund's move to establish its presence in Africa because it will help the government achieve its mandate as stated in the development blueprint vision 2030," said James Macharia, Kenyan Cabinet Secretary at the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development. "Most importantly, its first footprint is in the housing sector where we have a huge gap." A 2013 survey undertaken by the Kenyan government revealed that the country's housing demand stood at 200,000 housing units annually, as against the 20,000 supplied by the private sector. At the opening ceremony, the CADFund signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kenya Investment Authority, and a four-party agreement on cooperation for the development of 20,000 housing units. Macharia said that by using the PPP initiative, the government hoped to attract Chinese investors to opportunities such as slum upgrading, social amenities, mixed use housing developments and housing for the disciplined forces and other civil servants. "Choosing Kenya is a reflection of China's confidence in our strong and robust economy, deep bilateral relations and strategic position in the region," said Kenya's Cabinet Secretary to the National Treasury, Henry Rotich. Sustainable development goals agreed on last year need trillions of dollars in investments, he said, adding that the government is happy that the CADFund is complementing its own efforts. A logo sign outside of the headquarters of Marriott International, Inc, in Bethesda, Maryland on Oct 18, 2015. [Photo/IC] Marriott International Inc - the newly-merged company that is the world's biggest hotel group - plans to double its presence in China, the firm announced on Friday. The Maryland-based group announced the same day its completion of the acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc, following approval from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce on Sept 20. Marriott International now operates a total of 260 properties in China, with another 300 in the pipeline. Research firm Euromonitor International estimated that it enjoys a leading market share of 4.1 percent in the Chinese market, followed by Homeinns Hotel & Management at 4 percent and China Lodging Group at 3.9 percent. The group expected its projected doubling of presence would further foster its leading position in China. Globally, the company has more than 5,700 properties under 30 brands in over 110 countries. Only 16 brands have been introduced to China in the past three decades since the two companies entered China, leaving ample space for further and faster growth, according to the management. "China is the world second-largest economy. But when you compare the number of hotels in big cities here with that in the US or Europe, it's actually minimal," said Henry Lee, chief operations officer of Marriott International's Greater China region. "When people look at the Chinese economy, they say it's slowing down from double digit growth to single. But many countries would still love to have kind of five-or-six-percent growth," he said. A key focus for the merged group in China will be the leisure tourism market, boosted by the burgeoning middle class, the world's biggest and numbered at 109 million people in 2015 by Credit Suisse estimate. "There are more than 170 cities with populations more than 1 million in China. We will keep looking for opportunities there while continuing to grow in the gateway cities," said Stephen Ho, chief executive officer of Marriott International. The two groups previously said that the merger could help the duo make up for each other's deficiencies. Ho, formerly the President of Starwood's Asia Pacific region, noted that while Starwood was more about being innovative, Marriott's reputable consistency was admirable. "We are not only looking at the inbound market, but also an equally important outbound market," said Ho. Tourists at the newly opened Hefei Wanda City. Provided To China Daily Billionaire Wang Jianlin is preparing to open his second Wanda City as he escalates his efforts to fend off Walt Disney Co in China. Hefei Wanda City, about 500 kilometers west of the $5.5 billion Shanghai Disney Resort, will open to the public on Saturday. Besides theme park facilities, the 35 billion yuan ($5.2 billion) development will include hotels, a movie theater, a shopping mall and residential apartments across 1.6 square kilometers, according to Wanda. Wang is seeking to spearhead the nation's burgeoning leisure industry by developing 15 Wanda City projects across the country by the end of the decade. Including others, a total of 59 new theme parks will open in China by 2020, serving an estimated 220 million park-goers and rivaling the US in terms of scale, according to estimates from industry consultancy Aecom. Wang opened his first Wanda City three months ago in the southeastern city of Nanchang, attracting more than 2 million tourists on its opening month and the company is estimating it will bring in 10 million visitors a year. The Nanchang debut came days before the creator of Mickey Mouse opened its first park in the Chinese mainland, which Wang has referred to as being a "tiger" that has no chance of beating his "pack of wolves." As to the Shanghai Disneyland, it took more than a month for the Magic Kingdom to attract its millionth visitor. And while Disney won't disclose visitor forecasts, analysts have estimated that the Shanghai park would attract 15 to 30 million people annually. In response to queries, Disney spokesperson Alannah Hall-Smith referred to comments this week by CEO Bob Iger that Shanghai Disney "has been well received by the Chinese consumers". Wang is planning more Wanda City projects in cities such as Harbin, Guangzhou and Wuxi. Wanda said on Friday Chongqing Wanda City, which will cost about 55 billion yuan to build, has started construction and will probably attract 20 million visitors annually after it's completed by 2020. He also aims to open five of the projects overseas by the end of the decade. Behind the wave of theme parks is China's growing middle class, which is fueling demand for leisure activities. There are about 300 parks in operation already in China with scores more on the way, according to Macquarie Group Ltd estimates in January. The government predicts the nation's $610 billion tourism industry will double over five years. Bloomberg Guests attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the permanent headquarters of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 23, 2016.[Photo/Xinhua] The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new headquarters in Beijing Olympic Park on Friday, marking a milestone in the bank's history and signifying the role of Beijing as a center for international finance. At present, the Beijing municipal government is providing a temporary office for the AIIB on Financial Street - Jinrong Jie - in downtown Beijing. "When construction on the headquarters is completed and it is put into service, the bank staff will have an even better workplace, and the foundation will be laid for the development of the bank over the longer run," Finance Minister Lou Jiwei said at the ceremony. The AIIB headquarters will have a floor area of about 250,000 square meters. The office complex will be built in compliance with the strictest low-carbon standards, according to the builder - Beijing Inno-Olympic Group Co Ltd. "We hope the construction will be done with a great sense of responsibility ... so that the bank will have a modern, energy-efficient and green building that remains a landmark for centuries," Lou said. As an initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping during his visit to Southeast Asia in 2013, the AIIB was launched at a grand ceremony in Beijing in January and held its annual meeting in June. Since the opening of the bank, its management team has made great strides in organizational setup, staff recruitment and project preparation, winning widely acclaimed recognition, Lou said. "From this point of departure, we hope the AIIB will play a positive role in promoting infrastructure development and connectivity and the regional integration of Asia. With a forward-looking strategy, it is developing innovative investment and financing models and building its own strengths," he said. AIIB President Jin Liqun said in May that the AIIB will increase its membership to nearly 100 countries and regions by the end of 2016. Attendees test the P9 smartphone, manufactured by Huawei Technologies Co, during a launch event in New Delhi, India.[Photo/Agencies] Huawei Technologies Co will begin assembling phones in India with manufacturing partner Flextronics International Ltd, establishing a beachhead in the world's fastest-growing smartphone arena. The Chinese company expects to have Flex put together its first gadgets starting October, Jay Chen, the chief executive for Huawei's Indian business, told reporters at a news conference. Huawei, the world's third largest smartphone maker, joins rivals from Samsung Electronics Co and Apple Inc in targeting one of the few markets still rapidly expanding as global demand stagnates. But intense competition between market leader Samsung and Chinese names such as Xiaomi Corp and Lenovo Group Ltd has begun to depress margins. Grabbing a solid share of India, however, could further Huawei's stated ambition of displacing Apple and Samsung to become the world's top maker of phones. India, the world's second-largest smartphone market, is on the cusp of a phone manufacturing boom spurred by the government's "Make in India" drive. Huawei joins a growing list of foreign names, from Xiaomi to Lenovo, now getting their phones put together in the country. For now, however, that mainly consists of assembling semi-knocked-down phone kits rather than the end-to-end manufacturing that China's known for. Chinese companies in particular have been keen to set up shops in India, as growth at home slows. Before Huawei, LeEco was the most recent to get in on the act, contracting a facility to assemble 60,000 phones a month, rising eventually to 200,000. More than two-thirds of the smartphones shipped in the first quarter of 2016 were assembled in India, said Jaipal Singh, a market analyst for client devices at researcher IDC. Vendors who are currently assembling phones are likely to start manufacturing components like batteries, chargers and data cables with tax incentives offered by the federal and regional governments, IDC said in a report. Huawei has emerged in past years as China's leader in high-end phones, eschewing the lower-end models that rivals like Oppo and Vivo favor. Founded in 1987 by former army engineer Ren Zhengfei, Huawei used its business of selling networking gear to bankroll its initial foray into premium phones. It's among a crop of Chinese smartphone vendors now steadily draining market share from Samsung and Apple globally. Bloomberg "My neighbor doesn't speak English, but her kindness needs no translation." Angie Morris, an 81-year-old Canadian woman who grew up in wartime Britain and now lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, was describing how her next-door neighbor, Ms Wing, a 68-year-old Chinese woman, voluntarily cooks meals for her every day. She called it "the ultimate home-delivery service". Morris' moving, first-person narrative which was published last week by the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail, has gone viral, with more than 24,000 online reposts. "I know what is inside the paper carrier bag," she wrote. "A thermos with hot soup and a stainless-steel container with a meal of rice, vegetables and either chicken, meat or shrimp, sometimes with a kind of pancake. This has become an almost daily occurrence." Wing started her act of kindness when she learned that Morris had to undergo heart surgery. She took it upon herself to begin feeding her neighbor, even though the two women have no way of communicating verbally. Wing speaks only Mandarin, and Morris' Mandarin is limited to ni hao (hello). "So here we are, two grandmothers a world away from where we were raised, neither of us able to speak the other's language, but communicating one way or another (with some help from technology). The doorbell keeps ringing and there is the familiar brown paper carrier bag, handed smilingly to me by Wing," Morris wrote. Readers and netizens around the world have been touched by this relationship that crosses national boundaries and focuses on human kindness. "You know that most people in this world just want to live a good life," one reader commented. "I come from old Ireland, so I can tell you a thing or two about conflict. The point is, most people are very good with big hearts and want their children to grow up safe and in places like this country can offer." Judy Zhu in New York contributed to this story. While it is a well-established trend that Chinese are traveling the world in large numbers and visiting places previously unknown to many from the country, a new survey reveals that the majority of such travelers are women. The study was based on data from more than 16,000 outbound travelers from 10 cities across the country in 2015. In its latest report released in September, China Tourism Academy, a government agency, said that women accounted for 61.4 percent of the outbound tourists surveyed. Among those surveyed, 37 percent were aged between 25 and 34, and 27 percent between 35 and 44. About 58 percent had monthly pretax salaries ranging from 3,000 yuan ($450) to 8,000 yuan. The study said that outbound travel was shifting from sightseeing to leisure activities, with some 86 percent of the sample size citing shopping as the main expense during such trips. Peng Liang, who is in charge of Ctrip's vacation business, said that in the first half of 2016, women booked the travel agency's tour products a month in advance on average as compared with men, who booked three weeks in advance. Ctrip is China's largest company in the sector. The agency found that in the first six months of the year, 24 percent of its women customers were aged between 20 and 29; 23 percent were between 30 and 39; and 25 percent were older than 55. The women visited Japan and South Korea for leisure, France and Italy for places of historical interest, and islands in Southeast Asia for romantic getaways. "I avoid group tours and love to chat with the locals myself and experience their lifestyles," said Li Jingjing, who works for a finance company in Beijing, adding that she is always keen to try local delicacies, and tour cities on bikes and trains and learn the customs of the countries before her visits. The 28-year-old is planning a trip to Russia over the weeklong Chinese National Day holiday that begins on Oct 1. In 2012, on a visit to Japan for which she spent around 15,000 yuan, Li said she met a young local couple, who told her that they liked watching Cantonese movies. An office worker from Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong province said that she and her husband do not have the time to prepare for trips, so they mostly go in groups arranged by tour operators. "We like heritage sites and there are many choices. But if we travel with our child or parents, we like leisure trips in developed countries," Peng Kun, 31, said. Like many Chinese women, Peng looks after her family's finances. When planning a trip, she first picks several destinations and then discusses the options with her husband before making a final decision. They read books or watch videos to know more about the local cultures before traveling. For elderly travelers like 69-year-old Li Xinpei, such opportunities have only come post-retirement. Most people from her generation in China would agree. Li first learned about foreign countries while reading William Shakespeare's books in her youth. She was thrilled when she finally visited Verona in Italy, where Romeo and Juliet is set, in 2009. "It's never too late to explore the world," Li said. The Beijinger has since traveled to 36 countries with her husband. Jiang Yiyi, director of international tourism research at the academy, said more Chinese women are traveling with their female friends than before. And with the increase in incomes among the country's women, they are mostly the ones deciding travel plans for their families. She asked women to take care of their safety while traveling. xulin@chinadaily.com.cn Restorations of ancient relics should be done like works of art, administration official says Song Xinchao, deputy director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, gives a lesson to local primary school students on Great Wall protection in Jiayuguan, Gansu province, on Friday. Wang Kaihao / China Daily The State Administration of Cultural Heritage has sent investigators to a section of the Great Wall that some netizens claim was poorly renovated. "No one responsible for the project will be pardoned if management error or problematic construction quality is found," the administration said on Thursday. Pictures of a two-kilometer section of the wall in Suizhong county, Liaoning province, showed that a flat protective layer, like a newly paved road, had been added on top of the wall. Restoration of the 700-year-old section wound up in 2014, but did not come to public attention until the pictures were posted online. Materials used for the restoration were not as hard as netizens suspected, the administration said, and it would be easier to restore the original appearance of the wall if deemed necessary once the investigation is complete. "The point is that we cannot treat the restoration of cultural relics like a general construction project," Song Xinchao, deputy director of the administration, told China Daily on Friday. "Restoration should be treated like a piece of art." Song was in Jiayuguan, Gansu province, where the west end of the 8,000-km wall from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) is located. He spoke to 50 elementary students at the foot of the wall to promote their awareness of protecting the UNESCO World Heritage Site. "Education is the key to protecting the wall, not money," Song said. "We have to make today's people believe that the Great Wall is part of their daily lives, but the wall cannot be disturbed too much." The balance is a challenge, he admitted. According to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, more than 20,000 kilometers of the wall, built over many dynasties, are spread over 15 provincial regions. "Construction materials of the wall in different periods and regions have wide varieties, which means our restoration methods should be diverse," Song said. An investigation by the Great Wall Society of China showed that only eight percent of the Ming Dynasty wall is still well-preserved, while 31 percent has almost disappeared. "It's unrealistic to demand the wall be intact," Song said. "If some sections have diminished over time, reconstruction is not necessary." "An important rule in restoring the wall is to intervene as little as possible." He added that daily maintenance is more important than massive restoration. "Not every section of the wall has to be like Beijing's Badaling section after restoration," he said. Standards on restoration and management of the wall began in August. "The certification system for wall restoration will be more complete as well," Song said. He also said that administrations managing tourist sites along the wall need to take more responsibility for the protection of cultural relics. wangkaihao@chinadaily.com.cn WUHAN - Severe drought in Central China's Hubei province over the past three weeks has caused drinking water shortages for 237,000 people, local authorities said Saturday. The province received average precipitation of 10.5 mm since the beginning of the month, only 10 percent of the normal volume, the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters said in a press release. It said the northwest of the province suffered the most from the drought. In Shiyan and Yichang cities, the driest areas, 237,000 people and 170,000 head of cattle were suffering from a shortage of drinking water. Meanwhile, 123,000 hectares of cropland was damaged by the drought, posing severe challenges for this year's harvest. The provincial government has sent water wagons to relief thirst in the drought-hit villages and townships. China will continue to play its role for peace and stability in the Middle East, said China's top diplomat on Wednesday at the United Nations. "China is a sincere friend of all parties in the Middle East," said Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a high-level UN Security Council meeting on Syria. "We have no self-interest in the Middle East. The interests of people in the Middle East are our interests." Wang said the five years of chaos in West Asia and North Africa has affected not just countries and people in the region; it has also had serious spillover effects on international peace and stability. Related parties should adhere to political solutions and have dialogues to narrow differences, accommodate interests of related parties and seek lasting and sustainable solutions. He noted that the international community should stick to multilateralism when addressing the situation in Syria and other related issues. "The UN and the Security Council must play their roles as the main channels, while others should act in a just and fair way," Wang said. Security Council resolutions must be fully implemented, especially resolution 2254, to resolve the Syrian crisis, he stressed. "We need to progress in parallel in terms of cease-fire, political negotiations, humanitarian aid and joint efforts against terrorism," said Wang. "We hope that this year can bring a turnaround in Syria." China welcomes the US- and Russia-brokered cease-fire in Syria and hopes it gives new impetus to improving the situation, said Vice-Foreign Minister Li Baodong at an International Syria Support Group ministerial meeting in New York on Thursday. The US and Russia hammered out a deal on Sept 10, which included a nationwide truce effective from sundown on Sept 12, improved humanitarian aid access and joint military targeting of banned Islamic extremist groups. Under the agreement, government forces, backed by Russia, and opposition groups, supported by the United States and Gulf States, would stop fighting for some time. Opposition fighters will have the chance to separate from militant groups in areas, such as Aleppo, where they have become intermingled, according to Reuters. Li said China is calling upon all related parties to make concrete efforts to properly deal with the current challenges and effectively implement and maintain the cease-fire. "All Syrian parties should return to the negotiating table to find solutions and make compromises to resolve the Syrian crisis," Li said. wanglinyan@chinadailyusa.com Folk dance Ode to the Lotus performed by Lanzhou Musical Drama Theater. [Photo by Zhang Xingjian/chinadaily.com.cn] A Chinese and foreign gala concluded the first Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo at the Dunhuang Grand Theater with the theme of "Gathering Fine Arts and Sharing Cultural Achievements". A total of 11 programs, including folk dancing, solos, duets, acrobatics, musical instruments and a fashion show were displayed on September 22, offering more than 1,200 guests, both at home and abroad, a feast for the eyes. The quirks and delights of getting about in London I'm a little weary of writing about the ongoing saga of Brexit, the now resolved case of Hinkley Point, the protracted death throes of the opposition Labour Party, and the ghastly UKIP crew who have done so much to push Britain into an unnecessary crisis. So I thought I'd switch focus this week and look at London's overcrowded yet wide-reaching transport system. After all, I love to travel. London, may be crowded, trains and tubes may run late, and traffic can sometimes be a nightmare. Sometimes, however, something happens to throw into sharp relief my chosen subject. It happened as I was starting to write this column in my head. At around breakfast time, reports starting coming in of a train derailment just northwest of London. By the time I reached the office, it had become clear that a landslide caused by heavy rain had derailed a commuter train, which had then hit another train. By some miracle, no one was badly hurt. To be honest, these things are rare in the UK. But here's the thing - the reason I knew so much about this incident was that a passenger on the derailed train was an old friend, Sarah Lowther, who in the past has contributed to China Daily's European edition. Pro that she is, within minutes of the accident, Sarah was posting pictures and a commentary on Facebook, despite being a bit shaken up and suffering a sore neck. But she's OK. Sarah is from Hartlepool, a gem of a seaport town on England's northeast coast, where my family come from - they breed 'em tough up there. Anyway, I digress. London's lucky enough to have a widespread network of underground trains, known universally as The Tube, complemented by a great system of buses and suburban commuter trains. Nothing, of course, is perfect, and the suburban commuter trains in particular throw up their specifically British idiosyncrasies. They can be late, crowded and noisy. One of the most depressing phrases in the English language, often heard as I climb the stairs to the London-bound platform at Westcombe Park, is "Southeastern apologizes for the late running of this train " followed by that day's particular excuse. The following reasons for delayed trains have been given regularly: Crew late in reporting for duty, leaves on the line, frozen points, sunshine in the drivers' eyes, unruly passengers on the train (at 9 am?), heavy rain, and (almost daily) signalling problems, which usually translates as thieves having stolen the copper wire used to link signals in the night. Buses, by and large, lead a charmed life, having as they do their own dedicated bus lanes. They will soon, I hope, get even better, as a Chinese vehicle manufacturer has teamed up with a British bus maker to introduce London's first all-electric double-decker, which I hope will improve the air quality as they gradually replace the fume-belching diesels we have at present, although to be fair some of those have become hybrids. Air travel is a mixed blessing. Yes, it's terrific that my wife and I were able to fly from London to Toulouse at a seriously cheap fare. It's great that we were able to travel down to Gatwick on a dedicated fast train right into the heart of the airport. But it's a serious pain in the backside that you then have to go through a security process that can take up to half an hour, longer on busy days. And I bitterly resent having to take my belt off. Now, where are the keys to my car? The author is managing editor of China Daily European Bureau. Contact the writer at chris@mail.chinadailyuk.com (China Daily European Weekly 09/23/2016 page11) Students have free lunch at a classroom of a primary school in Mashan county, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. The Free Lunch for Children project has benefited 465 schools in poverty-stricken areas across China. Provided to China Daily China's first Charity Law came into effect on Sept 1. As a Canadian and a charity lawyer working internationally, I was involved in the legislative process for over 10 years. The National People's Congress, China's top legislature, included the China Charity Promotion Law in its legislative agenda in 2006. I attended the first China Charity Conference in November 2005, when I also met Ministry of Civil Affairs officials who had drafted the legal framework. And since I was one of the three foreign legal experts who helped in the drafting of Russia's first charity law and had also done similar work in other countries, I was asked to assist the drafting committee of China Charity Promotion Law. Charity laws work well in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States because they reflect the social, religious, ideological, economic and tax influences which shape citizens' desire to contribute to civil society causes. Ten years ago, China's challenge was to enact a law that promoted charitable activities in ways that reflected the country's realities, and was "rooted in Chinese soil". Simply importing legal words and concepts from other countries could lead the average Chinese to consider "charity" a foreign construct. China achieved this by focusing on poverty reduction and its response to natural disasters. As China has implemented the Charity Law to help mobilize private resources to address social needs, it is important to begin by giving priority to the 70 million Chinese who still live in poverty. The charity law project team visited Singapore, Japan, the Republic of Korea, as well as Canada, the UK and the US. One of the lessons that the team learned from these visits was the benefits of having the regulator based outside the tax office, such as the Charity Commission for England and Wales, rather than having charities regulated by the Internal Revenue Service as it is in the US. Consequently, the Ministry of Civil Affairs was made the regulator in China. In countries such as Canada and the US, the tax benefits provided to donors are extremely important. But in some countries in Eastern Europe, generous tax breaks were manipulated leading to corruption. China considered both lessons and created a law with a pathway to tax benefits but will await the experience of the tax authorities to determine what level of tax benefit encourages donations without providing the temptation to abuse them. Over the past 11 years I have visited China over 50 times and participated in more than 20 workshops on the charity law. When I reflect on a decade of involvement with the project team, I think about the friendships I established with the project officials, such as Wang Laizhu, Wang Jianjun and Zhu Weiguo, and project leader Li Jian. I hope my expertise in comparing and explaining the charity laws in different countries was useful to the project team. But I was more often the student than the teacher, and I learned about the aspirations of ordinary Chinese to understand foreign charity principles so as to develop a distinct Chinese charity law. The success of the Charity Law will be determined by how the Ministry of Civil Affairs registers new organizations and how those organizations carry on worthy projects authorized by the law. The law has been enacted to enable ordinary individuals as well as corporations to mobilize resources for charity. Citizens, organizations and the ministry will have to operate in harmony to fulfill the potential of this law, that is, to develop a charity culture which reflects the reality of China today. I hope the Charity Law achieves great success. The author is a lawyer and expert in charity law, and a pioneer of charitable law and gifting in Canada. College graduates at a job fair in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu province, June 5, 2016 [Photo/VCG] Migrant workers engaged mainly in manual jobs earned 3,072 yuan ($460) a month on average in 2015, about 3.5 times their income 10 years ago, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. During the same period, the average monthly salary of college graduates increased from 1,588 yuan to 3,726 yuan. The shrinking income gap between migrant workers and college graduates has sparked a fierce debate online. While one group has expressed concern over the development, the second group accuses the first of being cynical, saying migrant workers should be treated equally in the labor market and earn about the same when doing the same job. The second group's logic seems skewed. To send a child to college, a family has to spend from 5,000 yuan ($750) to 12,000 yuan a year on tuition, plus pay considerable amounts for other necessities such as textbooks, and dormitory and traveling expenses. More importantly, a student spends perhaps the best three to five years of his/her life in college to earn a degree. Since all these are investments, it is normal for college graduates to expect higher salaries. The gap between the incomes of workers with college or higher degrees and those without exists in every country. In the United States, people with high school diplomas but without a college degree earned on average $668 a week in 2014, while those with associate degrees made $761, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics with the US Department of Labor. An average college graduate earned $1,101 a week, with those with a master's degree or doctorate making $1,368. This means one can expect better returns from higher education in the US than in China. A person's salary is decided by the demand-supply relationship in the labor market. The more candidates compete for a certain kind of job, the more bargaining power the employer will have, which he/she can use to lower the salary. The number of college graduates has been constantly increasing over the past few decades. From 2001 to 2016 the number of fresh graduates has risen almost sevenfold1.14 million to 7.56 million. In addition, an increasing number of students are returning to seek jobs at the Chinese mainland after completing their higher studies overseas, though the exact data are not yet available. There are no official data on how many jobs graduates are competing for, but a report released on Jan 12 by zhaopin.com, the largest domestic employment news website, shows that on average there are 36.8 applicants for one job. Amid such a fierce competition, domestic college graduates have little bargaining power to demand better salaries. Migrant workers' story presents a contrast. As China approaches the Lewis turning point, a point at which surplus rural labor reaches a financial zero that causes urban wages to increase dramatically, migrant workers have gained more bargaining power. Since 2008, entrepreneurs in the Yangtze River and Pearl River delta regions have been complaining about the lack of manual laborers, saying they have to pay higher wages to recruit such laborers. Manual laborers do deserve better payment, but as the income gap between those with and without college degrees shrinks, people will hesitate to send their children to college. In turn, that will curb the efforts of raising Chinese people's educational level because a college degree won't guarantee relatively high salary. To overcome this complicated situation, China should more expeditiously upgrade its industrial structure. Last year, the service sector accounted for 50.5 percent of China's GDP, up 2.4 percent year-on-year but still much lower than that of developed economies. Only a flourishing service sector can provide enough jobs for millions of college graduates in China, and encourage most Chinese to earn higher degrees. The author is a writer with China Daily. zhangzhouxiang@chinadaily.com.cn Zhu Guangyao, China's vice Finance Minister, delivers a speech during the tenth Asia Europe Economic Forum, which was held at Renmin University on September 21-22, 2016. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] The tenth Asia Europe Economic Forum was held at Renmin University on September 21 and 22, 2016. Zhu Guangyao, China's vice Finance Minister, addressed the importance of implementing the consensuses that was achieved during this year's G20 summit, especially on facilitating the global economic recovery and the stability of financial markets. Celebrating its 10 year anniversary, six institutes and think tanks co-hosted the forum this year: The Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), Bertelsmann Foundation, Brugel, Center for East Asian Studies of Korea University (CEAS), Centre d'Etudes Prospectives et d'Informations Internationales (CEPII) and Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University (RDCY). The forum occurred right after the G20 summit so attending members could discuss how countries all over the world could enhance global governance and coordinate macro-economic policies within the G20 framework. Viviane Reding, the former Vice-president of the European Commission, emphasized building an open world economy and multilateralism during her speech. She also said that a significant characteristic of globalization is the value chain's internationalization and that trade protectionism would definitely cost every economy. "Actually trade is not like the zero-sum game, we have much more common interests than conflicts. Obstacles need to be demolished. Multilateralism deserves real efforts to be paid. Hence Chinese government should encourage more domestic corporations to go abroad, and correspondingly allow more foreign companies and institutes to invest in China, fairly compete with local players," she further explained. Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao described this forum as a serious discussion and implementation of the "Hangzhou Consensus". He responded to President Reding's speech initially by saying that China is also dedicated to pursuing common interests along with countries all over the world, and her suggestions would be valued highly. Top: Silk scarves, one of Lingshan's creative souvenirs, are popular among women. Above: Increasingly more Chinese scenic spots are developing their own creative cultural products, such as daily necessities. [Photos provided to China Daily] Scenic spots innovate with souvenirs as they reach out to visitors The 88-meter tall Sakyamuni statue in the Lingshan Buddhist Scenic Area in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, is so impressive that it leaves many a tourist in awe. But for many of them, that thrill is not enough; they want to leave the site with something a little more tangible as a memento of their visit. For many the answer is souvenirs, and in that regard what can be more tangible or tactile than a cushion in the shape of Buddha's hand or foot? For other visitors to the area, souvenirs that come in the shape of daily necessities such as mobile phone cases, bookmarks and magnets, all of whose designs take in Lingshan's cultural elements, will serve to bring them happy memories and perhaps even good luck. Like Lingshan, more and more Chinese scenic spots are developing their own creative cultural products. "The theme of our creative cultural products is praying for happiness," says Zou Song, manager of business planning for Wuxi Lingshan Scenic Area Operation Co Ltd. "They symbolize our scenic spot and become tourists' spiritual sustenance. Some are like amulets that will remind travelers to be optimistic about life. "Chinese traditionally pray for blessings such as health and love when they go to worship Buddha. Tourists also like to share their luck by giving these souvenirs as gifts to families and friends." It is not uncommon for Buddha's hand to be proffered through ornamental handicrafts, but turning that into cushions is a fresh touch. It also vividly encapsulates the Chinese sayings that one can live longer by touching Buddha's hand and that one can be safe and sound by hugging Buddha's foot. The merchandise Wuxi Scenic Area Operation produces includes stationery for students, pretty hats and silk scarves with lotus patterns for women and daily necessities for everyone. The company sells about 4 million tourist souvenirs a year, and the number is rising, Zou says. "As Chinese travelers are making longer trips they expect the souvenirs they buy to be better than they used to be. They don't want the same old stuff. In many scenic areas selling entry tickets is no longer the main source of revenue; souvenir sales are becoming more important." Zou looks to Disneyland as a role model in this matter, saying its merchandise includes clothes, snacks and toys, a product line it has been able to refine over the years with innovative ideas and good management. Another scenic spot that has taken the cushion approach to souvenirs is Huaqing Palace in Xi'an, Shaanxi province. The palace was the setting for the love story of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) and his concubine Yang Yuhuan. The cushions on offer to visitors include cartoon images of the happy couple, who are also reincarnated in dolls and other products. "I hope our products can teach tourists something about the palace's history as well as give them memories of a great trip," says Fei Wenjuan, deputy general manager of Shaanxi Huaqing Palace Culture Tourism Co Ltd. "Those who buy souvenirs appreciate things that are both beautiful and practical, and in which there is a substantial element of local culture." Guizhou Colorful Guizhou Brand Asset Management brand sells creative products that embody the province's culture. "One popular product is batik shoes made by Guizhou's ethnic groups," says Ye Cong, executive director of the company. "They are unique, and for those who usually wear high-heels they offer perfect relaxation for the feet," he says. "To develop such products, the key is to draw up an inventory of the intellectual property of one's own culture, such as its famous elements and symbols," says Liu Xiaobo, deputy general manager of Beijing BES Cultural Creation Development Co Ltd, which provides services relating to creative cultural products to destinations and scenic spots. At first it is better to develop two or three categories of products with the core cultural elements at first, he says. That needs little outlay, and it is relatively easy to sell them. Some scenic spots tend to develop a great range of products, spending a lot in the process but leaving potential customers flummoxed about what to buy. Only when the first batch of products becomes successful, should one develop new ones, he says. xulin@Chinadaily.com.cn Seventy percent of people in China and Japan consider the countries' bilateral relations important, according separate surveys conducted in the two countries. More than 57 percent of Chinese support the two countries' cooperation in Asian affairs while 56.1 percent of Japanese said the countries' joint efforts are necessary for Asia's peace and development. However, people in both countries did not think highly of what the relationship is now. Slightly more than 78 percent of the Chinese respondents said the two countries have a "poor" relationship - compared with 67 percent in 2015 - an opinion shared by 71.9 percent of Japanese. The Chinese respondents considered the disputes over territory and maritime resources, as well as Japan's perceptions of its World War II aggression, major issues in the relations. Wang Gangyi, vice-president of China International Publishing Group, said Chinese are still optimistic about the future of the relations. They cherish "peace" and "common development" most. Twenty-three percent of Chinese, 5.5 percentage points more than last year , believed in a better relationship in the future. Only 14.4 percent of Chinese said the tension between the two countries would continue, compared with 24.8 percent last year. Nearly 70 percent of Chinese considered people-to-people exchanges important. A record 4.99 million Chinese visited Japan in 2015, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. In the first half of this year, more than 3 million toured in Japan. However, the number of Japanese visiting China has continued to decline and stood at only 2.5 million last year. Akio Takahara, a law professor at the University of Tokyo, said the governments of China and Japan must think about how to improve direct people-to-people exchanges, which improve understanding and help the relations greatly. He recommended that the Chinese government invite more Japanese teenagers to China. More than 1,000 Chinese youngsters are invited by the Japanese government to Japan every year. Wang agreed that direct exchange between the two peoples helps build a solid base for relations. The two opinion polls were conducted respectively by Horizon Research Consultancy Group in China and Public Opinion Research Center in Japan in August and September. They are prelude to the annual Beijing-Tokyo Forum, which will convene in Tokyo on Tuesday and Wednesday. The discussions will focus on such topics as strategic mutual trust, mutual understanding, and economic cooperation between China and Japan. The forum has been held annually since 2005. This year it will be jointly organized by China International Publishing Group and Genron NPO, a Japanese think tank. caihong@chinadaily.com.cn Premier Li Keqiang said Thursday that China stands ready to continuously increase contacts and expand cooperation with Canada to break new ground for promoting bilateral relations. Premier Li Keqiang met with George Furey (right), speaker of the Canadian Senate, and Geoff Regan, speaker of the Canadian House of Commons, at Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Provided to China Daily Li made the remarks as he met Canada's speaker of the Senate George Furey and speaker of the House of Commons Geoff Regan. Li said Chinese and Canadian people enjoy long-standing friendship and the two countries' economies are highly complementary with broad prospects for cooperation. It is normal for China and Canada, with different national conditions and cultural backgrounds, to have different viewpoints or disagreements on some issues, Li said. But their common interests are far greater than differences, Li said, noting that the two countries have neither problems left over by history nor fundamental conflict of interests. China's National People's Congress, China's legislature, is willing to strengthen the exchange of experience in law-making and rule of law, and facilitate communication with Canada's Senate and House of Commons to help promote China-Canada relations and enhance understanding and friendship between the two peoples, Li said. ' Furey and Regan agreed with Li's evaluation of China-Canada relations, saying that enhancing two-way communication between the legislatures of the two countries would help the two sides boost understanding, reach consensus and strengthen cooperation. They said Li's visit to Canada, the first by a Chinese premier in 13 years, will create new important opportunities for the continued deepening of relations and cooperation between the two countries. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday met with Canadian Governor General David Johnston at Rideau Hall, the governor general's official residence. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday met here with Canadian Governor General David Johnston at Rideau Hall. Provided to China Daily Hailing the governor general's state visit to China in October, 2013 during which Johnston reached broad consensus with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Li said China appreciated the contribution the governor general has made to the bilateral ties. Though far apart, China and Canada share deep friendship, said Li, adding that his current visit has deepened mutual political trust and pushed forward substantial cooperation. During Li's visit, the first by a Chinese premier in 13 years, China and Canada have officially launched the annual dialogue mechanism between two prime ministers, reached agreement on the feasibility of a potential free trade agreement and signed a series of documents on economics and trade, agriculture, tourism, law-enforcement, aviation and other areas. Li said he believes that China-Canada ties will develop rapidly thanks to the joint efforts of both countries and peoples. Johnston spoke highly of the new progress made in bilateral cooperation during Li's visit, saying it helps open a new chapter in bilateral ties. The launch of the annual dialogue mechanism between two prime ministers, the enhanced cooperation in extensive areas and the close people-to-people exchanges will bring substantial benefits to the two peoples, said the governor general. He said he is confident in seeing a better future of bilateral ties. Li's wife Cheng Hong and Johnston's wife Sharon Johnston were present at the meeting. Li arrived in Ottawa on Wednesday from New York for a four-day official visit to Canada at the invitation of his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau. Li will head to Cuba on Saturday to continue his America tour. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Thursday that China and Canada have agreed to strengthen their ties in economic, trade and other fields, and to begin exploratory talks for a free trade agreement. Li, who is on an official visit to the North American nation, made the remarks in a joint press conference with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau. "We have reached many new consensuses in economic and trade areas," said Li, adding that China is willing to import frozen beef from Canada and the two sides have reached an agreement on Canada's canola exports to China. Li also said that the two sides discussed cooperation in finance, tourism, law enforcement, as well as between their local governments. "The exchange of visits within one month showed that China-Canada relations are entering a new stage," said Li who referred to Trudeau's recent official visit to China, adding that "it's rare in the bilateral ties, and conforms to the interests of both countries as well as the expectations of the international community." Li arrived in Ottawa on Wednesday for a four-day official visit. It is the first visit by a Chinese premier in 13 years. The Chinese leader said the two sides agreed that they have broad common interests and sound cooperation. The development of the bilateral ties is in the interests of Chinese and Canadian people as well as world peace and stability. "We have decided to strengthen exchanges at all levels and through multiple mechanisms. We have agreed to establish a high-level financial dialogue mechanism," Li said. The Chinese leader also noted that they have discussed their differences, saying that it is normal for the two countries with different national conditions and in different stages of development to have differences. He added that what's more important is to manage their differences, knowing that their common interests far outweigh differences, Li said. "We are very pleased about the nature and the stability we have been able to bring to the Canada-China relationship," Trudeau told reporters. Trudeau said the two sides agreed to double bilateral trade volume by 2025 and bilateral economic relations have huge potential to create decent salaries and jobs. Trudeau added that maintaining stable relations with China is in the interests of both countries and he looks forward to bringing more opportunities for Canadians through relations with China. Before the joint press conference, the two leaders also attended a signing ceremony for a number of bilateral cooperation documents. The two countries signed an agreement on the sharing and return of forfeited assets, a joint statement on cooperation in third-party markets, a protocol on exporting frozen beef from Canada to China, an arrangement about cooperation in combating crimes, an arrangement about enhanced tourism cooperation, and others. Earlier in the day, Trudeau held a welcome ceremony for the Chinese premier, and held talks with Li, which represented the formal launch of an annual dialogue mechanism between the two heads of government established during Trudeau's China trip. Li said during the talks that China is willing to strengthen mutual political trust and deepen practical cooperation in a bid to forge a "golden decade" for China-Canada ties. Li called on Canada to loosen up restrictions on the export of high-tech products to China in a bid to tap potential for bilateral economic cooperation. Trudeau told Li that Canada is willing to strengthen economic and trade ties with China, and hold exploratory talks for a free trade agreement in a constructive manner. Canada also hopes to expand cooperation and exchanges with China in judicial, cultural and other sectors, said Trudeau, who added that Canada is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China at multilateral venues in a bid to jointly address global challenges. Li on Thursday also met with Canada's Senate Speaker George Furey, Speaker of the House of Commons Geoff Regan and Governor General David Johnston. In his meeting with former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Li appreciated Chretien's contributions to China-Canada relations, saying that with joint efforts of the two countries, China-Canada relations will be among the best of relations between China and Western countries again. Chretien said the two sides should strengthen cooperation in nuclear energy, infrastructure construction, clean energy, finance and other fields. Cuban ambassador welcomes Chinese visitors, investors in tourism infrastructure to country Alberto J. Blanco Silva, Cuban ambassador to China Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Cuba represents "a unique opportunity" to enhance political, economic, trade and financial collaboration between China and the Caribbean island-nation, Cuban Ambassador to China Alberto J. Blanco Silva said. Li will arrive in Cuba on Saturday local time, making the first official visit by a Chinese premier since diplomatic ties were established in 1960. He will meet Cuban leader Raul Castro, and the two countries will sign cooperation documents covering new energy, industry and environmental protection, according to Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Chao. Li's visit "will mark a new momentum" in bilateral ties, Blanco Silva said in a written interview with China Daily. "Cuba is proud of being the first country in the Western hemisphere to have established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China," he said. China is the Latin American country's second-largest trade partner, with sugar, tourism and biomedical research playing a key role in the island-nation's economy. Cuba introduced a new foreign investment law in 2014 and is developing a special economic development zone in Mariel, about 40 kilometers from the capital, Havana, to attract more foreign investors. Blanco Silva said Cuba has adopted an innovative approach to its sugar industry by utilizing the byproducts to generate clean electricity. China is working with his country, he said, in financing power stations "in line with the Cuban government policy of increasing the production of clean energy from 4 percent today to 24 percent by the year 2030". The ambassador expressed a warm welcome to Chinese tourists planning to visit Cuba as well as Chinese companies investing in building hotels there. "A number of well-known Chinese construction companies are undertaking discussions with their Cuban counterparts to establish different types of cooperation aimed at the development of the tourism infrastructure in the country," he said. Tourism cooperation was enhanced in December 2015, the 55th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic ties, when Air China began flights from Beijing to Havana. "We are of the view that in the near future the participation of Chinese investment in Cuba would match the same level of our excellent political and commercial relationship," Blanco Silva said, adding that "a significant number of investment projects from Chinese companies are close to being implemented in the near future". Regarding cooperation between China and Latin America, Blanco Silva said it is "one of the greatest contributions of China to the maintenance of global peace" and Cuba supports the development of China's relations with Latin America. To enhance the communication between them, China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, or CELAC, have established the China-CELAC forum. Leaders of CELAC countries agreed in 2014 during the second CELAC Summit held in Havana to set up the forum. "China's economic growth decisively helped most Latin American countries in their fight against the international financial crisis," he said. Premier Li Keqiang meets with Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre in Montreal,Canada, September 23, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] MONTREAL, Canada - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre and Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard on Friday, calling on them to continue to spearhead China-Canada cooperation at local levels. When meeting with Coderre, Li said Montreal is an economic, cultural and technological center of Canada and also a major destination for Chinese investors and tourists. He called on Montreal to deepen trade, investment, aviation and tourism cooperation with more places in China. Urbanization is an important component of modernization and China's industrialization will come along with urbanization, Li said. "During the process of pushing for a new type of urbanization, China is willing to enhance exchanges with Montreal to learn advanced city management and make it a new point of growth for bilateral local-level cooperation." Coderre said Montreal has good relations with Shanghai and is willing to strengthen cooperation with Shanghai and other Chinese cities in city management, environment protection, high technology and sustainable development. Coderre said he hoped the cooperation between large cities will play a big role in boosting the China-Canada relationship, adding that Montreal looks forward to the smooth progress of feasibility study of a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA). After the meeting, Coderre presented Premier Li with the keys to the city. When meeting with Couillard, Li said Quebec has a long history of friendly relations with China and that China will never forget the Canadian friends' unselfish assistance to China, represented by Norman Bethune. Li said he and Canadian leaders have reached important consensus on cooperation in a wide range of areas, and they are convinced that the stable growth of the China-Canada relations will provide a new opportunity for partnership between China and Quebec. Li said cooperation at local levels is an important part of bilateral relations and Quebec, which plays an important and unique role in Canada, takes the lead in cooperation with China. "China and Canada have reached consensus on launching the feasibility study of the FTA. China welcomes Quebec to play a positive role in this process," Li said. He welcomed Quebec enterprises to invest in China and encourages capable Chinese businesses to cooperate with Quebec to lay a solid foundation for bilateral practical cooperation. Quebec supports the feasibility study of the FTA and is ready to work with the federal government to push forward the free trade process between the two countries, Couillard said. He added that Quebec also hopes to enhance cooperation with China in carbon market and welcomes Chinese enterprises to diversify their investment there. Prior to the meeting, Li visited an exhibition featuring the China-Canada friendship and Norman Bethune, a well-known Canadian surgeon who arrived in early 1938 in China's Yan'an to provide medical services to Chinese troops during WWII and died of septicemia in 1939. Li arrived in Ottawa Wednesday afternoon for an official visit to Canada and will travel to Cuba on Saturday. He had attended high-level meetings of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly at the UN Headquarters in New York before visiting Canada. Premier Li Keqiang arrived in Havana, the capital of Cuba, on Sept 24 for an official visit at the invitation of Raul Castro Ruz, president of the Cuban Council of State and Council of Ministers. Chinese premier Li Keqiang is welcome by Miguel Diaz-Canel, first vice-president of the Cuban Council of State and Council of Ministers in Havana, the capital of Cuba, Sept 24, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] Miguel Diaz-Canel, first vice-president of the Cuban Council of State and Council of Ministers, other senior Cuban officials and Zhang Tuo, Chinese ambassador to Cuba, welcomed Premier Li and his wife Cheng Hong at the airport. Premier Li said that as the first Chinese premier to visit Cuba during the 56th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic ties, he expected to deepen traditional friendship with Cuba, enhance pragmatic cooperation and maintain close cultural exchanges. China is willing to work with Cuba in crucial development stages of each side, and promote bilateral relations to a higher level, said the Premier. During his visit to Cuba, Premier Li will hold talks with Raul Castro, visit the former Cuban leader Fidel Castro and attend people-to-people and cultural exchanges with Cuban leaders. The two countries will sign nearly 30 governmental agreements and business deals, covering fields like economy, technology, finance, production capacity cooperation, communications, new energy, and inspection and quarantine. Premier Li and his wife arrived in Havana after an official visit to Canada. Canadian officials, including Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard, and Chinese Ambassador to Canada Luo Zhaohui saw Premier Li off at the airport in Montreal. Hiring a foreigner in China usually requires all of the following be true: The candidate is in good health and over the age of 18 The candidate possesses the skills and work experience required for the job The candidate has no criminal record The candidate has a specified employer The candidate holds a valid passport or any other valid travel document in lieu of passport Note though that the local rules need to be consulted and, like everything else regarding China employment law, they can vary by locale. Some municipalities require a different number of years work experience. And there are almost always exceptions to the general rules. For example, even though most places impose an upper limit on the candidates age, many allow exceptions for candidate that satisfy certain other conditions. Adding to the confusion and the difficulty in getting things right, in some places many (sometimes most or all) of the local rules and exceptions are not available to the public and the only way to know what you as an employer can or cannot do is to hash it out by talking with the relevant authorities. In other words, if you really want to hire an employee who does not satisfy the requirements listed above, you should absolutely not give up. Employers generally need to follow the following steps to bring on a foreigner as an employee. First, the employer must obtain an employment license from the local labor authorities and then secure a work visa invitation confirmation letter from the relevant foreign affairs office. With that letter, the employee may then apply for a work visa at the Chinese Embassy in the employees home country. Upon arrival in China, the employee must obtain (1) an alien employment permit from the relevant labor authorities and (2) an alien residence permit from the relevant public security department. Note that these permits need to be updated periodically. A company that employs a foreigner must do so via a written employment contract and that employment contract should accord with applicable national, provincial and local laws and regulations. For example, most places require the contract term for a foreign employee not exceed 5 years. I know this sounds obvious, but do not have your foreign employee start working before he or she has secured the proper visa. Wait until you have all the necessary paperwork in place, NOT just after you have a signed employment contract. Before too quickly can cause your employee to be fined, lose his or her job, or even to be deported. The employer can be hit with a much larger fine and be ordered to bear all costs in connection with removing the illegal worker. Serial violators can even lose their ability to hire foreigners under any circumstance. Beginning in 2014, China started drafting a regulation called the Provisions on the Administration of Foreigners Working in China, which is intended to focus on attracting more foreign talents into China. The goal is to replace the current Provisions on the Employment of Foreigners in China, which was promulgated by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security in 1995 and recently amended in 2011. Note the interesting change of words from employment to working. This is intentional and was done to deal with how foreign self-employed individual can legally work in China, not just be employed. The rule is not universal in China on this issue. There is nothing in Chinese law specifically prohibiting a foreigner from conducting business as a self-employed individual (except for residents from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau, who are explicitly permitted to do so). However, some places, such as Beijing, explicitly prohibit a foreigner from doing so and registering such a business in those places is impossible. I will not be holding my breath waiting for this new set of regulations to come out, but when and if it does, we will let you know. Fall hydrant flush to begin COLUMBUS -- The Columbus Water Utility Division will begin fall hydrant flushing Tuesday. Residents may notice discolored water and low pressure as crews pass through their areas. The flushing and flow testing may last up to three weeks. Community Builders to meet COLUMBUS -- Community Builders will hold its next meeting in Columbus on Tuesday, with registration beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, 753 33rd Ave. Lunch will be served for $7 while the program on downtown restoration projects is presented. A tour of Henry on 11th, 2521 11th St.; a tour of a second-story downtown home above Seasons Floral, 2409 13th St.; and a tour of the Husker Helicopter hanger, 4171 48th Ave. will follow the presentation. Guests are welcome to attend. For reservations, call Mary at Cornhusker Public Power District, 402-564-2821 between 8 a.m.4:30 p.m. weekdays. Federation for blind to meet COLUMBUS -- The National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Ramada Inn. This will be an organizational meeting to determine interest in starting a chapter in the Columbus area. For more information, call Shane Buresh at 402-440-4732. Blood drive in Silver Creek SILVER CREEK -- The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from noon-6 p.m. Wednesday at the Silver Creek American Legion Club on Main Street. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are also welcome. Those planning to donate should drink plenty of fluids prior to donating and bring a donor card or photo identification. To schedule an appointment online visit Redcrossblood.org. Walk for Wishes event scheduled COLUMBUS -- Walk for Wishes, an event to benefit Make-A-Wish Nebraska, is scheduled for Oct. 1 at Pawnee Park near Memorial Stadium. The 2-mile walk or run will be held 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 1. Freewill donations will be accepted at the event, which also includes a light lunch, bounce houses for children and a silent auction. For more information, call Willie Dove at 402-217-3244 or Amber Stary at 402-910-2757. T-shirts are also available for $15 (small to extra large) or $17 (double extra large and triple extra large). They can be ordered at Party Palace and Gift Shop in Columbus, 402-564-5785. Scout popcorn sales planned COLUMBUS -- Area Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts will be selling popcorn beginning Saturday and running through Oct. 23. There are a variety of flavored and microwave popcorn items available along with Husker-themed tins and other specialty products. Contact a Scout to make a purchase, call Nicole at 402-606-4115, or email pack115popcorn@gmail.com. (Photo : getty images.) China and Canada have resolved the long standing Canola issue. The deadlock was broken following an intense negotiation between Canadian and Chinese officials that went till overnight on Thursday. Advertisement China and Canada have broken the deadlock over long-standing Canola issue, after China agreed to allow Canadian canola shipments with current dockage level of 2.5 percent. The deadlock was broken following an intense negotiation between Canadian and Chinese officials that went till overnight on Thursday, CBC reported. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Per the said agreement, both countries have agreed to conduct additional scientific research to find a "science-based and stable solution," Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a joint press conference in Ottawa. "This is great news.......Our progress on this file goes to show how two countries can collaborate, can solve difficult challenges together," Trudeau added. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said the agreement was reached after taking into account the larger picture of Canada-China relations, adding that it will run until 2020. In the meantime, both countries will study the risk that the current level of dockage may pose. Li, who is on a four-day visit to Canada, had reached Ottawa on Wednesday, after attending the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York. The sensitive issue of canola shipments was expected to be one of the main talking points during Li's visit. The canola issue had dominated Trudeau's visit to China earlier this month, which had happened on the sidelines of G20 summit. The Canadian prime minister said then that Ottawa had scientific proof to prove that the current level of dockage carries lower risk of blackleg diseases. China had expressed fear that high level of dockage found in Canadian seeds could potentially spread blackleg diseases into Chinese crops. Chinese authorities had asked Canadian exporters to reduce the current level of dockage till Sept. 1, or face restriction in Canola shipments. China had agreed to extend the deadline for Canadian canola exports beyond September 1 during Trudeau's visit. Canada is one of the largest exporters of canola seeds in the world. China is one of its largest markets, with over 40 percent of canola seeds exported to Chinese market every year. Canada's canola exporters, who for long have been lobbying for a negotiation with China, have welcomed Thursday's agreement. "This brings much-needed stability to the canola industry," said Patti Miller, president of the Canola Council of Canada, which represents Canada's exporters and farmers of the said product. Advertisement Tagschina, China and Canada, China and Canada Canola Issue, Li Keqiang's Visit to China, China Canada Canola Dispute (Photo : getty images.) Lufax, China's biggest peer-to-peer lending platform, is holding talks with four investment banks for taking a key role in its planned IPO in Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Advertisement Lufax, China's biggest peer-to-peer lending platform, is holding talks with four investment banks for taking a key role in its planned IPO in Hong Kong Stock Exchange, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The four investment banks are reportedly CITIC Securities, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup. All the banks have started preparatory work for the IPO, although, no formal mandate has been awarded yet, sources said. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The timing and size of the IPO is still not confirmed as well. However, reports indicate that the company plans to raise nearly $5 billion. Lufax, or Shanghai Lujiazui International Financial Asset Exchange, is valued at approximately $18.5 billion. It would be the first peer-to-peer (P2P) platform to be listed in Hong Kong stock exchange once the plan is implemented. The P2P companies, which is essentially part of the growing fintech industry, connect individual or institutional investors who are looking to invest their spare cash with borrowers needing quick loans. Analysts say that Lufax's IPO will gauge investor's appetite for a new breed of fintech companies as they try to disrupt the traditional financial industry. China's P2P industry has witnessed robust growth over the years. The P2P loans stood at a total of 680.3 billion Yuan ($102 billion) as of August. This is 20 times more than the levels seen in January 2014, per the industry data provider Wangdaizhijia. Lufax is one of the dominant players in China's P2P industry. Ping An Insurance, the company which is backing Lufax, claimed in its first-half earnings report that Lufax had over 23.3 million users at June end. The Trading volumes on its platform stood at 3.2 trillion Yuan ($480 billion) at the end of June, compared with 512 million Yuan over the same period in first half of 2015. Advertisement TagsLufax, Shanghai Lujiazui International Financial Asset Exchange Co, P2P Companies in China, china, China Lufax IPO Hong Kong, China Lufac Investment Hong Kong (Photo : DARPA) HGV concept from DARPA. Advertisement Experts from Russia's aerospace industry are questioning if the United States can really focus on developing a single family of hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs) given its plethora of either failed or discontinued projects of this kind over the past decades. The latest in this long line of U.S. HGV projects is a contract worth $147.3 million recently awarded to Lockheed Martin Corporation by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for research work under the Tactical Boost Glide (TBG) program. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Lockheed Martin will conduct research on a hypersonic TBG aircraft to develop technologies that facilitate the production of air-launched, tactical-range hypersonic boost glide systems capable of reaching Mach 5 (6,000 km/h) and beyond. TBG will enable the U.S. to counter increasingly advanced threats during offensive strike operations. Dr. Greg Zacharias, Chief Scientist of the United States Air Force, said the Air Force expects to add a few hypersonic weapons to its fleet by the 2020s. By the 2030s, the air force anticipates having a hypersonic drone or ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) vehicle. By the 2040s, it will have an operational hypersonic strike ISR platform capable of both surveillance and weapon delivery. The TBG program is a joint DARPA/U.S. Air Force effort that aims to develop and demonstrate technologies to enable future air-launched, tactical-range hypersonic boost glide systems. In a boost glide system, a rocket accelerates its payload to high speeds. The payload then separates from the rocket and glides unpowered to its destination. Not impressive, said Russian analysts who question if the U.S. will really be able to develop an operational HGV. Anton Mardasov, a columnist for Svobodnaya Pressa (a Russian internet magazine), listed down previous U.S. HGV projects. These include the X-43 spaceplane developed by NASA; the X-51A missile from the Air Force; the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW) glide vehicle for use by the U.S. Army; the ArcLight rocket developed by DARPA and the U.S. Navy and the Falcon HTV-2 glider from DARPA and the Air Force. Then there's the Prompt Global Strike (PGS) program aiming for a system that can deliver a precision-guided conventional weapon airstrike anywhere in the world within one hour. Such a weapon might also be useful during a nuclear conflict, and replace the use of nuclear weapons against 30% of targets. The PGS program encompasses conventional surface-launched missiles and air- and submarine-launched hypersonic missiles. Unlike both China and Russia, however, the U.S. has said its hypersonic warheads or hypersonic glide vehicles won't pack nuclear warheads. Mardasov said TBG uses technologies developed for HTV-2 project, "and that TBG assumes the creation of hypersonic means to deliver a payload not just from air-based systems, but from land-based one, as well." He noted the TBG program envisions an aircraft and not a rocket lofting an HGV into the atmosphere. "And as we know, testing of the X-51A missiles using the B-52 bomber in 2010 and 2011 could hardly be called successful, given problems with the unit's ramjet engine." Military analyst Viktor Murakhovsky said PGS is meant to help develop and iron out technologies that can later be used on land-based systems and also for hypersonic missile warheads. "It must be said that the U.S. has many projects of this kind," said Murakhovsky. "They include the AHW, Falcon ... a paper project to create a hypersonic twin-engine reconnaissance aircraft (the SR-72) and others. But no one, not even the Americans, has actually developed an air- or land-based pre-production model" of such a system. Airfoils with aerodynamic characteristics are difficult to control at high speeds, he said. There are other problems such as maintaining communication with vehicles moving at such speeds when the craft is essentially moving inside a plasma cocoon. Advertisement Tagshypersonic glide vehicles, HGV, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, DARPA, Tactical Boost Glide (TBG) program, Dr. Greg Zacharias, U.S. Air Force (Photo : US DoD) China's land-based aircraft carrier mock-up. Advertisement China's third aircraft carrier still under development will feature steam catapults to launch more heavily armed Shenyang J-15 multi-role fighters that might have new engines by the time this carrier takes to sea in the 2020s. Photos of a J-15 Flying Shark with a catapult launch bar on its nose wheel confirm China is testing a Catapult-Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) on its "land based" aircraft carrier at Wuhan in Hubei Province. Media reports claim China is speeding-up development of its own CATOBAR system based on that in use by the U.S. Navy. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The catapult launch bar on the nose wheel of a J-15 indicates a CATOBAR system because this feature attaches a jet to a catapult, which is then let loose to accelerate the jet to take-off speed, much like an arrow from a crossbow. A CATOBAR launch and recovery system will allow China's third carrier (Type 003) to launch heavier aircraft such as AWACS (Airborne Early Warning and Control) planes and cargo aircraft. It will, however, also mean extensive modifications to the existing J-15 fighters now aboard China's only aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. None of these planes are outfitted for a catapult launch. Either this or China plans to produce new J-15s with launch bars and arrester hooks that enable a jet to land safely on a carrier. Because of its many deficiencies, among which are its unreliable engines and the unreliable engines on its J-15s, the Liaoning is classified as a training carrier unfit for combat by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Chinese media reports the J-15 with the launch bar is powered by the indigenous Shenyang WS-10 turbofan, which might be mistaken since no J-15s are known to have been equipped with this trouble-plagued and underpowered engine. All production J-15s have are powered by the Russian-made and more reliable AL-31 turbofans. Despite its well-known deficiencies, this engine is in widespread use among China's land-based Shenyang J-11 fighters. China has been developing the WS-10 for over 20 years. There hasn't been official confirmation of the third carrier's construction or visible evidence of any work related to this project. There is, however, speculation that production of the initial modules for the carrier is progress. The third carrier will likely have a larger aircraft complement than the Liaoning or the modified second carrier, the Type 002 that will still have the ski jump. The Liaoning can embark 36 aircraft: 24 J-15 fighters; 6 Changhe Z-18F anti-submarine warfare helicopters; 4 Changhe Z-18J airborne early warning helicopters and 2 Harbin Z-9C rescue helicopters. Advertisement Tagschina, third aircraft carrier, Shenyang J-15, Catapult-Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery, CATOBAR, People's Liberation Army Navy (Photo : USAF) U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bomber shows-off its mammoth bomb load. Advertisement A tech company owned by China's central government has announced the development of a new kind of "quantum radar" it claims can detect U.S. military stealth jets 100 kilometers distant, according to different state-controlled media outlets. The 14th Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), one of the 10 leading military-industrial groups owned by the Communist Party of China, said the new "single-photon quantum radar system" relies on a quantum physics phenomenon called quantum entanglement to uncover stealthy aircraft. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement It also said it had successfully tested this quantum radar but has offered no proof. It said this distance of 100 km is five times the "potential range" of a laboratory prototype jointly developed by researchers from the United States, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom in 2015. Quantum radar is based on the theory of quantum entanglement and the idea that two different particles can share a relationship with one another to the point that, by studying one particle, you can learn things about the other particle that could be a million miles away. These two particles are said to be "entangled". The incredibly difficult physics a quantum radar would have to overcome is also raising eyebrows in the west and in Chinese scientific circles. One expert said he was very skeptical a quantum radar will ever see the light of day outside of the lab. A physicist at China's Nanjing University (which is where the 14th Institute is located) was quoted as saying "serious technical challenges had long confined quantum radar technology to the laboratory." CETC said China's first quantum radar system has "important military application values" because it used entangled photons to identify objects "invisible" to conventional radar systems. It said its breakthrough was helped largely by the rapid development of single-photon detectors that allow researchers to capture reflected photons with a high degree of efficiency. CETC said the field test opened a "completely new area of research" with the potential for building highly mobile and sensitive radar systems able to survive the most challenging combat environments. CETC said quantum radar systems can be small and will be able to evade enemy countermeasures such anti-radar missiles because the quantum entanglement can't be traced. It worked with quantum scientists at the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, Anhui province, where many quantum technology breakthroughs have been achieved. Chinese media reported Chinese scientists as being shocked by the revelation because the idea of quantum radar remains largely confined to science fiction. Physicist Professor Ma Xiaosong at Nanjing University, who has studied quantum radar, said he has "not seen anything like this in an open report." Quantum radar works by generating a huge number of entangled photon pairs. Shooting the twins of these entangled photons into the air provides information about an object in the vicinity. The returning photons can distinguish the shape, location, speed, temperature and even the chemical composition of the aircraft's paint. Advertisement TagsQuantum Radar, china, China Electronics Technology Group Corporation, quantum entanglement (Photo : GettyImages/FengLi) Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, is currently on a four-nation tour, which includes stops in France and Finland. Advertisement Chinese and Palestinian authorities have agreed to encourage the traditional friendship between the two countries and implement relevant initiatives announced earlier this year by Chinese President Xi Jinping. This decision was taken during a meeting between Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, and Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Zhang emphasized that his visit to Palestine is aimed at boosting traditional friendship and increasing cooperation in the various areas such as education, talent training, culture and investment. Zhang said that the relationship between China and Palestine is a good precedent for designing South-South cooperation and Sino-Arab relations. Discussing the Palestine and Israel issue, the Chinese leader said that it is the responsibility of the international community to support the Palestinian people and restore their legitimate national rights. According to Xinhua, Zhang stressed that China always had and always will take a fair and objective stance in regards to the Palestinian issue. He also laid a wreath on the grave of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Palestinian leader Hamdallah commended China for its unconditional support in various areas. He also expressed his hope that Palestine would get to play an active role in China's Belt and Road initiative. The Palestinian Prime Minister voiced agreement with President X's statement that the Palestinian issues should not be forgotten or sidelined. Zhang is currently on a four-nation tour, which includes stops in France and Finland. According to CCTV, Zhang also met Israeli leaders including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin. After Palestine, Zhang is scheduled to visit Finland. Advertisement Tagszhang dejiang, Palestine, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo : Dassault Aviation) Dassault Rafale B bombed-up. Advertisement India's Cabinet has approved the purchase of 36 Dassault Rafale multi-role fighters from France's Dassault Aviation, ramping-up an arms race against Pakistan as the United States and China watch apprehensively from the sidelines. The acquisition will have an immediate and dramatic effect on the balance of power on the Indian subcontinent. The Rafales give India a weapon potent enough to carry on the fight against Pakistan's U.S.-made General Dynamics F-16 air superiority fighter jets and the PAC JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighters produced jointly by Pakistan and China. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Indian media noted the Indian Air Force (IAF) with its Soviet-era aircraft had fallen behind Pakistan and China in modern airpower at a time when China continues its military rise that also benefits Pakistan, China's closest ally in the world. The new world order in Asia pits India and the United States against Pakistan and China. India hopes the Rafales, which can carry nuclear weapons, can help address the military imbalance in its favor. Despite the acquisition of the French fighters, the IAF still needs more modern combat aircraft. The IAF's fighter force still consists of MiGs, mostly obsolete, acquired from the Soviet Union or post Soviet Union Russia. IAF said it needs jets to fill 42 squadrons, 10 squadrons fewer than what it has now. The Rafales will help fill the gap but numbers count when India has to face both Pakistan and China. India plans to equip the remaining squadrons with F-16s and HAL Tejas single-seat, multi-role light fighters made by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. Nuclear-armed Rafales in addition to India's new ballistic missiles lend more credibility to India's nuclear deterrent. Dassault will modify India's Rafales to make them nuclear-capable. French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar met Sept. 23 to finalize the Rafale deal. The sale to India will be the third export deal for the Rafale and the largest since France sold 24 of these fighters to both Egypt and Qatar. Advertisement TagsIndia, Dassault Rafale, Dassault Aviation, Indian Air Force, General Dynamics F-16, PAC JF-17 Thunder, HAL Tejas COLUMBUS Mary Jo Van Ackeren opened a box on her kitchen table and peeled away a layer of bubble wrap protecting a series of neatly labeled and arranged photos. She pointed out a few pictures, including one of a person who looked like nothing more than skin and bones and another of a makeshift house constructed of scraps and other throw-away items. Another picture marked Mother and I showed two women Van Ackeren and Mother Teresa. I think she taught us the love of the poor. We are all brothers and sisters and need to help each other, the 86-year-old Van Ackeren said of Mother Teresa, who was declared a saint earlier this month. The meeting between them was the result of about 13 years of correspondence. While exchanging letters, Mother Teresa would ask Van Ackeren to visit her in India where the Catholic nun had a mission tending to the poor and dying in Kolkata (then known as Calcutta). The letters she received from Mother Teresa are also stored in the box with the photos of Van Ackerens visit, each typed and signed. The last was received in August 1997, just a month before the saint passed away. The communication started after Van Ackeren went on a business trip while she was employed with J.C. Penney. A man at the meeting who sold jewelry asked her about a pin on her lapel. She explained it was a dove representing the Holy Spirit. He asked Van Ackeren if she was Catholic. When the St. Bonaventure Catholic Church parishioner said yes, he told her he met a friend of hers on a recent flight. It was Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa gave the man her address, wanting him to send her broken jewelry that the poor she worked with could fix and sell. The man said he didnt have the time, but Van Ackeren volunteered to send the jewelry for him. He gave her Mother Teresas address and the correspondence began. In the mid-1990s, Van Ackeren traveled to Kolkata, where she was greeted by Mother Teresa. For about two weeks, she worked with the nuns there, waking early in the morning, attending Mass and helping at the orphanage and home for the dying. Van Ackeren said the poor were everywhere, living on the streets. She followed Mother Teresa around one day and was exhausted by the work the older woman did. I was worn out. Shed go to the people who were dying. Shed pick up their head and say, Its OK. Jesus is waiting for you, she said. During her time in Kolkata, Van Ackeren said she questioned where God was because of the all misery and wondered how much good could be done. It was difficult at first to hug and care for the poor, but she helped by bathing and feeding them, some so weak she had to help them close their own eyelids. The longer she stayed, the more Van Ackeren said she began to understand. She saw it in the work of Mother Teresa and the other nuns who spent each day caring for what she called the castaways. I could see and feel Gods love, which had existed from the beginning but I just didnt see it at first, she said. Van Ackeren wasn't unaware of the needy. In Columbus, she founded Simon House in the early 1990s. The nonprofit, which provides assistance to the poor, is named after her brother-in-law, Simon Van Ackeren, a Franciscan priest who died when he was 20. Spending time with Mother Teresa only helped strengthen her belief that people need to take care of one another. That was the message Van Ackeren said she took away from her trip to Kolkata and what she thinks Mother Teresa wanted others to understand. Gods calling us to help our brothers and sisters, regardless of who they are or where theyre at. You dont even need to travel overseas. You can help them right here, she said. Author of American Born Chinese and other graphic novels Gene Luen Yang was among this years recipients of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundations Genius Grant' of $625,000 given over a period of five years. Yang, who is a professing Catholic who has also been known to integrate his faith into his work, was recognized by the Foundation as leading the way in bringing diverse characters to childrens and young adult literature and confirming comics place as an important creative and imaginative force within literature and art. This grant is unique in that the recipients are able to use the money in any way they wish. In the words of the Founation: The MacArthur Fellowship is a no strings attached award in support of people, not projects. When I first heard about it, I was in shock. I was in open-jawed shock, Yang, 43, told the Wall Street Journal. When asked what he plans to do with the grant, he said in numerous interviews that he plans to channel the money to his three main roles as a family member (as a son, father, and husband), as a cartoonist, and as a teacher. Yang, who was appointed by the Library of Congress in January of 2016 as the National Ambassador for Young Peoples Literature, told the Los Angeles Times: I want to put part of these resources to each of those things. I dont think Im going to build a palace, but it will at least help me send two of my kids to college. He added that he hopes to hire an intern, and to use some of the grant to provide resources for projects he had been wanting to do with the Library of Congress. Its just crazy, Yang told the Washington Post. I feel incredibly blessed. Yang is currently working on a new graphic novel series called Secret Coders, and will be touring for two weeks to promote the second volume of the series which began in 2015. Apart from American Born Chinese, which was a finalist for the National Book Award, Yang has also been recognized for his other works including Boxers and Saints, The New Super-Man, and The Shadow Hero. Korean American Family Services (KFAM) celebrated its 33rd anniversary with a fundraising gala on Thursday night under the theme, Together We Thrive, at the Taglyan Complex in Los Angeles. For the past 33 years, Korean American Family Services has worked to provide refuge and comfort to those members of the Korean community who are in pain and despair, KFAM executive director Connie Chung Joe said, addressing some 370 guests. We will continue to offer help to overcome these trials and to build healthier families. The gala featured a keynote address by author and activist Ji Sun Lee, who also recently received her social welfare Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles. KFAM, which was founded in 1983, has provided counseling and case management to hundreds of clients, and also helped place Asian American children with Asian American families. The group also hosts numerous trainings and workshops throughout the year for the Korean immigrant community on topics such as parenting, mental health, and domestic violence. 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. Boko Haram militants shoot Christians returning home from church in Nigeria, killing 8; 2 other attacks claim 10 lives They were lying in ambush. When the Boko Haram militants on board motorbikes saw a group of Christians returning home from church service, they opened fire, killing eight of them, according to survivors. The incident, which took place in Kwamjilari village in Nigeria, was just one of three attacks launched on Sunday and Monday by the Muslim extremists, the New York Times reports. The two other attacks killed at least 10 people, Nigerian military authorities said After the attack on Christian churchgoers on Sunday, the Boko Haram militants beheaded a village chief and his son and then set their homes and others on fire before dawn on Monday, the authorities said. The militants then opened fire on fleeing villagers, killing two people and injuring others. Later on Monday, the Muslim extremists shot and killed six civilians and wounded three soldiers traveling in a convoy, an army spokesman said. The attacks came following failed negotiations between Boko Haram and the Nigerian government to exchange kidnapped women and girls for imprisoned militants, according to Mission Network News. The missionary group World Mission notes that Boko Haram militants have been terrorising northern Nigeria for seven years now. Unfortunately, the crisis has not been grabbing headlines in the West, which is focused on the Islamic State (ISIS) atrocities in the Middle East, World Mission CEO Greg Kelley said. "They're [Boko Haram] causing all kinds of terror and it's incredibly difficult. In fact, there are so many communities in northern Nigeria that Christians have 100 percent evacuated just because they are literally targeted and murdered on site as they're identified," Kelley told Mission Network News. He said the crisis is not just Nigeria's problem since it affects countries around them. "The reality is that Boko Haram, although they're concentrated in Nigeria, their influence has spilled over into Niger and Cameroon, specifically where you have hundreds of thousands of refugees. The numbers we have are that there's an additional 400,000 refugees in just those two countries as a result of Boko Haram," Kelley said. Despite the danger of preaching God's Word in this part of Nigeria, Kelley said World Mission is there to share the gospel, even with the terrorists. "Literally, as Christians are fleeing, the people we work with are leaning into and going into those very places and sharing the Gospel with these terrorists, essentially," he said. Chinese businessman who converted to Christianity from Buddhism to build $1.2m Noah's Ark replica Another life-sized Noah's Ark replica in the making? Yes, and this time the massive structure measuring 136 metres long, 23 metres wide and 13 metres high is expected to rise in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, which borders the United States to the south. The $1.2-million project is being financed by a Chinese businessman who years ago converted to Christianity from Buddhism, The Christian Post reports. The Noah's Ark replica will be part of a Bible theme park that businessman Wenqing Sun plans to build inside a cemetery in the city of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, according to Marc L'Hoir, the manager of the cemetery named Sunset Cemetery. L'Hoir said the Bible theme park project will actually be the second for Sun since the latter has already built a similar theme park in the city of Shenyang in northern China. According to L'Hoir, Sun is keen to build the Bible theme park not for financial gain but to fulfil a personal calling to spread the Gospel message around the world. L'Hoir said he and Sun expect the Bible theme park to become a "one-of-a-kind tourist attraction" that will bring people from across the world to Canada for a visit. "You know how many people go to Vatican City? How many people go to Jerusalem to the Wailing Wall? So once the word gets out and we start marketing it, I think it'll be a real tourist attraction for Moose Jaw," he said, as reported by CBC News. "Plus it's going to enhance the cemetery," L'Hoir said. "Hopefully people want to be buried there." Mike Wirges, the Moose Jaw administrator, said the biblical project will not be a theme park in the conventional sense, pointing out that there will be no rollercoasters or anything like that. "It's just a passive park that people would essentially walk through," he said. Several life-sized Noah's Ark replicas have already been built recently. One such project was The Ark of Noah, built by Dutch carpenter Johan Huibers. It is a huge structure with a capacity to hold up to 5,000 people at a time. The Ark was supposed to make a cross-Atlantic journey to the 2016 Paralympics in Brazil, but the plans did not push through due to economic and political reasons plus the threat of the Zika virus. An even bigger project dubbed "The Ark Encounter," by Creation Museum CEO and President Ken Ham, opened its gate to the public on July 7 in Kentucky. During the project's inauguration, Ham told The Christian Post that building the Ark is his way of conveying the message that "in a world that is becoming increasingly secularised and biased, it's time for Christians to do something of this size and this magnitude." He said the Ark stands as a reminder to "the coming generations of the truth of God's Word." Questions loomed Friday as Nebraska State Patrol investigators continued to probe the fatal encounter between a Cass County Sheriff's deputy and a 23-year-old Louisville man Wednesday evening. Why did Austin Baier get out of his Buick Century? Was he armed when he confronted Deputy Tyler Reiff? What exactly happened in the altercation? Answers to those questions and others were scarce. It appears Reiff and Baier were the only people near First and Cherry streets in the town of 1,100 just after 7 p.m. Wednesday when authorities say the encounter began. According to Cass County radio dispatches, a back-up deputy headed to the scene moments after the shooting told Reiff to ensure it was secure before rendering first aid. "Were the only ones out here, Reiff responded. It's unclear whether the shooting was recorded, and Cass County Attorney Nathan Cox on Friday wouldn't say whether a video from a dashboard or body camera captured it. In an email on Friday, Cox also declined to answer questions or provide more detail about the shooting. "The press release provided yesterday is all that has been released," he wrote. "This is still under investigation and will be proceeding to a grand jury." Nebraska law requires a grand jury to investigate any death that happens in police custody or while a person is being apprehended. Reiff has said he pulled Baier over near the high school Wednesday evening because Baier's maroon 1992 Buick Century matched the description of a car that was reportedly driving recklessly earlier Wednesday, a patrol spokesman said Thursday. About 20 minutes earlier, a man had called the sheriff's office to say a car was spinning around in circles in the front lawn of his home east of town, according to radio transmissions. Cox said Baier stopped when Reiff pulled him over, then drove off and then stopped again, got out of the car and confronted the four-year veteran of the sheriff's office. At some point during the altercation that followed, Reiff shot Baier with his service weapon, Cox said. He and medical personnel tried to revive Baier, but he died at the scene, Cox said. An autopsy was scheduled for Thursday; no findings were released Friday. Reached late Thursday night, a relative of Baier's said the family had "decided not to comment on the tragedy regarding a close loved one." Baier lived behind the dental office near Third and Main streets, was a cook at the Main Street Cafe a year ago and most recently worked at a gas station, according to Louisville residents who described him as a nice guy who kept to himself. Baier went to Weeping Water High School, where he was on the wrestling team, according to newspaper files. His death appears to be the first fatal shooting involving a Cass County deputy since William Brueggemann became sheriff in 1991, according to newspaper records. In 2004, an Avoca man was killed after a standoff with authorities including Cass County deputies, but state troopers fired the shots that killed Mahlon Wolfe, who was suicidal and had barricaded himself in his home, authorities said. The details of Baier's death may remain under wraps until after a grand jury has concluded its review of the case. Under a new law passed by Nebraska lawmakers in April, a report on the grand jury's findings will be made public if they clear police of criminal wrongdoing. Jeremy Corbyn Re-elected As Labour Leader, Calls For Unity Jeremy Corbyn has been re-elected as leader of the Labour party, beating his rival Owen Smith and winning a slightly bigger mandate than when he succeeded the former leader Ed Miliband last year. Corbyn won 313,209 (61.8 per cent) to Smith's 193,229 (38.2 per cent). Corbyn was first elected Labour leader in September 2015, when he beat three other candidates and gained 59.5 per cent of the vote. Turnout was higher this time, with 77.6 per cent of the 640,500 eligible party members, trade union members and registered supporters confirmed as taking part. Corbyn, who said he was "honoured" by the victory, issued a rallying cry for Labour to re-unite and declared that he would "wipe the slate clean" after a summer of debate and disagreement. The time had come to turn Labour's fire on the Tories, the re-elected leader said. "Together arguing for the real change this country needs I have no doubt that this party can win the next general election," Corbyn said. The Labour leader, who repeatedly referred to the "Labour family", added: "We have much more in common than that which divides us; let's wipe that slate clean from today and get on with the work we've got to do as a party together." Andy Flannagan, the Director of Christians on the Left, told Christian Today that the result bucked the trend of disillusionment in politics. "In an age where many comment on the public's disenchantment with politics, this election has shown that many more people are bucking that trend, discovering that they have a voice, and have joined the Labour Party," he said. "It now has over four times as many members as the Conservative Party. The challenge, as Donald Trump will hopefully discover in November, is that enthusiasm and numbers at events where everyone already agrees with you, does not necessarily help make the case to the wider public. As Christians on the Left, we look forward to working with Jeremy and his team to help them do that." Miracle in Aleppo: Girl, 10, buried under rubble following airstrike rescued by her 'Syrian saviour' Without warning, their house was blown to smithereens and Doha Al-Mohammed, a 10-year-old Syrian girl, found herself bleeding and buried in rubble. The disaster happened in April when a plane suddenly dropped barrel bombs on a residential neighbourhood in Aleppo, Syria, destroying houses including that of Doha and her family, CNN reports. Miraculously, no one was reported killed in the airstrike. But Doha nearly did get killed. Fortunately, Mohammed Alaa Al-Jaleel, a member of the city's emergency response unit, spotted Doha amid the rubble and rescued her. Dubbed as Doha's "Syrian saviour," Al-Jaleel says he and his team had already loaded several wounded youngsters into the back of their makeshift ambulance and were about to head for the hospital when he glanced back and saw Doha, who other rescuers failed to notice because she was mostly buried in the rubble outside the destroyed apartment building. "I looked back and saw Doha on the ground," Al-Jaleel says. "She was covered in rubble, you could not see her there, but then I noticed her moving her shoulder." "I carried her running to the ambulance as fast as I could trying to save her life," Al-Jaleel says. A video of the rescue shows him urging Doha to "stay strong!" as he places her on the floor of the van, dazed and bloodied. Doha says she still remembers everything. "I was really afraid. My body was really hurting from all the debris that fell on me. Then someone came and carried me. I was crying a lot, and bleeding," she recalls. Doha and her siblings were taken to a hospital, where doctors treated her abdominal wounds. Her five-year-old sister Yasmin suffered more serious injuries and had to be taken across the border to Turkey for treatment. Thousands of other Syrian children were not as lucky as Doha. According to statistics from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 142 children have been killed in Aleppo in August alone, and around 50,000 children are believed to have died across the country during the last five years of fighting, according to the Gospel Herald, Currently, 1.5 to 2 million people are still trapped in Aleppo, which is divided into rebel-held and government-held areas. The city has been under siege since civil war erupted in Syria five years ago. Over 160 ISIS militants killed in coalition airstrike in Iraq; jihadists surround Mosul with oil tanks The Islamic State (ISIS) militants were caught flatfooted. While they were gathering at a village in Iraq, warplanes from the U.S.-led coalition swooped in and dropped bombs, killing more than 160 of the jihadists, the Nineveh Operations Command of the Iraqi military announced on Thursday, according to Iraqi News. "The international coalition aircraft this morning bombarded an ISIS gathering at al-Safina village, east of Sharqat district, killing over 160 ISIS militants. The bombardment also destroyed a large number of equipment, mechanisms and weapons belonging to the group," a statement issued by the Command said. Meanwhile, residents of the ISIS-occupied Iraqi city of Mosul said the terrorist group has dug a trench around the city, in preparation for an expected attack from the Iraqi army and the U.S.-led coalition forces. The sources said the ISIS surrounded the city with oil tanks, which they intend to set on fire once the Iraqi army and coalition forces begin their advance. The terrorist group is also digging tunnels underneath Mosul and planting bombs and improvised explosive devices around the city, the sources added. The assault on Mosul, which ISIS captured two years ago, is planned for next month. Its recapture would mark a major turning point in the war against ISIS. "We assess today that the Iraqis will have in early October all the forces marshalled, trained, fielded, equipped that are necessary for operations in Mosul," said Gen. Joe Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the U.S.-led coalition. The Iraqi army says ISIS may resort to suicide attacks once the assault on Mosul begins. ISIS jihadists "are prepared to fight to the last man in order to keep control over Mosul and the preparations they are making will make the clash challenging," an Iraqi army official told Iraqi News. "Besides challenging, it's likely to take its toll on the civilian population of Mosul, which was around two million people at the time ISIS took over," he added. Pastor Saeed Abedini reveals U.S. paid Iran $400-M ransom for his release but not for his plane ticket back home After languishing in an Iranian prison for three years, Pastor Saeed Abedini could hardly believe his luck when he was finally freed. He said he never expected the U.S. government to pay ransom to secure his freedom since there is a federal policy forbidding the government from paying such ransom, which would eventually be used to finance terror groups, enabling them to "torture thousands more people, maybe hundreds of thousands." But Abedini revealed in an op-ed piece for Fox News that ransom payment was indeed made as he left Iran, saying that "$400 million in cash...was loaded on the 'other' airplane." Abedini said he was also surprised that he and the other released prisoners were first flown to Germany, not the U.S., to seek medical treatment. The pastor also revealed that he paid for his own plane ticket from Germany to the United States. "I was informed when our flight from Iran landed in Germany that I would have to buy my own plane ticket back to the U.S.," he said. "They didn't even intend on helping me get home. Without the kindness of friends like the Rev. Franklin Graham, I would have been stranded in Germany. In spite of all I had experienced, I felt completely dispensable." "How could so many people go to such great lengths, including [an] airplane full of $400 million in cash, and yet a plane ticket home for me was, as I was told, 'not in the budget?'" Abedini asked. It was then that he realised that he was nothing more than a pawn in the the "much larger political game" between the U.S. and Iran. "And once that process was over, well, I nearly had to buy my own plane ticket home," he said, even though he and his family were "virtually homeless." Abedini said it's difficult for him to truly appreciate his freedom because he knows it will negatively impact other Iranian prisoners. "Now for the rest of my life I will wonder if my freedom has made it financially possible for Iran to abuse and imprison countless others those like me who reject their radical theology and dictatorial oppression," he said. Abedini hopes his revelations would not make him appear like an ingrate, saying that he is extremely grateful for his freedom. However, as a Christian, the pastor said he was actually willing and ready to die for his faith in Iran without letting anybody else suffer. He vowed that for the rest of his life, he will stand against the Iranian regime and fight anyone who supports the regime's "evil plans." 'Prison Break' season 5 air date, spoilers: Mike is alive; Lincoln breaks Mike out of Yemen Everyone thought he was dead, but Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) is alive and imprisoned in Yemen. His brother Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) is determined to break him out before anything happens to him. In the official sneak peak of "Prison Break" season 5 released by Fox, Lincoln finds out that Mike is alive and lets Sara (Sarah Wayne Callies) know by showing her a photograph of Mike taken inside a prison. Mike is in Ogygia Prison in Yemen and C-Note (Rockmond Dunbar) finds out that he was hired to work under The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levan (ISIL), to help take down the government. Lincoln, along with Sucre (Amaury Nolasco), T-bag (Robert Knepper), and C-Note, take on the mission of getting Mike out of Yemen. Miller revealed that "Prison Break" season 5 is not focused only one prison, but the whole country itself. There will be different forces at play that will hinder Mike and Lincoln's escape, whether its inside the Ogygia or outside of Yemen. Purcell has been posting photos on his Instagram account that are speculated to be teasers on how he will be getting Mike out of prison. In one of his posts, he shows off a tattoo on his arm of a compass with a few words and symbols surrounding it. The photo lead to speculations that Lincoln will be using his tattoo to get around Yemen into Ogygia, similar to how Mike used the tattoo on his back to get Lincoln out of Fox River State Penitentiary. "Prison Break" season 4 ended with an airtight finale, with Michael sacrificing himself to save Sara and ended up dying from his brain tumor. But according to Chairman and CEO of Fox Television Group Dana Walden, season 5 will show "a logical and believable explanation to why the characters are alive and still moving around the world," reported by Deadline. The show's fifth season will be a 10-episode series that picks up after a time jump of several years. "Prison Break" season 5 premieres in 2017 on Fox. Russell Moore says President Obama 'very passionate' about prison reform Russell Moore the president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, which is the public-policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention met with U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday to discuss prison reform. He said he was quite happy with the turnout of their meeting. Moore told The Christian Post that Obama was actually "very receptive" to hear the prison reform ideas that are being pushed by both conservative and liberal activists. The meeting was attended by dozens of other people such as Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett. Moore said the meeting was "pretty evenly divided between people who would be more associated with the right and people who would be more associated with the left." He said he was glad that Obama, who is often criticised by the faith community because of his stance on abortion and same-sex marriage, "was very receptive to everything that we were saying, including the importance of faith-based ministries to prisoners." "We took into account what it meant to prevent further criminality," Moore said. "And there's a spiritual element to that, there's a family element to that, and there's a second chance opportunity from the community in making things right where we can. The president was very receptive to that and was clearly very passionate about the issue." Moore was one of a long list of people who earlier signed a letter addressed to Republican congressional leadership. The signatories sought to advance bills that would help in reforming the country's criminal justice system. Moore and other faith leaders hoped to reduce recidivism, which refers to a person's relapse into criminal behaviour, as well as modify the implementation of mandatory minimum sentencing. They also wanted to establish halfway houses for prisoners who have not committed serious or violent felonies. "These state-led reforms have made communities safer by successfully reducing recidivism and saving taxpayers billions of dollars that had been slated for prison expansion and construction costs. Most importantly, even as prison populations declined, states saw crime rates fall," they noted in their letter. Samsung Galaxy C9 release date, specs, rumors: Samsung to launch C5 Pro and C7 Pro? Aside from the rumored Galaxy C9, Samsung may also be thinking of adding new iterations to the lineup as rumors suggest a Galaxy C5 Pro and Galaxy C7 Pro are also in the pipeline. In an exclusive, SamMobile reports that the South Korea-based tech giant is already working on the Pro versions of its current Galaxy C series. The Galaxy C5 and Galaxy C7 were released early this year and has been exclusive to China. The industry follower confirms that the base model is bound to have a Galaxy C5 Pro version with the model number SM-C5010. The Galaxy C7, meanwhile, has a Pro version with the model number SM-C7010. Since it is fairly certain that Samsung only started working on the iterations, not much is known about their specs and features. It is expected, however, that the upcoming iterations, which are dubbed as Pro versions, will offer better specs and features than their base model counterparts. In addition, the Pro versions are also likely to be released with the same design and dimensions as its lineup counterparts, with only the internals getting an upgrade. This means that the Galaxy C5 Pro will have the same 5.2-inch screen dimensions as the base model, while the Galaxy C7 Pro will have a 5.7-inch display. It is also expected that they will be launched first exclusively to China, much like the rest of the lineups. However, it is known that Samsung may elect to have a global launch for the Galaxy C series, similar to what it did with the Galaxy A lineup. For the Galaxy C, there is one more iteration to be released. Rumor has it that a phablet will be added to the lineup, as the rumored Galaxy C9 is said to feature a 6.0-inch display. The phablet is also likely to launch as a China-exclusive iteration. Samsung Galaxy S8 release date, specs, features: Flagship to carry ARM Mali-G71? It turns out Samsung is serious about making the Samsung Galaxy S8 a performance heavyweight if the latest report about the much-talked-about successor of the Samsung Galaxy S7 is to be believed. According to Sam Mobile, the smartphone will house the Exynos 8895 chipset processor and the ARM Mali-G71 tandem, both of which are the latest iteration of their respective lineups. While the Samsung Galaxy S8 was already expected to have a new Exynos chip as its source of power, the bigger news is about the Mali-G71, the latest graphics card from ARM and the most powerful one yet. The Mali-G71 graphics processing unit (GPU) is touted to offer top of the line 4K display resolution and smooth mobile Virtual Reality (VR) experience, all thanks to the Bifrost architecture it is built in. The high-performance GPU which is potentially going under the hood of the Samsung Galaxy S8, as per Sam Mobile, boasts 1.8 times more power than the Mali-T880 MP12 GPU on the Samsung Galaxy S7. ARM also claims that it will be 20 percent better in energy efficiency and that it will also boast 40 percent improved performance and 20percent more external memory bandwidth saving. The ARM Mali-G71 GPU was even benchmarked as one that's more powerful than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 processor the latest from the manufacturer, effectively painting a picture of the serious power that Samsung Galaxy S8 can harness from the chip. It has long been rumored that the Samsung Galaxy S8 will be VR-centric, with Samsung taking its first step toward the innovation with the introduction of the Bio-Blue display, which delivers a stellar Ultra high-definition screen resolution. That being said, Samsung Galaxy S8 will definitely pack some power as it takes the VR experience to the mobile world. However, users are advised to take this report with a pinch of salt since the information presented isn't officially confirmed by the company as of the moment. The Samsung Galaxy S8 is expected to be released next year at the Mobile World Congress (MWC). Why The Church Has Got To Start Caring About Persecuted Christians Statistically, the worst place in the world to be a Christian is in North Korea. It has topped persecution charity Open Doors' annual World Watch List of countries where Christians face the harshest treatment for the past 14 years. Under dictator Kim Jong-Un, the government maintains absolute control through the systematic repression of its citizens. More than 100,000 Christians are thought to be in hard labour camps, while tens of thousands of citizens have defected to countries such as neighbouring South Korea, China, Mongolia and Russia. A report released this week warned that documented incidents against Christians include "being hung on a cross over a fire, crushed under a steamroller, herded off bridges and trampled underfoot". However, surprisingly, Eddie Lyle president of Open Doors UK and Ireland says North Korea is not actually the most difficult country for Christians to live out their faith. He gives that title to Nigeria, where he says the Church "is facing its Gethsemane". "For the most part it stands alone and misunderstood. It has endured years of destruction, great human loss, and its people scattered. It's time for the Church around the world to hear not only their cries, but their screams for help, and for the support of the family of God around the world," he tells Christian Today. Lyle was in Northern Nigeria in May this year, visiting Church leaders and pastors who have experienced extreme violence at the hands of Boko Haram an Islamist group that has waged terror in Nigeria's northern states since 2009. In April 2014, more than 200 Christian girls were abducted from their school in Chibok, Borno state, by Boko Haram militants. A few have managed to escape but 218 are still missing, believed to remain in captivity. A video released by the terrorist group in August showed dozens of the schoolgirls, one of whom begged the Nigerian government to free detained Boko Haram members in a prisoner swap. The girls' capture was part of a wider Boko Haram campaign against education in Nigeria its name means "Western (or non-Islamic) education is forbidden". More than 910 schools have been targeted, at least 611 teachers deliberately killed and another 1,900 forced to flee. The fighting has sparked a largely unreported refugee crisis with an estimated 2.2 million people, including 1.4 million children, displaced. Only around 10 per cent are in government-recognised refugee camps where there is some schooling. The other 90 per cent are living with friends and family members with little or no access to education. Christians are among the groups to have fared the worst. Last month, Boko Haram's new leader Abu Musab al-Barnawi vowed to eradicate Christianity in Nigeria. Militants will blow up "every church that we are able to reach... killing all of those who we find from the citizens of the cross", he said. Lyle met the families of some of the missing Chibok schoolgirls. "I saw a level of devastation in the eyes of those mothers and fathers that I have never seen before an ongoing torture," he says. "To witness the erosion of life that has been ebbed away from those people, with no hope for the future, I found that profoundly harrowing." One father, Jonah, asked Lyle how to stop his wife from screaming in the night. "What would Jesus say to her, Eddie?" he asked. "The thing that I always come back to is that verse of Scripture that says when one part of the body hurts, the whole body hurts," Lyle says. "I held him in my arms, I prayed with him and promised to be his voice." The most dangerous prayer you can pray In 1970, aged 17, Lyle stood at the altar in a tiny church in Northern Ireland, opened his hands, and said to God three simple, yet life-changing, words: "Please use me". "That's the most dangerous prayer you can ever pray," he says. Now 64, Lyle has for two decades worked for Open Doors. He spends his time primarily travelling around the world meeting Christians persecuted for their faith and urging the wider Church body to begin speaking up for the oppressed. "I've seen the most amazing things God is doing and the greatest sorrows of his people," he says. "I've seen the nobility of a life that is lived to the glory of God going through great hardship, and I've seen God take that awful ugliness and brokenness and transform it into something astonishing." 'There is only one Church' Lyle is adamant that there is a great theological misnomer plaguing the global Church a belief "that there is a persecuted Church and a free Church. That is totally wrong," Lyle says. "There is only one Church." He's clear that persecuted Christians have a lot to teach the rest of the Church body about prayer and holding fast to the Bible, "but there's a reciprocity required there whereby they need us to pray, they need us to be their voice... to speak up for those who don't have the most basic of human rights which is to worship the God of their heart. Whether they are Christians or not, whether they have faith or no faith, to be able to be who they are without fear of repression," he says. "This is about family business. This is not a philanthropic interest, this is about a biblical imperative which says when one part of the body hurts, the whole body hurts. Or in Hebrews, remember those who are in prison as if you were in prison, remember those who suffer as if you were suffering. "This is core business; this is family business. This is not a worthy cause... our Father is calling us to be united and to stand together, and to face this darkness and to shine for Christ." It's this mandate that has led Lyle all over the world. In Nigeria, he met one pastor who inherited a church and built it to more than 500 people. Boko Haram militants killed every single member apart from the pastor, his wife and the caretaker. "I came here to bring life, not to bury the dead," he told Lyle. "We can't sit back and watch this happen," Lyle says. "The number of churches which have been burnt down, people have been destroyed, their livelihoods have been destroyed. North-eastern Nigeria needs to be rebuilt." He has numerous similar harrowing tales from across the globe. He shares a letter sent by a Christian woman in Syria, whose eldest son was killed by three young Muslim boys. "They told him to 'renounce Jesus and proclaim Mohammed or we'll kill you'," the mother wrote. "I'm ashamed to say that if I'd been there I think I'd have pleaded with him to say whatever they wanted, to save his skin. But I'm so proud that he refused. Three times. Three times they shot him." Her youngest son now refuses to sleep without a gun, and has pledged to avenge his brother's death. "I'm not sure now whether I've lost one son or two," his mother says. In another letter, a Syrian church leader described the agony of deciding to remain in Syria, despite the violence. "As a mother and a wife I want to leave, but as a Christian I want to stay," she wrote. "Every time my husband and I pray, God gives us a burden on our heart: stay in Syria. He has things for us to do here." She described explaining to her daughters the reality of what that decision may mean. "I took them outside the front door and got them to look up and down the street. I said, one day a bomb may hit, or someone may come down this street and put a sword to our necks. Don't say what they want you to say. They will try to persuade you to become a Muslim. Don't say anything about Islam. Just say that you forgive them and tell them Jesus loves them. You might be in pain for an hour or so, there will be blood, but then you will be with Jesus in heaven." Lyle has hundreds of stories like these, but he says there's "a danger in deifying" persecuted Christians. "They don't wish to be elevated to the rank of 'super Christian'. They just want to be seen to be a Jesus follower. When you're prepared to sacrifice your children, your husband and your life for the cause of Christ, that's saying something not only about who you are, your identity, your culture, your beliefs and the values you live by, but also the one you seek to serve," he says. "The most devout Christians I've met are those who have sacrificed so much for the sake of the gospel because they have met with Jesus." Hope for the Church In the midst of the senseless violence and horrors of war, Lyle does see hope for the Church in the Middle East. Where before there were barriers between people of different cultures and faiths, now these are breaking down. Churches are full of Orthodox Christians, Pentecostals, Christians from a Muslim background, Syriacs, and Armenians. He tells the story of one pastor who sent text messages to his entire congregation asking them not to come to church one day because there were so many Muslims that there wasn't room for anyone else. One Syrian refugee now living in Lebanon told Lyle earlier this year: "I became a Christian because your God answers prayer, and I've never seen prayer answered." A colleague was told by a Muslim in besieged Aleppo: "We have Allah in Heaven, but we have you Christians on Earth". "A new Church is emerging, the like of which they have not seen before," Lyle says. "The Church is at its most powerful when it's on its back foot. I'm not a prophet, but I see some seed of a different reality of Church emerging out of the rubble and chaos." The Syrian church leader who has chosen to stay and fight for her country is equally hopeful. In her letter, she writes: "God will bless Syria, I know this for sure. He is already blessing us. Every time we go to church, the church is full. "People come together in times of despair. But we also see new faces every time. People who weren't Christians before the war. They say, 'We've lost everything our house, our job, our family but we gained the most important thing: the knowledge that Jesus is our saviour.'" In March, the governor of Wisconsin created the role of student loan debt specialist. This was in response to the growing number of student loan debt graduates in the state. A new website has been developed to help students and graduates learn more about student loans, and how to deal with the debt. The website, called Look Forward to Your Future, provides information on topics including college planning and financial resources. Cheryl Weiss has been named as the manager of the site. As the states student loan debt specialist, Weiss will work with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, specifically with its Office of Financial Literacy. Her position is described as a clearinghouse for resources and information on student loan debt rather than providing financial advice to students or families. Information from the White House shows that there are 815,000 students and graduates in Wisconsin with debt from their education. These loans total to $19 billion dollars, with the average student carrying a debt of more than $28,000. The Institute for College Access and Success lists Wisconsin as number three on its list of states with the largest percentages of student loan debt. Seventy percent of all graduates in the state have at least one student loan. Weiss expects her role to become more visible once the new student loan website launches, later in the month. Find out quickly at what rate you can refinance your student loan. 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. Baytown police A man surrendered to Baytown police and told them he was responsible for a fatal shooting earlier in the day, authorities said Friday. Wayne Serieux, 45, walked into Baytown police headquarters and told detectives he fatally shot 31-year-old Richard Simmons about 12:15 p.m. on Friday, police said. A long-haul trucker said he woke up about 5 a.m. at a Baytown rest stop to the smell of diesel fuel. It meant one of two things, neither of them good: Either the exhaust is leaking and these might be his last breaths, or the fuel tank is open. It turned out to be a fuel tank opened by a man siphoning hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel from the truck of a South Carolina-based driver who would only give his first name, Alex, for fear of damaging his employment prospects. He noticed a man scurry away from his rig, back to another truck. After a few minutes, that truck sped off from the parking lot of the Love's Travel Stop at 1703 Interstate 10. Alex said he cruised around the Love's and other neighboring rest stops looking for the culprit in his "chromed-out semi with a lot of tail lights." He found the semi. He blocked it in with his own truck. He called 911. He called his wife and asked her to pray for him, in case the culprit was armed. Once Baytown police arrived the suspect was nowhere to be found. Officers searched for hours, Alex said, until someone spotted the suspect squeezed into a tight space under the cab of another rig. Alex said officers told him if the truck had driven off with the suspect in it, he would have come out on the highway in many different pieces. Baytown police Lt. Steve Dorris confirmed Friday that officers arrested someone suspected of stealing gas. Police identified the man Saturday as as 42 year-old Demetrius Lewis of Houston. Lewis has been charged with burglary of a motor vehicle and evading arrest. Alex said the red truck was found to be stolen, and that it had been outfitted with two extra 250-gallon fuel tanks to hold up to 1,000 gallons of fuel, raising the possibility that this was a frequent practice. An electric pump, extra batteries and a long hose were also found in the cab, the trucker added. He asked officers if he could take back the 200 or so gallons of diesel fuel that were stolen from his truck, but they said that would be tampering with evidence. Dear Abby: My daughter and son-in-law are both in the military. Currently, her husband is stationed elsewhere. They have a 6-month-old daughter, and I'm staying with her to help her out for now. I have a gut feeling that she is cheating. Do I have the right to ask her? Worried Mother in California Dear Worried: Of course you do - that's what mothers are for. You also have the right as her mother to point out that if it's true, what the consequences of her fling may be when her husband returns. When you talk to her, try not to come across as judgmental as much as concerned, and be prepared to do a lot of listening because people don't usually start affairs for no reason. Dear Abby: I'm fairly certain that you have never heard this one before, but I am a slob. It's embarrassing, but it is what it is. I'm working on it, but I'm nearly 70, so major change is unlikely. I suspect a friend of mine used my hidden key and came into my house to clean for me on my birthday while I was out to dinner with my children. She meant well, but I have asked her repeatedly not to help me. She simply refuses to listen to what she doesn't want to hear. She says she cleans because it's a stress reliever for her, but it just makes me feel more stressed. Needless to say, I have taken in all of my hidden keys. I am frustrated by her actions and feel violated, not honored. Honestly, I am just embarrassed. I haven't been feeling well for a while, so the house was particularly messy. I suspect she's waiting for me to acknowledge her "thoughtfulness." Abby, please tell your readers that "helping a friend" is no help if it isn't welcome. I'm a big girl, and I can ask for help if I want it. Frustrated in the West Dear Frustrated: I feel for you, but the person who needs to receive that message is the person who has been doing this "for" you over your objections. Are you absolutely sure that it's this friend who's doing it and not some other well-meaning person? If you are certain, then deliver the message with both barrels. What concerns me is your statement that you have taken in your extra keys. That means "someone" may have made an extra copy, which would be not only a huge invasion of privacy but also a security problem. If the problem persists, have your locks changed. Dear Abby: At what age is it acceptable and appropriate for my daughters to move out? Wondering in Wichita Dear Wondering: Many young adults live with their parents today because they are burdened with student loan debt and are unable to find jobs. I think the logical time for them to move out would be when they are able to support themselves. DearAbby.comDear AbbyP.O. Box 69440Los Angeles, CA 90069Universal Press Syndicate This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate After a neighborhood feud complete with legal threats, a horse sanctuary near The Woodlands will move to a new location Saturday. Henry's Home, a small nonprofit that offers free rides for veterans, will occupy 10 acres in a new planned community south of Conroe in the former Camp Strake. In June 2015, neighbors contracted a lawyer to send sanctuary founder Donna Stedman a cease-and-desist letter, the Chronicle previously reported. They complained that having a business -- even a nonprofit one that rehabilitated abused horses and provided an outlet for disabled veterans, active military and their families -- in the residential Spring Hill area violated deed restrictions. A neighbor who backed the horse sanctuary pointed to a for-profit horse facility down the road and said the complainants were being hypocritical. Stedman told the Chronicle last year that she dreamed of a bigger chunk of land out in the country, "a place where people could heal their souls." More for you A neighborhood feud over deed restrictions erupts in tranquil... At noon Saturday, that dream will come true. Among the 10 horses making the move are the sanctuary's namesake, Henry, who was adopted from the Houston SPCA when he was so starved that he couldn't stand without support from a giant sling. After years of recovery, he remained underweight last year, despite his constant grazing. "He's patient and loving but an attention hog," Stedman said. There will also be a recent addition, a 2-foot-5 miniature black horse named Willie Nelson who was found a few years ago with his halter embedded in his skin. Stedman said Friday that the Johnson Development Co. is giving the sanctuary a $1-a-year lease, renewable annually for at least three years. She hopes it will be a permanent home. The new facility is in the Grand Central Park planned community. The sanctuary gives these directions: From Houston, follow I-45 North and take the Camp Strake Road exit. Make a U-turn under the freeway and turn right at the Grand Central Park monument sign. Follow the road about one-half mile to the site for Henry's Home. The Counter Reformation of the Vatican's Jesuit Order did not end back in the 1600s - or more accurately, the Roman Catholic Inquisition did not end during the 1800s ------------------------------------------------------------- open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me. Acts 26: 18 NKJV Police on Friday were investigating a fatal shooting in northeast Houston. According to initial reports, at least one person was shot about 5:15 p.m. Friday in the 6900 block of Apache. The shooting victim, who has not been identified, was taken to an area hospital and later died, Houston police said. HPD homicide detectives are at the scene gathering evidence. Police have not identified a possible suspect in the slaying or a motive. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. 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. Crowds flocked to the New Cumberland Borough Park on Saturday for the Apple Festival, an event that draws upward of 10,000 visitors each year. This was the 31st year for the event that won Harrisburg Magazines Simply the Best Readers Choice award for area festivals. This years fest attracted about 210 vendors and community organizations that set up booths around the sprawling park to sell everything from food, to apparel, candles, pottery, wreaths, holiday decorations and more. It began with a few business people who wanted to bring more people into the community, said Chairwoman Christine Leukus. They started with sidewalk sales and since then it has been growing larger each year. The free event kicked off at 9 a.m. and ended at 3:00 p.m. and judging by the crowds that packed the park early, the event was gearing up to be a roaring success. Food is a big draw at the festival. New Cumberland resident Stacey Spooner brought her brother and her four children to the event and the family agreed that what they were all anticipating the most was the food. As early as 10:30 a.m., the tantalizing smell of festival fare became too much of a temptation for some and lines began growing long as festivalgoers stepped up to purchase sandwiches ranging from pit beef, to Italian sausage and BBQ. Of course, it wouldnt be Apple Festival without the ubiquitous fruit, which was available in an array of iterations: cooked in breads, stuffed in dumplings, sliced into pies, dipped in taffy, made into cider, or picked right off the tree. The popular fall treat was available in abundance to suit any preference. Scott Hohe of Harrisburg brings his family every year. Its my wifes decree, he said with a chuckle. Hohe said that the family arrives early to ensure they get their choice of pies like caramel apple walnut, then they eat breakfast at Murphys down the street before returning to take a closer look at everything. Many civic organizations and churches also came out for the festival to raise money and awareness for their causes. The New Cumberland Womens Club was in attendance selling baked goods and cider from Browns Orchard in Loganville. According to President Linda Bogdanovic, the club, which was founded in 1951, works on a variety of philanthropic causes, including purchasing the New Cumberland Borough Park in 1952. Trinity United Methodist Church members assisted in scarecrow making, with proceeds going to their youth group. Eberlys Mill Church of God in Camp Hill passed out information about their upcoming trick-or-treat event for children. When The Outlaw Valley Raiders took the stage at 10 a.m., many took time off from browsing the booths to gather on chairs surrounding the stage area and listen to a little bluegrass. The New Cumberland Town Band, which began in 1946, was slated to play later in the day, along with the West Shore Youth Band. Many high school students also took the opportunity to stroll through the crowd with donation cans to raise money for various causes. Grace Kratosky, a student in the West Shore School District, solicited donations for the Four Diamonds Fund to help fight childhood cancer. Its part of our yearly fundraising effort, she said, adding that the students raised a total of $54,000 for the cause last year alone. Leukus said that event plays an important part in the community and helps not only businesses, but civic and church organizations as well and that she is pleased that so many people return each year to lend their support. Cleveland police officer stock Marvin Jackson Sr., 51, was found shot dead Friday night in the driver's seat of his car, which was parked in his neighbor's driveway, Cleveland police said. (File photo) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A 51-year-old Cleveland man was found shot dead Friday night inside his car, police said. Marvin Jackson Sr. was found dead in the driveway of his neighbor's home on the corner of Lorenzo Avenue and East 134th Street, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office. Residents heard multiple gunshots fired about 11 p.m., police said. Officers went to the intersection and found Jackson slumped in the driver's seat of his car parked in the driveway behind the house, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driveway to Jackson's apartment sits directly across the street from the driveway where he was found dead, police said. Witnesses told police they saw two men running north on East 134th Street toward Lorenzo Avenue right after the shooting, but they were not able to give a detailed description of the men, police said. Detectives have made no arrests and continue to investigate the killing. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 216-623-5464. To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments page. Cleveland police car stock A woman is in custody and Cleveland police are searching for her 18-year-old son after officers discovered the woman's boyfriend dead and stuffed into the trunk of a car, police said. (File photo) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A woman is in jail and her 18-year-old son is wanted on an aggravated murder charge after officers on Friday found the badly decomposed body of the woman's boyfriend stuffed into the trunk of a car, according to police. Detectives are searching for Larry Camp-Hatley after a warrant was issued for his arrest Saturday in the death of Marvin Kimmie, according to court records. Camp-Hatley's 39-year-old mother had not been charged as of Saturday morning. Camp-Hatley killed Kimmie on Sept. 15, according to court records. A Cleveland police K-9 found Kimmie's body in the trunk of a car parked behind the woman's house on East 140th Street about 10 p.m. Friday, police said. Officers at the scene noted a strong odor coming from the car, police said. The body was "badly decomposed," and detectives are waiting for the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner to determine how Kimmie died. Kimmie, 43, had been in a relationship with Camp-Hatley's mother, according to police. Detectives arrested her early Saturday morning. This post will be updated with more information as it becomes available. To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments page. Panini's Window An off-duty Cleveland police officer was injured while working security at Panini's Bar and Grill Saturday, when police say a 23-year-old man shoved him through the window onto the street. (Cory Shaffer, cleveland.com) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A couple is in custody Saturday morning after police said the man shoved an off-duty Cleveland police officer working security through a window at a popular downtown bar. Both the officer and the man broke through a window at Panini's at East 9th Street and Prospect Avenue, and police arrested him as he tried to run away, police said. The man, 23, and his 20-year-old girlfriend each face felonious assault and vandalism charges, according to police records. The officer, who received stitches on his arms and hands, is expected to recover. The incident started when bartenders noticed the man bought a drink for himself, then immediately returned to the bar, bought a Long Island Iced Tea from a second bartender and gave it to his girlfriend, according to police. A manager at the bar asked the officer to check the woman's ID. When they learned the woman was underage, the manager took back the drinks and the officer asked the couple to leave, police said. The man then stood up and got "within inches" of the officer's face, police said. The officer pushed the man back to separate the two, and the man then started attacking the officer, according to a police report. The officer then tried to punch back, and during the scuffle the man pushed the officer across the floor and into the window, according to police. Witnesses inside the bar told police that the woman was punching the officer in the back during the struggle, police said. The pair shattered the glass, and both fell onto the pavement on East 9th Street, which was packed with people on a busy Friday night after a Cleveland Indians game at nearby Progressive Field. The man then ran from the bar. Witnesses in the area pointed Cuyahoga County sheriff's deputies to him, police said. The deputies shot the man with a Taser as he ran, and he fell to the ground and was taken into custody. Deputies arrested the woman inside the bar. The incident was recorded by surveillance cameras inside the bar, police said. No charges had been filed as of Saturday morning. To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments page. Former President Bill Clinton sits down with CNBC's Becky Quick at the Clinton Global Initiative's annual meeting in New York on Sept. 20, 2016. Former President Bill Clinton saw U.S. voter anger brewing. In an interview with CNBC's "On the Money," Clinton said a few years ago he shared with his wife former Secretary of State and current Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton his view of the mood of the electorate. "Way before Hillary declared, I said you've got to get prepared for this," the 42nd president told CNBC at the Clinton Global Initiative, held in New York City. "There's a lot of populism, because there's a lot of road rage. People believe the political and economic order have let them down." Clinton called his wife "a sort-of 'answers person' not an 'anger person.' I mean you feel anger, but, you've got to be yourself," he said. "Just go out there and try to be the grown-up in the room." He predicted Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders would "do well in the primary." And while Clinton "didn't know Donald Trump would be the Republican nominee," he thought he would "get a lot of votes." The former Arkansas governor, known as a canny politician, said he "wasn't surprised" by the early primary success in many states by both Democrat Sanders and Republican Trump. Both candidacies were driven by voter anger, something he recognized because "I just saw it happening other places." Having once again avoided prison, 39-year-old John Wayne Strawser Jr., of Terra Alta, West Virginia, remained free to roam the streets in the beginning of 2014. Up to that point, Strawser had been accused of stalking numerous women but escaped any serious punishment, but he had not been charged with murder. That was about to change. Shortly after 2 a.m. on Jan. 4, 2014, 28-year-old Timothy Davison, of Maine, was shot and killed on Interstate 81 outside of Greencastle in Franklin County. The bullets that struck and killed the man affectionately known as Asti were fired by Strawser and were intended for another person Jamie Breese, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Im sorry that anyone had to be a victim that night of his, Jamies wife, Courtney Breese, said while choking back tears. ... Im sorry that (Davisons) mother lost a son and anybody and everybody that (Davison) was friends with, or was important to, suffered the loss that they did because of Johns actions. But, Im not sorry we werent murdered that night. Tears began to flow down Courtneys face when talking about the case with The Sentinel in August. Roadtrip There is no way Davison could have known what would happen that night as he hopped into his silver Mitsubishi Montero that January day. He may have thought about getting back to work or reminisced over the time he had just spent with family during the holiday season as he made the 1,500-mile trek from Florida back to his home in Poland, Maine. He could never have known that trivial decisions like where to stop for gas, when to leave his familys home in Florida and how fast he should drive would put him on a collision course with Strawser. Davison made it more than 12 hours into his trip without incident, passing through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. That all changed quickly as he made his way through West Virginia. As Davison drove, Strawser was on the hunt. He had become obsessed with Courtney, according to the Breeses, who live in Waynesboro. Strawser and Courtney grew up together and went to school together in Terra Alta. They had lost touch, but reconnected in fall of 2013, just months prior to Davisons death. It started out innocently enough, Courtney said. The two exchanged small talk, telling each other about their lives, their family and their children. Strawser has at least one child to a woman who filed theft charges and sought a court order for protection against him in 2010, according to court records. Courtney later told police she had a short-lived extramarital relationship with Strawser shortly after they reconnected. A connection Jamie knew nothing of John until I brought him into our lives, unwittingly and not knowing what was going to happen, Courtney said. The Breeses welcomed Strawser into their home with their two young children. Courtney was excited to reconnect with a friend from her childhood. I mistakenly befriended John and allowed him to be close, and I never should have, Courtney said. I had known his family even before kindergarten and up and, honestly, he was the most approachable and nicest of all of them. Jamie, however, had his apprehensions about Strawser from the start. I couldnt trust him, Jamie said. I guess it was from growing up as a kid that you could just see that something just wasnt there, something wasnt right. I could pick it out right away. In the beginning, I told my wife stay away from him, but she didnt listen, and I guess thats what got us where we are now. Courtney and Strawser hung out when she would visit her family in West Virginia. Around the same time the two reconnected, Courtney began receiving text messages from a person she referred to as her stalker. Strawser told Courtney that he would protect her whenever she came down to visit her family, since Jamie usually was not along for the trip. On one trip, Courtneys stalker urinated on the family vehicle. Jamie began to suspect Strawser was Courtneys stalker. The language Strawser used in texts was similar to that of the stalker, Jamie said. So Courtney confronted Strawser, but he vehemently denied the allegations. He had excuses for why he could not be the stalker and said he was only trying to be her protector, Courtney said. She believed him. But thats what a stalker does, Jamie said of the denial. Ive never been stalked before, Courtney responded. They manipulate you, her husband said. The friendship continued and Strawser was welcomed into the Breeses home more than two hours away from Terra Alta for Thanksgiving in 2013. Courtney said Strawser was alone and had no one to spend the holiday with. I felt bad, because he was my friend, and I didnt want anyone to be alone on the holidays, Courtney said. I thought it was the saddest thing ever. The two cooked together and Strawser even attended a Christmas party hosted by Jamies family. The friendship turned dangerous only a few weeks later. Date night In the week between Christmas and New Years 2013, Courtney and Jamie went on a date to Cloud 9 Night Club in Bunker Hill, West Virginia. It was a night for the Breeses to get out of the house and spend time together without their children. We were sitting there and the next thing you know, he comes walking out of the mens bathroom, Jamie said. This came as a shock to the Breeses since Strawsers home was more than two hours away from the club. Things became tense as the night progressed. He got (mad) at you because you werent paying attention to him, Jamie said. Because I was with my husband and not him, which is ridiculous, Courtney chimed in. The two left the club, and Strawser began calling and texting them. Around 1:30 a.m., Strawser showed up at the Breeses home demanding that Courtney come outside to talk to him. I said Youre not going out there, Jamie said. Strawser finally relented and left after Jamie threatened to call the police. After that night, the Breeses attempted to sever ties with Strawser. Roughly a week later, on the night Davison was killed, Strawser contacted the Breeses, attempting to find out where they were. The couple had again made a trip to Cloud 9, but decided to leave early for the night. Strawser then began calling and texting them, demanding to know where they were. They responded, but did not tell him where they were. Thats when I said back the (expletive) off John. Shes not your wife. Shes not your girlfriend, Jamie said. Shes nothing more to you than a friend from high school. The hunt Strawser had his .44 caliber Rossi Ranch Hand in his truck when he started hunting down Jamie, the man he saw as standing in the way of a relationship with Courtney, police said. Jamie said Strawser began to make what Jamie thought were hollow threats by text and phone messages. He said he was going to kill me, Jamie said. Jamie and Courtney did not know Strawser had left Terra Alta to pursue them. Strawser began chasing what he thought was the couples silver Honda Pilot SUV around Martinsburg, West Virginia, which is about 20 minutes from Cloud 9. Strawser was following the wrong vehicle. It was actually Davisons Mitsubishi Montero, an SUV about the same size and color as that of the Breeses Pilot. Davison, heading north on I-81 in West Virginia near Martinsburg, was at the wrong place at the wrong time, stuck in Strawsers path, according to police. Police said Davison accelerated his SUV to more than 100 mph in Martinsburg, apparently attempting to elude Strawser. Around 2 a.m., Davison called 911 in Washington County, Maryland, not too far across the border from West Virginia. He told the operator a dark Ford Ranger was chasing him and a person had begun firing shots at his vehicle. Police were dispatched, but as Davison approached the border between Maryland and Pennsylvania, the call dropped. Shortly after that, Davison again dialed 911, this time in Pennsylvania. In February 2014, investigators released a portion of that call made to 911 in Franklin County. Were you the one that called about the Ford Ranger? a Franklin County 911 operator asked Davison. Yeah, the one that just hit me, Davison said. What do you mean they hit you? They hit you with the car? the operator asked. Yeah, smashed me with the car and pushed me across the median, Davison replied. Those would be some of Davisons final words. Less than 2 1/2 minutes after Davison redialed 911, Maryland State Police arrived on scene and found Davison shot multiple times in the arm, leg and head, according to police. He later died as a result of his injuries. Gunshots and the sound of tires accelerating away were heard on the call recording, police said. Police said Strawser shot Davison and fled down Interstate 81 south before they arrived on scene. Suspicions When Jamie heard the news of the shooting the next morning, he grew suspicious. Jamie raised concerns to Courtney that Strawser had been involved in the shooting. I never once considered the fact that he could hurt anyone, Courtney said. I watched him with his son. I watched him back home with his son and my children playing together in the park. You never think that somebody who could feel those kinds of feelings could do that to anyone. Eventually, the Breeses chalked up the angry text and phone calls from Strawser the same night that Davison died as a coincidence and nothing more. In April 2015, just over 15 months after Davisons death, Strawsers former girlfriend, Amy Lou Buckingham, was murdered. Strawser was convicted of that murder in August. The Breeses went to police with their concerns about Strawser after hearing about Buckinghams murder. All that time, were not safe, unbeknownst to us, Courtney said. That is when it hit both of us. Truly, up until that night, at that moment, I never truly considered it. Cellphone tower data from around Greencastle placed Strawser near the scene of Davisons murder, evidence with a partial DNA sample that matched Strawser was found at the scene, and ballistics matched shell casings found at the scene to Strawsers Rossi Ranch Hand, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Davisons death kicked off a manhunt that would span Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia and include help from the FBI. Despite this, Strawser was able to move in and out of the criminal justice system, again largely unscathed. Four days after Strawser allegedly killed Davison, he posted a message to Facebook. Looks as if my world is going 2 crumble, he wrote. The things that I well (sic) miss The post came on the same day he was in court in Garrett County, Maryland, to approve a final protection order filed against him by a former girlfriend. The truck A little more than four months later Strawser was arrested for reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and DWI in Garrett County, Maryland, some 120 miles away from where Davison died. According to West Virginia motor vehicle records, Strawser was driving the same Ford Ranger Davison described the night of his death. Just after midnight on April 26, 2014, Strawser was seen by Garrett County Sheriffs deputies doing doughnuts in his truck in the parking lot of a park when they attempted to stop him. Strawser had two other people in the vehicle. Strawser led police on a high-speed chase that lasted only a few minutes before he crashed his truck, and then he took off on foot. He was attempting to make it across the nearby border to West Virginia, according to police. At the time Strawser was on probation and didnt want to go to jail. Strawser only made it about 200 feet before he was subdued with a Taser. Just shoot me, Strawser said to police after falling to the ground from the jolt of electricity from the Taser. Strawser fought with police but was eventually taken into custody. He was released the same day, according to court records. That arrest in Garrett County triggered a probation violation, causing Strawser to spend one week in jail in September 2014 in Preston County, West Virginia, where he had been convicted of stalking in 2013. That was the first time Strawser spent any time in jail following a conviction, according to court records. In October 2014, Strawser pleaded guilty to resisting arrest during the April DWI incident where he had been subdued by a Taser. He spent five days in jail in Garrett County, and all other charges were dropped. Information about the arrest did not make its way to investigators in Pennsylvania, and according to Franklin County District Attorney Matthew Fogal, Strawser did not become a suspect in Davisons murder until the Breeses came forward April 2015. Please understand that on the date and time of his arrest for DWI, the defendant was not a suspect in any other known case that we had been made aware of by any other agency, Garrett County Sheriff Rob Corley told The Sentinel in September 2015. Reconnected Early in the fall of 2014, Strawser apologized for the initial falling out with the Breeses and Courtney again let him back into her life. She again visited with him when she traveled to her familys home in West Virginia. But, Strawser again became jealous and possessive, she said. The Breeses finally cut ties completely with Strawser in January 2015 following a fight that resulted in Strawser damaging Courtney's mothers car parked in her parents driveway. Fogal declined to say if anyone other than the Breeses presented Strawser as a possible suspect in Davisons murder, but when asked if he felt Strawser would have been apprehended without the Breeses, Fogal said, I cant speculate about hypotheticals, but I know that (state police) would never have given up their pursuit of Mr. Davisons killer. It's that time again! Jim Cramer rang the lightning round bell, which means he gave his take on caller favorite stocks at rapid speed: Advanced Micro Devices : "I think after they did that equity offering, they fixed the balance sheet, I'm a buyer not a seller. Everyone has turned on that one, that is wrong." Bluebird Bio : "You're dealing with speculation there. You've got to know that if there is no takeover bid, you're going to give up that premium. I was talking to Bruce Kamich who does the chart work with me over at RealMoney.com and a lot of these look good. But just be aware that they are speculative and they are up a lot since the Medivation deal." Enterprise Products Partners : "I like EPD, it's got a steady dividend, it's probably the best management in the industry. I think yes, it's a good one." Baozun Inc : "The only Chinese stock that we are recommending is Alibaba. We are not going to go there, I'm sorry. That's too speculative for me." Silver Wheaton : "We think silver, just so you know, is poor man's gold. We prefer the GLD and then Randgold if we want a little exposure." Impinj Inc : "It's fine. It had a big run since it opened. It's come back a little. I like it." Ahead of what could be a pivotal first debate, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump blasted billionaire Mark Cuban, a prominent backer of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, as "dopey," threatening to bring Bill Clinton's former mistress to the event. The two wealthy moguls sparred on Twittera favorite hobby of both Trump and Cubanafter the GOP nominee blasted the owner of the Dallas Mavericks for agreeing to a prominent slot in the audience of the first presidential debate. Clinton and Trump will stage their first face-to-face confrontation at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. On Saturday, Trump threatened to bring Gennifer Flowers the former paramour of ex-president Bill Clintonas a guest if Cuban sat in front. Trump tweet Cuban has emerged as one of Clinton's most prominent backers, and a relentless critic of the New York real estate mogul. The billionaire has questioned everything from Trump's net worth, to his business savvy and his fitness to serve as Commander in Chief. Yet it wasn't always thus. In response to Trump's tweet, Cuban posted that the two once were close enough to have a phone conversation, one in which Trump apparently referred to them as "twins." Cuban Tweet Germany and France brushed aside comments from British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson suggesting there was no link between the EU's principle of free movement and access to its single market, saying they could send Johnson a copy of the Lisbon Treaty and even travel to London to explain it to him in English. Johnson, a leading Brexit advocate who is known for his colorful language, told Sky News television on Thursday that the EU's position that there was an automatic trade-off between what access to the single market and free movement was "complete baloney." Asked about the remarks at a news conference in Berlin, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and his French counterpart Michel Sapin shot glances at each other before the German host responded. "We just looked at each other because we're used to respecting foreign ministers a lot," Schaeuble said. "If we need to do more, we will gladly send her majesty's foreign minister a copy of the Lisbon Treaty. Then he can read that there is a certain link between the single market and the four core principles in Europe," he added. "I can also say it in English. So if clarification is necessary we can pay a visit and explain this to him in good English," Schaeuble said. Sapin, in a French twist on Johnson's "baloney" jibe, said: "There are four freedoms and they cannot be separated. So if we want to make good European pate then there are four freedoms that together make up the pate in question." Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook. The cyber threat is real. If you have control of valuable assets, including trillions of dollars of transactions, as The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) does, your company will be attacked. It's a matter of when, not if, it will happen. That means you need to develop a sophisticated and multi-faceted approach to cyber-security. Only a few years ago, corporate cyber-security might have been limited to installing the latest software patchan activity on a par with, say, facilities management. However, given the increasing number and magnitude of cyber-crimes, as well as new types of threats, cyber-security now requires a coordinated effort between companies, government agencies and advanced academics with cutting edge insights into the future of technology. In a networked world, no one can afford to go it alone. It is up to senior business leaders to take the lead in protecting their organizations. Stuart Madnick Director, MIT's Interdisciplinary Consortium for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity While there still may be lone-wolf high school students hacking into systems in their spare time, most of the current serious attacks are initiated through use of an elaborate cyber-crime ecosystem. There, techies create cyber weapons that cybercriminals can buy on the "dark web" often for remarkably low costs. Recently it has been reported that cyber weapons developed by the NSA were stolen and are up for sale. Cybercrime poses a real and persistent threat to business, government and financial institutions. The February 2016 theft of $81 million dollars from the Bank of Bangladesh's holdings at the New York Federal Reserve via the SWIFT network serves as an important reminder of how effective and damaging these attacks can be. The thieves used the bank's own computers to make what appeared to be legitimate transfers of millions of dollars. Attacks such as these are increasingly multi-pronged and require extensive knowledge of the organizations and systems being attacked. For example: After the malware attack on the Bangladesh Central Bank sent the fund requests, it deleted the database record of the transfers, took steps to prevent confirmation messages from revealing the theft, and even altered the reports that were sent to the printer. Similar elaborate schemes were used in the December 2015 attack on Ukraine's power grid. Although all the details of the Bangladesh event are not known, we do know that 50-80 percent of all cyber-attacks are aided or abetted by insiders, most commonly by an email message that asks a relevant party to click a link or open an attachment. It is highly likely that almost everyone has received one of these Phishing attempts. Some are the fairly obvious: "I am a Nigerian Prince with millions to give you." These have a 1-2 percent success rate. Meanwhile, the more subtle "you have exceeded your email quota and you need to take this action to continue getting email"can have a 10 percent success rate. But, the real challenge is Spear Phishing, where success rates can exceed 70 percent. These are carefully crafted messages that appear to be coming from trusted individuals, such as a known executive in your company, and make use of detailed knowledge about you and your job. Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn addresses an audience at the People's History Museum and sets out reasons why Labour is voting remain, in the EU referendum. The turmoil inside the Republican Party under Donald Trump's divisive candidacy is being mirrored across the Atlantic in Britain, where another outsider is confounding political experts. The U.K.'s opposition Labour Party on Saturday reelected socialist Jeremy Corbyn as leader, despite warnings from horrified party grandees such as ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair that he is incompetent and will never win a nationwide poll. Centrists fear that Corbyn's emphatic victory, after a bruising and bitter campaign, will keep Labour out of power for a generation and could even trigger a permanent split in the 116-year-old party. Labour's woes echo the strife at the other end of the political spectrum across the pond, where several senior GOP figures have refused to endorse their own party's presidential candidate and fault lines have emerged between lawmakers, donors and grassroots supporters. Like Trump, Corbyn has broken unwritten elections rules, defying observers who assumed party members would settle on mainstream, voter-friendly establishment candidates. More from NBC News: Beyond Trump - Where Will the Republican Party Go After 2016? The History of the Police Dashcam Ex-NFL Player: Roger Goodell is Vladimir Putin of NFL The 67-year-old socialist and peace campaigner has spent his entire career on the sidelines, voting against policies that polls suggest voters would support. He is lukewarm on the U.S. special relationship and is opposed to nuclear weapons including the costly, U.S.-maintained Trident nuclear missile system. Corbyn also is a critic of NATO and Israel. In 2009, as patron of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, he invited members of Hezbollah and Hamas to the House of Commons where he called them "friends" a term he recently said he regretted using. And like Trump, Corbyn is wildly popular with his core supporters despite the detractors more than doubling Labour's membership registrations over the past year and pulling huge crowds to political rallies. But his opinion poll ratings among wider voters are historically low. Even in the mid-term of an election cycle, Labour is trailing the ruling Conservatives by an average 10 percentage points. This has left Britain's opposition engaged in a bitter and vitriolic internal feud that has seen accusations of anti-Semitism and even death threats, giving their rival Conservatives free rein to pursue austerity policies and push through the controversial Brexit from the European Union. John McTernan, a former Blair adviser and a persistent Corbyn critic, on Wednesday called him "the most woeful, the most useless, the most dangerous and the most unpleasant leader the Labour Party has ever had in its history." Party members disagreed this weekend, giving him 61.8 percent of the vote. Saturday's vote at the party's conference, which is akin to the conventions in American politics came after exasperated centrist Labour lawmakers attempted to give Corbyn the boot. In June, 172 Labour members of parliament almost two-thirds of the entire elected party declared they had no confidence in the leader. Yet his supporters mostly trade unions and new, ordinary party members say centrists have misread the public mood. They contend that Corbyn's low-key style and focus on inequality and social justice far to the left of Bernie Sanders represent a refreshing break from establishment politics. "We have been ... involving people in politics that matters," Corbyn told his supporters at a final rally. Even with the leadership question settled, the future of the party is far from certain. "This situation is very, very unusual in British politics," said Richard Whitman, a professor of politics at the University of Kent in England and a senior fellow at the Chatham House think tank. "Unlike in American politics, the thing you normally need as leader is to retain the confidence of your parliamentary party. When [former Prime Minister] Margaret Thatcher lost the confidence of her members of parliament, she had to go. "Corbyn is in a position in which the normal rules do not seem to apply and where he'll be leading a parliamentary party that doesn't believe in him but where he has support from base activists." BBA Star Dillish Mathews, was recently in Lagos, Nigeria. During her visit, she took some time to do a Nigerian Native shoot planned by Tara Adesemowo, a makeup & beauty expert. Dillish looked so beautiful in the native outfit and could easily pass for a Yoruba bride. Download Mp3: Modenine x T.R x Doc Def Wrong Number Nigerian rap legends Modenine and T.R (Terry Tha Rapman) have finally granted the wishes of rap fans in Nigeria after so many years, by releasing a collaborative project. In conjunction with versatile producer Doc Def they are set to release an EP by the name Crown. The EP will be an early Christmas gift for music lovers as it is scheduled for a November release. The first single from the project has been released and it is titled Wrong Number. Popular producer JFem (who produced Davidos Owo Ni Koko) adds his vocals to the Grime beat laced by Doc Def as the two respected lyricists do their thing on the song. DOWNLOAD (Modenine x T.R x Doc Def Wrong Number) September 24, 2016 Artifacts representing some of the United States' first black astronauts are included within the inaugural collection of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened its doors to the public on Saturday (Sept. 24). The new museum, which was erected on the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, DC, chronicles the major periods of African American history, beginning with the origins in Africa and continuing through slavery, reconstruction, the civil rights era and into the 21st century. "It is a glorious story, the one that is told here," President Barack Obama said at Saturday's opening ceremony. "It is complicated and it is messy and it is full of contradictions, as all great stories are." The president raised the first black female astronaut while describing the African American history represented in the museum. "Here is the America where the razor-sharp uniform of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff belongs alongside the cape of the 'Godfather of Soul,'" Obama stated. "We have shown the world we can float like butterflies and sting like bees, that we can rocket to space like Mae Jemison, steal home like Jackie, rock like Jimmie, stir the pot like Richard Pryor and we can be 'sick and tired of being sick and tired' like Fannie Lou Hamer and still be rock steady like Aretha Franklin." Jemison, who was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1987, joined the president at a reception for the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) on Friday. Among the museum's 37,000 items, of which 3,000 are on display, is a pin that commemorates Jemison's STS-47 mission on space shuttle Endeavour 24 years ago this month. Former astronaut Charlie Bolden, who in 2009 became the first African American to be confirmed as the administrator of NASA, donated several items to the museum, including the flight suit he wore on his fourth and final space shuttle mission, STS-60; rugby shirts from his STS-45 and STS- 31 missions; and a model of the Hubble Space Telescope, the observatory he helped to deploy into orbit in 1990. "My flight jacket that I gave them was actually a jacket that flew with me, and more importantly it has each of my four crew patches, so it actually represents my four journeys to space," Bolden said in a video release by NASA on Friday. "It represents my history, or my period of time serving the nation as an astronaut in the space program." Bolden, who grew up in Columbia, South Carolina during segregation, said he would have never believed he would experience the opening of a museum dedicated to African American history and culture. "To make it a double 'I would never have believed,' I would never have believed it would be during the administration of a black president the first black man elected as the President of the United States," Bolden said. "And a third 'I would have never believed,' I really never believed I would become an American astronaut and be sitting here as the NASA Administrator." NASA Administrator Charles Bolden donated this flight suit that he wore as a U.S. Marine in the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. (NMAAHC) Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The organization criticized the amendment for its financial backing from big tobacco companies and an exception that allows the revenue to go to private and religious schools. Family starts over after losing home, pets in Wooldridge fire The McComb family called Wooldridge home before losing everything material to wildfire. What hurt the most was the loss of their pet dog Olaf. What newspapers still do best is tell a complete story, giving proper background and context to better understand a news event. For over a year now our staff has cranked out weekly Closer Look packages. Over three or four days, we present a current news story, but rather than just hit the highlights that make it newsworthy, our staff digs deeper to present a full accounting of the who, what, when, where, why and how. The Closer Look package that began in Fridays Sentinel is the first of a four-part series on John Wayne Strawser Jr., the West Virginia man who was recently convicted of one murder and will soon be tried for a second. While the stories of the murders are well known, Sentinel reporter Joshua Vaughn tells for the first time how systemic failures within the criminal justice system that filled Strawsers criminal history. Sept. 25 is the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. If there is any way to honor those lives lost to murder, it is to repair a broken system that allowed a man like Strawser to possess weapons and stay on the street in spite of violating the terms of his probation. My hope is that the families of the victims will find some comfort in not only seeing Strawser punished, but in seeing the system that failed their loved ones fixed. As Vaughns first story showed Friday, officials in Garrett County Maryland didnt return calls and the probation department in Preston County West Virginia refused to comment when contacted about their apparent role in allowing Strawser to remain free and armed. Our hope in the telling of this seemingly impossible story of bureaucratic bungling is that changes will be made to fix our broken system. I hope you will take the time to read this important and timely series. 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Photo by J. Davenport Armand Lauzon, founder and CEO of Project Belle, LLC. SHARE Project Belle's home page By Kevin McKenzie of The Commercial Appeal A Nashville-based technology company known as Belle is connecting customers with hair stylists and other beauty and health professionals who will provide services in customers' homes. Like "sharing economy" giants such as Uber and Lyft in the transportation business and Airbnb in home rentals, Project Belle LLC has run afoul of government regulators who aren't buying the company's new model of doing business. The state Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners maintains that Belle doesn't have a cosmetology shop license, is operating outside of the law and should shut down its web-based service. Belle, with plans to expand to other cities including Memphis, is pushing back. The company contends that as a tech company connecting entrepreneurs to customers, it isn't bound by the board's regulations. Belle's founder and chief executive officer, Armand Lauzon, said the company provides more flexibility and more money for those in an industry where women and low earnings are common. The competition for traditional brick-and-mortar beauty shops and salons is a good thing, Lauzon said. "You can see what happens when there's competition: More value is created for clients, more value is created for professionals and more people can follow their dreams," he said. In Memphis, Venus Austin disagrees. Owner of Epiphany Salon and Gallery, Austin said she pays $2,700 a month for her shop Downtown on Front Street. "I think it's cutthroat with all those of us who are paying all this money and legitimately licensed," she said. The cosmetology and barber board is set to consider the consent order, an informal settlement agreement, at an Oct. 3 meeting in Nashville, said Department of Commerce and Insurance spokesman Kevin Walters. Lauzon, 30, said that he was in his hometown of Boston, working in a private equity firm and overseeing a venture fund and portfolio of start-up companies when his cousin sparked the idea for Belle. As a manicurist, "once she became a mom, a traditional brick-and-mortar nail salon wasn't really a possibility for her," he said. He said he'd been fascinated that Uber could start a virtual taxi company without investing in taxis, and that Airbnb makes virtual hotels without investing in any property. "Talking with my cousin and her profession in the beauty industry, I realized that there really should be a virtual salon and spa for these people so they can have and run their own businesses without investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in brick-and-mortar operations or sacrificing their income to an owner of such an establishment," he said. A friend in Nashville convinced him to start up there as well as in Boston in September 2015. Nashville growth doubled the pace in Boston, prompting him to move to Tennessee's capital last March and put Boston on ice, he said. Belle's online marketplace, using credit cards as payment, allows customers to choose their provider for hair, nail, massage, makeup, lashes, chiropractic, fitness, fashion, skin and spray tan services. Those providing the services, currently totaling about 50, set their own schedules and prices, Lauzon said. They'll travel to the customer, including to homes, offices and hotels. Reviews by both the customer and provider provide a quality check. "The typical brick-and-mortar may take 50 percent to 85 percent of the revenue that a professional generates because the overhead is quite expensive," he" said. "We take 15 percent." Belle vets and ensures that all of the cosmetologists are licensed, but maintains that the company itself doesn't fall under the state's 1986 cosmetology law. A complaint about Belle's "highly disturbing" type of competition from a Nashville shop owner to the cosmetology board earlier this year triggered a "consent order" for Belle. The board calls for the company to cease and desist its alleged violations and to pay a $500 penalty. Instead, Nashville attorney Daniel Horwitz, representing Belle, challenged the disciplinary action on several grounds. "As in any industry, however, despite creating a winning recipe for workers, consumers and the public at large, Project Belle's disruptive business model does produce losers" its competitors, Horwitz argues. Still, Belle took steps to have its customers certify when purchasing that they meet exemptions allowed in the state's regulations for providing services outside of a shop. Those range from in-home services for people who are ill to work in funeral homes. Massages by themselves are exempt. As a back-up to comply, customers agree to "photographic sessions" fulfilled if cosmetologists snap a photo of their work. Lauzon said that elderly people, accident victims or people with disabilities represent a large segment of Belle's clientele. Business is growing by about 40 percent a month, he said. He said the firm has contacted state lawmakers for support in its battle with the board and perhaps in reforming the law. State Sen. Steven Dickerson (R-Nashville) is one of them. The Tennessee legislature stepped in "because in Nashville the taxi industry was trying to choke off Uber and Lyft," Dickerson said. In a letter, he's encouraged the cosmetology board to be open-minded and not drag its feet in the difficult area of technology-driven change, he said. As an anesthesiologist, he's watching similar change as telemedicine allows doctors to outsource services around the globe and multiply their reach. "I'm an advocate for the technological innovation," Dickerson said. Lauzon said Belle plans to expand first in Tennessee, perhaps considering Memphis in 10 to 12 months, At Epiphany Salon and Gallery, Austin said she will serve clients who are homebound or in the hospital, "but just to go to a stranger's house, I don't know," she said. "Personally, I don't agree with that," she said. "I think there's too many boundaries that can be crossed and I think there's too much stuff that can happen that would really compromise the integrity of our industry and our professionalism and what we do." A 34-year-old hair stylist who said she started at age 15, April Kirkham, said the industry already is using web-based services such as StyleSeat and Genbook to schedule clients and rate performance. Now styling only part-time as a single mother attending nursing school, Kirkham said she wouldn't sign on with Belle, "but I know a lot of people that probably would." "It's all about convenience now and we have adjusted to the society we're in, so as much as they fight against it, I'm sure one day it's going to be possible," Kirkham said. "We're more open now to this innovation and new possibilities." September 23, 2016- Lynn and Jon Cowart, of Titusville, Florida, walk along the Riverwalk at Mud Island River Park during a visit to the mid-south. The Riverwalk is an exact scale model of the Lower Mississippi River flowing from its confluence with the Ohio River at Cairo, Illinois 954 miles south to the Gulf of Mexico. (Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal) Native Americans called it Great River and the Mother of Rivers. Spanish explorers called it River of the Holy Spirit. We've called it Ol' Man River, Big Muddy, Big River, and the Mighty Miss. No matter what we call it, the Mississippi River just keeps rolling along right on past us, ever-changing, ever-present, and let's hope evermore. Ever wonder why we don't spend more time with it? I do. I wonder every time I see it or stand next to it, sit on top of it or stand in it. "The basin of the Mississippi is the body of the nation," river-lover Mark Twain wrote. That would make the river and its tributaries the blood. It doesn't get more biblical than that, until you get to Mud Island River Park. "It's literally a house built on sand," said Jimmy Ogle, The Peabody's new Duckmaster and former general manager of Mud Island. Sand, silt, gravel, a little mud and a lot of hope. Like Beale Street, The Orpheum and The Peabody, Mud Island River Park was a vital part of Downtown's resurrection. Remember when they wanted to turn it into a rock and roll Egyptian theme park called Racapolis? Remember when they wanted to turn it into an airport or a casino? Remember when they wanted to drive an interstate through Overton Park and turn Shelby Farms into a town? We didn't let them. Land is more than real estate. It's our common ground. Overton Park is our courtyard. Shelby Farms Park is our backyard. Mud Island River Park is our front porch. Architect Roy Harrover's beautiful and brilliant design turned a flood-prone old landing strip into a lovely veranda and a loving homage to the river. The idea as Harrover explained in 1984 was to "tell the story of the Lower Mississippi and its valley, its natural and cultural history, its people and their struggles, their folklore, food and music, its wildlife and vegetation, the river itself, how it was formed, its meanderings. "How man fought to tame and control it, to use it, to simply coexist with it a fitting thing for the park. Faulkner's two ancient protagonists: Man and the river." William Faulkner said, "To understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi." To understand and appreciate Memphis, you must first understand and appreciate the Mississippi River. Mud Island River Park is designed to do just that. When was the last time you went there? Until I toured the park with Ogle last week, I hadn't been there since my kids were kids years and years ago. There are so many other things to do in Memphis now, so many other beautiful, interesting and fun places that are free and easier to get to. You can't drive to the river park. You can't even park on the grass. The monorail we apparently built for that Tom Cruise movie costs $4 per person and isn't always working. The walk isn't as long as it looks and offers spectacular views. Still, it takes time and patience to navigate all the escalators going up and then down even when they're working. We don't need to close or redevelop or replace Mud Island Park. We just need to make it easier to reconnect with it. The cool museum with the replica steamboat and gunboat inside. The cozy amphitheater with the best view of the city's skyline. The amazing riverwalk, the magnificent and meticulously sculpted scale model of the Lower Mississippi that flows 2,000 feet into "the Gulf of Mexico," a one-acre pool. The beautifully landscaped riverfront park itself with its oak, magnolia and cypress trees, park benches and breathtaking views of the Great River. The river that made Mud Island. The river that made Memphis. The river that runs beside the park and through it. "That's the show," Ogle said as we looked out from the best seats in the house. Contact columnist David Waters at waters@commercialappeal.com. America's anxiety election is about to become the political equivalent of Monday Night Raw. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, the two most unpopular candidates in modern history, are set to face off in the most watched presidential debate in television history. The worry is that they will spend the evening tearing down each other rather than building up themselves. According to various estimates, anywhere from 60 million to 120 million viewers will tune in for what everyone believes will be a raucous back and forth between Madam Blase and Mr. Bluster. Early last week, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced the three general topics for the first of three meetings between Clinton and Trump America's direction, achieving prosperity and securing America. But thanks to the calamitous events of recent days, embedded in each of those topics will be the inescapable issue of race and culture in America. Our inability to discuss race without the conversation devolving into anger, defensiveness and distrust impacts this country's direction, its prosperity and its security. So I will be listening for the following messages: Whether Clinton can offer a cogent plan to effectively fight homegrown terrorism, and whether she can speak passionately and convincingly about ways to grow the African-American and Latino middle class. Whether Trump can address race in America without resorting to the insulting and patronizing lines he's used recently about crime, lack of education and hopelessness. And whether either candidate can articulate a remedy for the seemingly irreparable strain between local police and the African-American community. The truth is, most Americans have already made up their minds about their candidate of choice in this election. For most Trump supporters, their distaste for Clinton is so visceral, it won't matter if their guy comes across as boorish and inept. Conversely, even lukewarm Clinton supporters view her Republican rival as a con man and the most ill-prepared presidential candidate in our lifetime. Which means this is an election filled with anxiety, and viewers will be tuning in Monday night for a sideshow of name-calling and gaffes. And that's a shame, because we deserve much more. We expect Clinton to be knowledgeable. But we need her to be inspiring and relatable. We can assume that Trump will be boisterous. But we need him to be competent and caring. The angst over recent homegrown terrorist bombings in New York and New Jersey, and the terrorist-inspired knife attacks in Minnesota will weigh heavily on Monday's debate. As will the fatal police shooting of unarmed Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, along with the racial unrest in Charlotte. So, instead of frivolous insults, let's hope both candidates give the American electorate what it desperately needs a genuine sense that they are capable of leading the free world. August 15, 2014 - Steve Nash, executive director of Advance Memphis, addresses the graduation ceremony at the training agency he started in 1999. (William DeShazer/The Commercial Appeal) Ted Evanoff Columnist SHARE Mechanization displaced farm employees throughout the nation, sending millions to the cities in search of work. (Lance Murphey / The Commercial Appeal) Last Tuesday, on the Independent Bank buildings 17th floor, Glen Fenter stepped into a conference room dominated by a massive flat-screen television placed against one wall and windows offering a sweeping view of the Mississippi River. For more than a generation, stricken towns and cities in the Arkansas and Mississippi Delta have emptied of people as families moved up that river. Tens of thousands of these Delta families have blended into Memphis, shaping a unique city storied for its grit and determination, its music, food and soft-spoken humanity, and also chided as backward, ill-educated for the 21st Century, a city destined to fail in an America obsessed with technology. Fenter for more than two decades headed a community college in West Memphis, but for the last two years he has dealt indirectly with the aftermath of the mass migration from his special location. His office is inside a Downtown skyscraper built for the old silk-stocking bank of the financial district, the National Bank of Commerce, whose patrons included prosperous Delta planters and Memphis merchants when the city was prominent on the world cotton routes. Today, the cotton trade has faded, NBC is gone, the Delta lives precariously on corn and soybeans. Memphis has become a logistics, medical and tourism hub with too few jobs for the population, and home to a harried former college executive on the 17th floor of the I-Bank building. Hes working toward the moment that massive television on the wall flips on and shows this: Videos of Memphians. Each tells their story of where they work and how they got there. We want to use role models in this community to change the misperception that there are not good jobs available for ordinary people, Fenter said. With his drawl and white hair, Fenter looks like President Bill Clinton did in the 1990s. In the White House, the former Arkansas governor helped launch the Delta Regional Authority to stem the poverty up and down the river. But the under-funded federal agency fell short and the out-migration has continued. Anyone who knows Memphis will tell you this city contains far more people than the families who came up from the Delta. But as University of Memphis economist John Gnuschke says, the steady trickle bolsters the 18.3-percent poverty rate. As industrial-scale farming displaced farm hands, families left the Delta. Then factory jobs sagged. Between 1998 and 2014, nearly 70 of the 165 plants located in the five Mississippi Delta counties nearest metropolitan Memphis closed. One in five jobs of all types vanished in the same counties. Greenville, regarded as a regal city when cotton land prices reached $1,000 per acre during World War I, subsided to 32,700 residents by 2013, down 1,700 in three years. The Delta Regional Authority put a pretty good effort into the Delta, said sociologist Alan Barton, a professor at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, until 2011. But the long-time intractable history of race relations just kind of stifled everything there. The brain drain became a huge issue. Today, fueled by government grants and philanthropic donations, Fenters agency is trying to do on a lesser scale in Memphis what Clinton hoped the DRA could do on a federal level. Fenters two-year-old agency, housed in the I-Bank Building, is named the Greater Memphis Alliance for a Competitive Workforce. It has drawn little publicity, though people who know it say G Mac they call it that can help repower the economy. The alliances core mission is this: Ask Memphis employers what skills they need, make sure schools and colleges provide the right training, then steer Memphians into those programs. One of the biggest challenges we face is the excess capacity we have in the existing (education) programs that are chronically under-enrolled, Fenter said. In Memphis, Southwest Tennessee Community College officials figure the final tally will place enrollment at about 8,400 this fall, compared to more than 13,000 five years ago, said Don Myers, the college's director of institutional research. Fenters mission puts G Mac at the crossroads of Memphis relentless jobs debate. Throughout the nation, most large metropolitan areas now have more people at work than before the 2008 crash. In metro Memphis, however, employers reported 634,300 payroll jobs in July 6,000 fewer than in 2007. Thats fueled questions. If the recession ended seven years ago, why has hiring been less than robust? Are executives too stingy? Are we too poorly educated? In the next few weeks, Fenters agency will reveal its work. Every employment agency, education counselor, employer and resident in the region can turn on a computer and see the same videos displayed on the television on the 17th floor. Theyll also see something else. Employers are being urged to post every open job on the visually appealing website crafted by the alliance. Tune in and you can see, say, a machinist, airline executive or forklift driver talk about their job. Click a button and you can see every open forklift job in the city. Click another button and you can see the education path to that job. There are jobs in Memphis, said Fenter, but many Memphians dont know of them, dont know how to prepare for them or think they could never get one. We want to try to use this to motivate people. All this could cloe the gap, he said, the disconnect between many of the metropolitan areas 20,000 employers and the 1.34 million residents. The work is here, he said, but many people are not prepared for the work. Yes, there is a disconnect in Memphis, but its no different from in 100 other cities. This is a national conversation, Fenter said. What were hearing here isnt remarkably different from what theyre hearing in other parts of the country. During the summer, Black Lives Matter activists spoke about a lack of jobs in Memphis. Steve Nash said he hardly listened to the news. If Fenters website gets people to look for jobs, Nashs Advance Memphis, a training agency at 769 Vance, could gain clients. Just the other day, the sidewalk sign outside the faith-centered nonprofit announced Free Forklift Training. A website will be useful, Im sure, but how much will it help, I dont know, said Nash, who founded Advance Memphis in 1999. I dont think it really will move the needle for our constituents. During the summer, Nash said, he walked the grounds at Cleaborn and Foote Homes, meeting residents of the subsidized apartments near Downtown. He visited nearby convenience stores, church doorsteps and bicycled the sidewalks in the 38126 ZIP code he focuses on. Among the citys poorest areas, it has lost almost 1,000 of the 3,000 jobs in place in 2007. His purpose: talk to people. Get to know them. Remind them God is here; jobs are too. And Advance Memphis can prepare them for the work world if they are ready to start. Each candidate for the forklift class first must complete a six-week course on soft skills such as being on time. We think the key is a high-touch relationship, Nash said. We have got to get together face to face, eye to eye and talk to people. People often fear home problems sick relatives, maybe, or a balky car or poor reading skills or a felony record keep them from working. Nash explains they can find work and a life beyond government assistance. We are highly relational, Nash said, emphasizing the importance of conversation. Its going to keep people coming back even if they dont make it through the soft skills class the first time. They know when they come here they are respected and are listened to. Advance Memphis operates an employment agency. Thirty companies, including the major manufacturers Mitsubishi Electric and KTG Paper, hire workers through Nashs office. Fees help support the 100-seat soft-skills class and nearby warehouse used for forklift training. Fees also enable Advance Memphis to put in $2 for each $1 saved by a client. Some people buy cars with their savings. Class reunions are open to all. Graduates show off W2 tax forms -- $40,000 and $70,000 incomes are common, he said, noting, People are seeing their life change. I know Glen Fenter wants to have all this information available. He wants it accessible on the smartphone. But I think the jury is out, Nash said. I dont think it is a lack of information so much as it is too much information swamping us. Whether it is Nashs personal touch or Fenters video messages, thousands of Memphians could be enticed to enter the labor force. Will enough jobs appear for all who want them? Probably not. Although 590,000 residents were employed in August, pushing the unemployment rate to 5.5 percent for the nine-county metro area, the lowest rate in any August in nine years, an estimated 51,000 more residents are available right now to work. In August, about 624,000 people were in the metro areas official workforce as it is estimated by the U.S. government. These are people employed, or receiving unemployment compensation and also looking actively for jobs. This is 17,000 fewer people than were measured in the labor force of 641,000 five years ago. In addition to the 34,000 people currently drawing unemployment checks in the metro area, another 17,000 are presumably living in the area and available to work. If all these people were added back to the official labor force the jobless rate here likely would exceed 8 percent. Where are these 17,000? Just like in other cities, thousands of people in Memphis are regarded as labor force drop outs. Government statisticians label them discouraged workers. After they lost jobs in the recession, some Memphians moved away. Some retired. Others stopped looking for work in the official channels after unemployment compensation expired. Part of the so-called shadow economy, many work for cash, mowing lawns, cleaning houses, selling illicit drugs, clerking in small stores, never filing tax returns. In 2012, The Commercial Appeal estimated this shadow economy exceeds $572 million per year in Memphis. The way the U.S. government figures the unemployment rate, the people in the shadow economy are not counted in the unemployment rate until they let officials know they are actively looking for work. Our real unemployment rate number for the whole country is probably 9.5 to 10.5 percent, said Robert Funk, a former Federal Reserve Board official in Oklahoma City who now heads a national employment agency, Express Employment Professionals. If given some hope they would come back into the labor force. Hope? Fenter and Nash are not the only ones stirring hope. So is Luke Yancy III. Yancy heads the Mid-South Minority Business Continuum, which touts a new idea to gin up the economy Buy Local. After a survey of 20 large member companies this summer, MMBC estimated a Buy Local campaign could generate $1.7 billion in annual revenue if purchases of supplies now going to out-of-town vendors were shifted to women- and black-owned firms located in Memphis. Community leaders including publishing executive Melvin Jones insist rising sales at the regions nearly 1,000 black firms would create much-needed jobs for black Memphians. Jobs created by this $1.7 billion bonanza could send Memphians to Fenters website, fill seats in Nashs classes, spur enrollment at Southwest Tennessee. On Friday, Yancy said Memphis business executives including leaders at Methodist LeBonheur Health Care and Memphis Light Gas and Water Division support Buy Local. But the regions largest business group, the Greater Memphis Chamber, hasnt weighed in yet. I think the Chamber has embraced the idea but Im not sure how much urgency there is, Yancy said. The 120 executives in the Chambers exclusive Chairmans Circle have agreed to make diversity spending a new goal, part of the moon missions the groups seeks to accomplish to improve Memphis. The Chairmans Circle also supports in-house measures such as creating a database of minority firms. But the group hasnt adopted a buy-local minority procurement strategy advocated in May by Memphis entrepreneur Carolyn Hardy, the voluntary chairwoman of the Greater Memphis Chamber and co-chair of the Chairmans Circle. I stood in front of the CEOs of 120 companies and I talked about the opportunities, Hardy said. This is a heart issue. I dont think this touched the heart of the Chairmans Circle. So here it is, the early autumn of 2016. Throughout the region, enough people are sidelined and presumably ready to work 51,000 of them to almost fill the Liberty Bowl. Fenter has ramped up a technology solution. Nash thinks the personal touch matters. Yancy touts Buy Local. Hardy senses a slow-to-act business establishment. Southwest Tennessee Community College counts thousands of empty seats. This is Memphis today. It has talked for three decades about pulling ahead together. Phil Trenary isnt discouraged. Trenary, employed as the chief executive of the Chamber, said the Chairmans Circle companies wont shy away from the Buy Local initiative. Executives at those businesses are considering how to implement the strategy and put in place data that can show how much local buying has occurred. This is one area where the whole world will know what weve done, Trenary said, adding, I expect to see significant (job) growth in 2017. Ted Evanoff, business editor of The Commercial Appeal, can be reached at evanoff@commercialappeal.com and (901) 529-2292. 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. SHARE Lisa Turner is the author of the Memphis-based mystery novel "Devil Sent the Rain." "Devil Sent the Rain" by Lisa Turner By Faye Jones, Chapter16.org When a high-profile attorney is found murdered in her car and wearing a wedding dress, there will be immense pressure on local police to solve the case. But for Memphis detective Billy Able, the need to find the killer is more personal: Caroline Lee was the daughter of Saunders Lee, Memphis lawyer and plantation owner, and Billy has known the family since childhood. The Lees often stopped in his uncle's diner in rural Mississippi to eat and discuss politics. For Billy, "Mr. Lee represented the best part of the old South culture honor, civility, and integrity." In Lisa Turner's new mystery, "Devil Sent the Rain," Billy must find a murderer, a task that will cause him to reassess everything he thought he understood about the victim and her family. Billy and his partner, Frankie Malone, have no shortage of leads, beginning with a recently paroled man who says he came across the car and may have stolen some money from the victim but certainly didn't murder her. Caroline had broken off her engagement to a prominent surgeon who may have been stalking her. Her mother and brother seem more concerned with protecting the family firm than with mourning Caroline. A cousin who works at the firm was seen having an argument with Caroline the day she died and has spent most of her life living in Caroline's shadow. Then there's a newly hired lawyer who has been out of town since the murder. And if all that were not enough, Caroline's alcoholic second cousin, Judd Phillips, shows up with a file about the disappearance of another cousin five years earlier; he thinks the two events may be related: "They both hooked up with a really bad man when they were at Rhodes College," he says. "The investigator I hired believed the guy was involved in Finn's disappearance. He's been incarcerated but now he's on the loose." Turner is adept at creating the atmosphere of a noir mystery. Readers can feel the exhaustion and frustration of Billy and Frankie as they chase leads and come up against dead ends. Even the innocent can claim to be innocent only in the case of this specific crime. Each of the suspects seems credible, and the end of the novel is both unexpected and satisfying. "Devil Sent the Rain" is also steeped in the atmosphere of the Old South, when plantation owners seemed like minor royalty and maintained a disproportionate sense of their own worth. Able's uncle had planned for Billy to go to law school and "become a lawyer like Saunders Lee, expecting him to raise up the Able name in the eyes of the community." When Billy decides to become a police officer instead, his uncle orders him to leave and never come back. Although Billy recognizes the poverty and racism that resulted from the plantation system, he has still managed to hold out respect for the Lee family. By the end of the investigation, he must face the fact that such a system leaves no one unscathed. Lisa Turner has written a fast-paced mystery that is a pleasure to read although readers may hope she gives Billy and Frankie a nice vacation before she sends them out on the mean streets of Memphis again. For more local book coverage, please visit Chapter16.org, an online publication of Humanities Tennessee. SHARE Graphic novel artist and author George O'Connor appears Sept. 29 and 30 at the Hernando Public Library. Graphic novel author and artist George O'Connor will appear Thursday and Friday at the Hernando Public Library. Based in Brooklyn, O'Connor created "The Olympians" series of graphic novels based on Greek mythology. Each volume of the New York Times best-selling series tells the story of a different mythological figure. O'Connor will greet fans at 6 p.m. Thursday and 10:30 a.m. Friday. The Hernando library is at 370 W. Commerce St. Author Michael Hicks Thompson will appear Friday at the South Main Book Juggler to sign copies of his latest book, "The Rector." A Christian murder-mystery, "The Rector" is set in the 1950s in the Mississippi Delta. Thompson's fifth published novel, it is the first in the Solo Ladies Bible Study series. "The Rector" has won awards including Best Religious Fiction from the Indie Excellence Awards. Thompson will appear from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Book Juggler, 548 S. Main. SHARE Gavel and scales By Daniel Connolly of The Commercial Appeal A 17-year-old has been indicted in the January shooting death of another 17-year-old, according to a statement from the Shelby County prosecutor's office. Rodricus Adams is accused of shooting into a car full of people during a Jan. 7 incident in Raleigh. The shooting killed Antoine Bell, also 17 and a student at Raleigh-Egypt High School. Police said in January that the victim and another teenager had pulled over at Kerwood and Winwood in Raleigh to help a motorist in trouble. Police said after the victim stopped and got out of the car, two suspects ran up and opened fire. The 17-year-old was pronounced dead on the scene, and other people were hurt. The suspect faces one count of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted first-degree murder. Online jail records say he was booked into jail on June 1, and the prosecutor's office said he's being held without bond. Steven Askew (right) with his father, Sterling, and grandfather. When he was killed, the 24-year-old man worked at MAACO Auto Painting and Body works and had graduated from Wooddale High School. (family photo) By Ryan Poe and Maria Ines Zamudio of The Commercial Appeal The family of a 24-year-old man killed by two Memphis Police officers in 2013 agreed to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit with the city for $587,000, according to court documents released Friday. The family of Steven Askew filed the federal lawsuit in 2014 after Askew was shot multiple times Jan. 17, 2013, as Memphis Police officers Matthew Dyess and Ned Aufdenkamp responded to a loud music complaint. "The settlement dismisses the city and the involved officers from any and all claims arising from this unfortunate incident," City Attorney Bruce McMullen said in a statement. "This settlement is in the best interest of all the parties involved." The city will pay Askew's family $400,000 within 30 days, $89,583.33 by Dec. 14, and the remainder by July 7, 2017, according to the settlement agreement approved July 29 by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Anderson. Dyess and Aufdenkamp, both named in the lawsuit, were still employed by MPD as of August, earning $56,148 annually. Askew was sleeping in his car as he waited for his girlfriend at Windsor Place Apartments in Southeast Memphis when the two officers arrived around 9:30 p.m. after responding to a different address. The officers shot at Askew 22 times, striking him nine times, once in the neck and twice in the arms. An examination of public records by The Commercial Appeal revealed inconsistencies in the officers' statements the day of the shooting and the official statement four days later. The night of the shooting, Dyess and Aufdenkamp told an officer Askew shot at them. Four days later, the officers said in their official statements that Askew pointed a gun at them. Aufdenkamp told detectives Askew pointed the gun using his left hand. But Askew was right-handed, his family said. Dyess said Askew pointed the gun with his right hand. Photos from the crime scene show Askew was holding a cigar in his right hand. Key physical evidence was missing, including fingerprints on Askew's Cobra 380 handgun and shell casings. The shooting was labeled as justifiable by police investigators. SHARE Justin Timberlake, star of the concert film "Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids," waves to the audience after being introduced at the premiere of the film on day six of the Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall Sept. 13 in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016 Trace Ayala at his creative space in Leiper's Fork, Tenn. Ayala is in a business partnership with Justin Timberlake. (Photo: Mark Zaleski / USA TODAY NETWORK Tennessee) By Dave Paulson, USA TODAY NETWORK Tennessee LEIPER'S FORK, Tenn. -- This town has roughly 650 residents, and what it calls its "downtown" area would barely fill a city block. A vintage police car is parked permanently on one end of the stretch, setting the quaint and nostalgic scene of cafes, antique shops and art galleries. But just around the corner from The Country Boy Restaurant and across the street from the Methodist Church, one of the biggest stars in the world has set up shop. The sign on the front door reads "Millville" a nod to Millington, the Memphis suburb where Justin Timberlake grew up. The century-old house has been renovated and restored, and it's now a "creative space" for the pop star's business ventures: clothing line William Rast and artist development company Villa 40, for starters. It's been a little over a year since Timberlake made a home for himself in Leiper's Fork on 126 acres he purchased for $4 million. But aside from "Millville," he hadn't made any waves in the area until last month. That's when the Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival in nearby Franklin, Tennessee, announced Timberlake had signed on as partner and producer of the event, which returns for its second year this weekend. When the announcement came, Timberlake said teaming up with Pilgrimage was an opportunity to "contribute to my community." As his business partner Trace Ayala tells it, that feeling of "community" was what drove him to return to the south and put down roots in Leiper's Fork. "We were touring everywhere, and lived in L.A., and it was so far from where we'd come from," he said. "I think now that we've found this place and landed here, we've kind of settled things back down." Ayala grew up with Timberlake in Millington and works with him as his creative director. He decided to move his family to Leiper's Fork three years ago, and it was only a matter of months before he'd convinced Timberlake to settle there with his family, too. "It wasn't hard, because we were constantly sending (them) photos," Ayala recalls. "Photos of our kids playing in the stream and running outside in the fields, and videos of open mic night at Puckett's. They came to visit and fell in love with the place." Finding the perfect spot to settle took time and a lot of work Timberlake did so with the help of Leiper's Fork philanthropist and preservationist Aubrey Preston, who sold him a section of his 244-acre property. The land is protected against development through The Land Trust for Tennessee. "Both of us share that love of Tennessee and enjoyed how we grew up, on land," Preston said. "We want to do our part to save that for future generations, and our kids. That's how we got to know each other." When news broke that Timberlake had moved to a town outside of Nashville, speculation swirled around his future involvement on Music Row. That only heightened when he appeared at the 2015 CMA Awards and stole the show with Chris Stapleton. But, in the little time Timberlake's spent here in the last year, Leiper's Fork has been their base, and their efforts are driven by passion, not business, Ayala said. They've signed two Nashville-based artists to Villa 40, Ivory Layne and The Shadowboxers, who just wrapped up recording with Timberlake in Los Angeles. Last week, southern rockers Bishop Gunn were working on songs at the "Millville" house. "It's so easy to stay here and not have to leave town," Ayala said. "We go to Puckett's, have a couple beers, go across the street to The Country Boy and have dinner, come here and hang for a while, and then go to Green's Grocery." Green's is a logical place to close out a night because there's a stage. They've rented out the space on occasion, and Timberlake has jammed with The Shadowboxers there. But if you weren't in the room, you'd never know it had happened. On the flip side, Timberlake has been in New York City this week, and his time there is documented on a daily basis. He has a part in Woody Allen's new film, and paparazzi photos of him on set can be seen on dozens of celebrity news sites. But this past June, he and Ayala brought a film crew and a cast of models to "Millville," where they shot a new promotional video for their William Rast clothing line. You'd think it was like nothing the sleepy southern town had seen before but Ayala says that feeling went double for the visiting cast and crew. Where could they shoot, they asked? Ayala explained that he'd talked to the neighbors and they were free to use their backyards. What about food? Well, they could just head over to The Country Boy and pay once they were finished eating. And that Methodist Church across the street would let them use their parking lot, too. The shoot went off without a hitch and the outside world didn't see a single image from it until William Rast unveiled the campaign earlier this month. Leiper's Fork has its share of famous residents. Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman are among those with land in the area and there's a pervading sense of pride in treating these residents like any other neighbor. "I think people out here have kind of taken it as part of their responsibility to help some of these folks (like Timberlake) feel comfortable," Preston said. "The demands that they have on their life in the outer world are a little bit different from the average cat. I think this community as a whole tries to help them be comfortable, and have a normal life with their families, and, for the most part, that's not too hard." In that same vein, Timberlake's future involvement with the Pilgrimage festival is planned to develop organically. Ayala says they'll have "most, if not all" of their Villa 40 acts performing at next year's festival, and Timberlake could take the stage in some form. "We don't want to take away from the festival," Ayala said. "Sometimes when Justin is a part of things, it overshadows the thing that we're trying to accomplish. So if it's right, yes, I'd love to see him do something cool with local artists, and do something different." In the meantime, he'll get to quietly support a community that's made him feel welcome. It sounds like he's made Leiper's Fork feel pretty good, too. "It's exciting when somebody like Justin shows up, and he could live any place in the world, and they chose our place," Preston said. "That makes us feel like maybe we've been doing something worthwhile all these years." September 24, 2016 Marchers make their way down Beale Street with a large rainbow flag during the annual Mid-South Pride Festival Parade. Hundreds came out to enjoy the festivities in Robert Church Park and lined up along Beale Street to see the parade. (Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal) SHARE September 24, 2016 A group from The Pumping Station hold balloon sculptures as they make their way down Beale Street during the annual Mid-South Pride Festival Parade. Hundreds came out to enjoy the festivities in Robert Church Park and lined up along Beale Street to see the parade. (Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal) By Kayleigh Skinner of The Commercial Appeal Katie Brewer came from Jonesboro, Arkansas, Saturday for her first pride festival in Downtown Memphis, and she was glad she did. "I love it," Brewer said. "Everybody out here is happy, and you can be yourself and you don't have to worry about being embarrassed. There's so much love; it's really great. It feels amazing." She was one of thousands attending Memphis Pride Fest, which transformed Robert R. Church Park into a sea of rainbow flags, clothing and body paint. The three-day event, organized by Mid-South Pride, is a chance for local members of the LGBTQ community to celebrate with live music, dance, a parade and more. OUT Memphis, recently renamed from the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center, had multiple tents at the festival, where anyone interested could pick up free sexual health materials and condoms, purchase T-shirts with the new logo and receive free HIV testing. " ... HIV is a huge thing in the LGBT population, especially among gay and bi (sexual) men," said Martavius Hampton, working in one of the tents. "Especially gay and bi men of color. So we're trying to make sure that we're here, we're visible to provide testing." The park was filled with tents occupied by many local churches and organizations offering information and free goodies, as well as rainbow flags, clothing and other items for sale. The Memphis Police Department had a recruiting tent next to the Shelby County Election Commission. A handful of people stood in one corner of the park condemning the festival and its attendees, but most people ignored them or stopped to take photos in front of them, holding up signs that read "disarm hate." Tammy Green stood outside the New Daisy Theatre on Beale waiting for the parade to start. She brought her Great Dane Cora Belle, wearing a rainbow feather boa in the spirit of the festival. "The LGBT community is an underserved community, especially here in the South, and it's important for people especially young people to be able to connect with each other and know that they're not alone," Green said. The parade was met with cheers as those walking in it traveled down Beale Street, with men and women shouting "Taste the rainbow!" and throwing colorful candy and bead necklaces into the crowd. Pride groups and gay-straight alliances from Rhodes College, Christian Brothers University and the University of Mississippi were among the participants. Early on, people of a variety of ages and races held a giant rainbow flag and carried it down Beale, eliciting cheers of approval from either side of the street. St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Idlewild Presbyterian Church and other churches also marched in the parade. Drag queen Coco Flores traveled from Marion, Arkansas, to participate in a dunking booth Saturday to raise money for Mystic Krewe of Pegasus Memphis. "It's bigger this year than it was last year, and it's progressively getting larger, more acceptance," Flores said. "There are more businesses that are being more accepting. If you look around, a lot of the booths are local businesses Hilton, Gold Strike, they're very supportive." According to the Mid-South Pride Facebook page, 49 balloons were released Saturday morning in honor of the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in June in Orlando. "I think it's showing their strength and it's also showing that we're not going to waver," Flores said. "Bad things happen, but you can't let it stop you from being you, and you have to get out there and show people that there are good people still in this world." SHARE Collierville High School By Daniel Connolly of The Commercial Appeal Social media rumors flew Friday that violence would take place at Collierville High School, but the school system administration said the reports were false and school was proceeding as usual. "Understandably, these rumors have caused concern on the part of both students and parents," the school system wrote in a statement posted on Facebook. "The administration of Collierville High School, in cooperation with the Collierville Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff's Department, has investigated these rumors and determined that no credible threat exists toward the school or any students at the school." Classes ended Friday afternoon without incident, Collierville Police Lt. David Townsend said. SHARE By Ron Maxey of The Commercial Appeal A University of Mississippi student is in trouble over a social media posting in which he threatened to lynch protesters, as students on campus staged a sit-in to voice their concern with the university's response to the issue Friday. Jordan Samson's post in a Facebook thread discussing protests in Charlotte, North Carolina, said "I have a tree with enough room for all of them if you want to settle this Wild West style." A spokesman for Sigma Chi fraternity confirmed Friday that Samson is being expelled from the fraternity over the post. Ole Miss representatives did not immediately reply to a query asking if additional action is being taken, but indicated on social media that the incident would be investigated. Samson's Facebook page is no longer available, but New York Daily News reporter Shaun King tweeted an image of the discussion thread, including the post under Samson's name, along with an image of Samson's Facebook status information. King tweeted the information to Ole Miss's official Twitter account. The university replied to King by tweeting: "Thanks for sending. We do NOT support this type of language that encourages, condones violence. We will investigate thoroughly." King also tweeted an image of an email he received from Dan Mathewson, director of accountability and chapter accounts for Sigma Chi. "I also discovered that he was on a conduct status with us already, so, I just contacted the chapter and told them I expect paperwork for his expulsion by end of the day," Mathewson wrote in the email. "My apologies again, this is very embarrassing and completely intolerable." Reached by phone, Mathewson said he was not allowed to comment but that the image tweeted by King "was an accurate representation of what I said." Later Friday, witnesses said dozens of black and white students occupied the University of Mississippi's main administrative building in Oxford to protest what they called the chancellor's weak response to the Facebook comment about lynching. The sit-in at the white-columned Lyceum began after Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter issued a statement criticizing social media comments that "suggest or condone actions" inconsistent with the university's core values. "The University of Mississippi condemns the use of language that might encourage or condone violence," Vitter said in the statement. "Instead, let's be respectful and civil in our discourse." Student protesters said Vitter's response fell short, and they demanded that he label the lynching comment as a "racist threat of domestic terrorism." Two Ole Miss students were found guilty of a 2014 incident in which a noose was placed around the neck of a statue of James Meredith, who integrated Ole Miss in 1962. The two students, along with a third who was not charged, also placed on the statue a former Georgia state flag that included the Confederate battle emblem. One of the students, Graeme Phillip Harris, was sentenced to six months in prison. The second student, Austin Reed Edenfield, got 12 months probation and 50 hours of community service. The Associated Press contributed to this report. SHARE Donald Trump Jr.'s comparison of Syrian refugees to poisoned Skittles was crass and cruel, but unsurprising. His father's presidential campaign has relied on fear-mongering to spread a simplistic "America First" message that his eldest son perpetuated by tweeting on Monday an image of a bowl of Skittles with an ominous message about Syrian refugees. Thankfully, cooler heads are prevailing both across the world and in Tennessee as leaders strive to find a solution to a complicated problem that involves more than 4 million people displaced by war and strife. Gov. Bill Haslam recently declared refreshingly that he no longer opposes the resettlement of refugees in the U.S. or Tennessee. Haslam has met with State Department officials and Catholic Charities and said "they're doing a good job" of vetting refugees, which can take anywhere from 18 months to two years. On Tuesday, President Barack Obama addressed the United Nations and pledged to accept 110,000 refugees in 2017. In the past year 10,000 Syrian refugees have been admitted into the U.S. 240 came to Tennessee. "In the eyes of innocent men and women and children who through no fault of their own have had to flee everything that they know, everything that they love, we have to have the empathy to see ourselves," Obama told world leaders. "We have to imagine what it would be like for our families, for our children, if the unspeakable happened to us." Tennessee and the Nashville area have welcomed refugees for decades. As the recently released Partnership for a New American Economy report showed, immigrants, refugees among them, are contributing significantly to the state's economy. In November, Haslam told the Rotary Club of Nashville he wanted to see a pause to the United States' plan to accept the 10,000 refugees out of public safety and terrorism concerns, though he acknowledged the vetting process was good. However, the politics of terrorism and Islamophobia, stoked by attacks like those in San Bernardino, California, and Paris in 2015, persuaded the Tennessee General Assembly in its 2016 regular session to pass a resolution authorizing Attorney General Herbert Slatery to sue the federal government for noncompliance of the Refugee Act of 1980 or to seek outside counsel to do so. They conflated the refugee and terrorism issues unfairly. Haslam opted to let the bill become law without his signature. Slatery did not bite on the lawsuit. The attorney general had issued an opinion last year saying the Constitution's supremacy clause required that Tennessee accept the refugees. A veto from Haslam would have been preferable, but his recent evolution on the refugee resettlement issue is a welcome sign that Tennessee's famous hospitality isn't dead. It also adds credence to a statement from last year's Rotary Club speech: "The issues we face are really complex. Anyone who tries to answer it with simple answers is misleading you. I encourage you to not settle for the simple." The complex truth is that refugees are not Skittles. They are people who deserve our compassion. Special report: TVA has reduced emissions. So why does it lag on solar? investigations India and Russia joint military exercise Indra 2016 begins Published: September 24, 2016 The eighth edition of joint military exercise Indra-2016 between India and Russia has begun in Russian city of Vladivostok. The main focus of this edition of bilateral military exercise is on Counter-Terrorism Operations in semi mountainous and jungle terrain under United Nations Mandate. Key Facts The eleven days bilateral military exercise seeks to achieve interoperability in joint operations. Troops from both sides would acquaint themselves with the respective approach to such counter-Terrorism operations. Indian army contingent is represented by 250 soldiers from the Kumaon Regiment . It is led by Brigadier Sukrit Chadah. Russian army is being represented by 250 soldiers from the 59th Motorised Infantry Brigade. The Indra series of annual bilateral exercises and is one of the major bilateral defence cooperation initiatives between India and Russia since 2003. The seventh edition of this military exercise or Indra-2015 was held in Bikaner district of Rajasthan, India. Month: Current Affairs - September, 2016 Topics: Defence India-Russia Indian Military Exercises Indra 2016 Military Exercises Russia Latest E-Books SHARE By Clarence Page Days before the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture near the Washington Monument, a couple of bizarre political developments illustrated why we Americans need it. And I do mean all Americans. "Even if you think this isn't your story," as the museum's director, Lonnie G. Bunch III, recently told the Washington Post, "it is." That's a reasonable response to the cynical wags and trolls who pepper internet comment threads with sarcastic objections like, "I thought segregation was over" and "When are we going to have a museum for white people?" We've got 'em, pal. But having visited museums of various sorts across this great land of ours, I am happy to report that the contributions made by Americans of color to our national narrative are increasingly included. Diversity is in. Conscientious curators like Bunch, former head of the Chicago Historical Society, have made a difference. Yet too many of us Americans still harbor woefully incomplete views of life on the other side of our racial divide. Take, for example, the comments that last week cost Kathy Miller her position as volunteer chairwoman of Donald Trump's presidential campaign in northeastern Ohio's Mahoning County. Problems emerged after a videotaped interview with Britain's Guardian in which she was asked whether Trump's candidacy has encouraged a "just-below-the-surface" racism to surface. "I don't think there was any racism until Obama got elected," Miller replied. "We never had problems like this. You know, I'm in the real estate industry. There's none." Say what? This takes the usual Republican "Blame Obama First" strategy to a new low. Being in real estate, for example, surely she has heard of "redlining," the denial of conventional mortgages and insurance to homes in predominantly black ZIP codes. Or she could google up the words "panic peddling" or "blockbusting" that stirred white flight and destabilized neighborhoods to turn racial anxieties into big profits. Miller seemed to think opportunities and obstacles across racial lines are all equal now. "If you're black and you haven't been successful in the last 50 years, it's your own fault," she said. "You've had every opportunity. It was given to you." "You've had the same schools everybody else went to," she said. "You had benefits to go to college that white kids didn't have. You had all the advantages and didn't take advantage of it. It's not our fault, certainly." Even so, we've got a long way to go before we can say blacks nationwide have "the same schools" or college opportunities as everybody else. Does this put Miller into Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's "basket of deplorables" where she said "half" of Trump's supporters belong for their racism, sexism and so forth? I certainly wouldn't call Miller "irredeemable," which I think was Clinton's most unfortunate word in that controversial statement. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., among others, memorably preached that we all can be redeemed from our worst impulses if we have access to good information. Yet if Miller thinks blacks have made plenty of progress, her candidate Trump seems to think we haven't made any. He still preaches an oddly back-handed invitation to black voters, mostly in front of white audiences: "What the hell do you have to lose?" Last Tuesday, he went a step further. He told a North Carolina crowd that "our African-American communities are absolutely in the worst shape they've ever been in before. Ever, ever, ever!" Ever? As Rep. John Lewis, as Georgia Democrat and civil rights icon, responded to MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell: "Is he talking about worse than slavery? Worse than the system of segregation and racial discrimination when we couldn't take a seat at the lunch counter and be served? Worse than being denied the right to register to vote, to participate in the democratic process and live in certain neighborhoods and communities?" With apologies for her "inappropriate" comments, Kathy Miller resigned her chairmanship and her eligibility to be an elector in the Electoral College. She was replaced by Tracey Winbush, a Youngstown radio talk show host who also happens to be an African-American. During the primaries, she was a fierce Trump critic. Now, she says, that's history the sort, I presume, that she would rather forget. Contact Clarence Page at cpage@tribune.com. SHARE By Dana Milbank WASHINGTON The 2008 financial collapse was eight years ago this month, and the big banks are back to their old shenanigans. Venerable Wells Fargo has engaged in behavior that would have made a robber baron blush: It pressured low-wage workers with unrealistic sales targets, so these workers created 2 million bogus accounts over five years, causing customers to be hit with fees and damage to their credit ratings. Some 5,300 workers have been fired and $185 million in penalties assessed to the bank, but not a single high-level executive has been sacked or even forced to give back the tens of millions of dollars in pay earned based on the fraud. When Wells Fargo chairman and CEO John Stumpf sat before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday, he represented a bank too big to fail, too sprawling to manage and too arrogant to own up to its failures. Can't Wells Fargo take back some of the executive payouts? "I'm not an expert in compensation," Stumpf said. Would he commit to investigate whether the fraud began in earlier years? "I can't tell you that today." Did he learn about the fraud before reading about it in the Los Angeles Times? "I don't remember the exact time frame." Stumpf informed the senators that what Wells Fargo did "was not a scam," disputed that "this is a massive fraud," and said he had no idea "why people did this." Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., encouraged Stumpf to "make certain that the employees are not the scapegoat for behavior at higher levels." Stumpf repeated that "the 5,300, for whatever reason, they were dishonest, and I'm not scapegoating." If high-level bankers didn't go to prison for the subprime hijinks that caused the 2008 crash, it's a safe bet that none will in the Wells Fargo scandal, either. But if arrogance were a criminal offense, Stumpf would be looking at a life sentence. The bank's fraud, and the executive's insolence, may have one salutary result: It takes off the agenda any plan to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, one of the post-2008 regulatory creations and a top target of Donald Trump and congressional Republicans. The Los Angeles city attorney and the Los Angeles Times may deserve more credit for exposing the wrongdoing, but the audacity at Wells Fargo shows that the industry isn't about to police itself. Stumpf also managed to create rare bipartisan unity on the Banking Committee in condemnation of his actions. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, was "stunned." Dean Heller, R-Nev., compared him to Sgt. Schultz of "Hogan's Heroes." Robert Menendez, D-N.J., called the actions "despicable." Patrick J. Toomey, R-Pa., told Stumpf: "This isn't cross-selling, this is fraud." Populist firebrand Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said the Wells Fargo chief should resign, return his payouts and be subject to criminal investigations. "If one of your tellers took a handful of $20 bills out of the crash drawer, they'd probably be looking at criminal charges for theft," she said. But "you kept your job, you kept your multimillion-dollar bonuses and you went on television to blame thousands of $12-an-hour employees who were just trying to meet cross-sell quotas that made you rich." Stumpf blinked rapidly while listening to his accusers, as if sending Morse-code distress signals. His right hand, when he raised it to take the oath, was heavily bandaged. He offered obligatory statements of remorse ("I am deeply sorry that we've failed to fulfill on our responsibility. ... I accept full responsibility for all unethical sales practices. ... We should have done more, sooner"). But how is it fair for executives to take home millions after thousands of workers defrauded customers? "It's a good question," Stumpf allowed. Answers, however, were hard to come by. Would he recommend taking back some of the $125 million payout to the head of the division that committed the fraud? "I'm not on the human resources and compensation committee." Was she at least fired over this? "No, Carrie (Tolstedt) chose to retire." Half a dozen times, Stumpf repeated that the 5,300 workers fired were only 1 percent of his workforce, much like an airline executive arguing after a plane crash that 99 percent of his planes landed safely. A fraud involving only 5,300 people? "Every time you say that, you give ammunition to the folks who want to break up the big banks," Jon Tester, D-Mont., told him. And here's more ammo: Stumpf, who presided over the whole thing, took home $19.3 million last year. Dana Milbank is a columnist for the Washington Post. SHARE By Eli Lake One might think President Barack Obama would have asked his top military officials to weigh in on his administration's decision in January to send $400 million in cash to Iran. After all, Iran is the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, and terrorists prefer cash to wire payments because it is so difficult to track. And its armed forces have both directly and indirectly threatened the U.S. military in the Middle East. But Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry did not consult Secretary of Defense Ash Carter or the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joseph Dunford. This news came out of a hearing Thursday before the Senate Armed Services Committee. In response to a question from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, about the cash payment to Iran, Carter made it clear that he had been out of the loop. "We weren't involved in this," Carter said, adding that it was part of the settlement of a decades-long legal dispute between Iran and the U.S. over arms sales. "I don't know all the details of it, and the chairman and I were not involved in that. It is a decision that was taken by the law enforcement and diplomatic, and I would refer you there." When Dunford was asked about the cash payments, he said: "I am not trying to be evasive, but I don't know the details of that arrangement and it really was a political decision that was made to provide that money and I don't think it's appropriate that I comment on that." Christopher Sherwood, a Pentagon press officer, later told me pretty much the same thing. "It was worked out through the administration. The Department of Defense had nothing to do with that." All of this is important for a few reasons. First, in response to repeated questions about the cash payment, which coincided with an intricate deal to release Americans detained in Iran, the State Department defended the decision by saying it went through an interagency process. At an Aug. 4 briefing, State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner was asked about whether the payment was a form of ransom. Toner began by saying, "There's always an interagency discussion around any decision like this, and every relevant agency weighs in." The disclosure that the Pentagon did not participate in the decision-making process also comes after reports that at least some lawmakers were not consulted about other payments to Iran. This week, the Weekly Standard reported that key members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, including its chairman, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., were not told about wire payments to Iran, even after Obama last month said the U.S. had to send cash because such wire payments were not possible. Politico reported this week that the U.S. had been wiring cash to Iranian banks long before the cash payments were flown to Iran. The disclosure is also the latest example of how U.S. military leaders have been distancing themselves from Kerry's Middle East diplomacy. Senior military leaders could barely disguise their opposition to Kerry's latest cease-fire plan for Syria, which would have resulted in the U.S. cooperating with Russia to select bombing targets had a cessation of hostilities held for a week. It didn't. At the hearing Thursday, Dunford said the Pentagon had no plans to share any intelligence with Russia. Most important in all of this, though, is that the fissures between the military and the White House, which have been growing since Obama's first term, are coming out in the open in his presidency's final months. Since leaving office, all three of Obama's prior defense secretaries have talked publicly about their frustrations with the White House. Robert Gates, Obama's first secretary of defense, wrote a scathing memoir in which he complained about being ordered around by senior White House staff. Leon Panetta, who headed the Pentagon between 2011 and 2013, told the New York Times Magazine this year that he never saw the letters Obama sent to Iran's Supreme Leader, when he served as CIA director or secretary of defense. Panetta's successor, Chuck Hagel, told Foreign Policy last December that he believed the White House had set out to destroy him. We'll have to wait, but if recent public testimony is any indication, Ash Carter will write a lively memoir once he leaves office. Eli Lake is a Bloomberg View columnist. SHARE By Jonah Goldberg Many people are to blame for the rise of Donald Trump as a political force, and most of them reside on my side of the aisle. But that story is familiar by now. And we'll be hearing a lot more about it. Should Trump lose, conservatives will be lucky if the ensuing riot of recriminations falls short of outright civil war. Should Trump win, I'm hoping to get a tent upwind from the latrine at the re-education camp. (I kid, I kid.) Still, not all of the blame belongs inside the conservative family. Consider President Obama. One of the central insights of both the Obama campaign and administration (the difference is subtle but real) is that Obama benefits when his critics overreact. In 2008, then-political adviser David Axelrod coined the phrase "no drama Obama" to describe not only his client's personality but his messaging. By seeming unflappable in the face of criticism, Obama comes across as presidential. The more heated the criticism, the more presidential he seems. The thing is, Obama often intentionally provokes the conservative base. As the Washington Post's Paul Waldman put it in January 2015, Obama "seems to come up with a new idea every couple of weeks to drive (the GOP) up a wall." That makes him a master at trolling. For those still not up to speed with the lingo, "trolling" is an internet term for saying outrageous things to elicit an even more outraged response. Or, as Urban Dictionary defines it, "The art of deliberately, cleverly and secretly pissing people off." For instance, although ideology and policy no doubt play a role in Obama's frequent refusal to use the phrase "Islamic terrorism," he also seems to enjoy watching his critics shriek about it. In late 2014, when Obama announced that he was going to unilaterally block the deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants in the country after insisting for years that the Constitution wouldn't allow him to do anything of the sort many writers on the left and the right recognized that at least part of his strategy was to bait Republicans. Obama could have changed the policy quietly, without much fanfare. Instead, he sought to incite as much right-wing anger as possible. Tellingly, the White House didn't give the exclusive to Univision or MSNBC, but to Fox News. As liberal writer Bill Scher put it in Politico, "Operation Epic Troll" was a "smashing success." Obama played a similar game with his birth certificate and the whole birther craze. He could have released his birth certificate as early as 2008, when the Mephistophelean Clinton henchman Sid Blumenthal was whispering in reporters' ears. But Obama didn't for years in part because he knew the conspiracy theory would galvanize his base. It not only confirmed everything liberals wanted to hear about the right, it also provided Obama with an endless supply of one-liners. And for a long time that worked well for Obama; he got to mock birthers and play the dignified victim. You can probably already see the problem. When you throw out so many buckets of chum, you have no idea what kinds of creatures you'll attract. Obama chummed the waters for so long, he pulled in a Great White Shark. A man often in error but never in doubt, with a thumbless grasp of facts and a total willingness to repeat conspiracy theories, rumors and innuendo as the truth, Trump was almost the personification of the collective id of the angrier strata of the Republican base. Trump's claim last week that he was doing a public service by "ending" the issue Clinton "started" was itself a brilliant bit of trollery. He was trying to have it both ways, simultaneously saying that the birther movement was nefarious and illegitimate from the beginning, and that he was some kind of statesman for relentlessly pushing the birther story. None of that matters now. Like Obama, Trump exploited birtherism for his own advantage, worming his way into the GOP. Obama allowed the issue to fester in the fever swamps of the right, and now he's facing the real possibility that he will be replaced by the Swamp Thing. Jonah Goldberg is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a senior editor of National Review. Contact him at goldbergcolumn@gmail.com. Should you get Google's Allo? The answer is: Yes! As a messaging app, Google's new Allo isn't great. Specifically, it's functionally indistinguishable from any number of apps that have been around for years. But there's one reason why you should want to use Allo every day: artificial intelligence. There are dozens of messaging apps, and each has its own unique list of features. For example, iPhone users may feel compelled to choose between Apple's iMessage, which recently gained the ability to run iMessage apps, and Allo for iOS. So for the sake of understanding Google's new messaging service, let's talk about how iMessage compares with Allo. Why iMessage is better than Allo Apple's iMessage service and Messages apps are generally more elegant, polished and appealing to use than Google's Allo. A range of recently launched features make iMessage fun, such as "invisible ink," "gentle," "loud" and "slam" effects. Allo, on the other hand, has only the ability to make text larger or smaller, a feature Google calls WhisperShout. (You use WhisperShout by dragging your finger up or down from the send button.) Mac users have a desktop version of Messages, which integrates seamlessly into the mobile versions. I use iMessage via my MacBook Pro, iPad and iPhone. Unfortunately, you can use Allo on just one phone. Strong encryption for messages between two iMessage users is default and automatic, making iMessages more secure because no explicit action is required to gain full benefit of the end-to-end encryption. Edward Snowden says: Don't use Allo. With Allo, users need to choose end-to-end encryption by using an Incognito mode. Google had previously said it would store only some user messages on its servers, but changed its tune by launch time, saying the company will store all messages unless actively deleted by users or initially sent in Incognito mode. In reality, that means most users will leave all messages on Google's servers forever, and those conversations will be available to law enforcement, the NSA and possibly hackers some day. On the plus side, Google uses the Signal Protocol for end-to-end encryption while two Allo users have an Incognito conversation, which is very good encryption. Also: Because stored data is necessary for Assistant customization, Google doesn't give you Assistant or Smart Reply features in Incognito Mode and doesn't let you delete Assistant conversation data, to the best of my knowledge. Finally, Apple's entire approach to communication is very clear, while Google's is muddled. Apple has three properties: email (Mail), Facetime (video and voice calling) and iMessage (messaging). Nobody's confused about any of this. Google, on the other hand, has two cloud mail clients (Gmail and Inbox), three voice and/or video apps (Google Voice, Hangouts and Duo) and two messaging apps (Hangouts and Allo). And most users aren't sure which, if any, are defunct or soon to be phased out. Why Allo is better than iMessage While you can achieve the equivalent of ephemeral messages with iMessage by installing one of several apps, the option for self-destructing messages is built in to Allo, but only in Incognito Mode. When you enter into Incognito Mode, the default is set for the message to self-destruct in one hour, but you can change that to any of several times within a range of five seconds to one week. You can also set the message to never expire. Google Assistant will do searches within a chat. Apple's iMessage is for Apple hardware and operating systems only. But Google's Allo runs on both Apple platforms and Android. So iPhone and Android users can use Allo to chat with each other without resorting to SMS. The best thing about Allo is the Assistant, which is a front end to a kind of next-generation Google Now. Today, Allo is the only place you can use Assistant. Later this year, Google is expected to release an Amazon Echo like device called Home, which uses Assistant through voice interaction. By addressing the Assistant directly in Allo, you can ask it to show your pictures, which it grabs from Google Photos. You can say, for example, "show me pictures of dogs," and it will show you your own dog pictures from Google Photos with an option to see other peoples' dog photos from the web. It will also reach into your Gmail or Inbox account. By telling the Assistant: "show me emails from John," it will show you the most recent two, with other options like "My emails from yesterday." When you ask for your upcoming flight information, the Assistant pulls data from your email and shows your flight details in a formatted list. You can tell it to show your meetings scheduled for tomorrow, your next meeting or your schedule on Monday, and it will do all that, taking the information from Google Calendar. You can also add items to the calendar from inside Allo, but this feature didn't work for me -- nor did the setting of timers and alarms. You can also launch Google searches from Allo. It will either show you a sample of results in Allo, or it will kick you over to your mobile browser and the Google Search site. Best of all, the non-personal Assistant results can be summoned from within a group chat, and everyone involved will see them. You can also type "@google play games" and Google will offer you games that can be played by yourself or with groups. Google Allo offers two distinct and very different kinds of artificial intelligence. In addition to Assistant, you also get Smart Reply. Smart Reply debuted for Google Inbox on Nov. 3. This simple feature is backed by serious machine intelligence. In Allo, it gives you one or more options for replying. Tapping on a reply both selects and sends the reply -- literally a one-tap operation. Replies tend to be general, short and casual. "Ok, thanks," "Sounds good" and "Will do." When my son and I first started using Allo, we both impulsively responded with Smart Reply options. We had a longish back-and-forth conversation using nothing but Smart Reply -- essentially enabling Google to talk to itself through us. Smart Reply is sometimes smart, sometimes not so much. It suggested that I reply to a male colleague: "Thanks, sweetie." Tempting, but I went ahead and typed a reply myself. Unlike the Smart Reply feature in Google Inbox, the Allo version offers replies to photos and emoji, with Google A.I. looking at and "understanding" the content of images to come up with a reply that could be considered "smart." I sent a photo of a pizza to my brother-in-law, and he was offered Smart Replies of "I love Italian food," "Yum" and "That looks good" -- then offered him links to nearby Italian restaurants. This digression into pizza restaurants is a "preview edition" of the Google Assistant, and it's clearly a work in progress. Google promises that these replies will evolve to match your style. "The more you use it, the more it improves over time," according to the official Google announcement. You may have heard in May that Google Assistant would launch with Allo. Most users assumed that Assistant would be like another human on your list of contacts, and by addressing the Assistant with questions, you'd get Google Now like answers. But it may surprise you to learn that Assistant listens to your conversations with others, and interjects with helpful information. That's right: Google's A.I. follows along with all your conversations, "understands" all your photos and emoji and then "participates" in the conversation with suggestions of all kinds. Why you'll want Google Allo If you want my opinion on whether you should install and use Allo, I can tell you the answer is: Yes, of course you should. There are legitimate reasons (security, convenience or preference for another messaging app) to not use Allo for communicating with . But the Assistant alone is enough reason to use Allo. To have the updated Google Now in an explicitly conversational interface is fantastic. If Google's Assistant isn't the most powerful A.I. virtual assistant available, it's certainly the most usable, precisely because it's built right into Allo's messaging conversational UI. So forget messaging. Allo is at least an indispensable, all-purpose A.I. bot -- and there's nothing else like it out there. Correction: The original article stated that Allo conversations with the Google Assistant could not be deleted. In fact, they can, and Google has published instructions on how to do that. Gov. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H. speaks during a press conference on the State's comprehensive response to the opioid public health crisis in New Hampshire, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, at the Statehouse in Concord, N.H. (AP Photo/Jim Cole) A former nurse practitioner at New Hampshire Hospital accuses Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan of putting politics before patient safety in a new attack ad launched by Republicans. Victoria Cronin criticizes Hassan in the 30-second spot as corrupt or inept in her management of a $36.5 million contract that puts Dartmouth-Hitchcock in charge of psychiatric care at the state hospital. The medical provider won the state contract earlier this month, two days before it announced plans to layoff between 270 to 460 employees by years end. Chief Executive Officer James Weinstein has said the cuts wont affect New Hampshire Hospital, the Concord facility that treats adults and children with severe mental illness. But the news sparked concern among executive councilors who werent aware of the planned layoffs before they approved the three-year contract. Cronin was among nearly a dozen medical employees who left the hospital in July amid a labor dispute with Dartmouth-Hitchcock. In ad funded by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Cronin said she and others tried to warn Hassan, who is now running for U.S. Senate against Republican incumbent Kelly Ayotte. Maggie Hassans priority is not the safety and welfare of the patients at New Hampshire Hospital, Cronin says in the ad. As to the layoffs of up to 460 people, if Maggie Hassan knew about it, shes corrupt. If she didnt know about it, shes inept. When reached by phone Friday, Cronin referred all questions to Concord attorney Sean List, who represented a group of hospital psychiatric staff as they tried to negotiate employment terms with Dartmouth-Hitchcock last spring. List did not immediately return a call for comment. Cronin authored a My Turn column in the Monitor this week criticizing Hassan and calling on Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeffrey Meyers to resign over his handling of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock contract. Hassans campaign called the NRSC attacks baseless and tied the ad to Ayotte. Ayottes discredited Washington special interest backers will do anything to try to protect their reliable vote in the Senate, including launching false attacks politicizing the heroin and opioid crisis that have been called disgusting, trash, and exactly what is wrong with politics, said Hassan Communications Director Aaron Jacobs in a statement. The NRSC has released multiple ads in recent weeks panning Hassans handling of the states opioid crisis, including one ad that features well-known recovery advocate Melissa Crews. Crews accused Hassan of mishandling the states heoin crisis and resigned from the board of Hope for New Hampshire Recovery after facing push back for appearing in the ad. The Executive Council opted this week to keep staffing contract with Dartmouth-Hitchcock, despite Republican councilor Chris Sununus call to rebid the deal. Dartmouth-Hitchcock was the only bidder to take over the contract from Dartmouth College, which has managed psychiatric care at the hospital since the 1980s. Meyers said the departments top priority is ensuring patient care. Dartmouth-Hitchcock has provided its commitment to ensuring that any potential layoffs will have no impact on the services and numbers of professionals required under the terms of the new contract with the Department, he said in a statement. The Governor, Executive Council and the Department will hold Dartmouth-Hitchcock accountable for meeting these terms. The New Hampshire Republican party has filed right-to-know requests seeking communications between the state and Dartmouth-Hitchcock. (Allie Morris can be reached at 369-3307 or amorris@cmonitor.com) Like the Conservatives, its century-or-so-old opposite number, Labour was until very recently a proper political party thats to say, one whose MPs, members and supporters were united in campaigning for it as a prospective party of government. Labours gradual erosion under Tony Blair and Brown (from its record majority to date in 1997 to below 30 per cent in 2010) was followed by its near wipe-out in Scotland at a Parliamentary level in 2015. This made bouncing back in 2020 to win a working majority a very tall order indeed. Jeremy Corbyns re-election as Labours leader with an increased percentage of the vote (from 60 per cent to 62 per cent) confirms that it has given up on winning outright in 2020 and indeed as a mainstream political party as the term is usually understood. Momentum is often compared to the Militant Tendency, and in policy terms such an exercise is valid. But it misses an important point. The Militant generation were pre-Facebook, pre-Twitter, pre-internet, pre the new technology. Its lifes mission was to gain power. It is not at all clear whether this is also true of their modern successors. Sure, most of the new members who have flooded into Labour presumably believe that Corbyn can indeed win the next election. And, certainly, they have joined in droves. The Party how has over 650,000 members more than three times more than the Conservative total of around 200,000. Furthermore, Corbyn took 59 per cent of their support this second time round, a nine per cent rise in his backing from the first time, when the new category of registered supporters drove his victory. But there is little evidence to date that Momentum and their allies are willing to put in the hard work that previous generations did. They have been willing to sign up to Labour en masse; they are plainly more than happy to rampage all over social media, shouting down anyone who disagrees with them (or trying to). Some have delighted at the opportunity over the summer to turn up and cheer their hero as he plodded towards his inevitable victory over Owen Smith. But talking to oneself is not the same as talking to others. And swarming all over Twitter is not the same as putting leaflets through doors, or knocking on them. Labour MPs, who by the nature of what they do come into contact with many non-party members and have to take of what they think know this. They grasp that if Corbyn is still in place in 2020, Labour will be cruising for a bruising. Thats why three-quarters of them have expressed no confidence in him formally. They thus face a choice. They can try to make their peace with Corbyn, and hope for a front-bench job. Or they can form themselves into a new grouping, inside Parliament and maybe outside it. Or they can sit tight and hope that something turns up. The third is the most risk-free option, and many will presumably take it. What is happening to Labour is not unique. Conventional parties of the Left are in trouble in Spain, Greece, France almost everywhere you look. In very simple terms, the gap over immigration between the politicians who run them and the voters who elect them has become a gulf. Labour in Britain is thus really two parties. The first is the Labour of parts of London: Camden, Greenwich, Islington, Lambeth, Haringey: pro-immigration, prosperous, pro-globalisation, largely middle class. Then there is the rest of the party, based largely in the Leave-voting, anti-migration midlands and north. Squaring that circle would tax a more ingenious politician than Corbyn. As it is, Labours members are not, by and large, even trying: Smiths intellectual surrender to the Left was proof of that. Instead, they are soaring up, up and away into a fantasy world. The date of the partys return from it is uncertain. Indian Air Force successfully test fires long range air-to-air MICA missile Published: September 24, 2016 Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully fired recently acquired long range air-to-air MICA missile from Mirage-2000 Upgrade combat aircraft on a manoeuvring target. During the test, the missile achieved a direct hit on a target which was much smaller than an actual aircraft and flying at a low altitude. With this success IAF has become one of the few air forces in the world that have capability of launching such beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile. Mirage-2000: It is a single-engine fourth-generation jet fighter manufactured by Frances Dassault Aviation. The upgraded Mirage 2000 fighter jets are fitted with the Thales RDY 2 radar, new avionics, helmet-mounted display. They have ability to fire new weapons including BVR MICA, Meteor missiles. Month: Current Affairs - September, 2016 Topics: Air Force Defence MICA missile missile technology National Latest E-Books As Politics Home reports, George Osborne has called for the triggering of Article 50 to be put off until at least next September. His reasoning is that Europe will not be able to negotiate until after the upcoming general elections in France and Germany. As PH put it: there could be no movement on the process while other leaders were engaged in domestic political battles. Coming as it does from one of the chief architects of the Remain campaign, and the Cameroon king-over-the-water, its not difficult to see why May might greet this advice with some scepticism. She would be right to. The first, strictly domestic problem with the idea is that it would practically guarantee that Brexit either occurred very close to the 2020 general election or, worse, after it. As the results of our own referendum have illustrated, the period prior to the vote is when every side is acting tough and trying to sound as scary as possible. The aftermath is when people like Chuka Umunna start agreeing that we need to scrap freedom of movement. Suffice to say, if the Prime Minister doesnt go to the country early shell want to face the voters in the lets all make this work part of the process i.e. after the negotiations. This is notwithstanding how difficult the Prime Minister might find it to get anything else done if the Brexiteer lobby got the impression she was stalling. But even setting aside all that, the real problem with the ex-Chancellors proposals is that one could use their underlying logic to delay Brexit indefinitely. What if the French or German elections result in something other than stability? Its perfectly possible that Germany could end up with a less-coherent coalition and France, possibly, a Front National presidency or at least a close shave with one. Even then, it doesnt seem likely that Europe will be otherwise free of crises a year hence. Waiting until EU leaders are un-distracted seems to amount to waiting until the chain of crises which has wracked Europe for the better part of a decade has ended. At which point, one suspects, certain Remainers might argue that the change in circumstances, and the time since the Brexit vote, meant a new one might be in order. This intervention is just the latest signal Osborne has sent out that he intends to exploit Mays small majority, harrying her at the head of a band of Cameroon maquisards she has sacked or demoted enough members of the ancien regime to give him the troops to do so. Another reason why the Prime Minister might be mulling an early election, now she can count on Jeremy Corbyns assistance to overcome the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act. This mornings newslinks feature George Osborne prominently. Not only has he launched his own (absurd) timetable for the Brexit negotiations, but one of his remaining appointees has walked out of the Government. Not only has Lord ONeill stepped down as Commercial Secretary to the Treasury, hes also resigned the Conservative whip, and will now sit in the Lords as a crossbench peer. He is, naturally, keeping the peerage he was given only a year ago. ONeill cites concerns about Osbornes pet projects, Chinese relations and the Northern Powerhouse, which he was brought in to oversee and its very difficult to believe that he would have taken this step without discussing it with the former Chancellor, who brought him into Government in the first place. One writer thinks this episode suggests May should have been a bit more ruthless than even she was in purging Osbornes network from the corridors of power. But it also illustrates the pitfalls of the fashion, common to both the Blair and Cameron ministries, of trying to recruit non-political figures, often without even Party loyalty, into the Government. Some of these individuals can be perfectly capable ministers, technically speaking, but trying to ignore the political aspect of being in power stores up trouble for the future especially when the time comes to reshuffle them out, when you often end up loosing a new, utterly disloyal peer into the upper house. Indulging this technocratic style also creates the unhelpful impression of a governing class. Much as some might sniff at partisan politics, its actually essential for breaking up that sense of a remote and united elite what Rafael Behr termed the stateless tribe of Remainia which came together to defend Britains EU membership. Politics is a feature of government, not a bug. For all their faults, political parties are a much better basis for coherent government than a random assortment of technical experts, who can always be consulted as necessary. Theresa May seems to recognise this: her first Cabinet has been long on Party veterans and short on attempts to poach eye-catching individuals with no political loyalty to her or the Conservatives. Perhaps this is another innovation of the Blair era which is being put to bed. : , FIR A downtown Farmington maternity boutique is among a growing number of businesses in the state to be designated a Missouri Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite. Laura Belle, located at 24 E. Columbia St., sells maternity and baby and toddler clothes, as well as a selection of childrens toys. The shop is the first retailer and only the second worksite in the county, the first being the St. Francois County Health Center, to be recognized as a Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite. Prior to opening the store in May, owner Laura McLean worked for the city of Farmington, and most recently in the office of Congressman Jason Smith. Asked why she decided to open the store, McLean said, My oldest son is 4 and I started thinking about it then. There was really no place to buy maternity clothes around here you had to go to the city. I began thinking about it even more when my youngest son, who is now 14 months old, was born. I just thought it would be really nice having something like this around here. Working next door (in Congressman Smith's office) allowed me to know that this [retail space] was coming available, so it all kind of fell into place. McLean said that she was well aware from personal experience the difficulties new mothers have when returning to work after giving birth. I have an employee who is getting ready to start her family, she said. I know going back to work after having a baby is hard enough and feel that it is important for all moms to be able to breastfeed and not have work interfere. I obviously dont have a lot of employees and never will have that many, but I do want her to know that were willing to do whatever we need to do to make it easier for her. We also want to get it out there so that other businesses know and maybe theyll do the same. I do know that since getting this there are a lot of other employers who are already well on their way with great places for nursing moms. I know Centene [Corporation] is one of them and theres been others that Ive heard of that have great facilities and want to do whatever they can to make it easier for the mom. McLean said she believes that the more businesses that provide a breastfeeding friendly worksite, the better it will be for their employees who are also mothers of infants. According to the St. Francois County Health Center (SFCHC), breastfeeding friendly employers proactively support employees who choose to breastfeed their infants. They provide time, space and other benefits to maintain breastfeeding after a mom returns to work. Employers who provide these supports see a positive impact on their businesss bottom line. Recent studies have found that employers that provide lactation support services report higher employee retention, lower absenteeism, higher morale, greater productivity, reduced health care costs. Many studies have also shown improved short- and long-term health of the breastfeeding mother and her child. Over 70 percent of Missouri mothers choose breastfeeding as the optimal form of infant feeding. Yet, many of these women do not meet their breastfeeding goals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified returning to work as a major reason why many women stop breastfeeding. The Missouri Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite Program is a collaboration between the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and the Missouri Breastfeeding Coalition. The program aims to bring an increased awareness about the importance of worksite lactation support by recognizing employers with policies supportive of their breastfeeding employees. Such policies provide a flexible work schedule for milk expression breaks; offer a private space, other than a bathroom, where the employee can pump or breastfeed; and ensure easy access to a safe water source and place to store milk. It is important that mothers receive breastfeeding support from their employer, as well as at home, said Cate Reando, Nutrition and Breastfeeding coordinator at SFCHCs WIC office. When you have a mom working hard to nourish her baby and provide for her family, she needs to know that her employer supports and appreciates her efforts. Not only does the mother and baby benefit, but breastfeeding friendly employers see great responses from their employees and the community as well." Missouri Breastfeeding Friendly Worksites represent a wide range of employment sectors, settings and worksite sizes. To be designated as a Missouri Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite an employer must submit an application to the DHSS. Application materials can be found at health.mo.gov/living/families/wic/breastfeeding/. A listing of recognized businesses is available on the Missouri Breastfeeding Coalitions website, www.mobreastfeeding.org/. For more information on the Missouri Breastfeeding Friendly Worksites Program contact SFCHCs WIC Department at 573-431-1947, ext. 2. Danilo Petrucci admitted to not 'remembering where I was' when circulating around the Aragon track after falling heavily due to being struck by Pol Espargaro's Yamaha in a freak incident on Saturday morning. The Italian was exiting pit lane precisely when the younger Espargaro brother lost the front of his Yamaha M1 on the entry to turn two. As his bike hurtled toward the gravel trap, it collected an unsuspecting Petrucci on the way. While the Pramac Ducati man was not knocked unconscious, he was nonetheless dazed and confused in the gravel trap. A brief break in his pit box failed to clear his head. When back out on track, he had a weak grasp on his whereabouts. "I was quite scared," he said of the situation. "It was a very, very long day," smiled an exhausted Italian, who went on to qualify ninth, 1.1s off pole position, an impressive feat considering what had gone before. "The problem is I don't remember it all. This morning when I was going out of the pits I was just looking at who was coming from the track. I saw Pol's bike ten centimetres from me and then a big crash. "At that moment I was conscious but I didn't remember where I was. I said, 'OK, I'm standing, my bones are all together,' so I came back to the pits. But when I went back out I didn't remember where I was. I was quite scared. "I did six laps this morning and I didn't remember four and a half of them. I am quite sad about his and everyone said it's better for me to have a punch because I can only improve!" Speaking just after 3pm, Petrucci was scheduled to visit the doctor soon after. Another check up will take place on Sunday morning to assess him further, before the race. "I have to see the doctor now and then tomorrow morning. At the moment I start to remember something but there are some minutes that I don't. I hope I am well connected tomorrow." Commenting on the incident, Pol Espargaro joked someone, somewhere was "doing voodoo to us", and explained how he fell in spite of taking great care when changing direction between turns one and two in the cold conditions. "It was like we had one guy doing voodoo to us," he said. "Actually, I don't know why I crashed the first time. I was really, really slow and paying a lot of attention, because yesterday I crashed in the same place on an out lap. "I was paying extreme attention to the tyre in the change of direction but even then I lose the front. It looks like when we use a used tyre, the 'V' front, it becomes impossible to ride. When we use it continuously we have no problem. But when we have to re-use it's not possible for us. "I hope Danilo is OK. We need to speak with him. My day was too stressed to take care of others but I'm really sorry for Danilo. It's a really critical corner. When you have to go out of the pits you have to check who is coming and preview who is going to crash. "If you are not paying too much attention it can happen. I'm really sorry because the first person I don't want to crash is myself. It was really bad luck in my case but double for him. It was really a bad luck day for me." Sussex News Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Preferred Hospice has hired Tammie Lambert as part of their bereavement staff in their effort to expand bereavement services to patients families and the community at large. Lambert has spent more than a decade in the healthcare field working in pharmacies, home health, and as an activity director in nursing facilities. Lambert comes on board as Preferred Hospice looks to be there for families as long as they need us." While Preferred Hospices bereavement program is in place for 13 months after a loved one passes, families can utilize the services as long as they want. Through the program, letters, holiday cards and thinking of you cards are sent to all families that have had a loved one pass on Preferred Hospices services. Within 72 hours after a loved one passes, families are called to determine what services are needed. In addition to scheduled phone calls, home visits, letters, and cards, Preferred Hospice offers grief support for youth, teenagers, adults and seniors. With the hiring of Lambert, Preferred Hospice will start offering monthly grief support for the various age groups. These groups will be used in conjunction with direct grief support for families and will be held in various communities throughout the Preferred Hospice nine-county service area. For the very young people, Preferred Hospice offers the Chances Journey program which includes a story and coloring book that depict the life of a goose named Chance that concludes with his passing. For teens, and available to anyone interested, Preferred Hospice offers the Teen Art Grief Program which includes a wooden memory box, paint, and a pamphlet on healing through art. Shirley Martka, Preferred Hospice chaplain who oversees the bereavement program, wants people to know that chaplain and bereavement support are readily available. I want people to know that they can feel safe and secure in their time of need and that we are one call away to meet with them or just visit with them over the phone. We can also provide our bereavement support to their families, including our memory box program, said Martka. "These services will also be made to the community at large ..." If you or a loved one could benefit from bereavement support, call 573-756-9800. Upcoming meetings include 5:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at Desloge Baptist Church; 9 a.m. Oct. 13 at Desloge VFW; 5:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at Iron County Hospital; 5:30 p.m. Oct. 27 at Fredericktown Senior Center; 5:30 p.m. Nov. 3 at Farmington Senior Center; 10 a.m. Nov. 15 at Washington County Library and 5:30 p.m. Nov. 29 Ste. Genevieve's library. A second person has been charged in a drug raid that occurred earlier this month in Bonne Terre. An earlier story released details of the bust, which involved Amber Denay Marler, 34, of Bonne Terre. Now, Daniel Boston, 37, of Bonne Terre, is being charged with seven counts of a class C felony possession of a controlled substance. Marler was charged in the beginning of the month with two Class B felonies of distribution of meth; two Class C felonies of possession of meth; as well as possession of alprazolam; possession of clonazepam; possession of phentermine; possession of dextroamphetamine; and possession of lorazepam. According to a probable cause statement, the Mineral Area Drug Task Force received information that Boston was distributing methamphetamine from his and Marlers residence on Easter Street in Bonne Terre. During the month of August, investigators went through the trash at the address and found numerous baggies containing meth residue, including a large vacuum seal bag. Also in August, two separate controlled narcotics purchases were made by Missouri State Highway Patrol confidential informants. During the transactions, Marler provided the informants with crystal meth in exchange for cash. In a separate transaction, an informant met with Boston to pay him a $300 past drug debt and they spoke about getting two ounces of meth from Boston at later date. On Sept. 1 investigators executed a search warrant at the home and as a result investigators found several items including crystal meth, numerous drug paraphernalia items such as glass smoking pipes with residue, assorted prescription narcotics and a hidden bundle of cash. Boston and Marler were both taken into custody and taken to the St. Francois County Jail. While in custody, Boston was read his Miranda rights and was questioned. He admitted to selling one to two pounds of meth per week. He also stated the trash located during the trash pull was packaging from meth he had taken to the house to sell. Boston is being held on a $105,000 bond and has numerous prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance and creation of a controlled substance. Marler was also read her Miranda rights and she told police she had been using meth off and on for a while. She said she had only helped friends out by selling meth to them on four occasions. She denied any involvement in the purchase or transaction of bulk amounts of crystal meth. Back on Sept. 9, 2013, Marler was arrested along with several other local people by the FBI for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. She was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release. Although Mineral Area College is going through an enrollment slump at present, the school's board of trustees learned that things are still moving ahead on many fronts, including the completion of several long-term construction projects on the Park Hills campus. The trustees received a number of updates when they met in regular session Sept. 15 in the C.H. Cozean Library. First off, Dean of Student Services Jean Merrill-Doss informed board members about the significant drop in student enrollment for the fall semester. "I sat down with the registrar this morning because we started a week later than we did last year," she said. "So the numbers have been kind of off most of the semester. Our best guess is that we're going to be down about 6 percent. She estimates that right now we're down about 206 students compared to where we were at the same time last year. From about 3,426 to 3,220 today and that's taking out career tech and high school dual credit students. We're still getting some of that enrollment. Again, we don't have it all in place. So, when I come to you in October with our census information, it will make a little bit more sense than what I can make of it right now." She also noted that occupancy is down 20 students at the on-campus College Park apartments and that two students have moved out of the apartment complex since the start of the semester. "One was by their choice and one was my choice," she said. "We're down about 10 percent there, which is just a little bit more than we were at the same time last year." In his report, Facilities Director Barry Wilfong provided the trustees an update regarding on-campus construction projects. "As of today all of the concrete has officially been poured at the Fine Arts building," he said. "The storefront is in. If you haven't seen it, it's starting to look really nice out there and shaping up. The stage floor is in. We have a little bit of trim left to put in but we're going to finish that up when we finish inside the foyer. It's really starting to come together and I think it's something we're going to be very proud of once it's done. I'm very excited about that. "Talking about the Arts & Sciences and Technology building, the bathrooms are all done and complete. The concourse is done. The fire alarm system is getting done. They're finishing it up today. The generator install is in progress and we look to hopefully be completed with that. I'm waiting to hear back from Missouri Natural Gas. We're trying to get it in for November. "Last but not least, one of the things I want to talk about is the teamwork that happened right before school started in order to be able to get into Technology classrooms. We received the furniture the Friday before classes. We had the IT Department, we had Maintenance, we had Public Safety and the Law Enforcement Academy guys coming up. Dr. Saum was out there helping us. Aaron came up... we had several people coming up and working with us. "It was actually kind of fun watching everybody work together and get it done. Everybody pitched in. We got it put together on Friday and Saturday. Chad Pipkin's group did a wonderful job of getting all the computers in place and getting them up and going. It's something to be proud of as a team. When the chips were down they really came through." Next, MAC President Dr. Steve Kurtz informed the trustees that the school had recently received the state auditor's annual tax rate summary. "The tax rate submitted that the board approved last month was 47.87 cents per $100 assessed valuation," he said. "The auditor lowered it to 47.84 cents per $100 assessed valuation because of two assessed valuations from different counties that reflected that decrease. However, the tax rate is still a little bit up from last year at 47.63." The next board of trustees meeting is set for 2 p.m. Oct. 13, with the meeting location yet to be determined. Country Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Canada Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cuba, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Dominican Republic Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Haiti, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Jamaica Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Mexico, United Mexican States Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu US Virgin Islands Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Nacogdoches, TX (75965) Today Mainly cloudy. A few peeks of sunshine possible. High 72F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 51F. Winds light and variable. Thank you for reading! To read this article and more, subscribe now for as little as $1.99. Various news, notes, rumors and more as heard by the Cruise Industry News editorial team at the 11th edition of the China Cruise Shipping conference and trade show being held in Tianjin, Sept. 23-25 and hosted by the China Cruise and Yacht Industry Association. 100 Percent Local: "Procurement means a great economic impact in the local economy," said Giorgio Zagami, head of corporate procurement and logistics, MSC Cruises. The MSC Lirica, which is based in China, is 100 percent locally sourced for hotel and food and beverage products, Zagami explained. "We put in a lot of effort to buy locally," Zagami noted, adding the formula was as simple as the right product and the right price. China Built: Ji Chen, general manager of Guangzhou Shipyard International Company, pointed to surging demand in China and said the government was "quite supportive" of building cruise ships in China. "We were the first to export ro-ro ships and passenger ships to Europe," said Chen. The yard has built eight ferries and has three more under construction. "We hope soon to be part of the international cruise ship building industry," Chen added. Shanghai Green Port: Younog Wang, chairman, Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal, said his facility hopes to embrace the green port concept, starting with an energy saving management system being rolled out later this year. As the number one mainland homeport in China, Wang said continuing cooperation with travel agents, cruise companies, other ports of calls and government agencies would be key to continued growth. Norwegian Kart: Norwegian Cruise Line had a go kart, similar to the ones that will be featured on the Norwegian Joy, on the floor at China Cruise Shipping. Source Market Development: Jeff Bent, managing director, Worldwide Cruise Terminals, which operates the Kai Tak complex in Hong Kong, said the development of additional source markets in Asia will provide a better balance of call types at different ports, benefit more parties and generate more local support for the industry. Best Event: "In 27 years of attending cruise industry trade shows, I have never attended one as important," said Eugene Marino, vice president of supply chain, Holland America Group, referring to Friday's blockbuster conference program at China Cruise Shipping. When Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf went before a Senate committee the other day, Elizabeth Warren turned him into sashimi. Or at least she handed him the knives with which he sliced and diced himself. As the Massachusetts senator pressed him on a massive fraud scandal at his bank, he downplayed the problem; he minimized his ability to fire the executives who let it happen; he passed the buck to his companys board a board that, by the way, he leads. If you already thought corporate America was irredeemable, nothing that Stumpf said or did would surprise you. But if you genuinely believe in the creativity and vigor of the private sector, which brings us everything from sliced bread to smartphones, Stumpfs performance Tuesday was utterly depressing. So was EpiPen price-hiker Heather Breschs appearance before a House committee the following day. If those two are any indication, American capitalism is in a rut not because Warren or other liberal critics are encroaching, but because upper-tier executives keep finding ways to enrich themselves and each other while avoiding any adverse consequences of their own actions. The phrase bad economic news usually conjures up stock-market crashes or surges in unemployment. Both hurt real people, but theyre part of a natural cycle of growth and contraction, and they dont damage the underlying legitimacy of the system. This past week did. At a time of growing inequality, and at the height of an ugly presidential campaign, Stumpf and Bresch couldnt have done more to persuade Americans that everythings rigged. Prodded by the companys ambitious sales goals, employees of Wells Fargo set up 2 million fake accounts in existing customers names. Thousands of lower-level employees eventually got fired, but Carrie Tolstedt, who headed the division where the fraud occurred, gets to retire at age 56 with stock options and other compensation worth up to $125 million. And shes still eligible for a bonus. Working stiffs earning $12 an hour arent the only ones who should feel aggravated. I dont quite understand, Warren asked Stumpf. How do you explain this to your shareholders? Stumpf had a boilerplate response, but the real answer was obvious: He didnt see Tolstedts big payday as a problem that needed explaining. On Wednesday, a House committee laid into Bresch, whose company, Mylan, has been jacking up the cost of its now-ubiquitous epinephrine injectors. In her testimony, Bresch touted her own ascent from entry-level clerk to chief executive. This bootstrap posturing was comical. Breschs father, whos now a US senator, got her hired at the drug firm, and she scaled the org chart on the strength of her expertise in cajoling the government. Not coincidentally, Mylan has extracted ever-greater profits from the EpiPen by roping lawmakers and public agencies into its marketing efforts, pushing the limits of antitrust laws, and exploiting the regulatory obstacles facing its competitors. Tellingly, Bresch and other Mylan executives out-earn their counterparts at bigger firms that invest more in life-saving treatments. Americans of a certain age remember periods when the growth in corporate revenues translated into increases in the general welfare. The enlightened self-interest of individuals and companies can, and still does, yield breakthroughs that enrich a few people but also make everyone healthier and happier. Then again, the other way for companies to pad margins and for executives to inflate their own compensation -- is by skirting the law, limiting competition, or lobbying the government for special treatment. As the tech industry matures, even global innovation leaders are leaning as much on their lawyers and accountants as on their engineers. The European Union recently sent a $14.5 billion back-tax bill to Apple, which used loopholes in Ireland to limit its overall liability. But at least theres a new iPhone with no headphone jack, right? Given the circumstances, its ironic that the prime beneficiary of Americans unease has been Donald Trump, whose business career embodies the idea that anythings fair if you can get away with it. Hes stiffed his suppliers. Hes boasted about buying political access. After The Washington Post reported that hed used his tax-advantaged, ostensibly charitable foundation to cover certain business expenses which is illegal Trump told a rally that theres nothing like doing things with other peoples money. Trump would have voters believe that it takes a scammer to recognize a scammer. Yet even if his professed outrage is sincere, it doesnt change the deeper problem: Regulatory agencies lack the necessary muscle to police the marketplace, and holding executives personally liable for corporate misdeeds takes time and money and involves lots of political heat. Still, doing so would improve public confidence in our political and economic systems at a moment when it badly needs a boost. Media reports that Wells Fargo targeted whistle-blowers shouldnt just warrant Stumpfs removal as CEO; they should also embolden gun-shy federal prosecutors to investigate him, as Warren urged at the Senate hearing. Meanwhile, Bresch and others should consider themselves warned. Its not just one or two congressional committees who are bent out of shape; its everyone. Dante Ramos is a Boston Globe columnist. That Sikorsky Aircraft seems likely to stay in Connecticut for at least another 16 years is, of course, pleasing news. The news is dampened a bit, though, by the quid pro quo nature of the commitment: Sikorsky stays until 2032, maintains its work force at around 8,000 employees, doubles its spending of $350 million with local sup-pliers; and Lockheed Martin, Sikorskys owner, moves production of some 200 CH-53K heavy lift helicopters to Connecticut provided the state comes across with some $220 million in various breaks. It remains troubling that the situation in Connecticut from the overall economy, to the state governments ongoing budget problems, to who knows what else is simply not good enough for a major manufacturing company and employer to stay because its a sound business decision. There have to be additional incentives. Still reeling from the January GE jilt, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy must have been absolutely terrified by the prospect of another deep-rooted Connecticut employer moving out. Frankly, a Sikorsky departure would be far more devastating than that of GE. GE leaves, its a loss to be sure, a blow arguably more symbolic than catastrophic. Sikorsky leaves? Symbolism, certainly. Connecticut was the home of Igor Sikorsky, the inventor of the helicopter. But their departure, unlike GEs, would leave scorched earth. Malloy himself said the alternative to the deal would be dire. Families across the region, supported comfortably by the paychecks that come with the specialized work of the helicopter manufacturer, would be left in sudden financial peril. So, if any aspect of the economy warrants a subsidy, it is as opposed to, say, Bridgewater Associates, a hedge fund that is in line for state subsidies an employer like Sikorsky, which is putting bread on the table of thousands of working class families. Its just a disturbing commentary on the economic situation in Connecticut. So we can understand the urgency of calling a special session of the General Assembly beginning Sept. 28 to act on the deal, which also has to be approved by the Sikorsky workers union. Wed like to see the same sense of urgency in grappling with the recent declaration by a Superior Court judge that the states education funding system is irrational and needs to be made fair. Yes, the state has appealed the decision and the state Supreme Court has agreed to consider it. As important as Sikorsky is to the states future, a fair shot at education for all the children in the state is equally important. Abe: visit opens new chapter in Japan-Cuban relations Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his visit to Cuba opens a new chapter in the long-standing friendship relations between the two countries. At a press conference at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, Abe said he hopes this trip helps boost a healthy development in the relations between the two island nations. Abe, first sitting Japanese PM to visit Cuba, added his country expects to increase the volume of its direct investment in the Caribbean nation in the fields of medicine, agriculture and education, as well as in the building of infrastructure. He said he had discussed these issues with Cuban President Raul Castro during the meeting the two dignitaries held the Thursday afternoon. Abe stressed his countrys willingness to develop relations with Cuba, and highlighted the high educational level of the Cuban people, the training of its human resources and the safety in Cuba, a combination of factors that make of Cuba an attractive spot for investors. If Japanese companies can feel there is a favorable investment environment, and the US blockade of Cuba "softens", they will flock into the island, Abe said. During his speech he recalled Fidel Castros trip to Japan in 2003 and his visit to Hiroshima, one of the two Japanese cities nuked by the US in August 1945. Humanity shouldnt repeat that experience; he said and made a call to the international community for unity against nuclear weapons. EU to consider approval of cooperation accord with Cuba Submitted by: Juana Europe Business and Economy 09 / 23 / 2016 The European Union on Thursday proposed its member states to consider approval of a political and cooperation accord with Cuba aimed at normalizing relations with the Caribbean nation. In presenting the document, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said that the accord is the result of fruitful and constructive joint work between Cuba and the European Union and is a corner stone in bilateral links. The Accord for a Political Dialog and Cooperation with Cuba will be considered by the European Council, made up of all 28 heads of state or government of EU member nations before its signing over the next few months. Mogherini said that the accord sets up a common framework for intensified political dialog, larger cooperation in a wide array of areas and a valuable platform to take joint actions in the regional and international arenas. The adoption of the new accord will put an end to the so-called European Union Common Position on Cuba, which damaged relations between the two sides with its implementation in 1996. (acn) Fidel Castro meets Japanese Premier Submitted by: Juana Havana Personalities Politics and Government 09 / 23 / 2016 Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro met Thursday with Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe, who paid an official visit to Cuba. The top government Japanese official recalled Fidels visit to his country and its significance for the strengthening of bilateral relations of friendship between the Japanese and the Cuban people. Both Fidel and Shinzo Abe addressed the long-standing links between the two nations. They also exchanged views on the worlds current challenges and dangers and on the need to strengthen efforts aimed at eliminating nuclear weapons and preserving world peace. The meeting concluded with both leaders expressing their wish and confidence that Abes visit here will contribute to stronger relations of friendship, cooperation in the fight for the wellbeing of the countries that count on less resources. (acn) Raul Castro receives Japanese Premier Submitted by: Juana Havana Personalities Politics and Government 09 / 23 / 2016 Cuban President Raul Castro officially welcomed on Thursday visiting Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe and held talks on bilateral relations between their nations. During the official talks, the two leaders expressed their willingness to keep working to expand relations in areas such as trade and economy; they also discussed international issues. As part of Abes official visit here, representatives of both nations signed a document making official an upcoming donation by Japan of medical equipment for the Cuban health system. The document was penned by Cuban Foreign Trade and Investment minister Rodrigo Malmierca and by Japans ambassador to Havana Masaru Watanabe, in the presence of Cuban President Raul Castro and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Previously, Prime Minister Abe paid tribute to Cuban National Hero Jose Marti at the Revolution Square and toured the museum preserving documents of the life and work of the Cuban Hero. The Japanese Premier arrived Thursday in Cuba after participating at the 71 Session of the UN General Assembly in New York. His visit aims at deepening bilateral relations with Cuba at a time which is very favorable to strengthen and boost bilateral links, as agree by authorities from both nations. Most recently, Japan and Cuba signed an accord to restructure the mid and long-term debt of Cuba to that country, which favors the funding of projects linked to development projects in Cuba. (acn) 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. Prosser, defense propel Berlin past Penns Manor in Appalachian Bowl Berlin Brothersvalley made it 2 wins in a row for the WestPAC in the Appalachian Bowl with convincing victory over Penns Manor at Windber Stadium. Boo! What are the scariest spots in Lake County? The old courthouse. A tea room in Mount Dora. Lake County has several places that are thought to be haunted. Family: Angelina Jolie, Maddox Jolie-Pitt and Brad Pitt in 2013 When Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt married at their chateau in the South of France two years ago after a decade together, they both said they did it for their children. Their six kids wanted the security of knowing mum and dad were married. 'We didn't realise how much it meant to them,' Brad said at the time. And who can forget the pictures in Hello! magazine of the happy wedding party of eight, Angelina's gown poignantly hand-sewn with drawings from their children? It wasn't just the nuptial couple who were cementing their commitment to each other; it was, as always with the Brangelina brand, a picture-perfect family affair. Fast forward to this week and she is now accusing her husband of child abuse after he allegedly became 'verbally abusive' and 'physical' during an alcohol-fuelled altercation aboard their private jet. Within days Jolie had filed for divorce claiming that it was for 'the health of my family'. Yes, suddenly it's 'my' family. Yet while this modern-day humanitarian 'saint' who's endlessly parading her bleeding heart credentials by piously visiting war zones and refugee camps destroys her husband's reputation, shouldn't we look at her own record as a mum? She adopted three children from war-torn countries Maddox, now 15, Pax, 12, and Zahara, 11 and went on to have three biological children with Pitt; Shiloh, ten, and twins Knox and Vivienne, eight. None of them has been to school for any length of time and there are hair-raising accounts of them all running wild at home even though they had six nannies one per child along with a tutor and a cook. (Angelina was too busy feeding the world to play any role in the kitchen.) According to one nanny, Maddox was drinking wine and driving a car round the grounds aged nine while the kids developed an unhealthy obsession with weapons and martial arts. Oh yes, and their daughter Shiloh has been cross-dressing since the tender age of three-and-a-half and was decked out as a boy at the Brangelina wedding. The one time the kids seem to be pulled into line is when they are hauled off on regular visits to war-torn countries with mum in her role as a UN ambassador Maddox was even taken to a refugee camp in Iraq for his eighth birthday present. Angelina says she wants them to be global citizens and believes the trips are good for their development. But isn't the truth that this is all about developing her own global image transforming it from a moderately successful actress to selfless saint, bestowing munificence on the poor and needy? And using the children to do so? The kids she too often leaves others to care for at home seem merely to be toys she pulls out of the cupboard to burnish her moral standing on the global stage. And yet she's the one accusing Brad Pitt of child abuse! A satirical article online claims the real reason for the break-up was Angelinas obsession with fellow humanitarian William Hague. It claims Brad flew into a jealous rage after discovering Hague had not just grown too close to his wife, but had written a biography of our youngest ever PM, Pitt the Younger who Brad thought was one of his ancestors. Apparently, the actor didnt like the former Tory leader poking around in his family history! Human rights lawyer Amal Clooneys call for the UK to do more to take in refugees strikes a rather discordant note. Mr and Mrs George Clooney have a 121 million fortune and five mansions, ample rooms and funds to take in a few migrants themselves. And the 4,000 outfit she wore visiting the UN in New York this week to lecture us on the evils of human trafficking would surely feed a Syrian family for a year. New spring in Helena's step Two years after a devastating break-up from her partner of 13 years, Helena Bonham Carter (pictured) is photographed near her home in Hampstead, North London, cuddling up to a new man. Hes clearly much younger than the actress who is 50 and a mother of two. Of her split from film director Tim Burton, she said: You go through massive grief. Its utterly bewildering. Your identity, everything changes. But theres nothing like the adoration of a younger man to put the spring back even into Helenas Doc Martens. Kate Winslet says her family and career are revenge against girls who bullied her for being chubby at school. With two divorces and three children by three men, her performance on the family front hardly deserves an Oscar particularly as shes now married to some loser called Ned Rocknroll. Not the recipe for friendship It was Mary Berry that Bake Offs Paul Hollywood turned to for support in 2013 when there was a furious backlash after he dumped his wife of 15 years for a floozie in America. The nations second-favourite grandmother was there for him when others shunned the baker who breaks hearts as casually as he does eggs, helping him rebuild his reputation and marriage. Now hes flounced off again, leaving Mary behind at the BBC, having done a deal with Channel 4 without her. Yet he insists: We are great friends inside and outside the tent, and that wont change. A promise as flaky as a Danish pastry. I give his role in his new show about as much time as it took to boot Chris Evans off Top Gear. My quote of the week is from Fergie: I have, she simpers, a pure heart of joy and have just realised that it is OK to be yourself. And it is OK not to be perfect and not read 56 million books, and not gone to Harvard. Its just being able to be here and make a complete and utter idiot of yourself. Something the Duchess has done with aplomb her entire life. Victoria rules once more Having trounced Poldark in the Sunday night ratings battle, ITV has commissioned a second series of Victoria, starring Jenna Coleman as the Queen and Tom Hughes as her husband, Prince Albert. Its still got three more episodes left in this series. How much more can even the most devoted fans take of the moody young Queen stroking her beloved, ridiculously spoilt and coiffured pooch and I dont mean her pet spaniel? Westminster war Such is the level of hatred and abuse in the Labour Party, theyve had to install an emergency hotline for members to ring when threatened. How asinine of Jeremy Corbyn to say that if he becomes PM he will create a minister for world peace, when he cant even keep peace within his own party. An investigation reveals the new Home Secretary Amber Rudd was involved in two offshore companies in her business career and another company where a co-director was jailed for fraud. Yet still she refuses to say if she got any tax advantage. Avoiding the truth in politics can be as dangerous as avoiding tax. The Lib Dem conference was distinguished not so much by speeches but its songs one calling for Tony Blair to f*** off and die, and an ode to Owen Smith on the Robin Hood theme that went, hated by the Left, loathed by the Right. Oh for the days when the Libs wore socks and sandals, strummed guitars and sang Kumbaya My Lord. Stung by criticism he made millions from dodgy dictators, Tony Blair claims hes winding up most of his commercial enterprises to focus on not-for-profit work. But when he says he wants to go pro bono, doesnt he mean emulating U2s Bono, a multi-millionaire, tax-avoiding eco-warrior who flies round the globe in a private jet? With breath-taking delusions of grandeur, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg pledges to spend 2.3 billion to eliminate all disease within our childrens lifetime. In the same week, we learn the U.S. Inland Revenue Service is demanding to know why Facebook based some of its business in Ireland where tax is 12.4 per cent, as opposed to 35 per cent in the U.S. and may face a 3.8 billion tax bill. Zuckerberg believes he is above paying such petty things as taxes. He would do well to remember hes an internet geek, not God. I can remember exactly the moment when Barack Obama was elected nearly eight years ago; there was such hope that Americas first black president would bring harmony to that racially fractured country. Yet this week riots erupted in North Carolina after the shooting by police of yet another apparently unarmed black man. How ironic that, under Obama, black Americans have never had it so bad. Black lives do matter, it seems but only if youre in the White House. Sophie Kathir proudly describes her four-year-old son Mahish as a bright boy who can count to 20, is learning to write and could tell you the name of every dinosaur. He passed every developmental milestone, from weaning to walking and talking, pretty much on cue. At 3ft 4in, he is almost exactly the average height for a child his age. So it seems incongruous and perhaps disturbing to learn that Sophie, an intelligent middle-class mother-of-two, regularly puts her perfectly healthy boy in a nappy. Sophie Kathir with her four-year-old son Mahish, who she regularly puts in a nappy Despite the judgmental looks from other mothers when they notice the telltale white padding peeking over the waistband of her sons trousers, Sophie is unrepentant. Although nobody has said as much, their horrified faces suggest I have somehow failed as a parent, she says. Sophie, a 29-year-old NHS clinical trials co-ordinator says that having tried everything, she and her husband Pirathees, 36, have abandoned attempting to potty-train Mahish. They have decided they are leaving it up to him to decide when he wants to stop wearing nappies. Far from being mavericks, the Kathirs are part of a growing army of parents who are adopting this laissez-faire approach to bladder and bowel control. Whether the increasingly fashionable child-centric parenting movement is wise, or well-meaning but ultimately damaging, is the subject of fierce debate with a recent national teacher survey claiming a rise in school-age children wearing nappies, and an increase in soiling accidents. Sophie says: I know Mahish can control his bladder, but hes lazy. He never has accidents during his three hours at nursery every morning but when hes with us, I dont think he wants to [hold on]. She claims taking Mahish out of the familys London home without a nappy on can be disastrous. A fortnight ago he urinated on the floor of the crowded grocery aisle at the local supermarket. Sophie says: People clearly considered me lazy and incompetent. But Im not. And neither was I about to loudly admonish Mahish. Instead, I just told him he had to tell me next time he wanted the toilet when he was wearing pants. NHS guidelines suggest that potty-training should begin by age two. Some children will be dry during the day. By age three, nine out of ten are dry most days with the odd accident. Forums such as Mumsnet, however, are full of posts from mothers who say that training at two feels too soon, and that tearful protests from their children led to them going back to nappies. Sophie says she was flooded with support from other mums of pre-schoolers who were similarly behind when she described her situation on Facebook. A seminal article entitled 3 Reasons Kids Dont Need Toilet Training (And What To Do Instead), by parenting guru Janet Lansbury, was published online in 2014. In it, she said: If parents have an agenda around toilet training, healthy toddlers are inclined to push back [resist], even if they might have been otherwise ready. 'PERSEVERE... THEY WILL GET IT IN THREE MONTHS' Childcare expert Angela Spencer, author of Babyopathy: Baby Care The Natural Way, says: Physical development is the precursor to cognitive development, and as potty-training is a physical skill I fear this regression could slow the rate at which they learn vital skills. Parents mean well but child-led potty-training doesnt do themselves or their children any favours. Children need to be encouraged how to use the toilet. Take your child to the lavatory with you, encourage their curiosity, and praise successful attempts. Accidents are inevitable, and you and your child may become frustrated, but with perseverance I believe every healthy child can be potty-trained within three months, by the age of two-and-a-half. I worry that if parents continue to delay this process, their childrens wellbeing could be jeopardised. Advertisement But other experts are less convinced. Rachel Waddilove, author of The Toddler Book: How To Enjoy Your Growing Child, says: I am seeing increasing numbers of healthy older children who have yet to be potty-trained its a worrying trend. It is a parents responsibility to teach children to use the potty, just as we show them how to clean teeth and wash their hair. Psychotherapist Phillip Hodson, spokesman for the UK Council for Psychotherapy, claims child-led potty-training is a terrible idea and bad parenting, adding: Being incontinent by the time you start school turns a child into a problem. I can see no upside to this. Parents need to set boundaries. No one wants to go back to the Victorian way of punishing bed-wetters, but if you never say no to children, you wont educate them. And cognitive behavioural therapist Anna Albright says: Potty-training is a mucky job for parents, and children wont understand that its worth it in the long run. Parents need to consider that their kid may well end up in nappies while their peers are using the toilet, and that they will be seen as outsiders. Sophie, who also has a daughter, Laksha, seven, firmly believes she has made the right decision. She says: Children learn to use the toilet in their own time and Im not about to force Mahish. Although her daughter declared no more nappies when she was two, Sophie says there was no way Mahish was ready at that age. She explains: He took longer to talk than his sister, and wouldnt have been able to articulate that he needed a wee in an emergency. It does worry me that he might not be trained by the time he starts school next September, but he should be able to learn at his own pace. Sophie refutes any insinuation she has been neglectful. My husband and I have both done everything we can to gently encourage Mahish. We have used sticker charts and offered sweets as incentives, but were not prepared to banish nappies altogether or shout if he has an accident. Abstract Expressionism Royal Academy Of Arts, London Until January 2, 2017 Rating: The explosion of a new style of painting in New York in the Forties was one of the most exciting moments in the history of art, to be compared with the emergence of Impressionism or even the flowering of Dutch painting in the 17th century. Suddenly, half a dozen great painters filled the sky. Abstract Expressionism, as the movement is called, is so compelling that its surprising to learn that this is the first major British show devoted to it since 1959. At the Royal Academy, it seems to emerge from nothing. The first room tries to suggest how aspects of it were influenced by Surrealism and contains some very dull work. This exhibition completely captures the sensation of youth and rage. Above: Women II, 1952, by Wilem de Kooning The second is devoted to a transitional figure, Arshile Gorky, with some echoes of the great modernist Paul Klee and some suggestions of the German pre-war Blaue Reiter group. But then we see how the movement exploded, and nothing had prepared anyone for what followed. Jackson Pollocks drip paintings were, and are, extraordinary: they initially appear chaotic, and slowly form into intricate dances. It is a beautiful experience to walk from one end to the other of Summertime or Horizontal Composition and see the stories being told. His single greatest painting, Blue Poles, is here, a very generous loan from Canberra; from the seething, knotted undergrowth, eight darkly luminous trunks emerge. Pollocks rival in public esteem, now, is Mark Rothko, and at the centre of the exhibition is a perfect room of his work. The darkness that consumed his work comes later; here is a luminous display of the painter as colourist, encompassing the joy of yellow, orange and spring greens, as well as rich blues. They are paintings to lose yourself in. Jackson Pollock's single greatest painting, Blue Poles (above), is here; from the seething, knotted undergrowth, eight darkly luminous trunks emerge. The third great master to emerge from this show is Clyfford Still, whose volcanic abstracts fill a room to thrilling effect. They erupt, and their smallest gestures can contain a terrifying energy. In PH-247, a richly textured blue is ripped apart by a single, tremulous thread of orange, like a line of electricity collapsing under its own immense force. Some of the minor expressionists are, in fact, elegantly decorative; Still is perpetually ferocious. The exhibition unearths a good number of interesting minor figures, and almost everything rewards attention. Franz Kline, a meticulous painter, creates the appearance of impatience; the drift and drip of Sam Franciss paint build images that look like large-scale weather systems; Ad Reinhardt asks you to gaze long into blackness before the refined distinction of his canvases emerge. The second room is devoted to a transitional figure, Arshile Gorky. Above: Water Of The Flowery Mill, 1944, by Arshile Gorky There is, too, a glorious collection of abstract expressionist photographs a blasphemous paradox, no doubt. But photographs by Aaron Siskind, Harry Callahan and Minor White elevate corners of the world into compositions closely resembling Pollocks and Klines. Thats the thing: these artists did transform the way we use our eyes. As a movement based on inspiration rather than hard principle, it flamed and then was gone Pollock had stopped making drip paintings before his early death. The last room of the exhibition, devoted to late abstract expressionists, is a disappointment, apart from a perverse, late figurative painting by that most wilful of expressionists, Philip Guston. The movement was done in 20 years. Shes the Yorkshire terrier who ripped up the rule book on marriage and motherhood. Now a VERY feisty Jenni Murray sinks her teeth into snit snot private schools, Kim Kardashian... and male BBC stars salaries Jenni Murray, the feisty first lady of radio, is talking animatedly about the grammar school debate that has dominated news headlines on her beloved Radio 4 and elsewhere these past few weeks. Shes the product of one herself, and chose to send her sons down the same route, though not without some soul-searching. I did not want my boys to go to what I call snit-snot schools that produce the kind of posh men who assume privilege. I did not want them to be those kind of men. Broadcaster Jenni Murray with two of her three chihuahuas Jenni with Hillary Clinton after Womans Hour in 2014 So I sent my boys to Manchester Grammar and yes, I had to pay for it, she says. Its only rule for admission is that a boy should be capable of passing the entrance exam regardless of his parents ability to pay. When I looked at all the schools, that was the one with the broadest class and race policy. It served them extremely well. Born in 1950 into a family one generation removed from pit work her grandfather was a colliery winder and she learned to ride on a pit pony, she traces her drive and confidence back to her education. What gave me my kick-start, apart from an extraordinarily pushy mother I was her only child, she did not have a boy to push was the school, she says. Barnsley Girls High School was founded at the beginning of the 20th century by a group of extremely doughty, tough Yorkshire women who said we have a boys grammar school we need a similar institution for our girls. To have that in the Sixties for working-class girls, none of whose parents had been to university, for the assumption to be that we would go to university and have a career, was extraordinary. School ignited Murrays ambition and helped her carve a unique slot in British broadcasting: she is taken seriously whether talking politics and social policy or this seasons new nail colour and Christmas turkey cooking times. Running through all she does, like a seam of coal beneath her native Barnsley, is the belief that women should have equal opportunities to men. We are 52 per cent of the population, she says. We have to have our chance. Its something she has fought for all her life, and the inspiration for her new book, a history of Britain told through the lives of 21 women from Boudica to Nicola Sturgeon. Its been written to rubbish the suggestion that men built the world while their wives waited prettily in the kitchen for them to come home. It covers pioneering female contributors to the arts, science, politics and the monarchy. As to some of todays female role models, such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Kardashian, whove recently declared themselves beyond the struggle, she is withering: If they cant acknowledge how important feminism has been to advancing the cause of women its a pity but its not my problem, its theirs. Jenni on the radio in 1994 Since Britains best known and possibly most effective feminist dumped a nice twin set and some pearls and a skirt well below the knee in favour of a Mary Quant-inspired mini-skirt in the Sixties, shes kicked down a lot of closed doors herself. She acquired a stay-at-home husband long before it was an accepted family dynamic, has fought a public battle with breast cancer, written and talked extensively about the menopause, been open about her obesity and gastric surgery and crusaded against sexism in all its forms, and the gender pay gap in particular. After school she studied French and drama at Hull University, where she got married for the first time, to fellow student Brian Murray, to avoid living in sin. It ended after six years, although she kept her married name, having already begun her career as a journalist. She worked in local radio and television, then on Newsnight and the Today programme, taking over Womans Hour in 1987. The show is 70 years old next month but a lot of the issues it debates are timeless 1946 was the first year in which equal pay for women was discussed. That was before Murray was born and shes still fighting for it today. The editors did not think Womans Hour should be in favour of it. We dont get those bonkers instructions any more, she says. She continues: We have not solved the gender pay gap. The only way that will happen is if employers are forced to publish what they pay. This country has this bizarre idea, which is something my father always told me: never tell anyone what you earn. Its ridiculous. Companies should reveal what they are paying people and then wed get it straight. Does that affect her? Does she discuss what she earns at the BBC vis-a-vis John Humphrys, for example? We dont, no. It [financial secrecy] is part of the culture, which is why it has to be made into a requirement these things should be out in the open. Any chance she would ever go first? No. Why should I? she asks. She has, however, earned a sufficiently comfortable living to be her familys breadwinner for more than two decades. Her husband David, whom she met in 1980 when he was serving in the Royal Navy as a submariner, has run their home and been the prime carer for their sons, Ed, 33, and Charlie, 29. Jenni Murray marries her first husband, Brian David said, This nanny business is not working out. One of us should be at home looking after the kids and it is clearly not going to be you, she says. He didnt find it easy at the school gates, though. It rather clashed with the era when paedophilia became known and hed stand there wondering why people looked at him a bit strangely. It was tough and quite a lonely time. Nor were the couple married. In deference to her feminist ideals, they didnt tie the knot until theyd been together 21 years, and even then she only acquiesced to avoid inheritance tax. It annoyed me because I had done it once before and I hated the idea, still quite prominent, that youd be given away by one man into the hands and care of another. I did not really want to do it again. To me the commitment is agreed between the two of you, and then we had a child, and that is commitment, or it should be, and then we had another one. There have been, she says, no real bumps or difficulties along the way, other than David preferring their home in the Peak District while she loves the bustle of London. That is our only bone of contention, she sighs. T heres clearly plenty of fizz left in the relationship. Talking about her reasons for not having full reconstructive surgery after her 2007 mastectomy, she says: I do have a little implant, just so I dont have to wear too heavy a prosthetic I let my consultant slip that in and he did say let me take the other [breast] down to match it but I said, No! You have buggered about with one side and you are not buggering about with the other. Nipples are quite nice to have, theyre sensitive... That last word enjoys the full orchestration of the Murray voice, once described as the most beautiful on radio, ever. Its deep, rich and ripe, with perfect volume control and an actresss timing. She looks fantastic too, wearing her uniform of black tunic and leggings with some nifty turquoise trainers. She is immaculately made up with long scarlet nails that clearly dont do much by way of housework. (Theyre too long for her to use a touch screen, so she has a BlackBerry rather than an iPhone.) She usually sticks a chicken fillet into her bra to give her silhouette some balance, but what she actually wears and what makes her look phenomenal for 66, is self-assurance. Murray has fought a war on her weight and been open about having had a gastric sleeve inserted in 2014. I weigh 12-and-a-half stone, down from just over 20. I am having to be careful not to lose much more because I dont want to do a Nigel Lawson, when he lost so much weight that his face caved in. I am perfectly happy the way I am and my mobility has improved. Twelve-and-a-half at my age is OK. Im never going back to nine-and-a-half, am I? The reference to her age is nonchalant.Clearly shes got many more good radio years ahead of her and, of course, battles to win on behalf of women, whether they are in a FTSE 100 boardroom or a suburban semi. Plus shes optimistic therell be grandchildren soon, though she plans only to be a career granny. I would love to have grandchildren as long as I dont have to look after them. I say to my boys I didnt look after my own children so dont expect me to look after someone elses... e A History of Britain in 21 Women by Jenni Murray is published by Oneworld on Oct 6, priced 16.99. Offer price 13.59 until Oct 9. Pre-order at www.mailbookshop.co.uk or call 0844 571 0640. On Jenni Murrays BBC desk are teetering piles of papers, books and a programme for the modish modern ballet set in a refugee camp shes been to see the night before. While shes shuffling them out of the way, her computers screensaver flitters past. It is a photograph of her three chihuahuas wearing the woolly dog jumpers shes knitted for them. So in the first minute of our meeting, both faces of Radio 4s Womans Hour, the programme she has presented for almost 30 years, are referenced. She is here to talk about her new book, the history of Britain told through the lives of 21 extraordinary women, but first she has a fabulous secret about The Archers to reveal. Apparently Helen and Rob Titcheners tug-of-love baby was called Gideon by the dramas now ex-editor Sean OConnor just to annoy George Osborne (Osborne was christened Gideon, a name he hated so much he changed it to George when he was 14). I think shes kidding the Archers website says the baby is named after Robs maternal grandfather. But Murray stands by her story: Its the name our former chancellor doesnt like to use, and Sean thought it would be funny. Thats why he chose it. Thats the one thing he told me, the only thing he has ever given away! She is unused to this. Most people reveal lots of themselves, seduced by the intimacy she creates between her guests and Radio 4s millions of listeners. For instance, there was the time the woman bidding to be leader of the free world walked in late to her studio. Hillary Clinton was shown to the seat as Shirley Williams [Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Williams of Crosby] vacated it. I am just introducing her when she picks up a handbag and starts wafting it about. I wonder whats going on and then I realise shes picked up Shirleys bag which has been left on the floor. I say, Im terribly sorry Mrs Clinton has just picked up Shirley Williams handbag, give us a minute and Ill pass it across. Shirleys miming, Thank you, thank you, and it was one of those delightful human moments when the woman who could well become the most powerful in the world thinks, Oh My God! Shes left her bag I must make sure she gets it back. Its an illuminating anecdote about the US presidential hopeful but also instructive about the reach and reputation of Murray. No one is too big to be interviewed by her on a programme that is equally capable of debating the perfect Christmas turkey, chore wars and big knickers. Murray, made a dame in 2011, a pillar of BBC broadcasting and one of the countrys best known and most effective feminists, describes herself as a presumptuous working-class lass from Barnsley. The travel ticket from one life to the other was winning a place at grammar school, which brings us neatly to the current row about selective education and social mobility. Murray says: What gave me my kick-start, apart from an extraordinarily pushy mother I was her only child, she did not have a boy to push was the school. Barnsley Girls High School was founded at the turn of the 20th century by a group of extremely doughty, tough Yorkshire women who said we have a boys grammar school we need a similar institution for our girls. To have that in the Sixties for working-class girls, none of whose parents had been to university, for the assumption to be that we would go to university and have a career, was extraordinary. She sent her own children, sons Ed, now 33 and a vet, and photo-journalist Charlie, now 29, down the same path. I sent my boys to Manchester Grammar and yes, I had to pay for it. Its only rule for admission is that a boy should be capable of passing the entrance exam regardless of their parents ability to pay. When I looked at all the schools for my boys, that was the one with the broadest class and race policy. I did not want them to go to what I call snit-snot schools that produce the kind of posh men who assume privilege. I did not want my boys to be those kind of men. Manchester Grammar served them extremely well so and I am sure Shirley Williams will kill me for saying this I can only say I am a supporter of grammar schools. My experience of them has been nothing but good. Murray was born in Barnsley in 1950 into a family one generation removed from pit work her grandfather was a colliery winder and she learned to ride on a pit pony. After school she studied French and drama at Hull University, where she got married for the first time, to fellow student Brian Murray, to avoid living in sin. It ended after six years although she kept her married name, having already begun her career as a journalist. She worked in local radio and television, then on Newsnight and the Today programme, taking over Womans Hour in 1987. She is known for being ruthlessly truthful about tricky subjects, including her obesity and gastric sleeve surgery, her breast cancer and mastectomy and the menopause. What she wont talk about is money, specifically how much she earns, despite the fact she thinks its time we, as a society did. We have not solved the gender pay gap. The only way that will happen is if employers are forced to publish what they pay. This country has this bizarre idea, which is something my father always told me: never tell anyone what you earn. Its ridiculous. Companies should reveal what they are paying to people and then wed get it straight. She tells a story about a cook at the Cammell Laird shipyard who lobbied for pay parity with skilled male workers such as riveters and painters, saying: It took me a long time to persuade the editor we should cover it. I worked out how much it would cost British industry if every woman in this country found she had a comparator with whom she could say there you are, we need equal pay. Does that affect her? Does she discuss what she earns at the BBC vis-a-vis John Humphrys, for example? We dont, no. It [financial secrecy] is part of the culture, which is why it has to be made into a requirement these things should be out in the open. Any chance she would ever go first? No. Why should I? she asks. I am just plucking up the courage to say because thats what pioneers do when she deftly changes the subject.. Clearly Murray earns a comfortable living from her journalism and her books on subjects as diverse as raising sons and how her chihuahua Butch helped her recover from cancer. Her new one is a cracker, starting with Boudicca and ending with Nicola Sturgeon, whom she later names as a role model for modern women. I really admire her. She gets the way to present herself as an intellect, as a woman. When she stands on a stage and speaks to you, you are listening to a highly intelligent, thoughtful, neatly put-together woman. Its clear she approves of the Scottish First Ministers beautiful working wardrobe as much as her career. Shes far less keen on stars like Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Kardashian who have recently proclaimed they are no longer feminists. If they cant acknowledge how important feminism has been to advancing the cause of women its a pity but its not my problem, its theirs. Murrays fluent essays are warm and witty and are all designed to rubbish the suggestion that men built the world while women waited prettily for them to come home from work. She accepts, however, that someone has to run the home and raise the children and in her case its her husband, David, with whom she fell crazily in love in 1980. In deference to her feminist ideals, they did not marry until thed been together 21 years and even then she only acquiesced to avoid inheritance tax. It annoyed me because I had done it once before and I hated the idea, still quite prominent, that youd be given away by one man into the hands and care of another. I did not really want to do it again. To me the commitment is agreed between the two of you and then we had a child and that is commitment or it should be, and then we had another one. She still doesnt like the words husband or wife so I ask what words she would use to describe their partnership. We are a family, she says after a long, thoughtful and touching pause, just that. Family is family, a family sticks together and supports itself and protects itself from other people outside. David was a submariner but after he left the Navy chose to care for the couples boys rather than delegate to a nanny. He said, This nanny business is not working out and one of us should be at home looking after the kids and it is clearly not going to be you, she says, highlighting the fact that it was his idea, not hers. Nor was it a simple one to execute: He didnt find it easy at school gates, Murray admits. It rather clashed with the era when paedophilia became known and hed stand there and wondering why people looking at him a bit strangely. It was tough and quite a lonely time. Nonetheless it worked for them. As Murray has said: Children need to know they are loved, protected and encouraged, but it does not have to be their mother who does that 24 hours a day. I have loved every minute of my work, and know I wouldnt be the person or the mother I am today had I abandoned it when my sons came along. Despite a relationship dynamic that was unconventional 30 years ago, more normal now, there have been no real bumps or difficulties along the way other than David preferring their home in the Peak District while she loves the bustle of London. That is our only bone of contention he does not love the city like I do, she sighs. Theres clearly plenty of fizz left in the relationship. Talking about her reasons for not having full reconstructive surgery after her mastectomy she says: I do have a little implant, just so I dont have to wear too heavy a prosthetic I let my consultant slip that in and he did say let me take the other [breast] down to match it but I said No! you have buggered about with one side and you are not buggering about with the other because, you know, nipples are quite nice to have, theyre sensitive... That last word enjoys the full orchestration of the Murray voice, once described by the late broadcaster Charles Wheeler as the most beautiful on radio, ever. Its deep, rich and ripe with perfect volume control and an actresss timing. She looks fantastic too, wearing her everyday uniform of black tunic and leggings with some nifty turquoise trainers. She is immaculately made up for a woman who works in radio which means its for herself and David with long scarlet nails that clearly dont do much by way of housework. (Theyre too long for her to use a touch screen efficiently, so she has a Blackberry rather than an iPhone.) She usually, but not always, sticks a chicken fillet into her bra to give her silhouette some balance, but what she actually wears and what makes her look phenomenal for 66, is self-assurance. Murray has famously fought a war on her weight and is open about it. I weigh 12 and a half stone, down from just over 20. I am now having to be really careful not to lose much more because what I dont want to do is a Nigel Lawson when he lost so much weight that his face caved in. I am perfectly happy the way I am now and my mobility has improved. Twelve and a half at my age is OK. I am never going back to nine and a half am I? Jenni as a girl on holiday in the Isle of Wight with her mother Jenni being made a Dame with husband David and son Charlie in 2011 Despite this reference to her advancing age, and her fear that cancer stalks her still (you live constantly with the knowledge that you have been mutilated and you dont know if its going to come back), theres no sense Murray will be off air soon. What shed actually like right now is another crack at Hillary Clinton and to interview the American actor Charles Esten, who plays Deacon Claybourne in the Sky country music drama Nashville. Murray is an ardent fan. Plus shes optimistic therell be grandchildren soon, although she has no plans to be anything other than a career granny. I would love to have grandchildren as long as I dont have to look after them. I say to my boys I didnt look after my own children so dont expect me to look after someone elses... Will radio outlive TV, I ask. I hope so, she chuckles. I think radio is such a fantastically unique medium because it is the only thing you can do which will entertain and inform and educate you while you are doing other things. Mines permanently tuned to Radio 4. If I am not on it I am listening to it. Then shes off to Marks and Spencer to buy dinner ahead of Davids arrival from the Peak District. I dont cook, she says, as she shows me to the BBC lift, and its very definitely a statement and not an apology. e Its a decade since Henry Holland burst on to the fashion scene with his flair for look-at-me, humour-heavy and all-things-emblazoned style. Over the years, his House of Holland sunglasses have proved sure-fire hits. To celebrate the anniversary, hes launched a collection of his most popular, oversized, outfit-making styles, modelled by the enviably cool Aluna Francis of Brit electronic duo AlunaGeorge. 95, houseofholland.co.uk Henry Holland has launched a collection of his most popular, oversized, outfit-making styles, modelled by the enviably cool Aluna Francis Best known for dressing the Duchess of Cambridge in some of her most sparkly and glamorous outfits, Jenny Packham is also one of the countrys most in-demand wedding gown designers. Shes now teamed up with Goldsmiths to launch a new collection of bridal jewellery, designed to sit perfectly with that big white dress on the special day. Prices range between 600 and 7,800; goldsmiths.co.uk, from tomorrow For a glittering big day, Jenny Packham has teamed up with Goldsmiths One of Jenny Packham's elegant bridal jewellery designs With the announcement that Mel and Sue - and now Mary - have decided to leave The Great British Bake Off before it decamps to Channel 4, we need an extra fix of brightly coloured blazers to stop us from causing soggy bottoms with our tears. Here are five showstoppers in stores now. Kimono, 60, Asos, asos.com; GREEN PRINT, 495, J Crew, jcrew.com; WHITE, around 220, La Mania, lamania.eu WEAR WHERE.... Your own royal tour of British Columbia, Canada. Scott Dunn offers a Best of British Columbia itinerary from around 3,000 per person, including flights, float plane transfers and car hire. 020 8682 5030; scottdunn.com. Coat, 90, V by Very, very.co.uk has set up Film Facilitation Office as a single window for all clearances and approvals on Bollywood shootings Several Bollywood films bank on foreign locations, be it for the sake of the plot or just to add up the appeal. But there are hundreds of locations across India that can be equally exciting for the audience as well as the filmmakers. Think of Satyajit Ray classic Sonar Kella (Golden Fort) which was largely shot in Jaisalmer in Rajasthan in the 1970s. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani was shot in Kashmir, which helped in boosting the tourism of J&K in 2013 Even to this day, tourists across the world visit Jaisalmer and make it a point to have a closer look at the fabled fort. The Central government is aware that filmmakers often choose foreign locations because of hassle-free clearances and to avoid India's bureaucratic red tape. The government wants to address the issue and help the filmmakers to shoot at exquisite locations across the country. Ghar wapsi Considering how films can boost the tourism sector in India, the Narendra Modi government is now planning to bring mainstream filmmakers back to their homeland by introducing a single- window system for giving all types of clearances across Indian locations. Raj Kumar Hirani's 3 Idiots made Leh a favourite tourists' destination We will soon have the single-window clearance system, for which the process has been initiated. We want more and more films to be shot at various Indian locations. We have the potential in our country, and many locations can easily be compared with Switzerland, said an official in the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) told Mail Today. Ladakh has lately witnessed an increase in tourists' inflow, ever since Aamir Khan-starrer 3 Idiots, brought it to limelight. The climax of the movie was shot in Ladakh, which helped in elevating the curiosity of Indian travelers. Earlier this wee, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore emphasized on the need to package the countrys offerings in the right direction to boost tourism. "Films and advertisements can play a key role in popularising India. To make filming in India easy, the ministry has set up the Film Facilitation Office as a single window for all clearances and approvals, he had said. The MoS further suggested that the model be replicated by all state governments across the country. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has also instituted the Most Film-friendly State Award to promote shooting across picteresque locations in India. The audacity shown by a con-man in Bihars capital Patna has left city police in awe, as this man changed his identity and ran a con-business in the heart of the city. Born a male, Avinash alias Goldi dressed like a woman to run his multi-purpose racket. He operated as a woman under the false name Monica. He would dress up in colourful saris, donning bindis, fashionable jewelries and applied glossy make up to dodge his clients. Patna police has arrested Avinash (left) who would dress up as a woman named Monica (right), to ran a fake document racket. Patna police has arrested Avinash alias Monica, who ran a fake document racket. The police officials, however claim that there could be more than what meets the eyes. Patna SSP Manu Maharaj said police received a tip-off about a person, who was running a racket at Rani Ghat in Patna. The informer also gave a photograph of the person to the police, saying that she is actually a man and not a woman. When the police conducted a preliminary inquiry and the information was found to be credible. Clad in plain clothes, a team of Patna police raided Avinashs office and apprehended him. Police recovered five bottles of liquor, Rs 10,000 in cash, a password protected computer, a colour printer, seals of government officials and several other documents. Avinash allegedly targeted people who were desperate to go abroad and wanted fake IDs. (Picture for representation only) Police also seized photographs of Avinash in which he was dressed as Monica wearing saris and salwar suits. Several video clips of homosexual pornography were found in his mobile phone too. Avinash ran an office as Monica, which offered various services to his clients who came from the city as well as distant villages. He smuggled liquor and supplied it to his clients as the government had strictly imposed prohibition throughout the state. His services included duplicating any kind of identification card including Aadhar cards, and any certificate right from Std X to graduation, post-graduation, diploma, B.Ed, JE, ITI, etc. He charged according to the needs of the client - ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 20,000. Avinash told the police that he was doing this business for three years and people desperate to go abroad were his target clients. Police is verifying his claims and examining the documents recovered from him, and have sealed his office. Avinash told Patna police that he got the idea of changing his identity from a man to a woman to run this racket, during a pilgrimage to Tirupati Balaji. At this temple in Andhra Pradesh, he saw men offering prayers in the guise of women, police said. Avinash also had a fake Facebook account in the name of Monica Kumari. Police are trying to ascertain as to whether Avinash dressed like a woman to defraud his clients or he is a transvestite. Seeing Machines has enjoyed a decent week, with a rise of 30 per cent, sparked by a reboot of its driver monitoring technology. The advance distils down 15 years of work to a single chip to be branded FOVIO, which will be embedded in cars from 2018. It will be part of the system that helps guide the new range of semi-autonomous vehicles set to hit the streets and motorways soon. Advance: Seeing Machine has unveiled a new chip which will embedded in cars from 2018 Currently the firms driver monitoring system is used by the mining sector in giant dump trucks to keep tabs in-cab. The plan is incorporate it in cars rolling off the production lines in 2017, though initially they will use Seeing Machines software rather than a chip. According to finnCaps Lorne Daniel, the semi-autonomous CT6 Cadillac, with SuperCruise, will likely be among the first to benefit from the DMS technology. Hes a fan of the stock, currently changing hands for 5.17p, and thinks Seeing Machines is worth 12p a share. For the first time in around a month the AIM All Share underperformed the index of blue chip shares. That said, the Footsie was in recovery mode (up 2.7 per cent) and the small-caps still clocked a not-to-be-sniffed-at 0.7 per cent gain. Among the big gainers was Redx Pharma, which was up 69 per cent this week alone and has doubled in value over the last month. The latest movement emanated from an update on one of its drug candidates, called a porcupine inhibitor, which has enjoyed some early success in combination with other therapies. Porcupine inhibitors are interesting because they programme the immune system to kill off cancer and may be as close as we come to discovering a silver bullet for the disease. That said, Redx, which has a number of other exciting treatments in the pipeline, has yet to test its development in humans. Clinical trials can take many years with no guarantee of success. The day of reckoning has come and gone for punters favourite Gulf Keystone Petroleum, which has successfully negotiated a $500million debt for equity swap that will dilute existing shareholders down to around 10 per cent. Three other oilers have tricky debt negotiations with deadlines looming Premier Oil, Igas and Xcite Energy. The latter enjoyed an all too rare day in the sun on Friday with a 5 per cent rise. However it has been fairly much downhill for the past year with 90 per cent wiped off its value. The root cause is an unpayable bond debt with negotiations expected to be concluded by this time next week. Shareholders have been warned any deal will likely wipe them out if indeed an agreement can be brokered. The one thing Gulf Keystone had on its side that Xcite doesnt is cash generative production. However its main asset, the Bentley heavy oil field, does have the potential to be a significant North Sea producer. Premier Oil , Igas and Xcite Energy have tricky debt negotiations with deadlines looming On a cheerier note Pan African Resources has enjoyed a decent week (up 19 per cent) on the back of a more than doubling of earnings, backed by record production. It is one of the few gold diggers that pays a decent dividend the yield is around 4.5 per cent - and has caught the eye of Peel Hunt, which has singled it out as one of two UK top picks in the sector. [The company] openly targets a position at the top of the dividend yield rankings, the broker said. The gold space is truly appalling at returning cash to shareholders. Pan African has a very clear policy to buck that trend and targets the highest dividend yield of the London gold names. Peel Hunts other punt is Shanta Gold (up 4 per cent this week). One to watch over the coming weeks is Aminex, which owns a licence off the coast of Tanzania, which is thought to be host to a large accumulation of gas. In fact it has already made a discovery back in 2012 but struggled until this summer to sort the financing for two follow-up wells. Drilling should get underway in six to eight weeks, with the results expected around Christmas. What people seem to have missed is the fact that Aminex actually plans to produce and sell gas from one the two new wells it is drilling, which could be transformational for the business. The Government will not apply new rules over foreign takeovers of the UKs key assets to the looming buy-out of National Grids gas distribution arm, leaving the way open for a Chinese-led bid to snap up the 11billion business. The move comes despite calls this weekend for the sale to be put on hold until the Governments proposed rule changes on critical infrastructure are in place. Bids for the gas pipe network owned by National Grid were due on Friday and offers are thought to have been received from state-owned China Resources Gas as well as a number of other internationally led groups. Open for business: The Government will not apply new rules over foreign takeovers of the UKs key assets to the looming buy-out of National Grids gas distribution arm Earlier this month the Government said it would introduce new safeguards that could restrict key parts of the UKs infrastructure being owned by overseas groups. The move followed unease over the Chinese involvement in the Hinkley C nuclear plant. The new rules are set to be included in a review of the 2002 Enterprise Act. This weekend the GMB Union called for the sale to be halted until the review is completed. Government sources however indicated the takeover would be allowed to take its course. The Secretary of State will consider the legal framework in place at the time that the transaction goes through, said the source. They added: The forthcoming review will consider whether [the National Grid gas network] is critical infrastructure at all. The sale covers National Grids gas distribution business which has four regional networks providing gas to about 11 million British homes. The group announced plans to sell a majority stake in the business last year. Bids were due to be tabled on Friday last week. Unease: Earlier this month the Government said it would introduce new safeguards that could restrict key parts of the UKs infrastructure being owned by overseas groups. The move followed unease over the Chinese involvement in the Hinkley C nuclear plant As well as China Resources Gas, bidders are thought to include Hong Kong-based billionaire Li Ka-Shing who is understood to have been putting together a consortium through his Cheung Kong Infrastructure arm. Cheung Kong owns an electricity distribution operation in the UK and a smaller gas business. Another bidder is understood to be Canada Pension Plan Investment Board which is working with sovereign wealth funds from Kuwait and Abu Dhabi. The Australian investment bank Macquarie is also thought to have submitted a bid with backing from China Investment Corporation, the Chinese sovereign wealth fund. A privately held Chinese company, Fosun, was also lining up a bid last week. The Government gave the go-ahead to the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station ten days ago after at first delaying the plan, backed by a 6billion investment from China. While approving the Hinkley scheme the Government said it would impose a new legal framework for future foreign investment in the UKs critical infrastructure to ensure that the full implications of foreign ownership are scrutinised for the purposes of national security. It added that this would apply to all significant investments in critical infrastructure. The scepticism in Theresa Mays Government over Chinese involvement in Hinkley is thought to have contributed to last weeks resignation from the Government of Treasury Minister Lord ONeill. , and runner-up Liverpool John Moores University will both move on to the European competition When it comes to the UK economy, London dominates the headlines. But it's Birmingham that has just scooped the crown of the 'most enterprising place in Britain'. The city clinched the title after six of its local enterprise partnerships combined their efforts to provide specialist growth support to local businesses. The project supported 1,000 businesses, generating 87million in private sector investment and creating or safeguarding 4,300 jobs. Bustling Birmingham: The city was named as the most enterprising place in Britain Their efforts formed part of the 'Midlands Engine for Growth' which aims to improve the region's economy and deliver a better quality of life for local communities. The news comes after a recent Npower SME Growth Forecast Index from Capital Economics predicted SMEs in Birmingham are set to contribute 13.8billion annually to the economy and boost employment by 18,000 by 2020. The Enterprising Britain awards were created to celebrate local initiatives which boost business and growth. The initiative is run by Investment in Young People (IiYP), on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Birmingham City Council leader John Clancy said: 'Birmingham is fantastic place to do business and this award shows that when we work together and invest in people, the city really can thrive. John Clancy: 'Birmingham is a fantastic place to do business' 'In partnership with the LEPs, the Business Support Package has been a huge success and it's so rewarding to see businesses playing their part in boosting the city economy and that of the wider region.' Liverpool John Moores University, the Borough of Broxbourne Council and Kent International Business also won awards for building enterprise skills, promoting entrepreneurial spirit and supporting exports, respectively. Birmingham City Council and Liverpool John Moores University will now go forward as the UK entries to the European Enterprise Promotion Awards. The four category winners were: Improving the business environment Winner Birmingham City Council's Business Support Package Birmingham City Council brought together and worked with the six West Midlands Local Enterprise Partnerships to improve entrepreneurial confidence, encourage investment, and attract and retain entrepreneurs to create new job opportunities. Building enterprise skills Winner Liverpool John Moores University - Enterprise Educators Academy The academy was created to help academic university staff to become 'Enterprise Educators' in their relevant field, to help students develop enterprise skills, and inspire them into action. So far, over 17,000 students from over 150 degree pathways have engaged in direct enterprise activities as part of their degree programme. Promoting entrepreneurial spirit Winner Broxbourne Council - Ambition Broxbourne Ambition Broxbourne was developed by the Borough Council as a way to galvanise local and strategic partners. The project's aim was to create sustainable employment, with 6,300 new jobs by 2030, and to rebalance the local economy towards higher paid jobs within the life sciences and creative sector. The project tried to combine innovation, enterprise and entrepreneurship within all aspects of community life. Support for exporting Winner Kent International Business Kent International Business (KIB) is an umbrella programme bringing together support services, initiatives and projects to help Kent-based companies to export and access business opportunities overseas. The project helped with trade development, and with some bespoke projects and activities developed by the partnership to provide overseas opportunities for local firms. Advertisement Sydney's homeless have revealed what it's really like living on the street in Australia's biggest city and how they manage to survive on charity - with one man claiming to earn up to $300 per day in donations. Some of the city's street-people live there because they don't want to be forced to 'conform' with society while others feel they have no other option due to health issues, poverty and rejection. Daily Mail Australia spoke with homeless men and women and discovered what they have to contend with from thieves, rats and abuse to battling the wind and rain. They also told Daily Mail Australia about the positives of 'sleeping rough', with one man claiming it has fixed his back problems and another explaining he usually eats two hot meals every day because of people's kindness. Ken, 60, is a homeless beggar who says he can 'earn' up to $300 on a good day in the city - he has been homeless for more than a decade Mary, 57, has only been living on the street for a month - she moved out of her housing commission home because she believes there are more social workers to provide support when you are homeless Australia's homeless population have mixed reasons for living on the street, some ask for charity and others don't - this man was photographed on Market Street in the city This man was praying for donations in front of a crossing on the corner of Market Street and George Street, Sydney Ken, 60, homeless for more than a decade Ken has been begging for more than a decade and says while things can be slow during the week he can make $300 a day on a good day. He says he spends as much time on the street with his sign to maximise his exposure to people passing by. 'Mondays and Tuesdays are hard but sometimes by Wednesday and through the weekend people start to be more generous,' he said. Ken, who has grey hair and sits by two suitcases, says other homeless people get jealous of how much he earns and hit him. Ken, 60, begs most days and says he gives most of the money to his step daughter who is sick with liver disease The beggar had a black eye on Friday and says some of the other homeless men and woman get jealous of the money he receives He currently has a black eye and said the man who did it has 'attacked him often'. Ken holds a sign asking for money for medicine but he doesn't need any. 'My stepdaughter is on a list for a liver transplant. She asked me for help so I use some for food and the rest I put in her bank account for her medicine.' Ken says some people on the street are there because they are criminals but others do 'just need help' or 'prefer to live this way.' 'Some of these people you wouldn't want in your house they would just syringe-up your bedroom and put holes in walls,' he said. Ian is 50, homeless, and tired of being on the street after two years of living rough due to poverty Ian, 50, homeless two years Ian has been homeless for two years and believes he has been 'left behind' and 'discriminated against' since he was a child because he 'looks different'. At 50 he believes he is too old to be sleeping rough but he doesn't know what he can do to get a head start. 'I am 50 years old I don't want to be on the street I am on a list for a house but I feel like that will never come,' Ian said. He says he wound up on the street when his last lease expired and his house mate moved on. 'Rent in this day and age is too expensive, so I can't afford it on my own and I don't have anyone to share with,' he said. He says he has been discriminated against his whole life because of his looks - he used to have buck teeth and took them out because of bullying only to be teased about having no teeth The 50-year-old does some begging on the street during the day at night time he rolls out his sleeping bag on the concrete 'Plus once you have someone to share with that could be hard and you have to make sure you trust them. The 50-year-old has a sleeping bag and a hand-full of clothes and 'gets wet' every time it rains. He wants a job but is struggling to get on to his feet but for now he sits on Market Street in the city's CBD waiting for strangers to drop off their spare change or food. 'People discriminate against me because of how I look,' he said. Ian says he just wants a job and a home and he is willing to work hard but needs someone to give him a chance 'They always have they used to discriminate against me because I had really bad buck teeth now it is because I don't have teeth. 'There is nothing wrong with me I want to work but I can't even get a job sweeping the street or delivering things even though I have my licence. 'I just want to have a house and a job and be able to do the things everybody else does, I get angry because I just can't get anywhere.' Ned is a 54-year-old man from Tasmania. He has been homeless for 11 months and says his life unraveled when he hurt his back and couldn't work Ned, 54, homeless for 11 months 'I am homeless because I can't afford to pay rent and live because I hurt my back and have been put on Newstart (welfare) and it just isn't enough.' Ned lives in a tent under near a sporting field and has decided he will save some money and move back to his native Tasmania. 'I want to do an engineering degree at university,' he said. Ned now lives in a tent in a homeless community and is waiting for his back to get better so he can look for another job 'I have done foundation causes and started a business degree but it didn't interest me - I think I will like engineering.' Ned used to work in a storage warehouse but when he hurt his back he was unable to do the job and fell behind. 'I didn't get compensation and they just chucked me on Newstart. I had a lot of medical bills for my back and have been told it won't be healed for at least another six months. 'I would like to look for work but I have to wait until this is fixed.' He prefers to live in a group with other people because 'there is safety in numbers'. Lake, 62, has been homeless for two years - he thought his job was wrecking his body and living rough would be easier Lake, 62, homeless for two years When Lake turned 60 he decided his time working as a laborer needed to come to an end but he was afraid that would mean he wouldn't be able to survive. He thought his work was wrecking his body and one day he took the plunge into poverty and quit - to 'save himself'. 'I thought to myself how hard is it really to live on the streets? Is it as hard as laboring?' He said. He has now been on the street for two years and thinks his life is easier than ever. 'I have never felt this free in my life and I have a multi-million dollar back yard,' he said. The New Zealand born man left his house with a backpack with a few t-shirts and a pair of jeans inside He now lives in a park near Central Station and has for two years - he was given a tent by a friend who was finished with it When Lake first left his home he only took what he could carry on a bag on his back - a few t-shirts, a pair of jeans and a jumper but he has never looked back. He has been living in a park near Central Station ever since. 'My first bed was a bench, I was there for two nights then I moved up stairs to the station I still have a stash hole in my bedroom there.' A few months into being homeless Lake was given a tent by another homeless man who had been given a better one. He says the homeless people of Sydney all help each other out with tents or blankets for those 'less fortunate' and he has a bag ready to go with some blankets in case someone asks for one. 'People give to us and if we don't need it we will hand it on.' 'I won't beg but I will also accept charity.' He admits at times his bags get stolen and people go through his tent but he says it is 'part and parcel of the lifestyle'. Lake's family disapprove of his 'tree change' but he says he is happy, gets hot meals twice a day and feels free for the first time in his life so is going to stay. Luke, 21, homeless for four years and Tiana, 15, homeless for six years Luke, 21, and Tiana, 15, met each other four years ago they were both living on the street, alone. They became best friends and have each other's back. Tiana has been on the street since she was nine-years-old, Luke has been living rough since he was 17 and met Tiana after a few months of being homeless and 'displaced'. The friends lived in Nimbin in northern NSW for a year and moved to Sydney for a change in August. Tiana hates the rats in the park but said they were worse in the country. They enjoy each other's company and are looking forward to finding their future in the city. Neil, 50, has been homeless for 20 months since the break down of his marriage. He wants to move to Queensland 'Uncle' Neil, 50, homeless for 20 months 'Uncle' Neil has been homeless for 20 months following the break down of his marriage. He has been living under the arches in Glebe for the last 10 months but plans to hop on a plane to the sunshine state soon. 'I want to go and work with the other homeless people in Queensland,' he said. Neil wants the councils in Sydney to start homeless working programs so he can do things during the day He prefers to live in the elements and doesn't have any plans to return to mainstream housing 'They need projects here homeless people can work on instead of trying to always get rid of us and our tents.' Neil says the 'street kids' call him 'Uncle' because of his Aboriginal background and because he gives them 'good advice and old tents'. 'I found out my wife had two husbands so I had to leave her other husband is in Fiji she told me she married him for the money but I left anyway.' Mary, 57, has been homeless for a month - she moved out of her home because she says resources are easier to access if you are living on the street Mary, 57, a month homeless Mary, 57, had a home but swapped it for life on the streets because she couldn't get social support while living at home. She says social workers will see her now - all because she is homeless. Mary has been living rough for less than a month taking up a spot under the arches in the inner-city suburbs of Glebe. 'They put you in those houses and you never hear from support workers again, I needed social support and the only way I have been able to get that is by going on to the street.' She wants to invite the prime minister to the park in Glebe to see how the other half live The 57-year-old widow has issues with refugees being given houses and social support when Australian born residents are struggling Mary said she has not felt properly supported since her husband, who was a military man, died Mary said she wants to invite Malcolm Turnbull to the park to see how the other half live. 'He is promising housing to refugees and women who want to send their daughters overseas to get married but there is no support here for us. 'There are so many people that need housing and he needs to put Australians first,' she said. Mary said her ex-husband served in the American military and 'died sticking up for what he felt was right'. Since then she has felt she has had no support in her life which led her to the street. Mary who lives in a swag has picked up some hints from other people she lives with including where she can charge her phone for free and where to find food and shelter. Tony has been homeless for two years after he was 'let down' by a friend He says people are kind and he is usually able to make $40-$50 per day to buy food The beggar says he doesn't want to be homeless but he doesn't feel like he has other options Tony, homeless for three years Tony was 'let down' by 'a friend' a little over three years ago and says as a consequence he has ended up on the street. He can often be found begging for food an money and says he has 'given up on having meaning'. He says people are generous and he usually makes $40 per day from donations. Shane has been homeless for 10 weeks but has a plan to get off the streets for good Shane, homeless for 10 weeks Shane was staying at his sister's house before he was turned out onto the street 10 weeks ago. 'I didn't get along with my sister's boyfriend and we had an argument so she asked me to leave,' he said. He now lives in Hyde Park and begs on the street every day. 'The worst thing about being homeless is having to hide your stuff all the time. The beggar has managed to save $800 since he landed on the street and says he banks half of all his donations He is currently on the waiting list for a housing commission home which he says could take nine months Shane used to work as a cleaner and enjoyed it - he wants to do that again so he can rebuild his life 'The council will take your tent if you leave it up over night so I have to hide it in a special place in the park. 'One day I was asleep outside of McDonalds and someone stole my harmonica, my watch and my little radio.' Shane has worked as a cleaner in the past and says this is the first time he has had to resort to begging or charity. 'People are pretty generous, Friday and Saturday nights are the best sometimes I will make $120 those nights. 'Most days I will get about $80. I spend half and save half. 'Since I have been out here I have saved $800 so I hope I can get a house soon I am on a waiting list for housing commission they said nine months I have been here 10 weeks so I am almost there.' There is a mixture of men and women on the streets in Sydney, from different backgrounds and ages Some of them prefer to let their signs do the talking and look at the ground in the hope people who pass will give them change A man reading the news paper on George street in Sydney - he looked to be relaxed as he had no shoes on and rested on his blankets and a light pole A Connecticut man was sentenced to 12 years in prison earlier this week for the 2012 shooting of his sister's boyfriend following a dispute over dirty dishes. Terrence Peterson also was sentenced to an additional four years behind bars for injuring a corrections officer during a jailhouse fight following his arrest in the the shooting, the Stamford Advocate reported. Howard Ehring, Peterson's attorney, says his 26-year-old client's assault conviction substantially increased his prison sentence for the shooting. Terence Peterson (left and right) was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the 2012 shooting of his sister's boyfriend following a dispute over dirty dishes Police say Peterson shot his sister's boyfriend in the chest after arguing with her over dirty dishes left in the sink of a home at the Roodner Court public housing community in Norwalk. Peterson told his sister's boyfriend he 'was going to feel it tonight', the Advocate reported, citing an affidavit. Senior Assistant State's Attorney Maureen Ornousky says Peterson has a history of substance abuse and mental health issues. Police say Peterson shot his sister's boyfriend in the chest after rowing over dishes left in the sink of a home at the Roodner Court public housing community in Norwalk. The housing community is seen here Ornousky told the newspaper: 'I think the judges sentence was reasonable. 'Peterson expressed remorse and admitted his wrongdoing and I think the sentence was just because of his prior criminal record.' She also revealed to the newspaper that the victim didn't wish for Peterson to have more time in jail. A college student has died suddenly after exercising at a campus gymnasium, officials in Maryland say. Morgan State University spokesman Clint Coleman said 21-year-old Dmitri Clemons of Silver Spring was working out at a campus gymnasium Wednesday when he collapsed, media outlets report. Clemons had been running on a treadmill and collapsed, Baltimore police told WMAR. Morgan State University spokesman Clint Coleman says 21-year-old Dmitri Clemons (pictured left and right) was working out at a campus gymnasium Wednesday when he collapsed The incident took place at the Edward P. Hurt Gymnasium, pictured Student Christopher Fewell told the MSU Spokesman: 'I walked in the gym like literally walked in and he had fell, and everybody stood around. 'He started seizing up, so I ran over there, and everybody was still standing around.' He recalled to the newspaper: 'His heart was fluttering in and out, skipping beats, and then it just stopped. I was like "His pulse [is] gone." 'Then I guess a gym teacher or alumni here started administering CPR while I was holding his pulse, and I told somebody to call 911.' Clemons was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy will determine the cause of Clemons' death. University Vice President of Student Affairs Kevin Banks said in a letter to the campus community that Clemons was a senior civil engineering major and vice president of the campus American Society of Civil Engineering The death comes days after the off-campus stabbing death of another university student, sophomore Marcus Edwards (pictured) His death comes days after the off-campus stabbing death of another university student, sophomore Marcus Edwards. University Vice President of Student Affairs Kevin Banks said in a letter to the campus community that Clemons was a senior civil engineering major and vice president of the campus American Society of Civil Engineering. Banks wrote: 'He had many friends and a loving family. We extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends.' A boy with diabetes was 'treated like a terrorist' at the Eiffel Tower because security guards were suspicious of his insulin pump, his family said. The family of five, from Baden in Austria, was visiting the French capital last month. A female security guard was checking the family's backpacks for weapons and explosives when the insulin pump was discovered inside 14-year-old Samuel's pocket. A boy with diabetes was 'treated like a terrorist' at the Eiffel Tower because security guards were suspicious of his insulin pump, his family said (File photo) 'My son took the international diabetic identification and showed it,' Samuel's mother Bettina told Kurier. She added: 'The lady hit the card from his hand and shouted at him in French.' The security guard also came across the Type 1 diabetic's emergency syringe, blood glucose reader and test strips before denying him access to the attraction. 'My son was treated like a terrorist! Such a thing should not happen again,' she added. A female security guard was checking the family's backpacks for weapons and explosives when the insulin pump was discovered inside 14-year-old Samuel's pocket (File photo) The management of the Eiffel Tower has been contacted for comment. Since returning home to Austria the family have written a complaint about the guard and delivered it to the Austrian embassy in Paris. 'We don't want other sick children to have to experience similar treatment,' Bettina said according to The Local. The family say they will not be returning to Paris in a hurry. Prosecutors say she 'reacted unreasonably' and have charged her with first-degree manslaughter One came as her ex-husband's new wife tried to 'discredit' her, Shelby said Said she had smoked pot twice and had two protective orders against her The Tulsa police officer accused of manslaughter for shooting an unarmed black man had once bashed her ex-boyfriend's car with a shovel after an explosive breakup. Betty Jo Shelby, 42, disclosed the events in a job application she filed to join the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office. She began working there in 2007 and stayed until 2011. The ex-boyfriend, who has not been named, also took a shovel to her car in anger. Shelby was about 20 at the time and a protective order was taken out against her. Shelby, who joined the Tulsa Police Department in December 2011, has been charged with first-degree manslaughter after fatally shooting 40-year-old Terence Crutcher on September 16. Betty Jo Shelby (pictured left in a mugshot and right in her police uniform), 42, said in a job application that she had once bashed her ex-boyfriend's car with a shovel She admitted in her sheriff's office application that she smoked marijuana twice as a teenager. The second protective order against her came in 2000 and followed one of Shelby's two divorces. She said her ex-husband's new wife sought a protective order in an attempt to 'discredit' her character. In both cases, Shelby said a judge agreed to dismiss the orders. Shelby's salary at the Tulsa Police Department was $53,747 as of May 31, according to a city spokeswoman. She was placed on leave without pay Friday. Records show one 'use-of-force' report in 2010, drawing but not firing a gun while searching for a suspect, while Shelby still worked at the sheriff's office. Shelby has been charged with manslaughter after fatally shooting Terence Crutcher, 40. Pictured, a woman protesting Crutcher's death holds hands with Tulsa officers on Thursday Protesters filled the food court chanting 'Black Lives Matter' at the University of Oklahoma on Thursday (pictured), following Crutcher's shooting death The police department refused the Associated Press' repeated requests to release her personnel records, but said she has not been subject to any disciplinary proceedings in her nearly five years. Shelby completed de-escalation training but 'reacted unreasonably' when she fatally shot Crutcher, according to an affidavit prosecutors filed with the first-degree manslaughter charge. She posted bond early Friday and now faces four years to life in prison if convicted. Shelby's attorney, Scott Wood, said Friday that she had a reputation of having a 'cool head on her shoulders.' 'This wasn't her first week on the job,' Wood said. 'Betty is a field-training officer. The department has picked her to train new officers, and people will tell you this isn't Betty Shelby to overreact to a situation.' Shelby, who is white, was headed to a domestic violence call when she encountered Crutcher's SUV abandoned on a city street, straddling the center line. She did not activate her dashboard camera when she first came across Crutcher and his SUV. But other video footage shows Crutcher walking away from Shelby and toward his SUV with his arms in the air. The footage does not offer a clear view of when Shelby fired the single shot that killed Crutcher. More than 100 protesters gathered at the University Of Oklahoma on Thursday. Some of them are pictured lying down on the ground Tulsa District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler is pictured on Thursday, when he announced that his office had filed first-degree manslaughter charges against Shelby Wood said Crutcher escalated the situation by not communicating with Shelby, disobeying her commands and walking away from her. 'One thing about de-escalation, that's a two-way street,' Wood said. 'You have to at least have some open communication. There was none with Mr. Crutcher.' Mark Sawa, a retired major with the Travis County Sheriff's Office in Austin, Texas, who trains police officers on use of force, said: 'If somebody is not contained, if they're walking away from you, your opportunity to defuse that encounter is greatly diminished if they're mobile and not stationary.' He said that he couldn't fully assess how the situation got out of hand, as no video is available until after Shelby already has her gun drawn and Crutcher is walking away from her with his hands in the air. Crutcher died of a gunshot wound to the chest, the state medical examiner's office said Friday, adding that the full autopsy and toxicology reports were not finished. His funeral is scheduled for Saturday. Crutcher's twin sister, Tiffany Crutcher, disputed that he was behaving belligerently toward Shelby. 'At the time he was shot, his hands were up, there was daylight, everyone can clearly see that he had no weapon in his hand whatsoever,' she said on Friday. Shelby worked a convenience store clerk, an Air National Guard member and a teaching assistant before turning to law enforcement. Shelby completed de-escalation training but 'reacted unreasonably' when she fatally shot Crutcher, according to prosecutors. Kunzweiler is pictured center with sheriff's deputies She had garnered accolades due to her work in the community, according to Sergeant Patrick Stephens, a spokesman with the Tulsa Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 93, of which Shelby is a member. On August 28, she was featured in a Tulsa Police Department Facebook post after she located and returned property stolen from two residents; there's a photo of her posing with the pair, who brought her a bouquet of flowers. Shelby's pastor, Benjamin Williams of the Glenpool Church of Christ in suburban Tulsa, described her as quiet, reserved and someone who 'doesn't fit the stereotype' of an extrovert police officer. 'It was big news to me a couple years ago that she was even in law enforcement,' said Williams. 'She's not brash or any of those things. I'd imagine her in a church pew anywhere in the country.' Williams said he and Shelby talked this week, with Shelby asking whether she should stay away from church so as to not draw unwanted attention. 'Just not a self-absorbed person at all,' he said. 'I was really touched by that; she's thinking about how it would affect the church.' Betty Shelby's mother-in-law, Lois Shelby, said her daughter-in-law is religious and is grieving for the Crutcher family. Photos from North Korea have emerged showing Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un inspecting a syringe factory while his foreign minister squared up to the US at the United Nations. Despite his lofty status the young leader didn't sport any safety gear-unlike a factory worker behind him who has his face (aside from his eyes), hands and his torso completely covered in a medical suit. Kim Jong-un, who assumed power after his father Kim Jong-il passed away in 2011, was touring around the facility, called the Taedonggang Syringe Factory, in the country's showcase capital Pyongyang. That's a good one. Kim Jong-un inspects a syringe at the Taedonggang Syringe Factory in the capital Pyongyang. Unlike the worker behind him the leader nor his delegates are wearing protection Many syringes. North Korea's Supreme Leader peers at boxes of syringes as officials make notes North Korean state television (KCNA) says Kim Jong-un was accompanied by Colonel-General So Hong Chan and WPK Organization Guidance Deputy Director Jo Yong Won. Whilst touring the factory the leader was said to have 'recollected with deep emotion the undying exploits leader Kim Jong-Il performed for the development of the factory.' KCNA said Kim associated the factory with 'Kim Jong-Il's noble loving care for the people.' He said he has plans to modernize the facility. 'The party will take the necessary measure to ensure that more good quality syringes are produced so a sufficient number can be provided to service members and civilians,' the KCNA broadcast continued. On Friday, the day before the photos were released foreign minister Ri Yong-ho went on the offensive at the United Nations telling delegates that 'going nuclear' is his country's only way to defend itself and vowed to further bolster its nuclear military forces. Speaking to the General Assembly in New York, Ri Yong-ho said his country will 'continue to take measures to strengthen its national nuclear armed forces in both quantity and quality.' He spoke just two weeks after North Korea's fifth and most powerful nuclear test provoked worldwide condemnation, prompting the UN Security Council to begin work on a new sanctions resolution. Ri Yong Ho Minister for Foreign Affairs for North Korea addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York 'Going nuclear armed is the policy of our state,' Ri, who has been foreign minister since May, told the world gathering. 'As long as there exists a nuclear weapon state in hostile relations with the DPRK (North Korea), our national security and the peace on the Korean peninsula can be defended only with reliable nuclear deterrence,' he said. In his address, Ri acknowledged that the nuclear tests 'may not be easily understood by European countries,' which he said were now 'less sensitive' to security concerns decades after the end of the Cold War. But the foreign minister said North Korea 'had no other choice but to go nuclear,' to defend itself 'from the constant nuclear threats from the United States.' He also said the tests are a demonstration of the 'strongest-ever will' of North Korea's ruling party and people. People watch a television news report about North Korea's latest ground test for a rocket engine, at a railway station in Seoul on September 20 After the latest blast on September 9, Pyongyang claimed it had significantly advanced its ability and tested a miniaturized nuclear bomb for a warhead that could be mounted on a missile. Japan and South Korea used their addresses at the General Assembly this week to raise alarm bells over the threat from North Korea. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe demanded that the world find a new way to confront Pyongyang after a decade of UN sanctions failed to change its behavior. 'The threat to the international community has become increasingly grave and all the more realistic,' he said Wednesday. 'It demands a new means of addressing it, altogether different from what we applied until yesterday.' North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Joug-un. He assumed power while in his 20s after his father Kim Jong-il died in December 2011 South Korea's Foreign Minister Yung Byung-se suggested that the North could be stripped of its status as a member of the United Nations for refusing to accept the Security Council's decisions. 'I believe it is high time to seriously reconsider whether North Korea is qualified as a peace-loving UN member,' he said in his address on Thursday. However, such a proposal is likely to be opposed by China, Pyongyang's ally, which has repeatedly called for a de-escalation of tensions. North Korea's membership in the United Nations-the only major international forum where Pyongyang has a voice-dates back 35 years to when the two Koreas were admitted simultaneously. China, which is in negotiations with the United States on a new sanctions resolution, is also pushing for a resumption of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program. Two rural NSW towns are bracing for peak floodwaters that are expected to hit over the weekend as they prepare to evacuate their homes. The towns of Forbes and Condobolin in central-west NSW are bracing for the rising waters from a once-in-a-generation flood to hit. The flood is expected to be the worst to hit the town since 132 houses were damaged in 1990, as recent heavy rains have saturated large parts of inland NSW. This general aerial view shows flooding in North Wagga Wagga during a helicopter tour by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard as she reviews the disaster zone on March 7, 2012 Flooding in Mirool Creek, Ardlethan, a small service town in New South Wales The Lachlan River flood, part of the Murrumbidgee catchment within the MurrayDarling basin, located in central NSW. It is expected to reach 10.6m on Sunday The Lachlan River peaked at 10.65m 26 years ago at Forbes and is expected to reach 10.6m on Sunday. The State Emergency Service (SES) has advised residents to prepare for evacuation while a number of other towns in the region also face major flood warnings. Major flooding has been predicted from the Lachlan River, while flood warnings also remain in place for six other rivers including the Murrumbidgee River and Murray River. The SES has performed 86 flood rescues and dealt with more than 2100 calls for assistance. The towns of Forbes and Condobolin in central-west NSW are bracing for the rising waters from a once-in-a-generation flood to hit this weekend The flood is expected to be the worst to hit the town since 132 houses were damaged in 1990, as recent heavy rains have saturated large parts of inland NSW The Lachlan River peaked at 10.65m 26 years ago at Forbes Major regional road links including a stretch of the Newell Highway have been closed. The SES is imploring those planning on travelling to the bush for school holidays to check road closures and flood alerts. 'The biggest warning out there is for families, if they're travelling to be aware of the road conditions and don't put themselves in dangerous positions,' SES spokesman Jason Simms told AAP on Friday night. Farmers in flood affected regions are nervously waiting to see what the damage to crops will be once the waters eventually recede, a NSW Farmers spokesman said. To date, more than 2000 sheep and more than 1000 head of cattle have been moved to higher ground. Flood warnings also remain in place for six other rivers including the Murrumbidgee River (pictured) and Murray River Major regional road links including a stretch of the Newell Highway have been closed The State Emergency Service (SES) has advised residents to prepare for evacuation while a number of other towns in the region also face major flood warnings The SES is imploring those planning on travelling to the bush for school holidays to check road closures and flood alerts plus-size range if that's what customers wanted She said she would add One of the world's biggest fitness brands has revealed they won't be adding a plus-size section to their range unless there is more of a customer demand for it. Lorna Jane Clarkson, the founder behind the billion dollar fitness wear empire Lorna Jane, said that the company will not venture into plus-sized gym wear because it is not what her customers want. 'If we were going to try a larger size, we would sell them in a store that demanded larger sizes, but that hasn't resulted in sales for us,' Ms Clarkson told News.com.au. Scroll down for video Global fitness wear mogul Lorna Jane Clarkson (pictured) says her brand has no plans of adding a plus size range Ms Clarkson said that she would add a plus-size section if there was a demand for it from customers 'Our brand is totally customer focused, and we haven't felt the demand for bigger sizes,' she said. 'But we have tried it and not sold it,' she added. However, Ms Clarkson said that if there was a demand for a plus-size range from customers she would accommodate it to the brand. The brand currently stocks sizes from XXS to XL. 'We would sell them in a store that demanded larger sizes, but that hasn't resulted in sales for us,' Ms Clarkson said Lorna Jane currently stocks sizes from XXS to XL at their 200 stores all over the world In the past, former employees have come forward and told of incidents of workplace bullying in Ms Clarkson's company. Lorna Jane has also been scrutinised for running a job advertisement on their Facebook page for a receptionist/fit model that included particular size requirements. A debt-ridden actor who killed two of his friends and dismembered one of them as part of a plot to steal money to pay for his wedding and honeymoon has been sentenced to death. Daniel Patrick Wozniak, 32, will be put on death for the slaying of Afghanistan war veteran Samuel Herr and Julie Kibuishi in Southern California in 2010. Orange County Superior Court Judge John Conley followed the recommendation of a jury he should be executed following the grisly deaths and his attempted cover-up. Scroll down for video Orange County Sheriff deputies lead Daniel Wozniak into Superior Court on Friday in Santa Ana, California Wozniak (left), who killed Samuel Herr and Julie Kibuishi as part of a plot to steal money to pay for his wedding and honeymoon was sentenced to death Friday Jurors had convicted Wozniak of the murders in December. A month later, a jury told prosecutors he should face capital punishment. 'At the cost of two human lives, the defendant chose not to get married inexpensively or to defer his honeymoon,' Conley said. 'He wanted to do it in style, and he was willing to kill two people he knew to accomplish this.' Wozniak sits before being sentenced in Superior Court Wozniak was debt-ridden in 2010 when he shot a neighbor, Herr of Costa Mesa, to steal $50,000 the Army veteran had saved from service in Afghanistan, prosecutors said. Wozniak then used a ruse to kill Herr's friend, Julie Kibuishi, and tried to make it appear Herr had raped and killed her, then fled, prosecutors said. He also dumped Herr's dismembered body in a park. The scheme unraveled, and Wozniak was arrested days later. Conley revisited many of the case's grisly details before the sentencing. 'Suffice it to say that even his defense attorney was constrained to calling it horrible, terrible and horrific,' the judge said Friday. The likelihood Wozniak will be executed anytime soon is slim because of challenges over the California's death penalty. No one has been put to death since 2006, and there are nearly 750 inmates on death row at San Quentin, where he is now headed. Pictured are victims Samuel Herr (left) and Julie Kibuishi (right) Superior Court Judge John D. Conley sentences Daniel Wozniak to death As some of his son's fellow veterans of Afghanistan stood at his side, Herr's father, Steve Herr, said in court Friday that it's unfortunate the execution won't come quickly. 'You Dan are a coward and a poster boy for the need for an effective death penalty in California,' Herr said. A man has been charged with stabbing his housemate to death after a bloodied body was found in a bedroom of their Western Sydney share house. The 29-year-old handed himself into police at 7.30pm on Friday where he was arrested for murder. The victim, aged in his 60s, lay in a pool of blood until he was discovered by a third tenant in the Buist St, Bass Hill home at 11.20am on Friday. A man has been charged with stabbing his housemate to death after a bloodied body was found in a bedroom of their Western Sydney share house (pictured) The housemate told Nine News he last saw his friend alive on Thursday night watching TV and heard a loud noise a few hours later but did not get up to investigate. He thought it was strange the victim's car was still in the driveway the next morning and not at work so he search the house until he found the body and called police. 'There was a lot of blood on his face, he was covered in blood,' he said. The victim, aged in his 60s, lay in a pool of blood until he was discovered by a third tenant in the Buist St, Bass Hill home at 11.20am on Friday The 29-year-old handed himself into police at 7.30pm on Friday where he was arrested for murder The housemate told Nine News he last saw his friend alive on Thursday night watching TV and heard a loud noise a few hours later but did not get up to investigate The accused, who was one of four tenants in the house, was refused bail and will appear in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. He was not known to police and there were no reports of a disturbance on Thursday night. Police scoured the street and nearby Walshaw Park for a weapon and forensic officers, wearing blue protective suits, walked in and out of the house. 'We haven't ruled anything out yet... we are still very early in this investigation.' Bankstown Detective Chief Inspector Glenn Fitzgerald said. Police scoured the street and nearby Walshaw Park for a weapon He faces a possible criminal trial on Medicaid fraud charges and is set to appear in court in November He was arrested and charged with 11 counts of Medicaid provider fraud and pleaded not guilty Patients claim unnecessary procedures such as multiple tooth extractions were performed and that victims were A Florida pediatric dentist is accused of running a 'house of horrors' clinic and performing unnecessary procedures on low-income children while collecting millions in payments from Medicaid. More than 100 families in Jacksonville have come forward alleging that Howard Schneider tortured his young patients, pulling healthy teeth and doing other unnecessary dental work. Other parents of children who were in the care of Schneider, who faces several lawsuits, also claim their children often came out with cuts and bruises on their necks. Scroll down for video Dr Howard Schneider (left and right) is accused of running a 'house of horrors' clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and performing unnecessary procedures on low-income children while collecting millions in payments from Medicaid Schneider's practice shown above. More than 100 Florida families have come forward alleging that he tortured his young patients, pulling healthy teeth and doing other unnecessary dental work The dentist, who often catered to low-income children of parents on Medicaid, also received $3,947,305.02 in Medicaid reimbursements between 2010 and 2014, according to Florida Medicaid records. Last November, he was arrested and charged with 11 counts of Medicaid provider fraud and one count of scheming with intent to defraud, according to ABC News. He was released and pleaded not guilty and has vehemently denied the allegations. Schneider told ABC News he used anesthesia and that he was a great dentist while practicing for more than 50 years. In an interview last June, Schneider told WJAX he was 'pissed off' about the allegations, and asserted 'somebody has started a deal and they're preying on it, and I'm tired of it.' To date, Schneider has settled 104 of 131 lawsuits filed against him by families represented by attorney John Phillips, according to ABC News. He has reportedly settled those without any admission of wrongdoing. However, Schneider still faces a possible criminal trial on the Medicaid fraud charges and is set to appear in court in November for a hearing. The hearing is on a defense motion to avoid a trial by having Schneider declared mentally incompetent, according to ABC News. Last year following a public outcry after the allegations came forward, he voluntarily surrendered his license to practice dentistry, which reportedly allowed him to avoid a full dental board investigation. He told ABC News that giving up his medical practice was in no way an admission of guilt. Things are also not looking good in Schneider's personal life, as his wife has reportedly filed for divorce and his bank has moved to foreclose on his home. Brandi Motley (pictured with her daughter Bri'el, has filed a lawsuit against Schneider, after her six-year-old daughter had gone to him to have one tooth removed, but left with seven teeth pulled, as well as bruises on her neck and face After her daughter's experience, an outraged Motley turned her mini-van into a billboard attack on Schneider (shown above) Another mother, said she had taken her son Zion (pictured) to Schneider and that when her child began screaming during the treatment, she filmed the ordeal on her cellphone A mother, who filed a lawsuit against Schneider, recounted how her six-year-old daughter had gone to him to have one tooth removed, but that her daughter left with seven teeth pulled, as well as bruises on her neck and face. In 2014, Brandi Motley brought her daughter to see Howard Schneider, of Jacksonville, because she needed to have a single tooth pulled. Schneider pulled out seven of Bri'el's teeth instead during her December 2014 routine procedure. Motley was not allowed to sit with her daughter and only found out what had happened after she was in the waiting room for three hours, according to WJXT. Attorney John Phillips (pictured) is representing more than 100 families individual cases against Schneider The mother said her daughter was face-down on the floor and that her daughter was was hyperventilating. 'She had marks all over her, blood all over her. 'In the parking lot, she takes her gauze out, and I notice that all of her teeth were gone.' Bri'el also told her mom that Schneider hit and choked her while she was in his office. Bri'el told ABC News Schneider choked her with one hand and that it hurt, and that she had told him 'I want my mommy,' but 'he said no.' Several parents took to Facebook to post photos of their bruised children after alleged trips to the Schneider's office She brought her daughter to the emergency room and then posted pictures of Bri'el's post-surgery mouth on Facebook. Motley contacted police as well and wanted to sue the dentist, John Phillips initially did not take the case, according to ABC News. 'Its the worse he-said-she-said you'd ever want to be part of,' he said. But her social media post about Schneider is what really brought him into the spotlight at the time after other parents began posting about him as well. 'I think he's just an old, greedy, selfish man,' Motley told ABC News. Another mother, said she had taken her son to Schneider and that when her child began screaming during the treatment, she filmed the ordeal on her cellphone. 'He [doesn't] care about people. He definitely [doesn't] care about innocent children who can't even defend themselves,' Sherraine Christopher told ABC News. Schneider is accused of choking children to the point of unconsciousness, threatening children into silence, performing painful procedures on children without anesthetic, and more One of the photos posted on the Facebook group 'Parents agaisnt Dt Howard Schneider Jacksonville Fl,' which claims Schneider was not performing procedures properly When Christopher's son Zion was just three years old he became hysterical during his treatment while Schneider was grinding down his teeth, she told the ABC. The dentist would go onto to grind down 15 more of Zion's teeth that would eventually be fit with metal crowns. Christopher said at no point did she receive an explanation for the 16 caps, and she later shared video of her son at the clinic, which went viral. After seeing the video, John Phillips ended up taking on the 131 individual cases against Schneider. Another mother in November 2014, Sarah Phillips, of St. Augustine, took her two-year-old son Mason to Schneider after the boy fell from his bike and cracked his front two teeth. When Mason came out of Schneider's office he was missing four teeth but there had been no consultation on that decision, Sarah Phillips said. On a follow-up appointment Mason came out of the office with bruises around his neck and gauze around his lower teeth, even though he had come in for work on his uppers. In this April 29, 2015 photo, protesters are seen waving signs outside Howard Schneider's dentist office on University Boulevard South in Jacksonville following news of the allegations Furious parents picketed Schneider's office last year to spread the word about the allegations against him on social media Sarah Phillips took Mason to his pediatrician, and they were startled. 'The pediatrician the following day discovered a scalpel slice from ear to ear on Mason's gum,' Sarah Phillips said. She is among dozens of people who filed a lawsuit Schneider represented by another attorney also suing Schneider for medical malpractice. 'What appeared from the outside to be an unremarkable pediatric dentistry practice, on the inside was a house of horrors ... where the most defenseless members of our society, indigent children ... are regularly assaulted,' the plaintiff's attorney wrote in the complaint. Schneider was the only pediatric dentist in Jacksonville who took Medicaid, so his practice attracted poorer clients, according to the lawsuit. He is also accused of wearing scary costumes and threatening the children with statements like 'your mom will die if you tell her what happened.' Schneider pictured above. More than 100 Florida families have come forward alleging that he tortured his young patients, pulling healthy teeth and doing other unnecessary dental work The suit alleges that in January 2014, a child was taken to Schneider to receive two dental caps. Instead, the suit states, Schneider gave the child eight telling the child's parents simply that the child 'needed caps.' All eight of the caps fell off within one month of the treatment, the suit alleges, and the treatment has led to health issues which will likely lead to the child having to have several teeth removed. When the story first broke in early May, one mother shared with Action News Jax her son's experience in Schneider's chair more than 15 years ago. Amy Brown told Action News that she took her son, Kyle Bramel, to Schneider's office in 1995, when he was just five years old. Instead of giving the boy a cleaning as was planned, Schneider shaved down several of the boy's teeth and gave him silver caps without Brown's permission, injuring the child in the process. 'His mouth was cut open and he had bruises,' Brown said. 'His lips were all swollen. He was choking on blood from crying. ' Brown filed a lawsuit against Schneider and ended up with $7,500 from a settlement with the insurance carrier. Schneider has faced two previous medical malpractice lawsuits. Both were dismissed after mediation, one with a settlement. International Development Secretary Priti Patel said she believes foreign aid money is stolen or wasted on inappropriate projects The amount of British aid money that made its way into the hands of fraudsters increased by nearly 40 per cent last year, figures have revealed. The revelation will raise further concerns about how British funds are handed out, with the cash lost to criminals now topping 1million. The Government has faced intense criticism over its commitment to maintain foreign aid spending after revelations about how the money is often squandered. Earlier this month the International Development Secretary Priti Patel said that taxpayer cash was being wasted and stolen in a damning critique of the aid regime. Despite revealing a new plan to reduce the misspending, the Government has pledged to keep sending 0.7 per cent of national income abroad. Data from the Department for International Development (DfID) has shown that the cost of fraud in 2015 to 2016 was 1.04million. The figures, revealed through a Freedom of Information request, show that the bill for the previous year was 749,000, an increase of 38 per cent. A decrease in the number of fraud cases detected by the departments anti-fraud team was also revealed, falling from 91 cases to 69 in the same period. A series of reports in the Daily Mail have revealed numerous cases in which the UKs 12billion aid budget is wasted on controversial projects. Critics have also suggested that huge sums of money are spent on administration and staff costs within charities and aid bodies, rather than on those who are meant to be benefiting. DfID said that the increase in the amount of aid money finding its way to fraudsters last year was down to heightened scrutiny by its staff. The department has previously been criticised by Britains aid watchdog for the way in which it tackles corruption in several countries. Speaking earlier this month, Miss Patel announced plans to reform the way aid money is spent, saying it is being stolen and wasted on inappropriate projects. Earlier this year, a report by the Commons public accounts committee warned that large sums of foreign aid often went unaccounted for. The Prime Minister outlined her plan for aid spending in her first major foreign policy speech earlier this week, pledging 750million for immigration hotspots. Prime Minister Theresa May, above, has outlined a plan for aid spending amid figures which show more money is finding its way into the hands of criminals Theresa May described how she was determined to use the budget to protect Britain from terrorism and to protect its borders. She hopes to do this by spending hundreds of millions of pounds of aid targeting refugees in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Ethiopia and Somalia who may instead make the journey to Europe. Mrs May also restated her commitment to Britain spending 0.7 per cent of GDP on overseas aid, a move that could anger some Tory backbenchers. Of the new money, around 660million will go into a general pot to fund humanitarian causes, mostly centred on Syria and neighbouring countries. Some 20million will go on allowing refugees who have fled Somalia to return from neighbouring Kenya, where 300,000 of them are currently living, creating jobs and providing food and education. A further 80million will be targeted at Ethiopia, much of which is intended to create jobs for the Eritreans living in the country. The Dowager Countess of Lucan, the reclusive widow of the 7th Earl of Lucan, is so strapped for cash she is trying to flog unseen photographs and home movies of her late husband for 20,000. She needs the money and is selling what is left of the family silver, says a friend. Veronica only formally became the Dowager Lady Lucan earlier this year after a death certificate was finally issued for her husband, enabling their son, George, to inherit the family title. The Dowager Countess of Lucan, the reclusive widow of the 7th Earl of Lucan, is so strapped for cash she is tryng to flog unseen photographs and home movies of her late husband After going on the run in 1974 after the murder of his childrens nanny at the familys Belgravia home, the 7th Earl of Lucan left behind a trail of debt. Veronica has been estranged from her three children since George went to live with his aunt and uncle, Bill and Christina Shand-Kydd, as a teenager. She lives around the corner from the scene of the crime in rented property. This summer the Dowager Lady Lucan, 79, was in talks with a production company to allow them to broadcast some footage in a forthcoming ITV documentary which is expected to be aired next year. But it is thought she might have been advised she could get more money on the open market. Professional gambler Lord Lucky Lucan bludgeoned his childrens nanny, Sandra Rivett, 29, to death with a length of lead piping in the basement of the family home after apparently mistaking her for his wife. Lady Lucan was injured in the frenzied attack and later identified her husband who had moved out after a series of increasingly acrimonious rows over the custody of their childrewn as her assailant. After the attack, Lord Lucan drove to a friends house in East Sussex in a borrowed car, which was later found abandoned with bloodstains inside. The mystery of his whereabouts provoked decades of speculation. The Duchess of Cambridges younger brother, James Middleton, is moving back near his parents Michael and Carole Middleton at the grand old age of 29 during working hours, at least. The self-styled Willy Wonka has moved the offices of his personalised marshmallow business, Boomf, from Clerkenwell in east London to a converted barn in Berkshire. Middleton moves sweets firm back home to parents Its a home from home for Boomf, which has yet to report a profit. Its new rural premises in Ashampstead are next to the HQ of Party Pieces, the party planning firm run by Michael and Carole Middleton, and down the road from the familys 4.5million manor house outside Bucklebury. But James tells me he commutes each day from London, where he lives in a 2million Chelsea flat owned by his parents. Its only 38 minutes from Paddington, he says. Were surrounded by green fields and there is never a queue at the pub. Emma Walmsley had an interesting nickname She was named the new CEO of Glaxo Smith Kline this week making her the most powerful businesswoman in Britain. But Emma Walmsley, 47, has always commanded respect ever since she was an undergraduate at Oxford. The 47 year old mother-of-four, who studied classics and modern languages at university, was called by her friends Triff apparently because she had triffic t**s. IS CHARLES READY TO DIP INTO TWITTER? Thankfully Prince Charles has not yet become a regular user of the morons forum that is Twitter, but could that all change? Clarence House is advertising for a digital communications manager to develop all online and social media activity. In the ad on the royal website, it says duties will include developing and overseeing all the online platforms and social media content and ensuring engaging and effective communication. Charless former sister-in-law the Duchess of York uses Twitter for pretentious philosophical pronouncements that read like a parody, such as: Through the forest, we will keep walking to the light. Advertisement Canadia ex-model Lohralee Astor is following in her mother-in-law Lady Annabel Astors footsteps by launching an interior design company. Not content with her career as a nutritionist, Lohralee, who is married to Samantha Camerons half-brother Will Astor, has registered a company called Lohralee Astor Interiors. A group of high school graduates have chosen to fight in Iraq instead of the traditional gap year of backpacking and partying across Europe. The 10 teenage soldiers enlisted in the army's gap year program and, after only one year of training with the Australian military, were deployed to the northern Baghdad, Iraq, based in at the Taji military complex. Part of the group's mission was to help train Iraqi soldiers to fight IS terrorists, in a report by The Herald Sun. Private Hamish Bell, 19, said because of the gap year program he has 'grown up' and learnt a lot about the Iraqi culture (stock image) High school graduate Private Hamish Bell, 19, was one of the brave few who decided to do the army gap year after finding an advertisement in The Daily Telegraph. Now in his second year of the program, he said he has 'grown up' and learnt a lot about the Iraqi culture. 'What we're doing definitely makes a difference,' Private Bell said. 'They [the Iraqis] are proud to receive this kind of training some of them wouldn't be here without it,' he added. Private Bell's mother Tresna said the program has matured them much more than if they had gone to university or travelling (stock image) The group's role is to protect the Iraqi soldiers and task force, which has earned them the nickname 'guardian angels' Private Bell's mother Tresna said it has been difficult not being in constant contact with him because of the time difference, but appreciate that the experience has been good for him. 'Their whole take on what is happening around them is a lot more mature than if they had just gone to university or travelling,' Mrs Bell said. They had been hunting local forces and were on a barge trying to ferry a vehicle packed with explosives across the Tigris River. Seconds later the terrorists were wiped out by a hellfire missile from a Reaper drone and an RAF fighter jet blasted the truck-bomb. The huge explosion which followed left no doubt - it was mission accomplished. Scroll down for video They had been hunting local forces and were on a barge trying to ferry a vehicle packed with explosives across the Tigris River Seconds later the terrorists were wiped out by a hellfire missile from a Reaper drone and an RAF fighter jet blasted the truck-bomb The huge explosion which followed left no doubt - it was mission accomplished For the RAF airmen, the mission in the air can be as dangerous as the war on the ground An hour earlier the same Tornado jet used a Brimstone missile to obliterate two armed fleeing jihadists who were hiding near a bridge further along the river in northern Iraq. After a morning of deadly strikes, the two Tornados flew back to refuel from a Voyager tanker aircraft circling in the sky over a vast expanse of desert at 29,000ft. The Daily Mail watched for the first time from the aircraft as the pilots attached their jets to a 90ft hose while travelling at a speed of 340mph. Pilot X, who cannot be named for security reasons, said: 'There was a situation that had been watched (by a drone), and that required the unique properties of the Brimstone. 'Daesh were looking to move weapons around over a river and the people in question were then moving around tactically. We were tasked to neutralise them.' The servicemen and women are equipped with maps, survival kits and a Glock pistol in case such a weapon shoots down their aircraft and they find themselves in hostile territory. Above, file image of a Reaper drone On the second strike, he said: 'It did explode, it was massive. When a target gets hit then that's a satisfying feeling.' As the Typhoons took on 3,400kg of fuel so they could complete their journey, their comrades flying two Tornado GR4 aircraft responded to a request for help near Ramadi. They had been given their own 'kill box' - a 30 mile by 30 mile area designated for them to cover during their eight-hour mission. Three jihadists were hiding in a palm grove. Pilot Y, who cannot be named for security reasons, found the position and waited for the two words which gave him the go-ahead to strike - 'cleared hot'. Without hesitation, for the first time on the mission he then pressed the red button and dropped a 500lb laser-guided Paveway IV bomb on the militants. The pilot's wingman said: 'I cannot think of anything better than saving someone who is trying to save their country.' Pilot Y was halfway through eating his beef and pickle sandwich in the sky when he was told he had not finished the job. The Tigris river, above, which the terrorists used to try to transport the explosives. File image He flew back to the scene where they got ready to drop a second bomb. Two seconds before he released the weapon, he stopped. Something was spotted on the ground below which could have resulted in a potential disaster. Five minutes later he returned and blitzed the jihadists. This time there was no sign of life. Their attack was crucial. The RAF are helping local ground forces prepare for the recapture of the key city of Mosul. A huge offensive is expected in October - and UK forces are clearing the way. For the RAF airmen, the mission in the air can be as dangerous as the war on the ground. They have been targeted by jihadists carrying shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles, as well as anti-aircraft artillery. The servicemen and women are equipped with maps, survival kits and a Glock pistol in case such a weapon shoots down their aircraft and they find themselves in hostile territory. A man in New York claims he was sexually assaulted by an Uber driver, and has accused the company of laughing at him when he reported the incident. Kevin Ko said he was riding in an Uber on September 19, when the driver forced his hand on to his erect genitalia. 'I was sexually assaulted, advanced and forced without consent by the Uber driver to touch his erect genitalia during the ride. 'He grabbed my left wrist with physical force, out of nowhere and placed my hand on his genitalsnot once, but TWICE,' Ko wrote in a Facebook post on Friday, according to Gizmodo. New Yorker Kevin Ko said he was riding in an Uber to his home when he was sexually assaulted by the driver. When he reported this to the company, he alleges they laughed at him (stock image) Ko says the first time this happened he removed his hand from the driver's lap and shouted 'what the f***'. 'I was scared, I didn't know who he was or what he was capable of. 'Afterwards, just a short moment after, for the second time he has the audacity to grab my wrist again to bring my hands near his genitalia,' Ko wrote in an email to Uber. Ko said that he immediately called Uber's 'Critical Safety Response Line' and said the representative laughed at him three times during the phone call, according to Gizmodo. The representative told Ko she was the highest level on the team and wouldn't transfer him to a manager, Ko said. He claims she eventually hung up on him. A customer support representative emailed Ko later that night, which said the company was investigating. A customer support representative emailed Ko later that night, which said the company was investigating (pictured) Uber confirmed to Gizmodo on Friday that the driver had been permanently banned. The New York Police Department also confirmed that an investigation was ongoing. 'There is no excuse for the behavior described. The driver has been removed from the platform,' an Uber spokesman said in regards to the situation. Ko said he has had anxiety since the incident because the Uber driver could still have his home address after entering it into his GPS system. Ko said he has had anxiety since the incident because the Uber driver could still have his home address after entering it into his GPS system (stock image) Uber has had a history of sexual assault cases and has struggled to manager these cases. In California, a driver was charged with sexually assaulting multiple women and attacked one after turning off the Uber app. This is happening in NSW and is under review by Brad Hazzard Vulnerable women and families who have abandoned their homes to get away from violence and domestic abuse are now being forced to live alongside violent male criminals. The NSW state opposition has revealed domestic violence victims are being housed in the same motels as ex-prisoners. Labor's community services spokeswoman Tania Mihailuk says motels approved by the Department of Family and Community Services to house vulnerable women and families are also being used to accommodate parolees. Vulnerable women and families escaping from domestic violence situations are being housed alongside convicted criminals (stock image) 'It's disturbing to think that parolees and vulnerable families with young children are being put up by the government in the same motel,' Ms Mihailuk said. According to the Saturday Telegraph Brad Hazzard recently wrote to all state MP's to let them know he would be conducting an 'urgent review' into the housing of those most vulnerable. This letter was sent on August 24 however men on parole are still being sent to live alongside the domestic violence victims. One family who lived in a motel next to the parolees were terrified after hearing screaming, arguing and talk about jail (stock image) The manager of a motel in south west Sydney confirmed with the paper that they were still taking parolees and domestic victims - and had no way of knowing what crimes the convicted criminals had committed. This means they could be housing a sexual predator or thug next to a young family, Attila Tokach hotel manager reportedly said. A former Link2home client who lived in the motel with his two children said it was a terrifying experience - as the residents would scream, fight and talk about life in jail. A fully-loaded gravy train clattered into the Grange City Hotel in central London on Thursday morning, when around 50 smartly dressed men and women shuffled across deep-pile carpets into its air-conditioned conference centre. The group or rather their employers had each paid between 359 and 575 to attend the day-long event. Some of these people were civil servants, others charity workers and academics. A handful worked in the private sector, though rather more appear to be employed by the taxpayer, via local councils, British police forces, and the Crown Prosecution Service. Capita shares a picture of the packed sixth annual Tackling Hate Crime Conference held on Thursday at the Grange City Hotel in central London where tickets cost between 359 and 575 The event bringing this eclectic and well bankrolled crowd together was the sixth annual Tackling Hate Crime Conference an expensive and painstakingly organised shindig staged each autumn by the 6.5 billion FTSE 100 corporation Capita. Its purpose, according to promotional literature, was to provide a forum to discuss how best to respond to the surging growth of hate crime in the UK, which (the same literature breathlessly insisted) has risen 57 per cent since the EU referendum vote. With this in mind, speaker after speaker waxed lyrical about how violent and intolerant the nation has become in 2016, or called for Draconian measures to combat the rising tide of bigotry on our streets. Keynote speaker Mark Hamilton, who is Assistant Chief Constable of Northern Ireland, speaking at the conference claimed 'there is more hate crime in London than the US' Modern Britain, delegates were repeatedly told, is a country riven by homophobia and racism, where to be foreign, disabled or belong to a religious or sexual minority is to fall blamelessly into the firing line of virulent abuse. There is more hate crime in London than in the whole of the United States, claimed a keynote speaker called Mark Hamilton, who is Assistant Chief Constable of Northern Ireland. Another speaker, from Southwark Council, talked vividly about the extraordinary bigotry she encounters on a daily basis, making the shocking claim that the youngest perpetrator of hate crime shed come across lately was a four-year-old child who harassed a lesbian couple. A group with placards rally against hate crime and hate speech, which some had said was on the rise after the Brexit vote All very sobering. Or so you might think. But behind the lurid rhetoric, not everything was quite as it seems. Take, for example, the conference organisers headline claim: that hate crime has risen 57 per cent since the EU referendum vote. This eye-catching figure has certainly done the rounds in recent months, regularly bandied about by liberal commentators, the BBC and Left-wing newspapers. Yet dig into its provenance and things soon start to smell distinctly whiffy. For the 57 per cent number was actually plucked from a single press release issued by the National Police Chiefs Council on June 27, four days after the EU ballot took place. The document in question specifically stated that police forces had recorded no major spikes in tensions since Britain went to the polls. However, its footnote added that 85 people had logged hate crime incidents on True Vision, a website that records unverified allegations of such behaviour, during the four days in question, up from 54 during the corresponding period a month earlier. What exactly did this mean? The police press release made things clear. This should not be read as a national increase in hate crime of 57 per cent but an increase in reporting through one mechanism over a single 96-hour period. Fast forward three months, however, and the number was being used very differently. Some of the posters shared by True Vision that allows anyone in Britain, to report an incident of hate crime As we have seen above, organisers of the Tackling Hate Crime Conference were using it to allege that hate crime had risen by 57 per cent across Britain during the entire period since the Brexit vote. This is demonstrably untrue. Or, to put things another way, Capita was shamelessly promoting its 600-a-head event by falsely representing unverified raw data that had been collected over the internet during a single four-day period in June. When the Mail put this to Capita, the firm instantly deleted the 57 per cent claim from its promotional literature, describing its inclusion as an innocent error. All of which may sound a bit rum. Yet spend an extended period of time exploring hate crime and the growing and lucrative industry that increasingly surrounds it, and youll find such cavalier behaviour par for the course. For the more you investigate, the more it turns out to be a deeply cynical industry where dishonesty and hysteria reign, truth has been replaced with Left-wing dogma, and verifiable facts no longer count for very much at all. The Donde restaurant in Honor Oak was smashed in, but the Met Police said they were not considering the crime to be racially motivated On paper, Britain is a remarkably tolerant country. London has just elected a Muslim mayor by a whacking majority. Gay marriage is not just legal but supported by a comfortable majority of adults. Children from ethnic minorities consistently outperform white working-class counterparts at school and in university. Surveys by the respected and politically neutral think-tank Pew Research, along with the prestigious British Social Attitudes Survey, show racial prejudice in long-term and perhaps terminal decline. Gay marriage is not just legal but supported by a comfortable majority of adults Yet despite such trends, we are routinely described as being in the grip of a hate crime epidemic where a few high-profile incidents such as the appalling recent murder of a Polish immigrant on the streets of Harlow (which may or may not eventually prove to be race-related) are said to represent the tip of a sinister iceberg, and where the number of hate offences seems to grow year by year. (In 2014/15, police recorded 52,528 of them. The previous year, the number was 44,471. In 2012/3, it was 42,255.) So how can we explain the disconnect? Lets start with another pressing fact: that hate crime also happens to be one of the great political buzz-phrases of the moment. To this end, virtually the first thing new Home Secretary Amber Rudd did after taking office was to launch a hate crime action plan. The Home Affairs Select Committee is holding an inquiry into hate crime and its violent consequences. [Documents show] that police forces had recorded no major spikes in tensions since Britain went to the polls Next month, the Government will promote hate crime awareness week. Its spending 2.4 million on a fund for churches and mosques to protect themselves against hate crimes, while the Met is creating a 1.7 million crime hub to target online trolls. Elsewhere, universities such as Leicester and Sussex employ academics in centres for hate crime studies. The taxpayer hands over six-figure grants to charities which seek to combat or monitor hate crime. Police forces employ staff to log it. Councils such as Kensington and Chelsea now have a community support officer for hate crime. Police officers patrolling a busy street as councils including Kensington and Chelsea now have a 'community support officer for hate crime' The Crown Prosecution Service has a hate crime co-ordinator in all 13 regions, plus area-based Equality, Diversity and Community Engagement Managers who contribute to the delivery of the Hate Crime Assurance Scheme. These people, whose leading lights spent Thursday at Capitas conference, often owe their jobs, status and mortgages to the fashionable perception that hate crime is somehow spiralling out of control. That, in turn, has led to two distinct trends. The first is a relentless pressure to widen the number of people able to describe themselves as victims of such crimes. When Tony Blair first introduced hate laws, in 1998, they applied only to incidents of racial intolerance. However in 2003, the net was widened to include religious discrimination. Over subsequent years, first homophobic and then transphobic abuse was added to the list, along with disability hate crime and, more recently crimes against older people. Tony Blair, Labour Prime Minister between 1997 and 2007, first introduced hate laws to Britain in 1998 but they only covered racial intolerance All current categories (with the exception of elder abuse) can result in sentence uplift in other words, a likely increase in jail time if a case goes to court and results in a conviction. Some 15,442 such prosecutions took place last year with 12,845 convictions, of which around a third saw a sentence uplift. Last week, a new category of potential victim emerged: it was reported that several police forces may soon treat misogyny as a hate crime, following the alleged success of a pilot scheme in Nottingham where it was decided that wolf-whistling could in certain circumstances constitute threatening behaviour. Women may not be the only new demographic singled out for protection, either. Consider, if you will, the annual report of Stop Hate UK, an influential charity which gets around 240,000 a year from grants, largely from the public sector. It suggests that goths or people who choose to wear black clothes, are potential hate crime victims. To this end, it contains a case study of abuse supposedly suffered by a goth woman [who] has five facial piercings. Annual report for Stop Hate UK suggests that 'goths' or people that choose to wear black clothes could be victims of hate crime In such a febrile environment, where almost anyone seems to be a potential victim, should we really be surprised if reported hate incidents are on the rise? Of course it should be stressed that genuine hate crime is not to be tolerated. In Fridays Mail, for example, the Jewish Labour MP Ruth Smeeth described being sent 25,000 abusive messages by members of her partys Corbyn-supporting far Left, one of which referred to her as a yid c***. The problem, however, comes when the definition of what constitutes a hate crime becomes risibly vague. After all, the subjective way in which the police (who increasingly resemble glorified social workers) now categorise such offences is hardly forensic. Jewish Labour MP Ruth Smeeth says she has been sent 25,000 abusive messages by members of her partys Corbyn-supporting far Left Under their official guidance, hate crime is now deemed to be any criminal offence which is perceived, by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice. Proof of such intent is not necessarily required, the guidance adds: Evidence of hostility is not required [The] perception of the victim, or any other person, is the defining factor. In essence, this means that anyone, anywhere, can force officers to treat something as a hate crime. All it takes is a vague perception. Such rules are perverse and open to abuse. They mean that, in theory, a straight white male punched in a pub fight can falsely claim his assailant thought he was gay, and therefore motivated by homophobia. Such an incident will duly be investigated as a hate crime, with the police and CPS under pressure to prosecute. If they fail, the victim can potentially claim to have suffered so-called secondary victimisation in which the hate he or she experienced is compounded by the polices lack of sensitivity. Such factors may very well have motivated the ludicrous recent prosecution of Kevin OSullivan, a TV journalist who was involved in an altercation on a train back from a funeral a couple of years ago. Around 24 hours after the event, the other party a straight white man whod initially declined to press charges informed the police that he now wanted them to prosecute OSullivan for a homophobic hate crime. The man claimed that during their argument he tried to make a telephone call, only to be interrupted by OSullivan shouting Are you phoning your gay lover? The problem, however, comes when the definition of what constitutes a hate crime becomes risibly vague. After all, the subjective way in which the police (who increasingly resemble glorified social workers) now categorise such offences is hardly forensic. CCTV of the entire incident told a very different story, however. It showed that the man did not make, or attempt to make, a single phone call during the confrontation. Unsurprisingly, when the case came to trial, OSullivan was acquitted. Though awarded costs, he expects them to cover only a fraction of his 15,000 legal bill. Recounting the episode in a recent edition of the Spectator, he said the affair gave him a ringside seat at the edge of insanity. The second great modern trend has been for the police, assorted quangocrats and other publicly funded organisations to go to extreme lengths to ensure the number of reported hate crimes is as high as possible. Consider, in this context, the aforementioned police website True Vision. It allows anyone, anywhere in Britain, to report an incident, even if they were not the victim, have no idea of the victims identity, can provide no supporting evidence, and would prefer to remain anonymous. Their claims then get logged as official statistics and, as we have seen above, used by experts to draw sweeping conclusions (invariably negative) about the state of the nation. Boris Johnson holding a press conference during the Brexit campaign, but how did voters interpret 'Let's take back control'? Seldom has such a system been more open to abuse than in the immediate aftermath of the Brexit vote, when Left-wing media outlets predicted a surge of xenophobia and disheartened Remain voters attempted to prove them right. On Twitter, the hashtag #postbrexit racism went viral. On Facebook, a forum called worrying signs was established for anyone dealing with post-Brexit fallout to post reports of hate crime. From here, users were directed to True Vision. Unsurprisingly, many allegedly racist incidents they carried turned out to be anything but. On the Monday after the referendum, a mobile phone snap of a smashed window at Donde Tapas, a Spanish restaurant in South London, was posted on Facebook. Its caption read Spanish and Turkish restaurants in Lewisham had their windows smashed over the weekend. Very widespread reports coming in now. The post soon received 1,833 shares. One commenter noted: The ghost of Sir Oswald Mosley now stalks the streets of England. The same picture and caption soon appeared on Twitter, where Dawn Butler, a Labour MP, dubbed it awful, and another online commenter called it Kristallnacht all over again. Labour MP Dawn Butler, above, was one of those drawn into stating how awful an apparent racist attack on a restaurant in Honor Oak was, only for the Met Police to state they were not treating the break in as a hate crime The Institute Of Race Relations subsequently asked the poster: Is there any chance we could use your pic for a round-up of post-Brexit racial violence? But soon: a reality check. On a South London internet forum where the picture was also posted, one contributor pointed out: Im no expert, but that looks like a robbery attempt. The Met soon admitted it was almost certainly just that, and was not considered to have a hate-crime motivation. A second widely reported hate incident that started life on Facebook around the same time proved similarly flaky. Is Britain really suffering an increase in hate crime and racist views following Brexit, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who is Muslim, was elected with a huge majority on May 7 It began with a post on a Remain-supporting forum reading: My friend works at a well-known restaurant in Mayfair, 15 people just came in to celebrate the Leave vote. The customers dismissed him and asked for a English waiter, because he was Italian!!! This anecdote was promptly included as case-study in an official study of post-Brexit violence by the Institute of Race Relations, before being widely cited in the Left-wing Press. Yet neither the restaurant, the supposed victim, nor any fragments of proper evidence have ever been identified. The fact is that we may never know. Yet if the state-sponsored and increasingly powerful hate crime industry gets its way, we could all be potential suspects. Nine servicemen were punished after a special forces soldier pulled a loaded gun on a female spy during a booze up at the Australian embassy in Afghanistan. The Defence Force has finally released a few details of the 2013 incident involving a Special Air Service soldier and a female member of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, after a secretive two-year investigation. 'Given the relatively small number of people who were deployed to this particular mission at the time, Defence will not disclose the specific sanctions imposed,' an ADF spokesman said. Nine servicemen were punished after a special forces soldier pulled a loaded gun on a female spy during a booze up at the Australian embassy in Afghanistan The 'administrative sanctions' could have included a formal warning, a censure, removal from duty, reduction in rank or involuntary termination of service. It's understood the SAS soldier who pulled the gun is no longer with the military, but few other details have been revealed. Defence received allegations in December 2013 of misconduct by some of its personnel on operations, launching an inquiry into the allegations and other misconduct claims. The Defence Force has finally released a few details of the 2013 incident involving an SAS soldier and a female member of ASIS after a secretive two-year investigation The intelligence services watchdog, the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, examined ASISs part in the Kabul embassy episode, plus the broader issue of ASIS officers and procedures involving the use of sidearms. Its 2013-14 annual report noted that ASIS didnt have adequate controls to ensure an agent wouldnt be carrying a weapon while under the influence of alcohol. ASIS accepted and implemented all the inspector-generals recommendations with IGIS lamenting that it could not say more. The 'administrative sanctions' could have included a formal warning, a censure, removal from duty, reduction in rank or involuntary termination of service 'It is difficult for the office to continue to demonstrate rigorous and credible oversight given the strict limitations on public reporting,' the report read. Defence head Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin added a few more details during a Senate estimates committee hearing last year, confirming that one of those charged was the soldier who drew the weapon. Others charged were not necessarily involved in the actual incident, he said. The case was referred to the Australian Defence Force Investigative Service and then to the Director of Military Prosecutions who passed it back to the army for administrative action. Running errands and putting in the hours at his construction business, this is Doug Pitt - pictured hours after child abuse allegations were leveled at his older brother Brad. But the Missouri businessman, 49, reacted angrily when asked about his Hollywood brother's parenting skills and said the family would not be commenting. 'No, I have nothing to say,' Pitt told DailyMail.com outside an insurance brokerage close to his office. Brad Pitt's younger brother Doug was spotted running errands around his home town of Springfield, Missouri Bearing a striking resemblance to his brother he had nothing to say about the very public divorce that his famous sibling is currently going through Other family members, among them Brad's parents William and Jane, and his younger sister Julie Neal, 47, also chose to stay silent when approached by this website. Brad, 52, whose impending divorce from Angelina Jolie, 41, was revealed on Tuesday, was visited by the LAPD at his Los Feliz mansion last night. He is accused of 'lunging' at his eldest son Maddox, 15, during a private jet flight last week - the incident thought to have triggered Jolie's decision to end her marriage. Brad has since denied the claims and a video apparently showing that no physical contact was made has since surfaced. His parents and siblings still live in Springfield, the rural Missouri town where the Hollywood superstar grew up. All live in a gated estate, with Doug - who also runs a charity called Care To Learn - living just one street away from his sister. Brad (left), 52, whose impending divorce from Angelina Jolie (right), 41, was revealed on Tuesday, was visited by the LAPD after accusations of 'lunging' at his eldest son Maddox, 15, were alleged Earlier this week, the 49-year-old spoke briefly to local paper the Springfield News Leader to tell them he would 'hang out on the sidelines' as his brother's divorce progresses. A man confessed to a murder 11 years after his identical twin was found guilty for the crime. Karl Smith, 38, took to the stand at the Circuit Court of Cook County in Chicago, Illinois, on Thursday, admitting he 'didnt have the strength to come forward' when his brother Kevin Dugar was first accused of first-degree murder in 2003. 'We was acting as one. Where I was, he was, acting like each other. He pretended to be me, and I pretended to be him,' Smith said. In 2005, Dugar was sentenced to 54 years in prison for shooting at a group of rival gang members and killing one person, the Chicago Tribune reported. Karl Smith, 38, (left) confessed to killing a rival gang member in 2003, 11 years after his identical twin brother Kevin Dugar (right) had been found guilty of the crime. Dugar was arrested in 2003 and convicted two years later even though his lawyer said the evidence against him was 'razor-thin', the Tribune reported. One eyewitnesses recanted her testimony, and the other picked out Dugar from a line-up that didn't include Smith, according to his petition for a post-conviction hearing On Thursday, his brother told the court: 'I'm here to confess to a crime I committed that he was wrongly accused of.' Their mother cried in the stands as Smith told the court he was hosting a party in March 2003, when he left to buy marijuana. Smith said he ran into members from the rival gang Black P Stone and opened fire with two guns. But prosecutors doubted the truth of his confession, since it came after he lost an appeal for an unrelated attempted murder conviction from a 2008 robbery. Assistant State Attorney Carol Rogala said Smith, who is now serving a 99-year sentence for attempted murder, home invasion and aggravated battery on a child, has 'nothing to lose' by taking the hit for his brother. Their mother cried when Smith took to the stand at Leighton Criminal Courthouse (pictured right) in Chicago, Illinois, on Thursday Their mother Judy Dugar defended her son's actions, saying Smith wouldn't lie about the confession. Despite their close bond, Smith said he never told anyone about the killing, and denied his twin's questions if he had been the gunman. In 2013, Smith said he wanted to make up for his wrongs after finding God, and wrote his brother to say: 'I have to get it off my chest before it kills me.' Smith reached out to his brother's lawyers and confessed to the murder through a sworn statement by 2014. Anyone who has visited Americas national parks can speak of their breathtaking beauty. Now, one of Americas astronauts can brag about having an unobstructed birds-eye view of these treasures from space. NASA released a series of photographs showing seven parks from above the earths stratosphere and the results are simply stunning. The images were first reported by Men's Journal magazine. Astronaut Jeff Williams snapped photographs of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument in Washington State, the Grand Canyon in Arizona, South Dakotas Badlands National Park, Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park in Maine, Denali National Park in Alaska, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, and Montanas Glacier National Park. American astronaut Jeff Williams snapped a series of images, this one of the Grand Canyon Badlands National Park in Wyoming. This place holds special significance for Williams, who spent time here as a child Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument in Washington. In 1980, 57 people died and hundreds of homes were destroyed when the volcano erupted Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. It is the first park to be declared a national park in the US, and many believe it to be the first national park in the world Glacier National Park in Montana. Tucked into the Rocky Mountains, this park extends all the way to the Canadian border Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park in Maine is home to Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the United States East Coast Denali National Park in Alaska is home to Mt. McKinley, which stands as North America's tallest peak at over 20,000 feet high The pictures were taken by Williams, an astronaut who spent months on the International Space Station. He returned to earth earlier this month. A veteran of four spaceflights, Williams set a new record for the the most cumulative days in space. Williams spent a total of 534 days aboard the ISS. This surpasses Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly, who wrapped up his one-year mission on March 1. In total, Kelly has spent 520 days in space over four missions. Williams spent a total of 534 days in space, making him the astronaut who has spent the most cumulative days aboard the ISS Williams, like Kelly, will hold the American cumulative time in space record for a short time, as another astronaut is already set to break. Some time ago, I was asked to see a seven-year-old girl who was exhibiting signs of extreme anxiety. She had taken to pulling out clumps of her hair and wetting the bed. Her parents were baffled as to why this had started happening, assuring me that although they had just divorced it hadnt affected their daughter at all. But it only took a few minutes of us all being in the same room before they started bickering and making snide comments to one another. Was it any wonder that their daughter - caught in the middle of this and feeling torn and confused over which parents to side with - felt overwhelmed and unable to cope? That sort of psychological turmoil has to manifest itself in some way. That little girl came to my mind this week when I read about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Already, their impending divorce has turned ugly, with allegations about drink, drug-taking and physical violence being thrown around. Divorcing: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie with two of their six children. She has filed for divorce The question that interests and worries me, though, is what effect such a public separation will have on their six children, some biological, some adopted. Separation for anyone is a process of practical decisions and stressful he said this, she did that conversations in solicitors offices. But among the legal battles and the shouting matches, the emotional fallout of divorce for the families involved is routinely underestimated. The psychological effects are brutal because its not an exaggeration to say that divorce is like a bereavement. Even in cases where it is clear separation is the best option, people still feel a profound sense of loss. Partly its a lament for the days when the relationship was happy. And partly it is a grieving process for the loss of a future that might have been, but now never will. Yet many people feel unable to express this. Often, sadness is eclipsed by anger instead. The mourning, sometimes unspoken and unacknowledged, happens later. And, as the dust settles, bitterness can also set in. Its this resentment, I think, that is so toxic not just for the adults involved, but for any children, too. As a doctor, I am tired of seeing the collateral damage of feuding parents. In the worst cases, the adults use their innocent children as pawns in the battle, and make no efforts to disguise their ill-will towards their ex-partners. Of course I completely accept that sometimes relationships dont work. Even those couples who do stay together can often be unhappy: a new study this week showed that the number of people living in deeply troubled relationships has doubled in five years. I also know that it is often better for childrens mental health to be brought up by separated parents rather than enduring a tempestuous home life with two warring adults. Even so, the potential for damage to the children in acrimonious divorces is considerable. For children of school-age, teachers regularly say that they can immediately tell if a pupils parents are divorcing - the child begins behaving badly, or their school work suddenly suffers, or both. But it is not just the actual process of divorce that impacts negatively on children. Its also long after the divorce, when the parents are faced with the long vista of time stretching out before them as single people, and they attempt to assemble a new life for themselves. All too often, it seems that divorced parents have a capacity to act with staggering selfishness. Ive given the best years of my life to my kids, now its my time seems to be the overriding mantra as people seek exciting new relationships to make them feel better about themselves, or distract from their sudden loneliness. I do not doubt that divorce can make individuals feel fragile and alone, and that setting up another stable home with someone else can be good for children indeed, the evidence supports this. But time and again I have seen parents of both sexes ignore the effects of the instability that they bring on their childrens lives in the desperate bid to find a new partner. Even worse are fathers and it does tend to be men who set up home with another woman with children, find themselves with a ready-made second family and cut their own offspring adrift or give them only fleeting attention. Research shows that the sense of rejection this inflicts triples the risk of emotional problems in the children, who are already at increased danger of behavioural problems, anxiety and depression as a result of having divorced parents. So, whats the solution? It sounds obvious, but it is crucial for divorcing parents to understand that despite their complex - and often furious - feelings towards their former partner, for their children that person is still a parent. Speak to a therapist, let off steam to your friends, but dont drag the children into it. It sounds easy, but its incredibly hard to consistently protect your children from the emotional turmoil of divorce and life as a divorcee. It takes a lot of hard work to have a good marriage, it takes just as much to have a good divorce. Why doctors have to use a chemical cosh Hundreds of care homes are still regularly using antipsychotics dubbed the chemical cosh to manage difficult dementia patients, a study revealed this week. WHY I BACK PUSH-UP CRAZE Im not usually one for internet crazes, but I am a great supporter of the 22 push-up challenge - the latest thing on social media. If youve not seen it, people are challenged to do 22 push-ups (or press-ups, as most people call them) every day for 22 days. They then post videos of their attempts online before challenging friends to do the same thing, and donating 5 to charity. David Beckham has already been filmed doing his press-ups. The chilling story behind this new challenge is that in the U.S. an estimated 22 veterans kill themselves each day. Tragically, the mental health of those in the services who have seen action is equally worrying in this country. The UK veterans mental health charity Combat Stress, which has backed the challenge, revealed that more than 6,000 people contacted them last year asking for help a 13 per cent increase on the previous year. I know from my time working with homeless people many of whom had been in the Army - that veterans can easily slip through the net of NHS services. Drugs, alcohol, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder mean that many struggle to adjust to civilian life. One in ten prisoners in our jails have been in the Army. This should shame us all. Despite them having put their lives on the line for us, we fail them when they need our help. Advertisement This is despite promises for several years from the government to curb the practice. It is undeniably a scandal that dementia patients - more than 140,000, it is estimated - are still sedated in this way. This type of medication is not used to treat the dementia itself; rather, it manages the more disruptive symptoms of the condition. There are times when this can be of use people with dementia who become, for example, paranoid or very distressed can get great relief from small doses of antipsychotic drugs. However, too commonly it is not given with the patients best interests at heart, but to make caring for them cheap and easy. Research has shown that this medicine can double the chance of death, and it is estimated that 1,800 people every year die early because of the drugs. So its something that needs our urgent attention. Words, however, are cheap - action isnt. Psychiatry beds, specialist nurses and well-trained carers are expensive and, unfortunately, its precisely these things that are needed to reduce the use of antipsychotics. So far, Ive heard nothing like this as a plan of action. The fact is doctors dont prescribe antipsychotic medication because they want to - they do it because they have to. What is a doctor to do? To my mind, it would be crueller to not sedate these patients, and so allow them to live in a world that is so confusing and alien. Dementia makes some patients paranoid, angry or violent: it can be a living hell for them and those who care for them. I have come across several cases where one spouse with dementia stops recognising their husband or wife, and has woken in the night and - assuming the person lying next to them is an intruder - has attacked them. Its easy to condemn the prescription of these drugs, but actually the real scandal here is that services for older people especially in dementia care have been serially cut year after year. Lavender oil can really beat anxiety Lavender oil has long been used to help calm and relax people, but I always dismissed this home remedy as little more than a placebo. However, this week I went to a fascinating talk by a psychiatry professor who was visiting from the Medical University in Vienna, Austria, and apparently theres more to it than that. On the Continent, lavender oil - an essential oil extracted from lavender - has long been ingested in capsules as an over-the-counter remedy for anxiety. Research is now emerging that suggests theres sound evidence for this, with several large, placebo-controlled trials showing how effective the capsules really are. One study compared it to paroxetine an antidepressant that is routinely used to treat anxiety and found the lavender capsules were just as effective, but without the side-effects. Another study compared it to lorazepam a medication that used to be prescribed to treat anxiety but is now rarely done so because it is so addictive. Again, lavender oil was more effective, but without any risks of addiction. A heartwarming video shows a woman learning that her dying daughter's teacher will donate a kidney in bid to save the four-year-old girl's life. Dena Carreyn from Wisconsin posted a video on Facebook last week which shows her finding out that Beth Battista will be a donor for her daughter Lyla. Carreyn said on the social media website September 15: 'Last Friday, I was called into Lyla's school, Kids Express Learning Center. I was told a new teacher was starting, and I needed to meet with her. Scroll down for video A heartwarming video shows a woman learning that her daughter's teacher will donate a kidney to the four-year-old Wisconsin girl During the meeting with the teachers, Dena Carreyn opened a box which contained a message revealing Beth Battista would serve as a kidney donor. Carreyn is pictured with her mouth open in shock This is the message mother Dena Carreyn received, revealing her daughter has a kidney donor 'You see, every time Lyla gets a new teacher, I have to train that person re: Lyla's medical conditions, medications, etc. It's a whole thing. 'So I show up at the school, and Lyla's two current teachers are there, and they tell me the new teacher is on her way. 'And then they give me a present. And then this happened. (No, I had no idea I was being filmed.) 'Many people think teachers are heroes. Beth Battista is more than our hero; she is our miracle.' Carreyn wrote on Facebook: 'Many people think teachers are heroes. Beth Battista is more than our hero; she is our miracle' Carreyn and Battista embraced one another after the big news was revealed Carreyn's four-year-old daughter Lyla has Microscopic Polyangiitis and is in kidney failure - and her family started a nationwide donor search this summer During the meeting, Carreyn opened a box which contained a message revealing Battista would serve as a kidney donor, according to Babble. The video shows Carreyn and Battista soon embracing one another after the big news was revealed. Lyla has Microscopic Polyangiitis and is in kidney failure - and her family started a nationwide donor search this summer, Babble reported. Carreyn wrote on Facebook August 29: 'In October 2015, my four-year-old daughter, Lyla, was diagnosed with MPA (a rare autoimmune-related vasculitis). 'In our case, the process from initial symptoms to diagnosis was very fast and very dramatic . . . Lyla was running a fever at school, so I picked her up and took her to our local Urgent Care. 'Within 15 minutes of arriving at the clinic, we were in an ambulance, and the driver was radioing the hospital that he had "a three-year-old in full renal failure."' Dena Carreyn posted this photograph showing her and her daughter Lyla on Facebook Teacher Beth Battista (pictured) has said: 'I just had a feeling when I first heard about Lyla being sick. It was something inside me that said I needed to get tested' The mother wrote in the Facebook post: 'When doctors tried to perform a biopsy to determine why Lyla's kidneys had failed, Lyla's lungs started hemorrhaging uncontrollably. 'We were told to prepare for the worst. Lyla spent three weeks in an induced coma, and another two months in the hospital. 'During her stay, she received countless blood and plasma transfusions, chemotherapy, and continuous (24/7) hemodialysis. 'Eventually, a PD catheter was implanted in her abdomen, and Lyla was sent home on PD dialysis 12 hours per day.' Battista explained to Babble: 'I just had a feeling when I first heard about Lyla being sick. It was something inside me that said I needed to get tested. A former professional MMA fighter is accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting an unconscious woman after carrying her over his shoulder from an Arizona bar. Rodolfo Ramirez, 28, allegedly carried the victim, who police said is in her mid-20s, from a Scottsdale bar before sexually assaulting her in the Galleria parking garage. He is then accused of taking her to his home and raping her two more times before dropping her off at an intersection near her female friend's dorm in Tempe. When initially questioned by police, Ramirez reportedly denied having contact with the victim but later admitted he saw her, but said she was not 'pretty enough' and 'not his type.' Scroll down for video A former professional MMA fighter is accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting an unconscious woman after carrying her over his shoulder (pictured) from an Arizona bar Rodolfo Ramirez, 28, allegedly carried the victim, who police said is in her mid-20s, from a bar in Scottsdale before sexually assaulting her in a parking garage. He is then accused of taking her to his home and raping her two more times He also reportedly denied sexual contact with her but later confessed to having 'consensual sex' with her several times. Ramirez then agreed the woman could not possibly have consented due to her intoxicated state, according to court documents. Police said surveillance footage captured Ramirez walking in the parking garage while carrying the unconscious victim over his shoulder, according to KNXV. Ramirez had come in contact with the victim while outside the Bottle Blonde Bar in Scottsdale last Saturday night, court documents state. The victim, who reported the incident last Saturday, told police she had been out drinking with her friend and was 'very intoxicated.' Ramirez (left) was arrested on two counts of kidnapping, three counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual abuse. He is a former MMA fighter (seen during a 2012 match, right) Ramirez had come in contact with the victim while outside the Bottle Blonde Bar in Scottsdale (pictured) last Saturday night, officials said She told officers she could only remember being in a bar and passing out several times during an assault in a parking lot. The friend had reportedly left the victim, who was not able to stand and unconscious, to get the car but when she returned, she could not find her. She said the victim was also not answering her phone, according to court papers. Before the victim disappeared from the bar, the friend told officers she had seen a bearded man hug the victim, and later identified Ramirez as that man. After being assaulted in the parking garage, the victim told police she was assaulted two more times at Ramirez's home before he dropped her near her friend's dorm in Tempe, adding she was 'in shock' and 'really scared,' court documents state. Ramirez appeared during an initial court appearance on Thursday (pictured). A judge ordered him to remain in custody without bond ahead of his trial Ramirez, who works at the nearby Hotel Valley Ho, told police the victim's friend never returned, so he and the victim got into an Uber back to his house. He then told police he 'made a mistake' and was 'not a bad guy,' and also wrote a letter of apology to the victim. At the scene of the assault, the victim's earring and phone were located, officials said. Ramirez was arrested on Wednesday on two counts of kidnapping, three counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual abuse. He appeared during an initial court appearance on Thursday, during a judge ordered him to remain in custody without bond. A 12-year-old boy riding a push scooter set fire to the arts-and-crafts section of a Wal-Mart store in the Southern California desert, leading to losses of more than $1million, according to police. The store in Barstow remains closed for a third day Friday because of the damages. Barstow police said in a statement that the boy, who was not with his parents, set the fire with a lighter on Wednesday afternoon. The Wal-Mart store in Barstow (pictured) remains closed for a third day Friday because of the damages. Barstow police said that the boy set the fire with a lighter on Wednesday afternoon Wal-Mart employees tried to put it out with fire extinguishers but failed, and some had to be treated for smoke inhalation. Firefighters arrived and extinguished it, but serious damage was done by both fire and water. Barstow police said in a news release posted to Facebook on Thursday: 'The preliminary investigation revealed that the fire originated in the arts and crafts section of the store and that the fire was intentionally set.' Police looked at surveillance video and saw the boy with a scooter and a backpack. Authorities said in the release: 'Detectives processed the scene, interviewed witnesses, and reviewed the Wal-Mart surveillance footage. 'Detectives were able to identify the possible arson suspect on the surveillance video. The boy was taken to the High Desert Juvenile Detention Center in Apple Valley (pictured) and was booked for arson, according to authorities 'The suspect appeared to be a young Hispanic male juvenile, wearing a green tee-shirt with distinctive markings, and black pants. 'The juvenile suspect was captured on video leaving Wal-Mart riding a push scooter and wearing a backpack.' He was found on a street corner later in the day. Barstow police wrote in the release: 'The male juvenile was placed under arrest and transported to the Barstow Police Department where his parents were notified.' The father of two boys killed in a car accident has opened up about his tragic loss. Patrick Balk rushed from Queensland to New Zealand when he was informed his two sons Jasper, 14 and Reuben, 12, were killed when the car they were in collided with a truck on State highway one in Huntly, south of Auckland. The boys were only a few hours into their family holiday with their mother Belinda Williams, younger sister Tessa and stepfather Stephen Philips, a renowned violinist in the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, according to a report by Stuff. Jasper, 14 and Reuben, 12 died in when the car they were in collided with a truck on State highway one in Huntly, south of Auckland Their stepfather Stephen Philips, a violinist in the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, also died in the fatal collision. Their mother Belinda Williams and younger sister Tessa were the only survivors of the accident Mr Philips died in the collision, while Belinda and Tessa survived the crash and were taken to Waikato Hospital with injuries. Tessa was able to give the police enough information to the police so that they could get in contact with her father Patrick Balk. Mr Balk flew to New Zealand on an emergency passport and was able to be at the side of his recovering ex-wife and daughter. 'When we arrived at the hospital, even though it was late, they let us in to see Tessa and Belinda. Tessa gave us a little smile and a big hug,' he said. Patrick Balk, the father of Jasper and Reuben, said he couldn't believe it when he was told his sons were dead Mr Balk said his daughter Tessa gave him a little smile and a big hug when he arrived at the hospital Mr Balk said: 'our thoughts go out to the truck driver. It wasn't your fault.' 'I just couldn't believe it when they told me my two beautiful, happy and healthy boys were dead,' he added. In a message to the truck driver, Mr Balk said: 'our thoughts go out to the truck driver. It wasn't your fault.' The Nissan car, which police believe was being driven by Mr Philips, crossed the highway's centre line and collided with the truck. He is believed to have been in the people smuggling business since 1999 A notorious people smuggler has been arrested for a third time by Indonesian police. Captain Bram, whose real name is Abraham Louhenapessy, was found in West Jakarta on Friday and taken into custody for attempting to smuggle a boat load of people to New Zealand in May 2015, according to a report by The Daily Telegraph. He is believed to have organised smuggled as many as 1500 people into Australia as far back as 1999. Notorious people smuggler Abraham Louhenapessy (pictured), also known as Captain Bram, was arrested for a third time in West Jakarta on Friday 'Abraham is known to be an old player in human trafficking,' a police official said. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton praised the Indonesian National Police for stopping Captain Bram from risking the lives of vulnerable people. 'The arrest of Captain Bram demonstrates the success of offshore deterrence efforts, but we need to remain vigilant because people smugglers will do almost anything to convince vulnerable people to part with their money and get onto a leaky boat,' Mr Dutton said. Captain Bram was arrested in the past for people smuggling offences. He is believed to have been in the people smuggling trade since 1999 Immigration Minister Peter Dutton praised the Indonesian National Police for the arrest of Captain Bram (stock image) 'This is why we have reinforced our on water capabilities to ensure that illegal people smuggling boats will not make it to Australia,' he added. Louhenapessy was jailed for 20 months over an attempt to smuggle 83 Sri Lankans to Australia in 2007, according to a report by the Herald Sun. Two men had their faces slashed with a blade in a late-night argument on the Gold Coast on Friday. A 24-year-old Biggera Waters man was charged with two counts of wounding and appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Saturday morning. Police said just after midnight three men, who were known to each other, became involved in an argument at a house on William Street. Two men had their faces slashed with a blade in a late-night argument on the Gold Coast on Friday One of them allegedly produced a bladed weapon and attacked the other two, aged 28 and 23, cutting each of them on the face. The victims were rushed to Southport Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Police called for anyone with information to come forward. The attack comes days after Corey Peter Doble fronted court for allegedly stabbing Shannon Ottley nine times in an argument in a driveway in the same suburb. The Russian beauty scales the worlds tallest buildings with her Yoga poses and selfies on top of some of the world's tallest buildings are all in a day's work for the 'craziest female rooftopper in the world', Angela Nikolau. Incredible footage of the Russian beauty, 23, shows her reaching extreme heights in Hong Kong and China along with boyfriend Ivan Kuzenetsov, including scaling a 640 metre tall crane in the Chinese city of Tianjin. The self-taught photographer and climber travels the world, with her daredevil efforts of capturing the attention of thousands on social media. Yoga poses on top of some of the world's tallest buildings are all in a day's work for the 'craziest female rooftopper in the world', Angela Nikolau. Incredible footage of the Russian beauty, 23, shows her reaching extreme heights in Hong Kong and China along with boyfriend Ivan Kuzenetsov Drones, body cameras and a selfie stick captures the incredible footage, sponsored by Travel Ticker, showing of the couple's dangerous and often illegal conquests. The pair had previously filmed their dizzying 2,000ft ascent up the Goldin Finance 117 in Tianjin, China. 'Yes, it was illegal to climb,' Mr Kuzenetsov admitted at the time to InsideEdition.com. 'We didn't have permission to do this climb.' The daring duo had to bypass security to complete their goal and set off at 3am in the pitch black, reaching the top of the protruding scaffolding as the sun rose. In the past, Ms Nikolau has climbed landmarks including the Sagrada Familia in Spain, the Shanghai Tower in China and the Eiffel Tower in France. Her Instagram feed is filled with stunning urban landscapes, with the model often perched precariously on the edge of a tall building. Drones, body cameras and a selfie stick capture incredible footage of the couple's dangerous and often illegal conquests The self-taught photographer and 'roofer' travels the world, with her daredevil efforts of climbing enormous buildings capturing the attention of thousands on social media Spire selfie: In the past, Ms Nikolau has climbed landmarks including the Sagrada Familia in Spain, the Shanghai Tower in China and the Eiffel Tower in France Angela and Ivan pictured on top of the Tsing Ma bridge in Hong Kong The 304-square-metre block of land has a small 10 metre frontage An empty block of land in Port Melbourne which has been in the same family for more than 100 years has gone under the hammer for over $2million smashing expectations. The block of land at 186 Dow Street in Port Melbourne is just three blocks from the water and is a rare find, Auctioneer Frank Callaghan told Daily Mail Australia. 'Basically it was what we would call a blank canvas,' Mr Callaghan said. A block of land in Port Melbourne has sold for over $2million at auction The 304-square-metre block is just ten metres wide and 30 metres in length 'Most of this area is filled with old cottages and is under conservation guidelines which means you can't pull anything down. 'That made this find very rare.' Mr Callaghan expected developers to snap up the parcel of land at a price somewhere in the high $1million range. But he was shocked with how the bidding war unfolded on auction day and a family walked away the winners after forking out $2,055,000. 'What was really interesting was we had two owner-occupiers bidding in the end. It is three blocks from the foreshore and sold for well above the estimated price 'They had outbidded all of the developers.' The couple who bought the family plan to build a home on the vacant block Mr Callahagan estimates once built it could have a potential sale value of $3million. The 304-square-metre block is zoned residential, developers would have been able to fit two town houses in the space. Those could have sold in the mid to high $1million. The narrow block is just ten metres wide and 30 metres deep. The 90-year-old seller was pleased with the outcome of the sale which saw him collect $7000 per square-metre. Owner-occupiers bought the property after outbidding property developers for the site The property smashed Port Melbourne records, proved more expensive than blocks in South Yarra and was on par with prices found in the exclusive suburb of Armadale. 'The client was relieved the property sold for the price because he wanted to split the money up between members of his family.' Mr Callaghan has been selling real estate in the Melbourne area for 42 years with Frank Gordon Real Estate. The US Senate backed a $1.15 billion sale of military equipment to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the same day Saudi-led airstrikes killed at least 32 civilians in Yemen. Politicans who voted in favor of the sale argued the US should support its ally in order to combat Isis and other extremist groups in the region. R epublican Senator Rand Paul and Democratic Senator Chris Murphy led the dissent, citing concerns over Saudi Arabia's role in Yemen's civil war, which has caused a humanitarian catastrophe since it began in 2015. On Friday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Cecile Pouilly expressed her concerns over airstrikes on hospitals, markets and places of worship as the civilian death toll continues to rise. On Wednesday, the Saudi-led coalition bombed houses in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah (pictured) in Yemen, killing at least 32 civilians On the same day, the US Senate gave the green light to a $1.15 billion sale of military equipment to Saudi Arabia (pictured, buildings destroyed in Hodeida, Yemen) Saudi Arabia is leading the military intervention against the Iran-backed Houthis, to reinstate the internationally recognized Yemeni president Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Instability in the country has also fed into the rise of groups like al-Qaeda and Isis. Houthis have accused the United States of arming and supporting the Saudis, and this $1.15billion sale will include more than 130 Abrams battle tanks, 20 armored recovery vehicles and other equipment to Saudi Arabia. The civil war in Yemen has killed more than 10,000 people - nearly 4,000 of whom are civilians. Another 3 million have been displaced. Pouilly expressed 'deep concern' over airstrikes against civilian facilities including hospitals, markets, and places of worship, which have increased in August. On Wednesday, the Saudi-led coalition bombed houses in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah in Yemen, killing at least 32 civilians. The same day, a 71-27 vote in Senate blocked legislation that would have stopped the sale of military equipment to Saudi Arabia. 'Blocking this sale of tanks will be interpreted by our Gulf partners, not just Saudi Arabia, as another sign that the United States of America is abandoning our commitment to the region and is an unreliable security partner,' said Republican senator John McCain of Arizona. John McCain (left) supported the sale, arguing the US should support its ally. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Cecile Pouilly (right) expressed her 'deep concern' over attacks against civilians Rand Paul and Chris Murphy led a bipartisan effort to block the deal, raising concerns including Saudi Arabia's role in Yemen and worries that it might fuel an ongoing regional arms race. Paul, Murphy and other opponents of the arms deal were sharply critical of the Saudi government, citing Yemen, the kingdom's human rights record and its international support for a conservative form of Islam. 'If you're serious about stopping the flow of extremist recruiting across this globe, then you have to be serious that the ... brand of Islam that is spread by Saudi Arabia all over the world, is part of the problem,' Murphy said. The criticism came days before President Barack Obama vetoed a bill on Friday that would allow the families of 9/11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is leading the military intervention against the Iran-backed Houthis, to reinstate the internationally recognized Yemeni president Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi The civil war in Yemen has killed more than 10,000 people - nearly 4,000 of whom are civilians. Another 3 million have been displaced. Pictured, a Houthi supporter visiting a cemetary in Sanaa Congressional leaders say there is a strong chance that they will override the veto, which requires a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate. The war has killed over 10,000 people and displaced more than 3 million. But backers of the deal said Saudi Arabia is an important U.S. ally in a war-torn region, deserving of U.S. support. Authorities are looking for the active shooter who reportedly shouted a woman's name repeatedly before he opened fire and killed five people during a deadly shooting at a mall north of Seattle on Friday evening. Four women and one man are confirmed dead after the shooting at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, about 65 miles north of Seattle, the Washington State Patrol said. Victims have not been identified, however police said their ages ranged from teenager to elderly. Scroll down for video Authorities are searching for a Hispanic man armed with a rifle and wearing black who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5 from a mall north of Seattle following a shooting on Friday The gunman - who was described as Hispanic, in his early 20s and wearing all black - walked into Macy's and opened fire in the the makeup department of the store about 7pm local time. There have also been unconfirmed reports the suspect shouted a woman's name multiple times just moments before opening fire, according to FOX-Q13. During a press conference on Saturday morning, authorities said the man was seen entering the mall without a gun about 10 minutes before he started shooting in the Macy's. At the press conference, mayor Steve Sexton said the 'long arm of the law' will be used to catch the shooter, who he described as a 'son of a b***h'. 'Our community comes together in times of tragedy,' Sexton said. 'Our support goes with them (law enforcement), to help them... bring the son of a b***h who did this to our community to justice.' The suspected gunman appeared to be carrying something - probably the rifle - as he was seen walking into the mall In two stills released by police, the suspected shooter did not appear to have anything in his hands Four women were confirmed dead on Friday evening at the Cascade Mall in Burlington (pictured), the Washington State Patrol said on Twitter Officials released stills from video surveillance of a young-looking suspect holding what appears to be a rifle. In two of them the man can be seen appearing to not have anything in his hands, while other images show him carrying something - which could be the rifle. FBI investigators said there are no signs to suggest the shooting was terrorism. It comes after Sgt. Mark Francis asked people to 'stay indoors' and to 'stay secure' at a press conference overnight. Francis said the gunman left the scene before police arrived. The rifle the suspect appears to be carrying looks similar to a Marlin Model 60 or Ruger 10/22. Video from the scene showed a heavy police force swarming the mall on Friday evening Town mayor Steve Sexton said the 'long arm of the law' will be used to catch the shooter, who he described as a 'son of a b***h' Law enforcement officials say there was a gap of about 10 minutes from when the suspected gunman entered the mall without a weapon and when he started shooting in the Macy's Authorities believe there is only one shooter and said the motive was unknown. The mall had been evacuated by 8.30pm local time and emergency medical personnel were cleared to enter and attend to any injuries. The station also reported that a nearby high school football game and neighboring businesses were evacuated as a precaution. Police received calls around 6.58pm local time that shots were fired at the mall, Trooper Rick Johnson told CNN. Police evacuated the mall before escorting emergency responders inside to tend to the wounded whose injuries are not known at this time The gunman walked into Macy's (pictured) and opened fire in the makeup department around 7.30pm local time 'Right now we can't assume anything,' he said. 'So they're still interviewing witnesses and trying to get a good idea of exactly what action to take next. 'We're just asking people to, obviously, stay away from the area. Stay inside and obviously report anything suspicious that they may see.' Gov. Jay Inslee said tragedy has struck in Washington state in Burlington. The Cascade Mall is an enclosed shopping mall in Burlington, Washington. The shooter was last seen walking towards Interstate 5 The governor said in a statement that many questions remain but state patrol and local law enforcement are on the scene working swiftly to locate the shooter and clear the area. 'Trudi and I send our condolences to the families of the victims and prayers for anyone injured,' Inslee said. 'We urge residents to heed all safety and detour warnings. 'Stay close to your friends and loved ones as we await more information and, hopefully, news of the suspect's capture.' Video from the scene showed a heavy police force swarming the mall on Friday evening. Law enforcement officers are pictured standing in front of the Macy's department store following Friday's shooting Police received calls around 6.58pm local time that shots were fired at the mall Officers stand outside Macy's. The FBI said it is assisting local authorities in the investigation into the deadly mall shooting Streets surrounding the mall and access roads to entrances to the facility had been closed off by police. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives said Friday night it was deploying to Burlington, Washington. The FBI also said it is assisting local authorities in the investigation into the deadly mall shooting. An employee at a restaurant near the deadly mall shooting said they 'immediately locked the doors' when they heard of the mayhem unfolding on Friday night. Stephanie Bose, an assistant general manager at Johnny Carino's Italian restaurant near Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, told The Associated Press the shooting happened inside the Macy's department store. Her restaurant is just outside the Macy's. A boyfriend of one of Bose's employees came into the restaurant after trying to go to the mall. Law enforcement officers work at the crime scene outside of Cascade Mall on Friday night She said he saw people screaming and police blocking the door with assault rifles. 'He was trying to go to the mall and people were screaming,' she said. 'It was frantic.' She said he could see police at the doors with assault rifles and said they were no longer guarding the doors as of 9.30pm local time. After police evacuated the building, buses were transporting survivors to His Place Church in Burlington, Francis said. Francis also said those who have cars in the parking lot can pick them up sometime tomorrow. The Cascade Mall is an enclosed shopping mall in Burlington, Washington that opened in 1990, according to the mall's website. It features J.C. Penney, TJ Maxx, and Macy's stores, among other stores, restaurants and a movie theater. The US military has dismissed two high-ranking officers one of whom was found to be having an extramarital affair, it was learned on Friday. Brig. Gen. Michael Bobeck, an Army National Guard general on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was fired after an internal investigation found that he had been having an affair, according to USA Today. Engaging in an extramarital affair is a violation of military rules. Bobeck was also found to have lived rent-free in an apartment owned by an executive from a company that has links to arms contractors who conduct business with the Department of Defense. Brig. Gen. Michael Bobeck, an Army National Guard general on the Joint Chiefs of Staff (left) and Army Maj. Gen. Wayne Grigsby (right) were dismissed from their jobs The company, Peduzzi Associates, is a consulting firm based in Alexandria, Virginia. Its aviation division supports defense firms that have business ties to the Pentagon. Peduzzi is known to be a lobbyist for Sikorsky, a division of Lockheed Martin, one of the worlds largest manufacturers of military equipment. The executive, Joe Ferreira, is said to have allowed Bobeck to stay in the basement of his apartment. The two men are also said to have discussed a possible job for Bobeck, according to USA Today. The military and the US government are vigilant in enforcing rules that would prohibit any relationship between actively serving military members and defense contractors since such ties could breed conflicts of interest. A Department of Defense (above) review found that Bobeck was having an extramarital affair and was living rent-free in the home of a businessman linked with defense contractors Bobecks attorney, Lt. Col. Adam Kazin, denied that there was anything untoward as it relates to Bobecks living arrangement. Any implication that there was any wrongdoing is very upsetting to him, Kazin said. Abusing his position to enrich himself is not in line with how he views himself. Ferreira told USA Today that he has known Bobeck for 35 years and that their friendship was the reason that he agreed to allow the general to stay in his apartment. Bobeck had just recently divorced his wife, Ferreira said. Allowing him to stay in his home was an act of friendship that had nothing to do with business, he maintained. Bobeck has been reassigned within the military pending the investigation. Last month, Maj. Gen. David Haight was fired after it was learned he had been having an affair and was living a 'swinger lifestyle' Meanwhile, the Army also announced on Friday that Maj. Gen. Wayne Grigsby, the commander of the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas, was dismissed, according to USA Today. The military, however, did not specify the reason for the dismissal. Last month, US Army Maj. Gen. David Haight was fired after leading a decade-long double life including an affair and a 'swinger lifestyle' with multiple partners and sex parties, leaving him at risk of blackmail. Haight was investigated earlier this year and fired in May from his senior position at US European Command, a position in charge of the United States military's attempts to confront Russia's aggression in Eastern Europe. Australian art gallery owner Kevin Reid has been praised as a hero for whisking his wife out of danger just before masked robbers shot him dead on a U.S. street. The couple, who were just days away from celebrating their first wedding anniversary, were taking an after-dinner stroll on a residential street near their home in Savannah, Georgia on Wednesday night. Suddenly, three men jumped from the shadows and opened fire after attempting to rob them. Mr Reid died on the way to hospital. Australian art gallery owner Kevin Reid has been praised as a hero for whisking his wife out of danger just before masked robbers shot him dead on a U.S. street 'He moved me out of the way and more than likely saved my life,' his wife Kari Graham-Reid wrote on Facebook. 'He was a hero in so many ways and my heart is broken.' Ms Graham-Reid, an American, said the happiest day of her life was when they married. 'Kevin was the most wonderful man I've ever known, he would give the shirt off his back to help anyone in need,' she wrote. 'He was bright, funny and deeply loyal. I treasure every minute we had together' Mr Reid died on the way to hospital after three man tried to rob him and his wife. Pictured at his gallery's opening in April Mr Reid's death shocked the close-knit community, where the Canberra-born 54-year-old quickly became a beloved member after opening The Australian Aboriginal Art Gallery in April. Savannah-Chatham police described the suspects as black males, one of whom was wearing a light coloured bandanna over his face. Police spent several days canvassing the area but had not yet made any arrests. They declined to say if Mr Reid was shot after refusing to hand over money. His friends said the easygoing man likely would not have tried to fight off the men. 'If I had to guess, when he was approached Kevin would have said, "Oh come on. I'll give you some cash. Let's go and get a beer",' a friend Marcia Banes, of Old Savannah Tours. Mr Reid's death shocked Savannah, Georgia, where the Canberra-born 54-year-old quickly became a beloved member after opening The Australian Aboriginal Art Gallery in April In Alice Springs, his friend Dale McIver said Mr Reid's developed a great love of Aboriginal art after living there for 25 years. 'It sounds like that Kevin, as always, was the absolute true gentleman, and it looks like he sort of stood in the way and protected his wife, Kari,' she told the ABC. His gallery specialised in contemporary central and western desert art and jewellery created using paintings by the Warlukurlangu artists of the Northern Territory. Mr Reid, who first visited the art-friendly community in 1992, opened what he believed to be the only Aboriginal art gallery on the U.S. eastern seaboard. He moved to Atlanta, Georgia last July, relocating to Savannah in February and opening his gallery in April. 'I married by beautiful wife here in Savannah last year. I'm from Alice Springs right in the middle of Australia, 27,000 people, so I said to her if I'm going to move over to America I ain't going to live in Atlanta,' he told WOTC-TV last month. 'So we flipped a coin and Savannah came up.' His wife Kari Graham-Reid wrote on Facebook that he was a hero who saved her life Savannah, with its cobblestone streets and rich history as an important site during the American Revolution and U.S. Civil War, is a popular tourist destination, with Australians making up its fifth-biggest international tourism market. However, locals were concerned by an uptick in violence, as Mr Reid's murder was the 42nd homicide this year. 'Im so fed up with this. He was a very smart and bright guy. I met him at his gallery opening,' Mr Reid's friend Scott West told the Savannah Morning News. 'Its sad that someone comes here, opens an art gallery of all things, invests money in Savannah and is shot dead. This man did not have to die. 'For a business owner to come here, open a business and then be shot walking down the street is unreal. I hope enough people get angry and really demand change.' Other locals filled message boards on local websites with heartfelt messages for Mr Reid and his family, outrage at crime in the area, and debated Georgia's lax gun laws. One wrote she was going to buy a gun 'ASAP' to protect herself because she lived just two minutes from the shooting. His gallery specialised in contemporary central and western desert art and jewellery created using paintings by the Warlukurlangu artists of the Northern Territory Christopher Chemsak, who lived in Mr Reid's apartment building, recalled how he sat with him on the front porch a few days ago and the Australian remarked how 'life is good'. 'Last night I heard a wife scream as her husband was shot point blank by three strangers who jumped out of the shadows, only footsteps away from her front door,' he wrote on the Savannah Morning News website. 'The only sound more horrifying than the crack of the gunfire was his body's last attempts to maintain life.' For teachers who are kicking off the new school year, learning their students' names has become a loaded process fraught with cultural missteps. The national campaign 'My Name, My Identity', is highlighting the importance for teachers to get it right, lest they 'negate' their students' identity and hinder their ability to learn. Created by the Santa Clara County Office of Education, the campaign stresses the importance for teachers to make an effort to respect and celebrate their students' names, along with the cultures they come from. The national campaign 'My Name, My Identity', is highlighting the importance for teachers to pronounce their students' names correctly (pictured, the campaign website) Jennifer Gonzalez advised teachers to steer clear of calling a name 'difficult', since 'its only difficult because its culturally different' (file photo) According to the campaign website, mispronouncing names can also 'lead to anxiety and resentment which, in turn, can hinder academic progress'. Teachers are encouraged to give their students an opportunity to share the stories behind their names, or engage in exercises celebrating diversity. Santa Clara Superintendent Jon Gundry, who used to teach English as a second language to middle and high school students, told PBS: 'I was their first connection to a new culture, a new country. 'As a teacher, I felt that if I didnt make an effort to pronounce their name correctly, it showed I didnt care about who they were.' Jennifer Gonzalez advised teachers to steer clear of calling a name 'difficult', since 'its only difficult because its culturally different'. The subject has been broached at educational conferences and numerous articles like one authored by Rita Kohli and Daniel G. Solorzano. The academic research paper titled 'Teachers, please learn our names!: racial microagressions and the K-12 classroom,' shines a light on the 'subtle daily insults that support a racial and cultural hierarchy of minority inferiority'. Students shared their personal experiences of shame, embarrassment and anxiety when their names were routinely mispronounced. While Kohli said it would be impossible to accurately pronounce every name in the world, teachers should remain open and eager to learn. An adorable cat has been capture on video by its owner drinking in a rather peculiar manner. The cute kitty is shown stretched out on its side in a relaxed position next to a small silver water dish. The water bowl is within paws reach of the young cat who decided it was too comfortable to get up for a drink. The adorable cat placed its paw into the silver water bowl because it was too lazy to get up The tabby licked its paw after dipping it into the water bowl while still laying on its side The tabby is seen dipping its paw into the bowl before dripping the droplets of water into its mouth. The cat continues to lick its paw to get as much water as possible before dipping it back into the silver dish. The cat is well aware it is being watched but remains happily stretched out on the white tiles as it continues to drink lazily from the tap. The video has gone viral attracting more than 20 million views since it was uploaded to social media. The claims are made in new book which details the Brexit David Cameron scrapped a series of posters attacking Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage on the eve of the Brexit vote because they were 'too personal'. The claims are made in a new book which exposes the backroom deals made during the EU referendum and its fallout. Huge posters featuring a naked Mr Farage in a post-coital pose with the words 'Don't wake up to something you'll regret' were vetoed by the former prime minister despite Remain campaign chiefs backing them. Huge posters featuring a naked Mr Farage in a post-coital pose with the words 'Don't wake up to something you'll regret' were vetoed by the former prime minister Mr Cameron ignored views that the poster, produced by Saatchi & Saatchi, could have been as devastating as the one featuring Ed Miliband in Alex Salmond's pocket used during the general election last year. Craig Oliver, Mr Cameron's chief spin doctor, thought the poster would be 'too toxic', according to former Times political editor Philip Webster's new book Inside Story. The decision was made in the days following the death of Jo Cox MP who was killed in her constituency by a man who was heard to shout 'Britain first'. Another poster which included an image of a scruffy Mr Johnson outside Downing Street wearing a woolly hat were also shelved. Mr Cameron had ordered a ban on all personal attacks on the former London mayor, who is a fellow alumni of Eton College. The book exposes Mr Cameron and his Remain team's failings to understand the palpable concerns Brexit voters had over immigration. A poster which included an image of a scruffy Mr Johnson (right) outside Downing Street was shelved by Mr Cameron (left) Mr Cameron, who last year was hailed after winning the Tories' first Commons' majority since 1992, was mistakenly convinced the economic fears of Britain leaving the EU would win out. 'This was the crime,' a Remain campaign source told The Times. 'We had nothing to say. Campaigns have to be fluid and adapt and this one had nothing on immigration and the country clearly felt like 'they' were not listening.' Among those who warned against holding the Brexit vote were Michael Gove, Mr Webster writes. Back in 2013, the then education secretary, emailed Mr Cameron to warn him that the referendum 'would not bring peace to the party' and that it was dangerous to commit to holding it without knowing what reforms Europe would offer. The book details how Remain bosses regret pollsters publishing predictions of the vote on the day of the referendum. The polls gave the Remain side a comfortable lead and could have led many in the country to believe a Brexit vote to stay in the EU was already certain. Advertisement A 1950s beachside property that wasn't located in a 'hot spot' when it was first built has sold for more than $7 million, an incredible $1.35 million over its reserve. The home in the eastern Sydney suburb of Bronte fetched a price of $7.35 million at auction on Saturday, astounding its owners and real estate experts. Built in 1958, the 'time capsule's' stunning views over the increasingly popular Bronte beach seemingly led to it blowing its expected price out of the water. Scroll down for video A beachside property in Bronte, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, has sold for $7.35 million - $1.35 million over its reserve The four bedroom family home was built in 1958 and has only ever had one owner, the late Joy Giles When Ms Giles passed away last year at the age of 95 her family decided it was time to sell the home, a decision that paid dividends at auction on Saturday For almost six decades the 3 Bronte Marine Drive address was the family home of Joy Giles. However when Ms Giles passed away at age 95 last year, her family decided it was time to put the property on the market - a decision that paid huge dividends. The four bedroom and two bathroom home comes with ageing internal decor and may not be as lavish as some mansions that surround it. The home was built by Ms Giles' brother and remains in the same condition as when it was constructed According to Ms Giles' daughter, the now popular suburb of Bronte was in demand during the 1950s and 1960s With somewhat ageing internal decor, the property appears a renovators dream, especially when you consider the views But potential buyers knew the golden rule of 'location, location, location' was too good to pass up. The home has never been renovated and remains in the same condition as when it was built by Ms Giles' brother. Ms Giles' daughter Lorraine told Domain that the demand for the property was a far cry from when it was first built. The 3 Bronte Marine Drive address is located directly below a property late actor Heath Ledger sold for $7 million in 2006 'We used to come home from school and go to the beach and no one would be there,' she said. The home is located directly below a property sold by late actor Heath Ledger for $7 million in 2006. More than 700 homes went under the hammer across Sydney on Saturday as the spring property rush began. Agent said it was the largest crowd of More than 50 bidders have descended upon a dilapidated 1958 one bedroom apartment in Sydney's iconic Bondi to battle it out at an overcrowded auction. The little rustic 584 square metre apartment went on the market for the first time in 30 years after initially selling for $54,500 back in 1986. Determined bidders turned out in droves on Saturday with the unit selling for a jawdropping $961,000 - $300,000 more than asking price. Scroll down for video The little rustic 584 square metre apartment went on the market for the first time in 30 years The unit at 6/85 Roscoe St went on the market in 1986 and was sold for $54,500 The unit sold on Saturday for a jawdropping $961,000 - $300,000 more than asking price The selling agent said he hadn't seen that many registered bidders since the Block was filmed in Bondi 13 years ago, according to the Daily Telegraph. 'Bondi is on fire, it's a bulletproof suburb and for an unrenovated property the demand couldn't be bigger,' Agent Simon Exleton of McGrath Edglecliff said. 'It's as hot as it was in 2007 and 2008. Just two years ago this apartment could have sold for half of that.' The sunny one bedroom apartment stands only 200m away from the iconic Bondi beach Bidding for the sunny one bedroom apartment with no parking, which stands only 200m away from the iconic Bondi beach, started at $720,000 and soared rapidly to around $938,000 before the bidding slowed. The apartment was handed over to Kristina Walker from her cousin who passed away last year and the Brisbane mother of three watched the auction prices soar with her husband from the unit window. 'We were crossing our fingers for something in the $700,000s, so we're blown away,' Ms Walker said. 'My heart was pounding, it was crazy.' Buyers Maria Zuza and Mark Tito said they will renovate their investment. The selling agent said he hadn't seen that many registered bidders since the Block was filmed in Bondi 13 years ago (Above) A 20-year-old man accused of creeping in a wooded area dressed as a clown was arrested Friday, in a string of bizarre clown sightings around the country. Jonathan Martin, 20, was arrested Friday morning and charged with wearing a mask in a public place and disorderly conduct in Middlesboro. He was found in 'full clown costume', crouching among trees by an apartment complex, police say. His arrest came the day after a small-town police chief in Mississippi told scary clowns to stop terrorizing residents. Scroll down for video Kentucky police arrested Jonathan Martin (pictured left in full costume left and right in a mugshot ); he has been charged with wearing a mask in a public place and disorderly conduct The 20-year-old (pictured being arrested while in costume) was found lurking in a wooded area near an apartment complex in Middlesboro, Kentucky, according to authorities At least 11 States have laws restricting the wearing of a mask. Martin was cited for covering his face in public, thus violating a city ordinance, according to WKYT. Martin was hiding behind apartments in a full costume and scary mask, creating a 'public alarm', police said. He was still wearing part of his clown costume in his mugshot. The day before Martin's arrest, Kenneth Hampton, the police chief in Tchula, Mississippi, posted a warning on Facebook Thursday after residents reported seeing people dressed as clowns carrying guns or a machete. 'Who ever [sic] you are running around in Tchula wearing a clown suit waving a sword and scaring the hell out of people, let me give you some advice,' Hampton wrote. 'STOP IT!!!! Because if I roll up on you and you wave that damn sword at me. IT'S GAME OVER SON!!! I'm gonna teacha how da duggy!!!' Kenneth Hampton (pictured), the police chief in Tchula, Mississippi, posted a warning on Facebook Thursday telling scary clowns to stop acting out Reports of clown sightings have surfaced in at least seven states in the past month. Police haven't found evidence in most cases but Mississippi could be one of the exceptions, as Tchula Police Chief Hampton himself reported seeing one of the clowns. The clown ran away as soon as he saw the patrol car, Hampton told KCRA. Witness Kajarius Anderson called the authorities after seeing a creepy clown. 'I said "911, we need all the deputies out because the clowns are in Tchula,''' he said. 'The bottom line is, if he's running around with a sword or a machete he's subject to get shot,' Hampton told the station. Tchula, located in central Mississippi, has about 2,000 residents. Hampton also shared this picture of a vehicle with the words 'I ain't playing' on it, making it clear he would be tough if he caught anyone dressed as a clown scaring residents People in Tchula have reported seeing people dressed like clowns carrying guns or a machete. Hampton (whose Facebook warning is pictured) said these people could get shot The spate of clown sightings began last month with reports that one was trying to lure children into woods in South Carolina. The managers of an apartment building in Greenville sent a letter to residents telling them that several people had complained about people dressed like clowns talking to children or trying to take them into the woods. One woman filed a police report about clowns whispering and making strange noises, according to documents seen by BuzzFeed. Since then, people in Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, have reported scary or suspicious encounters with people dressed like clowns. Two schools in Alabama were put on lockdown earlier this week after students received threats on Facebook from users posing as clowns. People in at least seven States have reported seven states in the past month, beginning with South Carolina in late August (file picture) An 11-year-old girl was arrested in Georgia on Friday for bringing a knife to school. She said she wanted to be able to protect herself and her family after hearing stories about clowns attacking children. Meanwhile some real, well-meaning clowns have become too scared to let their facetious alter egos come to life. 'When people report these things it should be "someone dressed like a clown," because a real clown would never dress or do anything to scare anyone,' clown arts teacher Tricia Manuel, 55, told the Associated Press. 'In South Carolina, two of the clowns were afraid to go out and perform,' she added. She noticed the public's perception of clowns shifted after Stephen King's 1986 novel 'It', about a clown who kills children, became a miniseries on television four years later. But the latest reported clown sightings have taken things to another level, according to Manuel. Shamed former Tory MP Brooks Newmark has instructed a law firm to have archived pictures of his naked selfies deleted from the internet, but his daughter is a nude model. Lily Newmark, 21, has been a model for three years and her Instagram page is laced with racy pictures. The tiny model regularly shares pictures of herself from naked photoshoots including her latest snap uploaded just yesterday of her posing nude in a bath. Her father, 58, quit as minister for civil society in 2014 after he was found to have sent sexually explicit photographs of himself to a female undercover journalist he thought was a party activist. Daddy's girl: Shamed former Tory MP Brooks Newmark has instructed a law firm to have archived pictures of his naked selfies deleted from the internet, but his daughter is a topless model Lily Newmark, 21, has been a model for three years and her Instagram page is laced with racy pictures The tiny model regularly shares pictures of herself from naked photoshoots including her latest snap uploaded just yesterday of her posing nude in a bath Her father, 58, quit as minister for civil society in 2014 after he was found to have sent sexually explicit photographs of himself to a female undercover journalist he thought was a party activist Miss Newmark juggles her time in front of the camera with acting school, and aspires to become an actress. 'Acting school stole my dignity but helped me rediscover my imagination,' she told Wonderland magazine in March. 'In terms of modelling, well Ive certainly found my place in the industry, which, like every other aspect of my life, is outside the circle of tall, pretty, popular people and just in my own circle with imaginary friends and other misfits. 'Ive had a really interesting experience modelling, because Ive never done the infamously boring ecom or hand-modelling - no offence, hand models - but instead Im cast in more interesting shoots that go beyond fashion and beauty.' These include a number of naked pictures, which she posts on Instagram with stars, shells, dollar bills and snails to cover her privates, pictures of her kissing a fish and snaps flaunting her hairy armpits. Miss Newmark juggles her time in front of the camera with acting school, and aspires to become an actress Her father, and married father of five has demanded that his selfies are removed from the internet, while his daughters are there for the world to see Her father, and married father of five has demanded that his selfies are removed from the internet, while his daughters are there for the world to see. Two years after the sexting scandal, law firm Carter-Ruck has demanded that newspapers take down the photograph of 'our client partially dressed at his home'. They claim that Mr Newmark owns the copyright to the photograph. The former Tory MP for Braintree in Essex was caught sexting in September 2014 in a newspaper sting in which a freelance reporter posed on social media as a party activist called 'Sophie Wittams'. After Mr Newmark resigned as minister, it emerged he had also bombarded a single mother with up to 40 naked pictures, telling her, 'I am desperate for sex with you' during a two-year affair. The woman, who claimed she did not know the MP had a wife, said he sent her a striptease sequence and begged her to send him a picture of herself to 'keep the demons at bay'. The former Tory MP, pictured, for Braintree in Essex was caught sexting in September 2014 in a newspaper sting in which a freelance reporter posed on social media as a party activist Mr Newmark, who founded the Women2Win campaign group to encourage more women to enter politics, later announced he would step down as an MP at the 2015 General Election Mr Newmark, who founded the Women2Win campaign group to encourage more women to enter politics, later announced he would step down as an MP at the 2015 General Election. He wrote in The Mail on Sunday: 'My political career is in ruins. I have traumatised my family and let down my constituents and my colleagues. Many will regard me as a failure. And it is true: behind the outward facade of success and achievement, I have been battling demons and losing to them.' Mr Newmark later likened the newspaper sting to being 'mentally raped' in comments which were greeted with anger by critics, who said his experience was not comparable to suffering sexual assault. Double killer Christopher Halliwell was branded 'self-centred, domineering, calculating and devious' by a judge Double murderer Christopher Halliwell spoke of strangling a woman during sex and asked how many victims he would have to kill to become a serial killer. The taxi driver had sex with Becky Godden, 20, then strangled her after becoming possessive of her and resenting her work as a prostitute in Swindon, Wiltshire. He left her body in a hedge at Oxo Bottom field in Eastleach, Gloucestershire - later returning to bury her naked in the shallow grave where she lay undiscovered for eight years. And following Halliwell's conviction for murdering Godden on Friday, it can now be reported that he discussed strangulation and the definition of a serial killer with a fellow prisoner. The jury was not told of the account of Ernest Springer, an inmate at HMP Dartmoor with Halliwell in 1986, when the killer was serving a sentence for burglary. In a legal ruling about which evidence could be put before the jury, retired High Court judge Sir John Griffith Williams described what Springer claimed Halliwell said to him. 'The prosecution intends to rely on the following evidence... bad character evidence to prove the defendant's overtly aggressive conduct towards women and his computer searches on the internet for indecent and violent material (and) the evidence of Ernest Springer, with whom the defendant shared a cell at HMP Dartmoor in 1986' he said. 'The defendant was angry and aggressive towards women and talked of having sex with a girl while strangling her and asked how many women one would have to kill to be a serial killer,' the judge wrote in his ruling. In April 2016, prosecutors served a notice to introduce bad character evidence against Halliwell, including his conviction for abducting and murdering Sian O'Callaghan, 22, as she walked home from a night out in Swindon. On Friday Police said they are 'very, very clear' that double murderer Christopher Halliwell has more victims. The taxi driver - who was already serving life for the 2011 murder of Miss O'Callaghan - was yesterday told he will die in jail after he was convicted of murdering Miss Godden in 2003. Speaking after the sentencing hearing, Detective Superintendent Sean Memory said: 'I am also very, very clear there must be other victims out there, whether they are sexual offences or other women that he has taken. 'I can't believe that Becky was his first offence, from being a burglar in the 1980s to a murderer in 2003. There was a significant gap in his offending behaviour. Halliwell murdered Becky Godden (left) years before he killed his second victim, Sian O'Callaghan (right), but Miss Godden's family had to endure a long wait for justice The judge added: 'Your account of the circumstances in which she met her death bears all the hallmarks of a contrived explanation designed to avoid conviction in the hope that the minimum term you are presently serving will not be increased. 'But the account in which you advanced so glibly with little or no regard to the truth made no sense at all. 'I have had the opportunity of observing you throughout the trial and listening to your evidence. I have no doubt that you are a self-centred and domineering individual who wants his own way. You are both calculating and devious.' Father-of-three Halliwell, who smirked at Miss Godden's family when he was convicted this week, stood impassively in the dock during today's hearing. When the judge finished he sentencing remarks, he smugly said 'thank you' before being taken away. Miss Godden's mother Karen Edwards has endured a long wait for justice. But she has refused to criticise the detective who broke the rules to catch Halliwell, instead hailing him a hero The judge had told him: 'You have put the family of Rebecca Godden through similar anguish, first confessing to her murder and then answering no comment to all questions in interview. 'After what must have been hours of trawling through the prosecution papers, you devised a cock and bull story about two drug dealers. 'I cannot add to your sentence for such cynical indifference to the concerns of the families but it is clear to me that there is nothing which can mitigate your sentence. Detective Superintendent Sean Memory says police are clear that more victims of Halliwell are out there 'I sentence you to life imprisonment and direct there will be a whole life order.' Halliwell's confessions to Miss Godden's murder were initially ruled inadmissible because Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher had breached police guidelines on interviewing suspects. The charge of murdering Miss Godden was withdrawn until March this year following an investigation by Wiltshire Police. Former detective Mr Fulcher left the police after he was disciplined over the cautioning issue, but has been hailed a hero by Miss Godden's mother for finding her daughter's body. Mr Fulcher now works as a consultant in Somalia but is writing a book giving his side of the story of the investigation into Halliwell, which is due out next year. Police have said they have 'no doubt' Halliwell could have claimed more victims. The former butcher once asked a fellow prisoner how many women a person had to murder to become a serial killer. Before rising today, the judge praised Miss Godden's family for their 'quiet dignity and courtesy'. Addressing Miss Godden's family, the judge said: 'You have had to live with every parent's nightmare of a missing child and then the discovery that she had been dead for some years, buried naked in a field. Footage released by police shows Halliwell asking for future impunity if he admits the murder Halliwell was finally snared after forensic experts were able to link the soil found on a shovel in his shed to the field in Eastleach, Gloucestershire 'You have been deprived of the opportunity we all want to say farewell to our closest and dearest. And then you have had to live through the criminal processes as Christopher Halliwell was brought eventually to justice. 'There must have been moments when you wondered whether the case would ever be completed. If I may say so, you have behaved throughout with quiet dignity and courtesy. DOUBLE KILLER JOINS ROLL CALL OF BRITAIN'S WORST SERIAL KILLERS, TERRORISTS AND THUGS DOING WHOLE LIFE TERMS Christopher Halliwell joins a grisly who's who of the vilest criminals in Britain. The 52-year-old taxi driver, who killed Becky Godden and Sian O'Callaghan in Swindon, is the most recent recipient of a whole-life order - meaning he will die in prison. He joins the likes of one-eyed police killer Dale Cregan, paedophile Mark Bridger and Moors murderer Ian Brady when he was handed the 'life means life' sentence. According to the Ministry of Justice, 54 other prisoners are serving a whole-life order, although that does not include those serving their terms in secure hospitals. Police killer Dale Cregan and paedophile Mark Bridger are among 'whole-life' prisoners Also on the infamous list is the 'Yorkshire Ripper' Peter Sutcliffe and club bouncer Levi Bellfield, who was handed the term for murdering two young women and trying to murder a third. Steve Wright will also die behind bars for the murders of five prostitutes in Ipswich, as will Michael Adebolajo, one of the two murderers of soldier Lee Rigby. There are only two woman on the list. Serial killer Rose West was convicted in 1995 of a murder spree with husband Fred at the Cromwell Street 'House of Horrors' in Gloucester. She is joined by Joanna Dennehy who was described in court as 'arguably the most dangerous female prisoner in custody'. She was jailed at the Old Bailey in February 2014 for murdering three men and stabbing two more. There are other notorious killers who have not been given a whole-life tariff - including Soham murderer Ian Huntley, who is serving a 40-year minimum term for killing 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2003. Joanna Dennehy, who was given a whole life term for murdering three men and stabbing two more, has been described as 'the most dangerous female prisoner in custody' While Stuart Hazell, who killed schoolgirl Tia Sharp and hid her body in the loft of the home he shared with her grandmother, was given a 38-year minimum term. In 2013 the validity of whole life orders was thrown into turmoil after the European Court of Human Rights ruled prisoners must have the right to review for it to fit in with human rights laws. But the Court of Appeal later said murderers who commit the most 'heinous' of crimes can be sent to prison for the rest of their lives, ruling that the statutory scheme enacted by Parliament which enabled judges to pass whole-life orders was 'entirely compatible' with the European Convention on Human Rights. Advertisement Detective who got confession out of Halliwell insists he did the 'right and moral thing' despite his failure to caution delaying justice Former detective superintendent Steve Fulcher is to release a book telling his side of the story on the investigation A top detective who lost his job after he caught Christopher Halliwell has said the killer's conviction has vindicated his actions. Halliwell confessed to Becky Godden's murder and led police to the exact spot where she had laid in a shallow grave for eight years. But the crucial confession was ruled inadmissible by a judge because Halliwell had not been cautioned beforehand. The technicality saw former Det Supt Steve Fulcher disciplined for misconduct and resign in disgrace. But defiant Mr Fulcher has said Halliwell's conviction this week proved he had done the 'right thing' in stopping a killer who may have gone on to murder more women. He insisted he had no regrets. He said after the verdict: 'Halliwell is an evil and depraved violator of women. I caught a serial killer, preventing any further girls being murdered. 'I remain convinced that the action that I took in allowing Halliwell to take me to the bodies of both Sian and Becky, was the right and moral thing to do. 'It is perfectly clear that, had I not acted as I did, neither Sian nor Becky would ever have been found and Halliwell would be free to abduct and kill other girls.' The police officer who led the investigation says he thinks Halliwell (pictured) killed others Miss Godden's mother, Karen Edwards, paid tribute to the former detective outside Bristol Crown Court earlier this week and criticised the way he was treated. She said: 'I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart Steve Fulcher for bringing my little girl home. 'I will also respect him and will be indebted to him for making that moral decision as a police officer but he should have never have suffered the terrible consequences, loss of reputation and career for doing such a thing.' The Department of Canadian Heritage is warning people to not take any selfies during Prince William and Kate's official visit this month and the Government of Canada has even shared a Meeting the Royal Family etiquette guide. In reference to the couples visit with their children George and Charlotte through B.C. and Yukon, The Department of Canadian Heritage, has stated selfies wont be possible because they just take too much time. But speaking to local reporters, Jennifer Gehmair, of the Yukon governments tourism department, said it was more about not turning your back on the royals. Scroll down for video Preparations continue at the British Columbia Legislative Assembly in Victoria, Canada ahead of the arrival of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge The royal family are to arrive today and The Department of Canadian Heritage is warning people to not take any selfies Media will be having a field day trying to capture the royal family but Canada will not fail to try and impress them and is making sure everyone is polite with its etiquette guide The red carpet has already been laid out for the family who will be met at the airport Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau The gates of Government House, in Victoria, Canada, where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will stay with Prince George and Princess Charlotte during their visit to Canada She commented: Turning your back to the Duke and Duchess and taking a selfie is discouraged if at all possible. I know it's fun to do, but they much would rather see your face. Prince William and Kate have never displayed a dislike for selfies, including one taken by a recent cheeky builder, Sam Wayne, on their visit to Cornwall. But some sources claim the Queen is not too sure about the craze. Prince William and Kate were left smiling on a visit to Cornwall when this cheeky builder Sam Wayne lined up for a selfie but people in Canada are being told to not take any Some sources claim the Queen does not like the popular craze which has seen, children, adults and hockey players jump at the chance of a selfie with Her Majesty According to the etiquette guide issued by the Canadian Government people should address their royal visitors as Your Royal Highness initially and Sir/Ma'am if the conversation continues - not Kate! Referring to how to dress the guide claims 'members of the Royal Family do not wish anyone to be put to unnecessary expense by buying special clothes, hats or gloves. But one should not wear a hat to functions after 6.30pm and if you chose to wear gloves they should not be taken off before the wearer is presented to the guests.' The guidelines also describe how to bow or curtsy, men should bow at the neck just a little more than a head nod and women putting their right foot behind their left heel should curtsy by bending at the knees slightly. At home: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are returning to Canada but this time with their family, Prince George and Princess Charlotte Skiing: It is the first royal tour for 16-month-old Charlotte who like her brother continues to capture our hearts ROYAL ETIQUETTE GUIDE No selfies! Don't call them by their first names but 'Your Royal Highness'. Bow, curtsy or shake hands. Dress smartly but don't spend too much money on your outfit! Hats must not be worn to evening functions. Gloves are not essential but if you wear them don't remove them until you have been introduced. In toasts, repeat the word Queen, and then drink. No selfies: Children, adults and even hockey players have been seen trying to get the Queen in their selfies Advertisement The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge begin their tour of Canada today accompanied by their two young children. William and Kate will introduce Prince George, aged three, and 16-month-old Princess Charlotte to the Commonwealth country during the eight-day visit. On a trip to New Zealand Prince George, who is now three, stole the limelight from his mother and father whenever he made an appearance All eyes will be on Princess Charlotte and her brother and what they both get up to on this royal tour After the aircraft touches down in Victoria, British Columbia, the Duchess will come face to face with another style icon, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, wife of the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. THE DUKE AND DUCHESS'S ROYAL TOUR OF CANADA 2016 24th September: Victoria, British Columbia 25th September: Vancouver, British Columbia 26th September: Bella Bella and Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia and Victoria, British Columbia 27th September: Kelowna, British Columbia and Whitehorse, Yukon 28th September: Whitehorse and Carcross, Yukon 29th September: Victoria, British Columbia 30th September: Haida Gwaii, British Columbia 1st October: Victoria, British Columbia Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge in Canada in 2011 Advertisement Highlights of the trip to Canada's east coast will see William and Kate experience the stunning natural world of the province of British Columbia and the territory of Yukon, where they will go fishing, mountain biking, sightseeing and meet First Nations communities. As a contrast they will also learn how the country is dealing with social problems like mental health issues, the refugee fallout from the Syrian conflict and drug and alcohol addiction among mothers, during visits to organisations and projects. The tour of Canada will be Charlotte's first official royal visit, but George travelled to Australia and New Zealand with his parents in 2014 when he was nine months old. He stole the limelight from his mother and father whenever he made an appearance - joining a playgroup in the New Zealand capital Wellington and enjoying a family trip to the zoo in Sydney. As the Commonwealth country is one of the Queen's 16 realms - nations where the monarch is head of state - the visit will be a homecoming for the Cambridges. The country's Globe And Mail newspaper has described the trip as a "match made in paparazzi heaven, featuring Prince William, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and their equally telegenic families''. Canada's prime minister invited the Cambridges to visit in July and the politician and wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau who have three children - eight-year-old Xavier, seven-year-old Ella-Grace and two-year-old Hadrien - are expected to join the royal couple for a number of events. The royal couple and their children will arrive late this evening, UK time, in a Royal Canadian Air Force jet which will touch down in Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. William and Kate will travel with a 12-strong entourage - three private secretaries, a communications team of four, tour secretary, operations manager, personal assistant, and - paid for privately - a hairdresser and nanny. Private Secretary Sophie Agnew and the Duchess of Cambridge's PA and Stylist Natasha Archer: William and Kate will travel with a 12-strong entourage - three private secretaries, a communications team of four, tour secretary, operations manager, personal assistant, and - paid for privately - a hairdresser and nanny Royal visit stops: Lost Lagoon, Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Royal visit stops: Cablecar Grouse Mountain Vancouver Canada They will receive an official welcome at the British Columbia Parliament Buildings in Victoria after their arrival and later meet with senior Canadian leaders at Government House where they will be based for their visit. Tomorrow the royal couple will travel to nearby Vancouver by sea plane where they will carry out a day of engagements. They will visit the Immigration Services Society of British Columbia where they will meet some of the thousands of Syrian refuges who have arrived from UNHCR camps and at a separate event learn about an outreach programme providing health and social services support to pregnant women and mothers with drug and alcohol issues. WHAT WILL THEY GET UP TO? Will and Kate on previous tour to Canada in 2011 are expected to do similar activities on this visit Trip starts in Victoria before moving on to Vancouver and a 400km nature reserve where they can spot Kermode bears. Tour of Kelowna and Yukon territories, with volleyball match and mountain biking. Other activities include canoeing, fishing and trip on a historic tall ship. George and Charlotte will attend a tea party on Thursday joined by children of Canadas PM Justin Trudeau and his former television presenter wife, Sophie. Tour will offer the chance to try poutine chips slathered in gravy and cheese curds and game meat such as boar and bison. The Duchesss wardrobe is expected to range from British brands like Alexander McQueen to Canadian designer Erdem Kate is thought to be packing her form-fitting white ski jacket (by brand E and O, with similar styles costing upwards of 500), as well as the 21.99 printed Gap trousers recently worn in Cornwall. Royal visit stops: Government House grounds, Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada Shell take walkable wedges, including her 45 Fleur shoes from Monsoon, plus Le Chameau wellies (170), 475 Penelope Chilvers riding boots and Sebago Bala boat shoes (94.99) for more active engagements. Joining the pair are royal hairdresser Amanda Cook-Tucker, 53, and supernanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borallo, 45. The cost of royal tours isnt revealed beforehand, but their 2011 Canadian trip cost around 690,000 (paid for by the hosts). Royal visit stops: The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver BC Canada Advertisement A Kensington Palace spokesman said: ''The tour will see them take in everything from the bustling global city of Vancouver - population 2.5 million - to the r emote and beautiful Bella Bella, home to less than 2,000 people. Five prison guards have been injured, and a prisoner left fighting for his life after a 'critical incident' at a high security men's prison in Adelaide's north. An emergency was declared at Yatala Labour Prison late on Friday night after a prisoner in his late 20s allegedly assaulted prison staff. Five guards were injured with two a man and a woman - suffering from facial fractures, according to The Advertiser. Adelaide's toughest jail, the Yatala Labout Prison (pictured) is a high-security men's prison located in the north-eastern part of the northern suburb Northfield Emergency services were called to the South Australian prison about 11.30pm on Friday, when they were called about a 'medical emergency'. Correctional Services Department chief executive David Brown said the incident happened in the admissions area of Yatala, where he was waiting to appear via videolink in court. 'The prisoner involved in the incident was brought under control by responding staff,' he said. Five guards from Yatala Labour Prison (pictured) were injured, two a man and a woman - suffering from facial fractures 'In the course of the incident, a medical emergency ensued and the correctional staff applied immediate first aid to the prisoner and sought assistance from on-site medical staff.' He said the prisoner was in a critical condition and was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital. An SA Ambulance spokesperson said a man suffering a cardiac arrest was taken to hospital, but it was not confirmed this was the prisoner. Correctional Services Department chief executive David Brown (pictured) said the incident happened in the admissions area of Yatala, where he was waiting to appear via videolink in court Mr Brown said he could not comment any further due to the 'medical emergency'. 'What I can say is that, I personally, and the officers of my department, understand and take very seriously our responsibilities where a use of force is required to bring a dangerous situation under control,' he said. The Correctional Services Department chief executive confirmed the prisoner remained in a 'serious condition' in hospital and his next of kin had been notified. 'I'm very concerned about the physical and mental health of my staff involved in this critical incident' Mr Brown said While the prisoner sustained the most serious injuries in the assault, Mr Brown said he was concerned for the health of his staff, two of whom suffered facial fractures and one a shoulder injury. 'I'm very concerned about the physical and mental health of my staff involved in this critical incident,' he said. Mr Brown did not comment on what lead to the assault, or whether his staff acted with inappropriate force. But he confirmed no weapons were used. Premier Weatherill denied the violence was the result of a distressed and over-crowded prison system Since the incident on Friday, Major Crime detectives and state premier Jay Weatherill have became involved. Premier Weatherill denied the violence was the result of a distressed and over-crowded prison system. He pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply cocaine and money laundering 18 members of his gang were sent to prison after getting caught in 2010 He fled to Greece and was captured after a six year manhunt in December Mugshot: one of the UK's most wanted criminals-Simon Dutton One of the country's most wanted men - who tried to flood Greater Manchester's streets with cocaine - has been jailed for 14 years following a six-year manhunt. Simon Dutton was described by the National Crime Agency (NCA) as 'dangerous and violent' and was finally tracked down in Greece. The 39-year-old was snared following an investigation into the trafficking of cocaine from Spain into the north west of England. He had a 'cocaine factory' in Stockport, which was raided in 2009, and was planning to ship huge quantities of the class A drug into Greater Manchester. When Dutton was caught in December, he told Greek police he was a Romanian national, before then claiming he was from Bulgaria. The NCA teamed up with Greater Manchester Police and Cheshire Constabulary to bring down the gang kingpin, who has now been jailed for 14 years at Liverpool Crown Court. Dutton, of Manorfield Close, Heaton, Bolton, admitted conspiring to supply cocaine and money laundering. Dutton used an unsuspecting courier service to import freight into the UK from Spain between July and September 2009 Cocaine found in one of Dutton's properties after a police raid. He is was convicted of conspiring to sell illegal drugs in Manchester He used an unsuspecting courier service to import freight into the UK from Spain between July and September 2009, concealing cocaine in the shipments. Dutton and his associates also set up a company in Leeds to enable the shipments to enter Britain, before moving them to a Stockport warehouse and other locations across the region. In September 2009, officers intercepted 10.5kg of cocaine with a street value of 1.5m stashed in the air conditioning units. When police searched five properties across Greater Manchester linked to Dutton, they found large quantities of cocaine, drug-making equipment, weapons, cash and false documentation. The rest of Dutton's gang were arrested in April 2010 and convicted at Liverpool Crown Court. In total, 18 people were convicted as part of the investigation and sentenced to over 170 years in prison. Dutton, sporting a longer hairstyle than normal, is seen getting taken away by Greek police after getting arrested in December After his gang members were arrested, Dutton evaded capture and fled the UK, before a European arrest warrant was issued. He used a forged Irish passport to travel around the continent undetected around 30 times - and set up an account in a false name to launder cash. According to the National Crime Agency his name in his his Irish passport was John Patrick McManus which allowed him to travel around Europe undetected around 30 times. Dutton was finally arrested on December 27 after being traced to a hotel in Thessaloniki. Dutton fled to Europe after 18 people members of his drug ring were sentenced to over 170 years in prison in connection to drug gang. Currency, false documentation and tech were found during police raids of his properties He was extradited in February, six years after fleeing the UK. GMP Detective Sergeant Colin Shackleton said: 'Dutton and his associates led lavish lifestyles living well beyond their means and purchasing expensively furnished houses, high-powered cars, jewellery and foreign holidays using the proceeds of their illicit enterprise.' The hacking group wants to reveal details on how leading centre-ground Labour figures plotted against Jeremy Corbyn (right) Wikileaks is offering 20,000 to anyone who can dig up information on Labour officials who tried to derail Jeremy Corbyn becoming leader for the second time. The hacking group wants to reveal details on how leading centre-ground Labour figures plotted against the veteran far-left politician. WikiLeaks bosses needs hackers and political insiders to investigate how 'over 3,000 members or supporters' were allegedly 'purged' from the party and unable to vote for Mr Corbyn in today's leadership election. Mr Corbyn won 313,209 votes in a crushing victory against outsider Owen Smith MP. The leadership contest was triggered after enough MPs nominated Angela Eagle, the former shadow business secretary, for the top position. The statement reads: 'Wikileaks is now moving on to the machinations of top officials in the UK Labour Party to tilt the scales against the membership-elected leader Jeremy Corbyn in favour of his challengers.' WikiLeaks, founded by Julian Assange, exposed how US Democratic Party bosses conspired against left-winger Bernie Sanders in the fight with Hillary Clinton for presidential candidacy. Democratic party chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned following the publication of 19,000 emails sourced in the hack. WikiLeaks bosses needs hackers and political insiders to investigate how 'over 3,000 members or supporters' were allegedly 'purged' from the party The Wikileaks statement continued: 'Like officials at the top of the Democratic Party, those in the Labour Party apparatus are meant to be neutral in the process of electing leadership candidates. But it is clear this has not been the case. The scales are being tilted.' 'Wikileaks is offering a 20,000 reward for information which will help Labour Party members understand how their top party officials are attempting to undermine their democratic will. 'We are particularly interested in #LabourLeaks information about strategising at the highest levels of the Labour Party and its National Executive Committee.' WikiLeaks was founded by Julian Assange (pictured) Mr Corbyn was first elected in a landslide result which shocked the Labour Party last September after he secured more than 250,000 votes. Earlier this month Sweden's Court of Appeal refused a bid by Mr Julian Assange to have his sex assault case 'set aside', saying no new information has emerged. The decision means that the arrest warrant stands for the 45-year-old Australian, who has avoided extradition to Sweden by hiding out at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since 2012. It comes as it emerged an Ecuadorian official will interview Mr Assange on behalf of Swedish prosecutors next month in the embassy. A cyclist attempted CPR but he was later pronounced dead by paramedics The gang chased and beat the 31-year-old, leaving him in a pool of blood Two men and a teenage boy have been arrested in connection with the murder of a businessman beaten to death following a row at chicken shop. Czech national Zdenek Makaross, which can be shortened to Makar, died after allegedly being hit over the head with a heavy bike chain and lock and then kicked outside a fried chicken shop in East India Dock Road on Wednesday. The Czech national living in Poplar, East London, known as Zed worked for high-end catering and events firm Harbour and Jones and died shortly after midnight. Flowers and photographs of the 31-year-old now lie outside the spot where he was attacked and killed Detectives say two men, aged 19 and 29, and a 16-year-old boy were arrested on suspicion of murder on Friday. All three were taken to separate police stations and remain in custody for questioning. Officers are awaiting formal identification but have named the victim as 31-year-old Zdenek Makar, and say next of kin have been informed. A post-mortem carried out on Friday gave the cause of death as as traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: 'On Wednesday, 21 September police were called by the London Ambulance Service shortly before midnight to reports of an injured man close to All Saints DLR station by East India Dock Road, E14. 'Officers attended and Zdenek was pronounced dead at the scene at 00:22hrs. 'At this early stage, it is believed Zdenek was involved in an altercation with a group of males inside Perfect Fried Chicken in East India Dock Road. Tributes have been paid to businessman Zdenek Makar who lost his life after a petty row 'He was then followed down the street and attacked. 'Detectives continue to appeal for anyone who was in the area who witnessed the events prior to attack or the incident itself. They retain an open mind as to the motive for the attack.' The smartly dressed Makar was struck across the back of the head with a bicycle lock and kicked repeatedly as he lay on the ground. Just moments earlier, he had been warned 'you shouldn't have spoken to him like that' after exchanging insults with one of the youths in the fried chicken shop. The chilling attack is the latest example of soaring youth violence in London, with many criminals increasingly willing to carry weapons. Three males, including a 16-year-old boy, have been arrested in connection wth the bloody chicken shop brawl in in east London Senior police officers have warned it has hit a four-year high as numbers of teenage offenders and victims spiral out of control Police believe he was on his way home from an event with his job when he stopped to pick up a takeaway. Witnesses described how he exchanged 'a few words' with a teenager as he waited for his order before being threatened by an older man. One worker said an older man then put his arm around his neck and spoke to him, causing Mr Makaross to put his hands in the air and appear frightened. He was followed outside before being hit over the back of the head with a heavy metal bike chain. His attackers escaped on a silver BMX bicycle which had pegs attached to the rear wheels so it could carry two people. Friends and colleagues of the businessman visited the scene and left tributes to Zed in Poplar A friend lights candles at a vigil to Zed in East India dock. Zed's friends described him as having a 'huge heart' Another friend said he would be remembered for his smile and positivity. Friends gathered in memory of the 31-year-old on Friday A cyclist came to Mr Makaross's aid after finding him lying in a pool of blood on a footbridge yards from the takeaway. But despite frantic efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead at 12.20am on Thursday. The takeaway owner said: 'They were all waiting for chicken when they started swearing at each other. Things got heated but there wasn't any physical violence, it was all over quite quickly. There wasn't any pushing or shoving. Friends lit candles and lay flowers next to pictures of their friend Zed, who was beaten to death over a 'trivial' row 'We gave them their food and everyone then left, we had no idea what would happen. The man was in a suit and seemed okay, he said he was going home. It just seemed like an argument, we get it all the time.' Another witness said: 'It looked like they had hit him in the back of the head with this bike chain. 'One of them had a bike lock chain and they had hit him with it, I think in the back of the head. He was lying on the floor and he had a wound on his head. There was a lot of blood, they were kicking him. There were two guys, they had hoods up. 'Before anyone could stop them they rode away. This is a normal thing to happen in Tower Hamlets. The body was still there in the morning when I woke up.' Zed was brutally beaten to death with a bike chain after buying a chicken meal from a takeaway A city businessman was chased along a street and then beaten to death with a metal chain by a gang of teenagers on BMX bikes Christopher Rawlins, who runs a local food bank, said he wanted those who killed him to 'rot in hell'. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'Detectives continue to appeal for information and witnesses following the murder of a man in Poplar. 'At this early stage, it is believed the victim was involved in an altercation with a group of males inside Perfect Fried Chicken in East India Dock Road. 'The victim was then followed down the street and attacked. 'Detectives continue to appeal for anyone who was in the area who witnessed the events prior to attack or the incident itself. 'They retain an open mind as to the motive for the attack.' A worker at Perfect Fried Chicken (pictured), where the incident occurred, had started arguing with another man inside the shop as they waited for their food These are the heartbreaking scenes in Syria's battleground city of Aleppo, where fresh airstrikes have toppled buildings and killed at least 25 people after efforts to revive a ceasefire collapsed. Rebel-held districts in the east of the city came under intense air and artillery fire for a fifth night on Saturday. The United Nations warned today that more than two million civilians have been left without water after heavy Syrian and Russian bombardment damaged a pumping station, and rebels shut another. Scroll down for video A Syrian boy, who lost a baby brother in the strike, being treated in a makeshift hospital in Aleppo following intense bombing by Syrian and Russian forces on Saturday The young boy was left bloodied and in need of treatment after an intense bombing raid which is believed to have killed at least 32 people The wounded small boy on the hospital bed lost a baby brother when an air strike devastated their family's apartment in the Bab al-Nayrab district. 'We were home when a missile crashed into our road,' said their father, Nizar, standing red-eyed and holding back tears outside what remained of their house. 'Half of the building just caved in and our baby was hit on the head. He died on the spot,' said the father, his youngest child lying on the ground wrapped in a blanket to conceal the head injury from his mother. 'I'm waiting for relatives to finish digging his grave so I can bury him,' he said. Smoke rising after Russian airstrikes hit a thread factory in the al-Qasimiye neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria Wounded Syrians receive medical treatment at a field hospital after Syrian and Russian army carried out an airstrike on a residential area at Bustan Al-Qasr neighborhood Among those killed were seven people queuing to buy yoghurt at a market in the Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood The death toll from the latest bombing stands at 32, but the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights expects this to rise because people remain trapped under rubble Reports from the scene say a pool of blood and body parts was left strewn at the marketplace, and civil defence services have been left overwhelmed by the crisis There were scenes of devastation and horror in the makeshift hospitals, as people received treatment for horrific wounds The death toll from the latest bombing stands at 32, but the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights expects this to rise because people remain trapped under rubble. Among those killed were seven people queuing to buy yoghurt at a market in the Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, which sits along the front line that divides the government-held west from the rebel-held east of the city. Reports from the scene say a pool of blood and body parts was left strewn at the marketplace, and civil defence services have been left overwhelmed by the crisis. It is estimated that 32 people died in Saturday's bombing, a day after 47 were killed in an intense attack on rebel-held eastern Aleppo Members of the White Helmets group remove a dead body from under the rubble after air strikes in Aleppo on Saturday It comes after at least 47 people were killed in heavy bombing on Friday, including seven children, the Observatory has stated Witnesses described a missile producing earthquake-like tremors and razing buildings down to basement level It comes after at least 47 people were killed in heavy bombing on Friday, including seven children, the Observatory has stated. Whole streets in the Al-Kalasseh and Bustan al-Qasr have been destroyed, and unexploded rockets remain buried in the roads. Witnesses described a missile producing earthquake-like tremors and razing buildings down to basement level, where many civilians were sheltered from the bombing. This photo, released by the Syrian Defense Group known as the White Helmets, shows heavily damaged buildings following Saturday's bombing Doctors at one of the last functioning hospitals said they were being forced to carry out swift amputations just to keep survivors alive Doctors at one of the last functioning hospitals said they were being forced to carry out swift amputations just to keep survivors alive. 'This morning alone we had 60 wounded come in,' said Ahmed, a doctor who asked not to be fully identified out of fear for his life and for the hospital under persistent bombing and air strikes since a new offensive was unleashed on Thursday. 'We're carrying out a large number of amputations just so they survive because otherwise we don't have the means to treat them,' he said. 'Many of the wounded are dying before our eyes - we're helpless,' added the doctor, circled by men and children stretched out in pain on the floor. A Syrian man receives treatment at a makeshift hospital following the strikes, which are currently believed to have killed 32 people Buildings were destroyed during the intense air strikes by Syrian and Russian forces Several bases belonging to the civil defence organisation known as the White Helmets were damaged in Friday's bombing, and the group has been left overwhelmed by the scale of the destruction. The group says it has just two fire engines left serving the whole of east Aleppo which, like its ambulances, are struggling to move around the city. With no electricity or fuel for generators, the streets of Aleppo are pitch black and difficult to navigate at night, and the fuel shortage has also made it tough to fill up vehicles. A man on a hospital bed, as humanitarian workers in the battleground Syrian city warn they are overwhelmed following five nights of bombings A destroyed ambulance following air raids in rebel-controlled east Aleppo, as rescue teams warn they have been overwhelmed In many places, rubble strewn across streets has rendered them impassable and has effectively sealed off neighbourhoods to traffic. On Saturday morning, the streets were nearly empty, with just a few residents out looking for bread. The UN children's agency UNICEF has said the loss of mains supply posed serious health risks in rebel-held areas as the only alternative source of drinking water was from highly contaminated wells. Members of the Syrian Defence White Helmets rescue people injured by the air strikes, amid fears the death toll from the latest bombing raid will rise Desperate medics help a man who suffered serious injuries during Saturday's bombing on rebel-held areas of east Aleppo, in northern Syria UNICEF representative in Syria, Hanaa Singer, said intense attacks damaged the Bab al-Nairab station, which supplies water to 250,000 people in the rebel-held east. Singer said that in retaliation, the Suleiman al-Halabi pumping station, also located in the rebel-held east, was switched off cutting water to 1.5 million people in government-held western parts of the city. 'Depriving children of water puts them at risk of catastrophic outbreaks of water-borne diseases,' Singer warned in a statement. Blood stains the floor in a makeshift hospital in Aleppo, where the injured are treated by rescue teams who say they have not got the resources to cope A UNICEF statement said: 'It is critical for children's survival that all parties to the conflict stop attacks on water infrastructure, provide access to assess and repair damage to Bab al-Nayrab station, and switch the water back on at the Suleiman al-Halabi station.' Talks to revive a ceasefire, which was negotiated between Washington and Moscow, brought a few days of respite earlier this month, collapsed. Devastating: Whole streets have been destroyed, say humanitarian groups on the ground in Aleppo after a fifth night of bombing in rebel-held areas to the east of the city A man lies on the floor of a makeshift hospital after intense bombing, following the Syrian army's announcement that it intended to retake the entire city On Thursday the Syrian army announced an operation to retake all of Aleppo, urging civilians in the east to distance themselves from 'terrorists' and promising them safe passage to government-controlled areas. US Secretary of State John Kerry met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov again in New York on Friday to try to restore the ceasefire, but without success. Kerry said they had made 'a little bit of progress' on resolving their differences over the Syrian crisis. A Syrian man surveys a heavily damaged building after a fresh bombing raid in Aleppo which claimed at least 32 lives US Secretary of State John Kerry (left) held talks with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday 'We're evaluating some mutual ideas in a constructive way, period,' he told reporters at the United Nations. But Lavrov said that it would be 'senseless' to impose a new truce because the United States had failed to separate moderate rebel groups from jihadists. The 250,000 people living in the east of the city have been under near-continous siege since being encircled by government troops in July. The Observatory said that regime forces had captured Handarat Camp, located just north of Aleppo, after heavy clashes and multiple Russian air strikes. Pauline Hanson has opened up about her stance on equality, claiming she isn't against homosexual people but suggested that Australians should move to a country where same-sex marriage is legal. 'If you feel so strongly about it, I'm sure you can move to that country and then you can have that marriage,' she said in a radio interview on Saturday. Speaking to the Melbourne gay and lesbian radio Joy FM, she said she 'had a lot of gay friends and associated with the gays and I've even worked with gays'. The One Nation leader said she believed the gay and lesbian community did not require a marriage certificate and they should be content with civil ceremonies. She explained the homosexual people who she had associated with have told her 'we agree with you Pauline, we don't believe in marriage between the gays'. 'So not all gay people agree with the marriage either,' she said. Scroll down for video Pauline Hanson has opened up about equality, claiming she isn't against homosexual people but suggested that Australians should move to a country where same-sex marriage is legal The outspoken politician said she would vote for same-sex marriage legislation in the Senate if that's what the Australian public say they want in a plebiscite. 'Yes, I may be old fashion for my views but if you feel so strongly about this, then let's put it to the plebiscite, let the people decide,' she said. Senator Hanson said she didn't personally favour gay marriage but if the people of Australia wanted marriage equality plebiscite, she said she would follow suit. 'I would support that because people have had their say,' she said. 'I'd give it my total support because I'm there as the people's representative. I believe we've got to start listening to the majority and not the minority.' The One Nation leader said she believed the gay and lesbian community did not require a marriage certificate and they should be content with civil ceremonies The Queensland senator claimed she doesn't agree with homosexual people who are 'wanting to change my way of thinking'. 'I agree that everyone has the right to peace and harmony, but the gays and lesbians are now wanting to change my way of thinking, who I am,' she said. 'I've come from a time when there was no discussions about gay marriage or gays and lesbians living together. That's my background, that's what I was grown up with. 'You want to take something away from the majority of society that we've grown up with. Why do you want to take the word marriage?' She also opened up about her stance on equality, claiming she doesn't agree with homosexual people who are 'wanting to change my way of thinking' Senator Hanson suggests the plebiscite be held in conjunction with the next federal election in around three years' time. She also says fears that the proposed plebiscite would produce an outpouring of hate directed at gays and lesbians are overblown. Former Tory chairman Sir Eric Pickles rejoiced at the victory of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader today. The Conservative grandee shares a view held by many of the Labour benches that Mr Corbyn's re-election is a huge boost to the prospects of extended Tory rule. Gerry Adams, the president of Irish republican party Sinn Fein, was among the first to tweet congratulations while former Ukip leader Nigel Farage also revealed his delight. Mr Corbyn's election by a massive majority was confirmed after a bruising summer-long leadership contest today. Former Tory chairman Eric Pickles 'rejoiced' at the easy re-election of Jeremy Corbyn today Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams was among the very first to offer his congratulations to Mr Corbyn after the results emerged No one was happier than the massed ranks left wing activists - condemned by many Labour MPs as entryists - at the results announced just before noon today. The glee of Mr Corbyn's supporters was matched only by the glum response of internal opponents to the Labour leader. One man who stood for the party at the 2015 general election chopped up his membership card as the results were announced. And Jamie Reed, who famously resigned from the Labour front bench as Mr Corbyn's first election was announced last year, updated his status to reveal 'painting the bathroom'. Richard Wilson stood for the Labour Party at the 2015 General Election but chopped up his membership card this afternoon in protest at Mr Corbyn's re-election Ex Ukip leader Nigel Farage was another of Labour's opponents delighted by today's results In his victory speech in Liverpool Mr Corbyn said he wanted to bring the party together. 'Let's wipe the slate clean from today and get on with the work we have got to do as a party together,' he said. Mr Corbyn sought to distance him from a wave of anti-Semitism and abuse that has been condemned by rebels. He said such behaviour was 'not his way and not the Labour way'. Louise Davis said used a GIF of Rachel from Friends to claim the results meant 'closure' for Labour's civil war User KPS said he was 'thrilled' Mr Corbyn had secured such a comprehensive victory and he urged Labour MPs to 'put up or shut up' Dave Burns said Mr Corbyn could now go after Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson with his renewed mandate as Labour leader A Twitter user called Jacquina said she had kept her Twitter profile private during the leadership election to try and avoid being purged from the selectorate Defeated candidate Owen Smith said it 'falls primarily' to Mr Corbyn to 'heal those divisions and to unite our movement'. 'We have to turn round our dire opinion poll ratings and take on this right wing, failing Tory Government. Jeremy has won this contest. He now has to win the country and he will have my support in trying to do so,' he added. Some MPs yesterday said they were already planning another leadership challenge next year the earliest possible opportunity under Labour's rules. One former minister said: 'The result looks like it it's going to be disappointing, but we will just keep going until we get rid of him.' Jamie Reed, who resigned the front bench as Mr Corbyn gave his victory speech a year ago was today busy painting his bathroom instead of watching the results Merkel's spokesman said that Germany owed him After the war he dedicated his life to The German chancellor met Max Mannheimer in May last year (pictured) A Holocaust survivor who was honoured by Angela Merkel after he dedicated his life in post-war Germany to fighting anti-semitism has died aged 96. The German chancellor met Max Mannheimer in May last year as part of a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the closing of Dachau concentration camp. Her spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said on Twitter that she was mourning his death, adding that 'we owe him gratitude.' Mannheimer spent two years being held in different death camps, including Auschwitz. Most of his family was murdered during the Holocaust. After the end of the Third Reich in 1945, Mannheimer dedicated his life to talking about the horrors he experienced. He also became the head of the community of former prisoners of the Dachau concentration camp, in southern Germany. German news agencies report that Mannheimer died on Friday at a Munich hospital. No cause of death was given. Police have released images of people wanted for looting during the ongoing protests in Charlotte, including a young white woman who allegedly smashed up a sandwich shop. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department tweeted out pictures of people wanted for looting in the city over the past few days, after chaos broke out in the streets following the shooting death of Keith Lamont Scott by police on Tuesday. The most recent tweet, which was published on Friday night, shows young white woman Savanna Lee Jones. Savanna Lee Jones (pictured) is one of the people Charlotte Police have released pictures of in relation to looting during the current protests in the city 'Another suspect Identified and charged: Savanna Lee Jones is wanted in connection with the damage and looting at Jimmy John's,' the tweet read. It also had two images of Jones - one of her standing on the street and another that appeared to be a mugshot. One of the other five people identified by police was young white man Ian Bowzer of Charlotte. Photos shared by police showed him appearing to kick in a glass door or window. There were other broken windows in the picture. Ian Bowzer (pictured) of Charlotte is another person police are looking for in connection to looting in the city Marcellis McKenzie is also wanted by police for 'damage and looting at Buffalo Wild Wings', according to CMPD 'Identified and charged: Ian Bowzer of Charlotte is charged with damage to property in connection with doors kicked in at Hyatt House,' CMPD's tweet read. Police have also released pictures of four black men wanted for looting in Charlotte, Jamil Gill, Daniel Baker, Dejuante Marina, and Marcellis McKenzie. Protesters hit the streets for a fourth night in a row on Friday, with police saying it remained mostly peaceful. Dozens of armed National Guardsmen took up positions on street corners in Charlotte, North Carolina. Daniel Baker (left) and Dejuante Marina (right) are both wanted after there was looting at a Jimmy John's shop Jamil Gill (pictured) is also suspected by Charlotte police of looting during the protests in the city There have been protests on the streets in Charlotte since the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott by police on Tuesday Among the National Guard troops and Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers patrolling the downtown streets was a Greensboro church choir literally sounding a call for peace. A choir from the Citadel Church in Greensboro took over a street corner and began two hours of singing spirituals Friday night, drawing a crowd of clergy and curious onlookers who were moved enough by the songs to clap along. On Thursday night those protesting in the streets were ramping up pressure on police to release footage of the shooting of Scott. Protesters are seen marching on Friday, carrying banners and signs as they walked through the city in Charlotte Thousands of people have taken to the streets in recent days, forcing the local government to declare a state of emergency A pickup truck carries Charlotte police officers through the streets of the city as they follow demonstrators marching to protest Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott Demonstrators chanted 'release the tape' and 'we want the tape' while briefly blocking an intersection near Bank of America headquarters and later climbing the steps in front of the city government center. Later, several dozen demonstrators climbed onto an interstate highway through the city, but they were pushed back by police in riot gear. President Obama used a code name to communicate with Hillary Clinton on her controversial email server in 2012 - appearing to contradict claims he 'found out at the same time as everybody else'. According to FBI investigators, Clinton's top aide Huma Abedin understood the significance of this immediately when told during questioning and exclaimed, 'How is that not classified?'. Indeed, documents released by the FBI on Friday reveal that when Abedin learned her boss had allegedly exchanged messages with the president on an un-secure channel, using a pseudonym to protect his identity, she demanded her own copies. This was presumably to cover her own back in case top secret information had been discussed, which would potentially be criminal. 'This exchange strongly suggests Clinton and the president knowingly discussed classified material in an unclassified setting and hence broke the law,' Raj Shah, the research director at the Republican National Committee, told the New York Post. The White House knew Hillary Clinton used a private email account and President Obama used a pseudonym to communicate with her, new FBI documents reveal Clinton aide Huma Abedin revealed to the FBI that the White House had to be informed when the Democratic presidential nominee changed her primary email address. The White House server could only receive emails from designated accounts and one of them had to be Clinton's, who was Secretary of State at the time. Obama claimed in March 2014 that he only found out Clinton was using a private account for official State Department business through a New York Times report. The president told CBS News that he found out about the emails 'the same time everybody else learned it through news reports'. Abedin revealed to the FBI that she did not know what Obama's pseudonym was and did not recognize his email address when she was shown an exchange between Clinton and the president in 2012. The June 2012 exchange, which took place on Clinton's private account, had the subject 'Re: Congratulations!', according to the Daily Beast. When Abedin was informed by the FBI that it was believed the pseudonym belonged to Obama she exclaimed, 'How is this not classified?', the FBI report states. 'Abedin then expressed her amazement at the president's use of a pseudonym and asked if she could have a copy of the email', the report continues. The FBI released 189 new pages from its investigation into Clinton's private email server on Friday night. Emails between Clinton and Obama are exempt from the disclosure, citing 'presidential communications privilege'. The FBI report does not detail the particular email that was shown to Abedin. But, due to the date of the email, it may be related to a Supreme Court ruling that day which upheld a portion of the Obamacare law, according to Politico. The exchange had the subject 'Re: Congratulations!' and took place in June 2012, on the day the Supreme Court upheld a portion of the Obamacare law Human Abedin revealed to the FBI that the White House was informed when Clinton changed her primary email address as it could only receive messages from designated accounts The Republican National Committee immediately jumped on the report, saying it was evidence Clinton and Obama both broke the law. 'This exchange strongly suggests Clinton and the president knowingly discussed classified material in an unclassified setting,' RNC research director Raj Shah told the New York Post. But Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon said the email illustrated how insignificant the items in the presidential hopeful's private email server really were. 'These materials further demonstrate why the Justice Department believed there was no basis to move forward with this case,' Brian Fallon said. The report also contains an interview with a Romanian hacker known by the name of 'Guccifier', who revealed he had lied to Fox News about hacking into Clinton's server. 'Lazar began by stating that he had never claimed to hack the Clinton server,' the report reads. '[An FBI agent] then advised that Fox News had recently published an article which reported that Lazar had claimed to have to Clinton server.' 'Lazar then stated that he recalled the interview with Fox News, and that he had lied to them about hacking the Clinton server.' Cracks were spotted and people were alerted when the building creaked The apartment building collapsed after being evacuated by the fire service Residents of a block of apartments in Italy owe their lives to the people who alerted the fire brigade after they heard suspicious noises coming from their building. According to local media the fire brigade ordered the immediate evacuation of the building in the Ponte Milvio area of northern Rome, near the Foreign Ministry, on Thursday. And not long after the emergency calls the four-storey building collapsed almost completely. Scroll down for video Part of a building has collapsed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs neighbourhood of Rome, Italy Thankfully no one was inside but families have been left homeless and Government officials have recently visited the site as an investigating has begun into what caused the collapse. According to Roma Cronaca it is believed water in the ground may have affected the buildings foundations and checks are being conducted on nearby homes. Fortunately residents were evacuated before the collapse it is believed thanks to the fire brigade being called following unusual noises But many have now been left homeless and spent the night watching over their crumbled homes They were soon joined by the residents of nearby buildings that were evacuated after concerns there may be water under their foundations The building is being monitored by the fire service as there is chance of a further collapse. Around 100 people have been affected until the surrounding buildings that have been evacuated are also declared safe. It is being reported that some residents had spotted cracks in the walls prior to the incident. This is the second building collapse in the capital in the last few days and it has only been a month since the country was left devastated by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake that killed more than 290 people and destroyed the lives of hundreds more. Fireman remain on the scene the monitor other buildings and because the affected building may collapse completely Cracks were spotted in the walls before the creaking noises were heard Yesterday,the top three floors of an apartment building in the Flaminio area, collapsed, leaving cars buried in rubble but fortunately again no one was injured. Local media also claim these resident's lives were saved by an engineer who lives on the second floor. He was also alarmed by creaking sounds coming from the seventh floor, neighbours called on the expert for help. The AFL Footy Show is reportedly in 'turmoil' as host James Brayshaw demands a vastly improved contract following Garry Lyon's much publicised departure from the show. Brayshaw, 49, has become the main face of the show in the absence of Lyon and is said to be expecting Channel Nine bosses will reward him as a result, the Herald Sun reports. Lyon walked away from the popular program after his affair with Nicky Brownless, the wife of his Footy Show colleague Billy Brownless, became public in February. Brayshaw is expecting 'the red carpet to be rolled out' for him by Nine after he anchored the show when Lyon abruptly left and Brownless stepped back for weeks. Scroll down for video The AFL Footy Show is said to be in turmoil with co-host James Brayshaw (pictured) demanding an improved contract after his increased role following Garry Lyon's departure from the show Lyon (right) stepped away from the show at the start of this year as it was revealed he had been having an affair with Nicky Brownless (middle), the wife of Footy Show colleague Billy Brownless (left) The Herald Sun reports that even though money is yet to be discussed with Brayshaw's, achieving a new contract is already proving 'a little difficult'. The revelation about Brayshaw's contract negotiations is just the latest saga to plague the show since Lyon's departure. A fortnight ago, veteran panelist Sam Newman reportedly refused to appear on the show after bosses attempted to rein in his controversial antics. It is alleged that Newman was told to avoid creating headlines - something he has done regularly over his 23 years on the show - but was again in the spotlight on Saturday over sexist comments made to co-host Rebecca Maddern on-air. While Newman's behaviour has seemingly left Nine executives on tenterhooks, of equal concern has been the show's ratings. It was also revealed that Lyon is battling mental health issues, with it remaining unclear if or when he will return to the show The long-running TV show has been a hit for 23 years, with the combination of Brownless (left), Lyon (middle) and Brayshaw (right) a major contributing factor Throughout the 2016 season the year-on-year ratings have been mostly down, with major sponsor Nissan said to be considering its future support as a result. It is currently unclear whether Lyon, a regular on the show for a decade, will return to the panel next season as he continues to privately battle mental health issues. In the wake of his departure Brayshaw, Brownless, Newman, Maddern, Dave Hughes and Shane Crawford have been the regular faces of the show. Brownless, Hughes and Crawford are also said to be negotiating contracts currently. The show saw a peak in ratings at the beginning of the year when Brownless (right) discussed the impact of Lyon's affair with his wife Nicky (left) Advertisement First Lady Michelle Obama and Former President George W Bush shared a sweet embrace at the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture on Saturday. Michelle grasped Bush's hand as they both smiled before Obama took the stage to deliver the final speech to officially open the museum, which has been in the works since 2003. From the 3,000 objects now on display at the museum, it was a simple block of stone that Obama focused on as he began his lengthy and powerful address to a crowd filled with the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith. The slave block, where thousands of men and women had been bought and sold, had a plaque next to it, commemorating the speeches of General Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay in 1830. 'Consider what this artifact tells us about history, about how its told, about what can be cast aside,' Obama began. 'On a stone where, for years, men and women were torn from their spouse, shackled and bound....the singular thing we once chose to commemorate as history, were the unmemorable speeches of two powerful men.' Scroll down for video First Lady Michelle Obama and Former President George W Bush shared a sweet embrace at the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture on Saturday The Obama and Bush families sat side-by-side at they took seats of honor at the opening ceremony President Barack Obama wipes a tear from his cheek as he delivers a powerful and lengthy speech at the ceremony And he wasn't the only one - Michelle was also brought to tears by her husband's emotional speech on the historic day Obama said the new museum would tell the true story of America, one that would encompass 'suffering and delight, of fear but also hope' 'This National Museum helps to tell a richer and fuller story of who we are,' Obama explained. 'It helps us better understand the lives of, yes, the president but also the slave, the industrialist but also the porter' Earlier there were no tears to be found as Obama and Michelle shared a sweet laugh together before he took the stage During his speech Obama noted that the dream for a national African American history museum had begun 100 years ago 'That block I think explains why this museum is so necessary,' he continued. 'Because that same object reframed, put in context, tells us so much more.' And it is the new Smithsonian Museum, the president explained, that would tell the true story of America, one encompasses 'suffering and delight, of fear but also hope'. 'This National Museum helps to tell a richer and fuller story of who we are,' Obama explained. 'It helps us better understand the lives of, yes, the president but also the slave, the industrialist but also the porter, the keeper of the status quo but also the activist seeking to overthrow that status quo.' 'Hopefully this museum can inspire us to talk to each other,' the president added. 'And more importantly listen to each other, and most importantly see each other, see how our stories are bound together.' The 85,000 sq ft museum would not only tell an 'essential part' of the American story, Obama said, but one that 'at times has been overlooked'. 'As Americans we rightfully passed on the tales of the giants who built this country, who led armies into battles, who waged seminal debates in the halls of Congress and corridors of power,' he said. 'But too often we ignored the stories of millions upon millions of others, who built this nation just as surely, whose humble eloquence, whose calloused hands, whose steady drive helped to create cities, erect industries, build the arsenals of democracy.' 'And by knowing this other story, we better understand ourselves and each other, it binds us together, it reaffirms that all of us are American,' he continued. After the opening Bush shared a photo on Instagram with the caption: 'Thanks for taking our photo with the Bonner family, Mr. President. A great Nation does not hide its history; it faces its flaws and corrects them. The @nmaahc tells the truth: that a country founded on the promise of liberty held millions in chainsthat the price of our Union was Americas original sin. I was honored to sign the bill authorizing the construction of this national treasure. And I am pleased it now stands where it has always belonged: on the National Mall.' After the opening Bush shared this photograph on Instagram with the caption: 'Thanks for taking our photo with the Bonner family, Mr. President' After Obama's rousing speech, the president Michelle rang the Freedom Bell from the First Baptist Church of Williamsburg with members of the Bonner family to declare the museum was officially open Instead of cutting a ribbon, the Obamas decided to ring the bell, which was acquired by the church, one of the first organized entirely by African Americans for African Americans, in 1886 The Bonner family, who helped the Obamas ring the bell, are a four-generation African American family. Ruth Bonner (pictured in purple) was the daughter of Elijah Odom, a man born a slave in Mississippi Obama and Michelle adorably held hands as they were first introduced at the dedication ceremony, to the glee of the young choir that sang behind them Former President George W Bush kicked off the opening ceremony, saying the museum would inspire the nation to 'go farther and get there faster' on its journey toward justice Bush signed the legislation in 2003 authorizing construction of the museum on the National Mall to move forward Former First Lady Laura Bush also took the stage to speak at the dedication ceremony on Saturday Earlier the two couples looked happy to chat next to each other as they watched the ceremony begin They stood for the national anthem, their hands over their hearts, as the ceremony kicked off Obama added: 'That African American history is not separate from our larger American story, it's not the underside of the American story, it is central to the American story.' 'That our glory is how we wrestled triumph from tragedy, and how we are able to remake ourselves again, and again, and again, in accordance with our highest ideals.' Bush, who signed the legislation in 2003 authorizing construction of the museum on the National Mall to move forward, the said a great nation does not hide from its history, 'it faces its flaws and corrects them.' He added that he believed the museum would go on to inspire the nation to 'go farther and get there faster' on its journey toward justice. Obama noted that it was in the embrace of truth where 'real patriotism lies'. 'It is an act of patriotism to understand where we've been,' he said. 'It strengthens us, it emboldens us, it should fortify us.' It was a story - and a truth - that Obama noted perhaps needed to be told now 'more than ever', as he noted how in the large building before him held decades of the history of protest. 'This museum gives us context for our time, gives us sense for how they have evolved,' he said. 'Perhaps they can help a white visitor understand the pain and anger of demonstrators in Ferguson and Charlotte.' 'The story told here doesnt just belong to black Americans, it belongs to all Americans,' Obama added. 'For the African American experience has been just as shaped by Europeans and Asian Americans and Latinos, we have informed each other, we are a stew.' Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith took part in a poetry battle on stage, quoting lines from the likes of Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes to celebrate African-American literature Winfrey quoted lines from poetry by Angelou and Zora Neale Hurston, as Smith commented 'That was hot' Stevie Wonder brought out his harmonica as he played during the opening ceremony before Obama took the stage Patti LaBelle sang the Sam Cooke song A Change Is Gonna Come before ending her performance with a Clinton endorsement Actors Robert DeNiro and Angela Bassett addressed the star-studded crowd on the National Mall Legendary singer Dionne Warwick and actor David Oyelowo were among the celebrities in the crowd 'It reminds us that routine discrimination and Jim Crow aren't ancient history, its just a blink in the eye of history, it was just yesterday.' 'And so we should not be surprised that all the healing is not done, we shouldnt despair that it is not all solved, and knowing the larger story should...further inspire us to further progress.' Following his speech Obama and Michelle rang the historic Freedom Bell, which was acquired in 1886 by the historic First Baptist Church in Williamsburg, Virginia. That church is believed to be among the first Baptist churches organized entirely by African-Americans for African-Americans, and the bell will be returned for its 240th anniversary later this year. Helping the Obamas were the Bonner family, a four-generation African American family whose matriarch, Ruth Bonner was the daughter of Elijah Odom, a man born a slave in Mississippi. With the ring of the bell the museum, the 19th and newest of the Smithsonians, was officially open - marking the completion of a journey that was more than a century in the making. The push for the museum began in 1915 with African-American Civil War veterans looking for a way to commemorate America's black experience. Congressman John Lewis of Georgia, a longtime civil rights icon, worked with then-Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas to usher legislation through Congress before President Bush signed off on the construction. Construction was completed earlier this year on the museum, which was designed by British-Ghanaian architect David Adjaye. The building strikes a unique shape on the Mall with its three-tiered bronze exterior panels inspired by an African wooden column. House Speaker Paul Ryan and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi put party politics aside as they shook hands before taking their seats at the ceremony Attorney General Loretta Lynch greets Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor as they arrive at the ceremony Bill Clinton took a break from his wife's presidential campaign to catch the ceremony and Obama's speech Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts was among the high-profile speakers for the ceremony Lonnie Bunch, director of the museum, and Congressman John Lewis of Georgia, a longtime civil rights icon, were among the guests who got to sit on the stage at the ceremony Obama embraces Lewis, who helped usher in legislation through Congress for the museum, before his speech The patterned bronze colored tiles are inspired by 19th century ironwork created by slaves in the South, and allow sunlight into the museum through patterned openings. Obama and Bush sat side-by-side at they took seats of honor at the opening ceremony with their wives, Michelle Obama and Laura Bush. They were joined by civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis of Georgia, and museum founding director Lonnie Bunch. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts also sat on stage. Former President Bill Clinton sat among dignitaries in the crowd, next to Vice President Joe Biden. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, House Speaker Paul Ryan, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and men representing the famed Tuskegee Airmen were some of the people seen in the crowd in front of the stage. Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith took part in a poetry battle on stage, quoting lines from the likes of Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes to celebrate African-American literature. 'History, despite its wrenching pain cannot be unlived, but a face with courage need not be lived again,' Oprah began, quoting Angelou. What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun, or fester like a sore, and then run,' Smith followed, citing Hughes. 'Does it stinkmaybe it just sags, like a heavy load, or does it explode? Actors Robert DeNiro and Angela Bassett also spoke during the ceremony, and Stevie Wonder and Patti LaBelle performed before Obama took the stage. LaBelle sang Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come and, at the song's end, simply said 'Hillary Clinton', to a crowd of rousing applause. The museum strikes a unique shape on the Mall with its three-tiered bronze exterior panels inspired by an African wooden column and patterned bronze-colored titles inspired by 19th century ironwork created by slaves in the South Thousands flew from all over the country, including Giselle Shapiro of Los Angeles (pictured), to hear Obama speak and witness the historic day A pervert who attempted to rape a university student as she walked to an evening lecture was only stopped when the victim bit his tongue. Sick Joshua Potts, 22, punched, dragged and sexually assaulted the woman before she managed to escape. A court heard that Potts had carried out the attack when he grabbed the victim in an alleyway off Broadway, near the University of Derby, in January. The woman, who is in her 20s, said the man had punched her in the eye and said: 'I'm going to have sex with you.' Police activity at the area near the University of Derby were Joshua Potts attacked a woman until she bit his tounge and managed to get away Potts, of Derby, was found to have committed attempted rape, assault and sexual assault by a jury following a trial in July. At the time, a judge concluded he was unfit to plead because he had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and autism and suffered from 'auditory hallucinations and disordered thoughts.' But instead of being asked to deliver a verdict, the jury were asked to determine simply whether or not he had committed the brutal acts. The jurors concluded that he had committed all three offences. Potts, also from Derby, admitted what he had done when he was arrested by police and said he wanted to apologise to his vicitm At Derby Crown Court on Friday, Judge Jonathan Bennett ordered that Potts be detained indefinitely in hospital under the Mental Health Act. He will only be released when it has been deemed safe to do so by professionals and approved by the Home Secretary. The victim described how she and her attacker had struggled and she had fallen to the ground. Potts then pulled her by the foot towards some bushes, and the woman recalled screaming before Potts kissed her and stuck his tongue in her mouth. She said: 'I thought if I hurt him, he might let go, so I bit his tongue has hard as I could and he screamed out and jumped backwards and I was able to stand up.' The woman told the interviewing officer that once she had got up, she walked quickly towards the university and her attacker had followed her, saying: 'I'm sorry.' He had then walked off and the woman went straight to the security desk at the university to report the crime. The 22-year-old suffers with paranoid schizophrenia and autism and the court heard he suffered from 'auditory hallucinations and disordered thoughts' At Derby Crown Court on Friday, Judge Jonathan Bennett ordered that Potts be detained indefinitely in hospital under the Mental Health Act The woman was taken to hospital where she received treatment, and she also suffered scratches to her hands and stomach. Eerie footage captured by university cameras showed the woman walking with a man following close behind. The man was wearing a hat that had a pattern around it and a dark coat with distinctive fastenings. An officer said he recognised the man to be Potts, who had reported a crime to police a few days earlier. Eerie footage captured by university cameras showed the woman walking with a man following close behind as he walked near her apologising after the attack When Potts was arrested, body cams worn by two of the officers recorded him saying: 'I know what I have done and I am going to go to prison.' Potts also said: 'I know I was wrong. I want to apologise to the girl and the family and say I'm extremely sorry. There's consequences to actions made and I accept the consequences.' He said he wished he was dead and blamed it on the drugs. Without Winston Churchill the SAS would likely to have never existed beyond its first mission. The Special Air Service, the most secretive and admired fighting unit within the British Armed Forces, was saved by the wartime leader from interfering civil servants who didn't approve of its covert methods. Back in November 1941, the SAS launched its first mission in the Libyan desert after being dreamed up by young Army officer David Stirling. The Special Air Service in North Africa during the Second World War. The war on the continent would run for almost three years A heavily-armed jeep patrol from 'L' Detachment SAS in North Africa', January 18, 1943 The lieutenant thought an experimental parachute jump team which could wipe out Nazi warplanes whilst going undetected behind enemy lines could be key in winning the war. But the mission, Operation Squatter, was an unmitigated disaster. A huge storm, which Stirling had been warned about, blew him and his team many miles off target. Men were dragged along the desert floor to their deaths by their parachutes, which failed in the high winds. Only 21 of the 55 men survived - with two men critically injured left to die. The objective: to blow up a series of German airfields was never achieved and Whitehall wanted answers. Officials thought spies should carry out the work of the force but the SAS prevailed with the backing of Churchill after his son, Randolph, was reported back to is father after being invited on a raid. Former Prime Minister Winston Churchill (left), is photographed outside 10 Downing Street in 1943; (right) a SAS soldier in North Africa Field Marshal Montgomery was also a fan of Stirling and his fighting men after other early missions ended with success. He said: 'The boy Stirling is mad, quite mad. However, in war there is often a place for mad people.' The unconventional early SAS, which included a former cowboy, one-eyed boxer and parachuting priest, began attracting more German attention. Erwin Rommel, who led the Germans in north Africa between 1941-43, admitted they caused 'considerable havoc' and 'more damage than any other British unit of equal size'. When Churchill met Stirling in August 1942 the SAS had developed advanced survival techniques used in hit-and-run raids, while the mystery and intrigue around them increased at home. At a dinner party in Cairo where they met, Churchill was enthralled with Stirling and his accounts of his daring men. Stirling took the opportunity to propose an expansion of the SAS in size and scope which would also bring all other special forces under his control. Churchill gave him and his men his full backing with the proposals. The revelations came in a new book written to document the SAS's secret archives which have been opened for the first time. A Catholic child saint that was stabbed to death by her father 300 years ago appears to blink at a tourist in a terrifying video. The corpse of Santa Inocencia bares her eyes for the first time in centuries during a film made by a visitor to the Cathedral of Guadalajara in Mexico, where she is kept. The corpse, which has been preserved in wax, looks straight into the camera during the eerie moment. Back from the dead: A tourist's terrifying video footage seemingly shows the corpse of Santa Inocencia blink Video of the corpse, who is dressed in a white ceremonial gown, has since been viewed over 600,000 times on YouTube - with viewers divided on whether paranormal activity is at work or the incident is a hoax. Poster ireneam1 wrote: 'Requirements to record a paranormal event: to get the cheapest possible camera, set it to have the lowest quality, remove any lighting that can help to look good and of course, while recording is important not to move the camera.' PP Baltierra said: 'What a coincidence that when you open and close your eyes it becomes a fuzzy video...haha.' While Sara Johana Bravo Toro, wrote simply: 'The devil wants to impress.' The legend of Santa Inocencia, whose name translates to St Innocent, includes a tale of a young girl who is killed by her father after taking Holy Communion. The story suggests that her father banned her from becoming Catholic, but the girl ran away and joined the religion after befriending a nun. Pictured, the withered hands of Santa Inocencia as it lays in Cathedral of Guadalajara The body of Santa Inocencia has been preserved in wax and behind glass at the Cathedral of Guadalajara, in Mexico, for 300 years On returning home after her Holy Communion ceremony, it is claimed her father attacked her - plunging a knife into her chest. Six weeks before Election Day, the earliest numbers from advance voting for president show initial strength for Hillary Clinton in swing state North Carolina, good news for Donald Trump in battleground Iowa and a record number of requests for ballots in Ohio. The first early voting figures Tuesday are too preliminary to serve as clear indicators about how the election will go. Still, they are of interest because, unlike polls, they deal with actual voters either casting ballots or taking their first steps to do so. Campaigns are scrutinizing these figures to help guide their strategies. In 2016, more than two-thirds of states are offering some kind of early voting and the practice is proving to be ever-more popular - and could even become a major factor in battleground state ballots, some election experts predict. People walk from the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party's early voting rally to a voting center in Minneapolis Friday kicked off Minnesota early voting period, making it among the first states to open up the polls Among those requesting an early ballot in Iowa was Josh Hughes, a 19-year-old sophomore at Drake University in Des Moines. 'I'm so ready for the election to be over,' he said, citing negative campaign rhetoric. He plans to vote for Clinton, the Democratic nominee. Many of his classmates once Bernie Sanders supporters are opting to wait for now. 'The engagement is a little bit lower,' he said. Democrats historically do well in attracting early voters, and Republicans acknowledge their main goal is to avoid deep deficits before November 8. With absentee balloting underway in North Carolina, voting kicks off this week in Georgia, Wisconsin, and Virginia as well as Iowa next week. Four years ago, about 45.6 million people or 35 percent of the electorate, voted early. Stuart Frazier, left center, Ameila Narigon, center, and Jeanette Chapman, second from right, attend the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party's rally in Minneapolis An estimated 34 percent of voters will vote early. Numbers are increasing as early voting becomes more widely available In North Carolina, a must-win state for Trump, more than 53,000 voters had requested ballots, and 2,939 had been returned, according to data compiled by The Associated Press. That's up from 47,313 ballots requested during a similar time frame in 2012. Broken down by party, Democrats made up 40 percent of the ballots returned so far compared to 33 percent for Republicans. At this point in 2012, Republicans were running slightly ahead, 43 percent to 38 percent, in ballots submitted. Republican Mitt Romney narrowly won the state that year and it's difficult to see how Trump could accumulate the 270 electoral votes needed to capture the White House without winning North Carolina. Clinton has sought to energize state Democrats by pointing to a voter ID law passed by a Republican-led legislature that was later struck down by a federal court as racially discriminatory. Election Day is more than a month away but the voting was already underway as Minnesota kicked off its first presidential cycle where all voters across the state can cast their ballots While all states offer absentee voting, 37 states and Washington, D.C., will allow some form of early in-person voting this year before Election Day Voting early offers flexibility and convenience to voters who may not be able to show up to the polls on November 8, or prefer to avoid long lines on Election Day On Tuesday, the campaign also announced a new radio ad in North Carolina and other battlegrounds aimed at African-American young adults. Trump, meanwhile, was visiting rural parts of the state Tuesday to gin up support among working-class whites. 'More than half of North Carolina voters will cast their ballots ahead of Election Day, which is why we have been working tirelessly to give voters all the information they need to make their voices heard,' said Dan Kanninen, the Clinton campaign's senior adviser for North Carolina. Iowa doesn't start early voting until Sept. 29, but more than 68,000 people already have requested absentee ballots. Democrats dominate the early requests with 40,476 or roughly 60 percent of the ballots so far, compared to 13,011 or 19 percent for Republicans. But in an indication of softness among Clinton supporters, the numbers from her party are down significantly from 2012, when 92,850 Democrats had requested ballots at this point, compared to 13,635 for Republicans. Whatever the motivation, early voting is likely to make up a significant chunk of the total vote in some key battleground states Obama won Iowa in 2008 and 2012 based on a strong early vote, despite losing the Election Day vote there. The Republican National Committee, which is heading much of Trump's get-out-the-vote effort, described the early numbers as evidence that Clinton's campaign is failing to inspire enthusiasm among voters. 'The RNC is continuing our historic ground game efforts in Iowa to ensure Republican victories up and down the ticket on Election Day,' said Sean Spicer, chief strategist for the RNC. In Ohio, election officials reported Monday that more than 524,000 voters had submitted absentee ballot applications. That's up from nearly 485,000 during a similar period in 2012, when a record 1.87 million absentee ballots ultimately were cast by mail and in person, according to the secretary of state's office. The state did not break down the requests by party affiliation. Of the Ohio requests so far, more than 11,000 are from overseas and military voters, whose ballots will be mailed out this week. Ballots for the other voters will be mailed on Oct. 12. The Supreme Court last week declined to reinstate a period of Ohio early voting in October in which people could register and vote on the same day. That was popular among minority voters. 'All Ohioans have many options to cast a ballot,' Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted said. In 2012, early voting made up more than half the overall vote in Florida, Nevada and North Carolina. In Georgia, early voting accounted for 48 percent of the overall 2012 vote New York, South Carolina and Michigan are among the states that don't allow early, no-excuse voting A distraught mother has posted a harrowing picture of her teenage daughter fighting for life in hospital on Facebook following a collision with a van. Sharon Addy has made the brave move after her 15-year-old daughter Georgia was involved in a collision in Burscough, Lancashire, on Wednesday. Georgia was airlifted to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool with head injuries and remains in a critical but stable condition. Mrs Addy has posted a picture of her daughter in an induced coma and in her school uniform on Facebook in a bid to find more witnesses. Her appeal has been shared more than 13,500 times. Mother Sharon Addy has made the brave move of sharing a harrowing picture of her 15-year-old daughter Georgia who was involved in a collision in Burscough, Lancashire, on Wednesday, in a bid to get witnesses to come forward Mrs Addy, who is married to Mr Stephen Addy, said: 'We are trying to help the police gather information. Our daughter Georgia, aged 15, was walking home from school on Wednesday, 21 September 2016 from Burscough village, along Moss Lane, the main A59 towards Rufford, between 3.30pm to 4pm. 'She was involved in a serious road traffic accident and we are appealing for witnesses or information to help piece together what happened. If you have any information, no matter how small, please contact the Police on 101, quoting log no. LC20160921-0920. Please also share this post. 'Our daughter is in a critical condition at Alder Hey.' The incident happened at around 3.45pm on the A59 Moss Lane, in Burscough, between the girl and a blue and white Mercedes Sprinter van. It is believed the van was travelling south towards Burscough. The 28-year-old driver of the van was treated by paramedics at the scene but did not need further treatment. Sergeant Adam Dawson, of the Lancashire Road Policing Unit, said: 'This incident has left a teenage girl with serious injuries and we are now trying to piece together exactly what happened. Georgia (pictured) was walking home from school on the main A59 towards Rufford, between 3.30pm to 4pm, when the collision happened and she is now in a serious but stable condition in hospital 'Maybe you saw the girl or the van in the moments before the collision, or maybe you saw the incident unfold. If you have any information, however small, we would urge you to contact us as soon as possible. 'We would also like to thank the local residents who assisted the emergency services at the scene.' Anybody with information is urged to contact police on 101 quoting log number 920 of September 21. Mrs Addy's post has been shared over 13,000 times and the family have been inundated with support on social media The family have been inundated with messages of support on social media. Christine Barker said: 'My thoughts, prayers love are will you all Sharon, Steve, Georgia, Natalie, Rachael, Shaun and the rest of your amazing family.' Peter Thompson posted: 'Incredibly brave putting those pictures up Steve, we've been besides ourselves here since we go the news. Devastated for you and your family.' A lengthy police brief has detailed how Australian mother Sara Connor spent the hours after she and her British boyfriend allegedly murdered a Bali policeman. The report stated that she showered, blocked her lost visa card, cut up the ID cards of dead policeman Wayan Sudarsa and went to bed, News Corp reports. Mr Sudarsa's bloodied body was found on Kuta beach August 17 and Connor and her boyfriend David Taylor are the prime suspects. Ms Connor (pictured) is accused of murdering Bali police officer Wayan Sudarsa, whose bloodied body was found on Kuta beach August 17 Ms Connor claims in her statement David Taylor (Pictured) killed Bali police officer Wayan Sudarsa, after the officer allegedly attempted to steal Ms Connor's handbag The report stated that Connor and Taylor discarded the ID cards and went to the beach for lunch the day after the alleged incident. She switched her phone on three days after Mr Sudarsa's body was found because she realised she had to register her car when she saw a text message from friends saying 'police found your bag next to the victim'. Her friends back in Australia urged her to go to the Australian Consulate and they did but not before they burned the clothes they were wearing that night - which Ms Connor claims was Taylor's idea. In the report Ms Connor maintains her innocence and said Taylor had told her a policeman was peeping at them on the beach while they were intimate. The mother of two claims she didn't know the policeman was dead as she was told he was passed out. Ms Connor's statement claims she tried to restrain her boyfriend when he began to attack the policeman when he allegedly attempted to steal her handbag on the beach Ms Connor and David Taylor are the prime suspects in the murder of Bali police officer Wayan Sudarsa, whose bloodied body was found on Kuta beach August 17. Newscorp said the report shows gruesome photos of the bloodstained sand and beaten body of the officer, with the binoculars lying next to him smashed - as they were used to beat him across the head. Ms Connor's handbag is also pictured in the photos spread across the sand. More photos allegedly show blood, from the night of the murder, in the couple's Kubu Kauh Beach Inn room. Sara Connor (Left) and David Taylor (Right) allegedly burnt their clothes from the night of the murder before she headed to the Australian consulate Photos show the charred-looking smashed mobile phone of the officer's found a fair distance from the murder scene, close to where Ms Connor and Mr Taylor allegedly burned their clothes. Ms Connor's statement claims she tried to restrain her boyfriend when he began to attack the policeman when he allegedly attempted to steal her handbag on the beach. 'The suspect only wanted to have a romantic holiday, not like this. The suspect prays for the best for the victim's family and also for her family. The suspect feels extremely fearful. The suspect only tried to separate them and she thinks now she will be jailed only because she wanted to separate them,' the brief says. The body of Mr Sudarsa (pictured) was found on Kuta Beach in the early hours of August 17 Pullman Hotel security guard, Suryana, said in a witness testimony he went to investigate a shout at around 1.05am on August 17. When he arrived at the beach he saw a local man lying on the sand and a foreign man with dreadlocks sitting on top of a woman. He said he heard the victim sighing and the woman laughing as if they were kidding around and left after 15 minutes when he thought nothing was suspicious. A bloodied Ms Connor also approached Gede Suartama, a motorbike taxi driver, later that night but was denied a ride to the police station to report her lost bag and drivers license because he is scared of blood. Australian mother of two Sara Connor (pictured) has asked to be moved to a more comfortable Bali jail cell In another statement on burning their clothes, Ms Connor highlighted her dread of becoming entangled in the investigation. 'The idea is from David as David felt fear. David burned the clothes. We feel fear as the place where that man died was the same place where we were. We fear that we become criminals,' she told police. The prosecutors have seen the police brief and want some issues clarified before they decide the charges and bring the case to court. Police have two more weeks to conduct any further investigations to amend the report. On Friday, Sara Connor asked to be moved to a more comfortable Bali jail cell because she is suffering from 'extreme stress'. The Byron Bay woman is said to be under extreme stress inside her Denpasar Police Station cell, where she has been locked up since her arrest on August 18. Murdered school girl Tiahleigh Palmer's foster dad documented his efforts to find her on Facebook in the days after she went missing. Driving the streets in search of Tiahleigh, murder accused Rick Thorburn documented his every move on a local crime watch Facebook page, according to the Courier Mail. Littering Facebook with posts, Rick Thorburn pleaded for information about the whereabouts of his 12-year-old foster daughter, even suggesting others were 'hiding her again'. Driving the streets in search of Tiahleigh, murder accused Rick Thorburn (pictured) documented his every move on a local Facebook page 'If any of her friends are hiding her again, please do the right thing and let us know. She needs to come home where she belongs,' he wrote the night she was reported missing. Thorburn, 56, told police he had driven Tiahleigh to Marsden State High on October 30 last year - the morning she allegedly went missing. When she did not make it home that afternoon, the search for the schoolgirl began. Rick Thorburn, 56, told police he had driven Tiahleigh (pictured) to Marsden State High on October 30 2015, the morning she went missing. When Tiahleigh (pictured right) did not make it home that afternoon, the search for the school girl began. Now almost a year on, Rick Thorburn has been charged with her murder. Forensic officers have spent days scouring the Thorburn's family property for any evidence in relation to Tiahleigh's death, including her backpack and school uniform. Forensic officers were seen removing items from the property on Saturday, but nothing of major significance has reportedly been found. Forensic officers have spent days scouring the Thorburn's family property for any evidence in relation to Tiahleigh's death, including her backpack and school uniform. Forensic officers were seen removing items from the property on Saturday, but nothing of major significance has reportedly been found. Thorburn is currently housed in Arthur Gorrie, after being treated at Princess Alexandra Hospital for a reported pill overdose. The accused murderer's 19-year-old son Trent has been charged with incest, amid allegations he had sex with his 12-year-old foster sister in lead up to her death. Thorburn's wife Julene, 54, and their son, Josh, 20, have been released on bail after they were charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. A man has told how he was run over by his own truck as he desperately tried to stop thieves stealing it from his driveway. Kardy Murugathus from Clyde North, east of Melbourne, was asleep next to his wife when thieves broke into his family home. However after being awoken by the sound of his ute being reversed out of his drive, Mr Murugathus quickly ran outside and made a valiant attempt to stop them getting away, Nine News reports. Kardy Murugathus from Clyde North, east of Melbourne, has told how he valiantly tried to stop a group of thieves who broke into his home and stole two cars and more than $2,000 in cash Mr Murugathus was woken by the thieves as they drove his car out of the driveway and ran outside in an attempt to stop them. He clung to the rear of his ute but fell down, injuring his leg in the process The 30-year-old told how he clung to the tray of his ute as the thieves attempted to make a quick getaway. 'I jumped on the back of the ute at the same time they put the accelerator on,' he said. 'My hands were very slippery I just fell down.' Despite his best efforts Mr Murugathus was unable to stop the thieves and injured his leg in the incident. The group escaped with the couple's two vehicles - a Volkswagon ute and a BMW - $2,000 in cash, Mrs Murugathus passport and medicine. The thieves made way with a Volkswagon ute like the one pictured and also the couple's BMW Police believe the home invasion was pre-planned, with thieves arriving at the address in three separate cars According to police the home invasion was pre-planned, with the thieves allegedly arriving at the address in three separate cars. Fortunately, the couple's BMW was found undamaged in Dandenong on Thursday. Advertisement Pope Francis had an emotional meeting with grieving survivors and relatives of those killed in the Bastille Day truck attack in Nice today. He encouraged them to resist what he called the great temptation to 'respond to hatred with hatred and to violence with violence.' The special audience in an auditorium at the Vatican included Christians, Muslims and Jews. In a departure from how most group audiences with the pope are conducted, Francis spoke individually with each of the participants, some of them weeping or wiping away tears. Pope Francis met relatives of Nice attack victims during a special audience at the Vatican - many of whom were in tears He blessed people of all ages - from young children to the elderly - offering them his compassion in their time of grief The Pope hugged and blessed survivors and relatives of the dead at the audience, offering his 'immense compassion' to them The Pope greeted 180 people who were wounded or left traumatised by the truck attack in Nice including many children Some clutched photos of loved ones or asked if they could pose for a photo with the pope on behalf of someone who couldn't attend the audience. The pope, who this week denounced violence in the name of religion, declaring 'there is no God of war', met 180 people who were wounded or left traumatised or bereaved by the July 14 attack in Nice which claimed 86 lives. 'It cheers me to see that, among you, inter-religious relations are very strong, and this cannot but help contribute to alleviating the wounds of these dramatic events,' said the pontiff, who also offered compassion to those in attendance. Nice's former mayor, Christian Estrosi, gave the pope a basket of 86 flowers to symbolize the 86 victims of the attack by an extremist who barreled the truck he was driving through a crowd of people celebrating Bastille Day in the French Riviera city. Members of 58 families were flown in especially from Nice. They were joined in Rome by 150 others who travelled from France by car and a delegation from a French regional interreligious group, including the Catholic bishop of Nice and Muslim, Jewish, Orthodox and Protestant representatives. Francis said political and religious leaders must make it their urgent priority to establish 'sincere dialogue and fraternal relations among all, especially among all those who believe in a God who is one and merciful.' Francis spoke individually with each of the participants at the mass audience. Some of them were in tears of grief Many children were killed in the truck attack - this woman brought a teddy bear to the Vatican for the meeting with the Pope The Pope blessed the black-clad woman who brought a teddy bear along - he spent time individually with each person he met 'When the temptation to turn inwards on oneself, or to respond to hatred with hatred and to violence with violence, is great, authentic conversion of the heart is needed,' Francis said. He added: 'You can respond to the assaults of the devil only with the works of God, which are forgiveness, love and respect for one's neighbors, even if they are different.' 'I pray to the God of mercy also for those who were wounded, in some cases atrociously mutilated, in flesh and in spirit, and I don't forget all those who for that reason weren't able to come here or are still in hospital,' the pontiff said. Vincent Delhommel Desmarest, who runs a restaurant on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice where the attack happened, said: 'It was a moment of magical solace after what happened to us 73 days ago. 'I don't sleep at night. The whole scene of the lorry moving, the mutilated bodies, decapitated, the entrails.' Mr Desmarest, 49, has been on sick leave ever since and now sees a psychologist three times a week. Abdhallah Kebaier, who has to walk with a stick after being injured in the attack, said it was 'comforting to be in the gathering as we had the feeling we'd been forgotten. 'The attack resembled a war scene,' he said. 'I live only 400 metres (1,300 feet) away from the Promenade des Anglais but I never go there any more.' The Pope was given this gift by one of the bereaved and shocked members of the audience at the Vatican held today The Pope blessed children as well as adults of various religious faiths and urged them not to respond to hatred with hatred Last month the Argentine pontiff met French President Francois Hollande to offer his support and condolences to a country which has been rocked by a series of deadly attacks since early 2015. French police on Tuesday arrested eight associates of Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, the 31-year-old Tunisian, who rammed the 19-tonne truck through the crowd of more than 30,000 people on the seafront in Nice before police shot him dead. Wetherspoons is set to scrap its traditional Christmas dinners this year, it has been reported. Turkey and trimmings will not be available for the first time and festive customers will have to make do with a yuletide beef burger, turkey pie or vegetarian Wellington. The Christmas buffet for work parties will still be on offer but that will include options like turkey salad wraps or turkey and bacon paninis. Wetherspoons is set to scrap its traditional Christmas dinners this year, it has been reported. Pictured, a Wetherspoons chain in Kingston (File photo) 'Wetherspoons will not be serving a "traditional dinner" in its pubs this year,' a company spokesman told The Sun. He added: 'However its pubs will still be serving a range of Christmas meals, all day, every day from November 15 to December 22 inclusive. 'A number of high street restaurant operators don't offer a Christmas roast but do offer meals that are Christmas-based and Wetherspoon is taking a similar approach.' Many customers took to social media to express their outrage at the decision. Peter Orourke said: 'Outrageous... scrapping Christmas is a step to far'. Chad Armstrong, from Manchester, wrote: 'Christmas is officially cancelled!' Some were less concerned by the Christmas change. Turkey and trimmings will not be available for the first time and festive customers will have to make do with a yuletide beef burger, turkey pie or vegetarian Wellington (File photo) Andy said sarcastically: 'What?! So now I won't be able to drag my family out to Wetherspoons on Christmas Day? That's a BIG tradition gone, right there.' Earlier this year the pub chain provoked outrage when it announced the axing of its traditional Sunday roasts. In a move that has sparked a backlash from angry punters, the chain instead chose to focus on a large all-day menu based around burgers, burritos and traditional pub classics. Advertisement Thousands of protestors marched in Dublin, and Irish expatriates joined in demonstrations around the world on Saturday, to put pressure on the Irish government to hold a referendum to repeal restrictive abortion laws. Regulations in the once stridently Catholic Ireland are among the strictest in the world and next month Prime Minister Enda Kenny will call a citizens' assembly to advise the government on whether a vote should be held to boost access to abortion. Demonstrators marched in the rain on government buildings from Dublin's main thoroughfare of O'Connell Street, bringing traffic to a standstill by the River Liffey as they chanted, beat drums and held placards saying 'My Body, My Choice'. The rain-soaked mass demo in Dublin was a bid to get the Irish Government to repeal the eighth amendment to the constitution, which enforces strict limitations to a woman's right to an abortion. One placard read 'keep your rosaries off my ovaries,' highlighting the influence that the powerful Catholic church has historically wielded over the issue in Ireland This bare-breasted and cloaked protester made her view plain. Marches in solidarity were held in cities around the world by Irish expats. Ireland has some of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the world but a referendum could soon be held on the issue 'It's a woman's right to choose and it is ridiculous to say that anybody else, the state or the church, has to right to tell that woman what happens to her body,' said Sal Roche, a 42-year-old dance teacher at the march with her two-year-old son, Tommy. Abortion has been a divisive issue for decades in Ireland where, after large street protests from both sides of the debate, a complete ban was only lifted in 2013 when terminations were allowed if a mother's life was in danger. However governments have been reluctant to tackle an issue they fear may alienate conservative voters despite a dramatic waning of the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, shown last year when Ireland became the first country to adopt gay marriage by popular vote. Demonstrators marched in the rain on government buildings from Dublin's main thoroughfare of O'Connell Street, bringing traffic to a standstill by the River Liffey as they chanted, beat drums and held placards calling for abortion rights 'No man can dent my rights' said a banner held by one protester who wants the law against abortion repealed in Ireland Ireland's Minister for Children Katherine Zappone, an independent member of Kenny's coalition government who joined the march in Dublin, told Reuters that the earliest possible date for a referendum would be towards the end of next year. 'It's my hope that what we're doing today will ensure we get a referendum and the government moves as quickly as possible,' said Zappone, one of many wearing black sweatshirts with the word 'Repeal' printed on the front, a reference to the eighth amendment of the constitution activists want repealed. Opponents demand that the amendment, which enshrines the equal right to life of the mother and her unborn child, should remain in place to safeguard all life, and a truck carrying the slogan 'Abortion is violence against babies and mothers' drove through Dublin. Demonstrators feel it is time to speak out over the issue which has been the cause of division in Ireland for many years now These banners refer to the eighth amendment of the constitution that pro-choice activists in Ireland want to see repealed Many travelled from around Ireland to take part in the highly-charged protest which brought central Dublin to a standstill Demonstrations were also organised by Ireland's large diaspora in over 20 cities around the world, from Wellington to Montreal, and pictures were posted on social media ahead of the march from protestors in Melbourne, London, Berlin and Kathmandu. In Dublin, many had travelled from around Ireland, including Paula Dennan, 32, who made the eight-hour round trip from the southern county of Kerry. 'We're marching in solidarity with the 56 women who we know for a fact travelled in 2015 to England for abortions and gave Kerry addresses,' said Dennan, who set up the 'Kerry for Choice' group this year. She was referring to some of the 3,500 women who travelled across the Irish Sea for a termination last year. It verges on the ridiculous - but a group of angry residents were fined 110 every day for leaving their cars on their own driveways. The homeowners in Surbiton, South West London, took the local council to task after tickets appeared daily despite the cars being parked outside their own homes, with some residents racking up over 550 in fines-a-week. Sue Cunningham was suffering from a severe virus when she received her first parking fine on Friday afternoon on her car which is parked in front of her garage at the back of her home. The homeowners in Surbiton, South West London, took the local council to task after tickets appeared daily despite the cars being parked outside their own homes Sue Cunningham was suffering from a severe virus when she received her first parking fine on Friday afternoon on her car which is parked in front of her garage at the back of her home The 56-year-old mum-of-one, who received three tickets, said: 'I feel like I'm being harassed. I'm parking on my driveway and I've had three tickets since Friday. 'When I got the ticket I was suffering from this virus and I was very unwell. 'My neighbours witnessed the parking attendant putting tickets on cars and they even called the police because they were so angry but police told them they would have to contact the council. 'I'm planning on writing a letter about it and it's very frustrating because you can't speak to an actual human at the council.' Sue, who lives with her husband Andrea Panicucci, 49, and her son Alberto, 14, said: 'I received a ticket on Friday afternoon, Saturday and Monday morning. 'I am angry and feel harassed because you just don't know if you'll get another one. The fine for parking on the lines or without a permit is 110, reduced to 55 if paid within 14 days 'I owe more than 300 to the council and I've done nothing wrong. 'The second time they gave me a ticket they even put it on a different part of the windscreen so that I wouldn't see it immediately. 'It's outrageous, we're not parking unsafely and they are using a technicality that there is not a pavement on the other side of the road to where we park so they think we can't park there.' Another resident David Gilbert, 40, has come home from work three times to find a ticket on his black Audi, which he has parked on his driveway for 14 years. He said: 'It is bemusing, after the first one I thought it was obviously some kind of mistake and would easily be sorted out. 'Then the fines just kept on coming. 'When you try and talk to someone at the council they tell you to talk to parking services but they just tell you that you have been photographed parking illegally and you will have to contest it like everyone else does. Local authority Kingston Council initially said the residents were parked illegally across grass verges but have now backtracked saying they will cancel the fines 'I'm essentially being fined 110 a day for parking on my own driveway.' The road in Surbiton, south west London, where houses are worth upwards of 730,000, has permit holder only spaces and parking bay enforcement. Yellow lines have also been painted in some parts of the road to stop people parking over driveways and in front of garages. The fine for parking on the lines or without a permit is 110, reduced to 55 if paid within 14 days. David added: 'One of the neighbours spotted the traffic warden and asked what he was doing but you just can't get an answer from them. 'We even got a ticket on Saturday when the parking restrictions are not even in place. 'It is unbelievable really.' Yellow lines have also been painted in some parts of the road to stop people parking over driveways and in front of garages Local authority Kingston Council initially said the residents were parked illegally across grass verges but have now backtracked saying they will cancel the fines. Local Grove councillor Phil Doyle said the grass verges in the street were 'important green spaces' which contribute the road being an 'attractive place to live'. In a statement the councillor who is responsible for residents' services said: 'We have changed our parking enforcement activity in St Leonard's Road following complaints by residents. 'Grass verges are part of the highway so parking on them is not permitted. 'Parking restrictions also apply to the crossovers along St Leonards Road and fixed penalty notices were recently issued to some local residents. French president Francois Hollande has vowed to dismantle the 'Jungle' in Calais and relocate the 9,000 migrants to reception centres across the country. Mr Hollande said conditions in the Calais camp were 'not acceptable' and 'extremely difficult', especially for those who fled war to get there. Mr Hollande, who will visit the camp on Monday, insisted that 'we cannot have such camps in France'. He said his country must show it is 'capable of being dignified, humane and responsible.' The 'Jungle' has become a symbol of his government's failure to tackle Europe's migrant crisis, and a target of criticism from conservative and far-right rivals seeking to unseat him in France's presidential election next year. Francois Hollande (pictured today) listens to an Afghan migrant in Tours, France, as he announced plans to house them in reception centres for 40 to 50 people Setting out for the first time detailed plans to deal with the camp, Mr Hollande said migrants would be given up to four months to seek asylum Thousands of migrants, some fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia have descended on the French coast, near the Channel Tunnel The reception centres will hold 40-50 people for up to four months while authorities study their cases individually, he said. Migrants who do not seek asylum will be deported. The French president, who visited one of France's 164 migrant reception centres in the central city of Tours today, said the 'Jungle' did not give a firm timeline for when the camp would be shut down. His plans to relocate migrants to towns across France has drawn the ire of local conservative and far-right politicians who said it will increase tensions. Former president Nicolas Sarkozy - who is campaigning for a return to the presidency promising a tough stance on immigration - visited Calais this week. He said Britain must take responsibility for the refugees at the camp and that France needed to take back control of its borders. Speaking to local police officers, lorry drivers, and tourism officials, Mr Sarkozy promised he would put an end to their misery, saying: 'I want to take action...I will never be a passive president.' Mr Hollande criticised that resistance and called for more solidarity, pointing out neighbouring Germany has taken in one million migrants compared to the 9,000 being relocated from Calais. The French president (pictured today) has vowed to dismantle the Calais camp by the end of the year The population in the camp has hit 9,000 and was projected to pass 10,000 before the end of the month Just six months ago French authorities demolished the southern part of the camp. Demolition crews entered the encampment and started clearing the southern section as migrants were relocated to 20million purpose-built accommodation. But refugees complained it resembled a 'detention centre' and was a ploy to prevent them trying to reach Britain. As such, they simply moved into other areas of the 'Jungle' - which has now swelled again to 9,000. The squalid camp is rife with disease, violence and prostitution and has a become a 'no-go zone' for police who are frequently attacked with iron bars and rocks when they try to enter. Just last week French police use tear gas to repel 300 migrants as they tried to storm a road leading to the French port. The disturbances, which went on for about 90 minutes, came as work continued on a controversial British taxpayer-funded 2m wall in the area. Worryingly, more than one-in-10 of those residing in the ramshackle camp are underage Thousands of migrants, some fleeing war and poverty are living in the squalid camp Elsewhere today, German Chancellor Angela Merkel travelled to Vienna on Saturday to discuss the refugee crisis with leaders of Hungary and Bulgaria. Hungary's premier Victor Orban has been openly critical of Mrs Merkel's approach and has taken a tough line on refugees trying to enter the country. Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern said the aim of the talks was to 'accelerate' a solution to the crisis as there was 'no common European line' at present. 'THE JUNGLE' BY YEARS: HOW THE CAMP HAS INCREASED IN SIZE 2002: The Jungle is born after the Sangatte reception centre near the port is closed. 2009: It is estimated that the Jungle has some 800 inhabitants. 2014: By September this year, it is estimated to have increased to 1,300. July 2015: Jungle residents up to around 3,000 in the wake of the migrant crisis. November 2015: The influx continues, and it is reported that some 6,000 now live in the Jungle in Calais. January 11: Calais authorities opens a new 20m camp for 1,500 Jungle residents January 13: Residents refuse to move into the new camp, and starts protesting January 15: Authorities give a Monday deadline, and residents rush to move out January 18: Demolition of one third of the camp finally begins March 2016: Clashes between riot police and refugees who refused to be moved from the camp March 16 2016: South side of the Jungle is bulldozed June 2016: Camp swells again to 7,000 August 2016: Camp increases to a record 9,000 - with thousands of unoccupied children inside September: Francois Hollande vows to dismantle the camp by the end of the year Advertisement Talk about monkey business! A worker at Six Flags Great America who was putting up an inflatable gorilla for the theme park's Fright Fest event ended up having a little scare of his own after hurting his back. The man ended up needing to be rescued from the top of the Sky Trek Tower after suffering excruciating back ache. 'He is part of the maintenance team that puts up the big gorilla. He threw out his back and we reached out for assistance from the Gurnee Fire Department because they could make him more comfortable,' Katy Enrique, the park's public relations manager, said to the Chicago Tribune. Gurnee Fire Department responding to a call at Six Flags Great America for tricky rescue, some 300-feet in the air, after a worker experienced back pain and could not move The rescue was made all the more difficult because the worker was in trouble above where the elevator stops A worker at Six Flags Great America near Chicago threw his back out as he was setting up a giant inflatable gorilla the top of a tower overlooking the park, making for a tricky rescue The worker threw his back out so badly that he became immobilized by pain at the worst possible moment when he was in an area inside the column above where the elevator stops. Fire crews said the rescue was a complicated one to pull of. 'We had to lift him up then drop him down to where the elevators are,' said Gurnee Fire Department Battalion Chief Jim Pellitteri. which estimated the drop at about 25 feet. 'We had to get him through a manhole that opens up into the elevator area,' he said. Advertisement A secret club of self-confessed 'boy racers' in supercars worth up to 4million brought London to a standstill today as they drove through the capital. Around 15 of the world's most glamorous vehicles - including a multi-coloured Ferrari, a yellow Lamborghini and a gold Mercedes - met up in London this afternoon. The drivers then took them for a spin around the upmarket areas of Knightsbridge, Oxford Street, Regents Street, Piccadilly Circus and then finally into the Haymarket area of the West End. They were in Lamborghinis SVs - worth 400,000 each - as well as Ferraris and Bentleys and high end Mercedes. Supercars including a gold Mercedes (right) were spotted today as police officers patrolled the area around Piccadilly Circus A yellow Lamborghini (right) was one of the cars which brought central London to a standstill earlier this afternoon One man posed for a selfie next to a Nissan GTR which was being driven near Piccadilly Circus in the capital today Hundreds of people lined the streets in central London as a line of supercars drove past on Saturday afternoon It came a week after central London was brought to a virtual standstill by a similar event by the group called the Piccadilly Boy Racers. At least four police officers were on the scene and appeared to be urging people to stay back on the pavement as the vehicles went past. The secret club is run by brothers Kash and Shabs Ahmad, from Ilford, Essex. Kash, 35, and brother Shabs, 33, say they have had a huge amount of interest from people wanting to join their group but he says they are choosy about who they let to join. Only those with high-end supercars can join. Kash said: 'We are very stringent about what kind of people and car we allow into the club. 'The lower the class of car the more likelihood there is that the driver will do something unsavoury to raise more attention to their vehicle. 'Since the last event we have had a lot of interest from people who want to join. 'We have a look at their vehicles they send to us on Instagram or Facebook and if we think they are suitable then they can join - but we are very careful about who we let in.' Last week's display of high spec metal and rubber caused gridlock on Piccadilly Circus. The group say they are the 'responsible' face of supercars and blamed the public for the jam as they clambered to have their pictures taken with the cars. Traffic stopped in the in the West End for 15 minutes so they could take selfies and pose with their cars. Arty Tatter poses with her husband's vinyl wrapped Ferrari FF before setting off on the Supercar tour of Central London Shabs Ahmad, 33, poses with his Nissan GTR before driving it around central London with other motorists in the capital Umair, 30, poses with his yellow Lamborghini 70 UT before he went on the tour of the capital this afternoon Ali Khan sat on his blue Nissan GTR and posed for a photograph before he drove his supercar around central London today Shabs said last week's event was a 'secret supercar meet' to avoid 'riff-raff' and no 'd*******' drivers. Kash told MailOnline he spoke to the police last night and said they were 'quite happy' with the behaviour of the group and said they only stopped because pedestrians 'swamped' them. Explaining that the 'PBR' is a private club Kash said: 'We are a responsible. We don't want hooligans or riff-raff. 'People who don't have a supercar so the only way get noticed is to show off, do burnouts and put people in danger that's not what we do. 'The public swamped the roads and we couldn't do anything about it. We would have been passing through it was gridlocked and we got out of our cars to clear the way. 'We have to keep everyone happy and not p**s them off so we can move on without someone getting upset or damaging the cars. We just turned off the engine and got out, mingled and enjoyed it.' Mr Ahmad, who runs car company Kream Developments with his brother Shabs, denies that the group are 'flash'. A multi-coloured Ferrari was also spotted being driven through the capital and hundreds of people were taking photographs A police officer was speaking to members of the public who were trying to get closer to the vehicles as they went past A blue Nissan GTR (pictured) drove through Piccadilly Circus this afternoon as people took pictures on their smartphones Central London was brought to a standstill as hundreds of car vans stopped to take pictures of the glamorous vehicles He said: 'When we were young it was our ambition to be 'boy racers' now we are men, we have achieved that and are proud we can afford these kind of cars.' Today's event was said to be smaller than last week's display. Kash explained the group always abides by the laws of the road and added: 'We work hard for a living. I'm in overalls for six days a week. 'And this is how we enjoy our spare time. 'Some people thrown their money away gambling, some people go out and get drunk. A blue BMW and a red Porsche were spotted being driven by Knightsbridge Station in west London on Saturday afternoon Divy Tatter was photographed standing in front of his vinyl wrapped Ferrari FF before he drove it through the capital on Saturday Police officers had to tell the public to stay out of the road as some were trying to get as close as possible to take pictures Hundreds of people got their smartphones out to take photographs of the spectacular cars as they drove past in London People walked into the road so they could get closer to the vehicles which were being driven through Piccadilly Circus Officers were on the scene and had to urge people to stay back on the pavement on Saturday afternoon as the cars went past 'But we enjoy our cars and love driving them around. London is a great place to drive and there's lots of tourists and we like to show off our cars in a safe and legal way.' He added: 'People might think we're flash but it's not about that. What people don't realise is we do a lot of charity work. 'We held a five mile convoy from Rainham a few years ago and raised 50,000 for charity. 'It is something we love doing. We are always hosting events.' They also host an event called Supercar Sunday where they take their cars to more deprived areas to allow youngsters and parents access to the cars that would not normally get to see high end Lamborghinis and Ferraris. One fan used their smartphone to film the vehicles as they brought the capital to a standstill earlier this afternoon Police officers had to tell spectators to step back onto the pavement as the vehicles went past on Saturday afternoon This photograph was taken from the back seat of a Bentley convertible as the vehicle was being driven through Oxford Street One of the members Charlie Ireson works for Kash and Shabs at their customised car business as a junior technician. Kash said: 'We got Charlie working on the Mini Cooper JCW and he worked hard on it. He thought he was doing it for a customer. 'But it was a car we had bought for him. 'He works so hard for us and we love him - we gave it to him as a gift.' Junior doctors have called off plans to hold a series of five-day strikes, after concerns about patient safety. The British Medical Association (BMA) announced that it has suspended industrial action which had been planned for October, November and December, following 'vigorous, passionate and thoughtful' debate today. News of the suspension was welcomed by the Department of Health, which urged the BMA to call off industrial action permanently in the interests of patients. The British Medical Association (BMA) announced that it has suspended further junior doctor industrial action in England BMA junior doctor committee chair Ellen McCourt (pictured) said the decision had been taken 'following a passionate, thoughtful and wide-ranging debate amongst junior doctors' The strikes had been scheduled for October 5, 6, 7, 10 and 11, November 14 to 18 and December 5 to 9. Dr Ellen McCourt, chair of the BMA junior doctors committee, said the decision had been taken 'in light of feedback from doctors, patients and the public, and following a passionate, thoughtful and wide-ranging debate amongst junior doctors'. The organisation said it still opposed 'the imposition of the contract' but said patient safety was doctors' 'primary concern'. The Department of Health welcomed the suspension of strikes by junior doctors, saying: 'The best way to rebuild trust now is for industrial action to be called off permanently in the interests of patients - and we urge the BMA to do so.' The Government and BMA remain at loggerheads over the new contract for junior doctors, which the Department of Health says will help to provide a seven-day NHS. The Government and BMA remain at loggerheads over the new contract for junior doctors, which the Department of Health says will help to provide a seven-day NHS Dr McCourt said the dispute hinged on how the NHS will assure quality care over seven days. She said: 'In light of feedback from doctors, patients and the public, and following a passionate, thoughtful and wide-ranging debate amongst junior doctors, the BMA has taken the decision to suspend planned industrial action.' She vowed 'our fight does not end here' adding: 'We still oppose the imposition of the contract and are now planning a range of other actions in order to resist it, but patient safety is doctors' primary concern and so it is right that we listen and respond to concerns about the ability of the NHS to maintain a safe service.' Six strikes have already taken place across England during the lengthy dispute, causing disruption to hundreds of thousands of patients who have had appointments and operations cancelled. Last week, junior doctors and supporters rallied outside the Royal Courts of Justice as they challenged the government's plan for a seven-day NHS service Dr McCourt added: 'We hope the government will seize this opportunity to engage with junior doctors and listen to the range of voices from across the NHS raising concerns about doctors' working lives and the impact of the contract on patient care. 'If the NHS cannot attract and keep those doctors on whose dedication and professional skills it relies, there will be no recognisable health service in England. 'Our fight does not end here. For many people this whole dispute has turned on how the NHS will assure quality care over seven days. 'It has highlighted the need for an open and honest debate led by the BMA on how this will be achieved. 'We call on our colleagues across the medical profession, other healthcare professionals, and the government and patient groups to engage with junior doctors on this.' The strikes, which had been planned for October, November and December, will no longer go ahead Former health secretary Lord Lansley had blasted the planned action by trainee medics as 'unethical', described the BMA's actions as 'nakedly political' and condemned personal attacks on current Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt. Earlier this week, he said: 'The junior doctors' dispute... it is in my view unethical to potentially inflict harm to patients in pursuit of what is a self-interested campaign.' A first wave of strikes was supposed to start on September 12 but the union called off the first round of industrial action amid safety concerns. In May, it looked as though a breakthrough had been reached in the dispute after both sides agreed to a new deal. Then in July, the Government announced that it would impose a new contract after junior doctors and medical students voted to reject the deal brokered between health leaders and the BMA. A first wave of strikes was supposed to start on September 12 but the union called off the first round of industrial action amid safety concerns Doctors said the dispute hinged on how the NHS will assure quality care over seven days In a statement, the BMA told members today: 'After a vigorous passionate, thoughtful and wide-ranging debate this afternoon, the JDC has decided to suspend industrial action while planning other actions over the coming weeks. 'To be absolutely clear, the JDC still opposes the implementation of the contract and the BMA.' It said it would discuss action to be taken over the coming weeks, adding: 'There are enormous challenges ahead of us and we will work tirelessly to ensure that we junior doctors have the support and respect in order to deliver the best possible service for patients and the best possible outcome for junior doctors. 'We are first and foremost doctors. Our decision today serves to underline this and our commitment to our patients. 'For many people this whole dispute has turned on how the NHS will assure consistent quality of care over seven days. 'It has highlighted the need for an open and honest debate led by the BMA on how this will be achieved. Donald Trump has threatened to invite Bill Clinton's former mistress Gennifer Flowers to Monday's debate. The Republican nominee made the threat on Twitter Saturday afternoon after billionaire Mark Cuban, who supports Hillary Clinton, said he had received a front-row seat to the event. 'If dopey Mark Cuban of failed Benefactor fame wants to sit in the front row, perhaps I will put Gennifer Flowers right alongside of him!' Trump wrote. Flowers replied promptly and said Saturday afternoon she had agreed to join Monday's debate. Scroll down for video Donald Trump threatened to invited Gennifer Flowers to Monday's debate on Twitter Saturday afternoon after billionaire Mark Cuban said he had secured a front-row seat to the event Hillary Clinton's campaign has confirmed they invited Cuban (left) to the debate and had given him the best seat possible. Bill Clinton testified in 1998 that he had sex with Flowers (right) 'Ms Flowers has agreed to join Donald at the debate,' her personal assistant told BuzzFeed. Flowers seemed to respond to Trump's potential invitation directly on Twitter. An unverified account in her name, on which Flowers appears to have posted many photos and selfies, tweeted: 'Hi Donald. You know I'm in your corner and will definitely be at the debate!' The message ended with a kiss emoji showing two lips. Cuban meanwhile responded in a tweet of his own: 'Donald. Remember when you told me on the phone we were 'Bobbsie Twins' and I laughed ?' He appeared to be referring to the Bobbsey Twins, a series of children's novels published throughout the 20th century. The books have since come under fire for being racist, especially through the portrayal of the family's cook, a black woman named Dinah. Trump first misspelled Flower's first name, writing it with a 'j' instead of a 'g'. He deleted this first tweet and retweeted the same message, this with the proper spelling, as shown in grabs from The Hill. Flowers seemed to respond to Trump's potential invitation directly on Twitter. An unverified account in her name posted this message on Saturday afternoon Cuban responded in a tweet of his own: 'Donald. Remember when you told me on the phone we were 'Bobbsie Twins' and I laughed ?' Bill Clinton testified under oath in 1998 that he had sex with Flowers, an actress and model. She had come forward in 1992 saying she had an affair with him during his time as governor from the late 1970s to the end of 1989. He had previously denied having an affair with Flowers during a 1992 interview on 60 Minutes. His wife's campaign told CNN on Friday that they had invited Cuban to the debate. 'He has the best seat we have access to,' an aide said. Cuban owns the Dallas Mavericks, Landmark Theatres and film distributor Magnolia Pictures. Trump's fellow billionaire and businessman Cuban announced he would attend the debate in a victorious tweet Friday (pictured) He announced his presence at Monday's debate in a triumphant tweet Friday, writing: 'Just got a front row seat to watch @HillaryClinton overwhelm @realDonaldTrump at the 'Humbling at Hofstra' on Monday. It is on!' He first hoped Trump, a fellow billionaire and businessman, could bring something new to the presidential campaign. But he was quickly disappointed. 'Trump scares me,' Cuban told CNN in July. 'Donald, initially, I really hoped he would be something different, that as a businessperson, I thought there was an opportunity there. But then he went off the reservation and went bats**t crazy.' Cuban endorsed Clinton that same month. He has since called out Trump on multiple occasions. A tweet posted by Cuban Thursday says Trump has 'no respect' for the second amendment. Meanwhile preparations have begun for Monday's debate in Hempstead, New York. Pictured, workers install the set at Hofstra University A federal appeals court overturned the triple-murder conviction of an Indiana death row inmate on Friday and granted him a new trial due to key evidence that was withheld in earlier trials, the man's attorney and court documents said. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in Chicago voted 6-3 to overturn the conviction of Wayne Kubsch for the 1988 murders of his wife Beth Kubsch, her ex-husband Rick Milewski and his son Aaron Milewski. A videotaped police interview with neighbor Amanda Buck, who was then 9, could have helped challenge the prosecution's timeline of events if it had been introduced as evidence, the court said. The tape was never shown to a jury because Buck was later unable to retell the events she described to police during the interview. "Amanda's statement was exculpatory. If the statement were factually accurate, then Kubsch would be innocent," court documents said. The documents added that while the state was not wrong in its decision to exclude the tape from earlier trials, a precedent set by the U.S. Supreme Court made clear that it must now be entered. The interview is "the only available information tending to corroborate Kubsch's claim of innocence," court documents said. Alan Freedman, Kubsch's attorney, said by telephone he was relieved by the decision. Freedman said he spoke to his client earlier in the day to tell him the news. Kubsch was tried twice for the murders. He was convicted both times and also recommended for the death penalty both times. Beth Kubsch was found in September 1988 stabbed to death and wrapped in duct tape in the basement of a home in Mishawaka, Indiana. Rick and Aaron Milewski were found in the same basement stabbed multiple times and shot in the mouth, according to court documents. Wayne Kubsch was in severe debt, and two months before the murders had taken out a $575,000 life insurance policy on his wife, court documents said. During his first trial, prosecutors argued that he killed his wife to collect the money from the policy. | Report an error, an omission; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; send a submission; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! Source: Reuters, Timothy Mclaughlin, September 23, 2016 Two of America's biggest rock stars have given Donald Trump one of his greatest hits - but not the sort he could use to climb up the charts. Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi, two rockers who are no strangers to the politician scene, have slammed the Republican nominee is separate interviews. During an appearance on Skavlan Talkshow in Sweden, Springsteen described Trump as a 'great embarrassment'. Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen have bashed Republican candidate Donald Trump in separate new interviews 'He comes along and he has simple answers to all these very complex problems, and is telling some people the things they want to hear,' the 67-year-old New Jersey native said on the program. 'If you are very uncomfortable by the browning of America, well we are going to build a wall and keep all those people out. This is basically his campaign, saying it like I am saying it here. 'But if you have struggled, and if you have suffered and not gotten that piece of the pie, or you're just struggling to keep your family going, it can be... a very compelling argument. 'It's very difficult to deal with the complexities of governance and have someone tell you to wait or be patient, so there is just a rich environment for a demagogue.' Springsteen made his comments during an appearance on Skavlan Talkshow in Sweden The 67-year-old star (pictured with President Barack Obama in 2012) said Trump is a 'great embarrassment' Springsteen went on to say he does not believe Trump will reach the promised land and become president, but he added he's left lost and brokenhearted by the fact the reality television star has gotten this close. 'The absurdity is beyond cartoon-like,' he said. 'He has gotten close enough so it can make you nervous. 'I don't think he's going to win, but even him running is a great embarrassment if you are an American.' Speaking to a music magazine in London, Jon Bon Jovi said the prospect of a Trump presidency 'scares the s***' out of him' 'I pray he's not the next president of the United States,' Bon Jovi, who has campaigned with Hillary Clinton, said Meanwhile, speaking to a music magazine in London, Bon Jovi said the prospect of a Trump presidency 'scares the s***' out of him'. 'It's an unbelievable time in American politics and it scares the s*** out of me,' he told Gigwise. 'I pray he's not the next president of the United States. It's incredible that the man can lie to you. You tell him here's factually what you said that's incorrect and then he tells it the same [again].' The 54-year-old, who is a supporter of Hillary Clinton and performed at a fundraiser for her last month, admitted he was worried the Republican candidate could win if he performs well at the first debate next week. Springsteen called Trump a 'demagogue' in his latest interview, while Bon Jovi said: 'It's incredible that the man can lie to you. You tell him here's factually what you said that's incorrect and then he tells it the same' The two rock stars have both supporter Democrats in the past, and although he has not campaigned for Clinton like Bon Jovi has, Springsteen says she would make a 'very good president' 'If Hillary Clinton has a bad debate next week then we could be in for trouble,' he said to the magazine. In addition to performing at her fundraiser in August, Bon Jovi has campaigned for Clinton in New Jersey. Springsteen has not officially campaigned for the Democratic nominee, but he told Rolling Stone earlier this year she would make a: 'very, very good president'. In the same interview, he called Trump a 'moron'. A grand jury has indicted an Alabama couple accused of forcing their young son to stay outside without food and water for days. Shelby County court records made public Thursday show 33-year-old Matthew Scott Rowe and 34-year-old Catherine Rowe were indicted Tuesday. The pair were arrested in April on child abuse charges. Police said they made their seven-year-old son stay outside their home in Columbiana for three days and two nights. Catherine Rowe, 34, and Matthew Scott Rowe, 33, were indicted on child abuse charges after they allegedly made the child stay outside for three days They also 'failed to properly feed and hydrate the child.' Records show temperatures dipped into the mid-40s during the time the boy was outside. The boy and four other children who lived in the home were removed and placed in state custody. Neighbors told investigators they had seen the boy on the porch, but didnt think anything of it at the time, Columbiana Police Chief Lamar Vick said. Detectives obtained child abuse warrants against the Rowes, who were released after posting bond. A shop worker has been left mystified by a man who has defecated outside his shop twice in a week. Alan Buckley, owner of Clever Buys in Finglas, north Dublin, first noticed the bizarre ritual when he arrived at work and smelt something unpleasant. As he neared his shop, he was then disgusted to find a pile of human faeces 10 feet from the front door. The stunned shop keeper said: 'I haven't a clue why anyone would do this.' He has tried to make light of the situation by leaving a toilet and a pile of paper outside his store. CCTV footage was seen defecating outside of a shop in Finglas, Dublin, for the second time in a week Mr Buckley has tried to make light of the incident by putting a toilet and a stock of toilet paper outside his shop He checked CCTV to discover the incident that first occurred on September 15. To his dismay, the culprit returned six nights later and relieved himself outside his shop again. Mr Buckley initially thought the offender was a horse but then spotted the person had cleaned themselves up with paper. 'You'd swear a horse did it...but there was a load of toilet roll on the ground', he recalled. 'I couldn't understand it. No one wipes up after their dog. And it was humongous. And the smell of it almost made me sick.' The man pulled down his pants and relieved himself beside a row of stores on Clune Road in Finglas, Dublin, twice in a week When he returned for a second time, the offender did not even use toilet paper. He pulled up in front of the row of shops in the early hours of the morning, got out his car and opened the boot before defecating on the ground. Mr Buckley told the Irish Sun: 'It's the same car so I'm assuming it's the same person. This one was right on the middle of the footpath. He didn't even wipe himself, last Thursday he wiped himself and left the toilet paper there.' He added: 'I wouldn't mind but we're the cheapest around for toilet roll. We do 40 rolls of toilet paper for a tenner.' 'There's no excuse for it. There are places everywhere he could have gone...into a park, into a bush, but not a public street where people walk by. 'He doesn't seem to care. He doesn't hide the fact that's he's doing it. He seems to like this path for some reason.' U.S. intelligence officials are looking into possible Soviet links between one of Donald Trump's advisers and the Kremlin. Carter Page, a little-known U.S. energy consultant,who worked in Russia at U.S. investment bank Merrill Lynch, was named as a key adviser on Trump's foreign policy team earlier this year. The activities of Page have been discussed with senior members of Congress during recent briefings about suspected efforts by Moscow to influence the presidential election, according to Yahoo News. Carter Page, an adviser to U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, is being probed by U.S. intelligence officials who are seeking to determine he has opened up private communications with senior Russian officials Page has previously been quoted as an outspoken supporter of Putin and critic of western pressure on Russia Senate minority leader Harry Reid wrote to FBI Director James Comey, citing reports of meetings between a Page and 'high ranking sanctioned individuals' in Moscow over the summer. The worry from the U.S. government is that the may well be evidence of 'significant and disturbing ties' between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin that could undercut U.S. foreign policy and possibly influence the election. It's known that Page has business ties in Russia and he paints an impressive picture of his three-year stint in the Russian capital that began in 2004, saying on his company's website that he advised on 'key' transactions involving some of the country's biggest energy groups. But Sergey Aleksashenko, who became head of the bank's Moscow operation towards the end of Page's assignment, expressed doubts about whether he has the experience to act as an adviser on Washington's fraught ties with Moscow. Trump has often praised the Russian leader during the campaign, saying in an interview 'he's running his country and at least he's a leader, unlike what we have in this country' Carter Page's activities, which includes business interests in Russia, have been discussed with senior members of Congress during recent intelligence briefings 'For me it was a strange choice,' said Aleksashenko, who served as a deputy finance minister and deputy central bank governor in the 1990s before running Merrill Russia in 2006-2008. 'Carter was never a person who would discuss foreign policy or U.S.-Russian relations.' The achievements of Page - whom Trump named as an adviser in March - are summarized on the website of New York-based Global Energy Capital LLC, a firm that he founded after leaving Merrill. Trump's spokeswoman Hope Hicks played down Page's role in the campaign. 'Mr. Page is an informal adviser named as part of a much larger group several months ago. He does not speak for or represent the campaign in any official capacity,' she said. Trump named Page as being among five foreign policy advisers in an interview with The Washington Post on March 21. Aleksashenko, a Kremlin critic, was Page's boss in 2006-07 and is now a nonresident senior fellow at the left-leaning Brookings Institution in Washington. Three other former Merrill employees in Moscow also said that Page could not have played a leading role in the bank's deals due to his rank, and at the time showed no real interest or expertise in foreign policy. Shortly after Trump named his foreign affairs team, campaign member Sam Clovis said the aim was to recruit people with 'real-world' and military experience rather than the retreads that other candidates relied on. 'These are people who work for a living,' the New York Times quoted Clovis as saying. 'If you're looking for show ponies, you're coming to the wrong stable.' Carter Page has close links to Gazprom, the Kremlin-controlled gas company, and has long been an outspoken supporter of Putin, pictured Russia has been a central issue in the U.S. election campaign, with Trump calling President Vladimir Putin a 'strong leader'. Flattering coverage of Trump in Russian state media has left little doubt that he would be the Kremlin's preferred candidate over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Like Trump, Page holds views that contradict the Obama administration's stance on Russia and in recent years he has expressed them, reflecting the Kremlin's views on occasions. In a February 2015 article in the journal Global Policy, he said U.S. policy towards Russia had been 'misguided and provocative' and blamed the State Department for precipitating the Ukraine conflict. In a speech given in Moscow last month, Page also criticised Western countries for what he said was their 'hypocritical focus on democratisation' in the post-Soviet world. At the event, he did not respond to questions about his time in Russia. Andrey Kortunov, director general of the Russian International Affairs Council, said Trump wanted to show the incompetence and weakness of the foreign policy pursued by the Democrats. Page was useful as his views fit with that aim, added Kortunov, who does not know the Trump adviser personally. 'There are people in the U.S. who are bored with Ukraine, who think it is not an American problem that Washington should be involved in,' said Kortunov, whose think tank is close to the Russian Foreign Ministry but who has also expressed independent views. Trump has expressed his confidence that he would build a good relationship with the Kremlin, pictured, telling reporters last year: 'I think I would get along very well with Vladimir Putin' Despite Hicks's comments, Trump's former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski told Reuters that when he left the campaign in late June, Page had 'definitely' been an adviser to Trump. The Global Energy Capital LLC website says Page was responsible for opening Merrill's Moscow office and that he was 'an advisor on key transactions' for Russian firms including Gazprom, the world's top gas producer, and RAO UES, a power company that no longer exists. 'Page was a vice president at Merrill, a mid-tier banker who was not originating deals,' said Aleksashenko. 'Gazprom was a VIP client and in no transaction with such a client could a vice president play a decisive role.' In an interview with Bloomberg in March, Page said he advised Gazprom on the purchase of a stake in the Sakhalin energy project in Russia's Far East from Shell. Aleksashenko said Merrill's contribution to that deal was merely to provide a straightforward document saying the transaction was at fair value to Gazprom shareholders, alongside other banks. Gazprom declined comment. Another ex-Merrill banker said: 'Page was a general dogsbody who would have sat in on most meetings and prepared documents.' A third ex-Merrill banker, whose comments were corroborated by Aleksashenko, said Merrill's business with Gazprom when Page worked there involved investor relations work. Page also said he worked on deals in central Asia. Two sources who were involved in the initial public offering of shares in Kazakh firm KazMunaiGas EP in 2006 said although Merrill was one of the IPO's managers, they did not remember Page participating in the deal. Bankers at rivals when Page worked in Moscow said Merrill was not the main bank Gazprom turned to when it needed to raise capital, although the U.S. bank handled its investor relations. Merrill did act as a manager on two Gazprom Eurobonds when Page worked in Moscow but Tom Adshead at Moscow-based consultancy Macro-Advisory, which helps foreign investors in Russia, said it was not a major player with the energy group. Foreign correspondents are normally hailed for their gritty dispatches from the front line. But the BBCs new man in Beirut is winning fans not for his in-depth knowledge of the Middle East but for his movie-star good looks and his habit of posting daring selfies on social media. In a series of topless pictures on Instagram, James Longman shows off his gym-honed body and enviable six-pack. This selfie on Instagram attracted plenty of compliments for the BBC's James Longman And the images of a type more usually seen from reality TV stars than authoritative journalists seem to be distracting viewers from his insights. On Friday, Longman took part in a question-and-answer session about the crisis in Syria on the BBC News Facebook page. But amid queries about Bashar al-Assads notorious regime and Western air strikes against Islamic State, the correspondent was bombarded with compliments about his appearance. One participant, Tracey Bourke, wrote simply: Hottie. Joel Ewski was one of several fans who compared him to a young Richard Gere, while Michelle Marie added: Handsome indeed! The 29-year-old journalist, who is halfway through a two-month stint in Beirut, has posted a series of revealing snaps to his 7,500 Instagram followers. In one topless selfie from last year, the former public schoolboy displayed his six-pack after a workout. In response, one fan wrote simply: Wow. Another added: Marry me. The flurry of compliments from female and male admirers has led to comparisons with the national obsession with Poldark star Aidan Turners toned torso. After seeing one of Longmans reports on the BBC News Channel, one female Twitter user wrote: Oh, hello! Have just come across dishy BBC News Beirut Correspondent James Longman. Longman is reporting from Beirut - and his 'hot' looks won his coverage plenty of attention Another fan, Scott Hunter, added: Has anyone else seen how sexy James Longman is? Hes a treat for the eyes on the news. Emma Luxton wrote: Seeing James Longman on my TV in the morning definitely starts my day well. Although the terrible things hes reporting bring me down. Last night veteran war correspondent Martin Bell told The Mail on Sunday that in the modern media landscape, its definitely an advantage to be good-looking. It didnt matter in the past. Mr Bell, who was badly wounded by shrapnel as he delivered a bulletin from Sarajevo in 1992, added: I wouldnt get a job now but I was lucky to be born when I was. Good luck to him. Longman, a former head boy of 31,000-a year Worth School in West Sussex, has worked at the BBC for four years, during which he has reported for the Victoria Derbyshire show and covered terror attacks in Paris and Nice. In May, he revealed in a heartfelt broadcast about mental illness that he had suffered from depression, and that his father had had schizophrenia and killed himself when James was only nine. Sociology professor Frank Furedi said that the comments about both Longman and Turner were part of a trend that makes it increasingly acceptable to comment on the bodies of men on TV, but not women. Were now in a situation where its OK to talk about the six-pack of a man but its not OK to talk about the body of a woman in the same kind of way, he said. That kind of double standard has become, to some extent, part of our convention. Specialist officers were on the case and they have now made an arrest Police have made an arrest after the iCloud account of Pippa Middleton (pictured) was reportedly hacked Police investigating claims that Pippa Middleton's iCloud account was hacked have arrested a 35-year-old man, Scotland Yard has said. The 33-year-old was at the centre of a major security alert after a man offered to sell 3,000 images of her and her royal relatives for 50,000. The collection of photographs is said to include private pictures of her sister, Kate - the Duchess of Cambridge - and her children George and Charlotte. According to The Sun, the pictures show Miss Middleton at a wedding dress fitting and naked images of her fiance, James Matthews, while the hackers are also believed to have the personal phone numbers of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Scotland Yard confirmed that specialist officers were investigating the case and tonight said that they had made an arrest in Northamptonshire. The man was arrested on suspicion of a Computer Misuse Act offence and is being taken into custody at a south London police station. The seller, who hid their identity by calling themselves the 'Crafty Cockney' and 'Mas', contacted the Press and said they had 3,000 private photographs from the author's Apple iCloud account. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ' Detectives investigating the hacking of a personal iCloud account have made an arrest. 'On Saturday evening, a 35-year-old man was arrested at an address in Northamptonshire. 'He was arrested on suspicion of a Computer Misuse Act offence and is being taken into custody at south London police station. Enquiries continue.' The seller reportedly demanded at least 50,000 and wanted to offload them within 48 hours. They added: 'This isnt [sic] an auction it will be a simple process of the highest bid. 'Due to current climate on privacy laws in the UK I'm intending a quick US sale but would at least give you a heads-up.' A source close to Miss Middleton confirmed that her lawyers had been told and that they would be speaking to the police. Miss Middleton, who is the younger sister of the Duchess of Cambridge, reportedly had a collection of pictures of parties, royal children and wedding dresses. The seller, whose gender is not known, wanted to speak to journalists after obtaining the images. The pictures reportedly show Miss Middleton at a wedding dress fitting and naked images of her fiance, James Matthews (pictured together at Wimbledon this year) They added: 'This is obviously a vast source of info and pictures that I neither want nor intend to keep in my possession very long.' The hacker initially wanted to sell the images to a magazine based in Britain or the US but added they would return the photographs to the owner if payment was made. It comes after a number of celebrities had their private online accounts hacked, including American actress Jennifer Lawrence, 26. Model Kate Upton, 24, was also a victim of an iCloud theft in 2014. It is thought that more than 100 celebrities fell victim to the hack, which resulted in revealing pictures of them being posted online. Police have finally released the unedited dashcam and bodycam videos of the Keith Lamont Scott shooting, which show him slowly walking backward out of his car before being shot by police. Neither videos show Scott pointing a gun at police or raising a weapon. It also shows Scott making no sudden movements. The dashcam video shows Scott exiting his car after about 50 seconds of filming. He slowly takes four steps backwards with his hands at his side. Officers are clearly heard in a previous video posted by Scott's wife shouting 'Drop the gun', but it unclear from the released video if a gun is in Scott's hand. Police have finally released the dash-cam video and body-cam video of the Keith Lamont Scott (far, left) shooting Video shows Scott (left) slowly walking backward out of his car before being shot by police Officers are clearly heard in a previous video posted by Scott's wife shouting 'Drop the gun', but it unclear from the released video if a gun is in Scott's hand After being shot, Scott falls out of frame and officers can be seen approaching him and standing around Four shots ring out and he collapses to the ground. Police also released information and pictures of what appears to be a Colt Mustang 380 handgun, which officers said Scott kept in an ankle holster. The Charlotte police department claimed that Mr Scott was an imminent physical threat because he was refusing to obey commands to put his gun down. The bodycam video, which is not on officer Brentley Vinson who fired the four fatal shots, shows an unidentified officer approaching the back of Scott's white vehicle. Another officer is visible holding a gun and the officer wearing the camera begins banging on the passenger-side window of Scott's vehicle with a baton. The body-cam video, which is not on officer Brentley Vinson who fired the fatal shots, shows an unidentified officer approaching the back of Scott's white vehicle Another officer is visible holding a gun and the officer wearing the camera begins banging on a back window of the vehicle with a baton Scott is visible for a brief second by his car door after exiting his vehicle. Then the four shots ring out The blue pants Scott was wearing are visible as the officer runs out from behind the truck Scott is visible for a brief second by his car door after exiting his vehicle. No audio is heard until 23 seconds into the clip when the officer wearing the body-cam approaches Scott, who has already been shot and is lying face-down on the ground. Groans from Scott are clearly audible. He is then handcuffed while still motionless on the ground. Blood can be seen running over his knuckles as officers swarm around him. Scott lies on the ground after being shot by Officer Brentley Vinson and cops swarm his body once he's down After being shot four times by officer Vinson, Scott can be heard groaning on the ground while being handcuffed An officer can be heard saying: Im going to get my bag and start getting some (medical) equipment An officer can be heard saying: Im going to get my bag and start getting some (medical) equipment. Another officer says: We need to hold the wound. The two videos last a total of three and a half minutes. It is unclear how the officers knew Scott had a gun while he was sitting in his vehicle with his windows up. It is also unclear how officers knew Scott was smoking marijuana if his windows were rolled up while he was inside his vehicle. Police also released information and pictures of what appears to be a Colt Mustang 380 (pictured) handgun, which officers said Scott kept in an ankle holster Police released this image of an ankle holster they said was used to hold Scott's gun They also released this image of a joint that contained marijuana, which they said he was smoking when they approached him During a family press conference held after the release of the video, the Scott family said none of the videos prove Keith Scott was holding a gun. His brother-in-law Ray Dotch said after seeing the police footage unfortunately we are left with far more questions than we have answers. CHARLOTTE POLICE STATEMENT The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said two plainclothes officers were sitting in an an unmarked car in the parking lot of The Village at College Downs, preparing to serve an arrest warrant when a white SUV pulled up next to them. They observed Scott with what they believed to be a marijuana blunt, then saw Scott raise his gun up, the statement said. Officers then left the area to outfit themselves with marked duty vests and equipment that would clearly identify them as police officers, according to the CMPD statement. Upon their return, they identified themselves as officers and warned Scott to drop the weapon, the CMPD said. A uniformed officer pulled up in a market patrol vehicle and was preparing break the window of Scotts SUV with a baton when Scott then exited the vehicle, still holding the gun, the CMPD said. Scott backed away from the vehicle, while continuing to ignore officers repeated loud verbal commands to drop the gun, police said. One of the officers then fired when he allegedly felt Scott to be a threat to their safety, according to the CMPD. Advertisement 'We shouldn't have to humanize him for him to be treated fairly. He's an American citizen who deserved better. 'It does not make sense to us how this incident resulted in the loss of life,' Dotch said. Justin Bamberg, the family's lawyer, also said: 'The dash cam or the body cam, you can't clearly identify what, if anything, is in his hand, and that has not changed.' The family also said they believe the Charlotte police might need better training policies and education on how to deescalate situations like the one involving Scott. Dotch asked why the police didn't listen to Scott's wife when she said he had a traumatic brain injury and allow her to help deescalate the situation. Police chief Kerr Putney said earlier in a press conference the footage released explains 'the absolute facts' of the shooting, and that Scott had both marijuana and a weapon on him. 'These are the specific footage that gives you some visual of what has transpired,' Chief Putney told reporters. 'There was a compelling reason for them to make this encounter, it was beyond having a gun... he absolutely was in possession of a gun. 'There was a crime that he committed that caused the encounter, and the gun exasperated that.' He added that: 'When youre in possession of marijuana and you have a gun thats a public safety issue. Justin Bamberg, the family's lawyer, also said: 'There is nothing in any video of the Scotts, the dash-cam, the body-cam video where you can clearly identify if anything's in his hand and that has not changed' Bamberg also asked why police didn't allow Scott's wife to help deescalate the situation after she made clear her husband had a traumatic brain injury 'That was not the priority, they (the cops) were still focused on apprehending the suspect. 'When they see the weapon and they see the marijuana they say uh oh, this is a safety issue for us and the public. 'We need to address this before we serve the warrant.' Putney added Scott was in possession of marijuana, and police saw that first and then saw a weapon in his car. 'In this particular case, they see someone who has marijuana then they see the handgun and they focus their attention on that,' he said. The family also said they believe the Charlotte police might need better training policies and education on how to deescalate situations like the one involving Scott Charlotte police chief Kerr Putney said in a press conference Keith Scott had marijuana and a gun on him when he was shot dead by an officer on Tuesday Hundreds marched through the center of Charlotte on a fifth night of demonstrations that stretched into Sunday morning, including white and black families protesting police violence. One sign read 'Stop police brutality' and another showed a picture of a bloody handprint with the phrase #AMINEXT, a social media tag about the fear of becoming a victim of police. For the first time in three nights, police enforced a curfew, saying they would arrest violators. A crowd gathered outside police headquarters dispersed without any violence shortly after midnight. Hundreds marched through the center of Charlotte on a fifth night of demonstrations that stretched into Sunday morning, including white and black families protesting police violence One sign read 'Stop police brutality' and another showed a picture of a bloody handprint with the phrase #AMINEXT, a social media tag about the fear of becoming a victim of police For the first time in three nights, police enforced a curfew, saying they would arrest violators A crowd gathered outside police headquarters dispersed without any violence shortly after midnight Charlotte police released two videos on Saturday showing Scott's fatal shooting on Tuesday. The controversial death has made Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city and a financial center, the latest flashpoint in two years of tense protests over US police killings of black men, most of them unarmed. Chief Putney acknowledged that the videos themselves were 'insufficient' to prove that Scott held a gun but said other evidence completed the picture. 'There is no definitive visual evidence that he had a gun in his hand,' Putney said. 'But what we do see is compelling evidence that, when you put all the pieces together, supports that.' Charlotte police released two videos on Saturday showing Scott's fatal Tuesday shooting The controversial death has made North Carolina's largest city and a financial center the latest flashpoint in two years of tense protests over police killings of unarmed black men Police acknowledged the videos themselves were 'insufficient' to prove that Scott held a gun but said other evidence completed the picture Putney added: 'Officers were reacting to what they saw, and they have a duty to do so. They perceived an imminent lethal threat. 'In every encounter, people can make a decision to follow lawful, loud verbal commands and prevent some things like that.' The police chief also said he 'absolutely would not' be charging officers involved in the shooting death, but added police were doing surveillance in the area for another suspect they were going to serve a warrant on when they saw Scott smoking. A second video has emerged showing the moments after Keith Lamont Scott was shot dead by police officers in Charlotte Police can be heard asking each other, 'you good, everybody good?' as they stand near Scott's body, before the woman filming the video says, 'did they just shoot him?' At one point in the new video, an officer appeared to put handcuffs on Scott - despite him having already been shot Putney also said the footage had not been released until Saturday because he wanted to make sure it was 'done right'. 'My priority throughout the process has been to maintain the integrity of the investigation because thats essentially in a fact finding process that leads you to the truth,' he said. 'Today... I have decided we are at a stage where I can release additional information without adversely impacting the investigation. 'Doing so prior to this point would have had a negative impact on the investigation. Last moments: Footage taken by Rakeyia Scott, the wife of Keith Lamont Scott, shows the moments leading up to his fatal shooting as well as the aftermath 'Drop the f***ing gun': Police officers can be heard telling Keith Scott to drop a gun; it has now been claimed a firearm found at the scene had Scott's DNA and fingerprints on it Don't shoot! In the footage, Rakeyia, who commentates throughout, can be heard saying he has a traumatic brain injury and no gun CHARLOTTE SHOOTING VIDEO: TRANSCRIPT OF RAKEYIA SCOTT'S HORRIFIED REACTION Rakeyia Scott: Don't shoot him, don't shoot him, he has no weapon, he has no weapon, don't shoot him. Police: Don't shoot. Drop the gun. Drop the f***ing gun. Rakeyia: Don't shoot him, don't shoot him, he didn't do anything. Police: Drop the gun! Rakeyia: He doesn't have a gun, he has a TBI [traumatic brain injury]. He's not going to do anything to you guys. He just took his medicine Police: Drop the gun. Let me get a f***ing baton over here. Rakeyia: Keith, don't let them break the windows. Come on out the car. Police: Drop the gun! Rakeyia: Keith, don't do it. Keith, get out the car. Keith, don't you do it, don't you do it. Keith! Keith! Keith! Don't you do it! Gunshots are heard Rakeyia: Did you shoot him? Did you shoot him? Did you shoot him? He better not be f***ing dead. He better not be f***ing dead. I know that f***ing much. I know that much he better not be dead. I'm not gonna come near you [to police]. I'm going to record you though. He better be alive. You better be alive, how about that. Yes we're over here at 50... 50.. 9453 Lexington Court. These are the police officers that shot my husband and he better live. He better live because he didn't do nothing to them. Police: Is everybody good? Are you good? Rakeyia: He good. Nobody... touch nobody, so they're all good. Police: You good? Rakeyia: I know he better live. I know he better live. How about that, I'm not coming to you guys but he better live. He better live. Y'all hear this and you see this right? He better live. He better live. I swear he better live. Yep, he better live. He better f***ing live. He better f***ing live and I can't even leave the damn site. I ain't going nowhere, I'm staying in the same damn spot. The f***. That's ok, did y'all call the police? I mean did y'all call an ambulance? Advertisement 'It is also my understanding that the release at this point is appropriate not to taint the fact finding mission the FBI has been conducting.' However, by 6pm on Saturday - an hour and a half after the footage was due to be released - nothing had been posted by the CMPD and several tweets discussing the release of the footage had been deleted. Eight tweets were removed, all of which discussed the decision to release the bodycam footage and what the footage showed. 'CMPD releasing body worn camera and dash-cam footage,' one deleted tweet said. Another deleted tweet said: 'CMPD will also release information about other evidence found at scene.' Several tweets discussing the release of the footage of Scott's shoting were deleted by CMPD's Twitter Two videos emerged on Friday and Saturday showing the shooting and its aftermath. New footage found on Saturday showed the moments after Scott was shot dead. The video appears to have been shot from a balcony of a nearby apartment, and starts by showing officers stood around Scott's body in the street. The clip continued to show the officers put handcuffs on Scott, despite the fact they had already shot him. 'I know he better live': The extraordinary video was filmed by Rakeyia Scott (pictured with Keith), his wife, and she amazingly has the composure to keep filming after he was shot Family members of Keith Scott assemble near a press conference Thursday, held after protests against the police shooting of Scott Officers were also heard shouting at Scott's wife, Rakeyia, telling her to 'back off'. Officer Brentley Vinson is the cop who shot Keith Scott; he has been placed on administrative leave At one point in the video, about halfway through it, one officer appears to pick an unidentified object up off the ground. The first video, which was obtained by NBC News on Friday, was filmed by Scott's wife. It showed the moments before the shooting and her horrified reaction afterwards. In the footage, Scott doesn't appear to have a firearm near his person, which contradicts police claims. A police source told WBTV that a gun reportedly found near Scott had his fingerprints, DNA and blood on it. It was also loaded. The shooting sparked protests, which went on for the fourth night in a row on Friday and into Saturday. A man lies in the street, that had been closed by police, during a night of peaceful rallies in Charlotte The protests entered its fifth night and people were allowed to break curfew as long as they remained peaceful Protesters throughout the day had called for the release of the bodycam and dashcam footage Protesters throughout the day had been shouting, 'release the tape' - in reference to the footage police released on Saturday afternoon. The national guard has been deployed to the city, in addition to a state of emergency and curfew being put in place. The Department of Justice has also said it is, 'assessing the incident that led to the death' according to the Charlotte Observer, but has not committed to an investigation. This picture believed to have been taken by a witness moments after Keith Lamont Scott was shot dead in Charlotte appears to show a gun at his feet; the new footage doesn't appear to show a gun however A woman marches through the streets on Saturday night wearing a Black Lives Matter shirt The protests have remained peaceful ass they entered day five following the footage release For archaeology students, the opportunity to dig up important historical remains is an enticing prospect. But astonishingly, students at one of Britains leading universities have been given permission to walk out of classes if they find dealing with the past too traumatic. The move at University College London (UCL) is the latest example of controversial trigger warnings, where academics caution students about some potentially disturbing material. The alerts are common at universities in the United States and are now growing in the UK, but critics have condemned them as madness. Students at UCL taking the archaeologies of modern conflict course have been told that they will encounter historical events that may be disturbing, even traumatising. If they feel stressed, they can step outside for the rest of the class without penalty, though they should catch up by copying the notes of another student. Lecturer Gabriel Moshenska, who co-ordinates the UCL course on how archaeology can help unearth the truth about 20th and 21st century conflicts, said some students had been in the Armed Forces and may have suffered psychological trauma. He admitted no one had ever complained that they found one of his talks upsetting and said the alert was precautionary. In another example of trigger warnings, classics lecturer Elizabeth Gloyn alerted students at Royal Holloway, University of London, before a lecture on Roman poet Ovid, saying some of his works described domestic violence and other nasty things. Former Government adviser Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign For Real Education, said: This is, in a sense, health and safety going mad again. We are back to an overprotective nanny state. Asian Elephants (pictured) are being killed for their skin, used in medicine and to make jewellery In a remote clearing in the rainforests of Burma, the bloodied body of an illegally killed Asian elephant lies in a fast-running mountain stream the telltale hacking wounds of a poacher clearly visible on its flank. But this magnificent creature is not a victim of the ivory trade. It has been killed to feed a growing Chinese demand for elephant skin, used in medicine and to make polished beads for macabre jewellery that traders claim can ward off ill-health. The butchered giant is just one casualty of a grotesque new trade that is resulting in an escalating number of skinned elephant carcasses being discovered in the vast jungles of the tropical country. The Burmese government says it knows of four cases in the past few months, but unofficial sources say at least 50 animals have been killed and skinned this year alone. These grisly photographs were taken during a risky undercover operation that was funded by Elephant Family, a British-based charity dedicated to saving the Asian elephant. Investigators tracked the trade in elephant skin from bloodied carcasses left by poachers via an illegal market in endangered animal products in a lawless province of Burma to China, where the hide is processed and sold despite an international ban on its trade. Elephant carcasses have been found stripped of their hides (pictured) deep inside Myanmar's jungles Alarming figures from the Burma government suggest elephant poaching in the country rose by 25 per cent between 2013 and 2015. The recent seizure of 421kg of elephant hide in south-west China where it can command up to 45 a kilo and multiple sightings of elephant skin stockpiles in Burma confirm the slaughter. I am very concerned about this trade. It is very new, said Dr Khyne U Mar, an Asian elephant expert known as the Elephant Lady of Burma. We recently started finding increasing amounts of cut-up, dried elephant skin. Posing as buyers, investigators visited a workshop known for processing endangered animal skins in a remote village in north-east Burma. The trader told them that he had big orders for elephant hide from across the border in China. I have a customer in Guangdong, he said. I delivered 30-plus kilos of elephant skin for the first time. He sold it all, and needed to order more. From there, the team travelled to the notorious wildlife market at Mong La on the Burma-Chinese border a Sin City beyond the reach of the countrys police where gambling, prostitution, drugs and money-laundering are rife. It also serves as a major international hub in the trade in endangered animals. It was a risky trip because we were secretly filming, one investigator told The Mail on Sunday. The traders there know what they are doing is illegal and if we had been caught, it could have been very unpleasant. There is no police force and while we were walking around, we were offered tiger-bone wine from huge casks. In the market and in a number of specialist shops, there were live macaque monkeys in cages, tiger skins, a lot of ivory much of it clearly smuggled from Africa and piles of elephant skin openly on sale for 45 a kilo. We believe traders have become wary after clampdowns on the international trade in elephant ivory and have sought to create a new market in skins. Elephant skin (pictured) was trafficked from a lawless province of Burma to China, where the hide is processed and sold despite an international ban on its trade The skin is sometimes made into polished beads for macabre jewellery (pictured) that traders claim can ward off ill-health As well as medicine claimed to cure digestive problems, the skin is also made into jewellery it is cut into cubes, dried and carved into polished beads. The most prized beads are shiny cherry-red, while less expensive examples range from orange to yellow. At Mong La, the investigators were offered low-quality bracelets made of 12 to 16 beads for between 70 and 90. Inside one small shop were hundreds of pieces of skin. The investigators crossed the border into China and visited an area known as elephant valley, where tourists can see elephants in a nature reserve and pay to attend circus-style shows. There, elephant skin and polished beads made into bracelets and necklaces are sold to and openly worn by visitors. THE Asian elephant population has decreased by at least 50 per cent over the past 40 years and there are now believed to be only 2,000 in the wild in Burma, although the government owns several thousand more animals that were used in the countrys forestry industry. Demand for the skin (pictured) has created a dramatic increase in poaching of Asian elephants. The Burmese government says it knows of four cases in the past few months, but unofficial sources say at least 50 animals have been killed and skinned this year alone Elephant Familys chief executive, Ruth Powys, believes that the dramatic recent increase in poaching of Asian elephants for skin is a canary in a coal mine an early-warning sign of an escalating trade that may soon spiral out of control. Elephant Family funds anti-poaching patrols in Burmas forests. Its investigation coincides with this weeks meeting of CITES, the convention on the trade in endangered species, in Johannesburg. Ms Powys added: If we can raise sufficient funds to conduct further investigations to establish the full extent of this abhorrent trade, if we can work with governments to widen anti-poaching patrols, curb growing demand fuelled by traders and stall the emerging consumer market, we may still be in time to stop this trade and prevent the extinction of the Asian elephant. A six-hour standoff with an armed and suicidal man at San Francisco's Civic Center ended Saturday after he surrendered, police said. The standoff began after the man called 911 around noon to say he was going to harm himself and any officer who comes close to him, police Officer Carlos Manfredi said. Scroll down for video San Francisco Police officers respond to a man in Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco on Saturday The standoff began after the man called 911 around noon to say he was going to harm himself and any officer who comes close to him, police Officer Carlos Manfredi said A police standoff with an armed and suicidal man led authorities to evacuate San Francisco's Civic Center and a nearby public square on Saturday as negotiators tried to talk him down Negotiators who made contact with the man at United Nations Plaza reported seeing a handgun This image is from video taken by Steff Wong, who tweeted: 'Video of the possible armed suspect in the green jacket by the trees' The call prompted authorities to empty the busy area around City Hall of pedestrians and motorists. Negotiators who made contact with the man at United Nations Plaza reported seeing a handgun, and when the standoff was over Manfredi tweeted a photo of the weapon stuffed in a black holster. The San Francisco Chronicle reported the weapon turned out to be a replica gun that shoots plastic pellets. 'This could not have ended any better,' Manfredi told the newspaper. 'Now we can get this guy the help he needs.' The standoff caused traffic to back up in the city's core. A San Francisco Police officer responds to the scene of a standoff in Civic Center Plaza Police in San Francisco blocked off traffic around Civic Center and United Nations Plaza The FAA issued a temporary flight restriction above Civic Center Plaza because of the standoff. Noise from news helicopters was interfering with negotiations and creating a hostile situation with the man, Manfredi said. Fire officials first reported the incident at about 12.25pm on Twitter, KGO said. If you need to speak to a counselor, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-8255 The FAA issued a temporary flight restriction above Civic Center Plaza because of the standoff. Multiple police vehicles are pictured at the scene : 9 2013 . 9 . . Ahmad Najib Aris The 40-year-old Ahmad Najib Aris who formerly worked as an aircraft cabin cleaner had spent 11 years on death row appealing against his death sentence without success and was hanged about 6am yesterday, after meeting his family for the last time the day before, The Star reported today. The daily cited an unnamed Kajang Prison spokesman saying he was later buried at the Sungai Kantan Muslim cemetery in Kajang. Lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla who had previously represented Ahmad Najib described the latter as a "good Muslim" while in jail to the newspaper, adding that prison officials related how he often led other inmates in prayer and taught them about religion. "To me, at least the time he was in prison, he was a better person than many outside," Mohamed Haniff was quoted saying. The 2003 murder case that was well-covered by the media sparked a nationwide uproar at that time due to the seemingly random violence perpetrated. According to past reports, Ong, who was a US-based IT specialist home for a visit, was abducted from the carpark of the Bangsar Shopping Complex on June 13, 2003. Her charred remains were found in a manhole along Old Klang Road here, several days later. Forensic tests carried out later showed she had been raped. Ahmad Najib was subsequently arrested and charged based on the forensic and criminal evidence. He was convicted and given the maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and 10 strokes of the rotan for Ong's rape and the mandatory death penalty for her murder. In a separate statement, Amnesty International Malaysia which opposed the death penalty, condemned the government for the secret execution of Ahmad Najib. Its executive director Shamini Darshni Kaliemuthu noted that Malaysia is not the only country that provides the capital punishment, but said the authorities should follow international laws and standards and provide sufficient advance notice to convicted killers on death row to enable them to seek further recourse at the national or international level. "There is no convincing evidence to support the argument that the death penalty prevents crime more effectively than other punishments including life imprisonment. Further, statistics from countries which have abolished the death penalty show that the absence of the death penalty has not resulted in an increase in the crimes previously subject to capital punishment. "What does hanging Ahmad Najib really achieve?" she asked. AI Malaysia said Ahmad Najib's execution is only the 4th known to have taken place in the country and suspects there have been more executions conducted secretly. "Amnesty International Malaysia does not downplay the seriousness of crimes committed, but we urge the authorities to consider introducing more effective crime prevention measures especially when there is overwhelming evidence that proves that the death penalty does not deter crime," Shamini added. Amnesty condemns execution of man convicted for Canny Ong's murder Amnesty International condemned the quiet execution of Ahmad Najib Aris, who was hanged Friday after spending 13 years on death row for the rape and murder of Canny Ong Lay Kian. "The death penalty is never an answer. Hanging a man for murder is not justice, it is revenge. "We oppose the use of capital punishment regardless of the crime committed," Amnesty International Malaysia executive director Shamini Darshni Kaliemuthu said in a statement Friday. Shamini said that while international law allows for the death penalty to be meted out for the most serious crimes, the lack of transparency on the use of the death penalty in Malaysia raises crucial concerns. International law and standards require that in countries which have yet to abolish the death penalty, the authorities must ensure that prisoners under the sentence of death and their families are given reasonable advance notice of the scheduled date and time of the executions. "From Amnesty International Malaysia's experience in dealing with imminent executions, families are only informed between 72 and 24 hours before. "Also of concern is the authorities deliberately concealing or minimising public scrutiny over imminent executions," she said. Shamini said transparency in the use of the death penalty is important to avoid aggravating mental trauma of prisoners sentenced to death and is also a critical safeguard against unlawful executions. "International standards on the use of the death penalty also set out that condemned prisoners and their lawyers be officially informed of the date of execution in sufficient time to take any further recourse available at the national or international level. "However, we understand that lawyers in Malaysia are not informed of impending executions of their clients as case proceedings would have concluded," she said. Due to the lack of transparency, Shamini said there were possibility of more executions which have not been disclosed by the authorities. Shamini added that there is no convincing evidence to support the argument that death penalty can prevent crimes more effectively compared to other punishments including life imprisonment. "Further, statistics from countries which have abolished the death penalty show that the absence of the death penalty has not resulted in an increase in the crimes previously subject to capital punishment. "Amnesty International Malaysia does not downplay the seriousness of crimes committed, but we urge the authorities to consider introducing more effective crime prevention measures especially when there is overwhelming evidence that proves that the death penalty does not deter crime," she said. In 2003, then 27-year-old Ong's charred body was found in a hole, below 2 cement-filled tyres were found 4 days after her kidnap. Forensic investigation led to the arrest of Ahmad Najib, also 27-years-old at that time, who had raped her before killing her by stabbing her twice. | Report an error, an omission; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; send a submission; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! Source: themalaymailonline.com, September 24, 2016Source: malaysiakini.com, September 24, 2016 Karen Edwards is convinced Christopher Halliwell could have killed four other women For Karen Edwards, it was the final insult to the memory of her daughter Becky. For two weeks, she had watched Christopher Halliwell, a calculated and devious minicab driver, lie as he tried to defend himself in court over the murder of her youngest child and heard in harrowing detail how her body was dismembered. Then, when Halliwell was found guilty of the brutal murder, he could not resist smirking in the dock. Yet Karen, who has spent the past five years battling for justice for her daughter, has steadfastly refused to be cowed by her killer. Today, in a dramatic development, she exclusively reveals compelling new evidence to suggest that Halliwell is responsible for the deaths of at least four other women, including Claudia Lawrence, the chef from York who went missing in 2009. Ms Lawrences body has never been found. Karens devastating conclusion is the result of her own painstaking investigation into the murderer, described by a judge last week as self-centred and domineering. In a chilling coincidence, two of the women, as well as Halliwells first victim Sian OCallaghan, went missing on the same date March 19 albeit in different years. And Karen now believes they were deliberated targeted on this date because it is significant as the day Halliwell broke up with a former girlfriend. Karen believes Halliwell (pictured) picked March 19 to kill because it was the date his girlfriend broke up with him Becky Godden, 20, disappeared in 2003 - she was sexually assaulted and killed by cab driver Halliwell He is definitely a serial killer, says Karen, 55, with absolute conviction. I believe he has been up and down the country murdering young women. He used to be a groundworker up north I know somebody who worked with him on the same building site. He would go and have a pint with the lads and then disappear. Serial killers are usually triggered by dates. That was the day that Halliwell broke up with one of his partners. Halliwell was familiar with York his father lived in Huddersfield and the description of Claudias murderer is identical to him a left-handed smoker, 5ft 8-10in, with slightly receding hair and a skinny build. Claudia was reported missing from her home on March 19, 2009 exactly two years to the day before Sian. It is also the same date that a woman called Linda Razzell disappeared. For Karen, this search for the truth has become something of a vocation. Sitting in a hotel where she has been staying to be close to the court, it is clear that this immaculately dressed woman who was praised by the judge for her dignity, now has an impressive knowledge of criminal law and a keen understanding of the various procedures by which Halliwell is expected to appeal against his life sentence. Sally Ann John (pictured, left) lived on the same street as Halliwell, while Melanie Hall (right) was last seen keavin a Bath nightclub in 1996 in an unmarked taxi Linda Razell (pictured left) and Claudia Lawrence (right) also went missing on March 19, the same date as Sian O'Callaghan He insisted on defending himself in court during the trial, drawing parallels with the case of Ted Bundy, the American serial killer who murdered more than 30 people. Karen is calm and pragmatic but her dreadful ordeal an extremely painful journey has left an indelible mark. It began on Thursday, March 24, 2011, when she saw on TV that murder squad detectives were digging up a field in the Cotswold village of Eastleach. Police had discovered the body of Sian OCallaghan, a 22-year-old from Swindon who went missing after leaving a nightclub, and were looking for the remains of another woman. For nine years, Karen had prayed her youngest child, a sensitive and troubled woman who had run away from home after descending into a nightmare world of drugs and prostitution, would walk through the door of the familys 500,000 rambling farmhouse on the outskirts of Swindon. But the day after Mothering Sunday, a day which should have been Beckys 29th birthday and 11 days after Karen saw the news on television, police confirmed her worst fears: they had found the remains of her beloved daughter. Karen, who lives with her second husband Charlie, a wealthy businessman, and has a son Steven, 37, says: I had a gut feeling it was Becky. Call it mothers instinct. She had been missing too long. I will never forget that day. I had spent the morning helping Steven decorate his new home. We were laughing and joking because I was wearing pink wellies and a tracksuit. We went back home at lunchtime to put the kettle on and from then on my life as I knew it changed. A family portrait consisting of Karen, an 11-year-old Becky and her brother Steven That day, five years ago, marked the end of years of hope for Karen, who had watched in agony as her fragile 4ft 11in daughter, who had size three feet and wore childrens clothes, spiralled from self-harming to smoking heroin, an addiction that saw her selling her body for her next hit. It was a lifestyle for which Karen, coming from a warm and loving background, was unprepared. Becky was found guilty of stealing a handbag and cigarettes, but within three weeks of her conviction which ironically meant that her body could be identified as the DNA remained on the police database Becky was dead. It emerged during the trial that she had known Halliwell, who drove her to Bristol to buy drugs in exchange for sex. Her body was found in 2011 after Halliwell led former Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher to the spot where he had buried her. The same officer who made the grim discovery insisted on breaking the news to the family himself. Astonishingly, the evidence was deemed inadmissible in the High Court in May 2012, because Fulcher had failed to caution Halliwell beforehand a decision that, for Karen, still beggars belief. Beaming: Becky in 1984 happily playing with a doll in the family kitchen at her Wiltshire home A complaint from Beckys own father, John Godden, to the Independent Police Complaints Commission led to Fulcher being found guilty of gross misconduct in 2014. Shaking her head, still furious over the decision, she says: Steve Fulcher was an incredible police officer. Lets not forget without him we would not have discovered Beckys body. Hes uncovered a serial killer. How can anyone punish him for that? When the trial was abandoned, Karen launched a Justice For Becky campaign, taking her petition to David Cameron at Downing Street. Since then, she has meticulously amassed boxes of evidence that would put Wiltshire Police, who bungled the initial investigation, to shame. Today, those boxes, packed with files and petitions, are stored, poignantly, behind lock and key in her daughters old bedroom. Giggles: Becky and Steven having a laugh on the sofa while she had a broken collarbone, also taken in 1984 Karen believes that as well as Claudia Lawrence, Halliwell may have killed 23-year-old prostitute Sally Ann John, who was classified as a missing person in 1995. She was a Swindon girl and knew him well, she says. She used to live in the same street as Halliwell, baby-sit his kids and take his taxis. She also thinks that he was involved in the murder of Melanie Hall, who disappeared from a Bath nightclub the following year. She was taken by an unmarked taxi, adds Karen. He has to be in the frame. Finally, Karen is convinced that Halliwell is also responsible for the murder of Linda Razzell, who disappeared on March 19, 2002, after dropping her children off at school and driving into Swindon town centre. Her husband Glyn was convicted of her murder but always protested his innocence. Becky, now aged 17, out and about with one of her friend Sharon Halliwell was besotted with Linda, says Karen. He first met her in 1998 when he dug the footings on her property and used to stalk her. He used to sit in his taxi and watch her walk to work through an alleyway they later found her mobile phone there. He even used to sketch pictures of her. And as well as believing Halliwell has killed other women, she also has good grounds to believe that he has raped and beaten many more. During my campaigning, I uncovered numerous stories which I passed on to the police of girls who had lucky escapes in the back of his taxi. He drove one girl who got into his taxi, to a wooded area, which terrified her and she screamed. It was only after he was disturbed that he drove her back to Swindon. Quite a lot of the people I encountered have given statements to the police so hopefully Halliwell will face more charges. Karen Edwards leaves Bristol Crown Court after Halliwell was given a whole life sentence It was only because of Karens determination to see Halliwell pay for her daughters murder that he is now behind bars. Speaking just hours after he was sentenced to life, she said: It has been a hard campaign to get justice for Becky. When we finally got to court, I had to sit and listen to things no parent should ever have to hear. I never knew that Becky hung around on street corners or realised how long she had been selling her body. I didnt know, until I saw the graphics in court, how little of her remains we buried. I felt sick to the stomach hearing that her head and arms were missing. I also had to watch Halliwell try and defend himself against the indefensible. When he was found guilty, he smirked. But he is not smirking now. We are finally having the last laugh. Now I can change her death certificate to say she was strangled and I can put the date of her murder on her headstone. Finally, I will not rest until I have cleared Steve Fulchers name. It is 2,400 miles from the air-conditioned control room in rural England to the dusty, bloody battlefields of Iraq, yet Steve, the RAF squadron leader, can rain down death in seconds with the gentlest touch of a button. He is the future of war. Not some armour-plated super-soldier, but an ordinary RAF officer who has just dropped off his children at school and sipped a mug of tea. His work requires physical precision and the finest moral calibration: Steve, whose name has been changed for security reasons, decides who dies and who gets to live. It is 2,400 miles from the air-conditioned control room in rural England to the dusty, bloody battlefields of Iraq, yet Steve, the RAF squadron leader, can rain down death in seconds. Pictured, an MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle For eight hours, a surveillance team has tracked a 4x4 carrying Islamic State fighters along a desert road in northern Iraq. The time to eliminate them has come. Above, silent and unseen, a 15 million Reaper drone circles, feeding its split-second intelligence back to mission control at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire. Three, two, one, rifle! comes the command as the drone launches a Hellfire missile towards the vehicle. Then the officer sees an innocent man walking into the kill zone. The decision alone is his: must he sacrifice the civilian in pursuit of the terrorists or abort the mission? He has a heartbeat to decide. The scene echoes the plot of blockbuster movie Eye In The Sky, where Helen Mirren plays a hawkish British colonel who must choose whether to launch an air strike in which a little girl will become the human collateral damage. But there is no tension crafted on celluloid which can come close to what passes for real life at Waddington. In this, the first interview with any member of a British drone crew fighting IS, Steve tells The Mail on Sunday how it feels to be the man who must play God. Tracking the target, 2,400 miles away: At RAF Waddington a drone pilot, a Sensor Operator and Intelligence Co-ordinator prepare to launch a missile strike against Islamic State fighters 2,400 miles away in Iraq. They are joined by a Safety Observer, whose job is to abort the mission if there is any danger of civilians being killed On the day of the drama described here, he was in the staff canteen when his breakfast was interrupted by the news that a UK Reaper circling three miles over the IS stronghold of Mosul had identified three leading members of the terror group. The men had led attacks on friendly forces and distributed weapons across the groups so-called caliphate. Steve headed for the hangar containing three cabins with a steel perimeter of 10ft-high barriers topped with barbed wire. They are bedecked with camouflage netting as a reminder that this is a military base and not some lifesize computer game. Their names Ground Control Stations give no clue to the global controversy they generate and how much IS longs to strike back at them. A pilot in a green flying suit, decorated with wings and patches signifying his membership of 13 Squadron (RAF), briefs Steve. The language is professional and military, outlining positive identification of an active and dangerous terrorist cell. But the question is this: Do you authorise us to kill? I have chosen to use a Hellfire missile and were adjusting the Reapers position to facilitate the strike. The optimum location for the strike is here, says the pilot, indicating an area of desert scrubland. There are no buildings or people showing on his screen, and no friendly forces in the area. The jihadis truck appears in the crosshairs: As the 15 million Reaper drone flies low at speeds of up to 300mph over the sands near the IS-held stronghold of Mosul, one of its 50,000 Hellfire missiles is launched by the RAF team back in the UK. In the crosshairs is a 4x4 vehicle carrying three known terrorists Unknown male... shift cold!: Just as the missile flies towards its target, an unknown man unwittingly wanders into the area and is spotted by the Safety Observer. There is no time to use facial-recognition software meaning the officer has just seconds to make a life-or-death decision On the pilots command of wide to narrow, a camera on the Reaper zooms in. Steve watches over the pilots shoulder as the vehicle crosses the display screen from left to right. The drone is prepared to launch. Into the silence come the words Three, two, one, rifle! and the Hellfire is released. There are just 30 seconds to impact. Then, ambling in from the right-hand side of the screen, the civilian appears. 'There is no chance of blowing up the 4x4 without putting him in mortal danger. In fact, hes about to be vaporised since he is walking directly into the path of the missile. Assessing, says the Sensor Operator, his eyes fixed on his screen. Without a gun to identify himself as a combatant, the man would have to be positively identified as an enemy fighter. Many civilians have fled from IS to this area, but geography is not proof of guilt. There are 20 seconds to impact, not enough time to run a close-up through the facial recognition software which the US has used to build a database of IS fighters. Unidentified, says the pilot, passing on the result of an intelligence assessment. Disaster averted, just in time: The Safety Observer cannot authorise the kill because the man is unarmed and is not a known terrorist. The Reapers Hellfire missile is quickly diverted and explodes harmlessly in the desert, far from its original target Now, it's mission accomplished: Hours after the IS fighters speed away in their 4x4 from the original target site, another RAF Reaper team in Britain finds them, and with no civilians nearby this time, a second missile is launched. The terrorists are killed and the mission completed Reacquire the target? asks the Sensor Operator controlling the Hellfires flightpath and where it will land. By now the man is just a few yards from the fighters vehicle. The time to impact is ten seconds. No, shift cold, says Steve, clearly and firmly. The man will not die on his watch. Shift cold means finding a safe area of desert for the missile to land, dumping a warhead costing 50,000 of UK taxpayers money in the sand and watching it go up in smoke. It also means letting known terrorists go free. With a flick of his wrist the Sensor Operator adjusts the angle of his joystick and the crosshairs move up and away from the jihadis vehicle. Seconds later there is a huge explosion and the viewing screens are ablaze with fire and billowing black smoke. The terrorists speed away from the area. Within hours, however, they will be dead. Another Reaper team will spot them and this time the Hellfire will not be made to miss. The drones inspection of the blast area will show three confirmed kills. For Steve there will be a post-mission debrief with 13 Squadron colleagues, before he gets back on his bicycle and pedals home in the sunshine. It may have been the stuff of a Hollywood script, but for him it has been just another day at the office. Such is the intensity of these shifts that the crews the Safety Observers such as Steve, the pilot, the Mission Intelligence Co-ordinator and Sensor Operator work for only two hours at a time. Britain has ten Reapers, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, as they are correctly known. Pictured, the control room at RAF Waddington Pictured, a drone fires a hellfire missile at a moving target in Syria They are constantly monitored for signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. And given their capture value to IS, their identities can never be revealed. They are hated by IS, feared by civilians and, in some cases, despised by their own side. Some drone pilots who have not previously piloted conventional, manned aircraft can be stigmatised by colleagues who have risked their own lives over Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. Britain has ten Reapers, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, as they are correctly known, controlled from RAF Waddington but launched from Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, though this has never been officially confirmed. They have flown more than 1,000 missions, killing hundreds of IS fighters and Taliban members. They have also sparked worldwide debate about the ethics of waging war without putting military personnel in the line of fire. The Black Lives Matter movement's flag has been hoisted high and on par with the flag of the United States at the University of Vermont's Burlington campus. UVM's Student Government Association raised the flag in front of the campus' main student center. While some students have hailed the move as a gesture of solidarity with the black community in its protest of police violence, others say they are offended that the university would take a controversial political stance while elevating the flag's movement to the same height as the Stars and Stripes. According to WCAX-TV, the flag's display has the support of the university president, Tom Sullivan, who says that the student government was exercising its right to free speech. A Black Lives Matter flag flies near the Dudley H. Davis Center, the main student center on the University of Vermont's Burlington campus School administrators gave full backing to the student government, saying that this was a case of an organization exercising its freedom of speech 'I think given this particular time in the history of America, our students thought it was an appropriate time over the next couple of days to show their support for black communities in the United States,' he told WCAX. 'UVM supports free expression, and other university groups are welcome to propose flags with information that they wish to express,' the university said in a statement. Caroline Slack, a freshman student, told Local 22 that the flag also represents an important statement to the small community of blacks on campus. 'Also since it's a primarily white university, it's important that the students of color are being shown that they're cared for and that they're welcome here,' she said. Caroline Slack, a freshman at UVM, said the student government's gesture sends an important message of inclusion at the predominantly white university A woman who identified herself as a student at UVM salutes her school on Instagram for allowing the Black Lives Matter flag to be flown so prominently Others, however, were unhappy over the flag's display, taking offense that a movement they accuse of 'inciting violence against whites' was permitted to be so prominently advertised on campus. 'Have u lost your minds???' wrote one user on the University of Vermont's official Instagram account. 'How dare u fly this flag as high as the US flag!!!!!' 'BLM is anti Law Enforcement. I hope your school never needs to call 911. Get it through your heads ALL LIVES MATTER. The people who allowed this need to RESIGN. Your school just lost all its credibility!!' Opponents of Black Lives Matter were also vocal on Facebook, with some questioning how the university could allow the flag to be lifted on a par with the Stars and Stripes Critics of Black Lives Matter say that the movement is 'anti-law enforcement' and that it fails to take into consideration the dangers faced by police officers 'UVM is promoting a hate group, not an all inclusive environment of respect and tolerance,' another Instagram user wrote. 'I don't think UVM will be getting a check from me this year.' JK Rowling's past is far removed from her life these days as a celebrated children's author She has long held readers spellbound with her tales of Harry Potter and his friends at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Yet J. K. Rowling has kept all but silent about her own teenage years until now. In an interview that is sure to enthral her many millions of fans, Ms Rowling has for the first time spoken of a rock n roll past that is far removed from her life as a celebrated author. She has revealed how, as an 18-year-old, she adored her Muso Boyfriend and would hang out with him, smoking in his parents house, snogging and camping with him at one of the eras most notorious rock festivals. She would listen to punk music with her boyfriend something of a snob when it came to music while Ms Rowling also reveals how, like many a teenager, she would spend time playing guitar alone. Looking back fondly on her time with the muso I dated in my teens, the 51-year-old said: His parents were Dutch and we hung out mostly at his house, because we were allowed to smoke in his attic bedroom. Ive got happy memories of sunlit wooden rafters and smoke rings and walls covered in black-and-white pictures hed clipped out of NME, while the Dead Kennedys, Jah Wobble or the Birthday Party blasted out of the speakers. From the age of nine until she left for Exeter University, Ms Rowling lived a middle-class existence in Tutshill, Gloucestershire. She has previously said her childhood was unhappy and she could not wait to leave the village. Her mother Anne was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when she was 15, and she had a difficult relationship with her father Peter. On her 18th birthday in 1983, she and her boyfriend were at the Elephant Fayre, an annual music festival at Port Eliot in Cornwall. Named after the elephant that featured on the crest of the host, the Earl of St Germans, it attracted hippies and New Age travellers in their thousands. On her 18th birthday in 1983, JK Rowling and her boyfriend were at the Elephant Fayre, an annual music festival at Port Eliot in Cornwall which attracted hippies and new age travellers In 1986 it was the site of widespread drug use and violence and, following a number of arrests, never took place again. But Ms Rowlings experience of the Elephant Fayre was far happier, barring a small white lie she told her family. Remembering how she had hitch-hiked to Cornwall, she said: Id told my parents some whopping lie about how we were getting there, probably that Muso Boyfriends older brother was driving us. Half an hour of unsuccessful hitching later, it suddenly occurred to me that my parents had said they were going shopping later. This meant they might soon be driving past us, so I kept diving for cover every time a Honda Civic came into view. We finally got a lift, thank God, so I survived to enjoy my birthday at the Elephant Fayre. We pitched the two-person tent by a marquee full of Rastas and saw The Cure, whom Muso Boyfriend was weirdly keen to hear, in spite of the fact that theyd actually been on Top Of The Pops. Her look back at her teenage years comes in an interview with Ruth and Martins Album Club, a website on which celebrities are asked to listen to an album that they have never heard before then give their thoughts. Listening to US band the Violent Femmess self-titled debut record from 1983, she said: I turned 18 the year this album came out, but I was obsessed with The Beatles at the time. However, her unnamed then-boyfriend tried to steer Ms Rowling towards more adventurous tastes. Talking about the Violent Femmes, the mother-of-three said: They could easily have been part of the informal seminars on alternative music I received from the muso I dated in my late teens. Rowling with her then-husband, Portuguese television journalist Jorge Arantes , pictured in Portugal shortly after the birth of their daughter in 1993. The couple later separated She reveals that she had shown her own liking for alternative music by naming two very long-lived goldfish Guggi and Gavin after members of the band the Virgin Prunes. Yet Ms Rowling still managed to successfully resist the influence of her boyfriend. She said: Much as I adored him, I didnt share Muso Boyfriends attitude to music: his scorn for the accessible and tuneful, the baffling mixture of irony and obsession with which he regarded his favourites, and his conviction that if the herd hates something, its almost certainly brilliant. I never made much headway arguing about this sort of thing with Muso Boyfriend, though, so after a bit of snogging Id cycle home and listen to [Beatles album] Rubber Soul. Looking back to her tastes of the time, Ms Rowling reveals that Spandau Ballet was a band I never liked. She added: Of contemporary bands I really loved, the standouts were The Smiths and the Psychedelic Furs. I loved any band with a great guitarist. I played guitar myself, mostly alone in my bedroom. While the author, who finished writing the first of the seven Harry Potter books in 1995, has long left her rock n roll years behind her, later in life she found a curious echo of her past. Ms Rowling met the poet Benjamin Zephaniah 20 years after she had seen him at the Elephant Fayre reciting a poem about having the s*** kicked out of him by a policeman. Donald Trump on Saturday mangled the name of the newest museum in Washington one dedicated to black history as he sought to deepen his outreach to African-American and other minority voting blocs. 'I believe every family in America is entitled to live in safety and in peace,' Trump said during a dinnertime rally in Roanoke, Virginia. 'Today the nation just opened the Smithsonian National Museum of American History,' he said. 'African-American art. It's really a beautiful place.' The National Museum of African American History and Culture had its grand opening earlier on Saturday, drawing the attendance of both President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush. Donald Trump botched the name of the National Museum of African American History and Culture on Saturday in Roanoke, Virginia President Barack Obama spoke just hours earlier during the dedication ceremony for the new Smithsonian museum on the National Mall in Washington 'I saw it the other day in going around Washington, and it looked beautiful and we're all very proud of it, I can tell you that,' Trump said. 'We congratulate and honor those involved with the project, and recognize today the incredible contributions of the African-American community to this nation.' Prepared text sent to reporters after the rally suggested that the museum's name correctly scrolled across a pair of teleprompters, suggesting Trump stumbled over unfamiliar text as he read. But the gaffe will be seen as a telling moment of insensitivity to minorities at a time when he needs to grow his support among audiences that are not traditionally in the Republican base. The add-on about the museum, first proposed more than 100 years ago by black Civil War veterans, came at the top of what has become Trump's standard appeal to black voters. Acknowledging black Americans' sacrifices and strides, he promised to 'make sure their success is protected and supported.' 'At the same time, too many African-Americans have been left behind and trapped in poverty. I will fight to make sure every single African-American child in this country is fully included in the American dream.' Trump called school choice for inner-city children 'the new civil rights issue of our time' and blamed Democratic city government machines for producing only 'more joblessness and more poverty.' 'The jobs are leaving, the schools are failing, and crime is rising like never before in the inner cities.' 'So to those African-American and Hispanic voters, I say: Vote for Donald Trump. What do you have to lose?' he added. 'I will fix it. I will fight harder for you than anyone has before.' The Republican National Committee praised the museum as a landmark long in coming. 'The opening of this museum is an important milestone in African-American history, and a new opportunity for all Americans who visit our nations capital to learn about the triumphs and trials of African Americans throughout the life of our republic," RNC chairman Reince Priebus said in a statement. RAF drone pilots involved in a devastating attack in Syria which killed 62 government soldiers and led to claims that the UK breached the country's ceasefire will be cleared by an official report, The Mail on Sunday has been told. Senior RAF sources say the pilots were not involved in the gathering of intelligence which is understood to have mistaken troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for members of Islamic State. The RAF is co-operating with a US-led investigation into last Saturday's botched air strike near the eastern city of Deir al-Zour, blamed for causing a fragile ceasefire in Syria to collapse. RAF drone pilots involved in a devastating attack in Syria which killed 62 government soldiers. Pictured, an MQ-9 Reaper drone (File photo) British crews are understood to have been interviewed as part of the probe, and the US military is expected to publish an interim report this week which will exonerate UK personnel. RAF sources confirmed that a British Reaper drone flying over Syria engaged the targets on the ground, while US, Australian and Danish aircraft were also involved. Approval for the controversial air strike was granted by commanders at coalition headquarters in Doha, Qatar. Their decision was based on an intelligence assessment of fighters in Deir al-Zour. This assessment is now at the centre of the investigation. Syrian military chiefs said the attack hit a base that was surrounded by IS fighters, enabling the militants to overrun their positions. Senior RAF sources say the pilots were not involved in the gathering of intelligence which is understood to have mistaken troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (such as those pictured above) for members of Islamic State The incident led to furious exchanges between Russia and the US at the United Nations in New York. Last night, other RAF sources also put forward a different version of events. They insisted the troops who lost their lives were in fact IS fighters, and the Syrian government's claim that its soldiers were killed was a lie as part of a propaganda war. Coalition commanders apparently informed Russia in advance about the air strike and no immediate concerns were raised, which lends support to the theory that the victims were jihadis. Cameron considered clinging to power after losing the historic vote, but decided against it because it would leave him 'being prepared for the slaughterhouse'. He begged her to 'come off the fence' over Brexit but she refused so often that one of Cameron's allies questioned if she was secretly 'an enemy agent'. Another accused her of leaving Cameron to 'fight alone'. No 10 became so fed up with her habit of disappearing when Cameron needed her that they nicknamed her 'Submarine May'. No10 became so fed up with Theresa May disappearing during the Brexit campaign they nicknamed her 'Submarine May' The bombshell disclosures come in a new book by Cameron's Downing Street director of communications, Sir Craig Oliver. It reveals how Boris Johnson, now Foreign Secretary, reassured Cameron in a secret text that Brexit would be 'crushed' nine minutes before putting himself at the head of the Leave campaign. Twenty-four hours earlier, 'depressed' Johnson had sent another message which convinced Cameron he was about to 'flip-flop' and back the Remain camp. It also discloses how 'political suicide bomber' Michael Gove went back on a pledge made to Cameron at a family gathering at Chequers at Christmas to stay loyal to him in the referendum. And it is revealed that Cameron considered clinging to power after losing the historic vote, but decided against it because it would leave him 'being prepared for the slaughterhouse'. Oliver, 47, a former BBC news chief, was at Cameron's side from 2011 to the day he quit over Brexit. His book, Unleashing Demons, is the first insider's account of the historic events that led to Cameron's downfall. It reveals how: - May failed to support Cameron on 13 separate occasions; - She did reluctantly 'come off the fence' but only after a 'visibly wound-up' PM telephoned her during a train journey to give her a dressing down then 'hung up' on her; - He predicted her 'Sphinx-like' antics could make her Prime Minister in six months. She beat his forecast by two weeks. - One of her excuses for not backing Cameron was that she wanted a weekend break with her husband Philip. The disclosures are at odds with Mrs May's reputation for straight talking. Exit: Craig Oliver with David Cameron the day after he resigned, on June 25 Johnson fares equally badly in the book, which says that moments before he publicly vowed to lead the Leave campaign, he texted Cameron to say Brexit would be 'crushed'. This newspaper can reveal that Johnson's text said Brexit would 'be crushed like the toad beneath the harrow' adapting a phrase used by Rudyard Kipling in a famous poem. And the book reveals how Johnson had a secret last-minute wobble about leaving the EU. In between two phone messages saying he would back Brexit, he sent a hitherto undisclosed third message saying 'depression is setting in'. Jubilant Cameron believed 'confused Inner' Johnson was going to back him after all. He was wrong. The claim that Cameron believed Johnson never really backed Brexit comes after a similar comment by Johnson's Foreign Office deputy, Sir Alan Duncan. Like Duncan, Oliver suggests the Brexit stance of 'cavalier and reckless' Johnson was a ploy to boost his hopes of becoming PM. Oliver's book savages Gove, accusing him of betraying his personal friend Cameron in the referendum and then Johnson in the subsequent Tory leadership contest. Cameron was so angry with 'deceitful' Gove's attacks that he threatened to denounce him publicly on television, raging: 'I'm going to lose my temper and unleash one on these people on live TV soon.' According to Oliver, Gove's wife, the writer Sarah Vine, had assured Cameron at Chequers over Christmas that her husband would be on his side in the referendum. When Gove set his own sights on No 10, Cameron questioned his mental fitness, saying that he was 'prone to infarctions' or seizures. 'Can you imagine him ever being left in charge of the country?' Cameron demanded. Oliver says he never trusted Gove, whose 'legendary politeness seemed forced for someone so skilled at dinner party assassinations'. He says Gove told George Osborne that Brexit would cause 'scarring and burning' to the economy. When Gove's leadership bid crumbled after he 'cut Boris off at the knees', Oliver says: 'He failed to realise that in acting as a suicide bomber, his first victim would be himself.' His 'fatal flaw was vaulting ambition and a preparedness to mislead'. In his vivid and searingly honest eyewitness account, Oliver admits Cameron made mistakes in the referendum. But he says he was badly let down by 'submarine' May. Oliver writes: 'It's the biggest thing the PM has faced and he doesn't even know if the Home Secretary is backing him.' The book solves the mystery of May's sudden and strangely muted public declaration of support for Cameron over the referendum. He effectively held a gun to her head after she declined to back him at EU talks, claiming she was away for the weekend with her husband. When Cameron heard the next day that she was threatening to back Brexit, he phoned her and demanded she back him and 'hung up,' satisfied he had 'made an impact on her'. A chastened May rushed out a statement offering modest support then went back to stonewalling. Oliver offers grudging respect for her, saying: 'In terms of pure politics, she played it well, having her cake and eating it, but it doesn't seem fair on the PM who has treated her well.' Similarly, he praises Johnson's 'rock star' appeal and Gove's 'brilliance and wit'. In emotional scenes in No 10 as defeat loomed, Osborne urged Cameron to stay on, arguing history was 'littered with governments that survive torrid times'. Cameron rejected the advice, replying: 'I'd be saying, 'come and punch me as hard as you like.' ' In return, Cameron was loyal to his Chancellor to the last. Told that if he won, he might survive but some would call for Osborne's head, he said they could 'get stuffed'. When the Brexit victory was confirmed, a dazed Oliver lurched out of Downing Street into Whitehall where he 'retched'. When Oliver saw Cameron the morning after the vote, the PM said simply: 'Well, that didn't go to plan!' It's the book that will set Westminster ablaze - Cameron's right-hand man reveals in explosive detail what REALLY went on inside No10 during the Brexit battle and how it descended into...BRUTALITY BLOODSHED and BETRAYAL As David Cameron's No 10 Director of Communications, SIR CRAIG OLIVER had a unique insight into the EU referendum campaign. Former BBC news executive Oliver, 47, kept detailed diaries throughout. In this first part of today's serialisation of his book, Unleashing Demons, Oliver describes the high drama inside No 10 on the night of June 23 as it dawns on shocked Cameron and his team that they are doomed to defeat. Thursday, June 23 Referendum day. 7pm. I arrive at No 10 and walk upstairs to discover civil servants, special advisers and politicians mingling in the staterooms. The PM is there, looking relaxed in a casual shirt that isn't tucked in. A long table is laden with moussaka and lasagne. Wine and elderflower cordial are served. Bruised by a brutal campaign, I have felt confident of victory all day, but am beginning to feel uneasy now. However, the mood is good. He gets to the final sentences about loving his country and begins to choke up, just about getting to the end without crying Two polls come through suggesting it'll be about 52-48 for Remain. Close, but I'll take that. There isn't a single indicator suggesting we should be worried. When the results are due to start coming in, I decide to watch by myself in my office. Newcastle isn't as good for us as it should be. Sunderland was always expected to vote Leave, but 61 per cent to 39 per cent is far worse than predicted. Sterling plummets. I feel a wave of sickness wash through me. A few more results trickle in. I text Ryan Coetzee, the Remain campaign's Director of Strategy: 'What do you think?' Ryan replies: 'We're just very slightly behind the curve. By a point, basically. It's looking too close to call. In fact it's very f****** close.' It's going to be a long night. I doze for a few minutes and wake up to see more results tumbling in. The lead is switching back and forth. Big London numbers pull us back but then there are a series of smaller, bad results. The BBC has designated Leave the colour blue and Remain yellow. A pattern begins to emerge as results flash on the screen: Blue. Blue. Blue. Then we are pulled back by a massive Remain result. Blue. Blue. Blue. Blue. Blue. Yellow. Blue. Blue. Blue. Blue. Blue. Yellow. I call Ryan. 'We are just on course for a win,' he says. 'But it's going to be tiny.' 'How tiny?' 'The model is currently predicting we will win by 32,000 votes.' Christ David Cameron texts me: 'How worried should we be?' I reply that it's desperately close we just have to see. The results start piling in at 3am. The BBC says that it is precisely 50-50. The sensation is one of, having been sure of my path, stepping into quicksand and being slowly pulled under. I look around for something or someone to help pull me out. But there's nothing and no one. I call Stephen Gilbert, the Conservative Party's former campaign chief, who has played a key role at Stronger In. I try to make it easy for him. 'It's not looking good, is it?' 'I can't see us doing it now no.' Lucy Thomas calls me from the Stronger In party, close to tears, as she tells me: 'ITV is going to call it for Leave.' 'Stay on as PM? It would be miserable. Every moment I was here I'd be being prepared for the slaughterhouse' was what David Cameron said after the Brexit result It's approaching 4am. DC's press secretary, Graeme Wilson, slaps me on the back and says he's going to bed. 'It's over.' I borrow his coat. I need some fresh air. DC is standing outside his private office. He looks tired. Resigned in every sense. The Cabinet Office Minister, Matt Hancock, and the Prime Minister's long-serving aide, Liz Sugg, are nearby. He waves us inside and slumps into the armchair he's used to chair thousands of meetings over the past six years. Yesterday [June 23], at a meeting of the PM, George [Osborne], Ed [Llewellyn, Downing Street chief of staff], Kate [Fall, deputy chief of staff], Oliver Letwin and me, we had talked through the options if we lost. Option 1: Resign, hanging on until the party finds a new leader. Option 2: Stay on to steady the ship, without giving a specific date for going. I said: 'We tell ourselves that a win is a win, allowing us to do what we want. But we also need to understand that a loss is a loss If you lose and stay on, you will be fighting reality.' DC nods. I know he has already made up his mind to go. George went next: 'History is littered with examples of governments that have been through torrid times only to survive.' DC had laughed, saying: 'Prime Ministers also resign.' There was some pushing back and forth. I felt tears welling in my eyes at one moment. DC went out to the loo. I reminded everyone of the knight in Monty Python And The Holy Grail, taking hit after hit, having limbs sliced off yet still urging people to try to beat him, claiming: 'It's only a flesh wound.' In other words he doesn't know he's beaten. Oliver Letwin considered what would happen in a Conservative leadership election. He thought it would include Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Michael Gove in a competition on who could be the most 'Leavist', with Gove the only one who really believed it. Could Gove cope? DC says he is prone to 'infarctions' [seizures]. Kate had raised the prospect of us winning, only for them to still demand George's head. DC's view was that they could 'get stuffed'. Everyone feels protective of George, who has given his all. Boris and Gove hold a press conference and it comes on the television. It looks more like a funeral to me than a celebration, said Craig Oliver Now, in the early hours after the defeat, the PM says he's been thinking about whether he should be less specific about when he goes, but doesn't think it will work. I say: 'I may be wrong but I can't see how you can stay.' DC says: 'The trouble with all options other than going immediately is they collapse like a concertina. And the truth is, I wouldn't believe in it.' Liz asks if, given that he told people he would stay on, resigning now will be seen as a betrayal of trust. Both DC and I are touched by this everyone knew it was a question he had to answer that way but no one will really be shocked at the change. The simple fact is that he couldn't be responsible for delivering Brexit when he doesn't believe in it. The PM says: 'It would be miserable. Every moment I was here, I'd be being prepared for the slaughterhouse just waiting for the tap on the shoulder. 'I'd be saying, 'Come and punch me as hard as you like.' And then I'd have to go.' He starts to move to the door. I can't think of anything to do other than slap him on the back. He says: 'Don't worry' Results come in - it's like stepping into quicksand and being slowly pulled under with no one to help me I watch him disappear down the corridor. I walk out on to Whitehall. The street is deserted. My mind feels calm but as I approach the memorial opposite the entrance to the Ministry of Defence, my body seems to go into spasm. I suddenly retch harder than I have done in my life. Nothing comes up. I retch again so hard, it feels as if I'll turn inside out. Dots of light dance before my eyes. And then it is over. I spit. Tears are streaming down my face not from sadness, but from the sheer physical exertion. At 4.39am, I'm back in No 10 to watch David Dimbleby call it formally on the BBC. The pound is dropping to its lowest level since 1985. A small voice inside me is saying: They broke it, they own it. I walk into No 11. George is sitting alone, watching a tiny television. I put my hand on his shoulder and ask him how he thinks Michael Gove and Boris Johnson feel. My hope is that they feel real pain, wondering what on earth they have done. George pricks that bubble, simply saying: 'Cock-a-hoop. In politics you always believe you'll be better than those who went before you.' DC arrives in No 10 at about 7am, trying to have a sense of humour about it all. 'Well, that didn't go to plan!' he says. He calls Gove and takes charge immediately: 'I wanted to call you to formally concede and to congratulate you on a stunning victory.' 'Thank you, PM.' 'From here on, I'm keen to provide stability.' 'There are some particular things we should talk about regarding how the negotiations proceed.' DC cuts him off at the pass. 'I'll make a statement shortly. It'll really just say: Result received and accepted and it must be delivered.' He sounds friendly, though I detect some cold brutality. 'All right, take care.' I can hear uncertainty in Gove's voice what is DC planning? Others who listened to the call are incensed. 'Did you hear him as if he was the PM dictating terms?' Just after 8am, DC goes out. I turn up the TV. The office is full of people. George stands next to me. Kate Fall is in tears. It's obvious from the moment he walks out of the front door that he is resigning. Sam wouldn't be there if he wasn't going. He gets to the final sentences about loving his country and begins to choke up, just about getting to the end without crying. Thirty seconds later Sam and he are back in the office. A spontaneous round of applause goes on for well over a minute. DC makes a short speech about this being the best team he could hope to have. He gives me a big hug and I feel the tears well up in my eyes. Sam hugs me too. 'Craig' she says, and there's no need to fill in the blank. Later, I am in a pub in Smithfield with some of the Stronger In team when Boris and Gove hold a press conference and it comes on the television. It looks more like a funeral to me than a celebration. I walk out before Gove speaks. I don't think I can stand his fatuous nonsense. When the Cabinet meets on Monday [June 27], I look across at Gove. His face is crimson, looking like he may be about to have a coronary. He seems to be engaged in the most elaborate performance. He grabs his pen with excessive vigour, scribbles and underlines ferociously. When he turns the page, he takes the fabric bookmark and lays it down along the spine of the notebook with excessive care. Occasionally he places his elbows on the desk, his palms pressed against each other and drums his fingers together, varying the tempo. No one else is so fidgety. DC rattles through some points about this being a clear instruction from people and there being no Brexiters or Remainers any more, just one Government. He adds that people think the party conference is a natural break for the new leader to be in place some think longer, some shorter but says: 'I'm not particularly fussed!' Various people contribute. Theresa May notably does not pay tribute to the PM. She speaks in her usual no-nonsense way about the need to 'competently and practically' get the best result. Gove gives an effusive tribute, saying history will be generous to DC. He says: 'We need to be unified in stopping those who seek hate and division.' There's then some guff about needing to work together. He looks like a seagull holding a fish in its beak that is too big to swallow eager to keep hold of it, but also not sure it can carry the burden 'Silent submarine' Theresa seized the leadership by stealth: Mrs May and the ploy that saw her win power As Cameron returns to work after the New Year, he resolves to find out which Ministers he can rely on to back him over the referendum. The key Cabinet figure giving him particular concern is Home Secretary Theresa May. MONDAY, JANUARY 11 A major focus of the week commencing Monday, January 11, is who would be 'In' (with the PM) and who would be 'Out' (against him) in the event of a successful renegotiation [of the terms of the UK's membership of the European Union]. Conversations keep circling back to what Home Secretary Theresa May will do. Some feel her past speeches would make it hard for her to go 'Out'. The PM believes authenticity would be a problem for her, so she won't do it if you take a position that isn't where your instincts lie there's a real prospect of being 'smoked out'. However, a discussion in Tuesday's Cabinet meeting about the importance of remaining a united party throughout the referendum campaign is interesting because of who does not speak Theresa, playing her cards very close to her chest. Amid the murder and betrayal of the campaign, one figure stayed very still at the centre of it all Theresa May Afterwards, some of the team want to discuss her. Her sphinx-like approach is becoming difficult, with the press questioning which way she will jump. The conversation turns around this being the biggest thing the PM has faced and him not even knowing if the Home Secretary is backing him. Some think she is heading Out; others that she's relishing keeping us guessing; others that she simply can't make up her mind. Apparently DC is worried she does not realise she would be a central figure in any future Government of his, and wants to communicate that to her. At the weekend, I call the PM as he is on his way to the constituency, and ask how this chat with May went. I can tell he is frustrated. It sounds like she refused to come off the fence. From her point of view it's a smart strategy, trying to demonstrate she is her own person, allowing her to have her cake and eat it, but it doesn't seem fair on DC, who has treated her well. DAVE FEELS THE SQUEEZE When the PM does the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on January 10, the programme is played out by Squeeze singing a song called From Cradle To Grave. When they are done, the PM applauds and the show is over. I think the band seem remarkably frosty to him. It soon emerges they've changed the lyrics of the song to complain about the destruction of the welfare state and council houses. 'Of course, all of them live in council houses,' says the PM sarcastically when I tell him. Advertisement Later that month, while in Davos in Switzerland, my phone comes alive with texts from London. May has been seen lunching in Westminster with the leading 'Outer' Liam Fox at Quirinale. The hacks say it's the kind of restaurant you go to if you want to be seen, and clearly feel she is playing games. I ignore attempts to get us to comment. At the end of January, on a plane to Brussels, the conversation turns to the fact that the Home Secretary still hasn't told us where she is going: leading the Out campaign, or sticking with us. DC looks wistfully out of the window and says: 'Well, it may work for her. She could be PM in six months' time.' [May officially became Prime Minister on July 13, five and a half months later.] At the beginning of February, as we are racing towards the first draft of the negotiated settlement with the EU being released, I have a hilarious meeting with May's Home Office special advisers. I say it will be a key moment for Theresa to make the case for Remaining. One of the advisers blurts out: 'Theresa will be away that week!' 'Yes, but she'll be back on the day. We'll need to get lots of voices out.' 'She's going away that weekend with [her husband] Philip!' is the rushed response after a couple of seconds of thinking time. 'Yes. But she'll be back on the Monday, and that will be a crucial time,' I continue patiently. They assure me they're more than willing to help and will get back to me. David Cameron predicted her 'Sphinx-like' antics could make her Prime Minister in six months. She beat his forecast by two weeks 'INTOLERABLE' HILTON I ask the PM what it's like having Steve Hilton [formerly one of Cameron's closest aides] out there attacking him. It sounds to me as if DC really won't have anything more to do with Steve, who has been highly critical on his current book tour. The theory in Downing Street is that he never got over the fact that the PM was prepared to let him go so easily. Life had become intolerable, with Steve (right) falling out with civil servants and apparently behind briefings that DC had betrayed their core mission. When he disappeared, the ship settled and we won a General Election. Advertisement The following day, the front page of The Times looks briefed by people close to May. It says DC 'faces last-minute opposition from her to a compromise on migration'. May wants, among other things, Brussels to close a back door route into Britain that's being used by migrants from outside the EU. The report says it's leading to fears in No 10 that she could refuse to back the reform deal. Later, on a train to Chippenham for a speech, DC is visibly wound up by the report. Suddenly he picks up his mobile and calls May, asking her to make clear we have been victorious in our plan to crackdown on 'swindlers and fiddlers' attempting to come into the UK. When he hangs up he seems to think he's made an impact. Later the Home Secretary issues a statement saying she believes there's 'the basis for a deal here'. This is interpreted as the moment she climbed down off the fence. After all the concern around her, it all seems to have ended not with a bang, but a whimper. In Brussels in mid-February for the crunch renegotiation summit, I make sure we have enough Cabinet Ministers ready to do media over the weekend if a deal is done. May could add a lot of force but we are getting reports that she is unprepared to help, saying that it would be awkward for her because immigration numbers are coming out next week and she will face difficult questions. The fact is, I am worried that if the issue is forced she will say something unhelpful. On Monday, March 7, I go for a meeting with May in her office suite in the Home Office. We discuss the fact it would be good to have an intervention from her soon. The PM is looking like he is the only one out there fighting the campaign. She nods and agrees that later in the week she will be asked about Europe and she will be categoric in expressing her view. She wants to give a full speech 'after Easter', but we settle on next week. 'After Easter' feels like an eternity away. In terms of pure politics you have to hand it to her, she is playing it well. She is on the right side making clear she is 'In', but not looking overly enthusiastic. It's making life uncomfortable for us. BORIS THE BULL In a No 10 conference call, I ask George about the previous day's newspaper pictures of him with Ruth Davidson on a farm. One is a low-down shot of both of them literally shovelling s**t. George says they also stood next to a bull with a broken penis prompting Ruth to shout: 'Let's call him Boris!' Advertisement In April, there's another big push to get May out there. She's agreed to do a newspaper article on Sunday April 24, BBC1's The Andrew Marr Show, and a speech on security. I call her special adviser on the Thursday before to find out more. She immediately says: 'I'm so sorry. Theresa just doesn't feel able to do the article, she doesn't feel she's had time to think through the arguments.' I don't even bother to argue back, it's so predictable. I write an ironic email, entitled 'Shock News' to the team to let them know she's pulling back. That Sunday, I wait to hear from May's team. We have agreed they will be giving the media part of the speech she is giving tomorrow. It's standard to run these things through No 10 so there are no surprises. Come 4.15pm we have seen nothing. I make some calls to ensure they send it. When I read it, alarm bells begin to ring. It starts well: 'She will put forward a positive case for reasons to Remain.' But there are phrases in there which will be catnip to journalists suspecting she isn't fully signed up. 'The Home Secretary will call for a more mature debate which acknowledges the complex challenges that lie ahead.' She does not want to 'insult people's intelligence by claiming that membership of the EU is wholly good, or that the sky will fall in if we vote to leave.' That will mean the story will be all about the Home Secretary chiding the Remain campaign for its approach and saying it's a fine decision between staying and leaving. Not helpful. I call the PM, who is mowing the lawn at his constituency home. He sees the point. After a lot of negotiation, it's agreed a version without the 'sky falling in' line goes out. The next morning we discover the whole of her speech has been briefed to the press so that it can't be changed. Will Straw, the Remain campaign director, texts me: 'Are we sure May's not an agent for the other side!?' Leaving No 10 one evening, Theresa is just ahead of me. I have a feeling that with all the Conservative warring, she could come out of all of it very well. RUTH'S RATHER BLUNT QUIP I call Ruth Davidson [Tory leader in Scotland] to say we spotted how well she did in the Scottish debates and we need her to do the massive Wembley Arena debate at the end of the campaign. She's immediately up for it. When I tell her Angela Eagle is also being considered for the team, she gets straight to the point: 'Angela and I are very similar. Are you sure you want two shovel-faced lesbians?' Later Ruth (right) says I responded like an embarrassed Hugh Grant, muttering and bumbling. Advertisement By mid-June, it's clear to me that whatever the outcome of the referendum, we'll be out of No 10 quite quickly. I don't see how the PM can survive. I mention this to Kate Fall who doesn't even blink, describing the current situation by saying: 'Oh yes this is the burning of Moscow stage.' DC disagrees. He is clear that we will be able to steady the ship and continue. A win, combined with a strong will, will see us through. On Wednesday, June 15, completely against my advice, May does an interview with the BBC. Whether it's by accident or design, she has reopened the debate over whether we need to do more about freedom of movement. I find it frustrating. It would be better if she stuck to her submarine strategy of disappearing from view. This is starting to spin badly out of control. We are being knocked about by indiscipline from all sides in this ramshackle coalition. On Referendum Day, I arrive at No 10 to be informed that Theresa, who has spent this entire campaign avoiding media where possible, is now keen to do the high-profile 8.10am slot on the next morning's Today programme on Radio 4, once we know the result. We've already told the BBC that the Defence Secretary [Michael Fallon] is doing it but May's team is trying to set it up behind our back. After the Prime Minister's resignation, Boris pulling out of the leadership contest, and Gove being knocked out, it becomes a battle between Theresa and Andrea Leadsom. Then Andrea appears to suggest she would be a better leader because she has children and May does not. It leads to Leadsom's withdrawal. Amid the murder and betrayal of the campaign, one figure stayed very still at the centre of it all Theresa May. Now she is the last one standing. Revealed: The dynamite text in which 'flip-flopping' Boris Johnson told Cameron he thought Brexit would be crushed Speculation over whether Boris Johnson will back Cameron or put himself at the head of the Brexit campaign is at fever pitch. Anxious Cameron is in No 10 awaiting news of Johnson's intentions. Saturday, February 20 D-DAY FOR BORIS I go into a small group meeting in No 10 with the PM, George Osborne, Kate Fall and Ed Llewellyn. DC's trying to frame what he wants to say to Cabinet when he looks at his BlackBerry. He takes some time to read a message, elbows on his knees, glasses on the tip of his nose. With a resigned look, DC says: 'Well it looks like Out.' In fact, the email left no room for doubt it's clear Boris is going for Out. He then reads it out. It begins by saying how he has been a tortured soul, but he has to 'go with his heart'. There's a real concern that what he calls a 'hate machine' will try to destroy him after taking this decision, saying there are plenty out there who will want to attack, 'some of whom will earn good money'. He suggests at the end that he thinks we will end up staying in. There's a moment when we absorb what has happened. Some look sick, others resigned. Some wonder if we should leak it. I am clear we should not. We don't want to wind Boris up by starting a war and stealing his thunder. That will detract from our message and anger MPs. I am struck by two things: Boris is genuinely in turmoil, flip-flopping within a matter of hours; and his cavalier approach Four hours after the initial message, at around 1pm, I get a call from DC, by now at his home in Witney, to make sure I am stopping anyone tempted to reveal that Boris sent a message saying he will support Leave. The reason is there's been another text suggesting he might change his mind and back Remain. I'm struck by how reckless Boris is being we could just blurt all of this out at any time. His big moment could end with him badly tarnished. I ask DC what makes him so sure Boris is wobbling. He reads out some parts of the text including the phrase 'depression is setting in', followed by a clear sense that he's reconsidering. Neither of us is left in any doubt. I am struck by two things: Boris is genuinely in turmoil, flip-flopping within a matter of hours; and his cavalier approach. He must understand that the stakes are even higher for DC than for him. So why is he unburdening himself in this way to the man who could be so damaged if he chooses to go for Leave? The PM says: 'If he is in that much doubt the logical thing to do is go with the status quo.' Others are less charitable, questioning his motivation. The following day, the frenzy over Boris being about to announce his intentions reaches fever pitch. He comes out just before 5pm with a typically chaotic press conference outside his home and announces he will be supporting Leave. All the key journalists are waiting and must have been warned something was up a while ago. I get endless calls about when the PM knew. Boris's team say he informed DC on Saturday morning. That's true, but they are missing out the subsequent wobble, which we didn't disclose. I call the PM. He received a final text from Boris just nine minutes before he told the world. This makes it tricky for us in terms of letting people know what really happened. We agree I should say: 'The final confirmation to the PM was made shortly before the announcement,' though I won't reveal the wobble. If pressed, I do reveal that final text came in the quarter of an hour before the press conference. Again, that doesn't reveal there was a wobble. Many in No 10 are smarting, annoyed that there has been so much dithering over something so crucial. A few believe it's little more than a straightforward political calculation to ensure Boris has the best chance of sitting in No 10 in just a few months. Many refuse to believe that he is even an Outer, because much of his argument seems to be that voting Leave need not mean leaving, but another opportunity to renegotiate better terms and have a second referendum. Many refuse to believe that he is even an Outer, because much of his argument seems to be that voting Leave need not mean leaving, but another opportunity to renegotiate better terms and have a second referendum Late on, DC calls me just as I flop on to the sofa exhausted. He tells me that Boris's final message was clear he doesn't expect to win, believing Brexit will be 'crushed'. He says Boris is really a 'confused Inner', and their previous conversations confirmed that view to him, with discussions about tactics to get the best possible deal. 'He actually said he thought we could leave and still have a seat on the European Council still making decisions.' The bottom line is, this is the new reality. It will be a proper fight now, with the papers billing it as a 'Clash of the Titans' the two biggest Conservatives locked in mortal combat. One day in the middle of May, I sit round the fringes of political cabinet and observe Boris's body language. He looks exhausted, his wide, pallid right hand spreadeagled across his face. I wonder if he is asleep. The PM has been irritated by Boris attempting to make hay with the leaked Serco letter [a letter from the FTSE 250 company has been portrayed as part of a conspiracy big business working with Government before an EU deal was done], coming close to accusing the PM of being corrupt. Michael Heseltine does an interview with the BBC and does not spare Boris. It is a relentless takedown. But by the end of the month, I worry we are in serious trouble because of the blue-on-blue soap opera. It's not that I think we're going to lose, it's more we may not be able to move forward if we win. DUNCAN'S IMMODEST MEMO When Sir Alan Duncan comes out as a Remainer, he drafts a statement he thinks we should use. It says: 'In a major blow to the campaign to leave the EU, senior Tory MP Sir Alan Duncan has today announced we should remain a member. As one of the few undeclared MPs, he is seen as an experienced and reasonable figure of influence. 'Known as a longstanding but thoughtful Eurosceptic, his declaration will be seen to have a pivotal bearing on the many voters who are still undecided. 'To have won over such a senior and experienced political figure will be seen as a significant coup both for the Prime Minister and the campaign to remain, all the more so as Alan Duncan is seen as independent-minded and someone who cannot be pushed around.' We tell him: 'Maybe it needs a little rewriting.' Advertisement Gove and Boris have written an open letter to the PM, criticising him for clinging to his pledge to cut net migration to the tens of thousands. They say he's 'corroding public trust'. It feels like an act of war, motivated by an intention to kill. It's intensely personal, effectively accusing the PM of a lack of integrity. We would hesitate to say it about a leader of the Opposition, let alone someone in our own party. DC thinks it 'depressing beyond belief' and 'deeply maddening'. Some of my colleagues are angry that Gove is part of a Government that has this as its policy and Boris stood on it as part of the manifesto and yet they are attacking it. I understand their position, but also think it's like calling men out for visiting a brothel by saying they are supposed to be Christians. The following day, the Sunday papers are ugly. There is an evening meeting at the PM's home in Oxfordshire. DC says: 'People keep saying they think it will be all right but I'm very worried.' He runs through our response options to the Gove/Boris letter: 1: Be Zen, refuse to rise (as we are now). 2: Fight back. 3: Call out their strategy. We know what they're up to and won't fall for it. He chalks off number 2 as making things worse. I'm reminded of the saying, 'Don't wrestle a pig. The pig likes it and you get covered in s**t.' He also thinks 3 doesn't work because it's too clever. Which takes us back to 1. The next time they say anything, we call it 'increasingly desperate' and move on. On Tuesday, May 31, the Leave campaign briefs they would stop the EU imposing VAT on fuel bills, saving the average consumer 60 a year. It removes any doubt that Leave is setting itself up as an alternative Government, complete with their own policies to be enacted should Cameron and Osborne lose. The words 'attempted coup' spring to mind. Others at No 10 agree. Then on Saturday, a 2,000-word letter signed by Boris and Gove is full of claims about Turkey joining the EU and how there'll be 300,000 more jobs if we leave. It's the most deceitful thing they've tried so far. At a meeting with the PM during the week, I slump on the sofa outside his office next to George, who is sniggering as he reads a piece by Matthew Parris who says of Gove ' when he grows eloquent I cannot quite banish from my nostrils the smell of burning witches'. George and I are unable to stop laughing. After the referendum, I'm watching Boris's speech on Thursday, June 30, in which he is expected to announce he is a Conservative leadership candidate. He tells his audience he has concluded he cannot be leader. There's an eruption in No 10. Someone texts: 'OMFG!' Gove announces he is standing. It's either an act of extraordinary chutzpah, or it reveals a basic failure to understand that people will be horrified by his behaviour. The man who told everyone he believed in Boris enough to be his campaign manager, now effectively saying it was a terrible misjudgment. As Boris prepared his speech that morning after Gove had cut him off at the knees, his world must have felt as if it was crumbling around him. In the leadership campaign, many finally saw the personal ambition and willingness to deceive they had not spotted in Gove before. Adapted from Unleashing Demons: The Inside Story Of Brexit, by Craig Oliver, published by Hodder & Stoughton on October 4, 20. Order your copy for 16 (20 per cent discount, including free p&p) at www.mailbookshop.co.uk or call 0844 571 0640 until October 16. Gove? He acted like a suicide bomber At the beginning of February, DC still seems utterly confident Gove is onside. Gove and his family stayed at Chequers during the Christmas break. The question of whether Michael would be 'In' or 'Out' hung heavy in the air. DC had several conversations with Sarah Vine [Gove's wife] during each of which she told him she was sure Michael would support him. It was clearly emphatic enough to assure DC that would be the case. No 10 had always assumed Gove had no leadership ambition and, as a friend of DC and George, he would never do anything to undermine them. I always questioned both assumptions. No 10 had always assumed Gove had no leadership ambition and, as a friend of DC and George, he would never do anything to undermine them. I always questioned both assumptions Gove told a lot of people he would be loyal to DC to the last, when he would switch his allegiance to George. Yet I once accompanied Gove and the PM on a visit to a school. Michael was preoccupied by what would happen if Boris got into Parliament: would he create an alternative powerbase from the backbenches? It was clear that DC was bored and he said: 'I don't know, that'll be something for George to deal with.' Gove looked crushed. It struck me that he hated being dismissed as a potential leader by this casual comment, even though DC did not realise what he was doing. Gove always hated the idea that some saw him as David Cameron's court jester. The more I looked at him, the more everything he did appeared to be an act or a performance. His legendary politeness seemed forced, particularly for someone so skilled at dinner table character assassinations. When DC moved him from Education to the post of Chief Whip, a job Gove had told him he had always wanted to do, Cameron thought he was protecting his friend, giving him an important role while preparing the ground for a later promotion. Gove accepted, but appeared not to realise it meant a pay cut. Sarah Vine tweeted: 'A shabby day's work which Cameron will live to regret.' Were they really people who wanted the PM to succeed and did not harbour their own ambitions? In a January Cabinet meeting, Gove made a Pollyanna-ish but oxymoronic speech about allowing ourselves to be a truly national party because we will have people arguing both sides of the case. One of my team leant over to me and whispered: 'Try schizophrenic.' By the middle of February, hopes Gove would go for In fade. George had discussed with him the fact that Leave would lead to real damage for the economy. Gove said there would be 'scarring and burning' but that we would emerge from that situation and end up far more like Singapore. Gove is confirmed as Out on the Friday that we reach a deal on the EU renegotiation. Given the news of his supposed friend and close political ally's decision, DC isn't angry but there is a tinge of sadness in his voice as he tries to make light of it: 'That's him off the Christmas card list.' He says Michael had always told him he'd let him know in person before others learned. In April, when we discuss Out Ministers trashing Government policies, specifically the NHS and the National Living Wage, DC thinks we need to do all we can to get the press to call out Gove. That would be fine, but he is doing no media, hiding I, suspect, from the question of whether he is the source of the Sun's 'Queen Backs Brexit' story. When one of the newspapers suggests that Gove should be made deputy PM, DC says: 'Can you imagine him ever being left in charge of the country?' I chat to George about whether Gove is setting himself to take over. George isn't sure Gove thinks he is up to it, 'But it is being thrust in his direction, so it may be hard to resist.' At the beginning of June, Gove writes a questionable piece claiming that as Justice Secretary, 'I have experienced the frustration at our inability to refuse entry to those with a criminal record and even some who are suspected of terrorist links.' DC is angry with him: 'I'm going to lose my temper and unleash one on these people on live TV soon.' Some think Boris choosing to be a key figure in Leave was what did for us but Gove was crucial mixing an intoxicating cocktail of brilliance and poison. When he stood as a Conservative leadership candidate, he was claiming that, contrary to everything he had always said, he did now think he could and should be Prime Minister. Crucially, he failed to realise that in acting as a political suicide bomber, one of his first victims would be himself. For me Gove is an actor. He strikes a pose according to circumstances. He is capable of vision, wit and charm, and has a verbal dexterity second to none, but his fatal flaw was to be driven by a vaulting ambition and a preparedness to mislead. He is a tragic figure in the Shakespearean sense. He let others down in a way that ultimately crushed himself. David Cameron had to unleash the demons over Brexit: Former No10 chief CRAIG OLIVER on why the brutal referendum was inevitable History tends to be written by the winners. That statement might be a cliche, but it doesn't make it any less true or painful for those who lost the EU referendum. My book, Unleashing Demons, describes what it was like being at David Cameron's side throughout the campaign, and why, despite having thrown everything at it, he lost and had to leave Downing Street. The account, serialised in today's Mail on Sunday, is based on my notes and a diary of being in key meetings with everyone from Barack Obama and Angela Merkel, to Boris Johnson and Theresa May. I didn't expect to tell the story so soon because I hoped we'd win. None of the details have been changed, however hard it was for me to read them back. Some who have already read the book believe it will make for even harder reading for senior politicians, a few of whom remain in high office, and many who don't. My intention isn't to expose or embarrass them. I simply want to put on record what actually happened during one of biggest political storms this country has ever faced. The referendum was not just the biggest political decision for this country since the Second World War it became a career opportunity for people hoping to become Prime Minister The title of the book, Unleashing Demons, comes from a conversation I had with Cameron in his armour-plated car on the way to a speech. Both of us believed a decision over Britain's membership of the European Union had been a slow train coming for a generation, and now it was arriving in the station on his watch. The reasons were obvious: Nigel Farage's Ukip was on the rise, not just doing well in the 2014 European elections, but actually winning them. And scores of Conservative MPs were rebelling on anything and everything to do with Europe. When asked, more than half the country believed that there needed to be a vote, partly because you had to be close to 60 to have taken part in the 1975 referendum on the then Common Market. To put it another way, the issue had become a giant boulder blocking the road for the Government. Cameron could have tried to ignore it, or work around it, but had he not promised a referendum, the Conservative Party would almost certainly have demanded a leadership election and replaced him with someone who would. It seemed inevitable on that car journey but I still asked him for one reason why he shouldn't hold a referendum. His answer was instant: 'You could unleash demons of which ye know not.' I thought it was a quote from Shakespeare or the Bible, but couldn't find it anywhere when I looked it up. Those words were prophetic. But even Cameron did not foresee the extent of the civil war we encountered, with blood-letting on an epic scale. The referendum was not just the biggest political decision for this country since the Second World War it became a career opportunity for people hoping to become Prime Minister. Some were overt, others more subtle. It felt painfully obvious as people who were close colleagues, even supposedly friends, were prepared to question Cameron's integrity, mislead the public, or do the bare minimum to help. As the campaign continued, one journalist put his finger on it by writing: 'It sometimes feels as if we are trapped inside the tortured mind of a party that has succumbed to madness.' I'm frank about the mistakes we made and take my full share of responsibility for my part in them. It's important we have an honest discussion about what actually happened. So what were those mistakes? The Remain campaign set too much store by what had become the closest thing to an iron law in politics it's the economy, stupid! Those words were coined by Bill Clinton's campaign manager James Carville during their first presidential campaign. They became a mantra for political parties around the world. We were sincere in our belief, shared with countless experts, that the risk to the economy of leaving the EU should and would trump any other argument. We were wrong, and when the Leave campaign began to get real traction by focusing on immigration, we didn't have enough of an answer. More to the point, what we believed was our great strength was also a weakness. We assembled a vast coalition, ranging from most of the Conservative Government, through the Labour, Lib Dem and Green parties, all believing we should stay in. But the reasons for remaining were different, resulting in confused messages. Worse, the current leaders of the Left Jeremy Corbyn and Nicola Sturgeon seemed at best equivocal and sometimes actively hostile to our campaign. We also listened to the legion of analysts who said millions of people who had not voted for years would stay at home again. Nearly three million of these 'non-voters' turned out, almost all of them for Leave. It was more than enough to ensure we lost. We should have done more to understand their concerns and persuade them why leaving the EU would be bad for them. I also want to make clear that having made the Conservative Party electable again, David Cameron was a Prime Minister who was prepared to take on the big political issues of the age I respect the result of the referendum and I do not believe there should be another. The people of this country voted to leave the EU by a clear margin on a high turnout. As things stand, both sides are claiming they were right in their predictions about the impact of Brexit. Leavers say the economic disaster has been avoided, proven by some good economic news last week. Remainers point to the fact that our currency has lost ten per cent of its value, making things more expensive, and that business has pressed the pause button on investment. We'll have a better idea after the Chancellor's autumn statement. But the true picture will only be clear after the two-year divorce process that begins when Theresa May applies to leave the EU next year. I hope we were wrong I want Britain to prosper but remain seriously concerned. In the meantime, I'd like to provide a proper answer to the question: 'What were they thinking?' I also want to make clear that having made the Conservative Party electable again, David Cameron was a Prime Minister who was prepared to take on the big political issues of the age. He formed a coalition government to provide economic security when the country desperately needed it and he presided over a 'jobs miracle', resulting in millions more people being in work. He reformed our schools and changed welfare to help make work pay. Gay couples being allowed to marry and the National Citizen Service are other parts of his legacy. And yes, he confronted the EU question, showing leadership in taking on something that divided not just the Conservative Party, but whole communities. He also showed dignity in being prepared to resign in the way he did when things went wrong. Riddle solved? Mysterious objects spotted by Google Map satellite in Gobi desert explained Advertisement A Google Maps satellite spotted a series of bizarre structures during a sweep of the Gobi desert in China - and the mysterious objects sparked a wave of speculation that they could be anything from 'codes' to be read from space to practice targets modelled on US cities. But it now seems likely that the structures are used to calibrate China's spy satellites, according to Natalie Wolchover of website Life's Little Mysteries. She spoke to Jonathon Hill, a research technician at the Mars Space Flight Facility at Arizona State University, which operates many of the cameras used in Nasa's Mars missions - who said the symbols are near-identical to US targets used to calibrate Corona spy satellites in the Sixties. Unidentified: This bizarre structure was spotted by a Google Maps satellite on the borders of Gansu province and Xinjiang The existence of these calibration targets may seem suspicious, but Hill said it really isn't; China was already known to operate spy satellites, along with many other countries, including the U.S. 'An [American] example I found just now is a calibration target for the Corona spy satellites, built back in the 1960s, down in Casa Grande, Arizona,' Hill told Wolchover. 'The grids of zigzagging white lines seen in two of the images - the strangest of the various desert structures - are spy satellite calibration targets. Satellite cameras focus on the grids, which measure approximately 0.65 miles wide by 1.15 miles long, and use them to orient themselves in space,' writes Wolchover. The internet buzz around the objects has been intensified by the fact they are located on the borders of Gansu province and Xinjiang in northwestern China - an area that the superpower uses to build military, space and nuclear equipment. There are burnt out cars and planes around some of the symbols, further fuelling speculation about a sinister military purpose. In fact, some of the sites are less than 100 miles from Jiuquan, where Chinas space programme headquarters and launch pads can be found. At the centre of this structure you can make out planes and trucks. Speculation about a possible military purpose has been fuelled by its location less than 100 miles from Jiuquan where China's space programme can be found Some internet users had been trying to overlay one of the strange structures on to various U.S. city maps, worried that the symbols could be used as targets to allow China to target bombs and other weapons more precisely on U.S. cities. Others pointed out that if China wanted to attack a U.S. city, it doesnt need a practice map in the desert. What was also fuelling the mystery was that it was just too difficult to tell what the structures are made of whether they are painted on or dug into the landscape. However, upon zooming in, planes and burnt-out trucks can be seen on some of the photographs, which hints that at least some of the symbols may be used in military training, or that they may indeed be targets of some kind. Speculation: Some internet users have been overlaying the strange structures over maps of U.S cities - to 'check' whether the symbols could be used as 'practice targets' for missile strikes. A closer view shows burnt out vehicles (right) which have raised questions about whether the desert has been used for military purposes This is the second time in a number of days that Google has published photographs of possibly secret facilities. Last week the search giant published pictures of Iranian facilities which the UN says may be used to develop nuclear weapons. Satellite images of Arak and Natanz show changes to the facilities in the areas when compared with images taken in October 2010. The overhead pictures were released by Google following a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency which expressed 'serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme'. Flights and hotels can be booked online in a matter of seconds these days. And youll know if youre getting a good deal because you can use a comparison site to check the prices from a host of companies. But what if you fancy a cruise? Instead of a quick search, you will have to spend hours browsing different offers from dozens of individual operators or agents. Worse still, when you find a deal, most websites dont allow you to book online, forcing you to pick up the phone instead. Last year, 89 per cent of Britons booked a holiday online, but cruise enthusiasts would struggle to do so. Data agency Mintel estimated that less than 30 per cent of cruise bookings were made online in 2014 the latest year for which figures are available. So why is cruising lagging so far behind the rest of the travel industry when it comes to internet bookings? Perceived wisdom is that its such a costly holiday that people are reluctant to book without speaking to a travel agent first. But that argument doesnt hold water. Last year, a family of four spent an average of 2,328 to book flights and hotels online. With many cruises costing well under 1,000, its clear that price isnt the issue. Others claim its because cruisers tend to be older and less trusting of online transactions but not only is that insulting, its also not true. The average age of UK cruise passengers in 2015 was just over 55, according to the Cruise Lines International Association. Last year was a record-breaking one for the industry, with nearly 1.8 million UK passengers taking cruises the largest number ever. But every time you board a ship, you get the sinking feeling that you could have secured a better deal if only youd looked a bit harder or longer. Only the larger cruise lines such as P&O (pictured) take online bookings, most operate through travel agencies Whats even more baffling is that some of the larger cruise lines do take online bookings. In fact, P&O has been doing so for 15 years. But the majority still insist you call and talk to an agent. Theres a lot to be said for great travel agents, but its difficult to know if youre getting the best deal when you cant see dozens of options presented clearly to you. Whats more, you often have a sneaking suspicion that youre being steered towards a cruise that will give them the highest commission, and these do vary considerably. In 2014, Mintel reported that Princess Cruises paid travel agents a ten per cent commission on bookings, while P&O and Cunard offered only 7.5 per cent. Cruise lines also pay agents a hefty commission for shore excursions, so forcing you to call to book allows staff the opportunity to pressure you into taking these. MSC Cruises paid agents ten per cent for every excursion they sold in 2014. Yet according to consumer organisation Which?, official excursions can often be poor value, and youre typically better off arranging your own. We asked two of the leading flight-comparison sites why they dont offer cruise searches too, particularly since they have branched out into car hire and hotel searches. In 2014, Mintel reported that Princess Cruises paid travel agents a ten per cent commission on bookings - an incentive for agents to steer customers towards them Skyscanner said: It simply isnt something weve looked into in any great detail. We believe the majority of consumer demand lies in the flights, hotels and car-hire sectors, and we want to meet the needs of travellers in these areas. Thats where our focus is. And Momondo said its target audience is very much independent travellers, and the company sees cruise holidays as often more of a package deal, so not a travel type Momondo has pursued. Finding the best deal on a cruise can make a big difference to the cost. We compared the prices offered by seven different holiday firms for Princess Cruises 14-night Caribbean Southern Adventurer next February. Princess itself quoted 1,118pp for the cheapest inside cabin, but there was a 281pp difference between the others. When you take into account flights and some firms only sell cruises with flights included the cost savings were even more significant. The most expensive agencies quoted 1,765pp, but if you booked the same cruise and flight yourself, you could get it for 325pp less. Unfortunately, doing this price comparison is no small task. It takes hours of painstaking online searches and calls. The Mail on Sunday Travel Editor Frank Barrett answers readers' questions on Tokyo, London and La Palma in the Canary Islands. Kath, by email: 'We're very keen to visit Japan soon, particularly as Tokyo will be hosting the next Olympic Games in 2020. While there are lots of useful guide books, Ive had difficulty finding an inspirational source of up-to- the-minute travel ideas. 'As the Japanese capital is such a vibrant, modern city, I would have imagined there would be a website to match?' The Official Tokyo Travel Guide website provides a mine of interesting information, covering everything from sightseeing routes to tips on dining Frank: I'm surprised you havent already come across the Official Tokyo Travel Guide, which is a mine of interesting information, covering everything from sightseeing routes to tips on dining. I would also recommend looking at the official Brand Tokyo site which offers fascinating insights into the citys life and culture. Walter, by email: 'We would like to book an affordable hotel in an interesting part of London for a celebratory weekend break next month. All suggestions gratefully received.' The London Bridge Hotel is affordable with rooms at 139 a night, and it's situated next to The Shard and Borough Market Frank: There are more than 700 hotels in the capital, so youre not short of choice. I particularly like the London Bridge Hotel, where rooms cost from 139 a night. Situated next to The Shard and Borough Market, its an easy walk to the Tower of London, St Pauls and lots of other major sights. Bella, by email: 'I hear that easyJet is flying this winter to La Palma in the Canary Islands. What does this island offer to holidaymakers?' easyJet will soon be flying to La Palma in the Canary Islands - highlights there include touring its South American-inspired capital Santa Cruz and taking catamaran trips Frank: LA Palma is an off-the-beaten-track place. From touring its South American-inspired capital Santa Cruz to hiking and taking catamaran trips, theres plenty to do. Screenshot from "Apprentice" by Jufeng Boo (2016) Death penalty has deterred major drug syndicates from setting up in Singapore. Singapore has come out strongly backing capital punishment for drug-related offences, telling world leaders to respect the alternative views held by other countries. The city-state held itself up as a poster-boy for the effectiveness of the capital punishment deterrent, saying it has helped keep the nation drug-free and safe. Speaking at a meeting taking place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, 21 September, Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan urged world leaders to take a more balanced assessment of the death penalty. "This debate is a heated, painful and emotional one but I just ask members ... to respectfully reflect on the views expressed, the diversity of the circumstances and the impact on the ground. And to give each state its sovereign right to choose the most appropriate judicial approach so that we can adopt a more balanced perspective on this complex issue," he said. The Straits Times noted that speakers at the panel had placards stating #EndExecutions. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in his opening speech at the meeting, had called on all countries to stop meting out capital punishment. "The world reached a major turning point in 2007 when the general assembly called for a worldwide moratorium. Since then the movement against capital punishment has been growing," he said. Not directly referring to the spate of vigilante executions of drug offenders in the Philippines following newly-elected President Rodrigo Duterte's fight against illegal drugs, Ban said: "I am gravely concerned that some countries are suddenly resuming executions. Others are considering reintroducing the death penalty. We have to keep up the fight for the right to life." Both the Philippines and Turkey are considering imposing the death penalty on certain crimes. While not disagreeing that all human life is sacred, Balakrishnan said: "The immediate question that confronts all of us, whether within or without this room, is whether the death penalty, within the proper context, and in strictly limited circumstances, plays any role in protecting the sanctity of life." Death penalty key in keeping Singapore safe The minister outlined Singapore's approach to the use of the death penalty and why it continues to remain on its statute books. He said that the death penalty is applied "strictly in the context of an unwavering commitment to the rule of law ... resting on a strong and independent judiciary , there must be fair, transparent laws and due process." He argued that the way Singapore has implemented its judicial system "has been pivotal in our efforts to foster a peaceful, safe, harmonious and inclusive society." Balakrishnan added that capital punishment meted out to drugs-related offences and murder "has been a key element in keeping Singapore drug free and keeping Singapore safe. Singapore is probably one of the few countries in the world which has successfully fought this drug problem." He continued: "We do not have slums, we do not have ghettos, we do not have no-go zones for the police. The death penalty has deterred major drug syndicates from establishing themselves in Singapore, and successfully kept the drug situation under control." "For what it is worth, I can stand here and tell you that Singapore is one of the safest countries in the world. Our residents, including women and children, can go anywhere they please, freely and without fear, at any time of the day or night." While there was strong support from Singaporeans for the death penalty, he said: "From time to time we will continue to review our legislation and make changes, according to our circumstances." | Report an error, an omission; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; send a submission; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! Source: ibtimes.co.uk, September 24, 2016 Once a Jolly Hangman, Singapore Justice in the Dock , July 23, 2016 He's invested millions from the panel of Shark Tank. But Daymond John is about to make the deal of a lifetime - as he's got engaged to his girlfriend Heather Taras. The 47-year-old founder of FUBU clothing told Us Weekly on Friday that he got down on one knee during Thursday's Shark Tank taping. Congratulations: Daymond John is about to make the deal of a lifetime - as he's got engaged to his girlfriend Heather Taras - pictured in London in December The couple welcomed their first child together earlier this year - a daughter named Minka Jagger John - on March 2nd. The entrepreneur popped the question with a custom-designed 9.5-carat emerald-cut diamond ring. John told Us he had been planning on popping the question to Heather for about two or three years now, and that the proposal came as a total surprise to her. Parents: The couple welcomed their first child together earlier this year - a daughter named Minka Jagger John, on March 2nd 'I was a little nervous,' John, 47, told them, of proposing, 'I had to create a speech. I knew a lot of people were looking at me. 'You know, you never know how someone is going to react, of course. She could always say no, and thats the first time that Ive been on the carpet pitching somebody! So, a little nerve-racking, of course.' The ABC show star added that his love 'choked up' a little bit, and revealed that 'she said yes pretty quickly!' Entrepreneur: He's invested millions from the panel of Shark Tank He explained that their 6-month-old daughter was also present. 'My daughter was sitting in her lap, so I was looking at my beautiful daughter at the same time,' he adds of the big moment, which was caught on tape for them to revisit. He also told Us that he explained to Heather in his speech that God had given him everything he needs and that he is 'rich with love.' The investor gushed to the magazine that his favourite thing about his new fiancee is 'her calm demeanor.' He added that he's looking forward to 'more years of happiness' with his bride-to-be. Father-of-three Daymond also has two daughters, Yasmeen and Destiny, from a previous relationship. Shark Tank returns to ABC Friday, September 23, at 9 p.m. ET. She's been jet-setting around the world from The Maldives to France. No wonder then that Alessandra Ambrosio looked delighted to be back home on Friday. The 35-year-old model beamed widely as she landed at Los Angeles International Airport. No place like it! Alessandra Ambrosio looked delighted to be back home on Friday as she landed at LAX The smiling beauty looked relaxed in the Marching Orders Jumpsuit from ASTARS and sneakers as she clutched her cellphone. Likely to be in a hurry to see her two children - Anja and Noah - and fiance Jamie Mazur, the 5ft10in stunner was hands-free from cumbersome luggage. She tied a maroon bomber jacket around her slim waist. Covering her eyes with round-framed reflective sunglasses, the Victoria's Secret Angel showcased her flawless and radiant skin. Home again: The 35-year-old model landed at Los Angeles International Airport The star covered her face in a charcoal mask in a snap she shared on Thursday with Instagram followers. She captioned the image: 'Editing and Masking .... #multitasking #3musketeers #charcoalmask #clay #France' Before that the beauty was doing a photoshoot for GQ Brazil in The Maldives. She put on quite a cheeky display, sharing a bikini shot on the beach which flashed the flesh. Stylish: The smiling beauty looked relaxed in a grey jumpsuit and sneakers as she clutched her cellphone Busy mom: Likely to be in a hurry to see her two children - Anja and Noah - and fiance Jamie Mazur, the 5ft 10in stunner was hands-free from cumbersome luggage Relaxed: She tied a maroon bomber jacket around her slim waist The Brazilian native also joked around with two coconuts covering her assets, in a snap on Saturday. The mother of two captioned the cheeky shot in both her native Portuguese tongue and English: 'Kisses to my 7M followers!!! Love u #islandstyle #crazyforcoconut #cocoloca #foreveronvacation.' The shoot, which is for the November cover of GQ Brazil, took place at the Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa. Chill: The star covered her face in a charcoal mask in a snap she shared from France on Thursday with Instagram followers Rearly nice: She put on quite a cheeky display, sharing a bikini shot on the beach which flashed the flesh Malin Akerman and Orlando Bloom play a couple living out their naughty fantasies for a night in Netflix's brand new series, Easy. The entire first season was released on the streaming service on Thursday, and in an episode entitled Utopia, Malin and Orlando's characters invite another woman to join them for a romp between the sheets. Malin is seen completely topless as she strips down with the British actor for a threesome. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Steamy: Malin Akerman goes topless with Orlando Bloom in an episode of Netflix's new series, Easy In the throes of passion: Orlando buries his head into Malin's chest In the episode, the couple invite a young woman, Annie (Kate Micucci), to join them for their menage a trois. Tom (Orlando) and Lucy's (Malin) interest in having a threesome begins after several friends begin telling them about their exploits on the dating app Tinder. They create a profile, but decide instead on Annie, who they already know. Things quickly escalate for the trio after they decide to go through with the threesome over dinner one night. All over him: The actor wrapped his arms around his co-star as she climbed on top of him Can't get enough: The pair looked to be in the heat of passion Spicing things up! The couple invite a young woman (Kate Micucci) for a romp between the sheets After returning back to their house, Lucy throws her head back in the throes of ecstasy during her extremely steamy encounter with Tom. The couple look to be in the heat of passion as Lucy climbs on top of him, seemingly completely naked. Lucy also gave their guest plenty of one-on-one attention. Incoming! The ladies giggle as Bloom grabs the blanket off of them Locking lips: Tom passionately kisses Annie Bottom's up! The Lord Of The Rings actor got cheeky during the romp Passionate: The couple lavish their guest with attention The ladies were clad in just their underwear as they kissed and snuggled each other on a bean bag. All the while, the couple's attention remained glued to their baby monitor for the slightest indication their child had awaken. An eight episode series, Easy premiered on Netflix on Thursday. Awe struck: The actress smiled as she gazed towards her leading man One on one: Tom gave his friend plenty of affection Hot and heavy: The actress wore her sexy black lingerie as she straddled Annie The series is divided into eight separate story lines as it focuses on the love lives of friends living in Chicago. Emily Ratajkowski, Dave Franco, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Jake Johnson help round off the cast. Joe Swanberg, the show's director, told Entertainment Weekly he wanted to create a show where a viewer could 'dip in and out of the series.' All about her: Lucy leaned down as Annie covered her eyes Things are heating up: The star was topless as she climbed on her friend Loved up: The couple exchange a tender moment in the midst of their steamy session Intimate: The ladies embrace as they lock lips 'I have two kids and I work a lot and my wife is a filmmaker also and I wanted to make a show that I would actually watch,' he told . 'I was noticing that typically by the time we get the kids to bed and finish up our work for the day, we dont have a ton of time left at night to watch a movie or get into a season of TV. 'I thought it would be fun to make a show where there was no strong running storyline from one to the next, you really could just dip in and out of the series.' The plot thickens: An eight episode series, Easy premiered on Netflix on Thursday Meanwhile: The couple also kept their attention on their sleeping child as they had their baby monitor on stand-by She landed in Spain just hours earlier to film The Only Way Is Marbs. But Chloe Lewis was looking remarkably fresh faced as she joined Georgia Kousoulou and Chloe Meadows to toast their first night in Marbella on Friday. Flanked by their TOWIE family, the ladies looked effortlessly glamorous as they headed out for a night on the town. Scroll down for video Glam: She landed in Spain just hours earlier to film The Only Way Is Marbs. But Chloe Lewis was looking remarkably fresh faced as she toasted her first night in Marbella on Friday Showing off her ample cleavage, Chloe, 25, wowed in a plunging white jumpsuit that was slashed to the navel. With grey stripes elongating her frame, the garment flared over her lithe physique but nipped in at her small waist to show her hourglass curves. Styling her chestnut coloured locks in bouncy curls, the pretty star wore her glossy tresses in a side parting that framed her flawless features. Two of a kind: Flanked by their TOWIE family, Chloe Meadows and Georgia Kousoulou looked effortlessly glamorous as they headed out for a night on the town Looking equally as glamorous, Chloe Meadows put on a leggy display in a minuscule white skirt that barely protected her modesty. Layering up, she donned a khaki jacket that was unbuttoned to show off her cleavage, whilst a slender black choker brought more attention to her decolletage. Adding some extra inches to her modelesque frame, the blonde beauty finished off the look with a pair of rose gold heels. Jump to it! Showing off her ample cleavage, Chloe, 25, wowed in a plunging white jumpsuit that was slashed to the navel with grey stripes elongating her frame Leggy lady! Looking equally as glamorous, Chloe Meadows put on a leggy display in a minuscule white skirt that barely protected her modesty Boots-ylicious! Georgia also turned heads in her ensemble as she teamed a lacy black crop top with distressed denim hot pants that she teamed with thigh high black boots Pretty as a petal: She rounded off the look by wearing a floral bomber jacket that perfectly tied together all the elements of her ensemble Is tonight the night? Georgia was also joined by her boyfriend Tommy Mallet, after she recently revealed that she thinks he will propose soon Meanwhile, Georgia also turned heads in her ensemble as she teamed a lacy black crop top with distressed denim hot pants. Seemingly oblivious to the sunny climes, Georgia also donned a pair of knee high suede boots, which clung to her lean legs. She rounded off the look by wearing a floral bomber jacket that perfectly tied together all the elements of her ensemble. Cute couple: Megan McKenna and Pete Wicks seemed in good spirits as they headed out with the cast. Walking arm in arm, the duo put on an affectionate display as they followed the team Pretty in pink: Megan wowed in a cleavage baring vest that she teamed with a skintight midi skirt that clung to her lean legs and a studded leather jacket Girls night out: Georgia and Megan were joined by TOWIE newbie Amber Dowding Perfect pair: Amber and Chris Clark also looked loved-up as they stepped out hand in hand Georgia was also joined by her boyfriend Tommy Mallet, after she recently revealed that she thinks he will propose soon. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, she said: 'I think he is going to propose soon, but I think right now we love being together - and having moved in were just taking it all in.' And thinking about their future together, she made it clear that she wanted marriage to come about in a natural manner. 'I would HATE to rush things,' she explained, adding: 'I would hate him to feel that he needs to put a ring on my finger. I really just want it to happen naturally.' Pins on parade: Chloe Lewis showed off her lean legs in a distressed brown jumper dress Cheeky! Chloe couldn't resist pulling a prank on James Bennewith Tanned and toned: Courtney Green and James 'Arg' Argent seemed chirpy on the trip Another couple who seem to be going well is Megan McKenna and Pete Wicks, and the pair seemed in good spirits as they headed out with the cast. Walking arm in arm, the duo put on an affectionate display as they followed the team. Meanwhile, Amber Dowding and Chris Clark also looked loved-up as they stepped out hand in hand. James Lock, Chloe Sims, Bobby Norris, Gemma Collins, Pete Wicks, Courtney Green, Liam Blackwell, James Bennewith, James Argent, Dan Edgar and Vas J Morgan are all also in Marbella for the new series. Nurse Gemma to the rescue! Gemma Collins wheeled Bobby along after he injured his foot PR maven Roxy Jacenko has been allegedly catching up with her ex-boyfriend, millionaire property developer Nabil Gazal. They have been spotted having dinner together in Sydney and 'appeared relaxed with each other', The Sydney Morning Herald reports. Nabil has been described as one of Roxy's more 'serious' past boyfriends and they have been quite open about their meetings, it is claimed. Meanwhile, Roxy's husband Oliver Curtis is serving a two-year sentence in Cooma Prison after being jailed for insider trading in June. Scroll down for video Roxy Jacenko (R) has been allegedly spotted going on 'regular meetings' with ex-boyfriend, property developer Nabil Gazal, while husband Oliver Curtis (L) is in jail for insider trading The publication reported that Nabil's extended family are 'less than happy' about the recent catch-ups, a concern which he and Roxy do not share. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Roxy for comment. Nabil and Roxy dated until 2010 but little is known about their relationship prior to the split. After the break-up, Roxy was spotted attending a product launch in Darlinghurst with soccer player Dwight Yorke. Nabil (pictured in 2014) has been described as one of Roxy's more 'serious' past boyfriends and they have been quite open about their meetings, The Sydney Morning Herald claimed When approached by The Daily Telegraph Roxy revealed that the two had been friends for years and that there was 'nothing going on.' Nabil, named after his late property developer father, was thrown into the spotlight in 2014 when he appeared before the Independent Commission Against Corruption. The well-known businessman fronted the inquiry to deny claims that his family paid $10,000 a month into a Liberal slush fund in exchange for political influence. After breaking up with Nabil, Roxy was spotted attending a product launch with soccer player Dwight Yorke (pictured in 2006 prior to the split) The allegations came as the Gazal family lobbied for the Orange Grove Shopping centre development - which hoped to be a lucrative project for them. However no findings were made against Nabil during the process. Two years after the split, Roxy married investment banker Oliver Curtis in a lavish wedding at Quay restaurant on Sydney's harbour. Roxy (L), who was diagnosed with breast cancer three weeks after the sentence, is yet to visit her husband Oliver (R) since his transfer to Cooma Jail The couple share two children, Pixie, five, and Hunter, two, who Roxy admits are 'struggling' with Oliver being in jail - but has refused to let them visit him while he is in jail Earlier this year, Oliver was sentenced to two years in jail for insider trading and will appear before the courts on October 19 to launch an appeal. Roxy, who was diagnosed with breast cancer three weeks after the sentence, is yet to visit her husband since his transfer to Cooma Prison. The couple share two children, Pixie, five, and Hunter, two, who have been kept away from their father since he was setenced. Roxy's (L) husband Oliver (R) is serving a two-year sentence in Cooma Prison after being jailed for insider trading in June In an interview with 60 minutes, Roxy revealed her children have been 'struggling' with their father in jail. Meanwhile, she was recently involved in a police investigation after her estranged father claimed he was attacked by Roxy and his ex-wife Doreen Davis. Roxy has firmly denied these claims telling Daily Mail Australia that there is 'no basis for these allegations'. 'I can only attribute such comments to a sad quest for public notoriety by my father Nick Jacenko and (his partner) Lisa Ho.' Richie Strahan and Alex Nation are not letting the critics get to them. Despite many Bachelor fans being skeptical of their romance, the 32-year-old rope access technician and 25-year-old single mother are enjoying their romantic trip to his home city of Perth. 'Moments like these,' Alex captioned an Instagram photo of the couple kissing on Friday afternoon. Scroll down for video Locking lips: The Bachelor's Richie Strahan and Alex Nation are enjoying a romantic trip to Perth as she shared an Instagram photo of the couple kissing on Friday afternoon It comes after the couple smiled for an Instagram photo with Richie's proud parents earlier that day. Surprisingly, Richie captioned the picture with a flashback quote referencing his final date with runner-up Nikki Gogan. When Nikki met Richie's mother she faced tough questions from Mrs Strahan, who described herself as: 'Miss Chill turning into Miss Grill'. And in the photo of Alex shared with his 150,000 followers, Richie wrote in the caption: 'When Miss Grill is actually Miss Chill'. Family fun! Alex enjoyed family time with her boyfriend Richie's parents on Friday, after attending Perth Fashion Week with his sister Alannah Thumbs up: Richie shared some of his and Alex's Perth adventures on his Snapchat account Stepping out: It seems Alex is getting to know Richie's family better, having spent Thursday night with his sister Alannah at a high fashion event On Thursday, Alex also spent some one-on-one time with Richie's sister Alannah at Perth Fashion Week. Alex donned an all-black outfit as she posed up a storm at the event, enjoying her place in the limelight. Showing off a hint of thigh, the mother-of-one opted for a long-sleeved wrap dress with two large slits on either leg. All black: The 25-year-old model wore a long-sleeved dress and thigh-high boots She teamed the quirky dress with a pair of black thigh-high boots and a fine gold necklace. With her blonde tresses worn out and straight, Alex added drama to her look with bold red lipstick. Last week, Alex was spotted flying out of Melbourne with Richie, just days after The Bachelor finale was aired. Meanwhile: As Alex is visiting Richie's home city, her young son Elijah is spending school holidays with his father Joel Porter (pictured) Meanwhile, her son Elijah is spending time with his father Joel Porter, who confirmed on Tuesday he is looking after the boy throughout the school break. Sharing an adorable photo of Elijah visiting his workplace before taking annual leave, Joel wrote: 'My little man and I at work. 'Not a soul here who doesn't love a visit from Elijah! Daddy duties! Joel shared an Instagram photo of himself cuddling Elijah before beginning his annual leave to take care of the five-year-old 'Trying to prove some dads do sacrifice': In the comments section, Joel wrote about parenting and the importance of being 'fully involved' in a child's life 'Taking time off so we can spend the school holidays together! Lots of fun planned!' Meanwhile, Joel also wrote candidly about parenting and the importance of being 'fully involved' in a child's life. 'Just trying to prove some dads do sacrifice and change their lives for the sake of their little ones, and some are very active in their little people's lives,' he shared. 'My little boy is everything to me': Alex responded to accusations she was 'neglecting' Elijah for TV fame last week 'As a dad you can still be fully involved, you can still work, you can still have fun and you can still stay healthy... Otherwise known as legend dad'. Last week, Alex responded to accusations she was 'neglecting' Elijah for TV fame and her relationship with Richie. She also hit back at fan accusations that Joel's girlfriend Ashy Smith has recently taken on the role of 'stepmother' to Elijah. 'I know what kind of mother I am': Alex said that gossip over her parenting did not bother her 'My little boy is everything to me,' she told a videographer while leaving a Melbourne restaurant with Richie on Saturday. She added: 'I know who I am and I know what kind of mother I am so they don't bother me.' Despite filming for the reality show wrapping up months ago, it has yet to be confirmed if Richie has met his girlfriend's son. Is she smirking? Jen has a Mona Lisa smile as she arrived in New York on Thursday Stepping out in New York, Jennifer Aniston looks barely able to suppress a smile. Eleven years ago the actresss marriage to Brad Pitt ended amid claims he had an affair with Angelina Jolie. Now Pitt, 52, is in the midst of his second Hollywood divorce as he locks horns with Miss Jolie over accusations of domestic violence. Miss Jolie is represented by lawyer Laura Wasser, known as the queen of celebrity divorces, while Pitt has hired Lance Spiegel, whose past clients include Michael Jackson and Charlie Sheen. Pitt has made clear to friends that he is determined to challenge his estranged wifes demand that she gets sole physical custody of their six children, leaving him with only visitation rights. A source was quoted as saying the divorce fight has left him distraught, pacing, nervous and scared of losing his kids over something that he hasnt done he is far from a bad father. The Pitt and Jolie camps yesterday fought over the details of a furious row on the familys private jet last week as they flew back to Los Angeles from their French home. Angelina Jolie with Brad Pitt and their son Maddox. Brad Pitt left Jennifer Aniston for Angelina after the actors met on the set of Mr and Mrs Smith It is this incident that reportedly prompted Miss Jolie, 41, to file for divorce after months of growing tension. Though friends say she was concerned about Pitts consumption of alcohol and marijuana, she has insisted her decision to end their relationship was for the health of the family. Following an anonymous complaint, the argument is being investigated by the Los Angeles Countys department of children and family services, as well as the FBI, which handles incidents in the air. The FBI said it was continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued. Miss Jolies friends say Pitt crossed a line by lunging at their oldest child, Maddox, during the argument. It is alleged he and Miss Jolie began arguing after the plane took off from refuelling in Minnesota when Maddox, 15, jumped up to take his mothers side. Shock split: Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt this week. She's seeking full custody of their six children and the FBI are investigating his alleged abusive behavior towards their 15-year-old son Maddox on a private jet last week Pitt allegedly lunged at the boy, prompting Miss Jolie to jump between them, but Pitt still made contact with his son. The Mail has previously been told by insiders that Pitt has long had a difficult relationship with Maddox, whom Miss Jolie adopted in Cambodia in 2002 when she was married to second husband Billy Bob Thornton. Sources say Pitt struggles to keep the family under control while Miss Jolie is more easy-going with the children, who are aged from eight to 15. An endless smear campaign But a source in the Pitt camp said: Teenagers have fights with their parents, especially when you have teens who are strong-willed and confident. Youre going to have back and forth. Claims by Pitts side that there was no physical confrontation with Maddox appear to be supported by a video reportedly of the altercation. Someone claiming to have seen it told Us Weekly that Pitt was looking drunk and yelling a lot but nothing physical occurred. One of Pitts friends said that the claims were exaggerated and fabricated and part of an endless smear campaign that hurts everyone. Friends star Miss Aniston, who married director Justin Theroux last year, was seen in New York on Thursday as she arrived at a flat in the city. She's renowned for her glamorous outfits and stunning ensembles, often flashing the flesh. And Charlotte Dawson didn't disappoint when she arrived to party at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester looking a vision in a glittering maxi dress. The Ex On The Beach star, 23, turned heads in her figure-hugging number that showed off her svelte physique. Stealing the show: Charlotte Dawson turned heads when she arrived for a party at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester looking a vision in a glittering maxi dress She let her long, extended locks flow over one shoulder as she accentuated her striking facial features with a generous touch of make up. Charlotte paired her glistening dress with a fur throw, alongside a matching clutch and heels. And the beauty was pictured alongside Big Brother hunk Sam Giffen who sported a skinny blue tie with a black shirt, blazer and jeans combination. The pals were all smiles as they entered the Manchester Evening News Diary Party, celebrating 15 years of the event. Beauty: She let her long extended locks flow over one shoulder as she accentuated her striking facial features with a generous touch of make up Glittering: Charlotte paired her glistening dress with a fur throw, alongside a matching clutch and heels Good time pals: The beauty was pictured alongside Big Brother hunk Sam Giffen who sported a skinny blue tie with a black shirt, blazer and jeans combination Her display comes after she sported an entirely sheer gown with a Versace-inspired jacket at the Fun Affair show on day three of London Fashion Week on Tuesday. The 23-year-old beauty was not only flashing her assets but also proving her penchant for style in her outfit which made the most of her spectacular looks. Charlotte, who is the daughter of late comedy legend Les, wowed in her chic ensemble which showed off her entire physique due to its sheer material. What a hoot! Sam was seen flashing a wide smile as Charlotte opted for a more serious pose Don't trip! Charlotte had to pull her very long dress as it dragged along the red carpet Having a blast: The pair posed for snaps together before they headed in to the venue The dress featured slashed sides rising up to her waist which gave a glimpse of her legs and bust with the help of her cleavage-enhancing push-up bra. She gave a splash of colour to the look with her Versace-inspired jacket featuring the brand's classic print complete with gold coin prints and bright pink and green covers. Charlotte boosted her height with a pair of heeled ankle boots with a peep toe and perspex heel while she also accessorised with a thick black choker. She's the busty Big Brother contestant with over 270,000 Instagram followers. And Skye Wheatley looked simply flawless as she stripped down to a skimpy bikini during her holiday in Bali, Indonesia on Friday. The 23-year-old model displayed her Barbie doll-like physique in VERY risque swimwear as she enjoyed a dip in the ocean. Scroll down for video Beach body ready! Big Brother Australia's Skye Wheatley looked simply flawless as she stripped down to a floral bikini during her holiday in Bali, Indonesia on Friday Skye, who hails from Queensland's Gold Coast, proudly flaunted her surgically-enhanced breasts in a floral halterneck top. She also showed off her hourglass frame in a pair of barely-there bikini bottoms which clung tightly to her slender waist. Meanwhile, her shapely derriere was on full display in the Brazilian-cut design as she headed out into the surf. The social media enthusiast was later spotted checking her iPhone as she strolled out of the ocean. Does she EVER turn it off? The Instagram model, 23, was spotted checking her phone as she walked out of the ocean The reality TV star has been enjoying a romantic trip to Bali with her boyfriend Cameron McCristal over the past week. The couple previously made headlines after a camera set-up in their hotel room was visible in the background of Skye's recent travel blog. Replying to a fan on Instagram, Skye confirmed they put up a tripod in their bedroom - before later deleting the post. Young love: The reality TV star has been enjoying a romantic trip to Bali with her boyfriend Cameron McCristal (L) over the past week Making a home video? The couple previously made headlines after a camera set-up in their hotel room was visible in the background of Skye's recent travel blog Skye is best known for her memorable stint on Big Brother Australia two years ago. She later gained notoriety for her 'botched Bangkok boob job' which resulted in a 'double bubble' in her right breast. Last month, Skye told The Daily Telegraph she will be paying $28,000 to a Sydney-based plastic surgeon to correct the procedure. Meanwhile, she briefly split from Cameron early this year but the couple rekindled their romance in June. She has a fantastic physique that she is not afraid to show off. And Kim Kardashian continued to do so, and in elegant fashion, as she attended a wedidng with her husband Kanye West on Friday. The 35-year-old was a vision of glamour in a plunging taupe dress that cinched into her curves as she walked hand-in-hand with her husband to the nuptials in Simi Valley, California. Scroll down for video Glitz and glam: Kim Kardashian was a vision of elegance in a plunging taupe dress that cinched into her curves as she walked hand-in-hand with her husband Kanye West to a wedding in Simi Valley on Friday Hugging her curves, Kim's dress also featured a slightly exposed back. Kim looked positively captivating with her long tresses styled in a sleek and straight hairdo as her face was preened to perfection with a touch of bronzer. Outdoing herself! Kardashian looked flawless in the frock Love is in the air! The couple made their entrance, holding hands The reality star applied a generous amount of glossy lipstick and mascara to take her lashes to the next level. Stepping out in a pair of beige lace-up heels, Kim continued to glam the look up with several gold chain necklaces and her extremely eye-catching wedding ring. Not to be outdone, Kanye looked sophisticated in a black suit, tucked in white shirt, and suede shoes. It's a cinch! Hugging her curves, Kim's dress also featured a slight exposed back Finishing touches! The reality star applied a generous amount of glossy lipstick and mascara to take her lashes to the next level Getting close: The star affectionately placed her hand around West's arm No sign of the couple's daughter North, three, who Kim said was serving as flower girl. Always one to keep her fans up-to-date on her every move, Kim took to Snapchat to share a video of herself en route to the wedding as she revealed her daughter's big role in the nuptials. 'Wedding vibes today. Kanye and I are going to a wedding and North is the flower girl. Hopped up for her.' Hitting their stride: Kim put her best foot forward in a pair of extra stylish heels Quick catch-up! The reality star spoke with a woman beside the audience Look who's here! Kourtney Kardashian was clad in a plunging black jumpsuit and silver heels as she carried her sleepy daughter Penelope, four, in her arms Showing some skin: The star's backless frock flashed some skin 'Me and my bea going to a wedding,' she said as she shared the spotlight with her husband before turning the camera just to herself. 'He does not like to be on my snap. Sometimes he does.' The couple are also parents to nine-month-old son Saint, who they did not appear to bring along for the ceremony. Also in attendance was Kim's sister Kourtney Kardashian, 37. Kourtney was clad in a plunging black jumpsuit and silver heels as she carried her sleepy daughter Penelope, four, in her arms. The reality star had her hair slicked back into an ultra high ponytail while accessorizing the look with a silver choker necklace and several bracelets. Flower girl: Kim revealed her daughter North would be serving as a flower girl as she shared a Snapchat video of herself en route to the nuptials 'Me and my bea going to a wedding': She said as she shared the spotlight with her husband before turning the camera just to herself Not always a fan: The reality star laughed as she turned the video back to herself, explaining that her husband doesn't always like to appear on her Snapchat Feeling butterflies: Kardashian wore a digital wreath of flowers in another Snapchat selfie Tiny dancer: Kim's daughter North was certainly in the spirit as she twirled around the 'dance floor' in a white tulle dress Flower power: North sported purple petals in in her hair as she posed up with her cousin Penelope and other family members New necklace: Later, Kim shared a Snapchat of all the 'gifts' she was sent while she was away ALBANY POLICE Injury crash 6:04 p.m. Thursday, 100 block Albany Avenue S.E. George Garewal, 59, of Albany, was transported to the hospital after his PT Cruiser rear-ended another car, then struck a tree. The car that Garewal struck fled the scene. Burglary arrest 10:05 p.m. Thursday, Linn County Jail. Timothy Paul Benfield, 51, of Albany, was arrested on charges of second-degree burglary, first-degree theft, second-degree criminal mischief and second-degree trespass. Benfield is suspected of breaking into a local bar in 2015 and taking alcohol. Sleepy-time DUII 12:59 a.m. Friday, 7-Eleven, 222 Main St. S.E. A caller reported that a male was passed out in his running vehicle, and people had tried to wake him up by banging on the windows. Brian Conrad Hart, 32, of Albany, was booked, cited and released on charges of driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless driving, as well as a failure to appear warrant for a 2015 DUII case. Hart was scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 12. Found pistol? 8:47 a.m. Friday, South Shore Elementary School. A parent found what appeared to be an unloaded handgun in bushes at the school and brought it into the office. The device turned out to be a realistic looking pellet gun. Bike vs. van 10 a.m. Friday, 1800 block Ninth Avenue S.E. A bicyclist unlawfully crossed traffic and crashed into the side of a van. The bike rider, Thomas James, 52, was taken to Samaritan Albany General Hospital. LEBANON POLICE Dog theft 2:21 p.m. Thursday, 1400 block Airport Road. A caller reported that his dog had been stolen. The 4-year-old brown pitbull-boxer mix is named Ruckess. DUII crash 2:59 a.m. Friday, Berlin Road and East Grant Street. A caller reported that a woman purposely drove her vehicle off a cliff in an attempt to harm herself. The woman then went to the Grant Street Bridge and was threatening to jump off. Terri Salisbury, 39, was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless driving, and taken to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation. Being a child star is tough these days, one minute you're the star of an international mega hit, the next your back to being a just your average preschooler. On Friday, Claire Danes stepped out on the set of Homeland with her onscreen daughter - a new one. With Season Six now filming in New York instead of Germany the previous Franny got the ol' heave-ho in favour of a slightly older US-based actress. That's different: On Friday, Claire Danes stepped out on the New York set of Homeland with her onscreen daughter - a new one The little girl looked just as you would expect the child of CIA Agent Carrie Mathison and the late Nicholas Brody to look with strawberry blonde locks to boot. The 37-year-old actress and her onscreen daughter obviously have clicked as the pair looked like a real life parent on child as the filmed their scenes, with the little girl clinging on to the star. While Claire has gained a new daughter, she had managed to lose her disastrous fake tan that she got for last weekend's Emmys. The Romeo And Juliet star clearly spent a lot of time in the shower with a loofah as the orange hue - which saw her become the target of a lot of internet jokes - was gone. Perfect match: The little girl looked just as you would expect the child of CIA Agent Carrie Mathison and the late Nicholas Brody to look with strawberry blonde locks to boot Method acting: The 37-year-old actress and her onscreen daughter obviously have clicked as the pair looked like a real life parent on child as the filmed their scenes, with the little girl clinging on to the star Changing things up: The previous actress to play Franny (pictured last year) was based in Germany so an American actress had to be found Also joining her on set on Friday was F. Murray Abraham, who plays CIA Agent Dar Adal. Claire was dressed in Carrie's go to I'm-CIA-pretending-not-to-be-CIA uniform. For the scene, the 37-year-old was dressed in tight skinny leg jeans with a dark green silk shirt and a suit jacket. Well suited: Claire was dressed in Carrie's go to I'm-CIA-pretending-not-to-be-CIA uniform of tight skinny leg jeans with a dark green silk shirt and a suit jacket Not her best: While Claire has gained a new daughter, she had managed to lose her disastrous fake tan that she got for last weekend's Emmys All better: The Romeo And Juliet star clearly spent a lot of time in the shower with a loofah as the orange hue - which saw her become the target of a lot of internet jokes - was gone It was feared that Homeland's filming schedule would have to be pushed back after star Rupert Friend injured his ankle on set. However, producers have obviously found a way to shoot around scenes with him in to keep the show on track. Homeland's sixth season is scheduled to premiere on January 15 on Showtime. Since finding love on season three of The Bachelor Australia, Snezana Markoski and Sam Wood have been virtually inseparable. After purchasing their $1.4 million family home in January, the brunette beauty and her daughter Eve made the move interstate to live with the 'love of her life'. But Snezana revealed that there are times she is happy not to be at home with her beau, posting a loved-up snap on Instagram on Saturday with the confession as the caption. Scroll down for video 'I'm more than happy not to be home with the love of my life': The Bachelor Australia star Snezana Markoski posts loved-up snap with Sam Wood as she reveals there are SOME nights she is 'happy not to be home' with him She wrote: 'There are some moments like tonight I'm more than happy not to be home with the love of my life. 'The footy is on and boys are over,' she added. The caption was followed with the hashtags: '#whatthatsnotafooty #testosteroneoverload #iwatchthebrownlowsforthedresses'. In the black and white snap, Snezana can be seen embracing Sam and laughing while gazing lovingly into his eyes. Sam's Disney princess! Sam recently shared a shot to Instagram on Sunday as he got a peck on the cheek from Snezana, who he dubbed 'Pocahontas' in the caption The chocolate tressed beauty rocked a leather jacket and cardigan while Sam cut a similarly casual figure in a denim jacket and dark jeans. The pair looked smitten and appeared to be in happy spirits in the picture. Meanwhile the couple, who often canvas their envy-inducing relationship on Instagram, recently posted another snap in front of a picturesque view. Sam posted the picture of himself and Snezana on Instagram, captioning the shot: 'On the farm with Pocahontas. So much love'. Sleepy? Sam's Disney princess also posted a snap shot from the family fun day, showing the most likely jet lagged Sam asleep in the back of a car, next to one of Snezana's nieces 'Exciting things': The entrepreneur was on a whirlwind trip State-side, which included stops in LA and New York for meetings and promised 'exciting things' were to come Happily living out their dream romance, the pair were seen by spending a day with family at a farm. They appeared to be in good spirits after some time apart while Sam was on a work trip to the US. Sam's Disney princess also posted a snap shot from the family fun day, which also included her sister and nieces. The photo shows the most likely jet lagged Sam asleep in the back of a car, next to one of Snezana's nieces. 'Sooo the kids all fell asleep on the way home, including the big kid,' she captioned the photo with a laughing and cheeky monkey emoji. Loved up! Sam is often seen sharing happy snaps of his new family on social media and recently posted a heart-warming picture of Snezana and Eve sleeping on the couch together 'Family time': Sam posted a selfie with his fiancee Snezana and her daughter Eve as they headed to the zoo The entrepreneur was on a whirlwind trip State-side, which included stops in LA and New York for meetings and promised 'exciting things' were to come. Sam appears to be adjusting 'really well' to having not one, but two women in the house after his engagement to his fiance. The celebrity trainer is often seen posting heartwarming pictures on Instagram of his new family, keeping his 202,000 fans up-to-date with his new family life. Just one month ago Sam posted a snap of Snezana sleeping on the couch with her daughter Eve and wrote: 'It's been a long week', adding the hash-tag 'love'. Love-nest: Sam and Snezana purchased their new Melbourne home in January for a whopping $1.4million after announcing the news of their engagement a month earlier Instagram followers were quick to sing their praises to the 35-year-old commenting on how 'things have changed in the last 12 months'. Another user wrote: 'You are the most gorgeous little family.' Sam also recently uploaded another snap with Snezana and Eve as they headed to the zoo for a family outing. The trio sported matching sunglasses and all flashed peace signs in the snap, which was captioned with the hash-tags 'zoo life' and 'family time'. Nicky Whelan's fiance Kerry Rhodes was involved in a car accident this week after crashing his Aston Martin into a Los Angeles apartment building. The former NFL star took to Instagram on Friday to reveal details of the incident, along with an image of his ankles - one of which was noticeably swollen. 'My day is over.. Blessed to be alive,' he wrote in the caption, before launching into a blow-by-blow description of the crash. Scroll down for video Brush with death: Nicky Whelan's fiance Kerry Rhodes (pictured) was involved in a car accident this week after crashing his Aston Martin into a Los Angeles apartment building 'Girl pulls out in front me I can't stop in time try to swerve but ending up swerving in oncoming traffic and not one car hit me (thank god). 'I dodge a light pole and fire hydrant, but then run into an apartment building! Airbag explodes in my face i block it with my hand.' 'Lucky to be typing this with just a beat up ugly ankle! Stay safe out there people,' he concluded. Injury: The former NFL star took to Instagram on Friday to reveal details of the incident, along with an image of his ankles - one of which was noticeably swollen Shortly after, Kerry shared another Instagram photo - this time depicting the wreckage of the crash. 'Aftermath', wrote Kerry in the caption next to the image of his silver Aston Martin, a vehicle worth up to $180,000, smashed against a concrete wall. Worried fans and friends wished him well, with one commenting: 'How in the world did this happen??? Omg!!! Glad ur alright bud!!' 'So glad you're ok! That's so scary I can't even imagine!' wrote another. 'Aftermath': Moments later, Kerry shared another Instagram photo - this time depicting the wreckage of the crash According to TMZ, police attended the scene of Kerry's crash before taking a report. The publication reported Kerry wasn't transported in an ambulance but that he did visit a doctor afterwards due to his ankle injury. Nikki has yet to comment on the accident. She has been a red carpet fixture these last few weeks, but on Friday Natalie Portman kept things much more low-key. The pregnant 35-year-old kept it casual as she displayed her bump in a pretty floral print top and blue jeans during an outing in Beverly Hills. In a stark contrast from her red carpet ensembles, Natalie looked refreshed and relaxed as she wore her brunette tresses back into a no-fuss bun. Hello petal: Natalie Portman opted for casual maternity wear as she dressed her bump in a casual floral print top and blue jeans during an outing in Beverly Hills She accessorized the look with a stylish pair of silver sunglasses as she stepped upon the rocky pavement in a pair of pink sandals. The actress appeared to be having a chat as she strolled across the gravel with her cell phone in hand. Walk and talk: The actress appeared to be having a chat as she strolled across the gravel with her cell phone in hand Natalie has just returned from a whirlwind week promoting her two upcoming films, Jackie and Planetarium, in Venice, Italy and Toronto, Canada. The Black Swan star received positive views for her role in Jackie, which also won the Toronto Platform Prize. The film - which premieres in December - tells the story of the late Jacqueline Kennedy and her first few days in the White House following her husband John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963. Added extras: She accessorized the look with a stylish pair of silver sunglasses as she stepped upon the rocky pavement in a pair of pink sandals She also promoted her other film, Planetarium, in which she co-stars with Lily-Rose Depp as the two play psychic sisters in pre-war France. Meanwhile, Natalie has yet to comment on her second pregnancy, however, sources have confirmed the news to Us Weekly and E! News. It will be child number two for Natalie and her husband Benjamin Millepied. The couple are also parents to five-year-old son Aleph. She is the busty breakout star of the Bikini A Day swimwear blog. But Devin Brugman happily swapped her bikini for a plunging crop top as she attended a Teen Vogue party in Miami on Saturday. The 26-year-old shared a playful Instagram photo of herself smiling at the camera while enjoying a plate of chips. Scroll down for video 'Everyone on the dance floor and I'm over here like': Swimwear blogger Devin Brugman, 26, swapped her bikini for a plunging crop top at a Teen Vogue party in Miami on Saturday 'Everyone on the dance floor and I'm over here like.... @teenvogue,' she wrote in the caption. Devin completed her look with a pair of high-waisted jeans and a navy silk kaftan. Later that day, she shared another photo taken at the event alongside model Leah McCarthy. Party time! Later that day, she shared another photo with model Leah McCarthy On Monday, Devin flaunted her bronzed gazelle-like legs in a pair of orange bike shorts and a white cropped T-shirt. In the image, taken outside a Beverly Hills boutique, Devin is seen striding toward the camera with her hand brushing away a stray hair. In the caption, she simply wrote: 'Keeping it simple, as always.' 'Keeping it simple, as always': On Monday, Devin flaunted her bronzed gazelle-like legs in a pair of orange bike shorts and a white cropped T-shirt Devin is often spotted at the beach wearing items from her label Monday Swimwear, which she co-founded with Natasha Oakley. The pair rose to fame after launching their blog A Bikini A Day in 2012. The site began as a photo diary but has since developed into lifestyle publication. Sun-seeker: Devin is often spotted at the beach wearing items from her label Monday Swimwear, which she co-founded with Natasha Oakley There's nothing like a little family competition to make a red carpet a little more fun. Whether they planned it or not, Modern Family stars Ariel Winter and Sarah Hyland went head-to-head in a plunging neckline battle on Friday night. The co-stars both dared to bare at the Teen Vogue Young Hollywood party in Malibu, California. Scroll down for video Sister act: Whether they planned it or not, Modern Family stars Ariel Winter and Sarah Hyland went head-to-head in a plunging neckline battle on Friday night at the Teen Vogue Young Hollywood party in Malibu, California The ladies of Modern Family chose different but equally racy looks for the annual event. Ariel is not known for her shyness when it comes to putting her cleavage in display now that she has undergone a breast reduction. The 18-year-old wore a plunging cream and floral corset which dipped well under her bustline. Showing that her cup still runneth over, the star balanced the sexiness by wearing some wide-leg high-waisted silver trousers over the top. Dip it low: Ariel is not known for her shyness when it comes to putting her cleavage in display now that she has undergone a breast reduction Daring tobare: The 18-year-old wore a plunging cream and floral corset which dipped well under her bustline Juggling act: Showing that her cup still runneth over, the star balanced the sexiness by wearing some wide-leg high-waisted silver trousers over the top Posing up on the surfboard decorated carpet, the star seemed in a good mood despite posting angrily to social media just as she arrived. It seems the star is having a bit of trouble with her Mercedes G Wagon - which cost in excess of $100,000. Ariel accused Mercedes of ignoring her and her lawyer, writing on twitter: 'Never get a Mercedes. My car is a lemon and [Mercedes] refuses to do anything about it. Won't even reply to my lawyers for 3 weeks! Worst ever. Not happy: Posing up on the surfboard decorated carpet, the star seemed in a good mood despite posting angrily to social media just as she arrived Lemon? It seems the star is having a bit of trouble with her Mercedes G Wagon - which cost in excess of $100,000. She is seen here with the car last week 'Disappointed in @MBUSA You would assume with the COST of the car, they'd understand the VALUE of customer service.' Her Modern Family co-star meanwhile, also wore a plunging look. Sarah stepped out in a blue satin dress with a low cut neckline that finished near her belly button. Baby blues: Sarah stepped out in a blue satin dress with a low cut neckline and an asymmetrical hemline Family fun: Real life siblings Kaia and Presley Gerber also attended the party Thicker than water: The genetically blessed pair - they are the children of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber - are very close The gown featured an asymmetrical hemline, so the 25-year-old made sure to pose to show off her toned and tanned stems. Real life siblings Kaia and Presley Gerber also attended the party. The genetically blessed pair - they are the children of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber - are very close and posted a snap of themselves hanging out on social media. Too cool for school: Yara Shahidi rocked a chic but casual look feature a cut off denim skirt, a buttoned up white shirt and a green satin letterman jacket Going with the flow: Actress Olivia Holt wore a coral and blue cowl neck dress to the party black-ish star Yara Shahidi took a different approach to red carpet dressing than the Modern Family ladies. The 16-year-old rocked a chic but casual look feature a cut off denim skirt, a buttoned up white shirt and a green satin letterman jacket. She did show off some new hair extensions which she wore in braids that came all the way down to her hips. Babes in black: Also attending the party, was dj/model and Justin Bieber's ex Chantel Jefferies who wore a distressed Givenchy sweatshirt with thigh-high boots Sparkles in her step: She was joined on the red carpet by Hungarian beauty Barbara Palvin, who wore an on-trend slip dress with a pair of embellished boots Also attending the party, was dj/model and Justin Bieber's ex Chantel Jefferies who wore a distressed Givenchy sweatshirt with thigh-high boots. She was joined on the red carpet by Hungarian beauty Barbara Palvin, who wore an on-trend slip dress with a pair of embellished boots. This year's annual event was thrown by Teen Vogue and American Eagle Outfitters. They were recently snapped cuddling up after the TV Choice Awards. But Nick Knowles, 53, has poured cold water on rumours he's dating Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten, 32. The DIY SOS presenter told The Mirror: 'Gemma and I are not dating. We went on a date. The nature of my work means its very difficult to go on a date without everybody making a much bigger deal of it. Scroll down for video 'We're not dating': Nick Knowles, 53, has poured cold water on rumours he's dating Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten, 32 'Shes a lovely girl but Im not in a place at the moment where I am looking to date anybody. Nick split from wife Jessica, 28, with whom he shares two-year-old son Eddie, in January, however the pair remain on good terms. 'I have a relationship with Jessica and we are best friends,' Nick told the publication. 'We are working through things.' Working at it: Nick split from wife Jessica, 28, with whom he shares two-year-old son Eddie, in January, however the pair remain on good terms The couple announced their split with a statement which read: 'It is with sadness that we announce we are separating. Our focus continues to be the happiness of our son Eddie.' They left the UK behind to relocate to a five-bedroom house in Spain in 2014 in an attempt to maintain a healthier lifestyle. Their move to Andalusia came after Nick was left shaken up after rupturing an artery in his sinus that caused heavy bleeding from his nose, mouth and throat, due to stress. Open and honest: Nick said of Gemma: 'Shes a lovely girl but Im not in a place at the moment where I am looking to date anybody' In July, Jessica revealed she was battling cervical cancer and credited her estranged husband with saving her life - as he was the one who made her go to her GP. Meanwhile, Gemma has been a longtime fan of Nick's work on feelgood renovation show DIY SOS. In 2014, she tweeted: '@MrNickKnowles crying still. What strength. So beautiful the selflessness shown & your compassion. Quality and worthy TV. Bravo! #DIYSOS x' He thanked her for her comments and then she wrote: '@MrNickKnowles no probs love, seems an age ago I saw you at ITV. Hope alls well, keep up the grand work Ill buy waterproof mascara! x' Two months after Nick's split from Jessica, she tweeted: '@NickKnowles the work you all do @DIYSOS is phenomenal. Wonderful people. Sat here crying! If I can ever help in any way say the word! X' Channel Seven's new Roger Rogerson telemovie is set to hit Australian screens next year, after previous speculation it would air in late 2016. According to news.com.au, the project, given the working title The High Road during filming 'will now be held back by Seven, which is expected to win the ratings year without it'. Australian actor Richard Roxburgh has undergone an identity transformation to step back into the role of disgraced former Detective Roger Rogerson, who he also played in mini-series Blue Murder in 1995. Scroll down for video Air date: Channel Seven's new Roger Rogerson telemovie starring Richard Roxburgh (L) is set to hit Australian screens next year, after previous speculation it would air in late 2016 The show will follow the recent allegations of Rogerson's ongoing criminal conduct, including the 2014 murder of Jamie Gao, for which Rogerson was sentenced to life in prison earlier this month. In June Roxburgh was fitted with a headpiece while visiting a Sydney salon as he prepared to reprise he character 11 years after the show first aired. He was pictured looking through a script as artists blended his bleached blonde hair to match the 75-year-old criminal's. The series will reportedly leave its former station ABC, and screen on Channel Seven. Transformation: Australian actor Richard Roxburgh has undergone an identity transformation to step back into the role of disgraced former Detective Roger Rogerson, who he also played in mini-series Blue Murder in 1995 - pictured at the 2015 AACTA Awards The 1995 edition of Blue Murder followed the relationship between the controversial former Detective and notorious criminal Arthur 'Neddy' Smith. Starring alongside Roxbourgh in the production back then, were the likes of fellow actors Tony Martin and Steve Bastoni. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Seven for comment. It is believed the upcoming movie will follow the recent allegations of Rogerson's ongoing criminal conduct as well as his 2014 murder arrest. Earlier this month disgraced detectives Rogerson and Glen McNamara were sentenced to life for the murder of Sydney university student Jamie Gao. Previous project: Roxburgh is reprising his role of Rogerson, after the 1995 edition of Blue Murder followed the relationship between the controversial former Detective and notorious criminal Arthur 'Neddy' Smith During the sentencing, Justice Geoffrey Bellew said any sort of suggestion about the value of Mr Gao's life being worth less because he was drug dealer did not 'lessen the gravity of [Rogerson and McNamara's] offending.' Rogerson, 75, and McNamara, 57, were found guilty of murdering Sydney university student Jamie Gao in a drug deal gone wrong in June. Justice Bellew, who described the murder as 'heinous', said the accounts given by the pair during the trial about what happened in the Sydney storage unit where Gao was killed were 'diametrically opposed.' Actor: Roxburgh has also starred in ABC series Rake and Mel Gibson's film Hacksaw Ridge Guilty: Roger Rogerson (L) and Glen McNamara (R) have been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of murdering 20-year-old university student Jamie Gao in 2014 Tragic: Gao was shot twice at a storage unit in Padstow, south west Sydney, in May 2014. He had been lured there by the men for a drug deal This is one of many convictions Rogerson had against his name since starting his career as a Detective in the early 1970s. In 1981 it was reported he was responsible for the shooting death of heroin dealer Warren Lanfranchi. A jury later found he was acting in the line of self-defence. Eight years later, Rogerson was convicted for involvement in drug dealing but it was later overturned on appeal. After being dismissed from the NSW Police Force in 1986, he was convicted of perverting the course of justice in relation to $110,000 deposited by him in bank accounts under a false name. During the early 90s he served nine months in jail before being released on bail pending an appeal which was later unsuccessful, forcing him to spend a further three years behind bars. In 2005 Rogerson and his wife Anne Melocco were convicted of lying to the 1999 Police Integrity Commission and served 12 months in prison. Former Strictly Come Dancing pro Gleb Savchenko believes pal Aljaz Skorjanec's fiancee Janette Manrara is 'prettier' than his dance partner Daisy Lowe. The Dancing With The Stars ace made the statement when asked by the Daily Star about the likelihood of the 'Strictly curse' striking Aljaz and Janette's relationship. He said: 'I know Aljaz and hes an awesome guy. But I dont think Daisy is that pretty. Janette is prettier than her.' Controversial: Former Strictly Come Dancing pro Gleb Savchenko believes pal Aljaz Skorjanec's fiancee Janette Manrara is 'prettier' than his dance partner Daisy Lowe Gleb added Aljaz is completely besotted with his fiancee. Daisy has come under fire for 'cosying up' to the dancer. The pair have been getting on well since beginning show rehearsals, which has made them subject to endless rumours about the 'Strictly curse'. The so-called 'curse' sees a pattern of dancers forming relationships with their celebrity partners - with the likes of boxer Joe Calzaghe, rugby player Ben Cohen and TV presenter Rachel Riley all falling under its spell in past seasons. Daisy has spent plenty of time with Aljaz since the show began, sparking potential romance rumours after the duo attended the GQ Man of the Year Awards and London Fashion Week together. However, Aljaz is happily loved-up with fiancee Janette, and the pair plan to marry next year. Who's best? The Dancing With The Stars ace made the statement when asked by the Daily Star about the likelihood of the 'Strictly curse' striking Aljaz and Janette's relationship Happy couple: Aljaz is happily loved-up with fiancee Janette, and the pair plan to marry next year Janette, who is also a Strictly Come Dancing professional and paired with Melvin Odoom this series, has added in the past that the curse is complete nonsense to her and her hubby-to-be, with the series actually making their bond stronger. She told You magazine earlier this year: Doing Strictly has actually brought us closer together, because we understand the pressure each other is under.' Meanwhile single-lady Daisy has been reportedly dating model Frankie Wade, after they were spotted together on numerous occasions between her rehearsals. Good friends: Daisy has spent plenty of time with Aljaz since the show began, with the duo attending the GQ Man of the Year Awards and London Fashion Week together Yet, Gleb did add that a romance could be developing on the show elsewhere - between Laura Whitmore, 31, and partner Giovanni Pernice. Giovanni recently split from Georgia May Foote, who he dated for almost a year after they were partnered together on last year's Strictly series. However Georgia, who is also a good friend of Irish presenter Laura, has reportedly been upset about their pairing this year, and is concerned that the things will hot up between them. It's back: Strictly kicked off on Friday night, with half of the show's celebs taking to the floor for the first time Dance pro Gleb hinted that this may be the case, adding on his fellow pro Giovanni: 'Hes Italian and hes the guy. Georgia one season, somebody else another season. Thats what it is.' However Georgia, who is about to begin a West End run in Breakfast at Tiffany's, took to her Twitter page earlier this week to dispel any speculation. Wishing them luck on their quest for the glitterball, she wrote to her followers: 'I would just like to wish @TheWhitmore and @pernicegiovann1 good luck. Please do not believe the c**p you read! Shes (sic) a beautiful person.' It's the show that launched a number of legendary romances and also ended a lot of relationships. But Strictly Come Dancing pro Oksana Platero, 27, has admitted her husband has no worries when it comes to her being hit by the infamous 'Strictly curse' with her gay partner Judge Robert Rinder. Speaking to The Sun, the Ukrainian dancer revealed her husband Jonathan, an American choreographer, was relieved when she was partnered with the married legal eagle. Scroll down for video No curse: Strictly Come Dancing pro Oksana Platero, 27, has admitted her husband has no worries when it comes to her being hit by the infamous 'strictly curse' with her gay partner Judge Robert Rinder Opening up about the said 'Strictly curse', Oksana admitted: 'I came across the curse on social media and it has been spoken about.' While the 38-year-old ITV star added: 'The curse would have to be very, very powerful, but you never know.' Having spent time on the US version of the show, Dancing With The Stars, Oskana revealed she understands how sparks fly between pros and their partners - as they find the experience 'a lot more intimate'. She continued: 'Genuinely, when two professional dancers dance they look at it more like work. But when you have a one professional and the other person, who is not a dancer, for that person it feels a lot more intimate and special than for the professional.' Relief: The Ukrainian dancer revealed her husband Jonathan, an American choreographer, was relieved when she was partner with the married legal eagle Romance curses aside, the two made their Strictly debut on the BBC show last night in an high-energy Cha-Cha to Duffy's 2008 hit Mercy. Heating up the dancefloor with their courtroom inspired number, the TV judge got rave reviews for his 'extraordinary' and dynamic attempt at Latin ballroom. Filled with thrills, fancy footwork and a partly shirtless Robert, the couple scored a whopping 25 out of a maximum 40. Darcey Bussell gushed: 'It was extraordinary. That was the wildest surprise Ive ever had. The amount of detail you were able to add was outstanding.' Dynamic: Romance curses aside, the two made their Strictly debut on the BBC show last night in an high-energy Cha-Cha to Duffy's 2008 hit Mercy Heating up the dancerfloor: Filled with thrills, fancy footwork and a partly shirtless Robert, the couple scored a whopping 25 out of a maximum 40 Becoming a fan favourite from the outset, the criminal barrister previously admitted he signed onto the series to impress his grandmother. He told BBC Radio 1: 'The only thing I knew would make my grandmother more proud than watching my TV courtroom was to see me dressed up in white tie doing the Foxtrot. 'So although I suspect the latter will be far more difficult, I am doing Strictly Come Dancing for her.' Before adding: 'No doubt the judges will be as fair, kind and thoughtful as me (especially the charming Craig Revel Horwood). I shall await their verdicts'. They marked three years since finding love on the very first season of The Bachelor last week. And as the pair continue to enjoy their long-term romance, it seems Tim Robards and Anna Heinrich are as smitten as ever. Tim, 35, posted a loved-up snap of the pair as they basked in the sunshine in Sydney on Saturday. Scroll down for video All smiles: Tim Robards and Anna Heinrich appear as smitten as ever in the original Bachelor's latest Instagram post on Saturday 'Got our Saturday morning smiles on!,' the original Bachelor star wrote alongside the photo. Both opted for a casual weekend look, shading their eyes with Ray Ban glasses. Tim sported his trademark beard which was trimmed to perfection as always. Spotlight: Tim previously told Daily Mail Australia about feeling the 'pressure' to propose Anna, 29, wore minimal makeup, letting her long blonde tresses fall over her left shoulder as she flashed a smile for the camera. The couple celebrated their third wedding anniversary last week and each shared agushing post about the other. Anna captioned a beach photo of Tim carrying her: 'Three beautiful, loving and happy years with you @mrtimrobards #happyanniversary #threeyearstoday #loveyou (sic).' 'Get engaged already!' The couple recently celebrated their three-year anniversary, but are yet to tie the knot Chiropractor-turned-fitness guru Tim posted a picture of them in wet suits as they prepared to swim with sharks. 'Relationships are about trust and honesty... thats why I thought it best not to mention what lies beneath... happy 3 yr anniversary babe!!' he captioned the picture. It was speculated Tim would propose when the pair appeared on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! last year. Relaxed: The pair often take to Instagram to share loved-up snaps while jetsetting across the globe Last month, Anna told Today Extra that she faces questions about marriage on a daily basis. 'I really think that I'm used to it right now,' she said. 'I kind of get it. We went on a show and it was love-related. I get why people are interested.' Meanwhile, Tim previously told Daily Mail Australia about feeling the 'pressure' to propose. 'Every photo we put up together, people are like, "When are you getting engaged?"' the 33-year-old said. 'If you want it to be long lasting, don't do what everyone expects you to do and drop to one knee too fast do what feels right for you.' She is famed for her impeccable sense of style. And Olivia Palermo once again did not put a foot out of place, as she made another stylish appearance at Milan Fashion Week on Saturday. The 30-year-old fashionista looked the picture of elegance in a gorgeous pink floral shirt dress as she headed out for another day on the FROW. Scroll down for video Pretty in pink! Olivia Palermo, 30, looked gorgeous in a pink floral shirt dress as she headed out for another day on the FROW at Milan Fashion Week on Saturday The socialite stunned in the pink chiffon frock, which covered with tiny pink flowers arranged in clusters of hearts at the top and stripes on the skirt. The dress was styled like a formal shirt, featuring an elegant collar buttoned to the top and soft, loose sleeves. Cinching in at the waist with a line of delicate black flowers, the pastel number then flowed out into a pleated skirt which fell to just above her ankle, flouncing as she walked. Gorgeous: The dress was styled like a formal shirt, featuring an elegant collar buttoned to the top and soft, loose sleeves Maintaining her effortlessly chic style from head to toe, Olivia dressed her neck with a thin black string choker, which tied underneath her chin, and her face with a pair of incredibly glamorous white-rimmed shades. Upon her feet the wife of model Johannes Huebl wore a pair of extravagant navy velvet sandals, featuring gold piping and lacing at the ankle. Clutching onto her paint-splattered purse, Olivia proved why she has become such a style icon in recent years as she fashionably strutted into her next fashion event. Effortless: Olivia dressed her neck with a thin black string choker, which tied underneath her chin, and her face with a pair of incredibly glamorous white-rimmed shades The blonde beauty has made numerous appearances at the New York, London and Milan Fashion Weeks as one of the industry's well-known style queens. Alongside fellow models and designers, Olivia has taken her place on the front row at the likes of Versace, Paul Smith and Burberry. The star rose to fame on MTV series The City, where she worked in the PR department for fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, before moving to the accessories department at Elle magazine. Final touch: Upon her feet the fashionista wore a pair of navy velvet sandals, featuring gold piping and lacing at the ankle, as she strutted into the event She has since released her own clothing collection for high street retailer Coast, and has been named global style ambassador for Banana Republic. The former reality star has been flying solo at her fashion week appearances, despite her husband Johannes Huebl being a successful model. Olivia married the hunky German, 38, in a small ceremony in New York back in June 2014. Discussing the secret to their happy marriage in an interview with Harper's BAZAAR Australia, she said: 'We try not to ever be separated more than seven days. Its just something we have always done.' Filed for divorce from Brad Pitt, 52, after alleged verbal and physical incident on a trans-Atlantic flight Set to teach at the London School of Economics with Hague this autumn Angelina Jolie has her sights set on relocating to the UK in order to further her political career, according to reports. The A list star, 41, who has filed for divorce from husband Brad Pitt, 52, following an alleged verbal and physical incident on a trans-Atlantic flight, has been open about her desire to bring about change through politics. Ian Halperin, author of Brangelina: The Untold Story of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, told the Daily Star: 'Their relationship has been soured. Theyre rarely in public together. When theyre under the same roof its complete fireworks. Scroll down for video Political aspirations: Angelina Jolie, 41, has her sights set on relocating to the UK in order to further her political career, according to reports 'Shes a woman with an agenda, she wants to leave the United States, she wants to work in the UK, she wants to get in the House of Lords, she has a non-profit foundation there. She has her sights set on England.' MailOnline has contacted a representative for Angelina and is awaiting comment. Angelina is already well-connected to members of the House of Lords, classing former Foreign Secretary William Hague, and foreign policy expert Baroness Arminka Helic, as good friends. Lady Helic, 48, was a Bosnian refugee who arrived in the UK with nothing in 1992 and rose to prominence 14 years later when she was hired by Hague. She introduced the former Conservative Party leader to Angelina in 2012, having watched her 2011 movie In The Land Of Blood And Honey. Grand plan: Ian Halperin, author of Brangelina: The Untold Story of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, described Angelina as a 'woman with an agenda' Ambitious: The A list star has been open about her desire to bring about change through politics She said the film impressed her because of Angelina's understanding of the conflict in Bosnia. The situation there is very complicated, but it was obvious she knew what she was talking about, she said. Angelina attended a screening of the film for officials at the Foreign Office. Afterwards she, Hague, Helic and friend Chloe Dalton discussed the plight of survivors of sexual violence in warfare, and the PSVI or Preventing Sexual Violence In Conflict Initiative was born. The initiative aims to address the culture of impunity around sexual violence in warzones, to hold more perpetrators to account and to raise awareness of the issue. Friends in high places: Angelina is already well-connected to members of the House of Lords, classing foreign policy expert Baroness Arminka Helic (left) as a good friend The actress has also been appointed as a visiting professor at the London School of Economics and will teach a postgraduate program at the university's Centre on Women, Peace and Security with William Hague alter this year. Meanwhile, Brad may not have to worry much longer about the recent allegations of physical abuse that are being investigated by multiple agencies after he and son Maddox got into a fight on the family plane last week, as the argument was caught on video. US Weekly is reporting that cameras at Minnesotas International Falls Airport captured the argument between Maddox and Pitt, which should be a huge help to investigators in the case. It could be an even bigger help to Pitt however as a source who saw the video claims: 'Brad is seen yelling a lot during it, but nothing physical.' Pitt then drove around the tarmac in a fuel truck, but returned to the plane soon after and the group departed for Los Angeles. No truth: Footage taken at at Minnesotas International Falls Airport last week in Minneapolis shows Brad and Maddox fighting, but no physical contact It is still not clear however if that was the extent of the confrontation between the father and son, or if the heated row continued after the plane took back off for Los Angeles. A source close to the actor shot down a report that appeared on TMZ Friday claiming that the confrontation between the Hollywood star and his teenage son escalated to the point that Pitt struck the boy - 'intentionally or inadvertently' - early Friday. 'These claims are exaggerated and fabricated,' a friend of the actor tells DailyMail.com. 'It's unfortunate for the whole family that people are insisting on continuing this endless smear campaign against Brad that hurts everyone. 'They are a solid family with two caring parents and a normal share of verbal disagreements like major households . 'Hopefully people can move on and leave them all alone to work this out.' Ticket to ride: Pitt reportedly drove around the tarmac in this fuel truck at the airport Not having it: The individual also spoke out against Angelina Jolie's allies, accusing them of running an 'endless smear campaign' against Pitt (Jolie and Maddox above in 2015) Family first: 'He is focused on the best interests of the kids right now, that is why he has remained silent despite the smears,' said the friend (Jolie and Pitt above in 2011) Pitt's friend went on to explain that the actor has nothing negative to say about Jolie and continues to have a huge amount of respect for the mother of his children. 'He is focused on the best interests of the kids right now, that is why he has remained silent despite the smears,' his friend explained, adding that Pitt wants his six children to feel good about both their parents. The argument between Pitt and Maddox is still under investigation by both the LA County Department of Children and Family Services and the FBI. THE FINAL DAYS OF BRANGELINA SEPT. 14: The entire Pitt-Jolie family land in Minnesota on trip home from France just before 8pm, where Brad is reportedly seen 'wasted' and yelling on the tarmac, at one point trying to drive off in a fuel truck. The plane then continues on to Los Angeles with Pitt back on-board, and soon after landing an individual contacts the L.A. County Dept. of Children and Family Service to anonymously report that Pitt was 'verbally abusive and physical' with the children on the flight. SEPT. 15: The official separation date listed by Jolie on divorce documents. SEPT. 15 - 18: Jolie goes behind Pitt's back and rents a home in Malibu before filing divorce papers a source close to the couple tells DailyMail.com. SEPT. 17 - 18: Jolie sits Pitt down and tells him she plans to file for divorce. He begs her to wait and promises to undergo more counselling. SEPT. 18: Jolie's brother is seen watching the couple's biological children - 10-year-old Shiloh and 8-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne - at a Los Angeles park. SEPT. 19: Jolie files for divorce in a Los Angeles court, citing irreconcilable differences. SEPT. 20: News of the divorce breaks, along with false reports that Pitt's Allied costar Marion Cotillard had an affair with the actor, which caused the split. Both Jolie and Pitt say in statements that their children are their primary concern at this time and ask for privacy. SEPT. 21: Cotillard releases a statement on Instagram saying that she has never had any sort of relationship with Pitt while also confirming rumors that she and her actor partner Guillaume Canet are expecting their second child. SEPT. 21: Moving vans are seen coming and going from the Pitt-Jolie compound in the Hollywood Hills. SEPT. 22: News breaks that Pitt is being investigated by the FBI and the LA County Department of Children and Family Services after a confrontation with son Maddox on the plane. SEPT. 22: Police are seen arriving at the Pitt-Jolie compound, where Pitt is believed to be staying alone. Advertisement The Los Angeles Police Department made the decision to hand the case over to federal authorities after they were informed of the incident by DCFS because the incident happened in the air and not in a specific jurisdiction. A statement from the FBI said: 'In response to your inquiry regarding allegations within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States; specifically, an aircraft carrying Mr. Brad Pitt and his children, the FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued.' TMZ reported earlier this week that it was an anonymous source who called in the complaint to DCFS, alleging that there was both physical and verbal abuse during a confrontation between Pitt and one of his children. On Thursday morning, a police car was seen arriving at the Jolie-Pitt compound in the Hollywood Hills, where Pitt is believed to be staying while Jolie and the children are at a Malibu rental home. Pitt has hired Lance Spiegel to represent him in the divorce. His previous clients include Charlie Sheen, Eva Longoria and Michael Jackson. It was revealed on Thursday that 15-year-old Maddox, the couple's oldest son, was the child involved in the confrontation. Maddox was adopted by Jolie from Cambodia when he was only a few months old back in 2002 - while she was still married to Billy Bob Thornton. Jolie and Thornton split just three months later and divorced the following year, with Thornton never legally adopting the boy. The actress and Pitt then began dating sometime around 2004 or 2005, and in 2006 Pitt adopted both Maddox and his little sister Zahara. A colleague of the couple tells Access Hollywood that while Jolie wants the children to have a relationship with Pitt, there are no plans for visitation between the six kids and their father at this time. TMZ reports that Pitt will be seeking joint custody. And while the divorce did not come as a surprise to Pitt, he was thrown off by the time according to those close to the actor. 'He was appealing to her to do this quietly not to save the marriage but to consider the well-being of the children and it was ignored,' a source close to the actor told People. The source added: 'There was clearly a breaking point, where she'd just had enough. He may have been broken himself and said he couldn't go on, and she reacted. This has been difficult for a while.' A source close to Jolie meanwhile said: 'Things built and built over time it wasn't any one thing. 'She's loved this man for several years, and [divorce] is not something you do impulsively.' That source said that in the end Jolie did 'what she needed to do.' Baby mama: Maddox was adopted by Jolie from Cambodia when he was only a few months old back in 2002 - while she was still married to Billy Bob Thornton (Jolie above in 2014) New dad: Pitt adopted both Maddox and his little sister Zahara in 2006 (Jolie, Maddox and Pitt above in 2006) Not over: The LA County Department of Children and Family Services and the FBI are both investigating the airplane incident (Pitt and Maddox above in 2013) The Jolie source added however: 'They have six kids together and are always going to be in each other's lives.' Jolie did not respond to a request for comment while a spokesperson for Pitt reiterated the actor's statement from earlier in the week in which he said: 'I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the well being of our kids. I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time.' Both sides have been adamant that there was no extramarital affair and that both are committed to their children, despite false reports that Pitt had engaged in a relationship with his Allied costar Marion Cotillard. On Wednesday, Cotillard revealed that she is pregnant with her second child and vehemently denied having an affair with Pitt. Cotillard, 40, wrote a lengthy Instagram message to make the announcement and to dispel rumors on Wednesday before confirming that her partner of eight years Guillaume Canet is the father of her unborn child. 'This is going to be my first and only reaction to the whirlwind news that broke 24 hours ago and that I was swept up into,' the actress said in her post. 'I am not used to commenting on things like this nor taking them seriously,' she continued, 'but as this situation is spiraling and affecting people I love, I have to speak up.' She concluded her message by wishing Brad and Angelina Jolie well. 'Finally, I do very much wish that Angelina and Brad, both whom I deeply respect, will find peace in this very tumultuous moment. With all my love, Marion.' On the scene: Police were seen arriving to Pitt's home in the Hollywood Hills on Thursday (above) Moving out: A moving van was also seen at the property on Thursday (above) Her well wishes come despite a source telling DailyMail.com that Jolie was so jealous of Cotillard on the Allied set that she would not even speak to the French star. Angelina completely ignored Marion on the set, and when Marion tried to talk to her she just looked the other way,' said the source, who is close to both Jolie and Pitt. 'Marion was devastated, here she is thinking she is going to meet this great UN ambassador and instead Angelina refuses to speak to the woman because of her own jealousy.' Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt on Monday for 'the health of her family', two years after they wed at their French estate Chateau Miraval. The actress filed papers citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split and asked for physical custody of the couple's three biological children as well as their three adopted children - Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, and Zahara, 11. Pitt is said to have been furious over Jolie's appointment of Arminka Helic, 48, and Chloe Dalton, 37, two former political aides to British politician William Hague. A source told the Sun they were brought in to help with her campaign work and speech writing and urged Pitt to reduce the couple's support staff. 'Brad sees the women as a coven. He was furious at some of Arminka's decisions,' the source said. The decisions are said to have included ditching Pitt's security team - some of whom had worked for the star for 20 years. Lady Helic is seen as a key person on 'Team Angie' as the actress braces herself for the aftermath of her decision to divorce Pitt. A source told Daily Mail's Alison Boshoff that Lady Helic is 'smart, strong, and impeccably loyal', adding that she is Angelina's 'assistant, adviser and best friend'. Angelina watched Lady Helic be admitted to the House of Lords in 2014. They often travel together; recent trips include a visit to the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands and one to Burma at election time last summer. She said goodbye to her American Idol role in April. Yet Jennifer Lopez hasn't kept away from the small screen for long as she was spotted filming scenes for her show Shade Of Blue in Harlem, New York on Friday. The 47-year-old actress - who plays New York police officer Harlee Santos in the series - was seen shooting scenes late into the night for the second season of the hit NBC crime drama. Scroll down for video Back on the small screen: Jennifer Lopez was spotted filming scenes for Shade Of Blue in Harlem, New York on Friday Channelling her inner tough girl, The Ice Age: Collision Course star slipped into a thin striped cream and beige blouse - hinting at a touch of her ample assets as she pointed a gun at someone off screen. While she paired her navy blazer with beige high-waisted slacks as she flashed her FBI badge during the tense scene. Forgoing her usual glamorous looks, the beauty, who's also a producer on the programme, styled her brunette tresses into a curly perm inspired chin length 'do. Tough: The 47-year-old actress - who plays New York police officer Harlee Santos in the show - was seen shooting scenes late into the night for the second season of the hit NBC crime drama Filming the second season of the hit show, Shades Of Blue follows Lopez's character Harlee Santos, a single mother, who is forced to work in the FBI's anti-corruption task force whilst dealing with her own financial problems to protect her daughter Cristina. Lopez was nominated for Choice TV Actress: Drama at the Teen Choice Awards in July for her turn as Santos but ultimately lost to Ashley Benson for Pretty Little Liars. Shades of Blue's first premiered in January and was renewed for a second series in February. On set: The Ice Age: Collision Course star slipped into a thin striped cream and beige blouse - hinting at a touch of her ample assets as she pointed a gun at someone off screen In June, the Bronx native sat down with Deadline to discuss the programme, and lamented on her feelings for the acting profession. She explained: 'I always saw myself as an actress who danced and sang and had those talents as well, and I made my records later in my career. 'I didn't make my first record until I was almost 30. So the acting was always the first thing.' Hit show: Shades Of Blue follows Lopez's character Harlee Santos, a single mother, who is forced to work in the FBI's anti-corruption task force to protect her daughter Cristina Award worthy: Lopez was nominated for Choice TV Actress: Drama at the Teen Choice Awards in July for her turn as Santos but ultimately lost to Ashley Benson for Pretty Little Liars Jennifer also revealed that she initially planned only to produce alongside Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas rather than be the show's star. 'When we went into NBC and pitched it,' she said, 'they loved the whole idea, and they were like, "Youre not playing this role?" [NBC chairman] Bob Greenblatt said to me, "You play this role, well do it right now."' The cop drama also stars renowned actor Ray Liotta and Sons of Anarchy actress Drea de Matteo. She's reportedly been spending plenty of time with her ex-flame while her husband serves time behind bars. But it seems Saturday was a family occasion for public relations queen Roxy Jacenko. The Sweaty Betty founder shared a snap of herself and her two young children in her latest trademark elevator selfie. Scroll down for video Non-stop conversation! Roxy Jacenko shared a snap of herself and her two young children in her latest trademark elevator selfie As she took the photo, her two-year-old son Hunter and Pixie, five, appeared in another world, fixated on their iPads. 'The conversation is non stop,' the 37-year-old joked in the caption. The mother-of-two had her recently styled tresses on display, parted at the middle left to fall over her shoulders. Moved on? Roxy has been catching up with her ex-boyfriend, millionaire property developer Nabil Gazal, while her husband, Oliver Curtis, spends time in jail Her followers were clearly impressed with her latest post, which amassed more than 1,500 likes within an hour. Meanwhile, she has reportedly been seeing her ex-boyfriend, millionaire property developer Nabil Gazal, while her husband, Oliver Curtis, spends time in jail. They have been spotted having dinner together in Sydney and 'appeared relaxed with each other', according to The Sydney Morning Herald. Nabil has been described as one of Roxy's more 'serious' past boyfriends and they have been quite open about their meetings, it is claimed. Reigniting an old flame? Nabil (pictured in 2014) has been described as one of Roxy's more 'serious' past boyfriends and they have been quite open about their meetings Happier times:Roxy and Oliver share two children, Pixie, five, and Hunter, two, who Roxy admits are 'struggling' with Oliver being in jail In June, Roxy's husband was sentenced to two years jail in NSW Supreme Court, following his insider trading conviction. One month later, the mother-of-two revealed that she had found a lump on her left breast and she recently underwent breast cancer surgery. Roxy had surgery to remove the 10mm tumour in her chest earlier this month, allowing 60 Minutes to film the procedure and air the scene in their recent tell-all interview. Roxy's husband Oliver is serving a two-year sentence in Cooma Prison after he was found guilty of insider trading Advertisement They have been taking the New York, London and Milan Fashion Weeks by storm. And it seems there is no stopping sister act Bella and Gigi Hadid, as they made yet another powerful catwalk appearance on Saturday at the Bottega Veneta SS17 showcase in Milan - which celebrated 50 years of the brand's success with a classic and timeless collection. Taking the lead the blonde, 21, caught the attention of all as she strutted her stuff on the catwalk in a striking utility-style co-ord of pastel pink. Scroll down for video Sister, sister: It seems there is no stopping sister act Bella and Gigi Hadid, as they made yet another powerful catwalk appearance on Saturday at the Bottega Veneta SS17 showcase in Milan Pretty in pink: Taking the lead the blonde, 21, caught the attention of all as she strutted her stuff on the catwalk in a striking utility-style co-ord of pastel pink The girlfriend of Zayn Malik stunned on the catwalk in the utility-style set, formed of an unconventional overall top and loose-fitting trousers. The blouse featured a front panel fastened onto the collar in a high-neck style, which was then left open on one side of her chest to flash a sexy glimpse of skin. Lined with buttons across her shoulders and above her bold black belt, the baggier outfit still managed to define her incredible model frame and show off her enviably petite waist. Gigi scrunched up the sleeves of the outfit in her usual effortlessly cool style, to match the messily rolled up cuffs of the trousers. Stunning: Her make-up was styled completely neutrally with bronzed skin and subtle metallic eyeshadow, accentuating her naturally beautiful features Her honey-coloured tresses were slicked into a sleek and straight style, with her crown fastened back with a shimmering diamante hair clip, injecting a hint of glamour into the bolder, more masculine look. She matched the elaborate fastening with a pair of silver drop down earrings, featuring an intricate flower at the bottom. Her make-up was styled completely neutrally with bronzed skin and subtle metallic eyeshadow, accentuating her naturally beautiful features. Adding a pair of chunky black wedges with an ankle strap, Gigi powered down the runway - first alone, and then in the arms of actress Lauren Hutton, dressed in a co-ordinating camel trench coat. Model material: Taking the lead the brunette, 19, caught the attention of all as she strutted her stuff on the catwalk in a sexy black bralet underneath a sleek chocolate brown leather jacket Making a statement: The ribbed bra top cut daringly low across her chest and was of super short length, flashing her toned abs above the tapered black strides Her sister Bella, 19, down the catwalk after her sister in a black knitted bralet and high-waisted trousers, perfectly accentuating her slender model physique to all. The ribbed bra top cut daringly low across her chest and was of super short length, flashing her toned abs above the tapered black strides. The black trousers featured a thin belt to cinch in at her waist, before cuffing just above the ankle to elongate her already leggy frame. Upping the glamour the look was then layered with a classic crocodile brown leather jacket, perfectly tailored with smooth and sharp edges, and featuring a more intricate collar. Knockout: Upping the glamour the look was then layered with a classic crocodile brown leather jacket, perfectly tailored with smooth and sharp edges, and featuring a more intricate collar Her hair and make-up was styled like her sister's, clearly enhancing her striking and defined cheekbones and proving that good genes run in the family. Also sporting serious bling, Bella's earrings were different in each ear - with a large blue crystal drop earring glimmering under the light in one ear, while the other was a shorter, silver accessory to give her look an edge. The brunette displayed her perfectly refined walk in a pair of yellow and white brogue heels, adding a splash of colour and a slight vintage feel to the classic look. Double trouble: Adding a pair of chunky black heels with an ankle strap, Gigi powered down the runway - first alone, and then in the arms of actress Lauren Hutton Through the generations: Gigi and Lauren co-ordinated, with the actress in a camel trench coat of similar utility style, to celebrate 50 years of the fashion house's success Both sporting bold semi-sheer blouses, models Adriana Lima and Irina Shayk took to the runway next, partially exposed their cleavage during their memorable catwalk appearances. Brazilian model Adriana wowed in the ribbed blouse and ruffled skirt, featuring a black waist belt as well as a chunky leather fastening across her hips. She accentuated her sharply defined cheekbones with tastefully contoured make-up, while her hair was effortlessly maintained with a simple side parting. Here come the girls: Models Adriana Lima and Irina Shayk then took the runway in very similar ribbed and sheer blouses Stunning: Russian beauty Irina seemingly sported the same blouse as Adriana, but left it further open to saucily flash her bust Meanwhile Russian beauty Irina seemingly sported the same blouse, but left it further open to saucily flash her bust. Her skirt saw the ribbed sheer panels from the blouse extend down through the middle, meeting an array of black studded gems on the bottom, for a more feminine feel. While Irina's chest was left bare to amp up the sex appeal, Adriana dressed her neck with a lavish silver necklace to match the diamond-encrusted earrings. Clearly a star-studded affair, Eva Herzigova then slipped into a chic black boiler suit as she walked next at the coveted fashion event on Saturday. One after the other! Clearly a star-studded affair, Eva Herzigova then slipped into a chic black boiler suit as she walked next at the coveted fashion event on Saturday The minimal look boasted rolled up cuffs - displaying the blonde beauty's black denier pop-socks as she worked her infamous walk in a patent leather heeled brogue. Going expressionless down the catwalk, the Vogue covergirl, 43, worked her golden chin-length locks slicked of her face in a deep centre parting. Not finished there, Eva swept her tresses behind her ears - teasing her mane into a soft curl to display her statement drop amethyst earrings. Accentuating her eyes, the model-turned-actress applied a warm brown shadow under her waterline as she added lashings of mascara to her lashes. Striking: Accentuating her eyes, the model-turned-actress applied a warm brown shadow under her waterline as she added lashings of mascara to her lashes Girl power: Joan Smalls and Karen Elson then joined the troupe in more colourful looks Joan Smalls and Karen Elson joined the fray - adding a splash of colour to the catwalk with their ensembles. Joan made her glamorous appearance in a knitted dress of lime green and pale blue hue, decorated with varying black stripes on the skirt and shoulders. The dress cascaded into a soft skirt as she walked down the stony runway in matching black wedge heels to Gigi's. Colour pop! Joan made her glamorous appearance in a knitted dress of lime green and pale blue hue, decorated with varying black stripes on the skirt and shoulders Sexy: Both rocking open necklines, Joan and Karen showed off their enviably smooth and glowing skin Plunging low into a V neckline, the frock allured at her assets and left a hint of her famously gorgeous and glowing skin on show. 28-year-old Joan accessorised her look with a retro multi-coloured handbag on a chunky silver chain, channeling the collection's old school feel. Meanwhile redhead Karen Elson matched her fiery locks in a vibrant red ribbed top and high-shine clashing orange paperbag-style skirt. Quirky: Mixing the utility feel with the feminine, another model walked the catwalk in a mustard coat dress and bold red wedge heels Shades of black: One model sported a pair of funky mirrored cat-eye with her outfit Ready to go! The models looked in good spirits backstage before they got their game faces on for the task ahead Famous faces: Edie Campbell strutted her stuff in a burgundy boiler suit, alongside other high-shine vintage ensembles Let's do this! The models laughed and posed together as they prepared for their Bottega Veneta debut The show was met with rapturous applause once the last model had walked, with creative director of the brand Tomas Maier walking out to thank the crowds. It was undoubtedly an exceptionally proud moment for the designer, who celebrates his fifteenth year at the comapny but also 50 years of the brand with the 2016 showcase in Milan. Earlier in the day supermodel siblings Bella and Gigi put on an equally couture display as they arrived at the photocall for the show. Man of the moment: The show was met with rapturous applause once the last model had walked, with creative director of the brand Tomas Maier walking out to thank the crowds Gigi flashed her taut and toned tum in an unusual high-neck top, which cut out and laced up saucily from the breast down. Pairing the chrome jumper with leather trousers, the beauty showed off her slim legs in a more casual manner as she headed to show, looking just as glam off the catwalk as she does on. Meanwhile sister Bella co-ordinated the silver and black tones of her sis in a cropped silver jumper of foil-effect, featuring a zip at her bust. Shine bright like a Hadid: Earlier in the day supermodel siblings Bella and Gigi put on an equally couture display as they arrived at the photocall for the show VIP: Anna Wintour arrived at the show in her usual glamorous style, dressed in a suede sleeveless shift dress and her signature dark sunglasses Flashing her midriff, the younger Hadid paired it with a super-short black bodycon skirt, leaving her equally tanned and toned pins on parade. Dressing her face with sunglasses and a choker adorned with a cross, the brunette looked casual but incredibly cool as she made her way to the big Milan event. Not only a high-profile affair on the catwalk, the show was attended by a host of well known guests too. Anna Wintour arrived at the show in her usual glamorous style, dressed in a suede sleeveless shift dress and her signature dark sunglasses. A-List: Actresses Andie MacDowell and Marisa Tomei were some of the elite members of the crowds The Vogue editor-in-chief perfectly demonstrated her natural fashionable flair as she clashed the burgundy and white floral print of her dress with a bejewelled amethyst necklace, but to chic effect. Meanwhile actress and model Andie MacDowell took her place on the FROW for the event in a chic grey and brown checked dress. Cinching in at the waist with a belt, much like the collection, the skirt then skimmed her frame to her mid-calf in a classic A-line style. Keeping make-up minimal and leaving her curls loose, the actress looked far younger than her 58 years and simply radiant as she took her seat. Still got it: Actress and model Andie, 58, looked incredible in a brown and grey checked dress with an A-line skirt He was saddened by the news his daughter Angelina Jolie had filed for divorce from Brad Pitt. But Jon Voight, 77, had a smile on his face as he left Madeo restaurant in Hollywood on Saturday. The Ray Donovan star dressed in a dapper fashion, wearing a dark grey jacket open over a pale shirt, which he matched with dark trousers and black shoes. Scroll down for video Cheery: Jon Voight, 77, had a smile on his face as he left Madeo restaurant in Hollywood on Saturday The Oscar-winner looked relaxed as he left the eatery with his hands tucked in his pockets. He walked with his trademark swagger and looked younger than his years. Jon was cautious with his words when asked about the dramatic split by TMZ following his meal. When asked how Angelina was doing, he said: 'I'm sure she's doing fine,' suggesting he hasn't spoken to her since the split. Swagger: The Ray Donovan star dressed in a dapper fashion, wearing a dark grey jacket open over a pale shirt, which he matched with dark trousers and black shoes He added: 'Listen, I'm concerned about anyone who's going through tough times... for the family and for the kids.' The actor was asked whether he had anything to say to Angelina, but he wasn't prepared to give anymore, replying: 'No, no guys. That's it.' He was slightly more forthcoming when previously speaking to Inside Edition about the drama, saying: 'Its very sad. Something very serious must have happened for Angie to make a decision like this.' Peekaboo! Jon raised his jacket over his face and peered towards the cameras 'I dont know what it is. Say a little prayer. 'I am concerned for Angie and the children and hopefully I will be seeing them very soon,' he said. He was also caught on camera as he drove through the streets of Los Angeles, where he stopped to share his reaction to the news. Jon and Angelina famously reconciled in 2010 following a rift that left them estranged for nearly a decade. Better now: Jon and Angelina, pictured in Hollywood in 2011, famously reconciled in 2010 following a rift that left them estranged for nearly a decade Come here: The father-daughter duo embraced each other While the actor was not invited to the couple's wedding in France in 2014, Jon expressed elation that Brad was officially a member of the family following the nuptials. 'I'm very happy that I can legitimately call him my son-in-law, this wonderful fellow who I love,' Jon said during an interview with Good Morning Britain, adding he was not disappointed he had not been invited to the nuptials. 'The children have been bugging them for a long time to get married and the time was right.' Family matters: Jolie's father wrapped an arm around her shoulders as they posed together at the Vanity Fair Oscar party in 2001 Flashback: The Mr. and Mrs. Smith star wore a shimmering white gown as she attended the Golden Globes Paramount party in 1998 with Voight Family matters: Voight said he was 'concerned' for his daughter and her children during his interview; Angelina pictured with Brad and their children Pax, Zahara, Knox, Shiloh, and Maddox at the 2014 premiere of Maleficent Jon and Angelina famously had a falling out in 2002 after the actor told Access Hollywood that his daughter had 'serious mental problems' and pleaded with her to seek help. In turn, she criticised him for having an affair behind her late mother, Marcheline Bertrand's, back. Despite reconciling in 2010, Jon did not attend her 2014 wedding to Brad Pitt and she is also said to have decided not to tell him about her preventative double mastectomy in May 2013. Shock split: Jolie and Pitt's divorce seemed to come out of nowhere (pictured in 2014 in London) 'Priorities': Susan Sarandon weighed in on the subject with a tweet which drew attention to the fatal shooting of unarmed Terence Crutcher Voight later revealed that the reconciliation occurred after he was struck by an emotional epiphany, leading the Oscar-winner to change his attitude 'in a moment'. Stars reacted online to the shocking news that Angelina had filed for divorce from Brad after tying the knot in 2014 after a decade of being together. Susan Sarandon weighed in on the subject with a tweet which drew attention to the fatal shooting of unarmed Terence Crutcher. It's a joke, right? Questlove expressed his disbelief that the marriage was over by tweeting, 'Surely the Onion hacked @TMZ' What about America? Josh Gad joked that the couple's relationship was keeping 'USA together' 'It's over': Patton Oswalt remarked he was hurrying towards his basement in light of all the Twitter trends Moving on: Chrissy Teigen joked, 'How am I supposed to go to work today?' The actress shared a screenshot of CNN as it broke the news of the couple's divorce. '@CNN Priorities. #TerrenceCrutcher,' she wrote in the caption. Questlove expressed his disbelief that the marriage was over by tweeting, 'Surely the Onion hacked @TMZ.' Say it ain't so: Dominic Monaghan broke the news to his followers Disbelief: NeNe Leakes seemed truly surprised as she wondered what caused the break-up Staying out of it: Boy George said the split was 'sad' but told fans 'it's also none of our business' Josh Gad joked that the couple's relationship was 'possibly the only thing still holding the USA together.' Patton Oswalt remarked he was hurrying towards his basement in light of all the Twitter trends. NeNe Leakes seemed truly surprised as she wondered what caused the break-up. Chrissy Teigen joked on Twitter, 'How am I supposed to go to work today?' His two cents: Spencer Pratt wrote he 'felt bad for kids that aren't gonna get adopted by' the couple Back on the market! Brandi Glanville reminded everyone that the actor was single Weighing in: DailyMail.com Editor-at-Large Piers Morgan said he blamed presidential candidate Donald Trump Funny man: Seth Meyers posted a short video to his Twitter page about it Pretty Little Liars: Keegan Allen poked fun at the situation comparing it to him and his character on the ABC show Elsa Pataky recently gushed over a tranquil hair salon, that is located in the middle of a forest. And the stylist behind the Spanish actress' enviably luscious locks says one of the reasons that her clients are drawn to the 'humble' Byron Bay hair parlour, is that they get to unwind in a secluded environment, while listing to 'the sound of birds in the bush.' 'The tranquil setting allows my clients to come relax and unwind in the beautiful Byron county side to the sound of birds in the bush,' owner Bree Avalon told Daily Mail Australia this week. Tranquil environement: Elsa Pataky, 40, revealed the secluded Byron Bay hair salon behind her silky blonde mane in an Instagram post last week and the owner, Bree Avalon, opened up about the business that she set up in the middle of a forest She added: 'My humble salon is set up in the foyer of our home in the Byron bay hinterland which, originally, in 1922 was the old Myocum school house ... [it's] a natural, comfortable environment.' Located seemingly in the middle of nowhere, photos of Bree's salon reveal its green surrounding and picturesque views of the beachside tourist hot spot. Last week, 40-year-old Fast and The Furious star Elsa gushed about Bree's salon on Instagram. 'The tranquil setting allows my clients to come relax and unwind in the beautiful Byron county side to the sound of birds in the bush,' owner Bree Avalon told Daily Mail Australia this week The great outdoors: 'My humble salon is set up in the foyer of our home in the Byron bay hinterland which, originally, in 1922 was the old Myocum school house ... [it's] a natural, comfortable environment,' said Bree Unique: Elsa is among a long list of clients who frequent Bree's Byron Bay salon What a view! Clients like Elsa no doubt enjoy this stunning view from the salon Free spirit: Elsa's stylist has been in the industry for 19 years 'Arriving to my hairstylist to do my Color, best salon in the world just in the middle of the forest, me and breezycosmicavalon,' she wrote, tagging the stylist in her post. Writing in her native Spanish, Elsa also told her 970,000 followers that she enjoys being 'surrounded by nature just me and @ breezycosmicavalon' while she gets her hair done. The stunning wife of actor Chris Hemsworth, who shares three children with the 33-year-old Thor star, is often spotted around Byron Bay, where she lives with him and their three children. Stunning: The Spanish actress is rarely seen without a hair in place on the red carpet Earlier this year, Chris explained why he and Elsa left Hollywood to raise daughter India, four, and 18-month-old twin sons Tristan and Sasha in Australia. 'It's no longer all about me, which is quite refreshing,' he told Modern Luxury magazine. 'Acting is the most self-absorbed world, where you are thinking about your feelings. Once the kids arrived, I was like, 'Wow, this is what life is about.'' Adapting: A keen beach-goer, Elsa recently shared this cheeky snap of herself before a surfing session Love birds: Elsa and Chris Hemsworth are often pictured elaxing in Byron Bay He continued: 'L.A. is a tough place to get around with kids. There's not a whole lot of foot traffic. It was all about loading up the car and car seats,' he explained. 'We were living shoulder to shoulder in the suburbs and thought that's not how we want our kids to grow up.' Elsa, who was born in Madrid, wed Australian actor Chris in a private ceremony in 2010. Content: Elsa and Chris previously left Hollywood to raise their three children in Australia In a blog post for Spain's Glamour magazine, Elsa said their new home on the east coast of Australia is 'special' and that her style has been influenced by her new surroundings. 'As there is a tropical climate and a hippie lifestyle, you often see people walking barefoot on the street,' she said. 'I was quite surprised at first, but now even I walk barefoot sometimes!' She has modelled for the likes of Chanel, Prada and Louis Vuitton. And Barbara Palvin certainly proved why she is the new 'It' girl of the fashion world on Friday, as she made a show-stopping appearance at the 14th Annual Teen Vogue Young Hollywood party in Malibu. The 22-year-old looked absolutely sensational in an all-black ensemble of a chic slip dress and trendy denim jacket, as she partied with her friends at the bash. Scroll down for video All black everything! Barbara Palvin, 22, looked absolutely sensational in a sexy slip dress as she appeared at the 14th Annual Teen Vogue Young Hollywood in Malibu on Friday The Hungarian beauty displayed her envy-inducing legs for all to see in the little silk number, which featured barely-there spaghetti straps. Slipping down slightly due to its light, thin material, the frock flashed a hint of her saucy sheer lace bra underneath. Toning down the sexy look the brunette layered a chunky black denim jacket on top, which she let casually hang off one shoulder in her usual effortless style. Show-stopping: The Hungarian beauty displayed her envy-inducing legs for all to see in the little silk number, which featured barely-there spaghetti straps Amping up the glamour however the model, who was discovered when she was just 13, paired her look with glitzy black Chelsea boots, completely covered in sparkling black gems. Reflecting her youthful flair for fashion, Barbara accessorised with a chic black velvet choker to keep the look very on trend. The delicate beauty swept her hair into a messy top knot, enhancing the outfit's effortless style but also showing off her naturally stunning facial features for all to see. Bit of glitz: Amping up the glamour however the model paired her look with embellished black Chelsea boots, completely covered in sparkling black gems Natural beauty: The delicate beauty swept her hair into a messy top knot, which enhanced the outfit's effortless style as well as her naturally stunning facial features The European stunner posed alongside pal Chantel Jeffries - Justin Bieber's ex girlfriend - who opted for the quirkier outfit of an oversized jumper and knee-high boots. Barbara looked like she was having a ball at the Teen Vogue bash, celebrating the annual 'Young Hollywood' issue - which sees the magazine pick their breakthrough stars for the year. Last year's list featured Patrick Schwarzenegger, who has gone on to become a successful model. Glamorous: The European stunner posed alongside pal Chantel Jeffries - Justin Bieber's ex girlfriend - who opted for the quirkier outfit of an oversized jumper and knee-high boots The model attended the event with friends only, clearly staying away from boy drama after her recent fling with Lewis Hamilton. Formula 1 ace Lewis was first linked to Barbara in May, following rumours they fell for each other during the Cannes Film Festival. Yet during New York Fashion Week, Lewis was romantically linked to fellow model Winnie Harlow - partying with her until 5am just one day before Barbara was spotted leaving his hotel. However a representative for Lewis has since insisted that the two are just 'good friends'. They have been dating for almost two years. But Sam Faiers and her boyfriend Paul Knightley looked more loved-up than ever on Friday, as they enjoyed a romantic beach day in Sardinia, Italy with their sweet son Paul. The former TOWIE star, 25, showed off her impressive physique in a snakeskin bikini as she enjoyed a relaxing day on the sands with her two boys - indulging in endless kisses and cuddles with her main man. Scroll down for video Bikini babe! Sam Faiers, 25, showed off her impressive physique in a snakeskin bikini as she enjoyed a relaxing day on the beach in Sardinia with her two Pauls Loved-up as ever: Sam and her boyfriend Paul were not afraid to indulge in a little PDA as they kissed and cuddled on the sun lounger during their break away The blonde beauty displayed her impressive physique for all to see as she paraded on the beach in the skimpy swimwear. Wearing nothing but the two-piece, Sam showed off her enviably defined abs and flat stomach as a mother-of-one, while she soaked up the Italian rays. Featuring a plunging neckline and thin halterneck straps, the snakeskin top showcased her plentiful assets, while the matching bottoms cut high up her behind to flash her peachy derriere. Hot mama: The blonde beauty displayed her impressive physique for all to see as she paraded on the beach in the skimpy swimwear Gym bunny: Wearing nothing but the two-piece, Sam showed off her enviably defined abs and flat stomach as a mother-of-one What a pair! Featuring a plunging neckline and thin halterneck straps, the snakeskin top showcased her plentiful assets Never without a hint of Essex glamour, the bikini featured gold embellishment on the hips and straps, which shimmered under the blazing sunshine. Sweeping her hair into a loose top knot, the reality star showed off her natural beauty and sun-kissed glow as she spent some quality time with her little family. The Essex-born blonde paddled in the crystal water for a while before her baby son Paul, who is almost one, and his father joined her in the sea. Summer love: Sam and Paul indulged in a romantic cuddle on their sunbed Loved-up: The new parents enjoyed an intimate smooch away from parenting on their relaxing break Playful: Paul appeared to fool around with his long-term girlfriend as Sam lay on top of him Feel the burn: Paul playfully pulled Sam's head into his musclebound chest Eskimo kisses: The pair affectionately rubbed noses as they reclined on sun loungers Cop a feel: The pair ran their hands over each other's faces in the sunshine Cheerful: The couple seemed in great spirits on the day out The happy couple played with their son in the sea, who giggled and gurgled in adorable delight. Having tired from splashing, their youngster then settled on the sand to explore, crawling along the shore and laughing as he was chased by his father. The clan then headed back to their sunbeds for some respite after all the activity, where Sam and Paul indulged in a romantic cuddle. Happy family: The Essex-born blonde paddled in the crystal water for a while before her baby son Paul, who is almost one, and his father joined her in the sea Let's go swimming! Baby Paul couldn't contain his excitement as he hit the water Cute: The happy couple played with their son in the sea, who giggled and gurgled in adorable delight Tip top shape: Sam looked incredibly toned as a new mother The boutique owner positioned herself on top of her beau of two years, where he affectionately caressed and kissed her. The idyllic Sardinia trip marks the second holiday in the space of a month for Sam, who enjoyed a getaway with her mum Sue, sister Billie and her little girl Nellie only days before. It was on the trip that Billie announced on Instagram that she was expecting her second child with her fiance Greg Shepherd. Where is he?! Sam looked every inch the doting mother as she grinned when her son enjoyed a splash Let's go to the beach: Baby Paul looked delighted as he played in the wet sand Big boy: Paul practised his swimming skills with his father's help, giggling and gurgling in delight Time off: Sam retired to her sunbed to top up her tan The pair shared the news in a sweet snap in which they cosied together while Nelly pointed at her mum's stomach with the caption: 'And then there were four.' Sam is evidently enjoying some downtime with her family before her busy schedule kicks off - with her new ITVBe series The Mummy Diaries set to debut on screens later this year. The new reality show will document 25-year-old Sam's journey into motherhood, following through to the first chapter of the life of her baby Paul Jr, born in December. In love: Sam gave birth to her son in December, and has been besotted ever since Worn out: The clan then headed back to their sunbeds for some respite after all the activity The show also plans to show his first family holiday in Spain, his christening and his first word. However, it has been reported that Sam's beau Paul is reluctant to appear on the former TOWIE star's new TV project. A source said Paul is refusing to take part in the show following criticism of the affectionate moment in the one-off special earlier this year. Chilling: Sam enjoyed her time off with her family, before her new ITV2 reality series The Mummy Diaries debuts later this year New beginnings: Sam anticipates the start of her new series, which will depict her journey to motherhood with first child Paul Inside look: The show also plans to show his first family holiday in Spain, his christening and his first word The insider told The Sun: 'At the moment he is dead against taking part but bosses are still hoping he can be persuaded to make a few appearances to whip up some interest.' Paul made his TV debut on The Baby Diaries back in February, which immediately divided fans. Many branded him 'controlling' and a 'man child', while others criticised him for refusing to move in with Sam when she was six months pregnant and falling asleep during pre-natal classes. Trouble in paradise? However, it has been reported that Sam's beau Paul is reluctant to appear on the former TOWIE star's new TV project Sam's hubby was also seen locking lips with his mother Gaynor after a deep chat on the sofa, which many deemed was an over-expressive display of mother and son affection. Quick to stand by her man amidst the backlash however, Sam defiantly took to Instagram to post a photo of her kissing her little boy Paul on the lips. Sam's sister Billie however, will make regular appearances on the show, having left TOWIE this season. Ignoring haters: Paul seemed in good spirits despite the impending show as he spent the day playing in the sun Holiday spirit: Sam looked utterly relaxed as she chatted with a friend beside her family Talking of her departure to MailOnline, the sister said: 'It's the end of an era really. It was a little bit emotional when I watched the show back last night and I saw Nelly waving and stuff. 'I think Ive left on a really high note. I get on with everyone so its been brilliant and its such a massive part of my life but it was time for me to move on. 'I just feel like this is a new chapter of my life, hopefully I wont be fizzling out anytime soon. Hopefully something else TV wise will come around.' Jet-setter: The Sardinia trip marks Sam's second holiday in one month, having enjoyed a break with her immediate family the previous week Come to grand-mama: Paul's mother Gaynor wowed in a white bikini as she played with her son and grandson in the sea Adorable: The family seemed in great spirits as baby Paul played on the sand Good genes: The family made for a handsome group in the sea Bonding with daddy: Paul Jr looked adorable as he played with Paul Sr It has been almost 15 months since they announced their separation after 10 years of marriage. But Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck continue to live together, and neither of the actors has made a move to officially file for divorce. And on Thursday the exes, both 44, were spotted leaving a dinner date together in the same car. Amicable exes: Actors Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck had dinner together at The Hungry Cat restaurant in Los Angeles on Thursday Jennifer and Ben also arrived in the same vehicle for their meal at The Hungry Cat in Santa Monica, although they headed inside separately to avoid being photographed together. The amicable pair spent around an hour and a half at the seafood restaurant before heading off, E! News reports. Jennifer and Ben announced the end of their ten-year-marriage in June last year, amid reports he had an affair with their nanny. For their relaxed dinner, the former Alias star wore a white and black windowpane sweater over an A-line skirt. Split: They announced the end of their ten-year marriage last June Batman star Ben opted for a blue button-up shirt, tan pants and white sneakers. The stars have continued to co-parent their children Violet, 10; Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4 since their split. And earlier on Thursday, they headed out for a low-key family breakfast with Samuel in Brentwood. The duo looked relaxed and Jen flashed a smile as they strolled along with their four-year-old. Family outing: Jen and Ben had breakfast with four-year-old son Samuel in Brentwood earlier on Thursday The exes have stayed close as they continued to co-parent their children, with Jennifer and the kids flying to London to join Ben on the set of Justice League over the summer. They also have continued to live at their Pacific Palisades property together. But they have denied talk they are back together. 'We are definitely a modern family,' Jen told The Today Show last month. 'We are doing really well.' Friendly: Jen wore a white windowpane sweater and black skirt, while Ben opted for a grey Under Armor Tshirt and khakis 'Ben was working in London on Justice League and I felt like, 'Well, the kids should have that experience,' she said. 'He and I are great friends and we just all went en masse. The kids and I had an amazing time, and he worked hard and got to join us for some. I want them to see everything's OK.' Jen will next be seen in the films Wakefield with Bryan Cranston and in The Tribes Of Palos Verdes, due out later this year. She also is set to voice animated children's series Llama Llama, based on the bestselling kid's books. Co-parents: The actors have remained close for the sake of their three children Geri Horner is being lined up to host Great British Bake Off, according to reports. The ex-Spice Girl, 44, has allegedly been tipped to replace Sue Perkins after she announced she'd no longer front the show following Channel 4's acquisition. A source told The Sun: 'Geri is a bit of a curveball idea, but an intriguing one all the same'. Scroll down for video Planning to spice up the show? Geri Horner is 'being lined up to host Great British Bake Off' They added: 'She has always been a huge supporter of Bake Off but bosses face a tough ask to get her on board. She's got relatively little presenting experience and has big music commitments. 'But it's the only show that might tempt her to host.' The unconfirmed reports come just six months after Geri appeared on the Sport Relief special of the show in February. Previous form: The unconfirmed reports come just six months after Geri appeared on the Sport Relief special of the show in February New horizons? A source told The Sun: 'Geri is a bit of a curveball idea, but an intriguing one' The eyebrow-raising claims come after it was also suggested that pastry chef Cherish Finden may replace Mary Berry as a judge on The Great British Bake Off. The award-winning baker, who hails from Singapore, has built up a reputation as quite the hard taskmaster in her role as a judge on Bake Off spin-off show Creme de la Creme. She was even branded 'evil' by viewers after she made one baker cry with her searing criticisms. Her strong words and animated facial expressions would prove a stark contrast to the gentle encouragement offered by the soothing tones of Mary Berry - but sources say she and Paul Hollywood will work well together. An insider told The Sun: 'Cherish has already worked with makers Love Productions and she was great on screen. New judge? Channel 4 bosses are reportedly coaxing Singaporean pastry chef Cherish Finden as they seek to replace Mary Berry as a judge on The Great British Bake Off Hard to impress: Cherish has built up a reputation as quite the hard taskmaster in her role as a judge on Bake Off spin-off show Creme de la Creme 'She's a world-class expert in pastries and cakes so she knows her stuff and will compliment Paul, whose background is more savoury. 'Filling the judge's role will be extremely hard so they know they have to act fast to make sure they've got someone who knows their stuff and has appeared on TV before.' Pedigree: Cherish, who is head pastry chef at the Langham Hotel in central London, was named Pastry Chef of the Year by Craft Guild of Chefs in 2012 MailOnline has contacted Channel 4 for comment. Cherish, who is head pastry chef at the Langham Hotel in central London, was named Pastry Chef of the Year by Craft Guild of Chefs in 2012 and scored gold at the Culinary World Olympics in 2000. Her style will strongly contrast with Mary Berry, 81, who has become one of Britain's more unlikely TV stars as a judge on the contest, famed for her kindly perfectionism and dislike of 'soggy bottoms.' 'My decision to stay with the BBC is out of loyalty to them, as they have nurtured me, and the show,' Mary said. Life without Mary: Her style will strongly contrast with Mary Berry, 81, who has become one of Britain's more unlikely TV stars as a judge on the contest World-famous: Cherish also scored gold at the Culinary World Olympics in 2000 The BBC announced last week it had lost the rights to Bake Off, which it has broadcast since 2010, after rival Channel 4 offered more money to program maker Love Productions. The news upset some of the program's millions of fans, because the publicly funded BBC developed and supported the show, taking it from niche curiosity to cultural phenomenon. Bake Off - in which amateur bakers compete to create elaborate cakes, tortes, trifles and flans - is broadcast in dozens of countries and has spawned similar local shows in several countries. New pairing? Insiders say Cherish would work well alongside current judge Paul Hollywood New start: The BBC announced last week it had lost the rights to Bake Off, which it has broadcast since 2010 Hollywood said the show 'has been a huge part of my life in the past few years, and I just couldn't turn my back on all that.' Co-hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, who set the show's tone of gentle but saucy humor, also are leaving. Despite the loss of three-quarters of its stars, Love Productions said the show 'will remain wholly familiar.' 'Bake Off will be produced by the same team, in the same tent, with the same recipe,' the company said in a statement. Lady Victoria Hervey is quite ready to subject herself to all sorts of unpleasantness in the next series of Im A Celebrity on one condition. While shes roughing it in the Aussie jungle, Victoria, who lives in Los Angeles, is insisting the show pays for her beloved pet Norfolk terrier DArtagnan to stay in a luxurious doggie hotel costing an eye-popping 200 a night. Shes told ITV bosses they need to pay up for 30 days at the exclusive Barkley Pet Hotel in Beverly Hills, where dogs are treated like celebrities. Scroll down for video While shes roughing it in the Aussie jungle, Victoria is insisting the show pays for her Norfolk terrier DArtagnan to stay in a luxurious doggie hotel costing an eye-popping 200 a night Staying in a suite, DArtagnans bed linen will be changed daily. Theres a doggy spa, maid service, web-cams, TV and soothing music in each dogs luxury quarters. Victoria, 39, who recently launched her first book Lady In Waiting: The Wristband Diaries, will fly out to the Australian jungle in November assuming producers agree to her diva doggy demands, that is. He split up from glamorous TV star Millie Mackintosh earlier this year, and now Professor Green appears not just heartbroken but stomach broken. The rapper, 32, recently spent 24 hours with a tube down his nose so that doctors investigating his acid reflux condition usually brought on by stress could monitor pH levels in his stomach. The star still managed to win Instagram points from his new accessory by posting graphic selfies. US ambassador Matthew Barzun is such an anglophile that he has developed a passion for Britains favourite dish curry. The envoy, 45, often tucks into a 5.50 chilli paneer from a takeaway near his London residency, Winfield House. Socialite and fashionista Olivia Palermo cut a dash as she walked through the streets of Milan on Saturday. The 30-year-old is in the Italian city for Fashion Week. She stepped out in a floaty maxi dress with lace detailing at the bodice and with a vest-style jacket by Ermanno Scervino over the top. Scroll down for video Taking in the sights: Olivia Palermo continued her round of Milan Fashion Week shows on Saturday in yet another stylish ensemble The black dress appeared to have a sheer bodice and semi-sheer sleeves and was embroidered with silver floral patterns. The ankle-length hem was uneven and the vest-style overcoat featured black satin lapels. The beauty wore her honey blonde hair tied back from her face leaving just a few wispy strands to frame her cheeks. She completed the look with some sandals that revealed her dark pink polish pedicure that matched the color on her fingernails. Stepping out in style: The 30-year-old fashionista wore a floaty black dress embroidered with silver floral patterns and featuring a sheer lace bodice and semi-sheer sleeves Flouncy: Her ensemble featured a vest-style over jacket with black satin lapels by Ermanno Scervino and she paired the outfit with some sandals Popular: The former reality star happily posed for selfies with some eager fans The former reality star has been changing up her look as she take sin the Milan fashion Week shows. Earlier she sported a pink floral shirt dress as she headed out for another day of spectacle. The chiffon frock, which was covered with tiny pink flowers arranged in clusters of hearts at the top and stripes on the skirt, was styled like a formal shirt, featuring an elegant collar buttoned to the top and soft, loose sleeves. Cinching in at the waist with a line of delicate black flowers, the pastel number then flowed out into a pleated skirt which fell to just above her ankle, flouncing as she walked. Pretty in pink! Earlier she had stepped out in a pretty pink floral shirt dress cinched at the waist Gorgeous: The dress was styled like a formal shirt, featuring an elegant collar buttoned to the top and soft, loose sleeves The daughter of a real estate developer and an interior designer, Palermo has made numerous appearances at the New York, London and Milan Fashion Weeks as one of the industry's well-known style queens. Alongside fellow models and designers, Olivia has taken her place on the front row at the likes of Versace, Paul Smith and Burberry. The star rose to fame on MTV series The City, where she worked in the PR department for fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, before moving to the accessories department at Elle magazine. She rarely discusses her doomed relationship with Lewis Hamilton. So it's understandable that Nicole Scherzinger was left red-faced after one of her X Factor acts based his audition on it during Saturday's episode. The former Pussycat Doll was forced to endure the autobiographical track Run, which she released as a single in 2014. Scroll down for video Awkward! Nicole Scherzinger was left red-faced after one of her X Factor acts based his audition on her break-up from Lewis Hamilton during Saturday's episode Ireland's Niall Sexton, 22, delivered an emotional rendition of the song, which clearly took Nicole by surprise. When he announced it as his song choice, she was clearly shocked - stating: 'Oh - I didn't realise many people new that one'. As he delivered the lines, she could be seen mouthing the lyrics, which include: 'Dont let him lead you to the dark / Dont tell him all your secrets / Hell leave you with a broken heart.' Raw: Ireland's Niall Sexton, 22, delivered an emotional rendition of the song, which clearly took Nicole by surprise Hard to hear: The former Pussycat Doll was forced to endure the autobiographical track Run, which she released as a single in 2014 Referencing the elephant in the room, Simon said: 'Why does that make me think of Lewis Hamilton?' - which caused Nicole to blush and momentarily turn away. Adding insult to injury, Louis Walsh added: 'I actually prefer your version to Nicole's', which she conceded: 'So do I'. Thankfully, the audition was a success - and Niall was offered a seat as part of the brutal Six Chair Challenge. He did it! Thankfully, the audition was a success - and Niall was offered a seat as part of the brutal Six Chair Challenge A result that was better than the fate of Nicole's heartfelt ballad. Upon release, Run was a commercial flop for Nicole - failing to chart in the USA and completely missing the Top 40, stalling at 63 and 46 in the UK and Irish charts respectively. Earlier this year, Nicole admitted she was 'devastated' at splitting from Lewis for a second time - this time over marriage. In an interview with The Sun's Dan Wootton, she said: 'I'm devastated that it didn't work out. It was the hardest decision we had to make, but we made it together.' BOY POWER! Nicole Scherzinger with her final six (left-right) Christian Burrows, Matt Terry, Freddy Parker, James Hughes, Niall Sexton and Nate Simpson She may be only two months old, but Ali Fedotowsky's baby girl has already made her red carpet debut. The sixth Bachelorette posed with little daughter Molly, whom she welcomed with fiance Kevin Manno on July 6, at an event in Los Angeles. Ali was in attendance at the 5th Annual Red Carpet Safety Event in Culver City presented by Step2 and Favored.By, which is billed as 'driving national awareness for child passenger safety' and benefited 'Celebrate the military child.' Scroll down for video The yummy mummy: On Saturday, Ali Fedotowsky brought her baby Molly to the 5th Annual Red CARpet Safety Event promoting 'child passenger safety' in Culver City New to the role: The former Bachelorette and her fiance Kevin Manno welcomed their first child into the world this July The onetime contestant on The Bachelor let her wavy blonde hair fall over a sleeveless floral jumpsuit with its hems cut off at the thigh. Grey knee-high boots accentuated her toned legs as she stood on the multicoloured carpet. The 32-year-old wore what appeared to be the gold bar pendant - featuring her daughter's name - that Manno gifted her in July. Baby Molly had been dressed up for the Saturday occasion with a yellow bow on her head and a pale blue bib with a large white star on it. Beverley Mitchell of 7th Heaven fame seemed to be having a ball at the event, mugging for the camera from inside a large Step2 dollhouse. The spirit of things: Beverley Mitchell mugged for the camera from inside a large Step.2 dollhouse Men and women in uniform: The 7th Heaven actress posed between two members of the U.S. Army National Guard The 35-year-old, who herself has a three-year-old daughter called Kenzie and a one-year-old son called Hutton, matched her brown leggings with brown moccasin boots. Her flowing off-white top featured intricate floral designs that grew larger as they descended toward her elaborately decorated hem. Mrs Michael Cameron grinned broadly as she posed between a man and a woman from the U.S. Army National Guard , both of whom attended the event in uniform. Not to be outdone, however, Ali Landry stood for photographs among seven members of the U.S. Army National Guard , including the two pictured with Mitchell. Thumbs up: Ali Landry, meanwhile, posed with seven U.S. Army National Guard members Still got it: The Miss USA 1996 winner flashed a bit of midriff amid her blue and white outfit Folksy chic: Christine Lakin posed in a red white and blue checked dress along with a mahogany belt that matched her boots The Miss USA 1996 winner wore an off-the-shoulder blue blouse streaked with white diagonal stripes. A hint of midriff was visible above slacks that matched the top and framed the 43-year-old's still impressively svelte legs. The Breaux Bridge native is married to Mexican director Alejandro Gomez Monteverde, with whom she has three young children: three-year-old son Valentin, four-year-old son called Marcelo and nine-year-old daughter Estela. Christine Lakin showcased her pencil thin legs in a button-up blue, white and red checked dress, complete with a collar. She cinched the ensemble with a mahogany leather belt, which perfectly complemented her mahogany boots. The 37-year-old and her husband Brandon Breault have one child, a baby called Georgia who was born this March. Unlike Fedotowsky, the Step By Step star declined to bring her progeny to the carpet. Terrible view: Andrew Keegan and Arista Ilona brought their baby daughter Aiya Rose along Just peachy: TV host Brooke Burke wore a fetching peach-coloured jumpsuit She was getting ready to join the rest of the TOWIE gang for a night out in Marbella. So it was no surprise that Chloe Sims was dressing to impress on Saturday night. The 33-year-old blonde reality star took the plunge in a striking pale pink fringed dress which showed off her ample curves to the maximum. Thinking pink: Chloe Sims showed off her curves in a plunging fringed mini dress before a night out in Marbella The dress was backless while perspex and plastic chunky heels added to the look. Chloe's hair was teased into loose curls while heavy eye make-up and nude lipstick completed the look. The star had joined the cast of TOWIE in their home from home - Marbella and they earlier hung out by their hotel pool together. Going clear: The star sported chunky perspex and plastic heels with her ensemble Mixing business and pleasure: The group are in town to film TOWIE spin-off show The Only Way Is Marbs The group are in town to film TOWIE spin-off show The Only Way Is Marbs and later headed to a glitter-themed party in the Spanish town. Chloe recently opened up about her close friend Danielle Armstrong's break-up with long-term love James 'Lockie' Lock. Bling: The star wore several rings and heavy eye make-up Spilling the beans: Chloe recently opened up about her close friend Danielle Armstrong's break-up with long-term love James 'Lockie' Lock She revealed in her Star magazine column: 'I knew Dani and Lockie were splitting up a while ago, but she didn't want the news out there straight away. 'It was good they gave it another shot you should if you still have feelings or you'll always wonder "What If?"' The single mother insisted that it was a mutual decision, explaining the pair had simply 'outgrown' each other. They recently returned from a romantic getaway in Barcelona. But Megan McKenna and Pete Wicks were out in force yet again as they enjoyed a night out in Marbella on Saturday to film a TOWIE special with the cast. Seemingly on their way to a glitter-themed party, Megan, 23, ensured all eyes would be on her shimmering self as she lead the team into the bash with her beau by her side. Scroll down for video Power couple: Megan McKenna and Pete Wicks were out in force yet again as they enjoyed a night out in Marbella on Saturday to film a TOWIE special with the cast Flaunting her incredible figure, the reality starlet donned a skintight black bodysuit with a halter neckline. Layering up, she wore a lace skirt with a peplum hem that offered a look at her tanned and toned pins, which were elongated by a pair of peeptoe platform heels. Adding to the glamour, she draped herself in jewels, clad in a silver sparkling necklace adorned in diamante detailing. All that glitters: Seemingly on their way to a glitter-themed party, Megan, 23, ensured all eyes would be on her shimmering self as she lead the team into the bash with her beau by her side Glam: Flaunting her incredible figure, the reality starlet donned a skintight black bodysuit with a halter neckline whilst she layered up in a lace skirt with a peplum hem Blinged up: Adding to the glamour, she draped herself in jewels, clad in a silver sparkling necklace adorned in diamante detailing Bromance: At one point Pete left his girlfriend to chat with newly-single James Locke Sweeping her chestnut coloured locks away from her face, she wore her glossy tresses in a chic chignon bun that exposed her pretty face. Contoured to perfection, the Ex On The Beach beauty lined her eyes with a thick rim of kohl, whilst her plump pout was painted with a nude gloss. She finished off the look with a smattering of glitter paint on her shoulders that injected some sparkle in a demure way. Here comes trouble: Hot on the couple's heels, Chloe Meadows, Chloe Lewis and Courtney Green seemed to have taken their friendship even further as they cuddled up for snaps In the navy: Chloe Lewis covered her face and legs in chunks of silver sequins whilst she draped her lithe frame in a glittering navy T-shirt dress Glittering gal pals: Chloe Meadows (L) and Courtney Green were less flamboyant with their garments, opting for thigh skimming dresses with a smattering of body glitter Megan and Pete were no doubt keeping themselves to themselves after Pete allegedly embarked on a fight with his girlfriend's frenemy Courtney Green at V Festival last month. With the argument occurring amidst the gathering audience for David Guetta's set, a fellow festival-goer told The Sun: 'It looked really intense. 'Pete was really going in at her and defending his girlfriend Megan while she partied with the rest of the gang and left them to it.' Golden girl: Gemma Collins was also quite demure in her ensemble as she slipped into a v-neck embellished dress that showed off her voluptuous figure Strike a pose: The fashion designer worked her best angles for the camera Dream team: Gemma's ensemble was quite different from her pal Bobby Norris', who decided to paint himself gold and don a pair of satin bronze trousers Wheely great time: He was being wheeled along by Gemma after tearing a ligament in his foot The source continued: 'They had a really long stand-off and seemed to finally settle their differences after a good hour or so.' Pete was reportedly defending Megan over her clash with Chloe Meadows, who had betrayed his girlfriend by spending time with her enemies Lydia Bright and Chloe Lewis, and accusing her of sleeping with the latter's ex-boyfriend Jake Hall. So it was no doubt an explosive night to be had by all in Marbella as they joined together for the party. Golden girls: Georgia Kousoulou. Lydia Bright and Amber Dowding coordinated their outfits Top of the crops: Georgia flashed her toned stomach in a bandeau and matching maxi skirt All Bright on the night! Lydia wowed in a plunging blouse and embellished satin skirt Going for gold: Amber added to the glamour by painting her plump pout bronze Hot on the couple's heels, Courtney and the two Chloe's seemed to have taken their friendship even further as they cuddled up for snaps. Clearly throwing herself into the theme, Chloe L covered her face and legs in chunks of silver sequins whilst she draped her lithe frame in a glittering navy T-shirt dress. Meanwhile, Chloe M and Courtney were less flamboyant with their garments, opting for thigh skimming dresses with a smattering of body glitter. Shake it! Chloe Lewis seemed to be having fun in her pink tasseled dress Shimmy it: Chloe flaunted her incredible figure in a plunging pink dress adorned with tassels, whilst she added some height to her frame in barely there perspex heels Gemma Collins was also quite demure in her ensemble as she slipped into a v-neck embellished dress. It was quite a difference from her pal Bobby Norris, who decided to paint himself gold and don a pair of satin bronze trousers. He was being wheeled along by Gemma after tearing a ligament in his foot. She's known for loving the finer things in life. So it's no surprise that for Roxy Jacenko, even a visit to prison is a luxurious affair. According to Daily Telegraph, the 36-year-old took a private jet to visit her incarcerated husband Oliver Curtis in Cooma's Correctional Facility on Saturday. Flying in style: Roxy Jacenko reportedly took a private jet to visit husband Oliver Curtis in prison on Saturday The paper reports that the trip would've set back the PR maven almost $6000. Roxy's visit to husband Oliver comes just days after she was linked to ex-boyfriend Nabil Gazal. They have been spotted having dinner together in Sydney and 'appeared relaxed with each other', The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Saturday. Happy family: Roxy and Oliver share two children together, daughter Pixie and son Hunter Nabil has been described as one of Roxy's more 'serious' past boyfriends and they have been quite open about their meetings, it is claimed. The pair dated until 2010 but little is known about their relationship prior to the split. She was later spotted with soccer player Dwight Yorke but when approached by The Daily Telegraph Roxy revealed that the two had been friends for years and that there was 'nothing going on.' Roxy's visit to husband Oliver comes just days after she was linked to ex-boyfriend Nabil Gazal Nabil, named after his late property developer father, was thrown into the spotlight in 2014 when he appeared before the Independent Commission Against Corruption. The well-known businessman fronted the inquiry to deny claims that his family paid $10,000 a month into a Liberal slush fund in exchange for political influence. The allegations came as the Gazal family lobbied for the Orange Grove Shopping centre development - which hoped to be a lucrative project for them. All good: When approached by The Daily Telegraph Roxy revealed that the two had been friends for years and that there was 'nothing going on' However no findings were made against Nabil during the process. Two years after the split, Roxy married investment banker Oliver Curtis in a lavish wedding at Quay restaurant on Sydney's harbour. Curtis is currently serving a two-year sentence for insider trading. Fighting, fatalities in central DR Congo city of Kananga Heavy fighting in the city of Kananga in central Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed many lives, sources said. The violence erupted on Thursday and continued into Friday, with attacks on the city's airport by supporters of a tribal chief, Kamwena Nsapu, who was killed in August by the military, they said. "There was a bust-up in Kananga but calm returned in the late afternoon," DR Congo government spokesman Lambert Mende told AFP. Heavy fighting in the city of Kananga in central Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed many lives, concurring sources said Junior D. Kannah (AFP/File) "We are having a meeting to assess the situation," he said. At least 10 people were killed, according to an incomplete AFP toll compiled from various sources. A Western military source put the number of fatalities between 10 and 20. "We have recorded seven military dead and 40 dead among the attackers," an aide to the governor of Kasai-Central province, of which Kananga is the capital, said on condition of anonymity. Two journalists and an NGO official, reached by phone from the DRC capital Kinshasa, said that the rebels had taken the airport and were surrounded by troops. The airport is a vital facility, providing the only reliable access to a remote location where roads are few and decrepit. Mende added that a female flight attendant with the national airline, Congo Airways, was among the dead. The vast central African country, a former Belgian colony, is chronically unstable and is the theatre of conflict between many rival groups. Nsapu, from the Luba ethnic group of central Africa, had returned to the DRC in April after living for a while in South Africa, and began opposing the central government and its representatives, according to reports. The government in Kinshasa is also in the grip of a political crisis. Heavy security in tense Gabon after Bongo re-election validated Libreville's nearly empty streets were under the watch of a heavy police and military presence on Saturday after Gabon's top court upheld President Ali Bongo's re-election in bitterly disputed polls. Security force checkpoints dotted routes into the capital's centre, helicopters hovered overhead and elite troops protected the presidential palace, but no violence had been reported. The Constitutional Court, while partially changing the results of the close August 27 vote, said Bongo maintained a lead over his former ally-turned-opponent Jean Ping, at a televised public hearing overnight Friday-Saturday. Gabonese security forces deployed next to a campaign poster of President Ali Bongo in Libreville on September 23, 2016 Samir Tounsi (AFP) Bongo took 50.66 percent of the vote against 47.24 percent for Ping, the court ruled, putting his margin at 11,000 -- higher than the less than 6,000 initially announced. Concern has been growing that a ruling in favour of Bongo, 57, could spark more of the unrest Gabon saw after the president was announced to have won re-election. In his first comments after the ruling, Bongo appealed for "political dialogue" with the opposition to steer the country out of the crisis triggered by the announcement of his victory. "I intend to very quickly bring together the conditions for a political dialogue open to all those who wish (to take part)," Bongo said in a speech broadcast on television. He called on political leaders and defeated candidates to work with him "guided by the will to place the greater good of the nation above our individual and partisan interests." - 'Clear anomaly' - Defeated challenger Ping, a career diplomat and a former top official at the African Union, filed a legal challenge earlier this month, demanding a recount. "No one can dispute the fact that Jean Ping has roundly won this election," his spokesman Jean Gaspard Ntoutoume Ayi told AFP after the court announcement. Ping had warned the country could face serious instability if the court rejected his appeal for a recount. But the government has said Ping that he would be held responsible if fresh violence breaks out, and could find himself arrested if he crosses "the red line". Ping and his supporters hoped to end the Bongo family's 50-year grip on power in this oil-rich country of 1.8 million people. Ping, 73, has made clear he believed Bongo had the court in his pocket, referring to it as "the Tower of Pisa that always leans the same way". The nation erupted in protest after Bongo was declared the winner following an election mired in allegations of fraud. During the ensuing chaos, demonstrators set fire to the parliament and clashed violently with police, who arrested around a thousand people. Opposition figures say "more than 50" people were killed in the violence, but the government gave a figure of three dead. In his legal challenge, Ping asked for a recount in Haut-Ogooue province, a stronghold of the Bongo family, where the president won more than 95 percent of the votes and turnout was declared to be more than 99 percent. EU observers have said there was a "clear anomaly" in the province's results. The nation erupted in protest after Gabonese President Ali Bongo was declared the winner following an election mired in allegations of fraud Marco Longari (AFP/File) Gabon's opposition leader Jean Ping a career diplomat and former chairman of the African Union Commission, has filed a legal challenge and demanded a recount of the August election results Steve Jordan (AFP/File) South Sudan alarmed by US arms embargo threat: Deng South Sudan's new vice president urged the United States not to push for an arms embargo while objecting to details of a planned UN-backed protection force in his war-scarred capital. "We are very much concerned because South Sudan does not need an arms embargo," First Vice President Taban Deng Gai told AFP in an interview on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. "We don't need more suffering." Washington has threatened to push for a UN arms embargo on the world's youngest nation if Juba blocks the deployment of a new regional protection force of 4,000 troops and impedes the work of UN peacekeepers. School children march for peace in the streets of Juba, South Sudan Albert Gonzalez Farran (AFP) UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said Friday that there had been no progress on the force's deployment. "There have been contacts with the government but they have not been translated into progress," he told reporters. Under the current schedule, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expects to update the Security Council next month on whether South Sudan is cooperating. "This is a beautiful country that they have helped us liberate," Deng told AFP. "Why destroy it? Why destroy it imposing external solutions?" "The Americans should support us in strengthening the capacity of our police, insulating our army, helping us train this army so that it is professional." Deng said the primary objective of his visit was to tell the Americans, South Sudan's biggest humanitarian donors, that the country was back on track. - 'War over' - "I can report to you with confidence that the situation in our country is stable, peaceful and that my government is functioning and life is returning back to normal," he told the General Assembly. But it was statement few would believe. Two and a half years of fighting has killed tens of thousands of people and driven more than 2.5 million from their homes, including more than a million refugees, exacerbating the worst global refugee crisis since World War II. Countless villages have been burned to the ground, almost half the population relies on food assistance for survival, and human rights organizations say government and rebel forces have frequently used rape as a weapon of war. The fighting erupted in December 2013 between supporters of President Salva Kiir and his archrival Riek Machar, whom Kiir accused of plotting a coup. Hopes of ending the conflict rose in April, when Machar returned to Juba to take up the job of vice president in a national unity government headed by Kiir. But deadly fighting erupted once again in Juba in July, leaving hundreds dead. Machar fled to Khartoum for what Sudan called "medical treatment" and Deng was suddenly appointed as his replacement. That flare-up prompted the Security Council vote to deploy the new force, which will be under the command of the UN peacekeeping mission. The United Nations wants it to provide security in the capital and at the airport, and protect UN facilities. - 'Waste of resources' - South Sudan reluctantly agreed to the deployment earlier this month but then irritated the West by asking to re-negotiate the force's size. Deng voiced numerous objections during his interview with AFP. "It's a waste of resources," he said. "Juba is peaceful, the airport is running 24 hours, so protection for what? For what purpose really? We don't understand." South Sudan does not want to surrender its airport to foreign troops and has requested a list of installations to be protected, he said. "Give Salva Kiir a chance, he is the president, help him to deliver especially that he has agreed to go into elections in two-and-a-half years or three years," he insisted. "If the people of South Sudan do not like him, they will vote him out. If they like him, they will maintain him," Deng added. Claiming the civil war was over, he accused Machar of inciting violence "for people to go back to civil war." "I don't think he will just jump in a plane then go to Juba, of course if he does so, then he will be arrested," he said. "But if it is going to be a process for him to go to Juba, then I believe the situation will be conducive for him to return." Ladsous said Friday that Machar "represents a very important element" of the South Sudanese community. "We need inclusivity," he said. A member of #AnaTaban, formed by young South Sudanese artists calling for an end to civil conflict through the arts, paints a mural at the Aggrey Jaden cultural centre in Juba Albert Gonzalez Farran (AFP/File) A child carries her young relative in the Protection of Civilians (PoC) camp in Malakal, for people displaced by violence in South Sudan Albert Gonzalez Farran (AFP/File) South Sudan President Salva Kiir (C) reluctantly agreed to the deployment earlier this month of a new regional protection force Charles Atiki Lomodong (AFP/File) Laura Wasser: Hollywood divorce lawyer you want on your side If you are a celebrity and want to call it quits on your marriage, you probably want to have Laura Wasser in your camp. The high-powered US divorce attorney who is representing Angelina Jolie in what is looking to be an acrimonious split with Brad Pitt has some of Hollywood's A-listers as clients. She recently defended Johnny Depp in his divorce from Amber Heard and prior to that represented Megan Fox, Britney Spears, Heidi Klum, Stevie Wonder and Kim Kardashian, as well as her mother Kris Jenner. High-powered US divorce attorney Laura Wasser is representing Angelina Jolie in her split with Brad Pitt The "Disso Queen", as she is nicknamed, also represented Jolie during her split from actor Billy Bob Thornton in 2003. The 41-year-old actress filed for divorce from Pitt, 52, on Monday, citing irreconcilable differences, and asked for sole physical custody of their six children. That means the "World War Z" actor would get visiting rights. Jolie decided to end their marriage reportedly because she was fed up with her husband's weed and alcohol consumption and his anger issues. Hollywood insiders say Jolie could not have picked a better defense than Wasser, who has a reputation for being a "pit bull". She reportedly charges $850 an hour and demands a minimum $25,000 as a retainer fee. "She's a very fine lawyer and more often than not with celebrity clients, she keeps it out of the press," said Stacy Phillips, a divorce attorney who has also handled celebrity cases. Wasser, who has been through one divorce herself and has two children from separate fathers, is the daughter of well-respected family attorney Dennis Wasser with whom she works. - 'Sucker for love stories' - She said that "law runs in the family" in her 2013 book entitled "It Doesn't Have to Be That Way: How to Divorce Without Destroying Your Family or Bankrupting Yourself." A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, she explains in her book that her parents' amicable split had been an example for her and believes that couples should take an educational course about marriage before tying the knot. And despite the fact that she is working in Tinseltown, she is not keen on speaking to the news media, at least not when it comes to her clients. "Hello, our firm doesn't accept media solicitations," says a message on her office answering machine. Still she does not shy away from appearing on the pages of fashion magazines where her celebrity clients often grace the covers. She told the magazine Vanity Fair in a recent interview that she sometimes has to have a reality check with celebrity clients used to getting their way. One client, she recalled , asked if he could add a clause to his prenuptial agreement stipulating that his wife lose her baby weight within a certain period if she wanted to receive her annual bonus. "I said, 'Yeah, dude. We can't put that in,'" Wasser told Vanity Fair. She said her clients often are also keen to share details about their sex lives and she has to plead with them not to submit pictures or videos. She told Vanity Fair that more often than not she tries to hammer out a divorce settlement with her celebrity clients before the formal split is announced. "People may not even realize that this couple is getting divorced but we're actually all the way through the entire settlement before they even file anything with the court and announce to the world that they're splitting up," she told the magazine. She said she also advises clients on the best time to publicize a split to lessen media attention -- preferably during the summer, a Friday or on the eve of a holiday weekend. Phillips said that as far as the split between Jolie and Pitt, which made headlines worldwide, "maybe Angelina is just trying to give Brad a wake-up call or maybe she's staking out her position." As for Wasser, she told Vanity Fair that if there is one thing she has learned during her career it is not to judge her clients. "Some of the most unlikely relationships have lasted the longest both in and out of Hollywood, and some of the ones that you would have thought would have been great matches, fall apart a year later," she said. And though her job is all about relationships breaking down, she says she still believes in love. "I'm a sucker for a good love story and I tear up at weddings along with everybody else," she said in her book. Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt on Monday, citing irreconcilable differences Robyn Beck (AFP/File) Africa's disputed elections Gabon's disputed election, which culminated Saturday with the constitutional court's confirmation of President Ali Bongo's victory, is the latest in a long list of violence-tinged ballots in Africa: - Ivory Coast - After a five-month-standoff, incumbent Laurent Gbagbo was detained on April 11, 2011 by forces backing rival Alassane Ouattara, who was recognised internationally as the winner of Ivory Coast's October 2010 presidential election. Mourners pay their respects at an improvised altar to those killed in post-electoral violence in Libreville Marco Longari (AFP/File) Gbagbo had refused to stand down and some 3,000 people died in the post-election unrest. He is currently on trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity in relation to the clashes. - Kenya - Violence sparked by disputed results in Kenya's December 27, 2007 presidential poll won by Mwai Kibaki claimed some 1,300 lives and left about 600,000 displaced according to documents filed before the ICC. Elections in 1992 and 1997 also led to violence and related inter-ethnic clashes in 1992 in the western Rift Valley killed hundreds of people. - Nigeria - Unrest that claimed more than 800 lives flared in Nigeria after a disputed April 2011 presidential election in which President Goodluck Jonathan was declared victor. Defeated opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari alleged rigging. Elections in April 2007 elections were also criticised by the opposition and observers and led to violence that officially left 39 people dead. The European Union believes at least 200 died. - Togo - In 2005, Faure Gnassingbe won a disputed presidential election after the death of his father Gnassingbe Eyadema. Between 400 and 500 people were killed in related clashes. - Zimbabwe - In the March 29, 2008 general election, the ZANU-PF party of long-serving President Robert Mugabe was defeated by the Movement for Democratic Change of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Tsvangirai's supporters then became targets of violence in which 180 died according to Amnesty International. Tsvangirai withdrew from the run-off presidential election against Mugabe, citing violence against his supporters. The March 2002 elections won by Mugabe were also marred by violence. - Democratic Republic of Congo - In late 2011, general elections that were hastily organised and marred by allegations of fraud were accompanied by violence. A UN report that was denounced by authorities in Kinshasa spoke of around 30 deaths and accused government forces of serious human rights violations. Incumbent head of state Joseph Kabila officially won re-election, but challenger Etienne Tshisekedi rejected the results. The country has been mired in crisis ever since. - Madagascar - The island nation was paralysed by protests during a political crisis in 2001-2002. Incumbent Didier Ratsiraka challenged the proclaimed victory of Marc Ravalomanana in the first round of a presidential poll and subsequent fighting killed several dozen people. - Gabon - In August 2009, President Ali Bongo's declared election victory was followed by violence in which at least three people died, according to official figures. Opposition parties said at least 15 people were killed. Five dead in US mall shooting, gunman on the run Police searched Saturday for a shooter who killed five people at a shopping mall in the US state of Washington in the latest chapter of America's epidemic of gun violence. The gunman opened fire with a rifle in the makeup section of a Macy's department store, killing four women and a man, police said. The FBI office in Seattle said it had no evidence the shooting was terrorism-related. Police in US state of Washington are hunting a suspect described as a "Hispanic male wearing grey" after five people were shot dead at a shopping mall in Burlington Scott Olson (Getty/AFP/File) The shooter -- described as a Hispanic man in his late teens or early 20s -- later left the store on foot, and his whereabouts remained unknown. A weapon was recovered at the store in Burlington, a town of about 8,000 people some 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Seattle. Police released screen-grab photos of the suspect from mall security camera footage to help the public identify him. "I don't know what his motivation was to do this," Chris Cammock, police chief in the larger nearby town of Mount Vernon, told a news conference. "But I certainly plan to find out through the investigation, to the best of our ability." He said police were not looking for anyone else as part of their probe. Burlington Mayor Steve Sexton's voice trembled as he noted that the randomness of gun violence in America -- which causes an estimated 30,000 deaths a year -- had hit his small town. "This was a senseless act, the world knocking on our doorstep. It came to our little community," Sexton said. Police provided a still from video surveillance of the suspect showing only his head and torso, though the full picture, published by local media, showed him holding what appeared to be a rifle. The shooting came amid fierce debate in America over gun control laws. It is a hot issue on the campaign trail ahead of the November 8 presidential election. Police received calls around 6:58 pm Friday (0158 GMT Saturday) that shots were fired at the mall. The shooter had walked in without a weapon, and appeared on security cameras about 10 minutes later with a rifle, said Cammock. The suspect was last seen walking toward a highway from the mall before officers arrived, police said. The mall was evacuated, police swarmed the area and medics rushed to the scene after the mall was initially placed on lockdown. "We are devastated by the tragic events that occurred last night at Cascade Mall," Macy's said in a statement on its Facebook page Saturday. "We are working closely with local law enforcement authorities as the investigation continues to unfold." - 'Shot after shot after shot' - At a vigil held for the victims Saturday morning in Burlington's Maiben Park, Kelly Couture, who exited the mall through a Target store as the chaos was unfolding, told The Seattle Times there were "just sirens and people were yelling and running out of the building." Witnesses told KOMO News that a shooter walked into the Macy's store and opened fire. Nearby businesses were evacuated, the television station added. "I hear one shot and then stand kinda still and like two, three other people start running out saying 'gun' and then shot after shot after shot," said Armando Patino, who was working at a cellphone store. "I turn around and run to the store. Some people didn't know where to go. I just moved them into the store," he added. "We went in the back where we have a door and everything and we just stayed there until they told us to evacuate." Multiple law enforcement agencies and sniffer dogs were searching for the suspect. Police took hours to clear the sprawling building. Cammock said police have so far interviewed around 20 people about the shooting. The mall said it would stay closed on Saturday as a mark of respect for the victims. Advertisement Many people turned to exploring local nature paths for their daily exercise when lockdown closed gyms and group sports took a hiatus amid the pandemic. Amateur photographers who captured stunning images of animals in their natural habitat were quick to submit their snaps to Weekend magazine's annual Wildlife Photography Challenge in the hopes of winning a package worth over 1,000. The entrants were split into five categories - Birds; Mammals; Insects; Under-18s; and Reptiles, Fish, Amphibians & Molluscs. While each category winner received a Nikon mirrorless digital camera kit and a year's subscription to Nikon Owner magazine, the overall winner also received a trip to the Camargue with wildlife photographer Simon Stafford, courtesy of Create Away, for a four-night masterclass in photographing the region's wild horses, flamingos and bulls. Judges David Suchet, Clare Balding, Lucy Cooke, Steve Brown, Kelly Brook and Michael Eleftheriades were impressed with Lee O'dwyer, 67, a retired engineer from Lancashire, who was awarded the overall winner for his shot of a long-tailed tit. These runner-up snaps taken by talented amateur photographers prove choosing an overall winner was a tough decision... BIRDS PUFFIN: Taken by Joseph Bristow, 23, a retail supervisor from Llantwit Major. 'Arriving at 3am and queueing for the 6am ticket office to open. First in line I caught the boat over to Skomer Island. With only a few hours permitted on the island I had no time to waste. Surrounded by the Puffins was an amazing spectacle and allowed me to capture some amazing photos. I found this one puffin who seemed very tame and loved posing for the camera. As he stared down the barrel of my lens I took my shot and was pleased with the result. I found the black background really provides a provocative and striking image highlight the vibrant colour of the Puffins.' KESTREL CHICKS: Taken by Jayne Kirkby, 20, from Braintree, Essex. 'Beautiful pair of Kestrel chicks, taken at Wrabness on 20th June 2020.' KINGFISHER: Tim Clifton, a 59-year-old from, St Leonards on Sea, snapped this captivating photo of a kingfisher hunting for small fish MALLARD: William Watson, 64, a semi retired HGV driver from East Dunbartonshire. 'Taken on the Forth & Clyde canal (December '19') Bishopbriggs, As I went to take this photo of this female Mallard it stretched creating a nice reflection....' INSECTS BUTTERFLY: Adam Lane, a 27-year-old host at Legoland, from Slough, captured a butterfly perched on a purple flower in specular detail WASP: Shelia Moth took this captivating photo of a wasp on a thistle, capturing the insect and plant in immense detail SPIDER: Taken by Geoffrey Wells, 67, a maintenance caretaker from North Yorkshire. 'This picture was taken in my back garden during the recent lockdown.' REPTILES MATING FROGS: Taken by Steve Jellett, 64, from Essex, who is retired. 'Taken in small garden pond when 21 frogs descended to mate.' MAMMALS ROE DEER: Tim Cliffton, a 75-year-old from St Leonards on sea, took a photograph of two roe deer spotted in a field MOUSE: Taken by Cameron Parfitt, 20, a student at the University of Brighton, from Worthing. 'I would love to highlight that even in your back garden there are images to be had. This image is of a cheeky wood mouse that keeps stealing food from what we have now dubbed the mouse feeder. It's not unheard of for this little guy to be found inside the feeder without a care in the world stuffing himself with the bird seed.' JUNIORS FOX CUB: Billy Evans-Freke, 15, a secondary school student from East Sussex. 'It wasn't a long wait in the hide before the first fox cub woke up from its nap and came out into the open. It was soon followed by another cub. At first they stayed in the shadows of the bushes near the den. But once they gained their confidence they started coming closer. This cub in particular was very curious and came very close to the hide.' North Korea air show thumbs nose at sanctions Just weeks after carrying out its fifth nuclear test, North Korea put on an unprecedented civilian and military air force display Saturday at the country's first ever public aviation show. The two-day Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival was held at the newly refurbished Kalma Airport -- previously a military airfield -- completed last year to boost tourism in the area around the eastern port city of Wonsan. The festival was already scheduled before North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test on September 9, triggering international outrage and threats of still further sanctions against the deeply isolated nuclear-armed country. A North Korean soldier watches as Hughes MD-500 helicopters perform a fly-by during the first Wonsan Friendship Air Festival Ed Jones (AFP) The show kicked off with an aerial display by a US Hughes MD-500 military helicopter -- one of a number acquired in the 1980s by using a third country to circumvent US export restrictions. North Korea's aviation industry was targeted by provisions in the UN Security Council resolution passed after its fourth nuclear test on January 6. The provisions prevent member states selling or supplying North Korea with aviation fuel, aviation gasoline or naptha-type jet fuel or kerosene type jet fuel. But a recent report by the Nautilus Institute for Security concluded that domestic supply of jet fuel was probably adequate to keep air force aircraft flying, especially given their very low annual exercise rate. The Hughes helicopter was followed by an extended solo acrobatic display by the most advanced aircraft in the North Korean air force -- an early-model Soviet built Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum which made several ear-splitting low passes over the crowd. The rest of the air force fleet is largely comprised of antiquated Chinese built copies of the MiG-17, MiG-19 and MiG-21. Experts say the low number of flying hours and training their pilots receive compounds the air force's technical deficit compared to neighbouring South Korea. North Korean airports are generally high security areas, but the Kalma tarmac and surrounding airfield were opened for the festival to several thousand local spectators, foreign media and several hundred slightly over-excited aviation enthusiasts from 20 countries. - 'Quite magical' - Several foreign observers noted that the low passes by the MiG29 and later by a Sukhoi-25 fighter would have been forbidden at other international air festivals. "You would never see that anywhere else in the world. Regulations prevent any passes or manoeuvres over the crowd line," said Peter Terlouw a Dutch aviation photographer. "But for us, it's brilliant!" As well as the promised military aircraft displays, a major draw was the presence of national carrier Air Koryo's vintage planes which operate on some domestic routes. "To get this close to such old planes in a country like North Korea is very special," said Ashley Walker, 39, a British pilot based in Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific. "You won't find working planes like these anywhere in the world," he said, gesturing to a twin turbo-prop Antonov AN-24 sitting on the tarmac. "Modern civilian planes are so bland these days, but these are quite magical and really take you back in time," Walker said. Walker was one of 200 enthusiasts brought to the show by British-based Juche Tours, with the promise of brief flights on some of the civilian planes, which also included an Ilyushin-18 and Tupolev-134. "It's obviously the fact that it's in North Korea that makes it so special," said Canadian enthusiast King Hui, 63. "I've been here once before and photo-wise the message was always 'no-military, no-military', and now we're getting to see this," Hui said. Wonsan -- a traditional recreation area -- is currently the focus of a major tourism development plan in tandem with the nearby Mount Kumgang district. Just 25 kilometres from Wonsan lies one of leader Kim Jong-Un's pet projects -- the Masik Ski resort completed in 2013. Mount Kumgang was originally developed as a resort for South Korean visitors but Seoul halted all trips after a South Korean tourist was shot dead by a North Korean soldier when she strayed off the approved path. Spectators watch as a Hughes MD-500 helicopter performs a fly-by during the first Wonsan Friendship Air Festival Ed Jones (AFP) Spectators walk past a Topulev TU-154 aircraft before the start of the first Wonsan Friendship Air Festival in Wonsan Ed Jones (AFP) A Sukhoi SU-25 aircraft lands during the first Wonsan Friendship Air Festival Ed Jones (AFP) Syrian, Russian aircraft pound rebel-held Aleppo Residents in rebel-held areas of Syria's Aleppo cowered in their homes on Saturday as relentless missile strikes and barrel bomb attacks pounded the besieged eastern half of the divided city. The raids by Russian and Syrian aircraft continued for a second night, after Damascus announced an operation late Thursday to recapture all of the city. Heavy bombardment on Friday killed at least 47 people, among them seven children, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said. A Syrian family stands in the rubble following a reported airstrike on the al-Muasalat area in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on September 23, 2016 Thaer Mohammed (AFP) The toll was expected to rise with the ongoing strikes levelling entire buildings, and obliterating whole streets. "There are certainly deaths in the bombing (on Saturday) but we don't have tolls yet and people are still trapped under the rubble," said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman. An AFP correspondent in eastern Aleppo saw massive destruction in several neighbourhoods, including Al-Kalasseh and Bustan al-Qasr, where some streets were almost erased by the bombardment. Unexploded rockets were still buried in the roads in some areas, and elsewhere enormous craters around five metres (16 feet) deep and wide had been left by the bombing. Residents and activists described the use of a missile that produced earthquake-like tremors upon impact and razed buildings right down to the basement level where many residents desperately seek protection during bombing. The civil defence organisation known as the White Helmets was left overwhelmed by the scale of the destruction, particularly after several of its bases were damaged in bombing on Friday. The group says it has just two fire engines left for all of eastern Aleppo which, like its ambulances, are struggling to move around the city. With no electricity or fuel for generators, the streets of Aleppo are pitch black and difficult to navigate at night, and the fuel shortage has also made it tough to fill up vehicles. In many places, rubble strewn across streets has rendered them impassable and has effectively sealed off neighbourhoods to traffic. On Saturday morning, the streets were nearly empty, with just a few residents out looking for bread. The approximately 250,000 people in eastern Aleppo have been under near-continuous siege since government troops encircled the area in mid-July. A truce deal negotiated between Moscow and Washington brought a few days of respite from the violence, though no humanitarian aid, earlier this month. But the deal has fallen apart, and on Thursday the Syrian army announced an operation to retake all of Aleppo, urging civilians in the east to distance themselves from "terrorists" and promising them safe passage to government-controlled areas. A Syrian man carries the body of an infant following a reported airstrike on Aleppo on September 23, 2016 Thaer Mohammed (AFP) IS gun, suicide bomb attacks kill 12 in Iraq's Tikrit Militants killed 12 people in gun and bomb attacks on Saturday in the northern city of Tikrit, police said, with the Islamic State group later claiming responsibility for the violence. IS seized Tikrit in June 2014, but the city has largely been spared the attacks that have plagued other parts of the country since its recapture last year. Police officers said that militants shot dead four security personnel at a checkpoint on the west side of the city, then continued north and detonated an explosives-rigged vehicle at another checkpoint, killing eight more people. Tikrit, located 160 kilometres (100 miles) north of Baghdad, was the second city to fall to IS in 2014 as the jihadists swept through large areas north and west of the capital The attacks also wounded a total of 23 people, according to the officers. IS issued a statement claiming the attacks, but gave a different account of how they unfolded, saying that four militants -- three Iraqis and a Tajik -- were involved and detonated multiple bombs. According to IS, the militants first attacked a checkpoint in the area with silenced weapons, killing its guards and leaving one jihadist behind to block the road. One suicide bomber then set off a truck bomb at an entrance to the city, while two more detonated explosive vests at a gathering of police and pro-government paramilitaries close to a military base near Tikrit, the jihadist group said. Hometown of executed dictator Saddam Hussein, Tikrit lies 60 kilometres (100 miles) north of Baghdad and was the second city to fall to IS in 2014 as the jihadists swept through large areas north and west of the capital. It was also the first city to be recaptured by Iraqi forces, which are now preparing for a push on Mosul, a city north of Tikrit that is the last one held by IS in the country. Western officials have indicated that the drive for Mosul, Iraq's second city, may begin next month, although Baghdad has declined to specify when it will start. While the announcement of the operation may be coming soon, Iraqi forces, which in some cases are dozens of kilometres (miles) away, will then have to fight their way to the city and surround it before an assault can take place. Even after Mosul is retaken, the jihadists will still have the ability to carry out attacks like those in Tikrit on Saturday. Third deadly drone strike in a week hits Yemen Qaeda An apparent US drone strike has killed five suspected Al-Qaeda members in Yemen in the third such attack this week, a security official said on Saturday. Washington is the only government to operate drones over Yemen but only sporadically releases statements on its long-running bombing campaign against the country's powerful Al-Qaeda branch. The Friday evening strike in Marib province, east of the capital, killed local commander Abu Khaled al-Sanaani and four guards, the official said. The United States is the only government to operate drones over Yemen but only sporadically releases statements on its long-running bombing campaign against the country's powerful Al-Qaeda branch On Thursday, a drone strike in neighbouring Al-Bayda province killed three suspected Al-Qaeda members, one of them a commander. A Tuesday strike in Marib province, killed two suspected Al-Qaeda members and caused a large explosion when munitions they were transporting blew up. Marib is largely in the hands of loyalists of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and his allies in a Saudi-led coalition. But Al-Qaeda has taken advantage of fighting with the Shiite rebels who control the capital to consolidate its longstanding presence in the province. Washington considers Al-Qaeda's Yemen-based franchise to be its most dangerous and has kept up its drone war throughout the conflict. US presidential campaign week: Attacks, racial tensions and debate prep Bomb blasts in New York and New Jersey and a police shooting of an African American man triggering violent protests put security concerns back at the forefront of the US presidential campaign this week, as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump prepared for their first televised debate. Here's a summary of the week in the US presidential campaign: New York and New Jersey bombings Law Enforcement Officers are seen at the scene of an explosion on West 23rd Street September, 18, 2016 in New York City Kena Betancur (AFP/File) Trump used the bombings to return to his favorite topic, immigration, including policy concerning refugees from the war in Syria. The accused bomber is an Afghan-born American. "We are going to stop the tens of thousands of people coming in from Syria. We have no idea who they are, where they come from. There's no documentation. There's no paperwork. It's going to end badly, folks. It's going to end very, very badly," he said Wednesday. He also reiterated his previous suggestion to carry out racial profiling of Muslims. Clinton, however, responded to the attacks by saying "Let us be vigilant, but not afraid." She stressed her counterterrorism experience from her tenure as secretary of state. Violence in Charlotte Several nights of violent protests wracked the North Carolina city after police shot and killed an African American man, the latest in a series of high-profile shootings of black men involving law enforcement. Trump suggested police should stop and frisk people more frequently, a practice long in force in his hometown of New York until it was deemed unconstitutional because it mainly targeted blacks and Latinos. "I would do stop-and-frisk. I think you have to. We did it in New York. It worked incredibly well," he said when asked what he would do to stop violence in black communities. He later backtracked and said he was speaking only of Chicago, where 500 people have already been killed in shootings so far this year. Reduced schedule Clinton held only two campaign events on Monday and Tuesday. She focused largely on preparing for the first presidential debate, which takes place Monday. A simple mistake could prove very costly just six weeks before the November 8 election. "They say she's been practicing for the debate. Some people think she's sleeping," Trump quipped on Thursday. Clinton has spent several days practicing for the debate with Trump stand-ins to get ready for anticipated broadsides or other attacks from Trump, who has, however, promised to be respectful. The Republican candidate also scaled back his schedule, but held at least one rally per day, except Friday. "It's going great," he said late Thursday of the debate prep, looking very relaxed. Bush senior voting for Clinton What should have stayed a secret made headlines around the world, when Kathleen Kennedy Townsend -- the eldest daughter of the late attorney general Robert F. Kennedy -- revealed that former Republican president George H.W. Bush would vote for Clinton. "The President told me he's voting for Hillary!!" she wrote in a Facebook post. She then removed the message, but it was too late. Bush, 92, has neither confirmed nor denied the report. Cruz backs Trump Two months after refusing to support Trump in a very public rebuke of the Republican candidate at the party's convention that crowned him as its nominee, Texas Senator Ted Cruz made an about-turn, announcing that he would vote for his once-bitter primary rival. "Even though I have had areas of significant disagreement with our nominee, by any measure Hillary Clinton is wholly unacceptable -- that's why I have always been #NeverHillary," he said in a Facebook post. Syrian refugees and candy Trump's eldest son Donald Trump Jr sparked outrage by comparing Syrian refugees to a bowl of potentially deadly Skittles candy. "If I had a bowl of Skittles and I told you just three would kill you, would you take a handful? That's our Syrian refugee problem," read the message on Twitter featuring an image of a bowl of Skittles. Even the candy company rejected the comment angrily. "Skittles are candy. Refugees are people. We don't feel it's an appropriate analogy. We will respectfully refrain from further commentary as anything we say could be misinterpreted as marketing," said Wrigley, which owns Skittles. Trump Foundation under fire Did Trump break the law? The Washington Post reported he had used $258,000 from his eponymous charity to pay legal bills involving his for-profit businesses. He also spent $10,000 to purchase a portrait of himself at a charity fundraiser in 2014, while his wife bought another large portrait in 2007 for $20,000, according to the report. It also said Trump had not donated a single dollar since 2009 to his foundation, which is funded by wealthy donors. Protesters march in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 23, 2016 following the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott by police three days earlier Nicholas Kamm (AFP) Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speaks during the fourth and final day of the Democratic National Convention on July 28, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Robyn Beck (AFP/File) Former US President George H. W. Bush attends an event at the White House in July 2013 Brendan Smialowski (AFP/File) Ted Cruz is seen on stage at the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on July 20, 2016 Jim Watson (AFP/File) Donald Trump Jr speaks at the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland on July 19, 2016 Jim Watson (AFP/File) Syrian opposition hits out at world silence over Aleppo Syria's main opposition coalition hit out on Saturday over the "silence of the international community", saying Damascus and its Russian allies were committing "a crime" in the northern city of Aleppo. Heavy Syrian and Russian air strikes on rebel-held eastern areas of Aleppo killed at least 32 civilians on Saturday, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, as Damascus seeks to recapture all of the city. "The Syrian regime and its Russian allies commit atrocities in Syria," Muwaffaq Nirabiya, vice president of the Syrian National Coalition, told reporters in Istanbul, adding what was happening in Aleppo was "a crime". Syrians wait to receive treatment at a make-shift hospital following air strikes on rebel-held eastern areas of Aleppo on September 24, 2016 Karam Al-Masri (AFP) Jawad Abu Hatab, who leads the opposition-in-exile, urged the massacres to stop as he criticised worldwide inaction. "We cannot stand the silence of the international community," he said. He said Damascus and its Russian allies "targeted humanitarian convoys, killed civilians, used chemical weapons -- weapons that are banned by international conventions, dropped barrel bombs against the population, razed entire buildings (and) committed massacres". He was referring to the attack on an aid convoy in Aleppo on Monday which left 20 dead and 18 trucks destroyed. The United States has laid the blame squarely on Russia for the incident. Intense raids continued for a second night on Friday after the regime announced the operation to retake Aleppo on Thursday, following the collapse of a truce deal negotiated between Moscow and Washington. Nirabya dismissed the ceasefire which fell apart earlier this month, adding that "not a single day has been without bombing and air strikes on our people". He said Russia and Damascus closed the road to any political resolution, "preferring to opt for a military strategy until the very end". Aleppo and its surrounding countryside have come under heavy bombardment and suffered some of the bloodiest violence during the more than five-year conflict which has left 300,000 dead and millions forced to flee their homes. Syria at UN says confident of military victory Syria told the United Nations on Saturday that its belief in a military victory was "even greater" because the army was making "great strides" on the ground, with help from Russia, Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem took the podium at the General Assembly as air strikes pounded Aleppo and diplomatic efforts to end the five-year war were deadlocked. "Our belief in victory is even greater now that the Syrian Arab Army is making great strides in its war against terrorism, with the support of the true friends of the Syrian people, notably the Russian Federation, Iran and the Lebanese national resistance," Muallem said. Syrians run for cover during reported government air strikes in the rebel-held town of Douma, east of the capital Damascus Abd Doumany (AFP/File) Intense air strikes toppled buildings and killed at least 45 civilians in Aleppo on Saturday while nearly two million people were without water in the war-battered city. UN chief Ban Ki-moon said he was "appalled by the chilling military escalation" in Aleppo, which has come under heavy bombardment since the Syrian army launched a new offensive to retake the city two days ago. Ban cited reports of air strikes involving the use of incendiary weapons, bunker buster bombs and other powerful munitions, warning that this could amount to war crimes. In his address to the assembly, Muallem said his government was committed to the peace process, but he insisted that Damascus was involved in a life-or-death struggle against "terrorism". "We, in Syria, are combating terrorism on behalf of the whole world," he said. The foreign minister accused Western-backed opposition fighters of carrying out crimes that "are no less barbaric" than those attributed to Islamic State and Al-Qaeda jihadists. Now in its sixth year with more than 300,000 dead, the war in Syria has dominated this year's annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations. - Children are not terrorists - Muallem, who is also deputy prime minister, hit out at Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, accusing them of supporting armed "terrorists" with training and weaponry to fight President Bashar al-Assad's government. The leader of Syria's opposition, Riad Hijab, told a news conference in New York a few hours after Muallem's address that the international community must change its approach to the Syrian conflict. "The children of Syria are not terrorists. The people of Syria are not terrorists," said Hijab. Hijab, the head of the opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC), hit out at Russia for its support of the Damascus regime, saying it had lost credibility as co-chair with the United States of the Syria peace process. "It is time for the international community to put a stop to this," he said. Rebel-held districts in east Aleppo came under intense air and artillery fire for a fifth night as the army prepared a ground offensive to recapture the whole of the divided city. Muallem also used his address at the General Assembly to reject US claims that a coalition strike on Syrian soldiers a week ago was unintentional, saying it was "not an error." Syria "holds the United States fully responsible" for the September 17 coalition strike on a Syrian army base "because facts show that it was an intentional attack, and not an error, even if the United States claims otherwise," he said. Dozens of Syrian soldiers were killed in the bombing of the Syrian air base near the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, which is controlled by IS jihadists. The United States has expressed regret for the loss of lives, saying the coalition believed it was hitting an IS target and promising to investigate the incident. Syria reacted furiously to the strike, announcing the end of the truce on Monday. On that day, an aid convoy was hit by an airstrike that US officials have said was carried out by Russian planes. Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari (R) meeting his Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem in the capital Baghdad STRINGER (Iraqi Foreign Ministry/AFP/File) Obama opens new African American Museum amid national racial strife President Barack Obama hailed Saturday the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, a long-awaited testament to black suffering and triumph in the United States. The first black president of the United States cut the ribbon to inaugurate the striking 400,000-square-foot (37,000-square-meter) bronze-clad edifice before thousands of spectators gathered in the US capital at a time of growing racial friction. "African American history is not somehow separate from our larger American story. It's not the underside of the American story," said Obama. "It is central to the American story." US President Barack Obama and Ruth Odom Bonner (purple) , along with her family and US First Lady Michelle Obama (L), ring a bell to mark the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, on September 24, 2016 Zach Gibson (AFP) The star-studded public ceremony, just four months before Obama leaves office, included Stevie Wonder and Oprah Winfrey. The Smithsonian's 19th addition to its sprawling museum and research complex is the first national museum tasked with documenting the uncomfortable truths of the country's systematic oppression of black people, while also honoring the integral role of African American culture. "A clear-eyed view of history can make us uncomfortable," Obama said. "It is precisely of that discomfort that we learn and grow and harness our collective power to make this nation more perfect. That's the American story that this museum tells." Guests of honor on stage included four generations of the Bonner family, led by 99-year-old great-grandmother Ruth, the daughter of a slave who went on to graduate from medical school. After Obama declared the museum "open to the world," it was she -- stooped in stature but smiling broadly -- who tugged on a rope to ring an antique bell from a historic black church, sealing the inauguration. - Deteriorating race relations - Elected in a wave of optimism in 2008, Obama pledged to unify, often repeating that he is not the president of black Americans but of all Americans. But as his presidential mandate comes to an end, polls show that most Americans believe US race relations are faring badly. The recent fatal police shootings of black men in Tulsa, Oklahoma as well as in Charlotte, North Carolina -- and the protests that followed -- laid bare yet again the country's racial disquiet. Obama delivered his Saturday address amid these ever-heightening tensions, as national outrage grows over the spate of deaths of black men at the hands of police, prompting mass demonstrations. The president emphasized that a museum alone cannot solve the ills of a country still struggling to overcome a dark legacy of slavery and racial prejudice, but said it "provides context for the debate of our times." Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who is seeking to shore up black voter support, meanwhile, stumbled over the building's name, calling it the "Smithsonian national museum of American history, African American art." Trump, who has been accused of racism toward several minority groups, hailed African Americans' "incredible contributions" to the United States, as he spoke to a crowd of supporters in Virginia. - 'Hallowed ground' - The dramatic building -- set in a prime location near the White House and the Washington Monument -- features three inverted-pyramid tiers sheathed in bronze-painted filigree panels that house more than 34,000 objects, nearly half of them donated. It reaches 70 feet (21 meters) below ground, where a crypt of galleries wind from slavery to civil rights to Black Lives Matter, ascending into upper floors that include testaments to African-American cultural contributions. "I'm so happy to see that so many people of color are coming out together just to celebrate themselves and one another," said 50-year-old Derek Jones, who ventured from New York to attend Saturday's celebration that included music, poetry and dancing. "It's amazing to get this opened by the end of Obama's eight years," Jones said, adding that he is "proud that he's still president during the opening -- it's really profound." Thousands of people attended free outdoor concerts with often political tones denouncing racism and police brutality in the evening, with more to follow Sunday. Living Colour, Public Enemy and The Roots were among the performing groups. "When is it going to stop? How many more names will we need to memorize? How many more? How many more before the end of the year?" said Living Colour vocalist Corey Glover. "Any one of us can be at the wrong place at the wrong time." Ringing up to $540 million -- half of which was raised from private donations -- the museum shows "that this country born of change, this country born of revolution, this country of we the people, this country can get better," Obama said. "It is a monument, no less than the others on this mall, to the deep and abiding love for this country and the ideals upon which it is founded. For we, too, are American." Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith attend the opening ceremony for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington on September 24, 2016 Zach Gibson (AFP) US President Barack Obama speaks said "discomfort" arising from African American history was necessary in order to better the nation Zach Gibson (AFP) US President Barack Obama hugs Founding Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Lonnie Bunch, at its opening ceremony on September 24, 2016 in Washington Zach Gibson (AFP) Protesters march in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 23, 2016 following the fatak shooting of African-American Keith Lamont Scott by police three days earlier Nicholas Kamm (AFP/File) Washington's new African American Museum features three inverted-pyramid tiers sheathed in bronze-painted filigree panels, housing more than 34,000 objects Zach Gibson (AFP) Israel's Netanyahu to meet Trump, Clinton in New York Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet separately with American presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in New York on Sunday, an official in his office said. "The meeting was agreed to with Trump first, then we reached out immediately to the Clinton camp for balance," the official told AFP without saying who proposed the first meeting. Netanyahu is already in New York, where he addressed the UN General Assembly on Thursday. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaves after addressing the 71st session of United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York Jewel Samad (AFP/File) Analysts say the Israeli premier is trying to avoid any impression of interfering in the American electoral campaign. During the 2012 race for the White House, US officials criticised Netanyahu over his perceived support for Republican candidate Mitt Romney. Romney visited Jerusalem during his campaign and criticised President Barack Obama's policies on the Middle East. Trump had planned to visit Israel last December, but postponed the trip after his proposal to bar Muslims from entering the United States prompted worldwide condemnation. Niger Delta Avengers break truce with pipeline blast The Niger Delta Avengers on Saturday claimed responsibility for the destruction of a major oil pipeline in southern Nigeria, breaking a ceasefire the militant group had declared a month ago. In a statement, NDA spokesman Mudoch Agbinibo said the group attacked the Bonny pipeline in Rivers State on Friday as "a wake up call", expressing frustration with the negotiations the militants have been holding with authorities. Agbinibo said the NDA was "still in favour of the dialogue" but accused the government of creating "shameful scenes obtainable in Nollywood acts", a reference to Nigeria's huge film industry, accusing authorities of intimidation and blackmail. Niger Delta Avengers attacked the Bonny pipeline in Rivers State expressing frustration with the negotiations the militants have been holding with authorities Pous Utomi Ekpei (AFP/File) "There has been no progress and no breakthrough," he said. The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), which operates the pipeline, said the damage was being investigated. "I can't categorically tell you if it was an attack," a company source told AFP, adding that a statement would be issued following an investigation. The NDA, active in the restive Niger Delta since the start of the year, announced on August 19 that it was laying down its weapons and resuming talks with the government. Targeting oil giants including Shell, Exxon and Chevron, it had hammered the Nigerian economy with months of attacks on vital oil and gas infrastructure, reducing output by a third at a time when global prices are already punishingly low. The NDA is seeking a fairer distribution of the oil revenues that make up 70 percent of state's income and has vowed to fight for development in the Delta where many people remain desperately poor despite the huge wealth of local natural resources. A week before the ceasefire announcement, the NDA threatened to unilaterally declare independence from Nigeria. In August the army launched "Operation Crocodile Smile" in the oil hub of Warri in a bid to re-take control of the region from a proliferation of militant groups. As well as large-scale sabotage, the army is also battling illegal refinery operations and frequent kidnappings. Nigerian army spokesman Sani Usman said Saturday that suspected militants on speed boats had launched a deadly attack against troops at Efut Esighi in Cross River State. "A soldier was killed in action while two soldiers were missing in action," Usman said, attributing the attack to a group close to the NDA, the Bakassi Strike Force. Two militants were killed as troops struck back, the army said. Nigerian oil production has sunk from 2.1 million barrels a day in the first quarter to 1.7 million barrels in the face of repeated militant attacks. UN chief appalled by 'chilling' attacks on Syria's Aleppo UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday said he was appalled by the "chilling" upsurge in fighting in Aleppo and warned that the use of advanced weaponry in Syria's battleground city could amount to war crimes. Ban cited reports of air strikes involving the use of incendiary weapons, bunker buster bombs and other powerful munitions in the offensive launched by the Syrian army two days ago to recapture the city. He warned that "the apparent systematic use of these types of indiscriminate weapons in densely populated areas may amount to war crimes," a statement from his spokesman said. A Syrian man walks past a heavily damaged building following air strikes on rebel-held eastern areas of Aleppo Karam al-Masri (AFP) The UN chief said he was "appalled by the chilling military escalation in the city of Aleppo, which is facing the most sustained and intense bombardment since the start of the Syrian conflict." Intense air strikes toppled buildings and killed at least 45 civilians in Aleppo on Saturday while nearly two million people were left without water in the war-battered city. Ban "considers this a dark day for the global commitment to protect civilians," said the statement. He urged the international community to unite to send a clear message to the Syrian government that "it will not tolerate the use of indiscriminate and ever more deadly and powerful weapons against civilians." China's Li seeks new tack in ties with Cuba Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said it was time for a new direction in relations with Cuba, during a landmark visit to the Americas' lone communist-ruled state. During the first visit by a Chinese premier since the two countries established diplomatic relations 56 years ago Li pledged to "inject a new dynamic in (bilateral) relations," Cuban state media reported. Li met with President Raul Castro at the Palace of the Revolution, with the two communist countries signing about 30 cooperation agreements in a wide range of areas, including a protocol canceling Cuban debts and four loan deals for projects on the island, according to local television. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with President Raul Castro at the Palace of the Revolution, with the two countries signing about 30 cooperation agreements Pool/ Enrique De La Osa (AFP) Though the Cold War ended years ago, Cuba remains isolated after having lost the Soviet Union, and then Venezuela, as its key political and economic allies. Cuba has restored full diplomatic relations with its longtime nemesis, the United States. Havana is cash-strapped and does not have access to commercial credit. China is Cuba's top creditor -- and its number two trade partner after Venezuela. Their total bilateral trade was worth $1.6 billion in 2015, Chinese sources said. Li called for deepening cooperation on biotechnology, renewable energy, computers, home appliances and farm machinery, as well as in culture, education and tourism. Li arrived from Canada, after announcing with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau an agreement to begin talks aimed at reaching a free-trade agreement. The two leaders set a target of doubling trade by 2025. Gabon at UN urges support following Bongo's re-election Gabon's foreign minister on Saturday used his address at the United Nations to call on world governments to help rebuild his country's unity after the contested re-election of President Ali Bongo. "Rebuilding ties and the unity of the country is what is required at this moment," Foreign Minister Emmanuel Isozet Ngondet told the General Assembly. "Preserving peace and stability in the country is the challenge of the moment," he said. People hold a banner and photos during a demonstration of Gabonese associations in Marseille, southern France on September 24, 2016 to protest against the validation of reelection of Gabon's president Ali Bongo Anne-Christine Poujoulat (AFP) Gabon's constitutional court overnight upheld Bongo's victory in elections, rejecting the appeal of defeated rival Jean Ping. Philippines at UN tells world not to interfere The Philippines' foreign secretary on Saturday pushed back against criticism of President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war, telling the United Nations not to interfere. "We urge everyone to allow us to deal with out domestic challenges in order to achieve our national goals, without undue interference," Perfecto Yasay told the UN General Assembly. There has been growing international alarm over the rising death toll from Duterte's crackdown on crime, with human rights groups saying that security forces are engaging in extrajudicial killings. Perfecto Yasay, Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on September 24, 2016 Kena Betancur (AFP) Duterte won elections in a landslide in May after vowing to eradicate the illegal drug trade in six months, and promising that 100,000 criminals would be killed in the process. Since he took office on June 30 about 3,000 people have been killed, about a third of them suspects shot dead by police and the rest murdered by unidentified attackers, according to police statistics. "We have not and we will never empower our law enforcement agents to shoot-to-kill individuals suspected of drug crimes," the foreign secretary told the General Assembly. "Extrajudicial killings have no place in our society, and in our criminal justice system." The top diplomat told the General Assembly that Duterte enjoyed a 92-percent approval rating at home for his stance and suggested that his campaign was misunderstood. "Our actions, however, have grabbed both the national headlines and international attention for all the wrong reasons," he said. He argued that corruption and drugs had "torn apart many of our communities, destroyed our families and snuffed out the hopes and dreams of our people -- young and old -- for a bright future." Invoking the UN's new sustainable development goals adopted last year, Yasay said his country would not be able to meet those goals without tackling corruption and drugs. Relations between Duterte and the United Nations have been tense after the newly-elected leader launched several tirades against the world body for its criticism of his tactics, even threatening to pull out- a threat he later withdrew. Attacks on civilians in Aleppo 'breach' humanitarian law: EU The attacks on civilians in the Syrian city of Aleppo amount to a "breach of international humanitarian law," top EU officials said Saturday, urging the international community to intensify peace efforts. "The indiscriminate suffering being caused among innocent civilians... is an unacceptable breach of international humanitarian law," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and humanitarian commissioner Christos Stylianides said in a statement. They denounced the "fire-bombing and shelling" as well as the "deliberate targeting" of a humanitarian convoy last week and the "cutting off of water supplies to the majority of civilians still in the city." A Syrian family leaves the area following a reported airstrike on September 23, 2016, on the al-Muasalat area in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Thaer Mohammed (AFP) The aid convoy was hit by an airstrike that US officials have said was carried out by Russian planes backing President Bashar al-Assad's regime. UN officials say nearly two million civilians were left without water in the devastated northern city after regime bombardment damaged a pumping station and rebels shut down another in retaliation. In their statement dated Brussels, Mogherini and Stylianides called the suffering caused by the attacks "an affront" to the whole world. "It risks to take us ever further from a negotiated settlement of the conflict, which remains the only way of bringing it to an end," they added. The pair called on those with influence on the regime and those dealing with the armed opposition "to apply the maximum pressure to cease the attacks." They also urged them to work to "allow unhindered and continuous humanitarian access to those in need, and resume political negotiations under the auspices of the UN in Geneva as swiftly as possible." Man killed at home rented by former Canadian talk show host LOS ANGELES (AP) Los Angeles police were searching Friday for the killer of a man in a Hollywood Hills home being rented by a former Canadian TV talk show host. George Stroumboulopoulos, who has interviewed some of the biggest celebrities in the world, said it appeared the killing occurred during a break-in. "The victim was a dear friend of mine, who was staying at my place while I was away," Stroumboulopoulos said in a prepared statement. "I am heartbroken." FILE - In this March 9, 2014 file photo, George Stroumboulopoulos poses on the red carpet at the 2014 Canadian Screen Awards, in Toronto.Los Angeles police are searching for a suspect in the killing of a man at a home in the Hollywood Hills. The house is being rented by a former Canadian TV talk-show host Stroumboulopoulos, who says the victim was a close friend who was staying there while he was in New York. Stroumboulopoulos said in a statement Friday afternoon, Sept. 23, 2016, that it appears the killing occurred during a break-in, and he is quickly returning to Los Angeles. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP, File) The cause of death and the name of the victim were not immediately disclosed. Police did say the victim was in his 40s and suffered head trauma. Officers were called to investigate a burglary shortly after 2 a.m. at the house not far from the Hollywood Bowl. A man about 5-foot-8 with short black hair and a black jacket was seen fleeing the area, police said. Stroumboulopoulos, 44, had a show on Canadian broadcaster CBC from 2005 to 2014. Before that he was a host on Canada's music channel, MuchMusic. FILE - In this March 9, 2014 file photo, George Stroumboulopoulos poses on the red carpet at the 2014 Canadian Screen Awards, in Toronto. Los Angeles police are searching for a suspect in the killing of a man at a home in the Hollywood Hills. The house is being rented by a former Canadian TV talk-show host Stroumboulopoulos, who says the victim was a close friend who was staying there while he was in New York. Stroumboulopoulos said in a statement Friday afternoon, Sept. 23, 2016, that it appears the killing occurred during a break-in, and he is quickly returning to Los Angeles. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP, File) Witness: Christie used bridge authority to gain endorsements NEWARK, N.J. (AP) Republican Gov. Chris Christie's office used the bistate agency that runs the New York area's bridges, tunnels, ports and airports as a clearinghouse for political favors aimed at gaining endorsements from local Democratic politicians, a witness testified Friday in the fraud trial of two former Christie allies. Among those directly involved in the effort or aware of it were Bridget Kelly and Bill Baroni, who are accused of creating traffic gridlock at the George Washington Bridge in 2013 to punish one of those mayors for not endorsing Christie, according to David Wildstein's testimony. Wildstein said Christie and his former campaign manager, Bill Stepien, were among those who discussed the strategy at a meeting about Christie's 2013 re-election. David Wildstein arrives at Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Courthouse for a hearing, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, in Newark, N.J. Wildstein, pleaded guilty last year to orchestrating traffic jams in 2013 to punish a Democratic mayor who didn't endorse Gov. Chris Christie. Three years after gridlock paralyzed a New Jersey town next to the George Washington Bridge for days, two former allies of Christie, Bill Baroni and Bridget Kelly, are being tried. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Stepien and another former Christie aide who testified Friday now work for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's campaign. Wildstein has pleaded guilty in the scheme to tie up traffic at the bridge, which spans the Hudson River and connects Fort Lee with New York City. Baroni was Wildstein's boss at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the agency that operates the bridges, airports and other facilities including the World Trade Center. Kelly was Christie's deputy chief of staff and headed an office responsible for outreach to county and municipal officials. They are accused of reducing access lanes to the bridge and face fraud, conspiracy and civil rights charges. They have pleaded not guilty and have said the government has twisted federal law to turn their actions into crimes. They also have said other people with more power and influence were involved in the lane closures but aren't being prosecuted. Christie has denied knowing about the bridge scheme until well after it was carried out, and a taxpayer-funded report he commissioned absolved him of wrongdoing. He hasn't been charged. Christie's office and a Port Authority spokesman didn't return messages seeking comment Friday. Stepien's lawyer declined to comment. The favors doled out to towns and local officials included grants, emergency response equipment, private tours of the World Trade Center redevelopment site and pieces of steel salvaged from the destroyed twin towers, Wildstein said. A former Christie campaign staffer testified Kelly's office kept a spreadsheet noting what favors mayors had received and, on a scale from 1 to 10, their likelihood of endorsing Christie. While the Port Authority would provide the benefits, Wildstein testified, the governor's office would control the process and take most of the credit in its quest to curry favor with politicians from whom it sought endorsements. "That was the system that had been established," he said. "All use of Port Authority resources had to be approved by the governor's office. And the governor's office always was the deliverer of good news." During testimony earlier Friday, former Christie campaign staffer Matt Mowers said Christie wrote a letter to the Port Authority supporting the purchase of commuter shuttle buses Democratic Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich had requested. Sokolich eventually declined to endorse Christie in 2013 and was the target of the lane-closing scheme, prosecutors say. Mowers, who now works for Trump, also testified he told Kelly about Sokolich's decision on Aug. 12, 2013, the day before Kelly sent an email to Wildstein saying, "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee." Kelly has said her emails were meant to be sarcastic. Wildstein, at the beginning of his testimony, said he and Baroni often talked of the "one-constituent rule," referring to Christie as the only constituent they needed to serve. Wildstein and Christie attended high school together, and Wildstein was hired by the Port Authority to a position created for him. Port Authority Executive Director Patrick Foye testified Wildstein was universally hated at the agency but was "protected" by Christie, but Christie has denied the two had a close relationship. During opening statements, prosecutors said Wildstein will testify he bragged to Christie about the lane closures on the third day of the four-day shutdown. Christie's office has pointed to a statement he gave in 2014, denying he knew about the plot while it was ongoing. David Wildstein, right, arrives at Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Courthouse for a hearing, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, in Newark, N.J. Wildstein, pleaded guilty last year to orchestrating traffic jams in 2013 to punish a Democratic mayor who didn't endorse Gov. Chris Christie. Three years after gridlock paralyzed a New Jersey town next to the George Washington Bridge for days, two former allies of Christie, Bill Baroni and Bridget Kelly, are being tried. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) David Wildstein, center, arrives at Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Courthouse for a hearing, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, in Newark, N.J. Wildstein, pleaded guilty last year to orchestrating traffic jams in 2013 to punish a Democratic mayor who didn't endorse Gov. Chris Christie. Three years after gridlock paralyzed a New Jersey town next to the George Washington Bridge for days, two former allies of Christie, Bill Baroni and Bridget Kelly, are being tried. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) David Wildstein arrives at Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Courthouse for a hearing, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, in Newark, N.J. Wildstein, pleaded guilty last year to orchestrating traffic jams in 2013 to punish a Democratic mayor who didn't endorse Gov. Chris Christie. Three years after gridlock paralyzed a New Jersey town next to the George Washington Bridge for days, two former allies of Christie, Bill Baroni and Bridget Kelly, are being tried. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Matt Mowers, a former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie campaign staffer who sought an endorsement from Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, arrives at Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Court for a hearing, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, in Newark, N.J. Three years after gridlock paralyzed a New Jersey town next to the George Washington Bridge for days, two former allies of Christie, Baroni and Bridget Kelly, are being tried. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's former Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Anne Kelly, right, arrives at Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Court for a hearing, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, in Newark, N.J. Three years after gridlock paralyzed a New Jersey town next to the George Washington Bridge for days, two former allies of Christie, Bill Baroni and Kelly, are being tried.(AP Photo/Julio Cortez) New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's former Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Anne Kelly, right, arrives at Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Court for a hearing, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, in Newark, N.J. Three years after gridlock paralyzed a New Jersey town next to the George Washington Bridge for days, two former allies of Christie, Bill Baroni and Kelly, are being tried.(AP Photo/Julio Cortez) MH370 wreckage hunter won't give up until mystery solved CANBERRA, Australia (AP) The fedora, the bomber jacket and the consuming quest invite comparisons to Indiana Jones. Blaine Gibson, though, hasn't matched the film hero's triumph in finding the legendary chest containing the stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments. Not that he didn't try. "The Ark of the Covenant, I did not find it. However, I do believe that it's in Ethiopia somewhere," Gibson told AP recently. The amateur sleuth has had far greater success finding clues from a modern mystery: the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. In this Sept. 12, 2016 photo, Blaine Gibson speaks to the media during an interview about his on-going quest to find the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in Canberra, Australia. Gibson is the first person searching for the plane who's actually found any trace of it and says he won't quit gathering clues until the mystery is solved. (AP Photo/Rod McGuirk) He is the first person searching for the plane who's actually found any trace of it and says he won't quit gathering clues until the mystery is solved. "Travel is what I do, but I always love travel with a purpose, and solving the mystery of Malaysia 370 is a purpose ... until I or someone else finds out what happened to the plane and those on board," he said while in the Australian capital of Canberra to visit the headquarters for the official plane search. The Boeing 777 carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members is thought to have plunged into the southern Indian Ocean after inexplicably flying far off course during a flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing, on March 8, 2014. The first reports that Gibson had found a possible part of the plane met with skepticism. Other pieces of suspected debris have been stumbled upon by chance. But how could one private citizen succeed in finding a piece of the plane where a multi-government, multimillion-dollar search had failed? Answer: There is no official search being conducted, beyond that of the 120,000 square kilometers (46,000 square miles) of seabed southwest of Australia calculated to be the crash site. But the triangular panel stenciled "no step" that Gibson found on Feb. 27 has been confirmed as almost certainly a horizontal stabilizer from a Flight 370 wing. Gibson said he found himself in Mozambique partly because oceanographers had told him that debris might wash up on its beaches and partly because he had never visited the country. (The 58-year-old born in California has been to 177 countries in a quest to visit them all). Getting to know relatives of the missing has ended any chance of him conceding defeat in his search. "It was good management, but it was also a lot of luck," Gibson said. "What you don't see before that were the number of beaches that I combed in Reunion, in Mauritius in other parts of the world and found nothing." Gibson has since recovered another 13 pieces of potential debris in Madagascar, with the help of locals he has befriended who now search for him. He and victims' relatives have been frustrated by Malaysia's hesitance to collect the debris and potential personal effects and analyze them for clues. Gibson hand-delivered five pieces of debris on Sept. 12 when he and relatives of Flight 370 victims met in Canberra with officials of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which is conducting the deep-sea sonar search on Malaysia's behalf. Warren Truss, a former deputy prime minister who oversaw the search until retiring from politics in February, expects more of Gibson's finds will be confirmed. "He has certainly made a constructive contribution to the search," said Truss. Australian oceanographer David Griffin, one of two Gibson credits with pointing him the right direction, found the American to be frustrated that search responsibilities fell between cracks of coordinating agencies. "He sees that one man can just go and get on with the job. I think it's terrific that somebody who has the ability and resources to do that just gets on with it," Griffin said. Gibson has also been a volunteer archaeologist in Belize and Guatemala investigating the fate of the Mayan civilization. His old friend Peter Davenport said he was not surprised that the adventurer would immerse himself so completely in the aviation mystery. Davenport, who is director of the National UFO Reporting Center based in Washington state, said he once got Gibson interested in the Tunguska event: a large explosion near the Stony Tunguska River in Siberia that flattened a vast area of forest in 1908. "Next thing I know, he's there trying to befriend people who knew something about it and trying to get to the heart of the mystery, which is still a mystery in my opinion. It was not a meteor, clearly," Davenport said. (Gibson concludes the explosion was caused by a meteor that vaporized in the atmosphere). Davenport said his friend of more than two decades had the capability to solve mysteries as well as the desire. "He is very engaging, he gets along with people very well, he's non-confrontational, I would say, and these are all qualities that I think evoke in people a desire to work with him and to help him," Davenport said. Gibson said he has always worked to fund travel and selling his deceased parents' home in Carmel, California, for more than $1 million in 2014 will keep him in the hunt for Flight 370. But he and victims' families wish governments would coordinate efforts to collect debris washing up on the western shores of the Indian Ocean. Studying the debris could explain the crash and drift modeling could better indicate where the main wreckage lies. The underwater search is due to end around December if it finds nothing or fresh clues fail to pinpoint a crash site. Gibson is not sure where he will search next, but the Seychelles and Comoros Islands are options unexplored. He did not have a preferred theory of what happened, and warned against the public accepting a popular theory that Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah stole the plane. "People jump to that conclusion simply because there's no other explanation, it's easy to pin it on the pilot who is not around to defend himself, write the mystery off and the search off forever: that is not acceptable," he said. He said the missing plane was a world problem that more nations needed to work to solve. "We need to know that if we get on a plane, we're not just going to disappear," he added. This Sept. 16, 2016 photo provided by Blaine Gibson shows him holding a piece of aircraft debris on a beach in Madagascar. Gibson is the first person searching for the plane who's actually found any trace of it and says he won't quit gathering clues until the mystery is solved. (Blain Gibson via AP) This Sept. 17, 2016 photo provided by Blaine Gibson shows him holding a piece of aircraft debris on a beach in Madagascar. Gibson is the first person searching for the plane who's actually found any trace of it and says he won't quit gathering clues until the mystery is solved. (Blaine Gibson via AP) Police: Lone gunman kills 4 females at Washington state mall BURLINGTON, Wash. (AP) Police searched Saturday for a gunman who opened fire in the makeup department of a Macy's store at a mall north of Seattle, killing four females, authorities said. Washington State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Mark Francis said police were seeking a Hispanic man wearing black and armed with a rifle last seen walking toward Interstate 5. "We are still actively looking for the shooter," Francis said at a news conference. "Stay indoors, stay secure." This video image provided by Skagit County Department of Emergency Management shows a suspect wanted by the authorities regarding a shooting at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Authorities in Washington State say several people have been killed during a shooting at a mall north of Seattle and that at least one suspect remains at large. (Skagit County Department of Emergency Management via AP) Authorities say the motive for Friday night's shooting which also left a male critically wounded was unknown. The FBI was assisting local authorities as dozens of police officers searched for the suspect. The FBI's Seattle office said on Twitter that it "has no information to suggest additional attacks planned" in Washington state but did not elaborate. The deadly shooting happened in the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of Seattle. Francis said the "lone shooter" attacked the victims with a "hunting type rifle." Authorities initially reported four people were killed, then said three were dead, before revising the number again. Francis said the number fluctuated as authorities searched the shopping center. Tari Caswell told the Skagit Valley Herald she was in the Macy's women's dressing room when she heard "what sounded like four balloons popping." "Then I heard seven or eight more, and I just stayed quiet in the dressing room because it just didn't feel right. And it got very quiet. And then I heard a lady yelling for help, and a man came and got me and another lady, and we ran out of the store," Caswell told the newspaper. Stephanie Bose, an assistant general manager at Johnny Carino's Italian restaurant near the Macy's store at the mall, said she immediately locked the doors to the restaurant after hearing about the shooting from an employee's boyfriend. "He was trying to go to the mall and people were screaming," she told The Associated Press. "It was frantic." She said he could see police at the doors with assault rifles and said they were no longer guarding the doors as of 9:30 p.m. Francis said at about 8:30 p.m. that the mall had been evacuated and emergency medical personnel were cleared to enter. Francis said authorities were still doing a "final clear" of the 434,000-square-foot (40,319-square-meter) mall late Friday night. He said 11 search teams and two K9 units were involved. The parking lot was closed and emergency management officials told people they would be able to retrieve vehicles Saturday. Gov. Jay Inslee said tragedy had struck the state. "We urge residents to heed all safety and detour warnings. Stay close to your friends and loved ones as we await more information and, hopefully, news of the suspect's capture," Inslee said in a statement. The Cascade Mall is an enclosed shopping mall that opened in 1990, according to the mall's website. It features J.C. Penney, TJ Maxx, and Macy's stores, among other stores, restaurants and a movie theater. On Sept. 17 a man stabbed 10 people at a Minnesota mall before being shot and killed by an off-duty police officer. Authorities say Dahir Ahmed Adan, 20, stabbed the people at the Crossroads Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota. ___ Baumann reported from Seattle. Law enforcement officers work at the crime scene outside of Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., where several people were fatally shot on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Authorities in Washington State say several people have been killed during a shooting at the mall north of Seattle and that at least one suspect remains at large. Sgt. Mark Francis says authorities are searching for a man wearing gray who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5 from the mall. (Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times via AP) Law enforcement investigate a deadly shooting in the Macy's store at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. A gunman opened fire in the crowded mall north of Seattle, killing several people and critically wounding another before fleeing Friday night, authorities said. Washington State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Mark Francis said police were searching for a Hispanic man wearing black and armed with a rifle who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Law enforcement officers stand in front of the Macy's store at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., where several people were fatally shot, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Authorities in Washington State say several people have been killed during a shooting at the mall north of Seattle. At least one gunman is believed to be still at large. (Rick Lund/The Seattle Times via AP) Law enforcement officers work at the crime scene outside of Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., where several people were fatally shot on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Authorities in Washington State say several people have been killed during a shooting at the mall north of Seattle and that at least one suspect remains at large. Sgt. Mark Francis says authorities are searching for a man wearing gray who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5 from the mall. (Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times via AP) Law enforcement officers stand in front of the Macy's department store at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., where the Washington State Patrol reports a fatal shooting, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Authorities in Washington State say several people have been killed during a shooting at the mall north of Seattle. At least one gunman is believed to be still at large. (Rick Lund/The Seattle Times via AP) Latest: Police now say 4 fatally shot in mall north Seattle BURLINGTON, Wash. (AP) The Latest on a fatal shooting at a mall in Washington state (all times local): 11:40 p.m. Authorities now say four females were fatally shot at a mall north of Seattle and one male was critically injured. Law enforcement investigate a deadly shooting in the Macy's store at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. A gunman opened fire in the crowded mall north of Seattle, killing several people and critically wounding another before fleeing Friday night, authorities said. Washington State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Mark Francis said police were searching for a Hispanic man wearing black and armed with a rifle who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Washington State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Mark Francis updated the fatality figures late Friday night. Authorities initially said four people were killed, then said three were dead, before revising the number again. Francis said the number fluctuated as authorities searched the large Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington. Francis said "one lone shooter" remained on the loose. He said the victims were shot in the makeup department of the Macy's store. No motive was immediately known. ___ 10:56 p.m. The FBI says it is assisting local authorities in the investigation into a deadly mall shooting in Washington state. The Washington State Patrol says three females were killed and one male critically injured Friday night at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, north of Seattle. Patrol spokesman Sgt. Mark Francis said no motive was immediately known. The FBI's Seattle office said via Twitter that it "has no information to suggest additional attacks planned" in Washington state but did not elaborate. The FBI says it is helping with intelligence review and manpower. Authorities say the gunman is still on the loose. ___ 9:55 p.m. Authorities say three people were killed and two injured when a gunman opened fire at a mall north of Seattle. Washington State Patrol spokesman Mark Francis said Friday night that three females were killed, one male suffered life-threatening injuries and another female suffered non-life threatening injuries at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington. Authorities had previously said four people were killed, but updated the number of fatalities after they were able to secure the scene. Authorities were searching for a gunman they described as a Hispanic male wearing a black shirt. ___ 9:30 p.m. Gov. Jay Inslee says tragedy has struck in Washington state in Burlington, where a shooter has taken the lives of at least three people. The governor said in a statement that many questions remain but state patrol and local law enforcement are on the scene working swiftly to locate the shooter and clear the area. "Trudi and I send our condolences to the families of the victims and prayers for anyone injured. We urge residents to heed all safety and detour warnings. Stay close to your friends and loved ones as we await more information and, hopefully, news of the suspect's capture." The Washington State Patrol had previously said on Twitter that four were shot. ___ 9:23 p.m. An employee at a restaurant near a deadly mall shooting in Washington state said they "immediately locked the doors" when they heard of the mayhem Friday night. Stephanie Bose, an assistant general manager at Johnny Carino's Italian restaurant near Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, told The Associated Press the shooting happened inside the Macy's department store. Her restaurant is just outside the Macy's. Authorities say four people were slain and the gunman was still on the loose. A boyfriend of one of Bose's employees came into the restaurant after trying to go to the mall. She said he saw people screaming and police blocking the door with assault rifles. ___ 9:10 p.m. Federal authorities are responding to a deadly mall shooting in Washington state. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives said Friday night it was deploying to Burlington, Washington, after authorities said four people were killed at the Cascade Mall. Authorities were searching for a man wearing gray who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5. It wasn't clear if more than one gunman was involved. ___ 8:47 p.m. Authorities in Washington state say four people have been killed during a shooting at a mall north of Seattle and that at least one suspect remains at large. The Washington State Patrol says on Twitter that the four were shot Friday at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) north of Seattle. Sgt. Mark Francis says authorities are searching for a man wearing gray who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5. Francis says it wasn't immediately known if there was more than one gunman involved. Francis said at about 8:30 p.m. that the mall had been evacuated and emergency medical personnel were cleared to enter and attend to any injuries. It wasn't immediately clear how many people were hurt. The Cascade Mall is an enclosed shopping mall in Burlington, Washington that opened in 1990, according to the mall's website. It features J.C. Penney, TJ Maxx, and Macy's stores, among other stores, restaurants and a movie theater. Law enforcement officers work at the crime scene outside of Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., where several people were fatally shot on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Authorities in Washington State say several people have been killed during a shooting at the mall north of Seattle and that at least one suspect remains at large. Sgt. Mark Francis says authorities are searching for a man wearing gray who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5 from the mall. (Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times via AP) This video image provided by Skagit County Department of Emergency Management shows a suspect wanted by the authorities regarding a shooting at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Authorities in Washington State say several people have been killed during a shooting at a mall north of Seattle and that at least one suspect remains at large. (Skagit County Department of Emergency Management via AP) Law enforcement investigate a deadly shooting in the Macy's store at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. A gunman opened fire in the crowded mall north of Seattle, killing several people and critically wounding another before fleeing Friday night, authorities said. Washington State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Mark Francis said police were searching for a Hispanic man wearing black and armed with a rifle who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Law enforcement officers stand in front of the Macy's department store at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., where the Washington State Patrol reports a fatal shooting, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Authorities in Washington State say several people have been killed during a shooting at the mall north of Seattle. At least one gunman is believed to be still at large. (Rick Lund/The Seattle Times via AP) Law enforcement officers stand in front of the Macy's store at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., where several people were fatally shot, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Authorities in Washington State say several people have been killed during a shooting at the mall north of Seattle. At least one gunman is believed to be still at large. (Rick Lund/The Seattle Times via AP) Law enforcement officers work at the crime scene outside of Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., where several people were fatally shot on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Authorities in Washington State say several people have been killed during a shooting at the mall north of Seattle and that at least one suspect remains at large. Sgt. Mark Francis says authorities are searching for a man wearing gray who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5 from the mall. (Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times via AP) Indonesia declares candidacy for UN Security Council JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) Indonesia announced Friday its candidacy for membership on the U.N. Security Council, saying its commitment and contribution to the world's body make it a true partner for world peace. In a speech before the U.N. General Assembly, Indonesian Vice President Muhammad Jusuf Kalla said the United Nations needs reforms to make it stronger and more relevant to 21st century challenges and realities. Among the issues it was facing, he cited irregular migration resulting from conflict in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and other places, along with climate change, unregulated fishing and cybercrime. Kalla noted Indonesia's steady commitment to increase its peacekeeping force to 4,000 personnel by 2019 and its efforts to fight terrorism both regional and globally. As the world's most populous Muslim nation and its third-largest democracy, Indonesia sees Islam modernity and women empowerment as going hand in hand with the promotion of democracy, tolerance, pluralism and peace, he said. Indonesia's Vice President Muhammad Jusuf Kalla addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) Savior or disaster? UK's Labour divided on Corbyn victory LIVERPOOL, England (AP) Soft-spoken socialist Jeremy Corbyn is the antithesis of Donald Trump. But the British politician resoundingly re-elected leader of the opposition Labour Party on Saturday is riding the same wave of anti-centrist sentiment that's propelling the brash U.S. Republican presidential candidate. Both are political outsiders who have unsettled their parties and energized their large fan bases, but whose ability to win power remains unproven. Jeremy Corbyn celebrates his victory following the announcement of the winner in the Labour leadership contest between him and Owen Smith at the ACC Liverpool. England Saturday Sept, 24, 2016. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP) To supporters like Carel Buxton, a retired school principal from London, the 67-year-old longtime leftist Corbyn is "authentic." "People in this country are sick to death of well-spoken, booted-and-suited slimy politicians," she said. But to detractors like John McTernan, a former senior adviser to Prime Minister Tony Blair, Corbyn "is nothing other than a complete and utter disaster for the Labour Party." Last year Corbyn, a long-time back-bench lawmaker, was the shock choice of party members to head Labour, which has lost two successive general elections to the Conservatives. He has strong support among local activists, but many Labour legislators believe his left-wing views are out of step with public opinion, and tried to unseat him. It didn't work. After a months-long leadership battle, Corbyn won almost 62 percent of the more than 500,000 votes cast by Labour members and supporters. His challenger, Welsh lawmaker Owen Smith, got 38 percent in a result announced Saturday at the party's conference in Liverpool, northwest England. Corbyn's margin of victory is larger than a year ago, but he heads a party that's deeply divided about whether it values political principles over gaining power. Accepting his victory to a standing ovation from delegates, Corbyn pledged to work for unity. "We have much more in common than that which divides us," he said. "As far as I'm concerned, let's wipe that slate clean from today and get on with the work we've got to do as a party." Like Bernie Sanders, who shares some of Corbyn's outlook, or Trump who definitely doesn't Corbyn is a sign of how the political center ground has eroded. Corbyn spent more than 30 years as a Labour lawmaker, never holding a senior role and best known for his frequent rebellions against the center-left party's leadership. When he ran for leader, few expected him to win. But he was propelled to victory by thousands of new members who joined Labour to back him. For Corbyn supporters, it was a chance to repudiate the centrist "new Labour" vision of Blair, who won three British elections starting in 1997 but became too cozy with big business for some tastes and took Britain into the unpopular U.S.-led Iraq War. Labour lost power in 2010 to Conservative-led governments that have overseen years of public spending cuts. Corbyn harkens back to Labour's working-class socialist roots with promises to build hundreds of thousands of government-backed homes, raise wages for the poor and taxes for the rich, abolish university tuition fees and get rid of Britain's nuclear weapons. Tens of thousands more new members have flocked to Labour since Corbyn was elected, making it Britain's largest party. He draws big crowds to rallies and meetings, and his supporters are a formidable force on social media. His followers dubbed Corbynistas see Labour as a mass movement for social justice, similar to Spain's Podemos, rather than simply a machine for winning elections. "Politics is changing," said Emma Hamblett, a Labour conference delegate from Romford, near London. "It's becoming more people-powered (rather) than just the elite at the top. We're having a voice. It's generating a lot of excitement, especially among the young." But most Labour lawmakers and a chunk of party members despair of ever regaining power while Corbyn is in charge. They argue that his policies are too narrowly left-wing to win over undecided voters. And they fear a return to Labour's civil war of the 1980s, when party leaders battled to eject hard-left factions and some members split to form the Social Democratic Party. Although he enthuses crowds at rallies, Corbyn is a lackluster performer in Parliament. He gave only muted support to the European Union during this year's referendum campaign on whether Britain should leave the 28-nation bloc, a factor some think contributed to the "leave" victory that will change the country's future forever. There's also frustration among Corbyn's opponents that he is not providing strong political opposition at an uncertain time, as Britain negotiates its exit from the EU. After the June 23 EU referendum, more than 170 of Labour's 230 MPs declared no-confidence in Corbyn, but he refused to resign, sparking a leadership challenge from the little-known Smith. The contest was nasty, fraught with online name-calling and allegations that the leadership of the strongly pro-Palestinian Corbyn has fostered anti-Semitic abuse in the party. Corbyn called Saturday for an end to "intimidation and abuse." "It's not my way, and it's not the Labour way," he said. Despite the calls for unity, Labour members continue to trade blame for the party's woes. Pro- and anti-Corbyn forces are tussling for control of the party executive and battling over who chooses the members of Labour's top team in Parliament. Lawmaker Diane Abbott, a Corbyn ally, urged dissenting lawmakers to "settle down and unite behind the leader." John Spellar, a long-serving Labour lawmaker who backed Smith, said the century-old party would find a more moderate path again, eventually. "This country needs a sensible progressive party, and it will get one back," he said. "It's just a question of time." ___ Follow Jill Lawless on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/JillLawless OJeremy Corbyn celebrates his victory following the announcement of the winner in the Labour leadership contest between him and Owen Smith at the ACC Liverpool. England Saturday Sept, 24, 2016. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP) Jeremy Corbyn celebrates his victory following the announcement of the winner in the Labour leadership contest between him and Owen Smith at the ACC Liverpool. England Saturday Sept, 24, 2016. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP) Jeremy Corbyn celebrates his victory following the announcement of the winner in the Labour leadership contest between him and Owen Smith at the ACC Liverpool. England Saturday Sept, 24, 2016. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP) Owen Smith and Jeremy Corbyn before the announcement of the winner in the Labour leadership contest between the pair at the ACC Liverpool. England Saturday Sept, 24, 2016. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP) Owen Smith and Jeremy Corbyn before the announcement of the winner in the Labour leadership contest between the pair at the ACC Liverpool.England Saturday Sept, 24, 2016. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP) Owen Smith, left, and Jeremy Corbyn before the announcement of the winner in the Labour leadership contest between the pair at the ACC Liverpool. England Saturday Sept, 24, 2016. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP) Doubts remain after Charlotte police shooting video released CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Charlotte police released dramatic video Saturday that shows officers with guns drawn surrounding a black man with his hands at his side before shots are fired and he buckles and falls. It's unclear if there was anything in the man's hands in the footage, which has done little to assuage his relatives. The footage of the fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott was released amid days of protests, including an outpouring by hundreds earlier Saturday, which coalesced around demands for the public to see the video. Police said Scott had a gun, though residents have said he was unarmed. In the dashboard camera video released Saturday night, Scott could be seen slowly backing away from his SUV with his hands down, and it's not apparent if he's holding anything. Four shots are heard, and he falls to the ground. This image made from video provided by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 shows Keith Scott on the ground as police approach him in Charlotte, N.C., on Sept. 20, 2016. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department via AP) Police also released photos of a handgun from the scene, saying it was loaded and contained Scott's DNA and fingerprints. They also said Scott had marijuana. The dashboard camera footage starts with a police car pulling up as two officers point their guns at Scott, who is inside the SUV with the doors closed and windows rolled up. Scott gets out and starts walking backward before shots are fired. From a different angle, newly released police body camera footage shows an officer approach with his gun drawn and another officer already pointing his gun at Scott. When Scott comes into view, his hands are at his side and he's standing beside his SUV. The body camera footage doesn't show the moment shots are fired, and Scott is next seen on the ground. An attorney for Scott's family, Justin Bamberg, said the footage leaves questions unanswered more than it provides clarity. "One of the biggest questions," Bamberg said, "is do those actions, do those precious seconds, justify this shooting?" Ray Dotch, Scott's brother-in-law, objected to reporters' questions about Scott's background, saying he shouldn't have to "humanize him in order for him to be treated fairly." "What we know and what you should know about him is that he was an American citizen who deserved better," he added. Before releasing the footage, Chief Kerr Putney said at a news conference that he received assurances from the State Bureau of Investigation that making it public wouldn't impact the state's independent probe of the shooting. Asked whether he expected the footage to calm protesters, Putney responded: "The footage itself will not create in anyone's mind absolute certainty as to what this case represents and what the outcome should be. The footage only supports all of the other information" such as physical evidence and statements from witnesses and officers. Putney said that his officers didn't break the law but noted the state investigation continues. "Officers are absolutely not being charged by me at this point, but again, there's another investigation ongoing," he said. Putney said that Scott was "absolutely in possession of a handgun." A police narrative released along with the video gives the most complete account yet of what brought Scott to police attention. Two plainclothes officers in an unmarked vehicle were preparing to serve a warrant on someone else when Scott pulled up and parked next to them, according to the document. The officers saw Scott rolling a marijuana cigar, or blunt, though they didn't consider it a priority at first, it said. But then one of the officers saw him hold up a gun, the document states. "Due to the combination of illegal drugs and the gun Mr. Scott had in his possession, officers decided to take enforcement action for public safety concerns," the document said. The narrative says Scott didn't respond to repeated commands to drop his weapon. Those commands aren't heard in the body camera video, which doesn't have audible sound until after the shooting. Amid anxiety and unease over the shooting of Scott, demonstrations in Charlotte have gone from violent to peaceful, although demands to see the police video remained a chief concern of protesters. Before the release of the video, hundreds massed outside at the Charlotte police department building on Saturday afternoon chanting the name "Keith Scott." They also chanted, "No tapes, no peace" and raised signs including one reading "Stop Killing The Black People." The city has been on edge ever since Scott's shooting death. The demonstrations reached a violent crescendo on Wednesday before the National Guard was called in a day later to maintain order. Forty-four people were arrested after Wednesday's protests, and one protester who was shot died at a hospital Thursday. City officials said police did not shoot 26-year-old Justin Carr, and a suspect was arrested. The next two nights of protests were free of property damage and violence, with organizers stressing a message of peace at the end of the week. Charlotte is the latest U.S. city to be shaken by protests and recriminations over the death of a black man at the hands of police, a list that includes Baltimore, Milwaukee, Chicago, New York and Ferguson, Missouri. This combination of photos provided by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 shows an ankle holster, top, and gun which police say were in Keith Scotts possession at the time he was fatally shot by police in Charlotte, N.C., on Sept. 20, 2016. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department via AP) This image made from video provided by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 shows Keith Scott, left, moments before he was fatally shot by police in Charlotte, N.C., on Sept. 20, 2016. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department via AP) Protesters stand in unity in Romare Bearden Park as they prepare to march throughout the city of Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Dozens of demonstrators are out in Charlotte for a fourth night of protests after the shooting of a black man by a police officer. People gathered Friday night at a park and then marched through Charlotte's business district with signs. (Jeff Siner/The Charlotte Observer via AP) FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 file photo, protesters block I-277 during a third night of unrest following Tuesday's police fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. Protesters who have filled the streets to push for the release of video of Scott's shooting could see their task get much harder if Charlotte authorities do not share the footage within a week. A North Carolina law that takes effect Oct. 1 will declare that the video is not a public record and that only a judge can release it. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File) Protesters raises their fists as they observer a moment of silence as they march in the streets of Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, over Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) A protester raises her fist as she marches in the streets of Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, over Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 file photo, demonstrators protest Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. Protesters who have filled the streets to push for the release of video of Scott's shooting could see their task get much harder if Charlotte authorities do not share the footage within a week. A North Carolina law that takes effect Oct. 1 will declare that the video is not a public record and that only a judge can release it. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File) Protesters shout as they march in the streets of Charlotte, N.C. Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, to protest Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) A protester greets a member of the North Carolina National Guard as they march in the streets of Charlotte, N.C. Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 to protest Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Protesters march to protest Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, during a march through the streets of Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. After darkness fell, dozens of people carried signs and chanted to urge police to release dashboard and body camera video that could show more clearly what happened. (Jeff Siner/The Charlotte Observer via AP) A pickup truck carries Charlotte police officers through the streets of the city as they follow demonstrators marching to protest Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. After darkness fell, dozens of people carried signs and chanted to urge police to release dashboard and body camera video that could show more clearly what happened. (Jeff Siner/The Charlotte Observer via AP) Protesters stand in unity as they prepare to march throughout the city to protest Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. After darkness fell, dozens of people carried signs and chanted to urge police to release dashboard and body camera video that could show more clearly what happened. (Jeff Siner/The Charlotte Observer via AP) /The Charlotte Observer via AP) Protesters stand in unity as they prepare to march throughout the city of Charlotte to protest Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. After darkness fell, dozens of people carried signs and chanted to urge police to release dashboard and body camera video that could show more clearly what happened. (Jeff Siner/The Charlotte Observer via AP) Debbie the Artist, right, is embraced by another protester after presenting her poem, "A Love Affair with Words," following Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney's announcement about the release of portions of video showing a police officer's fatal shooting Tuesday of Keith Lamont Scott at The Village at College Downs apartments in the University City area, in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Debbie the Artist and other protesters were gathered at Marshall Park. (Jeff Siner/The Charlotte Observer via AP) Debbie the Artist presents her poem, "A Love Affair with Words," following Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney's announcement about the release of portions of video showing a police officer's fatal shooting Tuesday of Keith Lamont Scott at The Village at College Downs apartments in the University City area of Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Debbie the Artist and other protesters were gathered at Marshall Park. (Jeff Siner/The Charlotte Observer via AP) Protesters listens to Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney's announcement about the release of portions of video showing a police officer's fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott on Tuesday at The Village at College Downs apartments in the University City area of Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The protesters were gathered at Marshall Park. (Jeff Siner/The Charlotte Observer via AP) War crimes tribunal for IS detainees lacks support WASHINGTON (AP) War crimes investigators collecting evidence of the Islamic State group's elaborate operation to kidnap thousands of women as sex slaves say they have a case to try IS leaders with crimes against humanity but cannot get the global backing to bring current detainees before an international tribunal. Two years after the IS onslaught in northern Iraq, the investigators, as well as U.S. diplomats, say the Obama administration has done little to pursue prosecution of the crimes that Secretary of State John Kerry has called genocide. Current and former State Department officials say that an attempt in late 2014 to have a legal finding of genocide was blocked by the Defense Department, setting back efforts to prosecute IS members suspected of committing war crimes. "The West looks to the United States for leadership in the Middle East, and the focus of this administration has been elsewhere in every respect," Bill Wiley, the head of the independent investigative group, the Commission for International Justice and Accountability, told The Associated Press. FILE - The sun sets as women visit a Yazidi shrine overlooking at Kankhe Camp for the internally displaced in Dahuk, northern Iraq, in this Wednesday, May 18, 2016 file photo. Lawyers in Europe investigating the Islamic States elaborate operation to kidnap thousands of women as sex slaves say they have enough evidence to try IS leaders with crimes against humanity, but two years after the IS onslaught against the Yazidi people, the Obama administration has made little effort to pursue prosecution. Current and former U.S. State Department officials say that a push for a legal finding of genocide in late 2014 was quashed by the Defense Department. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File) Officials in Washington say that the Defense Department and ultimately the administration were concerned that court trials would distract from the military campaign. But the diplomats say that justice is essential in a region whose religious minorities have been terrorized. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the issue. The U.S. has no legal obligation to take on the genocide of the Yazidis, but President Barack Obama has said that "preventing mass atrocities and genocide is a core national security interest and a core moral responsibility of the United States of America." Stephen Rapp, who stepped down as the administration's ambassador at large for war crimes last year, says the administration should have moved early to help secure evidence of IS atrocities and push for the creation of special Iraqi courts to try war crimes. "The priority for the U.S. government is to win the war against the Islamic State and destroy them," Rapp said. "It's been profoundly disappointing, because the idea of accountability has been such a low priority." Rapp is now the chairman of the advisory board of the commission, whose investigators in Iraq work with the Kurdish regional government to formally document the IS group's crimes, including those against the Yazidi minority group. They have built a case implicating the entire IS command structure in a plot to kidnap Yazidi women and girls and establish a sex-slave market. The plan was executed by an organized bureaucracy at every step along the way, from the temporary sorting facilities including a prison, schools and a curtained ballroom where the Yazidis were divided by age and willingness to convert to Islam to the waiting buses that would haul them by the dozens across the border to Raqqa. The Islamic State group's Shariah courts soon stepped in, to settle contract disputes and ensure that its finance hierarchy got its cut of the sex slaves proceeds. "You have members of IS who were engaged in ensuring that this system continued and that it functioned well," said Chris Engels, the American lawyer who is leading the commission's legal investigation. Without a legal documentation of their identities from the top down, many could "slide into refugee streams" and disappear. Though there are at least dozens of Islamic State extremists in custody in Iraq, there have been no prosecutions for the crimes against humanity that the U.S. among many others insist have taken place. On Tuesday, the Obama administration's envoy for the coalition to counter Islamic State, Brett McGurk, tweeted that he "pledged full accountability" for Islamic State crimes against the Yazidis, whom IS militants consider infidels because of their religion. In 2012, Obama stood at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to announce what he called a comprehensive strategy to prevent and respond to war crimes with the establishment of an atrocities prevention board, noting that "as president I've done my utmost to back up those words with deeds." But in fact, though the U.S. has backed limited efforts to secure evidence of Islamic State atrocities in Iraq, there have been few tangible steps toward prosecution. In a recent investigation the AP found that even in territories liberated from IS militants by Kurdish forces, dozens of mass graves have been left unsecured. "It's a tragedy that we are not getting in there and securing these sites where we can and doing things like collecting DNA evidence," said Rapp. A measure by the House that calls on the U.S. to fund precisely the kind of court envisioned by the investigators is unlikely to advance anytime soon in an election year. With full international backing, the war crimes commission says it would need about $6.6 million and about six months to get the trials going. "If the administration was committed to criminal investigations of perpetrators, then it would be robustly funding criminal investigations of perpetrators. The failure to fund shows a failure to hold responsible parties accountable," said Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican who sponsored the bill. The State Department said the U.S. was promoting accountability, and spokesman Mark Toner specified that the administration is "supporting ongoing efforts to collect, document, preserve and analyze evidence of atrocities for transitional justice processes." He provided no specifics. "Our focus right now is on supporting the efforts of national authorities in Iraq to hold the perpetrators of Da'esh's atrocities to account," Toner added, using an Arabic name for the extremist group. Rapp and other critics say that the commission is the only organization that has built the kind of legal case necessary for a genuine tribunal, but the group said none of its work in Iraq is funded by the U.S. Neither the U.S. nor Iraq is a party to the International Criminal Court in the Hague, which is a court of last resort when national judicial efforts have failed. The war crimes commission's file, painstakingly and often perilously gathered since 2014, is ready for a court that does not yet exist. The private organization has pored over hard drives, leaked documents, phone records and interviews with captured Islamic State fighters in addition to monitoring the Islamic State group's own voluminous propaganda. As head of the group, Wiley's frustration with coalition governments and well-meaning humanitarian NGOs is palpable. The goal is not to advocate, or make promises, but "transforming that evidence into criminal prosecution," he told the AP in a recent interview in his office, as he and his staff laid out the case against the extremists. The hope, they said, is to build an existing court in Erbil, the Iraqi Kurdish capital, into an internationally backed court for Islamic State defendants. "Through a scrupulously fair trial, you illustrate that these guys are not soldiers of Mohammad," Wiley said. "These are the leaders of a criminal syndicate." But whether the courts of Iraqi Kurdistan, where most IS prisoners are kept, are ready for the complexities of international criminal law is an open question. U.S. officials worry that backing a special court in Iraqi Kurdistan raises sticky questions of sovereignty with the Iraqi central government in Baghdad, which is suspicious of Kurdish independence efforts. The war crimes commission is best known for collecting evidence against Syrian President Bashar Assad but quietly branched out to document atrocities committed by IS and other extremist groups. The office, based in Europe, has changed cities four times since it was founded in 2012, and security is paramount: No sign on the door, no Wi-Fi, no website. In order to speak to the AP, they requested that their current location be withheld. The commission has a staff of 20 in Iraq split into three teams, collecting court-ready evidence analyzed at the group's main offices. It says its legal file is the answer to multiple calls for Islamic State extremists to face justice beyond coalition airstrikes, which Wiley said is the sole focus of questioning. "The intelligence gathering is geared almost entirely toward targeting," he said. A Kurdish security official, speaking on condition of anonymity to release sensitive information, knew of dozens of detainees directly linked to Islamic State militants. At least some, Wiley said, could be prosecuted as soon as a court could be up and running. But the Kurdish government is bankrupt and riven by internal struggles. The Erbil-based Ministry of Martyrs and Anfal Affairs, which is named in memory of Saddam Hussein's devastating 1988 campaign against the Kurds, has taken up the cause to try extremists. "Because we believe in the rule of law and in human rights, and we think these people must be tried properly, following international standards, under international supervision, not just in a security court," said Mahmud Haji Salih, head of the ministry. The word "symbolic" arises frequently when Wiley and his colleagues discuss possible prosecutions. No one harbors any expectation that the Islamic State group's leadership will ever face a judge. But he thinks the charges of crimes against humanity would serve a tangible purpose, even beyond jailing those responsible for the horror against the Yazidi people. "You have to show that the guys dying for IS, they may think they're dying for Mohammad but they're not," Wiley said. "They're definitely not." ___ Hinnant reported from Paris. Balint Szlanko in Erbil, Iraq, and Josh Lederman in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Follow Butler at http://twitter.com/desmondbutler and Hinnant at http://twitter.com/lhinnant ___ EDITOR'S NOTE This is the latest report in an Associated Press series, "Islamic State: A Savage Legacy," that chronicles the casualties of the IS war that has killed thousands and displaced millions more. Previous reports can be found online at http://www.ap.org/explore/a-savage-legacy/ FILE - Clothing worn by a Yazidi girl enslaved by Islamic State militants, collected by a Yazidi activist to document Islamic State group crimes against the community, shown in this file photo taken May 22, 2016, in Dohuk, northern Iraq. Lawyers in Europe investigating the Islamic States elaborate operation to kidnap thousands of women as sex slaves say they have enough evidence to try IS leaders with crimes against humanity, but two years after the IS onslaught against the Yazidi people, the Obama administration has made little effort to pursue prosecution. Current and former U.S. State Department officials say that a push for a legal finding of genocide in late 2014 was quashed by the Defense Department. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File) Suspect in Washington shooting 'zombie-like' when arrested BURLINGTON, Wash. (AP) The 20-year-old suspect in the deadly Washington state mall shooting said nothing and appeared "zombie-like" when he was arrested by authorities nearly 24 hours into an intense manhunt, authorities said. Island County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Hawley said he spotted Arcan Cetin from a patrol car Saturday evening in Oak Harbor, Washington, and immediately recognized him as the suspect who killed five people at the Cascade Mall in nearby Burlington. Hawley said at a news conference they had received information that Cetin, of Oak Harbor, was in the area. Cetin, who immigrated to the U.S. from Turkey, is a legal permanent resident who has been living in Oak Harbor, authorities said. He had been arrested once before in the county for assault, Hawley said. This undated Department of Licensing photo posted Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, by the Washington State Patrol on its Twitter page shows Arcan Cetin, 20, of Oak Harbor, Wash. Patrol Sgt. Mark Francis Saturday via Twitter identified Cetin as the suspect in a shooting at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., that left several dead and sparked an intensive, nearly 24-hour manhunt. Authorities say Cetin was apprehended Saturday evening. (Washington State Patrol via AP) "I literally hit my brakes, did a quick turn, I jumped out," Hawley said. "We both jumped out with our guns, and he just froze." Cetin was unarmed and was carrying a satchel with a computer in it. "He was kind of zombie-like," Hawley said. The suspect's arrest capped a frantic search following the slayings of five people the day before. The first 911 call came in just before 7 p.m. on a busy Friday at the Cascade Mall: A man with a rifle was shooting at people in the Macy's department store. By the time police arrived moments later, the carnage at the Macy's makeup counter was complete. Four people were dead, and the shooter was gone, last seen walking toward Interstate 5. The fifth victim, a man, died in the early morning hours Saturday as police finished sweeping the 434,000-square-foot building. "There are people waking up this morning, and their world has changed forever. The city of Burlington has probably changed forever, but I don't think our way of life needs to change," Burlington Mayor Steve Sexton said Saturday at a news conference. Authorities said it now appears the rifle was brought into the mall from a suspect vehicle that was there, Mount Vernon police Lt. Chris Cammock said Saturday night. Cetin has not been charged, Cammock said. He will be booked into the Skagit County Jail and is expected to appear in Skagit County District Court on Monday. The Seattle Times reports (http://bit.ly/2cWhxJY) that Skagit County court records show three domestic-violence assault charges against Cetin. The victim was identified as Cetin's stepfather. The newspaper reports Cetin also was arrested for drunken driving. Cetin was told by an Island County District Court judge on Dec. 29 that he was not to possess a firearm, the newspaper reported. However, the stepfather urged the judge not to impose a no-contact order, saying his stepson was "going through a hard time." As the small city absorbed the tragic news, critical questions remained, including the shooter's motive. Initially the suspect was described as Hispanic, but Hawley said that was based on initial witness statements to the shooting at the mall. Surveillance video captured the suspect entering the mall unarmed and then recorded him about 10 minutes later entering the Macy's with a "hunting type" rifle in his hand, Cammock said. Authorities did not say how the suspect may have obtained the weapon whether he retrieved it from outside or picked it up in the mall but they believe he acted alone. The weapon was recovered at the scene. The identities of the victims four women who ranged in age from a teenager to a senior citizen were withheld pending autopsies and notification of family. The identity of the man who was fatally shot was also withheld and may not be released until Monday. Earlier Saturday as police scrambled to find the shooter, the small city about 60 miles (97 kilometers) waited and worried. The community of 8,600 people is too far from Seattle to be a commuter town, but its population swells to 55,000 during the day because of a popular outlet mall, retail stores and other businesses. Burlington is the only major retail center within 30 miles (48 kilometers) in a region where agriculture is king. Residents gathered Saturday to comfort each other at a community gathering in a city park. "It's too scary. It's too close to home," said Maria Elena Vasquez, who attended the gathering with her husband and two young children. Those who survived were still trying to process what happened as their community became the latest entry on a list of places known by the rest of world for mass shootings. Joanne Burkholder, 19, of nearby Mount Vernon, was watching the movie "The Magnificent Seven" in the mall's theater when security guards came in and told them to evacuate immediately. Dozens of panicked moviegoers gathered in the hallway, and Burkholder heard screaming as the officers escorted them to safety in a parking lot. As she drove home later, she had to pull over because she was shaking so hard, she told The Associated Press. "I'm just very thankful for my life this morning. I've never been so terrified in my life," she said Saturday, trying to hold back tears as she attended the community vigil. People who believed they may have lost loved ones were being sequestered at a church three blocks from the mall, where counselors and a golden retriever therapy dog were present. The Seattle Times reported that one of the victims in the deadly Washington state mall shooting is a 16-year-old girl. Sarai Lara's mother said she had survived cancer as a young girl and was a happy student. Evangelina Lara told ( http://bit.ly/2cWhxJY ) the newspaper through a translator that she was shopping Friday night at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, with Sarai and her younger sister, but they split up. Evangelina Lara says it was confirmed at 2 a.m. Saturday that her daughter was among the five people killed. Dozens of people attended a Saturday evening prayer service for the victims. The gathering was held at Central United Methodist Church in nearby Sedro-Woolley, Washington. The Rev. Cody Natland lit five candles on a table in front of the church, one for each victim. ___ Flaccus reported from Portland, Oregon. Associated Press writers Lisa Baumann in Seattle and Kimberlee Kruesi in Boise, Idaho, contributed to this report. Rachel Marsh, 15, right, and Selena Orozco, 15, left, carry flowers as they attend a prayer service, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, at the Central United Methodist Church in Sedro-Woolley, Wash. The service was held in regard to Friday's fatal shooting of several people at a Macy's department store at the Cascade Mall in nearby Burlington, Wash. Both girls said they knew one of the victims of the shooting. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) Lt. Mike Hawley with Island County Sheriff's office discusses the capture of Arcan Cetin, 20, who was wanted in connection with Friday's mass shooting at Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash. on Friday. Officials, including Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, left, gathered in the Skagit County chambers in Mt. Vernon, Wash. Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times via AP) Rachel Marsh, 15, right, and Selena Orozco, 15, left, light candles as they attend a prayer service, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, at the Central United Methodist Church in Sedro-Woolley, Wash. The service was held in reaction to Friday's fatal shooting of several people at a Macy's department store at the Cascade Mall in nearby Burlington, Wash. Both girls said they knew one of the victims of the shooting. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) A worker carries a stretcher at the Cascade Mall Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, in Burlington, Wash. Friday night, a man with a rifle opened fire in a Macy's Department Store at the mall, killing several people. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) A man wearing a jacket from the United States Department of Justice's Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms bureau talks on a phone, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash. On Friday night, a man with a rifle opened fire in a Macy's Department Store at the mall, killing several people. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) Rev. Cody Natland, right, carries a candle during a prayer service, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, after he lit five other candles on a table at the Central United Methodist Church in Sedro-Woolley, Wash. A candle is for each victim of Friday's shooting a Macy's department store at the Cascade Mall in nearby Burlington, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) A sign for the Cascade Mall is shown Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, in Burlington, Wash. Authorities said Saturday several people were dead after the shooting Friday night and the suspect was still at large. The identity of the suspect, his motive and how he got a rifle into the mall remained unanswered. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) A Skagit County Sheriff's Office vehicle is parked in front of the Macy's department store, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash. Authorities said Saturday several people were dead after the shooting Friday night and the suspect was still at large. The identity of the suspect, his motive and how he got a rifle into the mall remained unanswered. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) Cruz throws his support to Trump's campaign at last WASHINGTON (AP) Donald Trump says he's "greatly honored" to receive the endorsement of defeated rival Ted Cruz, not that Cruz is using that word when acknowledging that he will vote for the Republican presidential nominee. Cruz and Trump had traded harsh words during the primary race and the tones of their statements Friday reflected their differences. Cruz sounded resigned at the prospect of voting for the man he had called a "pathological liar" and "utterly amoral" while Trump appeared to relish gaining the public support of the opponent he derided as "Lyin' Ted." Nonetheless, Cruz's statement signaled an effort to help unite a divided GOP less than seven weeks before Election Day. He also might be seeking to placate those he angered when he encouraged Republicans to "vote your conscience" instead of endorsing Trump outright at the national convention. FILE - In this June 7, 2016 file photo, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Ted Cruz announced Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, he will vote for Donald Trump, a dramatic about-face for the Texas senator who previously called the New York businessman a "pathological liar" and "utterly amoral." (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) "After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump," Cruz wrote on Facebook. Trump described the statement as an "endorsement," although he had claimed immediately after the convention that he didn't want it. "I am greatly honored by the endorsement of Sen. Cruz," Trump said. "We have fought the battle and he was a tough and brilliant opponent. I look forward to working with him for many years to come in order to make America great again." The Cruz statement comes as Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton remain locked in a tight race, both struggling to unite their parties as their first debate looms Monday and early voting is underway in some states. Trump has been branded as a phony by hard-line conservatives, Cruz among them, who see him more as a political opportunist than a true Republican. "This man is a pathological liar. He doesn't know the difference between truth and lies. He lies practically every word that comes out of his mouth," Cruz said of Trump in May, hours before ending his campaign. "Donald will betray his supporters on every issue," the Texas senator added, while calling Trump "utterly amoral," ''a narcissist," ''a bully" and "a serial philanderer," among other things. Clinton addressed the shift on social media by posting a tweet from Cruz himself calling on Trump to release his tax returns. The Texas senator released nine years of his returns, while Trump has refused to release any. Her running mate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine took his own dig at Cruz, saying as he campaigned in Texas, "If somebody said that about my dad, they would never have me as a supporter for anything." In his Facebook statement, Cruz cited two reasons for his shift: his pledge to support the party nominee and his disdain for Clinton. But he also faced intensifying political pressure from all quarters. Since the convention speech, polls have suggested that Cruz's popularity was slipping nationally and in Texas where he could face a primary challenger for re-election in 2018. His base supported his refusal to back Trump at first, but the mood shifted recently. The vast majority of calls coming into Cruz's office had turned increasingly negative in recent weeks with many voters urging him to support Trump to prevent a Clinton victory, according to Republicans familiar with the situation. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because these were internal discussions. At the same time, the large staff that worked on Cruz's presidential bid pushed him not to endorse. Most refused to accept jobs with the Trump campaign when offered following Cruz's departure from the primary campaign this spring. And as recently as this week, some warned they would not work for Cruz again if he officially endorsed Trump. Cruz's decision also comes as he weighs the prospect of a 2020 presidential bid, where Trump's donors could play an important role. None are more important than the Mercer family, which backed a pro-Cruz political group this spring before becoming major Trump backers. Trump's naming of Cruz ally, Utah Sen. Mike Lee, in his updated list of potential Supreme Court picks announced Friday helped ease tensions between the two camps. Trump also backed Cruz's position in a congressional squabble over internet regulation. ___ Weissert reported from Austin, Texas. ___ Follow Peoples on Twitter at https://twitter.com/sppeoples ___ 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 FILE - In this Feb. 25, 2016 file photo, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas listen as Donald Trump speaks during a Republican presidential primary debate at The University of Houston in Houston. Cruz announced Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, he will vote for Donald Trump, a dramatic about-face for the Texas senator who previously called the New York businessman a "pathological liar" and "utterly amoral." (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the Shale Insight Conference, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) Pope receives relatives of Nice attack victims at Vatican VATICAN CITY (AP) Pope Francis met one by one with relatives of the victims of this summer's truck attack in Nice, France, at the Vatican Saturday, encouraging them to resist what he called the great temptation to "respond to hatred with hatred and to violence with violence." The special audience in a Vatican auditorium included Christians, Muslims and Jews. "It cheers me to see that, among you, inter-religious relations are very strong, and this cannot but help contribute to alleviating the wounds of these dramatic events," said the pontiff, who also offered compassion to those in attendance. Pope Francis, flanked by Christian Estrosi, President of the regional council of Provence and Cote d'Azur, right, meets with relatives of Nice's attack victims during a special audience in the Pape Paul IV hall, at the Vatican, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Nice's former mayor, Christian Estrosi, gave the pope a basket of 86 flowers to symbolize the 86 victims of the July 14 attack by an extremist who barreled the truck he was driving through a crowd of people celebrating Bastille Day in the French Riviera city. Francis said political and religious leaders must make it their urgent priority to establish "sincere dialogue and fraternal relations among all, especially among all those who believe in a God who is one and merciful." "When the temptation to turn inwards on oneself, or to respond to hatred with hatred and to violence with violence, is great, authentic conversion of the heart is needed," Francis said. He added: "You can respond to the assaults of the devil only with the works of God, which are forgiveness, love and respect for one's neighbors, even if they are different." In a departure from how most group audiences with the pope are conducted, Francis spoke individually with each of the participants, some of them weeping or wiping away tears. Some clutched photos of loved ones or asked if they could pose for a photo with the pope on behalf of someone who couldn't attend the audience. "I pray to the God of mercy also for those who were wounded, in some cases atrociously mutilated, in flesh and in spirit, and I don't forget all those who for that reason weren't able to come here or are still in hospital," the pontiff said. At the start, Francis apologized for speaking Italian, explaining that his French isn't good. A prelate translated his words into French after every few sentences. "The church stays close to you and accompanies you with immense compassion," Francis said. ___ Frances D'Emilio is on twitter at www.twitter.com/fdemilio Pope Francis blesses a photo he is shown on a smartphone during a meeting with relatives of Nice's attack victims during a special audience in the Pape Paul IV hall, at the Vatican, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Pope Francis meets with relatives of Nice's attack victims during a special audience in the Pape Paul IV hall, at the Vatican, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Holocaust survivor Max Mannheimer dies in Germany at age 96 BERLIN (AP) Holocaust survivor Max Mannheimer, who dedicated his life in post-war Germany to fighting anti-Semitism, has died. He was 96. German Chancellor Angela Merkel honored Mannheimer Saturday for his efforts to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive. Her spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said on Twitter that Merkel is mourning his death and that "we owe him gratitude." FILE - In this Jan. 27, 2015 file photo Holocaust survivor Max Mannheimer arrives for a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the Auschwitz concentration camp in Munich, southern Germany. Mannheimer died Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. He was 96. (Andreas Gebert/dpa via AP, file) Mannheimer spent two years being held in different death camps, including Auschwitz. Most of his family was murdered during the Holocaust. After the end of the Third Reich, Mannheimer dedicated his life to talking about the horrors he experienced. He also became the head of the community of former prisoners of the Dachau concentration camp. German news agency dpa reports that Mannheimer died Friday at a Munich hospital. No cause of death was given. The Latest: Trump, Clinton to meet with Netanyahu WASHINGTON (AP) The Latest on the 2016 presidential campaign (all times EDT): 11:59 p.m. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are expected to meet separately with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York on Sunday ahead of their first presidential debate on Monday night. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures to the crowd during a rally in Roanoke, Va., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Trump faces Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton in the first of three debates Monday. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Netanyahu has sought to project neutrality in this year's U.S. election after there were perceptions that he favored Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama in 2012. The Israeli leader met with Obama last week, capping what has been a contentious relationship between the leaders of the two allies. The Obama administration has opposed Israel's push to expand settlements in the West Bank while Netanyahu has been a leading critic of the U.S. nuclear agreement with Iran. The U.S. recently completed a 10-year, $38 billion military aid package for Israel. ___ 9:15 p.m. Republican vice presidential hopeful Mike Pence is praising Ted Cruz's long-delayed decision to back Donald Trump's presidential bid, and not surprisingly, Pence chose Iowa as the place to heap praise on the Texas senator's noteworthy about-face. Cruz defeated Trump in February's Iowa caucuses, starting a drawn-out and bitter primary campaign in which the two men traded personal insults. Cruz pointedly refused to endorse Trump at the Republican National Convention last summer in Cleveland, where he told delegates to "vote your conscience." On his Facebook page Friday, Cruz for the first time said explicitly he would be voting for Trump. At the Faith and Freedom Coalition dinner Saturday, Pence said Cruz wrote "eloquently" about his decision, and the Indiana governor praised Cruz as "one of the great conservative leaders in this nation." ___ 8:10 p.m. Donald Trump has stumbled over the name of the new Washington museum commemorating black history. Speaking at a rally in Roanoke, Virginia, Trump told supporters the new museum is "really a beautiful place," calling it "the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, African-American Art." Actually, it's the National Museum of African American History and Culture. It officially opened Saturday. Another one of the Smithsonian Institution's many museums in Washington is the National Museum of African Art. It too is on the National Mall. The stumble comes as Trump has been trying to improve his standing with minority voters who have an overwhelmingly negative view of the GOP candidate. Trump on Saturday also declared school choice the "new civil rights issue of our time." ___ 7:45 p.m. Donald Trump is trying to make the case that he'll do more to help women if he's elected to the White House than rival Hillary Clinton. The appeal came hours after Trump threatened in a tweet to invite a woman who had an affair with his rival's husband, former President Bill Clinton, to sit in the first row at Monday's presidential debate. Speaking in Roanoke, Virginia, Trump told supporters that Clinton likes to say she's been fighting for women and children for decades. He then asked why 70 million women and children are in poverty or on the brink of poverty. Clinton co-founded the Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families early in her career and delivered a seminal speech as first lady declaring that "women's rights are human rights." Trump has been criticized for crass comments he's made about women over the years. ___ 7 p.m. Hillary Clinton has spoken by phone with African-American pastors in Charlotte, North Carolina, as the city deals with the aftermath of the fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. Clinton's campaign says the pastors told her the city would come together to rebuild trust between the police department and community. Charlotte police have released body and dashboard camera footage of the shooting. Clinton is expected to travel to Charlotte on Oct. 2. ___ 5:30 p.m. Ted Cruz says his decision to support Donald Trump was "agonizing." He denies he caved in to Republican pressure when reversed course and announced that he will vote for Trump in the election. He says, "whatever path I went down, there were going to be people dismayed." He appeared Saturday at a Texas Tribune policy forum in Austin. The Texas senator refused for months to swing behind Trump, saying the Republican nominee went too far in insulting his family during the bitter primaries. But polls suggested Cruz's popularity was slipping nationally and in Texas, where he may face a primary challenger for his 2018 re-election. Cruz said he spoke to Trump after his decision, but Trump didn't apologize to him or his family. ___ 5:15 p.m. Republican vice presidential hopeful Mike Pence has promised home-school advocates that a President Donald Trump would be their "champion" in the White House. The Indiana governor delivered that assurance Saturday in North Carolina at a national convention of home-school activists and families. The home-school movement is driven overwhelmingly by evangelical Christians. Pence was introduced by movement leader Mike Farris. Previously, Farris has criticized other evangelical Christians for backing Trump. And he has described Trump as a "candidate whose worldview is greed and whose God is appetites." Trump has proposed using $20 billion in existing federal education spending to expand "school-choice options," including home-schooling. But Trump's proposal focuses on students living in poverty, while the overwhelming majority of home-school families earn more than the federal poverty rate. ___ 4:40 p.m. Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence is praising North Carolina officials and "all the good people of Charlotte" for "restoring order" after protests in reaction to the latest high-profile killings of black men by police. The Indiana governor made the remarks Saturday at a national convention of home-schooling advocates in Asheville. His appearance comes after four consecutive nights of demonstrations sparked by the killing of Keith Lamont Scott by Charlotte police. Pence did not mention Scott by name, but urged his audience to "pray for God's comfort" for all involved. Pence did specifically commend North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory's handling of the matter. McCory introduced Pence to the home-school gathering. The first-term Republican governor is locked in a tight re-election battle. ___ 4:30 p.m. Hillary Clinton appears to be preparing for the first presidential debate at a Westchester hotel near her home in Chappaqua, New York. Clinton was spotted Saturday afternoon at the hotel, along with what appeared to be her vehicle and Secret Service detail. Also seen on the hotel grounds was senior aide Huma Abedin. Clinton appeared to hold practice sessions for Monday night's debate at the hotel on Friday and Saturday. Campaign aides declined to comment on that. Her aides have said she has prepared for the debate at her suburban New York home and another location. ___ 3:30 p.m. Donald Trump is threatening to bring Gennifer Flowers to the first presidential debate and seat her next to a Hillary Clinton guest he doesn't like. It's not clear whether Trump is joking. Flowers once had a relationship with Bill Clinton. Trump's warning came on Twitter after Hillary Clinton invited businessman Mark Cuban to the debate. He's a frequent Trump critic. In his tweet, Trump calls Cuban "dopey." And he says if Cuban wants to sit in the front row, he may put Flowers "right alongside of him." Trump misspelled Flowers' first name, with a J, then tweeted again to fix the mistake. ___ 1:40 p.m. The New York Times is endorsing Hillary Clinton for president. The newspaper's editorial board on Saturday praised Clinton for bringing "a record of service and a raft of pragmatic ideas" to the election. It calls her "one of the most tenacious politicians of her generation, whose willingness to study and correct course is rare in an age of unyielding partisanship." Donald Trump is described as the worst nominee put forward by a major party in modern times. The Times has endorsed only Democrats for president back to John Kennedy in 1960 and has backed that party's presidential nominees more often through its history. Its last Republican endorsement for the presidency was Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956. And its first endorsement, in 1860, was for Republican Abraham Lincoln. ___ 1:30 p.m. Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine is taking a day to visit a Native American festival near his Richmond, Virginia home. Kaine made a hastily arranged visit to the Chickahominy Indian Tribe Fall Festival on Saturday where he gave a brief speech praising American Indian culture and highlighting his efforts to win federal recognition of Virginia's tribes. Kaine called the visit personal and a "restore-the-soul kind of thing for me." Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has focused heavily on the swing state and plans a rally in Roanoke on Saturday evening. ___ 12:15 p.m. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren says Donald Trump and Republicans are "making hate OK." Hillary Clinton's campaign sent Warren to New Hampshire for the day to fire up Democrats in the battleground state. Warren is also campaigning Saturday alongside Gov. Maggie Hassan, who is challenging Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte. Warren told reporters that Trump has scapegoated groups of Americans in a way she never expected from a major party candidate. And she's criticizing Republican Sen. Ted Cruz for saying he'll vote for Trump, after months of speaking out against the GOP nominee. She asked, "Is that really what your word is worth, Ted Cruz?" ___ Noon While the opening ceremony of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture was a nonpartisan event, there was a little politicking going on. After her soulful rendition of "A Change is Gonna Come," singer Patti LaBelle said "Hillary Clinton" into the microphone before leaving the stage. Clinton is the Democratic nominee for president. Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump will participate in their first presidential debate Monday. Neither candidate attended the museum's opening. But former President Bill Clinton was in the front row of the crowd. ___ 11:30 A.M. Hillary Clinton and her allies will be campaigning in several battleground states after Monday's first presidential debate. The events will focus on registering voters. The Democratic presidential nominee will travel to North Carolina, New Hampshire, Iowa and Florida. Former President Bill Clinton will be in Ohio on Tuesday and take part in a bus tour of Florida on Friday. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, Clinton's running mate, will campaign in Florida on Tuesday while Vice President Joe Biden will be in Philadelphia that day. First lady Michelle Obama will also be in Pennsylvania, making stops in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida have voter registration deadlines in early October. ___ 9:50 a.m. Hillary Clinton has tapped longtime adviser Philippe Reines to play Donald Trump in her mock debate preparations. That's according to a person familiar with Reines' involvement. Reines worked closely with Clinton during her years as a senator and secretary of state, as well as during her first presidential campaign. He's a combative political operative and fierce defender of Clinton's but has not had a formal role in the 2016 campaign. Democratic strategist Michael Feldman, who is not involved in the Clinton campaign, said Reines "does verbal combat at a high level and has for a long time." Clinton has spent weeks preparing for Monday's first debate against Trump. The person familiar with the debate preparations was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and insisted on anonymity. Contributed by AP White House Correspondent Julie Pace ___ 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 A crowd gathers for the Progress NC rally and march starting at Marshall Park, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, in Charlotte, N.C. Speakers asked that the Charlotte Police Department release all footage from the killing of Keith Lamont Scott. (Diedra Laird/The Charlotte Observer via AP) Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, left, talks with supporter Marcia Johnson of Gresham, Texas, at the annual Grassroots America We The People Champions of Freedom award dinner Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 in Tyler, Texas. Ted Cruz announced Friday he will vote for Donald Trump, a dramatic about-face that may help unite a deeply divided Republican Party months after the fiery Texas conservative called Trump a "pathological liar" and "utterly amoral." (Andrew D. Brosig/Tyler Morning Telegraph via AP) Democratic vice presidential candidate, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. meets with a participate in the 65th annual Chickahominy Indian Tribe Fall Festival, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, in Charles City, Va. (AP Photo/Alan Suderman) First lady Michelle Obama hugs former President George W. Bush during the dedication ceremony for the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the Shale Insight Conference, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) Florida primaries eyed: Representation of few, or the many? TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) It took just 14,496 votes to win his closed Democratic primary for one of Florida's 27 congressional seats. Now Darren Soto is virtually assured of going to Capitol Hill, unlikely to face a strong Republican challenge this November in his safely Democratic district. The state senator snared the votes of just 2 percent of the Orlando area district's 750,000 residents, beating three other candidates in last month's closed-party, winner-takes-all primary. Only registered Democrats could cast ballots in Soto's race and the small percentage of them likely decided the contest before the general election. It's a scenario repeated regularly in Florida's state and congressional races in districts firmly controlled by one or the other of the two major parties. Now such outcomes are prompting calls to reform Florida's primary system so more voters have a say in who represents them. "That's a question that comes up often," said Pamela Goodman, president of the Florida League of Women Voters. Her group is studying the primary system and will make recommendations next year to lawmakers on broadening the electoral process. Florida is one of only nine states with a strict closed primary system, which prevents independent and minor party voters from casting primary ballots. Proponents say political parties should have the sole say in who they nominate, but critics say closed primaries exclude a large swath of voters, particularly as the number of independent voters grows. Until 16 years ago, Florida primaries weren't even over until a candidate won a ballot majority. If no primary candidate received at least 50 percent plus one vote, the top two met in a runoff to decide who reached the general election. But then-Florida Gov. Jeb Bush eliminated the runoff in 2002, a year he was seeking re-election and two years after his brother George W. Bush carried the perennial swing state by 537 votes in a famously chaotic presidential election. Jettisoning the primary runoff was part of reforms aimed at making Florida elections run more smoothly. The impact on Sunshine State politics was immediate. In 2002, political newcomer Bill McBride won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination over former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno by 0.4 percentage points in a three-way race. Many believe Reno would have defeated McBride in a runoff and gone on to face Bush. And in 2010, now Gov. Rick Scott won the Republican nomination with only 46 percent of the vote though a runoff could have overturned the results. And this year, state Rep. Matt Gaetz is a lock to represent northwest Florida in Congress after capturing just 36 percent of the vote in a seven-way Republican primary, meaning 64 percent of voters wanted someone else in Washington from their firmly GOP district. It's a decision that essentially excludes Democrats and independents. It was a runoff that helped primary runner-up Bob Graham into the governor's office in 1979. Eventually a three-term U.S. senator, Graham avidly supports resurrecting the runoff primary. He said the current system often encourages election of the most extreme candidates among both major parties. He said primary reforms could make representation more moderate, in line with the views of most voters. "The question ought to be not whose convenience are we serving, but what makes democracy work best and gives the people the opportunity to have persons in office who represent the broadest consensus," said Graham, who now runs a University of Florida center for greater citizen engagement with government. Only 11 states still have some form of a runoff primary, mostly in the Deep South. Louisiana, California and Washington state have all-inclusive primaries where the top two vote earners advance to the general election, 15 states have open primaries and nine states allow independent voters to choose which primary they'll vote in. People are increasingly open to changing primary systems because they don't like current options that contribute to partisan extremes in Washington, said Rob Richie, executive director of FairVote, a non-partisan Washington-area group that seeks to make voting more representative. "There are different approaches that make sense for different states. There's more openness in the reform world to not have a one-size fits all model," he said. Ion Sancho, elections supervisor in Leon County that includes Florida's capital of Tallahassee, was first elected in 1988 aided by a primary runoff. He agreed more voters should have a say in who's elected, but isn't espousing a return of the second primary. Instead, he said all candidates should be put on a primary ballot regardless of party and all registered voters, including independents, should be allowed to vote. The top two candidates would face off in November. That notion doesn't appeal to Republican state Rep. Matt Caldwell, who chairs the House committee that considers election issues. He prefers the idea of voters picking their first two choices in a crowded primary. If no candidate wins a majority, then the second choice of voters are weighed to determine a winner. Changing Florida's primary system would require legislative action or a change in the state constitution through a ballot initiative. "I'm not afraid to try to tinker with it," Caldwell said. ___ New African-American history museum took a decade in build WASHINGTON (AP) The National Museum of African American History and Culture opening this weekend in Washington took more than a decade to build. A look at some of the key milestones in its construction: Dec. 16, 2003 President George W. Bush signs legislation creating the museum. Early on, it is scheduled to open in 2011. It is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars, half of which will come from Congress and the rest from donations. The idea for museum and memorial traces back to 1915 and a group of African-American Civil War veterans. March 14, 2005 Lonnie G. Bunch III is named founding director of the museum. Before taking the job, he served as the president of the Chicago Historical Society. He had also worked at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History from 1989 to 2000 and at the California Afro-American Museum in Los Angeles from 1983 to 1989. His appointment is effective July 2005. Jan. 31, 2006 The Smithsonian's Board of Regents selects the museum's site on the National Mall near the Washington Monument. A total of four spots had been considered: two on the mall and two off the mall. The other site on the Mall was the Smithsonian's Arts and Industries Building. President Bush had endorsed a site on the Mall. March 27, 2009 Officials unveil six design concepts proposed for the future museum. One concept includes a design with wetlands extending inside the museum. Another proposed design is oval-shaped. April 14, 2009 The Smithsonian selects a winning architectural concept for the museum. The design is inspired by an African headdress, and a bronze screen that wraps the building taking inspiration from metalwork in the South. The lead designer is David Adjaye, who was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and whose parents are from Ghana. March 10, 2010 The museum announces it will receive about 40 objects connected to abolitionist and Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman, including Tubman's favorite hymnal and a shawl given to her by Queen Victoria. The donation coincides with the 97th anniversary of Tubman's death on March 10, 1913. Feb. 22, 2012 President Barack Obama helps break ground for the museum, calling it "not just a record of tragedy, but a celebration of life." He is joined by his wife, Michelle Obama, and former first lady Laura Bush. The ceremony is hosted by actress Phylicia Rashad, who played Clair Huxtable on "The Cosby Show." Curators estimate that they have collected 15,000 to 20,000 artifacts for the museum. May 14, 2013 The museum announces that it has acquired an object that will become a centerpiece of the collection: a slave cabin. The two-room cabin is from a former cotton plantation on Edisto Island in coastal South Carolina. It is taken apart board by board so it can be transported. "The reason we collect a cabin like this is it allows you to humanize the slavery experience," museum director Lonnie Bunch says at the time. June 11, 2013 The museum announces a $12 million gift from Oprah Winfrey and says that the museum's 350-seat theater will be named after her. Winfrey had also given $1 million in 2007. Other major donors with recognizable names include: the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; TV producer and writer Shonda Rhimes of "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal" fame, and philanthropist David M. Rubenstein, who has donated millions to other high-profile Washington projects. The museum is projected to cost $500 million. Nov. 17, 2013 The museum installs its first artifacts: a Jim Crow-era railroad car and prison guard tower from the Louisiana State Penitentiary. The objects are so large they have to be hoisted in by cranes as the museum is being built. The railroad car weighs 77 tons. The tower is approximately 21 feet tall and 14 feet wide. April 14, 2015 The first of the 3,600 bronze-colored screen panels surrounding the building are installed. The panels are inspired by ironwork created by slaves in New Orleans and Charleston, South Carolina. The initial plan was for the panels to be made of bronze. After that was found to be too expensive and too heavy, designers eventually settled on aluminum finished to look like bronze. June 3, 2015 A construction worker working on the roof of the museum dies in a construction accident. He is identified as 35-year-old Ivan Smyntyna of Roswell, Georgia. Sept. 24, 2016 AP-NORC Poll: Most in US frustrated over presidential race WASHINGTON (AP) Carol Jones knows what she wants to hear Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump discuss during their first televised debate: education and jobs. She's far from sure which candidate will earn her vote on Election Day. "All we see is the cat fighting," says the Shirley, Arkansas, retired substitute teacher. At Monday's debate, the 70-year-old says, "they need to talk about their programs ... but I don't think they will." A majority of Americans, like Jones, say they're frustrated, angry or both with the 2016 presidential election, according to a new poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Most Americans aren't feeling proud or hopeful about the race, and half feel helpless, the results find. Majorities of Americans want more focus on issues that are important to them, starting with health care, Social Security, education, terrorism and homeland security. Apathy isn't the problem, the survey found. Eighty-six percent of Americans are paying at least some attention to the race. The campaign is certainly hard to miss. Trump and Clinton are the two least popular presidential candidates in history, and their ferocious battle is smashing precedents and dominating public discourse. Trump has built his campaign in large part on attention-getting and frequently untrue accusations, such as that his opponent "is the devil" and President Barack Obama "founded" the Islamic State group. But he's found success linking the nation's immigration woes to its national security concerns, the latter of which is rated by Americans as among the top issues facing the country. Clinton is a former senator and secretary of state who is an avowed foreign and domestic policy wonk. She has tried to make the election, in part, a referendum on Trump's fitness for office. Her recent stumble during an abrupt exit from this year's 9/11 memorial ceremony, captured on video, added to the reality-show quality of the election. Her campaign disclosed that she'd been diagnosed with pneumonia. Clinton and Trump have clear political and stylistic objectives during their first debate Monday, the first of three such showdowns certain to influence the race in its final six weeks. For both, it's about rattling the other candidate and not being baited into a less-than-presidential performance. Trump is looking to shore up his credibility with moderate white voters, particularly women, after more than a year of remarks that appeared intolerant or bigoted. Clinton is trying to appeal to young Americans, who are unenthusiastic about her candidacy. Issues? Jones suggests the candidates owe more on that front it to potential voters who don't have access to the internet or the time she has to hunt down their policy positions. "I went looking on the internet for (Clinton's) position on free (college) education, and it was hard, but I finally found it," says the lifelong Democrat, who isn't sold on Clinton because she doesn't trust her, or husband Bill, the former president and governor of Jones' state. "They need to talk about their programs on this, this and that." Whether the candidates ever get to informative discussions of their policy positions and their professional qualifications is unclear. But the demand is there. The survey found that nearly two-thirds of Americans say the campaign focuses too little on the issues that matter to them personally. More than 6 in 10 Americans of both parties agree. A bit more than half say there's been too little focus on the candidates' qualifications, with Democrats being more likely than Republicans to feel that way, 61 percent to 45 percent. And more than half of Americans in the survey said the campaign is focused too much on the personal characteristics of the candidates, with Republicans and Democrats about equally likely to feel that way. The issues Americans care most about? Health care comes in first, with 81 percent listing that as very or extremely important, while similarly high percentages said the same about Social Security, education, terrorism and homeland security. The next most-cited issues: crime and economic growth, which three-quarters of respondents listed as at least very important. Similar majorities cited poverty and taxes. Ranking lower, according to the findings: immigration, with just 61 percent listing the issue as very or extremely important to them. There's bipartisan agreement on the importance of some issues. Nearly identical percentages of Democrats and Republicans call crime and unemployment top issues. At least three-quarters from both parties call Social Security very important. On many other issues, their priorities diverge: Democrats are particularly likely to call health care and poverty top issues, while Republicans are particularly likely to rank terrorism, taxes, debt and foreign policy as very important. About 7 in 10 Democrats but less than half of Republicans named as top issues call gun control and income inequality. Three-quarters of Democrats, but only about a third of Republicans, say the same about racism, the environment and climate change. Republicans are far more likely to name international trade agreements as a very or extremely important issue. And 7 in 10 Republicans, but only about half of Democrats, call immigration a top priority. Among Americans with a favorable opinion of Trump, nearly 8 in 10 say so. ___ The AP-NORC poll of 1,022 adults was conducted Sept. 15-18 using a sample drawn from NORC's probability-based AmeriSpeak panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. Respondents were first selected randomly using address-based sampling methods, and later interviewed online or by phone. ___ On Twitter, follow at http://www.twitter.com/APLaurieKellman and Swanson at http://www.twitter.com/El_Swan ___ Online: Tsurenko upsets Jankovic in Guangzhou Open final GUANGZHOU, China (AP) Defending champion Jelena Jankovic's serving let her down Saturday as she lost the Guangzhou Open final to unseeded Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine. Tsurenko beat the former top-ranked Serb 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in a match which lasted almost 2 hours. Second-seeded Jankovic, who had not dropped a set this week, double-faulted seven times. Iowa State president damaged school plane on personal trip AMES, Iowa (AP) Iowa State University's president was returning from an 11-day personal trip to North Carolina when he damaged a small university-owned airplane in a rough landing, the school confirmed Saturday. President Steven Leath, a pilot, flew himself and his wife on July 3, 2015, in the university's Cirrus SR22 to Ashe County, North Carolina, where he owns a home and helps manage a family-owned Christmas tree farm. A university spokesman said Leath met with a potential donor and had personal time in the state, where he worked for years in the university system before starting at Iowa State in 2012. While returning 11 days later, Leath caused "substantial damage" to the plane after he hit the runway with one wing and a runway light with the other upon landing in Bloomington, Illinois. Leath has blamed gusty conditions for the incident, but flight experts told The Associated Press it appears to have been pilot error. This undated photo provided by the Bloomington Normal Airport Authority shows a damaged wing of a Cirrus SR22 single engine plane at the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington, Ill. Iowa State University President Steven Leath caused "substantial damage" to the university airplane he was piloting when it made a hard landing at the Illinois airport last year a costly incident kept quiet for 14 months. (Bloomington Normal Airport Authority via AP) University spokesman John McCarroll said Leath reimbursed the university for part of the flight costs in November 2015. The plane was landing in Illinois for a refueling stop, he said. The university, which is responsible for the aircraft maintenance, paid for the $12,000 in repairs to the plane instead of filing an insurance claim because "we had the money," McCarroll said. The plane was also stored at the Bloomington airport for three or four weeks, but the cost of that wasn't immediately available. In addition, the university sent its other aircraft to pick up the Leaths in Bloomington at a cost of $2,200 that was billed to the "Greater University Fund," a pot of unrestricted donations that Leath controls. Leath reimbursed the university a total of $3,500 for three other trips to North Carolina in which he used the plane, including one last month. The reimbursements have been paid at a rate of $125 per hour to cover costs such as fuel, McCarroll said. Several private companies advertise hourly rates of around $300 to rent similar aircraft. The trips were either a mix of university and personal business or instances in which a business trip was scheduled before or after personal trips and Leath needed the flexibility of the school's plane to meet his official obligations, McCarroll said. Still, Leath's routine use of a university aircraft for personal travel would appear to conflict with school policies and, possibly, with state law. Any public official who uses state-owned property for "any private purpose or for personal gain to the detriment of the state" is guilty of a serious misdemeanor. Noting that prohibition, university policy says employees cannot remove any kind of university property "for personal use from the buildings or grounds," even if it may seem to be of no value. In addition, university policy requires employees to schedule their travel "in a manner that excludes consideration of personal gain." And policy of the Iowa Board of Regents, which governs the school, requires leaders such as Leath to "serve as role models and stewards of the institution's finances" and "promote, by personal example, ethical behavior among employees." McCarroll said Leath did not inform the Iowa Board of Regents about the accident "immediately after" it happened, but that he informed Board President Bruce Rastetter at an unspecified later date. Weeks after the accident, the board voted on Aug. 5, 2015 to extend Leath's contract through June 2020. The contract guarantees Leath his full annual salary of $525,000 if the board fires him without cause a buyout that would be about $2 million today. Rastetter issued a brief statement Friday saying he was aware of Leath's use of the plane: "He is a licensed pilot and can fly aircraft for which he is certified." ___ Follow Ryan J. Foley on Twitter at https://twitter.com/rjfoley This undated photo provided by the Bloomington Normal Airport Authority shows a damaged wing of a Cirrus SR22 single engine plane at the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington, Ill. Iowa State University President Steven Leath caused "substantial damage" to the university airplane he was piloting when it made a hard landing at the Illinois airport last year a costly incident kept quiet for 14 months. (Bloomington Normal Airport Authority via AP) India's prime minister says Pakistan a haven for terrorism NEW DELHI (AP) India's prime minister said Saturday that he would work to isolate Pakistan internationally, accusing his country's archrival of trying to destabilize Asia by exporting terrorism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a nationally televised speech that in the last four months, Indian security forces have killed 110 terrorists who crossed over the cease-fire line in Kashmir from Pakistani territory. "There would have been a bloodbath had they succeeded in carrying out attacks in India," Modi said. An Indian Border Security Force soldier looks at the Pakistan side of the border through a binocular at Ranbir Singh Pura, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Jammu, India, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a speech Saturday that in the last four months, Indian security forces have killed more than 100 terrorists who crossed over the cease-fire line in Kashmir from Pakistani territory. (AP Photo/Channi Anand) He said terrorist attacks in Bangladesh and Afghanistan were also being instigated from Pakistan. "We will isolate you," Modi warned Pakistan. "I will work for that." Modi's speech in the southern Indian town of Kozhikode was his first since 18 soldiers were killed in an attack on an army base in Indian-controlled Kashmir last Sunday. Indian investigators say maps, weapons and other evidence indicated that the attackers were from Jaish-e-Mohammed, an outlawed militant group based in Pakistan. Pakistan denies the charge. "Let me tell Pakistan that the sacrifice of 18 Indian soldiers will not go to waste," Modi said in his speech. "There is one nation in Asia whose aim is to spread terrorism and is working toward ensuring that the 21st century does not belong to Asia," he said, referring to Pakistan. "Every nation is holding only one country responsible for terrorism. Only one country in Asia is a safe haven for terrorists." Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said Saturday evening that it would release an official reaction to Modi's comments later. The angry speech was expected, with many of Modi's supporters and members of his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party demanding that India hit back hard after the attack on the army base. On Friday, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria denied any Pakistani involvement in the attack. "They have a tendency of making such allegations whenever some incident takes place in India, especially in Kashmir," Zakaria told state-run Pakistan Television. Modi exhorted the people of Pakistan to eschew the path of violence and work to eradicate social ills such as poverty and unemployment. Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan but claimed by both. Most people in the Indian-controlled portion favor independence or a merger with Pakistan. India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over control of Kashmir since they won independence from British colonialists in 1947. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training insurgents and pushing them into the Indian portion of Kashmir to attack government forces and other targets. Pakistan says it provides only political and diplomatic support to insurgents who have been fighting for Kashmir's independence from India or its merger with Pakistan since 1989. An Indian Border Security Force soldier looks at the Pakistan side of the border through a binocular at Ranbir Singh Pura, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Jammu, India, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a speech Saturday that in the last four months, Indian security forces have killed more than 100 terrorists who crossed over the cease-fire line in Kashmir from Pakistani territory. (AP Photo/Channi Anand) FILE In this May 27, 2014 file photo, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, walks to shake hand with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif before the start of their meeting in New Delhi, India. Modi said in a speech Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, that he'll work to isolate Pakistan internationally, accusing India's archrival of trying to destabilize Asia by exporting terrorism. (AP Photo /Manish Swarup, File) Indian Border Security Force soldiers patrol the India-Pakistan border area at Ranbir Singh Pura, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Jammu, India, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a speech Saturday that in the last four months, Indian security forces have killed more than 100 terrorists who crossed over the cease-fire line in Kashmir from Pakistani territory. (AP Photo/Channi Anand) Indian Border Security Force soldiers stand guard near a gate at the India-Pakistan border area at Ranbir Singh Pura, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Jammu, India, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a speech Saturday that in the last four months, Indian security forces have killed more than 100 terrorists who crossed over the cease-fire line in Kashmir from Pakistani territory. (AP Photo/Channi Anand) The Latest: Doubts follow release of police shooting video CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) The Latest on protests in Charlotte, North Carolina, over the fatal police shooting of a black man (all times local): ___ 8:25 p.m. This image made from video provided by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 shows Keith Scott on the ground as police approach him in Charlotte, N.C., on Sept. 20, 2016. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department via AP) An attorney for the family of a man shot by Charlotte police says newly released footage from authorities doesn't show a gun in the man's hand. Justin Bamberg told reporters on Saturday night that the dashcam and body camera footage released on Saturday leaves more questions unanswered than it provides clarity. He also said that Keith Lamont Scott's delay in getting out of his vehicle doesn't justify his death. Protesters have been clamoring for the videos since the shooting of Scott by Charlotte police. Officers have said Scott had a gun, according to a police statement. Authorities on Saturday released photographs of a handgun and a holster they said was recovered from the scene. Ray Dotch identified himself as Scott's brother-in-law. He objected to reporters' questions about Scott's background, saying he shouldn't have to "humanize him in order for him to be treated fairly." "What we know and what you should know about him is that he was an American citizen who deserved better," he added. ___ 8 p.m. Charlotte's mayor says she fully supports the release of police shooting videos. Mayor Jennifer Roberts said in a statement released Saturday night that she backs up the decision made by Police Chief Kerr Putney on the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. Roberts has been saying for several days she thought the dashcam and body camera footage should be released. At a news conference on Friday, Roberts reiterated that stance but said that the only question was "timing." Roberts also said she has asked the U.S. Department of Justice "to be available to address any potential civil rights concerns." ___ 7:30 p.m. Charlotte police have released a narrative of what they say happened in the moments leading up to the fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. The department said in an update released late Saturday that two plainclothes officers were preparing to arrest someone else when they saw Scott sitting in an SUV, rolling a marijuana blunt. Officers say they weren't concerned about the drugs until they noticed that Scott had a gun with him, according to police. But after an officer "observed Mr. Scott hold a gun up," police put on marked vests to identify themselves as officers, police added. The officers say they identified themselves as police and gave Scott orders to drop the gun, adding he refused. A uniformed officer tried to use a baton to break out a window on Scott's SUV, the narrative states. Police say the man got out of the SUV, with the gun, and backed away while ignoring the demands to drop it. Perceiving Scott's actions as an "imminent physical threat," Officer Brentley Vinson fired his weapon at Scott, according to the statement. Both Vinson and Scott are black. Police say detectives interviewed witnesses, who confirmed that Scott hadn't complied with officers' demands. The report also says forensic examination shows Scott's DNA and fingerprints on the loaded gun retrieved from the scene and that Scott was wearing an ankle holster. ___ 7 p.m. Newly released police footage shows more details of how the fatal shooting of a black man unfolded. Dashboard camera video shows two officers pointing their guns at Keith Lamont Scott, who is inside an SUV with the doors closed and windows rolled up. Scott gets out, starts walking backward, and then four shots ring out. His wife's voice is audible as she yells both at him and at officers. It's unclear if there's anything in the man's hands. From a different angle, police body camera footage shows an officer approach with his gun drawn and another officer already pointing his gun at Scott. When Scott comes into view, he has his hands at his side and is standing outside of his car. The body camera footage doesn't show the moment the shots are fired, and Scott next comes into view already on the ground. Audio in the body camera footage can't be heard until after Scott is on the ground. ___ 6:45 p.m. Charlotte police have released body and dashboard camera footage of the fatal shooting of black man. A file sent to the media Saturday also includes pictures of a handgun and marijuana that police say Keith Lamont Scott possessed. The shooting of Scott on Tuesday has prompted several days of demonstrations that coalesced around protesters' demands that police video be seen by the public. Police have said Scott was shot on Tuesday because he refused commands to drop a handgun. Residents have said he was unarmed. Police Chief Kerr Putney said at a news conference Saturday that Scott "absolutely" had a gun but that it's not shown in his hand in the videos. Putney said the video supports other evidence that all must be considered together. ____ 5:10 p.m. North Carolina. Gov. Pat McCrory says he supports the decision to release police video recordings showing the shooting of a black man. McCrory said in a statement Saturday that he supported the decision of Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney. McCrory also said he had been assured by state investigators that the release wouldn't have an impact on their probe into the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. McCrory's statement came minutes before Putney held a news conference saying he would release dashcam and body camera video of the shooting. ___ 5:05 p.m. Charlotte's police chief says officers were trying to serve a warrant on someone else but then spotted the man they ultimately shot and killed. Chief Kerr Putney told reporters on Saturday that officers saw marijuana and a weapon in Keith Lamont Scott's car and said, "uh oh, this is a safety issue for us and the public." Putney is releasing dashcam and body cam video on Saturday to the public. Police have said Scott was shot on Tuesday because he refused commands to drop a handgun. Residents have said he was unarmed. Putney says Scott "absolutely" had a gun but that it's not shown in his hand in the videos. "At every encounter, people can make a decision to follow loud, verbal commands. They (officers) were reacting to what they saw and they have a duty to do so," Putney said. Community activists have been for days calling on Putney to release body cam and dashcam video of the shooting. Putney has said he wants to be transparent but also won't compromise his investigation. ___ 5 p.m. Charlotte police say the man killed by one of their officers "absolutely" had a gun when he was shot. Chief Kerr Putney told reporters during a news conference on Saturday that the video he's releasing to the public supports the way he originally characterized the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. Police have said they shot Scott on Tuesday because he refused commands to drop a handgun. Residents have said he was unarmed. Community activists have been for days calling on Putney to release body cam and dashcam video of the shooting. Putney has said he wants to be transparent but also won't compromise his investigation. Scott's family has viewed the videos and has called on Putney to release them to the public. ___ 4:45 p.m. A North Carolina police chief has announced he has decided to release police bodycam and dash cam video footage of Tuesday's police shooting of a black man in Charlotte. Chief Kerr Putney of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department didn't immediately say when the footage would be made public but said he had decided the release would not hinder an ongoing investigation of the shooting. He said he had determined recently that releasing footage would have "no adverse impact on the investigation." He also added physical evidence would be released. "These are tough times for our city and we're going to get through it," he added. Community activists have been for days calling on Putney to release body cam and dashcam video of the shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott. Putney has said he wants to be transparent but also won't compromise his investigation. Scott's family has viewed the videos and has called on Putney to release them to the public. ___ 4 p.m. Charlotte police say they are planning to release a statement on the shooting of a black man by police. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says in a news release that Chief Kerr Putney will make a statement at 4:30 p.m. The release did not say that Putney would take questions. Community activists have been for days calling on Putney to release body cam and dashcam video of the shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott. Putney has said he wants to be transparent but also won't compromise his investigation. Scott's family has viewed the videos and has called on Putney to release them to the public. ___ 3:45 p.m. The president of the North Carolina NAACP says federal authorities are investigating the police shooting of a black man in Charlotte. But the U.S. Justice Department told The Associated Press on Saturday that it has not opened a probe into the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. At a rally Saturday afternoon, the Rev. Corine Mack said an official investigation was underway into the shooting, which happened earlier this week. Later Saturday, the Justice Department reiterated comments made Thursday by Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who said the department was continuing the monitor the case. Police say Scott refused repeated commands to drop a gun. The department has not released body camera and dashcam footage. ___ 3 p.m. Hundreds of demonstrators in Charlotte have taken their protest to the police department. Many of the hundreds who gathered Saturday afternoon chanted "Keith Scott," the name of the black man shot to death earlier this week by police. Protesters had gathered earlier in the day, marching through the streets of a city on edge after Scott's shooting death. The demonstrations reached a violent crescendo on Wednesday before the National Guard was called in Thursday to maintain order. The next two nights of protests were free of property damage and violence, with organizers stressing a message of peace at the end of the week. Many demonstrators have demanded police release body camera and dashcam video of Scott's shooting. On Saturday, the crowd chanted, "No tapes, no peace." ___ 2 p.m. Music and peaceful attitudes are dominating a rally of several hundred in a park near Charlotte's police department. Speakers and singers at the Saturday afternoon gathering have spoken out against incidents of police violence across the country. Organizer Femi Shittu welcomed those in attendance "with all of their righteous anger" before an acoustic musical duo took the makeshift stage. Saturday marked the fifth day of rallies in this southern banking capital since a black man was shot by police earlier in the week. The demonstrations reached a violent crescendo on Wednesday before the National Guard was called in Thursday to maintain order. The next two nights of protests were free of property damage and violence, with organizers stressing a message of peace at the end of the week. ___ 1 p.m. Several dozen people have gathered at a Charlotte park located just blocks away from the city's police department for a rally and march. People wore shirts that say "black lives matter" and "support the Charlotte movement" while they waited for speakers to take a makeshift stage in front of a fountain. Two women walked around offering to register people to vote. Others offered bottles of water. Saturday marked the fifth day of rallies since a black man was shot by police earlier in the week. The demonstrations reached a violent crescendo on Wednesday before the National Guard was called in Thursday to maintain order. The next two nights of protests were free of property damage and violence, with organizers stressing a message of peace at the end of the week. ___ 10 a.m. The mother of a man shot and killed during violent protests in Charlotte says her son's death has helped others live through the donation of his organs. Vivian Carr spoke out at a church service on Friday night. WBTV reports (http://bit.ly/2dibjE1) that the mother told a group gathered at Our Lady of Consolation Church that her son Justin was a peaceful person and that several people received his heart, lungs and liver. Justin Carr was shot during rioting in downtown Charlotte on Wednesday night following unrest over the police shooting of a black man, 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott. Carr died the next day at a hospital, and a man has been arrested in his death. ___ 12:30 a.m. Charlotte police say they don't plan to forcibly remove protesters from the street after curfew as long as the situation remains peaceful. Capt. Mike Campagna says in a CNN interview that the midnight curfew is a tool the police can use if it becomes necessary, but they hope that won't be the case. Campagna says people inside the group of demonstrators helped keep things peaceful Thursday, the third night of protests after an officer fatally shot a black man. He says community members intervened with aggressors after seeing the need when protests became violent Wednesday night. ___ 12:05 a.m. Saturday A curfew has taken effect in Charlotte with demonstrators still on the street. Mayor Jennifer Roberts signed documents Thursday night to put in effect a curfew from midnight until 6 a.m. After midnight, dozens of protesters continued to march and chant in the city's business district. Officers didn't appear to be trying to arrest people or force them off the streets several minutes after midnight passed. ___ 10:50 p.m. Protesters in Charlotte who spilled onto an interstate highway are being pushed back by police officers in riot gear. After peacefully circling the city's business district for several hours, several dozen demonstrators climbed onto Interstate 277 and stood in the middle of the highway. A line of police officers with shields and face masks advanced on the protesters, and many dispersed and climbed back up embankments off the road. Thursday marked the third night of protests after a shooting earlier in the week of a black man by police in Charlotte. ___ 9:45 p.m. Charlotte's mayor is imposing a curfew starting at midnight after three nights of protests. Mayor Jennifer Roberts told reporters Thursday night that she had signed documents to impose a curfew that will run from midnight to 6 a.m. She expects it to be in place for multiple days until officials determine they no longer need it. The city's government issued a Tweet saying the curfew is citywide. Protesters took to the streets for a third night but were largely peaceful Thursday. Two previous nights of chaotic protests included injuries, one death arrests and vandalism. ___ 8:40 p.m. Hundreds of protesters are marching through the heart of Charlotte's business district. The protesters stopped for about 15 minutes to chant and block an intersection near Bank of America's headquarters. They then moved on as police and members of the National Guard monitored them. The demonstration that began about 7:30 p.m. at a park has so far been peaceful. The crowd includes curious onlookers who emerged from hotels and office buildings to take pictures. The business district, known locally as uptown, has been on edge Thursday after two nights of chaotic protests that included vandalism and injuries. The protests stem from the fatal shooting this week of a black many police. ___ 8: 20 p.m. A North Carolina congressman says that people are protesting in Charlotte because they "hate white people." U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger, a Republican whose district includes parts of Charlotte, was asked by an interviewer for Britain's BBC TV what grievance the protesters have. In the video posted online Thursday, Pittenger responded: "The grievance in their mind is the animus, the anger they hate white people because white people are successful and they're not." He later released a statement apologizing and saying that his anguish over the situation led him to give a response he regretted. Chaotic protests broke out Tuesday and Wednesday in Charlotte after a black man was shot to death by a police officer. The North Carolina Democratic Party released a statement saying Pittenger's remarks were inexcusable and racist. ___ 8 p.m. Charlotte police say the man shot in the head during Wednesday night's protests near a downtown hotel has died. Police spokesman Keith Trietley says in a news release that 26-year-old Justin Carr died Thursday at the hospital. Carr was shot as protesters clashed with police in riot gear lined arm-in-arm protecting the Omni Hotel about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. City officials say Carr was not shot by an officer. Police Chief Kerr Putney says the detectives are determined to find who fired the fatal shots. No arrests have been made. ___ 7:50 p.m. The lawyer for relatives of a black man killed by Charlotte police says he couldn't tell after watching police video if the man had anything in his hands when he was shot. Keith Scott's family was shown the dashboard and body camera footage by police Thursday. After viewing it, attorney Justin Bamberg said in a statement they want the video released to the public immediately. Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney has said he won't release the video while a criminal investigation continues. Bamberg says Scott is seen in the video calmly exiting his vehicle Tuesday and while police give him several commands, he does not approach officers. Bamberg says Scott's hands were by his side and he was slowly walking backward when he was shot ___ 7:35 p.m. About 100 protesters have gathered at a park in uptown Charlotte, launching a third night of demonstrations over the fatal shooting of a black man by a black police officer. With dwindling daylight, the protesters formed a circle and chanted several slogans, including "We believe that we will win." Some of them wrapped bandanas around their faces to protect themselves from tear gas. About 50 feet away, about a dozen Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers sat on bicycles observing the protesters. Camouflage Humvees carrying National Guard members are patrolling downtown interspersed with civilian vehicles. Guard members with fatigues and rifles walked through a plaza near the headquarters of Bank of America. ___ 6:45 p.m. The attorney for relatives of a black man shot to death by Charlotte police says the family has seen police videos of his killing. Lawyer Justin Bamberg tells television crews he would not detail what they saw. Bamberg says: "There are some things to digest." Members of Keith Scott's family didn't talk to reporters as they quickly left Charlotte's police headquarters Thursday afternoon. Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney said earlier Thursday he won't release the body and dashboard camera video while the criminal investigation into Tuesday's shooting continues. ___ 4:15 p.m. An attorney for relatives of a black man shot and killed by an officer in Charlotte says the victim's wife "saw him get shot and killed." Attorney Justin Bamberg spoke Thursday on behalf of the family of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott during a news conference. He says the family was not present because they were still grieving. Bamberg said: "My understanding is that his wife saw him get shot and killed. That's something she will never, ever forget." He did not give other details about what the wife saw. Bamberg says the family will view police video of the shooting later Thursday. It is not clear when, or if, dash and body camera video of the shooting might be publicly released. ___ 3:55 p.m. An attorney for relatives of a black man shot and killed by an officer in Charlotte says the family will view police video of the shooting later Thursday. Attorney Justin Bamberg spoke on behalf of the family of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott during a news conference. The family was not present, he says, because they were still grieving. He says they don't know what's on the video, only what law enforcement says on the video. Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney has said that Scott refused commands to drop a gun; residents say he was unarmed. Putney also says the video does not definitively show whether Scott pointed the gun at anyone. It is not clear when, or if, dash and body camera video of the shooting might be publicly released. The attorney says the family wants to know the truth but worries about the emotional impact if the video is released. ___ 3:10 p.m. North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory says he supports the Charlotte police chief's position that body and dashcam video of the deadly police shooting of a black man shouldn't be released to the public while the investigation continues. At a news conference Thursday, McCrory said he hadn't changed his mind about a law he signed that will make it harder for police shooting videos to be released starting next month. McCrory spoke as officials try to head off another day of protests stemming from the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. Police say he refused to drop a gun; residents say he was unarmed. McCrory says he expects less chaos in Charlotte because the National Guard and state troopers are helping Charlotte police. ___ 2:20 p.m. The Congressional Black Caucus is demanding that Attorney General Loretta Lynch authorize federal intervention into the police killings of unarmed African-American men and women. The action comes in the aftermath of the killing in Charlotte, North Carolina, of Keith Lamont Scott. Police say he refused repeated commands to drop a gun, but residents say he was unarmed. The black lawmakers walked Thursday from the U.S. Capitol to the Justice Department to present the letter to Lynch, who was having a news conference of her own inside the building. Democratic Rep G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina, the caucus's chair, said they would tell the attorney general that "enough is enough." The letter asks for state and federal investigations, indictments and prosecutions of police officers whose actions harm or kill unarmed African-Americans. ___ 12:55 p.m. A North Carolina gun-rights group says just because there's a state of emergency in Charlotte doesn't mean people there are unable to carry their concealed handgun for defense if they have a permit for one. Grass Roots North Carolina President Paul Valone wrote Thursday in a memo to its supporters strongly advising them to carry these lawful firearms if they can't avoid being in Charlotte and surrounding Mecklenburg County. There have been two nights of violence in Charlotte stemming from the shooting of a man by a police officer. Valone points to a 2012 federal court ruling striking down a broad state law making it a misdemeanor for people to possess or transport any dangerous weapon outside of their homes within an area where a state of emergency exists. Grass Roots was a plaintiff in the litigation. Grass Roots counts 20,000 people among its members. ___ 12:05 p.m. The chief state prosecutor in Charlotte is asking the State Bureau of Investigation to look into the shooting of a man killed by a police officer earlier this week. District Attorney R. Andrew Murray said in a statement Thursday that he was making the request for a state investigation at the request of the family of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott. Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney says he plans to show video of the shooting to the slain man's family, but the video won't be immediately released to the public. He also said during a news conference Thursday that the video does not definitively show Scott pointing a gun at anyone, though police maintain Scott refused commands to drop the weapon. ___ Noon The family of a black man shot to death by a police officer in Charlotte is calling on protesters to be peaceful. Reykia Scott says in a statement released Thursday that she is devastated by the death of her husband, 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, and understands people's frustrations. But Reykia Scott says hurting people or damaging property is not the answer. The Scott family's comments come after a second night of unrest in Charlotte after the fatal shooting. Police Chief Kerry Putney told reporters Thursday he planned to show video of the shooting to Scott's family but would not immediately be releasing it to the public. Putney says the video does not definitively show Keith Scott pointing a gun at anyone. Police say Scott refused repeated commands to drop his gun, but residents say he was unarmed. ___ 11:45 a.m. Charlotte's police chief says he sees no reason to impose a curfew in North Carolina's largest city, even after two nights of violent protests following the shooting of a man by a police officer. Chief Kerr Putney said the city now has more resources to deal with problems, following a declaration of a state of emergency and the arrival of the North Carolina National Guard and more officers from the State Highway Patrol. Mayor Jennifer Roberts said earlier Thursday the city was considering a curfew. She defended the decision not to seek an emergency declaration earlier, noting the city had been calm during the day Wednesday. She says the request was made at the appropriate time when more resources were needed. Roberts again called for calm as the shooting investigation continues. ___ 10:55 a.m. Charlotte's police chief says he plans to show video of an officer shooting a black man to the slain man's family, but the video won't be immediately released to the public. Police Chief Kerr Putney said during a news conference Thursday that the video does not definitively show 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott pointing a gun at anyone. Putney says he is working to honor the request from the family of Scott to view the video. It's unclear when or if the video might be released publicly. The video could be key to resolving the chasm between police, who say Scott refused repeated commands to drop his gun, and residents who say he was unarmed. It's not clear what the body cameras worn by three officers who were present during the shooting may have captured. ___ 10:15 a.m. Life is returning to normal on downtown streets in Charlotte despite two nights of violence. On Thursday morning, a few uniformed police officers are walking around the area. The governor declared a state of emergency Wednesday night and called on help from the National Guard, but no Guard members were present on the street Thursday morning. Glass and uprooted plants can be seen on the sidewalk from the protests Wednesday night. Traffic is flowing in the area although at least three major companies asked their employees to stay home on Thursday. ___ 9:55 a.m. The mayor of Charlotte says officials have no time frame for when they might release camera footage of the fatal police shooting of a black man. Mayor Jennifer Roberts told "NPR" Thursday morning that releasing the police video "depends on the investigation and its progress, and it depends on the discretion of the chief to some extent." Calls for police to release the video have increased along with the violent protests, but the police chief has resisted. North Carolina has a law that takes effect Oct. 1 requiring a judge to approve releasing police video, and he said he doesn't release video when a criminal investigation is ongoing. Roberts said she hopes to watch the video Thursday or Friday. "I certainly would feel better being able to see it," she said, adding that she doesn't know how conclusive the video footage is until she watches it. Police said the plainclothes officer who shot 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, identified as Brentley Vinson, has been placed on leave, standard procedure in such cases. Three uniformed officers at the shooting scene had body cameras; Vinson did not, police said. ___ 9:45 a.m. Federal help is on the way to Charlotte after two nights of violence after the fatal police shooting of a black man. The Justice Department is sending a team of trained peacekeepers designed to help resolve community conflict. The department's Community Relations Service has been deployed to other cities roiled by tense flare-ups between police and residents. ___ 8:50 a.m. The mayor of Charlotte says the city is considering a curfew after two nights of violence in the wake of the shooting of a black man by police. Mayor Jennifer Roberts told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Thursday that city officials are talking about imposing a curfew. Streets were calm Thursday morning, but several civilians and police officers were hurt in the second night of violence Wednesday night. City spokeswoman Ashley Simmons told local media that Roberts' office will discuss a possible curfew with city police and the National Guard on Thursday. The mayor said she wants people to know Charlotte is open for business Thursday. But at least three major companies told workers to avoid downtown offices. The North Carolina National Guard arrived at a Charlotte armory early Thursday and some Guard vehicles left the armory about 8 a.m. This image made from video provided by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 shows Keith Scott, left, moments before he was fatally shot by police in Charlotte, N.C., on Sept. 20, 2016. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department via AP) This combination of photos provided by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 shows an ankle holster, top, and gun which police say were in Keith Scotts possession at the time he was fatally shot by police in Charlotte, N.C., on Sept. 20, 2016. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department via AP) National Guardsman stand on the street in downtown Charlotte, N.C. on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Charlotte police refused under mounting pressure Thursday to release video that could resolve wildly different accounts of the shooting of a black man, as the National Guard arrived to try to head off a third night of violence in this city on edge. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Protesters take to the streets of uptown during a peaceful march following Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Members of the North Carolina National Guard stand guard outside the Omni Hotel as demonstrators take to the streets following Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) A demonstrator stands on the street in downtown protesting Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Charlotte police refused under mounting pressure Thursday to release video that could resolve wildly different accounts of the shooting of a black man, as the National Guard arrived to try to head off a third night of violence in this city on edge. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Demonstrators stand on the street in downtown protesting Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Charlotte police refused under mounting pressure Thursday to release video that could resolve wildly different accounts of the shooting of a black man, as the National Guard arrived to try to head off a third night of violence in this city on edge. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Attorney Justin Bamberg, representing the family of Keith Lamont Scott, addresses the media in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 following Tuesday's police shooting of Scott. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Workers cover large windows with plywood at a downtown hotel after a second night of violence following Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) National Guardsman stand on the street in downtown Charlotte, N.C. on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Charlotte police refused under mounting pressure Thursday to release video that could resolve wildly different accounts of the shooting of a black man, as the National Guard arrived to try to head off a third night of violence in this city on edge. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) A couple watches along Trade Street in uptown as demonstrators take to the streets following Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Protesters block I-277 during a third night of unrest following Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) A member of the clergy stands in front of a line of police officers in Charlotte, N.C. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. blocking the access road to I-277 on the third night of protests following Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) A couple looks at line of police officers blocking the access road to I-277 on the third night of protests in Charlotte, N.C. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, following Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Protesters shout as they march downtown on the third night of protests in Charlotte, N.C. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, following Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Rachel and Ray Dotch, sister-in-law and brother-in-law to Keith Lamont Scott, attend a news conference in Charlotte, N.C., on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Scott was fatally shot by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Brentley Vinson on Tuesday. Ray Dotch objected to reporters' questions about Scott's background, saying he shouldn't have to "humanize in order for him to be treated fairly." (Jeff Siner/The Charlotte Observer via AP) A timeline of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan FLINT, Mich. (AP) It's been a year since doctors warned that high levels of lead were found in the blood of Flint's children, news that Michigan officials initially rejected. Here is a look at some of the key events surrounding the city's lead-tainted water crisis: ___ April 2014: In an effort to save money, Flint begins drawing water from the Flint River instead of relying on water from Detroit. The move is considered temporary while the city waits to connect to a new regional water system. Residents immediately complain about the smell, taste and appearance of the water, and raise health concerns, reporting rashes, hair loss and other problems. January 2015: Detroit offers to reconnect Flint to its water system, but Flint leaders insist the water is safe. Sept. 24, 2015: A group of doctors urges Flint to stop using the Flint River for water after finding high levels of lead in the blood of children. State regulators insist the water is safe. Sept. 29, 2015: Gov. Rick Snyder pledges to take action in response to the lead levels the first acknowledgment by the state that lead is a problem. October 2015: Snyder announces that the state will spend $1 million to buy water filters and test water in Flint public schools, and days later calls for Flint to go back to using water from Detroit's system. Oct. 15, 2015: The Michigan Legislature and Snyder approve nearly $9.4 million in aid to Flint, including $6 million to help switch its drinking water back to Detroit. Dec. 29, 2015: Snyder accepts the resignation of Department of Environmental Quality Director Dan Wyant and apologizes for what occurred in Flint. Jan. 5, 2016: Snyder declares a state of emergency in Flint, the same day federal officials confirm that they are investigating. A week later, the Michigan National Guard begins helping distribute bottled water and filters, while Snyder asks the federal government for help. Jan. 13: Michigan health officials report an increase in Legionnaires' disease cases some fatal over the past two years in the county that includes Flint. Jan. 14: Snyder asks the Obama administration for major disaster declaration and more federal aid. The White House provides federal aid and an emergency declaration on Jan. 16, but not the disaster declaration. Jan. 15: Michigan attorney general Bill Schuette begins an "independent review" into the Flint crisis. Mid-March: State officials testify before Congress, including Snyder and the state-appointed emergency manager who oversaw Flint when the water source was switched to the river. March 23: A governor-appointed panel concludes that the state of Michigan is "fundamentally accountable" for the crisis because of decisions made by environmental regulators. April 20: Two state officials and a local official are charged with evidence tampering and other crimes in the Michigan attorney general's investigation the first to be levied in a probe that later rises to nine public officials. Aug. 14: A federal emergency declaration over Flint's lead-tainted water crisis ends, but state officials say work continues to fix the drinking water system and provide services to city residents. AP news guide: The Flint water crisis, a year on LANSING, Mich. (AP) A year after the tap water in Flint was exposed as a source of dangerous levels of lead, residents of the impoverished city are still grappling with the man-made public health crisis, which has led to criminal charges and drawn attention in the presidential election. Doctors discovered high amounts of the toxin in children last September and warned against using the Flint River water. Local health officials declared an emergency and Republican Gov. Rick Snyder confirmed there were "serious issues" after state officials downplayed concerns despite other problems with the municipal water. In addition to the criminal investigations, the crisis has sparked congressional hearings, lawsuits and scrutiny of lead testing across the country. Here's where things stand today: FILE- In a file photo form Aug. 31, 2016, crews break ground and work to remove and replace lead-tainted pipes from three homes during first day of the second phase under Mayor Karen Weaver's Fast Start program Wednesday, in Flint, Mich. A year after Flint's water crisis broke open, its residents still do have not water that is safe to drink without a filter. The replacement of lead pipes is slow. The Associated Press breaks down where things stand on various facets of the man-made public health disaster _ criminal charges, lawsuits, the transition to a new water pipeline, state aid, economic development efforts and other initiatives. (Jake May/The Flint Journal-MLive.com via AP) /The Flint Journal-MLive.com via AP) IS THE WATER SAFE? Flint, whose water source was switched in 2014 to save money while the city was under state emergency management, returned to a Detroit-area water system in October. But Flint's 99,000 residents still can't drink the water without a filter until the system has been made safe with corrosion-reducing phosphates, a critical step that was missing when Flint used the river for 18 months. The state is still distributing filters and bottled water at spots throughout Flint. The state health agency says the decision on whether to shower or bathe with city water "is an individual one." IS THE END IN SIGHT? The water quality has improved, yet when it will be deemed OK to drink unfiltered is unclear. Another round of testing will be completed in early October. It's also unknown when Flint will receive water from a new regional pipeline that is to draw water from Lake Huron. Lifelong resident Luke Waid said he remains so stressed about lead detected in his 3-year-old daughter, Sophia, that he had to leave his welding job at an aerospace manufacturer. "I'd get working and all I can think about is, 'Is she OK?'" he said. "It gets to be such a burden. I didn't want to leave her." Before the crisis exploded, Waid, 31, and his fiancee, Michelle Rodriguez, feared losing custody because of her lead levels, which they worry cause Sophia's symptoms such as irritability. Waid said it's hard to keep a "positive mind frame," not only for his daughter but much of anything. WHAT ABOUT THE PIPES? One source of the contamination was old lead pipes that leached the toxin into homes and businesses. Flint plans to replace thousands of the underground lead and galvanized steel service lines with an initial $27 million in state funds. But progress has been slow. Just 177 of what could be at least 10,000 lines had been replaced as of Friday. ACCOUNTABILITY? The Republican governor, who apologized for his administration's failures that created and prolonged the crisis, has seen his approval rating plummet but has rejected calls to resign. The state's former epidemiologist and Flint's suspended utilities administrator struck plea deals. Criminal cases for seven other current or former state environmental or health employees continue amid accusations of a cover-up. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has hinted that charges against higher-ranking officials may follow. He also has sued two water engineering companies for negligence. ENOUGH MONEY? The state has allocated $234 million to provide water bill credits and other assistance, such as additional school nurses, healthy food to reduce lead poisoning risks and psychotherapy sessions. Much has yet to be spent. The Republican-led Congress is at odds over Democrats' calls for $220 million to help Flint and other cities replace pipes and clean their water. The Community Foundation of Greater Flint has received more than $12 million in private donations to respond to the crisis. CIVIL DAMAGES? Waid and other residents have filed lawsuits seeking compensation. The cases are in the early stages. A federal judge currently is considering a request by residents, pastors and national advocacy groups to order the regular delivery of bottled water to all Flint homes unless a household opts out. The plaintiffs say lead levels haven't been minimized and response efforts by the state and city "have not alleviated the exhausting struggle many in Flint face in trying to find alternative sources of safe drinking water." POLITICS? National attention on Flint has dissipated since Snyder and President Barack Obama issued emergency declarations in January and Democrats campaigned there and later met in the city for a March presidential primary debate. But Republican Donald Trump, who wants a good showing in the industrial Midwest, visited in mid-September amid his increased outreach to African-Americans only to be cut short after criticizing Hillary Clinton in a church. Clinton's daughter, Chelsea, visited Friday for a briefing. POLICY REFORMS? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to release new regulations next year to strengthen its lead rules. While Michigan is spending money, it has been much slower in enacting major policy reforms. Snyder has implemented or referred many of his task force's 44 recommendations, yet no significant legislative action is expected until 2017. The governor has proposed the nation's toughest lead-testing rules and the replacement of all underground lead service pipes in Michigan, among other proposals. Democrats are pushing to repeal or amend the emergency manager law, which was blamed as a factor in the crisis. ___ Connecticut becoming a hub for new bioscience companies FARMINGTON, Conn. (AP) Connecticut hasn't become the Silicon Valley of bioscience quite yet, but five years after lawmakers made a massive investment to support the development of that industry, there is a thriving hub in Farmington. Eighteen technology or bio-medical startups recently set up shop inside new laboratories at the Cell and Genome Science Building on the University of Connecticut Health campus. The labs are being leased to the companies as part of the university's Technology Incubation Program, which is designed to help bioscience and tech companies start and grow in Connecticut. In this Sept. 22, 2016 photo, Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. speaks at a ribbon cutting for new laboratory space at the University of Connecticut's Cell and Genome Sciences building in Farmington, Conn. The labs are being leased to bioscience startup businesses as part of the state's Technology Incubator Program. (AP Photo/Pat Eaton-Robb) They were built using $19 million in funding from Bioscience Connecticut, the almost $900 million bonding initiative championed by Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy in 2011. "We're making the kind of investments that quite frankly should have been made decades ago," Malloy said Thursday, during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the laboratories. "We know that a lot of companies can be started here. Now, we're going to be concentrating on starting them here, having them grow here and keeping them here." That initiative has included major renovations to the school's hospital and the relocation of the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine to the UConn Health campus. The work being done at UConn and Jackson has helped breed the startup companies such Shoreline Biome, LLC, which is developing a product to help doctors and researchers map microbes in the bodies of their patients and test subjects. UConn's incubation program has helped Shorline Biome with everything from equipment, to accountants, to business planning experts, to student interns and venture capital contacts. But company co-founder Mark Driscoll said that most importantly, it's given his company access to a community of a bioscience researchers all located within several miles of each other, with whom he can collaborate. One of the scientists working with his company is George Weinstock, the director for microbial genomics at Jackson Lab, who led a groundbreaking study of the microbiome and its contribution to disease. "It's really created an ecosystem that has allowed us to exist," said Driscoll. The bioscience sector currently employs about 24,000 people in Connecticut, according to the governor's office. There are 30 companies in the incubation program, many of them started by UConn students or faculty based on research done at the school. Those companies have generated $45 million in revenues, school officials said. The labs in the Cell and Genome building, with 28,000 square feet of space, began leasing to companies in January. They are currently at 60 percent occupancy, according to UConn. Other companies there are working on products such as a device that tracks the progress of chronic illnesses by analyzing patients' breath and personalized diabetes medicine for patients with genetic cholesterol disorders. Writers offered a chance to work in Mark Twain's library HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Aspiring writers are being offered a chance for some quiet work time in the library of Mark Twain's Connecticut home. The library experience is an add-on to the fifth annual Writers Weekend being held Saturday and Sunday at the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford. The annual writers retreat features speakers, writing workshops and presentations at the historical home where Twain lived as an adult from 1874 to 1891. The retreat costs $180 to attend. The library experience is an additional $30. Twain wrote many of his best-known works while living in the house, including "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," ''The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court." The Latest: About 100 homes in Palo, Iowa, evacuated CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) The Latest on flooding along rain-swollen rivers in Iowa (all times local): 5:30 p.m. About 100 homes in low-lying areas of the small Linn County town of Palo along the Cedar River have been evacuated. The Cedar River flows over the dam through downtown Waverly, Iowa on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream (Brian Powers/The Des Moines Register via AP ) City Clerk Trisca Dix tells The Associated Press that the mandatory evacuation in the town of about 1,000 took place Saturday afternoon before the river was expected to crest Sunday night at 24.5 feet. Mayor Tom Yock told the Des Moines Register that volunteers and work crews scrambled Saturday to protect as much of the town from flooding as possible. Yock said the town, which was devastated by record flooding in 2008, is trying to be more proactive this time around. He says many people moved their belongings to the upper levels of their homes and built sandbag barriers before evacuating. 4:10 p.m. Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and several other state leaders on Saturday toured flood damage in Clarkesville and Shell Rock and assessed flood preparedness plans underway in Cedar Rapids. Branstad was joined by Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Tim Orr and Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Mark Schouten. Branstad and Reynolds also expect to assess flood damage next week. On Friday, Branstad signed a disaster proclamation for 13 northeast Iowa counties affected by flooding. It activates the Iowa National Guard to assist in preparedness and in response when there's damage. 3:30 p.m. Cedar Rapids officials are asking curious residents to stay out of downtown and flooded areas. City Manager Jeff Pomeranz said Saturday that people wanting to get a glimpse of rising Cedar River have been getting in the way of workers trying to protect property. Pomeranz says heavy equipment brought in to build earthen dams and erect flood barriers was hindered Friday because of heavy traffic from gawkers. Officials also don't want traffic from onlookers clogging streets for those trying to evacuate areas around the river before it's expected to crest on Tuesday. 11:10 a.m. Officials have lowered their estimate of where the swollen Cedar River will crest in Cedar Rapids, but they are still asking people to stay out of the Iowa city's downtown on Sunday night. City Manager Jeff Pomeranz said Saturday at a news conference that the river is expected to crest at 24.5 feet on Tuesday, which is nearly a foot below the earlier expected crest of 25.3 feet. Downtown Cedar Rapids is still expected to see flooding that will affect an estimated 1,500 properties. Fire Chief Mark English asked those living in an area outlined on a flood map posted on the city's website to evacuate their homes by 8 p.m. Sunday. A curfew will be in place from then until 7 a.m. Monday. Police chief Wayne Jerman says 73 checkpoints will be set up to ensure that residents and their properties remain safe. ___ This item has been corrected to reflect that it's the Cedar River, not the Mississippi River, that is threatening to flood Cedar Rapids. ___ 10 a.m. Iowa officials are pleading for volunteers to help fill sandbags and scrambling to erect earthen dams and berms to stave off flooding. Cedar Falls officials issued calls Friday night and Saturday morning for volunteers, ahead of heavy rains forecast for Saturday night. Volunteers have been asked to bring work gloves, appropriate footwear and shovels. Flooding has already forced road closures and evacuations in several communities upstream. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the area, including Waterloo, Waverly, Hampton and Eagle Grove in Iowa. While sunny skies were expected for much of Saturday, the weather service says storms Saturday night into Sunday are expected to bring more heavy rain to the area. ___ This item has been corrected to remove reference to the Mississippi River, which is not near Cedar Falls. It is the Cedar River that flows through the city. Charley Johnson moves his furniture out of his house as flood waters continue to rise on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 in Waverly, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream (Brian Powers/The Des Moines Register via AP ) Volunteers fill sandbag in the New Bohemia District of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream, while a Wisconsin town was recovering from storms now blamed for two deaths. (David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen via AP) Tom Moffit survey's the flood waters filling his house and street on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, in Shell Rock, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream, while a Wisconsin town was recovering from storms. (Brian Powers/The Des Moines Register via AP ) Ben Bowman, right, hands a hose to Matt Rowell as they pump out his basement on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, in Shell Rock, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream, while a Wisconsin town was recovering from storms. (Brian Powers/The Des Moines Register via AP ) The Cedar River rises between City Hall and East Bremer Avenue, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, in Waverly, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream, while a Wisconsin town was recovering from storms now blamed for two deaths. (Tiffany Rushing/The Courier via AP) Clinton's debate experience could shape encounter with Trump WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) Hillary Clinton has appeared in more than 30 primary debates during her two presidential campaigns, a deep history she can draw upon as she faces Donald Trump on Monday night. Clinton has been through the debate gauntlet in two New York Senate campaigns as well as in presidential primary match-ups against then-Sen. Barack Obama in 2008, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders this year and other challengers. Here's a look at some key moments of Clinton's past debates that could influence her performance against Trump: FILE - In this Sept. 13, 2000 file photo, then-New York Republican Senate candidate Rep. Rick Lazio, R-N.Y. offers then-New York Democratic Senate candidate, first lady Hillary Clinton, a pledge to stop using "soft money" during their first debate in Buffalo, N.Y. Hillary Clinton has appeared in more than 30 primary debates during her two presidential campaigns, a deep history she can draw upon as she faces Donald Trump on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. Clinton has been through the debate gauntlet in two New York Senate campaigns as well as in presidential primary match-ups against then-Sen. Barack Obama in 2008, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders this year and other challengers. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) __ BULLYING CAN BACKFIRE Clinton's first 2000 Senate debate with Republican rival Rick Lazio, then New York congressman, shows what could go wrong for Trump if he tries to bully her. Lazio infamously walked over to Clinton's podium during the debate, demanding she sign a pledge to forgo a form of donations known as soft money. "Sign it right now," Lazio scolded Clinton, who gamely responded, "We'll shake on this, Rick." The move backfired with many female voters, who thought it was inappropriate. __ HAVING IT BOTH WAYS Clinton vacillated during an October 2007 debate in Philadelphia when she was asked if she supported her home state governor's proposal to grant driver's licenses to immigrants living in the country illegally. Obama and John Edwards pounced, accusing her of trying to take multiple sides of the issue. "I can't tell whether she was for it or against it," Obama said. Her tortured response encouraged her opponents to accuse her of being disingenuous. Against Trump, it's an example of how a defensive, legalistic response could hurt. __ HUMOR HELPS When Clinton was asked in 2008 by a New Hampshire moderator if she was likable enough, she responded with humor. "Well, that hurts my feelings," she said as the audience roared. Obama responded, "You're likable enough, Hillary." It came across as a putdown to many New Hampshire voters, who delivered Clinton a stunning victory. The exchange showed how Clinton's humor could be an effective countermeasure to Trump. __ WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH Clinton and Obama engaged in one of their fiercest exchanges in January 2008, an episode that shows the risks of a drawn-out fight. Clinton refused to back down as tensions spilled out a potential scenario against Trump. Clinton and Obama battled over whether the Illinois senator had praised Republican ideals and former President Ronald Reagan. Obama said he was working in the streets while Clinton was "a corporate lawyer sitting on the board at Wal-Mart." Clinton said she was fighting those GOP ideas while Obama was practicing law and representing real estate developer Tony Rezko "in his slum landlord business in inner-city Chicago." __ THE TAKEDOWN One of Clinton's strongest 2016 debate moments came before the New York primary, when she seized upon Sanders' lengthy interview with the New York Daily News in which he struggled to explain how he would break up large Wall Street banks. "Talk about judgment," Clinton said in a stinging response, noting Sanders' difficulty in explaining one of his "core issues." It showed that if Clinton's opponent reveals a weakness, she will take advantage of it. __ THOSE EMAILS In the first Democratic debate, Sanders declared that Americans were "sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails." Clinton smiled broadly and laughed as the audience cheered. Sanders said voters cared more about economic issues, prompting Clinton to thank her opponent with a very public handshake. Trump, who has repeatedly criticized Clinton's use of a private email server, is unlikely to be as magnanimous. __ On Twitter, follow Ken Thomas at @kthomasDC In this photo taken Dec. 13, 2007, Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. speaks at right as Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn. and Democratic presidential hopeful former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C. listen during the Des Moines Register Democratic Presidential Debate in Johnston, Iowa. Hillary Clinton has appeared in more than 30 primary debates during her two presidential campaigns, a deep history she can draw upon as she faces Donald Trump on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. Clinton has been through the debate gauntlet in two New York Senate campaigns as well as in presidential primary match-ups against then-Sen. Barack Obama in 2008, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders this year and other challengers. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) FILE - In this April 16, 2008 file-pool photo, Democratic presidential hopefuls, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., arrive for a Democratic presidential debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Hillary Clinton has appeared in more than 30 primary debates during her two presidential campaigns, a deep history she can draw upon as she faces Donald Trump on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. Clinton has been through the debate gauntlet in two New York Senate campaigns as well as in presidential primary match-ups against then-Sen. Barack Obama in 2008, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders this year and other challengers. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, Pool, File) Sex abuse, bullying probe roils US Merchant Marine Academy KINGS POINT, N.Y. (AP) The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is in turmoil over sexual abuse and bullying concerns that have led to the temporary shutdown of its premier training program one that sends cadets out on working vessels for a year at sea. Some parents, alumni and maritime unions contend the decision to halt the program while such allegations are investigated was made hastily and without solid evidence of abuse. And they say it deprives cadets of the most valuable part of their education, actually toiling on container ships, oil tankers, passenger liners and barges. But administrators of the 900-student, taxpayer-financed service academy aren't shrinking from criticism. They say a full review is underway, but it could be months before the program, called Sea Year, resumes in earnest. Rear Admiral James B. Helis stands in the administration building at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016. Helis is the superintendent of the academy and is defending a decision to put a temporary halt to a premier training program called Sea Year, citing concerns about sexual abuse and other mistreatment of midshipmen interning on commercial vessels around the globe. (AP Photo/Frank Eltman) "The balance here is between sailing on commercial vessels for the training value and the environment and the threats that they face," said Rear Adm. James Helis, the academy's superintendent. "To me, it's not a close call." Government sex abuse surveys, interviews with midshipmen returning from Sea Year and feedback from faculty fueled Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx's decision last June to order the stand-down, Helis said. "It isn't a particular number, a particular survey that led to this decision," Helis said. "It's been the accumulation of evidence from different sources, from different views taken at the academy that all led us to the same conclusion: That we had a significant challenge with the climate at sea. And not just with sexual assault, sexual harassment, but bullying, hazing, coercion and retaliation." One graduate, Erika Lawson, told The Washington Post she was groped by a chief mate in the back seat of a taxi in Saipan during her Sea Year in 2012. Lawson said it took her more than a year to tell school authorities she had a bad experience. She said there was no investigation. "I feel like you're taught there to keep your head down and just get through it," Lawson told the newspaper. She did not respond to interview requests from The Associated Press. A sophomore midshipman, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because of fears of reprisals, recounted an incident on campus last year in which a female instructor ordered two female cadets to pour water on their shirts as a test to see if they were see-through. "Upperclass midshipmen filed a report, the girls filed a report, and this officer is still around months later," the midshipman said. Helis said the academy does not comment about investigations or employee discipline. Several female graduates of the academy now working in the maritime industry disputed allegations of widespread abuse on commercial vessels. "I just got off a ship," said Julie Maggart, a 1987 graduate from Lancaster, Ohio. "To say the environment is scary aboard commercial vessels is a bunch of bull in my opinion." Catie Gianelloni, a 2009 graduate from Bel Air, Maryland, said sometimes being asked to perform strenuous or difficult tasks on board a vessel could be construed as bullying. "I just don't see it happening," she said, of alleged abuse. Helis conceded there is scant evidence of abuse only one case of sexual assault was reported in the 2014-15 academic year but argued midshipmen fear recriminations for coming forward. The Merchant Marine Academy, in Kings Point, New York, is on the Long Island Sound estate once owned by automobile magnate Walter Chrysler. It is one of five military service academies in the United States, and the only one under the direction of the Department of Transportation. Graduates receive bachelor's degrees in marine engineering or marine transportation and a merchant marine officer's license, putting them in high demand by the industry. One recent survey put starting salaries for graduates at $77,900. In return for their taxpayer-financed education, graduates are required to spend five years in the maritime industry and eight years in the U.S. Naval Reserve. About 25 percent satisfy their obligation with a five-year active duty military commission. There are currently 746 men and 168 women enrolled at Kings Point. The leaders of four maritime unions wrote to the transportation secretary this month, arguing the shutdown was unwarranted and questioning whether it was a way to deflect attention from a warning that it is in danger of losing accreditation the only service academy ever to face that potential. "We are offended by the illogical, indefensible notion that inappropriate, even unlawful sexual behavior is rampant in the commercial U.S. merchant fleet," said leaders of the American Maritime Officers, Marine Engineers Beneficial Association, and the Masters, Mates & Pilots unions and the Seafarers International Union. While the Sea Year shutdown goes on, cadets are earning credits aboard government vessels, which critics say is a weak substitute for the vigorous training on industry vessels. In this September 15, 2016 photo, the Kings Pointer, a training vessel used by the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, is seen docked at the academy in Kings Point, N.Y. Administrators put a temporary halt to a premier training program called Sea Year, citing concerns about sexual abuse and other mistreatment of midshipmen interning on commercial vessels around the globe. In the meantime, some midshipmen are training aboard the Kings Pointer to meet some of their requirements for graduation. (AP Photo/Frank Eltman) In this Sept. 13, 2016 photo, a sign at the entrance to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., welcomes visitors. Administrators have put a temporary halt to a premier training program called Sea Year, citing concerns about sexual abuse and other mistreatment of midshipmen interning on commercial vessels around the globe. (AP Photo/Frank Eltman) Rear Admiral James B. Helis stands in his office at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016. Helis is the superintendent of the academy and is defending a decision to put a temporary halt to a premier training program called Sea Year, citing concerns about sexual abuse and other mistreatment of midshipmen interning on commercial vessels around the globe. (AP Photo/Frank Eltman) Outsider status, politics shields Trump from House oversight WASHINGTON (AP) Donald Trump's status as a Washington outsider fuels his fiery populism and also is helping to shield him from the scrutiny House Republicans are devoting to Hillary Clinton, a former U.S. senator and secretary of state. The GOP-led, subpoena-wielding Oversight and Government Reform Committee isn't investigating Trump's business dealings, his charitable foundation or his campaign's ties to pro-Kremlin elements in Russia and Ukraine all areas ripe for examination, according to Democrats, who've accused Republicans of targeting Clinton in a partisan attempt to influence the outcome of the election. "Where is our investigation of Donald Trump?" Rep. Elijah Cummings, the oversight committee's top Democrat, asked at a hearing this past week. "The answer is obvious. The Republican frenzy is focused exclusively and obsessively on Secretary Clinton. And that is for political reasons." FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2016 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks in Pittsburgh. Donald Trumps status as a Washington outsider fuels his fiery populism and also is helping to shield him from the scrutiny House Republicans are devoting to Hillary Clinton, a former U.S. senator and secretary of state. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci, File) But senior Republicans on the panel said Trump has never held a government job or been elected to public office. Any alleged improprieties are the jurisdiction of state or federal agencies, not Congress. The Oversight Committee operates in a "target-rich environment with lots of different investigative possibilities," Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, acknowledged. Yet he said he's unaware of anything Trump is alleged to have done that would trigger a probe by his panel. "We'll know it when we see it," Chaffetz told The Associated Press. "Thus far, I don't think there's anything in that realm that has this clear federal nexus that would really compel us to pursue it." Chaffetz said an improper $25,000 check sent from Trump's personal foundation to a political committee supporting Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is a matter for state authorities. Other allegations swirling around Trump and his campaign, such his refusal to release his tax returns and disclose his foreign business investments, are matters for the American voters to decide, according to Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., who heads the Oversight Committee's government operations panel. "When we're looking at government oversight, it really has to do with previous government actions," according to Meadows. Trump, he said, "wouldn't qualify for that." The hands-off approach to Trump is in contrast to the Oversight Committee's focus on Clinton, who served as President Barack Obama's secretary of state from 2009 to 2013. The FBI in July closed the agency's yearlong investigation into whether Clinton and her top aides mishandled classified information that flowed through the private email server she used. FBI Director James Comey called Clinton's actions "extremely careless," but said his agents found no evidence to support criminal charges. Angered by Comey's decision, Republicans said Clinton lied to Congress about her handling of emails when she testified last October before a House panel investigating the deadly 2012 Benghazi attacks. The GOP is pressing the Justice Department to open a new investigation into whether Clinton committed perjury as the Oversight Committee seeks to keep the matter in the spotlight leading up to the election. Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee have asked Attorney General Loretta Lynch to investigate whether the 2013 donation to the group supporting Bondi violated federal bribery or tax laws. The $25,000 contribution came after her office said it was weighing legal action against Trump University. Bondi's office never sued Trump, though she denies his donation played any role in that decision. Trump later paid a $2,500 fine over the check from his foundation because it violated federal law barring charities from making political contributions. The AP reported last month that a firm run by former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort directly orchestrated a covert Washington lobbying operation on behalf of a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine, but Manafort and his deputy, Rick Gates, never disclosed the work under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The 1938 law requires lobbyists to register if they represent foreign leaders or their political parties, and to disclose details about their work, including how much money they spend and receive. Manafort and Gates said the registration was not necessary, though Manafort resigned his position with the Trump campaign. Gates is the Trump campaign's liaison to the Republican National Committee. Trump's apparent affinity for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his call in July for Moscow to help find Clinton's missing emails also have sparked concern. He later said he was being sarcastic when he said Russia should find Clinton's emails. The top Democrats on four key House committees have asked the FBI to expand an ongoing investigation of cyberattacks against Democratic organizations to determine whether connections between Trump campaign officials and "Russian interests" may have contributed to the breaches. At a recent hearing on Clinton's emails, Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee's national security panel, lamented the zeal with which Republicans are pursuing Clinton. The hearing, Lynch said, was a "sad goddamned day" for the oversight committee. But Lynch told the AP that he had no interest in a congressional probe of Trump. There are higher priorities, he said, and pursuing Trump would be seen as an attempt to drag down the Republican nominee. "It's bad enough what they're doing with Secretary Clinton," Lynch said. "I would not want to get into a quid pro quo type of thing. It's beneath the committee." ___ Follow Richard Lardner on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rplardner FILE - In this July 7, 2016 file photo, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, right, confers with the committee's ranking member Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md. on Capitol Hill in Washington. Donald Trumps status as a Washington outsider fuels his fiery populism and also is helping to shield him from the scrutiny House Republicans are devoting to Hillary Clinton, a former U.S. senator and secretary of state. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) Two of the country's poorest cities are talking about a merger they say could help both. But Cleveland could need a sizeable boost in taxpayer dollars to absorb East Cleveland, a place so impoverished that some residents fill their own potholes. Cleveland officials are looking at development possibilities that exist in its struggling neighbor East Cleveland. But Cleveland has its own problems. The warm glow of positive publicity after its successful turn hosting the Republican National Convention cannot gloss over its big-city ills a shrinking population, entrenched poverty and neighborhoods beset with decay and violent crime. Cleveland and East Cleveland, two of the country's poorest cities, are debating whether to merge, with both cities saying the state of Ohio needs to provide millions to begin fixing East Cleveland's infrastructure and finances. East Cleveland is seen here in August A vacant home is pictured in Cleveland in this February 2012 image In East Cleveland, City Council members had long balked at the idea of dissolving their city. But with no viable solution short of an economic miracle in sight, they agreed last month to pursue annexation without a list of demands such as continuing to receive their salaries as members of an 'advisory council' after annexation originally submitted to the dismay of Cleveland officials. 'Without a revenue stream, I don't know how we would exist,' said Thomas Wheeler, president of East Cleveland City Council. He and mayor Gary Norton agreed their city is out of options and needs money now. A person is seen walking past a boarded-up home in Cleveland in this February 2012 image East Cleveland has millions in unpaid bills and hasn't been able to borrow money on the municipal credit market for years. The city can barely make payroll even after deep cuts in its workforce. Wheeler said only five firefighters were available to respond to a recent house fire. East Cleveland residents tired of crumbling streets, abandoned buildings and anxious waits for emergency services appear ready to be absorbed by Cleveland in the hope they will receive basic city services long in short supply. 'They don't fix anything around here,' Robert Occhionero said. Houses with missing windows and overgrown lawns along a street marred by cracks and potholes in East Cleveland in August Cleveland (pictured in February 2012) is facing a shrinking population, entrenched poverty and neighborhoods beset with decay and violent crime Occhionero said residents on Savannah Avenue have been filling potholes as best they can to avoid being awakened by the sound of vehicles rattling through them. Nearby, abandoned homes line the street that Morris Glenn and Anthony Donner call home. Donner cuts the grass on one of the vacant lots across Northfield Avenue because the city doesn't. Donner said he also clears storm sewer grates to try stopping their street from turning into a riverbed during heavy rains. The men said East Cleveland has become so dangerous that people have armed themselves, knowing it could be a long wait for police. Call 911, they said, and there's a chance you'll be put on hold. 'Nobody wants to live here,' Glenn said. 'I'm only here by necessity.' Despite these problems, some Cleveland politicians are enthusiastic about the possibility of a merger, citing development possibilities along a main thoroughfare that connects East Cleveland with Cleveland's fastest-growing neighborhood, University Circle, the home of research hospitals, Case Western Reserve University and most of the city's cultural institutions. Negotiations by a commission consisting of three members from both cities could begin sometime in the next few months. A home is pictured in Cleveland in February 2012 One thing officials from both cities agree on is the state of Ohio needs to provide millions of dollars to repair East Cleveland's crumbled infrastructure and to stanch the city's financial bleeding. 'It's a small city with big city problems,' Kevin Kelley, Cleveland council president, said of its poor neighbor. 'We don't have the resources to deal with what problems they've got.' There are few signs Ohio is willing to help. Ohio Auditor Dave Yost this year asked the Legislature to approve $10 million to help East Cleveland, a request that lawmakers summarily rejected. Gov. John Kasich isn't in a giving mood, either, despite the state's $2billion rainy day fund that has been bolstered by deep cuts in funding to Ohio communities since he took office in 2010. Refuse piles up next to a weed-covered lot and graffiti-scarred buildings with missing windows in East Cleveland in August 'The city of East Cleveland's complicated financial struggles have spanned decades and despite everyone's best efforts, little progress has been made to pull the city out of fiscal emergency,' Emmalee Kalmbach, a Kasich spokeswoman, said in a statement. Cleveland voters are being asked to raise the income tax from 2 per cent to 2.5 per cent in November to close a projected $40million budget deficit and to cover the cost of implementing a federal court-monitored consent decree aimed at reforming the Cleveland police department. 'We have a lot of balls in the air in Cleveland,' Kelley said. 'We have to approach this responsibly to make sure this is in the interest of all parties.' Warren says Trump, GOP 'making hate OK' NASHUA, N.H. (AP) Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren accused Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans of "making hate OK" as she campaigned for Hillary Clinton on Saturday. "We're here to say hate is not OK," Warren told a crowd of roughly 500 volunteers packed inside a New Hampshire campaign office. "We build a stronger America together, that's what this is about." Warren is making three stops across New Hampshire, a battleground presidential state and home to one of the top Senate races in the country, a contest between incumbent Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte and Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan. Warren is tying Ayotte and the rest of the Republican field to Trump as she works to fire up her party six weeks before the Nov. 8 general election. Hundreds of volunteers from New Hampshire and Massachusetts lined up to see Warren, a favorite of the party's liberal wing. A frequent and biting critic of Trump, Warren said she never predicted a major presidential candidate would base a campaign on scapegoating Mexicans, women and Muslims. "What Donald Trump is doing is not what any of us thought a man who's running for president would do," she said. "He's found something much uglier that he wants to make the basis of his campaign." Warren was particularly critical of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who said he'd vote for Trump after denouncing him in the primary campaign. Experts: May be hard convicting Tulsa cop of manslaughter CHICAGO (AP) Prosecutors moved quickly to charge a white Tulsa, Oklahoma, police officer with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man whose vehicle broke down in the middle of a street. Now, they have to prove it. The Tulsa County District Attorney's Office offered just a glimpse of the existing evidence when it charged Officer Betty Shelby with first-degree manslaughter in the death of Terence Crutcher. A video from a police helicopter and another from a dashboard camera show the incident, but they are partly obscured and neither shows unambiguously that Shelby had acted criminally. Crutcher can be seen walking with his hands in the air toward his SUV, stopping by the driver's window and then falling as a shot is fired. CORRECTS NAME TO TERENCE CRUTCHER A demonstrator holds a sign during a protest in Atlanta on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 in response to the police shooting deaths of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Okla. and Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) Based on what's been made public thus far, some legal experts say prosecutors may have the tougher task of proving the officer's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at a trial. Said Lee F. Berlin, a former assistant district attorney-turned-defense lawyer in Tulsa: "I would much rather defend this case than prosecute it." Here's a look at potential strengths and weaknesses of prosecutors' case: Q: WHAT'S REQUIRED TO PROVE THE CHARGE? A: Prosecutors aren't saying they think Shelby planned to kill Crutcher on the evening of Sept. 16. If they believed there was premeditation, she could have faced a murder charge. What they would have to prove to jurors is that Shelby fired the fatal shot by succumbing to an irrational fear that the 40-year-old Crutcher was about to harm or kill her. If convicted, Shelby would face anywhere from four years to life in prison. Q: DOES THE CASE HINGE ON ONE QUESTION? A: If so, it's this, said former federal prosecutor Jeff Cramer: "We know she was afraid. But was that fear a reasonable fear? Everything rises or falls on the answer." Fear of a rhino charging at you might well be reasonable; a fear of an ant crossing your path almost certainly isn't. Assessing reasonable fear in police shootings is rarely straightforward. A 1989 U.S. Supreme Court ruling provided some guidance. Noting that officers "are often forced to make split-second judgments," it found that the reasonableness of an officer's use of force should be judged "from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with the 20/20 vision of hindsight." At any trial, prosecutors are likely to call a lot of witnesses, including police officers, to try and show that other officers in Shelby's position wouldn't have acted as she did. Cramer says the defense will almost certainly have to call one particular witness to counter that testimony: Shelby herself. "She has to take the stand," said Cramer, now a Chicago-based managing director of investigations at Berkeley Research Group. "She is the only one that can testify to what she was thinking." Q: WHAT MIGHT SUPPORT THE CHARGE? A: A two-page affidavit filed with the charging document offers a concise account of how events unfolded but only hints at what prosecutors could argue at trial. It says, for instance, that Shelby had already checked the driver's side of Crutcher's SUV and saw no weapons minutes before she opened fire. That would seem to cast doubt on statements that she perceived an imminent threat and fired because Crutcher started reaching through the driver's side window and she thought he might be going for a weapon. The affidavit also notes that a fellow officer next to Shelby pulled out and fired his stun gun, not his firearm. His decision to use a stun gun would underline the point that he calculated the situation wasn't as ominous as Shelby described and that it called for the use of less-than-lethal force. Q: WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE WEAKNESSES? A: Parts of the state's affidavit appear to support Shelby's contention that Crutcher's behavior could be seen as threatening, said Berlin. Prosecutors, themselves, seem to accept that Crutcher wasn't complying with Shelby's orders for him to stop walking away toward his SUV. The defense could try to argue that, among other things, the mere fact that Crutcher wasn't complying with some of Shelby's orders while she had a gun pointed at him itself legitimizes Shelby's fears that he might have been under the influence of drugs, was erratic and a potential threat. Q: COULD THE CHARGE CHANGE? After an assault trial, alleged victim faces her own lawsuit SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) As Yee Xiong prepared to leave the sentencing hearing for a man she said sexually assaulted her at an off-campus apartment when they were students, she felt ready to finally put the case behind her after four years. Then, she was handed a $4 million defamation lawsuit. The lawsuit from Lang Her, who pleaded no contest to felony assault, stated that Xiong and her three of her siblings colluded to alienate him from the close-knit ethnic Hmong community and called him a rapist on Facebook. In an interview with The Associated Press, Xiong said it was like a "slap to the face," what she saw as a way for Her to "continue to harass my family and me." Yee Xiong,24, was about to leave the sentencing hearing for Lang Her, who she said sexually assaulted her when they were student when she was handed a $4 million defamation lawsuit While such lawsuits have long been a legal strategy, experts say, some of the accused may feel they must seek to clear their names in court at a time when there is increased focus on campus sex assaults and more serious consequences at schools. "Being labeled 'rapist' now has more power than it did 10 years ago," said Emily Austin of the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault. "The impact could be, if these become more common, that survivors are going to double-think reporting, afraid anything they're saying could be grounds for a lawsuit against them personally." Eric Rosenberg, an Ohio attorney who has represented clients suing their accusers and universities, said many of the accused suffer damaged reputations and lost educational and career prospects. "There is no bigger stain on a person in this culture than being labeled as a sexual assailant, and that's what they're labeled as," said Rosenberg, who has filed or acted as a consultant for more than half a dozen such lawsuits in the past five years. He said the number of such lawsuits have increased in recent years as the consequences for those accused at schools have intensified. "They can't get into school, they can't get in to the military, a lawsuit's their only way out," he said. Tracking such cases can be difficult, as defamation lawsuits are often filed in state courts and many are settled. Regardless of the venue, Laura Dunn, executive director of SurvJustice, a nonprofit victim rights group, discourages potential clients from naming perpetrators outside of formal channels. In Xiong's case, according to court documents, she told police she woke in the early hours of July 10, 2012, after a night of drinking in an off-campus apartment, with her arms pinned by Her. She said he was having sexual intercourse with her. Both were students at the University of California, Davis at the time. After his semen was found during a rape kit evaluation, Her maintained that no penetration occurred, and testified that he believed Xiong wanted to have sex with him. Her's attorneys questioned why Xiong stayed the rest of the night in the apartment if she had been raped. Her did not respond to repeated phone calls and letters from the AP at phone numbers and addresses connected to him through public records. His attorney, David Collins, did not respond to multiple requests for comment through phone messages and letters delivered to his law office. The lawsuit cites May 21, 2015, as the date the Facebook postings began: The final day of the first criminal trial, when Xiong learned it had ended in a mistrial. Though Xiong and her siblings were angry and frustrated, she said, they never hatched a plot to ruin his reputation. A second trial in February 2016 also ended in a hung jury. Xiong and her attorney, McGregor Scott, declined to discuss the details of the postings, which have since been taken down, but said in a formal response to the lawsuit that the posts were true or believed by the defendants to be true. The saga has divided their small, tight-knit Hmong community, Xiong said, with members choosing which family to side with and whom to believe. California has one of the largest Hmong populations among U.S. states, many of whom live in the Central Valley. "It was very lonely," Xiong said. "I've had to hold off on so many things just because of the trial, like I failed so many classes. Just all of that is putting a hold on my future." Rather than endure a third trial, Xiong and Her agreed to a plea deal that includes a year of jail time and five years of probation, during which Her must also register as a sex offender, and complete a minimum of three months of sex offender counseling. Her also was expelled from UC Davis. He reported to jail in Yolo County last month. ___ Priests' murders rattle Mexican city gripped by violence POZA RICA, Mexico (AP) In this eastern Mexican oil town already weary of rising gangland violence and extortion, the abduction and murder of two priests this week sank many residents only deeper into despair. The killings in Poza Rica, in the troubled Gulf state of Veracruz, also came at a moment of heightened tension between the Roman Catholic Church and Mexico's government. Church leaders are increasingly frustrated by authorities' inability to protect their priests under President Enrique Pena Nieto's administration, and the church is openly opposing his proposal to legalize gay marriage by encouraging the faithful to join demonstrations around the country. This Sept. 21, 2016 photo shows people paying their last respects to slain Rev. Jose Alfredo Suarez de la Cruz, who was found bound and shot to death alongside another priest, inside Our Lady of Asuncion Church in Paso Blanco, Veracruz state, Mexico, his hometown. In this eastern oil town already weary of rising gangland violence and extortion, the abduction and murder of two priests this week sank many residents only deeper into despair. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) "This, in combination with the recent protests of gay marriage coordinated by the church, I think we're seeing a new low point in the relationship between the church and the PRI," said Andrew Chesnut, chairman of Catholic studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, referring to Pena Nieto's ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party. "I think the overarching picture is that ... the open-season on priests has just proliferated with the intensification of the drug war." When Alejo Nabor Jimenez and Alfredo Suarez de la Cruz were found bound and shot to death outside Poza Rica on Monday, it brought to 14 the number of priests slain in Mexico since Pena Nieto took office in late 2012. At least 30 have been killed since 2006. And on Thursday church officials made a public plea for the life of yet another priest, who was reportedly kidnapped from his parish residence in the western state of Michoacan and has not been heard from since. What exactly happened to Nabor and Suarez, and why, remains murky. Investigators have interviewed their driver who was abducted alongside them and escaped, but he has not spoken publicly. Veracruz state prosecutor Luis Angel Bravo cited robbery as the apparent motive and said the priests had been drinking with their killers before they were abducted. That allegation infuriated the church, which saw it as the latest example of state authorities smearing victims in cursory-at-best investigations. Bravo dismissed suggestions that a drug cartel may have been involved, although the Zetas and the Jalisco New Generation gangs are battling for control in Veracruz, including in Poza Rica. Locals have gotten accustomed to hearing about grisly murders. The city of 195,000, has recorded 41 killings in the first eight months of this year more than three times the toll for all 2015. Only this time it wasn't faceless strangers assumed to be cartel operatives, they were priests, respected community leaders. "In the newspaper there are two or three dead every day," said a man who runs a business with a clear view of Our Lady of Fatima church, where the priests lived. "Usually you say, 'if they killed them, it was for a reason.'" Like many people interviewed by The Associated Press in Poza Rica, the man spoke on condition of anonymity for fear that speaking openly could make him a target for violence. Ministering to an increasingly terrified flock, people say, Nabor threw open the doors of his church after taking up the post six years ago. Those who knew him say he was close to the congregation, sharing his phone number widely and urging people to drop in at any time. Even at age 50, the senior priest was fond of encouraging parishioners to "seek me out at any hour you want for me there is no rest," church secretary Juan Carlos Garcia said. The 30-year-old Suarez was a fresh face in town. He arrived just a month earlier to replace another priest who died this year of natural causes, and had taken over the church's youth programs. Friends and parishioners were outraged by the suggestion that the priests had been partying with their killers and expressed deep skepticism about the credibility of the investigation so far. At Suarez's funeral, Rev. Lorenzo Rivas, who attended seminary with the young priest, said his only vice was volleyball. "He was not a person who liked alcohol," Rivas said. Bravo, the prosecutor, later appeared to walk back his comments somewhat, saying he did not mean to criminalize the victims. Also at the funeral, one woman slipped a note to a reporter urging an investigation of what she called unspecified government persecution of bishops in Veracruz for opposing the gay marriage proposal. Veracruz has been governed for decades by Pena Nieto's party, and current Gov. Javier Duarte is widely reviled for alleged corruption and for crime rates that have spiked on his watch. The wary relationship between church and state in Mexico dates back to severe restrictions placed on the church and confiscation of its properties in the 19th and early 20th centuries when the government pushed secularization fearing the church's influence on society. Its political marginalization allowed the PRI to concentrate its political power and hold the presidency uninterrupted for 71 years. The day the priests disappeared in Poza Rica began normally. Nabor visited other churches before returning to Our Lady of Fatima for the 6:30 p.m. Mass. As Sunday evening wore on, longtime caretaker Jorge Juarez Bautista said, only Nabor, Suarez and the driver remained. A homeless woman who sometimes helps around the church said she saw several young men and a woman in front of the building around 8:20 p.m., and the woman told her they were waiting for Nabor. The elder priest was on the phone when Juarez left at 9:30 p.m., wrapping a chain around the gate but not locking it. That was the way Nabor wanted it; he sometimes misplaced his keys, so some time ago he told Juarez to stop locking up. About an hour later Juarez passed by again and noticed the gate was not how he left it, but he didn't think anything of it since it was not unusual for people to visit even at night. At 5:30 a.m., Juarez returned to find the gate wide open and the two vehicles parked inside the compound gone. Two hours later another worker arrived and called Nabor's cell phone, but there was no answer. They entered the priest's apartment and found it in disarray: His glasses were lying on the floor in the sacristy, church offerings had been taken and there was blood. By early afternoon the bodies were located along a little-used road outside town. Nabor had been shot nine times. Several days later a woman reflected on the killings, sitting inside the business she runs just up the road from the church. Things used to be quiet in Poza Rica, the woman said, and folks never thought twice about going out at night. Now streets are all but empty after dark. She's already shortened her hours, and is thinking of shuttering it for good after just six months in business. The priests' murders hit hard because of their positions in the community, she said, but everyone fears they could be next: "Really, we're all exposed to having something happen to us." ___ Associated Press writer Peter Orsi in Mexico City contributed to this report. ___ Christopher Sherman is on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chrisshermanAP This Sept. 21, 2016 photo shows a farmer on his donkey, pulling a cart through the town of Paso Blanco, Veracruz state, Mexico, the hometown of slain Rev. Jose Alfredo Suarez de la Cruz, who was found bound and shot to death alongside another priest. The priests murders hit hard because of their positions in the community, a woman said, but everyone fears they could be next: Really, were all exposed to having something happen to us. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) This Sept. 21, 2016 photo shows the funeral Mass for slain Rev. Jose Alfredo Suarez de la Cruz at Our Lady of Asuncion Church in Paso Blanco, Veracruz state, Mexico, his hometown. Church leaders are increasingly frustrated by authorities inability to protect their priests under Mexican President Enrique Pena Nietos administration. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) This Sept. 21, 2016 photo shows men sitting inside Our Lady of Asuncion Church on the day of the funeral Mass for slain Rev. Jose Alfredo Suarez de la Cruz, who was found bound and shot to death alongside another priest, in Paso Blanco, Veracruz state, Mexico, his hometown. Church officials made a public plea for the life of yet another priest, who was reportedly kidnapped from his parish residence in the western state of Michoacan and has not been heard from since. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) This Sept. 21, 2016 photo shows residents eating tamales provided after the funeral Mass for slain Rev. Jose Alfredo Suarez de la Cruz, who was found bound and shot to death alongside another priest, outside Our Lady of Asuncion Church in Paso Blanco, Veracruz state, Mexico, his hometown. Ministering to an increasingly terrified flock, people say, Nabor was close to the congregation, sharing his phone number widely and urging people to drop in at any time. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) This Sept. 20, 2016 photo shows the kitchen at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Poza Rica, Veracruz state, Mexico, the hometown of slain Rev. Jose Alfredo Suarez de la Cruz, who was found bound and shot to death alongside another priest. When Alejo Nabor Jimenez and Alfredo Suarez de la Cruz were found bound and shot to death outside Poza Rica on Monday, it brought to 14 the number of priests slain in Mexico since Pena Nieto took office in late 2012. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) This Sept. 21, 2016 photo shows a packed Our Lady of Asuncion Church for the funeral Mass of slain Rev. Jose Alfredo Suarez de la Cruz, who was found bound and shot to death alongside another priest, in Paso Blanco, Veracruz state, Mexico, his hometown. The killings in the troubled Gulf state of Veracruz came at a moment of heightened tension between the Roman Catholic Church and Mexicos government. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) This Sept. 21, 2016 photo shows men digging into the floor of Our Lady of Asuncion Church, to bury slain Rev. Jose Alfredo Suarez de la Cruz, who was found bound and shot to death alongside another priest, in Paso Blanco, Veracruz state, Mexico, his hometown. When the two priests were found bound and shot to death on Monday, it brought to 14 the number of priests slain in Mexico since Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto took office in late 2012. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) This Sept. 21, 2016 photo shows a woman grieving during the funeral Mass for slain Rev. Jose Alfredo Suarez de la Cruz, who was found bound and shot to death alongside another priest, inside Our Lady of Asuncion Church in his hometown Paso Blanco, Veracruz state, Mexico. Locals have gotten accustomed to hearing about grisly murders. The city of 195,000, has recorded 41 killings in the first eight months of this year, more than three times the toll for all 2015. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) This Sept. 20, 2016 photo shows the pet parrots of two slain priests at the church they ministered, Fatima Church, in Poza Rica, Veracruz state, Mexico. The bodies were located along a little-used road outside town. One of them had been shot nine times. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) This Sept. 21, 2016 photo shows priests paying their last respects to slain Rev. Jose Alfredo Suarez de la Cruz at Our Lady of Asuncion Church in Paso Blanco, Veracruz state, Mexico, his hometown. At least 30 priests have been killed since 2006 in Mexico. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) Hold your nose: Stinky corpse flower blooms in New Hampshire HANOVER, N.H. (AP) A flower that got its nickname from its putrid smell is blooming at Dartmouth College for the first time since 2011. Named Morphy, the titan arum or corpse flower began opening Friday afternoon at the Ivy League college's Life Sciences Greenhouse. The 7 -foot flower is set to collapse Sunday. Morphy is native to Sumatra's equatorial rainforests and has a long pointy stalk with a skirt-like covering. This photo provided by Dartmouth College shows titan arum or corpse flower in Hanover, N.H. Named Morphy, the corpse flower began opening at Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 at Dartmouth College's Life Sciences Greenhouse. The 7 -foot flower is expected to be fully open on Saturday before it starts to collapse on Sunday. (Robert Gill/Dartmouth College via AP) Dartmouth greenhouse manager Kim DeLong said its odor has been described as a cross between a decaying animal and urine. DeLong said she plans to pollinate the endangered flower to share seeds and pollen around the world. The greenhouse will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. ___ Israel PM hopes Obama won't make final push for Palestinians JERUSALEM (AP) Israel's prime minister said Saturday he hopes President Barack Obama refrains from pushing for a Palestinian state in his final months in office. Benjamin Netanyahu told Israel's Channel 2 TV that the issue didn't come up in this week's meeting with Obama in New York. But he noted the president has previously vetoed anti-Israel measures at the United Nations and said peace would not be achieved through speeches. Netanyahu said he "can only hope that this consistent approach of the Americans continues until the end of his presidency." After failing to reach a peace accord in his two terms in office, Obama is said to be considering a major speech or a U.S.-backed U.N. Security Council resolution that lays out what he sees as the contours of any viable deal. Netanyahu will meet with presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Sunday, an Israeli official said. The prime minister is still in the United States, and addressed the U.N. General Assembly earlier this week. Israel is a close ally of the U.S., and presidential candidates often meet with Israeli leaders. However, neither Trump nor Clinton has visited in the current election cycle. South Sudan rebel chief urges armed resistance to Juba govt KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) A top South Sudanese opposition leader called Saturday for armed resistance to the government in Juba a stance that suggests the troubled Central African nation could face a renewed civil war in the near future. Leader Riek Machar and top officials of the opposition SPLM-IO party issued a statement saying their forces would reorganize to "wage a popular armed resistance against the authoritarian and racist regime of President Salva Kiir." It's the first political statement by Machar since he fled South Sudan in August. The statement, obtained by The Associated Press, came after a meeting Saturday of Machar and his supporters in Khartoum, Sudan. South Sudan's Vice President Taban Deng Gai addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) His call for armed resistance adds to South Sudan's spiraling problems. South Sudan gained independence in 2011 but fell into a civil war in 2013 in which at least 50,000 civilians died and more than 2 million were displaced. A peace deal was forced on both Kiir and Machar last August, but fighting in the capital, Juba, in July put that deal in doubt. "We have been driven back to the bush," James Gadet, a spokesman for Machar, told the AP on Saturday in a call from Nairobi, Kenya. Gadet called for the removal of Taban Deng Gai, who was controversially named to replace Machar as the country's First Vice President. He says the South Sudan government must stop attacking civilians and a regional protection force must be deployed in the country or there will be "an escalation of the civil war," which he says began again on July 8. "(We) call on the international community to declare the regime in Juba a rogue government," the document says, adding that international agencies monitoring the peace deal should "suspend their activities" until the agreement is "resuscitated." Some critics blame American foreign policy in South Sudan, saying the U.S. has given Kiir a "blank check" to pursue a militant policy. "It's not at all surprising to see Machar call for continued armed struggle, in light of the U.S. policy to back Taban Deng as First Vice President and the clear absence of a viable political process," Kate Almquist Knopf, director of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, told the AP. Puerto Rico power utility restores service SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) Electricity was restored to most of Puerto Rico by Saturday following a rare, island-wide blackout caused by a power plant fire, the territory's power utility said Saturday. Less than 20,000 clients remained without power in some parts of San Juan and other urban areas. "We have been operating under normal conditions since 2:30 a.m.," said Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Executive Director Javier Quintana, noting that 60 hours had passed since power was knocked out for most of the island's 1.5 million homes and businesses, affecting the majority of the island's 3.5 million residents. Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla lauded the efforts of utility workers, firefighters, police and emergency management officials during the emergency. Vehicle lights illuminate a street after a massive blackout, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Puerto Ricans faced another night of darkness Thursday as crews slowly restored electricity a day after a fire at a power plant caused the aging utility grid to fail and blacked out the entire island. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti) Officials said about 50,000 clients, mostly in the island's northeast area, remained without water service, which was interrupted for some people because many filtration plants and pumping stations need electricity to run and don't have generators for emergencies. Authorities hoped to dramatically lower the number of people without water on Saturday. Puerto Rico Energy Commission Chairman Agustin Carbo Lugo said the regulatory body will launch an investigation into the cause of the power failure in the coming days. "The Commission has been paying attention to all the developments of the blackout," Carbo said Saturday. Authorities have said the outage was caused by a fire at the Aguirre power plant in the southern town of Salinas. Preliminary reports show that a switch at that plant exploded for unknown reasons, causing a fire that downed two transmission lines, which in turn automatically prompted the entire system to shut down as a preventive measure, Quintana said. The Energy Commission said late Friday it was rejecting a 20-year development plan proposed by the utility and imposing its own version, one it said would better deal with the grid's infrastructure problems. Utility officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the commission's decision. Such development plans are typically used by electricity companies to describe the steps they will take to operate and adhere to government regulations. In the case of Puerto Rico troubled power company, the plan must be approved to complete a critical deal with creditors that would enable it to restructure $9 billion in debt and help finance an update of the island's aging electrical grid. Residents across the U.S. territory have been frustrated by the delayed efforts to fully restore electricity after the outage began Wednesday. Cheers were intermixed with groans as power came and went, angering some who had already stocked up at the supermarket and others who complained that the surges were damaging their home appliances. Those without power became increasingly disgruntled by late Friday afternoon, when the heat index reached 106 degrees and meteorologists announced that a record high temperature had been set. Those who did not have generators and could not find or afford a hotel room braced for a third night in stifling heat, interrupted only by occasional cold showers to cool off. The blackout affected the entire island and prompted Garcia to activate the National Guard and declare a state of emergency. It was a hard hit for an island already struggling through a decade-long economic crisis, with economists estimating that the outage caused millions of dollars in losses. Tara Rodriguez Besosa, who runs an organic food restaurant, said she had to throw away produce including 60 pounds of arugula after businesses ran out of ice to sell. "I was about to cry," she said. "We lost a lot of produce." She rushed to a friend's place with the surviving produce to make sauces and salvage what was left. At least one person died the first night from exposure to carbon monoxide after setting up a personal generator. Meanwhile, four police officers were struck by vehicles while directing traffic but were expected to recover. People wait in line to buy ice during a massive blackout in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Puerto Ricans faced another night of darkness Thursday as crews slowly restored electricity a day after a fire at a power plant caused the aging utility grid to fail and blacked out the entire island. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti) Romanian gets prison term for orchestrating hacking scheme NEWARK, N.J. (AP) A Romanian citizen who orchestrated an international hacking scheme has been sentenced to three years in prison. Federal prosecutors in New Jersey say 31-year-old Mircea-Illie Ispasoiu (EE-spa-SHOW-you) must also pay $907,204 in restitution. He had pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. Prosecutors say the scheme targeted retailers, security companies, medical offices and people in the United States. They say Ispasoiu obtained user names and passwords, along with credit card data, from unsuspecting victims. Authorities say Ispasoiu was a computer systems administrator at a large financial institution in Romania from August 2011 through February 2014. Tens of thousands march against same-sex marriage in Mexico MEXICO CITY (AP) Tens of thousands of people marched through Mexico City on Saturday in opposition to President Enrique Pena Nieto's push to legalize same-sex marriage. Organizers of the National Front for the Family estimated at least 215,000 people participated, and while that number could not be immediately confirmed, it was clearly one of the largest protest marches in Mexico in recent years. Dressed mainly in white and carrying white balloons, the marchers held banners warning against same-sex marriage and demanding parents' right to control sex education in schools. Demonstrators walk with a giant Mexican national flag during a march organized by representatives of the National Front for the Family, in Mexico City, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Dueling marches, in support and against Mexican President Enrique Pena Nietos push to legalize same-sex marriage, gathered at the Angel of Independence monument. The two sides were kept apart Saturday by hundreds of police and barriers erected around the city's iconic monument. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte "We are not against anybody's (sexual) identity," said Abraham Ledesma, an evangelical pastor who traveled from the border city of Reynosa, across the border from McAllen, Texas, to participate in Saturday's march. "What we are against is the government imposition ... of trying to impose gender ideology in education. As religious leaders, we don't want to be forced to marry same-sex couples and call it marriage." Others carried signs saying "an adopted child deserves a mother and a father." On the other side of a police barricade separating the two sides at Mexico's Independence Monument, a far smaller crowd of same-sex marriage supporters perhaps a couple hundred listened to music and speeches. "They may be the majority," said Felipe Quiroz, a gay activist and school teacher. "But just because they are the majority, doesn't mean they can take rights away from minorities. That would lead us to a dark period, to fundamentalism." Many saw the massive march as the Roman Catholic church flexing its political muscle in a country where about 80 percent of people identify as nominally Catholic. In May, Pena Nieto proposed legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. It is currently legal only in some places such as Mexico City, the northern state of Coahuila and Quintana Roo state on the Caribbean coast. But in June, Pena Nieto's party suffered unprecedented losses in midterm governorship elections, and his party has since put the proposal on the back burner in Congress. Activists say opposition to same-sex marriage played a role. Jose Medrano, a university professor, came to Saturday's march from the northern state of Chihuahua, where the ruling party lost the governorship in June to the conservative, pro-Catholic National Action party. "We may have influenced this, because the proposal (for same-sex marriage) was presented just a few weeks before the elections, and a lot of people were against it," said Medrano. Demonstrators marching against homophobia kiss as they arrive at the Angel of Independence monument, in Mexico City, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Dueling marches, in support and against Mexican President Enrique Pena Nietos push to legalize same-sex marriage, gathered at the Angel of Independence monument. The two sides were kept apart Saturday by hundreds of police and barriers erected around the city's iconic monument. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) Demonstrators take part in a march organized by representatives of the National Front for the Family, in Mexico City, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Dueling marches, in support and against Mexican President Enrique Pena Nietos push to legalize same-sex marriage, gathered at the Angel of Independence monument. The two sides were kept apart Saturday by hundreds of police and barriers erected around the city's iconic monument. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) A couple hold up a sign that reads in Spanish, We are your children in a protest against homophobia, in Mexico City, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Dueling marches, in support and against Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto's push to legalize same-sex marriage, gathered at the Angel of Independence monument. The two sides were kept apart Saturday by hundreds of police and barriers erected around the city's iconic monument. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) A girl walks under a rainbow flag during a gay rights march along Reforma Avenue, in Mexico City, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Dueling marches, in support and against Mexican President Enrique Pena Nietos push to legalize same-sex marriage, gathered at the Angel of Independence monument. The two sides were kept apart Saturday by hundreds of police and barriers erected around the city's iconic monument. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) Alaska council to vote on cat leash law KENAI, Alaska (AP) Cats will need leashes just like dogs if a proposal before the Kenai council wins approval. Kenai Mayor Pat Porter and council member Tim Navarre have proposed a cat leash law after complaints from residents about roaming felines. The Peninsula Clarion reports (http://bit.ly/2diht2m) that current city code does not include cats on its list of animals that need to be restrained. The proposed ordinance also cites complaints about the impact of a growing cat population on the Kenai Animal Shelter's resources. Kenai City Manager Rick Koch says shelter resources are sufficient. He said he will research data and see whether other Alaska communities have similar laws. Some residents are concerned about compliance and whether the law will tax animal control resources. A hearing and vote is set for Oct. 5. ___ Iowa braces for flooding with more rain on the way CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) Volunteers filled sandbags and homeowners began moving things out of their basements on Saturday, and one small town evacuated about 100 homes in preparation for flooding along the Cedar River in Iowa. The river is expected to crest Tuesday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa's second largest city with a population of about 130,000. But with more rain expected Saturday night, officials there warned people to evacuate downtown areas of the city near the river by 8 p.m. Sunday. "We have emergency personnel that can help you if needed," Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett said Saturday. "They'll risk their lives for you. But we don't want them to risk their lives." Volunteers and city workers place sandbags along the dike between the Cedar River and the water treatment plant in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream, while a Wisconsin town was recovering from storms. (Brandon Pollock/The Courier via AP) At the Cedar Valley Montessori School in downtown Cedar Rapids on Friday, about 100 volunteers from area high schools helped move all the school equipment above the ground floor. Stacy Cataldo, head of the Montessori school, told television station KCRG that many remember how flooding damaged the school in 2008 and don't want that to happen again. "We're applying those lessons as we move forward," she said. Just upriver in the small town of Palo, about 100 homes in low-lying areas were evacuated Saturday. City Clerk Trisca Dix told The Associated Press that the mandatory evacuation in the town of about 1,000 took place Saturday afternoon before the river was expected to crest Sunday night at 24.5 feet. Mayor Tom Yock told the Des Moines Register that volunteers and work crews scrambled Saturday to protect as much as possible of the town, which was devastated by record flooding in 2008. Many people moved their belongings to the upper levels of their homes and built sandbag barriers before evacuating, he said. "We're just trying to be more proactive than we were in '08, trying to save as many homes as we can," Yock said. In Cedar Falls, about 55 miles (90 kilometers) upriver from Cedar Rapids, Lynn Hoth was among a group of volunteers who spent Friday filling sandbags and building flood barriers. "Last time, we were an island for three days and we couldn't get in or out," Hoth told KCRG, referring to the catastrophic flood of 2008, which caused billions of dollars in damage. This time around, "we've had notice, so that's good, and people help each other." In southeastern Minnesota, roads were reopening Saturday as floodwater receded. But north of Minneapolis, parts of Highway 169 remained closed in both directors because of flooding. Parts of southern Minnesota will remain under a flood warning until Monday morning. In central Wisconsin, a flood warning was issued for the Yellow River at Babcock until Sunday morning, but the river wasn't causing any major problems, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Rick Mamrosh in Green Bay, Wisconsin. In southwestern Wisconsin, the Kickapoo River appeared to have crested and the Black River was on its way down. But the Yellow River is still rising and may reach major flood stage Sunday evening, said Clint Aegerter, a meteorologist at the weather service's office in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The Mississippi River at La Crosse may crest at minor flood stage around 4 p.m. Monday, he said. Still, the weather service said storms Saturday night into Sunday would bring more rain to the area. Another meteorologist in the La Crosse office, Todd Rieck, said a half-inch to 1 inch of rain is possible in southwestern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota and northeastern Iowa late Saturday through Sunday. "If you even got an inch in most locations, it would result in further flooding problems," Rieck said. "There's no place for the water to go." In Cedar Rapids, officials said those residents who have been asked to evacuate should plan to remain out of their homes and businesses for up to a week. A curfew was also to go into effect Sunday beginning at 8 p.m. They had some good news, too: The Cedar River is expected to crest at 24.5 feet on Tuesday, which is nearly a foot lower than they earlier projected. Fire Chief Mark English asked the curious to stay out of the flooded areas, noting that some heavy equipment used to build earthen dams and erect flood barriers has been hindered by gawkers. He said an estimated 1,500 properties near the river are expected to get at least some flooding. Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and other state officials were set to tour flood-damaged areas Saturday in the Cedar River basin. Tom Moffitt stands on his deck as he looks at the flood waters on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, in Shell Rock, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream, while a Wisconsin town was recovering from storms. (Brian Powers/The Des Moines Register via AP ) Flood waters from the Cedar River cover Highway 57 east of downtown Cedar Falls, Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream, while a Wisconsin town was recovering from storms. (Brandon Pollock/The Courier via AP) Tom Moffit survey's the flood waters filling his house and street on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, in Shell Rock, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream, while a Wisconsin town was recovering from storms. (Brian Powers/The Des Moines Register via AP ) Volunteers fill sandbag in the New Bohemia District of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream, while a Wisconsin town was recovering from storms now blamed for two deaths. (David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen via AP) Colombia rebel leaders travel to Cartagena for peace signing YARI PLAINS, Colombia (AP) Top Colombian rebel leaders have begun leaving the country's remote plains for the Caribbean city of Cartagena, where they will sign a peace accord with the government next week. A helicopter operated by the International Committee of the Red Cross transported two groups of a total of about 40 commanders with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia out of the Yari Plains for the Monday ceremony. The FARC's maximum leader Timoleon Jimenez said peace would begin "on Monday, when President (Juan Manuel) Santos and I shake hands." Rodrigo Londono, also known as Timochenko, the top leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, raises his fist as he boards a helicopter in Yari Plains, southern Colombia, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Londono and Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos are expected to sign a peace accord to end a more than five decades civil conflict in the Caribbean city of Cartagena on Sept. 26. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan) The ceremony is expected to be attended by 15 presidents from around Latin America and leaders of international organizations. A nationwide referendum on the accord will take place on Oct. 2. Rodrigo Londono, also known as Timochenko, the top leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, second from right embraces rebel leader Carlos Alonso Lozada, before boarding a helicopter in Yari Plains, southern Colombia, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Londono and Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos are expected to sign a peace accord to end a more than five decades civil conflict in the Caribbean city of Cartagena on Sept. 26. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan) Rebels and family members wave as a helicopter transporting rebel leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, takes off from Yari Plains, Colombia, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. FARC top leader Rodrigo Londono, known as Timochenko, and other rebel leaders are traveling to the Caribbean city of Cartagena where they are expected to sign a peace accord with Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos, to end a more than five decades civil conflict on Sept. 26.(AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan) Rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, chat in Yari Plains, southern Colombia, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. FARC leaders and delegates concluded on Friday a week-long deliberations in Yari Plains giving an unanimous support to a peace agreement reached last month with the government. Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC top leader Rodrigo Londono are expected to sign a peace accord to end a more than five decades civil conflict in the Caribbean city of Cartagena on Sept. 26. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan) Miriam Vanegas, right, walks with her son Felipe, second from right, and other rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, in Yari Plains, Colombia, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Vanegas visited with her son for the first time in ten years. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan) A rebel holds onto to her cap as a helicopter transporting leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, takes off from Yari Plains, Colombia, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. FARC top leader Rodrigo Londono, known as Timochenko, and other rebel leaders are traveling to the Caribbean city of Cartagena where they are expected to sign a peace accord on Sept. 26 with Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos, to end a more than five decades civil conflict. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan) Mexico sees surge of migrants from Haiti, Africa and Asia MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexican immigration authorities said Saturday they have been hit by a surge of almost 5,000 Haitian, African and Asian migrants entering by the southern border in just a few days. Recent experience suggests the 4,749 migrants entering through Mexico's Tapachula immigration center on the Guatemalan border will soon try to reach the California border, with many expected to apply for asylum. Mexico's National Immigration Institute said the migrants entered the country between Sept. 21 and 23. It did not break them down according to country of origin, but recent trends suggest the majority are likely from Haiti. That would mark a huge increase over the number seen so far this year. The institute said a total of 7,800 Haitian migrants entered Mexico through Guatemala between Jan. 1 and Sept. 21, as well as 1,701 migrants from Africa and 3,753 from various Asian. The institute said that none of these Haitian, African or Asian migrants have requested permission to stay in Mexico. "Up to this moment, the institute has not received any requests from these foreigners for refuge, asylum or regularization, because they have expressed that their desire is to reach the United States." The migrants cannot be sent back to their home countries, so Mexico gives them 20-day temporary visas so they can cross the country and get to the U.S. It said the Africans came mainly from the Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and Nigeria. However, this week the U.S. government said it was widening efforts to deport Haitians in response to the wave of thousands of immigrants from the Caribbean nation who have overwhelmed California border crossings with Mexico in recent months. Mexico said that in Baja California alone, about 1,230 Haitian, African and Asian migrants are waiting for asylum in the United States, in many cases at border crossing gates or bridges. The institute said Mexico was trying to provide the asylum seekers with food and water while they waited for a U.S. response. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Sarah Saldana testified in Congress that other governments told her on a recent trip to Central America that 40,000 Haitians were on their way and called it an "emergency situation" on California's border. A government move lifted special protections that shielded Haitians from deportation after their nation's 2010 earthquake. The change may dramatically affect Haitians who have been showing up at U.S. border crossings in California, claiming they lived in Brazil for several years, left for economic reasons, and traveled through Central America and Mexico. Homeland Security officials say about 5,000 Haitians have been stopped at San Diego's San Ysidro port of entry since October, compared to only 339 for the 2015 fiscal year. Large numbers have also turned themselves in to U.S. inspectors in Calexico, California, 120 miles east of San Diego. The influx is so heavy that inspectors at San Ysidro, the nation's busiest border crossing, are turning back Haitians with appointments to come at a later date, leaving hundreds waiting in Tijuana, Mexico. Many stay at one of the Mexican border city's five migrant shelters that volunteered in May to help. Prince William, Kate arrive in Canada with 2 young children VICTORIA, British Columbia (AP) Little Princess Charlotte, Prince George and their parents, Prince William and Kate, arrived in Canada on Saturday for their first official trip overseas as a family of four. Charlotte nibbled on her finger while being held by Kate as they were greeted by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife. A shy George hid behind his dad while holding his hand and looked for his mother who crouched down to comfort him. George later waved for the cameras but looked a little overwhelmed after a long flight. The eight-day trip marks the first overseas jaunt for 1-year-old Charlotte. Her brother, 3-year-old George, has visited Australia and New Zealand on an official tour. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, back left, greets Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge, as Governor General David Johnston, back, looks on upon the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Kate, and their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, in Victoria, British Columbia, on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP) The public will only see the children once at their departure on Oct. 1 and the media will only see the kids a few times during an eight-day visit. The airport welcoming ceremony was closed to the public. Royal watcher Debbie Burnham expressed disappointment but said she understands considering the distance traveled and all the attention. "It would have been overwhelming for them," she said. "This allows the parents to relax." Kate wore a blue Jenny Packham dress with a hat by Lock and Co. and a maple leaf broach lent to her by Queen Elizabeth II for the Canada trip. On their first official trip as newlyweds in 2011, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge won raucous cheers and endeared themselves to Canadian crowds. On this visit the royals will visit British Columbia and the Yukon. The kids did not attend the official welcoming ceremony where several thousand people greeted the royal couple at British Columbia's ornate government buildings in the provincial capital of Victoria. "When we were here last time we were married only three months. The warm welcome that you gave us at that important part of our lives meant a lot to us and we've never forgotten it," William told the crowd. "That is why we are so pleased that George and Charlotte can be with us in Canada this time around, beginning their lifetime of friendship with this wonderful country." The 44-year-old Trudeau, who also received loud cheers, joked that getting the kids back on the plane could be a challenge after they see Canada's beautiful Pacific Coast. "I know you've visited Canada before. But as any parent who has travelled with children knows, it's a different experience when you bring your whole family with you," Trudeau said. "I want to commend you - and thank you - for introducing our part of the world to Prince George and Princess Charlotte." The trip is Prince William's second to the province of British Columbia. He accompanied his father, Prince Charles, and his brother Harry in 1998, 11 months after the death of their mother Princess Diana. William recalled being a shy teenager then. Crowds of frenzied teenage girls greeted the princes in Vancouver then, cementing William's status as a teen heartthrob. Royal watchers were thrilled to meet the couple Saturday. "Oh my god, it was awesome," said Amber Bassett, whose daughter Akaysha, 2, gave the duchess some dahlias. "She asked about my daughter and how old she was and she must be close in age to George. How awesome." Linda Gunther said it was fine George and Charlotte weren't there. "They're kids. They're little," she said. Far from Victoria's marbled halls and manicured lawns, the royal couple will move to Vancouver on Sunday for a visit to the city's gritty Downtown Eastside, a dozen square blocks of poverty and addiction. They'll have tea with residents at Sheway, a support program for pregnant women and new mothers dealing with addiction and other challenges. William's mother Diana was on hand when Sheway's precursor opened in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1991. The royals will then visit an immigrant welcome center where they will meet with a newly arrived refugee family from Syria. More than 30,000 Syrian refugees have arrived in Canada since Trudeau was elected last fall. While Australia, Jamaica and Barbados have talked about becoming republics, Canada has shown less interest in replacing Queen Elizabeth II as the figurative head of state. Canadians are somewhat indifferent to the monarchy, but most have great affection for the queen, as well as her grandsons and Kate. ____ Gillies reported from Toronto. Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrive in Victoria, British Columbia, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, holds her daughter Princess Charlotte as she speaks to her son Prince George as she and her husband Britain's Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, arrive in Victoria, British Columbia, on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, holds her daughter Princess Charlotte as she and her husband Britain's Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge and their son Prince George, arrive in Victoria, British Columbia, on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Britain's William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrive in Victoria, British Columbia, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Britain's William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte step off the plane as they arrive in Victoria, British Columbia, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP) From left to right, Gov. General of Canada David Johnston, Sharon Johnston, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, British Columbia Premier Christy Clark and Lt.-Gov. of British Columbia Judith Guichon stand on the tarmac as Britain's Prince William and his wife, Kate, along with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrive in Victoria, British Columbia, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP) Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, holds her daughter Princess Charlotte as she speaks to her son Prince George as she and her husband Britain's Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, arrive in Victoria, British Columbia, on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP) Prince George, center, holds his father Britain Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge's hand as he smiles while listening to his mother Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, left, holding his sister Princess Charlotte, as the family arrives in Victoria, British Columbia, on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, holds her daughter Princess Charlotte as she and her husband Britain's Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge and their son Prince George, arrive in Victoria, British Columbia, on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP) A granite tombstone bearing the name Donald J. Trump that police confiscated in Central Park months ago is now on display at a Brooklyn gallery. The year of Trump's birth and the words 'Made America Hate Again' also are chiseled into the 500-pound slab. Artist Brian Andrew Whiteley said he created it to remind the Republican presidential nominee that he has 'stirred the pot of racism, anger and fear and to help Donald reflect on the legacy he's leaving behind'. Brian Andrew Whiteley's 'The Trump Tombstone' bearing the name of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is displayed in a gallery in New York Brian Andrew Whiteley sits on his sculpture, 'The Trump Tombstone' in a July 2016 photo Dubbed 'The Trump Tombstone,' it first appeared last spring in Central Park's Sheep Meadow. At about 4 a.m. 'my accomplices met me there, and we sneaked in by clipping off the metal twist-ties on a gate,' Whiteley recalled on Saturday. 'Then we rolled in the tombstone and just plopped it on the ground.' After dawn, the sensation drew crowds snapping pictures as police moved in. Police held the stone for months while tracking down Whiteley by visiting various New York tombstone businesses. Then came the visits to his home from the New York Police Department and the Secret Service who interrogated him 'to make sure I wasn't mentally ill,' he said. Dubbed 'The Trump Tombstone,' it first appeared last spring in Central Park's Sheep Meadow Whiteley said he created it to remind the Republican presidential nominee that he has 'stirred the pot of racism, anger and fear and to help Donald reflect on the legacy he's leaving behind'. Donald Trump is pictured on Saturday Along with hate mail he received from right-wing publications, 'I was terrified,' he said. With the help of attorney Ron Kuby, who pushed authorities to release Whiteley's work, the artist ended up paying a $300 fine for littering in Central Park. This weekend, the tombstone reappeared in the Christopher Stout Gallery in Brooklyn's Bushwick neighborhood where it's on display through October 9. Then it will be moved to a gallery in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood. William and Kate begin tour of Canada accompanied by George and Charlotte The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge begin their tour of Canada today accompanied by their two young children. William and Kate will introduce Prince George, aged three, and 16-month-old Princess Charlotte to the Commonwealth country during the eight-day visit. Highlights of the trip to Canada's east coast will see William and Kate experience the stunning natural world of the province of British Columbia and the territory of Yukon, where they will go fishing, mountain biking, sightseeing and meet First Nations communities. The Cambridges are heading to Canada As a contrast they will also learn how the country is dealing with social problems like mental health issues, the refugee fallout from the Syrian conflict and drug and alcohol addiction among mothers, during visits to organisations and projects. The tour of Canada will be Charlotte's first official royal visit, but George travelled to Australia and New Zealand with his parents in 2014 when he was nine months old. He stole the limelight from his mother and father whenever he made an appearance - joining a playgroup in the New Zealand capital Wellington and enjoying a family trip to the zoo in Sydney. As the Commonwealth country is one of the Queen's 16 realms - nations where the monarch is head of state - the visit will be a homecoming for the Cambridges. The country's Globe And Mail newspaper has described the trip as a "match made in paparazzi heaven, featuring Prince William, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and their equally telegenic families''. Canada's prime minister invited the Cambridges to visit in July and the politician and wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau who have three children - eight-year-old Xavier, seven-year-old Ella-Grace and two-year-old Hadrien - are expected to join the royal couple for a number of events. The royal couple and their children will arrive late this evening, UK time, in a Royal Canadian Air Force jet which will touch down in Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. William and Kate will travel with a 12-strong entourage - three private secretaries, a communications team of four, tour secretary, operations manager, personal assistant, and - paid for privately - a hairdresser and nanny. They will receive an official welcome at the British Columbia Parliament Buildings in Victoria after their arrival and later meet with senior Canadian leaders at Government House where they will be based for their visit. Tomorrow the royal couple will travel to nearby Vancouver by sea plane where they will carry out a day of engagements. They will visit the Immigration Services Society of British Columbia where they will meet some of the thousands of Syrian refuges who have arrived from UNHCR camps and at a separate event learn about an outreach programme providing health and social services support to pregnant women and mothers with drug and alcohol issues. A Kensington Palace spokesman said: ''The tour will see them take in everything from the bustling global city of Vancouver - population 2.5 million - to the r emote and beautiful Bella Bella, home to less than 2,000 people. Theresa May argued for immigration brake, say allies Theresa May's supporters have hit back at claims she was branded "lily-livered" by David Cameron after she scuppered his plans for tough new immigration controls. Mrs May's camp took the unusual step of releasing details of her private correspondence with Mr Cameron after a new book claimed she had blocked plans to curb the numbers coming into Britain from the EU. Mr Cameron had wanted the so-called "emergency brake" as part of his EU renegotiation in order to convince voters that he would be able to reduce immigration if Britain remained in the EU. Allies of Theresa May, pictured with then PM David Cameron, have denied claims she blocked plans to curb EU immigration into Britain However in his book, All Out War, Sunday Times political editor Tim Shipman says he was prevented from doing so by Mrs May - who was then home secretary - and the then foreign secretary Philip Hammond, now Chancellor of the Exchequer. It quotes one Cameron aide as saying: "Hammond spoke first and argued we just couldn't do something that would receive an immediate raspberry in Europe. Theresa said very, very little, and simply said that we just couldn't go against Merkel." A "visibly deflated" Mr Cameron was said to have turned to one official and said: "I can't do it without their support. If it wasn't for my lily-livered cabinet colleagues...." But according to the details released by the May camp, she twice wrote letters to him - in November 2014 and May 2015 - in which she argued the case for an emergency brake. In the first she is said to have proposed the emergency brake as one of a series of measures to rebalance the rights of citizens to move within the EU so national governments can act in the best interests of their resident populations. In the second she was said to have argued that the emergency brake was crucial to cutting numbers and convincing the public the Government was capable of policing its own borders. Earlier, former cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith hit back at Mr Cameron's communications director Sir Craig Oliver after he claimed Mr Cameron had been let down by Mrs May over her reluctance to come out more strongly for Remain in the referendum. In his book, Unleashing Demons: The Inside Story Of Brexit, Sir Craig detailed 13 occasions on which Mrs May failed to support Mr Cameron before she did reluctantly "come off the fence" - but only after he gave her a dressing down over the telephone. He said that throughout the campaign, she had pursued a "submarine strategy of disappearing from view", leading one senior Remain campaigner to ask: "Are we sure May's not an agent for the other side?" Sir Craig acknowledged that from her point of view, the tactic had proved successful. "Amid the murder and betrayal of the campaign, one figure stayed very still at the centre of it all - Theresa May. Now she is the last one standing," he wrote. However he was accused by Mr Duncan Smith - who campaigned for Leave - of trying to pin the blame for the failures of the Remain campaign on other people. "Craig Oliver is one of a growing number of foolish attempts by ex-government Remainers who lost to shift responsibility for their failure," he said. Jorge Linares defeats Anthony Crolla on points to secure WBA lightweight title Anthony Crolla's second defence of his WBA lightweight title ended in a unanimous decision defeat as he was convincingly outboxed by classy Venezuelan Jorge Linares in Manchester on Saturday night. The popular Mancunian had moments of success but, against a simply superior fighter, proved incapable of making the adaptations needed to recover from a losing position. Victory for Linares, widely considered the world's leading lightweight, appears to have ended hopes of Crolla fighting domestic rival Terry Flanagan. Linares spoke, however, of his willingness to give Crolla a rematch. Anthony Crolla, pictured right, was well beaten by Jorge Linares at Manchester Arena The competitive opening rounds did little to encourage the defending champion. His challenger had often appeared vulnerable in the early stages of fights, as he demonstrated when being knocked down by Kevin Mitchell in May 2015 before recovering to win. Crolla had been expected to pursue him during those early rounds, but instead he chose to repeatedly target Linares' body in an attempt to tire him in preparation for the second half of the fight. Linares' superior class, speed and accuracy ensured he at least edged the majority of the first five. He hurt Crolla with body shots in the fourth, one of which referee Terry O'Connor considered low, halting the action to allow the champion to recover. It was in the fifth when Crolla landed a promising right hand that opened a cut by Linares' right eye, but it took until the sixth when the challenger showed his first signs of fatigue. Just when it appeared the action would begin to favour the champion, Linares threw the fight's best punch when he landed a big right. The injured Crolla was forced to retreat back onto the ropes, where he appeared at threat of being stopped and remained content to survive until the round concluded. Linares had expended significant energy attempting to finish the fight, so the question became whether he had used too much. Even with his stamina depleted, however, Linares' greater technique ensured the fight's second half remained competitive, and he prevented Crolla from building the lead his work-rate sought. His timing and jab continued to impress, even discouraging the champion, and ensured that entering the final two, Crolla appeared to need to win both to stand any chance of earning a decision from the judges. The Mancunian, bleeding by his left eye, increasingly appeared the fighter who once looked unlikely to progress beyond domestic or European level. He was also fighting one who - even if he had never previously gone 12 rounds - is clearly world-class. Crolla's career has already been better than many expected, but the final stages of the fight simply confirmed the suspicion that his level had been found. The exchanges he needed to change the fight continued to elude him, and ensured his defeat via scores of 115-114, 117-111, 115-113 on the three judges' scorecards. The 31-year-old Linares came close to tears when speaking after the fight, and told Sky Sports: "We gave Manchester a beautiful fight, and we can do it again. "I hurt my hand in the sixth round, I backed off a little bit, worked, did strategy, but told my corner in the 10th 'I'm going to go and close these next three rounds' and I think that's what got me the victory. "Once my hand heals, I'll go back to the gym, start training, and why not come back to England? Why not come back to Manchester? I love it here. Anthony Crolla deserves a rematch. Why not do it again?" Crolla's promoter Eddie Hearn insisted a rematch was already agreed, and the lightweight said: "It was a close fight. I've got no complaints. I made a few mistakes, walked onto a few sharp counters. "He rocked my world, I'm not going to lie. My head's still spinning now. I'm absolutely gutted. It's a pleasure to share the ring with a great like Jorge Linares but I don't celebrate losing, I'm absolutely gutted. "He's the best I've shared the ring with. I've got to make sure I win a rematch." Yvette Cooper: I've received online death threats Yvette Cooper has called on Jeremy Corbyn to do more to curb the online abuse of Labour MPs after revealing that she has received death threats. Ms Cooper said one Twitter user claimed they wanted to "behead" her and said Mr Corbyn, who was re-elected leader of the party on Saturday, and shadow chancellor John McDonnell should "back party staff when they try to tackle abuse". Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, the former shadow foreign secretary said: "Jeremy Corbyn has rightly condemned abuse many times. But when you are the leader of a party with a problem, especially when you have just been re-elected, you should use your authority to deliver action not just words." Yvette Cooper said one Twitter user wanted to 'behead' her She told the paper: "The worst I get as a Labour MP is usually from the far right. Recent grim tweets include an Australian who wants to behead me and a Trump supporter who hates refugees. "But no matter where it is from, abuse and intimidation entrench prejudice, silence debate and poison democracy. Even a small minority can drag everyone else down." She said Mr Corbyn and Mr McDonnell should "insist on higher standards and proper enforcement". "Don't leave it to me to put proposals to the NEC after a year of calling for action - take a lead. I want them and all MPs to challenge supporters as well as opponents who try to use vitriol to silence others," she said. Ms Cooper also urged the party to stamp out other forms of abuse, including party members calling each other names such as "scum", "dyke", "zio", and "paki" and the heckling of journalists. "Frankly I don't care where in the party this kind of abuse comes from, it has to stop," she said. Views mesmerise William and Kate on sea plane trip The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were left mesmerised by the stunning views of Canada's coastline when they took a trip in a sea plane. William and Kate spent much of the 30 minute journey looking out of the window as they flew from Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, to the nearby bustling metropolis of Vancouver. The royal couple and their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte received a rapturous welcome from Canadians yesterday when their eight-day tour of the Commonwealth country began. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive by seaplane in Vancouver And they spent today in Vancouver visiting organisations and projects to learn how the country is dealing with a range of issues, from the refugee fallout from the Syrian conflict to drug and alcohol addiction among mothers. Thousands of people turned out to welcome the royal couple throughout their day but there was one dissenting voice - a small group of republicans who had made a replica guillotine and a placard saying "No Kings No Landlords". Kate wore a striking red and white Alexander McQueen outfit decorated with broderie anglaise for the flight in the sea plane while William looked smart in a jacket, shirt and tie. A one-way ticket for the trip on the Otter aircraft costs around 210 Canadian dollars (125) and the Duke and Duchess would have seen British Columbia's coast line, the Gulf Islands and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Later a royal aide said of the flight: ''It was very smooth flying. ''They spent a lot looking out of the window and talking to the pilot. The duke was very interested in the landing and the different conditions they work in. ''They spent a lot of time looking at the incredible views from both sides of the plane.'' The sea plane is the easiest way to travel from Victoria to Vancouver, but it is also the noisiest, which meant William and Kate were given earplugs for the journey in the 18-seater plane. Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau was on the waterside to greet the couple as were thousands of wellwishers who had gathered at the nearby Jack Poole Plaza. The Plaza is named after the late Jack Poole, who was a key player behind the success of the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2010 Winter Paralympics held in Vancouver. People packed the plaza, standing 10 deep behind the barriers with cameras and phones held aloft as William and Kate shook hands with the wellwishers. Wolf whistles and cheers rent the air as people thrust forward flowers, children's books, a teddy bear and, bizarrely, a book on the royal family. The Duchess of Cambridge speaks to members of the public in Vancouver The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive by seaplane in Vancouver Harbour, as they start Day Two of their tour of Canada. The Duchess of Cambridge speaks to members of the public at the start of day two of her tour of Canada. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive by seaplane in Vancouver Harbour, as they start day two of their tour of Canada. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte as they arrive at Victoria International Airport The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive by seaplane in Vancouver Harbour, as they start day two of their tour of Canada. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in a lift after they arrived by seaplane in Vancouver Harbour, as they start day two of their tour of Canada. The Duchess of Cambridge is given a teddy bear during her visit to Sheway to see their pregnancy outreach program in Vancouver on Day Two of her tour of Canada. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge laugh during their visit to the Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia New Welcome Centre in Vancouver Adult, larval insecticides pack deadly punch to mosquitoes, Zika -U.S. Sept 23 (Reuters) - The unprecedented aerial spraying of products that kill both adult mosquitoes as well as their larvae delivered a "1-2 punch" that has stopped direct transmission of the Zika virus in the Wynwood section of Miami, U.S. and Florida health officials said on Friday. The trendy Miami neighborhood in June became the first neighborhood in the continental United States with a local outbreak of Zika, a mosquito-borne virus that can cause severe birth defects in infected pregnant women. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday declared Wynwood free of Zika, saying there had been no cases of infection with the virus there in the past 45 days. Even so, the federal agency urged pregnant women to consider putting off nonessential travel to the neighborhood to avoid risk of infection. On a conference call with reporters on Friday, CDC Director Tom Frieden said infections in Wynwood appeared to stop soon after aerial applications of naled, a chemical long used in the United States to kill adult mosquitoes, and of a larvicide called Bti that is a naturally occurring bacterium. The combination of pesticides that separately target adults and larvae of the mosquito that carries Zika, called Aedes aegypti, was unprecedented, he said. "This is a new tool in our toolkit and the strongest one we have" against the mosquito and the diseases it carries, he said, which also include the dengue and chikungunya viruses. Magnitude 6.5 quake hits off Philippines' Mindanao island -USGS Sept 23 (Reuters) - A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the Philippine's Mindanao island on Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The quake, which struck at 6:53 a.m. (22:53 GMT on Friday), was centered 71 miles (114.26 km) east of Davao on Mindanao. The quake was deep, 43 miles (69 km) below the seabed, and was not expected to cause a tsunami, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. Magnitude 6.3 quake shakes Philippines' Mindanao island DAVAO, Philippines, Sept 24 (Reuters) - A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.3 struck off the Philippine's Mindanao island on Saturday, sending hotel guests and construction workers running from buildings in Davao, but there were no immediate reports of damage. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake, initially reported as a magnitude 6.5, struck at 6:53 a.m. (22:53 GMT on Friday) and was centered 114 km (71 miles) east of Davao on Mindanao. It was a deep tremor, 69 km (43 miles) below the seabed, and was not expected to cause a tsunami, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. A magnitude 6.3 quake is considered strong and is capable of causing severe damage, but Renato Solidum, head of the Philippines' seismic agency, said the effects of this one would be mitigated by its location and depth. "The quake is offshore and relatively deep and shaking is reported to be maximum of Intensity V, hence we expect no significant damage," Solidum told Reuters. Dave Cabrera, a security guard at Hotel Uno in downtown Davao, said the quake was felt strongly in the city. "Many guests left their rooms and rushed downstairs," he said. "That is the strongest I have felt for this year." Around 1,000 construction workers building the 23-storey Avida Towers nearby also evacuated, said Junrey Quiroa, a security guard on the site. "That earthquake was strong. We were worried things might fall off so everyone got out of the site." South Sudan's opposition figure 'not dead politically' - U.N. By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS, Sept 23 (Reuters) - South Sudan's exiled opposition figure Riek Machar "is not dead politically," United Nations peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said on Friday as the country's vice president accused Machar of attempting to overthrow President Salva Kiir in July. Political rivalry between Kiir and Machar sparked a civil war in 2013 and, while the pair signed a shaky peace deal a year ago, fighting has continued and Machar fled the country after the eruption of violence in July. He is now in Khartoum. Senior diplomats met to discuss South Sudan on Friday on the sidelines of the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders. The United States, China, Britain and Norway were among those at the meeting hosted by U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson. "Clearly (Machar) is, I think somebody said in the meeting just now, he is not dead politically by a long way, he's there, I mean he's out of the country, but he does represent a very important element of the South Sudanese community," Ladsous told reporters. Last month Kiir fired six ministers allied to Machar. A U.N. statement summarizing Friday's meeting stressed the need for inclusivity in the South Sudanese political process. The United States has said it does not believe that Machar, who was vice president until he fled, should return to his former position in the government given the continuing instability in the country. During a visit by the U.N. Security Council to South Sudan earlier this month, diplomats said Kiir told them that Machar was welcome to return to the country if he wanted to run for office during elections in 2018. After Machar fled the country, Kiir replaced him with Taban Deng Gai, who broke ranks with Machar said he was taking over the opposition SPLM-IO. A former minister of mining, Deng Gai was a chief negotiator on behalf of the SPLM-IO in the talks that led to last year's peace deal. Deng Gai addressed the U.N. General Assembly on Friday and said South Sudan was "steadily implementing" the peace deal. He accused Machar of attempting to overthrow Kiir during deadly violence in the capital Juba in July. Ladsous said the South Sudanese government had not yet improved cooperation with the world body on the deployment of more peacekeepers. In the wake of the fighting in July, the 15-member Security Council last month authorized a regional protection force as part of the U.N. peacekeeping mission and threatened to consider an arms embargo if Kiir's government did not cooperate or stop hindering the movement of peacekeepers. "There have been contacts at various levels with the government, with the authorities of South Sudan but this has not really translated into significant progress on the ground," Ladsous told reporters. Deng Gai told the General Assembly that the government needed to "engage more with the U.N. on the details." "This is in order to avoid derailing national healing and reconciliation. External intervention often affects negatively internal reconciliation," he said. Costa Rica gets 100 illegal immigrants a day hoping to get to U.S. By Hugh Bronstein NEW YORK, Sept 23 (Reuters) - More than 100 illegal immigrants are entering the small Central American country of Costa Rica every day, looking for "coyotes" to take them across the Nicaraguan border and on toward the United States, President Luis Solis said on Friday. Eighty-five percent of the new arrivals are from Haiti by way of Brazil, where many settled after Haiti's 2010 earthquake but whose construction jobs have disappeared now that the Rio Olympics are over and the country wallows in recession, Solis said on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. "The phenomenon has shifted quite significantly," Solis said. His government has set up centers that offer the migrants basic shelter and food, before they take the day-long bus trip through Costa Rica to the Nicaraguan frontier. Nicaragua does not allow the migrants to enter, so they are forced into the world of "coyotes," or illegal guides, often linked to criminal gangs. Solis said the 15 percent of arrivals who are not Haitians are Cubans as well as Africans and Asians who make their way across the Atlantic to Brazil and then trudge through Colombia and Panama to get to Costa Rica. "Migration is a global phenomenon and it is not new. But something unexpected is happening, a refurbished flow of migrants is on the move in Latin America," Solis said. So far, Solis said, Costa Rica can handle the inflow and outflow of immigrants passing through the country. The United States, however, responding to a surge in Haitian immigrants, will end special protections for them dating back to the devastating 2010 earthquake, the Department of Homeland Security said on Thursday. "What if they start deciding to stay on Costa Rica after hearing that the United States has changed its tolerance policy and is going to start deporting them?" Solis said. "That's a concern." More than 5,000 Haitians have entered the United States without visas this fiscal year through Oct. 1, according to Department of Homeland Security officials, up from 339 in fiscal year 2015. Panama's president, Juan Carlos Varela, said this week that Haiti's economy and democracy must be fortified in order to stanch the rapid outflow of people from the impoverished island nation. Ecuador tells U.N. 'political battle' needed to combat tax havens By Hugh Bronstein UNITED NATIONS, Sept 23 (Reuters) - A political battle should be waged to bring tax havens into the light and allow governments to receive revenue currently lost in offshore accounts, Ecuador's Foreign Minister Guillaume Long told the United Nations General Assembly on Friday. Trillion of dollars according to some estimates are sloshing around the world's shadowy offshore havens, money that would otherwise be available to improve government finances and, if spent wisely, benefit their populations. Ecuador estimates that an amount equal to 30 percent of its gross domestic product is hidden from government oversight in tax havens, Long said. "To put an end to tax havens, to have these critical resources for our development, we have to wage a political battle," he said. Long went on to call for establishment of an intergovernmental body within the United Nations. "It's time for the U.N. to take a much stronger stance against tax dodging in general, tax havens in particular and in favor of the broad issue of tax justice," Long said in an interview earlier in the day. A huge leak of documents from the Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca this year showed how offshore firms are used to stash the wealth of the rich and powerful, embarrassing several world leaders. In February, Ecuador will hold what it says is the world's first public referendum asking voters if they want to prohibit public servants, including elected officials, from holding money in tax havens. "The consequences of this are huge in terms of positioning the fight against a practice that is really shameful for humanity in the 20th century," Long said in the interview. As incoming president of the G-77 group of nations, Ecuador plans to push it's anti-tax haven agenda. Other countries have taken stabs at the same problem. In April, for example, Germany unveiled a plan that would create an international network of registers that list the actual owners of companies. For Long, having an amount equivalent to one-third of the developing country's economy hidden is an aberration. Australia welcomes arrest of alleged key Indonesian people smuggler By Harry Pearl SYDNEY, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Indonesian police have arrested an alleged key people smuggler who has targeted Australia since 1999, the Australian government said on Saturday. Abraham Louhenapessy, also known as Captain Bram, was arrested in West Jakarta on Friday and will be transported to the Indonesian island of Rote to face court, said an Australian government statement. "We know that Captain Bram is a key player in the people smuggling networks across Indonesia and we congratulate the Indonesian National Police on their determination to stop this criminal from risking the lives of anymore vulnerable people," Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said in the statement. Louhenapessy was arrested over a failed attempt to send 65 mostly Sri Lankan asylum seekers to Australia from Indonesia in May 2015, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. Australian Minister for Justice Michael Keenan said Louhenapessy could face up to 10 years in prison. "We are extremely pleased this notorious people smuggler has been stopped... but we know there are more criminal people smugglers out there and we will continue to work with our regional partners to bring them to justice," Keenan said in the joint statement. In its fight to stop people smugglers, Australia has adopted a tough asylum seeker policy which sees it intercept boats at sea and ship asylum seekers to Australian-funded detention camps in Papua New Guinea and Nauru. They are never eligible to be resettled in Australia. The United Nations and human rights groups have called for the closure of the camps, which have been rocked by riots, deaths, self-harm by detainees and reports of sexual abuse. New Zealand collapse for 262 to concede lead to India KANPUR, India, Sept 24 (Reuters) - India claimed a 56-run first innings lead against New Zealand after the hosts bowled out the visitors for 262 on the third afternoon of the first test at Kanpur's Green Park Stadium on Saturday. Ravindra Jadeja (5-73) claimed three wickets in an over and five overall, while his spin partner Ravichandran Ashwin grabbed four as New Zealand folded 11 overs after the lunch break having resumed the day on 152 for one. Starting with slow bowlers at both ends, off-spinner Ashwin made the breakthrough when he trapped Tom Latham (58) leg before, ending the left-hander's 124-run partnership with captain Kane Williamson (75). Wickets fell at regular intervals before Jadeja dismissed Mark Craig and Ish Sodhi off successive deliveries and even though he could not complete a hat-trick, the left-armer claimed a third wicket of the over when he dismissed Trent Boult. Transcription 1 Founding of a Steel Industry Australia's steel industry has its origins in an unusual reversal of the ancient art of alchemy. Its founders made their fortunes not in the pursuit of gold and silver, as they all in some way hoped they might, but in the making of iron and steel. The industry has its genesis in the 19th century, in the days when gold mining and great landholdings were the main hope for wealth in Australia. Just where the story begins is a matter of personal perspective. For some, it begins with John Lysaght in England, for others with Charles Rasp at Broken Hill, and for yet others with the Hoskins family in Port Kembla or even Lithgow. All of these sought wealth from gold or silver along the way to founding the Australian steel industry, and their ultimate success is now embodied in the company that has become BlueScope Steel Limited. Over the years the three main threads of this story - Lysaght, BHP and Hoskins - have been interwoven in countless ways. The result is a fascinating and complex tale of endeavour in the best Australian traditions. Founding fathers A little chronology helps set the scene. Lysaght is the oldest part of the story, dating back to 1857, when a young John Lysaght set up a small galvanising business in Bristol, England. His company would ultimately form a very large part of the BlueScope Steel business, although it did not begin local production until 1921 when it set up a rolling and galvanising plant in Newcastle. For John Lysaght, the impetus to seek lucrative markets in Australia came from the gold rushes which began in the 1850s. Like many others, Lysaght made his Australian fortune not from the gold itself but from supplying the needs of those who searched for gold. However, at the dawn of the 21st century, it is not the Lysaght name that stands foremost above the door. That honour belongs to the name of BHP, which traces its origins back to 1885, when boundary rider Charles Rasp discovered silver at Broken Hill, and the BHP Big Mine was established. The mine produced fabulous wealth over the ensuing 45 years, but the enduring strength of the company was not built on silver: it was built on the iron ore leases which BHP secured at Iron Monarch and Iron Knob in 1899, and on the steelmaking operations it began in Newcastle in Completing the roll call of early contributors is the Hoskins family - founders of the Port Kembla steelworks which endures to this day. Charles and George Hoskins were barely toddlers in 1853, when their father brought his family out from England to Victoria in an ultimately fruitless quest to make his fortune in the goldfields. But half a century later, in 1907, the Hoskins brothers branched out from their successful iron foundry business when they bought an ailing steelworks at Lithgow, complete with blast furnace and steelmaking facilities. This led to their establishment of Australian Iron & Steel at Port Kembla in 1928, which cemented their place in Australian steel industry legend. Making steel All three ventures had come a long way by the time they were part of the Australian steel industry as we know it. For the beginnings of that industry, we must look to While the Anzac legend was being forged on the battlefields, at home the Governor-General, Sir Ronald Ferguson, was officially opening BHP's first steelmaking plant at Newcastle. This plant was to become one of the stalwarts of the nation's steel industry for much of the 20th century. 2 True, the Hoskins brothers had already been making steel at Lithgow since 1907, but this was not their landmark contribution to our story. When they took over the failed Eskbank steelworks at Lithgow, it was to some degree out of practical necessity. Somebody had to keep up steel production in this era of expanding railways and industry, and the Hoskins were the right people at the right time. Their later achievements in Port Kembla, however, relegated their first two decades of iron and steel making to the minor pages of history. Meanwhile, John Lysaght entered the Australian scene - and in doing so began the intertwining of the three threads of our story. The year was 1921 and it was an exciting time for the Australian iron and steel industry. The war was over and the country was building a bright future as a modern industrial nation. BHP was encouraging satellite industries in Newcastle, and Lysaght was one of those satellites. John Lysaght (Australia) Ltd was set up as a wholly owned subsidiary of John Lysaght Ltd of England, and began rolling and galvanising steel sheet at Newcastle. The feedstock was from the adjacent BHP plant, establishing an enduring link which would ultimately see the two companies become one. As it happens, 1921 was quite a year for the steel industry. In this same year, Charles and Cecil Hoskins bought 162 hectares of industrial land at Port Kembla from the family of pioneer explorer and politician William Charles Wentworth. Although not as grand as Wentworth's 1813 crossing of the Blue Mountains, his descendants were playing their part in Australia's development as vendors of the site that would become the Port Kembla steelworks. One other event of 1921 has an incidental resonance with W.C. Wentworth. This was the year that Essington Lewis became the first Australian-born general manager of BHP - just as Wentworth had become one of the first ever locally born Australians. Migration no longer produced the top BHP managers, but it would play a vital role a few decades later. The mutual endeavours of migrant and locally born Australians would become the backbone of Port Kembla when European migrants provided a workforce for the expansion that began in the 1950s. Needless to say, the Hoskins' 1921 land acquisition was a crucial step towards the family's great contribution to the industry. But perhaps not the first step. As early as 1916 the family had acquired the rights to coal deposits at Wongawilli, 14 kilometres south of the present steelworks. At the same time and place they built the first of many coke ovens they would develop there. In 1920 they created a corporate basis for the Port Kembla steel venture when Charles Hoskins' sons, Cecil and Sydney, incorporated Hoskins Iron & Steel Company Limited. This company would later make way for Australian Iron & Steel. Joining forces With the benefit of hindsight, it may seem inevitable that the three threads of this story would one day be woven together, but it was a long time coming. The first of the mergers took place in 1935, when BHP bought AIS through an exchange of scrip. Some 28 years after Charles Hoskins took over the steelmaking reins at Lithgow, it was the end of the Hoskins era. Still, it would be many years before the Lysaght thread was added to the BHP weave, even though there had been merger discussions as early as 1925, just four years after Lysaght set up in Newcastle. Numerous factors contributed to the takeover of AIS by BHP, but the Hoskins family was not seen to have failed. The Hoskins name continued to be held in high esteem, and indeed the official name of the plant under BHP remained the "Hoskins Kembla Works". But the Port Kembla venture had not fared 3 well in its fledgling years, having struggled to meet huge capital costs and then being hit by the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the subsequent Great Depression. By contrast, BHP's Newcastle steelworks was able to ride out the crisis better than many, and the Depression had far less impact than might be expected on the overall health of the company. Even though BHP closed its original Big Mine in Broken Hill in 1930, the company was still doing well. By 1935, while the world was still climbing out of the depths of the Great Depression, BHP announced its best profits for 40 years. It had produced well over half a million tons of steel and had 10,000 employees and a similar number of shareholders. At a time when Australian unemployment still ran at more than 16 per cent, it was a remarkable achievement. Wartime wonders Even more remarkable achievements lay just over the horizon, as Australia's steel companies did their bit for the war effort. Both BHP and Lysaght undertook major expansion at Port Kembla in the late 1930s, and both companies diversified into areas that would be rather surprising in peacetime. In 1936 BHP joined forces with Broken Hill Associated Smelters Ltd and four other companies to form Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ltd, thereby giving birth to the nation's aviation industry. The CAC plant at Fishermans Bend produced more than 1000 aircraft during World War 2. Lysaght's surprising wartime contribution was the Owen sub-machine gun, which was developed by Wollongong inventor Evelyn "Evo" Owen. His prototype was shown to Lysaght managers who brought it to the attention of BHP chief Essington Lewis, who was also in charge of Australia's wartime munitions production. After testing in 1941, the gun went into production at Port Kembla, with parts supplied by Lysaght's Newcastle plant. Production of the Owen gun, which became known as "the Digger's darling", peaked at 800 a week, and 45,000 were made. Less surprising pre-war and wartime developments included BHP's preparations to build a blast furnace at Whyalla in 1937, its commissioning of Port Kembla's second blast furnace in 1938, and the completion of Kembla's fifth open hearth furnace in By 1940 it had also built a shipyard at Whyalla and was laying the keels of two new patrol vessels. Of course, one of the company's greatest contributions was the already mentioned role of Essington Lewis in wartime procurement. Meanwhile, Lysaght had become BHP's Port Kembla neighbour in 1939 when it established its second Australian plant, the Springhill Works, beside the AIS works. In the same year Lysaght formed an equal partnership with American Rolling Mills Company to set up the Commonwealth Rolling Mills at Port Kembla. CRM met a strategic demand for steel for Australian automotive and appliance industries, and Lysaght developed and made many special steels. Among them were electrical and helmet steels, bullet proof plate 4 and aircraft steel. Shortly after the war, in 1947, Lysaght took over full control of CRM. Post-war boom When the soldiers came home from war, a baby boom was not the only sort of boom that happened. The years that followed would bring a seemingly endless run of development for Australia's steel industry. One of the first big announcements came in 1946, when AIS revealed its plans for a Flat Products Division, the products of which now feature in Steel In Focus. By 1955 the Division was an operating reality, with the commissioning of its hot strip mill by Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies. The mill cost 40 million pounds and had a capacity of a million tons per year. In a parallel development, Lysaght transformed the efficiency of its operations by replacing its sheet-fed machinery with a four-stand continuous cold reduction mill to process the output of the nearby hot strip mill. Year after year the developments came. In 1956 AIS began its No 2 works with the construction of the No 2 open hearth furnace. In 1957 it added the sinter plant, and two years later the No 4 blast furnace. Big news for 1961 was BHP's new ferro alloy plant at Bell Bay, Tasmania, followed in 1962 by its new Basic Oxygen System (BOS) furnaces at Newcastle to replace the open hearth system. BOS came to Whyalla in 1965, as did a second blast furnace and a rolling mill. Lysaght was also on the move, expanding both its facilities and its product range. In 1961 it commissioned its first continuous galvanising line at Port Kembla and began building its network of steel service centres around Australia. Throughout the 1960s it introduced special sheet steels such as Terne Sheet, with its lead and tin coating for fuel tanks, electrical chassis and fire doors, Marviplate vinyl coated steel, and Colorbond prepainted steel. In 1966, the year that Colorbond was launched, Lysaght closed its Newcastle sheet steel plant, but the following year it bought a 600 hectare site at Western Port and expanded its Springhill cold reduction mill from four stands to five. Closer than ever Throughout this period, BHP and Lysaght became ever more closely linked, with one providing feed for the other, and their major operations effectively co-located on one vast site at Port Kembla. It was hardly surprising that in 1969 BHP obtained a half share in John Lysaght Australia. The other half was by then owned by the British firm of GKN (Guest Keen and Nettlefolds Limited) which had superseded John Lysaght as the British parent company. Around this time in the history of BHP, its achievements were spread across an ever more diverse portfolio. Non-steel milestones were increasingly important, with the first manganese from Groote Eylandt in 1966 and the first Bass Strait gas strike by BHP and its partner Esso in the same year. In 1967 BHP joined the Mt Newman venture to mine ironstone in the Pilbara. 5 BHP was in the process of becoming the multi-faceted company which would ultimately give rise to the two separate entities known in 2002 as BHP Billiton Limited and BlueScope Steel Limited. With BHP's centenary approaching, there remained one more thread to be fully woven into its fabric. In 1979, Lysaght became a wholly owned subsidiary of BHP, bringing together three separate ventures into one proud Australian company. Only the year before, Lysaght had commissioned its Western Port hot strip mill plant. In keeping with the proud history of BHP and its forebears, this plant was considered the most advanced of its type in the world - a boast which had applied to many of the milestone plants of past decades. And so it was that in 1979 three histories became one. The pioneering ventures of Charles Rasp, John Lysaght and Charles Hoskins had finally come together in a great Australian steel company. It is often said that success has many fathers, but in the case of BlueScope Steel it is literally true Indonesia arrests alleged major people smuggler By Agustinus Beo Da Costa and Harry Pearl JAKARTA/SYDNEY, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Indonesian police have arrested an alleged people smuggler who has targeted Australia since 1999, Indonesian and Australian authorities said on Saturday. Abraham Louhenapessy, also known as Captain Bram, was arrested in Jakarta before dawn on Friday, Indonesia's national police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar said. "He allegedly helped to smuggle people into Indonesia and out of Indonesia by providing a ship and he was also the captain of that ship," he said. The Australian Federal Police suspected Louhenapessy was "the boss" of traffickers who have smuggled people into Australia and New Zealand, Amar said. Louhenapessy is currently in police custody in Jakarta, but will be transferred to East Nusa Tenggara in the south-west of Indonesia to face trial. Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said: "We know that Captain Bram is a key player in the people smuggling networks across Indonesia." Minister for Justice Michael Keenan said he could face up to 10 years in prison. "We are extremely pleased this notorious people smuggler has been stopped ... but we know there are more criminal people smugglers out there and we will continue to work with our regional partners to bring them to justice," Keenan said in a statement. Louhenapessy was arrested over a failed attempt to send 65 mostly Sri Lankan asylum seekers to Australia from Indonesia in May 2015, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. The Indonesian police confiscated Louhenapessy's documentation, including his passport, along with flight tickets to Thailand, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, France and the United Arab Emirates during the arrest, Amar said. In its fight to stop people smugglers, Australia has adopted a tough asylum seeker policy which sees it intercept boats at sea and send the occupants to Australian-funded detention camps in Papua New Guinea and Nauru. They are never eligible to be resettled in Australia. Eighteen killed in Islamic State attack north of Iraq's Tikrit By Ghazwan Hassan TIKRIT, Iraq, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Eighteen people, including two children, were killed on Saturday when militants shot at a checkpoint north of Tikrit and then set off two bombs at the entrance to the Iraqi city in attacks later claimed by Islamic State. It was the first such assault since Tikrit, 150 km (95 miles) north of Baghdad, was retaken from the ultra-hardline jihadist group in April 2015. One militant was killed at the checkpoint after shooting dead five security personnel and two young civilian bystanders at around 5 a.m., according to police and sources from Salahuddin Operations Command, which is responsible for security in the area. Two other militants continued on about 7 km to the city limits where one of them detonated the explosives in his pickup truck and the other set off an explosives-filled vest, the sources said. The blasts killed 11 people, including three members of a Shi'ite militia working alongside the security forces, and wounded 21. Amaq news agency, which supports Islamic State, said the group was responsible for the violence. A statement circulated online by supporters said four militants had perpetrated the attacks, which had targeted police and "rejectionist Hashid", a the Sunni militants' term for Shi'ite militiamen. Police tightened security following the attacks in the city, which already had some of the most restrictive measures in place following its recapture from Islamic State. The city and surrounding areas have become a major hub for local and international aid groups providing assistance to civilians forced from their homes by fighting between Islamic State and Iraqi forces further north. More than 3.3 million Iraqis have been displaced since early 2014 and up to 1.5 million more could be affected in a push on the Islamic State stronghold of Mosul later this year, according to the United Nations. The military this week retook the district of Shirqat, 100 km north of Tikrit, from Islamic State in preparation for the move on Mosul. Warplanes press attack on rebel-held eastern Aleppo BEIRUT, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Warplanes mounted a new wave of heavy air strikes on rebel-held areas of Aleppo on Saturday, rebel sources, a rescue worker and a war monitor reported, pressing a major offensive by the Russian-backed Syrian military to take back the whole city. Residents of rebel-held eastern Aleppo say it has been subjected to the most ferocious bombardment of the war since the Damascus government declared a new offensive that has killed dozens of people in the last two days. Rebel officials said heavy air strikes on Saturday hit at least four areas of the opposition-held east, home to more than 250,000 people. Rebels say the strikes are mostly being carried out by Russian warplanes. The attack has drawn on ordnance more destructive than anything previously used against the area, and many buildings have been destroyed, residents say. Images of blast sites show craters several metres wide and deep. "There are planes in the sky now," Ammar al Selmo, the head of Civil Defence in the opposition-held east, told Reuters from Aleppo on Saturday morning. "Our teams are responding but are not enough to cover this amount of catastrophe." A Syrian military source told Reuters the operation announced late on Thursday was continuing according to plan. Asked about the weapons being used, the military source said the army was using precise weapons "suitable for the nature of the targets being struck, according to the type of fortifications", such as tunnels and bunkers, and "specifically command centres". A senior official in an Aleppo-based rebel faction, the Levant Front, told Reuters the weapons appeared designed to bring down entire buildings. "Most of the victims are under the rubble because more than half the civil defence has been forced out of service," he said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based organisation that reports on the war, said it had documented 47 deaths since Friday, including five children. Selmo said the toll was more than 100. "The raids are intense and continuous," Observatory Director Rami Abdulrahman told Reuters. The Syrian army says it is targeting rebel positions in the city, and denies hitting civilians. Syrian government seizes area in Aleppo attack, death toll climbs By Tom Perry BEIRUT, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Syrian government forces seized ground from rebels north of Aleppo on Saturday, tightening their siege on the city's opposition-held east as it came under fierce air strikes in a major offensive by the Russian-backed army. The capture of the Handarat camp a few kilometres north of Aleppo marked the first major ground advance by the government in an offensive that rebels say has unleashed unprecedented firepower against their half of the city. The captured area, elevated ground overlooking one of the main roads into Aleppo, had been in rebel hands for years. "Handarat has fallen," an official with one of the main Aleppo rebel groups told Reuters. An army statement confirming the advance said "large numbers of terrorists" had been killed. Dozens of people have been reported killed in eastern Aleppo since the army announced the new offensive late on Thursday, burying any remaining hope for reviving a ceasefire brokered by the United States and Russia. Residents of rebel-held eastern Aleppo say it is being subjected to the most ferocious bombardment of the war. Rebel officials said heavy air strikes on Saturday hit at least four areas of the opposition-held east, home to more than 250,000 people. Rebels say the strikes are mostly being carried out by Russian warplanes. The attack has drawn on ordnance more destructive than anything previously used against the area and many buildings have been destroyed, residents say. Images of blast sites show craters several metres wide and deep. "There are planes in the sky now," Ammar al Selmo, the head of Civil Defence in the opposition-held east, told Reuters from Aleppo on Saturday morning. "Our teams are responding but are not enough to cover this amount of catastrophe." RUBBLE A Syrian military source told Reuters the operation announced late on Thursday was continuing according to plan. Asked about the weapons being used, the military source said the army was using precise weapons "suitable for the nature of the targets being struck, according to the type of fortifications", such as tunnels and bunkers, and "specifically command centres". A senior official in an Aleppo-based rebel faction, the Levant Front, told Reuters the weapons appeared designed to bring down entire buildings. "Most of the victims are under the rubble because more than half the civil defence has been forced out of service," he said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based organisation that reports on the war, said it had documented 47 deaths since Friday, including five children. Selmo said the toll was more than 100. "The raids are intense and continuous," Observatory Director Rami Abdulrahman told Reuters. The Syrian army says it is targeting rebel positions in the city and denies hitting civilians. "Every missile makes an earthquake we feel regardless of how far off the bombardment is," one Aleppo resident said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said a revival of a ceasefire in Syria depended on all sides involved and not only on "Russia's unilateral concessions". Niger Delta Avengers claim first attack in energy hub since ceasefire LAGOS, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Nigerian militant group the Niger Delta Avengers said on Saturday it had carried out its first oil pipeline attack in the country's southern energy hub since declaring a break in hostilities in August to pursue talks with the government. The Avengers have previously launched attacks that have reduced the OPEC member's crude oil production by around a third from the 2.1 million barrels per day average at the start of the year. The group said in a statement on its website that it had "brought down oil production activities at the Bonny 48 inches crude oil export line" in an attack on Friday night. An Avengers spokesman said in an emailed statement later that the attack took place in the sea near Bonny island in Rivers State, the location of a number of oil facilities. Reuters was not immediately able to independently verify the details. The group, which wants a greater share of the OPEC member's wealth to go to the Niger Delta where most of the country's crude is produced, said the attack was a "wake up call" for the government and accused it of intimidating young people in the region since the ceasefire began. "While we were promised that the concerns of the Niger Delta will be addressed once a truce is declared, the activities of the government and her agents are not assuring enough, there has been no progress," the group said. But it added that it was still in favour of dialogue and negotiations. Earlier this month the Avengers told Reuters they had had no contact with the government since agreeing to halt hostilities. An army offensive launched in late August against militant camps has raised tensions in the region amid claims, denied by the military, that troops have harassed locals. Separately, the army said a soldier had been killed and two others were missing following an attack early on Saturday elsewhere in the region on troops by suspected militants from a different group. Army spokesman Sani Usman said suspected militants linked to the Bakassi Strike Force attacked troops in Bakassi in Cross River State, about 100 miles (160 kilometres) away from the area in Rivers where the Avengers said they had carried out an attack. Re-elected British opposition Labour leader Corbyn's key policy views LONDON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Veteran left-winger Jeremy Corbyn was re-elected leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party on Saturday after being challenged for the role by one of his lawmakers. Following are some of Corbyn's main policy views, many of which have fired up a new generation of left-wing activists: BREXIT Corbyn, who critics have accused of being a lacklustre campaigner for Britain's EU membership during this year's referendum campaign, has rejected calls for a second referendum and said the vote to leave must be respected. He has said Labour will be pressing for Britain to have full access to the EU's single market, but without requirements to liberalise and privatise public services. It will also call for protections for social, employment and environmental rights to be maintained in the Brexit deal. Corbyn has said falling back on World Trade Organization terms with the EU could risk significant job losses and would be damaging to Britain's public finances. ECONOMY Corbyn opposes the Conservative government's spending cuts and has pledged to create a National Investment Bank and network of regional investment banks to invest 500 billion pounds ($653.50 billion) over 10 years into infrastructure and high-tech industries. Under his leadership, Labour has set out a "fiscal credibility rule", which would require it to balance day-to-day spending with money raised through taxes, only allowing borrowing for investment. He believes in government intervention to support supply chains and new industries, and has pledged to renationalise Britain's railways. He has also said he will hold a review on the idea of introducing a universal basic income. Corbyn wants to strengthen employment and trade union rights, and has called for measures to allow workers to take ownership of companies when there is a change of ownership or a threat of closure. DEFENCE A long-time pacifist, Corbyn favours scrapping Britain's nuclear weapons. He defied official Labour Party policy and put himself at odds with many of his lawmakers by opposing renewing the Scottish-based nuclear-armed Trident submarines at a parliamentary vote in July. Corbyn, who has said he will create a minister for peace and a minister for disarmament if he were in government, would also like to see Britain pull out of the NATO military alliance. A vocal opponent of the 2003 Iraq war, Corbyn last year voted against Britain joining the U.S.-led coalition conducting airstrikes against Islamic State in Syria. FOREIGN Corbyn has previously criticised the United States for putting pressure on Britain to boost its military expenditure and has said the long-term impact of U.S. foreign policy will be to divide the world. The Labour leader has said he regrets describing members of the Palestinian group Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah as friends. Hamas and the military wing of Hezbollah are both officially designated as terrorist organisations by Britain. Battle rages near Aleppo, air onslaught continues By Tom Perry BEIRUT, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Syrian government and rebel forces battled for control of high ground on the Aleppo outskirts on Saturday as warplanes bombed the city's opposition-held east relentlessly in a Russian-backed offensive that has left Washington's Syria policy in tatters. In their first major ground advance of the offensive, the army and its militia allies seized control of the Handarat Palestinian refugee camp, a few kilometres north of Aleppo, only for rebels to counterattack a few hours later. "The fighters are waging ferocious battles because it is a battle of existence," a senior rebel official told Reuters. Rebels said they had recovered some or all of Handarat. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the battle was ongoing. There was no immediate comment from the Syrian military. The assault on Aleppo, where more than 250,000 civilians are trapped in a besieged opposition sector, could be the biggest battle yet in a civil war that has killed hundreds of thousands of people and driven 11 million from their homes. Residents say air strikes on eastern Aleppo since the offensive was announced on Thursday have been more intense than ever, using more powerful bombs. Scores of people have been killed in the last two days. Two weeks after Moscow and Washington announced a ceasefire, President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and Iranian allies appear to have launched a campaign for a decisive battlefield victory that has buried any hope for diplomacy. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who hammered out the truce over the course of months of intensive diplomacy, was left pleading in vain this week with Russia to halt air strikes. Rebel officials said air strikes on Saturday hit at least four areas of the opposition-held east, and they believe the strikes are mostly being carried out by Russian warplanes. Video of the blast sites shows huge craters several metres wide and deep. "There are planes in the sky now," Ammar al Selmo, the head of the Civil Defence rescue service in the opposition-held east, told Reuters from Aleppo on Saturday morning. The group draws on ambulance workers and volunteers who dig survivors and the dead out of the rubble, often with their bare hands. It says several of its own centres have been destroyed in the latest bombing. "Our teams are responding but are not enough to cover this amount of catastrophe," Selmo said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 45 people, among them 10 children, were killed in eastern Aleppo on Saturday. Selmo put the two-day death toll at more than 200. The army says it is targeting only militants. LONG STALEMATE OVER? The war has ground on for nearly six years, with all diplomatic efforts collapsing in failure. Half of Syria's population has been made homeless, world powers and regional states have been drawn in, and Islamic State - the enemy of every other party to the conflict - has seized swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq. For most of that time, world powers seemed to accept that neither Assad nor his opponents were likely to be capable of decisive victory on the battlefield. But Russia's apparent decision to abandon the peace process this week could reflect a change in that calculus and a view that victory is in reach, at least in the western cities where the overwhelming majority of Syrians live. Assad's fortunes improved a year ago when Russia joined the war on his side. Since then, Washington has worked hard to negotiate peace with Moscow, producing two ceasefires. But both proved short-lived, with Assad, possibly scenting chances for more battlefield success, showing no sign of compromise. Moscow says Washington failed to live up to its side of the latest deal by separating mainstream insurgents from hardened jihadists. Outside Aleppo, anti-Assad fighters have been driven mostly into rural areas. Nevertheless, they remain a potent fighting force, which they demonstrated with an advance of their own on Saturday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said rebels, including the jihadist Jund al-Aqsa group, had seized two villages in northern Hama province, an area that is strategically important and close to the coastal heartland of Assad's Alawite minority sect. A Syrian military source said the army was "fighting fierce battles" around the two villages, Maan and al-Kabariya. A rebel commander told Reuters he expected fighters would receive more weapons from sponsoring countries to counter the government's latest advance, although there was no sign they would obtain advanced arms such as anti-aircraft missiles they have long sought. "There are indications and promises" of more weapons, though he expected only "a slight increase", said Colonel Fares al-Bayoush, head of the Northern Division rebel group. He expected more "heavy weapons, such as rocket launchers and artillery". 'MONSTROUS ATROCITY' Damascus and its allies including Shi'ite militia from Iran, Iraq and Lebanon have encircled rebel-held areas of Aleppo gradually this year, achieving their long-held objective of fully besieging the area this summer with Russian air support. A pro-government Iraqi militia commander in the Aleppo area told Reuters the aim was to capture all of Aleppo within a week. A Western diplomat said on Friday the only way for the government to take the area quickly would be to totally destroy it in "such a monstrous atrocity that it would resonate for generations". U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the "chilling military escalation" in Aleppo, his spokesman said on Saturday. The United Nations Security Council is due to meet at 11 a.m. (1500 GMT) on Sunday to discuss the recent escalation of fighting in Aleppo, diplomats said. The meeting, which will be public, was requested by the United States, Britain and France. In a meeting on Saturday in Boston, Kerry and his counterparts from the EU, Britain, Germany, Italy and France called on Russia to "take extraordinary steps to restore the credibility of our efforts, including by halting the indiscriminate bombing by the Syrian regime of its own people, which has continually and egregiously undermined efforts to end this war." UNICEF, the U.N. children's charity, said a pumping station providing water for rebel-held eastern Aleppo was destroyed by bombing, and the rebels had responded by shutting down a station supplying the rest of the city, leaving 2 million people without access to clean water. Tarik Jasarevic, spokesman for the World Health Organisation, said on Saturday the water system was working "in around 80 percent of the city - both sides". A Syrian military source told Reuters its operation was continuing according to plan, but declined to give further details. The source said on Friday the operation could go on for some time. Asked about the weapons being used, the source said the army was using precise weapons "suitable for the nature of the targets being struck, according to the type of fortifications", such as tunnels and bunkers, and "specifically command centres". In New York, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moalem told the U.N. General Assembly the Syrian government's belief in victory is even greater now that the Syrian army "is making great strides in its war against terrorism". The EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Christos Stylianides said the Aleppo situation had "seen a dramatic and rapid deterioration". Turkey does not believe ratings agencies are impartial - PM ISTANBUL, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Turkey does not believe that assessments from credit ratings agencies are "highly impartial", Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Saturday, after ratings agency Moody's cut Turkey's sovereign debt to "junk" status. "We don't believe that these assessments are highly impartial. We believe they are attempting to create a certain perception of the Turkish economy," Yildirim told reporters. His comments were broadcast live by channel A Haber. Moody's downgraded Turkey's sovereign credit rating to non-investment grade late on Friday, citing worries about the rule of law following an attempted coup, risks from external financing and a slowing economy. Hungary PM says Europe should process refugees in Libya VIENNA, Sept 24 (Reuters) - The European Union should set up a "giant refugee city" on the Libyan coast and process asylum claims from refugees arriving from Africa there with the help of a new Libyan government, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban proposed on Saturday. Speaking in Vienna after a summit of European and Balkans countries on the refugee crisis, Orban said the European Union's external borders should be under "total control" - including the Mediterranean border, in which Libya is instrumental. Hungary PM says Europe should process refugees in Libya By Marton Dunai VIENNA, Sept 24 (Reuters) - The European Union should set up a "giant refugee city" on the Libyan coast and process asylum claims there from refugees arriving from other African countries, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Saturday. Mr Orban, speaking in Vienna after a summit of European and Balkans countries on the refugee crisis, gave few details and said that his own influence in such matters was small. But he insisted that the European Union's external borders should be under "total control" - including the Mediterranean border, in which Libya was instrumental. Libya has a government backed by the UN, but has been in political chaos since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and has splintered into rival armed factions. The Hungarian leader, who has sparked controversy by vilifying refugees and erected a razor wire fence along his country's southern border last year, said the Balkans route was closed for now and vowed to keep it that way, but added Europe was still vulnerable from the south. He said Libya and Egypt were both important partners. "The EU needs a new Libya policy," he told a press briefing in Vienna. "Libya is a region whose shores can be used to set sail for Europe because no state exists there." Libya's unity should be preserved, with a new Libyan government set up and brought into a cooperation agreement, he said. I am a retired newspaperman. I am 69 and live in Poca, WV, with my wife of 45 years, Lou Ann. We grew up in Cleveland. Three kids. Grandfather. More on who I am is here. Report all errors to DonSurber@GMail.com Gabon opposition leader rejects ruling upholding Bongo poll win By Edward McAllister and Gerauds Wilfried Obangome LIBREVILLE, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Gabon opposition leader Jean Ping on Saturday rejected what he said was an "unjust" ruling by the Constitutional Court which upheld the victory of President Ali Bongo in the Aug. 27 poll that he says was tarnished by fraud. The refusal by Ping, who says he won the presidential poll, to accept the court ruling raises the prospect of a potentially violent political crisis in the central African oil producer. The court had agreed to Ping's petition to re-examine results in Haut-Ogooue province, where Bongo was declared to have won 95 percent on a turnout of 99.9 percent. However, in a ruling late on Friday, it refused to accept copies of vote tally sheets provided as evidence by Ping, stating he had failed to prove their authenticity. Speaking to supporters and reporters at his residence in the capital Libreville, Ping called for people to "remain vigilant and mobilised". "We will ensure the choice of the Gabonese people is respected. 2016 will not be 2009," Ping said. Ali Bongo came to power in a contentious 2009 election following the death of his father Omar Bongo, who was president of Gabon for 42 years. Ping, a lifelong political insider in Gabon who has also served as chairman of the African Union Commission, was a close ally of Omar Bongo. President Ali Bongo sought to ease tensions on Saturday, calling for dialogue and promising a new inclusive government. "I look forward to inviting members of all political parties to join our efforts and come with us to the Cabinet," he told Reuters in an interview. He said the new government would "most likely" include leading opposition figures and did not rule out the possibility of reserving a place for Ping. However, he rejected the option of international mediation. "We don't need international mediation. Among Gabonese, we know how to talk to each other," he said. POLL INTEGRITY IN DOUBT Gabon's government was placed under renewed international pressure when the European Union complained on Saturday that its elections observer mission had been granted "very limited access" to the court's review of results. "Consequently, the Gabonese people's confidence in the integrity of the electoral process can, legitimately, be put in doubt," High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini and Development Commissioner Neven Mimica said in a statement. The foreign ministry of former colonial power France echoed the EU, saying in a statement that the court's examination of the results did not "remove all doubt". Chad's president, Idriss Deby, the African Union's current chairman, meanwhile duly noted the court decision and called upon Bongo to create the necessary conditions for fruitful dialogue. "(Deby) urges the political opposition to demonstrate more responsibility and privilege dialogue and consultation," said a statement released by Chad's presidency. The A.U. had dispatched a team of judges to monitor the work of the Constitutional Court. Six people were killed earlier this month in riots that followed the interior minister's declaration of Bongo as winner of the poll by fewer than 6,000 votes. The opposition claims up to 100 people died. Trucks full of police and soldiers were positioned at crossroads and roundabouts across the capital from early morning on Saturday. However, there were no reports of protests. "I'm glad there is no war. We need the politicians to talk," said Arnel Sama, 40, an unemployed resident of Libreville. Bongo had entered a counter-claim with the constitutional court accusing Ping of fraud. The court cancelled results from 21 polling stations in Libreville over irregularities, helping Bongo to improve his margin of victory from 49.85 percent of ballots cast to 50.66 percent in the final court-certified result. Ecuador hopes hearing marks 'beginning of the end' of Assange saga By Hugh Bronstein UNITED NATIONS, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Ecuador hopes that the October questioning of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, holed up in the country's London Embassy since 2012, will mark the "beginning of the end" of the legal deadlock over case, Ecuador's foreign minister said. Wikileaks burst onto the world scene in 2010 when it collaborated with media organizations to release U.S. State Department diplomatic cables. The leak opened a global debate over the proper limits of journalism and state transparency. A Swedish appeals court last week upheld an arrest warrant for Assange, clearing the way for him to be questioned in Ecuador's London embassy on Oct. 17. "We hope that the interview in October can put an end to what is a pretty bad situation for Mr. Assange," Foreign Minister Guillaume Long told Reuters on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. "We hope that it is the beginning of the end of Julian Assange's plight. He's welcome to stay with us but we know that is not the solution to the problem." Assange, 45, is wanted in Sweden for questioning over allegations, which he denies, that he committed rape in 2010. He avoided possible extradition to Sweden by taking refuge in Ecuador's London embassy. He says he fears further extradition to the United States, where a criminal investigation into the activities of Wikileaks is ongoing. "The fear about political persecution stems from the fact that we never received guarantees that there was not going to be an extradition to a third country," Long said. "The threat of political persecution is still there and the grounds for granting Mr. Assange his asylum still exist. We have no intention of taking away that asylum as it stands," he added. The status quo is hardly satisfactory, from the standpoint of Assange's health, Long said. "I've been to visit him on several occasions and I see a deterioration," he said. "He does not have much access to light. He has no access whatsoever to exterior space. There is no internal patio. There is no fresh air," Long said. The minister would not say how much it was costing Ecuador to keep Assange. "I don't have the exact figure, but it's certainly costing Ecuador much less that it's costing the British authorities to have the Ecuadorean embassy under a state of siege for four years," Long said. Assange is unable to leave the embassy without being arrested by British police for breaching his bail conditions. In July Wikileaks released files of what it said were audio recordings pulled from the emails of the Democratic National Committee that were obtained by hacking its servers. The leak rattled the Democratic National Convention where Hillary Clinton was named the party's presidential nominee, and prompted party chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz to step down. Egypt's Sisi promises justice after migrant ship capsize CAIRO, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has ordered authorities on Saturday to punish those responsible for the capsizing of a ship which resulted in the deaths of more than 160 migrants, as families demanded the bodies of their loved ones. Rescue workers and fishermen rescued 169 people after the boat sank off Egypt's Mediterranean coast early on Wednesday with up to 600 on board, suggesting many more may have perished than the death toll of 162 given by security officials. Survivors, their relatives and families of the dead have been complaining of what they say is inaction by Egyptian authorities such as the coastguard. On Saturday morning, tens of families stormed the gate of a coastguard checkpoint chanting: "We want our children, we want our children." The coastguard service says it foiled an illegal migration attempt and saved lives. Four members of the crew have been arrested. Following a meeting with the prime minister, minister of interior, and the head of the general intelligence service, Sisi ordered authorities to prosecute those who caused the incident, a presidential statement said. Officials say the boat was carrying Egyptian, Sudanese, Eritrean and Somali migrants, and that they believed it was heading for Italy. Security sources have said there was almost 600 migrants aboard the boat. However, a survivor whose comments appeared in a video online said the migrants had been told that about 200 people would be on board, but that the smugglers had then added another 50, causing the boat to founder. More and more people have been trying to cross to Italy from the African coast over the summer months, particularly from Libya, where people-traffickers operate with relative impunity. Ecuador hopes OPEC will reach agreement in Algeria, warns of risks QUITO, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa said on Saturday he hopes OPEC countries will reach an agreement to stabilize the oil market at the upcoming meeting in Algeria, warning of "serious risks" for the group if they do reach a deal. Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) hold an informal meeting in Algeria from Sept 26 to 28. "It is a meeting being held for other reasons, but all the OPEC members will be there, so we hope to have other informal meetings and reach agreements to stabilize the oil market," Correa said in his weekly televised broadcast. "Otherwise the consequences could be very serious, it could lead to a disintegration of OPEC itself ... There is even a risk that internal disputes within OPEC could lead prices to plummet again." Ecuador supports the position of ideological ally Venezuela that major oil producers should freeze production levels to limit excess supply and support prices. The idea has received some support among oil producers. But oil prices slumped on Friday on signs that OPEC members Saudi Arabia and Iran were struggling to reach a preliminary consensus in the run-up to the Algeria talks. Demonstrators rally in Oklahoma before funeral of black man shot by police By Kurt Steiss TULSA, Okla., Sept 24 (Reuters) - Demonstrators in Oklahoma marched to the Tulsa County courthouse and rallied on Saturday afternoon before a funeral for the unarmed black man who was fatally shot by a white police officer after his car broke down and blocked a road. Terence Crutcher, 40, was killed on Sept. 16. On Friday, the Tulsa police officer who shot him, Betty Shelby, was booked on a first degree manslaughter charge. Crutcher's shooting and the fatal shooting of a black man earlier this week by a police officer in North Carolina are two of the latest officer-involved deaths to stoke concerns about biased policing in the United States. In Tulsa, dozens of people gathered at the courthouse plaza for a rally organized by Black Lives Matter Oklahoma, the ACLU of Oklahoma, the NAACP and other groups. Crutcher's funeral is to be held Saturday night at Antioch Baptist Church in north Tulsa. Tulsa police released two videos on Monday, one taken from a helicopter and the other from a dashboard camera in a patrol car, that show Crutcher, a Tulsa Community College student, holding his hands in the air shortly before he was shot in the chest. An arrest affidavit said Shelby, 42, escalated the situation and overreacted. She was responding to a separate call for a domestic disturbance when she saw Crutcher in the road. Shelby told investigators that Crutcher failed to comply with her instructions and she feared for her life, the affidavit said. Tulsa police said Crutcher was unarmed and there was no weapon in the vehicle. Canada, China sign law enforcement agreements during Li visit TORONTO, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Canada and China signed three law enforcement accords among the 29 agreements made during Premier Li Keqiang's Canadian visit, the countries said in a joint statement on Saturday. One agreement concerned the "sharing and return of forfeited assets" and another, cooperation between border agencies, according to the statement posted on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's website. A third agreement was a memorandum of understanding on "combating crime" between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Ministry of Public Security of China. The statement offered few other details. Li visited Canada from Wednesday to Saturday. Trudeau, a Liberal elected last year, is trying to improve ties and increase trade with China, the world's second-largest economy, after a decade of rocky relations under his Conservative predecessor. The countries on Thursday settled a trade dispute and said they would start exploratory talks on a free trade pact. Both nations are talking about an extradition treaty, which China has long wanted so it can press for the return of what it says are corrupt officials who fled to Canada. Human rights advocates oppose this, citing what they say is a flawed Chinese justice system. Trudeau's press secretary, Cameron Ahmad, said the prime minister's office did not have details on hand about the law enforcement agreements and forwarded questions to Public Safety Canada. The department, which handles federal law enforcement, did not immediately respond. The Chinese embassy in Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The statement, which carried Friday's date, was posted online on Saturday because the agreements were finalized late on Friday, Ahmad said. As India evaluates its options in responding to Pakistan after the Uri attacks - this weeks India Today has a comprehensive cover story examining the entire breadth of options - it has to also contend with the China factor. Chinas military, economic and diplomatic support to its "all-weather ally" has often been cited by strategic analysts as "emboldening" Pakistans provocations. But beyond the rhetoric of "all-weather" allies and relations "higher than the Himalayas", the actual extent of Chinas embrace of Pakistan is, in reality, much less grand than often portrayed by both sides. So far, Chinas calculations in engaging Pakistan have been driven as much by self-interest as solidarity, which explains why more often than not, its actual delivery of support has far lagged beyond the rhetoric - in fact, even dwarfed by American financial and military assistance in many respects, particularly since 2001. First, militarily, China has certainly played a key role in bolstering Pakistans capabilities, from joint-production of the JF-17 fighter (even if it is far from Chinas best technology) to submarines. Yet, there are limits to how far even this close military-to-military relationship goes. Both sides havent entered into any formal security arrangements, despite proposals from Pakistan that go back many years that could compel involvement in each others wars. Few in Beijing would advocate intervening in any conflict between India and Pakistan. In 1965, it took Soviet pressure to ensure China didnt think of any misadventure. Beijings mandarins, unsurprisingly, often like to point to 1971 instead, when the US wanted it to intervene but it chose not to. So the likelihood of a two-front war remains remote for the time being. Second, economically, in the decade leading up to 2011, Chinas total pledged assistance to Pakistan was $66 billion. A modest amount for two allies, but what is remarkable is that the actual amount that came through was even less, amounting to a paltry six per cent, according to a RAND study cited by Andrew Small, a China-Pakistan expert at the German Marshall Fund, in his book The China Pakistan Axis. The important question as far as India is concerned is that if it succeeds in isolating Pakistan - for instance, by getting the US and other countries to cut off all assistance - will China step in to fill the void? In the past year, Beijing placed a technical hold on Indias bid to sanction the Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar. (Photo: Reuters) This is unlikely. Small tells me that in his view "they wouldnt backfill US financial support like-for-like", although "the commitments of loans, investments and even some grants are still going to be there on a significant scale". Chinas primary concern now is its "China Pakistan Economic Corridor" plan, which Beijing envisages as a network of highways and energy projects linkings its Xinjiang region, through PoK, to the Arabian Sea port of Gwadar in Balochistan. There is much that is opaque about the CPEC, starting with the total investment. Pakistani officials describe it as a $46 billion-plan, which involves $11 billion of infrastructure projects plus $ 35 billion in energy plants. Yet Chinese officials have never publicly confirmed the figure, and repeatedly insist that the money will only go on a case-by-case basis after their companies have scrutinised the viability of specific projects. This means that very little of the $46 billion figure may actually flow into Pakistan in the immediate future, and there is no guarantee. In fact, there is already disquiet among some in Beijing about the viability of the CPEC and other overseas investments at a time of tightening at home. A September 13 article in the Global Times, an influential tabloid that has been very supportive of closer China-Pakistan ties, even warned it would be "unwise to put all its eggs in one basket" when it comes to Pakistan. While it was "unlikely that China will change its supportive attitude on the CPEC in the short term", the article said the increasing cost of security is becoming a big problem in efficiently pushing forward the projects". But where the CPEC does matter is that it is pushing China away from its oft-declared stand of "neutrality" on Kashmir. That it is preparing to be deeply invested in Pakistans economic success - and in PoKs development - means it is also far more willing to back Pakistan diplomatically, at the cost of India's interests. In the past year, Beijing placed a technical hold on Indias bid to sanction the Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar. After the Pathankot and Uri attacks, it is still far from certain if Beijing will budge when the issue comes up again at the United Nations Sanctions Committee. But even on terror there are limitations to how far Beijing will go, notes the author Small, with global support - not just Pakistans support - becoming increasingly vital for China with the emergence of dozens of Uighur jihadists in Syria. So they cant afford to purely politicise it, he suggests, although they will have Pakistans back if they feel it coming under "undue pressure". That Pakistan is figuring centrally in Chinas diplomacy was all the more apparent when the 48 members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group met in Seoul in June. China stymied Indias bid by insisting that the group first agree on criteria for all countries that havent signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, before discussing any specific case. This left little doubt in the minds of Indian and other diplomats that Beijing was trying to equate Indias bid with Pakistans, despite the latters dubious track record of proliferation. Beijing has also ignored the NSGs concerns by selling Pakistan nuclear reactors, in contravention of the groups guidelines, shortly after the US obtained a waiver for its civilian nuclear deal with India. Hu Shisheng, a leading South Asia expert at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations in Beijing, tells me that "Chinas Pakistan policy is becoming more and more proactive and aggressive, in a constructive way, while Indias Pakistan policy is becoming more and more proactive and aggressive, in a destructive way." (Well, destructive at least from Chinas and Pakistan's perspective). This is why, going forward, "the Pakistan factor to play a much bigger role" in Indias relations with China, says Hu. The terrorist attack in Uri has understandably outraged the entire nation. Public mood has put a lot of pressure on Modi government to take a range of tough measures against Pakistan, including waging a full-fledged war. Sensing popular mood, political parties are also echoing similar sentiments. On the other hand, even as the Modi government acknowledges the will of the people, it is not taking any hasty steps. Instead, it has adopted a nuanced and measured approach by putting strong diplomatic pressure on Pakistan in all possible forums. A counter strike could well escalate into a full-scale war. Hence, it is better that our forces are fully prepared for the long haul and avoid any knee-jerk reaction. Considering BJPs commitment for a "strong and safe India", we can expect Modi government to take the best possible steps to respond to Pakistans terror strike that took away precious lives of our soldiers. While evaluating the governments response, one has to keep in mind that going into war should not be the first option because the countrys economic growth has just started coming back on track after ten years of complete derailment under the UPA government. Besides human casualities, any form of war will create uncertainty and economic slowdown and that is something we cannot afford at this juncture. Those advocating war should not forget that the nuclear bomb-armed rogue nation of Pakistan is also capable of inflicting serious damage on us. Emotional reaction of every single Indian wanting to avenge the death of our soldiers is a testimony that we are a nation of patriotic citizens. In the past, whenever our country went to war, we all overcame our internal differences and stood as one with our forces. Incidentally, during all previous wars - with the exception of 1999 Kargil aggression - Congress was at the helm of affairs. Every single time, Congress got all unconditional support from the Opposition, though some Left parties preferred their ideological boss China over India during the 1964 India-China war. However, today, when Congress is in Opposition, it is indulging in petty politics instead of extending wholehearted support to the Modi government. While making fun of Prime Minister Modi for his 56-inch chest anecdote, some Congress leaders conveniently forget how the entire political class rallied behind their governments in event of such grave external threats. In the past, the Congress messed up on the Kashmir issue on several occasions and failed to capitalise on opportunities to corner Pakistan. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had even issued a joint statement with Pakistan PM Yousaf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of NAM summit at Sharm el-Sheikh in 2009, where Pakistan made India acknowledge its involvement, overt or covert, in Balochistan. Recently, when slogans like "Kashmir ki azadi tak jung rahegi" were shouted in JNU, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi stood in the support of such anti-national elements. The Congress also forgets that its CM in Maharashtra, Vilarao Deshmukh, was indulging in terror tourism at the Taj Mahal Hotel when Mumbai was attacked in 2008. The central government of the day could do nothing beyond sending a dossier and exchanging pleasantries with the Pakistani leadership. How can we expect the present Congress leadership to come clean on Kashmir when it was Jawaharlal Nehru himself who significantly weakened Indias position? (Photo: PTI) How can we expect the present Congress leadership to come clean on Kashmir when it was none other than Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru himself who significantly weakened Indias position on Kashmir in his desperation to earn the tag of an international statesman? Former external affairs minister Natwar Singh writes about Nehrus blunder in his book One Life is Not Enough: Taking the Kashmir issue to the security council of United Nations was a monumental mistake. By doing so, he converted a domestic matter into an international one. Not only this, Pandit Nehru agreed to a plebiscite in Kashmir for ascertaining the views of the people. He also agreed to a representative of the UN Secretary General to conduct these elections. Furthermore, he mentioned that he had no objections taking the Kashmir issue to the international court of justice at The Hague. Further, Nehrus myopic and rudderless China policy shows how personal whims and fancies can cost a nation so dearly. Nehru visited China in October 1954 and received a grand welcome. Natwar Singh writes: The first letter he wrote on his China experience was to Edwina Mountbatten and shared details of his confidential discussion with Chinese leaders, which was against the oath of secrecy taken by him as Indias PM. As Chinese military activity on the border increased with disquieting speed, Pt Nehrus response didnt satisfy Parliament. He confessed in the Rajya Sabha that he had foolishly not kept Parliament informed of the developments and made an irresponsible statement that not a blade of grass grew in Aksai Chin. Though loss in 1964 war against China was imminent due to our militarys lack of preparedness, the scale of defeat and loss of human lives could have been much less had Nehru entrusted the command of the war to someone other than defence minister Krishna Menons favourite General BK Kaul. Ramchandra Guha mentions in his book India After Gandhi that Kauls proximity to Menon had come in public glare when celebrated Army chief KS Thimayya resigned as a mark of protest after Kaul was elevated as Lieutenant General, surpassing 12 senior officers. Recently, Congress, along with other opposition parties, made a mockery of Indian government when its bid for inclusion in UN Security Council failed. While doing so, Congress once again forgot that India had lost an opportunity to become member of the coveted council way back in 1955 due to Nehru's wrong priorities. During Nehru's 1955 USSR trip, Soviet Premier Nikolai Bulganin had proposed Indias inclusion as sixth member of UN Security Council. To utter shock and disbelief, Nehru refused this proposal and said, "We feel that this should not be done till the question of Chinas admission and possibly of others is first solved. I feel that we should first concentrate on getting China admitted." Thankfully, India is finally out of the grip of Nehru syndrome that considerably weakened the nation over the past decades. Today, Narendra Modi is in full command and he does not need to push India into war to politically exploit public sentiment. Congress leaders in the past, on the other hand, have thrived on the uncertainties that accompany a war or war-like situation. For example, it is true that triumph over Pakistan in the 1971 War revived depleted nationalistic sentiment and patriotic zeal due to the 1964 defeat at the hands of China. Indira Gandhi emerged as the Iron Lady and her stature grew so much that even Jan Sangh leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee compared her with Goddess Durga. However, many Indira critics wrote that war with Pakistan was needed more by Indira than India because the 1969 Congress split had dented her image and she had lost control over the party. Moreover, it was an attempt to divert the nations attention from other pressing issues on which she had failed to deliver. How can we also forget Rajeev Gandhis foolhardy adventurism in Sri Lanka when Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) was sent without understanding the ground realities and its implications? Thousands of Indian soldiers were killed, millions of rupees were lost, sentiments of Indian Tamils were hurt and India had to face international embarrassment. Many critics have written that Rajiv Gandhis Sri Lankan escapade was again aimed at boosting his depleting political capital because Congress had lost several elections to regional parties after its resounding victory in 1984, BJPs Ram Mandir campaign was resonating among voters and Congressmen like VP Singh were upping the ante. While opposition parties have the right to dissent and criticise the ruling party in a democracy, there are certain issues where the parties must bury the hatchet and must be seen as one by the enemy. There is a stultifying sameness to the Indian response after each terror attack launched by Pakistani elements. Guests go berserk in TV studios and, now, so do the anchors. War hysteria is created and the government is urged to strike back. Even as all this goes on, a very different mood prevails in the drawing rooms of Indias metropolitan cities. Well-educated individuals stare at their TV screens with mounting horror and worry that India is considering some kind of military response. Soon the worry gives way to scoffing: Why dont these anchors go to the front themselves? Or, It is easy to talk of war from air-conditioned TV studios. And so on. I am as appalled by the xenophobia and the hysteria as the next man. But the time has come to ask if well-educated Indians have got it right. They can scoff all they want. But even as they sneer, the Pakistanis are laughing and patting each other triumphantly on the back. Talk to military personnel and they will tell us that they have never had the political go-ahead to use the special forces properly. Photo credit: Reuters The anti-war argument goes something like this: We cannot retaliate militarily because war is an expensive business that will set our economy back. Soldiers will lose their lives. Pakistan will retaliate and, as it is a nuclear power, it could drop atom bombs on India. Foreign powers would intervene to prevent the conflict from escalating. And our military adventure would amount to nothing even if we are lucky enough not to get nuked. There are many flaws with this argument. The first is the suggestion that only jingoist buffoons suggest war in the aftermath of repeated terror strikes. The truth is that most strong nations always retaliate militarily. After 9/11, the US launched a full-fledged invasion of Afghanistan and unseated the Taliban regime, which had hosted al Qaeda. Several years later, it tracked down Osama Bin Laden and killed him. The French responded to the attacks of the last few months by sending war planes to bomb ISIS targets in the Middle East. And the Americans are not done yet. Over the last couple of years, there have been innumerable drone strikes over Pakistani territory that have killed hundreds of suspected terrorists. Nobody has called Barack Obama or Francois Hollande mad, jingoistic warmongers. They were leaders seeking to protect their own people. The second flaw with the anti-war argument is to imagine that any war will turn nuclear. Both sides had nuclear weapons during the Kargil conflict. And yet, nobody even considered using them. We know that if Pakistan nukes us we will retaliate. They might well fire another nuclear missile. We would respond. And so on. A nuclear war is in nobodys interest - and the Pakistanis realise this as much as us. In fact, they probably realise it better than we do. When they plan terror attacks on India, whether in Bombay, Pathankot or Uri, they do not worry that India will respond with nuclear weapons. Only we seem to have that fear. And why are we so scared? Well, because we believe that Pakistani generals are mad and might use nukes despite the threat of total destruction on both side. In fact, there is no evidence that the generals are mad or unbalanced. They have shrewdly and consistently outsmarted India by keeping a low-intensity conflict going while we struggle to respond. These are not the actions of lunatics. So, what can India do? The diplomatic response, which is supposed to lead to Pakistans global isolation, has been tried so often over the last two decades that it has become a joke. Pakistan is never isolated. The Chinese will always stand by the Pakistanis. The Americans need Pakistan for their Afghan policy. And the Russians have just organised joint troop exercises with the Pakistanis. If diplomacy isnt going to work, then there are only two solutions. The first, leaked by the government two days ago, is to abrogate the Indus Waters Treaty. This will never work. We cant abrogate international treaties without serious consequences for India. Besides, we dont even have the mechanism required to stop the water from going to Pakistan. Islamabad knows that this threat is hot air and does not take it seriously. That leaves us with only the military option the one favoured by France, America, the UK and other western countries. It is not necessary to mount a full-fledged invasion. The armys special forces have the ability to enter Pakistan and attack terrorist headquarters. Our intelligence agencies have covert wings that are more than capable of taking out the likes of Hafeez Saeed or Masood Azhar. We have a little-known drone programme that affords us the opportunity to follow the lead of the Americans in blowing up terror bases and terrorists. So, why dont we use them? Talk to military personnel and they will tell us that they have never had the political go-ahead to use the special forces properly. Though todays R&AW is a shadow of its former self, its covert capabilities remain intact; its just that nobody deploys them. Finally, it boils down to an essential crisis of character. Educated Indians are just too frightened by the idea of war. We are embarrassed by naked patriotism. And we think that diplomacy still holds answers even though it has failed time and again. In her 20 years as a doctor Ashwaq Muharram has never seen things so bad. "I'm seeing the same thing I used to watch on TV when the famine unfolded in Somalia," she tells me. "I never thought I would see this in Yemen." For years Muharram worked for international aid organisations, but most of them left when the fighting began in March 2015, and those that remain have drastically curtailed their activities. So now she distributes medicine and food out of her own pocket, using her car as a mobile clinic. I spent two weeks with Muharram, visiting towns and villages near Hudayda, and witnessing things that I too never thought I would see in Yemen. Hudayda, controlled by Houthi rebels who took over the most of the country in 2014, was until recently the entry point for 70 per cent of Yemen's food imports. Now, not only is it under blockade, it has been pummelled by airstrikes carried out by the Saudi-led coalition - the port itself smashed, an entire tourist resort on the beach completely destroyed. The bombs and the blockade pose a double threat to Muharram's patients. "If you don't die from an airstrike, you're going to die from being ill and from starvation," she says. "And the hardest way to die is dying from starvation." Having loaded up the car with medicines, we drive to Beit al-Faqih, 100km (60 miles) south-east of Hudayda. The village was once prosperous, growing bananas and mangoes for export but today the exports have stopped, most workers have lost their jobs, and the fruit we see loaded on to donkeys by colourfully dressed women is for most Yemenis simply unaffordable. Hudayda, controlled by Houthi rebels who took over the most of the country in 2014, was until recently the entry point for 70 per cent of Yemen's food imports. (Photo: Reuters) It is here that we meet a mother with a lactose-intolerant toddler, Abdulrahman, who weighs no more than a six-month-old baby. "How old is he?" I ask her. "18 months," she says. "He should be walking and talking by now." She immediately breaks down into tears. Abdulrahman needs a special type of milk that was once available everywhere in Yemen but has not been seen since the destruction of the port at Hudayda and the start of the blockade. "We looked in every single pharmacy. All said it was nowhere to be found," says the mother. Muharram tells the mother she will help her - before quickly realising this is a promise she may not be able to keep. She knows the boy will die without the milk, but getting hold of it will be a huge challenge. "I've myself looked for this milk before, and it is nowhere to be found," she says. Her own family has faced similar problems. After the war began, her husband fell ill and his heart began to fail; it was a heart infection and he was in urgent need of medication. "I ran into Sana'a's main cardiac hospital, but as a doctor I knew what they were about to tell me - that they were out of supplies, and there was nothing they could do to help me," she says. "I'm a doctor myself, my husband was dying in front of me and there was nothing I could do" Muharram breaks down. Muharram: "I am tired as a doctor, as a mother, as a wife" Her husband eventually left for Jordan, taking their two children with him to safety. They had already stopped going to school. Driving back into Hudayda, tents line the pavements. Out of the window, I can see a man having a shower - with his clothes on - in the middle of the street, as barefoot children run around him, chasing one another. These are Yemenis who have fled to Hudayda from areas where the conflict is at its fiercest. Travelling with Muharram from one village to the next, again and again we come across children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. (Photo: AP) "The rich are now the middle class, the middle class are now the poor, and the poor are now starving," says Muharram. "Some of these people had a life like you and me, and now look." She points at the people on the pavement. "They have lost everything." We stop to talk to a mother we have spotted on the street with three children. She says the family once lived in Haradh, near the Saudi border, far to the north. They spent months in a refugee camp with little access to food or medicine, but then the camp was bombed. The woman's husband died in the attack. As we sit on the pavement talking, coalition jets return, flying low above us. Yemenis are trapped. More than three million people out of a population of 27 million have left their homes. Meanwhile, all ports have been closed by the Saudi-led coalition, preventing anyone from leaving. What's more, many countries that once welcomed Yemenis without a visa have since closed their doors to them. Travelling with Muharram from one village to the next, again and again we come across children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. To put it bluntly, they are starving. Malnourishment affects the immune system and makes children far more likely to fall ill. But at the same time it is becoming more difficult for them to get treatment. Many of the country's hospitals have had to close, either because of bombing or the lack of medical supplies. The children's ward of Hudayda's central hospital is so full, there are two or three children in every bed. We meet four-year-old Shuaib, whose grandfather has borrowed money from neighbours to travel to the hospital. The boy has been suffering from diarrhoea and fever, but doctors have had to tell the grandfather there is nothing they can do. "None of the antibiotics we have can treat the kind of bacteria he has," the hospital manager tells us. As Shuaib lies there, his body growing colder by the minute, his grandfather holds his hand and weeps. An hour later, Shuaib is dead. I watch as the grandfather, silently crying, covers his little body with his headscarf and carries him home to the boy's mother. Yemen is a country under siege. Two years ago, Houthi rebels and their allies - an army faction loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh - took control of most of the country, including the capital, Sana'a. The government was forced to flee. Saudi Arabia says it intervened at the request of the exiled Yemeni government. For 18 months the Saudi-led coalition backed by the US and the UK has been at war with the rebels. Muharram herself is inconsolable. "Who is responsible for Shuaib's death?" she asks. "The war is responsible! But he will be considered a victim of hospital neglect. Thousands like him are dying. Do they have to be killed by an airstrike to be acknowledged as victims of this war?" As we leave the hospital, news arrives that a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in the nearby city of Abs, has been shelled by coalition planes. "They are bombing hospitals, why?" Muharram fumes. One reason is that Saudi Arabia accuses Houthi rebels of using hospitals to store arms. The next day, I visit the MSF hospital. As I walk through the ruins of the children's ward, I find a scene of devastating poignancy - a paper party hat and the remains of a birthday cake and candles scattered across the floor. "The children were having a birthday party before the airstrike hit," explains Dr Yahya al-Absy, the hospital manager. In total, 19 people died in the strike - and the Abs governorate no longer has a hospital. In a statement, the Saudi government denied deliberately targeting civilians and humanitarian supplies. It also said it was the single largest donor of humanitarian assistance to Yemen. The next day, Muharram finally receives some good news. A friend has found a way, at considerable cost, to get young Abdulrahman some life-saving milk from Saudi Arabia. Six days later, Muharram receives it and immediately rushes to his house. Having witnessed nothing but despair for two weeks, it is incredible to see, at last, one happy ending. Abdulrahman takes his milk bottle and swiftly drinks it to the last drop, his mother crying as she watches. "You've brought happiness into my home" she tells Muharram, wrapping her arms around her in a loving hug. Though Ashwaq Muharram was able to save a child's life, more than million other children continue to starve across Yemen. 20 out of 22 governorates are on the brink of famine. Unless something is done very soon to end their suffering, the country could lose an entire generation. The Nevada caucuses this year were fraught with the kind of ugly partisan corruption anyone who understands Harry Reid would have predicted. Whether you want to admit that Reid and his machine stole the process for Hillary or not, it was still clear that Bernie won the sprawling 2nd congressional district, basically all of northern Nevada. Most of the voters live in Washoe County, which Bernie took 54.2-45.7%. He also won Carson City and took Lander County 69.6-29.0% and Eureka County 86.4-13.6%, margins too massive even for the Reid machine to turn around. The enthusiasm for Bernie's brand of progressive populism carried over into the June 14 congressional primaries and in the 3-way primary in the 2nd, the Bernie House candidate, Chip Evans, was the clear winner: Chip Evans- 11,328 (45.1%) Rick Shepherd- 8,970 (35.7%) Vance Alm- 4,799 (19.1%) When a progressive wins a primary, that just angers the DCCC and they have no interest in the race at all and are offering no help to Evans. The 2nd district is Nevada's reddest but definitely winnable. Obama fought McCain to a virtual 49-49% tie in 2008 and Trump's presence on the ballot has boosted Latino registration all over Nevada. Almost a quarter of the district's residents are Hispanic and Native American. And the lackluster Republican incumbent, Mark Amodei, isn't just supporting Trump, he's the chairman of Trump's Nevada campaign, all the senior GOP officials-- including Governor Brian Sandoval and Senator Dean Heller-- having said "thanks, but no thanks." Chip, formerly the chairman of the Washoe County Democratic Party, is probably best known as the host of The Chip Evans Show on radio station KCKQ (1180 AM). We asked Chip if there was a critical and crucial issue where he felt he would make a significant difference if voters replaced Amodei with him. He didn't hesitate: The Time Is Now For Climate Change Deniers To Follow Or Get Out Of The Way -Chip Evans The consequences of continuing to deny science and dither are too dire. As a nation, we must fully embrace the ongoing national movement towards clean, sustainable, renewable energy and start a rapid transition away from fossil fuel energy to a job-creating green economy. Climate change has been at the forefront of the minds of the common-sense crowd for the last decade. Individuals, businesses, and even countries are affected daily by rising temperatures and extreme volatility in weather. From productivity in our workforce, to health risks, to affecting our wildlife and eco-system, climate change truly affects everyones daily lives. When people normally look at climate change, the focus usually starts with the impact to the environment. While thats a critical component of why we can no longer wait, there is another important component that we need to keep in mind the impact of climate change on productivity and peoples health and well-being. The Harvard School of Public Health found that high CO2 emissions has a direct negative impact on our ability to make decisions, as well as an effect on cognition. Our workforce, our citizens, and our families face serious health risks and impairment as we move further into the 21st century. That must stop. There is no mistaking that human activity has been the greatest accelerant of climate change. By remaining reliant upon fossil fuels, we not only show our inability to adapt to the world around us, but it shows our hesitance towards an environment-friendly job market. Far too often, we see partner countries around the world attempt to step up to the plate, while China, a coal giant, and the Republican naysayers in the country continue to attempt to defy logic. Theres been this knew-jerk reaction to say that if all countries dont make a change, then why should we bother? I feel this a paper thin argument. We dont use that same paradigm when trying to deal with other critical issues that face our states or our country-- public safety, travel, licensing requirements to drive or have a certain profession. We must stop with the baby steps or lame blame on others. None of it has slowed the progression of climate change. What we have done so far has not had the impact we so desperately need. Its time we move to a full sprint before our children, and our childrens children face the real ramifications of our inaction. We need to take strong, meaningful steps towards clean, green energy and creating greener jobs. Both public and private initiatives must be created to train workers displaced from the fossil fuel industry. We need reliable power systems and grids. We need to think globally and act locally. Take northern Nevada for example. Its a state where the environmental impact of climate change can act as a stand in for many other locales across this great country. Here in Nevada, we have seen the telltale signs-- more droughts, higher temperatures, and changing rain and snow patterns. Like many places around the country, Nevada is slowly recovering from the great recession and stymied in its opportunity to capitalize on its natural resources of abundant sun, wind and thermal springs. Many good-paying jobs that sustained families were lost and are very slow to return. Families are forced to take on multiple part-time jobs with no benefits, when they can be found, to survive. At the very same time, a monopoly utility with government help is destroying Nevadas fledgling solar industry and there is very little infrastructure investment underway. Whats wrong with this picture? A lot. As a life-long environmentalist, I approach economic development and job creation with a determination that it be part of a sustainable ecosystem. Nevada exists with both abundance and scarcity. Yes, we have some natural resources in abundance but water is scarce relative to the need to sustain human life and the needs of industry, ranching and farming. Our few large population centers are straining to grow amid constraints on school capacity, sewage treatment, housing, electric capacity, high-speed data flow infrastructure and functional commercial spaces. With challenge comes opportunity, so what are some smart things to do now? Step One-- Focus on job creation first. From my days as the founding director of the Cleantech Open in Nevada, I am aware of many technologies that are market-ready or in development to make, store and discharge energy sourced from a multitude of sources. Each of these technologies creates a clear opportunity to create good-paying green jobs. Our northern Nevada unions already have extensive training programs underway or at the ready to get workers up to speed and job-ready in a short period. Step Two-- Facilitate growth of our newly-arriving technology companies. We must invest in and develop a robust internet highway to all the corners of Nevada. We need a state-of-the-art data highway, especially to our communities along existing major roadways and highways, that would allow growth of satellite businesses outside of the main metropolitan areas. The data highway would help repopulate the downtowns of our rural communities. We will also need high-speed internet connections for the surrounding residential communities to meet the needs and expectations of the technology workers that come with these businesses. To create this rapid data highway will require a public/private partnership. From a public point of view, this data highway is a critical part of the needed infrastructure of a healthy community. The private sector cannot handle the upfront expense for a still small customer base alone. We have a compelling example of such a public/private partnership with the development and construction of the national highway system back in the fifties. This investment in infrastructure literally paved the way for an economic boom and the rapid and efficient movement of people and commerce. In the twenty-first century, the only thing keeping us from doing the same thing with a data highway is the will of our elected officials. Step Three-- Remove road blocks and monopolies to open up energy-choice/independence. Another key ingredient of progress will be untethering consumers from current independent energy-related constraints and a return to both accommodation and incentives to lessen reliance on grid-provided power. This may be an area for federal legislation to begin the transition from the decades old national strategy of constantly extending the grid to one that encourages more independent off-grid configurations. The result would be an increase in national security as the devastating effects of an attack on the grid would be of less consequence. Again, this policy change would result in more good-paying jobs and has the added benefit of lessening the need for large coal-fired or nuclear power plants-- a great outcome for our environment and the people of Nevada. This November, we must consider the cost of our votes. We must consider whether or not its worth it to elect anyone who represents climate deniers and the status quo, or someone with new energy, fresh ideas and is willing to get stuff done. Its time we accept the facts: Climate change is here. Climate change is real. Delay in addressing it is unacceptable. Whether its in Nevada, or any other state, we need to work together to get stuff done and create more green energy platforms, and move away from our dependence on fossil fuels. The planet and the fate of humanity depends on our collective actions. Republicans are still embarrassed about how Reagan got caught in what came to be known as the Iran-Contra scandal. It started as a scheme to ransom 7 U.S. hostages being held in Lebanon by having Israel sell U.S. weapons to Iran and the U.S. replacing those weapons for Israel. Oliver North's twist was to have the Iranian money shipped to fascist rebels in Nicaragua (the Contras). Reagan blocked all the investiagtions although eventually 14 of his officials were indicted, including Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger. When Reagan went on TV to apologize, already suffering from the impact of Alzheimer's, he said "A few months ago I told the American people I did not trade arms for hostages. My heart and my best intentions still tell me that's true, but the facts and the evidence tell me it is not. As the Tower board reported, what began as a strategic opening to Iran deteriorated, in its implementation, into trading arms for hostages. This runs counter to my own beliefs, to administration policy, and to the original strategy we had in mind." In November 1986 Reagan's approval rating dropped from 67% to 46%, the largest drop any president's popularity ever suffered in the history of polling. Eventually George H.W. Bush pardoned all the criminals involved-- including Weinberger, National Security Adviser Bud McFarlane, far right sociopath Elliott Abrams, Oliver North, top CIA operatives Alan Fiers and Clair George and nearly a dozen others-- as he was leaving office. The GOP has been looking for political payback ever since. Recently Paul Ryan concotted a story that the Obama Administration paid a $400 million "ransom" to get back several detained American citizens. The $400 million was Iranian money the U.S. had embargoed over 3 decades ago (payment for jets the Iranians had paid for and the U.S. never delivered). The U.S. balked at repaying the money it had finally agreed to pay Iran for the jets while Iran was holding U.S. prisoners. So Ryan (and Trump) called it paying "ransom" when the prisoners were released and the money was paid. Thursday the House passed a resolution by right-wing imbecile Ed Royce, H.R. 5931 , implicitly spanking the Administration for paying ransom to Iran. It passed 254-163 .The only Republican honest enough to vote NO was Thomas Massie (KY) but 16 of the worst reactionary and cowardly fake Democrats crossed the aisle and voted with the GOP, these: Peter Aguilar (New Dem-CA) Brad Ashford (Blue Dog-NE) Sanford Bishop (Blue Dog-GA) Tony Cardenas (CA) Henry Cuellar (Blue Dog-TX) Gwen Graham (Blue Dog-FL) Ann Kirkpatrick (New Dem-AZ) Dan Lipinski (Blue Dog-IL) Sean Patrick Maloney (New Dem-NY) Scott Peters (New Dem-CA) Collin Peterson (Blue Dog-MN) Raul Ruiz (CA) Kurt Schrader (Blue Dog-OR) Kyrsten Sinema (Blue Dog-AZ) Juan Vargas (New Dem-CA) Filemon Vela (Blue Dog-TX) I want to point out that very right-wing, very ambitious Florida Blue Dog Gwen Graham, who almost always votes with Republicans on contentious matters like this, plans to run for governor of Florida (unless Bill Nelson does, in which case she'd run for his Senate seat.) And right now, the DSCC is heavily backing right-wing New Dem Ann Kirkpatrick, another worthless pile of reeking garbage on two legs, for the Arizona Senate seat. Who wants to promote these kinds of trash politicians up the political ladder? Well, rote-Democratic establishment hacks of course-- and in this case, because of their plumbing, EMILY's List-- but no one who cares about the values and principles that differentiate the Democratic Party from the Republican Party. At least Loretta Sanchez, a Blue Dog who would normally vote with the GOP on this kind of crap and who's running for Barbara Boxer's open Senate seat, was smart enough to absent herself from the chamber and not vote at all. But these aren't the kind of women Americans need in our government. Wisconsin's Mary Hoeft, on the other hand, is. Among Royce's crackpot co-sponsors was Wisconsin Trumpist Sean Duffy, a partisan worm always looking for an opportunity to create division and stoke hatred and fear. We contacted Hoeft, the progressive Democrat running for the northwestern and central Wisconsin district that Duffy operates out of. "Sean Duffy," she told us, "asked Obama Administration Officials how they could be sure this money won't go to terrorists The more important question Duffy should have asked, 'What honorable country takes more than 40 years to repay its debt for goods purchased but never delivered?' Another question, perhaps more irrelevant to Mr. Duffy, 'How can we be certain the $400,000 you accepted in campaign donations from bankers over the last few months isn't directly linked to your efforts to cripple the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau?' Another question, 'How can we be certain, Mr. Duffy, since you recently received the largest single donation from Well Fargo of any member of Congress, that you didn't play a significant role in Wells Fargo's most recent scandal to defraud Americans?'" Blue America would like to see Hoeft replace Duffy in Congress. It would be good for Wisconsin and good for America. If you'd like to help, you can contribute to her campaign here Another co-sponsor of Royce's and Ryan's election year GOP gibberish resolution was, predictably, Texas' most Trumpy congressman, Lamar Smith. We called his Democratic opponent in the TX-21 congressional race, Tom Wakely, and Tom told us that to his mind "those willing to politicize our President's diplomatic resolutions, especially in the Middle East, show their warmongering colors. God forbid we reach necessary nuclear solutions with Iran without senseless bloodshed. This wasn't ever an issue of ransom. It was an issue of diplomacy and peace, but that doesn't fit the narrative of war. It doesn't fit the narrative of President Obama being weak. So here Lamar Smith and the House Republicans waste taxpayer dollars and time to beat their chest in an effort to prove just how tough they are. They use a facade of strength to try to trick their constituents into thinking they can solve any conflict with brute force because they lack the intelligence to understand the nuance of diplomatic solutions. President Obama is a hell of a lot tougher than any of the Republicans who sponsored this bill, and the constituents of my district are a hell of lot smarter than Lamar Smith." Please consider helping Mary Hoeft and Tom Wakely replace Trump-genre congressional disgraces Sean Duffy and Lamar Smith by tapping on the thermometer below and contributing what you can: Telefonica Brasil S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides mobile and fixed telecommunications services to residential and corporate customers in Brazil. Its fixed line services portfolio includes local, domestic long-distance, and international long-distance calls; and mobile portfolio comprises voice and broadband internet access through 3G, 4G, 4.5G, and 5G as well as mobile value-added services and wireless roaming services. The company also offers data services, including broadband and mobile data services. In addition, it provides pay TV services through direct to home satellite technology, IPTV, and cable, as well as pay-per-view and video on demand services; network services, such as rental of facilities; other services comprising internet access, private network connectivity, computer equipment leasing, extended service, caller identification, voice mail, cellular blocker, and others; wholesale services, including interconnection services to users of other network providers; and digital services, such as entertainment, cloud, and security and financial services. Further, the company offers multimedia communication services, which include audio, data, voice and other sounds, images, texts, and other information, as well as sells devices, such as smartphones, broadband USB modems, and other devices. Additionally, it provides telecommunications solutions and IT support to various industries, such as retail, manufacturing, services, financial institutions, government, etc. It markets and sells its solutions through own stores, dealers, retail and distribution channels, door-to-door sales, and outbound tele sales. The company was formerly known as Telecomunicacoes de Sao Paulo S.A. - TELESP and changed its name to Telefonica Brasil S.A. in October 2011. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil. You can't imagine how hard Chuck Schumer pushed to win the Florida Senate nomination for not-Grayson. It helped that the hapless boob he put up has rich, ruthlessly corrupt parents willing to spend whatever, and that he had already proven himself an unquestioningly devoted Wall Street shill, voting with the GOP on the House Financial Services Committee to do whatever it took to disarm Wall Street oversight and reform. But Schumer shepherded $1,930,542 in Financial Sector cash into Murphy's coffers, more than any other House member other than Speaker Paul Ryan (even more than House Majority Leader/bribe vacuum cleaner Kevin McCarthy and even more than Financial Services Committee go-to-whores chairman Jeb Hensarling, vice chairman Patrick McHenry and 2016 stooge of the year Ed Royce. In fact, Murphy got more from the banksters than any non-incumbent from either party running for the Senate. And considerably more than endangered Wall Street allies like Ron Johnson (R-WI), John McCain (R-AZ), Richard Burr (R-NC), Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Roy Blunt (R-MO). All 5 have been setting their hair on fire in banksters' offices and begging for more money to stave off defeats in November. But for the last 12 months, Wall Street only had eyes for a hapless little worm from West Palm Beach, Patrick Murphy or-- more to the point-- Congressman Not-Grayson. Schumer promised Obama a flood of cash for his presidential library from Wall Street and from "others" to get Obama to help defeat Grayson, probably the smartest and most committed progressive in the House of Representatives. Obama did what he was asked to do and that was the end of whatever chance Grayson had to get the nomination. He won his part of the state-- central Florida around Orlando where he is well-known-- and 5 or 6 counties in the northern part of the state where he managed to out-spend the cash-laden Murphy. But Grayson got wiped out by the $7,770,908 Murphy had spent by August 10, by $1,461,426 spent by a SuperPAC run by Schumer and Reid, $441,350 spent by Murphy's family's PAC and by immense sums of Saudi money, much of it illegally funneled into the political system through shadow donors and the kinds of donor swaps that put Ami Bera's father in prison and forced Steve Israel to announce his retirement from Congress. Schumer was the brains behind the operation. Murphy doesn't have a brain. But now, Wall Street-- and their boy Schumer-- don't care all that much who wins in Florida. Oh, of course, Schumer would like to see an easy-to-control puppet in a blue tee-shirt in there, but it doesn't matter to him which candidates in blue tee-shirts win in November-- as long as there are 4 of them. Schumer sees Murphy as-- at best-- a long shot against Rubio and the DSCC has backed away from supporting their candidate. It doesn't matter to Wall Street because Rubio is at least as much of an unquestioning robot for them as Murphy is. For them Florida, post-Grayson, is a win-win. Grayson would have been another Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders-- on steroids. Murphy and Rubio... order-takers. In fact, of any Senate incumbent running for reelection this cycle, Wall Street has been most generous to Rubio, primarily because of all the money they spent on his aborted presidential race-- $6,607,150. But since ending his presidential race, so just for his Senate campaign, Wall Street has given Rubio $1,941,011, almost the exact same amount they gave Murphy. The banksters are more interested in keeping their own Pennsylvania and Ohio pets, Pat Toomey ($2,777,384) and Rob Portman ($2,601,630), in their seats, than caring which Florida puppet-- now that threat of Grayson is out of the way-- wins. The Schumer-Wall Street connection has been a major theme at DWT for several years. We never get tired of reminding everyone that Schumer has taken more-- far more-- in Wall Street bribes than anyone who hasn't run for the presidency... and more than many who have. As of the last FEC reporting deadline Schumer had been lavished with $25,985,466 from the Finance Sector, more than the two next highest non-presidential candidates combined, Republicans Mitch McConnell ($11,810,276) and John Boehner ($12,218,198)! Observer, he Politico reported on September 20 that Schumer has transferred $6.2 million from his campaign cash on hand to various Democrats in order to assist their upcoming election bids." Last week, Michael Sainato, jumped in on this as well. Reporting for the New York, he went where no Beltway publications have ever or would ever dare -- right to the heart of Schumer's blatant corruption of our government. Sainato points to how Schumer has consolidated power for himself inside the Democratic Party with Wall Street's money, spreading it around and directing it, the way he did for Murphy this year in the primary. "In order to secure this lofty position [Democratic Leader]," Sainato wrote, "Schumer is busy spreading the wealth from years of dubious campaign contributions as a means to buy support from fellow Democrats who have the means to grant Schumer the power he desires.reported on September 20 that Schumer has transferred $6.2 million from his campaign cash on hand to various Democrats in order to assist their upcoming election bids." Given Schumers record advocating for Wall Street and tax breaks for the top one percent, working and middle class Americans should be alarmed. Further, the country should be wary of how much further into oligarchy Schumers leadership-- coupled with Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine in the White House-- will take the Democratic Party. In July 2015, Schumer teamed up with Sen. Rob Portman to propose giving multinational corporations a massive hand-out in tax breaks. The current standard corporate tax rate is 35 percent, which multinational corporations have avoided paying by claiming profits are earned in overseas tax havens. Schumer and Portman advocate imposing a tax earned outside of the country at a much lower rate-- at least lower than President Obamas proposed 14 percent. The obvious consequence if the Schumer-Portman scheme becomes law is that businesses based solely within the U.S. would be at a permanent disadvantage, wrote Jon Schwarz for the Intercept. Multinationals could earn profits in the U.S., get their armies of lawyers and accountants to make these profits appear to have been earned in the Cayman Islands, and get taxed at the overseas profit rate. Meanwhile, purely domestic companies would either have to pay the higher domestic rate, or turn into multinationals themselves. Essentially, Schumer wants to grant multinational corporations a permanent tax holiday. Schumers modus operandi in the Senate has been to favor Wall Street over his constituents. In the wake of the 2008 economic recession, Schumer attended fundraisers with finance executives, pushing against efforts to regulate the industry. This included helping kill a progressive bill, with some bipartisan support, to break up big banks. Wall Street rewarded Schumer, with 15 percent of their Senate donations in 2009 going directly to him-- nearly twice as much as any other senator received. Under Schumers leadership of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, donations from Wall Street to Democrats increased by 50 percent as he led his partys efforts to deregulate the financial industry. While progressives like Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren were building a coalition to rein in Wall Street over the past decade, Schumer served as one of its biggest congressional allies. Wall Street welcomes expected Chuck Schumer promotion, read a CNN headline from 2015 immediately following Reids announced retirement. The Republicans, happy to cooperate, aren't running anyone against Schumer. The GOP candidate, Wendy Long, a silly Trump supporter, ran in 2012 against dull centrist Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand who beat her the largest margin for any statewide candidate in New York history, 4,822,330 votes (72.22%) to 1,758,702 votes (26.34%). She spent raised $784,778 to Gillibrand's $15,735,457. No Republican challenged her for the nomination this cycle. So far she's raised $160,195 and as of the June 30 FEC reporting deadline she had $53,525 cash on hand compared to Schumer's $27,517,363, the most, thanks to Wall Street, of any member of Congress (even though he has no contest at all). Help good Democrats, who aren't part of Schumer's garbage heap world, make their care to the public this year: The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen France SAS, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Suzhou Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel Ireland Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Brooks Instrument Shanghai Co. Ltd, Buell Industries Inc., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS Australia Pty Limited, CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures Australasia S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Coeur Shanghai Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Denison Mayes Group Limited, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., E2M Production B.V.., E2M Technologies B.V.., E2M Technologies Inc.., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO Holding AG, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, Exhibit 21, FEG Investments L.L.C., Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Filtertek SAS, GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech Taicang Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Belgium B.V., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart International Singapore Pte. Ltd., Hobart Japan K.K., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components Chongqing Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components Langfang Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium B.V., ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS UK Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW China Investment Company Limited, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Construction Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Services Manila Inc., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Contamination Control Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Deutschland GmbH, ITW Diagraph GmbH, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW EU Holdings Ltd., ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.L., ITW European Finance Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Thailand Ltd., ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France Luxembourg S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW Materials Technology Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Ningbo Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology China Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion Shenzhen Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Illinois Tool Works Chile Limitada, Illinois Tool Works ITW Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Inc., Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, Instron Shanghai Ltd., Instron Thailand Limited, International Leasing Company LLC, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., Itw Spraytec, KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems Canada Inc., Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MTS 2 LLC., MTS 3 LLC., MTS China Holdings LLC, MTS Europe Holdings LLC, MTS Holdings France S.a.r.l., MTS Japan Ltd.., MTS Korea Inc.., MTS Systems China Co. Ltd., MTS Systems Corporation, MTS Systems Danmark ApS., MTS Systems Europe B.V., MTS Systems Finance C.V.., MTS Systems Germany GmbH, MTS Systems Holding B.V.., MTS Systems Hong Kong Incorporated, MTS Systems Limited, MTS Systems Norden Aktiebolag, MTS Systems S.r.l, MTS Systems., MTS Systems.., MTS Sytems Do Brazil, MTS Testing Solutions India Private Limited., MTS Testing Systems Canada Ltd., Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology Suzhou Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited Enping, Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners Shanghai Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., R&D Engineering A/S., R&D Prague s.r.o., R&D Steel ApS., R&D Test Systems A/S., R&D Tools and Structures A/S., RDGDK Engineering Private Limited, Ramset Fasteners Hong Kong Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco Japan Inc., Simco Nederland B.V., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes B.V., Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Hong Kong Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Shanghai Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stokvis Tapes Taiwan Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Tianjin Co. Ltd., Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Subsidiaries, Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek China Limited, Teknek Japan Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Kunshan Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta Global Limited, Vesta Guangzhou Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil South Africa Pty Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, and Zip-Pak International B.V.. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Cigna: Accredo Health Group, Accredo Health Incorporated, Alegis Care, Allegiance Life & Health Insurance Company, Allegiance Re, American Retirement Life Insurance Company, Benefits Management Corp., Bravo Health Mid-Atlantic, Bravo Health Pennsylvania, Brighter, CareAllies, CareCore National LLC, Central Reserve Life Insurance Company, Ceres Sales of Ohio, Choicelinx, Cigna & CMB Life Insurance Company Limited, Cigna Apac Holdings Limited, Cigna Arbor Life Insurance Company, Cigna Beechwood Holdings, Cigna Behavioral Health, Cigna Behavioral Health of California, Cigna Behavioral Health of Texas, Cigna Bellevue Alpha, Cigna Benefits Financing, Cigna Brokerage & Marketing (Thailand) Limited, Cigna Cedar Holdings, Cigna Chestnut Holdings, Cigna Corporate Services, Cigna Data Services (Shanghai) Company Limited, Cigna Dental Health, Cigna Dental Health Plan of Arizona, Cigna Dental Health of California, Cigna Dental Health of Colorado, Cigna Dental Health of Delaware, Cigna Dental Health of Florida, Cigna Dental Health of Illinois, Cigna Dental Health of Kansas, Cigna Dental Health of Kentucky, Cigna Dental Health of Maryland, Cigna Dental Health of Missouri, Cigna Dental Health of New Jersey, Cigna Dental Health of North Carolina, Cigna Dental Health of Ohio, Cigna Dental Health of Pennsylvania, Cigna Dental Health of Texas, Cigna Dental Health of Virginia, Cigna Elmwood Holdings, Cigna Europe Insurance Company S.A.-N.V., Cigna European Services (UK) Limited, Cigna Finans Emeklilik ve Hayat A.S., Cigna Global Holdings, Cigna Global Insurance Company Limited, Cigna Global Reinsurance Company, Cigna Global Wellbeing Holdings Limited, Cigna Global Wellbeing Solutions Limited, Cigna HLA Technology Services Company Limited, Cigna Health Corporation, Cigna Health Management, Cigna Health Solutions India Pvt. Ltd., Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Cigna HealthSpring, Cigna Healthcare Holdings, Cigna Healthcare Mid-Atlantic, Cigna Healthcare of Arizona, Cigna Healthcare of California, Cigna Healthcare of Colorado, Cigna Healthcare of Connecticut, Cigna Healthcare of Florida, Cigna Healthcare of Georgia, Cigna Healthcare of Illinois, Cigna Healthcare of Indiana, Cigna Healthcare of Maine, Cigna Healthcare of Massachusetts, Cigna Healthcare of New Hampshire, Cigna Healthcare of New Jersey, Cigna Healthcare of North Carolina, Cigna Healthcare of Pennsylvania, Cigna Healthcare of South Carolina, Cigna Healthcare of St. Louis, Cigna Healthcare of Tennessee, Cigna Healthcare of Texas, Cigna Healthcare of Utah, Cigna Holding Company, Cigna Holdings, Cigna Holdings Overseas, Cigna Hong Kong Holdings Company Limited, Cigna Insurance Middle East S.A., Cigna Insurance Public Company Limited, Cigna Insurance Services (Europe) Limited, Cigna Intellectual Property, Cigna International Corporation, Cigna International Health Services, Cigna International Health Services BVBA, Cigna International Health Services Kenya Limited, Cigna International Health Services SDN BHD, Cigna International Services, Cigna International Services Australia Pty. Ltd., Cigna Investment Group, Cigna Investments, Cigna Korean Chusik Hoesa, Cigna Laurel Holdings, Cigna Legal Protection UK Ltd., Cigna Life Insurance Company of Canada, Cigna Life Insurance Company of Europe S.A.- N.V., Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York, Cigna Life Insurance New Zealand Limited, Cigna Linden Holdings, Cigna Magnolia Holdings, Cigna Myrtle Holdings, Cigna Nederland Alpha Cooperatief U.A., Cigna Nederland Beta B.V., Cigna Nederland Gamma B.V., Cigna Oak Holdings, Cigna Palmetto Holdings, Cigna Poplar Holdings, Cigna Sequoia Holdings, Cigna Spruce Holdings GmbH, Cigna Taiwan Life Assurance Company Limited, Cigna Walnut Holdings, Cigna Willow Holdings, Cigna Worldwide General Insurance Company Limited, Cigna Worldwide Insurance Company, Cigna Worldwide Life Insurance Company Limited, CignaTTK Health Insurance Company Limited, Connecticut General Corporation, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, CuraScript Inc., E-2 CIGNA CORPORATION - 2018 Form 10-K, ESI Mail Pharmacy Service Inc., ESI Partnership, ESI Resources Inc., Express Scripts Holding Company, Express Scripts Inc., Express Scripts Pharmaceutical LLC, Express Scripts Pharmacy Inc., Express Scripts Strategic Development Inc., FirstAssist Administration Limited, Firstassist Insurance Services Ltd, Great-West Healthcare of Illinois, Grown Ups New Zealand Limited, Health-Lynx LLC, HealthSource, HealthSpring, HealthSpring Life & Health Insurance Company, HealthSpring of Alabama, HealthSpring of Florida, HealthSpring of Tennessee, KDM Thailand Limited, LINA Financial Services, LINA Life Insurance Company of Korea, Life Insurance Company of North America, Loyal American Life Insurance Company, MCC Independent Practice Association of New York, Manipal Cigna Health Insurance Company Limited, Medco Containment Life Insurance Company, Medco Health Services Inc., Medco Health Solutions Inc., NewQuest, NewQuest Management Northeast, Olympic Health Management Services, Oz Parent, PT Asuransi Cigna, Provident American Life and Health Insurance Company, Qualcare, Qualcare Alliance Networks, Qualcare Captive Insurance Company Inc. PCC, Qualcare Management Resources Limited Liability Company, RHP (Thailand) Limited, Scibal Associates, Sterling Life Insurance Company, Tel-Drug, Tel-Drug of Pennsylvania, Temple Insurance Company Limited, United Benefit Life Insurance Company, Verity Solutions Group, Zurich Insurance Middle East, and eviCore 1 LLC. Read More Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers. It also offers investment and wealth advisory services; digital investing services; financial services and solutions; and investment management, and trust and custody services. In addition, the company provides life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, and annuity products; creditor and travel insurance to bank customers; and reinsurance solutions. Further, it offers client's debt and equity capital-raising services, as well as loan origination and syndication, and treasury management; strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and recapitalizations, as well as valuation and fairness opinions; and trade finance, risk mitigation, and other operating services. Additionally, the company provides research and access to markets for institutional, corporate, and retail clients; trading solutions that include debt, foreign exchange, interest rate, credit, equity, securitization and commodities; new product development and origination services, as well as risk management advice and services to hedge against fluctuations; and funding and liquidity management services to its clients. It operates through approximately 900 bank branches and 3,300 automated banking machines in Canada and the United States. Bank of Montreal was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. The following companies are subsidiares of Becton, Dickinson and: Accuri Cytometers, Accuri Cytometers Inc., Alverix Inc, Alverix Inc., Atto Bioscience Inc, BD Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., BD Infection Prevention BV, BD Kiestra BV, BD Kiestra Total Lab Automation, BD Rapid Diagnostic (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., BD San Luis Potosi S.A. de C.V., BD Switzerland Sarl, BD Ventures LLC, BD West Africa Limited, BDX INO LLC, Bard (Thailand) Limited, Bard ASDI Inc., Bard Access Systems Inc., Bard Acquisition Sub Inc., Bard Australia Pty. Limited, Bard Benelux N.V., Bard Brachytherapy Inc., Bard Brasil Industria e Comercio de Produtos Para a Saude Ltda., Bard Canada Inc., Bard Chile S.p.A., Bard Czech Republic s.r.o., Bard Devices Inc., Bard Dublin ITC Limited, Bard EMEA Finance Center Sp.z o.o., Bard European Distribution Center N.V., Bard Finance B.V. & Co. KG., Bard Financial Services Ltd., Bard Finland OY, Bard France S.A.S., Bard Global Holdings I LLC, Bard Global Holdings II LLC, Bard Global Holdings III LLC, Bard Healthcare Inc., Bard Healthcare Science (Shanghai) Limited, Bard Hellas S.A., Bard Holding SAS, Bard Holdings Limited, Bard Holdings Netherlands B.V., Bard Hong Kong Limited, Bard IP Holdings Inc., Bard India Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Bard International Holdings B.V., Bard International Inc., Bard Istanbul Healthcare Limited Company, Bard Korea Ltd., Bard Limited, Bard MRL Acquisition Corp., Bard Malaysia Healthcare Sdn. Bhd., Bard Medica SA, Bard Medical Devices (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Bard Medical R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Bard Medical SA (Proprietary) Limited, Bard Mexico Realty S. de R.L. de C.V., Bard Norden AB, Bard Norway AS, Bard Pacific Health Care Company Ltd., Bard Peripheral Vascular Inc., Bard Poland Sp. z.o.o., Bard Productos Plasticos e Medicos Ltda., Bard Reynosa S.A. de C.V., Bard S.r.l., Bard Sdn. Bhd., Bard Shannon Limited, Bard Singapore Private Limited, Bard Sourcing Office Singapore Pte. Ltd., Bard Sweden AB, Bard UK Newco Limited, Bard de Espana S.A., Becton Dickinson (Gibraltar) Holdings Ltd., Becton Dickinson (Gibraltar) Limited, Becton Dickinson (Gibraltar) Management Limited, Becton Dickinson (Mauritius) Limited, Becton Dickinson (Pty) Ltd., Becton Dickinson (Thailand) Limited, Becton Dickinson A.G., Becton Dickinson A/S, Becton Dickinson Argentina S.R.L., Becton Dickinson Asia Holdings Ltd., Becton Dickinson Asia Limited, Becton Dickinson Austria GmbH, Becton Dickinson Austria Holdings GmbH, Becton Dickinson B.V., Becton Dickinson B.V. Saudi Limited Company, Becton Dickinson Benelux N.V., Becton Dickinson Biosciences Systems and Reagents Inc., Becton Dickinson Canada Inc., Becton Dickinson Caribe Ltd., Becton Dickinson Croatia d.o.o., Becton Dickinson Czechia s.r.o., Becton Dickinson Dispensing Belgium BVBA, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Denmark A/S, Becton Dickinson Dispensing France SAS, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Ireland Limited, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Norway, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Spain S.L.U., Becton Dickinson Dispensing UK Ltd., Becton Dickinson Distribution Center N.V., Becton Dickinson East Africa Ltd., Becton Dickinson Euro Finance Sarl, Becton Dickinson Europe Holdings S.A.S., Becton Dickinson France S.A.S., Becton Dickinson GSA Beteilgungs GmbH, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings I Inc., Becton Dickinson Global Holdings II LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings IV LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings V LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings VII LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings VIII LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Services Centre Sdn. Bhd, Becton Dickinson GmbH, Becton Dickinson Guatemala S.A., Becton Dickinson Hellas S.A., Becton Dickinson Holdings Limited, Becton Dickinson Holdings Ltd., Becton Dickinson Holdings Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson Hungary Kft., Becton Dickinson India Private Limited, Becton Dickinson Industrias Cirurgicas Ltda., Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy AB, Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy Holdings UK Limited, Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy Systems Inc., Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy Systems Inc. S.A. de C.V., Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy UK, Becton Dickinson Insulin Syringe Ltd., Becton Dickinson International Holdings II Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson International Holdings III Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson International Holdings Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson Israel Ltd., Becton Dickinson Italia S.p.A., Becton Dickinson Ithalat Ihracat Limited Sirketi, Becton Dickinson Korea Holding Inc., Becton Dickinson Korea Ltd., Becton Dickinson Ltd., Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Finance S.a.r.L., Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Global Holdings Sarl, Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Holdings II S.a.r.L, Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Holdings III S.a.r.L, Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Holdings V S.a.r.L., Becton Dickinson Malaysia Inc., Becton Dickinson Management GmbH & Co. KG, Becton Dickinson Matrex Holdings Inc., Becton Dickinson Medical (S) Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Devices (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Devices (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Products Pte. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Technology (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Netherlands Global Holdings II C.V., Becton Dickinson Netherlands Holdings B.V., Becton Dickinson Netherlands Holdings II B.V., Becton Dickinson Norway AS, Becton Dickinson O.Y., Becton Dickinson Overseas Services Ltd., Becton Dickinson Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd., Becton Dickinson Penel Limited, Becton Dickinson Philippines Inc., Becton Dickinson Polska Sp.z.o.o., Becton Dickinson Portugal Unipessoal Lda., Becton Dickinson Pty. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Research Centre Ireland Limited, Becton Dickinson Rowa Germany GmbH, Becton Dickinson Rowa Italy Srl, Becton Dickinson S.A., Becton Dickinson Sample Collection GmbH, Becton Dickinson Scot Financing L.L.P., Becton Dickinson Scot Financing L.P., Becton Dickinson Sdn. Bhd., Becton Dickinson Slovakia s.r.o., Becton Dickinson Sweden AB, Becton Dickinson Sweden Holdings AB, Becton Dickinson Switzerland Global Holdings SarL, Becton Dickinson Technology Campus India, Becton Dickinson U.K. Limited, Becton Dickinson UK Financing I Limited, Becton Dickinson UK Financing II Limited, Becton Dickinson Venezuela C.A., Becton Dickinson Venture LLC, Becton Dickinson Verwaltungs GmbH, Becton Dickinson Vostok LLC, Becton Dickinson Worldwide Investments Sa.r.L., Becton Dickinson Zambia Limited, Becton Dickinson and Company Ltd., Becton Dickinson de Colombia Ltda., Becton Dickinson de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Becton Dickinson del Uruguay S.A., Bee IT Solutions, Benex Ltd., Biometric Imaging, Bridger Biomed Inc., C. R. Bard (Portugal) - Produtos e Artigos Medicos e Farmaceuticos, C. R. Bard Do Brasil Productos Medicos Ltda., C. R. Bard GmbH, C. R. Bard Inc., C. R. Bard Netherlands Sales B.V., C.R. Bard Inc, CME America LLC, CME Ltd., CME Medical (UK) Limited, CME UK (Holdings) Limited, CRISI Medical Systems, CRISI Medical Systems Inc., Caesarea Medical Electronics, Cardal II LLC, Care Fusion Development Private Limited, CareFusion (Barbados) SrL, CareFusion (Shanghai) Commercial and Trading Co. Limited, CareFusion 213 LLC, CareFusion 2200 Inc., CareFusion 2201 Inc., CareFusion 302 LLC, CareFusion 303 Inc., CareFusion Asia (HK) Limited, CareFusion Corporation, CareFusion Corporation., CareFusion D.R. 203 Ltd., CareFusion France 309 S.A.S., CareFusion Israel 330 Ltd., CareFusion Italy 312 S.p.A., CareFusion Manufacturing LLC, CareFusion Mexico 215 S.A. de C.V., CareFusion Netherlands 328 B.V., CareFusion Netherlands 503 B.V., CareFusion Netherlands 504 B.V., CareFusion Netherlands Financing 283 C.V., CareFusion Resources LLC, CareFusion S.A. 319 (Proprietary) Limited, CareFusion Solutions LLC, CareFusion U.K. 244 Limited, CareFusion U.K. 305 Limited, CareFusion U.K. 306 Limited, Carmel Pharma AB, Carmel Pharma Inc, Cato Software Solutions, Cell Analysis Systems Inc, Cellular Research, Cellular Research Inc., Clearstream Technologies Group Limited, Clearstream Technologies Limited, Clontech Laboratories Inc, Corporativo BD de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Critical Device Corporation, Cubex, Cytognos, Cytopeia Inc, DLD (Bermuda) Ltd., DVL Acquisition Sub Inc., Davol Inc., Davol International Limited, Davol Surgical Innovations S.A. de C.V., Difco Laboratories Incorporated, Distribuidora BD Mexico S.A. de C.V., Dutch American Manufacturers (D.A.M.) B.V., Dymax Corporation, Embo Medical Limited, Enturia de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Enturican Inc., FJ International Inc., FlowCardia Inc., FlowCardia LLC, FlowJo LLC, Franklin Lakes Enterprises L.L.C., GSL Solutions, Gamer Lasertechnik GmbH, GenCell Biosystems, GenCell Biosystems Ltd., GeneOhm Sciences Canada ULC, GeneOhm Sciences Inc, Gentest Corporation, Gesco International Inc., Gesco International LLC, Glentech Inc, HandyLab Inc, HandyLab Inc., IBD Holdings LLC, Iontophoretics Corporation, JoHome LLC, Kabushiki Kaisha Medicon (Medicon Inc.), Liberator Health and Education Services Inc., Liberator Health and Wellness Inc., Liberator Medical Holdings Inc., Liberator Medical Supply Inc., Limited Liability Company Bard Rus, Loma Vista Medical Inc., Loma Vista Medical LLC, Luther Medical Products Inc, Lutonix Inc., Med-Design Corporation, Med-Design Investment Holdings Inc., Med-Safe Systems Inc, Med-Safe Systems Inc., MedChem Products Inc., Medafor Inc., Medegen LLC, Medinservice.com Inc., Medivance Inc., NAT Diagnostics Inc., NAT Diagnostics Inc., NOW Medical Distribution Inc., NOW Medical Distribution LLC, Navarre Biomedical LLC, Navarre Biomedical Ltd., Neomend Inc., Nippon Becton Dickinson Company Ltd., Omega Biosystems Incorporated, P.R.C. (Isialys) Societe a responsabilitie limitee, PT Becton Dickinson Indonesia, PharMingen, PharMingen., Plasso Technology Ltd, PreAnalytiX GmbH, Pristine Access Technologies Inc., ProSeed Inc., Procesos para Esterilizacion S.A. de C.V., Productos Bard de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Productos Para el Cuidado de la Salud S.A. de C.V., Puls Medical Devices AS LC, PureWick Corporation, Roberts Laboratories Inc., Rochester Medical Corporation, Rochester Medical Ltd., Saf-T-Med Inc, Safety Syringes Inc., Scanwell Health Inc., Sendal S.L.U., SenoRx Inc., SenoRx LLC, Shield Healthcare Centers Inc., Sirigen Group Limited, Sirigen II Limited, Sirigen Inc., Sistemas Medicos ALARIS S.A. de C.V., Specialized Cooperative Corporation, Specialized Health Products Inc., Specialized Health Products International Inc., Specialized Health Products International LLC, Staged Diabetes Management LLC, Straub Medical AG, Straub Medical AG, Surgical Site Solutions Inc., TVA Medical Inc, TVA Medical Inc., Tepha Inc, Tepha Inc., Tissuemed Ltd., Tri-County Medical & Ostomy Supplies Inc., TriPath Imaging Inc., Tru-Fit Marketing Corporation, Vas-Cath Incorporated, Vascular Pathways Inc., Velano Vascular, Velano Vascular Inc., Venclose Inc., Venetec International Inc., Venetec International LLC, Visitec, Y-Med Inc., Y-Med LLC, and ZebraSci Inc.. Read More Dollar General Corporation, a discount retailer, provides various merchandise products in the southern, southwestern, Midwestern, and eastern United States. It offers consumable products, including paper and cleaning products, such as paper towels, bath tissues, paper dinnerware, trash and storage bags, disinfectants, and laundry products; packaged food comprising cereals, pasta, canned soups, fruits and vegetables, condiments, spices, sugar, and flour; and perishables that include milk, eggs, bread, refrigerated and frozen food, beer, and wine. The company's consumable products also comprise snacks, such as candies, cookies, crackers, salty snacks, and carbonated beverages; health and beauty products, including over-the-counter medicines and personal care products, such as soaps, body washes, shampoos, cosmetics, and dental hygiene and foot care products; pet supplies and pet food; and tobacco products. In addition, it offers seasonal products comprising holiday items, toys, batteries, small electronics, greeting cards, stationery, prepaid phones and accessories, gardening supplies, hardware, and automotive and home office supplies; and home products that include kitchen supplies, cookware, small appliances, light bulbs, storage containers, frames, candles, craft supplies and kitchen, and bed and bath soft goods. Further, the company provides apparel, which comprise casual everyday apparel for infants, toddlers, girls, boys, women, and men, as well as socks, underwear, disposable diapers, shoes, and accessories. As of February 25, 2022, it operated 18,190 stores in 47 states in the United States. The company was formerly known as J.L. Turner & Son, Inc. and changed its name to Dollar General Corporation in 1968. Dollar General Corporation was founded in 1939 and is based in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. I don't know what it's like in your state. I know a lot of nurses in Florida come from Haiti. When my friend Stephen's mom died after a long, protracted illness, he gave her primary nurse several hundred thousand dollars from his mom's estate. His mom wanted him to and Stephen described the nurse to me as an angel who made his mother's last years not just bearable, but worthwhile for her. Here in California, many nurses are also immigrants, but not from Haiti. Many come from the Philippines; many come from Mexico. I just spent a couple of years battling a rare form of cancer and City of Hope was a second home for me. I picked City of Hope because a doctor there-- also an immigrant-- is one of the world's foremost specialists in this particular type of cancer. She has been successful in her efforts and she'll always be part of my life and in my prayers.That said, the people who I was with every day and sometimes 24 hours a day were the nurses, many of them from the Philippines. One, Cindy, makes my heart soar whenever I think of having to go to the hospital for blood tests, even now. When I heard Trump ranting ignorantly about Filipino immigrants in August, I nearly lost it. Does he have any idea about what these nurses bring to the table-- any idea how much more they contribute to society that he or his monstrous offspring do? Of course not. I can't imagine how I could have survived without the skill and love from the medical professionals like nurse Cindy-- one of several dozen nurses who cared for me in the hospital and when I was recovering at home. I was reminded of the fragility we face as we get older and as we become susceptible to opportunistic diseases yesterday when I read about a Rand study contrasting Trump's and Clinton's health care approaches . Clinton's is far from perfect, but it's moving the country in the right direction. Trump's will help hasten the deaths of as many as twenty million Americans. Republicans like his plan because it saves the wealthy money and could allow lower tax rates for them. William Hoagland, once a Cigna lobbyists and GOP Senate staffer and now a top executive the Bipartisan Policy Center, warns that Trump's jumbled hodge-podge of a plan only proves one thing, that, in his words, "Trump does not understand health care." He doesn't? The premise of Clinton's plan is to make sure several million more people-- probably 9.6 million more-- would be able to afford health care premiums through ObamaCare. Trump's plan would deprive as many as 20 million people of health insurance, a death sentence for many. Clinton wants to add the public option to Obamacare while giving individuals whose out-of-pocket medical spending exceeds 5% of their income a tax credit of up to $2,500 and lowering the maximum amount that people would have to pay toward Obamacare insurance plans from 9.7% of income to 8.5% of income (for people who earn less than $47,000 a year). Her plan moves the country in the direction of universal coverage, too tepidly for progressives but beyond what Obama achieved and nothing at all like what Trump is trying to "achieve" by going backwards. Sahil Kapur, reporting for Bloomberg, summed up the Rand findings with a key figure: "19.7 million lose coverage if Trump repeals Obamacare." His plan would also increase the federal deficit by $33.1 billion in 2018. He proposes tax credits that are meant to benefit rich people, like virtually all of his proposals. To evaluate Trumps plans, Rand modeled the effects of repealing Obamacare and replacing it with his proposals. The Affordable Care Act, or ACA, gave states funds to expand the government-run Medicaid program for the poor, and created markets where individuals could buy health plans, often with federal subsidies. It also lets children stay on their parents health plans to age 26, requires the purchase of health insurance, and bars insurers from excluding people who are sick, with so-called pre-existing conditions, from buying plans. Clintons plans were evaluated as extensions of the current law. The researchers said they asked both campaigns to help with the modeling. Clintons campaign provided answers, while Trumps campaign referred the researchers to its website, they said. Both campaigns were given copies of the analysis before it was published. In his proposals, Trump would replace the ACA with a tax deduction letting people with health plans fully deduct their insurance premiums from their taxes. He would move to a system of Medicaid block grants, which would cut costs because the federal government would provide states with a limited, fixed amount of money. And he wants to allow insurance to be sold across state lines. The deduction for insurance premiums would add about $8 billion in costs to the ACA repeal, increasing the federal deficit by an estimated $41 billion, while reducing the number of individuals losing coverage to 15.6 million, the Rand study found. The deduction would lead to lower health costs for higher-income people, who benefit more from reduced taxes, the researchers said. Distributionally, it benefits higher income people more than lower income people," Collins said. From Clintons side, the researchers looked at four proposals, all of which would increase coverage and lower costs for individuals. Three of the proposals would add to the deficit, and one would cut it modestly. The biggest proposal, according to the study, is a refundable tax credit of as much as $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families whose health-care costs exceed 5 percent of income. She also wants to fix whats called the family coverage glitch, which prevents some low-income families from getting financial assistance. But the proposal thats attracted the most attention recently-- a government-run public option health plan to compete with private carriers on the ACAs exchanges-- has some of the smallest effects. It would provide insurance to 400,000 additional people, while cutting the deficit by $700 million. The Rand analysis assumes the plan would pay providers Medicare rates, which are typically lower than those paid by commercial insurers, helping account for its lower cost. The Atlantic yesterday, Olga Khazan In her analysis foryesterday, Olga Khazan pointed out that "Trumps plans would lead to even greater numbers of poor people left uninsured... All of his proposals would also make health care more expensive for people buying insurance on the individual market, with the exception of high-income people, who would benefit from Trumps proposed tax deductions. "Without subsidies, middle income and lower income folks cant afford to buy coverage, [Harvard Professor of Public Health John] McDonough said. Its only going to benefit higher-income people who are already buying coverage. [Trumps plan] wont expand coverage at all, and it will hurt the federal debt. Trumps Medicaid block-grant idea has been put forward by other Republican policymakers, including the House Speaker Paul Ryan. Medicaid block grants wont necessarily boot people from Medicaid rolls-- the federal government could, after all, make the grants very generous-- but past block-grant proposals have been stingier than the existing Medicaid system. Selling insurance across state lines has been proposed by every Republican presidential nominee since 2005, as the New York Times Margot Sanger-Katz reported. The idea, built on the promise of competition in the free market, seems appropriate for a businessman like Trump. But its already been tried in some states, and it failed to catch on with insurers, who struggled to build up networks of doctors in other states. Sara R. Collins, vice president of health-care coverage at the Commonwealth Fund, pointed out that if interstate insurance sales did pick up, insurers might flock to states with the weakest consumer protections. It would be a race to the bottom, with insurance companies selling cheap plans that don't cover much and leave consumers up shit's creek without a paddle when they are most desperate for help. That pretty much defines Ryan's #BetterWay across all categories-- something Trump seems happy enough to go along with as long as he can put his logo on the White House. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, a pharmaceutical company, develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes generic medicines, specialty medicines, and biopharmaceutical products in North America, Europe, and internationally. The company offers sterile products, hormones, high-potency drugs, and cytotoxic substances in various dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, injectables, inhalants, liquids, transdermal patches, ointments, and creams. It also develops, manufactures, and sells active pharmaceutical ingredients. In addition, it focuses on the central nervous system, pain, respiratory, and oncology areas. Its products in the central nervous system include Copaxone for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis; AJOVY for the preventive treatment of migraine; and AUSTEDO for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia and chorea associated with Huntington disease. The company's products in the respiratory market comprise ProAir, QVAR, ProAir Digihaler, AirDuo Digihaler, and ArmonAir Digihaler, BRALTUS, CINQAIR/CINQAERO, DuoResp Spiromax, and AirDuo RespiClick/ArmonAir RespiClick for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Its products in the oncology market include Bendeka, Treanda, Granix, Trisenox, Lonquex, and Tevagrastim/Ratiograstim. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited has a collaboration MedinCell for the development and commercialization of multiple long-acting injectable products, a risperidone suspension for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. The company was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. The following companies are subsidiares of Emerson Electric: A.P.M. Automation Solutions Ltd., AE Valves, AGI Mexicana S.A. de C.V., ALCO CONTROLS spol. s.r.o., APM Automation Solutions, ASC Investments Inc., ASCO (Japan) Company Limited, ASCO L.P., ASCO Numatics (India) Private Limited, ASCO Numatics Holding Inc., ASCO SAS, ASCO Valve (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ASCO/JOUCOMATIC s.r.o., ATX SAS, Advanced Protection Technologies, Aegir Norge Holding AS, Alliance Compressors LLC, American Governor, Aperture, Apple JV Holding Corp., Appleton Electric LLC, Appleton Electric S.A. de C.V., Appleton Group, Appleton Group Canada Ltd., Appleton Grp LLC, Appleton Holding Corp., Appleton Holding Sarl, Artesyn Embedded Technologies, Artesyn Hungary Elektronikai Kft., Artesyn Technologies, Asco AB, Asco Controls AG, Asco Controls B.V., Asco Joucomatic Ltd., Asco Joucomatic ZA B.V., Asco Magnesszelep Kft., Asco Numatics GmbH, Asco Numatics S.A., Asco Numatics Sirai S.R.L., Asco Numatics Sp. z o.o., Ascomatica S.A. de C.V., Ascomation (NZ) Ltd., Ascomation Pty. Ltd., Ascotech S.A. de C.V., Ascoval Industria e Commercio Ltda, Automatic Switch Company, Aventics, Aventics, Aventics AB, Aventics AG, Aventics AS, Aventics ApS, Aventics B.V., Aventics Corporation, Aventics Holding S.A.S., Aventics Holding S.a.r.l., Aventics Hungary Kft, Aventics Inc., Aventics India Private Limited, Aventics Limited, Aventics Ltd., Aventics Oy, Aventics Pneumatics Equipment (Changzhou) Co. Ltd., Aventics Pneumatics Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Aventics S.A.S., Aventics S.R.L., Aventics Services Germany GmbH, Aventics Singapore Pte. Ltd., Aventics Sp. z.o.o., Aventics Spain S.L., Aventics spol. s.r.o., Avtron LoadBank, Bannerscientific Limited, Beckman Industrial B.V., Beijing Rosemount Far East Instrument Co. Ltd., Bettis Canada Ltd., Bettis Holdings Limited, Bettis UK Limited, Biffi Italia S.r.l., Bioproduction Group, Branson Korea Co. Ltd., Branson Ultrasonic S.A., Branson Ultrasonics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Branson Ultrasonics B.V., Branson Ultrasonics Corporation, Branson Ultrasonics a.s., Branson Ultrasonidos S.A.E., Branson Ultrasons SAS, Branson Ultrasuoni S.R.L., Branson de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Bray Lectroheat Limited, Bristol Babcock Limited, Bristol Inc., Buehler Europe Limited, Buehler UK Limited, CR Compressors LLC, CSA Consulting Engineers Ltd., California Emerson LLC, Cascade Technologies, Cascade Technologies Holdings Limited, Cascade Technologies Limited, Chemat GmbH Armaturen fur Industrie - und Nuklearanlage, Chloride Koexa S.A., Componentes Avanzados de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Computational Systems, Computational Systems Incorporated, Conception et Representation de Technologies de Controle C.R.T. Controle SAS, Control Products Inc., Controles de Temperatura S.A. de C.V., Cooligy Inc., Cooper-Atkins, Cooper-Atkins Corporation, Cooper-Atkins Pte. Ltd., Copeland Access + Inc., Copeland Compresores Hermeticos S.A. de C.V., Copeland Corporation, Copeland Corporation LLC, Copeland Limited, Copeland Redevelopment Corporation, Copeland Scroll Compresores de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Copeland de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Copesub Inc., Crosby Valve LLC, Damcos A/S, Damcos Holding A/S, Daniel Automation Company, Daniel Europe Limited, Daniel Industrial Inc., Daniel Industries, Daniel Industries Canada Inc., Daniel Industries Inc., Daniel Industries Limited, Daniel International Limited, Daniel Measurement Solutions Private Limited, Daniel Measurement and Control Inc., Daniel Measurement and Control S. de R.L. de C.V., Danmasa S.A. de C.V., Dar Ibtikar Al Iraq for General Services and General Trade LLC, Decision Management International, Dieterich Standard Inc., Digital Appliance Controls (UK) Limited, Dixell North America Inc., Dixell S.R.L., Do+Able Products, E. Business Development E.B.D.Com Ltd., E.G.P. Corporation, EECO Inc., EGS Comercializadora Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., EGS Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., EGS Private Ltd., EMERSON CLIMATE TECHNOLOGIES s.r.o., EMR (Asia) Limited, EMR (Mauritius) Ltd., EMR Emerson Holdings (Switzerland) GmbH, EMR Europe Holdings Inc., EMR Foundation Inc., EMR Holdings (France) SAS, EMR Holdings Inc., EMR Worldwide B.V., EMR Worldwide Inc., EMRSN HLDG B.V., EMRSN Process Management Morocco Sarl, ENPDOR2012A Limited, ENPESNA Inc., EPM Tulsa Holdings Corp., EPMCO Holdings Inc., ETC International Holdings Ltd., Easy Heat Europe SAS, Easy Heat Inc., El-O-Matic B.V., El-O-Matic Valve Actuators (F.E.) Pte. Ltd., Electrische Apparatenfabriek Capax B.V., Emerald Advanced Technology Limited, Emerson (Philippines) Corporation, Emerson (Taiwan) Limited, Emerson (Thailand) Limited, Emerson Arabia Inc., Emerson Argentina S.A., Emerson Asia Pacific Private Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Actuation Technologies Holdings Inc., Emerson Automation Solutions Actuation Technologies Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Sichuan) Co. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Taiwan) Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Thailand) Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Africa (Pty) Ltd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Australia Pty Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Czech Republic s.r.o., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Denmark A/S, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control France SARL, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Germany GmbH, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Hong Kong Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Hungary Kft, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Italia S.r.l., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control LLC, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Middle East FZE, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Netherlands B.V., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Polska Sp. Z.o.o., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Sales Australia Pty Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Sales Holding LLC, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Singapore Pte. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control UK II Ltd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control UK Ltd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control US LP, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Emerson Automation Solutions GmbH, Emerson Automation Solutions Intelligent Platforms (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Intelligent Platforms Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Intelligent Platforms Private Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Intelligent Platforms do Brasil Ltda, Emerson Automation Solutions Ireland Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Isolation Valves Inc., Emerson Automation Solutions SSC UK Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions UK Limited, Emerson Beijing Instrument Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Services LLC, Emerson Climate Technologies (India) Private Limited, Emerson Climate Technologies (Shenyang) Refrigeration Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, Emerson Climate Technologies (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies (Suzhou) Trading Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies - Solutions (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies - Transportation Solutions ApS, Emerson Climate Technologies Arabia Limited Co., Emerson Climate Technologies Australia Pty. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies FZE, Emerson Climate Technologies GmbH, Emerson Climate Technologies Inc., Emerson Climate Technologies Limited, Emerson Climate Technologies Mexico S.A. de C.V., Emerson Climate Technologies Refrigeration S.A., Emerson Climate Technologies Retail Solutions Europe S.R.L., Emerson Climate Technologies Retail Solutions Inc., Emerson Climate Technologies Retail Solutions UK Limited, Emerson Climate Technologies S.A., Emerson Climate Technologies S.R.L., Emerson Climate Technologies Sarl, Emerson Commercial & Residential Tools LLC, Emerson Commerical & Residential Asia Limited, Emerson Comres de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Emerson DHC B.V., Emerson Dietzenbach GmbH, Emerson Dominicana Srl, Emerson Egypt LLC, Emerson Electric (Asia) Limited, Emerson Electric (China) Holdings Co. Ltd., Emerson Electric (M) Sdn Bhd, Emerson Electric (Mauritius) Ltd., Emerson Electric (South Asia) Pte. Ltd., Emerson Electric (Thailand) Limited, Emerson Electric (Tongling) Co. Ltd., Emerson Electric (U.S.) Holding Corporation, Emerson Electric (U.S.) Holding Corporation (Chile) Limitada, Emerson Electric (Zhuhai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Electric CR Limitada, Emerson Electric Canada Limited, Emerson Electric Company (India) Private Limited, Emerson Electric Company Lanka (Private) Limited, Emerson Electric Holdings (Switzerland) GmbH, Emerson Electric II C.A., Emerson Electric International Inc., Emerson Electric Ireland Limited, Emerson Electric Korea Ltd., Emerson Electric Nederland B.V., Emerson Electric Overseas Finance Corp., Emerson Electric Poland Sp. z o.o., Emerson Electric U.K. Limited, Emerson Electric de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Emerson Electric do Brasil Ltda, Emerson Energy Systems (UK) Limited, Emerson FZE, Emerson Final Control US Holding LLC, Emerson Finance LLC, Emerson Fusite Electric (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Emerson Gabon SARL, Emerson Hazardous Electrical Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Holding Company Limited, Emerson Holding Sweden AB, Emerson InSinkErator Appliance (Nanjing) Co. Ltd., Emerson Industrial Automation USA Inc., Emerson International Holding Company Limited, Emerson Japan Ltd., Emerson Junkang Enterprise (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Korea Limited, Emerson LLC, Emerson LLP, Emerson Machinery Equipment (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Emerson Mexico Finance S.A. de C.V. SOFOM ENR, Emerson Middle East Inc., Emerson Network Power DHC B.V., Emerson Paradigm Holding LLC, Emerson Process Management (India) Private Limited, Emerson Process Management (South Africa) (Proprietary) Ltd., Emerson Process Management (Tianjin) Valves Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management (Vietnam) Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management A/S (Denmark), Emerson Process Management AB, Emerson Process Management AG, Emerson Process Management AS, Emerson Process Management Angola Lda, Emerson Process Management Arabia Limited, Emerson Process Management Australia Pty Limited, Emerson Process Management B.V., Emerson Process Management Chennai Private Limited, Emerson Process Management Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Distribution Limited, Emerson Process Management Europe GmbH, Emerson Process Management Flow B.V., Emerson Process Management Flow Technologies Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management GmbH & Co. OHG, Emerson Process Management Holding AG, Emerson Process Management Holding LLC, Emerson Process Management Kft., Emerson Process Management LLLP, Emerson Process Management Lda, Emerson Process Management Limited, Emerson Process Management Ltda, Emerson Process Management Magyarorszag Kft., Emerson Process Management Manufacturing (M) Sdn Bhd, Emerson Process Management Marine Solutions Korea Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Marine Solutions Singapore Pte. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Marine Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management NV, Emerson Process Management New Zealand Limited, Emerson Process Management Nigeria Limited, Emerson Process Management Oy, Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions Inc., Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions India Private Limited, Emerson Process Management Qatar W.L.L., Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies Inc., Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies Tulsa LLC, Emerson Process Management Romania S.R.L., Emerson Process Management S.A., Emerson Process Management S.A. de C.V., Emerson Process Management S.L., Emerson Process Management S.R.L., Emerson Process Management SAS, Emerson Process Management Shared Services Limited, Emerson Process Management Sp. z o.o., Emerson Process Management Ticaret Limited Sirket, Emerson Process Management UAB, Emerson Process Management Valve Automation (M) Sdn Bhd, Emerson Process Management Valve Automation (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Valve Automation Inc., Emerson Process Management Verwaltung GmbH, Emerson Process Management d.o.o., Emerson Process Management de Colombia SAS, Emerson Process Management del Peru S.A.C., Emerson Process Management s.r.o., Emerson Professional Tools (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Puerto Rico Inc., Emerson Retail Services Europe GmbH, Emerson S.R.L., Emerson Sales UK Limited, Emerson Saudi Arabia LLC, Emerson Scroll Machining (Thailand) Limited, Emerson Sice S.R.L., Emerson Sweden AB, Emerson TOV, Emerson Technologies GmbH & Co. OHG, Emerson Technologies Verwaltungs GmbH, Emerson Tool Company de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Emerson Tool and Appliance Company S. de R.L. de C.V., Emerson Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson UK Trustees Limited, Emerson USD Finance Company Limited, Emerson Valves & Controls Japan Co. Ltd., Emerson Ventures Inc., Emerson Vulcan Holding LLC, Emerson Xi'an Engineering Center, Emersub 1 LLC, Emersub 10 LLC, Emersub 11 LLC, Emersub 12 LLC, Emersub 14 LLC, Emersub 15 LLC, Emersub 16 LLC, Emersub 3 LLC, Emersub 4 LLC, Emersub 5 LLC, Emersub 7 LLC, Emersub 8 LLC, Emersub 9 LLC, Emersub CII Inc., Emersub CV Inc., Emersub Italia S.R.L., Emersub LXXXIV Inc., Emersub LXXXVI Inc., Emersub Mexico Inc., Emersub Treasury Ireland Unlimited Company, Emersub XLVI Inc., Emersub XXXVI Inc., Emirates Techno Casting FZE, Emirates Techno Casting Holding Limited, Emirates Techno Casting LLC, Enardo, Endura-Greenlee Tools, Energy Solutions International (India) Private Limited, Energy Solutions International GP LLC, Energy Solutions International Ltd., Energy Solutions International SAS, Energy Solutions International Sub LLC, F-R Tecnologias de Flujo S.A. de C.V., FC QSF LLC, FMC Technologies, Fiberconn Assemblies Morocco Sarl, Fincor Holding LLC, Fire & Safety Group.Com Ltd., Fisher Controles de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Fisher Controls International LLC, Fisher Jeon Gas Equipment (Chengdu) Co. Ltd., Fisher Regulators (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fisher Sanmar Limited, Fisher-Rosemount Systems Inc., Flow Control Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Flow Control Holding Verwaltungs GmbH, Flow Control US Holding Corporation, Francel SAS, Fromex S.A. de C.V., Fusite B.V., Fusite Corporation, Fusite Land Company, GSEG LLC, General Equipment and Manufacturing Company Inc., Generale de Robinetterie Industrielle et de Sytemes de Surete, GeoFields, GeoFields Inc., Greenex Ltd., Greenfield (UK) Limited, Greenlee, Greenlee Communications, Greenlee Tools Inc., Gulf Valve FZE, Gustav Klauke GmbH, H.T.E. Engineering Limited, HD Electric Company, HTE Engineering Services Limited, Hindle Cockburns Limited, Hiross India Private Limited, Hiter Industria e Comercia de Controles Termo-Hidraulicos Ltda., Humboldt Hermetic Motor Corp., Hytork International Ltd., I Solutions Inc., ICC Intelligent Platforms GmbH, ISE-MagTech, Industrial Controls Canada ULC, Industrial Group Metran JSC, Instrument & Valve Services Company, Intelligent Platforms LLC, Intellution, International Gas Distribution SA, Intrinsic Safety Equipment of Texas Inc., JCF Fluid Flow India Private Limited, JSC Metran-Export, Joucomatic S.A., K Controls Limited, Keystone Germany Holdings Corp., Keystone Valve (Korea) LLC, Keystone Valve (U.K.) Limited, Klauke, Klauke (Jiangsu) Electrical Connection Technology Co Ltd., Klauke France SARL, Klauke Handelsgesellschaft mbH, Klauke Iberia S.L., Klauke Polska Sp. z.o.o., Klauke Slovakia s.r.o., Klauke UK Ltd., Knurr, Liebert, Liebert Swindon Limited, Locus Solutions LLC, Locus Traxx Worldwide, Locus Traxx Worldwide Europe BVBA, MDC Technology Limited, MDC Technology Trustees Limited, METCO Services Limited, MYNAH Technologies, Management Resources Group Inc., Mecafrance (Deutschland) GmbH, Metallurgical Services Laboratories Limited, Metaserv Limited, Metco Services Venezuela C.A., Micro Motion Inc., Mobrey Group Limited, Motores Hermeticos del Sur S.A. de C.V., NetworkPower Ecuador S.A., Nippon Fisher Co. Ltd., Novel Environmental Technologies Ltd., Novel Extinguishing Agent Technology Ltd., Numatics Incorporated, Nutsteel DHC B.V., Nutsteel Industria Metalurgica Ltda, O.M.T. Officina Meccanica Tartarini S.r.l., Open Systems International, P I Components Corp., PT Emerson Solutions Indonesia, PT. Emerson Indonesia, PT. Paradigm Geophysical Indonesia, Pactrol Controls Limited, PakSense, PakSense Inc., Paradigm, Paradigm (UK) Holding Limited, Paradigm B.V., Paradigm France S.A., Paradigm Geophysical (India) Private Limited, Paradigm Geophysical (KL) Sdn. Bhd., Paradigm Geophysical (Nigeria) Limited, Paradigm Geophysical (U.K.) Limited, Paradigm Geophysical B.V., Paradigm Geophysical Corp., Paradigm Geophysical Italy SRL, Paradigm Geophysical LLC, Paradigm Geophysical Limited, Paradigm Geophysical Pty Ltd, Paradigm Geophysical S.A., Paradigm Geophysical Sdn. Bhd., Paradigm Geophysical Spain S.L., Paradigm Geophysical de Venezuela C.A., Paradigm Geophysical do Brasil Ltda., Paradigm Geoservices Canada Ltd., Paradigm Geotechnology (Egypt) S.A.E., Paradigm Kazakhstan LLP, Paradigm Middle East FZ-LLC, Paradigm Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Parex Industries Limited, Pentair Valves & Controls, Pentair Valves and Controls India Private Limited, Permasense, Permasense Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd, Permasense Limited, ProSys, ProTeam Inc., Progea, RAC Technologies (Israel) Ltd., RIDGID Inc., RPP Europe GmbH, RPP LLC, Rey-Lam S. de R.L. de C.V., Ridge Tool (Australia) Pty. Ltd., Ridge Tool Company, Ridge Tool Europe NV, Ridge Tool GmbH, Ridge Tool GmbH & Co. OHG, Ridge Tool Manufacturing Company, Ridge Tool Pattern Company, Ridgid France SAS, Ridgid Italia S.R.L., Ridgid Online Inc., Ridgid Scandinavia A/S, Ridgid Werkzeuge AG, Rosemount China Inc., Rosemount Inc., Rosemount Measurement Limited, Rosemount Nuclear Instruments Inc., Rosemount Specialty Products LLC, Rosemount Tank Gauging India Pvt. Ltd., Rosemount Tank Gauging Middle East SPC, Rosemount Tank Gauging North America Inc., Rosemount Tank Radar AB, Rosemount Tank Radar Properties AB, Roxar, Roxar AS, Roxar Flow Measurement AS, Roxar Flow Measurement Sdn Bhd, Roxar Limited, Roxar Maximum Reservoir Performance W.L.L., Roxar Saudi Co., Roxar Services AS, Roxar Services OOO, Roxar Software Solutions AS, Roxar Technologies AS, Roxar Vietnam Company Ltd., Roxar de Venezuela C.A., Rutherfurd Acquisitions Limited, S.F.T. Group Ltd., SABO-Armaturen Service GmbH, Safety Systems UK Pte. Ltd., Sakhi-Raimondi Valve (India) Limited, Scroll Compressors LLC, Scroll Mexico LLC, Sempell GmbH, Shanghai Virgo Valves Technology Consulting Co. Ltd., Sherman + Reilly, Soluciones 0925 C.A., Spectra-Tek Holdings Limited, Spectra-Tek International Limited, Spectra-Tek UK Limited, Spectrex, Spectrex Inc., Spectronix Ltd., Spensall Engineering Limited, Steel Support Systems Limited, Stratos Lightwave, System Plast International B.V., System Plast Ltda, System Plast USA de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., TDM-avtomatizatsiya, TV&C GP Holding LLC, Taiwan Valve Co. Ltd., TechnipFMC, Termocontroles de Juarez S.A. de C.V., Tescom Corporation, Tescom Europe GmbH & Co. KG, Tescom Europe Management GmbH, The Automation Group Inc., The J.R. Clarkson Company LLC, Therm-O-Disc Europe B.V., Therm-O-Disc Incorporated, Thunderline Z Inc., TopWorx UK Limited, Tranmet Holdings B.V., Tranmet Holdings Limited, Verdant Environmental Technologies, Vilter Manufacturing LLC, Virgo Valves & Controls (ME) FZE, Virgo Valves and Controls Sdn Bhd, Von Arx AG, Vulsub 1 Limited, Vulsub Brasil Holding, Vulsub Brasil Ltda., Vulsub Chile SpA, Vulsub Gulf Holding Limited, Vulsub Holding III (Denmark) ApS, Vulsub Holding Ltd, Vulsub Holdings A LLC, Vulsub Holdings B LLC, Vulsub Holdings C LLC, Vulsub Holdings D LLC, Vulsub Italia S.r.l., Vulsub Middle East Holdings LLC, Vulsub Peru S.A.C., Vulsub Property Holding LLC, Vulsub Property Limited, Vulsub S.A., Vulsub South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Vulsub VZ C.A., Westinghouse Electric Pvt. Limited, Westlock Controls Limited, Westlock Equipamentos de Controle Ltda., Woodstock Land Company LLC, epro GmbH, iSolera Inc., iSolutions Private Limited, and intelliSAW. Read More Koppers Holdings Inc. provides treated wood products, wood preservation chemicals, and carbon compounds in the United States, Australasia, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Railroad and Utility Products and Services (RUPS), Performance Chemicals (PC), and Carbon Materials and Chemicals (CMC). The RUPS segment procures and treats crossties, switch ties, and various types of lumber used for railroad bridges and crossings. It also provides rail joint bars to join rails together for railroads; transmission and distribution poles for electric and telephone utilities; and pilings. This segment also provides railroad services, such as engineering, design, repair, and inspection services for railroad bridges. The PC segment develops, manufactures, and markets copper-based wood preservatives, including micronized copper azole, micronized pigments, alkaline copper quaternary, amine copper azole, and chromated copper arsenate for decking, fencing, utility poles, construction lumber and timbers, and various agricultural uses; and supplies fire-retardant chemicals for pressure treatment of wood primarily in commercial construction. The CMC segment manufactures creosote for the treatment of wood or as a feedstock in the production of carbon black; carbon pitch, a raw material used in the production of aluminum and steel; naphthalene for use as a feedstock in the production of phthalic anhydride and as a surfactant in the production of concrete; phthalic anhydride for the production of plasticizers, polyester resins, and alkyd paints; and carbon black feedstock for use in the production of carbon black. The company serves the railroad, specialty chemical, utility, residential lumber, agriculture, aluminum, steel, rubber, and construction industries. Koppers Holdings Inc. was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. operates as an omni-channel specialty retailer of various products for home. It offers cooking, dining, and entertaining products, such as cookware, tools, electrics, cutlery, tabletop and bar, outdoor, furniture, and a library of cookbooks under the Williams Sonoma Home brand, as well as home furnishings and decorative accessories under the Williams Sonoma lifestyle brand; and furniture, bedding, lighting, rugs, table essentials, and decorative accessories under the Pottery Barn brand. The company also provides home decor products under the West Elm brand; kids accessories under the Pottery Barn Kids brand; and an organic bedding to multi-purpose furniture under the Pottery Barn Teen brand. In addition, it offers made-to-order lighting, hardware, furniture, and home decors inspired by history under the Rejuvenation brand; and women's and men's accessories, travel, entertaining and bar, home decor, and seasonal items under the Mark and Graham brand, as well as operates a 3-D imaging and augmented reality platform for the home furnishings and decor industry. The company markets its products through e-commerce websites, direct-mail catalogs, and retail stores. It operates 544 stores comprising 502 stores in 41states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico; 20 stores in Canada; 19 stores in Australia; 3 stores in the United Kingdom; and 139 franchised stores, as well as e-commerce websites in various countries in the Middle East, the Philippines, Mexico, South Korea, and India. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Bancolombia S.A. provides banking products and services in Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. The company operates through nine segments: Banking Colombia, Banking Panama, Banking El Salvador, Banking Guatemala, Trust, Investment Banking, Brokerage, International Banking, and All Other. It offers checking and savings accounts, fixed term deposits, and investment products; trade financing, loans funded by domestic development banks, working capital loans, credit cards, personal and vehicle loans, payroll loans, and overdrafts; financial support to real estate developers and mortgages for individuals and companies; factoring; and financial and operating leasing services. The company also provides hedging instruments, including futures, forwards, options, and swaps; and brokerage, investment advisory, and private banking services, including selling and distributing equities, futures, foreign currencies, fixed income securities, mutual funds, and structured products. In addition, it offers cash management services; foreign currency transaction services; life, auto, commercial, and homeowner's insurance products; and online and computer banking services. Further, the company provides project and acquisition finance, debt and equity capital markets, principal investments, M&A, hedging strategies, restructurings, and structured financing; money market accounts, mutual and pension funds, private equity funds, payment and corporate trust, and custody; internet-based trading platform; inter-bank lending and repurchase agreements; managing escrow accounts, and investment and real estate funds; and transportation, securities brokerage, maintenance and remodeling, and outsourcing services. As of December 31, 2021, it operated 1,015 branches; 28,676 banking correspondents; 529 PAMs; 210 kiosks in El Salvador and 187 in Colombia; and 6,094 ATMs. Bancolombia S.A. was incorporated in 1945 and is headquartered in Medellin, Colombia. The following companies are subsidiares of Bristol-Myers Squibb: 1096271 B.C. ULC, 345 Park LLC, A.G. Medical Services P.A., AHI Investment LLC, AbVitro LLC, Abraxis BioScience Australia Pty Ltd., Abraxis BioScience Inc., Abraxis BioScience International Holding Company Inc., Abraxis BioScience LLC, Abraxis BioScience Puerto Rico LLC, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Adnexus, Adnexus a Bristol-Myers Squibb R&D Company, Allard Labs Acquisition G.P., Amira Pharmaceuticals, Amira Pharmaceuticals Inc., Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Apothecon LLC, B-MS Generx Unlimited Company, BMS Benelux Holdings B.V., BMS Bermuda Nominees L.L.C., BMS Data Acquisition Company LLC, BMS Forex Company, BMS Holdings Sarl, BMS Holdings Spain S.L., BMS International Insurance Designated Activity Company, BMS Investco SAS, BMS Korea Holdings L.L.C., BMS Latin American Nominees L.L.C., BMS Luxembourg Partners L.L.C., BMS Omega Bermuda Holdings Finance Ltd., BMS Pharmaceutical Korea Limited, BMS Pharmaceuticals Germany Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals International Holdings Netherlands B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Korea Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Mexico Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Netherlands Holdings B.V., BMS Real Estate LLC, BMS Spain Investments LLC, BMS Strategic Portfolio Investments Holdings Inc., Blisa Acquisition G.P., Bristol (Iran) S.A., Bristol Iran Private Company Limited, Bristol Laboratories Inc., Bristol Laboratories International S.A., Bristol Laboratories Medical Information Systems Inc., Bristol-Myers (Andes) L.L.C., Bristol-Myers (Private) Limited, Bristol-Myers Middle East S.A.L., Bristol-Myers Overseas Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Israel) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (NZ) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Proprietary) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Taiwan) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (West Indies) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb A.E., Bristol-Myers Squibb Aktiebolag, Bristol-Myers Squibb Argentina S. R. L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Axia Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb B.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Belgium S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Business Services Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada International Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Delta Company Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Denmark Filial of Bristol-Myers Squibb AB, Bristol-Myers Squibb EMEA Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Egypt LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Epsilon Holdings Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Ltda., Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Portuguesa S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb GesmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holding Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings 2002 Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ireland Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Pharma Ltd. Liability Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Ilaclari Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb India Pvt. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Company Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Investco L.L.C., Bristol-Myers Squibb K.K., Bristol-Myers Squibb Kft., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg International S.C.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb MEA GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Manufacturing Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Marketing Services S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Middle East & Africa FZ-LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Norway Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Nutricionales de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Peru S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (HK) Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (Thailand) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Holding Company LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Ventures Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Polska Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Products SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico/Sanofi Pharmaceutical Partnership Puerto Rico, Bristol-Myers Squibb Romania S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.A.U., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Holding Partnership, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Service Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Services Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Spol. s r.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Theta Finance Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Trustees Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Colombia S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Costa Rica Sociedad Anonima, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Guatemala S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb/Astrazeneca EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership, Bristol-Myers de Venezuela S.C.A., CHT I LLC, CHT II LLC, CHT III LLC, CHT IV LLC, CR Finance Company LLC, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals Inc., Celem LLC, Celem Ltd., Celgene, Celgene A.B., Celgene AS, Celgene Ab (Finland), Celgene Alpine Investment Co. II LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. III LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. LLC, Celgene ApS, Celgene B.V., Celgene BVBA, Celgene Brasil Produtos Farmaceuticos Ltda., Celgene CAR LLC, Celgene CAR Ltd., Celgene Chemicals Sarl, Celgene China Holdings LLC, Celgene Co., Celgene Corporation, Celgene Distribution B.V., Celgene EngMab GmbH, Celgene Europe B.V., Celgene Europe Limited, Celgene European Investment Company LLC, Celgene Financing Company LLC, Celgene Global Holdings Sarl, Celgene GmbH [Austria], Celgene GmbH [Germany], Celgene GmbH [Switzerland], Celgene Holdings East Corporation, Celgene Holdings II Sarl, Celgene Holdings III Sarl, Celgene Ilac Pazarlama ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Celgene Inc., Celgene International Holdings Corporation, Celgene International II Sarl, Celgene International III Sarl, Celgene International Inc., Celgene International Sarl, Celgene K.K., Celgene Kft., Celgene Limited [Hong Kong], Celgene Limited [Ireland], Celgene Limited [New Zealand], Celgene Limited [Taiwan], Celgene Limited [UK], Celgene Logistics Sarl, Celgene Ltd, Celgene Luxembourg Sarl, Celgene Management Sarl, Celgene NJ Investment Co, Celgene Netherlands B.V., Celgene Netherlands Investment B.V., Celgene Pharmaceutical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Celgene Pte. Ltd., Celgene Pty Ltd, Celgene Puerto Rico Distribution LLC, Celgene Quanticel Research Inc, Celgene R&D Sarl, Celgene RIVOT LLC, Celgene RIVOT Ltd., Celgene RIVOT SRL, Celgene Receptos Limited, Celgene Receptos Sarl, Celgene Research Incubator At Summit West LLC, Celgene Research S.L.U., Celgene Research and Development Company LLC, Celgene Research and Development I ULC, Celgene Research and Development II LLC, Celgene Research and Investment Company II LLC, Celgene S. de R.L. de C.V., Celgene S.L.U., Celgene S.R.L., Celgene SAS, Celgene Sarl AU, Celgene Sdn Bhd, Celgene Services Sarl, Celgene Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Celgene Sp. Z.o.o., Celgene Sro [Czech Republic], Celgene Summit Investment Co, Celgene Switzerland Holding Sarl, Celgene Switzerland II LLC, Celgene Switzerland Investment Sarl, Celgene Switzerland LLC, Celgene Switzerland Sarl, Celgene Tri A Holdings Ltd., Celgene Tri Sarl, Celgene UK Distribution Limited, Celgene UK Holdings Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing II Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing III Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing Limited, Celgene d.o.o., Celgene sro [Slovakia], Celmed LLC, Celmed Ltd., ConvaTec Divestiture, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals AB, Crosp Ltd., Delinia Inc., Deuteria Pharmaceuticals Inc., DuPont Pharmaceuticals, E. R. Squibb & Sons Inter-American Corporation, E. R. Squibb & Sons L.L.C., E. R. Squibb & Sons Limited, EWI Corporation, EngMab Sarl, F-star Alpha, FermaVir Pharmaceuticals L.L.C., FermaVir Research L.L.C., Flexus Biosciences, Flexus Biosciences Inc., Forbius, Galecto Biotech, GenPharm International L.L.C., Gloucester Pharmaceuticals LLC, Grove Insurance Company Ltd., Heyden Farmaceutica Portuguesa Limitada, IFM Therapeutics, Impact Biomedicines Inc., Inhibitex, Inhibitex L.L.C., Innate Tumor Immunity Inc., JuMP Holdings LLC, Juno Therapeutics GmbH, Juno Therapeutics Inc., Kosan Biosciences, Kosan Biosciences Incorporated, Linson Investments Limited, Mead Johnson (Manufacturing) Jamaica Limited, Mead Johnson Jamaica Ltd., Medarex, Morris Avenue Investment II LLC, Morris Avenue Investment LLC, MyoKardia, O.o.o. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Oy Bristol-Myers Squibb (Finland) AB, Padlock Therapeutics, Padlock Therapeutics Inc., Pharmion LLC, Princeton Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Receptos LLC, Receptos Services LLC, RedoxTherapies Inc., Route 22 Real Estate Holding Corporation, SPV A Holdings ULC, Seamair Insurance DAC, Signal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Sino-American Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Societe Francaise de Complements Alimentaires(S.O.F.C.A.), Squibb Middle East S.A., Summit West Celgene LLC, Swords Laboratories, VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Westwood-Intrafin SA, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals Inc., X-Body Inc., ZymoGenetics, ZymoGenetics Inc., ZymoGenetics LLC, ZymoGenetics Paymaster LLC, iPierian, and iPierian Inc.. Read More Bank of America has a rich history dating back to 1800 and even earlier. It was begun by immigrants as a group of separate and unrelated banks that, over the years, merged and grew together. One such is the Bank of Italy which was founded in 1904 by Amadeo Giannini to serve Italian immigrants that were facing discrimination. He later buys out the Banca de America e de Italia (Bank of America and Italy) which was also located in San Francisco. Over the years additional mergers and changes in Federal banking legislation, as well as the boom brought on by WWI and then WWII, helped boost the bank to national prominence. Things turned sour, however, in 1998 with a major bond default that led to yet another merger, this time with Charlotte, NC-based Nations Bank to officially become the Bank of America that exists today. At the time, the merger was the largest bank merger in history and the company has only grown in the time since. Other additions to the new Bank of America include MBNA (a major credit card operator), Fleet Boston (then the US 7th largest and one of its oldest banks), and Merril Lynch, now Merril, which was added to the group in 2008 to provide an investment banking branch. Together the company dominates as one of the Big Four Banks in America. Bank of America lays claim to nearly 11% of all US deposits which ranks in line with its peer group and Bank of America Securities is listed as the worlds 3rd largest investment bank. Today, Bank of America Corporation provides banking and financial services for individuals, small businesses, institutions, corporations, and governments worldwide. The bank operates in three segments Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management, and Global Banking bringing in a combined revenue greater than $90 billion in 2022. As of 2022, Bank of America serves approximately 67 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 4,200 retail financial centers. The bank also operates more than 16,000 ATMs and digital banking platforms with approximately 41 million active users. Its Consumer Banking segment offers traditional banking and investment products for retail clients. These range from deposit accounts to savings, credit cards, consumer loans, and IRAs. The Global Wealth & Investment Management segment offers investment and wealth management solutions including, brokerage, banking, and trust and retirement products. The Global Banking segment provides lending products and services, including commercial loans and leases for businesses of all varieties. The Global Markets segment offers market-making, clearing, settlement, and custody services, as well as risk management, derivatives, and FX exchange services. With the bombing of the UN aid convoy in Syria and fresh attacks on Aleppo after the Assad regime declared the ceasefire over, American and UN officials are in need of a Plan B. Now that trust between the U.S. and Russia is at a new low after Russia allegedly carried out the convoy attack, the situation on the ground Thas gotten even more grim. With the U.S.-Russian ceasefire accord in tatters, the time has come to put a Safe Zone in place for refugees. In fact, a de facto safe zone is already in place in northern Syria. The Turkish militarys recent thrust over the shared border has begun to allow Syrian refugees to cross back over into Jarabulus. For weeks Turkey has been advocating that the U.S. and western allies work with it to install a formal Safe Zone. With no other realistic options remaining, this novel development has the potential to be a game changer. The only viable option is to install a Safe Zone in northern Syria stretching north from Aleppo to the Turkish border and east to just west of Kobani. The viability of the zone rests on Turkeys ability to lead the effort and militarily guard the zone on the ground, and the fact that the Syrian regime does not at present fly in this area. The security and humanitarian reasons are compelling, from turning around refugee flight to establishing a sizable zone of stability and allowing the focus to be on eradicating ISIS with Turkey fully engaged. Ironically, only after the failed coup attempt has President Erdogan gained full control of Turkeys military for the first time. The controversial aftermath nonetheless has newly emboldened Turkey. At first, this complicated matters while Turkey was successfully pushing the Kurdish YPG forces back east beyond the Euphrates, for western allies have relied on the Kurds as the most effective anti-ISIS force on the ground. But now that Turkey feels it has successfully created a wedge in the efforts of the Kurds to occupy the ground in northern Syria from west to east, it is focusing squarely on ISIS. In fact, Erdogan suggested to President Obama that Turkey work with the U.S. and others to kick ISIS out of its Raqqa stronghold. And it strongly favors installation of a Safe Zone in Syria. Importantly, the mini detente between Turkey and Russia helps, because this will dent Russian opposition. Syrian opposition fighters should not be allowed in the zoneonly refugeesfor otherwise Syria and its Russian backer would view it as a security threat. Because Obama floated the joint operation against ISIS idea to Erdogan increases the likelihood that with Turkey agreeing to this, the U.S. is more likely at long last to agree on a Safe Zonewhich would be a complement to a ceasefire were it to get revived. With a Safe Zone in place and Turkey fully engaged, Western and Gulf allies could turn to dealing ISIS its greatest defeat to date. Kicking ISIS out of Raqqa would lend substantial momentum to the diplomatic track and put much more pressure on Assad to compromise than is currently in place. The Safe Zone on the ground should be complemented by a No Fly Zone (NFZ) in the air. This would ideally be air policed by Turkey and NATO, and with Turkish troops guarding it on the ground, either the UN or the EU could run the Safe Zone. With NATO engaged, neither Russia nor Syria will risk attacking the zone. Back home in the U.S., the Obama Administration would get support from this from both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump who both have called for installing one. In fact multiple short term safe zones have already come and gone in this conflict, each small in scale in western Syria and usually agreed between Hezbollah and Syrian opposition forces. None of them were bombed by either the regime or Russia. Concern about Russian opposition to a Safe/NFZ Zone is overblown, for after bombing the UN humanitarian convoy and trashing the ceasefire it helped broker demonstrates once and for all Russias true intentions. It is time to seize back the initiative from Moscow. The diplomatic track is dead; from this point the only thing that matters in Syria is dynamics on the ground. Turkey is the key to what would be a deft move to retake the initiative. Turkey is now aimed at ISIS, having sealed its border, cut off ISIS supply routes, created a de facto safe zone already allowing marked refugee return, and now advocating a safe zone for which it will do the heavy lifting. The Kurds have been the loser in Turkeys intervention, and they are unhappy the U.S. allowed Turkey to not only take territory they had taken but also engage them militarily for a brief period. Thus, the U.S. could usefully begin to arm the Kurds more heavily, albeit still indirectly through the Syrian Arab force that Turkey looks the other way on. There is also an outside chance that the U.S. can pull of a diplomatic coup by getting both Turkey and the Kurdish forces to work with western allies in removing ISIS from Raqqa. It will not be easy, but it is worth a try. Without western troops, and without either the Kurds or the Turks, a military victory there will not be possibleeven with western air power fully engaged. In a conflict that has killed half a million Syrians and seen over half of the countrys population depart as refugeeswith another half a million trapped in Aleppo and several other locationsa Safe Zone will help ease this mass suffering, seemingly a good enough reason for installing one. Moreover in strategic terms, the shift from Turkey makes moving in this direction sensible, as there are zero options otherwise for engendering a chain of events that could get this civil qua regional war anywhere close to a viable endgame. The company has been accused of firing thousands of workers every year to cut costs. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs has asked that authorities in the northern province of Vinh Phuc look into reports of massive layoffs that allegedly happen regularly at Honda Vietnam. The company is located in the province and is a joint venture of Japans Honda Motor, Thailands Asian Honda Motor Co. and the Dynamic Machine Corporation and Farm Machinery Vietnam, with respective stakes of 42, 28 and 30 percent. Vinh Phuc authorities will check if Honda Vietnams action is legitimate and how it has affected the local workforce, Vietnamplus reported Friday, quoting the deputy labor minister Pham Minh Huan. If the locality [Vinh Phuc] is not decisive, the ministry will step in by sending an inspection team to work with Honda Vietnam to find the answers, Huan told a meeting on Friday. According to local media reports, Honda Vietnam has sacked thousands of workers annually in recent years. The workers would be replaced with newcomers. The intention was to reduce wage increases and higher social insurance payments for long-time workers, according to the reports. Honda Vietnam rejected these accusations. It said about 1,600 workers left the company for personal reasons every year and that only 300-400 were fired because they were not qualified. A representative from Vinh Phucs labor department said inspections show that Honda Vietnam has fully followed local regulations in the dismissal of workers. Huan, the deputy labor minister, however, said the termination of a large number of labor contracts must be reviewed carefully. Vietnamese law allows employers to dismiss workers in case they have to scale down business operations. But many believe there's a loophole and employers may choose to replace their workers with new ones without consequences. Huan said that if this is proved to be true then the law should be amended to better protect workers and the local labor market. Honda Vietnam opened its first factory in Vinh Phuc, considered one of the most modern motorcycle manufacturing plants in Southeast Asia, in March 1998. The companys revenue in 2015 rose 10.6 percent year-on-year to VND68 trillion ($3 billion) with about 95 percent coming from motorcycle sales. Honda Vietnam sold 2.03 million motorcycles last year. That's a 70 percent market share. Related news: > Honda rakes in $3 billion in motorbike-dominated Vietnam > Vietnamese snap up two million Honda motorcycles in fiscal 2016 New U.K. Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt has reversed most of an economic package announced by the government just weeks ago, including a planned cut in income taxes. Hunt said Monday he was scrapping almost all the tax cuts announced last month by the Conservative government of Prime Minister Liz Truss, and also signaled that public spending cuts are on the way. It was a bid to soothe turbulent financial markets spooked by fears of excessive government borrowing. The move raises questions about how long the beleaguered prime minister can stay in office, though Truss insisted she has no plans to quit. She vowed to lead the Conservatives into the next general election, but many in the party want her gone. RICHMOND The Virginia Tourism Corp. Thursday started a new marketing program specifically aimed at drawing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender aka LGBT tourists to visit the state. The campaign enables businesses such as hotels and wedding venues to designate themselves as LGBT friendly on the states tourism website. It also introduces an alternative version of the classic Virginia is for Lovers logo, which has been in use since 1969. On the new logo, the red heart that typically stands for the letter v in the word Lovers is replaced with a rainbow-colored heart, representing LGBT pride. The goal is to present Virginia as a safe and inclusive place for LGBT travelers and their families, said Caroline Logan, director of communications for Virginia Tourism Corp. The agency did not budget a specific amount for the LGBT campaign but incorporated it into its overall advertising and promotions budget for this fiscal year of about $7 million. The campaign does not currently include media advertising. A new landing page on the virginia.org website, virginia.org/LGBT, has listings of lodgings, restaurants, retail stores and other attractions in the state that have designated themselves as LGBT-friendly and welcoming, the Virginia Tourism Corp. said. Weve created this landing page to officially welcome LGBT visitors, as well as your family and friends, to Virginia, Gov. Terry McAuliffe said in a welcome video posted on the site. Here you will be able to connect with the businesses and communities that designate themselves as LGBT friendly. We hope that you will enjoy your visit to Virginia and that you will return again year after year after year, he said. The listed lodgings include dozens of bed & breakfasts, beach and mountain rental properties, franchise hotels, and hotels such as The Jefferson and Linden Row Inn in Richmond. The site also lists places around the state for LGBT couples to get married or honeymoon. Merchandise such as hats and T-shirts with the rainbow logo also are available for sale on the website and are scheduled to be sold at Virginia PrideFest this weekend on Browns Island in Richmond. The products are brand new, hot off the shelf, said Logan, adding that the organization is discussing strategies for wholesaling the products. The website and other elements of the marketing campaign were recommendations offered by McAuliffes LGBT Tourism Task Force led by then-Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones that met in 2015. That task force consisted of 21 community leaders and supporters of the LGBT community from across the state, who made recommendations on how to draw more LGBT travelers to visit Virginia. In 2015, U.S. travelers spent $23 billion visiting Virginia. About 5 percent of travelers to the state identify themselves as LGBT. There are millions of dollars spent each year by LGBT travelers, which is a very specific segment of the tourism market, so being able to benefit from that segment is important, said Kevin Clay, who served on the advisory commission and is a principal with Big Spoon Agency, a hospitality consulting firm in Richmond. At approximately 11:30 a.m. Friday, a Fluvanna County sheriffs deputy attempted to pull over a vehicle speeding on Haden Martin Road, but the vehicle did not stop. According to authorities, the suspect, Derek Alan Stephens, eventually stopped the vehicle in the 1900 block of Sclaters Ford Road and fled on foot with a pistol in his hand. Assisted by Virginia State Police and the Virginia Department of Corrections, Fluvanna authorities later apprehended Stephens after locating him in a field near the area. He was taken into custody without further incident. Antioch Baptist Church (Scottsville) holds Tent Revival services with guest speakers and special music at 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday on the Hardware River. (434) 286-6315. Broadus Wood Memorial Church celebrates its Peace Arts Festival with Peace in our Country being observed during the 11 a.m. worship service on Sunday, followed by an art exhibit opening by Matty Metcalf and Friends at 5:30 p.m. Addition subjects will be covered during the month of October. 1525 Stony Point Road. (434) 977-7381. Divine Women of Destiny International Conference continues Saturday at Covenant Church of God, 1025 E. Rio Road. Details and registration available at divinewomenofdestiny.com. (434) 249-2280. Islamic Society of Central Virginia holds an open house that includes tours of the mosque and presentations on the basics of Islam, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. 708 Pine St. charlottesvillemasjid.com. (434) 260-1253. Journey Home (Mineral) holds a fundraising event to build transitional housing for individuals and families in need of a temporary place to live. The event will feature live music, family activities, food, a silent auction and more, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Louisa Baptist Church, 305 E. Main St. journeyhomemineral.org. (540) 967-1364. Little Fork Episcopal Church (Rixeyville) hosts a performance by the Russian vocal ensemble Lyra at 7:30 p.m. Friday. 16461 Oak Shade Road. (540) 937-4306. Love INC benefits from a gospel and bluegrass music concert featuring performances by The Deanes, The Virginia Ramblers, Rocky Hill Bluegrass and The Ford Sisters with Steve Minter at 7 p.m. Oct. 1. First Baptist Church, 735 Park St. (434) 977-7777. Palmyra United Methodist Church hosts a benefit concert for Heart Havens by Bill Henderson at 3 p.m. Oct. 2. 258 Palmyra Way. (434) 589-9209. Peace Lutheran Church holds How Can We Better Care for Our Elders, a discussion about the needs and concerns of elders in our community, at 12:15 p.m. Sunday. 1510 Broad Crossing Road. plchurch.org. (434) 978-4357. Rock Harvest United Methodist Church (Faber) holds its annual Harvest Sale featuring a thrift shop, gently used items, a silent auction, a bake sale and food, from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 1. A Car Cruise-In is held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 1. 8301 Irish Road. (434) 263-4603. Scottsville Presbyterian Church hosts performances by Ethan Hamburg, Ruth Dillon and Four Hits and a Miss as part of the Concerts Across America event, raising awareness of gun violence, 7 p.m. Sunday. 148 Bird St. (434) 286-4062. Scottsville United Methodist Church celebrates Homecoming with a free community dinner from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday. 158 Main St. (434) 286-4736. Unity of Charlottesville and Hospice of the Piedmont holds Breaking the Silence: Positive Conversations about the Spiritual Aspects of Death & Dying, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 1. Details of the event are available at unitycville.org. 2825 Hydraulic Road. (434) 817-6900. WASHINGTON Heres how area members of Congress voted on major issues in the week ending Sept. 23: House Stock options, national debt. Voting 287 for 124 against, the House on Sept. 22 passed a GOP-sponsored bill (HR 5719) that would allow employees to defer for as long as seven years the payment of income taxes on compensation received in the form of stock options. The bill would add $1 billion to federal debt over 10 years because it is not offset by spending cuts or revenue increases. Under existing law, stock options become a taxable event when they are fully conveyed to the employee, or vested. The bill applies to employees of companies at which at least 80 percent of the workforce receives stock compensation; it does not apply to managements stock options. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate. Voting yes: Robert Hurt, R-5th; Dave Brat, R-7th. Censure of payments to Iran. Voting 254 for and 163 against, the House on Sept. 22 passed a GOP-sponsored bill (HR 5931) that would censure the administration for having paid $1.7 billion in settlements to Iran in the nine months since a global deal to dismantle Irans nuclear program took effect. Made in publicly disclosed installments of $400 million and $1.3 billion, the payments would settle a dispute over arms transactions with the former shah of Iran. The first payment, for $400 million, was made on Jan. 16, the date on which the nuclear deal took effect and the U.S. and Iran completed a prisoner swap. Republicans call that payment ransom. This bill imposes conditions on any future payments to settle Iranian claims, including a requirement that Congress be notified in advance. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate, where it was dead on arrival. Voting yes: Hurt, Brat. Iranian leaders personal assets. Voting 282 for and 143 against, the House on Sept. 21 passed a GOP-sponsored bill (HR 5461) that would require the Department of the Treasury to provide Congress with classified information on the financial assets held by Irans top military and political leaders, including information on how they acquired their wealth. Collected by the Treasurys Office of Foreign Asset Control and Office of Intelligence and Analysis, this information is now classified and protected from circulation on Capitol Hill. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate, where it appeared certain to fail. Voting yes: Hurt, Brat. Judicial purgatory for federal rules. Voting 244 for and 180 against, the House on Sept. 21 passed a bill (HR 3438) that would allow courts to indefinitely delay new federal rules that would impose a cost of $1 billion or more annually on the economy. If a petition seeking judicial review is filed within 60 days of the rules effective date, courts could stay the rule until the legal challenge is resolved, even if that takes years. Agencies have proposed about two dozen billion-dollar rules since 2006. In defining the term $1 billion, the bill counts compliance costs but not the savings to society that result from factors such as improved job safety and environmental protection. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate, where it was dead on arrival. Voting yes: Hurt, Brat. Exempting rules for homeland security. Voting 182 for and 240 against, the House on Sept. 21 defeated a Democratic bid to keep HR 3438 (above) from indefinitely delaying rules that would protect the country against domestic and foreign security threats. A yes vote was to exempt homeland-security rules from the underlying bill. Voting no: Hurt, Brat. Exempting rules on medical costs. Voting 189 for and 232 against, the House on Sept. 21 refused to exclude from the scope of HR 3438 (above) any proposed federal rule designed to reduce the cost of health care for persons 65 and older. A yes vote was to exempt rules that cut seniors medical costs from the bill. Voting no: Hurt, Brat. Senate $1 billion in arms to Saudi Arabia. By a vote of 71 for and 27 against, the Senate on Sept. 21 tabled (killed) a measure (SJ Res 39) that sought to block a proposed $1.15 billion U.S. arms sale to Saudi Arabia. In the deal, the Saudis would receive153 Abrams tanks, 20 Hercules armored vehicles and smaller arms such as of machine guns and smoke-grenade launchers. Critics said the deal would further entangle the U.S. in Yemens civil war, which Saudi forces have joined. A yes vote was to approve the U.S.-Saudi weapons deal. Voting yes: Mark R. Warner (D). Not voting: Timothy M. Kaine (D). Singapore and Japan were behind in the January-September period, by a large margins. A total of $11.02 billion in foreign direct investment has been disbursed across the country in the first nine months, up 12.4 percent from the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment. New FDI pledges during the period rose 1.1 percent year-on-year to $11.17 billion, while additional funds for ongoing projects dropped 14 percent to $5.27 billion. Processing and manufacturing projects continued to draw the most interest, accounting for 74 percent of the total registered funding, followed by the real estate sector at 6 percent and science and technology with 4 percent. South Korea remained the biggest investor by committing nearly $5.6 billion, or 34 percent of the total, including $1.5 billion for LG Display's screen plant and $550 million for LG Innotek's camera modules plant in the northern city of Hai Phong. Singapore was second with pledges of $1.84 billion, followed by Japan with $1.7 billion. Vietnam's government expects FDI disbursements this year to hit $15 billion, up from $14.5 billion last year. Related news: > Foreign investment: A double edged sword for Vietnam > Vietnam's H1 actual FDI rises 15 pct yr/yr to $7.25 bln - govt RICHMOND Alleging an intricate scheme to intentionally prevent competition and monopolize the market for a drug that treats opioid addiction, 36 attorneys general including Virginias Mark R. Herring have filed an antitrust lawsuit against Chesterfield County-based Indivior. Filed Friday under seal, the suit claims that Indivior formerly known as Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals has engaged in product hopping, or intentionally changing a product to prevent generic versions of the drug, Suboxone, from entering the market. This allowed Reckitt to maintain its monopoly over the product and get higher monopoly profits from its sales, a news release from Herrings office states. Since 2009, annual sales of Suboxone topped $1 billion, the release continues, and the attorneys general allege that consumers have paid artificially high prices for the drug. Indivior did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Suboxone contains buprenorphine and the overdose reversal drug naloxone. It is used to treat opioid addiction by easing addiction cravings. But in some parts of the state, buprenorphine is becoming the new top street drug. In Southwest Virginia, it is prescribed at more than eight times the national average. Suboxone was introduced to the market in 2002 as a tablet, and its approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration came with market protection from competitors that lasted seven years. But during that seven-year time frame, the attorneys general allege, Reckitt converted the market away from Suboxone as a tablet form to a dissolvable film, similar to a breath strip. When a generic version of tablet Suboxone was finally approved, there was no brand-name Suboxone tablet left on the market for which the generic could be substituted, the release states. The suit claims that the film provides no real benefit over the tablet, according to the release, and that Reckitt allegedly expressed unfounded safety concerns about the tablet version, delaying FDA approval of a generic version of Suboxone. Simultaneously, though, the company continued selling the tablet form in other countries. The lawsuit accuses Indivior of conspiring with another defendant in the case, MonoSol Rx, a New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company whose goal is to deliver drugs through film. The attorneys general filed the suit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern Division of Pennsylvania, where a similar suit is already pending against Indivior by purchasers of Suboxone. Reckitt rebranded as Indivior in late 2014. In the same move, it spun away from its parent company, Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc a massive United Kingdom-based company that has several well-known brands, from Frenchs Mustard to Lysol. The 36 attorneys general are accusing Indivior of violating the federal Sherman Act and state antitrust laws, asking the court to stop the companies from engaging in anticompetitive conduct, to restore competition, and to order appropriate relief for consumers and the states, plus costs and fees, the release states. Earlier this month, Indivior joined a slew of other Richmond-area companies and organizations in the newly-formed Opioid Awareness and Recovery Coalition. The homicide of Blacksburg teen Nicole Lovell is being featured on Saturdays edition of 48 Hours. The CBS television show is launching its 29th season with an episode that looks at several cases involving online predators who target young people through social media. A news release from CBS said that the episode, titled Killer App, explores the use of the popular Kik messaging app and other parent-proof platforms used by teens. The program is to air at 10 p.m. Lovells family could not be reached for comment Friday. Lovell, 13, disappeared from her apartment in the Lantern Ridge complex during the early hours of Jan. 27. Investigators say that she was lured from her home and killed. Former Virginia Tech student David Edmond Eisenhauer, who was then 18, faces charges of first-degree murder, abduction and concealing a body His trial is scheduled for March in Montgomery County Circuit Court. A second former Tech student, Natalie Marie Keepers, 19, is charged with being an accessory before the fact to Lovells slaying, and with concealing a body. She also is scheduled to go on trial in March. An online gaming friend of Eisenhauers has said that Eisenhauer sent him messages saying hed met a girl at a party, discovered she was underage and was trying to break up with her because he feared she would expose him. Eisenhauer asked for advice on how to hide a body, the friend, Bryce Dustin of Pulaski said in a May interview with The Roanoke Times. Search warrants in the case indicated that Eisenhauer and Lovell communicated via Kik in the days before her death. It was the last of many social media accounts that Lovell apparently used, with a connection recorded at 12:39 a.m. on Jan. 27. Montgomery County Commonwealths Attorney Mary Pettitt said at a bond hearing that Eisenhauer and Keepers created a plan for Eisenhauer to coax Lovell out of her house for a date, then cut her throat. Keepers told police that she had helped put Lovells body in the trunk of Eisenhauers Lexus, Pettitt said. Lovells body was found in Surry County, North Carolina, three days after she disappeared. The bankruptcy of the South Korean container carrier has thrown many Vietnamese companies into a state of utter confusion, if not despair. When the now infamous Hanjin filed for bankruptcy at the end of August, it also left freight worth $14 billion marooned at sea ports and offshore waters across the world. Vietnamese seafood exporters said some of their cargo has been caught in the middle of this massive fallout. The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers estimated that about 150 containers of frozen seafood due to reach the U.S. by the end of this month are affected. Now that Hanjin ships have been refused to offload or take abroad merchandise at many sea ports around the globe, there's no guarantee that those containers of Vietnamese seafood could be delivered to importers and retailers on time, the association said. Tran Kim Yen, director of the freight forwarding company NYD Logistics, said as many as 20 Hanjin consignments which have arrived in Malaysia, Singapore or South Korea are not likely to reach their final destination. Yen said any solution to this problem will add extra costs. We are paying up to $80 a day for a container sitting in Singapore, she explained. "It will cost an estimated $4,000 for a container to be shipped back to Vietnam, or $7,000 for a container to continue its journey to Europe." For companies exporting relatively low-value products, the price of completing the journey would be too much. Dang Phan Phuong Chi, executive manager of An Huy BT, a shipping company, said Vietnamese exporters are on the horns of a dilemma, facing a tough choice between finishing the route and heading back to Vietnam. She said, for instance, more than 140 containers of livestock feed trapped in Hanjin ships are waiting at a port in Busan, South Korea. It could cost around $5,000 per container, exactly the value of the goods inside, for a return trip to Vietnam. In the meantime, a Hanjin vessel -- the Hanjin Chennai -- has been stranded for days off the coast in southern Vietnam as it was refused permission to enter a port in Vung Tau. There are concerns about whether the failed shipping line could pay docking and other fees. All at sea After having filed for bankruptcy in August, the worlds seventh-largest container carrier lacked cash to pay cargo handlers, tug operators or ports, leaving ships adrift and containers stuck in a limbo state. As many as 733 containers of merchandise handled by the Hanjin Chennai were scheduled to dock in Ho Chi Minh City on September 2. They of course have not arrived. There were also reports that some Hanjin ships had been seized in China on behalf of creditors. Customs statistics show that the South Korean shipping line has run up a debt of about $2.5 million to Ho Chi Minh City-based Saigon Newport Corporation, and more than $200,000 to other ports in the north. Some said Saigon Newport should ask for help from relevant authorities to order the Hanjin Chennai to dock in southern Ho Chi Minh City so that retailers and companies can offload their cargo while creditors can seize some assets. However, Bui Thi Lien Thuy, director of HabaSped Logistics, said that is not a good solution. The Hanjin Chennai will continue to remain at sea as long as we refuse to protect the ship and its cargo from being seized by creditors, or to promise that the ship is free to leave afterward, said Thuy. She added that the longer the wait, the longer local importers and retailers will suffer. A Ho Chi Minh City-based importer of fresh food said following Hanjins filing, its imports are now three weeks behind the delivery deadline and still nowhere to be found. Food products with a short shelf life can easily go off... We feel like we're on the edge of a cliff, said a representative. Ha Xao Chau, who runs a porcelain business, said her company had to compensate customers for late deliveries, but there's also damage to its reputation. We have no choice but accept the financial losses. What we are concerned the most is exactly when our goods will be here," said Chau. "The delay so far has seriously affected the business of our local partners. According to the Vietnam Maritime Administration, Hanjin accounts for over 5 percent of Vietnams container shipping industry. The operator, with nearly 100 container ships, said it has faced an acute credit crunch following the 2008 global financial crisis. The economic downturn has taken its heavy toll on the shipping industry, which is suffering from a record low freight demand amid chronic overcapacity. The South Korean government said the Korea Development bank will offer a credit line of 50 billion won, or $45 million, to help the shipper offload cargo. Korean Air, the shipping lines largest shareholder, has also agreed to lend 60 billion won to pay for the unloading of cargo of dozens of ships still stranded at sea. The bankruptcy of Hanjin has badly hurt many Vietnamese companies across industries, especially those exporting seafood, garment and textile, footwear and furniture to the East Asian markets and the U.S. Related News: > Vietnamese port offers amnesty to bankrupt S.Korean shipping giant > Drought and fish deaths drown Vietnams seafood exports PORTSMOUTH Two weeks after accepting an interim appointment to helm Hampton Roads Regional Jail, Norfolk Sheriff Robert McCabe says he sees a need for staff changes at the beleaguered facility. Those changes will include firings, promotions and restructuring, McCabe said in an interview Friday with the Richmond Times-Dispatch. He declined to detail those plans but pledged to disclose decisions as part of an overall effort to boost transparency at the jail, which serves the Hampton Roads regions most challenging inmates. As proof of those intentions, McCabe on Friday held a news conference at the jail in Portsmouth; released a list of 18 prisoners who died in the jails care since 2012; and distributed previously withheld video footage that was taken outside the cell of Jamycheal Mitchell, a mentally ill 24-year-old man, in the hours before his death last year. My job is to hold the supervisors accountable. I think theres going to be some changes, McCabe said. I think my role is to make sure that what the staff here is supposed to do, theyre doing. Although he expressed confidence in the jails rank-and-file workers, McCabe said his initial impressions after agreeing to fill in for outgoing Superintendent David L. Simons left him frustrated. Inmates family members were not receiving return phone calls. Neither were doctors, deputies or officials at the jails member localities: Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk and Portsmouth. Simons also appears to have neglected to share with the jails board that Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring in June requested a copy of the facilitys internal investigation of the 2015 death of Mitchell, McCabe said. In Norfolk, I dont have to tell them to call somebody back they just do it, McCabe said. Its frustrating. The board earlier this month elected to hasten Simons departure, which had been planned for Oct. 1. He remains on administrative leave until then, McCabe told reporters Friday. Herring on Sept. 2 asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether the facility was violating inmates civil rights after media reports of a second suspicious death renewed scrutiny of inmates access to medical care. The Aug. 6 death of Henry Clay Stewart, which occurred two days after an emergency grievance he filed for medical care was denied, remains under investigation by jail administrators, McCabe said. Stewart, 60, wrote to jail officials in the days before his death that he had blacked out, was in pain and was unable to eat or drink. McCabe said that although every death was regrettable, Hampton Roads Regional Jail would see a higher frequency of deaths than other facilities because it received its member localities most medically complex cases. He did say he had questions about Stewarts death that jail workers have yet to answer, but he stopped short of sharing those concerns with reporters. A Times-Dispatch analysis of statistics from two state agencies found that inmates died nearly nine times more often in custody at Hampton Roads Regional Jail than at other local or regional jails in Virginia during the past three years. Since June 2013, 12 of the 6,716 inmates who have been locked up at the jail have died a rate of 178.7 per 100,000. Statewide, 129 inmates have died in Virginia in the same time period a rate of 20.4 per 100,000. People are going to die in jail, McCabe said, flanked by members of the leadership team he has assembled from sheriffs offices at the jails member localities. He answered questions of reporters from a half-dozen media outlets for nearly an hour in a meeting room decorated with motivational posters. Among them was a tumbling house of cards with the message, Avoiding mistakes is easier than correcting them. Lets work carefully. James Boyd, president of the NAACPs Portsmouth branch, expressed disappointment with the news conference. He said McCabe was offering access without transparency and failed to address broader concerns about the level of care inmates are receiving. McCabe said he understood Boyds concerns and hoped to be able to provide more answers soon. He characterized the event as a step in the right direction after months of poor choices on behalf of the jails administration. This is a self-inflicted wound we gave to ourselves, McCabe said of the intense scrutiny the facility has received from media and state agencies since the death of Mitchell on Aug. 19, 2015. Mitchell, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, died of wasting syndrome after losing 46 pounds in 101 days at the jail, according to the state medical examiners office. He had been arrested for allegedly stealing $5 in snack food from a store near his Portsmouth home. Simons did not answer media questions or issue news releases after his death a choice McCabe said further deepened public perception that the jail had something to hide. Its a crisis because were making it seem like this is a third-world jail, he said. A short segment of the video McCabe released Friday appears to show what was happening outside Mitchells cell a few days before he died. At one point, his door opens and he emerges alone and naked. Mitchell wanders around in the main room outside his cell, which appears to be empty, while a cleaning crew enters his cell with a mop bucket. The bulk of the video shows what was happening outside his cell in the last hours of his life. Guards routinely walk by and peer into the small windows in the heavy metal doors. When the lights come on early in the morning, corrections officers discover his body. Emergency medical workers enter his cell and later remove his remains, which were covered with a sheet. On Friday, Sept. 16, Republican presidential nominee Trump acknowledged for the first time that President Obama was born in the United States, ending his 5-year history, upon which he built his political career, that of stoking the false, racist lie that the nations first African-American president was not born in the United States. Would you like to see what he said at his so-called press conference? Check out Seth Myers video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sBhANSz--k. Trump has effectively used conspiracy theories throughout his entire campaign to keep the medias attention. His instinct for expediency led him to revive long discredited theories that Clinton White House official Vince Foster had been murdered and to speculate some people say that the father of his GOP primary opponent Senator Ted Cruz had somehow been mixed up in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Trump is not a lawyer and has not lived a life where precise thinking and presentation have ever been important. He more often than not starts at some people say, there was something on the internet, or, I heard that. Such an approach allows him the freedom to never take responsibility for his lies. One can only hope that at some point he recognizes the difference between right and wrong. The New York Times, like many in the main stream media, has finally had enough and has begun calling a lie a lie ( http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/23/insider/times-editor-dean-baquet-on-calling-out-donald-trumps-lies.html). The Guardian newspaper, which has been observing our election season for quite some time now reports: "Lets just take a moment to consider this. A candidate whose first campaign ad was judged by one site to contain one lie every four seconds and who, according to Huffington Post, told over 70 lies in just one televised town hall; a man who one philosopher argues has 'perfected the outrageous untruth as a campaign tool,' is considered "more honest than his opponent." (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/sep/22/hillary-clinton-women-trust?CMP=fb_us#link_time=1474585207). Trump relies on unexpected and unsubstantiated accusations to propel his campaign in order to receive untold hours of free publicity and to save millions in advertising costs. One of his real conservative crowd pleasers is the charge that Hillary Clinton wants to abolish the Second Amendment. Maybe he wasnt listening during his private school classes but everyone knows Article V of the Constitution establishes a detailed two-step process for amending it. A two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress is needed to approve an amendment and then it has to be ratified by 38 states before becoming operative. This is a long process and can be longer if there is organized opposition. The Equal Rights Amendment passed both houses of Congress and was submitted to the state legislatures for ratification in 1972 but it died in 1982, although several organizations are trying to keep it in play. No one sees the National Rifle Association as so weak-kneed that it will even allow a constitutional amendment process to start. But this is Trump making up a flash crisis. But wait! Theres more from the man who would be president. During Trumps speech on the Second Amendment, he skipped away from his staffs talking points and tauntingly challenged Clintons Secret service detail to leave their guns behind so we can see what happens to Hillary. Trump is supposed to be running for president of the United States and leader of the free world. Junior high taunting and incitement to violence against his opponent in the worlds greatest democracy shouldnt even be in the picture. You have to give credit to Trumps political handlers for trying to rein Trump in and make him sound presidential. Rarely has a candidate so regularly undercut the credibility of his staff. Dont believe the biased and phony media quoting people who work for my campaign. The only quote that matters is a quote from me, he tweeted in May. The Government sent Martha Stewart to jail for five months after she illegally sold stock based on an insider tip and lied to investigators. Consider the outrageous stories coming out of the Trump Foundation, where Trump paid off campaign expenses with charitable monies, and even bought two portraits of himself. If these allegations are true, he should be charged with the crimes and brought to trial. He doesnt get a pass because hes a presidential candidate. If Martha Stewart can go to jail, Donald Trump can go to jail. One of Trumps advisor children said, He means what he says. But he just completely flip-flopped on his birther conspiracy. He said, while his wife is receiving Secret Service protection, that his opponent should not. Hes insulted immigrants, women, the disabled. During the primary debates he did not rise above the crowd by having the best policy positions he had the best insults and taunts. Former President George H. W. Bush just announced hes voting for Hillary Clinton. None of the other living presidents are endorsing Trump either and most down-ballot Republican candidates are avoiding Trump like the plague, except isolated cases like our very own Dave Brat, who thinks Donald Trump is the greatest. More on Dave Brat in the next column, and on his opponent, the moderate and very capable Eileen Bedell. Why do you think Trump is insisting on no fact-checking during the first debate tomorrow night? It's because he's going to lie for the entire 90 minutes. Birtherism remains his worst lie. Is this the kind of man you want to lead this country? Its up to you, the voter. The bottom line is this: Trump built his career on a racist lie. Thats because hes a racist and a liar. They were found dead Saturday morning in their house in Quang Ninh Province. After returning home from the nightshift on September 24, Vu Thi Thanh found her mother Nguyen Thi Hat, 61, two of her children aged 9 and 8, and niece aged 3 all dead. A source close to VnExpress said the bodies had multiple stab wounds, indicating a possible knife attack. The house was found in a mess but police haven't so far identified whether anything had been stolen. The house in Uong Bi City, Quang Ninh Province where the murder took place. Photo by VnExpress CCTV footage of a gas station in Uong Bi City where Thanh was working, just 400 meters from the crime scene, showed that at 2:45 a.m. on September 24, two unidentified young people wearing masks had an unsuccessful attempt at stealing a motorbike. A few days prior to the murder, two similar looking people were seen in the area asking for Thanh's address. The Ministry of Public Security was present in Quang Ninh this afternoon to examine the crime scene and carry out the autopsy. The family of the deceased was given VND64 million ($2,900) by the authorities to pay for the funeral. Thanh, whose husband died last year, lives in the house with two of her children and her niece. As her job requires frequent nightshifts, her mother who lived nearby often came over to the house to look after her three grandchildren. Related news: > Vietnam police dismiss rumor of murder for organs near China border > Vietnam's appeals court upholds death sentences in murder of 6 family members Pham Sy Hoai Nhu stands trial in Ho Chi Minh City September 23 for ordering thugs to attack a traffic violator. Photo by Hai Duyen The victim was stopped for a DUI but did not cooperate, which angered the police officer. A court in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday sentenced a former traffic police officer to 12 years in prison for asking thugs to beat a traffic violator to death, following an argument. Pham Sy Hoai Nhu, 35, was sentenced under assault charges. Nguyen Minh Chung, who was asked to attack the victim, also received 12 years. Three others got between five and 11 years. Investigators found Nhu headed a checkpoint in Tan Binh District on the night of June 25, 2015 when his team pulled over an apparently drunk Nguyen Van Chin. The officers decided to confiscate Chins bike after he failed an alcohol test. The latter refused to sign the police report on his violation. A quarrel then broke out between him and the team. He then reportedly walked away. Nhu then called Chung and asked him to beat the traffic violator. Chung, together with three others, lured the victim to an empty site by promising to help him get his bike back. They beat him unconscious. Chin managed to walk to a street corner where a traffic officer hailed a taxi to take him home. On his way, Chin asked to be taken to a hospital. He died hours later, at age 44. An autopsy report said he died from severe abdominal injuries. The four men involved in the attack either turned themselves in or were arrested soon after that. Nhu was only dismissed about three months later, and taken into custody in November 2015. Investigations by local media after that came up with similar stories of police asking thugs to attack disobedient traffic violators. But police have dismissed such allegations. The Global Corruption Barometer 2013 ranked the police force as the most corrupt institution in Vietnam. Related news: > Vietnamese cop probed for fatal hit-and-run crash > Probe underway after Vietnam cop is filmed assaulting car driver > Vietnamese cop accused of drunk driving in fatal car crash LONDON - England - Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, has thwarted one of many challenges to his leadership of the party he has led for the last year. For Jeremy and his supporters this is a great day because it is an indication that Marxism is alive and well in the Labour party and the country as a whole, a Labour deputy revealed to the Mirror newspaper. Mr Corbyn has increased his mandate among the partys membership having won 61.8 per cent of the vote and is the undisputed leader much to the chagrin of centrist and more right wing Labour members, MPs. As the Labour party confirms its push towards the extreme left wing of the political spectrum, there are ominous clouds dawning over the proposed 2020 general election. One must consider that although the Conservatives have a large following in the country, there are also very large elements espousing Corbyns Marxist doctrines. There are also large numbers of the population who are alienated, non property owners, jobless, and poverty stricken who will always vote for their champion, Corbyn. To this end, even though Theresa May tries to adopt socialistic equality policies to placate these elements within the country, there is still a vast chasm separating the haves and have nots. Jeremy Corbyn, could thus easily swing the coming election to his favour as the population may be tired of Theresa Mays Tories and her duplicitous agenda. Especially if there is no clear Brexit, or a soft Brexit, there will be many disaffected voters who either go to the right of May or even go left. The onus is on Theresa May to thwart Corbyn and his millions of supporters by conducting a hard Brexit to placate the majority of voters who voted to get out of the EU, a Westminster insider revealed on Saturday. As far as Jeremy Corbyn goes, he has had the kitchen sink and its contents thrown at him and has survived a sustained onslaught from his own party members. This stalwart clinical holding on to the reins of power would certainly be approved of by the Bolsheviks, by leaders like Stalin, Mao and Lenin. Comrade Corbyn may soon lead his Marxist soldiers into Number 10, and Britains socialist system, which is the core of the nation, will be complete once again. In French artist's photo show, Vietnam is diverse and beautiful An exhibition of Vietnamese ethnic portraits in France. Photo by VnExpress Traditional costumes of different ethnic groups have impressed many people in France. Portraits of Vietnamese ethnic people captured by a French photographer over the past five years are drawing big interest at an exhibition in his hometown Normandy. Rehahn, who has taken thousands of pictures in Vietnam, brought to the exhibition 30 photos highlighting the diversity of Vietnamese ethnic culture. The photos introduce 20 costumes of Vietnamese ethnic groups, from HMong and Cham people to the lesser-known Brau community, which only has 400 members in Vietnam. The portraits are on display at a 100-square-meter exhibit in Normandy during a 10-day event called Precious Heritage of Vietnam. The event will run until September 26. Rehahn said the exhibit has been doing well and he expects to have a total of 200,000 visitors. They were very impressed, especially by the costumes," he told VnExpress International. "They didnt imagine that Vietnam has so much diversity. A similar photo exhibit was held in Ho Chi Minh City in March 2015. In August, the artist just wrapped up a month-long display of 40 photos of Vietnamese women in Hoi An ancient town, where he has been living for four years. The exhibit in Normandy impresses many visitors. Photo by Hoi An Center for Culture and Sports Related news: > The beautiful cultural legacy of Vietnam's fading ethnic minority groups > Vietnams ao dai: a hit with French photographer > Stunning layers of Saigon make you stop and wonder A young photographer manages to put the Saigon chaos into an order of frames and layers. Saigon has long been the muse for photographers and filmmakers for its vibrant culture and extraordinary diversity. And in the eyes of Bao Zoan, a 26-year-old Saigon-based photographer, the beauty of the city emerges from different layers of life. "In my seven years living in Saigon, apart from the first tough months, the city has always embraced me," Bao told VnExpress International. "It has taught me what the real world is and how difficult it is to live in a multi-cultural environment. But it also awoke my curiosity, making me wonder even more about what is going on in life and what else I have not seen. That became the inspiration for me to go out there and start to feel the beats of Saigon with my camera lens." I taught myself photography starting with taking pictures on my phone. Then I devoted more spare time to walking around the city to look for special corners and moments." Born in Dong Nai Province, Bao moved to Ho Chi Minh City in 2009 to work as a mechanical engineer. It was not until March 2013 that he managed to save enough money to buy his first camera to pursue his passion for photography. Bao Zoan's latest photo series is featured in Saigon Artbook 6th Edition, a non-profit contemporary artbook series that introduces artists that were born and/or are living in Vietnam's southern metropolis. The project curator, gallerist Shyevin Sng, who's been living in the city for 11 years said she was impressed by the unique way the young photographer documents the modernization process. Bao works on old moments of Saigon, the transformation of the old and the new, and people living in the old time of Sigon. It is just beautiful to see its captured. Related news: > Then and now photos of Saigon corners show how much the city has changed over time > Saigon photo montages blend the old with the new Free Event The 11th Dia De Muertos Parade and Celebration will take place in the Oregon District. All are welcome to join in remembrance of loved ones who have passed. Day of the Dead Parade, Festival, Concert in Dayton Dia de Muertos is a unique and colorful holiday observed across Mexico, the southwestern United States, Latin America and right here in Dayton, Ohio. During Dia De Muertos people reminisce on the lives of loved ones who have died by creating and sharing ofrendas (Day of the Dead alters), food, sugar skulls, papel picado banners, processions, calaveras (skulls) music, traditional dance while wearing sugar skull painted faces and bright costumes. Note: Dia De Muertos is usually celebrated November 1-2 The Mexican celebration of life will return in Dayton for the 11th year on October 22nd. Dia De Muertos will be a place to remember our loved ones, eat delicious food, and hear a concert with award-winning Indigenous singer/songwriter Raye Zaragoza. At noon (12:00pm) across from the Dublin Pub, guests will gather for face painting, food trucks, and live music by local artists. The parade will kick off at 2:00pm and travel through the Oregon District to the Main Library at 215 E. Third Street. At the library, we will have altars for loved ones, as well as activities for kids, and a concert by Raye Zaragoza. (Photo: Zambia Tourism)The Victoria Falls forms a spectacular bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Zambia's Catholic bishops and the country's main umbrella for Protestant churches have joined forces to vehemently oppose the establishment of a government ministry of religious affairs. President Edgar Lungu speaking at St. Andrew's United Church of Zambia announced Sept. 28 that he was to re-introduce a Ministry of Religious Affairs. On Sept. 4, while visiting State Lodge's Divine Mercy Catholic Parish, in Lusaka, Lungu told parishioners that the Church in Zambia should not be threatened by the creation of the ministry of religious affairs as he said the ministry will harmonise State-Church relations. Under the late President Frederick Chiluba Zambia in 1997 instituted a Religious Affairs Ministry, something that never conclusively got approved by the entire population, Zambia Reports stated. The religious ministry suffered due to unclear terms of reference and its inability to garner support and consensus from churches and eventually, it was quietly phased out, Vatican Radio said. The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops together with leaders of the umbrella body of established Protestant Churches, the Council of Churches in Zambia said they strongly opposed the establishment of the new government ministry to be known as the Ministry of National Guidance and Religious Affairs. Opposing the government's move, the two church bodies said they found the creation of a new ministry of religious affairs unnecessary and imprudent, Vatican Radio reports. "In view of the various financial and economic challenges our country is currently facing, we neither see the creation of the said ministry as a top priority nor a prudent decision," said the two church bodies. "After all, we believe that Zambians want their country to be a democracy rather than a theocracy," the statement notes. PENTECOSTAL PASTOR NAMED President Lungu, last week appointed Rev. Godfridah Sumaili, a Pentecostal pastor of Lusaka's Bread of Life Church as the new head of the ministry of religious affairs. Sumaili was subsequently nominated as a Member of Parliament, by Lungu. The Zambian parliament still has to ratify the appointment and the creation of the new ministry. Although Zambia was declared a Christian nation in 1996, the constitution still retains a clause which recognizes the presence of other religions. According to the current constitution, Zambia is a multi-faith country. However, this has divided Christians and a a third church body, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia, supports the idea of a new religious ministry, according to Anadolu Agency. http://aa.com.tr/en/africa/zambian-bishops-reject-religious-ministry-plan/649412 Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia executive director, Rev. Pukuta Mwanza, on behalf of Pentecostal churches, last month, praised Lungu's initiative saying it would "promote Christian values and give more meaning to the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation." Zambia is a landlocked Southern African country and its neighbors include Zimbabwe in the south, Malawi in the east, Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania in the north and Angola in the west. Of Zambia's 16 million people around 75 percent are Protestants and 20 percent are Roman Catholic. Honda Motorcycles has released a teaser video, which might be featuring the 2017 Honda CBR1000RR (Fireblade). There have been a lot of rumours and spy shots of the motorbike over the last couple of weeks. The video, named as "Total Control", shows a date in the end, October 4, 2016. The press conference of the international motorcycle fair Intermot is scheduled on the same day in Cologne, Germany. Honda might showcase the next-gen Fireblade at the upcoming event. The teaser video also says that the 2017 Honda Fireblade will be sharper than ever and the title also suggests that the company has reworked on the geometry. We can expect better handling abilities from the upcoming model of the bike, which was already known for its excellent road characteristics. Though the video, shot at the United States' Thunderhill Raceway Park, just reveals the rear tyre of the bike, the spy pictures of the 2017 CBR1000RR have already told us that it is getting a complete style revamp. The new model looks edgier, sharper and more aerodynamic as compared to the existing version. The new front fairing and the headlights appear inspired by the recently introduced lightweight supersport concept, the Honda CBR250RR, and the rear section is also looking sleeker. It's obvious that Honda will work on the litre-class inline-four engine of the CBR1000RR to make it Euro-4 compliant. However, we are also expecting a power boost to match up with the performance of its updated rivals. We believe that the updated model of the iconic Fireblade will also get an advanced electronic package to meet the new standards of safety set by other litre-class supersport machines like the 2015 Yamaha YZF-R1 and the 2016 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R. For more details on the 2017 Honda CBR1000RR, let's wait for the next teaser video, but the complete details will be out at the upcoming INTERMOT show which is just less than two weeks away. Source: BikeDekho.com Vadodara: An industry body of micro and small enterprises has sought for a separate ministry in states to address issues related to sector. The annual general meeting of the Laghu Udyog Bharati (LUB) will be held here tomorrow wherein issues related to the national MSME policy, GST and FDI will be discussed, its President Om Prakash Mittal said today. "We will demand that the large-scale industries should develop a small patch of land within their boundaries for setting up new ancillary units for their industrial products/spares," he said told reporters here. Their other demands include developing a land bank by a suitable infrastructure development authority which will be controlled by a department, he added. Mittal further said that the trade body also wants a separate ministry for MSMEs in each states to address their issues. He also demanded that those MSMEs which have been in operations for 20 years should be made free hold, and also allowing MSMEs to process local products like agricultural products, mining and other available raw materials and make it mandatory on large industries to procure from such units. The estimated contribution of the MSME sector, including the service segment, to the country's GDP in 2012-13 was 37.54 per cent while the total employment in the sector is 805.24 lakh and the share of MSMEs in India's total exports for 2014-15 stood at 44.7 per cent. Hyderabad: With just days to go for the completion of the first half of the financial year (April-September 2016-17), the TS government has failed to spend even 25 per cent of the annual Budget so far, raising doubts over the financial condition of the government. The TS government created a record of sorts in the country by earmarking Plan expenditure that was more than the Non-Plan when it presented Rs 1.29 lakh-crore annual Budget in March, in deviation of the tradition of earmarking more funds for Non-Plan expenditure. The government had earmarked Rs 72,195 crore under Plan and Rs 61,622 crore under Non-Plan expenditure. However, it could spend only Rs 16,744 crore under Plan and Rs 8,800 crore under Non-Plan expenditure. Of this, nearly 50 per cent was spent on just salaries and pensions for staff. With this, all the major schemes are short of funds with restrictions imposed on payments. This would mean that the government will have to spend the balance 75 per cent funds in the remaining six months of this fiscal. Since this would be impractical, it is evident that a large portion of funds earmarked in the Budget would remain unspent defeating the purpose of budget allotments made to various sectors. Oral instructions have been given to all the treasury offices in the state not to make any payments till further orders. Following this, the treasury offices in all the districts have stopped payments, except salaries. Even pending bills pertaining to Godavari Pushkaralu held in July last year have been stopped. Development works like laying of roads, construction of buildings meant for schools, colleges, offices etc came to a halt as contractors are stopping works due to pending bills. The government failed to clear even the bills pertaining to Mission Kakatiya works taken up last year. Contractors are running around Secretariat to get pending bills cleared, with the help of ministers. The third instalment of Rs 4,250 crore due to banks towards crop loan waiver scheme was not paid due to which the banks are refusing fresh loans to farmers. The government could hardly adjust Rs 1,000 crore recently. Officials blame both the Centre and local conditions for paucity of funds. The Centre did not raise FRBM borrowing limit to 3.5 per cent so far, despite announcing it in April. This would have enabled us to mobilise an additional Rs 3,000 crore. Also, our plans to earn Rs 10,000 crore by selling lands in Hyderabad and RR districts were unsuccessful. We could earn less than Rs 500 crore, said an official under condition of anonymity. Besides, the government is facing the wrath of students for delay in releasing Rs 1900 crore dues towards scholarships and fee reimbursement even after issuing Budget release orders in April. Though tax collection has shown a steep increase of 27 per cent over the last year, it is not in tune with the expenditure being incurred on salaries, pensions and welfare schemes. The non-tax revenue collection is not so encouraging, said a finance official. Screengrabs from the actor's live session at the Facebook headquarters in US. Mumbai: Ajay Devgn has given his whole and soul for his upcoming directorial, 'Shivaay,' for a good two years. And now, the actor has asserted that he wouldn't mind spending a few more sleepless nights to promote his highly anticipated ambitious baby. The actor, who's on a three-day trip to the US along with wife Kajol, visited the headquarters of Google and Facebook, to promote the film. So proud to see so many Indians doing incredible work and holding important positions globally. #Google #Facebook #ProudIndian pic.twitter.com/ETG83TPgBd Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) September 24, 2016 The characteristically reserved actor, went live at the Facebook hub, along with the inimitably chirpy Kajol, much to the excitement of the in-house Bollywood fiends. Kajol, especially decided to debut on Facebook Live, and took the occasion to wish her mother on her birthday. The two talked about Bollywood and 'Shivaay' and the Facebook employees could barely be able to hold their excitement at being able to interact with the two Bollywood A-listers. The two divulged how Ajay had worked tirelessly to realise his dream project and, though they'd always shared parenting duties evenly, the production of the film ensured that Kajol was the sole 'captain of the ship,' so much so that, the Devgn children are aching for the film to release. The very affable interaction also had the lovable confess she's in love with the Facebook headquarters and facetiously claiming she wished she were an employee there. 'Shivaay' is scheduled to clash with Karan Johar's Ranbir Kapoor starrer 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' at the Diwali box-office. Watch the video here: The actress was seen in the Randeep Hooda starrer 'Murder 3'. Mumbai: Theres been widespread outrage post the gruesome terrorist attacks in Uri and the MNS had given a 48 hour ultimatum to every Pakistani artist and celebrity to leave the country, or be prepared to be pushed out. While A-listers like Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan and Ali Zafar have refrained from commenting, Sara Loren, who had starred in Murder 3, has confessed that she fears for her life. Art is the only field where the lines of nationalities blur. There are more fans of Fawad (Khan) in India than in Pakistan: Pakistanis watch Bollywood films more than home films and there are more Muslims here than in Pakistan, she asserted, while speaking to Mid-day. The actress, who has a house in Dubai, revealed that if things get out of control, she will go there. The actress who has a home in Dubai further adds that if things get bad, she will go to there. When matters settle, I will come back. I fear for my life now, but have full faith in cops. We need to fight terrorism, not each other, she concluded. Sara was last sene opposite Adhyayan Suman in 'Ishq Click'. Seasonal dark streaks on Mars that change color over time have become one of the hottest topics in interplanetary research. Several weeks ago the NASA Odyssey spacecraft orbiting Mars provided new information about the strange lines that have been a noted feature of our neighboring planet for over a century. You may recall being taught that early astronomers thought these lines on the surface of Mars were really waterways constructed by intelligent beings that supposedly inhabited the planet, directing their collective efforts for the benefit of growing food on the water-starved planet. Since there were no visible oceans as we have on earth, their ice caps (it was reasoned) were the only source of water and their flow was carefully regulated as they melted during the summer months. Bolstered by the eminent Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli in 1877 and others such as the American Percival Lowell, who even proposed names for each canal and junction, the public was eager for news proving we are not alone in the solar system Millions of color photographs taken from prestigious observatories such as Palomar and Mount Wilson show conclusively that certain regions changed color with the Martian seasons, suggesting that pale deserts wax to deep greens as the summer progresses on. It wasnt until the successful mission of the Mariner 4 by the United States on July 14, 1965, when the spacecraft performed the first flyby of the planet Mars, returning the earliest pictures of the Martian surface. It captured the first images of another planet ever recorded from deep space and the depiction of a cratered, seemingly dead world largely changed the view of the scientific community on the concept of life on Mars. No cities, no projects of any kind, ancient or bustling, were spotted. Poor H.G. Wells must have twitched in his grave at this truncation of his projected vision. The new results from the Odyssey mission rely on ground temperature, measured by infrared imaging using the spacecrafts Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS). Temperature measurements now identify an upper limit on how much water is present at these darkened canal-like streaks. 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. Using information gleaned by the orbiting probe, scientist Sylvain Piqueux at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, working with Christopher Edwards of Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, concludes that The results are consistent with no moisture at all and set an upper limit at three percent water. In other words they hold as much water as the driest desert sands on Earth. They published their findings last week in the periodical Geophysical Research Letters. This result may seem puzzling. A column I wrote September 2011 announced the new underground moisture discoveries just made and this coupled with last years identification of hydrated salt at these flows seemed to provide momentum for the presence of liquid water on Mars. According to the NASA scientists, however: 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, Edwards said. Salts can become hydrated by pulling water vapor from the atmosphere, with no need for an underground source of the water. If the variable color areas were seasonal flows of briny water followed by evaporation, (say the researchers) the annual buildup of crust-forming salt should affect temperature properties and they would be observable. So far the temperature profiles recorded are evidence against evaporating brines. But then again, thousands of photographs point to perceptional darkenings of the planet surface that extend like fingers in the spring or summer, fading away in fall and winter, repeating in patterns every year and at the same locations. According to NASA the process that causes this streaking to appear is still a puzzle. We may only find out when humans land in the 2030s. The actress was last seen opposite Sidharth Malhotra in 'Baar Baar Dekho'. Mumbai: Katrina Kaif is amongst the most sought after actors in the country today. The 'Dhoom 3' actress, who recently got awarded with the Smita Patil Memorial Award, shared a still from the sets of her highly anticipated film, 'Jagga Jasoos,' being helmed by Anurag Basu, on her Facebook feed. The actress, known to ace every look she sports, doesn't disappoint, and looks absolute adorable as a nerdy, bespectacled girl. The film, which has ex-beau Ranbir Kapoor in the lead, has been delayed on multiple occassions, reportedly owin primarily to the couple's separation. The much publicised break-up apparently left the project schedule hay-wire as both actors went on to concentrate on their alternate commitments. However, shoot recommenced later on, and the ex-couple was extremely professional on the sets, though they maintained a safe distance, otherwise. 'Jagga Jasoos,' also starring Govinda, is all set for a 7th April, 2017 release. Mumbai: Priyanka Chopra who is looking forward to the second season of Quantico says her co-star Graham Rogers makes her laugh when she is having a bad day. "Graham Rogers who plays Caleb Haas is a prankster. He and his snapchat...I want to snap his neck sometimes. As his snapchat comes up on my face everywhere I go. He is hilarious, super-funny and makes me laugh whenever I am having a bad day. He makes everyone laugh," Priyanka says. The actress reveals her other two co-stars, Yasmine Al Massri and Ryan Booth, too have a great sense of humour. "Yasmine plays the role of twin sister, she is Lebanese-Egyptian raised in Paris, lives in LA, so she has random sense of humor. She says anything at the most inopportune time and it has no filter so it's pretty funny," the actress said. "Third funny person is Jake McLaughlin who is Ryan Booth in the show...He sometimes says things seriously. And sometimes you don't make out whether he is joking or not and we have to wait till he starts laughing. He creates strange humorous moments on sets," she adds. The actress had turned many a head by charming one and all as a host at the Emmys. Mumbai: Subhash Chandra, Chairman of the Zee Media Network and Rajya Sabha MP, has stated that the company is planning to stop the telecast of Pakistani shows on their channel Zindagi. He even asked the actors from the neighbouring country to leave. His decision is in the wake of the comments of Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif at the UN General Assembly on the deadly attacks by militants in Jammu and Kashmirs Uri killing 18 Indian soldiers. Sharifs speech at the assembly has been slammed by India for glorifying militant Burhan Wani. Chandra took to Twitter to express his decision. The television channel Zindagi consists of Hindi and Urdu shows from Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey. Some of the Pakistani shows on the channel like Zindagi Gulzar Hai and Humsafar featured Fawad Khan, who is currently featuring in numerous films in Bollywood. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena had given Pakistani actors and artistes 48 hours time to leave the country in the wake of the attacks and had threatened to stop the release of films like 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' and 'Raees' for having Pakistani actors like Fawad and Mahira Khan. Mumbai: Angelina Jolie has reportedly blocked Brad Pitt from visiting their kids, after she filed for divorce from him a few days back. Pitt, however, has been desperately trying to convince the actress into allowing him to meet their six kids. This is amid reports of the actor physically and verbally abusing his eldest son Maddox in an aircraft while the family was traveling from France to Minnesota. The FBI had stated that they have initiated a probe into the allegations of the incident in the aircraft. The incident has been reported as one of the reasons that prompted Jolie to seek divorce. Now, footage from the Minnesotas International Falls Airport is out and at least that has cleared Pitt of any physical abuse, though reportedly he is seen screaming at Maddox in it. Pitt will reportedly fight to get joint custody of the kids and has hired his family law attorney Lance Spiegel, who had represented Charlie Sheen in his divorce battle with Heather Locklear. Jolie, too, has got herself a celebrity legal representative, Laura Wasser, whod represented Johnny Depp in his divorce with Amber Heard. Simbu is an actor who never ceases to spring a surprise! Even as he was playing a lover boy in Gautham Vasudev Menons Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada, he announced his next Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan with Adhik Ravichandran of Trisha Ilanna Nayanthara fame. In the film, the former will be seen in triple roles. During the first schedule, scenes with one of the three characters named Madurai Michael, were shot in Dindigul extensively. Recently, the name of one of his other avatars has been revealed Ashwin Thatha which will see STR essaying a 60-year-old! Adhik also said that the VTV star gained a lot of weight (90 kilos) for this character only. He has also praised the actor for working hard to achieve the new look. The director took to Twitter and wrote, Character name #AshwinThatha 1st time ever @iam_str plays 60yr old. Secret of weight gain n tnx 4 undergoing d pain fr dis role anna #Sirappu. (sic) Sources say actress Shriya Saran will be seen playing her role opposite to Madurai Michael, and her first look posters, which were released recently garnered a lot of attention. Tamannah will also be seen in the contemporary portions of the flick. Yuvan Shankar Raja has joined hands with STR after a long gap for this ambitious venture. Nandamuri Balakrishna is back in Hyderabad after a hectic schedule in Madhya Pradesh, where he was shooting for his 100th film, Gautamiputra Satakarni. Directed by Krish Jagarlamudi, some key scenes of the film have been shot with a backdrop of various forts. Actress Hema Malini and Shriya also shot their scenes there along with Balakrishna. On returning to Hyderabad, the actor-turned-politician immediately enquired about his constituency. The actor enquired about the floods in Hyderabad and also some parts of Andhra Pradesh. He also met a few people from his constituency and discussed important issues, says a source. The actor took to social media and urged his fans to help people who are suffering in Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh. Dear beloved fans, Its time for us to unite and help the rain victims in hyderabad, Guntur and other areas.... As one, lets make a difference. Stay Safe, he wrote on Facebook. The hit Bollywood film 2 States starring Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, is all set to be remade in Telugu. The film that is based on a popular novel by Chetan Bhagat, is being produced by Abhishek Nama of Abhishek Pictures, who has confirmed that he has got the remake rights. He added, Venkat Kuchem has worked with V.V. Vinayak for nearly 10 years and I am introducing him as director, confirmed Abhishek. This is the first time that Karan Johar has sold his film rights to a filmmaker from a regional language. According to a source, Abhishek paid nearly Rs 55 lakh for the rights. There have been several instances earlier when many from the Tollywood industry wanted the rights of Karans films, but were declined. However, Abhishek managed to get the remake rights, and plans to start shooting next month. According to a source, Naga Chaitanya and Samantha will play the lead pair. Though Samantha has not been signing any Telugu films after Janatha Garage, the producer is confident about convincing her. Samantha is a Malayali and Naga Chaitanya is a Telugu boy, so the subject suits them and their real life relationship will add glamour to it if they sign this film, says a source. Apart from the lead pair, the producer wants to rope in actors like Prakash Raj, Rao Ramesh, Ramya Krishna, Revathi and others for this film. Thats Karma. This comment made by Jennifer Aniston, when asked about the Collapse of Brangelina sums up the human psyche. No amount of therapy, yoga, meditation camps, shopping or Game of Thrones can give you the sort of closure, peace and happiness karma can deliver. Seeing that particular someone hurting the one who had caused you months or even years of pain is one of those secret joys in life you treasure deep within the heart. The astute Germans have a word for it Schadenfreude. Because all this talk of moving on, letting bygones be bygones and letting grudges go is just that, TALK. Yes, you may have picked up the pieces, found a fabulous partner, a career, formed a jazz band but when you look back and see those photos of the cheating ex all smiles and waves you find yourself asking, Where are God and Justice?. How can someone, who caused you that much misery, be happy? Even gladsome Bollywood seems to agree. In Bachna Ae Haseeno, Bipasha Basu unleashes days of pain and punishment on Ranbir Kapoor the man who dumped her at the altar. She gets closure a decade later after Ranbirs character apologises to her, profusely. Off screen, Deepika Padukone maintains she never had a problem with her ex Ranbir Kapoor and continues to do movies with him. But, she didnt let go of that infamous opportunity on Koffee with Karan to get together with Sonam Kapoor and lash out at Ranbir, for the way he had behaved during the final days of their relationship. And within regal walls, Princess Diana spent much time and effort trying to device new ways to hurt and humiliate Prince Charles after Camillagate. Go ahead, put yourself in Dis shoes, listen to the tapes and then re-start the reading. To maintain a veneer, everyone pretends to be okay. Just like Aniston, who soon became the very definition of the jilted wife. Brangelina went on to become Hollywood royalty while the Friends star was turned into tabloid fodder. She spent years hurting and now, as Brad Pitt finds himself under the FBIs scanner, you know why Rachel picked karma. Shes thrilled Angie and Brad are getting a dose of their own medicine. Its funny how we often forget to thank God when things are going great but fire off a prayer of thanks when an enemy suffers. Fortunately however, most bruised egos and broken hearts are not psychos who want to stab you when they see you next. They are secretly hoping though, that a metaphorical speeding bus finds you. So avoid the negativity and ill wishes. Hold your tongue and conduct unpleasant business such as a break-up with real grace. Because, karma is as definite as the rising Sun. Earn the good points and the bus will avoid you. Rasoi on Wheels has also collaborated with a number of schools for underprivileged children in Delhi and Gurgaon to bring food to slum neighbourhoods everyday. (Photo: Facebook/ Rasoi on Wheels) Many a times even when members of disadvantaged sections of society manage to receive something to eat, the food unfortunately happens to be leftovers or of poor quality. But one Delhi restaurant-owner aims to change that with his special Rasoi On Wheels service. Atul Kapoor, who also co-runs the QBA restaurant in Connaught Place, was inspired by traditional langars to come up with a charitable catering service that delivers fresh food to the poor. Rasoi On Wheels lets people hire their food delivery services for charitable purposes with little to zero profit in return. The noble initiative which was started in March this year has enabled the distribution of at least 300 meal boxes to places like construction sites, temples and slum areas. Rasoi on Wheels has also collaborated with a number of schools for underprivileged children in Delhi and Gurgaon to bring food to slum neighbourhoods everyday. While regular food items on its menu include rajma chawal, roti, kadhi chawal, chhole, chawal and roti; sandwiches, chowmein, and burgers are reserved for special kiddie treats. Earlier this week, a 21-year-old woman was stabbed over 30 times in North Delhi in broad daylight. The perpetrator of the crime was a stalker who had allegedly been harassing her for over a year. He had earlier threatened the young teacher by slicing her bag open while having an argument with her. Despite eyewitnesses around in the area, no one came to the rescue of the girl. Although the girl's family had complained to the police about the stalker, no action was taken since both the parties came to a compromise. Despite various campaigns and movements, are our cities really safe for our girls? Is it time to take complaints about stalking and harassment seriously too? Activists, scholars and artists weigh in: Stalking most definitely should be taken seriously: Kalki Koechlin I dont think our cities are safe and stalking most definitely should be taken more seriously. On a long-term basis, I think campaigns should be made which focus on changing the mentality of the male-female equation in our society; movements on gender relationships and behaviours should be addressed in schools, in neighbourhoods and at workplaces. It is a real issue: Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal, theatre personality I dont think the city is safe at all. Our laws are not strong enough, the judiciary is weak and the police is inefficient. A few years ago, the juvenile conviction age was going to go down; but, it didnt. What sort of people are these kids who take away someones basic human right the right to live. Just a few days ago there was another case of an 11-month-old baby raped! It is outrageous. It is even difficult to say where we can begin. The cases need to be fast-tracked and the punishment should be immediate. This is our problem since the conviction rate for rapes is extremely low, people do not take the law seriously, and so, there is no fear of the law. Even our pop culture is faulty in several ways. We show the man stalking and harassing the girl until she finally gives it it is even portrayed as a cute thing. This is wrong. We need to change our perspective of stalking and need to take it very seriously. It is a real issue that can harm women. If the police receive complaints of stalking, they need to take it seriously. If the police dont do anything, as citizens we need to go to the higher authorities, hold dharnas do anything that will bring this issue in the limelight and get results. I am caught in a situation that I am not responsible for: Aswani Dravid, Research scholar at University of Kerala Earlier this month, my friend and I were outside the Infopark at Kochi. We had gone out to repair my footwear when two people chased us in a car and then attacked us. I dont know what provoked them. I filed a complaint against them and now I am shocked at the cold response from the authorities. Now I feel that if someone tries to attack you, its better to keep quiet about it and even if someone molests you, keep quiet. Because this system will not help you. The victim will get victimised again and again. I was appalled when I found out that the perpetrators were let out on bail as IPC section 364 is a non-bailable offence. It is now up to me to prove that the men were drunk. Now if I engage a lawyer by shelling out money from my pocket, I might get justice, maybe. But I am a student, and do not have money. I am in a helpless situation and I am scared, this system makes all of us helpless. I am caught in a situation that I am not responsible for. Verbal abuse is just as much of a problem as physical: Shivani Gupta, spoken word artist I dont believe there was ever a time when complaints about stalking and harassment were not serious causes of concern. We live in a world that undervalues the power and implications of words, and focuses all our attention on actions. We seem to be missing the basic fundamental connection that irrefutably, scientifically exists between thought, word and action. They move in parallel and in progression. If a person can think it, they can do it. If a person can say it, repeatedly, the gap between thinking, saying and doing is far lesser than we want to accept. Which is why, according to me, verbal abuse is just as much of a problem as physical. The fundamental underlying cause of them both is a need for power, and they both come from a space of violence. We have grown tolerant of violent words, forgetting how easily we as humans internalise them, and just how much they fuel our behaviour on a day-to-day basis. Government definitely needs to step up: Sharmila Mukerjee, dancer and Odissi exponent Things are getting out of hand and we need to have our priorities set straight. After every incident, horrific things are said by government officials about women taking precautionary measures like girls not heading out after its dark, which speaks of a very sick mentality. But the government definitely needs to step up and take more measures to protect the women and also change the mindset of men. I think self defence needs to be compulsory in all schools for girls and sex education too is a must. We need a strong deterrent: Pooja Bedi, Actor I dont think any country in the world is crime free; it is a universal phenomenon. Even U.S. with its surveillance systems in place still has a high number of crimes. However, the point is to send the strong message to the perpetrators. We need a strong deterrent. In our country, the major problem comes from the fact that we dont have a swift court system, decisions take forever. It just seems that basically one can get away with such crimes. ELKO The month of September began and will end with mining events this year. The Nevada Mining Association hosted its annual convention at Lake Tahoe earlier this month and starting Monday the 2016 MINExpo International will be in Las Vegas. The Elko Daily Free Press will be covering the event that only occurs every four years. It is sponsored by the National Mining Association. During the Tahoe event, Barrick Gold USA President Michael Brown, who is also the chairman of the Nevada Mining Association board, said the mining industry needs to spread its own message. He said miners need to remember they are part of a larger business community. Brown said to think of mining as concentric circles that start in Elko, Carlin and Winnemucca but they also extend into Reno and Sparks and even south to Las Vegas. He encouraged everyone to get to know people in Las Vegas so people in urban areas can connect a face to the mining industry. I try to give at least two speeches a month somewhere in urban Nevada and I serve on about five or six different boards, Brown said. I have an opportunity to talk about mining. They get to meet someone from and slowly they suddenly say yeah I heard about Barrick in the news. Youre Barrick. Now theres a face to them. I think putting a face to them and engaging in the larger business community (helps.) One of the guest speakers during the convention, Jeremy Aguero, principal analyst for Applied Analysis, said many people dont know about the industry. Hopefully part of what were doing is replacing assumptions with facts, he said. These are real jobs and these are real good jobs too. I dont think people understand that this is an industry that generates higher than average wages. For the past several years, Aguero has presented statistics about the industry and its contributions to Nevadas and the nations economy. Brown warned that 2017 may be the most challenging year for the industry since 1993, because there will be a new president in the White House and Nevadas senior senator will no longer be in Congress. He said typically at the beginning of an eight-year presidency we deal with mining law reform and tax issues. We will have a Congress that does not have Harry Reid in it, he said. Harry Reid as majority leader from a small state like Nevada has been unbelievably beneficial and valuable. He said the industry must spread its message to other businesses and let them know how it affects everyone. Nevada miners will do just that in Las Vegas. Uri: The security forces arrested two Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir nationals who had been working for Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror outfit and acting as guides for militants infiltrating into India through the line of control in Jammu and Kashmirs Uri sector. In a joint operation by the Army and Border Security Force (BSF), two PoK nationals were apprehended on September 21. During the investigation, the individuals have revealed their identities as Ahasan Kursheed, son of Mohd Kursheed of Khaliana Kalan and Faisal Hussain Awan, son of Gul Akbar of Pottha Jahangir, both in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. The duo was recruited two years ago by the JeM and was guiding terrorists to infiltrate across the line of control. The details provided by them are being examined and corroborated by the concerned agencies. Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will expand his cabinet on September 26 in perhaps the last reshuffle of his council of ministers ahead of the Assembly election in early 2017. Governor Ram Naik will administer oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers at Raj Bhavan on Monday, a Raj Bhavan release said. This will be the eighth expansion of the Akhilesh Yadav government since it assumed office in 2012. The UP council of ministers can have 60 ministers and there are three vacancies at present. Sacked Mines Minister Gayatri Prajapati is all set to be inducted as a cabinet minister as part of a compromise formula to end the recent family feud in the Yadav clan, but he may get a different portfolio. Tezpur Air force station is located at a distance of 172 km from China border, 146 km from Myanmar border and 160 km from Bangladesh border. (Photo: Representational Image) Tezpur: The Tezpur air base in Assam is ready to face any challenge, be it facing the enemy or conducting peace time operations, Tezpur Air Force Station's Air Officer Commanding Commodore K V R Raju said on Friday. "The Air Force station in Tezpur is always ready to face any challenge. It is well equipped to face the enemy and to conduct peace time operations," he said at the Air Force Station amid the preparations for the 84th anniversary of Indian Air Force on October 8. After the induction of two SU-30 MKI squadrons, now a squadron of Akash Missile has been introduced to the Tezpur Air Force base, while Brahmos missiles would be inducted into the base in the near future, Defence spokesperson Tezpur Lt Col Sombit Ghosh said. "Tezpur Air force station is located at a distance of 172 km from China border, 146 km from Myanmar border and 160 km from Bangladesh border. The nearest three Airfields in China are almost 350 km away from this base," he said. "Over the last eight decades, IAF has modernized itself into a professional force that ranks amongst the most competent and respected air force in the world," he said. The Air Force Day celebrations began on Friday in the Tezpur Air Base and will conclude with the main event on October 8, Ghosh added. Almost 1,700 BJP leaders will attend the meeting, including Union ministers, Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states, MPs, MLAs, national leaders and state unit leaders. (Photo: PTI) Calicut: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shrikant Sharma on Saturday said the main purpose of the party's National Council meeting in Kozhikode, Kerala, is to observe the centenary celebrations of Pandit Deen Dayal grandly. "It was decided at Allahabad that we will hold our National Council Meeting in Calicut. The main issue will be Pandit Deen Dayal's centenary year. We are celebrating that," he said. Sharma told media how the BJP cadres are looking forward to inculcating Deen Dayal's ideas. "We are also taking forward his ideas. His idea was to upgrade the standard of the last man standing in the row. The programme to develop the poor has reached the grassroot level. We are preparing a roadmap to that effect in the meeting. The Prime Minister will address a public rally today and conclude the National Council tomorrow," Sharma added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending the meetings of the National Council on Saturday and Sunday. At least 2500 delegates including Modi and his team of ministers are scheduled to attend the meet. Modi will address a public meeting being organised as part of the national On the third day of the BJP national council meeting, PM Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the birth centenary celebrations of Deen Dayal Upadhyay, who was elected as the Jan Sangh president in Kozhikode in 1967. Almost 1,700 BJP leaders will attend the meeting, including Union ministers, Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states, MPs, MLAs, national leaders and state unit leaders. The national council meeting would also focus on the Uri attack that claimed the life of 17 soldiers New Delhi: A delegation of senior Congress leaders from Andhra Pradesh on Saturday met former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi to discuss the issue of special category status ahead of the people's ballot planned by the APCC in the state. Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee chief N Raghuveera Reddy, Rajya Sabha MP K V P Ramachandra Rao, Congress leader J D Seelam and former MLC G Rudra Raju met Singh at his residence for about an hour, and said "he has expressed his full support to our fight for the special category." The APCC has planned to conduct a referendum on the contentious issue and, Reddy said, "The 'praja ballot' would begin from September 28 from Tirupati." "During our meeting today, Manmohanji expressed concern over the non implementation of the special category status and also non-implementation of the factors incorporated in the state bifurcation act," Reddy told reporters after the meet. "He (Singh) also expressed his displeasure over dishonouring of the commitment made on the special status for the state during the UPA rule," the APCC chief said, while alleging that "TDP and BJP have belittled the special status issue." Earlier, Manmohan Singh had made an appeal asking the Rajya Sabha to honour commitments made by him on February 20, 2014 on the floor of the Upper House to grant Special Status to Andhra Pradesh. Rao said the referendum would begin from Tirupati as Modi, M Venkaiah Naidu and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had made a promise to grant special status during election rallies in 2014, but "now they have gone back on it." "So, we want to educate the people, the youth and public bodies and intellectuals, and therefore this referendum would also raise awareness about the issue. It will be held over a few months time," he said, adding, "Both TDP and BJP have deceived the people of Andhra Pradesh on the issue." The Centre recently granted a financial package to Andhra Pradesh that includes full funding of Pollavaram irrigation project, tax concessions and a special assistance, but stopped short of giving the state a special category status. "This package is fake and nothing new. It is part of the state reorganisation act and the Centre is making it out to be something special for the state," Reddy alleged. The French position was conveyed by its Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he called on him in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Days after the Uri attack, France on Friday said it stands with India in the fight against terrorism and expressed resolve to strengthen counter-terror cooperation with it. The French position was conveyed by its Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he called on him in New Delhi. During the meeting, Le Drian expressed condolences for the victims of the cross-border terrorist attack in Uri on September 18, a PMO statement said. He expressed resolve to strengthen bilateral counter- terrorism cooperation with India and said France stands with it in the fight against terrorism, the statement added. Le Drian briefed the Prime Minister on the current status of bilateral defence cooperation. Modi welcomed the signing of the inter-governmental agreement on purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft from France earlier in the day, and called for its speedy and timely implementation. India and France signed the Euro 7.87-billion (Rs 59,000 crore approx) deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets, equipped with latest missiles and weapon system besides multiple India- specific modifications. The agreement was signed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Le Drian 16-months after Modi announced India's plans to buy 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in flyaway condition during his trip to France. According to an official statement issued by the CM's office at midnight, a 60-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has been kept on the standby in the city. (Photo: PTI) Hyderabad: Four columns of the Army have been deployed in rain-affected areas of Hyderabad and neighbouring Ranga Reddy district after heavy downpour wreaked havoc in the capital and other parts of Telangana cutting off low-lying areas. At least 17 people have died and thousands evacuated in Telangana and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh by Saturday, due to the heavy rainfall causing flooding in the states. Hyderabad has experienced the worst rainfall in 108 years, as people stuck in worst-hit areas are facing shortage of food, drinking water and other essential items. Army troops have been moved into Begumpet, Nizampet and Hakimpet areas in the city and Alwal in Ranga Reddy district to provide necessary relief, according to a Defence release. The Army has also set up a control room at GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation) office and, in coordination with the GHMC and NDRF officials, is closely monitoring the situation round-the-clock, it said. "Army columns are already on track to provide relief material and medical aid in slum areas of Alwal. Other columns of the Army have been kept on standby, to be deployed when required," the release added. The Army officials had met GHMC Commissioner Janardhan Reddy during the wee hours today and apprised the administration that their forces are prepared to swing into action as and when called for. Also, following instructions from Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, a 60-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has been kept on the standby in the city. Besides, the CM has ordered officials to set up control rooms in all the districts across the state to reach out to marooned people with necessary relief, said an official statement. Some of the low lying areas in Hyderabad are still cut off from the rest of the city, even as GHMC and some NGOs are offering essential food items such as milk for relief of those affected. The CM also instructed the officials to take necessary steps to prevent spread of communicable diseases. Also, the district administration of Rangareddy, Khammam, Warangal and Medak besides GHMC have declared holiday for educational institutions today in view of heavy rains. Yesterday, the Telangana government had said that it has kept two choppers ready to move people from low lying areas in the city, if necessary. Four persons were killed and six others injured in separate rain-related incidents in Medak district yesterday. According to the weather report issued by the Indian Meteorological Department today, "heavy to very heavy" rains are likely to occur at isolated places in Telangana. Meanwhile, South Central Railway (SCR) today cancelled Guntur-Secunderabad Intercity Express and Secunderabad-Guntur Intercity express trains. Secunderabad-Bhubaneswar Express, scheduled to depart from Secunderabad at 1650 hours, has been rescheduled to leave at 18.50 hours due to late arrival of pairing train, an SCR release said. Kozhikode: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shrikant Sharma on Saturday said the main purpose of the party's National Council meeting in Kozhikode, Kerala,is to observe the centenary celebrations of Pandit Deen Dayal grandly. "It was decided at Allahabad that we will hold our National Council Meeting in Calicut. The main issue will be Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay's centenary year. We are celebrating that," he said. Sharma told media how the BJP cadres are looking forward to inculcating Deen Dayal Upadhyay's ideas. Read: Modi to address BJP meet in Kerala today, Uri attack top of agenda "We are also taking forward his ideas. His idea was to upgrade the standard of the last man standing in the row... The programme to develop the poor has reached the grassroot level. We are preparing a roadmap to that effect in the meeting." "The Prime Minister will address a public rally today and conclude the National Council tomorrow," Sharma added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending the meetings of the National Council on Saturday and Sunday. At least 2500 delegates including Modi and his team of ministers are scheduled to attend the meet. Modi will address a public meeting being organised as part of the national On the third day of the BJP national council meeting, PM Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the birth centenary celebrations of Deen Dayal Upadhyay, who was elected as the Jan Sangh president in Kozhikode in 1967. Almost 1,700 BJP leaders will attend the meeting, including Union ministers, Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states, MPs, MLAs, national leaders and state unit leaders. The national council meeting would also focus on the Uri attack that claimed the life of 17 soldiers (ANI) 42-year-old Brijesh Shukla allegedly threw ink at deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia outside the lieutenant-governors office on Monday. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) New Delhi: A Delhi court granted bail to a man who had allegedly thrown ink at deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia outside the lieutenant-governors office four days ago. Metropolitan magistrate Ambika Singh enlarged 42-year-old Brijesh Shukla on bail on furnishing of a personal bond of Rs 15,000 and a surety of like amount. Regarding the accuseds previous involvement in other cases, advocate Rajesh Kumar, who was representing Shukla, told the court that there were two other criminal matters against his client, of which one has been quashed by the Delhi high court and the other was a cross-FIR. Shukla, a resident of Karawal Nagar in Northeast Delhi, was arrested on September 19 and was in judicial custody. He was arrested for allegedly thrown ink at Sisodia, saying he was angry with the deputy CMs Finland tour at a time when the city was grappling with a health crisis. He was booked under Sections 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the IPC. Shukla has also filed a complaint in court against Arvind Kejriwal and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi. (This story originally appeared in the Asian Age) Panaji: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Saturday accused the Narendra Modi government of targeting small traders and businessmen under the pretext of unearthing black money. "You have given amnesty scheme (for declaring domestic black money). People are coming out...Identify people, who have hundreds of crores of black money. You are targeting small traders, businessmen that should be stopped. We should stand up for these people," Singh said while addressing party workers' convention here today. "Today, in India most business people are very unhappy with Narendra Modi. He promised concessions to the business people, but economy is not growing. Raids are being conducted and they are targeting Congress people," he alleged. They have declared September 30 to be the last date on which the black money has to be declared. They have issued 900 thousand notices all over the country for people to declare money, Singh said. "Lot of people have spoken to me, asking what to do. When P Chidambaram was the Finance Minister, under amnesty scheme Rs 30,000 crore came into the coffers. Now, Modi and BJP people had said that there is Rs 40 lakh crore black money parked outside the country and if that comes in every Indian will have Rs 15 lakh in his account. That money has not come back," he added. ELKO A local Realtor is showing that hard work and volunteerism can take you to the top. Greg Martin of Coldwell Banker Algerio/Q-Team Realty was installed as the president of the Nevada Association of Realtors Friday in a ceremony at the Elko Conference Center. His one-year term will begin in 2017. This opportunity will allow him to volunteer at the national level in Washington, D.C., and the state level in Carson City. Rural needs will play out through the associations advocacy efforts. Due to Elko County being a smaller association within the state, it is a distinction for one of its members to become state president, said a release. The last time a president came from the area was when Bert Gurr served in 1995. Well, its an honor, said Martin, when he was asked what this position means to him. Ive worked very long and very hard in volunteering through different positions and opportunities within both the local association of Realtors here, which falls under the state association of Realtors, which then falls under the National Association of Realtors. For him, this means he has the opportunity to serve over 14,700 members statewide. As president of the state association, probably the most important thing is our board of directors creates a strategic plan, which is the tool that guides us into the future to ensure our solvency and our strength and our ability to continue to serve our members needs, said Martin, explaining the most important thing is to follow the plan, which delineates administered programs. As his year to serve is 2017, advocacy is one of the elements within the aforementioned plan and one he feels is most important. Another important element he feels is members are entitled to be educated about success achieved on their behalf, as well as that of clients and customers. There is no better experience than to hand the keys to a first-time homebuyer and to think about that family, that they will rise in their new home, the memories they will create and the dreams that they will share, said Martin. We assist our customers in achieving the American Dream of homeownership we dont just sell homes. We build communities and we build nations. The Nevada Association of Realtors has approximately 15,000 members throughout the state and has has five local associations: Elko County Association of Realtors; Incline Village Board of Realtors; Reno/Sparks Association of Realtors; Sierra Nevada Association of Realtors; and the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, according to the upcoming president. There are 50 state associations as well as others outside of the United States. The National Association of Realtors is the largest trade organization in the world well over 1 million members, said Martin. I think the distinction between our trade association is that we are the only trade association that lobbies on behalf of our customers and clients to ensure their enjoyment of private property rights and the basic foundation that this country was founded. Lobbying occurs at both the state and national level through partnerships such as its state legislative committee, the contract lobbyist Carrara Nevada and more to identify industry issues, and allow us, the Realtor, to remain central to the real estate transaction. Legislation is monitored through committees and then vetted before a position is taken. Martin gave the example that, at the federal level, there has been movement toward tax reform. According to Coldwell Banker, Martin has been licensed since 1998 to sell real estate and holds a Business Broker license. He is currently licensed as a Broker-Salesman in Nevada. Martin has been both an active member and board member of NVAR as well as the Elko County Association of Realtors. This work has earned him several awards. Additionally, he has worked with the state associations Leadership Academy for the past 15 years, becoming either dean or trustee since 2009. We are very proud of Greg. His hard work and dedication to this profession shows in everything he does. To be elected President out of a smaller Nevada community, when the leadership at the State Association is made up of mostly Las Vegas and Reno Realtors, is no small feat. It shows Greg also has the confidence and respect of the senior leadership in the State Association, said Jim Winer, Broker/Owner of Coldwell Banker Algerio/Q-Team Realty. Kozhikode: PM Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a public meeting in Kozhikode in Kerala on Saturday and speak on the Uri attack. He is expected to deliver both a strong message to separatists and to Pakistan in his speech. Sundays terror attack in Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers loomed large on day one of the Bharatiya Janata Partys three-day national meet that started in Keralas Kozhikode on Friday. BJP president Amit Shah will also speak on Saturday, and deliver his address to the party on Sunday, when the PM will give the valedictory speech. The meet is significant because it is being seen as important for BJPs efforts to establish a hold in the southern state where it has never had a strong organisation. However, the Uri terror attack has somewhat sidelined the original agenda of the meet, reports said. In his address to party office-bearers in Kozhikode on Friday, BJP president Amit Shah said the partys ideology brought it to power and its time to walk the talk on promises it made while in opposition. Amid demands for tough action against Pakistan , general secretary Ram Madhav told reporters on Friday that the party appreciates the sentiments in the country, and actions will keep happening. Madhav, who has advocated punitive action against Pakistan, parried questions about the party's position on the terror attack, but made it clear that it would be deliberated in the meet to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A lot has happened in the last three days, especially on the diplomatic front. The party will air its views in the coming days. Let's wait for a while, Mr Madhav said. Soon after the terror attack in north Kashmirs Uri, Mr Madhav had said India must adopt the policy of for one tooth, the complete jaw, asserting that the days of strategic restraint were over. Taking on Pakistan for raising the Kashmir issue at the UN, BJP national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said Pakistan "revealed its true colour" and its PM Nawaz Sharif "misused the UN platform." During deliberations with BJP leaders, Shah on Friday, the party asked its state governments to execute schemes aimed at the welfare of the poor in the centenary birth anniversary year of its ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay. The BJP said on Friday that it was keen to expand in Kerala and prepared to coordinate with and accept any political party into its fold. The Centre is closely monitoring the situation along the border and multiple agencies have been directed to collect all possible inputs. (Photo: File) New Delhi: Pakistan has pulled deeper into its territory 15 main terror camps operating close to the Line of Control, fearing retaliation by India after terrorists killed 18 soldiers in north Kashmir s Uri on Sunday. Intelligence and security agencies have also informed the Union home ministry that Pakistan troops have temporarily replaced about 200 militants who were waiting to infiltrate. The Pakistani establishment has cancelled leaves of its border guarding forces. The Centre is closely monitoring the situation along the border and multiple agencies have been directed to collect all possible inputs. Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Friday met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and senior security officials. In another meeting, he met defence minister Manohar Parrikar. Puducherry: Terming as 'adamant' the stand of Karnataka government not to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu and Union Territory of Puducherry, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Saturday said defiance of the Supreme court verdict would only lead to confrontation between the Judiciary and Legislature. Addressing reporters in Puducherry after returning from New Delhi, he said, "The resolution adopted by the Karnataka Legislative Assembly refusing to release Cauvery water is an adamant stand and cannot be accepted as areas in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu needed water for samba cultivation." "The areas in Karaikal region badly needed Cauvery water for the samba paddy crop. If the water is not available the farmers would face a situation of distress," Narayanasamy said adding Karnataka government should honour the directive of the apex court. He said any defiance of the court verdict would only lead to confrontation between the Judiciary and Legislature. He further urged his Karnataka counterpart to ensure that the Tamils in that state were protected. Talking about the GST council meeting, the CM said, "The Centre has accepted the plea of Puducherry administration to compensate it for the fiscal loss the Union Territory would suffer in the wake of implementation of the Goods and Services tax." He said he had made out a strong case at the meeting held on September 22 and 23 that Puducherry should be compensated for the loss of Rs 60 crores annually expected to emerge after the GST is implemented. "Rs 20 lakh annual turnover threshold for GST exemption would entail a loss of revenue of Rs 60 crores every year to the exchequer here and the Council had accepted to compensate the loss," he said. Noting that Puducherry had been included as a member of the GST council, he said this showed that the Union Territory had gained recognition on a par with bigger states. The Puducherry Assembly had ratified the GST Bill through a resolution in the recent budget session, he added. India had originally wanted 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft for which Rafale was shortlisted. However, due to the delay over cost and other issues, government decided to go for 36 Rafale jets in fly away condition. (Photo: AP) New Delhi: With the deal for 36 Rafale jets in kitty, Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier on Friday said the French company is game for the 'Make in India' initiative and open to manufacturing the fighter aircraft in India if the plane is shortlisted for a bigger order. He said that with the Indian contract going through, the company feels that more international orders of the plane, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, will come in. "It is 36 at the moment. We feel that we can create a strong industrial partnership in India. We know very well the large number of aircraft that the IAF needs," Trappier in an interview said. He said that Dassault Aviation, manufacturer of the Rafale jets, is committed to the Make in India initiative. "Yes, of course. We will see how we can carry forward with the 'Make in India' initiative. We are open to manufacturing Rafales in India," Trappier said when asked if the French firm was willing to manufacture the fighter aircraft in India if the plane was shortlisted for a bigger order. The CEO said the company will work with the IAF and the government to see how they can meet India's needs. He said the focus was to build an industrial partnership in India for Rafale jets and the 50 per cent offset clause will be of help. Defence sources have made it clear that the deal for 36 Rafale jets does not come with an option clause. This means that more orders will come only through fresh talks. India had originally wanted 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft for which Rafale was shortlisted. However, due to the delay over cost and other issues, the Narendra Modi government decided to go for 36 Rafale jets in fly away condition. With India reducing the number, a multi-billion dollar aircraft contract is still in play. This has led to fresh pitches from those who lost out on the first deal including Boeing, Saab and Lockheed Martin. The sources have said India is looking at shortlisting one more aircraft, besides Tejas, to be manufactured domestically. Dassault Aviation hopes that Rafale, a twin-jet fighter aircraft able to operate from both an aircraft carrier and a shore base, makes the cut. The fully versatile Rafale is able to carry out all combat aviation missions, air defence, interception, ground support, in-depth strikes, reconnaissance, anti-ship strikes and nuclear deterrence. Rafale entered service with the French Navy in 2004 and with the French Air Force in 2006. In 2015, Egypt and Qatar ordered 24 Rafales each. As of June 30 this year, 152 Rafale aircraft had been delivered. New Delhi: Congress on Saturday squarely blamed the Modi government over Russia's decision to go in for a military exercise with Pakistan for the first time, terming it as a "failure" of India's foreign policy. "First time in the history of Russia, they are having a joint military exercise with Pakistan. According to me, it is a failure of our foreign policy," former Defence Minister A K Antony told reporters. At the outset, Antony recalled that from the time of Independence, Russia continued to be "our dependable friend". "Whenever Kashmir issue was raised in the UNSC, Russia always stood with India. Many a times they had vetoed also. Russian Armed forces always had a joint exercise with Indian Forces," he said. After Independence, at no time, Russia had a joint exercise with Pakistan, and that is what is "significant", he said when told about Russia's clarification that it was not holding any anti-terror exercise with Pakistan in "so-called Azad Kashmir" or in any other "sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit and Baltistan". Party spokesman Manish Tewari said that Russia's decision showed that the Government of India does not have a policy towards Pakistan. "It is unfortunate and tragic," he said. Congress leaders have been insisting for quite some time that Modi government's 'tilt' towards USA is resulting in countries like Russia distancing from India. Kozhikode: With the Centre hinting at revising the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh on Saturday said the state will fully support whatever decision is taken by the Union government on the 1960 agreement. "The treaty has caused huge loss to Jammu and Kashmir" as the people of the state cannot fully utilise the waters of various rivers, particularly Chenab in Jammu, for agricultural and other activities, Singh, who is in the city to attend the BJP National Council, said. "The state government will support whatever decision is taken by the central government on Indus Waters Treaty," he said. The people of Jammu and Kashmir were already raising the issue of loss to the state on account of Indus Waters Treaty. If the central government takes any decision in this regard, the state government will definitely support it, he said. "We will support any move which will benefit the people of the state and any step that puts Pakistan under pressure," Singh said. India had earlier this week made it clear that "mutual trust and cooperation" was important for such a treaty to work. The assertion came amid calls that the government should scrap the water distribution pact to mount pressure on Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack. "It cannot be a one-sided affair," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said when asked if the government will rethink on the Indus Waters Treaty given the growing strain between the two countries. Singh also hit out at Pakistan for its "failure" to honour its agreements with India, particularly the Simla Agreement signed in 1972. "There is the Simla Agreement which Pakistan does not honour, there is Lahore declaration between the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the then President of Pakistan General Parvez Musharraf in which it was agreed upon that Pakistan will not use its land under its occupation to be used for sponsoring, aiding and abetting terrorism against India. "They do not honour this and instead are violating the declaration by sponsoring terrorism," the BJP leader said. "If they can violate such agreements and declarations why should we honour such treaties. They want India to honour this treaty on the basis of it being an International treaty. This cannot go for a long. It is to be seen in totality," he said. Singh said Pakistan was sending terrorists to create disorder in the Kashmir Valley but does not understand that terrorism will affect it more. "Pakistan does not understand that terrorism, which it sponsors, will ultimately affect it more. The country will not be able to keep itself united. We will expose the terror outfits in PoK," he said. On the unrest in Kashmir, he said normalcy was returning to the state and the central and state governments were taking all steps to restore peace. "The situation is under control now. Pakistan is directly sending terrorists and its people to Jammu and Kashmir to create disorder," he said. Professor Balram Krishna with his wife and children at his home in the RTC colony at Tirumalagiri after returning from terrorist captivity in Libya. (Photo: DC) Hyderabad: After around two years, including 13-and-half months in terror captivity in Libya, two Telugu professors C. Balram Krishna and T.V. Gopikrishna, came back to their families early on Saturday morning. They were handed over to their relieved families by MEA officials amid tight security with strict instructions not to reveal any details about their rescue. After landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Friday morning, they were taken to the MEA office, where they briefed officials in details about how they were abducted, their detention and rescue till they were handed over to the Indian Embassy in Libya. They flew to Hyderabad from New Delhi and reached home in the early hours of Saturday. Balrams wife Sreedevi said despite all efforts from her family, and the state and Central governments, it was purely Gods grace that brought Balram back home safely. Every day was a nightmare. I had just two priorities till today. One was my husbands safe return and the next my childrens education. My family and in-laws stood with me all these days and helped me. In one word, today is rebirth day for all four of us, she said with tears rolling down her eyes. Balram said he was enjoying every single moment of being with his family now and needed some time to get over the joy of returning home. Meanwhile, at Gopis home, it was more than celebration. His daughter Jahnavi said she had a two-day holiday at school, but she wanted to see her dad back home before she goes to school on Monday. I was sleeping when I heard some noise. On waking up, my dad was in front of me. It is really unbelievable after two years of waiting, Jahnavi said. Gopis elder brother Muralikrishna said all efforts and Gods grace paid off at the right time. His wife Kalyani said they were in tears the moment they saw him and cried for nearly an hour. Relatives, friends, neighbours and even local leaders and government officials came to their houses during the day to meet and congratulate them. We were never ill treated: Professors The food was just rice and macaroni and only two pairs of clothes to wear. This was the condition of Telugu speaking professors Gopikrishna and Balram Krishna during their 13-and-half month captivity in the terrorist camps of Sirte in Libya. They said they were never ill-treated by the abductors who never revealed their faces to them. They were given food in their rooms but sometimes it was not regular and quality was poor. After the end of an academic year they were coming home for a months vacation when they were kidnapped. They were working for a study centre of the Sirte University in Al Zofra, 250 km away from Sirte. As per the rules of the Libyan Education Ministry, after every academic year, foreign employees should renew their contract. Gopi and Balram were recruited by the Education Ministry to work in Sirte. Balram, who had been working for six years, did not want to return as he was suffering from severe backache and hypertension, while Gopi renewed his contract with the varsity and planned to return after the vacation. On July 29, 2015, they were travelling to Tripoli, when about 50 km after crossing Sirte city, masked men took them prisoners. They were put up in closed rooms in Sirte and only a few masked men interacted with them. They were continuously shifted to different camps mostly during midnights. They did not get any answer from their abductors as to why they were abducted or where they were being shifted. It was a bitter experience. But I cannot speak more due to security issues as directed by the government, Balram said, adding that he would use the time to meet his family. He praised his wife Sridevi, who tried her best with the governments for his release, without neglecting their children for a moment. Talking about his captivity, Gopi said he had just two pairs of clothes when they were abducted. Though he and Balram were in the same room they could never communicate with other captives. We had nothing to do except eat. We were also given the clothes of prisoners who were released, he said. Like Balram, he too said he had plans to work in Hyderabad, Hyderabad: The Army pressed in 400 personnel for the rescue of flood victims in the city, mainly at Begumpet, Hakimpet, Nizampet and Alwal, on Saturday. The officers provided relief material and helped residents leave their houses with the help of ropes. As there was light rainfall, water subsided in certain locations and there was no need for evacuation, the Army said. Six teams from the National Disaster Relief Management were called in to clear debris at Lingampally. The Indian Air Force has been put on standby to assist the civil administration at short notice. Major Sajeev, who led the operations, said: Old Alwal is still waterlogged and relief packages, including food, ration, medicines and blankets, were distributed to those affected. The Army has set up its own control room at GHMC head office and is coordinating with the GHMC control room to attend to complaints." The Army has kept equipment such as boats, relief packages, medicines at central points for speedy distribution. The Telangana state government has approached the Indian Air Force to rescue 23 civilians who are stranded in Edupayala of Medak district. Three Chetak helicopters were assigned the task. After two rescue attempts, the operation had to be put on hold due to heavy rain in the area. Hyderabad: Eight teachers of the Maulana Azad National Urdu University, who were transferred in the past 20 days from the main campus in Hyderabad to the varsitys off campus locations in Darbangha in Bihar and Bengaluru, have said that they will go on hunger strike against the move. Claiming that the transfers were not as per rules, the teachers have written to Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar seeking his intervention in the matter. In the letter, the teachers said there is no transfer policy in the university. They cited the rules of JNU, New Delhi, regarding transfer of faculty which make it compulsory for taking written agreements from faculty being any transfers. Shaheer Zaman, who is among the transferred teachers, said, We have 15 days to join the campuses where we have been transferred. If there is no response by then, we will go on hunger strike. I had raised issues of improper functioning in the varsity. MANUU Registrar Dr Shakeel Ahmad however scoffed at the allegations: There is no vengeance. During their recruitment itself, teachers are informed that the job is transferable. The V-C wants to focus on off campus institutions too, and we want to send some of our better faculty to these campuses. Such transfers have been done earlier too.Hyderabad: The Telangana state government on Wednesday announced the timetable for the SSC public exams to be held in March 2016. The exams will be held from March 21 to April 9, though main exams will end on April 4. The exams will be conducted from 9.30 am to 12.15 noon. Kozhikode: Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Pakistan Asias lone terror hub, and vowed to mount a global campaign to isolate the country, warning its leadership that the September 18 Uri attack in Kashmir will not be forgotten. Desh me aakrosh ka mahaul hai... terrorists our neighbour exported killed our 18 jawans. Their sacrifice will not go in vain, Mr Modi said in his sharpest and most direct attack on Pakistan as Prime Minister. He was addressing a public meeting attended by lakhs of BJP workers at Kozhikode, a coastal town in Kerala, which is hosting a meeting of the ruling BJPs highest policy-making body. I accept this challenge from Pakistans leaders for 1,000 years. I want to tell you that India wants to fight. If you have the courage, why not fight to end poverty, unemployment, illiteracy? Lets see who wins, the Prime Minister said. It was his first public address after Pakistan-backed terrorists attacked an Army base in north Kashmirs Uri on Sunday, triggering calls for a strong retaliatory action by India and heightened tension between the N-armed neighbours. India is exporting engineers all over the world, whereas Islamabad is exporting terrorists, the PM said. 110 terrorists killed in 4 months: Narendra Modi Wherever terrorism is happening across Asia, the affected nations are blaming it on only one nation. Whenever news about terrorism comes, news also comes that the terrorist came from there. Only one country in Asia is a safe haven for terrorists, the PM said. There is one nation in Asia which is working toward ensuring that the 21st century does not belong to Asia, he said, mocking Pakistan for raking up Kashmir while being unable to manage its own restive territories such as PoK, Gilgit and Balochistan. The PM said Indias security forces foiled 17 fidayeen attempts Pakistan, and killed 110 terrorists in the last four months. You can imagine what would have happened if our neighbour was successful in the other 17 attempts, he said. Mr Modi said India has succeeded in isolating Pakistan diplomatically, and will intensify its efforts to further expose it and force its leadership to live alone in the world. A day will come when the people of Pakistan will go against their own government to fight terrorism, he said. He assured the countrymen that India was safe and 125 crore people take pride in valour and bravery of its soldiers and security personnel. Modi said, Pakistan's public should ask its leaders as to why despite getting Independence together what is the reason India exports software and Pakistan exports terrorism. Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has ordered a merciless demolition drive against illegal buildings in the city to clear encroachments on nalas and lakebeds. According to weather experts, the La Nina cycle has begun. We will witness similar kind of heavy rain in the coming years. If we dont act now, this will repeat, he said. Mr Rao said the city has 300-km of nalas, of which 170 km on the Musi have been encroached upon. This will be cleared soon. If there are any poor people among them, we will provide them houses under 2BHK housing scheme, he added. Mr Rao announced the setting up of a tribunal to deal with illegal buildings and deviation in building plans. Mr Rao said the flood fury was because of sins committed by Congress and TD governments. They had approved the 28,000 illegal buildings over nalas, some of them government buildings. He said if the Opposition was sincere about developing Hyderabad, they should not resist the demolition drive. Mr Rao said learning a lesson from Chennai floods, the Karnataka Chief Minister had ordered demolition of nearly 250 illegal structures to save Bengaluru from floods and state would adopt this. Coimbatore: A Hindu Munnani spokesperson was hacked to death by a four member gang triggering communal unrest in Coimbatore. C. Sasikumar, 36 a resident of Subramaniyampalayam and PRO for Coimbatore unit of Hindu Munnani was hacked to death by four unidentified men using lethal weapons on Thursday night. He was returning home, when four persons in two wheelers chased and attacked him with sickles at Subramaniyampalayam. The public rushed him to a private hospital with multiple cut injuries, but he died without responding to treatment, police said. The body was then taken to the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) for post mortem, where hundreds of members of various Hindu outfits gathered since Friday morning triggering tension. This incident flared up communal tension as crude bombs were hurled at places of worship in RS Puram, Kembatty Colony and on Mettupalayam Road. Tension peaked on Vincent Road and Aathupalam, when a large gathering of members from two communities confronted each other by hurling stones. Violence also broke out at Thudiyalur as a shop and a police jeep were set on fire in the evening. At around 10.30 am hundreds of Hindu outfit members took a march to Vincent Road from CMCH to gherao Big Bazaar police station following reports that a few persons have been detained by police for forcing traders to shut down. Unexpectedly the situation then turned volatile as members of other community had also gathered there in large numbers to retaliate; however a strong contingent of police force led by City Police Commissioner A Amalraj dispersed the agitators by using mild force. In the melee, a cop suffered a head injury in stone pelting by members of the two communities. Condemning the murder of Sasi Kumar, the Hindu Munnani had called for a state wide bandh on Friday. Normalcy was affected severely in Coimbatore as buses stayed off the roads, shops and commercial establishments downed shutters, industrial units remained shut, hotels and bakeries remained closed. They were forced shut in all the commercial areas in both the city and suburbs. Only banks, hospitals and pharmacies functioned in half shutters. All private vehicles including taxis and autos went off the road. More than 20 buses were damaged in stone pelting by miscreants in different parts of the city. As tension mounted, anxious parents took home their children from the schools. Many private schools have declared a holiday. After post mortem, the body of Sasi Kumar was taken on a rally to Thudiyalur from CMCH around noon for cremation, with thousands of Hindu outfit cadres following in two wheelers. As the rally was in progress, the situation went out of control as the mob pelted stones targeting glass panes of commercial establishments on Cross Cut Road, Power House, Sivananda Colony and Mettupalayam Road. The police remained helpless as the crowd was larger in number and could not be controlled. The angry mob also kicked down two wheelers, damaged and overturned autos parked along the way. At Thudiyalur, a police jeep and a shop were set on fire in Thudiyalur, where police resorted to mild force to disperse the crowd. They sought the cops to arrest the culprits involved in the murder. The busy Gandhipuram Town bus stand, Mettupalayam bus stand and Singanallur bus stands wore a deserted look due to the protest. Amidst simmering tension, the body of Sasi Kumar was cremated at Thudiyalur in the presence of local Hindu leaders. Ahmedabad: An FIR was registered against a maulvi from Saraspur in Gujarat, for calling the Prophet bhai and urging others to do so. According to a report, the Gujarat High Court cleared the grounds to charge the maulvi Kari Ahmedali Hussainali Battiwala with attempt to hurt religious sentiments, after he appealed the court to quash an FIR registered against him in this regard. The incident occurred in 2009, when Battiwala addressed several gatherings, where he encouraged followers to call the prophet as bhai only, and allegedly equated himself with the Prophet. He is also accused of inciting people against sufi saints, and urging them to destroy their shrines. An FIR was registered against Battiwala by the Secretary of Sunni Awami Forum in 2010 and he was briefly arrested before being let out on bail. He later challenged the case against him in the Gujarat high court, citing freedom of speech and freedom to propagate ones faith. He also claimed that he made the statement on the basis of the Hadiths, where Prophet purportedly terms his followers as brothers, and added that the charges did not stand as there was no one in the gathering raised any objection to his statements. Battiwala, who belongs to the Tabligh Jamaat also maintained that no ones sentiments were hurt as the case was filed an year later and that no one from the complainants end was present for the hearing. Speaking on behalf of the complainant, advocate Rafik Lokhandwala asserted that the Prophet can equate himself with others by terming the Muslims as his brothers, but it is unfair on the part of a person to draw this comparison. After hearing both sides, the court ruled that it would not interfere in such cases, and that since a chargesheet was filed, the accused must face the trial. Battiwalas counsel said that they would appeal the Supreme Court regarding the matter. Dana Majhi carried the dead body of his wife when the ambulance allegedly denied to give them ferry. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) Bhubaneswar: Exactly a month since Dana Majhi walked 10 km with his wife's body on his shoulder in Kalahandi district, Odisha Assembly today witnessed uproarious scenes with opposition Congress and BJP demanding a House Committee probe into the incident. The issue was raised by Congress Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati during Zero Hour when he strongly criticised state Health and Family Welfare Minister Atanu S Nayak's statement in the House on Friday. "It is unfortunate that the minister said Majhi took away his wife's body without informing the hospital authorities at Bhawanipatna," Bahinipati said. Alleging that the minister had "misled" the House by saying that Majhi "left the hospital against medical advice," Bahinipati said the entire episode should be thoroughly probed by the Assembly House Committee. "The minister is saying that Majhi left the hospital on his own but I have information that it took him around two hours to wrap his wife's body in a cloth. The hospital could have given a hearse van for transporting his wife's body," the Congress leader said. Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra, who had visited the hospital at Bhawanipatna, alleged that the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) had "completely failed" in discharging his duty. "Majhi's wife was declared dead by the doctors at the TB ward. The hapless tribal man had also sought assistance from the hospital authorities," he said. Stating that the right to dignity of a dead person had been violated by the authorities, Mishra said the incident had earned "shame and criticism" for the state. "The state government is taking the incident lightly. The demand for a House Committee probe into the circumstances leading to Majhi carrying his wife's body is justified. A neutral inquiry into the incident could give justice to the tribal man," Mishra said. BJP member Pradip Purohit demanded the Health Minister's resignation accusing him of "failing to give dignity to a dead body". The Congress and BJP members sought a ruling from the Speaker for the formation of a House Committee to probe the incident. While BJP members shouted from their seats, Bahinipati was halfway towards the Well, demanding a ruling from the chair. Dana Majhi, on August 24, hit the headlines after he carried his wife's body on his shoulder for 10 kilometres, accompanied by his 12-year-old daughter, after being allegedly denied a hearse by the hospital authorities. In his reply, Nayak said that his statement in the House yesterday was based on a preliminary report. "We are waiting for a detail report. Action will be taken against those found responsible for the incident. I have never held Majhi responsible," the minister said. Meanwhile, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also criticised Nayak's statement saying, "The minister's statement has revealed the true colour of the ruling system in the state." Pradhan said on social media, "What kind of good governance model the Government is talking about when it said Dana Majhi was not provided ambulance just because he had not sought ambulance or hearse from any hospital?" Stating that the state government had "washed its hands off" by submitting the report of Kalahandi District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) in the House, Pradhan alleged that it had held Majhi responsible for the unpleasant incident. The minister, in his statement yesterday in the Assembly, had said that Majhi had "never sought any help" before leaving the district headquarters hospital at Bhawanipatna. "Holding a contractual staff nurse, Rajendra Rana, responsible for the incident, the government has dismissed him from service. Similarly, the security agency at the hospital at Bhawanipatna has also been disengaged," Nayak had said. New Delhi: Peeved over Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs statement at the United Nations General Assembly regarding Kashmir, author Chetan Bhagat took to micro-blogging site Twitter to express his outrage, and suggested that Pakistan be renamed Terroristan. The speech, which came in the aftermath of the terrorist attack that killed 18 Army men in Jammu and Kashmirs Uri sector, dwelled on Kashmir for the larger part and referred to Hizbul Mujahideen chief Burhan Wani as a young leader. In his speech Sharif also sought that India release Kashmiri political prisoners and later, speaking to reporters in London, said that Uri attack could be a possible repercussion to the Indian atrocities in J&K. He also claimed that India was putting the blame on Pakistan without any evidence. Taking a harsh view of Sharifs speech, Bhagat said I think India and even the world should address Pak by its new name: Terroristan. We keep renaming our cities and roads. Why don't we at least rename Pak to? Demanding that special provisions for Jammu and Kashmir be done away with, he further tweeted, Seeing Kashmir politicians wary of criticising Pak. How is Indian army supposed to guard us then? This Article370 must go. Why attack anyone outside when our own Kashmir politicians (protected by Indian security) are openly sympathetic to Pak. Mumbai: Twitter seems to have had enough of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwals antics on the micro-blogging site. What else could be concluded after Twitterati went no holds barred in trolling the Delhi chief minister for his latest tweet? Insinuating that the police are on an agenda driven crack-down on the party in the national capital, Kejriwal, on Friday, tweeted a cartoon that showed a policeman complaining to his senior about a man raising slogans. The officer is seen telling his junior If he is from AAP, put him in jail. The tweet was with reference to the slew of arrests of AAP leaders in recent times over an array of cases, ranging from sexual abuse, to physical abuse and corruption. AAP MLA Somanth Bharti, who is already facing charges of domestic abuse, was arrested on Thursday over an alleged tiff with a security guard at AIIMS. AAP MLA from Okhla Amanatullah Khan was arrested last week on charges of sexual harassment filed by his sister-in-law. While party MLA Naresh Yadav was held for desecration of Quran in Punjabs Muslim dominated Malarkotla area, while the former law minister Jitendra Singh Tomar was arrested in 2015 for producing a fake degree. And the list goes on. The party has also been facing flak from the Lieutenant Governor and the general public in Delhi for the apparent mishandling of dengue and chikungunya outbreak in the city. Mocking the controversy ridden party, tweeples posted their own version of Kejriwals tweet, hinting at growing disillusionment of the people against AAP. KOZHIKODE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday praised Kerala and its people saying it is a land of virtues which is Gods Own Country. Addressing thousands of party workers at a public programme held on the beach here in connection with the BJP national council, he said that while visiting the Gulf countries and holding talks with the heads of state they always mention about the hard-working Keralites. On the steps taken by the union government to help stranded Keralites, Mr Modi said that when many nurses from the state were trapped in the Gulf, the central government took steps to bring them back to their state. The Prime Minister also referred to historic legends like Zamorin, Kunjali Marakkar and Pazhassi Raja in his speech which started in Malayalam. Security failure Meanwhile, exposing the holes in the VVIP security system, motorcades of VIPs were trapped in the massive crowd after the programme for about half an hour. While helpless security personnel looked on, Union finance minister Arun Jaitly stepped down and walked among the crowd with the security men covering him. The vehicles of many, including defence minister Monohar Parrikar, BJP leader L.K. Advani, BJP national president Amit Shah and chief ministers of various states were held up. The motorcades were also stopped at the railway gate. By making such demands, Karunanidhi was trying to "conceal his betrayals" in the Cauvery issue. (Photo: PTI) Chennai: The ruling AIADMK on Saturday lashed out at DMK chief M Karunanidhi for seeking a special session of Tamil Nadu Assembly to discuss the Cauvery issue, saying he came up with such demands as he was "irked" over Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's "repeated victories" in the inter-state row and wanted to "conceal his betrayals" in the matter. By making such demands, Karunanidhi was trying to "conceal his betrayals" in the Cauvery issue, an article in the AIADMK mouthpiece, 'Namadhu MGR', alleged. "While the repeated victories ensured by our mother (Jayalalithaa) in the Cauvery issue by approaching the Supreme Court have irritated Karnataka, they have irked Karunanidhi as well," it claimed. The Jayalalithaa-led Tamil Nadu government had approached the Supreme Court in the Cauvery issue, seeking a direction to the Centre for notifying the 2007 tribunal award in the Central gazette. It had also moved the apex court early this month, asking it to direct Karnataka to release water from the Cauvery river to Tamil Nadu. On both the occasions, the court had ruled in Tamil Nadu's favour. "That is why, he (Karunanidhi) makes meaningless demands like seeking a special Assembly session or all-party meetings to pretend as if he too is concerned about the Cauvery issue," the article alleged. It went on to say that while the recently concluded Assembly session had gone on for over a month, the DMK chief had not attended the proceedings but had just turned up to "sign the register". Karunanidhi is an MLA from Thiruvarur. The article claimed that "intelligent manoeuvres" by Jayalalithaa was leading the state towards a "permanent victory" in the water-sharing row even as it added that the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka was "stunned" following the apex court's directive, asking it to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. Karunanidhi was "unable" to stand the state benefiting in the Cauvery issue due to Jayalalithaa's decision to seek legal recourse, it alleged. The DMK chief had urged the Tamil Nadu government to convene a special session of the Assembly like Karnataka. In a special sitting of its legislature yesterday, Karnataka virtually refused to spare any more Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu as directed by the Supreme Court, adopting a resolution to use water only for drinking purpose. New Delhi: In remarks that could cause a controversy, Congress today said that it "perhaps made a mistake" by alloting land to Ramdev for his food park while it was in power. "We perhaps made a mistake (by alloting the land) but we did not give him the status that he enjoys. When we make a mistake, we admit the mistake. We do not cover-up," party spokesman Tom Vadakkan said at a briefing today. His remark came in the wake of a question over the yoga guru's close associate Acharya Balkrishna entering the annual Forbes list of India's 100 Richest People at the 48th position with a net worth of USD 2.5 billion, owing to his 97 per cent holding in Patanjali Ayurved. "You ask Forbes on which basis...You also ask the government about the manufacturing licence...about noodles", he said. To a question that Ramdev was given land during the Congress-led UPA regime when Subodh Kant Sahay was the Minister concerned, he said "we perhaps made a mistake." Ramdev is a known detractor of Congress and is considered close to the Modi government. Kozhikode: Launching a blistering attack on Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday warned its leadership that the Uri terror attack will not be forgotten and the sacrifice of 18 jawans will not go in vain. In his first public address after last Sunday's deadly attack by terrorists from across the border, he said India will mount an all out offensive to isolate Pakistan diplomatically to expose its activities in exporting terror, killing of innocent people and spilling blood. "Terrorists should hear out clearly that India will never forget the Uri attack...I want to tell the leadership of Pakistan that the sacrifice of our 18 jawans will not go in vain," Modi told a largely-attended public meeting on the Kozhikode beach held on the sidelines of the BJP national council meet. Modi held Pakistan directly responsible for the Uri attack saying the country exported terrorists there due to which 18 soldiers sacrificed their lives. The Prime Minister said there is one nation in Asia whose aim is to spread terrorism and is working towards ensuring that the 21st century does not belong to Asia. "Every nation is holding only one country responsible for terrorism. Only one country in Asia is safe haven for terrorists. This is the only country engaged in exporting terror across the world. "Be it Afghanistan, Bangladesh or other nations, we have seen whenever the news of terror incidents comes, terrorists have either gone from this country (Pakistan) or have settled there after committing the crime," he said. The Prime Minister said India had never bowed to terror and will never do so in future and will strive to defeat it. Modi said there were 17 attempts by fidayen attackers sent by the neighbouring country which have been defeated by the brave Indian soldiers who have neutralised over 110 terrorists which is the highest in recent years. "Terrorism is enemy of humanity. Humanitarians all over the world have to unite and condemn terror," he said. He assured the countrymen that India was safe and 125 crore people take pride in valour and bravery of its soldiers and security personnel. "The leaders of the neighbouring country who read out scripts written by terrorists are singing the Kashmir song. Today from here, I want to talk to people of Pakistan directly. I want to remind them that before 1947, your forefathers had saluted this land. "You should ask your leaders why they were not able to handle PoK, erstwhile Bangladesh, Pakhtunistan, Gilgit and Balochistan and were trying to mislead you by talking about Kashmir," Modi said. The Prime Minister said, "Pakistan's public should ask its leaders as to why despite getting Independence together what is the reason India exports software and Pakistan exports terrorism." Lashing out at the neighbouring country, he said its leaders used to say that they will fight for 1000 years with India and wondered where they are now. "I accept this challenge. I want to tell you that India wants to fight with Pakistan. If you have the courage then why not fight to end poverty, unemployment, illiteracy. Let us see which country wins, India or Pakistan," he said. He said his government will strive hard to end poverty and make India prosperous as envisioned by Jan Sangh founder Deen Dayal Upadhyay whose centenary celebration starts tomorrow. Mumbai: As the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) asked actors and artistes from Pakistan to leave India within 48 hours or it would push them out, the president of the Maharashtra unit of the Samajwadi Party (SP), Abu Azmi, on Saturday dared MNS chief Raj Thackeray to send his suicide bombers to Lahore and Karachi instead of intimidating people coming to India from Pakistan legally with India visas. Today, Pakistan is sending suicide squads (fidayeen) to India, if you have the potential and sympathy, then you should also send your suicide bombers to Lahore and Karachi to fight against Pakistan or you should stop intimidating people who have come to India legally on an India visa. Stop fooling around as it will further dent your votebank, Azmi challenged Thackeray. Forget about Pakistan, as you (Raj Thackeray) are a small leader and your reach is limited to Maharashtra only. Today Naxals are attacking policemen in Gadchiroli and Chandrapur, and if you are unable to do anything in Karachi and Lahore, then you send your activists in Maharashtra to save our security forces, and then I will understand that you are doing something practical, the Samajwadi Party MLA said. Accusing the MNS of hooliganism and of breaking the law, Azmi said, It is true that Pakistani people (terrorists) killed 17 (18) jawans, which had lowered our moral and we should take revenge from Pakistan, but it does not mean that you will threaten artistes and players coming from there. If Raj Thackeray has the potential, he should go to Delhi and get the Pakistan Embassy closed, and he should also stop the Indian Embassy in Pakistan from granting visas to people to visit India, and then, I will understand that you have done something. But you are threatening those people who have come here on Indian visas so that they come to you and you strike a deal with them, it is nothing but an attempt to make a fool of people. If you have so much pain and you want to push the Pakistani people out, then why only in Mumbai, you should work in the entire country, he added. The MNS workers association on Friday said they would not allow the release of Ae Dil Hai Mushqil and Raees as the movies feature Pakistani actors while giving a 48-hour deadline to the stars from the other side of the border to leave India. MNS Chitrapat Sena president Amey Khopkar warned Pakistani actors that they would face serious consequences in India if they do not leave the nation within 48 hours. We give a 48-hour deadline to Pakistani actors and artists to leave India or the MNS will push them out, said Khopkar. This comes at a time when tensions between the two Asian neighbours has escalated to a new level post the killing of 18 army personnel in a dastardly terror attack on an army base camp in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmirs Baramulla district. India has blamed Pakistan for the attack as the investigating agencies reportedly recovered weapons and ammunition bearing Pakistani marks from the site. Pakistan has, however, flatly rejected New Delhis claims of involvement in the Uri terror attack stating India has a traditional tendency of pointing fingers at the former whenever a terror attack takes place on Indian soil. The dastardly Uri attack happened a week ago. Eighteen of our brave soldiers gave their life for the nation. It was the highest casualty suffered by our forces since 2002. The four fidayeens were eliminated, but it was beyond doubt that they were Lashkar-e-Tayyaba operatives who had come from across the border. Pakistans complicity was writ large over the entire attack. It was, in many ways, akin to a declaration of war. The nation stands united in the condemnation of Pakistan. We support the government in such action that it takes to convey a befitting riposte to Pakistan. But all thinking Indians must retain their right to expect that the response will be carefully thought out, strategically planned, coherent, sustained and consistent. Many important voices in the BJP sought to equate the right to interrogate the government as an anti-national act. Frankly, in a democracy, asking the right questions should be seen as a constructive contribution to finding the right answers, and not an act of disunity. Moreover, for the BJP to see any query or critique relating to our Pakistan policy as anti-national is unacceptable hypocrisy. During the 2014 parliamentary elections, it was the BJP, and, in particular Narendra Modi, who had made the UPAs Pakistan policy the brunt of deliberate and, often distorted, criticism. Anyone can check out the innumerable public rallies where Mr Modi ridiculed the UPAs soft handling of Pakistan, including satirical references to biryani camaraderie even as our soldiers were being martyred. Narendra Bhai also promised that if he came to power he would teach Pakistan a lesson, and that for every one head of our soldiers beheaded by Pakistan he would send back 10. If the BJP could make the nations Pakistan policy the subject of such scathing criticism, why cant the Opposition interrogate the BJPs policy when it is in power? After all, what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander. In fact, compared to the BJPs attack, the Opposition after Uri has observed far greater linguistic restraint. But certain questions continue to linger, and must be answered, in a spirit of constructive engagement beyond partisan politics. How is it that terrorists have managed to literally stroll into high security zones like our Air Force base in Pathankot, and our 12 brigade camp in Uri? For two such blatant incidents to happen close on the heels of each other, some responsibility needs to be fixed with regard to intelligence and vigilance and related security measures. It is true that terrorists have always the advantage of surprise, and it is not possible to prevent every terrorist attack, but defence minister Manohar Parrikar has himself admitted that some things could have gone wrong. The government of the day must accept responsibility, investigate matters fully, and begin the process of what can be feasibly rectified. What is the way ahead? A first set of responses must deal with internal housekeeping. First, the presence of our armed forces along the LoC must be beefed up, and their technical, material and equipment requirements fully provided for. Second, our intelligence needs to be upgraded and better coordinated with much faster processing and response systems. Third, the Army must be freed from law and order responsibilities in the Valley, so that it can concentrate on what it is trained to do, which is to protect our borders and carry out counter-intelligence operations. For this last point, it is essential that a political process to bring back a semblance of peace and normalcy in the Valley is initiated. It is not an easy task, but the BJP had publicly committed to do so in the 11-page Agenda for Alliance it had signed with the PDP. It has reneged from this commitment, and it is increasingly clear that the BJP-PDP government in J&K is unequal to the task. A second major response must be to isolate Pakistan on the international stage as a terrorist state. A beginning has been made at the UN General Assembly, but this will require more than merely hard-hitting speeches at plenary gatherings. What is required is sustained, rigorous, behind the scenes lobbying in the important capitals of the world, most importantly in Beijing and Washington, reiterating the central point that while India may be facing the brunt of Pakistans verifiable sponsorship of terrorism as state policy, the world at large is under threat by the emergence of Pakistan as the epicentre of global terrorism. Hafiz Mohammed Saeed and Masood Azhar, terrorists with UN bounties on their head, are roaming free in Pakistan, and not only India but other countries in the region like Afghanistan and Bangladesh are at the receiving end of their terror activities. Such an internationally orchestrated campaign must have other important elements. There should be no bilateral talks with Pakistan except on the question of terrorism emanating from its soil. Equally, attending Saarc meetings must be dispensed with for the time being. On Balochistan, we must continue to draw global attention to the well-documented human right violations there. However, on what the next steps should be, including on the question of providing asylum to Brahamdagh Bugti, needs to be analysed clinically. Sterile sabre rattling is of little use. It is to be hoped that populist statements of bravado, like that of Ram Madhav who said that we will take a jaw for a tooth, will not pressure the government into premature or ill-thought-out adventurism. There is also talk of withdrawing most favoured nation status to Pakistan, and abrogating the Indus Waters Treaty. Such steps need very careful deliberation, because we should not initiate a process over which we lose control because of lack of initial foresight. In short, given the unpardonable flip-flops of our governments Pakistan policy thus far, what the nation is asking for is strategic clarity, foreign policy coherence, and a responsible, coordinated and well-thought-out policy formulation. Is this too much to ask even after Uri? Now that Najma Heptulla has been appointed governor of Manipur, there is a mad scramble in the BJP for her Rajya Sabha seat. Although the list of hopefuls are long, party grapevine says former Union minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya are among the frontrunners. Mr Hussain is undoubtedly a strong candidate but even before the leadership can take a final view, there are murmurs in the partys MP unit that outsiders are being given preference while the claims local leaders are being ignored. However, Mr Vijayvargiyas candidature has put MP chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in a fix. On one hand, he cannot openly oppose his name as Mr Vijayvargiya belongs to the state. On the other hand, it will be difficult for the CM to endorse him as it is well known that there is no love lost between the two leaders. In fact, Mr Vijayvargiya loses no opportunity to target Mr Chouhan. Only recently, Mr Vijayvargiya had tweeted: We had promised residents of Indore a metro but the state governments speed suggests we will get a bullock cart, not metro. He followed it up with a fresh attack on Mr Chouhan when he declared that the ills that come with power are slowly becoming apparent if we are not careful, we may find the going tough in the next elections. Given their relationship, Mr Chouhan is unlikely to be happy if Mr Vijayvargiya is rewarded with a Rajya Sabha berth. As relations between New Delhi and Islamabad deteriorate, it is highly unlikely that Prime Minister Modi will attend the Saarc summit in Pakistan. From all indications, it appears that India will not directly call off its trip. It will instead persuade Bangladesh and Afghanistan to cancel their participation in the summit. According to the Saarc charter, a summit has to be cancelled even if one member country decides to stay away from the meeting. Both Dhaka and Kabul have their problems with Islamabad and are apparently not averse to staying away. Both countries have supported Indias efforts to isolate Pakistan following the recent Uri attacks. While Bangladesh home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal hit out at Pakistan for supporting terrorism, Afghanistans second vice-president Sarwar Danish slammed Islamabad at the UN for its failure to act against terrorists. After this combined attack, if Bangladesh and Afghanistan go a step further and decide not to participate in the Saarc summit, New Delhi will get yet another opportunity to tell the international community that other neighbouring countries are equally unhappy with Islamabad. Past experience shows that each time chief ministers are locked in an inter-state river waters dispute, the PM usually calls them for a meeting to resolve the deadlock. However, Prime Minister Modi has adopted a hands-off approach to the Cauvery dispute between Karnataka and TN. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has sought an appointment with Mr Modi but he is yet to hear from the PMO. Mr Modi obviously does not want to upset Tamil Nadu CM J. Jayalalithaa. At the same time, he cannot take a stand which goes against Karnatakas interests as the BJP has its eye on the 2018 Assembly elections. The BJP believes it has an opportunity to win back Karnataka as the Congress has been thoroughly discredited for its inability to contain violence. The BJPs state unit, therefore, boycotted the all-party meeting called by the CM while its leaders met Union water resources minister Uma Bharti separately. A lengthy profile of NSA Ajit Doval by an international news agency recently maintained that he held more sway than the ministers of defence and foreign affairs and that he is the most powerful person in after Prime Minister Modi. Such write-ups on Mr Doval usually surface whenever there is a terrorist attack or there is a major foreign policy development. However, this praise for Mr Doval has not gone down well with Mr Modis Cabinet colleagues. As it happens, defence minister Manohar Parrikar, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and home minister Rajnath Singh are reduced to mere spectators whenever there is a crisis. It appears that this time even the RSS is said to have disapproved of the attention which Mr Doval is grabbing even though it is known that the NSA keeps a low profile. IRS babus will predictably hold key positions in the Goods and Services Tax council secretariat which is being set up. These and officers of the Central Board of Excise and Customs will play a greater role in GST implementation than IAS officers. This assurance has been given by finance minister Arun Jaitley to a delegation of IRS Officers Association. Despite the general enthusiasm surrounding GST, the IRS association had earlier opposed the formation of the GST council secretariat since it was to be filled with IAS officers. The Union Cabinet had on September 12, approved appointment of the secretary (revenue) as the ex-officio secretary to the GST council and inclusion of the chairperson, CBEC, as a permanent invitee. Revenue secretary is usually an IAS officer. The Cabinet had also approved creation of one post of additional secretary and four posts of commissioner in the secretariat. The council will decide on the tax rate, exempted goods and the threshold. The association had demanded that the secretary to the council be member (GST) in the CBEC. Though the minister did not spell out how exactly the government would accommodate this demand, the delegation appears to have been satisfied with his response, for now. But a fresh round of appointment and promotions and some new announcements are still awaited in the next fortnight. Shuffling the pack The BJP government in Haryana may have chosen to overlook several recommendations of the Prakash Singh Committee following the caste riots in the state earlier this year, but it takes the feedback of its own partymen, ministers, MLAs and advisers seriously. In whats probably the biggest reshuffle of his tenure, CM Manohar Khattar has shifted 26 IAS officers with immediate effect. The reshuffle covered top bosses of key departments, including power, town and country planning, health, finance, excise and taxation, food and civil supplies and labour. And, sources say, that rumours of the reshuffle began when the government held a series of feedback sessions with MLAs and advisors. Among the babus affected are additional secretary for power R.K. Gupta, principal secretary for excise Anurag Rastogi, additional chief secretary for food and supplies Shyam Sundar Prasad, and additional chief secretary for finance Sanjeev Kaushal, among others. The state government has overlooked the minimum tenure policy by transferring several officers much before completion of the two-year tenure. Health, for instance, has had four additional chief secretaries in the past two years. Meanwhile, there is still no word on whether the government will take action against the police officers indicted by the Prakash Singh panel for dereliction of duty during the riots. An early start The government has begun the search for a successor to U.K. Sinha, chairman of the Sebi, whose tenure will end in February next year. Mr Sinhas will have had amongst the longest stints as Sebi chief, having been appointed for three years in 2011 then granted a two-year extension and another years this last February because the government could not finalise anyone from the shortlist then. Sources say that the successor to the 1976-batch Bihar cadre IAS officer will be named on the recommendation of the Financial Sector Regulatory Appointments Search Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary P.K. Sinha. Though the government has invited applications for the post, apparently the search panel can recommend any other person who it thinks has the requisite merit. Last time former Forward Markets Commission chairman Ramesh Abhishek, SBI chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya and Thomas Mathew, additional secretary at Rashtrapati Bhavan were frontrunners for the post of Sebi chairman. This time too, the applicants are likely to be equally illustrious though Ms Bhattacharya want figure certainly since shes likely to snag an extension too. P. Muralidhar Rao, BJP national general secretary feels that fight with Pakistan is an ideological fight. In an interview with Cynthia Chandran, Mr Rao says that this is an existential war for both the countries. Excerpts: The Congress has been alleging that the Uri terror attack has been completely stage-managed by the BJP. Why has the BJP government delayed its response? Such an allegation is an insult to the brave soldiers. Unless and until top AICC leadership has not made such a baseless allegation, I do not wish to comment on it further. The BJP government has been most mature and competent and it can handle any issue. We have complete faith in the governments wisdom and competence. Our responses will be at the time of our choice. BJP governments response will be beneficial for the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a man who can unite. The BJP has been projecting patriotism and jingoism for quite some time. In the imminent elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand, there are several thousands of soldiers coming from these three states. How do you think the party would address this issue? It is unfortunate that the nationalist approach of the BJP in the manner in which it handled the issue or its aggressiveness has been seen as chauvinism. You have to understand that we are in conflict with Pakistan. The fight with Pakistan is not a fight with its neighbour; it is an ideological fight. When they fight for Kashmir, it not on legal aspects, it is the fight between a theory of two nations. Their theory of nation is rooted in attacking us. If you accept this theory in 2016, there is no basis for our Constitution, no basis for our neighbourhood and there is no basis for the present Indian integrity and unity. So this is an existential war for both the countries. Unless Pakistan relinquishes its concept of utility in 2016 or in future, you cannot accept it. The other important issue is that Pakistan has taken up the means of terrorism to resolve various disputes with India. It is encouraging terror camps, terror organisations and terrorists. If you remove this, there is no fight in the Kashmir Valley. Violence and terrorism is completely exported and completely supported by Pakistan by all means. Now because of this approach, Pakistan itself has become a victim of terror. And India is already afflicted with it. This terrorism is causing problems for the entire world. Every country has started recognising Pakistan as a terrorist state as terrorism is an issue that affects the entire world and its peace. We have to understand this. Cutting across all political barriers, we must transcend to reach an understanding to understand that it is a complex issue. In Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, it is not just Pakistan. The issue in UP is development and the BJP is not interested in raising nationalism in the elections there. There is a general perception that PM Narendra Modi is announcing a slew of schemes, but his government is not a performing one. Is it so? This question is not rooted in facts. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power, you must observe that all pro-poor programmes that have been started in the first or second year were path breaking. In the coming days, it will create greater impact, not just in terms of politics, but in the long term of the empowerment of society. Party stands for the poor, deprived and the downtrodden and agriculture and rural areas. Take for example, the pro-poor Jan Dhan Yojna. People may criticise these programmes in a given context. I am not saying these programmes at that point of time are incorrect. Naturally when we start a programme these things you have to pass through. So progressively Jan Dhan Yojna programme is going to be a world record not in terms of opening accounts but in the long term inclusive development that is going to create milestones in several aspects in reducing the corruption, in reducing the leakages and in creating a kind of connectedness and in increasing the trust and faith of the governance. There are many poor people. So through direct cash transfer, subsidies and transfer of fertiliser subsidy, gas subsidy, freedom fighters pension, handicapped pension, old age pension and scholarships a kind of financial highway has been created. These are going to be important. In the same way you see the poor, stand up programme in each branch, SC/ST and women entrepreneurs have to be identified and groomed and mentored. So dont judge the PM in the first year, but in the long run you can see a crop of entrepreneurs. All these yojnas prove that under this government and under Modijis leadership, this government will become a pro-poor government. In this direction, party is also mobilising its cadres that are reaching the poor to create awareness and information. The Goods and Services Tax has been passed and the perception is that it will lead to huge changes, but will it benefit the poor? Here, any tax reform is a great reform in this country which was long overdue. It could not be implemented earlier for whatever may be the reason. Today, the Modi government has been able to push it. It has now become a law. The tax and the reforms will have an impact in the long run. So now it is not yet implemented. After one or two years when it becomes normal, then the consumers specially the poor will also feel its impact. Mr Modis style of functioning has always been criticised by his political detractors alleging that he is not taking everyone along? Mr Modi is accessible and the most visible leader. He is very active and travels widely. His critics are only trying to distort and create misinformation. They are giving a wrong perception about him but they wont be able to sustain it as Mr Modi is able to communicate and relate with everyone. He is the only politician in the country who is able to sustain his image. He has a huge popularity. Secondly he is able to regularly connect with such people. He is constantly interacting with people where he is inviting ideas from the government, he is inviting ideas for various schemes and various aspects. This is the first time a PM is democratising the policy process by using the technology. Can anybody refute this? Its not a one way process. He is asking the people by putting the queries on the website, what are the ideas of the government, feedback of the various ministers... This is happening for the first time in the countrys political history. It is completely a new era where Mr Modi is using new technology to his advantage. There has been a debate in the CPI(M) by the former general secretary Prakash Karat alleging that BJP stands for fascist movement while his successor Sitaram Yechury says the party stands for proletarian. Who is actually ideologically wrong? The Communist Party has become isolated. You cannot say that CPI(M) exists everywhere and in every state. Why has it happened? They are imprisoned by the cadre bureaucracy. In fact, the cadre can also become the bureaucracy, a suffocating and strangulating bureaucracy. It becomes only one channel for the people to interact with the party leadership. And the BJP leadership interacts with the party supporters in a parallel way by using technology. Though BJP is a cadre-based party, our functioning is not confined to cadre reach out. We have parallel ways of interacting with the people and this is the party which has always shown innate capacity, learn and accept new things. This is the party which stands for the poor and for small entrepreneurs as well as small marginalised farmers. Despite the BJP having the maximum number of dalit MPs, recently there has been a dalit uprising against the BJP. Do you fear that it will affect forthcoming elections in UP and Punjab, where Dalits make up 48 per cent of the population? Dalit sections remained as vote banks for Congress for so long. Also, there are certain parties that claim to do dalit politics. In 2014, the BJP has emerged as a party which has the maximum number of Scheduled Caste constituencies. We have a good number of MLAs for BJP under the SC category. The base of BJP in dalit constituencies is growing. So there is a threat perception for the monopolist parties who want to retain their claim. They are now engrossed in spreading clashes between the dalit and the BJP. In fact the dalit communities are in no manner a threat to the BJP. Because they undertake the project for whom it is generating. If you look at Jan Dhan Yojna, which has been conceived for dalits, we have been able to achieve 100 per cent results. It is the Modi government which is committed to Ambedkars philosophies. When it comes to contentious issues like Uniform Civil Code and Ramjanmabhoomi, what has the BJP done? Has BJP shelved Ramjanmabhoomi? Uniform Civil Code is part of the directive principles. Courts are interested and the Supreme Court is talking about it. Ultimately when the court is taking up the topics, you all will be discussing. Definitely they are contentious issues until perceptions are clear, unless a consensus is developed you cannot have an approach which is a long pending issue before the nation. It is not the BJP or the Congress or some other party but the issues are before the country. It does not mean that increasing or widening the conflict or the interest of the country. We are interested in peace and stability, harmony and progress. The BJP has taken, in the last two and a half years, all such issues which ensured peace. It is part of our agenda/manifesto. But we have not front-loaded Ramjanmabhoomi issue even in the elections. It is before the Supreme Court; certain avenues are there. As a nation we have to resolve it. BENGALURU: Buoyed by the success of the Mars Orbiter Mission the probe will turn two on Saturday though it was intended to last six months Indian space scientists are planning a second shot at the Red Planet. The second orbiter will get up close to Mars and could carry instruments weighing 100 kg as compared with a mere 15 kg in MOM. And unlike the first mission where all five instruments were designed by ISROs scientists, the space agency has invited the countrys scientific community to propose studies of the Martian atmosphere and surface and to design instruments to support their research. These studies could address questions on evolution of planets, whether life existed elsewhere in the solar system, and the interplay between geological and possible biological history. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Chennai: The low-cost Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) which was originally meant for six months is completing two years of orbiting Mars on Saturday. The MOMs performance and longevity have brought cheer to Isro scientists who designed, built and launched the spacecraft in a record time of less than two years. We are extremely happy with the overall performance of the mission. It was originally meant for only six months of operation. Because of fuel being available we were able to keep the mission for a longer time, Isro chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar told DC. The Rs 450 crore Mars Orbiter Mission was launched with the PSLV-C25 rocket from Sriharikota on November 5, 2013. After travelling 666 million kilometres for around 300 days, it entered into the Mars orbit on September 24, 2014. India created history as the first nation to reach Mars on a maiden attempt. The five payloads collect data on geology, morphology, atmospheric processes and surface temperature of Mars. The eclipse will come sometime next year during which the spacecraft will go to another side of the red planet. If we dont take any action on the current orbit we will get into long duration eclipse where the battery on the satellite will not be able to provide the requisite power for satellite operation. We are planning to do a course correction manoeuvre sometime in January next year, Kiran Kumar said. M.Annadurai, director, Isro Satellites Centre said, The experience gained in MOM realisation is now helping to get the newer satellites faster, better and cheaper. We are almost rolling out one satellite per month, he said. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Rubins and her two crewmates a Russian and Japanese can't come home until the next three-person crew arrives. The lone American in orbit will end up voting for president from the International Space Station, if her homecoming is delayed. NASA astronaut Kate Rubins said Thursday that she doesn't know yet whether she'll return to Earth in late October as planned. The Russians have delayed the next crew launch for technical reasons. It was supposed to take place Friday, but it's off for at least a month. Rubins and her two crewmates a Russian and Japanese can't come home until the next three-person crew arrives. NASA likes to have an overlap of several days, if not more. Rubins told The Associated Press she got an absentee ballot before she rocketed away in July, just in case. When she's not in space, home is Houston, Texas, but in this case, the absentee ballot lists her address as "low-Earth orbit." "It's very incredible that we're able to vote from up here," she said, "and I think it's incredibly important for us to vote in all of the elections." American astronaut Shane Kimbrough is waiting in Russia to join her at the space station, along with two Russians. Rubins said she's got plenty to keep busy, regardless of when she returns. There is so much science work up there, "Nobody would mind too much if we got extended a little bit. We would be able to get a lot of research done." A professional virus hunter before becoming an astronaut, Rubins, 37, last month became the first person to perform full-blown DNA decoding, or sequencing, in space. She's already racked up more than 1 billion base pairs, which are the building blocks of DNA. The pocket-size sequencing device was launched over the summer by SpaceX, currently grounded by a launch pad accident on Sept. 1. Rubins said the biomolecule sequencer has worked surprisingly well in space, despite the different way bubbles and fluids behave in weightlessness. All of the sequencing data are beamed down immediately to scientists on the ground, so any potential delays in SpaceX deliveries and return shipments won't hamper the experiment. This real-time processing will prove beneficial for diagnosing astronaut illnesses in the future, Rubins said, as well as ascertaining any potential bacterial outbreak in the orbiting outpost itself. The space station, meanwhile, is well-stocked with both supplies and research materials, Rubins said. In fact, she has "more work than I have hours to do in the day." Orbital ATK, NASA's other station supplier, is targeting Oct. 9 or soon thereafter for its next shipment, after being grounded for two years by a launch explosion. "Spaceflight is a tricky business," Rubins told the AP. "It is definitely difficult, and I think we forget that sometime." Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. In this digital age, most users have all their data stored online but the virtual space has its own setbacks. As technology progresses, information snooping and hacking have increased rapidly. Recently, Yahoo confirmed one of the worst online breaches where data of more than 500 million accounts were compromised. So if you are concerned about your online security, one of the first steps you should take is figuring out if all your accounts are secured, and then you can move further. As for non-Yahoo users who might be feeling secure right now, Internet is a vast space and these kinds of attacks keep on happening every day, without our slightest knowledge. While companies are stepping up the ante to protect users from such scenarios, sometimes even the companies dont know when an attack occurs for months or even years, as in the case of Yahoo. Firstly, if you have a Yahoo account and want to check if you account has been affected or not, dont worry. The company has been sending mails to affected users and alerting them. Well, it doesnt matter if you get the mail or not; be sure to enable two-factor authentication right away for damage control. Moving on to other accounts, you can always check them on a website named Have I been pawned. The website is run by a security researcher Troy Hunt, who has been tracking data breaches for years. The process is simple: you have to enter your email ID and the site will notify you regarding an unusual activity or breach. Also, another way to quickly identify account snooping is by enabling email alerts. Considering the number of attacks that are happening online, users are advised to change their passwords regularly, stay clear of malicious links and content, and get their accounts checked at least once in a month. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. The collaboration will enable Lenovo customers to be able to authenticate to online FIDO-enabled services like PayPal by using a fingerprint instead of a password. Lenovo, Intel, Synaptics and PayPal revealed a collaborative effort to bring simple and safe authentication experiences to enterprise and consumer use cases today. The collaboration will enable Lenovo customers to be able to authenticate to online FIDO-enabled services like PayPal by using a fingerprint instead of a password. This innovative biometric authentication system for PCs will implement current FIDO standards, bringing established FIDO biometric authentication capabilities to the PC. Though verifying identity has long been the domain of passwords, they have become less safe to use without security factors in todays digital world. The 7th Gen Intel Core processors with Intel Software Guard Extensions (SGX) lay the groundwork for robust, hardware-protected biometric authentication securing users FIDO credentials and biometric information. The Synaptics Natural ID fingerprint sensor features enterprise-level security with TLS 1.2 encryption. Synaptics Natural ID Fingerprint Solution is secured by SentryPoint features, including TLS 1.2 encryption and anti-spoofing algorithms. PayPal leverages its unique authentication ecosystem to continue making payments more secure and convenient. The goal? Reduce fraud and increase security, while making online authentication nearly frictionless with biometrics secured by built-in, hardware-level protection. As the use cases for Internet-connected devices grows at the enterprise and consumer level, there is a critical need for highly secure, but unobtrusive methods for protecting identities, data and machines. Lenovo and Intels shared hardware expertise allows for a unified, built-in security architecture that's more secure, private and hassle free. Likewise PayPal brings its authentication expertise and Synaptics their biometrics knowledge to deliver a much needed alternative solution to the password problem. Lenovo: The average user has to remember passwords for many different accounts, from PC log-in, email to online shopping. We wanted to help change that by freeing users from the burden of remembering complex passwords by providing a simple authentication solution, said Johnson Jia, senior vice president, PC & Smart Device Business Group, Lenovo. Were excited to be the first PC company to partner with Intel, PayPal and Synaptics to bring users simpler and safer online authentication based on the released FIDO standards, through fingerprint readers designed for improved security on our laptops starting with the Yoga 910 convertible. Synaptics: The Synaptics Natural ID fingerprint sensor solution combines enterprise-level security with design flexibility. OEMs can select from a wide range of Synaptics SentryPoint features, such as match-in-sensor, TLS 1.2 encryption and anti-spoofing algorithms, to enable robust, biometric authentication for device unlock and online transactions. Todays notebook and PC users want solutions that are safer and more convenient for online transactions, said Godfrey Cheng, vice president of marketing, Human Interface Systems Division, Synaptics. Together with our ecosystem partners, were deploying strong security architectures to protect user identity and accelerating the adoption of biometric authentication solutions worldwide. PayPal: In an ongoing effort to enhance security in the financial services industry, we are working with Intel and Lenovo on a FIDO authentication solution which enables biometric authentication for Personal Computers, said Bill Scott, vice president, Identity Product and Engineering at PayPal. Security has always been a priority for PayPal, and we are committed to offering our customers secure, password-less authentication options leveraging FIDO standards. Intel: Intel continues to drive innovation to simplify and secure the computing experience, said Navin Shenoy, general manager of the Client Computing Group, Intel. We are excited about the close collaboration between Intel, Lenovo, PayPal and Synaptics using the new 7th Gen Intel Core processors to bring secure payments via biometric authentication to the PC. FIDO Alliance: I commend Intel, Lenovo, Synaptics and PayPal, all FIDO Alliance board members, for partnering to FIDO-enable biometric authentication on the desktop, said Brett McDowell, executive director of the FIDO Alliance. Passwords are a universal problem that is not limited to mobile devices. Every internet connected device needs the ability to upgrade to simpler, stronger FIDO authentication and thanks to this partnership, the desktop ecosystem is on an accelerated path to get the same FIDO capabilities already well established across the mobile ecosystem. Hardware-based Protection Secure password-less sign on requires strong authentication that is ideally rooted in the hardware. Lenovo PCs using Natural ID and Intel Core processors achieve this by quickly and securely capturing user credentials, which are encrypted and stored in the hardware, making them less susceptible to malware attacks. Sign In With Your Fingertip Were making signing in simpler and safer on a PC. Though all the user has to do is touch the fingerprint reader, sophisticated technology is at work protecting the sensitive credentials. Each login is wrapped in three layers of protection designed so that neither the users fingerprint information nor their FIDO credentials, ever leave their device: built-in hardware security, a secure device ID, and FIDO-compliant biometric authentication. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Apple does not sell products directly in India, but has a network of distributors and authorized resellers. Apple has partnered with Indias e-commerce website Flipkart in an attempt to control the pricing of its devices. This will mark as the first time Flipkart will source its inventory from Apples distribution channel in India. The company does not sell products directly in India, but has a network of distributors and authorized resellers. Unlike other markets, where users can buy Apple products directly from the company's website, buyers in India are directed to third-party retail stores as Apple does not have the license to sell products directly in the country. Earlier the e-commerce giant relied on third party retailers for selling Apple products on its platform. Flipkart also offered Apple devices with a heavy discount to compete with rival e-commerce websites including Amazon and Paytm. Apple also has a partnership with Infibeam, another e-commerce company in India to directly sell iPhones. Its new tie-up with Flipkart however includes plans to sell products such as iPads and Mac lineup as well. E-commerce sites are progressively becoming a key platform for smartphone sales. The sales via online shopping portals amounted for 32 per cent of the overall smartphone sales by volume in Q2 2016, according to a report from Counterpoint Research. Apples iPhone 7 launch is scheduled for Oct. 7. The iPhone 7 starts at Rs 60,000 ($900), while the base iPhone 7 Plus model is priced at Rs 72,000 ($1,080). The company has also slashed prices of its last years iPhones, with the iPhone 6s now starting at Rs 50,000 ($750). Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Xiaomi has teased another picture revealing the dual camera setup of the device. After teasing the benchmark scores of its upcoming S smartphone, Xiaomi has teased another picture revealing the dual camera setup of the device. The company is expected to unveil the device on September 27. The device can be dubbed as the Mi 5s or the Mi Note S. But what we are sure about is that the smartphone will pack in a dual camera setup. The new teaser shows that the dual camera setup is placed vertically and most likely around the centre of the smartphone. There are also rumours floating around about the Mi 5s featuring a 16MP rear camera and a 4MP front facing camera. Other speculations suggest that the device will be powered by a 64-bit Snapdragon 821 quad-core processor with Adreno 530 GPU backed by 6GB of RAM. It is rumoured to have a 256GB variant and will run on Android 6.0 Marshmallow with MIUI 8 on the top. It is also expected to come with a 3,490mAh battery with support for Qualcomms Quick Charge 3.0. Though, earlier Mi 5S was tipped to feature a 5-inch display, recent rumour suggests that the smartphone will probably feature a 4-inch display, instead of 5-inch. The rumour is based on a recent image posted by a Chinese-website Weibo. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Baloch nationalists along with the Indian-American community members staged a protest outside Pakistan's Consulate in the US. (Photo: AP) Houston: Baloch nationalists along with the Indian-American community members staged a protest outside Pakistan's Consulate in the United States against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Holding placards and shouting slogans against Pakistan for human rights violations, abduction and killings of civilians and rape of women, protestors condemned the recent "dastardly and cowardly act of Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack" in Uri. Many protesters, mostly American Friends of Balochistan activists and Indian-Americans, carried placards highlighting the oppression of minorities, women and children in Pakistan and urged the US government to stop funding Pakistan. A placard held by a soldier described Pakistan as the "Ivy League of Terrorism". Two days ago, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir had noted that the land of Taxila, one of the greatest learning centres of ancient times, "is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism" and attracts aspirants and apprentices from all over the world. The protest event ended with the gathering singing the national anthems of the US and India. "The attack was carried out by banned terror group Jaish- e-Mohammed with the active support of Pakistani army and ISI, it is high time that those at helm consider it as an act of war by Pakistan against India," activist Achalesh Amar said. The protest came after Congressman Ted Poe, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, along with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, introduced a bill in the US House of Representatives to designate Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism. "It is time we stop paying Pakistan for its betrayal and designate it for what it is, a state sponsor of terrorism," Congressman Poe had said after introducing the bill. 18 soldiers were killed when Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists attacked a highly-guarded army camp in Uri in Kashmir on Sunday morning. Sergeant Mark Francis says authorities are searching for a man wearing gray who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5 from the mall. (Photo: Twitter handle of Seargeant Mark Francis). Washington: A gunman opened fire in a crowded mall north of Seattle, killing five people before fleeing Friday night, authorities said. Washington State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Mark Francis said police were searching for a Hispanic man wearing black and armed with a rifle who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5. "We are still actively looking for the shooter. Stay indoors, stay secure," Francis said at a news conference. Authorities say the motive was unknown. The deadly shooting happened in the Macy's store at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of Seattle. Francis said three females were killed, one male suffered life-threatening injuries and another female suffered non-life threatening injuries. Authorities had previously said four people were killed, but updated the number of fatalities after they were able to secure the scene. Francis said at about 8:30 p.m. that the mall had been evacuated and emergency medical personnel were cleared to enter. Stephanie Bose, an assistant general manager at Johnny Carino's Italian restaurant near the Macy's store at the mall, said she immediately locked the doors to the restaurant after hearing about the shooting from an employee's boyfriend. "He was trying to go to the mall and people were screaming," she said. "It was frantic." She said he could see police at the doors with assault rifles and said they were no longer guarding the doors as of 9:30 pm Gov. Jay Inslee said tragedy had struck the state. "We urge residents to heed all safety and detour warnings. Stay close to your friends and loved ones as we await more information and, hopefully, news of the suspect's capture," Inslee said in a statement. The Cascade Mall is an enclosed shopping mall that opened in 1990, according to the mall's website. It features J.C. Penney, TJ Maxx, and Macy's stores, among other stores, restaurants and a movie theater. On Sept. 17 a man stabbed 10 people at a Minnesota mall before being shot and killed by an off-duty police officer. Authorities say Dahir Ahmed Adan, 20, stabbed the people at the Crossroads Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota Thailand police have arrested five men, including a British national, after they found a womans dismembered body in a freezer in a building in Bangkok. (Photo: AFP/Representational) Bangkok : Thailand police have arrested five men, including a British national, following a raid on a five-storey building where a gang was allegedly running a drugs and fake passport racket. They also found a womans dismembered body in a freezer. According to a report in Mirror, a gunfight broke out between the cops and the men prior to the arrest, injuring a police officer who was later reported to be in stable condition. Of the four other men arrested with the 63-year-old Britisher, two were Americans and two Burmese nationals. Police also seized a passport-making machine and several pistols from their hideout. The dead body, chopped up in five pieces, was wrapped in a plastic bag and stuffed in a fridge at the basement of the building. Police are still trying to establish the dead womans identity and further investigation is underway. Peter Scully is accused of sexually assaulting and torturing children and even filming sex acts with them. (Photo: YouTube Screengrab) Manila: An Australian-origin child sex abuser who has been branded as the 'world's worst paedophile', could face death penalty after he forced an 11-year-old girl to dig her own grave before brutally killing her. According to a report in the Mirror, the paedophile identified as Peter Scully, is accused of sexually assaulting and torturing children and even filming sex acts with them. He has also been accused of running a child pornography website and trading child sex abuse videos around the world. Earlier this week, Scully appeared at a court in Philippines where the prosecutors demanded death penalty for him. Scully was arrested by police only after some of the children he captured, managed to escape. The court was told that Scully had also directed a video titled 'Daisy's Destruction' in which a masked woman was shown torturing and abusing a baby. Police have termed the video as the 'worst they have encountered in their years of campaigning against child pornography'. Scully has pleaded not guilty to any of the charges against him. However, he remains in jail. Beer was also among a group of men charged last year with abusing a girl aged 11 for three years. (Representaional image) Perth: An Australian man, member of a paedophile ring Evil 8, has been jailed for seven years for sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl in front of her father. She was shackled to a bed and forced to wear bondage gear. 36-year-old Nicholas Adam Beer confessed to sexually assaulting at his Wanneroo home in March 2014. He also admitted of taking indecent pictures and videos when the girl was naked and was just wearing a mask, gag and dog collar emblazoned with the word bitch on it. According to a report in The Daily Mail, Beer also pleaded guilty to supplying the pictures and videos to the victims father and possessing more than 27,000 images and 475 videos of child exploitation, which he downloaded from the internet. As told to the district court, the father brought his daughter to Beers house after he responded to an online advertisement offering her up. In one of the videos, the girl can be seen struggling, saying stop, please dad. Beer told the court that initially the girl seemed comfortable and un-frightened, but his psychiatric treatment helped him gain an insight into the affect of his serious and disturbing offending on the victim. Judge Bruce Goetze said, She was simply too young and you know it was wrong. She was uniquely vulnerable and her father encourages you to exploit her, which is very strange and unusual. How any father can do this escapes me, he added. The girl was unable to provide a victim impact statement and would probably not comprehend, until she is an adult, the extent of the degradation she was subjected to. Beer will be eligible for parole after serving five years term. While, the victims father, 42, has been jailed for 22-and-a-half years and he appealed against the sentence, arguing it is excessive. Other members of the Evil 8 paedophile ring have been jailed or awaiting sentence for their crime. Beer was also among a group of men charged last year with abusing a girl aged 11 for three years. He had been out on bail. Prostitution has been legal in Germany since 2002, but has been ruined by human trafficking, stigmatisation and abuse. (Representational Image) Berlin: In a move to tighten regulation of prostitution in the country, Germany has approved a new law that makes it illegal to have sex with prostitutes without using a condom. According to a report in the Independent, brothel owners will now be expected to make their customers aware of the new law and inform them that unprotected sex will be banned. The law has been approved by Bundesrat, Germanys upper house of Parliament. It will now be sent to President Joachim Gauck for his approval. Prostitution has been legal in Germany since 2002, but has been ruined by human trafficking, stigmatisation and abuse. The new law will also make licensing mandatory for all brothels so that they would comply with all rules and meet legal standards. On the other hand, prostitutes will also be expected to register with the local police, post which they will be given a certificate that would require a renewal every two years. The sex workers will also be required to attend a health advice session once in a year. For prostitutes below the age of 21, certificates with a validity of one year would be issued and they would be required to attend health advice sessions twice a year. Those violating the law, including sex workers, pimps, buyers or brothel owners, could face fines up to 1,000 (860) and 50,000 (43,000). Upon violation of the laws, brothel owners could also be stripped off their license. Oaxaca: A Mexican priest, who was accused of raping 30 young girls and infecting them with HIV, has been acquitted by the Catholic Church. His victims were as young as five. According to a report in the Daily Mail, the accused identified as Jose Garcia Ataulfo, was cleared of any wrongdoing by Archdiocese of Mexico. Ataulfo had admitted to sexually assaulting young girls from the Mexican state of Oaxaca. He has not yet faced any criminal charges, which is assumed to be because of the influence of the church. Reports also said that police officials have refused to start an investigation in the matter. Moreover, only two out of 30 girls have come forward and expressed their anger over the acquittal of the priest. It is also reported that one of the victims had even contacted the Vatican in order to meet Pope Francis and speak to him regarding the acquittal of the priest, but she was turned away. However, this is not the first time a Catholic priest has been involved in sex crimes. Prior to Ataulfo, Father Marcial Maciel, the late founder of the Legionaries of Christ,was exposed in 2006 as living a double life as a paedophile, womaniser and drug addict, and the order went into Vatican receivership for several years. The photographs of Prince George and Princess Charlotte are believed to be among those that have been hacked from their aunt Pippa Middleton's iCloud account. London: Scotland Yard is investigating hacking claims of Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton sister's iCloud account that contained private photographs, including that of Prince George and Princess Charlotte. 'The Sun' newspaper reported that it was offered the images of the British royal family by someone asking for 50,000 pounds within 48 hours. The photographs of Prince George and Princess Charlotte are believed to be among those that have been hacked from their aunt Pippa Middleton's iCloud account. "Police have received a report concerning the alleged hacking of a personal iCloud account. Specialist officers are now investigating," Metropolitan Police said in a statement. The haul from the hack is believed to include 3,000 pictures, and the anonymous seller has reportedly tried to sell them via encrypted messaging service WhatsApp. A spokesperson for Pippa said: "Thank you very much for drawing this to the family's attention. I can confirm that not only have the lawyers been informed but the police are about to be involved as well." Pippa was maid of honour when the Duchess of Cambridge married Prince William in 2011. Earlier this year, she and her boyfriend, hedge fund manager James Matthews, confirmed they are engaged to be married, with a wedding planned for next year. Pope Francis meets relatives of the victims of the Nice truck attack this summer, during a special audience in the Pope Paul IV hall, at the Vatican. (Photo: AP) Rome: Pope Francis on Saturday called for a "sincere dialogue" between Christians and Muslims as he met grieving relatives and survivors of France's Bastille Day attack, in which a jihadist ploughed his truck into a crowd. The pope, who this week denounced violence in the name of religion -- declaring "there is no God of war" -- met 180 people who were wounded, or left traumatised or bereaved by the July 14 attack in Nice which claimed 86 lives. "We need to start a sincere dialogue and have fraternal relations between everybody, especially those who believe in a sole God who is merciful," he said, speaking in the Vatican's giant Paul VI audience hall, and calling this "an urgent priority." "It is with a feeling of great emotion that I am meeting you, those who are suffering in body and in spirit because an evening of festivity turned into one of violence which struck blindly at all, without taking into account their origins or religion," the pontiff said. "We can only respond to the Devil's attacks with God's works which are forgiveness, love and respect for the other, even if they are different," he said. Members of 58 families were flown in especially from the French Rivera resort city of Nice. They were joined in Rome by 150 others who travelled from France by car and a delegation from a French regional interreligious group, including the Catholic bishop of Nice and Muslim, Jewish, Orthodox and Protestant representatives. Last month the Argentine pontiff met French President Francois Hollande to offer his support and condolences to a country which has been rocked by a series of deadly attacks since early 2015. While speaking out against violent acts carried out in the name of any god, Francis this week reminded the West that there were parts of the world being flattened by fighting. 'Open to all faiths' Speaking in the Italian town of Assisi on Tuesday he said, "We are frightened... by some terrorist acts", but "this is nothing compared to what is happening in those countries, in those lands where day and night bombs fall." Vincent Delhommel Desmarest, who runs a restaurant on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice where the attack happened, said he has been on sick leave ever since and now sees a psychologist three times a week. "I don't sleep at night. The whole scene of the lorry moving, the mutilated bodies, decapitated, the entrails," he said. The 49-year-old has decided to create a local association to support the victims of that awful night. French police on Tuesday arrested eight associates of Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, a 31-year-old Tunisian, who rammed a 19-tonne truck through a crowd of more than 30,000 people on the seafront Promenade des Anglais on July 14 before police shot him dead. A total of 434 people were injured in the attack. Nice's deputy mayor Christian Estrosi, who is making the trip to Rome, stressed that the papal audience would be "without any distinction between the religions". A third of those who died in the Nice attack were of the Muslim faith, said Imam Boubekeur Bekri, vice-president of the Southeast France regional Muslim council, who will also be attending the meeting. Bekri hailed the pope's "intense humanism", expressed through his visit to mainly Muslim refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos. Maurice Niddam, president of the Jewish community in Nice, is not accompanying the Jewish victims of the attack, but he similarly praised a pope "open to all faiths". Shouting "Those wearing shorts must die!", the suspect attacked the woman, who works as a nurse, kicking her in the face, reports said. (Photo: YouTube Screengrab) Istanbul: A man who was accused of kicking a woman in the face on a bus in Turkey, told police that he would have been less aroused had the woman worn trousers. The accused was arrested on the charges of kicking and injuring a young woman for wearing shorts on an Istanbul bus. He was arrested in Uskudar, a district on the Asian side of the city. Shouting "Those wearing shorts must die!", the suspect attacked the woman, who works as a nurse, kicking her in the face, said a report. He later told police he had been angered by her clothing. "The shorts she was wearing were not appropriate. That's why I was angry and behaved so," he was quoted as saying. The man, who handles security for a company, had previously been diagnosed as suffering from "manic depression", the agency said. Many feminists in Turkey have expressed growing concern over the extent of violence against women, with hundreds killed every year, often by their husbands. Four members of al Qaeda's Yemen branch were killed in a suspected US drone strike. (Photo: AP/Representational) Sanaa: Four members of al Qaeda's Yemen branch, including a local commander, were killed in a suspected US drone strike on a vehicle traveling east of the capital, two local officials said on Saturday. They said the attack in Marib province, controlled by forces loyal to exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, occurred late on Friday. A local commander of the militant Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), known as Abu Khaled al-Sanaani, was killed along with three associates, they said. It was the second drone strike in two days to target a local commander of the Islamist militant group regarded by US officials as one of the most dangerous branches of al Qaeda. A drone strike on a vehicle in al-Bayda province in central Yemen killed a senior AQAP leader known as Abdallah al-Sanaani, identified as a regional commander of the group, on Thursday. The United States has been using drones to target the Islamist militant group which has exploited Yemen's civil war to carve out a foothold in the impoverished country. Several leaders of the group have been killed by drone strikes in recent years. US officials have said AQAP is one of the most potent security threats in the Middle East. The group, whose attacks have mainly targeted the Yemeni government and the Iran-allied Houthi group, claimed responsibility for an attack last year on the Paris office of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. At least 12 people were killed and 23 others injured in shooting and a suicide bombing in the northern city of Tikrit on Saturday. (Photo: AP/Representational) Samarra: Militants killed 12 people in a shooting and a suicide bombing on Saturday in the northern city of Tikrit, which was recaptured from the Islamic State group last year, police said. Tikrit was seized by ISIS in June 2014, but the city has largely been spared attacks that have plagued other parts of the country since its recapture. Militants shot dead four police at a checkpoint on the west side of the city, then continued north and detonated an explosives-rigged vehicle at another checkpoint, killing eight more people, a police colonel and lieutenant colonel said. The attacks also wounded a total of 23 people, according to the officers. Tikrit, located 160 kilometres (100 miles) north of Baghdad, was the second city to fall to IS in 2014 as the jihadists swept through large areas north and west of the capital. It was also the first city to be recaptured by Iraqi forces, which are now preparing for a push on Mosul, the last IS-held city in the country. London: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said he hopes all SAARC members would attend the regional summit, amid reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may not attend it after the terror attack in Uri which India says was carried out by Pakistani terrorists. Pakistan was making preparations for the SAARC summit, Sharif, who arrived in London after attending the UN General Assembly in the US, said as he hoped that all member states would attend the meet, the News International reported. The 19th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit is scheduled to be held in Islamabad from November 9 to 10. Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising since the September 18 attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers. Pakistan has rejected allegations of its involvement in the assault. Recent media reports said that India may boycott the SAARC summit after the Uri terror attack which led to tensions between the two neighbouring countries. There is, however, no official confirmation over India's decision. Lahore: China has assured Pakistan of its support in the event of any foreign "aggression" and also supported the country's stance on the Kashmir dispute, a media report said. Beijing conveyed the message during a meeting of its top diplomat in the provincial capital with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the Dawn reported. "In case of any (foreign) aggression our country will extend its full support to Pakistan," Consul General of China in Lahore Yu Boren said in a press release by the Punjab Chief Minister's Office. "We are and will be siding with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. There is no justification for atrocities on unarmed Kashmiris in (India)-held Kashmir and the Kashmir dispute should be solved in accordance with aspirations of the Kashmiris," the report quoted Yu as saying. Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising after the September 18 terror attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers. India has blamed the attack on militants from Pakistan which has rejected allegations of its involvement. Yu, who called on Shahbaz Sharif yesterday to felicitate him on his 65th birthday, discussed with him the situation developing in Kashmir and the progress being made on various projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). A portion of the USD 46 billion CPEC passes through a part of the disputed region because of which India has raised objections over the project. Bugti, the grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader killed by the Pakistani army in 2006, has been living in exile in Switzerland. (Photo: Facebook) Islamabad: Pakistan has said it will approach Interpol for the extradition of Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti who has sought political asylum in India, a media report said. The Pakistan government has decided to write to Interpol for the extradition of Bugti. "The Federal Investigation Agency will send a formal reference to Interpol within the next few days for the extradition of Brahamdagh Bugti," interior minister Nisar Ali Khan was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune. Pakistan yesterday warned India that by granting asylum to Bugti, it will become an "official sponsor of terrorism". Bugti, who has been living in Switzerland, on Tuesday approached the Indian Embassy in Geneva seeking asylum in India and exuded confidence of a positive response from New Delhi. His application seeking political asylum was received by the Home Ministry in New Delhi which is examining it. Bugti is the President and founder of Baloch Republican Party. He is the grandson of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader killed by the Pakistan army in 2006. Pakistan government had blamed India for helping Bugti flee Pakistan to Geneva in 2010 via Afghanistan. A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court seeking an order for Pakistan Election Commission to not acquire electronic voting or biometric machines from India. (Photo: AP/Representational) Lahore: A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court seeking an order for Pakistan Election Commission to not acquire electronic voting or biometric machines from an Indian company. In a writ petition filed on behalf of a citizen, advocate Azhar Siddique said the Pakistan Election Commission (ECP) opened bidding to acquire the electronic voting machines since it intended to hold the next general election on biometric system. "Three Indian companies Indra Kamra, Reliance and Morpho have also submitted their bids and ECP is likely to approve bids of the Indian companies and choose one of them. It will be dangerous for Pakistan's security if electronic voting and thumb impression machines are purchased from Indian companies," the petitioner said. He argued that the electronic voting system should not be acquired from any Indian company for security concerns and appealed the court to stop the ECP from acquiring the system from the Indian company. The court will fix the date for hearing next week, a court official said. Meanwhile, an ECP spokesman said no Indian company has been shortlisted for the project so far. "The biometric machines will be acquired after security clearance," he said. An ECP spokesperson, however, said no Indian company has been shortlisted for the project so far. The biometric machines will be acquired after security clearance, he said. (Photo: AP/Representational) Lahore: A petition has been filed in the Lahore high court, seeking an order for Pakistan election commission to not acquire electronic voting or biometric machines from an Indian company. In a writ petition filed on behalf of a citizen, advocate Azhar Siddique said the Pakistan Election Commission (ECP) opened bidding to acquire the electronic voting machines (EVMs) since it intended to hold the next general election on biometric system. Three Indian companies - Indra Kamra, Reliance and Morpho - have also submitted their bids and ECP is likely to approve bids of the Indian companies and choose one of them. It will be dangerous for Pakistans security if electronic voting and thumb impression machines are purchased from Indian companies, the petitioner said. He argued that the electronic voting system should not be acquired from any Indian company for security concerns and appealed the court to stop the ECP from acquiring the system from the Indian company. The court will fix the date for hearing next week, a court official said. An ECP spokesperson, however, said no Indian company has been shortlisted for the project so far. The biometric machines will be acquired after security clearance, he said. About 200 troops from Russia and Pakistan will take part in the two-week military drill named 'Friendship 2016' between September 24 and October 7. Islamabad: Russia on Friday denied that their first ever joint military exercise with Pakistan would be partly held in the Gilgit-Baltistan area in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. According to reports, Russia described as erroneous and mischievous reports that said it would be holding joint military exercises with Pakistan in PoK. Russian state-run news agency TASS had earlier reported that the opening ceremony will take place at an army school in Rattu in Gilgit-Baltistan, but the information was later taken off the website, said reports. In its statement, the Russian Embassy said that the Russia-Pakistan anti-terror exercise is not being held and will not be held in any point of so-called Azad Kashmir (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) or in any other sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit and Baltistan. The only venue of the exercise is Cherat. However, some reports suggested that Russia had cancelled its plans to hold military drills in PoK after India protested. About 200 troops from Russia and Pakistan will take part in the two-week military drill named 'Friendship 2016' between September 24 and October 7. Pakistans relations with the US soured recently when the sale of eight F-16 fighter jets to that country was blocked by lawmakers, and is trying to improve relations with Moscow to counter any further deterioration in ties with the US. High-level exchanges between Islamabad and Moscow had seen Pakistani military heads visiting Russia, and a deal was signed for the sale of four MI-35 attack helicopters to Islamabad. Pakistan is also exploring buying Su-35 fighter jets from Russia, said reports. India has made significant progress in its goal to isolate Pakistan internationally over the Uri attacks, stating at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that Pakistan is a terrorist state which attracts aspirants from all over the world. On the other hand, the UN as well as world powers including America, Britain, Russia and others have largely ignored Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs repeated pleas for international mediation in Kashmir. Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday claimed that the Uri terror attack could be the result of a "reaction" of the people to the situation in Kashmir as he criticised India for blaming Pakistan "without any evidence". "The Uri attack can be the reaction of the atrocities in Kashmir, as the close relatives and near and dear ones of those killed and blinded over the last two months were hurt and outraged," Sharif told reporters on Friday in London where he had stopped on his way back from New York after attending the UN General Assembly session. Sharif said that India hastily blamed Pakistan without any investigation. He said India behaved in an "irresponsible way" when it blamed Pakistan "without any evidence". "How could India accuse Pakistan only hours after the Uri incident without holding any inquiry or investigation," Sharif was quoted as saying by Pakistani media reports. "The whole world knows about the Indian atrocities" in Kashmir where around 108 people have so far been killed, over 150 blinded and thousands injured," he alleged. Stressing on alleged "brutalities being perpetrated against innocent Kashmiris", the Pakistani Prime Minister said that before accusing Pakistan, India should have looked at its "atrocious role" in Kashmir. He called on India to also conduct a probe into the "killings" of Kashmiris. Sharif said the achievement of lasting peace in the region was impossible without the resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute. 18 soldiers were killed when Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists attacked a highly-guarded army camp in Uri in Kashmir on Sunday morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that those behind the despicable act will not go unpunished. The incident triggered a diplomatic dust-up with both India and Pakistan hitting out at each other including at the UN General Assembly. Industry players have assured of investing at least Rs 15,000 crore in the tourism sector in India, the Centre said at a three-day Incredible India investors summit concluded here on Friday. We are overwhelmed with the participants response. With more that 2,000 registration of delegates and participation of countries like the US and Singapore, we have been able to fulfil Prime Ministers dream of making tourism the strength of the Indian economy. Investments to the tune of around Rs 15,000 have been promised, Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma said. He was replying to questions from media on the outcome of the three-day investors summit organised by the Tourism Ministry in collaboration with the Tourism Finance Corporation Confederation of Indian Industries (CII). During the summit, the state governments and union territories sought to draw foreign and domestic investments, together offering at least 700 projects in the tourism sector. Many of the states could manage to secure investment promises, the ministry officials said . They, however, expressed difficulty in immediately sharing the finer details about the investors and the projects of the states which drew their interests. The MoUs (memorandum of understanding) have already been signed. A process for compilation of the outcome of the summit is still going on. Within two weeks time, compilation results will come, Sharma told reporters. Earlier in the day, while addressing one of the sessions at the summit, the tourism minister said that the government would soon come up with a plan for disinvestment of hotels operating under the Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC). The Centres plan for disinvestment of the loss making hotels of the ITDC has been in the news for quite some time. Five ITDC hotels including Hotel Janpath in Delhi, are reported to have already been identified for privatisation as part of the centres plan to disinvest loss-making properties. Four women were killed and a man was critically wounded today in a shooting at a mall in the US state of Washington with the gunman described as a "Hispanic male" still at large. Police are searching for one shooter and are sweeping stores in the Cascade mall, Sgt Mark Francis said about the shooting in Burlington, about a 100 km north of Seattle. Authorities said four women were killed in the shooting while a man was critically wounded. Francis, a spokesman for the state patrol, said the victims were shot in the makeup department of the Macy's store. "We have one adult male victim from the Burlington mall shooting who arrived by air this evening to Harborview Medical Center at approximately 9:30 PM (local time Friday). He is in critical condition," hospital spokeswoman Susan Gregg was quoted as saying by CNN. Authorities released a surveillance image of the suspect apparently walking through a store and holding a rifle. Francis said police did not know the gunman's motive. He said the ages of the victims appeared to range from their 20s to elderly, but had no further identifying information. Washington Governor Jay Inslee said in a statement that many questions remain but state patrol and local law enforcement are on the scene working swiftly to locate the shooter and clear the area. "Trudi and I send our condolences to the families of the victims and prayers for anyone injured," Inslee said. "We urge residents to heed all safety and detour warnings. Stay close to your friends and loved ones as we await more information and, hopefully, news of the suspect's capture." The FBI's Seattle office announced that it was assisting local investigators with intelligence reviews and manpower. The bureau said on Twitter that it "has no information to suggest additional attacks planned" in Washington state but did not elaborate. Tari Caswell told the Skagit Valley Herald she was in the Macy's women's dressing room when she heard "what sounded like four balloons popping." "Then I heard seven or eight more, and I just stayed quiet in the dressing room because it just didn't feel right. And it got very quiet. And then I heard a lady yelling for help, and a man came and got me and another lady, and we ran out of the store," Caswell said. Authorities also released a photo of a man believed to be the gunman. "Here is the shooter. We believe just one shooter...Armed with rifle," Francis tweeted. He said police are "actively searching for suspect, tracking leads." Washington State Trooper Rick Johnson said they had reports of the suspect "walking toward the freeway, had reports of him behind...some buildings, they're canvassing the area right now, and...(he) has not been located at this time." According to local media reports, the shooter apparently entered the mall about 7 PM (local time Friday) through one of its stores 'Macy's'. Brandi Montreuil, who was at the mall, said she was at the movies when they were told to leave. "I didn't know anything. The theater attendant came in and apologised for stopping the movie and said they (theater staff) were asked to have everyone leave immediately," she was quoted as saying by CNN. She said at first she thought it was a drill. "But you immediately think about what happened in Aurora, Colorado, so you start moving faster," Montreuil said, referring to the shooting in 2012 that left 12 dead. When they got outside, they saw numerous police vehicles, but with no officers in sight. "We didn't know if it was a fire so we were looking for smoke of some kind. Then a few officers started canvassing through the crowds asking if anybody saw anything," Montreuil said. She said an officer "with a large gun started yelling for people to leave, and fast". The shooting marks Washingtons sixth mass shooting with at least four victims this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Three people were shot to death at a house party in Mukilteo in July. A special train, called Mosquito Terminator, was on Friday pressed into service by the Northern Railway to spray insecticide on water bodies along the track in Delhi area to curb mosquito breeding. The train, with a power sprayer truck provided by SDMC which is mounted on a wagon, was flagged off from New Delhi railway station on Friday. The water bodies formed on the land adjacent to the railway tracks, which is otherwise inaccessible, can be sanitised effectively in this manner, said a senior Northern Railway official. The drive against mosquito breeding was launched by the Northern Railway, as part of its public health initiative, in association with South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to check mosquito breeding in the water bodies in the wake of spurt in vector-borne diseases during this season. The official said, the sprayers can sanitise large and inaccessible areas from a distance of 50-60 metres from the tracks in a short span of time. Moving at a speed of 20 kmph, Mosquito Terminator would cover a distance of about 150 km, in each cycle, over a period of two days. As per schedule, there will be four rounds of spraying at an interval of two weeks. The train will pass through Sarai Rohilla, Patel Nagar, Delhi Cantonment, Palam, Safdarjung, Kishanganj, Lajpat Nagar, Nizamuddin, Adarsh Nagar, Shahdara and Gurgaon. A cow was found slaughtered in a park in Gaushala Road on Friday morning in Central Delhi's DCM Railway Colony. The body of the cow has sent for post mortem said police. A candlelight march was organised by the residents in the evening where people from nearby areas also came. They will protest outside Fimistan Cinema Hall in Rani Jhansi Road in Central Delhi on Saturday, said the residents. Residents who go for morning walk regularly to the park spotted the cow early morning around 6 am. The park is a retreat for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers who practice yoga there every day. Police said that the cow was killed after 1 am in the dead of the night and no one witnessed the act. None of the body parts of the cow were missing. The head of the cow was impaled, legs were tied with a rope and skin was peeled off from its body. The insides of the cow were missing, said the residents. According to the residents, it was done deliberately done to ignite rioting. Over 50 to 60 police officers were deputed on the spot to keep a check on the movements of people, so that no untoward consequences follow. Residents had a meeting in the evening to decide on the action to be taken at a local level. Himangshu, a Sangh worker said that this is a pre-planned act because they know that RSS workers come here regularly. One knows that if one keeps a cow lying like that, the workers will be angered and if the workers are angered there will be a riot, he said. But RSS has planned to sort this peacefully because if we start a riot we will not be able to answer Pakistan on terrorism, especially after the Uri attack, said Himangshu. There are three to four Muslim families who live in Gaushala Road and the residents were certain that it is not their doing. It must be people from the Bara Tooti Chowk, said a resident. Bara Tooti Chowk lies on the opposite side of DCM Colony and the residents here refer to Bara as Mini Pakistan. Pawan Gupta, a resident told Deccan Herald that he is extremely upset because the councillor of DBG Road did not turn up after the incident. But the residents called for an evening meeting where people from Nangloi, DCM Colony and Burari were called, so that they can together decide for the safety of their cows and humans. If this kind of thing can happen with a cow that means people are also not safe here, said Pawan. The Delhi government on Friday decided to ban use of Chinese cracker infamous for being health and safety hazards in an attempt to keep air pollution levels low during the festival of Diwali next month. In a letter to the Secretary, the interim Environment Minister Kapil Mishra said: I am made to understand that Chinese crackers are a great health and safety hazard. The use of Chinese crackers increases manifold in the festive season particularly during Diwali in Delhi. It is a major source of air and noise pollution also. The Department of Environment is advised to take immediate necessary steps for its ban in public interest, wrote Mishra. The AAP governments eagerness to take early steps against Chinese crackers is linked to the major embarrassment it faced for alleged delay in banning deadly Chinese kite strings which claimed three lives last month. Last October, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote to the Centre by citing gains from curbs on Chinese crackers during the Diwali festival and sought continuation of restrictions on import of polluting fireworks from China. Cost of potassium chlorate, the raw material used in Chinese crackers, is only Rs 50 per kg as compared to the aluminium powder used in Indian crackers, which costs Rs 300 a kg, according to a cracker dealer in Sadar Bazar. However, the traders who deal in Indian fireworks fear that the Chinese variants might get smuggled in despite the central governments restrictions. After China, India is the second largest producer of firecrackers in the world. The Indian cracker industry is worth Rs 3,000 crore and Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu alone caters to 80 per cent demand of the domestic demand. The Delhi governments letter to the Central governments Customs Department last year urged for the continuation of the ban on the harmful crackers from China. Every year the Delhi government also puts out advertisements calling public to give up the use of Chinese crackers. Scientists have confirmed that some of the X-ray emissions in our universe originate from a huge bubble of hot ionised gas enveloping our solar system, a finding that strengthens our understanding of the solar neighbourhood's early history. They also detected an entire group of X-rays that do not come from any known source - unveiling a new cosmic mystery. In the last century, humans realised that space is filled with types of light we can not see from infrared signals released by hot stars and galaxies, to the cosmic microwave background that comes from every corner of the universe. Some of this invisible light that fills space takes the form of X-rays, the source of which has been hotly contended over the past few decades. Researchers from University of Miami in the US confirmed some of our ideas about where these X-rays come from, using data from the DXL (Diffuse X-ray emission from the Local galaxy) sounding rocket, which was launche in 2012. However, the data also unveiled a new mystery an entire group of X-rays that do not come from any known source. The two known sources of X-ray emission are the solar wind, the sea of solar material that fills the solar system, and the Local Hot Bubble, a theorised area of hot interstellar material that surrounds our solar system, researchers said. "We show that the X-ray contribution from the solar wind charge exchange is about forty per cent in the galactic plane, and even less elsewhere," said Massimiliano Galeazzi, an astrophysicist at the University of Miami in the US. "So the rest of the X-rays must come from the Local Hot Bubble, proving that it exists," said Galeazzi. DXL also measured some high-energy X-rays that could not possibly come from the solar wind or the Local Hot Bubble. "At higher energies, these sources contribute less than a quarter of the X-ray emission," said lead author Youaraj Uprety, who was at University of Miami during the research. "So there's an unknown source of X-rays in this energy range," Uprety said. Scientists theorised that there was a huge bubble of hot ionised gas enveloping our solar system, with electrons energetic enough that they could release X-rays like this. They called this structure the Local Hot Bubble. "We think that around 10 million years ago, a supernova exploded and ionised the gas of the Local Hot Bubble," said Galeazzi. "But one supernova wouldn't be enough to create such a large cavity and reach these temperatures so it was probably two or three supernova over time, one inside the other," he said. "Identifying the X-ray contribution of the Local Hot Bubble is important for understanding the structure surrounding our solar system," said Uprety, who is now an astrophysicist at Middle Tennessee State University. "It helps us build better models of the interstellar material in our solar neighbourhood," he said. The study was published in the Astrophysical Journal. The chiefs of the Army and the Air Force along with the Vice Chief of the Navy today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence here. The meeting assumes significance as it comes against the backdrop of the deadly Uri attack. Defence sources described the meeting as "routine". The chiefs of the armed forces have a monthly meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss various issues, they said. Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral K B Singh met the Prime Minister. Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba is out of town. The Army Chief has met the PM and top PMO officials a number of times since the attack last Sunday in which 18 soldiers were killed. Heavy Syrian and Russian air strikes on rebel-held eastern areas of Aleppo city killed at least 25 civilians today, a monitor said, overwhelming doctors and rescue workers. The toll was expected to rise because people remained trapped under rubble, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The intense raids continued for a second night, after Damascus announced an operation late Thursday to recapture all of the city. Seven people were killed in a strike on the Bustan al- Qasr neighbourhood as they queued to buy yoghurt at a market. Bustan al-Qasr is along the frontline that divides the government-held west from the rebel-held east of the city. The attack left a pool of blood and bodyparts strewn at the site, according to an AFP correspondent. At least 47 people were killed in heavy bombing yesterday, among them seven children, according to the Observatory. There was massive destruction in several neighbourhoods, including Al-Kalasseh and Bustan al-Qasr, where some streets were almost erased by the bombardment. Unexploded rockets were still buried in the roads in some areas, and elsewhere enormous craters around five metres deep and wide had been left by the bombing. Residents and activists described the use of a missile that produced earthquake-like tremors upon impact and razed buildings right down to the basement level where many residents desperately seek protection during bombing. The civil defence organisation known as the White Helmets was left overwhelmed by the scale of the destruction, particularly after several of its bases were damaged in bombing yesterday. The group says it has just two fire engines left for all of east Aleppo which, like its ambulances, are struggling to move around the city. With no electricity or fuel for generators, the streets of Aleppo are pitch black and difficult to navigate at night, and the fuel shortage has also made it tough to fill up vehicles. In many places, rubble strewn across streets has rendered them impassable and has effectively sealed off neighbourhoods to traffic. This morning, the streets were nearly empty, with just a few residents out looking for bread. The approximately 250,000 people in east Aleppo have been under near-continuous siege since government troops encircled the area in mid-July. A truce deal negotiated between Moscow and Washington brought a few days of respite from the violence, though no humanitarian aid, earlier this month. But the deal has fallen apart, and on Thursday the Syrian army announced an operation to retake all of Aleppo, urging civilians in the east to distance themselves from "terrorists" and promising them safe passage to government-controlled areas. The Cauvery dispute has badly affected life at the border town of Attibele, which is an important transit point between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Fearing violence Karnataka police are stopping state buses on the border. For the same reason Tamil Nadu police is not allowing their buses to enter Karnataka. People, who have to go to Tamil Nadu, get off at Karnataka border, walk for half a kilometre and catch a different bus. People coming from Tamil Nadu do the same though from the opposite direction. The heavy deployment of police and the sight of people crossing the line of control with their luggage have made Attibele look like an international border. Some say the scenes at this border town reminds them of visuals taken during India Pakistan partition. Students, workers and businessman, who cross the border regularly, are badly hit as it takes more time to reach their destination now. An estimated 15,000 people, who work in Bengaluru's industrial suburbs, live in Hosur. The people of Attibele say their town is peaceful and there is no need to barricade it. But the police after having seen what the Cauvery dispute can do to the emotions of people are not taking any chances. The people of Attibele say their town is peaceful and there is no need to barricade it. But the police after having tackled unprecedented violence in Bengaluru, are not taking any chances. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today said he hopes all SAARC members would attend the regional summit, amid reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may not attend it after the terror attack in Uri which India says was carried out by Pakistani terrorists. Pakistan was making preparations for the SAARC summit, Sharif, who arrived here after attending the UN General Assembly in the US, said as he hoped that all member states would attend the meet, the News International reported. The 19th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit is scheduled to be held in Islamabad from November 9 to 10. Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising since the September 18 attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers. Pakistan has rejected allegations of its involvement in the assault. Recent media reports said that India may boycott the SAARC summit after the Uri terror attack which led to tensions between the two neighbouring countries. There is, however, no official confirmation over India's decision. Statement by Edward Nalbandian at the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly General Debate (video) Statement by Edward Nalbandian, Minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Armenia at the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly General Debate Mr. President, Secretary General, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to congratulate and wish success to Peter Thomson, the President of this session and to thank his predecessor Mogens Lykketoft. I would also like to take this opportunity to express our high appreciation to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his able leadership. Mr. President, Two days ago, Armenia celebrated the 25th anniversary of its independence. In this relatively short period of time much has been done to strengthen democratic institutions, rule of law, good governance, protect human rights and advance economic reforms. We have been able to make a significant progress also with regard to the social and economic development agenda. However, challenges still remain. The needs of the most socially vulnerable groups have been placed in the center of Armenias Prospective Development Strategy for 2014-2025. Likewise, our Government has launched the Plan of Actions for its National Strategy on Human Rights Protection. In this regard, Armenia continues actively working with all UN human rights mechanisms, including special procedures and treaty bodies. Our new constitutional reform, which followed an inclusive process of broad public discussions aimed at achieving a new and improved governance system with increased transparency and accountability, was approved at a nation-wide referendum last December and welcomed by relevant international bodies. Mr. President, The United Nations has a considerable role to play in changing the environment conducive to intolerance, racial discrimination, xenophobia, violent extremism and terrorism. On numerous occasions Armenia has condemned the crimes committed by DAESH, other terrorist groups, which threaten the peoples of the region and beyond. The war in Syria has a devastating impact on its civilian population, including national and religious minorities who face existential threats due to identity based crimes. The violence has not bypassed Syrian-Armenians, many of whom lost their lives. The Armenian settlements, churches, schools and cultural institutions were destroyed. One hundred years ago Armenian refugees found shelter in many Arab countries after the Armenian Genocide. Today thousands of Armenians, together with other people of the Middle East, again are forced to flee their homes. From Syria alone more than 20 thousand found refuge in Armenia. Therefore, we know what it means to be a refugee and to host refugees. The Government of Armenia has undertaken considerable efforts in assisting the refugees and facilitating their integration. We believe that wider international cooperation is needed to adequately address the challenges posed by massive displacement. The full implementation of the commitments of the New York Declaration on refugees and migrants adopted few days ago by this august body stands as an important milestone in this regard. We would like to stress the significance of addressing the root causes of large movements of people through the prevention of crimes against humanity, peaceful settlement of disputes and achievement of lasting political solutions. Mr. President, Armenia has been continuously supporting and contributing to the elaboration of the mechanisms of prevention, in particular by regularly initiating Resolutions on the Prevention of Genocide in the Human Rights Council. As a nation who experienced the first genocide of the 20th century and continues to face the denial of this horror, Armenia reaffirms its strong support to the fight against impunity for genocide. 2016 marks the first anniversary of the UN General Assembly Resolution initiated by Armenia, proclaiming December 9th as an International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of Genocide. As the threat of violence continues to spread in different parts of the world it is crucial to make our joint efforts for peace and security more efficient. It is with this understanding that Armenia has participated in a number of UN and UN-mandated Peace Operations, thus actively contributing in the most direct way to the building of international peace and security. As the UN Assistant Secretary General noted Armenias support is important not only for its contribution but also for the Armenian history and the challenges overcome during it. Indeed, history teaches us that the security of one is closely connected to others. Mr. President, This year marks the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the International Covenants on Human Rights, as well as the 30th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development. These major documents proclaim that All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. It is well known that the UN Charter underlines the respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples as a purpose of this organization. Aggressive military response of the state to the peaceful aspiration of people to exercise their right to self-determination only legitimizes such aspiration and deprives the aggressor of any claim to authority over such people. The UN Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order rightly stated that rather than perceiving self-determination as a source of conflict, armed conflict should be seen as a consequence of the violation of the right to self-determination. Azerbaijan stubbornly refuses to recognize the right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to self-determination. As part of Azerbaijans policy of ethnic cleansing and aggression, starting from the late 80s and beginning of 90s Armenians were massacred and expelled from their homes. Nobel Peace Prize winner Andrei Sakharov called it a threat of a new genocide of the Armenian people. This year again, in early April in blatant violation of the cease-fire agreement, Azerbaijan unleashed another large scale aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh, indiscriminately targeting civilian infrastructures and population. Among the victims were a 12 year old boy and 92 year old woman. Three captive soldiers of the Nagorno-Karabakh armed forces were beheaded in DAESH style, which was subsequently demonstrated in towns and villages and publicized through social networks. Furthermore, the leader of Azerbaijan publically decorated the perpetrators of this crime. During the exchange of bodies of the deceased between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan, carried out through the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, it was registered that the corpses transferred from the Azerbaijani side had undeniable signs of torture and were mutilated. Such despicable atrocities go beyond elementary norms of the civilized world and constitute gross violations of international humanitarian law. The April aggression severely undermined the peace process. To restore the trust in peaceful resolution of the conflict measures should be taken to prevent the use of force and to create conditions conducive to the advancement of the peace process. This was the main aim of two Summits on Nagorno-Karabakh held in Vienna in May and in St. Petersburg in June. First of all, it is imperative to implement what was particularly emphasized and agreed upon at these Summits - first, the full adherence to the 1994-1995 trilateral ceasefire agreements, which do not have time limitations; second, the creation of mechanism for investigation of ceasefire violations; third, the expansion of the capacity of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. Against all odds the people of Nagorno-Karabakh have been able to defend themselves and create a free and democratic society. Armenia, together with the mediator countries - Russia, the United States and France the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, will continue its efforts towards exclusively peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Co-Chairs have proclaimed a rather civilized formula for the settlement ballots instead of bullets. The proposal outlined by the presidents of the Co-Chair countries stipulates future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh through a legally binding expression of will of its population. The mentality that supports medieval barbarism, as witnessed in April, can hardly accept the civilized approaches of the modern world. Mr. President, Armenia welcomes the integration of the Vienna Programme of Action for the Landlocked Developing Countries into the Agenda 2030 as an important step to promote sustainable and inclusive development. To ensure the effective implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action and mainstream it into our policies, the Government of Armenia has recently adopted a national strategy for its implementation. We deplore policies that stipulate unilateral economic measures as an instrument of political pressure. Agenda 2030 reconfirms once again that such measures are detrimental to sustainable development. The unilateral land blockade of Armenia by Turkey is a gross violation of international law. It continues to severely hamper regional transit communication routes, economic cooperation and integration. Mr. President, Armenia welcomes the central role of the United Nations in the implementation of the new and comprehensive Agenda. We do not underestimate the challenges facing all of us - equally we should not downplay the opportunities. More than seven decades on, we must show the same insight and vision to safeguard the future of this Organization and ensure the best possible future for the peoples of the United Nations. Armenia is fully committed to these goals. Thank you. Security forces have arrested two men from PoK who have been working for Pakistan-based terror outfit JeM and acting as guides for infiltrating groups along the Line of Control(LoC) in Uri sector in Kashmir, the Army said today. "Security forces have arrested two PoK nationals who have been working for Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit and acting as guides for infiltrating groups along the Line of Control in Uri Sector," an army official said. The official said the two men were apprehended in a joint operation by the Army and BSF close to the LoC on September 21. One of the arrested men is believed to have acted as a guide for the four JeM terrorists who attacked an Army base in Uri in Kashmir on Sunday. "During the investigation, the individuals have revealed their identities as Ahasan Kursheed alias DC, a resident of Khaliana Kalan and Faisal Hussain Awan, a resident of Pottha Jahangir--both in PoK," the official said. He said the duo was recruited two years ago by JeM and were guiding militants to infiltrate across the LoC. The details provided by them are being examined and corroborated by the concerned agencies, the official said, adding the two men are now in the custody of the Army and are being interrogated. The arrested men were initially believed to have told their interrogators that they had inadvertently crossed the LoC. The arrest comes six days after the deadly attack by four heavily armed JeM terrorists in Uri in which 18 soldiers were killed. The four terrorists were also killed in the encounter. Government-owned Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers (RCF) is looking at alternate options apart from Iran to set up a new overseas plant. We are looking at alternate locations apart from Iran for a new plant. RCF along with National Fertilisers (NFL) had sent a team to Brunei to carry out feasibility study to set up a plant in Brunei as gas is cheap there. If everything goes well, we may set up a new plant of around 1.3 million tonnes with an investment of around $900 million in Brunei, RCF chairman and managing director Manoj Mishra told DH. As far as Iran is concerned, SBI Caps has identified Falat as our partner there. The total due diligence of our partner will be done by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and we hope to have a final announcement in this regard in the next six months, Mishra added. RCF, which is planning to spend around Rs 20,000 crore for its expansion plans, is hopeful of a stake sale by the government in the company in the next couple of months. As far as divestment is concerned, we are planning roadshows in October. The government is planning to divest 5% stake through the offer for sale route, and is expected to raise Rs 150-200 crore through the stake sale, Mishra said. The Union Government currently owns 80% in RCF and as per market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) norms, all listed companies have to mandatorily have a public shareholding of 25%. As far as expansion plans of the company are concerned, RCF will be investing Rs 5,500 crore for expansion of Thal unit. The company will also be investing for a coal-based fertiliser plant at Talcher besides looking at investing on improvement in energy efficiency. As far as the rest of the funding for the capex plans are concerned, we are looking at raising debt of around Rs 4,000 crore over the next four years, Mishra added. The Supreme Court has ordered the Union government to ensure proper inquiry into the financial irregularities in the Industrial Financial Corporation of India (IFCI). A bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice D Y Chandrachud said the scrutiny shall be initiated within a month from the receipt of a copy of this judgement and completed in four months thereafter. There is a vital element of public interest in ensuring that a full, fair and objective scrutiny is carried out by an independent regulator with a view to ensure a degree of accountability. If it is found that the conduct of any of the officers or employees of IFCI led to the sustain of a loss, such conduct must be subjected to scrutiny and action in accordance with the law, the bench said. The court disposed of a petition filed by NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation seeking an independent probe into various financial irregularities which have come to light in the recent past in IFCI, and removal of its chief Atul Kumar Rai. The court noted that Rai, a 1985 Indian Economic Services officer, has already been removed from the post of CEO and MD of IFCI. The relief sought in the PIL had been rendered infructuous. The petition argued by advocate Prashant Bhushan had charged that there have been, in the recent past, serious charges of administrative and financial irregularities in IFCI like purchase of 5% stake in the MCX-SX by IFCI management on a much higher price of Rs 35 per share, whereas Union Bank of India and Bank of India acquired shares of the same company at Rs 10 per share. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar is in the eye of a political storm, with Opposition parties in the state labelling him anti-national. This comes in the wake of Sarkars reported comments, earlier this week at an international business summit in the state capital Agartala, that India is playing the role of a big brother with its neighbouring countries. Opposition Trinamool Congress (TMC) walked out of the state Assembly on the second day, even as it protested and demanded that the chief minister withdraw his derogatory remark against the country. Sarkar is echoing the voice of Pakistan. His remark, in the presence of an international delegation, especially at a volatile time when India is raising its voice against Pakistan at the UN, is not only detrimental to the interest of the nation, but also unconstitutional on the part of a chief minister of a state, said TMC MLA Sudip Roy Burman. Army teams on Saturday stepped in to help municipal authorities execute relief operations in the rain-ravaged city of Hyderabad. Even as beleaguered authorities are fighting a flood-like situation for the fourth consecutive day, army personnel have started coordinating efforts in evacuating stranded residents and distributing food and medicines in submerged colonies. A 60-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also been kept on standby in the city. Four columns of the army have been deployed in rain-affected areas under Col Vasishta, who is manning the control room at the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) office in coordination with NDRF officials. Eight army task force teams of 40 men each were deployed in submerged areas along with boats, medicines and rescue equipment. Maj Ashutosh (Begumpet), Maj Jamwal (Nizampet), Maj Bishth (Hakimpet) and Maj Kuldip (Alwal) were on the field evaluating the extent of damage and quantum of relief required. At this moment, we are providing food and medical aid for the stranded people. We will evacuate them if the need arises, said Major Jamwal, who visited the worst-affected Bhandari Layout in Nizampet. The Bison Division in a statement on Saturday said that the army had been anticipating such a situation. It was monitoring the weather and carried out reconnaissance of the low-lying areas of the city and is well prepared to extend any type of assistance required, it said. The army will move back to the barracks only after the situation comes under control, the statement said. The army moved in after officials met GHMC Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy in the early hours of Saturday. Power was restored in areas where the GHMC succeeded in pumping out floodwater. The Telangana government has also kept two private helicopters ready at Begumpet to transport people from submerged areas. In Kukatpally area, residents rescued 40 children when their school bus was stuck in floodwater. A man, who fell into an open manhole in the same area, was also rescued by locals. There were reports of a dilapidated house collapsing in Kapra, injuring four residents. A special 2G court on Saturday issued open warrants of arrest against Malaysian nationals T Ananda Krishnan and Augustus Ralph Marshall, who are accused in the Aircel-Maxis deal case. The two have been charged in the case along with former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanithi Maran. Special Judge O P Saini also ordered that the trial against Maran brothers and two accused companies be segregated from that of those based in Malaysia Krishnan, Marshall, and two firms, Astro All Asia Network PLC and Maxis Communication Berhad saying their appearance may take a long time leading to a delay in proceedings. Miscellaneous file be opened relating these four accused, who are yet to be served. It is further ordered that an open and perpetual warrant of arrest be issued against Marshall and Krishnan, the court said. The courts order came on CBIs plea, which had on August 1 sought issuance of arrest warrants against both the foreign nationals, stating that the summons issued to them could not be served. Chargesheet filed The CBI had filed the chargesheet against the eight accused for offences punishable under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. In the 27-page order, the court noted that the allegations against the accused were serious and the only way left was to approach the Interpol for which issuance of warrant was necessary. They (Marshall and Krishnan) could not be served with the summons through the normal course by resorting to Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between the two countries. Malaysian authorities have categorically declined to effect the service. In such a situation, the only way left is to approach the Interpol and for that issue of warrant is necessary... Less than a week after the Uri attack, security forces arrested two PoK nationals who were guiding Jaish-e-Mohammad militants to infiltrate the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector of north Kashmir. A defence spokesperson said in a joint operation by the army and BSF, two Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) nationals were apprehended on September 21. During the investigation, the arrested persons revealed their identities as Ahasan Kursheed alias DC, son of Mohammad Kursheed of Khaliana Kalan and Faisal Hussain Awan, son of Gul Akbar of Pottha Jahangir, both in PoK, he said. The spokesperson claimed that the duo was recruited two years ago by Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit to guide militants to infiltrate the LoC. The details provided by them are being examined and corroborated by agencies concerned, he added. At least 18 soldiers were killed and 19 others injured when four fidayeen (suicide) militants attacked armys 12-Brigade headquarters in Uri. Sources said the interrogation of the two PoK nationals is on and there is possibility of more arrests in the coming days. The National Investigating Agency (NIA), which is probing the Uri attack, could also question the arrested PoK nationals, they said. Meanwhile, the NIA has so far recorded the statements of at least three senior army officers and five soldiers. The statements were recorded after proper permission from the army. The army officials explained the circumstances to NIA team in which the attack took place, a senior police official privy to the probe told DH. The NIA officials have also obtained the mobile traffic data of the day before the attack took place. Investigations into mobile traffic data are on, he added. This is the first investigation to be carried out by NIA in Kashmir of a militant attack. Earlier, they had investigated attack on a BSF convoy at Udhampur in Jammu last year that led to arrest and dismantling of Lashkar-e-Toiba network in south Kashmir. Ahead of his first public meeting in Kozhikode after the Uri terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met top military officials to discuss the prevailing security situation. This was his second major interaction with the defence chiefs after a special briefing on Indias preparedness at the war room on September 20. Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Naval Staff Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval were present during the meeting at the prime ministers residence in 7, Lok Kalyan Marg here. Indias response to the Uri attack, for which New Delhi has held Pakistan responsible, apparently figured in the discussion. The prime minister was specifically briefed on the ongoing operations in Jammu and Kashmir to neutralise suspected terrorists who are believed to have entered the Indian side in the run-up to the attack on September 18, in which 18 troopers lost their lives. On September 20, Modi had spent an hour-and-a-half at the war room, also called the military operations directorate, of the defence ministry located in South Block. The prime minister was briefed on the options before the military by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, among others. Modi was said to have been given extensive briefing on intelligence about enemy movements and their plans, the sources said. STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces Google Ad There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Google Ad Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh USA Embassy Message for U.S. Citizens Former minister K J George, who was forced to resign two months ago over the suicide of DySP M K Ganapathi, will rejoin the Siddaramaiah Cabinet on September 26. He will take oath at a ceremony to be held in the Raj Bhavan at 10.15 am on Monday. George will be given the Bengaluru Development and Town Planning portfolio, which he had held when he resigned on July 18. George had quit under pressure after a Judicial Magistrate of First Class court in Madikeri ordered the state police to file a first information report against him in connection with Ganapathis suicide. However, the CID has not drawn any adverse inference against George. The CID also did not find any clear evidence against the two IPS officers A M Prasad and Pronob Mohanty. Ganapathis family had alleged that the police officer was forced to take the extreme step because he was harassed by his higher-ups. The family had also demanded a probe into his death. Ganapathi had given an interview to a television channel in Madikeri blaming George and the two IPS officers for his death. The CID filed a B report in the Madikeri court on September 17 stating that there was no clear evidence against the three accused in the case. Ganapathis suicide had kicked up a storm with the BJP baying for Georges blood. The BJP had disrupted the entire proceedings of the monsoon session. The BJP and JD (S) legislators had staged a day-night protest to build pressure on Siddaramaiah. When contacted by DH, state Congress unit working president Dinesh Gundu Rao said: There is not a shred of evidence against George. How could he have abetted the suicide? They (Opposition) have been targeting him ever since he was the home minister. The BJP and JD(S) have criticised Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs decision to reinduct K J George into the state cabinet. JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday said that Siddaramaiah was more keen on Georges reinduction than addressing the Cauvery issue. The chief minister visited New Delhi recently, not because he wanted to find a solution to the Cauvery issue, but to obtain a green signal from his party leadership to re-induct George he said. He told reporters that little could be expected from the police, who were asked to probe their own officers and the former home minister. In a statement, BJP spokesman S Suresh Kumar said Georges reinduction would establish that the CID enquiry into the Ganapathi case was just an eyewash. Imagine strolling around the city roads and parks as you hear the lovely sounds of birds chirping. Now, cut to reality: The same places are filled with constant honking from vehicles, adding to the noise and stress. With an objective to urge people to stop the next time they are tempted to honk, volunteers of Beautiful Bengaluru (BB) have created a 49-second video to mark the World Deaf Day, observed on the last Sunday of September. As a part of the campaign, Beautiful Bengaluru (BB), an active citizen initiative, has produced the video that aims to reduce noise pollution by cutting down on unnecessary honking. The video shows how the citys laid-back charm has been replaced by constant honking. Odette Katrak, anchor of BB, said, We hope the video makes honkers introspect. Honking adds to noise and stress, but does not subtract from traffic jams. Nine out of ten people honk unnecessarily on roads. Apart from this, the student wing of BB, represented by the volunteers of St Josephs College, is actively running awareness campaigns by distributing pamphlets, carrying placards with slogans such as Honk Less, Reduce Stress and No Noise Pollution. Till date, they have covered places like Town Hall, Hudson Circle, Richmond Circle, Vellara Junction, Kumble Circle, Cash Pharmacy and Garuda mall. Brother Philip Noronha, coordinator of the Outreach programme, St Josephs College, said more than 500 students had taken part in the campaign and hoped that it has an impact on society. On the occasion of World Deaf Day, mimes and streetplays will be held to reinforce the Horn Not Ok Please campaign by students at the Kempegowda International Airport at 11.30 am on Sunday. The event, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), will see the participation of Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) R Hitendra and other dignitaries. The Home department has written to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms to examine whether former DySP Anupama Shenoy can withdraw her resignation. Sources told DH that the Home department wrote to the DPAR last week to ascertain if there are any provisions in the Karnataka Civil Service Rules (KCSR) to allow civil servants to withdraw their resignation. If so, whether the official can be reinstated. Officials said that the DPAR will submit its opinion to the Home department next week. Shenoy, who had resigned as DySP of Kudligi on June 4, has written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Additional Chief Secretary, Home, seeking revocation of her resignation. The government had accepted her resignation on June 10. In a letter addressed to Siddaramaiah (a copy of which is available with DH), Shenoy has claimed that there were technical errors both in the resignation letter submitted by her, and the acceptance letter by the government. She has said that no dates have been mentioned in either her resignation letter or the governments acceptance letter. Hence, according rules, the resignation letter had no sanctity. Shenoy has also said that she has not officially handed over charge, as she did not serve her notice period. She has sought Siddaramaiahs intervention for her reinstatement immediately as per norms. When contacted by DH, Shenoy said she wrote to the government as her family, friends and well-wishers had asked her to get back into government service. She said she had also met Home Minister G Parameshwara in New Delhi and discussed the issue, which led to her resignation. Shenoy had resigned after protests were staged against her over the construction of a godown of a liquor shop adjacent to Ambedkar Bhavan in Kudligi town. Shenoy had given various reasons for her resignation. The PES Imaging Satellite, or PISAT, designed and developed by students from Bengaluru, will be launched from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on Monday. The Indian Space Research Organisations (Isro) launch vehicle, PSLV c-35, will carry the PISAT, a 5-kg nanosatellite with an imaging camera to capture the earth imagery of 185 km x 135 km area with about 90m per pixel resolution. One of the mentors of the project, Dr V Sambasiva Rao, professor of electronics and communications engineering at PES University and a former scientist at Isro, said that the satellite would be launched at 9.17 am. The PISAT will eject into the 670-km orbit at 11.32 am. The first visibility of the satellite will be at 9.43 am from the PES ground station at PES University while it will take its first imagery of the earth on September 27 at 9.54 am, he added. Jeevan V, a seventh-semester student of telecommunication engineering at PES University, has been involved in the PISAT project for the last one-and-a-half years. Testing and fine-tuning the RF (radio frequency) communication of the satellite were his main responsibilities. Receiving the first signal from the satellite after it is launched in orbit will be like a babys first cry for me, he said. All of us in the team are eager to hear it. I am nervous but overall it was an amazing experience. Developed and designed by around 250 students from five institutions, including PES University, the mission is a culmination of over four years of hard labour. The total project cost is Rs 1.25 crore with the participating institutions SKR Engineering College, VEL Tech University, both in Chennai, Sona College of Technology, Salem, and Nehru College of Engineering and Research Centre, Thrissur contributing Rs 20 lakh each. Most parts were ordered online and procured directly while critical and expensive components such as solar cells and battery were provided by Isro, Prof Rao said. Along with the PISAT, another student satellite, Pratham, developed by IIT-Bombay, is also being launched. The PSLV c-35 will carry a total of eight satellites to be launched into the earths orbit. The main satellite to be launched is Isros SCATSAT-1 and others include the Pathfinder-1 of the US, NLS-19 of Canada, ALSAT-1B, ALSAT-2B and ALSAT-1N of Algeria. Madhuri Subba Rao had never imagined that saving a lake could be a harrowing experience. When she invited the officials of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to see for themselves the rampant encroachment on Doddabommasandra lake near Kodigehalli, BJPs Doddabommasandra corporator Jayalakshmamma's husband Pillappa, who is a former corporator, came there and abused her in the public. Rao said, I was absolutely taken aback on how abusive Pillappa was in front of the officials. He asked me to refrain from bringing the matter to the notice of officials. He also went to the extent of asking me who I was to stop dumping soil into the lake. Rao has lodged a complaint with the Vidyaranyapura police station against Pillappa. When contacted, Pillappa denied allegations of encroachment. We were excavating the lake to increase its water holding capacity and were dumping the soil in its wetland. This gave an impression of encroachment on the lake. The truth is we want to revive the lake by installing sewage treatment plant there. The Bharat Electronics Limited is contributing Rs 13 crore for the work, said Pillappa. When contacted, senior BBMP officials confirmed that the motives behind filling soil inside the lake were highly doubtful. Trucks after trucks were dumping soil inside the lake. An earthmover was employed to level the place. The motive was apparently to encroach upon the lake. We took the contractor to task and warned him sternly to remove the soil dumped there, said a senior officer in the BBMP's lake division. Doddabommasandra is the place where the BBMP had recently demolished buildings constructed on a stormwater drain. The drain, which has been created by razing buildings, is meant to allow rainwater into the Dodda Bommasandra lake. However, illegal dumping on soil inside the lake defeats the purpose of demolishing buildings. BBMP chief engineer (Lakes) S Somashekhar, Palike's deputy conservator of forest Jagannath Rao along with the officers of Lake Development and Conservation Authority visited the lake, acting on the complaint lodged by Rao, about encroachment. The deceased has been identified as Bhavana Gangadhar, a resident of BEML Layout while pillion rider Chandana sustained minor injuries and is out of danger. They are seventh semester engineering students in a private college. When Bhavana slowed down to negotiate a speed breaker, a speeding Tempo Traveller knocked them down, throwing them off the scooter. Bhavana, who fell on the righthand side, was run over by the Tempo Traveller. The duo were shifted to a hospital where Bhavana was declared brought dead. The van was seized and the driver Madesha, who is suspected to have been under the influence of alcohol, was arrested. 23-yr-old knocked down. In second incident, a 23-year-old bike rider was killed when a tractor knocked him down near Nallurahalli near Whitefield. The deceased Manjunath V Shivasampi was an employee of a private company and a resident of Electronics City. Around 8.40 am, a speeding tractor knocked him down near Spectra Palm Meadows apartments on Nallurahalli main road. He was shifted to Vydehi hospital where he was declared brought dead. In the third incident, a pedestrian was hit by an unidentified vehicle near Uttanahalli in Chikkajala. The deceased is Ranganath, 38, a labourer and resident of Uttanahalli. Three persons were killed in separate accidents in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Whitefield and Chikkajala since Friday night. In the first incident, a 22-year-old engineering student was killed while her friend sustained injuries when a Tempo Traveller knocked down their two-wheeler near Global Academy of Technology in Rajarajeshwari Nagar. As Bengaluru transformed from a manageable city to a metropolis of 1.2 crore, the city has seen a corresponding rise in crimes, more apparent in the new, outlying areas. Here are some citizens voicing their concerns about this unwarranted trend, suggesting a few solutions. Preferring anonymity, a businessman from Byadarahalli seeks more patrolling to instil a sense of security among residents of his locality. I have seen rowdies hanging around street corners in the evenings. There are police in the area, but I feel it would be better to have CCTV cameras installed as well, he elaborates. Kiran Aithal, who lives at Nobo Nagar in Kalena Agahara on the citys outskirts has this to say: I have seen police patrol the area in the late evening hours, around 7 or 8 pm. But I do not think they patrol late in the night. Otherwise, incidents of theft will not be rising here. Radha Prathi, a resident of Mathikere, has a different take on patrolling. She says the police do go on rounds, asking residents to be on alert. This goes on for a few days after such incidents. Residents too are wary. But once normalcy returns and patrolling slackens, the burglars strike again. More than thefts, what really scares residents are the heinous crimes. Three weeks ago, an IT employee was raped at knife-point right inside her paying guest accommodation near Parappana Agrahara on the citys outskirts. She was alone in the room when the assailant barged in. Ten days ago, the Kengeri police arrested six persons from a desolate area when the gang was conspiring to commit dacoity. Interrogations revealed that the suspects had murdered a man six years ago in Sandur in Ballari district. They were also involved in more than 50 other cases across the State. These recurring incidents have made residents even more insecure. They feel the frequent thefts could easily morph into more dangerous crimes. A Kodichikkanahalli resident, M N Kulkarni recalls how thieves had struck three houses in his area over the last few months. Besides the usual loot, the culprits have also begun to take away gas cylinders. Kulkarni points out that the culprits had once fled with 16 cylinders. Complaints were lodged, but the police never caught the thieves. Many residents now feel police-public partnerships such as the Community Policing campaign could work better in ensuring law and order. Tilaknagar police sub-inspector Tanvir notes that the crime rate in his jurisdictional area has actually come down after the campaign struck a chord with the public. Across the city, around 1,000 volunteers are now part of the campaign. Heres one instance where the partnership worked well: Two months ago, a resident, Zameer, grew suspicious of a man who was parking a scooter without number plate near his residence on Bannerghatta road. When Zameer questioned him, the man sped away from the spot. Immediately, Zameer alerted the police, who in turn urged a volunteer to chase the scooter. The suspect was nabbed. Upon interrogation, it was learnt that the scooter was stolen. Bengalurus big city ambitions got a hyper-boost in 2007, when the BBMP jurisdictional area shot up to a whopping 741 sqkm. But that big size triggered an infrastructure problem so huge that the overstretched civic agency struggled. So did the men in khaki, as police zones shot up in tandem. Faced with mounting crimes on the citys periphery, the understaffed, overburdened and ill-equipped police force didnt know what hit them. Nine years later, robberies, thefts, property offences and other crimes continue to soar. Concerns of public safety and security remain as potent as ever. Heres the problem, as articulated by the city police officials themselves: Many areas on the outskirts, the East and Southeast Bengaluru in particular, share their borders with Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh. Inter-state criminals and habitual offenders commit crimes and easily sneak into the neighbouring states. Fleeing with loot Over the years, the criminals have perfected a system where stolen goods are quickly transferred across the border to receivers. Poor patrolling and inspections at checkposts have aided these quick getaways, as a senior police official explains. The citys expansion had thinned out the already inadequate law and order machinery. Jurisdictional areas of every police station on the outskirts rose beyond manageable limits. Men and vehicles were just not enough. The proximity to the problematic borders only worsened the scene. So, how do the police manage now? Additional Commissioner of Police (East), P Harishekaran explains: We are strengthening policing on the outskirts, despite inadequate staff strength. We are regularly in touch with our counterparts in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh to nab the inter-state criminals. Police outposts If more police stations are not immediately possible, police outposts could be an alternative. It is high time we do this at many places in the East and Southeast areas. We need to assign some areas for these outposts to patrol, says Harishekaran. Citizens safety remains a primary concern in many areas on Devanahalli Road compared to Mysuru Road, Hosur Road and Tumakuru Road. There are many remote areas here. It is very easy for the criminals to commit crimes and escape in no time, the officer adds. To address this issue, both on the outskirts and within the city, the police have found a way out: Partnership with citizens themselves. Collaborating with non-government organisation, Janaagraha, the police launched a unique Community Policing project three years ago in seven police stations. This has been scaled up to 18 stations across the city. Area Suraksha Mitras Citizen volunteers are enlisted as Area Suraksha Mitras (ASMs) to help the police in collecting intelligence inputs on criminal activities. Besides, they alert the beat constables about suspicious movements and create awareness among residents on crimes. Well-connected volunteers with a key understanding of the neighbourhood are chosen as ASMs. They work with the police on the basis of beats. Explains the campaign manager, Valli Narasimha, If a police station has 10 beats, every beat should ideally have four to six ASMs. HSR Layout, for instance, has six beats and 36 ASMs. Community policing, as statistics indicate, has helped build a trust between the police and citizens, notes Valli. Improved understanding of crimes and reporting has improved registration of FIRs. There is a perceptible reduction in cases of chain-snatching and robberies in areas covered by a few select stations. Besides, the campaign has shed light on a few hitherto unnoticed crime trends. For instance, theft of electronic goods, ATM and financial frauds are high in Bommanahalli, Madiwala and HSR Layout, all areas close to IT firms. A few pockets on the city outskirts, especially in areas abutting the Outer Ring Road, a new problem has cropped up in recent years: Drug-peddling, phishing and other crimes perpetuated mostly by over-staying African nationals. Foreigner issues The police are worried that addressing this issue linked to foreigners requires multiple agencies. They are often caught in tight situations since cases of passport and visa rule violations are rampant. Prostitution is another rising crime on the outskirts. Raids have unveiled several houses used for hi-profile prostitution and drug peddling. These properties are let out on high rentals to agents. The Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the city police has now been asked to keep a strict watch. The citys unbridled growth has merged boundaries between rural and urban in many areas. As Additional Commissioner of Police (West) K S R Charan Reddy puts it, In West and North Bengaluru, it is really difficult to make out where the city ends and Ramanagaram and Bengaluru Rural districts begin. The problems of the city police and those of the two districts are mostly similar. There is no choice but to have a robust information-sharing mechanism across the jurisdictional boundaries. Reddy says the city and district police personnel are in constant touch. STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Google Ad Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh USA Embassy Message for U.S. Citizens 23 September 2016 (Desdemona Despair) In spite of widespread condemnation from scientists, the Board of Directors of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) has decided to continue accepting corporate sponsorship from ExxonMobil. Peter Frumhoff, director of science and policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, wrote earlier this month: To many AGU member scientists, and others, AGUs continued acceptance of corporate sponsorship from ExxonMobil, a company with a long and well-documented track record of climate science misinformation, appears deeply inconsistent with this policy. Over the past year, the AGU board reviewed and rejected multiple requests to sever funding ties with ExxonMobil in light of its new policy. But they have also announced that they intend to revisit this question at the AGU board meeting later this month. So, one of the premier scientific organizations for Earth science remains resolute in its acceptance of money from a documented source of antiscience. Online criticism is withering, but apparently futile. Geoffrey Supran Speaking as a young AGU member, this is disgraceful and perplexing. The AGUs doubling-down on Exxon sponsorship flatly ignores evidence of Exxons ongoing support of misinformation, which itself flatly violates AGUs own sponsorship policy. Perhaps that is why AGUs announcement offers zero explanation for its decision. David Thomson This is so unreal, and so disappointing. Previously, if f I had been asked to name organizations I would never have expected this level of hypocrisy from on such an issue, AGU would have been the second one I came up with. Simply unbelievable. Beth Holland Dear President Leinen and AGU board members: As a life member of AGU and a member from a developing country, I strongly disagree with continuing to accept funds from an organization with a demonstrable record of scientific disinformation. Being a scientist with requires the integrity to look at the data and tell the story it reveals. In protest against AGUs decision I am abstaining from voting for any board members and will not be attending any AGU meetings this year. As the daughter of an exploration geologist I am well aware of the need to engage in constructive dialogue with clear boundaries. The AGU decision does not represent an organization that leads with by example with integrity. I could not be more disappointed. Tommy Owens I have already resigned from my AGU Life membership. I cannot support this decision. [more] By Margaret Leinen, President, American Geophysical Union and Eric Davidson, President-elect, American Geophysical Union 23 September 2016 (AGU) Last week the AGU Board of Directors discussed the organizations April decision to continue engagement with ExxonMobil after receiving additional information from several sources. The Board maintained its original decision after another careful and systematic review of hundreds of pages of both newly provided and previous documentation and a thoughtful and comprehensive discussion. We thank all those who made their voices heard. AGU has always valued open dialogue and exchange of ideas, and we believe this decision best reflects AGUs unique value to the scientific community: our ability to convene scientists of diverse views and from different backgrounds, disciplines, and industries. With membership spanning all Earth and space sciences, AGU has an increasingly important role to play building on our recognized convening power in providing a space for active, vibrant dialogue that advances collective scientific understanding of the world and our place within it. This is an important function and strategic goal of our organization as scientific issues continue to be top-of-mind for the public and legislators alike and as places for thoughtful discussion of diverging viewpoints become increasingly rare. We remain, as always, committed to cultivating a space that is inclusive to scientists working across all sectors of society in service of exceptional scientific research and discovery. We welcome your questions and comments via comments on this blog post or by direct email to President@AGU.org. UPDATE: AGU Board Maintains Its Decision Regarding ExxonMobil EUR 20 million to development of the RA agriculture In spite of rainy weather, in the morning English Park was already crowded. Festival of rural life and traditions has been held for already third year, uniting 100 farmers, entrepreneurs from Armenia and Georgia. Vahram Ghazaryan cultivates organic certified blackberry, raspberry and Damask rose; he is the winner and beneficiary of the agricultural project of the EU Austrian Development Bank, which granted him a chance to take apart in the festival. Arthur Nazaryan, resident of Yerpin village, implements dairy production with the support of Enpard project of the UNO and had received an invitation for participation from the Ministry of Agriculture. The festival aims at bridging the manufacturers of organic food and the consumers. Besides, the participants will be given presents and awards in Best woman farmer, Best farmers group, Best entrepreneur nominations. This festival is not only a nice event to display and finally contribute to the consumption of the agricultural products, but also an opportunity to highly assess the role of agriculture in the development of the country. We have allocated more than EUR 20 million for supporting agriculture in Armenia, and recently I have signed a project of another 7 million. Besides, we, together with Austrian Development Agency, implement project of development of organic agriculture in Armenia, notes Head of the EU delegation to Armenia Piotr Switalski. Yerevan Deputy Mayor Davit Ohanyan, the RA Deputy Minister of Agriculture Armen Harutyunyan, John Barker, International Aid/Cooperation Officer of the EU delegation to Armenia were also present at the opening ceremony. There were fake candidates at local elections Talking to the journalists, Emin Yeritsyan, Chairman of Union of Communities of Armenia, said that now they are trying to work more publicly. He tried to speak about September 18 local elections in general, The elections shouldnt be assessed only by technique of electoral process, but also its political significance. He also touched upon some restrictions set by the new Electoral Code, In the communities, connected with the elections, there must be at least two candidates before the registration. It leads to devaluation of electoral process; the intention is to create competition, but it leads to a phenomenon that in order to meet that requirement of the legislation, candidates are nominated in many communities, for example employees, colleagues, and in social media language, as a result we have fake candidates. It isnt evaluation of electoral processes; it has more negative impact. We have proposed to remove this norm. Emin Yeritsyan also noted that these elections were different also with the fact that the candidates dont want to be nominated by any party, they want to be self-nominated, considering it to be more beneficial. He was displeased with level of competition in the communities, The positive thing is that we have 20-30 percent generation change in the candidates for communities heads. Mr Yeritsyan also touched upon elections in 8 enlarged communities, noting that in five communities one candidate was nominated and only two candidates were nominated in one community, It means that the parties werent interested even in the enlarged communities, especially in Syunik; individuals were more active. Besides, the number of women community heads is decreasing. Be the way, from the organizational point of view, these elections were better. He says that the news on election bribes didnt have great influence on the quality of elections. Exane BNP Paribas downgraded education publisher Pearson to neutral from outperform and cut the price target to 900p from 1,000p saying it fears more turbulence ahead. The bank said that after last years shock profit warning, Pearson has needed to deliver on expectations to rebuild confidence. However, the US higher education courseware market looks weaker-than-expected despite signs of an improvement in enrolment over the summer. This raises the risk of a further setback at the Q3 results, it said. Exane cut its 2016 earnings per share estimate by 6% and its 2017 forecast by 5%, saying it was concerned consensus might have to revise 2016 forecasts lower following the third-quarter results. In addition, it noted that US peer John Wiley & Sons pointed to a weak market in July. Exane said its industry contacts suggest August was below expectations too and it reckons this weakness was largely caused by destocking at bookstores. It said market share gains were unlikely to be enough to offset industry weakness. We continue to anticipate an organic revenue growth recovery next year. The stock remains on sector and peer group relative lows and offers a sustainable dividend yield of 6.6%. But we have concerns on 2016 trends and believe there might be better entry points to play the expected 2017 turnaround later next year. We see more compelling ideas elsewhere in Media. At 0830 BST, Pearson shares were down 2.1% to 766p. Blue Jackets goalie Merzlikins, family threatened verbally Aleksandra Merzlikins, the wife of the Blue Jackets goalie, has posted online about verbal abuse and threats directed at her family by fans. Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary General On September 24, while participating in the activities of the 71st regular session of the UN General Assembly, Edward Nalbandian, the Acting Foreign Minister of Armenia, had a meeting with Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary General. The UN Secretary General expressed gratitude for the active involvement of Armenia to the activities of the Organization during his tenure and emphasized that the Armenian diplomacy has played a significant and constructive role in the international arena not only regarding its priorities, but also towards the settlement of the issues the Organization faces. Edward Nalbandian outlined that the efficient cooperation with the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is highly appreciated in Armenia. The Minister thanked the UN Secretary General for his leadership, initiatives and exerted efforts aimed at the advancement of the UN Charter values, goals and principles. The interlocutors discussed a number of issues on the UN agenda. Ban Ki-moon presented to Edward Nalbandian his book, which summarizes his last ten years activity in the capacity of the Secretary General of the UN. -------------------------------------------------- Meeting of Foreign Minister of Armenia and Iraq On September 24, while paying a working visit to New York, Edward Nalbandian, the Acting Foreign Minister, had a meeting with Ibrahim al-Jaafari, the Foreign Minister of Iraq. In the course of meeting, the joint steps aimed at the further deepening of cooperation between the two friendly countries were discussed. In this regard, the Ministers attached importance to the organization of high-level mutual visits, efficient activity of the intergovernmental committee, holding of regular consultations between the MFAs, as well as enhancement of interaction within the framework of international organizations. The sides mutually commended that year by year the business contacts are deepening, the trade turnover is expanding already reaching 120 mln US dollars. The Foreign Minister of Iraq briefed Edward Nalbandian on the establishment of stability and fight against terrorism in his country. The interlocutors exchanged views on a number of international and regional issues. Russia on Friday clarified that the reported joint military exercises with Pakistan will not be held in Gilgit-Baltistan, which is a part of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and said the anti-terror drills would take place in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. "Contrary to some reports appearing in a section of the press, the Russia-Pakistan anti-terror exercise is not being held and will not be held in any point of so-called 'Azad Kashmir' or in any other sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit and Baltistan," a statement from the Russian embassy in New Delhi said. "The only venue of the exercise is Cherat," the statement added, referring to a place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Cherat is 34 miles (about 55km) southeast of Peshawar. "All reports alleging the drills taking place at the High Altitude Military School in Rattu are erroneous and mischievous," the Russian embassy said. Media reports from Islamabad had said the exercises would take place at the military school in Rattu, which is in Gilgit-Baltistan. Pakistan on Friday said its military will be holding the first ever exercise with Russian forces this month, in another sign of shifting alliances in South Asia. Pakistan, which spent a decade helping the United States funnel arms and fighters into neighboring Afghanistan to help insurgent groups fight Soviet soldiers following their 1979 invasion of Afghanistan, is holding hands with Russia which it helped US fight in proxy war. Russian troops arrived in Islamabad on Friday for their first-ever joint exercises with Pakistani forces, starting tomorrow and named "Friendship 2016", which reflects the growing military ties between the two countries. About 200 troops from the two countries will take part in the two-week military drills, dubbed a sign of the growing military ties between two countries from opposite sides of the erstwhile Cold War. "A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan for first ever Pak-Russian joint exercise from September 24 to October 10," Indian army spokesman Lt Gen. Asim Bajwa tweeted, posting photographs of the Russian and Pakistani troops. A statement from Russia's southern military command said the drills would involve over 70 of its servicemen, including the mountain mobile brigade personnel deployed in the Karachay-Cherkessia Republic (North Caucasus) and officers from headquarters. The southern military command's mechanised infantry servicemen are fully equipped with their mountain gear, ammunition and standard weapons, Russia's Itar-Tass news agency reported, citing the statement. "The joint military drills are aimed at bolstering and building up military cooperation between the two countries," the agency added. Pakistan, which spent a decade helping the United States funnel arms and fighters into neighboring Afghanistan to help insurgent groups fight Soviet soldiers following their 1979 invasion of Afghanistan, is holding hands with Russia which it helped US fight in proxy war. The reverse is taking now, as Pakistan's ties with Russia grow closer as its relations with the United States have cooled amidst allegations of Pakistan harboring Afghan Taliban fighters. Pakistani media last year reported Islamabad had bought four Mi-35 attack helicopters from Russia in a first military deal of its kind between them. Pakistan on Friday announced the cancellation of its trade expo in India as the 18 September attack on the Uri military base in India triggered tension between Pakistan and India. The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) said the trade fair - Aalishan Pakhas - that was scheduled for October in India, stands cancelled considering latest development in the region. In a statement issued on Friday, TDAP said the expo, aimed at showcasing Pakistani goods in India in September / October, was planned keeping in mind increasing regional trade. ''In this regard, third edition of Aalishan Pakistan was planned in September / October 2016 after successful previous edition in 2012 and 2014,'' the statement said, adding that due to the current situation between Pakistan and India, that were beyond TDAP control, the event planned for 2016 has been called off. The TDAP held first edition of the event in 2012 and second in 2014, says the announcement. Iceland's ministry of foreign affairs has confirmed that it is considering filing a suit against a UK frozen foods giant, 45 years after its founding. "I can confirm that this is being looked into, but no decision has been made," a spokesman for the ministry told the Press Association. The government of Iceland explained in a statement that a group of Icelandic parties, including the government, were considering a "cancellation action" against the supermarket's Europe-wide trademark registration for the name "Iceland". Promote Iceland, an agency linked to the Icelandic foreign ministry, stressed that it had no intention of forcing Iceland Foods to give up its brand, but wanted to ensure that the supermarket did not prevent Icelandic firms from registering the name "Iceland" across the UK or EU. "We are looking for a 'live and let live' outcome," Jon Asbergsson, the managing director of Promote Iceland, explained. According to the government, the chain had launched and won "multiple cases" against Icelandic companies for using the word Iceland, even in cases when the products and services were not in competition. "Any decision about proceeding with this claim will only be made after full consideration of the interests of Icelandic companies and our people," the government added. ''The concern is that Iceland Foods has received an EU trademark with the EU intellectual trademark office of the word 'Iceland' so (it's) not just their logo but the name of our country,'' Business Iceland lawyer Bergthora Halldorsdottir told German news agency, DPA. ''Our concerns are that Icelandic companies or products made by Icelandic companies won't be able to describe themselves using their place of origin as a reference,'' she added. ''One of the options would be to file a cancellation action with the European Union intellectual property office'' and request that ''the registration of the word 'Iceland' by Iceland Foods be cancelled''. October is National Bullying Prevention month. We have all heard the phrase bullying, but what does it actually mean? Bullying is defined as unwanted aggressive behavior; observed or perceived power imbalance; repetition of behaviors or high likelihood of repetition. Bullying is unfortunately a reality for far too many in our communities both young and old. Much like any other form of violence, bullying is not isolated to any particular age group, gender or demography. Just about everyone of us can look back in our lives and recall a time where either we were personally bullied or witnessed one of our friends or schoolmates being bullied. Its hard to believe that with all of the advancements and awareness, this type of behavior still exists, but it does and with the advent of social media, it had actually gotten much worse. This is because unlike in the past, the bully not only impacts your life on the playground or classroom; they now are able to follow you into your personal life due to the constant presence of social media. There is good news in that we have learned a great deal about what creates these bullies and how to neutralize their ability to isolate and intimidate. The key is for those in authority to respond to reports of bullying immediately to show without question that bullying will not be acceptable. That message needs to follow to our homes with the messages we send our children not only by what we say but by our own actions in how we treat fellow adults. Bullying is without question a learned behavior. It is learned on the playground, in the classroom and follows through to the workplace and social interactions as adults. We need to send a strong message to our own children, a message of empathy and compassion not of ridicule and rumor. Who are at risk of bullying the most? Typically those who are bullied have one or more of the following risks: Are perceived as different from their peers, such as being overweight or underweight, wearing glasses or different clothing, being new to a school, or being unable to afford what kids consider cool Are perceived as weak or unable to defend themselves Are depressed, anxious, or have low self esteem Are less popular than others and have few friends Do not get along well with others, seen as annoying or provoking, or antagonize others for attention However, even if a child has these risk factors, it doesnt mean that they will be bullied. The important lesson is that we as adults set the tone for how the next generation will interact with each other. Chances are if we show acceptance of others, our children will show acceptance of others. If we engage in demeaning others or spreading rumors, our children will follow suit. So often we as adults underestimate the influence, we have not only on our own children but even those who dont know us but witness our behavior. While school or workplace policies are an important component, the only way to truly decrease bullying is by denying the bully their victim. We do this by raising strong, confident, resilient children, and speaking out and supporting those who find themselves on the receiving end of this type of behavior. We are all teachers in life lessons and we teach by our actions. Lets all be aware of what we teach. The Southeast Alabama Community Action Partnership, formerly known as HRDC, will be in Bakerhill at the Bakerhill Community Center on September 27 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. to assist those in need in applying for LIHEAP assistance and in Henry County at the Headland Armory on September 28, from 9 a.m. 3 p.m. Alabama Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides income support for households unable to pay their utility bills due to income being below program guidelines. The program offers priority to low-income households with elderly, disabled, or infants. The program targets low-income households that have huge energy costs due to large family size. These households are typically unable to afford their energy costs since household income is low. Alabama LIHEAP offers help to these low-income households so that they can meet cost of energy. The program covers both heating and cooling costs. Eligible applicants will also receive grants to improve efficiency of their heating and cooling equipment in order to reduce energy bills by making efficient use of available resources. If a household has income below 150% of the poverty level, it may qualify for receive Alabama LIHEAP benefits. The applicants will also have to meet other program requirements such as they should have a genuine need to for help with utility bills, and their energy costs should be high. Households looking to receive assistance with energy costs will have to meet Alabama LIHEAP requirements. If they qualify for the program, they will receive a one-time grant, which is sent directly to the utility company, except for a crises scenario. Items that need to presented when you apply for LIHEAP assistance include: >>Income verification for everyone in the household for the previous month. Acceptable proof of income is weekly or bi-weekly pay stubs, SSI, Social Security Award letter, or unemployment verifications. If you receive child support, you must also bring proof of amount received, in the previous month. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO VERIFY ANY INCOME ONLINE (child support, TANF, etc.). YOU MUST BRING PROOF WITH YOU!!! All income verification must come from its source. >>Anyone living in the household that is age 18 or older, is not a full time student and has zero income must get a notarized verification of zero income form filled out PRIOR to your appointment time. >>Social Security cards for everyone in the household >>Picture ID of person applying for assistance >>If it is a second-party application, we will need a picture ID of the person making application on the households behalf. >>An up to date heating or cooling bill must be in the name of the head of household or spouse of head of household. The only exception is if the bill is in the landlords name. If it is in the landlords name, you must have a letter from the landlord stating the bill is in his or her name but you are responsible for the bill. It must have the name, address and phone number of the landlord so we can call for verification. >>If your service is off, you will need a printout from the utility company, showing what is due to have your services turned back on. >>If you live in public housing, you will need to bring a copy of your lease. The lease must show your utility allowance. >>If there are any children in the household that are not your biological children, you must show proof of custody. >>If your bill is past due and you are applying for Crisis LIHEAP assistance, you will also need to bring proof of a health related energy (Examples: signed Physicians statement, child under the age of 5 or an elderly person over the age of 60 living in the household.) >>If you need a deposit, your household must qualify for Crisis assistance. (Someone living in the home has a health condition that will be caused or aggravated by extreme heat or cold if an interruption of services occurs. Some exceptions will be considered for children five and under and those ages 60 and above.) Home Four wheelers Nissan Now Offering Wheelchair Friendly Vehicles In South Africa oi-Rajkamal Japanese carmaker Nissan has become the first manufacturer in South Africa to offer wheelchair friendly vehicles to taxi fleets. This move comes in order to meet safe and reliable means of transport for differently abled people. Nissan has used the NV350 Impendulo, converting the vehicle to a spacious carrier. The vehicle has hydraulic lifts, rear facing seats, and aluminium flooring, which grip wheelchairs better. Converted Impendulos are already being used within the regional health departments in the Eastern Cape. Taxis play an important role in South Africa and many find it difficult to use them because they are not well equipped for disabled people. One key reason is because wheelchairs do not fit inside. On the Impendulo, seats can be removed so that wheelchairs can fit inside the vehicle. Also, the aluminium flooring keeps the wheelchair in place. Another key advantage with the Impendulo are the hydraulic lifts, which give access to the rear doors comfortably for people in wheelchairs. Home Four wheelers Takata Failed to Report 2003 Airbag Rupture Blames US Arm For Exploding Airbags oi-Dennis James Japanese airbag supplier Takata Corp failed to inform the U.S. National Highway Transport Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a 2003 rupture of one of its airbag inflators in Switzerland. The airbag failure was revealed in internal Takata reports released by the NHTSA on Friday, September 23. The airbag rupture occurred in a vehicle in May 2003, and Takata claimed that the incident was cause due to overloading air-bag inflater propellant. However, when the Japanese parts supplier was asked about a few airbag recalls in 2010 by the NHTSA it failed to disclose any news about the Swiss rupture from 2003. A U.S. engineer at Takata asked if that incident should have been disclosed to the NHTSA in 2010, but it was not. Takata's defective air bag inflators have been linked to at least 14 deaths and more than 100 injuries and have sparked the largest-ever auto recall. 100 million defective airbag inflators have been recalled with 70 million inflators are in the United States alone. However, Takata is claiming that its its U.S. arm and not the parent company (which is based in Japan), was largely responsible for designing, testing, and producing tens of millions of defective airbag inflators. Via Reuters On Wednesday October 5th the Immigrant Council of Ireland will be hosting a One-Stop-Shop event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dundalk. The event is aiming to encourage community and civic participation of migrants in the locality. The One-Stop-Shops will be a collection or organisations (both statutory and non-statutory) that will be able to facilitate greater community, civic and political integration of EU and non-EU migrants. The One-Stop-Shops will be encouraging applications for Irish citizenship, voter registration and community and civic participation at the local level. The One-Stop-Shops will be organised in locations that are easy for people to access or where there are already large numbers of people passing by. We are also looking for local partners to assist in the process of generating interest in and awareness of the One-Stop- Shops. In addition we are looking for organisations that may be interested in participating in the One-Stop-Shops. Relevant organisations would be the local volunteer centre, the Franchise Office of the local authority (responsible for voter registration), providers of English language classes, Citizens Information Services, Tidy Towns Groups, other sports, community and cultural groups that are looking for new members or participants. The Immigrant Council will be providing information on applying for citizenship at the One-Stop- Shops. If you are interested in getting involved in the Dundalk One-Stop-Shop next month please do get in touch. Joe OBrien, Integration Outreach Officer, Immigrant Council of Ireland. Contact 087- 9608540 or joe@immigrantcouncil.ie Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak recently said removing the headphone jack in the next version of the iPhone is going to tick off a lot of people. Its been rumored for months that Apple would be scrapping the 3.5 mm headphone jack in the iPhone 7 its expected to unveil next week. Such a move, Wozniak said in an interview, could upset users who have invested in listening technology that uses the headphone jack. Ditching the headphone jack could be the prelude to another rumored new product: Bluetooth earbuds based on a very-low-powered radio chip developed exclusively by Apple. Wozniak prefers listening to music over wired headphones, he told The Australian Financial Review, because audio through Bluetooth wireless technology, which is used by most wireless headsets, sounds flat. However, if Bluetooth could be improved to produce better sound, hed use wireless headphones, he said. Such technology already exists, maintained Jeff Orr, senior practice director for mobile devices at ABI Research. There is the ability in Bluetooth to deliver a very high-quality audio experience, he told TechNewsWorld. It depends on how much a company is willing to invest in it to deliver something an audiophile would appreciate. Jackless Options Without the headphone jack, the only headset option would be wireless, unless Apple introduces alternatives. One solution could be headphones that plug into Apples proprietary Lightning Connector, which is used primarily to charge the iPhone. However, its rumored that Apple is changing that connector, too. The new connector would dock to the iPhone magnetically, similar to Apples laptop computer connectors. Another alternative would be to offer a dongle that would plug into the Lightning Connector and add a 3.5 mm jack to the iPhone. Apple used the adaptor approach before, when it went from using a 30-pin connector on its iOS devices to the present Lightning Connector. Such an adaptor likely would be inelegant, maintained Kevin Krewell, a principal analyst at Tirias Research. Apple does not make elegant dongles, he told TechNewsWorld. The dongles are designed to be as inelegant as possible to convince people not to use them for an extended period of time and to move on to whats new, Krewell added. Inelegant or not, Wozniak would use an adaptor with an iPhone so he could listen to music through his wired earphones with custom ear implants, he told the AFR. Strong Foundation Although the demise of the headphone jack has not been confirmed, the rumor appears to be very well established, as rumors go. Its been a solid rumor for an extended period of time, so I believe it will be true, Krewell said. There are still doubters, though. I wouldnt be surprised if Apple floated the idea a year ago to get people talking about it and see how people would react to this type of change, ABIs Orr noted. If Apple does scrap the standard headphone jack, it wont be the first company to do so. Lenovo removed the jack in its flagship Moto Z line of phones introduced earlier this year. If youre going to remove the headphone jack, youd better have a compelling advantage for consumers, said Ian Fogg, senior director of the mobile and telecoms team at IHS Markit. Lenovos pitch is that by eliminating the headphone jack it can create a thinner device to which optional modules can be attached. The problem is that the modules would add thickness to the phone. That makes Lenovos proposition for dropping the headphone jack quite weak, Fogg told TechNewsWorld. Backlash or Back Pat? Although Apple has made bold moves to mothball legacy technology in the past, losing the headphone jack is different from going from a 30-pin to Lightning Connector. The headphone jack is not just a port used by smartphones. Its used on many devices laptops, TV sets, home stereos, radios. Its very, very ubiquitous, Fogg said. It isnt like a change in the product line where people can get over the change fairly quickly. There are so many other devices where people use a headphone socket, it will take them many years to switch to something newer, he suggested. That makes it a tricky area for Apple to innovate in. Will eliminating the headphone jack tick off customers, as Wozniak predicted? There is certainly the risk that Apple will alienate some part of its audience if it removes the audio port from the iPhone, said Orr. However, if the past is any predictor of the future, Apple should be able to keep its fans in line. Apples customer base has never abandoned it when its made major infrastructure transitions in the past, observed Tirias Krewell. Theres always grumbling initially, but people eventually fall in line. By Erin Auel and Alison Cassady One of the most visible and immediate ways climate change has affectedand will continue to affectAmericans is through extreme weather exacerbated by rising global temperatures. Aerial image of flooding in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Between 2005 and 2015, the annual average temperature in the U.S. exceeded the 20th-century average every year, with increases ranging from 0.15 degrees Celsius to 1.81 degrees Celsius above normal. Moreover, the federal governments most recent National Climate Assessment concludes that as temperatures continue to rise, extreme weather events and wildfires will increase in frequency and intensity. Climate change will worsen heat waves, winter storms, and hurricanes. It will exacerbate extremes in precipitation, leading to more severe droughts and wildfires in some areas and heavier rainfall and flooding in others. And when the damage is done, taxpayers will be left to pick up the bill. When extreme weather strikes and state and local governments are overwhelmed, the federal government must often intervene. In the worst cases, the president can declare an emergency or a major disaster, which releases federal funds for the damaged areas. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides financial assistance to local, tribal and state governments, as well as individual households, after the president declares an emergency or major disaster. The Center for American Progress (CAP) examined FEMA data on weather- and wildfire-related disaster declarations between 2005 and 2015 to identify trends in FEMA disaster spending, which is funded by U.S. taxpayers. CAP found that: Between 2005 and 2015, FEMA issued more than $67 billion in grants to assist communities and individuals devastated by extreme weather and wildfires. Overall, FEMA spent about $200 per U.S. resident for disaster assistance during that time period. FEMA provided the most disaster assistance to Louisiana and New York, which, combined, received more than half of the agencys total assistance over the 10-year period due to damage caused by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy, respectively. Texas, Mississippi, and New Jersey rank third through fifth for FEMA disaster spending between 2005 and 2015. The states that received the most FEMA disaster assistance spending per capita were Louisiana ($4,345), Mississippi ($1,607), North Dakota ($843), and New York ($807). In North Dakota, unprecedented flooding events in 2009 and storms in 2011 caused substantial damage, driving up per-person costs among a smaller state population. These findings likely underestimate the true federal costand thus the cost to taxpayersof extreme weather. FEMA provides assistance in response to the worst natural disastersthose that triggered emergency and major disaster declarations. As a result, the findings do not include the costs of smaller but still destructive storms, costs borne by private insurers, and other government spending, such as the U.S. Department of Agricultures disaster assistance program. As the climate warms, these types of extreme weather and wildfire events could impose an even greater burden on American communities and taxpayers. In order to prepare for this reality, communities must invest in climate-resilient infrastructure and integrate climate considerations into their development plans. Findings: FEMA Is Spending Billions on Natural Disasters Between 2005 and 2015, the president issued 832 separate emergency or disaster declarations for which FEMA provided either public assistancedefined as funding for state, tribal, and local governmentsor individual assistance in the form of grants typically made to homeowners and renters whose home damage was not covered by homeowners insurance. Between 2005 and 2015, FEMA spent $67.7 billion on household and public assistance in response to presidentially declared emergencies and major disasters. Of this amount, $14.36 billion was spent on individual and household assistance, and public assistance outlays to state, tribal and local governments made up the rest$53.31 billion. During this 10-year period, there were extreme weather and wildfire events in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories and throughout all seasons. Severe storms were the most frequent cause of disaster declarations, with 470 distinct declarations across the examined time period. Although less common than severe storms, hurricanes caused the most damage. Between 2005 and 2015, FEMA spent $49.5 billion on public and individual assistance to help communities recover from hurricanes. FEMA spent $12.7 billion for assistance related to severe storms over the same 10-year period. Center for American Progress Hurricanes accounted for eight of the top-10 costliest disaster declarations between 2005 and 2010, including hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, Ike, Wilma, Rita, Gustav, Irene and Isaac. Center for American Progress Accordingly, although the total assistance by state varied widely, FEMA directed significant disaster spending to states that experienced historic hurricane damage during the period examined. These states include Louisiana and Mississippi, where Hurricane Katrina hit hardest in 2005, and New York and New Jersey, where Hurricane Sandy landed in 2012. Nationwide, FEMA spent more than $22 billion in assistance responding to Hurricane Katrina, including allocations for states that provided assistance related to evacuations. The agency provided nearly $16 billion in household and public assistance grants in response to Hurricane Sandy. Non-hurricane events can cause significant and costly damage as well. In August 2016, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, experienced historic flooding from torrential rainfall. As of Aug. 23, the floods had killed 13 people, and more than 100,000 people had applied for federal assistance. Preliminary analysis from Climate Central and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that increased temperatures due to climate change increased the likelihood of intense downpours in Louisiana by 40 percent. Floods are among the most costly extreme weather events that can hit an area, as they can destroy large areas of property and can take a long time to recede. Between 2005 and 2015, flooding caused eight of the 10 costliest non-hurricane disaster declarations and occurred across several different regions. Looking at the per-capita costs of extreme weather reveals that these disasters have a profound impact on individuals and communities. Louisiana received $4,345 per person in FEMA disaster spending between 2005 and 2015, the most of any state. Mississippi received the second-highest amount per capitamore than $1,600. Overall, FEMA spent about $200 per U.S. resident for disaster assistance between 2005 and 2015. How Prepared Is Your State to Deal With Extreme Weather? EcoWatch https://t.co/eATPZS7Khu @ClimateCentral @OccupySandy EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) July 17, 2016 Damage is not just limited to coastal areas. States in the central U.S. with relatively small populations have been hit hard by extreme weather and subsequently received significant assistance from FEMA. North Dakota, for example, ranks third for per-capita FEMA assistance over the analyzed decade due largely to eight distinct flooding events. Iowa ranks fifth for per-capita FEMA spending and seventh for total spending because of severe storms that caused major statewide flooding in 2008. Of the 10 states with the highest per-capita spending, half are located in the central U.S. Conclusion Extreme weather is already costing taxpayers and the federal government valuable public dollars and resources. Americans have recognized these costs; in a 2015 New York Times survey, 83 percent of respondents said that unmitigated climate change poses a very or somewhat serious problem in the future. Because of the damage already caused to the climate, communities in the U.S. and around the globe will experience more frequent and intense extreme weather events, even if world leaders take immediate action to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Faced with this reality, FEMA has proposed a rule that would establish a deductible for disaster assistance in order to encourage states to make investments in resilience measures before disasters occur. This rule could incentivize states to invest in climate-smart infrastructure to minimize the financial and human toll of extreme weather. The FEMA proposal is one among many efforts to push communities to better prepare for storms, floods, and other natural disastersan effort made even more urgent because of climate changerather than focusing only on responding to a disasters aftermath. Resilience, however, is only one prong in a coordinated response to climate change. The world must also focus on mitigating the worst impacts of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning the global economy to cleaner, low-carbon forms of energy. Methodology CAP examined FEMA data on presidential declarations of major disasters and emergencies between 2005 and 2015. The data reflect the two primary disaster declaration types: major disaster and emergency. CAP analyzed FEMA data on public and individual/household assistance spending in response to these declarations. The data were last updated on July 12. For the per-capita analysis in Table 3, CAP used population data obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau. To calculate the per-capita costs by state, CAP averaged the state population totals from 2005, 2010 and 2015. The national per-capita figure in Table 3 reflects FEMA disaster assistance to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories. CAP developed a methodology for excluding and including disasters to ensure the analysis only includes declarations that reflect the types of events that could become more common with unmitigated climate change. We included public and individual assistance payments made in response to major disaster declarations and emergency declarations for the following types of incidents: coastal storms, drought, flooding, freezing, hurricanes, mudslides from flooding, severe ice storms, severe storms, snow, tornadoes, typhoons and wildfires. We excluded public and individual assistance payments made for the following types of incidents that occurred between 2005 and 2015: water main breaks, terrorism, explosions, earthquakes, chemical spills, tsunamis, the 2009 presidential inauguration, bridge collapses and volcanoes. Mosaic Fertilizer has been slammed with a federal lawsuit over the massive, radioactive sinkhole that opened under its New Wales plant in Mulberry, Florida, 30 miles east of Tampa. The sinkhole, formed below a phosphogypsum stack, has leaked an estimated 215 million gallons of contaminated wastewater into the Floridan Aquifer, posing a potentially serious threat to drinking water. To make matters worse, news reports indicate that the fertilizer giant and state officials knew about the problem for three weeks but failed to notify the public. Attorneys from ClassAction.com filed a 23-page class action complaint on behalf of Nicholas Bohn, Natasha McCormick and Eric Weckmanlocal residents who rely on private wells as their source of water. The lawsuit was filed at the Federal Courthouse in downtown Tampa. Residents in the communities that surround the New Wales facility have legitimate concern for the integrity and safety of their water supplies as the toxic radioactive and other chemical wastewater is in the Floridan Aquifer causing, and will continue to cause, water contamination, the complaint reads. There are approximately 5,000 individuals who live in within five miles of the sinkhole who obtain their water from private wells and are impacted by the sinkhole, it states. It is estimated there are over 1,500 private wells in the impacted area. Mosaics conscious actions and omissions disregarded foreseeable risks to human health and safety and to the environment, the lawsuit alleges. The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount in damages, including reimbursement or funding for private well testing, monitoring and treatment if tests show the well is contaminated. Morgan & Morgan environmental attorney Rene Rocha is one of the attorneys taking on the case. When asked via email if the plaintiffs are seeking a specific dollar amount, Rocha explained to EcoWatch that the main intention of the lawsuit is to keep people safe and to hold Mosaic accountable. We are seeking recovery for all damages suffered by the residents in the area, but it is too early to assign any specific dollar amount to that, he wrote. First and foremost we are concerned with ensuring the safety of people living nearby the facility, and the integrity of their water supply. Since the Sept. 22 filing, Rocha said, We have been contacted by many residents who are concerned. A statement from ClassAction.com noted it is yet unclear to what extent these wastes have travelled through the Aquifer, but the wastes contain extremely toxic and radioactive contaminants such as radium, radon, uranium, thorium, and lead, as well as other non-radioactive toxins. Its attorneys are continuing to monitor the environmental impact of the sinkhole, as well as any possible health risks posed by the waters contaminants. This lawsuit is about providing peace of mind to families living nearby the plant. Its about making sure they are confident their water is safe, and that they dont have to take the word of a company that repeatedly disregards the public and the environment in pursuit of profits, ClassAction.com attorney John Yanchunis said. In response to the lawsuit, Mosaic spokeswoman Callie Neslund told the Associated Press, We are reviewing the details of this filing and will respond through the judicial process. Walt Precourt, Mosaics senior vice president of phosphates, addressed the Polk County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 20. On behalf of Mosaic and our nearly 4,000 employees in Florida, wed like to express our sincere regret that the sinkhole and water recovery operations on our property have caused concerns for the community, he said. I regret and apologize for not providing information sooner, and am committed to providing regular updates to the public as we move forward. On its website, Mosaic says it is offering water tests free of charge. A third-party testing company has taken samples from 52 wells, with 210 testing appointments scheduled. Mosaic is also offering free bottled water to those who request it. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) said in its most recent update that ongoing monitoring of nearby wells continues to indicate that affected water is contained to the impacted site. The nearest private drinking well is around 3 miles away from the site, and thus far in DEPs investigation there is no indication that there is a threat to this well, the agency continued. Both Mosaic and DEP will continue to perform sampling, and if any indication of off-site migration is seen, affected homeowners will be immediately notified. Mosaic wants to mine an additional 50,000 acres of Floridas beautiful, biodiverse lands, but this incident makes clear it cant even handle the radioactive waste it currently generates, said Jaclyn Lopez, Florida director at the Center for Biological Diversity. We must come together and demand that our counties, our state and our federal government reject further expansion of this dangerous industry. Incidentally, as ClassAction.com pointed out on its website, Mosaic has somewhat of a checkered past with toxic messes. On October 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice announced a nearly $2 billion hazardous waste settlement with Mosaic, forcing it to clean up 60 billion pounds of hazardous waste at eight facilities, including the New Wales site where the new sinkhole appeared. The sinkhole was discovered by a Mosaic worker on Aug. 27 but news of its discovery was not made public until Sept. 11. Several local residents have spoken up since news broke. Im not going to pay for it. Theyll pay for it Im pretty sure, Dixie Mason, who lives about two miles away from the sinkhole, told ABC Action News. Preliminary reports from private wells showed normal readings of sodium, sulfate and fluoride. However, some neighbors have expressed confusion and frustration that radioactivity readingsthe one thing everyone was looking forwere not yet provided in the report. Watch below: SpaceX is planning its first visit to Mars with the company's 2018 Red Dragon Mission. The unpiloted rocket will use supersonic retropropulsion to break through the Red Planet's atmosphere. What makes SpaceX's 2018 Red Dragon mission very unique is the fact that it will showcase an innovative new type of technology for spacecraft landing on the Red Planet. Previously, NASA has utilized subsonic retropropulsion, using parachutes and firing the spacecraft's rockets towards the surface in order to slow down its descent to the planet. However, such a technique works well on small missions. Once heavy payloads are taken into consideration, things get a lot more complicated. In fact, NASA officials themselves admitted that subsonic retropropulsion has been maxed out during the agency's 2012 Curiosity mission, which brought down the 1-ton Curiosity rover to Mars' surface. This is where the 2018 Red Dragon mission's supersonic retropropulsion comes in. Unlike subsonic retropropulsion, supersonic retropropulsion involves allowing a spacecraft to enter the Red Planet's atmosphere faster than the speed of sound. Instead of parachutes, the spacecraft would use its thrusters to slow down enough to land. While very daring, supersonic retropropulsion would be tried out by Elon Musk's SpaceX Red Dragon rocket, which is set to be launched in 2018. If successful, the mission would prove to a be a vital step towards making manned missions to Mars possible. SpaceX's initiatives on the 2018 Red Dragon mission are fully supported by NASA, with Phil McAlister, director of the Commercial Spaceflight Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., stating that supersonic retropropulsion is a vital aspect of future Mars missions. "Every single candidate EDL [entry, descent and landing] architecture we have for Mars human exploration relies to some extent on supersonic retropropulsion," he said. McAlister further stated that he believes the 2018 Red Dragon mission is a win-win situation for both SpaceX and NASA. "So this was a unique opportunity for NASA to partner on a mission that we could not otherwise do. Could we do one like this in the future? Sure, but we don't have one on the books right now. It's not funded and, to my knowledge, hasn't even been proposed," he said. Elon Musk has been very open about his intentions behind the creation of SpaceX. According to the eccentric billionaire, he plans to have the first Martian pioneers land on the Red Planet by 2024, in order to take the first steps towards the colonization of the planet. Pakistan is a predominantly (96.28%) Muslim country (Census-R 2004) carved out in 1947 by partitioning British India. As the naming process in Pakistan is strongly influenced by Islam, high-ranking clergy and religious scholars (ulema) play an important role in selecting childrens names. They also determine whether a name is Islamic or not. In some cases, especially with increasing emphasis on Islam in Pakistani society, traditional names are changed to conform to the clergys definition of what is an appropriate Islamic name. Names are also changed if they are believed to be inauspicious and some names are chosen for their supposed mystical influences on personality, life chances, and even ones unborn siblings. Considering their importance in Pakistani society, it is regrettable that the number of scholarly studies addressing this phenomenon is limited. Review of Literature According to the press release, in just six months, the number of advertisers has more than doubled. And that includes a variety of businesses from around the world. In fact, the top five countries seeing advertiser adoption are the US, Brazil, UK, Australia and Canada Instagram has announced that over 500,000 advertisers are growing their businesses on the platform. According to the press release, in just six months, the number of advertisers has more than doubled. And that includes a variety of businesses from around the world. In fact, the top five countries seeing advertiser adoption are the US, Brazil, UK, Australia and Canada. Turning Passions into Purchase Instagram is a place where people turn their passions into purchase. With companies from varying industries on the platform, 50 per cent of Instagrammers follow a business. More than just following businesses, 60 per cent of people say they learn about a product or service on Instagram. Love Your Melon is a small apparel business that donates a sizable percentage of its net proceeds to fight pediatric cancer. To spread the word of its mission and maximize charitable contributions, the company uses Instagram to target caregivers and a Custom Audience based on website visitors, past customers and people on its mailing list. Brian Keller, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Love Your Melon said, When we started our business, we put our idea on Instagram and Facebook. Three-and-a-half years later, we use our Instagram account to connect with people around the country who have joined our mission to fight pediatric cancer. Without Instagram, we wouldnt be able to make the same difference in the lives of children battling cancer. Inspiration that Sparks Action By marketing to passions, businesses are turning that inspiration into action. In fact, 75 per cent of Instagrammers take action after being inspired by a post, like visiting a website, searching, shopping or telling a friend. Since ads launched last September, there have been 1 billion actions taken on Instagram ads. In fact, 70 per cent of performance campaigns generated statistically significant lifts for online conversion or mobile app installs. After evolving the link ad format in June, performance on those ads increased more than 45 per cent. And the value of ads extends beyond mobile, contributing to a 2 per cent lift in offline sales. Quickly-growing handbag brand, Dagne Dover, worked with its ad agency partner Mason Interactive to increase sales. The NYC-based business paired strong imagery with the Shop Now call to action button to reach students, mothers, professionals and women interested in fashion and travel. By honing in on this specific target audience, the campaign doubled its traffic and increased its return on ad spend 13X over a two-month period. Melissa Mash, CEO at Dagne Dover said, Dagne Dover was initially created for the tech-savvy, on-the-go millennial looking to streamline her life and discover new brands she doesnt see at her everyday department store. Reaching out to these women on Instagram is a natural and exciting fit. The interiors of our bags are a large part of what sets us apart from other handbag brands, and our stylized aerial shots convey why someone needs our bag more than words ever could. New Tools Just for Businesses With the help of the new Instagram Business Tools, its never been easier for businesses to find new customers and make meaningful connections with people who care about their businesses. In the two months following its launch, more than 1.5 million businesses converted to a business profile. For the first time on the platform, businesses had an easier way to connect with customers through business profiles, learn what resonates with their audience through insights, and promote a post from within the app. Grabble is a UK-based shopping app with a curated selection of fashion and beauty products ready to buy in just one tap. The fashion-forward company attributes Instagram Business Tools as having immediate impact on its marketing strategy. Jack Rogers, Grabbles Head of Marketing said, "With a business profile, its a smoother process for customers to get in toucheverything is in one place so they dont have to go elsewhere to look up our details. In addition to making it easier to connect with customers, Grabble has used the insights to hone its target audience. "Wed always thought the majority of our audience was female, so weve tended to post female-focussed content. However, the insights in Instagram Business Tools have shown us 21% of our followers are in fact male," says Jack. Finally, the UK-based brand uses Instagram advertising to reach new customers, drive downloads of their app and ultimately increase their sales. By using Instagrams range of ad formats to showcase handpicked looks, weve managed to gain 23 per cent more users month over month and a 3X increase in sales within certain categories, says Jack. Sources: ComScore, January 2016; Instagram user survey, November 2015; Instagram Internal Research May 2016; Instagram Internal Research two months: May July 2016; Instagram drove a median 1.8% lift in in-store sales and a 2.1% lift in household penetration, across 12 US CPG campaigns measured for potential sales impact by Oracle Data Cloud. Read more news about (ad news, latest advertising news India, internet advertising, ad agencies updates, media advertising India) The Las Vegas Convention Speakers Bureau, in association with TwoBirds, Inc., is seeking speakers ready to elevate their careers by appearing in the newest self-help film from award-winning writer & producer Robin Jay. This call for speakers is an amazing opportunity for just a few, select speakers. Jay, who has won awards for her first two films, The Keeper of the Keys and The Secrets of the Keys including Best Independent Film, Best Concept, and Best Documentary has scheduled major production to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 7 - 11, 2016. Appearing in one of Jay's films can be marketing gold for any speaker or expert looking to take their career to a higher level and put themselves in greater demand. Her latest film, The Secrets of the Keys, in currently in distribution with Beyond Words Publishing, the company that took The Secret and What the Bleep? the two most successful self-help films of all time to phenomenal success. Beyond Words released Jay's film July 19th and will be taking it to the Frankfurt Book Fair to meet with many of their 3,000+ independent distributors, taking the film and the experts to a global audience. Jay shares, "When The Secret came out, the film's featured experts became household names. The challenge has been that most of the films that have followed have been lackluster 'talking head' documentaries. They can actually be hard to watch. This is why I am personally raising the bar on the entire genre of self-help films. I wanted to make movies that would empower viewers, but that would also be entertaining and would have such an impact as to put the film's experts on the map! The fact that my films are winning awards in traditional film festivals - PLUS the fact that my last film earned a tremendous, global distribution deal - assures speakers that there is an audience for films with greater production value, more engaging stories, and profound personal messages." "For my next film, Becoming the Keys, I'm looking for speakers and experts who have an important message to tell and who are ready to share it with the world," said Jay. "Appearing in an outstanding film along with some of today's top thought leaders is also marketing gold for the few speakers who are fortunate enough to be able to take advantage of this opportunity." Jay's films have featured some of the most iconic leaders in the field of Personal Development, including Brian Tracy, Jack Canfield, John Gray, John Assaraf, don Miguel Ruiz, Rev. Michael Beckwith, Dannion and Kathryn Brinkley, Gloria Loring, and more. She says, "These internationally-recognized stars trust me with their reputation so other speakers know they can, too. Appearing in one of my films means they can achieve tremendous 'Success by Association' by appearing in this star-studded series of today's thought leaders." "My mission is to bring empowering messages to viewers through a unique hybrid film format while helping speakers to distinguish themselves in what is a very crowded field. The films I produce feature fictional characters and a cohesive, narrative story. The characters interact with experts who appear in cameos throughout the film. I feel it's a higher level of storytelling. Viewers will remember the experts because their messages are delivered in a more organic way; it's all very conversational." Jay also now films entirely on location. "The stories just come together so much more beautifully and naturally when we shoot on location instead of in a green screen studio. I've become a huge fan of the more authentic location settings." Her newest film, Becoming the Keys, takes her films' message to an even higher level, encouraging viewers to be grateful for everything in their lives - good, bad, or otherwise - to be more empathetic and to realize that everyone is dealing with challenges at certain points in their lives. She said, "It's more important than ever that we embrace the 7 Keys: Appreciation, Harmony, Passion, Courage, Faith, Vibration, and Empathy. Most motivational speakers' topics fit into several of the KEYS messages." "I work eagerly to market and promote the films, entering film festivals and seeking global distribution, like I was able to do with The Secrets of the Keys and Beyond Words. I want the experts to know the tremendous value they are going to get when they become a part of these films. This is a rare opportunity for just a few speakers with the right message and who are willing to invest in themselves to reach incredible new heights and an international audience." Interested speakers should email Robin@LVCSB.com with a brief bio, headshot, and video clip of themselves speaking, along with a brief description of the message they would like to share with audiences to help make the world a better place. Jay will forward all applicants with a link to see her latest film along with the details of appearing in her new movie. With production just a few weeks away, time is of the essence. Speakers are urged to reply immediately. Jay says, "I want to help you make 2017 your best year ever as a speaker and star!" Friday, September 23, 2016 September 23, 2016 Fraud Friday Fraudulent Construction Loan Draws Lands Developer in Prison By Bob Coleman Editor, Fraud Friday Twenty-eight year old Arkansas developer Brandon Woodrome pled guilty yesterday to two counts of bank and wire fraud for diverting funds from a $795,000 construction loan. The First Western Bank loan was to fund the purchase of land and build a medical clinic and strip center in Fort Smith. US Attorney Kenneth Elser says, The loan agreement required him to submit invoices for work the subcontractors had completed. Woodrome created and submitted fraudulent invoices that contained material misrepresentations about construction work he knew had not been done by subcontractors to First Western Bank for payment. The bank issued cashiers checks based on receiving the invoices. The bank and subcontractors verified the invoices that were paid by the bank were false. Woodrome was paid in excess of $300,000 from First Western Bank between November 2014 and December 2014 for fraudulent invoices he had submitted to them. Woodrome also defrauded RIOUX Capital in Austin of approximately $1.8 million by submitting fraudulent invoices by email. RIOUX Capital is a company that buys accounts receivable from business entities and then pays the entities approximately 80 percent of the face value of the accounts receivable purchased. Woodrome established a line of credit with RIOUX allowing him to sell his accounts receivable to them . In February 2015, Woodrome began building a retail shopping center in Fort Smith for a company that owned the undeveloped land. The landowner had already obtained financing for the project. In his scheme to defraud RIOUX, Woodrome created and submitted by interstate wire communications false and fraudulent documents that contained forged signatures, fraudulent invoices and fake assignment schedules. In 2008, Brandon ran an unsuccessful campaign for the Arkansas House of Representatives. Saturday, September 24, 2016 Part Two of the Fundamentals of Chinese American Funeral Customs covers Visitation, Food Offerings, Blanketing Ceremony, Paper Burning Products, and Dress Code. This information, presented by Bob Yount, General Manager of Green Street Mortuary in San Franciscos Chinatown, was shared during classes at the 2016 ICCFA University College of International Studies. (Read Part One) Chinese Funeral Visitation Visitation is held the night before the funeral. Visitation ceremonies tend to be one hour a guest comes in, signs the guest register, walks to the front of the chapel, bows three times, turns to the family, and bows once. The family stands and bows, then the visitor sits for a while. In the middle of visitation, the blanketing ceremony takes place. Food Offering At Chinese funerals, the food offering symbolically provides food to the new spirit for a well-nourished journey. Often, the food includes a pig head, chickens, bowls of rice, and fruit. The food offering is set up in front of the casket. After visitation and the funeral, the food, along with the floral displays (see Part One), are taken to the cemetery and arranged for display during the burial. The food is discarded later. Seagulls commonly frequent cemeteries where Chinese funerals are held (they know where to find a good meal!). Green Street Mortuary has a food tray they provide for a charge ($85 in 2016). The mortuary works with a local restaurant to create the food offering. Security Blankets and the Blanketing Ceremony Pei (pronounced pay), are security blankets, beautiful fabrics used to ensure the deceased is protected and warm as the spirit moves on. Usually, blood relatives conduct the blanketing ceremony. The casket is fully opened so the decedent is exposed, head to foot. The blankets are placed in a specific manner, starting from the waist down to the foot. One person can have anywhere from one up to 20 or 30 blankets layered on top. For the blanketing ceremony, the designated head of the family determines who and how many will participate. Family members can pick which colors each person wants for the blanket they place. Red is a good, happy color. Yellow, pink, green, gold are also good colors. Monochromatic colors, such as black and gray, are not favored. The family lines up in order of hierarchy by closeness of relation and age. If both parents died and its Moms funeral, the eldest son goes first (or daughter, if theres no son). Then, other relatives go: the eldest brother/sister, eldest niece/nephew, and so forth. The blankets are set off to the side in a predetermined order sorted by the hierarchy of family members. The eldest son goes first, with the funeral directors and the son holding the blanket over the deceased. They bow three times, lower the blanket onto deceased at waist level, and bow one more time. The participants say, Yet Ko-Ko, Joy Ko-Ko Sahm Ko-Ko First bow, again bow, third bow. The layering by other relatives is farther toward the feet with each successive blanket. Theres also a head blanket placed under the head of the deceased, which is put in place by the funeral directors prior to the service. Green Street Mortuarys General Manager Bob Yount said that its not unusual to have 20 blankets placed during this ceremony. While its often conducted during a visitation, it could be done just prior to the funeral or in a chapel at the cemetery, in any place where the casket could be opened. During the arrangement conference, the family will discuss the blanketing ceremony and how it will be done: the individuals who will participate decide what color, style, and size blanket they want to use. There are places in Chinatown where people can go buy these blankets and bring them in, or they can be purchased at the funeral home. Paper Replica Burning Products Paper replica burning products symbolize creature comforts sent with the deceaseds spirit to the other world. There is a whole range of consumer products made as burnable items cell phones, beers, cameras, watches, automobiles (some can be up to three feet in length), money, flat screen TVs, mah jong kits, booze, cigarettes, fish, pizza, servants, and a house to live in. To avoid lawsuits from brand name companies, the manufacturers of these products deliberately misspell trademarked product names. Families can buy packages of products, or buy individual burning products. Most people want to send the deceased off with a house, clothing, and a car. At Green Street Mortuary, they will have an average of 20-25 burning products set up in front of the casket at the funeral ceremony. After a final viewing, the flowers, food offering and the burning products are collected and moved to the cemetery for the burial. At the cemetery, there are large barrels, usually painted red, which are already burning with fires started by the cemetery staff. As the burial is taking place, the burning products are placed in the flames. The funeral directors are usually the ones to handle putting the burning products into the flames. Funeral Dress Code Traditionally, Chinese mourners wear black here in the U.S. Sometimes black is worn in China, but white is the traditional color of mourning there. The eldest son may wear a black waistband and armband to denote his position in the family hierarchy. Even more to come! There will be a Part Three on music, funeral processions, the meaning and use of red and white envelopes, and other details. Author Gail Rubin attended the 2016 ICCFA University College of International Studies thanks to a scholarship from Regions Bank. Saturday, September 24, 2016 What is holding back the widespread acceptance of my basic Peace Economics theories is that other people cling to notions in their respective fields that are just plain inadequate or wrong. This is where winning the Nobel Peace Prize could make a scientific revolution difference, with a million dollars to help get the word out. So this paper is devoted to some of the long list of groups or occupations that are handicapped by inadequate understandings held by their narrow fields of expertise. My work started with economics but it rapidly grew into much broader interdisciplinary understandings because military spending and empire are at the heart of so many other issues. What makes it possible for me to do this work is that I have a deep understanding of many important fields, nine listed on my resume, and that keeps me from getting stuck in the limitations of any one field. I have politics for breadth, and engineering for depth, both words and numbers. Then there is business and accounting for different ways of looking at the economy. My war-gaming background helps me understand history and war. Sports, religion, and art are not in my list of nine specialties, but I have extensive experience in each area and have woven those three into my work as well. Forecasting expertise is another specialty strength not explicitly emphasized on my resume. Economists While economists work with numbers and charts, just as I do, they are very good only with microeconomics, business economics, supply and demand, not very good at macroeconomics as many will readily admit. Forecasting is clearly a weakness. The adherence to one of three schools, Monetarists, Keynesians, and Marxists (sorry Vienna I put you in the first group) resembles that of religion more than that of science. Each school seeks to outmaneuver the others to support their particular belief system, using numbers, charts, and argument. They are social scientists working in the area of partial truths rather than verities, so argument is left to resolve the ambiguities. Peace Economics found some bedrock truths to build a model on and that model had solid accuracy because it was carefully built up (see 28 steps) on solid findings. Peace Economics rises above the soft social science world of the other three economic theories into the hard physics accurate world of the Newtonian physics that dominates most of the engineering fields. Politicians Politicians are by nature generalists and word people, seldom any good at numbers like I am. They are usually among the 90% of the population who are number-phobic. They are fond of the phrase, "lies, darn lies, and statistics" because they are so used to abusing statistics to make an argument. Political scientists are interested in getting votes and who gets the most votes, so they often live in a world of emotion rather than hard realities. They live by the word and die by the word, numbers just confuse people they think. They see the military spending going into prosperous communities but fail to see the reverse effect to productive industries, especially manufacturing, during those same military buildup years. They see the power attached to military spending but fail to see the enormous toll of crime and corruption that goes with that same power in those same communities. Historians The biggest fallacy in the world of history is that history is biography. Many college students get a history degree because there is no math requirement, hence many historians are number-phobic. One local radio show historian showed his bigotry against numbers and me by calling me a numerologist. This same person incorrectly cited Boeing stock going up after 9-11 when in fact it went down. That's because he didn't know 80% of Boeing's business was commercial aircraft, and unlike most other major defense contractors, like Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, Boeing was not almost solely dependent on military spending. Arnold Toynbee got it right that high military spending is a big factor in the demise of most all empires, but he and Paul Kennedy are the rare exceptions from the biography is destiny majority of historians. Most historians tend to overlook or underplay the military spending role in the economy. Many even think military spending leads to economic prosperity, while in reality military spending is taking resources from those that can't stop military encroachment. Perhaps they ignore the development economic literature that resource based economies seldom prosper in the long run. Militarism can sometimes prosper in the short run, but backfires in the long run. Science, imagination, and goods production are the real enduring sources of prosperity. Religion The religious believe that world peace can be attained one person at a time. They believe we can change hearts and all will be well. They fail to see that the military industrial complex can easily arouse the people into a war fever. They fail to see that politicians know they need a good war to go down in the history books as a great leader. They fail to see that politicians court the military when seeking power, as guns are seen as more reliable than prayers. Stalin once famously said "How many divisions does the Pope have?" Nonviolent movements succeed twice as often as violent ones do, but tell that to the people of Syria today. Leaders with a conscience are malleable, but ruthless leaders are a much tougher nut to crack. Environmentalists The depletion of resources and soil can bring down an empire eventually. But the islands of Japan have built prosperity with little in the way of resources, employing trade and low military spending after militarism didn't work in World War II. The world is in deep trouble due to excessive carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from increasing use of fossil fuels worldwide. But the science of the greenhouse effect is also subject to the laws of diminishing returns. I attended one global warming class where students were to experiment to see the effects of different changes on a climate model. They were instructed to go out one century to see the results. One student went out two centuries and saw the temperature rise leveling off in the second century. This accords with the science that shows that each doubling of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will give a certain rise in temperature. That means the response is not linear, but actually slows the increase over time with a linear input increase. But when the IPPC has 205 specialties and does not include the 54 year cycle, they are left grasping for straws to explain the fifteen year stall in global warming since 1998 until the last two years. Because differential evaporation rates occur over land and water, the land heats up three times as fast as the ocean for 27 years before the ocean starts bringing the land back into balance over another 27 years creating the great land ocean cycle on Earth. At the peak relative temperature, first a decade of droughts happens before the peak, then a decade of floods just after the peak. The environmentalists are either geographers or meteorologists. One thinks in terms of millions or thousands of years and the other thinks very short term like days, weeks, or a few years at most. No one focuses on the work lifetime level of 54 years. Even if they did, they would not see results repeat in one working lifetime for field studies. Of the hundreds of academics studying the cycle, only I have sought to connect and explain the three cycles of temperature, economics, and wars. Criminologists Modern American criminologists are at a loss to explain the sudden drop of crime in the nineties. That's because they fail to see the crime is a function of militarism. When the military spending share of the economy suddenly dropped at the end of the Cold War in 1991, it took several years for the crime to drop to the new low levels of the late nineties. That's because it took time for the people raising the next crop of children to lower the level of fear and anxiety and less young adults were being taught the skills of mortal combat. Prison rates are considered a function of the number of people aged 18 to 30. I expect the delay to be related to the 18 years of raising a child to adulthood or the phasing in of the lower military force impact on the twelve years from age 18-30 of crime likelihood. The statistics look more like the early twenties aged military force level is key to the overall crime rate, as it gradually dropped from 1991 to about 1996, mainly that first five years after the military spending drop. Detoxification takes time. Once the drop was in place, the level stayed low in spite of the rise in military spending after 2001, although that rise was small compared to the Cold War levels. Trade Treaties Those looking at trade treaties to blame for the loss of manufacturing jobs in the developed world are usually overlooking an even stronger factor. Sure there is the attraction of low wages in the developing world, but there is also the Military buildup withdrawal of resources (like research engineering and capital) from manufacturing. That loss to the military adds vulnerability to trade deals by not upgrading manufacturing to higher quality levels, like the Germans do. For the complete 24 page booklet enclosed in the Peace Economics video: https://www.academia.edu/4108656/BOOKLET_for_Peace_Economics_11_charts_24p._2011 For definitive proof that Peace Economics is a new level of precision scientific discovery: https://www.academia.edu/7632773/PROOF_of_Peace_Economics_11_pages_1986 A later update of this formula for another 13 years to 1996 showed the formula still accurate. Twenty-first century tests show the basic principles continue to apply and predict. I have two 2000 word peer reviewed listings coming out in the SAGE Encyclopedia of War in October 2016, one on "Military Keynesianism" and the other on "Political Economy of War". Friday, September 23, 2016 Valeri Bocage, CEO Powerful Women International Connections Community Friday: Moving Through Tunnel of Doom to Experience Greatness Business owners, pastors, supervisors, teachers, doctors, lawyers, and it goes on. We ALL have our challenges. Family gets in the way, but its family. We dont get to choose them. We get to learn to love them anyway! The Roller Coaster Ride We sometimes sink into a dark tunnel of doom. We think, No one else is in this tunnel, its a great place to hide. Because it is your moment in your tunnel, you cannot see all of the others in the tunnel with you. However, there are MANY people in that tunnel. They, too, are struggling with their self-doubt, asking, Why me? Self pity takes hold to include thought such as, My life sucks I cannot get back up again I cannot win this EVER! I will NEVER go outside again! Inspiration BUT good news does emerge from the dark period. Our challenges build muscle and character. They build strength that we did not know we had. This is precisely where miracles are birthed and good things come to light. You may have experienced your own dark moments and chose to be in the tunnel to hide from the world. At some point, the time comes to make a new choice Your New Story When the feeling of darkness strikes, take quiet time to answer the following questions: What are YOU going to do about your situation? How are YOU going to get up, and do something BIGGER; something better than you previously imagined? How are YOU going to turn the seemingly bad into good? All types of choices are available to us. Decisions affect our outcome. Take time to prioritize whats important to you, and what will provide the best chance of succeeding. Maybe one pint of your favorite ice cream will help, but, after that, put it down! Eating yourself into depression is NOT the way to go. Your tunnel and challenges are part of your life. They are your opportunity to learn to perform better and create an improved version of yourself. Challenges help you to appreciate the better days while building character and strength. Your tunnel gives you POWER! It gives you a new walk. Embrace it all to emerge into Light. Recipe for Emerging into Sunlight Talk to someone who understands you and listens. Surround yourself with people who possess positive energy and thoughts. Look at ways you can turn the situation around; make a long list. Select the three major ideas that motivate you. Look at how you are going to make a difference for one person or many. Take the advice from friends that inspires you the most. Quotes from my Friends: Carrie Nikitin I am NOT doing that! (There are just some things in life for which she is NOT willing to compromise herself or values.) Pam Terry I choose to be happy. I am NOT allowing anything to get in my way of being Happy! (Life happens, be Happy No Matter What!) Elinor Stutz I choose to focus on ALL the good happening to remain motivated to pursue my vision. (When life downers happen, look at what is going right.) David Golden Just Stay Focused! (No Matter What Happens keep going and look at the Bigger Picture.) Valeris Experience I decided to change the world! YES, I was waaay down the tunnel of doom! So, I turned the purpose of my company to bring women together from ALL over the globe to make a positive change. We now have men joining us, too! Visit our PWIC Project Page This is just the beginning. Lets Change this World Together Join me in making the world better by making a contribution on our GoFundMe page. ANY amount large or small helps significantly and it all adds up! Your name will appear on our website! Much Love, Valeri PWIC Member, Angelle Murry, with Profiles Unlimited working with children at Barnes and Noble PWIC Community Affiliates and Members, Doris Mangrum, Dr. Veronica Hunnicutt, Najjiyya Arnold, Dr. Louann Tung Women in leadership, discussing global change with Pam Terry COO of PWIC From Your Tunnel of Doom to Your Greatness! Smooth Sale! Following these guidelines will lead you to the For Business Consultation and Conference Speaking Schedule an Appointment to Learn More: elinor@smoothsale.net Sponsored By googleplus Friday, September 23, 2016 Yesterday, conservative law professor, author and blogger Glenn Reynolds learned that Twitter had suspended his account, and he wrote on his iconic website Instapundit... Cant imagine why theyd do that, except that it seems to be happening to a lot of people for no obvious reason. Its as if, despite assurances to the contrary, Twitter is out to silence voices it disagrees with or something. Then he learned that his offense was the above tweet. Reynolds wrote Sorry, blocking the interstate is dangerous, and trapping people in their cars is a threat. Driving on is self-preservation, especially when weve had mobs destroying property and injuring and killing people. But if Twitter doesnt like me, Im happy to stop providing them with free content. and.. Run them down perhaps didnt capture this fully, but its Twitter, where character limits stand in the way of nuance But one of Reynolds extra-curricular gigs (he is a University of Tennessee law professor) is monthly columnist for USA Today. After the progressive Furies took to social media and demanded that he be fired from the law school, dropped by the newspaper and forced to wander in the wilderness in sackcloth, Gannetts paper suspended him for a month. Reynolds was reinstated by Twitter after purging the offending tweet, and he issued this mea culpa to USA Today: Wednesday night one of my 580,000 tweets blew up. I didnt live up to my own standards, and I didnt meet USA TODAYs standards. For that I apologize, to USA TODAY readers and to my followers on social media. I was following the riots in Charlotte, against a background of reports of violence. Joe Bruno of WSOC9 interviewed a driver whose truck had been stopped by a mob. Trapped in her cab, she feared for her life as her cargo was looted. Then I retweeted a report of mobs stopping traffic and surrounding vehicles with the comment, Run them down. Those words can easily be taken to advocate drivers going out of their way to run down protesters. I meant no such thing, and Im sorry it seemed I did. What I meant is that drivers who feel their lives are in danger from a violent mob should not stop their vehicles. I remember Reginald Denny, a truck driver who was beaten nearly to death by a mob during the 1992 Los Angeles riots. My tweet should have said, Keep driving, or Dont stop. I have always supported peaceful protests, speaking out against police militarization and excessive police violence in my USA TODAY columns, on my website and on Twitter itself. I understand why people misunderstood my tweet and regret that I was not clearer. Today, Reynolds wrote on Instapundit: TWITTER HAS UNBLOCKED MY ACCOUNT ON CONDITION OF DELETING THE OFFENDING TWEET. But lest I be accused of airbrushing, its preserved here. Still planning on quitting Twitter, though, after making a few points. Earlier post is here. UPDATE: From Nick Gillespie at Reason: In Defense Of InstaPundits Glenn Reynolds. Whatever you think of the tastefulness of his suggestion regarding the protesters in Charlotte, the idea that he is seriously inciting any sort of actual or real threat is risible. Related: Glenn Reynolds is old enough to remember Reginald Denny. (Look it up, kids.) and SO MY USA TODAY COLUMN is suspended for a month. My statement is here. I dont apologize for saying that you shouldnt stop for angry mobs, even if theyre blocking your way. But I could have said it better Observations: 1. Nobody could seriously argue that the Reynolds tweet posed any danger to anyone or was an effort to incite violence. It was an expression of frustration and contempt with the Charlotte riots and rioters (which the news media still dishonestly calls demonstrators and protestors.) Whats the theory, that stalled drivers being blocked by protestors and fearing that they would be dragged out of their cars are casually perusing Twitter, see Reynolds tweet and think, Hey! Now theres an idea!? 2. Both Twitter and Facebook have been increasingly trending toward partisan political censorship on their sites, which the have every right to engage in. However, since both social media organs have become central and essential to political discourse in this nation, for them to engage in it is unethical. 3. Reynolds tweet was not racist. The fact that virtually all of the rioters blocking the Charlotte highway were black doesnt make it racist. The hostility expressed by the tweet was directed at lawbreakers placing motorists at risk. Their race was incidental. 4. Reasons Nick Guillespie correctly accuses Twitter of chilling free speech with its treatment of Reynolds (and thus threatened treatment of others who are not sensitive enough in their comments), and writes... The last thing it can afford to door should do, given its stated commitment to free speechis to become one more fainting couch in cyberspace where offense is taken easily and often and then acted upon. Twitters blocking functions work well to help users dismiss and ignore trolls and idiots (however we each choose to define those terms). Better to work on constantly upgrading those sorts of mechanisms than to start suspending people such as Instapunditfor tweets that are not particularly offensive or deplorable. Exactly. 5. To his credit, Reynold links to his USA Today statement. Still, it and his comments to his loyalists dont seem like they were written by the same person. On Instapundit, Reynolds insists that he could have been clearer, but was making a valid point. In his apology for the paper, he says, I didnt live up to my own standards. To the contrary, the tweet was vintage Reynolds, and is very representative of his mordant humor, which is often sarcastic. For example, his comment to todays story. Deadly Viruses and Bacteria Mistakenly Shipped 21 Times: Believing the deadly pathogens had been deactivated, scientists and officials at U.S. labs sent highly contagious viruses and bacteria to unsecure locations at least 21 times, was THIS IS COMFORTING. Waitis Glenn Reynolds really happy that the public has been placed in danger? Fire him! I see this a lot: a pundit apologizes abjectly for one audience, but for his or her more loyal and simpatico followers, remains defiant. Which attitude is the real one? Integrity would require that the message to both audiences be the same. 6. I would have preferred to see Reynolds, who also frequently advocates that those beset by progressive injustice Punch back twice as hard, be defiant. I understand that he would like to keep a national platform for his views in USA Today, but his Twitter experience is an example of the increasingly troubling effort by the left to muffle dissenting opinions and voices. When Reynolds time came to make the stand that he has urged others to make, he capitulated. 7. Now his University is investigating Reynolds, and those doing the investigating may well be thinking like this guy: He apparently is unaware of how dangerous it is to the driver who runs over a human being, and he is apparently unaware that vehicular homicide is both illegal and evil, said John K. Wilson, an independent scholar of academic freedom and co-editor of the American Association of University Professors Academe blog Im pretty sure Professor Reynolds is well aware that vehicular homicide is wrong. Saturday, September 24, 2016 Source: woodleywonderworks/Flickr The death of a child is always heart breaking and horribly, horribly wrong. But when a child dies by suicide, it brings a whole different level of , pain, and anguished bewilderment to those who cared about the child. Fortunately, suicide in children is very rare. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, less than 2 out of every one million children ages 5 to 11 will die by suicide. The rate among adolescents (ages 12-17) is about 52 per million. On average, about 33 children under 12 kill themselves each year in the US (Bridge et al., 2015). Childrens of suicide and death Do kids even know what suicide is? Yes, they doat a surprisingly young age. Brian Mishara interviewed 65 elementary school children (grades 1-5, ages 6-12), to see what they understand about death and suicide. Only one first grader (older than average for his grade) was familiar with the word suicide, but almost all knew what killing oneself meant. By third grade, all but one child understood the word suicidetheyd talked about it with peers or seen it on TV or overheard adults talking about it. All of the kids who knew about killing oneself or suicide were also able to describe one or more ways of doing it. Misharas interviews showed that childrens understanding of death and suicide increased with age. Most first graders at least knew that dead people cant come back to life and all second graders understood that everyone dies eventually. On the other hand many of the kids in Misharas study were a bit murky about the details of death. For instance, two out of three first graders and one out of five of fifth graders believed that dead people can see and hear. New research shows similarities in suicides of children and adolescents A new study by Arielle Sheftall at The Research Institute at Nationwide Childrens Hospital and her colleagues looked at national data on children (ages 5 to 11) and young adolescents (ages 12 to 14) who died from suicide between the years 2003 and 2012. They found some important similarities and differences comparing these two groups. Lets look first at the similarities. Both groups had significantly more boys than girls: 85% of the children and 70% of the young adolescents who died by suicide were male. The most common method of suicide was hanging/strangulation/suffocation (81% of the children and 64% of the young adolescents). The next most common method involved firearms (14% of children, 30% of young adolescents). In both groups, almost all of the deaths occurred at home (98% of the children; 88% of the young adolescents) and between the hours of noon and midnight (81% of children; 77% of young adolescents). In both groups, relationship problems were linked to suicide: 60% of the children who died from suicide and 46% of the young adolescents had problems with friends or family members. School problems and recent crises were other common triggers (each present in between 30-40% of cases for both children and adolescents). And differences Sheftall and her colleagues also found some striking differences between the two age groups who had died from suicide related to and mental illness. Overall, more white children than black children died by suicide, but black children made up a disproportionate number of suicide deaths: 37% of children who died by suicide were black versus 12% of young adolescents. Other research from The Research Institute at Nationwide Childrens Hospital scientists found that the rate of suicide among black children has increased, while the rate among white children has decreased. They compared child suicide rates in two four-year time periods, one starting in 1993, and the other starting in 2008. For black children, the suicide rate increased from 1.36 to 2.54 per million, while for white children it dropped from 1.14 to 0.77 per million. We dont know why. About one-third of both children and adolescents who died by suicide had mental problems, but the two age groups differed in the type of disorder that was most prevalent. For the young children who died from suicide and had mental health issues, Disorder was almost twice as common as /Dysthymia (59% ADD/ADHD vs. 33% depression), but among the older kids, depression was about twice as common as ADHD (29% ADHD vs. 66% depression). But did they really mean to die? Terrifyingly, Sheftall found that only about one-third of kids or young adolescents who died from suicide told anyone that they intended to kill themselves. Maybe they didnt believe they could tell anyone. Maybe they didnt want anyone to know. Or maybe it was an act and they didnt have time to tell anyone. Abby Ridge Anderson at The Catholic University of America and her colleagues note their clinical impression that children who are preoccupied with thoughts do not so much crave the termination of their biological existence as much as a desire for control, empathy, acceptance, recognition, validation, and the prompt interpersonal responsiveness of key people in the childs life. In other words, they desperately want things to be better, but they cant come up with more effective ways to handle their problems or lessen their distress, so suicide looms as an appealing option. Ridge Anderson suggests that there may be two subtypes of suicidal children: One subtype feels depressed, hopeless, worthless, and unable to enjoy themselves; the other is more aggressive, irritable, disruptive, , and impulsive. This latter subtype seems to be more common among young children than early adolescents. The murky understanding of death, the relationship problems, the prevalence of ADHD, and the wish for controltogether these paint a picture suggesting that, at least in some cases, children experience a stressful interaction, feel extremely distressed but dont know how to cope, and then impulsively act to hurt themselves, perhaps not really expecting to die. Source: Artotem/Flickr What can do to prevent suicide in children Its important to point out that the majority of children who think about suicide do not end up hurting of killing themselves. Also, the majority of children with ADHD or depression are not suicidal. On the other hand, if children mention wanting to die or hurt themselves, its important to take this seriously and respond in a thoughtful manner. A child who is preoccupied with thoughts of suicide and dying is suffering and urgently needs help. Given that most kids have heard about suicide by age 8 or 9, its worth bringing up the topic with all children, to understand what theyve heard, read, or seen on TV about suicide. This can give you the chance to correct misunderstandings and to explain that suicide is a permanent answer to temporary problems, and it's never a good answer. Emphasize how precious your child is to you and that you will always be willing to help, no matter what the problem is. Spend enjoyable time together and get to know your childs friends and whats happening at school or in the neighborhood. If you notice changes in your childs or behavior such as withdrawing from friends or losing interest in previously enjoyed activities, if your child seems very distressed or has been unhappy for weeks or months, and especially if your child also tends to be impulsive, ask questions to try to understand whats going on and what your child is thinking and feeling. For most adults, its very hard to ask a kid about suicide, because were horrified at the idea that a child might think about such a terrible thing. But asking questions could save a childs life. Experts on suicide unanimously emphasize the importance of asking about suicidal thoughts or actions as an important step towards prevention. This doesnt put ideas in kids heads, but it could give them an important opening to ask for help. For instance, you could ask, Have things ever gotten so bad that youve thought about hurting yourself? or Have you ever wished you were dead? or Have you ever wanted to go to and never wake up? or even Sometimes when kids feel very upset, they think about killing themselves. Has that ever happened to you? If your childs answers give you cause for concern, or if you just have a sense that things arent right, get help. Its better to err on the side of caution. Depending on the urgency of the situation, you could call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or call your childs pediatrician to ask for a referral to a mental health professional. If youve lost a child through suicide If you have lost a child through suicide, no words can ease your anguish, but know that you are not alone. Get support from friends, family, your community, a mental health professional, and/or an online support group such as Parents of Suicides (PoS). Suicide is never anyone's fault. Even as you miss your child and grieve for your childs lost future, try to find some comfort by honoring your of your childs life. Related posts: Social Challenges of Children With ADHD Helping Children Feel Safe in and Unsafe World Lifting the Burden of Potential _____________________________________________________ Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD. Subscribe to monthly email NEWSLETTER to be notified about new Growing Friendships posts. Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, author, and speaker, based in Princeton, NJ (lic. # 35SI00425400). Her books and videos include: Raising Emotionally and Socially Healthy Kids (audio/video series, 70% off at www.TheGreatCourses.com), Smart Parenting for Smart Kids, The Unwritten Rules of Friendship, and What About Me? 12 Ways To Get Your Parents' Attention Without Hitting Your Sister (for kids). Learn more at www.EileenKennedyMoore.com Source: Eileen Kennedy-Moore, used with permission ? Growing Friendships posts are for educational purposes only. Youre welcome to link to this post, but please dont reproduce it without written permission from the author. Photo credits: five by woodleywonderworks / CC BY 2.0, Giving Hands and Red Pushpin by Artotem / CC BY 2.0 _____________________________________________________ For further reading: Anderson, A. R., Keyes, G. M., & Jobes, D. A. (2016). Understanding and treating suicidal risk in young children. Practice Innovations, 1, 3-19. Bridge JA, Asti L, Horowitz LM, et al. Suicide trends among elementary school-aged children in the United States from 1993 to 2012. JAMA Pediatr. 2015;169(7):673677 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS), fatal injury reports, 2014, for national, regional, and states (restricted). Available at: www.cdc.gov/ ncipc/wisqars. Mishara, B. L. (1999). Conceptions of death and suicide in children ages 612 and their implica- tions for suicide prevention. Suicide and Life- Threatening Behavior, 29, 105118. Sheftall, A.H., Asti L, Horowitz LM, Felts, A., Fontanella, C. A., Campo, J. V., & Bridge, J. A. (2016). Suicide in Elementary School-Aged Children and Early Adolescents. Pediatrics. , 138, http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/early/2016/09/1... The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit sided with the agricultural industry Friday, rolling back federal rules that would have subjected 3,800 fertilizer dealers to extensive new regulation beginning Oct. 1. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration skirted rule-making procedures by using a memo to reclassify sellers of anhydrous ammonia as wholesalers instead of going through the formal regulatory process, the court ruled. Its a big win, Harold Cooper, chairman of the Agricultural Retailers Association, said in a blog post. Given the significant costs and absence of any safety benefit, the court made the right decision. OSHA, which is part of the Labor Department, issued the memo after President Barack Obama issued an executive order in August 2013 to improve the safety of industrial facilities following the explosion in West. The April 2013 blast killed 15 people and caused about $100 million in damages. Among other things, Obamas order called for an examination of the retail exemption to OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) standards for hazardous chemicals. Fertilizer dealers in Texas and other big agriculture states took issue with the memo, in part because the West catastrophe was caused when a fire detonated ammonium nitrate and not anhydrous ammonia, which was stored in tanks there that remained intact. Ammonium nitrate is not covered under PSM. The ruling is seen as a major victory for some 3,800 small dealers of the nitrogen fertilizer as well as the farmers who purchase it from them. PSM applies to facilities storing 10,000 pounds or more of the chemical. Since 1992, retailers have been exempted from it under the assumption that they dont present the same hazards as large distributors. Under the existing standard, retailers are defined by a 50 percent rule, meaning more than half their income comes from direct sales to end users. The revised standard uses a Commerce Department classification of retailer as selling merchandise in small quantities to the general public, which OSHA said wouldnt include farmers. U.S. House members from agricultural states such as Texas were already trying to block funding to implement the revision, saying compliance costs per retailer could run upward of $30,000 in the first year and potentially put many smaller vendors out of business. The Fertilizer Institute, which filed the lawsuit along with the American Retailers Association, estimated the courts action saved U.S. fertilizer retailers more than $100 million. OSHA made a bad decision in regulating ammonia in response to an ammonium nitrate incident, and the agency made that decision incorrectly, Daren Coppock, CEO and president of the ARA, said on the organizations blog. Although ARA could only challenge on the procedural point and not the decision itself, were still very pleased to see the court rule in our favor and provide this relief to our members, Coppock said. Specifically, lawyers for the ARA and Fertilizer Institute argued that OSHAs memo was a federal rule change, which normally requires publication in the Federal Register and a public comment period. OSHA countered that the memo only interpreted an existing standard under the 1970 OSHA Act established to reduce workplace hazards. As such, OSHA attorneys said, the agency did not need to go through the rule-making process and the memo should not be subject to the courts review. Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot. Because the memorandum amounts to a standard within the meaning of the OSH Act, we have jurisdiction to review it and to vacate it for failure to comply with the procedural requirements established by the act, according to the opinion written by Circuit Judge Sri Srinivasan. Of course, nothing in our decision necessarily calls into question the substance of OSHAs decision to narrow the exemption for retail facilities and correspondingly to expand the scope of the PSM standard, Srinivasan continued. We hold only that, insofar as OSHA does so, it must follow the notice-and-comment procedures. OSHA has 45 days to request a rehearing with the same three-judge panel or request a rehearing by the entire D.C. Circuit panel of judges. It also could appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. OSHA spokeswoman Amanda Kraft said the agency was reviewing the decision. For now, agriculture retailers remain exempt from PSM until OSHA completes the rule-making process, which could take several years. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Keith Lamont Scott, the man whose fatal shooting by police in Charlotte, North Carolina, this week sparked unrest in that city and protests nationwide, told a judge when he lived in San Antonio more than a decade ago that his family had suffered from a tremendous amount of racism and hate crimes, court documents say. Scott made the assertion in a motion that unsuccessfully argued for a reduction in his seven-year sentence for aggravated assault. At his sentencing, Scott had admitted he fired 10 shots at Anthony Trinidad, an acquaintance he said had threatened him and whom he feared was a thief. Scott, 43, was killed Tuesday by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers. Police Chief Kerr Putney has said officers were attempting to serve another person with an outstanding warrant when Scott emerged from his car with a handgun and did not comply with commands. Scotts family members were allowed to view videos taken from police dashboard and body cameras, but police had not released videos to the public as of Friday afternoon. The familys attorney told the Charlotte Observer that they have more questions than answers. Court records here show only the murkiest of outlines of Scotts time in San Antonio. His residence was listed as 910 W. Commerce St., where San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries had operated a homeless shelter. A spokeswoman for what is now called SAMMinistries said it had no record of Scott being a client there. At his sentencing, Scott said he had six children and had been working for JPMorgan Chase & Co. in credit card collections at the time of the shooting. The case file included records showing he had enrolled in a for-profit college then called the Hallmark Institute of Technology and passed courses in subjects such as general psychology, business writing and business math. The San Antonio shooting was in self-defense, Scott argued at his sentencing. The available court records do not provide a full account of the incident but show he pleaded no contest to the second-degree felony under an agreement with prosecutors. That deal reduced the charge stemming from the Sept. 17, 2002, incident from a first-degree felony, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Scott also was charged with evading arrest two days after the shooting. He pleaded no contest to that charge Feb. 4, 2005, and was sentenced to 15 months in jail. The aggravated assault conviction came several months later. Scott served most of his prison term and was released April 1, 2011. He told the judge that Trinidad put my wife and kids in total fear, and I didnt know what to do. I was scared to go and talk to him. But I figured I would be less of a man if I didnt stand up for my family and go and try to tell him, You know, you need to back off. I didnt have any intentions to really hurt the young man. To which the judge replied: You shot at him 10 times. Scott went through a divorce proceeding in San Antonio, though it was unclear if the divorce was finalized. He had an arrest record here in 2002 that included a domestic assault charge and reckless driving and weapons charges. But he was convicted only on the aggravated assault and evading arrest charges. Scotts family in Charlotte, including a woman who identified herself as his daughter in a Facebook Live video after Tuesdays shooting, denied that Scott owned or had a gun. She said he was holding a book and had previously suffered from a traumatic brain injury. Putney said a handgun was recovered at the scene, not a book. mmendoza@mysa.com Twitter: @MaddySkye The Associated Press contributed to this report. All future meetings of Mayor Ivy Taylors new Council on Police-Community Relations will be open to the public, the mayor told me. Thats a welcome development, and not only because community meetings that exclude the community are bound to become counterproductive. The councils first meeting on Wednesday was closed to the public and the media; participants sat in a circle and could speak only when holding a stone. Opening up this peculiar process to the public is important also because transparency and police use-of-force issues are interwoven. Consider the current outrage in Charlotte, N.C., where that citys police chief refused to release a video of the fatal police shooting of a black man, Keith Scott. Violent protests have seized the city since Scotts shooting. Taylor defended her decision to close the first gathering of the council, created in the wake of police shootings of black men, some unarmed, across the country, and after City Councils passage of a collective-bargaining agreement with the police union that skimped on disciplinary reform. The purpose was for folks to establish a baseline for getting to know each other, the mayor said. I thought it was helpful, humanizing folks on varying sides of the issues and hearing from people, their more personal perspectives ... I definitely do believe that it achieved that objective and minimized grandstanding. Robert Salcido, chair of Pride Center San Antonio and a member of the council, agreed. I think it was probably better for a first-time meeting, he told me. There were so many personalities in that room, so many people from different walks of life and parts of the city, it really gave us an opportunity to be present and be ourselves. The 35-member council included East Side community leaders and members of the police union, among others. People talked about when they were younger, Salcido recalled, living as an African-American and seeing police brutality to (current) incidents where an individual was arrested because of language on their protest sign. That last anecdote is a prime example of why media should be allowed in the room. A process meant to restore public trust must comprise the public, and that includes the eyes and ears of the public: the media. I asked the mayor if she had more information about the alleged arrest of a protester; she did not. That doesnt sound like a crime, she acknowledged. I was a little concerned about that, too. Meanwhile, Councilman Ron Nirenberg was concerned about the cloistered nature of the council, which will issue recommendations about the citys timeline for change and adopting a process that is transparent and encourages accountability, among other initiatives, according to the citys media advisory. The problems are going to get solved together publicly, Nirenberg said. Our democracy is in trouble when the people who are charged with protecting it are locked out of the room. He added that closing the meeting to the public and the media was symptomatic of an allergy to dispute, when disputes are what get us to collaborative solutions. Pretending that those disputes dont exist wont solve them. Taylor countered that Nirenberg, who is widely expected to challenge the mayor in May, neglected to recommend anyone to the council. Taylor extended that opportunity to all City Council members. I didnt speak to him directly about it, she said, and he did not recommend anyone to my office on who would be on council. She added, I anticipate that there will be many meetings. I believe all of the future meetings will be open to the public. On Saturday, Taylor will participate in a panel discussion, The State of Black America, at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin. bchasnoff@express-news.net Department of Literature, Linguistics and Journalism Research Centre Intercultural Communication and Literature The G. Calinescu Institute of Literary History and Theory of the Romanian Academy - Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, Romania announce The International Conference Canon-Focused Critical Debate and the Change of Cultural Paradigm 28th-29th October 2016 CALL FOR PAPERS CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES This years edition of the international conference organized by the team members of the Intercultural Communication and Literature Research Centre and of the G. Calinescu Institute of Literary History and Theory of the Romanian Academy - Dunarea de Jos University, focuses on an exciting interdisciplinary issue, the Canon-Focused Critical Debate and the Change of Cultural Paradigm. Employing the perspectives of a palimpsestic reading, in the sense used by Daniel Cooper Alarcon, who argued that the 'palimpsests structure of interlocking, competing narratives has the advantage of preventing the dominant voice from completely silencing the others, thus encouraging scholarship to recognize and consider diversity', the conference theme is concerned with the ways of re-configuring the literary canon in the cultural spaces of the Periphery and the relation with 'world literature' and its literary manifestation. Challenging hegemonies and national narratives will be the core theme of the academic debates, expanding the phenomenon in European context and not only, which also opens the possibility of discussing the change in the contemporary cultural paradigm and the 'canon' itself. The following aspects will be considered: the changes brought by the implementation of the post-colonial study grid in the approach of Central- and Eastern European literatures, the impact of the literary geography used as structuring device in transnational literary histories or the re-configuration of a model of inter-literary connectivity in the space of world literature. In this context, the canon, especially the Western one, seems to carry a dialogue with a different type of selection, under pressure from the idea of historical, cultural and political self-representation (as Leela Gandhi stated in 1998) and it opens to a newly-emerged 'in-between peripherality' (Totosy de Zepetnek, Steven. (ed.). Comparative Central European Culture, Purdue: Purdue University Press, 2002). The conference welcomes papers and proposals from scholars in a wide range of disciplines (literary studies, critical theory, sociology, philosophy, history, linguistics, cultural studies etc.) addressing, yet not limited to, the following issues: Literary canon/ cultural canon. Debates in the field of cultural and literary studies. The national. European/ multicultural literary canon. Political or social contextualization of the literary canon. Re-defining cultural spaces and literary geography : topoi such as Orient/Occident, Centre/Periphery, Major culture/Minor culture. Romanian literature and canonical reconfigurations. World Literature and the literary voice of Periphery. Emerging Postcommunist literatures after the fall of the ideological dominance. Interdisciplinary approaches to contemporary literature - linguistic, sociological, philosophical, historical perspectives etc. Literary discourse and contemporary media. Cultural Memory Studies in post-totalitarian cultures. Diaspora Studies and East-Central literatures. Following a peer-review process, the selected papers will be published in the special 2016 issue of the Journal Communication interculturelle et litterature, indexed in MLA (Modern Language Association, New York, www.mla.org) MLA International Bibliography & Directory of Periodicals, Index Copernicus, MIAR and Fabula. La recherche en litterature (www.fabula.org) (by a B accredited publishing house). SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE Prof. Eugen SIMION, Member of Romanian Academy, G. Calinescu Institute of Literary History and Theory of the Romanian Academy Prof. Michele MATTUSCH, Institut fur Romanistik, Humboldt Universitat, Berlin, Germania Prof. Antonio LILLO BUADES, Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, University of Alicante, Spain Prof. Alain MILON, Universite Paris Ouest Nanterre La Defense, Franta Prof. Ana GUTU, The Free International University, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova Prof. hab. Elena PRUS, Institute of Philological and Intercultural Researches, The Free International University, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova Prof. Mircea A. DIACONU, Faculty of Letters, Stefan cel Mare University, Suceava Prof. Gheorghe MANOLACHE, Faculty of Letters, Lucian Blaga University, Sibiu Prof. Vasile SPIRIDON, Faculty of Letters, Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacau Prof. Iulian BOLDEA, Faculty of Letters, Petru Maior University, Targu Mures Prof. Caius DOBRESCU, Faculty of Letters, University of Bucharest Prof. Laura BADESCU, Faculty of Letters, University of Pitesti Prof. Antonio PATRAS, Faculty of Letters, Al. I. Cuza University, Iasi Prof. Doinita MILEA, Faculty of Letters, Dunarea de Jos University of Galati Prof. Simona ANTOFI, Faculty of Letters, Dunarea de Jos University of Galati Prof. Pierre MOREL, Institute of Philological and Intercultural Researches, The Free International University, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova Prof. ILIESCU GHEORGHIU, Departamento de Traduccion et Interpretacion, Diretora de la Sede Universitaria Ciudad de Alicante, University of Alicante, Spain ORGANIZING COMMITTEE Chair: Prof. Simona Antofi; Members: Prof. Doinita Milea, Prof. habil. Nicoleta Ifrim, Dr. Oana Cenac, Dr. Catalin Negoita, Dr. Daniela Bogdan, Dr. Laurentiu Ichim, Dr. Petrica Patilea. Contact: Prof. Simona Antofi, Prof. habil. Nicoleta Ifrim simoantofi@yahoo.com, nicodasca@yahoo.com CONFERENCE ORGANIZATION DETAILS - The conference will be held October 28-29, 2016. - Deadline for submission of proposals (title, abstract of max. 200 words and keywords in English/ French): 10 October 2016. Feature Your Listing! Get better results! Make your listing stand out from the crowd! Improve your position and response with our premium listing. The closing date for submitting completed Countryside Stewardship applications together with all supporting evidence is Friday 30 September 2016. With less than a week left to apply, farmers and landowners intending to make an application for Countryside Stewardship agreements in 2017 are reminded to submit completed applications as early as possible ahead of the deadline. The number of Mid Tier CS applicants has increased by 13% this year, with nearly 6,500 packs requested before 31 August. In one day alone, nearly 500 application packs were requested. Guy Thompson, Natural Englands Chief Operating Officer, said the organisation has "listened" to farmers and stakeholders about the design of Countryside Stewardship. The previous Stewardship scheme was a "massive success" with 70% of land area included in an agreement "It is great to see them responding so positively to the changes," Mr Thompson said. "Not only does it clearly demonstrate the genuine desire of the farming community to protect their local environment but, with the scheme providing successful applicants with a fixed income for five years, it also makes good business sense. "This years Mid Tier and Higher Tier CS schemes were launched on 14 March 2016. "Both schemes are competitive and targeted and will fund projects to restore habitats, improve water quality and woodland, reduce flood risk, protect landscapes and provide year-round food and shelter for pollinators, birds and other wildlife. 'Intensified' debate CLA President Ross Murray said the vote for Brexit has "intensified" debate over the relationship between food production and environmental improvements. "At the same time, the government has shown its commitment to next years Countryside Stewardship but the status of agri-environment schemes beyond 2017 remains uncertain. "As a sector we must continue to demonstrate clearly that farming and environmental management go hand in hand and that we are enthusiastic about building on the successes of stewardship schemes. "The Countryside Stewardship mid-tier application deadline is approaching and we are reminding CLA members to get any remaining applications in before 30 September," Mr Murray said. Countryside Stewardship scheme provides financial incentives for land managers to look after their environment through activities such as conserving and restoring wildlife habitat, flood risk management and woodland creation and management. The scheme is open to all eligible farmers, woodland owners, foresters and other land managers and is suitable for many types of land use (eg conventional and organic farmland, coastal areas, uplands and woodlands). Welsh Assembly Members have been reminded of the importance of tackling bovine TB effectively. The Farmers Union Wale reminder comes five days before the issue of bovine TB is being discussed at the Assembly on Wednesday, September 28. In a statement, FUW President Roberts said: "I would like to remind all Assembly Members of how critical it is that Welsh Government implements a strategy that effectively tackles bovine TB in both cattle and wildlife, without that happening it is hard to see how we can secure trade deals with European Nations post-Brexit. "The total number of Welsh cattle slaughtered in 2015 due to bTB has gone up by 27% from 2014 and now counts for 8,103 cattle slaughtered a year. "Thats 675 cattle per month, 169 per week and 24 cattle slaughtered every day! "I implore our elected members to not ignore those figures and to listen to the advice the Welsh Government has previously received." The 2012 report of the Bovine Tuberculosis Subgroup of the EU Task Force for Monitoring Animal Disease Eradication details that the European Commission have recognised the link between badgers and bovine TB transmission to cattle. The report also stressed that moving from a cull to a vaccination programme meant that the eradication programme in Wales had lost momentum. Mr Roberts said that the official advice received by the Welsh Government in 2011 estimated that culling badgers in the Intensive Action Area could be expected to save farmers and government 31,000, whereas vaccination was likely to lead to a net cost of 3.5 million. "As expected, the badger vaccination programme in the Intensive Action Area has not worked, and Welsh Government must grasp the nettle and tackle the disease in wildlife. "Let me be absolutely clear: controlling the disease in both the cattle and badger populations remains imperative to achieving bovine TB eradication in Wales this is for the sake of our future, our childrens future and with that securing trade deals for the UK as whole in light of our exit from the European Union," added Mr Roberts. That faint gobble, gobble youre hearing in the distance can only mean one thing: Thanksgiving is near! Both ACTS and SERVE are gearing up for their holiday programs, and your help is needed. What was it like to be an Oath Keeper? John Zimmerman can tell you Geri Horner is being lined up to host 'Great British Bake Off'. Geri Horner Hosts Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc recently announced they would no longer front the show after Channel 4 bought the rights to the series as part of a mega deal and Geri has been tipped to replace them. A source told The Sun: "Geri is a bit of a curveball idea, but an intriguing one all the same. "She has always been a huge supporter of 'Bake Off' but bosses face a tough ask to get her on board. "She's got relatively little presenting experience and has big music commitments. "But it's the only show that might tempt her to host." Geri appeared on the Sport Relief special of the show in February. Meanwhile, Paul Hollywood has signed a three-year deal with the 'Great British Bake Off'. The 50-year-old star will appear as a judge on the cooking show for at least another three series after he penned a contract with bosses at Channel 4 for a mystery lump sum. Jay Hunt, Chief Creative Officer of Channel 4, said: "Paul really is the star baker - an exceptional talent with a twinkle in his eye. His wit, warmth and wisdom are vital ingredients in '...Bake Off's success. I'm so delighted he's coming to Channel 4." Richard McKerrow, Creative Director of Love Productions - the creators of the show - said: "We are delighted to confirm that Paul is coming with the tent ready to encourage, inspire and raise the occasional, quizzical eyebrow. Paul's presence will ensure the culture of '...Bake Off' continues in the tent as it makes its move to Channel 4." The announcement that Paul has decided to stay on 'GBBO' when it moves from the BBC - which has screened the show since 2010 - to its rival Channel 4 came just minutes after his co-judge Mary Berry decided to turn her back on the series out of "loyalty" to the BBC. Mary, 81, said: "My decision to stay with the BBC is out of loyalty to them, as they have nurtured me, and the show, that was a unique and brilliant format from day one. "What a privilege and honour it has been to be part of seven years of magic in a tent. I am just sad for the audience who may not be ready for change." The future of the programme has been hanging in the balance since it was revealed Channel 4 had bought the rights to the show for an estimated 75 million last week. Laura Whitmore kicked off the new series of 'Strictly Come Dancing' with an energetic cha cha to 'Venus'. Laura Whitmore and Giovanni Pernice The 31-year-old television presenter and her dancing partner Giovanni Pernice impressed the judges with a first class routine full of exciting moves. Speaking after her performance, Len Goodman said: "Well, I must say, what a lovely start to the show. A lovely amount of cha cha content which I appreciate. You've got to work on straightening your legs but first on, first class!" However, Craig Revel Horwood lived up to his reputation, slamming Laura for having flexed knees throughout the performance. He added: "The whole thing was danced on flexed knees. I thought the whole thing was a little unstable." However, Craig was impressed at times during the night - particularly by Ore Oduba's unconventional tango to 'Geronimo'. He told the BBC television presenter and his dance partner Joanne Clifton: "I loved all the storytelling at the beginning, it set up the whole dance for me." Judge Robert Rinder brought some excitement to the proceedings with a "extraordinary" cha cha to 'Mercy'. Darcey Bussell gushed: "It was extraordinary. That was the wildest surprise I've ever had. The amount of detail you were able to add was outstanding." Whilst the night was filled with excitement and glee, there was a poignant moment when Lesley Joseph and Anton du Beke waltzed to the 'Birds Of A Feather' theme tune 'What'll I Do'. The performance left judge Bruno Tonioli feeling "very emotional", whilst Len praised the 70-year-old actress' "clean and precise footwork". Naga Munchetty also impressed with her own waltz and admitted she was very "relieved" to have got the first dance over and done with. Olympian Greg Rutherford - who jointly topped the leaderboard with Ore - rounded off the night with a fabulous jive to 'Get Ready'. Len told him: "It was as good as we've seen tonight, 100 per cent. You came out there, you gave it full on, a great attack. But you're a really good dancer and I'm looking forward to seeing it." Whilst Bruno added: "By the way it looks, Greg could go all the way. That's what I mean by giving it welly. I loved it. I'm telling you, you have talent. I really loved watching you." 'Strictly Come Dancing' continues on Saturday evening (24.09.16), where the other nine contestants will take to the ballroom floor for the first time. Providing great relief to the job working units in garment clusters like Tirupur, the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued a notification which includes a list of service providers to be added under the Common Service Providers (CSP) in the Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme. The newly added CSP can now avail EPCG benefits. Providing great relief to the job working units in garment clusters like Tirupur, the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued a notification which includes a list of service providers to be added under the Common Service Providers (CSP) in the Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme. The newly added CSP can now avail EPCG benefits.# The list of CSP under the EPCG scheme includes job workers or third party service providers. Citing an example the DGFT says, There may be multiple garment exporters obtaining services at different stages of garment manufacturing, such as knitting, dyeing, compacting, printing, embroidering, labelling, cutting etc, from a number of other units who own these facilities but do not engage in the export of garments. These job workers will now have the flexibility to not own all the infrastructures for conversion from input to final export products, but are eligible to get benefits under the EPCG scheme. Providing great relief to the job working units in garment clusters like Tirupur, the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued a notification which includes a list of service providers to be added under the Common Service Providers (CSP) in the Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme. The newly added CSP can now avail EPCG benefits.# The Tirupur Exporters' Association (TEA) has been continuously representing to exempt the job working units from the fulfilment of export obligation when they import machinery under EPCG Scheme, TEA president Dr. A Sakhtivel said in a statement. Providing great relief to the job working units in garment clusters like Tirupur, the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued a notification which includes a list of service providers to be added under the Common Service Providers (CSP) in the Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme. The newly added CSP can now avail EPCG benefits.# During his meeting with Union commerce minister Nirmala Seetharaman earlier this week in New Delhi, he specifically emphasised the need to exempt the job working units from fulfilment of obligation for the benefit of Tirupur cluster and the minister immediately agreed and assured to issue a Trade Notice in this regard, Sakthivel said. Providing great relief to the job working units in garment clusters like Tirupur, the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued a notification which includes a list of service providers to be added under the Common Service Providers (CSP) in the Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme. The newly added CSP can now avail EPCG benefits.# Glad that the long awaited relief has seen light of the day, he added that the job working units are the backbone for the garment exporting units as only about 30 garment exporting units have the integrated facilities and others depend on job working units only for their manufacturing activities. (RKS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India In order to restore falling agriculture yields, particularly cotton in the state, Maharashtra is planning to bring in a new policy, which will focus on promoting indigenous seeds rather than GM seeds. The new policy would debut after studying measures adopted by states, which have posted good growth in farming yields and thereby production.This was informed by Maharashtra agriculture minister Pandurang Fundkar, who said that while only 7,000 saplings of BT cotton can be planted on one acre of land, farmers can plant 100,000 saplings of hybrid cotton seeds in the same area. In order to restore falling agriculture yields, particularly cotton in the state, Maharashtra is planning to bring in a new policy, which will focus on promoting indigenous seeds rather than GM seeds. The new policy would debut after studying measures adopted by states, which have posted good growth in farming yields and thereby production.# Media reports quoted the minister as saying that Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest growth in farming output at 20 per cent in the last fiscal, with Gujarat posting 8.45 per cent, Andhra Pradesh 8.40 per cent and Chhattisgarh 7.8 per cent.An expert committee will visit these high growth states and study the policies adopted by them to increase agricultural growth rate in Maharashtra. (AR) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/23/16 -- Pure Gold Mining Inc. (TSX VENTURE: PGM) ("Pure Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of voting at its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders ("AGM") held Friday, September 23, 2016 in Vancouver, Canada. Shareholders voted in favour of all items put forward by the Board of Directors and management. All six of the individuals nominated for the board of directors were elected as set out below: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Votes For % Votes For Votes Withheld % Votes Withheld ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Graeme Currie 65,986,745 99.62% 251,350 0.38% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Darin Labrenz 65,986,745 99.62% 251,350 0.38% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mark O'Dea 65,986,745 99.62% 251,350 0.38% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lenard Boggio 65,986,745 99.62% 251,350 0.38% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rob Pease 58,386,430 88.15% 7,851,665 11.85% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Troy Fierro 66,002,245 99.64% 235,550 0.36% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shareholders also voted in favour of (i) appointing PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chartered Accountants, as auditors of the Company for the ensuing year and authorizing directors to fix their remuneration; (ii) approving and ratifying the Advance Notice Policy; and (iii) approving and ratifying the Company's Stock Option Plan. A total of 66,232,095 Pure Gold common shares were voted, representing 43.97% of total shares issued and outstanding as at the record date of the meeting. ABOUT PURE GOLD Our mandate is pure and simple. To dream big. To colour outside the lines. To use smart science and creativity to unlock the next major discovery at the Madsen Gold Project in Red Lake, Ontario. And become Canada's next iconic gold company. Additional information about the Company and its activities may be found on the Company's website at www.puregoldmining.ca and under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Darin Labrenz, President & CEO Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contacts: Investor inquiries Pure Gold Mining Inc. 604-646-8000 info@puregoldmining.ca www.puregoldmining.ca Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 23, 2016) - CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQB: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7N), ("CanAlaska" or the "Company") is pleased to report on the voting results of the Annual General Meeting of its shareholders held on September 22, 2016. Incumbent directors, Peter Dasler, Jean Luc Roy, Ambassador Thomas Graham, Jr., Victor Fern, Karl Schimann and Kathleen Townsend were re-elected as directors for the ensuing year. In addition, Deloitte LLP, was re-appointed as the Company's auditors for the ensuing year. The shareholders also approved the adoption of a new 10% rolling stock option plan ("Plan"), which is subject to acceptance by the TSXV. Pursuant to the terms of the new Plan, the aggregate number of option shares that may be issued under the Plan, at any time, is equal to 10% of the issued shares of the Company. Existing options granted under the Company's former fixed plan will be rolled into and governed by the terms of the new Plan. At this time, there are 1,642,363 shares reserved for issuance under the new Plan. About CanAlaska Uranium CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQB: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7N) holds interests in approximately 500,000 hectares (1.2 million acres), one of the largest land positions in Canada's Athabasca Basin region - the "Saudi Arabia of Uranium." CanAlaska's strategic holdings have attracted major international mining companies Cameco, Denison, KORES, KEPCO, and the De Beers Group of Companies. CanAlaska is a project generator and is positioned for discovery success in the world's richest uranium district. For further information visit www.canalaska.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Peter Dasler" Peter Dasler, M.Sc., P.Geo. President & CEO CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. Contacts: Peter Dasler President Tel: +1.604.688.3211 x 138 Email: info@canalaska.com John Gomez Corporate Development Tel: +1.604.484.7118 Email: jgomez@canalaska.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. Forward-looking information All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events. Certona, a San Diego, CA and London, UK-based provider of omnichannel personalization solutions for top brands and retailers, secured $30m in funding. Primus Capital made the investment. In conjunction with the funding, Ron Hess, Director, and Vasant Kamath, Principal at Primus, will join Certonas board. The company intends to use the funds to grow its market share, accelerate product development and expand services and support for existing and new clients. Founded in 2004 by Geoffrey Hueter, Ph.D., CTO, and Meyar Sheik, CEO, Certona provides a cloud-based platform for over 500 top e-commerce websites in more than 70 countries to increase engagement and conversions by leveraging one-to-one behavioral profiling, Big Data insights, and predictive analytics to present individualized content, promotional offers and product recommendations across all customer touchpoints. FinSMEs 24/09/2016 Antoine Fuqua has got to be the most unique filmmakers in the industry today. He has this innate ability to make the most interesting scenarios into highly superficial and mostly uninteresting movies. If you take a look at his filmography King Arthur, Southpaw, Tears of the Sun, Shooter, Olympus has Fallen theyre all films that should have been very entertaining because of the premise and star cast but are actually frustrating duds. Fuquas new film The Magnificent Seven follows the same pattern and the results are expectedly underwhelming. A remake of the 1960 classic of the same name, which itself was a remake of Kurosawas Japanese film, The Magnificent Seven is classic Hollywood doing a rehash with more of the unnecessary stuff like mindless violence and a huge cast and not paying enough attention to the character development or soul. There are a busload of characters as you can guess by the title. Peter Sarsgaard is a villainous industrialist named Bogue who arrives at a remote western town in search for gold, and threatens the residents to pay up of clear out of town. Emma (Haley Bennett) a young girl from the town whose husband is murdered looks for help and bumps into the bounty hunter Sam (Denzel Washington). Sam offers to help the village and starts to build his team to thwart Bogue. His motley gang of avengers consists of liquor enthusiast Farraday (Chris Pratt), rage enthusiast Horne (Vincent DOnofrio), Mexican gangster Vasquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), gun enthusiast Goodnight (Ethan Hawke), his partner Billy (Byung-hun Lee), and Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier). Nic Pizzolatto who wrote both True Detective seasons along with Richard Wenk turns out a script that is largely faithful to the original, but offers more violence, more mud slinging, more savagery and a darker atmosphere than expected but without much charm. Imagine The Hateful Eight without Tarantinos knack for crackling one liners, sans the obsessive love for the spaghetti westerns and you get The Magnificent Seven. As the bland and mostly stereotypical characters bounce off each other, showcasing their star power to the cameras, youre simply made to wait for the inevitable bloodbath of a finale. Adapting something thats already been done a zillion times has its problems like finding the right balance between material to be faithful to and delivering something new for audiences who have already seen the earlier films. Fuqua does not succeed on that front. If youve already seen Sholay why would you be remotely interested in an updated version with a one note Denzel Washington? If youre a fan of Kurosawa why would you even bother with an uninteresting filmmaker attempting to remake some of his work? The Magnificent Seven doesnt render a good enough answer to those questions, and though mildly entertaining in small bits it just doesnt seem to offer any single moment that you will find new or surprising. You get an overly long climax that seems to be an unending, coldly uninteresting parade of bullets and skin slicing without an ounce of heart. Its a testament to Hollywood not putting in much effort in 2016 to bring quality cinema out in theaters and instead focusing on the wrong things being bigger and mistaking that for being better. After eight years of investigation, a court in Goa this week has let off both the accused, Samson DSouza and Placido Carvalho, in the crime of raping and murdering British teenager Scarlett Keeling. She was found dead in Goas Anjuna beach in 2008. As investigations proceeded, Placido and Samson were charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, sexual abuse and drugging. Following the court verdict however, they will now walk free. That we still are in the dark about who murdered the teenage girl more than a dozen years since the crime, is a telling indictment of the justice-delivery system. The absence of clarity on part of the investigating agencies the opacity that so often defines such acts of violence continues to be a blot on our administrative, political and law-enforcement culture. Its not surprising that Scarletts mother, Fiona MacKeown, doggedly fighting all these years to get justice for her daughter, has been shocked by the verdict. Expressing her lack of faith in the Indian judicial system, Fiona has said she will challenge the acquittal in a higher court. Her allegations of government negligence and complicity in exonerating the accused should not surprise us in a situation where a whole range of systems have regularly failed to deliver justice to survivors of sexual violence. Media reports have quoted Fiona as saying that the hardest thing to deal with was the governments shoddy handling of the case. She has accused the previous dispensation in Goa of colluding with the police in hushing up the case. "In fact, Fionas lawyer, Vikram Varma, too had alleged that the shack where Keeling was drugged before being raped had been pulled down. Varma had also said that Keelings body organs were not preserved properly raising prospects that crucial evidence may have been damaged," a report in The Indian Express said this Friday. The question that continues to haunt the event after eight long years of investigation is: Who killed Scarlett Keeling? How can investigating agencies still remain clueless about the murderer/murderers? These questions become even more acute in cases where victims do not have the wherewithal to lobby with the powerful for a fair and timely hearing in the courts. The routine stigmatisation of victims and their families especially if they are seen to have an unconventional, 'bohemian' lifestyle doesnt help matters. Lets remind ourselves of the media and official portrayal of Fiona Mackeown . In an interview to The Independent in 2013, Fiona said: "I blame myself to a certain extent because I trusted the people that I left her with." But then she went on to stress: "I was never negligent with Scarlett, I was naive in terms of the country we were visiting but I never didnt care about her." At the time that Scarlett was assaulted and murdered, her mother was pilloried in the national and international media for her apparent negligence, for leaving her teenage daughter in the care of an older male. A moralising 'she deserved it' tone ran through the reportage of the crime, virtually suggesting that Scarlett brought the attack on herself by attending the party on the drug-fuelled Anjuna beach. By now we are well aware of the insidious tendency to project victims of sexual violence as directly or indirectly 'abetting' the crime which has been committed against them. The victims lifestyle, her past relationships and habits, are routinely raked up in courtrooms even when they have no bearing on the actual crime. It may be interesting here to refer to Pink, a recently-released film based on the theme of women put on trial. "Even as I sit down to write the story of Pink and 'women on trial', the news of Scarlett Keeling the British teen whose bruised and half-naked body was found in the waters of Anjuna Beach, Goa filters in. The two men, charged with culpable homicide and grievous sexual assault of the teen in 2008, have been cleared of all charges," Urmi Bhattacheryya writes in her review of the film for The Quint. Pink is an indicting comment on the systemic patriarchy of the legal system that manifests itself in how survivors of sexual assault are dealt with in courtrooms. The absence of a verdict in the Scarlett Keeling case, and her mothers vulnerability in grappling with a system that seems to have already pronounced a verdict on the victim of the crime, are reminders of the myriad ways in which survivors of sexual violence are continuously denied proper justice. Its fitting to end, then, with the words of Rebecca John, a senior advocate in the Supreme Court as quoted by Bhattaceryya: "This isnt a commentary on whether the men are innocent or not. But Scarletts mother couldve been told this 8 years ago. Instead, she waits 8 long years to find out that no one raped her daughter no one killed her." If it is true (as the old adage goes) that justice late is justice denied, then the outcome of this case eight years in the making is obvious enough and there for all to see. Raipur: At least seven workers suffered burn injuries, two of them grievously, following an explosion at a steel plant here, police said on Saturday. The explosion took place last night at Bajrang Ispat located in Tilda Police Station area here when the victims were working close to a blast furnace, Raipur Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Shukla told PTI. As per preliminary information, when the night shift workers were busy with their task, suddenly a chamber of furnace exploded following which hot liquid fell on them causing burn injuries, he said. Soon after getting information of the incident, Raipur Collector OP Choudhary and the SP rushed to the spot along with security personnel. "Seven workers were injured in the incident and were immediately shifted to a private hospital here," he said. "Two of them were said to be in a serious condition as they have sustained over 80 percent burns," Shukla added. Police team and experts have been sent to the spot to ascertain the exact cause of the explosion, he said. A case has been registered in this connection, the SP said adding that further probe was on. Soldiers are often believed to be hard nuts to crack. Quite often, their Rambo-type of image lead people to forget that they are humans too. Embroiled in a bloody proxy war with Pakistan, many brave troops of the Indian Army have either killed or got martyred in action. On Sunday, 18 soldiers posted at the headquarters of the 12 Brigade in Uri lost their lives when four Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists sneaked into the camp and killed those unarmed men. Soon after their death, protocols took over. The senior officials of the army, the President, the Prime Minister everyone mourned the martyrs and praised their courage. Their last remains were sent home for the last rites. Shattered families, dumbfounded friends and neighbours above all an angry nation. Every war leaves its own unique impression in the people's mind. Soldiers die and leave family and friends behind. Various photographers have captured these moments on camera and give faces to the horrors of war. The Uri attack was reported as "the deadliest attack on security forces in Kashmir in two decades". What's more telling than when a soldier steps out to the battlefield with the memories of his fallen brothers-at-arms fresh in his mind? Their eyes have the resoluteness to avenge the untimely death of their colleagues. But there are times as well when those eyes swell up in tears in missing a friend who until the other day was always there. This picture of a Gurkha bugler, who broke down while playing the last post in honour of a martyr probably tells a far deeper tale than a grieving nation would understand. My very old mother still takes a lively interest in the world around her. She pores over newspapers in the mornings, she avidly follows the news on television in the late evenings (early evenings being reserved strictly for serials), and she discusses the days events animatedly with people around her. Fortunately, her knowledge of English is limited; she concentrates wholly on Bengali fare. So she is fully au fait with what happened in Uri, shares the pain of the families of jawans killed there, feels incensed at Pakistans perfidies and no less incensed at the Indian Armys unpreparedness, but is blissfully unaware of the feverish beating of war drums you hear on the English channels. Fortunately, because you need a strong stomach to withstand the sort of bile these channels are spewing. The Bengali channels are kinder on blood pressure and sugar levels. They report, discuss, analyse, pontificate on what happened in Uri or the United Nations, what the government should or should not do, what people want or do not want, even point out failings like the lack of fire-resistant tents and poor intelligence, but they stop short of trying to take the country to war. A friend in Bhubaneswar said Odiya media is not much different. Nor can I believe the picture will be dissimilar in a drowning Andhra Pradesh or a Cauvery-hit Karnataka gearing up to take on the Supreme Court or in Tamil Nadu, which surely has its eyes peeled on its immediate neighbour rather than on the more distant one. Most likely it is what we used to call the "cow belt" that is providing enough rage to compensate for the whole country and more. That is where the traditional vote bank of the BJP has always come from, and still constitute its core. They are the ones most miffed at Narendra Modi apparently reneging on raining fire on Pakistan and keeping our jawans in clover. Their channels, presumably the Hindi channels, could be giving the English ones a run for their money. It is of course nobodys case that the rest of India is not patriotic enough or does not want Pakistan to be taught a suitable lesson for its treacherous ways. Its a question of degree, the intensity and scale of their desire for retribution. Its their determination to inveigle the government into declaring a full-fledged war. And in this, the English channels are fearsome. But who then is the English media representing or even addressing? Conventional wisdom has it that the media caters to its audience, readers, viewers, whatever, giving them what it wants, if not what it needs. Who do the English language news channels "own"? The ones who speak, think, write in English? Do they really represent the nation? Arent Macaulays children still a small fraction of our nation? Worse, arent most of them lily-livered Left liberals who find virtue in peace? How many full-blooded English-speaking patriots does that leave? As it is, the rising clout of the non-English speakers have had advertisers dubbing all "national" campaigns in the local languages, Hindi songs playing in discos and night clubs, cell phones brandishing an array of languages as a selling point. An Indian-accented English has not stood in the way of politicians like Mayawati and Mamata Banerjee and Nitish Kumar rising to the fore. Even their claim of being "national news channels" is quite specious. They are, they say, national because their viewership is not concentrated in one region but distributed across the country. But does a sprinkling of viewers in different parts of the country make them the voice of the nation? Can it, given that their numbers are miniscule compared to the regional language channels? There is, of course, anger in the country and anxiety over the inability to keep terrorism in check. A survey by Pew Research Center, American pollsters recently who have come to India, released earlier this week shows, "About six-in-ten Indians (62 percent) believe that overwhelming military force is the best way to defeat terrorism around the world and just 21 percent say relying too much on such force creates hatred that leads to more terrorism." More significantly, around half disapprove of the prime ministers handling of relations with Pakistan, including more than half of BJPs own supporters, the Pew Research report states. And this was before Uri happened. The survey was conducted over April and May this year that is after Pathankot but before Uri. Still, the question remains: do people really want war? Are they fully aware of the consequences of such a step? What will they say when many more funeral pyres line the banks of Ganga, Yamuna, Cauvery? The English channels seem determined to replicate what the American media did for the Bush government and its Iraq war: accept the government line in toto, run with well-placed leaks as "investigative" stories, swallow official handouts wholesale, unquestioningly accept the spiel about Iraqs cache of "weapons of mass destruction", create a climate where raising any questions about the ruling dispensations objectives was seen as unpatriotic and anti-national. The tragedy is, those spewing venom and lusting for war in the studios will hardly be affected directly if the guns do boom across the border. Except for traditional military families that have been supplying the armed forces with their offspring for generations, and even they are changing; the upper classes have long forsaken the Army as a profession of choice. The 90s were replete with long newspaper reports lamenting the shortage in the Army of adequate officers as the "quality" of the new recruits left a lot to be desired, since they did not come from the koi hai types that used to rule with an iron hand. Now, we take pride in the deepening and broadening of the social base of the Army, reflecting the social composition of the country as a whole. It is these young men (and a handful of women) from disadvantaged families who will be in the line of fire, while we send our own children abroad. Applauding the "martyrdom" of these luckless soldiers from a safe distance demands nothing from us. But beware. The Pew survey, which reveals a resounding approval rate for prime minister Narendra Modi, also reveals a growing polarisation between Modi-bhakts and the rest. In short, BJPs supporters may want war, but that is less than 33 percent of the voters going by the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, and voters are not the entire populace. There is nothing to show, as yet, the country as a whole does want war. In the ongoing uprising in Kashmir it is the children who are turning into the next defiant generation that will prolong the current political crisis for coming years. Go to any part of Kashmir, children as young as three are raising slogans and are well aware why the region has been on lockdown for the past 10 weeks. During a reporting trip last month, in South Kashmirs Yaaripora, a group of children paraded with handmade wooden rifles, raising anti-India and pro-freedom slogans. Pictures of such groups of children also appeared from many other areas. While traveling to the interior villages of the South, one could find children putting up barricades, distributing drinking water and making Pakistani and Independent Kashmir flags for rallies. Since 8 July, when popular militant commander Burhan Wani was shot dead, Kashmir has been under siege with daily demonstrations against the state. At least 90 civilians have been killed and around 13,000 injured by the government forces bullets, pellets and tear-gas shells. It has been continuous curfew imposed by the government to crush the dissenting population and a few times of revoking curfew has only led to intense protests and clashes between the forces and youth. The psychological impact of the on going uprising has been mainly on the children, who are witnessing the extreme force used by the state against civilians, for the first time at this large scale level. At the curfew schools, opened by volunteers in many parts of Kashmir in the wake of schools being shut, children only discuss Burhan Wani and the uprising. At one such school in South Kashmir, when children between ages 5-12 were told to play a game of building words out of alphabets they made words like Burhan Bhai, Freedom, Azaadi and Free Kashmir. In a study titled Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Children of Conflict Region of Kashmir (India) conducted by Raheel Mushtaq et al. early this year, it was found that the major risk factors of PTSD in children of Kashmir include violent traumatic events, due to continuous turmoil over the last two decades. It said, Every child had experienced one traumatic event. Majority (49 percent) witnessing killing of a close relative, followed by witnessing arrest, torture of a close relative, caught up in cross firing, beaten up, and hearing about killing of a close relative. In this uprising, all these factors have taken place and its impact will be on the children. At this age (5-12) children are on threshold of development, said Saika Jan, a trained psychologist who has been teaching children in Anantnag. Whatever they see and learn builds their personality. The uprising has direct and serious impact on their minds and thats why we see them getting closer to conflict and understanding Kashmirs politics. In Kashmir, memory has played a major role in passing on the pro-freedom sentiment from one generation to another. Memories of torture, crackdowns, killings and incidents of major clashes have always been in the minds of children. It is this memory that rejuvenates their anger against the government structure and leads to rise in an angry population. The sentiment of freedom for Kashmir remains at the core of this anger. A psychiatrist, who focuses on children in Kashmir, said that usually the psychological impact on them is evident after some time. The uprising will definitely have an effect as the environment affects the psychiatric health of normal persons also, he said. These children have commonly seen these episodes and it impacts their psychological development. When a child grows up, he/she will have episodes in their memory, that are repeated, rehearsed and these memories last for a longer time. They won't forget. But how much it will manifest in practical terms will have to be seen. At one of the curfew schools, a group of children was asked to draw something. They covered their sheets of paper with drawings of men in uniform, masked men, stone throwers and protesters. Clearly, the growing political unrest in Kashmir has penetrated the minds of the children in Kashmir, the Valley's next generation. A generation of aspiring Indian authors, including myself, have grown up on the story of how Arundhati Roy was discovered by the UK-based literary agent David Godwin, and landed more than a million dollars as an advance. The subsequent success of the book and the Booker win led to many high-profile literary marriages between Indian authors and global publishers. Although many such books failed to live up to the hype, all the media hullaballoo around them made the evasive UK/US agent a household name. In the West, literary agencies are as old as publishers. The concept of unsolicited or direct submissions is severely discouraged and all publishers recommend that authors come to them through an agent. This agent-inclusive or agent-only publishing ecosystem has turned some agencies into business empires and the agents at their helm, into the stuff of legends. Many old established agencies dont just make money from new rights sales, but also from the estates of literary giants they have been handling. Agents are kingmakers and wooed by publishers and authors alike. Such is the clout of some of the agents that the notorious Andrew Wylie, popularly known as 'The Jackal' in publishing circles for his frequent poaching of big authors from the stables of his rivals, recently took the publishing industry hostage by announcing an e-book only imprint called Odyssey books with Amazon for his authors. More recently, the Spanish-speaking world collectively mourned the demise of legendary agent Carmell Balcells, who represented giants such as Mario Vargas Llosa, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Camilo Jose Cela and Pablo Neruda. In 2010, her personal archives, spanning a period of 50 years, were sold to the Spanish Ministry of Culture for 3 million euros. In India, literary agents are just about beginning to come into their own. For a long time, one couldnt have imagined making a living out of being an agent here because of the money involved: The advances usually ranged from zero to a princely sum of Rs 10,000. Publishers acquired all their books by reaching out to potential authors directly or through references from their existing authors and journalist friends. There were also some mentor-authors such as the legendary Khushwant Singh, who is known to have mentored generations of Indian writers in English. While the first Indian agency started as early as 1997 out of Bangalore, it was the setting up of the Neville Tuli-backed Osian Literary Agency in May 2007 that was a turning point in the fledgling agenting scene in India. Such was the buzz around this full-time literary agency that Mint Lounge did a whole feature on it after it signed its first five authors. A measure of how far agenting has come since the time of Osians would be the complete lack of coverage for an agency that sells hundreds of books in a year now. Sadly, Osians shut shop because of several problems. Khan Market-based Red Ink got its major breakthrough with the unprecedented million dollar three-book deal for its author Amish Tripathi. Its not only the highest payout to an agented author, but any author in Indian publishing history. The Jaipur-based Siyahi has been consistently selling books since 2008 and represents Devdutt Pattnaik. Agenting in India got another shot in the arm with the setting up of the Indian arm of the revered UK-based Aitken Alexander in 2011. It was headed by an ex-Picador editorial director and managed to secure some high profile signings including the late Vinod Mehta, Yuvraj Singh and Tavleen Singh. It also managed the subcontinental rights for high profile authors represented by the UK arm of the agency. In 2010, I set up Writers Side and have been steadily selling books by debut and established writers to mainstream publishers. Nearly 10 years after the first major agency set up shop in India, the business of agenting remains niche, complicated and highly precarious. This is because of the sad systems in place which dont allow our tribe to function to the best of our abilities. Barring Hachette India, all Indian publishers accept direct submissions. Most newcomers, who are not familiar with agents in India, submit to a publisher directly. Many a time, debut writers become aware of agents after having approached publishers, making the possibility of a future relationship terribly complicated. Many publishers openly encourage authors to submit directly because they are well aware that with the involvement of an agent, things will get competitive and they wont be able to get a book at whatever random price they offer. This dispensability of Indian agents gives rise to a lot of unfavourable practices and negotiations. Not only do authors haggle over the standard, universally acceptable 15 percent commission rate, but many dont want an agent to have anything to do with the lifelong royalties that kick in after the advance is earned out. If anything untoward happens, the blame is likely to fall squarely on the agent and the author often laments signing up with an 'Indian' agent and not going to a publisher directly. An Indian agent has to work much harder than peers abroad in order to justify his commission and retain the author who may have already developed a close working relationship with the publisher/editor. In India, agencies have survived and, to some extent, even flourished, because of their strong individual USPs. There is the well-connected agent who manages very good media and festival invitations for authors, the aggressive agent who doesnt accept small offers, the masterful editor-agent who takes manuscripts of authors to another level, the agent who gets back on promising manuscripts within hours and so on. However, since ours is an impossibly complex market, where agents are competing with their own buyers, only the creative and proactive agent will be able to last. An agent developing an idea with a promising author is far more vulnerable than a publishing editor doing the same because there is no guarantee of the final proposal/manuscript ultimately finding the right home. However, this is the only way ahead for agents in a market where nearly 75-80 percent of books across all genres are commissioned directly. Not only this, but an Indian agent just doesnt have the luxury to represent a certain kind of book and should be open to all books as long as they have some merit and are marketable. Despite their inherent problems, opposition, and less than overwhelming presence in the subcontinental market, I daresay that in another five years, most Indian publishers will be forced to adopt the agent-only model. And this will only be because of authors! The author is CEO of the literary agency Writer's Side. (Editor's note: This writer's RTI application about how our government would handle a zombie or alien invasion went viral on social media this week. But as he explains, it wasn't a frivolous query, there was a point being made. Read on.) There was this wonderful BBC radio programme, Yes Minister, that was later adapted into a TV series. I used to watch it on VCD, growing up. In the opening episode, there's this exchange between the minister's principal private secretary Bernard Woolley, the ministry's permanent secretary Sir Humphrey Appleby, and the permanent secretary to the cabinet Sir Arnold, on the subject of the right of the public to know what their government is up to: Bernard: But, uh, what's wrong with open government? I mean, why shouldn't the public know more about what's going on? Sir Arnold: Are you serious? Bernard: Well, yes sir. It's the minister's policy after all. Sir Arnold: My dear boy, it's a contradiction in terms. You can be open or you can have government. Bernard: But surely the citizens of a democracy have a right to know. Sir Humphrey Appleby: No. They have a right to be ignorant. Knowledge only means complicity in guilt; ignorance has a certain dignity. Which brings me to the subject to the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI) and the RTI request that I filed with the Ministry of Home Affairs in March last year asking if we were prepared for an invasion by aliens and zombies. Over the last week, I've been asked to explain myself by various people who know me and people who don't know me, as though I was a schoolboy who asked his headmaster an impertinent question. I figured, instead of giving off the cuff remarks here and there to various publications, why not set the record straight here, with this publication, one that is kind enough to frequently publish my past argle bargle. I'm going to talk about five things that I feel are quite important about this entire issue: 1. The Cause So here's why I did it. It was an act of protest, a simple act of non violent, and in my view at that time, patriotic protest. I live in Mumbai and back in March 2015, they had just banned beef and the home ministry had just banned a documentary on the Delhi gangrape case. Now I wasn't for the ban but I thought the documentary was ill-timed. What did worry me, was why the Home Ministry was was wasting time engaging on the documentary issue when there were churches being vandalised in New Delhi and a 71-year-old nun was raped in West Bengal. What shocked me more was in February, we saw them actually crack down on people who were protesting these attacks on churches. All this, while a man was being lynched by a mob in Assam because he was accused of rape, and there were genuine fears of reprisals against people of Northeastern descent. The entire "intolerance" fiasco that started in March and somehow thankfully died down (the GST Bill passed finally, yay!) was a complete waste of the government's time and to a certain extent was kept alive by the government because they engaged with it on some level and failed to engage with it on others. Look, I'll be honest, I actually was a big fan of this government, I still am. I think, this government is the best shot India has at a bright and prosperous economic future, but to see the Home Ministry waste public time on nonsense like a Channel 4 Documentary, a matter which is best left for the press to sort out or the court to censor and block if it is in the public interest, while there were serious issues of national importance to deal with, does cause one to get quite annoyed with one's government. 2. The Means Filing a frivolous RTI is like casting a protest vote in an election. Since India introduced EVMs, the spirit of the protest vote has been lost. Ideally, it involves spoiling the ballot paper. Writing in a name like "Shaktiman" or "Donald Duck" to protest the fact that you're unhappy with the quality of candidates that are there or you think the electoral process is unfair. But you can only vote once in five years and you really don't get replies if you write angry letters to your minster or MP (though I do encourage you to keep trying) and neither does the ministry have a customer care number. There is where the RTI can also serve as a vehicle to lodge a simple, non-violent, peaceful and private protest with your government, as is your right. You don't even need to explain the purpose. Just like a spoiled ballot, as a citizen, I chose to express my dissatisfaction with the way my government was conducting itself in this manner. I paid the fee and therefore I did not "waste" anyone's time. It would be a waste only if they were doing it without a fee. I paid for someone to read my application, apply their mind to it and draft a reply to my application. If my tax money can go to the Central Board of Film Certification making a list of banned swear words (What I'd pay to be a fly on the wall in the meeting where they came up with that list!) I think it's perfectly all right for a Public Information Officer to have to reply to my RTI application in exchange for a fee. 3. I shouldn't be asked to explain myself and neither should you The whole purpose of the RTI and here's where Sir Arnold and I differ is that I think the right to information is vital to the functioning of a citizen democracy and in order for this right to be effective, it must require that citizens don't have to explain themselves when they seek information from their government. The government is our servant and not the other way around. We owe no duty to explain to it why we seek information from it, as all information held by the government is held by it on our behalf, in trust. So we must have access to it at all times. Just like a banker cannot ask you why you want to check your account statement especially in this case as it is your own bank, if I may be permitted to use that analogy! So I fail to see why the government or the public can ask me to approach the government or public officials with a degree of reverence or chastise me for wasting their time when they do nothing but waste mine. India's Kafkaesque bureaucracy is not deserving of reverence and any person who has had experience dealing with it should be able to attest to the same. 4. They don't like answering uncomfortable questions via RTI Do you remember the whole Bharat Mata Ki Jai controversy? So when that happened I actually wondered if "Bharat Mata" was a protected emblem by the Government of India and if there was any direction asking us to say the same. I also wondered if there was a difference between "Bharat Mata" and "Jai Hind". Worse, since everyone was being branded as "anti national", I wanted to know if there was a certificate course I could take to prove my patriotism. I filed an RTI asking them this question. They denied me this information. They didn't say no. They said this information was outside the scope of the RTI Act. Which is funny, because they were simply 'Yes' or 'No' questions and the ministry has answered 'Yes' or 'No' questions in the past. Obviously the minster of state for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju won't tweet that application (although it is also online) as a waste of time (wonder why!). The same thing with the ministry of External Affairs I filed an RTI asking them a simple set of questions concerting treaties that India is party to. I asked them if we have treaties with the Arab States allowing employers there to confiscate passports of Indian citizens who go there to work. The Treaties division is in Delhi, so I did file it at the right place. But instead of answering questions one and two they told me to apply to each consulate in each country in the Persian Gulf! If replies like this keep coming, the RTI ends up becoming a generally useless mechanism. 5. The information is public, lives are at risk if this is the case They've started this process of uploading RTI requests (unreacted) along with the replies. While they claim this is in the interest of transparency, no useful purpose other than intimation can be served by uploading full applications complete with full names, address and mobile numbers on the websites of the ministry. In fact if you go the ministry of Home Affairs website, you can search for an RTI application by just giving a person's full name. You don't even need to give that RTI number to find it. I'm all for transparency and in fact I would have found it perfectly sporting had the government uploaded my RTI online but with my telephone number and address redacted. But they have not done this and if anyone has filed an RTI in the past they are also vulnerable to this. However, the fact is it's a far more secure system to actually track an RTI application than it is to view a disposed off one online. Another example of a Kafkaesque procedure. While, my RTI may be a 'frivolous joke', there are a lot of serious people using the RTI to expose scams and effect some serious change. Putting their RTI details online, risks and compromises their security. This is utterly irresponsible behaviour on the government's part and all of us should be concerned about this. Who's going to ask for information to expose a scam if you have to do it in front of the scamster, eh? So it's funny, but it's also not that funny. I guess that's what you get with open government. Also, before anyone calls me "anti national" for doing and saying all this, I'm willing to swear an oath of allegiance to this government and the Prime Minister on affidavit if that helps everyone take what I've said seriously. Bharat Mata Ki Jai! Anti-terrorism measures are set to dominate the three-day Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) national conclave, which started on Friday in Kozhikode, Kerala, reported Business Standard. PM Modi, who will address the BJP conclave on Saturday, is likely to send a strong message to Pakistan. Modi will address a public rally on the Calicut beach. This will be first public speech of the Prime Minister after the 18 September Uri attack, that left 18 soldiers dead. BJP sources said a resolution condemning the terror attack on the Indian Army camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan's role in it would be passed. "We are also waiting to hear what he says on Pakistan and Uri," BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain told IANS. He said the National Council will discuss security concerns sparked by the Uri bloodbath. Hussain said the Modi government was on the right direction and was sure to take every step to corner Pakistan and end terrorism. "We are a strong economy. We initiated talks with Pakistan and this was the reason the whole world is supporting India and Pakistan has been isolated," he said. At the venue, a giant poster quotes party ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya's views on Kashmir. "Kashmir is an integral part of India and there will not be any compromise on this," Upadhyaya had said in 1968. He had also said that even the UN won't be allowed to interfere in Kashmir. Earlier, The Times of India reported BJP general secretary Ram Madhav as saying that important issues will be taken up at the meeting as all the top leaders will be present. "You will get what you are waiting for," the report also quoted him as saying. Madhav parried a volley of questions about the party's position on the Uri attack but made it clear that it will be deliberated in the Council. "We are a party of grassroot workers. We understand and appreciate the sentiments in the country," he said. Prodded again, Madhav said, "A lot has happened in the last three days, especially on the diplomatic front". The party will air its views in the coming days, he said. "Let's wait for a while. There is joy in wait. You (media) will get your food," Madhav said. The National Council meet, dedicated to Upadhyaya, would conclude on 25 September, the day the late leader was born. With inputs from agencies The message emanating from Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Kozhikode in Gods own country Kerala does not seem to be of war against Pakistan, at least at this stage, unless of course, he wants to keep that surprise. At one level it was a mature speech of an Indian leader, who knows his responsibilities and the costs involved in a knee jerk reaction and wants to exhaust all other options to "isolate" Pakistan and its rulers, the promoters and exporters of terrorism, from within and outside before considering the option of war limited or full-scale. This effectively meant that he, as Prime Minister of India considered it a priority not to speak in a manner and fashion that could not be suggestive of war mongering. His assertiveness though gave a vent to all pervasive anger that is there in the nation but in the end sought to contain that rising clam0r for retribution through military means. In that sense, his own core social constituents, the chest thumping nationalists who believed in muscularity in Modis 56-inch chest would be little disappointed. Modi began by saying "Yes India is ready to fight a war" but then tailed it off with waging a war against poverty, hunger, health hazards, unemployment by the two countries and "see who first wins over each of these social and economic problems. He was playing both a hawk and pragmatist at the same time. As such it was open to interpretations understand it whatever way you like. He has to act in whatever way, as and when he deems fit. Till then his words would be open to debate in India and in Pakistan. It may be a smart tactical move be a statesman, build the world opinion against a rogue errant neighbour and strike at a time of your choosing, claiming that he had tried all means, of his own and of the world community, to tame but failed and was left with no other option than to use brute force. Take this part: "Pakistan should listen carefully that the death of our 18 soldiers would not go waste." But in next the sentence, he talked about isolating "Pakistan" on all available forums and the day is not far off when its own people would revolt against its rulers asking questions. This means that he like his own party stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee (in the aftermath of 13 December 2001 Parliament attack) is banking on a diplomatic offensive as unleashed by India and the troubles that are mounting for ruling Pakistani establishment from within Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir, Sindh, Gilgit, and Balochistan. Just that there is a difference in style between Desh har kimat ko dene ko taiyar hai (The country is willing to pay any price)" but in the same vein he said Desh shanti, ekta, sadbhawna se juda hai (The country is associated with peace unity and harmony). What message the people and armed forces personnel posted at far-flung areas should take is difficult to conclude. So would be the Pakistani establishment. They can take some solace that India was not attacking, at least for now and thus can again use the Islamabad road for motorways then keeping them free for flying fighter aircraft, open airports in the eastern part of the country and so on. The rider, of course, is Modi might spring a surprise. It was an important occasion for him to assuage feelings of armed forces and families of martyrs. These days there is a mood of anger in the nation. Terrorists should hear it loud and clear that the country would never forget the sacrifice of the 18 soldiers. Then he devoted few minutes to suggest how he was proud of the country's armed forces, their valor, and their sacrifice. Recently Indian Army had foiled 17 infiltration bids by the terrorists along the LoC, the Prime Minister said in his address. Modi had maximum clarity on two issues. First, his brief friendly overtures had turned into bitterness and his Pakistani counterpart now had an enemy status for him. Referring to Nawaz Sharifs condemnable speech in UNGA, Modi said those who talked to fight against India for thousand years have gone into oblivion. Todays ruler of Pakistan read speeches written by terrorists and sing song for Kashmir. As such the world does not expect anything from them. Second, he differentiated between the rulers of Pakistan, civilians, and the military. As such it was important for him to reach out to the Pakistani people, like what he did in his Independence Day speech for the people of Balochistan. I want to speak directly to people of Pakistan. When your rulers cant manage Pakistan illegally occupied Kashmir, East Pakistan which is now Bangladesh, Sindh, Pashtun, and Balochistan, they talk of Kashmir to mislead you. First, learn to manage what you have. Both countries had become independent at the same time and Pakistani people, whose ancestors were once Indians should ponder, why India today exports software and Pakistan exports terrorism. It is important to note that before leaving for Kozhikode in the afternoon, Modi had held a meeting of three armed forces chiefs at his New Delhi residence to review the situation and formulate the strategy. His todays meeting with them and presence at war room two days ago and a series of other strategy meetings indicate that he was weighing all possible options, military or otherwise. His Kozhikode address gave a sense that he was not rushing into an emotive decision but was considering his options as a hard-boiled pragmatist even if it takes a beating on his pre-2014 image of a strong and decisive leader who would decimate Pakistan for its misadventures. He also had a message for the world community whenever there is a terror attack in any part of the world either the terrorist originates from Pakistan or like Osama bin Laden takes refuge there. It is now more than clear how External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj would take on Pakistan when she speaks at UNGA on Monday. What was surprising though and PM Modi and the BJP should and ponder as to why characteristic 'Modi Modi' chants were not heard in Kozhikode. Kozhikode: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asserted that the sacrifices of BJP workers in Kerala will not go in vain and will bear fruit even as party president Amit Shah claimed that the saffron outfit will form the next government. Referring to the big crowd at a party rally, Modi sought to link it with its increasing strength in a state where it has mostly been a minor player before emerging as a force to reckon by garnering near 15 per cent votes in the last assembly polls. "In Kerala, workers of Bharatiya Jan Sangh and BJP have sacrificed their lives. Their martyrdom inspires party workers in the rest of the country. Their sacrifice and sufferings will not go in vain," Modi said. "At some point of time, their sacrifice will bear fruit. Destiny of Kerala will change and BJP will be instrument to do it," the Prime Minister said, apparently referring to political violence in the state in which many BJP and RSS workers lost their lives. Hitting out at the CPM, Amit Shah said the attack against BJP workers is not new and they are facing violent attack even in the Chief Minister's constituency. "They are thinking that they would be able to stop the growth of BJP in Kerala through violent attacks. They are wrong. BJP will further gather strength despite such attacks," he said. Party will give a befitting reply to the forces unleashing violence through all democratic means, Shah said. Referring to the party's performance in the May 16 Assembly poll, the BJP president claimed he was confident that in the next polls in Kerala, the party would form government. Kozhikode: The three-day BJP National Council meet that began on Friday and was slated to focus on party ideologue Deendayal Upadhyay's core idea of "Antyodaya" and "Integral Humanism", but has been over shadowed by the developments following the Uri terror attack. The party said that it understands the sentiments in the country but as far as the stand of the National Council over the issue is concerned, it will be deliberated at an appropriate stage. However, the meeting of the office bearers and state presidents was focussed on the agenda of Antyodaya and Integral Humanism. Briefing the reporters about the meeting Bharatiya Janata Party General Secretary Ram Madhav said, "You will naturally have one major issue in your minds about the situation in the country and about neighbourhood etc. It is an important national concern but its focus is on Deendayalji.. his ideas and his commitment to the poor and downtrodden. We will take it forward." Madhav said the focus of meet will be on Antyodaya but he faced a volley of questions related to any proposed action against Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack of 18 September that left 18 soldiers dead. "In the past three days, a lot has happened especially on the diplomatic front and you have also seen that. You have seen the results also," Madhav told a press conference. "Apko bayan chahiye ya action? Action hote rahenge, dekhna (Do you want statements or action? Action will continue, just keep watching)," Madhav said when a journalist sought to know from him why the BJP has toned down its voice against Pakistan after coming to power. After the incident of Uri the BJP-led government is under pressure to "teach a lesson" to Pakistan -- with Ram Madhav himself demanding "for one tooth, a complete jaw". "We are a party of grass root workers. So naturally we appreciate and understand the sentiments in the country," Madhav said. Although the BJP leader did not put it in so many words, he clearly indicated that the situation emerging in the wake of the Uri attack would also be discussed during the party's three-day National Council meeting here. "We all National Council members keep getting inputs from the people. All important issues will be taken up at a certain level, and essence of that will be communicated to you," Madhav said. Responding to a poser that Russia joining military exercise with Pakistan is against India's claim that Islamabad has been isolated diplomatically, Madhav said, "We will wait and see. A lot of news is floating around." During the meeting party chief Amit Shah asked the party leaders to focus on implementation of 80 public welfare schemes of the Modi government. Shah had constituted a committee on Gareeb Kalyan under the leadership of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The committee submitted its report to Shah suggesting their views on Gareeb Kalyan. Sources also said that Shah expressed his displeasure over the implementation of the schemes in BJP-ruled states. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is all set to address a public rally here at Calicut beach, is also likely to send a strong message to Pakistan. This will be the first public speech of the Prime Minister after the September 18 Uri attack. "We are also waiting to hear what he says on Pakistan and Uri," Bharatiya Janata Party spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain told IANS. At the venue, a giant poster is up with party ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya's views on Kashmir. "Kashmir is an integral part of India and there will not be any compromise on this," Upadhyaya had said in 1968. He had also said that even the UN won't be allowed to interfere in Kashmir. The National Council meet, dedicated to Upadhyaya, would conclude on 25 September, the day the late leader was born. On Monday, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani hosted a 'Twitter townhall' where citizens asked him questions related to the state government. However, Twitterati was not very pleased with the initiative, and trolled him on the microblogging site. Join Twitter Town Hall with Shri @vijayrupanibjp on 23 Sep from 10 am onward. Ask your questions at https://t.co/Xx0LE5avlu. #AskVijayRupani pic.twitter.com/o9AFc93Tcv BJP (@BJP4India) September 22, 2016 "Happy to announce that I am hosting a Twitter townhall on 23 September," Rupani tweeted. "People of the state can ask me any question related to the development or administrative work or any other issues regarding the state," Rupani said, in a video message posted on Twitter. Early morning on 23 September, Rupani had tweeted with his official handle that questioning would start at 10 am. But people soon realised that the time for response from the CM was missing. Soon people on Twitter started trolling Rupani. At 12.46 pm, the CM announced that the townhall was a "phenomenal success". Twitterati wondered 'where' it happened. Received thousands of tweets @twitter Townhall. Overwhelmed by your response.My office will follow up on the questions asked. Thank you all. Vijay Rupani (@vijayrupanibjp) September 23, 2016 #SocialMedia manager of #CM forgot to ask Time so didn't mentioned in tweet so you can #AskVijayRupani & get reply in 2017 - Technical Error pic.twitter.com/rS9kYcIfcf Divyesh Bhatt (@dnbhatt) September 23, 2016 #AskVijayRupani when and how will you give the answer?? Are you playing a game with public? waiting for your answer.. do the need full komal patel (@komal2490) September 23, 2016 Why are you so scared of Arvind Kejriwal and AAP?#AskVijayRupani /. Rakesh K. (@AAPKA_RK) September 23, 2016 @vijayrupanibjp Sir, RUDA is not cooperating with us for water logging issues during monsoon. Needs Asphalt/concreet roads. #AskVijayRupani Bhavin Joshi (@bhavinhjoshi) September 23, 2016 Rupani had hoped to address people's issues with the townhall. He had said that this would be an attempt to build a bridge between people and the government. According to the Chief Minister, due to social media it has become easier to communicate with the people directly. However, we think that the attempt seemed to back-fire a little. The Gujarat CM was also seen giving the same reply to a lot of questions on Twitter. The automated response went to a Twitter users irrespective of their questions. Moreover the responses were sent on Saturday, a day after the 'Twitter townhall' where the questions were posed. @77ravipatel Govt wants to examine fix pay policy with an open mind. CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) September 24, 2016 @2aadhya Govt wants to examine fix pay policy with an open mind. CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) September 24, 2016 @snehparmar Govt wants to examine fix pay policy with an open mind. CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) September 24, 2016 @jitupatel91 Govt wants to examine fix pay policy with an open mind. CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) September 24, 2016 Several users asked multiple questions from single @twitter handle on #AskVijayRupani. Some have been answered, rest will be answered too. CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) September 24, 2016 Maybe it's time for the CM to hire a new social media team? Editor's note: This article was originally published on 24 September. It is being republished in light of the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be receiving a briefing from the Ministry of Water Resources and Ministry of External Affairs on the Indus Water Treaty on Monday There is a man called Khawaja Muhammad Asif in Pakistan. He hates India from the very bottom of his heart. You wouldnt take Asif too seriously, if he wasnt Pakistans Minister of Defence, Water and Power (a curious combination even for a terror-exporting country). And he is also one of the closest political lackeys of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. And Asif has no qualms about occasionally putting his foot in his mouth and embarrassing his government, but Sharif lets his blue-eyed boy get away. Three months ago, Asif called a woman politician of Pakistan a "tractor trolley", and outraged Pakistanis called him a "joker" on social media. But leave that aside. Asif, 67, uses Twitter to spout venom on anything Indian almost on a daily basis. If his tweets were bullets, all Indians would have been corpses by now. His 3.4 lakh Twitter followers include some Indians who hit back at him, and not very politely too. So he has blocked some of them. Usually, his tweets are taken no more seriously than the patriotic rants of a rabid Pakistani. But the 15 July tweet by this India-hater was different. It raised hackles in the Indian establishment. Pakistan to move to international court of arbitration: pic.twitter.com/P2yh0LBC80 Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) July 15, 2016 Coming two months before the Uri attack, this tweet meant that Pakistan would once again take Indias two hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir on the tributaries of the Indus to international arbitration. Pakistan had gone to the International Court of Arbitration at The Hague earlier with silly objections to the Kishanganga Hydroelectric project in north Kashmir and the Ratle Hydroelectric plant in Jammu. In 2013, the court gave the go-ahead to India on some conditions. But even the reduced scope of these projects has apparently not made Pakistan happy. Thats because Pakistan doesnt want to be happy. If Pakistan is able to raise one ridiculous objection after another to Indias projects, blame the very one-sided nature of the Indus Waters Treaty, which Jawaharlal Nehru signed in 1960 with Pakistan President Ayub Khan to buy peace at a time when tension between India and China was going out of hand. Nehru virtually gifted to Pakistan 80 percent of the water, amounting to some 5,900 tmcft every year. You can imagine how huge a quantity this is, if you see that the Supreme Courts order to Karnataka to release 3.8 tmcft of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu has created ruckus. World leaders gave Nehru a standing ovation for his "generosity". A demure Nehru called it a "goodwill" gesture. But over time, Nehrus thoughtless action has hurt the economic interests of the country in general, and Jammu and Kashmir in particular. And worse, Nehru supplied Pakistan a chance to kill two birds with one stone. While reaping maximum benefits from the river system for its own people, Pakistan keeps Jammu and Kashmir short of electricity and industrial development in other words, it keeps the Kashmiris frustrated with the Indian government. The feeling of the average Kashmiri is that India had made his state a "sacrificial goat" in signing the treaty. Thats because the treaty practically gives away the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab flowing through Jammu and Kashmir for Pakistans exclusive use, while India could utilise waters from the Beas, Sutlej and Ravi running through Punjab. Besides its one-sided nature, there are two good reasons why India must announce its exit from the treaty. One, the goodwill that prompted Nehru to sign it is conspicuous by its absence now. Two, China has stealthily built a dam on the Indus at Demchok in Ladakh. An alleged treaty between two countries over a river loses all relevance and meaning if a third country builds a dam as it wishes. If India goes back on the Indus treaty now, the country isnt starting a water war against Pakistan. It would only be responding to a war which Pakistan has already launched in a not too subtle a fashion. Respond India must. But its preposterous to even imagine that India can stop water from flowing into Pakistan overnight. That kind of a thing is the stuff science fiction and mythology are made of. Reducing the water flow into Pakistan, leave alone stopping it, would mean that India must build dams on the Indus and its tributaries, and store water. And dams arent built in a jiffy. And dams that are inimical to Pakistans interests can become easy terror targets, and India must go ahead with them with abundant caution. Silence is not an option. On its part, Pakistan has been going ahead with impunity with much bigger projects in its part of the Indus basin, some of them with Chinese help. Look at what Asif tweeted last month: InshaAllah realising the dreams ... Roshan Pakistan! pic.twitter.com/IearvpvN4u Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) August 19, 2016 The Neelum-Jheelum hydel project that the India-basher is gloating about in this 19 August tweet is thrice as big as the Kishnaganga project in North Kashmir in terms of power production. Pakistans baseless stand has been that Kishnaganga would deny water for Neelum-Jheelum. If you dont call this a ruthless water war by Pakistan, what do you call it then? And it has been going on for a while now, and the all-talk-no-action Indian leadership has been doing nothing about it. India has threatened to abrogate the treaty when tensions rose before, and such talk was always followed by amnesia. But what can India do now? I spoke to a couple of senior engineers working at dams on Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers. They are not warmongers. Yet they are unanimous in their view that "too much water" goes into Pakistan and it is high time India did something about it. "Uri or no Uri, water going to Pakistan must be stopped. The Indus treaty was signed at a time when we didnt have many projects, but times have changed. Population has grown, so have our needs. There is tremendous scope for projects especially across the Chenab and the Jheelum," said one of them. "We have been," pointed out another engineer, "adhering to the treaty faithfully all these years, but at what cost? We have no option now other than to make an exit from this unfair agreement purely from an economic point of view." SK Sharma, an eminent irrigation engineer and chairman of the Chandigarh-based Bhakra-Beas Management Board that manages the waters and power from Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers, told Firstpost: "Linking all the six rivers in the Indus basin can be a long-term solution for India. It should be given a serious thought, though its expensive and time-consuming." If India goes back on the Indus treaty now, the country isnt starting a water war against Pakistan. Without doubt, resentment against the Indus treaty is deepest in Jammu and Kashmir. This is what an average Kashmiri asks: "Why did India agree to give away to Pakistan the Chenab, Jheelum and Indus rivers flowing through Kashmir but not any of the other rivers that flow through Punjab?" Kashmirs anger against the Indus treaty is not new, says a senior Srinagar journalist, who tells me: "This issue has been coming up regularly but the Centre doesnt take it seriously." National Conference leader Nazir Gurezi once called the treaty an agreement of "slavery" for Kashmiris. And many Kashmiris want monetary compensation for the loss that the state has suffered on account of Nehrus folly. In 2002, when Mufti Mohammed Sayeed was the chief minister of J&K, the state assembly passed a unanimous resolution demanding the abrogation of the pact. He took the stand that economic self-reliance was a key to putting an end to the states problems. His daughter Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed, who is the chief minister now, made the right noises about it earlier this year. Leaders of her Peoples Democratic Party blame their alliance partner BJP for doing little to mitigate the states power problem. If India now wants to go back on the Indus treaty, which Nehru signed out of so-called goodwill, it would be 51 years late in doing it. India should have walked out of it in 1965, when Pakistan returned the goodwill by waging war against India. In India's rambunctious multi-party democracy, larger points often fall victim to political cross fires. The existential need for political parties to fish in troubled waters often results in India giving confusing signals and diluting the message that it needs to send to enemies during times of crises. Take Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, for instance. Whatever be the Left front's domestic compulsions, accusing the Union government of a "big brotherly attitude" towards neighbouring countries, when 18 Indian jawans have been killed in a terrorist ambush from Pakistan-backed operatives, smacks of silliness at best and cynical opportunism at worst. Or Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), that figured out that this was the right time to come out of political obscurity by giving Pakistani actors in India a 48-hour deadline to leave the country. "We demand that Pakistani artistes who have made Mumbai their home should quit the city and the state of Maharashtra within the next 48 hours. If they don't, MNS will beat them up and pack them off to Pakistan," MNS functionary Amey Khopkar said. The problem with MNS' rabble-rousing approach is that it deflects from the real issue whether bilateral relationship at any level is possible with an enemy nation engaged in a relentless one-sided war against us and seeks to catch voters by the kilo, by resorting to cheap jingoism. The outrage that MNS' position will cause in Indian mainstream media risks taking away from the larger question we needs to ask ourselves right now. And it's is simple. Isn't it time to stop all cultural exchange with an enemy nation that hates us and seeks to repeatedly harm us? Since we can't punish Pakistan militarily for fear of triggering a nuclear war (an unequal fear), also hold ourselves accountable to a higher moral standard by not tampering with a water treaty that has long been disadvantageous to us, surely the least we could do is pose some sort of economic sanctions on the rogue state by leveraging our soft power and larger market? The question takes as axiomatic the position that we are at war with Pakistan. When it comes to this neighbouring state, however, hard-nosed decisions based on India's strategic interests have always been held hostage to mushy and crucially, unreciprocated sentimentality. We may not see Pakistan as an enemy, but their entire existence depends on anti-India hatred. It is what binds that failed rogue nation, which columnist R Jagannathan rightly calls the original Islamic State. Indians cannot escape the geopolitical reality of being the neighbours of an unstable banana republic that uses terrorism as a tool to get even with an aspiring Asian power that is demographically bigger, economically stronger, politically more stable, is better equipped in conventional military prowess and in its pluralistic, secular nature remains antithetical to everything that Pakistan stands for. But we reserve the right to protect our interests. Can we realistically hope to maintain a peaceful and friendly relationship with such a country, even at the level of civil society? Narendra Modi, like so many Indian prime ministers before him, sought to hit the 'reset' button in the Indo-Pakistan relationship soon after assuming office. Burnt fingers and a shattered image later, he would have well understood the futility of it. It is time, as strategic thinker and Professor of Centre for Policy Research Brahma Chellaney writes in Livemint, to debate "whether India is making Pakistan bear costs for scripting cross-border terrorism India has a range of options in the military, economic and diplomatic realms to start imposing increasing costs on Pakistan in a calibrated and gradually escalating manner". We must explore all options of punishing Pakistan where cost-benefit analyses throw net gains in our favour. Stopping all forms of cultural exchanges and giving Pakistani artistes access to a larger Indian market are areas we need to look at. We need to challenge the long-held notion that cultural exchange with Pakistan must continue. To what end? How has it helped us? A commonly held belief is that people-to-people connect helps in normalising relationships. It is time to give this myth a burial. Mohammed Wajihuddin writes in The Times of India in the wake of MNS threat against Pakistan actors: "Cross-cultural ties in the film industry go back to the 1940s and 50s; there has been a long line of actors, writers, musicians going back to the days of Noor Jehan and Saadat Hasan Manto who have transcended borders and enjoyed a following in both countries." He is correct. But the right question to ask is that if cross-cultural exchanges are beneficial to both nations, why have ties not been normalised? Why have we been forced to fight four wars against Pakistan? Why have our civilians fallen prey to bullets fired by Pakistan-nurtured terrorists? And let's remember that as on battlefield, Pakistan also fights an asymmetric cultural war. Bollywood movies are regularly banned in the country. Last year, as reported in The Indian Express, a Pakistani court banned the release of Bollywood movie Phantom in the country on a plea filed by Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai and head of Jaish-e-Mohammad, the outfit that has been blamed by India for Uri attacks. More recently, Bollywood comedy flick Happy Bhag Jayegi, which was shot in Pakistan, was slapped with a ban. According to a report in Hindustan Times, film-maker Aanand L Rai said: "Initially, I was told that the film is clean. Later, we were informed that a ministry in Pakistan had objected to the film." The fate of Indian TV serials is worse. All Indian channels airing through DTH services have been banned by Pakistan's regulatory authority. Pakistan newspaper Dawn quotes Absar Alam, chairman of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), as saying that the regulatory body "will write letters to the Federal Board of Revenue, the State Bank and agencies, including the Federal Investigation Agency, for curbing the sale of Indian DTH decoders in the country." Around three million Indian DTH decoders are being sold in the country. We not only want this sale stopped but will also ask the relevant agencies to trace the money trail to determine the mode of payments made to Indian dealers selling these decoders to Pakistanis, he said, according to the report. In contrast, we have Indian artists extending their long arm of friendships and rallying behind their Pakistan brethren. I got Atif in this concert for the sole purpose of showing how 2 artistes, especially from 2 conflicting countries, shud put up a great show Sonu Nigam (@sonunigam) September 20, 2016 Not only is this generosity never reciprocated, it is cynically used by the enemy state to whip up sympathy at the civil society level which is then subverted by Pakistan's Deep State. And licking our wounds, we perennially remain trapped within our guilt trip. It is also time to take a look at the seminar and cocktail circuit part of the cultural exchange network that has more often than not ended up acting as a propaganda tool for Pakistan. Roaming the world in silk ties, partaking of fine wines at plush venues, these eclectic set of elitists who claim to represent the rights of people and shape public opinion have been cynically used by the enemy state, often without their knowledge. In 2011, as this article in BBC reports, Ghulam Nabi Fai, a Kashmiri-born American citizen, pleaded guilty to secretly receiving millions of dollars from Pakistan's spy agency in violation of US federal laws. "As a paid operative of ISI (Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence spy agency), he did the bidding of his handlers in Pakistan while he met with US elected officials, funded high-profile conferences, and promoted the Kashmiri cause to decision-makers in Washington," US Attorney Neil MacBride was quoted, as saying by BBC. According to a 2011 report in The Indian Express, part of the funds that FAI received from ISI went into organising "international conferences" on Kashmir. According to The Indian Express, "prominent among those who have attended his conferences are Dileep Padgaonkar, who is now one of the three interlocutors for J&K appointed by the Centre, former Delhi High Court Chief Justice Rajinder Sachar, former editor Kuldip Nayar and activist Gautam Navlakha." Most of the prominent personalities who attended Fai's events claimed they had no idea about his covert association with the ISI, according to the report. This, we must understand, is also part of Pakistan's proxy war. Its Deep State throws around money to influence public opinion, manipulates our citizens and all that we do is clamour for an open border and more "cultural exchange". Even US or France, champions of western egalitarianism and freedom of expression, have at various times imposed sanctions against countries or forces that they considered inimical to their ideals and existence. Let's get real. Burlington: Police on Saturday searched for a gunman who opened fire in the makeup department of a Macy's store at a mall north of Seattle, killing four females, authorities said. Washington State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Mark Francis said police were seeking a Hispanic man wearing black and armed with a rifle last seen walking toward Interstate 5. "We are still actively looking for the shooter," Francis said at a news conference. "Stay indoors, stay secure." 90% complete with building search. 11 search teams, 2 K9 teams on perimeter. Still actively searching for suspect throughout the area. Sgt. Mark Francis (@wspd7pio) September 24, 2016 Authorities say the motive for Friday night's shooting which also left a male critically wounded was unknown. The FBI was assisting local authorities as dozens of police officers searched for the suspect. The FBI's Seattle office said on Twitter that it "has no information to suggest additional attacks planned" in Washington state but did not elaborate. At this time, #FBI has no information to suggest additional attacks planned in WA state. Assisting with intel review & manpower #SkagitDEM FBI Seattle (@FBISeattle) September 24, 2016 The deadly shooting happened in the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of Seattle. Francis said the "lone shooter" attacked the victims with a "hunting type rifle." Police released a closely cropped still from video surveillance of the young-looking suspect showing only his head and torso, though the full picture, published by local media, showed him holding what appears to be a rifle while walking in a clothing retail store. Authorities initially reported four people were killed, then said three were dead, before revising the number again. Francis said the number fluctuated as authorities searched the shopping center. Police received calls around 6:58 pm (0058 GMT) that shots were fired at the mall, located about 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Seattle in the US Pacific Northwest state, Trooper Rick Johnson, a spokesman, told CNN. Tari Caswell told the Skagit Valley Herald she was in the Macy's women's dressing room when she heard "what sounded like four balloons popping". "Then I heard seven or eight more, and I just stayed quiet in the dressing room because it just didn't feel right. And it got very quiet. And then I heard a lady yelling for help, and a man came and got me and another lady, and we ran out of the store," Caswell told the newspaper. Stephanie Bose, an assistant general manager at Johnny Carino's Italian restaurant near the Macy's store at the mall, said she immediately locked the doors to the restaurant after hearing about the shooting from an employee's boyfriend. Washington State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Mark Francis said police were seeking a Hispanic man wearing black and armed with a rifle last seen walking toward Interstate 5. "He was trying to go to the mall and people were screaming," she told The Associated Press. "It was frantic." She said he could see police at the doors with assault rifles and said they were no longer guarding the doors as of 9:30 p.m. Francis said at about 8.30 p.m. that the mall had been evacuated and emergency medical personnel were cleared to enter. Francis said authorities were still doing a "final clear" of the 434,000-square-foot (40,319-square-meter) mall late Friday night. He said 11 search teams and two K9 units were involved. The parking lot was closed and emergency management officials told people they would be able to retrieve vehicles Saturday. Gov Jay Inslee said tragedy had struck the state. "We urge residents to heed all safety and detour warnings. Stay close to your friends and loved ones as we await more information and, hopefully, news of the suspect's capture," Inslee said in a statement. The Cascade Mall is an enclosed shopping mall that opened in 1990, according to the mall's website. It features JC Penney, TJ Maxx, and Macy's stores, among other stores, restaurants and a movie theater. On 17 September, a man stabbed 10 people at a Minnesota mall before being shot and killed by an off-duty police officer. Authorities say Dahir Ahmed Adan, 20, stabbed the people at the Crossroads Center in St Cloud, Minnesota. With inputs from agencies 2000 - 2022 24 .- . focus-news.net, () . 24 . 24 . . 24 . Twitter is reportedly in talks with top tech companies for a potential buyout. A recent report from CNBC says that Google, Salesforce and others are eyeing to acquire the micro blogging site. The report goes on saying the potential buyers are interested in the user data that Twitter generates, as well as its place as a media company. Meanwhile, TechCrunch also reports that even Microsoft and Verizon are interested in acquiring Twitter. Google Twitter has been struggling to increase its user base for quite sometime now. The micro blogging site is improving its platform with a number of features and improvements. Earlier this week, Twitter revamped its 140- character limit in a bid to try and appeal to new users, and encourage more activity by existing users. Twitter is also striving to compete with Facebook who is now a behemoth with Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. Source While Google is all set for its big launch event of the year on October 4th, a new report from Android Police has come out claiming that the search giant will introduce its a new home router with its own branding alongside the anticipated HTC-made Pixel smartphones, new 4K Chromecast, and the Google Home. According to the report, Google will introduce its own-brand Wi-Fi router called Google Wifi which will have smart features and will cost $129. There arent many details as of now, but citing an undisclosed source the report further adds that the Google Wifi device will essentially be like the voice-enabled Amazon Echo Dot speaker. Last year, Google had unveiled the OnHub router in partnership with Asus and the first OnHub router was launched with TP-Link in August 2015. To remind you, Googles official invites for October 4 is already out where company is expected to launch its next-generation smartphones in the Nexus lineup that are expected to be called Pixel and Pixel XL, as rumored earlier. It has also setup a madeby.google.com website that shows October 5th as date for India. Source General Motors (GM 1.81%) is offering buyouts to 400 of its smallest U.S. Cadillac dealers. It's a move to quell dealer concerns about a new reorganization plan, and part of a much larger long-term effort to boost the old luxury brand's exclusivity and level of service. Why Cadillac is offering these buyouts Automotive News reported on Friday that Cadillac is offering the 400 dealers up to $180,000 each if they would prefer to give up their franchises rather than making the substantial investments and compromises required under an elaborate plan to upgrade the brand's level of service and polish. The offer follows a series of protests by Cadillac dealers concerned about the brand's plans, which divides its U.S. dealers into five tiers and imposes new requirements on each. In a nutshell, Cadillac is providing incentives to some of its largest dealers to upgrade their facilities and service levels, while reducing others to small stores with little or no inventory. The dealers are concerned that the net effect of Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen's plan, called Project Pinnacle, will be to give major benefits to Cadillac's largest and best-located dealerships while making it difficult for smaller dealerships to survive. An ambitious push to lure more luxury-minded buyers The dealers receiving this offer are small ones. Together, they represent 43% of Cadillac's 925 U.S. dealerships, but they generated less than 10% of Cadillac's U.S. sales in 2015. Cadillac has far more U.S. dealerships than its German luxury-brand rivals, something that analysts have long seen as a disadvantage for the old U.S. brand. A smaller dealer network would mean more sales and profit per store, on average, giving franchise owners more incentive (and more money) to upgrade their facilities and deliver higher levels of service to customers. De Nysschen has repeatedly insisted that he doesn't want to put Cadillac's smaller dealers out of business. Instead, he has said, Project Pinnacle is about turning a perceived disadvantage, the large number of dealers, into an advantage by making it easier for the smaller stores to turn a profit. De Nysschen told Automotive News that he hopes none of the dealers will take the buyout offers. But, noting that his plan to transform Cadillac's level of service is a long-term project that is "not one for the faint-hearted," he is making the offers available to any of the small dealers who may "choose to make life a little easier than what lies ahead." Given that the offers aren't very generous, de Nyschen's hope may be fulfilled -- but that might not be enough to quell the dealers' concerns. The goal: Transforming Cadillac into a profit powerhouse Elevating Cadillac's brand image (and profitability) is a significant, long-term goal of GM CEO Mary Barra, part of her plan to boost GM's profits and margins substantially by early next decade. De Nysschen has been given a big budget ($12 billion) and wide leeway by GM's board of directors with the expectation that he will double Cadillac's global sales to 500,000 per year or more by about 2020, while elevating the brand's status among luxury-minded car-buyers. It's a project that sounded far-fetched as recently as a few years ago. But GM has proven with Cadillac's latest products that it can compete head-on with the likes of BMW and Daimler's Mercedes-Benz brand, with no excuses necessary -- at least in terms of the cars themselves. De Nysschen's challenge is that while it's one thing to upgrade Cadillac's products, it's another thing entirely to upgrade luxury shoppers' perception of the brand. Project Pinnacle is part of that effort. De Nysschen wants Cadillac's dealers to deliver an experience to their customers that rivals -- or exceeds -- that offered by the German competition and Toyota's luxury Lexus brand. It will take time. De Nyscchen and other GM executives acknowledge frankly that upgrading the brand is a long-term project that may not fully succeed for a decade, and they've made it clear to investors (and Cadillac dealers) that patience will be required. If nothing else, this latest drama reinforces that point. When searching for America's fastest-growing industries, chances are you'll find marijuana near, or at, the top. Cannabis research firm ArcView pegged legal sales of the drug at $5.4 billion in 2015 and believes the legal industry can grow organically by 30% per year through 2020. This would bring legal sales for the industry to nearly $22 billion if this estimate were to come to fruition. Marijuana's success is mostly based on the expected expansion at the state level. For those who may not have been following the recent events surrounding cannabis, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, with the assistance of the Department of Health and Human Services, declined to reschedule marijuana from its current schedule 1 status. This move effectively leaves marijuana as an illegal substance at the federal level and implies that it has no medical benefits. In other words, the only way the cannabis industry has any chance of growth is through state-level expansion via ballot measure or legislative approval. As we head into November, residents in nine states are readying to vote on a legal marijuana initiative. Five states -- California, Maine, Nevada, Massachusetts, and Arizona -- will be voting on whether to legalize recreational marijuana for adults aged 21 and up, while four additional states -- Montana, North Dakota, Florida, and Arkansas -- will be attempting to legalize medical marijuana. There are currently 25 states that have legalized medical marijuana and just four, along with Washington, D.C., that have legalized recreational marijuana. Three states that could vote against legalizing marijuana With national pollster Gallup's latest poll showing support for nationwide legalization at 58%, and CBS News' poll in 2015 showing 84% support for legalizing medical marijuana, you'd think an approval would be a slam-dunk in all nine states. However, based on select poll results, three states could wind up rejecting their respective marijuana initiative or amendment. Arizona All eyes are going to be on Proposition 205 in Arizona, which received more than 250,000 signatures to get on the November ballot. If approved, adults ages 21 and up would be able to possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana, grow up to six plants, and consume marijuana in non-public places. Recreational marijuana would carry a 15% tax rate. Now here's where things get a bit dicey. In July, a survey taken by O.H. Predictive Insights showed that 39% of Arizonans favored the measure, 52.5% planned to vote no, and roughly 8.5% remained undecided. Though there were pockets of favorability toward Prop 205 in select counties, the measure was (at least based on this poll) slated to lose. Mike Noble, the managing partner and chief pollster of O.H. Predictive Insights, pegged the higher propensity of Arizona's older population to vote, and seniors' general dislike for marijuana, as the reason it would likely fail. A more recent poll conducted by the Arizona Republic found 50% in favor of Prop 205, compared with 40% who opposed it and 10% who remained undecided. This poll was conducted in late August and surveyed just shy of 800 people. Though the polling data is conflicting, it's possible supporters' dream of legal recreational marijuana in Arizona could go up in smoke. Massachusetts Another state that could be a complete toss-up is Massachusetts, which is bringing Question 4 to its residents this November. If approved, Massachusetts would allow adults 21 and over to possess up to an ounce of marijuana, have up to 10 ounces in their homes, and grow up to six plants. In terms of taxation, The Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act, as it's officially known, would add a 3.75% tax on top of the state's 6.25% sales tax, and local taxes could add up to an additional 2%. Cities could also have the option to ban legal marijuana commerce, which would be similar to what we've seen happen in Colorado with more than half of all jurisdictions still banning the drug following its 2012 approval. However, an approval in Massachusetts seems to be far from a guarantee. As reported by The Boston Globe, a July 12-13 poll conducted by Gravis Marketing for Jobs First of 901 registered voters showed that 51% planned to vote against Question 4, 41% were in favor of Question 4, and 9% remained undecided. Yet, just as we saw with Arizona, a more recent poll suggests that public opinion may have reversed. The WBUR/MassINC poll conducted in early September showed that 50% of the 506 likely voters favored Question 4, compared with 45% who opposed it. It's looking as if the pendulum could swing either way on cannabis in Massachusetts this November. North Dakota Finally, residents of North Dakota will go to the polls in November to vote on the North Dakota Compassionate Care Act, which would legalized medical marijuana in the state. Also known as Initiated Statutory Measure No. 5, the Act would allow for the possession of up to three ounces of cannabis for qualifying conditions such as cancer, glaucoma, epilepsy, and AIDS, and it would allow residents to grow up to eight plants if they live more than 40 miles from a licensed dispensary within the state. Whether a medical marijuana law sees the light of day in North Dakota, though, remains up for debate. In 2014, Forum Communications Co. commissioned a poll conducted by the University of North Dakota College of Business and Public Administration to get a feel for North Dakotans views on medical marijuana. Though 47% supported legalizing medical marijuana compared with 41% who opposed it, those who strongly opposed it (35%) slightly outnumbered those who strongly support (33%) the idea. As a relatively non-populous state polls are somewhat hard to come by, and I would deem there to be enough of a margin of doubt in this data to suggest North Dakota could wind up rejecting its medical-cannabis measure. This outcome could be a given While the aforementioned three states could be a complete toss-up, the one given this election cycle is that it's still far too early for investors to consider marijuana as a viable, long-term investment opportunity. Even with expansion at the state level, restrictions caused by the drugs' schedule 1 status will likely make it tough for investors to earn much, if at all, investing in marijuana stocks. Let's not forget that there are two major drawbacks for cannabis-based businesses as long as the drug remains as schedule 1. For starters, businesses in the cannabis industry have virtually no access to basic banking services. Just 3% of all banks in the U.S. are currently working with marijuana businesses, with many choosing to simply stay on the sidelines rather than risk possible federal prosecution down the line. Marijuana businesses also face tax disadvantages. U.S. tax code 280E disallows businesses from taking normal business deductions when selling a federally illegal substance. This leaves marijuana businesses to pay tax on their gross profits instead of net profits. The investing environment just isn't that friendly yet, which should give you all the more reason to watch from the sidelines for the time being. Image source: Getty Images. When searching for America's fastest-growing industries, chances are you'll find marijuana near, or at, the top. Cannabis research firm ArcView pegged legal sales of the drug at $5.4 billion in 2015 and believes the legal industry can grow organically by 30% per year through 2020. This would bring legal sales for the industry to nearly $22 billion if this estimate were to come to fruition. Marijuana's success is mostly based on the expected expansion at the state level. For those who may not have been following the recent events surrounding cannabis, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, with the assistance of the Department of Health and Human Services, declined to reschedule marijuana from its current schedule 1 status. This move effectively leaves marijuana as an illegal substance at the federal level and implies that it has no medical benefits. In other words, the only way the cannabis industry has any chance of growth is through state-level expansion via ballot measure or legislative approval. As we head into November, residents in nine states are readying to vote on a legal marijuana initiative. Five states -- California, Maine, Nevada, Massachusetts, and Arizona -- will be voting on whether to legalize recreational marijuana for adults aged 21 and up, while four additional states -- Montana, North Dakota, Florida, and Arkansas -- will be attempting to legalize medical marijuana. There are currently 25 states that have legalized medical marijuana and just four, along with Washington, D.C., that have legalized recreational marijuana. Three states that could vote against legalizing marijuana With national pollster Gallup's latest poll showing support for nationwide legalization at 58%, and CBS News' poll in 2015 showing 84% support for legalizing medical marijuana, you'd think an approval would be a slam-dunk in all nine states. However, based on select poll results, three states could wind up rejecting their respective marijuana initiative or amendment. Image source: Pixabay. Arizona All eyes are going to be on Proposition 205 in Arizona, which received more than 250,000 signatures to get on the November ballot. If approved, adults ages 21 and up would be able to possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana, grow up to six plants, and consume marijuana in non-public places. Recreational marijuana would carry a 15% tax rate. Now here's where things get a bit dicey. In July, a survey taken by O.H. Predictive Insights showed that 39% of Arizonans favored the measure, 52.5% planned to vote no, and roughly 8.5% remained undecided. Though there were pockets of favorability toward Prop 205 in select counties, the measure was (at least based on this poll) slated to lose. Mike Noble, the managing partner and chief pollster of O.H. Predictive Insights, pegged the higher propensity of Arizona's older population to vote, and seniors' general dislike for marijuana, as the reason it would likely fail. A more recent poll conducted by the Arizona Republic found 50% in favor of Prop 205, compared with 40% who opposed it and 10% who remained undecided. This poll was conducted in late August and surveyed just shy of 800 people. Though the polling data is conflicting, it's possible supporters' dream of legal recreational marijuana in Arizona could go up in smoke. Image source: Pixabay. Massachusetts Another state that could be a complete toss-up is Massachusetts, which is bringing Question 4 to its residents this November. If approved, Massachusetts would allow adults 21 and over to possess up to an ounce of marijuana, have up to 10 ounces in their homes, and grow up to six plants. In terms of taxation, The Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act, as it's officially known, would add a 3.75% tax on top of the state's 6.25% sales tax, and local taxes could add up to an additional 2%. Cities could also have the option to ban legal marijuana commerce, which would be similar to what we've seen happen in Colorado with more than half of all jurisdictions still banning the drug following its 2012 approval. However, an approval in Massachusetts seems to be far from a guarantee. As reported by The Boston Globe, a July 12-13 poll conducted by Gravis Marketing for Jobs First of 901 registered voters showed that 51% planned to vote against Question 4, 41% were in favor of Question 4, and 9% remained undecided. Yet, just as we saw with Arizona, a more recent poll suggests that public opinion may have reversed. The WBUR/MassINC poll conducted in early September showed that 50% of the 506 likely voters favored Question 4, compared with 45% who opposed it. It's looking as if the pendulum could swing either way on cannabis in Massachusetts this November. Image source: Pixabay. North Dakota Finally, residents of North Dakota will go to the polls in November to vote on the North Dakota Compassionate Care Act, which would legalized medical marijuana in the state. Also known as Initiated Statutory Measure No. 5, the Act would allow for the possession of up to three ounces of cannabis for qualifying conditions such as cancer, glaucoma, epilepsy, and AIDS, and it would allow residents to grow up to eight plants if they live more than 40 miles from a licensed dispensary within the state. Whether a medical marijuana law sees the light of day in North Dakota, though, remains up for debate. In 2014, Forum Communications Co. commissioned a poll conducted by the University of North Dakota College of Business and Public Administration to get a feel for North Dakotans views on medical marijuana. Though 47% supported legalizing medical marijuana compared with 41% who opposed it, those who strongly opposed it (35%) slightly outnumbered those who strongly support (33%) the idea. As a relatively non-populous state polls are somewhat hard to come by, and I would deem there to be enough of a margin of doubt in this data to suggest North Dakota could wind up rejecting its medical-cannabis measure. Image source: Getty Images. This outcome could be a given While the aforementioned three states could be a complete toss-up, the one given this election cycle is that it's still far too early for investors to consider marijuana as a viable, long-term investment opportunity. Even with expansion at the state level, restrictions caused by the drugs' schedule 1 status will likely make it tough for investors to earn much, if at all, investing in marijuana stocks. Let's not forget that there are two major drawbacks for cannabis-based businesses as long as the drug remains as schedule 1. For starters, businesses in the cannabis industry have virtually no access to basic banking services. Just 3% of all banks in the U.S. are currently working with marijuana businesses, with many choosing to simply stay on the sidelines rather than risk possible federal prosecution down the line. Marijuana businesses also face tax disadvantages. U.S. tax code 280E disallows businesses from taking normal business deductions when selling a federally illegal substance. This leaves marijuana businesses to pay tax on their gross profits instead of net profits. The investing environment just isn't that friendly yet, which should give you all the more reason to watch from the sidelines for the time being. 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. Sean Williamshas no material interest in any companies mentioned in this article. You can follow him on CAPS under the screen nameTMFUltraLong, and check him out on Twitter, where he goes by the handle@TMFUltraLong. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter servicesfree for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe thatconsidering a diverse range of insightsmakes us better investors. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy. Jerika Bolen, a 14-year-old girl with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2, has been allowed to end her life her own decisionby having her ventilator disconnected. She died Thursday. Jerika had told her mother that her chronic pain, along with her very significant physical limitations (including relying on a power wheelchair), made her welcome the idea of death. Jerika clearly was no coward. She had endured more than 30 surgeries for her condition since being diagnosed at eight months of age. Her family made it possible for her to enjoy movies, fireworks, sleepovers and a community-wide last dance prom this summer, before her ventilator was turned off. I am certain Jerika suffered greatly during her inspiring life and I am certain her family endured untold psychological pain, alongside their daughters mental and physical anguish. And, yet, I believe that they erred in collaborating in her ending her life. First, there is the matter of a bit of cognitive dissonance here: If a young woman can enjoy movies, fireworks, sleepovers and a prom prior to her assisted suicide, was it truly and utterly impossible to inspire her to persevere and look forward to other possible joys? I believe we are always on thin ice when we collaborate with death. Might Jerika have signed on with the notion of one more year in which a writer would pen an autobiography with her? Might she have been motivated to continue living were she introduced to children much younger than her, also suffering with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, who needed encouragement to get through their own immense challenges? Might she have been moved, by the right voice, to see that confronting and enduring her pain might be a shining beacon to all those who encounter adversity of any kind? Second, there is the matter of Jerikas reportedly unbearable physical and psychological pain. I dont have access to her medical records, but I would wonder to what extent creative methods of pain control and mood enhancementincluding even methadone or marijuana or ketamine (a truly miraculous antidepressant and pain medicine)were employed. Because if they were not, I would argue that they should have been. Third, without casting doubt upon or criticizing anyone involved, I do worry that when a 14-year-old asserts she wants to die that she could be searching, unconsciously even, for an ironclad objection by those who love her, in order for her to love herself and love life just a tiny bit more. Just enough to stay with them. I worry about the infirm and elderly people who might raise the question of euthanasia with their loved ones, to spare those others stress and financial hardship, while secretly hoping that their requests are greeted with an absolute, No, never. Fourth, the fact that doctors did not stop this euthanasia should crack the foundation of public confidence in the medical profession. Because once doctors start offering not only to save people from death, but also to facilitate it, they open the door to untold pressures to not prolong life unnecessarily, when, for example, the economic costs of doing so are unreasonable. I simply do not believe that euthanasia or assisted suicide, once indulged by society, will remain at the sole and unencumbered discretion of the person deciding to live or die. Family members and hospital administrators and insurers and legislators will, ultimately, be looking for a seat at the bedside of those who they will quietly suggest should consider dying. Think about this: If society embraces the notion that we should celebrate the decision by a 14-year-old to end her life, then why would society not, ultimately, look askance at those who decide that their children should continue living when they have been born with incurable illnesses. Why would government fund new treatments, at astronomical expense, for people who ought to consider moving on? See, I believe we are always on thin ice when we collaborate with death. It unavoidably erodes our individual and collective respect for human life and for the infinite, immeasurable, unpredictable ways in which God responds when human beings show extreme commitment to their hopes for a better day. Millennials How much do presidential candidates need them? Let us count the ways. The nations largest generation nearly ninety million of them are now of voting age. But will they vote? And for whom? Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump know they need a solid portion of those votes in order to win a close election, so theyve been trying to earn millennials affection. It turns out that millennials arent an easy catch. Theyre both apprehensive and excited about the future but they dislike both of the candidates. Yet it turns out that millennials arent an easy catch. Theyre both apprehensive and excited about the future, but they dislike both of these candidates. They dont trust them (this is not an age-dependent concern, however). Theres concern, particularly by Democrats, that millennials wont turn out in large numbers on election day. But it isnt that millennials dont want to vote they just want to vote for someone they believe in. There is trouble brewing for the Clinton campaign with this generation. Quinnipiac found in August that Clinton had a twenty-four-point lead over Donald Trump among 18-to-34-year-old voters, 48 percent to 24 percent. Now that lead has shrunk to a mere five percentage points (31 26 percent). Where are the millennials going? Not necessarily to Trump, but to Gary Johnson. A recent Michigan poll has Trump and Johnson tied with young voters, and Quinnipiac shows Johnson ahead of Trump with millennial voters in a national poll. So will this weeks debate help this generation decide whom theyll vote for? Perhaps. But to earn their support, both Trump and Clinton need to do a better job. And quickly. How NOT to Win Over Millennial Voters: I talk about millennials with a healthy dose of humility as Im a card carrying member of Generation X. But I have daily interaction with young people at Dana Perino & Co., through my Minute Mentoring organization, with digital friends on social media, and especially at Fox News. I have come to admire this generation. They are smart and outgoing, kind and ambitious, and I see them work hard every day. Millennials are the future of our country and of our political parties, and they shouldnt be unfairly characterized or labeled. They deserve to be heard. So with that, here are my donts for presidential campaigns on reaching out to millennials during the final days of this election: Dont rely on emojis to convey your message When it comes to Hillary Clinton, her attempts at millennial outreach are both impressive and extensive. From her Snapchat account, to her plan to make college debt-free, to her affinity for bitmojis and emojis alike, she has made millennial outreach a key component of her campaign strategy. However, she might have better learned from her Q&A on Twitter last summer (when she invited students to describe their feelings on student loan debt in emojis [#emojigate]), that its best not to try and relate to millennials by attempting to act like them (enter the cool mom of the movie "Mean Girls"). Its not just about creating the pathways necessary to communicate with millennials, mainly through social media avenues like Snapchat and Facebook, you need to make them want to communicate with you. A key component of social media is following and no one is there to see what you have to say on Instagram or Twitter if they arent motivated to follow you. Its not just about opening the channels of communication, its about enticing millennials to add Hillary on Snapchat and Instagram, or to download her bitmoji keyboard (complete with pantsuits!). The best way to do that, is to appeal to this age group in a way that gets their attention to what you have to say, and keeps them engaged enough with tailored content so that they continue to follow you (millennials love to unfollow people they cease to amuse them). Therein lies Hillary Clintons millennial problem. If Hillary let her walls down and expressed herself more whether via social media or on the debate stage and showed millennials who she really is, then that might help her relate better to this generation. Millennials can smell inauthenticity a mile away, so dont try and be someone youre not. Dont expect them to know why America needs to be great again Trumps campaign slogan resonates strongly with a large population of Americans. Make America Great Again portrays a nostalgia for what America once was, and a longing desire to return to that time. Millennials unfortunately dont know first-hand that time which Trump is talking about. These are the kids born between the early 1980s and the late 1990s they are too young to be nostalgic yet. While millennials worry they wont be as successful as their parents were due to an economic recession since 2008, they are optimistic and hopeful about the future. A 2014 Pew Research Survey finds they are more upbeat than older adults about Americas future, with nearly fifty percent of millennials believing the countrys best years are ahead, a view less popular with older generations. These young voters believe hard work and creative thinking can get them where they want to be, and as it did for their career idols like Mark Zuckerburg. To them, America is still a pretty great place to live. Dont tell them what not to do Telling millennials not to vote for one candidate because they are a worse candidate than you are is not a convincing strategy. This is a generation that doesnt find most politicians sincere or trustworthy. In fact, in a recent Quinnipiac Survey, 77% of millennials said Hillary was not honest and trustworthy. The 2016 presidential race has turned into a choice determined on character, instead of a choice between ideologies and policies. Ideas are what inspire people to vote for one candidate over the other, not coercion based on fear of what will happen if the other person is elected. Both candidates should strive to inspire millennials through their character, ideas and values. They wont be scared into voting against someone. If you want them to vote, stop talking about how they never come out to vote If there is one thing millennials dislike more than slow internet, its being labeled or categorized. They dont even like to be grouped under the millennial category. According to a Pew Research Survey, just 40% of adults ages 18 to 34 consider themselves part of the millennial generation. So you can bet that they do not like being stereotyped as a generation that doesnt come out to vote. If that was the case, then what was 2008 about? Exhibit A: Obamas message of real change in Washington and sincere hope inspired millennials across the country to head to the polls on election day. According to Pew Research Center, the high-water mark for millennials was the 2008 election, when 50% of eligible millennials voted. In that election, exit polls found that millennial voters preferred Obama over Clinton by a margin of fifty-eight percent to thirty-eight percent. This year, exit polls show that Sanders beat Clinton among millennials in all twenty-seven primaries/caucuses (with exit polls) except for Alabama and Mississippi. Maybe its the player, not the game Besides, younger generations have always been slow to hit the polls. Recall in 1992 when MTV (when it still played music) launched their Choose or Lose campaign during the presidential election, sparking political awareness by engaging young people in politics through encouraging voter registration, highlighting issues of the day and why they mattered to young voters, and de-mystifying the political process. And you know what, it did help! So maybe its not on the backs of millennials to come out and vote in an election where the candidates combined are the oldest presidential nominees we have ever had. If millennials feel unrepresented in this election, can we blame them? Maybe politicians just need to try a little harder and take the time to learn about this new generation, and how to connect with them. ----- In order to make a play for the coveted votes of Americas the Snap-chatting, selfie-taking, sushi-eating, age group, you need to understand what drives them first. As a result of their diversity, millennials dont see immigration as a cultural threat. A diverse melting pot of immigrants is the norm for this age group, and they do not share the cultural anxiety that older generations have. Immigration reform is not a political issue that resonates with this age group. They have grown up in a different world than generations before them. They are incredibly tolerant, and think of racism as something from the past that no longer exists. Roughly one-third of them are parents, and last year ninety percent of babies born were to millennial parents. Working from home, paid family leave, childcare, and vacation days to spend time with their family and friends are very important to them. They have lived through the greatest recession since the Great Depression, at a time when many of them were graduating college in search of paid employment. They fearfully watched their parents lose their jobs and comfortable lifestyle during the financial crisis. A product of their environment, millennials are fiscally conservative, mindful of debt, particularly student loan debt and yet through it all, they remain optimistic of a bright future. Growing up in an era of uber, tinder, and 140 characters on twitter, millennials communicate and see the world differently than older generations do. I dont envy campaigns in trying to communicate with four distinct generations at once, but I understand how important it is to do so. Mondays debate gives both campaigns a reason to redouble their efforts. Its in their selfie interest. The phrases religious liberty and religious freedom will stand for nothing except hypocrisy so long as they remain code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Christian supremacy or any form of intolerance. -- Those were the word uttered by one Mr. Castro. Not Fidel. Rather, one Martin Castro, the chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, who launched a broadside recently against religious faith, degrading the vision of the Founding Fathers that made this country the envy of the world. Castro, an Obama appointee, released a report on September 7 on protections against discrimination. His finding, in part, is that Americans need to be protected from Bible-thumpers, and anyone else whose beliefs run afoul of the administrations PC police. Religious folk need not apply. in the report Castro cited John Adams. The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion. But Adams did not write those words. They were part of a treaty to end the Barbary War. Christian ships and crew were fair game for Barbary pirates, Ambassador Abdrahaman of Tripoli told Thomas Jefferson; that all Christians are sinners in the context of the Koran and that it was a Muslim's "right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to enslave as many as they could take as prisoners. U.S. negotiators tried to downplay the clash of religions. The treaty therefore stressed that the U.S. was not an officially Christian nation, but a secular one, and therefore should never have been targeted. Adams signed the treaty, but it had nothing to do with his belief about the importance of Judeo-Christian religions to the stability of society. Here are the words that flowed from President Adams pen. We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion . . . Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." George Washington expressed similar thoughts in his Farewell Address. Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness. Our Founding Fathers would have cautioned against attempts to subvert these great pillars of religion and morality. Alexis de Tocqueville, the great French historian and admirer of American democracy, introduced the Continent to the workings of the American upstarts. The Americans combine the notions of religion and liberty so intimately in their minds that it is impossible to make them conceive of one without the other. Waves of immigrants after de Tocqueville were often far less lettered, but they did share his understanding, and dreamt of being part of it. Religious freedom, toleration and fairness were all intertwined in the unique American package that so many desperately seek to be a part of. Commissioner Castro has another vision. In the letter addressed to the president, the vice president, and the Speaker of the House, he wrote, Religious exemptions to the protections of civil rights based upon classifications such as race, color, national origin, sex, disability status, sexual orientation, and gender identity, when they are permissible, significantly infringe upon these civil rights. What he is saying is that in 2016 its Big Brothers responsibility to curtail those exemptions. If that isnt to your liking, you can always move. Maybe to Tripoli. Castros America would not be recognized by James Madison, who argued that religious conviction ought to be placed ahead of not behind the agenda of the State. In his "Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments of 1785," the architect of our Constitution wrote: It is the duty of every man to render to the Creator such homage and such only as he believes to be acceptable to Him. This duty is precedent, both in order of time and degree of obligation, to the claims of Civil Society. Not so long ago, America projected its global power to protect religious freedoms. Throughout the Cold War we strove to help brave believers behind the Iron Curtain to keep the embers of religion from being totally extinguished by atheistic Communist dictatorships. We demanded of our chief international nemesis, the USSR, that any negotiations on nuclear arms reduction must be linked to human rightsincluding freedom of religion. Eventually, Gorbachev relented, the Berlin Wall came down, and the war against religion came to an end. Recent U.S. administrations were true to the legacy of our Founders by taking a leadership role in urging all governments to guarantee the religious rights of minorities who, when leaving their respective houses of worship on their holy days, could return to their homes unmolested. Today, hundreds of millions of minority Bahai, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims but chiefly Christians have no confidence that American power or policy have their backs. Respect for religion and religious values were at the core of our Founding Fathers vision and an inspiration to endangered religious people the world over. We can only hope that the next head of Americas Civil Rights Commission will protect -- not slander -- people who dare set their moral compass by the words of G-d. Philippe Reines, a long-time Hillary Clinton aide, is playing the role of Donald Trump in preparation for Monday nights first 2016 presidential debate, Fox News confirmed Saturday. Reines -- who worked for Clinton on her 2008 presidential campaign, as well as when she served as a New York senator and as secretary of state -- has a reputation for being pugnacious like Trump, the Republican nominee and former reality TV star. Philippe does his verbal combat at a very high level. He is smart, understands the issues and understands the back and forth of political debate," said the source who confirmed Reines involvement for Fox News. The story was reported first by The New York Times, which on Saturday, as expected, endorsed Clinton, the Democratic nominee, for president. The newspaper's editorial board on Saturday praised Clinton for bringing "a record of service and a raft of pragmatic ideas" to the election. It calls her "one of the most tenacious politicians of her generation, whose willingness to study and correct course is rare in an age of unyielding partisanship." Donald Trump is described as the worst nominee put forward by a major party in modern times. The Times has endorsed only Democrats for president back to John Kennedy in 1960. The Fox News source described Reines as a combative and blunt guy who would have no problem going after Clintons perceived weaknesses and trying to get under her skin to see how she would handle Trump's likely attacks. Clinton and Trump will participate Tuesday night in a 90-minute, prime-time debate hosted by NBC-TV at Hofstra University, in Long Island, N.Y. The nominees are essentially tied with about six weeks to go before Election Day, according to most polls. Their second debate will be Oct. 9 at Washington University, in St. Louis, and the third will be Oct. 19 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. On Sunday, Clinton was purportedly off the campaign trail to prepare for the debates, while Trump is scheduled to hold an evening rally in Roanoke, Va. Trump needs to prove to voters that he has the policy depth and gravitas to serve as commander in chief. Clinton needs a moment to connect with Americans who question whether she can be trusted. Both campaigns expect a record-setting television audience for the high-stakes showdown, which could help tip the balance in the tight According to a new Associated Press-Gfk poll, more than 85 percent of likely voters backing Clinton or Trump say their minds are completely made up. About 13 percent said they were undecided. Their respective preparations have been a microcosm of their sharply different approaches to politics and presumably, the presidency. Clinton has spent weeks with advisers, taking full days away from campaign travel to pour through briefing books, practicing to pounce if Trump makes false statements and steeling herself for the possibility that he levels deeply personal attacks. Trump has eschewed traditional debate preparations but has held mid-flight policy discussions with a rotating cast of advisers. He's also spent numerous Sundays batting around ideas with aides. The Republican businessman's loose approach is potentially risky given that he is new to many policy issues expected to come up during the debate. But advisers contend he will compensate by being quick on his feet and point to his experience at performing under pressure. "Imagine the practice and the training of 13 years of reality television on `The Apprentice' and then imagine Hillary's experience reading hundreds of papers," said Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker and a Trump adviser who has been talking through policy with the candidate in recent days. Clinton aides fear Trump will indeed be judged more for his performance than his grasp of the numerous challenges that pass across a president's desk. They've been flummoxed by Trump's ability to sail through the campaign without fleshing out many policy positions and glossing over past statements that he no longer views as politically palatable. On Friday, the Clinton campaign released 19 pages of what they called Trump's "seven deadly lies," including his false assertion that he opposed the Iraq war from the start. Clinton has debated more than 30 times at the presidential level, including several one-on-one debates with Barack Obama in 2008 and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in 2016. But this will be her first presidential debate against a candidate from an opposing party, which Democrats say will give her far more latitude in drawing a contrast and defending herself. Trump had an uneven record during the Republican debates, sometimes controlling the crowded contests and other times fading into the background. He flipped back and forth between being bombastic and trying to act restrained. Trump's less-than-restrained side was on display Saturday as he took to Twitter to criticize Clinton's decision to ask businessman Mark Cuban -- a frequent Trump critic -- to be one of her guests at the debate. The Republican nominee suggested he might put Gennifer Flowers, a woman who had a relationship with Bill Clinton, "right alongside" Cuban. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are complying with a request from the mayor of Charlotte, N.C., to postpone a visit to the key battleground state amid riots, demonstrations and other unrest sparked by a fatal police shooting of a black male. The incident Tuesday has reignited public concern and anger about a recent series of black males being killed after coming into contact with police. In Charlotte, police fatally shot Keith Lamont Scott, 43, while looking for a suspect with an outstanding warrant. Participants in the ensuing days of demonstrations and rioting have clashed with police officers and have vandalized hotels, restaurants and at least one police cruiser. And a protester was fatally shot by another protester earlier this week. Witnesses said Scott did not have a gun. But police can be heard shouting for him to drop a weapon, in a cellphone video taken by Scotts wife and made public Friday. Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts, a Democrat, made the request of the nominees late Friday on CNN, saying that police and other resources are already spread thin dealing with the unrest. Roberts said she appreciated their support" and concern for the city but that officers are already working around the clock. Clinton spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri said Clinton, a Democrat, has agreed to the request, in terms of further taxing city resources, but intends to honor the invitation of the communitys faith leaders to visit and will postpone her arrival from Sunday to next Sunday, Oct. 2. Trump, a Republican, who is also agreeing to postpone campaigning in Charlotte, with about six weeks remaining before Election Day, tweeted Friday night: Crooked Hillary's bad judgement forced her to announce that she would go to Charlotte to grandstand. Dem pols said no way, dumb! Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are scheduled Sunday to meet separately with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a critical meeting in which each is expected to seek support for their respective White House bids from a country often called the United States most important ally. U.S. presidential candidates often visit Israel to meet with leaders. But neither Trump nor Clinton has in the 2016 election cycle. Trump, the Republican, in December 2015, postponed a trip to Israel to meet with Netanyahu after the prime ministers office criticized his proposal to temporarily ban Muslim immigrants -- in the aftermath of several terror attacks inspired or executed by radical Islamic terrorists. Trump tweeted that he would make the trip after I become President of the U.S. A Clinton aide on Friday confirmed with Fox News the meeting between the Democratic nominee and Netanyahu. None of politicians' aides will say when or where the meetings will take place. Netanyahu is in the United States, where he met with Obama and addressed the U.N. General Assembly this week in New York. In the 2012 presidential race, GOP nominee Mitt Romney made the trip to Israel. Trump, like Romney, has suggested that President Obama and his administration have failed to maintain strong ties with Israel, which has provided Western nations with support and stability amid decades of Middle East turmoil. The U.S. also provides billons annual to Israel in military aid. Most recently, Trump and fellow Republicans have agreed with Netanyahu that the recent, administration-brokered Iran nuclear deal hurts Israel, Tehrans enemy, because it lifts economic sanctions without sufficient safeguards to ensure Iran has indeed curbed efforts to build a nuclear weapon. The Associated Press contributed to this report. DEVELOPING: A crowd of demonstrators briefly shut down Charlotte's Interstate 277 Friday evening as a fourth night of protests over the shooting of a black man by police unfolded. An estimated 300 protesters took to the streets, leaving the freeway within a short time. Earlier Friday, they gathered at a park and then marched through Charlotte's business district. One marcher carried a sign that said "Just Stop The Killing," while another had a banner that said "Just Release the Tapes." Protesters have sought the release of police footage of the shooting earlier this week of Keith Lamont Scott by a police officer. National Guard members posted in front of many downtown buildings watched the demonstrators marching. Hillary Clinton's campaign announced Friday night the candidate would postpone a trip to Charlotte that had been planned for the coming weekend. "After further discussion with community leaders, we have decided to postpone Sunday's trip as to not impact the City's resources. She will plan to visit Charlotte next Sunday, provided circumstances allow," Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri said. Three previous nights of protests included two that were chaotic, with more than a dozen officers wounded and one other person killed. But Thursday, people marched through downtown in a largely peaceful protest. Police say Officer Brentley Vinson, who is also black, shot Scott because the man posed a threat. Some in Scott's family claimed he was merely holding a book, but police said he was refusing to drop a gun. Relatives on Friday afternoon released cellphone video recorded by Scott's wife, with their attorney saying "people can draw their own conclusions" about his death. The video recorded by Rakeyia Scott does not show whether the man had a gun. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney says there is footage from at least one police body camera and one dashboard camera. He has so far declined to release that video. Fox News' Donald Fair and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A guman who entered a Macys at a Washington state mall and killed five people remained at large Saturday as authorities investigating the shooting said they were trying to determine the motive but there was no indication that it was a terrorist act. People fled, customers hid in dressing rooms and employees locked the doors of nearby stores after gunshots rang out just after 7 p.m. Friday at the Cascade Mall in Burlington. A helicopter, search teams and K-9 units scoured the area for a rifle-carrying man in a police response that included more than 200 officers. "There are people waking up this morning and their world has changed forever," Burlington Mayor Steve Sexton said Saturday at a news conference. "The city of Burlington has probably changed forever." Mount Vernon Police Lt. Chris Cammock said Saturday the victims were four females and a male. The female victims included a teenager and seniors. He provided no information about the male victim. They were shot in the Macys make-up department. Cammock said police did not know the name of the suspect and appealed to the public for help. He also told reporters security cameras captured the suspect in the mall without a weapon and then in Macys with a rifle ten minutes later. That gun, a "hunting-type" rifle, was recovered at the scene, he said. Seattle FBI agent Michael Knutson said at a news conference there was no evidence to point to terrorism. If anyone has information about the #CascadeMallShooting suspect, please call police 360-428-3211 or scinv@co.skagit.wa.us pic.twitter.com/uN6a5AYixd Skagit County DEM (@SkagitDEM) September 24, 2016 Earlier Saturday, Washington State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Mark Francis said police were searching for a Hispanic man wearing black who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5 near the mall, located about an hour north of Seattle. "Stay indoors, stay secure," Francis said. Cammock said cops searched the 434,000-square-foot mall for the gunman but he had already fled. Authorities released a surveillance image of the suspect from a mall security camera. Police didnt know if the victims were targeted. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said in a statement that many questions remain but state patrol and local law enforcement are on the scene working swiftly to locate the shooter and clear the area. "Trudi and I send our condolences to the families of the victims and prayers for anyone injured," Inslee said. "We urge residents to heed all safety and detour warnings. Stay close to your friends and loved ones as we await more information and, hopefully, news of the suspect's capture." Tari Caswell told the Skagit Valley Herald she was in the Macy's women's dressing room when she heard "what sounded like four balloons popping." "Then I heard seven or eight more, and I just stayed quiet in the dressing room because it just didn't feel right. And it got very quiet. And then I heard a lady yelling for help, and a man came and got me and another lady, and we ran out of the store," Caswell told the newspaper. Stephanie Bose, an assistant general manager at Johnny Carino's Italian restaurant near Macy's, told the Associated Press she immediately locked the doors to the restaurant after hearing about the shooting from an employee's boyfriend. "He was trying to go to the mall and people were screaming," she said. "It was frantic." She said he could see police at the doors with assault rifles and said they were no longer guarding the doors as of 9:30 p.m. local time. Authorities closed access roads and streets surrounding the mall. Visitors and workers who were escorted from the mall were taken to a nearby church to meet their loved ones. The Cascade Mall opened in 1990, according to the mall's website. Theres Macys, J.C. Penneys and TJ Maxx, as well as other stores, restaurants and a movie theater. On Sept. 17 a man stabbed 10 people at a Minnesota mall before being shot and killed by an off-duty police officer. Authorities say Dahir Ahmed Adan, 20, stabbed the people at the Crossroads Center in St. Cloud. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Black Lives Matter flag on the University of Vermont campus is sparking controversy. The Student Government Association put the flag on display Thursday but not everyone is happy, Fox44/ABC22 reported Friday. The Black Lives Matter flag is flying next to the American flag and the Vermont state flag near the UVM student center. Some viewers told the station on Facebook that they think All Lives Matter in Vermont, according to the report. They also left comments saying it was inappropriate to fly an organizations flag at the same height of the American flag, the station reported. UVM president Tom Sullivan was behind the student governments decision to display the flag, WCAX-TV reported Friday. Sullivan said flying the flag outside the student center isnt an endorsement of the Black Lives Matter movement by the university, but reflects that students wanted to support the African-American community in the wake of recent police shootings in other states. "I think given this particular time in the history of America, our students thought it was an appropriate time over the next couple of days to show their support for black communities in the United States," Sullivan told the station. Flags representing other groups have flown from the same flagpole. The Black Lives Matter flag will remain in place until Monday. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Following two nights of violence earlier this week, Charlotte experienced a second straight evening of peaceful protest Friday over the shooting death of a black man by police. After darkness fell, dozens of people took to the streets to urge police to release dashboard and body camera video of Tuesday's shooting of Keith Lamont Scott Police have said Scott was armed, but witnesses say he held only a book. The group, which appeared smaller than previous nights, carried a banner that said "Just Release the Tapes." The marchers briefly made their way onto Interstate 277 before being moved off the highway by officers in riot gear. As on Thursday, a midnight-to-6 a.m. curfew remained in effect, but officers had the option of not enforcing it if the protests remained peaceful. Around 2 a.m. Saturday, police swarmed a handful of protesters, appearing to arrest them for curfew violations. However, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police had not confirmed any arrests as of 4:30 a.m. Saturday. Earlier in the day, footage recorded by Keith Lamont Scott's wife and released by his family shows his wife repeatedly telling officers he is not armed and pleading with them not to shoot her husband as they shout at him to drop a gun. The 2 -minute video released by the family does not show the shooting, though gunshots can be heard. In the video Scott's wife, Rakeyia Scott, tells officers that he has a TBI, or traumatic brain injury. At one point, she tells her husband to get out of the car so police don't break the windows. She also tells him, "don't do it," but it's not clear exactly what she means. As the encounter escalates, she repeatedly urges police, "You better not shoot him." After the gunshots, Scott can be seen lying face-down on the ground while his wife says, "He better live." She continues recording and asks if an ambulance has been called. The officers stand over Scott. It's unclear if they are checking him for weapons or attempting to give first aid. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said Friday that there is footage from at least one police body camera and one dashboard camera that shows the shooting. The family of Scott, 43, was shown that footage Thursday and demanded that police release it to the public. Putney said Friday that releasing the footage of Scott's death could inflame the situation. He has said previously that the video will be made public when he believes there is a "compelling reason" to do so. "It's a personal struggle, but I have to do what I think is best for my community," Putney said. During the same news conference, Roberts said she believes the video should be released, but "the question is on the timing." Charlotte is the latest U.S. city to be shaken by protests and recriminations over the death of a black man at the hands of police, a list that includes Baltimore, Milwaukee, Chicago, New York and Ferguson, Miss. Earlier in the week, the Charlotte protests turned violent, with demonstrators attacking reporters and others, setting fires and smashing windows of hotels, office buildings and restaurants. Forty-four people were arrested after Wednesday's protests, and one protester who was shot died at the hospital Thursday. City officials said police did not shoot 26-year-old Justin Carr. A suspect was arrested, but police provided few details. On Thursday, protests were largely peaceful after National Guard members came to the city to help keep order and the mayor imposed a curfew. On Friday, a choir from The Citadel Church in Greensboro stood a street corner singing spirituals for two hours, drawing a crowd of curious onlookers who were moved enough to clap along. The Rev. Gregory Drumwright directed the choir of approximately two dozen, saying they wanted to be "vessels of peace, vessels of righteousness, not rage." Fox News' Ruth Ravve and the Associated Press contributed to this report. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 Iowa State University's president was returning from an 11-day personal trip to North Carolina when he damaged a small university-owned airplane in a rough landing, the school confirmed. President Steven Leath, a pilot, flew himself and his wife on July 3, 2015, in the university's Cirrus SR22 to Ashe County, North Carolina, where he owns a home and helps manage a family-owned Christmas tree farm. While returning 11 days later, Leath caused "substantial damage" to the plane after he hit the runway with one wing and a runway light with the other upon landing in Bloomington, Illinois. Leath has blamed gusty conditions for the incident, but flight experts told The Associated Press it appears to have been pilot error. University spokesman John McCarroll said the trip to North Carolina involved unspecified "donor contacts" as well as personal business for Leath. It wasn't clear why the Leaths were landing in Illinois. He said Leath reimbursed the university in November 2015 for part of the flight that wasn't business-related. The university paid for the $12,000 in repairs to the plane instead of filing an insurance claim because "we had the money," McCarroll said. In addition, the university sent its other aircraft to pick up the Leaths in Bloomington at a cost of $2,200 that was billed to the "Greater University Fund," a pot of unrestricted donations that Leath controls. Leath reimbursed the university a total of $3,500 for three other trips to North Carolina in which he used the plane, including one last month. In each case, the reimbursement paid was based on a formula created by ISU's flight program, McCarroll said. The trips were either a mix of university and personal business or instances in which a business trip was scheduled before or after personal trips and Leath needed the flexibility of the school's plane to meet his official obligations, McCarroll said. Still, Leath's routine use of a university aircraft for personal travel would appear to conflict with school policies and, possibly, with state law. Any public official who uses state-owned property for "any private purpose or for personal gain to the detriment of the state" is guilty of a serious misdemeanor. Noting that prohibition, university policy says employees cannot remove any kind of university property "for personal use from the buildings or grounds," even if it may seem to be of no value. In addition, university policy requires employees to schedule their travel "in a manner that excludes consideration of personal gain." And policy of the Iowa Board of Regents, which governs the school, requires leaders such as Leath to "serve as role models and stewards of the institution's finances" and "promote, by personal example, ethical behavior among employees." McCarroll said Leath did not inform the Iowa Board of Regents about the accident "immediately after" it happened, but that he informed Board President Bruce Rastetter at an unspecified later date. Weeks after the accident, the board voted on Aug. 5, 2015 to extend Leath's contract through June 2020. The contract guarantees Leath his full annual salary of $525,000 if the board fires him without cause a buyout that would be about $2 million today. Rastetter issued a brief statement Friday saying he was aware of Leath's use of the plane: "He is a licensed pilot and can fly aircraft for which he is certified." ___ Follow Ryan J. Foley on Twitter at https://twitter.com/rjfoley The Latest on a fatal shooting at a mall in Washington state (all times local): 9:10 p.m. Federal authorities are responding to a deadly mall shooting in Washington state. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives said Friday night it was deploying to Burlington, Washington, after authorities said four people were killed at the Cascade Mall. Authorities were searching for a man wearing gray who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5. It wasn't clear if more than one gunman was involved. ___ 8:47 p.m. Authorities in Washington state say four people have been killed during a shooting at a mall north of Seattle and that at least one suspect remains at large. The Washington State Patrol says on Twitter that the four were shot Friday at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) north of Seattle. Sgt. Mark Francis says authorities are searching for a man wearing gray who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5. Francis says it wasn't immediately known if there was more than one gunman involved. Francis said at about 8:30 p.m. that the mall had been evacuated and emergency medical personnel were cleared to enter and attend to any injuries. It wasn't immediately clear how many people were hurt. The Cascade Mall is an enclosed shopping mall in Burlington, Washington that opened in 1990, according to the mall's website. It features J.C. Penney, TJ Maxx, and Macy's stores, among other stores, restaurants and a movie theater. A Romanian citizen who orchestrated an international hacking scheme has been sentenced to three years in prison. Federal prosecutors in New Jersey say 31-year-old Mircea-Illie Ispasoiu (EE-spa-SHOW-you) must also pay $907,204 in restitution. He had pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. Prosecutors say the scheme targeted retailers, security companies, medical offices and people in the United States. They say Ispasoiu obtained user names and passwords, along with credit card data, from unsuspecting victims. Authorities say Ispasoiu was a computer systems administrator at a large financial institution in Romania from August 2011 through February 2014. The scheme involved hacking networks to steal personal identifiers and credit and debit card data. He also took personal identifying information, including fingerprints, from a company that ran background checks on job applicants. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 India's leader says he'll work to isolate Pakistan internationally, accusing India's archrival of trying to destabilize Asia by exporting terrorism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a speech Saturday that in the last four months, Indian security forces have killed 110 terrorists who crossed over the cease-fire line in Kashmir from Pakistani territory. He said terrorist attacks in Bangladesh and Afghanistan were also being instigated from Pakistan. He warned Pakistan, "We will isolate you. I will work for that." Modi's speech in the southern Indian town of Kozhikode, which was televised nationally, was his first since an attack on an Indian army base in Indian-controlled Kashmir last Sunday killed 18 soldiers. Indian investigators say the attackers were from Jaish-e-Mohammed, an outlawed militant group based in Pakistan. Pakistan denies the charge. Iranian media says an Italian navy ship has docked in the first official visit by a Western naval boat in years. The semi-official ISNA news agency on Saturday says the frigate Euro will visit other Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf. The visit comes two weeks after an Italian navy delegation visited the capital, Tehran. The Italian navy posted a picture on its Twitter account Saturday showing an Iranian girl handing flowers to an Italian officer in the southern port of Bandar Abbas. It says this is the first Italian military ship to visit Iran in 15 years. Iranian forces have had a series of tense encounters with U.S. naval vessels over the past year. Iran briefly detained 10 U.S. sailors in January after their boats drifted into Iranian waters. The federal prosecutor's office says a 22-year-old German man has been detained at Duesseldorf airport upon his return from Turkey for alleged membership in the Islamic State group. The office said in a statement Saturday that Anil O., whose last name was not given in accordance with German privacy law, is accused of having gone to Syria in August 2015 to join the extremist group. The statement says he was given at least one Kalashnikov rifle and several hand grenades during his training and told to be ready to join IS' fight. The man also is suspected of having asked other people in Germany to move to Syria and Iraq to become part of the militant group. The statement says the suspect left Syria and moved to Turkey last winter. eBook, The Stockholm Syndrome President, Released on Kindle The new book by Dr. Andrew G. Hodges has been published in a timely manner to coincide with the upcoming presidential election. -- Forensic psychiatrist and profiler Dr. Andrew G. Hodges announces the release of his new eBook, The Stockholm Syndrome President: How Trump Triggered Obama's Hidden Confession. The book details how Hodges applies his cutting-edge forensic profiling method to uncover Obama's confession to the world. In previous books, Hodges has used this method to decode ransom notes and suspect statements in high-profile criminal matters including the O.J. Simpson case, the Jon Benet Ramsey murder and Natalie Holloway's disappearance in Aruba. In those cases, Dr. Hodges applied knowledge gained over decades as a therapist, the fact that human beings possess a brilliant unconscious which he calls the super intelligence. That often hidden, deeper intelligence reveals itself in the use of symbolic language, projections and stories which invariably point to the truth. Now this new eBook outlines the psychiatrist's psychological profiling of President Barack Obama in which Hodges decodes messages coming from Obama's super intelligence. Responding to a confrontation by GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump, Obama secretly reveals he is being controlled by radical Islam--an unconscious terrified Stockholm Syndrome victim. This explains, Hodges writes, why Obama refuses to use the term, "radical Islam." "Millions of Americans want to know why President Obama, endangering the entire world, continually favors radical Islam--for example, when he enabled the rise of ISIS and for Iran to soon manufacture nuclear bombs," Hodges said. "Subconsciously, he revealed in his speeches on June 12 and June 14, that because of the horrific abuse he suffered as a child, he's a programmed Stockholm Syndrome prisoner of Islamic terrorists and is under instructions to capitulate." Many have questioned the legality of Obama's presidency, and Dr. Hodges's profiling proves that there are good reasons for those questions. Furthermore, Hodges studies the motives behind mainstream media figures who have consistently ignored and bullied the people who have stood up to question Obama's eligibility. Hodges decodes Obama's specific confession deep down that he maximized his Stockholm Syndrome role to run as an illegal president, which directly assaulted America's most basic foundation: the rule of law. As president, Obama has repeatedly threatened national security. Though Obama will soon leave office, the psychiatrist believes that his influence will continue. "The daily erosion of the Constitution and the rule of law that President Obama has set in motion over the last eight years is not slowing down," Hodges said. "He plans to continue on as an unbelievably active ex-president. Obama's super intelligence warns us that the America's future depends on stopping the continued assaults on the rule of law." Obama's confessing to America that he has created a crisis, in his words "doing the terrorists' work for them" and predicting that "then the terrorists will win." In order to free himself of his victimization as a youth Obama must tell this secret story, a story as regretful as it is revealing. The new eBook is available from Amazon Kindle or on the author's website. About Dr. Andrew G. Hodges: Dr. Andrew G. Hodges is a board certified psychiatrist and a renowned forensic profiler with a private practice in Birmingham, Alabama. Formerly, he served as an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. In 1994, he released his findings in the breakthrough to the unconscious mind in the groundbreaking book, The Deeper Intelligence. Previously, he has consulted with law-enforcement authorities and the FBI, concerning criminal investigations. For more information about the author, visit www.andrewghodges.com. For more information, please visit http://www.andrewghodges.com Contact Info: Name: Dr. Andrew G. Hodges Email: drhodges@forensicthoughtprints.com Organization: Dr. Andrew G. Hodges Address: P.O. Box 43068 Birmingham, AL 35243-0068 Phone: (205) 913-1635 Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYHpJe2XHtBp52S3edzoQMQ Source: http://marketersmedia.com/ebook-the-stockholm-syndrome-president-released-on-kindle/134156 Release ID: 134156 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) Sewper Cover Announces 2016 WEFTEC Appearance The company plans to showcase their services at the Water Environment Federation's Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference, reports http://www.weftec.org/. -- Sewper Cover, a nationwide provider of non-metallic Composite Manhole Cover products, has announced their participation in the 2016 WEFTEC Conference. The conference will be held at New Orleans Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, from September 24 through the 28,and Sewper Cover will occupy Booth 1138 at the conference's Exhibitor Center. "We are beyond excited to be presenting as an exhibitor at this year's WEFTEC conference," said Eric Dupre of Sewper Cover. "Water quality is a huge issue all around the country, and our company has played a role in leading the way toward using better, more durable products like our FRP Manhole Cover to protect municipal sewer systems in a way that is environmentally-friendly and completely sustainable. We could not be more proud of what our team has been able to accomplish in the industry and we are grateful for the opportunity to show conference attendees what we have to offer that can have great impact in their cities." The Water Environment Federation's Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) is the largest conference of its kind in North America. The conference offers water quality professionals the opportunity to gain education and training on water quality issues and ideas for improvement. WFTEC's annual water quality exhibition is recognized as the largest in the world and is well attended by leaders from the municipal and industrial wastewater treatment and water quality markets who are actively looking for equipment and services to help solve related problems in their jurisdiction. As Dupre continued, "From our FRP-based covers to our Composite Manhole Rings, Sewper Cover offers only the best in manhole protection products. Our products give municipalities the legitimate opportunity to ensure the protection of their infrastructure while saving money in the long run. We can't wait to show leaders across the country what we have to offer and how we can help them improve the sustainability of their sewer systems." About Sewper Cover: Sewper Cover is a premier provider of manhole covers. Their non-metallic composite covers and rings eliminate the problem of corrosion, saving municipalities across the country millions of dollars and ensuring that sewer systems last longer and stay stronger. The composite covers offered by Sewper wear longer, look better and can even be customized with logos and colors. Ultimately, it is the company's goal to provide the perfect solution for municipalities everywhere. For more information, please visit http://www.sewpercover.com Contact Info: Name: Eric Dupre Organization: SewperCover Phone: (888) 506-0822 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/sewper-cover-announces-2016-weftec-appearance/134189 Release ID: 134189 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) SwiftE Announces New Version of their College Student Ride Sharing App Swifte have just released a new version of their college student ride sharing app, available for Android and IOS devices. -- When students get accepted into college, their told all about how critical this journey is to your success in the real world. They are also told about all the events they will attend throughout your academic journey. Whether it's traveling for a lecture, or going to events for a student organization, college students rely on transportation to get them to their destinations. Freshman college students at most universities aren't allowed to have a car on campus. Trying to ride a bus or take an Uber is not always time consuming or economically effective. Justine Avoudikpon, a senior, obtaining her degree in Finance and International Business, at the University of Georgia, noticed that and wanted to know how she can make a change. Not only to, find a way to convince students to carpool, but to also reduce carbon dioxide emissions from driving to different destinations. Swifte was alas born. Swifte is a green, secure and convenient university ride-sharing app for students by students. By 2018, Swifte aims to help reduce 1,000,000 pounds of carbon dioxide. Swifte goal is to also reduce traffic in the USA and help over 20 Million college students. Swifte was released in April 15, 2016, on Apple and Android devices. In order to use Swifte, students must create a profile with their university-associated email address, as well with their Facebook profile. Facebook, will notify students of how many mutual friends they have with their driver, to figure out if the driver is trustworthy. Drivers must include their driver's license and insurance to be approved for driving. Also, students can send the profile of their driver, to parents and friends, for extra safety measures. Avoudikpon has just realized Swifte 2.0 with on September 15, 2017, with updated changes to the app. Once students sign up, they will know be prompted to choose their favorite music, so the driver can play the genre throughout the car ride. The update also offers a simpler navigation and affordable prices. Student drivers set the price and students are able to find rides to other cities for under $10. Swifte is a company that strives to be green, secure for students, convenient, and economical. Swifte currently has brand ambassadors in over 15 schools, including California, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, and Texas, with more states to come. Contact Info: Name: Justine Avoudikpon Organization: SwiftE Address: 1421 Amaryllis Way Release ID: 134180 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) Young farmers are being urged to enter a competition which could see them win a trip to Brussels to take part in a global Youth Ag-Summit. The summit, now in its third year, aims to address challenges facing global agriculture such as the problem of ensuring food security. The event, expected to be attended by 100 young people from across the world, will run in October 2017. See also: Fertile Minds: Dont miss out on free farming conference It is being organised by two Belgian young farmers associations Groene Kring and Federation des Jeunes Agriculteurs along with Bayer. To enter the competition, people aged 18 to 25 are being asked to submit an essay on the underlying causes of food insecurity and the effect it can have on a growing population. A panel of judges will then pick four winners from all the entries from applicants living in the UK and Ireland. Oliver Cassels, one of the UK delegates who attended the summit in 2015, said: It was a brilliant week, with an incredible bunch of diverse and interesting people. The amount of innovative ideas and passion, and positive atmosphere made it impossible not to feel empowered. Northern Irish delegate Emma McIlveen, who has recently passed exams to become a barrister, said she would encourage young professionals from a wide range of backgrounds to enter the competition. We have entered uncertain times following the Brexit result and it is vital to understand the challenges ahead for rural communities. You will undoubtedly be inspired, challenged and energised by this unique opportunity to engage on the pressing issue of food security. The closing date for entries is 13 January 2017 and details can be found on the Youth Ag-Summits website. 'Ghost In The Shell' Film Release Date, News & Updates: Scarlett Johansson As Major Moto Kusanagi; Film Spawns Issues? Movie fanatics are surely entering an intrepid world in 2017. Producer of movies that has adventure and mystery as themes are dropping the movies' release dates one after the other. "Paramount" would not want to come last, of course. "Paramount" is set to release the live-action version of the classic sci-fi manga "The Ghost in the Shell" on March 31, 2017. The Verge described the first teasers as glitch and weird. By glitch and weird, they mean to say that the spots are impressionistic moments rather than traditional teasers. As previously reported by The Hollywood Reporter, "Paramount" has already released the first footage of "Ghost in the Shell." The first footage shows "Major Motoko Kusanagi", portrayed by Scarlett Johansson, being sent into a mysterious world. "Ghost in the Shell" revolves around the story of "Major Moto Kusanagi" who leads Section 9. Section 9 is an elite task force fighting extremists and criminals. In the original anime and manga that the movie is being adapted from, Daisuke Aramaki is the chief of Public Security Section 9. Daisuke Aramaki, portrayed by Beat Takeshi, is seen in some of the clips in the teasers. The first footage of "Ghost in the Shell" has five short glimpses. These show "Major Moto Kusanagi", the special ops human cyborg hybrid, meeting some of the cast of characters. There was a controversy regarding the casting of "Ghost in the Shell" when the teasers were released. It was a big deal among fans that Scarlett Johansson, a white actor, is taking the lead role in a story that is considered quintessentially Japanese. The concerns over the film's whitewashing heightened when the first still photo from the film featured Scarlett Johnson. When asked about their take on the issue, directors, writers, and actors said that they all spoke out against the whitewashing of the casting of "Ghost in the Shell" may entail. "Ghost in the Shell" is directed by Rupert Sanders. Amidst the controversy, audience be the judge when the film premieres next year. Madam Secretary Season 3 Air Date, Spoilers, News & Update: Reeling For Sea Change, Morgan Freeman & Tea Leoni Braces For The Worst? "Madam Secretary" Season 3 is reeling and getting ready for the big day, its return on screen. The TV series is predicted to gather an enormous assemblage of viewers who have been counting days since season 2's finale. "Madam Secretary" Season 3 episode 1 titled "Sea Change" will try to show Elizabeth McCord's (Tea Leoni) cunning manoeuvres in the White House. Very prominent is her attempt to circumvent President Dalton's (Keith Carradine) decision, particularly on foreign policy. According to TVGuide, "Madam Secretary" Season 3 kicks off with a scene after the storm crisis in Bahrain that swept the US naval base to destruction. Many changes have to be made, which will be a tough decision for President Dalton. To shift to climate change versus the existing policy on foreign spending may result to negative repercussion on the President's re-election campaign. The return of "Madam Secretary" Season 3 will bring back on screen big actors playing great characters as reported by TVLine . The show's Executive Producer Morgan Freeman, apart from directing will play as Chief Justice Wilbourne. Carlos Gomez will reappear with his role as Jose Campos, a CIA senior intelligence officer. He will haggle for the re-instatement of Henry McCord (Tim Daly), Elizabeth's husband into the DIA . The McCord family will be put at risk in "Madam Secretary" Season 3. The young Jason McCord's (Evan Roe) laptop was hacked that made the couple worried of their lives. They do not know anything of the hacker's background. All they have are speculations of the motives behind the stalking, possibly related to their jobs. "Madam Secretary" Season 3, will have its premiere showing on Sunday, October 2. 2016 on the CBS TV network. To the viewers, brace yourself for the big day. Watch the political drama that brings you onscreen the famous award-winning movie actor, director and producer Morgan Freeman. Criminal Minds Season 12 Air Date, Spoilers, News & Update: Thomas Gibson May Return? What Will Happen To Aaron Hotchner? Details Here "Criminal Minds" Season 12 was on their second episode shot when the incident happened that got Thomas Gibson kicked out from the show. In an interview by People, the 54 year old actor said that his pride and reputation were hurt by the dismissal. As a veteran, Gibson has spent so many years building his career but in just a minute, it was damaged. The unfortunate incident happened between Thomas Gibson and Virgil Williams, the writer and producer of "Criminal Minds" Season 12. Gibson, during a late night shot, was calling the attention of Williams because there was a line in the script that the former feels is contradictory to a previous line. But the writer simply insisted that the actor has to deliver it. Thomas Gibson said that after he "tapped" Virgil Williams on the leg, they had an exchange of "choice words." The kicked out actor said he apologized the next day and even continued filming the scene. Sadly, that was the last day of Gibson with "Criminal Minds" Season 12. He was given a two-week suspension, after which he was kicked out from the show. Thomas Gibson plays the character of Aaron Hotchner in "Criminal Minds" since 2005. He is FBI's chief of Behavioural Analysis Unit. His wife, Haley Brooks Hotchner, was killed by George Foyet. Two years after the death of Mrs Hotchner, he had a girlfriend in the person of Beth Clemmons. But in season 10, she left to work in Hong Kong. What will happen to him in "Criminal Minds" Season 12? According to The Wrap, Aaron Hotchner have appeared in all 255 episodes of "Criminal Minds." In fact, he is the only character who has done so. Fans are now wondering what will happen to the special agent character by Thomas Gibson in "Criminal Minds" Season 12. Apparently, the show will go on even without Thomas Gibson. ABC and CBS Television Studios said that they will address how Aaron Hotchner will creatively leave the storyline and will announce it on a later date. "Criminal Minds" Season 12 will hit the air on Sept 28. Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Recall Latest News & Update: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Also Explodes? It seems like the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is not the only smartphone in Samsung's lineup that has a defective battery. A Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge burning down in the Philippines is just one of the Korean tech company's list of recent controversies. Just this week, a Facebook post went viral revealing a burnt down Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. The owner of the defective Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge said that her child was using device when the incident happened. As reported by Yugatech, "the device was being used by her child when a thick smoke suddenly popped out of nowhere and internal flames consumed much of the phone's display and back panel." On her updated Facebook post, the owner of the damaged device went straight to a Samsung Store and had the device checked. Luckily and rightfully, the Samsung Store refunded her in full. Stating that even though the phone was faulty, Samsung was able to somehow make up for it by its wonderful after sale service This however is not the first instance that a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge went to flames. Earlier this year as well a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge exploded, this time in Ohio resulting to even more serious damages. Daniel Ramirez, the owner of the damaged Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge exploded right inside his pocket, causing second to even third degree burns to the victim's leg. Ramirez is suing Samsung for damages, stating that the injuries caused permanent and life altering consequences. Stay tuned to Game & Guide for more Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Recall news and update. 'The Walking Dead' Season 7 Predictions SPOILERS: Interesting Clue To Negan's Kill Spotted In 'TWD' Season 6 Episode 5? People have many theories about Negan's victim in "The Walking Dead" Season 7. Did the series follow what happened in Robert Kirkman's comic book to kill Glenn? Or is it possible that the AMC show will change things up so Jeffrey Dean Morgan will murder a completely different character? AND did an episode from "TWD" Season 6 offer a hint on who gets bludgeoned to death in the previous finale? 'The Walking Dead' Season 7 Theory: Hint To Negan's Victim Revealed In 'TWD' Season 6? At this point, it will be impossible to get the cast and crew of "The Walking Dead" Season 7 to reveal the identity of Negan's victim. However, some fans believe that there was a hint on who would get killed in "TWD" Season 6 Episode 5. Interestingly, "Now" was the second episode after Glenn's presumed death in "Thank You". The episode featured a desperate Maggie trying to sneak out of Alexandria to find her missing husband. In "The Walking Dead" Season 6 Episode 5, Aaron finds out that Maggie is planning to look for Glenn and decides to accompany her. When she realizes that sneaking out of Alexandria is not a good idea, Maggie admits to Aaron that she is pregnant. By the end of "Now", the two go up to the wall where the names of the dead have been listed and erase the name of Negan's possible victim in "The Walking Dead" Season 7. Wait, Does This Confirm That Glenn Was Negan's Kill In 'The Walking Dead' Season 7? Well, the clue wasn't the name that was erased from the wall in "TWD" Season 6 Episode 5, but Aaron's comment to Maggie as they were removing Glenn and Nicholas' names. Aaron suggested his name or the feminine alternative "Erin" for the baby. Some fans are now wondering if Maggie will consider naming her child after Aaron instead of Hershel because of his comment that seemed out of place in the episode. Oh, and because it could be revealed that he is the one who was killed by Negan when "The Walking Dead" Season 7 premieres on October 23. Do you think Aaron is Negan's victim in "The Walking Dead" Season 7? Let us know in the comments. Rotary got started in Long Beach in 1917 when seven local businessmen met with a New York Rotarian who talked about his club there. This could be the very best way to mark Banned Books Week: Find a book that has been banned or challenged (sadly, your options here are numerous and growing by the year). And then read it aloud, proudly, even if no one is listening. That's what Susan Rodgers, an associate professor of creative writing at Oregon State University, is thinking. And that's why she's organized three days of events this week on the OSU campus during which a variety of readers will do exactly that. The readings are scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the brick mall in front of Strand Hall, located on the northeast side of the Memorial Union Quad. The readings are scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, although Rodgers hopes that in subsequent years, the readings will stretch out for the entire week. Rodgers said the inspiration for the OSU event came from a similar event she noticed at Kansas State University. Readers are scheduled for 10-minute slots, and most of those slots quickly filled up, once Rodgers spread the news about the event. In the future, Rodgers hopes to expand the event beyond the campus by featuring more community members, but she noted that Tuesday's reading will include an appearance by the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library's book bike. Of course, it would be even better if we didn't have to mark Banned Books Week at all because we understood the importance of freedom of speech and expression. But there's not much chance of that happening any time soon. Every year, hundreds of challenges to books and other materials are reported to the American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom. Among the titles that drew the most challenges last year were John Green's young-adult novel "Looking for Alaska," Alison Bechdel's prize-winning graphic memoir "Fun Home," Mark Haddon's "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time," and that long-running rabble-rouser, The Bible. Young adult novels are fertile grounds for challenges, especially as authors like Green take on some of the real issues that teenagers are dealing with today. Anything that deals with sexuality can be a lightning rod. Rodgers noted another trend: Increasingly, books by diverse authors are drawing challenges. Rodgers said estimates are that nearly half of all challenged books are by authors of color, or deal in some way with people from diverse communities. So it's probably no coincidence that writers such as Sherman Alexie and Toni Morrison are among the nation's most challenged authors. (To some extent, though, this is nothing new: Racial themes in the writings of Mark Twain have landed that rascal on that list as well.) These sort of challenges occur in Oregon and in the mid-valley as well: The Oregon Library Association has compiled a list of books and other materials that have drawn challenges in the state. (The online version of the column includes a link to the list, which can be searched by hitting "ctrl" and "F" on your computer at the same time.) In Corvallis, for example, materials that have been challenged over the years include incendiary magazines such as The New York Review of Books and a volume featuring Lyle, the crocodile hero of a series of children's books. By coincidence (or maybe not), this week features another event focused on banning books: The Majestic Reader's Theatre in Corvallis is performing Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" twice today, at 3 and 7 p.m. It's possible that Bradbury's tale of a repressive future never has been more timely than it is today. Rodgers isn't connected to the Majestic production. But she feels a certain urgency surrounding these issues today: "One of the reasons I felt it was essential to push the (OSU) event this year was because of the current climate." And so Rodgers believes there's a powerful message in speaking these banned or challenged words aloud, even if no one is there to hear them. Here's the message: "These challenged books? We're reading them." Moments before Johnson Halls grand opening Friday afternoon, more than 50 Oregon State University engineering students paid tribute to the family whose name adorns the new College of Engineering facility. The students formed two lines on either side of the entrance to Johnson Hall to create a path for Peter and Rosalie Johnson, the pair who donated $7 million for the state-of-the-art facility. And as they walked inside, the Johnsons offered their appreciation to the students, while fighting back tears. The Johnsons joined more than 200 students, faculty and staff Friday afternoon for the grand opening of the $40 million Johnson Hall, located at Southwest Park Terrace Place and Monroe Avenue, just north of the Kelley Engineering Center. The 58,000-square-foot facility is the new home for the School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering at OSU. The three-story building includes a 125-seat lecture hall, state-of-the-art research and teaching laboratories, an innovative learning classroom, engineering community centers and a hub aimed at improving recruitment and retention of engineering students. Peter Johnson, who graduated from Oregon State in 1955 with a degree in chemical engineering, helped to revolutionize battery manufacturing equipment. The Johnson family donation of $7 million to begin construction of Johnson Hall leveraged an earlier gift of $10 million from an anonymous donor and $3 million in additional funds that has been matched by $20 million in state funds. OSU President Ed Ray said he was reminded of the words of Winston Churchill who said we shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us. As Johnson Hall opens its doors to welcome students, we are very confident they will be shaped for success in their success in education, in future careers and for many of us, a signature element of what were all about: community service, Ray said. James Sweeney, head of the School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering, said Johnson Hall is a showcase facility that is set to transform the College of Engineering. As engineers and as educators, we talk about creating a better future, he said. The work being done here today at Johnson Hall will help make that future possible. Johnson Hall was designed by architecture firm SRG Partnership and was built by Hoffman Construction. Scott Ashford, Kearney Professor and dean of OSUs College of Engineering, thanked all of the donors, architects and construction crews for the opportunities that Johnson Hall will provide for students. As a civil engineer myself, I have a special place in my heart for bricks and mortar. And I could geek out all day about the sheer walls and the design and the materials used, he said, later complimenting the natural light, the lecture halls and the laboratories. But this building is so much more than the features. Its about the people that will use and benefit from those features. Nearly 30 faculty and staff will teach in Johnson Hall and there are more than 1,000 students in the School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering. One of those students is Johnson scholar Jolynn Meza Wynkoop. I was actually a part of the celebration two years ago when we broke ground on this new building, she said. Im now a senior in environmental engineering and Im more excited than ever about my future, and even more thankful for what Ive gained as a Johnson scholar. Chemical engineering alumnus Kayla Al-Khaledy also took a moment Friday to thank the Johnson family. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, I am so excited for this new building, she said. I may be slightly biased, but I cant think of a more deserving group of students. Pete and Rosalie, because you gave, Im excited about giving too. 16-year-old suspect : Syrian teen reportedly instructed to place bomb in garbage bin Cologne New information has come to light following the arrest of a young Syrian refugee. He was reportedly told to plant a bomb in a garbage bin. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken More details have been released after a 16-year-old Syrian refugee was detained in connection with alleged plans for a bomb attack. On Friday, the Cologne newspaper Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger reported that the youth was instructed by an Islamic State (IS) recruiter in an internet chat to place a bomb in a garbage bin. According to the report, the youth was told to make a bomb loaded with nails and place it in an area where lots of people gather - there, where people throw their trash away. Top 10 Lenovo Smartphones Eligible to Get Reliance Jio Welcome Offer Benefits Features oi -Harish Kumar With the Reliance Jio hype, everyone is craving to get the 4G SIM that bundles unlimited 4G data, voice calls, and messages for free. Understanding this trend, every manufacturer in India is launching offerings that will support the 4G SIM. One such maker is Lenovo. Lately, Lenovo is launching smartphones that support the Reliance Jio SIM. A notable example for this is the recently launched Lenovo Z2 Plus. SEE ALSO: Reliance Jio 4G: List of All 4G Smartphones That Support the Service The Z2 Plus comes with a decent hardware and it supports 4G VoLTE that will make it compatible with the Reliance Jio 4G SIM. The device is also priced reasonably at Rs. 17,999 and Rs. 19,999 in the Indian market. Likewise, many Lenovo smartphones come with the Reliance Jio support. SEE ALSO: Top 10 Samsung Galaxy Smartphones to Get Free Jio SIM Card Unlimited 4G Data and Calls We at GizBot have come up with a list of 10 Lenovo smartphones supporting the Reliance Jio SIM card. You can use the 4G SIM in any of these devices to enjoy the benefits of the Welcome Offer. Take a look! Lenovo Z2 Plus Eligible to Get Reliance Jio Welcome Offer Buy At Price of Rs 17,999 Click Here To Buy Key Features 5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) Full HD LTPS 2.5D curved glass display 2.15GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 820 processor with Adreno 530 GPU 3GB DDR4 RAM with 32GB internal storage, 4GB RAM with 64GB internal storage Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) 13MP rear camera with LED Flash, f/ 2.2, 5P lens, ISOCELL sensor, PDAF, CAF dual-mode focus, EIS 8MP front-facing camera with 1.4m pixel size, f/2.0 aperture, 78.9-degree wide viewing angle Dual (nano) SIM Fingerprint scanner, 3.5mm audio jack 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11ac (2.4/5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, USB 2.0 Type-C 3500mAh battery with Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 Lenovo K5 Note Eligible to Get Reliance Jio Welcome Offer Buy At Price of Rs 13,499 Click Here To Buy Key Features 5.5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) Full HD IPS display 1.8 GHz Octa-core MediaTek Helio P10 processor with up to 550MHz Mali T860 GPU 3GB/4GB RAM 32GB internal storage expandable memory up to 128GB with microSD Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) Hybrid Dual SIM (nano + nano/microSD) 13MP rear camera with dual-tone LED flash, PDAF, f/2.2 aperture 8MP front-facing camera 4G LTE, WiFi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 4.1, GPS 3500mAh battery Lenovo ZUK Z1 Eligible to Get Reliance Jio Welcome Offer Buy At Price of Rs 13,499 Click Here To Buy Key Features 5.5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) Full HD IPS display, 1500:1 contrast ratio, 100% NTSC color gamut 2.5GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 801 processor with Adreno 330 GPU 3GB LPPDR3 RAM, 64GB (eMMC 5.0) internal memory Cyanogen OS 12.1 based on Andriod 5.1.1 (Lollipop), Upgradable to Cyanogen OS 13 based on Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) Dual (nano) SIM 13MP rear camera with LED Flash 8MP front-facing camera Fingerprint sensor (FPC 1155) 4G LTE, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4/5 GHz), WiFi Direct, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS / GLONASS, USB 3.0 Type-C 4100mAh (typical) / 4000mAh (minimum) built-in battery with fast charging Lenovo Vibe Shot Eligible to Get Reliance Jio Welcome Offer Buy At Price of Rs 22,999 Click Here To Buy Key Features 5.0 inches IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Android OS, v5.0.x (Lollipop) OS 16 MP, 3456 x 4608 pixels, optical image stabilization, autofocus, triple-LED flash 8 MP of Front Camera 32 GB Internal memory 3 of GB RAM Non-removable Li-Po 2900 mAh battery Lenovo A2020/Vibe C Eligible to Get Reliance Jio Welcome Offer Buy At Price of Rs 6,299 Click Here To Buy Key Features a 5-inch touchscreen display with resolution at 480 x 854 pixels powered by quad-core 1.1GHz processor comes with 1GB RAM Android 5.1 version (Lollipop) expandable internal storage of 8GB Rear camera of 5MP with LED flash Front camera of 2MP a storage of 16GB Expanded up to 32GB through microSD card removable Li-Ion 2300 mAh battery Lenovo Vibe X3 Eligible to Get Reliance Jio Welcome Offer Buy At Price of Rs 19,999 Click Here To Buy Key Features 5.5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) display Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop) OS 1.8 GHz hexa-core Snapdragon 808 processor with Adreno 418 GPU 3GB RAM 16GB internal memory expandable memory with microSD Dual SIM 21MP auto focus camera with LED Flash 8MP front-facing camera Fingerprint sensor 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.1, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS 3500mAH lithium-polymer embedded battery Lenovo K4 Note Eligible to Get Reliance Jio Welcome Offer Buy At Price of Rs 10,999 Click Here To Buy Key Features 5.5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) IPS 178 degree wide-view display, with 450 Nits Brightness, 1000:1 contrast, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection Android 5.1 (Lollipop) with Vibe UI 1.3 GHz Octa-core MediaTek MT6753 processor with up to 450MHz Mali T720-MP3 GPU 3GB DDR3 RAM 16GB internal storage expandable memory up to 128GB with microSD ual (micro) SIM 13MP rear camera with dual-tone LED flash, PDAF, f/2.2 aperture, ISOCELL sensor 5MP front-facing camera Dual front-facing speakers, Dolby ATMOS, 3 microphones, Wolfson WM8281 audio codec 4G LTE / 3G HSPA+, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, NFC, USB OTG 3300mAh (Rated) built-in battery / 3400mAh (Typical) Lenovo Vibe K5 Eligible to Get Reliance Jio Welcome Offer Buy At Price of Rs 6,999 Click Here To Buy Key Features 5-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) HD IPS display Android 5.1 (Lollipop) 1.4 Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 415 64-bit processor with Adreno 405 GPU 2GB RAM 16GB internal storage expandable memory up to 32GB with microSD Dual SIM (micro + micro) 13MP rear camera with LED Flash, 1080p video recording 5MP front-facing camera 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS 2750mAh battery Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus Eligible to Get Reliance Jio Welcome Offer Buy At Price of Rs 8,499 Click Here To Buy Key Features 5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) Full HD IPS display, 450 nits brightness Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 616, 64-bit processor with Adreno 405 GPU 2GB RAM 16GB internal storage expandable memory up to 32GB with microSD Android 5.1 (Lollipop) Dual SIM (micro + micro) 13MP rear camera with LED Flash, 1080p video recording 5MP front-facing camera 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS 2750mAh battery Lenovo Vibe P1 Turbo Eligible to Get Reliance Jio Welcome Offer Buy At Price of Rs 17,040 Click Here To Buy Key Features 5.5-inch (1080 x 1920 pixels) Full HD IPS display with Gorilla Glass 3 protection Android 5.1 (Lollipop) OS with Vibe UI 1.5 GHz Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 (MSM8939) processor with Adreno 405 GPU 3GB RAM 32GB internal memory expandable memory up to 128GB with microSD Dual nano SIM 13MP rear camera with dual-tone LED Flash, PDAF, f/2.2 aperture 5MP front-facing camera Fingerprint scanner 4G LTE / 3G, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.1 LE, GPS 5000mAh battery Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications EXCLUSIVE: Huawei Honor 5A will be company's first 'Make in India' smartphone News oi -Rohit Earlier today, Chinese tech giant Huawei announced its partnership with Flextronics to start manufacturing smartphones in India under Government's 'Make In India' initiative. Flex will manufacture Huawei's Honor series smartphones in company's Chennai Facility, which as per company has the capacity to make three million units by the end of 2017. SEE ALSO: Huawei Honor 5A: Here are 5 Features of 4G Phone You Should Know As per anonymous source, the first smartphone to hit the market in first week of October 2016 might be the pocket friendly Honor 5A, which was first introduced in China in May 2016. The smartphone was launched in two variants - the standard variant priced at approximately Rs 7,000 and a powerful variant priced at approximately Rs 8,000. As confirmed by our source, Huawei will launch both the variants in the Indian market. The standard Huawei Honor 5A packs in a 1.2 GHz octa-core Kirin 620 processor teamed up with Mali 450 graphics. The second variant utilizes a comparatively faster octa-core Snapdragon 617 processor paired up with Adreno 450 GPU. Both versions come with 2 GB RAM and there is 16 GB of default storage space that can be expanded up to 128 GB using a micro SD card. The smartphone runs Emotion UI 4.1 over the Android Marshmallow 6.0 operating system. The budget Android smartphone boasts a 5.5-inch HD 720p IPS display, claimed to render 178-degree viewing angle and 1000:1 contrast ratio. In terms of imaging, the affordable smartphone has a 13 MP rear camera packed with Sony OmniVision sensor and LED flash. An 8 MP camera with Sony/Hynix BSI sensor takes care of selfie and video calling. The dual-SIM smartphone supports 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth 4.0 and is powered by a 3,100 mAh battery unit. SEE ALSO: Xiaomi Mi 5s vs Google Pixel XL: Which Upcoming Smartphone Will Conquer the Mobile World! We can take this information as a pinch of salt and have to wait, nor for long, to to see if the same happens or something else is planned by the Chinese tech major. Stay tuned for updates. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications 'Feels Like Home Season 2' offers something real and tangible to think about; takes home a pertinent point - if your intentions are good, there is nothing in life that isn't achievable. Putin Taps Duma Speaker As New Foreign Spy Boss In Latest Kremlin Shakeup Mike Eckel September 22, 2016 President Vladimir Putin has appointed parliament speaker Sergei Naryshkin as head of Russia's foreign intelligence agency, the latest in a series of personnel firings, appointments, and shuffles at the Kremlin and top security agencies. Putin made the announcement in a September 22 meeting with Naryshkin and Mikhail Fradkov, the outgoing head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, known as the SVR. "It is important to promptly head off threats that arise in relation to Russianeutralize these threats at an early stage," Putin told Naryshkin, according to a Kremlin transcript. Naryshkin will formally assume his new post on October 5, according to a September 22 decree signed by Putin and published on the Kremlin's website. A longtime supporter of Putin who, like the president, hails from St. Petersburg, the 61-year-old Naryshkin reportedly worked abroad for U.S.S.R. intelligence, including a post at the Soviet Embassy in Brussels in the 1980s. He has served as speaker of the lower house of parliament, the State Duma, since 2011. National elections held September 18 resulted in gains for Putin's ruling United Russia party, which captured a constitutional majority. Opposition groups and election monitors say the vote was rife with violations. Tasked primarily with intelligence gathering outside of Russia, the SVR was one of two agencies created when the KGB was split up in the early 1990s. The other is the Federal Security Service, known as the FSB. Fradkov served as one of Putin's first prime ministers early in his tenure, and was named head of the SVR in 2007. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying that Fradkov will become chairman of the board of state-run Russian Railways. That post is currently held by Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich. The former president of Russian Railways is Vladimir Yakunin, also a longtime Putin friend who was sacked earlier this year. Russian media outlets have cited unidentified sources as saying that Naryshkin will likely be replaced as speaker of the Duma by Vyacheslav Volodin, currently the first deputy head of Putin's administration and a key architect of Russia's political landscape during the president's third term. The shuffling at the SVR follows a string of appointments and dismissals in recent months that have left observers scrambling to divine Putin's intentions. In April, Putin announced the creation of a new National Guard, headed by former bodyguard and longtime ally Viktor Zolotov, a move that set up an elite unit of interior troops capable of responding quickly to potential internal unrest. The new agency absorbed two other key units of the Interior Ministry -- the OMON riot police, and the SOBR rapid reaction paramilitary police -- effectively gutting the ministry. In July, the FSB conducted raids against another leading law enforcement agency, the Investigative Committee, accusing several top officials of accepting bribes. The raids were an embarrassment to the committee's chief, Aleksandr Bastrykin, and Russian media have reported that he will be formally fired in the coming weeks. 'Ad Hoc Decisions' Last month, the Kremlin announced the dismissal of Putin's chief of staff, Sergei Ivanov, a former KGB officer and defense minister who at one point was seen as a top contender to succeed Putin. And earlier this week, Russia's Kommersant newspaper cited unidentified sources as saying that the Kremlin planned to fold the SVR and the Federal Protective Service -- responsible for Putin's personal security -- into a single super agency along with the FSB. The head of the Federal Protective Service, Yevgeny Murov, was also pushed into retirement earlier this year. The new agency would reportedly be called the Ministry for State Security, or MGB in Russian, which analysts say could be granted comparably broad -- or even greater -- powers than those of the Soviet KGB. A growing number of Kremlin watchers have linked the early Duma elections, which were previously scheduled to be held in December, and the personnel changes over the past year, to groundwork for the next presidential election, currently scheduled for March 2018. Russian political analysts have suggested the election could be held earlier. Tatyana Stanovaya, a political analyst with Moscow's Center of Political Technologies, argued that Putin's decisions are increasingly ad hoc and reactive, and that they reflect a narrowing of the circle of advisers that he trusts. "In this new personnel model, the president is increasingly outsourcing his workload. Overloaded with dirt on everyone around him, Putin has stopped trusting anyone, preferring to shift the burden of responsibility onto those who are beyond reproach," she wrote in a commentary published by the Carnegie Moscow Center just days after Ivanov's firing. Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/russia-putin-naryshkin-svr/28007297.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 U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Release No. NR-337-16 September 22, 2016 Readout of Secretary of Defense Ash Carter's Meeting With Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense Ash Carter held a bilateral meeting today with Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, at the Pentagon. Secretary Carter and Prime Minister Turnbull discussed a range of security issues, including their continued mutual commitment to defeat ISIL and to support the Government of Afghanistan. They exchanged views on building a principled and inclusive security network in the Asia-Pacific, as well as developments in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the need for a peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea in accordance with international law. They also discussed opportunities to enhance collaboration related to defense innovation. http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/953167/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Lawmakers Accuse Russia Of Trying To Influence U.S. Election By RFE/RL September 22, 2016 Leading Democrats on the congressional intelligence committees have accused Russia of trying to influence the November 8 U.S. election via computer hacking and called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to "order a halt to this activity." U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (Democrat-California) and Representative Adam Schiff (Democrat-California) said in a strongly worded statement that "based on briefings we have received, we have concluded that the Russian intelligence agencies are making a serious and concerted effort to influence the U.S. election." "At the least, this effort is intended to sow doubt about the security of our election and may well be intended to influence the outcomes of the election -- we can see no other rationale for the behavior of the Russians," they said. The lawmakers added that they "believe that orders for the Russian intelligence agencies to conduct such actions could come only from very senior levels of the Russian government." Officials in President Barack Obama's administration have said that Russia or its proxies are responsible for hacking political party organizations, but have stopped short of directly blaming Russia in public. The White House said on September 16 it was trying to build a legal case against Russian hackers it believes are behind recent leaks aimed at disrupting the U.S. presidential election. At the same time, Congress said it was looking at perhaps using sanctions against Russia for the hacks, media reports said. Reuters said the administration believes that two Russian intelligence agencies -- the military's GRU and the civilian intelligence agency -- are behind recent cyberattacks against the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and former top Republican diplomats. Meanwhile, an image purported to be a scanned copy of first lady Michelle Obama's passport was leaked online on September 22 along with personal e-mails belonging to a former staffer for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Feinstein and Schiff said in their statement that they call on Putin "to immediately order a halt to this activity." "Americans will not stand for any foreign government trying to influence our election," they said. "We hope all Americans will stand together and reject the Russian effort." There was no immediate public response to the lawmakers' statement from Russian officials. DNC officials and the Clinton campaign have suggested that Russia is attempting to boost the electoral chances of Clinton's Republican rival, businessman and former reality TV star Donald Trump, who has said he would seek to improve battered bilateral ties with Russia if he is elected to the White House. Both Trump and the Kremlin have dismissed these suggestions as baseless. Trump has spoken positively about Putin, saying earlier this month that the Russian president has been more of a leader for his country that Obama has been for the United States. With reporting by Reuters Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/russia-influencing- us-election/28007482.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 Transcom Releases Forward-Looking Strategy for Future Success From a U.S. Transportation Command News Release SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill., Sept. 23, 2016 U.S. Transportation Command has released a new strategy designed to help the command navigate the uncertain future it faces, Transcom officials said. The intent, officials added, is to ensure Transcom remains a world-class organization always capable of answering the nation's call. "In the coming years, we should expect conflicts to cross regional boundaries and potential adversaries to field numerically superior forces with near technological parity," Air Force Gen. Darren W. McDew, Transcom's commander, said in the document. Outlining Steps to Achieve Priorities The framework outlines the steps the command will take to achieve its priorities, which McDew announced in January to help the command prepare to tackle tomorrow's challenges, officials said. They are: -- Ensure today's readiness and advocate for tomorrow's capabilities; -- Advance cyber domain capabilities; -- Evolve for tomorrow; and -- Champion an innovative, diverse and agile workforce. Combined, officials said, the priorities provide the vision for a future command that is better able to anticipate change, leverage new technology to increase effectiveness and efficiency, quickly and easily adapt to new realities and respond to cyber threats with resilience. "We must be ready to execute in contested environments while advocating for tomorrow's capabilities, extend mission assurance through the cyber domain, evolve the command to ensure agility and responsiveness in the dynamic environment of tomorrow, and address the fundamental changes occurring in our nation's workforce," McDew said. Innovation, Agility, Bold Ideas While the strategy incorporates the ends, ways and means for reaching the desired end-state outlined by the priorities, Transcom officials said, it also stresses the need for innovative thinking, agility and bold new ideas from the entire workforce. In fact, they added, when McDew presented the new strategy to the command, he charged the workforce to take positive action to address the challenges they face. "This is a living document as the strategic environment demands flexibility in our collective efforts," McDew said. "While the command strategy provides my overarching guidance, every [command] member must interpret the concepts and apply them with their own initiative. You are empowered." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Coalition Continues Counter-ISIL Progress Across Iraq, Syria By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2016 Counter-Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant forces continue their progress against the terror group throughout Iraq and Syria, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Air Force Col. John Dorrian said today. Briefing from Baghdad, Dorrian told Pentagon reporters that Operation Noble Lance in northern Syria has cleared five villages of ISIL fighters. The operation, he said, involves Turkish military and partner forces along the Mara Line. ISIL forces "fired a rocket into Kilis, which is just north of the border in Turkey, Dorrian said. He added that the terror group has launched more than 40 rockets into the area -- a region that houses thousands of Syrian refugees. Tough Fighting Ahead Coalition forces face tough fighting from ISIL as the area is an important route for foreign fighters, supplies and money to reach ISIL's "capital" of Raqqa, the colonel said. Coalition troops, he added, have provided training and equipment to counter-ISIL forces fighting in the area. And, coalition forces are supplying food and bomb-removal expertise to help the people of the region, Dorrian said. About 2,400 families in the area around Manbij -- the site of heavy fighting earlier this year -- received about 200 metric tons of food, he said. "The food includes essentials such as rice, flour, chickpeas and tomato paste, baby formula and water purifying tablets," Dorrian said. "In some cases, this means families will get anywhere from 30 to 60 days of food and supplies." The explosive ordnance disposal training has allowed local officials to reopen the Manbij hospital as well as many homes and school in the city, the colonel said. Mosul Campaign In Iraq, ISIL is attempting to build-up their defenses in Mosul as the terrorists anticipate the Iraqi attack to retake the nation's second-largest city, Dorrian said. ISIL is restricting the movement of the population, he said, and attempting to conceal fighting position. These hiding places are often in restricted buildings like hospitals, schools and mosques, Dorrian said. In addition, he said, ISIL forces in the area continue to dig elaborate tunnels and are placing bombs as they hope to delay the advance of Iraqi security forces. "But there are significant signs that they are feeling the effects of ISF advances and coalition strikes," the colonel said. ISIL Feels Pressure Around the base the coalition is establishing in Qayyarah, ISIL fighters are attempting harassing attacks, Dorrian said. ISIL forces, however, "have shown more of an inclination to flee rather than in earlier times in the campaign," he said. Dorrian also cited reports about ISIL troops grumbling about money and supply shortages. ISIL is also under concerted attack in the western part of Iraq with soldiers hitting the terror group in and around Hit and Ramadi, Dorrian said. These operations, he said, provide ISIL with "more problems than they have the ability to manage simultaneously," he said. Coalition aircraft continue to launch strikes against ISIL in and around Mosul in preparation for the liberation of the city, Dorrian said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Transcript Presenter: Colonel John Dorrian, Operation Inherent Resolve Spokesman September 23, 2016 Department of Defense Press Briefing by Col. Dorrian via Teleconference from Baghdad, Iraq CAPTAIN JEFF DAVIS: Good afternoon and thank you for joining us today. We're pleased to be joined by Colonel John Dorrian, our spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve. J.D., just want to make sure you can hear us and we can hear you. COLONEL JOHN DORRIAN: I've got you loud and clear. CAPT. DAVIS: Great. Without any further ado, we will turn it over to you. COL. DORRIAN: Excellent. Good afternoon, Pentagon Press. Before I get started today, I want to take a brief moment to congratulate Jim Miklaszewski on his more than 30 years of outstanding journalism. I'm sure Mik's very busy right now preparing for a great day with his family and wish he was here to tune me up one last time just for old time's sake. I know many of you will be a part of his special day and I hope you'll pass on my best wishes to Mik and his family for a long, happy and prosperous retirement. We'll start with Syria today and then we'll move on to Iraq. At star one, in Syria, Operation Nobel Lance is ongoing with Turkish military and partner forces continuing clearance of villages along the Mara line near Syria's northern border with Turkey. As reported in multiple media outlets overnight, Daesh fired a rocket into Kilis, which is just north of the border in Turkey. Daesh launched more than 40 rockets into Kilis since January, striking an area that's populated highly be a significant number of refugees from Syria. Turkish forces and their partners and coalition forces have been involved in tough fighting in northwestern Syria because Daesh recognized this area as very important to their ability to export terror in the region and bring fighters into and out of Syria and Iraq. This area has been highly contested, with back and forth fighting between Daesh and coalition-supported opposition groups. As in Iraq, coalition forces are providing train, advise and assist support to Turkey in partners forces fighting Daesh. Since Nobel Lance started, the coalition supported forces have cleared five additional villages, further complicating Daesh freedom of movement. Post-liberation stabilization efforts continue to be a priority in this area. In the continuing to provide humanitarian assistance to Manbij, the coalition is facilitating the delivery of more than 200 metric tons of food that will be provided to about 2,400 families throughout the Manbij organization for relief and development. The food includes essentials such as rice, flour, chickpeas, and tomato paste, baby formula and water purifying tablets. In some cases, this means families will get anywhere from 30 to 60 days of food and supplies. In addition, the coalition is providing training to remove many of the explosive remnants of war that Daesh typically leave behind once they've been driven from an area. Those trained by the coalition have successfully removed the explosive remnants of war. Enabling the reopening of the Manbij hospital as well as many homes and school in the city. In Iraq, we continue to see Daesh attempt to build up their defenses in Mosul, including restrictions on the population in attempts to conceal their operations in buildings that are restricted targets like hospitals, schools and mosques. In addition, they continue to dig elaborate tunnels and place IEDs hoping to delay the advance of the ISF. But there are significant signs that they're feeling the affects of ISF advances in coalition strikes. In some instances, like Qayyarah and along the Euphrates river valley, we're seeing them conduct harassing attacks to try and delay the ISF, but they're no longer able to mass enough forces to stop the advance, and have shown more of an inclination to flee rather than earlier times in the campaign. In addition, we continue to see Daesh grumbling about money and supply shortages and reflections in social media indicating flagging enemy moral. In Daesh's -- in Iraq's Euphrates river valley, forces from the seventh infantry division have started to clear the Euphrates River and enter the city of Kasi Arrat, Iraq in order to set conditions for the river cross operations to liberate the Jazeera Hiit area at star-two. In the Jazeera Ramadi area at star-three, forces from the 41st brigade of the 10th infantry division have started to clear Abu Diab. These clearing operations further erode Daesh freedom of movement and reduce their ability to pressure the ERV or resupply from Syria. They also give Daesh more problems than they have the ability to manage simultaneously. Iraq and coalition forces are helping Daesh understand that condition as their new normal. At star four, the ISF announced yesterday evening that they had reached the city center of Sherqat. And Iraqis have been observed waving Iraqi flags and celebrating their liberation. The 34th, 35th, 73rd Brigades of the ISF will continue to back clear Sherqat and the outlying areas. But the removal of Daesh from Sherqat moves them further away from Iraqi supply lines and inhibits their freedom of movement, leading up to the liberation of Mosul. The ISF conducted the operation rather quickly, demonstrating their continued momentum in the enemy's inability to mass and stop them. In preparation for the liberation, coalition forces conducted multiple strikes in the area to deny the enemy access to key terrain, destroy 29 watercraft along the Tigris River, destroy enemy weapons caches, including vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, and eliminate tactical units that may otherwise have been engaged in the liberation battle. As the ISF operation was ongoing, it became clear to Daesh that they were going to be defeated in place and they attempted to flee across a land bridge towards Hawija with technical vehicles and more than 30 trucks. The coalition destroyed that land bridge, which you'll see in the video we've queued for you. Once that land bridge was gone, there was nowhere else for the vehicles to go and an A-10, F-16, and an MQ-1 all engaged to eliminate the vehicles with airstrikes destroying them before they could escape to fight another day. Jeff, if you would roll that footage? (VIDEO PRESENTATION) COL. DORRIAN: Questions once the video's complete. CAPT. DAVIS: Matt, we'll start with Bob Burns from the Associated Press. Q: Colonel Dorrian, there's reports of significant oil field fires in and around Qayyarah. I'm wondering if you can comment on the extent to which that might be an impediment currently for Iraqi operations. And also, can you describe in some, any detail what exactly sort of activities U.S. forces are undertaking at Qayyarah? Or are they operating outside the wire, for example? COL. DORRIAN: Bob, just to clarify, what you're talking about is Qayyarah West, is where the coalition forces are operating out of and in Qayyarah this is where the preponderance of those oil fires are. The Daesh set those fires before they fled from the area, and many of them remained burning. They do that for a variety of reasons. One is a spoiler, but they also do it in an attempt to mask their movements. So, it does cause some problems. It certainly doesn't stop anything and the Iraqis had asked for coalition help to determine what could be done to put those fires out. We'll do what we can to support them. Mention about coalition forces. We don't anticipate that they're going to be operating outside the wire on a regular basis. They're busy working at the base to get it up and running as a supply and logistics and staging area for the Iraqi Security Forces prior to the liberation of Mosul. CAPT. DAVIS: Okay, next to Tara Copp with Stars and Stripes. Q: Hi, colonel, just following on Bob's questions about Qayyarah. Could you let us know about how many U.S. forces are at Qayyarah West? And as far as the activities for building up the base, is that runway improvements, additional artillery? And then just further to -- for the Mosul fight, can you let us know what is the current number of Iraqi forces trained? And what is the -- I guess the status of how many brigades you will need for this fight? COL. DORRIAN: Yep. There are several hundred troops at Qayyarah West. They're very busy building that up as a staging area for the Iraqi security forces. So what we're talking about here is getting the air field up and running. There's a -- an operational piece, getting that air field to work so they can be C-130 capable at some point. And there's also a piece where we're talking about bedding down the Iraqi security forces and staging a lot of supplies and equipment that they'll need to go into what we expect to be a very tough fight for the liberation of Mosul. So, those are the two big things for Qayyarah West at this point. As far as your question regarding the training, we've got 8 to 12 brigades ready for the Iraqi security forces to go into Mosul. We've trained a total of more than 35,000 troops. Some have been through more than once. So what we're talking about with this, we've got forces that have been involved in some of the liberation battles in the Euphrates River Valley. And they've also come through for refit. So, a lot of that work continues. We've got about 6,000 there right now that are going to be used as reserve and then for a wide area security forces. These are like police forces that'll be used to hold the territory and make sure that security remains once Daesh had been pushed out of Mosul. And going back to Qayyarah West, there -- there is artillery there as well. And that's used for disruption fires, and then of course to make sure that Daesh understand that it's probably not in their interest to approach that base. Q: Okay. Just a quick follow up. In some of the early briefings on Mosul, we've heard that you would need like around 20 brigades to be ready to launch that attack. Is that still the case or has -- you don't need as many now? COL. DORRIAN: Well, what we're talking about is the -- the Iraqi Army. There are also going to be brigades that are there for police. There are going to be Peshmerga brigades. And there are likely to be popular mobilization forces involved in some manner around the city. So, all told, the numbers that you've been given are -- are correct. We were talking about the -- the Iraqi Army. Q: Okay. CAPT. DAVIS: Next to Joe Tabot. Q: Colonel Dorrian, I wanna go back to -- to Syria. What is the status of communication between the coalition and the Russian military in Syria? Have you started sharing any intelligence or information with them? COL. DORRIAN: Well, the -- the -- the JIC that had been proposed is basically on hold at this point. But we do continue to coordinate and de-conflict air operations with the Russians. That's an arrangement we've had in place for quite some time. And what that enables us to do is make sure that our forces and their forces don't end up on the same altitude going against the same targets or target each other. Q: To follow up, could you clarify why the JIC is on hold right now, and when we about sharing information, have you started sharing any information about the al Nusra front positions in Syria? COL. DORRIAN: Well, one of the conditions for setting up the JIC was that there were supposed to be a week without hostilities. That condition hasn't been met and I know that there are diplomatic efforts ongoing to try and restart that effort. There is an interest in doing that in order to create better humanitarian conditions for the Syrians who been affected, but I -- my understanding is that those diplomatic efforts are ongoing and so far haven't borne any fruit. Q: So my question, we - we've seen reports here in Washington the last few days, saying that the U.S. military is looking to arm directly the YPG in Syria. Are you aware of that, can you confirm any - if it's going happen? COL. DORRIAN: Yeah, we have a program called the Syria Train & Equip fund in which we train and equip our partners in Syria; that's the Syrian Arab Coalition. So we've been doing that for quite some time and will continue to do that. The SDF, which is our partner organization of vetted forces in Syria have been stalwart allies and -- stalwart partners and have done a very good job in taking the fight to Daesh, we continue to work with them and we intend to keep doing so. CAPT. DAVIS: (inaudible) -- okay. Next to Carol Munoz. Q: I just wanted to follow up on your comments about the PMU's likely to participate in the Mosul operation. You know, we've seen them, you know, fighting in Srikant, there's talk about them moving into Fallujah when that operation is ready to go. The PMU commission in Baghdad says there's about 15,000 militiamen ready to go into Mosul. Now, in previous briefings, it still seems that the Iraqi government is on the fence about whether or not to let these guys participate in the Mosul Offensive. From what you're saying now, they're likely participate, does that means that we should expect some sort of announcement that officially they will be part of that -- of that -- of that force that goes in, and if that's the case, how is the chain of command going to work with these guys on a operation of the scale? COL. DORRIAN: Well what we expect to happen is that the Iraqis are going to continue to develop their plan. We advise and assist them as they develop that plan, and one of the elements to the plan is a political dimension that basically requires, and this isn't something that the Iraqis are leading, think they are coming up with a plan that is politically acceptable to those who will participate, and those who will be affected. We advise and assist them as they put that plan together, but at the end of the day Iraq is a sovereign country in the determination about where forces will participate, how they will participate, what their disposition is, those determinations will be made by the government of Iraq. Q: A quick follow up then, sir, from your military perspective as well and looking at these plans that are being developed, is there any - what are the chances of success Mosul the PMUs are not allowed to participate? COL. DORRIAN: Well, I'm not going to get into hypotheticals about whether one group or another will participate, essentially, I'd be you know, stepping into the decision-making process of the Iraqis. They're leading the planning effort, they are going to make the determination who is going to be involved in this and in what manner they will do so. They'll also make the determination what they need. CAPT. DAVIS: Next two, Ryan Browne, CNN. Q: Hello colonel, I just wanted to -- as we move on to Mosul, I know relatively recently they've been granted they authority to embed advisers at the battalion level, but it's only been used relatively sparsely. Do you anticipate doing that more as U.S. -- as the Iraqi forces to make the approach to Iraq's second biggest city? COL. DORRIAN: Well, I've discussed this with General Townsend, he's mystified why it's such an area of interest, and you know, essentially this is an authority that he's been given by the Secretary of Defense; if he needs to use it he will do so. He said, when I've have discussed it with him, that the he thinks that it's not something that he has any immediate plans to do, but it's something that if circumstances warrant, he won't hesitate to do. Q: Now just one quick follow up, you mentioned this aid delivery in the Manbij area, and that U.S. forces -- or coalition forces facilitated that. Can you talk a little bit about how they facilitated that, how -- with their involvement in that delivery was? COL. DORRIAN: Yes, you know one of the key elements that we try to establish with all of our partners is a situation where once, you know, they need to get beyond the -- the piece of the effort where you know, they liberate that area, that they can reestablish some degree of normalcy and stabilize the situation. So in Manbij, Daesh had had quite a bit of time, more than a year in that area, they were deeply entrenched there. So we have a situation where the forces there had -- Daesh fighters there had emplaced a lot of improvised explosive devices. The people that were living in that area were people who were displaced from that area, who were living under really difficult squalor type conditions, and so you're just can have basic human needs that have to be met. In addition to that our forces are always, you know, they have medics in this sort of thing that they can assist in treating some of the people that a been hurt, either in the liberation battle, or as a result of the explosive remnants of war that are left behind. So we also conduct some training to make sure that those things can be removed, a lot -- you know, really across a variety of -- of areas where we help. CAPT. DAVIS: Tony Carpaccio. Q: Hi, John, can you bring this up to date on the infamous mustard agent shell? A lot of stories are saying today conclusively that the U.S. troops were attacked by mustard agent. What was the result of the third test? I'm hearing it's inconclusive and you have to test further. COL. DORRIAN: What you've heard is correct so let me just kind of walk through it a little bit. On the 20th, this indirect fire came into the base, it was well away from our forces, I won't get into exactly how far but it was well away from them and then we went in and did some testing. They grabbed samples from those weapons that came down on the base, they did immediate testing on them. One of them was a positive test for a mustard agent and one of them was negative. So we sent the samples out for more advanced testing. Those test results also came back inconclusive so we're going to do more advanced testing yet, it'll probably take us a couple of days in order to get those results back. Q: So headlines and stories that say U.S. troops were attacked by mustard agent by ISIL rockets are inaccurate at this point because there's no evidence of that conclusive evidence, is that true? COL. DORRIAN: There's no evidence of -- that -- there's no conclusive evidence on that. So we wait for the tests to come back. CAPT. DAVIS: Next to Luis Martinez with ABC News. Q: Hey John, has General Townsend made a recommendation to U.S. Central Command for additional forces for the push to Mosul? COL. DORRIAN: Luis, we don't talk about troop proposals. I would say that we continually assess what we need and if we need something, we will ask for it but that'll be done through military channels up through the leadership as appropriate and not something that we do as a public thing. Q: If you needed more troops, what kind of specialized troops would you need? COL. DORRIAN: That's a hypothetical, Luis. I'm not going to touch that one. CAPT. DAVIS: Next to Gordon Lubold. I'm sorry actually Lucas, you were next. Lucas Thomlinson and then Gordon. Q: Gordon, do you want to go? Q: No, you go. Q: I don't know if I have a question yet. Q: Okay. Q: Okay, colonel if the test for mustard agent was inconclusive, what exactly was that oily substance that was on the shell? COL. DORRIAN: Lucas, we're going to have to wait until the tests come back in order to determine exactly what was there. So certainly with the level of attention that this has gotten, we'll let you know once we know. Q: And going back to the Mosul fight, are you seeing ISIS fighters digging in, preparing for a big battle? Can you talk us through that and some of the challenges in taking the city? COL. DORRIAN: Well, Daesh have been in Mosul for more than two years. They built intricate defenses there. They've dug in, put up things like T-walls, big barriers to stop people from coming in or slow an advance. They've dug trenches. I've seen reports that they've poured oil in some of those trenches with intent to start them on fire. Essentially, they've built a hell on Earth around themselves and they're going to be in that whenever the Iraqi security forces come in there and push them out. Q: Yes, hey, colonel. Thanks for this. Two quick questions. One is can you expand a little bit more on potential up-arming of YPG? I know what you said earlier but is there an argument to be made that expanding the assistance perhaps more directly to the YPG ahead of the Raqqa fight could be beneficial and potentially what form could that take? And also, could you just clarify on this idea that U.S. troops are using white phosphorous on the ground for things that potentially are beyond screening on the ground and potentially in violation of international law? COL. DORRIAN: Well, I'll start with the white phosphorous one. Those are being used in accordance with our rules, they're being used in accordance with the laws of armed conflict and we always attempt to do the very best that we can to use any of our weapons, be they white phosphorous or any other, in a manner that has a minimal or as little as possible impact on civilians. So, what you've cited there is some allegation, I'm not aware of any allegations against U.S. forces for their use of white phosphorous at all. But if you have anything on that, I welcome it and we'll answer it. Now, your other question about the arming of the YPG or other groups. We have for a long time been arming the SDF and the group in that SDF that we've been working with very closely is the Syrian Arab Coalition. So, I'm not going to get into pre-decisional or any type of philosophical discussion as far as, you know, who we might arm directly. We arm the SAC and that's -- that's the nature of our relationship. Q: Can you possibly give us some more clarity on the strike on Deir ez-Zor that allegedly killed Syrian troops? First, where U.S. aircraft manned or unmanned part of that strike? The reason I ask is that there's some reports -- well, Britain, Denmark, and Australia have said that their aircraft were part of that package and there are some reports out there that perhaps U.S. aircraft were not part of this at all. Were U.S. aircraft part of this? And secondly, can you say, sir, the other reports that perhaps it wasn't Syrian Army troops that were hit that it was prisoners that ISIS pushed out in front to try to lure an attack. Can you clarify anything on that? COL. DORRIAN: Well, I can clarify, there were U.S. forces involved in that. There were U.S. aircraft that were there. I can clarify that piece. As far as the rest of it, who was on the ground, who those forces were, we need to let the investigation play out. So there has been a lot of speculation about that. It's time to just go ahead and let the investigators investigate and will get to the bottom of it and we'll release information on the other end about exactly what we believe happened there. Q: Just -- just one more, colonel. A one-star has been appointed to conduct the investigation. Is -- that -- is that General, is he on the ground now over there? COL. DORRIAN: I am afraid I -- I don't know. I'm gong to have to owe that one to you, I'll see whether I can get an answer for that. CAPT. DAVIS: Okay. Do you have a follow-up, Tara? Q: I did. On the Manbij aid drops, could you tell us what type of U.S. aircraft were involved in that, and whether the U.S. is -- would consider doing any sort of similar type of aid drop over Aleppo at this point? COL. DORRIAN: Tara, I'm -- I'm not sure. I didn't catch the entire question. Q: Okay, just to repeat, could you tell us what U.S. aircraft were involved in the aid drop over Manbij and whether or not the U.S. would consider doing a similar type of aid drop to Aleppo. COL. DORRIAN: I should -- I should clarify, I believe those -- those aid -- that aid was delivered by truck, not by airlift. Q: So the -- all right. On the Aleppo part, I mean, would there be any role for U.S. forces at this point to be able to deliver aid to Aleppo? COL. DORRIAN: No -- the -- the international community has the lead for aid into Aleppo. We do not have a U.S. military mission there at this point. CAPT. DAVIS: Okay, we're -- yeah, go ahead. I just want to point that we don't want to clear out a bit early because, I mean, -- (inaudible) -- make some preparations in here for the special -- (inaudible) -- this afternoon. Q: Just one quick follow-up, colonel. Who is the one-star that general has been appointed to investigate the incident in Eastern Syria? COL. DORRIAN: Afraid I will have to owe you that one to you, as well. CAPT. DAVIS: Okay. Anybody -- yeah, Ryan, go ahead. Q: Colonel, on -- Noble Lance you said you described the capture of the flag villages as very tough fighting, highly contested. I mean, are any of the U.S. or coalition personnel involved in an operation? Have they been involved in it directly in any of that fighting, or have they been exposed to any of that fighting? COL. DORRIAN: Our -- our participation in northern Syria is just like it is in Iraq. It is an advise and assist role and generally our forces are away from the fighting. So they may be nearby, but they're in an advise and assist role, not directly involved in fighting. CAPT. DAVIS: All right. Anybody else? All right. J.D., thank you very much -- COL. DORRIAN: Strikes to support those operations and have done a considerable number of them. CAPT. DAVIS: J.D., thanks for your time and for coming to see us in what I know is late evening your time, so get to bed and we wish you all the best. COL. DORRIAN: Thanks a bunch. Take care. CAPT. DAVIS: Thanks, everybody. http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/954859/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Transcript Presenter: General John W. Nicholson Jr., commander, Resolute Support and U.S. Forces Afghanistan; Captain Jeff Davis, Director, Defense Press Office September 23, 2016 Department of Defense Press Briefing by General Nicholson via Teleconference from Afghanistan CAPTAIN JEFF DAVIS: Just a quick introduction. Pleased to have General John Nicholson, our top commander in Afghanistan, here in Washington and eager to provide you all an update on what's going on in Afghanistan. Without further ado, General Nicholson will have some opening remarks and then turn to your questions. GENERAL JOHN W. NICHOLSON: OK. This is the Peter Cook button? (CROSSTALK) GEN. NICHOLSON: OK. That is the Peter Cook button. OK. Well, welcome everybody, and thanks so much for covering our mission in Afghanistan. It's a pleasure to be with you here today. Before I get started, though, I want to say today's special also because I understand it's the last day for Jim Miklaszewski. Is that right? Q: Pretty much. (Laughter.) GEN. NICHOLSON: Pretty much? OK. Yeah. Well, to the extent he'll ever really leave. But I just wanted to pass on my congratulations to him and thanks for his long service here. And I remember back in 2003 when I was a lieutenant colonel running into Mik in the hallway and at that time, we had a commander in Army Central who was named Miklashek and we all thought he had the inside scoop because they were related. But it wasn't, it was because Mik was such a -- such a professional and he's just such a good person. So please give him my best and congratulation on his great career. So it's been great to work with him. So again, thanks for covering our mission in Afghanistan. It's great to talk with you today. I thought in my opening comments I'd just kind of review some of the fundamentals about the mission before we get into questions. As you all know, we have two missions in Afghanistan. So I'm the commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan and also command of Resolute Support. So in the U.S. mission, which is Operation Freedom Sentinel, we're primarily focused on counterterrorism operations. Why is this important? Well, of thee 98 U.S. or U.N.-designated terrorists organizations around the globe, 20 of them are in the Af-Pak region. This is the highest concentration of the numbers of different groups in any area in the world. And so while the numbers may be higher in some of these groups elsewhere, the concentration of -- of groups in this region is important. So our presence there is critical to keeping pressure on these networks so they cannot realize their international ambitions. Secondly, on the Resolute Support mission, it's important to remember this is a 39-nation coalition, most of whom have been with us in this region for the last 10 to 15 years. And this commitment to the region not only has spanned the last decade-plus, but was just reaffirmed at the Warsaw Summit going forward that this coalition will go forward. And then in the next couple of weeks, we'll have the Brussels donor conference where nations will recommit to donor funding to Afghanistan in some of the non-security areas. So the international commitment to Afghanistan has been significant and continues to be significant going forward. The Resolute Support mission is primarily focused on training, advising and assisting the Afghan security forces, and this has been particularly important as we grow them to take over this mission for themselves. And I would highlight again, I know you're very familiar with this, but from our height of 140,000 international troops, we are now down to roughly one-tenth of that, and our mission has changed from counter-insurgency to train, advise and assist. And now, we are able then to help the Afghans with their taking over the fight in Afghanistan. So there is some tangible progress here we can point to in terms of especially their special forces, their police special units, their air force, just to name three examples of the way in which they are conducting most of their operations in an independent manner, and in the case of the special forces, quite successfully. So, shifting gears at little bit, I'm in -- I've been in Afghanistan about seven months so just to give you an update on where we are, this roughly coincides with when the Afghans began their campaign for 2016 called operation Shafaq which means dawn. So, this campaign has essentially been on plan through the end of July and it was -- the three phases we ran to that point, number one, which was the defense of Kunduz that occurred in April and May in which the Afghans successfully defended against another Taliban attempt to take that city. They then shifted their main effort to the south to Helmand, Western Kandahar, Uruzgan to expand their security zone in the south. Again, this was conducted successfully in the June, July timeframe. And then, in late July, they shifted their effort to Nangarhar to the east to conduct counter-ISIL operations, counter-Daesh operations. These operations were very successful. They were conducted by Afghan Special Forces enabled by U.S. counter-terrorism forces and these succeeded in killing the top 12 leaders of Daesh to include there Amir , Hafasayad Khan, and trading roughly 25 percent of the organization of their fighters and reducing their space in Nangarhar. So, then at the end of July, early August, the enemy has attempted to take another provincial capitol and what we've seen in the last month or six weeks are attempts to take Lashkar Gah, Kunduz in the north, and Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan. In every case, they've failed but I want to flag these because these have been an -- an important point of the campaign for the Afghans. So, they've been able to respond to each of these events, to restore and stabilize the situation and, of course, retain the provincial capitols throughout, important point. The -- also in this time, our counter-terrorism operations have continued to be successful throughout the past six months. I mentioned the killing of Hafasayad Khan. There was also the strike against Mullah Mansour, a designated U.N. terrorist in Pakistan and Omar Khalifa who was the head of the TGG, the Tariq Geedar Group which perpetrated the horrendous attack on the Peshawar Army School which killed over 130 children. Our C.T. Forces also rescued the son of the Pakistani -- former Pakistani prime minister, Haider Gilani in a raid against Al Qaida in Eastern Afghanistan. So, the high profile attacks is another favorite technique of the Taliban, of course, and while there have been some horrendous high profile attacks this year, the numbers overall are down from last year so about 16 this year in Kabul as compared to 23 last year. Now, a lot of this has been possible because of the decisions that President Obama's made in support of our campaign and I want to highlight those. First was the decision to strike Mullah Mansour inside Pakistan on the 21st of May. This had a disruptive effect on the Taliban, in particular on their finances, and it took them some time to get themselves sorted out and recovered from that. Second was the authority granted in early June which allowed me to use U.S. combat enablers in support of Afghan forces to achieve a strategic effect. So, this authority is extremely important. It's enabled us to use air power in particular but also rotary wing and armed ISR platforms, unmanned aerial vehicle platforms, in support of the Afghans. And then of course there was the president's decision on troop levels. So, as we went into the Warsaw summit. So, the decision to maintain our troop levels at 8,400 enables us to conduct -- continue to conduct advising to the corps level, and in the case of special forces and other units, even below the corps level going into next year. So, these have all been important decisions which then contributed to the renewed international commitment at the Warsaw summit in early July. And just as a -- as an anecdote, what we saw after the Warsaw Summit was an increase in the property values inside Kabul. So the -- the confidence of the Afghan people, the confidence of their security forces within the government and I think also the effect on the enemy has been important of these decisions by the administration and the consequent effect of these decisions on the battlefield. So again, let me just sort of wrap it up there and say I look forward to your questions. And again, thanks for covering our story. CAPT. DAVIS: Lita ? Q: General, thanks for doing this. A couple questions. One, I was wondering -- I wanted to give you the opportunity, if you wanted to make any comments on the latest peace deal that the Afghans have just signed, if you wanted to do that, but then I have a couple questions on -- GEN. NICHOLSON: Right. So, this is an agreement that's been tentatively reached between the Afghan government and Hekmatyar's group. And of course, the -- this is encouraging in my mind, in a sense that, you know, we have a country here that has suffered from 30 years of war and there's many belligerents who -- people who in the past have fought against each other. In fact, some of these belligerents are in the government together now, but this is positive in the sense that this represents a group that is residing largely outside of Afghanistan, that is now reaching a reconciliation agreement with the government, which will eventually involve a reintegration into Afghan society. And of course, this is the -- one of the most important steps we see towards an eventual resolution of the conflict in Afghanistan, that -- that these groups, these belligerents -- to include the Taliban. And as we know, President Ghani has done a significant outreach to the Taliban earlier this year through the quadrilateral process to try and get the Taliban to come to the bargaining table. And I know that this continues to be a goal of our international policy and our desire, that we encourage this kind of reconciliation and eventual reintegration. So in that -- in that context, this is a very positive step. Q: Great. Just yesterday, the -- the chairman talked about the Afghanistan fight as being a stalemate. I'm wondering if you could say whether or not you agree with that? And he said that there are more Afghan casualties than he's comfortable with, an assessment I think you have made in the past when we've seen you in Afghanistan, that the numbers have been high. You talked about 900, I think, in July. Has that level continued in August and into September? Can you give us an assessment of what their casualty levels have been? And what do you think the U.S. and the coalition can do to stem that part of the problem? GEN. NICHOLSON: Last year, the Afghans suffered high casualties, we talked about those previously. And then over the winter, we engaged with them in what we call a force regeneration effort. For example, in Helmand Province, we went down there with the 215th Corps, and we -- we did a focused effort with the Afghans, where they brought in new leaders and soldiers; we re-equipped, we retrained and got those units back into the field. So this is the model that we're using to work with the Afghans going forward this winter, to help them regenerate units that have suffered high casualties. Many of these casualties have been suffered by police forces, so this is something we're focused on going forward, is how we can help regenerate the police. This will be done in concert with our police reform efforts, so this will be extremely important. I am concerned about the high casualties, but thus far, I'd point out that despite the high casualties in 2015, the Afghan security forces were able to be -- prevent the enemy from accomplishing their goals in 2016. So, while casualties are a concern and we certainly want to lower the casualties, we also see resilience in that the Afghan security forces have been able to continue to fight in spite of these losses. So, we believe that with improvements in leadership and a system like supply systems and so forth and through a reduction of dependency on check points, that this will reduce the potential for casualties. This is where many of the casualties have been suffered in a small, you know, 30 to 50 man checkpoints. They get overrun by a larger enemy force. So we're working with our Afghan partners on that on how to adjust their tactics and their systems to lower their casualty. So that's extremely important. This was one of the factors I mentioned before when we talked about concerns is the casualties, the convergence of enemy units, the role of external actors and the government's stability as being critical, too, as well. So we watch these factors closely, and I think we have a good plan in place with the Afghans to address the casualty issue going forward. Q: Is 900 a stable number in the stalemate issues ? GEN. NICHOLSON: OK. On the -- so as a characterization of the conflict, so I'd -- let me talk about this in a couple terms. I think we, you know, another way to think about stalemate is you've reached some sort of equilibrium. And so, what is the equilibrium? So as you heard yesterday from the SECDEF and the chairman, we believe the Afghans control or heavily influence 68 to 70 percent of the population. We believe the enemy control or influence about 10 percent of the population. And then the balance, you know, roughly a quarter, is in play, is contested. So, the fact that it's contested doesn't mean it's controlled by either side, but it's indeed contested. So this stalemate that the chairman referred to yesterday is a stalemate in which the government's controlling 70 percent of the population and the enemy is controlling 10 percent of the population, and then they're fighting over the balance. And so, this is a positive in the sense of the majority of the population's under control of the government forces, and this is primarily the population centers and so on. And then the enemy is primarily in more rural areas that have less impact on the future of the country. So, we clearly want to help the Afghans next year and beyond to gradually increase the amount of control they exercise over the population as we also help them become more self-sustaining. So, yes, it's something we're concerned about, but it is something that we're addressing with the Afghans and hoping to help them move forward next year and increase the amount of control they have. Q: Thank you. First thing, do you have any more details on this strike that took place earlier in the week that seems to have killed about eight Afghan police soldiers? GEN. NICHOLSON: This strike was in Tarin Kowt. It was a strike down at the request of our Afghan partners. It's under investigation by them. We work closely with them in the identification of the target and the approval of the strike. I don't want to get in front of the Afghan investigation, but these individuals who were struck, there's some question about who they were and where -- their target was clearly an Afghan security post. So they were attacking an Afghan security post who then requested our support in self-defense. And so, this is -- these are generally what we know about the strike thus far, and I think there will be more coming at us as the Afghan investigation is completed. Q: Second question. You talked about the Afghan forces being able to repel attacks in some prevention centers. Are you concerned that the Taliban and other terrorist groups are able to make it that far that they're able to challenge prevention capitals? And us this sort of sustainable where the Afghan security forces have to keep on repelling them? I mean, how long can that continue for? GEN. NICHOLSON: Yes. When I say repel, I mean provide a little more detail for you. So, what -- in the case, so let's take Kunduz in April and May. So what this -- it was not a case of the Afghans were dug in trenches around the city. They were conducting offensive operations in the surrounding district. So in the case of Kunduz in April and May, they conducted operations into (Archi ?) District to the northeast, for example, they conducted operations to the west and to the -- to the northwest. So they -- the -- the way in which the Afghan forces defended Kunduz was to conduct offensive clearing operations into the areas around the city, particular -- likewise in Helmand they did the same thing with offensive clearing operations to go into Marja, down to the southern part of Sangin District and elsewhere in Helmand to expand the security around the city. And then what's happened when the enemy's attacked is the technique that they use is to attack specific checkpoints, typically along highways. and then what we see if an effective use of information ops and PSYOPS, psychology operations, by the enemy against these checkpoints in which they will -- they might overrun a checkpoint and then call the next checkpoint and tell them, "If you leave, we'll leave you alone." And so this has -- these checkpoints have been vulnerable to this because of poor leadership at the lowest levels, and this -- when I saw poor leadership, I mean by the Afghan security forces, where soldiers are not properly supplied, they don't have enough ammo, they're not, you know, kept well informed or well-led so they become more vulnerable to these styled attacks. And then, of course, the way they're distributed, as I mentioned before, in small packages makes them more vulnerable to this as well. So this is something we've been working closely with our Afghan partners on is so that -- the way in which they array their forces makes them susceptible to these kinds of attacks. There's a political and social reason, though, for why they array their forces that way, because the Afghan population, while there are a number of population centers, they generally are distributed more -- more widely than you see in other countries. So these checkpoints are usually done at the request of a local community that wants to feel more secure by having a ring of checkpoints around their community. So this is the tension we have in working with our Afghan partners. So these police and isolated checkpoints are the ones that are most vulnerable. We have to -- to work then with the governance and you know, with the governors and the provincial leaders to -- to reach out to the people and deal with this. So it's really more than strictly a military situation, there's social and political aspects to it as well. Then when something happens, when a checkpoint is overrun, quite often, local leaders in order to attract attention to their area will call the media in many cases and relay hey, you know, the community's being overrun, the city's being overrun. This results in what I -- what I'd characterize as exaggerated reports about how dire the security situation is, which then the government has to respond to and then they typically stabilize the situation. So this pattern I just described is what we've see in Helmand, around Lashkar Gah, we've seen in Kunduz around Kunduz City and we saw most recently in Tarin Kowt. And so we're working closely with our Afghan partners on this, on how they can help better secure these areas, how they can react quickly, how they can reassure the population, how they communicate their message more effectively. Q: Last question, sorry. Have you -- CAPT. DAVIS: (inaudible) -- questions. So please, David? Q: When these attacks on provincial capitals are repelled, are they repelled with the help of American airstrikes and American special forces as -- as advisers at the unit level? GEN. NICHOLSON: Yes, David. The -- what we -- what we typically see is the Afghans rely on their special forces to -- for reinforcement on offensive operations. The -- the special forces are doing most of the offensive operations around the country. And when I refer to the special forces, I'm talking about 17,000 special forces, which include Kotehas, which is their high-end counter-terrorist unit; the commandos, who are significant portions; and the special police units. So these units are advised by Americans, and in the case of the police units, by our NATO special forces partners. And so when these units go into action, say a commando kandak, they -- 20 percent of the time -- 10 to 20 percent of the time will have American advisers with them. And then these advisers can employ combat enablers. So to describe this to you, 80 percent of the special forces operations they do independently. About 10 percent are enabled meaning we would use our intelligence platforms and air support for example but no one on the ground. And then finally the 10 percent would be where they're actually advised. Where people are out there in the field with them. So they may not have advisers on the ground, but they may have the benefit of our intelligence resources and they may have the benefit of air support. Q: So are the Afghans capable of defending their provincial capitals on their own? GEN. NICHOLSON: Yes, I think so. I think what we've seen is the Commandos in some cases are sent are sent without U.S. support to stabilize the situation. And then in the case of Lashkar Gah, for example the governor, Governor (inaudible) who's a very effective governor has mobilized the (inaudible) and the local population. He's worked closely with his security counterparts, so they have defensive forces inside the city, and outside, and along the routes of Lashkar Gah. They've done a sort of social outreach as well as a security outreach to help stabilize the situation. So the answer I think is yes. Now we do use our enablers in support of them if we get in a situation where that's appropriate. CAPT. DAVIS: Courtney? Q: Just one quick clarification. You keep talking about combat enablers, you mean air -- from the air right? You're not talking about enablers on the group right? GEN. NICHOLSON: So the authority I've been granted by President Obama for combat enablers would include air support so that would be the F-16s that we have, it would include rotary wings, so Apache helicopters, it would include our unmanned aerial vehicles that would provide either intelligence or in some case they can provide fire support. And then we also have advisers that can be on the ground with them. And then -- but these advisers when they go on the ground. Are not -- they accompany but they are to remain, for example if the group is closing on an objective, they are to remain at the last covered and concealed position prior to the objective. This doesn't mean though that they won't get in dangerous situations, because the battlefield is very fluid they may find themselves sometimes in a situation where their in direct contact with the enemy. Q: You mentioned that 12 leaders were killed and 25 percent of the fighters are gone. So what's the estimate of how many ISIS are in Afghanistan, are they primarily in Nangarhar and are they still presenting the same threat to the government and to U.S. forces there as they were six months ago or? GEN. NICHOLSON: They are primarily in Nangarhar. We estimate their numbers are 1,200 to 1,300 fighters. They're primarily Pakistani Pashtun from the Agoricsi Agency, who were previously part of -- (inaudible) -- Taliban Pakistan, TTP, who then changed alliance to ISK. They were joined by some fighters from Islamic movement of Uzbekistan, who joined them as well. They have some enclaves in Kunar Province but primarily they're in Nangarhar Province. Their goal was to establish their caliphate the Khorasan Province, with Jalalabad as the capital and Nangarhar as their initial caliphate. Now they've been frustrated in that by us and the operations in July have pushed them down into the mountains of southern Nangarhar. And it's primarily in three to four districts. As you know, Courtney, there was a time when they had spread out to nine to ten districts last year in 2015. So the operations this year have helped to push them down. And we will continue these operations into the future. CAPT. DAVIS: Yes, Joe. Q: Yes, two quick question. Have you seen -- to follow up on Courtney's about ISIS -- have you seen any evidence that foreign groups outside Afghanistan are supporting the Islamic state? And if there is any clear link between the Islamic state inside -- in Nangarhar and the Haqqani network and the Taliban? GEN. NICHOLSON: We have seen linkages between Islamic state and the Khorasan and the main Islamic state back in Syria. So we have seen those linkages. And the only linkages with a groups locally are the ones I mentioned, where we had fighters change allegiance from one group to another. As far as cooperation, this is something we watch very closely, but we haven't seen any large scale convergence with -- Q: Linkages between the Islamic state in Syria and Afghanistan? GEN. NICHOLSON: Financial and leadership and strategic communications. So the -- and the, and the one issue of Dabiq magazine, which was the Islamic State magazine, they had an article about Islamic state Khorasan Province. We've seen some financial support and leadership and guidance going back and forth. Q: Ask the question, if we want to talk about percentage, what's the percentage of treasuries that are currently under control of Taliban in Afghanistan? GEN. NICHOLSON: Ten percent. So what we see is 10 percent of the population is under their control. But they contest another 20 percent -- 20 to 25 percent. So we view 20 to 25 percent of the country is contested, meaning the government and the Taliban are fighting for control of that. The Taliban clearly control 10 percent and the government controls roughly 65 to 70 percent. So, these are rough percentages. CAPT. DAVIS: Gordon? Q: Quick question on draw down. Can you give us a quick update on where the numbers are for U.S. forces in Afghanistan? Your kind of current assessment of what capabilities you're losing with that -- I know some of it's kind of administrative. But also, if a new commander-in-chief was going to come in January and want to make changes to those numbers, i.e. go up, what structure are you losing potentially that would make it hard to undo these cuts? GEN. NICHOLSON: Well, we're currently at 9,800 U.S. forces in the country. As we -- and we're going to stay -- we're at that now, we'll continue at that until the end of the year. And then as we rotate units in and out, which we will do between now and the end of the year, we'll come in to that new configuration. One of the, one of the ways which we'll address that is with over the horizon capabilities, as you've heard me talk about before. So, some of the resources would be available if required to come in from the Gulf region, if that were necessary. So, we also then have looked at realigning our forces and how they're arrayed. And so, what, what the, what you'll see as we transition from 9,800 to 8,400 is a -- an actual expansion of our advisory effort. So, focus on advising. So the advising would be right now you'll see a similar footprint occur in all four of the corps in the east and the south. So, as you know, the U.S. is responsible for the four corps in the east and the south. The Germans for the corps in the north. And Italians for the corps in the west as framework nations with allies supporting all those efforts. And then the Turks have the -- the capital area. So the four corps in the east and the south, we will -- as we rotate units in, we're going to rearrange our advisory structure so we can cover down on all those cores. And then we have support from allies in the south of and the east who help us with some of the key functions like force protection. And then we have some capabilities. I'd rather not get into the specifics of which capabilities we're putting over the horizon for operational security reasons, but this is what's enabling us to -- to restructure. Q: (off mic.) Q: Colonel Nicholson, could you go back over some of what you were talking about ISIS? And in two cases, you seem to be mentioning there's foreign outside influences, so I just want to understand that better. You said -- I believe you said you're seeing Uzbek fighters move in if I understood correctly. So number one, where else from are you seeing foreign fighters come back into Afghanistan and either affiliate with ISIS or Al Qaida? And on the issue of getting support, leadership, you said, from the Islamic State in Syria, can you expand on that a little bit? Are you actually seeing people move in from Syria? Do you have sort of proven lines of communication that you're seeing, electronic communication? What are you really talking about here? GEN. NICHOLSON: So in answer to the first part of your question, Barbara, the Islamic movement of Uzbekistan was more prominent early in ISK's emergence. Their role, I think, has somewhat declined a little bit, but there are -- there are still some that are present. But what you had early on was -- (inaudible) -- the leader of ISK initially, formally applied to -- to the -- to ISIL for membership as a franchise, if you will, of -- an called Islamic State Khorasan and there is a formal application process that these -- that these satellite organizations go through. And I believe the number's around eight of them now. And they -- and they have to meet certain criteria. So he brought with him -- Hafasayad Khan was the leader of the TTP in -- (inaudible) -- agency of Pakistan, so he and his fighters and (inaudible) formed the initial nucleus of Islamic State Khorasan. And then they attracted in other fighters, and so IMU would be the other group of foreigners, if you will. And then -- and then part of this was they did this through higher pay. So some -- some of this was, you know, allegiance to a particular leader as he moved over, some of it in terms of the other fighters out that they've -- that they've attracted has been through higher pay than the Taliban are paid. So there was a mixture of reasons for why people joined ISK. And then over the last year, their numbers have attrited heavily. So some of the appeal of this, you know, fighting for money has worn off. They do have effective information operations, if you will, an effective advertising campaign to attract fighters. So this is -- this is continuing to be part of their appeal. So what we've seen is then as far as foreigners -- and it's really those two primary groups. With respect to external leadership -- so one, they applied for membership, so there was a dialogue that occurred and an approval and an acceptance and then a publicizing of their effort -- (inaudible). There's been money that's been sent and -- Q: Are you talking about mainstream ISIS in Syria now? GEN. NICHOLSON: Yeah, money from the parent organization to the satellite organization. Now -- now again, this -- I don't want to get into details and so forth, but there has been financial support. And when -- for example, when we killed their Amir and there was a leadership succession process that occurred, and there was consultation that occurred, with the parent organization -- over who the next leader would be and was that person acceptable to the parent organization, so forth. So, there is a degree of command and control provided from the parent organization to the satellite. Q: Have you seen anybody move in -- have you seen any fighters move in from Syria? GEN. NICHOLSON: No. Q: And very quickly, may I also ask you about the Haqqani Network? Your current assessment about the Haqqanis at the moment -- I think the Afghans are holding a major, or significant, family member of the Haqqanis -- GEN. NICHOLSON: Anas Haqqani is in Afghan custody. He's been sentenced to death, and his death sentence is going through the appeals process right now. Q: Is there a sense that if the Afghans commute that -- I know this may be very difficult to answer publicly -- that you might have some success with getting the American hostages back? And your assessment of the strength of the Haqqani Network at this point. GEN. NICHOLSON: So, on the, the trial and the subsequent appeal process is entirely in control of the Afghan government. So that's up to them how this, how this plays out. This -- the trial and appeals process kind of wrapped up, and the appeals process just began. So, I would expect this to continue into 2017 because of the appeals process. As far the strength of the Haqqanis, we, as you know, the Secretary of Defense in August in his response to Congress as a result of the National Defense Act and Authorization Act of 2015, he was required to respond to Congress on whether there was adequate pressure being placed on the Haqqanis by the Pakistan government. And he said he was unable to certify that there was sufficient pressure being placed on them to justify additional coalition support funds to Pakistan. Kind of a lengthy explanation, but it was his way of saying that there's not, not adequate pressure being put on the Haqqanis. And I concur and with the Secretary's assessment on that. Then we, that the Haqqanis operationally have been able to conduct operations inside Afghanistan -- they constitute the primary threat to Americans, to coalition members, and to Afghans especially in and around Kabul. Q: Is there more we can do? GEN. NICHOLSON: Is there more? Q: Is there more U.S. forces can do? GEN. NICHOLSON: Oh, so as part of our, our -- the authorities have been granted by President Obama enable us to take any measures necessary to defend against the Haqqani threat. So, we have authorities into terms of force protection, so we can act against them when we identify them. We track their actions very closely. Especially as relates to the Kabul threat streams. And so, we -- you know, I have the authorities I need to defend us against that threat. CAPT. DAVIS: We have time probably for two more. Lucas? Q: General, how many senior Al Qaida leaders remain in Eastern Afghanistan? And are there any restrictions on striking them? GEN. NICHOLSON: No, Al Qaida remains at the top of our list along with Islamic State as a -- and I mentioned these 20 terrorists organizations, those two are at the top. And we continue to hunt them every day. And so, there are senior leaders, as far as the numbers, I really don't want to get into matters that would affect future operations. But we -- we have seen Al Qaida, for example, last year in October of 2015 as you know there was an operation conducted down in the Shorabak District of Kandahar where there was Al Qaida and Al Qaida Indian subcontinent were present in that locale, in that training base that was destroyed. We continue to go after these -- this network. The raid in which we rescued Haider Gilani, the son of the former Pakistani prime minister, that was -- was against an Al Qaida target, and so Al Qaida was holding that individual hostage. We -- we see them in the east, stretching from you know, to Zabul, Paktika, Ghazni area in the Southeast and then up in the areas to the Northeast which you are familiar with, Kunar, Nuristan, Nangarhar, there's some very mountainous area which -- which lends itself to a sanctuary. QUESTIONS: Are there any restrictions in going after these leaders? Your predecessor, when he came to the Pentagon told reporters he had some challenges working with the White House, so I was wondering if you are experiencing anything similar? GEN. NICHOLSON: No challenges. Q: I just want to clarify the enabler part of the equation of your new -- new authorities. That's conventional U.S. troops going out with conventional Afghan troops correct? As far as you know, like an attack controller control party, JTACs, et cetera? GEN. NICHOLSON: They go in an advisory role, they're not accompanying them to conduct close combat, but they are there, for example, as special forces ODA, you know an Operational Detachment Alpha, with its 12 members would go out with a commando can act and then that ODA is, you know, would have the capabilities to call in air support or provide terminal guidance for you know, bombs, armed ISR, or anything of that nature. Q: An ODA could be 10 mountain guys as well, correct? GEN. NICHOLSON: No, primarily -- with the Special Forces, it's special - it's our special units, so it's primarily Special Forces. So as far as what we have in terms of conventional advisers would be in what we call "expedition advisory packages", and these are primarily focused at the headquarters level, so at the brigade or Corps level. So what we might do, as we did recently in the essence of Tarin Kowt, is deploy a package up to Tarin Kowt with advisers for the 205th Corps and the fourth brigade of 205th, but they weren't actually going out on operations. They were at the headquarters advising them on how to utilize these enablers and the enablers were used that case -- and in that case included you know, close air support from F-16s, rotary wing support for Apache helicopters and armed UAVs to provide direct support of the ground. Q: And then just the last -- last part. You mentioned this kind of breakdown at checkpoints, and you were talking about poor leadership and how you know, maybe these guys didn't have equipment and ammo and just, we're two weeks from the 15th anniversary of this whole thing, kind of wondering how you can have Afghan security forces that are, you know we pumped X amount of millions or billions of dollars into this, I'm wondering if you can get to that point? GEN. NICHOLSON: So, when I first served in Afghanistan as a Colonel 10 years ago, we had about -- you know I had -- I had one brigade in Afghanistan, and at that time we had 15 brigades in Iraq, OK and we had at that time -- this was in 2006 -- about 25,000 to 30,000 U.S. troops and about as many Afghan security forces. So the police were untrained and the Army had only 20 -- 25 to 35,000 troops. So then as you know, we surged up in 2009 and 2010, where we raised our presence to 140,000 troops in order to grow the Afghan army. And so we -- we now have been able, through that huge investment that we've made, to draw down our numbers to 1/10 of what they once were, and in the meantime grow the Afghan security forces to over 300,000. Now the analogy is -- is the old building aircraft while in flight, these guys been fighting the entire time, and so we're fighting as we're trying to build the Army so their being -- the units are being built, the leaders are being trained, they're going directly in the combat, a certain percentage of them are becoming casualties and then we're starting all over again. So when I think the Western armies and the decades and centuries it's taken to build the professional Western armies that we have today, and given that we started, you know, 10 years ago -- (inaudible) -- but we really started in 2009 when President Obama decided on a comprehensive counter-insurgency strategy and a significant investment. It's only been seven -- seven years. And so in relative terms, this is a short amount of time for an army that's fighting everyday. So as a professional soldier, would I -- would I like to see fast progress? Of course. And we're going to work very hard and we continue to work very hard with them on this. But I also see progress in the sense that we've drastically reduced our presence and -- and they -- they are willing and able to fight. They take casualties and they keep going back into the fight. And this is -- this is something money can't buy, is their willingness to take the fight to the enemy. And so one of the things that I'm most impressed with about the Afghans is this desire to fight for their country. They view it as a matter of personal honor that they are the ones defending their country, not us. And they deeply appreciate everything we're doing with them. They know they have things to work on. But they're very committed to -- to winning this war on their own. (CROSSTALK) GEN. NICHOLSON: I'm sorry? Q: Average percentage of casualties for -- (inaudible)? GEN. NICHOLSON: I'd have to get back to you on -- on that. I mean, it really varies. The policy suffer higher casualties than the army. I think this is a reflection of training and professionalism. And -- and the reform efforts in the MOD have been -- have had longer to take hold than the MOI. We've got more work to do on the MOI. CAPT. DAVIS: General Nicholson, I promised to keep you on schedule. Thank you, sir, for your engagement -- GEN. NICHOLSON: Thanks. CAPT. DAVIS: -- engagement and thank you also, sir, for your -- your team as well in Afghanistan -- (inaudible). GEN. NICHOLSON: Thanks a lot, Peter. And again, thanks to all of you for your -- for covering our story and look forward to seeing many of you in theater. Bye. -END- http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/954839/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Black Dart Exercise Tests Counter-UAS Capabilities Aboard USS Jason Dunham, USS Lassen Navy News Service Story Number: NNS160923-13 Release Date: 9/23/2016 10:07:00 AM By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Maddelin Angebrand GULF OF MEXICO (NNS) -- Guided-missile destroyers USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) and USS Lassen (DDG 82) tested counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) capabilities during exercise Black Dart off the coast of Destin, Florida, Sept. 20. The exercise provides a venue where participants from industry, government and operational forces can bring different systems together, share awareness of the latest developments in C-UAS capabilities, and train, evaluate and improve upon current systems. "We got a lot of work accomplished yesterday validating and experimenting with new systems that we have," said Cmdr. Kevin Hoffman, Jason Dunham's commanding officer. "Overall, the communication across all the Department of Defense agencies and different entities that we have here has been great. We have the opportunity to employ some systems that we have not tested before, so it's a great experience for not only the ship, but the outside operators as well." Black Dart scenarios provided a realistic training environment for both Jason Dunham and Lassen to track UASs launched from Eglin, Air Force Base. In the initial scenarios, routes of the UASs were known to all operators, which allowed all systems, linked operators and sensors the ability to verify system settings and operator procedures. In advanced scenarios, routes of UASs were unknown, which increased the realistic aspect of the training. "The goal here is to test our organic sensors radar systems, camera systems and interface with the shore side [operators] who are testing systems for the same purpose," said Lt. Cmdr. Carl Poe, the combat systems officer aboard Jason Dunham. "We want to communicate and coordinate to expand our battlespace and reduce reaction time we have from detection to engagement of these UASs." Air Force cadets from the U.S. Air Force Academy operated UASs from Jason Dunham's rigid hull inflatable boat about two nautical miles away from Jason Dunham, providing an opportunity for the cadets to test the UASs in a maritime environment and allowing Jason Dunham opportunities to test sensor and tracking systems from different ranges and elevations. "Great job to the Air Force cadets with their first time operating a quad-copter in an at sea environment, and landing it in a two-foot by two-foot space," said Hoffman. "It allowed us to test our detection capabilities, and evaluate our tactics, techniques and procedures, which is what Black Dart is allowing us to focus on." Exercise Black Dart is planned, coordinated and overseen by the DoD's Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Organization and is sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense. The exercise is fully nested within the Chairman's Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Vision 2020. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group Wraps Up Valiant Shield Operations Navy News Service Story Number: NNS160923-16 Release Date: 9/23/2016 10:47:00 AM By By Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Sarah Villegas, Expeditionary Strike Group 7 Public Affairs PHILLIPINE SEA (NNS) -- The Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group (BHR ESG), with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, concluded the joint U.S. military exercise Valiant Shield 2016, Sept 23. Over the duration of the exercise, the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group and embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit participated in a series of training events that tested the strike group's ability to conduct its primary mission of amphibious warfare while also responding to air, surface, and subsurface threats. USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) joined the three-ship amphibious force for the exercise, significantly increasing the ESG's defensive and strike capabilities. "Valiant Shield challenged our watchstanders' ability to respond to multiple threats, greatly improving our coordination within the force and with a carrier strike group," said Rear Adm. Marc H. Dalton, commander, ESG 7, who commands the BHR ESG. "I am proud of the Sailors and Marines of the ESG for getting the most out of this training, and executing each event with professionalism. Bravo Zulu to the Curtis Wilbur crew for seamlessly integrating, and we look forward to more opportunities to train and operate with destroyers." The combined assets of the ESG demonstrated air defense, naval surface gunfire support, heli-borne and small craft insertion of Marines, visit board search and seizure, and a mechanized raid using Marine and Navy amphibious craft. Additionally, amphibious ships of the ESG fired NATO Sea Sparrow and Rolling Air Frame missiles in order to increase proficiency in detecting and engaging missile threats. The overall effort exemplified coordination on a joint level. One example was U.S. Air Force airlift to deliver the 31st MEU Maritime Raid Force to a destination where the team could communicate operational reports to the Marine Ground-Air-Task Force. "We flew in from Anderson on a C-130, then provided reports for the beach landing team and pilots so they could conduct [helicopter] and [mechanized vehicle] raids," said Marine Corps Cpl. Jacob Carpenter, assigned to the Maritime Raid Force as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. "It was great to see the bigger picture of how we really support each other and effect each others' operations." ESG 7 units include the flagship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), USS Green Bay (LPD 20), USS Germantown (LSD 42), Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25, and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The 31st MEU consists of Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 2/4, Combat Logistics Battalion (CLB) 31, and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 262 Reinforced. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Quartet 'gravely concerned' about Israeli settlement expansion Iran Press TV Fri Sep 23, 2016 6:33PM The so-called Middle East Quartet has censured the Tel Aviv regime for its settlement expansion policy, saying the attitude undermines efforts to find a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "The quartet emphasized its strong opposition to ongoing settlement activity, which is an obstacle to peace," said the group, which includes the United Nations, the European Union, Russia and the United States, in a statement after meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Friday. The quartet also "expressed its grave concern that the acceleration of settlement construction and expansion ... (is) steadily eroding the viability of the two-state solution." In its July report, the group called on the Tel Aviv regime to put an end to its settlement expansion activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. The last round of talks between Israelis and Palestinians collapsed in 2014. Tel Aviv's illegal settlement activities and its refusal to release senior Palestinian prisoners were among major reasons behind the failure of the negotiations. Much of the international community regards the Israeli settlements as illegal because the territories were captured by Israel in a war in 1967 and are hence subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied lands. The presence and continued expansion of the settlements has created a major obstacle for the efforts to establish peace in the Middle East. Palestinians want the occupied West Bank as part of their future independent state, with East Jerusalem al-Quds as its capital. More than half a million Israelis live in over 230 illegal settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nigeria police attack Zakzaky supporters Iran Press TV Fri Sep 23, 2016 11:25AM Nigerian police have attacked a protest rally by Shia Muslims demanding the release of Nigerian Shia leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky. The Thursday demonstration was met by police action, which included the security forces firing teargas canisters at supporters of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), led by Zakzaky, local media reported. Late last year, the Nigerian military carried out a crackdown against IMN members, accusing them of blocking roads and trying to assassinate Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai in the northern city of Zaria. The movement says it was simply holding a religious procession. The crackdown killed more than 350 Shia Muslims, who were later secretly buried by the army. Following the bloodshed, the military moved to detain Zakzaky in December. The clergyman is said to have suffered serious injury as a result of the heavy-handed treatment, which also caused him to lose an eye. The Nigerian news outlet also said Zakzaky's supporters had also held a similar protest on Sunday. UK-based rights group Amnesty International says the Nigerian army deliberately massacred the Shias and dumped their corpses in mass graves to cover up the crime. Back in April, the Amnesty's Research and Advocacy Director for Africa, Netsanet Belay shed some light on the bloodletting, saying, "Bodies were left littered in the streets and piled outside the mortuary. Some of the injured were burned alive." "Bodies were taken away, sites were razed to the ground, the rubble removed, bloodstains washed off, and bullets and spent cartridges removed from the streets," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemenis kill, injure 40 militants after Saudi carnage in Hudaydah Iran Press TV Fri Sep 23, 2016 9:21AM Yemeni forces have killed or injured at least 40 Saudi mercenaries in the country's southwest in their first retaliation against Saudi air raids that left dozens of civilians dead in Hudaydah Province. Yemeni army, backed by fighters from Popular Committees, launched rockets at the positions of Saudi mercenaries in the city Ta'izz on Thursday, Yemen's al-Masirah television reported. The retaliatory attacks came a day after at least 32 civilians, including children and women, were killed and scores more injured in Saudi airstrikes at a busy marketplace in the Hawak district of Hudaydah. Sami Motair, a medical official at al-Thawra hospital in Hudaydah, told The Associated Press that scores of bodies were buried under at least three houses destroyed by Saudi missiles.The official said the death toll is expected to rise as a search is underway to recover more bodies. On Thursday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the Saudi attacks. The UN chief "once again reminds all parties to the conflict that they must fully respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, in particular the fundamental rules of distinction, proportionality and precaution," said his spokesman, reading a statement. Ban "reiterated his call for urgent measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure," the statement added. Iran also issued a statement and condemned the Saudi raid, saying the West is complicit in Saudi crimes by remaining silent. The air raids came as the US Senate overwhelmingly voted against a bill to block a huge American arms deal with Saudi Arabia. The bill would have halted a 1.15-billion-dollar sale of hundreds of US-made tank structures, machine guns, grenade launchers and armored vehicle structures, along with thousands of rounds of ammunition, to the Riyadh regime. Saudi Arabia has been incessantly pounding Yemen since March 2015, with the UN putting the toll at 10,000. The offensive was launched to reinstate Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a Saudi ally who has resigned as Yemen's president. A survey, conducted by the Yemen Data Project, a group of academics and human rights activists, showed earlier this month that Saudi airstrikes hit 3,158 non-military sites between March 2015 and the end of August this year, The Guardian reported. UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen Jamie McGoldrick said last month that the death toll from the Saudi military aggression could rise even further as some areas had no medical facilities, and that people were often buried without any official record being made. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Expert: Azerbaijan's Civil Society Facing 'Worst Situation' In 25 Years By RFE/RL September 23, 2016 A United Nations human rights expert says that Azerbaijan's civil society has been "paralyzed" by the government and, in the past two to three years, has faced "the worst situation" since the country's independence in 1991. Michel Forst, the UN's special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, said on September 22 that Azerbaijani authorities have applied crippling pressure to journalists and rights activists critical of the government, and made it virtually impossible for nongovernmental organizations to operate. "Civil society has been paralyzed as a result of such intense pressure," Forst said in a statement as he wrapped up a nine-day visit to the oil-rich South Caucasus nation to assess the situation faced by rights advocates there. "Human rights defenders have been accused by public officials to be a fifth column of the Western governments, or foreign agents, which has led to misperception in the population of the truly valuable role played by civil society," Forst added. Western officials and right advocates in recent years have criticized a broad crackdown on dissenting voices under President Ilham Aliyev's government, including the jailing of journalists and activists who say they were targeted for their criticism of authorities. Those jailed include RFE/RL journalist Khadija Ismayilova, who spent 17 months in prison before her release in May in a case widely seen as linked to her investigations of the Aliyev family's secretive wealth. Aliyev's aide for public and political affairs, Ali Hasanov, rejected Forst's assessment, telling the APA news agency that it was "biased" and did not take into account "the Azerbaijani government's stance." Forst's report came just days ahead of a September 26 referendum on changes to Azerbaijan's constitution that critics say will tighten Aliyev's grip on power, which he has held since 2003 after inheriting the presidency from his father, Heydar. Council of Europe experts said on September 20 that the proposed changes would severely upset the balance of power and give "unprecedented" control to the president. The head of the legal department in Aliyev's administration called that assessment "hasty" and "politically driven." With reporting by RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijan- un-rights-expert-civil-society-worst- situation-25-years/28008014.htmll 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 Statement by the Quartet's Principals Media Note Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC September 23, 2016 The following is the text of the Statement by the Quartet's Principals. Begin Text Representatives of the Quartet United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, United States Secretary of State John Kerry and European Union High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Federica Mogherini met in New York on 23 September. The Quartet Principals were joined by the Foreign Ministers of Egypt and France during the second part of the meeting to brief on their work to support Middle East peace. All agreed on the importance of close and continuing coordination of all efforts to achieve the common goal of the two-state solution. The Quartet reiterated its call on the parties to implement the recommendations of the Quartet Report of 1 July 2016, and create the conditions for the resumption of meaningful negotiations that will end the occupation that began in 1967 and resolve all final status issues. The Quartet recalled its findings from the Quartet Report and expressed concern about recent actions on the ground that run counter to its recommendations. In particular: The Quartet emphasized its strong opposition to ongoing settlement activity, which is an obstacle to peace, and expressed its grave concern that the acceleration of settlement construction and expansion in Area C and East Jerusalem, including the retroactive "legalization" of existing units, and the continued high rate of demolitions of Palestinian structures, are steadily eroding the viability of the two state solution. The Quartet expressed serious concern for the continuing dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, exacerbated by the closures of the crossings as well as for the illicit arms build-up and activity by militant Palestinian groups, including rockets fired towards Israel, which increase the risk of renewed conflict. In addition, advancing Palestinian national unity on the basis of the PLO platform and Quartet principles remains a priority. The Quartet condemned the recent resurgence of violence and called on all sides to take all necessary steps to de-escalate tensions by exercising restraint, preventing incitement, refraining from provocative actions and rhetoric, and protecting the lives and property of all civilians. The Quartet stressed the growing urgency of taking affirmative steps to reverse these trends in order to prevent entrenching a one-state reality of perpetual occupation and conflict that is incompatible with realizing the national aspirations of both peoples. The Quartet acknowledged certain practical steps and agreements by Israel and the Palestinian Authority that could improve conditions for the Palestinian people, while stressing the importance of full and timely implementation. The Quartet also noted the importance of a political horizon and reiterated its call for significant policy shifts consistent with the transition to greater Palestinian civil authority contemplated by prior agreements and called for in the Quartet Report. The Quartet underlined its commitment to achieving a negotiated, comprehensive, just and enduring resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of United Nations Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). The Quartet expressed appreciation for the efforts of the United Nations Special Coordinator. It directed the Quartet Envoys to continue engaging with the parties and key stakeholders and to keep the Principals apprised on implementation of the Report's recommendations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ban urges implementation of peace agreement to resolve instability in Mali 23 September 2016 The promotion of peace and stability in Mali is crucial to its people, for the region and for the world, United Nations Secretary-General Bank Ki-moon said today, urging the parties involved in the country's reconstruction to implement the foundations that have been laid out regarding the way forward. "Mali needs our continued support," the UN chief said at a ministerial meeting at UN Headquarters in New York this morning on the implementation of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. "The Peace Agreement remains the framework that will give all Malians a chance for a better and safer life," he added. The Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali was signed in June 2015 by the Coordination des Mouvements de l'Azawad armed group, following its signature in May 2015 by the Government and a third party, the Plateforme coalition of armed groups. The Malian Government has been seeking to restore stability and rebuild following a series of setbacks since early 2012, including a military coup d'etat, renewed fighting between Government forces and Tuareg rebels, and the seizure of its northern territory by radical extremists. The country has also been wracked by a series of humanitarian crises. At today's meeting, which was co-chaired by the Governments of Mali and Algeria, the Secretary-General highlighted that both the "historic" Peace Agreement as well as the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) currently in its third year have helped to drive progress. In addition, he said, the parties have agreed on a way forward to establish interim administrations, and there are foundations for the cantonment of combatants and the redeployment of security institutions. "The stage is set to strengthen the rule of law and basic services," Mr. Ban said, "but progress is tenuous." Noting that confrontations and violations of the ceasefire were being seen in Mali, the Secretary-General recalled that just last month, he condemned armed clashes between signatory parties in Kidal. In addition, there were new confrontations this past week. The Secretary-General said that the High Representative of Mali's President is working together with the UN Special Representative for Mali and Algeria to defuse tensions. Calling on the armed groups to cease confrontations, and on all parties to set aside short-term interests and carry out the Peace Agreement, Mr. Ban emphasized that such actions are "essential" for Mali's partners, including MINUSMA, to achieve lasting stability and peace dividends for communities in Kidal, Gao, Timbuktu and beyond. "Insecurity affects access to people; among them, the nearly half a million needing immediate food assistance, and 180,000 children facing severe acute malnutrition," the Secretary-General said. Mr. Ban said he is also deeply worried about new sources of instability in Mali, the impact of terrorism on civilian life, and the many instances of serious human rights violations. Along those lines, he called on all sides to fully comply with their human rights obligations, including during counter-terrorism operations. "Violations play right into the hands of the terrorists. Any feelings of marginalization and disillusionment with the peace process can breed resentment and create fertile ground for spoilers," the UN chief said. He also called for inclusiveness of the dialogues that will shape Mali's institutions, stressing that all segments of society should participate, including women, youth, opposition groups and religious and community leaders. In that regard, he expressed hope that the "National Conference of Understanding," to be held in December, will reflect a "spirit of inclusiveness of constituencies and interests." Mr. Ban added that he counts on the statesmanship of Mali's President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, to generate new momentum and propose clear benchmarks and timelines for the Peace Agreement's accelerated and inclusive implementation. "Mali needs the unwavering and coherent support of its international partners," Mr. Ban said, recalling that the Security Council has strengthened MINUSMA to ensure it can support the implementation of the Peace Agreement and the restoration of State institutions, and protect civilians. "MINUSMA is doing everything possible to help stabilize areas where terrorist and criminal networks operate and where our troops face the threat of explosive hazards," the Secretary-General said, calling on Member States to urgently help strengthen the Mission. Countries in West Africa and the Sahel must also do their part to tackle instability in the region, and boost cross-border cooperation through initiatives spearheaded by the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the G-5 Sahel and others. The Secretary-General also highlighted that yesterday was the National Day of Mali. "There can be no better way to celebrate than to boost the peace process in formulating clear goals set and give the MINUSMA ways to achieve our common mission," he concluded. Hear more about the peace efforts in Mali from the head of MINUSMA, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, who sat down with the UN News Centre for a conversation about MINUSMA's work. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Counter-ISIL Strikes Hit Terrorists in Syria, Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, Sept. 24, 2016 U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria Fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 11 strikes in Syria: -- Near Raqqah, six strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two bomb-making facilities, two oil well heads, three pump jacks and a vehicle. -- Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes destroyed an ISIL vehicle, two oil well heads and three oil tanker trucks. A supply route was damaged. -- Near Manbij, a strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle and a heavy machine gun. -- Near Mara, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three fighting positions. Strikes in Iraq Attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted nine strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government: -- Near Baghdadi, a strike destroyed an ISIL rocket cache. -- Near Kisik, two strikes suppressed two ISIL mortar positions. -- Near Mosul, three strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two fighting positions, a rocket rail and a tunnel. -- Near Qayyarah, a strike destroyed an ISIL chemical weapons factory. -- Near Ramadi, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two mortar systems. -- Near Sultan Abdallah, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed eight rocket rails, three rocket systems and a vehicle. Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike. Part of Operation Inherent Resolve The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat it poses to Iraq, Syria, the region and the wider international community. The destruction of targets in Syria and Iraq further limits ISIL's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gabon court upholds Bongo's election victory, rejects opposition Iran Press TV Sat Sep 24, 2016 11:3AM The Constitutional Court of Gabon has upheld the narrow victory of incumbent President Ali Bongo, dismissing the appeal of his main opponent defeated in the election last month. The ruling was made early Saturday, rejecting the claims of the Central African country's opposition leader Jean Ping, who had declared himself the rightful president and demanded a vote recount over alleged electoral fraud days after Bongo's win in the August election. In its final decision, the high court acknowledged that Bongo had garnered 50.66 percent of the vote against 47.24 percent for Ping. The 57-year-old victor, however, appealed for "political dialogue" with the opposition groups to stem any potential unrest triggered after the court announcement. "I call on all political leaders, including the defeated candidates in the August 27 election, for a political dialogue," Bongo said during a televised speech. Gabon's capital of Libreville along with other major cities has been the scene of widespread riots for nearly a month since the disputed election outcome, with Gabonese authorities reporting several deaths in the unrest. Following the chaos, the European Union and Western countries, including the US and France, urged calm and called on authorities in the former French colony to show more transparency about the election results. Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also called on the nation to be calm. Bongo, who came to power in 2009, will now remain at the helm for a second 7-year term, succeeding his father Omar Bongo who had come to power in 1967 and passed away in 2009. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Information Vacuum: Azerbaijanis To Vote On Constitutional Amendments With Few Details By Charles Recknagel, Arzu Geybullayeva September 24, 2016 When voters in Azerbaijan head to the polls on September 26, they will simply be asked to vote "yes" or "no" to a raft of controversial amendments to the country's constitution that, if adopted, would expand President Ilham Aliyev's powers. However, many voters say they know little or nothing about the 29 proposed changes, which include key measures international constitutional experts say are at odds with democratic norms. "I am aware they are planning to make some changes," one young woman told RFE/RL recently in an informal street survey. "But I don't know which ones exactly." Like many Baku residents, she preferred not to give her name. "I have not heard anything, though of course I will participate," a middle-aged man said. "I am not going to lie to you," another man said. "I have no clue." The proposed changes include provisions that would extend the presidential term from five to seven years, empower the president to appoint a temporary successor, and give the president power to dismiss parliament. Azerbaijani opposition parties say the measures, if approved, would aid Aliyev to tighten the grip his family currently holds on power and extend it for another generation. The Council of Europe's Venice Commission, which advises on constitutional issues, said on September 20 said many of the draft proposals gave "unprecedented" powers to the president. It called the amendments "at odds with European constitutional heritage." The amendments were published in one state newspaper, the ruling party's mouthpiece Yeni Azerbaijan, and by state broadcaster AzerTac. However, the bullet-point lists of the amendments included no explanation of their consequences and the authorities appear to have employed a number of tactics that have helped keep voters in the dark. "The proposed amendments were never opened to public discussion," says Alasgar Mammadli, an independent lawyer in Baku. "The collection of signatures against the referendum, the absence of independent media, and [restrictions] against opposition parties assembling freely all serve as obstacles to informing the people about the true nature of the changes as well." The raft of amendments were proposed by Aliyev this summer to the Constitutional Court, which approved them at a session that lasted just two hours. Subsequently, the Central Election Commission denied registration to a group formed by one of Azerbaijan's opposition parties, Musavat, which intended to campaign against the amendments. Efforts by the country's struggling nonstate media to discuss the implications of the changes have been sharply limited by the September 6 suspension of the independent newspaper Azadlyq and the July closure of ANS TV. Unlimited Rule? The most sweeping of the proposed amendments is the extension of the president's term from five to seven years. If adopted, it would mean Aliyev, who has already been in power 13 years, would not have to run again until 2020, instead of 2018. The 54-year-old president, who took over power from his ailing father in 2003, would then only have to run again every seven years -- something he would be able to do repeatedly, since the tightly controlled parliament in 2009 scrapped any limit on the number of consecutive terms a president could serve. "There is no precedent in a democratic country that the presidential term is seven years and that the president can be indefinitely elected," Thomas Markert, secretary for the Council of Europe's Venice Commission, told RFE/RL on September 21. "That creates a serious risk of authoritarianism if one person has so much power without accountability through elections for such a long period." Equally controversial is an amendment that would give the president power to name his own temporary successor in the event he can no longer discharge his duties or is voted out of office. Currently, that successor is to be the prime minister, who is elected by parliament. However, under the proposed changes, interim presidential power would pass to a newly created post of "first vice president," whose holder would be directly chosen by the president (Aliyev) himself. "In Azerbaijan it is certainly legitimate to provide for a vice president, but then this vice president should be an elected vice president and not a vice president designated at will by the current president," says Markert. "This vice president may have important powers during some period and, of course, he also has an advantage for the succession because he may be temporary president when new elections are called, so it gives a lot of possibility to the outgoing president to influence the choice of his or her successor." Controversial Proposals The proposal to create a new office of first vice president, plus proposed amendments to remove the minimum age for presidential candidates and reduce the age for election to the legislature to 18, have been criticized by Azerbaijani opposition parties as creating conditions under which Aliyev could seek to keep presidential power within his family for yet a third generation. Aliyev's son Heidar -- named after his grandfather, who ruled Azerbaijan from 1993 to 2003 -- is currently 19, raising the possibility that he could be named first vice president or elected to parliament. Yet another controversial proposed amendment would give the president power to dismiss parliament if it seeks to repeatedly defy him or criticize his choice of top officials. The proposal would empower the authority to dissolve the legislature if twice in one year it passes a no-confidence measure in the government or rejects presidential nominees to key government posts. "This gives the president even more influence over the highest positions [for example] in the judiciary because parliament cannot really dare to refuse his proposals if it risks being dissolved," notes constitutional expert Markert. The upcoming referendum is the third since Azerbaijan's current constitution went into force in 1995. In both previous polls, in 2002 and 2009, voters also were presented a raft of proposals to approve or reject with little information beforehand. The new amendments come amid accusations by human rights groups that Azerbaijan's government has escalated repression against its critics, marking a deterioration of an already poor record. Human rights groups say dozens of human rights defenders, political and civil activists, and journalists have been arrested or imprisoned in recent years on politically motivated charges. Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/ azerbaijanis-vote-constitutional- amendments/28010378.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 At UN, Syrian Minister says 'well-known' countries to blame for spread of terrorism in region and beyond 24 September 2016 Accusing the United Nations Security Council of "shameful indifference" and "failure" in stopping the mass atrocities committed in Syria, Liechtenstein's Foreign Minister Aurelia Frick mounted the podium of the General Assembly today to call on the 15-member body to face up to its responsibilities with a change of political culture. "The Security Council can enter a new phase of its history of engagement on these crimes: moving from shameful indifference to responsible action," she told the Assembly's annual general debate, noting that atrocities are the main cause of the refugee and migrant crisis now facing the world. "The Code of Conduct on atrocity crimes of the ACT group is subscribed to by 112 States and offers this opportunity: A change of political culture in the Security Council which will make failures such as the one in Syria a thing of the past and the significant reduction of forced displacement a reality. "It goes hand in hand with the Secretary-General's Human Rights Upfront initiative which we warmly welcome," she said. ACT The Accountability, Coherence and Transparency Group is cross-regional grouping of 27 small and mid-sized countries working to improve the Council's functioning. "The world is looking at this Organization to provide this engagement and is too often disappointed. Getting serious about conflict prevention should be a priority for the next Secretary-General, with the means necessary provided by us States." Ms. Frick declared. She also praised Agenda 2030 and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aim to eliminate poverty, hunger and a host of other social ills over the next 14 years as a pledge to all future generations. "It is also an ambitious promise. We can only keep it, if we work together, with resolve and persistence," she said. San Marino's Foreign Minister Pasquale Valentini highlighted the UN's role in attaining the SDGs and combatting climate change. "The level of complexity and the degree of interrelation of the challenges that the United Nations is called to face today is unparalleled in the history of this Organization," he warned. "The United Nations must adapt quickly to new global challenges, but also to the new opportunities offered by globalization, in order to be more effective in carrying out its mandate. "At the same time, the very complexity, of global challenges, which, as such, cannot be solved by individual States, unequivocally reaffirms the value and the central role of the United Nations as a forum for solving global problems." He stressed that national interests must not be allowed to prevail over the ideals of solidarity and respect for the universal rights of every human being. "Any hesitation to do so inevitably entails the heavy toll of destruction and loss of human lives," he stressed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ISIL-Linked Kosovo Hacker Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, September 23, 2016 WASHINGTON -- Ardit Ferizi, aka Th3Dir3ctorY, 20, a citizen of Kosovo, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for providing material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization, and accessing a protected computer without authorization and obtaining information in order to provide material support to ISIL. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente for the Eastern District of Virginia, Assistant Director in Charge Paul M. Abbate of the FBI's Washington Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Charles P. Spencer of the FBI's Jacksonville Field Office made the announcement after the defendant was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema. "This case represents the first time we have seen the very real and dangerous national security cyber threat that results from the combination of terrorism and hacking," said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. "This was a wake-up call not only to those of us in law enforcement, but also to those in private industry. This successful prosecution also sends a message to those around the world that, if you provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations and assist them with their deadly attack planning, you will have nowhere to hide. As this case shows, we will reach half-way around the world if necessary to hold accountable those who engage in this type of activity. I want to thank the corporation that worked with law enforcement to solve this crime, and the agents, analysts and prosecutors who worked on this groundbreaking case." Ferizi, who was detained by Malaysian authorities on a provisional arrest warrant on behalf of the U.S., was charged by criminal complaint on Oct. 6, 2015. The criminal complaint was unsealed on Oct. 15, 2015. Ferizi subsequently consented to extradition. Ferizi pleaded guilty on June 15. According to court documents, Ferizi admitted that on or about June 13, 2015, he gained system administrator-level access to a server that hosted the website of a U.S. victim company. The website contained databases with personally identifiable information (PII) belonging to tens of thousands of the victim company's customers, including members of the military and other government personnel. Ferizi subsequently culled the PII belonging to U.S. military members and other government personnel, which totaled approximately 1,300 individuals. That same day, on June 13, Ferizi provided the PII belonging to the 1,300 U.S. military members and government personnel to Junaid Hussain, a now-deceased ISIL recruiter and attack facilitator. Ferizi and Hussain discussed publishing the PII of those 1,300 victims in a hit list. According to court documents, on Aug. 11, 2015, in the name of the Islamic State Hacking Division (ISHD), Hussain posted a tweet that contained a document with the PII of the approximately 1,300 U.S. military and other government personnel that Ferizi had taken from the victim company and provided to Hussain. The document stated, in part, that "we are in your emails and computer systems, watching and recording your every move, we have your names and addresses, we are in your emails and social media accounts, we are extracting confidential data and passing on your personal information to the soldiers of the khilafah, who soon with the permission of Allah will strike at your necks in your own lands!" Ferizi admitted that he provided the PII to ISIL with the understanding that ISIL would use the PII to "hit them hard." This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Van Grack of the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Gregory Gonzalez of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section. The Malaysian authorities and the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs also provided significant assistance. 16-1085 National Security Division (NSD) USAO - Virginia, Eastern Topic: Counterterrorism Cyber Crime National Security NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Obama Veto Bars 9/11 Lawsuits Against Saudi Arabia By Mary Alice Salinas September 23, 2016 U.S. President Barack Obama has vetoed legislation that would have allowed the families of 9/11 terror attack victims to sue Saudi Arabia over its alleged ties to the hijackers involved in those crimes 15 years ago. However, Obama's veto Friday may delay the bill only temporarily. Congress could override the president's action, and many Washington observers feel that such a rebuff to Obama is likely. An override in this case would mark the first time in Obama's two terms that one of his vetoes was rejected. In a letter to the Senate, the president said that the bill, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, would "neither protect Americans from terrorist attacks nor improve the effectiveness of our response to such attacks." Furthermore, he argued, the measure would be "detrimental to U.S. national interests more broadly." The legislation would have allowed families to sue Saudi Arabia over its alleged ties to the 2001 terror attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, by authorizing U.S. courts to waive any claim of foreign sovereign immunity in cases involving terrorism on U.S. soil. The White House has argued the bill would undermine the longstanding practice of sovereign immunity and expose U.S. diplomats, service members and, in some cases, businesses to "spurious" lawsuits around the world. Pressure to let veto stand Lawmakers can override the president's veto with a two-thirds vote by each chamber of Congress. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives are led by the opposition Republican Party, and its leaders have indicated they are confident they have enough votes to overturn Obama's veto. No schedule for an override vote has yet been set. Even before the president announced his veto, White House officials held a series of urgent meetings on Capitol Hill, trying to persuade senators and members of Congress to allow the president's decision to stand. The number of lawmakers who plan to vote against the veto and reinstate Saudi Arabia's exposure to legal action is difficult to tally, according to the White House deputy press secretary, Josh Earnest, because of "the frequency with which we hear private concerns expressed that don't match the public votes that are cast [later]." Confidence in override Congress passed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act by an overwhelming margin earlier this year after intense lobbying by 9/11 victims' families and groups who support them. Earnest said administration officials have tried "to make a forceful case to members of Congress that overriding the president's veto means that this country will start pursuing a less forceful approach in dealing with state sponsors of terrorism." Republican leaders in Congress expect the override to pass. "There will be a roll call vote on the veto override," Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday. "Our assumption is that the veto will be overridden." House Speaker Paul Ryan said Wednesday he believes there are enough votes to override the bill, though he also expressed reservations about the legislation. "I worry about legal matters," Ryan said. "I worry about trial lawyers trying to get rich off of this. And I do worry about the precedents. At the same time, these victims do need to have their day in court." Earnest argued the Obama administration is concerned about the impact on U.S. relations with countries around the world, not just with Saudi Arabia. Fifteen of the 19 airline hijackers who commandeered four passenger jets in the terror attacks were citizens of Saudi Arabia. Riyadh has denied any involvement in the attacks. Obama expressed "deep sympathy" for the families of 9/11 victims and a "deep appreciation" for their desire to pursue justice. He said his administration remains "strongly committed" to helping them find justice and preventing further terrorist attacks against America. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address N Korean Military Threatens to Use Nuclear Weapons Against Seoul, Guam US Base Sputnik News 08:46 23.09.2016(updated 12:59 23.09.2016) The North Korean military is threatening to use their nuclear weapons against the South Korean capital, Seoul, and a US military base located on the Pacific island of Guam. MOSCOW (Sputnik) On Wednesday, the US Pacific Command (PACOM) reported that a US B-1B strategic bomber flew from the military base located in Guam and landed at the Osan airbase in South Korea for the first time since 1996. The US military reported that the move aimed to show the US readiness to "defend and to preserve the security of the Korean Peninsula and the region." A representative from the North Korean General Staff said that the activities of the United States and South Korea dragged the Korean Peninsula toward potential nuclear war, as cited by the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) Friday. According to the statement, Pyongyang's warheads would destroy Seoul, as well as the US base if the US bombers continued their flights. North Korea has been under pressure from the international community since its January nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch in February, which resulted in tightening sanctions against Pyongyang in the new UN Security Council resolution in March. On September 9, Pyongyang carried out a nuclear test at its northeastern nuclear test site. The nuclear experiment is believed to be the fifth and the largest since North Korea started pursuing nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh (Source: VNA) This view was shared by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders during their meeting in New York on September 22(local time), which took place on the sidelines of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly. The Deputy PM and FM affirmed Vietnams consistent policy of enhancing its relations with Belgium the countrys most important partner in the EU. He also called on the Belgian Government to continue granting scholarships to Vietnamese students. On the fringe of the UN session, the Vietnamese official also met with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov. He suggested Bulgaria accelerate the signing of the Europe-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and soon recognise Vietnams market economy status. Following the meeting, the two officials signed an agreement on real estate of the two countries diplomatic representative offices. On this occasion, Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh had a meeting with Hungarian Minister of External Economy and Foreign Affairs Szijjarto Peter, during which they noted their hope to foster the two countries traditional relationship across fields. The Vietnamese official thanked the Hungarian Government for its cooperation with Vietnam in development, including health care and fresh water supply./. UN Secretary General Condemned for Joining S. Korean Pro-U.S. Lackeys in Anti-DPRK Racket Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS) Pyongyang, September 24 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country of the DPRK gave an answer to a question put by KCNA Saturday to condemn the UN secretary general for taking the lead in the racket for ratcheting up sanctions against the DPRK in collusion with pro-U.S. conservative forces in south Korea. The spokesman said: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon right after the DPRK's nuclear warhead explosion test had an exceptional press interview by abusing his power in which he blustered "it was a wanton violation of UN resolutions" and "the UN condemns it in the strongest words." In several official appearances he unhesitatingly spouted such extremely sinister and sordid outbursts as "the north poses threat to the world security" and "the UN Security Council should immediately take measures to stop the north's additional provocation". This clearly proves that though Ban stalks as UN secretary general, he is, in fact, a political philistine pleasing the U.S. and the south Korean puppet group and blindly complying with their brigandish demands as he is bereft of elementary impartiality and reasonable thinking power to discern the right from wrong. He is a confrontation maniac as he has abused the UN as a sinister political platform for slandering the DPRK, a full-fledged member of the UN, zealously pursuant to the hostile policy of the U.S. and its vassal forces. The spokesman disclosed the sinister aim sought by Ban in taking the lead in fostering the atmosphere of the campaign against the DPRK in the international arena. Ban whose tenure of office is expected to expire by the end of this year was reported to have expressed his intention to run for "presidential election" due in south Korea next year, revealing his political ambition, the spokesman said, and continued: As he has no support base and he is incompetent in politics and, furthermore, he is not aware of the situation in south Korea, he has no other way but to cling close to the U.S. master and Park Geun Hye only to play the role of their marionette. We do not care whether he tries to seek the presidency of south Korea in quest of power after being dethroned as UN secretary general. But we keep tabs on all the high treasons he has committed by taking the lead in the moves to tighten international sanctions and pressure to stifle the DPRK, while acting as a faithful servant of the U.S. and marionette of the pro-U.S. conservative regime of south Korea at the UN. Ban should bear in mind if he acts in concert with the Park Geun Hye group and goes mischievous while getting involved in the sanctions against the DPRK, out of his despicable partisan calculation, he will be made to pay a very high price. We will closely follow the future behavior of Ban. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Schooling Continues in Flood-stricken Areas of DPRK Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS) Pyongyang, September 24 (KCNA) -- The unprecented storm and downpour severely hit North Hamgyong Province in northern part of the DPRK, destroying tens of thousands of houses, schools and hospitals and other public buildings. However, schooling continues in the flood-hit areas thanks to the devoted efforts of the party and government organs. After the flood damage, immediate steps were taken to turn less damaged buildings into temporary schools and provide school things and facilities. And a day-and-night campaign was launched to restore the damaged schools as soon as possible. Those of the ministries and national institutions acquainted themselves with the flood-hit schools and took measures to send educational equipment and materials. Meanwhile, health workers in the flood-hit areas are conducting on-site medical service in cooperation with competent medical teams from Pyongyang. Many medicines were supplied to the disaster areas and a brisk preventive and curative medical care was launched. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India seals deal to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France Iran Press TV Fri Sep 23, 2016 11:21AM India has formally signed an agreement with France for the purchase of three dozen Rafale fighter jets worth a reported 8.8 billion dollars amid a long-running arms race with neighboring Pakistan. India's Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian signed the deal at a ceremony in the Indian capital, New Delhi, on Friday. The deal was signed after years of tortuous negotiations between the two countries. India entered exclusive negotiations on buying 126 of the fighter jets four years ago, but the number was scaled back during negotiations over costs and other matters. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally intervened in April 2015 to agree on the smaller order of 36. Defense experts say it will bring a much-needed boost to India's air force as it tries to replace parts of the country's ageing air force fleet. Rivals-in-arms India, the world's top defense importer, has signed several big-ticket deals as part of a 100-billion-dollar upgrade since Hindu nationalist Modi took office in 2014. He has vowed to modernize India's armed forces. The deal with France comes amid ongoing tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had earlier accused India of an "unprecedented arms build-up" along the de facto border dividing the disputed region of Kashmir. Addressing the annual United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, Sharif said Pakistan would "take whatever measures necessary to maintain credible deterrence." Sharif also blamed India for imposing "unacceptable preconditions" for potential peace talks over Kashmir. Tensions have been rising between the two arch-rivals since militants attacked an Indian military base in Kashmir, killing nearly 20 Indian soldiers, on Sunday. The Indian army has blamed Pakistan-based militants for the assault, while Islamabad has denied the allegation. Some Indian politicians and army veterans have called for a muscular response to the assault, including airstrikes on purported training camps on the Pakistani side of the Line of Control (LoC). Indian and Pakistani forces have been engaged in clashes along the LoC in the disputed valley over the past months. The two sides accuse each other of provocation. The restive Muslim-majority region had already been witnessing an increase in mass protests over the killing of a pro-independence militant figure since early July. Tens of thousands of Indian government troops have been deployed to the Indian-administered Kashmir and over 80 people have lost their lives in the ensuing crackdown. Kashmir lies at the heart of almost 70 years of hostility between India and Pakistan. Both neighbors claim the region in full, but control parts of it only. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Araqchi: Joint commission reviewed JCPOA implementation, sanctions IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency New York, Sept 23, IRNA -- Deputy foreign minister and head of Headquarters for Following-Up Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action said the foreign ministers of Iran and the Group 5+1 reviewed implementation of JCPOA. 'In this meeting the manner of implementation of JCPOA in the period between the last meeting of the joint commission up to now in both the nuclear field and sanctions was discussed and reviewed,' Araqchi said. The First Joint Iran-Group 5+1 commission meeting was held upon a request by Iran in New York. The meeting discussed and decided about the results of negotiations between experts and deputy foreign minister that were held over past few days. On Wednesday, a senior Iranian nuclear official said that the process of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) implementation will be discussed in the latest session of Iran-Group 5+1 joint commission which would be held in New York. Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi said the joint commission held its preliminary meeting at the level of deputy foreign ministers on September 21. The ministerial meeting would be held on Thursday (September 22), Araqchi who also heads a special board monitoring implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) added. During the preliminary meeting, Araqchi led the Iranian team while Deputy foreign policy chief of the European Union Helga Schmidt headed the other side. Araqchi added that modernization of Arak Heavy Water Reactor, selling of heavy water, performance of working group assigned to produce nuclear fuel in Iran as well as the latest situation of Iran-Russia cooperation in Fordo nuclear facility were among major topics discussed in the meeting. He said that the focal points discussed in the preliminary meeting were failure of the US and European countries to completely fulfill their commitments based on the nuclear deal as well as their procrastinations particularly in the banking sector and financial institutions in the post-JCPOA era. The official noted that the US government delays in permitting the sell of Airbus and Boeing planes to Iran was also raised in the commission. He stressed that American officials said they had issued parts of the permissions during the past two days and are to issue the rest of them 'within the coming days.' Araqchi underscored that the conclusion of the Wednesday meeting would be presented to the ministerial meeting on Thursday. 2050**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran warns off American U2 spy plane: Commander Iran Press TV Fri Sep 23, 2016 1:40PM A senior Iranian commander says the country's air defense forces have warned off an American U2 spy plane trying to fly over Iran's borders. Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili, the commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Base, said on Thursday the forces warned off the intruding American aircraft in recent days and made them fly away. The commander did not give further details elaborating on where the planes attempted to enter Iranian airspace. The Lockheed U2, nicknamed "Dragon Lady", is an American single-jet engine, ultra-high altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force. The spy plane can fly at an altitude of 21,000 meters and provide day and night and all-weather intelligence gathering as it carries high-resolution cameras and sensors. The Iranian Army's Air Defense Base reportedly warned off a US radar-evading unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in late August which had sought to intrude on Iranian airspace. The US spy drone had sought to cross into Iran through the eastern border from neighboring Afghanistan. However, it was immediately detected and forced to leave the area after a "timely and stern" warning by the Air Defense Base. In December 2012, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) captured a US ScanEagle drone over the Persian Gulf waters upon its intrusion into the Iranian airspace. In the same month the previous year, Iran downed a US RQ-170 Sentinel stealth aircraft with minimal damage. The drone was flying over the Iranian city of Kashmar, near the Afghan border, when it was brought down. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's deterrence power stopping US aggression: Commander IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Sept 24, IRNA -- Iran's deterrence power has prevented the US military aggression against the Islamic Republic, says Brigadier General Hossein Salami, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps second-in-command. If Iran did not have military power, big powers, including the United States could occupy the country. Today, as long as the country's balance of power is concerned, the Islamic Republic of Iran has the upper hand over the enemies, he added. The commander also said that Iran has full information about the enemies' strategic interests and Tehran is capable of confronting its enemies anywhere from the Eastern Mediterranean region to the heart of the mainland Iran. Due to the country's defensive power and guidelines of the Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Iran remains to be a stable country in a volatile region, Salami said. 9191**2044 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zarif: America did nothing to meet its JCPOA commitments IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency New York, Sept 24, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said while Iran has stayed faithful to its commitments based on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the US has made no real efforts to this end. He made the remarks while addressing an elite gathering in Council of Foreign Relations on Friday. The discussion was hosted by the American media figure Farid Zakaria. An excerpt of Zarif's comments in the Council of Foreign Relations appeared on its website follows: Commenting on the degree of each parties' commitments to the nuclear deal, he said "Our requirements, what Iran needs to do, can be verified by the IAEA, and it has been verified several times by the IAEA. And interestingly enough, even the United States doesn't contest it. Every member of the P-5 plus one and the IAEA have said repeatedly that Iran has lived up to every single comma in thein the deal as far as Iran is concerned." While, he said, "on the part of the United States, to be fair to the United States, the United States has implemented its side of the bargain as far as the papers that have been signed by the president and the secretary of state are concerned. But as far as going out and trying to get it implemented actuallybecause it takes a lot to change the global climate that is afraid of the United States taking action against any bank that does any business with Iranthen it becomes a more difficult question to answer." The Iranian foreign minister went on to elaborate on his point, saying "well, some of you know that European banks have been fined exorbitanceamounts of money. I mean, sometimes even the numbers are difficult to say: $8.9 billion for Paribas; several billion dollars for HSBC. HSBC was so worried, that they went and asked Stuart Levey who used to be the undersecretary of the Treasury for these sanctions to become their compliance officer. That's the... type of fear and terror that these fines created in European banks. So they want to come and start a new business with Iran, and they always have this Office of Foreign Assets Control, OFAC. We know OFAC betterwe have heard of OFAC more than any American, I guess, has heard of theof the name. OFAC goes out and tells these people that it's OK to do business with Iran, butand the buts and ifs are so longI mean, there is one sentence that it's OK to do business with Iran and about five pages of ifs and buts. So at the end of the day, these banks say we'll take the safe road. We'll forget about Iran. And that has been the outcome. No major European bank has started doing business with Iran now eight months after the deal. And we believe that's a shortcoming." He continued: "there's also a shortcoming as far as the U.S. government is concerned. Now, these are private companies taking private decisions. But the US government even took six or seven months to give the license to Airbus to sell 17 out of 118 planes they requested. Well, fortunately they gave a license to Boeing to sell 80 of the 88 planes they requested." Zarif also stressed that "still, the good majority of the Iranian people support the deal, and that has been proven by poll after poll. But what should be of concern to American decision makers is that a greater majority of Iranians today distrust the United States than they did before we entered the deal; that is, before we had this deal, a majority of Iranians believed that resolving difficulties with the United States would be effective. Now the majority of Iranians believe otherwise, and that should send a very strong signal." Underlining that "it's the Congress that prevents US businesses from dealing with Iran," he said "what is important is that we believed and continue to believe that the United States should not impede Iran's economic interaction with the rest of the world. What we hear is that when the United States, both government as well as various organizations here in the U.S, the lobbies and all of the other organizations you all know about, when they go to Europe, they dissuade companies from doing business with Iran rather than give them comfort that doing business with Iran is OK." Moving to the Syrian conflict, Zarif said "I hope and pray that the ceasefire will hold. But it's not, obviously. ..The bigger-picture problem is that neither side, and there are not two sides, there are many sides in Syria, at least 70-some official groups fighting, nobody knows a clear perception, has a clear perception of what is to be expected in a future of Syria. All images of the future of Syria are based on a zero-sum approach: Assad stays, Assad goes, Assad stays for a year then goes, Assad doesn't stay for a year. So it's all about one person, focused on one individual and focused on yes or no. We do not have any gray scale in our perspective about the future of Syria." He stated that "I think the problem in Syria is that many players continue to believe there is a military solution. And many players continue to believe that they can play with these various extremist organizations to gain strategic advantage." Rejecting the Saudi Arabian policy of trying to exclude Iran from the Syrian peace process, he said "I say that Saudi Arabia should be a part of the solution. I believe that our region cannot have a solution based on exclusion." The American host of the event went on to note that "Donald Trump says that if Iranian soldiers were to make obscene signs at American sailors, he would shoot them out of the waterhe would shoot the ships out of the water. What is your reaction? " Zarif answered" First of all let's talk about geography. Our soldiers and our sailors are a few miles away from our coasts. Yours, Americans, are several thousand miles away. And then they get upset when our boats tell them not to get into our internal waters, that you are approaching Iranian borders, that if you encroach upon our sovereigntywho knows? I mean, we don't have a love affair with the United States. We have had 40 years of difficulty with the United States. It's the Persian Gulf.. But I have checked with our military and they tell me that no Iranian ship has come closer to a hundred meters from any American ship in the Persian Gulf." He went to stress that "we are not interested in any provocation with the U.S., period. And I don't talk about the internal politics of the United Statesas I do not want the Americans to talk about my internal politics." Asked to elaborate on his earlier comments about Saudi funding of terrorist groups, he said: "I'm saying that a lot of money from Saudi Arabia initially went to the establishment of these organizations.These weapons are not guerilla warfare weapons. They have tanks, you know? They have missiles. They have antiaircraft missiles. They have antitank missiles." 1424**1394 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mogherini says Iran complying with JCPOA IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Sept 24, IRNA -- The European Union foreign policy chief says Iran is complying with the nuclear deal reached between Iran and G5+1 last year. The common assessment is that Iran is living up to its commitments under the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Federica Mogherini told a press briefing following a meeting between the foreign ministers of Iran and the P5+1 group of countries Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany at the UN headquarters in New York on Thursday. "We have three reports from the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) confirming that Iran has taken all the steps it had to on nuclear related issues. As you know sanctions, nuclear related sanctions, were all lifted," she said. "We all reaffirmed very strongly the political importance, the historic political importance, of this agreement that has shown to the world and to ourselves that even the most difficult issues can be solved through dialogue and diplomacy and with a win-win approach, overcoming the zero sum game approach that sometimes block us in some of our talks and negotiations," the EU foreign policy chief said. Mogherini said the issue of Iran's ballistic missiles was not discussed during Thursday's meeting, because Tehran's missile tests are not a breach of the JCPOA. The top European diplomat highlighted that parties at the meeting also addressed the removal of hurdles which foreign banks and financial institutions face for business with Iran. 9191**2044 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi soldiers, allied forces recapture district in Anbar province Iran Press TV Fri Sep 23, 2016 5:39PM Iraqi government forces, backed by fighters from allied Popular Mobilization Units, have fully recaptured a district in the conflict-ridden western province of Anbar from the Takfiri Daesh terrorists. The Iraqi Joint Forces Command announced in a statement on Friday that soldiers from the 27th and 28th brigades of the Iraqi army together with volunteer fighters from the city of Hadithah, situated about 240 kilometers northwest of the capital Baghdad, had managed to establish complete control over Jazirah al-Baghdadi district. The development came a day after Iraqi forces took control of the town of al-Shirqat in the country's northern province of Salahuddin, and raised the national Iraqi flag over government buildings there. Also on Friday, Iraqi security personnel repelled a Daesh offensive against Bravo Camp northwest of Albu Dhiyab district, which lies north of the Anbar provincial capital Ramadi. The Anbar Operations Command announced that a group of 12 Daesh extremists were involved in the attack. Gruesome violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since Daesh terrorists mounted an offensive there more than two years ago, and took control of portions of Iraqi territory. The militants have been committing heinous crimes against all ethnic and religious communities in Iraq, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds and Christians. Iraqi army soldiers and fighters from allied Popular Mobilization Units are seeking to win back militant-held regions in joint operations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daesh Fortifies Positions Ahead of Mosul Battle - Task Force Sputnik News 21:12 23.09.2016(updated 21:19 23.09.2016) Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman said that Daesh has been fortifying its positions in the Iraqi city of Mosul ahead of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) offensive to liberate it. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The Daesh has been fortifying its positions in the Iraqi city of Mosul ahead of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) offensive to liberate it, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Col. John Dorrian told reporters on Friday. "They've built intricate defenses there," Dorrian said. "Essentially, they've built a hell on Earth around themselves, and they are going to be in that whenever the Iraqi Security Forces come in there and push them out." Dorrian noted that the terrorists have dug tunnels and placed explosive devices around the city, while also putting up barriers to stop people from coming in. In addition, Daesh operatives dug trenches, some of which are reportedly filled with oil that can be set on fire, Dorrian noted. The spokesperson said the terrorists have set on fire oil fields in and around the city of Qayyarah, located south of Mosul. Mosul is Iraq's third largest city and was declared the Iraqi capital of the Daesh's so-called caliphate after it was captured by the terror group in June 2014. Earlier on Friday, Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani reviewed the Mosul offensive with top US military and foreign affairs officials. US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Gen. Joseph Votel and US Ambassador to Iraq Douglas Silliman participated in the meeting, according to the president's office. According to US officials, military operations to drive the Islamic State out of Mosul could begin in the coming weeks, possible as soon as mid-October. Daesh is outlawed in many countries, including the United States and Russia. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Overview of the meeting (Photo: VNA) At the meeting, the two sides reviewed bilateral cooperation in six areas since the 11th meeting in the central province of Thua-Thien Hue in April 2015. They expressed delight at the strong growth of bilateral ties recently, especially in investment, trade and education and training. Singapore is currently the third largest investor of Vietnam with over 1,600 projects totalling USD38 billion. In 2015, two-way trade reached SGD21 billion (USD16 billion). Seven Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) in Vietnam have attracted USD9 billion in investment and creating 170,000 jobs. The two countries have enjoyed sound partnership in education and training, with various student exchange programmes and training courses for management officials. They have also boosted tourism affiliation on the foundation of a memorandum of understanding signed between their Tourism Administrations at the previous meeting. Addressing the event, Lim Hng Kiang stressed that the meeting is an effective mechanism in the framework of the bilateral partnership, which has a great influence on trade and investment ties between the two economies. Noting great potential for the two countries to expand their economic cooperation potential, he said he hopes that both sides will work more closely together to fully tap the potential in order to deepen their strategic partnership. On his part, Minister Dung affirmed Vietnams interest in fostering ties with Singapore . He asked for the Singaporean sides coordination in designing and implementing initiatives within the framework of an agreement on connecting and encouraging Singaporean firms to invest in Vietnam in new cooperation areas to elevate their win-win affiliation. During the meeting, the two sides also proposed measures to increase two-way trade and call for Singaporean investment in Vietnams agriculture, aquatic farming and transportation. Vietnam suggested that Singapore continue supporting education projects and increase scholarships for Vietnamese students, as well as boost cooperation in cyber security and startup. Vietnam asked for Singapores stronger engagement in State-owned enterprises restructuring through buying shares of large companies, while giving the country technical support in enhancing capacity and building mechanisms for its finance-banking and stock markets. Singapore should expand investment in the public-private partnership form in such fields as infrastructure, maritime transportation and energy, Dung said. The Vietnam-Singapore economic connectivity agreement was signed by the two governments in 2005, focusing on six areas of finance, education and training, traffic and transportation, information technology and communications, investment, trade and services. The 13th meeting is slated for September 2017 in Vietnam./. Peshmerga to Play Role as 'Front-Line Partners' in Mosul Battle Sputnik News 03:30 23.09.2016 KRG Foreign Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir said that the Kurdish Peshmerga forces are certain to participate in the military operation to drive the Islamic State out of the Iraqi city of Mosul. UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik), Leandra Bernstein The Kurdish Peshmerga forces are certain to participate in the military operation to drive the Islamic State out of the Iraqi city of Mosul, Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) Foreign Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir told Sputnik. "We are ready to play a role as we have done, because we are proud to be the front-line partners in this fight," Bakir said on Thursday. The KRG forces are currently encircling Mosul from the west, north east, along with Iraqi and US-led coalition allies. "As far as we are concerned, the Peshmerga forces played an important role from the beginning until now to push back and defeat ISIS [Daesh], and they can also play an important role in this last piece of the war," Bakir stated. He also noted that the liberation of Mosul will be the "most important" fight against the terrorist group in Iraq. According to US officials, the operation to liberate Mosul could begin in the coming weeks, possibly as soon as mid-October. "Just a few days ago, there was a meeting that was chaired and supervised by [KRG] President [Masoud] Barzani, between the commander of the Peshmerga forces, Iraqi Army commanders, as well as the coalition, namely the US, in order to put the final touches on the military preparation," Bakir said of the pending operations to liberate Mosul. Describing the meeting as "productive," Bakir emphasized the importance of having a well-coordinated military plan in place for the multiple forces participating in the operation including the Peshmerga. Falah Mustafa Bakir also noted that countries must increase humanitarian aid to Iraq's Kurdistan region or millions of displaced people could face misery following an operation to liberate Mosul. "With this operation, all estimates are such that about 1 million people will be displaced, [and] more than half of them will be coming to us in the Kurdistan region," Bakir said on Thursday. "If enough measures are not taken, we would be witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe soon. "We can open the door, we cannot turn these suffering people away," Bakir stated. "We will provide them with safety, security and dignity, but food, water, sanitation, shelter we cannot. That is why we need the international community." Mosul, in northern Iraq, is the country's third-largest city and has been under Daesh occupation since June 2014. According to US officials, the operation to liberate the city could come as soon as mid-October. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Irbil Seeks 'Meaningful' Talks With Baghdad on Self-Determination Sputnik News 03:01 23.09.2016 The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is looking the Iraqi central government in Baghdad for a frank discussion on the future autonomy of federalized region, KRG Foreign Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir told Sputnik. UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik), Leandra Bernstein In a late August meeting between KRG President Masoud Barzani and Iraq Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, the two discussed the unequal status of the federated region of Kurdistan, Bakir noted in a Thursday interview. "[Barzani] very clearly raised the issue of self-determination and we want to raise that, to discuss that in a serious and meaningful discussion and dialogue with Baghdad, because we want to achieve our objectives peacefully," Bakir said. The KRG has long sought independence from the central government in Baghdad, and reports suggest that the people of Kurdistan could vote on an independence referendum in late 2016. A previous referendum was scheduled for 2014, after a major KRG dispute with former Iraqi President Nouri al-Maliki, but the vote was postponed as regional security deteriorated with the rise of the Islamic State. Though Bakir did not emphasize the issue of an independent Kurdistan, he clearly stated that "to exercise the right of self-determination includes everything up to independence." Bakir suggested the two sides have to look into a new formula. "That is why it will be a process, a negotiation process, we hope that we will be able to reach an agreement and understanding with our partners in Iraq," he said. The KRG is a diverse region in northern Iraq whose most recent efforts to achieve independent statehood were repeatedly thwarted and sometimes brutally undermined throughout the 20th century history of Iraq. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US forces use white phosphorus munitions in Iraq: Report Iran Press TV Sat Sep 24, 2016 4:32PM Pictures and videos posted online by the Pentagon shows US forces in Iraq have used white phosphorus munitions, a chemical weapon that can cause severe burn wounds to civilians. Based on images posted on Pentagon-managed public affairs website, DVIDS, The Washington Post reported on Friday that a US Army artillery unit was using the controversial chemical weapon in Iraq. The weapon, which was identified by the Post as M825A1 155mm rounds, are generally used to make smoke screens or signals for advancing troops. But when used in civilian-populated areas, the munitions can cause horrific injuries that can even be dangerous for medics treating the wounds, according to the report. The US forces are purportedly fighting the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in Iraq and Syria. When asked if the forces had used the munitions for anything other than screening, obscuring or marking, John Dorrian, a spokesman for the US-led coalition in Iraq, refused to explain, the report said. Dorrian did not elaborate on how many times the forces used the munitions or whether they had been dropped on the terrorists or their equipment. He said the image was taken when US forces were supporting Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces in an operation against Daesh in the northern Iraqi town of Gwer. Dorrian said white phosphorus munitions had been "used generally for the circumstances which I described," but did not say if they had been used in the town, with or without the presence of civilians. Colonel Joseph Scrocca, public affairs director for the US-led coalition, claimed that the shells are used "in areas free of civilians and never against enemy forces." The associate arms director for Human Rights Watch, Mark Hiznay, said he was concerned about the possible use of white phosphorus shells by the US forces in Iraq. "When white phosphorus is used in attacks in areas containing concentrations of civilians and civilian objects, it will indiscriminately start fires over a wide area," Hiznay added. The US had formerly used the chemical munitions in Iraq and Afghanistan. In a specific incident which occurred in 2009 in Afghanistan, an 8-year-old girl burned to death with the munitions in Kapisa province. Human Rights Watch called on North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to investigate the use of the munitions by its forces. The NATO, however, denied the allegations. International humanitarian law demands the ammunition should only be used in areas devoid of civilians. Rights groups, however, concern about the use of the chemical munitions even against enemy combatants. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address First Russia-Pakistan Military Drills Druzhba-2016 to Bolster Defense Ties Sputnik News 14:08 23.09.2016(updated 14:20 23.09.2016) The first joint Druzhba-2016 ("Friendship-2016") exercises between Pakistan and Russia are aimed at developing cooperation between ground forces and laying foundation for closer ties in the defense area, the Pakistani Embassy in Moscow announced Friday. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, Russian military personnel taking part in the drills that will last till October 10 at a special forces training center in Pakistan's Cherat area, arrived in the country. About 200 servicemen from both sides will be participating in the exercise. "The objectives of the joint exercise include developing cooperation between ground forces of the two countries, improving tactical abilities of the participating military personnel and developing a foundation for future interactions," the Embassy stated in a press release. According to the Pakistani diplomatic mission, the Druzhba-2016 exercises represent a manifestation of the desire of Islamabad and Moscow "to enhance bilateral cooperation in all fields of mutual interest including defense." The Pakistani Army and the Russian Ground Forces have come together in military exercises for the first time, which underscores the significance of the joint drills. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistani fighter jet crashes in Khyber Agency, pilot killed Iran Press TV Sat Sep 24, 2016 2:7PM A Pakistani Air Force F-7PG fighter jet has crashed in the country's restive northwestern region of Khyber Agency. According to a statement released by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), the aircraft went down on Saturday in the vicinity of the town of Jamrud near the entrance to Khyber Pass, which connects Pakistan and Afghanistan. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Omer Shazad, "sustained fatal injuries," the PAF statement said. The statement added that the aircraft, "while on a routine operational training mission," was completely destroyed but "no loss of civilian life and property has been reported on [the] ground." Some officials say a technical fault was the reason behind the crash, but the Headquarters of Pakistan Air Force has tasked a board of inquiry to determine the cause of the accident. A heavy contingent of security forces has already been dispatched to the mountainous area of the crash site, which lies some 31 kilometers west of the city of Peshawar. Last month, a dozen people lost their lives when a Pakistani army helicopter crashed in the northwest of the country. In May 2015, a Mi-17 helicopter crashed in a holiday resort in the scenic hills of Gilgit, the capital city of the country's northernmost administrative territory of Gilgit-Baltistan. Seven people, including the ambassadors of Norway and Philippines, were killed in the incident. Back in November the same year, a female Pakistani Air Force pilot lost her life when her trainer jet crashed near the central town of Mianwali in Punjab province. It was the first deadly incident for Pakistan's small community of female pilots. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Navalny Calls On Russian Elections Chief To Quit Over 'Falsifications' By Tom Balmforth September 22, 2016 Prominent Russian opposition figure Aleksei Navalny has called on Central Election Commission (CEC) chief Ella Pamfilova to resign over alleged falsifications in the September 18 parliamentary elections, which gave the ruling United Russia party a constitutional majority in the State Duma and kept liberal Kremlin critics out of the lower parliament house. Navalny pointed in particular to an outlandish situation in the Saratov Oblast, where official results indicated that United Russia received the exact same proportion of votes -- 62.2 percent -- at scores of polling places. A regional electoral official brushed it off as a "mathematical coincidence." Long-time human rights activist Pamfilova promised to stamp out voter fraud and hold clean elections when she was put in charge of the CEC in April to replace Vladimir Churov, whom many Russians associated with a 2011 Duma vote that was marred by evidence of widespread fraud. He was known as "The Magician" for his seeming ability to provide results favoring the Kremlin. Pamfilova has said these elections were much cleaner than past votes, but critics say her reputation is being exploited to give a veneer of legitimacy to what they call a rigged election process. She has annulled results at nine polling stations because of falsifications, warning that this number could grow. Navalny wrote on his blog on September 22 that Pamfilova should step down not "because she promised to resign if the 'elections are a disaster,' but because there are legal reasons for her resignation. And it is a fact that, if she does not quit now, she becomes a direct participant in a crime." Navalny zeroed in on a string of unusual results spotted in Samara Oblast by Aleksandr Kireyev, an electoral geography expert who posted them on his blog and alleged that results had simply been written rather than recorded to reflect actual ballots cast. Kireyev said that United Russia obtained 62.2 percent of the vote -- when rounded to the nearest decimal place -- at scores of polling stations. The results that he linked to in his post support this. Navalny noted that Vyacheslav Volodin, a powerful deputy chief of President Vladimir Putin's staff, ran for the Duma from the region. There has been persistent speculation that Putin will tap Volodin to be speaker of the Duma, which holds its first session in early October. Navalny called the results in Saratov Oblast a "moment of truth" for Pamfilova. "Either they continue to at least imitate 'honest elections' or they are the same criminals as Churov." Saratov Oblast election chief Pavel Tochilkin asserted that there was nothing suspicious about the results, telling media outlet RBK that the numbers for United Russia at the polling places in question ranged from 62.16 percent to 62.24 percent. "All these numbers speak of nothing more than of a mathematical coincidence," he was quoted as saying. But Ilya Shablinsky, who led an election monitoring mission for the Kremlin human rights council, suggested that the lack of election observers made violations possible. "In my opinion, polling station commissions can act completely disgracefully when there are no election observers, and you can get these figures. Alas, this is the result of what has happened to our electoral system in the last decade," Shablinsky said. In his blog, Navalny also cited a statistical analysis that suggests 12 million votes were added to United Russia's scorecard, and pointed to videos of alleged ballot stuffing. Navalny is barred from running in elections because he is a serving a five-year suspended sentence for criminal convictions that he says were the result of fabricated claims and trials orchestrated by the Kremlin. His Party of Progress was not registered to take part in the Duma elections. Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/russia-duma-elections-navalny -pamfilova-resignation/28007404.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 Putin Proposes Presidential Office Insider Volodin As New Duma Speaker By Merhat Sharipzhan September 23, 2016 Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed his deputy chief of staff, Vyacheslav Volodin, to be chairman of the new State Duma, a move that would further tighten Putin's control over the political arena after a massive election win for the ruling United Russia party. Meeting in Moscow on September 23 with leaders of United Russia and the three other parties that won Duma seats in the September 18 elections, Putin touted Volodin's qualifications. Putin suggested Volodin's "experience and skills" would help him "build up the work in the lower chamber of the parliament, if, of course, lawmakers make the corresponding decision [to nominate and elect him speaker]." The leaders of the parties -- United Russia, the Communist Party, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), and A Just Russia -- expressed their support for Volodin at the meeting. The decision to tap Volodin is part of a broad reshuffle of Russia's ruling elite ahead of a presidential election due in March 2018, in which Putin is eligible to seek a new six-year term. Volodin, 52, who maintains a low profile and has a reputation as a blunt, effective political operator, was secretary-general of United Russia and a lawmaker from 1999 to 2011. He served as a deputy prime minister from October 2010 to December 2011, during Putin's stint as prime minister between his second and third presidential terms. He is seen as a key figure behind what Kremlin critics say has been a tightening clampdown on dissent since Putin returned to the Kremlin for a third term in 2012 and is widely believed to have championed the appointment of social conservatives who have been handed important posts over the past year, including the controversial new education minister. Volodin's move to the Duma would leave an opening in his current post, whose occupant is responsible for overseeing domestic politics and other internal Russian affairs. Putin did not say who would replace him. Putin's proposal followed a number of personnel changes in the Kremlin and within top security agencies, many in the last few days. On September 22, Putin named the speaker of the outgoing Duma, his longtime associate Sergei Naryshkin, to head the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR). During a televised meeting with Naryshkin and the SVR's previous chief, Mikhail Fradkov, Putin said that the authorities must "promptly head off threats to Russia that arise -- not let them grow but, on the contrary, act in a way that ensures they don't arise; to neutralize these threats at an early stage." The days after the Duma vote, the authoritative newspaper Kommersant reported that Russia is planning to fold the SVR and other agencies including the Federal Security Service (FSB) into a powerful new Ministry of State Security (MGB), prompting comparisons to the Soviet KGB. The postelection moves come in the wake of a number of changes in recent months. In April, Putin established a new National Guard, led by his former bodyguard and longtime ally Viktor Zolotov. In August, Putin dismissed his chief of staff, Sergei Ivanov, a former KGB officer and defense minister who at one point was seen as a top contender to succeed Putin. The reshuffling of key security and law-enforcement agencies, the moving up of Duma elections originally slated for December, and an election outcome that has handed the ruling party a constitutional majority has fueled suggestions among Russia observers that ground is being laid for an early presidential election. Observers suggest that moving up the vote, currently scheduled for March 2018, could allow Putin to circumvent growing public discontent over persistent economic problems. Russia's economy has been hit hard by the fall of world oil prices and sanctions imposed by the West over Russia's seizure of the Crimean Peninsula and involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, as well as countermeasures put in place by Moscow. With reporting by TASS and Interfax Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/russia-volodin-state-duma-speaker/28008721.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Corporation Says in Talks With Several Countries on MiG-35 Jets Supplies Sputnik News 14:11 23.09.2016(updated 14:24 23.09.2016) According to a spokeswoman for the company, Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG is currently holding talks with several potential buyers of the MiG-35 jet fighters. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG is currently holding talks with several potential buyers of the MiG-35 jet fighters, a spokeswoman for the company said Friday. "At the moment, MiG-29 is being used in 29 countries around the world. All of these countries, some more and some less so, are interested in MiG-35s, as most of MiG-29s were delivered abroad in the 80s, and these aircraft are now becoming obsolete. Many need replacement, rather than modernization, which we also ready to offer. Now we are dealing with a number of potential customers for MiG-35s," Anastasia Kravchenko told RIA Novosti. She added that the replacement of MiG-29s with MiG-35s was a cost-effective move, as it would significantly reduce the cost of maintenance. The Russian Mikoyan MiG-35 (Fulcrum-F) jet fighter is a further development of the MiG-29M/M2 and MiG-29K/KUB. The first batch of the test version is expected to be transferred to the Russian Defense Ministry until the end of the year. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin Suggests Candidacy of Aide Volodin as New Duma Speaker Sputnik News 14:05 23.09.2016(updated 15:03 23.09.2016) Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed Friday the candidacy of his aide Vyacheslav Volodin as the next State Duma speaker. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed Friday the candidacy of his aide Vyacheslav Volodin as the next State Duma speaker, as he has necessary experience for this job. On Thursday, Putin appointed former State Duma speaker Sergey Naryshkin as the head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service. "In this connection, the question of the election of the new chairman of the State Duma is raised. This, of course, is the issue for lawmakers alone. But [Prime Minister] Dmitry Anatolyevich [Medvedev] and I will ask United Russia to support the candidacy of Vyacheslav Viktorovich Volodin," Putin said. According to Putin, Volodin has necessary experience to hold the position of the parliamentary speaker. "In my opinion, he knows what parliamentary work is, he has been a lawmaker for a long time. He was in direct contact with lawmakers, leaders of factions and parties when he was in the presidential administration, this fell within the scope of his professional duties," Putin said. Volodin was elected to the country's parliament, following the Sunday vote, as he was one of the candidates from the ruling United Russia party. Following the elections, the governing United Russia party gained 343 seats in the 450-seat State Duma. It was followed by the Communist Party with 42, the Liberal Democrat Party with 39, A Just Russia with 23 and one mandate apiece to the Rodina and Civic Platform parties. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Admiral Kuznetsov Carrier Steps In to Support Russia's Anti-Daesh Ops in Syria Sputnik News 16:38 23.09.2016(updated 18:27 23.09.2016) Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov will be heading to the Mediterranean Sea in order to support the ongoing anti-Daesh military operation in Syria while carrying a full complement of weaponry and military aircraft. Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that a naval aircraft carrier group led by Admiral Kuznetsov will be deployed to the Mediterranean Sea in order to bolster the Russian naval capabilities in the region. While en route to the Syrian coast, the group, which will also include a nuclear submarine, is expected to hold a military exercise involving Tu-160 long-range strategic bomber aircraft. "The entire spectrum of aircraft and helicopters stipulated by the minister's decision will be deployed on it (the carrier)," Maj. General Igor Kozhin, chief of the Russian Naval Aviation, said. Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, officially designated by the Russian Navy as a heavy aircraft-carrying missile cruiser, was built at the Black Sea Shipyard in 1985. The vessel carries a complement of Su-33 air superiority fighters and Ka-27 and Ka-27S anti-submarine warfare helicopters. In 2016 however the carrier received a number of upgrades and can now also carry Ka-52K reconnaissance and combat helicopters that were originally designed for operations aboard the French-built Mistral-class amphibious assault ships. The ship's armaments also include 12 Granit anti-ship cruise missile launchers, Kortik and Kinzhal air defense systems and depth charge launchers. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (Photo: AFP/VNA) The visit will be made at the invitation of President Tran Dai Quang, the Foreign Ministry announced on September 23 The two countries set up diplomatic relationship in July 1976. They elevated their ties to a strategic partnership in November 2015 during the visit to the archipelago country by Vietnams then President Truong Tan Sang./. Kremlin Reportedly Planning to Revive KGB-style Security Behemoth By Danila Galperovich September 23, 2016 The Russian newspaper Kommersant, citing unnamed sources, reported this week that before the next presidential election, scheduled for March 2018, the Kremlin plans to create a gigantic new ministry that will absorb most of Russia's existing security agencies. According to Kommersant's sources, this new security behemoth will be called the Ministry of State Security, with its Russian acronym MGB. That is the same name Soviet dictator Josef Stalin gave to his repressive apparatus which operated from 1946 until his death in 1953. After Stalin's death, the MGB was reformatted as the KGB, the Committee for State Security. The new MGB, the newspaper reported, will merge the existing Federal Security Service (FSB), currently Russia's principal security agency, with the Federal Guard Service (FSO), which protects high-level officials and includes the Presidential Security Service (SPB), which guards the president. The MGB will also absorb the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Russia's external spy agency. The investigative arm of the MGB will deal with the country's most important criminal cases, and MGB staff will oversee the work of many of Russia's remaining law-enforcement bodies, including the Interior Ministry and the Investigative Committee. Years of shifts If the rumored restructuring plan indeed comes to pass, it would be just the latest major change that President Vladimir Putin has made to Russia's security system. Earlier this year, he created the National Guard, which is charged with securing Russia's borders, combating terrorism and organized crime, ensuring public order and guarding key state facilities. The National Guard is directly subordinated to the president and headed by Viktor Zolotov, who served as Putin's bodyguard in Saint Petersburg in the early 1990s. Zolotov headed the Presidential Security Service from 2000 to 2013, after which he served as commander of the Internal Troops, the Interior Ministry's paramilitary force, from 2014 to earlier this year, when he was picked to head the National Guard. Is the Russian government really planning to revive a Stalin-era security behemoth? VOA's Russian Service spoke with several experts. Boris Volodarsky, a former officer with the Russian military's intelligence agency, the GRU, and an expert on Soviet and Russian intelligence agencies, said he believes there really is a plan to create such a state security structure. He also said the proposed use of the name "Ministry of State Security" is not coincidental. "Because the Kremlin has a clear tendency to refer to the good old Stalinist and post-Stalinist days, it is clear that they intend to create a ministry that will unite all the security structures under its own roof," he said. "They have already created the National Guard, and are now recreating a ministry which earlier, under Stalin, consolidated foreign intelligence and internal security." Volodarsky said he does not think that the FSB or its current top officials will play the dominant role in the new security ministry, adding that even now, the FSB is not the main player in Russia's security system. "The main structure was and is the Federal Guard Service - and, within it, the Presidential Security Service," he said. "In fact, people from the Presidential Security Service dominate all the other security bodies. Viktor Zolotov, who heads the National Guard, was Putin's personal bodyguard, and he was made head of the Presidential Security Service. And, from that post, Putin sent him first to the Interior Ministry to get everything there under control, and then put practically all of the power structures under his control," Volodarsky said. Reflection of Kremlin's 'fear' Andrei Soldatov, an expert on Russia's security services and chief editor of the Agentura.ru website, said Russia's current main security body, the Federal Security Service, has already acquired the characteristics of the Soviet KGB. "The FSB has been involved in a lot of things over the last 16 years (time since Putin assumed power), but it has been obvious since last year that two functions, two directions, have intensified the hunt for spies and targeted repression," he said. "These are functions of the KGB, if you think about it: it was precisely through these [functions] that the system of KGB control over Soviet society was maintained: keeping the population in the grip of spy mania, and gathering material on the elite and using [that material] if so ordered. Putin is changing the functions of the FSB closer to what the KGB did. From that point of view, the new name [MGB], is quite logical," said Soldatov. Still, Soldatov said the FSB no longer has the same influence it had 10 years ago. "The FSB suddenly stopped being 'the new nobility' it is no longer the supplier of personnel [for other government and state bodies]; cadres are now chosen from among the Federal Guard Service and technocrats." Andrei Kolesnikov, a senior associate at the Carnegie Moscow Center, said the desire to create a single powerful national security ministry is a sign of the Kremlin's fear of the future. "It's a reflection of the power elite's fear of what can happen with the country in the coming years," he said. "Moreover, this fear has various characteristics foreign policy and domestic policy [fears]; fear of the people; economic fear, that the crisis could drag on and cause some social turbulence, and this turbulence will have to be extinguished somehow." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Diplomacy Falters as Syria Launches New Offensive By Steve Herman September 22, 2016 Syria announced a fresh, major offensive against besieged rebel-held eastern Aleppo on Thursday, as foreign ministers met and failed again in New York to agree on any diplomatic plan to try to stop the war. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry emerged from the meeting, held in a Manhattan hotel, saying he was "frustrated," but that he did not want to close the door on the cease-fire plan for Syria he brokered earlier this month in Geneva with his Russian counterpart. "The United States will continue to pursue every avenue of progress that we can because it is the only way to stop the killing. It's the only way to ease the suffering and it's the only way to make possible the restoration of a united Syria," Kerry said. If the process fails, he warned, "this catastrophic situation is going to get even worse." Kerry made his comments to reporters, from whom he took no questions, after the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) convened for a second time this week in New York City amid increasing pessimism about the fate of Syria. 'Only path forward' The U.S. secretary of state said there was near unanimity in the ISSG meeting "that this process is the only viable path forward." U.S. officials who were in the room, speaking on condition they not be named, described Thursday's 2-hour meeting as "pretty contentious." And the United Nations' Syria mediator, Staffan de Mistura, said it was "long, painful and disappointing." Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, emerging from the multinational discussion, said "nothing happened" in the talks. Kerry said the U.S. "exchanged ideas with the Russians, and we plan to consult [Friday] with respect to those ideas"; if the Russians come back with constructive proposals, he added, "We will listen." But a senior U.S. official said no meeting is scheduled for Friday and "the ball is very much in the Russians' court." Discord over airstrikes Another senior American official characterized the diplomacy as now approaching "a climactic stage" and declined to speculate on what would happen if there is no meeting of minds between U.S. and Russian diplomats. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault demanded that planes attacking Syrian civilians be grounded. He said the response from Damascus' top ally, Russia, "was not satisfying." Iran, another strategic ally of Syria, also opposes a cessation of airstrikes. "If you ground flights, you are aiding the terrorists," Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told reporters at a hotel across the street from the United Nations. Analysts' pessimism deepens Hours earlier, at a congressional hearing in Washington, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain said sarcastically that President Barack Obama had sent his "intrepid but delusional secretary of state to tilt yet again at the windmill of cooperating with [Russian President] Vladimir Putin." But U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter defended Kerry before the committee for "working so tirelessly to see an arrangement which, if implemented, would ease the suffering." Analysts are increasingly pessimistic. "As conditions on the ground in Syria take another downward turn and as diplomatic attempts to rescue the U.S.-Russia agreement take an increasingly strained stance, I've chosen to take a critical look back," Middle East Institute senior fellow Charles Lister told VOA. "The U.S. approach to tackling the Syrian crisis has resolutely failed, and our insistence on working with troublesome actors while focusing on symptoms rather than root causes is leading us further down a dangerous path," Lister said. Debate over aid convoy attack The ISSG is led by Russia and the United States, whose top diplomats on Wednesday presented sharply contrasting views at the United Nations about Monday's lethal attack on a 31-truck aid convoy into Syria from Turkey. The attack, which one U.N. official said could be considered a "war crime," prompted a temporary suspension of aid shipments into Syria and threatened to destroy the tenuous cease-fire devised by Moscow and Washington. The United States says Russian or Syrian Su-24 planes hit the U.N. convoy as it was unloading supplies at a warehouse west of Aleppo. The Russians have denied any responsibility, while Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in an interview with The Associated Press, blamed "militants" and "terrorists." Attempts to deliver aid resumed Thursday with U.N. trucks carrying food, medicine and other supplies for 35,000 people arriving in a rebel-held suburb of Damascus. U.N. humanitarian adviser Jan Egeland is appealing to Assad to "do your bit to enable us to get to eastern Aleppo and also the other besieged areas." Egeland noted that the U.N. also must obtain "assurances in the east Aleppo case from the armed opposition groups" fighting against Assad. Risks from all sides U.N. aid coordinators hope to deliver relief soon to the rebel-besieged towns of Foua and Kufreya in the Idlib governorate and government-blockaded Madaya and Zabadani, near the Lebanese border, Egeland said. Under the Geneva cease-fire agreement, if there are seven days of relative calm and aid is able to reach critical communities, then the U.S. and Russian militaries are to begin coordinating separate but synchronized air attacks against Islamic State and Nusra rebels. It would be the first time the two countries have worked together in a military conflict since World War II. U.S. military officials have been reluctant to cooperate with the Russians because of their crude bombing techniques, which result in significant civilian casualties. "I do not believe it would be a good idea to share intelligence with the Russians," Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, indicating any U.S.-Russian coordination would be very limited. The United States and many other countries assert there is not a military solution to the conflict and that Assad cannot stay in power. Russia is a longtime and staunch supporter of Assad, as is Iran. The ISSG, composed of 23 nations plus the Arab League, European Union, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the United Nations, is dedicated to finding a diplomatic solution to the civil war in Syria, which began almost six years ago. However, a peaceful resolution is looking increasingly dubious, and the world's worst refugee crisis in 75 years spawned by the civil war is now predicted to become an even greater problem. Nike Ching and Jeff Seldin in Washington and Margaret Besheer at the United Nations contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Erdogan Accuses US of Delivering Plane Loads of Arms to Kurds in Syria's Kobani Sputnik News 10:51 23.09.2016(updated 11:26 23.09.2016) The United States has delivered more armaments to Kurds in the northern Syrian city of Kobani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The United States has delivered more armaments to Kurds in the northern Syrian city of Kobani, with part of it being captured by the militants of the Daesh terrorist group, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. "Three days ago three aircraft with US armaments for Syrian Kurds' forces landed in the Syrian Kobani," Erdogan said Thursday, as quoted by the Turkish Anadolu news agency. He added that at the same time, almost half of the military aid delivered by the United States fell into the hands of the Daesh. Erdogan said that he could not understand the US support for the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), which are considered terrorist groups by the Turkish authorities. Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting a number of opposition factions and extremist groups, such as the Daesh, outlawed in many countries, including Russia and the United States. The United States has supported the Kurdish communities in Syria, as well as in the neighboring Iraq, in the struggle against terrorists. At the same time Washington supports Turkey, which has been a member of NATO since 1955, despite Ankara's actions in regard to the Kurds both in Turkey and in Syria. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria militants to get heavy weapons from foreign supporters Iran Press TV Sat Sep 24, 2016 5:27PM Militants in Syria say they are about to receive new types of heavy weapons from their foreign supporters as the Damascus government continues with a major offensive in the northern city of Aleppo. Colonel Fares al-Bayoush, head of the Northern Division of the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA) militant group, said Saturday that he expected the delivery of more "heavy weapons, such as rocket launchers and artillery" from their foreign sponsors, Reuters reported. He, however, said it was not clear whether their supporters would agree to their long-held demand for anti-aircraft missiles. There are "indications and promises" of more weapons, the militant leader said, but claimed that any increase in arms support for them would be "slight." The United States, along with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, has been channeling military support to militants fighting under the banner of the FSA for several years. The support for the militants described by Washington as "moderate" includes training by the Central Intelligence Agency and anti-tank missiles. This comes as the Syrian army has been advancing further in militant-held areas, recapturing more regions. On Saturday, Syrian soldiers seized back the control of a refugee camp north of Aleppo from militants. Sources belonging to both the Syrian military and the militants confirmed the recapture of Handarat camp. On September 19, the Syrian army announced an end to a week-long ceasefire in the Arab country, when US-led coalition jets attacked a Syrian army base and an aid convoy was hit near the northwestern Syrian city of Aleppo. The deal, which began on September 12 and was initially agreed to last seven days, called for increased humanitarian aid for those trapped inside Aleppo. The truce was brokered by Russia and the US. Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. Over the past few months, the Takfiri militants active in the Arab country have suffered major setbacks as the Syrian army has managed to liberate several areas. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN: Rebel-held Parts of Aleppo Without Water After Syrian Bombing By Edward Yeranian, Margaret Besheer September 24, 2016 The United Nations says that intense airstrikes against rebel-held areas of Aleppo have left 1.75 million people without running water, days into one of the heaviest sieges of the war. The U.N.'s children's agency said in a statement that a key water pumping station supplying people in the city's east was damaged in airstrikes, and continuing violence is preventing crews from repairing it. In retaliation, the group said a second pumping station was switched off. UNICEF said it would expand emergency water trucking in response. As the Russian-backed Syrian military stepped up its offensive against rebel-held areas of the city of Aleppo on Saturday, the country's foreign minister said Syrians would "not relent in their fight against terrorism." "Our belief in victory is even greater now as the Syrian Arab Army is making great strides against terrorists, with the support of the true friends of the Syrian people notable the Russian Federation, Iran, and the Lebanese national resistance (Hezbollah)," Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem told the U.N. General Assembly in New York. His remarks reinforce Western concerns that the government of President Bashar al-Assad is seeking a military end to the conflict, not a politically negotiated one. 'Earthquake-like tremors' Relentless airstrikes against the rebel-held section of the divided Syrian city of Aleppo continued Saturday, with many buildings destroyed down to the basements, where many people hide during bombardments. Residents said that the ordnance appears to be more powerful than the bombs and missiles used in the past, causing "earthquake-like tremors." Amateur video from Aleppo showed multi-story buildings that had collapsed under intense Russian and Syrian government airstrikes Saturday on the east side of the city. Bomb craters were visible amid the rubble of some buildings. Another amateur video showed an older man clutching the lifeless body of his son, shouting, weeping and calling out his name. Syrian government media claimed that Syrian and Russian warplanes were targeting ammunition depots inside rebel-held areas, causing buildings to collapse. VOA could not independently verify the claim. At least 15 neighborhoods targeted Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told Arab media that dozens of people have been killed Saturday and that many others have been buried under collapsed buildings. He said that at least 15 neighborhoods in east Aleppo were targeted by the Russian air force, with dozens of victims buried under the wreckage of destroyed buildings. He called the raids "unprecedented." A civil defense worker said that his colleagues were attempting to recover survivors from under the rubble in many areas, despite the ongoing airstrikes and the destruction of facilities and rescue vehicles. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at least 25 people were killed Saturday. The previous day, at least 30 people, including several children were reported to have been killed by Russian and Syrian airstrikes. Witnesses say the surge in airstrikes began late Wednesday after the Syrian government announced a renewed offensive to recapture the entire city. That follows the failure by the U.S. and Russia to salvage a cease-fire that had defused hostilities for nearly a week. Aleppo, the country's largest city, has been divided among government troops, rebel militias, Islamic extremists and Kurdish fighters since 2012. Syrian opposition media is calling the latest airstrikes over the city the "worst fighting" of the five-year-old conflict. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Council adopts resolution on nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament 23 September 2016 Reaffirming that proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and their means of delivery, threatens international peace and security, the United Nations Security Council today adopted a resolution urging all States who haven't done so to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. With 14 votes in favour and one abstention (Egypt), the resolution welcomed progress made towards universalization of the Treaty, noting that 183 States have signed the Treaty and 166 States have deposited their instruments of ratification. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty bans all nuclear explosions for both civilian and military purposes. Adopted by the UN General Assembly under resolution 50 (1996), the Treaty will enter into force 180 days after the date of deposit of the instruments of ratification by all States listed in its Annex 2. Speaking to the press shortly after the Council voted on the resolution, Lassina Zerbo, the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), the Treaty's Preparatory Commission, said the organisation welcomed any initiative that serves to strengthen the norm against nuclear testing. "This is timely, said Mr. Zerbo. "This resolution is timely because it comes at a time where we celebrate the 20 years anniversary of the opening for signature, of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, but timely as well because it comes at a time where DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) has reminded the international community of the absolute necessity to get this treaty into force, by having the moratorium on nuclear testing strong and sealed," Mr. Zerbo added. He was referring to the latest incident of nuclear testing -- conducted by DPRK -- which was condemned by, CTBTO, the UN Secretary General, the Security Council, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (AIEA). Mr. Zerbo also noted that voting today and adopting the resolution, keeps the Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty relevant. "We understand some of the concerns that States may have, that this does not substitute the process for ratification. The process for ratification remains the ultimate way to get the Treaty into force, but we just hope that this step - which is an important step, because after the Iran deal (https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/statements/aea-director-general-amanos-remarks-to-the-press-on-agreements-with-iran), this constitutes one next key element in arms control, non-proliferation and ultimately disarmament - we hope that there will be more steps towards disarmament, because we all seek a world free of nuclear weapons at the end of the day," said Mr. Zerbo. He however noted that the first step towards that world, is an end to nuclear testing. "A world free of nuclear of weapons goes by stopping testing too, and then taking steps that will reinforce the agreements that are already here, and then leading us towards what we all want: a world free of nuclear weapons; a world free of any attempt of modernisation that some are talking about today." Today's resolution adopted by the 15-member Council at a meeting on maintenance of international peace and security further noted that of the 44 States listed in Annex 2, 41 have signed and 36 have both signed and ratified the Treaty, including several nuclear weapons States. es included in Annex 2, all have signed with the exceptions of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India and Pakistan. Five of the 44 Annex 2 States have signed but not ratified the Treaty: China, Egypt, Iran, Israel and the United States. Stressing the "vital importance and urgency" of achieving the early entry into force of the Treaty, the Security Council, by the terms of the resolution, urged all States that have either not signed or not ratified the Treaty particularly the eight remaining Annex 2 States to do so without further delay. Further, the Security Council called on all States to refrain from conducting any nuclear-weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion, and to maintain their moratoria in that regard, and to provide the required support to enable the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization to complete all of its tasks in the most efficient and cost-effective way. By the text of the resolution, the Council also recognized that "even absent entry into force of the Treaty the monitoring and analytical elements of the verification regime are at the disposal of the international community in conformity with the Treaty and under the guidance of the Preparatory Commission." Such elements "contribute to regional stability as a significant confidence-building measure, and strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime," the Council said. In addition, the Council affirmed that the Treaty's entry into force will contribute to the enhancement of international peace and security through its effective prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons and through its contribution to nuclear disarmament. The resolution also underlined that the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons "remains the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament and for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy." A landmark international treaty opened for signature in 1968, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons entered into force in 1970, and was extended indefinitely on 11 May 1995. Its objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament. It represents the only binding commitment in a multilateral treaty to the goal of disarmament by the nuclear-weapon States. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Alan Burkitt-Gray speaks to Don MacNeil, chief operating officer of GTT, about its company restructuring after coming out of Chapter 11 and its strategic roadmap for the next 12 months. Vice Chairman of Vietnam National Assembly Phung Quoc Hien (4th, R), Vice President of the Norwegian Parliament Svien Roald Hansen (5th R) and other officials (Source: VNA) They agreed to maintain delegation exchanges, step up political consultations and support each other at multilateral forums and international organisations, especially the UN, the Asia-Europe Meeting and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Vietnam is willing to serve as a bridge between Norway and ASEAN, Hien said, calling for Norways support for Vietnams bid for a seat at the UN Security Council for 2020-2021. Vietnam also hopes that Norway will maintain its official development assistance to the country and replicate its projects in aquaculture and rural economic development in disadvantaged areas, he noted. The Vietnamese legislator suggested Norway assist Vietnam in aquaculture, maritime economy and ocean protection. He said Vietnam expects that Norway will keep its doors open for Vietnamese goods, especially agro-forestry-fishery products, garments-textiles, and footwear. Host and guest maintained that investment ties have yet to hit their potential. Two-way trade reached about USD189 million as of June 2016. Norway is running 31 projects valued at more than USD89.2 million in Vietnam, ranking 46 th out of 116 countries and territories investing in the country. Svien Roald Hansen said he will lead a delegation of Norwegian parliamentarians to Vietnam in October to accelerate the signing of the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association, which comprises Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The agreement is expected to create a framework for Vietnam and Norway to boost cooperation in maritime economic development, he said. Host and guest expressed their hope that the two countries will work together to address global challenges like climate change and marine pollution. While in Norway, NA Vice Chairman Hien met with Finance Minister Siv Jensen, during which the two sides agreed to encourage Norwegian firms to operate in Vietnam. Many Norwegian firms are interested in the Vietnamese market and plan to invest in navigation and fisheries in the country, Siv Jensen said. The Vietnamese law-maker noted that Vietnam hopes to exchange its experience with Norway in international economic integration as well as challenges in public debt management./. VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - September 23, 2016) - Skeena Resources Limited (TSX VENTURE: SKE) ("Skeena" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of the previously announced acquisition of 100% of the outstanding common shares ("Mount Rainey Silver Shares") of Mount Rainey Silver Inc. ("Mount Rainey Silver") (see news release dated August 10, 2016) for consideration of 5.65 common shares of Skeena ("Skeena Shares") for each outstanding Mount Rainey Silver Share. The acquisition was completed by way of a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "Arrangement"). On closing of the Arrangement, Skeena issued 25,089,576 Skeena Shares to former shareholders of Mount Rainey Silver, who now hold approximately 4.8% of the 518,573,930 Skeena Shares issued and outstanding, on an undiluted basis. Shareholders of Mount Rainey Silver voted in favour of the resolution approving the Arrangement at a special meeting of shareholders of Mount Rainey Silver held on September 9, 2016. A final order approving the Arrangement was granted by the Supreme Court of British Columbia on September 12, 2016. In connection with the closing of the Arrangement, Skeena, Mount Rainey Silver, Raimount Oil & Gas Inc. ("Raimount"), and Manitok Energy Inc. (the parent company of Raimount) entered into an agreement, pursuant to which Mount Rainey Silver acquired the Glacier Creek Claims from Raimount, and extinguished existing liabilities aggregating approximately $160,000 owing from Mount Rainey Silver to Raimount, in exchange for the issuance to Raimount by Skeena of 1,450,000 Skeena Shares. The Glacier Creek Claims are 45 crown-granted claims covering approximately 1,630 acres located in the Glacier Creek / Albany Creek area on the east side of the Bear River Valley in British Columbia, together with 12 municipal lots located in Stewart, British Columbia. Mount Rainey Silver's primary asset is a 100% owned portfolio of 46 Crown-granted mineral claims covering the past-producing, underground Prosperity-Porter Idaho-Silverado silver property located in the Golden Triangle of northwest British Columbia in the Skeena Mining Division. In order to receive Skeena Shares in exchange for their Mount Rainey Silver Shares, Mount Rainey Silver's registered shareholders must complete, sign, date and return the letter of transmittal that was mailed to each registered shareholder of Mount Rainey Silver in accordance with the instructions set out in the letter of transmittal. About Skeena Skeena Resources Ltd. is a junior Canadian mining exploration company focused on developing prospective base and precious metal properties in the Golden Triangle region of northern British Columbia, Canada. The Company's primary activities are the evaluation and development of the Spectrum gold project and adjacent GJ copper-gold project as well as exploration on the recently optioned past-producing Snip gold mine, acquired from Barrick Gold Corp. Skeena's management includes a highly experienced team of mine-finders, including Ron Netolitzky, Chairman of the Board. On behalf of the board of directors of Skeena Resources Ltd., Walt Coles Jr. President & CEO Cautionary note regarding forward-looking information This release contains certain "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information reflects Skeena's current internal expectations or beliefs and are based on information currently available to the two companies. In some cases forward-looking information can be identified by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "projects", "potential", "scheduled", "forecast", "budget" or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology. Assumptions upon which such forward-looking information is based include, among others, that the business prospects and opportunities of each of the companies will proceed as anticipated. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Skeena, and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct or accurate. Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted herein include, without limitation, that the business prospects and opportunities of each of the companies will not proceed as anticipated. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding (and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks), as well as the risks disclosed by Skeena in its filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and actual results and future events could differ materially from those discussed in any such forward-looking information. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with such statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned against placing undue reliance on any of the forward-looking information contained herein. Skeena each expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information in this news release, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Sep 23, 2016) - Pele Mountain Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE:GEM)(OTCQX:GOLDF) ("Pele" or the "Company") announced today that it has entered into a funding agreement (the "Agreement") with an arm's length lender (the "Lender"). The Agreement sets out the terms of a $100,000 loan (the "Loan") from the Lender to Pele. The Loan bears interest at 6-percent per annum and will be repaid from the first proceeds realized from the sale of Pele's 1.96-million shares of Kesselrun Resources Ltd. (the "KES Shares"). Pele President and CEO Al Shefsky stated, "In keeping with our previously announced plan to monetize non-core-assets, we are partially monetizing our KES shares through this loan agreement - providing some immediate cash to the Company while retaining significant upside to Kesselrun. These are heavily-restricted shares of a junior exploration company and we believe that this loan is a prudent measure for Pele. It should be clear that we retain all of our KES shares and will, of course, abide by agreed-to restrictions on their future sale." As partial consideration for the Loan, Pele has agreed to issue 400,000 shares at an attributed value of $0.05 of the Company to the Lender, subject to regulatory approval. Upon repayment of the Loan, the Lender shall retain a 50-percent interest in the proceeds of future sales of the KES Shares and a 10-percent interest in any proceeds actually received by Pele from the Company's royalty on its former Ardeen Project. The Loan is subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and the shares issuable pursuant to the Agreement will be subject to a four (4) month hold. About Pele Pele Mountain Resources is focused on the sustainable development of power generation, energy storage and mineral processing in Northern Ontario. Pele's Eco Ridge project has unique characteristics that make it an attractive development site, including excellent regional infrastructure, strong local support, and its strategic location in Elliot Lake, Canada's only historic rare earth mining and processing camp. Pele remains committed to advancing Eco Ridge as host to Canada's first rare earth processing centre and its extensive NI 43-101 mineral resources continue to provide exposure and leverage to rare earths and uranium. The protracted downturn in the rare earth and uranium markets has prompted Pele to expand its business model to include electricity generation and energy storage projects, beginning in Elliot Lake. Pele sees considerable opportunity in this rapidly growing sector and is working with leading energy industry professionals and suppliers of advanced technologies to provide a range of customized benefits to municipal and industrial electricity consumers in Northern Ontario. Pele shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "GEM" and on the OTCQX under the symbol "GOLDF". 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. Some of the statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements, such as statements that describe Pele's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that Pele or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results in each case could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Shares Outstanding: 209,596,930 SHARE The Standard-Times publishes news of special events and programs. We do not accept items detailing regular weekly sermons or schedules. Items will be run only once. Church news can be submitted by email at Matthew.McDaniel@gosanangelo.com or by fax to 325-659-8133. Forms also are available in the Standard-Times lobby from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Deadline for submission next week is Wednesday before the date of publication. Dates, times, address and a publication number are required. BELMORE BAPTIST Belmore Baptist Church, 1214 S. Bell St., will celebrate its annual Sunday School Round-Up High-Attendance Day Sunday. A breakfast will be served at 9:30 a.m. with Bible study for all ages at 9:45 a.m., Morning Worship at 10:50 a.m. and a potluck covered-dish lunch at noon. The movie "God Is Not Dead 2" will be shown in the sanctuary at 6 p.m. The church is taking orders for Christmas poinsettias to be displayed in the annual Hanging of the Greens Christmas program in November. The Esther Bible Study for ladies will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. The Seekers Sunday school class will have a fellowship dinner Thursday at Joe's Italian Restaurant, 1601 S. Bryant Blvd. Call 325-651-4661 for more information. CALVARY LUTHERAN Calvary Lutheran Church, 3231 College Hills Boulevard, will host a Youth Group rummage sale 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 1. Call 325-944-1116 for more information. Eola Baptist Eola Baptist Church, 11894 Farm-to-Market Road 381, will hold Fourth Sunday Singing and Fellowship 4-6 p.m. Sunday. Anyone is welcome to sing or play an instrument. Light snacks will be served following the service. Call 325-656-1246 or 325-234-4932 for more information. FIRST PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church, 32 N. Irving St., has started a six-week study on the three letters of John entitled "Love, Love, Love." Class will meet 5:30 p.m. each Wednesday in the Wood Fellowship Hall through Oct. 26. Study begins at 5:45, after an evening meal. Attendees are welcome to make a suggested donation of $5 per person for the meal, with a family maximum of $20. Reservations for the meal are needed by noon each Monday. Child care is available. The church is seeking volunteers to help prepare and serve meals on the fourth Monday of each month at Wesley Trinity Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, 301 W. 18th St. The next date to serve is Monday. Tutors are needed to assist children at Lamar Elementary with subjects; primarily reading and learning sight words. Volunteers must complete an online application by visiting saisd.org/District/VIPS.asp. Call 325-655-5694 for more information. ST. LUKE'S St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 2781 W. Ave. N, will continue its Andy Griffith Bible Study. Class will meet 5:30 p.m. Wednesday evenings. The group will enjoy a light meal, watch an episode from the old Andy Griffith television series, and chat about the moral and Biblical themes of the story. The class is for all ages. Interested parties are encouraged to make reservations with the church office for an accurate head count. The Blessing of the Animals is set for 10 a.m. Oct. 8 in the church's courtyard. Event will include a brief time of worship, followed by a blessing for each pet. If a pet is difficult to transport, bring a photo and the blessing will be "long distance." All are welcome. Call 325-949-1545 for more information, or to reserve a spot in the class. SIERRA VISTA Sierra Vista United Methodist Church, 4522 College Hills Blvd., will host Block Party Sunday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the church parking lot. It is a free event with hot dogs, snow cones, face painting and bounce houses. Pumpkins will be delivered at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, and volunteers are needed to help unload the truck for Pumpkin Patch 2016. Pre-orders are being taken for Harvest Festival smoked briskets and whole smoked chickens. The festival is set for Oct. 1. Call 325-944-4041 for more information, or to pre-order meats. Associated Press photos A woman walks past a Golem costume of the Malenki Theater in Tel Aviv as she arrives for a press presentation for the "Golem" exhibition at the Jewish Museum Thursday in Berlin, Germany. The myth of artificial life, from homunculi and cyborgs to robots and androids, is the focus of an exhibition about the Golem at the Jewish Museum Berlin. The exhibition runs from Sept. 23 until Jan. 29, 2017. SHARE A women walks past the artwork 'Golem' by Joshua Abrabanel during a press presentation for the 'Golem' exhibition at the Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. The myth of artificial life, from homunculi and cyborgs to robots and androids, is the focus of an exhibition about the Golem at the Jewish Museum Berlin. The exhibition runs from Sept. 23, 2016 until Jan. 29, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) A man walks through a door covered by a giant photo, titled 'Golem', by photographer Joachim Seinfeld during a press presentation for the 'Golem' exhibition at the Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. The myth of artificial life, from homunculi and cyborgs to robots and androids, is the focus of an exhibition about the Golem at the Jewish Museum Berlin. The exhibition runs from Sept. 23, 2016 until Jan. 29, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) A man looks at the installation "Crisalidas" by Jorge Gil during a press presentation for the "Golem" exhibition at the Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany. The installation 'Crisalidas' by Jorge Gil is pictured during a press presentation for the 'Golem' exhibition at the Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. The myth of artificial life, from homunculi and cyborgs to robots and androids, is the focus of an exhibition about the Golem at the Jewish Museum Berlin. The exhibition runs from Sept. 23, 2016 until Jan. 29, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) By Kirsten Griesh Haber, Associated Press BERLIN A gigantic golem made out of wooden Hebrew letters lies motionless on the ground, yet it seems as if only a few magic whispers are needed to bring the creature to life. The sculpture, created by California artist Joshua Abarbanel, is one of 250 objects on display at the new "Golem" show in the Jewish Museum Berlin, opening this week, which approaches the legend in diverse and unconventional ways. First mentioned in ancient Jewish texts, a golem is an artificial being made from mud or other inanimate material that's brought to life through the power of Hebrew letters. It became popular and known outside Judaism in a famous story about the sixteenth-century Rabbi Judah Loew who is said to have created a golem out of clay in the hope it would help protect the Jews of Prague from persecution. However, the golem has a dark side, too. It often spins out of control and its superhuman powers can become a threat to the one who created it. "The golem can look back on a long career, in Judaism and far beyond," Peter Schaefer, the director of the Jewish Museum Berlin told reporters Thursday. "Its story begins in the Hebrew bible and continues, in constantly new transformations, into the present day." The exhibition, which opens Friday and runs through Jan. 29, shows both traditional images of the golem and modern-day incarnations. There are medieval instructions explaining how to use incantations, rituals and specific Hebrew letter combinations to bring the golem to life. There are also videos, costumes and installations presenting different interpretations of the golem by 30 contemporary artists from Israel, the United States and elsewhere. Jorge Gil from Spain created an installation of three creatures in plush, yellow cocoons hanging head down from the ceiling. Only their faces, made of mannequin dolls, are visible, but a fourth empty cocoon lying on the floor suggests that the stiff puppets are about to metamorphose and come to life as well. The installation "My light is your life" by Czech artist Kristof Kintera is more than four meters (13 feet) tall, made of dozens of bulbs and lamps and endless black cords that in its entirety appear as a "breathing light' sculpture with arms, legs and a round head topped by a halo. And then there are comics, cartoons and video game stations. They show how the golem developed over time into a figure of pop culture: both as a superhero and a monster, reminiscent of Superman, King Kong or Minecraft monsters. Beyond that, the golem has also become a metaphor for modern scientific and political developments that threaten to get out of control. In one gallery there are photos titled 'Human Version 2.0" by French artist Yves Gellis that show robot laboratories around the world depicting creators next to their eerily similar robot doppelgangers. "The ancient human dream of creating artificial beings connects with today's world: genetic technology and artificial intelligence, computer and robots," Schaefer said. "All these are endeavors to create a kind of golem." The Week aims to raise awareness near the Vietnamese society for the ever more urgent need of translating words into concrete action and palpable results. The series of events include: Online video-sharing with competition in social media showcasing best practices to tackle climate change in Europe will run on the EU Delegation's facebook page from September 19th to 23rd (www.facebook.com/EUandVietnam). The five winners of the week will be awarded with a special prize. A scene from Nuoc 2030 Screenings of the film "Nuoc 2030", first session, September 19th, at 19:00 at L'Espace - French Institute in Vietnam, No.24 Trang Tien street. A panel discussion will follow the first session, with the presence of the Director of the movie Nguyen Vo Nghiem Minh, representatives of member states Embassies and Deputy Director General of the National Committee on Climate Change, Mr Pham Van Tan. The second session will be held on September 25th, at 19:00 at L' Espace, where the winners of the online competition will be awarded with a special prize. Nuoc 2030: Set in the near future of the beautiful coasts of Southern Vietnam when water levels have risen due to global climate change, a strong-willed woman has to make a critical decision about her ex-lover, a suspect of her husband's murder. Nuoc 2030 trailer Ten months past the success of COP21 Paris Agreement, the EU continues pushing its partners to maintain the unprecedented political momentum in support of climate action that brought us all to this promising point. This landmark achievement for combating climate change represents an ambitious, balanced, equitable and legally binding agreement. The first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal sets out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2oC. So far, more than 180 countries have now signed the Paris Agreement and 26 have completed their domestic ratification procedures and become Parties to the Agreement. The EU is moving forward with its ambitious domestic climate policies, with new proposals that will help reach the emissions reduction target of at least 40% by 2030 compared to 1990' level and further drive the transition to a low-carbon economy./. Police on Friday arrested a suspect in a March 26 double homicide after a grand jury indictment warrant was issued, according to a news release from the San Angelo Police Department. Nicholas Abel Rodriguez, 16, is charged with capital murder of multiple persons in connection to the deaths of Zane Lopez, 16, and Juan Guerrero, 17. Detectives with SAPD's Street Crimes Division and members of the Patrol Division found Rodriguez at a residence in the 2500 block of Bowie Street about 10 a.m. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Tom Green County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail. Six other people were arrested and charged with murder within a week in the shooting deaths in the 1100 block of East 22nd Street. The arrests of Eric Ramos and Giliberto Salvador Reyes, both 18; Fred Angel Garcia, 17; and four male juveniles were made after an investigation by the San Angelo Police Departments Criminal Investigations Division. Ramos, Reyes and Garcia were indicted June 24 by a 340th District Court grand jury on charges of capital murder of multiple persons and are being held at the county jail in lieu of $500,000 bail each. The juveniles were taken to the Juvenile Detention Center. Rodriguez was then certified as an adult and booked into the Tom Green County Jail on July 27, in lieu of $500,000 bail. He was released on bond the next day. The Juvenile Court has full authority to transfer jurisdiction for cases within the juvenile system to adult court if the case meets the criteria listed in the Texas Family Code judicial proceedings. For example, a juvenile may be transferred to the district court for criminal proceedings if the alleged offense was a felony committed at age 14 or older, among other terms listed. The 51st District Attorneys Office filed a petition to have jurisdiction over Rodriguezs case transferred from juvenile court to adult court. District Attorney Allison Palmer said prosecutors typically file for jurisdiction to be transferred because the juvenile court system may not be equipped to deal with the offender or the magnitude of the alleged crime, adding that the adult court system is more equipped to deal with certain cases. Capital murder is punishable by death or life in prison without parole. Anyone younger than 18 convicted of capital murder is not eligible for the death penalty or life imprisonment without the possibly of parole. If convicted of capital murder, Rodriguez could receive a punishment of life in prison and be required to serve 40 years before becoming eligible for parole. Police were dispatched to the 1100 block of East 22nd Street at 9:46 p.m. March 26 in response to a report of a shooting. Officers found two teens lying on the ground in the backyard, both apparently suffering from gunshot wounds to the head. Guerrero had what appeared to be a single gunshot wound near his right eye," according to an affidavit. He was pronounced dead at the scene. One of the officers attending recognized Guerrero from working at Lake View High School. Lopez was in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Shannon Medical Center before dying of his injuries five days after the shooting, according to police. Joe Lopez, the father of Zane Lopez, told authorities that he and his son were inside the residence when Zane Lopez went out the back door, according to the affidavit. Joe Lopez said a short time later, he heard what sounded like firecrackers and went outside to find Zane Lopez and Guerrero lying on the ground in the backyard. On March 31, Rodriguez told investigators during an interview that he knew Zane Lopez had made threats against a gang, the affidavit stated. Rodriguez told the detective that Reyes had given the green light to shoot Lopez and that a green light means permission had been given to kill the targeted subject, stated the affidavit. Information in the arrest-warrant affidavits for the three indicted also suggests that Reyes gave a juvenile the go-ahead to shoot one of the teens. Rodriguez told authorities he got a .22 pistol from an unidentified person and went with Garcia, another person and Ramos, who was driving, to Zane Lopezs home, according to the affidavit. Rodriguez told detectives that they drove to Zane Lopezs house and that he shot the .22 pistol one time up into the air. According to court documents, Ramos told police that he was aware of the plan to shoot at Zane Lopezs residence and that he drove the vehicle into the alley behind the residence. Ramos said Reyes got out of the car, heard gunshots and drove away from the scene after the shooting, with all the passengers, according to court documents. Police found spent .40 and .45 shell casings in the alley behind the residence. Reyes told detectives during an April 1 interview that he knew guns had been used in the deaths of Guerrero and Lopez, and that he had taken possession of those guns and concealed them from police, according to his arrest affidavit. The two boys killed in the shooting withdrew from the San Angelo school district last school year, one in the fall and the other in spring. Garcia was enrolled at Central High School, according to SAISD officials. A massive recall of sleep apnea machines is expected to drag into next year. That's caused frustration for U.S. patients and led federal officials to consider rare legal steps to speed the replacement effort. Dutch manufacturer Philips has recalled more than 5 million machines worldwide due to foam that can deteriorate, releasing potentially harmful byproducts. While customers were supposed to receive new machines within a year, the company says shipments will continue into 2023. That's left many U.S. patients to choose between using a recalled device or trying other risky remedies. U.S. regulators have warned they may take the unprecedented step of ordering Philips to step up its effort. Sept. 24, 1960 Shipyard workers strung flags and bunting atop the attack aircraft carrier Enterprise in preparation for her christening tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. At 5 a.m. the Enterprise, the worlds first atomic-powered flat-top and the largest ship ever built, will get her first taste of water when the gate of her building dock is opened to admit the James River. Flooding the dock will be controlled so that the ship will not be fully afloat until the bottle of champagne is smashed against her bow by Mrs. William B. Franke, wife of the Secretary of the Navy. Well, we can now officially add stupid and stubborn to despicable when addressing Pat McCrory. Our governor continues to defend passage of HB 2. He continues to blame everyone but himself for this debacle. Clearly, he and his fellow Republicans felt that fear, ignorance and hate would play well in North Carolina (and they might be right). However, they forgot that the world is much bigger and the climate has changed (pun intended). The outside world is now punishing our state, and we are powerless. That is, until November. I encourage all of voting age to consider the immoral, unethical and unconstitutional acts of our governor and legislature when going to the polls this fall. We should take a lesson from Mecklenburg County, whose voters rejected Pat McCrory in the last election (remember, he was mayor of Charlotte). We now know what they did. We should all think long and hard about voting for any Republican. The world is watching. Bruce Henry Colfax Adams Farm Slaughterhouse, of Athol, Mass., is recalling beef, veal, and bison products that may be contaminated with E. coli, the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Saturday. Hundreds of meat products with the suspected contamination were sold at farmers markets, restaurants and food cooperatives in Connecticut, Massachusetts and eastern New York. Ed Maltby, general manager of Adams Farm Slaughterhouse, said Saturday none of the meat products were sold to supermarket chains. He said farmers bring their livestock to his business where the animals are slaughtered, butchered and packaged. Each package contains a code that tells when it was slaughtered. Farmers, then sell the products themselves at markets or sell them to other establishments or cooperatives. Matlby said all the farmers that had animals slaughtered and processed on dates of suspected contamination have been notified. The USDA list of beef products - ranging from whole beef carcasses to filet migeon - total 59 items. The veal list totals 14 including veal stew meat, cutlets and osso buco. The bison has nearly 40 types of cuts and varieties. Unfortunately, at this point, there is not a retail distribution list of exactly where these meats were sent or sold. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls. USDA and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers' freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. The federal agency says these products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. To read the full recall advisory: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2016/recall-087-2016-release For updates and any future retail distribution lists: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/current-recalls-and-alerts The USDA says E coli is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps two to eight days (three to four days, on average) after exposure the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome. This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately. The agency said in a release it was notified of an investigation of E. coli illnesses on Sept. 16. Working in conjunction with the Connecticut Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, FSIS determined that there is a link between beef from Adams Farm Slaughterhouse and this illness cluster. Based on the epidemiological investigation, seven case-patients have been identified in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia with illness onset dates ranging from June 27 to Sept. 4. The raw intact and non-intact beef products originated from animals slaughtered on July 15, 25, and 27 and Aug. 3, 8, 10, 11, 17, 24 and 26, and further processed and packed on various dates between July 21, and Sept. 22. Matlby, the general manager, believes the USDA has taken excessive measures with the recall of hundreds of products. He said the slaughterhouses testing found only two days when meat may be contaminated. We pride ourselves on being a high-class facility with testing, Matlby said, we regret that people have gotten sick. A stream of some 10 fourth-grade girls poured out of a metallic gold shipping container into the bright sunshine at Greenwich Academy. Oh my gosh, that was so fun, several said, smiles on their faces. Hm, maybe a nice bottle of water instead? Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images Nobodys ignorant of the fact that alcohol is essentially poison, but whats always helped people swallow this depressing truth is long-accepted research arguing that booze also offers a few health benefits when consumed in moderation (the most famous claim probably being Boston University professor Curtis Ellisons that red wine reduces the risk of heart disease). Well, get ready to have a wet blanket thrown on that: The tides slowly turning because scientists are beginning to notice problems with those studies, like, for starters, that some of the major ones were funded by alcohol companies, and that the science itself may not be solid. Wired climbed down into this rabbit hole today in a piece that walks readers through what it calls the muddled link between spirits and cancer. Here are a couple of the points worth noting: 1. First, Ellisons research is propped up by unrestricted educational donations from the liquor industry, money thats supported not only him but also a group he leads that touts alcohols purported health benefits. 2. There are other cozy relationships, too: The industrys biggest lobby group is actually pretty tight with several federal regulators and prominent researchers. For instance, it now employs Samir Zakhari, former director of the NIHs alcohol research division, as an adviser. 3. As for the actual science, some acclaimed studies didnt take a group called the sick quitters in account subjects classified as nondrinkers who were actually either too ill in the first place to imbibe, or in some cases former alcoholics. 4. Deriving health benefits from wine consumption alone is also problematic: People tend to drink it more slowly and at mealtimes and be wealthier, all things that predispose them to better health. 5. Certain scientists (like Ellison) acknowledge a link between heavy drinking and cancer, but theres no consensus on the definition of heavy. Trying to define it in studies where participants have vastly different body sizes, metabolisms, and socioeconomic backgrounds is sort of a joke. Alcohol scholars behind this corrective argue the case for alcohols health benefits has really fallen apart in the last couple years, which is a bummer since [l]ots of us drink and wed really like to believe drinking is good for us. Research suggests its not any different from having cigarettes or soda and the message on those has been clear for some time: No level of use is truly risk-free. Thats no fun, but as one researcher sums things up, I certainly think that people deserve to be more aware of this than they are now. These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Flipkart - one of India's top e-commerce marketplaces - is gearing up for its annual Big Billion Day sale event, and as part of it, the company has put up a dedicated page for the event on its website. As you'd expect, the page contains all the essential details related to the event, but what caught our attention is the 'Samsung Galaxy On8' moniker that appears in the Special thanks to our partners section. This is possibly the first time we're hearing about a Samsung Galaxy On8, and with Flipkart listing it as partner strongly suggests that the device will be available for purchase at the retailer's upcoming flagship sale event (scheduled for Oct 2 - Oct 6). It's worth mentioning that Flipkart has recently been teasing a Galaxy On phone with Super AMOLED full HD display. So, it's quite possible that the device being teased is the Galaxy On8. Anyway, this comes shortly after Samsung launched the 2016 edition of the Galaxy On7 in China. The company also teased the Galaxy On5 (2016) on its official China website, revealing few of its key specs. Thanks for the tip, Saiju P J!!! Source Published on 2016/09/24 CNN reveals 15 stunning "architectural wonders" around Seoul, Artsy reports on the "Five Buddhas" paintings that were removed from Korea over 40 years ago, discover the abstract works of Choi Wook-kyung, and catch the "Old & New" exhibition at the Ginseng Art Museum. Advertisement "Seoul's architectural wonders" Here's a great list of some of Seoul's "architectural wonders" CNN posted a few years ago. Korea's capital has some seriously stunning city sights, both traditional and modern, and in this post, you'll discover fifteen sites to visit (and snap up!) next time you're in town. Sites like the Gwanggyo Power Centre, the Hangil Book House, the Seoul Univeristy Museum of Art, the Kring Kumho Culture Complex and others stand as beautiful testimonies to the country's inspiring aesthetic appreciation: "Seoul is evolving at a breathtaking pace. On a mission to project a world-class global image, the city has been obsessive about creating its new look..." ...READ ON CNN TRAVEL "An 18th-Century Temple Buddha Painting Returns to Korea after an Epic Journey" Alexxa Gotthardt, writing for Artsy, reports on a series of five paintings of the Buddha ("Five Buddhas") that were lost to Korea for over 40 years. Korean scholars, however, back in 2014, "discovered that it was stolen property-and uncovered the painting's dramatic journey". The exact return date is still to be set... ...READ ON ARTSY "Forgotten abstract painter Choi Wook-kyung revisited" The Korea Times puts the works of abstract painter Choi Wook-kyung (1940-1985), an artistic outsider in her own time, in the spotlight in this informative feature. "Choi tread a solitary path because she did not and could not take sides with any of them", says Kim Sung-won, director of the Asia Culture Center in Gwangju. "The time is ripe for us to rediscover this artist who blazed a trail in Korean abstract art". ...READ ON THE KOREA TIMES "Modern meets traditional in Gansong exhibition" To celebrate the 110th anniversary of the birth of Jeon Hyeong-pil, a famous Korean art collector, contemporary Korean artists have created various artworks as part of the "Old & New" exhibition that will run at the Ginseng Art Museum from September 10 to October 23. "The purpose of the exhibition is to look back on Jeon's philosophy of 'strengthening the country through culture', which still applies to this day, according to Jeon In-geon, the grandson of the museum founder and secretary-general of the foundation". ...READ ON THE KOREA HERALD Published on 2016/09/24 | Source Added episode 2 captures for the Korean drama "Shopping King Louis" (2016) Advertisement Directed by Lee Sang-yeob-I Written by Oh Ji-yeong-I Network : MBC With Seo In-guk, Nam Ji-hyun, Yoon Sang-hyun, Lim Se-mi, Kim Young-ok, Kim Sun-young,... 16 episodes - Wed, Thu 22:00 Also kwon as " Shopping King Louie" Synopsis "Shopping King Louis" is a romantic comedy drama about shopping King Louis and Ko Bok-sil. Louis was a man who would buy anything and everything with money until he met Ko Bok-il, an angel with no wings and experiences love he can't buy with money. Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2016/09/21 More 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 Harlow is a former New Town in Essex with a population of 86,000. Located in the upper Stort Valley, it was built in the decades after the Second World War to ease overcrowding and London and provide homes for people bombed out during the Blitz. It includes Britain's first pedestrian precinct and first modern residential tower block, The Lawn. Old Harlow, the historic part of the town, was mentioned in the Domesday Book. David and Victoria Beckham's former home, Rowneybury House, nicknamed 'Beckingham Palace', is nearby. 09:44, 30 OCT 2022 Rep Bishop: Hawaiian Tribe Process Unconstitutional WT: On the Hawaii decision, (House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop, R-Utah,) was more blunt: "This rule is unconstitutional and the executive branch is making up the rules as they go." "It's another example of this administration exerting power they were never given in the first place," Bishop scolded. "Congress needs to put an end to this executive abuse by establishing a consistent and transparent framework for the recognition of native groups." Jewell said the administration heard from "thousands of voices from the Native Hawaiian community," while "the public testified passionately about the proposal" during the two-year decision-making process. read Unconstitutional * * * * * This change is intended to circumvent legal, congressional processes, and Hawaiian community input KHON: Healani Sonoda-Pale of Protest Nai Aupuni said that this change is intended to circumvent legal, congressional processes, and Hawaiian community input. Without any congressional oversight or congressional vetting, President Obama and his successor will confer immense power on a pseudo native government. LINK: Video of News Conference read Pseudo-Tribal * * * * * Hawaiians are not an Indian tribe CB: Today, President Obama spat in the face of every Hawaiian, from Queen Liliuokalani down to us Hawaiians here standing now, she told several dozen supporters in front of Iolani Palace. While the DOI described its rule-making process to set up government-to-government relations with an indigenous entity as an opportunity for Hawaiians, protesters like Sonoda-Pale said the action was sad and painful. Hawaiians, she and others insisted, are not an Indian tribe. Sonoda-Pale said 95 percent of the people who turned out to testify at public hearings in the islands two years ago opposed the DOIs proposals. LINK: Video of News Conference read Obama Spat On Hawaiians * * * * * Grassroot Institute Criticizes DOI Rule for Subverting Will of Native Hawaiians Watchdog group cites overwhelming Native Hawaiian opposition to federal recognition News Release from Grassroot Institute HONOLULU, HAWAII -- (Sept. 23, 2016) -- Today, the Grassroot Institute criticized the Department of the Interior for subverting the will of Native Hawaiians on the issue of federal recognition. With the announcement of the DOI's rule to facilitate the reestablishment of a formal government-to-government relationship with the Native Hawaiian community, the President has reignited a controversy that had begun to wane in the wake of Na'i Aupuni's dissolution. "Native Hawaiians are on record as overwhelmingly opposed to efforts by the Department of Interior to recognize or establish a Hawaiian tribe or government," stated Keli'i Akina, Ph.D., President of the Grassroot Institute. "Every survey by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, from 1978 to the present, shows that Native Hawaiians want OHA to stop wasting money on federal recognition and, instead, to spend those millions on meeting the real needs of Hawaiians for housing, jobs, education, and healthcare. OHA and the DOI are on a crash course in their rejection of the will of the Hawaiian people." The DOI proposed the rule in 2015, and the Grassroot Institute was among the many who submitted comments in opposition to the creation of a federal Native Hawaiian tribe. Grassroot's comments cited problems with the rule's Constitutionality, its attempt to usurp Congressional authority, and its divisive nature as only a few of the many reasons the rule should have been set aside. Most of all, Grassroot cited the continual Native Hawaiian opposition to federal recognition, pointing out that by pushing for the creation of a Native Hawaiian polity, the rule would precipitate a legal challenge and fracture any sense of cultural unity among Native Hawaiian groups. Dr. Akina continued: "With today's announcement, the bureaucrats in Washington have proved that they aren't listening to the Native Hawaiian people. We are still fresh from the disaster that was the Native Hawaiian Roll and the Na'i Aupuni constitutional convention. This rule only encourages OHA and the state to waste more time and resources on a problematic and unconstitutional nation-building effort." * * * * * Hawaiians Openly Reject President Obamas new rulea DOI invented process to create a Native Hawaiian Tribe News Release from Protest Nai Aupuni, September 22, 2016 Press Conference 12 noon Sept 23, 2016 @ Iolani Palace As President Obama announces his plans to federalize Hawaiians as a tribe, Hawaiian community leaders and groups who have for many years protested attempts to turn Hawaiians into Native Americans (the Akaka Bill), will hold a press conference Friday, September 23rd at 12 noon in front ofIolani Palace. They will restate their opposition to the Obama Administrations Department of Interior (DOI) rule change. This change is intended to circumvent legal, congressional processes, and Hawaiian community input, said Healani-Sonoda Pale, founding member of the group, Protest Nai Aupuni and one of the organizers of the press conference. President Obama tasked his DOI to come up with a process that will allow him to use his Executive Order privilege and designate federally chosen groups of Hawaiians as recognized. Without any congressional oversight or congressional vetting, President Obama and his successor will confer immense power on a pseudo native government, Sonoda-Pale said. And this will allow the DOI to move forward with a process of creating land and resource settlements that typically follow legitimate, congressionally conferred federal recognition. Two years in the making, the Obama/DOI rule change was created in response to Office of Hawaiian Affairs CEO Kamanaopono Crabbes May 5, 2014 letter to Secretary of State John Kerry. In it, he essentially questioned the legitimacy of US jurisdiction in Hawaii by requesting proof of how the Hawaiian Kingdom was legally annexed to the United States. However, rather than answer the question, President Obama instructed the DOI to hold public hearings in Hawaii to discuss federal recognition. During the summer of 2014, hearings were held for 2 weeks on 5 of the Hawaiian Islands. Thousands of Hawaiians lined up, but only hundreds were able to testify. The overwhelming majority (over 95%) rejected the idea of a DOI Rule change and spoke powerfully in opposition to any Federal or State controlled process for sovereignty. It feels like the overthrow all over again, says Kahaluu Kupuna and Protest Nai Aupuni member Kapu Lambert. The finalization of the DOI Rule forebodes more hardship Hawaiians. Many of our people are homeless and are at the bottom of every socioeconomic statistic in Hawaii. We cannot trust the State and Federal governments and their collaborators to do the right thing on our behalf especially when it comes to Hawaiian sovereignty and lands. I refuse to accept this Rule. After tens of millions of dollars were spent by the state agency Office of Hawaiian Affairs to lobby for federal recognition, after 15 years of resistance to being federalized, we are now going to be saddled with being a fake tribe and federally designated so-called leaders, said Sonoda-Pale. Asked why the US would want to federalize Hawaiians when, in fact, hundreds of tribes on the continent have been trying to get federally recognized for many decades, Sonoda-Pale said, Why? Because they want our land. They want to create a so-called universal land claims settlement of our Crown and Government lands, aka Ceded Lands. And further, she said, the United States of America, who has never been respectful of indigenous peoplesas we are seeing in North Dakota, is trying to dissolve our rights as a people to self-determination as defined by international law, and our human rights as indigenous people that have also been codified by the United Nations. ---30--- Only one OHA Trustee willing to speak up in support of Interior Department OHA APPLAUDS FEDERAL RULE TO RECOGNIZE NATIVE HAWAIIANS INDIGENOUS STATUS, CREATE OPTION OF GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIP Statement Attributable to Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chairperson Robert K. Lindsey News Release from OHA HONOLULU, Hawaii (Sept. 23, 2016) The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) applauds the Obama Administration for bringing Native Hawaiians closer to having equality with other indigenous groups in the United States. Native Hawaiians have been the only major indigenous group in the 50 states without a process for establishing a government-to-government relationship with the federal government. This rule finally remedies this injustice. OHA will spend the next few days closely examining the rule to better understand how the Native Hawaiian people can if they choose pursue a government-to-government relationship. As fiduciaries for the Native Hawaiian trust, the OHA Board of Trustees has supported federal acknowledgement of Native Hawaiian indigenous status in order to further strengthen and protect Native Hawaiian rights and resources. Having a federal rule available to Native Hawaiians is also an important step towards achieving Native Hawaiian self-determination and self-governance. During the 1978 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention, these two goals served as bases for the creation of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Constitutional convention delegates in 1978 envisioned Native Hawaiians achieving self-determination, methods for self-sufficiency through assets and a land base, and the unification of all [N]ative Hawaiian people. ---30--- Lindsey August, 2016: the majority of respondents see nation-building as a bottom of the barrel issue. OHA must refocus, reboot, and rethink its basic priorities if it is to be in alignment with the wishes of our people. * * * * * OHA Trustee Lei Ahu Isa Sept 23, 2016: Now a ...tribe'!!!! * * * * * Robin Danner: Excited as all get-out Star-Adv Sept 23, 2016: Robin Danner, former founding president and CEO of the Council of Native Hawaiian Advancement and a commissioner on the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission, worked with U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka for 15 years on the Akaka Bill. On Thursday she was excited as all get-out after getting word from Washington, D.C., about the Interior Departments upcoming announcement. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that has been 100 years coming, Danner said. Im excited for my grandbabies. Im excited for my people. Im excited for all of Hawaii, Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians. My cheeks hurt Im so happy for our people. But Native Hawaiians can choose to participate or not in whatever comes next toward forming a Native Hawaiian government that could seek a government-to-government relationship with the United States, Danner said. Federal recognition is a right and an opportunity that we dont have to take, but have a right to take, she said. It doesnt replace any history. It doesnt replace any efforts for the restoration of the kingdom for those who want to do that. Asked how fragile the Interior Departments position is given the upcoming presidential election, Danner said, Its as fragile as any policy in our democracy. Its as fragile as the Civil Rights Act. No progress has ever been made by wringing our hands over what might be undone. Flashback Sept 10, 2016: Robin Danner Group Calls on DHHL to Keep Al Hee's Scam Company read Danner * * * * * State: No statement from Governor Ige nor from Legislators. * * * * * Congressional Delegation: No statement from Hirono. * * * * * Schatz Statement on Department of Interior Announcement on Native Hawaiian Rule News Release Friday, September 23, 2016 HONOLULU Today, the Department of the Interior released a final rule on the administrative procedure and criteria for establishing a government-to-government relationship with the Native Hawaiian community. U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, issued the following statement. This is an historic step towards doing what is right and just for Native Hawaiians. For far too long, Native Hawaiians have been the only federally recognized native people without a government-to-government relationship with the United States. Generations of Hawaiians and allies have worked to restore this relationship, and this rule is one of the most significant developments in making this a real possibility. Although the rule establishes formal procedures for a Native Hawaiian government to establish its governmental relationship with the United States, it leaves the Hawaiian community with the authority and responsibility to reorganize its governing entity. President Obamas leadership and personal commitment to Hawaii was evident in the level of community engagement conducted by his administration and essential to ensuring this path forward for Native Hawaiians. * * * * * Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on DOI Rule Announcement News Release Friday, September 23, 2016 Washington, DCRep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) released the statement below following announcement of the Department of Interiors (DOI) Final Rule for Procedures for Reestablishing a Formal Government-to-Government Relationship with the Native Hawaiian Community. The rule incorporates and takes into account more than 54,000 public comments submitted to the Department of Interior from the Native Hawaiian community and other key stakeholders: For decades, many in the Native Hawaiian community have fought for the same rights and treatment as indigenous groups across the United States, like Native American tribes and Alaska Natives. The Department of Interior announcement today simply places the decision-making authority solely within the hands of Native Hawaiians to determine what, if any, government-to-government relationship they choose to have with the U.S. federal government. I had the great honor of working as a legislative aide to Senator Akaka, who dedicated so much of his life to creating this opportunity for our Native Hawaiian community. I look forward to continuing to engage and work alongside our Native Hawaiian brothers and sisters as they determine their path forward. * * * * * 2013: Hanabusa: Obama Considers Creating Akaka Tribe Without Congressional Approval Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has congratulated experts of the Kyiv-based government-run Luch Design Bureau which is part of the Ukroboronprom state concern on the successful test of a new guided missile for multiple launch rocket systems. "I congratulate the Luch Bureau on the successful test of a new guided missile model!" the president said in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Friday. Poroshenko noted that over two years Ukrainian military have received dozens of samples of new weapons and equipment. "And we are only at the beginning of the process of technical modernization of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is only the beginning!" Poroshenko added. A short video is attached to this post which shows in slow motion a launch of a missile of the multiple rocket system, presumably Smerch. As reported, on March 22, 2016, Turchynov has announced the successful test of the Ukrainian-produced missile. "We began to test Ukrainian-produced missiles. Today's launch has shown that our rocket completely fulfilled its scheduled tasks and hit the intended target," he said adding that the development of a new domestic-produced missile comes as part of the program of restoration of Ukraine's missile shield. He also said that this was not the only missile program, on which Ukrainian scientists and defense industry are working. Ronald Flynn had to surrender his passport Picture: Damien Eagers A man charged with drugs offences following the seizure of an estimated 400,000 worth of cannabis has been sent forward for trial. Ronald Flynn (53) had the book of evidence served on him when he appeared before Blanchardstown District Court. Mr Flynn was charged after a car was stopped in west Dublin following a joint operation between the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and Revenue and Customs. The accused is charged with possession of cannabis as well as having the drug for sale or supply. The incident allegedly took place at Citywest Avenue, Citywest Business Park, last November 19. Gardai previously alleged that they seized 20kg of cannabis during the operation and the drug had an estimated street value of 400,000. A State solicitor said the DPP has directed trial on indictment in the circuit court on the charges. Mr Flynn was further charged before Blanchardstown court under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act, where the alleged value of the cannabis is greater than 13,000. Caution Det Gda Willie Armstrong said gardai were consenting to the existing bail being extended to the new charge sheet. The State solicitor said the book of evidence had been served on Mr Flynn, of Hill View, Mount Prospect, Mount Nugent, Co Cavan, who goes forward to the next sittings of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge David McHugh gave the accused the formal alibi caution. The judge also assigned def-ence solicitor Conor Ruane and one junior counsel on free legal aid. Judge McHugh further assigned a second senior counsel on legal aid when he heard the estimated value of the cannabis was 400,000. As part of his bail conditions, Mr Flynn must reside at his home address and sign on at his local garda station. He has also surrendered his passport and supplied a mobile phone number to gardai so he can be contacted by them. The accused has not yet indicated a plea to the charges. OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) Principal Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug will visit the sites of forces' disengagement at three sectors in Donetsk and Luhansk regions on September 25-28. Hug will visit Donetsk and Luhansk regions on September 25-28 and will meet with the SMM teams and representatives of the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC), an OSCE SMM spokesman told reporters in Donetsk. The deputy chief monitor also plans to meet with leaders of unlawful armed units in Donetsk and Luhansk regions in order to discuss restrictions on the SMM's free movement, the spokesman said. Hug will follow the situation surrounding the disengagement of forces and means at the three sectors in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. These are the towns of of Zolote, Stanytsia Luhanska and Petrovske, the mission spokesman said. A violent criminal has taken advantage of the capital's gangland feud to make a fortune from drugs in the north inner city, the Herald has learned. Sources have revealed that he is supplying huge amounts of cocaine and cannabis herb to a network of lower-level dealers. In recent months he has travelled on an exotic holiday to Mexico. The key to his drugs business success is that he has stayed out of the deadly feud between the Kinahan cartel and the Hutch mob, despite having close links to associates of murdered Gary Hutch. "The gardai's main focus has been the feud and those involved in it. "That has meant that operators like this individual who were previously mid-level dealers have now found themselves featuring more prominently in the food chain," a source said. "This is because many of the more senior dealers who are actively involved in the feud are getting very serious heat from the gardai in terms of searches and surveillance." Firearms The capital's latest drugs kingpin has notched up a number of serious convictions since his teens. These include firearms offences, drug dealing and extreme violence against a woman. While serving sentences, he was involved in prison violence and became a target for other gangland criminals behind bars. He was brutally assaulted by other inmates last year. It can also be revealed that one of his close associates is the chief suspect in the murder of Michael 'Mad Mickey' Devoy (41), who sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his head and neck and died on January 18, 2014. He had been released from Portlaoise Prison only the previous day. The close associate, who was arrested twice over Devoy's murder, was also a suspect in the fatal shooting last April of innocent man Martin O'Rourke (24). However, his involvement in that feud death has now been ruled out. Our unfit teens are facing the same heart-disease risk as 60-year-olds, new research has shown. No Fry Zone 4 Wicklow Kids has called for swift action to prevent health problems among children, particularly by banning fast-food ventures from opening stores near schools. It comes just after the Government said it planned to introduce "no-fry zones" near schools as part of a 10-year anti-obesity plan. Research carried out by Dublin City University (DCU) showed that teenagers with a low fitness level have an increased risk of stroke at the age of 15, and a higher chance of vascular disease in later life. Philip Moyles, chair of the group, said the results were shocking but not unheard of. Horrifying "It's not surprising," he told the Herald. "We have done a lot of research on childhood obesity, and the statistics are horrifying. "One-in-four children aged nine is obese, and if you are obese as a child, it will follow you into adulthood. "The findings from DCU are not surprising and I think it just reminds us that we need to do something." No Fry Zones 4 Wicklow Kids was set up by parents in Greystones four years ago, when McDonald's attempted to open a branch close to local schools. Earlier this week, Health Minister Simon Harris and Minister for Health Promotion Marcella Corcoran Kennedy announced a 10-year action plan to combat obesity. No-fry zones - or areas close to schools where the presence of fast-food outlets are limited or banned outright - are included in the plans, much to the relief of Mr Moyles and his fellow campaigners who are pleased to see the idea being rolled out nationally. "We are really happy with the news that no-fry zones are in the plan," he said. But he stressed that the campaign group would continue to put pressure on local and national officials until the zones came into effect. "The next step is to make sure it's implemented as soon as possible," he said. "It's important to remember that there is little real point in setting up no-fry zones if you are still going to have vending machines in or near schools," he added. Meanwhile, Professor Niall Moyna, of DCU, said there are "potential solutions" to poor fitness among young people. "The first thing that we have to do is to identify the kids who are at risk," he told RTE Radio 1. Professsor Moyna, who is best known for his appearances on RTE's Operation Transformation, said the focus should be on encouraging children to take up healthy habits early. "We spend millions every year trying to change people's behaviour," he said, He said children should be encouraged to develop healthy behaviours from primary school. U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie L. Yovanovitch has visited Kharkiv-based public JSC Turboatom, the enterprise's press service reported. The diplomat visited different units of the enterprise and held talks with its management. Director General of Turboatom Viktor Subotin told Yovanovitch about economic, financial and social activities of the plant, as well as its cooperation with U.S. companies Holtec International and Westinghouse Electric Company. Yovanovitch said that this was not her first visit to Kharkiv, but that she visited an enterprise of such kind for the first time in her life. The ambassador said she was impressed by the reforms and changes that were made by the company's management, as well as by tangible achievements, which the company has reached in recent years, both in terms of revenues and social benefits, the press service said. With regard to the partnership between Turboatom and the U.S. companies, Yovanovitch stressed that she was looking forward to further cooperation and development of close business ties that would be beneficial for both the American and Ukrainian sides. As reported, the Ukrainian government put a 75.22% stake in the OJSC Turboatom on the list of companies which will be put up for sale in 2016-2017. Turboatom is the only Ukrainian producer of turbine equipment for hydro, thermal and nuclear power plants. Ukrainian military strictly observe the ceasefire in Donbas, Chief of General Staff - Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko said at a meeting with OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) Principal Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug. "Ukrainian troops strictly adhere to the ceasefire, however the enemy is shelling us with the use of mortars and small arms, there are also armed provocations involving sabotage groups," the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's press service quoted Muzhenko as saying. The chief of general staff said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine welcomes any political efforts aimed at settling the conflict in eastern Ukraine and the withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory. "At the same time, the withdrawal of troops and heavy weapons from the demarcation line is only possible amid sustainable ceasefire," Muzhenko said. ave you noticed how election seasons highlight differences in moral judgment? Social public morality is usually defined by vague forces of culture, such as TV, athletes, talk show hosts, news people. Social morality quickly condemns or challenges anyone who disagrees with their approved influence. It swells the self-righteousness of those who agree. Social morality calls it flip-flop if a candidate changes a position. He/she feels pressure to lie and say that is a long-held position, or that the media misunderstood, or the opposition wants to destroy. One politician is praised to "evolve" in his position about same-sex marriage. Yet another is slammed for trying to improve understanding about minorities. The choices are definitely distinctive between Clinton and Trump. Most people want to vote against one or the other. One is known for dishonesty, for destruction of unborn children, for raising taxes. Another is untested politically, but stands for saving babies, for encouraging free enterprise, for growing the number of employed people. The pressure of moral judgment is uncomfortable. We must pray, read and search our hearts for how to vote. The only unacceptable vote is the one you do not cast. You support Americas enemies, you disregard the people who suffered for freedom, and you stand with the Pharisees if you do not vote. Jesus said to give to Caesar what is Caesars and to God what is his (12:17). Caesar, or the worlds authority, is served by error-prone, sinful leaders. God is served when you stand for his truth and expect that of leaders. God is not served when you avoid a wrong move by refusing to vote. God wins when you vote for principles that reflect what you believe he wants. It is more right to pay taxes, even if they are misused, than it is to refuse to pay taxes. Biblical morality deals with Gods standards and why we get his punishment or praise. But when you fear to vote wrongly, please consider that God will love you if you vote wrong. God declares his love for his people in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). I hope you pray, consider and vote. Also you can send protests and corrections if the leaders need them. God is still in charge. Let us be part of history by voting, not by self-righteous withdrawal. Once upon a time, the average-sized American religious congregation had two telephones that really mattered. There was the office telephone, answered by a secretary or receptionist during business hours. It was the job of this gatekeeper who, over time, became an expert on life in the flock to tell the shepherd which calls were urgent and which could wait. The other telephone was at the pastors home. Many people knew that number, but they also knew it was not business as usual to dial it. "People knew they never should call the pastors home number unless it was a real emergency," said the Rev. Karl Vaters of Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in Fountain Valley, California. "There was a boundary there, and people tried to help protect the pastors time at home. That boundary was there to help protect his family and his ministry." These days, both of those telephones, for all practical purposes, have been replaced by cellphones for the pastors and members of small congregations usually defined as those with under 200 people attending the main worship service. For most clergy, the cellphones in their pockets are always there, always vibrating to remind them of cares and concerns that rarely, if ever, go away. It was the one-two punch of cellphones and email that first pulled clergy into the social-media age, followed by digital newsletters, Facebook pages and constantly changing congregational websites. Even in small churches, the work of the "church secretary" has evolved from answering the office telephone and preparing an ink-on-paper newsletter to serving as an all-purpose online networker. "The old boundaries are vanishing and, for pastors in some parts of the country, theyre almost completely gone," said Vaters. "That mobile phone is always with you. ... Once your church passes 200 members, you have to manage things in a different way. You just cant afford to be as accessible to all those church members all of the time." So what happens today when a member of a congregation rings the pastors cellphone? Vaters recently addressed that question in a post at Christianity Todays Pivot blog for small-church leaders. The blunt headline: "Why Most Pastors Arent Answering Your Phone Calls." For starters, there are too many calls to answer, and about half of them are sales calls from businesses, he noted. Church members also tend to forget that many modern pastors no longer have desk telephones because they no longer have traditional offices or staffs. Many clergy especially in missions and new church plants have other full- or part-time jobs to help them pay the bills. Meanwhile, some clergy are proactive and use text messages and emails to arrange personal meetings in "third places," such as coffee shops. They try to work calls into their time-management plans, reaching as many people as possible. "The irony is that those face-to-face meetings are often interrupted by telephone calls," said Vaters. "So what are you supposed to do, take that call when youre actually praying with someone?" But there are other reasons for pastors not reach for that mobile phone. Some laypeople need to learn that "some things can wait," he said. Then there was this angle in his commentary: "Its not you, its us (except when its you)." Most of the time, pastors are not ignoring calls, "but sometimes we are. Lets face it, some people are a drain on resources," wrote Vaters. "It doesnt mean we dont love and care for them. ... This is not a typical reason for a slow response from a pastor. But it can be a valid one." Then theres one more thing. "Some pastors are lazy and rude," he added. These shepherds need to realize that one way or another members of their flocks deserve responses when they try to reach them. Even calling back to tell them "no" is better than leaving them feeling ignored. Church members should know "that hes not ignoring me, hes not being mean to me," said Vaters. "They have to learn that youre trying to set important boundaries. ... Youre trying to spend less time in some conversations that are really not all that urgent, in order to make room for the calls that really are that really matter." The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) Representative in Ukraine Dorte Ellehammer has assured that the WFP will continue to support refugees from Donbas conflict zone in Ukraine, the press service of Agrarian Policy Ministry of Ukraine reported. The assistance will be also aimed at the restoration of small agricultural units and support of small-scale farmers at the household level, Ellehammer said during a meeting with Agrarian Policy and Food Minister of Ukraine Taras Kutovy on Friday. According to her, the organization continues to develop the project for the relief and rehabilitation of Ukraine for 2017. The project envisages the implementation of programs aimed at the protection and restoration of funds for the elderly, the disabled and those who have not had the opportunity to leave the conflict-affected areas of Donetsk and Luhansk region on the temporarily occupied territories and along the line of contact, Ellehammer said. The WFP in Ukraine guarantees that they will continue to respond to people's needs and take into account the development of the situation in the east of Ukraine. For his part, Kutovy said that Ukraine supports the WFP in the fight against poverty and hunger in the world through increasing their capacity for food production. "Ukraine has significant agricultural resources, which can help in tackling global challenges such as the fight against hunger and poverty, ensuring sustainable development of the poorest countries. The domestic agricultural sector is constantly strengthening its position on the world food markets," the agrarian policy minister said. The ministry's press service recalled that the WFP was absent in Ukraine before 2014. Since November 2014, the WFP is the coordinator of the Food Security Cluster and is implementing the increased assistance program with a budget of $21.46 million in Ukraine. In 2015-2016, the organization has increased the budget for operations in Ukraine to $30 million. "Since the beginning of the Emergency Operation in November 2014, WFP has assisted some 550,000 people in need: 370,000 beneficiaries through food parcels and 180,000 with cash-based transfers (cash or vouchers) where markets are still functioning well," the Agrarian Policy Ministry said. The days are shorter, but not the list of things you can do. Self-proclaimed Chinas most prominent philanthropist Chen Guangbiao has filed suit against two Chinese media outlets, Caixin Media and NetEase, for their special reports published on Tuesday. Founder of the China Huangpu Renewable Resources Utilization Group, Chen frequently makes headlines both at home and abroad through highly publicized, occasionally eccentric philanthropy. (Chen Guangbiao, file photo) Caixin.com conducted an investigation into the many claims previously made by Chen, like saying that from 1998 to 2012, his philanthropic donations exceeded 2 billion yuan (some $150 million). The report quoted an anonymous source as saying the real number is, no more than 30 million yuan, which is approximately $5 million. Chen first made headlines in China for his involvement in rescue efforts following the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake. According to a Washington Post report, the China Earthquake Rescue Hero reportedly brought a team of 100 colleagues and 60 excavators to help rescue victims. Chen has gone on record as saying he carried over 200 bodies from the wreckage. (Chen Guangbiao's Business Card, file photo) Chen also attempted to make headlines elsewhere. Since 2008, hes attempted to buy the New York Times, provided lunch for over 200 homeless Americans in NYC, and handed out envelopes of cash to people in need on the streets of Taiwan. (Chen Guangbiao handed money to a man in NYC in 2014, file photo) The publicity surrounding his eccentric philanthropic means has attracted the attention of countless media outlets. Chen responded to the media reports by posting on his Sina Weibo account on Wednesday, saying he would sue. A court in Nanjing, Chinas eastern Jiangsu province, has accepted the lawsuit against Caixin Media, Xinhua reported on Tuesday. The indictment demanded the court force Caixin Media to stop publishing articles detrimental to Chens reputation. Additionally, Chens requested Caixin fork over one million yuan ($150,078) in defamation damages. Chen held a press conference at his companys headquarters on Friday to address the accusations. According to multiple news outlets, Chen spoke for 40-minutes, constantly referencing a stack of finance books on a table in front of him. You can take them and make a summary, he told a room of journalists. But Chen refused to take questions from any of the reporters in attendance. Sohu.com reported that a reporter from Xinhua News Agency began arguing with one of Chens brokers. The reporter is reportedly pushed into an elevator where the broker attempted to physically assault him. Chen has repeatedly told media outlets that the event was a press announcement, and not a press conference whereby journalists could ask questions. Chinese President Xi Jinping(front) and other senior leaders visit an exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Long March in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 23, 2016. Chinese President Xi Jinping and other senior leaders Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishanand Zhang Gaolivisited the exhibition here on Friday. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) BEIJING, Sept. 23 -- President Xi Jinping on Friday called for carrying forth the spirit of the Chinese Red Army on the Long March eight decades ago, and striving fearlessly to realize the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation. Xi made the remarks during a visit to an exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Long March. The Long March spirit is characterized by working hard, fearing no sacrifice, and firm belief in communism and the ultimate victory of China's revolution. From October 1934 to October 1936, the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army soldiers left their bases and marched through raging rivers, snowy mountains and arid grassland to break the siege of the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) forces and continue to fight Japanese aggressors. Some of them marched as far as 12,500 kilometers. The maneuver was a turning point in China's revolution. Against all odds, the Red Army completed the march under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), a world-renowned feat that will be forever engraved in the history of China's revolution and the Chinese nation, said Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission. The Long March clearly demonstrated the power of revolutionary ideals, Xi said at the exhibition in the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution in Beijing. "Times have changed, the situation has changed, but the ideals and causes that we communists have been fighting for have not changed," he said. He called for remembering the Red Army's achievements and carrying forward the Long March spirit, in education, in patriotism and in revolutionary ideals. The people should be guided to march forward with confidence and courage, in "a new long march" that will bring prosperity to the country and realize the Chinese dream of the rejuvenation of the nation, the president said. Also present at the exhibition were Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli, all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. The exhibition tells the stories of major battles, historical incidents and important figures involved in the Long March. It displays 275 photos and 252 artifacts, as well as a great number of videos, charts, paintings and sculptures, showing the Red Army's fight against the Kuomintang regime and Japanese aggressors under the CPC's leadership. While addressing the exhibition's opening ceremony on Friday, Liu Yunshan said that the Long March was a turning point -- from setbacks to victory -- for the CPC and China's revolutionary cause, and it laid a solid foundation for national independence and liberation. The precious photos and relics, which show the hardships and great spirit of the Long March, are important for education in patriotism and revolutionary tradition, as well as a vivid lesson in socialist core values, Liu said. About 600 people, including veterans, Party, government and military officials, and public representatives, attended the opening ceremony. CONOVER Back in 2003, the U.S. Department of Education released a report titled, The Economic Imperative for Improving Education. The well being of the nation increasingly depends upon U.S. high schools rising to the challenge of preparing all students for a new economic reality, the report part of the departments high school initiative at that time -- said. The report can be found online at ed.gov. Prior to the mid-1970s, it was economically sufficient to provide an excellent education to an elite group of students and a basic education to the rest of the population, the report went on to say. No longer. Students need to stay in school, take challenging courses and be prepared for further education or training. Sixteen years later, schools across the country at every grade level are continuing to embrace the idea of ensuring equal educational opportunities for every student. Programs like Leader in Me, Blended Learning, Maker Classrooms and STEM classes are all finding their way into schools as they each search for the right fit with their students. In the Catawba County Schools (CCS) system, St. Stephens Elementary is going a step further, experimenting with a new academy system. The proposed reorganization creates a school within school mentality, focused on improving instruction. What weve done is weve divided the school into three smaller academies so we can provide more personalized attention, even more resources than weve provided in the past, St. Stephens Elementary Principal Donna Heavner said. Meeting individual needs St. Stephens Elementary is a Title 1 school, has 740 students and is 100 percent free lunch, the only one in Catawba County Schools. St. Stephens Elementary sends 100 backpacks home every Friday with food in them. There are many broad needs in the building whether its food, whether its assistance with shelter," Heavner said. "Maybe its assistance with academics. Our school pulls a lot of resources to provide that foundation for so many of our kids. Heavner said because of the schools Title 1 status there would be no additional cost to implement the new plan. Individual public schools with poverty rates above 40 percent may use Title I funds, along with other federal, state and local funds, to operate a "school-wide program" to help ensure all children meet state academic content and student academic achievement standards, according to the North Carolina Department of Instruction website. Heavner will be overseeing three directors, one for each of the new academies. Tammy Sharp is the director for the Early Childhood Academy (grades K-1). Laura Ingenito is the director for the Primary Academy (2nd-3rd grades), and St. Stephens Assistant Principal Michael Lee is the director for the Intermediate (4-5th grades) and the Sixth Grade Academy. Theyll look very closely at instruction in the classroom," Heavner said. "Theyll look at the curriculum in each of those groups, because the curriculum is so different from kindergarten to sixth grade." The directors will also be following up on the evaluations of the students and teachers, while providing support for both. The academies will help make the school someplace (students) feel like they can take risks and can learn, Ingenito said. They dont have to worry about the outside. In this building we provide them all the resources they need to be successful. Her academy contains one of the testing grades, third, so the focus is building up student strengths. We want to make sure were meeting the whole child and differentiating to meet their needs because we have a lot of diversity here, Ingenito said, adding expectations should be set high for every student. They need those high expectations too or theyre not going to reach their goals. We dont want to say, Maybe they cant do it because maybe the language is not in place.'" The environment in the school will also reflect this new academy structure with each calling its own hall home and each hall reflecting the unique needs for their age groups. Providing enrichment The principal added the needs of the students are varied at St. Stephens, from students who are English learners to those living at a poverty level. Those things can impact students academic abilities because there may be no books at home. Heavner references studies done by author Eric Jensen on how poverty affects a student in a household with a single parent or parents working long hours, struggling to make ends meet. In Jensens book Teaching with Poverty in Mind, he states, Strong, secure relationships help stabilize childrens behavior and provide the core guidance needed to build lifelong social skills. He also points to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study in 2000 that showed only 36 percent of low-income parents were involved in three or more school activities on a regular basis, compared with 59 percent of parents above the poverty line. Heavner sees that as part of the enrichment puzzle piece missing in the lives of low-income students. Whether its lessons outside of school, dance lessons or music lessons, so many of our parents struggle to provide some of those experiences, Heavner said. Sometimes as a school we provide that enrichment as much as we can. If you have a high poverty rate, the school becomes that enriching resource at times. Trial run The school actually created a smaller version of the academy plan with a Sixth Grade Academy last year. Rodney Pyatte, CCS Teacher of the Year, approached Heavner the previous summer about the idea. What their proposal included was just to have the sixth grade students function like in a middle school, she said. In so many other school systems, the middle school has sixth, seventh and eighth grades. Catawba County has chosen to do just seventh and eighth. The new plan had the Sixth Grade Academy using integrated units and flex scheduling and guest speakers to talk to students about their futures. Pyatte saw last years experiment as an ideal way to start the college and career ready conversation. We thought theyre never too young preparing for that or thinking about their future, he said. We wanted to get them on the right track as far as making good choices inside and outside the classroom. Students were encouraged to take command of their own future, learning responsibilities and consequences. The number of office and discipline referrals declined last year for the sixth grade class. Pyatte also said he started to notice students actually stepping up and owning mistakes. For instance, Little Jimmy, comes to class without his homework and before you might hear, My mom didnt do this or didnt do that,'" he said. By the end of the year the majority of our kids would take the responsibility for themselves. Along with sitting high expectations for students, the Sixth Grade Academy also provided them the opportunity to feel like they had a voice and choice in their education. They ran a weekly broadcast news feature at the school. They had more open lunch sitting privileges and also had the opportunity to go on a tour of Appalachian State University. The success of the Sixth Grade Academy helped spur on talk about recreating the same for the other grades at the school. We have a finite number of minutes that were blessed to have the children in our school and within that finite number of minutes, we have to be really targeted in how we use those minutes, Heavner said. I think each of the directors roles will be to make sure were on target using all of those minutesand I really think if that targeted instruction happens and the instructional support happens from each of the directors, it will increase growth in our students. To help even further with that, the plan will utilize instructional specialist to support grades K-3, Michelle Hagy, and grades 4-6, Jill Chiles. They will help pull resources, modeling instruction and help the teachers find strong effective instructional practices that will use those minutes wisely. Heavner credits former Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Beth Isenhour for starting the conversation about this new approach. A third suspect was charged in the deaths of two Forest City men Friday, and a fourth has been charged with accessory after the fact. Scott Devon Hemphill, 33, of 2320 Farmer St., Apt. B, Charlotte, was charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Albert Alexander Austin, 35, and Spencer Jermain Murray, 29, whose bodies were found in a burned car in Morganton on Sunday, according to a press release from Burke County Sheriff Steve Whisenant. Hemphill was taken into custody by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department's Violent Criminal Apprehension Team early Friday morning, the release said. He is being held without bond. Authorities were able to identify Murray as the second victim found in the vehicle based on information gathered during the investigation, although scientific verification is pending, the release said. Icey Chennell Gooden, 26, of 4217 Sundown Road, Morganton, and Brian Jerome Robinson, 33, of 1122 Valley Trace, Morganton, also were charged with two counts of murder in the deaths, the release said. Both were taken into custody Thursday and appeared before a Burke County magistrate on Friday. Both are incarcerated in the Burke County District Confinement Facility without bond. Brandy Nicole Davis, 32, of 906 Jamestown Road, Apt. D3, Morganton, was charged Friday with accessory after the fact to homicide. She was taken into custody Thursday and is being held at the Burke County District Confinement Facility under a $250,000 bond, the release said. The two men's bodies were discovered Sunday morning around 8 a.m. when Burke County Sheriff's Office deputies were called to Canoe Creek Way in Morganton. When they arrived, deputies found a burned Cadillac Deville with human remains inside, according to previous reports. With the assistance of an investigator with the North Carolina License and Theft Bureau, investigators learned the Cadillac belonged to Austin, of 555 Poors Ford Road, Lot 5, in Forest City, and was registered to Murray, of 165 Astrid Lane, in Forest City, according to previous reports. BCSO investigators and the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation focused efforts on identifying the remains and those responsible for the deaths, the release said. Whisenant thanked the assisting agencies and others who helped identify the suspect. "I'm extremely pleased with how the Burke County Sheriff's Office and the SBI started with a burned car with no information and with the assistance of many other agencies and good citizens were able to make these arrests," Whisenant said. "Our citizens can be proud of the knowledgeable and dedicated officers aided by first responders and the DA's office that resulted in this quality investigation that continues." Whisenant said the investigation is ongoing, and investigators are reaching out to members of the community who may have relevant information to this case. Anyone who may have information are asked to contact the BCSO Criminal Investigations Division at 828-438-5506 or Burke County Crime Stoppers at 828-437-3333. Agencies involved in the investigation and subsequent arrests included BCSO, SBI, Oak Hill Fire & Rescue, West End Fire & Rescue, Burke County Fire Marshalls Office, Burke County Medical Examiner, N.C. License and Theft Bureau, Forest City Police Department, Rutherford County Sheriffs Office, and Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Departments Violent Criminal Apprehension Team. Editor Lisa Wall can be reached at 828-432-8939 or at lwall@morganton.com. Siddharth Chowdhurys superb The Patna Manual of Style evokes much that is quintessential about Patna through a man called Hriday Thakur. There is an enormous love for books and culture that is central to this character, and in my minds eye, this is what I imagine when I think of Patna. It is institutions around books and culture that make Patna memorable. One of those is the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, whose outstanding collection of manuscripts goes back to 1891. The other, with an equally magnificent collection, in this case of sculpture and antiquities, is the Patna Museum founded in 1917, which means that next year will be its centenary. Read:How safe are Indias famed museums: A quick status check If one was to compare the two institutions, an important difference becomes obvious. The Khudha Bakhsh Library is staffed by people who take immense pride in showing its treasures. As with many institutions of national importance, the central government has not found the time to appoint its director but, at least, its collection is carefully kept and made available to anyone interested in it. On the other hand, while the Patna Museum has an outstanding range, from the incomparable Didarganj Yakshi to the stunning Chausa bronzes, unlike the Khuda Bakhsh Library, its collection is on the verge of being dismembered. This historical museum is on the brink of losing its masterpieces. In this case, it is the state government that is presiding over the forthcoming demise of the museum. The reason for this is that the Bihar government has decided to shift its treasures to the newly created Bihar Museum in Patna. This has been planned as a history museum for the state. That a new museum in the same city will be created by preying upon the historical collection of another one is extraordinary. No museum worth its salt would usually allow this to happen. The British Museum, for instance, is unlikely to give away part of its collection to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. For that matter, it is equally unlikely that the National Museum in New Delhi will part with its modern paintings which the National Gallery of Modern Art may well feel should be in its portals. Patna, obviously, is pioneering a new manual of style for museums -- where an old city museums collection, seen by thousands of daily visitors, is cannibalised for setting up another museum in the same city. Read: Nitish stresses on quality in proposed Bihar museum There are some who argue that the treasures of the Patna Museum need a better home because of security concerns. Eighteen of its bronzes were stolen some years ago, although 17 of these were eventually recovered. My answer to this argument is that the same institutional malaise exists in the National Museum as well as the CAG audit revealed. There had been 156 cases of theft/loss of art objects but the solution for this was not that the National Museum be emptied of its treasures. Instead, this malaise had to be addressed, and better safeguards put in place. Read: Patna museum open to photography now Beyond the tragic irony of a museum being emptied of its masterpieces even as it completes hundred years is the manner in which this has been done. None of the administrators looking after the Patna Museum stood up as guardians to protest against this decision. Is this because bureaucrats run the museum and not academic administrators? Historians like BP Sinha and PL Gupta were once associated with this museum and it is unlikely that they would have tamely acceded to such a preposterous state government project. They would have surely pointed out the wealth of antiquities in Bihars villages and towns, which could be tapped for the new museum. A bottom-up strategy should have been adopted, with a museum committee moving around the Bihar countryside asking villages to part with some of their sculptural and archaeological relics for creating the Bihar Museum. People across Bihar would have had a sense of having contributed to the creation of a museum in the capital of their state. The tragedy that confronts the Patna Museum is a real one. It need not be so. Patna can be home to more that one great museum. The Bihar Museum should flourish but not at the expense of its much older counterpart. Nayanjot Lahiri is a professor of history at Ashoka University The views expressed are personal Prime Minister Narendra Modi has finally revealed the broad elements of Indias post-Uri response, delivering a nuanced message to Pakistan during a speech at a public event in Kozikhode on Saturday. The strategy appears to have three key elements -- improving domestic morale and mood by changing the narrative from obvious failure to little known successes, distinguishing between Pakistani people and rulers and focusing on common challenges to capture the moral high ground, and a signal to Islamabad-Rawalpindi that it has enough internal vulnerabilities and keeping the doors for covert action open. Modi highlighted the successes of Indias forces. In the past few months, the army foiled 17 infiltration attempts -- and thus 17 possible terror attacks. In recent times, he claimed, 110 terrorists have been killed. At a time when the national mood is dominated by the setback at Uri, with questions about how it could happen, and there are doubts about the strength and capabilities of the Indian state, this is an obvious attempt to change the narrative. The situation, the PM is signalling, is not as dire and could be worse. India need not get immersed in darkness. But along with the internal focus, Modi focused on Pakistan. For long, the Indian establishment has recognised the heterogeneity of the Pakistani establishment -- particularly the distinction between the elected civilian rulers and the military-ISI complex. Read | Uri attack could be the result of Kashmir unrest, says Pakistan PM Sharif But Modi publicly articulated another distinction -- between the rulers and the Pakistani people. Modi dared the Pakistani people to urge their rulers to fight another war a war against hunger, poverty, unemployment, and for development. India too would fight this war. It was a remarkably interesting move to focus on India and Pakistans common developmental challenges rather than the differences at a moment when the mood of his own party is only confrontational. I found his approach deeply innovative. Modi went beyond normal diplomatic channels and used a variant of strategic communication to reach out directly to the people of Pakistan, commodore (retd) C Uday Bhaskar, director, Society for Policy Studies, told HT. No Indian PM has done it, and I think it will rattle the Pakistani leadership. But the politics could not be ignored. And that is why -- along with the signal that there are possible grounds for convergence -- Modi sent a warning. He spoke of Pakistan as an exporter of terror, other countries being a victim of its designs, and how Delhi would not forget Uri. This was predictable. The new dimension was the PM asking the Pakistani people to question their rulers about why their own country had not been able to deal with issues and grievances of different regions. This included, Modi said, issues of people in PoK, Gilgit, Sindh, Balochistan, and of Pashtuns. He reminded them of the loss of East Pakistan now Bangladesh -- as yet another instance of the failure of those who ruled the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with BJP president Amit Shah , home minister Rajnath Singh and senior leader LK Advani as they wave to the crowd at a public rally during the BJP National council meeting in Kozhikode. (PTI Photo) Modi did not harp on what India would do, or not do, in these areas. But it was a signal that Delhi was well aware of Pakistans internal vulnerabilities and may not hesitate to capitalise on it. By speaking of Bangladesh, Modi was reminding Pakistani establishment of a wound it has not yet recovered from and what India was capable of. By speaking of Balochistan, the PM was following up on his reference to the region in the Independence Day address. By speaking of Pashtuns, he opened a new front -- do remember that Pakistan feels insecure about the large Pashtun population in Afghanistan, their trans-border links, and Kabuls refusal to recognise the Durand Line, the border with Pakistan. By speaking of Sindh, Modi was also reminding Pakistan of the dark days that Karachi saw not so long back. Pakistan has long accused India of fomenting trouble in the region, especially through the MQM. Bhaskar believes that Modi is signalling that he is serious about drawing international attention to some of these issues. He is clearly willing to open up spaces, which were considered redlines by earlier generations of policy-makers. Read | Indias fallen heroes: The 18 soldiers who lost their lives in Uri attack So what do we know about Delhis mood at the end of Modis speech? Any direct military response is now extremely unlikely. India will focus on strengthening domestic security mechanisms. It will continue to make efforts to diplomatically isolate and expose Pakistan, while keeping the moral high ground. And it may seek to leverage Pakistans internal vulnerabilities. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will begin his three-day visit to the UK from September 25. The visit is in response to an invitation by Priti Patel, secretary of state for international development of the UK government. Officials at the CMO said Chouhan will meet smart city management experts and Priti Patel on September 26. He will also meet CEOs of different companies and explore the possibilities of investments in automobile, food processing, renewable energy, smart city management and integrated industrial townships in Madhya Pradesh. With the aim of setting up defence equipment manufacturing units in Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan will meet Maghin Tamilarasan, vice president of Rolls Royce which specialises in providing integrated power and propulsion solutions. Director of Diageo Martin Hatfull and other members of the Scotch Whisky Association will meet the CM and explore the possibilities of setting up beverage units in Madhya Pradesh. The association promotes interests of whisky industry around the world. Chouhan is also expected to meet business development director of Hargreaves Industrial Services Kevin Sabin. The company provides operation and maintenance materials handling services to power, port, steel, water and other industrial sectors in the UK. The chief minister will meet the founder of Purico Group Shri Nathu Ram Puri and discuss about investment opportunities. Purico Group is into manufacturing of paper, polymers and plastics. He will also meet the head of De La Rue Pic Group, which specialises in supply of cash handling equipment and security products. While JCB has two production units in Rajasthan, the CM will meet Phillip Bouverat to explore the possibilities of setting up a new manufacturing unit of construction equipment. Chouhan will also attend a dinner hosted by Gopichand Hinduja, co-chairman of the Hinduja Group of Companies. On September 27, Chouhan will meet Professor Mike Parker Chairman of Indo-UK Institute of Health and Dr Ajay Gupta CEO, Mike Nithacrianakis of Department for International Trade, Rajesh Agarwal, the Deputy Mayor of London and address a seminar on opportunities in Madhya Pradesh organised by CII and UK India Business Council. The MP government has decided to take over the Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC), a multi-specialty tertiary care hospital providing healthcare to victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy. The government will send a proposal to the Centre in this regard, said Narottam Mishra, spokesperson for the state government, after the cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The BMHRC is administrated by the Central governments department of health research (DHR). There has been talk of state government wishing to take over the BMHRC since 2014. It was started as per the directives of the Supreme Court to provide advanced tertiary level super-specialty care to the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy as well as to extend its services to the public at large. Mishra said the state cabinet also accorded administrative sanction of Rs 435.9 crore for construction of the first phase of hospital having 2,000 beds in the Gandhi Medical College Bhopal premises. The cabinet gave its approval for up-gradation of 100 bed Annuppur district hospital to 200 beds and creation of additional 52 posts. Mishra said it had also been decided that Sultania hospital will be shifted to Kamla Nehru Hospital premises, for which a feasibility report will be framed first. The cabinet also approved new faculties in various colleges, establishment of commerce, science and art faculties in Gwalior district, art and science faculties in Umariapan Katni district, art faculty in Keshwahi in Shahdol district , art faculty in Rajnagar in Anupnagar district besides establishment of new colleges. The cabinet approved commencement of geography and chemistry post-graduate classes at Government College Jaitpur, political science and chemistry PG classes at government Jaisinghnagar College. Besides establishment of a science faculty at government college Pushparajgarh district Anuppur, establishment of science and commerce faculties at government college Badwara in Katni district and commerce and science faculties of graduation level at government college Bijuri in Anuppur district was also approved by the cabinet. An approval to create 74 academic and 72 non-academic posts was also given by the cabinet. The state cabinet made recommendations for notifying new nine nagar parishads. They include nagar parishads in Manpur in Umaria, Bakho in Shahdol, Rajnagar in Anuppur and Dumarkachaar in Anuppur, Mohna in Gwalior, Bhiansoda in Mandsaur, Kesli in Sagar district and Semri in Hoshangabad district. What is it like to attend an evening of literary speed dating? Read on to find out The Salsa dance music that signalled recess has now died down and the room has fallen silent. All eyes are on the one source of the light in the dark room and the man reading aloud sitting next to the table lamp. Polish writer Jacek Dehnel is reading an excerpt from his novel Saturn (2011) based on the life of 18th century Spanish painter Francisco de Goya and his troubled relationship with his son Javier. According to a controversial hypothesis, Goyas Black Paintings are the work of his son Javier who was also a painter and a disappointment to his father. Dehnel voice rises and falls as he reads out the excerpts first person narratives of the father and son (first in English and then, to give us a little flavour of the original, in Polish) emotions flitting across his expressive face. Polish writer Jacek Dehnel reads from his novel Saturn at The Long Night of LiteratureS (Sundeep Bali ) Later, during the 10-minute interaction with the audience, Dehnel explains what drew him to the story of Goya. I wanted to look at patriarchy and difficult father-son relationships where they cannot communicate emotions, he says. It still is the case in Poland and Im sure it is also in India. Historical novels should be written only if they can tell us something about the modern condition. The music blares again and our time is up. We pick up our bags and set out to locate the next room and our next date, the fifth author, on our printed schedule. It is literary speed dating night at Instituto Cervantes in New Delhi on September 23, and we (some 220 of us divided into eight colour-coded groups of 20-25) have been set up with ten authors from all over Europe. Earlier we met Johan Harstad from Norway (who read an excerpt from his latest novel Max, Mischa and the Tet Offensive (2015) the story of a homesick Norwegian working in America as a stage director), and soon after Laila Wadia. An Indian-Italian translator-writer, Wadia speaks eight languages yet, she says, she prefers to write down pictures. I do not think in language. Mumbai-born Wadia, who calls Rumi and Pablo Neruda her inspirations, read several poems from her new collection Kitchensutra (2016) erotic, divine, fun trans-lingual poetry about food and love (love which is not a period. It is a full stop.). This was followed by a session with Belgian writer Jean-Pierre Orban who read excerpts from his novel Vera (2014) about an Italian immigrant woman in England during World War II. Austrian novelist Vea Kaiser performed a dramatic reading from her first novel Blasmusikpop (2012), the story of a boy who hates his small mountain village and wants to move to Vienna to study and see the world. Spanish writer Gabriela Ybarra read from her 2015 debut novel El Comensal (The Dinner Guest), an autobiographical exploration of grief. Austrian novelist Vea Kaiser performed a dramatic reading from her first novel Blasmusikpop (2012) (Sundeep Bali ) This was the second edition of The Long Night of LiteratureS, a collaborative presentation by various European cultural bodies and embassies and supported by the European Union. The event sets literary readings in the speed dating format with 20-minutes assigned for reading, 10 for questions and a 10-minute break between each session. Of course, things did not play out with such clockwork precision -- a longer reading sometimes eating into the interaction time and vice versa. By the time, we trooped into Hungarian poet Roland Orcsiks room (date number six for group brown), we (our numbers significantly reduced) were exhausted. The sessions which stood out were the ones where the authors broke the monotony with dramatic readings and audio-visuals aids, and had figured out how to squeeze in more content within the limited time. Our last author of the evening (it was past 11pm) was Line Hoven, a German graphic novelist, who narrated the story of her origin and her family through the pages of her graphic novel Liebe Schaut Weg (Love Looks Away) displayed on a screen and set to sound and music. Two authors, French novelist-poet Markenzy Orcel and graphic novelist-poet Markus Kirchhofer from Switzerland, spoke no or very little English. Their sessions were held via translators, making the readings (especially when Orcel read out from his 2011 novel Les Immortelles in his deep, rich voice and his translator interpreted it into English with just the right amount of emotion) performances in themselves. French novelist-poet Markenzy Orcel read excerpts from his novel Les Immortelles which is based on the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. His translator interpreted it in English for the audience. (Sundeep Bali ) The idea, undoubtedly, is fantastic and could have worked out better with fewer authors or the ten sessions split over the course of a day instead of five hours at a stretch. Half-way through, it became a test of your love for literatures with certain participants jettisoning the colour-codes all together to attend whatever interested them. From HT Brunch, September 25, 2016 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In an exclusive article for HT Brunch, the well-known fashion designer remembers the time when the world craved for goods made in India Last summer in Paris, I was delighted to meet Francois Laffanour, an Indophile and conservationist, who owns an upscale art gallery called Gallerie Downtown. I was amazed to learn that he had bought a huge collection of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret designed furniture from Chandigarh. And then I was horrified to hear that most of this furniture had once been thrown in warehouses as trash, and often used as firewood. He had refurbished the entire collection and then sold it at an auction for millions of dollars and made a handsome profit. Needless to say his conversation unnerved me. What was considered junk in our country was auctioned at one of the worlds most prestigious auction houses for millions. We can now wring our hands and accuse him of ripping us off. But in my eyes, he is an astute businessman with a vision and a great sense of trading and profiting from asymmetric information. The blame for not valuing our heritage lies squarely on our shoulders. Laffanour recognised its value, took the risk to buy it and worked hard to refurbish it. He is therefore entitled to the profits from his entrepreneurship. I respect his ability to brand and market someone elses junk. This encounter got me thinking. I mused about the innumerable treasures we can be proud of in our country. If properly packaged and marketed, these could be a source of huge pride and wealth creation. For some reason, no effort has been made to register various products of Indian origin for the status of geographical indication or GI. A GI is the recognition that a product gets for coming uniquely from a particular geographical region, such as champagne from the French region of Champagne, and scotch from Scotland. Battles for GI and trademark recognition have ensued for turmeric and neem only after foreign companies recognised and aimed to exploit the value of our products. Recently, the government established a Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) to provide information on traditional knowledge existing in the country to trademark and get a geographical indication status for it. Our country has so many unique products, from Lucknow zardosi, Agra durries, Mysore silk and Chanderi fabric, to agricultural produce like Basmati rice, Darjeeling tea and Coorg cardamom. All of these can be protected (Darjeeling tea already is), and cleverly marketed worldwide. Why do we have to wait for the Laffanours and Naturproduktes (the German company that reportedly registered Khadi as a trademark) of the world to unearth the value of these uniquely Indian products? I was recently appointed advisor to the khadi board to promote and modernise the fabric. The word khadi is symbolic of Mahatma Gandhis Swarajya movement. I used khadi for my debut collection in 1990. I have always appreciated its richness and the world of design opportunities it offers. I am now exhibiting khadi to global names in fashion so they too can understand its richness and versatility. The key to uncovering the hidden wealth of Indian products is in their marketing. It appals me to see Indian incense being sold overseas for pittance. Their presentation is not refined and little or no thought has gone into the designing of its packaging. Nor is there any attempt to make it global or modern. The same incense marketed by a French company has a feel of exclusiveness and luxury and sells for 100 times more. The French are masters of branding and we have some lessons to learn from them. Im Indian and Im sexy: Nayanika Chatterjee in the Khadi Vichar Vastra collection (Photos: Rony K) At a recent Luxury League Forum, global luxury brand gurus spoke about image building. Patrick Thomas, ex-CEO of Hermes said that the key to creating a reputation was in the quality of the product, not so much pricing. In India, we are fixated on price, with not much attention to quality. Our mantra is to make it cheaper than the rest of the world and not better, and that I believe is our downfall. Marketing guru Peter Cialdini explains a phenomenon he terms expensive = good with an anecdote in his book, Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion. A shop was having trouble selling its collection of turquoise jewellery. In frustration the owner left a note for the saleslady to drop the price by half. The sales lady misread the note and instead of halving the price, she doubled it. Three days later when the owner returned from her vacation, she was surprised to find all the merchandise had been sold. What happened? Customers perceived the higher price to be indicative of good quality and bought out the store. Centuries ago, Indian fabric was prized for its luxurious richness. Over time this exclusivity and sense of pride seems to be disappearing, and Indian fabrics are now marketed at the lower end of the price spectrum. It is time to identify the uniqueness of India that constantly ignites global appeal. We must develop a branding and marketing strategy to represent India globally. My vision for the future of the Indian luxury industry is infinite. I will be delighted when top global brands work with our artisans, with strict quality guidelines, to unearth the value of Indian GIs. I urge our talented craftspeople, designers and artisans to develop corporate houses and establish strong brand identities by focusing on niche aspects of our Indian culture. They could learn from the Japanese designers who have established successful international brand names while respecting the spirit of their culture in their work, carving a niche for themselves in the competitive international market. This will not only bring wealth to our artisans, but also enhance Indias image as a producer of quality. From HT Brunch, Septermber 25, 2016 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau wave to the media after the signing ceremony of a series of bilateral cooperation documents in Ottawa September 21, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] OTTAWA - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Thursday that China and Canada have embarked on exploratory talks for a potential free trade agreement. Li made the remarks when meeting with journalists together with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau after the two leaders attended the signing ceremony of a series of bilateral cooperation documents. "We have reached many new consensuses in economic and trade area," said Li, adding that China is willing to import frozen beef from Canada and the two sides have reached an agreement on Canada's canola exports to China. Li also said that the two sides discussed cooperation in finance, tourism, law enforcement, as well as between their local governments. "The exchange of visits within one month showed that China-Canada relations are entering a new stage," said Li who referred to Trudeau's recent official visit to China, adding that "it's rare in the bilateral ties, and conforms to the interests of both countries as well as the expectations of the international community." Li arrived in Ottawa on Wednesday. His visit to Canada is the first by a Chinese premier in 13 years. The Chinese premier said the two sides agreed that China and Canada have broad common interests and sound cooperation. The development of the bilateral ties is in the interests of both Chinese and Canadian peoples as well as the world' s peace and stability. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau walk to the signing ceremony. [Photo/Xinhua] "We have decided to strengthen exchanges in all levels and in multiple mechanisms. We have agreed to establish high-level financial dialogue mechanism, and annual meeting mechanism between the two foreign ministers," Li said. The Chinese leader also noted that they have discussed their differences, saying that it is normal for China and Canada, two countries with different national conditions and in different development stages, to differ. He added that what's more important is to manage their differences, knowing that their common interests far outweigh differences, Li said. "We are very pleased about the nature and the stability we have been able to bring to the Canada-China relationship," said Trudeau at the joint press conference. Trudeau said the two sides agreed to double the bilateral trade volume by 2025, and the economic relations between the two countries have huge potential that can create decent salaries and jobs. Trudeau added that maintaining stable relations with China is in the interests of both countries. He is looking forward to bringing more opportunities for Canadians through relations with China. New Delhi A Samsung Note 2 caught fire on board an IndiGo flight , which was about to land in Chennai. The phone was kept in the overhead bin. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has already ordered a probe, and has summoned Samsung officials on Monday. Officials said it wasnt clear if the phone had been switched off by the passenger. Cabin crew rushed with extinguishers after smoke started emanating from the overhead bin and doused it. The phone is in the airlines custody. The DGCA recently issued an advisory asking passengers carrying Samsung Note 7 to switch it off on board. IndiGo confirms that a few passengers travelling on 6E-054 flight from Singapore to Chennai noticed the smoke smell in the cabin this morning (September 23, 2016) and immediately alerted the cabin crew on board. The crew quickly identified minor smoke coming from the hat-rack of seat 23 C and simultaneously informed the Pilot-in-Command who further alerted the ATC of the situation on board, the airline said. The cabin crew on priority relocated all passengers on other seats, and further observed smoke being emitted from a Samsung note 2, which was placed in the baggage (of a passenger) in the overhead bin. The crew discharged the fire extinguisher, and quickly transferred the Samsung note 2 into a container filled with water in lavatory. The aircraft made a normal landing at Chennai airport, and all passengers were deplaned as per normal procedure. Samsungs comments were awaited at the time of filing this report.till the time of going to press Having tasted success in getting Switzerland to recognise Indias traditional Ayurveda system in insurance reimbursement, the NDA government has now shifted its focus to its neighbours, Italy and Germany. After Switzerland, we are actively talking to other European nations to win similar recognitions for our Ayurvedic treatments, which will give an edge to our practioners and institutions to go and work abroad, commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman told HT. With this recognition, people can use these ayurvedic treatments and can get a refund for those treatments, medicines and therapies. India itself gets limited cover for Ayurveda-based medical treatment and therapies. The governments move will also help increase the availability of traditional Indian medicines globally, specifically in Switzerland from mid 2017, after Swiss federal law on therapeutic products gets amended. Switzerland has among the highest medical standards in the world. Hence, getting a foothold in Switzerland will benefit us get into the rest of the Europe and the world at large, Ajit M Sharan, secretary, Ministry of Ayush (ayurveda, yoga, unani, siddha and homeopath), told HT. The Swiss government has held Chinese and European traditional medicine, as well as homeopathy apart from Ayurvedic therapies as eligible for federal funding. About 210 plants and 250 traditional formulations have been recognised by it, and are listed under ayurveda pharmacopeia and ayurveda formulary published by the Ayush ministry. Health insurers used to refuse reimbursements for patients who consulted Ayurveda physicians and followed prescribed medicines, including those with supplementary coverage for alternative therapies. After getting the recognition, practioners in ayurvedic medicines will prepare and sell individualised preparations to patients in their own clinics in these countries, Sitharaman said. There are many Ayurveda practitioners and there is a lot of ambiguity in their performance, method of practice and what they advice. This is not very conducive for the insurance field, since there is a large amount of variation for a single situation, Yashish Dahiya, CEO, PolicyBazaar.com, a portal for comparing insurance policies, told HT. However, most insurers today, including Royal Sundaram, Max Bupa, Religare, Apollo Munich, Hdfc Ergo, Tata Aig, Universal Soompo and New India Assurance, offer coverage for Ayush. Experts see this as a sign of the market evolving slowly, but steadily. Though we offer these insurances, we dont sell them aggressively as claims are minimal, said an official from a leading insurance firm. I can understand the desire to hit back. After all, how often can you turn the other cheek if your assailant keeps striking you? There comes a moment when you have to act or lose your self-respect. A majority of Indians believe weve reached that point. Read: Why Indus water treaty is a bad bargaining chip for India Alas, just as you feel you know what to do and a ray of sunlight is discernible a fresh set of problems can cloud your horizon. At this moment of apparent clarity such doubts can be truly troubling. Unfortunately, this is the situation we now face. The problem is any retaliation wont be risk-free. First, Pakistan wont take it on the chin. It will respond and the Pakistan army is in many respects as good a fighting machine as ours. Could that lead to more action from our side? The danger of escalation is inherent and, perhaps, unavoidable. That has to be borne in mind. Second, any Indian action will happen at a time when the Valley is disturbed and the sentiment of the population may not support the actions of our army. With loyalties in doubt, the army wont have the hinterland behind it but, possibly, against it. That also has to be factored in. Third, theres a definite Chinese presence in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and, by some accounts, even Chinese soldiers. Does this mean China might get involved? We dont know but, again, the possibility cannot be simply, or safely, ruled out. Read: Pakistan has nothing to gain from Uri attack, says its foreign office Now, against this background, what are the available options if we want to respond militarily? Clearly the two-year-old policy of enhanced artillery and heavy mortar firing across the LoC, to target Pakistani pickets which facilitate infiltration, did not prevent Pathankot or Uri and, so, something more is needed. I presume that means we need to cross the LoC. Could this be cross-border hot-pursuit? Or surgically-targeted air-strikes? I trust no one is contemplating anything more. However, if we send soldiers or planes across the LoC, its not just retaliation we will invite. We could also suffer loses. Israel may be able to tackle Palestinian terror with impunity but thats a different story. Pakistan is not Hamas. Indeed, we arent Israel. Ultimately, the key question is simple and blunt: Can we retaliate, cater for a Pakistani response and, if need be, go one step further but ensure matters stop firmly short of war? This question must be agonising the prime minister. If we enjoyed overwhelming superiority over the Pakistan army, its resources and its equipment Narendra Modi could arrive at a swift and, even, easy answer. But we dont. Hence, the agony of the head that wears the crown. Read: Kashmir unrest hits strategic road projects along India-China border I hope the prime minister takes his time. Neither is an immediate response necessary nor would it be wise. It needs to be calculated carefully, prepared for diligently and executed immaculately. Finally, if and when we are to act it would be wise to add the element of surprise. Revenge is and always will be a dish best served cold. Meanwhile, it would help if fiery retired generals anxious to exhibit their anger on febrile television discussions would cool it. Similarly, let our khadi-wearing political warriors stop rattling their verbal sabres on twitter. Mature countries act. They dont boast. Hot air doesnt add inches to your chest nor does it make you look tall. The prime minister has a tough enough job deciding what to do. Lets not add to his problem by piling on unnecessary and thoughtless pressure. The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON On the 4th of October 1966 almost exactly 50 years ago the great Indian democrat Jayaprakash Narayan spoke at a seminar on Kashmir held in New Delhi. The Valley was in turmoil; the popular leader Sheikh Abdullah was under arrest, and the state government was widely believed to be both incompetent and corrupt. JP began his talk by clearly stating that this was a dispute between the government of India and the people of the state. JP believed that Pakistan had no locus standi in Kashmir, because of its past, perfidious, actions. As he put it, the real desire of the Government of Pakistan is to seize the valley. Twice they tried to capture it by force, but they failed. Read: The time has come for a programme to reduce the risks of a fifth Indo-Pak war But even if one put Pakistan outside the equation, the problem remained. For, said JP in 1966, perhaps there is more discontent today amongst the people of the state than at any earlier time. There is more anti-India feeling among them than before. How should the government react to this discontent? JP was clear that it will be a suicide of the soul of India, if India tried to suppress the Kashmiri people by force. Rather than rely on repression, what the Government of India can do is go back to the 1947-53 days, that is, go back to the time when the state had acceded to India only in three subjects [i.e. Defence, Foreign Affairs, and Communications]. This would mean providing for the fullest possible autonomy. Back in October 1966, Jayaprakash Narayan insisted that if, in Kashmir, we continue to rule by force and suppress these people and crush them or change the racial or religious character of their state by colonization, or by any other means, then I think that means politically a most obnoxious thing to do. He continued: Kashmir has cost us a great deal and it is time that every one who is a patriot in this country thought seriously about a really good solution. I have already told you what I think is a really good solution (i.e. fullest internal autonomy). Read: JP preferred hustle of prison to hush in PGI ward JPs concern for the dignity and well-being of Kashmiris was of long-standing. Many (but not all) of his statements on the subject are contained in JP on Jammu and Kashmir, a book edited in 2005 by the late Balraj Puri, himself a scholar and democrat of conspicuous integrity. Read: Its not Jammu or Kashmir Two years before his talk in Delhi in 1966, JP wrote an essay on Kashmir in the Hindustan Times. There he remarked: No matter how aggressively we affirm that Kashmirs accession to India is final and irrevocable the world does not accept it, the azad Kashmir area remains under Pakistan, the cease-fire line remains, the two armies remain facing each other, the minorities in both India and Pakistan continue to live in fear, discontent in Kashmir simmers and might have to be put down by force. JP pressed for justice in Kashmir continuously through the 1960s and 1970s. He did so when Nehru was prime minister, when Shastri was prime minister, when Indira Gandhi was prime minister. In June 1966 he wrote Mrs Gandhi a remarkable letter about a problem that had (at that stage) plagued this country for 19 years. JP believed the problem exists not because Pakistan wants to grab Kashmir, but because there is deep and widespread political discontent among the people. The people of India might be kept in the dark about the true state of affairs in the Valley, but every chancellery in New Delhi knows the truth, and almost every foreign correspondent. Kashmir has distorted Indias image for the world as nothing else has done, said JP to the prime minister. The only way to get rid of this black mark on Indian democracy was to assure the Kashmiris full internal autonomy, i.e., a return to the original terms of the accession. JPs letter to Mrs Gandhi continued: To think that we will eventually wear down the people and force them to accept at least passively the Union is to delude ourselves. That might conceivably have happened had Kashmir not been geographically located where it is. In its present location, and with seething discontent among the people, it would never be left in peace by Pakistan. The prime minister wrote a brief note back, thanking JP for sharing your views on Kashmir. But no action was taken on his letter. That was not surprising, because Indira Gandhi disliked JP. However, the ruling dispensation in New Delhi now, 50 years later, professes great respect for JP, not least because of his struggle against the authoritarian regime of Indira Gandhi. Indeed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several of his Cabinet colleagues have spoken feelingly of their own baptism in the JP movement. Modi and his ministers say they admire JP. But can they, will they, listen to JP on Kashmir? The discontent in the Valley is wider and deeper now than in 1966. A major change since JPs day is the growing influence of radical Islam in the Valley. JP would have condemned this. But he would have been even more critical of the continuing repression by the Indian State. He would have noted, too, that in the world of the Internet no longer can the rest of India be kept in the dark about what is going on in Kashmir. JP on Jammu and Kashmir is still in print. Perhaps the PM, the PMO, the NSA and the home minister should order copies, and study its contents carefully. For these words of JP are as relevant in 2016 as they were in 1966: It will be a suicide of the soul of India, if India tried to suppress the Kashmiri people by force. And, further: Kashmir has distorted Indias image for the world as nothing else has done. Ramachandra Guhas most recent book is Gandhi Before India Twitter: @Ram_Guha The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: Two alleged contract killers were arrested on Thursday, five days after a cloth merchant was stabbed to death in east Delhis Shakarpur. Announcing the arrest on Friday, the police said the arrested killers were hired for R2 lakh by private financiers from whom the cloth merchant had taken loans of R5 crore but was not returning the money. The alleged killers were identified as Nabab Ali alias Danish, 24, a resident of east Delhis Trilokpuri, and Nakul alias Kishan, who lives with his family in Geeta Colony. Police have recovered the knife that was used to murder the cloth merchant, Subhash Yadav. A scooty that was used in the crime was also recovered, said police. Rishipal Singh, deputy commissioner of police, said the police control room received a call from a private hospital in Laxmi Nagar on September 18, about a patient with multiple stab wounds. A police team reached the hospital and learnt that the patient had succumbed to stab injuries. A murder case was registered at the Shakarpur police station. Preliminary investigations revealed that the cloth merchant was stabbed by two unidentified men who had intercepted him on a scooty in Shakarpur area. Due to huge losses in his business, Yadav was unable to pay the interest money or return the Rs 5 crore loan to private moneylenders . When the moneylenders began pressuring him for returning their money, Yadav allegedly started ignoring their phone calls and avoided meeting them. Instead of returning the loans, Yadav was trying to shift to Bangalore. He had temporarily moved to an unknown address in Bangalore with his family and also changed his contact numbers, said an investigating officer. Panaji: Two local men accused of drugging, sexually abusing and leaving British teenage girl Scarlett Eden Keeling to die on Goas popular Anjuna beach in 2008 were on Friday let off by a childrens court here. Goa Childrens Court judge Vandana Tendulkar acquitted Samson DSouza and Placido Carvalho of all the charges in the eight-year-long high profile death case. Carvalho and Samson had been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, sexual abuse and drugging. The verdict was announced in a jam packed court hall. Scarletts mother Fiona Mackeown expressed shock at the verdict. I am shocked. I was not expecting acquittal. I was expecting conviction. I will challenge the order, Fiona told reporters outside the court hall here. After her daughters body was found, Fiona had lived in Anjuna for a couple of weeks trying to piece together the evidence in the case. She flew down to Goa from Davon (United Kingdom) to be present in the court for the final verdict. It took a huge effort for me to even get the police to register a complaint [in the case], she said recalling her struggle to get justice for her 15-year-old daughter. She alleged she knew that the Goa police was not interested to prosecute the killers. It is clear that they (investigating agencies) are either incompetent or corrupt. I dont believe they are incompetent. And all I can say is that if any international tourist comes to Goa and gets murdered, they have no hope for justice in this system, she said. Fiona also claimed that medical evidence confirms that her daughter was grievously assaulted, raped and murdered after some criminals gave her alcohol and cocaine. Goa chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar termed the judgment as unfortunate, but said it will not hamper the image of the coastal state. Unless, I go through the judgement I would not be in a position to detail my reaction, he said. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed its charge sheet in the case in 2010 after the probe was handed over to the central agency from Goa Police on repeated pleas made by Scarletts family. Goa Police was accused of trying to hush up the case. The 15-year-olds bruised and semi-nude body was found at Anjuna beach on February 19 2008, following which the police had claimed it as a case of drowning, but later registered it as culpable homicide. NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hit out at the BJP leadership on Friday for allegedly failing to take any action against South Delhi MP, Ramesh Bidhuri, who reportedly used abusive language against chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his family. Some television channels ran a speech, which Bidhuri reportedly delivered during a protest march in Tughlakabad on Friday. The video clip was widely circulated on social media by AAP members, questioning the double standards of the BJP leadership over the issue. Those who reacted to @ArvindKejriwals non-abusive words coward/psychopath, silent about filthy abuses used by Modijis MP, Ramesh Bidhuri, tweeted senior AAP leader Ashish Talwar. Sources in AAP said the language used by Bidhuri is a result of a race in BJP to become president of Delhi unit. The party has served showcause notice to one MP for participating in a Delhi government function. On other hand, it is allowing another member of Parliament who is competing to become Delhi president to use such language against a chief minister, a senior AAP leader said. Meanwhile, the BJP MP from South Delhi, said :I did not make any abusive comment against Kejriwal. His ministers are involved in corruption and he has failed to fulfil promises made before election. Some members from public made remarks and it shows their anger against AAP government, Bidhuri said. TORONTO: The real Arvind Kejriwal didnt make an appearance, his reel version did. The Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader was scheduled to be in Canada this summer, apparently to address the large Punjabi diaspora before the Punjab assembly elections, due next year. But the visit was cancelled, apparently because Canadian rules forbid foreign politicians from running electoral campaigns in the country. Instead, disappointed AAP supporters in Canada had to be content with their leader appearing in a documentary at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The official reason is that Kejriwal had other commitments. But an AAP member explained: the real cause was because Captain happened. The reference was to Punjab Congress chief and former CM Captain Amarinder Singhs plan-ned trip in April, which was aborted after the hardline group, Sikhs For Justice, approached Global Affairs Canada to bar him from canvassing in the country. Singh was forced to call off the Canada leg of his North American tour. That appears to be an eyeopener for the AAP. The partys convener in Punjab, Gurpreet Ghuggi, recently completed a visit to the US. He bypassed Canada. In effect, Kejriwal may be trying to avoid the embarrassment Singh suffered. In an emailed response, Global Affairs Canada stated: Foreign electoral campaigns in Canada run counter to well-established Canadian policy We expect foreign states to ensure that any activity planned in Canada involving their governments or elected officials is in full accordance with this Canadian policy. As a consolation more than two dozen AAP activists attended the world premiere screening of the documentary, An Insignificant Man, at the Toronto fest. Its a very good movie. Being an AAP supporter, it was good revision for me about what all happened (prior to the 2013 Delhi assembly elections). I feel now theres no need to worry. We are more optimistic and confident, party volunteer Sudeep Singla said. The partys national secretary Sumesh Handa called the screening at TIFF an honour to the common man. The documentary could become part of the partys outreach campaign. At the very least, Kejriwal could well be travelling around Canada as a projected image in a cinema. The A AP convenor in Canada, Jaskirat Mann, said the party has nearly 10,000 registered members in the North American country and the number of supporters would be five times more. The party raised nearly Rs 50 lakh from donors in Canada in August and volunteers were engaged in kirtans, picnics and kabaddi tournaments to shore up support, she said. Theyre creating more fuss all over, but everything is really good at ground level, she said from Punjab, the state shes touring now. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: The government is set to oppose the controversial triple-talaq divorce route for Muslims during a hearing in the Supreme Court next week, ditching a neutral stand on the politically sensitive tradition that the government says has no place in a secular country like India. According to Muslim personal law based on the Sharia, a Muslim man can divorce his wife by pronouncing talaq thrice, a practice seen as discriminatory against women. Sources in the Union law ministry said that the government will base its stand on the example of around 20 Islamic nations that regulate matrimonial law. If regulating matrimonial law in an acknowledged Islamic country is not a contravention of Sharia (Muslim personal) law, how can it be in a secular country like India where the Constitution is supreme? a top government functionary who is part of the governments deliberations on the issue reasoned giving a sense of the governments thinking. India allows different communities to practise certain personal laws in areas such as marriage and property but has uniform criminal laws. A group of ministers including Union home minister Rajnath Singh, finance minister Arun Jaitley, law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, defence minister Manohar Parrikar and women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi decided that the issue be looked at as a gender justice issue. A campaign against triple talaq has been decried by Muslim clerics, with the All India Muslim Personal Law Board telling the SC on September 2 that personal laws cannot be re-written in the name of reforms. In case of a discord, divorce was a better option available to a Muslim man than resorting to criminal ways of getting rid of her (wife) by murdering her, AIMPLB said, sparking controversy and inviting sharp criticism from womens rights groups. The law ministry which is drafting the governments response will tell the top court that triple talaq is concerned with non-discrimination with a woman and the dignity of an individual which permeates the entire scheme of fundamental rights under the constitution. According to the governments new perspective on the matter, the fundamental right to religion cannot be confused with allowing a practice that is unfair, unreasonable and discriminatory. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: The 17-year-old girl, who allegedly committed suicide by jumping off of a mall in East Delhi on Thursday evening, was identified as a BBA student and daughter of a sub-inspector with provincial armed constabulary at Ghaziabad. Police sources said according to the suicide note the girl left behind, she stepped out of home on Thursday morning after an altercation with her parents. After the girl went out of her house around 11.30am on Thursday, her father lodged an FIR under section of kidnapping against an unidentified person at the Indirapuram police station around 5.30pm. The police said that the girls family hails from Baghpat in Western UP. In his FIR, the girls father KP Singh alleged that an unidentified man had sent some obscene messages on his daughters mobile phone and the same person also sent some photographs of his daughter. The man was after my daughter for the past two years. He was regularly sending messages on WhatsApp and sent messages to my son and even on my mobile phone. He continued to send messages even as we changed numbers. We dont know him personally but he belongs to Rajasthan, Singh said. Due to this issue, my daughter was under severe depression since many days and left the house. After we received information about the suicide, we went to Delhi and identified her body, he added. The Ghaziabad police said that the girl left a suicide note addressed to her parents. In the note, the girl stated that her mother said something which broke her heart. Chinese authorities have again reiterated that they welcome a visit by Phillipine President Rodrigo Duterte. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang made the remarks. "China has already said several times that it welcomes President Duterte to visit China at an early date. The two sides are in close consultations over it." It's reported the Philippine president will pay visits to China and Japan next month. The visit is expected as China and the Philippines are trying to find a way to break the ice following an disputed ruling over the South China Sea. Duterte has repeatedly said conflict was pointless, and that he wants to get along and do business with Beijing. During a speech on Thursday, Duterte said he would go to China this year, without elaborating. BENGALURU: Karnatakas legislature on Friday refused to share Cauvery water with Tamil Nadu, potentially setting the state on a collision course with the Supreme Court days after violence rocked capital Bengaluru over the sensitive issue. Both the legislative council and lower house adopted similar resolutions saying that the river water will be used only for meeting drinking needs of villages and towns in the Cauvery basin and Bengaluru. The resolutions, however, did not mention the top courts order directing the state to release 6,000 cusecs (cubic feet per second) to Tamil Nadu till September 27. The legislatures decision came nearly two weeks after an earlier apex court order sparked large-scale violence in state capital Bengaluru where mobs targeted Tamil-speaking people and their properties. Sporadic violence has continued since then across the state, large parts of which are facing water shortage. For chief minister Siddar-amaiah, who gave an impassioned speech in the assembly, a face-off with the judiciary could prove costly given past instances of the states attempts to take on the top court on the more than century-old dispute. In 1991, then chief minister S Bangarappa had tried to circumvent a Cauvery interim award through an ordinance. Later in 2002, another chief minister SM Krishna too had refused to release water to Tamil Nadu. The apex court struck down the ordinance and forced Krishna, who was in danger of being hauled for contempt of court, to comply with its order. What makes the situation different now is that the entire state legislature has unanimously taken a stand against an apex courts order, experts pointed out. Legal experts quoted in various newspapers and television channels here have varying versions of what can happen -- from tying the apex courts hands in the matter to outright dismissal of the government and assembly. Siddaramaiah, however, insisted that the resolution was not a defiance of the Supreme Court. We have great respect for the judiciary. The intention is not to disobey the judicial order. We will not think of it even in our dreams, he said during the assembly debate. People have given us a mandate. We cannot defy it it would be a dereliction of duty on our part. The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu reacted sharply, saying the issue was being politicised by the Karnataka government because they are going to face elections very soon. Cauvery belongs to us as well, not only to Karnataka. The water has to come to Tamil Nadu, ANI quoted AIADMK leader CR Saraswathi as saying. NEW DELHI: The son of a Delhi police constable attacked a minor girl at her house in Mangolpuri on Friday with a kitchen knife, police said. The 24-year-old accused, a friend of the victim, slit the girls throat for pressuring him to marry her. A police officer said they were friends for the past one-and-ahalf years. Accused Rahul Kumar was arrested within three hours of the crime. The girl, who was rushed to a hospital, received 18 stitches. The knife was found in a public toilet where he had hidden it. Police sources said Rahul told investigators that the 17-year-old girl had been threatening him that she would file a rape case against him if he did not marry her. Rahul told the police that he had asked the girl to wait till Durga Puja , when she will turn 18. He told her that they should wait for marriage till he gets a job, said a senior police officer. The police, however, said the claims cannot be verified until the girl records her statement. We only have Rahuls disclosures in which he has blamed the girl for pressuring him for marriage. We are waiting for the girls statement, the officer said. The girls father is a sanitation worker and her mother works with Anganwadi. The girls family rejected claims that she was in a relationship with Rahul. Her brother said that a few days before Ho li in March, Rahul had allegedly thrown chilli powder into the eyes of his sister and three other girls when they were in school. The school principal had filed a complaint against Rahul at the local police post. Rahul was reportedly called and reprimanded for troubling schoolgirls. He was let off after he promised he will not do it again. On Friday morning, the girl was alone at home. Rahul reached the girls house at 9am. They got into an argument during which Rahul picked up a knife from the kitchen and attacked her, the officer said. The girl ran out screaming and collapsed outside her house due to excessive bleeding from the cut on her throat. Rahul panicked and fled the crime scene with the knife. The girls relatives, who live on the first floor of the building, rushed to her help. Her cousin identified Rahul as the attacker, the officer said. Rahul was booked for attempt to murder. More sections of IPC and Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act might be added to the FIR after the victim presses more charges, said the officer. Rahuls father Dhan Singh is a constable posted with the security unit . He lives in Sultanpur Majra, 400 metres away from the girls house. NEW DELHI: A Samsung Note 2 smartphone caught fire inside a Chennai-bound international flight of IndiGo on Friday with 175 passengers on board, leading to a major safety scare. The scare prompted the Direct-orate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to issue an advisory to airlines, asking them to caution passengers to avoid using Samsung Note series phones on board. The aviation safety regulator also ordered a probe and summoned Samsung officials on Monday. The aircraft landed safely after the crew retrieved the smoking phone from an overhead luggage rack and put it in a container filled with water in the lavatory. The incident happened on IndiGo flight 6E-054 from Singapore to Chennai when the plane was about to land around 7.45am. The airline said passengers alerted the crew after smelling smoke. The crew quickly identified minor smoke coming from the hat-rack of seat 23C, it said. A fire extinguisher was also used, although IndiGo clarified there was no fire but sparks were observed. Its not yet clear whether the phone was switched off, in airplane mode or was left on by the passenger. The incident comes barely a fortnight after the DGCA banned flyers from carrying the latest Samsung phone, Galaxy Note 7, in check-in bags. The regulator prohibited the phones use on board after Samsung announced this month to recall millions of this make over batteries catching fire. We are aware of an incident involving one of our devices. At Samsung, customer safety is our highest priority. We are in touch with relevant authorities to gather more information, and are looking into the matter, said a Samsung spokesperson. The Note 2 was launched in late 2012. IndiGo too made a similar assertion about safety being its utmost priority. This equipment (Samsung phone) will be further examined by the departments concerned, the airline said. To control the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, a special train Terminator started on Friday from the New Delhi Railway station. The train will spray insecticides along railway tracks in the city. SDMC and the Northern Railway have been running the train every year during monsoon for the past 10 years. However, itwas delayed this time. HT earlier reported that despite repeated requests from Northern Railway to start the train, SDMC said it wouldnt be able to start it before September 23 as they were not well-equipped. Divisional railway manager, Delhi, Arun Arora, said, These trains will be effective in controlling vector-borne diseases as there are several slum clusters along the tracks which are vulnerable to mosquito breeding. South civic body Commissioner Puneet Goel said, These trains are effective in killing the larva in the water bodies and there is water accumulated in several areas along tracks. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 43-year-old army havildar was arrested on Saturday for allegedly molesting a 16-year-old girl in Delhi Cantonment in southwest Delhi. The crime took place almost a month ago but was reported to the police on Friday. The accused, Vijender Kumar, is married and lives with his family. He was booked under section 354A (physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures) of IPC and other relevant sections of protection of children from sexual offences (POCSO) Act . Kumar was produced before a city court that sent him to Tihar jail, said police. The girl in her complaint told police that on August 25, she had gone to see off her male friend at a nearby bus stop where Kumar saw her with him. As Kumar knew her, he approached her and asked about the boy. When the girl refused, he allegedly threatened her saying he would tell her parents about the boy. The girl ignored him and left for home while Kumar allegedly followed her, said a police officer. In her complaint, the girl alleged that she was about to reach home when Kumar first put his hand on her head and then touched her shoulder. Soon, he allegedly started touching her indecently and thus outraged her modesty. The girl protested and ran inside her flat. She informed her parents about Kumars alleged act and they in turn lodged a complaint against him with the higher authorities. A police officer said that an internal inquiry was initiated into the matter. But when the matter was not be sorted, the girls family approached the Delhi Cantonment police station and filed a complaint against Kumar. We registered an FIR and arrested Kumar, the officer added. The NDA government has planned a massive publicity outreach programme to mark the second anniversary of its flagship programme, the Swachh Bharat Mission, on October 2. In Delhi, the government will organise community-led mass cleaning campaigns in Jama Masjid and other urban areas. Actor Amitabh Bachchan will join in from Mumbai, with a cleanliness message. Other celebrities will be roped in to join the cleanliness drive, in 10 iconic places. As a prelude, a slew of programmes have been planned across the country from September 25, the birth anniversary of BJP ideologue Deendayal Upadhyay. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and address the first India Sanitation conference in Vigyan Bhawan on September 30. It will be attended by chief ministers and ministers in charge of sanitation and urban development from various states, to highlight the progress made during the two years of the signature campaign. The PM will give away awards to the best performing states in 11 different categories, for ensuring cleanliness. A chai pe charcha on sanitation is also being organised in gram panchayats and urban local bodies. This will be followed by ratri choupal (night meetings) in villages. Read: Swachh funds lying unused with civic bodies, says study The urban leg of the Swachh Bharat Mission is being implemented by the urban development ministry. It proposes to provide individual as well as public toilets and solid-waste management facilities across 4,041 statutory towns and cities in India. In rural areas, the programme is being implemented by the ministry of drinking water and sanitation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Rs 1.96-lakh-crore mission on October 2, 2014 to clean up public places and make India free from open defecation by 2019. Two years down the line, experts say the results are not very impressive, with open garbage dumps, overflowing drains and open defecation continuing to be a common sight in both villages and cities. Recently, the National Sample Survey Organization revealed that 44% of the villages it surveyed did not have drainage infrastructure in place, while in 63% wards houses lacked liquid-waste disposal system for toilets. Of the 1.09 crore toilets built in first 11 months of 2015-16, 52% people in rural areas and 7.55% in urban areas are not using them, the survey found. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON One of the two men who allegedly murdering an elderly person at south Delhis Defence Colony on September 14 has been arrested. DCP (south) Ishwar Singh said while scanning CCTV cameras near Choukanis house, police saw two men entering the house on September 14. One of the men had worked for Choukani in the past . The two had entered the house at 2. 08 pm and were inside for almost half an hour. After scanning around 150 cameras, we found that the men had come from Muzaffarnagar. CCTV footage showed that they had taken a train and a bus to reach Defence Colony via Shahdara, Kashmere Gate ISBT, Central Secretariat and Lajpat Nagar metro station. They used different buses and trains, Singh said. RC Choukani,73, was found murdered in his house by his daughter Kanu Priya. She had reported the theft of a video player, a laptop and two silver bricks from her fathers room. Police said one of the men in the CCTV was identified as Rahul Kumar. Choukanis family members told police Kumar was a former employee and quit four months ago. On Friday, we received a tip-off about Kumar visiting his house in Muzaffarnagar. Our team went there and arrested him from Phullar village. We recovered a video player, laptop and two silver bricks weighing five kilograms. The value of the bricks is around R 5 lakh, said a senior officer. Kumar told police he had murdered Choukani with the help of his friend Nikhil, who lives in the same village. Kumar said he was aware that Choukani was a rich man and planned to murder and rob him. Kumar was aware that the elderly mans house had CCTV cameras inside so he stole the video player to ensure he was not caught. On the day of the incident, he along with Nikhil entered the house and strangled Choukani. We are looking for Nikhil, said an officer. He was turning 30. He told police he was frustrated because all his friends were married with kids while he was still a bachelor. At a little over 50kg and 5 feet 4 inches, he considered himself underweight and short, which is why, he thought, women turned down his requests for friendship or marriage. In a desperate attempt to get women to notice him, he started sending morphed pictures to girls, aged between nine and 16 years, through Facebook messenger and WhatsApp. Read | No place for women: Delhi tops in number of stalking cases too Rajesh Gambhir (29), a mobile shopkeeper, was arrested on Saturday for harassing and blackmailing around 100 girls by allegedly sending them their morphed vulgar photos, abusive messages and dirty jokes. He had downloaded a cut and paste application in his mobile phone and used it for morphing photographs of girls, which he randomly picked and saved from Facebook profiles. Gambhir had a collection of 52 morphed photos of various girls on his three mobile phones. He threatened girls to accept his friendship or he would circulate their morphed photos on the internet and social networking sites. Read | Presidents daughter Sharmistha names and shames pervert on Facebook I did that only for sexual pleasure by having dirty chats with girls. I never met the girl or disclosed my original identity to them. It was harmless flirting and I never spent more than a week with one girl, police quoted Gambhir as saying. A resident of Delhis Kishan Ganj, Gambhir used prepaid SIM cards which he procured through documents of customers who visited his mobile shop for obtaining new SIM cards. Gambhir used illegally procured the SIM cards to avoid police attention. Vijay Singh, deputy commissioner of police (northwest), said Gambhirs arrest came following investigation into a complaint filed on Thursday by the mother of a Class 9 student of a reputed north Delhi school. Gambhir was caught from his home after details were collected about him through technical surveillance. Three mobile phones and a SIM card were seized from his home. Read | Boyfriend arrested for abusing girlfriend for using Facebook Eight years after its most challenging construction, Delhi Metro is set to re-enter the narrow lanes of Old Delhi again. The proposed Inderlok-Indraprastha and Janakpuri (west)-RK Ashram lines in phase-IV of Delhi Metro will cut through congested Old Delhi areas such as Sadar Bazar, Sarai Rohilla, Nabi Karim and Ajmal Khan Park. Residents of some parts of Old Delhi may, however, face some inconvenience as the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will ask them to move out temporarily as they conduct soil testing. During the construction of the Heritage Line also, DMRC had to move around 1,000 Old Delhi residents temporarily and put them in hotels. The Heritage Line, slated to open in November this year, touches Old Delhi but the stations are on the outer periphery of the area. At present, DMRCs Yellow Line (HUDA City Centre-Samaypur Badli) cuts through Chandni Chowk and Chawri Bazar. The connectivity to the old city is likely to improve further as the construction of phase-IV of the Metro is likely to start next year and be completed by 2020. Read more: IGI airports domestic terminal on Delhi Metro grid this year We faced a lot of challenges when we constructed underground tunnels as part of the Yellow Line construction in 2007-08. But after the successful construction and operation of the line, the locals now no longer fear about their houses being damaged. This time, we have decided to go even deeper in the Shahjahanabad area. Once construction is over, people wont need to use personal vehicles to visit Old Delhi, said a DMRC official. Delhi Metro plans to have a depot at Ajmal Khan Park, with both the new proposed lines merging at Nabi Karim, providing connectivity to residents of east, north and west Delhi. The Delhi government has provided an in-principle approval to the phase IV. DMRC is, however, yet to receive a financial approval, only after which can it start the construction work. After the completion of DMRCs phase III, Delhis Metro network will increase by 140km. Completion of Phase-IV will add another 104 km to the Metro network. Six lines Inderlok to Indraprastha, Tughlakabad to Terminal 1, Lajpat Nagar to Saket G-Block, Janakpuri (west) to RK Ashram and Mukundpur to Maujpur have been proposed to be constructed in Phase-IV of Metro expansion. The total cost of the project has been estimated to be around `55000 crore. Under Phase III, Delhi Metros longest line will be between Mukundpur (Majlis Park) and Shiv Vihar. After Phase-IV, Janakpuri west will become a major interchange hub. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Every day, Ankit Anubhav handwrites about 10 love letters. No, he does not have multiple girlfriends. He writes to the girlfriends of others people who have commissioned him to write letters on their behalf for a fee. Anubhav is the co-founder of The Indian Handwritten Letter Co. (TIHLC), which describes itself as your personal letter writer. The business, Anubhav says, is growing fast: The six-month-old company has sent over 2,500 handwritten letters most of which are love letters. Not just TIHLC, a few other start-ups launched in the past few months such as Letteramail and Callyally also write letters for their clients and personal letters is their most sought-after service. These enterprises write letters in languages such as English, Hindi, Marathi, Telgu, and they say there are many takers at Rs 99 a letter. Most orders come from Delhi/NCR, they say. An advert on the Letteramail website. Their founders say people send emails, Facebook and WhatsApp messages these days, but they are devoid of feelings and emotions. Typing a message is a mechanical process. People are realising that and they want us to deliver deeply felt handwritten messages on their behalf to their near and dear ones, says Anubhav. We want to turn handwritten letters into a lifestyle product and enable people to send letters the way they send flowers and cakes to wish their loved ones. They do not necessarily bake the cake they send. The founder of Letteramail, Sumanyu Verma, gives a similar reason. In this digital age, all conversation happens on screen, but when you write a message with pen on paper, you think and come up with beautiful ideas and emotions. The recipient feels that you actually care, says Verma, 27, who co-founded the company with his friends. Emails are deleted or junked, but a lot of people like to keep the handwritten letters, he says. Like TIHLC, Vermas firm too mostly writes personal letters. How does it work? Type a letter, mail it to them and they will handwrite it and send it to whoever you wish. Letteramail and Callayally say they ask their clients to email exactly what is to be handwritten, and dont want to go beyond correcting the grammar and converting the email into a handwritten letter. We can help when clients know what to say but are out of words, but we avoid telling them what to say, says Verma. Seventy per cent of the letters we write are personal. Sumanyu Verma and Sandeep, founder of Letteramail have started a venture of handwritten letters for clients on order in New Delhi, India, on Thursday, September 22, 2016. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT PHOTO) Anubhav says his company helps with the content. At times, the brief we receive is open-ended, and we have the freedom to write whatever we want, he says. We try everything to make the letter appealing. But we seek the approval of our client before it is sent out. Last month, he was approached by an ailing woman, who wanted to write to her granddaughter. We spent an hour with her in the hospital to understand what she wanted us to convey. The letter we wrote had anecdotes from her life aimed at instilling values, says Anubhav. Writing personal letters, he says, is challenging and satisfying. Though one has to be very careful about the content, you feel good when the letter has resolved the differences between two people, he says. Recently, he wrote a letter for a young man whose girlfriend had not been taking his calls, replying to his Facebook and WhatsApp messages for six months. The boy emailed us the note with some background on what went wrong. We penned an emotional letter, ending it with the hope that she would reply. And his girlfriend did reply, says Anubhav, whose firm writes 35 letters a day, half of them lover letters. He has a team of in-house and freelance writers who have both good handwriting and empathy. Most of our love letters are from boys to their girlfriends. We also hire professional calligraphers to write beautiful letters, says Prahlad singh, a software professional, who founded Callyally. Recently, a man living in Dubai requested Verma to write a letter to his wife in Kerala to mitigate her sense of loneliness as they had been living away from each other for months. Relationships in India are more complicated than in the West, and so there is greater need for conveying emotions in writing. Many people cannot vocally express their feelings to their loved ones... That is where letter writers like us help, says Verma. Why would people outsource writing personal letters? We all like to handwrite and receive letters from our near and dear ones. But these days people do not have time to write, buy stationery and post letters, says Singh. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Visitors watch a screen which shows Baidu is monitoring the Internet safety of enterprises and conducting regular defense processes at the cyber security exhibition on Tuesday. Photo: Cao Siqi/GT As China is stepping up its efforts to safeguard cyber security, fight cybercrime and build up the country as an "Internet power," leading Chinese cyber security enterprises have revealed various new "weapons" during this year's China Cybersecurity Week held in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province on Monday. These new weapons, which are being touted as being able to prevent telecom fraud, personal information leaks and also combat cybercrime, have successfully helped public security departments crack down on telecom fraud gangs and protect people from being scammed out of cash. Safer electronic payment At the exhibition, the Global Times saw Ant Financial Services Group, Alibaba's financial services unit, demonstrate its new service: face scanner payment. Users can log into Alipay and pay a bill by showing their faces to the camera. An employee from the company's cyber security department said that this technology uses the latest bioscience technology which can accurately identify human faces, even the blood vessels on the surface of their eyes. Compared to a digital password, this technology is hard to be cracked, which can make electronic payment safer, an Ant employee said. China Unionpay also showed off its new service "cloud flash pay," which offers users a digital "boarding card" on their cellphones that records their bank card numbers, ID numbers and the products they want to buy, which will apparently prevent criminals from stealing users' information. In the digital age, personal information leaks are something we should all be concerned about, said experts. In April, the personal information of more than 200,000 children in Jinan, Shandong Province, including their names, age, address and parents' telephone numbers were leaked, sparking public outrage. A white paper published by Internet giant Baidu Inc. showed that over 540 million pieces of users' personal information have been leaked in the first half of 2016 while cyber attackers have stolen users' private information 630 million times, among which 410 million thefts were conducted through mobile phones. The leak of personal information has also led to a booming Internet black industry. The white paper showed that about 560,000 people have engaged in the industry in the first half year, which generated more than 148.2 billion yuan ($22 billion) of profits. Trace base-station Telecom fraud is no doubt one of the biggest parts of the underground industry. Recently, a professor at Beijing's Tsinghua University created a stir online after he was scammed out of 17.6 million yuan by a group of swindlers who posed as officials from judicial departments. Many Internet companies have developed new systems which can trace the scammers' locations, helping public security department better locate and crack down on these criminals. According to a survey conducted by Baidu, fraudster "base-stations" sent over 2.3 billion messages in the first half of 2016, an increase of 95 percent compared to the last half of 2015. A survey from Qihu 360 also found that among the 3.4 billion calls that its automatic mobile phone guard blocked in August, 445 million were fraudulent calls. Of these fraudulent calls, 43.2 percent were financial scams, while swindlers in 25.2 percent of cases were found to falsely assume the identities of police officers, judges, prosecutors or the relatives of their targets. Qilin, the system developed by Tencent company, is believed to monitor some moving scammer base-stations pretending to be banks and telecom service providers with an accuracy rate surpassing 99 percent. A cyber security expert from the company told the Global Times that the system is the only one that cooperates with the Ministry of Public Security and has been applied in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, helping them bust a total of 375 suspects from March to August. Baidu is also helping police crack down on the Internet black industry. A cyber security expert told the Global Times that the systems developed by the company can not only trace the location of base-stations, but also can trace the base-stations' IP addresses, port numbers and trade records. A Baidu public relations employee told the Global Times that they have helped police crack 500 cases and bust 800 suspects, involving more than 100 million yuan. Moreover, these cyber security companies have launched services that help mobile phone users filter out spam or fraudulent phone calls. Apart from telecom fraud, Baidu's white paper also revealed that in the first half year, hackers attacked 61 percent of the more than 400,000 companies' websites surveyed, leading to denials of service which temporarily makes the websites unavailable. However, along with the emergence of new technologies, many cyber security experts called for the Internet users to participate in the war against cybercrime and actively tag phone numbers used by pranksters or frauds. The alumni association of Delhi Universitys St Stephens College has appealed to the principal to reopen the Rohtas Metro Dhaba, which has been shut for eight months now. They say they will not attend the alumni get-together on October 8, if the eatery is not opened. The dhaba was closed in February after the owner, Rohtas, died. Since then, college teachers requested the new principal, John Varghese, to allow his son Sushil to run the eatery. The canteen, which only sells samosas, nimbu paani and gulab jaamun, has been part of college since 1922. The Association of Old Stephanians consisting of members such as bureaucrat Ashish Joshi and Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, has written a letter to Varghese. The alumni organised a condolence meeting for Rohtas on February 7. Several alumni had attended the meeting, with the request to reopen the dhaba. However, the dhaba remains closed, said a statement from the association. When alumni such as chief economic advisor Arvind Subramaniam and historian Ramachandra Guha wanted to hold a prayer meeting for Rohtas after his death, they were not allowed in the college. The issue turned into a controversy with the then principal, Valson Thampu, calling Rohtas a samosa wala and questioning if he supplied more than the eatable. The association said it would accept the principals invitation for the alumni meet only if the eatery is opened. Open the dhaba and we will be there, said the association in the letter. The principal could not be reached for a comment. In 2012, Thampu tried to close the dhaba but students protested against the decision. Then also, the Association of Old Stephanians started an online petition to prevent the dhaba from shutting down. Students, alumni and teachers say the dhaba is a part of Stephanian lore and heritage. Teachers say they have also raised the issue with the principal repeatedly. The repeated assurance from the principal that he is looking into the matter has fallen flat, said a senior teacher of the college. It seems that the previous principal is influencing the decision making process. Rohtas family is being victimised unnecessarily, the teacher said. The Centre is mulling over giving more autonomy to premier institutions of higher learning depending on their performance. The government role must be that of a facilitator and not a controller, for which it proposes to give more autonomy to premier institutions of higher learning, based on their performance, union minister for human resource development, Prakash Javadekar told reporters during an interaction with the media at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali. To improve quality of education, new education policy is being formulated. In coming four months, the policy would be finalized. Suggestions with regards to the policy are being commissioned from students, academicians and industrialists. Apart from this any person can sent their suggestion by September 30 to the ministry, he said. Read | MCI needs restructuring but not at the cost of its autonomy The minister was in Mohali to chair the review meeting with directors of five IISERs located at Pune, Kolkata, Mohali (SAS Nagar), Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram and the branch of the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, at IISER, Mohali (Punjab). He stressed on research and innovation and said that institutions like the IITs, IIMs and IISERs must make efforts to ensure that the quality of education being imparted in our top institutions is reflected in their international rankings. Javadekar said that research and innovation must power the Make in India campaign, as sustainable progress is achieved only in those nations which themselves innovate. He said that the Prime Ministers scholarship for research is being envisaged for IISERs on the same lines as for IITs and IIMs. The review meeting was followed by an interaction with students and faculty of IISER Mohali where he received feedback for improving the performance of these institutions. He was accompanied by MOS HRD (Higher Education) Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey. Read | Delhi govt school principals to get more autonomy: Sisodia In the run up to the Mohali meeting, Javadekar had already held review meetings of IIITs, IITs and IIMs. Improving the quality and promoting research in these institutions has been the underlying principal theme of reviewing all the central institutions. On October 6, he is scheduled to meet vice chancellors of 41 central universities at Banaras Hindu University. The meeting will focus on actions taken and proposals for improvement of quality in education, research, internal resource generation, infrastructure, student centric initiatives, and e-governance initiatives. Punjab University vice chancellor Arun Kumar Grover who met Javadekar at IISER on Friday submitted a detailed report on the financial crunch the university is facing. When dreaded gangster Mahesh Attack was gunned down in Gurgaon on Wednesday night, it brought back memories of frequent shootouts between rival gangs that used to dominate public life in what is now known as the Millennium City even a decade ago. Experts say Maheshs murder, allegedly by a rival group, is the fallout of a frantic race for supremacy in Gurgaons crime world, which used to be dominated by Sandeep Gadoli, who died in an encounter in February. Police say the 34-year-old Mahesh was shot dead by unidentified men outside his office near Jharsa Chowk on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway and was a victim of inter-gang rivalry. He was an accused in 21 cases of attempts to murder, extortion and snatching. His name was also mentioned in diaries recovered by the police from Gadoli. Mahesh, a father of two, was considered the right-hand man of another jailed gangster, Binder Gujjar, Gadolis rival. Some say Mahesh, in connivance with Gujjar, wanted to eliminate Gadoli who was eventually killed in an alleged encounter with Gurgaon police in Mumbai in February. With the two most wanted gangstersSandeep Gadoli (dead) and Binder Gujjar (in jail) out of the picture, a number of comparatively lesser-known gangsters are trying hard to establish supremacy in the close-knit world of criminals, said a police officer. Police records suggest that as many as six major gangs are active in Gurgaon currently. But none of this is new for Gurgaons older residents, who remember living under the shadow of gunfights and gang rivalries that raged on the streets till as recently as 2006, when an economic boom and stricter police patrol pushed many of the criminals underground. Read: Jailed Gurgaon gangsters wife shot dead in broad daylight When developers and corporate firms started moving into Gurgaon a decade ago, the powerful gangs in the region started losing clout and disintegrated into splinter groups. Many gangsters were killed, others were put behind bars and eventually their public presence lessened. The whole fight to gain supremacy is to take control over illegal business of property deals, extortion, and gambling rackets, said a senior police official who was posted in Gurgaon in 1990s and early 2000s. Today, most of the gangs have 25 to 30 members, and their main job is to safeguard their fiefs while trying to extend it. Extortion and dabbling in real estate deals, settlement of disputes is primary source of income of these gangs, say observers. With the arrival of mobile phones, computers, and hi-tech equipment, the gangsters have become more tech savvy. A majority of them use CCTV cameras, hire private security guards, and even ex-servicemen as security officers. We are checking the records of organised crime, if any, who are active in the region. Criminals on the run are also being watched, said Sandeep Khirwar, commissioner of police, Gurgaon. The first gang war in Gurgaon was reported in 1996 when a shootout in Jharsa village between a gang led by Bunty Fauji, an advocate, and another gangster Rajje, from Jharsa, was reported. Rajje was killed in the exchange of fire. For a decade till 2006, villages such as Ghata, Badshapur and other adjoining villages on the city outskirts saw frequent shootouts between criminal gangs. On July 15, 2015, unidentified men shot at gangster Rakesh Yadav Hayatpur on MG Road. Police suspected the involvement of Maheshs gang but no one was arrested in the case. A few months later on October 4, 2015, gangster Virendar Singh Dayma alias Bindar Gujjars driver Ashok Kumar was shot dead allegedly by Gadolis gang on Basai road. Within hours, Gadolis aide Manish Khurana was fired at outside his home in Arjun Nagar. Many attributed it to a rivalry between Gadoli and Gujjar. Apart from Gadoli and Gujjar, other gangs active in Gurgaon include those led by Surjeet Singh -- in jail -- and Harinder alias heavy, who is out on bail, police say. Those led by Ashok Rathi, in jail, and Kaushal Pal, who jumped parole from Faridabad Jail, are also active. Some other gangs are led by Rakesh Banjara, Rakesh Hatyapur and Kushal, all three out on bail. Mostly these gangs are involved in territorial supremacy, collection of hafta (extortion money) from traders, control over parking spots, cable network, newspaper circulation, and many other activities. They and their men use top of the line SUVs, and Toyota Fortuner is a favourite vehicle for the ring leaders, who also own a bevy of BMWs, and Audis. Some have even graduated top become real estate builders, contractors and liquor dealers. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Come October, thousands of non-resident Indian (NRI) volunteers of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will plunge themselves into a routine of making calls on behalf of the party to potential voters in Goa and Punjab for a few hours every day. After registering a huge success with its NRI-calling programme in the 2015 Delhi assembly elections, AAP is once again tapping its support base spread over at least a dozen countries worldwide to canvas for the party and secure funds for fighting the assembly elections in the two states. As much as 22% of the partys election funding comes from other countries. As Goa and Punjab will go to the polls in early 2017, the party plans to re-launch the programme from the first week of October. We will make more than 60 lakh calls till the start of the elections, Sreekant Kocherlakota, secretary of AAPs US chapter, told HT over the phone from Los Angeles. The Delhi assembly elections had seen over 10.8 lakh calls being made from the US alone, with nearly 2,400 of the total callers dialling more than 50 numbers a day. At present, AAP has nine overseas chapters in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Qatar, UK, UAE and Italy. We already have volunteers in Germany, the Philippines and Malaysia. We will formally launch our chapters in these countries before the Punjab and Goa elections, said an AAP leader involved in the partys overseas expansion. The Italy chapter organised meetings with AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal when he visited Rome on September 4. Surrounded by supporters, he recorded a video message announcing his decision to take charge of the affairs in Punjab in the wake of state convenor Sucha Singh Chhottepurs dismissal last month. Kejriwals message was recorded amid chants of support from Punjabis at the gathering. It helped assuage the feelings of supporters back home, who were feeling disheartened due to Sucha Singhs exit and the allegations he subsequently made, a party leader from Punjab said. Chhottepur had alleged that AAP leaders from Delhi were trying to sideline Punjabis. Last week, the US chapter organised public meetings with the partys new Punjab convenor actor Gurpreet Ghuggi in various cities across the country. We have enlisted 10,000 volunteers for the NRI-calling programme. As soon as our volunteers get off work in the evening, they will start calling voters, answering their queries, and telling them about AAP, says Kocherlakota. While 3,000 volunteers will call voters in Goa, the rest will be used to further the partys Punjab campaign. NRI calling: How its done - The NRI volunteer logs into the calling interface created by the AAP IT team in Delhi through his phone or computer. At any point of time, he is connected to one of the 10,000 phone numbers of voters in the database. The system hides the number to keep the data secure from hacker attacks. The age, name and gender of the voter is flashed through the call for better connect. - The volunteer identifies himself and the place he is calling from. - He asks the call receiver who he will support. If it is AAP, the volunteer offers to answer queries. - Arguments and confrontations with supporters of other parties are prohibited. - A backend process tracks callers and blocks supporters of rival parties from enlisting as AAP volunteers and deviating from the dos and donts. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Congress should stand on its own in the Uttar Pradesh elections next year, says Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi in an interview to Hindustan Times. He speaks about issues ranging from the Kashmir crisis to farmers distress. Q. What is the idea behind the Deoria-Delhi Kisan Yatra? A. The role of an opposition leader is to represent the voice of people. Farmers are in pain. Agriculture has suffered tremendously in the past two-and-a-half years. Cities are expanding, there is scarcity of water and other factors contribute as well. Some of these are structural problems others are not. The UPA government s approach was to help farmers as there was an understanding that they face severe difficulties and need support. This understanding was reflected in our response at Bhatta Parsaul when we amended the land acquisition act , in our loan waiver scheme, in the increase of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers and the formulation of a job guarantee scheme under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Act (MNREGA). Q. Has it changed? A. Yes, of course. The BJPs approach in the past 2.5 years has been to abandon and betray farmers. This will not only have an adverse impact on agriculture and rural India, but it will also affect the entire country. A large part of the UPAs economic success came from rural India. Experts will affirm this. Funds that were injected in to the villages pushed the economic cycle in the villages. This in turn fired the national economic cycle. The BJP agricultural policy is wrong on two counts. Firstly: its inhumane and cruel. You are letting down large sections of our countrymen who are in genuinely deep distress. Secondly: it is not strategic. You are harming India economically. Q. What is the Kisan Yatra all about? A. This Yatra is an expression of that idea. It was designed to make Mr Narendra Modi aware of what a grave injustice he is doing to our country, not just to poor farmers. The response to the Yatra has been hugely positive because farmers are in deep pain. The farmers are crying out for help and no one is listening to them. The Congress party and I have only given expression to their voice. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi take out a road show during his Kisan Yatra in Lucknow on Friday. The Amethi MP is wooing farmers before UP elections next year . (PTI) Q. Uttarakhand , Punjab and other states too have polls? Why are you focusing on UP? A. This Kisan Yatra is a national issue for me. I thought of taking the Yatra through four or five states but the senior leaders of my party felt that I should do so in a focused manner in UP with a message that went across the whole country. Q. How do you propose to bring the lost vote banks to the Congress? A. Vote banks matter when there is an attempt to extract something out of a state like Uttar Pradesh. We do not want to take from the people of Uttar Pradesh. We want to give them a vision of their huge potential. We want to tell people that if you support this vision we can change the lives of people. We can change Uttar Pradesh. Q. How to bring about the change? A. Uttar Pradeshs agriculture has huge potential but it is dying. If we do not provide a fair price to farmers, if we do not create food-processing units, if we do not create a cold chain that links farms to the end customer, if we do not efficiently link the farmer to the national and international markets, it will be impossible for the state to progress. Indulging in extraction and extortion from farmers will only bring the state to ruin. Giving the farmers a vision, strengthening their capacity and enabling them to utilize their full potential will create immense prosperity. The same applies to the youth, women, professionals and labourers. Nobody has actually believed in UP in the past 27 years , they have not put their faith in the people of UP. I have a lot of faith in the people of UP. I am absolutely convinced that they have the potential to make UP the number one state in India. I told this to some investors who met me recently and they looked surprised but I am convinced that it will happen. UP has the greatest potential in India. Q. The condition of farmers is bad despite a loan waiver. Will another loan waiver help? A. We asked farmers what their needs were. They told us three things: they needed the burden of their debts reduced, they asked if power bills could be brought down and if they could be given the right prices for their produce. Experts have also said the same thing . The Swaminathan committee made similar observations on prices in its report. If the BJP thinks the farmers should be helped in a different manner, then they should come out with an alternative strategy. They have not spelt out a single suggestion for the support of farmers in the last two and a half years. If the Prime Minister wants to help corporates, I am not against it, but those who are suffering the most should be helped as well. If he can waive 110,000 crores of debt for a handful of corporates then how can they claim that waiving loans for farmers is encouraging a bad habit . Shouldnt the same rule apply for all? Cong brought peace in Kashmir, BJP created space for terrorists: Rahul Q. What are your views on the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh? A. The Uttar Pradesh government has failed. The people of Uttar Pradesh gave a huge opportunity to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav ji but he failed to fulfill their aspirations. They wanted change. He should not have tolerated corruption and goondaism . If he had taken a strong stance he might have succeeded in transforming UP. Although I am a leader of the opposition, it makes me sad that a young leader like him was unable to deliver. I too was hopeful that he would bring about change. It is a pity that five years have been wasted. Q. Will the Congress have any alliances? A. We want to give a vision to Uttar Pradesh. We want to show a path of development and change to the people of the state , especially the youth. I feel the Congress should stand on its own and fight the 2017 assembly elections on the basis of its ideology and policies without compromising with them. Q. What is the Congress vision? A. The Congress party is everybodys party. This is embedded in our DNA. It will decentralize power away from a single person or family. We will fight the criminal network that controls UP and steals from its people. We will bring industry in and provide them with the requisite infrastructure thereby creating jobs for the youth. We will develop a health care and education system accessible to all, especially the weakest and the poorest sections. We will revive UPs agriculture by supporting the farmer and strengthening him and finally, we will ensure that no community or person feels isolated and threatened in the state. The Congress party will ensure that everyone has an equal right and an equal opportunity to progress and to prosper. Modi govt not paying heed to farmers problem, so Kisan budget needed: Rahul Q. What about the BJP? A. The BJPs vision centers on how to capitalise on peoples fears; they know how to convert the peoples fear and anger into hatred. This is what they have perfected from Savarkar to Mr. Narendra Modi. It is their core competence; they are very good at it. Q. What do you have to say about Mayawati? A. At a personal level, I have respect for both - Akhilesh Yadavji and Mayawatiji. Kanshiramji and Mayawatiji did a tremendous amount of work before she became chief minister. After the death of Kanshi Ramji , Mayawatiji no longer valued his legacy. Unfortunately, she has totally compromised and sold the movement. I have failed to understand why she did this. I believe that the compromises she has made have deeply hurt Uttar Pradesh. Q. Is the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on the decline? A. I think Uttar Pradesh wants a paradigm shift. The Congress can provide this paradigm shift to the people of UP. It has an opportunity to do so today. Q. So should the Congress work harder? A. The Congress has to defend its ideology. No one can stop the Congress if we do not compromise on our ideology. Hard work is a prerequisite for success. Q. But caste politics plays a major role in the state. A. What is required is a vision for Uttar Pradesh. The people will come out of this only when they have an alternative idea. An alternative idea is - Lets build Uttar Pradesh instead of extracting from it. Why are we not able to imagine a new Uttar Pradesh? Why do we imagine an Uttar Pradesh of the past? The only conversation I hear about UP is about its past. Lets decide what UP can do in the next five years and lets show that we can get it done together. Gandhiji said the weakest of all should be protected and helped. Everybody should be given space. No one should feel fearful. No caste or community should feel insecure or threatened or be oppressed. Everybody should get an opportunity to have a secure future and fulfill his or her own dreams. People run away with cots from Rahuls UP khat sabha after his speech Q. Is division of Uttar Pradesh a solution? A. There are no short cuts in life. No simple solutions. Success is not going to be served on a platter, all of us have a responsibility to work hard towards the betterment of the people of UP. Q. What are three major challenges for India? A. Unemployment, water scarcity and corruption. I would add a fourth. The fuelling of hatred and the politics of dividing people to come to power. Q. Your views on Jammu and Kashmir? A. The Congress had a solid strategy for Kashmir. We had put an end to violence in Kashmir by the end of our term. Central paramilitary forces, army personnel and civilians were no longer being killed. This was a direct result of our work. Q. What was the strategy? A. The foundation of our strategy was to isolate Pakistan internationally. Close down their space to create trouble in the valley and engage solidly with the people and youth of Jammu and Kashmir. After Bombay Manmohan Singh ji and our government worked silently to isolate Pakistan. It was a huge diplomatic effort. We convinced the world that Pakistan was a terrorist state and completely isolated them. We made them a pariah state. We worked diligently to close political space for anti India forces in the state. We developed a detailed plan. It included jobs and training for youth through the Himayat and Udaan programs. We took Indias top industrialists there to build trust. We gave almost a 1000 Crores to create self help groups and link thousands of women to the Indian banking system. But by far the most devastating blow we landed against the militants was the holding of Panchayat elections. This simply destroyed their ability to operate in the state. Pradhans became the guardians of the state. For the first time thousands of Pradhans started informing security forces about militants that came into their areas. Many dissatisfied youngsters got space in the Indian electoral system. The fire of hope was kindled. Q. What about the BJPs strategy? A. It is sad but the BJP does not have a strategy for Kashmir. The alliance between the PDP and the BJP was a strategic disaster for Jammu and Kashmir and for India. It will cost us for years to come. The alliance completely destroyed the PDP ability to bring dissatisfied people into the political system. It obliterated the PDP as a political instrument and gifted its entire space to anti-Indian forces. From my perspective this opportunistic alliance was a crime against India. Everything we did for nine years was wiped out in a matter of days. It basically provided an open door for Pakistan to walk in. Geo-political strategy cannot be based on event management. It is not episodic and its not a game. You have to take into account and respect the views of the people who have experience in these areas. The prime minister is episodic and refuses to listen to the experts. India is paying a massive price as a result of it. Q. What should be done? A. Develop a sound strategy and follow it. Isolate Pakistan internationally and regain the political and operational space ceded to terrorists supported by them. Engage with the people of Jammu and Kashmir--show them we care. Demonstrate that an alternative vision to violence is possible. Recognize and use our immense assets. How did we isolate Pakistan? Smaller countries play a huge role. The countries associated with the Non Alignment Movement (NAM) helped us tremendously. The PM completely walked away from his biggest asset by not going to NAM. The PM should start listening to experts and his ministerial colleagues. There are brilliant people in our bureaucracy, institutions and agencies. Absolutely brilliant - use their deep understanding. The PM talks but he does not listen. People are afraid of telling the PM what they think. Q. Will Congress support? A. The Congress will fully support a strategy on Jammu and Kashmir. We have to work with the assumption that Pakistan will make full use of any opportunity it gets. Our job is to deny them any such opportunity and all of us should work together to achieve this. They will do whatever they can do to destabilize us. Our job and duty is to deny them the space to do so at the lowest possible cost to the nation. Q. How is Congress president Sonia Gandhis health? A. My mothers health is fine. Her sense of duty prevented her from postponing the roadshow even though she was down with viral fever, this led to her health worsening suddenly but now she has fully recovered. Only her shoulder will require a few more weeks of physiotherapy. Q. We hear that you will be elevated as Congress president? A. As of now we are working on these elections. Q. Will Priyanka Gandhi Vadra play a more active role? A. I do want that. I have told her to actively help me. I trust my sister, she is a good friend to me and I would love to work with her. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Unites States department of defence awarded Bowing a 81 million dollar contract for the supply of 22 Harpoon missile systems to India. A US defense department release said the weapon manufacturer is being given $81,271,024 (Rs 542 crore approximately) for firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract meant for the procurement of 22 Lot 89 Harpoon missiles and associated containers and components for India under the Foreign Military Sales programme. The missiles will be manufactured at several places in the United States, with the majority of them being in St Charles, Missouri. Some manufacturing process will also be done in the United Kingdom. The missiles are expected to be ready in June 2018. India requested the US government in 2014 for the Harpoon missiles to equip its Shishumar class submarines. The request was made under Foreign Military Sale. The estimated cost for the consignment is $200 million. The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency said the weapon system, to be employed on the Shishumar class submarine (Type-209), will provide enhanced capabilities for defence of critical sea lines of communication. India has already purchased Harpoon missiles for integration on Indian Air Forces Jaguar aircraft and Indian Navys P-8I maritime patrol aircraft. India will have no difficulty absorbing these additional missiles into its armed forces, it added. Sources in the industry said that a contract for the same was signed this June between defence ministries of India and US. To execute this contract, the US government has to buy the missiles from Boeing to supply to India. As politics over sharing of the Mahanadi boils, the union government has asked the Central Water Commission to look into Odishas concerns, but refrained from directing neighbouring Chattisgarh to stop work on 11 projects being developed on the river. Odisha had been crying foul over Chattisgarhs decision to maximise use of its share of the Mahanadi water for irrigation and industrial use by building reservoirs and inter-linking some of the rivers tributaries, saying it will reduce river flow and deplete Hirakund Dam. Not perturbed by Odishas clamour, Chhattisgarh has started construction of six barrages primarily for industrial use. Some of these projects were approved by the CWC after seeking comments from Odisha. In addition, survey has started on four projects diverting water from Arpa river, a tributary of Mahanadi, and the Pairi-Mahanadi river-linking project. The projects are basically to store excess monsoon water in the Mahanadi for use in lean period and will help industry and agriculture, a Chhattisgarh government official said. There will be no effect on water-flow to Odisha, he added. In a presentation to the Water Resources ministry, the Chattisgarh government said the barrages will have a total capacity of 274 mcm (million cubic meter), much less than the lost storage in Hirakund due to siltation. This means the dam does not have capacity to store excess water. Hirakud, built on Mahanadi in Odisha in 1957, had lost 995 mcm, which is 18% of its 5,518-mcm storage capacity. What we are taking from Mahanadi is not from Odishas share, the official said. In fact, the live storage capacity of our dams on the river have also done down by 345 mcm due to siltation. The storage capacity of new barrages would be less than that. The Chattisgarh government also claimed that Odishas own data shows an increase in the rivers non-monsoon water-flow, meaning its projects do not endanger the Hirakund. Odisha, on the other hand, questioned the Chattisgarh governments approach of treating the impact of each project individually and not in an integrated manner. The water resources ministry officials said Odisha wants a cumulative impact study of all projects that have been developed by Chhattisgarh on the flow of water to Hirakund, rather than individualon the ground that these projects dramatically reduce the water flow. The differences are huge between the two states, and could not be resolved, the official said with reference to tripartite meeting at the ministry last week. We have assured Odisha that the CWC will examine their claim that water flow to Hirakund will reduce if Chattisgarh is allowed to build the projects. The ruling BJD in Odisha had turned the Mahanadi dispute into a political issue to hit BJP the party in power in Chhattisgarh that aspires to form the next government in one of Indias poorest states. Elections in the state will happen with general polls in 2019. Adversely hit, the Odisha BJP on Friday accused chief minister Naveen Patnaik of striking a secret deal with his Chhattisgarh counterpart Raman Singh, saying the CM of the BJP-ruled state has forgotten about the issue now. Patnaik has already met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His party MPs stalled Lok Sabha proceedings for a day, accusing the Centre of being biased in favour of Chhattisgarh. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a bid to woo Sikh and Punjabi Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in the United Kingdom, the Congress is sending a high-profile delegation to London to seek their help in winning next years crucial state assembly elections. The party is also planning to woo Dalit NRIs and as part of the reach-out programme, former Union minister Kumari Selja and partys Punjab-in-charge Asha Kumari will visit Ambedkar House and also interact with members of the Valmiki community in London. Out of the estimated 25 million NRI population, overseas Sikhs and Punjabis constitute around 12 million. The NRIs have played a key role in all the past elections in Punjab and all major political parties make hectic attempts to win them over. Punjab along with Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur goes to polls in February-March next year. Read | AAP to tap NRI support for Punjab, Goa poll campaigns While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has already taken a lead in reaching out to the influential Punjabi diaspora, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress, too, have stepped up their overseas campaign. Selja, a prominent Dalit face of the Congress from neighbouring Haryana, has been roped in to woo the members of the Scheduled Caste (SC) community. According to the 2011 Census, Punjab has the highest percentage of SC population among all the states in the country. Dalits constitute 31.94% of the total population of the state. The state accounts for 2.3% of the total population and 4.3% of the SC population in India. The Congress delegation will also visit different gurdwaras and temples during their four-day visit to the UK. The party is desperately seeking to regain power from the Akali Dal which has been ruling the state for the past nearly 10 years now. Prior to this, Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh had visited the United States in April this year to seek the support of the NRIs. Also read | The great Dalit cauldron and why it matters SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The G4 nations, including India, at a meeting on the sidelines of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, have reaffirmed unwavering commitment to reforms in the UN Security Council (UNSC). The G4 ministers underscored their unwavering commitment to a comprehensive reform of the Security Council, which needs to take into account the geopolitical realities of the 21st century, a joint statement issued following the meeting on Friday said. More than 70 years after the founding of the UN, the Security Council also has to adapt in order to cope with the ever growing global challenges, the statement said. With a view to the manifold conflicts and humanitarian crises, a more representative, legitimate and effective Council is needed more than ever to guarantee peace and security worldwide. The G4 nations -- India, Japan, Germany and Brazil -- are seeking permanent membership in the UNSC. While minister of state for external affairs MJ Akbar represented India in the meeting, Brazil was represented by its foreign minister Jose Serra, Germany by Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and Japan, Fumio Kishida. According to the statement, the ministers welcomed meetings of the Group of Friends on security council reform, which brought together high-level representatives of member states from diverse regions aiming at pushing forward UNSC reforms. In this regard, they called upon all reform-oriented member states to join efforts and finally bring about meaningful reform, it said. The ministers expressed their support for equitable regional representation, underscoring the imperative for Africas representation in both the permanent and non-permanent membership as well as adequate and continuing representation of small and medium sized member states, including the small island developing states, in a reformed Security Council. The four countries, according to the statement, reiterated their resolve to continue contributing to the fulfilment of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and emphasised that they were legitimate candidates for permanent membership and supported each others aspirations. All the four nations thanked the president of the 70th General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft of Denmark, for his efforts on UNSC in the inter-governmental negotiations (IGN). They also welcomed the expressions of flexibility made by numerous delegations during the past IGN session which resulted in the identification of areas of convergence in member states positions on all issues related to the five clusters as identified by GA (General Assembly) Resolution 62/557 Security Council reform, the statement said. The four nations, however, concluded that substantial progress was still limited and that efforts needed to be intensified to build further momentum and to arrive at real text-based negotiations. They pledged to continue to work towards a comprehensive Security Council reform in the framework of the IGN, the statement said. They expressed their full support to the president of the 71st UN General Assembly, trusting that he will support swift and substantive progress towards a meaningful reform of the Security Council, it stated. The ministers also briefly exchanged views on UN reforms to render the UN fit for the 21st century and discussed their expectations for the next Secretary General of the United Nations in this regard, it concluded. BSF troops on Friday arrested a Pakistani national near the International Border and said he was an activist of terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba. In the wee hours of 23 Sep 2016, alert bordermen in Pragwal Sector of Akhnoor area apprehended a young Pakistani national who crossed over the International Border and was trying to negotiate border fence to infiltrate into Indian Territory, DIG BSF Jammu Frontier Dharminder Pareek said. During preliminary questioning he revealed his identity as Abdul Qayum, 32, son of Bhag Ali, a resident of Pul Bajuan village in Sialkot district of Pakistans Punjab province. Qayum was in possession of one dual SIM Nokia mobile phone. He was in possession of one dual SIM Nokia mobile phone. On further questioning he revealed that in 2004, he underwent Daura e- Aam militant training with LeT outfit at Mansera Training Camp in Muzaffarabad are of Pak-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), the BSF statement read. He has found to be well-aware of various terrorist organisations based in Pakistan and their leaders including Hafiz Saeed, Syed Salahuddin and also separatist leaders of Kashmir Syed Ali Shah Gilani, Asiya Andrabi, Yasin Malik and others. Qayum told interrogators that youth from poor families of Pakistan are being brainwashed in the name of jihad, the BSF said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Rescue workers carry the body of a victim from the capsized migrant boat in Rosetta, Egypton Sept. 22, 2016. The death toll of the capsized migrant boat near Egypt's northern coast rose to 112, Egypt's Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed told Xinhua on Friday. (Xinhua) Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, who was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai after she complained of fever and dehydration, continues to remain under doctors observation, the hospital said on Saturday. The honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is under observation, a medical bulletin from Apollo Hospitals chief operating officer Subbiah Viswanathan said. Jayalalithaa was on a normal diet, he added. Jayalalithaa was admitted to the corporate hospital here late Thursday after she complained of fever and dehydration. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, DMK leaders M Karunanidhi and M K Stalin and Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Puducherry, Siddaramaiah and V Narayanasamy respectively, were among others who had wished speedy recovery to the 68-year-old AIADMK chief. Nearly four years ago the Maharashtra government had announced what it considered a great achievement: the reduction in malnutrition deaths among tribal children in the state by 10%. That claim was endorsed by the UNICEF. But Dr Abhay Bang, an award-winning health care professional who has been working among tribals in the heavily forested Gadchiroli district for years, was highly sceptical. An alumni of the Johns Hopkins University in the US, Dr Bang had chaired a state committee on child mortality evaluation and told the government in 2013 , That has to be a miracle. For it was much more than 10 per cent. Dr Bang runs an NGO called SEARCH (Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health) which also keeps a watch on such data. They had brought down the deaths from 39 per cent to 22 per cent. No one achieves that kind of success in such a short period of time. That achievement began to be known as the Maharashtra Model of child development and was held up as a template for those who wanted to achieve similar targets. But three years on, that model seems to be in tatters with nearly 600 malnutrition deaths reported among tribal children from Palghar district alone this year, barely 100 kms from Mumbai. The National Human Rights Commission, taking suo moto notice of the reports, has asked the Maharashtra chief secretary for a detailed explanation within four weeks. So what went wrong in such a short while? Nothing, says Dr Bang. What the government had achieved was a mere reduction in child mortality which at 45 deaths per thousand children is commendable figure. But infant mortality is vastly different from malnutrition though the two are interlinked and have a bearing upon each other. The mistake that the media and government agencies often make is to confuse mortality with malnutrition deaths. No one quite dies of malnutrition. They die of other causes because of that malnutrition. Stunting is often the better measure of malnutrition and even today 51% of children and adults among tribal populations in the state are undernourished and stunted. That is huge. And here has been little improvement in those figures. Many years ago Dr Bang authored a report on child mortality and malnutrition related deaths of children below five titled ``Kowali Panejar in Marathi (Shedding of Tender Leaves). So when Vivek Pandit founder of the Shramjeevi Sangathana, a NGO working among these tribals, saw a two-year old child he had rushed to a hospital in Nashik, die of high fever, and asked in anguish, How many more sacrifices of children does the government want before they stop dying? the answer to it could be, Scores. Dr Bang says the government figures are often under reported because the reporting agency and the sustaining agency are one and the same that means the officials who have to compute the deaths are the very same health officials responsible for preventing malnutrition and infant mortality. No one is a personal villain but it is human nature not to want to carry the blame. So often many deaths will not be reported and the actual numbers are tens of times that the government gives out each year. According to Dr Bang nearly 50% of infant mortalities happen in the neo-natal stages that is within one month of birth because the children are born to highly undernourished mothers. If they do make it past 30 days, diarrhea and pneumonia often prove fatal as also malaria (if they survive the first two calamities) within six months to one year of their lives. By two they are so weak and wasted, even an ordinary fever can be fatal. Tribals have the additional burden of their superstitions. It is a larger South Asian problem but Indian tribals particularly will not feed the child for the first three days of his or her life. The child may sometimes be given sweetened water but not mothers milk in this time. Breast feeding begins only from the fourth day. You can imagine what that does to the child, says Dr Bang. However, except for the superstation and faith in witch doctors that keeps them from taking modern medicines, which is a major cultural issue, much of the battle against malnutrition is easy to win with a few changes in government policies and outlook, Dr Bang told the Hindustan Times. The Integrated Child Development Services needs a shift in emphasis. Now the child has to go to the centre to collect nutrition. Which means only children over three who can walk to the centres, get access to nutrition. On the other hand, it is often children below two who are more in need of such supplements. So food must be reached to them. The Maharashtra cabinet did formulate a policy for this shift in emphasis some years ago but it was defeated by its own officials who resisted the change. And so, children continue to be malnourished and the deaths prevail. According to Varsha Gaikwad, former minister for women and child welfare who, during her tenure worked hard to reduce child mortality, the nodal agency (which is the women and child welfare department) has to go the extra mile in co-ordinating between various other agencies health officials, tribal welfare department, forest department (as tribals mostly live in or around forests) and even the public works department (to ensure road access to tribals in remote places remain open). It has to be a combined effort, just one person or agency cannot do it, she says. Her oblique reference is to the unilateral manner in which both tribal welfare minister Vishnu Savara and women and child welfare minister Pankaja Munde have handled the recent malnutrition deaths in Palghar. Savaras visit to Kalambwadi village in Mokhada tehsil of the newly formed and tribal dominated Palghar district earlier this month after a childs death drew a hostile response from the tribals. Badly rattled after activists grilled him about the mounting deaths and the governments alleged scant attention, he snapped carelessly, So be it! That video went viral and when Munde visited the district on September 21 after the death of yet another two-year old from Ruighar village in Jawhar taluka, police had to invoke preventive measures to stop people from heckling her. But that is not how you do it, says Gaikwad who faced similar flak several times during her tenure, You have to be heckled by the people and they have to point out to you what is going wrong. That is how you will know what corrective measures to take. You cannot govern or solve this issue in isolation. Munde did meet members of the NGO Shramjeevi Sangathana working among these tribals for years. Vivek Pandit pointed out that nearly 20% of posts for health officials in the district were lying vacant and that the Jawhar rural hospital needed to be upgraded to a district hospital at the least to save more lives. Thats why Gaikwads emphasis on integrated co-ordination between the various ministers and departments, because funding for tribal welfare has not been an issue. The tribal population of Maharashtra is 9% and an equivalent percentage of the budget automatically gets allocated to the tribal welfare department each year. Dr Bang is pained by the fact that despite ample funds (upwards of Rs 5000 crore) these are not utilised or at times they are diverted to non-tribal uses. One year I found that a previous tribal minister had paid tolls worth several crores through these funds in Nandurbar district (another tribal dominated area). Those truck drivers bringing supplies to tribal villages who benefitted were not tribals. Such things are avoidable. Bang says the best thing the government can do, after tackling health, educational, economic and cultural issues, is to empower tribals to take charge of their own lives. This has already happened in a way with amendments to the Forests Act wherein, barring teak and timber, tribals have been allowed to make use of all other forest produce (like fruits and tendu leaves) and sell them directly in the market with private operators forbidden to step in. The first few years many gram panchayats made at least a hundred crore rupees from such sales and judiciously distributed the profits among various villages. Cut off the middlemen and let there be no shortfall in health and nutritional facilities. It will still take a long time but it will happen one day. Only then, tender leaves then will no longer be swept away by a breeze. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modis speech, lashing out against Pakistan, was closely monitored by the Pakistan media, and within an hour of its delivery on Saturday evening, excerpts were on websites of major dailies, with most describing it venomous. The News, one of the major English dailies of Pakistan, ran the headline, Modi threatens to completely isolate Pakistan globally, while The Express Tribune ran the headline, Modi threatens to isolate Pakistan globally. In the same vein, Geo TV, one of the leading news channel of Pakistan, said: Indian PM Narendra Modi threatens Pakistan. Read | Modi goes beyond knee-jerk reaction to Uri as he harps on Paks vulnerabilities Geo further states, Spewing hatred against the neighbouring country, Modi accused Pakistan of being the epicentre of terrorism and claimed it was exporting terrorism to the world. The News also termed Modis speech as venomous and wrote, Spewing venom, Indian PM Modi accused Pakistan of being the epicentre of terrorism and claimed it was exporting terrorism to the world. The Dawn also ran the headline, Modi says India will work to isolate Pakistan internationally. Read | PM Modi hits out at Pakistan, says India wont forget Uri attack A petition has been filed in the Lahore high court, seeking an order for Pakistan election commission to not acquire electronic voting or biometric machines from an Indian company. In a writ petition filed on behalf of a citizen, advocate Azhar Siddique said the Pakistan Election Commission (ECP) opened bidding to acquire the electronic voting machines (EVMs) since it intended to hold the next general election on biometric system. Three Indian companies - Indra Kamra, Reliance and Morpho - have also submitted their bids and ECP is likely to approve bids of the Indian companies and choose one of them. It will be dangerous for Pakistans security if electronic voting and thumb impression machines are purchased from Indian companies, the petitioner said. Read | After MNS ultimatum, Zindagi channel may also ban all Pakistani TV shows He argued that the electronic voting system should not be acquired from any Indian company for security concerns and appealed the court to stop the ECP from acquiring the system from the Indian company. The court will fix the date for hearing next week, a court official said. An ECP spokesperson, however, said no Indian company has been shortlisted for the project so far. The biometric machines will be acquired after security clearance, he said. Ban on Indian movies in Pakistan Another petition filed by Siddiqui in the Lahore high court sought a ban on the exhibition of Indian movies in the country till resolution of the Kashmir issue. The petition alleged that Indian forces are committing atrocities in Kashmir and the Pakistan government has allowed Indian movies to be exhibited in local cinemas and the act is hurting the sentiments of Kashmiris and Pakistanis. Read | MNS threat: Mumbai Police ready to provide protection, says top cop It said the Indian movies are opposed to Pakistans Kashmir policy and are a big hurdle in freedom movement of Kashmiris. To express solidarity with Kashmiris, the Pakistani government should be ordered to put immediate ban on exhibition of Indian movies across the country, it pleaded. It also said Indian organisations were threatening Pakistani actors to leave India after the Uri attack and the Pakistani government should respond to India in a firm manner and ban its movies. India will not forget the militant attack that killed 18 soldiers at an army base in Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, but tempered calls for a military retribution by challenging Pakistan to a war on poverty, unemployment and illiteracy. In his first public comments since the Uri attack last Sunday, Modi sought to take the battle across the border by directly addressing the people of Pakistan and telling them that their rulers are misleading them by talking about a 1000-year war over Kashmir -- an allusion to an oft-quoted remark by former Pakistan Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. In what could be interpreted as provoking Pakistan, Modi said the days are not far when the people of Pakistan will come out to fight against their rulers on the question of terrorism. He did not directly name Pakistan but mentioned the neighbouring country several times to drive home what was the recurring theme -- there is only one country that exports terror to the entire world. Your (Pakistani) rulers speak of fighting India for a thousand years. Today, there is such a government in Delhi that I am ready to accept your challenge... Pakistans awam (people), I want to say to you, India is ready to fight you, Modi said. Come, if you have the courage, lets fight poverty...unemploymentilliteracy. Let us fight and see who is able to end poverty first. Read | Modi goes beyond knee-jerk reaction to Uri as he harps on Paks vulnerabilities In a veiled dig at Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who many see as a dove turned hawk, Modi said todays rulers (of Pakistan) read out from the text on Kashmir, written by patrons of terror. The world has no expectations from such rulers, he said, in an indication of New Delhis disenchantment with the civilian leadership in Islamabad. Modi was speaking at a public rally in Kozhikode, a coastal town in Kerala, which is hosting a meeting of the BJPs national council, the partys highest policy-making body. Modis hard talk against Pakistan came amid growing clamour for a muscular response to the Uri attack with even a senior party leader calling for a jaw-for-tooth stand. The BJP is under pressure from some of its cadres to walk its tough talk on Pakistan while in the opposition. In the world when reports of terrorism come, then this news also follows that the terrorists came from that (neighbouring) country, or like Osama bin Laden, have found a hideout there, Modi said at the rally attended by BJP president Amit Shah and several Union ministers. Pakistans rulers should know that the sacrifice of our 18 soldiers will not go to waste Terrorist should listen that India will never forget, he said, in what many saw as a veiled threat to Pakistan. Read | Uri attack could be the result of Kashmir unrest, says Pakistan PM Sharif The PM reminded the people of Pakistan that their ancestors revered the same land before Partition in 1947. He exhorted them to ask their rulers why they were misleading them on Kashmir when they are not able to keep their own house in order -- in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Bangladesh (erstwhile East Pakistan), Sindh, and Balochistan. Both countries became Independent together. People in Pakistan should ask their rulers why India is an exporter of software while your rulers export terrorism, Modi said. This is being seen as Indias strategy to pin Pakistan down by highlighting its internal problems. Modi unfolded the strategy in his Independence Day address in August by raising the issues of human rights violations in Baluchistan and PoK. Read | Pakistan media calls PM Modis speech venomous SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Khurram Parvez has been the most prominent face of human rights movement in Kashmir in recent times and his arrest under the controversial Public Safety Act (PSA) has attracted condemnation and raised questions on the states procedures to tackle unrests. He was picked up by the police on September 15 in Srinagar a day after he was stopped from travelling to Geneva to participate in a UN Human Rights Council session. The condemnation of his arrest hasnt only been domestic. The New York Times in its Friday editorial wrote that Parvez should be released and allowed to travel. Parvez and his organisation the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), has played a key role in documenting and reporting the violations of human rights in troubled Kashmir. During the current unrest, Parvez constantly criticised the killings and blindings of civilians and raised his voice about several allegations of rights violations by security forces. While some fear that his arrest is to scare the civil society and clamp down the human rights movement in the Valley, others say that it has focussed international spotlight on stealthy arrests, alleged illegal detentions and use of the PSA in the Valley. Amnesty Internationals executive director, Aakar Patel told HT, Our primary concern is that the state acts per law. It is not acting in the way that it should. In the absence of valid charges it ought not to pick up people randomly and charge them under an Act that we see as being draconian. Leading intellectuals and scholars including Noam Chomsky and Arundhati Roy and top international rights groups have already appealed for Parvezs immediate release Parvezs lawyers received an official copy of the PSA order and related documents on Friday afternoon. In the dossier against him, SSP Srinagar has described him as an anti-social element known for his anti-national activities and that he has achieved a prominent position in separatist camps under the hidden cover of being a human rights activist. Four FIRs three in Ram Munshi Bagh and one in Zadibal police station have been cited against him and the charges are similar to the ones pressed against stone-pelters: Rioting, unlawful assembly, endangering life, and others. Kashmirs civil society has raised several questions on the charges. Firstly, his lawyers have questioned as to why he never received any intimation prior to this of pending complaints or investigations at any police station or has he signed or executed any personal bond or surety in regard to any of these cases. Secondly, they ask when four FIRs are mentioned why the copies of only one have been provided to the family. Thirdly, they claim Parvez was not produced before the deputy commissioner (nor were the grounds read out to him) as required under law before issuing warrant. Repeated phone calls and text messages to divisional commissioner, Kashmir Baseer Ahmed Khan and deputy commissioner Srinagar Farooq Lone went unanswered. Minister of state for law, Ajay Nanda, said he was hopeful that all mandatory protocol was followed in Parvezs arrest and in case it was not, the person responsible would be held accountable. But lawyers of those arrested in Kashmir for being stone-pelters in the current unrest point out that these are routine practices followed by the police against a person whom they want to detain for long or charge under the PSA -- but it hit the headlines now only because a high profile activist was detained. The Jammu Kashmir PSA, 1978 allows the state to detain a person without trial for at least six months. Police sources say over 300 people have been booked under the PSA in the current unrest. Advocate Aijaz Ahmad Dar points that police often name an accused in multiple FIRs filed under different police stations, although the accused, in this case Parvez, had never been intimidated about the charges earlier. If you go by rule of law, then if the state is aggrieved of a bail order, they should challenge the bail. But what they do is they re-arrest the person in some different case. It doesnt happen in rest of India. A unique practice is going on here, said Bashir Sidiq, senior advocate and general secretary Jammu and Kashmir high court bar association. SP Vaid, DGP, coordination and law and order, termed the allegation that police uses multiple FIRs on one person as false. He explained: FIR is based on one incident. For one incident, you cant file different FIRs. Political scientist Professor Noor Ahmad Baba points out that in numerous cases involving political prisoners in Kashmir, the rule of law has not been followed and that, he adds leads to a loss of peoples faith in the state. Firebrand separatist leader Masarat Alam, who was put behind bars in late 2010 following his role in the agitation, continues to in prison after being re-arrested on separate charges although the high court had thrice quashed the PSA charges against him and ordered his release. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The two Telugu professors who were released from the captivity of suspected Islamic State terrorists in Libya on September 15, reached their respective homes in Hyderabad in the early hours of Saturday. Apparently, both of them are suffering from trauma. Accompanied by a team of officials from the ministry of external affairs, the two professors -- T Gopi Krishna and C Balaram Kishan, landed at Hyderabads Rajiv Gandhi International Airport after midnight. Their arrival was kept so secret that even their family members were not informed about the timing of their landing. They reached their respective homes at around 4 am. The professors were abducted by suspected Islamic State terrorists at a checkpost near Sirte in Libya on July 29, 2015, along with two other Indians Lakshmikanth and Vijay Kumar from Karnataka. They had been teaching at the University of Sirte since 2007. Read: Eagerly waiting to meet them: Families of 2 Indians rescued from Libya While Lakshmikanth and Vijay Kumar were released within 24 hours, the two Telugu professors remained in captivity for over 14 months. Gopi Krishna and Balaram are still traumatized and were not in a position to talk to anybody. We are thankful to the external affairs ministry authorities for taking steps to bring my husband back to India safely. He has just arrived and has been advised to take rest for some time. He is not in a position to talk to the media, Balarams wife Sridevi told HT. It was the same story with Gopi Krishna. He cannot speak to the media right now. Let him spend some time with his family members, said his brother Murali Krishna. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naik on Friday said the state government needed to take cognisance of the human rights commission report that said many families had migrated from Kairana due to threats pertaining to increase in crime and deterioration of law-and-order situation there. It is the responsibility of the UP government to take cognisance of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)s report on Kairana exodus and take appropriate action, he told reporters in Vrindavan. Read | Kairana case: NHRC probe says families migrated due to rise in crime Read | Doubts over the communal angle in Kairana exodus The NHRC had on September 21 issued a notice to the chief secretary and state director general of police to submit within eight weeks an action taken report on the observations and recommendations of the team which had found that many families migrated from Kairana. The governor, who was in Vrinadavan for the inauguration of the Nivedita nurses hostel in Ramkrishna Mission hospital, however, refused to reply to queries on the performance of the Samajawadi Party government. Read | Only 3 Kairana families shifted, that too over crime, reports district magistrate Since the UP Assembly elections are approaching, therefore as the head of the state, it would not be proper for me to comment on the performance of the present state government, Naik said, adding that people of the state would express their views in the polls. Naik also condemned the recent terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Uri that left 18 soldiers dead and several others injured. Also read | Kairana is an expression of State failure Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to break his silence on the governments response to the terror attack on an army base in Jammu and Kashmir when he speaks at a public rally in the Kerala town on Saturday. To read what he said Click Here. BJP sources said the PM is expected to deliver a strong message to Pakistan and also to separatist elements in Kashmir Valley during his speech on Calicut beach, resplendent in saffron hues with fluttering BJP flags along the coastline and deep into the Arabian Sea waters. Immediately after the Uri attack, the PM had in a tweet vowed not to let the perpetrators go unpunished. Many other ministers and BJP functionaries talked tough, with home minister Rajnath Singh terming Pakistan a terrorist state. But the government has refrained from directly blaming Pakistan for Sundays attack, even as there is growing clamour in the country for giving a befitting response. In his address to party office-bearers in Kozhikode on Friday, BJP president Amit Shah said the partys ideology brought it to power and its time to walk the talk on promises it made while in opposition. His remark was interpreted in party circles as an indirect reference to the BJPs aggressive posturing against Pakistan, accusing then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of being weak in responding to terror attacks during the UPA regime. At the same time, Shah cautioned the party office-bearers that as the ruling party, the BJP has to behave responsibly. Modis address will set the tone for the partys resolution to be adopted by its national council, the apex decision-making body, the next day. Shah is also expected to follow suit with aggressive rhetoric against Pakistan when he opens the party session on Sunday. Watch: HT Explains | BJPs three-day national council meeting In an indication of the things to come in the next two days, the party fielded general secretary Ram Madhav- whose jaw-for-a-tooth demand following the Uri attack pleased many a hardliner -- to brief the media on Friday. We appreciate and understand the sentiments of the country. So many things have happened in the past three days, especially diplomatically, he said in response to a query about the NDA governments plans on post-Uri attack that has drawn public outrage. He refused to field further questions about the terror attack saying, Prateeksha mein anand hai (there is pleasure in waiting). His evasive approach to questions about the Uri attack was a strategy not to pre-empt the PM and the partys council on Pakistan. He was at pains to explain that while the party would discuss all contemporary issues (suggesting terror attack and unrest in Kashmir), the BJPs main focus was on the poor and the downtrodden. Opposition parties have been accusing the BJP and the NDA government of being anti-poor and anti-Dalit, citing the suicide by Hyderabad university Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula last year and beating of Dalit youths at Una in Gujarat early this year. Dalits constitute one-third of the electorate in Punjab and one-fifth in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand -- the three states that go to polls, along with Goa and Manipur--in February-March next year. This year will be dedicated to the welfare of the downtrodden, said Ram Madhav. The political resolution will majorly focus on our efforts towards the welfare of the downtrodden section of the society, he said, adding that it will set a new trend for all political parties as the BJP council meeting will be dedicated entirely to constructive programmes for the poor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi came under attack from opposition parties on Saturday for verbal belligerence during his speech at a Bharatiya Janata Party meet in Kozhikode, Kerala. Prime Minister is only shooting the breeze. He is trying to hide the inefficiency of his government behind rhetoric, Congress leader Manish Tewari told IANS. The Congress leaders remarks came after the Prime Minister targeted Pakistan in his speech in Kozhikode at the BJPs National Council meet. Modi accused Pakistan of exporting terrorism, saying that There is one country in Asia which wants bloodbath in Asia. Modi has also said that there is anger in India post the September 18 Uri terror attack and that the sacrifices of the 18 soldiers killed would not be forgotten. The CPI-M also trained its guns on the BJP-led central government, saying it lacked concrete policies to deal with the Pakistan and Kashmir issues. The Prime Minister believes only in rhetoric, we have seen and heard him saying these things during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and are hearing it again. It seems Modi believes he is still in the opposition because we have heard only words... where is the action? Communist Party of India-Marxist poliburo member Mohammad Salim said. Salim also questioned the governments efficacy in dealing with such attacks. Post the Pathankot attack we have seen similar posturing by the Modi government and now after the Uri attack, they are once again doing the same. Does this government have any concrete policy regarding Pakistan and Kashmir? Salim said. He said the government will have to come out with definitive plans and policies regarding Pakistan and Kashmir. The G20 research center on anti-corruption, fugitive repatriation and asset recovery was established Friday in Beijing as part of efforts to boost international anti-corruption cooperation, according to an official statement. The move aims to implement and promote deals reached at the G20 summit held earlier this month in China's eastern city of Hangzhou, where G20 leaders unanimously endorsed China's initiative to establish such a center in the country. The center, seated at Beijing Normal University, will be the first of its kind for G20 members to carry out research, it said. It will create a platform for G20 members to exchange experience through academic research and training, provide intellectual support for China's participation in global anti-corruption cooperation and promote a new international anti-corruption order, it added. Zhao Hongzhu, a member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and deputy secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, attended the inauguration. Officials from the embassies of G20 member countries in China and representatives of international organizations also attended, it added. A UK website that documents evidence on Netaji Subhas Chandra Boses death published a letter on Saturday that indicated the freedom fighter died in a plane crash in August 1945. According to Bosefiles.info, Lord Archibald Wavell, then viceroy of India, informed his council of ministers on August 27, 1945 -- nine days after Netaji is believed to have died in a Taipei after a plane crash -- that he had initiated a probe into the death. The website has published a copy of a letter written by former UK foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind in November 1995 to the late Lord Archer of Sandwell that said: The Viceroy informed ministers that he had initiated an enquiry to ascertain whether it was true that Subhas Chandra Bose had been killed in an air accident. Rifkind further informed Archer: A manuscript annotation on this paper (relating to Wavells meeting with his ministers) dated September 4 (1945) says all the indications are that this (Bose death) is true. Rifkind was replying to an enquiry from Archer. The response together with supporting documents were sent to Govind Talwalkar, former editor of Maharashtra Times, on November 13, 2015 by the British foreign & commonwealth office (FCO) under the UKs Freedom of Information Act. Talwalkar, 91, resides in the US and has now shared the papers with Bosefiles.info, which published them on Saturday. The official Indian government account has maintained that Netaji died when his plane crashed off Taihoku in August 1945. However, the mystery surrounding the death has continued with conflicting accounts persisting from different sections of his family. Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said on Saturday war with Pakistan should be the last resort for India as both the countries are nuclear-armed. Both the countries (India and Pakistan) are nuclear-armed. Therefore, war should be the last resort (before India). All efforts should be made to negotiate and put pressure on Pakistan, he told reporters on the sidelines of a Congress workers meeting here. What is happening is that even Russia, which was our consistent friend, is now doing exercises with Pakistan which has never happened before in the past, Singh said. These are the areas of concern which the BJP-led government should be looking at, said the Congress general secretary. He said what was happening in Kashmir was a matter of concern for all of us. The Congress party has always supported the government in power in matters of external and internal security. Now, the Congress party should plan a campaign to isolate Pakistan on the issue of terrorism, Singh added. He said the issue of terrorism was being discussed at the UN General Assembly in New York on Saturday. We have to identify and bring concrete proof of the involvement of Pakistan-based establishments in terror activities. Pakistan said it was Jaish-e-Mohammed who had done it (the Uri attack). Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Azhar Masood was set free by the NDA government in the Indian Airlines aircraft hijacking case. The Congress party never compromised with those involved in terrorist activities, Singh said. He said the BJP as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his tenure as the Gujarat chief minister, had made aggressive statements against former prime minister Manmohan Singh. But, Modi is doing the same thing as Singh now when he is in power, Singh claimed. Whats unfolding in Janwar, a dusty, tribal hamlet in Madhya Pradesh, would make for a compelling before and after kind of meme. Catalysing the change is a simple idea a 4,843-sq-ft skatepark and its bridging the caste divide, taking on gender stereotypes, even encouraging kids to go to school. Its been 18 months since the park was built by German community activist Ulrike Reinhards not-for-profit organisation, Janwaar Castle. Read: This disabled couple spreads knowledge in MPs tribal village And now the skatepark has become the subject of a short film called The Barefoot Skateboarders, released by Mumbai-based youth content portal 101India last week. Flipping skateboards in the air, popping their feet for a high jump and gliding down ramps, the documentary shows how the villages Adivasi and upper caste Yadav and Kushwaha children play together, follow a girls first rule, and have a no school, no skateboarding policy thats helping tackle truancy. Before the park came up, we were always asked to stay away from the Yadavs, says Arun Adivasi, 15. But now we not only share our skateboards but also our earphones, chocolate, books and biscuits. The skatepark has become the subject of a short film called The Barefoot Skateboarders, released by Mumbai-based youth content portal 101India last week. (Vicky Roy) From bunking school, gambling at card games and getting into brawls, Arun now attends class more regularly because of the no skateboarding rule for truants. At least 10 other children like Arun have stopped bunking school ever since this rule was framed, says Avadh Dahayat, principal of Janwars only government school. The caste divide, at least among the kids, is blurring, adds Janwar sarpanch Malti Adivasi. If things continue at this pace then maybe kids from this generation will make Janwar the kind of place where Adivasis are not herded into one corner during weddings and asked to take water from the well only after everyone else is through. Why Janwar? Reinhard, 55, first came to India four years ago and fell in love. She returned repeatedly, mainly to the world heritage site and temple town of Khajuraho, and on one of those trips, 35 km away, she discovered Janwar a village of 1,200 people living in mud houses, with no toilets and power cuts that stretch for up to three days. Most land is owned by the Yadavs; the Adivasis work as farm labour. Among both communities, alcoholism and gambling are rife. Theres only one school, and within it the children study and eat together, but outside, caste still determines where you live, what you do for a living, even whom can you play gilli-danda with. Read: In 6 years, Madhya Pradesh saw 53,000 kids go missing Reinhard thought it was just the place that would benefit from a project like Afghanistans Skateistan, where skateboarding is used as a medium to educate and empower girls. The idea first came to me in 2014, and by April 2015 the park was up and running, with the help of Skate-Aid, a German NGO, and 12 skateboarder volunteers from across seven countries, says Reinhard, who now lives in nearby Panna and commutes the 26 km to Janwar on her Royal Enfield. For some of the children, the park has also given them a confidence they didnt know they could have. Reinhard (centre) has begun to give her girls pivotal roles in the park and adjoining recreational space. (Vicky Roy) Funds were raised through a project that transformed skateboards into works of art. A total of 19 artboards were auctioned on eBay, and raised $16,000 (about Rs 10.6 lakh). Among the 12 volunteers who help build the park was Bangalore boy Gautam Kamath. It was a great experience, helping build the park, says the 29-year-old. Knowing that the cement we were working on in a freezing winter was going to be a place where children, irrespective of religion, age or caste, would get together to skateboard. Making it work Once the park opened, Reinhard encountered issues like men trying to drink, gamble and create a ruckus inside. I simply ignored them, Reinhard says. Soon enough, their own children were asking them to back off, and they did. Entrusting children to make their own decisions is at the heart of Janwaar Castles philosophy. I really love working with young kids because their minds have not been trained or poisoned by preconceived notions. Even if thats the case, its easier to reverse, says Reinhard. Reinhard thought Janwar was just the place that would benefit from a project like Afghanistans Skateistan, where skateboarding is used as a medium to educate and empower girls. (Vicky Roy) When the park first opened, for instance, curious Adivasi kids followed only a week after the other kids. They were still hesitant to try and share the boards, but it took very little for the divisions to melt away, at least within the park. One day we started by forming a circle and holding hands. There was an Adivasi girl in the circle and nobody wanted to take her hand. So I walked over and took one hand. A Yadav boy on the other side quickly took the other. The circle was closed. She was included, Reinhard says. Read: The wheels are turning- How Mumbais skateboarding scene took off For some of the children, the park has also given them a confidence they didnt know they could have. Asha Adivasi, 16, says she had begun to face lewd comments if she left the house on her own, and was soon stepping out only for school. Then she started skateboarding. As I kept getting better at my tricks, I started feeling more confident even outside the park. The village men dont scare me anymore, she says. To boost that confidence, Reinhard has begun to give her girls pivotal roles in the park and adjoining recreational space. Asha, for instance, has the keys to the 12 metal trunks that hold 20 skateboards, 6 Kindles, 4 tablet PCs and other study material. As she talks to HT over the phone, impatient children can be heard calling to her. I have to go, she says, laughing, Im already five minutes late. Watch the 101India short film, The Barefoot Skateboarders THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Direction: Antoine Fuqua Actors: Denzel Washington, Chris Patt, Ethan Hawke Rating: 2 / 5 The magnificence of the titular septet is barely discernible in this unwarranted update of the 1960 Western that was itself a remake of the 1954 Japanese classic Seven Samurai. While the Akira Kurosawa and John Sturges films were set in small rural villages in Japan and Mexico respectively, the latest iteration unfolds in a hardscrabble American frontier town, circa 1879. Borrowing the basic template from its progenitors, the run-of-the mill action-adventure zeroes in on seven sharp-shooters who saddle up to stop a tyrannical industrialist and his trigger-happy henchmen from terrorising the populace. Read: The Magnificent Seven is like a jazz band, says director Antoine Fuqua Collaborating with Antoine Fuqua for a third time, Denzel Washington, dressed in black from head to toe, is convincing in the first cowboy role of his career. The band of protectors is led by a taciturn bounty hunter (Denzel Washington). Undaunted by the overwhelming odds, he is also determined to ensure that a widow (Haley Bennett) gets retribution for her husbands murder at the hands of the arch-villain. Among the rest of the half-dozen disreputable hombres, theres a crack sniper (Ethan Hawke), a hard-drinking gambler (Chris Pratt) and a Bible-spouting tracker (the versatile Vincent DOnofrio). In a token nod to diversity a Mexican, a Comanche and an ace Chinese knife-thrower (South Korean actor Byung-hun Lee taking over the role immortalised by James Coburn in the 1960 film) are also thrown into the mix. Read: The Magnificent Seven could easily band together and defeat Trump- Ethan Hawke African-American director Antoine Fuqua (Southpaw) revels in nonstop carnage, especially in the protracted and noisy climactic shootout. Even the beleaguered widow turns out to be adept with a shotgun. To its credit, the film is superbly shot, in widescreen, on 35mm celluloid. Collaborating with Antoine Fuqua for a third time (after Training Day and The Equalizer) Washington, dressed in black from head to toe, is convincing in the first cowboy role of his career. Read: Denzel Washington never watched the original Magnificent Seven as a kid Peter Sarsgaard, though, is miscast as the baddie, a role which will be always associated with Eli Wallach in the Sturges movie. Recommended, but only for those unfamiliar with the more entertaining 1960 version. Watch the trailer for The Magnificent Seven ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Three trucker drivers in army-style fatigues caused some panic in Panvel on Saturday afternoon, two days after suspicious men were spotted in Mumbai.The men were temporarily detained, and later released after being verified. The incident happened near Gavhanphata when three Kashmiris were found near a container truck wearing army-styled uniforms. A passing group of Central Industrial Security Force troopers spotted the men and accosted them. Senior police inspector Sunil Bajare said the three were taken to the Panvel police station and questioned, where they explained that they were formerly soldiers but now worked for a truck company. They were on their way to deliver a consignment when they were taken in. Their credentials were later vouched for by an official from their company. Navi Mumbai Police commissioner Hemant Nagrale dismissed the case saying the three had been verified. The incident caused some unease coming on the heels of suspects being spotted by school students in Uran on Thursday, barely 30 km away in Panvel. Though police have been attempting to track the suspects, no headway has been made so far. Security vigilance was increased across Mumbai and along the Gujarat coast as a safety measure. Read | Kashmir: Army hunts for militants, finds two runaway teens from PoK India has also seen increased military action on its borders with Pakistan following last Sundays terror attack that claimed 18 soldiers lives in Uri. Since then, the army said it foiled more than two infiltration bids in northern Kashmir along the Line of Control. The Uri attack has become a major flashpoint between India and Pakistan, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi indirectly taking on Islamabad at a public rally in Kerala on Saturday. India also called on the international community to designate Pakistan as a sponsor of terrorism at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly. Also read | Modi goes beyond knee-jerk reaction to Uri as he harps on Paks vulnerabilities Following reports of Navi Mumbai police arresting the intruders who were allegedly spotted in Uran on Thursday, officials issued a statement denying such a development on Saturday. The police said a few people were questioned based on the sketches that were issued. However, those brought in for questioning were allowed to go after their identities were verified. The Uran operations are still underway and there has been no success so far, said Hemant Nagrale, Navi Mumbai police commissioner. He added that reports of three suspects being detained by Panvel police at Gavhan on Saturday are false. Another senior police official said the people in photos being circulated on social media, are labourers whose identity has been established by their employers. The police also asked people to refrain from spreading rumors. They appealed to the public to approach the police if they had information about the suspected intruders. The Navy called off their search in Uran and the surrounding coastal belt on Friday after sanitising the naval base and their area of operations The police also withdrew a part of the additional force deployed in the search operation. However, National Security Guard commandos are stil stationed in the area. Normalcy seemed to be returning to the fishing town of Uran, with shops andcommercial establishments reopening. Schools and colleges which have been shut since Friday, will resume after the weekend. Western Indias biggest naval base, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, fertiliser plants, refineries, power plants and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port are all located near Uran. (With agencies inputs) Armed assailants shot dead an officer of Nalanda police on the Bakhtiarpur-Patna expressway, four kilometres from the Fatuha police station on Saturday. The bullet-riddled body of the uniformed assistant sub-inspector, Ram Raj Choudhary, was found lying in a pool of blood. Choudhary was on his way to Manihari (Katihar) via Patna from the Telhara police station in Nalanda on a motorbike, which was found lying near the body. He was to board a train from Patna, but was accosted by the attackers at about 3 pm and shot twice in the head and shoulder. The assailants made away with his service revolver. Read | Rumblings in Bihar: RJD leaders take on Nitish over law and order Choudhary is the third Bihar police officer in recent months to be killed and have his service weapon robbed. A sub-inspector of the Maranchi police station, SK Thakur, was gunned down on April 18 on NH-30 near Gaurakshini, 3 km from the Barh police station. Another officer, Bhubaneshwar Prasad Singh, a resident of Nabinagar locality of Nawada district, was killed on March 16 near Madanchak village under Bind police station of Nalanda. His revolver was also missing. Patna and Nalanda police have failed to make any breakthrough in any of the murders. Chowdharys motorcycle, mobile phone and a bag was recovered from the spot, though a motive behind the murder is yet unknown. His body has been sent for post-mortem, and Patna SSP Manu Maharaaj has initiated investigations. Read | Rajdeo Ranjan, bureau chief of Hindustan, shot dead in Bihars Siwan Nalanda superintendent of police Kumar Ashish confirmed that Choudhary was posted at the Telhara police station for the last two and half years and was proceeding on leave at the time of the incident. Patna inspector general NH Khan said a 10-member joint special investigation team of Patna-Nalanda police has been formed with three deputy superintendents of police to unravel the case with DIG central range Shalin as the in-charge. Its a challenge to us and we will investigate the two earlier, but similar, cases. I will monitor the case on a regular basis, Khan said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A day after Pankaj Sapra, son of the owner of Hotel Friends Regency, was booked for abetment to suicide of 27-year-old Ridhima Mahajan, her father has alleged that his daughter was murdered by Sapra and she did not commit suicide as made out by police. Ridhimas family has also alleged that Sapra forced her to write the suicide note that was later recovered from an almirah. The Symbiosis MBA was found dead in her room by her fathers friend on September 9 when her family members were away in Rajasthan. Police said she had consumed celphos tablets. Nine-year relationship with Pankaj Sapra The FIR states that Ridhima had a nine-year-old relationship with the accused Pankaj Sapra, and allegedly consumed the celphos tablets because she was upset over constantly being harassed by Sapra. According to father Anil Mahajans statement, Ridhima had an affair with Sham Lal Sapras son Pankaj, residents of Sarabha Nagar. Both the families were mulling marriage, but Sham Lal was against the union. He further stated that he then got his daughter engaged to a Ludhiana resident three years ago. When Pankaj got wind of this, he visited their house with his mother and sister and assured them that he will try to convince Sham Lal. Ridhimas engagement was called off as a result. However, Sham Lal wouldnt budge from his stand. He told Mahajan that he belonged to the higher strata of society and that they had no status in front of them, Mahajan stated in his complaint. Shocked, Mahajan again got his daughter engaged to a Jalandhar resident. Pankaj called that boys parents and told them of his long relationship with Ridhima. That engagement was called off as well. Mahajan has stated, Neither did he marry my daughter nor did he let her marry anywhere else. CCTV footage tells another story The family left for Rajasthan on September 7 leaving Ridhima alone at home. After getting no response from Ridhima because her phone was switched off, her father sent his friend to check on her. When he broke open the door, he saw Ridhima lying dead inside her room. Mahajan said, We checked the CCTV footage and found that Pankaj and his friend had entered the house at 10.19 pm and exited at 11.30pm on the intervening night of September 8 and 9. One of his friends was also spotted scaling the wall of our house in the footage. I am sure Pankaj gave the celphos tablets to my daughter as she could not have committed suicide. Inspector Jagdeep Singh, who is investigating the case, said, they have only booked Pankaj and efforts were on to arrest him. We will examine the role of the remaining family members accordingly,he said. Punjab local bodies minister Anil Joshi said here on Friday that they managed to get the holy city included in the list of smart cities along with Ludhiana and Jalandhar by ensuring that Mohali was mingled with Chandigarh under the metro city concept like Delhi and Mumbai. The minister was briefing the media about the development along with chief executive officer (CEO) of Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PMIDC) Balamurugan and municipal corporation commissioner Sonali Giri. Joshi said Amritsar was not in the list of 100 potential cities to be developed as smart cities. Being a representative of Amritsar residents, who elected me as a legislator twice, it was my duty to ensure the city was included in the list of smart cities, he said. First, we got the city included in the list, then ensured its place in the 27 cities, which have been selected for development under the mission during the second phase, thanks to urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu and finance minister Arun Jaitley, he said. As three cities of Punjab were to be selected under the smart city project, Mohali, Ludhiana and Jalandhar were being named for this. To replace Mohali with Amritsar, we suggested excluding Mohali from the list of these three cities and including Amritsar. Persistent efforts of my department and cooperation of the residents also played a crucial role in attaining this, he elaborated. Replying to a query as to why Amritsar was not considered under this mission at the first stage, Balamurgan said there were some reforms to be practiced here, due to which it was being deprived of this status. SPV to eb set up for execution Detailing the blueprint, the minister said as per the Union government guidelines, a special purpose vehicle (SPV), a company registered under the companies Act, shall be established in the city, which shall carry out the implementation of the Smart City proposal. The MC commissioner will act as the chief executive officer (CEO) of this company. He said under the project, development shall be carried out at two levels. The first is the pan city level for selected areas of the city and under the second level, walled city areas (950 acres) have been selected for retrofitting and redevelopment through desk research, analysis, meetings with public representatives including prominent citizens, he said. Notably, mayor Bakhshi Ram Arora was not present in the press conference, though the civic body is an integral part in the execution of the project. The much awaited medical report of DAV Class 8 student Atharva Gupta, who is admitted in DMCH since September 8 after he allegedly jumped off the fifth floor states that he has suffered grievous injuries. Till now, delay in receiving medical report was being cited as the reason by the police for not imposing stringent sections in the first information report (FIR) registered against four teachers and the principal of the school. The incident had led to a furore with parents and relatives of Atharva demanding that the accused teachers be booked in an attempt to murder case. As per the FIR, the four teachers of the school and the principal have been booked for causing hurt, criminal intimidation and wrongful restraint. Parents of other students of the school supporting Atharva Gupta met additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP) 3 Rattan Singh Brar on Friday, who assured that action against the accused teachers of the school will be taken within two to three days. Brar said that they are examining the report and will take action accordingly.Maternal uncle of Atharva along with parents and Student Organisation of India (SOI) members had come to the office of ADCP to meet him at 1 pm. However, the officer reached at 2 pm after which he was surrounded by the supporters demanding strict action against DAV public school authorities. SOI zonal president Meetpal Singh Dugri had arranged the meeting of parents with Brar so that clarity into the case could be brought out. Dugri told Brar that anxiety among other parents was increasing by the day as there was no action against the school authorities. Dugri said that the parents contacted him often to ask how the case could be pursued. Dugri said that he would keep on pursuing the case till the culprits are put behind bars. Police has already booked the principal and four teachers of DAV Public School on Atharvas fathers complaint. The case Atharva Gupta, a student of Class 8 of DAV Public School, Pakhowal Road, had allegedly jumped off the fifth floor of the school building after being beaten up by the school teacher for talking to another girl student. The ailing student had been on ventilator in his initial days is undergoing treatment at DMC hospital and recorded his statements before the police on September 19 and said he didnt jump off the building. He said he was beaten up mercilessly in a room following which he fainted. Must read | Did not jump, says Atharva Gupta; records statement with police Lighter penalties given till October if telecom fraud criminals turn themselves in Photo taken in Guangzhou on Spet 2 shows police walk the 129 Chinese telecom fraud suspects down from a flight from Armenia. [Photo: Xinhua/Liang Xu] A joint notice issued on Friday offered criminals involved in the telecom fraud lighter penalties as long as they turned themselves in to the Chinese authorities before the end of October. The notice was issued by the six top Chinese authorities, including The Supreme Court, The Supreme Procuratorate, the Ministry of Public Security, China's central bank, and China's Banking Regulatory Commission. All persons engaging in the illegal telecom fraud will face smaller sentences if they turn themselves in and cooperate with the police. Offenders have to cooperate with police until the end of October. Those who continue pursuing fraud activity will face severe consequences. Law authorities will accelerate investigations into phone fraud cases, hoping to curb the increasing amount of cases throughout the China. More measures are being carried out to ensure the safety of citizens in utilizing cell phones and money transitions. Phone users are now required to provide their personal ID card when obtaining a mobile number and no one can hold more than five phone numbers. Three major telecom companies launched a cleanup campaign targeting unregistered phone numbers. They plan to ensure all phone numbers are registered before the coming year. Commercial banks have been asked to look into any illegal bank cards they may have issued. Bankcard holders generally cannot hold more than four cards from one bank. Chinese authorities will continue to pursue illegal sales of personal information in order to prevent more telecom crimes. Slamming the Congress for politicising issues concerning the peace and harmony in the state, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal said it was unfortunate that the party was politicising the killing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Brig Gagneja for electoral gains. Interacting with mediapersons after offering condolences to Gagnejas family, the chief minister said the Congress has a notorious track record of dividing people on communal lines for attaining power in the state. Must read | Gagneja probe never really took off, Punjab Police admit now Paying tributes to the slain leader, Badal described Gagneja as a suave leader who was committed to the welfare of the masses. He said the death of Brig Gagneja was a huge personal loss for him as he shared cordial ties with him. When asked why the police failed to get a clue about the Gagnejas killers in the 18-day investigation into the case, Badal declined to comment, saying the CBI was probing the case. The CM assured the Gagneja family all possible help. Every Punjabi is indebted to the unparalleled sacrifice made by Brig Gagneja, he said. Legislator KD Bhandari, chairman Kapurthala district planning committee Sarabjeet Singh Makkar, SGPC member Paramjit Singh Raipur and DGP Suresh Arora were present. The meter-reversing scam in Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) became bigger on Friday when another module tampering with computerised bills was busted and three more employees were suspended. Nine employees have been suspended, so far, and now two retired officials also found involved. The corporation has recommended an FIR (first-information report) against all 11. The scam is on since 2013. Accounts officer Vipin Kumar Matharu was suspended because in four cases, including one of a commercial venture, meter readings were reversed to benefit consumers. Junior engineer Ashok Kumar and revenue accountant Rajesh Sharma, both retired, along with clerk Pradeep Kumar Mittal and circle assistant Jaswinder Singh are also alleged to be involved. Matharu, Jaswinder Singh, and Kumar have been suspended with immediate effect. Matharu was named twice, first in 2014 and then in a fresh report to chairman-and-managing director (CMD) KD Chaudhri. Mittal is suspended since HT busted the scam. Subdivisional officer (SDO) Naveet Gupta, junior engineer Devinder Kumar, clerk Renu Nagra, and technical officials Vikas Tangri, Jang Singh, and Inderdhian Singh were suspended along with him and recommended for cyber-crime case. PSPCL director (distribution) KL Sharma confirmed that he had issued the suspension orders. We introduced information technology to check theft and revenue leakage but some employees defeated the purpose, he said. An FIR will send a strong message out. After more reports of meter reversal, the CMD has asked the director (distribution) to monitor the investigation personally. He called chief engineers for a meeting and told them to pass on the warning to field workers. Modus operandi Consumers were asked not to deposit bimonthly bills based on actual reading taken on the spot by billing machines. Even after a year, their connections were not disconnected. Later, employees reversed the meter reading on the server to reduce these power bills for lakhs of rupees to just a few thousand bucks. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Governor of Puducherry Dr Kiran Bedi on Friday asked Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to make compulsory an examination in patriotism and cultural learning in the education system of the state. Bedi, who was addressing a gathering at the 4th national seminar on the life, vision and ideology of the visionary leader, Bharat Ratna awardee Dr BR Ambedkar, on his 125th birth anniversary at Guru Nanak Dev University, stated that it should not be classroom learning, but this examination should be based on self-education for which a student from a primary school level till the university level should study on his own and a degree should be given only if he clears this examination. Bedi said, There are many personalities, who are an inspiration to us but, unfortunately, people have failed to read about them, especially the youth, who are going away from libraries. So, I would want the deputy CM to announce that this patriotic and cultural learning will be part of the education system from the coming academic session. Bedi, speaking on the Swacchh Bharat Abhiyan, told the vice-chancellor (V-C)of Guru Nanak Dev University AS Brar that there was no use of numbers and positions till the university and its students participate in in the abhiyan. Jab tak aap yeh nahi karte, aap paas nai hai saab (till the time you dont do this, you are not considered pass, Sir), she told the V-C, who just nodded his head. Though Bedi repeatedly asked Sukhbir to announce this in front of the entire media, but he remained seated. He, however, he raised his hand and nodded his head to acknowledge that it would be done. Dr BR Ambedkar once said, They cannot make history, who forget history. Thus if we are celebrating his 125th anniversary, it is important to implement and abide by his thoughts and vision, said Bedi, who also apprised hundreds of students about his law- abiding nature. World Kabaddi Cup dedicated to Ambedkar Speaking on the occasion, Sukhbir said that the university should regularly organise such informative seminars on biographies of great leaders as seminars can narrate the rich history and culture of the nation and the state. Coming back to the contribution of Ambedkar, Sukhbir said, He immensely contributed in framing the Constitution of India, where he stood like a pillar for the rights of the common man and made sure no discrimination was done on the basis of caste, creed and religion. One should learn from his vision. He said that Punjab is the only state which has implemented his ideology in the best way as even during the emergency era, people of Punjab stayed united and even today they stand and live with each other. The deputy chief minister also announced that the forthcoming World Kabaddi Cup, which is to be held in November, would be titled as Dr Ambedkar World Kabaddi Cup. He also said that 2,600 free medicine shops in the state would also be named after Dr Ambedkar. In the backdrop of the death of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader brigadier Jagdish Gagneja (retired) on Thursday, 47 days after being shot at here, the Congress has demanded Presidents Rule in state, alleging governments failure to maintain law and order. The Gagneja case remains unsolved. Senior Congress leader Sunil Jhakar condemned the ruling alliance for it during a press conference here on Friday. (Deputy chief minister) Sukhbir Singh Badal (who also holds the home portfolio) said Punjab Police had valuable proof... and the culprit will be arrested in 24 hours, said Jakhar. But Thursdays media reports expose the lies of this government. Police had nothing except security-camera footage, in which the assailants have their faces covered. Also read | CM visits Gagneja family, targets Congress for politicising issue Jakhar asked Sukhbir to resign and said the Punjab Congress will go to the governor to demand the Presidents Rule. On August 6, two men came in on a motorcycle to fire upon Gagneja near Jyoti Chowk here. At Ludhianas DMC Heart Institute, he died during treatment on Thursday morning. Moving the case to the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) was a measure of the faith that the Bharatiya Janata Party had in its alliance partner in the state, Jakhar hinted. Must read | Gagneja probe never really took off, Punjab Police admit now People who ride a two-wheeler in Patiala, by covering their face to save themselves from dust or to avoid tanning due to sunlight need to beware, as it will now invite a police action against them. The orders for imposing the ban were issued by the Patiala district magistrate (DM), under Section 144 (power to issue order in urgent cases of nuisance of apprehended danger) of the CrPC; and the orders are in force till November 8. With the DMs orders in hand, the Lahori Gate police have taken the initiative in such cases. They have arrested three bikers in two days, who were riding two-wheelers by covering their faces. The arrested persons have been identified as Manoj Singh and Gurkirat Singh; while Balwinder Singh was nabbed on Thursday. The violators are being booked by the traffic police under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). As the offence is bailable, all the violators were released on bail by the police. Was becoming shield for criminals Citing covering of face, tact of the miscreants to avoid identification while executing the crime, the local police have urged the Patiala DM to issue orders against it. DM Ramvir said, In view of some criminal activities, in which masked miscreants were involved, the police urged us to issue ban orders on covering the face while driving. Soft on women Station house officer (SHO) GS Sikand said that by covering their faces, the criminals slip away from the eyes of CCTV cameras, after executing a crime. As most of the people are not aware of the ban orders, we let women violators go by issuing a warning. But if anybody is riding a bike by covering face, it is violation of law, he said. Usually anti-social elements cover their faces while executing crime, and it becomes difficult for the police to trace them, he added. Former Gurdaspur superintendent of police (SP) Salwinder Singh, accused of faking his kidnapping during the terror attack on the Pathankot airbase in January, was denied anticipatory bail by the Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday in a rape-and-corruption case registered on August 3. Salwinder Singh is accused of exploiting a woman physically and seeking Rs 50,000, both for dropping rape charges against her husband. The SP denied the allegations and submitted that the woman had been changing her statement. The womans husband made the complaint in Gurdaspur two years ago. In August, the SP was booked under Section 376-C (rape by a public servant after taking advantage of his official position) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act. The charges were investigated twice after being reported to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal during a sangat darshan (public contact) programme in 2014. Salwinder Singh received a clean chit in the first inquiry but the Pathankot SP found him guilty in the next. Punjab additional advocate general Aditya Sanghi submitted in the court on Friday that the woman had reiterated the allegations before a judicial magistrate and, if let off on bail, the SP could tamper with evidence. He produced a transcript of the telephone conversation between the SP and the woman, in which he is demanding the bribe. Now assistant commandant of the 75th battalion of Punjab Armed Police (PAP), the officer has told National Investigation Agency that Pakistani terrorists took over his car and kidnapped him along with his cook and a jeweller friend before they raided the airbase in January. Even after local MLA Saroop Chand Singla assured shifting of solid waste treatment plant (SWTP) from residential area, the consortium of residents have decided to sit on protest for indefinite period from October 1 onwards. Jit Singh Joshi, convener of Kuda Dump Hatao Morcha, said the administration and local MLA were playing double standard over the issue, as on one side, they were passing resolutions, but on the other side, the plant management was installing chimneys in the plant. We will start protest for indefinite period from October 1 and two of the residents have also proposed to sit on hunger strike unto death, said Joshi. On September 21, Singla had brought supplementary agenda before corporations general House regarding land purchase for shifting the plant. The House has already passed a resolution to shift the project. He added the delegation of residents had met deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal thrice but nothing came out of these meetings. The administration must stop plants operations completely, besides initiating procedure to shift the plant at the earliest, Joshi said. The consortium had already decided to boycott SAD-BJP candidate in assembly elections, if government fails to consider its demand of shifting the project. Started as a pilot project at Badals home turf, the SWTP faced public ire a week after it started operations on trial basis in January this year. The foul odour emanating from the plant had forced the management to stop treatment of solid waste with immediate effect then. The NGT had given environment clearance for the plant in 2014, but the plant which is being operated by New Delhi based JITF Urban Waste Management Company, is creating nuisance in nearby areas. Presently, the plant is only treating 100 tonnes of solid waste collected from Bathinda city. As per the project, the plant was supposed to get waste from 18 municipalities and treat at least 350 tonnes of waste. Online travel and booking site TripAdvisor has come up with a list of the most popular wine tours among its users to help travelers choose a package that comes with a stamp of a consumer approval. Lovers of French wine, for instance, may want to sign up with Rustic Vines in Bordeaux which is the top-ranked wine tour in France on the TripAdvisor list, with a five out of five bubble rating among its 519 reviews. Many reviews complimented Rustic Vines in Bordeaux for informative, friendly guides, the leisurely pace and wine and cheese picnic amidst the French vineyards. (TripAdvisor) Their Napoleon Tour takes guests out of Bordeaux to the wine-growing region of Medoc, where theyll visit two Chateaux for wine tastings and an outdoor picnic. Their Famous Monk Tour also features visits to two Chateaux in another famous wine-growing region, Saint Emilion. Many reviews complimented the outfit for informative, friendly guides, the leisurely pace and wine and cheese picnic amidst the French vineyards. One of the more interesting wine tours highlighted outside of Europe is Cairn OMohr Fruit Wines in Scotland, a country known more for whiskies than wine. The Cairn OMohr Fruit Wines in Scotland has been brewing fruit juice-based wines and ciders using local berries, wild flowers, fruits and leaves since 1987 and offers guided tours that include generous samples. (Facebook) But the tour also boasts a five out of five bubble rating among its 478 reviews. The winery has been brewing fruit juice-based wines and ciders using local berries, wild flowers, fruits and leaves since 1987 and offers guided tours that include generous samples. Here are a few other the top-rated wine circuits among TripAdvisor users: 1. The Gourmet Madrid Tour, Madrid, Spain 2. Tuscan Wine Tours by Grape Tours, Florence, Italy Wine lovers during the Tuscan Wine Tour by Grape Tour, Florence. 3. Santorini Wine Adventure Tours, Santorini, Greece The picturesque setting of the Santorini Wine Adventure Tours. 4. Cooltour Oporto, Porto, Portugal Cooltour Oporto, Porto, Portugal. In France: 1. Rustic Vines, Bordeaux, Aquitaine 2. Provence Wine Tours, Marseille, Provence 3. Vin en Vacances - Day Tours, Carcassonne, Languedoc-Roussillon 4. Bourgogne Gold Tour, Beaune, Bourgogne 5. OVineyards, Villemoustaussou, Languedoc-Roussillon 6. Authentica Tours, Dijon, Bourgogne 7. Bordovino Wine Tasting Day Tours, Bordeaux, Aquitaine 8. Bordeaux with Elodie - Day Tours, Bordeaux, Aquitaine 9. Ophorus Bordeaux Wine Day Tours, Bordeaux, Aquitaine 10. Provence and Wine, Avignon, Provence A 3-year-old boy is being dubbed as Mowgli after miraculously surviving three days in a remote forest in Russias Siberia, braving near-freezing temperatures and a woodland teaming with wolves and bears. Tserin Dopchut survived by eating his own supply of chocolate and on his good sense finding a dry makeshift bed under a larch tree. His rescue was personally announced by the head of Tuva Republic, Sholban Kara-Ool, who blogged: Hurray! Little Tserin has been found alive! They discovered him earlier this morning after a search in the taiga some 3 kilometres from the village of Khut, he was quoted as saying by the Siberian Times. A huge search had been launched for the boy who disappeared after playing with dogs near his family home in the forests of Piy-Khemsky district. He may have followed a young puppy into the woodland despite the watchful eye of his great grandmother -- who was in charge of him when he was lost. He was eventually found on Wednesday after 72 hours in the wilderness. A huge search had been launched for the boy who disappeared after playing with dogs near his family home in the forests of Piy-Khemsky district. (REUTERS) More than 100 people including Russian Emergency Ministrys rescuers, police, volunteers, as well as close and distant family members joined the frantic hunt. A helicopter also flew over a search area of some 120 square km. Regional emergencies chief Ayas Saryglar said, Of course, the situation was very dangerous. The River Mynas is fast and cold. If a small child fell in, it would be certain death. There are wolves, and bears in the forest. The bears are now fattening for the winter. They can attack anything that moves. In addition, it is warm during the day, but at night there are even frosts. If we consider that the kid disappeared during the day, he was not properly dressed -- only a shirt and shoes, no coat, he said. Regional head Kara-Ool said, He (the boy) recognised his uncles voice calling his name, and called back. Once his uncle hugged him, the little boy asked if his toy car was okay. He said that he had some chocolate which he ate during the first day. Then he found a dry place under a larch tree and slept there between the roots. The whole village is throwing a party to celebrate his survival. He was given the second name of Mowgli, Kara-Ool said. Searches had gone on day and night. His home village Khut has a population of around 400. There are 63 houses, and locals all joined together to hunt for the missing child. Doctors say he has suffered no serious damage from his ordeal. HAVANA, Sept. 24 -- China-Cuba ties spearhead China-Latin America relations and were made a model of solidarity and cooperation among developing countries, Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Zhang Tuo told Xinhua recently prior to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Cuba. At the invitation of President of the Cuban Council of State and Council of Ministers Raul Castro Ruz, Li, accompanied by his wife Cheng Hong, will begin an official visit to the Caribbean island country on Saturday. This is the first official visit by a Chinese premier to Cuba since the founding of People's Republic of China in 1949. In the interview, Zhang said that China and Cuba have learnt from each other on the path of building socialism with their respective characteristics, have exchanged experience in governance in an increasingly in-depth way, have supported each other on issues concerning their core interests, and have formed an intimate relationship as "good friends, good comrades and good brothers." Chinese and Cuban leaders have maintained frequent exchanges and established profound friendship, Zhang noted, saying both Cuba's revolutionary leader Fidel Castro and the current leader Raul Castro Ruz visited China many times and are old friends of the Chinese people. Meanwhile, the Caribbean country is one of Latin American countries most frequently visited by Chinese Communist Party and government leaders. In particular, during a visit to Cuba by Chinese President Xi Jinping in July 2014, Xi and Raul Castro Ruz exchanged opinions on bilateral relations, governance and other subjects in an in-depth way, jointly drawing a blueprint for future development of relations between the two countries, Zhang said. The high-level political relations are gradually turned into fruits of multi-level and multi-field trade and economic cooperation, the ambassador said. For consecutive years, China has been Cuba's second largest trading partner and an important economic cooperation partner, while Cuba is China's largest trading partner in the Caribbean region. In recent years, China has made new breakthrough in fields like investment and project contracting in Cuba, and has extended cooperation projects into such fields as port reconstruction, tourism development, industrial infrastructure construction, etc in an orderly way, Zhang said. With Cuba actively integrating itself into the international community and vigorously promoting the process of updating its economic growth mode, the two countries are expected to launch greater bilateral cooperation focused on such fields like infrastructure, agriculture, renewable energy, biotechnology and others, Zhang said. Tourism is expected to become a new highlight in future cooperation, Zhang said, adding that Chinese people have always been fascinated by Cuba's unique customs and culture. Direct flights from Beijing to Havana, officially launched last year, have become the first direct flights operated by Chinese air companies to the Caribbean region, significantly facilitating personnel exchanges, he said. Moreover, people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have been in the interest of both peoples, and educational cooperation has been on the rise, said the ambassador, who has worked in Cuba for more than four years. In recent years, thousands of Chinese students have received scholarships from the Cuban government and have studied there the Spanish language, medicine, tourism, education and so on, according to Zhang. Meanwhile, the number of overseas Chinese students in Cuba at their own expense has also increased. Cuba has become an important base for Spanish-language human resources training for China, while more and more Cuban people are becoming interested in learning the Chinese language, he said. Zhang concluded that both China and Cuba hope to enhance their friendship and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in the interest of both peoples as a result of Li's visit to Cuba. Baloch nationalists -- along with the Indian-American community members -- staged a protest outside Pakistans Consulate here against state-sponsored terrorism. Holding placards and shouting slogans against Pakistan for human rights violations, abduction and killings of civilians and rape of women, protestors condemned the recent dastardly and cowardly act of Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack in Uri. Many protesters, mostly American Friends of Balochistan activists and Indian-Americans, carried placards highlighting the oppression of minorities, women and children in Pakistan and urged the US government to stop funding Pakistan. A placard held by a soldier described Pakistan as the Ivy League of Terrorism. Two days ago, first secretary in the permanent mission of India to the UN, Eenam Gambhir, had said that the land of Taxila, one of the learning centres of ancient times, is now host to the Ivy league of terrorism and attracts aspirants and apprentices from all over the world. The protest event ended with the gathering singing the national anthems of the US and India. The attack was carried out by banned terror group Jaish- e-Mohammed with the active support of Pakistani army and ISI, it is high time that those at helm consider it as an act of war by Pakistan against India, activist Achalesh Amar said. The protest came after Congressman Ted Poe, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, along with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, introduced a bill in the US House of Representatives to designate Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism. It is time we stop paying Pakistan for its betrayal and designate it for what it is, a state sponsor of terrorism, Congressman Poe had said after introducing the bill. 18 soldiers were killed when militants attacked an army camp in Uri in Kashmir on Sunday morning. Heavy Syrian and Russian air strikes on rebel-held eastern areas of Aleppo city killed at least 25 civilians on Saturday, a monitor said, overwhelming doctors and rescue workers. The toll was expected to rise because people remained trapped under rubble, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The intense raids continued for a second night, after Damascus announced an operation late Thursday to recapture all of the city. Seven people were killed in a strike on the Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood as they queued to buy yoghurt at a market. Bustan al-Qasr is along the frontline that divides the government-held west from the rebel-held east of the city. The attack left a pool of blood and bodyparts strewn at the site, according to an AFP correspondent. On Friday at least 47 people were killed in heavy bombing, among them seven children, according to the Observatory. There was massive destruction in several neighbourhoods, including Al-Kalasseh and Bustan al-Qasr, where some streets were almost erased by the bombardment. Unexploded rockets were still buried in the roads in some areas, and elsewhere enormous craters around five metres deep and wide had been left by the bombing. Residents and activists described the use of a missile that produced earthquake-like tremors upon impact and razed buildings right down to the basement level where many residents desperately seek protection during bombing. The civil defence organisation known as the White Helmets was left overwhelmed by the scale of the destruction, particularly after several of its bases were damaged in bombing on Friday. The group says it has just two fire engines left for all of east Aleppo which, like its ambulances, are struggling to move around the city. With no electricity or fuel for generators, the streets of Aleppo are pitch black and difficult to navigate at night, and the fuel shortage has also made it tough to fill up vehicles. In many places, rubble strewn across streets has rendered them impassable and has effectively sealed off neighbourhoods to traffic. On Saturday morning, the streets were nearly empty, with just a few residents out looking for bread. The approximately 250,000 people in east Aleppo have been under near-continuous siege since government troops encircled the area in mid-July. A truce deal negotiated between Moscow and Washington brought a few days of respite from the violence, though no humanitarian aid, earlier this month. But the deal has fallen apart, and on Thursday the Syrian army announced an operation to retake all of Aleppo, urging civilians in the east to distance themselves from terrorists and promising them safe passage to government-controlled areas. China has assured Pakistan of its support in the event of any foreign aggression and also supported the countrys stance on the Kashmir dispute, a media report said. Beijing conveyed the message during a meeting of its top diplomat in the provincial capital with Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif, the Dawn reported. In case of any (foreign) aggression our country will extend its full support to Pakistan, consul general of China in Lahore Yu Boren said in a press release by the Punjab chief ministers office. We are and will be siding with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. There is no justification for atrocities on unarmed Kashmiris in (India)-held Kashmir and the Kashmir dispute should be solved in accordance with aspirations of the Kashmiris, the report quoted Yu as saying. Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising after the September 18 terror attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers. India has blamed the attack on militants from Pakistan which has rejected allegations of its involvement. Yu, who called on Shahbaz Sharif yesterday to felicitate him on his 65th birthday, discussed with him the situation developing in Kashmir and the progress being made on various projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). A portion of the US $46 billion CPEC passes through a part of the disputed region because of which India has raised objections over the project. Confusion persisted on Saturday regarding the venue of the first Russia-Pakistan military exercise despite a statement from the Russian embassy in New Delhi that the drill would not be held in a sensitive or problematic area such as Gilgit-Baltistan. Sources in Islamabad told Hindustan Times that there had been no change in plans for the drill to be held at the Pakistan Armys High Altitude School at Rattu in Gilgit-Baltistan and a special forces training centre at Cherat in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. The exercise is going ahead at Rattu. The Russian unit that has come is one that specializes in mountain warfare in terrain such as that found in Rattu, a source said. Adding to the confusion was a post on the drill on the Russian defence ministrys website in the section exercises, which clearly said: Friendship-2016, Russian-Pakistani tactic exercise, is held in the territory of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in at the bases of Rattu, the military mountain training school, and a training center of the special units in Cherat on September 24 October 10. Sources said this post on the Russian defence ministrys website had also been shared with journalists in Islamabad. A post in the news section of the Russian defence ministrys website announced that the Russian troops had arrived for the exercise but gave no details of the venue of the drill. Read: How Russia changed its stance on military drill with Pakistan The influential Dawn newspaper too reported that the exercise would be held at Rattu in Gilgit-Baltistan and Cherat. The exercises will be held at Cherat where the Special Services Group, the commando division of the Pakistan Army, is headquartered and where the Special Operations School is also located and at the Army High Altitude School in Rattu, Astore district, said the report on the papers back page. The war games gained added significance after India advised Russia against holding drills in Pakistan. Importantly, these are being held at a time when tensions between India and Pakistan have climaxed in the aftermath of the Uri terrorist attack. Indian media had been claiming that Moscow agreed to call off the exercises, the report added. After India repeatedly expressed its concerns about the plans to hold the drill in Gilgit-Baltistan, which was part of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state and is claimed by India, the Russian embassy in New Delhi issued a statement late on Friday night that said the drill would not be held in a sensitive or problematic area. Contrary to some reports appearing in a section of the press, the Russia-Pakistan antiterror exercise is not being held and will not be held in any point of so-called Azad Kashmir or in any other sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit and Baltistan, the statement said. The only venue of the exercise is Cherat. All reports alleging the drills taking place at the High Altitude Military School in Rattu are erroneous and mischievous, it added. Significantly, the Russian defence ministrys statement described Rattu as part of the territory of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. About 70 soldiers from a mountain motorised rifle brigade of Russias Southern Military Division are taking part in the exercise. The drill is aimed at improving cooperation while performing assigned tasks in mountains, including ones aimed at eliminating illegal armed groups, the Russian ministry said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Four women and a man were killed on Friday night by an unidentified man at a shopping mall near Seattle in Washington state in yet another instance of mass shooting in the United States. The gunman, who was described by authorities as a Hispanic man, was still at large. Though he was caught on surveillance footage, he had not been identified and his links to the victims were not known. The killings took place in the Macys retail store at Cascade Mall in Burlington, which is 105 km from Seattle. The gunman was last seen leaving the premises. An image taken from security video shows the gunman who opened fire in the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington on Friday night. (REUTERS) In 2016 alone, 311 Americans died in mass shootings, each involving four or more victims killed or wounded, in the country, which continues to debate gun control, stumbling from one incident to the next. President Barack Obama has raged, ranted and teared up publicly, after the killing of 26 people, including 20 sixth-graders in Newtown, in frustration. A powerful gun lobby led by the National Rifle Association has managed to kill every move made in the direction of even the smallest measure of control, such as a comprehensive background check of proactive buyers to prevent weapons, some of them as lethal as those used by the military, from falling into the wrong hands. Citing Gun Violence Archive, which tracks shootings, the Seattle Times said the mall incident was the seventh case of mass shooting in Washington state in 2016. The shooter was carrying a weapon similar to a hunting rifle, according to local police, who also tweeted out a blurry image of him grabbed from surveillance footage. They added that they believed he was acting alone. North Koreas foreign minister has told the United Nations that going nuclear is his countrys only way to defend itself and vowed to further bolster its nuclear military forces. Speaking to the General Assembly, Ri Yong-ho on Saturday said his country will continue to take measures to strengthen its national nuclear armed forces in both quantity and quality. He spoke just two weeks after North Koreas fifth and most powerful nuclear test provoked worldwide condemnation, prompting the UN Security Council to begin work on a new sanctions resolution. Going nuclear armed is the policy of our state, Ri, who has been foreign minister since May, told the world gathering. As long as there exists a nuclear weapon state in hostile relations with the DPRK (North Korea), our national security and the peace on the Korean peninsula can be defended only with reliable nuclear deterrence, he said. North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests and test-fired more than 20 missiles this year alone. Read: North Korea ready to counter-attack against US provocation, constant threats After the latest blast on September 9, Pyongyang claimed it had significantly advanced its ability and tested a miniaturised nuclear bomb for a warhead that could be mounted on a missile. In his address, Ri acknowledged that the nuclear tests may not be easily understood by European countries, which he said were now less sensitive to security concerns decades after the end of the Cold War. But the foreign minister described the nuclear explosions as practical countermeasures against the United States and a demonstration of the strongest-ever will of North Koreas ruling party and people. Japan and South Korea used their addresses at the General Assembly this week to raise alarm bells over the threat from North Korea. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe demanded that the world find a new way to confront Pyongyang after a decade of UN sanctions failed to change its behaviour. The threat to the international community has become increasingly grave and all the more realistic, he said Wednesday. It demands a new means of addressing it, altogether different from what we applied until yesterday. South Koreas Foreign Minister Yung Byung-se suggested that the North could be stripped of its status as a member of the United Nations for refusing to accept the Security Councils decisions. I believe it is high time to seriously reconsider whether North Korea is qualified as a peace-loving UN member, he said in his address on Thursday. Read: South Korea says time to reconsider North Koreas UN membership However, such a proposal is likely to be opposed by China, Pyongyangs ally, which has repeatedly called for a de-escalation of tensions. North Koreas membership in the United Nations -- the only major international forum where Pyongyang has a voice -- dates back 35 years to when the two Koreas were admitted simultaneously. Shortly before 11 am on Friday, Pakistans chief military spokesman Lt Gen Asim Bajwa tweeted that a contingent of Russian troops had arrived in Rawalpindi for the first military exercise between the two Cold War rivals. This was good news for Pakistan, coming as it did days after several Indian TV news channels had reported that New Delhi had prevailed on Moscow to call off the two-week-long Druzhba 2016 (Friendship 2016) drill in the aftermath of the terror attack on an Indian Army camp at Uri that killed 18 soldiers. A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived Pak for 1st ever Pak- Russian joint exercise (2 weeks) from 24 Sep to 10 Oct 2016 pic.twitter.com/eWzQMlENL6 Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 23, 2016 Hours after the Russian troops flew into a military airbase in Rawalpindi, Russias state-run Tass news agency quoted a statement issued by the Russian Southern Military Commands press service that said: The opening ceremony of the Friendship 2016 drills will take place on September 24 at Pakistan Armys High Altitude School in Rattu, Gilgit-Baltistan. This wasnt good news for India because Gilgit-Baltistan was part of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state and territory claimed by India. For Pakistan to conduct a major military exercise with foreign troops in the territory could be perceived as a big diplomatic win. Since the Friendship 2016 drill was first announced by Russia on January 22 this year, reports in the Russian and Pakistani media had said that it would be conducted at the High Altitude School in Gilgit-Baltistan and a special forces training centre at Cherat in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. India repeatedly brought up its concerns about the venue of the exercise with Russia. External affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup told a news briefing on Thurdsday that Gilgit-Baltistan was part of Indian territory and Indias well known sensitivities had been conveyed to Russia, including at a meeting of the Inter-Governmental Commission in New Delhi on September 13. Read| Pakistan cancels flights to Gilgit-Baltistan amid tensions with India Such sleight of hand by Pakistan as far as territories in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir is concerned is not unknown. After all, the military standoff on Siachen, which began in 1984, was triggered by Pakistan giving permission to foreign expeditions to access the glacier as part of a strategy to claim the territory. As the media reported the launch of the Pakistan-Russia drill, New Delhi would have reiterated its concerns to Moscow. This resulted in two things. At around 9.30 pm on Friday, the Russian embassy in New Delhi issued a statement that said the drill wouldnt be held in any sensitive or problematic areas such as Gilgit-Baltistan. The original Tass news report on the exercise was edited to remove all references to Gilgit-Baltistan. In 2015, the Russian embassy had denied all reports of Russias plans to sell gunship helicopters to Pakistan till the deal for four Mi-35s was announced by Moscow. Though Russian President Vladimir Putin had said during a visit to New Delhi in March 2010 that unlike many other countries, Russia does not have any military cooperation with Pakistan because we bear in mind the concerns of our Indian friends, defence cooperation has increased between Islamabad and Moscow since then. In the past 15 months, Pakistans army, navy, and air force chiefs have visited Russia and reports have said the two sides are negotiating the supply of more military hardware, including Su-35 combat jets. The United States displaced Russia as Indias top supplier of armaments only in 2013 but Moscow remains a key supplier of aircraft, tanks, warships, spares and associated equipment. According to the think tank SIPRI, Indias military spending was $51.3 billion and as Russia believes it is being squeezed out of the Indian market by new suppliers such as the US and Israel, it could make more moves to enhance military ties with Pakistan. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Militants killed 12 people in a shooting and a suicide bombing Saturday in the northern city of Tikrit, which was recaptured from the Islamic State group last year, police said. Tikrit was seized by IS in June 2014, but the city has largely been spared the attacks that have plagued other parts of the country since its recapture. Militants shot dead four security personnel at a checkpoint on the west side of the city, then continued north and detonated an explosives-rigged vehicle at another checkpoint, killing eight more people, a police colonel and lieutenant colonel said. The attacks also wounded a total of 23 people, according to the officers. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, but IS frequently carries out suicide attacks targeting both civilians and security forces in Iraq. Hometown of executed dictator Saddam Hussein, Tikrit lies 60 kilometres (100 miles) north of Baghdad and was the second city to fall to IS in 2014 as the jihadists swept through large areas north and west of the capital. It was also the first city to be recaptured by Iraqi forces, which are now preparing for a push on Mosul, a city north of Tikrit that is the last one held by IS in the country. Western officials have indicated that the drive for Mosul, Iraqs second city, may begin next month, though Baghdad has declined to specify when it will start. While the announcement of the operation may be coming soon, Iraqi forces, which in some cases are dozens of kilometres (miles) away, will then have to fight their way to the city and surround it before an assault can take place. Even after Mosul is retaken, the jihadists will still have the ability to carry out attacks like those in Tikrit on Saturday. Analysts have warned that IS is likely to resort to more such attacks in the face of the loss of its last urban bastion in Iraq. Centuries of struggles and strife, decades of planning and pain, and years of hoping for a place that African-American history can call home will culminate as President Barack Obama officially opens the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. A shining bronze beacon on the National Mall, only steps away from a monument dedicated to a slaveholder president, the new Smithsonian will chronicle the complex relationship between the United States and a people it once enslaved, and tell the story of those who worked to make the necessary changes to bring the country to where it is today. Thousands are expected to gather on the National Mall on Saturday morning to watch the nations first black president cut the ribbon to open the museum. People are flying in from around the country to be some of the first inside, if they were lucky enough to get the coveted opening-day tickets. US President Barack Obama arrives for a reception marking the opening of the Smithsonians National Museum of African American History and Culture at the White House in Washington. Ground was broken for the new museum in 2012 on a five-acre tract near the Washington Monument after a decades-long push for an African-American museum on the National Mall. Congressman John Lewis of Georgia, a longtime civil rights icon, worked with then-Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas to usher legislation through Congress, and President George W. Bush signed into law the bill that allowed the museum to move forward. Construction was completed earlier this year on the 400,000-square-foot museum designed by British-Ghanaian architect David Adjaye. The museum strikes a unique shape on the Mall with its three-tiered bronze exterior panels inspired by an African wooden column. The patterned bronze colored tiles are inspired by 19th century ironwork created by slaves in the South, and allow sunlight into the museum through patterned openings. Inside, museum officials say they have nearly 3,000 items occupying 85,000 square feet of exhibition space including exhibits like a Tuskegee Airmen training plane and the casket of Emmitt Till, a murdered African-American boy whose death helped rally the civil rights movement. Preparations are finalised for the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture on Wednesday. (AP) Its been 100 years in the making. So many people have dreamed about this, fought for this and wanted this to happen, said U.S. Circuit Judge Robert L. Wilkins, who wrote the book Long Road to Hard Truth about the struggle to get the museum open. Its going to be a testament to their work and a testament to so many of our ancestors that this museum will open on the Mall. Millions of donors, both known and unknown, helped fund the museum. But some of the biggest donors names adorn the walls inside, including the Oprah Winfrey Theater; the Michael Jordan Hall: Game Changers; and the newest named addition, Robert F. Smith Explore Your Family History Center. It is named after the CEO of investment firm Vista Equity Partners after a $20 million gift announced Monday. US President Barack Obama has vetoed a bill that would have allowed the families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia, fearing that the move could have serious implications for Americas national interests. The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) bill, passed by both the chambers of the Republican controlled Congress, would have jeopardized the long standing international principles regarding sovereignty and would have made adverse impact with US interests and nationals overseas, Obama said on Friday. He stressed that the bill departs from longstanding standards and practice under US Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and threatens to strip all foreign governments of immunity from judicial process in the country based solely upon allegations by private litigants that a foreign governments overseas conduct had some role or connection to a group or person that carried out a terrorist attack inside the United States. This would invite consequential decisions to be made based upon incomplete information and risk having different courts reaching different conclusions about the culpability of individual foreign governments and their role in terrorist activities directed against the United States, Obama said. It is neither an effective nor a coordinated way for us to respond to indications that a foreign government might have been behind a terrorist attack, he added. Fearing its consequences, the US President said JASTA would upset longstanding international principles regarding sovereign immunity, putting in place rules that, if applied globally, could have serious implications for the countrys national interests and it can even complicate relations with its closest partners. If JASTA were enacted, courts could potentially consider even minimal allegations accusing US allies or partners of complicity in a particular terrorist attack in the United States to be sufficient to open the door to litigation and wide-ranging discovery against a foreign country, Obama said. Justifying his decision, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Obama is much more worried about the long-term impact of this legislation on the US national security as compared to his daily interactions with members of the Congress. This is the president that ordered the operation to take Osama bin Laden off the battlefield. This is the president who time and again advocated for legislation that provided health care to recovery workers at Ground Zero, even in the face of some Republican opposition to that, Earnest said. And this is the president who time and time again has spoken movingly about the impact that 9/11 has had on our country and the way that those who lost loved ones on 9/11 serve as a daily inspiration to the president and to Americans across the country and exhibiting the kind of resolve and resiliency thats unique to this country, he said. Xavier, the eldest son of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, covers his face out of shyness after his trampoline landings were not quite steady. [Photo/Xinhua] Premier Li and Canadian counterpart show personal warmth as they seek to cement ties History repeated itself this week for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who first became part of China-Canada diplomacy at the age of 11 when he joined his father, then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau, on a visit to China in 1983. This time, it was Justin Trudeau's 8-year-old son Xavier who took his place in history alongside his father. Xavier was caught by cameras on Wednesday jumping on a trampoline in the background while his parents were having a lakeside chat with Premier Li Keqiang and his wife, Cheng Hong, at Harrington Lake, the prime minister's country residence near Ottawa. The boy and his sister, Ella-Grace, were playing with great ease, not the least bit overwhelmed by the diplomacy going on at his home. Xavier even proposed to perform backflips for the guests. Premier Li Keqiangand his wife, Cheng Hong, talk with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, at Trudeau's official residence in Ottawa, Canada, on Wednesday. [Photo/Xinhua] The three flips were a success, but his landings were not quite steady, so Xavier covered his face with his left hand out of shyness and went to his father's side. In response, Li laughed and patted the boy on the shoulder to encourage him. The series of lakeside picturesincluding the image capturing the boy's moment of shynesswent viral on leading news portals and social networks in both countries. On his Chinese microblog and Twitter accounts, Trudeau posted another lakeside picture taken by a photographer behind the two couples to include the lake in the foreground, and so did not include the children and the trampoline. But Chinese netizens did not forget Xavier. "Your son is so great!" said @Youkemanmianbao. "Your son's covering his face is very cute, and he surely will be a celebrity in China," said @BaiyanlangV106. Premier Li Keqiang and his wife, Cheng Hong, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, look at Trudeau's son performing a backflip on a trampoline at Trudeau's official residence in Ottawa, Canada, on Wednesday.[Photo/Xinhua] Trudeau's father was well known as a supporter and contributor to the bilateral relationship, and many observers in both countries have pinned hopes on Justin Trudeau to continue the legacy of diplomacy. Meanwhile, the family diplomacy episode seems to have attracted far more public attention inside and outside China than the official talks between the two leaders. As of noon on Friday, another tweet by Trudeau about the welcoming ceremony and talks received 130 "likes", while the tweet of the lakeside chat received 2,414. Similarly, the same postings on his Chinese microblog received 427 and 1,877 thumbs up, respectively. Family diplomacy also took place when Trudeau and his wife traveled to China about three weeks ago with their daughter. Pakistan has cancelled a trade exhibition which was scheduled to be held next month in India, amidst heightened tension between the two neighbours after the terror attack in Uri. Due to current situations between Pakistan and India which are beyond TDAPs control, the event planned for 2016 has been called off, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) said in a statement on Friday. The third edition of Aalishaan Pakistan exhibition was scheduled to be held in October in New Delhi. The TDAP was already working on holding the trade show after the success of similar exhibitions held earlier in 2012 and 2014. The exhibition was meant to promote bilateral trade between the two countries and bring buyers and sellers together on one platform, the Express Tribune reported. For the two countries, bilateral trade amounted to Rs 206 billion during July-May of the last fiscal year, of which Rs 42 billion was exported by Pakistan and Rs 162 billion by India. Prominent industrialist Swraj Paul on Friday announced the setting up of a new 400,000 fund to contribute to the economic development of Wolverhampton and the west Midlands region. Paul, who is also chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, made the announcement during his speech at the graduation ceremony. Pauls Caparo Group has major investments in the region and has been closely involved with the university over the years. He said: Another exciting project which I am proud to be able to share with you today is the universitys involvement in the development of a Caparo Innovation Centre Investment Fund. This is a 400,000 technology investment fund, which will be a great opportunity for university researchers and will be extremely positive for the economic development of the region, through the support it will provide to new companies specialising in the science and technology sectors. Paul, 85, said the idea for the venture was initiated during his time studying at the MIT. I hope will act as an exemplar in how new innovation and technological development can help drive business development and growth; particularly at a time when there is so much uncertainty arising from the recent EU Referendum decision. My company Caparo and the University have had a longstanding tradition of collaboration and I am delighted and proud that this partnership will continue to flourish and provide benefits for the local economy, he told the gathering. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A group of Americans are petitioning the White House to designate Pakistan a state-sponsor of terrorism, as proposed in a legislation moved earlier this week by two members of the House of Representatives. Anyone can create and start a petition to the White House, a move initiated by President Barack Obama to make his administration directly responsive to Americans, and get a response if it gets more than 1,00,000 signatures in 30 days. That response may or may not be the action sought in the petition, but it will be an official response with the demand or issue in question put to relevant authorities. In this instance, the relevant authority is the US state department. Its the state department that designates a country a state-sponsor of terrorism if it indeed meets the criteria. There are currently three countries on that list Iran, Syria and Sudan. There have been several others in the past, such as North Korea. Pakistan came quite close in the 1990s. Read | Reading between the lines: A message for US in Sharifs UNGA speech The Pakistan petition was created by R.G. on September 21, the day after Congressmen Ted Poe and Dana Rohrabacher introduced H.R. 6069 the Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act in the House of Representatives. It is time we stop paying Pakistan for its betrayal and designate it for what it is, a state sponsor of terrorism, Congressman Poe said after introducing the bill. While introducing the White House petition, its creator said, This petition is important to the people of United State of America, India and many other countries which are continuously affected by Pakistan sponsored terrorism. The petition received 4,837 signatures by Saturday, with 95,163 more needed by October 21 to get a response from the White House. Also read | India will not forget Uri, prepared for 1,000-year fight with Pak: PM Modi NEW DELHI: India and Russia kicked off a joint military exercise in Vladivostok on Friday that will see troops training for counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain. This is the eighth edition of Exercise Indra, which has been held by the two sides since 2003. Each side has fielded 250 soldiers for the 11-day wargame, which is aimed at achieving interoperability in joint operations. Russias Eastern Military District and Indias armed forces will create a joint group for an operation to identify, block and eliminate hypothetical groups of terrorists and illegal armed groups. Aviation and artillery units will be involved, Russian military spokesperson Vladimir Matveyev said. Besides soldiers from Russias 59th Motorised Infantry Brigade, a unit of Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defence Troops will participate in the drill. The Indian Army described the Indra exercise as one of the major bilateral defence cooperation initiatives between India and Russia. During the opening ceremony, Brig Sukrit Chadah, the head of the Indian contingent, highlighted the need for jointness between the two nations to defeat terrorism. The exercise in Vladivostok began as a contingent of Russian troops arrived in Pakistan for the first joint drill by the two countries. LONDON: Economist Jim ONeill, who coined the acronym BRICS to reflect growing economies in 2001 and foresaw the rise of Indias economy, resigned on Friday as treasury minister in the Theresa May government reportedly over differences on its approach towards China. BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. A Conservative member of the House of Lords, ONeill said he will also give up his party affiliation and sit in the House as a cross-bench peer. He was part of the treasury team of former chancellor George Osborne. In his resignation letter, ONeill wrote: I primarily joined... for the specific purpose of helping deliver the Northern Powerhouse, and to help boost our economic ties with key growing economies around the world, especially China and India, and other rapidly emerging economies. The case for both to be at the heart of British economic policy is even stronger following the (Brexit) referendum, and I am pleased that, despite speculation to the contrary, both appear to be commanding your personal attention. I am leaving knowing that I can play some role supporting these critical initiatives as a non-governmental person. However, reports said he has been unhappy with Mays approach to China after she decided to review the Hinckley Point nuclear power project, which includes Chinese investment. It has since received the green signal. May said she was sorry about ONeills decision. You have made a significant contribution to driving forward the governments work on delivering growth beyond the south-east through the Northern Powerhouse and on promoting stronger economic links with emerging economies, including China and India, she said. You have laid important foundations in these areas, and the government will build on them. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ISLAMABAD/ NEW DELHI: A Russian mechanised infantry unit arrived in Pakistan on Friday for the first military exercise between the two Cold War rivals, with reports suggesting part of the high altitude drill would be conducted in territory claimed by India. Lt Gen Asim Bajwa, head of the Pakistani militarys media arm, tweeted photos of the Russian troops after they flew into an airbase in Rawalpindi, squelching speculation that Moscow would call off the wargame in the wake of the . A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan for first ever Pak- Russian joint exercise (two weeks) from September 24 to October 10, Bajwa said. The Russian contingent was warmly welcomed by senior Pakistan Army officials before it left for the training venue. About 200 soldiers from each side will join the two-week exercise Druzhba 2016 (Friendship 2016), which is expected to focus on high-altitude warfare. Russias state-run Tass news agency reported on Friday the exercises opening ceremony would be held at the Pakistan Armys High Altitude School in Rattu, Gilgit-Baltistan on Saturday. A statement issued late on Friday night by the Russian embassy in New Delhi, however, said the only venue of the exercise is Cherat in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. The statement said the drill will not be held in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir or any sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit-Baltistan. New Delhi had conveyed to Moscow its concerns that part of the drill would be held at a military facility in Gilgit-Baltistan, which was part of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state and is claimed by India. Following the Uri attack that killed 18 soldiers, sections of the Indian media reported that India had prevailed on Russia to call off the exercise. External affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup referred to plans for manoeuvres in Gilgit-Baltistan on Thursday and said this was part of Indian territory. New Delhis well known sensitivities had been conveyed to Moscow, he said. The drill reflects the growing military-to-military ties between Pakistan and Russia, whose relations were strained for decades following the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. The two sides have taken several steps to improve ties as Indias military procurements moved away from Russia to the US and Israel. The Pakistani media reported the joint exercise indicates a steady growth in ties between the two countries. Pakistans envoy to Russia, Qazi Khalilullah, said the exercise also reflected the increased cooperation between the two sides. This indicates a desire on both sides to broaden defence cooperation, he told a Russian news agency. The chiefs of Pakistans army, navy and air force have also visited Russia over the past 15 months. WASHINGTON: An official of Donald Trumps campaign has resigned over remarks she made blaming the election of President Barack Obama for racism in the country, as the Republican nominee tries to court African Americans. I dont think there was any racism until Obama got elected, Kathy Miller, an official of Trump campaigns unit in Ohio told The Guardian in an interview. She added, We never had problems like this Now, with the people with the guns, and shooting up neighbourhoods, and not being responsible citizens, thats a big change, and I think thats the philosophy that Obama has perpetuated on America. The remarks couldnt have come at a more sensitive time as protests continued over the fatal shooting of two African American men in separate incidents in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, this week. If youre black and you havent been successful in the last 50 years, its your own fault. Youve had every opportunity, it was given to you, Miller said in the interview. Youve had the same schools everybody else went to. You had benefits to go to college that white kids didnt have. You had all the advantages and didnt take advantage of it. Its not our fault, certainly. Miller quit on Thursday after apologising for her inappropriate remarks. The misstep came at a time when Trump is trying to court African Americans who have voted Democratic for decades now. He famously started by asking them to give him a chance as, he argued, Democrats were taking their support for granted. On Thursday, Trump called protests in Charlotte a national crisis and called for a national anti-crime agenda to deal with racial tensions. There is no right to engage in violent disruption or to threaten the peace and safety of others, Trump said in a speech in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, adding that the people who suffer the most in these situations are law-abiding African-American residents who face other challenges. He slammed the protestors for lawless conduct, and praised police. His Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, has been more measured, and appealed for better police-community relations. In a surprise move, Microsoft Corporation introduces yet another feature phone for 2016. The Nokia 216 comes in without so much fanfare except perhaps for the astonishment of many tech experts and analysts who believed that the Redmond-based giant was done with cell phone production. The decline in the sales of its Lumia and Windows Phone divisions has led Microsoft to lay off thousands of employees as part of a $7.6 billion write-off. Still, rumors suggest that the company plans to introduce a surface-brand phone for next year. In May, Microsoft has entered into a negotiation with Foxconn subsidiary FIX Mobile with regards to the selling of the division that sells Nokia-branded phones. According to ZDNet, the deal is worth $350 million. However, the launching of the new Nokia unit may have changed the perspective of the supposed arrangement. A spokesman from Microsoft has confirmed that the tech company's feature phone business will continue until the closing of the transaction in the second half of 2016. The 216 is probably the most basic phone of the year. It also has a 2.4-inch QVGA display. Its camera, which operates on both sides, has 0.3MP capability. Microsoft's new product comes with an Opera mini-browser plus a headphone jack. The cell phone runs on a Series 30+ operating system which succeeded the discontinued Series 30. This OS does not run Java apps but has access to Facebook. Instead of a touch screen, it has an alphanumeric keypad to contend with. According to the Microsoft website, the phone provides high-quality voice calls, an outstanding battery life, a built-in torch light, an FM radio, an MP 3 and video player plus 18 hours of talk time. Moreover, up to 2,000 contacts can be saved on its memory. This Nokia device has an extended storage space considering that it has a 16MB RAM and a card slot that allows up to 32GB of external memory. It is Bluetooth-capable and provides dual SIM card slots. Although the 216 is devoid of sophisticated or cutting edge components, the phone can still make it big in the market judging from the fact that Microsoft is selling a million units of its feature items monthly. The new device will be released in October this year. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Hong Kong Revenue Strategy Forum (RSF) Hong Kong brought together more than 100 revenue management innovators, hotel executives and thought leaders from one of Asia's most prestigious hospitality schools to share best practices for thriving in an increasingly complex distribution landscape. Co-host Hotel ICON welcomed RSF Hong Kong back for its second year and accommodated an expanded lineup of speeches, networking and hands-on educational sessions. Programming focused not only on top-line growth but also on managing customer acquisition costs to grow revenue and profits holistically in a recessionary environment. Executives from co-host Duetto led several key sessions, including RSF's keynote speech by CEO Patrick Bosworth and an interactive master class in revenue management taught by Chief Product & Analytics Officer Marco Benvenuti. A general-session panel of hospitality and online travel agency executives discussed the intensified competition for direct bookings and other digital disruptions in hotel distribution. Bosworth's speech, "Break the Cycle and Win the Next Downturn," elaborated on those challenges and identified key pieces of a Revenue Strategy meant to grow market share in a likely recession for the hotel industry. "The attendees at RSF, from revenue managers and GMs to hotel owners and asset managers, were very focused on having the right plans in place for optimizing their profits and outperforming their competitors when the hotel industry's cycle inevitably turns downward," Bosworth said. "The ideas shared on stage and in the audience will help hoteliers manage through adversity now as well as succeed over the long haul." Richard Hatter, general manager of Hotel ICON, touted the educational session in which Benvenuti led a hands-on revenue management class as an ideal fit for Hotel ICON, which is the "teaching hotel" aligned with the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. "We were extremely pleased to bring thought leaders from within the hotel industry and from the university to give real-life experience and context to the challenges of modern revenue management, including a distribution environment that gets more complex every day," Hatter said. "None of us can predict exactly how the industry cycle will play out, but we can feel confident that events like RSF prepare hoteliers to respond with the right Revenue Strategy." A final Revenue Strategy Forum for 2016 will focus on the European market and will take place in London on 7 November at Amba Hotel Charing Cross. Register for RSF London here. About Duetto: Duetto delivers the most powerful Revenue Strategy solutions to the world's leading hotels and casinos, allowing them to better manage pricing, revenue and business-mix decisions with superior, actionable data. The unique combination of hospitality experience and technology leadership enables Duetto to provide new insights on pricing and demand as a true cloud-based software-as-a-service. With solutions that address the challenges of today's distribution landscape, Duetto's applications are a GameChanger optimizing profit and guest loyalty. More than 1,200 hotels and casinos in more than 60 countries have partnered to use Duetto's Revenue Strategy solutions. About Hotel ICON: A luxury Hong Kong hotel that takes a new look at hospitality, Hotel ICON is all about individuality and a celebration of Hong Kong's finest. Passion for local culture art, design, fabulous food and a modern sparkle packaged up with perfect service and an undeniably international style reflected throughout every aspect of service are what make Hong Kong and Hotel ICON unique. The ambience here is familiar and comfortable the perfect balance of high style and traditional hospitality exciting yet informal, responsive and passionate. This hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, reflects the true essence of Hong Kong. Hotel ICON is a very special hotel with an equally special purpose: Not only does it embody all the creative energy and spirit of Hong Kong, it's a "learning environment" on which the aspirations of future hoteliers come to life as part of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and an extension of its School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM). ### Michael Frenkel The executive director of the Texas Medical Board, Mari Robinson, is stepping down to take a position as director of telehealth at the University of Texas Medical Branch next month. Robinson, an attorney who had been with the board since 2001, will "guide UTMB with policy and regulatory issues surrounding telehealth," according to a UTMB statement. Her title will be director of telehealth. She will also be assisting in developing partnerships across Texas to expand health care to those in rural and remote areas, the statement said. "Mari was selected for this position given her knowledge, expertise and experience from all sides relating to telehealth and partnership development," the UTMB statement said. The Texas Medical Board under her helm has been embroiled in a battle over the very issue of telemedicine. For years, it has been in a legal fight with Teledoc, a Dallas-area telemedicine industry leader. Last year, the state board enacted tough rules governing telemedicine that industry advocates said were punitive and obstructive. The rules required physicians to meet with patients in person before treating them remotely, or they would need to have another provider physically present for telemedicine visits. Soon after, a federal judge temporarily blocked the new rules. This month, federal regulators said the rule wasn't appropriately reviewed and the board could be biased, according to Modern Healthcare. Robinson could not be reached late Friday afternoon and attempts to reach the Texas Medical Board were unsuccessful. The Texas Tribune reported that Robinson released a statement Tuesday to the agency's board and staff: "I want to reassure you that there is nothing negative behind my decision to leave nor is there anything bad coming down the pike." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Criticizing Devon Anderson these days is as easy as counting the grammatical errors in Donald Trump's Twitter feed. The storm clouds over the Harris County district attorney's re-election bid have proven endless fodder for news pages and pennies from heaven for her tenacious opponent, Kim Ogg. Ogg stands on her own merits: The former chief felony prosecutor has fresh ideas for reform and strong credentials, including as former executive director of Crime Stoppers. In a Republican-leaning county, though, it takes more than merit for a Democrat to best a GOP incumbent. It takes massive missteps and controversy on the other side. Of those, take your pick. Anderson has been pummeled for everything from her office's jailing of a rape victim to ensure testimony at the attacker's trial to waiting too long to disclose large-scale evidence destruction by a since-fired deputy in Precinct 4. But none of those things will seal her fate within her own party. No, for some in the far-right fringe, Anderson's greatest weakness is the case she got right, at least initially. Consider the Sept. 17 email to Anderson from Republican kingmaker Dr. Steve Hotze. "Greetings!" begins the missive, sent just before midnight to Anderson and a long list of conservative officials and operatives. Hotze, an anti-abortion, anti-gay activist whose slate of Republican candidates is chosen through a process roundly criticized as a "pay-to-play" scheme, is still dutifully trusted by party faithful who prefer not to do their own candidate research. Hotze asks if Anderson attended the Texas Right to Life banquet. He notes that undercover videographer David Daleiden, who accused Planned Parenthood of trafficking fetal organs, was honored with "The Defender of Life Award" and received a rousing standing ovation. Then he begins his attack. He calls Anderson's handling of an investigation into Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast "a travesty of justice." Anderson, who touts her "pro-life" credentials, agreed to investigate Planned Parenthood but vowed to "go where the evidence leads us." At her own political peril, it appeared she did. In January, a grand jury declined to indict anyone at the family planning organization and chose instead to indict Daleiden and his associate, Sandra Merritt, on a misdemeanor charge stemming from an attempt to purchase human organs, and a second-degree felony for allegedly falsifying driver licenses. The indictments led to brutal online assaults against Anderson by anti-abortion folks and attempts to shun her at public events. In July, prosecutors abruptly dropped charges, blaming a flawed indictment from a grand jury acting beyond its reach. Some called it a political calculation, but whatever it was, it apparently didn't absolve Anderson of her original sin. Tough having scruples In his email, Hotze, president of Conservative Republicans of Texas, questions Anderson's commitment to the pro-life cause and indicates he regrets supporting her for the office. But his fury is not without mercy. "You can redeem yourself by calling another Grand Jury that will indict Planned Parenthood," he writes. "The people that run that organization are desperately evil and wicked. They should be rounded up and sent to jail for the rest of their lives. They will spend eternity in Dante's 7th ring of hell." In other words, the only way Anderson can wash herself clean in the eyes of anti-abortion zealots is to manipulate facts and grand jurors to achieve a predetermined result. It must be tough being a Republican with scruples these days. For all I can say about Anderson, she has shown a greater measure of spine than she's gotten credit for. Especially now that I see the lunacy she's up against. Hotze couldn't be reached by phone, and he and his assistant didn't return emails. Anderson's campaign spokesman, Allen Blakemore, said in a statement to the Chronicle's Brian Rogers that it's "regrettable" that Hotze chose to launch a personal attack: "He confuses a commitment to ProLife values - one he shares with the District Attorney - with his inability to compel her to ignore law and due process." How did we get here? The county's Republican Party chairman, Paul Simpson, issued a statement decrying the intra-party fighting. " 'Dr.' Hotze again attacks Republicans instead of fighting to end the legal loopholes that let Planned Parenthood get away with its barbaric practices," the statement said. "Meanwhile, true Harris County Republicans are pitching in every day to elect all Republicans up and down the ballot to keep Harris County a Republican County." You, dear reader, will have to decide whether the county stands a better chance at justice under Anderson or Ogg. I hope you'll mull deeper questions as well: How did we get to the point in this country where following the law is an unforgivable sin? When did it become OK to openly bully an elected official into violating her job description? And can we finally reach the point where nobody, not even the laziest, most ill-informed voter, cares what Steve Hotze has to say? This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN - The state of Texas is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to return its recently diluted voter ID law back to one of the toughest in the country, but not until after the November election. Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a request Friday for the high court to review a July ruling from the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals finding the Texas law illegally discriminates against minorities at the ballot box. A federal judge in Corpus Christi since has weakened the law for the upcoming election by allowing a substantially wider selection of identification cards and documents to be presented at polling stations. Paxton said in a statement that Texas' appeal does not target changes put in place for the Nov. 8 election. "Voter ID laws both prevent fraud and increase the public's confidence in our elections," he said. "Texas enacted a common-sense voter ID law, and I am confident that the U.S. Supreme Court will ultimately reinstate it." The Texas law, Senate Bill 14, was passed by the Republican-led Legislature in 2011. The measure requires voters to present one of seven state-approved photo identification documents, such as a Texas driver's license, passport or concealed handgun permit, to cast a ballot. Continuing the fight Supporters of the law have said it is necessary to prevent voter fraud. However, a federal court found the law could have excluded as many as 600,000 voters who could not obtain an acceptable identification. Opponents labeled Texas' appeal an unnecessary continuation of a legal fight in which the law has been found to violate the Voting Rights Act by every federal court that has considered it. The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, which is not part of the ongoing litigation, questioned why the state would keep spending money to defend the law after already racking up around $3.5 million in legal fees. Janai Nelson, associate director-counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, which is representing a college student in the Texas voter ID case who lacks one of the state-mandated identifications, echoed that sentiment. "Texans should be incredibly disappointed their state is choosing to spend its time and resources this way," Nelson said. In its July ruling, the entire 5th Circuit, one of the most conservative courts in the country, ordered a lower court in Corpus Christi to come up with temporary fixes ahead of November to lessen the law's discriminatory effect. Alternate plan U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos last month approved a plan that allows voters lacking one of the state-approved identifications to cast a regular ballot by showing an alternate ID and signing an affidavit. Texas argued Friday that the 5th Circuit struck down the law without proof it had harmed any individual voter. "At most, plaintiffs proved that a small percentage of registered Texas voters did not have SB14-compliant ID at the time of trial," the state argues in its appeal. "But they did not prove that SB14 will prevent or deter any person from casting a ballot." Paxton first signaled that Texas would appeal around the time North Carolina petitioned the Supreme Court to restore its weaker voter ID law that had been struck down by a federal appeals court. A deadlocked Supreme Court refused to revive the North Carolina law. Four people have been arrested and charged with vandalizing a church camp at Simmons, according to Texas County Sheriff James Sigman said. Charged with two counts of second-degree burglary, stealing and property damage are George Lamborn, 19; Carson A. Smith, 17; Gary Greenwood, 18; and David Corwin, 21, all of Mountain Grove. Greenwood also is charged with arson. Bond is set at $250,000 for Lamborn, Greenwood and Corwin. Smiths bond is $200,000. Cleaning supplies in the kitchen at Baptist camp show the signs of vandalism on the property. A deputy was dispatched Sept. 7 regarding a report of two young males causing damage at Texas County Baptist Association Camp. The officer made contact with a 63-year-old caretaker, who stated he had been working on the camps pool house when he saw items from the kitchen scattered on the ground outside the mess hall. The man told the officer he then saw two teens run from the area. The man described one as being about 15 to 18 years old and having long blonde hair and being about 5-foot-8 with a medium build, and the other as being about 14 or 15 years old and having shorter darker hair and being about 5-4 with a medium build. The investigating officer determined the suspects had broken air conditioning units, lights and fans in the bunkhouse, and observed lighter fluid and matches where they had attempted to burn fire-proof bunk mattresses. The officer also reported seeing a Bible that had been ripped in half and set on fire. A Bible that authorities say vandals ripped and burned at Baptist camp. Numerous photographs were taken of damage done by the suspects, and the officer reported that he had to wear a mask while taking pictures due to chemicals and items that had been strewn around. Investigation of the case continues. The Houston Area Chamber of Commerce will host a fall festival from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday (today) in downtown Houston. Several activities and attractions are planned, including a car and motorcycle show, FFA petting zoo, raffles, crafts and food vendors. A pancake breakfast runs from 6:30-10:30 a.m. The cost is $5 per person. Harolds Classic BBQ and Burger Mobile will serve food throughout the day on the street. Garold McCoy and the South 63 Band will perform beginning at 1 p.m. A street dance runs from 4 to 6 p.m. A gun raffle and 50/50 raffles also are planned. The Houston High School choir will sell Branson tickets and snow cones to raise funds for a trip to Washington, D.C. A Houston woman was seriously injured early Saturday in an accident 13 miles west of Salem. Tpr. C.A. Pulley of the Missouri State Highway Patrol said a westbound 2001 Buick Century driven by Rohny S. Hall, 28, ran off the right side of Highway 32 and struck a tree at about 4:45 a.m. Hall was airlifted to Cox South in Springfield. Pulley said Hall was wearing a seat belt in the crash that totaled her car. A Pocahontas, Ark., woman was injured in a U.S. 60 crash Friday night three miles west of Cabool. Sgt. Dale Pounds said an eastbound 2004 Toyota driven by Shirley J. Johnson, 69, of Pocahontas, Ark., traveled off the right side of the roadway, overcorrected and overturned in the median. A passenger, Pat Johnson, 67, had moderate injuries and was transported by ambulance to Ozarks Medical Center at West Plains. Pounds said both were wearing seat belts. The vehicle was totaled. Assisting Pounds was Tpr. Justin Piccinino of the patrol. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 24 Trend: Armenias armed forces have 9 times violated the ceasefire on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops over the past 24 hours, said Azerbaijans Defense Ministry Sept. 24. Armenian army was using large-caliber machine guns. The Armenian armed forces stationed on nameless heights of the Krasnoselsk district opened fire at the Azerbaijani positions located on nameless heights of the Gadabay district. Positions of the Azerbaijani army also underwent fire from the Armenian positions located near the Yusifjanli village of Azerbaijans Aghdam district, Kuropatkino village of the Khojavand district, as well as from the positions located on nameless heights of the Jabrayil and Fuzuli 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. 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. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 24 Trend: In the contemporary world of growing intolerance, discrimination and violence based on religion or belief, intercultural and interreligious dialogue has become one of the most important tools in promoting tolerance, sustainable peace, stability and development, said Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. He made the remarks at the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Group of Friends Ministerial Meeting in New York, US. In this regard, the UNAOC plays an important role in fostering the global dialogue and cooperation for the promotion of tolerance, peace and better understanding across countries, cultures and civilizations, said Mammadyarov. Azerbaijan attaches primary importance to the promotion of intercultural and interreligious dialogue at all levels, he noted. Multiculturalism and tolerance is a longstanding tradition in my country that strengthens and consolidates our society, said the minister. For ages, people of different nationalities and religions have been living in peace and dignity in Azerbaijan. The year of 2016 has been declared a Year of Multiculturalism in Azerbaijan by the Azerbaijani president, he noted. Consequently, a special Plan of Actions has been developed that implies measures to safeguard and disseminate the humanistic ideals of multiculturalism both at national and international levels. On Apr. 25-27 2016, Azerbaijan hosted the 7th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations entitled Living together in inclusive societies, he said. This important event was attended by more than 4,000 delegates from 147 countries, including heads of states and governments, ministers, government officials, representatives of international organizations and media. The forums topics reflected the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which incorporates the promotion of inclusive societies as pivotal component for sustainable development, said Mammadyarov. Taking this opportunity, I would like to sincerely thank all those who organized and participated in that forum, he added. A major outcome of the Forum was the Baku Declaration, noted the minister. It strongly condemned any advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence and urged all member states to unite against violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations. He said also that the Baku Declaration should serve as guidelines for states and international organizations in promotion of intercultural dialogue and multiculturalism as a way to counter violence, extremism and xenophobia. Recognizing the special role of youth in the establishment and development of inclusive societies, the UN Alliance of Civilizations Youth Event was also held on the sidelines of the forum with the participation of more than 150 youngsters, noted the minister. In this regard, I would like to welcome the oncoming International Conference on The Role of Youth in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, which will be held jointly by the UNAOC and the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States on Oct. 20-21, 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey, he added. In April 2017, Azerbaijan will host the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, which is held biannually since 2011 within the so-called Baku Process, he noted. We invite all our partners and interested parties to take active part in that event, added the minister. I am also happy to note that based on experience of excellent cooperation, the government of Azerbaijan together with the UN Alliance of Civilizations has recently agreed to launch a new project called Baku Alliance of Civilizations Award for Intercultural Dialogue. I also fully share the view expressed by previous speakers that promoting intercultural dialogue, tolerance and countering violent extremism have gained increased importance in the context of large movement of refugees and migrants, said Mammadyarov. Azerbaijan has deep understanding of this problem, given the fact that we have one million refugees and IDPs ethnically cleansed out of their homes. Enabling safe and dignified return of refugees and IDPs must be at the center of international efforts. In conclusion, let me express my confidence that our todays meeting, as the previous ones, will successfully contribute to the joint efforts to counter mistrust, misconception and hatred, and to foster dialogue, mutual respect and understanding, added the minister. 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. No one seems to really say what meditation is. They do say what it does. I dont believe that a meditator would get the same great benefits, which meditation offers, if they sit and think about their problems. It becomes our challenge to sustain our focus on the object of concentration. So lets define meditation as the consistent flow of focused mental energy, whether its on a mantra, following your breath, or focusing on a candle flame. The state of meditation occurs when the mediators mind becomes absorbed into the object of meditation. One of the goals of meditation is attain a formless reality, which is freedom from the obstacles associated with the mind. There are thousands of meditation techniques and no one has proven that one meditation technique is better than another. Distractions are sure to arise using any meditation technique. As soon as the meditator becomes aware of the distraction they gently return to the meditation focus. Sometimes I find it very difficult to focus and it seems like the object of meditation is my distraction and my thoughts are my meditation. That is the opposite objective of meditation. Lets call this obstructive thinking. My ability to concentrate sometimes depends on my state of mind. In a calm mood I am more successful. When I am stressed out, its very difficult to turn my mind from thinking, solving problems or just worrying. The mind has the job of thinking, which i... Now a days, in order to succeed as a leader, as a business, and as an organization the need for cross-cultural and trans-global competencies is crucial. In the age of the internet, the new political and economic reforms as the falling of the Berlin wall, the disintegration of the USSR, NAFTA, ASEAN-China Free Trade Area, EU as well as the emerging BRIC countries like (Brazil, Russia, India, and China ) and the MIKT countries (Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, and Turkey); it becomes clear and evident that organizations leaders need to build not only trans-global competence but also cross-cultural competence, awareness and flexibility to develop the ability and capability to survive and thrive in the new reality of the competitive world we live in. Confusion, frustration and costly mistakes are the results of lack of global skills mainly due to the ignorance of the impact of cultures on the workplace. The old mentality of We have always done it that way leads to expensive failures, along with the idea of Color blindness are detrimental to the workplace because of the erroneous belief that paying attention to color or race is fundamentally discriminative. The most important facets of Cross-Cultural leadership are the following three main competencies: 1. Being Culturally flexible: Basically to roll with the punches realizing that there are differences in other countries, populations, and cultures that are not wrong or weird, j... Companies often spend tens of thousands of dollars to develop, publish and disseminate their corporate mission and values statements. Over the course of my career Ive worked for large companies and several small ones, and they all thought it was important to have at least a mission statement. So whats the purpose? Is it just company propaganda and politically correct eyewash? I believe most companies earnestly publish their mission and values in an attempt to shape their company culture for the better. The leaders at the top of the organization want their employees to know what their company stands for and what they believe in. However, while the intent may be noble, I question the effectiveness of these tools. For one thing, how many mission statements have you seen that drone on and on in multiline paragraphs, chock-full of sophisticated words all neatly arranged in compound, complex sentences? Who memorizes that stuff? Likely, no one except maybe the person who proudly wrote the check and the consultant who created it. If the employees cant easily articulate the mission statement, chances are that its not having much of a daily impact on corporate culture. The test of a really good mission statement is this. Can you say it to someone as you pass in the hallway? In order to do that, the statement cant be more than about seven words long. It took me a long time to finally settle on a mission statement that was pithy enough to m... Tags : engagement performance commitment When you meet Jane McIntyre you know instantly youre with the real deal. She is CEO of the United Way of the Central Carolinas, one of the largest fund-raising agencies in the country--but its not about her title. She is admired for turning around non-profit agencies in free fall, but its not about her reputation. She is deeply Southern without apology, but its not about her Carolina drawl. No, Jane McIntyre is distinctly real because she is full of heart and takes zero crap. You recognize the look in her eyes as the mark of someone who knows who she isand has the confidence to risk moments of vulnerability. She tells you the truth. She fakes nothing. In 2008, McIntyres predecessor left her post in disgrace and the agency in crisis. The newspaper ran stories daily about her greed and mismanagement and the community was outraged. Contributions dipped and the employees of UWCC were scapegoated. The scandal was poignant as the bigger economic crisis turned darker. McIntyre, who was heading up the YWCA, stepped up and took the job no one wanted, which was to bring UWCC back from the edge. At the same time, she became my clientand one of the most colorful to date. She is small in stature but every bit of a red-headed cowgirl who can rope the biggest steer at any rodeo. McIntyre made it clear to the employees at United Way that she would ask a lot of thembut together they would do extraordinary work to ch... OLI SCARFF via Getty Images This blog is an unedited version of the speech delivered by Jeremy Corbyn at the result of the Labour leadership election in Liverpool, Saturday 24 September I want to thank the more than 300,000 members and supporters who have given me their support and trust in this Labour leadership election. I am honoured to have won the votes of a majority of members, of affiliated supporters and of registered supporters, who have given me the second mandate in a year to lead our party. Advertisement I want to thank the volunteers on my campaign, on Owen Smith's campaign, and to Owen himself and to all the Party staff who worked so hard over the summer. It has been an amazing summer all over Britain our Labour family facing the future. And I will do everything I can to repay that trust and that support to bring our party together to make it an engine of progress for our country and the people that depend on the Labour Party to protect their interests and win power to deliver real change. Elections are passionate and partisan affairs things are often said in the heat of the debate on all sides that we later regret. But always remember in our party, we have much more in common than that which divides us. As far as I'm concerned the slate is wiped clean from today. We are proud as a party that we're not afraid to discuss openly, to debate and disagree that is essential for a party that wants to change people's lives for the better that isn't prepared to accept things as they are. Advertisement It's also an essential part of what has drawn over half a million people into membership of what is now the largest political party in western Europe a party which has nearly tripled in size since last spring. Those new members are now part of a nationwide movement who can now take our message into every community in the country to win support for the election of a Labour government. Our party has a duty of care to our members. That means intervening to stop personal abuse and also abiding by the principles of natural justice in the way we handle it. Politics is demeaned and corroded by intimidation and abuse. It is not my way and it is not the Labour way. Now is the time for all of us to focus every ounce of our energy on exposing and defeating the Tories and the damage they are doing to our country. Theresa May's Government isn't a new government, it's David Cameron's government with a new hard right edge, repackaged with progressive slogans but threatening to take the country backwards and dithering as we face the historic challenges of Brexit. So if you believe that education is better than segregation; that we need an NHS that isn't threatened with breakdown loaded with debt; that older people deserve dignity and the care they need in their own home; that we have a duty as a country to refugees and to promote peace rather than conflict; if like me you believe that it's a scandal that here in Britain, the sixth largest economy in the world four million children are in poverty and six million workers are paid less than the living wage. And if, like me, you believe we can do things far better then help us build support for a genuine alternative that will invest in our future a more prosperous future in which the wealth we all create is shared more equally. Advertisement Together, arguing for the real change this country needs, I have no doubt that this party can win the next election whenever Theresa May decides to call it and form the next government. To do that, we need to work together. This time next week we will hit the streets united as a party I am calling on Labour party members to join us in a national campaign for inclusive education for all next Saturday. The Tories' plans for grammar school segregation of our children expose their divisive and damaging agenda for our country. My responsibility as Labour Leader is to unite this party at conference this week in Parliament and in every community around the country. But it's also the responsibility of the whole party: members of parliament, councillors, members and supporters across the country to work together and respect the democratic choice that's been made. Labour is a party brimming full of ideas of talent and creativity and so is Britain. Unleashing that potential is the job of all of us. Let's work together for real change. Leon Neal via Getty Images Back on the 23rd June Britain held a referendum to decide whether as a nation we should remain or leave the European Union. I fervently wanted a Remain vote in that referendum but it was not to be. The week after the referendum I wrote that whilst it wasn't my choice Leave was the democratic decision and that we should all move towards delivering it. It would be grossly hypocritical for me to change my tune just because the result of the Labour Leadership election didn't go my way either. Advertisement Since he became Leader of the Labour Party just over a year ago I have strongly held the view that Jeremy Corbyn is not just wrong for Labour but very, very wrong for Britain. This summer's Labour Leadership election has done nothing to alter my opinion. But having Jeremy as the Leader of Labour is not just once, but twice, the democratic choice of party members. He has earned, clearly and decisively, the right to put his agenda to the British public without further internal griping or back stabbing. There is a fundamental difference between the referendum and the Labour leadership election though. No one has to remain a member of Labour, should you disagree with the path the party is taking any member has the right to stop their support. Many decent Labour members did just that under Tony Blair, many others will take the same decision now. The time, for me at least, to stop supporting the party has come with the re-election of Jeremy Corbyn. Advertisement I've never disliked Jeremy Corbyn, and although I deeply dislike some of the company that he keeps he seems a personable guy, but I firmly do not agree with the direction that he has taken Labour. I don't like Jeremy's approach to public services where dogma seems far more important than solutions, I don't like his approach to defence or Britain's position in the world, I don't for one second believe he understands what motivates ordinary, hardworking people in communities like mine. I can't ever see Jeremy as a Prime Minister leading our country in tough negotiations or at times of threat. Although because of work commitments I only joined Labour during the period of the last Labour Government I've voted for this party all of my adult life, I have been proud to do so. I voted partly because of my family's working class past but also because people like me and my family for the most part fared well under a centrist Labour administration. I don't believe that could ever happen under Jeremy Corbyn, in fact I believe my family and many more like it would be comprehensively less well off and less secure. Advertisement There are some amazing people in the Labour Party, as there are across the political spectrum, but unarguably Labour has changed significantly and fundamentally from the party that I joined. There's no bitterness for me at least in that change but rather that change isn't for me. Sadly I've therefore made the hugely difficult decision to resign from the Labour Party. I honestly don't believe that my views have changed significantly and that it is Labour itself who has taken a new direction. There is nothing wrong with that in and of itself but it is for that reason alone that I will continue as an independent councillor until my term of office comes to an end. My Labour County Council colleagues are amazing and with whom it has been a privilege to work. I'm sure some might share my views whilst others either entirely honourably support Jeremy wholeheartedly or believe that working inside the party for unity is preferable. I completely respect them for whatever decision they choose to take, an approach I am sure they will reciprocate. It also saddens me to stand down as Chairman of Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny at Leicestershire County Council. During my three and a half years steering that committee I honestly believe members of all parties have worked tirelessly to put party politics to one side in favour of searching for the best outcomes for our children. My sincere thanks go to all members of my committee and the officers who have served it. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 24 Trend: Unresolved armed conflicts, terrorism, violent extremism, aggressive separatism, intolerance and discrimination on ethnic and religious grounds continue to represent the most serious challenges and are among the main obstacles to development, said Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. He made the remarks at the General Debate of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, US. The outcome document of the United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda stated that there could be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development, recalling the rights and obligations of states under international law and reaffirming the need to respect the territorial integrity and political independence of states, said Mammadyarov. Over the period passed since the last General Debate, no substantive progress has been achieved in the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, noted the minister. Armenia continues to occupy the territories of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts, in flagrant violation of international law and resolutions 822, 853, 874 and 884 adopted in 1993 by the UN Security Council, he added. Its engagement in the conflict settlement process is nothing but imitation, he said. Mammadyarov noted that Azerbaijan cant use economic potential of the occupied territories. The disruption of communications as a direct consequence of military occupation of territories is the serious obstacle to full-fledged socio-economic development of our country and the realization of regions untapped economic perspective, said the minister. Similarly, full potential of the region for intra and trans-regional connectivity remains under-utilized. The humanitarian consequences of the conflict are equally harsh and necessitate urgent solutions, he said. As a direct impact of massive displacement of people from their places of origin, close to one million refugees and IDPs continue to be deprived of their basic human rights and fundamental freedoms, most notably, the right to home and property, he added. Further continuation of this situation is intolerable, added the minister. Mammadyarov said also that Armenias policy and practices in the occupied Azerbaijani territories undermine the prospects of achieving a political settlement of the conflict and pose an imminent threat to peace, security and stability in the region. Azerbaijan has made it clear on numerous occasions that the unlawful presence of the armed forces of Armenia in the occupied Azerbaijani territories is the major destabilizing factor with the potential of escalation at any time with unpredictable consequences and the main cause of tensions and incidents in the conflict zone, said the minister. He also noted that instead of engaging in negotiations in good faith, Armenia demonstratively disrupts any attempt to settle the conflict by peaceful means. In total disregard of the demands of the UN Security Council and in flagrant violation of international law, Armenia refuses to withdraw its troops from Azerbaijan, prevents the hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijani forcibly displaced persons from returning to their homes, and tries to further consolidate the status quo by altering the physical, demographic and cultural character of the occupied territories a worrying development that was confirmed by the OSCE fact-finding missions, he added. Moreover, Armenia frequently resorts to armed provocations trying to divert attention from the core, substantive issues of the peace process to technical aspects of the ceasefire, noted Mammadyarov. Most recently, in early April 2016, Armenia conducted large-scale attacks against the civilian population of Azerbaijan, he said. It subjected the densely populated areas of Azerbaijan, including schools, hospitals, and places of worship, to intensive fire with heavy artillery and large-caliber weapons. As a result of Armenias reckless attacks, a large number of Azerbaijani civilians, including children, women and elderly were killed or seriously wounded, said the minister. Without timely use of effective civil defense measures, the number of casualties among the population would be significantly higher. Armenia also systematically mutilated the bodies of fallen Azerbaijani soldiers. He went on to add that during those attacks, 34 towns and villages in Azerbaijan suffered severe destructions. Substantial damages were inflicted upon private and public property, including civilian critical infrastructure. In particular, hundreds of civilian buildings, among them residential houses, schools, kindergartens, cultural centers and other civilian facilities were ruined. Armenias direct and deliberate attacks against the Azerbaijani civilian population, as well as inhuman acts against Azerbaijani military servicemen, during its offensive action in April 2016, constitute yet another serious violation of international humanitarian and human rights law by Armenia, noted Mammadyarov. By its deliberate, offensive actions, Armenia undermined the ceasefire regime established in 1994 and endangered the prospects for the political settlement of the conflict. Having received an effective response from Azerbaijan, Armenia was forced to ask for a ceasefire, which was agreed under the mediation efforts of the Russian Federation on April 5, 2016, in Moscow, at the meeting of Chiefs of Defense of Armenia and Azerbaijan, he said. Despite that, it continues to violate the ceasefire, he noted adding that moreover, Armenia is amassing forces and building heavily reinforced military fortifications in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. Armenia started intensive military activity in the occupied Aghdam district of Azerbaijan on Sept. 19, 2016, said the minister. Armenia continues to challenge and tries to undermine the efforts of the international community, including the presidents of the OSCE MG co-chairing countries, aimed at reaching a breakthrough at the peace talks and getting Armenias troops out of sovereign lands of Azerbaijan, Mammadyarov said. Mammadyarov also said that Armenia must realize that relying on the status quo and armed provocations is a grave miscalculation. Its attempts to hypocritically mislead the international community on the root causes of the conflict by presenting themselves as a suffering side is doomed to fail, he added. Azerbaijan expects from Armenia to halt its military build-up in the occupied territories, and engage in negotiations with Azerbaijan in good faith so as to find a political solution to the conflict, which is long overdue, said the minister. He noted also that the conflict can be resolved only and only on the basis of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders. The sooner Armenia reconciles with this reality and withdraws its armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, the earlier the conflict will be resolved, and Armenia and its population will benefit from the prospects of cooperation and economic development, he added. Azerbaijan will spare no effort towards achieving the settlement of the conflict and ensuring peace, justice and development in the region, noted Mammadyarov. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton pauses as she speaks at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Phoenix Awards Dinner at the Washington convention center in Washington, U.S., September 17, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Barria Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton announced that she is traveling to Charlotte, NC, tomorrow, Sunday, the day before her scheduled TV debate with Republican candidate Donald Trump. She and her policy advisors have taken a page out Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's political "playbook." When he was White House Chief of Staff during President Obama's first term his political strategy and "mantra" was "You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it's an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before." For more than a year the Black Lives Matters Movement, including white people and other People of Color who supported them, have been crying out for national, State, and community leaders to intervene to stop the repeated shootings of Black men by police. They pleaded for our attention to stop the repeated actions of police in choosing lethal force as their first option in seeking to effect an arrest, that might, in some cases, have otherwise been lawful. Advertisement President Obama convened meetings at the the White House between Chiefs of police and other law enforcement representatives with select community leaders from across the country. Police killings of Black men continued. During the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC this summer Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton invited "Mothers of The Movement" to come to the Convention. The mothers of Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, Jordan Davis, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Dontre Hamilton, Hadiya Pendleton, Blair Holt and Oscar Grant took the stage to speak about the deaths of their children and express their support for Hillary Clinton to become president. Republican candidate Donald Trump began speaking about the living, education, and lack of jobs conditions in Black communities, asking Black Americans publicly, based upon his perception of life in our communities, "What have you got to lose?" Against this background, our initial reaction to the news that Hillary Clinton plans to go to Charlotte tomorrow was "beware of Greeks bearing gifts"; a phrase used to warn against possible deception by an adversary. (When a "Trojan Horse" was left at the gates of Troy, the Trojans thought the Greeks had left it as a parting gift because they had given up & sailed home) Advertisement Then we read the Op Ed column by Rev, William Barber, II, in today's New York Times. He is President of the NAACP in Charlotte. He reminds us "That systemic violence, which rarely makes headlines, creates the daily traumatic stress that puts our communities on edge, affecting both those of us who live there and outside observers who often denounce "black-on-black" crime. We cannot have a grown-up conversation about race in America until we acknowledge the violent conditions engendered by government policy and police practice." "Anyone who is concerned about violence in Charlotte should note that no one declared a state of emergency when the city's schools were re-segregated, creating a school-to-prison pipeline for thousands of poor African-American children. Few voiced outrage over the damage caused when half a million North Carolinians were denied health insurance because the Legislature refused to expand Medicaid." The Brexit symbolizes a nation's will for defending its national identity and protecting itself from excessive bureaucracy. The referendum result, however, has infused a soul-searching quest in Europe and beyond; Some in Scotland are calling for a second referendum to exit from the UK. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq has a similar narrative: It wants to separate from Iraq. Unlike Europe, however, the notion of independence is vehemently rejected by some of the regional powers. The American University of Kurdistan (AUK) and the Institute for Media and Political Research (IMPR) in August 2016 conducted a face-to-face survey in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to measure the level of support for independence. The results revealed that 84.3 percent of Kurds favor separating from Iraq. Moreover, 78.6 percent of the non-Kurdish ethnic and religious groups in the predominately Kurdish areas south of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) borders, known as the disputed areas, want their regions to join KRG, and 78.6 percent support the notion of Kurdistan's independence. Advertisement The stability and the democratic experience of the Kurdistan Region could be the key reasons why the non-Kurdish ethnic and religious groups chose Kurdistan over Baghdad. Undeniably, UK's predicament is less complicated than the Kurdish question. Polls in the UK indicate that erosion of sovereignty and excessive migration were the main reasons why most Britons voted to leave the European Union (EU). Meanwhile, as most Scots did not want to leave the EU, 62%, some are calling for a second referendum to exit the UK as they prefer remaining in the EU. On the other hand, the Kurdish quest for independence is a century old struggle. Following the fall of the Ottoman Empire, Kurdistan was forcibly partitioned and annexed into Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria as a result of the Sykes-Picot Agreement, a secret treaty between Great Britain and France in 1916. Similar to the other parts of Kurdistan, we, the Kurds of Iraq, have experienced tyranny and genocide at the hands of former Iraqi regimes, especially under Saddam Hussein's rule. Advertisement The oppression, however, continues in a new form today. Baghdad has become overly bureaucratic and has imposed an economic embargo on the Kurdistan Region, causing financial distress. Consequently, in our hearts, we have not accepted the notion of being Iraqis. To us, Iraq as a state has been a failure since its inception. On that premise, the Kurdish ambition to separate from Iraq is a natural right that any nation would desire. Consequently, the President of the Kurdistan Region, Massoud Barzani, has called upon the Kurdish political parties to prepare for a referendum. On the centennial anniversary of the Sykes-Picot Agreement, Barzani stated, "we must acknowledge the new realities; citizenship has not been developed; borders and sovereignty have become meaningless, the Sykes-Picot agreement is over." Further, on his trip to Europe in early September, Kurdistan's independence was the central topic in President Barzani's discussions with European officials. Advertisement The opponents of Kurdish independence, though, argue that Kurds would be better off as Iraqi nationals, and some argue that the timing is not right. But, anyone with a bit of knowledge about the history of Iraq would disagree. Iraq has been in a state of perpetual war since its foundation. It has no national identity as is divided along sectarian and ethnic lines. IntelCenter, a private counterterrorism intelligence agency, ranked it as the second most dangerous country in the world and Transparency International ranked it among the top ten most corrupted countries in 2015. Above all, empirical data (a study conducted by Chapman and Roeder at the University of California San Diego) finds partition as the best option for ending nationalist wars as it reduces the recurrence of violence considerably. All things considered, our painful struggle in Iraq enables us to view the Brexit as a source of inspiration. While the EU referendum has caused mix reactions throughout Europe, the democratic right to decide through a referendum is respected by most Europeans. Unfortunately, the ongoing calamity in the Middle East confirms that human rights and international laws are meaningless. Advertisement The Middle East should consider embracing the liberal democratic values practiced in the West as a solution for resolving decades of turmoil. The stability and prosperity of Western world confirm granting freedom to citizens to "determine their political status and [to] freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development" will likely help stabilize the Middle East. Accordingly, Baghdad and the global players ought to respect the aspiration of Kurds and view partition as a viable solution for ending wars, rather than a destabilizing factor. In the words of Woodrow Wilson, "National aspirations must be respected; people may now be dominated and governed only by their own consent. Self-determination is not a mere phrase; it is an imperative principle of action. . . . " The last three administrations have followed a bipartisan policy of constant war. Unfortunately, the consequences have been ugly: every intervention has laid the groundwork for more conflict. Yet the architects of this failure claim that all would be well if only Washington had acted more often and more decisively. In their view, the problem is not that America goes to war, but that it doesn't go to war nearly enough. Advertisement This approach is based on the belief that Washington is capable of solving every international problem. If only unnamed bright people implemented theoretically brilliant strategies backed by unidentified resolute citizens, terrorism would be suppressed, ISIS would be defeated, Russia would be compliant, Iraq would be successful, Syria would be peaceful, Libya would be united, and China would be respectful. Alas, our experience suggests that such people and policies don't exist. Otherwise, why would recent military operations have turned out so badly? If the right conditions for success weren't present in the last 15 years, why should we expect them to occur in the next 15 years? The biggest problem is the belief in immaculate intervention. More troops should have stayed longer, more bombs should have been dropped, and more no fly zones should have been established. Advocates rarely bother to explain the practical requirements and consequences of those policies. For instance, no intervention is more universally criticized by serious foreign policy analysts than the Iraq invasion. That war triggered widespread sectarian conflict, caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, wrecked the historic Christian community, spawned al-Qaeda in Iraq which morphed into ISIS, and empowered Iran. Advertisement The official Neoconservative line, however, is that the war was a great success won by President George W. Bush. Victory was squandered by President Barack Obama, who withdrew U.S. forces. Yet Bush, with troop levels at their highest providing maximum leverage, was unable to win Iraqi consent to a status of forces agreement, essential for any U.S. garrison. Had Washington attempted to force Baghdad to accept continued occupation, U.S. troops would have been targeted by Shia extremists as well as Sunni terrorists. The only way America could have blocked the rise of ISIS and ousted Iraq's sectarian regime would have been to intervene militarily, with potentially disastrous consequences. There was no domestic support for such a course after the Bush administration's earlier failed promises and unrealistic predictions. The U.S. should stop attempting to micro-manage the globe. Intervention in Libya, it is said, would have worked if only the West had intervened to nation build. Yet people the world over want to rule themselves. Having overthrown the Khadafy government, victorious Libyan forces wouldn't have welcomed a U.S. occupation force. There is no reason to believe the results of such an effort would have been any better than in Afghanistan or Iraq. In Syria, contend committed interventionists, America should have acted against Bashar al-Assad. He would have been overthrown, the Syrian Thomas Jefferson and George Washington would have taken charge, and ISIS would never have emerged. It's a great story, but overlooks the rise of sectarianism after America overthrew Iraq's secular dictator. Defenestrating Assad would have merely triggered the next stage of a bitter struggle for control. Advertisement Nor was there domestic U.S. support for greater involvement: opposition to air strikes was overwhelming when the administration tossed the issue to Congress. Belief that half-hearted involvement would have led to swift victory by so-called moderate insurgents ignored the latter's consistently disappointing performance. In Afghanistan a continued U.S. military presence is supposed to allow the Kabul government to create a stable, efficient, honest democracy in Central Asia. Yet the Afghan authorities are losing ground after 15 years despite support from tens of thousands of allied military personnel and expenditure of hundreds of billions of dollars. Keeping a few thousand combat personnel on station will only slow the collapse of a government known mostly for corruption and incompetence. Another claim is that had the Obama administration enforced the president's infamous "red line" on chemical weapons in Syria, Washington would have had the credibility to stop Russia from seizing Crimea and China from pushing its territorial claims in the Asia-Pacific. However, acting on a foolish promise for war is worse than sacrificing a bit of credibility. Anyway, every U.S. attempt to pressure nuclear-armed Moscow and Beijing forces them to demonstrate that they will not be intimidated by Washington. A combination photo shows Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump (L) in Palm Beach, Florida and Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (R) in Miami, Florida at their respective Super Tuesday primaries campaign events on March 1, 2016. Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton rolled up a series of wins on Tuesday, as the two presidential front-runners took a step toward capturing their parties' nominations on the 2016 campaign's biggest day of state-by-state primary voting. REUTERS/Scott Audette (L), Javier Galeano (R) On Monday night, like an eclipse, much of America will darken to watch the first 2016 Presidential Debate between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. As many as 100 million people are expected to watch this verbal bout between the oldest contender for a first term and the first woman nominated to run. Right now, it is impossible to guess who will win, but there will be clues throughout. Sometimes it comes down to simple style. The first televised debate between Republican Richard Nixon and Democrat John F. Kennedy in 1960, watched by an estimated 70 million people, defined differences that never faded from the screen. As I wrote in The World Almanac of Presidential Campaigns (1992): "Nixon, eight pounds underweight due to a knee infection, wore his shirt collar too loose and his drawn face, covered lightly with Lazy Shave, was the worse for a shadow of a beard. And it was Kennedy, not Nixon, who believed a producer's advice: "Play to the cameras. That's where the votes are." Mitt Romney did not listen either in his face-offs with President Barack Obama in 2012. Ramrod-straight, attentively focusing on debate moderators, Romney did not lean in to the real audience right in front of him. Advertisement At other times, it is tone that turns the tide. In fact, "There you go again" has become such a triumphant debate zinger that pundits are waiting for Clinton or Trump to make it theirs on Monday. Ronald Reagan, the Republican challenger in 1980, appropriated that movie line (from John Wayne's Rio Bravo) to dismiss President Jimmy Carter's persistent questions about Reagan's plans to cut Medicare, and, in the end, the former actor swaggered off the stage. Finally, substance can make or break a debate. In the 1988 Vice Presidential debate, ever senatorial Lloyd Bentsen, running on the ticket with Democrat Michael Dukakis, pulled up short his boyish, less experienced opponent, Senator Dan Quayle, who bragged that he had "as much experience as Jack Kennedy did when he sought the presidency." Bentsen cut him off: "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy." Bentsen's running mate did not fare as well. Dukakis, in his debate against future-president George H.W. Bush, was too cerebral, answering coldly that we would never recommend the death penalty even if, as the moderator queried, "Kitty Dukakis were raped and murdered." Dukakis argued that the death penalty does not work and that he "opposed the death penalty during all my life." No one cared; they wanted emotion. Advertisement The 2016 US Election has raised a lot of eyebrows and swirled up dust and din. There is polarization, anger and fear on a number of issues. The air is thick with disbelief and accusations. This bewildering period is best described by a tongue-in-cheek utterance of the 13th century poet Rumi: "All fire and no light All husk and no kernel." The poet goes on to say, "Raise your words, not your voice; it is rain that grows flowers, not thunder." However, to the thunderous applause of a section of the population, some politicians in this election year continue to make wild claims and extravagant promises. They conjure up calamitous situations and promise us the moon. Enter the timeless and beloved Mulla Nasruddin to make fun of this behavior. The 13th century mythological Mulla is a pivotal figure in Islamic folklore. Through his humorous teaching stories, profound and inconvenient truths are conveyed. Laughter opens up our hearts so that insights penetrate more deeply. At a time in history when Muslims boasted of a global empire, spiritual teachers used witty stories of the Mulla to deflate the bloated and delusional egos of empire builders. In a story that has relevance to the situation in our country today, the Mulla peered into a well one moonlit night and was horrified to find that the moon had fallen into the bottom of the well. Eager to save the world from the calamity of a moonless existence, he rushed home to get a rope. After tying a hook at one end, he flung the rope into the well. The hook got hold of something. With all his might the Mulla heaved and puffed, and as the hook came loose, he fell on his back. He was delighted to see the moon restored to its proper domain! "Thank God, I came along," said the self-satisfied Mulla. The human ego has an endless appetite for praise and lofty titles. In this presidential election, we hear and read daily claims that only one candidate is the Chosen One who can make America great again, the Great Protector who will save America from the hordes of neighboring invaders, pesky immigrants and foreign terrorists. This is reminiscent of the time when rulers in the Islamic empire employed poets to sing their praises and craft an imposing title to describe their God- appointed role on earth. Titles such as "God Gifted," and "God Exalted" became commonplace. A local prince once employed the Mulla to compose an appropriate title. It had to be succinct, invoke the name of God, and be unique. After much meditation, the Mulla announced a fitting title: "God Forbid"! Sadly, unscrupulous leaders and their supporters in this election are unabashedly arousing fears for selfish political advantage. Spiritual teachers are emphatic in cautioning us that using exaggerated fear to manipulate others will, undoubtedly, result in unhappy consequences. Excessive fear is like fire. When used recklessly, it easily gets out of control and consumes all. A mother brought her young son to the Mulla, complaining that she had tried everything to convince him to be less rude and rebellious. "Please," she said, "do something to put a little fear in his heart." The Mulla stared fiercely into the boy's eyes and commanded him to listen to his mother. He contorted his face terribly and let out deep growls. He looked and sounded so fearsome that the mother fainted and the Mulla rushed out of the room. When the mother regained consciousness, she berated the Mulla, "I asked you to frighten my son, not me." The Mulla replied, "Madam, when you invoke fear, it consumes everyone. Fear has no favorites. Did you not notice that I myself got so scared that I had to leave the room?" The 2016 election year has provoked puzzling questions: Why is a section of the US population so closed minded and prejudiced? Why are basic moral values so easily sacrificed on the altar of partisan politics? Why is there so little discernment and critical thinking? There are no easy answers. The Quran offers a clue: when there is prolonged anger, fear, hate, and desperation, "Truly it is not the eyes that go blind, but it is hearts within breasts that go blind" (22:46). A blinded heart cuts us off from our inner divine spark, our higher self. This has consequences. Bereft of a connection to our true essence, one of the consequences is that we become slavishly dependent on external authorities. A wise verse from the Tao Te Ching articulates the effect of this disconnection: "When people no longer believe in themselves, that is when they turn to authorities." Advertisement A Mulla story illustrates the absurd effect of this phenomenon. The Mulla was gravely ill, surrounded by family, friends and his wailing wife. The doctor arrived and a hush came over the room as he examined the Mulla. After quite some time, the doctor turned to the Mulla's wife and declared, "O honorable wife of the Mulla, only Allah is immortal. It is with deep sorrow that I have to inform you that your husband has passed away. His soul has flown to the bosom of God." As the doctor continued his eloquent remarks, the Mulla feebly protested, "No wait! I am alive! I am alive!" "Quiet!" retorted his wife, "The doctor is speaking. Don't argue with the doctor!" Another result of a clenched heart is that our beliefs become rigid and uncompromising. When belief and reality clash, surprisingly, the former prevails. No matter what issue crops up in this election season, be it climate change, gun control, health care, or the birther controversy, facts and proofs are inconsequential. Some of us insist on clinging tightly to our beliefs no matter what the evidence reveals. "How ugly rings the metallic music of their rigidities and certainties," exclaims Rumi. Especially astonishing is the warped logic used to justify unbending beliefs. Someone asked the Mulla, "Which is more useful, the Sun or the Moon?" "The answer is obvious," replied the Mulla. "We have plenty of light during the day, so the Sun is not necessary. But it is dark at night, so we need the radiance of the Moon. Therefore, the Moon is far more important than the Sun." What is most important in this election is that we exercise our right to vote. There are enough people with awareness and compassion in our country to overcome any despair we might feel about the unique craziness of this season. Is it not amazing that in spite of what feels like abiding and rampant polarization, racism, and Islamophobia, the citizens of this nation twice voted into the White House someone of a mixed race with an unfamiliar and funny last name and a scary middle name? Take heart! And laugh at the Mulla's last story, which shows why we must resolve not to make any excuses when it comes to voting. A neighbor knocked on the Mulla's door, asking to borrow his donkey so that he could carry his goods to the market. The Mulla was reluctant and so made up an excuse. "I'd like to, but someone else has already borrowed the animal." As luck would have it, just at that time his donkey in the stable began to bray. "But I hear the donkey!" exclaimed the neighbor. The Mulla, seeming indignant and offended, raised his voice, "Now who are you going to believe, me or the donkey?" Elliott Abrams, a former Reagan and Bush Administration official and a former colleague on the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), has written an article "The United States Bars Christian, Not Muslim, Refugees From Syria." It is provocative, as its title suggests, but it is deeply flawed in its argument, its evidence, and its conclusions. Abrams begins by noting that of the more than ten thousand Syrian refugees admitted this past year, only 56 are Christian. Out of that single thread he weaves a whole cloth using unsubstantiated anecdotes, bad math and worse logic, with a touch of fabrication thrown in for good measure--quoting Nina Shea, another former USCIRF Commissioner, who boldly states that there is "de facto discrimination and a gross injustice" being committed [by the US] against Syrian Christians. Advertisement Abrams frames his case around the assumption that around 10% of Syria's prewar population was Christian. That much is true. But then, without justification, he alleges that "somewhere between a half million and a million Syrian Christians have fled Syria". Since he presents no evidence for that claim, I can only speculate that Abrams may have taken the total number of Syrian refugees (between 4.5 to 5 million, with another 6 million Syrians internally displaced) and assumed that Christians must be 10% of that total. This is clearly unwarranted. Specialists in the field point to several factors that Abrams either doesn't know or won't acknowledge because they would muddy up his case. In the first place, we simply do not know how many Christians have left Syria. Many, we are told by church leaders, have stayed because they have felt relatively secure in government controlled areas. Instead of uprooting their families and risking the loss of their properties and businesses, they have remained. There is also strong evidence that some Christians who are wealthier or who are professionals left Syria to join families abroad. Many others, we know, have settled in Christian areas of Lebanon, where they have family ties, and do not consider themselves refugees. After Jordan and Lebanon began tightening their borders, more recent Syrian refugees have taken advantage of Turkey's more porous borders and since Turkey keeps and does not share its registration data for refugees, we have no idea how many Christians have entered that country. The bottom line is that it is simply not possible to know the number of Christians who fled Syria. Abrams' next argument is based on what he initially terms "a theory", but then acts as if it were established fact, "that the US takes refugee referrals from the UN refugee camps in Jordan and there are no Christians there [in the refugee camps in Jordan]". This "theory" supposedly accounts for the low number of Syrian Christians coming the US. To add weight to this argument, Abrams again quotes Shea who alleges that the reason Christians aren't in the Jordanian camps is because "they are preyed upon by other residents from the Sunni community...they are raped, abducted into slavery...It is extremely dangerous, there is not a single Christian in the Jordanian camps for Syrian refugees". Advertisement It is difficult to know what to make of Shea's horror stories of Christians being raped and abducted in the camps. What we do know is that Christians aren't in the camps and there are better reasons to explain this other than to assume fear. In the first place, only 15% of all Syrian refugees in Jordan are in the camps. While Jordan is not a preferred destination for Syrian Christians, those who have sought refuge in Jordan have gone to cities. The UN has registered Syrian Christians in Jordan by going to churches to seek them out. While Lebanon has apparently played host to the bulk of Syrian Christians, many of them have not sought to register as refugees. Those who have registered in Lebanon cannot be processed for visas to the US because the visa offices of US Embassy in Lebanon have been closed for the past few years for security reasons. Another factor to consider here is that since 2012, the US has accepted over 100,000 Syrians on a variety of visas (work, student, family). In addition, there were many Syrians who were already in the US on non-immigrant visas when the war broke out. When their visas expired, many were given permission to remain under a provision called Temporary Protected Stay (TPS). Since the US does not register visitors, students, or workers by religion, we do not know how many of these Syrians are Christian. What we are left with is the fact that there are many reasons why the US hasn't processed a large number of Syrian Christians and it has nothing to do with discrimination by either the UN or the Obama Administration. More likely it is because they haven't fled the country in the numbers speculated by Abrams, they haven't registered with the UN as refugees, or many are already here in the US either with other forms of visas or TPS. And as for the argument that the US discriminates against Christians, consider the fact that of the 128,000 Iraqis who have been settled in the US in the past decade, 45,000 are Christians. Given all this, I am left to wonder why Abrams and company are beating this drum. It can't just be because they care about Christians. During the first 3 years of the Iraq war (which Abrams supported as a Bush Administration Deputy National Security Advisor), Iraq's Christian community was devastated, declining from a prewar 1.4 million to around 400,000 in 2008. Back then not a peep of concern was raised about the fate of Christians. Only now is the charge being leveled that this Administration is failing to protect vulnerable Christians. Could there be politics at work? Advertisement Abrams closes out his article urging support for the Religious Persecution Relief Act sponsored by Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas). Critical of both the UN and the Obama Administration, the Cotton bill proposes circumventing the UN refugee agency and creating a "fast track US review process" for Syrian religious minorities. The criticisms are unfair and unwarranted. It has always been the priority of the US to accept the most vulnerable. Despite the horrors that have been inflicted on Christians, Yazidis, and other minority religious communities in Iraq and Syria, it must also be acknowledged: that ISIS has most often targeted and murdered Sunni and Shia Muslims; that Shia militia have terrorized Sunnis; and that the victims of Assad's barrel bombs and chlorine gas have been Sunnis. Are these victims not vulnerable and worthy of consideration for refuge? Does it reflect our nation's professed values to begin to play sectarian or partisan politics with these victims of war? I am a Christian of Arab descent and I care deeply about the fate of the Christians of the Middle East. For over a century they have either been exploited by groups in the West, when it served Western interest to do so, or callously ignored. I care about them too much to see them being used again. On Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, Marie Garvey, flanked by the Hilton Skyscraper Initiative masterminds, came to our city Council to blast me for the content of my most recent installment of The Hilton Chronicles. Marie Garvey, waving the "civility" flag, was trying to paint herself as a "victim of bullying." As a PR flack, Garvey is sometime in the business of putting words in other people's mouths. On Tuesday she was at it again in full force by suggesting that I had called her a "whore." As I immediately responded at the time, that's her word, not mine. If I had wanted to use a specific word, I would have. In fact, I wrote there are a "few choice words," viz. plural -- not a single word - to describe her actions and I intentionally left it up to people to use their own imaginations to fill in the blanks however they see fit. I'm not even going to try to speculate as to why she came up with that one, though a psychologist would likely have a field day. The absurdity of Marie Garvey's claims that she is a victim will not be lost upon those who know what has been going on around town and how the Hilton and its proponents have been acting, which in many cases is the very opposite of "civil." Advertisement Garvey claims that I indicted her integrity "just for doing her job." The answer is simple: no, I'm not indicting her integrity for "just doing her job." There is nothing wrong with being a legislative advocate or PR person. There is, however, something wrong with misrepresenting the truth, lying and trying to deceive people; and Marie Garvey is spearheading a campaign which is trying to trick people by doing just that. The Seven Strikes article, along with other articles in the series, details this meticulously. In playing the gender card and trying to portray me as a chauvinist she is not only engaging in a false personal attack on me, she is also simultaneously attempting to paint the picture that I myself am unfairly attacking anyone for simply disagreeing with my position. Nothing could be further from the truth. I respect people who have differing points of view and who are willing to engage in fact-based and rational discussions about the merits and demerits of whatever position might be at hand. However, I am indeed taking people to task - in this case the thin-skinned Garvey -- for the manner and way in which they are attempting to deceive, mislead, misinform and misrepresent Measure HH, the Hilton Condominium Tower Initiative, to our residents. The cynical spin is a true attempt to insult the intelligence of our residents and a blatant attempt to turn all of us into suckers. I will not simply remain silent in the face of such attacks upon our Community. Marie Garvey is an instrumental piece of this multi-million dollar machinery and as such she deserves to be called out for her role. It's not about doing her job, but it's about the way in which she does it. And, yes, make no mistake about it and feel free to quote these words: I feel there is a major problem with integrity and there is an utter lack of moral behavior in the way they are trying to quench their insatiable greed. Advertisement Playing the gender card and trying to portray me as a chauvinist -- and herself as a victim -- is both false and absurd. Of course, Garvey was trying to put words in my mouth. The quote which she repeated out of context at the council meeting included, ironically, her own words which I had turned against her when she unfairly, with a dose of dog-whistle xenophobia and latent racism, was trying to attack the motives of a competitor. Of course, she didn't mention that the words she was quoting me as having said were in large part a direct quote from herself. Marie Garvey, in addressing the entire Council except for me, said that I don't know her. This actually, for a change, happens to be a true statement. I neither know nor care to know Marie Garvey. For all I know she is a wonderful dancer and has many great qualities. Not my concern. Not my business. My comments very clearly only relate to her professional activity. Of course, a true ad hominem attack against her would be completely unrelated to the matter at hand, which is a tactic that Hilton proponents themselves have used and are continuing to use, directed at those who take issue with their scheme, including City commissioners and myself. But when it comes to her professional activity, which in my opinion is fair game, I am indeed questioning her integrity because of her role in spreading false, deceptive, misleading factoids and information. Marie Garvey chose to use the word "whore". That was her interpretation, not mine. She attempted to put a word in my mouth which never had emanated from it. But if you must hear a few "choice words from the English language", then I will say that I feel she is professionally "a hypocrite and a sell-out." And I would say that regardless of her gender, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. The suggestion that it makes me a chauvinist simply because she happens to be a woman is just as absurd as suggesting that her Council chamber tirade against me is anti-Semitic or Swedophobic. Garvey also fed her narrative to the Beverly Hills Courier's Laura Coleman, who herself is ethically and journalistically challenged when it comes to the truth (click here for some specific examples). Coleman, who generally seems to print Garvey's talking points verbatim, doubled down on Garvey's gender card attack in an unhinged rant in her paper after she called me earlier in the week me to whine that I had blocked her on Facebook (and in that conversation she unsuccessfully tried to get me to admit I was intending to refer to Marie Garvey as a "whore"). Of course, the Courier has been bought - figuratively, but perhaps also literally - by the Hilton and bids fair to make Pravda in the glory days of the Soviet Union seem like The New York Times. The Courier has become the Skyscraper Initiative, Measure HH's personal propaganda machine (in the Courier's case, the HH seems to stand for "Hysterically Hysterical," an accurate description of its coverage of the measure), so I probably shouldn't take Coleman's personal attacks personally. Or perhaps, by her own "logic," she's just a raging anti-Semite... Advertisement Marie Garvey mentioned that she has told her daughter never to give into bullying. Far be it from me to tell her how to raise her child but at least that is one thing we have in common. But not only have I told my son not to give into bullying, I've also taught him not to be a bully, to be truthful, not to lie and to stick to the facts. In a textbook case of "master suppression technique," Garvey pointedly addressed the other individual Council members, pointedly ignoring me, trying to make me invisible, the very first and most obvious master suppression technique (withholding information and heaping blame are two other master suppression techniques she used on Tuesday). Of course, in the Jewish religion, failure to acknowledge someone else's existence is also an insult to G-d. I am always happy to meet people with whom I disagree for fact-based and rational discussion. I was prepared to engage in a neutral, city sponsored town hall, which would have been moderated by the League of Women Voters and in which Marie Garvey, or any supporter - paid or otherwise - of the Hilton Skyscraper could also participate. Advertisement Yet in an unprecedented act of arrogance, the Hilton's Ted Kahan, who was part of Garvey's support team on Tuesday, made demands for participation in the town hall, which included the right "to approve all speakers on behalf of the opposition to Measure HH." Effectively, he wanted to turn what was supposed to be a neutral, balanced forum into a Harlem Globetrotters match with the ability for the Hilton to decide who would be allowed to play for the Washington Generals. The #MakeAmericaSmartAgain movement is growing and you can get in on the action. A lot is on the line come November 9th. It is no surprise that Mike Judge's cult film Idiocracy is more relevant than ever. I recently had the opportunity to chat with Sharon and Jeff Sperber. The married couple are behind Eat|See|Hear--a premier LA outdoor movie, food truck and live music event company. They explained why the upcoming 10th anniversary screening of Idiocracy on September 24th resonates with the American public. Hey guys! Thanks for the interview. Can you explain the creative process of the 'Make America Smart Again' campaign? Jeff Sperber: Shepard's Studio One team approached us about doing a special event screening of Idiocracy at the end of our summer season to support the 'Make America Smart Again' campaign. As fans of Shepard, Idiocracy and supporters of the cause we were excited to craft this very special outdoor event. Advertisement Very cool. Why do you think is it important for young people to register to vote? Sharon Sperber: Too many young people don't understand why voting is important. Education about the issues is key. Only you know what is important to you and it's critical that younger (and older) people know what's at stake, what the key issues and causes are, where each candidate stands and most importantly, no one is perfect. It's rare that you are going to align your personal views 100% with a candidate. You have to know what is most important to you and that your candidate of choice aligns on those issues. It's a very grey area. I completely agree. How did you get Mike Judge, Dax Shepard and Terry Crews involved with the event? Jeff Sperber: Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell have been out to a few Eat|See|Hear events in the past, so we reached out to see if he'd be willing to join us. The #MASA team had been in contact with Terry very early on and we're thrilled that Mike Judge was available to make this a great reunion What is the Library Foundation of LA? Why do you feel strongly about this particular organization? Jeff Sperber: The Library Foundation of Los Angeles provides critical support to the Los Angeles Public Library resulting in free programs, resources, and services available to the millions of adults, children and youth in Los Angeles. Through fundraising, advocacy and innovative programs, the Library Foundation strengthens the Los Angeles Public Library and promotes greater awareness of its valuable resources. That's amazing. Education is so important. Before I let you guys go, I have to ask...What do you see for the future of America? Advertisement Sharon Sperber: If I could predict the future I would have won Powerball already. What we are sure of is that on November 9th, regardless of who is elected President, we will still be living in a nation with glaring systemic problems that must be improved. Hopefully we will as a nation find our way back to where compromise and pragmatism are more important than ideology and outrage. The International Organization for Migration's "i am a migrant' campaign and platform is a place for the personal stories of migrants. We want to challenge the anti-migrant stereotypes and hate speech in politics and society. "i am a migrant" lets migrants tell their own stories. Together we want to show: Migration has a human face. Migration is diverse. This is a letter from 200 hundred young migrants featured in the "i am a migrant" campaign about the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants held on 19 September 2016. Find some of their testimonies on iamamigrant.org and watch their video here. 'Educating the Future': Advocating for the Education of Young Migrants In light of the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants in which we place our hopes, we, young migrants of the world studying in Geneva, confirm to the gathered heads of states that education is our future and the future of the democracies who welcome us. We want the right to education for all children, regardless of their status... Advertisement Because a country that wants to grow must have people to build it.Because school is where we begin to love justice.Because school is a way to freedom.Because we do not want to be victims, but students.Because school means meeting friends, who become a second family.Because as girls we have the chance to get the same education as boys,Because we want all children to go to school like we can, to have freedom of expression and a second chance, as we have had thanks to our professors.Because education will help us conquer our dreams.Because effort, hard work and patience are key ingredients for a successful life. Because school will allow us to provide a better life for our families.Because we learn new languages, new cultures.Because we hope we will be able to create our own businesses.Because it is a right many young people do not have access to.Because we learn to live together and respect one another and this will serve us all our lives.Because education is an essential tool,Because yesterday we were different, today we are different, and tomorrow we will be different, thanks to education But essentially because an educated person is a free person, with the power to choose their own future career, to defend their thoughts and rights, and to gain their independence, we want more schools and the right to education for all children. We are 200 young migrants, eager to achieve our dreams. "Educating the Future" is an initiative from the students of Geneva schools (Service de l'Accueil du Postobligatoire [ACPO] and Espace Entreprise) to celebrate the International Day of Democracy when 200 young migrants between the ages of 15 and 19 went to the UN to discover the role of Geneve Internationale and met with officials. Advertisement buenos aires argentina The Interamerican Commission for Human Rights has denounced a deep financial crisis, perhaps the worst since its establishment. This debacle happens after years of systematically inadequate funding policies. Despite several commitments and pledges made by the states to "adequately fund the body," the Interamerican Commission of Human Rights is the worst funded human rights system in the world. The seriousness of this situation shows the lack of political will by some states in terms of financing and promoting the observance and protection of human rights. For that reason, the statement delivered by the Commission thanking Argentina for the extraordinary contribution in order to help overcome the current financial crisis becomes quite relevant. With a total of USD 400,000 to be contributed in 2016, Argentina becomes the main Latin American donor to the Commission, and makes solid steps to shore up commitments made by this government, understanding the defense of the IAHRS as a "state policy". For the country- especially for its citizens- the importance the Commission should not be neglected: the Interamerican system is one of the leading guarantees in the face of structural problems of our country, but mainly in terms of access to justice in case of serious violations of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. It is relevant to highlight that the statement was published days before the arrival to Argentina of Mr. Cavallaro, President of the Commission, as part of a trip with an agenda that includes visits to detention centers - following precautionary measures against Argentina - , meetings with national authorities and a discussion with senior officials of the three branches and members of civil society. Advertisement The Argentine contribution to the sustainability of the Commission is not an isolated event. Cavallaro recently stated that "obviously the contribution made by Argentina places it as the Latin American country that has supported financially the work of the Commission". Notably it was not the only contribution made by Argentina in the international agenda on human rights. An example of this is the position on the political and social crisis in Venezuela, when during the presidential campaign Macri committed to the defense of human rights in that country, a position which has been continued throughout official statements, press conferences, debates in international organizations, and actions in the regional organizations such as OAS. Argentina is also contributing to the peace process in Colombia. It is considered that the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration; transitional justice; and security sector reform are central pillars for creating a suitable scenario for preventing future human rights violations. Thus Argentina has already pledged to deploy 75 military observers to accompany the disarmament and demobilization process of FARC fighters. In the near future more contributions could come from Argentina, whether they are linked to more theoretical and political issues of the post-conflict process, or more operational actions such as those related to humanitarian demining. In a more global contribution, the Argentine commitment to receive three thousand Syrian refugees should not be overlooked. The current severe humanitarian crisis, which affects more than 60 million people in the world, made Argentina react by receiving three thousand refugees. Although it may seem as a symbolic number, it is a first step to demonstrate to the governments of the region and to the world that their immigration and refugee policies are related to their responsibility to protect populations from armed conflict and human rights violations. Advertisement Despite the progress, there are still many challenges ahead in terms of foreign policy and human rights. But there are also many contributions that Argentina can do in this area. The strong defense of the International Criminal Court that the country has had, following a state policy of more than 15 years, should be highlighted, and the upcoming congressional debate on the ratification of the Kampala Amendments becomes particularly important. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.25 Trend: The US ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta hosted a reception at his residence for more than 300 alumni of US government-funded exchange programs on September 23, 2016. Taking part were a number of recently-returned alumni as well as existing alumni. They came together to celebrate another successful year of exchange programs supported by the US Department of State and to welcome the new cohort of alumni to the US-Educated Azerbaijani Alumni Association (AAA) family. Ambassador Cekuta, the embassys Public Affairs Officer Caroline Savage, and its Cultural Affairs Officer Amy Petersen, joined AAA Chair Aliyar Huseynov in welcoming the alumni, announcing the 2016-2017 Alumni MAX winners, and honoring the active alumni who did so much in the past year. The highlight of the evening was a performance by the American band Matuto, visiting Azerbaijan at the invitation of the U.S. Embassy. Matuto combines Brazilian forro and American bluegrass into an infectious rhythm that got all the guests engaged and moving. They have a number of free concerts scheduled over the next week throughout Azerbaijan Sept. 24 at 17:00 at the Tourism Bazaar in Ismayilli; Sept. 25 at 18:00 at the Ganjlik Mall; Sept. 27 at 17:00 at the Baku American Center; Sept. 28at 17:00 at the State Drama Theatre in Mingachevir; and on Sept. 29 at 17:00 at the Ganjachay Park-Bulvar in Ganja. There are almost 6,000 alumni of US-government sponsored exchange programs in Azerbaijan, whose education in the United States has made them leading specialists in their fields and major contributors to the further development of Azerbaijan. Learn more about AAA by visiting their website: http://www.aaa.org.az/ Two more black men have been shot and killed by police: in Charlotte, North Carolina (Keith Lamont Scott) and in Tulsa, Oklahoma (Terence Crutcher). WARNING: THESE VIDEOS ARE GRAPHIC AND THE AUDIO UNSETTLING AND EXPLICIT. This is a tale of two cities. Advertisement In one city, there is police accountability and no rioting. In the other city, there is no police accountability. For days, there are riots and protests by the public. Here is the wife's cell phone video of the Charlotte shooting. The audio is heartbreaking, as she alternately pleads with the police and with her husband: Here is the Police video of the Charlotte shooting: There is nothing wrong with your phone or computer. The video was not released. Charlotte's police chief said Thursday the agency will not publicly release video footage of Keith Lamont Scott's death. Advertisement Here is a video of the rioting in Charlotte. That is the tale of one city, Charlotte. Here is the tale of the other city. Here is the Police Video of the Tulsa, Oklahoma shooting of Terrence Crutcher (19:43:52) Here is news of the indictment of the officer involved in the Tulsa shooting for manslaughter. Here is a video of the rioting in Tulsa: There is no video because there was no rioting. Two cities, two shootings. Different governmental reactions, different responses by the people. See the connection? When there is a responsive police force and the citizens feel their concerns are being heard, they are largely willing to let the system work. Advertisement Here are two questions that hopefully will be answered in short order: In Tulsa, how did the PCP get to the scene, where it was discovered by the police? Did the victim have it? That's what the police imply. In Charlotte, how did the weapon get to the scene where it was discovered by the police? Did the victim have it? That's what the police imply. Its pretty important for the official narrative to show the public that the victims somehow "deserved to be shot." That's why there was so much discussion about the convenience store crime in Ferguson which led to the shooting of Michael Brown. His death was somehow justified in the eyes of some if he was a bully in a stop and shop, the theory goes. We don't know the answer to the two questions, but... There are two terms of police lingo that everyone should learn. "Throwaways" and "Flaking" "Throwaways": are untraceable small caliber weapons (guns) allegedly carried by some police officers, often in a leg holster, that can be clandestinely dropped where the police need to find a weapon. "Flaking": this is the secretive dropping of untraceable drugs, allegedly by police officers, where the police need to find drugs. Advertisement Nobody really knows whether the gun and PCP were genuinely at the scene of each respective shooting, but hopefully a complete investigation will uncover the truth. This writer has the utmost respect and appreciation for law enforcement officers and the work they do. It is selfless, thankless and dangerous work, and the criminals they face do not subscribe to such niceties as following the law. But we've reached a tipping point in America, where people across the political spectrum have seen years of these shootings and are fed up. Here are some similar encounters of the recent past. ALTON STERLING (Baton Rouge Man Selling CDs) PHILANDO CASTILE (Minnesota Man Pulled Over for Busted Tail light, shot while moving arm) Advertisement TAMIR RICE (Cleveland 12-year-old with a toy gun) The squad car appears at 0.17. ERIC GARNER (New Yorker selling "loose cigarettes") "I can't breathe" chokehold video. SANDRA BLAND (Traffic stop, Waller County, Texas) MICHAEL BROWN (Ferguson, Missouri). No video is available, but this is a story of the aftermath. Videos via youtube. Video of Charlotte shooting via youtube video, courtesy of the Curry Law Firm. Whether or not they choose to admit it, there is clearly a breakdown of trust between police and the African American community, and that distrust has spread to the rest of America. We have seen police chiefs refuse to release potentially damning videos to the public (Keith L. Scott, Tamir Rice, Laquan McDonald), tamper with evidence (Laquan McDonald), we've seen police plant evidence then collude to cover it up (Walter Scott), we've watched as police stood by and said nothing when one of their colleagues performed an illegal chokehold that proved fatal (Eric Garner). We've repeatedly watched police render no medical assistance after they've mortally injured someone, leaving citizens to die like animals (Michael Brown, Terence Crutcher, Tamir Rice, Kajieme Powell, among many others). Yet police unions continue to be the harshest critics of police reform. Advertisement When one group of Americans is brutalized, there is no "justice for all." Every American is at risk. But last straw came when the Fraternal Order of Police chose to endorse Donald Trump for President. The FOP didn't have to endorse any candidate. And yet, in the wake of all the compelling evidence showing racial profiling, in the wake of the 2015 study showing that unarmed blacks are 3.5 times more likely than unarmed whites to be the shot by police, in the wake of the July 2016 report by the Center for Policing Equity showing that "black residents were more likely than white residents to be targeted for use of force," in the wake of all the high profile police shootings and resultant protests and riots, the nation's largest police union, comprising roughly 40% of the country's sworn officers, endorsed an openly racist candidate for President. In their September 16 press release, they backed Trump with such enthusiasm that they used three exclamation points!!! And Donald Trump is not just any racist candidate. He recruited alt-right, white nationalist Steve Bannon as the CEO of his campaign. Trump is endorsed by numerous white supremacists, Klansman and neo-Nazis who recognize his sometimes coded racist language for what it is. For example, lamenting that America is no longer "a 92% white/European nation," Rocky Suhayda of the American Nazi Party wrote in September 2015. "We have a wonderful OPPORTUNITY here folks, that may never come again, at the RIGHT time... Donald Trump's campaign statements, if nothing else, have SHOWN that 'our views' are NOT so 'unpopular' as the Political Correctness crowd have told everyone they are!" He is consistently supported by only 0-1% of the African American population in the polls. Advertisement What does this tell us about how much the police care about African Americans? The nation's largest police union is basically saying to Black America, "Your lives don't, in fact, matter at all. Black blood does not matter. We give you the collective middle finger." Well, Black America, you have lots of allies who are standing up with you, and we are demanding police reform because America is better than this. Sadly, the FOP's endorsement denigrates those good cops who bravely put their lives on the line everyday to do the right thing, and those cops who want to improve their profession and support police reform. Police reform is a national emergency that needs to be addressed before it continues to tear our nation apart. Clearly there is something wrong with the way police officers are trained. "Warrior policing" is emphasized instead of de-escalation techniques, and cops are not taught enough how to recognize their own implicit biases and check them (biases all of us Americans hold, myself included). America imprisons more people per capita than every other country in the world. We hold 25% of the world's prison population, even though we don't even have anywhere near the high crime rates. It saddens me that instead of trying to improve the way policing is done, rebuilding trust with the communities they are sworn to protect and serve, we see police departments dig in their heels to fight police reform at the expense of people's lives and our nation's unity. Advertisement Seared into our collective consciousness is the image of hundreds of cops turning their backs on New York Mayor Bill deBlasio in January 2015 as he delivered a moving eulogy for a slain police officer. Why? Because deBlasio had previously questioned the department's racially discriminatory stop-and-frisk policy and publicly admitted that he had had "The Talk" with his black teenage son--the same talk ubiquitous in households of black boys --- about how to survive an encounter with the police. In an enlightened dialogue, the Dalai Lama tells Archbishop Desmond Tutu that his years as a refugee have taught him to identify with the plight of so many others today. "This recognition that we are all connected," says Tutu, "is the birth of empathy and compassion." However noble this sentiment, the world can look a lot different to a German burgher trying to provide for his family and preserve the character of his community than it does to two religious leaders conversing in the misty hills of Dharamsala. As much as we may feel global, we react local. At the Global Progress 2016 conference in Montreal recently, Germany's vice chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, concisely captured the backlash roiling politics in his country and the rest of Europe. "As the average citizens see it," he said, "first the authorities spent billions on bailing out the banks, and now are spending generously on refugees from Syria and elsewhere -- meanwhile cutting back on pensions, unemployment payments and other social benefits through austerity policies. 'What about us?' they ask." That attitude may not make saints of citizens, but neither does it make them sinners. As German Chancellor Angela Merkel is discovering through repeated blows at the polls, when the wages of war outstrip the means of empathy, people retreat into their own suffering and better angels lose their wings. Bad faith results from good intentions if the capacity to fulfill moral claims is lacking. Advertisement Writing from Germany, Tobias Lill worries that if Merkel does not take action soon to relieve the anxiety of her citizens, the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party could soon arrive in power. "When vast swaths of the country have lost faith in establishment parties," he says, "it can quickly lead to crisis." The key to avoiding such a crisis, he argues, is providing better support for working families. The refugee crisis was front and center this week at the United Nations General Assembly. As Willa Frej reports, U.S. President Barack Obama convened a summit of leaders from more than 50 nations who pledged $4.5 billion in aid to groups helping refugees to find education and work. The U.N. Development Programme administrator, Helen Clark, calls for a greater focus on "prevention and mediation" of conflicts before they turn into full fledged wars while "promoting inclusive economic growth and sustainable livelihoods" in the troubled nations from which refugees and migrants flee. Mercy Corps' Neal Keny-Guyer argues that "conflict causes violent extremism more than violent extremism causes conflict." Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, outlines the enormous economic costs of conflict in the Mideast and North Africa, stressing the importance of keeping "core government institutions functioning in times of conflict" in order "to maintain life-saving services." Gordon Brown, the former British prime minister and U.N. special envoy for global education, is concerned that a "lost generation" is in the making as an estimated 265 million displaced children worldwide are out of school. Advertisement Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, whose country has been one of the primary targets of Donald Trump's xenophobic campaign, argues that agreements reached at the U.N. this week "must aim at strengthening the state's capabilities for the protection of migrants and their human rights, while recognizing their contributions to economic development and achieving their social inclusion, in order to eradicate intolerance and racism." WorldPost Middle East Correspondent Sophia Jones, in Istanbul, and Danae Leivada, in Athens, report on the deplorable conditions at the Moria refugee detention center on the island of Lesbos, which was engulfed in fire this week. The mayor, they report, has not ruled out the possibility that the blaze was ignited by members of the neo-fascist Golden Dawn party, whom Greek journalists have also accused of attacking them at an anti-refugee protest, HuffPost Greece's Marialena Perpiraki reports. Martin Schulz, president of the European Parliament, writes that even though the U.K. and the European Union are parting ways, they can still find a way to work together. But, he warns, "We cannot shape a new European future at such a time of fragility by indulging in nostalgia -- none of us, including the U.K., can bring back the past." Anastasya Manuilova reports from Moscow on why Russian sanctions against Western food imports has not dented popular support for President Vladimir Putin, as demonstrated once again in elections this week. She cites a key study that says most Russians perceive Putin's import ban as "a sign of strength" in standing up to Europe and the U.S.. Foreign Affairs Reporter Akbar Shahid Ahmed reports on a speech at the Harvard Club in New York by Turkey's first lady, Emine Erdogan, about the recent coup attempt. She asked Americans to imagine how they would react if the Brooklyn Bridge was seized by terrorists. Advertisement Writing from Beijing, Wang Jisi, one of China's leading experts on America, argues that the "new normal" of U.S.-China relations is an ongoing contest over framing the new rules of a world order in transition. Admiral Harry Harris, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, makes no bones about his objective of military domination of the western Pacific. "If we have to fight tonight," he says, "I don't want it to be a fair fight. If it's a knife fight, I want to bring a gun. If it's a gun fight, I want to bring in the artillery -- and all of our partners with their artillery." Writing from Manila, Richard Javed Heydarian charts the latest antics of the "fiercely independent-minded" president, Rodrigo Duterte. Heydarian notes that on a trip to Jakarta, the president was seen as "criticizing America and its lack of commitment to the Philippines, while praising Chinese assistance to the Philippines." That has made some wonder, he says, "whether there would be irreversible consequences for bilateral relations [with the U.S.], among the oldest and most intimate in human history." In the wake of the New York and New Jersey bombings, Afghan-born suspect Ahmad Rahami's father said he had told federal agents about his son's interest in terrorist organizations a few years ago. Daniel Koehler explains why he believes the United States needs "deradicalization" counseling that provides concerned parents like Rahami and authorities with an option to derail a terrorist attack other than prematurely calling the police or keeping a young person's unsettling turn a secret. Ed Dolan explains why business leaders seem wary of a Donald Trump presidency. "The biggest corporations," he surmises, "are trembling at the prospect that this populist outsider would break the cozy relationship they have had with government for as long as they can remember." Dominique Mosbergen reports on another focus at the U.N. this week. "The General Assembly is meeting to tackle a global health crisis that's estimated to 'kill more people than cancer' does now in the coming decades," she writes. "Antibiotic resistance causes the deaths of at least 700,000 people annually. That number is expected to balloon to 10 million by 2050." She also reports from Singapore on the staggering health toll the ever more regular haze is taking on populations across Southeast Asia. Advertisement Finally, our Singularity series this week looks at an experiment in which a man's thoughts are able through induced chemical reactions to control nanobots inside a cockroach. WHO WE ARE EDITORS: Nathan Gardels, Co-Founder and Executive Advisor to the Berggruen Institute, is the Editor-in-Chief of The WorldPost. Kathleen Miles is the Executive Editor of The WorldPost. Farah Mohamed is the Managing Editor of The WorldPost. Alex Gardels and Peter Mellgard are the Associate Editors of The WorldPost. Suzanne Gaber is the Editorial Assistant of The WorldPost. Katie Nelson is News Director at The Huffington Post, overseeing The WorldPost and HuffPost's news coverage. Nick Robins-Early and Jesselyn Cook are World Reporters. Rowaida Abdelaziz is World Social Media Editor. CORRESPONDENTS: Sophia Jones in Istanbul. EDITORIAL BOARD: Nicolas Berggruen, Nathan Gardels, Arianna Huffington, Eric Schmidt (Google Inc.), Pierre Omidyar (First Look Media), Juan Luis Cebrian (El Pais/PRISA), Walter Isaacson (Aspen Institute/TIME-CNN), John Elkann (Corriere della Sera, La Stampa), Wadah Khanfar (Al Jazeera), Dileep Padgaonkar (Times of India) and Yoichi Funabashi (Asahi Shimbun). VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS: Dawn Nakagawa. CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Moises Naim (former editor of Foreign Policy), Nayan Chanda (Yale/Global; Far Eastern Economic Review) and Katherine Keating (One-On-One). Sergio Munoz Bata and Parag Khanna are Contributing Editors-At-Large. The Asia Society and its ChinaFile, edited by Orville Schell, is our primary partner on Asia coverage. Eric X. Li and the Chunqiu Institute/Fudan University in Shanghai and Guancha.cn also provide first person voices from China. We also draw on the content of China Digital Times. Seung-yoon Lee is The WorldPost link in South Korea. Jared Cohen of Google Ideas provides regular commentary from young thinkers, leaders and activists around the globe. Bruce Mau provides regular columns from MassiveChangeNetwork.com on the "whole mind" way of thinking. Patrick Soon-Shiong is Contributing Editor for Health and Medicine. ADVISORY COUNCIL: Members of the Berggruen Institute's 21st Century Council and Council for the Future of Europe serve as the Advisory Council -- as well as regular contributors -- to the site. These include, Jacques Attali, Shaukat Aziz, Gordon Brown, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Juan Luis Cebrian, Jack Dorsey, Mohamed El-Erian, Francis Fukuyama, Felipe Gonzalez, John Gray, Reid Hoffman, Fred Hu, Mo Ibrahim, Alexei Kudrin, Pascal Lamy, Kishore Mahbubani, Alain Minc, Dambisa Moyo, Laura Tyson, Elon Musk, Pierre Omidyar, Raghuram Rajan, Nouriel Roubini, Nicolas Sarkozy, Eric Schmidt, Gerhard Schroeder, Peter Schwartz, Amartya Sen, Jeff Skoll, Michael Spence, Joe Stiglitz, Larry Summers, Wu Jianmin, George Yeo, Fareed Zakaria, Ernesto Zedillo, Ahmed Zewail and Zheng Bijian. From the Europe group, these include: Marek Belka, Tony Blair, Jacques Delors, Niall Ferguson, Anthony Giddens, Otmar Issing, Mario Monti, Robert Mundell, Peter Sutherland and Guy Verhofstadt. MISSION STATEMENT The WorldPost is a global media bridge that seeks to connect the world and connect the dots. Gathering together top editors and first person contributors from all corners of the planet, we aspire to be the one publication where the whole world meets. Advertisement My wife and I and our two children have known Hillary, President Clinton and Chelsea for more than 30 years. That is since we all began going to Renaissance Weekend for New Years in South Carolina in the 1980s. The Weekend is an annual bi-partisan gathering of families from all over the country: The Republican pollster Frank Luntz, then Republican Senator Larry Pressler, and many other Republicans came. Three days of panels cover a huge and changing range of subjects. The first panel I was on was entitled "What don't you like about your spouse?" I still shiver to think about it. I reached out to Hillary, then the First Lady, based on these connections in about 1996 when I was Deputy Undersecretary of Commerce for Economics and Statistics. Businesses pay roughly 40-50 percent of healthcare costs and businesses were, in an informal sense, the Commerce Department's constituency. I believed then and still believe that computerized medical records will lead to more coordinated and better care and lower healthcare costs for businesses and everyone else. I also believe computerized records will eventually relieve patients from the enraging piles of undecipherable paperwork bedeviling them. Based on these ideas about computerization, I asked Hillary if we could talk briefly about these records and she set up a meeting in the basement of the White House. Hillary had thought about computerized medical records during the agonizing battle over Hillary-care, and she brought to the meeting a perfect example of one of the problems such records could solve. It was a young mother on her staff whose child had a chronic medical problem. She said she was forced to carry copies of the child's recent medical exams with her at all times because otherwise each school nurse or doctor who saw the little one would require that the tests be repeated, traumatizing the child and wasting money and time. Advertisement The three of us talked only for a few minutes but afterward Hillary set me up quickly with other staffers working on Medicare and other healthcare issues. I am sure she also was responsible for getting me on two interdepartmental working groups, one on the privacy of patient records and the other encouraging medical organizations to develop medical nomenclature that could be used by all computerized systems. Hillary kept me and these issues in mind and followed up as everyone knows she does. Looking back, we know that cost-reducing changes like computerized records have been slower coming in healthcare than in other areas for several reasons. That's too bad, but I always remember that the Founding Fathers of this great country did not expect quick fixes. Indeed they were acutely suspicious of those who promised them. My friend Hillary has been working to make healthcare better and more widely available for decades and the country is gradually seeing the results. My own doctor, who has had a computer on his desk for 20 years, finally says that next year the machine will be linked to a larger healthcare network. Many say that medical practice in Washington D.C. lags other parts of the U.S. in the use of integrated computer records, but when it catches up it will save my doctor and others dozens of phone calls each day and allow better coordination of care. Looking back to that meeting with Hillary, I see her hand as well as President Obama's in this important change that will help everyone. Since its founding on December 2, 1971 as a federation of disparate sheikhdoms that were largely influenced by the British, the United Arab Emirates has become widely known for having developed world-class infrastructure and for creating thriving metropolises such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Having lived in the UAE for the last decade, I must emphasize that the country should also be applauded for promoting education, tolerance, culture and knowledge development as unifying principles for modern governance. These are principles that can be embraced and reinforced by emerging societies around the world. These principles can also apply to the industrialized countries, some of whom have lately been riven by ideological agitation and by indecisiveness among their leaders. I should also emphasize that central to the implementation of principles of good governance is enlightened leadership, and the UAE has been fortunate in this regard. Advertisement The transformation of the UAE into one of the world's most modern states did not happen by osmosis. The federation was blessed by the foresight and dynamism of early leaders such as the late His Highness President Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi; the late His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai; and the late His Highness Sheikh Mabarak bin Mohammed Al Nahayan, the UAE's first Minister of the Interior, and a member of the Abu Dhabi ruling family. The UAE's velocity of economic and social progress was given impetus by the next generation of leaders. They included His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces; and His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, the UAE's Minister for Culture and Knowledge Development. Experts from around the world have recognized the exceptional quality of their thinking. For example, Forbes Magazine said recently: "As globalization has rendered the business environment more complex, dynamic, and competitive, the ability to function effectively in different cultural contexts, called Cultural Intelligence (CQ), has never been more important for [countries and] organizations. CQ is a system consisting of three interactive components - cultural knowledge, cross-cultural skills and cultural metacognition. While these three components of CQ can be developed in different ways, it's important to note that they do not operate in isolation from each other." Experts particularly point to the writings of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. An editorial that appeared in The Daily Star in Lebanon when Sheikh Mohammed released a book entitled "My Vision: Challenges in the Race for Excellence," said that his work ought to be required reading for all leaders in the Arab world. Advertisement "Sheikh Mohammed's book, which was released in Arabic and will soon be translated into English [which has happened], provides a refreshing alternative to the tendency among Arab authors toward misery, pessimism and laying blame on external factors for the dismal state of the Arab world. But the book is not only an unusual feat in terms of its optimistic style; it is equally important for its serious content, which can be viewed as a guide for other regional leaders on how to achieve good governance and sustainable development," The Daily Star said. "In 'My Vision,' Sheikh Mohammed, inventor of modern Dubai, reveals for the first time the secrets of the strategy and approach that propelled his emirate to its current status of a phenomenal success story in the developing world. It offers candid and useful advice that rivals the frankness of legendary management consultant Peter Drucker, with details from the specific experiences in Dubai, but with concepts that have a universal application. "He devotes a considerable portion of the book to a discussion of the Arab world, which he says is suffering from 'a crisis of leadership and management' and the selfish tendencies of [some] Arab leaders. The book challenges the conventional approach of these leaders, and overturns the notion that their societies need to be controlled. It describes how societies best flourish when they are released from the grips of their governments, whose primary role ought to be to serve their citizens. "Sheikh Mohammed attributes the stagnation in Arab societies to a lack of innovation and failure to take risks and embrace change. The book describes at length the kind of beneficial relationship between the private sector and government that regional leaders ought to strive to achieve - one in which the government facilitates the creation of wealth through its services to the private sector. Sheikh Mohammed, an accomplished liberal thinker and firm believer in small government, insists that releasing the government's reins on the private sector will allow it to flourish and generate greater wealth and prosperity for all. "For regional leaders, the book is nothing short of a recipe for optimism and a handbook on how to achieve development. It is certainly a must-read for anyone involved in politics and government in the Arab world. One can easily see, for example, that...the optimism offered by Sheikh Mohammed [about] the success of Dubai can be replicated throughout the Arab world. For all those who still doubt that the Arab world can be the home of prosperity and development, read the book - and pay a visit to the modern miracle of Dubai [and the UAE]." Advertisement (By way of background, here's a report from Wikipedia: Six of the seven emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah - combined on December 2, 1971. The seventh, Ras Al Khaimah, joined the federation on February 10, 1972. The seven sheikhdoms were formerly known as the Trucial States, in reference to the treaty relations established with the British in the 19th Century. (Artifacts uncovered in the UAE show a long history of human habitation and regional trade including with Mesopotamia. The area was settled by a number of tribes along both the coast and interior and was Islamised in the seventh century. A number of incursions and bloody battles took place along the coast when the Portuguese, under Albuquerque, invaded the area. (Conflicts between the maritime communities of the Trucial Coast and the British led to the sacking of Ras Al Khaimah by British forces in 1809 and again in 1819, which resulted in the first of a number of British treaties with the Trucial Rulers in 1820. These treaties, including the Treaty of Perpetual Maritime Peace, signed in 1853, led to peace and prosperity along the coast which lasted until the 1930s, when the pearl trade collapsed, leading to significant hardship among the coastal communities. (A British decision, taken in early 1968, to withdraw from its involvement in the Trucial States, led to the decision to found a Federation. This was agreed between two of the most influential Trucial Rulers, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum of Dubai. The two invited other Trucial Rulers to join the Federation. At one stage it seemed likely Bahrain and Qatar would also join the Union, but both eventually decided on independence.] In a book that I was associated with some years ago, several writers referred to how the UAE has become a modern, oil exporting country with a highly diversified economy, with Dubai in particular developing into a global hub for tourism, retail, and finance, home to the world's tallest building, largest man-made seaport. Advertisement Now many publishers I know are clamoring for another such anthology. Their general sentiment is that the book would appeal to global audiences, and that it would be especially timely at a time of uncertainty in the global economy and in the international political ecology. If such book is published, perhaps it could be released around the time that the 45th President of the United States - whoever she or he might be - is sworn in on January 20, 2017. One more point needs to be made. The contemporary United Arab Emirates is often praised as a melange of New York and Singapore - a bustling nation of metropolises such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi teeming with hard driving businessmen, ambitious foreigners collaborating with Emiratis. Forgotten sometimes is the role played by an earlier generation of Westerners who were invited by Emirati rulers to expedite economic development. One such person was William Robert Duff who, according to Simeon Kerr of the Financial Times, "devoted his life to Dubai, and played a bigger part than any other Westerner in the early transformation of the emirate from obscure outpost into global hub." In Kerr's telling, Duff, who died in 2014 at the age of 91, arrived as an economic adviser in 1959 in what were called the Trucial states. "His mission came at the behest of the UK, which was seeking to boost social development among its Gulf protectorates as communist and nationalist agitation grew," Kerr writes. "Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan al-Nahyan, ruler of richer neighbour Abu Dhabi, vacillated - only for Dubai's Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed al-Maktoum to hire the self-effacing Scot, with whom he instantly hit it off. Advertisement "That lasting partnership with the wily Bedouin leader laid the financial foundations of modern Dubai. Duff built the accounts and customs departments of the ruler's office, taking signatory powers together with Sheikh Rashid. The UK meanwhile ousted Abu Dhabi's ruler in favor of Sheikh Zayed, who with Rashid, would go on to found the United Arab Emirates in 1971 at a ceremony next door to Duff's beachfront villa." "Once installed in Dubai, he designed and built the financial architecture that channelled two decades of oil revenues into infrastructural development, from electricity and water to ports, airports and hotels. Duff was at Sheikh Rashid's side in 1976 when the ruler called Neville Allen of Halcrow, a UK engineering consultancy, to an early morning meeting on a hilltop 40 kilometers outside the city. There, the sheikh outlined plans for a vast port development and demanded a cost estimate by lunchtime. The result was Jebel Ali port and free trade zone, initially ridiculed as a white elephant. Today it accounts for one-quarter of gross domestic product...He and Allen are now interred in the same corner of the emirate's desert Christian burial ground." Kerr continues: "Unlike other expatriates such as [the late] Sir Maurice Flanagan, Emirates Airline's founding chief executive, Duff went unhonoured by the British government, despite decades of promoting UK-Dubai ties. While at the centre of decision making for three decades, he also never acquired the wealth of some of his peers. "But Duff, who is survived by Irenka, daughters Diana and Sheila and four grandchildren, never regretted his life as a civil servant. As he told his family: 'It is not about the money. How many people get to help build a country?'" It was Thursday, August 30. On one side of the Atlantic, Dilma Rousseff defended herself against the Brazilian Senate and its set idea of punishing her with a final impeachment. On the other side, in Madrid, Mariano Rajoy was trying, for the second time this year, to win investiture against a majority in Congress determined to prevent this after the last election was held again. Two relevant western democracies, both young, with less than 40 years of experience. In Brazil, after democracy was established and the first direct presidential election was held after the dictatorship in 1989, four presidents have been elected. Two have completed their terms (Fernando Henrique Cardoso and Lula da Silva) and the other two have been impeached under different circumstances (Fernando Collor and Dilma Rousseff). In Spain, an unprecedented situation is taking place after the second failed attempt to appoint a Head of State within its parliamentary system. After all the agreements failed to win plurality in Congress, this country is about to reach a full year without a government. The obvious differences between these two cases create a certain irony. All the principles supported by Spain's Popular Party (PP), which has held power since 2012, its liberal doctrine and its appeal to the conservative actors of society, nourish that which those who brought Dilma Rousseff down in 2016 most desire. On the other hand, the arguments arising from the experience of Workers' Party (PT) in the Brazilian government, especially those examples left by Lula da Silva's government regarding international politics, represent the ideal expectations of most Spanish voters who have remained fearful ever since their middle-class status became the main target of socioeconomic crises. In short, both societies are divided and disappointed facing the endless cases of corruption eroding their respective governments. Advertisement A renewed sense of optimism among citizens has mainly appeared in big cities in Spain, but is yet to spread nationwide. Barcelona and Madrid were key when the time came to question a bipartisan political system turned into symbiotic convenience. The current scenario, with four political parties vying to win the last election, shows that, from the center to the left, there are two parties (PSOE and Unidos Podemos) hoping to win the presidency and the leadership of progressive sectors. From the center to the right, the other two parties (PP and Ciudadanos) divide the electorate despite the fact that PP shows a certain will to win while Ciudadanos, in their deep electoral strategy, seems hesitant to compete for the liberal right-wing majority. This is quite peculiar considering the popular feelings of suspicions raised by the left and the certainty of corruption on the part of the PP, which precisely could make this party, Ciudadanos, the most rational choice since it is taking over the center-right sector with higher voting potential and less rejection from the average Spanish voter. As regards the coalitions around Podemos, they are already exploring strategies that may have a nationwide impact - the short path of a young party was not exempt from conflicts and disagreements - while the crucially difficult situation was left to PSOE since the beginning of the electoral process. As the natural political replacement for PP in the presidency, PSOE finds itself between a rock and a hard place in this new multipartisan scenario: it either allies with Podemos under uncomfortable conditions, such as the acceptance of regional referendums, and risks its position as the leading left-wing party versus a fresher, more promising party like Podemos, or it finds the necessary excuses to negotiate with its eternal rival, PP, maintaining power in the hands of the guards of bipartisanship in a rather unorthodox way. Advertisement PSOE's current situation, internally incapable of agreeing on a strategy after the fiasco in the first election, evinces the internal breach ever since Pedro Sanchez was chosen to lead and represent the party in this election. The current picture, after two electoral attempts to form a government, confirms the missed opportunity by this party to produce true renewal and launch a candidate capable of fostering the necessary trust and taking on the responsibility of uniting the opposition, even accepting the challenge of allowing the independence consultations (Catalonia and Basque country, for example) at the end of its eventual term of coalition and reconstruction. To expect these types of policies to take place during the government of PP with all its historical meaning and usual frame working, would secure Spain and Mariano Rajoy the same fate UK and David Cameron recently met due to the BREXIT. What has been seen within the current political scenario after the two failed elections in Spain, is a political system on the brink, nourished by the shocking personalities of the leaders of these parties: Mariano Rajoy (PP), Pedro Sanchez (PSOE), Pablo Iglesias (Podemos) and Albert Rivera (Ciudadanos). One could surely ask oneself, in the event a third election is held in less than a year, whether it is unreasonable to demand exemplary democratic behavior from these parties by presenting new candidates. Otherwise, if they keep acting like the kings of their own parties, these same candidates may generate the same circumstances which may later lead the public opinion to ask King Philip VI himself to take on the responsibility of leading a new transition after almost forty years.In Brazil, the democratic failure was materialized by an impeachment process which deposed a president who hadn't committed a crime that could warrant such decision. Dilma Rousseff lost power during this process but surprisingly Congress allowed her to keep her political rights. This is a legal unconstitutional precedent that may benefit future indicted politicians who commit real political crimes. However, during the same week of condemnation, the shifting budgetary maneuvers on which the prosecution of the crime was based, though practiced by former governments, were specifically sanctioned by the same Congress. Apart from these democratic deviations, there is clear evidence of political interests capable of shifting power and freezing large anticorruption operations. Brazil's political crisis does not have an expiration date and the current government led by Michel Temer, a politician banned from running for election by the Superior Electoral Court after being prosecuted for electoral crimes, is already taking its first steps: privatization plans (which will affect water and oil resources among others) and the acceptance of laxer labor laws, for example, 12-hour workdays (we should remember that, in Sweden, reforms are aimed at reducing the workday to 6 hours). Finally, the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has shown some anger at the UN Security Council. He has questioned the credibility of his dear colleague and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the Syrian question. The moment of truth has come, Kerry said, and the issue is no joke, said the secretary, who has become himself the butt of jokes in some American and non-American circles describing him as a naive pupil of the shrewd Russian top diplomat. The joke is now on Kerry and his department, which now answers every serious question by promising Kerry would be meeting with Lavrov soon, as though it is this duo that is the determinant of Syria's future in a corridor far removed from the actual daily tragedy. The surprise at the Security Council this week did not come from a vacuum. The Obama administration has run out of patience, as a result of successive Russian provocations and maneuverings, and because of the human cost of the crisis in Syria hitting unbearable levels. So what does it mean that John Kerry has become emotional and Obama has frowned in the face of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in protest at Russian policies and practices in Syria? The Kremlin will not have great cause for concern. Putin is confident Obama cannot stand up to him in practical terms, as this requires an American-Russian showdown in Syria's skies. The keyword here is "powerlessness" because Russia has constructed its entire Syria policy on the basis that the US under Barack Obama has become "infirm", and that Washington has tied up its own hands in Syria, unable to behave as a superpower not only because it does not want to fight but also because it wants to appease Iran to preserve the nuclear deal, including by bowing down to Iran's will in Syria to hold on to Bashar al-Assad in power. Yet this does not mean that the master of the Kremlin is not worried. Putin must be particularly concerned after US warplanes 'mistakenly' bombed Syrian regime forces and Iranian-backed loyalists. This has forced some humility on Putin but also anger. He does not believe Washington's claims that the strikes were the result of an error, and sees what happened as a message addressed to Moscow as well as Damascus. Putin understands that his situation is much more fragile than Obama's, because there are no US troops in Syria while Russia today is a direct party to the civil war. Furthermore, the battle for Aleppo is crucial, and the pressures on Putin at home are increasing after he put Russia in the frontline with ISIS and similar groups. This is not to mention the fact that Russia is committing what may amount to war crimes in Syria, as many international non-governmental organizations have said. As a result, Syria is looking increasingly like a quagmire for Russia, while the United States is gearing up - although belatedly - to take some kind of moral high ground relative to Russia on Syria. This was Syria's week on the sidelines of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, attended by Obama but missed by Putin. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was everywhere, explaining his priorities in Syria, including establishing a no-fly zone in northern Syria along the Turkish border. He accused the Kurdistan Workers' Party of seeking to partition Syria, and pledged to preserve Syria's political and territorial unity. He said Operation Euphrates Shield has protected Turkey, and that it has turned Jarabulus from a threat to a safe zone. Erdogan called on the Security Council to hold the Syrian regime accountable for its crimes, which include targeting an aid convoy in Aleppo last Monday. France's president Francois Hollande, for his part, said the Syrian tragedy would remain a stain on the global conscience unless it was immediately put to an end. Hollande proclaimed Aleppo a 'martyr' city, where humanitarian convoys are attacked, the population is starved, and chemical weapons are used. Hollande called on the backers of the regime, led by Russia and Iran, to "force it" to implement peace or bear the consequences of chaos in Syria. He called on holding accountable those who used chemical weapons in Syria, after a UN report confirmed the regime and ISIS used those weapons. Jean-Marie Areault, France's foreign minister, proposed a three-point initiative that would have the Security Council issue a resolution under Chapter VII of the UN Charter to condemn and punish those who used chemical weapons. He said no bargains should be acceptable, such as trading a truce for impunity for those who used chemical weapons. Areault proposed establishing a mechanism to monitor the ceasefire that would be jointly operated by the stakeholders including France, and not just the US and Russia. Among the proposals of the French minister also is forcing Syrian regime forces to remain in their current positions and grounding Syrian regime warplanes. John Kerry demanded Russia to stop Syrian regime air sorties in the main areas subject to the ceasefire in northern Syria during a rowdy session of the Security Council, which saw a row between Kerry and Lavrov. The Russian FM protested what he said were preconditions from the American side, to which Kerry responded by saying that refraining from bombing hospitals, civilians, and aid convoys were not preconditions, but were an international agreement being violated repeatedly. Kerry asked how some could sit at the table and talk while the Syrian regime was bombing its own people using chemical weapons. Russia, according to Lavrov, was still committed to the need to revise the list of terror groups and add new groups. He said Russia needed new guarantees that the United States has influence on the ground and on the groups it says will abide by the agreement. What about the political process, which seems to be in the backseat of US and Russian concerns? The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for the resumption of negotiations, saying the first session should focus on political transition, especially how the transitional governing body would exercise power. He spoke about negotiations that would lead to the formation of a transitional body with full executive powers, adding that his envoy Staffan De Mistura would present a new framework for the negotiations soon. De Mistura said he would present a proposal for a working framework addressing the issue of the exercise of power by the transitional governing body, including presidential powers, participation, and creating transitional bodies to oversee ceasefires and humanitarian aid, as well as creating a favorable climate for peaceful political activity and continued international support for the process. De Mistura was frank with the Syrian opposition. He said it must understand that any transition will not be about one person, and transferring power from one political side to another. He then addressed the Syrian government, saying it must understand transition means a real transfer of power, and not just bringing in the opposition to the government ruled by one person. Lavrov told De misutra he continues to enjoy Russian support, but advised him not to surrender to "blackmail". Syria's week at the UN was not favorable for Russian diplomacy, which found itself isolated while the world set its eyes on the terrible violations against aid convoys, and the starvation, dispossession, and bombardment, all part of a deliberate policy pursued by the regime in Damascus backed by Russia, Iran, and allied militias. There have been mounting media and political pressures this week as Aleppo was present in New York during the UN General Assembly session and as a result of the US military operation in Syria, a new development, be it ill-conceived or otherwise. The outcome of the week is the conclusion that the US-Russian political clash cannot be an indication the conflict is about to end, rather the contrary. Yet the issue depends on what Vladimir Putin has in mind, not what Barack Obama and Francois Hollande say in New York, and also depends on the next steps of Turkey's president. For his part, Iran's president Hassan Rouhani kept a low profile, unlike with his previous appearances at the UN. Perhaps he decided it was best to hide away from the spotlight, and accusations regarding Iran's actions in Syria. But clearly, he came under no serious pressures from his American or Western counterparts. The US and Russian diplomacies will no doubt try to address the tension in the bilateral relationship, because the issues in which they are both involved are not limited to Syria. The relationship will be mended, at least on the surface, because the two nations are keen to pursue their necessary partnership especially in Syria. The danger therefore lies in the terms under which the relationship will be mended. As long as the two countries place their bilateral relationship above all other considerations, Syria will remain collateral damage. The features and limits of the confrontation have been clear from the beginning, and no sane person predicted it would evolve into a military showdown. The translation of this equation is that the containment of differences will lead to papering over the Syrian tragedy, in order not to expose that terrible shortage of principled positions by both sides. The eventful week in New York was no random event. However, it will not be meaningful unless the US-Russian relationship is seriously shaken, not just through half-hearted speeches that do not hide previous immoral arrangements in Syria. Translated by Karim Traboulsi Sri Lanka's Maithripala Sirisena spoke at the United Nations (UN) on Wednesday. Mr. Sirisena touched on economic development, poverty, drugs and more. It was a brief speech. However, Mr. Sirisena could have at least attempted to make a clear, articulate case for the most important aspects of the coalition government's reform agenda, especially transitional justice. Regrettably, the president failed to do that. Let's not forget that Colombo continues to drag its feet on a host of war-related issues: the detention of Tamil political prisoners, the military's continued occupation of civilian land, pervasive militarization across the country's north and east, among other matters. Leaving the government's sincerity toward deeper reform aside for a moment, one could argue that the environment to implement a credible, comprehensive transitional justice package does not yet exist, especially in the northern and eastern provinces. In other international settings, Mangala Samaraweera - the country's foreign minister - has issued soaring, exuberant speeches that don't reflect reality, although at least Mr. Samaraweera has attempted to talk about some of the more controversial components of the government's reform agenda. To a large degree, the foreign minister's remarks have been intended to express what Colombo thinks the international community wants to hear. But then, usually, similar messages are neither conveyed to a domestic audience nor backed up with concrete action. Advertisement Frankly, Mr. Sirisena's UN speech serves as yet another reminder that, even at the highest levels of government, Colombo remains afraid of making a persuasive case for transitional justice or healing the wounds of war. Unless Mr. Sirisena and others start talking more consistently about the requisite reforms (especially within Sri Lanka), it's hard to imagine that the government would ever get around to properly implementing them. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Mr. Sirisena on Wednesday as well. Mr. Kerry reminded us that the United States is "very encouraged by the steps that the president is taking and Sri Lanka is taking with respect to reconciliation, and they're also making important economic reforms." Here again, another U.S. official speaks about "reconciliation" in Sri Lanka, but "accountability" (for wartime abuses) is not mentioned. That said, the secretary's brief remarks could have been worse. In April, Samantha Power referred to Sri Lanka as "a global champion of human rights and democratic accountability." Power's remarks were way off base, although a range of senior U.S. officials have been excessively congratulatory too. "So the story of Sri Lanka is a great one and we're really happy to be able to meet," said Mr. Kerry on Wednesday. A "great" story, really? If you're looking for an accurate depiction of the current state of affairs in Sri Lanka, be sure to steer clear of Washington's rhetoric. Advertisement Written by Deena Blanchard MD, MPH. "It's going around", is a common phrase I hear from parents. Right now, the normal seasonal increase in coxsackie virus (hand, foot, and mouth disease) is in full swing and we are seeing tons of kids with typical symptoms in the office. Even the mention of hand, foot mouth disease can send typically calm parents into full panic. I'm hoping after reading this article, that parents will realize that while this illness can certainly make your little one feel very uncomfortable, it is rarely life threatening or dangerous. Typically, with some time, love and good pain control, your little one will seem back to himself in a few days. Here's are five things your pediatrician wants you to know about hand, foot and mouth disease: 1. It's a virus. Hand, foot and mouth disease is an infection that is caused by a virus known as the coxsackie virus. I like to tell parents, "it's a virus with a name." It is no different than your child having a cold, it is just a different set of symptoms. And just because a virus has a name does not mean it will make a child sicker or is more dangerous than other viruses. Fun fact: it is named after a town in upstate New York where the virus was discovered. 2. Symptoms can vary. Typical symptoms include: fever, sores on the back of the throat, fussiness, and a rash on the hands, feet and often buttocks. The rash typically looks like small red raised spots or bump and can look like blisters. The sores in the mouth can be very painful and may cause your little one to have increased drooling or decreased food intake. The rash is not usually painful but can sometimes cause a little itching. It is possible for a child to have hand, foot and mouth without having a fever. Not everyone who contracts this virus will have the exact same symptoms. Advertisement 3. It's very contagious. The coxsackie virus is very contagious. It is spread by contact with an infected person's saliva, mucous, or traces of bowel movements. Children are most contagious while they have fevers and sores in the mouth. Good hand washing, especially after changing diapers, is super important. It is also important to clean toys, table tops and other things your little one is touching. Unfortunately, this virus has multiple strains, so even if your child already had this virus, he or she can get it again, even in the same season. 4. The treatment is NOT antibiotics. Since the infection itself is a virus, the treatment goals are keeping your little one comfortable and hydrated. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be very helpful with pain control. Dosing is weight based and can be found on the Premier Pediatrics website. Never give aspirin to children. Encourage your little one to drink, and try to give him or her cool liquids or foods. The cool temperature helps relieve throat pain plus it gives them liquids. If you have any concerns about your child (such as he or she seems unusually irritable or lethargic, has headache or neck stiffness, is refusing to drink, is running fevers for more than three days), you should call your pediatrician right away. 5. Yes, adults can get it! While, coxsackie virus is more common in children, adults can contract this illness as well. Lately, it does seem like everyone has coxsackie virus. But try not to worry too much: the virus is rarely dangerous and typically resolves on its own with time. So, while it's a major bummer if your little one and/or you get it, you are in good company and can feel better knowing that, hopefully, your little one only needs 5 to 7 days to be up and running again. And don't forget that hand washing is the best method of prevention, so load up on the soap and water and get scrubbing! Advertisement This piece was originally published on Well Rounded NY, and written by Deena Blanchard MD, MPH. Dr. Deena is a board certified pediatrician working at Premier Pediatrics. Dr. Deena has provided health/parenting tips for outlets such as AOL, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, The Bump, The Daily News, and appeared on CBS and CUNY-TV. She is also a regular contributor for Big City Moms, Well Rounded NY, The Stir by Cafemom, and Momtastic. Dr. Blanchard joined Premier, after completing her residency training at Columbia University. There she served as a physician advocate for families as part of the family advisory committee and was awarded physician of the year in 2007. Prior to going to medical school she completed a Masters of Public Health at Temple University with a specific focus in health education. Dr. Blanchard attended medical school at Albert Einstein College of Medicine where she was awarded both Alpha Omega Alpha and the American Medical Women's Association Glascow-Rubin Achievement award. Dr. Deena Blanchard serves as a pediatric expert for brands including Ella's Kitchen and Newton. Please share your opinion below! For more original content, check out Well Rounded NY. Two months ago, a colleague shared with me a T-shirt describing a long list of responsibilities horrifying in scope and scale. Including roles such as 'petty cash clerk, walking encyclopedia, scapegoat and nose wiper', the T-Shirt comically concluded that "You can just call me a Teacher!" I laughed, but as an education professional who has worked closely with schools, the joke's implicit thesis haunted me. In 2000, Newcastle University published a medical education guide which split the profession of a teacher-not into one, two or three roles but into twelve different ones. Outside of classroom instruction, teacher responsibilities have historically ranged from assessing performance to mentoring students and even managing the expectations of overeager parents. But I began to question this status quo, for how could any single human being however talented realistically manage all of these responsibilities at once? After discussing with education colleagues, I also soon realized that the theory behind bundling so many teacher responsibilities lacked sound foundations. For instance, the statistical knowledge necessary for a strong academic assessor are unrelated to the content-delivery skills necessary for a good lecturer. I began to wonder: as a member of the education community, did we actually allow specialization-the great paradigm shift of the 20th century-to skip the teaching profession? If so, how do we apply this innovation as effectively and appropriately as possible for teachers, and for which responsibilities? Advertisement Positively, the role of a teacher has already begun unbundling, particularly in content creation. Textbooks are often developed by education companies in collaboration with education ministries. Meanwhile, edtech start-ups such as Khan Academy are centrally producing content. While leading investments at the Pearson Affordable Learning Fund, I frequently visited schools and saw teachers struggle with the demands placed upon them. In response, we invested in SPARK Schools, a South African school-chain, which reduces the load on teachers by leveraging adaptive online instruction. Despite having a digital component to its instruction, SPARK prioritized teacher training as much as any school, offering 300+ hours of teacher training per year. This has paid heavy dividends for SPARK in the form of improved academic performance relative to peer schools in Capetown and Johannesburg. At SPARK and other innovative schools, I have seen first-hand how the teachers and students benefit from more professional development and less time on secondary duties, which can and should be unbundled. I believe the teaching profession will continue to specialize and that accelerating this process will only improve learner outcomes more quickly. Specialization led to increased productivity resulting in the industrial revolution. Why can't the same happen in education? Advertisement Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23 By Aygun Badalova Trend Ongoing tensions with Iran, as well as lack of commitment from other oil producers, mean that Saudi officials will be hesitant to sign up to a deal to freeze oil output, analysts of the British economic research and consulting company Capital Economics believe. There have been signs in recent weeks that the sharp slowdown in the Saudi economy caused by fiscal austerity may have prompted the authorities to look at alternative solutions to deal with the collapse in oil prices, analysts said in the report, obtained by Trend. In particular, they mentioned, officials have softened their opposition to a deal to freeze oil output to boost oil prices, while a forthcoming bumper international bond issuance suggests that the appetite for further fiscal consolidation may be waning. But even though austerity seems to be pushing the economy towards recession, we expect policymakers to continue along this path, the analysts said. The informal OPEC meeting is expected in late September in Algiers. It is expected that the talks on oil production freeze will be held between OPEC and non-OPEC countries. The meeting will be held at the fringe of the International Energy Forum in Algiers from 26-28 September. Saudi Arabia is the largest OPEC oil producer and exporter. The Kingdom produced 10.605 million barrels per day of oil in August compared to 10.577 million barrels per day in July, according to OPECs latest estimates. Deming: While R-CAT stalls, other improvement projects move forward Credit for a job well done benefiting taxpayers coupled with unbelievable bureaucratic delays is the subject of this week's column. 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AZDynamics produces various drones to meet Azerbaijans needs. The company said earlier that increasing duration of the drones autonomous flight will make it more attractive for buyers and help increase its exports to other countries. The hybrid drone is designed for use in agriculture, for example in treatment of land with reagents. It can fly on its own without a need in remote control. Fulbright Teaching Assistant Joins Williams College WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Maria Pia Maiti from Argentina has been awarded a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program grant to serve as a teaching associate in Spanish and take courses at Williams College for academic year 2016-17. While in the United States, Maiti will share her language and culture with U.S. communities to inspire Americans to travel and study overseas, and make U.S. citizens better prepared to engage with businesses, governments, and organizations abroad. Pia Maiti is one of nearly 400 young educators from 50 countries who has traveled to the United States for the 2016-2017 academic year through the Fulbright FLTA Program to help internationalize U.S. colleges and universities, a key goal of many institutions as they prepare students for the 21st century workforce and globalized world. Recipients of Fulbright FLTA grants are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential. Fulbright FLTA scholarships are awarded by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. In the coming year, grant recipients from East Asia and the Pacific; Europe and Eurasia; the Middle East and North Africa; South and Central Asia; and Sub-Saharan Africa will contribute to U.S. students foreign language acquisition in more than 30 languages at over 200 U.S. institutions. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State. Participating governments, universities, corporations, and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support. The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. The Fulbright Program has given approximately 360,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and scientists the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. Since 2001, more than 4,000 Fulbright awardees have been Fulbright FLTAs. Fulbright FLTA recipients are among over 50,000 individuals participating in U.S. Department of State exchange programs each year. The Fulbright FLTA Program is administered by the Institute of International Education. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Sept. 24 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Addressing the general debate of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, Turkmenistans Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov has expressed concern over the escalation of conflicts in the world. Outlining the escalation of conflicts in different parts of the world, increased militarization and disrespect of international law, Meredov called on world leaders to adhere to and collectively advance the principles of United Nations Charter, international conventions and agreements aimed at resolving conflicts, said the message from the UN News Center. The current state of global realities objectively require increasingly closer and more coordinated interaction of states and major international organizations for the sake of achieving the common goal ensuring international peace and security and preserving legal and institutional frameworks that form the foundation of todays world order, said Meredov in his address to the General Assembly. He underlined the threats to peace and stability that now transcend national borders, political and ideological doctrines, and terrorism, which falls outside the notions of human morality, undermining the entire system of world order, its principles, values and foundations. It is precisely for this reason that the fight against it must be carried out universally at the global, regional and national levels taking into account the prevailing situation and specific aspects of the political and social realities, added Meredov, noting that Turkmenistan continues to advocate for implementation of relevant international, regional and global agenda on these matters. Emphasizing that the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a common achievement and now its implementation is a common responsibility, he noted that Turkmenistan, jointly with the UN Development Program and other UN entities, has developed appropriate indicators that will be used for the elaboration of the countrys national plans. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Sept. 24 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmenistans Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov has proposed to hold a special conference under the auspices of the UN on measures for improving environmental situation in Central Asia in 2017. The minister made the remarks addressing the general debate of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, said the message posted on the UN News Center. He further noted that after assuming the chairmanship of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, Turkmenistan will discuss the means to advance the agenda with other regional countries and UN agencies. In conclusion, the minister reaffirmed Turkmenistans commitment to continue to cooperate with the UN and active involvement in and support for its political and diplomatic efforts to preserve and strengthen global security and in implementing its programs in the economic, social, environmental, humanitarian and other areas. Rabbi Simon Eckstein, Father of Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, Passes Away The Fellowship | September 24, 2016 Rabbi Simon Eckstein with his son, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein. RABBI SIMON ECKSTEIN, FATHER OF RABBI YECHIEL ECKSTEIN, PASSES AWAY AT 96 Father of founder of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews was a Canadian Jewish leader and renowned gerontologist who sought to bridge generations JERUSALEM, Sept. 24 Rabbi Simon L. Sy Eckstein, a beloved Canadian-Jewish leader and renowned psychologist and authority in the field of gerontology, passed away at his Jerusalem home today, Sept. 24. He was 96. He was the father of Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, the founder and president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Rabbi Simon Eckstein was born on December 4, 1919 in Jerusalem, where he eventually settled in his last years after living most of his life in the U.S. and Canada. In 1928 Eckstein moved with his family to the U.S., and settled in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn, where he attended Yeshiva Chaim Berlin in middle school, then Torah Vidas in Williamsburg. Like so many in the Jewish community, his family prized education, and he earned a bachelors degree from Yeshiva University, a doctorate in Hebrew Literature from YUs Bernard Revel Graduate School, and ultimately his rabbinic ordination, or smicha, from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. Eckstein went on to attain a masters degree in psychology from New York University. After marrying Belle Hirschman he became the assistant rabbi of the revered modern Orthodox leader, Rabbi Leo Jung, of the Jewish Center of the West Side of Manhattan. In 1952, Eckstein moved his family to Ottawa, Canada for a rabbinic posting that would become an important part of his legacy. Over a quarter century, Eckstein served as chief rabbi of Ottawa, where he oversaw four synagogues. He later joined the faculty of the Department of Religious Knowledge at Carleton University. Under his leadership, two synagogues merged to establish Congregation Beth Shalom, which flourished for half a century. Eckstein retired from the rabbinate in 1975, but continued to influence the communitys Jewish life, both as a senior clerical figure and through columns in local media like The Ottawa Citizen and Ottawa Journal. He also appeared on radio talk shows and continued to contribute to local Jewish life. Meanwhile, Eckstein returned to his other passion, psychology, and went back to school at Ottawa University to attain a second masters degree in the field, specializing in gerontology. He later joined the universitys psychology faculty and became a leading specialist in the field. As a senior citizen himself, Eckstein became a psychologist in Hollywood, Florida, where he focused on counseling and lecturing on issues relating to aging and retirement. His teachings were captured in an eponymous book his children compiled to preserve his wisdom. At age 91, Eckstein realized another dream, immigrating to Israel with Belle and returning to Jerusalem, the city of his birth. One of Ecksteins lifelong missions was to bridge the gap between the older and younger generations, especially of Jews. He once quoted Rabbi Berel Wein, saying: One of the blessings of our generation is the unique role of grandparents and great-grandparents in providing a bridge as well as a perspective: a bridge to the past and a perspective on life for the present and future. These same values deeply inspired his son, Yechiel, who became a rabbi and whose organization, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, is dedicated to building bridges between Christians and Jews. Eckstein is survived by his wife Belle and children Ahuva, Beryl, Rachayl and Yechiel, as well as 14 grand children and 40 great grandchildren. His burial is scheduled to take place in Jerusalem Sunday, after which the family will sit Shiva, the seven-day Jewish mourning period. About The Fellowship: The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) was founded in 1983 to promote better understanding and cooperation between Christians and Jews, and build broad support for Israel. Today it is one of the leading forces in helping Israel and Jews in need worldwide and is the largest channel of Christian support for Israel. Led by its founder and president, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, The Fellowship now raises more than $140 million per year, mostly from Christians, to assist Israel and the Jewish people. Since its founding, The Fellowship has raised more than $1.3 billion for this work. The organization has offices in Jerusalem, Chicago, Miami, Toronto, Seoul, and Sao Paulo. For more information, visit ifcj.org. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Benedict Cumberbatch can rest extremely easy knowing he was the clear favourite to play the role of Doctor Strange in the upcoming film of the same name. It's emerged that Marvel was so desperate to have the Sherlock actor in the film that the entire film was shifted to accommodate his theatre schedule. Cumberbatch was signed up to perform in a production of Hamlet at London's Barbican at the same time cameras were due to start rolling on the film; ever the professional, the actor told director Scott Derrickson, "I can't bail out of Hamlet. I've given my word." In a new interview with Empire, Cumberbatch reveals how he believed he thought this had lost him the part. "I really did think I had to kiss it goodbye," he said. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 Show all 34 1 /34 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 1. Captain America: Civil War Release date: 6 May 2016. Iron Man and Captain America are set to face off in this superhero blockbuster that will feature nearly all the Avengers but wont be an Avengers film. It will also mark the first time Spider-Man will feature in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Sony having made a deal with Marvel Studios. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 2. X-Men: Apocalypse Release date: 27 May 2016. Following the success of Days of Future Past, Apocalypse will follow the young X-Men team as the battle against Oscar Isaacs titular villain as he gathers his four horsemen; Magneto (Fassbender), Angel (Hardy), Storm (Shipp), and Psylocke (Munn). Expect carnage and no Wolverine. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 3. Suicide Squad Release date: 5 August 2016. The first supervillain film, Suicide Squad is also based in the DCEU (DC Extended Universe, where Batman and Superman live) and will introduce the world to Margot Robbies Harley Quinn and Jared Letos Joker. One of the more exciting upcoming DC films thats for sure. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 4. Doctor Strange Release date: 4 November 2016. Benedict Cumberbatch will debut in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe, where Captain America and Iron Man live) as the Sorcerer Supreme. The film already has an incredible cast, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachael McAdams and Tilda Swinton. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 5. Untitled Lego Batman film Release date: 20 February 2017. Kicking off 2017 is the Lego version of Batman, who will lead his own spin-off, having already featured in the amazing Lego Movie. Will Arnett voices the titular character, while Zach Garfianakis - from the Hangover - will voice The Joker. But will he better than Leto? 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 6. Untitled Wolverine film Release date: 3 March 2017. Having not starred in X-Men: Apocalypse, Wolverine will return to the big screen in a solo film which was recently made R-Rated following the success of Deadpool. It is expected to be Hugh Jackmans last outing as the titular character. Fox 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 7. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Release date: 5 May 2017. Chris Pratt and the crew are returning to space in the sequel to the surprisingly successful Guardians of the Galaxy. According to director James Gunn, the film will not feature Thanos, even though he will to play a major role in phase MCU Phase 3. Cast includes newcomers Kurt Russell and Pom Klementieff, as well as, rumour has it, Sylvester Stallone. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 8. Wonder Woman Release date: 23 June 2017. Gal Gadot is returning to the DCEU in her very own film, marking the first female-led superhero film on this list. Chris Pine is on board to play Wonder Womans love interest. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 9. Untitled Spider-Man reboot Release date: 7 July 2017. Yes, it is another Spider-Man reboot, having previously been redone with Andrew Garfield as the lead. However, this time it is part of the MCU, with Tom Holland as the titular character, and a heavily rumoured cameo by Iron Man could be in the pipeline. We can dream. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 10. Untitled Fox film Release date: 6 October 2017. In a strange announcement, Fox decided to withhold the release of Gambit until a future, as-yet unannounced date, which could be here, or this could be a completely separate project. Many suspect Deadpool 2 could nicely fit here, Fox capitalising on the success of the first film. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 11. Thor: Ragnarok Release date: 3 November 2017. Chris Hemsworth will be returning as the Norse God in his third solo MCU film. Flight of the Conchords Taika Waititi is on board to direct, and promises a fun adventure that will likely lead into Marvels next project, Infinity War. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 12. Justice League Part One Release date: 17 November 2017. Hot on the heals of Thor comes Justice League Part One, the first DCEU team-up flick which will see Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg work together to fight bad guys. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 13: Untitled Fox film Release date: 12 January 2018. Kicking off 2018 will likely be the second Deadpool film, but then again, this could very well be another X-Men team-up. Theres also talk of an X-Force film, with Deadpool and other mutants teaming up to fight evil. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 14. Black Panther Release date: 16 February 2018. The first non-white male-led superhero film in the MCU comes in the form of Black Panther, with Chadwick Boseman reprising the titular role, having also starred as the Panther in Civil War. Creeds Ryan Coogler is on to direct what could be a very exciting film. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 15. The Flash Release date: 16 March 2018. The Flash will be the first DCEU film since Justice League, and sees Ezra Miller take the lead. Phil Lord and Chris Miller were supposed to pen the film before Disney snapped them up for the Han Solo-film, leaving Seth Grahame-Smith to take charge. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 16. Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 Release date: 4 May 2018. And so, we finally get to the point of all these Infinity Stones! Thanos will be the big bad, with the Avengers needing to team up to defeat their biggest foe yet. It has previously been described as the end of the Avengers as we know it. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 17. Ant-Man and The Wasp Release date: 6 July 2018. Peyton Reed will be back to direct this surprise sequel to one of the better received MCU films. While the name is ridiculous, at least Marvel are finally having a leading female superhero. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 18. Untitled Fox film Release date: 13 July 2018. Again, not much word on this one except it is thought to be X-Men spin-off New Mutants, something Josh Boone has been hit up to write. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 19. Animated Spider-Man Film Release date: 20 July 2018. Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, and Amy Pascal - the team behind the live-action Spider-Man films - are producing this unrelated animated adaptation of the hero. Because you can never have too much Spider-Man, right? 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 20. Aquaman Release date: 27 July 2018. Another Justice League spin-off, Jason Momoa plays the leading man. Furious 7s James Wan is on to direct, but little else is known about the film. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 21. Captain Marvel Release date: 8 March 2019. Weve hit 2019, and the first confirmed superhero film will be the first proper female-led MCU film. No-one is confirmed to be in the titular role of Carol Danvers just yet. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 22. Shazam Release date: 5 April 2019. Dwayne Johnson stars as the villain in this DCEU film which will be somewhat separate to the other DC films. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 23. Avengers: Infinity War Part 2. Release date: 3 May 2019. The conclusion to the long drawn MCU saga. Expect a big finish with at least a few planets being destroyed. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 24. Justice League Part Two Release date: 14 June 2019. Soon after the Infinity War story reaches its conclusion, so will the Justice Leagues. Not much is known, except Darkseid will likely be the villain for at least one of the parts. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 25. Inhumans Release date: 12 July 2019. The concept of Inhumans (or Marvels mutants) has already been introduced in TV, through Marvels Agents of Shield, yet the film is expected to introduce the Royal Family who have yet to be seen in the show. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 26. Cyborg Release date: 3 April 2020. Having debuted in Justice League Part One three years previously, Cyborg will finally be making his own outing, with Ray Fisher as the titular character. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 27. Untitled MCU film Release date: 1 May 2020. The first of three untitled Marvel films. There are a couple of contenders, the first is a likely sequel to Spider-Man with Sony, or a third Guardians of the Galaxy film, thus finishing the trilogy. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 28. Green Lantern Corps. Release date: 19 June 2020. Before you start to worry, this has nothing to do with the Ryan Reynolds-starring flick that hit cinemas a little while ago. Instead, this will be another DCEU film that will likely spin-off from Justice League after the Green Lantern Corps cameo in one of the parts. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 29. Untitled MCU film Release date: 10 July 2020. As well as Spider-Man or Guardians of the Galaxy sequels, a Doctor Strange or Black Panther one could fit in nicely here. Or perhaps Black Widow may finally get the solo-film she deserves. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 30. Untitled MCU film Release date: 6 November 2020. Some speculators also think a Blade film could fit in here, marking over 20 years since the first Blade. But many believe the character may be better suited to a Netflix series, as with Daredevil and Jessica Jones. Theres also talk of a Runaways film reaching cinemas at some stage. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 31. Untitled Ben Affleck Batman film Release date: TBA. Now were onto the TBA release dates, the first of which is a Batman solo film, written and directed by Ben Affleck. When this is due, no one is quite sure but expect it sooner rather than later if Batman v Superman is a success. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 32. Suicide Squad 2 Release date: TBA (rumoured 2017). A sequel to Suicide Squad is expected to come in 2017 according to recent reports, but nothing has been confirmed. If the first is successful, it should come as no surprise for Warner Bros to rearrange their schedule to fit in this surefire hit. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 33. Venom Release date: TBA. This is an odd one, as it has been confirmed Sony are wanting to release a Venom film completely unrelated to the upcoming Spider-Man reboot. Venom, as you may know, is a Spider-Man villain, intrinsically linked to Spider-Man, so it seems odd they would release a film unrelated to the rebooted project and not linked to the MCU. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 Anything else? Well, now you mention it, theres also that sequel to Fantastic Four that has seemingly been dropped by Fox. Plus, theres the Gambit film which has been put on hold (but will likely fill an untitled Fox slot so we havent added it extra). Then again, it could be shoehorned in somehow Marvel Derrickson proceeded to meet with other high-profile actors who were sniffing around the role - namely Joaquin Phoenix, Ryan Gosling and Jared Leto who went on to join the DC bandwagon as the Joker in Suicide Squad. But Derrickson was decided on one person, telling Feige: "It's got to Benedict." Cumberbatch was more shocked than anyone to see the film's release date shifted from summer to autumn - just so he could star. If you cant jump on board when the rides going past, thats usually it, he continued, "so the hugest compliment they paid me was to come back to me. It motivated me to try to fulfil their faith in me. Doctor Strange's cast includes Rachel McAdams, Tilda Swinton, Chiwetel Ejiofor. It will be released on 25 October. Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyEats email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Its tricky in Champagne the challenging climate and problems of frost and spring freeze mean winemakers are dependent on blending to compensate for naturally low sugar and very high acidity levels. Parcels from different vineyards, varieties and villages are blended to give character and structure, with older reserve wines used to smooth out any vintage variation and add complexity. The traditional big Champagne Houses depend on growers most buy their grapes from many individual vineyards instead of having their own. These Grandes Marques are driven by quantity and the endless pressure to produce a reliable quality that the market can rely on. The majority of the 19,000 growers therefore sell their grapes and in good years, when competition is hot between the houses, co-operatives and negociants wine merchants who assemble and sell the produce of small vineyards the price per grape rises and growers thrive. In poor years, however, they cant rely on the big players, so as they already have the quality grapes it makes sense for them to make their own Champagne, which until recently was only enjoyed by the French themselves. Over the past few years, certainly in the UK and the US, Grower Champagnes have surged in popularity. They are produced in smaller quantities, with a greater expression of terroir and vintage variation such as premium wines from neighbouring regions and drinkers feel a closer connection to what is in their glass, than with a smoothed-out house style. As Christian Holthausen, international communications director for grower AR Lenoble, points out: The continuing embrace of independent, family-owned producers in Champagne is encouraging but also represents a global cultural shift. First and foremost, it is an affirmation that we are also producing wines like our neighbours in Burgundy and Alsace. Champagne is a wine-producing region, our wines deserve to be treated as more than commodities or symbols of privilege. The aim of growers, especially with a non-vintage, is to make a better wine each year, not a consistent house style. One isnt necessarily better than the other after all, growers wouldnt be around today if it wasnt for the Grandes Marques buying their grapes but what drives the winemakers certainly differs. I hope we can move towards a position where we value good producers based solely on the quality of their wines and strength of their values, and not based on generic categorisation, adds Holthausen. Todays customer cant get enough of these boutique styles that offer more complexity and diversity, not to mention better value for money, while small growers are finally able to enjoy the plaudits. AR Lenoble Brut Nature Dosage Zero 35, Stannary Wine. Buy it here AR Lenoble is one of the few Champagne producers to remain entirely family-owned and independent. With a history spanning almost 100 years, brother-and-sister team Anne and Antoine Malassagne are the fourth generation to run the company all by themselves. AR Lenobles wines are often defined by the unique and luscious terroir of Chouilly. Its Brut Nature Dosage Zero features equal parts Chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier from 2010 and five years ageing in the cellars in a solera system normally used for sherry, perpetually blending the wines. The legal minimum ageing for NV Champagne is only 15 months and this extra time adds richness and concentration, which is beautifully balanced by the salinity and freshness of no added sugar before bottling. Pure aromas of almond, honey and white truffle on the nose plus citrus-acidity on the palate, this is a heavenly match for oysters, 24-month aged Comte cheese, prosciutto, or simply savoured on its own. Franck Pascal Reliance Brut Nature 53, Dynamic Vines. Call 020 7064 6841 Franck Pascals precious four hectares, based in the Vallee de la Marne, are planted with 70 per cent pinot meunier, 20 per cent pinot noir and a touch of Chardonnay. Having formerly worked in the French army, Pascal took over his parents vineyard in 1994 and was horrified to discover how many of the pesticides used were derived from the same components created in chemical warfare. Over time, he patiently prepped the soils and converted the estate to biodynamic practices in 2005, and the Reliance Brut Nature is a grown-up number. Slightly austere at the beginning, it continues to open up with each sip, with notes of lime, white fruit and vibrant minerality. Pair with salty canapes, goats cheese and fish. Pierre Gimonnet et Fils Cuis Premier Cru Brut NV 173.99 (for a case of 6), Armit Wines. Buy it here Nestled in the heart of the Cote des Blancs, Pierre Gimonnet et Fils grows Chardonnay exclusively on its 25-hectare plot. With 16 hectares in Premier Cru vineyards and 12 in Grand Cru, the family has created a refined marriage between the grape and unique terroir of the different vineyards. Didier and Olivier Gimonnet are the third generation at the helm, producing a beautifully light and pure Blanc de Blancs with apple, citrus and sweet grapefruit and a long, crisp finish. An altogether elegant way to start your evening. Champagne Tarlant Tradition Brut NV From the village of Oeuilly in the Vallee de la Marne, the Tarlant family have been making wine since 1687. Today Benoit Tarlant and his sister Melanie focus on producing full-flavoured Champagnes from their 13-hectare estate, adding older wines to the blends for greater depth. The NV Brut, with Pinot Noir and Meunier making up the majority of the blend, is rich and honeyed, brimming with red and stone fruit and a toasted brioche finish. Jacquesson Cuvee 739 Extra Brut 45, Berry Bros. & Rudd. Buy it here Based on the 2011 vintage, this is a Chardonnay-driven fizz with 57 per cent of the grape dominating the blend. Labelled Extra Brut (ie 0-6g/l permitted sugar level), dosage is kept to a minimum to preserve the wines purity and elegance. Structured and feminine with white fruit and subtle spice, a glass of this will make your day significantly better. Champagne Resonance Marie-Courtin NV 40.49 Les Caves de Pyrene. Call 01483 554750 A stunning blanc de noirs from Polisot in the Cote des Bar, Resonance is the first wine from producer Dominique Piollot made entirely from Pinot Noir grapes. Fresh with a lively zing and structured depth from the red fruit, this will cleanse the palate and then happily accompany you from starter through main course. A wine with great potential for ageing and with such a small annual production (600-800 bottles) you would be well advised to snap this up. Francoise Bedel Champagne Dis Vin Secret 179.70 (for six), Henry George wines. Buy it here From Crouttes-sur-Marne, in the Marne Valley, the golden-coloured Dis Vin Secret overflows with cooked apple, orchard fruit, honey and a good intensity of autolytic flavour from eight years spent on its lees. Dominated by Pinot Meunier, with a dose of Chardonnay and a touch of pinot noir, this is rich and complex with a lingering finish. Made from the majority of the 2006 harvest, it is best enjoyed with sushi and white meats. Agrapart et Fils Les 7 Crus Founded in 1894 by Arthur Agrapart and run by brothers Pascal and Fabrice Agrapart since 1984, this is regarded as one of the finest grower estates in the Cote des Blancs. Their 12 hectares of land is spread over 62 parcels, mainly in Grand Cru villages. Les 7 Crus is a blend of seven of these best villages including Avize, Cramant, Ogier, Oiry, Avenay Val dOr, Mardeuil and Bergeres-les-Vertus, with 40 per cent taken from the 2012 harvest and 60 per cent from the 2013 harvest. Pascal works with natural viticulture and cellar practices to give an authentic expression of terroir. Rich baked apples on the nose, complex and savoury on the palate, a touch of spice and a long, nutty finish. Francis Boulard Les Murgiers Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 46, Dynamic Vines. Call 020 7064 6841 The estate of Francis Boulard is mainly located in Cormicy, in Saint-Thierry, on the hills nicknamed the Petit Montagne de Reims. This is Champagne that will delight every single taste bud. Made from 100 per cent old-vine pinot meunier, from the 2013 harvest, with 30 per cent from the three consecutive years prior, Les Murgiers boasts nectarine stone fruits, white and red cherry and grapefruit from the get-go, needing no time at all to open up, and with a finish that goes on and on. Serve with fish, white meat or a selection of pates and charcuterie, and attempt to share the bottle. Waris-Larmandier Cuvee Sensation Brut Waris-Larmandier Cuvee Sensation Brut 30, Champagne + Fromage. Buy it here Marie-Helene Larmandier, a fifth-generation grower from the Cote des Blancs, started the vineyard in 1989. She is a true artist, with her passion expressed not only in the winemaking but also on the Belle Epoque-style label she designed on the bottle. With her three children now working alongside her, they manage their tiny five-and-a-half-hectare estate to produce wines with subtlety, structure and elegance. The Sensation Brut is fresh and delicate with crisp acidity, honey blossom and citrus perfectly suited to any celebration, or even brunch, lunch and dinner. Laherte Freres Ultratradition Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs With a patchwork of vineyards spread across Epernay, the Cote des Blancs and the Vallee de la Marne, Aurelien Laherte is the sixth generation to lead the charge in the family business. This 100 per cent Chardonnay blanc de blancs uses 30 per cent reserve wines from previous years to give a bone-dry, rich and complex style that invites with green apple, grapefruit pith and toast. They also make a delightful Brut Rose entirely from 30-year-old pinot meunier vines think dark cherries, rose petals, white pepper, full-bodied with an edge of chalky minerality. Serge Mathieu Champagne Tradition Brut 24.95, Stone, Vine and Sun. Buy it here The Mathieu family has lived in the small village of Avirey-Ligey since the 18th century and seven generations have passed through the estate. Serge Mathieu started producing his first bottles in 1970 and his daughter Isabelle came aboard in 1987. She and her husband Michel Mathieu-Jacob lovingly tend their 11 hectares of chalky Kimmeridgian soils from vine to bottle to sale, they do it all. This golden blanc de noirs from 100 per cent pinot noir is very good: biscuit, citrus and ripe red and dried berry fruit on the nose and palate, rich and creamy with a perfectly balanced finish. Nuria Stylianou is our WSET-qualified wine and spirits columnist. Email her on nuria.stylianou@gmail.com and follow her on Instagram and Twitter @nu_on_the_vine 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 worlds wealthiest countries have been revealed in a new study which measured the average value of savings, pensions and investments held by their populations. The UK, where according to the research each citizen holds an average of 95,600 euros (82,780) in financial assets, is in third place behind USA at number two, with 160,949 euros (139,370) per head. Switzerland is the worlds wealthiest nation where on average each person is said to have assets worth 170,589 euros (147,720). Kathrin Brandmeir, an economic researcher at Allianz, who produced the report, said it was remarkable how far some European countries had declined in the rankings in recent years. You can see that the Euro crisis has left its mark on the savings of private households, especially in Italy as they had remarkable losses during the financial crisis. They've made up for that now but it took several years, Ms Brandmeir told The Independent. Incomes havent been increasing and [citizens] have to take money from their savings, she said. Italy and France have dropped around nine places since the year 2000. The figures are worked out by deducting total debts from personal financial assets, which dont include real estate. This is because it isnt yet possible to successfully compare the data on property owned by each person, said Ms Brandmeir. Some of them include the land price of a property, whereas others just include the real estate. In 2014, we included real estate, and in a global ranking it doesn't change much. There is no reliable data for emerging data like China, she said. Even in the worlds richest countries, wealth is not always distributed equally a factor which is particularly acute in the US, one of the worlds most unequal countries where the poorest residents are unlikely to benefit from the countrys average savings. And recent analysis by Oxfam suggested that the richest 1 per cent of people in the UK own more than 20 times the total wealth of the poorest fifth. UK supermarkets ranked by value for money Show all 10 1 /10 UK supermarkets ranked by value for money UK supermarkets ranked by value for money 1. Waitrose Getty Images UK supermarkets ranked by value for money 2. Aldi Getty Images UK supermarkets ranked by value for money 3. Sainsbury's Getty Images UK supermarkets ranked by value for money 4. Marks & Spencer UK supermarkets ranked by value for money 5. Lidl Getty Images UK supermarkets ranked by value for money 6. The Co-op Getty Images UK supermarkets ranked by value for money 7. Morrisons Getty Images UK supermarkets ranked by value for money 8 = Asda Getty Images UK supermarkets ranked by value for money 8 = Tesco Getty UK supermarkets ranked by value for money 10. Iceland Getty Images Following the UK in the rankings is Sweden, with average financial assets of 89,942 euros (77,880) per head, Belgium, with 85,027 euros (73,630) per person and Japan, with 83,888 euros (72,640) per head. But other Asian countries are fast catching up to the island nation, said Ms Brandmeir. Japan has been the leader in capital financial assets in the Asian world, and it's still in the lead. But we think in two or three years countries like Taiwan or Singapore could overtake Japan, as the equity markets there are not catching up yet, despite Abenomics. 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 family of the murdered MP Jo Cox have met President Barack Obama after being invited to the White House. Ms Coxs widower Brendan tweeted on Friday: The kids and I met @POTUS today. He was excellent with the kids, we talked about Jo, fighting extremism and the kids gave him their best drawings. The 41-year-old Labour MP was shot and stabbed in her Yorkshire constituency of Batley and Spen on 16 June this year, shortly after holding her constituency surgery, one week before the UK voted on the European referendum. A White House official said: The visit was the result of an invitation the president extended to Mr Cox and his family when he called him on June 17 to offer his sincere condolences on behalf of the American people. Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Floral tributes and candles are placed by a picture of slain Labour MP Jo Cox at a vigil in Parliament square in London AFP Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Tributes to Labour Party MP Jo Cox are placed on her houseboat in Wapping in London REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures The Union flag at half-mast on top of Portcullis House in London after Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (2R) and deputy leader Tom Watson (L) light candles as they attend a vigil to slain Labour MP Jo Cox in Parliament square in London AFP/Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and deputy leader Tom Watson (rear) arrive to leave tributes at Parliament Square PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People leave St Peter's Church after a vigil in memory of Jo Cox REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Flowers left at Parliament Square opposite the Palace of Westminste, following the death of Labour MP Jo Cox PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People react as they look at tributes left for Labour Member of Parliament Jo Cox in Parliament Square, London REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A man writes a message at Parliament Square PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People stop to look at tributes left at Parliament Square opposite the Palace of Westminster PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A woman arrives to lay flowers at a statue to Joseph Priestly in Birstall near to the scene where Labour MP Jo Cox was shot AFP/Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Tributes at Parliament Square opposite the Palace of Westminster PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A woman places candles in tribute to Labour Party MP Jo Cox REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A member of the public signs a memorial for British MP Jo Cox in Parliament Square, London EPA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People sign messages of condolence for MP Jo Cox during a vigil in Parliament Square in London Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Flags at half mast outside Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, after Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death in the street outside her constituency advice surgery in Birstall PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People arrive in Market Square with floral tributes after the death of Jo Co Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Floral tributes are placed in Market Square next to the statue of Joseph Priestley following the death of Jo Cox Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Floral tributes are brought to the scene after the death of Jo Cox Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A police officer carries bunches of flowers at the scene of the shooting of Labour MP Jo Cox in Birstall REUTERS The president reminded Mr Cox and his children that the selfless service to others of their late mother had made the world a better place and reaffirmed their shared commitment to carry on the legacy of her work, reports the Guardian. Recommended Read more Husband of murdered MP Jo Cox condemns global rise of extremism President Obama paid tribute to Ms Coxs remarkable life a few days after her death, on Facebook on 22 June. He offered his hopes that her children Cuillin and Lejla grow up in a world of greater tolerance, justice and peace a future that would make their mum proud. Thomas Mair, 53, is accused of the murder of Ms Cox. He is due to appear on 4 October for a plea hearing and will stand trial in November. 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 }} Bruce Springsteen has labelled Donald Trump a moron and decried his contest as the Republican nominee a tragedy for our democracy. The legendary rock musician branded Mr Trumps rise to popularity tragic and said it was dangerous that his provocative rhetoric has now entered the mainstream. The republic is under siege by a moron, basically, he told Rolling Stone. The whole thing is tragic. Without overstating it, its a tragedy for democracy. The ideas hes moving to the mainstream are all very dangerous ideas. The 67-year-old also accused the real-estate mogul of having simple answers to very complex problems and suggested these fallacious answers might just be part of his appeal with voters. Bruce Springsteen: The man, the music, the politics...the Boss Show all 6 1 /6 Bruce Springsteen: The man, the music, the politics...the Boss Bruce Springsteen: The man, the music, the politics...the Boss AP Bruce Springsteen: The man, the music, the politics...the Boss Getty Images Bruce Springsteen: The man, the music, the politics...the Boss AP Bruce Springsteen: The man, the music, the politics...the Boss AP Bruce Springsteen: The man, the music, the politics...the Boss Getty Images Bruce Springsteen: The man, the music, the politics...the Boss EPA Springsteen has previously endorsed Democrat candidates such as Barack Obama and performed at rallies for the outgoing commander-in-chief. However, this year he has been much less vocal about the political arena, saying he believed that as a musician he only has a limited amount of impact. I havent really lost faith in what I consider to be the small amount of impact that somebody in rock music might be able to have, he said. I dont think people go to musicians for their political points of view. I think your political point of view is circumstances and then how you were nurtured and brought up. But its worth giving a shot when its the only thing you have. Springsteen also didnt hold back when appearing on the Norweigan-Swedish chat show Skavlan recently, saying about Mr Trump: I don't think hes gonna win but even him running is a great embarrassment if you are American. Unsurprisingly, Springsteen endorsed Hillary Clinton saying he thinks she would be a very, very good president. Mr Trump has not responded to Springsteens comments. The Independent has sought a response. 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 }} Chelsea Handler shared a photo of herself imitating a topless pose of Vladimir Putin to illustrate Instagrams gender-specific double standards on nudity. The comedian and actress posted an image of herself topless riding a horse, a replica of a famous shot taken of the Russian President. She captioned the photo with: Anything a man can do, a woman has the right to do better #kremlin The picture was swiftly deleted by Instagram, which has been criticised over the past few months for its disproportionate rulings on female nudity. Handler then shared a screen grab of the message shed received by the social media channel, informing her that her original post had been removed. If a man posts a photo of his nipples, it's ok, but not a woman? Are we in 1825? she wrote alongside the image. The image Chelsea Handler shared of herself and Vladimir Putin, which was promptly deleted by the social media channel Earlier this week, Facebook was forced to reinstate a picture of a mother breastfeeding after deleting it because it breached nudity rules. The mother of two posted the image on a pro-breastfeeding community page. The image received nearly a quarter of a million likes and hundreds of messages of support. In May, Scout Willis staged a topless protest in New York using the hashtag #FreeTheNipple, after she was banned from Instagram for posting a photograph of a sweatshirt she designed featuring two topless women. Her much-publicised protest was triggered by her belief that no woman should be made to feel ashamed of her body. Rihanna tweeted her support for Willis, after deleting her own Instagram account following the channels censorship of one of her topless photos. The singer wore a nipple-revealing, shimmering dress designed by Adam Selman to the CFDA Awards on 2 June which may or may not have been a protest against the channels restrictive rules. US Vogue editor Grace Coddington was also temporarily removed from Instagram last month, after sharing a topless line drawing of herself. She was permitted back on the network days later. 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 Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been urged to confront a dark chapter in Canada's colonial history as they tour the country over the next seven days. Today, the royal couple and their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, will begin a week-long tour of British Columbia and the Yukon, during which Kensington Palace said the family will "celebrate Canada's First Nations community" including "its arts and culture". A Kwagiulth artist, however, wants the Royals to face one of the horrors in the recent history of Canada's indigenous community - the Indian Residential School era. As the Duke and Duchess take part in a reception with Canadian leaders in Victoria's Government House on Monday, an art installation stretching 12m long and measuring 2.5m high will provide a backdrop at the event, the Times Colonist reports. The Witness Blanket holds more than 800 objects within its cedar wood frame, which provide a harrowing glimpse into the history of the residential schools where between 1870 and 1996 around 150,000 indigenous children were taken from their families and enrolled with the aim of integrating them into mainstream Canadian society. (The Witness Blanket ) (The Witness Blanket) Objects held in the poignant work include leather straps used to beat children and doll created with rag and sticks by a young girl who was not able to bring her own toy from home. Carey Newman, the artist who conceived the work and whose father was sent to one of the schools, travelled for 12 months to 77 different communities to collect the artifacts for the work. On his website he calls the Witness Blanket a "national monument to recognise the atrocities of the Indian residential school era" during which he says "identities were stolen, cultures extinguished, [children] were undernourished, neglected and often abused". The purpose of the work he says is for people to stand "in eternal witness to the effects of the Indian residential school era; the system created and run by churches and the Canadian Government to take the Indian out of the child." Indigenous peoples in Canada, who make up around four per cent of the population, still remain a neglected community in the country, with one group known as Attawapiskat First Nation declaring a state of emergency earlier this year after a hike of suicides saw eleven people attempt to take their own lives in one day. Royal skiing holiday in French Alps Show all 6 1 /6 Royal skiing holiday in French Alps Royal skiing holiday in French Alps Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, with their children, Princess Charlotte and Prince George, enjoy a short private skiing break in the French Alps Reuters Royal skiing holiday in French Alps The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after she threw a snowball at him during a short private break skiing in the French Alps Royal skiing holiday in French Alps The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after she threw a snowball at him during a short private break skiing in the French Alps Royal skiing holiday in French Alps The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge walk together during a short private break skiing in the French Alps Royal skiing holiday in French Alps The Duke of Cambridge cuddles Princess Charlotte, as they enjoy a short private break skiing in the French Alps 2016 Getty Images Royal skiing holiday in French Alps The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, during a short private break skiing in the French Alps Mr Newman told the Globe and Mail that as soon as the Royal visit had been announced in July his wife urged him to make sure the Witness Blanket became part of it. I kind of had this thought in my mind about how this family have a direct blood lineage to the original colonisers of Canada and so I love that this message is coming to them and I like that Im a part of it," he said. "I like that reconciliation as a conversation is included in this context. Weve had a goal to take the blanket back to the UK at some point because thats the birthplace of our particular colonisation, and this is the next best thing." The Assembly of First Nations national chief, Perry Bellegarde, told the Guardian he hoped the Royal visit would provide First Nations with an opportunity to build a "nation-to-nation relationship" with the British crown as outlined in the treaties. Were going to have to use every tool we can to repair the relationship we have," he said. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 21 By Fatih Karimov Trend: Iran is negotiating with Turkmenistan for gas swap, Alireza Kameli, managing director of the National Iranian Gas Export Company, said. Talks are underway for transfer of Turkmen gas to Turkey through Iran, Kameli said, Mehr news agency reported Sept. 21. He did not unveil further details. Iran currently exports 32 million cubic meters of gas on a daily basis, Kameli said, adding the country plans to increase its gas export as the output is scheduled to hit 300 million cubic meters per day in the next three years. Earlier in August, Azizollah Ramazani, director of the International Affairs Department at the National Iranian Gas Company, said an Iranian private company is negotiating with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan for gas swap between the two countries through Iran. Iran has already announced readiness for natural gas swap projects with Russia, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. It was earlier announced that Iran and Azerbaijan agreed to increase the volume of gas swap. The two countries have gas swap infrastructure via which Azerbaijan supplies its fuel to Irans northern provinces. Iran, for its part, ensures the gas demand of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. The Islamic Republic holds 34 trillion cubic meters of proven gas reserves, sharing 18.2 percent of total global gas reserves, which puts the country in the top of the world's gas holders list. 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 }} Experts have denounced a decision by the US military to sentence Chelsea Manning to solitary confinement after she tried to kill herself in an act of desperation. Manning, the transgender solider who was jailed for leaking classified information to Wikileaks, faces up to two weeks in solitary for attempting to take her own life, said a campaign group that supports her. A disciplinary board at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, said the punishment was also for possessing a supposedly prohibited book Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy, by Gabriella Coleman, which is about the hacking group Anonymous. The group Fight for the Future, which is supporting Manning, said she was informed of the punishment late on Thursday. Seven of the fourteen days of sentence were suspended, but could be enforced if Manning gets in trouble in the next six months. Lawyers for Manning said the suicide attempt was linked to her despair that she may not be able to proceed in ongoing gender transition to a woman. Military parole rules could allow her to leave prison after serving seven years. Campaigners have condemned the sentence and said it could create more problems for the 28-year-old. Forcing Chelsea back into solitary confinement as a punishment for her suicide attempt is extremely worrisome to me and counterproductive to Chelsea's mental and physical health, Nancy Hollander, a lawyer for Manning, told the Associated Press. Essentially she is now being tortured as punishment for an act of desperation. No date was given for the sentence to start. Manning was quoted in statement issued by the group as saying she could appeal the punishment. I am feeling hurt. I am feeling lonely. I am embarrassed by the decision. I don't know how to explain it, Manning said. Ms Coleman, an academic who wrote the book Manning was reading, said on Twitter: "Writing a book that is treated as subversive by the government is a dream; having it used against a whistleblower is a nightmare and travesty." Manning is serving a 35-year sentence at the military prison after being arrest in 2010 and convicted of leaking more than 700,000 secret military and State Department documents to WikiLeaks. Manning was an intelligence analyst in Iraq at the time. A spokesman for the US Army, Wayne Hall, said it would be inappropriate to comment at this time. This month, Manning went on a hunger strike, agreeing to end it only when the Army said she would be allowed to receive gender transition surgery. She began hormone therapy in 2015. Another layer for Manning, Chase Strangio of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), questioned the logic of our systems of incarceration punishing people with the cruelty of solitary for attempting to end their life. Among the files Manning leaked was a gunsight video of a US Apache helicopter firing on suspected Iraqi insurgents in 2007, an attack that killed a dozen people, including two Reuters journalists. Sign up for a full digest of all the best opinions of the week in our Voices Dispatches email Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Voices Dispatches email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The people of Britain are being asked to look out the sperm of the lugworm, in a nationwide campaign to find out more about the sex lives of the secretive, burrowing marine worm. Spermwatch is a citizen science campaign launched by scientists determined to solve a mystery that has eluded them for decades: exactly what environmental conditions trigger the lugworm to start spawning? Recommended Read more Fish recorded singing dawn choruses off Australia coast As the campaigns website explains: We need people across the UK to look for sperm puddles and tell us when they appear. Our aim is to find out the exact time when male lugworms release their sperm, and how that varies around the UK. Lugworms, better known among humans as a source of fishermens bait than for their mysterious sperm, dig into sandy beaches and spend their lives inside their burrows. Most people are more familiar with their casts - piles of swirly tubes of digested sand excreted by the worm than with the lugworm itself. But, the Spermwatch campaign organisers explain, lugworms are a valuable part of the marine ecosystem. They are a main food source for wader birds and fish, circulate nutrients in the sand, and are used as bait by fishermen. In order to breed, the male lugworm releases sperm which collects in puddles on the surface of the sand. When the tide comes in, the sperm is washed down into the burrows of the females and fertilises their eggs. Lugworms are fascinating, said Spermwatch organiser Dr Katrin Bohn, of the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of Portsmouth. The entire population at a specific location reproduces for just a few days every year, and only when certain environmental conditions are ideal. "We want to know what those conditions are, and also understand how climate change, for example, will affect that. By going out for a walk on any beach across the UK, members of the public can help us in answering those questions." Dr Gordon Watson, principal lecturer at the Institute of Marine Sciences, added: "This is a great way for people to get involved in scientific research. It would be virtually impossible to collect these data without public involvement, so every bit of data the public collects is vital." Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 finalists Show all 11 1 /11 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 finalists Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 finalists 'Termite tossing' by Willem Kruger (South Africa) Termite after termite after termite using the tip of its massive beak-like forceps to pick them up, the hornbill would flick them in the air and then swallow them. Foraging beside a track in South Africas semi-arid Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, the southern yellow-billed hornbill was so deeply absorbed in termite snacking that it gradually worked its way to within 6 metres (19 feet) of where Willem sat watching from his vehicle. Though widespread, this southern African hornbill can be shy, and as it feeds on the ground mainly on termites, beetles, grasshoppers and caterpillars it can be difficult for a photographer to get a clear shot among the scrub. The bird feeds this way because its tongue isnt long enough to pick up insects as, say, a woodpecker might, and though its huge bill restricts its field of vision, it can still see the bills tip and so can pick up insects with precision. Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 finalists 'Swarming under the stars' by Imre Potyo (Hungary) Imre was captivated by the chaotic swarming of mayflies on Hungarys River Raba and dreamt of photographing the spectacle beneath a starlit sky. For a few days each year (at the end of July or beginning of August), vast numbers of the adult insects emerge from the Danube tributary, where they developed as larvae. On this occasion, the insects emerged just after sunset. At first, they stayed close to the water, but once they had mated, the females gained altitude. They filled the air with millions of silken wings, smothering Imre and his equipment in their race upstream to lay their eggs on the waters surface. Then they died, exhausted, after just a few hours. This compensatory flight sometimes as far as several kilometres upstream is crucial to make up for the subsequent downstream drift of the eggs and nymphs, and luckily for Imre, it was happening under a clear sky. Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 finalists 'The disappearing fish' by Iago Leonardo (Spain) In the open ocean, theres nowhere to hide, but the lookdown fish a name it probably gets from the steep profile of its head, with mouth set low and large eyes high is a master of camouflage. Recent research suggests that it uses special platelets in its skin cells to reflect polarized light (light moving in a single plane), making itself almost invisible to predators and potential prey. The platelets scatter polarized light depending on the angle of the sun and the fish, doing a better job than simply reflecting it like a mirror. This clever camouflage works particularly well when viewed from positions of likely attack or pursuit. What is not yet clear is whether the fish can increase its camouflage by moving the platelets or its body for maximum effect in the oceans fluctuating light. The lookdowns disappearing act impressed Iago, who was free-diving with special permission around Contoy Island, near Cancun, Mexico. Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 finalists 'Nosy neighbour' by Sam Hobson (UK) Sam knew exactly who to expect when he set his camera on the wall one summers evening in a suburban street in Bristol, the UKs famous fox city. He wanted to capture the inquisitive nature of the urban red fox in a way that would pique the curiosity of its human neighbours about the wildlife around them. This was the culmination of weeks of scouting for the ideal location a quiet, welllit neighbourhood, where the foxes were used to people (several residents fed them regularly) and the right fox. For several hours every night, Sam sat in one fox familys territory, gradually gaining their trust until they ignored his presence. One of the cubs was always investigating new things his weeping left eye the result of a scratch from a cat he got too close to. I discovered a wall that he liked to sit on in the early evening, says Sam. He would poke his head over for a quick look before hopping up. Setting his focus very close to the lens, Sam stood back and waited. Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 finalists 'Thistle-plucker' by Isaac Aylward (UK) Try keeping a flying linnet in sight while scrambling down rocky embankments holding a telephoto lens. Isaac did, for 20 minutes. He was determined to keep pace with the linnet that he spotted while hiking in Bulgarias Rila Mountains, finally catching up with the tiny bird when it settled to feed on a thistle flowerhead. From the florets that were ripening, it pulled out the little seed parachutes one by one, deftly nipped off the seeds and discarded the feathery down. Isaac composed this alpine-meadow tableau with the sea of soft purple knapweed behind, accentuating the clashing red of the linnets plumage. Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 finalists 'Crystal precision' by Mario Cea (Spain) Every night, not long after sunset, about 30 common pipistrelle bats emerge from their roost in a derelict house in Salamanca, Spain, to go hunting. Each has an appetite for up to 3,000 insects a night, which it eats on the wing. Its flight is characteristically fast and jerky, as it tunes its orientation with echolocation to detect objects in the dark. The sounds it makes too highpitched for most humans to hear create echoes that allow it to make a sonic map of its surroundings. Mario positioned his camera precisely so that it was level with the bats exit through a broken window and the exact distance away to capture a head-on shot. The hard part was configuring the flashes to reveal the bat and highlight the edges of the glass shards. His perseverance paid off when he caught the perfect pose as a bat leaves the roost on its nighttime foray. Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 finalists 'Collective courtship' by Scott Portelli (Australia) Thousands of giant cuttlefish gather each winter in the shallow waters of South Australias Upper Spencer Gulf for their once-in-a-lifetime spawning. Males compete for territories that have the best crevices for egglaying and then attract females with mesmerizing displays of changing skin colour, texture and pattern. Rivalry among the worlds largest cuttlefish up to a metre (3.3 feet) long is fierce, as males outnumber females by up to eleven to one. A successful, usually large, male grabs the smaller female with his tentacles, turns her to face him (as here) and uses a specialized tentacle to insert sperm sacs into an opening near her mouth. He then guards her until she lays the eggs. The preoccupied cuttlefish (the male on the right) completely ignored Scott, allowing him to get close. A line of suitors was poised in the background, waiting for a chance to mate with the female (sometimes smaller males camouflage themselves as females to sneak past the male. Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 finalists 'Blast furnace' by Alexandre Hec (France) When the lava flow from Kilauea on Hawaiis Big Island periodically enters the ocean, the sight is spectacular, but on this occasion Alexandre was in for a special treat. Kilauea (meaning spewing or much spreading) is one of the worlds most active volcanoes, in constant eruption since 1983. As red-hot lava at more than 1,000C (1,832F) flows into the sea, vast plumes of steam hiss up, condensing to produce salty, acidic mist or rain. Alexandre witnessed the action and returned in an inflatable the following evening to find that a new crater had formed close to the shore. Capturing the furious action in a rough sea was no easy task. From 100 metres (328 feet) away, he was blasted with heat and noise like a jet taking off. In a moment of visibility, his perseverance paid off, with a dramatic image of glowing lava being tossed some 30 metres (98 feet) into the air against the night sky. Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 finalists 'Splitting the catch' by Audun Rikardsen (Norway) Sometimes its the fishing boats that look for the killer whales and humpbacks, hoping to locate the shoals of herring that migrate to these Arctic Norwegian waters. But in recent winters, the whales have also started to follow the boats. Here a large male killer whale feeds on herring that have been squeezed out of the boats closing fishing net. He has learnt the sound that this type of boat makes when it retrieves its gear and homed in on it. The relationship would seem to be a win-win one, but not always. Whales sometimes try to steal the fish, causing damage to the gear, and they can also become entangled in the nets, sometimes fatally, especially in the case of humpbacks. The search for solutions is under-way, including better systems for releasing any whales that get trapped. Having grown up in a small coastal fishing community in northern Norway, Audun has always been fascinated by the relationship between humans and wildlife. Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 finalists 'Golden relic' by Dhyey Shah (India) With fewer than 2,500 mature adults left in the wild, in fragmented pockets of forest in northeastern India (Assam) and Bhutan, Gees golden langurs are endangered. Living high in the trees, they are also difficult to observe. But, on the tiny man-made island of Umananda, in Assams Brahmaputra River, you are guaranteed to see one. Site of a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, the island is equally famous for its introduced golden langurs. Within moments of stepping off the boat, Dhyey spotted the golden coat of a langur high up in a tree. The monkey briefly made eye contact and then slipped away. Today, there are just six left on the island, and, with much of the vegetation having been cleared, the leaf-eating monkeys are forced to depend mainly on junk food from visitors Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 finalists 'Playing pangolin' by Lance van de Vyver (New Zealand/South Africa) Lance had tracked the pride for several hours before they stopped to rest by a waterhole, but their attention was not on drinking. The lions (in South Africas Tswalu Kalahari Private Game Reserve) had discovered a Temmincks ground pangolin. This nocturnal, ant-eating mammal is armour-plated with scales made of fused hair, and it curls up into an almost impregnable ball when threatened. Pangolins usually escape unscathed from big cats (though not from humans, whose exploitation of them for the traditional medicine trade is causing their severe decline). But these lions just wouldnt give up. They rolled it around like a soccer ball, says Lance. Every time they lost interest, the pangolin uncurled and tried to retreat, attracting their attention again. Spotting a young lion holding the pangolin ball on a termite mound close to the vehicle, Lance focused in on the lions claws and the pangolins scratched scales, choosing black and white to help simplify the composition. The Spermwatch survey instruction pack, available via the website, shows that would-be sperm spotters need little more than a pencil, a clipboard, tide tables and a recording sheet. Plus a stopwatch, and depending on inclination and British seaside weather, a camera and warm clothing. The public are advised that lugworm sperm puddles look like white or milky specks on the sand. Spermwatchers need to see how many lugworm casts and sperm puddles they can find in ten minutes, or the time it takes to find 100 casts or puddles, whichever is shorter. To avoid confusing sperm puddles with seagull poo, the scientists advise: Bird poo marks could be mistaken for sperm puddles, so look closely. If there are only one or two in your search area, it is probably bird poo. Sperm puddles will appear in higher numbers. Take photos if you are not sure. This study, lugworm spermwatchers are told, Will provide unique data into what environmental conditions trigger them to start spawning, something scientists have struggled to find out. Spermwatch is part of a wider conservation project called Capturing our Coast, a Heritage Lottery Fund partnership between the universities of Portsmouth, Newcastle, Bangor and Hull, the Marine Conservation Society, the Earthwatch Institute, the Marine Biological Association and the Scottish Association of Marine Science. The first spermwatches will start on September 30, and throughout the autumn members of the public can join a series of group spermwatch outings that are being organised all over the coast. Instruction booklets can be downloaded at: http://www.capturingourcoast.co.uk/spermwatch. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A man has been jailed after soiling himself while under arrest, revealing thousands of pounds worth of drugs he was hiding. Toby Brown, a 19-year-old from London, has been sentenced to 32 months after it was found he was hiding 40 grams of drugs on his person. The teenager was arrested in connection with another matter and was referred to hospital as a precaution. While waiting for an x-ray Brown soiled himself and police discovered up to 7,500 worth of drugs. Brown pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a Class A Drug, mainly heroin, at Bexley Magistrates court. PC David Paine, from Greenwich Borough's Gangs Unit, said this method of hiding drugs was dangerous and the consequences are severe. "Brown tried to avoid detection by hiding it internally, but it didn't work, and the court result proves we will get our hands dirty to ensure this type of activity stops", he said. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures 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 UK news in pictures 7 September 2022 Police officers stand guard after Animal Rebellion activists threw paint on the walls and road outside the Houses of Parliament in protest, in London, Britain Reuters "He used a dangerous tactic to try and conceal drugs but nature took its course and, as a result, he will now spend a significant time in prison. This is a clear and strong message to others who choose to live this lifestyle that they can be caught." 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 }} Brexit could cause greater distress for families caught up in cross-border custody battles, family law experts have warned. It is feared a key piece of European Union legislation preventing child abduction could be lost upon the UKs withdrawal. Currently the legislation, known as Brussels II, protects parents or legal guardians if their child is wrongfully being kept in another EU country. Lawyers say the legislation covers a gap in the UK criminal law on child abduction and predict that its loss could leave parents unprotected within the British legal framework, should such an abduction be attempted. Joanna Farrands, a family law specialist based at law firm Barlow Robbins said: "Child abduction - kidnapping and false imprisonment - is a common law offence, however, a gap in the law means it is not a criminal offence to take a child abroad, with the other parent's permission, but then not return that child as agreed. "An estimated 40% of all abduction cases are in fact the wrongful retention of a child by a parent or guardian across international borders." She added: "The current EU legislation, known as Brussels II, provides protection and facilitates speedy return home. "A six-week timetable for the return of the child to their habitual residence is to be strictly complied with. "Once Article 50 is triggered, this key piece of legislation will no longer offer the same level of security and there could be significant delays and distress for families without the ability to easily transfer cases within the EU. "This process could now become more complex and different tests may need to be applied depending on which statute a particular country has signed up to." Helen Habershon, a lawyer at the same firm, said the grey area of family law needed to be addressed urgently. She said "The current recommendation by the Law Commission is for child abduction as a criminal offence to be extended to include cases where a child is lawfully removed from the UK but then unlawfully retained abroad." UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters 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 Much uncertainty remains over when and how Britain will withdraw from the European Union. Some critics of the Leave campaign have suggested they have provided insufficient detail on exactly what Brexit will mean, resulting in ambiguity and uncertainty over negotiations to trigger Article 50. Today a number of Americas biggest banks issued an ultimatum to the Prime Minister, warning Theresa May they will pre-emptively shift operations to Europe unless she can provide clarity on Brexit. 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 }} With hours to go until Labour announces the result of its leadership contest, here The Independent answers some crucial questions on the contest. Who are the candidates? The candidates in the race are Jeremy Corbyn, the current leader, and Owen Smith, the former shadow work and pensions secretary who launched his leadership challenge shortly after Britain voted to leave the European Union. While Mr Corbyn has been on the backbenches in Wesminster for around 30 years, Mr Smith was relatively unknown before the contest having only started as an MP in 2010 but managed to rapidly climb the partys ranks. How long has the contest been going on and why is it happening? The turbulent and at times bitter summer for the party began with a string of resignations from the shadow Cabinet following the sacking of the former shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn two days after the EU referendum. It was claimed he was encouraging other colleagues to resign in the wake the Brexit vote and Mr Corbyns lacklustre performance during the campaign. Over the course of the next few days, a string of shadow Cabinet ministers resigned and a no confidence vote in Mr Corbyn was passed by 172-40. But the Labour leader refused to step down, despite a blow to his authority from the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP). An official leadership challenge was then mounted by Angela Eagle, the former shadow business secretary and a prominent Labour MP, who decided Mr Corbyns leadership was not working. However, after receiving fewer votes than Mr Smith in a round of nominations from Labour MPs she withdrew from the race in July and backed the Pontypridd MP as the unity candidate. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Show all 11 1 /11 The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He called Hezbollah and Hamas friends True. In a speech made to the Stop the War Coalition in 2009, Mr Corbyn called representatives from both groups friends after inviting them to Parliament. He later told Channel 4 he wanted both groups, who have factions designated as international terror organisations, to be part of the debate for the Middle East peace process. I use (the word friends) in a collective way, saying our friends are prepared to talk, he added. Does it mean I agree with Hamas and what it does? No. Does it mean I agree with Hezbollah and what they do? No. Reuters The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn thinks the death of Osama bin Laden was a tragedy Partly false. David Cameron used this as a line of attack at the Conservative Party conference but appears to have left out all context from Mr Corbyns original remarks. In an 2011 interview on Iranian television, the then-backbencher said the fact the al-Qaeda leader was not put on trial was the tragedy, continuing: The World Trade Center was a tragedy, the attack on Afghanistan was a tragedy, the war in Iraq was a tragedy. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He is haunted by the legacy of his evil great-great-grandfather False. A Daily Express expose revealed that the Labour leaders ancestor, James Sargent, was the despotic master of a Victorian workhouse. Addressing the report at the Labour conference, Mr Corbyn said he had never heard of him before, adding: I want to take this opportunity to apologise for not doing the decent thing and going back in time and having a chat with him about his appalling behaviour. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn raised a motion about pigeon bombs in Parliament This one is true. On 21 May 2004, Mr Corbyn raised an early day motion entitled pigeon bombs, proposing that the House register being appalled but barely surprised that MI5 reportedly proposed to load pigeons with explosives as a weapon. The motion continued: The House believes that humans represent the most obscene, perverted, cruel, uncivilised and lethal species ever to inhabit the planet and looks forward to the day when the inevitable asteroid slams into the earth and wipes them out thus giving nature the opportunity to start again. It was not carried. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He rides a Communist bicycle False. A report in The Times referred to Mr Corbyn, known for his cycling, riding a Chairman Mao-style bicycle earlier this year. Less thorough journalists might have referred to it as just a bicycle, but no, so we have to conclude that whenever we see somebody on a bicycle from now on, there goes another supporter of Chairman Mao, he later joked. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn 'Jeremy Corbyn will appoint a special minister for Jews' False so far. The Sun report in December was allegedly based on a rumour passed to the paper by a Daily Express columnist who has written pieces critical of the Labour leader in the past. The minister did not materialise in his shadow cabinet. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn wishes Britain would abolish its Army False. Another gem from The Sun took comments made at a Hiroshima remembrance parade in August 2012 where Mr Corbyn supported Costa Ricas move to abolish it armed forces. Wouldnt it be wonderful if every politician around the worldabolished the army and took pride in the fact that they dont have an army, he added. The caveat that every politician must take the step suggests Mr Corbyn does not support UK disarmament just yet. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn stole sandwiches meant for veterans False. The Guido Fawkes blog claimed that the Labour leader took sandwiches meant for veterans at at Battle of Britain memorial service in September but a photo later emerged showing him being handed one by Costa volunteers, who later confirmed they were given to all guests. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He missed the induction into the Queens privy council True. After much speculation about Mr Corbyns republican views and willingness to bow to the monarch, his office confirmed that he did not attend the official induction to the privy council because of a prior engagement, but did not rule out joining the body. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn refuses to sing the national anthem. Partly true. The Labour leader was filmed standing in silence as God Save the Queen was sung at a Battle of Britain remembrance service but will reportedly sing it in future. Mr Corbyn was elusive on the issue in an interview, saying he would show memorials respect in the proper way, but sources said he would sing the anthem at future occasions. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cheese True. The group lists its purpose as the following: To increase awareness of issues surrounding the dairy industry and focus on economic issues affecting the dairy industry and producers. How many people are voting in the contest? Approximately 640,500 are eligible to vote in the contest or more than the entire population of Luxembourg. Around 130,000 supporters were denied a vote in the contest after Labours governing body, the National Executive Committee (NEC), decided to introduce a freeze date meaning those who joined the party after January 2016 were not qualified to vote in the leadership contest. Where will it be announced? In Liverpool on Saturday 24 September the special conference, a day before the start of the partys annual conference, will begin around 11.30am. Party sources expect the leadership announcement to be wrapped up by midday. It will be broadcast live on the partys website. Who is likely to win? Most MPs, and commentators, believe Mr Corbyn will again secure the leadership of the party and there is speculation from both camps that he could actually secure a more significant win than he did in the summer of 2015. It appears in the last few days Mr Smith, and his team, have appeared to concede defeat in the contest and said he wont be serving in Jeremys Cabinet without adding that would be the case if it turned out he had lost to Mr Corbyn. 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 }} Women and Labour members outside London were the key to Jeremy Corbyns thumping victory, an exit poll has suggested. No official breakdown of the results by age or geography was released by party officials, who insisted such detailed statistics were not available. However, a YouGov poll of just over 1,000 members offered strong clues to explain the outcome and contained an even more terrifying portent for the defeated Labour centrists. The survey found that women were the bedrock of Mr Corbyns fresh success, with almost two-thirds of female members giving him their vote. Intriguingly, despite the repeated claim that the leaders heartland is London, his margin of victory in the capital was quite narrow, at 53 per cent to 47 per cent. And Mr Smith actually won Scotland, according to YouGov, securing 58 per cent of the vote his best result in any part of the country. But Mr Corbyn romped home in the north of England (64 per cent), the Midlands and Wales (61 per cent) and the rest of the south (59 per cent). Another perhaps surprising finding of the exit poll was that Mr Smith won among 18- to 24-year-olds a group often thought of as strong Corbynites but they made up only 11 per cent of the electorate anyway. And Mr Corbyn won with big margins among 25- to 39-year-olds (63 per cent to 36 per cent) and 40- to 50-year-olds (62 per cent to 37 per cent), who voted in far larger numbers. The poll had a reasonable stamp of authority because it predicted that Corbyn would win by 59 per cent, reasonably close to the 61.8 per cent he actually scored. And that miserable signpost for those Labour MPs who may still harbour dreams of unseating Mr Corbyn in a war of attrition threatened by some? YouGov found that Mr Smith had the backing of a clear majority close to two-thirds of Labour members who joined up before the partys general election defeat last year. But Mr Corbyns rock-solid appeal to newer members was crystal clear, as he grabbed the support of almost three-quarters of those who signed up during last years contest. Crucially, there are already 130,000 further new recruits waiting in the wings if there is another leadership challenge those denied the vote this time, because they joined after January this year. Mr Corbyns grip on his party looks unshakeable. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The leader of the pro-Jeremy Corbyn Momentum group said big name MPs who walked out of the Shadow Cabinet would now have to serve him after he won a resounding majority in the leadership race. Jon Lansman, a key Corbyn ally, predicted that only very inattentive people would fail to heed the message of his crushing of rival Owen Smith. And he predicted Shadow Cabinet ministers who quit in the summer would have to come back even if, as expected, Mr Corbyn blocks moves to re-introduce elections by MPs to those posts. That issue is due to be thrashed out at a meeting of Labours governing body in Liverpool tonight, but is likely to be kicked into the long grass by the leader, with his position now strengthened. Mr Lansman stressed he was not involved in how the Shadow Cabinet is put together, given that his is a campaigning role. But he rejected the argument that MPs had to be allowed to elect its top team, to make unity possible, saying: We have just had another resounding majority for Jeremy as leader of the Labour party and everybody will expect that MPs, as well as councillors and members, now rally around. Only very inattentive people will fail to rally round what is clearly a united party on policy issues. That message was echoed by trade union leaders, including Unites Len McCluskey, who said: We urge Labour MPs to heed the signal sent by the members twice now in one year about the direction they want for the party. This includes respecting and supporting the elected leader and his team; no more sniping, plotting and corridor coups. Corbyn says we have much more in common than that which divides us Asked whether Mr Corbyns critics would return to his side, Mick Whelan, of the train drivers union ASLEF, said: I think the majority will. They should welcome Jeremys words about the party coming back together and providing a real opposition to the Tories as we were before this contest. Billy Hayes, ex-leader of the Communication Workers' Union, noted the PA system was playing Everyday People by Sly and the Family Stone a call for different groups to unite and said: Thats what its all about. And Tim Roache, general secretary of the GMB which supported Mr Smith - said: Now the contest is over, lets get behind Jeremy and help him to put his mandate into action. Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Show all 8 1 /8 Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith clash at a leadership hustings in Gateshead, where Mr Smith was scarcely able to answer a question without being booed by Mr Corbyns supporters PA Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Jeremy himself admitted he was seven out of 10 in terms of his faith in the European Union. He said it, said Mr Smith during his second live debate with Jeremy Corbyn Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Ballot papers are currently due to be sent out on 22 August and returned a month later, with the result being announced at a special Labour conference on 24 September Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Jeremy Corbyn supporters cheer and wave placards as the Labour Leader addresses thousands of supporters in in Liverpool, England Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Labour Party leadership candidate Owen Smith poses for a picture with supporters during a picnic for young members in London Fields, Hackney in London Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith The Labour leader has a spring in his step at a leadership rally in Sunderland Screenshot Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Labour leadership contender Owen Smith delivers a speech at the Open University in Milton Keynes, where he promised to reverse Conservative cuts set to leave millions of low paid workers thousands of pounds a year worse off PA Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has urged Owen Smith to distance himself from those saying they want to split the Labour party Getty Party members leaving the hall also called for refusenik MPs to toe the line. Maxine James, from Streatham, in London, said: Jeremy was not given enough time and now the members have spoken. The party is not the leader and the PLP, it also the members the MPs need to do whats needed and not destroy the party. Some senior MPs also sought to reflect the reality of the result. Former Shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn tweeted, simply: Time for unity. And former leadership candidate Yvette Copper tweeted: Congratulations @jeremycorbyn re-elected today. Now the work starts to hold everyone together, build support across country & take Tories on. Before the result was announced, most former Shadow Cabinet had suggested they would not go back, but Seema Malhotra, the former Shadow Treasury Chief Secretary, told Sky News she was open to a conversation about returning. And even Mr Smith, conceding defeat, hinted he could return to front bench, saying: I fully accept result and will reflect carefully on what role I might play in future. He added: We have to turn round our dire opinion poll ratings and take on this right wing, failing Tory Government. Jeremy has won this contest. He now has to win the country and he will have my support in trying to do so. . 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 }} One of Northern Irelands most senior legal figures will be involved in a legal bid to stop the UK from leaving the European Union. The case is being described as the most important constitutional legal case in recent history and will feature Attorney General John Larkin QC, the Belfast Telegraph reported. To ensure Mr Larkins participation a formal notice of devolution has been served. Boris Johnson says he believes Article 50 will be invoked early next year A series of high-profile Northern Irish politicians are demanding a judicial review on Brexit. The argument being offered is that triggering Article 50 the formal clause the UK must invoke to leave the European Union would be illegal if done so without securing parliamentary authorisation. Fifty-six per cent of Northern Irish voters backed Remain. Among nationalist areas support for Remain was stronger, while in areas with majority unionist communities support tended to be greater for the Leave campaign. Northern Ireland shares the UKs largest land border with another EU country the Republic of Ireland. It is not yet known how the border will be affected by Brexit. Some politicians have raised concerns a hard border would have to be introduced, prompting fears this could exaccerbate tensions surrounding the constitutional status of the island. Northern Ireland also receives grants and funding from the EU for cross-community projects to support post-Troubles relations between nationalist and unionist communities, known locally as peace money. Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt said following the referendum result announcement that Northern Ireland now faced a decade of uncertainty. Campaigner Raymond McCord welcomed the Attorney Generals involvement and said the majority of Northern Ireland wants to remain in the EU. We are a devolved nation and our views should count for something, Mr McCord told the Belfast Telegraph. Brexit reactions in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Brexit reactions in pictures Brexit reactions in pictures Supporters of the Stronger In campaign look at their phones after hearing results in the EU referendum at London's Royal Festival Hall AP Brexit reactions in pictures Leave supporters cheer results at a Leave.eu party after polling stations closed in the Referendum on the European Union in London Reuters Brexit reactions in pictures Mr Cameron announces his resignation to supporters Getty Brexit reactions in pictures Donald Tusk proposes that the 27 remaining EU member states start a wider reflection on the future of our union Getty Brexit reactions in pictures Ukip leader Nigel Farage greets his supporters on College Green in Westminster, after Britain voted to leave the European Union PA Brexit reactions in pictures Supporters of the Stronger In Campaign react as referendum results are announced today Getty Brexit reactions in pictures Boris Johnson leaves his home today to discover a crowd of waiting journalists and police officers Getty Brexit reactions in pictures Leave EU supporters celebrate as they watch the British EU Referendum results being televised at Millbank Tower in London Rex Brexit reactions in pictures Supporters of the Stronger In Campaign react as results of the EU referendum are announced at the Royal Festival Hall Reuters Brexit reactions in pictures Supporters of the Stronger In campaign react after hearing results in the EU referendum at London's Royal Festival Hall PA All the implications of leaving the EU specific to Northern Ireland will be examined by a judge at a preliminary hearing at the High Court in Belfast. The Independent has contacted the Attorney Generals office for comment. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Poaching syndicates shipped large amounts of African elephant ivory last year despite global calls to dismantle the trafficking networks, conservationists have said as an international wildlife conference opened in South Africa. The illegal ivory trade has remained fairly constant at unacceptably high levels since 2010, and in 2015 there was a continuing upward trend in the seizure of larger shipments of more than 100 kilograms, according to a document released by organisers. The transfer of big amounts of ivory indicates the key role of organised crime in poaching, the document said. The plight of elephants dominated the discussion on the first day of the 12-day Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or Cites, conference. Rhinos, sharks, pangolins, helmeted hornbills and other threatened species are also on the agenda at the meeting, which regulates trade in wild animals and plants with the aim of ensuring their survival. Last held in Bangkok in 2013, this year's Cites conference ends on 5 October. The UN group has 183 member countries and can recommend suspending trade in wildlife with countries that dont enforce its guidelines. Wildlife trafficking is estimated to generate billions of pounds a year globally. Interpol is among the delegations at the conference and will discuss crime, corruption and the illegal financial flows of poaching. Many delegates at the conference in Johannesburg are likely to push to tighten the international ban on the ivory trade, as well as close domestic ivory markets. Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, however, favour the sale of their ivory stockpiles, saying the money can be funneled back into conservation operations. The worlds main ivory consumer, China, has said it plans to close its domestic ivory market. The United States has announced a near-total ban on the domestic sale of African elephant ivory. Ivory has been used for centuries to make carvings, jewellery, furniture, piano keys and other items. Many conservationists say criminal syndicates launder illegal supplies through legal markets that permit the sale of antique ivory pieces or ivory exempted from a 1989 international trade ban. The number of Africas savannah elephants dropped by about 30 per cent from 2007 to 2014, to 352,000, because of poaching, according to a recent study. Elephant populations in Tanzania and Mozambique were among the hardest hit. Tom Milliken, a co-author of the document released at the Cites meeting, said there are about 50 ivory seizures of more than half a ton, and sometimes as many as four tons, every year. Such big shipments indicate the involvement of organised criminal groups, said Mr Milliken, an expert with the Traffic conservation organisation. Nobody is really uncovering their identities and making arrests and prosecuting the people who are really behind this, he said, adding that poaching syndicates view occasional ivory seizures as a form of taxation on their lucrative activity. Associated Press 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 Ugandan gay pride parade has been blocked by police after a government minister declared the event was illegal. Officials stopped organisers from staging the parade at two locations outside the capital, Kampala, local activists said. Simon Lokodo, the Ugandan minister in charge of ethics and integrity, issued a strong statement earlier this week condemning the public activities of homosexuals. He urged police to arrest LGBT activists who went ahead with the parade. More than 100 LGBT people turned up for the event at a beach on Lake Victoria. Most were later ordered into minibuses and escorted by police to Kampala, apparently for questioning. One young man jumped off a moving minibus and injured himself, Mr Mugisha said. "They are traumatised," Mr Mugisha added, and also said the LGBT people who had travelled in the minibuses were later set free. The polices conduct led to an outpouring of solidarity online, with Twitter users from around the world expressing their sympathy for the group. Homosexuality is a crime in Uganda, as in a number of African countries. A colonial-era law proscribes homosexual sex acts as "against the order of nature". The LGBT community has faced frequent discrimination, violence and extortion, according to activists. In August, Ugandan police briefly arrested about 20 people attending a gay pride event at a nightclub in Kampala. Following the raid, Mr Mugisha and his colleagues decided to postpone the pride parade until September. LGBT+ rights around the globe Show all 9 1 /9 LGBT+ rights around the globe LGBT+ rights around the globe Russia Russias antipathy towards homosexuality has been well established following the efforts of human rights campaigners. However, while it is legal to be homosexual, LGBT couples are offered no protections from discrimination. They are also actively discriminated against by a 2013 law criminalising LGBT propaganda allowing the arrest of numerous Russian LGBT activists. AFP/Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Brunei Brunei recently introduced a law to make sodomy punishable by stoning to death. It was already illegal and punishable by up to 10 years in prison AFP/Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Mauritania Men who are found having sex with other men face stoning, while lesbians can be imprisoned, under Sharia law. However, the state has reportedly not executed anyone for this crime since 1987 Alamy LGBT+ rights around the globe Sudan Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Sudanese law. Men can be executed on their third offence, women on their fourth Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Saudi Arabia Homosexuality and gender realignment is illegal and punishable by death, imprisonment, whipping and chemical castration Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Yemen The official position within the country is that there are no gays. LGBT inviduals, if discovered by the government, are likely to face intense pressure. Punishments range from flogging to the death penalty Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Nigeria Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal and in some northern states punishable with death by stoning. This is not a policy enacted across the entire country, although there is a prevalent anti-LGBT agenda pushed by the government. In 2007 a Pew survey established that 97% of the population felt that homosexuality should not be accepted. It is punishable by 14 years in prison Reuters LGBT+ rights around the globe Somalia Homosexuality was established as a crime in 1888 and under new Somali Penal Code established in 1973 homosexual sex can be punishable by three years in prison. A person can be put to death for being a homosexual Reuters LGBT+ rights around the globe Iraq Although same-sex relationships have been decriminalised, much of the population still suffer from intense discrimination. Additionally, in some of the country over-run by the extremist organisation Isis, LGBT individuals can face death by stoning Getty In 2009, a Ugandan lawmaker introduced a bill that prescribed the death penalty for some homosexual acts, saying he wanted to protect Ugandan children. The proposed bill prompted international condemnation. A less severe version of the bill passed by lawmakers was rejected by a Ugandan court as unconstitutional. Associated Press Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 24 By Fatih Karimov Trend: The United States has repeatedly asked Iran to talk on regional issues, Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said. The frequent requests of the US for negotiating with the Islamic Republic over sensitive regional developments indicates that Washington is concerned about the failure of its plans, Shamkhani said, Mehr news agency reported. He further said that the United States open and covert support for governments and groups that are boosting terrorism is the major obstacle ahead of US-Iran negotiation on regional issues. Iran cannot trust the US because the two parties interests contradict each other and Washington has not fulfilled its commitments towards Tehran in the past, he said. Elsewhere in his remarks, Shamkhani said that Tehran will not accept any restrictions on its nuclear program, excluding the decree of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, once the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA aka nuclear deal) expired in 10 years. Khamenei has declared a fatwa (religious decree), which bans pursuit and possession of nuclear weapons. 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 }} Barack Obama, Americas first black president, has opened the countrys first national museum dedicated to telling the stories and histories of African American citizens. In a powerful speech at the ceremony on Saturday in Washington DC, he said he believed it would allow black people to greater sense their own agency. The very fact of this day does not prove that America is perfect, but it does validate the ideas of our founding - that this country born of change, of revolution, of we the people, that this country can get better, he said. Mr Obama said 'We are not a burden on America. Or a stain on America, we are America' (AP) Read the full transcript of speech: James Baldwin once wrote, For while the tale of how we suffer, and how we are delighted, and how we may triumph is never new, it always must be heard. For while the tale of how we suffer, and how we are delighted, and how we may triumph is never new, it always must be heard. Today, as so many generations have before, we gather on our National Mall to tell an essential part of our American story one that has at times been overlooked we come not just for today, but for all time. President and Mrs. Bush; President Clinton; Vice President and Dr. Biden; Chief Justice Roberts; Secretary Skorton; Reverend Butts; distinguished guests: Thank you. Thank you for your leadership in making sure this tale is told. Were here in part because of you and because of all those Americans the Civil War vets, the Civil Rights foot soldiers, the champions of this effort on Capitol Hill who, for more than a century, kept the dream of this museum alive. That includes our leaders in Congress Paul Ryan and Nancy Pelosi. It includes one of my heroes, John Lewis, who, as he has so often, took the torch from those who came before him and brought us past the finish line. It includes the philanthropists and benefactors and advisory members who have so generously given not only their money but their time. It includes the Americans who offered up all the family keepsakes tucked away in Grandmas attic. And of course, it includes a man without whose vision and passion and persistence we would not be here today Mr. Lonnie Bunch. What we can see of this building the towering glass, the artistry of the metalwork is surely a sight to behold. But beyond the majesty of the building, what makes this occasion so special is the larger story it contains. Below us, this building reaches down 70 feet, its roots spreading far wider and deeper than any tree on this Mall. And on its lowest level, after you walk past remnants of a slave ship, after you reflect on the immortal declaration that all men are created equal, you can see a block of stone. On top of this stone sits a historical marker, weathered by the ages. That marker reads: General Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay spoke from this slave blockduring the year 1830. I want you to think about this. Consider what this artifact tells us about history, about how its told, and about what can be cast aside. On a stone where day after day, for years, men and women were torn from their spouse or their child, shackled and bound, and bought and sold, and bid like cattle; on a stone worn down by the tragedy of over a thousand bare feet for a long time, the only thing we considered important, the singular thing we once chose to commemorate as history with a plaque were the unmemorable speeches of two powerful men. And that block I think explains why this museum is so necessary. Because that same object, reframed, put in context, tells us so much more. As Americans, we rightfully passed on the tales of the giants who built this country; who led armies into battle and waged seminal debates in the halls of Congress and the corridors of power. But too often, we ignored or forgot the stories of millions upon millions of others, who built this nation just as surely, whose humble eloquence, whose calloused hands, whose steady drive helped to create cities, erect industries, build the arsenals of democracy. And so this national museum helps to tell a richer and fuller story of who we are. It helps us better understand the lives, yes, of the President, but also the slave; the industrialist, but also the porter; the keeper of the status quo, but also of the activist seeking to overthrow that status quo; the teacher or the cook, alongside the statesman. And by knowing this other story, we better understand ourselves and each other. It binds us together. It reaffirms that all of us are America that African-American history is not somehow separate from our larger American story, it's not the underside of the American story, it is central to the American story. That our glory derives not just from our most obvious triumphs, but how weve wrested triumph from tragedy, and how we've been able to remake ourselves, again and again and again, in accordance with our highest ideals. I, too, am America. The great historian John Hope Franklin, who helped to get this museum started, once said, Good history is a good foundation for a better present and future. He understood the best history doesnt just sit behind a glass case; it helps us to understand whats outside the case. The best history helps us recognize the mistakes that weve made and the dark corners of the human spirit that we need to guard against. And, yes, a clear-eyed view of history can make us uncomfortable, and shake us out of familiar narratives. But it is precisely because of that discomfort that we learn and grow and harness our collective power to make this nation more perfect. Thats the American story that this museum tells one of suffering and delight; one of fear but also of hope; of wandering in the wilderness and then seeing out on the horizon a glimmer of the Promised Land. It is in this embrace of truth, as best as we can know it, in the celebration of the entire American experience, where real patriotism lies. As President Bush just said, a great nation doesnt shy from the truth. It strengthens us. It emboldens us. It should fortify us. It is an act of patriotism to understand where we've been. And this museum tells the story of so many patriots. Yes, African Americans have felt the cold weight of shackles and the stinging lash of the field whip. But weve also dared to run north, and sing songs from Harriet Tubmans hymnal. Weve buttoned up our Union Blues to join the fight for our freedom. Weve railed against injustice for decade upon decade a lifetime of struggle, and progress, and enlightenment that we see etched in Frederick Douglasss mighty, leonine gaze. Yes, this museum tells a story of people who felt the indignity, the small and large humiliations of a whites only sign, or wept at the side of Emmett Tills coffin, or fell to their knees on shards of stained glass outside a church where four little girls died. But it also tells the story of the black youth and white youth sitting alongside each other, straight-backed, so full of dignity on those lunch counter stools; the story of a six-year-old Ruby Bridges, pigtails, fresh-pressed dress, walking that gauntlet to get to school; Tuskegee airmen soaring the skies not just to beat a dictator, but to reaffirm the promise of our democracy (applause) but remind us that all of us are created equal. This is the place to understand how protest and love of country dont merely coexist but inform each other; how men can proudly win the gold for their country but still insist on raising a black-gloved fist; how we can wear I Cant Breathe T-shirt and still grieve for fallen police officers. Heres the America where the razor-sharp uniform of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff belongs alongside the cape of the Godfather of Soul. (Laughter.) We have shown the world that we can float like butterflies and sting like bees; that we can rocket into space like Mae Jemison, steal home like Jackie, rock like Jimi, stir the pot like Richard Pryor; or we can be sick and tired of being sick and tired, like Fannie Lou Hamer, and still Rock Steady like Aretha Franklin. We are large, Walt Whitman told us, containing multitudes. We are large, containing multitudes. Full of contradictions. That's America. That's what makes us grow. That's what makes us extraordinary. And as is true for America, so is true for African American experience. We're not a burden on America, or a stain on America, or an object of pity or charity for America. Were America. And that's what this museum explains - the fact that our stories have shaped every corner of our culture. The struggles for freedom that took place made our Constitution a real and living document, tested and shaped and deepened and made more profound its meaning for all people. The story told here doesnt just belong to black Americans; it belongs to all Americans for the African-American experience has been shaped just as much by Europeans and Asians and Native Americans and Latinos. We have informed each other. We are polyglot, a stew. Scripture promised that if we lift up the oppressed, then our light will rise in the darkness, and our night will become like the noonday. And the story contained in this museum makes those words prophecy. And thats what this day is about. Thats what this museum is about. I, too, am America. It is a glorious story, the one that's told here. It is complicated and it is messy and it is full of contradictions, as all great stories are, as Shakespeare is, as Scripture is. And its a story that perhaps needs to be told now more than ever. A museum alone will not alleviate poverty in every inner city or every rural hamlet. It won't eliminate gun violence from all our neighborhoods, or immediately ensure that justice is always colorblind. It won't wipe away every instance of discrimination in a job interview or a sentencing hearing or folks trying to rent an apartment. Those things are up to us, the decisions and choices we make. It requires speaking out, and organizing, and voting, until our values are fully reflected in our laws and our policies and our communities. But what this museum does show us is that in even the face of oppression, even in the face of unimaginable difficulty, America has moved forward. And so this museum provides context for the debates of our times. It illuminates them and gives us some sense of how they evolved, and perhaps keeps them in proportion. Perhaps it can help a white visitor understand the pain and anger of demonstrators in places like Tulsa and Charlotte. But it can also help black visitors appreciate the fact that not only is this younger generation carrying on traditions of the past but, within the white communities across this nation we see the sincerity of law enforcement officers and officials who, in fits and starts, are struggling to understand, and are trying to do the right thing. It reminds us that routine discrimination and Jim Crow aren't ancient history, it's just a blink in the eye of history. It was just yesterday. And so we should not be surprised that not all the healing is done. We shouldnt despair that its not all solved. And knowing the larger story should instead remind us of just how remarkable the changes that have taken place truly are just in my lifetime - and thereby inspire us to further progress. And so hopefully this museum can help us talk to each other. And more importantly, listen to each other. And most importantly, see each other. Black and white and Latino and Native American and Asian American see how our stories are bound together. And bound together with women in America, and workers in America, and entrepreneurs in America, and LGBT Americans. And for young people who didnt live through the struggles represented here, I hope you draw strength from the changes that have taken place. Come here and see the power of your own agency. See how young John Lewis was. These were children who transformed a nation in a blink of an eye. Young people, come here and see your ability to make your mark. The very fact of this day does not prove that America is perfect, but it does validate the ideas of our founding, that this country born of change, this country born of revolution, this country of we, the people, this country can get better. And thats why we celebrate, mindful that our work is not yet done; mindful that we are but on a waystation on this common journey towards freedom. And how glorious it is that we enshrine it here, on some of our nations most hallowed ground the same place where lives were once traded but also where hundreds of thousands of Americans, of all colors and creeds, once marched. How joyful it is that this story take its rightful place alongside Jefferson who declared our independence, and Washington who made it real, and alongside Lincoln who saved our union, and the GIs who defended it; alongside a new monument to a King, gazing outward, summoning us toward that mountaintop. How righteous it is that with tell this story here. For almost eight years, I have been blessed with the extraordinary honor of serving you in this office. (Applause.) Time and again, Ive flown low over this mall on Marine One, often with Michelle and our daughters. And President Clinton, President Bush, theyll tell you it is incredible sight. We pass right across the Washington Monument it feels like you can reach out and touch it. And at night, if you turn the other way, you don't just see the Lincoln Memorial, Old Abe is lit up and you can see him, his spirit glowing from that building. And we dont have many trips left. But over the years, Ive always been comforted as Ive watched this museum rise from this earth into this remarkable tribute. Because I know that years from now, like all of you, Michelle and I will be able to come here to this museum, and not just bring our kids but hopefully our grandkids. I imagine holding a little hand of somebody and tell them the stories that are enshrined here. And in the years that follow, theyll be able to do the same. And then well go to the Lincoln Memorial and we'll take in the view atop the Washington Monument. And together, well learn about ourselves, as Americans our sufferings, our delights, and our triumphs. And well walk away better for it, better because the better grasp of history. We'll walk away that much more in love with this country, the only place on Earth where this story could have unfolded. It is a monument, no less than the others on this Mall, to the deep and abiding love for this country, and the ideals upon which it is founded. For we, too, are America. So enough talk. President Bush is timing me. He had the over/under at 25. Let us now open this museum to the world. Today, we have with us a family that reflects the arc of our progress: the Bonner family four generations in all, starting with gorgeous seven-year-old Christine and going up to gorgeous 99-year-old Ruth. (Applause.) Now, Ruths father, Elijah Odom, was born into servitude in Mississippi. He was born a slave. As a young boy, he ran, though, to his freedom. He lived through Reconstruction and he lived through Jim Crow. But he went on to farm, and graduate from medical school, and gave life to the beautiful family that we see today with a spirit reflected in beautiful Christine, free and equal in the laws of her country and in the eyes of God. So in a brief moment, their family will join us in ringing a bell from the First Baptist Church in Virginia - one of the oldest black churches in America, founded under a grove of trees in 1776. And the sound of this bell will be echoed by others in houses of worship and town squares all across this country - an echo of the ringing bells that signaled Emancipation more than a century and a half ago; the sound, and the anthem, of American freedom. God bless you all. God bless the United States of America. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The veteran civil rights campaigner John Lewis called it a dream come true, while Americas first black president said it would help tell a richer and fuller story of the nations history. On Saturday, the first national museum dedicated to the history of black Americans opened in Washington DC. It was formally inaugurated by President Barack Obama, who was joined by his predecessor, George W Bush, who in 2003 signed legislation to enable the construction of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Obama urged African-Americans to come here and see the power of your own agency. The very fact of this day does not prove that America is perfect, but it does validate the ideas of our founding - that this country born of change, of revolution, of we the people, that this country can get better, he said. We are not a burden on America. Or a stain on America, we are America. And that's what this museum explains. Mr Bush said that it was important that a nation that so valued freedom recognised that it was founded on bondage and the work of millions who were kept in chains. A great nation does not hide from its history, he said, it faces its flaws and corrects them. Former president George W Bush also attended the event in Washington, which drew large crowds (AP) The opening of the museum comes as the debate about race relations in the country occupies its most prominent position for decades. The efforts of the Black Lives Matter movement to highlight the stream of killings by police of black and Latino suspects, the presidency of Mr Obama and the backlash against him, have all combined to elevate the issue within the media, and public discourse. And the official opening came as the city of Charlotte has seen four successive nights of protests - the last two nights entirely peaceful - following the shooting by police of a 43-year-old black man, Keith Scott. The Associated Press said Mr Obama nd first lady Michelle Obama joined Ruth Bonner, a 99-year-old direct descendent of a slave, and her family as they rang a bell from the historic First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, Virginia, to signal that the museum was officially open. The church, believed to be among the first Baptist churches organised entirely by black people, acquired its Freedom Bell in 1886. It will return to the church for its 240th anniversary later this year. Mr Lewis, a Democratic congressman from Georgia who co-sponsored the bill that created the museum, said he hopes visitors will come away with a healthy respect for human dignity, and a stronger commitment to the idea of justice, truth and democracy. Thousands gathered on the National Mall to watch the museum officially open its doors and to be among the first inside. Its like walking across the desert and finally getting to a fountain of water to quench your thirst. It's absolutely breathtaking for me, said Verna Eggleston, 61, of New York City, who was touring the museum. Construction was completed earlier this year on the 400,000-square-foot museum designed by British-Ghanaian architect David Adjaye. Inside, museum officials say they have nearly 3,000 items occupying 85,000 square feet of display space, including exhibits like a Tuskegee Airmen training plane and the casket of Emmitt Till, an African-American boy whose murder helped rally the civil rights movement. Millions of donors, known and unknown, contributed to the $315m in private funding raised before the museums opening. As part of the opening ceremony, Winfrey and actor Will Smith read lines of famous black writers, from Maya Angelou to Langston Hughes, Toni Morrison and Martin Luther King Jr. 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 manhunt is continuing in the northwest United States after a gunman entered a shopping mall and opened fire - killing five people and sparking terror in the region. Police have issued an image of the suspect, but the motive for the shooting remains unclear. Official said that the man entered the Cascade Mall in Burlington, in Washington state, at around 7pm on Friday evening and started shooting with what is believed to rifle. The city is located 60 miles from Seattle. Four women were killed in the attack in the cosmetics section of the malls Macys department store. A man who was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries died overnight, bringing the death toll to five. Four women were killed in the cosmetics section of Macy's (AP) Washington State Patrol spokesman Mark Francis said that police and rescue crews worked their way through the mall, clearing stores and evacuating shoppers, some of whom, according to local media, locked themselves in dressing rooms. Lt Chris Cammock of the Mount Vernon Police Department said at media briefing on Saturday that the rifle was later recovered at the mall. He said officials were still searching for clues as to what may have lay behind the attack. Witnesses described chaotic scenes and confusion when the shooting started Brandi Montreuil told CNN she was watching a movie at the mall when attendants suddenly told them to leave. I didnt know anything, she said. The attendant came in and apologised for stopping the movie and said they were asked to have everyone leave immediately. Police spent the night searching for the gunman, who fled the scene and was last scene on a nearby highway. Police said that man was described as an Hispanic male wearing gray. As the search was carried out for the suspect, who has not been identified, was last seen walking toward a nearby highway away from the mall. Tragedy has struck in Washington tonight. Our hearts are in Burlington, Governor Jay Inslee said on Twitter. Police told residents to stay inside as they hunted for the gunman (AP) The shooting comes less than a week after a man stabbed nine people at a mall in central Minnesota before being shot dead. The FBI is investigating that attack as a potential act of terrorism. At this time, the FBI has no information to suggest additional attacks planned in Washignton State, said the Washington State Patrol. Ms Montreuil said that when they left the mall, they saw police vehicles but no officers in sight. We didn't know if it was a fire so we were looking for smoke of some kind. Then a few officers started canvassing through the crowds, asking if anybody saw anything, she said. A bus transported survivors to a nearby church as authorities warned people to stay indoors and avoid the mall area. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Colombia's FARC rebel group voted unanimously yesterday to approve a peace deal with the government, declaring an end to the five-decade war as it prepares to transition into a new political party. After four years of negotiations in Havana, Cuba, the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia reached a final peace accord last month that will end a war that has left a quarter of a million people dead. "Peace is the most beautiful of victories," rebel leader Rodrigo Londono, who uses the nom de guerre Timochenko, told a crowd of hundreds of FARC fighters at the close of the guerrillas' congress on the southern Yari Plains. Timochenko speaks during the closing event of the 10th conference of the FARC yesterday (AP) "We yearn that no Colombians will ever again have to take up arms to make their voices heard and their demands felt, as has been required of us," Timochenko said to cheers and applause. As part of the agreement, the FARC will continue to push for social change as a political party, receiving 10 unelected seats in congress until 2026. FARC's leaders have been coy on policy details but are expected to morph the group into a party rooted in Marxist ideals. Another congress to officially found the party will be held no later than May 2017, FARC commander Ivan Marquez said at the ceremony. Two-hundred delegates from FARC units around the country gathered at the Yari site, five hours by rutted road from the nearest provincial town, to review the accord and discuss re-organization in peacetime. "We inform the country and the government and the governments and people of the world that the rebel delegates of the congress have given unanimous backing to the final accord," Marquez said. The peace accord is due to be signed on Monday by President Juan Manuel Santos and Timochenko. Colombians will vote on the deal in an 2 October plebiscite, the final go-ahead for rebels to demobilize. Polls show the accord will easily pass. The congress, the first ever open to media, marks the group's final meeting as a guerrilla army and will end with a music concert with non-FARC performers. Previous congresses, to decide battle strategy, were sometimes held via internet due to military offensives that prevented leaders from meeting. Although both leadership and rank-and-file fighters say they will prioritize political activism as civilians, the group has so far not provided examples of specific policies. "Our initial platform is the implementation of the Havana accords," Pastor Alape, a member of the FARC's secretariat, told Reuters at the congress. "Our political proposals will have to come from the suggestions of our base. "We started our political efforts clandestinely and now we aspire, legally, to open our initiatives, together with all sectors of society, to concretely cultivate the political space we are given," Alape said. The five-point peace accord covers agricultural reform, an end to the illegal drugs trade, victims' reparations, FARC political participation and demobilization. Policies are being drafted and will be revealed in due time, FARC commander Bertulfo Alvarez told a news conference during the congress, when asked by Reuters to give examples of policy initiatives. One mid-level rebel fighter said the group wants to decentralize Colombia's government, including halving the size of Congress, in a bid to combat corruption and ensure communities have control over distribution of royalties from oil and mining projects. The FARC may find an electoral foothold among poor farmers and committed leftists, but many Colombians are worried that ex-fighters will join criminal gangs. Reuters Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Five people have died in a shooting at a shopping mall in Burlington, Washington, with police still searching for the gunman. A spokesman for the Washington State Patrol, Sergeant Mark Francis, said on Twitter that the gunman fled the scene before police arrived at the Cascade Mall. The shopping centre, located 66 miles north of Seattle, was immediately placed on lockdown after reports of the active shooter. Police responded to reports around 7pm local time shortly after the lone suspect walked into a Macys department store armed with a rifle and opened fire. People fled, customers hid in dressing rooms and employees locked the doors of nearby stores after gunshots rang out. A helicopter, search teams and K-9 units scoured the area for a rifle-carrying man. We are still actively looking for the shooter, Sgt. Francis said. Stay indoors, stay secure. Police said they were looking for a Hispanic man wearing black and armed with a hunting-type rifle and last seen walking towards Interstate 5. The description, including that he appeared Hispanic, was based on statements from witnesses, said Given Kutz, a spokesman for the Skagit County Emergency Operations Center. The FBI was assisting local authorities as dozens of police officers searched for the suspect. The FBI's Seattle office said on Twitter that it has no information to suggest additional attacks planned in Washington state but did not elaborate. Four women died in the attack and a male victim died early on Saturday at a Seattle hospital. It was unclear where in the mall he was when he was shot. No other details about the victims were provided, including their ages. Gunman opens fire inside Washington mall Show all 8 1 /8 Gunman opens fire inside Washington mall Gunman opens fire inside Washington mall The lone image of the shooting suspect. Handout Gunman opens fire inside Washington mall Bellingham SWAT officers are seen at the Cascade Mall following reports of an active shooter in Burlington, Washington, U.S. September 23, 2016. REUTERS/Matt Mills McKnight TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTSP7FE REUTERS Gunman opens fire inside Washington mall Authorities are pictured at the Cascade Mall following reports of an active shooter in Burlington, Washington, U.S. September 23, 2016. REUTERS/Matt Mills McKnight - RTSP7FI REUTERS Gunman opens fire inside Washington mall Washington State Trooper Mark Francis speaks to the media at the Cascade Mall following reports of an active shooter in Burlington, Washington, U.S. September 23, 2016. REUTERS/Matt Mills McKnight - RTSP7HA REUTERS Gunman opens fire inside Washington mall Authorities are pictured at the Cascade Mall following reports of an active shooter in Burlington, Washington, U.S. September 24, 2016. REUTERS/Matt Mills McKnight TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTSP7L9 REUTERS Gunman opens fire inside Washington mall AP Gunman opens fire inside Washington mall Twitter Gunman opens fire inside Washington mall Handout Tari Caswell told the Skagit Valley Herald she was in the Macy's women's dressing room when she heard what sounded like four balloons popping. Then I heard seven or eight more, and I just stayed quiet in the dressing room because it just didn't feel right. And it got very quiet. And then I heard a lady yelling for help, and a man came and got me and another lady, and we ran out of the store, Caswell told the newspaper. Stephanie Bost, an employee at the malls Johnny Carinos restaurant, said a customer warned her of a shooting nearly 100 yards away. We went on lockdown and shut the doors, she told The New York Times. Govenor Jay Inslee said tragedy had struck the state. We urge residents to heed all safety and detour warnings. Stay close to your friends and loved ones as we await more information and, hopefully, news of the suspect's capture, Inslee said in a statement. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A transgender man has given birth after conceiving with his transgender wife. The couple have made history as the first transgender couple in South America to do so. Fernando Machado, who was assigned female at birth and his partner Diane Rodriguez, who was assigned male at birth, welcomed their first child. The couple who live in Ecuador have expressed their desire to have more children. We are the same as other families. Even though we might not have the same rights, we are the same, Mr Machado told the BBC. Ms Rodriguez said she never thought she would have the opportunity to be a mother. Being a mother was never something I thought I would do because I am a transsexual, she said. The couple have not undergone full gender reassignment and were therefore able to conceive naturally. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty 'We live as man and woman. I'm a transfeminine woman and Fernando is a transmasculine man. The process to get here was complex for each of us, Mr Machado 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 }} Authorities in Georgia have issued an arrest warrant for Jackson police Officer Sherry Hall for allegedly lying about being shot by an unidentified black man while on duty. Officer Hall previously claimed that she approached a black man on September 13, only three months into her new job, when things quickly went south. As she questioned the man, things became hostile and he pulled out a gun and shot her in the abdomen before successfully fleeing the scene. Authorities said that if it werent for her bulletproof vest, she would have been critically injured. On Friday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations ended their 10-day probe into the shooting and announced that they believe Officer Hall has been lying about the incident. They stopped short of suggesting that she shot herself. The investigation has revealed that there is no, and never was, a suspect at large in Jackson, Georgia, GBI Special Agent in Charge Joe Wooten said at a press conference. Shes been charged with four felonies including giving false statements, concealing facts, evidence tampering and more. 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 Cops are humans and they make mistakes, but this is not a mistake, Butts County Sheriff Gary Long said at the announcement. This is criminal. Jackson Police Chief James Morgan thanked the citizens of the community after the announcement and stopped short of suggesting that she shot herself. The investigation and charges come amid rising tensions between police and black communities in the states. And plays into the publics concerns that police can and will lie. For two weeks, our citizens have been made to fear that a shooter was loose in our community, Jackson Mayor Kay Pippin told reporters. 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 }} Denmarks High Court has upheld a people smuggling conviction for a couple who illegally "assisted" family of Syrian refugees by giving them a lift and a cup of coffee. Lisbeth Zornig Andersen, the former president of the Danish governments National Council for Children, and her husband transported the group of four adults and two children from southern Denmark to Copenhagen in September last year. They did not believe they had contravened any law, as they had consulted police and stayed within the country, but were prosecuted under the Danish Aliens Act and fined 45,000 krone (5,200) in March. Ms Zornig and her husband Mikael Lindholm appealed their sentence, citing a legal exception for providing humanitarian assistance, but the High Court of Eastern Denmark upheld their conviction and increased the penalty to 50,000 krone (5,700) on Thursday. The couple and their supporters were shocked at the verdict, which came at the end of a two-day hearing, and are now considering a second appeal to the Supreme Court. Weve been prosecuted because we gave a family coffee and cookies, and transported them to a railway station, Ms Zornig told The Independent. Its a strange thing for me because I thought the Danish courts were built on decent principles. Im so disappointed about our legal system I dont have faith in it anymore. The mother-of-five believes the court was setting an example as numerous other people-smuggling cases progress through the courts in Denmark, where hundreds of residents have helped refugees passing through the country in the continuing crisis. The two Syrian girls driven to Copenhagen by Lisbeth Zornig, at their familys new home in Helsingborg, Sweden (Supplied) Her husband, Mr Lindholm, said he was shocked their sentence had been upheld after two local politicians in Aarhus were acquitted in near-identical circumstances at another Danish court. Ours is the first appeal case in Denmark regarding humanitarian assistance of refugees, he added. Hundreds have been prosecuted for helping refugees on the Danish roads last year, many have already been sentenced, but many other courts were waiting for the outcome of our appeal case. Bjrn Elmquist, the couples lawyer, said they were very seriously considering taking the case to the Supreme Court in a last-ditch appeal. He had argued that legal provisions allow people-smuggling sentences to be waived in cases of humanitarian assistance and that the refugees helped were not in Denmark illegally, citing recent acquittals. One of the main arguments is that there must be equality in the application of the law, Mr Elmquist told The Independent. Denmark is one of the few countries in the EU that does not have exemptions for humanitarian reasons in the law on people smuggling this ruling could set a new precedent. Denmark blocks rail and road links with Germany to stop refugee flow Ms Zornig was one of dozens of Danes who picked up refugees on 7 September last year after a train from Germany was stopped in the Danish border town of Rdby. Footage showed scenes of confusion and panic as asylum seekers fled police on the station platform, running into the surrounding fields to start their long walk along a motorway to Sweden. Ms Zornig said she was driving through the Danish island of Lolland on her way to Copenhagen when she came to a column of migrants trudging along the side of the road, escorted by authorities. Feeling unable to drive past, she stopped and got talking to a Syrian family of five-year-old twin sisters, their mother and three others who were attempting to reach family in Sweden. With several police officers present who failed to intervene, she offered them a lift with her to the Danish capital, stopping at her home for a cup of coffee and some biscuits before Mr Lindholm dropped them off at Copenhagens railway station. Migrants, mainly from Syria, walk on the motorway north of Rodby, Denmark (Getty) (AFP/Getty Images) The couple received a letter in October announcing the prosecution one of many in similar cases. But Ms Zornig said she does not regret their action after visiting the Syrian family in their new home in Sweden, where their asylum applications have been accepted. I dont regret what we did that day it was the only decent thing to do, she added. We gave them the opportunity for a new and peaceful life. I have five children and I would have a real problem telling them that I left a family at the side of the road because I was scared of the law. Under Denmarks Aliens Act, it is illegal to assist or transport anyone without residence permits in the country, with the crime punishable for a fine or up to two years imprisonment. A 2002 directive from the Council of the European Union also stipulates that anyone who intentionally assists irregular migrants to enter or transit across a country in breach of national law can be prosecuted particularly those who take payment to do so. Refugee crisis - in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugee crisis - in pictures A child looks through the fence at the Moria detention camp for migrants and refugees at the island of Lesbos on May 24, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Ahmad Zarour, 32, from Syria, reacts after his rescue by MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) while attempting to reach the Greek island of Agathonisi, Dodecanese, southeastern Agean Sea Refugee crisis - in pictures Syrian migrants holding life vests gather onto a pebble beach in the Yesil liman district of Canakkale, northwestern Turkey, after being stopped by Turkish police in their attempt to reach the Greek island of Lesbos on 29 January 2016. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees flash the 'V for victory' sign during a demonstration as they block the Greek-Macedonian border Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants have been braving sub zero temperatures as they cross the border from Macedonia into Serbia. Refugee crisis - in pictures A sinking boat is seen behind a Turkish gendarme off the coast of Canakkale's Bademli district on January 30, 2016. At least 33 migrants drowned on January 30 when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey to Greece. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A general view of a shelter for migrants inside a hangar of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees protest behind a fence against restrictions limiting passage at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Since last week, Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Macedonia has finished building a fence on its frontier with Greece becoming the latest country in Europe to build a border barrier aimed at checking the flow of refugees Refugee crisis - in pictures A father and his child wait after being caught by Turkish gendarme on 27 January 2016 at Canakkale's Kucukkuyu district Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants make hand signals as they arrive into the southern Spanish port of Malaga on 27 January, 2016 after an inflatable boat carrying 55 Africans, seven of them women and six chidren, was rescued by the Spanish coast guard off the Spanish coast. Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee holds two children as dozens arrive on an overcrowded boat on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures A child, covered by emergency blankets, reacts as she arrives, with other refugees and migrants, on the Greek island of Lesbos, At least five migrants including three children, died after four boats sank between Turkey and Greece, as rescue workers searched the sea for dozens more, the Greek coastguard said Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants wait under outside the Moria registration camp on the Lesbos. Over 400,000 people have landed on Greek islands from neighbouring Turkey since the beginning of the year Refugee crisis - in pictures The bodies of Christian refugees are buried separately from Muslim refugees at the Agios Panteleimonas cemetery in Mytilene, Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures Macedonian police officers control a crowd of refugees as they prepare to enter a camp after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee tries to force the entry to a camp as Macedonian police officers control a crowd after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees are seen aboard a Turkish fishing boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast to Lesbos Reuters Refugee crisis - in pictures An elderly woman sings a lullaby to baby on a beach after arriving with other refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A man collapses as refugees make land from an overloaded rubber dinghy after crossing the Aegean see from Turkey, at the island of Lesbos EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures A girl reacts as refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees make a show of hands as they queue after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures People help a wheelchair user board a train with others, heading towards Serbia, at the transit camp for refugees near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija AP Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees board a train, after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers - many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - entering the country every day Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures An aerial picture shows the "New Jungle" refugee camp where some 3,500 people live while they attempt to enter Britain, near the port of Calais, northern France Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A Syrian girl reacts as she helped by a volunteer upon her arrival from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos, after having crossed the Aegean Sea EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Beds ready for use for migrants and refugees are prepared at a processing center on January 27, 2016 in Passau, Germany. The flow of migrants arriving in Passau has dropped to between 500 and 1,000 per day, down significantly from last November, when in the same region up to 6,000 migrants were arriving daily. But it says that sanctions can be lifted in cases where the aim of the behaviour is to provide humanitarian assistance, although the waiver is optional. A United Nations protocol on migrant smuggling, however, defines the act as exclusively motivated by a financial or other material benefit, which was absent in Ms Zornig and Mr Lindholms case. Following their first conviction in March, outraged Danes had started raising money to cover their fine but the couple plan to pass money on to those who need it more as the prosecutions continue. Ms Zornig, who served as the head of Denmarks National Council for Children from 2010 to 2012, rose to prominence after a documentary on her abusive childhood and an ensuing autobiography, and has gone on to campaign for abuse victims and vulnerable groups. Her supporters have organised several protests and rallies, writing on Facebook to hail the compassion shown by the author and other volunteers. Denmarks controversial law allowing authorities to seize asylum seekers' cash and valuables to pay for their stay has also sparked international condemnation but several other countries have introduced similar measures as Europes attitude towards refugees hardens. 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 protesters marched in Dublin, and Irish expatriates joined in demonstrations around the world on Saturday, to put pressure on the Irish government to hold a referendum to repeal restrictive abortion laws. Regulations in the once stridently Catholic Ireland are among the strictest in the world and next month Prime Minister Enda Kenny will call a citizens' assembly to advise the government on whether a vote should be held to boost access to abortion. Demonstrators marched in the rain on government buildings from Dublin's main thoroughfare of O'Connell Street, bringing traffic to a standstill by the River Liffey as they chanted, beat drums and held placards saying My Body, My Choice. It's a woman's right to choose and it is ridiculous to say that anybody else, the state or the church, has to right to tell that woman what happens to her body, Sal Roche, a 42-year-old dance teacher at the march with her 2-year-old son, Tommy, told Reuters. Abortion has been a divisive issue for decades in Ireland where, after large street protests from both sides of the debate, a complete ban was only lifted in 2013 when terminations were allowed if a mother's life was in danger. However governments have been reluctant to tackle an issue they fear may alienate conservative voters despite a dramatic waning of the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, shown last year when Ireland became the first country to adopt gay marriage by popular vote. Thousands march in Dublin for Irish abortion rights Show all 5 1 /5 Thousands march in Dublin for Irish abortion rights Thousands march in Dublin for Irish abortion rights REUTERS Thousands march in Dublin for Irish abortion rights REUTERS Thousands march in Dublin for Irish abortion rights REUTERS Thousands march in Dublin for Irish abortion rights REUTERS Thousands march in Dublin for Irish abortion rights REUTERS Ireland's Minister for Children Katherine Zappone, an independent member of Kenny's coalition government who joined the march in Dublin, told reporters the earliest possible date for a referendum would be towards the end of next year. It's my hope that what we're doing today will ensure we get a referendum and the government moves as quickly as possible, said Ms Zappone, one of many wearing black sweatshirts with the word Repeal printed on the front, a reference to the eighth amendment of the constitution activists want repealed. Opponents demand that the amendment, which enshrines the equal right to life of the mother and her unborn child, should remain in place to safeguard all life, and a truck carrying the slogan Abortion is violence against babies and mothers drove through Dublin. Demonstrations were also organised by Ireland's large diaspora in over 20 cities around the world, from Wellington to Montreal, and pictures were posted on social media ahead of the march from protestors in Melbourne, London, Berlin and Kathmandu. Last month, an anonymous Irish woman live tweeted her journey to England to have an abortion and attacked Enda Kenny for forcing women to go into "exile" for the procedure. In Dublin, many had travelled from around Ireland, including Paula Dennan, 32, who made the eight-hour round trip from the southern county of Kerry. We're marching in solidarity with the 56 women who we know for a fact travelled in 2015 to England for abortions and gave Kerry addresses, said Dennan, who set up the Kerry for Choice group this year. She was referring to some of the 3,500 women who travelled across the Irish Sea for a termination last year. They left Kerry to receive what is essentially basic healthcare and we came to show them that people are with them. We just need the government to catch up." 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 European Union should build a "giant refugee city" on the Libyan coast to process the asylum claims of refugees arriving there from elsewhere in Africa, the Hungarian Prime Minister has proposed. Speaking after a summit on the refugee crisis, Viktor Orban said the EUs external borders should be under total control and said a new Libyan government could help establish the camp. Libya is a key a gateway to Europe for those fleeing poverty, war and persecution. In the first five months of 2016, 2,500 refugees died crossing the Mediterrnean sea, according to the UNs refugee agency (UNHCR). The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is expecting the toll of refugee migrant deaths at sea to rise to 10,000 by the end of the year. Libya has a government backed by the UN, but has been in political chaos since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and has splintered into rival armed factions. Mr Orban said a UN arms embargo should be lifted, a new Libyan government set up and a new refugee agreement reached with the country all before migration increases next Spring in the Mediterranean with an improvement in the weather.. The UN Security Council imposed an arms embargo on Libya in 2011. According to the Secretary General for Libya, the arms trade ban will remain in place until the country establishes a single army. The IOM estimates there are more than 264,000 refugees currently in Libya. There are around 37,500 registered refugees and asylum seekers there, half of them Syrians, according to the UNHCR, Human rights organisations have claimed abuse of refugees is happening on a massive scale in Libya. Amnesty International said they had found evidence refugees were being killed, tortured and sexually abused by people smugglers. Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Show all 7 1 /7 Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The Solidarity With Refugees group said Saturdays protest aimed to show our Government and the world that Britain is ready to welcome more refugees. Rex Features Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis People march through central London as they take part in a protest rally organised by Solidarity with Refugees in a bid to urge the Government to take more action on the migrant crisis Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The protest comes days before world leaders meet to discuss crisis at UN General Assembly Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Demonstrators made their way from Park Lane to Parliament Square in London on Saturday afternoon Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Marchers chanted refugees are welcome here and waved banners reading no-one is illegal and lets help people Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The march was supported by charities and groups including the Red Cross, Asylum Aid, Save the Children, Hope Not Hate, Oxfam and the UN Refugee Agency Rex Features Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis In the wake of Alans death, David Cameron pledged to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees in the UK over the coming five years but there have been additional calls to re-home those who have already reached Europe, as well as asylum seekers coming from other conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan Rex Features No one should have to face abduction, torture and rape in Libya to seek protection, Magdalena Mughrabi from Amnesty International said in July. The international community should be doing their utmost to ensure refugees do not need to flee to Libya in the first place. Mr Orban has also recently called for asylum seekers already in Europe to be found and deported. On Thursday he told news website Origo.hu: Those who came illegally must be rounded up and shipped out. Additional reporting by Reuters Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.24 By Orkhan Quluzade Trend: A shootout has occurred in Lice city of Turkeys Diyarbakir province during the operation of Turkish armed forces against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) terrorist group, Hurriyet newspaper reported Sept.24. One serviceman was killed as a result of the incident. However, the exact number of the injured hasnt been specified. Security forces have neutralized one PKK member. The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has continued for over 33 years and has claimed more than 40,000 lives. The UN and the European Union list the PKK as a terrorist organization. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade 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 people living in Calais refugee and migrant camps could be relocated to reception centres across France in the coming weeks, President Francois Hollande has announced. The French leader reiterated his pledge to shut down the Calais Jungle during a visit to one of the countrys 164 reception centres on Saturday. There should be no camp in France, he said, adding that conditions in the makeshift camps, which have become home to thousands of people in recent months, were not acceptable for those seeking refuge and fleeing from war. The reception centres will hold between 40 and 50 people each for up to four months, Mr Hollande said, as their cases are examined. Migrants who do not seek asylum will be deported. Many local conservative politicians have objected to the centres. Mr Hollande, who is yet to visit the Calais camp, is scheduled to visit the city on Monday. French authorities have made repeated attempts to close the camp down since its establishment, but its population reached a record high of 10,000 inhabitants this month according to some estimations. In pictures: Life on board a refugee rescue ship Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Life on board a refugee rescue ship In pictures: Life on board a refugee rescue ship Refugees sleep on the deck of MV Aquarius Alva White/MSF In pictures: Life on board a refugee rescue ship An overcrowded rubber vote before a rescue by the MV Aquarius Alva White/MSF In pictures: Life on board a refugee rescue ship Young boy being rescued from a rubber boat by the MV Aquarius Isabelle Serro/SOS Mediterranee In pictures: Life on board a refugee rescue ship The rescue of a wooden boat with more than 400 peopl on board by the MV Aquarius on 21 August Isabelle Serro/SOS Mediterranee In pictures: Life on board a refugee rescue ship Women rescued on MV Aquarius approaching Italy in the early morning Alva White/MSF In pictures: Life on board a refugee rescue ship Crew on the MV Aquarius search for a missing boat Alva White/MSF In pictures: Life on board a refugee rescue ship Rescue on the 21st August of a wooden boat carrying more than 400 people and a rubber boat with 120 people crammed on board. Ferry Schippers/MSF In pictures: Life on board a refugee rescue ship The night rescue of 124 people after they had been on the water for 20 hours by the MV Aquarius Peter Eickmeyer/SOS Mediterranee In pictures: Life on board a refugee rescue ship The MV Aquarius rescue vessel operated by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and SOS Mediterranee in the Mediterranean Sea Alva White/MSF In pictures: Life on board a refugee rescue ship Jacob Goldberg, MSF's team leader on board the MV Aquarius rescue ship Alva White/MSF Interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said he would endeavour to close the camp down with the greatest determination. Authorities have estimated that more than 5,000 people have left the Jungle for reception centres in the past year. The planned closure of the Calais camp has been dismissed by charity leaders as political posturing, with aid workers warning such action could worsen the refugee crisis in Europe. Leigh Daynes, executive director of Doctors of the World UK, said he had little confidence in government leaders in Britain and France to properly manage the dismantling of the camps, and that vulnerable migrants and refugees could face homelessness and even poorer living conditions. Former French President and election candidate Nicolas Sarkozy sparked debate last month after he said the Jungle should be moved to Britain, calling on the British Government to do the work that concerns them. The southern half of the Jungle was dismantled in February and March this year. No timeframe has been given for the complete removal of the camp. 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 court in Rome has ordered a man convicted of paying an underage girl for sex to buy a list of feminist books and films. In addition to a two-year jail sentence, the 35-year-old man, who is unnamed, will be required to give his 15-year-old victim novels written by Virginia Woolf, the poems of Emily Dickinson and Anne Franks Diary, as well as two feminist films. Judge Paola Di Nicolas ruling follows a three-year investigation into a paedophile ring in the city, of which two girls aged 14 and 15 were victims. Recommended Read more Italy top court rules masturbation in public is not a criminal offence The leader of the paedophile ring was taken to court in 2014 and jailed for nine years. The judge reportedly said she hoped the books would help the 15-year-old girl to understand the damage that had been done to her as a woman, instilling feminist values. However, one author whose book was among those on the prescribed list told Italian newspaper Corriere della Serra that it would have been better if the criminal had been ordered to read the literature instead. Adriana Cavarero, author of Notwithstanding Plato, said: Adolescence is not the time for reflection. What he did was much worse: an adult who, knowingly, paid for sex with a minor. 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 militants have attempted to shoot down RAF planes with surface-to-air missiles as British jets pound the groups positions ahead of a crucial advance on Mosul. Jihadists have recently claimed responsibility for downing several aircraft, including a Syrian fighter jet and an American drone, but their attempts against British aircraft have so far been unsuccessful. Lieutenant General Mark Carleton-Smith, the deputy chief of defence staff, said superior defensive equipment was being deployed by the US-led coalition in Iraq and Syria. RAF footage of air strikes on Saddam Husseins former palace complex in Mosul We have always made the operational assumption that the Daesh [Isis] inventory might, at some juncture, include surface-to-air missiles, he told reporters in London. There have been reports of engagements several are of UK aircraft but to no material effect as a result of the defensive aids [systems] they are carrying, and the tactics the coalition employs. They detect the missile as it is launched. It was the first public acknowledgement of the risk posed to pilots flying in the continuing anti-Isis air campaign, with militants believed to have being launching sporadic attacks against the RAF for the past year. At the start of Britains involvement, Isis was believed to possess only shoulder-launched missiles of the type used by insurgents during the Iraq war. But during the groups advance across swathes of Iraq and Syria in 2014, it gained access to sophisticated weaponry in government stockpiles, and has possibly bought or been supplied with increased firepower by backers. Scud missile launchers, Manpads, SA-6 Gainfuls and FIM-92 Stingers are among the weapons believed to have fallen into extremist hands, as well as anti-aircraft guns. Civilian children stand next to a burnt vehicle during clashes between Iraqi security forces and Isis in Mosul, Iraq (Reuters) Britain is currently taking part in coordinated air operations against Isis across Syria and in northern Iraq, where the Defence Secretary said government forces are on the cusp of the groups last major stronghold. Sir Michael Fallon has recently returned from a three-day visit to Iraq, where he met senior government figures in Baghdad, Irbil. He said the operation to take the city of Mosul would begin in the next few weeks, with British planes so far hitting more than 100 targets in and around the city as part of a total of 1,000 strikes in Iraq and Syria. Two years after the RAF began military operations against Isis, Sir Michael said: The RAF is now operating at the highest tempo in a single theatre for over 25 years. "There is no doubt Daesh is facing defeat. We are on the cusp of liberating the last major city in Iraq Mosul. "Having spoken to the commanders of the troops involved, their self-belief and determination is very clear. "Though Mosul is a large and complex city, it will fall and will fall soon. I expect the operation for its encirclement to begin in the next few weeks." British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria Show all 10 1 /10 British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A Tornado jet takes off from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, as RAF Tornado jets carried out the first British bombing runs over Syria British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria Pilots and ground crew prepare combat aircraft Panavia Tornados at RAF Marham at RAF Marham, UK Getty British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A Eurofighter Typhoon jet takes off from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, as RAF Tornado jets carried out the first British bombing runs over Syria British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A RAF Tornado arrives at RAF Akrotiri to begin operations in Akrotiri British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A Tornado jet ahead of taking off from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, as RAF Tornado jets carried out the first British bombing runs over Syria, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. The air strikes were carried out within hours of a vote by MPs in the Commons to back extending operations against Isis from neighbouring Iraq British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria Personnel work on a British Tornado after it returned from a mission at RAF Akrotiri in southern Cyprus British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria Two RAF Tornado GR4's, both with remaining weapons ordnance, approach RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, as they return to the base after carrying out some of the first British bombing runs over Syria British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A RAF Tornado takes off from RAF Akrotiri, on the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A Tornado jet leaving RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria AKA RAF Tornado arrives at RAF Akrotiri to begin operations in Akrotiri, Cyprus. The RAF has sent two further Tornado aircraft and six Typhoons to bolster aircraft now flying sorties to both Iraq and Syria He acknowledged that resistance would continue after the fall of the city, but called Isis a failing organisation and predicted militants would be driven out of Iraqi strongholds in a matter of months. Sir Michael called the struggle in Syria more complicated, but insisted that significant progress had been made. Air strikes on Iraq have increased in intensity, with British jets and drones flying daily missions between 14 September and Thursday. One Typhoon strike last week hit an Isis training camp just inside Iraq on its border with Syria, killing up to 50 fighters, and later destroyed weapons stockpiles and rocket launchers north of Ramadi. Other recent targets include the militants in Sharqat, Qayyarah and Mosul, including a cave used as a hideout by militants. Daesh is falling back and not making any advances, and air support has been a strong enabler of that, an anonymous Typhoon pilot told Associated Press. I can't think of anything better than helping someone trying to save their country. Lt Gen Carleton-Smith said coalition strikes were also exerting pressure on Isis funding and infrastructure, destroying close to a billion dollars of the groups illegal cash stockpile. We are disrupting Daesh command and control with targeted strikes that are restricting their freedom of movement and their logistic resupply, he said. Coalition defence ministers will meet next month to discuss how to deal with the estimated 8,000 foreign nationals fighting with Isis including around 400 British citizens some of whom are expected to try to return to Europe. 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 }} Isis has launched a triple suicide bombing attack at a checkpoint north of Baghdad, killing at least 11 members of the Iraqi security forces. Three jihadists drove vehicles packed with explosives into a guard post near al-Salam, in Salahuddin province, early on Saturday morning. Police spokesperson Mohammed al-Jabouri, said at least 11 security officers were killed and 34 wounded in the explosions. Soldiers stand on a roof in Shirqat having ousted Isis militants from the town (Iraqi Defence Ministry) The attack was launched as the local police chief and head of the provincial security committee - who were both unharmed - were visiting the site. Another group of militants on foot attacked a checkpoint at the eastern edge of the province at around the same time, killing four policemen and wounding two others. One gunman was killed in the attack, while the others fled the scene. In a statement via its Amaq propaganda agency, Isis claimed the attack had targeted members of the pro-governement Popular Mobilisation Forces. The governor of Salahuddin province, Ahmed al-Jabouri, vowed to retaliate for the martyrs by chopping off the heads of Daesh [Isis] militants. He called on security forces to review their plans and on residents to cooperate with the authorities. Isis extremists frequently launches attacks targeting Iraq's security forces and civilians in public areas, particularly Shia Muslims or those accused of supporting the Iraqi security forces. In pictures: Baghdad hit by 24 hours of Isis bombings Show all 11 1 /11 In pictures: Baghdad hit by 24 hours of Isis bombings In pictures: Baghdad hit by 24 hours of Isis bombings Baghdad bombings People gather at the scene of a car bomb attack in Baghdad's mainly Shia district of Sadr City, Iraq, May 11, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Baghdad hit by 24 hours of Isis bombings Baghdad bombings People gather at the scene of a car bomb attack in Baghdad's mainly Shia district of Sadr City, Iraq, May 11, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Baghdad hit by 24 hours of Isis bombings Baghdad bombings People gather at the scene of a car bomb attack in Baghdad's mainly Shia district of Sadr City, Iraq, May 11, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Baghdad hit by 24 hours of Isis bombings Baghdad bombings People gather at the scene of a car bomb attack in Baghdad's mainly Shia district of Sadr City, Iraq, May 11, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Baghdad hit by 24 hours of Isis bombings Baghdad bombings Security forces and citizens inspect the scene after a car bomb explosion at a crowded outdoor market in the Iraqi capital's eastern district of Sadr City, Iraq, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. AP In pictures: Baghdad hit by 24 hours of Isis bombings Baghdad bombings People gather at the scene of a car bomb attack in Baghdad's mainly Shia district of Sadr City, Iraq, May 11, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Baghdad hit by 24 hours of Isis bombings Baghdad bombings A woman reacts at the scene of a car bomb attack in Baghdad's mainly Shi'ite district of Sadr City, Iraq, May 11, 2016 Reuters In pictures: Baghdad hit by 24 hours of Isis bombings Baghdad bombings A bulldozer clears the wreckage following a car bomb attack in Sadr City, a Shia area of Baghdad, on May 11, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Baghdad hit by 24 hours of Isis bombings Baghdad bombings Iraqis walk past flowers and shoes left on the ground at Oraiba market a day after it was targeted in a car bomb attack on May 12, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Baghdad hit by 24 hours of Isis bombings Baghdad bombings Iraqis mourn in the holy city of Najaf during the funeral of victims of a car bombing in Baghdad's Shiia area of Sadr City during on May 11, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Baghdad hit by 24 hours of Isis bombings Baghdad bombings Mourners carry the coffins of bomb victims during a funeral procession at the holy shrine of Imam Ali in Najaf, Iraq, on May 11, 2016. AP The terrorist group has stepped up attacks while losing key strongholds in swathes of territory it captured across the country in 2014. In April last year, Iraqi security forces drove out Isis militants from the city of Tikrit, the capital of Salahuddin province, and re-captured Fallujah earlier this year. Government forces recently recaptured the town of Shirqat from Isis as part of a long-running push towards its last remaining city stronghold of Mosul. A ground invasion is expected to launch next month and has been preceded by intensified bombing by the US-led coalition, seeing Isis fighters launch chemical weapons at enemy troops and attempt to take down RAF fighter jets with surface-to-air missiles. The United Nations have warned of a looming humanitarian crisis provoked by the offensive, which could displace thousands of Iraq civilians. Additional reporting by AP For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Viktor Orban, Hungarys Prime Minister, is not taking any chances. On state television, advertisements warn of a growing migrant menace. Billboards across the country proclaim that Brussels plans to relocate a citys worth of potential terrorists to Hungary. While ministers and lawmakers from the ruling right-wing Fidesz party are calling on supporters to go to the polls on 2 October to make sure Orban gets the answer he wants to the following referendum question: Do you want the European Union to be able to order the mandatory settlement of non-Hungarian citizens in Hungary without Parliaments consent? The latest opinion polls suggest at least two-thirds of the electorate will vote no. That probable outcome will be in part because Hungary, like its neighbours in the former Soviet bloc, has almost no experience with immigration. The country remains overwhelmingly white and Christian. But people will also be voting no in reaction to recent events. A year ago, Hungary was the epicentre of Europes refugee crisis. Keleti train station in Budapest became a giant open-air refugee camp as thousands of asylum seekers poured into the country across the southern border and stayed in the capital before eventually heading west to Germany. In response, Orbans government built fences on its southern borders with Serbia and Croatia. If we let the Muslims onto the continent to compete with us, they will outnumber us, Orban said last year. Its mathematics. And we dont like it. Many Hungarians agreed with him. Now, as he rallies the country for a no vote in October, Orban is also pushing back against another perceived threat to Hungarys identity the European Union. Under the terms of the European Councils Emergency Response Mechanism, adopted last September, member states agreed to relocate 160,000 people under a quota system (those asylum seekers are currently living mainly in Greece and Italy). Hungary was penciled in to take 1,294 refugees, but, along with Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Romania, it was hostile to the quota system from the start and voted against it. So far, Hungary has accepted no refugees under the plan. Instead, it has joined with Slovakia in challenging the plan in the European Court of Justice. Hungary may be resisting the decision-makers in Brussels, but, for now, nobody is talking about a "Huxit" a Hungarian exit from the EU. The referendum is not legally binding, nationally or internationally. But neither can the EU stop it or sanction Hungary. There will be a lot of cluck-clucking in Brussels but nothing serious, says Gyorgy Schopflin, a member of the European Parliament for Fidesz. This is about strengthening the governments position when it is negotiating with Brussels. With the EU weakened by Brexit Britains upcoming exit from the union many in central Europe believe now is the time to roll back the liberal immigration policies favored in Western Europe. As pressure builds, old political fault lines are re-emerging. The Visegrad Four Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia often supported by the Baltic nations, are increasingly confident and vocal. Orban and his Polish allies are open about their aim: to destroy what they see as a liberal consensus among Western European nations on the benefits of immigration. We are at a historical cultural moment, said Orban in early September, appearing with Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of Polands ruling party. There is the possibility of a cultural counter-revolution right now. Viktor Orban, Hungarys Prime Minister, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (Getty) (Getty Images) In Hungary, Orbans opponents say hes stirring up dangerous nationalist feeling by holding the referendum. There will be no beneficial results from this, says Viktor Szigetvari, co-chair of Together, a progressive liberal opposition party. The government is not interested in finding solutions. The referendum will feed anger and intolerance here. It will further undermine the cohesion of our society. Orbans allies disagree. Hungarys referendum will reinforce the position of other states that have grave doubts about the quota, not just the Visegrad countries, says Schopflin. A lot of people are uneasy about compulsory quotas, and the mood has darkened after the attacks in Paris, Brussels and the events in Cologne. People are saying, Yes, we are generous and open, but maybe there is something in the argument that some people, including the second generation of migrants, are committed to destroying our way of life. Critics in Europe and across the globe have slammed Orbans policies. In September, Zeid Raad al-Hussein, the UN high commissioner for human rights, lumped Orban in with Isis and right-wing populists such as Donald Trump and Marine Le Pen, the leader of the French National Front, accusing them of peddling half-truths and oversimplifications. Such leaders, he said, seek in varying degrees to recover a past, halcyon and so pure in form, where sunlit fields are settled by peoples united by ethnicity or religion living peacefully in isolation, pilots of their fate, free of crime, foreign influence and war. A past that most certainly, in reality, did not exist anywhere, ever. Al-Husseins remarks angered Hungarian officials. Peter Szijjarto, the Hungarian foreign minister, said it was unacceptable and outrageous that an unelected UN bureaucrat should compare a democratically elected European politician to the ideology of the Islamic State. As tensions build between Hungarys right-wing administration and more liberal governments and institutions outside the countrys borders, the reality on the ground has changed. Each day, only a handful of refugees try to enter Hungary before being turned back; in the summer of 2015, thousands crossed the border every day. Orban has promised to reinforce the frontier fences he ordered built last year just in case another influx of refugees reaches the countrys borders. Technical planning is underway to erect a more massive defence system next to the existing line of defence, which was built quickly, he said on 26 August. Then, if it does not work with nice words, we will have to stop them with force, and we will do so. EU leaders are unlikely to ever receive such threats from Orban but on 2 October, theyll likely get another strong indication that, like the British, Hungarian voters are becoming increasingly hostile to Brussels telling them what to do. IBT Media Inc. This article originally appeared in Newsweek 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 best test of any institution, large or small, is to ask whether we could get along perfectly well without it. In the case of the United Nations, the question arises not in some immediate practical sense for all its well-advertised flaws it is here to stay but because it is about to choose a new leader, who at least in theory could make the 71-year-old organisation rather more useful than it has been. Is it capable of reform or should we, ideally, start again? Whoever gets the job and there is an unusually long shortlist of candidates will find themselves leading an organisation that is very much of its time, and thus rather out of date, and mired in utter confusion about the biggest global challenge of our time. The huge hole in the UNs mission, and the thing that makes it obsolete, is symbolised by Isis. The question the UN is paralysed by and has been for at least a couple of decades is whether so-called humanitarian interventions in the internal affairs of a legitimate UN member state can be justified, legally or morally. Even in its more well-established role of preventing wars between nations, it has shown itself wanting. To offer just a few examples from the depressingly broad array of contemporary threats to humanity, the UN has proved irrelevant over Syria, North Korea, and Ukraine. Each represents different scales of failure; all are, though, equally pitiful and deplorable. In Syria, and indeed in neighbouring Iraq, the rise of Isis, still occupying much territory, albeit with a diminishing hold, we see this confusion about interference, and its human consequences. Common sense, humanity and any moral sensibility should point to an overriding need for a UN effort that is more than just supplemental diplomacy. Even if the UN has no troops of its own, as ever, it can authorise its members to use theirs. No such luck. The UN was criticised (as were countries such as the US and UK) for inaction during the 1994 Rwanda genocide (Getty) The UK, Australia, Denmark, Russia and America are already operating in Syria, but without reference to the UNs policy, and sometimes in opposition to it. Here in Syria, as we see so upsettingly, a people is being slaughtered by, in turns, Isis, other resistance and insurgent groups of varying and shifting allegiances, and by its own government. Survivors are fleeing across Europe, creating the largest movement of refugees there since the end of the Second World War. The UN has proved quite useless in the face of all this. It remains at best confused about its role. Syria is a UN member state, with its President still in his palace, ordering mustard gas to be dropped on his country, yet the case for humanitarian intervention, while it may seem obvious, does not easily fall within the UNs 1945 Charter. Even if it did, it would need the permanent members of the Security Council, the notoriously fractious body of American, French, Russian, British and Chinese diplomats and governments, to agree on what to do. Recommended Read more Russia and US provide a lesson in propaganda over Syrian ceasefire The Chinese and Russians, as ever looking to their own backyard of human rights abuses and internal secessionist movements, arent keen on blessing multinational invasions of other nations. Even if they were, there remains the revived historical enmity between the US and Russia, who cannot agree on a course of action, even when they are faced with an implacable common enemy in the form of Isis. It is wrong, by the same token, to blame the UN for the abject failures and cruelties of its most powerful members; but it is right to face up to the fact that the UN is unable to do anything about that, even if the vast majority of its 193 members want it to. The UN has, in the past, agreed to humanitarian interventions, arguably in breach of its own Charter, simply because there was a consensus on doing so. Too readily forgotten now, the British-initiated UN-authorised deployment of royal marines in the civil war in Sierra Leone in 1998 saved many lives and many more from the mutilation of missing arms or hands. Though deeply unfashionable in his homeland, Tony Blair has the odd satisfaction of seeing a preponderance of adolescents in Sierra Leone named Tony Blair as one of his more acceptable legacies. And yet the question still arises; did we really need the UN to approve the move, in practical terms? Did the passing of a resolution in far-off New York keep defeat the rebels? We might also ask if the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), a traditional peacekeeping mission, would have succeeded without a British military force. Thankfully it was a success. The 1993 Srebrenica massacre: another collective failure by the international community (Getty) Contrast that with the ignominious failure of UN forces sent into Rwanda in 1994, and, most infamous of all, when faced with Bosnian Serb forces after the siege of Srebrenica, when the mass murder of 8,000 Muslim men and boys was committed after Dutch UN peacekeepers were unable to hold the line. The UN was a high-minded project that came form the inventive mind of Franklin Roosevelt as a global police force that would help prevent wars of aggression and genocide. In the 1990s it proved itself inadequate to the job, and things have not improved since. In North Korea, the UN is in a strange position. Thanks to a Russian decision to boycott proceedings back in 1950, the Korean War, whence the division of the country derived, was a truly UN war, albeit one which, technically, isnt over. North Korea is, then, as much a product of the international communitys failures as anything else. In all events, the threat North Korea poses to its neighbours is perfectly clear, but the UN is, once again, powerless to act, partly because of reluctance on the part of China to deal with its turbulent ally, and partly because, in truth, neither China not anyone else has that much leverage over the decisions of Kim Jong-un. The UN is powerless because although North Korea has developed nuclear weapons against international treaty obligations, it hasnt yet launched them at anyone (well, not on target anyway). The UN was founded in the wake of WWII with the dream of global peace and universal human rights (Getty) All we do know is that if any sort of stability is to return to that region it will be because the regional powers the US, Russia, China, South Korea and Japan manage, miraculously, to find a way of taming, disarming or otherwise confounding the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. The UN wouldnt be much help on that, just as it failed to restrain the various nuclear or chemical weapons programmes of Pakistan, apartheid-era South Africa (though a suspended UN member admittedly), Israel or, yes, Iraq, which undoubtedly did once possess them, even if they had somehow disappeared by the time of the 2003 invasion. The Iraq fiasco, led by George W Bush and Blair, does not need rehashing here. Suffice to say that the UNs various resolutions, some perhaps ambiguous, masked a deep division in the international community about how to deal with Saddam Hussein and the threat he posed to his neighbours two of which had after all been invaded in the then recent past, Iran and Kuwait, not to mention the well-documented gassing of his own people and murder of the Marsh Arabs and Kurds. Whether you take the view that the war was illegal and unjustified, or that it was indeed authorised in the terms of the UN resolution and morally righteous in removing a tyrant, it was not a happy episode for the UN. Either the UN failed to stop America and Britain committing the most serious breach of international law since 1945, with calamitous consequences, or it failed to back a morally justified rescue of an oppressed people. The Ukraine displays the UN's failure at its purest. There are no messy moral issues here, no uncertainty about weapons of mass destruction, no questions about the reliability of intelligence or doubts about the international mood. A UN peacekeeper in South Sudan (Reuters) President Putin committed an old-fashioned act of naked aggression against a neighbour right out of the 1930s playbook. His arguments werent entirely empty; no doubt there was a Russian historical claim and a Russian minority he felt obliged to protect, and the manner of the change of government in Kiev that immediately preceded the annexation of Crimea wasnt a model of democratic probity. Even so, it was in clear breach of quite a proportion of the clauses of the UN Charter that the then USSR was a founding signatory to, and the consequences for Russia have been negligible. There were hostile words and some sanctions, but they soon subsided and, albeit in a dysfunctional way, the US and the Russians are, as described above, on the same side in Syria, though they may not realise it or desire it. To these recent episodes may be added historic irrelevance in Vietnam, the succession of Arab-Israel conflicts, the tragedy of Palestine and many more. Its fair to add there are plenty of UN success stories too: conferences, such as the recent summit on climate change, that sometimes achieve great things. The unsung work of agencies such as Unicefs rehabilitation of child soldiers is real enough, too. But the UN remains an organisation with a remit rooted in the politics of the pre-Second World War era, and its habits of power play from the Cold War. In the age of asymmetric war, multinational terror, failed states and Isis, the UN is well past its time. We shall see if the next Secretary-General can revive the dream of a global government empowered to keep the peace and protect the universal human rights declared by the UN in 1948. No one expects much success, apart from the various contenders for the top job. He or she should call on the UNs members to rip it up and start again. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} From experiencing the thrill of adventure to taking amazing vacations at little or no cost, there are a lot of unique perks to being a flight attendant. But the job comes with its challenges as well. Delays and flight cancellations, 4 a.m. wake-up calls and sporadic hours, weekends and holidays spent working, and long work commutes top the list for many. Flight attendants are also privy to a wide array of human behaviors, some of which would challenge anyone's people skills. Here are some of the most trying work conditions flight attendants have been subjected to: Dirty diapers in the seat Poo smelly enough to land a plane The BBC reports that in March 2015, a British Airways flight from London to Dubai was forced to turn around because of a "smelly poo." Abhishek Sachdev, who was on board the flight, told BBC, "The pilot made an announcement requesting senior cabin crew, and we knew something was a bit odd. About 10 minutes later he said, 'You may have noticed there's a quite pungent smell coming from one of the toilets.' He said it was liquid fecal excrement. Those are the words he used." A BA spokesperson said the situation posed a health and safety problem because only half the air is recycled and cleaned on an airplane. Passengers were put up in a hotel overnight since the next available flight was 15 hours later, according to the BBC. Emotional-support marsupials Toilet abuse "A passenger stood on top of the closed toilet and defecated," a flight attendant with 30 years of experience told Business Insider. Dangerously impatient passengers In 2014, a passenger on a China Eastern Airlines plane who said he wanted to "get off the plane quicker" deployed the emergency slide after the aircraft landed at Sanya Phoenix International Airport. The incident caused the aircraft to be delayed for two hours and reportedly cost about $16,000 in damage. In April, a United Airlines flight attendant pulled the same stunt. Exploding e-cigarettes In March, a Delta Air Lines flight was delayed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after an e-cigarette belonging to a passenger ignited on board the flight. While battery-powered portable electronic smoking devices are permitted on planes as long as they're not checked, the lithium ion batteries in e-cigarettes have shown a propensity to ignite if they are damaged. Spiders on a plane Strange item requests A flight attendant with the pen name Betty writes in her online series "Confessions of a Fed-Up Flight Attendant" that the strangest things people have asked her for on planes are actually fairly ordinary items what's surprising is what some of these items would be used for. Items requested include tweezers for pulling thorns out of a passenger's butt; a pen to clean ears with; a screwdriver "to take the seat apart"; and a cup, lid, straw, and knife "to make a catheter." Whatever this is Animals left on planes More than 700 international cabin-crew members told Skyscanner in 2013 about items they found on flights after passengers disembarked. Animals accounted for several of the more unusual items on the list, including a falcon, dried fish, a frog, a tortoise, and a parrot. People who make soup with the airline water In response to the Quora question "What are the weirdest things flight attendants have seen in their line of duty?" former flight attendant Heather Wilde said she's seen her fair share of things many people would consider weird. Among the strangest were people who made soup using the airline water. "Guys, the water lines haven't ever been cleaned ever," she said. Flying pigs Virtually undetectable turbulence "One of the weirdest things I experienced was clear-air turbulence. I was bounced between the ceiling and the floor twice and broke my foot in two places when the bar cart landed on it," a flight attendant with 27 years of experience told Business Insider. The worst place to put a baby Uncomfortable 'cat-cidents' "I know more than one fellow flight attendant who has had the uncomfortable situation of having to tell a woman that she can't breastfeed her ... cat! You read that right: Breastfeeding. A. Cat. And this isn't an isolated incident," Betty wrote. She says the cat feeders' responses are always the same: "I'm just feeding my 'baby.'" In-flight laundry Unfortunate accidents Betty writes that passengers tend to get more inebriated on flights to Las Vegas. In his drunken state, one passenger passed out while he was in the restroom, fell backward, and ended up on the floor with his fly still down and his privates exposed. After much debate among the attendants about what to do, "they finally decided to get the long metal tongs that we use to serve bread in first class to move the exposed body part back into his pants! He didn't feel a thing," Betty wrote. 'Ambien zombies' From streaking down the aisle totally nude to falling like an axed tree, when passengers consume an unfortunate mix of Ambien which people take to sleep on planes and airplane cocktails, it makes even the most normal people do very bizarre things, Betty says. "These folks are sleeping, which means they think they are at home and safe in their beds. When they are home and safe in their beds they think it is perfectly acceptable to take off all of their clothes," Betty wrote. Alas, this is not acceptable behavior on a long-haul international flight. Pee hazards A severe fear of flying "I had a woman run to the front of the plane and throw herself in my closet. (She thought she was going to bathroom.) She then curled up in the fetal position in the closet and started sucking her thumb. She later told me that she forgot to take her anxiety medicine before flight," a flight attendant with 30 years of experience told Business Insider. Balancing acts States of undress "One passenger attempted to board the plane wearing raincoat and no pants," a flight attendant with 40 years of experience told Business Insider. In-flight workouts Sandwich thieves "Never say never. Weirdness will always outdo itself if you challenge it," a flight attendant with 21 years of experience told Business Insider. "For example, a passenger stole a sandwich off the galley counter. It was a crew member's, who bought it at the airport. They'd taken a bite and left it on the counter (with a little lipstick around the bite mark) to assist someone. When the crew member came back to the galley, it was gone. "The crew member later found the thief eating it at their seat. When asked how they could just take a used sandwich with lipstick on it, they shrugged and said, 'I was hungry.'" So many feet! A bloody mess "I haven't seen this, but I did have flight attendants tell me about blood dripping from the overhead because someone was bringing in a goat's head from a Caribbean island. That was before TSA and all their security procedures were put in place, of course," Annette Long, a flight attendant with 13 years of experience, told Business Insider. Read more: This chart is easy to interpret: It says we're screwed How Uber became the world's most valuable startup These 4 things could trigger the next crisis in Europe Read the original article on Business Insider UK. 2016. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter. Twitter has gone from stock market darling to also-ran as growth in user numbers has stalled and with investors sceptical about initiatives to accelerate sales. Shares in Twitter surged by more than a fifth yesterday after reports the social media giant has initiated talks with several technology companies about a possible sale. The news added around $3bn to the company's valuation, helping to part reverse a 30pc slump in the stock over the past year. Twitter has gone from stock market darling to also-ran as growth in user numbers has stalled and with investors sceptical about initiatives to accelerate sales. Yesterday's massive rally took shares to almost $23 each, still well below the $26 a share valuation when the company listed in 2013. This year the social media giant has grappled with its slowest revenue growth since going public in 2013. After an initial period of dramatic growth user numbers have stabilised at just over 300 million around the world. The sale negotiations will test Twitter's value both as a data and multimedia company, at a time when rival social media services such as Facebook's Instagram and Snapchat are expanding their footprints and developing new ways to generate profits. Twitter is one of the smaller technology giants with an Irish presence. The company employs about 200 at its European headquarters in Dublin, including office head Mark Little. In contrast Google employs 6,000 in Dublin, while Salesforce.com has a staff of around 800 in Ireland. CNBC reported earlier yesterday, citing anonymous sources, that Twitter is in talks with companies that include Alphabet's Google and Salesforce.com, and may receive a formal bid soon. Twitter and Alphabet could not be reached immediately for comment. Salesforce declined to comment. Salesforce.com missed out earlier this year in bidding to buy LinkedIn, a social network aimed at business and professional users. Twitter shares rose the most since its stock market debut in 2013, up 21pc to $22.59, giving the company a market capitalisation of close to $16bn. Twitter has been a near-constant focus of takeover speculation amid persistently disappointing sales and user engagement. In its most recent quarterly earnings statement, Twitter's revenue missed Wall Street estimates and the revenue forecast for the current quarter of $590m to $610m was well below the average analyst estimate of $678.18m. As rivals such as Instagram and Snapchat gain traction with advertisers and social media users, investors have questioned how long Twitter could persist as a stand-alone company. Co-founder Jack Dorsey returned to the company as chief executive in 2015, but his plan for reviving Twitter is at best seen as unfinished. (Additional reporting Reuters) In a blow to Airbus, the World Trade Organisation criticised the new A350s funding A fresh transatlantic trade war is in the offing after the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruled this week against the European Union in a long-running legal battle over billions of euro of State Aid to aviation giant Airbus. The WTO ruled so-called "launch aid" loans given to Airbus by EU members to develop its fleet had caused a "genuine and substantial" loss of sales for its competitor Boeing. It also slammed the EU for failing to rein in billions of dollars in illegal subsidies, despite being told to do so. Four EU member states - France, Germany, Spain and Britain - had not complied with WTO calls to phase out subsidies, the intergovernmental trade body said. The dramatic ruling has set the stage for the United States to seek up to $10bn (8.9bn) in annual trade tariffs on EU imports, according to Boeing. It's the latest step in a more than decade-old trade spat between rivals Airbus and Boeing, pitting the European Union against the US. The Obama Administration hailed the decision an "important victory". US trade representative Michael Froman called on the EU, Germany, France, the UK and Spain "to respect WTO rules". "We have long maintained that EU aircraft subsidies have cost American companies tens of billions of dollars in lost revenue, which this report clearly proves. We will not tolerate our trading partners ignoring the rules at the expense of American workers and their families." In a blow to Europe's long-held argument that Airbus' most recent jet, the A350, fell outside the case, the WTO said funding for it had been subsidised, but rejected US claims that it fell into the most serious category of "prohibited" aid. Boeing executive vice president and general counsel J Michael Luttig said that "the day of reckoning for launch aid has finally arrived", adding: "The World Trade Organisation has now found that Airbus is and always has been a creature of government and of illegal government subsidy." The case is the biggest to go before the WTO. It began in 2006, when the US government brought a claim to the WTO against the EU, alleging unfair state support for Airbus. Since then, both sides have won and lost complaints filed against one another. Boeing's chairman and chief executive, Dennis Muilenburg, said the "historic ruling finally holds the EU and Airbus to account for their flouting of global trade rules. This long-awaited decision is a victory for fair trade worldwide and for US aerospace workers, in particular." However, the win is likely to be short-lived for Boeing, as the WTO is due to make another ruling, which is expected to fault the US for indirect subsidies to Boeing through, among other things, state tax breaks. The EU has suggested it will appeal the WTO findings, saying it found some of the report "unsatisfactory. "We are closely analysing the report," the European Commission said. Airbus, for its part, claimed it conformed with most global trade commitments and denied that it broke WTO rules. "We only needed to make limited changes in European policies and practices to comply," a spokesman said. "The US started this dispute claiming Airbus was receiving illegal subsidies, but the WTO decided otherwise. "We did what we needed to do and did it in the agreed timeframe. Airbus and its European partners met their obligations to withdraw any subsidy elements or eliminate adverse effects. Airbus wants common sense to prevail. Whatever Boeing will say, nobody will have to go to the bank. There have never been any repayments and there never will be, it is not in the spirit of WTO." ( Daily Telegraph, London) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold meetings with US Democratic presidential nominee Hilary Clinton and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in New York on Sunday, Sputnik reported. The meetings will be held separately and Netanyahus meeting with Trump was agreed upon first, a senior Israeli source told Haaretz on Friday. On September 14, the United States signed a 10-year $38 billion security MOU with Israel that represents the largest single bilateral pledge of defense aid in US history. The agreement consists of $33 billion in foreign military financing and $5 billion in missile defense. The MOU is set to go into effect from fiscal year 2019 through 2028, replacing the previous MOU, which granted Israel $3.1 billion annually. After the agreement had been signed, Netanyahu faced intense criticism from his political rivals, claiming that his political disagreements with US President Barack Obama had led to a dramatic cut in the amount of the US military aid. President Michael D.Higgins was the undoubted star of The Late Late Show. Higgins was the first guest of the night on Ryan Tubridy's couch and earned a standing ovation after his honest interview, in which he discussed his childhood, modern Ireland and his plans to run for a second term. He began by praising the people of Ireland for inspiring him, having met over 80,000 people since his inauguration in 2011. "In any one year, I make 250 visits outside of the Aras around the country. I meet a lot of people - I looked at the figuress, since Novbember 29011 when I was inaugurated, figures show about 80,000 people have come through the Aras. "I met a man today who has inoperable cancer and he came with his wife and mother-in-law and three small children and you couldn't but be moved by stories." Over the last five years, he has noticed a change in attitudes of the people, saying: "When I became president first, I describe it as righteous anger and disappointment in the country and well as resilience. I think people feel better when they're looking after each other." He would not confirm whether or not he is running for a second term in 2018 when his seven-year run is up, saying that any such confirmation would "interfere with the programme" of his plans for the next two years, before praising the support he's received during his first term so far. Read More "This is where I am with this question and it's honest of you to ask it too," he told Tubridy. "Let's take 2016: the centenary events that I've been speaking at and meeting people from different circumstances, those were very important events - there are equally important events in 2017 and 2018. "I will have made a decision by 2018. If I made any comment now, it would interfere with the programme that I have - invitations that I've accepted and things that I'm doing in 2017 and 2018." "I've been getting enormous support for the people of Ireland. I've had a certain advance - both Sabina and I have lived all our lives publicly. "What you have at any time is a community of vulnerabilities and it's very important to put your own vulnerabilities alongside others. We should be able to listen to each other without bad temper, we should be able to describe our anxieties and try to understand them. Video of the Day "There is an assumption that things are too complex for people to understand - I think people can understand everything if it is put to them honestly and straightforward." The Dublin Simon Community said the number of homeless people it sees in the capital is averaging 150 this month The average lifespan of homeless people has been revealed in a report highlighting the vulnerability of those living on the street. Homeless men have an average lifespan of 42-years-old, while the average age of death for homeless women is 38-years-old. The study called Mortality Amongst the Homeless Population in the Dublin Region showed that of the 140 deaths among the homeless population over a four-year period, 16 occurred on the streets. Another 67 died in hospital and 41 in homeless services. The study revealed that 30pc of homeless people will die as a result of drug and alcohol addiction. The study was carried out Dr Joe Barry and Dr Jo-Hanna Ivers of the Institute of Public Health, Trinity College Dublin, in collaboration with Bernie ODonoghue Hynes of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive. Through visits to homeless hostels, the coroners offices and homeless agencies, they drew together data showing: 140 deaths among homeless between 2011 and 2014. Nine deaths among homeless people aged 18 to 24 seven men and two women. 12 deaths among over 65s who were homeless 16 died on the streets; 67 in hospital; and 41 in homeless service The report also included recommendations including how the death of homeless people be recorded. A recent city centre headcount by the Dublin Simon Community found 168 people slept outside in doorways, shop fronts, streets and parks. A young child was in a critical condition in hospital last night after falling from a window in an apartment block. The boy (3), whose family is Hungarian, fell out the window of his first-floor home, in the Granary Court apartment block in Edenderry, Co Offaly, about 11am yesterday. A family friend told the Irish Independent the boy climbed onto a chair before the accident. "He opened the window and he fell out. "He fell from the first-floor of the apartment complex. He is a nice kid, he is always around playing," the friend said. A passing motorist is understood to have come to boy's aid after witnessing the fall. The man and the child's mother rushed the boy to a local medical centre where he was attended to by a doctor before an ambulance arrived. A woman who was in the centre at the time said the child was rushed into the building. "A woman came in and said a baby was after falling from a window and could they bring him in there," she said. The witness, who asked not to be identified, said the child was conscious and moaning when he arrived. The boy was removed by ambulance to Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin where his condition was described as critical. Neighbours convened to update each other on news of the boy's condition last night. Local councillor Noel Cribbin, who lives near the scene, expressed his sympathies with the boy's family and wished for a full recovery. "The main thing at this point is that the child recovers. My thoughts are with his family at this time," Mr Cribbin said. Gardai in Edenderry have appealed for witnesses to contact Tullamore Garda Station on 057 93 27600. It was not just at the Olympics that records were broken during the summer just past. July and August were the joint hottest months in 136 years of modern record keeping. There may be a familiar ring to this story. That's because, in an unprecedented streak, every month for the past 16 has set a new global record. This year will not just break the record for the warmest year (set just last year), it will shatter it. The odds of this occurring without man-made climate change are infinitesimally small. Younger millennials, who will live to see a world utterly transformed by climate change, rank it as the biggest threat to their future. This is unsurprising, considering the NextGen Climate action group estimate that it will cost each 2015 graduate 160,000 in lost wealth over their lifetime. But older cohorts, especially older males, are more likely to engage in climate denial and less likely to see climate change as a threat. But let's be clear: this debate is over. Climate change is not something for 2100, it is happening now in the world around us. The wildfires that ravaged Northern Alberta in June received considerable media attention, as did the staggering one-in-a-thousand-year rains that swamped southern Louisiana in August. Somewhat less so, the tens of millions pushed into food and nutritional insecurity because of rising temperatures and drought across Africa, parts of Asia and South America. According to Unicef, in Ethiopia alone almost half a million children will be treated for acute malnutrition arising from changes to the rainy seasons linked to climate change. There is debate raging among scientists about how the relationship between these impacts and climate change should be presented. Some accuse scientists of being alarmist, but actually they must be very cautious. This is because climate change works indirectly: it increases the risk of particular events happening, but does not cause them. This can be hard for scientists to explain to a media and public often looking for definitive sound bites against a backdrop of information overload. What is clear is that the types of impacts we are seeing are broadly in line with scientific predictions, and in some cases they fit with worst-case scenarios. The public should be very clear - more climate change means more weather extremes and more negative impacts. We need to move on from asking if climate change is happening and if it's real, to thinking about how bad will it be in Ireland, and what can be done. Ireland is a wealthy country situated at a northern temperate latitude. For these reasons, the impacts of climate change may not be felt here as acutely as, for example, Sub-Saharan Africa. We will also be in a better place to deal with the damage. We can be considered a comparatively resilient country, physically and socially, compared to many vulnerable developing countries. Nevertheless, there will be impacts, and they must be planned for. Two areas of concern that stand out are extreme precipitation or rainfall events and sea-level rise. These impacts are already being felt and linked to climate change, according to the UN's climate science body, the IPCC, in its latest report. Read More: If the world does not tackle greenhouse gas emissions, the IPCC projects that sea levels could rise globally by between half a metre and a metre by 2100. There is, however, considerable uncertainty around these projections, and the rate of increase could be slower or indeed faster. Many studies assume slow and linear melting of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, which together contain 66 metres worth of sea-level rise. But some more recent studies have focused on how possible feedbacks could make ice-sheet collapse more abrupt, suggesting that multi-metre sea-level rise could be possible in "50, 100 or 200 years". Given Ireland's settlement patterns, even modest levels of sea-level rise will have dramatic and negative impacts. Loss of low-lying coastal land will occur in many urban areas, with Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Belfast all affected. Coastal towns such as Ennis, Drogheda and Tralee appear particularly vulnerable. Incidences of flooding along the coast and major rivers will also become more frequent, particularly during storm surges. The potential cost of one metre of sea-level rise has not been estimated, but would likely be many billions of euro. Another major impact that Ireland needs to prepare for is flooding from extreme precipitation. The wet winters of 2013/14 and 2015/16 may be a sign of things to come. These events are estimated to be 40pc more likely in a world with climate warming, and a UCD and Met Eireann study predicts a further 20pc increase in heavy rainfall events in winter and autumn by mid-century. Ireland is therefore directly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. But we might also be indirectly vulnerable as a society to the global instability that climate change will bring. Studies have linked climate change to the Syrian conflict. While these findings have been contested, it is a fact that there was a drought linked to climate change between 2006 and 2009. It is also a fact that the Middle East and North Africa are among the most vulnerable areas on earth to climate change. In fact, climate models predict that mega-droughts and heatwaves could make parts of these regions uninhabitable as early as 2050, increasing migratory pressure. The question for Ireland and Europe within this context is whether we should see the current refugee crisis in isolation or as beginning of a longer-term trend? How resilient is Irish society to these potential pressures? What is certain is that we need to start planning for possible impacts, be they physical, economic or social, just like Government makes contingency plans for other events, such as Brexit. Second, we need to show far more urgency in reducing emissions. As a small, wealthy country, Ireland has an opportunity to illustrate that it is possible to combine economic vibrancy and strong climate action. For individuals, it is easy to feel helpless and small in face of such big global challenges. Perhaps the most important thing we can each do is take time to understand what is happening, read the science, and discuss it with our friends, family and community, as well as our political representatives. Joseph Curtin is a research fellow at University College Cork and the Institute of International and European Affairs, and is a member of Ireland's Climate Change Advisory Council. The views expressed are his own Take our Climate Change Reader Survey Owners of electric vehicles could be allowed to drive in bus lanes and enjoy free onstreet parking in an effort to boost sales. Stock photo: Getty Owners of electric vehicles could be allowed to drive in bus lanes and enjoy free on-street parking in an effort to boost sales. Climate Change Minister Denis Naughten said he was considering introducing incentives already in place in other countries to try and encourage take-up and reduce transport emissions, which are causing dangerous climate change. The Electric Vehicles grant scheme, introduced in April 2011, provides supports of up to 5,000 towards the cost. EVs are also exempt from VRT and customers who qualify for the grant are also eligible for a free domestic charging point. But uptake has been slow, with just 1,465 new cars grant-aided to date. Some 375 were bought this year. The lack of interest is in part due to their higher cost, but also concerns about range where motorists believe the car will lose their charge before reaching their destination. "There hasn't been the uptake we would have liked to have seen," the minister said. "To be honest, we thought at this stage we'd be phasing the supports out. "There is an issue outside of urban conurbations with range, but the range will come. Within urban areas, we need to look at how we would tweak that. "We'll be exploring a number of options. We're trying to look at what's worked elsewhere and might work here. We need to transition away from diesel and to EVs and hybrid." One option under consideration is the so-called Norwegian model. EVs are not subject to road tax or VAT, enjoy free tolls and free public parking. In addition, they are also allowed to use bus lanes, which would be of major benefit to commuters living in major cities as it would substantially cut journey times. Some 48,000 EVs have been sold in Norway, which has the highest number per capita in the world. Around 1.5pc of the national fleet is electric. The minister said a number of options were being considered, but they might not be announced in next month's Budget. He also said his department was in discussions about trialling the use of electric buses between Dublin and Cork to see if they could be rolled out across the public transport network. Electric buses are used throughout many major cities, including Paris, but cost far more than traditional ones. "The big problem with electric vehicles (EVs) in relation to the transport system is the capital costs are much higher, but the running costs are lower," Mr Naughten added. Take our Climate Change Reader Survey Read More: Dublin dentist Dr John Anthony O'Grady will be laid to rest at the Church of St Mary, Star of the Sea, Sandymount, this Saturday at 11am. Dr O'Grady passed away at Blackrock Clinic following an illness on September 20. He was subjected to a vicious kidnapping ordeal at the hands of ex-IRA man Dessie O'Hare in 1987. Dr O'Grady, who had his dental surgery in Ballsbridge, was kidnapped from his home in Cabinteely on October 13, 1987, by O'Hare, also known as the 'Border Fox'. He was held captive for 23 days before his release. O'Hare was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Dr O'Grady is survived by his partner Rachel, children Darragh, Anthony, Louise and their mother Marise, and his siblings Willie and Catherine. Gardai investigating an alleged case of female genital mutilation have arrested a man in Dublin. The man, aged in his 30s, was detained for questioning by garda who were probing the alleged mutilation of a young girl. The practice is widespread in several African countries but is banned in Ireland. The arrest of the man is thought to be the first arrest in Ireland under the Criminal Justice Act (Female Genital Mutilation) Act 2012. A garda spokeswoman confirmed yesterday a man was arrested under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and that he was later released. Gardai carried out an intensive examination of an apartment in south Dublin yesterday as part of their investigation. The Irish Family Planning Association website states that, while the exact number of women and girls worldwide who have undergone female genital mutilation - FGM - remains unknown, at least 200 million women and girls in 30 countries have been subjected to the practice. In Ireland, it is estimated that more than 3,780 women and girls between the ages of 15 and 44 have experienced FGM. Irish law imposes a maximum fine of up to 10,000 or imprisonment for up to 14 years for anyone found guilty of the practice. Short term health consequences can include haemorrhage, infections such as tetanus and HIV, failure of the wound to heal, urine retention, fracture and dislocation of limbs, or death. Long term health consequences can include painful sex, recurrent urinary tract infections, painful periods, potential trauma during childbirth, infertility, incontinence and difficulty urinating, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, sexual dysfunction and psychological trauma. Aine ONeill and her husband Rick and their dog out for a walk in Galway A heartbroken mum who went to the UK for an abortion after her baby was diagnosed with a fatal foetal abnormality has said being forced to travel "prolonged the agony" of having to end her pregnancy. Aine O'Neill (30), from Ardrahan, Co Galway, was 12 weeks' pregnant in July of this year, when she learned her baby had anencephaly. She opted to have an abortion in the UK to end the pregnancy. "I felt so uncomfortable I felt like I was faking being pregnant. I didn't feel like myself any more," she said. Aine and her husband organised an abortion in a private clinic in Manchester where she has family. "Every step was just so hard and having no family would have made it so much worse. We just needed to be at home. I felt like we should have been admitted to the hospital to do what we wanted to do in Co Galway at home where we had all of our support systems," she added. In the clinic on the day Aine had her abortion, she and her husband were separated into different waiting rooms which added to the stress of the day. "I wanted to crawl out of my own skin. I was just waiting and I didn't want to be there, it didn't make any sense," she said. Grief "It was like whatever grief I was feeling before I left was completely overshadowed by being traumatised because I wasn't been looked after. "It was just horrible coming back home and not being pregnant any more. It [travelling] just prolonged the agony of the whole situation . . . and it's wrong, it's just so wrong," she said. "I was in the wrong place for what was happening to us but I had no where else to go. "There was women there flipping through magazines - which is the way it should be in those places - it just wasn't where I should have been. "It just kept going around in my head that Mick Wallace had brought that bill to the Dail and that figure kept going around in my head of 95 people in the Dail who think I should have to do this. Or else they think I should have to carry the child to term. "That would have been so traumatic. Anyone who has to go through that is just amazingly strong because there is no way I would have been able to continue day in, day out with the pregnancy. It would have been even more horrific," she said. Aine will travel to Dublin today with friends and family to join the March for Choice to call for a repeal of the Eighth Amendment. An army of volunteers who live locally make up the bulk of staff at the Irish Coast Guard. Stock picture A body has been recovered from the sea off the Clare coast by the Irish Coast Guard. The body was spotted in the sea off the Clare coast early yesterday morning and the emergency services were notified. The Doolin unit of the Irish Coast Guard was immediately launched and managed to locate the remains offshore. They are currently in the process of recovering the remains and bringing the body to shore. Once ashore, the body will be handed over to the Gardai and the Health Service Executive (HSE) and then transferred to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) where a full post mortem examination will take place. Initial reports indicate that the body was in the water for some considerable period of time. It is unclear yet whether the body is that of a man or woman. Gardai will liaise with the Office of the State Pathologist in a bid to identify the individual involved. Gardai are now cross-referencing the discovery with all existing missing person reports. Expand Close Caitriona Lucas (41) who died tragically in a rescue mission in Kilkee / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Caitriona Lucas (41) who died tragically in a rescue mission in Kilkee Clare-based Irish Coast Guard volunteer, Caitriona Lucas, died in a freak accident on September 12 last during the search for missing Lissycasey teacher, David McMahon. Read More Ms Lucas, a mother of two, was killed when the RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) in which she was searching for the missing teacher with two other volunteers was hit by a huge wave and overturned. While her two colleagues were recovered in a major rescue operation, Ms Lucas had sustained fatal injuries. She was the first member of the Irish Coast Guard to die during an operational deployment. Weather conditions at the time off the Clare coast that day were described as very challenging. Mr McMahon, who got married last Christmas, disappeared on September 9. His car was later found in the Kilkee area which was the focus of the search for him. At its height, the search for the teacher involved more than 400 people. Mr McMahon has been described as "a brilliant young man" and "a role model" for his community. Detectives from Reactive and Organised Crime Branch have arrested a 28-year-old man and seized suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of 1.2 million after Police stopped a car on the West Bank Road in Belfast on Friday 23 September. A 28 year-old man has been arrested after police stopped a car in Belfast on Friday. The discovery was made on the West bank Road on Friday night and Police said they were "delighted to have removed a large quantity of drugs off the streets of Northern Ireland." "The PSNI," a spokesman said, "is committed to making Northern Ireland a hostile environment for those involved in drug criminality." Police are appealing for anyone with information on drug dealing to contact officers. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) does not want any conflict with Russia, the alliances Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said and tweeted in remarks at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University on Friday, Sputnik reported. "NATO does not seek confrontation with Russia," Stoltenberg, a former prime minister of Denmark, stated and tweeted. "NATO has to remain strong not to provoke a war, to prevent a war. That has been our main principle for 70 years." However, in June this year, NATO completed its largest military exercises in eastern Europe since the end of the Cold War. Named ANAKONDA, the exercises, which were clearly aimed at Russia, involved 31,000 troops from 23 countries. The old age pension will be increased by up to 5, while hikes in the fuel allowance and the living alone allowance are also expected to be introduced in Budget 2017. The Budget will include a suite of measures aimed at winning back the grey vote, Fine Gael ministers have confirmed. The Government is set to announce plans for a 100m homecare package in a move sources say will significantly ease the pressures on the country's hospitals. The Christmas bonus will also be paid again in December and kept at the same rate. And cuts in the prescription charges will take effect next year for the over-70s, the Irish Independent has learned. Independent Alliance Minister Finian McGrath is also seeking substantial funding increases for older people and those with disabilities. "We are pushing senior citizen issues and we are pushing disability issues. We haven't had our final meeting with Paschal Donohoe yet but those are areas we are looking at," an Independent Alliance source said. However, there are growing tensions within Government circles this weekend over Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar's demands for a 5 increase in the old age pension. Increasing the old age pension by 5 would cost over 80m next year. Some Cabinet sources say they are concerned that if such an increase is delivered, it will kick their demands into touch. With a substantial amount of the 660m in spending available going towards health, Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe may limit the increase to just 3. Dilemma However, Mr Varadkar is facing a major dilemma because Fianna Fail has sought the full 5 next year. One Cabinet source last night pointed to the backlash the Fine Gael/Labour Party government received last year after the then Social Protection Minister Joan Burton opted for a 3 increase. "It (the pension) is the subject of tensions. There is the view that if you do anything less than a 5 increase, it's going to go down like a lead balloon," the minister told the Irish Independent. But last night, Fianna Fail's Social Protection spokesperson Willie O'Dea said his party would not accept anything less than a 5 hike. "It should be at least 5 - in fact, anything less would not be realistic," the Limerick TD said. However, prominent Fine Gael backbencher John Deasy hit out at the focus surrounding appeasing pensioners. The Waterford TD said the focus should be on tax cuts for the squeezed middle. "These are the people that deserve a break in particular," Mr Deasy said. Meanwhile, further meetings will take place between ministers and Fianna Fail's front bench spokespeople next week as the Budget process intensifies. Fianna Fail sources say they have not yet finalised their Budget plans and that talks that have taken place to date have been "business-like" and "professional". However, there is expectation at senior level in both parties that the issue of the Budget will be at the centre of tensions ahead of October 11. Members of the civil defence rescue children after an air strike in the al-Shaar area of Aleppo in Syria. Photo: Reuters Embattled charity Goal is facing a major funding crisis after the Government decided to withhold more than 7m it had pledged to give the international aid organisation this summer, the Irish Independent has learned. The charity's board has been holding a series of meetings since the cash was withheld amid concerns of corruption in aid programmes providing humanitarian relief in Syria. Goal had been due to receive the cash in July for long-term development work in several African countries. Despite the setback, the agency has been able to maintain existing aid programmes and has stressed its immediate viability is not in danger. However, Goal said it has had to shelve a number of new initiatives and there may be implications for its 4,000-strong workforce. It brings to 10.1m the sum being withheld by the Irish Aid section of the Department of Foreign Affairs since a US investigation into the corruption claims began in April. Expand Close An injured woman after an air strike in Syria. Photo: Reuters / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp An injured woman after an air strike in Syria. Photo: Reuters The investigation involves at least 25 agencies, including Goal, which sacked two staff in Turkey after the probe was launched. The agency has also been reeling from the suspension of 6.2m in funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which is conducting the probe. In a statement to the Irish Independent, the department said it "remains seriously concerned about the issues under investigation by the US". The USAID investigation is focusing on procurement practices for humanitarian assistance operations for Syria. Goal commissioned a report on the controversy from consultants BDO Ireland and this has been given to the department. However, the unpublished document did not contain anything to cause Irish Aid officials to soften its stance. "Pending further clarification on the issues under investigation, the department took the decision to withhold funding which had been allocated for Goal's development and humanitarian work in 2016," the statement said. Officials confirmed the BDO report had been received "on a confidential basis" and was still being examined. Cash from Irish Aid accounted for 9pc of Goal's total funding of 173m last year. In a statement, the charity said it was in ongoing dialogue with Irish Aid in a bid to resolve the issue. "The Goal board is treating this matter very seriously. In addition to commissioning the BDO report, the board is in active and ongoing dialogue with its stakeholders and donors, including Irish Aid and USAID, as it has been since the suspension of procurement in April," the statement said. "The board continues to meet regularly to address and manage this issue and to mitigate any impacts on the humanitarian relief it supports. It maintains oversight of all current issues." Goal said Irish Aid and USAID were the only organisations to have withheld any funding since the investigation began. Other major donors include the UK's Department for International Development (DfID), the European Commission Humanitarian Office, the European Union, UN Development Programme, and the UN Children's Fund. Donors A number of donors contacted by the Irish Independent confirmed they were still providing funding to the charity. A spokeswoman for DfID, which provided 26.6m in funding to Goal in 2014, said: "We are aware of concerns relating to US-funded aid programmes in Syria and continue to monitor the situation." A Goal statement said the charity was doing its best to maintain operations despite the withholding of funding. "Any funding interruptions present challenges but Goal is managing the situation and all current and ongoing Irish Aid-funded programmes are continuing as normal," the statement said. "However, a number of new proposals that had been earmarked for Irish Aid funding are currently on hold. "While any withholding or reduction of funding is regrettable, all current Goal programmes are continuing as normal. "In the case of our Syria programme, notwithstanding the suspension of pr curement by USAID, we continue to operate these programmes with the support of partners." Mary Mitchell OConnor presenting John Halligan with a Fortnum and Mason heart- shaped box at the opening of The Packaging Hub in Waterford. Photo: Noel Browne Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell-O'Connor surprised Junior Training Minister John Halligan by presenting him with a red heart-shaped box "full of love" as a gift from Fine Gael. The ministers were in Waterford for the official opening of the Packaging Hub's new facility, with 40 new jobs coming on stream. Ms Mitchell-O'Connor said: "Stand up, John Halligan, because I want to make a little presentation to you todayjust to show how well we work in partnership in Government. "So I'm handing this over to you John. And there's a little message in it...It says, 'A heart full of love'." However, the message was not received loud and clear by Mr Halligan. He said: "I wanted to thank the minister for her kind present. I noticed the colour of the box wasn't the blue of Fine Gael, it was red. So that was nice. "But when I opened the box I found that there wasn't anything in it. So that may be a message for me. I'm only joking. "She tells me I'm constantly tormenting her over Waterford and the south eastit was the south east essentially that suffered during the recession, over five or six years." Mr Halligan has threatened to leave Government if a second Cath Lab is not delivered to University Hospital Waterford (UHW). And he confirmed he will take part in a "non-political" march today by campaigners for a second laboratory. Mr Halligan said he is "confident" that a second cath lab for UHW could still be a reality. Thousands are expected to take to the streets of Waterford for the '24-7 Our Lives Matter' protest march organised by the South East Patient Advocacy Group. And despite the jokes shared with Ms Mitchell-O'Connor, Mr Halligan described the Government's stance on the issue as "very disappointing" yesterday. Labour leader Brendan Howlin has said he has "serious doubts" about the merits of proceeding with a State inquiry into Project Eagle unless it has powers to compel the attendance of witnesses from the North. Mr Howlin made the remark in his submission to Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who sought the views of Opposition parties and TDs on the format of the planned inquiry into the sale of Nama's northern loan book. Mr Howlin said any inquiry should focus on whether or not the integrity of the Project Eagle sale process was "compromised or sought to be compromised" and "if it was, did any such attempt impact on the sale price ultimately achieved?" He also said that the separate criminal investigations examining elements of the controversial deal must have a cross-border approach. Mr Howlin said he believes the best way to do this is to set up a "special joint investigation policing team" to investigate the allegations relating to Project Eagle. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin also noted the importance of Northern cooperation with the inquiry. "It would of course be very helpful if those involved in the North in the sale of Project Eagle were invited and agreed to attend the Inquiry," he said. Independent TD Mick Wallace, who has been vocal on the issue in the Dail, said the inquiry should have the powers of compellability of witnesses similar to those of the IBRC Commission of Investigation. He said the key issue at the centre of the controversy is "the alleged unauthorised leaking and use of confidential Nama information for private gain and whether this caused a loss for the Irish people". Sinn Fein said the inquiry should be wider than Project Eagle and look into Nama's full operations, while the Social Democrats and Green Party also made submissions. A separate report by the Comptroller and Auditor General found Nama incurred a potential loss to the taxpayer of 190m (223m) in the Project Eagle sale. Nama has rejected this report. A government spokesman said: "All submissions will be given serious consideration before government decides how to proceed." Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell O'Connor has become the latest Government figure to call on Gerry Adams to cooperate with the Garda investigation into the murder of IRA spy Denis Donaldson if he is asked to do so. The Cabinet minister joined Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald in putting pressure on Mr Adams in the wake of new claims about the death of the British spy 10 years ago. Ms Mitchell O'Connor said: "We'll just have to wait for the truth and wait for the garda findings." Junior Minister John Halligan said care should be taken with the allegations. He said: "Everyone has a right to be defended by law until proven guilty of a crime and he [Mr Adams] hasn't been found guilty of a crime." Ms Fitzgerald has said the public will "make up their mind" in relation to Mr Adams's strenuous denials of involvement in the killing. She insisted that "evidence" is key in the garda investigation and said: "Everyone should cooperate... including Gerry Adams." Sinn Fein deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald once again rallied to the defence of Gerry Adams, insisting the allegation he sanctioned the murder of Denis Donaldson was "a ball of smoke". The Sinn Fein deputy leader went as far as to call for the makers of BBC's 'Spotlight' programme to provide gardai with the name of the source who made the claim. The BBC has defended the integrity of the programme and also rejected calls from Ms McDonald that the 'Spotlight' team pass on the name of the informant who made the claims about Adams to gardai. Ms McDonald - who has been forced to defend the Sinn Fein president amid numerous controversies in the past - said the investigation into Mr Donaldson's death has been ongoing for a decade. "The gardai have had no reason to interview Gerry Adams on these matters because Gerry has no involvement," she said. She said the 'Spotlight' allegation was made by an "anonymous person" who she described as "a self-proclaimed informant and therefore party to the agenda of the British State". The Dublin Central TD added: "Gerry has answered questions. If he's asked questions, he will answer them." Meeting Mr Donaldson's family said they do not believe the Provisional IRA killed him, or that the shooting was sanctioned by Mr Adams. Lawyer for the Donaldson family Ciaran Shiels met Garda Deputy Assistant Commissioner Derek Byrne and two other senior police officers in Belfast yesterday. Mr Shiels said: "The one theme that has come out of today's meeting is that the theory that was being advanced by BBC 'Spotlight' earlier this week, that this was in some way carried out by the Provisional IRA or authorised by Gerry Adams, I think it's absolute nonsense. "It does not marry in any way with the lines of inquiry that have been progressed by the guards [Garda] or by the (police) ombudsman." The controversial 'Spotlight' programme interviewed a former IRA memeber who spied on the organisation for RUC Special Branch. The chief suspect in the murder is a well-known republican based in Derry. The murder is believed to have been carried out with the help of republican sympathisers in Donegal. The murder suspect was formerly in the IRA and is now believed to now be a dissident republican, having fallen out with the leadership of Sinn Fein-IRA. Detectives on both sides of the Border knew within hours of the assassination how it had been set up. Gardai investigating the alleged rape of a 61-year-old female patient in a Kerry hospital have gathered substantial forensic evidence. A file on the alleged rape of the woman by a health worker at the Bons Secours Hospital in Tralee will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) shortly. The assault is alleged to have happened on September 10 in the private hospital after the woman had an MRI scan. Gardai now have considerable forensic evidence and have carried out a large number of interviews. However, the whereabouts of the accused, who left Ireland last week with his wife and child, remain unknown. He was suspended by his employer, a diagnostics company which offers MRI and CT scans at the hospital. A spokesman for the company said yesterday it had had no contact with the man since he resigned. When gardai arrived at the hospital following the woman's allegation, the worker, who was in the middle of another scan, admitted having sex with the woman but claimed that it was consensual. He accompanied gardai to the station and was not arrested and charged. The man resigned from his job, which he had held since 2009, and did not keep an appointment with the gardai late last week. The woman has since been offered counselling. She had given the health worker a 10 tip after having the scan and was changing into her clothes when the alleged attack happened. The Bon Secours hospital group yesterday declined to say what measures it has introduced in the wake of the alleged incident. The web giant Yahoo looks set to escape any fine or serious sanction from the Irish data regulator after the company admitted to an email data breach affecting 500 million accounts. Photo: Reuters The web giant Yahoo looks set to escape any fine or serious sanction from the Irish data regulator after the company admitted to an email data breach affecting 500 million accounts. Helen Dixon's office has said it is launching a joint probe into the matter along with US authorities. However, experts close to the investigation played down the chance of serious punitive action against Yahoo. The Irish data protection commissioner is Yahoo's principal governing regulator in Europe. But under current Irish law, companies rarely receive punishment for data breaches, instead garnering written admonishments and enforcement "notices". The most serious punishment meted out in recent years was the 2013 case of Loyaltybuild, where the Clare-based marketing company was ordered to cease all processing of customer data pending the repair of its systems. The data watchdog is to get substantial new powers in 2018, when it can independently issue fines of up to 20m, or 4pc of annual turnover, for serious data breaches. Yahoo is set to argue that it could not reasonably have prevented the unprecedented hack because the perpetrator was a "state actor" and not a cybercriminal. A boy, who is believed to be three years old, fell from an apartment block at Granary Court in Edenderry Picture: Arthur Carron A young child is in a critical condition after falling from an apartment in Co Offaly this morning. The boy, who is believed to be three years old, fell from an apartment block at Granary Court in Edenderry at around 11am. Gardai in Edenderry are treating the incident as an accident. A passing motorist is understood to have come to boys aid after witnessing the fall. Its understood that together with the childs mother, the man brought the boy to a local medical centre where he was attended to by a doctor before an ambulance arrived. A witness who was in the centre at the time said; A woman came in and said a baby was after falling from a window and could they bring him in there. Expand Close Dublin's Temple Street Hospital / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dublin's Temple Street Hospital The witness, who asked not to be identified, said the child was conscious and moaning when he arrived. The three-year-old was originally rushed to Crumlin Childrens Hospital in Dublin, but was subsequently transferred to Temple Street Childrens Hospital due to the severity of his injuries. The incident is currently under investigation by gardai, who were not made aware of the fall until this afternoon. A garda spokesperson confirmed that they are investigating the fall, which occurred at approximately 11am this morning. Local councillor Noel Cribbin, who lives near the scene, expressed his sympathies with the young childs family and wished for a full recovery. The main thing at this point is that the child recovers. My thoughts are with his family at this time, Mr Cribbin said. Gardai are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Tullamore Garda Station on 057 93 27600. They were once sworn enemies, but a box presented to Charles Stewart Parnell by British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli is among the treasures at the 51st Antique Dealers' Fair this weekend. Over 15,000 people are expected to descend on the world's second oldest antiques fair which runs until tomorrow at Dublin's RDS. Antiques expert Niall Mullen said there was a "resurgence in the demand for quality furniture, linked to an upturn in the property market and the willingness of consumers to mix antique and contemporary pieces. "People now recognise there are great alternatives when furnishing one's home or workplace." But he added: "Anybody who comes in to my shop and asks whether something is a good investment, I ask them do they love the piece, and if they love it then that should be the starting point." A 4,700 losenge pattern inlaid box from Niall Mullen's was reputed to be a present from Disraeli to his former adversary Parnell and bears the initials of both. Expand Close Aideen and Niall Mullen with a box reputed to be a present from British Prime Minister Benjamin Disreali to Charles Stewart Parnell. Picture: Conor McCabe / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Aideen and Niall Mullen with a box reputed to be a present from British Prime Minister Benjamin Disreali to Charles Stewart Parnell. Picture: Conor McCabe US interior design legend Carleton Varney heads a packed programme of expert speakers who will provide advice on everything from how to spot a forgery, to how to combine antiques with modern furniture at home. The president of the renowned Dorothy Draper brand, he designed for five US first ladies in a row from Jackie Kennedy to Barbara Bush. "I don't believe there's good taste or bad taste, there's just taste and the first room you remember when you were young is a foundation for your taste," said Mr Varney. His design philosophy emphasises "the use of bright colours and the rejection of all that is impractical, uncomfortable and drab." Expand Close Ian Haslam from The Silver Shop. Picture: Conor McCabe / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ian Haslam from The Silver Shop. Picture: Conor McCabe Unusual items at the fair include a unique Argyle jug for keeping gravy warm which is valued at 5,000, and an artisan builder's plumb bob from 1720 is valued at 3,500. A 17th century foot-long silver spoon worth 45,000 from JW Weldon's carries the hallmark of Cork. International tax cooperation will be in focus alongside the global economy a meeting of finance ministers from the Group of 20 developed and developing nations in Washington next month, Russia's top financial diplomat said on Friday, Reuters reported. The G20 ministers meet in Washington on Oct. 6, on the eve of the World Bank/IMF annual meetings, weeks after a G20 summit pledged to increase macroeconomic policy coordination without issuing any concrete proposals other than agreeing to oppose protectionism. "(The agenda) will be very simple this time: global economy, which is traditional," Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Storchak told Reuters in an interview. "The ministers also need to talk, develop the theme of taxes, tax cooperation at the international level, at the multilateral level, Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS), information sharing and so on." At their summit in Hangzhou, China, the G20 leaders pledged tax cooperation to "achieve a globally fair and modern international tax system" and asked the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) to report by June 2017 on the progress made by jurisdictions on tax transparency. A particular focus of the OECD efforts is BEPS, in which multinational companies move profits out of the countries where money is earned and into jurisdictions that do not tax them. Storchak also said that he expected Germany to announce in Washington that it would prioritise the G20's sustainable development goals during its presidency of the group next year. "It's their choice," Storchak said. "In principle, for the Group of 20 finance ministers and central banks, this is never considered a priority as, in many G20 countries, the ministry of finance does not play a big role in promoting sustainable development." He added that there would be no meeting of the finance ministers from the BRICS developing countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund meeting. A BRICS summit will be held in Panaji in the Indian state of Goa on Oct. 15-16. High flying: Ettore Bilottas new uniform for Etihad Airways cabin crew, pictured by Vogue and Vanity Fair photographer Norman Jean Roy in Abu Dhabis Liwa desert Wanna travel the world? Fancy an office that takes you to Sydney one week, and New York or Paris the next? Etihad Airways, national carrier of the United Arab Emirates and one of the world's most luxurious airlines, is on a recruitment drive in Dublin. Candidates for positions including cabin crew and inflight chefs, among other roles, are invited to drop their CVs to the Crown Plaza Hotel in Santry, Dublin on Monday, September 26, between 8am and 6pm. Applicants that meet the airlines criteria will be invited back for an assessment the following day, Tuesday, September 27. Expand Close High flying: Ettore Bilottas new uniform for Etihad Airways cabin crew, pictured by Vogue and Vanity Fair photographer Norman Jean Roy in Abu Dhabis Liwa desert / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp High flying: Ettore Bilottas new uniform for Etihad Airways cabin crew, pictured by Vogue and Vanity Fair photographer Norman Jean Roy in Abu Dhabis Liwa desert So what does it take to become a flight attendant? Etihad describes its cabin crew as "truly global citizens" that are "passionate about people... cultured, considerate, warm and generous." All must meet the following requirements: Minimum High School certification or any higher education. Fluent English verbal and written comprehension; another language is an additional benefit. Must be at least 21 years old on the date of joining. Confident in water and be able to swim with the aid of a flotation device. Able to reach 210cms without shoes. No tattoos nor body piercing (exception for one earring in the lower lobe of each ear for females only) that would be visible whilst wearing the Etihad uniform (bandages and cosmetic coverings are not permitted). No criminal record. Excellent personal presentation, style and image. Willing to comply with UAE and GCAA visa, medical and health screening requirements. Etihad, an Abu Dhabi-based airline, employs more than 200 Irish staff across its divisions in Guest Services, at the Premium Lounge at Dublin Airport, within its Dublin line maintenance operation and across its global network. Expand Close Etihad's A380 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Etihad's A380 150 of its Irish staff are based in Abu Dhabi. Read More "With the arrival of our Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, and increasing frequencies and destinations expanding our global network, talented individuals with the right passion and flair for hospitality are encouraged to join us, said Beatrice Cosgrove, Etihads General Manager for Ireland. Candidates need to submit two copies of their CVs including up to date employment details, contact telephone number and email address, as well as two passport photographs and a completed application form available online. Read more: "But fumble in a greasy till, and add the halfpence to the pence'' - WB. Yeats There won't be many Dublin commuters who are thinking of WB Yeats today as they struggle with the reality of the ongoing work stoppages at Dublin Bus. Many will tussle through traffic wedged and weary, others will lament the journeys that might have been if only the 33A were passing their way. Some will have solidarity and sympathy for the Dublin Bus drivers, while others will view the strike as an unnecessary nuisance, as inconvenience increasingly overrides understanding. In one of his most celebrated works, 'September 1913', Yeats laments a time when politics was less egotistical and self-serving. It was viewed by many as a commentary on the most severe and significant industrial dispute in our history, the 1913 Lockout, as Irish workers fought for the right to unionise. In our centennial year, as we commemorate so many of our heroic forefathers and their fight for fundamental rights and freedom, one wonders how they might view the current industrial relations landscape. This Government is facing into a tremendously sensitive period in terms of increasing union demands and pay claims. If some mechanism is not devised to deal with the looming problems on the industrial relations front, this generation of political and union leaders may be left with a legacy that is simply reduced to squabbling over shillings. So far, the debate around the most pressing industrial relations dispute at Dublin Bus has been distilled down to a power struggle over a pow-wow between the Transport Minister and the unions. Minister Shane Ross says he is unwilling to engage with workers' unions fighting for 15pc pay increases. The unions claim workers deserve this increase. The Labour Relations Commission (LRC) has suggested 8.5pc, with built-in productivity conditions. Were the minister to engage the bus drivers, he would immediately undermine the clout of the LRC and the National Transport Authority - an agency whose very existence is designed to deliver more public transport services with more efficiencies for publicly-funded investment. Crucially for the unions, if they cannot inveigle the minister into the tangle, their influence looks diminished publicly. Worse still, they are forced to remain outside of the political arena and are permanently parked in the processes of the Labour Relations Commission with the Department of Transport. So, on the face of it, Minister Ross our anti-hero (neither White Knight nor Sugar Daddy) is correct in his handling of the problem to date. The difficulty for him is the potential for costly contagion. If this industrial action is not solved, it could very quickly spread to other CIE companies, firstly to Bus Eireann and then onwards to Irish Rail. Further escalation could leave this fragile Government facing the first general public transport strike since 2000. Then it is not just a Dublin-centric problem, its nationwide. The solution to the Dublin Bus pay problem is not easy. It is not merely about finding an optimum figure to keep the workers and their employers happy. Because this solution will not be a ceiling for pay at Dublin Bus, it will create a floor for other workers to commence individual bargaining. When dealing with workers' pay, contagion has to be managed; it is always unpredictable and relentless. It cannot be contained within the transport sector. Strikes are a bit like buses you see - you wait for ages for a good aul' strike and then, hey presto, they all arrive at the same time. After years of pent-up austerity, the aggrieved are lining up: gardai, nurses, and teachers, are all keenly waiting to see the outcome on the buses. Bolstered by the increasingly positive Exchequer figures and high on the helium of '26pc' growth rates last year, these workers have suffered the pain of a crippling recession. Now, they say, it's payback time. The remedy to the problem does not lie in dealing with any of these issues in isolation. The solution lies in a detailed and holistic socio-economic approach that is built on consensus, not conflict. One thing is for sure: if we are to capitalise on the tentative recovery that the Irish people have worked hard for, we need to create policies that are aimed at surviving beyond the next Budget. Longer-term plans and bigger visions are needed urgently. Options, however unpalatable to this Government now, will become even more so if LRC recommendations are increasingly ignored, and we become clouded by a fog of industrial war. A version of social partnership on the one hand and privatisation on the other are the two extreme options available to Government now. Recently pilloried as the root of all evil, social partnership was initially a simple model. Born out of a decade of strikes and unrest which commenced with the maintenance strike of January 1969, social partnership was the antidote that promised industrial peace in return for nominal wage increases and tax reductions. As expectations and workforces grew, so did the social partnership model. While it did not get everything right, it did not get everything wrong - it was useful in its time. Fundamentally, it was a concept, an overarching employer-employee agreement that was easy to understand and easy to sell publicly. Predominant policies and concepts are in very short supply from this Government, though. Does anyone really know what the current Government's industrial relations policy actually is? Currently, Shane Ross is driving along in a bus lane all of his own, albeit in the right direction. While no one wants him to simply open the State cheque book, he could have some role in calling the sides together to explain the Government's position, clearly detailing the wider implications for the economy of this and other potential pay claims. Beyond token calls for Minister Ross to intervene, the main opposition parties have been remarkably silent. But it will not be long before they are also forced to reveal their hands. Fianna Fail will be targeted soon as wily union leaders will attempt to divide and conquer. One hopes a voice will emerge from Government which sets out a vision and a clear set of guidelines for the industrial relations roadmap that deals with the substantive problem in a more comprehensive way than pass the political parcel. We can but dream. "Romantic Ireland's dead and gone, it's with O'Leary in the grave." By all accounts, Charles Keeling did not accept consensus thinking, even from his academic research director. Ignoring the accepted wisdom, he headed to the Pacific islands of Hawaii. Not to the paradise island destination the name conjures up - instead, he went to the top of the 3,000m high Mauna Loa volcano with a special instrument designed to measure carbon dioxide. That was 1958, the International Geophysical Year, during which a thaw in the Cold War saw the start of global scientific exchanges in Earth sciences. The same year, Tom O'Connor set out from Galway city to find a site remote enough to study air coming in from the North Atlantic. Tom graduated from a remarkable school of atmospheric science in UCD that flourished in the 1940s and '50s. They were global leaders at a time when such leadership did not feature in news reports or get awards. These were lean times for research but Tom had received a small research award to study the composition of the North Atlantic atmosphere. His search brought him to an abandoned 'Emergency' lookout station at Mace Head in Connemara. Today, Mace Head and Mauna Loa are two of the most advanced and important sites for atmospheric observations in the world. Data from both sites are published in multiple research publications annually and cited by bodies such as IPCC for what they tell us about our changing planet. The Mauna Loa record of the inexorable build up of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has become iconic and served to drive both scientific and policy responses to climate change. Last year, carbon dioxide levels at Mauna Loa and Mace Head passed 400 parts per million (ppm), a level that has not occurred in human history, or indeed for many hundreds of thousand years. Depending on what we do, carbon dioxide levels below 400ppm may not occur on Earth again for centuries or even millennia. The consequences of this are becoming increasingly apparent. The future of the world as we know it is quite literally in our hands. Both Charles Keeling and Tom O'Connor knew that observations are essential to understanding. Today, observation systems and data are not just essential for understanding our world, they are also essential for effective management of vital systems for food, energy, water provision, transport and communications. Serendipitously, there has been a remarkable blossoming of observation technologies, from nanoscale sensors to satellites. Together they provide invaluable information on what is happening around us which can be accessed on our phones, tablets, computers and other devices. It not just the weather or local services where such information systems can help decision making; such sophisticated systems are increasingly essential to management of key resources including our coastal zones, cities and towns, farms and land, the air we breathe and our oceans. The world around us is changing and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Existing physical, societal and economic vulnerabilities are expected to increase and new stresses and risks emerge. This is creating new governance and management challenges and we are still learning how to respond effectively. However, we are not unique in this. Across Europe and the world there are similar challenges and many initiatives are in place or being planned to assist in such governance and decision making at national to individual levels. Europe is leading in the development of information-based solutions. Through the Copernicus programme it is at the forefront in developing the world's most advanced satellite systems for Earth observation. This is a major initiative by the European Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA) to support actions in environmental protection and civil security. Ireland, as a member of the EU and ESA, can and should capitalise on these investments. The reasons for this are simple, we need the data they provide but not just in a passive manner. It is essential these systems are dynamically linked to local systems developed to address local needs as part of a national initiative on essential observations. The original Mace Head site was one of 83 coastal lookout posts built between 1939 and 1942 as the threat of the war in Europe loomed. This constituted a considerable strategic investment over a short period of time aimed at helping protect our country in a time of uncertainty and concern. Today, Ireland is facing a different threat - climate change. We need to be prepared to respond to this. An essential part of the response is to establish the necessary "lookout posts", not just on our coasts, but where we live and work and for the vital infrastructures both natural and man-made that support us and our society. The late Tom O'Connor knew that Ireland could lead in science and technology and knew the strategic value of its location. Ireland, due to its size, location and geography, is strategically ideal for development of advanced observation and information systems. There is a self-interest imperative for this, as well as many potential opportunities. Frank McGovern is Head of Climate Change Research and Science at the Environmental Protection Agency You never forget your first time. And so it proved on my calamitous introduction to the oyster. "Daddy likes to order for everybody, just go along with whatever he picks," directed my freshly minted Southside princess on that make or break introductory dinner out with her parents. It being September, Daddy ordered oysters for the whole table. Having never before grappled any such intimidating mollusc, it was a case of in for a penny as I gamely tipped the shell to my lips - only to dump a splash of sea water all across my pristine white shirt. Hoping nobody had spotted my mishap, I quickly grabbed another and repeated the maneouvre - with same tragic result, as I now resembled Leo DiCaprio in the final scene of 'Titanic'. At that point, the kindly waiter pointed discretely to the tiny fork, murmuring in my ear: "It helps if you detach them, sir." Suffice to say my affair with the oyster lasted longer than the relationship. Oysters have always suggested a spicy tang of decadence, a celebration of life lived to the full. Ernest Hemingway got it spot on in 'A Moveable Feast': "As I drank the cold liquid from each shell and washed it down with the crisp taste of wine, I lost the empty feeling and began to be happy and to make plans." Thousands will do exactly that this weekend at the Galway International Oyster Festival, the oldest oyster festival in the world and most internationally recognised Irish event after St Patrick's Day. Who knew? Dreamed up back in September 1954 by Great Southern Hotel manager Brian Collins as a cute off-season ruse to fill vacant beds, the first festival attracted just 34 people - half of whom were a gang of Cork lads still celebrating the county's All-Ireland hurling win. It now pulls in over 25,000 punters every year who down tons of the slippery molluscs at an event 'The New York Times' lauded as "one of the 12 greatest shows on earth". Film director John Huston was a regular in the early days, declaring: "If oysters and Guinness at Paddy Burke's in Clarinbridge doesn't cure your woes, nothing will." Whether you're a gourmand or a newbie to the joys of these glorious clams, their reputation as an aphrodisiac has seen many a man over-indulge in pursuit of a more liberated libido. Mind you, the after-effects of a few dozen shells combined with 10 pints of porter seems a uniquely Irish form of foreplay, and may deliver an entirely unexpected outcome in the boudoir. Casanova, the 18th century lover who slurped 50 for breakfast, offered an interesting recipe: "I placed the shell on the edge of her lips and after a good deal of laughing, she sucked in the oyster, which she held between her lips. I instantly recovered it by placing my lips on hers." Wonder what Neven or Darina would make of that? In fairness, science has proven that these briny bivalves do come pre-loaded with zinc, giving a mighty lift not just to the sex drive, but the entire immune system as well. And given that the average oyster filters up to 40 gallons of water a day, their benefit to the environment is yet another reason to love them. For anyone with a memory of Dublin in the rare auld times, Jammet's legendary oyster bar was the perfect place to masticate magnificent molluscs in good company. Synonymous with style and sophistication from 1901 to 1967, it danced an elegant tango of wit and worldliness as James Joyce, WB Yeats, Lennox Robinson, Liam O'Flaherty, Micheal MacLiammoir and Hilton Edwards kicked off many a lost weekend with a dozen shells straight from Dublin Bay. "As if by magic, the turn of the century has been fully preserved beyond the swing door," observed Egon Ronay. "With fin-de-siecle murals and marble oyster counters exuding a bygone age, Ritz and Escoffier would feel at home here." However, if revenge is a dish best eaten cold, an episode of 'Mad Men' entitled 'Red In The Face' surely underlined the adage. When Don Draper catches Roger Sterling flirting with his wife, he opts for a delayed retaliation over a long lunch of martinis and oysters. Settled into a cosy booth, the pair proceed to drain rivers of gin and multiple trays of shells. Eventually heading back to the office for an important client meeting, Don arranges for all the lifts to be out of order - forcing a ropey Roger to climb 26 flights of stairs. Out of breath and bubbling dangerously inside with a combustible combination of alcohol and raw fish, the philanderer ends up enduring a divine retribution as the presentation transforms into a projectile technicolor nightmare right at the feet of his clients. The world may indeed be our oyster, but always be careful how you go... Now in its fifth season, the 2016/17 Drogheda International Classical Music Series continues to raise the artistic bar with a host of concerts guaranteed to thrill and excite audiences of all ages. Building on the musical successes of previous years, they open with one of the greatest keyboard players of today. Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt has been on the international scene for nearly two decades and today is regarded as one of the finest interpreters of the music of Bach. Ahead of a new recital Series at London's prestigious Wigmore Hall, Angela comes to Drogheda to perform a programme of divinely-inspired keyboard fantasies, inventions and sinfonias on the beautiful Steinway piano in St Peter's Church of Ireland on Thursday September 22. The Series is presented in partnership with Droichead Arts Centre and funded by the Arts Council and Create Louth. All concerts begin at 7:30pm and take place in St Peter's Church of Ireland. Tickets are 18 / 16 conc. / 5 children & students. A season ticket can be purchased for just 100. Booking through Droichead Arts Centre on 041 9833946 or www.droichead.com . Pre-concert talk with Angela Hewitt at 7pm in the church. Fri 21 Oct 2016, 7:30pm Chamber Choir Ireland with the Chatham Saxophone Quartet An unforgettable concert bringing two stellar ensembles together to present a selection of hauntingly beautiful music from all ages in the stunning backdrop of St Peter's Church of Ireland Fri 25 Nov 2016, 7:30pm Opera Gala including baritone Gavan Ring In what is now our annual opera night, this is a chance to hear some of Ireland's finest opera stars including Gavan Ring (baritone) and Owen Gilhooly (tenor) come together to sing a variety of arias and duets from the most-loved and best-known operas. Fri 27 & Sat 28 Jan 2017 Barry Douglas and Camerata Ireland Following their sell-out performance in 2014, pianist Barry Douglas and his orchestra Camerata Ireland will return in late January (27th & 28th) for a mini-Festival within the Series to perform an evening of Mozart as well as a chamber recital by Barry Douglas. Fri 17 Feb 2017, 7:30pm Vanbrugh Quartet with Bill Butt (cello) For over 30 years, the Vanbrugh Quartet have been the key to the rise and development of string quartet playing in Ireland. This will be their last ever tour and so we're pleased that they have agreed to return to Drogheda to play some of their favourite works, including Schubert's sublime String Quintet with guest cellist, Bill Butt. Fri 10 Mar 2017, 7:30pm Peter Donohoe (piano) The Series will close on with another titan of the piano. British pianist Peter Donohoe is a firm favourite with audiences around the world and will play a packed programme of Ravel, Chopin, Mozart and Schubert. The small fishing village of Annagassan will host its fifth annual Taste of Togher Food Festival (www.tasteoftogher.com) on Saturday 24th September from 12pm. Admission is free and there is a wide range of local products and produce to try, from cheese and honey to jam, cupcakes and more. Locally produced drinks to sample include cider, beer and mead! Dermot Seberry, lecturer of culinary arts and gastronomy, a food writer, a former International 5 Star Chef and director of Food Tours.ie will stage a cookery demonstration. The 'Star Biz for 2016' is the renowned Dunany Flour http://www.dunanyflour.com/ and there will be a presentation on bread making from Leone on making perfect organic bread. This year the festival will include an outdoor activity area run by Celtic Adventures http://www.celticadventures.ie/ and a local craft fair. For more information visit the festival website: www.tasteoftogher.com. The Taste of Togher at Annagassan Village. The Irish Blood Transfusion Service would like to thank all 548 Donors who attended the clinic which took place recently in St Mary's Primary School, Crossroute, Bryanstown, Drogheda. A breakdown of the total figure shows that 84 first time donors and 45 former donors attended the clinic. A special thank you to St Mary's Primary School who facilitated the clinic and to Floorstyle who helped advertise the event in their display windows. The IBTS would also like to thank their local voluntary organiser Ann Marie Beirth and the Drogheda Red Cross Unit for their assistance on each clinic. Thank you to Rob and Emma Gilby for their support and Facebook presence and John Healy for the additional support he provided this visit. The Drogheda Chamber Business Awards 2016 were officially launched in the Highlanes Gallery with President Eddie Phelan, Deputy Mayor Pio Smith, sponsors, judges and local businesses in attendance. The awards are open to anyone in Business in Drogheda and the surrounding area and with 12 categories to choose from there is no excuse not to enter. Eddie thanked all the sponsors of the 2016 awards for their support of the Chamber and stated "The awards are an event which allows us to review and celebrate all that has been and is being achieved by the business community within Drogheda". This year's award categories cover a wide range of business areas and sectors. There are some new and exciting categories in particular Manufacturing & Industry Excellence Award sponsored by Hanley Energy, the Corporate Social Responsibility Award sponsored by IFS a State Street Company. Other categories include Best Micro or Start-Up Business sponsored by Local Enterprise Office Louth, SME of the Year sponsored by AIB, Hospitality Excellence sponsored by Diageo, Best Customer Service Award sponsored by Irish Cement, Professional Services Excellence Award, Empowering Women in Business & in the Community sponsored by Coca-Cola International Services, Hair Health Beauty & Fashion sponsored by the Chamber and the Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by Glanbia. Grand Designs Kitchens & Bedrooms are sponsors of our Red Carpet Arrival. As part of the evening, the awards Premier sponsor - Indaver [The Environmental Awareness Award) represented by Aidan Kennedy, stated that they are delighted to be part of the awards again this year and excited to announce they will be sponsoring this category. Padraig Warren, chairperson of the Judging Panel, was also on hand to outline what the Judges will be looking for. Padraig will be presenting a 'judges workshop' on the 22nd September at 10 am in Drogheda Chamber offices on the Dublin road and all interested entrants are welcome to attend. Contact the Chamber office to register. To enter the awards couldn't be easier - just download an application form from the website www.droghedachamber.com or e-mail enquiries@droghedachamber.com and remember, it's free to enter. There is definitely something for every company to enter this year and with many enquiries already flooding into the Chamber Office the competition this year is sure to be exciting! The closing date for entries is the Wednesday 12 October 2016. A man fills a water tank for a cow at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 6, 2014, in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo : Getty Images) American beef producers may soon get access to China for the first time in 13 years following the Chinese government's decision to lift the ban on U.S. beef on Thursday. China shut its market to American beef after an outbreak of mad-cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, was discovered in the U.S. in late 2003. But under the new regulations by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture, American beef imports for cattle under 30 months of age will be accepted, according to a CNBC report on Friday. Advertisement "I welcome the announcement from China's Ministry of Agriculture that it has lifted its ban on U.S. beef following a recently concluded review of the U.S. supply system," U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. "This announcement is a critical first step to restore market access for U.S. beef and beef products," Vilsack added. "We look forward to prompt engagement by the relevant authorities for further technical discussions on the specific conditions that will allow trade to resume." It is still not clear how American cattle traders will contend with China's quarantine requirements, but the news is welcomed by an industry that increasingly relies on global demand and a declining taste for beef at home. "The United States produces the highest-quality beef in the world," Vilsack said. "And China's 1.3 billion consumers are an important market for U.S. producers." The USDA forecasts China will overtake Japan as the second-largest beef importer after the U.S., with imports estimated to reach 825,000 by the end of 2016. The agency said rapidly rising demand for beef has been driven by middle-class growth and has made Chinese beef market the fastest-growing in the world. "This is great news for U.S. beef producers," said Kent Bacus, director of international trade for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. "While these initial reports are positive, we must continue technical negotiations and undergo the process of formally approving export certificates." Overall, U.S. exports an estimated 14 percent of its total beef supplies. In 2015, U.S. beef exports reached a total of $5.8 billion to 122 countries. The U.S. is also facing competition from Australia in selling beef to Japan and Korea, although more expensive Australian beef is expected to slow demand from that country next year and result in gains for American producers. Australia's beef prices have soared following to a reduction in the herd there due to severe drought conditions. Louth County Council has been asked to immediately intervene to address a health and safety issue which has arisen on Donore Road as a direct consequence of a fire which destroyed an abandoned building at Cherrymount directly facing the bus station. "In short I have requested council to instruct the owners of the property to have the building demolished and the site cleared. This is not the first time the building has been set on fire. The building has also been the subject of numerous incidents of anti social behaviour. I believe that having witnessed so many incidents involving this building it is necessary to take the action which I have requested,' aid Cllr Paul Bell. "In response to my request council engineers have assessed the structure as there are genuine concerns that the building may collapse. At present the front of the building has been fenced off to protect pedestrians. 'Unfortunately this specific action is leading to an additional hazard as pedestrians are forced to step off the footpath and walk along the road. This situation is unsatisfactory and in my opinion dangerous as Donore Road and in particular the bus station area is extremely busy with traffic movement. 'I have personally witnessed near misses as school children and senior citizens are stepping off the path to cross the road. I expect Council to issue an engineers report in the days ahead" Bell concluded. It's a double celebration for Moorehall Lodge this week as staff members in both Drogheda and Ardee have been named as finalists in the Nursing Homes Ireland Care Awards 2016. In a first national nomination for Moorehall Lodge Drogheda, Director of Care Caroline Day is named among the three contenders for the NHI Director of Nursing/Person in Charge Award. And Moorehall Lodge Ardee's former national Carer of the Year winner Chrissie Barron has been shortlisted for a second time - this year in the NHI Nursing Homes End of Life Care Award. Caroline and Chrissie will now go forward to the prestigious national awards ceremony, which will be held in Dublin on Wednesday November 16. Over 300 nominations were put forward from people in communities across Ireland for the NHI Care Awards' ten award categories. NHI represents over 400 nursing homes throughout Ireland, and the fact that just 28 people have been shortlisted for the finals shows the scale of Moorehall Living's achievement. This follows on from 2015 when Moorehall Lodge Ardee's Carol McLoughlin, Michelle Watters and Breege Conlon all took top honours at the prestigious national awards. "We are thrilled to reach the final three in these categories - they are a great reflection on the unique care that all the staff at Moorehall Lodge give," said Caroline, on behalf of the shortlisted finalists from the Moorehall Living Group. "We are all very passionate about our work and are very proud of the unique and warm care environment we have created where people really flourish." Moorehall Living Chief Executive Sean McCoy was delighted with the news of the double nomination. "This recognition on a national stage means so much to Caroline, Chrissie and all of us at Moorehall Lodge. "We are proud that both our residents and staff think of Moorehall Lodge as home, and our whole team are embodiments of that ethos." A man who was caught with seven deals of cannabis herb and a 'tick list' in his bedroom has avoided a prison sentence after he was deemed suitable for community service work. Brian Mooney (26), who has three previous unlawful possession of drugs under Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, has been ordered to complete 240 hours community service work in lieu of a 12 month prison sentence. Mooney also had a weighing scales in his bedroom when it was searched by gardai, Drogheda District Court heard. Mooney, of Trinity Street in Drogheda pleaded guilty to being in unlawful possession of 125 worth of cannabis herb, the 'tick list' and a weighing scales at his home on February 3rd, 2015. He further pleaded guilty to being in unlawful possession of the drugs for sale or supply on the same date. The prosecuting garda agreed with Mooney's solicitor, Paddy Goodwin, that the defendant co-operated on the day of the search. Mr Goodwin said the Probation Report on Mooney was a 'good report,' and Judge Flann Brennan handed down the community service order. An area north of Drogheda and including Ardee, Stabannon, Tallanstown and Dromin are set to become wind farm 'hotspots' in the future, but one local community has already launched a campaign to fight the giant turbines in their area. A packed hall in Ballapousta saw the community from Ardee, Collon, Lobinstown, Ballapousta, Smarmore, Drakestown, Rathlust and Kilpatrick come together due to concerns over the proposals for five turbines to be erected in the area. The meeting was told they'll stretch to 126m in height. 'It was very vocal but the mood is that the community does not want the development,' Cllr Dolores Minogue, Cathaoirleach of the Ardee Municipal District stated. 'People had real concerns about sunlight and the impact of 'flicking', noise and health implications.' The proposed development is right on the Louth/Meath border and Meath Councillor Paddy Meade and his associate, engineer John Callaghan, outlined the long term future of wind farms in Louth, stating that the county was ideal for development. "If the government is serious about meeting their environmental targets through wind power, they will require roughly 20,000 industrial wind turbines to be erected, with 10,000 of these roughly in the Dublin surrounds. Much of the Wicklow Mountains, Cooley Mountains and county Meath in sight of Newgrange have been ruled out but Mid Louth, from just north of Drogheda as well as the North Meath Area have become the ideal focus area now.' The Louth County Development Plan 2015-2021 reveals that the majority of the county is ripe for wind power and the Drogheda area, from Termonfeckin across to Slane and on to the Meath border can be considered. 'I would suggest that the communities in Louth sit down and consider in depth their view on the future of their county, for be it positive or negative there is no doubt that plans for Ballapousta added to the ones on the way for Tallanstown, Stabannon, Dromin as well as Lobinstown (Meath) will add up to a dramatic change to the landscape, economy and future prosperity in these areas. 'The people of Louth have to decide if they are happy for Mid-Louth to become a dumping ground for the government's wind farm policy.' He says communities must find out as much as they can on wind power and get involved in the planning process. A major public meeting takes place in the Hunterstown Inn on Tuesday, September 27 at 7.30pm in relation to the latest proposals in that area. All are welcome. Gardai are investigating following a spate of burglaries and attempted break ins at business premises in the centre of town on Sunday night. Four premises were targeted in West Street and Shop Street, including the offices of the Drogheda Independent, Hallmark card shop, Paddy Dwyers shoe shop and Victor Dwyers shoe shop. A substantial amount of damage was caused to the Hallmark store on West Street as the culprits forced their way into the premises, however nothing was reported as being taken from the shop. Damage was also done to Paddy Dwyers store on Shop Street as those responsible broke into the building and took an amount of property from the shop. A velux window and a patio door were damaged at the Drogheda Independent premises, however no entry was gained after the alarm sounded and security personnel quickly attended the scene. At Victor Dwyers, attempts were also made to gain entry to the building but these were unsuccessful. Criminal damage was caused to a window at the shop. Anyone with any information on these incidents, which took place between Sunday night and the early hours of Monday morning, are asked to contact Drogheda Garda Station on (041) 9874200. Meanwhile, gardai are also investigating the circumstances surrounding a single vehicle accident at Termonfeckin last Friday night which caused the death of a 20-year-old local man. The fatality occurred after the vehicle left the road and ended up in a nearby field at Cartown, Termonfeckin. Witnesses are asked to contact Drogheda Garda Station. The tolls entering Drogheda from the M1 won't be suspended for the duration of the water mains works on the North Quay. The Drogheda Municipal Council had written to the Celtic Roads Group (Dundalk) Limited, asking for the tolls to end, temporarily, to assist with traffic flow. 'Whilst we understand and appreciate the reasons for making the request, unfortunately we do not have latitude on the toll and are unable to accede to your request. 'We wish Louth Co Co and Irish Water every success in this necessary project for the town of Drogheda. We are happy to apprise you of any noticeable changes in road user patterns at the ramp plazas that may result from these programmed works,' they stated. The tragic death of a young Termonfeckin man has left a community numb and a wider circle of friends mourning a cherished friend. Last Friday night, shortly after 10.30pm, Jack Matthews (20) was just yards from his home when he died in a car crash close to a railway bridge, spanning the main Dublin to Belfast line. A second person in the vehicle was removed to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The stories and words expressed in relation to Jack Matthews paints a picture of a fine young man, a GAA player, a great horseman too, but ultimately a friend to everyone, who'd do a good turn at the drop of a hat. He was a loveable and funny character and worked as an electrician at Premier Periclase in Drogheda. 'The car scene and everyone that knew you has lost an absolute gentleman,' one person wrote on social media at the weekend. ' You just don't know when the big man needs one of his soldiers back. R.I.P. bud. You will be sorrowfully missed.' Another friend wrote of an incident last year when a car broke down on New Year's Day and he drove out to Baltray beach to help tow the vehicle. He then dropped the passengers home, 'out of pure goodness,' they wrote. 'Jack Matthews was an absolute ledgend... A lovely lad from the inside out.. Besides always being great craic and on top form he would go out of his way to help you when you were stuck..' He had been planning to go out to Dolly Mitchels at the weekend to celebrate a joint 21st for two of his pals. 'He will be sorely missed in this world and I feel so sorry for all of his friends in Drogheda and around it as well as all the Rossin boys who he was best friends with. 'He was an absolute gentleman . Always a smile , always friendly. He has a massive circle of good friends from Clogherhead to Tullyallen. He always made sure he got his friends home safe and he was always last to get home for this reason. I can't state how heartbroken I am to know I won't see this friendly guy again. Young Jack ... you are the legend ! Another concluded 'live life to the full like Jack would have and have no regrets at all...' The Louth Hunt Pony Club also recalled their former member. 'All our thoughts are with the Matthews family during a very difficult time....Jack was a former member of the Louth pony club and a brave little jockey. Him and His family are an important part of our pony club and we are sending them all our love throughout this time. We will remember Jack as a brave fun loving young man.' He lived at Carstown and was the beloved eldest son of John and Fiona and loving brother to Jane and Dylan. His funeral is to the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Termonfeckin this Friday at 10.30pm. Balbriggan councillors are backing a bid from Bremore Scouts to find a new permanent scout den for the group. The council has agreed to meet with the scouts to talk about their requirements, following a request from Cllr Malachy Quinn (SF). Cllr Quinn said the scouting movement had contributed a lot to Fingal and the council should 'go as far as we can' to facilitate Bremore Scouts in finding a home. Cllr Tony Murphy (IA) backed the call and said the group was limited in how many members it could take on because it does not have a scout den. He said the group had a waiting list of around 200 children. Paul Smyth, senior executive officer at the c ouncil said that officials would be happy to meet the group. More than 150 junior certificate students at Skerries Community College ripped open the envelopes that contained their results last Wednesday and most went away happy after what the principal described as a year of 'exceptional results'. School principal, Caroline Clarke congratulated all of the students who took on the exam and did their best and said that among them there were a number of 'very, very high achievers' with several students scoring eight A grades or better. 'Students generally exceeded expectations and there was a great sense of celebrations around the school on results day,' Ms Clarke told the Fingal Independent. The school saw particularly good results in history, metalwork, art and maths, according to the school principal and students exceeded the national average in most subjects at the Skerries school. Some 156 students in total took the exam and they were all congratulated by their proud principal who also thanked the teachers at the school. She said: 'Great credit goes to all the teachers - their commitment and hard work was exceptional.' Rest in pieces (Photo : USAF) Attempts by ISIL fighters trapped in the Iraqi desert city of Mosul to shuffle men and supplies between the two halves of the city bisected by the Tigris River has led to a record number of ISIL-operated boats of the ragtag ISIL "navy" being sunk by American and allied aircraft. Advertisement Unable to use roads heavily reconnoitered by aerial drones, ISIL or Daesh fighters have taken to the water with apparently little success. The allied coalition reported a huge spike in sinkings along the river as ISIL desperately tries to build its defenses against the upcoming ground attack on Mosul. The U.S. military is planning an offensive against Mosul, a Sunni city, in stages. In early October, the Iraqi Army and its militia allies will retake northern Nineveh province from ISIL with the final battle in Mosul at month-end. Experts believe the rising number of aerial attacks supports the upcoming effort by the U.S. and Iraq to retake Mosul. The allies sank 50 assorted boats on September 14 and 16, and the total number of ISIL boats sunk in September to more than 100. Those strikes occurred near the towns of Qayyara and Sultan Abdallah that lie along the Tigris River south of Mosul. The boats are forcibly taken by ISIL from the fishermen that own them and pressed into ISIL service. One military analyst said ISIL is going to try and move fighters up and down the river when it defends Mosul. The stepped-up allied campaign to destroy any boat plying the Tigris seeks to prevent ISIL from using the river to deploy its forces. Since it runs directly through Mosul, the Tigris is a convenient "road" that facilitates the deployment of troops and supplies. The massing of U.S., Iraqi and militia forces for the attack on Mosul continues. This September, the number of US troops in Iraq rose from 4,000 to 4,460 in preparation for the campaign against Mosul. Mosul had a population of two million in its metropolitan area before ISIL seized the city in June 2014. Mosul is probably defended by 4,000 ISIL fighters, who are turning the city into a killing zone packed with IEDs and booby traps. The performance of Loreto Balbriggan girls in this year's Junior Certificate has been described as 'really exceptional' by the school's new principals who said the entire school community was 'so proud' of the students' achievements. On the day that Junior Certificate results were handed over to anxious and excited students at the school, Loreto Balbriggan principal, Ann Marie McDonough told the Fingal Independent that this year's results at the school were 'fantastic' and 'really exceptional'. The performance in art really stood out this year, with a stagger 84% of students taking the exam in the school, scoring an A grade. The school principal added that a 'very high proportion of students' scored five As or better overall and there were five students with a staggering nine As and one B. But one student turned out to be top of the class, turning in a perfect performance in the exam and scoring an unbelievable, ten A grades. That prize student was one Kelsey Wilson from Loughshinny but the principal said the school community was not just proud of their high scorers but everyone who took on the exam and performed to their best. Ann Marie is newly installed in the job, taking over from Edward Fynes who steered the ship at the Loreto Balbriggan for many years. She paid tribute to her predecessor who she said had done tremendous work in his time at the school, not least in the three years of the junior cycle that these students have now completed. She also congratulated the schools teachers who she said give 'huge commitment and put tremendous energy into the students'. She said the school had a 'great culture of excellence and a culture of achievement but also had a great atmosphere' which was also helped by great support from parents and the wider school community.. The new school principal said that all the policies and structures to make a 'fantastic school' were already in place at Loreto Balbriggan and she was 'proud and privileged' to take the school on and develop it further into the future. Above all, she praised the students, saying: The girls work so hard and we are so proud of them, the whole school community are proud of them.' A mobile blood clinic will be visiting Skerries this week and new and former donors are urged to attend. It will be located in Skerries Community Centre on Thursday from 4.30pm to 8.30pm. #If you are fit and healthy, aged 18 to 65 (between 65 and 70 years if you have donated in the last 10 years), over 7st.12 lbs (50kg) and have not donated in the last 90 days, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service is urging you to make a special effort to come along. This week, approximately 1,000 Irish people will receive a blood transfusion. To meet this demand from our hospitals we need 3,000 donations of blood each and every week. For further details, please contact the lo-call Donor Information Line 1850 - 73 11 37 or or Catherine Hughes, Area Organiser at our Ardee Regional Office, 041 - 685 9994 or www.giveblood.ie. Traders in Portmarnock are reporting that trade is significantly down in the town since the controversial closure of a local bridge for essential repairs. The bridge has been closed for a week now and local traders are reporting their business is down by between 20% and 50%, since the works began but that local people are making a concerted effort to shop local. The latest information from the county council suggests there is some light at the end of the tunnel though and the bridge is expected to be open to traffic at the weekend. The Mace store at the Texaco filling station near Portmarnock roundabout has shaved an hour of its opening hours as a result of a 50% loss in trade. A spokesperson for the store told the Fingal Independent that after 7 O'Clock, the business is 'dead' and that throughout the day, the store has been hit badly by a loss in passing trade. Owner of the store, Philip Duffy took to social media last week and complained that the council had given the impression that Portmarnock was closed for business. A number of traders felt the same way and complained to the local authority who responded by erecting 'Business as Usual' signs around the village at the weekend. John Fahey of Smyth's Buthchers welcomed that move from the council as well as local efforts to encourage Portmarnock residents to do their shopping in the village. He said his business was down 20% over the last week but he 'thought it would be worse'. The local butcher said: 'There's been a Facebook campaign and the local councillor, Brian McDonagh has sent around leaflets encouraging people to shop local. The GAA club has been very good to us and spread the word that it's business as usual in the village and local people in Portmarnock have been making a real effort to do their bits and pieces locally.' However, the trader admitted that the closure had been 'extremely awkward' and said that the 'first day was an absolute disaster'. But he praised Fingal County Concil for being 'proactive' in tackling a number of the problems that emerged in the initial days of the closure. Cllr Brian McDonagh (Lab) said he is pushing to have at least one lane over the bridge open as soon as possible. That could happen this week which would give some relief to local traders and ease traffic congestion on the back roads to Portmarnock and Malahide. Cllr McDonagh said his team distributed 1,500 leaflets locally, offering advice on the closure and diversions as well as encouraging people to support their local traders. He said he hoped that one the main platform of the bridge was in, at least one lane could be opened while the repairs continue. Deputy Darragh O'Brien TD (FF) received an update on the works over the weekend from the council which reported that the works were progressing at 'a satisfactory rate' and bidding to ease concerns locally about access for emergency vehicles, saying that emergency services had got in and out of Portmarnock 'without incident'. Dublin Airport was delighted to welcome the launch of Aer Lingus' new direct transatlantic service to Newark, New Jersey, this month. Aer Lingus will operate its new daily service to Newark on a year-round basis. Dublin Airport Managing Director Vincent Harrison said the airport was delighted to welcome the second of Aer Lingus' three new transatlantic services this year, flying from the local airport. Mr Harrison said: 'We have been growing our transatlantic traffic strongly at Dublin Airport and passenger numbers have grown by 62% on these routes between 2010 and 2015. 'We look forward to welcoming Aer Lingus' new route to Hartford, Connecticut at the end of the month, providing further choice and flexibility for both business and leisure customers.' Dublin Airport currently has five airlines now flying over 280 times to and from 11 destinations in the US on a weekly basis, an average of 40 return flights daily. Dublin now ranks 5th among EU airports for route frequency to North America, only Heathrow, Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam are ahead of Dublin Airport. Declan Kearney, Director of Communications, Aer Lingus, said: 'We are delighted to commence our new direct service from Dublin to Newark, New Jersey. Together with our daily services to JFK from Dublin and Shannon, Aer Lingus now offers customers a choice of up to four flights to New York each day and by the end of this month, Aer Lingus will operate 28 daily services across the Atlantic. 'While we continue to connect Ireland to the world, we now play an increasing role in connecting Europe to North America and aim to be the number one value carrier across the North Atlantic. On today's inaugural to Newark, more than half our guests began their journey outside of Ireland, starting out from UK cities such as Newcastle, Edinburgh, London as well as European cities like Brussels, Paris, Dubrovnik, to name but a few.' Passengers travelling on Aer Lingus' new service to Newark will use US pre clearance facilities at Dublin meaning passengers save time on arrival in the US by completing all the necessary immigration and customs checks prior to departure. The only queue a pre-cleared passenger encounters on arrival in the US is the taxi queue to their final destination. US pre-cleared passengers can also avail of new lounge known as 51st & Green. Here passengers can relax and enjoy spectacular views of the airfield which is located close to the threshold of runways 28 and 34. Overall passenger numbers at Dublin Airport increased by 13% to just over 13 million during the first six months of the year. The airport welcomed over 1.5 million extra passengers during the first half of 2016. Dublin Airport has direct flights to over 180 destinations in 40 countries on four continents. The Newark route is just one of many new routes announced this year for Dublin Airport. Councillors have approved, by an overwhelming majority, plans for 25 new rapid build or modular homes on a site adjacent to Pinewood Estate in Balbriggan. The plans have caused considerable controversy locally, leading to hundreds of objections from residents in the area who were primarily concerned with the impact on what they believe is an already inadequate road infrastructure servicing the estate There is only one way in and one way out of Pinewood estate and residents were arguing that with the new houses, should come a new access point. They argued that the haul road that will be constructed to facilitate the building of the new homes should become a permanent access to the site and reduce the impact on the existing entrance to the estate which is under pressure. However, the council has not given in on the point and in its report on the public consultation over the project, county planners argue that the new houses would not add significantly any road safety risks in the area. The council did concede a number of other points that were raised as concerns in the public consultation process, removing time limits on the tenancy of the new homes and removing a proposed community building that some locals believed could become a source of antisocial behaviour. The proposal has changed considerably since the development was first mooted. In the face of overwhelming opposition to the original proposal to bring 40 homes to the site, the council backed down and reduced the number of homes to 24 plus a 'community rooms' building. That community building has now been replace with another home - bringing the number of social housing units proposed on the site to 25. In a long debate on the issue, local councillors from the Balbriggan area and beyond raised the thorny issue of access again and again, which was ultimately addressed in a separate motion backed by all the Balbriggan councillors and proposed by Cllr Malachy Quinn, calling for an alternative access to Pinewood to be completed before any further development was allowed in the area, beyond these 25 homes. That motion was ultimately passed and while it should guarantee the delivery of alternative access in the estate before any future developments there, it means the residents will not get that new access in time for the delivery of these 25 units. Against the background of the housing crisis, Cllr Malachy Quinn, who proposed that motion, eventually voted in favour of the proposal for the 25 homes but two other Balbriggan councillors, Cllr Tony Murphy (IA) and Cllr Grainne Maguire (NP) voted against the project. They backed Cllr Quinn's motion on providing better access to the area in the future. Ultimately, the project passed the council by a margin of 30 votes to 3. Council chief executive, Paul Reid said that supporting the development was important to send the message out that the council was ready to spend the resources it was allocated to providing housing. The Fingal County Development Plan is arguably the most important document the county council prepares as it sets the framework for the development of Fingal over the next six years and at the end of this month, the plan reaches a crucial stage. Over the next number of weeks the plan that will shape Fingal over the next six years will reach a critical juncture, following a public consultation period that saw almost 900 people have their say. A series of council meetings are now planned in the next phase of the plan's development that will see councillors attempt to apply their influence and submit motions on changes they would like to see to the plan. The Director of Planning and Strategic Infrastructure at Fingal County Council, Annmarie Farrelly told the Fingal Independent about the priorities for the new plan, saying: 'I suppose, we will continue with our objective to make Swords and Blanchardstown the main growth areas and our key urban centres. We have other more moderate growth towns throughout the county like Donabate, Balbriggan, Malahide and all of those areas. 'The main urban centres will be Swords and Blanchardstown and then allowing some moderate growth in the other towns as well. 'We want to protect our villages and our rural area but recognise there is a demand for housing in those areas and try to meet, through our Rural Housing Policy, the need for local people to live in their local area in a sustainable way.' Asked how this new six-year plan will differ from the one currently in force, Ms Farrelly said: 'This plan has been very much about consolidation. There are 1.600 hectares of zoned land in the county as we speak so the need for additional zonings is limited and again, the zonings need to be in the right place. 'So, we have taken a short, medium and long-term view as to where the zonings should be and the proposed additional zoning is concentrated in Lissenhall in Swords, recognising the plans for Metro North and the fact that the regional planning guidelines would envisage that Swords and Blanchardstown would reach populations of 100,000 in the long-term. So, that's where we see as the key development areas. 'In terms of what's changed or what's important in this plan, obviously it is all about housing and ensuring that housing can be delivered quickly and efficiently, and at a reasonable cost. That doesn't necessarily equate to the need to zone more lands - we have adequate lands zoned in the county.' So this plan will focus, not so much on providing additional zoning for housing but on ways to activate construction on the vast areas of land in Fingal already zoned for residential development and removing any barriers that may be blocking construction on those sites. Ms Farrelly explained: 'It is about activating those lands and this department is planning and strategic infrastructure so there is an onus on us to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is delivered to the lands that need it, as quickly as possible. 'There is also an onus on us to ensure that the lands that are zoned are lands that are located in a place that can benefit from existing infrastructure like schools, roads, water and drainage. 'Where there's an alignment of infrastructure already in place and perhaps, there might be one thing missing, such as a road, that's the place where we try to focus on overcoming that one issue and delivering that piece of infrastructure.' Asked for an example of a specific piece of infrastructure that could be delivered to speed housing development, the planning director said: 'I think the Donabate Distributor Road, the proposal for that is a key piece of infrastructure that needs to be delivered in Fingal over the next couple of years. That will open up the lands in Donabate for housing but it will also ensure that there is an alternative access to Donabate and Portrane which is an issue that obviously came up in the discussions around the development of the National Forensic Mental Hospital.' One area where new housing is proposed is at Lissenhall and that depends very much on the delivery of the new Metro North proposal but Ms Farrelly believes the projects can be delivered alongside each other. She said: 'For Swords, it is about Metro but we do have a continuing review of the road infrastructure requirements in Swords such as the Western Distributor Road but it is also very much about Metro North and we are very keen to see New Metro North delivered quickly. The envisaged operation date presently is 2026 but we will be working with Transport Infrastructure Ireland to make sure that date is at least met or brought forward, if at all possible. There is a role for the local authority in the design of New Metro North so our engineers are working with Transport Infrastructure Ireland to make sure we benefit from the work already done on Metro North but also that any changes are incorporated to suit the area.' She added: 'This plan goes up to 2023 and you are talking about construction being on site for Metro North at that stage so it's important that we plan for it opening in 2026. We need to have planned how Lissenhall will develop during the currency of this plan and see building commencing either toward the end of this plan or immediately after.' In Balbriggan, the focus is on industrial, economic and community development, in the new county development plan. Ms Farrelly explained: 'Balbriggan has adequate (residential) zoned land proposed presently so there's no change proposed in this current draft plan. There is zoned land there for about a further 4,000 units that could be accommodated on that land. So, you may see that developing out during this plan period. 'Again, we would like to consolidate the development that has already happened and ensure that there is further investment in community infrastructure there. We would like to see Bremore Regional Park developing out during the next plan period and we would also like to focus on economic development in Balbriggan and ensure that some of the industrially zoned land in the area will come to fruition during the plan period. So, it's about housing but also in terms of Balbriggan, which grew quite a lot in the last decade, it's important that other aspects like community infrastructure and economic development receive priority.' The county is in the teeth of a housing crisis but its planning director says she is satisfied there is enough land zoned in the county to satisfy the demand. She said: 'There is absolutely enough zoned land. The zoned land in the plan equated to about 1,600 hectares and that equates to 49,000 units and that's right across the county. Fingal has been the leader in the delivery of housing in the Dublin region. We delivered about 1,200 units, last year - that's completions. We are on target to deliver at least 1,500 units this year. We would like to see more than 3,000 units completed each year, going forward, to meet the demand. And again, that's about ensuring that the barriers to housing are removed.' That would equate to around 18,000 units over the lifetime of the plan but for that to happen, the number of planning applications will have to rise significantly and the planning director believes there is some indication that is starting to happen. Ms Farrelly added: ' There are signs, absolute signs of recovery and some larger developments are being proposed.' Ms Farrelly is well placed to understand the housing needs of the county as a former housing director for the county and she says the development plan is crucial in delivering that much-needed housing. She said: 'I'm very conscious that the development plan sets the framework for the delivery of housing and economic development in the county. So, that's where it starts and you must get the county development plan right to ensure that all types of housing is delivered - that's the starting point.' She concluded: 'The development plan must be right and from that, will lead housing - both public and private housing.' A young man who racked up four no insurance charges and brought gardai on a high speed chase through the town of Balbriggan has been given a ten year driving ban and a five month suspended sentence. Gareth Lokko (25) drove through a number of estates at high speed at 8.45am on a Sunday morning before overtaking a vehicle stalled at a junction and drove blindly onto oncoming traffic on the R132. Garda Colum McElligott told Swords District Court Lokko drove at high speed over a number of speed ramps and drove at speed down a narrow road at Hamlet Avenue before he mounted a footpath in New Haven estate. Lokko then drove through an area where two bollards were in place and abandoned the car before fleeing on foot. Gda McElligott said the patrol car could not fit through the area where the bollards were but arrested him a short time later. Lokko, of Dun Saithne View in Balbriggan pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Hamlet Lane in the town on January 31st. He further pleaded guilty to driving without insurance on the same date. Lokko also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance on the R127 in Balbriggan on September 24th last year. He has 19 previous convictions including two for driving without insurance. Defence solicitor Fiona D'Arcy said Lokko admits he 'behaved very badly.' 'He assures the court he won't do anything like this again and knows he is facing a lengthy disqualification,' said Ms D'Arcy. She said the father-of-one, who used to work as a mechanic, has always had an interest in cars. 'He doesn't have a car anymore and to his credit he hasn't come to garda attention since,' she said. Judge John Coughlan disqualified Lokko for ten years and imposed a five month sentence which he suspended for two years for the offence of dangerous driving. He fined him 25 and took the two charges of driving without insurance into consideration. 'You are in a situation where you are disqualified from driving for ten years,' Judge Coughlan told Lokko, warning him that if he even 'spits on the footpath in the next two years you will serve the five months.' Success was dished out to a group of Wexford producers who took home awards at this year's Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards 2016. Wexford wins were seen in all sectors, particularly the Christmas categories. Killowen Farm won the award in the Christmas Q-Chilled Sweet category for their Seasonally Spiced Cranberry and Orange Yoghurt produced for Dunnes Stores, and were also commended for their Dunnes Stores Simply Better Farmhouse Irish Whiskey Cream in the same category. Meanwhile, Zanna Cookhouse was commended in the Christmas Q - Chilled Savoury Section for their Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Irish Brie, Rocket and Cranberry Quiche. In the Christmas Q - Grocery Ambient category, Wexford Home Preserves were highly commended for their Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Cranberry Sauce. The company also got highly commended in the Free From - Sweet Category for their No Added Sugar Irish Raspberry Jam and commended for their Irish Blackcurrant Jam in the same category. The awards continued for the company in the Sweets, Spreads and Sauces category, in which they were highly commended for their Dunnes Stores branded Simply Better Handmade Passion Fruit and Mango Coulis. Naturally Cordial flew the flag for Wexford in the Cold Beverages - Soft Drinks Category, in which they were placed first for their Strawberry, Cucumber and Lime cordial. They were also highly commended for their Irish Wexford Blackcurrant Cordial which is produced for Dunnes Stores. Killowen Farm came out on top in the yoghurt category, coming first for their Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Lemon Curd Farmhouse Yogurt and highly commended for the SuperValu Signature Tastes Rhubarb Yogurt. The Kilmore Quay Haddock Goujons won Atlantis a highly commended award in the Fresh Fish Section. Meanwhile, New Ross company Ballyhack Smokehouse won in the Fish - Smoked category for their Smoked Irish Wild Salmon. There was another win for Zanna Cookhouse in the Quiche, Pies and Pasties section, in which they came first for their Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade West Cork Gubbeen Chorizo and Irish Potato Quiche and highly commended Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Irish Goat's Cheese and Caramelised Red Onion Quiche. The results of the fourth Irish Quality Food and Drinks Awards were revealed at a ceremony in Dublin's Mansion House recently. Organised by Metropolis Business Media, group publisher Helen Lyons commented: 'The Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards have become a major part of the Irish food calendar. Once again we received a huge number of entries, and spent four weeks testing and judging the most delicious products. We had another wonderful night celebrating the success of our winners - huge congratulations to everyone.' Acclaimed author Dermot Bolger presented a nautical-themed evening in Gorey Library last week, as he discussed his latest book 'The Lonely Sea and Sky.' Bolger's father grew up in Wexford town, and the book tells the story of the courage of Wexford seafarers on the MV Kerlogue in the real-life rescue of 158 German sailors from a sinking war ship in the Bay of Biscay during World War II. He read two excerpts from the book on the evening. 'It's a good story,' said librarian Hazel Percival. 'It's a must-read for anybody interested in the early days of the Irish navy, and sailing in and out of Wexford harbour. He's a good storyteller.' The names of the crew on the MV Kerlogue were read out on the evening, as were the names of those lost on the Brig Ullswater which hit rocks off Ballymoney in 1868. The talk in the library coincided with a reception for descendants of the Ullswater who were in town for a memorial unveiling in Ballymoney near the site of the disaster the following day. A man emerges from a post office where a Postal Savings Bank of China branch offers remittance service. (Photo : Getty Images) State-run Postal Savings Bank of China Co. made the world's biggest initial public offering (IPO) this year after it was able to raise $7.4 billion in its offering, the Wall Street Journal reported. Advertisement People privy to the matter said that the bank, which is the country's sixth-largest lender, agreed on Wednesday, Sept. 21, to sell its shares in its Hong Kong IPO for 4.76 Hong Kong dollars (61 U.S. cents) each, the biggest offer since Alibaba made its $25 billion offering two years ago. The report however, said that 80 percent of the amount raised came from a group of six large state-owned companies, which include a shipbuilder, a port operator and a power company, that bought the shares before the price was set. The bank's stock will be traded in Hong Kong starting on Sept. 28, the report said. It has become common practice on the Hong Kong exchange, especially for mainland Chinese companies, to gather "cornerstone" investors to establish the foundation for IPOs. This strategy is important especially for IPOs that are not popular for global investors but ensures success for others, such as Postal Savings Bank. But others like Joshua Crabb, head of Asian equities at London-based Old Mutual Global Investors, did not invest in the IPO. He said that Chinese banks are riddled with bad loans and Postal Savings Bank only has a smaller ratio of bad loans compared to the others. Since 1919, the country's post office has been offering saving deposit services and it was not until 2007 that Postal Savings Bank became a separate entity, becoming the youngest among state-owned commercial banks. The bank has nearly 40,000 branches, attached to post offices across the country, including the rural areas. Despite this, some investors are concerned about the bank's $37.2 billion of loans to China Railway Corp., its biggest borrower. "It could be a problem, because as the economy slows down, then railway construction will be affected . . . China's Big Four banks seem to have a more diversified business model," Andrew Xia, chief research officer at Chinese wealth-management firm Noah Holdings Ltd, said. Aside from that, the bank has a higher valuation than the larger local peers, which makes it difficult to attract global investors. The recent IPO has placed about $50 billion valuation on the bank. Last year, the company earned a net profit of abour $5.2 billion, an increase of 7 percent from the previous year. In Dec. 2015, about $7 billion of shares in Postal Savings Bank were bought at a cheaper valuation of roughly $41 billion by high-profile backers such as J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and UBS Group AG. Postal Savings has also formed strategic alliance with technology companies such as Ant Financial Services Group, Alibaba's financial affiliate, and Tencent Holdings Ltd. In a bid to modernize its business and bring it closer to the standards of global peers. Its cornerstone backers included electricity giant State Grid Corp. and China Shipbuilding Industry Corp., which took $5.7 billion-worth of combined shares of the offering. The IPO is part of the government's efforts improve the banking industry as well as advance the country's corporate reform agenda. Writing a deadly debut with best selling authors Sam Blake and Catherine Ryan Howard at Gorey Library were Elaine Banfield and Tricia Holbrook There was a murderous atmosphere in Gorey Library as 35 crime writers and crime fiction fans gathered for 'Sam Blake's Deadly Reads: Writing a Deadly Debut.' The evening was hosted by best-selling authors Sam Blake and Catherine Ryan Howard who talked to the book lovers about all things related to crime fiction: plot, character, and the inspiration behind their latest releases. Among the topics covered were: what makes a best-seller; and how to write that killer twist. Librarian Hazel Percival said that it was an interesting and enjoyable evening. She said that they also read extracts from their books, and engaged in a question and answer session afterwards. 'They showed how real life could be used as the spark for a novel,' she said. 'They were also asked about how to get published. It was a different kind of night. It was more hands-on, and practical. Anyone interested in the crime genre went away with a better understanding and what to watch out for, both as a reader and as a writer.' Sam Blake is a pseudonym for Vanessa Fox O'Loughlin. Her debut novel, 'Little Bones,' spent eight weeks in the Irish top 10, with four weeks in the number one slot. It introduces the feisty young detective Cat Connolly, in the first of a thriller trilogy. Catherine Ryan Howard was born in Cork. Her debut thriller, 'Distress Signals', was published in May. It centres on the disappearance of a young Cork woman and her boyfriend's search for answers. The sight of combines of varying age, working side by side harvesting barley, was something to behold at the recent Carnew Heritage Working Day. A large crowd gathered to watch the magnificent machines at work, and then their attention was drawn to Paddy Denby's venerable engine from Boolavogue, working the threshing wheel. There was also a fine display of vintage ploughing, and some nostalgic horse ploughing. Conditions were fine which helped attract strong crowds for the day which also featured a display of 4x4 vehicles, and a falconry display. For anyone who worked up a hunger, the Hillbillys cooked up some tasty colcannon and brown bread. Carnew Heritage Club president Leslie Roberts, who officially opened the event, paid tribute to all involved in organising the event and setting up beforehand. Thanks went to the landowners, all who brought machinery, the tea tent ladies, and all who attended. Thanks also went to those who supported the enjoyable barn dance the night before. With 48 events sprinkled around Kerry last Friday, 2016's Culture Night was the most extensive yet, and Kerry County Council Arts Officer Kate Kennelly said it was also the most diverse and successful edition to date. Venues ranging from Dingle's intimate An Lab to the open settings of Tralee's Square and the grounds of Killarney House played host to blends of music, dance, film, visual arts, and plenty more, Ms Kennelly explained. "Culture Night has been up and running since 2007, when it debuted in Dublin with a series of free events to spark people's interests in the arts," she said. "It made its way to Kerry two years later - you might remember it actually because it featured a noble attempt at a Guinness World Record in Tralee for most Irish Dancers in one place! In 2010, it was expanded to include other parts of the county, and this year happenings could be found in just about every part of Kerry. Ms Kennelly was particularly impressed with the variety of events, and the willingness of people from elsewhere to share their culture with the people of Kerry. "I was at one of the events in Siamsa Tire, and you had people from all over the world both participating and viewing," Kate said. "It was terrific to see, because I believe it's important that all cultures are shared and embraced." "The diversity of events was equally refreshing. Sliabh Luachra celebrated its unique musical tradition, Waterville's Tech Amergin saw people delving into the history of communications, and Irish was central to festivities in our Gaeltachtai. "Each region has its own culture, and that point was displayed boldly on Culture Night." With interest strengthening with every passing year, Ms Kennelly says that squeezing all of Culture Night's contents into one night is proving increasingly challenging, and feels a lengthening of its duration is something that could be considered: "There's so much on, everyone wants to get involved and get to the events, so having it over more than one night is something that might need to be looked at. I'm hugely thankful to all our participants, as well as the people who came to cheer them on. Without them, there would be no culture night!" Among the many highlights of Culture Night 2016 was a public appearance by Pauline Bewick, one of the most acclaimed artists in Ireland and a national ambassador of Culture Night, before a gathering at the Kerry County Council Killorglin Area Office. Pauline is best known for her watercolour paintings, some of which have been on long-term display in the very building she was speaking at. Inspired by everything from Irish myth to our landscape, they remain as thrilling as ever. The English-born artist has resided in the county for some time, and Sharon OKeeffe of Kerry County Councils Arts Office described it as an honour to have Pauline involved in proceedings. We were delighted to have an artist as renowned and experienced as Pauline appearing in front of the public speaking about her life and her art, Ms OKeeffe said. Pauline was previously approached to be a National Ambassador for the initiative, and she cer tainly lived up to that role for the events here in Kerry. It was a treat for everyone who attended, Ms OKeeffe added. It left her unable to work or even drive, through its debilitating effects on her motor function and the chronic pain it caused throughout her life. But Mairead Enright Kelliher never gave up in her lifelong battle with the condition and now, just three months after the kind of surgery that would once have been the preserve of science fiction, she's living life to the full. Dystonia is the rare neurological disorder the 36-year-old Lixnaw woman has struggled with since her earliest years, undergoing her first major surgery aged just five at a time when doctors had no real idea what was wrong with her. Deep-brain surgery at the UK's National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London in May has completely transformed her life, however. "I'm back at work and back behind the wheel as well," Mairead told The Kerryman this week while organising a major fund and awareness-raising 5km walk for Dystonia Ireland in her home village for Saturday coming, September 24. "They didn't realise what I had when I underwent surgery on my neck at the age of five to allow me to move it, which I had not been able to up til then," Mairead explained. "I was eventually diagnosed with it, but it took a long time. It's the third most common neurological movement disorder after Motor Neuron Disease and Parkinsons, which it can often be mistaken for." While there is a genetic variant for Dystonia, Mairead doesn't actually have it. As she says: "Dystonia can affect anyone at any age." Mairead has been in the expert care of neurologist Dr Helena Moore at University Hospital Kerry these past seven or eight years, referred to London in May for a procedure that once would have been unthinkable. "They basically implanted wires deep in my brain that are connected to a stimulator in my chest over which I have control. I can increase the stimulation whenever I need to," Mairead explained. That stimulation is key now to how Mairead manages the chronic pain she lived with for so long. Sending electrical impulses deep into her brain tissue, the stimulator is proving a lifeline. "It's like electrical shocks in your head but it's nothing compared to the chronic pain I used to experience. I've seen a 70 per cent improvement following London." Another crucial part of her treatment and recovery in the UK was the presence of her family, including husband Niall Enright and sister Anna Marie (pictured above) who is helping Mairead organise the forthcoming walk. "My family are just fantastic always. In fact they all came over to see me at the hospital in London." Mairead is now sharing her story in the hope of galvanising support for Dystonia Ireland. "As far as I know there are just three of us in Kerry who have it, but there are 3,000 nationwide. Unfortunately there is no cure for Dystonia, but in raising awareness and funds that's what we are working towards." Everyone in a position to walk on the morning of Saturday, September 24, is being urged to do so with the group setting out from The Dew Drop Inn at 1pm. The imposing cliffs of the Blasket Islands are blanketed in early morning cloud A stunning view of the crystal clear waters at Derrynane Harbour near Caherdaniel on the Ring of Kerry A rarely photographed angle of the historic Blasket Islands. All images courtesy of the Air Corps The Irish Air Corps have captured a variety of stunning images of the Kerry coastline. In recent months the Corps has been publishing a selection of the most beautiful images taken by its team of specialist photographers. Unsurprisingly given the spectacular nature of the Kerry coastline images from the skies above The Kingdom make up a considerable portion of the Air Corps aerial photography archive. This small selection of images, drawn from a vast collection of aerial snaps posted on Facebook, give a whole new perspective to the Air Corps beat. The Air Corps carries out approximately 5,500 missions a year, ranging from army and naval support to maritime patrols, search and rescues, air ambulances, surveys and more. On almost all of these missions photographers are carried on board for operational purposes. The majority of these photos were taken by members of 105 'Photographic and Airborne Imaging' Squadron while they were crew members on maritime patrol. The photographers are on board to capture images of unlawful activity - such as illegal fishing or drug shipments - but on occasion they are treated to some wonderful views of Ireland's landscape and cannot resist capturing the scenic pictures. To see more of the photos - of Kerry and elsewhere - readers can log on to the Air Corps' Facebook page. Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) are funding a four year Kerry County Council project to rid most major Kerry roads of Japanese Knotweed. It is also planned to make eradication of the invasive weed from any sites a condition of planning permission. On Monday councillors were briefed on the local authority's efforts to address the problem posed by Japanese Knotweed. The plant is one of 116 invasive species deemed a high risk to the environment by the Department of The Environment. Japanese Knotweed - introduced to Ireland in the 19th century as an ornamental plant - is primarily a concern because it is capable of getting through cracks in foundations and walls, potentially causing serious damage to properties. Its presence can also have serious implications for the potential sellers and buyers of houses. Following the success of a pilot spraying scheme in Kells in 2014 the council rolled out a more extensive spraying programme across the county. Last year TII funded treatment works to get rid of the weed on the N21,N22, N69, N70, N71 and N86 and this funding is to be continued until 2018. In addition to a countywide advertising campaign - using roadside signage to alert the public to the plant - briefing information on Japanese Knotweed has been sent to over 6,000 landowners in the county. As a result of the campaign the council say they are getting around four calls a week alerting them to the presence of Knotweed in various areas. Cllr Michael Cahill - who called for the council to "declare war" on Knotweed - tabled a motion suggesting that an Invasive Weed Survey be made a condition of planning permission as is the case in the UK, France and Germany. He said such surveys typically cost around 300. Kerry graduates pictured at their ESB induction this week in the National Concert Hall: (L to R) Peter Murphy (Rathmore), Sinclair Dowey (Tralee), Managing Director of ESB Networks (and Tralee native) Marguerite Sayers; Minister Denis Naughten TD; ESB CEO Pat O'Doherty; Orla Griffin (Caherslee) and Barry Bambury (Dingle) Four Kerry graduates have joined a prestigious ESB three-year Development Programme. Peter Murphy from Rathmore; Sinclair Dowey from Tralee; Orla Griffin from Caherslee and Barry Bambury from Dingle have just commenced a three-year ESB Graduate Development programme. They form part of a cohort of 76 graduates from Irish third level institutions, spanning fields of engineering, IT, HR, marketing, trading and finance. The Graduate Development Programme is a tailored three year programme which will see these graduates develop both professionally and personally. It forms part of an ambitious drive by ESB to recruit the brightest talent from third level institutions. This year's graduates will be placed across five business units - ESB International, ESB Networks, Generation and Wholesale Markets, Business Services Centre and Electric Ireland - in the coming years. The Kerry foursome were welcomed into the programme by ESB CEO Pat O'Doherty, ESB Managing Director Marguerite Sayers and Communications Minister Denis Naughten. "Energy use impacts on every area of our daily lives and how we dramatically reduce our carbon consumption is one of the defining issues facing humanity. As Ireland's foremost energy company, ESB is committed to offering a rewarding and dynamic career path for exceptional people interested in meeting the challenges of the coming decades," said Mr O'Doherty in his welcome address to the graduates. "Our 76 new colleagues will play an important part in building this brighter, more sustainable future. Working across diverse business units in hands-on roles, I have no doubt that they will enhance our culture of collaboration and teamwork, as ESB seeks to remain at the forefront of energy innovation," Mr O'Doherty said. Minister Naughten described the group as 76 of Ireland's brightest graduates. Killorglin's Kian Griffin has welcomed Junior Finance Minister Eoghan Murphy's pledge to tackle rising car insurance premiums before the year's end. The junior minister's promise follows presentations to an Oireachtas committee from a number of individuals and groups, including from the 24-year-old Killorglin driver who has campaigned for a reduction in insurance costs. Last week Junior Minister Murphy said that lowering car insurance is among the Taoiseach's priorities, adding that, by the year's end, fraudulent claimers will no longer be able to 'play the system', meaning that the cost of motor insurance will reduce. The Junior Finance Minster hopes to introduce reforms, including a central database of all claims made and details of pay-outs, discounts for loyalty to an insurance company, and restrictions on opting out of the injuries board. Kian recently made a presentation on the issue to the Oireachtas committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, which was attended by Junior Minister Murphy, Sinn Fein's Pearse Doherty TD, and Irish Socialist Party's Paul Murphy TD, amongst others. "My presentation was one of three on the day. The other two were made by Age Action Ireland, and the AA, and even though I suppose we were representing different demographics, many of our suggestions were, surprisingly, similar", he said. "The Junior Minister's suggestions take some of our ideas on board, and I'm also pleased that he wants to make reforms before the year is out. We were well received on the day, and it looks like the exercise was worthwhile." The Killorglin man says he's also 'encouraged' at news that motor insurance providers have been issued summonses to appear before the Competition and Consumer Protection Commision to give evidence in relation to suspected contraventions of competition law. The commission is to probe possible breaches where industry participants signalled upcoming hikes in premiums. Isolde Goggin, Chairperson of the CCPC, said "statements by senior industry players have raised serious suspicion as to whether there is a link between these messages and subsequent price increases. "The evidence collected through both the witness summonses and the information requests will assist us in establishing whether there has been a breach of competition law." Kian has campaigned rigorously against rising premiums, and was pleased with the interaction he had with the committee and Mr Murphy's reaction. According to the Central Statistics Office, some premiums have increased by almost 40 per cent this year. A student uses a laptop on the street outside the Hong Kong Government Complex on Oct. 29, 2014, in Hong Kong. (Photo : Getty Images) The recent deaths of two young people victimized by telecom fraudsters have been a key talking point for computer experts at China's Cybersecurity Week, with a senior government official urging Internet service providers to fight harder against telecom scams. Although warning users is important, it is also crucial that there are more technical safeguards "as they can better combat online crimes, including telecom fraud and theft of privacy," said Liu Yunshan, deputy head of the Central Internet Security and Informatization Leading Group. Advertisement Liu made his remarks at the opening ceremony for the event, organized by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the government's top Internet watchdog, in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, Hubei Province. Liu, who is also a member of the Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, encouraged tech companies to be more innovative and brainstorm, adding that the government will provide support and "govern the web by rule of law." Zhou Hongyi, chairman of Qihoo 360, China's largest security software provider, said nobody wants a repeat of the two tragic deaths "so it is urgent to take more action." In August, two young adults from Linyi, Shandong Province, died after being scammed, causing an outpouring of sympathy and outrage from Chinese citizens. 18-year old Xu Yuyu, an incoming college freshman, died of a heart attack after she was cheated out of a 9,900 yuan ($1,490) in a call. According to local media reports, the money she lost was from her financially-strapped family to pay for her tuition. Song Zhenning, a college student, died from cardiac arrest five days after being swindled out of 2,000 yuan. Crackdowns and measures taken against telecom fraud have been the topic of heat discussion during the event, which ends on Saturday. "We've developed several applications to protect the security of mobile networks, and the most popular one helps users block telecom scams," Zhou said. In August alone, Qihoo's web security app helped users block 3.43 billion crank calls, of which 445 million were verified telecom frauds, Zhou said. Guo Xunping, CEO of iJIAMI, a mobile security firm, said greater technical skills are needed to combat phone and text scams. "Many applications against telecom scams now rely on mobile phone users' reports. When a phone number is labeled as a scam, the applications will put it in its blacklist and block it from calling others," he said. "After all, technology cannot distinguish a scam among a huge quantity of numbers by itself. "We should specify and upgrade our technical skills to protect mobile security," Guo added, noting that knowing "how to balance security and network convenience also needs to be taken into consideration." The search for the remains of missing man Charles Brooke Pickard in a patch of isolated forest near Waterville is now expected to continue into next week. Mr Pickard - a father of four - is missing since 1991 when, it is suspected, he was abducted and murdered by an INLA linked northern Irish crime gang. Last Tuesday a 20 strong specialist Garda and Army team began searching for Mr Pickard's remains in a 50 square metre patch of woodland in Derrennageeha at Ballaghisheen Pass near Waterville. The search teams progress has been severely hampered by conditions on site with much of the last week taken up with removing dense undergrowth and tree stumps from the Coilte run forest. Most of the site has now been cleared - a process made slower as the search teams did not want to risk disturbing any buried remains or damaging any potential evidence - and the search proper got underway at the weekend. Killerney Garda Superintendent Flor Murphy said search teams will not leave the site until they have either uncovered Mr Pickard's remains or they are completely satisfied he is not at the site. "The search will go on as long as it has to," said Supt Murphy who added that the search may last into next week. Meanwhile, Mr Pickard's family are being kept updated with all developments at the search site. The company which runs the MRI and CT scanning service at Tralee's Bon Secours Hospital has launched a major internal enquiry after one of its employees was accused of raping a 61-year-old woman at the hospital. The woman claims she was raped by the medic on Saturday, September 10, as she was changing into her clothes having undergone a scan. Soon after the alleged attack the woman reported the incident to gardai who interviewed the accused man in the MRI scanning suite at the hospital. The woman was taken to Cork University Hospital where she was forensically examined at CUH's sexual assault clinic. She made a formal complaint to gardai in Tralee later last week. Gardai have interviewed a number of people in connection with the incident and CCTV footage from the hospital has also been examined. While there is no camera in the changing room where the woman alleges she was raped, there are cameras in neighbouring areas. A full forensic examination of the scene has also been carried out and a file on the case is being prepared for the DPP. The accused man has not been charged and it is understood that when approached by gardai about the allegation he strongly denied any wrongdoing. The man has a clean employment record and had undergone all necessary Garda vetting procedures. While it had been reported that the accused man had left the country, The Kerryman understands he is still in the Tralee area. Although he had worked at the hospital since 2009, the accused man is not an employee of Bon Secours Hospitals. At the time of the alleged attack the medic - who was involved in diagnostics - was a full time employee of Alliance Medical, the company contracted to operate scanning services at Bon Secours in Tralee. The UK-based firm currently has 13 staff at the Tralee hospital. The medic at the centre of the case is no longer an employee of Alliance Medical and he is no longer working at the hospital. Alliance Medical has launched an internal investigation into the matter and in the last week two directors from its parent company visited the hospital to investigate the case. The company has also released a statement on the matter saysing that a full internal investigation into the alleged incident is being conducted. "There is an ongoing Gardai investigation and the company is co-operating fully with this. As a result, we are unable to comment further." Bon Secours Tralee has declined to comment on the case and the hospital is referring all media enquiries to Alliance Medical. Members of Kerry County Council are calling on Minister for Health Simon Harris to intervene and solve the current impasses over Rheumatology services at University Hospital Kerry (UHK). Though he was only appointed to the position in 2013, UHK Consultant Rheumatologist Dr Muhammad Haroon has tendered his resignation over the lack of support provided to his unit by the HSE. At Kerry County Council's monthly meeting four councillors tabled motions calling for immediate action on the issue. The Motions were filed by councillors Norma Moriarty (FF), Jim Finucane (FG), Norma Foley (FF) and J.J Culloty (FF). Councillor Culloty said it was unacceptable that the HSE is currently trying to recruit a replacement for Dr Haroon when all that is needed is to appoint an Advance Nurse Practitioner (ANP) to assist him in running the unit. The council heard that an ANP is available to start work at UHK immediately but she is unwilling to do so as it would require her to accept a position at a lower grade. "There's a person there ready to do the (ANP) job but they (The HSE) won't honour her current grade. She's expected to take a reduced grade and isn't willing to do that, which is totally understandable," Cllr Culloty said. Cllr Culloty said this impasse over the ANP grade could be resolved quickly and easily with a "very minor decision by the Department and the Minister." He described the HSE's position on the matter as "bureaucratic nonsense." "Dr Haroon doesn't want to leave. Why are we advertising and looking for a new consultant when we already have a very good one. He's well liked and he gives a lot of time and consideration to his patients. There's a downgrading going on here," Cllr Culloty said. Cllr Culloty also pointed out that the Rheumatology Unit at UHK is the only such unit in the country to be staffed by a single consultant with no ANP or any other medical assistants. Cllr Jim Finucane was also highly critical of the HSE's stance. "Dr Haroon has been forced to tender his resignation through frustration at the lack of flexibility from the HSE. this highlights the worst excesses of the HSE which cannot bend and can't accommodate the situation on the ground," said Cllr Finucane. His sentiments were echoed by Cllr Norma Foley who said it appeared that arthritis services at UHK were being downgraded. "This is a crisis situation now. There has been a complete lack of vision and support from the HSE. We have to seek a meeting with the minister," she said. Arthritis Ireland wants the appointment of a Rheumatology ANP to help Dr. Haroon concentrate on seeing the new patients on the waiting list. It says Dr Haroon has had to spend considerable time doing blood tests, and other routine procedures. Several hundreds were in Graiguenamanagh recently to mark the opening of the Holy Door in Duiske Abbey by Bishop Denis Nulty. This was the fourth and final door the bishop has opened during the course of the diocese's celebration of the Jubilee of Mercy, a Holy Year called by Pope Francis. The celebrations kicked off in St Mullins when people from the parishes of St Mullins, Graiguenamanagh, Ullard and surrounding parishes met at St Moling's Well before undertaking a pilgrim walk from St Mullins to Graiguenamanagh walking along the banks of the River Barrow. The pilgrimage was led by Bishop Denis and included many young people who had travelled to Krakow with the Bishop in July for World Youth Day. Up to 200 people completed the walk including the Bishop and the parish priests from both Graiguenamanagh and St Mullins, Fr Gerry Byrne and Fr Eddie Aughney. There were three prayer and water stops along the four mile pilgrimage and many people joined the pilgrim as it neared Graiguenamanagh. Arriving at Duiske Abbey the large crowd against stopped for prayers before Bishop Denis formally opened the Holy Door and invited people in to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving. During the Mass Bishop Denis was joined by Fr Byrne and Fr Aughney as well as other priests from across the diocese. Parishioners were also blessed with water from three local Holy Wells, St Moling's Well in St Mullins, St Fiachra's Well in Ullard and St Michael's Well in Tinnahinch. Speaking after the Mass, Bishop Denis expressed his hope that more and more people will hear the message in this Holy Year that 'God's mercy reaches out to everyone, wherever and however we are in need of mercy and healing.' The Jubilee Year of Mercy was called by Pope Francis and began on December 8, 2015 which was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the 50th anniversary of the close of the Second Vatican Council. It will end on November 20 of this year, the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. After the Mass there was delicious refreshments in the Abbey Hall which were enjoyed by everyone. The first of a number of rows about the naming of the new bridge on the New Ross bypass began shortly into the September monthly meeting. Cllr Michael Sheehan asked that the minutes from the July meeting be amended to reflect that he had made a proposal regarding the naming of the bridge but he had withdrawn this when he received no support. Cllr Martin Murphy however disagreed saying that if they did that they would have to record every single thing that was said at the meetings saying that the minutes were a reflection of decisions made. Director of Services Eamonn Hore said if the matter was going to create a fuss there was no problem recording Cllr Sheehan's amendment. However Cllr Larry O'Brien said that if that occurred anytime someone made a proposal and then withdrew it, it would have to be recorded. Cllr Willie Fitzharris said he felt it was 'reasonable' that something that happened be recorded. Cllr John Fleming however pointed out that Cllr Sheehan had voted in favour of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy New Ross Bridge name and that if he had a problem with this name he should have abstained from the vote. Doggedly, Cllr Sheehan said he still felt that his proposal should be recorded. 'It was proposed then withdrawn,' said Cllr O'Brien. 'I'm trying to be nice here now but you can't be on both sides of the fence. The proposal was withdrawn and if it is recorded it doesn't make sense.' He said that 'all we are doing here now is talking about it and giving more publicity.' He then asked if the matter could be checked out to see if they would be setting a precedent and let the matter stand until the October meeting. Mr Hore said he didn't believe the council was setting a precedent. Cllr O'Brien proposed they get further clarification and Cllr Fitzharris seconded the proposal. IFA representative Anna Kehoe raised the issue of farm theft at the recent Joint Policing Committee meeting, saying that equipment and livestock theft seems to be on the rise. Chief Superintendent John Roche said that there is evidence that 'pre-intelligence work' is carried out before machinery is taken from farms. He said that the Gardai advise people not to entertain those who call to their door uninvited. 'They may be there to observe what is on the premises,' he said. 'They may not come back that night or week but they might return another time.' Ms Kehoe queried whether footage from a farmyard CCTV camera could be used in court in cases of theft. 'It is very difficult to convict somebody through identification on CCTV,' said Supt Roche. 'It does act as a deterrent.' New Ross gardai are urging people through a Supporting Safer Communities campaign which begins today to be extra vigilant as the darker evenings arrive. The campaign runs from today (September 20) to September 29. Sergeant Eddie Wilde said the primary aim of the campaign is to engage with and raise awareness within our communities of initiatives aimed at preventing burglaries and promoting home safety and security. He said: 'The primary focus during the campaign will be on home security and burglary prevention and reduction and the key message of the week will be to encourage the public to 'lock up and light up.' A National Property Recovered Day will take place in Enniscorthy Garda Station on Thursday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. as part of the campaign. 'Gardai at New Ross would ask that people would look out for each other in the darker evenings and we can't stress enough that if you are unsure about something you see or hear, or any unusual activity, please ring New Ross Garda Station on 051 426030 or 999 in an emergency. 'People who react to suspicious activity and call the garda station have contributed to numerous cases where criminals have been caught in the act.' The bags of rubbish dumped in The Maudlins last week Illegal dumping is at 'crisis stage' according to some local councillors. At last week's meeting of New Ross Municipal District a number of councillors raised concerns about the growing problem. Cllr Michael Whelan said that there had been dumping at the bring centre in Wellingtonbridge while Cllr John Fleming said that the 'dumping around the county is at crisis stage'. Cllr Anthony Connick said that more than 30 bags of rubbish had been dumped in the Maudlins area last week. He said 'it's time we put a camera down there and catch the culprits. 'The gloves are off now. Cameras are the only way we are going to deal with this problem. It takes a long time to unload 30 bags of rubbish. These people have to be found and they should be named and shamed.' Senior medical professionals, including consultant cardiologists and the chief clinical director of the South/South West Hospital Group, have utterly rejected the 'flawed' findings of the Herity Report on the provision of cardiac services in the South East. Speaking at a briefing in Dublin to highlight the plight of the region, they expressed grave concerns that the flawed report has been unchallenged, and yet is being used by the Department to radically alter, for the worse, the provision of cardiac care for the half a million people in the region. The consultants group in the South East which represent medical professionals from Wexford, Waterford and Tipperary, said the report makes incorrect assumptions that underpin the recommendations. Rejecting the findings of the Report, the consultants called on the Minister for Health Simon Harris to intervene and meet with them to resolve the ongoing problem of a second cath laboratory as lives are at stake in the South East. Dr Patrick Owens, Consultant Cardiologist and clinical lead for cardiology at University Hospital Waterford said, the struggle for adequate resourcing for the South East cardiac service has been four years in the fighting. 'This report was the last in a long line of hindrances and procrastinations we have encountered in this struggle, and, as a result, we accepted the process of independent review only under duress. The report conclusions were deeply dismaying, but made all the more so since its eventual publication last Thursday has allowed its flawed nature to be identified,' said Dr Owens. 'The population calculation in the Herity report is inaccurate. From this figure, all the subsequent recommendations come. These recommendations hugely disadvantage the South East population, limiting still further their access to care, both by withdrawing the prospect of acute heart attack emergency care, and by profoundly under-resourcing the South East Cardiac Interventional Service in University Hospital Waterford.' Dr Owens said the report determines the effective population size for the unit, by examining the patient flows to the unit. 'However, this approach is flawed. The flaw is best described in the 'Croke Park' analogy, which asks how to determine the number of people who want to come to the stadium to see the All-Ireland Final. 'The method used in the report determines this figure by simply counting the number of people in the stadium. This figure can never exceed the capacity of the stadium (82,300), regardless of the demand. The application of this method for determining the effective population on a capacity-constrained service, such as the South East cath laboratory, leads to erroneously and dangerously low population estimates.' 'This fallacy would have been readily apparent had the reviewer visited the consultants in Wexford General Hospital and South Tipperary General Hospital and determined their referral priorities, as their patients' advocates. No such consultation occurred. Additionally, had the reviewer discussed his findings with the Cardiac Department at University Hospital Waterford prior to finalising his report, this error would have been highlighted. No such consultation occurred,' said Dr Owens. He said the primary concern of the South East consultants through this entire sad episode has been to ensure the welfare and safety of cardiac patients in the South East region. 'These concerns were formalised into two terms of reference which we had requested at the outset be presented to the reviewer. These were not presented, and our primary concerns were thus not addressed in the report. 'We entirely accept that constrained resources exist in Irish healthcare. We acknowledge that cardiac services, like all services, must be fair, safe and rational. But we refute entirely the recommendations of this flawed report, resulting as it does in services which are, and remain, unfair, unsafe and based on flawed logic,' said Dr Owens. Attending the briefing were Dr Rob Landers, Clinical Director, South/South West Hospital Group, Dr Patrick Owens, Consultant Cardiologist and clinical lead for cardiology, University Hospital Waterford, Dr Aidan Buckley, Consultant Cardiologist, Wexford General Hospital, Dr John O'Dea, Consultant Cardiologist, University Hospital Waterford, and Dr Mark Doyle, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Medical Adviser to the Prehospital Emergency Care Council. Nawaz Sharif and Li Keqiang (Photo : Xinhua) China gave a full throated endorsement of its friendship with Pakistan amid the ongoing Kashmir crisis, saying both countries are "iron brothers" and that it attaches great importance to Islamabad's position on Kashmir. Beijing's slap to India's face was made by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang who met with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif before the latter's speech at the UN General Assembly where he demanded an independent probe into what he called "the extra-judicial killings" and "atrocities" in Indian-administered Kashmir committed by Indian troops. Advertisement LI made no mention of the attack on the Indian Army at the town of Uri in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 18 Indian Army soldiers. Instead, the Chinese premier said China and Pakistan's have always firmly supported each other and their friendship is unbreakable, according to state-run Xinhua News Agency, the communist government's official media organization. Xinhua also said Sharif told Li Pakistan and China are time-tested friends and partners who have firmly supported each other. He was also reported as thanking China for expressing concern regarding Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir. For his part, Li said China was ready to play a constructive role in improvement of relations between Pakistan and India. Pakistani media was loaded with stories of Li assuring Sharif China would continue to support Pakistan's stance on Kashmir. Li was also quoted by one paper as saying "We support Pakistan and we will speak for Pakistan at every forum." Another said China attached great importance to Pakistan's position on Kashmir and said "Pakistan itself was a victim of terrorism." Indian media, however, claims Li made none of those statements since Xinhua made no mention of any of any of them in the news stories it published about the Li and Sharif meeting. What does seem certain is that Li showed his satisfaction on the state of China-Pakistan relations while expressing the hope the situation between India and Pakistan won't escalate. Li also hoped there would be a better understanding of the Pakistani position on Kashmir by the international community. Xinhua and other Chinese official media also made no mention of the Uri attack. The traffic backlogs along the Quay and coming into New Ross were once again raised at the monthly municipal district meeting last Wednesday. Cllr Anthony Connick said that only last week the traffic was backed up on the Rosbercon side as far as the Holy Faith and out past the Shambo turnoff. 'We have to look at this. It's very unfair to have people coming into New Ross from Waterford waiting 90 minutes in their car.' He also said that trucks were parking and unloading along the quay blocking sight lines at pedestrian crossings which is also a major concern. Cllr Larry O'Brien said the bridge has been a problem in the town for a long number of years adding 'we have to keep the traffic moving. It only takes a small thing to stop traffic moving.' He said all avenues should be considered to keep the town open. Fibre optic broadband could be up and running in New Ross by the end of next year. Don Davern of Virgin Media said that the company currently has 505,000 customers in Ireland serving over 10,000 businesses. He said that the company is currently looking at expanding into New Ross and hopes to be in situ by the end of September 2017 offering speeds of 360MB. He said the plan was to commit to both residential and commercial customers creating a long-term relationship with the local municipal district. He said that this was crucial for them as the company didn't want to be disrupting the road network unless absolutely necessary. He said that if it were possible to create its network while the council is opening roads it will do so to minimise disruption. Mr Davern said that 'where possible we will use existing council underground resources where acceptable and appropriate for all'. He said that any disruption which would occur would be clearly communicated with people in the area prior to the works commencing. He went on to say that the company is very committed to the area and is also looking at expanding into Enniscorthy in the future. He said that if the plans for New Ross progress he expects that the company will have spent 1.5 million in the town by the end of September 2017. In response to a question from Cllr Michael Whelan about the company's ability to service large commercial customers on the Campile Road Mr Davern said that 'our commitment is to the New Ross District and we will work to get whatever roads we can done'. Cllr Michael Sheehan said he was glad to see that New Ross is a priority for the company saying the area was in dire need of fibre broadband. Mr Davern also said that the fibre network is unlimited and can expand to carry whatever traffic necessary. He said Virgin is working with Aurora to carry their fibre optic cables from New Ross to Waterford. He said the company was not dependent on any other network provider once its infrastructure was in place. He said that the general turnaround time from order to connection is two days. Cllr John Fleming said that more and more people are working from home and it is essential that the area benefits from high-speed broadband. Mr Davern said he was keenly aware that broadband is no longer a luxury but a critical utility. However he said that rural areas will be serviced under the National Rural Broadband plan. In respect to the cost of the service Mr Davern said that Virgin are very competitive and have a standardised product. Cllr Larry O'Brien said it was very positive news for the town but said that a number of large transport companies were outside the 30km speed limit area and said that broadband access is a big problem for them. Mr Davern said Virgin is committed to developing the service as much as it can. District manager Sinead Casey said the council looked forward to working with them. 'This is an excellent opportunity for the town to get ahead,' she said. Mr Davern said that he expected the deal between Aurora and Virgin Media to be completed within weeks which would see the company in a position to move into New Ross. A group of Wexford men saved a whale which had beached Ballyteige Burrow near the Cull Bank in the south of the county. Neil Bates, from Newtown, Kilmore, found the stranded whale which was in perfect condition and as he examined it, to his surprise, he saw the blowhole move indicating that the animal was breathing and was still alive. In an attempt to save the whale, Neil enlisted the help on local men John and Michael O'Flaherty and together they managed to get the 3.2m-long animal back into the sea. However, the whale was in some distress. It swam on its side in circles, often rotating in the water. After about 20 minutes it appears to have regained some equilibrium and swam off towards Hook Head. Neil identified the species as a young, female Long-finned Pilot Whale. This was later confirmed by Jim Hurley, an Irish Whale and Dolphin Group contact person for strandings and sightings on the South Wexford Coast. Jim Hurley said he would welcome reports of any sighting or stranding of whales or dolphins on (086) 1637199. The inaugural Waves Music Festival raised a whopping 35,000 for the new Fethard Inshore lifeboat. The money will be used to help fund the purchase of a new 65,000 D class inshore lifeboat for the Fethard RNLI station which is due into come into action at the end of 2017. The family friendly day-long music event, which saw Nathan Carter, Hometown, Corner Boy, Friends in Low Places and Elmore hitting the stage along with a number of local acts, was attended by 2,500 people. The crowd witnessed one of the best days of summer in the historic coastal area of Hook Head. Rebecca Doyle, Fethard RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer said: 'To have raised 35,000 from a first-time event is beyond our expectations and highlights the strength of community feeling towards the charity that saves lives at sea.' 'We wish to thank all who attended or supported Waves 2016 and our generous sponsors. Their support and backing has been incredible and without it we would not have raised this amount for our new lifeboat.' 'The gardai, local authority and all the volunteer security and stewards made the festival the most fantastic, well run, fabulous, family, end-of-summer day out .' 'We were also overwhelmed with the support of Loftus Hall for providing us with the most fantastic backdrop and for their donation of 12,000 to the lifeboat appeal. Fethard RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew and fundraising committee gave up huge amounts of their time and were committed to making the event a success.' Aidan Quigley, proprietor of Loftus Hall said: 'We are delighted to have supported such a worthy cause which has raised 35,000 towards a new inshore lifeboat. The RNLI plays such a vital role in the lives of those who live, work and visit our coasts. This festival has become part of Loftus Hall's legacy in the year where we celebrate 666 years of history, heritage and intrigue.' He also confirmed there will be another Waves Festival at Loftus Hall in 2017. Following their recent sold-out show at Whelan's and their amazing set at Castlepalooza, Sligo Live have announced Orchid Collective as Special Guests to The Saw Doctors on Sunday, 30th October 2016 at Knocknarea Arena. Together for just over a year Orchid Collective have been gigging relentlessly throughout Ireland and have worked tirelessly creating a fresh and exciting live show for their growing audience. The band's skilled musicianship is transferred to their impressive live shows, with stand-out performances at festivals such as Electric Picnic, Castlepalooza and the Galway International Arts Festival. They supported Boston based Mutual Benefit on the Irish leg of their European tour and released their debut single 'Figure It Out' last year along with starting 2016 as Whelan's "Ones to Watch". Their second single "Lay As Stone" released earlier this year received rave reviews and national radio exposure. Consisting of David O Shea (lead vocals, guitar), Shea Tohill (lead guitar, vocals), Hugh O'Neill (bass, vocals) and Brian Roony (drums, vocals) the band have been gigging relentlessly across Ireland, developing their unique sound and quickly making a name for themselves as an unforgettable live act. Through their own distinct use of vocal harmonies and searing layers of reverbed guitars; Orchid Collective make themselves known as a band that set themselves apart from their contemporaries, offering a bold new imagining of the indie genre. Meanwhile organisers are this year asking the people and businesses of Sligo to help promote the festival. "As the festival attracts a large number of visitors to Sligo, it is a great opportunity for Sligo to showcase not only its amazing live music scene, but also the fantastic array of tourist attractions. Whether it's a bar, restaurant, hotel or one of the many indoor and outdoor activities in the region, we believe Sligo Live can continue to bring many new visitors to our town and help local business," said a spokesperson for Sligo Live. In the coming weeks, they will be posting on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and are asking people to like/share as many of these as possible so they can bring as many people as possible to Sligo and the Sligo Live Festival. So whether you tag a friend who might be interested in a certain gig or invite them to their Facebook events, it will be a "huge help" and it costs nothing to do. "We really want people outside of Sligo to see a real energy emitting from the Sligo community not only about the festival, but about our great town and county," said organisers. Check out Facebook: Sligo Live Festival Twitter: @sligolive Instagram: sligolive . People can also use the #sligolive in the coming weeks across social media. In the week leading up to Mercy Day, the Mercy College will celebrate the Mercy Sisters being 170 years in Sligo by a special Wellbeing week which has begun this week. It will be leading up to the celebrations in the school on the 23rd of September. Yesterday saw Jerry Duffy, a Motivational Speaker and Athlete speaking to the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th Year students from Mercy College. Today, Tuesday, sees reformed prisoner John Pridmore, from London's East End will talk to students. He previously served two prison terms but managed to turn his life around. On Wednesday, a representative of Pieta House will address students and parents. This Friday will include mass being celebrated in St Anne's Church by the Papal Nuncio at 11.30 am. Present and past staff members, parents and pupils are invited to this mass. It will be followed by an awards ceremony and a reception in the school. Ireland West Airport today welcomed the announcement of funding to the amount of 1,314,000 from the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport. The funding is provided at 75% grant aid level to support Safety and Security Projects under the Regional Airports Programme 2015-2019. The Programme provides for Exchequer support to support various safety and security projects to be carried out at the airport in 2016. Joe Kennedy, Chairman, Ireland West Airport said: "We welcome today's announcement of funding by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross which will assist the airport in undertaking important safety and security related projects such as runway lighting, drainage, CCTV runway protection, generator housing, and the upgrade of existing equipment at the airport in 2016. "We acknowledge the continued support from Government and look forward to continuing to work with them on a long term commitment and investment to support the Airport's growth and development plans." Airports in Donegal, Kerry and Waterford also received funding under the Regional Airports Programme 2015-2019, which was approved last year by the EU Commission and administered by the Minister's Department. funding support that I am announcing today will assist with capital investment on various projects at the four regional airports over the coming months in the areas of safety and security such as CCTV monitoring equipment, repairs to taxiways, aprons and perimeter roads, upgrades to electrical systems and winter-ready equipment." A Sligo councillor who is native of the Blacklion area has spoken about the uncertainty which Brexit is having on the area. Clr. Sinead Maguire was recently interviewed by German TV Broadcaster ARD on Brexit and the effect it may have on those living and working in the border area. As the current Chair of cross-border partnership, the Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN), Councillor Maguire spoke of the positive impact that EU cross-border funding has had in the Central Border Region. Councillor Maguire cited the Border Uplands Project as a positive example of cross-border partnership working. Not far from Blacklion, at the Cavan Burren Park, walking trails and an interpretative centre were developed as part of this project; which also delivered the Queen Maeve Trail in Sligo and the boardwalk at Cuilcagh Mountain on the Fermanagh/Cavan border. Beyond the current programming period, there is concern at how meaningful cross-border projects and partnerships would be funded, and how any gaps in EU funding could be plugged in the future. The Blackion-Belcoo area in particular area has experienced progression in the last 20 years with the removal of customs posts and a 'hard border'. Brexit brings about uncertainty as to what a border between an EU member state and a non-EU member state will look like, how it would function and ultimately what it would mean for those living, working and travelling in this area. Clr. Maguire said Article 50 created much ambiguity while it provided a means for a member state to disengage from the union many of the terms of that disengagement were not defined which has resulted in uncertainty and apprehension for many. Clr Maguire discussed the many hurdles to be overcome during negotiations, particularly access to the common market and free movement of people. In the coming months, ICBAN through the county council members will be carrying out research on the impact of Brexit on the residents of the region to ensure the voice of the border area is considered by both the UK and Irish Governments. "The Department has given the County Council an additional sum of 1 million in funding for the current year and yet we have libraries closing. Where else could it happen but in Sligo?" the county's longest serving councillor, Declan Bree has asked. "Last year the IMPACT Trade Union highlighted the fact that the library service in Sligo was suffering from lack of investment and the union also pointed out that Council management had failed to ensure appropriate staffing levels over a long period of time. "Six weeks ago the Minister of State speaking in the Senate, said, any closure of libraries in County Sligo was not the result of changes the Department was introducing. The Minister said it was a Council decision. "I find it inconceivable that the management of the Council would allow the closure of the Central Library at a time when we are promoting the county as the Yeats Country and a haven of literature. We now need answers from the Council executive. Cllr Bree has asked a number of questions including: Why were the elected councillors not advised of the Chief Executive's decision to close the library in advance of the media learning of the decision? "Why has no comprehensive statement or briefing been provided by the Chief Executive to the elected representatives regarding the matter? Did the Chief Executive advise the Secretary General of the Department of Local Government of the proposal to close the Sligo Central Library when they met in Dublin on Wednesday the 7th September? "Did the Chief Executive seek approval from the Secretary General to fill any specific vacant library posts? Did the Chief Executive at any stage make a specific submission to the Department seeking approval for the filling of vacant library positions? "What portion, if any, of the additional grant of 1 million the Council received this year has been used for the library services? Cllr Bree has sent a letter to Mr Hayes containing a number of the questions outlined. Meanwhile IMPACT says management is set to permanently close one of the three libraries, Sligo Central, Ballymote or Tubbercurry. IMPACT assistant general secretary Richy Carrothers said: "The library services are a vital resource and are greatly valued by the community. "The decision to close the central library was a unilateral decision by management. They failed to make any efforts to consult with staff, despite the support of our members in the local authority. For example, it was IMPACT members in the Tubbercurry motor tax office who agreed to cover Tubbercurry library on Saturdays and evenings in order to ensure this vital service stayed open," he said. Mr Carrothers said the financial plan agreed between the Council and the Department of was "strangling" local services. "There has been a 37% reduction in staffing levels at the Council in recent years, one of the biggest falls in staff numbers for any local authority in the country. The threat to our library services, which is a vital point of connection for young and old, students and jobseekers, has galvanised the entire community to fight to save it." Asteroids are minor planets, especially those of the inner Solar System. (Photo : YouTube/ Tom Lupshu) Chinese scientists from Purple Mountain laboratory, in Nanjing, the capital of the eastern province of Jiangsu, recently confirmed that a massive asteroid with a power equivalent to that of 3 billion atomic bombs was headed for earth. The lab arrived at the disturbing discovery using Asia's largest telescope. Advertisement According to AOL News, the asteroid passed planet Earth at a range of 18.8 times the distance between Earth and the moon. The range was considered as too close for comfort because any little variation of its course could mean an apocalyptic end of our planet. The asteroid, codenamed 2009ES, is one of 1600 other asteroids known as "minor bodies" that are currently headed for Earth, according to News Room. Scientists had kept a close eye on it to both track its course and ensure that there would be no minor change in its flight path. Researchers believe that a similar asteroid, both in size and magnitude (roughly 10,000 meters), was responsible for the extermination of dinosaurs 65 million years ago. So, whether it was headed for earth or not, there was nothing that the human race could do to stop it. In the meantime, astrophysicists have put up a new warning system to help speed up the calculation of where and when incoming steroids could strike our planet. By examining observations of lately reported space objects, a computer program dubbed scout can now quickly identify potentially dangerous asteroids, then proceed to calculate their precise paths. In an interview with Space.com, Manager of NASA's center for Near-Earth Object (NEO) Paul Chodas, said that the computer would concentrate on objects that observers have reported and those that are suspected to be asteroids. While mid-sized asteroids are usually identified before they hit earth, smaller ones are hard to spot. For instance, on Oct. 7, 2008, an 80-ton rock passed through the earth's atmosphere and exploded above a remote area in Sudan. The asteroid, named 2008 TC3, was spotted 19 hours before it reached the Earth's surface, making it the very first one tracked before crashing into our planet. However, the short notice was very short for astronomers to carry out follow-ups. And that is why NASA has installed the new system. Watch a video of 2009ES and its fate below: Sligo is not being actively promoted enough at Knock Airport, despite the Council pumping 50,000 annually into the Mayo hub. That's according to both Director of Services Dorothy Clarke and Councillor Rosaleen O'Grady. Both women were speaking during a debate on tourism at a Special Policy Committee on Economic Development last week. Ms Clarke said more could be gained from Sligo's annual payment of 50,000 to Knock Airport: "If we're paying the airport it's there to help us too," she said. "That's something we will be working on in the future," she added. Cllr Rosaleen O'Grady said a Sligo presence was needed at Knock Airport. "We need to be reminding them every month. I was there recently and I asked someone where should I go. They said to go South. I mentioned Sligo and they weren't interested," said Cllr O'Grady. Ms Clarke said Failte Ireland were targetting the tourist market north of Galway: "This certainly needs to be done. We do need Failte Ireland to prioritise this region," said Ms Clarke. She said adventure and activities, arts and culture were going to be key to Sligo's success. Ms Clarke said there was currently a gap in the market for a Calendar of Events type portal. Sligo.ie website and app, which are hosted by Sligo County Council, will be enhanced. She admitted that "expertise will have to be brought in" for digital marketing to promote the county better online. The Conference market is another area where Sligo could gain. "The Conference market is way more lucrative than any adventure market," said Ms Clarke. "It would warrant coming together and looking at how we could attract some small international conference to Sligo," she said. Protestors gather last Saturday afternoon outside the County Sligo Library on Stephen Street to voice their concern at the closure of this vital community service As anger grows over the closure of the county's main library, Sligo County Council says a decision will be made shortly whether it remains closed for good. The Council is blaming its perilous financial position for the situation it is in. In a statement the Council says the closure of Sligo Central Library from last Saturday was the latest in a series of 'rolling closures' affecting all of the county's branch libraries and follows earlier closures to Tubbercurry and Ballymote branches arising from a reduction in staff available to the library service. "The back-drop to the closures is the financial position of the Council and adherence to the Financial Plan as agreed between Sligo County Council and the Department, which requires a reduction in staff numbers of 42%. "Staff levels are currently down 37% representing 237 employees. Such a serious reduction in staff numbers has inevitable consequences for the range and quality of services delivered by Sligo County Council. "Although adherence to the terms of the Financial Plan has assisted the Council in reversing a worsening financial position - accumulation of annual revenue deficits of between 2 and 3m up to 2013 - it has also impacted on the provision of services across all sectors of the organisation, all of which have endured major cut-backs in recent years. "Despite the restrictions, the Council has been innovative and creative in dealing with the staff shortages in the library service and with the goodwill and cooperation of staff and the trade unions, has been able to maintain a reasonable level of service albeit with reducing resources in all branches to date. "It is regrettable that this has not been sustainable and the Council was left with no option but to introduce the series of rolling closures across all branch libraries earlier in the summer. "At this point, no decision has been taken in relation to the closure of a branch library on a long term basis. "It is expected that this decision will be made in the short term," the statement said. In another statement issued this week, the Council said Sligo Central Library will close for three weeks from Monday. "The Council's Corporate Policy Group will be briefed on the issues facing the Library Service on Monday next, following which a further statement will issue. "It is important to note that the closure of Branch Libraries is not a cost saving measure but is due to a lack of staff resources to deliver the service," said the statement. Reacting to the news of a 'rolling closure', Sinn Fein's Chris MacManus said "years of financial mis-management by the Council's ruling Fianna Fail and Fine Gael parties, allied to a draconian economic plan now being foisted on the Council by the Government have led to this dire position of the County's central library facing on\off closure and an uncertain future." MacManus said: "As a frequent library user, I'm dismayed at news that the central library is facing uncertainty and that the Council Executive will confirm the closure of one branch within the County very soon. "Libraries are not a luxury, they are a necessity. They provide essential services and benefit all ages, but especially our young people. "Free internet, assistance with adult literacy, writing clubs and multicultural services are amongst the many amenities available. "Cuts such as these show a short term thinking, that damages the fabric of the wider County Sligo community in the long term. These cuts need to be reversed." The future of Sligo's libraries has been on a knife edge for the past two years. Last July, County Librarian Donal Tinney told a meeting of the Sligo Municipal District that staffing levels are at such a low level that even one member of staff calling in sick could close one of the county's libraries. Mr Tinney said there was minimum staffing at the libraries in Sligo, Tubbercurry and Ballymote. The central library in Sligo had 500 callers a day and it was being run by a core number of staff. A crowd of around 500 people attended the IMPACT organised protest in Sligo on Saturday afternoon. The crowd was addressed by IMPACT President Pat Fallon along who told them to keep the campaign going. Writer John Kavanagh also spoke as did library users, mother and daughter, Claudia and Sophie Plunkett. A 32-year-old mother of four who drove from Newbridge to Sligo was stopped as she left on the Inner Relief Road and stolen goods from a number of shops worth over 2,000 was found in her car. Before the court was Margaret Connors, Green Road, Newbridge who admitted handling stolen toys from Smyths on December 17th 2014 including Playstation4 worth 799.96, a doll worth 54 and scooters valued at 49.58. Connors also pleaded guilty to handling Benefit makeup worth 1,077, the property of Cara Pharmacy, Quayside Shopping Centre, 661 worth of clothes from River Island and an Addidas tracksuit valued at 97 from Lifestyle. Connors admitted she had set off for Sligo that day to steal with two girls who were about 17 and her own 11-year-old child. Inspector Donal Sweeney said the thefts were captured on CCTV and Gardai stopped a car on the Inner Relief Road and property worth 2,738.94 was recovered. Connors was subsequently arrested and admitted driving others to Sligo knowing they were going to steal. The defendant had one previous conviction for withholding information under the Theft Act in Kilmallock, County Cork. in 2013. Mr Eddie Henry, solicitor (defending) pleaded the defendant was five months pregnant and two of her four children had medical conditions. One of them had spent five months in hospital while another, who was aged 7 was diabetic. Mr Henry said Connors wasn't directing operations as such but became aware of the stolen items afterwards. She wasn't a 'Fagan type mastermind' he said. Mr Henry said those with her had "gone on a bit of spree and hid things from her." He read a line from statement made to Gardai by one of the girls with her in which she said she had placed a stolen item in the boot of the car so 'Margaret couldn't see it.' Judge Kilrane noted the defendant failed to turn up in court to face the charges on two occasions. Connors said she had been homeless for six months and was living in emergency accommodation in a hotel in Newbridge for five months. She and her family had since got a council house. Judge Kilrane initially remanded Connors in custody for a week for sentencing and told Mr Henry that he completely disagreed that she wasn't a Fagan type figure. "She brought a car load of thieves down to Sligo with a view to stealing," he said. He added that it was a shocking offence and Connors was effectively teaching her children the art of stealing. In the afternoon, Mr Henry asked if he could address the court on the matter once more saying he had visited Connors at lunch time at Sligo Garda Station and she was in a very distraught state. He told the court that Connors was on medication for a heart complaint and needed it daily but she didn't have it with her. Also, her seven year old would only allow her administer her three times daily insulin injections. "I'm asking for bail to allow the defendant get her affairs in order prior to sentencing. I'm asking on humanitarian grounds and your own compassion," said Mr Henry. Called to the witness box again, Connors admitted that she did set out that day to steal and said she was ashamed. Judge Kilrane adjourned the matter to February 2nd for monitoring with liberty granted in the meantime if there was any reoffending. She's also to stay out of Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Longford. Concern is mounting daily among the residents of Rosses Point about where they will bury their dead since the last plot was recently filled in the local graveyard. Several residents have voiced their fears to The Sligo Champion that they now have nowhere local to be buried. The nearest graveyard is in Rathcormac. Rosses Point Cemetery lies across the road from St Columba's parish church. Local attention has turned to an empty plot of land next to the Church which some residents would like to see being used as the next cemetery. However both Council and Church seem to be saying it's a matter for the other to identify a new location to bury deceased Rosses Point parishioners. When asked if they had made an actual offer to the Church for the free plot next door, a spokesperson for Sligo County Council said there were "no immediate plans to acquire more land for a cemetery at Rosses Point." "Sligo County Council has been aware for some time of the capacity issue with St Columba's Cemetery and has engaged with Church and Community representatives who are seeking to identify options for a graveyard. The Council welcomes these efforts and will seek to assist if and when required to do so," they said in a statement. The Council went on to say that the option of "approaching the Catholic Church in relation to land near the priest's residence has been discussed with Church representatives and they are considering this matter currently. The grounds in questions are the property of the Church and they should be given time to consider the matter." The Council also pointed out that Rathcormac burial ground has "significant capacity" and was "reasonably accessible". "While the council has the powers to acquire lands by Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) it is always best if such a sensitive issue can be dealt with through co-operation from landowners, the wider community, the Church and the Council. "It is often the case the Church or landowners come to the Council often offering land to the Council to develop as a graveyard," said the Council spokesperson. "The Council fully appreciates the desire of many to secure additional graveyard space closer to their community in Rosses Point," they added. The Bishop of Elphin Diocese Kevin Doran meanwhile told this newspaper that while he was aware of the concern among parishioners in Rosses Point, "the provision of cemetery facilities is, of course, a matter for the local authority." "They would ideally prefer that this would happen within the local community. I have recently had a meeting with the Parish Council about this and the discussion is on-going," he said in a statement. Councillor Tom MacSharry said the shortage of grave space was a matter of "serious concern to the Rosses Point Community" and had been raised by a number of councillors including himself by Notices of Motion. "I now understand and welcome options being discussed by the Council Executive with interested parties, including the Clergy and Parish Council regarding the plot adjoining the Church," he said. "I want to make this clear, that any perceived pressure or duress on any specific landowner to sell should not be tolerated," said Cllr MacSharry. "I am hopeful that this matter can be resolved sooner rather than later given the fact that the current cemetery is full and it would appear that there is land adjoining the Church," he added. The land on which Rosses Point Cemetery lies was originally donated free of charge to the Catholic Church by a local family back in the 1940s. The local parish priest Monseigneur Gerard Dolan is reported to be retiring at the end of this month. The large two storey Parochial House will then be vacated. Residents have told the Sligo Champion that they would like to see the house used for community services like St Michael's in Sligo town and the plot next to it used as a cemetery. President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Sligoman, Anthony Gray has urged the Government to help Sligo and rural Ireland in its recovery and growth before it becomes a 'desert wasteland'. "It's quite amazing to see other small towns and counties like Mayo thriving while the rest of rural Ireland is forgotten about. For example, Mayo has five dedicated tourist officers and Galway, eight. Sligo has a big fat zero, the same as many other rural towns like Roscommon. I wonder why you continually hear of job announcements in these areas. Maybe, it's due to the fact they have fibre broadband, motorways and good healthcare? Mr Gray continued, "I drive to Dublin regularly and from the Collooney roundabout until Castlebaldwin it's quite eerie just to count the number of crosses where far too many people have been killed. What a picture for potential tourists, visitors and investors. We are to get a motorway, but when? "We in Sligo, only have tourism to hang our hat on. We have zero job investments but fantastic hard working people in IDA who keep trying to bring more to Sligo but the government only allows them a 19% growth outside of Dublin. If it wasn't for some talented like-minded people who believe in and drive Sligo forward, who brought the Fleadh here and tirelessly promote Sligo for its food culture and beauty, you might as well forget this part of the most beautiful countryside actually exists. "At present, the only major contributor to Sligo for me is Failte Ireland, they realise its wealth as a tourist destination and believe it will work. It is the only organisation that are investing in Sligo," he said. With the success of events like the Fleadh, the continuing hard work by the Tidy Towns, Sligo food trail and other groups who consistently promote Sligo for its rich heritage in music and beauty, it really shows that there is a passion and it clearly outlines our ability to succeed but when there is absolutely no Government support its very frustrating. I sit on many boards trying to promote Sligo and, pardon the pun, there's one major ingredient missing from all rural towns in Ireland and Sligo and that is government investment and money. Sometimes, you can't even get enough money for a sign to bring with you to say that you're from Sligo." A frustrated Mr Gray noted Sligo's most recent loss. "Sligo has most recently lost its library due to the county council being handed a financial plan that's totally unrealistic. The fact of the matter is the council has no money and it is been asked to reduce its staff by 42%. Something has to give and what can you do if you don't have the staff? Let's call it as it is, Sligo has no money, fact. None whatsoever from the government and more than likely, it won't get any in a hurry, the same as every other rural town in Ireland. This is why we will never reach our full potential unless changes are made. No one can work in the direction they want because of this. It's down to the current government to make changes and no one else. It's about time that Sligo and rural Ireland stood up and got angry. At present, our TDs in rural Ireland and Sligo are not strong enough nor do they possess the political clout. Do you think a library in Kerry would have closed under the eyes of the Healy Rae brothers? Not a hope. This Government's blind indifference to Sligo and rural Ireland is destroying its potential. The litany of broken promises from the last general election measured against outcomes since represents the greatest act of political skulduggery by this government. Its true greatest failure is the two tier recovery, it will be the ruination of rural Ireland and Sligo if not addressed. Strategic thinking and the right resource application can transform our local economy. A balancing of the books by government can give Sligo a budget it can work with to embrace its true potential, all that's required is a life line. We in Sligo and other towns can do this and the rest of the country will start to prosper but only then. The government must look at this matter clearly instead of with the blinkered vision. Right now there is a two-tier economy and this is widening between urban and rural Ireland. If the government wants to redeem themselves they must understand that Ireland, especially rural Ireland, is still in a very fragile state. With now having to contend with Brexit and fluctuations in sterling, it really is about time the people in power remember the rest of Ireland and the border counties. It's time somebody cared and did something about rural Ireland. After all, it's not a desert wasteland but it will be if the government fails to repay rural Ireland for what it suffered in austerity by not investing in job creation and boosting tourism. For now, a Sligo budget will be detrimental to the Restaurant Industry in rural Ireland and Sligo and SMEs across this nation." The tragic death last week of 41-year old mother-of-two Catriona Lucas, a Coast Guard volunteer during a rescue mission off Clare, sent shockwaves across the country. It showed how volunteers from the Coast Guard and the RNLI put their lives at risk every time a call comes in. "You don't expect the rescuers to need rescuing but unfortunately these tragedies can happen," said Shane Smyth a RNLI volunteer based. He said it was extremely sad to hear of Catriona's death after the boat she was in capsized in heavy swells during a rescue near Kilkee. "It was really sad to hear, it shows that no one is invincible. The RNLI and the Coast Guard are two separate bodies and both of us have the very best when it comes to personal equipment, such as gear, helmets, life jackets, all of that. But unfortunately what happened in Clare shows that sometimes things can go badly wrong," Shane pointed out. He added volunteers from the Coast Guard and the RNLI are given training to an extremely high standard. "Everyone is trained to the best of their ability, in the RNLI we are trained locally and also over in Poole, Dorset, where people undergo submersion in tanks to train for procedures such as the likes of boats capsizing." Shane said that tragedy does unfortunately strike as volunteers can get into difficulty during rescue missions. "You don't expect the rescuers needing rescuing but it unfortunately can happen. "Volunteers risk their lives every time a call comes through. "You never know what is going to happen when a call comes in or how long you are going to be out there or the situation you are going to be in until you get out there on the water. "You just don't know and most of the time the information that comes through regarding a call out is very brief. "Volunteers go out on these missions and don't know what they are getting into," he added. RNLI volunteers come from all walks of life and hold down various jobs. "We have teachers, HSE personnel, business people, surf school instructors and people in the tourism industry like myself. "Hearing about the tragedy in Clare was devastating news, really, really sad for everyone," Shane said. He's been involved with the RNLI for six years and there's 30 crew based in Bundoran, which regularly link up with Sligo RNLI which is stationed in Rosses Point. "We link up regularly with Sligo RNLI to do joint exercises, we cover the Mullaghmore area too and both crews were involved in the recent search for a missing soldier at Bundoran. "All the boat crew are trained so that someone from Sligo can come and step into our boat if needed." Shane said this summer hasn't been overly busy in terms of calls, and that's good as it means less people are getting into trouble. They also rely on public donations."The RNLI across Ireland and the UK is holding a fundraiser at the moment to encourage people to give up fizzy drinks, coffee, tea, whatever they're on and instead stick to water for ten days. "The money they're saving then is being donated to us. It's called the H2Only campaign and we're asking anyone to throw the two or three euro they spend on coffee or whatever each day into a jar and give it to us after the ten days. "They can get sponsored either or do it on their own. "Every euro counts for the RNLI as we are not Government funded and all the money that comes to us is from generous donations, which are vital," Shane added. See www.irishlifeboats.com Alchemy presents a concert by 'Tonos' this Saturday, September 24, in Nun's Cross Church, Ashford. 'Tonos' consist of Roisin O'Grady, Soprano and Eamon Sweeney, Renaissance and Baroque Guitars, Renaissance Lute. They specialise in the music of the 16th-18th centuries and are delighted to be performing in Wicklow as part of their eight-date Arts Council-funded national tour which coincides with the launch of their debut CD 'Songs of Identity and Belonging.' Eamon is well-known throughout Wicklow from his work with Music Generation, Seamus Heaney, Alchemy Music Series, Bray Music Centre, Kildare-Wicklow Education Training Board. Roisin is one of Ireland's most respected sopranos and works regularly with The National Symphony Orchestra, National Chamber Choir, Irish Baroque Orchestra and has sung for President Obama in the Whitehouse. The concert starts at 8 p.m. and will include works by Turlough O'Carolan, Gaspar Sanz, William Shakespeare and John Dowland. Home Instead Senior Care Wicklow, based in Bray, has been named National Champion in the European Business Awards, sponsored by RSM; Europe's largest business competition set up to celebrate business excellence and best practice in the European business community. The Awards, now in its 10th year, is supported by business leaders, academics and political representatives from across Europe, and this year engaged with over 33,000 businesses from 34 countries. Home Instead Senior Care has been chosen after the first phase of judging by an independent panel. They were evaluated on the core EBA values of innovation, ethics and success and will now go through to the second stage of the competition, which includes a video and a public vote. Home Instead Senior Care is Ireland's largest home care provider, providing care for over 4,000 people throughout the country. Its mission is to enhance the lives of older people and their families. Ed Murphy, Founder and CEO of Home Instead Senior Care in Ireland said 'We're very proud to be selected to represent Ireland as a National Champion. The European Business Awards is widely recognised as the showcase for Europe's most dynamic companies and we are now looking forward to the next round of the judging process where we can explain in more depth how we are achieving business success.' Adrian Tripp, CEO of the European Business Awards said 'Congratulations to Home Instead Senior Care who have been selected to represent their country as National Champions. They are central to the success of Europe's strong business community, and have shown the core principles we look for of innovation, ethics and success.' The next round requires the national champions to make a presentation video, telling their unique story and explaining their business success. The Awards' independent judges will award the best of this group the 'Ruban d'Honneur' status and the selected companies will then go on to the Gala Final in 2017. Separately, in a two stage public vote, the videos will be hosted on the European Business Awards website, and the company who receives the most votes in their country will become the 'National Public Champion'. Garda David Bolger was described as a 'much-loved and valued colleague' at an inquest into his death last week. The inquest was reopened at Wexford Coroner's Court following an adjournment on May 15. Dr Sean Nixon said the cause of death had been determined as severe head injury as a result of a road traffic collision. Garda John Cleary of Enniscorthy Garda Station read his own deposition, in which he said he went to Magmore Wells on December 2, 2015, following a call about a car accident. At the scene, he met with Shay Hammel, who had discovered the car and driver. Garda Cleary discovered the driver in his car with the belt still on. He was later brought to Wexford General Hospital. A deposition by Edward Harney, owner of Harney's Pub, said that the night of December 2 was a usual Wednesday night. He said that at approximately 10 p.m., Mr Bolger, who he knew well, came to visit him in the pub. He said he was in great form. He stayed for an hour and a half before the pair shook hands and David left on his own. At 1.30 a.m., Mr Harney received a call from his employee to say that Mr Bolger had been killed in a road traffic collision. The inquest heard that Shay Hammel of Kilmuckridge discovered Mr Bolger while driving home from the cinema with his children. In his deposition, he said that he was driving along Well's Road when he came across a car on its roof. He was unable to see anybody in the car at first. On discovering Mr Bolger, Mr Hammel rang 999. He said that he got into the car and checked for Mr Bolger's pulse but couldn't find one. He kept trying to find one until the ambulance arrived. Wexford County Coroner Dr Sean Nixon told the inquest that the weather had been particularly bad on the night of Mr Bolger's death which resulted in the car of the deceased colliding with a ditch and turning over. This caused him head injuries which, as explained at the opening of the inquest, resulted in his death. Thirty-one-year-old Garda Bolger of Silverdale, Kilmuckridge, was serving in Newtownmountkennedy at the time of his death. Dr Nixon extended his sympathies to the parents, friends and family of Garda Bolger, including his three children. Superintendent James Doyle also offered his condolences, saying that Mr Bolger was a much loved and valued colleague. He said his death was an enormous loss both to his family and his Garda Siochana family. Li Yanhong is Baidu's CEO. (Photo : Getty Images) A new technology was released by Alibaba and Baidu to protect users on the Internet, especially when buying online, during the Cybersecurity Week in Wuhan. Alibaba launched the face scanner payment. With the scanner, users can log into Alipay and pay a bill by showing their faces to the camera. This is the latest bioscience technology which can accurately identify human faces and blood vessels in the user's retina. Advertisement An Ant Financial employee said, "Compared to a digital password, this technology is hard to be cracked, which can make electronic payment safer." China Unionpay launched its new service called the "cloud flash pay." This technology makes use of a digital "boarding card" on their cellphones that records their bank card numbers, and ID numbers to secure online transactions. Online fraud and stealing of personal information is being more prevalent in China and is causing public concern. Recently, personal information of more than 200,000 children in Shandong Province, particularly their names, age, address and parents' telephone numbers were leaked. Forty million users' personal information have been leaked in the first half of 2016 while cyber attackers have stolen users' private information 630 million times. There have been 410 million thefts were conducted through mobile phones. This data was revealed by a white paper published by Baidu. The system developed by Tencent Company, Qilin, monitors moving scammer base-stations pretending to be banks and telecom service providers. The system's accuracy rate is 99 percent. This is the only technology that the government deems reliable, according to the Ministry of Public Security. Alongside with Tencent, Baidu is helping authorities crack down on the black Internet market. They have helped police crack 500 cases and bust 800 suspects, involving more than 100 million yuan, according to a public relations employee of Baidu. The splendid Big House charms of Russborough House near Blessington are well known, drawing thousands upon thousands of visitors each year. The venue made most famous by a notorious art robbery is a stunning old building with its statues and its extensive grounds. Now a fresh attraction has been added to the maze and the craft workshops with the opening of the National Bird of Prey Centre. What was up to recently a farm yard is now home to a collection of winged predators assembled by Tom Byrne. 'There was nothing here in April,' confirms Tom, who is assisted in the exciting development by partner Carol Fitzpatrick. Behind high old walls, they have installed a series of cages to house their feathered pride and joy. They also have a classroom for school groups and an incubation area where they hope to hatch chicks in the new year. A sign proclaims the warning 'These Birds May Bite' and this is no joke, though the residents are well fenced off from curious humans. Some are little bigger than thrushes and they range up in size to a magnificent golden eagle which must be at least three feet tall as it sits on its branch looking out at the world. They all have this in common, from the kestrels to the kites, that they are meat eaters one and all, with the haughtiness which comes from being at the top of the food chain. Some are allowed to sit out in the courtyard, perched on hoops and watching the passers-by with the ferocious intensity of eyes designed to assist in killing. Tom reckons that his Lannier falcon has vision so sharp that it is capable of spotting a sparrow three kilometres away. Those assassin's eyes have also hypnotised humans over the generations, most notably the Arab sheikhs for whom falconry is a trademark passion. The centre in Russborough offers a glimpse of the thrilling sight of birds of prey on the wing with shows and walks in the grounds of the estate. Tom Byrne also takes callers along the line of spacious cages where his charges - all bred in captivity - are housed. 'They are very calm - until they go hunting,' he muses as he returns the stare of a Harris hawk sitting peacefully in its lair. A native of America, the Harris is one of the most popular birds of prey with falconers. It is capable of taking a pheasant or even a hare. Working in packs, they have even been known to attack animals as large as deer in search of a good dinner. This one turns a beady eye on some passing rooks through the grille of its cage. The collection features a snoozing barn owl, representing a species which has come under pressure in Ireland due to changes in agricultural practice. They love old buildings as nesting sites and the change to metal sheeting as the prime building material in farm yards has deprived them of suitable homes. 'Put up an owl box,' is Tom's appeal to country folk in response to the barn owl housing crisis along with a concern that vermin bait can prove deadly: 'The other problem for the barn owl is that they pick up poisoned mice.' He provides a handy guide to distinguishing Ireland's two most common strains of owl: 'If it's white, it's a barn owl and if its brown, then it's the long eared owl.' He also has a bird on show which goes down well with Harry Potter fans, a snowy owl of the sort which delivers the mail to young wizards studying at Hogwarts. They turn up occasionally in this country but appear to have no plans to breed here. The classic 'too-wit, too-woo' call by the way is the trademark of the tawny owl, common in Britain but not represented in the wild in Ireland. Next door is a creature which is certainly not of traditional Irish stock - a turkey vulture which has been christened Princess. With her black feathers and bright red face, she is no rival to Kate Middleton in the beauty stakes. Tom jokes that she was acquired as a Valentine's Day present for Carol and insists: 'She is an absolute sweetheart!' He points to her wide nostrils and observes that the vulture is one of the few birds endowed with a sense of smell, handy when it comes to sniffing out carrion. Among the other curiosities on display in Russborough is the kookaburra from Australia, which happily makes its well-known laughing call on a cue from Tom. He also gives house room to a long-legged creature with a lethal beak called a Seriema, which is popular in South America for its ability to catch snakes. 'This is the only living relative of the historic Terror Bird,' insists the proprietor, adding quickly: 'He is very placid and very tame.' Tom is a cheerleader for his birds, pointing out their virtues. The European Eagle Owl, he proclaims as the biggest species of owl. The Brown Owl he hails as extremely agile, capable of snatching a squirrel from a branch of a tree in Germany's Black Forest. He introduces his kestrels - they are the ones famous for hovering - as remarkable for being able to pick up signals from the ultra violet spectrum. This is very handy in the detection of trails of mice urine. Take a look over there at the peregrine falcon with its head like an executioner's mask, billed as the fastest moving bird on the planet. It is capable of reaching 390 kilometres per hour through the air as it picks off some unfortunate pigeon on the wing in its bright yellow feet. Tom's enthusiasm is undimmed since childhood growing up in South Dublin as a member of a family which otherwise preferred canaries to hawks. The 51-year-old recalls that he was fascinated by birds of prey from an early age. The relationship was sealed when, as a young teenager, he came upon an injured kestrel which had fallen from its nest in Killiney. The stricken bird was eventually restored to the wild and Tom grew up to work selling musical instruments. It seemed to be an appropriate career choice for someone who plays banjo but he relentlessly hankered all the time for rural life. 'All my interests were country interests, most importantly hunting with hawks,' he muses. Eventually he made the break to set up as a falconer whose stock in trade was patrolling tip-heads for Carlow County Council. He still puts in a few shifts for them, using hawks or kestrels to put manners on the local population of crows and other scavengers. He also brings home rabbits for the pot, which have been caught by his birds, though Carol refuses to eat them. Such fare was certainly not on the menu in the Tallaght home place of her youth. She prefers to look after fluffy owl fledglings. Together the Byrne and Fitzpatrick combination came up with the National Bird of Prey Centre, a concept first presented to the general public at Rathwood near Tullow. Now it has been transferred to the more appropriate, more open spaces of Blessington. 'We have an educational centre here where people can come and learn all about birds of prey,' says Tom whose role is part showman and part teacher. He is available to take customers out into the open country and allow them have a hawk rest on their arms before taking off in spectacular flight. He is also a keen promoter of the various programmes to re-introduce various species to Ireland. The domesticated golden eagle on his books is a reminder that the bird is once more to be seen in the mountains around Donegal. Meanwhile, the white-tailed sea eagle is gradually re-populating the South West, with chicks reported in nests around the Cork/Kerry border. The red kite may be found closer to home in Wicklow, another breed successfully imported to Ireland. As Tom speaks, his charges turn their attention to an untamed bird passing overhead. It is a buzzard, representative of a species which has returned to Ireland in recent times of its own accord. 'Seventy-five per cent of birds of prey do not make it through first year in the wild,' he estimates. Many injured specimens are handed in to his care as he attempts to reduce the figure. He can also claim to be the first person in Ireland to have bred falcons using artificial insemination, just one more facet of the passion that has gripped him since he was a chap. 'I am still as besotted as ever,' he confesses. Tom Byrne can be contacted on 045-857755 A male rescued from the South Quay in Wicklow town early on Sunday morning was suffering from shock and had sustained facial injuries. The dramatic rescue unfolded after a man tending to his boat at around 6.45am noticed a person in distress in the water at Wicklow Harbour. The Coastguard was immediately contacted and then in turn alerted Wicklow RNLI. A multi-agency rescue ensued, involving Wicklow Lifeboat, gardai, ambulance services and the Coast Guard. The inshore lifeboat crew arrived on the scene at the South Quay a short time later. Crew volunteer Ian Thompson entered the water to rescue the man, who was disorientated and had visible injuries, mainly facial. Ian was able to assess and reassure the man, before bringing him to a nearby ladder and, with the assistance of An Garda Siochana, the person was lifted to safety and transferred to a waiting ambulance for medical treatment. It is not known how the man ended up in the water or for how long he was there. Tommy Dover of Wicklow RNLI said the quick reaction of everyone involved prevented the incident from being much worse. If he was in the cold water for much longer then it could have been a lot more serious. The casualty was in a state of shock and the onset of hypothermia was kicking in but he was fortunate he was spotted so early. There were smiles all round on Wednesday morning for the release of the junior certificate results as students from Wicklow town achieved some of the best marks in the country. For many, the day was the culmination of many hours of blood, sweat and maybe even some tears, as they worked toward the exams that will determine their future path over the next few years, More than 60,000 students nationwide sat the exams, with only six students throughout the country managing twelve straight A results. Among them was 15 year old Anna Moelders from East Glendalough School. 'Anna is a straight A students and was part of a particularly hard working class,' says East Glendalough Principal, Craig Petrie. 'She is a very talented student and choosing to sit twelve rather than the usual eleven exams worked out for her. Anna pushed herself hard but all her work paid off. 'She did so well across a range of different subjects and the world is at her feet.' The Dominican College Wicklow also achieved some memorable results, especially Caoimhe O'Neill who received eleven A's. Ciara Fagan managed an impressive ten A's. Principal Lorraine Mynes wasn't surprised by the quality of the results. 'The girls managed some amazing results right across the board. I know the students and parents were delighted overall with the results achieved. 'I know we had one student with eleven straight A's and another with ten, but we had a several other students all with plenty of A's.' Not that the Dominican students allowed such good results to go to their heads. Most of Thursday was busily spent preparing for Friday's annual coffee morning in aid of the Wicklow Hospice. The girls baked all the goods involved and raised some 700. Aoibhin Garrihy at the Irish premiere of Billy Elliot The Musical atthe Bord Gais Energy Theatre. Pictures: Brian McEvoy Relaxing in the Spanish sun is not a bad way to start married life, as Dublin actress Aoibhin Garrihy has been finding out. The former Fair City star is just back from enjoying some R&R in upmarket Marbella on the Costa del Sol. Aoibhin enjoyed the short break with her sisters and bridesmaids - Doireann and Ailbhe - ahead of her wedding to Clare hotelier John Burke next weekend. The Castleknock woman will wed the businessman in a lavish reception in his Armada Hotel in picturesque Spanish Point, Co Clare. Best few days with these two...#bridetribe @ailbhegarrihy @doireanngarrihy A photo posted by Aoibhin Garrihy (@aoibhingarrihy) on Sep 22, 2016 at 10:06am PDT The couple will first tie the knot in her dad's native Doolin. In the run-up to the big day, Aoibhin (29) decided to jet off to the sunshine and enjoy a few days in the upmarket Puerto Banus. The actress, who is best known for her turn as Neasa Dillon on the soap, has been working hard to look her best by lifting weights and running ahead of her wedding. Read More Earlier this summer, the pretty actress returned from the States, where she had been touring with Gate Theatre production The Importance of Being Earnest. Expand Close Aoibhin Garrihy and John Burke / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Aoibhin Garrihy and John Burke Among those expected at her big day is her close pal and former co-star on Fair City Aoibheann McCaul. Just last month, Aoibhin had her hen party at the exclusive Mount Juliet Estate in Co Kilkenny. Video of the Day Aoibhin and her gal pals indulged in some spa treatments 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. Expand Close Aoibhin Garrihy at the reveal of the Clarisonic Alfa and Mia Fit Sonic Cleansing Device at Counter Culture, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Aoibhin Garrihy at the reveal of the Clarisonic Alfa and Mia Fit Sonic Cleansing Device at Counter Culture, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy glitz Aoibhin and John got engaged in June 2015 while enjoying a walk on the Cliffs of Moher. The actress, who also appeared in the Fall alongside Jamie Dornan, has said that she is looking forward to a low-key affair with her nearest and dearest. "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. US actor Brad Pitt and US actress Angelina Jolie leave the red carpet after the screening of "The Tree of Life" presented in competition at the 64th Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2011 Actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie attend the Inglourious Basterds Premiere held at the Palais Des Festivals during the 62nd International Cannes Film Festival on May 20th, 2009 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Hollywood actor Brad Pitt walks with actress Angelina Jolie, in the Damascus Souk, or market, during a brief visit to Syria in 2009 Actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie attend "The Tree Of Life" premiere during the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 16, 2011 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) US actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, pose on the red carpet before the screening of "The Tree of Life" presented in competition at the 64th Cannes Film Festival Actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt arrives at the 81st Annual Academy Awards held at The Kodak Theatre on February 22, 2009 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic) Actress Angelina Jolie and actor Brad Pitt arrive at the premiere of Paramount's "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button" held at Mann's Village Theatre on Decemeber 8, 2008 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) Actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arrive at the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 29, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) Actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie attend the Inglourious Basterds Premiere held at the Palais Des Festivals during the 62nd International Cannes Film Festival on May 20th, 2009 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Brad Pitt is said to be "completely devastated" after being "blindsided" by Angelina Jolie filing for divorce. The couple first met on the set of Mr & Mrs Smith in 2004 when he was married to Jennifer Aniston and in 2005, they went public with their romance and wed in 2014. The divorce has already turned nasty since Jolie filed on Monday and the FBI are currently considering whether to launch an investigation into an alleged incident on an aircraft carrying the pair and their six children, where he reportedly got into an argument with son Maddox (15). And Pitt reportedly isn't taking it well. Expand Close US actor Brad Pitt and US actress Angelina Jolie leave the red carpet after the screening of "The Tree of Life" presented in competition at the 64th Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2011 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp US actor Brad Pitt and US actress Angelina Jolie leave the red carpet after the screening of "The Tree of Life" presented in competition at the 64th Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2011 He is beside himself and has been crying," an insider told Us Weekly. "He was completely caught off guard and blindsided and had no idea she would do this. "He is completely devastated and beside himself. He is a shattered man." Angelina hired Johnny Depp's attorney Laura Wasser, while Pitt has secured the services of Lance Spiegel, who previously represented Eva Longoria and Charlie Sheen. Expand Close Actress Angelina Jolie and actor Brad Pitt arrive at the premiere of Paramount's "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button" held at Mann's Village Theatre on Decemeber 8, 2008 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Actress Angelina Jolie and actor Brad Pitt arrive at the premiere of Paramount's "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button" held at Mann's Village Theatre on Decemeber 8, 2008 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) Read More "Hes extremely upset," the insider added. "But he is totally focused on just being helpful and making sure his kids are doing as well as possible." Media outlets quoting anonymous sources claimed Pitt had been drinking during the flight. A report by TMZ claims Pitt lunged at one of his children and connected in some fashion with his son. Video of the Day Speaking to People, a source reportedly with knowledge of the situation said there was an argument between the actor and Jolie which resulted in a parent-child argument when one of their children stepped in, which then escalated. However, the source said Pitt was adamant it did not reach the level of physical abuse, that no one was physically harmed. Expand Close Actor Brad Pitt (L) and Writer/Director Angelina Jolie arrive at the \'In the Land of Blood and Honey' premiere held at ArcLight Cinemas on December 8, 2011 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Actor Brad Pitt (L) and Writer/Director Angelina Jolie arrive at the \'In the Land of Blood and Honey' premiere held at ArcLight Cinemas on December 8, 2011 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) The FBI issued a statement to the magazine, saying: "In response to your inquiry regarding allegations within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States; specifically, an aircraft carrying Mr. Brad Pitt and his children, the FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued." Jeremy Corbyn has the ability to transform the country and stand up to the Government's "abusive behaviour" if his own MPs can halt their hostile attacks, veteran director Ken Loach said. The award-winning filmmaker said spending time with Mr Corbyn had shown him the Labour leader's ability to connect with the public. He suggested that if he entered Downing Street Mr Corbyn could transform the country. With the presidential election looming in the US, the director admitted he was "scared shitless" by the prospect of Donald Trump entering the White House. Loach, whose new film I, Daniel Blake chronicles the central character's struggles with the bureaucracy of the welfare system, said Mr Corbyn would not tolerate the "horrific" benefits sanctions regime. The film, written by Loach's frequent collaborator Paul Laverty, was based on their research of the benefits system and won the prestigious Palme d'Or award at Cannes. He said: "I, Daniel Blake came about because Paul and I heard so many stories that were absolutely horrific, of people being sanctioned for the most absurd reasons, quite unnecessarily, quite wrongly. "A man takes his pregnant wife to hospital because she is in premature labour and because of that he misses his appointment and he is sanctioned. He's got a young child at home, a pregnant wife and no money. "We heard hundreds of stories like that and we thought 'this needs further investigation'. "So we went round different cities, everywhere we went it was the same story. Video of the Day "There's clearly a conscious cruelty in way people are being punished for their poverty." Loach said Mr Corbyn would stand up to the system. It was "salutary" to see "someone leading a major political party who will, I think, not tolerate this kind of abusive behaviour on the part of the state". He added that the Government needed to acknowledge there was still "mass unemployment" and many people were trapped in low wage, insecure work. "There is a huge number of people who are working poor who have to get a top-up from the state in order to survive. "This is a feature of this economy - it's not down to people's laziness but the attitude of the state, and in particular of this government, is that you are out of work because your CV isn't good enough or you have missed an appointment. "That's not the case. You are out of work because there is no work, there's very few jobs." Loach, who made a short film to aid Mr Corbyn's re-election campaign, had previously released The Spirit of '45, celebrating the achievements of the post-war Labour government which created the NHS. Critics of Mr Corbyn have suggested that Labour can only hope to achieve its policy aims if it can secure power - something they argue will be impossible with him as leader. But Loach told the Press Association: "Absolutely he can be elected. The problem is he is low in the polls because most of his senior MPs keep telling people he is no good." He added: "The party has huge confidence in him, he has trebled the membership and he is clearly popular once you actually can get through the bad propaganda from right-wing Labour MPs, the BBC and the press." He continued: "When you see him connect to people there is no question that he makes real connections in the way other politicians don't. "That's why they are so afraid of him and that's why they are after him." Asked if a Corbyn premiership could transform the country in the same way as the 1945 government he said: "I think it's a very different situation, but yes he could transform politics because he would be really curtailing the power of the big corporations. "They wouldn't be in the health service, at the moment they are setting it up for wholesale privatisation. "He would stop the money draining out by resolving the PFI crisis; he would get the big corporations out of the transport system - out of the trains, out of the buses." Cathy Come Home director Loach also highlighted Mr Corbyn's approach to the housing crisis. "Housing is another big issue. His policy of council housing with really affordable rent and to buy, absolutely what we need to solve the housing crisis," he said. "There is no question that what he is proposing is popular and because it attacks corporate power, that is why he is under such attack." Loach admitted he was "scared shitless" by the potential outcome of the US presidential election. "The idea of Trump having his finger on the nuclear button is just terrifying," he said. But Mr Trump's rival Hillary Clinton was a "very flawed candidate," Loach added. Actress Marion Cotillard (L) and actor Guillaume Canet attend the Dior Party during the10th Marrakech Film Festival on December 4, 2010 in Marrakech, Morocco. (Photo by Dominique Charriau/Getty Images) French actress Marion Cotillard (R) hugs her partner French director Guillaume Canet on May 20, 2013 before attending a photocall for the film "Blood Ties" presented Out of Competition at the 66th edition of the Cannes Film Festival French actress Marion Cotillard (R) looks at her partner director Guillaume Canet on May 20, 2013 as they leave after attending the screening of the film "Blood Ties" presented Out of Competition at the 66th edition of the Cannes Film Festival French actress Marion Cotillard (L) and director Guillaume Canet pose on May 20, 2013 during a photocall for the film "Blood Ties" presented Out of Competition at the 66th edition of the Cannes Film Festival French actress Marion Cotillard (R) and her partner French actor Guillaume Canet attend the 40th edition of the Cesar Awards ceremony French actor Guillaume Canet (L) and his partner French actress Marion Cotillard pose as they arrive for the 40th edition of the Cesar Awards ceremony Marion Cotillard's longtime partner Guillaume Canet has broken his silence about false gossip swirling around the French actress' relationship with Brad Pitt. The Inception star found herself in the middle of Pitt and Angelina Jolie's marriage split drama earlier this week, when rumours suggesting she had romanced the actor on the set of their new film Allied began to hit the Internet. Cotillard released a statement confirming reports she was pregnant with her second child, and admitted the rumours she had broken up a Hollywood marriage were "affecting people I love". Now actor and director Canet, the father of Marion's five-year-old son Marcel and her unborn baby, has taken to Instagram to address the drama, insisting the cheating rumours are "stupid and unfounded". Expand Close Brad Pitt plays Max Vatan and Marion Cotillard plays Marianne Beausejour in Allied from Paramount Pictures. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Brad Pitt plays Max Vatan and Marion Cotillard plays Marianne Beausejour in Allied from Paramount Pictures. "I don't usually make it a habit to comment on rumours made about us," the 42-year-old, who Marion called "the man of my life, father of our son and of the baby we are expecting" in her statement, wrote in French, alongside a picture of a 'Danger' road sign. Read More "I also don't usually talk about my private life which until now I've always protected attentively... but the fury of the tabloids, the venal stupidity of some people calling themselves journalists, the haters who feel braver behind a keyboard, drive me to speak of the pride, love, respect and admiration I have for Marion staying as strong and intelligent in the face of all these stupid and unfounded accusations. "I think we're all living with much more important things at this moment and now it's time to move on and raise the bar a bit." Expand Close French actress Marion Cotillard (R) hugs her partner French director Guillaume Canet on May 20, 2013 before attending a photocall for the film "Blood Ties" presented Out of Competition at the 66th edition of the Cannes Film Festival / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp French actress Marion Cotillard (R) hugs her partner French director Guillaume Canet on May 20, 2013 before attending a photocall for the film "Blood Ties" presented Out of Competition at the 66th edition of the Cannes Film Festival Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt on Monday, citing irreconcilable differences. Cotillard dismissed reports suggesting she was "devastated" by the news, but wrote: "I do very much wish that Angelina and Brad, both whom (sic) I deeply respect, will find peace in this very tumultuous moment." Video of the Day Cotillard and Canet began dating in 2007 and he directed the actress in 2010's Little White Lies, as well as Blood Ties in 2013. The two stars will share the screen together in the upcoming Rock 'n' Roll. The FBI is considering whether to launch an investigation into an alleged incident on an aircraft carrying Brad Pitt and his children, when he reportedly got into an argument with 15-year-old son Maddox. Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from the actor on Monday, citing irreconcilable differences, and has asked for physical custody of the couple's six children. In a statement, the FBI confirmed it was aware of allegations involving an "aircraft carrying Mr Brad Pitt and his children". "The FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued," it added. According to TMZ, the Hollywood gossip website, the allegations stem from a flight from France to Minnesota on Wednesday of last week, when he is alleged to have got drunk before going "wild," screaming and "getting physical". The 'New York Daily News' reported that Pitt had got into a verbal argument with eldest son Maddox (15). "He was never physically abusive to her or the kids," a source close to the actor told the 'New York Post'. "He did yell at one of their children on the plane during an argument, but he didn't hit the child. Brad is denying claims of inappropriate behaviour." The incident had been referred to the FBI, because it happened in mid-air, TMZ said. Witnesses told the site that the plane landed at Minnesota airport around 8pm, where Pitt continued to rant on the tarmac before trying to leave in a fuel truck. An anonymous third person then called child protection services, said TMZ. A source close to Pitt told TMZ: "He takes the matter very seriously and says he did not commit any abuse of his children. It's unfortunate that people involved are continuing to present him in the worst possible light." Video of the Day Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] The public are being asked to keep an eye on the love lives of lugworms as part of a research project called Spermwatch. Scientists are baffled about the process which leads the lugworm, which spends most of its life buried deep in the sand on beaches, to begin its mating process. In order to breed, the male lugworm releases sperm which collects in puddles on the surface of the sand. When the tide comes in, the sperm is washed down into the burrows of the females and fertilises their eggs. Dr Katrin Bohn, of the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of Portsmouth, explained that very specific environmental conditions are needed to trigger the release of sperm and the egg at the same time, and the public's help is needed to help fill in the "knowledge gaps" in the process. She said: "Lugworms are fascinating. "The entire population at a specific location reproduces for just a few days every year, and only when certain environmental conditions are ideal. "We want to know what those conditions are, and also understand how climate change, for example, will affect that. By going out for a walk on any beach across the UK, members of the public can help us in answering those questions." Dr Gordon Watson, principal lecturer at the Institute of Marine Sciences, said: "This is a great way for people to get involved in scientific research. It would be virtually impossible to collect these data without public involvement, so every bit of data the public collects is vital." The lugworm - arenicola marina - is a vital source of food for wader birds and fish, and the species plays an important role in fisheries as a source of bait. Spermwatch is part of a wider conservation project called Capturing our Coast, a Heritage Lottery Fund partnership between the universities of Portsmouth, Newcastle, Bangor and Hull, the Marine Conservation Society, the Earthwatch Institute, the Marine Biological Association and the Scottish Association of Marine Science. Instruction booklets can be downloaded at: http://www.capturingourcoast.co.uk/spermwatch. The incident allegedly took place in a primary school in Sydney Getty Images A 12-year-old boy accused of raping a six-year-old girl has been allowed an adjustment to his bail conditions so he can go on a family holiday. The boy is one of two 12-year-old boys charged with allegedly assaulting and raping the young girl in a toilet block at their primary school in Sydney, Australia. According to court documents the girl was allegedly attacked between 24 June and 16 August this year. They also state the alleged rapes and assaults took place between 8am and 4pm, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The boy is accused of raping the girl twice in separate attacks and is further accused of indecently assaulting her three further times with the other 12-year-old boy. The boys were arrested at Chatswood Police Station on 30 August and suspended from school when police were alerted by the girls parents to the incident after it took place. The boy has been charged with three counts of aggravated indecency in company, two counts of sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10 and one count of indecent assault. On Thursday, the boys defence lawyer James Viney pleaded not guilty to the charges on his behalf as the boy made his first appearance in the Childrens Court. Mr Viney also applied to adjust the boys bail conditions, which stipulated he must stay with his parents at their home in northern Sydney, so he could go a week-long family holiday. Magistrate Louise McManus granted the adjustment and ordered a brief of evidence to be served by November, The Daily Telegraph reports. The boy was also excused from attending his next date in court. Concern about the presence of the reporters in court was also heard by the magistrate. Mr Viney mentioned the "delicate age" of the boy and of him encountering a barrage of media. Magistrate McManus expressed concern about the impact of a large media presence and said the court tried to make the legal process as informal as possible for children. The case has been referred to the Department of Public Prosecutions. and will next go before court on 24 November. The second boy has also been charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault and sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10. He has been granted bail and is due to appear in court on 20 October. A casino employee shows a tray of chocolates in a casino resort in Macau. (Photo : Getty Images) The Chinese government is set to classify foreigners into three categories, starting Nov. 1, as part of a new nationwide work permit system geared towards building an innovation-driven economy by "encouraging the top, controlling the middle and limiting the bottom" of foreigners in the country, the state news media reported. Advertisement "It aims to better serve overseas talent coming to work in China," Zhang Jianguo, head of the State Administration of Foreign Experts, said. The agency will run the system that is set to be implemented nationwide on April 1. It will be tested first in nine cities or provinces, including Beijing and Shanghai. Based on the 2010 census, there were about 200,000 foreigners working legally in China, with an additional 400,000 as family dependents. However, Eric Liu, a consultant at Foreign HR, a human resources company based in Beijing, told the New York Times that the number is low as there are about two million in total foreigners in China in 2015, with up to 300,000 more working illegally, using tourist visas. Liu said that although China needs many more foreign workers, it is often hard for them to obtain visas. "Companies of every type need foreign workers for economic development, whether big state-owned enterprises or private companies," Liu said. To some foreigners, the classification is disturbing, the report said. Under the new system, foreigners will be classified into three categories: A, B and C. "They haven't released how the scoring system is going to work," James, a former high school instructor in Wyoming who teaches kindergarten in Beijing, said in an interview. "That's a worry to me. I'd like to know how I can become an asset to China, and exactly where I stand." Unlike in the old system, which was mostly paper-based, the new system is computerized and each worker will be linked to a photo ID and number. "If it's going to create more transparency and accountability, I think it's going to be a good thing," James said. The China Organization Personnel Newspaper, a publication under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Services, provided details about the classification. Under the new system, Class A will include top professional, innovative and creative talent, the newspaper said. Those in the Class B will include other professionals who are suited for the country's economic development plans and occupy short-term positions, especially in management and technical areas. Limits will be imposed in international trade, sports, culture and education. Class C foreigners will include the unskilled or service industry workers and they will be "strictly limited," the paper said. The paper added that there will be points to be assigned, which will be based on salary, education level, age and Chinese-language skills, among others. To qualify into a class A, a foreigner must have at least 85 points while a B worker must have 60 and lower than 60 for C. An official at the State Administration of Foreign Experts information section who asked not to be identified told the New York Times over the phone that further details are still being worked out and would be released gradually as the policy evolved. Mr Cruz had engaged in an often vicious battle with Mr Trump in the race for the Republican presidential nomination (AP) Donald Trump needs to prove to voters that he has the policy depth and gravitas to serve as commander in chief while Hillary Clinton needs a moment to connect with Americans who question whether she can be trusted. In an election year that has upended political convention, the candidates' best opportunity to conquer their weaknesses will come in the most traditional of campaign forums: Monday's 90-minute, prime-time debate. Both campaigns expect a record-setting television audience for the high-stakes showdown, which could help tip the balance in a tight White House race. The visuals alone will be striking as the candidates step behind their podiums at Hofstra University in suburban New York. Mrs Clinton will be the first woman to take the stage in a presidential general election debate. Mr Trump has spent years on Americans' television screens as a reality show host, but it can still be jarring to see him at politics' upper echelons. Six weeks from Election Day, and with advance voting already under way, the opening debate is one of the few opportunities left for the candidates to motivate supporters and sway a narrow band of undecided voters. According to a new Associated Press-Gfk poll, more than 85% of likely voters backing Mrs Clinton or Mr Trump say their minds are completely made up. About 13% said they were undecided. The candidates' preparation has been a microcosm of their sharply different approaches to politics and presumably, the presidency. The Democratic nominee has spent weeks with advisers, taking full days away from campaign travel to pour through briefing books, practising to pounce if Mr Trump makes false statements and steeling herself for the possibility that he levels deeply personal attacks. Long-time Clinton aide Philippe Reines is playing Mr Trump in mock debates. Former President Bill Clinton has sat in on some sessions, offering advice from his own White House debates. Mr Trump has eschewed traditional debate preparations, but has held midflight policy discussions with a rotating cast of advisers. He has also spent numerous Sundays batting around ideas with aides. The Republican businessman's loose approach is potentially risky given that he is new to many policy issues expected to come up during the debate. But advisers contend he will compensate by being quick on his feet and point to his experience at performing under pressure. "Imagine the practice and the training of 13 years of reality television on The Apprentice and then imagine Hillary's experience reading hundreds of papers," said Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker and a Trump adviser who has been talking through policy with the candidate in recent days. Mrs Clinton's aides fear Mr Trump will indeed be judged more for his performance than his grasp of the numerous challenges that pass across a president's desk. They've been flummoxed by Mr Trump's ability to sail through the campaign without fleshing out many policy positions and glossing over past statements that he no longer views as politically palatable. On Friday, the Clinton campaign released 19 pages of what they called Mr Trump's "seven deadly lies", including his false assertion that he opposed the Iraq war from the start. "Even if he meets some kind of lowered bar of being semi-coherent and not having any outbursts, it's hard to imagine he'll avoid his own propensity for lying," said Brian Fallon, Mrs Clinton's campaign spokesman. Asked whether Mrs Clinton herself planned to call Mr Trump out in the debate if he tries to lie about his past statements, Mr Fallon said: "I don't think she would let anything like that pass." People familiar with Mrs Clinton's preparations say she has been working through answers to questions that hit at her lack of trustworthiness in the eyes of many Americans, a problem that has dogged her throughout the campaign. Supporters cringed during a candidate forum earlier this month when Mrs Clinton was pressed about her email use at the State Department and became defensive, rather than apologising and trying to move on quickly. Mrs Clinton has debated more than 30 times at the presidential level, including several one-on-one debates with Barack Obama in 2008 and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in 2016. But this will be her first presidential debate against a candidate from an opposing party, which Democrats say will give her far more latitude in drawing a contrast and defending herself. "It's a lot more comfortable running against people in the other party than it is debating in the primary," said Anita Dunn, who worked on debate preparations with Barack Obama. "The differences don't have to be manufactured. The differences exist." Mr Trump had an uneven record during the Republican debates, sometimes controlling the crowded contests and other times fading into the background. He flipped back and forth between being bombastic and trying to act restrained. Mr Trump's less-than-restrained side was on display on Saturday as he went on Twitter to criticise Mrs Clinton's decision to ask businessman Mark Cuban - a frequent critic of Mr Trump - to be one of her guests at the debate. The Republican nominee suggested he might put Gennifer Flowers, a woman who had a relationship with Bill Clinton, "right alongside" Mr Cuban. Mr Trump misspelled Ms Flowers' first name in his original tweet, then sent a corrected version minutes later. AP Pippa Middleton and James Matthews, as pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge and her children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, are reportedly among 3,000 images stolen from Miss Middleton by computer hackers Pippa Middleton arrives on day seven of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon Pippa Middleton attending the Frost Summer Party Fundraiser, in aid of the Miles Frost Fund and in partnership with the British Heart Foundation Pippa Middleton, sister of the Duchess of Cambridge goes for a run outside her London home a day after she announced her engagement to financier James Matthews. Picture: Philip Toscano/PA Wire A 35-year-old man has been arrested by police investigating claims that Pippa Middleton's iCloud account was hacked. Scotland Yard said they arrested the man on Saturday evening at an address in Northamptonshire. Pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge and her children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, are reportedly among the images stolen from Kate's sister. Both the Sun and Daily Mail newspapers reported that an anonymous seller had offered the pictures to media organisations via encrypted messaging service WhatsApp. The images offered reportedly include some of the royal children as well as wedding dresses and parties, with the seller wanting to sell in the US because of UK privacy laws. The Sun said it had been approached by someone using a pseudonym and asking for 50,000 within 48 hours. Specialist officers at Scotland Yard are investigating after receiving a report of hacking on Friday night. Police and paramedics at the scene of the shooting (The Seattle Times/AP) Law enforcement investigate a deadly shooting in the Macy's store at the Cascade Mall in Burlington (AP) The hunt for a gunman who killed five people in a US shopping mall is continuing. The death of a man in the early hours of Saturday brought the death toll to five after four woman had been killed in the Friday night rampage at the Macy's make-up counter at the Cascade Mall in Burlington in Washington state. "There are people waking up this morning and their world has changed forever. The city of Burlington has probably changed forever, but I don't think our way life needs to change," Burlington mayor Steve Sexton said on Saturday at a news conference. "This was a senseless act. It was the world knocking on our doorstep and it came into our little community." As the small city absorbed the news, critical questions remained, including the identity of the shooter, his motive and his whereabouts. A massive manhunt continued and police broadcast a plea for tips. The FBI said terrorism was not suspected. The gunman was described by witnesses to police as a young Hispanic man dressed in black. Surveillance video captured him entering the mall unarmed and then recorded him about 10 minutes later entering the Macy's with a "hunting type" rifle in his hand, Mount Vernon Police Lieutenant Chris Cammock said. Authorities did not say how the suspect may have obtained the weapon - whether he retrieved it from outside or picked it up in the mall - but they believe he acted alone. The weapon was recovered at the scene. The identities of the victims - four women who ranged in age from a teenager to a senior citizen - were withheld pending post mortems and notification of family. The identity of the man who was fatally shot was also withheld. "Probably one of the most difficult moments for us last night was knowing that there were family members wondering about their loved ones in there," Mr Cammock said. As police scrambled to find the shooter, the small city about 60 miles north of Seattle settled into a new and nerve-wracking reality. The community of 8,600 people is too far from Seattle to be a commuter town, but its population swells to 55,000 during the day because of a popular outlet mall, retail stores and other businesses. Burlington is the only major retail centre within 30 miles in a region where agriculture is king, said Linda Jones, the president of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce. Surrounding Skagit County has deep agricultural roots and is home to families that have worked the land for generations. Farmers produce about 300 million dollars worth of more than 90 different crops a year - a heritage that is celebrated each October with tours of family farms that attract thousands, according to Washington State University's agricultural extension. Residents, rattled by the fact that the shooter was still on the loose, relied on those bonds Saturday to comfort each other at a community gathering in a city park. "It's too scary. It's too close to home," said Maria Elena Vasquez, who attended the gathering with her husband and two young children. "I'm a little nervous even taking her to her soccer game today with this person still on the loose. But I want to keep it normal for her," she said of her seven-year-old daughter. Those who survived were still trying to process what happened as their community became the latest entry on a list of places known by the rest of world for mass shootings. As the shots rang out, shoppers hid in dressing rooms and bathrooms and made hushed, terrified phone calls to relatives. One woman started running with her four-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter only to slip and fall - and then watch as the shooter strode past her terrified children, Kiro-TV reported on its Twitter feed. "We have never been so scared in our lives," the woman texted the station. Joanne Burkholder, 19, of nearby Mount Vernon, was watching the movie The Magnificent Seven in the mall's cinema when security guards came in and told them to evacuate immediately. Dozens of panicked moviegoers gathered in the hallway, and Ms Burkholder heard screaming as the officers escorted them to safety in a parking lot. As she drove home later, she had to pull over because she was shaking so hard, she said. "I'm just very thankful for my life this morning. I've never been so terrified in my life," she said on Saturday, trying to hold back tears as she attended the community vigil. "You'd think it would happen in Everett or Seattle, but a small town of Burlington, I'd never dream something like this would happen." The parking lot was closed on Saturday and emergency management officials told people they would be able to retrieve vehicles later in the day, though the mall was shut. The Cascade Mall is an enclosed shopping mall that opened in 1990. It features JC Penney, TJ Maxx, and Macy's stores, among other stores, restaurants and a cinema. On September 17, a man stabbed 10 people at a Minnesota mall before being shot and killed by an off-duty police officer. Authorities said Dahir Ahmed Adan, 20, stabbed the people at the Crossroads Centre in St Cloud. AP Mr Netanyahu is expected to speak to both US presidential candidates Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet US presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Sunday. Mr Netanyahu is in the US, and has already met president Barack Obama and addressed the UN General Assembly. Israel is a close ally of America and presidential candidates often visit Israeli leaders. However, neither Mr Trump nor Mrs Clinton have visited in the current election cycle. A baby is rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building in Aleppo in a still image taken from a video posted on social media Picture: Reuters Rebel-held areas of Aleppo came under intense bombardment yesterday, with civil defence rescuers The White Helmets reporting strikes on three of their four centres in the area. Residents of east Aleppo reported the heaviest bombardment in months overnight after the regime announced a fresh offensive, in a clear sign Bashar al-Assad's regime had no intention of complying with US appeals to stop the violence and extend the truce. More than 30 bombings and 15 victims were reported in the early hours of yesterday. However, damage to several of the White Helmets' ambulances meant they were unable to reach dozens of people trapped under the rubble. Russian warplanes were carrying out strikes alongside Syrian aircraft, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. "The Syrians are dropping barrel bombs and the Russian planes are launching strikes," said its director Rami Abdel Ahman. "A horrible night," said Abdulkafi al-Hamdo, an English teacher living in the east. "Air strikes destroyed buildings and killed many people. In addition to the phosphorous, cluster, barrel and vacuum bombs, Assad has started using a rocket which digs deep into the ground, causing tremors like earthquakes. "The international community is silent we expect extermination." Army officials said civilians there should avoid areas where "terrorists" were operating. A military source said the bombardment was in preparation for a ground operation to retake parts of the city. A deal hammered out between the US and Russia offered a week of relief, but broke down on Monday amid accusations of violations from both sides. Prospects of getting the truce back on course seemed dim. John Kerry, US secretary of state, met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov late into Thursday night but no agreement was reached. "Absent a major gesture like this, we don't believe there is a point in making more promises or issuing more plans or announcing something that can't be enforced or reached," Mr Kerry said. "We can't go out and say we have an agreement when we don't. Nor do we tell our partners there is a cessation when there isn't. The simple reality is that we can't resolve the crisis if one side is unwilling to do what is necessary to avoid escalation." Mr Kerry on Wednesday called for an effective no-fly zone, halting flights over battle zones to protect civilians from government and Russian bombings. A Russian spokesman yesterday rejected the idea. A senior US State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters: "The ball is very much in the Russians' court to come back to us with some ideas that are serious, that would be above and beyond the types of things they have been willing to agree to in the past with regard to air activities over large parts of Syria." The two sides agreed to meet again yesterday in a bid to find a way forward. After a week of diplomatic talks and attempts to seek consensus, developments on the ground in Syria seem to have overshadowed prospects for bringing about calm. A young boy on a scooter caused $1million (900,000) worth of damage when he set fire to the arts and crafts section of a Walmart store. Police in Barstow, California say the child (12) rode off on his scooter after setting fire to the merchandise on Wednesday afternoon. The LA Times is reporting that he was found later that day and arrested on suspicion of arson. The giant retail store has remained closed due to water, fire and smoke damage throughout the building, he said. Thats a substantial loss for Walmart, Barstow Police Lt. Chris Kirby said, adding that the incident also required many firefighting resources. The boy was not with his parents at the time, according to police. Surveillance video showed the boy who was wearing a backpack and green T-shirt with distinct markings igniting the crafts and then riding out of the store on his scooter, Kirby said. Firefighters arrived and extinguished it, but serious damage was done by both fire and water. Emergency responders at the scene, the suspect who is still at large Police in northwest Washington are conducting a manhunt for a gunman who opened fire in a mall, killing five people . A man walked into the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, about 65 miles (105 km) north of Seattle and began shooting at about 7 p.m. local time on Friday, Washington State Patrol spokesman Mark Francis said on Twitter. Four women were killed in the attack in the mall's Macy's store cosmetics department, Francis told the New York Times. Authorities initially said on social media four people were killed in the shooting. As authorities cleared the mall and assessed the situation, the number of dead was revised to three, according to several local and national media outlets. Expand Expand Previous Next Close Law enforcement officers work at the crime scene outside of Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., where several people were fatally shot on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 Medics wait to gain access to the Cascade Mall after four people were shot dead in Burlington, Washington, U.S. September 24, 2016 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Law enforcement officers work at the crime scene outside of Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., where several people were fatally shot on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 Early on Saturday, the Times along with several other media outlets reported that the authorities had increased the number of dead again to four. Local and state police officials were not immediately available for comment. Expand Close Law enforcement officers stand in front of the Macy's store at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., where several people were fatally shot, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Law enforcement officers stand in front of the Macy's store at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., where several people were fatally shot, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 Harborview Medical Center in Seattle said in a statement that it was treating a man who was in critical condition from the shooting. Francis said on Twitter that police and rescue workers carefully worked their way through the 434,000-square-foot (135,000 m) mall, clearing stores and evacuating shoppers some of whom, according to local media, locked themselves in dressing rooms. Expand Close Law enforcement officers stand in front of the Macy's department store at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., where the Washington State Patrol reports a fatal shooting, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Law enforcement officers stand in front of the Macy's department store at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., where the Washington State Patrol reports a fatal shooting, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 He also said police were searching the area for the shooter, who was described as a "Hispanic male wearing gray" and last seen walking toward a nearby highway away from the mall. Local authorities searched throughout the night for the gunman, believed to be armed with a rifle and warned residents to remain inside. "Tragedy has struck in Washington tonight. Our hearts are in Burlington," Governor Jay Inslee said on Twitter. The shooting comes less than a week after a man stabbed nine people at a mall in central Minnesota before being shot dead. The FBI is investigating that attack as a potential act of terrorism. NBC News reported that Washington State Patrol had said that there was no indication of terrorism in the shooting in Burlington. "At this time, the FBI has no information to suggest additional attacks planned in WA state," the agency said on Twitter. CAT scan images of the human brain. (Photo : Getty Images) The United States has launched a worldwide campaign that seeks to completely map the human brain by pooling together the diverse and expensive resources currently directed towards this laudable effort. The "International Brain Initiative" was launched this week at a meeting that accompanied the United Nations' General Assembly in New York City by Thomas Shannon, U.S. Undersecretary of State. Advertisement The U.S. Department of State's Office of the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State along with the Kavli Foundation; the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Global Partnerships Forum hosted the event that launched the brain initiative during the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly to elevate brain science as a foreign policy priority. The International Brain Initiative aims to foster coordination of large-scale brain projects around the world in partnership with governments, research institutions, private sector, foundations, advocacy groups, and social innovators. Toward this end, the United States with Japan, Germany, Argentina and the UN Conference on Trade and Development announced the launch of the International Brain Initiative, part of which is a virtual International Brain Station to enhance and facilitate global collaboration on both basic and disease-focused brain science research. The Coordinating Global Brain Project conference at Rockefeller University will coordinate global investments in brain research. The International Brain Station concept will be a community-based mechanism for coordinating data and information from brain science projects around the world. One of several goals for the initiative is the creation of universal brain-mapping tools. Promising experimental tools exist, but labs make their own variations in-house and also tend to run experiments in their own ways. This makes it harder for different teams to collaborate or exchange information. The initiative will change this state of affairs. Another idea proposed at the meeting is the creation of an International Brain Observatory with tools such as powerful microscopes and supercomputing resources scientists from around the world can access. A virtual International Brain Station could automatically convert data from human brain scans or animal gene expression into standardized formats that will allow more people to analyze it. Developing and deploying new technologies to improve mapping of the brain and its functions will be critical for understanding the biological underpinnings of neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, autism, epilepsy, schizophrenia, depression, and traumatic brain injury. Understanding such diseases is a G7 priority under Japan's leadership and contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 -- ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all. They are known locally as the White Helmets because white is the colour of the hard-hats these volunteer rescue workers wear when they rush through the streets of Aleppo and other Syrian cities to the scene of yet another devastating airstrike. Under their proper name, the Syria Civil Defence, they count some 2,600 volunteers in their ranks, among them bakers, tailors, carpenters, and students. They claim to have saved more than 60,000 lives - often wresting people from the wreckage left behind after the fighter jets of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad or his Russian allies pummel rebel-held territories. Last month, it was volunteers from the White Helmets who pulled five-year-old Omran Daqneesh from the rubble in Aleppo. The image of Omran's dazed and bloodied face as he later sat in an ambulance went viral. Founded in 2013, the White Helmets have quietly gone about their emergency and repair work since, but they have recently garnered increasing international attention due to a new Netflix documentary and a campaign to have them awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Over the past week, they have also accused the Assad regime and its allies of deliberately targeting their facilities and personnel in Aleppo after a fragile ceasefire collapsed. The group said three of its four facilities in eastern Aleppo were hit in a wave of early morning air raids on Friday. It is not the first time this has happened. The White Helmets say they have lost around 130 of their volunteers over the past three years. Their work is dangerous not only because they are usually the first - or only - responders to an air strike, but because regime forces often pursue what is known as a "double tap" strategy - bombing the same location a second time after the White Helmets and locals stream there to rescue people. The White Helmets insist they are neutral when it comes to Syria's multi-faceted war, now in its fifth year with no end in sight. They say they have no political affiliation and their aim is to rescue people from all sides of a vicious conflict which has claimed more than 400,000 lives and driven millions of Syrians from their homes. Human rights groups say the Assad regime has killed more civilians than any other faction. A majority of those have died from airstrikes and barrel bombs. "On the ground, we don't make distinctions between people," White Helmets founder Raed Saleh told 'France 24' two years ago. "We will save anyone's life. In practice, however, we mainly operate in areas that have been liberated or that are under the control of [Isil], because that's where there are bombings." In a recent documentary, one volunteer with the White Helmets explained what drives him. "I didn't want to be with the regime (Assad) army, or the Free Syrian Army (rebels)," he said. "I chose to do humanitarian work. My weapons are my helmet, my shovel and my medical equipment." With the campaign to have the White Helmets awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this October gaining momentum - most recently securing the endorsement of a host of celebrities - Assad supporters have become more shrill in their accusations that the emergency rescue group has taken sides in the war. Some claim they have helped injured fighters from extremist rebel groups such as the Nusra Front, which recently severed its links with al-Qa'ida. Other regime supporters have pointed to the financial support they receive from Western governments. The US State Department confirmed earlier this year that the US government channels, through its USAID agency, $23m in aid to the White Helmets. Asked in a recent interview about the possibility the rescue workers may get the Nobel, Assad was clearly needled. "What did they achieve in Syria?" he asked. "How unpoliticised is the Nobel Prize? That's the other question." Hopes the White Helmets might get the Nobel were given a boost this week when the group was among the winners of the Right Livelihood Award, sometimes known as Sweden's alternative Nobel prize. "They come in after the bombs have fallen and free people from the ruins, from the rubble of the houses that have been bombed," Ole von Uexkull, the director of the award's foundation, said of the group. "Many in Syria believe that hopefully, when there's a peace accord, the White Helmets will be the ones who help to rebuild the country from the ruins." More than 10 million (1 in 6) seniors in the U.S. face the threat of hunger and more than 15 million (1 in 4) are living in isolation. In Cabarrus County alone, more than 400 seniors are being served to address these issues. Meals on Wheels America, in partnership with the Ad Council, just launched its first-ever national campaign to recruit volunteers to serve the nations most vulnerable citizens. With the senior population projected to double by 2050, Cabarrus Meals on Wheels is joining the effort to help inspire a new army of volunteers in Cabarrus County to meet the growing need. Every day 60 of Cabarrus Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver 400 meals along with friendly visits and safety checks to those who need them most. As important as the meal delivered is the fact that, for many seniors, the volunteer who delivers is the only person they will see that day. The delivery isnt just about nutrition; its about the moments of human connection that nourish the senior and the volunteer alike. Cabarrus Meals on Wheels relies on an army of 300 volunteers to deliver meals, typically between 10:30 a.m. to- 1 p.m., five days a week. Most routes only take an hour from start to finish. Meals and directions are picked up at our office at 1701 S. Main St., Kannapolis Monday thru Friday. If you can spare even one hour a month, please come and volunteer. You will love it! DeAnne Parker, Volunteer Coordinator for CMOW, said its more than delivering meals. Volunteers are not just people who show up with a meal in hand, they grow relationships with the clients on their routes, with a warm smile and an ear to listen. Our volunteers are, for many of our clients, the only contact they see all day or longer and they look forward to their visits. The clients dont just touch the heart of our volunteers; our volunteers touch the heart of our clients, Parker said. The national integrated public service campaign, created pro bono by the ad agency, Anomaly, has invited America to Do Lunch by volunteering during the critical lunch hour period to deliver meals and a smile to seniors. Were so excited to be working with Meals on Wheels programs across the country to launch this national effort on the ground, said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. We hope that by sharing just a few of our seniors amazing and heartfelt stories, we can inspire even more volunteers to lend a caring hand to the growing number of aging neighbors in need. Cabarrus Meals on Wheels provide meals to seniors regardless of their ability to pay. Annually, we need to raise $250,000 to cover the cost of meals not paid for by our clients. 13th Annual Sunday Soup Sampler One of the ways we raise this is through our annual fundraisers. Our 13th Annual Sunday Soup Sampler is Sunday, Nov. 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the City Club at Gibson Mill, 325 McGill Ave., Concord. Ninety-three percent of our clients live below the poverty level. Can you imagine being a senior and homebound and not knowing where your next meal will come from? Cabarrus Meals on Wheels is a vital service to our homebound in Cabarrus County. Four hundred (400) clients depend on us Monday thru Friday to deliver their noon time meal. In addition, we provide over 625 weekend meals, pet food assistance, birthday cakes and boxes, emergency groceries, Christmas presents and holiday treats to those in need. Come and sample over 20 local restaurants delicious signature soups and desserts (including Chocolatier Barrucand) at the Sunday Soup Sampler which will be in a new location: City Club at Gibson Mill. Tickets are $25, available at www.CabarrusMOW.org or at our local office, 1701 S. Main St., Kannapolis. One ticket pays for a whole week of meals for a client. We host two community fundraisers a year and the Soup Sampler is our largest and most successful. The event itself promotes local businesses beginning with the local restaurants who participate by each donating 6 gallons of soup and coming out to serve it themselves at the event. For the past 12 years, many of the restaurants and event sponsors return because they truly enjoy the event and its good for business. Meals on Wheels client Jordan said the program is a life-saver. Without it, at this point, I would be in dire straits. Im not able to get out, Im actually a shut-in and I have to pay someone to do my shopping for me and my yard work and of course that makes it hard on you financially. Hes (our volunteer) always got a smile on and is such and up person, sometimes when you are not feeling well, to see someone with a smile standing there with a good meal for you, how much better for you could it be? Hes just a blessing. Bonnie Jones is the Development Director for Cabarrus Meals on Wheels. CONCORD Allegiant Air has been a part of Concord Regional Airport since it launched its first service on Dec. 20, 2013 with just two flights a week, and now the airline offers about 12 flights a week, using an old hanger as its terminal. We wanted to grow faster, and the facilities were just restrained there, said Eric Fletcher, with Allegiant Air. But a new terminal and parking deck which opens for service on Oct. 4 will allow Allegiant Air to immediately go up to 17 flights a week, and the airline is already considering adding more flights. Things have gone so well, weve blown through all forecasts we had, Fletcher said during a recent event for Allegiant Air and Concord Regional Airport. Allegiant looks to have more than 80,000 departing passengers by the end of this year, not including about another 80,000 arriving passengers. And Concord Regional Airport will be able to handle even more passengers, with the expansion allowing the airport to offer about 30 flights a week. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new terminal and parking deck held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29 at the terminal, located at 7425 Zephyr Place, Concord. The new terminal and parking deck is not only helping Allegiant Air expand their services, but now they are eyeing Concord as a possible place to actually base aircraft here. Allegiant flies out of other locations, landing in Concord with maintenance personnel and check-in personnel contracted out to come in and support the airline during operations. But, if Allegiant Air gets up to 21 flights a week or more, officials might consider basing airplanes here. That means pilots, flight mechanics and other personnel could be based in Cabarrus County instead of being contracted outside the county. Fletcher said they are anticipating the possibility of being up to 21 flights by next spring/summer. If Allegiant were to base airplanes here, that would mean about 20 full-time employees per plane, with an average salary of $80,000 a year, according to Concord Regional Airport Director Rick Cloutier. Allegiant officials are already targeting three or four potential destinations to expand services to that could help them get up to that 21 flights a week quota. Cloutier has pushed for services to be offered in the northeast, specifically New York, but nothing has been confirmed yet. Another possibility mentioned has been Austin, Texas. Cloutier said they are making presentations for Northeast and Midwest routes, pitching about five, fairly realistic destinations. Expansion Those possible destinations can now be offered thanks to Concord Regional Airport expanding, and officials are already planning for future growth. Concord Regional Airport officials have been working a $6.5 million terminal that will be more than 25,000 square feet. About 90 percent of the construction cost will be paid with federal funding and the rest will be split between state funding and the City of Concord. Concords portion will be about $325,000, according Cloutier. A $5.7 million parking deck with 750 parking spaces was also built. The parking deck was funded by the City of Concord, which will charge parking fees to generate revenue to pay for the construction. Parking fees look to be $4 a day. Currently, there averages about 350 cars at Concord Regional Airport on a given day that belong to Allegiant Air customers, Cloutier said. Even at those numbers, at $4 a car, that could yield $1,400 a day. The new parking deck and terminal expansion will now make Concord Regional Airports size comparable to the Asheville Regional Airport, Cloutier said. Plus, the airport can still expand even more. When officials began construction, they were able to have permits and infrastructure in place to add an additional two gates and 450 more parking spaces. The expansion could add an additional 25 flights a week. Cloutier has been in discussions with other airlines who could offer services at Concord Regional Airport pushing the need for that expansion. Allegiant Air is currently the only commercial airline offering services out of Concord, and have been offering services to Florida. Here is a breakdown of their current services to Florida during peak times: 4 flights a week to Orlando, with flights on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday. 4 flights a week to Ft. Lauderdale, with flights on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday. 3 flights a week to Tampa/St. Pete on Monday, Thursday, Saturday. 2 flights a week to Fort Myers/ Punta Gorda. And in November, Allegiant Air will be adding services to New Orleans, with two flights a week, with flights on Sunday and Thursday. Economic impact Allegiant Airs addition of flights to New Orleans from Concord will only help expand the business economic impact on the community. Nationwide, Allegiant Air has an economic impact of $11.2 billion a year, supporting 10,252 jobs and has 4.8 million visitors a year. Allegiant did not have numbers specific to North Carolina or Concord Regional Airport, but Cloutier has previously talked about regional airports being revenue generators. He said for every $1 spent on airport improvements, that typically generates $20 in product. Concord Regional Airports economic impact on the region is about $200 million a year. And Cloutier can see that increasing as more commercial flights come online at the airport. The economic impact will only continue to grow, thanks to Allegiant Airs presence and other airlines now eyeing the airport. Before Allegiant, there were no commercial flights offered here, which has been pretty much the practice for the company that is based in Las Vegas and has been around for about 15 years. We fly where the other airlines arent. Eighty-five percent of our routes have no competition and weve had a lot of success growing these types of markets, Fletcher said. Allegiant has a fleet of about 85 planes serving about 118 cities across the nation, helping boosting the economies of those communities, such as Concord. Concord has already become a destination for many Florida travelers, who use the airline to get to the Charlotte region and travel to other areas, such as Boone and Asheville. Cloutier has previously talked about how the price point for Allegiant Airlines has actually stimulated travel. Allegiants flights, with airfare and add-ons, runs about $109 for a one way flight, with Southwest Airlines averaging $144 and other airlines averaging $196. Cloutier has said people going on vacation in the region fly into Concord Regional Airport because of Allegiants low costs and then rent a car to travel the area. Its a familiar story, Fletcher said. When you start flying to cities where no one else is, were stimulating new traffic, Fletcher said. These are new people coming in to visit that werent here before. iPhone 6 Becomes Available In Hong Kong (Photo : Getty Images) Apples iPhone 7 withstood being cut by a razor blade and bent in a torture test performed by a techie last week. However, despite the relatively good quality of the flagship, a Chinese company in Henan Province frowns on employees buying the device. On Sunday, Sept. 18, the company issued a policy that prohibited workers from buying the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Those who violate the policy would be forced to resign, reported Shanghaiist. Advertisement Rather than spend their money on the expensive device, the company suggested for employees to instead spend the money in caring for their parents health, childrens growth and lifes other pleasures. The policy, which has become viral on Weibo, also encourages employees to instead patronize products made in China. On the morning of Sept. 21, the policy was the 7th most popular topic in Chinas biggest microblogging site, with mixed responses to the policy. Other Chinese companies had also banned the iPhone in the past. Zhejiang-based Bina Technology issued a similar policy in response to the South China Sea ruling. In July, thousands of Chinese who considered themselves patriots held a protest outside a fake Apple store in Jiangsu Province. The company intentionally released the policy on Sept. 18 to mark the 85th anniversary of the Manchurian incident. On the same date in 1931, a staged explosion in Mukden City, now Shenyang, gave Japan the excuse to invade northeast China. To this day, many Chinese still have a mistrust of foreigners, including foreign-made products. Samsung Galaxy Note 8 specs update: Artificial intelligence capabilities, improved storage capabilities, camera upgrade (Photo : YouTube/AskTheAndroidGuy) Rumors are already rife about Samsung Galaxy Note 8 right on the heels of Galaxy Note 7. Samsung's next phablet will reportedly feature a curved display. The upcoming Galaxy Note 8 will have many common features with the current model, including a biometric authentication, a dual-sided curved display, and a super AMOLED screen, according to Galaxy Note 7 Info. Furthermore, the new Galaxy Note phablet will reportedly ship with the best lenses available, enhanced biometric feature, and an iris scanner. Advertisement According to the publication, Qualcomm Snapdragon octa-core 3.2 GHz processor will run the Galaxy Note 8. The phablet will have at least 64 GB of internal storage memory and 6 GB of RAM. As a result, the upcoming Galaxy Note 8 will be faster than its precursor. A recent statement from the president of Samsung's mobile business, Koh Dong-jin, shows that the South Korean tech giant will no longer release its future devices with a flat display, according to Know Your Mobile. On the contrary, all new flagship smartphones from the manufacturer will come with curved edge displays. Dong-jin had initially said in a media conference that the tech giant has considered that it would make the edge display as the identity of the Galaxy S smartphone lineup. This would happen if Samsung can provide customers with differentiated user experience through software and user-friendly functions for the curved screen. The company would continue the trend of making curved edge models without the EDGE name that started with the Galaxy Note 7. Besides the absence of the EDGE branding, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 as well released alongside a flat-screened model, becoming the first smartphone in the Samsung history. Reports suggest that because of this possible new curved-screen-only policy, the tech giant avid fans should possibly expect only one type of Galaxy Note 8 next year. Samsung is yet to provide any official information about the upcoming Galaxy Note 8, and therefore, this information should be taken with a grain of salt. Watch the sneak peek below for details on the Galaxy Note 8. Tokyo Ghoul is a Japanese manga series by Sui Ishida. (Photo : YouTube/Faiz Agil Wirawan) "Tokyo Ghoul" Season 3 is said to have started its production. According to reports, the deviation of the second season from the original manga series leaves Studio Pierrot with ample materials and basis to work on for "Tokyo Ghoul" Season 3, as the manga sequel is comprised of 100 chapters. Accordingly, the studio does not really have a choice not to follow the manga series as the studio garnered nothing more than criticisms for the second season. Advertisement Meanwhile, speculations as to where the first episode revolves includes that of Ken Kaneki having a new identity. Accordingly, if the manga sequel will religiously be followed then it means that the protagonist will survive having no memories at all in "Tokyo Ghoul" Season 3. Additionally, "Tokyo Ghoul" Season 3 is also said to focus on Touka Kirishima entering into college. Her struggle to live at par with humans and her hatred at Ken Kaneki will further be explored. Bob, the anime writer, said that they cannot promise not to have the darkest and psychologically disillusioning season, as gory details will not be censored. After all, there are already reports and speculations that "Tokyo Ghoul" Season 3 is supposed to be the bloodiest of all anime franchise following the storyline of the manga series. Rumors have also been circulating that pushing forward the anime adaptation at this time would result to the hampering of its manga counterpart due to the number of chapters that have to be used in the anime adaptation. At present, everything about "Tokyo Ghoul" Season 3 is still nothing but a word of mouth and rumors, so fans could just rely on speculations and hope to hear the good news that the third installment of "Tokyo Ghoul" anime will be released sooner than expected. 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 Downtown Indianapolis Inc. offers attractions for every sports and fitness aficionado this fall. The agency suggests supporting your favorite teams and enjoy signature events including the upcoming Circle City Classic. To help those planning to come downtown, Indianapolis Downtown offers a detailed street/traffic information map for Sept. 30 Oct. 1. This and parking information can be found by visiting http://www.indydt.com/circlecityclassictrafficmap.pdfor www.indydt.com/parking.cfm. Heres more information you can use about Circle City Classic. More than 100,000 people travel nationally to Indianapolis each year to witness this action-packed weekend. The 28th Annual Circle City Classic comes to town Sept. 30 Oct. 1. The event provides an opportunity to showcase historically Black Colleges and Universities to Indiana families and visitors to Indianapolis. The events on Sept. 30 are: Classic Cabaret featuring Frankie Beverley and Maze, Keith Sweatt and more at Indiana Convention Center Halls A&B, 7 p.m. Warren Central vs. Carmel at Lucas Oil Stadium, 7:30 p.m. Gospel Music Explosion featuring Deitrick Haddon and the Brown Boys at Madame Walker Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Comedy Jam featuring Chris Tucker at Old National Centre, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1 events are: Circle City Classic Parade Downtown Indianapolis, 10 a.m. to noon. Parade Route: Parade begins on Vermont Street to Pennsylvania Street, south on Pennsylvania Street to Ohio Street, west on Ohio Street to Meridian Street, north on Meridian Street to New York Street. Fall Fest in front of the Indiana Convention Center, 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. 28th Annual Circle City Classic Football Game: Albany State University vs. Kentucky State University at Lucas Oil Stadium, 4 p.m. Bow Wow and Monica will headline the post game show at Lucas Oil Stadium. For more information, visit indydt.com. Youth at the #NoDAPL encampment in North Dakota. Photo by Joe Brusky / Overpass Light Brigade On the eve that Maangozit, Loons Foot, had definitely decided to cut off his braid, I received word that I would be traveling to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota. Editors requested that I report on actions such as the Oceti Sakowin camp that has been established to oppose construction of the Dakota Access pipeline near the tribes home. When he heard there was camping and other Indian boys, he asked to join me. I could see visions of long Lego parties in our tent and eating forbidden sugar cereal, like Coco Pebbles, out of the box dancing in his head. We talked and thought about it. I told him the history of the struggle there, how folks wanted to keep their water and land safe for their families, and how the proposed pipeline route may be through sacred land. I could almost hear the tiny wheels going round in his 12-year-old boy mind. They seemed to slow as he considered the implications. Maybe I should keep my braid for them, he offered. I almost cried. The braid represents so much more than mere hair in our family. Maangozit had reluctantly agreed to keep his braid until after ceremony this past summer. Not an easy decision here in a mostly white suburb where Indians are thought to be part of a long-dead history. Fodder for scouts, Halloween and Thanksgiving, they are part of a distant Hollywood make-believe world. Few people here have knowingly met any Native people and therefore believe we are, like the passenger pigeon, extinct. Independent journalist Mary Annette Pember is heading to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota to cover the #NoDAPL movement. She's bringing along a young family member for the journey: Read More: Mary Annette Pember: How Standing Rock Helped Maangozit Keep His Braid (Indian Country Today 9/23) D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals #NoDAPL Documents: Injunction Blocking Construction of Dakota Access Pipeline (September 16, 2016) Order Setting October 5 Hearing (September 21, 2016) Order Allocating Oral Argument Time (September 21, 2016) Join the Conversation Related Stories We had recently told you about how, in the wake of Uri attacks, MNS is threatening Pakistani actors and artists to leave India within 48 hours, or be pushed out. But seems like our nation stands divided on this move. While some people are supporting it, others are clearly not in favour. Ever since the news of MNS threatening Pakistani actors broke, people on Twitter have been talking about it and they seem to be having a difference of opinion. Here's what they've been saying. It's NOT Courage to pick on Pakistani Actors & Artistes- it's COWARDICE. like a bully who picks on soft targets instead of the real chaps barkha dutt (@BDUTT) September 23, 2016 We start by promising to take on PAK army, end by taking on PAK tv actors/ artists! What broad chests! #MNS Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 23, 2016 Dear @ShivSena, This is to remind you that Fawad khan, a pakistani actor, is working in Bollywood since 2014 Regards Aman Aman India (@Firki_) September 19, 2016 Go ahead, ban Pakistani stars. Bollywood films earn much more in Pak markets & India will be net losers in inevitable tit-for-tat cussedness Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) September 23, 2016 Because the MNS is basically disguised unemployment in action https://t.co/x6yMhZKhW0 Rohan (@mojorojo) September 24, 2016 The mind numbing number of people in power trying to make this about artists from Pakistan is bizzare. Open threats& RANDOM connections. Aditi Mittal (@awryaditi) September 23, 2016 While there are other who support this. After 26/11 Mumbai Attacks I Decided Not To Watch Any Movie And I'm Sticking To My Words Till Date. #BoycottPakOrNot #BoycottPakiArtists Virender Swag (@VirenderrSehwag) September 23, 2016 Indian film industry owes it to the people of India that it'll not contribute to Pak economy by engaging Pak nationals. #BoycottPakOrNot BS Bassi (@BhimBassi) September 23, 2016 Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said that high speed WiFi broadband services will be made available at 100 stations by December end. AFP "RailTel in partnership with Google is implementing the high speed WiFi broadband services. And this service has already been provided at 50 stations and will complete the target of 100 stations by December, 2016," Prabhu said. He also said that Railway PSU (Public Sector Undertaking) RailTel, plays a crucial role in providing digital connectivity through optical fibre. AFP "RailTel's PAN India optic fibre network is providing connectivity to more than four thousand stations in the country." Prabhu also pointed out that the "technology changes very fast and becomes obsolete" in due course and hence it is "necessary to keep pace with the latest changes and modification in the existing technology" and also "keep adopting updated forms of technology". Highlighting the need to connect rural India, Prabhu said: "It is a huge challenge to reach out to all villages which we need to focus on." TOI "While we need widespread network of multiple modes of transport like rail and road to reach out to far flung areas, it is also necessary to provide digital rural connectivity across India." The chiefs of the Army and the Air Force along with the Vice Chief of the Navy have met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence. AFP The meeting assumes significance as it comes against the backdrop of the deadly Uri attack. Defence sources described the meeting as "routine". The chiefs of the armed forces have a monthly meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss various issues, they said. ALSO READ: As Tensions Mount, Army Strengthens Operational Readiness Along LoC, Fine-Tunes Contingency Plans. BCCL Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral K B Singh met the Prime Minister. Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba is out of town. The Army Chief has met the PM and top PMO officials a number of times since the attack last Sunday in which 18 soldiers were killed. The world's most popular instant messaging service, WhatsApp has been given the clearance to implement its proposed privacy policy change. AP The Delhi High Court while allowing WhatsApp to do so, however told the company to delete all data and information of all users from its servers up until September 25 when its new privacy policy comes into effect. The court order came in a petition filed by Karmanya Singh Sareen and Shreya Sethi claiming that the new policy amounted to privacy infringement. thetelecombulletin The high court reminded the petitioners that the policy of WhatsApp mentioned that there may be periodic revisions and wondered how it is "open to users now to contend that WhatsApp shall be compelled to continue the same terms of service". The Gujarat high court on Friday severely reprimanded a man who has been accused by his wife of frequent assaults and harassment by saying, "If you want to show valour, better go to the border". tnp/Representative image Vanrajsinh Rana, a driver by profession, is accused of beating his wife and threatening her with a sword over domestic disputes. When he appeared before the court to get the FIR lodged against him by his wife quashed, Justice Sonia Gokani advised him not to misbehave with his wife. "You must know how tense the situation is in Jammu & Kashmir. There is a real requirement of people there on the border. If you want to draw your sword to show your strength and valour, you should spare it for services on the border," the court chided Rana. Gujaratnews Rana's wife Suryaben, mother of three, had lodged an FIR against him earlier this year with Chiloda police in Gandhinagar district accusing him of cruelty and harassment, threatening her of constant beatings and particularly drawing a sword to threaten her over trivial domestic issues. Police booked Rana under sections 498A, 504, 506 and 323 of the IPC. tnp/Representative image A few months after the FIR was lodged, the couple reached a compromise with the intervention of elders and leaders of the Rajput community. After the dispute was settled, Rana moved the HC for quashing of the FIR on the grounds that prosecution would not serve any purpose and would only further disturb their life. The court summoned the couple during the hearing. Justice Gokani told Rana that home is a place where people get peace and compassion. "Life really becomes miserable when one does not get peace at home also," the court added. The court quashed the charges after determining wife Surya's wish that junking the FIR would help in maintaining domestic peace. AFP Wanting to assure Surya's safety, the court directed that an officer from the department of social welfare should pay frequent visits to her home during the next two years to ascertain that the husband is behaving himself as promised and Surya has no problem. Court warned that in case the officer finds the woman in trouble, the FIR and prosecution against Rana would be revived. Incessant rains continued to batter the city even as the Met department warned that a second low-pressure forming in the Bay of Bengal would hit Hyderabad hard for the next five days. Experts from Skymet, a private weather forecasting agency, also joined in and said a well-marked low pressure was likely to bring heavy rains. Read more 1. Mystery Masked Men Still At Large As Navy Calls Off Combing Operations In Mumbai The Indian Navy ended its security operations on the sightings of suspected elements on Friday, but the Maharashtra police and other agencies continue their vigil in the region. Mystery continues over the sightings on Thursday of around five-six suspected terrorists, who were described by local school students as masked, wearing Pathani suits and carrying weapons, sending the entire security apparatus in a tizzy. Read more 2. At Least Four Killed In Shooting In Washington Mall At least four people have been confirmed dead in a firing in the US. The incident happened at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, about 105 kilometers north of Seattle on Friday night local time. According to police the suspect is a Hispanic male wearing gray who was last seen walking towards Interstate 5 from the mall. Read more 3. After FMCG And Apparels, Baba Ramdev's Patanjali To Now Foray Into The Dairy Sector Yoga guru Ramdev said Patanjali will soon foray into dairy business, adding that the sector will cross the Rs 5 lakh crore mark by 2022. Ramdev gave the message of 'Swadeshi' and praised Amul brand in the dairy sector. He said at present, the dairy business is pegged at Rs 3 lakh crore, which will be more than Rs 5 lakh crore by 2022. Read more 4. Now Pakistan Calls Uri Terror Attacks 'Reaction To Situation In Kashmir' Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has claimed that the Uri terror attack could be the result of a "reaction" of the people to the situation in Kashmir as he criticised India for blaming Pakistan "without any evidence". Sharif said that India hastily blamed Pakistan without any investigation. He said India behaved in an "irresponsible way" when it blamed Pakistan "without any evidence". Read more 5. Amid Tensions With Pakistan, All Three Armed Forces Chiefs Meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi The chiefs of the Army and the Air Force along with the Vice Chief of the Navy have met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence. The meeting assumes significance as it comes against the backdrop of the deadly Uri attack. Defence sources described the meeting as "routine". The chiefs of the armed forces have a monthly meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss various issues, they said. Read more 6. 100 Stations Across India Will Have High Speed WiFi By December, Says Suresh Prabhu Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said that high speed WiFi broadband services will be made available at 100 stations by December end. "RailTel in partnership with Google is implementing the high speed WiFi broadband services. And this service has already been provided at 50 stations and will complete the target of 100 stations by December, 2016," Prabhu said. Read more Woman empowerment and entrepreneurship - together - are a sign of intensity and achieving independence. For, there are lot of challenges a woman has to still face; for example, striking a work-life balance chord in the perceived corporate culture scenario. Coming to rural India- there are many young faces - which are making a difference to the society today. BBC Some of them have achieved success through their unprecedented talent, while others have made their mark by their contribution to the upliftment of the society, or just to meet their own ends. Whatever be the channel of success, it has definitely given Indian rural society an edge. Today, we share with you an exemplary effort of a 53-year-old woman in Southern India who has inspired many women in her village, and the community at large. An iron fist for the contemporary rural time - Shantha When it comes to the rural community of India, the common perception of a lady doing the usual household chores incessantly is the image. Extend our perception to many women in India facing the flak of their husbands; unfortunately even violence and abuse are not unusual at all. Now, cut to an image of a 53-year old, who after many years of struggle and then, hard work, has made her way to achieve modest means for her family. Yes, she has a television, a fan, a bed - all that was unheard of in her poverty-stricken village. She has in fact lifted her whole village out of poverty - backed by an incredible story of wit and courage. Shantas dynamic personality, coupled with her unmatched drive and ability of persuasion, is a story to be shared. For, she may not necessarily like being called a role model, but that doesnt negate her instrumental role in inculcating confidence among the women in her village. Or to say, bring a perceptional shift in the mindset of people, residing in small villages. Her story has inspired many in her neighboring villages - and yes, she has been making efforts to bring about this change elsewhere as well. So what did Shantha really do in the beginning? Her spirit of entrepreneurship and character can be accepted by the mere fact that she took up a government job (voluntarily), at a time when she was stuck in poverty. This job only reimbursed her with her bus fare from the village to the office. She had been poor in her own life, and her marriage only made her poorer. She has two children, and of course, it would have been a challenge to make ends meet. However, her living conditions did not deter her from picking a job - which gave her no salary at this hard juncture of life. Perhaps, her destiny was awaiting her! pexels This decision of her life speaks volume about her character, considering that she perceived it to pave the way for gaining exposure - beyond her family and the community. Yet, it is bold, as she had been residing in a village where a woman was not even allowed to use their husbands surname. She was supposed to be confined to the four walls of her home; however, it was her extreme poverty which drove her to pick up this no-salary job. Opportunities knocked at her door Once the decision was taken, there was no looking back for Shantha. Her first enterprising break came when she learned about a micro-finance opportunity- to create a womens self-help group. The idea was to have a member base - where each woman contributes an equal amount of money; in turn, backed by an equal funding from the bank. This whole effort is still working towards helping the women-based group to do business, as at that time. The loans were given at a subsidised rate, to be repaid over a period of time. However, it is not that Shantha had an easy way out suddenly. Convinced with the idea, she approached other women in her villages to come out and contribute. This was no way a cake walk. She knocked at their doors many times, to contribute meager amounts. This was a hard task in a poverty-stricken village community. Yet, Shantha inspired many women by sharing ideas with them on how to save money over the next couple of years. pexels What she needed was only Rs 10 from 20 women in her own village, a location she chose herself. The task at hand concluded after two hard years of persuasion. She was also deterred by social factors like a woman opening a bank account, to be able to avail the self-funding loan. It happened only after support from her government office. And, the path was set to meet her destiny! Her first enterprising idea was to buy cows and sell milk. Then in 2009, she got her first big break. Still working in the government office, she learnt about a company looking to outsource their business for packaging their manufactured products. She used the same micro finance group model to rent a space and start this big business. Today, 26 women work at the packaging unit. Over eight hours a day, they package more than 5,000 bags each week, according to a BBC report. Shantas character and her supervisory role While she was inspired to drive her own village out of poverty in the beginning, her story today has inspired many more to follow the path. She now plays a supervisory role in creating many more self-finance groups. Stretching her enterprising imagination a step forward, she has been helping other women in surrounding villages to join the mission. She helps the illiterate women in filling up the bank forms, with a noble intention of helping other women set up their own micro-finance groups. pexels After 15 years of continued determination and passion towards an enterprising life, Shantha has made a mark in the society. Her pivotal role in empowering rural women to contribute to their family is an example for many of us to follow. As far as her own family life is concerned, her son is an engineer today, and gives full credit to her for making him achieve his professional goal. If all goes according to plan, firefighting robots will be used to douse blazes in the city by the year end. wildfiretoday/Representative image The Mumbai fire brigade plans to buy three remote-controlled robot fire extinguishers, each costing Rs 2 crore, and place one each at three fire stations in the island city and eastern and western suburbs. Depending on advanced specifications, the cost could escalate. wildfiretoday/Representative image Firefighting robots can spray water and foam mist up to 80m and are especially useful in complex fire situations. On Friday, Joseph Leslie & Co LLP and its partner Magirus Germany held a demonstration of an unmanned, remote control-operated robot fire extinguisher for 50 fire officials at the Mumbai Fire Brigade headquarters at Byculla. "Such equipment can help fight fires at dumping grounds where firemen find it difficult to reach the spot as there are no roads," said Clint Leslie Pereira, director of Joseph Leslie & Co LLP. wildfiretoday/Representative image The fire brigade is looking at other players too. "More companies are expected to give us demonstrations and we will select the best of the lot. These advanced techniques and professional interventions will play a key role in providing quicker response in emergencies," said chief fire officer P Rahangdale, who operated the robot fire extinguisher. A provision for the purchase of robot fire extinguishers was made in the BMC budget 2016-17. The Indian Navy ended its security operations on the sightings of suspected elements on Friday, but the Maharashtra police and other agencies continue their vigil in the region. BCCL Mystery continues over the sightings on Thursday of around five-six suspected terrorists, who were described by local school students as masked, wearing Pathani suits and carrying weapons, sending the entire security apparatus in a tizzy. About the state of alertness, he said the Indian Navy maintains a high state of alert/tight vigil at all times in consonance with the prevailing circumstances. ALSO READ: Mumbai On High Alert After Reports Of Suspicious Men With Weapons Being Spotted BCCL Since Thursday, multiple security agencies continued their hawk-eyed vigil on Friday to apprehend the unknown persons sighted in Uran town, and police later released sketches of two suspects. Official sources in the state government said that the combing operations by the local authorities are in the final stages and nothing worthwhile has been found so far. BCCL However, the police will continue to remain in a state of alertness in Uran town, which has a population of around 31,000, and the Uran sub-district has around 140,000 people spread in 53 villages and four small towns, on the mainland around 50 km from Mumbai. Security at all critical installations and sensitive locations in Mumbai and adjoining Raigad, Navi Mumbai, has been beefed up with police road blocks and vehicle searches. Fishermen were on the lookout in Arabian Sea and aerial-surface combing operations were taken up in different parts. At least two to four schoolchildren had reported spotting some unidentified persons - ranging from one to five - wearing masks, Pathani suits and carrying weapons around 7 a.m. on Thursday. BCCL They informed their teacher, who in turn alerted the police and the entire security apparatus swung into action within hours. Schools, colleges, shops and establishments in Uran and surroundings remained shut for two days as security officials searched the area. Returning from a trip to the US late on Thursday night, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis appealed to the people not to panic as adequate security arrangements were in place in Uran. BCCL Navi Mumbai police commissioner Hemant Nagrale said that police and other security agencies have launched operations to trace the suspects. Till now, the version of two witnesses (students) could not be confirmed, efforts are on, Nagrale said. Meanwhile, huge deployment of police was witnessed in parts of south Mumbai, road blocks and checking of select vehicles continued overnight in an effort to detect the missing suspects. BCCL Security has been intensified at Raj Bhavan, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, the BARC, DAE, Mantralaya and surrounding VVIP areas, key railway terminus and stations, prominent beaches like Girgaum Chowpatty and Juhu, various oil and fertiliser companies installations on the eastern coast of Mumbai, the naval harbour, JNPT and MbPT, etc. The two-day operations were described by security personnel as the highest ever state of alert after the November 26, 2008, Mumbai terror strikes. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has claimed that the Uri terror attack could be the result of a "reaction" of the people to the situation in Kashmir as he criticised India for blaming Pakistan "without any evidence". AFP "The Uri attack can be the reaction of the atrocities in Kashmir, as the close relatives and near and dear ones of those killed and blinded over the last two months were hurt and outraged." Sharif said that India hastily blamed Pakistan without any investigation. He said India behaved in an "irresponsible way" when it blamed Pakistan "without any evidence". AFP "How could India accuse Pakistan only hours after the Uri incident without holding any inquiry or investigation." "The whole world knows about the Indian atrocities" in Kashmir where around "108 people have so far been killed, over 150 blinded and thousands injured," he alleged. Stressing on alleged "brutalities being perpetrated against innocent Kashmiris", the Pakistani Prime Minister said that before accusing Pakistan, India should have looked at its "atrocious role" in Kashmir. AFP 18 soldiers were killed when Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists attacked a highly-guarded army camp in Uri in Kashmir on Sunday morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that those behind the despicable act will not go unpunished. BCCL The incident triggered a diplomatic dust-up with both India and Pakistan hitting out at each other including at the UN General Assembly. In his first public speech after the Uri terror attack in which 18 Indian Army Jawans were martyred, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at Pakistan for 'exporting terrorism'. In a veiled attack to Pakistan in Kozhikode, Modi said that India won't ever forget the Uri attack. PTI Here are the key quotes from his speech: 1. Leaders of present regime of the neighbouring country are reading out the script of terrorists. 2. Sacrifice of our 18 jawans will not go in vain. We will leave no stone unturned to isolate Pakistan in the world. 3. Terrorists should clearly hear out that India will never forget the Uri attack. AFP 4. Pakistani leaders are misleading by talking of Kashmir. Their people should ask why India exports software and you export terror. 5. People of Pakistan should query their leaders who are not able to handle PoK, Balochistan, Gilgit and Pakhtunistan. 6. There is one nation in Asia whose aim is that 21st century does not become Asia's and is associated with terrorism. PTI 7. In the last few months, our soldiers have killed over 110 terrorists which is the highest in recent years. 8. Let both the countries fight to end poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and see who wins. 9. There have been 17 attempts of cross-border infiltration by our neighbour which our brave soldiers defeated. 10. India will never bow down to terrorism and will strive to defeat it. An inspector of police from Karur has been detained by Tamil Nadu police for allegedly waylaying a Kerala-bound car and robbing Rs 3.9 crore cash from the passengers of the car near Madukkarai on the outskirts of Coimbatore last month. The inspector N Muthukumar, attached to K Paramathi police station, allegedly masterminded the robbery. He led a gang that consisted of two other policemen, Saravanan and Dharmendra, and three men. TOI/ Representative image Sub-inspector Saravanan and head constable Dharmendra, also from K Paramathi station, are absconding. Trichy range DIG Arun has placed all the three policemen under suspension. In a twist, the owner of the car in which the cash was being transported from Chennai to Kerala, Anwar Sadarth, a gold merchant, is denying that the cash belonged to him. According to the police, at around 4 AM on August 25, the jeweller's employees were returning in a car from Chennai with the cash when the six-member gang intercepted and robbed the money. ET/Representative Image Police suspect that the cop robber gang has links with Panikkavalappil Veettil Sreedharan alias `Kodali' Sreedharan, who operate in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. They say that a total of eight people are involved in the crime. Police investigations have revealed that the three cops and the other men were supposed to get `50 lakh each and the rest of the amount was supposed to reach Kodali Sreedharan. But the cops only parted with `30 lakh. Differences over sharing the loot led one of the men to tip off the police and the three cops were arrested. The cash is yet to be recovered. Going once...Going twice... Going thrice and sold to the gentleman in white shirt! Mackenzie Lyall & Co, Kolkatas earliest known auction house at the then Mission Road (Ganesh Chandra Aveue) which was set up in the 19th century and was pretty well known for its opium auctions, has shut down. Similar are the fates of Stainer & Co., Dalhousie Exchange, Chowringhee Sales Bureau Pvt. Ltd and D Albert & Co., that too have downed shutters between 1985-2005. Amidst a handful of surviving goliaths from the past, The Russell Exchange at Russell street near Park Street, Kolkata still stands. Umang Sharma When the British started packing up and leaving India, they started selling off their goods. That somehow became a craze, a hobby if you may, says Arshad Salim, the younger of the two brothers at The Russell Exchange before adding, However, after a period time the auction houses started wrapping up. The two main auction houses after Mackenzie Lyall & Co. shut down and which survived were The Russell Exchange and Chowringhee Sales Bureau Pvt. Ltd. However, Chowringhee too shut down, and now we are the only ones who do regular auctions. What is interesting to note is the fact that when the British were leaving, suddenly everything they owned and were selling became a fashionable thing to buy. Thus from beds to brooms everything was up for grabs and the rich and affluent of the then Calcutta were all hands, adds Arshad also stating, The imported commodities that were going under the hammer was also something that was not readily available back then and thus it piqued the interest of those who were bent towards the finer things in life as well. Umang Sharma Walk in through the mammoth doors of The Russell Exchange and it seems like one might be walking into another world, furniture of all shapes and sizes cover the milieu while chandeliers and other incandescence hang from the high ceilings. As you step further into the Exchange, one can smell old books lined up at odd angles and other musty aromas with an old world charm to them. At the very rear of the establishment, sit the two brothers who run the place, Anwar Saleem and Arshad Salim. Ask them why they spell their names differently and Arshad cheekily replies, Well I am the elder, so my name is the correct one! Arshad goes on to add, It was a conscious decision as both our initials are the same and tend to create a lot of confusion. Umang Sharma My brother runs the place, corrects Anwar, the elder of the two, I am just the elder one and usually throw my weight around. He goes on to add, While he is the one who takes care of the day to day functioning of the place, I usually envision and plan for the future. I have been away for 45 years and I keep on shuffling between the UK and Kolkata. So what I bring every time I am back is a fresh perspective, says Anwar before adding, I have added a new section here where we directly sell old furniture to buyers which are not for auctions and it has already received fabulous response! Arshad who has been listening to his brother speak goes on to add, With changing times, the trends change. We have also started renting out our artifacts for television production and other places as props. It is just a new direction that we have undertaken as well. Umang Sharma Ask Arshad how he came into this profession and he says, Auctioning is in my blood! I was the youngest auctioneer of my time. I started my career in this world when I was just 17. It was choice that I took because I loved doing it. I had seen my father before me and it was but a natural progression. Anwar adds, Our father Abdul Majed started this in 1940 and for us it is a legacy that we plan to keep alive. Speaking about his foray into the world of auctioning, Arshad goes on to add, I remember this one instance. I must have been nineteen or so. An auction was taking place and a cut glass decanter was up for bid. The two main bidders were an English gentleman who wanted to keep his wine in it and an Indian businessman from Rajasthan who had come with his wife. The good wife wanted the decanter too but to keep mustard oil in it. As the bidding continued it turned out that the gentleman whose wife wanted the decanter for her mustard oil outbid the Britisher! That stayed with me and these subtle competitions intrigued me to say the least. Arindam Shivaani Arshad says that they act as the mediator between sellers and buyers, providing them a platform to interact with each other. He goes on to add, We do not buy any of the things that are displayed in the house. Sellers interested in selling their goods bring articles to us. We value them and help them in setting up and initial bidding price. Once the good is sold, we charge 20 percent of the proceeds for our services. Anwar adds, Valuation comes from experience, we have to have a basic idea of the product and then know the market rates as well. We try to keep a position where both buyer and seller are happy and we get our share as well. Sometimes they might send us the images of products through email or WhatsApp messages but mostly products are brought to us. During days of auctioning, our sister Sarfaraz Begum Shamsi, calls for bids. Interestingly, Sarfaraz Begum Shamsi is probably the only woman auctioneer in India! While Sarfaraz is the eldest, Arshad is seven years younger to her and older to Anwar by five years. On this particular Sunday, there were about 50 odd people standing in the auction house, as things go under the gavel. Not everyone seems to be a buyer, there are people who have come just for the experience, young kids with cameras on their shoulders, dealers (for they with their hawk eyes look just like businessmen) look intricately at items for closer inspections and then they are the dreamers who look longingly at everything being brought, but they do seem to have a pretty good idea of what is being sold, only raising their hands at objects that might have some real value. These are mostly the generation buyers who have followed their parents footsteps into bidding. Umang Sharma Auction is picking up again, thanks to an interest by the younger generation, feel and state the two brothers with Anwar going on to add, Ed Owless film on The Russell Exchange in Kolkata has wonderfully depicted our fight as we try to sell our way into a new world. It got a pan media release in UK, has been shown in various festivals and will soon be shown in Macedonia. Not to forget that it has popularised Russell Exchange to people and helped pick up business again, Anwar adds with a mischievous smile before concluding, At the end of the day it is a spectacle, people come here for the experience and more often than not they get hooked. We have second generation employees, third generation coolies and often third or fourth generation buyers as well. We are lucky, we have survived. This week saw three more ancient artifacts brought back from Australia although the country still has a considerable number of pieces on display that have shady ownership histories. Most of the pieces in Australia have been acquired from the New York gallery which had a lot of artifacts smuggled by Subhash Kapoor. Art News There are at least 12 more artifacts in the National Gallery of Australia which have a Kapoor connection. While the Art Gallery of New South Wales has five more - including a toy in the shape of a woman playing a drum. Apart from the above, Kapoor's smuggled goods have found space in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Toledo Museum of Art Ohio and Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. BCCL While the rest of the world is taking its sweet time, despite knowing the smuggling history, Australia has been taking consistent steps to remedy it. In 2014, it gave back to India two valuable and ancient statues - a Nataraja bought from Kapoor for $5.6 millon in 2007, and a 1,000-year Ardhanariswara that it had bought for $300,000. Hindu More important, since 2014, it's undertaken an internal audit of the ownership histories - provenance as it's called in circles - of all ancient Asian objects. "Research is currently underway on all objects for which there is insufficient or questionable provenance information," confirms an NGA spokesperson. Earlier this year, an independent review by a retired high court judge of this audit found 22 objects with dodgy histories. American President Barack Obama has vetoed a bill allowing 9/11 families to sue Saudi Arabia, risking a fierce public backlash and rare congressional rebuke. While expressing "deep sympathy" for the families of the victims, Obama said the law would be "detrimental to US national interests." AFP The White House tried and failed to have the legislation which was unanimously passed by Congress, scrapped or substantially revised. Terry Strada, whose husband Tom was killed in World Trade Center Tower One, told AFP the 9/11 "families are outraged and very disappointed" by Obama's decision. She vowed that the group would now lobby "just as hard as we possibly can" to have Congress overturn the decision. Reuters Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who has already painted Obama and his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton as weak on terrorism, described the decision as "shameful." "That President Obama would deny the parents, spouses and children of those we lost on that horrific day the chance to close this painful chapter in their lives is a disgrace." "If elected president, I would sign such legislation should it reach my desk." On that point at least Trump was in agreement with Clinton, who, according to her campaign spokesman Jesse Lehrich, would also sign the bill. AFP Obama now faces the very real prospect of Republican and Democratic lawmakers joining forces to override his veto for the first time in his presidency. Such a rebuke -- which Congressional sources say could come as early as next Tuesday -- would mark Obama's last months in office and show the White House to be much weakened. Families of 9/11 victims have campaigned for the law convinced that the Saudi government had a hand in the attacks that killed almost 3,000 people. Reuters Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi citizens, but no link to the government has been proven The Saudi government denies any links to the plotters. Declassified documents showed US intelligence had multiple suspicions about links between the Saudi government and the attackers. "While in the United States, some of the 9/11 hijackers were in contact with, and received support or assistance from, individuals who may be connected to the Saudi government," a finding read. AFP Behind the scenes, Riyadh has been lobbying furiously for the bill to be scrapped. A senior Saudi prince reportedly threatened to pull billions of dollars out of US assets if it becomes law, but Saudi officials now distance themselves from that claim. The US-Saudi relationship had already been strained by Obama's engagement with Saudi's Shia foe Iran and the July release of a secret report on Saudi involvement in the attacks. The White House insists Obama did not veto because of concerns over ties with Saudi Arabia, saying it is worried the bill would set a dangerous legal precedent, undermining the principle of sovereign immunity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to bring international spotlight on the hitherto under-reported atrocities by Pakistan in Balochistan province seems to have found its mark. The international community is slowly taking note on the decades of human rights violations there. IVBMP The most high-profile one so far has come from European Parliament vice president Ryszard Czarnecki. Speaking to ANI news agency, Czarnecki said the EU could impose economic and political sanctions on Pakistan, if it fails to stop human rights violation in Balochistan. se.pl "We have bilateral economic and political relations with Pakistan and if it will not change its state policy towards Balochistan, then we would change our attitude towards Islamabad and towards the government of Pakistan." In a sharp and strongly worded attack, he said Pakistan has two faces when it comes to Balochistan. "Pakistan has two faces. It is the open face to us and the other is the brutal face towards Balochistan." Czarnecki's statements comes just a couple of days after US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, who is a also strong votary of the Baloch cause co-submitted a bill in the Parliament to declare Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism. Meanwhile even as India is considering the asylum plea of prominent Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti, Pakistan has raised objection. Twitter Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif said sheltering Bugti amounts to harbouring a terrorist by a state. India Granting asylum to Brahmdagh Bugti will amount to harbouring a terrorist by a state..thus becoming official sponsor of terrorism.. Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) September 22, 2016 This is because Pakistan considers a number of Baloch leaders including Bugti as terrorists. His Baloch Republican Party has also been banned in the country. On a side note, it is ironic that out of all countries in the world Pakistan is accusing another country of harbouring terrorists. The country has a long and dubious track record of giving safe havens to a number of high and low-profile terrorists - the most prominent being Al-Qaida chief Osama Bin Laden who was killed by US in a compound close to the Pakistan Army headquarters in Rawalpindi. Others including Taliban supreme commander Mullah Omar were living in Pakistan for years until his death was confirmed in 2014. Reuters Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, who replaced Omar, was killed by a US drone strike, once again inside Pakistan. Other high profile terrorists who were killed inside Pakistan include Nasiruddin Haqqani, the son of Jalaluddin Haqqani a Taliban linked group operating in Afghanistan. Pakistan's Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan has accused India of blaming Pakistan for the Uri terror attack without having any concrete evidence and ruled out any immediate cooperation with India in probing the incident. GeoNews "India itself does not have any evidence about the (Uri) attack so how will Pakistan help in carrying out any investigation." He also accused India of hurling baseless allegations against Pakistan after the attack at the army camp in Uri. "India is responsible for levelling false accusations on us when the investigations are not even completed." Khan also ruled out any immediate cooperation with India over the attack and accused the Indian government of launching a 'malicious campaign' to defame Pakistan by prematurely blaming it for the Uri attack. BCCL ALSO READ: 72 Hours After Uri Attacks, The Worlds Biggest Names Are Supporting India Against Pakistan He said India imposed censorship on its media when it questioned its allegation about Pakistan. "We did not impose any censorship on the media but they did because their propaganda was earlier exposed by their own news channels." BCCL Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising since the 18 September attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers. Pakistan has rejected allegations of its involvement in the assault. ALSO READ: Pakistan Reportedly Preparing For War - Readies Operational Plans And Selects Targets In India Let's keep the body-shaming argument aside for a moment and look at some serious challenges that one faces while travelling with an overweight person. An Italian lawyer, Giorgio Destro had to stand in the aisle, sit on seats reserved for the cabin crew when they were free and suffer the spillover of the passenger on the nine-hour flight from Cape Town to Dubai. The lawyer took selfies while seated, which he included as evidence in the lawsuit he has filed against Emirates. Twitter He had approached the airline staff to provide him with an alternate seat but was informed that the flight was full and he could not be accommodated anywhere else. Destro is now seeking a compensation of 2,759.51 (nearly Rs 2,40,000) in compensation and damages. The hearing is scheduled for October 20 in Padua, Italy. The Emirates flight from Cape Town to Dubai is typically operated by a Boeing 777-300ER. The aircraft has 310 spacious seats in Economy Class, with a seat width of 17 inches, according to SeatGuru. The Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration is pleased to announce the upcoming 16th North American Mine Ventilation Symposium, which will be held at Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado from June 17 through 22, 2017. The North American Mine Ventilation Symposium is organized by the Underground Ventilation Committee (UVC) of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration. Since the first Symposium in 1982, the UVC has sought to provide mine ventilation engineers and technicians in the underground coal, metal, and industrial mineral mining industry with the latest information and operating practices from the field and promote the exchange of ideas and research in a variety of related areas to include the monitoring of air contaminants, determining fresh air requirements, and producing power efficient ventilation and cooling systems. In September 2016, members of the pipeline industry from around the world will gather in Calgary for the 11th International Pipeline Conference (IPC 2016). Organized by volunteers representing international energy corporations, energy and pipeline associations and regulatory agencies, the IPC has become internationally renowned as the worlds premier pipeline conference. This is a not-for-profit conference and proceeds continue to support educational initiatives and research in the pipeline industry. The conference will begin on Monday, September 26, with tutorial offerings in key areas of interest. Technical Track sessions will begin the morning of Tuesday, September 27, and run through to Friday, September 30. The International Pipeline Conference is designed to inform, enlighten and motivate, therefore we encourage you to actively participate in IPC 2016 five days of exceptional value, which you wont want to miss WASHINGTON D.C., 23 de septiembre.- Lo ultimo de la campana presidencial en los Estados Unidos (todo en hora del este): --- 21:20. El primer ministro israeli Benjamin Netanyahu se reunira el domingo por separado con los candidatos presidenciales Hillary Clinton y Donald Trump. La embajada israeli declino precisar el lugar donde se efectuaran los encuentros. Netanyahu se encuentra en la ciudad de Nueva York desde la semana pasada para asistir a la reunion de la Asamblea General de la ONU. El gobernante israeli se entrevisto el miercoles en la noche con el presidente Barack Obama en lo que quiza sea su ultimo encuentro entre ambos antes de que Obama concluya su periodo en la Casa Blanca. El Primer Ministro de Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, en su discurso de ayer en la Asamblea General de la ONU. (JASON SZENES / EFE) Clinton y Trump se reunieron cada cual con el presidente egipcio Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi en Nueva York. Clinton tambien se entrevisto con los gobernantes de Japon y Ucrania. --- 15:40 Ted Cruz dice que va a votar por Donald Trump para presidente, un sorprendente cambio de posicion luego de sacudir la convencion republicana al negarse a hacerlo. El senador por Texas dijo en Facebook (que tomo esa decision por dos razones. Primera, su promesa de respaldar al nominado del partido. Y segunda, su conviccion de que la candidata democrata Hillary Clinton es "completamente inaceptable". Cruz finalizo segundo en las primarias republicanas y durante meses se nego a darle su apoyo a Trump. Los sondeos desde entonces han indicado que la popularidad de Cruz esta bajando nacionalmente y en Texas, donde se disputaran elecciones en el 2018. (El Nuevo Herald). Esto publico Cruz en Facebook: This election is unlike any other in our nations history. Like many other voters, I have struggled to determine the right course of action in this general election. In Cleveland, I urged voters, please, dont stay home in November. Stand, and speak, and vote your conscience, vote for candidates up and down the ticket whom you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution. After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump. Ive made this decision for two reasons. First, last year, I promised to support the Republican nominee. And I intend to keep my word. Second, even though I have had areas of significant disagreement with our nominee, by any measure Hillary Clinton is wholly unacceptable thats why I have always been #NeverHillary. Six key policy differences inform my decision. First, and most important, the Supreme Court. For anyone concerned about the Bill of Rights free speech, religious liberty, the Second Amendment the Court hangs in the balance. I have spent my professional career fighting before the Court to defend the Constitution. We are only one justice away from losing our most basic rights, and the next president will appoint as many as four new justices. We know, without a doubt, that every Clinton appointee would be a left-wing ideologue. Trump, in contrast, has promised to appoint justices in the mold of Scalia. For some time, I have been seeking greater specificity on this issue, and today the Trump campaign provided that, releasing a very strong list of potential Supreme Court nominees including Sen. Mike Lee, who would make an extraordinary justice and making an explicit commitment to nominate only from that list. This commitment matters, and it provides a serious reason for voters to choose to support Trump. Second, Obamacare. The failed healthcare law is hurting millions of Americans. If Republicans hold Congress, leadership has committed to passing legislation repealing Obamacare. Clinton, we know beyond a shadow of doubt, would veto that legislation. Trump has said he would sign it. Third, energy. Clinton would continue the Obama administrations war on coal and relentless efforts to crush the oil and gas industry. Trump has said he will reduce regulations and allow the blossoming American energy renaissance to create millions of new high-paying jobs. Fourth, immigration. Clinton would continue and even expand President Obamas lawless executive amnesty. Trump has promised that he would revoke those illegal executive orders. Fifth, national security. Clinton would continue the Obama administrations willful blindness to radical Islamic terrorism. She would continue importing Middle Eastern refugees whom the FBI cannot vet to make sure they are not terrorists. Trump has promised to stop the deluge of unvetted refugees. Sixth, Internet freedom. Clinton supports Obamas plan to hand over control of the Internet to an international community of stakeholders, including Russia, China, and Iran. Just this week, Trump came out strongly against that plan, and in support of free speech online. These are six vital issues where the candidates positions present a clear choice for the American people. If Clinton wins, we know with 100% certainty that she would deliver on her left-wing promises, with devastating results for our country. My conscience tells me I must do whatever I can to stop that. We also have seen, over the past few weeks and months, a Trump campaign focusing more and more on freedom including emphasizing school choice and the power of economic growth to lift African-Americans and Hispanics to prosperity. Finally, after eight years of a lawless Obama administration, targeting and persecuting those disfavored by the administration, fidelity to the rule of law has never been more important. The Supreme Court will be critical in preserving the rule of law. And, if the next administration fails to honor the Constitution and Bill of Rights, then I hope that Republicans and Democrats will stand united in protecting our fundamental liberties. Our country is in crisis. Hillary Clinton is manifestly unfit to be president, and her policies would harm millions of Americans. And Donald Trump is the only thing standing in her way. A year ago, I pledged to endorse the Republican nominee, and I am honoring that commitment. And if you dont want to see a Hillary Clinton presidency, I encourage you to vote for him. The United Nations (UN) has revealed that not fewer than 611 teachers were killed between 2009 and 2015 due to the Boko Haram insurgency. It also stated that 19,000 were forced to flee the North-Eastern part of Nigeria. UN made this known via its National Information Officer, Oluseyi Soremekun. Soremekun made the disclosure in a media advisory made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. Mr. Soremekun said the advisory was on a report entitled: Launch of the 2016 Global Education Monitoring Report in Nigeria to be launched on Monday in Abuja. He said the report indicated that more than 910 schools were destroyed, while 1,500 others were closed due to Boko Haram attacks in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria in the same period. As of 2015 in Nigeria, where Boko Haram has targeted education workers and students, at least 611 teachers had been deliberately killed and 19,000 forced to flee since 2009. According to the report, between 2009 and 2015, attacks in North-Eastern Nigeria destroyed more than 910 schools and forced at least 1,500 to close and teachers are at risk. By early 2016, an estimated 952,029 school-age children had fled the violence. Teachers are at risk, he quoted the report as saying. Mr. Soremekun said that UNESCO and the Federal Ministry of Education would also organise a stakeholders forum on the implementation of Goal Four of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He said that theme of the report is: Education for People and Planet: Creating Sustainable Futures for All. SEE ALSO: Troops Repel Boko Haram Attacks In Borno, Kill 15 Insurgents The Governor of Adamawa State, Jibrilla Muhammadu Bindow, has approved the employment of 149 new nurses in the state. The state Head of Service, Musa Kaibo, revealed this in Yola, the state capital while receiving in attendance the new General Secretary of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, Thomas Shettima who hails from the state. According to Mr. Kaibo, the plan is to ensure there are enough nurses in hospitals across the state. He lauded the emergence of Mr. Shettima, as the General Secretary of NANNM and urged him to be a good ambassador of the state. Gov Bindow while speaking at the ceremony, reiterate his administrations commitment to the welfare of health workers. He said that the salary of health workers, particularly nurses, has been regular in the state, adding that his administration will continue to improve on it. He also lauded Mr. Shettima and urged him to continue to make the state proud and remain a good ambassador. I am delighted to be present here today at the 2nd edition of the United StatesAfrica Business Forum. I wish to thank the United States Department of Commerce and Bloomberg Philanthropies for organising this event and for giving me this opportunity to address this august gathering of Political and Business Leaders from the United States of America (USA), Africa and other regions of the World. I believe all of us will take advantage of this Forum to establish and strengthen business relationships; share valuable experience; and collaborate for mutual benefits. The United States has historically been one of Nigerias top trading partners; for decades, the US was the biggest importer of Nigerias crude oil. In the last two years, however, the sharp decline in US imports of our crude, on account of rising domestic production of Shale, has altered the trade balance between our two countries. But it has also thrown up opportunities for Nigeria to increase its non-oil exports especially in agricultural products to the U.S. Today, Nigeria enjoys a mutually beneficial trade and investment relations with USA. This relationship has culminated in massive inflow of Foreign Direct Investment into Nigeria. There are several US Companies doing business in Nigeria, including Exxon-Mobil, Chevron, General Electric, IBM, Microsoft, Procter and Gamble, Coca-Cola, Pepsi Company, British-American Tobacco Company, UPS Courier Company, BCG, Johnson Wax Nigeria Ltd, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, to name a few. These are no doubt challenging times for the Nigerian economy. But let me use this opportunity to boldly affirm our conviction that there is no crisis without an accompanying opportunity. In our case, we see Nigerias ongoing economic challenges occasioned mainly by the fall in oil prices as an opportunity to set the economy firmly on the path of true diversification, sustainable economic growth, and shared prosperity. Since the inception of my Administration in 2015, all efforts have been aimed at ensuring that all Nigerians enjoy rising standards of living. We campaigned for and came into office on the back of three fundamental issues: One, Securing Nigeria from terrorism and banditry, Two, Fighting corruption and ensuring that public funds work for the public good, and Three, Revamping an economy that was dangerously dependent on crude oil, and afflicted by rising inequality and jobless growth. We are pleased to note that our efforts are yielding fruit. Hundreds of communities and thousands of people have been liberated from the clutches of the terrorists, under our watch, and are now getting a chance to, with support from the government and the international community, rebuild their homes and their lives. Our quest is to ensure, through a combination of institution-building and judicial efforts, that public funds work for the public good, and that persons responsible for overseeing the use of these funds come to this task with the utmost sense of transparency and accountability. Earlier this year we signed up to the Open Government Partnership, a clear demonstration of our commitment to a radical departure from a past characterised by large-scale state-enabled corruption. Let me also assure that we will continue to strengthen Government institutions established to address investors concerns. We are weaning ourselves from a historical dependence on crude oil, diversifying our economy, and putting it on the path of sustainable and inclusive growth. To this end, we have embarked on policies aimed at establishing an open, rules-based and market-oriented economy. We will continue to actively engage with the private sector at the highest levels to listen to your concerns and to assure you of our commitment to creating enabling policies in which your businesses can thrive. Indeed, we have constituted a Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, which is working on a wide range of business environment reforms, ranging from making our planned visa-on-arrival regime a reality, to ports reform, to improving the speed and efficiency of land titling and business registration. We aspire to make Nigeria one of the most attractive places to do business. Let me now focus on the priority investment sectors for our administration: Infrastructure, Industry, Agriculture, Mining and the Digital Economy. For far too long Nigeria has under-invested in the critical infrastructure necessary for a modern economy. Now, that is set to change. We are working hard to bridge an electricity deficit of several thousands of megawatts, which will require substantial private sector investment, especially in Transmission. Our railway system is being opened up after decades of a government monopoly that has hindered the needed private sector investment. We are well on course with a concessioning deal that will see General Electric take over hundreds of kilometres of existing rail assets, and invest billions of dollars to upgrade assets and services. On Industry, there is the Nigerian Industrial Plan that is being implemented. The implementation is directed at interventions to improve productivity and output in five industry groups, namely: agri-business and agro-allied; solid minerals and metals; oil and gas; construction, and light manufacturing. Currently, investments and partnerships are being directed to leather and leather products; sugar; palm oil processing; food processing, specifically tomato and fruit processing. Automobile assembly and manufacturing are important to the diversification of the Nigerian economy. Industrial zones and parks are being established. This is work in progress. In Agriculture, through our Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP), we are prioritising the improvement in domestic production of rice, wheat, maize, fish, dairy milk, soya beans, poultry, fruits and vegetables, and sugar, as well as the export of cowpeas, cocoa, cashew, cassava (starch, chips and ethanol), ginger, sesame, oil palm, fruits and vegetables, beef and cotton. To achieve these goals, we are ready to partner with and support willing private investors, by creating an environment that is stable, safe, and competitive. I am pleased to note that Coca Cola has recently invested substantially in one of Nigerias best-known dairy and fruit juice companies, and is looking to increase its stake over the next few years. In Mining, Nigeria is determined to build a world class minerals and mining ecosystem designed to serve a targeted domestic and export market. To accomplish this, we are prioritising exploration, local processing and beneficiation of our mineral assets with provision of generous incentives including favourable tax regimes and royalties to investors interested in our market. We have as part of this identified mineral resources, which exist in commercially viable quantities, and designated them as strategic priorities for Nigerias domestic Industrialisation and Infrastructure requirements. In the Digital Economy, which, like Infrastructure, has a multiplier effect that touches every part of the economy, opportunities abound. We have welcomed and continue to welcome investors willing to take a stake in one of the worlds largest and fastest growing telecoms markets a market which has attracted more than $35 billion in FDI over the last decade and half. The Nigerian Communications Commission will shortly commence a licensing process for the deployment of broadband infrastructure across metropolitan areas in the country. Young Nigerians are increasingly demonstrating that they have the talent and the passion to leverage the digital economy for solving our most pressing challenges. We are seeing a lot of activity in that space, and not just in Lagos, but even in cities further afield, from Uyo to Abuja. There are currently 150 million active mobile phone lines in the country sixty percent of which are connected to the Internet. I can confidently say that Nigeria is in the early stages of a domestic technology revolution, and the government is paying serious attention and offering its full support. Three weeks ago I hosted Mark Zuckerberg, the Founder and CEO of Facebook, which is now used regularly by 17 million Nigerians, more people than in any other country in Africa. A few months ago Mr. Zuckerberg invested $24 million in Andela, a technology company that has Iyin Aboyeji, a 25-year-old Nigerian as one of its co-founders, and maintains its main campus in the city of Lagos. On the same day that Mr. Zuckerberg visited I also welcomed and interacted with 30 of the most exciting technology startups in the country; among whom lie tomorrows billion-dollar corporations. In terms of Trade, Nigeria is keen to more effectively leverage the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) opportunities to boost exports to the US Market. In collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) we have developed an AGOA Response Strategy to boost exports under AGOA. We are willing to collaborate with willing development partners to address some of the constraints to accessing the US Market under AGOA, such as our inability to comply with US requirements. With our U.S. counterparts, we are also working on a post-AGOA framework. Nigeria will continue to work closely with the U.S. to ensure that trade works for development. I urge the American businesses present here to take advantage of the investment opportunity that Nigeria represents. Nigeria remains the number one investment destination in Africa, with total FDI inflow of about US$3.64 billion in 2015. Apart from our domestic market of 170 million, the largest in Africa, we are also the main gateway to a combined West African consumer market that is about as large as ours. With a median age of 19, and with 70 percent of the population below the age of 35, Nigerias greatest potential lies in the talent and energy of her youth. Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, we recognise that the economic benefits of our trade and investment relations with the United States and other partners are unambiguous. In order to encourage private capital inflow, we have packaged some fiscal investment incentives which include the following: up to 5 years of tax holiday for activities classified as pioneer; Tax-free operations; no restrictions on expatriate quotas in Free Trade Zones; Capital Allowances (Agriculture, Manufacturing and Engineering); a low VAT regime of 5 percent; among others. Let me use this occasion to announce the commencement of the latest in a series of bilateral engagements between the United States and Nigeria: the U.S. Nigeria Commercial and Investment Dialogue. This Dialogue, which will focus on Infrastructure, Agriculture, the Digital Economy, Investment and Regulatory Reform, will be jointly led by the Nigerian Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the US Commerce Secretary, and will include business executives from both countries. By strengthening existing trade and investment ties between our two countries, as well as opening up new vistas, it will complement the work currently being done by the US-Nigeria Binational Commission, the US-Nigeria Trade and Investment Framework, and similar initiatives. We very much look forward to the mutual benefits that will accrue from this Dialogue. On this note, I enjoin investors here today to take advantage of this Forum to build synergies that would translate to increased trade and investment flows between Nigeria and United States of America. Nigeria welcomes you. I wish you a fruitful deliberation. Thank You for listening. The Police in Lagos State, have arrested a man, who claimed to be a trader, for allegedly raping his 15 year-old daughter and administering drugs on her to prevent pregnancy. The spokesperson of the state Police Command, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday. Badmos said that the Gender Unit of the command was investigating the suspect, Uchena Elumadu for a case of defilement. She said that a neighbour, who resides at Martins Street, new Oko Oba, Agege Lagos, reported the case to the police. She said that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect had on different occasions, raped the JSS 3 student who is his daughter. The police image maker said that Elumadu usually administer drugs to prevent his victim from getting pregnant after having intercourse with her. The victim said that her father, on countless occasions wakes her up in the middle of the night to rape her, mostly when her mother is on night duty. The mother is a casual worker in one of the outfits attached to airport. On the night of Sept. 19, the mother discovered the suspect having intercourse with the victim and raised the alarm and one of their neighbours reported the case to the police, Badmos said. She said the victim had been admitted at the Police Cottage Hospital, Ikeja Police College, where she is receiving treatment in partnership with Mirabel Centre LASUTH. The spokesperson said that medical examination was being carried out on the victim. Badmos said the Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Owoseni, had directed that the father, who admitted raping his daughter on three occasions be charged to court. Source: NTANews The Shiite Muslims in Nigeria, who are better known as The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) engaged in a protest demanding the release of their leader Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky who has been in detention. Zakzaky was arrested back in 2015 during a clash between members of the IMN and the Nigerian Army in Zaria. He was injured in the process. Ever since his detention there have been demands for his release by both IMN members and sympathisers. Even Iran, which is predominantly Shiite, has made appeals to the Nigerian government for his release. Thursday was the latest of series of protest demanding Zakzakys release. The protest was held in Abuja in which Soldiers and the Police resulted to the use of force. Some protesters got injured in the process. Here are photos from the protest: Photo credit: AhlulBayt News Agency The Ogun State Police Command has uncovered a fraudsters den at Pokuku Village in the Abeokuta North Local Government Area of the state. The den, which was nicknamed Pokuku Shrine was until Wednesday allegedly used by suspected fraudsters to carry out different forms of criminal activities such as fraud, according to the police. The state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ilyasu, on Wednesday said the police raided the shrine after an intelligence report on criminal activities being perpetrated there. The shrine, which is a two-bedroomed mud house, is located in the remote part of the village. It contained effigies, fake foreign and local currencies and other fetish objects. Ilyasu said the shrine was raided by the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, and one of the suspected fraudsters who was said to be the ring leader, Haruna Moshood, was arrested, while three other accomplices escaped. The police boss said many victims had been duped by the fraudsters, who were also said to be kidnappers. He said, This is a house of horror where different kinds of criminal activities had taken place. Following diligent and intelligent information of our special operatives, FSARS stormed this horror house and we discovered that it is a receiving end of kidnapped victims. It is also a place where suspected kidnappers dispose property of their victims. We have been able to recover different denominations of fake dollars and nairas. By the time we arrived here, we did not see any victim, and some of the suspected kidnappers escaped. However, we were able to arrest one of the leaders, identified as Haruna Moshood. I appeal to the state residents to be cautious so that they will not become preys in the hands of criminally-minded people. The suspect told PUNCH Metro that he and other members of his gang were into fraudulent activities, adding that their victims were people looking for quick money. Moshood said one of them usually hid in one of the rooms and would be talking as an oracle to deceive their victims. He said the effigies were also there to deceive their victims. We always play on the greed of the victims because they were looking for quick money. Again, we also study how wealthy they were by telling them to bring a certain amount of money. For instance, if we ask a victim to bring N100,000 and he brought it, that shows he or she could bring a higher amount. The 34-year-old Moshood said he just joined the gang in 2015. Source: Punch There was tension in the University of Ibadan on Friday as a threatening message that purportedly emanated from a group, al-wilayat al-Islamiyya Gharb Afriqiyyah, was circulated among some staff of the institution and on social media platforms. According to the message, the group threatened to bomb the school before Independence Day on October 1, 2016, saying that students and staff were their targets. When contacted, The Director of Communication, UI, Olatunji Oladejo, dismissed the threat, saying it was the handiwork of mischievous individuals who wanted to cause commotion in the school. Our correspondent gathered that while some lecturers got the mail through their institutional e-mail addresses, others were copied through social platforms such as Whatsapp. In the mail, the group described the university as an embarrassment to Nigeria for bringing western education. It was observed that security arrangement was strengthened at the school gates with scanning devices deployed while stop and search was conducted on everyone entering the school, leading to a gridlock. The letter read in part, You people are an embarrassment to Nigeria and are the people that brought in western education to Nigeria. You doomed this nation and in turn you all are going to be doomed. Most of you are going to die before Independence Day. You will not spend the Independence Day in peace, you and your students. Detonation will start going from tomorrow till Independence Day and there is nothing you can do as we are among you. Even your little searches at the gate wont do anything. By the time we are through with you, your government will be sorry. Speaking on the alleged threat, Oladejo said like others, he also received the letter, while saying that it had not affected the peace of the school. He said, I also got it. Anyone could instigate such thing. Some people could be mischievous. Our international students are having their carnival on the campus and everywhere is peaceful. I attribute it to the handiwork of mischievous individuals and vehemently deny any commotion. Police Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Adekunle Ajisebutu, told our correspondent that the command had received information on the threat to lives and property on the campus and had responded appropriately. He said, We have received the information. The state Commissioner of Police, Samuel Adegbuyi, working in concert with the other security agencies, has put in place all necessary security arrangement to forestall such an ugly incident. We have deployed our intelligence officers to provide adequate security in the school. As it is, it is still a rumour but we dont want to take things for granted and because of this, we have provided adequate security, not only for the school, but for the people of the state. We enjoin members of the public to go about their lawful businesses and to be law-abiding. Source: Punch The United States of America House of Representatives approved a legislation late on Thursday to barr the US from making cash payments to Iran, it has been reported. The Republican-led house of reps passed the bill by a large margin of 254 votes to 163. The bill also requires Congress to be notified before any future claims settlements with Tehran are conducted. The Obama administration paid Iran $1.7 billion in cash in January to settle a decades-old arbitration claim, and the legislative proposal won considerable support from Republicans keen to rebuke this. They claim the payment which brought to an end a 35-year legal saga was a ransom for the release of four American prisoners. The legal saga was centred on a purchase of US arms which were never delivered due to the outbreak of the Iranian revolution in 1979. They were to be purchased by former Iranian monarch Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The Republican lawmakers also contended that the untraceable cash could have been used to finance global terrorism operations. The Obama administration has however denied the claims, and Democrat lawmakers on their part have accused Republicans of trying to score political points with the bill. Although the new bill targets Iran, it also includes an amendment that would prevent the US from making cash payments to other designated sponsors of terrorism and North Korea. Aside from being everyones man crush (its okay, you can admit it, this is a safe place), rising Nollywood actress Tope Osoba is about to unleash her raw talents in a new profession many never knew she was capable of. Just like many of her peers, who veered into other industries aside what they are known for, the stunning actress has just tried her hands on music. In a video she shared on social media, the former video vixen sang a verse from the soon to be released single which sounds more of an RnB song. Listen HERE. By Michael Rogers A few months ago, my company closed on a self-storage property in Cleveland, Tenn., our third storage acquisition in five years. All three properties were underperforming due to lack of proper management. The opportunity it presented for me was I was able to purchase these facilities at a discounted price, remediate them and have a solid investment. So how did I find this fixer-upper? A yellow letter. First, I prepared a list of all the self-storage facilities in my area. Then I looked up the owners addresses via property-tax records. I took a yellow, lined piece of paper and wrote, Im interested in buying your storage facility. I own two other facilities in town. If you would like to sell or just want to network with another facility owner, please give me a call. I received one call and was able to work out a deal. Due to a few issues with the access road to the facility, it took five months to close, but I got it done. Property Overview The Cleveland facility includes 152 units with potential gross rent of $8,000 per month. Since I own two other facilities in the same town, I was comfortable with the rental rates used in my financial projections. If you dont own a facility in the area in which youre buying, I recommend doing research by talking to other storage owners in that market to determine comparable rent rates and occupancy levels. The additional units acquired in this purchase helped me spread the fixed cost of an office manager over all three properties. My company has a single office from which to rent all of our storage units and other rental properties. This new facility wouldnt produce a cash flow if Id had to hire a dedicated employee to manage it. The good news was the core of the buildings was strong. The units were metal framing, and the property had a functioning gate operator, solid fencing and a paved driveway. But there were challenges, too. On the day of closing, there were locks on about 90 of the 152 units. Of these, about 30 hadnt received rent in anywhere from six months to two years. About 20 had no name or contact on file. Of the remaining 62 units, roughly 20 were full of trash to be cleaned out. I also had to repair about 30 doors. Some were total replacements while others simply needed new springs. The short story is it was a lot of work just to get in contact with tenants and empty the abandoned units so they could be rented. The process took several months. Overall, it wasnt a pretty picture. So why in the world would anyone buy a property like this when you can purchase one thats performing and offers far fewer headaches? The answer is simple: lower cost to acquire a higher monthly cash flow. If I were to go out and buy a similar property that was 95 percent occupied with few delinquent tenants, Id have to pay nearly double. In the case of an underperforming property, the upside on the deal is much better once the property is operating at full capacity. Action Steps Here are the steps I took to get this facility on its way to full glory: 1. Prior to closing, I set up my management software. The program allows customers to rent and pay online via credit card as well as receive automatic texts and e-mails alerting them about due dates. 2. The weekend after closing, I took a full unit inventory. This is a good move to document the status of the business. The process included determining which units had locks and which needed repairs. Im really glad I did this, as there were several tenants whose unit lock was missing; they were upset to learn this after not visiting the property for many months. I was able to go back to the documentation and politely explain that on the day of the purchase, there was no lock on the unit and it wasnt removed on my watch. 3. I ordered and installed new facility signage. 4. I renumbered all of the units to match my number system. 5. I sent a letter to each customer. For tenants who were more than six months past-due, I sent the letter via Certified Mail. For units without address or contact info, I posted the letter on the unit door notifying the renter that I had no documentation for the space and he was considered a squatter since he hadnt paid rent in at least last 90 days. This also notified him of my plans to auction the unit contents at a future date. My goal was to get these tenants to move out so the unit could be rented to a paying customer, or to get them set up as paying renters. I never wanted to auction someones contents. Its not good for them, and its bad for me because theres the potential for backlash, a baseless lawsuit to defend or just bad press. I do everything I can to avoid an auction. Ive bent over backward by providing forgiveness of past-due rent just to get tenants to sign the monthly lease, pay the current month or move out. 6. I called every customer to inform him of the ownership change. I let each tenant know I needed him to sign a new lease and get current on his rent. 7. I began a marketing campaign that included claiming the business listings on Google Business, Bing Business, Yelp, etc., to improve search engine optimization. Almost everyone who needs self-storage will Google the topic to find a facility. No one goes to the printed Yellow Pages anymore. To keep my facility rented, I have to be on the first page of results when someone searches for self-storage in my town. Fortunately, my hard work has paid off in this area, and we almost always show up on page one under searches for Cleveland Tennessee self-storage. Going Forward Moving forward, the business will require the basic blocking and tackling to get the facility operating at full capacity, which I consider to be 85 percent. My other storage sites typically range from 80 percent to 97 percent occupancy, depending on the time of year. Spring and summer are stronger than fall and winter. Based on the last two acquisitions, itll probably take six to 12 months to rent up the new property. Self-storage can be a wonderful investment, and its been very good to me. You just have to buy it at the right price. Purchasing an underperforming asset is a great way to acquire a property. Then you must put systems in place and have someone to manage it to ensure it operates at optimal performance. Michael Rogers is the owner of Chandler Properties, which operates self-storage and residential properties in Cleveland, Tenn. For more information call 423.614.0069; visit www.chandler-property.com. States return billions of dollars worth of unclaimed property every year. Unclaimed property generally consists of unclaimed money in financial and bank accounts that have sat dormant for more than a year. Find out how to check if you have any unclaimed property and how to claim it. Key Takeaways Unclaimed properties are those assets or funds where the rightful owner cannot be located or has left the account dormant for a prolonged period. Typically unclaimed funds and property are handed over to the state the assets are located in after a dormancy period has passed. States have established processes whereby legal owners of assets can reclaim unclaimed funds. When claiming unclaimed funds that have risen in value, taxes may be assessed at the time. If you claim property, it will be treated as ordinary income and taxed accordingly unless the property is related to a tax refund. Reclaiming Property The process for reclaiming unclaimed or escheated property varies by state, as the federal government does not have a central website for finding unclaimed property. Most state websites are similar in format and typically fairly simple to navigate. The office of the comptroller is usually the official agency tasked with managing the list of unclaimed property. Funds associated with unclaimed property may be absorbed and used in state operating expenses. Still, unclaimed property funds are nearly universally kept track of as debt to the property owner on record. Queries for unclaimed property accounts can include criteria such as first and last name, business name, ZIP code, and city associated with the property. Most, if not all, government agencies are prohibited from contacting owners of unclaimed funds/assets by phone. Because scammers are aware of this limitation, they may attempt to defraud the public. Dormancy Period Unclaimed property is essentially property that has gone unclaimed beyond the dormancy period. The dormancy period is the amount of time between when a financial institution reports an account or asset as unclaimed and when the government deems that account or asset to be abandoned. For most states, the dormancy period is five years. When a property is officially designated by the state as abandoned or unclaimed, it undergoes a process known as escheatment. The state assumes ownership of that property until the rightful owner files a claim. Depending on the state, the comptroller or state treasury office may make attempts to locate the rightful owner of the unclaimed property. Methods may include mailing notifications to the last listed address of residence or employment. Property can often go unclaimed when the owner fails to report a new mailing address, so that this method can be less successful. States may also subscribe to online contact databases that could have more up-to-date information. Escheatment After the dormancy period, dormant accounts become unclaimed property. States enacted escheatment statutes that govern the process of protecting unclaimed funds from reverting them to financial institutions. Escheatment state laws require companies to transfer unclaimed property from dormant accounts to the state general fund, which takes over record-keeping and returning of lost or forgotten property to owners or their heirs if the owner has passed away. Owners can gain back the unclaimed property by filing an application with their state at no cost or for a nominal handling fee. Because the state keeps custody of the unclaimed property in perpetuity, owners can claim their property at any time. Unclaimed Property and Taxes Types of unclaimed property include uncashed payroll checks, inactive stocks, court funds, dividends, checking and savings accounts, and estate proceeds. When property accounts go unclaimed, they are turned over to the state for reasons that may include the death of the account holder, a failure to register a forwarding address after changing residence, or simply forgetting about an account. Unclaimed property is not taxed while it is filed as unclaimed; however, the property may be officially recognized as taxable income when it is reclaimed. Some unclaimed funds such as investments from a 401(k) or an IRA can be reclaimed tax-free. A dormant account with no activity for a long time, other than posting interest, is also a potential case of unclaimed property. A statute of limitations usually does not apply to dormant accounts, meaning that funds can be claimed by the owner or beneficiary at any time. Financial institutions are required by state laws to transfer resources held at dormant accounts to the state's treasury after the accounts have been inactive for a certain period, which varies by state. Example of Unclaimed Property According to the Office of the New York State Comptroller, the state returns $1.5 million in unclaimed property to people who file claims. As of July 2021, the state has $17 billion in unclaimed property. In addition, every year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has millions in unclaimed federal tax refunds. While there is no centralized database for unclaimed funds, you can visit USA.gov's unclaimed money from the government page and check the various links to sites that can help you find unclaimed money. The oil industry is driven by booms and busts. Prices typically rise during periods of global economic strength during which demand outpaces supply. Prices fall when the reverse is true, and supply exceeds demand. Meanwhile, oil supply and demand are driven by a number of key factors: Changes in the value of the U.S. dollar Changes in the policies of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Changes in the levels of oil production and inventory The health of the global economy The implementation (or collapse) of international agreements Notably, 2015 offers an interesting example of how all five factors can conspire to send prices to historic lows. At that time, the price of crude oil fell by more than half in under a year, reaching lows that had not been seen since the last global recession. At the time, many oil executives believed it would be years before oil returned to $100 per barrel. They were right, at least as of July 30, 2021, when the price of a barrel of crude oil was $73.95. Five main factors can be identified as having driven crude oil prices down and kept them down. Key Takeaways The year 2015 was a perfect storm for oil prices. The dollar was strong. Inventories were huge. The economy was weak. And production was growing. All of these factors drove the price of crude oil to less than $40 per barrel. 1. The Dollar Strengthens In 2015, the dollar was at a 12-year high against the euro. That put pressure on market prices because commodity prices are usually quoted in dollars, and they will fall when the U.S. dollar is strong. For example, the surge in the dollar in the second half of 2014 caused a rare sharp decline in all of the leading commodity indexes. 2. OPEC Retains Production Levels OPEC, the cartel of oil producers that sets production levels, was unwilling to prop up the oil markets by cutting its production levels. The oil ministers said in a statement that they had "concurred that stable oil prices at a level which did not affect global economic growth but which, at the same time, allowed producers to receive a decent income and to invest to meet future demand were vital for world economic wellbeing." Prices of OPECs benchmark crude oil fell by a whopping 50% after the organization decided against cutting production at that 2014 meeting in Vienna. 3. Global Inventory Grows The prices of crude futures declined in late September 2015 when it became clear that oil stockpiles were growing amid increased production. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that global oil inventories increased in every quarter of 2015, with a net inventory build of 1.72 million barrels per day. That was the highest rate since at least 1996. By the end of 2015, oil prices were below $40 per barrel, the lowest level since 2009. Total oil production by the end of 2015 was expected to increase to more than 9.35 million barrels per dayhigher than previous forecasts of 9.3 million barrels per day. 4. The Economy Weakens While the supply of oil became increasingly abundant in 2015, global demand for oil was decreasing. The economies of Europe and developing countries were weakening. Vehicles were becoming more fuel-efficient. Meanwhile, China's devaluation of its own currency suggested that its economy might be weakening as well. Since China is the world's largest oil importer, that was a huge hit to global demand and caused a negative reaction in crude oil prices. 5. Iran Makes a Deal In July 2015, the U.S. and several other world powers signed a deal that lifted economic sanctions against Iran. The Iran nuclear deal, as it became known, freed Iran to start exporting oil again. Investors feared it would add to the world's oversupply of oil, dragging down prices even more. (Iran withdrew from the agreement in 2019 after then-President Donald Trump ordered the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. President Joe Biden has indicated a willingness to see it reinstated.) The iPhone 7, reviewed here, has imaging thats distinguished from that in the iPhone 6s by having a larger aperture and OIS, Optical Image Stabilisation, which should both significantly improve its low light photos. But how far does this spec bump take the iPhone 7 in the wider smartphone imaging world? I pitch it here, by popular demand, against the populist mass-market champion, the Samsung Galaxy S7, shot for shot, pixel for pixel. * I should also add a small header note in that people will know my imaging comparisons from other sites and, in particular, that the much acclaimed Galaxy S7 isnt actually top of the heap, in that its defeated in my tests by the Microsoft Lumia 950, but its fair to note that this is something of a niche device and OS (Windows 10 Mobile) in 2016 and to discount it here. The comparison of the iPhone 7 and Galaxy S7 should be fairly straightforward, at least the phones are the same size, form factor, and indeed camera resolution (12MP). The Galaxy S7 should outgun the iPhone 7 slightly in that it has a larger sensor (1/2.5 versus 1/3) and optics, but there shouldnt be an awful lot in it, with both having OIS now and similar apertures. In each case, I show the test shot from both the iPhone 7 and (by popular demand) the S7 as well, even though they wont differ that much, followed by 1:1 crops from central areas from the iPhone 7 and then Galaxy S7 photos, to show the level of detail and artefacts (if any). Along with my commentary as we go, of course. Im also going to score shots out of 10 as we go, in order to be able to arrive at a points total and an eventual winner. Note that my tests mainly steer clear of generic good light, easy subject shots, since any phone camera can handle these what Im looking for here is a phone camera that can go the extra mile. Test 1: Lakeside, in sun The closest I get to an easy shot, but by looking in detail with 1:1 crops, I still intend to be picky! Heres the overall scene, as shot by the iPhone 7: Now as shot by the Galaxy S7: And heres a central crop at 1:1 from the iPhone 7, followed immediately by the equivalent from the Galaxy S7: The difference doesnt surprise me at all Samsung has traditionally been terrible at handling natural (greenery) detail and the green used here is horrible, ditto the over-sharpening producing blotches where theres supposed to be detail. In contrast, the iPhone makes an excellent fist at the greenery and its a much more natural scene overall. Apple iPhone 7: 9 pts; Samsung Galaxy S7: 5 pts RELATED :Apple Facing a Pair of Class Action Lawsuits Over iPhone 7 Audio Issues Test 2: Indoor macro Still quite an easy shot, in good shop lighting. Heres the overall scene, as shot by the iPhone 7: Now as shot by the Galaxy S7: And heres a central crop at 1:1 from the iPhone 7, followed immediately by the equivalent from the Galaxy S7: To me eyes, the iPhone again does a better job of representing colours and detail the Galaxy S7 makes such a mess of both. Although the iPhone gold watch was arguably a little too pale, the Samsung version is (to the same degree) far too saturated and gaudy, and theres no contest when it comes to looking at small details, such as the numerals on the watch face. Oddly, the reflected colours of the hands were also different, but Ill be kind to the both phones here and say that perhaps the slight difference in framing was to blame here. Still a big win for the iPhone again, Im afraid. Apple iPhone 7: 9 pts; Samsung Galaxy S7: 7 pts Test 3: Distant detail I couldnt resist this one a cat was staring at me, around 30 metres away. Never mind zoom, Ill come to that below in this case I was more interested in raw detail resolved by the 12MP sensors. Heres the overall scene, as shot by the iPhone 7: And as shot by the Galaxy S7: And heres a central crop at 1:1 from the iPhone 7, followed immediately by the equivalent from the Galaxy S7: Slightly more even here, perhaps the S7 does a slightly better job of reproducing the cat, but the iPhone again does much better with the grass, even though it wasnt the main subject here. The iPhones grass LOOKS like grass, while the Galaxy S7s grass looks like astroturf of some kind Apple iPhone 7: 9 pts; Samsung Galaxy S7: 8 pts Test 4: Night time Time to get really, really tough, lets try a handheld scene in dead of night with no natural light that will really exercise the OIS in each phone camera. Heres the overall scene, as shot by the iPhone 7: Now as shot by the Galaxy S7: And heres a central crop at 1:1 from the iPhone 7, followed immediately by the equivalent from the Galaxy S7: The Galaxy S7 fares much better here, the over-sharpening actually helps in tough conditions, see the door, window and car detail, for example. Samsungs processing is clearly right on the edge though, and there are more digital noise artefacts. A very slight win for the S7. Apple iPhone 7: 8 pts; Samsung Galaxy S7: 9 pts Test 5: Exposure and zoom(!) Perhaps one of the ultimate tests of a phone camera snapping a back-lit stained glass window in a dark church, here at about 15 metres because of a barrier (I couldnt get closer, so I decided to try a little digital zoom on each phone, to frame the stained glass detail better. In both cases I also had to use the on-screen exposure adjustment control to stop the window from being blown out. Heres the overall scene, as shot by the iPhone 7: Now as shot by the Galaxy S7: And heres a central crop at 1:1 from the iPhone 7, followed immediately by the equivalent from the Galaxy S7: Samsungs image processing is more optimised for lines and objects, plus Samsung are past masters at interpolative digital zoom (they mastered it in the Note 4 generation, for the record), so Im not surprised to see Samsungs image having more contrast and more impact. Having said that, the iPhone does very well too and theres just as much genuine detail the snap just hasnt been enhanced as much. (Its worth noting that the iPhone 7 Plus, with its 2x telephoto lens, probably wouldnt have done any better because the light levels were low overall and the Camera app would have stuck with the main 1x lens and OIS.) Apple iPhone 7: 8 pts; Samsung Galaxy S7: 9 pts Test 6: Extreme macro Trying to get as close as I could (around 5cm) with each smartphone camera without losing focus. Heres the overall scene, as shot by the iPhone 7: Now as shot by the Galaxy S7: And heres a central crop at 1:1 from the iPhone 7, followed immediately by the equivalent from the Galaxy S7: Samsungs sharpening becomes something of a bone of contention when looking at shots like this. At first glance, theres more detail in the Galaxy S7 shot, but gaze at it for more than a few seconds at 1:1 and you realise that theres too much detail, i.e. its made up. In contrast, I much prefer the more arty, gentler detail in the iPhone 7 photo. Looking at the overall photo, the Galaxy S7 does get an extra point for more of a bokeh shallow depth of field, thanks to the larger lens and sensor, but its not enough to stop the iPhone winning by a nose. Apple iPhone 7: 10 pts; Samsung Galaxy S7: 9 pts Verdict (Ive now included the full frame shots for both phones, as per the comments below, though I still maintain that, apart from the shot of the watch, theres little to be gained from seeing these at 600 pixel blog resolution. Sigh.) I have, in fairness, been hard on both phone cameras Ive hammered them with scenarios that really push the boundaries of what the tech is capable of and Ive also been looking at the details, at the raw pixels in the 12MP images. For 90% of people 90% of the time, both phone cameras will do a fine job, viewing the snaps on the phone screen, for example. However, for the wannabe photographers out there, those who really want to know which camera phone is best for image quality then theres no doubting the winner here. Adding up the points gives us: Apple iPhone 7 53/60 pts Samsung Galaxy S7 47/60 pts Without the OIS and with smaller aperture, i.e. running at the level of the iPhone 6s, the two phone cameras would have come out roughly level overall. But with the iPhone 7s much more competitive aperture and with OIS built in, it draws ahead. And, as usual, the Apple phone camera is notable for more natural images, for exemplary image processing. The obvious conclusion is that the iPhone 7 is now the best camera phone in the world, though Id point to that header note at the top of this article if I wanted to be picky. But then this would be countered with the iPhone 7 Plus, not tested in this particular feature, which would score extra points in good light for even more detail, thanks to the 2x zoom, plus it would open up new use cases altogether. Does the iPhone 7 camera have a weakness? Well, moving humans in low light is still an issue, the quad LED flash isnt as bright as Id have expected, but Apple may well tweak things in software to reduce exposure time and raise ISO, which would be the way to go at parties and evening events. Comments welcome in contrast to just about every other mobile site in the world, Im distinctly down on Samsungs image processing, as you can tell above, and Id most definitely rather have the iPhone 7 in my pocket when it comes to taking great photos. PS. In case youre put off by my use of downsamples, crops and WordPress compression above, Ive put most of the relevant JPGs in a zip file here, which youre welcome to grab and analyse. You may also like to check iPhone 7 Plus Review: Jack of All Trades And Master of Them All iPhone 7 Review: Close to Perfection (Thanks to Clove for helping with the review Galaxy S7 at short notice.) Roaring Water Bay, West Cork 350,000 Sq m 153 (1,655 sq ft) Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2 BER: pending YOU dont need to be a movie star or a millionaire to own a West Cork island home with magnificent views of Roaring Water Bay Sandy Island and the Catalogues have just become available for a guide of just 350,000. Although it sounds a bit like a 1960s show band, Sandy Island and the Catalogues is actually a group of six islands at the mouth of Baltimore Harbour. The largest, Sandy Island has 10 acres of land and a 1,655 sq ft cottage and, rather surprisingly, is rocky rather than sandy. The Catalogues, taking their name from ceirtleoga, small balls of yarn, collectively account for around eight acres. Selling this property for the third time in 40 years, auctioneer Charles McCarthy says hes always happy to take on properties in Roaring Water Bay since the attractiveness of the name guarantees interest even before viewers get a chance to experience the magnificence of the views. Sandy Island is in a sheltered area of the bay protected by Heir Island on the West of it and Sherkin Island to the south says Mr McCarthy, adding that it can be reached by a five minute boat trip from Turk Head and a five minute one from Baltimore. Forty years ago Mr McCarthy sold the island to an English man who built the cottage on it. Within the last 20 years he sold the property for the second time to the current owners, who also own Lissavaird estate. They carried out extensive renovations to the cottageand added a large wrap around conservatory. The island has a pier and a slipway located within a short distance from the three-bed cottage which is situated in the centre of the island. Accommodation inside is quite traditional and includes a large L-shaped sitting room with a stone fireplace and tiled flooring as well as a kitchen. Theres also a bathroom and three wooden-floored bedrooms, including one with an en suite. Wrapping around one side of the cottage is a long L-shaped conservatory with seats positioned to take in the spectacular sea views. Mr McCarthy says the property has been well cared for and has double glazed windows, electric heaters and solar panels. Theres a grassy area around the cottage but the majority of the island surface is rugged, rocky and wild. Close to the pier theres also a small shingle beach. As an island home with views of Roaring Water Bay, the ocean , surrounding islands and the rugged West Cork coastline, Sandy Island cottage definitely qualifies as unique. Mr McCarthy believes it may well be the most affordable West Cork property, which includes a home and several islands and says he has already shown it to viewers from Ireland and the UK. Should there be a movie star or millionaire in search of peace and quiet, (Brad, its waiting for you), and a larger island home with views in Roaring Water Bay, he can offer West Skeagh Island which has 33 acres, three cottages and a price tag of 1.95 million. Spanish Island, meanwhile, is a 130-acre island on the agents books with a guide of 450,000. VERDICT: The purchaser wont need to be a millionaire but they will need a boat. The Government, which controls more than 99% of the lender, has been preparing to sell a portion of its holding for more than a year. Mr Noonan had planned to sell a 25% stake in the bank to investors before the end of this year, but pushed that plan back to the first half of 2017 citing market volatility. My advice is there is no reason why we wouldnt sell, Mr Noonan said in a Bloomberg Television interview in London yesterday. Ill sell at the best time. It may be in 2017 but there is no decision yet, he added. The IPO is seen as one of the last steps for AIB to move past the financial crisis nearly a decade ago. The Government pumped 21bn into the bank during the crisis, and has been under pressure to recoup part of that investment. AIBs chief executive Bernard Byrne, said, earlier this month, the bank was fixed and ready for the Government to start selling its stake. There is so much volatility in the market at present, it is impossible to say with any confidence when the Government will be able to start selling down its AIB stake. Having said that, markets can turn very quickly so next year cannot be definitively ruled out, said Davy Stockbrokers analyst Emer Lang. Mr Noonan also told Bloomberg that he views the UKs decision to leave the EU as a very serious issue and that if it were not for Brexit Ireland would be looking at a smooth sea ahead in its voyage of growth. He added that there have been numerous enquiries from UK-based companies considering a move to Ireland in the wake of the Brexit decision, but said that no decisions have yet been made. A survey from corporate law firm William Fry earlier this week suggested that at least 150 London-based financial services firms are considering moving location to long-term EU bases and rank Ireland as a serious potential new home. Mr Noonan also addressed the City of London Corporation during his visit to the English capital; telling it that the Department of Finance will produce its next official growth forecasts for the Irish economy ahead of the upcoming budget. In his speech, he said: We want Ireland to be recognised as the global location of choice for specialised international financial services... To deliver on these objectives, we need to position Ireland as a leading location for... FinTech, payments, data analytics and governance, risk and compliance and aviation finance and leasing. In other words, Irelands strategic objective is to place ourselves firmly at the cutting edge of financial services innovation. Regarding the future EU landscape without Britain, Mr Noonan said: We will work to protect the key priority areas for Ireland, namely: the economy, Northern Ireland, the common travel area and the EU itself. We are already advanced in our preparations to deal with the initial fallout from Brexit and the new paradigm of Brexit will be one of the key factors underlying Budget 2017 with particular reference to competitiveness. Additional reporting by Bloomberg Crude futures slumped after Bloomberg reported that Saudi Arabia did not expect a decision at next weeks OPEC meeting in Algiers, where the biggest oil producers are expected to convene. Bloomberg cited a delegate as its source. Brent crude oil was down $1.33 (1.18) or 2.8%, at $46.32 a barrel. For the week, it was up 1.6%. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down $1.40, or 2.9%, at $44.92. On the week, WTI showed a gain of less than 5%. Earlier in the session, Brent and WTI were headed for their largest weekly gain in more than a month, reacting to a Reuters report that Saudi Arabia has offered to reduce production if rival Iran caps its own output this year. The Reuters report was based on sources who were familiar with discussions between the two sides. Traders and investors were also awaiting a US oil rig count report to ascertain if more drillers were returning to the well-pad in the worlds largest oil consumer. The weekly report by oil services firm Baker Hughes had shown rig additions in 12 out of the last 13 weeks. The global oil oversupply will persist into 2017 as OPEC members such as Saudi Arabia pump near record levels, others such as Iran and Iraq bolster capacity, and production outside the group weathers the price slump, according to the International Energy Agency. Prices may struggle to hold above $40 a barrel unless OPEC acts, Citigroup added. Crude is stuck at less than half the level it averaged at the start of the decade, straining the finances of producers around the world. Reuters and Bloomberg Societe Generales multiple faults mean the bank had a major and decisive role in allowing the incident, one of the most famous cases of rogue trading in financial history, according to a three-judge panel in Versailles. The 39-year-old former trader seen as a folk hero by some has been trying for years to shift blame for the loss onto Frances second-largest bank. While a 2014 criminal verdict found him solely responsible for the loss, an order requiring him to repay the bank was overturned at the same time. Whatever the craftiness and determination of the one who committed the acts, or even the sophistication of the methods deployed, such a great damage would never have been reached without the patchy nature of Societe Generales control systems, which created a high degree of vulnerability, according to the 29-page ruling. The Paris-based firm declined to immediately comment on the verdict, which bank attorney Jean Veil called satisfactory. He said it was an intelligent, serene decision that can be understood by the French people. Mr Kerviels lawyer, David Koubbi, said the ruling should put the public focus on the banks actions instead of those of his client. Societe Generale got a 2.2bn tax break from French authorities because of the trading loss. Today Societe Generale should get its checkbook out and sign a 2.2bn cheque to the French state, he said. The climax of this trial and this ruling is the absolute necessity of paying back the 2.2bn of public money. Mr Kerviel had amassed 50bn in positions in European stock futures using fake hedges and false documents. The French bank unwound the positions during three days in January 2008 after uncovering his unauthorised trades. Mr Kerviels lawyers have asked for a new independent estimate of the loss. It seems a more rational decision than in the past, said Eric Vernier, a researcher specialising on tax and finance at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs. Its logical to recognise a fault on Mr Kerviels side and to punish it, but it is also highly unlikely that the banks control systems didnt detect his actions for such a long period, he said. Bloomberg The company said on Thursday that it believed a state-sponsored actor stole information including names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, hashed passwords and encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers. Yahoos European Headquarters are in Ireland, and the Data Protection Commissioners office yesterday confirmed that the company has made contact to notify it of the breach. Yahoo blaming state-sponsored hackers for stealing information from about five hundred million users https://t.co/gVfoHrv6hI RTE News (@rtenews) September 23, 2016 We have raised a number of issues with Yahoo for which we are seeking further information and clarification. We are presently awaiting their response, a spokesperson for the DPC said. Additionally, under a memorandum of understanding with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) facilitating co-operation between the two offices, the DPC is making contact with the FTC to co-ordinate our respective enquires. Yahoo has issued extensive guidance to affected users and this office recommends that users take the actions outlined in that guidance. We would also recommend that affected users carry out a malware check on their devices to protect against unauthorised third party access, the spokesperson said. Yahoo this week said the breach happened in late 2014. The company said that the stolen information did not include unprotected passwords, payment card data, or bank account information, which is not stored in the system that was targeted. A statement released by Yahoo added: The investigation has found no evidence that the state-sponsored actor is currently in Yahoos network. Yahoo is working closely with law enforcement on this matter. Yahoo said it is notifying any potentially affected users and asking any users that have not changed their passwords in the last two years to do so. Communications Minister Denis Naughten said there was no legal obligation for companies to report such breaches to the DPC, but a code of practice exists that encourages it. There are new laws coming into force from May 2018 which will oblige companies like Yahoo to report to the National Cyber Security Centre here in Ireland such breaches and the detail of them, Mr Naughten told RTE News. Mr Naughton urged the public to change their online passwords on a frequent basis and to use different passwords for different services. Meanwhile US telecoms firm Verizon said in a statement it was only made aware of the breach within the last two days, despite agreeing a 3.7bn takeover of Yahoos core business in July. We understand that Yahoo is conducting an active investigation of this matter, but we otherwise have limited information and understanding of the impact, the statement read. We will evaluate as the investigation continues through the lens of overall Verizon interests, including consumers, customers, shareholders and related communities. Until then, we are not in position to further comment, the company said. The fire killed 48 people and injured a further 241 in the early hours of Valentines Day. Biddy said Thursdays ambulance fire outside Naas General Hospital in which a man died reminded her of the disco fire: It really brought it all back to me. I know it was an ambulance but there was a man inside it, and two paramedics were trying to save him. Biddy, who retired from nursing 10 years ago, joined more than 300 nurses spanning 70 years of nursing care yesterday when the hospital celebrated 125 years of nursing education. She was on duty in the hospitals coronary care unit on February 14, 1981, when she got a phone call at 2.20am that patients were being brought in with burns. I remember a porter, Joe Cahill, who has since died, saying he wanted all of our scissors as there were bad burns in casualty, she said. I went to casualty to help. All hell had broke loose there, and the cry for water was terrible. Biddy said she could never forget one particularly badly injured girl in the intensive care unit: I dont want to give her name, but she was identified by her signet ring. That was very hard. The smell of burning flesh was terrible. Since the first class of 16 student nurses arrived for training at the hospital in 1991, the Mater has seen almost 20,000 nurses graduate. The hospitals director of nursing, Tanya King, said some nurses made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of their duties. There was Mary Danaher, who died while volunteering in the First World War in Gaza and a wreath is being laid in her memory there. A descendant of Mary is Dervilla Danaher, the physiotherapy manager at the Mater, whose mother is also a former Mater nurse. Tanya Kings daughter, Natasha is a staff nurse at the Mater and works in the acute medicine unit. I think I had a really great role model in my mother. The girls do not pay any heed to the fact that I am the bosss daughter, said Natasha. Tanya was appointed as the director of nursing after Natasha became a student nurse: I am very proud of Natasha. The whole hospital knows I am very proud of her. I dont think she minds me being around too much. The baby box programme launched at University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL) will provide free baby boxes for infants to sleep in. Made from durable cardboard, the box can be used as a babys bed for the first eight months of life. The box prevents babies from rolling onto their tummies, which experts say can contribute to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The baby boxes come with a foam mattress, waterproof mattress cover and cotton sheet. Education material with advice from healthcare professionals on reducing risks to babies, is also included in the baby box pack. The use of baby boxes has been credited with helping reduce infant mortality rates in Finland from 65 infant deaths per 1,000 births in 1938 to 2.26 per 1,000 births in 2015. Irelands infant mortality rate is 3.7 per 1,000 births. The concept already adapted in Britain, Canada and the US was introduced to this country yesterday at UMHL, the first Irish maternity hospital to embrace the idea. As well as the baby boxes, new mothers will be presented with clothing and educational materials. Dr Mendinaro Imcha, consultant gynaecologist/obstetrician UMHL, said: The baby box programme is a proactive approach to improving the health and safety of the newborn child and parents. We are combining tradition with current technology and supporting the newborn childs family with online education material covering a broad range of essential topics and postnatal care. Margaret Gleeson, chief director of nursing and midwifery at the UL hospitals group, said up to 5,000 baby boxes will be distributed to new mothers who give birth at UMHL over the coming year. Ms Gleeson said: The baby boxes are a thing of beauty and there is the invaluable education element of this initiative which makes this truly patient-centre. Tipperary-based tattoo artist, and expectant mother, Karen Smith did the artistic designs which decorate the UMHL baby boxes. She said: The whole meaning behind my design is rebirth. I thought the butterfly was the perfect symbol for the baby box. It is a symbolic creature in many cultures and lends itself to all manner of colourful and fanciful adaptations, in this case our beautiful baby box. Jennifer Clery, chief executive of the US-based The Baby Box Co, said: We are delighted to expand our baby box programme to Ireland and look forward to this new collaboration here in Limerick at the University Maternity Hospital. The baby box is an innovative integrated programme to support parents and improve maternal and infant healthcare outcomes globally. UMHL is the second largest maternity hospital in the country, outside Dublin and cares from women from Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, North Kerry, North Cork and areas of Offaly. Yesterday, the Central Criminal Court heard a summary of what the prosecution called a catalogue of horrors which took place over a two-year period in the family home in Waterford. Mr Justice Robert Eager remanded the father in custody until October 10, when he will finalise sentence. A jury convicted the 64-year-old father, who is from Britain, of nine counts of raping his son from the age of six years old and one count of child cruelty. He was acquitted of raping the child with a poker. The mans partner, also from Britain, was convicted on one count of child cruelty and will be sentenced on October 17. She was found not guilty of sex assault relating to allegations that she had sex or simulated sex with her child when he was between six and seven. Both parents had pleaded not guilty to the offences which occurred between 2009 and 2011 in their home. The parents had originally faced a total of 82 charges but 60 of these were withdrawn following legal argument. In a victim impact statement read to the court, the now 13-year-old boy wrote that when I lived with my mam and dad I wanted to dispose myself of this world, I wanted to commit suicide. It was not until he was taken into foster care that his childhood started, he wrote. The boy is now in specialised care in Britain. He wrote that when he first arrived in Britain he asked to be called by a different name as he feared his father would find him. He referred to his father as Adolf Hitler and said he wanted to run him over with a combine harvester. Words have not even been invented yet for what my dad has done to me, said the boy. I want to say au revoir to my memories. I would like my dad never to leave prison. I am happy when he is in prison. Now that dad is locked up I would walk over to Ireland without a care in the world. He was removed from the family home in 2011 and placed in a foster home, where he was sexually abused by another child, who was never prosecuted as he was below the age of criminal responsibility. In March 2012, he was moved to another foster home where he was very happy. He began disclosing the sexual abuse by his father to this foster mother, who documented it and handed it over to gardai. This foster mother loved the child to bits, the court heard but was forced to give up care of him because he was displaying disturbing behaviour spying on her in the shower, acting inappropriately with other children, and obsessed with faeces. Defence counsel Colman Cody SC said his client intends to appeal the conviction and does not agree with the jurys verdict. He said the man has six previous convictions for theft and drink driving but none for violent or sexual offences. The boy, who is believed to be about four years old, fell from an apartment block at Granary Court in Edenderry at around 11am. Gardai in Edenderry are treating the incident as an accident. A passing motorist is understood to have come to the boys aid after witnessing the fall. It is understood that together with the childs mother, the man brought the boy to a local medical centre where he was attended to by a doctor before an ambulance arrived. A witness who was in the centre at the time said: A woman came in and said a baby was after falling from a window and could they bring him in there. The witness, who asked not to be identified, said the child was conscious and moaning when he arrived. The boy was removed by ambulance to Temple Street Childrens Hospital, Dublin, where his condition is described as critical. Gardai are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to contact gardai in Tullamore on 057 93 27600. More than three-quarters of respondents to the Irish Examiner/ICMSA poll strongly agree that the Government should take steps to tackle the problem, which is already being scrutinised by an Oireachtas committee. It comes after figures showed a startling 35% average rise in the cost of motor premiums from May 2015 to May 2016. Enda Kenny last week met with opposition leaders over controversies around Project Eagle and asked parties to come back to him with suggestions around the legal format and terms of reference for a commission of investigation into the sale. The Social Democrats, Sinn Fein, and the Green Party are all open to extending the investigation beyond Project Eagle. While Fianna Fail said it is crucial every effort is made to make the terms of the commission of inquiry as tight and succinct as possible to allow it to report as speedily as possible. Amongst LE Samuel Becketts 57-strong crew are sailors who will be on their second mission to help save migrants who are being forced into deathtrap craft by gangs of brutal people-smugglers based in Libya. It is the ships second deployment on the humanitarian mission. It is being captained by Lieutenant Commander Darragh Kirwan who said: Im very proud to be taking LE Samuel Beckett out on this mission. The ships company has worked very hard to get ready for this mission and are trained and well prepared. Last years trip was personally very rewarding and I look forward to this which is my second mission and hope it will be as safe and successful as last years, Lieutenant Caroline Scanlon, who is from Dublin, said. Able Cook Niall Daly, from Tullamore, said he had been part of this ship for two years since it was commissioned. For me completing a second trip is a great opportunity and way for me to finish my current sea rotation before I go ashore, he said. Hell be kept busy preparing food for the crew and high energy meals for all the migrants they rescue, many of whom are malnourished. Last year its crew, who all volunteer for the mission, were involved in five major operations off the coat of Libya, rescuing 1,088 people. Since the Naval Service started the humanitarian mission on May 16, 2015, it has saved 12,410 migrants. Meanwhile, LE James Joyce, which is captained by Lieutenant Commander Neil Manning, departed Malta yesterday where the ship had onboard supplies ahead of its journey home. The crew of the vessel has saved 2,491 migrants during a three-month deployment. There will be celebrations when the crew is united with family next Friday morning. It will be a big day at the naval base as in the afternoon six new officers will be commissioned. A plaque will also be unveiled to commemorate the crew LE Cliona. Some acted with extreme bravery in 1962 when the ship went on fire after a depth charge exploded prematurely during an exercise in Cork harbour. Enda Kenny gave the reassurance after his first post-Brexit meeting with the American Chamber of Commerce at a business lunch in Cork. Chamber president, Bob Savage, said the need for certainty in policy and administration to secure current and future inward investment had come into sharp focus in recent weeks in the wake of the UKs shock Brexit vote. The American Chamber believes that competitiveness and certainty of tax policy are necessary to Irelands foreign direct investment (FDI) offering, he said. And in their pre-budget submission, the chamber, which represents US companies in Ireland employing some 140,000 people, said competitiveness and certainty of tax policy are vital parts of Irelands foreign direct investment offering. After meeting members of the chambers board yesterday, Mr Kenny ruled out any question of Irelands corporate tax rate being up for negotiation post-Brexit, or following the EUs tax ruling on US tech giant Apple, which is the subject of an appeal. This is the first meeting I have had with the (American Chamber (of Commerce) since the decision on Brexit, Mr Kenny said. I have to say that the American Chamber has given a very strong indication of their continued support for investment in Ireland. I have made it perfectly clear, from a tax certainty point of view, that Ireland is absolutely committed to its 12.5% corporation tax rate. That will not be changing and that is an important element for consideration with American investors coming here to Ireland. From my discussions with the IDA the (foreign direct investment) pipeline is busy up ahead. There are matters that we need to attend to in the future in terms of infrastructure, housing and provision of adequate facilities for major companies to do their jobs here. There are 175,000 people directly employed in both companies that are both associated with and members of the American Chamber and Irish companies who have invested here. Mr Savage welcomed the Taoiseachs clear statement on corporate tax. We appreciate the Taoiseachs unambiguous declaration that the Government will steadfastly defend our hard-earned reputation as a pro-business country that is defined by fairness and certainty of treatment, he said. We have never seen the competition for US business investment from other regions of the world as intense as it is today. It is essential that we constantly benchmark our competitiveness against the countries that compete with us. US Ambassador to Ireland Kevin OMalley also attended the event. The Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) say it is now vital that the Government commit to supporting the postal network. IPU secretary general, Ned OHara, warned that many branches will close if commitments are not put into the An Post 2017 business plan and have imposed a deadline of October 7 to secure agreement on additional supports. While postmasters believe they can become vibrant community hubs providing various State services and have put forward a number of proposals, they say the issue has been allowed to drift and are frustrated at a lack of Government action. We are now at a crossroad. If nothing is done by Government to support use of post offices, hundreds will close in the coming years with a large number under immediate threat. These offices are in urban as well as rural areas, Mr OHara said. He estimated that up to 10% of post offices could close in the next 12 months if action is not taken now. These closures would be on top of 198 post offices which shut between 2007 and 2010 and a further 24 closures between 2011 and 2014. Mr OHara said postmasters want to stay open to provide current as well as additional services to their communities, both urban and rural. But, he said, postmasters are contracted by Government through An Post and are now relying on both the Government and An Post to sign off on letting branches provide more services, such as motor tax payments, tourist information, prescription-pick-up services or the sale of bus or rail tickets. Businessman, Bobby Kerr, was tasked with looking at ways to save the countrys 1,100 post offices many of which are struggling to survive. Mr Kerrs report said the social contribution of post offices must be taken into account and found that an overhaul of outdated postmaster payments and contracts is needed. The former Dragons Den star published the report which demanded immediate action in January and agreed to stay on to work on implementing the recommendations. However, postmasters say little progress has been made since. Mr OHara said postmasters recognise there are changing consumer needs and choices in this digital and electronic age. Postmasters want to change to meet these needs and be part of a renewed and developed post service. They have put forward numerous suggestions to Government which would help offices stay alive, but would also enhance supports in isolated communities where garda stations, bank branches and other services have been lost. The Irish Examiner has previously reported on the possibility of introducing remote health or eHealth services for local residents. Post offices could provide a private booth where people could have a virtual consultation with a GP or other medical professional. The service could also enable examination of vital signs using testing equipment available in a private booth at the post office. Likewise, they believe the post office could become a State information dissemination center which could provide general information and information on applications for grants. Eleven teens were arrested and brought to Killarney garda station where their parents were ordered to come and collect them. Premises, outside of town, where they managed to buy alcohol are now being pursued. Large amounts of drink were confiscated and there were several cans for each one, Sgt Dermot OConnell said. The youths, aged 15 and 16, had been expecting uniformed gardai. However, gardai in plain clothes deliberately went to areas of the town where there is a problem on results nights. Junior Cert nights and Leaving Cert nights can be extremely busy and problematic. We are inundated with calls from residents about large congregations of youths drinking, Sgt OConnell said. Those arrested were not from the town, but were earlier dropped in from outlying areas and villages by their unsuspecting parents. As a result of the undercover operation, there were no assaults, no criminal damage and no complaints from residents. Gardai were also monitoring alcohol outlets and none in Killarney sold alcohol to the young revellers. The youths in question will now be supervised and if they offend again they will be considered for a programme under the Garda Junior Liaison Scheme. The successful operation will be repeated, the gardai have said, warning those caught this time to take their opportunity and not offend again. Inspector Bill Duane refused to renew the firearms certificate for Cecil Ross of Gortigrenane House, Minane Bridge, Co Cork. Mr Ross appealed against that refusal to renew his certificate at Cork District Court yesterday. Solicitor Louise Healy said the background to the refusal was that her client omitted to refer to the safety order against him. Ms Healy said he was subsequently prosecuted for breaching this safety order and given the benefit of the Probation Act and did not realise that had to be declared in his application for the renewal of the certificate for his Miroku double-barrel shotgun. He made a genuine omission in the form. He did not believe he had been formally convicted. There was absolutely no attempt to deceive, he has no previous convictions, Ms Healy said. Inspector Bill Duane was in Cork District Court yesterday and said the relevant question on the form related to the existence of the safety order. The form asks, Have you ever been the subject of an order in court involving force or threat of force? The answer was, No, Insp Duane said. Judge Olann Kelleher said, the safety order granted to the applicants former wife in November 2011 was for the maximum period for such an order five years. Mr Ross said the reason for the safety order being granted was a verbal altercation he had with his wife and other disputed allegations. Judge Kelleher asked: Was the order granted because people were in fear of you? Cecil Ross replied: Yes. Judge Kelleher said he appreciated that the applicant may not have intended to mislead the inspector in his application. The judge said he had to be very careful in relation to the granting of firearms certificates. The judge said he accepted the original decision of the inspector and he refused Cecil Rosss appeal against that decision. Among homeless women, the mean age of death is even lower, at just 38. Among homeless men, the mean age of death is 44. Of 140 deaths among the homeless population over a four-year period, 16 occurred on the streets. The relatively young age at which many of those living on the streets die is in contrast to average life expectancy among the general population 75 years for men and 80 for women. The percentage of homeless people who die as a result of drug and alcohol addiction is also far higher than in the general population, at 30% compared to approximately 7%. One of the study authors, Dr Joe Barry, said it was widely acknowledged that the issue of addiction among the homeless needs to be addressed. Dr Barry and his colleague Dr Jo-Hanna Ivers of the Institute of Public Health, Trinity College Dublin, collaborated with Bernie ODonoghue Hynes of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive in conducting the study, Mortality Amongst the Homeless Population in the Dublin Region. Through visits to homeless hostels, the coroners offices and homeless agencies, they drew together data showing: 140 deaths among homeless between 2011 and 2014. Nine deaths among homeless people aged 18 to 24 seven men and two women. 12 deaths among over 65s who were homeless 16 died on the streets; 67 in hospital; and 41 in homeless services Dr Barry said the report, to be presented today at the Irish Street Medicine Symposium in UCC, contains draft recommendations, including the need for better recording of deaths among the homeless population not just in Dublin, but nationwide. Housing Minister Simon Coveney and GP and paralympian Dr Austin Carroll are among those addressing todays symposium at UCCs Western Gateway Building. Department of Housing figures for August show 4,248 homeless adults. Christopher Byrne, aged 78, from Suncroft, Co Kildare, died and two ambulance workers, Dave Finnegan and Stephen Lloyd, from Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, suffered burn injuries when there was an explosion in the vehicle outside Naas Hospital on Thursday. There are three different type of oxygen tanks on ambulances ranging from portable smaller cylinders to 1.4m F-sized cylinders. It is believed the fire may have begun with a F-sized cylinder. The HSE has asked its oxygen provider, BOC Gases Ireland, to undertake a detailed review of oxygen supplies on the entire fleet. According to sources in the ambulance service, BOC Gases inspect and date all cylinders they produce before they are handed over to the HSE. However, the HSE is charged with ensuring that all equipment, ranging from the regulator which controls the oxygen pressure, to attached face masks, is working properly. Despite widespread complaints about the age of the ambulance fleet, the HSE says the vehicle was a new Mercedes CDi 152D registered vehicle which came into service in November 2015. The HSE said: Our initial approach is to focus on priority areas without prejudice to the investigation and obviously the oxygen is an area of potential concern. The HSE initiated two actions last night firstly we issued a safety notice to all staff, and secondly the National Ambulance Service directed our supplier to undertake a detailed review of oxygen supplies on the entire fleet. It was revealed earlier this week that a second ambulance in Naas burst into flames in the past year. The HSE would not comment in detail but a spokesman said it is their understanding that there was an issue regarding the engine which differs from that [fire] experienced on Thursday. One of the paramedics who suffered serious head, face, torso, and arm burns, was released from the burns unit of St Jamess Hospital in Dublin yesterday. The second man, who was suffering from shock, was discharged from Naas General the day previous. The ambulance burst into flames outside the hospital in when paramedics were unloading the patient at the door of the hospitals emergency department at about 1.30pm. The two paramedics were injured while trying to save Mr Byrne. An Garda Siochana, the Health and Safety Authority and the HSE are investigating the accident. 134 retrofitted or new vehicles in past two years Up to 134 either retrofitted or new fully equipped ambulances were brought on stream by the HSE in the past two years. Over the past two years, 62 ambulances containing a new chassis but with a patient compartment from a decommissioned ambulance were brought into the ambulance fleet. The patient compartment was then refurbished and re-engineered to meet new legislative and best practice standards, according to the the e-Tenders website. Another 62 ambulances were totally new with a new chassis or cab and a new patient compartment. Another 10 ambulances were van conversions to ambulances. According to the HSE yesterday, the ambulance involved in Thursdays incident was a brand new vehicle, a new Mercedes CDi 152D registered vehicle which came into service in November 2015. Its understood the HSE investigation will look at concerns raised previously about the fleet by advanced paramedics. Two other investigations have also begun by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and the Gardai. Senior paramedic sources have confirmed, that with oxygen being the primary possible cause, the HSE National Ambulance Service (NAS) will be looking at the equipment attached to the oxygen tank including regulator, tubing, mask and flow meter and if the cylinders of oxygen met EU standards and regulations. It will also examine if a bulb which comes on automatically when the oxygen storage unit is opened blew, resulting in the cylinder or cylinders combusting due to a possible leak. The engines of those particular Mercedes ambulances, which have been fitted with a fire suppression unit, will also be double checked due to serious concerns over previous engine related fires. A senior ambulance supervisor said: Paramedics have pointed out to NAS management that, lead acid batteries fitted in the ambulance engines should be replaced with a more up to date gel unit, which is viewed as being safer. It is understood that industrial unrest amongst the 1,200 NAS advanced paramedics has been brewing for some time. Thursdays explosion may be the catalyst for paramedics to say, enough is enough, as they believe senior management are not listening to their concerns. Such was the concern, the IMF was seeking a scrapping of the report and full reassessment of the Governments figures and budget policy measures as a result. Earlier this year, the Central Statistics Office published controversial figures suggesting economic growth in Ireland in 2015 grew by a staggering 26%. But this figure was vastly distorted by unexpected corporation tax payments by 10 large multinational companies, and the CSO came in for strong criticism for publishing the number. Documents released to the Irish Examiner under the Freedom of Information Act reveal the major concerns within the IMF which were relayed to senior officials within Michael Noonans Department of Finance. In a nutshell, there are some senior people within the IMF that are now seriously questioning the merit of our article IV [IMF update report on Ireland] going to the board, Michael McGrath of the IMF told finance official John McCarthy. Instead, they are suggesting a full refresh of the forecasts and policy prescriptions to take account of the 2015 GDP figures, Mr McGrath added. Then he wrote in red for emphasis: Zuzana Murgasova [the IMF mission chief to Ireland] would most likely be adding a recommendation to the report urging the Irish authorities to work on new statistical methods that would better serve Irish policy-making. The documents also show how the CSO and the Department of Finance have scrambled to establish a new working group which will meet next month to devise a new method of calculating economic growth. A Department of Finance spokesman said the CSO applied the international rules and the numbers came out as they came out. If the IMF is doing something with their documents, that is a matter for the IMF, he said. For ourselves, the CSO applied the international standards as they need to and we have this new working group which will look at a more relevant measure of economic activity in Ireland. It was clear at the time that the headline figure came out as it did, the department does not base its policy on them. The data underlying the figures like unemployment numbers, debt levels, are what we rely upon to formulate policy. People are working on alternative measures, he added. The released documents show how CSO director general Padraig Dalton had to email his staff at the height of the controversy to reassure them that they were not wrong to publish the numbers. As both the Central Bank and economist Dan OBrien have pointed out, the figures as compiled by the CSO are correct, Mr Dalton told staff. In an internal confidential note, sent from Mr Dalton to the countrys top three civil servants, it is claimed that the explanation given about the spike in numbers from the Government looks plausible. The note, compiled by the CSO in conjunction with Eurostat, was given as a briefing memo for major bodies such as the European Central Bank and the OECD. It is clear the Irish authorities were well aware of the relevant recording rules [when they published the numbers], the note stated. On foot of the controversy, Eurostat decided to dispatch a mission to Ireland to verify the calculations, and Mr Noonans department agreed to provide full access to all documents. Thousands are expected to take to the streets in Waterfords city centre for a march organised by the South East Patient Advocacy Group who say they are highlighting the failure to implement 24/7 cardiac care at UHW which, they say, was promised in 2012 by then-Minister for Health James Reilly. Local independent TD and minister of state John Halligan has already threatened to resign if a second catheterisation laboratory for heart attack patients is not provided at UHW to boost cardiac care services, and speculation has hinged around his position since an independent report did not recommend such a second lab at the hospital. The jury at Cork City Coroners Court also recommended improved information exchange between prison medical staff and prison staff, and the commencement of and funding for the Irish Prison Service psychology strategy. The recommendations came at the conclusion of the inquest into the death of Roy ODriscoll, aged 25, from Summerhill, Mallow, Co Cork, in a cell in the former Cork Prison on May 10, 2013. He had been serving a seven-year term for assault, and had been transferred from Portlaoise Prison to Cork on May 1. He had been classed by medical staff in Portlaoise as being at an unprecedented risk of suicide just days beforehand, but was transferred to Cork without their knowledge. He was placed on his own in a high-support cell in the former Cork Prisons D-unit and was last checked, and seen sitting on his cell bed, at 2.10pm on May 10, 2013. However, he was found unresponsive at 2.25pm. He was pronounced dead a short time later. A postmortem performed by assistant state pathologist Dr Margot Bolster confirmed the cause of death was asphyxia due to suspension by a ligature, and the findings, she said, were consistent with self-suspension. After hearing four days of evidence spread across several months, the jury returned a verdict of death by suicide, and issued four recommendations in the hope that future similar deaths can be avoided. The inquest previously heard Dr George OMahony GP assessed Mr ODriscoll the day after his transfer from Portlaoise Prison to Cork Prison and, amid concerns for his mental health, directed that he be placed in one of D-units three medical observation cells. Prisoners in these cells get a daily GP visit and twice daily nursing visits. They also have access to a prison issue bed sheet and towel. Following visits from consultant psychiatrist, Dr Eugene Morgan, over the following days it was determined Mr ODriscoll should remain in this cell for continuing observation. But D-unit prison officers said the only information they had about Mr ODriscolls condition was that he was under special observation. The catering manager has endured six years of tension with the chef that culminated in a row between them in December 2014 concerning incorrectly cooked mince meat. The incident took place three years after the chef threatened to kill her boss. The Irish Examiner/B&A opinion poll found that 54% said they had no interest in Ireland becoming more carbon neutral, with 46% stating they were not at all interested. The finding comes as Ireland comes under more pressure to meet its greenhouse gas emission targets, with the agricultural sector coming under sharper focus because of its role in contributing to emissions. The payments totalling 9.6m will be of particular help to those who have had to pay rent deposits and other up-front costs at the beginning of term. The figure compares favourably to the 26,500 who got paid in Susis first run of payments worth 8.5m in 2015, the first year that student grants were paid in September. The agency, part of City of Dublin Education and Training Board, has received 102,000 applications so far this year. While nearly 43,000 are renewal cases, people who were receiving support from Susi in the last college year, more than 59,000 are from new applicants for 2016. Those which were received up to July are prioritised in the processing system, after applications opened in April. More than 75,500 have so far been finalised, with 64,500 students getting a positive decision in terms of having their student contribution paid, or half-paid on their behalf, and in most cases also receiving a maintenance payment to assist with living costs. Those awarded some level of Susi support include over 27,000 who sought assistance through Susi for the first time this year. But 8,300 first-time applicants and 900 grant renewals were refused. Less than half the 64,500 successful applicants were paid yesterday, as Susi had not received verification of the remaining students registration from their colleges in time for payments to go through. But many will receive first payments soon, as weekly bank transfers will be made up to Christmas for those who miss out on this or subsequent monthly pay runs. The 30,000 recipients yesterday did not include an unknown number whose family income means they do not get a grant, but still have the 3,000 student fee or half the amount paid on their behalf by Susi. Small numbers also receive maintenance for attendance at colleges in the EU. Susi will begin making maintenance payments to students on Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses from October 21. These recipients also have their 200 course fee paid for them by the grants agency. Grant amounts vary from 350 to almost 6,000 for the year, depending on family incomes and distance from home to college. While prompt payments will be welcomed, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) says the level of support remains inadequate for the rising costs of accommodation and other expenses. In a submission to Education Minister Richard Bruton ahead of Budget 2017 next month, it is seeking increases in the amounts paid and the restoration of grant support for postgraduate students. SATURDAY Strictly Come Dancing BBC One, 6.30pm Episode two of the show features nine of the 16 couples taking their first steps on the dance floor, with Irish representative Laura Whitmore and the other contestants not having to face an elimination decision yet. Keith Richards Lost Weekend BBC Four, 7pm The Rolling Stones guitarist continues his curation of BBC Four over the weekend, with a schedule that includes film noir I Walked with A Zombie, Fellinis classic film The Bicycle Thieves, and Julien Temples documentary, London: The Modern Babylon. Winning Streak RTE One, 8.15pm Marty Whelan and Sinead Kennedy return for another season of the National Lottery show. The Jonathan Ross Show UTV Ireland, 10pm Jamie Dornan is one of the busiest men in showbiz at the moment, and is in the studio tonight to talk about 50 Shades Darker. The child stars of Netflix hit Stranger Things are also on the show, while Zara Larsson provides the musical interlude. SUNDAY Lords and Ladels RTE One, 6.30pm The three chefs are in Ballymacmoy House, near Killavullen, Co Cork, ancestral home of Richard Hennessy, the man who founded the famous cognac brand. For their period feast, Catherine Fulvio heads to the nearby Blackwater in search of salmon, and joins a boat in Ballycotton to catch some lobster. Celebrity Island With Bear Grylls Channel 4, 9pm Theyve been four days on the island and they still havent managed to gather enough food for a proper meal. To add to the unpleasantness of the situation, one of the celebrities has a nasty accident. As tensions rise, not everybody agrees with the way Dom Joly is leading the group. MONDAY 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammies Sky 1, 9pm Irish presenter Baz Ashmawys show has been hugely successful, but presumably he faced the dilemma of whether it was really feasible to put his mother Nancy through any more ordeals. If you spotted the plural in the title for this new series, you may have an idea of what the solution was. Three other elderly women have joined the show. First up, theyre off to Costa Rica for such activities as abseiling down a waterfall and taking 700 dogs for a walk. Cant Cope, Wont Cope RTE2, 10pm Episode three of the enjoyable new comedy series has Seana Kerslakes character Danielle hitting the tequila at a work function with almost disastrous consequences. Trump v Clinton Live Channel 4, 1.45am The first of three presidential debates in the US will probably be more frightening than any horror film. TUESDAY The Pet Surgeons RTE One, 8.30pm A specialised oncologist also suggests some cutting-edge treatment for dog with colon cancer. A cute pup has been hit by a car, so the Cork vets have to try some difficult reconstruction on its leg bone. Later Live with Jools Holland BBC Two, 10pm (not NI) Lisa Hannigan cracked the UK top 40 with her recent album, At Swim, and an appearance on tonights show should further boost her profile in Britain. Barry Gibb, Norah Jones and Slaves are also on the show. Damned Channel 4, 10pm Government cuts, stress-related sick leave and temp staff who arent quite up to the job... sound familiar? Jo Brand stars in and helped write this new comedy series set among a team of social workers. WEDNESDAY Ross Kemp Extreme World Sky 1, 8pm Colombia may have despatched Pablo Escobar and reached a peace deal to end the Farc insurrection, but Kemp discovers that drug gangs can still unleash massive violence in such cities as Buenaventura. Inside Trinity RTE One, 10.15pm Its winter at the Dublin college and the staff and students are getting ready for Christmas. Among them are then student union president Lynn Ruane (since elected to the Seanad) who lives on the campus with her two children. We also see the ladies rowing team braving the cold to go training in the early morning; and twins Fionn and Cian O Riain Broin, making their way on the colleges hurling team. THURSDAY Gogglebox Ireland TV3, 9.30pm Episode two of the Irish version of the show, and the participating families and friends cast their eye over another week of TV. Imeall TG4, 10.30pm The show previews Cork Folk Festival, particularly Donal Lunnys latest project, Atlantic Arc Orchestra which is being performed on the Friday night at the festival. The Works Presents: Emma Donoghue RTE One, 11.05pm Dublin-born writer Emma Donoghue is best known for her book and screenplay Room, and here also chats to John Kelly about her new novel, The Wonder. FRIDAY Living The Wildlife RTE One, 7.30pm Foxes are the most widespread carnivore on the planet, and Colin Stafford-Johnson sets out to film some of the Irish population. Among them are a vixen and her cubs in their den, which isnt the easiest place to record images. Building Ireland RTE One, 8.30pm A new series of the show begins in Cork with a look at Spike Island and the military engineering of its vast fortress. Of course, many of the features that were designed to keep people out also came in handy to keep people in when the complex evolved into a prison. Across the harbour, Orla Murphy also looks at the Victorian character of Cobhs architecture. Hip Hop World News BBC Four, 9pm British rapper Rodney P talks to the likes of Chuck D of Public Enemy, and Def Jams Russell Simmons about hip-hops journey from the streets of New York to becoming a world-wide cultural force, and an industry worth billions. Later, the Rubble Kings (10.30pm) documentary looks at how hip-hop helped lower the rates of gang violence in New York in the late 1970s. Sir Terry Wogan Remembered: Fifty Years At The BBC BBC One, 9pm A celebration of the career of the late Irish broadcaster, taking in his decades of radio and TV work, as well as his charity work. Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood has gained a foothold in parliament after ending a decade-long boycott and returning to the fray as the mainstay of a broad civic alliance, according to preliminary results released on Thursday. The Islamists, easily Jordan's biggest organised political grouping, had shunned previous elections in protest at a system that skews representation towards thinly populated rural areas dominated by tribal politics, rather than the cities, where the Brotherhood is strong. But under pressure from a government crackdown that followed Islamist-led protests in the wake of the Arab Spring, the Brotherhood's political arm, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), ditched its "Islam is the Solution" slogan and joined Christians and prominent national figures to create the National Coalition for Reform (NCR). Preliminary results from Tuesday's election indicated that the NCR had won at least 16 of the 130 seats. Zaki Bani Rusheid, a prominent Brotherhood leader, said the NCR would seek alliances with others to try to form an effective opposition. Although Jordan has no ruling party, its government, appointed by King Abdullah, has for years faced little or no opposition from a parliament dominated by pro-government tribal leaders, businessmen and ex-security officials, often elected on promises to address local rather than national concerns. MODEST STEP Although the NCR will not be able to block legislation or cabinet appointments, it should nevertheless bring livelier debate to what has been almost a rubber-stamp assembly whose passivity has allowed successive governments to enact draconian temporary laws restricting public freedoms. Although the vote represents a modest step in the democratisation process launched by the king, a staunch U.S. ally, as he seeks to insulate Jordan from the conflicts at its borders, the NCR is likely to use the platform to air demands for a more representative electoral system. The alliance won at least one seat in nearly every major multi-member constituency, according to initial results. In the capital's affluent third district, home to many government agencies as well as much of the business and political elite, the alliance won three of seven seats. Although the national turnout was a mere 37 percent, analysts said it would have been significantly lower if the Islamists had not taken part. International observers praised Jordan for holding relatively well-administered elections at a time of regional turbulence, but urged broader political representation. "There is no equality of the vote. Under the current districting, large urban areas are under-represented, and sparsely populated or rural areas are considerably over-represented," the EU's chief observer, Jo Leinen, told reporters. Many of the citizens in the major cities, where over two-thirds of the population live, are of Palestinian descent. Their political empowerment in a country where native Jordanian tribes hold power is a sensitive issue. Search Keywords: Short link: Remember wines should be stored sideways in a dark place where the temperature changes little such as a spare bedroom or under the stairs. These days almost all wines are made for drinking upon release but many will benefit from extra time in bottle. Reds age better than whites but you can age the following white grapes riesling, chardonnay, chenin blanc, and semillon. To find age-worthy whites however you will need to be spending around 20 and stick to classic regions such as Bordeaux, Hunter Valley Semillon, Loire Chenin (eg, Savennieres, Vouvray) and Alsace, German or Clare Valley Riesling. For chardonnay you really need to go to Burgundy (Chablis, Cote dOr) or classic new world regions such as Margaret River and Napa Valley. Reds are less problematic but look for richer styles such as those from Bordeaux grapes (cabernet, merlot, malbec), and thick-skinned varieties such as syrah and tempranillo. All Bordeaux will age a little but a 12 Bordeaux Superieur will not improve for more than three years after release. For a thinner-skinned grape to produce age-worthy wines you need other characteristics such as acidity and structure as found in good pinot noir or nebbiolo (Barolo). However, inexpensive pinot noir should be drunk young. Most reds from Spain will all age and while many of the better wines are aged before release they can be kept longer. I drank a 1970 Faustino I last year that had lovely elegant savoury fruits but it is also true that not some at the table that night preferred the fruitier younger wines. Regional Italian reds are worth a look but dont bother with grapes like barbera, montepulciano or cannonau and if you are ageing wine from the New World buy above reserva level eg, Chilean carmenere and cabernet and also Argentinian malbec. All of this weeks wines will benefit from some short- to medium-term ageing but use your judgement as given our crazy excise duty any wine under 15 costs just a couple of euro at the cellar door and it is difficult to get complexity for that price. Contact Leslie Williams at wine@examiner.ie BEST VALUE UNDER 15 Norton D.O.C. Malbec 2013, Mendoza, Argentina 12.95 (was 18.95) Stockist: OBriens Malbec from Argentina is not likely to be found in many cellars but I quite like the way the dense fruit softens and becomes more savoury with a couple of years bottle age. Right now this is still a deep purple colour with dark and dense black fruits and touches of chocolate and spice. It will be even better in three years time. Bodega San Telmo 2016, Argentina 9 Stockist: Centra Most people will scoff at me suggesting that you age a wine that costs 9 (normally 11) but I think this is so young and packed with such bright purple fruit I actually think it needs a little time to settle in bottle. It will of course drink perfectly well now but also for the next two years. Remy Ferbas Rasteau 2015, Rhone, France 12 (was 15) Stockist: Centra Rasteau is a village not far from Chateauneuf du Pape with similar if rather more rustic flavours. This has solid spicy red fruit aromas with some wild berry character and good structure and a bit of weight so easily matches its 12 price (15 is pushing it a little). With two-to-three years age I think this will get a little more mellow and lose its chewy edges. BEST VALUE OVER 15 Produttori del Barbaresco Nebbiolo Langhe 2012, Piedmont, Italy 21.65 Stockist: Karwigs Carrigaline www.karwigwines.ie The nebbiolo grape as used in Barolo and Barbaresco is famously long lived and while this regional appellation is designed for earlier drinking and while tasty right now, this will improve for up to five years. Black cherry and blackberry aromas, chewy red fruits and a lingering hint of liquorice. Alborense Morellino di Scansano 2012, Tuscany, Italy 20.95 Stockist: Molloys Liquor Stores Morellino di Scansano is from the coastal hills in the south of Tuscany and is always keenly priced compared to the better known wines of the region made from Sangiovese (chianti, brunello). Sangiovese ages better than you might think and this has bright red fruit aromas, is ripe and fruity on the palate and has some unexpected weight and integrated tannins. Should age gracefully for five-to-eight years. Bellmunt Priorat 2013, Spain 24.25 Stockist: Wines Direct Mullingar, Arnotts Dublin www.winesdirect.ie Priorat is ultra-fashionable and never cheap but even the lesser wines can benefit from a little ageing although I wouldnt keep this for more than around three years. This is a blend of garnacha and carignan (the two main grapes in the region) and has silky red fruits with a nice mineral backbone and some stony dried fruit flavours that will mellow with time. In late summer, the rough boulder walls of Galway are alive with undergrowth. Meadowsweet runs wild from the hedgerows across rough paddocks and the pink tassels of Rosebay Willow herb waft in a soft breeze. Bumping along a boreen dotted with rusting sheds and past cattle pulling lazily from rushy fields, you come across a striking scene. A low form in white sits behind a rendered rath, with monumental chimneys in concrete rising to pierce low skies. This is the townland of Legaun and this is the house that Mary built. Born and raised here, but with a lifetime spent teaching amongst her late husbands people in Wexford, Mary Enright knew she wanted a retreat, a home that would fit modestly into the landscape, and one that would be warm, comfortable, and beautiful. A place to be truly at home. Where the living room block joins the bedroom wing it creates a quiet little sun trap space. Chairs and table from made.com. Enter Chicago-raised architect Ryan Kennihan. Despite the surname, hes American to the bone and has brought the gifts of the premier city of architecture to the soft landscape of Co Galway. Maybe its because he sees the vernacular through the eyes of a stranger, and maybe hes informed by the monolithic structures of his birthplace, but in this Moycullen house hes created a version of the Irish homestead thats quite extraordinary. Everything about our normal perceptions of what a house is the entrance is up the middle, the door is to the front is turned upside down here. And thats before you even approach. Yes, theres a driveway up the middle, but it ends at a small turning near the rath wall. The visitor has to get out of the car and approach on foot through an open arch to the central courtyard, where a low hip wall acts as another defensive response to guide the way to the entrance. The main living room and kitchen, (facing front), have direct access onto the central courtyard through a wall of sliding glass frames. The pillars which support the roof create a Georgian symmetry to the structure, while the overhang provides shade in summer when the sun is high. The bedroom block is to the left and the main entrance is to the right, with a glimpse of the garage block on the far right. Perhaps defensive is the wrong use of word here maybe unveiling is more appropriate, because you approach the house in stages: The main drive; the arch, and then the guided walk to the front door. Its reminiscent of old castles and walled cities, if thats not a stretch too far. An unfolding of the many considered elements that make up this house. Take that further and you see the stacked, massive chimney breast as a defiant piece of castellation, a declaration of the fortitude of the build and of the sanctuary afforded within. All very high-falutin but this house does sit within a defensive wall its built in three parts around a central, south-facing courtyard; once inside, the space is utterly private and contained. Monastic, even. The kitchen is a simple arrangement in white with azure glazing in the splashback and Corian counter tops in dove grey. Leather high chairs from made.com The simplicity of the build materials belies the clever engineering and architectural elegance of construction. Its a concrete block house with a regular, slate roof, but add a ring beam of shuttering, those huge chimneys, hide all gutters and downpipes, and add a row of collonades to support the roof, while creating Georgian symmetry and you have a deft and impressive dwelling. Often, when the architect has taken his blueprint to completion and the house is handed over to the client, the design can slip into no-mans land, where the ambitions of the designer are unmet by the client, or where the clients ambitions overshoot the aesthetic reticence of the architect. Its an age-old story. In Legaun, however, theres a happy and lasting conjunction of visions. The rug on the snugs floor was a gift from Marys friends at Ceadogan Rugs, Wexford. The modesty and clean lines of the build are reflected in the modestly curated collection of furnishings and fittings of the client. The whole house works, inside and out. Mary wanted a building that connected to the environment and one that suited her needs, but also reflected the local architecture the farmhouses and farm buildings. Ryan took the nearby yard as a starting point, in particular the rough and ready concrete ring beams poured on old stout walls to keep the pressure of the roof from pushing the structures outward. The house sits in mix of wild meadow and tame lawn with a young orchard in view Then there was the style of the buildings, built in twos and threes around a central courtyard, offering security for animals and wind resistance in winter. So the client and architect settled for a simple construction that allowed for three volumes sheltering a south-facing courtyard and referencing the rough concrete of the old sheds in a characterful way a building that Ryan says would be comfortable in its surroundings. Those three volumes now comprise the main living room block, bedroom block to the west, and the garage block behind the enclosing rath wall. A view through the homestead from the main entrance, showing two hip walls which enclose the south-facing courtyard. Lighting is placed underground, with covered bulbs poking through the lawn and all gutters and downpipes are hidden in the fabric of the building Inside, the single storey dwelling was opened to the rafters, and Marys brother, Patrick Davoran, who was the builder, oversaw the sourcing, milling and hand-crafting of the Douglas Fir roof. In this too, Kinnehan inverted the normal approach, exposing the rafters and putting rigid insulation above the sheathing and under the membrane, before tiling on top. The house is heavily insulated and comes with underfloor heating and a glorious, concrete floor seeded with local stone and polished to reflect the soft grey of the boulder walls outside. The final flourish is the ring beam of concrete which runs internally too, letting the structure of the house show in an earthy, holistic way. This full-length window frames the dressing room of the master bedroom, which has simple white sliding robes along one side. The bedroom is just behind the wall. The fittings are simple slotted in with enclosures defining the respective areas dividing walls do not rise to the roof and openings dont close, rather theres a sense openness from floor to ceiling and gable to gable. Ryan says hed love to do more average-priced houses in the city and the country: This was not a big budget house. Its a fairly standard cost for a standard house, but Mary got something fairly spectacular for the same value as a regular house on a regular street. All three bedrooms in this unfussy house are finished in a similar fashion. Shades of blue and white run throughout, which creates a soothing atmosphere. Here, the master bedroom has a simple, brass bed and honest occasional furniture. The narrow window opens out to the wild garden outside and facing the bed, is a full-length picture window taking in the adjoining fields and views west. For instance, you could give 250k to a builder and most will go into the build, but put 220k to the building and I could do something spectacular with that. This house proves that. Marys a teacher shes not an art dealer or an architectural connoisseur. Architecture is not just for the banker and the lawyers. Good houses are for everyone. Mary Enrights daughter, Karla, graduated from the National College of Art and Design, Dublin, with a degree in fine art and also completed an artists residency in Limassol Studios, Cyprus. Her work is loosely based on the landscape, but it is the sea and the sky that feature most in her paintings Her technique involves using layers of colour and a brushedout effect on large canvases. www.karlaenright.com The real challenge is to do something with the budget making a lovely thing but in a standard way. Good houses are accessible, its just down to how you want to spend the money, and if you choose the right architect you do get more for that money. A view through the dining room to the snug on the left, and the main entrance is on the right. Karla Enrights Under Orion hangs above a hand-crafted table and chairs and to the right is a simple, bench from Kellys in Wexford Client and designer speak highly of each other; now that the house has settled in and is nigh-on four years old, (it won an AAI award in 2014 one of only five buildings in the country), thats a true test. The only push and pull is around allowing the wild growth of the untended ground running up to the house. Ryan likes the wildness, Mary is in two minds, so theres a lawn in the enclosed courtyard and the perimeter is mostly wild. Compromise. And the years have been kind too to the concrete of the chimney stacks, maybe its the pure air of the west, but the clear, bleached grey remains, a testament to design without compromise. www.rwka.com Youd need to be well shod in a sturdy pair of flatties to tread the London Design Festival, which is in full swing this weekend. It lures us across the water to see all that is new and beautiful in international design and is the ideal place to spot that piece of ceramic or glass, that statement chair or sofa, the latest wall covering, lighting, textiles, or practical but stylish kitchen kit, to inspire your next interiors project. Shane Hollands Cymbal light is made from sheet copper and can produce a sculptural aesthetic when hung in multiples in a large space. Its bright and brave and the spiritual home of anyone who worships a beautifully conceived and executed object that is designed for practical function, while looking effortlessly beautiful. For years, the festival has been the international hotspot for seeing design innovation, with attendance by designers from across the globe who set up shop at exhibitions and market places across the city. Anyone who follows interior trends in religious fashion, will find an opportunity to see whats new and what might tempt retail indulgence or just to stroll, admire and dream. In the midst of it youll find a slew of Irish designer-makers showing Irish made products that stand out, with an aesthetic that is often rooted in nature and which has proved to have considerable appeal to international buyers and collectors. Zelouf + Bells Cranes in a Row credenza is an example of the luxe, artisan furniture made by Belfast-born Michael Bell and New Yorker Susan Zelouf in their County Laois studio. The Irish presence has grown year on year, backed by the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland, with this years offering including furniture, lighting, textiles and homewares at the main festival event the edgy, hip Tent London which takes place in the East End at the old Trumans Brewery in multi-cultural Brick Lane. Meanwhile, across town in well-healed Chelsea, luxury goods exhibition Decorex will show the mesmerising furniture brand Zelouf + Bell and the sculptural glasswork of Edmond Byrne. But the festival is not all about luxury goods with price tags to scare us. The Arran Street East ceramic studio has developed a range of homewares with simple, clean lines, glazed in colours that cite this market area of Dublin, with corresponding names like cabbage, potato, lemon, pomegranate and pink grapefruit - all made with a mix of traditional craft methods and modern technology. MourneTextiles is known for its twill fabrics which are fashioned into clothing and home textiles. Renowned for its quality, it has been used by fashion designers like Sybil Connolly. Its this same approach to making that underpins Denis Kennys rug-making for the last twenty five years. Under the brand name Ceadogan, he has tapped into traditional skills at his workshop in County Wexford, but in more recent years his collaborations with contemporary designers and artists have produced rugs made with traditional hand-tufting methods to contemporary designs. One of these designers is ceramicist Andrew Ludick whose work, which is distinctive for its pattern and colour, has lent itself to an easy transition into the medium of textile. His Lime Sun rug is just one being exhibited under the Ceadogan brand. But Denis Kenny also has an appreciation of not-so-recent designs, in particular, previously neglected ones from the 1920s and 30s by Modernist artist Mainie Jellet. Now licensed by the estate of the late artist, Ceadogan has brought these designs back to life, introducing a new audience to this little known aspect of Jellets creative output. This same mix of heritage and modernity is an essential in the work of Mourne Textiles which started in 1949 at the foot of the Mourne mountains in County Down when Norwegian designer Gerd Hay-Edie settled in the area. These little espresso pots by Arran Street East tap into the current trend for handle-free cups made with traditional pottery methods. As a proponent of mid-century modern design, her success as a weaver led to her working with the Norwegian government to develop new weavers to progress the countrys textile industry, and also led to collaborations with the likes of furniture designer Robin Day and with Terence Conran. The legacy of this is now run by her grandson, making a new generation of heritage pieces and ground-breaking designs for textiles that cite the companys Irish and Scandinavian influences. Its clear from just this selection of designers and makers that traditional making techniques, alongside the development of new designs and methods, are the leitmotifs of Irish design, a combination that sets our makers of these products apart. Its heartening to see them in an international context like the London Design Festival, showing alongside designs from countries which were synonymous with taste long before the word design was even known in Ireland. No question, were holding our own, especially when compared to some of those countries, counting Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Holland and Britain among them. FOR a Corkman, coming from a republican family, Sean Hartnett took the road less travelled. From being on the verge of joining the IRA, he enlisted in the British army and ended up working in a top-secret surveillance unit in Northern Ireland. There, he was involved in numerous covert operations, including the successful arrest of Real IRA bomber John Paul Hannan and the thwarting of a murder attempt on loyalist leader Johnny Adair. Now, in Charlie One, Sean has penned a fascinating insight into his work in a book that is likely to raise hackles within British intelligence. Back in April 1995, a bored student of science in University College Cork, Sean had an appointment arranged to meet someone in the Sinn Fein offices on Barrack St to ask about joining the IRA. I think I was searching at the time, he told the Irish Examiner. I hated college and I was looking for adventure. I came from a republican family and the idea of being a freedom fighter the romantic side of it appealed to me. But, at the last second, he got cold feet. It was a close run thing. I just bottled it and a year later I was applying to join the British Army the complete opposite. In some ways, it wasnt an unprecedented step. Though coming from a republican family, his father had served in the RAF and his mother had worked as a secretary in the defence ministry when they lived in England before returning to Cork. His plan was to get a trade in the British army, which he could take with him if he left. He signed up as a Royal Signals technician, essentially communications, and served abroad. On return, he heard about a communications unit in Northern Ireland that didnt have ranks, had no uniform, and attracted extra pay. He got the position and arrived at the Joint Communications Unit Northern Ireland (JCU-NI) headquarters in Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn, Co Antrim. When he introduced himself, in his strong Cork accent, to the commanding officer, he got this response: You must be fucking kidding me. He said he wasnt trusted in what was a black ops unit being run through a dummy unit, officially known as JCU-NI. The section was broken up into nine subunits called special communications troops or SCTs. The real purpose of the unit, his instructor told him, was covert surveillance and apprehension of terrorist suspects. Also known as The Det, it conducted operations with controversial special forces units the SAS and SBS, which had troopers attached to each of the nine SCTs. Sean was a technician and his role involved rigging, fixing and operating the massive array of surveillance equipment, particularly radios, listening devices, and cameras. The amount of surveillance in Northern Ireland was mind-blowing, he said. JCU-NI had a vast network of cameras across the North, using heavily encrypted fibre-optic cables, and a sophisticated radio network system. He said they had a camera on one side of the River Foyle that had a camera pointing at Derry, which could read licence plates, day or night, some 1.8km away. If they wanted you under surveillance you were covered. Our budget was unlimited. He said they had a unit that could build cameras into what looked like rocks, trees, and gate posts. Most of the book covers Seans time in the most insular and remote of the units North Det, located in Shackleton Barracks, Ballykelly, outside Derry. The kit Sean had to work with sounds like something out of a James Bond movie. Vehicles were fitted out with covert microphones in sun visors and operators wore almost invisible covert earpieces. The vehicles were fitted with perk plates plastic explosive reactive plates attached to the underside of the vehicle to repel unwanted people around the vehicle. They also had armoured doors and seats, covert alarm systems, and licence plates with hidden cameras. Operators were also given a wristwatch, which could be used as a tracker, if they were hijacked. Surveillance vans were made to look like decorators vans, with tins and sheets, but made entirely of fiberglass to boost signals and could hide cameras. The book reveals that each unit also had teams for covert methods of entry, or as Sean writes, burglary to you and me. For all the successes of surveillance, Sean told the Irish Examiner it can only achieve so much. You hear a lot nowadays, particularly after the French and Belgium attacks, He was on a list but not under surveillance. To keep one person under surveillance you are talking about 40 and 60 people, between the eyes on the ground and those supporting them. Its very naive for people to say, He was on a list, why wasnt he being followed? because you cant do it for all of them. Its impossible. He said the Provisional IRA were viewed very differently by the unit, compared to dissidents. They saw the IRA as having some legitimacy. They had a structure, they were very well disciplined, they were good at counter- surveillance. There was no love there, but there was a grudging respect. The dissidents were criminals and filled a void with the peace process. They were living off small pockets of support and cared neither about the innocent lives they might destroy nor actually about the cause. Asked did he feel tarnished by the less savoury aspects of the work of British intelligence, including operations by the likes of the SAS or the Force Research Unit, Sean said: I felt I was part of the process. When republicans and loyalists came to the table and disarmed, JCU was as much part of the peace process as anybody. Like it or not, British intelligence played their part, as ugly as some of it was, just like some of the actions carried out by the Provisionals and the loyalists was very ugly. Sean Hartnett, a pseudonym, worked for three years in JCU-NI, then left, after the work took a heavy toll. He always had problems sleeping and leaned on alcohol to knock himself out. He suffered bouts of depression. He went and got help and travelled back to his partners home country of South Africa. He now works as a counter-surveillance and espionage consultant. Seans choice at the diverging roads back in 1995 made all the difference. Sean Harnett was involved in thwarting a murder attempt on loyalist leader Johnny Adair, above Tip-off on attempted hit on Adair In the summer of 2002, Sean Hartnett and other members of North Det were asked to assist their East Det counterparts in Belfast in an operation involving loyalist leader Johnny Adair. East Det had acquired intelligence that an attempt was to be made, on the orders of other commanders in the UDA, on Adairs life. The hit was to be carried out by two of the UDAs most experienced hitmen. East Det knew they would travel on a motorbike and even knew when and where: As Adair walked to school with his daughter, aged 8. Word had come down that the risk to the little girl and her schoolmates was unacceptable and so East Det was instructed to intervene. But they didnt know where the bike was coming from. A hard stop smashing into the motorbike and subduing the assassins was ruled out as it would reveal prior knowledge of the attack, compromising their sources. We would put in a controlled crash and make it look like a normal everyday accident. A network of overt cameras and operator vehicles around the school were put in place as well as eyes on Adairs front door. The crash vehicle was being driven by an operator with two heavily-armed operators in the back if the UDA men decided to fight. When the motorbike was spotted, the van picked up their route: As the motorbike rounded the next corner he [driver] accelerated from behind and clipped the rear wheel. The bike spun and hit the ground and, as predicted, the men ran away. Sean writes that the explanation for the operation to protect the girl didnt wash. There was only one plausible explanation. Adair himself claimed he had been getting information from both British Intelligence and Special Branch on Republican targets for years, and we all knew that was a two-way street. It was suspected by all at East Det that Adair must surely have also been providing information on his own organisation to the security services. Cormac OKeeffe The hunt for Charlie One John Paul Hannan was a member of a Louth-Fermanagh Real IRA unit wanted for a bombing campaign in London and Birmingham in 2001. Hannan was moving from safe house to safe house, mostly in the Republic, but was suspected of occasionally visiting relatives just across the border in Newtownbutler, Co Fermanagh. He was Charlie One the chief target of the operation. At their briefing, Sean Hartnett and others were told they may have to stray over into the Republic to maintain surveillance. It wouldnt be an accidental incursion, which often happened, but a pre-planned infringement of heavily armed undercover soldiers into the Republic, Sean writes. Sean ensured the main operators vehicle a typical plumbers van was fitted with four working cameras and fitted the various amnesia vehicles (seemingly empty vehicles which looked like they had been just abandoned). These vehicles actually had an operator in a narrow concealed compartment who used a camera looking out an opaque licence plate. Sean also rigged thermal imaging cameras given the rural location of the house in case Hannan approached by night. Over the next 48 hours, surveillance vehicles were swapped around. Unexpectedly, Hannan arrived not by foot, but by car. By the time the units scrambled, he was inside the house. The Det used a forced entry, battering rams entering the front and back doors simultaneously. It was all over in 30 seconds, without a shot being fired, a textbook operation from start to finish. The PSNI entered and The Det moved out. When the news later broke, it said Hannan was arrested by the PSNI. I smiled to myself, knowing who had actually come knocking on his door that day, writes Sean. Hannan was convicted in a London court on bombing charges. Cormac OKeeffe The Det left wrongfooted, with a civilian killed In July 2002, The Det was targeting a Derry/Strabane Real IRA cell, led by a former Provo the Charlie One of the operation. They had intelligence that a white Vauxhall Cavalier was the transport vehicle for a bomb. The first job was to get a tracking device on the vehicle. The Provos moved the Cavalier a number of times in counter-surveillance, and eventually parked it in the Republic. One day it was moved towards Derry and parked on a road, where it was joined by a second vehicle and parked boot to boot with men crowded all around it. The second car went north, with Charlie One on board, and the Cavalier went south-east towards Armagh. They decided to follow the Cavalier. When that car eventually ended up in Louth, they directed all resources to find the other car. Later they heard that a civilian worker and former UDR soldier David Caldwell picked up a lunchbox when he arrived for work at Caw Camp Territorial Army on Limavady Rd. The box contained a booby-trapped bomb which exploded, fatally wounding him. North Det uncovered that the lunchbox had been transferred from the Vauxhall into the second vehicle. North Det had been wrong-footed, Sean Hartnett writes. He said Mr Caldwells family have been looking for a full enquiry: Until now, no one had any knowledge of North Dets involvement. David Caldwells daughter, Gilligan McFaul, has been looking for answers ever since that day. I hope this provides some. Cormac OKeeffe BRIAN MURPHY, the lauded historian, author, and former advisor to Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen tells a great story about how shameless/ pragmatic Fianna Fail can be when it comes to power. It was 2007 and Ahern was chasing his historic third term in office when all of a sudden he instructed Murphy, as his speechwriter, to do something odd. I was surprised when Ahern instructed me to heavily focus on the environment in drafting his opening address for the pre-election Fianna Fail ard fheis, says Murphy. This was hardly the traditional fare for such a speech and I expressed concerns that the taoiseach might not connect with the delegates. Bertie told me he was less worried about those in the hall and more interested in sending a message to the Green Party. He told me that he and Seamus Brennan had been crunching the numbers and they were convinced that Fianna Fail would need the Greens after the election. Throughout the subsequent election, Ahern was careful not to say anything that would exclude the Greens from his post-election permutations. In the aftermath of the election, Green Party members voted overwhelmingly at a special conference to go into government with Fianna Fail, Murphy says. Fianna Fail, as we know, went on to steer the economy off a cliff and, led by Brian Cowen, were booted out of office in 2011 by a vengeful electorate. Martin replaced Cowen as leader and took to the task of rebuilding his party with gusto and considerable success. Decent local elections in 2014 were followed by a better-than-expected performance in the general election earlier this year. Martin is now unassailable as leader and looks odds-on to be taoiseach, sooner rather than later. He now leads the most popular party in the country, which is a remarkable situation given where party found itself in 2011. And what is clear is that, for all that has happened to it since 2011, old-school populism, as Enda Kenny described it this week, has returned with a vengence to Fianna Fail. And I speak directly about the partys stance on water charges, which amounts to the most blatant of U-turns. It is not that long ago that the party was in government with the Green Party, recommending and supporting the concept of water charges. In the renegotiated programme for government in the summer of 2009, the late Brian Lenihan, as finance minister, committed to a charging system that is fair, significantly reduces waste, and is easily applied . Then on his way out of office, Lenihan committed to a water charges regime in the document which underpinned the 85bn Troika bailout programme in late 2010. Fast forward to 2014 and the Fine Gael-Labour government were on the verge of collapse, given the unholy mess they had made of the establishment of Irish Water and the manner in which the charges were to be introduced. Spooked by the emergence of hard-left elements such as Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy, Fianna Fail, Labour, and Sinn Fein all saw themselves being outflanked on the left, and they panicked. In its general election manifesto, entitled An Ireland for All, Fianna Fail came out in favour of abolishing Irish Water and scrapping water charges. Irish Water has been a complete failure on the part of the Government, the manifesto went. Since it failed the Eurostat test, the very reason it was set up, it is incapable of delivering major investment in our water network. Instead it is imposing a water charges regime where families are paying for a service that does not deliver, operated by a quango that simply is not working. People should not be expected to pay for a service that is not up to standard. It went on to offer up some numbers to back up their case. According to the Department of the Environment the net cost of scrapping water charges would be of the order of 210m annually, it read. This would be replaced by a direct state subvention to the new National Water Directorate, which will be run at an approximate cost of 16.2m per annum. We would also fully provide for the costs of winding down Irish Water, at a cost of 9.1m and 39 abolish the governments botched Water Conservation grant to save the state 110m. It all sounded good but the only problem is the numbers are worthless. Bunkum. Nonsense. We all know the stalemate result of the general election and the subsequent supply and confidence agreement done between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, which saw water charges suspended for at least nine months, to facilitate a Commission on the future of water charges. The truth is that water charges are gone for the forseeable future and sources have told me that a major restructuring is already under way within Irish Water on the basis that domestic charges are not coming back any time soon. Major redeployments from the domestic charges side have taken place, with the focus now on non-domestic charges, one senior Irish Water figure told me. But the true killer for Fianna Fail is that expected subvention costs to the taxpayer in the absence of water are way off. Already, because of the suspension of water charges, the taxpayer is being hit to the tune of 600m this year to support Irish Water, as my colleague, Juno McEnroe, reported on the front page of this paper this week. The figure for next year is likely to be even higher. Fianna Fail to date have given no credible means of meeting this added cost. As reported by Fiach Kelly in the Irish Times earlier this month, Fianna Fail proposed to the new Water Commission that the water system be paid for through general taxation and that the principle of charging for usage should be abolished for good. It marks a move away from its previous position that charges should only be suspended, as it argued in its negotiations with Fine Gael earlier this year to facilitate a minority government led by Kenny, Kelly reported. The party found itself stung by severe criticism about U-turns and has since tried to soften the blow. Earlier this week, it emerged that Fianna Fail is not ruling out supporting the reintroduction of domestic water charges, senior party sources have confirmed to journalist Sarah Bardon. The party, which has been accused of several U-turns in this area, says that its submission to the expert commission should not be seen as setting out a permanent position. Such inconsistencies undermine the partys expressions of having learned the lessons of the past and show it is still willing to abandon prudence in favour of political expedience. But when the polls are rewarding them for such shameless opportunism, on one level it is hard to argue. Yet, many parts of this country are still paying the cost for previous crimes committed by Fianna Fail governments, and such horrors must not be allowed to slip from the memories. The bottom line is that when it comes to Fianna Fails stance on water charges: Populist? Yes. Credible? No. Burma This Week in Parliament (September 19-23) MPs attend the first day of the Lower House of Parliament in Naypyidaw on Feb. 1, 2016. / JPaing / The Irrawaddy In the Lower House, U Khin Zaw of Kawthaung Township asked if the government planned to update The Police Act of 1945. The Lower House debated the bill to amend the Ward or Village Tract Administration Law. In the Upper House, U J Yaw Wu of Kachin State Constituency 1 asked about government actions against illegal logging in Kachin State on the Sino-Burma border. Tuesday, September 20 The Ministry of Finance and Planning submitted the Burma Investment Bill to the Lower House and the bill committee put forward its report on the draft law. Lawmakers debated the Bill to Protect Citizens Privacy and Security submitted by the bill committee. The Upper House approved the bill to amend the Civil Service Law. The Union Parliament approved the proposal to get loans from the ADB and the French Development Agency for the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health and Sports. Wednesday, September 21 In the Lower House, U Kyaw Aung Lwin of Sidoktaya Township submitted a proposal calling on the Union government to take prompt action to care for abused and exploited Burmese migrant workers in foreign countries in cooperation with concerned governments. The Lower House approved discussion of the proposal. The Upper House passed the bill to annul the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act. The bill had already been approved by the Lower House. Thursday, September 22 U Htay Win Aung of Daw Pone Township submitted an urgent proposal to the Lower House to take action against the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) for their insufficient handling of a high-profile abuse case against two underage domestic workers. Parliament decided to debate the proposal. Parliament approved discussion of the proposal submitted by U Than Nyunt of Pyu Township which urged the Union government to bring the countrys rail transportation sector up to an international level. In the Upper House, U Kyaw Thiha of Mandalay Division (12) submitted a bill to amend the Myanmar Gemstones Law for debate. Friday, September 23 Dr. U Maung Thin of Meiktila Township, submitted a proposal to the Lower House calling on the Union government to organize an inclusive seminar on basic education that enables people from of all walks of life to give their input and feedback in order to design a comprehensive basic education law. Parliament approved discussion of the bill. In the Upper House, U Aung Thein of Pegu Division (12) asked if the Union government would relax some provisions in the Myanmar Citizenship Law to enable Burmese expatriates to return to the country. Minister for Labor, Immigration and Population U Thein Swe replied that since 2013, the government has issued appropriate ID cards for 143 of 198 Burmese expat applicants and that from January 2015 to August 2016, the permanent residency system management committee and central work committee formed by the Presidents Office have issued permanent residency certificates to 264 of 319 applicants. The two committees have been reconstituted by the new government. In the Union Parliament, lawmakers debated the bill to amend the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law, over which the two houses have differing views. Further action will be taken in line with Parliaments laws and regulations to pass the bill. Business The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (Sept 23) Employees work at the Myanmar Central Bank headquarters in Naypyidaw on May 17, 2012. / Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters State Counselor to Meet Business People State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will meet members of the business community in Naypyidaws MICC-2 building on September 28, according to Myo Myint Maung, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Information. The meeting follows the State Counselors return from her recent visit to the United States, during which US President Barack Obama announced that American economic sanctions against Burma would soon be removed. It is expected that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will share her experiences in the US and convey messages and information from US business representatives at the Naypyidaw gathering. Meanwhile, the new Myanmar Investment Law is also expected to be released in the coming week after it is discussed in Parliament. Five Sectors Highlighted for Thai Investors The most attractive sectors for Thai investors in Burma include infrastructure, information technology, agriculture and related processing, manufacturing and tourism, according to Thai business leaders quoted in a report in the Bangkok-based Nation newspaper this week. A large number of infrastructure projects including roads, ports and postal services are being planned in Burma with the aid of foreign assistance, according to Nattawin Pongpetrarat of the Thai Business Association of Myanmar, speaking at a seminar hosted by the Bangkok Bank. Due to poor road infrastructure and a shortage of skilled labor, many companies are investing hugely in information and communications technology (ICT), promising potential for e-commerce and online services, Nattawin said. Agriculture is one of the top ten contributors to Burmas economy and there was demand for expertise from Thai companies in this sector, he added. With more than 20 daily flights connecting Yangon International Airport and Thailand, tourism companies in the neighboring country should consider increasing excursion services for Myanmar-bound tourists, he said. Thai companies should capitalize on their expertise. If they combine this with local experience [local partners], they will prosper, said Nattawin, who has operated a furniture and garment business in Burma for more than 10 years. The Myanmar economy is very dynamic. Conditions change rapidly and it is necessary to have someone on the ground to point you in the right direction, he told the Thai audience. Sanan Angubonkul, head of the Thai governments private-sector team tasked with boosting exports and overseas investment projects, advocated setting up manufacturing operations in Burma to supply the local market, as well export markets. The reinstatement of the United States Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) tariff system for Myanmar will benefit exports, he said. Sanan warned that losses were largely unavoidable for the first three years of a typical new business, but future prospects were bright, as Myanmar is the darling of the world. Structural Reforms Required to Unleash Banking Sector A major shake-up of the banking sector is predicted in a new study released this week. Burmas banking sector will expand eightfold in almost a decade, to around US$247 billion by 2025, according to an analysis titled Myanmar Banking Sector 2025: The Way Forward, by the Roland Berger consulting group. Around 120,000 jobs are also likely to be created, it says. However, important obstacles remain to achieving these numbers, and local banks and smaller banks will face many challenges in the coming period, according to the study. It identifies five vital structural reforms necessary for the banking sector. First, an active interbank market that enables banks to lend to one another instead of going to the Central Bank for funds needs to be urgently developed. A vibrant interbank market with standard instruments will provide comfort to the banks in their ability to refinance their credit and facilitate the transmission of the Central Bank monetary policy. In short, it is the bedrock of any modern banking system, according to the report. Second, banks and the regulator must foster access to credit through a range of regulatory adjustments and a change in lending practices, it says. Third, the regulator should take many steps to improve current low trust in the overall banking system. Public disclosure obligations on banks should be strengthened, the report advocates. Fourth, reform of state-owned banks must be expedited. The largest state-owned banks currently operate as commercial banks without the required capabilities and do not abide by the same sets of rules and regulations, the report says. Lastly, shoring up the independence of the Central Bank and building its capacities will be critical to steer reforms, the report states. Given the massive changes ahead, local banks will have to work hard to seize opportunities and overcome problems. Smaller banks will struggle even more. Size matters when it comes to banks, smaller ones may not survive whats to come, the report warns. South Koreas Shinhan Bank Opens Branch South Koreas Shinhan Bank opened an office in Rangoons Myanmar Plaza building this week, mainly to provide services to South Korean companies in Burma. The bank opened a representative office in the former capital in 2013 and won a preliminary license to operate six months ago. Shinhan Bank is the only South Korean bank to receive a license to operate in Burma. IFC to Double Burma Investment Portfolio The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, will nearly double its investment portfolio in Burma between now and the end of this year, according to a report in DealStreet Asia. The current accumulated investment figure of $386 million will increase to around $600 million by the end of 2016, according to Vikram Kumar, the IFCs country manager in Burma. Investments on the horizon include a $40 million loan for the combined-cycle gas turbine plant Myingyan by Sembcorp Utilities and MMID Utilities. The IFC is also set to invest in agriculture-related ventures as well as in a variety of other sectors, according to the report. Dateline Dateline Irrawaddy: We Cant Expect to See Results Overnight As the US pledges to lift sanctions, The Irrawaddy senior reporter Kyaw Hsu Mon talks to MKT Construction Co. chairman U Myo Mint and economist U Khin Maung Nyo about the impact on Burmese businesses and citizens. Kyaw Hsu Mon: Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy! The United States pledged to lift economic sanctions against Burma during Daw Aung San Suu Kyis visit last week. Well discuss to what extent it will impact Burmas economy and citizens. MKT Construction chairman U Myo Myint and economist U Khin Maung Nyo join me for the discussion. Im Irrawaddy senior reporter Kyaw Hsu Mon. US President Barack Obama has promised to lift sanctions against Burma, but will it benefit Burmese citizens or only big businessmen? Khin Maung Nyo: It will benefit Burmese citizens but only after some time. There wont be immediate impacts. We should not talk about businessmen and citizens separately. If it benefits businessmen, it should also benefit citizens. The more foreign investment that comes into the country, the more job opportunities emerge, the more incomes increase. We can expect to find more trade opportunities by loosening trade with the United States, so we can expect to increase exports and earn greater export revenues. But these things will not happen immediately. KSM: U Khin Maung Nyo said we will have to wait for sanctions to benefit Burma. U Myo Myint, what do you think? Myo Myint: I agree. We cant expect to see results overnight. Our countrys preparation in terms of human resources and other resources is not yet adequate [to receive benefits from lifting sanctions]. We have made some preparations for the AEC [Asean Economic Community] and AFTA [Asean Free Trade Area], but there is still room for improvement. If capable businessmen who want to serve the country take a leading role in leveraging the lifting of sanctions, everyone will benefit. KSM: Military-owned businesses such as Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) dominate many markets in Burma. They will also benefit. To what extent will lifting sanctions impact military-owned businesses? KMN: There has been constant criticism of military-owned business dominating many markets. But what is more interesting is that most of the military-owned businesses are taking a loss due to mismanagement. Although there is a saying that whoever starts a business dominates it, [referring to the Burmese acronym for MEHL Ooe-Pai: ooe meaning to do something ahead of somebody else and pai meaning own in Burmese]. There are many examples in which they dont dominate the market even though they enjoyed many privileges. They came into existence under the circumstances of the time. The times have changed, and they have to change along with themwhich they are already doing. For example, they did not pay taxes before and now they do. They now have to compete with others on an equal footing. Foreign investors will choose business partners based on their management, business model, transparency, responsibility and accountabilitynot on whether or not they are owned by the military. KSM: Many doubt that local businesses can compete with foreign businesses when foreign investment enters the country. U Myo Myint, as a builder, do you think local businesses are ready? What difficulties do they face? MM: We are not yet ready in terms of technology and human resources. Local businesses are very weak in that regard. Before talking about foreign investment, I would like to point out the tender systems of international organizations like the UNDP and UNICEF. Their tender system is very different from local systems as they take into consideration the amount of tax we have paid, greening measures, environmental conservation, CSR [corporate social responsibility], index of transparency and capital. So, we have a lot to prepare. Frequent policy changes have been a continual challenge to businessmen in our country, but I hope this will not happen in the future. Regarding the construction industry, the new government has abolished policies adopted by the previous government [referring to high-rise building policies]. If this continues, it will deter potential foreign investors. If every new government fulfills the pledges of its predecessor, potential foreign investors will not be hesitant to invest. No government will be in office for eternity. There will be changes. We dont mean that policies should not be changed, but if they take effect retroactively, there will be negative impacts. KSM: What do you think government employees need to do in order to adopt good policies? KMN: Their duty is to do whatever they are asked by the current administration. Typically, government staff do not take initiative or practice discretion. They do as they are ordered. Now, the new government has come into power and it does not know what instructions to give. That is not its fault, as it has no [administrative] experience. On the other hand, staff members are waiting for instructions. They cant just take initiative because procedures restrict them from doing so. They are not supposed to overstep the boundaries of procedure. There are also cases of government staff exploiting weak procedures for their own benefit. While the upper echelon is shouting for continuous improvement and inclusive economic growth, I wonder to what extent the lower echelon grasps that notion. I heard there were policy clarifications in the ministries lately. Previously, the idea was simple: the goal was economic development. But now the goal is sustainable, inclusive economic growth. Im afraid that the government has work to do to educate its staff and the public. KSM: Cronies will see greater opportunity after the United States lifts sanctions. How should the government hold them accountable? KMN: Previously, cronies who were close to the government enjoyed lucrative business concessions and there was only domestic competition. Now they will have to compete with foreign competitors. Foreign investors will consider norms regarding employees rights, environmental friendliness, CSR, auditing, management and so on. There will be a lot of challenges in that regard. Burma has joined the AEC and while some have prepared for it, some havent and some dont even know what AEC is. After sanctions are lifted, we will have to compete with international companies. Can we compete? If we cant, how can we cooperate and are we ready to cooperate? We will have opportunities, but the benefits will depend on how capable we are of taking advantage of these opportunities. The government has already changed and [unlike the previous ones] it does not award contracts to those who are closely associated with it, but instead lets them compete. Businessmen used to pay under the table to win contracts because the government allowed them to do so. If the government does not allow it, they wont. If the government has changed, businessmen also have to change. If they cant, they will be left behind. KSM: What will be the main challenge facing local businessmen in controlling the quality of their products if the generalized scheme of preferences (GSP) is granted by the United States? MM: It involves technique and human resources. We have to try. If we dont try, we will be swallowed by them when they come in. For example, Max brand soft drink has been swallowed by Coca Cola now. Likewise, a toothpaste brand was swallowed by Colgate since it couldnt compete. We have to try to be able to work shoulder to shoulder with them, rather than being swallowed up by them. We have to do a lot to catch up with them both in terms of quality and capacity. Only when we exert greater efforts will we benefit. KSM: The United States has promised to grant the GSP for about 5,000 items. How will this affect the country? KMN: The garment industry is not included in the GSP and manufacturers say they wont be able to export as much as people expect, but we will be able to export more items at low duties. Im concerned that we might face the same problem with the EU. The EU has granted us the GSP, but our exports do not meet its standards. If we are going to take advantage of the GSP, we need to make sure our production meet international norms. MM: The GSP allows us to export 3,500 items and since we are a LDC [least developed country], we are allowed to export 1,500 items [duty-free], totaling 5,000 items. But one of the challenges is quality control regarding agricultural and fishery products. In the case of fruits, we have to be mindful of quality and packaging and in the case of fishery products, we need to take care of freezing techniques and packaging. We only have a few mass-produced export items. In the case of agricultural produce, we currently only buy from farmers for export. If we can establish firms and farm on a larger scale, like in foreign countries, we will benefit from the GSP. KSM: U Myo Myint, U Khin Maung Nyo, thank you for your contribution. Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi responded for the first time to US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's proposed ban on Muslims entering the US in a CNN interview one day after El-Sisi's meeting with Trump, the first the candidate has had with a Muslim world leader. "It is important for us to know that during campaigns many statements are made and many statements are said, however, actual governonance of a country becomes something different and is subject to many factors," El-Sisi told CNN's Erin Burnett after she asked whether El-Sisi and Trump discussed his anti-Muslim proposal during their meeting. El-Sisi said that the US already has in place "very strict security measures" for visitors. Trump had proposed late last year "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States," but then suggested in August the "extreme vetting" of immigrants through an ideological test to determine if they hold US values such as religious freedom, gender equality and equal rights for homosexuals. When asked by Burnett whether the Egyptian president believes Trump might not follow up on his ban proposal, he said that "during electoral campaigns there might be a perception that is based on a certain vision or point of view, then that vision gets corrected and it develops in accordance to governing, experience, reports, advice from experts." El-Sisi also said that there is "no doubt" that Trump would make a strong leader. El-Sisi met on Monday with both Trump and his opponent, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Trump said in a statement that the meeting highlighted how Egypt and the US share a common enemy and the importance of working together in defeating radical Islamic terrorism." The Republican candidate said he told El-Sisi that "under a Trump Administration, the United States of America will be a loyal friend not simply an ally that Egypt can count on in the days and years ahead." In her meeting with El-Sisi, Clinton discussed ways of bolstering counterterrorism operations with Egypt, affirming her commitment to defeating ISIS, to addressing foreign fighters, and to countering radicalisation," according to a press release by her campaign. The presidential hopeful also "raised concerns about the prosecution of Egyptian human rights organisations and activists" in Egypt, amid growing US criticism of Egypt's human rights record. Search Keywords: Short link: Saturday, September 24th, 2016 (8:16 am) - Score 2,455 The Managing Director of consultancy firm Hatton & Berkeley (H&B), Robert Croucher, which became notorious for hounding subscribers of UK ISPs (e.g. Sky Broadband) with letters demanding payment for suspected Internet piracy, has been sent to jail in tears after assaulting a Taxi driver. The practice of so-called Speculative Invoicing is widely frowned upon, not least due to its reliance upon fallible IP address based evidence (usually gathered via public File Sharing networks) and for the bullying nature of its approach. People who fail to reach a settlement are often threatened with court, but such action almost never occurs and those cases that have been attempted were not successful. H&B became a familiar name after they teamed up with TCYK LLC to hound hundreds of UK Internet users by accusing them of helping to share the film The Company You Keep over BitTorrent (P2P) networks. In one example a computer illiterate 83-year-old grandmother was even hit by demands for 600 to avoid prosecution, which caused some degree of outrage (here). However it may please some people to learn that the boss of H&B has been sent to jail in tears after he violently assaulted a Taxi driver, Mohammed Hussein, while heavily intoxicated. The court documents state that Croucher slapped, pushed and then kicked Mr Hussein a number of times, including to the head. The incident occurred in Londons Chelsea district as Croucher, who was being accompanied by H&Bs operations manager Brigitte Kudor, attempted to get a ride home via Uber after being denied entry to a members-only nightclub (Raffles). Understandably the taxi driver didnt want an angry drunk in his car and at that point Croucher did what angry drunks do best, be a jerk and kick people. Statement from Raffles (The Register) Mr Croucher is not a member of the club, nor was he being accompanied by a member. Furthermore Mr Croucher was heavily intoxicated when he approached the club and became aggressive and abusive towards our staff upon refusal. The club takes the upholding of the key licensing objectives very seriously and would like to praise the members of our security staff involved for their swift and decisive action. Their actions prevented what could have amounted to a far more serious injury to a member of the public just trying to do his job and facilitated Mr Crouchers arrest and subsequent conviction. Technology also played a key role as the body cameras worn and operated by our security staff incorporate audio recording, which, coupled with our CCTV, provided the club with necessary means to assist the police in full and to a satisfactory end. According to a report in The Telegraph, Croucher is said to have given the following statement before being sentenced: This will destroy my life, I am the director of a company and everyone would lose their jobs. We have 1,000 clients, we have staff all around the country, and it would die, said Croucher. Shame. Its worth pointing out that Croucher initially tried to escape a more serious punishment by lying to the court and telling them that he didnt kick the Taxi driver. He obviously wasnt counting on the evidence from CCTV and several witness statements. Whoops. Maybe he should have sent a threatening letter instead. Magistrate Sandra Blandford told Croucher, Get used to life being different. Who doesn't love to take a selfie today? Instax is back on track since last year and everyone who loves photography has one. Instax is manufactured by Fujifilm. Instax cameras were released during the 1990s. Now, Fujifilm is expanding its boundaries when it coordinated with a famous fashion designer. Michael Kors, a famous designer of bags, shoes and clothes, did the coolest thing. Kors just collaborated with Fujifilm to create the newly released Instax Mini 70 Camera. In this regard, Kors seems unstoppable when it comes to conquering success. The momentum of Instax doubled when Fujifilm teamed up with Kors. Gold is the color of success for Kors and everyone knows Kors' signature color is gold matched up with black, which are the latest colors of the camera. Fujifilm president of North America, Mark Yamamoto called the latest Mini 70 as "pinnacle of style and substance" because of the intricate and sophisticated design which is very different from the previous Mini 70. Fujifilm called the Mini 70 "Michael Kors Edition" because there's a Michael Kors label at the back of the camera. Yamamoto referred to Kors' design as "Jet-set aesthetic" because of the combination of gold and black. Kors also based the Mini 70 on his latest handbags collection. Mini 70 has four different shooting modes: macro, landscape, forced flash and high-key. It also has a timer. The difference between Mini 90 and Mini 70 is that the design of Mini 90 is sleeker. Mini 70 package has a standard tripod socket, flash and retractable lens. The Mini 70 has a "smart selfie mode." The Instax's film is same size of credit card. "We are seeing an explosion of excitement in instant photography today, and now consumers can make a stylish statement with the combination of INSTAX and the luxury of the Michael Kors brand," Yamamoto said of their latest creation. The Michael Kors Mini 70 comes with a pack of films. The price of the new Mini 70 is from $95 to $120. Films are affordable with prices ranging from $8.99 up to $35.95 depending on the design of the film and how many sheets are there. The latest Mini 70 will be available this October. Google is broadening its horizon as it recently opened its Daydream VR SDK platform to developers. Daydream may be ambitious but still it is an innovative move. Daydream can be experienced though only by those with Daydream-ready phones and headset. Google partnered with developers to do a test and to try to connect Daydream with gaming. Google revealed Daydream at Google I/O earlier this year. The tech giant also announced that it will be creating a Daydream Virtual Reality headset. Google Daydream headset almost looks like Samsung Gear VR. This week Google announced that it teamed up with Unity to create a technical preview of Daydream VR. According to Android Headlines, the technical preview is meant to help developers learn more about Daydream VR and how they can coordinate games with virtual reality. What Can You Do With Daydream VR? Daydream platform is linked to software Android 7.0 (Nougat), in order to turn the users' favorite applications to virtual reality. The applications that can be incorporated with VR are: Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Imax, MLB, the NBA, CNN, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and games created by Ubisoft and Electronic Arts. Daydream-ready phones will be available in the next few months. What brands are coordinating with Daydream VR? Samsung, HTC, Asus, LG, Huawei, Alcatel and Xiaomi have included Google Daydream VR with their phones. For now the only handset that can handle the SDK is the Nexus 6P. Yet still, it's not totally ready for the platform. The device is likely to run very hot and "thermally throttle CPU and GPU performance after a short period of use, depending on workload," as per Google's developer kit setup. Google also stated, "Daydream will come with a home launcher and storefront for VR content." Updates With Daydream VR The technical preview of Daydream VR will be updated from time to time with latest news from Google and Unity. Google and Unity will still decide when they will release the product commercially. "The SDK is now available to all via the Daydream developer website and supports integrated asynchronous reprojection, high fidelity spatialized audio and interactions using the Daydream controller," said Nathan Martz, product manager of Google. With Google Daydream, the company is poised to compete with the likes of Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. Humanity was born in Africa and then migrated to different parts of the world, according to new studies. There was a mass exodus around 60,000 years ago, as shown by DNA tracing and fossil evidence, but the studies revealed that some migration had occurred even before that period. In three different studies published in journal Nature earlier this week, researchers tried to trace the origin of human species by studying neglected DNA. According to Boston Globe, this belongs to populations that haven't been studied as much as the large ethnic groups from Europe and Asia. One Big Expedition Resulted In Human Civilization The studies concluded that non-African DNA's from all over the world tested were proven that they contain DNA from population coming from African ancestry dated 50,000 to 80,000 years ago. Joshua M. Akey of the University of Washington said, "I think all three studies are basically saying the same thing. We know there were multiple dispersals out of Africa, but we can trace our ancestry back to a single one." One of the studies, led by Eske Willerslev of Cambridge University, explained that analysis of genomes of native Australians suggested that Aboriginal people could be the world's oldest civilization outside of Africa. Where Did Africans Go To? According to a study entitled "Out of Africa," all of ancient people living in Africa left all at once. After the great exodus, Africans settled in Papua New Guinea which is south of Australia. In the present days, two percent of the population in Papua New Guinea has traces of Africans that dated 120,000 years ago. Todd Disotell of New York University said, "The reported hint in Papuans of an earlier migration might actually be due to something else. The analyses in all three papers are very complex." Africans May be The Ancestors Of Every Human "As population geneticists, we could spend the next decade arguing about that 2 percent, but in practical terms it doesn't matter," Akey said. The real point of the study is to trace the ancestors of each civilization around the world. Africa may be the place where Neanderthal and Denisovans interact with the Homo sapiens. With these latest findings, the scientists may soon share the family tree of human civilization. The presence of alien life has been the topic of debate in science, culture, and religion for centuries; and nothing but the sheer vastness of the universe makes the strongest case. The universe is so huge it's apparently unfathomable for our small terran minds. Record says that the number of current habitable exoplanets are 44. Assuming that aliens don't need the same environment that we do to survive - the possibility of extraterrestrial life is even greater. Stephen Hawking's Favorite Places Physicist Stephen Hawking is more convinced than anyone that humans are not the only intelligent life form in the universe. In the newly-released 25-minute film from Curiosity Stream, "Commander Stephen Hawking pilots his spaceship, SS Hawking, on the journey of a lifetime, zooming from black holes to the Big Bang, and Saturn to Santa Barbara. " In the film, Physicist Stephen Hawking notes that in recent years, scientist have found countless planets outside our solar system and one of which is the closest habitable planet - mGliese 832c. His Breakthrough Listen Initiative, which uses sensitive radio telescopes to pick up potential signals from planets, is in the range of Gliese 832c. However, even if he believes there is alien life in the universe, we should think twice about making contact. We Should Be Wary Of Making Contact "One day we might receive a signal from a planet like Gliese 832c, but we should be wary of answering back," Hawking says in the film. The aliens could belong to a much more advanced civilization and the result of contact may have consequences. Hawking's belief that alien lifeforms sre vastly powerful than us and that they "may not see us as any more valuable than we see bacteria" hasn't stopeed him from dedicating his life to his work like "Breakthrough Listen", a project that costs $100 million. Power Rangers will not live to its roots if the original cast will not appear in the reboot of the movie. Also, the robot Alpha 5 has to star an incredible actor that will deliver its famous cry. Jason David Frank To Make A Cameo In The Power Rangers Movie When the reboot of the movie Power Rangers was announced, everyone anticipated that the original cast members will reprise their roles but the picture was shattered as new set of actors and actresses will play various rangers roles in the new film. A report noted that even the former Power Rangers were dismayed with the decision of not including them or at the very least give them cameo roles. Unfortunately we were not invited to be part of the film, which is confusing to me, but Im excited about the film nevertheless, Walter Jones (Zack the Black Ranger) said. Another member of the original group, Karan Ashley (Aisha the Yellow Ranger) also shared the same thoughts. Theyre not a sentimental bunch, and its fine. We all wish we could be part of that movie. Fans everywhere ask, Are you in this new movie? Were not, no one is in the movie. Its a true reboot. Its all new, all fresh. Now, the loyalists of the original squad can finally have a sigh of relief as the original Green ranger in the acting skills of Jason David Frank will make a short appearance in the latest film. Bill Hader Joins The Cast As Android Alpha 5 Another impressive actor will join the amazing roster of Bryan Cranston (Zordon) and Elizabeth Banks (Rita Repulsa) in the new Power Rangers Movie. The Trainwreck star who also voiced BB-8 droid of Star Wars: The Force Awakens will give life to the robot Alpha 5 in the voice of Bill Hader. Its an "Aye-yi-yi!" moment indeed. Samsung has been having issues with the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 lately with its battery exploding. This has caused the company to recall units of the Galaxy Note 7 to have them replaced. It looks like the Galaxy Note 7 isn't alone, though, as there are reports of a Galaxy Note 2 catching fire as well. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is a much older smartphone, having come out in 2012. Since it came out there have been no major issues regarding it. Now it has been reported that a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has caught fire on an IndiGo flight. The plane is said to be on its way to Chennai come from Singapore. While the plane was on its way to Chennai passengers noticed smoke coming from one of the overhead compartment bins and alerted cabin crew, as Phone Arena reports. Inside one of the bags, a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 was discovered with sparks and smoke. No one was injured and nothing was damaged during the incident. According to GSM Arena, Samsung is investigating the incident. Its cause is yet to be determined, but GSM Arena notes that the smartphone has been around for over 3 years. In that time, an incident where the device caught fire only occurred now. The speculation is that the battery used for it is an old one which likely swelled up. Batteries heat up while charging and old ones are especially susceptible to overheating. It is also speculated that the battery might be a cheap imitation battery. Imitation batteries have little quality control and could also likely cause an accident. While the incident is being investigated India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued and advisory for all passengers to turn off any Samsung Galaxy Note device during flights. Samsung will issue a statement about the incident and also investigate on it. iTechPost also has the latest regarding the coming Galaxy S8. Energous Corp., a semiconductors company based in San Jose, California, is eyeing to be in the lead against a handful of other companies aiming to introduce wireless distance charging. How Does It Work? Although wireless charging is not entirely new, wireless charging technologies are currently not hitting the mainstream. It is still a world of wires and charging cords. What Energous Corp. is introducing to the market is the use of Radio Frequency (RF) technology integrated in their product called WattUp. Similar to a Wi-Fi router, WattUp differs from older purpose-defeating wireless charging technologies as it is capable of delivering power at a considerable distance of 3 to 15 feet away from multiple devices. It can be used at home, in the office, in coffee shops, in the car, et cetera; and allows the user to roam while charging. Mail Online describes charging via Radio Frequency (RF) technology as charging using 'thin air'. When Will It Be Available To Consumers? As reported by Bloomberg, Energous Corp. is looking at 2017 as the year that they may be able to make their product available to consumers. Energous Corp. did not provide details to Bloomberg as to the amount of power its devices are able to beam and other power efficiency specifics. Jim McGregor, A Tirias Research analyst, said in an interview, "If we are not in the market where the majority of devices have wireless charging within five years, then we've done something critically wrong." Grand View Research, a business consulting firm, predicts that the market for wireless charging will grow from $1.87 billion in 2004 to $22.5 billion by 2022. Even without a product in stores, the reason why Energous' share price has more than doubled this year is due to speculations that they are working with Apple Inc. to integrate RF technology in the iPhone. Samsung continues to have issues with the Galaxy Note 7 though it has initiated an exchange program to replace sold units with new ones. It now reports that half of the units sold in the United States have already been exchanged and replaced by their owners. According to Phone Arena Samsung has recalled over 2.5 million units of the smartphone worldwide. About 1 million of those units have been sold in the United States. Out of those, 500,000 are said to have been exchanged and replaced already. Samsung also says that many of the owners have opted to get the new Galaxy Note 7 units that have a much safer battery. The replacement Galaxy Note 7 units have been available since September 21, as Engadget reports. The new units have batteries that come from a different supplier than the first units that were sold. The new Galaxy Note 7 has green battery indicators. Those who want to know if they have the new unit should check on the battery indicator color. While the recall program seems to be going well in the U.S. Samsung has not disclosed yet how the program is going in other countries. Samsung is still encouraging owners who have bought the Galaxy Note 7 before the recall notice to return their units and exchange it for a new one. Though the recall has been successful so far there are still a large number of owners who have not exchanged the units. Those who still have not exchanged their units run the risk of having accidents happening. This has been the case in Florida when a Galaxy Note 7 allegedly exploded while being charged in the vehicle. An investigation is still ongoing about the incident. For those who have not exchanged their Galaxy Note 7 units yet, Samsung has put out an app which limits charging to only 60 percent. This is to prevent the battery from overcharging, which leads to overheating and a potential for it to explode. Identified as an Oceanic White Tip, Egypt's environment ministry slammed viral video footage of swimmers trying to touch the shark Egypts environment ministry said a shark recently spotted by tourists in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh is of a dangerous and aggressive species. A video went viral last week of a group of divers and vacationists swimming after a shark in the Ras Nasrany area in Sharm El-Sheikh and attempting to touch it. The ministry slammed in a statement Friday attempts by swimmers, as shown in the video, to chase the "Oceanic White Tip" shark and approach it as an extremely dangerous action that could have caused them great physical harm. Such provocative actions stimulate sharks to attack, it added, warning that diving centres and tourist boats will be suspended in the case that such behaviour threatens human life. The brown-coloured Oceanic White Tip shark is threatened with extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It is being overfished due to high demand to use its fin in food, the ministry added. Dangerous species of sharks are found in deep and open waters or areas around coral reefs, and near sudden and deep slopes, the ministry said. It urged divers and tourist guides to avoid swimming in waters in the area, making noise or directly communicating with sharks, no matter how dangerous a species they are. Ministry specialists regularly patrol the area to ensure no incidents take place. In August, authorities in the Mediterranean governorate of Damietta banned locals from swimming in the sea after a dead shark washed ashore. In June, Egypt imposed a temporary ban on sport fishing and offshore swimming near the popular Red Sea destination of Ain Sokhna, where a shark attack took place. Officials at the time said the attack was likely caused by a combination of fishing and swimming in the same spot. Shark attacks are rare in Egypt. Search Keywords: Short link: "Once Upon A Time" Season 6 is scheduled to be back this Sunday and Regina, the most ruthless dark villain of all, is back to face her greatest enemy, herself. But fans need not to worry because the series is also bringing in new saviors including Jasmine, Aladdin and Jafar. In the previous season, Dr. Hyde devised a special serum for Regina that will divide herself from her evil side. At first, it looked like it has effectively killed her dark alter ego but the dark queen has survived and back with her evil thoughts and missions. According to co-creator Edward Kitsis "What we really wanted to explore this season is, can you actually separate the good and the evil within you?" . "A lot of the characters are going to have to look inward at the different parts of themselves." Co-creator Adam Horowitz added. Robin Hood, Regina's one true love, have passed away which is enough reason for Regina to be bad again. However, Regina has grown so much - from falling in love, forgiving her old nemesis and redeeming herself. It'll be a waste to just go back and be vicious again. "She has come too far to revert, but the Evil Queen is such a delicious character," Kitsis explained "The journey that we think she's still on is to learn to like herself. What this does is to put her on a path to explore that." Meanwhile, the good side is also bringing in new characters to explore. This year, OUAT features Aladdin played by Deniz Akdeniz, Jasmine played by Karen David, and Jafar played by Oded Fehr. The story of each of the new characters and their interaction with the existing cast "Is what we're excited to put our own twist on." Kitsis says. Kitsis hints on the possible ending saying "The revelation won't just be a happy bonding moment... the fate of Saviors is not always a happy one." According to rumors, Salesforce is one of the companies interested in taking over Twitter. Salesforce To Take Over Twitter According to The New York Times, the social network Twitter, based in San Francisco, has long positioned itself as a global venue where anyone can chat in 140-character messages. However, lately it has become more clear that the social media network is not drawing enough new people to it service. For this reason, Twitter is exploring now several strategic options and it might be rethinking whether it can survive as an independent company. According to Business Insider, rumors say that Twitter is talking with various companies, including Google, Salesforce.com and others about a possible takeover of the company. CNBC reported on Friday, Sept. 23, that Salesforce has joined the parties interested in buying the social media network. The talks are in the early stages and at this moment is no guarantee that a deal will be reached. Twitter's chief executive Jack Dorsey is in particular opposing to selling to some of the potential acquirers, according to rumors. Salesforce is a business software company that designs apps mostly used by salespeople. For some, it might be surprising that a company such as Salesforce could be interested to buy Twitter. However, nowadays salespeople widely use the social media network as prospecting tools. Salespeople use social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to gain real-time insights into what their potential buyers are interested in and learn more about them. This sales tactic has even giving rise to the term "social selling." More than 70 percent of sales professionals use these social selling tools, according to a recent survey by LinkedIn. This high percent makes social selling tools the most widely used sales technology. In 2014, Salesforce actually published a blog post focusing on the importance of using Twitter in selling. In this blog post Twitter is called the "largest cocktail party in the world." Lead generation and engagement are cited as reason for Twitter's effectiveness in sales. Salesforce just launched this week a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature called Einstein. Twitter's massive amount of data could be used by Salesforce to increase its own machine learning and AI capabilities. The SpaceX program has been suspended following the explosion of the Falcon 9 rocket last September 1. Since that time, SpaceX has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the explosion. Now its investigation says that its helium pressurization system on the second stage booster might have caused the explosion. While the investigation points to the helium system as the cause of the explosion, no detail has yet come out as to how this breach could have happened, The Verge reported. The company's investigation team is continuing with its work. About 3,000 channels of data are being looked into as well as audio and video recordings. The failure of its helium system is not related to another accident on June 25, 2015 that also involved the second stage helium pressurization bottle. In that accident, an internal strut failure was said to be the cause of the rocket's failure. The September 1 accident's main cause is still being determined. Included in the damage are areas of the pad systems. However, the Falcon Support Building did not suffer any damage, according to CBS News. Other SpaceX facilities near the launch site have not been affected by the explosion either. SpaceX is working on the investigation together with representatives from the FAA, NASA and the Air Force. It hopes to have the full report of the investigation before it plans to resume Falcon 9 testing and flights by November. SpaceX is still operating as well with engineers building rockets and systems at its Hawthorne, California factory. With its targeted November flight operations SpaceX has two options where it can resume tests. One would be at Launch Complex 39A at Cape Canaveral while the other would be at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Not only is SpaceX getting ready for the resumption of its Falcon 9 flights, the private space company is also preparing vehicles that would transport astronauts to the International Space Station. This is part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. SpaceX hopes to use the lessons learned in the Falcon 9 explosion to make the Commercial Crew Program better. SpaceX faces more challenges as ULA is also eyeing for an Air Force contract, as an ItechPost report says. The finale of The Last Ship season 3 was marked with a terrifying death and a sad departure. Looking on the brighter side is the survival of the main Captain Tom Chandler (Eric Dane). To recall,Tex (John Pyper-Ferguson) risked his life and caught the bullet that was intended for Tom when Allison (Elisabeth Rohm) attempted to kill him. Shocked with the turn of events, the officer quickly resigned from his post and that unexpected act stunned the followers of the show. Chandler may personify the brave leader that he should be especially for his team but hes the one greatly affected with the devastating death of Tex. To have someone risked his life for anothers existence is absolutely a noble act of a lifetime. According to showrunner Steven Kane, the demise of Tex is emotionally killing Chandler. "We thought that of all the characters that could have had some sort of breakdown or just felt the most burdens, it would be Chandler," Kane said. A report mentioned that actor Eric Dane revealed the changes that his character will undergo in the fourth installment of the post-apocalyptic action drama. "Tom has been on three very different, personal journeys between season one and three. Season four will probably be about Chandler's journey back to consciousness. It's going to be like an epic, mythical-type odyssey. You're going to dig it," Dane said. It looks like the viewers will be seeing Tom in his pre-captain period where hes comfortably living and enjoying the perks of a normal life as an ordinary citizen and has to recover from the tragic incident. He may have to face battles again but this time it will be different. Will Chandler wear the hat of a regular citizen and fully let go of his duties from the US Navy? Google just announced on Twitter yesterday, Sept. 23 that it is throwing a surprise in celebration of Android's eighth birthday. Garnering almost 2,000 hearts and near 1,000 retweets, the announcement definitely spurred excitement from fans. Android has just turned eight yesterday, GSM Arena reported. In celebration, the operating system revealed on Twitter on the same day that it is "whipping up something sweet for a big day." The said birthday surprise is supposed to happen today, Sept. 24. The developer, Google, has not provided definite details until now, but everyone seems so excited of what will happen. Google's tight mouth sparked various speculations, including funny and outrageous ones. Here are a few tweet replies to Android's announcement on Twitter: @Android Update all android phones in the planet at the same time? Rodrigo Silva (@RodrigoRoSilva) September 23, 2016 @Android we will all wake up tomorrow to find the new U2 album preinstalled on our phones Richard Yhip (@Yhippa) September 24, 2016 @Android can't wait for Android 8.0, I thinks it's a KitKat, marshmallow, and nougat hybrid. Jk. SirPatel (@bunci2000) September 24, 2016 Some followers predicted that there is another Android 7.0 Nougat revelation happening tomorrow. However, Google has kept mum still. @saiakarsh921 @Android Not sure but I guess it's 'N' only! They will let us know by tomorrow! :) Bharat Maheshwari (@BharatMaheshw16) September 23, 2016 Google released Android 1.0 on September 23, 2008. It has become the world's widely used mobile operating system, running 80 percent of today's smartphones and tablets. HTC Dream was the first Android-powered smartphone. In eight years, Android has faced innumerable issues including security concerns, malware threats, tedious software updates and a ton of several other consumer complaints. Meanwhile, naming Android versions has been one of the most exciting highlights Google hosted. Names include the upcoming Nougat, the current Marshmallow and the previous KitKat, Jelly Bean, Ice Cream Sandwich, Honeycomb, Gingerbread, Froyo, Eclair, Donut and Cupcake. In another news, Google will be holding a tech event come October 4 in San Francisco where it is expected to announce the revival of Pixel line of phones, launch Daydream VR, Google Home, Chromecast and a new Wi-Fi router. A Giza criminal court confirmed death sentences for seven defendants on Saturday on charges related to the 2013 killing of a senior police officer during a raid on and Islamist stronghold in Giza, a judicial source said. Thirteen men had originally been issued with death sentences by the court on 30 July, but five saw their sentences reduced in Saturday's hearing to ten-year prison terms instead, and one defendant was acquitted. The courts decision on Saturday came after the Grand Mufti, the country's highest official interpreter of Islamic law, approved the seven death sentences, the source added. The mufti's opinion on death sentences is required but is not binding. The defendants were convicted of charges related to the death of high-ranking police officer Nabil Farag, who was killed in a shootout with militants during a security raid in Gizas Kerdasa district. Kerdasa has been known to be a stronghold for supporters of the banned Muslim Brotherhood group and ousted president Mohamed Morsi. The defendants were charged with the attempted murder of police personnel, the possession of firearms and explosives, assaulting state installations and undermining social peace and public order. The defendants were first sentenced to death in absentia in an initial trial in 2014; their retrial began after being apprehended. Saturday's sentences can still be appealed before the Court of Cassation. Search Keywords: Short link: Get unlimited access to all content and features at ivpressonline.com with our Full Online Access Subscription. Read our E-Edition, the digital replica of the print newspaper online, access content in exclusive sections including Family, Teen, Business, Databases, Farm and more. This option does not include daily home delivery of the Imperial Valley Press newspaper. For home delivery service, please select Premium or Premium Plus. Egypt MPs who were in New York last week said they were impressed by US presidential candidate Donald Trump's views on terrorism and the Muslim Brotherhood An Egyptian parliamentary delegation who visited New York last week to rally support for Egypt's political and economic reforms told reporters that Donald Trump would be a "good friend" of Egypt in comparison with Hillary Clinton. The 20-member delegation, comprising a mix of opposition and pro-government MPs, participated in the 71th round of UN General Assembly (UNGA) meetings and also joined Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi who was in New York to deliver a speech before the UNGA on 20 September. Tarek Radwan, deputy head of parliament's foreign relations committee, told reporters that Egyptian MPs held a very important meeting with Walid Phares, a foreign policy advisor to the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. "He briefed us on President El-Sisi's meeting with Trump on 19 September and he answered some of our questions on America's foreign policies in the Middle East under a Trump administration," said Radwan." "In an hour-long meeting, Phares disclosed that Trump had told El-Sisi that Egypt and the US should be strategic partners again, with America doing everything possible to help Egypt in its war against terrorism and Islamist radicalism," said Radwan. According to the MP, Phares answered a question on whether Muslim Brotherhood would be designated as a terrorist group under a Trump administration. "Phares stressed that Trump in all of his foreign policy speeches was keen to describe the group as the radical Muslim Brotherhood," said Radwan, adding that "Phares also stressed that Trump's administration would do its best gather support among Congress people in favour of legislating the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation." Solaf Darwish, a female MP from the Nile Delta governorate of Qalioubiya, told reporters that while President El-Sisi and Trump seized their meeting to explore the views of each other on important issues such as terrorism, Trump in particular used the meeting to respond to attacks in the mainstream US media that he does not have high regard for Muslims. "Trump was keen to meet with El-Sisi not only because he admires him as the leader of a nation who revolted against the religious autocracy of the radical Muslim Brotherhood, but also to tell Muslims in America and everywhere that he has high regard for Muslims, especially those are in a war against Islamist extremism," said Darwish. Phares, an American of Lebanese origin, appeared on 20 September on Fox News channel to talk about his recent visit to Egypt and his meeting with members of its parliament in New York. "They (Egyptians) have the tools of extreme vetting when it comes to screening people who want to either enter the country or become citizens and they know what the (radical) ideology is, something America needs to do in order to defeat Islamic terrorism," Phares said. A Trump administration campaign also said in a statement after his meeting with El-Sisi that Trump thanked the president and the Egyptian people for what they have done in defence of their country and expressed support for Egypt's war on terrorism, and how under a Trump administration, the US will be a loyal friend, not simply an ally. Most Egyptian MPs agree that there was a kind of "love chemistry" between Trump and El-Sisi. "While Trump was keen to meet with El-Sisi and was clear in his support of anti-Islamist Egypt, there is no question that President El-Sisi also saw Trump as representing a new political trend which stands against Barack Obama's tolerance for political Islam and estrangement with Egypt under his rule," said Darwish. Mohamed Abdel-Hadi, Al-Ahram's chief editor who covered El-Sisi's visit to New York last week, wrote on Friday that "El-Sisi and Trump agreed that Obama's policies had caused a lot of harm to Egypt's national security, and that there should be no tolerance in any way for political Islam." In addition, most Egypt MPs in the delegation said they believe that US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton "is an extension of the Obama mentality." Tarek El-Khouli, a leading member of parliament's foreign relations committee, told reporters that "it was good that Clinton sought to meet with El-Sisi." "Although we know she is an extension of the Obama mentality, we believe that in light of the growing threats of terrorism, Clinton might choose to scrap her predecessor's tolerance of political Islam and correct many of his disastrous policies in the Middle East," said El-Khouli. While Trump's meeting with El-Sisi focused on Islamist terrorism, Clinton discussed issues like human rights and civil society in Egypt. "And these are the issues which represent an extension of the Obama mentality and which President El-Sisi believes should not be of a top priority," said El-Khouli. A large number of Egyptian MPs, politicians and policymakers believe that Clinton had a big hand in helping Muslim Brotherhood reach power in Egypt after the removal of former president Hosni Mubarak from office in 2011. "Her tolerance towards such kind of groups also led to the killing of America's former ambassador in Libya, but she and the radical liberal community in America still do not want to learn the lessons of this disastrous policy," said Emad Gad, an Al-Ahram political analyst and a MP affiliated with the Free Egyptians Party. According to a CNN report, Clinton addressed prickly topics with some world leaders she met in New York last week. "Clinton addressed the need for a more vibrant and free civil society with Egypt while she met with El-Sisi," said the report. Salah Hassaballah, chairman of the Freedom Party and a member of the Egyptian parliamentary delegation in New York, told reporters "see how the two campaigns of Trump and Clinton described their meeting with El-Sisi." "While Trump focused on a new agenda that is defeating political Islam Clinton showed that she does not want to change Obama's radical liberal agenda which caused all the chaos we saw in the Arab world over the last five years under slogans of democracy, civil society and human rights," said Hassaballah. Hassaballah notes that while Egyptian MPs were in America, mass protests erupted in the city of Charlotte in North Carolina after a policeman killed an African-American man. "While Obama, Clinton and all of America's radical liberal community like to give Arab leaders lessons on human rights and tolerance of protests, they ignore that their country is by no means perfect or ideal on such issues," said Hassaballah, adding that "if you told the Americans that their country is rife with human rights abuses, they would simply answer you that they are a democracy, but you the Arabs are an autocracy." According to Al-Ahram editor Mohamed Abdel-Hadi, El-Sisi told Clinton that he is against the reports issued by organisations with "radical liberal agendas" like Human Rights Watch. "These organisations sometimes allege that there are 30,000 political prisoners in Egypt, and in other times they up the figure to reach 45,000," said Abdel-Hadi. Nader Mostafa, deputy chairman of Al-Gomhouria Centre for Political and Strategic Studies and a member of Egypt's parliamentary delegation in New York, told reporters that "he was not shocked by the American mainstream liberal media's hostile attitude towards President El-Sisi." "But this media gives a cover for political Islam movements especially the Muslim Brotherhood - to infiltrate America and this is why we admire Donald Trump because he stands firm against this radical liberal community whose views only leads to chaos," said Mostafa, also wondering that "the American media and Human Rights Watc take Muslim Brotherhood prisoners as political prisoners." "Members of this group are the same like Ahmad Khan Rahami, the man who was arrested for implementing a terrorist act in New York one day before we reach there," said Mostafa, wondering how the American media would react if the Egyptian media described Rahami as "a political prisoner." The CNN report cited a Clinton advisor as cautioning that the meeting on Monday with El-Sisi did not augur any kind of policy change towards Egypt. But nevertheless, the official said, Clinton does understand the complexity and complications of US relations with Egypt, a nation that is pivotal to the balance of power in the Middle East, is facing its own terror threats and would be critical to any renewed effort at Israeli-Palestinian peace. Search Keywords: Short link: A draft report was passed to the council three weeks ago, angering Tory leader Tony Arbour who is demanding that its findings be made public. He accused the council of 'sitting' on the report and said he suspected the findings may be politically sensitive. The Egyptian president mandated the the government finalise procedures related to approving a law that combats 'illegal migration' Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called on Saturday for the prosecution of "wrongdoers" behind the capsizing of a migrant boat on Wednesday which killed at least 165 people, according to a statement. [Those at fault] violated Egyptian and international law and used illegal methods to transport this number of Egyptian citizens and foreigners, taking advantage of the people's lack of awareness in light of regional and international circumstances that makes Egypt becomes a crossing point for illegal immigration at such a stage," the statement quoted El-Sisi as saying. The official death toll from the accident off the coast from the city of Rosetta on Wednesday had climbed to 165 on Saturday, with 52 families still looking for their missing relatives. A total of 164 people were rescued from the wreckage, including the four crew members of the boat, 117 Egyptian migrants and 43 foreign migrants. In a meeting with a security committee that comprises Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, a representative of the interior ministry, and the intelligence chief, El-Sisi called for the forming of a committee to review the situation in terms of controlling land and sea ports to stop the "infiltration" to Egyptian lands. He mandated the government coordinate with the parliament to finalise procedures related to approving a law that combats "illegal migration." He also called on the government to organise awareness campaigns on the dangers of illegal migration especially during the hard conditions facing the region. The Egyptian president also asked that procedures for the marketing of an initiative that involves SMEs for youth be intensified, especially in geographical areas where illegal migration was spreading." The orders come only a few days after the president said that Egypt was currently working on finalising legalisation to combat illegal migration from the country, during his speech at a high level UN plenary meeting in New York addressing the migration and refugee crises. El-Sisi explained that Egypt will combat "illegal immigration" through updating its existing anti-human trafficking legislation. Egypt already outlaws all forms of human trafficking with its 2010 anti-trafficking law (Law No. 64), which stipulates punishments from 3 to 15 years imprisonment along with monetary fines. Egypts prosecution ordered the detention of the four crew members for 15 more days pending investigation over charges of human trafficking, wrongful death, wrongful injury and using a fishing boat for another purpose. In recent years, thousands of refugees and migrants have attempted to cross the Mediterranean in search of better jobs and opportunities. The Egyptian Mediterranean coastline has been one of the main departure points for migrant boats. Egyptian security forces have halted many irregular migration attempts in recent months. Search Keywords: Short link: World-renowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, accompanied by 374 concerned scientists, released an open letter slamming Republican presidential nominee Donald trump for his stance on climate change. These scientists and researchers warned the public not to vote Trump this coming United States Elections 2016 because it would be disastrous for the fight against global warming. Trump has advocated U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Accord, says the scientists. The Paris Accord is an international agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) dealing with global warming and a fight to a low-carbon future. Many people are saying that Trump's "America First" advocacy is necessary for the US to be independent and a standalone country. Trump's has mentioned repeatedly that he doesn't believe that global warming or climate change is man-made. Through this open letter, these scientists hoped to appeal to the minds of the society. The letter published Tuesday by members of the National Academy of Scientists stresses about the climate change. The first line reads, "Human-caused climate change is not a hoax or just a conspiracy theory. It is a physical reality." The letter goes on to explain that, "Mother nature, human health, food production and even national security are at stake. It describes the matter as basic science." It summarizes that "...voting for the Donald Trump would be disastrous for our environment and we can help in the fight against global warming if we would not cast votes to this Republican presidential nominee." Hawking has already made his feelings about Trump quite clear earlier this year. The famed physicist described the Republican nominee as "a demagogue who plea or ask support to the lowest common denominator." Campaigning began in Morocco on Saturday for parliamentary polls that pits a modernist opposition against Islamists rocked by scandals after five years in government. The Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) swept to victory in 2011 polls. Heading up a coalition including liberals, communists and conservatives, it found itself guiding Morocco through the turbulence of the Arab Spring, economic woes and a constitutional overhaul. Five years later, it is on the back foot after a series of scandals including the sacking of two PJD vice presidents found in a "sexual position" on a beach, a drugs bust involving three tonnes of cannabis and a dodgy land-grab deal. Its main rival, the modernist opposition Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), has vowed to "liberate" Morocco from the PJD and warned that another term for the ruling party would spell "catastrophe". Despite limited success in tackling graft, the PJD retains considerable support and remains the only Islamist party in power in the region. If re-elected, it says it will press ahead with its economic reforms which are credited with lowering the budget deficit. The polls are also expected to see Salafist candidates make a return to electoral politics after years in the wilderness. A fundamentalist preacher, Hamed Kabbaj, was a surprise candidate for the PJD, but authorities barred him from the vote over his alleged ties to "extremism". Almost 7,000 candidates from around 30 parties will contest parliament's 395 seats in a poll that King Mohammed VI has promised will be "honest and transparent". Polls in 2002 marked a new era of relative democracy in Morocco, three years after Mohammed took over following the death of his father, King Hassan II. Although the king retains ultimate power, constitutional reforms following the Arab Spring-inspired protests removed some of his prerogatives. PJD candidates have accused a "parallel state" of using "authoritarian methods" to control political life. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: In the modern world, few traditions last more than a generation or two but dont tell that to the folks at Fort Verde State Historic Park. At 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25, the park will host the 56th annual Fort Verde Days Colonels Daughter Contest, mirroring the long-standing tradition in mid-western and western communities of naming a local rodeo queen and putting a distinctly Camp Verdean spin on it. Horsemanship, poise and personality is how Arizona State Parks Media Coordinator Monica Enriquez summed up the aspects of the competition. The young woman that is chosen as the Colonels Daughter will receive gifts from the Town of Camp Verdes merchants, which will include a winning buckle and spurs. As is the case with many such events, a panel of out-of-town judges will review the contestants, ensuring impartiality in selection. The girls names are unknown to the judges and will be called by number. It looks like this is the way its going to stand, at eight, event co-chairman and Camp Verde Cavalryman Jim Meredith said, adding that a typical year features nine contestants. Theyre all going to be there . Theyre a blast. I just love this time of year. According to rules in place since 1960, contestants may range in age from 13 to 18. Among this years contestants, the youngest is 13 years old, the oldest 17. Seven come from Camp Verde, while an eighth is the daughter of a Camp Verde cavalryman from elsewhere in the Verde Valley. - Advertisement - The contest is broken into three challenges, Meredith said, consisting of a horse pattern display to show each young womans horsemanship, a walk alongside a cavalryman to display poise and a question and answer portion to highlight personality. For the past several weeks, Meredith has been working weekly with the contestants, practicing each aspect of the competition. Theyre having so much fun, especially the 13-year-olds, Meredith said, adding that the younger contestants, competing for the first time, bring an energy to the event each year. Following the contest, the winner and the seven other contestants the Colonel Daughters Court, as theyre then known will ride in the 60th annual Fort Verde Days parade, escorted by the Camp Verde Cavalry, Saturday, Oct. 8. There is no fee to attend the Colonels Daughter Contest located on the parade ground, but the regular park entrance fee applies to those touring the historic homes and museum. For more information on the event, contact Jim Meredith at (602) 540-0029 or Fort Verde State Historic Park staff at 567-3275. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet separately with American presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in New York on Sunday, an official in his office said. "The meeting was agreed to with Trump first, then we reached out immediately to the Clinton camp for balance," the official told AFP without saying who proposed the first meeting. Netanyahu is already in New York, where he addressed the UN General Assembly on Thursday. Analysts say the Israeli premier is trying to avoid any impression of interfering in the American electoral campaign. During the 2012 race for the White House, US officials criticised Netanyahu over his perceived support for Republican candidate Mitt Romney. Romney visited Jerusalem during his campaign and criticised President Barack Obama's policies on the Middle East. Trump had planned to visit Israel last December, but postponed the trip after his proposal to bar Muslims from entering the United States prompted worldwide condemnation. In May, he told Israel Hayom, a free daily newspaper seen as close to Netanyahu, that he would visit Israel "soon". Search Keywords: Short link: Reddit Email 0 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | The US plans to send another 500 troops to Iraq to help with the massive Mosul campaign, which will involve the Iraqi army and its allies, the Kurdistan paramilitary Peshmerga, hard line Shiite militias, and Sunni Arab tribal levies. US troops will not engage in war-fighting at the front, but will help call in air strikes on Daesh (ISIS, ISIL) targets and provide tactical advice and training. Some of them are stationed at a newly recaptured airbase, Qayara, just south of Mosul. The exact number of US troops in Iraq is hard to calculate, since units are transferred in and out with some frequency, but the number is heading for 6,000. All US troops had been withdrawn from the country at the end of 2011 because the Iraqi parliament would not grant them immunity from prosecution if they killed Iraqi civilians in the course of carrying out joint operations with the Iraqi Army. After the fall of 40% of Iraq to Daesh in 2014, all of a sudden the Baghdad political elite had no trouble at all with the return of US troops to the country and I can only imagine that iron clad guarantees have been given behind the scenes that US troops have de facto legal immunity or extraterritoriality. (The hard line Shiite militias such as Muqtada al-Sadrs Peace Brigades and the League of the Holy Family have in fact menaced US troops orally, but these threats appear to be empty. Ironically, the US has occasionally given them air support in the fight against Daesh, as at Amerili two years ago). The question is when US troops can again leave Iraq? Will it be after the fall of Mosul? Or will Iraq need years of stabilization in the aftermath, according to Washington? (This kind of talk is so ironic since the US destabilized Iraq in the first place). If we look over at the 15-year war in Afghanistan, where there is no prospect of victory and where there are still thousands of US troops (some of them still do some war-fighting from time to time), it might be an omen for what we can expect in Iraq. The only difference is that I think Iran will be pretty eager to see US troops leave after Daesh is defeated (at the moment Iran and the US are de facto allies in Iraq), and it has many levers of power with the Shiite elite in the Iraqi government. US tactical cooperation with Iran and the Shiite militias could have been turned into a diplomatic deepening, but apparently it is just too embarrassing for Washington and Tehran to admit. And so, likely, down the line the US will get pulled right back into Iraq, because it refuses to recognize the real power dynamics there at the level of policy rather than just of tactics. Related video: Wochit News: 500 U.S. Troops May be Sent to Iraq Reddit Email 0 Shares By Carlyn Meyer | (Informed Comment) | The bi-partisan failure to review the nature and benefit of the US-Saudi relationship has been a striking feature of US foreign policy for decades. Despite serious questions about the link between the intolerant Wahhabi form of Islam promoted by the kingdom and the rise of a whole range of terrorist movements since the 1980s, the Obama Administration followed previous ones but sold the Saudis an astonishing $100 million in military equipment over two terms. Two bills in Congress now challenge the hands off policy that has guided US-Saudi relations since the 1970s. Some observers are wondering whether Congress will override the Presidents veto of a bill allowing families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia for their relatives deaths or injuries on 9/11. The other, a resolution sponsored by Rand Paul (R), Chris Murphy (D), Mike Lee (R) and Al Franken (D) would block the sale of $1.15 billion in arms to Saudi Arabia. (Paul and Murphy are members of the Foreign Relations Committee. ) The immediate reason for cutting off funds is the brutal war Saudi Arabia wages in Yemen in which the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure by Saudi aircraft has been documented. In addition to the the hardware, the US is providing essential war services like tactical advice and refueling to the Saudis. Most Yemenis, and large numbers of Middle Easterners, therefore, consider the US a sponsor and participant in a war widely condemned internationally. Once again, US military action has repelled former and potential allies instead of drawing them closer to US interests like defeating ISIL. Arms ssles to foreign countries have provisions limiting how those countries can use the weapons. Little supervision has been imposed by Congress. In fact, the Saudi and other GCC funding of Syria opposition groups linked to Al Queda was simply ignored as far back as 2011 when only 2300 Syrians lay dead. According to a summation in Wikipedia of the Arms Export Control Act: The Act of Congress requires international governments receiving weapons from the United States to use the armaments for legitimate self-defense. Consideration is given as to whether the exports would contribute to an arms race, aid in the development of weapons of mass destruction, support international terrorism, increase the possibility of outbreak or escalation of conflict, or prejudice the development of bilateral or multilateral arms control or nonproliferation agreements or other arrangements. [2] The Act also places certain restrictions on American arms traders and manufacturers, prohibiting them from the sale of certain sensitive technologies to certain parties and requiring thorough documentation of such trades to trusted parties. Most important, these initiatives represent a new skepticism within both parties about why Saudi Arabia commands such largesse from the US and what that gets or doesnt get America. Arms sales are fundamental to US foreign policy yet few Americans are aware of the billions of dollars of weapons the US sells around the world. Its about time the publics interest in these transactions is unveiled and debated. - Related video added by Juan Cole: Wochit News: Some US Lawmakers Object To $1.15 Billion Arms Sale To Saudi Arabia A Pakistan Air Force jet crashed on Saturday while on a training mission in the country's northwest, killing the pilot, the military said. The F-7 aircraft went down near the town of Jamrud, near the entrance to the Khyber Pass, and Flight Lieutenant Amer Shazad was killed, the air force said in a statement. The military has set up an investigation into the cause of the crash, which it said caused no civilian injuries on the ground. Pakistan's armed forces have had several air accidents in the past 18 months, including a crash that killed female jet pilot in another training exercise in November. In May 2015, a military helicopter carrying diplomats to inspect a tourism project crashed, killing seven people, including the ambassadors of Norway and Philippines. Another military helicopter being used as an air ambulance crashed in August 2015 near the northern district of Mansehra, killing 12 people. Search Keywords: Short link: Reddit Email 0 Shares By Maan News Agency | JERUSALEM (Maan) Israeli authorities released Palestinian journalist Samah Dweik on Monday, after she served nearly six months in prison over charges of incitement. Family members and friends gathered awaited Dweik, 25, outside the gates of HaSharon prison where she was held, before taking her to her home in the Ras al-Amoud area in the Silwan neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem. Dweik, a journalist for Jerusalem-based news site Shabakat al-Quds [Jerusalem Network], was detained on April 10 in the occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of Ras al-Amud over alleged incitement on Facebook. She was held without charge until Israeli authorities confirmed her indictment in July. Amjad Abu Asab, the head of the Jerusalem Committee for Families of Prisoners, told Maan in May that Dweik had been detained after writing a status and sharing an image in support of Palestinians recently killed by Israeli forces. During celebrations after Dweiks release, Abu Asab highlighted that 10 female Palestinians from East Jerusalem, four of them teenagers, remained in Israeli custody. Israeli authorities, he added, have recently released two East Jerusalem women, Marcelle Zuheir Salayma, 43, and Samiya Mousa Mashahira, 32, after they served 11 months and 8 months in prison respectively. In recent months, Israel has detained scores of Palestinians for social media activity, alleging that a wave of unrest that swept the occupied Palestinian territory last October was encouraged largely by incitement. Palestinians have instead pointed chiefly to the frustration and despair brought on by Israels nearly 50-year military occupation of the Palestinian territory and the absence of a political horizon. In May, the Palestinian Prisoners Center for Studies (PPCS) estimated that at least 28 Palestinian women had been detained by Israel since October over alleged incitement on social media, with six of them still in prison, including Dweik. Dweiks release came a week after two right-wing Israeli ministers met with top Facebook executives in an effort to minimize online anti-Semitic incitement the state of Israels latest effort to pressure the social media site to coordinate to remove content considered to promote terrorism. Israel had previously blamed Facebook outright for the perceived proliferation of incitement, with Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan reportedly saying that Facebook chairman and cofounder Mark Zuckerberg had blood on his hands for not adequately cooperating with Israel to remove content. In response to incitement claims against Palestinians, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Secretary-General Saeb Erekat condemned the current Israeli government for its failure to entrench a culture of peace and coexistence within Israeli society in a statement in July. Erekat flipped the script, holding Israel responsible for incitement, saying official Israeli discourse entrenches hatred, racism, and discriminatory attitudes against Palestinians. The discourse is only further entrenched by the institutional protection that is given to those who commit or incite violence against Palestinians. Via Maan New Agency Chelsea Manning, a former US soldier imprisoned for leaking classified documents, was sentenced on Thursday to two weeks of solitary confinement as a punishment for a suicide attempt, as well as for keeping a banned book in her quarters. According to a statement [text] released by Fight for the Furture [advocacy website], an advocacy group supporting Manning, seven days of the sentence will be suspended on conditions of Mannings behavior over the next six months. Manning attempted to take her own life [Al Jazeera report] in July. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Manning was being investigated [JURIST report] in July for charges in relation to a suicide attempt at the facility. At the time, ACLU Staff Attorney Chase Strangio issued a statement in which he was deeply critical of the Armys handling of Manning, in particular the denial of medical care related to her gender transition despite the treatment [being] recognized as necessary. Earlier this month Manning ended a five-day hunger strike after the Army agreed to allow her to undergo gender reassignment surgery [JURIST report]. In May Manning appealed [JURIST report] her 35-year prison sentence. In 2013 Manning filed for a presidential pardon [JURIST report] of the 35-year sentence. The sentence came a month after she was found guilty [JURIST report] of violating the Espionage Act but was acquitted of the more serious charge of aiding the enemy. The judge had raised the burden of proof [JURIST report] in order to require the government to prove that Manning knowingly aided al Qaeda. Manning pleaded guilty [JURIST report] to 10 of the 22 charges against her for providing classified materials to WikiLeaks. [JURIST] UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein [official profile] on Friday urged the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to end its pattern of expelling and detaining migrants contrary to international standards. Numerous Central European countries have recently closed their borders [UN report] to fight the influx of migrants, and many migrant families have found themselves either trapped in Macedonian transit centers or forced into neighboring countries as a result. Zeid strongly denounced the treatment of such families, stressing that all migrants deserve not only adequate living requirements but also opportunity for employment and education. Zeid also expressed concern over the countrys Asylum Law [text, PDF], which significantly hinders the ability for migrants to be granted legal asylum upon request. Reportedly 600 migrants have sought legal asylum since 2015 yet only five have actually succeeded. Zeid called on Macedonia and neighboring countries to address the ongoing suffering and mistreatment of all migrant families and abide by international law. The rights of migrant populations has emerged as one of the most significant humanitarian issues around the world, as millions seek asylum from conflict nations. Earlier this week a senior UN official unveiled [JURIST report] a draft set of principles aimed at continuing momentum toward the protection of human rights of refugees and migrants. Ahead of the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants this week, UN experts urged [JURIST report] states to protect women and girls in the movement of refugees and migrants by adhering to international human rights conventions and standards. Last week Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International [advocacy websites] said that the draft of the final outcome document for the UN summit on refugees fell short of dealing with the issue effectively [JURIST report]. According to the rights groups, the UN is missing an opportunity by not proposing anything of substance. Austrian Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka said [JURIST report] earlier this month that Austria will take Hungary to the International Court of Justice if Hungary does not begin accepting returning migrants that crossed into Austria from Hungary. Last month Zeid expressed concern [JURIST report] over Bulgarias criminalization of migrants leaving and entering the country. [JURIST] A UN human rights expert on Friday urged the US government to halt the construction [press release] of the Dakota Access oil pipeline out of respect for the rights of affected Native Americans. Earlier this month the North Dakota pipelines construction was suspended [JURIST report] after the US Departments of Justice, Interior and Army [official websites] released a joint statement [text] stating the need to reconsider the pipelines effect on the neighboring Standing Rock Sioux Tribe [official website]. Special Rapporteur Victoria Tauli-Corpuz stressed that the tribe should have been properly consulted during the initial stages of planning and construction. Tauli-Corpuz also denounced the intimidation and harassment of protesters and tribal leaders, stating that the US government must abide to international standards regarding the rights of indigenous people. In light of the current situation, Tauli-Corpuz called on the the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) [official websites] to work towards an amendment of the law requiring tribal consultation and consent for matters that effect Native Americans. The rights of indigenous peoples remain a pressing international legal topic. In this case a federal judge had issued [JURIST report] a temporary injunction to halt building earlier this month, with the caveat that it would be superseded by his later ruling. In other indigenous matters, a federal appeals court in July rejected [JURIST report] Alaskas challenge in a case determining the right of Alaskan tribes to place land in a federal trust. In May Canadas Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Carolyn Bennett stated [JURIST report] it would drop its objector status against the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In April JURIST Guest Columnist Dwight Newman of the University of Saskatchewan discussed [JURIST op-ed] what is happening with recent leave decisions related to Indigenous rights and Canadian energy regulation. In March Canadian indigenous people, including Inuits of Nunavut and the Chippewa, were granted [JURIST report] an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, challenging the use of seismic testing to find natural gas under the Davis Strait and Baffin Bay. In February experts from the UN and the Inter-American human rights systems urged [JURIST report] Canada to address the root causes of the extreme violence and discrimination against indigenous women and girls in that country. Dallas, TX, USA, 09/23/2016 /SubmitPressRelease123/ People ask Dallas criminal lawyer John Helms all the time if they need a lawyer if the police are investigating them, but no charges have been filed. Sometimes, people think that they can just go talk to a detective themselves and convince the detective that they are innocent. The answer is that you should ALWAYS consult with a lawyer if you are being investigated, and you should NEVER talk to a detective without a criminal defense attorney if you are a suspect. Here is why: First, a lawyer can evaluate your potential exposure and whether it is really in your interest to talk to the police at this point. Many people make the mistake of talking themselves into thinking that an investigation might just go away. A top criminal lawyer knows better. One of the things I consider when meeting with a client is whether the police have already made up their minds. If they have, then talking to them will not help YOU, but it will help the police to find out what your explanation will be and possibly to pin down your story. That makes a prosecutors job much easier. Another thing to consider is whether law enforcement will agree that they will not use anything you tell them against you. At the federal level, this is common. This kind of agreement is known as a proffer agreement. These agreements are complicated and can be negotiated. You need a lawyer to help you navigate this. Second, if you are going to meet with law enforcement, a lawyer can prepare you for it. If you are unfamiliar with police interrogations, you can easily get tripped up, say things that you may not mean, or say things that might sound evasive to the ears of a suspicious detective. I have seen it many times. Third, an experienced criminal defense lawyer will know what kinds of facts and evidence are persuasive to law enforcement. A good lawyer should be able to do a much better job than you at assembling evidence and information and presenting it to law enforcement in the best possible light. This gives you the best chance of persuading the officer or agent that you really are not guilty. One thing I have heard a lot of people say is, Wont they just assume I am guilty if I get a lawyer? This thinking is very short sighted. Chances are, they already think you are guilty, so having a lawyer is not going to make them think differently. More importantly, though, the importance of having a lawyer FAR outweighs any possibility that a detective might become more suspicious. The key, though, is to hire a lawyer that law enforcement will respect. If you hire a lawyer they think is sleazy, they will assume the lawyer is just going to try to pull a fast one, and they will not believe anything the lawyer tells them. One more thing: Some people think it is a good idea to try to get a lawyer to give them a free consultation, hoping that the lawyer will tell them everything they need to know for free, and then they will be able to handle everything themselves. Remember this: You get what you pay for. Before a criminal defense lawyer can give you good advice, the lawyer needs to spend the time to understand the facts and what the police think happened. That takes a lot more time and effort than what you are going to get with a free consultation. And if you think one consultation will give you the knowledge, experience, and judgment of the best criminal defense lawyers, then you need a consultation of another kind. A criminal investigation is extremely serious. Dont go looking for a cut-rate lawyer or trying to get something for free. Treat it like your freedom depends on it because it very well may. If you, a family member or someone you know has been charged with a crime or have been convicted and need help with an appeal in the Dallas area, contact Dallas criminal lawyer John Helms at (214) 666-8010 or fill out the online contact form. You can discuss your case, how the law may apply and your best legal options to protect your rights and freedom. Press Contact John Helms (214) 666-8010 https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-helms-69172699 Photo courtesy of drewgstephens source: http://johnhelms.attorney/dallas-criminal-lawyer-says-need-lawyer-youre-investigated/ Newsroom powered by Online Press Release Distribution SubmitMyPressRelease.com Like Us on Facebook It's only fair to share... Pinterest Linkedin email Print LINCOLN Campus visits by four finalists for the position of Harlan vice chancellor and vice president for agriculture and natural resources for the University of Nebraska-Lincolns Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources will be live streamed next week through the IANR website. Finalists announced this week are Michael Boehm, professor of plant pathology and vice provost for academic and strategic planning at Ohio State University; William Brown, dean for research and director of the agricultural experiment station at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture; Gary Thompson, associate dean for research and graduate education and director of the agriculture experiment station at Pennsylvania State University; and Ron Yoder, interim vice chancellor for IANR at UNL. Nebraskas largest health insurer plans to exit the individual Affordable Care Act market. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska on Friday announced it will stop selling ACA-compliant individual health insurance policies through the federal marketplace exchange. CEO Steve Martin said the insurer has been agonizing over the past several weeks trying to figure out a way to make its continued participation work but couldnt come up with a solution. This was not an easy decision, he said. Martin said Blue Cross Blue Shield has lost $140 million on its individual exchange business since inception and expects to lose another $20 million to $40 million this year. As a mutual insurer owned by members, he said the company operates on 1 percent margins, aiming to pay out 99 cents or less for every dollar of premiums it brings in. On the exchange policies, it has averaged a payout of $1.56 for every $1 brought in. Another year of those kinds of losses, and we would be digging a hole we will never get out of. Blue Cross had sought and received rate increases of more than 30 percent for 2017 rates, but Martin said those increases turned out not to be high enough to cover losses. Blue Cross and Blue Shield becomes the second major health insurer to stop selling individual exchange policies in the state. UnitedHealth Group, which is the second-largest health insurer in Nebraska, announced earlier this year it would stop selling such policies in the state next year. Those defections leave only two insurers, Aetna and Medica, serving people seeking individual policies on the exchange. Blue Crosss move affects only the 20,000 or so of its customers who have individual policies bought on the federal marketplace exchange. The insurer will continue to offer small-group plans on the exchange as well as off-exchange individual plans that were grandfathered in before the law took effect in 2014. And Blue Cross officials did leave the door open to possibly returning to the exchange if some fixes to the ACA are made. Lew Trowbridge, president of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, said the federal government has to close some of the loopholes that allow people to enroll during so-called special enrollment periods. Trowbridge said too many people are gaming the system, getting coverage when they are sick or injured and then dropping it after receiving treatment. Another issue that needs to be fixed are the risk pools. There are too many old and sick people getting coverage and not enough young and healthy ones. And Trowbridge said the states need to have more control over the design of health plans, rather than the federal government dictating a one-size-fits-all approach. Martin said the federal government is trying to respond to insurers concerns, but its too little, too late when we are on the razors edge. We believe the law can be fixed, he said. And if changes are made in the next year, Blue Cross will seek to re-enter the market in 2018, Martin said. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form FILE - In this July 7, 2016 file photo, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, right, confers with the committee's ranking member Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md. on Capitol Hill in Washington. Donald TrumpAos status as a Washington outsider fuels his fiery populism and also is helping to shield him from the scrutiny House Republicans are devoting to Hillary Clinton, a former U.S. senator and secretary of state. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) A fast food employee is caught stealing over $1,000 from a coworker. According to police, Juan Gomez, 21, was working at a Church's Chicken restaurant, and had taken the money from the purse of his coworker during his shift. The incident was caught on camera earlier this month. Gomez was arrested and charged with theft for the incident. A La Salle County man with several arrest warrants is caught by police in Laredo. On Wednesday night, police said they tried to pull over Reynaldo Lopez for driving with no headlight - but he refused to stop. When the vehicle finally stopped, Lopez fled on foot - jumping over fences and into private properties. Police found him hiding behind a car at the 2600 block of Saltillo Street. Lopez had several arrest warrants for family violence, assault towards a public servant and burglary of habitation. He was arrested and now charged with evading arrest. Question: My husband died last year, and Im selling our home. Do I still get to exclude $500,000 of home-sale profits from taxes, or am I limited to the $250,000 exclusion for singles? Answer: Surviving spouses may exclude $500,000 of home-sale profits from taxes if they sell the house within two years of their spouses death, as long as they owned and lived in the house for two of the five years before the spouse died. If more than two years have passed, then no more than $250,000 of the profit is tax-free. But assuming you and your husband owned the home jointly, you may not have as much taxable gain as you think. In the case of joint ownership, part of the tax bill was automatically forgiven when your husband died because at least half of the propertys basis was stepped up to its value on the date of his death. Subscribe to Kiplingers Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplingers Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Sign up In most states (but not community-property states), half of the property will receive a step-up in basis. If you and your husband purchased the house jointly for $200,000 many years ago, for example, and it was worth $500,000 when he died, then your basis would now be $350,000 your half of the original $200,000 basis plus your husbands half of the date-of-death value. If you live in a community-property state, then the entire basis is stepped up to its value when the first spouse dies, says Mark Luscombe, principal analyst for tax and accounting at tax publisher Wolters Kluwer. In the example above, the basis would become $500,000. Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin are community-property states. The cost of any major home improvements you made while you owned the house also add to the tax basis. See IRS Publication 523 (opens in new tab), Selling Your Home, for more information about the calculations and the expenses that can be added to your basis. SHARE COMMUNITY Shipyard employees honored for innovation Six employees whose proposals improved performance or saved money at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility received quarterly awards for their efforts. The ceremony recognizing the fourth-quarter winners of the Improvements Developed by Employee Actions, or IDEA, awards took place Sept. 21. Capt. Daniel Ettlich, the PSNS & IMF operations officer, presided over the ceremony and presented awards to employees whose suggestions were submitted and adopted through the IDEA program. The program recognizes military and civilian personnel who make a "constructive proposal that directly contributes to economy, or efficiency, or directly increases effectiveness of government operations." As an example of the innovations being recognized, PSNS & IMF's Jessica Ouellet and Charles Alford, sheet metal mechanic leaders in Shop 17, designed a tool to help mechanics, engineers and others produce hasty sketches at job sites. The tool includes a variety of technical drawing aids, such as a straight edge, radius corners, angles, a lettering guide and circle templates. PSNS & IMF officials estimate each tool can save 30 minutes daily for those workers who have to produce sketches while producing higher quality drawings. Other winners were: Richard Lasley, electrician apprentice for Code 900; Hugh Marsland, electrians' supervisor in Shop 51; Joseph Walser, electrician in Shop 51; and Jesse Faber, electrician leader in Shop 51. Apprentice Program holds graduation Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility honored 184 skilled members of its workforce during the graduation ceremony for its Apprentice Program Sept. 16 at the Bremerton High School Performing Arts Center. This year's graduates represent 23 different trades. Each graduate received a Department of the Navy Certificate of Apprenticeship and an Associate of Technical Arts Degree from Olympic College. Apprentice class speaker was Shipwright Wayne DeKorte. Award recipients were: Apprentice of the Year Welder Keith Blossom Craftsman of the Year Pipefitter Jeremiah Franchi Leadership Award Shipfitter Scott Brooks Scholastic Award Electronics Mechanic Christina Fowler In May 2016, the Washington State Association of College Trustees recognized the importance of the Apprentice Program by honoring PSNS & IMF and its Product Line Training Superintendent Bryan Watland with the Partner of the Year award. PSNS & IMF employs approximately 14,000 sailors and civilian personnel who accomplish the command's mission to maintain and modernize the Navy fleet. LETTER OF THANKS Coverage boosted Blackberry Fest On behalf of the Bremerton Central Lions Club, this is a belated "Thank You" to the Kitsap Sun and to reporter Nathan Pilling for his article in the Sun just before the second day of the Blackberry Festival over the Labor Day weekend. In the article, Mr. Pilling described the "Slug Sales" fundraiser that we have been doing for 27 years in a booth at the festival, cited his interview with Lion Mike Peterson, complete with a picture of Mike operating the "hopper" that injects the filling into the doughnuts. There is no question that this publicity played an important role in the success of this event on the last two days, which was the best ever by far. Very often, customers simply lined up without hearing any of our banter from the booth we had become a destination for them. The article was well composed and did an excellent job of publicizing the work that the Lions do for the community. Thank you so much for providing this community service! Lon Howard, President Bremerton Central Lions Club Have an item for Good for you? Email sunnews@kitsapsun.com SHARE Al Duke Cathy Johnson By Josh Farley of the Kitsap Sun BREMERTON The city's fire chief and finance director have announced they will retire in the coming months, leaving Mayor Patty Lent with two department head positions to fill. Al Duke, who has led the fire department for nearly two decades, will end his 33-year career with the city Jan. 26. Cathy Johnson, who started in what was then the city treasurer's department in 1979 and became finance director a little more than two years ago, will depart Dec. 31. Lent said she will conduct nationwide searches to find candidates. She praised Johnson and Duke for their leadership and longevity with the city. Duke came to Bremerton in 1984 after five years with the Los Angeles City Fire Department. He was appointed interim chief in July 1997 by then-Mayor Lynn Horton and later earned the full-time gig. Not long after he started, a fire gutted Kona Village on Sheridan Road, killing four people and displacing hundreds in one of the worst blazes in county history. He and Kitsap's fire chiefs called for requiring fire sprinklers at any apartment complex with four or more units. Lent said Duke had guided the fire department well through budget cuts in recent years, in passing levies and in its contract negotiations with firefighters. "He's a team player," she said. "And he got his union members to be on his team." Duke said he'll spend more time with his wife, Amy, their children and grandchildren, and would like to do more work with Silverdale nonprofit Children of the Nations. He's already been to Haiti and the Dominican Republic with COTN and is also on the board of his church, Crossroads in East Bremerton. Johnson's 37 1/2 year career with the city began as an assistant treasurer. She was appointed as director in 2014. Lent said Johnson has found ways to save the city money, including refinancing bonds, streamlining the city's grant accounting process and meeting reserve targets. The mayor has also been impressed with Johnson's ability to work with the City Council. "She's frugal, speaks with authority, but never intimidates her audience," Lent said. Johnson said her departure is bittersweet, as she'll miss her colleagues. But like Duke, she said she's looking forward to more time with her family, including husband Dave, and doing some traveling. Her career has included a the bulk of the information age, and she recalls the first, massive computer being installed at city hall. "It's been exciting," Johnson said of her time with the city. North Kitsap, Olympic, Bremerton to begin football playoffs Here's who will play who, when and where. The Hamilton News reports: Hamilton News spoke to four former Hamilton mayors to get their two cents worth on the upcoming local body elections. Ged Cann got their take on the issues they think are important and asked who their pick for the citys new mayor is. Always interesting to see the views of former Mayors who know what the job is about. MARGARET EVANS 1989-1998 Chris Simpson is the one talking about changing the political structure of the council to bring back some direct responsibility to councillors such as an infrastructure committee. Thats a really really positive idea. The jury is still out Im certainly leaning towards Chris Simpson and I am also leaning towards those candidates who are strongly in view of a new approach to whats happening. RUSS RIMMINGTON 1998-2001 Top pick for mayor: My top pick would be Rob Pascoe. I think he has high integrity, he has a good professional brain. I think he will surround himself with talented people in the chairs. I think other councillors will respect him and staff will respect him as well. Hes out of PriceWaterhouse, it shouldnt necessarily be a good numbers man but without a strong financial base a company or a council doesnt run effectively. Mr Rimmingtons second pick was Andrew King. Poor Julie has had six years of cleaning up the mess of Claudelands and the V8s. I think Andrew and Ive heard him speak, hes looking at social housing, hes looking at key infrastructure, hes trying to spread the cost not only on council but on other key stakeholders. Third pick was Chris Simpson. Hes got good experience in central government, good links to central government for cross funding, and Hamilton has had a very poor relationship with central government for many years. I would like him to have at least one term on Council thats his Achilles heel. DAVID BRAITHWAITE 2001-2004 Theres a new man who has come into the city, hes been in the city for a long time, hes not currently involved in the political scene in Hamilton his name is Chris Simpson. Mr Braithwaite said Mr Simpson would make an appropriate and positive Mayor. Hes had significant experience in Wellington in the parliamentary environment, he comes across as a man who would try and get people working together, and thats what the city needs. What the city does need is some new blood. Stuff reports: US President Barack Obama has hit back strongly at rising anti-immigration sentiment across America, Europe, and Australia, as a new poll found half of all Australians want to ban Muslim immigration. This crisis is a test of our common humanity whether we give in to suspicion and fear and build walls, or whether we see ourselves in another, he said. It came as an Essential Research poll released on Wednesday found 49 per cent of Australians support a ban on Muslim immigration, including 60 per cent of Coalition voters, 40 per cent of Labor voters and 34 per cent of Greens voters. Thats sad but not surprising. As Islamic terrorist attacks become more and more regular, people become more and more scared. The most common reasons for wanting a ban were fears over terrorism, and a belief that Muslim migrants do not integrate into society or share Australian values. The poll was first conducted in early August and then repeated to ensure it was not a rogue. Some Muslim migrants do not integrate, while some do. The best policy would to focus more strongly on prospective migrants as individuals and judging them on their ability to integrate which is more than just religion. The Essential poll, with a typical sample size of more than 1000, came a week after Senator Hansons incendiary first speech in the Senate in which she proposed that Australia halt Muslim immigration and stop building mosques and Islamic schools. The poll found a high level of support for the One Nation firebrand, with two-thirds of voters agreeing she talks about issues other politicians are afraid of tackling, and 48 per cent endorsing a national debate about Muslim immigration. Lewis said the results showed mainstream political parties needed to re-engage with outsider politics as disenfranchised voters flocked to the fringes. Yep, Hansen ig going nowhere but up. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr SHARE By Tyler Whetstone, tyler.whetstone@knoxnews.com KNOXVILLE Knox County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested a woman Friday wanted on murder charges in Georgia. According to a KCSO news release, Clayton County Sheriff's Office officials notified Knox County authorities that Tia Dosantos, 23, might be in Knoxville. At 2:15 p.m. Friday, Dostantos' vehicle was spotted at a Shell gas station at 7406 Strawberry Plains Pike, according to the release. Dostantos ran from officers, but was quickly taken into custody. More details as they develop online and in Saturday's News Sentinel. By Jack Lail of the Knoxville News Sentinel Columbia, Tennessee, lawyer David French, who flirted with an independent presidential bid this summer, has a message for the University of Tennessee: "Hands Off Glenn Reynolds." Writing in a National Review column posted Friday afternoon and titled "Dear University of Tennessee: Hands off Glenn Reynolds," French weighed in on the controversy regarding Reynolds, a Tennessee law professor and Instapundit blogger. Reynolds' Twitter account (@instapundit) was briefly suspended earlier this week for a Tweet suggesting protesters blocking an interstate in Charlotte should be run down by motorists. Reynolds later removed the Tweet and apologized. Here is a screen shot of the Twitter post. USA TODAY suspended his column, which runs twice a week, for a month because of the Tweet. (USA TODAY is owned by the same media company, Gannett Co., as the News Sentinel and his USA TODAY columns appear on knoxnews.com.) "I didn't live up to my own standards, and I didn't meet USA TODAYs standards," Reynolds said in a statement on the USA TODAY website. "For that I apologize, to USA TODAY readers and to my followers on social media." In the wake of the controversy over the deleted Twitter post, the University of Tennessee said it is investigating Reynolds. Law school Dean Melanie D. Wilson called Reynolds Twitter post "an irresponsible use of his platform." "The university is committed to academic freedom, freedom of speech, and diverse viewpoints, all of which are important for an institution of higher education and the free exchange of ideas," Wilson said in a statement posted on the law school's website. "My colleagues and I in the universitys leadership support peaceful disobedience and all forms of free speech, but we do not support violence or language that encourages violence." French fires back that the university's reaction is "pathetic." "Whats there to investigate? He wrote a tweet, it says what it says, he deleted it, and he made his explanation. Moreover, his tweet as written is constitutionally-protected speech, full stop," wrote French, a Constitutional lawyer. "Reynolds was speaking as a private citizen on a matter of public concern. His speech constituted neither a true threat nor incitement to violence. State officials are free to condemn his speech, they are not free to punish that speech," French continued. But Deborah Fisher, director of the John Seigenthaler Chair of Excellence in First Amendment Studies at Middle Tennessee State University, said in a column Friday, "Those who defend even champion such speech under the First Amendment banner should also deeply consider how easily violent 'solutions' creep into our language and multiply the more acceptable we make them." SHARE When a child under 10 committed suicide in central Ohio a few years ago, Jeff Bridge found himself answering a reporter's question about how often young children take their own lives. Bridge, director of the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, discussed the question with his colleagues and discovered that suicide rates in elementary-age children hadn't been carefully analyzed. He set out to correct that. In a new study appearing in October's Pediatrics journal, lead author Bridge and six co-authors found that suicide among young children is extremely rare, but it affects some communities disproportionately and merits serious attention. By analyzing National Violent Death Reporting System data for 17 states, researchers found 693 children ages 5-14 died by suicide from 2003 to 2012. Of those 693 deaths, 87 were children ages 5-11. Close to 37 percent of children ages 5-11 who died by suicide were black, the study found. That's a startling percentage, given that blacks account for about 12 percent of the U.S. population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. "Suicide rates have increased among black children and decreased among white children in the United States," Bridge told me Monday. "If you look at the overall suicide rate among children, there was no change over a 20-year period. It's only when you look at the analytics by race that a pattern emerges." Bridge's study attempts to determine why. "Black youth may experience disproportionate exposure to violence or traumatic stressors, both of which have been associated with suicidal behavior," the study states. "Also, research has shown that black youth are less likely to receive services for depression, suicidal ideation and other mental health problems compared with nonblack youth." To be sure, suicide affects all races. And this study should be a wake-up call about just how early we ought to address that reality. One third of all children 5-14 who died by suicide were diagnosed with a mental health problem frequently attention deficit disorder. Children under 11 were less likely to be diagnosed with depression than children 12-14, but Bridge said that could be because young children aren't screened for depression as frequently as early adolescents. Perhaps they should be. "I would like to see more of an upstream approach to suicide prevention in young people," Bridge said. "Let's begin the conversation about mental health earlier. Let's not wait until the teen years to have these conversations, because even though it's extremely rare, suicide and suicidal behaviors can and do sometimes occur in children." Outdated thinking suggested that talking about suicide with a child could increase that child's risk of committing suicide. Bridge said that's categorically not the case. "Talking about suicide will not put the thought in a child's head," he said. "If anything, it offers hope for children who may be at risk." Parents should talk to their child's pediatrician if they're concerned their child might harm himself or herself, Bridge said. And parents should talk directly to their children as well. "It opens up the conversation," he said. "It allows children to know that if they're struggling, they can go to their parents and talk to them and that there's a support system for them." Thirty percent of all suicide deaths in children and early adolescents occur after an earlier disclosure of suicide intention, Bridge said. "Part of why we want to educate adults parents, teachers, health care providers is because there is time for intervention," he said. "These conversations can potentially save lives." SHARE Look into Knoxville's night sky, and you likely will not see the Milky Way. In fact, it is not visible from 80 percent of the United States because of the artificial light we need at night in populated areas. But as a hiking and camping guide, I have the opportunity to take people to a place where they can clearly see the Milky Way, some of them for the first time: the Cherokee National Forest. Right in our back yard, it is a place of dark night skies, clean water and quiet. It is part of a major migration corridor that wildlife depends on, and it includes some of the oldest mountains on Earth. It also offers a wide range of outdoor recreation, from hunting and fishing to water sports, hiking and camping. As we mark National Public Lands Day today, we reflect on how special the forest is, especially to those of us in East Tennessee. That is why I am thankful for the Tennessee Wilderness Act, introduced by U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker. The bill would protect more than 19,000 acres of the forest for future generations to enjoy. They have introduced this legislation several times over the past eight years, thanks to support from hunters and anglers, veterans, faith leaders, outdoor recreationists, local elected officials and business owners like me. Unfortunately, because of roadblocks in Congress, it has not yet passed. Preserving this small portion of the Cherokee National Forest matters on so many levels. In particular, the forest offers children a chance to see nature that is pristine and wild an experience that many of them have never had. It matters, as well, to those who enjoy the fishing and hunting that the forest provides. It is also the spiritual epicenter of the Cherokee people. Of course, protected public lands like the Cherokee National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park matter greatly to hikers and campers and to small businesses like mine that rely on outdoor enthusiasts to prosper. My investment in East Tennessee makes sense only if our wild areas are conserved. The outdoors in Tennessee are a major economic engine, generating $8.2 billion in consumer spending and supporting 83,000 direct jobs in 2015, according to the Outdoor Industry Association. However, not all of the Cherokee National Forest is preserved. It contains thousands of acres that have not been declared wilderness and do not come under official protection. Without legal protection, wilderness areas can change, and areas affected may never again return to being wild. In the United States, 6,000 acres a day are lost to development, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Consider this, from Wild Birds Unlimited: Every August, millions of ruby-throated hummingbirds and a variety of warblers travel a migration corridor through the Cherokee National Forest on the way to Mexico and Central America. They have taken this wilderness route for hundreds of years. If it were lost or significantly reduced, the results would be devastating. I was born in Germany and raised in several places overseas rich in history and culture. But when I first saw the mountains of East Tennessee while in college, I thought, "I am living here." It is true that the Cherokee National Forest brings economic benefits, but it has a far greater value. It is part of our heritage, a heritage that I am proud to share. On National Public Lands Day, I hope you will join me in calling on our leaders to be steadfast and make sure that this part of the forest remains wild for generations to come. SHARE A look at recent events in the news that pleased us ... Alzheimer's clinic: The Pat Summitt Alzheimer's Clinic at the University of Tennessee Medical Center will be completed by the end of 2016, and neurologist Dr. Roberto Fernandez will be its medical director, hospital leaders announced Thursday. The clinic will begin seeing patients toward the end of January 2017, said Steve Ross, senior vice president for strategic development at UT Medical Center. A neurologist and associate professor with the University of Virginia Health System, Fernandez leads and assists numerous Alzheimer's research projects and practices with its Memory and Aging Care Clinic. School defibrillators: U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr. hopes a nudge from Congress will help put life-saving defibrillators in every school in the country. The Knoxville Republican filed legislation Tuesday urging states to require that schools install Automated External Defibrillators to help students who may suffer cardiac arrest. Tennessee and 16 other states already have enacted laws that require defibrillators in schools. ... and two that did not Ruby Tuesday: Ruby Tuesday announced Thursday that it is selling its Maryville headquarters for $2.8 million and is laying off 19 workers from its support center. The company said in a statement that it has entered an agreement with the Altar'd State women's clothing store chain to sell its property at 150 W. Church Ave. in Maryville. The company also announced it plans to consolidate its Restaurant Support Center at 333 E. Broadway in Maryville by the end of January 2017. This follows the August announcement that Ruby Tuesday would close 95 underperforming locations, and the company said Thursday that these actions will result in the loss of 19 jobs. No climbing: Ijams Nature Center closed the only outdoor rock-climbing site in the Knoxville area on Monday in a whirlwind development that left administrators surprised and climbers confused and disappointed. A statement posted on Ijams' website said the Ijams Crag would be closed to open climbing "due to changes in Ijams Nature Center's liability insurance coverage." Only supervised climbing and instruction classes are permitted on the crag. The closure of the crag was the culmination of four months of struggling to find a suitable liability insurance policy, said Cindy Hassil, Ijams' development director. Hassil said Ijams will explore every possible solution to the problem and aims to make the crag available to climbers as soon as possible. A desert tortoise slowly crawls across a patio in a video captured by a smart phone camera. Two dogs sniff curiously as he makes his way. An off-camera voice cautions them not to drool on the tortoise. "Hard Hat is going for a cruise today," she says. "It's a long way from his pen in the back yard,." This slow-moving centenarian seems an unlikely candidate for the struggle over his custody, but the issues surrounding him are complicated and emotional. "I get emotional if I have to talk about him for longer than a few minutes," says Lisa Helget, "because then I realize how screwed up the situation is." Screwed up doesn't tell the half of it. Lisa Helget says she adopted Hard Hat 22 years ago from a program run by the local tortoise club and authorized by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. He is one of many of his kind who have been relocated from Southern Nevada, where their habitat is disappearing due to development. In June, he went missing. Helget noted that fact on Facebook and asked neighbors to be on the lookout, but she wasn't immediately concerned. She believed he had burrowed under a shed as he'd done before. People who have desert tortoises tell us they often burrow. We know of one Reno home which employs the help of their Jack Russell Terrier to dig up theirs. Others say they like to get under things. One of Helget's Facebook posts shows Hard Hat lurking under a piece of equipment, munching on some strawberries shortly before he disappeared. Still, as time went on Helget got worried. She was moving to a new home and he was nowhere in sight. "We were close to moving and I hadn't see him physically out from under the shed." She says she was checking lost pet websites, but finding no mention of him. We now know there was discussion on a Dayton online site, "Dayton Peeps." Helget is not a member of that group. It would turn out a neighbor had found him a few days after she'd last seen him and had taken him to the Lyon County Animal Shelter. There the story takes a disputed turn. Shelter staff say they weren't sure whether Hard Hat was a desert tortoise or some other species. Authorities tell us the shelter should have called the Nevada Department of Wildlife or US Fish and Wildlife or someone from the Tortoise Group sent a picture and they could have easily settled the matter. They would then have taken possession and found his owner or adopted him out through a long-established authorized process. Lyon County says it did contact NDOW. An incident report says they were asked if the tortoise had a microchjp. It didn't. Today desert tortoises are given microchips before being adopted. Twenty-two years ago they were simply given a number on their shell. Over the years, Helget says, Hard Hat's wore off. Lyon County Animal Shelter staff say they were then given the green light to turn it over to a rescue operation. NDOW says they can find no evidence of any phone call and that wouldn't have been their response. According to the incident report, the shelter staff was unaware of the tortoise rescue effort. Desert tortoises are a threatened species, wildlife you can't legally have in your possession unless you've had it since before the law was written in 1989 or unless it's been adopted through a program authorized by US Fish and Wildlife. The law would seem to say Hard Hat should never have been in the possession of the Rescue Society which has no permit to take in wildlife much less adopt it out. But Angel Vathayanon, who runs the Reno Tahoe Rescue Society, smarting over the confrontation she had with Helget and what she says was signs Hard Hat was neglected--a cracked shell-- says she won't release it without proof that Lisa Helget is the legal custodian, medical records, and opinions from both the Lyon County DA and the Attorney General's office. Helget feels she's being unfairly cast as an unworthy custodian of Hard Hat. She says the cracked shell is a decades-old injury for which he received veterinary care. The vet told her the shell would heal in time, which she said it partially did. In any case, she says the injury did not impede him in any way. Vathayanon told us she took the tortoise to a vet prior to adopting him out and was told he had an infection. The incident report only says there was mold in the crack which they repaired. Both NDOW and U-S Fish and Wildlife seemed determined to stay on the sidelines. The D-A and the Attorney General have yet to weigh in and both women feel they are acting in Hard Hat's best interest With everyone dug in and Helget contacting an attorney, it seems this dispute is headed for court. Meanwhile Hard Hat's location remains a mystery and Lisa Helget says she won't rest until she gets him back. "There's no gray area here. They know they have him. They know they acquired him wrong. They know I'm here. They know I officially adopted him. What's the problem? Give me our tortoise back." By Choi Sung-jin Tickets for flights that depart from major Chinese cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, for Korea between Sept. 30 and Oct. 3 were sold out as of Friday. Likewise, only a few seats are left per flight back to China from Oct. 6-7. The room occupancy rate of business hotels in Myeong-dong, Seoul, which usually hovers below 70 percent, has soared to 90 percent for Oct. 1-6. These are figures that fill the domestic tourism and distribution industries with expectations for a "special boom" brought by the onrush of Chinese tourists, or youke, during their National Day holiday. The first week of October is the biggest tour season for the Chinese people. According to the Chinese government's data, 598 million Chinese are likely to hit the road, at home and abroad, during the holiday, up 12 percent from last year. Tourism industry officials here expect about 250,000 of the Chinese youke will visit Korea, a record-high figure that exceeds the 210,000 visitors in 2015. Industry executives had been concerned about the adverse effects the recently cooling relationship between the two countries, caused by Seoul's decision to deploy the U.S. antimissile system, would have on the number of Chinese visitors to Korea. So far, however, political developments seem to have exerted little or no influence on bilateral economic exchanges, including tourism. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, the number of Chinese tourists in Korea in July totaled 917,519, recording a hefty increase of 258.9 percent from the same month of last year. Chinese people who visited Korea in the first seven months also numbered 4.73 million, and if this pace continues, the annual number of Chinese tourists is expected to easily exceed last year's record of 5.98 million, KTO officials said. Cosmetics shops and restaurants in Myeong-dong, the so-called shopping Mecca for Chinese tourists, are renewing their signboards written in Chinese and hiring Chinese students in Korea as short-term receptionists. Chinese tourists are also liberal spenders, "big hands" as they are called here. An average Chinese tourist spent 2.61 million won ($2,364) last year, twice and thrice larger than what American and Japanese visitors spent, respectively. Most retailers are focusing on the "Korea Sales FESTA," the Korean version of the U.S. Black Friday. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, which organizes the annual event, said a similar event last year increased the nation's private consumption by 0.2 of a percentage point and raised its gross domestic product by 0.1 of a percentage point. About 168 department stores and shopping centers, or 48,000 small stores, will take part in the sales event, selling almost everything, ranging from luxury bags to shoes and clothes of independently developed brands, at prices 50 to 70 percent lower than usual. Tourist hotels are also throwing in additional stays and airlines are offering discounted tickets. The government will organize "Experience Hallyu" events throughout next month, starting with the concerts of K-pop bands on Yeongdong Avenue in Gangnam area on Sept. 30. "During China's National Day holiday season last year, the domestic tourism sector recorded a sales growth of 15-20 percent," said a KTO official. "We expect another surprise effect' this year." By Choi Sung-jin In order to reinvigorate Korea's tourism industry mired in a protracted deficit, the sector needs to reduce its excessive reliance on Chinese tourists, the central bank said Friday. According to a report by the Bank of Korea, about 6 million Chinese people visited Korea last year, accounting for 45.4 percent of the total 13.2 million foreign tourists to the country. The share of Chinese tourists stood at 22.7 percent in 2011 but marked an exactly two-fold increase last year. In comparison, the Chinese tourists' share out of the total foreign of visitors to Japan last year remained at 25.4 percent. The number of Chinese tourists in Japan has also gradually increased but has not reached a level that causes concerns about its excessiveness, the BOK report shows. "Japan managed to record a surplus in its tourism account last year, mainly by diversifying inbound tourists," it said. "Korea, on the other hand, has failed to get out of the tourism deficit." Korea sustained a deficit of $9.67 billion in its tourism account last year but recorded a surplus of $6.97 billion in two-way tour trade with China. "To improve this chronic tourism deficit, the nation should reduce its dependency on Chinese tourists and diversify the nationalities of inbound tourists to other regions and countries such as the Middle East, Taiwan and Hong Kong," the central bank report said. As the reason tourists from other countries do not visit Korea, the report cited the weak competitiveness of Korea's tourism industry. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, the Korean tour industry ranked 29th out of 141 countries in tourism competitiveness, far lower than Japan's ninth. Another adverse factor is the recent appreciation of the Korean won, which has been revalued 1.2-28 percent against major currencies, such as the yuan and yen, over the past three years. The sharp drop in the number of Japanese tourists to Korea, because of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and other reasons last year, has also exerted some negative influence, it said. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called Friday for a "determined and effective" response to North Korea's fifth nuclear test, denouncing it a "dangerous and reckless act of provocation" and a "direct challenge" to international stability and peace. Kerry made the remark during a U.N. Security Council meeting on the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), stressing that Pyongyang's nuclear test is a clear reminder of the "absolute necessity" to put the 1996 treaty into force. "Two decades after this process began, there may be some who question the value of pursuing this treaty or investing in its adoption, because the world has changed dramatically," Kerry said, according to a State Department transcript. "Yet we have been reminded in recent weeks of the absolute necessity of supporting the CTBT. North Korea's latest nuclear test is a challenge to this council's leadership," he said. "It is a challenge and a direct threat to international stability and peace. It is a dangerous and reckless act of provocation which we have to summon a determined and effective answer to." The CTBT was opened for signature in 1996 and then-President Bill Clinton was the first world leader to sign the treaty, but Congress has yet to ratify it. Currently, 183 nations have signed the treaty and 166 have finished ratification. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged North Korea on Friday to abandon its nuclear and missile programs. "The recent actions by the DPRK that violate U.N. Security Council resolutions must be halted. We call upon Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear missile program and return to the Nonproliferation Treaty regime," Lavrov said in his U.N. General Assembly address, referring to the North's nuclear and missile tests. Lavrov also took a swipe at the U.S., saying it is "inadmissible to use the situation as a pretext for massive militarization of Northeast Asia and deployment of another position area for U.S. global missile defense system." The head of Britain-based Reckitt Benckiser formally apologized over its toxic humidifier sterilizers that claimed many lives in South Korea, a parliamentary special committee probing the scandal said Thursday. The so-called Oxy humidifier disinfectant case came to light after four pregnant women died of unknown lung problems in 2011. A government-led investigation confirmed a connection between more than a hundred people who died of lung problems and the chemicals used to clean household humidifiers. The committee said the move by the parent of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser marks the first time the company's top management expressed regrets to the victims and their families for the scandal. South Korea has confirmed 221 victims in the case. Among them, 177 had used Oxy products. Out of 90 deaths, 70 are believed to have been caused by products made by the British firm. The apology was made during a visit to Britain by South Korea's parliamentary committee looking into the case Wednesday. Reckitt Benckiser CEO Rakesh Kapoor said he wished to express a sincere apology for the pain and deaths of the South Korean consumers. The company earlier outlined a compensation plan to the victims and their family members. "The official apology to the victims and the National Assembly is an important step," said Rep. Woo Won-shik of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea, who heads the committee. The victims, meanwhile, said the British firm must provide reasonable compensation in a transparent manner. (Yonhap) President Muhammadu Buhari, says the 71st United Nations General Assembly meeting was a successful outing, just as he leaves the U.S. for Nigeria. He expressed hopes that Nigeria would, before the next convergence of world leaders, begin to reap the results from all the meetings. One of such rewards the Nigerian leader is looking forward to seeing is the alleviation of humanitarian crisis in the Lake Chad region, which he made demands for. United Nations agency, UNICEF, has raised concerns over what it called severe humanitarian crisis in the region, saying 49,000 children, nursing mothers and pregnant women are at the risk of death. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Three abducted landlords at Oshorun Heritage Estate, during a fitness exercise, their trainer and some farmers kidnapped last weekend In Isheri and Epe areas of Ogun and Lagos States have been freed. Kennedy Ucheagwu, Dr. Omololu Bello, Fidelis Esang and trainer Olalere Olawale, as well as Toyosi Aboderin, Ogechi Maku, Toju Amorighoye, and six-month-old Funniyi Tayo Lawal were freed by their abductors in the wee hours of yesterday. Although the gunmen, suspected to be Niger Delta militants had allegedly demanded N1.2 billion for the freedom of the four Isheri victims, it was learnt that they eventually collected N16million ransom. The Nation learnt that the ransom was paid at about 10pm by a group of men, who went close to the island where the victims were held and deposited the amount at a designated spot. It was learnt that the victims were then dropped off at a place near the estate as agreed by the kidnappers at about 12am, while the Epe farmers, were said to have returned home into the waiting arms of their family members around 1:30am. The Nation gathered that the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army and the Air Force have been combing the bushes and gathering footages of the kidnappers. It was learnt that the service provider (Etisalat) whose simcard was used in contacting relatives for ransom was tracked and the name, pictures and other vital information of the leader of the gang was revealed. He was said to be a young man buy with affluence as he allegedly owns a huge mansion with several exotic cars. Also revealed was the identity of the lady who ran errand like buying food and other basic things for the gang and hostages. It was however learnt that the security operatives were unable to use force on the kidnappers since the victims were still in their custody. At the estate yesterday, residents rejoiced over the safe return of the victims, urging that security be beefed up in the area to avoid recurrence. They said the victims were sighted at about 11:45pm near the creek by vigilantes who thought they were criminals. The local vigilantes wanted to shoot but the victims told them that they were those kidnapped last Saturday. The vigilantes then used their motorcycles to take them to their homes one after the other, said a resident. They urged the police to equip its marine unit, as well as establish a post within the neighbourhood, expressing fears that they gunmen could strike again. The Nation gathered that the victims were taken to an isolated island, where the militants ensured that they were comfortable. A resident who refused to be named, said victims and all those aware of the ransom were warned by the police to not mention it, adding that they were told that admitting to it could attract more danger to the estate. The Nation Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Ijaw youths have slammed the Federal Government anti corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC over alleged deliberate witch-hunt against former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience. The youths under the auspices of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide said it was unfortunate that the EFCC failed to learn from the fallout of the way it handled the case of Tompolo. President of the IYC, Engr. Udengs Eradiri said the commissions indiscreet media trial of Tompolo led to the crisis in the Niger Delta that plunged the country into the current economic recession. His words, I thought the EFCC by now would have begin to face squarely its jobs of fighting corruption instead of the media charade that is their usual modus operandi. They have not learned from the Tompolo incident instead of focusing on facts and doing their job following due process they quickly went to the media and that incident has led this country to where we are today. He also described as unacceptable and illegal to place the former first family on media trial without following due process. Dame Patience, he said like most former First Ladies made her money from gifts and gratifications adding that there was no law against such gestures. First Ladies in Nigeria do not do any work. A woman naturally attracts a lot of gifts from men let alone a First Lady who has the power to recommend you for something. They receive a lot of thank you and gratifications because most cases they recommend people who come back to thank them. Even when they do not recommend, people go and say good morning with a million dollar. It did not start with Patience Jonathan. We know how influential the former First Lady of this country and other First Ladies were. We know how powerful, rich and wealthy they are and the property they acquired as a result of gratification. If you say Patience should show how she made her money, you must start with all the First Ladies, otherwise, it is a witch-hunt. Patience Jonathan got her wealth from thank you and there is nowhere in the law that says we should not receive thank you. So, EFCC should stop this nonsense. If you have issues, go and follow the due process and dont begin to use the media to tarnish the image of the former first family, he said. The former first family, he said, deserved respect adding that the youths would not tolerate further attacks and insults on Jonathans family. He said despite the humiliation Jonathan suffered from the wife of late former President Musa YarAdua, he never harassed the late Presidents family when assumed the leadership of the country. Jonathan should be respected in Nigeria. You heard what happened during the time of late President YarAdua, Jonathan did not witch-hunt that family irrespective of the humiliation he suffered despite the position of the law. This is a witch-hunt and the EFCC must stop this attitude because very soon, people will begin to resist them. Nigerians will get to the point where they will no longer accept it. We support the fight against corruption. All of us know that corruption has eaten deep into our fabric, but this selective fight especially geared towards the region must not be allowed, Eradir said. Vanguard Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Tri-State 9-11 Remembrance Committee Chairman Doug Harbour stopped by the Lamar Ledger office, Sunday, Sept. 11, to reflect on another successful event Saturday Sept. 10. Doug said the day was full of good chaotic fun, One you set something like this in motion its going to happen, he said. He said its like herding cats. Everything came out beautifully, he said. Harbour said there were more floats than ever and a lot of effort was put into the parade. I didnt get a chance to see very many of them because I was up at the fairgrounds waiting for them and checking on things, he said. What I saw was impressive. After the parade was over and when he was in the 4H building, a Sergeant with the mounted color guard thanked Harbour for inviting them to the event. This is one of the neatest parades weve ever been in, he said to Harbour. Seeing all these kids with all these flags and standing with their hands over their heart, wow wed like to come back. Harbour told him to put it on his calendar every year. Its the first Saturday closest to Sept. 11, he said. Habour said it was a no brainer to pick former Fire Chief Marshall Cook to speak on behalf of the Grand Marshall who was honored posthumously, Rick Hartley. He knew him better than anyone else I could think of, he said. I knew the family could relate to him a lot better than anyone else. Harbour liked the Memorial Service, but said he didnt have a whole lot of time to reflect on what he was going to say to the crowd. Were here to honor these folks, he said. I know that all the people that were involved, from the county commissioners, to the police and the city were instrumental to pulling this thing off. He wanted to thank them, but they already know that we thank them. These people that make an ambulance or fire run or have been in Iraq, these are the people we are here to honor, he said. There was a slight technical glitch during the flag retirement ceremony, he said, but many good people came to their aid and it went off without a hitch. The sound system failed, he said, and the band was getting ready to play. Brandon Sherwood is normally our right hand out there, but he was at a funeral and we thought we could handle it, he said. What bailed us out was when the 4th Infantry Division was marching into the fairgrounds and went up them and asked if anyone know about sound systems? They had two guys that are really good, he said, and they went over at took care of the problem. There were a few little issues like that kept me hopping, he said. He didnt get to have lunch with the veterans and first responders because he was almost ready for the ceremony. I saw my son across the way and little River and Tinnes, they wouldnt eat barbecue so he went out and got them a pizza, he said. His youngest granddaughter gave him a slice of pizza. I tried some after it was over and it was really good, he said. He couldnt say enough about his committee. Carla Scranton has been my right hand though day one, Harbour said. Without her, we wouldnt have this. She keeps everything I need in the right order and all our contacts. Anything that comes up, he said that Carla will take care of it. Well get a quick little letter and she emails it right out, he said. He said Lamar Chamber of Commerce President Vickie Dykes is an important member of the team. Terry Comer, he is on the Sheriffs posse and he is also a member of the committee, he said. He said the entire sheriffs posse helps a lot with the barbecue and are good guys. Our unsung heroes are the maintenance guys at the fairgrounds, he said. We mud in the arena the day before and we could not put the stage up. The city worked with them, he said, and it was delayed about 24 hours. They brought the guys out on Saturday morning to put the stage up, he said. Its amazing how everybody contributed to this. There was plenty of water at the event, which Harbour said was a big lesson from last year. Colorado East Bank, now called TBK Bank, are good people and they donated a whole bunch of water that was labeled with their old logo, he said. Initially I was going to give a whole bunch to the Boy Scouts and the American Legion and then have some in reserve, but them at the last minute we were going to be short again, so I went over to the American Legion and said guys can we put your containers holding all this ice water on my tailgate and move it down to the barbecue? It all worked out, he said, and the Elks Club came out with a load of tea. We made through pretty good, he said. Doss Aviation from Pueblo did the fly over; he said which was neat. They sent one of their pilots, a young lady named Carol, who landed at the airport, he said. I had somebody go out to the airport and meet her. She thought the event was great. Normally, I dont get to fly a plane by myself I have to pay for it, he said. Doss Aviation called me and asked it I would be willing to participate and I was able to just fly the plane. The chopper from Flight for Life was unable to attend, which is something that he was waiting to happen. They were supposed to be in the past part of our formal ceremony, he said. They were supposed to hover over the arena and the event was going to set off red white and blue smoke and then leave on a call. The call came early this year, he said. They spent about 15 minutes on the ground and they were needed at an emergency. He noted the top priority is taking care of people and the remembrance event is down the list. Harbour said every step he has taken is driven by the man upstairs. He said if he gets in a hurry, if he sits back and waits the person he is supposed to meet will come forward and help him make the right decision. This last five years has been an amazing journey and I wouldnt trade it for anything, he said. He said the most important part of the day, moving forward, are the lessons taught to the kids. The main reason why we need people on the floats is so your grand kids can wave flags at you and see patriotism, he said. He wants the move of patriotism to grow. I cant say enough about Clay Peacock and his people, Harbour said. Peacock funeral Home handed out a couple of hundred American flags the first year and passed out 400 in 2015. They passed out 800 flags to kids up and down the parade route for the kids to wave, he said. I heard there was somebody else doing that. Kids waving the flags were a lesson. We dont teach them that, he said. Chris Frost: 719-336-2266, cfrost@lamarledger.com Area residents heard the final report from the Progressive Urban Management Associates, Thursday, Sept. 15, which is the next step in an economic development process that began earlier this year. Commissioner Ron Cook opened the conversation and asked how they can move economic development forward. PUMA was here working with Live Well, he said. The county hired them and PCDI came in and each one of the communities came in to help fund this and its been very beneficial. He noted that PUMA reached out to the community and the people enjoy living here and are dedicated to being here and they have a lot to entice people to live here. It took outside sources to point that out to get this plan and pull people together, he said. Everybody was stepping up and is very interested in moving forward. Cook said the only way to move forward is to all pull together and make it work. We are working in different directions to make this a good changeover from PCDI (Prowers County Development Inc.) to PEP (Prowers Economic Prosperity), he said. I think it is very positive. He noted that all the commissioners support the new direction. We are going to budget $50,000 and put it into PEP and move forward with this project, he said. PUMA President Brad Segal thanked the crowd for attending and made an economic development plan for Prowers County. Theres a sense that Prowers had plans and advisers come in and talked about stuff to do, he said. What really happened to make this different is how do we actually create a way to carry out economic development in the county. The group was also charged with reinventing PCDI. Theres a real concern that PCDI wasnt doing what it needed to do to promote the county and attract new business, Segal said. He said the big news is that Prowers County is getting re-engaged in economic development. The private sector used to be engaged, but for a variety of reasons got disengaged, he said. Segal said there was plenty of response to a survey the group handed out and most people like Prowers County because it is small town with a sense of community. Associate Erin Lyng said detailed four things that came out in the planning process. The first part of the plan is to scale up. Even if these concepts might start small they can grow over time, she said. There are some businesses in the county that have started small and in some case have grown internationally. PUMA was not looking for a Silver Bullet solution. The next concept is to leverage local. Prowers County has a lot of unique assets and how do we tie those concepts to utilizing these assets, she said. She said that businesses that utilize those assets are more likely to stay in town. Next gen, she said, is to develop strategies that will attract the younger generation and keep them in Prowers County. Prowers is definitely not alone when it comes to retaining its younger population, Lyng said. The charge is to give them a reason to stay in the county or attract the one who have left to return. The fourth piece is to take initiative. This plan is just a plan without strong leadership to take it forward, she said. She noted that it will take community support to move PEP forward. The opportunities were organized into five categories. Manufacturing and distribution is one cluster, she said. Other categories include agriculture, retail and restaurants, services, tourism and recreation. Lyng said one opportunity in manufacturing is to attract complimentary businesses. Those that add value to existing industry in Prowers, she said. She noted a packaging facility that can support a lot of the existing facilities. How do we businesses to use local products (leverage local) and produce new markets for producers goods, she said. One idea born in the process, she said, was that Prowers County is in the middle of everywhere. Its very true, she said. When you look at the highway access connecting from Mexico to Canada, Prowers is at that nexus to two highways. She said agriculture is critical to the local economy and is absolutely in the plan. We are looking for different opportunities to strengthen and grow that, she said. There is an intersection between agriculture and technology, she said, and ag software is listed as one the top businesses for starting by young folks. Distribution, tying back to the middle of everywhere concept, you have the location, highway action, plus rail to rail opportunities, she said. She said there may be an opportunity to maximize revenue in terms of the crop mix. Use your natural assets here, she said. Prowers County, I believe, the first county in Colorado to have a wind farm in the country. You have a great wind asset. She said the retail and restaurant bucket is all about filling the gaps. A couple of the things here that we heard were that restaurants are desired by the community and that was not meeting current demand, she said. Retail goods are also missing. Clearly clothing is something where there is a lot of leakage (money leaving the county) and were looking for opportunities to bring in more of this retail and food services back to Prowers, Lyng said. She said health and medical is a key part of the services category. Its an economic anchor for Prowers and a priority of this plan, she said. Lamar Community College, she said, is a huge asset. Not only for students who will be viably employable afterwards, but also a place where the workforce can be trained, she said. Lyng said there is a need for outsource services that can be done anywhere, including Prowers County. Theres a growth in that area as well, she said. She noted that tourism has opportunities in hunting and different types of game. Small game is kind of a niche for young folks who are just maybe starting their hunting careers, she said. Southeast Colorado has the largest concentration of North American Birds on the continent. She said heritage is another growth opportunity. People want to go to places where they can experience the people and cultures of the past, she said. Lyng said there is a desire for the plan to not be too Lamar-centric. It needs to be a county-wide effort and we need to be looking at opportunities for each of Prowers Communities, she said. Certain initiatives might take place in certain locations. She noted the plan needs to be specific and actionable. For each opportunity well look at specific targets as well as partners and planning sources, she said. Segal said, moving forward, an opportunity fair a couple of times a year would benefit the county. Wed identify different opportunities within the county and invite, particularly the young population, he said. This needs to be timed, he said, for when people come home. Maybe around a high school reunion or Christmastime, he said. Have an opportunity fair, and maybe a not-so-supple appeal to some of the people who have moved away from the area to return. Segal called it a true public private partnership. The private sector is engaged in economic development in Prowers County, joining with Lamar and other towns doing this together, he said. Chris Frost: 719-336-2266, cfrost@lamarledger.com The Second Annual Paint the Plains for Patriotism Run and Walk, Saturday, Sept. 10, was a well-attended event that had plenty of people at Willow Creek Park getting hit by paint and supporting the Partners for Hope Center in Lamar. Organizer Shane Dashner said they learned from mistakes they made during the first year. To make things run a little smoother this year, we incorporated a couple of organizations, like the Boy Scouts, Community State Bank, Colorado East Bank and we changed up our DJ System, he said. Last year was more of a learning experience and this year we feel like we have the irons in the fire a little better. He was hoping the fire is hotter this year and they get more people. Weve got more people involved as far as the volunteers, he said. The volunteers take the burden off myself and Kendra and Renee, to make it that much smoother this year. They have about $3,000 worth of paint for the event. I think we have about 300 pounds, he said. There is a way to make sure the paint stays on the shirt. If you wash it I vinegar it will stay in, he said. If you wash it in the wash it will come out. He planned on running. Well find out how well I do, he said. I havent run much this summer, but Im running. One Main Financial Jake Chamberlain from One Main Financial said his organization is happy to support the run and was ready to paint the runners. We provided a little bit of support and all these good people around here, Shane, Kendra, Renee, Gary and everybody else put it together, he said. One Main was inspired by the community getting together to do something good. Its healthy and its a great cause for people to get together and for us to be a part of that were happy to support it, he said. He did not plan to run. Were doing the coloring, he said. We just spray powder on them. He enjoyed meeting all the people at the 2015 event. We let them know about One Main Financial and being involved in the community is a good thing, he said. When someone comes to One Main, he said they ask if they can do a bill consolidation or do home loans, which they dont. We do car loans, he said. If you want to refinance your car or want to consolidate you bills or need some money for home improvement, were your guys. There is no charge or obligation to see what your numbers look like. If you like it great, but if you dont, were happy you came in, he said.. Participants Scott had red paint and was doing it for his son. He wanted to come out and run, he said. Hes already covered in paint. He was having a good 9-11 weekend. We were with the Cub Scout and Boy Scouts at the flag retirement ceremony and now were supporting the Paint the Plains, he said. Maria Gomez said she kind of runs a lot. Its a fun event that brings the community together and its a fun time, she said. She doesnt expect to win. Were going to barbecue afterwards, she said. Renee said he planned to both run and walk. I like seeing everybody out here, he said. Its a little bit of community. Randall Harmon said he planned to run. Im a past athlete trying to get back into shape and take care of myself, he said. I want to be the 85-year-old triathlon runner. Adele Yant said she wasnt sure what color paint she would spray on people. Probably orange, she said. Its orange and blue for the Broncos. After the run, the two planned on having dinner. Quiznos here we come, Yant said. Chris Frost: 719-336-2266, cfrost@lamarledger.com The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary Read more PRESS RELEASE Obama Vetoes JASTA with a String of Lies Sept. 23, 2016 (EIRNS)President Obama this afternoon sent a letter to the U.S. Senate announcing his veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) which was passed by both houses of Congress by unanimous vote. The letter itself was so full of self-promoting lies that it ought to trigger a unanimous override in both Houses. Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) immediately released a brief statement, expressing his anger at President Obamas actions, and 9/11 families also issued an immediate denunciation of Obama. The families denunciation read as follows: "We are outraged and dismayed at the Presidents veto of JASTA and the unconvincing and unsupportable reasons that he offers as explanation. No matter how much the Saudi lobbying and propaganda machine may argue otherwise, JASTA is a narrowly drawn statute that restores longstanding legal principles that have enjoyed bipartisan support for decades. It will deter terrorism and hold accountable those nations that support and fund it. "We are deeply grateful for the unanimous bipartisan support that JASTA has in Congress, and we look forward to the Senate and House fulfilling their commitments by quickly overriding this veto. "We will offer further details on the many flaws in the Presidents rationale in further statements to follow." Signed: 9/11 Families & Survivors United for Justice Against Terrorism The letter that Obama sent to the Senate was disgusting, dripping with false sympathy for the families and survivors, while coming up with the most fraudulent excuses for defending the Saudis against being confronted in U.S. Court. Excerpts follow: "I have deep sympathy for the families of the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11), who have suffered grievously. I also have a deep appreciation of these families desire to pursue justice and am strongly committed to assisting them in their efforts. "Consistent with this commitment, over the past 8 years, I have directed my Administration to pursue relentlessly al-Qaida, the terrorist group that planned the 9/11 attacks. The heroic efforts of our military and counterterrorism professionals have decimated al-Qaidas leadership and killed Osama bin Laden. My Administration also strongly supported, and I signed into law, legislation which ensured that those who bravely responded on that terrible day and other survivors of the attacks will be able to receive treatment for any injuries resulting from the attacks. And my Administration also directed the Intelligence Community to perform a declassification review of "Part Four of the Joint Congressional Inquiry into Intelligence Community Activities Before and After the Terrorist Attacks of September 11," so that the families of 9/11 victims and broader public can better understand the information investigators gathered following that dark day of our history. "Notwithstanding these significant efforts, I recognize that there is nothing that could ever erase the grief the 9/11 families have endured. My Administration therefore remains resolute in its commitment to assist these families in their pursuit of justice and do whatever we can to prevent another attack in the United States. Enacting JASTA into law, however, would neither protect Americans from terrorist attacks nor improve the effectiveness of our response to such attacks. As drafted, JASTA would allow private litigation against foreign governments in U.S. courts based on allegations that such foreign governments actions abroad made them responsible for terrorism-related injuries on U.S. soil. This legislation would permit litigation against countries that have neither been designated by the executive branch as state sponsors of terrorism nor taken direct actions in the United States to carry out an attack here. The JASTA would be detrimental to U.S. national interests more broadly, which is why I am returning it without my approval. "First, JASTA threatens to reduce the effectiveness of our response to indications that a foreign government has taken steps outside our borders to provide support for terrorism, by taking such matters out of the hands of national security and 2 foreign policy professionals and placing them in the hands of private litigants and courts. "Any indication that a foreign government played a role in a terrorist attack on U.S. soil is a matter of deep concern and merits a forceful, unified Federal Government response that considers the wide range of important and effective tools available. One of these tools is designating the foreign government in question as a state sponsor of terrorism, which carries with it a litany of repercussions, including the foreign government being stripped of its sovereign immunity before U.S. courts in certain terrorism-related cases and subjected to a range of sanctions. Given these serious consequences, state sponsor of terrorism designations are made only after national security, foreign policy, and intelligence professionals carefully review all available information to determine whether a country meets the criteria that the Congress established. In contrast, JASTA departs from longstanding standards and practice under our Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and threatens to strip all foreign governments of immunity from judicial process in the United States based solely upon allegations by private litigants that a foreign governments overseas conduct had some role or connection to a group or person that carried out a terrorist attack inside the United States. This would invite consequential decisions to be made based upon incomplete information and risk having different courts reaching different conclusions about the culpability of individual foreign governments and their role in terrorist activities directed against the United States which is neither an effective nor a coordinated way for us to respond to indications that a foreign government might have been behind a terrorist attack." In other words, because two successive U.S. AdministrationsBush and Obamacovered up the Saudi role in the worst terrorist attack to ever take place on U.S. soil and failed to place Saudi Arabia and Great Britain on the State Departments list of state sponsors of terrorism, the families are deprived of their day in court! Obama went on to openly defend the U.S. relations with Saudi Arabiain spite of the mountain of evidence against the Saudi Royal Family, not the least of which is a U.S. Congressional report with 28 pages of evidence: "Third, JASTA threatens to create complications in our relationships with even our closest partners. If JASTA were enacted, courts could potentially consider even minimal allegations accusing U.S. allies or partners of complicity in a particular terrorist attack in the United States to be sufficient to open the door to litigation and wide-ranging discovery against a foreign countryfor example, the country where an individual who later committed a terrorist act traveled from or became radicalized. A number of our allies and partners have already contacted us with serious concerns about the bill. By exposing these allies and partners to this sort of litigation in U.S. courts, JASTA threatens to limit their cooperation on key national security issues, including counterterrorism initiatives, at a crucial time when we are trying to build coalitions, not create divisions." Obama concluded by once again lying about his efforts on behalf of the 9/11 families and his successes in the Global War on Terrorism: "The 9/11 attacks were the worst act of terrorism on U.S. soil, and they were met with an unprecedented U.S. Government response. The United States has taken robust and wide-ranging actions to provide justice for the victims of the 9/11 attacks and keep Americans safe, from providing financial compensation for victims and their families to conducting worldwide counterterrorism programs to bringing criminal charges against culpable individuals. I have continued and expanded upon these efforts, both to help victims of terrorism gain justice for the loss and suffering of their loved ones and to protect the United States from future attacks. The JASTA, however, does not contribute to these goals, does not enhance the safety of Americans from terrorist attacks, and undermines core U.S. interests. For these reasons, I must veto the bill." The language in this letter to the Senate is so repulsive that it can be used as a weapon against Obama, both in assuring an overwhelming over-ride of his veto and in moving immediately for his removal. Dont miss a beat! PRESS RELEASE No Agreement from ISSG Meeting, But Kerry and Lavrov Still Trying Sept. 23, 2016 (EIRNS)The International Syria Support Group met, yesterday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. While it did not result in an agreement, both U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov came out of it saying they would keep trying. "We have exchanged ideas with the Russians and we plan to consult tomorrow" on those ideas, Kerry said after the meeting. "I am no less determined today than I was yesterday but I am even more frustrated." "The good news is that Russia and the U.S. agreed to work intensely on a possible restoration of it," UN Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura told reporters. "It was a long, painful, difficult and disappointing meeting." "Meanwhile ... everyone is going back to the conflict. The next few hours, days maximum are crucial for making it or breaking it," de Mistura said. De Mistura expressed his view that the US-Russian efforts have been sabotaged by other actors on both sides. "Both the two co-chairs have been de-facto undermined by others who have so far not wanted, or have tried to not deliver on the cessation of hostilities," de Mistura said. The major part of the ceasefire agreement that both sides sought to undermine were "detaching the armed opposition from al-Nusra and grounding the Syrian air force," de Mistura explained. Were those two steps implemented, "you would see a different Syria the day after, and we would have [humanitarian aid] convoys moving," he added. Lavrov made the point that while the west is totally focused on the Syrian governments alleged transgressions, the armed opposition groups also have a responsibility to abide by the agreement. "Some of our partners tried to make the Syrian authorities taking unilateral steps. We insist, however, that the opposition must take steps as well," he said Lavrov also said that the "the opposition needs taking steps on the maintenance of the ceasefire regime in a manner to prevent Jabhat al-Nusra and Islamic State from taking the advantage of the situation." The Associated Press, late yesterday, published the text of one of the five documents from the cease fire agreement. The document says at the outset "Delineation of territories controlled by ISIL, Jabhat Al-Nusra, and moderate armed opposition forces remains a key priority, as does separating moderate opposition forces from Nusra." This is the key point repeatedly stressed by the Russians and the requirement thats never been met. It calls for the simultaneous pullback of forces of both the government and opposition forces from the Castello Roada demilitarization of the road, so that humanitarian relief supplies can be trucked through. The Russians have said that the Syrian army pulled back but the opposition forces never did, making it a unilateral withdrawal, which didnt make any sense. The document also directs that the opposition "Will not occupy areas that pro-regime forces vacate or set up positions in the demilitarized zone, other than the observation posts," and that "The opposition will make every effort to prevent Nusra forces from advancing into the demilitarized zone from opposition-held areas adjacent to it." According to the Russians, both of these provisions were violated by the opposition as well. PRESS RELEASE Ukrainian Cease Fire Effort Moving Forward Sept. 23, 2016 (EIRNS)The cease fire effort in Syria may be dead, but in Ukraine it seems to be moving forward. After the agreement announced on Sept. 21 on the withdrawal of weapons from three settlements along the line of contact in the Donbass region of southeastern Ukraine, the Trilateral Contact Group of Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will be discussing withdrawal from four more settlements, reports Tass. "The main goal is to ensure the weapons withdrawal along the whole line of contact. The work in three areas is starting today, another four areas have been determined already, on October 5 the details of the disengagement in these areas and the other areas along the line of contact, will be discussed," Ukraines representative in the Contact Group Yevgeny Marchuk said, yesterday. "The withdrawal schedule comes with the agreement, containing a 13-day deadline for its implementation. I think that the forces disengagement is sure to begin this week," Marchuk said. "If this step proves to be a success, then about a dozen or more areas will be determined to gradually complete the withdrawal process along the whole line of contact, which is 426 kilometers long," Marchuk added. Alexander Hug, the deputy chief of the OSCE mission, declared the missions readiness to monitor the withdrawal. "Were welcoming the signing of the agreements on disengagement in three sectors The OSCEs SMM [Special Monitoring Mission] will monitor compliance and conduct verification of the agreements on both sides of the line of demarcation," he said in Kiev earlier today. He stressed that the monitoring mission has the resources and backing from the OSCE to carry out its mission, but that both sides must take responsibility to ensure that the monitors have access to all of the relevant areas on both sides of the line of contact. PRESS RELEASE Mobilization Underway To Override Obama Veto Sept. 24. 2016 (EIRNS)In the wake of Obamas veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), the LaRouche Political Action Committee (LPAC) has gone into full mobilization to demand that Congress do its duty to override the veto. The next step, as presented by LaRouche movement leader Jeffrey Steinberg on LPACs Sept. 23 webcast, must be to move for impeachment of the President. During the webcast, Steinberg and host Matthew Ogden repeatedly urged viewers to bombard their Congressmen and Senators with the demand that the override be done immediately. Call 202-224-3121, and deliver the message, they said. Steinberg also conveyed direct marching orders from Lyndon LaRouche: Mr. LaRouches marching orders are very simple: Get the veto override. Mobilize your Senator, mobilize your Representative. But, on top of that, anyone who is unclear about the strategic implications of an Obama veto, should think long and hard and should join in the chorus that must immediately demand his impeachment from office. This is a dead serious matter, and thats the step that must be taken. Despite indications from the Congressional leaderships that an override is certain, the scale of mobilization on behalf of the Saudis and their sponsors, including the British, is putting an excruciating squeeze on elected representatives, most of whom are up for re-election. Representatives of the 9/11 victims families are in constant mobilization to press their point home, but the balance of responsibility lies with the legislators constituents. Steinberg put it this way: An Orange County developer is proposing one of the most ambitious developments of the current real estate boom in downtown Los Angeles a massive mixed-use complex with twin towers soaring 58 stories that would dramatically remake the largely low-rise Arts District. The project by Irvine-based SunCal, at 6th and Alameda streets, would represent the migration of high-rises from Bunker Hill and South Park to downtowns periphery as city officials push for more density to ease a housing shortage and encourage public transportation. It would essentially add an entire new community on the edges of the Arts District, a neighborhood near the Los Angeles River that has been transformed from a gritty outpost, to an artistic hub, to an increasingly ritzy area thats one of the hottest real estate markets in the country. Advertisement Three words, in my opinion: Its exciting; its bold; its innovative, said Carol Schatz, president of the Central City Assn. business group, noting it could encourage more towers along an Alameda corridor dominated by warehouses. The towers will probably face opposition by community members worried that it will change the neighborhoods character. The height has not settled well with me, but as always, well wait to hear from the community, said area Councilman Jose Huizar, who added the rest of the project looks spectacular and fits the Arts District. SunCal is proposing 1,736 residences, two hotels, shops and creative offices and a school on a lot now the site of two warehouses. About 430 of the residences would be condos, the rest apartments. There would also be 23,000 square feet of art opportunity space and two major urban parks. SunCal purchased the 14.5-acre property for $130 million in March of last year. The developer, which specializes in master planned mixed-used communities including in Oxnard, in the San Francisco Bay Area and near Washington, D.C., is partnering on the Arts District development with a fund affiliated with Michael Dell, founder of Dell computers. The project, known as 6AM, is several blocks from the Arts Districts heart, where lofts top $3,500 a month and people frequent high-end restaurants, breweries and galleries. Instead, its proposed for a corner of the Arts District, a stretch of Alameda where theres a steady flow of big-rigs that back up to loading docks at produce warehouses. Neighbors and visitors complain of grimy streets and bad air. The air is filthy, said photographer Storm Foster, who lives in a loft in the area. Hal Bastian, a development consultant, said SunCal feels comfortable proposing the development near Skid Row because of all the building downtown has experienced over the last two decades. High-profile projects include Staples Center, L.A. Live, the Broad Museum, Disney Concert Hall and the tallest building on the West Coast, the Wilshire Grand, which is still under construction. We have been doing 22 years of foundation building, so this project can be built, said Bastian, an admitted downtown booster. Decades ago, few developers would have considered the Arts District suitable for investment, let alone two high-rise towers along Alameda. Addicts shot up in the alleys. Artists leased empty warehouse space for dirt cheap. Many lived there illegally until the city passed an artist-in-residence ordinance in the early 1980s. Locals flocked to Als Bar, a neighborhood institution, to hear bands such as Nirvana, well before the group hit the big time. Als closed in 2001 and in the last decade the area has seen heavy investment, mirroring the rest of downtown. In July, Los Angeles developer Lowe Enterprises opened the Garey Building, which features 320 apartments, retail and restaurants off Santa Fe Avenue between 1st and 2nd streets. In 2014, the massive, white One Santa Fe apartment building opened, earning the nickname Empire State Building on its side for its horizontal shape. By the end of this year, a retail and office project called At Mateo is expected to finish construction and, according to its developer, be activated from breakfast to nightcap, seven days a week. Now SunCal wants to go sky-high. On Friday the companys chief executive, Bruce Elieff, and architect Pierre de Meuron of Herzog & de Meuron informally introduced 6AM to Los Angeles city officials, a SunCal spokesman said. But whether the ambitious plan can be completed is another question. No formal plans have been submitted to the city, and the proposal comes as developers race to file plans with the city, nervous over the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative, a March ballot measure that if passed would dramatically limit the ability to build more densely than for what land is currently zoned. SunCal said the project would need a zoning change and a general plan amendment to build the exact types of changes the ballot measure would crack down on. SunCals proposal also comes amid growing concern over the level of development in downtown Los Angeles. Though experts dont foresee a crash as in 2008, theres debate whether the top of the current cycle has been reached. Some lenders have grown wary of new projects and a handful of recently opened luxury apartments are offering concessions, such as free rent and free parking, to attract wealthy tenants. In all, nearly 10,400 apartments and condos are under construction downtown, according to a July report from real estate firm Transwestern. And SunCal, despite it substantive portfolio, has mistimed the development cycle before. In 2006, the firm beat out current GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump for a vacant lot at the border of Century City and Beverly Hills. It planned a 45-story, wisp-thin tower of ultra-luxury condominiums designed by renowned Paris architect Jean Nouvel. But the real estate market soon crashed and SunCal, whose financier was Lehman Bros., lost control of the property after putting it into bankruptcy in 2008. It similarly gave up marquee projects in Orange County, including the Marblehead development on a coastal bluff in San Clemente that is now under construction by another developer. On Friday morning, Mike Parillo, an artist who has lived in a loft on nearby Factory Place since 2013, was out walking his dog, Jefe, on 6th Street near the proposed project. In just three years, he has watched development in the Arts District explode while rising rents have forced many of his fellow artists out of the neighborhood. He said the proposed project could dramatically change the aesthetic of the area. Sixty stories? Thats crazy, Parillo said. That seems out of place. It doesnt even compute. Yet he acknowledged the development may just be the reality of an ever-changing L.A. It could be a natural progression depending on how things go in the next few years. It just seems like its going to be the Westside without the ocean view, he said. However, Bastian argued that the project is needed for the city as whole. We have a housing crisis, because its so difficult to build anything in this city, he said. With 6AM, we have an incredible opportunity for density. Follow @khouriandrew and @bposton on Twitter. ALSO Bijan property on Rodeo Drive sells for $19,000 a square foot Home prices soar near USC as buyers rush to one of the best neighborhoods left L.A. plans crackdown on landlords who pay rent-controlled tenants too little to move out Eighteen garment companies received fines of more than $682,000 for violating labor laws, state regulators announced. The businesses, all based in Los Angeles, were inspected this month by the California labor commissioners office. The inspections revealed that the companies did not have workers compensation insurance, failed to give employees itemized time sheets showing hours on the job, or did not properly register with the state. State law requires that all garment manufacturers register with the state in order to do business. These illegal entities should take note: We will shine a light on the underground economy, and those who contract with unregistered contractors will also be held accountable, said Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su in an emailed statement. Advertisement Investigators with Sus office seized 85 bags of clothing, worth $155,457, at nine of the businesses. The clothes will be distributed to homeless and domestic violence shelters across Los Angeles, the office said. Los Angeles has long been a mecca for illicit garment companies, which often pay workers below the minimum wage, doctor their hours and refuse to pay for overtime, several investigations have shown. In the last five years alone, companies in the area have denied workers $11.7 million in wages they were owed, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Natalie.Kitroeff@latimes.com Follow me @NatalieKitro on Twitter ALSO American Apparel is losing CEO Paula Schneider, who was supposed to turn it around Its strange Yahoo took 2 years to discover a data breach, security experts say Why do customers flock to one dress and ignore another? Stores turn to heat mapping to figure out Turkeys, pigs and even roosters have flown the friendly skies, carried onto commercial planes by passengers who identified the critters as emotional support animals. But a committee of airline representatives and disabled rights advocates has been meeting for months in Washington, D.C., to come up with new rules on what type of animals should be permitted on planes and what documents are required to prove the animals are needed. Airlines recognize two types of animals that can accompany passengers free of charge: service animals, such as seeing-eye dogs, and emotional support animals, which help comfort travelers with psychological or emotional conditions. Advertisement The debate among members of the Accessible Air Transportation advisory committee focuses on what type of animals can be recognized as emotional support animals. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, among others, suggests limiting emotional support animals to dogs, cats and rabbits, while other organizations, including the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, would like to add birds to that list (but not chickens, ducks or turkeys). Some advocacy groups say passengers shouldnt be required to carry a letter from a mental health professional confirming the need for an animal because it would be stigmatizing. Airline representatives say too many passengers falsely claim that their pets are emotional support animals. The carriers want to recognize only dogs and miniature horses as service animals and require that all animals be kept in pet carriers during the flight. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation wants to limit the type of animals allowed on a plane for a different reason. Allowing various types of animals to fly will expose all passengers to pet dander, even when the animal is riding in an enclosed carrier, the group wrote to members of the committee. The meetings, which began in April, wrap up next month. hugo.martin@latimes.com To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter. MORE BUSINESS NEWS Alaska Airlines tries out DIY bag tagging at LAX A few extra pounds can hurt your job chances -- more so if youre a woman Snapchat to sell Spectacles, sunglasses with an embedded camera Outraged senators castigated Wells Fargo & Co. Chief Executive John Stumpf this week for not seeking to take back some of the $100 million awarded to a retiring executive who oversaw the division at the heart of the companys fake-accounts scandal. But whenever Stumpf, 63, eventually departs from his post atop the San Francisco banking giant, he could walk away with far more nearly $195 million in cash, stock and other compensation, a review of the banks regulatory filings show. While its almost certain Stumpf will keep the vast majority of that sum given the banks compensation policy, both he and Carrie Tolstedt, the retiring executive who headed the banks retail operations, could lose tens of millions of dollars over the still-unfolding scandal. Advertisement The bank has agreed to pay $185 million to federal regulators and the Los Angeles city attorneys office over the creation of as many as 2 million fake accounts, a practice regulators say was encouraged by a demanding and poorly supervised sales culture. But trouble for the bank has continued to grow since the settlement was announced. Federal prosecutors are investigating the bank to see whether criminal charges should be filed, while senators have called for the Labor Department to investigate possible labor law violations. And theres a growing chorus of investors, corporate governance experts and others calling for Wells Fargo to cut or cancel executives pay over the scandal. At a Senate Banking Committee hearing last week, Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said that the bank would be committing malpractice from the standpoint of just public relations if it does not dock executives pay. Analysts who follow the bank expect that means both Stumpf and Tolstedt will lose some compensation. Stumpf has been Wells Fargos chief executive since 2007, its chairman since 2010 and has worked for the company or a predecessor for 34 years, amassing a sizable chunk of retirement benefits and stock along the way, on top of his salary and cash bonuses. He owns 2.4 million shares of Wells Fargo stock outright, according to recent regulatory filings, worth about $111 million at Fridays closing price of $45.74. Stumpf also has nearly $20 million in accrued pension benefits and an additional $4.2 million in the companys 401(k) plan. Add in his annual salary of $2.8 million and that amounts to about $138 million in cash and stock that Stumpf will almost certainly keep. But the rest of his compensation is not so secure. For starters, Stumpfs annual pay package this year includes a cash bonus of about $4 million. The banks board can opt to pay less than that amount or nothing at all depending on Stumpfs performance. In paying him a bonus of $4 million last year, the board cited several factors, saying Stumpf had among other things reinforced a culture of risk management and accountability across the company. With the bank under fire for failing to prevent thousands of employees from opening accounts that customers didnt want, the board could choose to not give that bonus this year. But $4 million is peanuts compared with another chunk of compensation he could lose. A review of the banks regulatory filings shows that Stumpf could receive as many as 1.15 million additional shares of stock over the next three years, though the number could be lower depending on the banks financial performance. Those shares, which have been granted but have not vested meaning Stumpf does not own them yet were worth $52.8 million at Fridays closing price. Thats a substantial figure even for an executive whose annual compensation has totaled about $20 million for the last several years. For Tolstedt, unvested awards could amount to as many as 612,000 shares, worth just shy of $28 million, according to figures submitted by the bank to the office of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) The executive also owns shares and vested stock options worth $77.7 million, putting her in line for a total payout of about $105 million, the figures show. Under normal conditions, unvested shares are fairly secure. Even if an executive retires, resigns under pressure or is fired, the executive could potentially keep all of them. But Stumpf could lose those shares if a majority of the board voted to fire him for cause. That would involve making a finding that the executive failed to substantially perform his duties or had violated company policies. While analysts and corporate governance experts do not expect the board to take such an action, there are other ways to claw back compensation they do expect the board to take. Stock awards that havent vested can be clawed back when an executive is negligent or the persons misconduct harms the banks reputation, according to Wells Fargos compensation policy. Jon Lukomnik, executive director of the Investor Responsibility Research Center Institute, a nonprofit corporate governance group, said he would be surprised if the board did not exercise such a provision to claw back shares from Stumpf and Tolstedt. They have all the right in the world to take back any nonvested awards, he said. I dont see that they have an option at this point. But how much they claw back is a more open question. Analysts at investment bank and brokerage Keefe Bruyette & Woods support that position. In a research note this week, they wrote that they expect the bank will cancel some compensation for Stumpf, as well as for Tolstedt, who announced her retirement in July but is not departing from her position until the end of the year. Steven Bank, a professor of business law at UCLA, said its possible that Wells Fargo shareholders could take legal action if Stumpf and Tolstedt are not required to give back some unvested shares. If they fail to implement their clawback policy, there could be a suit against the board saying their breached their fiduciary duty, Bank said, though he added its not clear whether such a suit would be successful. During last weeks Senate Banking Committee hearing, senators raised the issue of clawbacks and asked Stumpf to commit to clawing back pay from Tolstedt and possibly other executives. Stumpf repeatedly declined to take a position, saying any decisions about clawbacks will be left to a committee within Wells Fargos corporate board. Im going to let that process proceed, Stumpf said. Im not going to in any way try to influence or prejudice the board. james.koren@latimes.com Follow me: @jrkoren ALSO Towering development is proposed for L.A.'s Arts District: an opportunity for density What $600,000 buys in Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange County American Apparel is losing CEO Paula Schneider, who was supposed to turn it around There were a couple of light moments Thursday at the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commissions interminable, inconclusive public hearing about whether it should allow the fossil fuel giant Phillips 66 to send crude-oil trains across California to its Santa Maria Refinery. A local named Gary, one of only four citizens to express support for the project, took the microphone and announced, Anybody opposed to something because its dangerous is my definition of a coward. As he walked away, the audience, packed with oil train opponents, howled. For the record: An earlier version of this story referred to the Surface Transportation Board as the Safety Transportation Board. My name is Sherry Lewis, said the next speaker, and I come from Cowards Anonymous. Advertisement After several hearings, reams of public comment and a few concessions by Phillips 66, commissioners were finally supposed to put the matter to a vote this week. Would they approve the construction of a new rail spur and oil transfer operation that would give Phillips the ability to send three new crude-oil trains through California each week, or would they defy their staff, who recommended denial because the project would have significant negative effects, particularly to air quality and sensitive habitats? Would they disregard their pleading constituents, and the letters that have poured in from cities, teachers and boards of supervisors from San Francisco to Los Angeles asking commissioners to deny the project because those mile-long oil trains bring increased risk to every California community along Union Pacific tracks? (Not to belabor the point, but if you live, work or study within half a mile of those tracks, youre in what is known, for emergency planning purposes, as the blast zone. Even the mayor of nearby Paso Robles, who has offered lukewarm support for the project, once referred to them as bomb trains.) Last spring, three of five commissioners indicated they were leaning toward approval. But one of them, a local realtor named Jim Irving, now appears to be on the fence. The regulatory issues around oil trains are complex and somewhat maddening. Local and state governments, for example, have no say over what is carried on railroad tracks, because the federal government regulates interstate commerce. Think of the chaos if individual cities tried to impose rules on railroads. Even though cities and counties have no control over railroads, they still want assurances that tracks and bridges are safe for the heavy, mile-long trains that carry highly flammable crude oil. We all do, dont we? Thursday, Irving asked about the Stenner Creek Trestle, a picturesque, 85-foot-high steel railroad bridge just north of the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus that was built in 1894. Could Union Pacific reassure the county that the bridge is sound enough to carry those heavy tanker cars? As recently as June, a slow-moving Union Pacific oil train derailed near an elementary school and a water treatment plant on the Columbia River Gorge in Mosier, Ore. That derailment has weighed heavily on peoples minds around here. We tried to request documentation from Union Pacific related to the stability of bridges, county planner Ryan Hostetter told Irving, and all we got was a form with a checked box that they had inspected. Thats kind of appalling, said Irving. :: These are not idle questions, and they are being faced by communities all over the country. As my colleague Ralph Vartabedian has reported, some of the nations top safety experts believe the government has misjudged the risk posed by the growing number of crude-oil trains. The Mosier train derailment was caused by failing bolts that allowed the tracks to separate. This was particularly worrisome because the tracks had been inspected the previous week. For me, that was a game changer, said Benicia City Councilwoman Christina Strawbridge. I just dont think the rail industry has caught up with safety standards. On Tuesday, Strawbridge and her colleagues on the Benicia City Council voted 5-0 to deny a project very much like the one under consideration in San Luis Obispo County. This one was proposed by energy behemoth Valero, which owns a refinery in Benicia. Unlike Phillips Santa Maria Refinery, which employs only 120 people full time, Valero is Benicias largest employer. The refinery provides nearly 25% of the citys annual $31 million budget. It has been a good neighbor, said Strawbridge, and charitable. But she and her colleagues could not put their town at risk. After four years of debate, and a last-minute declaration by the federal Surface Transportation Board that oil companies cannot claim they are exempt from local regulations just because they use the railroads, the council said no to oil trains. Ive gotten a lot of hugs on the street, Strawbridge told me Friday. They are well deserved. :: Next month, the San Luis Obispo Planning Commission is scheduled, finally, to vote on this thing. After that, the San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors will weigh in. The wild card seems to be the boards one open seat, in District 1, which comprises towns in the more conservative north side of the county. That supervisor has often functioned as a swing vote on the board. Two conservatives are vying for the seat, the aforementioned mayor of Paso Robles, Steve Martin, and John Peschong, a well-known Republican operative whose firm, Meridian Pacific Inc., received $262,000 from Phillips 66 in 2015, according to the oil companys website. Maybe the leaders of San Luis Obispo County will look north to the tiny city of Benicia for inspiration. That town, after all, had far more at stake. They have a chance to do the right thing, not just for their county, but for all of California. ALSO A catastrophic oil train derailment raises fears on the Central Coast To protect their homes, Central Coast retirees are taking on an oil company robin.abcarian@latimes.com Twitter: @AbcarianLAT The political betting had U.S. Rep. Janice Hahn easily winning a Los Angeles County supervisor seat and taking her place on the dais where her legendary father, Kenneth Hahn, wielded power for decades. But Hahn fell short of the majority needed to win outright in Junes primary, with 47% of the vote to rival Steve Napolitanos 37%. Now, she is facing a tough fight in November one that will determine just how far leftward the Board of Supervisors will tilt in the coming years. The election also marks a potential milestone for the Hahn political dynasty. Her brother, James, is a former mayor of Los Angeles. Shes a Democrat from San Pedro with an impressive political resume that includes a stint on the Los Angeles City Council. Advertisement Napolitano, an attorney and former Manhattan Beach councilman who has worked for Knabe for 12 years, has less name recognition but has his boss backing and substantial financial resources of his own. Each campaign has raised about $1.7 million for the primary and runoff. In Napolitanos case, that included almost $1.4 million of his own money. Hahn, meanwhile, has drawn heavy support from labor groups and may have run afoul of county campaign finance rules as a result. If elected, Hahn would be the fourth labor-backed liberal on the officially nonpartisan five-member board constituting a supermajority that could assure passage of certain tax and salary matters. Knabe and Michael D. Antonovich the two Republicans on the board are being forced out by term limits. Hahn said voters have a choice between same old, same old with Steve Napolitano or something different. I will really take an interest in those who are most vulnerable in the county, Hahn said. I think being a woman, being a mother, being a grandmother, my focus will really be on the children, the seniors, those who really need the help of Los Angeles County. Napolitano, for his part, touted the more than a decade he has worked for the county and his understanding of local issues. I can hit the ground running on day one, he said. The countys just a different animal when it comes to government. Each of our communities has different needs. The candidates are not far apart on most issues, but some differences exist. The new board members are likely to have to decide whether to place a sales tax measure on the March ballot to fund homeless services. In interviews, Hahn said she supports putting the question to voters, while Napolitano did not rule it out but was more circumspect. Some of Napolitanos supporters said they would be happy with a continuation of Knabes policies. You need a mix of people on the supervisors so that certain agendas dont just get pushed through, said Tony Palermo, who owns Tony Ps Dockside Grill in Marina del Rey. Palermo said Knabe and Napolitano had been responsive to the needs of small businesses. I think Steves a really good balance for the Board of Supervisors, and they need balance. But party affiliation is likely to give Hahn an advantage in the district, where registered Democrats now substantially outnumber Republicans. If everyone votes, it will be very hard for Hahn to lose, said Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC. It might be a nonpartisan race on the ballot, but the endorsements and the mail and the slates are going to make [party affiliation] very clear. The memory of Hahns father also looms large. The former supervisor was known widely for his role in bringing the Dodgers to Los Angeles, for getting a hospital built in Willowbrook in the wake of the Watts riots and for his embrace of Martin Luther King Jr. at a time when many white politicians shunned the civil rights leader. I admired him greatly, said former Supervisor Yvonne Burke, who succeeded Kenneth Hahn, becoming the first African American on the Board of Supervisors. I cant thank him enough for the help he gave to me, and I know that Janice will continue in his footsteps. Diane Middleton, a retired attorney and longtime San Pedro resident who ran against Hahn in 1993 in a Los Angeles City Council race in which both lost, said she was initially skeptical, thinking that Hahn was simply trading on her family lineage. My impression was that she was very sincere and obviously had the political background you would expect from Kenneth Hahns daughter, but had never run for office and was kind of feeling her way, Middleton said. Ive seen her mature over the years, and Ive seen her positions take shape. Shes earned my respect. Now Middleton said she backs Hahn, largely because of her support of both labor groups and environmental rules at the Port of Los Angeles. Knabe accused Hahn of riding on her fathers coattails. Youve got one candidate that says shes anointed because of her dad, he said. And youve got the other candidate whos working his tail off and really understands the district. The contest in the countys southernmost district has been hard-fought, both in fundraising and in the campaigns attacks on each other. Last month, the county registrar sent Hahns campaign a letter saying she may have violated a county campaign finance rule that caps total contributions from political action committees at $150,000 in the primary and $150,000 in the general election. Hahns committee received a total of $439,619 in such contributions through June 30, the registrar said. The Napolitano campaign which made the issue public argued that the actual amount of political action committee contributions is even higher than the registrar had found, and called it the largest campaign contribution violation in L.A. County history. Hahns campaign contends that the fundraising limits did not apply under county rules because Napolitano spent a large amount of his own money on the campaign, and accused him of trying to buy a seat on the board. The registrar sent Hahns campaign a letter this week saying it had reviewed the matter and affirmed its original determination that a possible violation exists. In an interview, Hahn said she would pay back the money if the county ultimately decides she has to, but added, Weve certainly questioned the constitutionality of a campaign law that would allow a millionaire to spend all the money they want but would silence firefighters, teachers, nurses, lifeguards, womens groups, environmental groups. Hahns campaign, in turn, recently unearthed documents showing that Section 8 apartments in a South Los Angeles building owned by Napolitano had failed annual inspections by the city housing authority. The violations included missing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and a pest infestation. Napolitano also failed to report about $13,000 in income from the property on his 2012 financial declarations, although he did report the income in the previous and subsequent years forms. Hahn spokesman John Shallman called Napolitano the ultimate slumlord millionaire. Napolitano said that all of the issues found in the inspections had been corrected within the required 30-day period and that the apartments all have two working smoke alarms. You cannot get paid by Section 8 unless you get re-inspected and you pass, he said. Any landlord needs to do maintenance and repairs on their building. He said the failure to report the income in 2012 was an oversight and that he would file an amended form. abby.sewell@latimes.com Twitter: @sewella Good morning. It is Saturday, Sept. 24. Heres what you dont want to miss this weekend: TOP STORIES A new downtown: Theres an audacious plan that would further expand the downtown L.A. skyline. Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron would build a massive, 14.5-acre mixed complex in the Arts District crowned with two, 58-story towers. The proposal would push downtowns skyline farther east and could transform the low-rise Arts District. Los Angeles Times Misery on display: As Orange Countys homeless problem worsens, one place that has seen the strain is the main Santa Ana public library. Some patrons say they are avoiding the library because of the large homeless population, sparking debate about what to do. The library was recently designed to better address the homeless issues, but officials say they dont want to turn transients away. Los Angeles Times Advertisement Sex offender laws: Theres been a big push this year to toughen California sex offense laws, inspired by the Bill Cosby case as well as Brock Turner, the Stanford University swimmer who got what many considered a light sentence in a sexual assault case. But some people worry these new proposal would unfairly harm minorities. Said one advocate: Every time we ratchet up the possibility of prosecution and of longer sentences, the more we push survivors who are disinclined to engage with the system further into darkness. Los Angeles Times Live and die in L.A.: Anthony Bourdain loves a lot of L.A. places. But he singled out the Chateau Marmont hotel. Thats the hotel I want to die in. I have the room all picked out. But if Im really getting into it, Im drinking there, because I just gotta stagger to the elevator. LA Weekly What am I voting on: A guide to all those California ballot measures. CALmatters Change at the top: The woman who was supposed to turn around troubled American Apparel is stepping down. Los Angeles Times One case confirmed: There is now a confirmed leprosy case at a Riverside County school, but officials are urging calm. Los Angeles Times Theres a catch: Stanford University will help pay for your MBA, if you work in the Midwest after graduation. Bloomberg Officer in trouble: A San Jose police officer is facing charges for allegedly accessing the departments computer records system to help a Vietnamese organized crime ring. Mercury News Message from 1961: Reexamining the politics and culture of that famous (some say infamous) ode to post-war Chinatown San Francisco: The Flower Drum Song. LA Review of Books THIS WEEKS MOST POPULAR STORIES IN ESSENTIAL CALIFORNIA 1. Who is using so much water in Bel-Air? Center for Investigative Reporting 2. This was a pretty juicy Hollywood sex scandal back in 1936. Vanity Fair 3. How a retirement plan that wasnt suppose to cost a penny ended up costing taxpayers billions of dollars. Los Angeles Times 4. One Orange County nonprofit is turning shipping containers into homes for the homeless. Los Angeles Times 5. Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt this week. BuzzFeed ICYMI, HERE ARE THIS WEEKS GREAT READS Dangerous conditions: Why are so many motorcyclists dying on one picturesque canyon road in Orange County? Orange County Register Boom and backlash: Is L.A. freaking out over all the construction cranes? How a booming L.A. is facing a backlash. Mayor Eric Garcetti says: The sprawl has hit the wall in L.A. New York Times Campaign advice: Donald Trump asked, so Steve Lopez offers him some campaign advice. He should stick with his claim that he watched thousands of Muslims celebrate the destruction of the World Trade Center towers on 9/11, even though it didnt happen. He needs to keep saying Clinton started the rumor that President Obama was born in Kenya, even though she didnt. Los Angeles Times Remember him: Donald Trump and the Mexican judge in San Diego. New Yorker LOOKING AHEAD Monday: The Los Angeles Times is hosting a debate watch party, and this one will be our biggest yet. Join us for the Debate Watch Spectacular at the Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Tickets are $13. RSVP here. Thursday: Ceremony marking completion of Terminal 4 connector at LAX, connecting Terminal 4 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Friday: Filipino-American History Month kicks off in Carson. Saturday: Beach cleanup in San Pedro. If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. Send us an email to let us know what you love or fondly remember about our state. (Please keep your story to 100 words.) Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Alice Walton or Shelby Grad. A San Gabriel man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder Saturday after six people were stabbed, including two critically, at a Pasadena house party. Police and firefighters arrived at the scene about 3:10 a.m. after a fight erupted at the party in the 3000 block of East California Boulevard, according to the Pasadena Police Department. In all, six men were stabbed and another suffered blunt force trauma, Pasadena Fire Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said. All of the victims were taken to hospitals. Advertisement Investigators said that the suspect, Aaron Hong Te, 21, had bumped into someone at the party before the fight broke out. Te then pulled out a knife and began stabbing people, according to police. Police found Te in front of the house and arrested him without incident. He was booked at the Pasadena City Jail. As of Saturday morning, police said two of the stabbing victims were in critical condition, one was in serious condition, and three were in stable condition. David Dai, the owner of the house, said he had rented out the residence for one night for $240. He said he did not find out what happened until Saturday morning. I just came here and they told me somebody made a party here last night and somebody got hurt, said Dai, who bought the house in July. Shawn Lu, 22, who attended the party, said that there were 100 to 150 people there. He said it was a birthday party that was announced on Facebook. He said two people were severely stabbed. It happened right away, he said. Out of nowhere someone was screaming. I didnt know what happened. I stayed away from the commotion. emily.alpert@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter at @LATimesEmily ALSO Man who said he did his childhood friend a favor by killing him is sentenced to 10 years Water main break floods part of Melrose Avenue Man found dead with head trauma in Hollywood Hills home of Canadian TV personality UPDATES: 11:40 a.m.: This story has been updated with new information from someone who attended the party. 10:13 a.m.: This story has been updated with new information about the owner of the house. This article was originally published at 9:05 a.m. Americas first national museum dedicated to African American history and culture opened Saturday with emotional but joyful words from the countrys first black president, who said he hoped the stories contained inside will help everyone walk away that much more in love for their country. In an impassioned speech, President Obama pointed out the highs and lows of being black in America, from slavery and Jim Crow segregation to voting rights and economic leaders. That duality lingers still, Obama said, through successes such as his presidency, and trials such as the police killings of black men. We are not a burden on America. Or a stain on America ... we are America. And thats what this museum explains, Obama said. Advertisement He and First Lady Michelle Obama joined Ruth Bonner, a 99-year-old direct descendant of a slave, and her family as they rang a bell from the historic First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, Va., to signal that the National Museum of African American History and Culture was officially open. The church, believed to be among the first Baptist churches organized entirely by black people, acquired its Freedom Bell in 1886. It will return to the church for its 240th anniversary later this year. Civil rights veteran John Lewis, a Democratic congressman from Georgia who co-sponsored the bill that created the museum, said he hopes visitors will come away with a healthy respect for human dignity, and a stronger commitment to the idea of justice, truth and democracy. This place is more than a building, it is a dream come true, Lewis said. In his speech, Obama imagined himself coming back to the museum someday as a private citizen, holding a little hand of somebody and telling them the stories enshrined here. A shining bronze-colored beacon on the National Mall, only steps away from the White House and the Washington Monument, the new Smithsonian facility chronicles the complex relationship between the United States and a people it once enslaved, and tells the story of those who worked to make the necessary changes to bring the country to where it is today. Thousands gathered on the National Mall to watch the museum officially open its doors and to be among the first inside if they were lucky enough to get the much-coveted opening-day tickets. Its like walking across the desert and finally getting to a fountain of water to quench your thirst. Its absolutely breathtaking for me, said Verna Eggleston, 61, of New York City, who will tour the museum later Saturday. After a decades-long push, ground was broken for the new museum in 2012 on a five-acre tract near the Washington Monument. Lewis worked with then-Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, now the states Republican governor, to usher legislation through Congress. President George W. Bush signed it into law in 2003. Bush said the museum tells the unvarnished truth, that a country founded on the promise of liberty once held millions of people in chains. A great nation does not hide from its history, Bush said, it faces its flaws and corrects them. Construction was completed earlier this year on the 400,000-square-foot museum designed by British Ghanaian architect David Adjaye. The museum strikes a unique shape on the Mall with its three-tiered bronze exterior panels inspired by an African wooden column. The patterned bronze-colored tiles are inspired by 19th century ironwork created by slaves in the South, and allow sunlight into the museum through its patterns. The new museum symbolizes all of the contributions, the culture and the crisis of black America, said Rev. Howard-John Wesley, pastor of Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va., whose members donated $1 million to the museum. Its a beautiful thing, especially in this day and time when were fighting to remind ourselves how important black lives are. Inside, museum officials say they have nearly 3,000 items occupying 85,000 square feet of display space, including exhibits such as a Tuskegee Airmen training plane and the casket of Emmett Till, a murdered African American boy whose murder helped rally the civil rights movement. Its been 100 years in the making. So many people have dreamed about this, fought for this and wanted this to happen, said U.S. Circuit Judge Robert L. Wilkins, who wrote the book Long Road to Hard Truth about the struggle to open the museum. Its going to be a testament to their work and a testament to so many of our ancestors that this museum will open on the Mall. Millions of donors, both known and unknown, contributed to the $315 million in private funding raised before the museums opening. Some of the biggest donors names adorn the walls inside, including the Oprah Winfrey Theater; the Michael Jordan Hall: Game Changers; and the newest named addition, Robert F. Smith Explore Your Family History Center. It is named after the CEO of investment firm Vista Equity Partners after a $20-million gift announced Monday. As part of the opening ceremony, Winfrey and actor Will Smith read lines of famous black writers, from Maya Angelou to Langston Hughes, Toni Morrison and Martin Luther King Jr. I am overwhelmed. Im humbled, said Deborah Elam, president of the GE Foundation and chief diversity officer of General Electric, as she waited for the museums opening. GE donated $5 million toward the construction of the museum. Im so proud our company contributed early because we believed in this project. Some people trying to get to the dedication ceremony stood for more than an hour in lines that snaked around the Mall to get through security. Master Sgt. Donald Sparks of Houston, who just finished a yearlong deployment in Iraq, said he was eager to see the exhibits inside the museum. Im just elated and cant express how much joy and gratitude I have to be here today and witness history, he said. ALSO Obama vetoes bill paving way for 9/11 families to sue Saudi Arabia, setting up a possible override Demonstrators flood streets again in Charlotte and Atlanta to protest police shootings Death toll rises to 5 in shooting at Burlington, Wash., mall; gunman still at large UPDATES: 12:10 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details throughout. This article was originally published at 8:40 a.m. Dozens of demonstrators were out in Charlotte, N.C., for a fourth night of protests Friday after the shooting of a black man by a police officer. Several dozen people gathered at a park and then marched through Charlottes business district with signs. A separate protest was underway in Atlanta, where hundreds of protesters were in the streets. Advertisement One of the marchers in Charlotte had a sign that said Just Stop The Killing, while another had a banner that said Just Release the Tapes. Protesters have sought the release of police footage of the shooting this week of Keith Lamont Scott. They were watched by National Guard members posted in front of many downtown buildings. Two of the three previous nights of protests were chaotic. But on Thursday, people marched through downtown in a largely peaceful protest. Scotts mother asked protesters to give up the rioting because it had worsened the situation. She told WCSC TV of Charleston, S.C., that he would not want the violence that followed his death. Vernita Scott Walker of James Island said a peaceful walk is fine, but the rioting and looting makes it bad for the family. Walker said that she last talked to her son less than two hours before the shooting, and that she learned of his death from TV news. Police say Scott was armed, but witnesses say he held only a book. His mother says it was the Koran, which he loved to read daily. In Atlanta, marchers took to the streets after a rally at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights museum Friday evening. Many held signs reading Black Lives Matter and chanted Were ready, were ready for yall. NAACP state President Francys Johnson and lawyer Mawuli Mel Davis led the protest. There were no police present, but volunteers walked ahead of demonstrators and blocked off intersections for marchers to walk. ALSO Charlotte protests continue, but new curfew passes without incident Dont shoot him, wife pleads to police in video of fatal Charlotte, N.C., shooting Charlotte, N.C., has prospered in recent years, but many black residents have been left behind Donald Trump calls school choice new civil rights issue of our time (Steve Helber / Associated Press) Donald Trump had nothing to say at his rally Saturday about the recent police shootings of black men that have mobilized civil rights activists across the country -- but he did talk talk about what he sees as the new civil rights issue of our time. In Trumps view, it is school choice. Too many African Americans have been left behind and trapped in poverty, Trump said in Roanoke, Va., stressing that he, not Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, will foster better schools and create more jobs for African Americans. I will fight to make sure every single African American child in this country is fully included in the American dream. That includes the new civil rights issue of our time: School choice, he said. Republicans have often invoked school choice in their efforts to woo minority support from Democrats. Trump, in the final stretch of a campaign marked by racially divisive rhetoric, is making an overt pitch to black voters. But the appeals, rarely made before black audiences, also appear to be aimed at easing concerns of moderate white voters uneasy with Trumps racially coded rhetoric. Still, Trump has also muddled his message to blacks and Latinos in recent weeks, advocating policing tactics such as stop-and-frisk, which has been widely condemned for promoting racial profiling. I would do stop-and-frisk. I think you have to. We did it in New York; it worked incredibly well. And you have to be proactive, Trump said earlier this week. While he did not address the current unrest in Charlotte, N.C., and Tulsa, Okla., following recent police shootings of black men, Trump did acknowledge Saturdays opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. Its a very beautiful place and were all very proud of it, he said. Behind in the polls and lagging in fundraising, Orange County Rep. Loretta Sanchez has shifted into attack mode in her effort to close the gap with the front-runner in Californias U.S. Senate race, state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris. In just the last two weeks, Sanchez has latched onto scandals surrounding Trump University, the closed San Onofre nuclear power plant and nutritional company Herbalife to question Harris effectiveness as Californias attorney general. By attacking a fellow Democrat, Sanchez could peel away some Harris supporters, but she might also alienate party loyalists which could hamstring another run for higher office if she falls short in November. She has to take big risks to catch Kamala, said former Democratic Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, who has endorsed Harris. Advertisement The success or failure of those aggressive tactics in this Democrat-versus-Democrat race may influence high-stakes campaigns in California for years to come. The Harris-Sanchez contest is the highest-profile face-off between two members of the same political party since California adopted the top-two primary system in 2012. And in a state under solid Democratic rule, more brutal intra-party fights are all but certain to be on the horizon. I think this is all part of a new political paradigm, Nunez said. This is the result of the open primary, and what it speaks to is the intramural differences and fights that happen usually during a primary battle. Unlike the barrage of caustic political ads that traditionally invade Californians TV screens, car radios and mailboxes in hotly contested statewide races, Sanchezs effort thus far is being done on the cheap by staging news conferences and ginning up media coverage. That tactic is more about necessity than strategy. With a campaign bankroll of less than $1 million as of June 31, the Sanchez campaign has nowhere near the tens of millions of dollars it would need to pay for a sustained advertising campaign in a state as vast as California, home to some of the priciest media markets in the nation. It probably wont get a lot of traction, Berkeley-based Democratic political consultant Katie Merrill said of Sanchezs efforts. She would need $20 million behind these negative messages to move voters in any significant way. Thats just the nature of campaigns in California. Rep. Brad Sherman of Porter Ranch said criticizing an opponent has always been fair game in elections, but the rules are a bit different in a general election between two candidates from the same party. Candidates must draw contrasts with their opponent in a way that appeals to voters across the political spectrum without aggravating those in their own party, he said. If you give them positive stuff about you, they may find it boring. If you give them negative stuff about your opponent, they may find it reprehensible, Sherman said. Every vote is up for grabs. Your appeals to Republicans have to be careful not to alienate Democrats. Sherman learned that firsthand during his successful 2012 matchup against former Rep. Howard Berman, Californias biggest Democrat-versus-Democrat showdown until now. Just how effective Sanchezs negative attacks have been is difficult to judge. Newly released opinion polls offer conflicting results. A poll released Wednesday by Public Policy Institute of California showed Sanchez closing in on Harris, now trailing behind by just seven percentage points among likely voters. A Field poll released the same day showed Sanchez losing ground, trailing Harris by 22 percentage points. Still, Sanchezs attacks on Harris have reaped coverage in newspapers and television and radio news outlets up and down the state. The biggest splash came shortly after Labor Day, when a New York Times story named Harris one of four state attorneys general who launched investigations into complaints against Trump University and also accepted campaign contributions from the schools namesake, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. The story focused on claims that Trump donated $25,000 to an organization backing Florida Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi to influence her agencys inquiry into fraud allegations against Trump University. Sanchez accused Harris of failing to take legal action against the business because of her political ties to Trump, saying she should have initiated an investigation after a federal class-action lawsuit was filed in California against Trump University in 2010. These campaign contributions raise troubling questions about Kamala Harris inaction on Trump University, Sanchez said. Trump donated to Harris reelection campaign for state attorney general $5,000 in 2011 and $1,000 in 2013. In the years before, Trump also donated to other California Democrats, including Gov. Jerry Brown and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. Harris donated the contributions to charity in 2015 after Trump made inflammatory comments about Mexican immigrants. Her campaign called Sanchezs allegations baseless and ridiculous, saying Harris spearheaded the toughest investigation in the nation into the predatory practices of for-profit colleges. In March, Harris won a $1.1-billion judgment against Orange County-based Corinthian Colleges, one of the worlds largest for-profit college businesses, for false advertising, fraud and misleading students. California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris at a news conference after suing Corinthian Colleges in 2013, claiming the company deceived students through aggressive marketing. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) The Harris campaign used that case to return fire. Campaign manager Juan Rodriguez ripped Sanchez for accepting thousands in campaign contributions from Corinthian Colleges and, in Congress, opposing the Obama administrations attempts to increase the regulation of for-profit colleges. While Kamala Harris investigation and suit against Corinthian led to the collapse of the predatory for-profit chain, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez joined an army of lobbyists to protect Corinthian and other predatory for-profits in Congress, Rodriguez said in a statement emailed to reporters. The Harris campaign also used the opportunity to tout a new PBS Frontline documentary that examines the collapse of Corinthian and offers a flattering portrayal of Harris role in its demise. Election 2016 | California politics news feed | Sign up for the newsletter That has been the most pointed attack launched against Sanchez so far, though the Harris campaign in emails to potential donors has repeatedly criticized the congresswoman for being backed by Trump-esque Republicans such as talk radio host Hugh Hewitt and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista). At public campaign events, Harris rarely mentions Sanchez by name, but she has clearly telegraphed possible lines of attack against her rival that could come in the weeks ahead. Harris issued a statement this month demanding that Congress must protect and expand Social Security not cut benefits for seniors. That was a veiled jab at Sanchez, who supported a deficit reduction plan co-written by former Republican Sen. Alan K. Simpson of Wyoming and Erskine Bowles, former chief of staff to President Clinton. It was never adopted, but among its many provisions was raising the retirement age and reducing future Social Security benefits for high-income earners, which opponents criticized as cuts to Social Security. After the terrorist attack in San Bernardino that killed 14 people last December, Harris met with religious and community leaders in Southern California and issued a statement condemning anti-Muslim rhetoric that followed the tragedy. Again, Sanchezs name was never mentioned. But Harris comment came shortly after the congresswoman was criticized by Muslim groups for suggesting in a television interview that 5% to 20% of Muslims support a caliphate a strict Islamic state. Subtle or not, Harris has also relied heavily on news coverage to deliver her message. Her campaign also lacks the cash needed for a large-scale media campaign, though she has been more successful at raising money and had $2.6 million in the bank at the end of June. UC San Diego political scientist Thad Kousser said going negative is complicated by the fact that Californias Senate race is between two Democrats. Its really risky to say negative things about someone in your own party, Kousser said. Harris is in the lead and she has the most to lose from any backlash over going negative. Sanchez faces the same problem, but she has little choice, Kousser said. The congresswoman also is at a great disadvantage because shes relying on the press to be her messenger. Negative attack ads and mailers would be much more effective because the campaign would have complete control over what voters see and hear. She has to rely on the media to do it for her. That means that media applies their filter, their judgment, Kousser said. Some stories they will report. Some they wont report. Democratic political consultant Michael Trujillo said Sanchezs biggest challenge will be to keep the television news cameras focused on her. That will be difficult when the voters are entranced by nonstop coverage of the presidential race and its daily bombshells. Im hard-pressed to say how many times Ive seen Kamala Harris or Loretta Sanchez on the evening news, said Trujillo, who plans to vote for Harris. Its just not getting coverage. Last week, Sanchez did attract cameras when she held a news conference in front of the L.A. branch of the state attorney generals office. She accused Harris of not doing enough to protect consumers from what she called the predatory practices of nutritional company Herbalife. Sanchez said Latino immigrants were specifically targeted by the company, and repeated her criticism of Harris in Spanish for L.A.s Spanish-language television news crews. Ha hecho nada, or shes done nothing, Sanchez said. Afterward, when asked whether she needed to attack Harris to win in November, Sanchez said she doesnt consider her criticisms to be negative campaigning. I am just bringing out the truth, Sanchez said before walking away to do a TV interview. phil.willon@latimes.com Twitter: @philwillon Times staff writer Javier Panzar contributed to this report. ALSO: Rep. Loretta Sanchez attacks state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris over controversial company Herbalife Along with Kamala Harris, Loretta Sanchez is struggling to beat none of the above Meet the men plotting strategy for Californias U.S. Senate candidates Kamala Harris wants college to be free for families earning less than $140,000 a year Updates on California politics Plutos heart is spilling its secrets. Scientists using data from NASAs New Horizons mission have found more evidence that there may be an ocean beneath the dwarf planets surface. The findings, published by Geophysical Research Letters, could shed light on the internal mysteries of this frigid, distant little world. Before New Horizons, I would have bet that it was completely frozen, lead author Brandon Johnson, a planetary scientist at Brown University, said of the dwarf planet. Advertisement Johnson focused on Sputnik Planum, a feature on Plutos surface whose origins were discussed during last years American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco. The roughly 560-mile-wide basin sitting in the western lobe of the little worlds giant heart feature seems to have been dug out by a space missile that was at least 125 or so miles across. If the feature was really a giant crater at some point, then it should have less mass than other parts of the surface, given that bits of it would have blasted away by the impact. But the gravitational bond between Pluto and Charon, its largest moon, seemed to treat Sputnik Planum as if it had extra mass. Pluto and Charon are tidally locked that is, they always show the same face toward each other. And Sputnik Planum lies right on the tidal axis between them. Since Charons gravitational pull should have slowly tugged the most massive bit of Pluto into line, this probably means that there must be some extra mass inside of Sputnik Planum. If thats the case, then the chemical contents of Sputnik must be heavier than the original surface would be. Part of that extra mass could come from the layer of nitrogen ice partly filling the basin, but that still isnt enough to explain the anomaly, Johnson said. So the scientists ran simulations of the kind of impact that would have carved out this giant crater. The impact would have caused the material in the area to rebound upward and that would pull up more stuff, including water, from deep within the planet. Liquid water is already denser than ice, and salty water is even more so. This, together with the extra nitrogen ice, could account for that extra mass in Sputnik Planum. The scientists calculated that the dwarf planet probably hosts an ocean that is more than 62 miles deep, and with enough salt to make it about as dense as the Dead Sea. This ocean would need a healthy dose of ammonia (along with the extra salt) to help keep it liquid at a frigid minus 27 degrees Fahrenheit. The scientists findings could shed light on the internal dynamics of the dwarf planet. The salt content, for example, might hint at how much the water had interacted with Plutos rocky core. Johnson said this underground ocean probably isnt life-friendly. At least Saturns moon Enceladus and Jupiters moon Europa, while both crusted in ice, are warmed by tidal heating which means that their subsurface oceans dont need as much salt to stay liquid. Compared to Enceladus or Europa, this is probably not a very good place for life to be, he said of Pluto. Because its extremely cold, and potentially extremely salty. But, he added, it does give hope that as scientists look for habitable worlds around distant stars, they might not have to limit themselves just to the habitable zone the distance from a star where liquid water could potentially remain stable on a planets surface. You could have a planet that could have a habitable ocean that isnt even in the habitable zone and it isnt getting any tidal heating from anywhere, he said. But its got an ocean thats under some ice and its got a temperature thats conducive to life. So thats something that I hadnt considered, really, before being convinced that Pluto has this ocean. amina.khan@latimes.com Follow @aminawrite on Twitter for more science news and like Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook. ALSO The Chinese space lab is about to crash and burn and thats OK with China How scientists virtually unwrapped an ancient, burned scroll and read the words inside Studies on the perils of polyester underwear and the personality of rocks win Ig Nobel Prizes In an op-ed for Inside Higher Ed, William Chip Gruen, professor of religious studies at Muhlenberg College, makes his case that in an increasingly complex world, religious studies can teach students to understand others better. From stories about Syrian immigrants to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Gruen notes that many news headlines mention religion, but many readers, he says, will dismiss these stories as really about identity politics. However, Gruen writes that individuals and communities are inspired by their religious identities, for better or for worse. Religious studies, he says, aim to expose differences in those worldviews so that we might understand the beliefs and practices of a wide variety of cultural actors. Whats more, religious studies, as an academic discipline, are not rooted in a single ideology and shouldnt be confused for religious training. If the only people who understand Christianity are Christian, or Islam are Muslims, or Hinduism are Hindus, we are condemned to a world of misunderstanding, conflict and sectarianism. Q. What do you think of Gruens article? Yes, absolutely. We need religious studies in schools, not religious training. I just had a discussion online about faith-based programing in schools versus purely objective analysis of all world religions. Students should understand all belief modalities and how they manifest in people and communities. However, religious proselytizing has no place in public schools. In order to sympathize with and understand our fellow humans, we must treat everyone as a unique individual rather than judge based on broad assumptions and categorization. To do this, we have to better understand what different people think and believe and why they do so. When 9/11 happened, the first thing I thought was we should build a world religion information center there, including Islam. I am no fan of Islam but, such an institution could have advanced our narrow understanding of the world and other cultures and done much more to prevent another attack. Instead, to our detriment, we seem to have chosen anger, hate and retribution. Ignorance leads to hate, prejudice, violence, radicalism, etc. Education and understanding leads to cooperation, tolerance and peace. We have a duty to educate our youth about the world and its peoples. Comparative religious studies is a vital part of that. I also think that opening our eyes to the many manifestations of religious belief and creation myths will lead future generations away from absolute faith in religious dogma belief in the unknown and unknowable and towards a humanistic faith in each other. I am an atheist but I realize religion is here to stay, at least for my lifetime and my childrens. So, rather than create an us-against-them situation, we must use education, compassion, respect and understanding to bring us together as one human race. Joshua Lewis Berg Humanist Celebrant Glendale I believe Gruen makes a valid point. Essentially, it comes down to the necessity of listening to and understanding others who are not like us in order to (hopefully peacefully) coexist with them. Certainly we cant make peace by ourselves without the cooperation of the other party. In Romans 12:18 the Bible wisely says: If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. God allows for the possibility that others simply will not be peaceable with us. Countless people refuse to be peaceable even with God. But the first step toward peacefulness and reconciliation is learning about the other party. Proverbs 4:7 says, The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding. Humanity, for the most part, has become hostile to God. Psalm 14:2-3 says, The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt" But in love God is always reaching out to us. As Creator he knows us, but even further he took humanity upon himself in the Incarnation. He has experienced what it is to be human. Because of this we can be confident that the man Christ Jesus understands us fully, weaknesses, trials and all, and he is ready to receive us whenever our hearts become open to him. Pastor Jon Barta Burbank Have you ever tried to imitate a regional recipe from somewhere far away? Youll find that however it comes out it will likely lack the nuanced flavors and texture that people from its home would notice. Nonetheless, you could know its core ingredients and how its generally made, but theres still the stuff one can only learn by going whole hog. If you traveled to the place and tried everyones version, and lived there awhile, youd start to get it, and your perceptions would change, as would your approach. Religion is not unlike this. Without spending a modicum of time investigating the motivating factor for most of civilizations advance, we harm ourselves and cannot possibly hope to understand our neighbors. I know that my own religion is misunderstood by so many people who think they have a handle on it. They engage me in conversation and think that pastors just talk from their own imaginations on Sunday morning, and do so completely ad-lib! And while Christmas is appreciated as our gift to their secular world, the person for which its named is thought to be merely another in a long line of celebrities with days named for them, right up there with Christopher Columbus, and most recently, Kobe Bryant. But if they understood the core of Christianity, much of the stuff like church buildings, and religious garb, and worship ritual would be understood for what it is; peripheral. Such things are like seasonings in the pot that distinguish one Christian subculture from another, and yet the core remains. All religions are like this, and if people had a core understanding of the handful of primary religions, they would easily recognize cultic divergents, and would understand better why behavior differs between groups. Sun Tzu said, Know thy enemy. We might say similarly, Know thy friend, but you cant know either without knowledge, and so religious studies ought to be taught. The Apostle Paul once stopped in Athens and said, I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship and this is what I am going to proclaim to you (Acts 17:23). Knowledge of your neighbors belief informs dialogue, and if truth is to be conveyed, it must first be broached. Knowing is key. Rev. Bryan A. Griem Tujunga Professor Gruen makes good points about the importance of religious studies, quoting Secretary of State John Kerry who says that, were he starting college today he would major in comparative religion rather than political science, since religious actors and instutions are playing an influential role in every region of the world. No surprise that Gruen assumes entire classes in his chosen field, bringing employment opportunities and heightened academic stature to the discipline. A better approach to me is to integrate the relevant religious aspects into each field of study be it history, political science, history or others. Good teachers seeking to impart a broad and deep knowledge of their field to their students already do this as a matter of course. I agree with Gruen that without understanding others beliefs misunderstanding, conflict and sectarianism will be our future, but it cannot be assumed that all Christians understand Christianity, nor Muslims Islam, or Hindus Hinduism. It is apparent that often the most intractable conflicts and horrendous suffering arise from an erroneous, or at least incomplete, understanding of a faith by those who claim to speak for it. For a neutral analysis of religions role in the world, I think that schools could do a lot worse than hiring subject-qualified atheists, agnostics, humanists and other religiously unaffiliated scholars and teachers. Roberta Medford Atheist Montrose Dozens of artists from around the country will soon flock to the Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational, one of Californias largest outdoor painting events. While the tradition of outdoor painting began in Europe about 175 years ago plein air is French for open air Laguna Beach has since become one of the most popular destinations for plein air painters, thanks to the picturesque ocean views and abundance of long, sunny days. Now, the invitational, which runs Oct. 8-16, provides a venue for many of the nations top plein air landscape painters, and educates the community through lectures, school programs and gallery sales about the art form that helped shape the history of Laguna Beach. For me its like Christmas, said April Raber, a Laguna Beach-based plein air painter invited to this years event. Its such a treat to see all this beautiful work. Its amazing what people can do on the fly, when the sun is in your eyes, and youre miserable because its too hot or too cold or its windy. Unlike working in a studio, where light and environmental conditions can be controlled, plein air painters become a part of the natural environment theyre trying to capture, so they often have to contend with weather, changing light and even wildlife. Raber, for example, said that one time while painting in the mountains, a family of mice carried off her paintbrushes after she set them down on a rock. Another time she arrived at her painting site and realized she had forgotten her paintbrushes, and instead of turning around to go home, she used twigs. You develop a lot of interesting techniques when things go wrong out there in the field, she said. But the biggest challenge in plein air painting is capturing the natural light. You have to be quick to paint outside because the light is constantly changing, said Jean Stern, executive director of the Irvine Museum. After a couple of hours, its really a different painting all together that youre working on. As a result, plein air paintings are more impressionistic because of the fast-paced strokes they have to do to catch the light, explained Rosemary Swimm, executive director of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Assn., which sponsors the Invitational every year. To buy more time, many artists create a smaller version of their painting outside, then expand it into a full-sized work in a studio, while others go to the same site at the same time several days in a row. But, Swimm said, plein air offers something the studio never will: a truer sense of color. Plein air painting began in the mid-1800s after the invention of the collapsible paint tubes in 1841, said Stern, which allowed painters to more easily take their supplies outside. By the 1860s and 1870s, the style was adopted by French impressionist painters, and was later picked up by American artists abroad. Because outdoor painting depends on natural light, plein air painters flocked to warm areas that offered long days and an abundance of bright sunlight, which in the United States meant Southern California. By the 1890s, artists were moving to the Los Angeles area, and by the 1900s, many of them started heading even farther south to Laguna Beach. Soon, the coastal city became a well-known place where artists would bring their friends and paint, Stern said. In 1918, these artists formed the Laguna Beach Art Assn. and purchased land for a permanent gallery, which today is the Laguna Beach Art Museum on Cliff Drive. The original founders and [plein air] artists in the early 1900s were the ones who gave Laguna Beach its reputation as an artistic colony, Stern said. And then hundreds and hundreds of artists of all varieties began coming to Laguna Beach right after World War II not just plein air painters, but every kind of artists, sculptors, ceramics and photographers. While plein air painting briefly went out of style for several decades in the mid-1900s when abstract expressionism took over American art Laguna Beach continues to be an outdoor painters paradise. The coastline is remarkable, said Gil Dellinger, a Laguna Beach-based painter participating in the Invitational. Theres a spot near Ralphs downtown with a view, and if you turn 10 degrees, theres another view. Turn another 10 degrees and theres another view. Theres no end to the magnificence. For more information about the Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational schedule and events, visit lagunapleinair.org. caitlin.kandil@latimes.com Rudys Barbershop opened a new store in Huntington Beach at Pacific City on Thursday, marking the 20th location in the U.S. and the sixth in Southern California for the franchise. The shop, which serves men, women and children, is located next to the Equinox gym at 21010 Pacific Coast Hwy. Costa Mesa housing project wins industry award Miraval Mesa Verde, a 10-unit housing tract in Costa Mesas Mesa Verde neighborhoods, was recently honored by the Building Industry Assn.'s of Southern California Greater Sales and Marketing Council. The development by Irvine-based Pinnacle Residential and Collective Housing Supply, based in Newport Beach, won Best Architectural Design of a Detached Home priced $1.25million to $2million. The community at 2880 Mesa Verde Drive replaced the First Church of Christ, Scientist campus that had been there since 1968. The tract is nearly sold out, according to a news release. OptumRx looking to hire 120 people in Costa Mesa OptumRx, UnitedHealth Groups free-standing pharmacy care services business, is adding 120 pharmacy customer service representative jobs at its Costa Mesa offices, according to a news release. The positions will be based at 3515 Harbor Blvd. Applicants are advised to apply online at bit.ly/CMjobsCS. Preferred qualifications include one year of experience in an office or call center setting, or in a phone support role, the company stated. FDA approves Duchenne drug Newport Beach-based CureDuchenne announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted accelerated approval of Eteplirsen for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This is the first approved drug-therapy and a major breakthrough in the fight against Duchenne, the nonprofit said in a statement. We couldnt be prouder of the researchers at Sarepta Therapeutics and the families who participated in the trials. CureDuchenne provided early funding for Cambridge, Mass.-based Sarepta Therapeutics and called the success of Eteplirsen, which is effective for about 13% of those with Duchenne, a building block for future treatments. Olive oil specialty store coming to CdM Baker and Olive, a specialty food store with olive oils, balsamic vinegars, infusions and fromage, is planning to have a soft opening in Corona del Mar in October, followed by a grand opening celebration in November. It will be the companys fourth location and its largest to date, according to a news release. Baker and Olive will be at 928 Avocado Ave., Suite 928, in the Corona del Mar Plaza shopping center. Bluewater Grill to host employee reunion Bluewater Grill is having a 20th anniversary homecoming party from 3 to 6p.m. Sept.29 at the restaurants original Cannery Village location, 630 Lido Park Drive, Newport Beach. Past and present employees of Bluewater including those who worked in its other restaurants in Tustin, Redondo Beach and elsewhere will be celebrating. The event also includes a recognition of 20-year employees and a group photo. About 90 people packed into the Neighborhood Community Center on Thursday night for a town-hall meeting examining public safety issues in Costa Mesa. The upshot of the forum, sponsored by the community activist group Costa Mesans for Responsible Government, is that the lack of proper staffing in the citys fire and police departments is taking a toll on emergency responders, and making it harder to effectively combat crime in the city. As speaker Mary Spadoni put it: We are understaffed and over-crimed. Another speaker during the almost-two-hour forum, Ralph Taboada, said staffing hasnt gone up along with the increasing number of calls for emergency services. Taboada, who serves on the citys Pension Oversight Committee, compared the situation to a business. With demand for service up, he said, a business owner should think, Id better add some people to address it. Part of the staffing equation is being able to retain officers and firefighters long-term. Two retired Costa Mesa public safety officials police Lt. Clay Epperson and fire Deputy Chief Fred Seguin said Thursday that they believe Costa Mesas departments have become less of a destination and more of a training ground in recent years. Guys are getting their foot in the door, theyre coming here and once they have a name for themselves, theyre reaching out and going to other venues, Seguin said. Some speakers, including Epperson, said they think the council majority has created an environment where its more difficult to retain public safety employees. Also discussed at Thursdays forum were sober-living homes, which house recovering drug and/or alcohol addicts. Proponents say such homes can be vital cogs in the cycle of addiction treatment. I can tell you at this moment in time, right now, just in the county of Orange, there are 300,000 individuals that are suffering from a diagnosable and treatable disease known as addiction, said Robert Mann, chairman of the Orange County Sober Living Coalition. Providing effective treatment is vital, speakers said, because statistics show people who abuse substances are more likely to commit crimes. Critics of the homes, however, say they can be disruptive to neighborhoods, contributing to parking problems, undue amounts of noise and second-hand cigarette smoke, among other ill effects. The City Council has approved regulations aimed at curbing the sober-living homes proliferation, but those actions have attracted legal challenges. Local resident Teresa Drain said the city cannot fight all sober-living housing because we will lose in the courts as well as fail to be compassionate. We need to make that sure our representatives are not electioneering and enacting ordinances willy-nilly, she added. luke.money@latimes.com Twitter: @LukeMMoney A City Council discussion over a controversial condominium and townhome project proposed for Newport Center will likely be postponed until next month. Newport Beach city leaders were originally scheduled during their meeting Tuesday to make a final decision on 150 Newport Center a 35-unit residential project proposed to replace the Beacon Bay Auto Wash and adjacent gas station along Newport Center Drive near Anacapa Drive. However, developer Newport Center Anacapa Associates LLC sent a letter to city staff on Wednesday requesting that the public hearing on the project be continued until Oct.11. This will give the City Council more time to digest the myriad of information in the packet and allow us time to discuss the project with the individual members of council, Ron Soderling, manager at Anacapa Associates, wrote in the request. The council will decide whether to grant the continuance during Tuesdays meeting, or could also vote to approve or deny the project. For the development to move forward, the council would have to vote to change the land-use designation for the site from regional commercial office to multi-unit residential for the homes to be built. Less than a month ago, the Planning Commission voted to recommend that the council deny 150 Newport Center. Commissioners cited concerns about the landscape plan and called the project too bulky for the 1.26-acre site. However, they made a point of applauding the buildings attractive architectural style and noted their desire to see more residences built in Newport Center. Stop Polluting Our Newport, an activist organization, and Line in the Sand, a political action committee, have circulated a petition via email and social media urging city leaders to reject the development. Ron Schwartz, who owns Muldoons Irish Pub located across Anacapa Drive from the site of the proposed development, also started a campaign this month urging the council to deny it. Schwartz has expressed concerns about future 150 Newport Center residents filing noise complaints against his restaurant, which often hosts live music and is open late. Residential can be fine in the right location, Schwartz said at the Planning Commission hearing this month. As much as everyone would like to force it into a shoe, it doesnt work. 150 Newport Center went through a series of changes in the months before the commission made its final recommendation. The developer originally proposed a seven-story, 49-unit building reaching 69 feet tall. However, after its initial meeting with the Planning Commission in July, the company reduced the plan to six stories with 45 units reaching 65 feet. Then, after a two-hour public discussion at the commissions Aug.18 meeting, where commissioners were unable to come to a consensus about the projects density and height, the developer reduced the planned height of the building to 50 feet in five stories, then cut the number of units to 35. Despite that, some commissioners remained uncomfortable with the number of units proposed. Soderling said in a statement after the hearing that he was disappointed that the Planning Commission didnt recognize the benefits of the project. We live in the community and care about the future of the city, he wrote at the time. Thats why we have worked so closely with the community over the past year to develop a project that respects the views of neighbors, reduces traffic and water usage, and provides an iconic destination for locals to live out their next chapter of the American dream. We feel optimistic that the City Council will see those benefits and approve the project. -- Hannah Fry, hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @HannahFryTCN Two Newport Beach police officers are taking part in a 15-day bicycle ride that spans about 1,500 miles through Oregon and California to help raise greater awareness about human trafficking. Deputy Chief David McGill and Detective Jason Prince entered the Freedom Ride, a nonprofit bicycle ride that kicked off Sept. 9 in Bend, Ore., and will conclude Sunday at the Newport Dunes Resort with a ceremony and talks from human trafficking survivors. The Freedom Ride crew is comprised of eight riders and four support staff. Prince is a rider and McGill is part of the support staff following behind in a motorhome. For Laguna Beach native and Freedom Ride Project founder Elisabeth Gegner, fighting human trafficking is a lifelong pursuit. Gegner was exposed to the horrors of human trafficking in the late 1990s, when she volunteered at an orphanage in Thailand, according to a biography on the organizations website. She discovered that many of the children she worked with had been victims of human trafficking. The images of those children became seared into Gegners psyche, and when she had a near-fatal bike crash in 2014, she realized that she needed to devote herself to the cause. Gegner went on a 1,700-mile bike ride from Laguna Beach to Bend, Ore., riding about 100 miles a day to raise awareness for human trafficking, and that experience led to the creation of the Freedom Ride, which is in its first year. McGill met Gegner about six months prior to the 2016 event, McGill said in a phone interview Tuesday while taking a rest and recovery day in San Francisco. They were both passionate about bringing deeper awareness to human trafficking, so taking part in the event seemed like a no-brainer. The word that best describes Beth [Gegner] is passionate, McGill said. This is her calling. She quit her job and sunk everything into this mission. Thats an incredible level of dedication. Orange County law enforcement has recently reexamined how best to combat human trafficking, and McGill said he is playing a role in the NBPDs strategy. Orange County and the Newport Beach Police Department are really taking the lead on human trafficking, McGill said. For the longest time we were just arresting prostitutes and not thinking about what they go through. Now we are changing to a victim-centered approach, where we target the pimps. McGill said authorities tended to focus on arrests in the past, but are now taking a more-preventive role. McGill said he is going to play an integral role in having a Newport Beach detective assigned to the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force, which has existed since 2004. As they ride through small towns, McGill said he and Prince have been stopping to educate local law enforcement about human trafficking. I am using my position to help bring awareness and to touch local law enforcement so they can understand human trafficking, McGill said. Riding on back roads that wind through Oregonian forests like a vast arterial system poses more than a few risks. On the third day of the trip, the riders got separated from their support staff in the serpentine back roads of Westfir, Ore. They eventually found their way to their destination, but ended up riding an exhausting 150 miles that day. It was a crazy situation, but they found their way, McGill said. These are elite riders. McGill said one of the more precarious parts of the journey so far was when Prince wiped out on his bike early in the trip, but was luckily uninjured. McGills job driving an R.V. can be taxing in its own way. Driving a large motorhome through these winding roads, there has been some close calls, he said. But for the most part, McGill said the trip has been nothing short of breathtaking. There was a point when we were going down central Oregon, right above Fort Bragg, and we saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time, it was beautiful, McGill said. Its been an unbelievable and taxing trip. The Freedom Ride wraps up with a ceremony from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Newport Dunes, 1131 Back Bay Drive. . The event, which is administrated by the OCHTTF and the NBPD, will feature paddleboarding and other water sports, BMX bike shows, live music, bike decoration stations, hydro-rock wall climbing and food trucks. Several sex-trafficking survivors will also tell their stories. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter: @benbrazilpilot Convicted double-murderer Daniel Wozniak looked toward the front of the Santa Ana courtroom, his expression void of emotion as an Orange County Superior Court judge on Friday affirmed his death sentence. The courtroom fell silent. The victims family and friends wiped away tears as Judge John Conley sentenced the former Costa Mesa community actor, 32, to death for killing Irvine resident Juri Julie Kibuishi, 23, and her Army veteran friend Samuel Herr, 26. A jury had recommended in January that Wozniak be put to death for the two killings and gruesome cover-up that included beheading Herr and staging Kibuishis body to look like she had been sexually assaulted. Had jurors or Conley chosen to spare Wozniak the death penalty, the alternative would have been life in prison without parole. Join the conversation on Facebook >> Wozniak will be taken to San Quentin State Prison, where he will remain until his execution date. Kibuishi and Herrs families embraced one another as they exited the courtroom after the sentencing. Conleys decision gave them some resolution, they said, after six years and four months of court hearings and delays. However, they said, the pain of having their children ripped away will never cease to haunt them. This will never heal and go away, Kibuishis mother, June Kibuishi, said. Julie will never come back to us. All our family can do is try to move forward one step at a time. We have waited six years for this day. At least we can close this most horrible chapter of our lives. In 2010, Wozniak was so desperate for money to cover his rent and fund his upcoming wedding and honeymoon that he hatched a plot to kill Herr, his neighbor in the Camden Martinique apartment complex off Pinecreek Drive. Wozniak sought to steal $62,000 that Herr had saved from his military service in Afghanistan. He was only able to acquire $2,000 before his arrest. Wozniak was convicted by a jury in December of first-degree murder for killing Herr and Kibuishi. Conley said Friday that instead of an inexpensive marriage and postponing a honeymoon, Wozniak researched and carried out the two gruesome killings. He wanted to do both with style and was willing to kill two young friends to accomplish this selfish goal, Conley said. Wozniaks case had been delayed for several years as his public defender, Scott Sanders, alleged misconduct by Orange County prosecutors and the Sheriffs Department involving their use of jailhouse informants. Wozniak was expected to receive his final sentence in March. Instead, Conley granted Sanders additional time to file a brief that asked the court to grant a new penalty phase of the trial. However, Conley ruled against Sanders motion for a new trial and against another motion to dismiss the death penalty. The defendant got a fair trial, and thats the bottom line, Conley said Friday. Prosecutors said that on May 21, 2010, Wozniak lured Herr, an Orange Coast College student, to an attic in the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base under the guise of needing help moving furniture. In a recorded police interview presented during the trial, Wozniak described shooting Herr in the back of the head as he knelt. After he had been shot, Herr asked for Wozniaks help, not realizing what had happened. Something hit me, Herr said, according to Wozniak. It felt like an electric shock. After hearing the Army veterans remarks, Wozniak told detectives that he reloaded and fired at him again. Later, the community theater actor who at the time of the murders was performing as the lead in the musical Nine at the Hunger Artists Theatre Co. in Fullerton. used an ax and saw to remove Herrs head, hands and a tattooed forearm from his body before dumping the parts in a Long Beach park, an act Conley called a cold-blooded execution. You, Dan, are a coward and a poster boy for the need for an effective death penalty in California, Steve Herr, Herrs father, said during his victim impact statement to the court Friday. Steve Herr has attended every single court hearing 192, by his count concerning his sons killer. Ive been keeping track since day one, he said. As part of his ploy to throw off detectives, Wozniak used Herrs phone to send messages to Kibuishi, who was tutoring Herr. Shortly after midnight on May22, hours after killing Herr, Wozniak used Herrs cell phone to lure Kibuishi to Herrs Costa Mesa apartment, where he shot her twice in the head. He then partially removed Kibuishis clothes and staged her body to look like Herr had sexually assaulted her and fled, according to prosecutors. Wozniak even stole Herrs passport to make his fleeing the scene seem more plausible, Conley said. Police arrested Wozniak on May26, 2010 two days before his wedding while he was at his bachelor party in Huntington Beach. ATM withdrawals from Herrs account had led police to him. Wozniaks ex-fiancee, Rachel Buffett, was arrested in 2012 and charged with being an accessory after the fact for allegedly lying to police. She has pleaded not guilty. That case is ongoing. When police found Kibuishis body, she was still wearing the tiara her brother had given her hours before her death. June Kibuishi spoke of the painful reality that her daughter, whom she called the sunshine of our family, was nothing more than a decoy for Wozniak. For six years and four months I have sat behind you every time I came to court, watching you come out and smile for the cameras and the audience, enjoying being the center of attention, June Kibuishi said to Wozniak. You show no remorse and no guilt for taking my beautiful, loving daughter away from us. hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @HannahFryTCN ALSO UC Irvine takes gaming to a new level as its eSports arena opens Family fights to get nuisance pine tree removed Judge blocks Laguna Beach apartment complex over coastal commissioners transparency law violations Some people take it upon themselves to make wholesale changes to history by applying contemporary sensibilities to those who lived in the past. Matt Haney, San Francisco School Board president, made headlines a couple of weeks ago when he recommended that George Washington High School be renamed due to Washington being a slave owner. He suggested replacing Washingtons name with Maya Angelous. As much as I admire Angelou, she worked as a prostitute and a madam when she was young, not exactly noble professions. However, overcoming these obstacles as well as a childhood rape makes her story of survival and success quite compelling. There should be a school named after her, but not at the expense of removing the name of the father of our country. Back in the 1770s, wealthy men typically were slave owners. To his credit, Washington had written in his will that his slaves were to be freed. The Mount Vernon website states that Washington was the only slave-holding Founding Father to do this. Think of all the schools, streets, and cities named after George Washington. Since half of Washington, D.C.'s population is African-American, should that region be renamed as well? It is wrong to judge a person from the past based on current mores. One could make the case that all historical figures have something in their past that would not pass the 2016 litmus test. John F. Kennedy, a Catholic, probably would not have been in favor of same-sex marriage in 1960, but that was not even an issue in his time so it is unfair to judge him on it. Who is to say that something people do now may be viewed as abhorrent 50 or 100 years from now? Some people protest the teaching of Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in schools because of the frequent use of the n-word. Those ignorant of the book might even label Twain a racist without understanding that what Twain was writing back in 1885 a white boy sharing a raft and a lifes journey with a black man who serves as a surrogate father was quite progressive in 1885. Flash forward 130 years later, and people wish to denigrate Twains legacy. However, he was not living in the 20th or 21st century. This weekend the National Museum of African American History and Culture opens in Washington, D.C. with artifacts about Bill Cosby including a note about the current sexual accusations against the entertainer. Some people wanted all mention of Cosby to be expunged from the museum. If he is convicted, should he be wiped out of history? Evidently there are not enough legitimate issues for the San Francisco School Board to grapple with, allowing them the luxury to raise issues that do nothing but put their district in the news for the wrong reasons. Ask students what they want from their school and changing the name of it probably does not appear on their to-do list. Mr. Haney and others like him should cease the high-and-mighty posture and stop revisiting what people did before they were born. Thats not their job. Lets hope removing George Washingtons name from the history books does not appear on the next school board meetings agenda. -- BRIAN CROSBY is a teacher in the Glendale Unified School District and the author of Smart Kids, Bad Schools and The $100,000 Teacher. He can be reached at briancrosby.org. My husband and I just returned from a three-week trip to Namibia. The roads are in good shape, the value is excellent, and the lodges we stayed in were wonderful and had excellent service. The people were warm and friendly. We saw the Big Five game animals and more than 200 species of birds. I worked with Andrea Radke at Namibia Safaris Okotoks. She did an excellent job and was always very helpful. Namibia Safaris Okotoks, namibiasafarisokotoks.com Melody Haughton Torrance The Yuhuatai Memorial Park of Revolutionary Martyrs is hallowed ground for the Chinese Communist Party. Here stand a soaring monument and super-life-size reliefs to honor the memory of party members, most then operating as secret agents, executed by the Nationalist government in the 1930s and 40s. Today, hordes of mostly elderly tourists pose with the Communists hammer-and-sickle flag. Yet the most recent addition to the site has garnered less interest than the memorial, or the souvenir stalls nearby but serves as a tangible testament to Chinas perennial preoccupation: espionage. Advertisement Billed as the countrys only such institution, the Brutalist, barrel-shaped Jiangsu National Security Education Exhibition Hall a.k.a. the Spy Museum opened in 2009, closed for more than a year and reopened in mid-April after a face-lift. The reopening came on Chinas inaugural national security education day. The newly renovated exhibition hall has emerged as a showcase of curated propaganda about the myriad threats posed by foreign spies. Gone is a warning sign in four languages that once barred all foreign visitors. The museum affords a window on the full array of perceived national security threats, internal and external, that China wants its people to fear. The regime appears to be accelerating counterintelligence efforts in response to fears of spies, said Matthew Brazil, a former U.S. Army intelligence officer who has done doctoral research on Chinese Communist intelligence systems. This is part of a historical continuum in [Chinese Communist Party] history. Spy museums are not unique to China. Washington has the International Spy Museum, and there are museums devoted to the Soviet KGB in both Moscow and Prague. While others tend to trade in Cold War nostalgia, Chinas museum reflects more contemporary concerns. Upon entering, visitors are reminded that Communist Party members got their start as covert agents long before they won the civil war in 1949 against the ruling Nationalists. Reproduced black-and-white photos show the hideouts of Communist coders in Shanghai. A well-thumbed code book is preserved for display. A mother and daughter look at a poster warning against foreign spies displayed at a riverside park in Beijing in April 2016. (Julie Makinen / Los Angeles Times ) But this is not a mere stroll down memory lane. The purpose is to mobilize the public to join the fight. Prominently posted at the entrance is the number of the national report-a-spy hotline: 12339. On the second floor is a brightly lit showroom of security threats organized into various sections, including areas devoted to most of the neighboring countries: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam. Although most of the contents are drawn from recent years, yellowed newspaper clippings about Americans John Downey and Richard Fecteau take up significant real estate. The CIA operatives were captured in 1952 during the Korean War after their plane crash-landed near the border in Jilin Province. The CIA, not surprisingly, gets its own section, complete with multimedia elements. A video montage opens with the exterior of CIA headquarters at Langley, Va., and concludes with an evil-looking bald eagle, hammering home the message that the agency coordinates American spy activities against China. National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden also makes an appearance in an extended clip in which he explains the workings of PRISM, the electronic surveillance program. The section on corporate espionage features the last two foreign nationals put on trial, both in 2010: Australian mining executive Stern Hu and American geologist Xue Feng. Xue, who was deported last year to his Texas home, is featured in a mug shot along with photos of oil reserve survey maps from Inner Mongolia as his smoking guns. The richest store of objects on display can be found in the section on domestic threats: Tibetans, Uighurs and followers of Falun Gong, the spiritual practice outlawed since 1999 as a cult. The sub-section on Tibet reflects Chinas long battle to suppress the Tibetan independence movement and marginalize its exiled Buddhist spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. It includes a miniature Snow Lion flag, autographed photos of the Dalai Lama (images that are banned in Tibet itself) and a handwritten letter in Tibetan purportedly detailing attack plots. The Uighur display is dominated by illustrated diagrams on the East Turkestan Independence Movement and World Uighur Congress groups that are banned in China. That is supplemented with publications in Arabic and Turkish that are described as pamphlets on violent jihad. The Falun Gong exhibit focuses on the prodigious output of Li Hongzhi, the charismatic founder now living in exile in the U.S. A stack of cassette tapes of his recordings and a bundle of his canary-yellow-covered handbooks are presented as the bounty of evidence of his proselytizing. According to the presentation, some of his followers made a daring attempt in 2014 to broadcast propaganda across the Taiwan Strait. The proof is by far the most ingenious object on display: a helium balloon fitted with cone-shaped loudspeakers. As many as 3,000 were to be flown over to Chinas coast, the exhibit says. During a two-hour stretch on a Saturday morning, hundreds of people visited the park, but only four bothered to enter the museum. At least one recent visitor was impressed. We need to be clear-eyed and vigilant about threats to our national security, read a comment in the guest book. For Brazil, the former intelligence officer, the exhibition signals a return to mass mobilization by the Chinese government. But then, just because theyre doing it, it doesnt mean its a roaring success, he said. Law is a special correspondent. A triple suicide bombing against a security checkpoint north of Baghdad early Saturday killed at least 11 members of the security forces, a police officer said. The spokesman for the Salahuddin province police force, Col. Mohammed Jabouri, said three militants rammed their explosives-laden vehicles into the main checkpoint near the town of Salam at the provinces northern entrance. Jabouri added that 34 other security officers were wounded. He said the attack occurred as the local police chief and head of the provincial security committee were visiting the site. Both escaped unharmed. Advertisement No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Islamic State militants have claimed multiple similar attacks. The Sunni extremists frequently launch attacks targeting Iraqs security forces and civilians in public areas. The group stepped up attacks in recent months as it has lost territory in northern and western Iraq that it had captured in 2014. In April 2015, Iraqi security forces drove out Islamic State militants from the Salahuddin provincial capital, Tikrit, about 80 miles north of Baghdad. The attack came days after government forces recaptured the town of Shirqat, north of Tikrit, from Islamic State militants. Backed by the U.S.-led international coalition and paramilitary forces, the Iraqi government is gearing up for a major military operation to dislodge the militants from the city of Mosul. The city, about 225 miles northwest of Baghdad, is the last major Islamic State urban stronghold in Iraq. U.S. officials have said for some time that they expect the Mosul operation to begin in October. ALSO Efforts to shore up the Syrian cease-fire have faltered on all fronts Egyptian officials arrest crew members after smugglers boat capsizes off Mediterranean coast, killing dozens A massacre is inevitable: Punishing siege drags on for two Shiite villages in Syria Hundreds of Haitians in Tijuana preparing to present themselves to U.S. officials at the San Ysidro Port of Entry face an unpleasant surprise: the probability of detention and eventual deportation to their impoverished country under a new policy by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. A day after the new policy went into effect, Haitian men who gathered in small groups on Friday morning outside the Padre Chava soup kitchen said they had heard nothing of the changes and asked anxiously for details. I dont believe it, Miterson Derisseau, a 25-year-old tile-setter from Port-au-Prince, said in French. Advertisement Did Obamas party decide this? He has a generous heart; he cannot deport us to our country, added Derisseau, who hopes to join his sister in Boston. Announced Thursday by Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, the new policy entails the resumption of regular, noncriminal deportations to Haiti, more than six years after these were suspended on the heels of the countrys devastating 2010 earthquake. Haitians without visas now face the same treatment as most foreigners who show up at the border without permission to enter the United States: detention and deportation, unless they express fear of persecution upon being sent back. The changes have come on the heels of an unprecedented and unexpected flow of Haitians to the San Diego border, more than 4,346 in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year out of a total of 4,844 nationwide. Last years total for San Diego was 315, while the national total was 795. The figures were released Friday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. In congressional testimony on Thursday in Washington, the director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Sarah Saldana, called it an emergency situation and said she had learned of 40,000 Haitians who are en route to the United States, through South and Central America. Most of the Haitians in Tijuana have come by land from Brazil, where they moved after the 2010 earthquake to find work, but found survival increasingly difficult as the South American country has suffered a severe economic downturn. The Haitians usually obtain safe passage through Mexico with a document called oficio de salida that allows them in the country for a limited time period, usually about 30 days, enough time to make it to the U.S. border. Until Thursday, when the new policy went into effect, most Haitians presenting themselves at the San Diego border were allowed into the United States under humanitarian parole, and typically released with notices to appear before an immigration court at a later date. But as of Thursday, the reception changed: Haitians seeking entry now are subject to a fast-track process called Expedited Removal that entails immediate detention. It is unclear how soon the deportations to Haiti would take place, said Faye Hipsman, an analyst with the Washington-based Migration Policy Institute. The big factor is cooperation with Haiti, Hipsman said. My understanding is that this was a unilateral decision made by DHS, she said, adding that the Haitian government has yet to publicly respond. Until now, many Haitians have been traveling to established Haitian communities in New York City and Miami, where activists have been closely following news of the Haitians in Tijuana. Marleine Bastien, executive director of FAMN Haitian Women of Miami, was part of a group from Miami who came to the San Diego-Tijuana border recently to understand the situation. My heart really bleeds for them. I saw their faces. I saw their hope, such hope, said Bastien, who has been collaborating with members of the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium. Tijuana government officials have worked to distance themselves from the situation, privately stressing that the migrants are a federal matter, not a municipal one. Requests for interviews went unanswered this week. As they have attempted to serve the rising numbers of Haitian migrants, Tijuanas four main shelters have found themselves overwhelmed. Of 2,823 people receiving shelter at Padre Chava since May 27, a total of 1,831 have been Haitians, according to the center. Near the U.S. border, at the Desayunador Salesiano Padre Chava, a shelter and soup kitchen, the news of the policy had yet to fully hit on Friday morning. And the few who had an inkling of the changes remained undeterred, said Margarita Andonaegui, the shelters administrator. Up to now, everyone has decided to go ahead and keep their appointments with U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Only one person asked me, What do you recommend? Dibble writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. ALSO In Spains Tordesillas, Pelado the bull encounters both anger and pleasure tied to his fate The Chinese space lab is about to crash and burnand thats OK with China In hurry-up mode while Obama is president, 60 nations have agreed to global climate accord All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced. 19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc. A 76-year-old Montgomery County woman has died following a crash Friday afternoon on Route 309, according to the Lehigh County coroner. Martha Wambold, of Hatfield, was driving in West Rockhill Township, Bucks County, when she hit a concrete median about 3:30 p.m., the coroner said in a news release. The township is about five miles south of Quakertown. Wambold suffered blunt force trauma and was pronounced dead Friday evening at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township, the coroner said. Her death was ruled an accident. Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the crash, the news release said. Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Family sues over playground injury A Franklin Township family is suing after their child caught his head on a sharp edge under a bridge between two play areas in 2014 at Meadow Breeze Park in Washington Township, Warren County. (Courtesy photo) A Warren County township and school are among the defendants in a family's lawsuit over a child's playground injury. The boy was hurt by a sharp edges lining the bottom of playground equipment during a school field trip in June 2014 at Meadow Breeze Park in Washington Township, according to the suit filed this month by his parents, Karen and Clyde Adam, of Franklin Township. The boy has a 4- to 5-inch scar on top of his head. (Courtesy photo) The injury happened as the boy -- on his 10th birthday -- caught his head going under a bridge between two play areas, said the Adams' attorney, James Pfeiffer. The youth has a permanent, 4- to 5-inch scar on top of his head, Pfeiffer said. Named as defendants are Alabama-based playground equipment manufacturer GameTime Inc. and its parent company, Tennessee-based PlayCore Inc.; Washington Township; and the Franklin Township school district. The lawsuit, filed Sept. 2, accuses all defendants of negligence and seeks unspecified damages. Company representatives, the township administrator and the school superintendent did not return calls for comment Friday. "As far as I know," Pfeiffer said, "they still haven't fixed this condition. It's a danger to other children, which is frightening." Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. 10 Cutting-Edge Skin-Care Devices You Can Use at Home Don't ditch your dermatologist just yet. But consider supplementing your routine with these tools, which may help even skin tone, treat mild acne, smooth wrinkles, deflate puffy eyes, and more. A SIGNIFICANT review of Limerick Regenerations progress over the past two years is due to be published in the coming weeks, it has been revealed. Limerick City and County Council has confirmed that a full review of its Framework Implementation Plan, which came into fruition in 2014, will be launched in October. However, a separate monitoring on regenerations social intervention fund has been delayed. Minister for Environment, Com-munity and Local Government, Simon Coveney told Dail Eireann on July 21 that it would be available by September, but a publication date has yet to be announced. Local representatives are eager to see the findings within the next report. Sinn Fein TD Maurice Quinlivan said that the programme has caused huge problems. What I would like to see with this reduced plan that we have been working on since 2014, that the plan is delivered and those houses are built. There has been a massive house demolition across the city. There is a complete sense that the whole project hasnt delivered, and even that is the second part of the project. Cllr John Gilligan, who described the current programme as regeneration Plan C, said: We have to do something. I believe that the conditions that we have left people in is appalling, and it is something that must change. Separately, a spokesperson for the council has said that the delivery of 4,400 additional private housing units in regeneration areas by 2022, as part of the Limerick City Development Plan will take time. It must be noted that there has been very limited private housing activity in Limerick in the past number of years. Given the current recovering state of the housing market, it is envisaged that once the regeneration areas are stabilised and consolidated with the completion of the replacement housing schemes, new linkages, improved services and community uses that the areas will gradually become more attractive for private development, the spokesperson said. Deputy Quinlivan said: There is no way you could even build 1% of that. Cllr Gilligan called the targets fantasty land. However, Cllr Gilligan said that he is hopeful about housing in St Marys Park, and is expecting units to be constructed in 2017. Finally, we are beginning to see an improvement in the situation, and we will be seeing buildings going up there, as early as next year. And from that point of view, I am really pleased. A NEW exhibition at Limerick City Gallery of Art is offering a unique perspective on Limerick life. Cumann, by Michael McLoughlin, is an audio map of Limerick and the results of many months of work by the artist. The exhibition, which recorded conversations and connections between people in the city, representing Limerick society in its broadest sense, opened last Thursday alongside one by Paul Murnaghan called All mountains are moving. Both run until October 30. Central to McLoughlins work is a sound work creating a forest of suspended speakers that map and recreate stories and conversations by groups of people from all over the city. Groups involved in the recordings include Adapt House, Landsdowne Active Retirement Group, Limerick Roller Derby, the Social Democrats, Limerick LBGT, St. Marys Parish Mens Shed, Limerick Islamic Society, Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann and many others. LCGA director-curator Una McCarthy said it was a people centred project and exhibition that celebrates the relationships, friendships, ideas and ideals shared between social, political, sporting and cultural groups in Limerick. Michael has been working closely with a range of organisations over the last three months to create an immersive sound installation which creates a forest of suspended speakers that accurately map and recreate conversations with group members. The word Cumann is often associated with politics or the GAA. The word translates as society, club, community and friendship. Cumann reflects the idea of togetherness that this body of work aims to represent. We have an exciting range of current exhibitions and future ones in the pipeline. Entry to Limerick City Gallery of Art is free, so I would encourage everyone to take a look around and explore for yourselves, she said. In addition to the Cumann exhibition, the groups involved have also been invited to select work from LCGAs Permanent Collection for an exhibition entitled Muintir. Curated by Shinnors Scholar, Simon Corcoran, this exhibition gives a valuable and deeply personal perspective on works from the permanent collection. Works by major Irish and Limerick artists are included. Murnaghans interesting new works look at surrounding pareidolia, a psychological phenomenon involving varying stimulus, wherein the mind perceives patterns in something where none actually exist. See www.gallery.limerick.ie for more details. USPS not the only postal administration issuing fruit stamps in 2016 May 4, 2021, 3 AM An apple represents the four seasons of the year on Alands stamp for this years multination Sepac series. The latest stamp in a series commemorating Austrias wine-growing regions depicts grapes, wine, and a castle of the Mittelburgenland region. Old varieties of apples and pears that are still grown in the Netherlands are pictured on this pane of 10 issued Aug. 15. By Denise McCarty The United States Postal Service has issued definitive stamps this year picturing pears (Jan. 17, Scott 5039), grapes (Feb. 19, 5038) and apples (Aug. 12). Other postal administrations also have featured these fruits on recent stamps. The Netherlands The Netherlands combines apples and pears on a pane of 10 stamps issued Aug. 15. The stamps are nondenominated with a 1 indicating that they pay the domestic rate. Each stamp shows a whole fruit and an image of the fruit cut open. The designs by Bart de Haas are based on illustrations from the 19th-century publication Netherlands Orchard. Connect with Linns Stamp News: Sign up for our newsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter The pane includes four old pear varieties (Bezy van Schonauwen, Williams, Winterrietpeer, and Pondspeer) and six apple varieties (Coxs orange Pippin, Brielsche Calvill, Roode Herfstcalville, Ananas Reinette, Schone van Boskoop, and Zoete Ermgard). A brief description of each is included on a label se-tenant with the stamp. Aland An apple is used to illustrate the four seasons on a stamp issued Aug. 12 by Aland. This nondenominated domestic-rate stamp is part of the multination Sepac (Small European Postal Administrations Cooperation) issue with the theme of seasons. Aland Post said that the design by Annika Zetterqvist could be summarized by the words germinate, blossom, ripen and enjoy, adding that these words appear on both the sheet of 30 (two panes of 15) and on the first-day cancel. Austria, Portugal Grapes are depicted on July issues from Austria and Portugal. Released July 16, the 0.80 stamp from Austria is part of a series highlighting the countrys wine regions. The designs in this series follow the same format, showing a bunch of grapes along with a local scene inside of a wine glass. Mittelburgenland, also called Blaufrankischland, is featured on the new stamp. The design depicts the Blaufrankisch grape and red wine (also called Lemberger). The website Wine-Searcher.com describes Blaufrankisch as spicy and robust. The illustration in the glass of wine is of Kobersdorf Castle, which dates back to the 13th century. The Old Vineyards of Portugal set was issued July 22. The designs are based on photographs taken by Anabela Trindade. In addition to grapes, the stamps show horses plowing a vineyard (0.47), a terraced vineyard (0.58), harvesting (0.75), and barrels of wine (0.80). The 1.80 stamp in the souvenir sheet pictures grapes surrounded by green, red, and gold leaves. According to authorities, more than 400 persons were in and around the bridge in Morbi when it collapsed Sunday evening. Check out our latest E-Edition Accessible anytime and anywhere on your desktop, tablet and smart phone devices. The Lodi News e-Edition is enhanced with the latest digital tools, including RSS feeds, social networking and much more. Check out our latest E-edition! 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 A Shabaab commander lecturing militiamen after their surrender One of Shabaabs main radio stations in Somalia has published a report claiming dozens of pro-government militiamen in central Somalia hasve surrendered to the al Qaeda branch in recent days. This reportedly occurred in the Galguduud Region, where Shabaab has been able to recapture some towns after Somali and Ethiopian troops withdrew. Radio Andalus, one of Shabaabs propaganada radio stations and media outlets, reported that dozens of these fighters surrendered and gave up their weapons to the jihadist group after a recent battle. Additionally, Shahada News, another Shabaab outlet, said that the number of militiamen that surrendered was close to 60. However, in photos released by Radio Andalus, the number appears to be nowhere near that total. It is possible that some militia members were not photographed. The fate of those fighters is not clear. Shabaab did not indicate it would execute the militia members or attempt to bring them into the fold. This report comes just a few days after Shabaab claimed it captured Mogokori in the Hiraan Region and the town of Budbud in Galguduud after the aforementioned Somali and Ethiopian troops withdrew from the towns. In Elbur in Galguduud, Ethiopian troops have also been the victim of Shabaab ambushes in recent days, as well. As these forces retreat from towns like Budbud or Mogokori, Shabaab will continue to slip into these locations afterwards and claim control. (See Threat Matrix report, Shabaab captures town in central Somalia.) With local militias surrendering, who are allied to the government in Mogadishu and African Union forces, this allows Shabaab to further solidify its control of the recently captured areas. Photos released by Shabaab: 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. A banner from an As Sahab propaganda tape, titled Winds of Paradise Part 5, Eulogizing 5 Martyrs, that details five al Qaeda fighters killed in Afghanistan. The US militarys top commander in Afghanistan said yesterday that American forces are hunting al Qaeda leaders and members in at least seven Afghan provinces. General John W. Nicholson Jr., who leads NATOs Resolute Support and US Forces Afghanistan, listed the provinces in response to a question about how many senior al Qaeda leaders remain in eastern Afghanistan. He specifically mentioned the provinces of Kandahar, Zabul, Paktika, Ghazni, Kunar, Nuristan and Nangarhar. In October 2015, Gen. Nicholson reminded reporters, there was an operation conducted down in the Shorabak District of Kandahar whereAl Qaeda and Al Qaeda [in the] Indian subcontinent were present in a training base that was destroyed. After the Shorabak raid, General John Campbell, then the commander of Resolute Support, said the al Qaeda base was probably the largest training camp-type facility that we have seen in 14 years of war. At approximately 30 square miles in size, it is easy to see why this is true. Wesee them [al Qaeda] in the east, stretching from you know, to Zabul, Paktika, Ghazni area in the Southeast and then up in the areas to the Northeast which you are familiar with, Kunar, Nuristan, Nangarhar, theres some very mountainous area which which lends itself to a sanctuary, Gen. Nicholson explained. Al Qaeda and affiliated groups, including jihadist organizations that draw members from neighboring countries in Central Asia, are operating in other provinces as well. US and Afghan forces have conducted multiple raids against al Qaeda targets in Afghanistan over the past year. In addition to the operation against the al Qaeda camp in Shorabak, Gen. Nicholson mentioned another raid that took place in Paktika province. The raid in which we rescued Haider Gilani, the son of the former Pakistani prime minister, that wasagainst an Al Qaeda target, and so Al Qaeda was holding that individual hostage, Nicholson said. After he was freed, Gilani told the press that al Qaeda was attempting to trade him for Ayman al Zawahiris daughters, another al Qaeda widow, and their children. Al Qaeda claims the women were freed in early August under murky circumstances. The US military and Afghan forces also targeted al Qaeda bases in two other operations over the past year. In the summer of 2015, US forces targeted an al Qaeda encampment in Paktika. Abu Khalil al Sudani, a top al Qaedas leader, is thought to have been killed during that raid. Earlier this month, Afghanistans National Directorate of Security struck an al Qaeda base in Zabul. Gen. Nicholson didnt give an estimate for the total number of al Qaeda leaders being targeted, saying he wouldnt get into matters that would affect future operations. Regardless, along with the Islamic States Khorasan branch, al Qaeda remains at the top of the US militarys list of targets and the Americans continue to hunt them every day. Of the 98 US or UN-designated terrorist organizations around the globe, Nicholson pointed out, 20 of them are in the Af-Pak region, which is the highest concentration of the numbers [sic] of different groups in any area in the world. As The Long War Journal has reported on numerous occasions throughout the years, many of these same groups are closely allied with al Qaeda. Al Qaedas participation in the fighting throughout Afghanistan is not a recent development. For example, a memo recovered in Osama bin Ladens compound summarized al Qaedas presence in eight different Afghan provinces as of June 2010. The file specifically mentioned Farouq al Qahtani, a veteran jihadist. In February, the Treasury Department added Qahtani to the US governments list of designated terrorists. Qahtani serves as the head of al Qaedas eastern zone in Afghanistan. He has been a key al Qaeda leader in Afghanistan since 2009, directing the delivery of funds and weapons to Taliban associates. Qahtani has also contributed to al Qaedas external operations, meaning its anti-Western plotting. The US government and the military have downplayed al Qaedas presence for more than six years, despite evidence that al Qaeda remains entrenched in Afghanistan some 15 years after the 9/11 attacks. From 2010 up until the spring of 2016, US officials claimed that al Qaeda had been decimated in Afghanistan and maintained a consistent, minimal presence of 50 to 100 operatives. This was in direct conflict with the US militarys own reporting on operations that targeted al Qaeda in the country between 2007 and 2013. In April 2016, Resolute Support admitted that the previous long-held estimates of al Qaedas strength in Afghanistan were wrong. Brigadier General Charles Cleveland, the top spokesman for Resolute Support, said that the Shorabak raid forced the military to revise the often-repeated estimate of 50 to 100 operatives in country to upwards of 300. That figure is likely too low as well. [See LWJ report, US military admits al Qaeda is stronger in Afghanistan than previously estimated.] Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Thomas Joscelyn is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Senior Editor for FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Luton is a large town, borough and unitary authority area of Bedfordshire. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 258,000. Luton is home to Championship team Luton Town Football Club, London Luton Airport and The University of Bedfordshire. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter. For all the latest news from Luton sign up to our newsletter here. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2016 > Mahaswetas Last Wish Remained Unfulfilled TRIBUTE by Chandrasekhar Bhattacharjee It was a scorching summer noon of mid-April, 2010. Mahasweta Devi landed at Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi, from Delhi after receiving the Manavata Bikash Award, conferred by the IIPM. She was trying to find a statue of Birsa within the airport, but in vein. A wellbuilt middle-aged person (Mahasweta called him Lalji) received her at the airport. As the car comes out of the airport, a huge statue of Birsa at Birsa Munda Chowk greets her. The octogenarian author of Birsa Mundas story in Aranyer Adhikar points out to her companions: See, Birsa is still chained, even if India has won freedom. We have failed to unshackle heroes like Birsa. No statue at the airport is named after him. A larger-than-life statue means your gratitude is zero, showingoff is a thousand times. Her destination is Ulihatu under Erki tehsil of Khunti district, where the legendary icon of tribal uprising, Birsa Munda, was born and lived. Ulihatu still reels under severe poverty and underdevelopment. If another Birsa were here, another uprising could have been possible. Mahasweta Devi formed a trust and decided to adopt Ulihatu. For that, she has already awarded the larger chunk of the IIPMs Rs 5 lakh award money, even before she received it. The money helped the Birsa kin to set up an oil extraction unit. It will use the local mahua, kusum and other seeds. These oils are edible and as cost of production will be low and raw materials hugely available, people may add value to their lives. She has never dreamt once that the State Government of Jharkhand (earlier part of Bihar) had done nothing for either the village or even for Birsas family. The kin of Birsa and the villagers turned their ancestral home into Bhagawan Birsa Mandir where a small blackstone statue is erected. Thats all. No trace of any government activity at Ulihatu on the hillock. The author of Hajar ChurashirMaa (her novel, often branded as the same Mother of 1084) told this scribe: I wrote the book on Birsa in my early literary life but this is my first ever visit to his village. Often she used to advise young writers to have direct experience and extensive study on any subject he or she chose to write on. When she was reminded of this, she quipped: I studied Birsa from several books and historical studies so much, that I visited his house and the village in my dream. Today is the day to fulfil that dream. That was Mahasweta Devi, often called as Mahasweta-di by the city intellectuals and Maa by the adivasis. She was the last Ashramik of Santiniketan who had the rare privilege of being nurtured directly by Gurudev Tagore. He gave me a book to read as I told him I couldnt understand what he writes by going though his books bought by my father (Manish Ghatak), she told this scribe in another interview on Tagore. She was a writer of a different genre, perhaps inspired by Tagores life and work. Her mould as an author developed from her association with the IPTA through her husband, eminent theatre personality Bijan Bhattacharya, and uncle Rittwik Ghatak. Her pen was razor-sharp but her language and her selection of theme were the subalterns. Tagore was all praise for tribals and initiated Basantotsav following their rituals of SSalsai, the tribal new year festival on Basant Purnima. Mahasweta portrayed the spirit of the tribals throughout her life with pen. She authored Birsa Munda, Basai Tudu, Etoa Munda, Draupodi or Dopadi Mejhen as legendary characters. Long after she authored Draupadi in 1978, Sabitri Heisnam of Manipur Kalaskhetra, staged a part of it where Dopdi Mejhen expresses her wrath against patriarchy, challenging: Kapa aar ki habe? Kapo aar? Lengta korte paris, kapor porabi kem on kore? Marad tu? ... heth a keo purush lai je laj karbo. kapor more porate dibo na. ar ki korbi? (What to do with saree? Saree? You can denude me but how can dress me? Are you a man?... No man is nearby to feel ashamed. I will not allow you to dress me up. What can you do?) Later Dopdi came into real life by the aggrieved nude mothers of Manipur in front of Imphals Kangla Fort after the rape and brutal killing of Thangjam Manorama. In fact, her Draupadi was the first voice of Dalit women against social oppression. Like a Jahuree, she always looked into the society to pick up and promote jewels. Manoranjan Byapari is one of such writers, already awarded by the Bangla Academy of West Bengal and several other organisations and academies. Manoranjan, a Dalit, who never stepped into any school for education but committed almost all types of crimes, turned into an acclaimed author by her motherly affection and inspi-ration. Manoranjan can be called todays Balmiki. But whenever the issue of Marxism or communism was under discussion, she used to say: I have never read a book on Marxism or communism, but read it from the lives of the downtrodden Dalits and adivasis, who practise communism. She was more an activistwriter than the middle class intellectual writers. She initiated and led several movements against the govern-ments of the daybe it after Chuni Kotals suicide, murder of a tribal youth (Basai Tudu in her story), Save Khowai (of Santiniketan) Movement, Amlasol starvation death, police action against farmers of Singur and Nandi-gram, Lalgarh, etc., and seeking justice for Rizwanur Rehmans mother, defending Taslima Nasreens right to live in Kolkata and writing freely, supporting Birbhum adivasi Gaontas struggle against illegal stone-mining and quarries and what not. She also stood by the demand of renaming the Silchar railway station as the Vasa Shaheed Smarak Station and shot a letter to the then Railway Minister, Mamata Banerjee. A fearless and indefatigable champion of human rights, Mahasweta Devi could not reconcile herself to the murder of Kisanji, in what she termed as fake encounter, and called Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee a fascist, despite being her admirer. Her demise is a loss not merely to the literary world, but an irreparable loss to the the human rights activists, leave alone the Adivasis and Dalits. Everyone of Adivasi samaj, who are against Dikus (non-Adivasis) acclaimed her as their Mother. One by one, she formed the Kheriya Shabar Kalyan Samiti, then the Lodha Kalyan Samiti. And since then she had initiated or got involved with the day-to-day activities of the Bandhua Mukti Morcha of Swami Agnivesh, Kiriburu Adivasi Mahila Samaj, Majhgeria Adivasi Gaonta, Munda Samaj, Saowar Jamla, Sahis Jati Kalyan Samiti, Adivasi Harijan Kalyan Samiti and several others. The greater part of her writing table used to be occupied by files of these organisations as she had to write tens of letters for them daily. Her several wishes are still to be fulfilled, several demands remain unfulfilled. The Bhasa Shahid Smarak Station movement is still going on. Political prisoners like Chhatradhar Mahato, Sukhshanti Baske are behind bars in West Bengal. The government has done nothing to protect the Khowai river in Santiniketan. The people responsible for Chuni Kotals death are still unpunished. Rizwanurs mother is yet to get insaaf or justice though the persons responsible for his death joined Mamata Banerjees party. Mahasweta was the first to stand by the people of Singur with Medha Patlkar. They are yet to get back their land. No enquiry was done on Kisanjis murder, despite her strong demand. Her Dopdis have made West Bengal the State with the highest number of crimes against women. Her last wish was to be cremated under MahuaShalSegun trees of Rajnoagaon of Purulia. It is from here that she became the Mother of all Adivasis. But, the West Bengal Chief Ministers determination to give her a State funeral deprived the nonagenarian of her last wish being fulfilled. The adivasis of Rajnoagaon decided to perform her last kriya by planting a Maha Segun tree, her love, on the eleventh day of her death to pay their last respects to their Mother. The author, a senior journalist, is the Assistant Editor of the Bengali weekly periodical, Janaswartha Barta. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2016 > Scene of Linguistic Chauvinism The horrors of partition came to my mind when I saw television beaming pictures of rioting and killing in Bengaluru. It was the same way I felt when partition took place and we, the people living in the newly-constituted state of Pakistan, had to leave our home and hearth to migrate to India. I never imagined that a cosmopolitan city like Bengaluru could be the scene of linguistic chauvinism, which would go to the extent of killing Tamils by Kannadas. Leading IT firms preferred to open their offices because they considered the city liberal and peaceful. If someone had asked me at that time that such a scene could be repeated at a place like Bengaluru, I would have said: No and never. Yet this has happened because the people known to be liberal were swept off their feet over appeals in the name of parochialism. Fortunately, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaas determination not to allow similar incidents happening in the State prevented any reprisals. She rightly deserves the kudos for handling the problem before it could assume a proportion leading to indiscriminate violence. There is a long-standing dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu on sharing of the Cauvery waters. This is not the first time that Karnataka has refused to abide by the Supreme Court verdict on the amount of water to be released to Tamil Nadu. Earlier, whenever such a situation had arisen, the people of both States had been at each others throat. So, what is happening in Bengaluru today is a mere repetition. But what is the way out? Nobody can challenge the Supreme Courts decision, but the problem can be solved by sitting across the table and arrive at a solution, particularly when peoples emotions are involved. Since the river water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is a sensitive issue, I recall former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayees idea of evolving a consensus to handle the issue. Knowledgeable circles have been warning the nation against the dangerous consequences of letting the river waters dispute linger on. Karnatakas unilateral decision to abrogate all the inter-State river water agreements has created a situation, the like of which the nation has not experienced. And to cap it all, all Chief Ministers of the States have been indulging in a slanging match, which does not go well with the idea of a federal structure which the Indian Constitution demands. Needless to say, it is difficult to find a consensus on the sharing of river waters than on any other subject. The protracted war of nerves between the two States on the sharing of Cauvery waters is a case in point. Consensus can be evolved only when political parties rise above their parochial interests to use their vision to make water into a factor that unites our country. They need to have the necessary will to achieve this noble goal. It is not impossible to find a formula protecting the interests of both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. I had always thought our real problem was population. I did mention this to an American Nobel Prize winner who contradicted me and said: Your problem is going to be water. We were discussing the ordeals that India would face in the years to come. Our views did not tally even after a long discussion. What happened at Latur in Maharashtra some time ago has renewed the Americans warning to me. He had also given me an optimistic side: There is an ocean of water under the Yamuna-Gangetic plane waiting to be tapped. I wonder if this is true. Had it been so, the government would have done a scientific study by this time to estimate the collected water. I have not heard of any such plan so far. India has seven major riversthe Ganges, Brahmaputra, Indus, Narmada, Krishna, Goda-vari and Cauveryand numerous tributaries. New Delhi has set up the Central Water and Power Commission to have a systematic plan to harness not only water but also generate power. This has worked to a large extent but in certain parts of India the fallout has been a series of disputes which even after decades remain unsolved. Nearer home, Haryana, then part of Punjab, has refused to release water to Rajasthan and Delhi. This goes contrary to the stand New Delhi had taken when the Indus Water Treaty was signed. At that time we argued that we wanted more water because we had to irrigate Rajasthan, which has a large part of desert. Unfortunately, several incongruities are responsible for inter-State water disputes. Even after 70 years of independence, the disputes are far from settled. When the Congress ruled both at the Centre and in the States, the problems never assumed an ugly shape. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which then only commanded a few Lok Sabha members, did not count much. It is a different scenario today. Now that it has a majority in Parliament, the party sees to it that the States run by it get the maximum benefit, rules or no rules. However, the situation is different in the South. Both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are ruled by parties other than the BJP. New Delhi should have stepped in long ago. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who claims to have united different parts of the country into one unit, looks distant from the problem that Karnataka and Tamil Nadu face. His statements have been general. What is needed is tackling of the countrys problem arising out of language, border or water. Hindus and Muslims, who were living together for hundreds of years, became strangers soon after partition and had no compunction even in raping women. They were facing on a large scale the situation which Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are encountering on a small scale today. Sometimes I shudder that the disputes among the States may take the shape of some kind of partition. When friends and neighbours could suddenly become strangers because they pursued a different religion, what the Kannadas did on the streets of Bengaluru could well be a page from the history of partition. The author is a veteran journalist renowned not only in this country but also in our neighbouring states of Pakistan and Bangladesh where his columns are widely read. His website is www.kuldipnayar.com Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2016 > Kashmir and Conscience From N.C.s Writings In the brochures and posters of Indian tourism, Kashmir still figures with its enchanting attractions. In reality, however, the picturesque Valley of Kashmir is becoming out of bounds for the peace-loving citizens of this country. In a sense, Kashmir today represents the gravest challenge to Indian democracyperhaps much more than what happened at Ayodhya on December 6 and all that followed. If the bomb blast in Bombay on March 12 and the blow-up of the bomb storage in Calcutta that came in its wake, announced the arrival of the mafia to disrupt our democracy, dont the bloody clashes in the Kashmir Valley presage the departure of its most significant part from our Republic? The crisis in Kashmir has been worsening year after year. Without going into the protracted history of neglect, high-handedness, corruption and systematic subversion of the democratic order which the Centre has perpetrated in that State for forty years now, one may take the unseating of a duly elected government in 1984planned and carried out with cold-blooded precision by people some of whom today claim to be specialists in the subjectas the last milepost along the dismal trail of progressive alienation of the people of the Valley from the rest of this country. This 1984 coup by which Farooq Abdullahs duly elected government was overthrown by the minions from the Delhi Durbar blatantly arranging defection of MLAs with a Governor specially sent out for the operation, shattered the confidence of the common people in the Valley in the Centres commitment to democratic functioning in Kashmir. And it was during the rickety administration of the Centrally-propped-up regime of Ghulam Shah that the first outbreak of communal violence took place in the Valley. While this monstrosity of a Ministry could not hold out for long and the Governors Raj resumed in this sensitive frontier State, a patch-up between Farooqs National Conference and the Congress brought into office a coalition Ministry which could neither forge a unified front nor win the confidence of the people. Inevitably the militant groups gained in influence and the first serious threat of secession could be discerned. The illumination on the Pakistan Day (August 14) and black-out on the Indian Independence Day (August 15) in 1989 should have opened the eyes of the political leaders, but the Kashmir crisis was hardly examined in detail by either the Congress or the Janata Dal governments. By the time of the Republic Day on January 26, 1990, the crisis had reached the boiling point, and the only thing that could be achieved was the hoisting of the tricolour. Meanwhile, no elected government could be restored as the State Assembly itself had been dissolved, and since then the Governors Rule has continued uninterrupted requiring enabling constitutional amendments being periodically passed by Parliament. In other words, it has turned out to be an open confrontation between New Delhi and the people in the Valley, with the militants assuming their leadership. The last three years has been one of unrelieved unwisdom in the Centres dealing with Kashmir. Even when the Pandit families began to leave their native place in the Valley, there was no waking-up on the part of the Centreneither at the government level, nor at the political party level. The accretion of strength of the militants was ascribed to the Pakistan Governments generous backing of them, and at one stage, the Central leaders accused Pakistan of waging a proxy war against India in Kashmir. But what steps were taken by the government and the political parties to retrieve the fast-dwindling faith of the people of the Valley in the Indian leadership? The only tangible evidence of New Delhis concern and interest in Kashmir was the despatch of forces, more and more in greater numbers. The para-military forces, as they are called, are for all practical purposes engaged in waging a virtual war in the Valley. For sometime, the public in this country was made to believe by the government that all the strident outcry by the human-rights activists was inspired by interested circles in the West which back Pakistan and run down India. But when many of the atrocities began to be exposed in the Indian media by a whole body of intrepid Indian journalists, that official alibi could hardly hold water. Isolated cases of exaggerated reporting were highlighted by official circles to desperately cover up the shocking state of affairs in the Valley. Today, the government seems to be living in a pathetic world of unreality insofar as Kashmir is concerned. At the beginning of this year, it was given out that the government would be coming out with a new set of proposals for Kashmir. In fact, the Prime Minister had earlier hinted on a package for Kashmir. It was given out that Farooq Abdullah was being brought back as this might help to win over at least a sizeable section of the public which alone could be turned into a foothold for resuming the political process. Farooq Abdullah himself stated on March 15 that there was definite rethinking in Delhi for a solution to the Kashmir problem. It was largely at his suggestion that the Governor was changed and General Krishna Rao was brought back to hold the post from which he had stepped down in 1990. Farooq might have been useful in establishing contact with the militants, as he is known to have had personal rapport with some of the JKLF leaders abroad. But New Delhi did not wake up and Farooq Abdullah got fed up and just within a month of his optimistic statement, he withdrew from the scene bitterly attacking the Central Government for being unable to understand the gravity of the situation; and even if they do, they are clearly incapable of taking any firm decision. It is worth noting that statement by Farooq Abdullah came three days after the Union Home Ministers assurance to the press in Chandigarh on April 15 that the government was in the process of framing a definite policy on Kashmir. Farooq Abdullah might have slunk away to hibernate abroad, but what is the record of the government since then? The security force bosses in Srinagar have been claiming that their relentless operation had crippled the militant outfit and soon there would be a turn for the better in the situation. The crackdowns are being conducted with a degree of ruthlessness never resorted to before the Indian forces, not even in Nagaland. Young and old, men and womennobody is spared as Indian reporters have reported in recent weeks in our media. The criminal record of the para-military forces in Sopore in January would have inflamed the wrath of any people anywhere in the world. And in the very week of the Home Ministers statement promising a definite policy in Kashmir, in that very week the security forces indulged in another round of beastly incendiarism destroying a good part of the historic Lai Chowk in Srinagar. This had its inevitable repercussion within the administration itself. The State police force revolted when one policeman was killed in custodial death by the Centres paramilitary forces on April 22. The police took out a protest march to make a representation to the UN office in Srinagar, and the next day the revolt of the policemen was joined by their Kashmiri officers. Could there be a more glaring proof of complete alienation of the people from the Central authorityalienation assuming the character of active antagonism? We, all of us, have to hang down our heads in shame for all the follies and crimes that are taking place in Kashmir today. Not only the government but, it is amazing, the leaders of different parties in Parliament have not cared to demand even a full-scale discussion on the grave situation in Kashmir. What do we gain by pleading with the USA to declare Pakistan a terrorist state when we ourselves have forfeited the trust of the people of the Kashmir Valley who on the very morrow of independence had fought with bare arms to push back the armed marauders from Pakistan? Indias democracy can never sustain itself by stamping the jackboot on the people in any part of this far-flung republic of ours. Kashmir summons us to heed the voice of our conscience. [Mainstream, May 1, 1993] Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2016 > Intifada in Kashmir by Mustafa Khan The Kashmir problem cannot be addressed unless you address Pakistan, says Dr Madhav Godbole.1 The Kashmir problem is a quandary but new grounds seem to be broken. Sitaram Yechury, who called on Geelani but could not meet him, said that Pakistan should be included in any dialogue on Kashmir. It went unnoticed by the BJP and even the Congress. Geelani called Pakistan a friend and well-wisher. Either the public opinion is not educated enough to know the delicate situation or the kind of nationalism, that verges on chauvinism and vigilantism victimising the minority Muslims, has taken deep roots and reconstructing society, that includes Kashmiris, is dismissed out of hand. It is all on account of the forbidden word: Pakistan. However, there is a new territory far from India whom India befriended and sympathised with but forgot: Palestine. Since Advani/Vajpayee welcomed into India in the disguise of a Hindu Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Dayan in the late 1990s, there is a chemistry of change that has increasingly coloured perception and policy. The fall-out was the 1994 declaration that Kashmir is an integral part of India and those on the cusp of gaining power would offer the sky to Kashmirs but not aazadi. This comes to mind on the 67th day of continued protest on the day of Idul Azha. The Israelis would occasionally lift embargo on food meant for the Gaza strip or elsewhere but the Indian Kashmir Valley intifada is deterministically more horrifying what with pellet guns spewing horrible wounds and death and shutting down sale of animals for the festival and not allowing food otherwise into the ten districts under the harshest curfew. Even the biscuits which some Samaritans managed to smuggle in could hardly reach or be enough to a couple of neighborhoods. The Palestinian intifada had begun in 1987 against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian land seized in war. The West Bank and Gaza were fully covered by the Western media even at the worst of times. But the intifada in the Valley is without even that. Chief Minister Narendra Modi had warned the media in 2002 to cover the Gujarat pogroms at the risk of their life. He went further and ominously and insidiously reminded them the fate of Daniel Pearl. Today it is grimmer and the situation bleaker. Now, if you look at the photo sent by S. Irfan to the PTI and which is also shown on rediff.com, you would know that the protester is not dressed like Palestinians. He is just like any mainland Indian in his dress and boots. Any Indian, whether Hindu or Muslim, looks like him. He has nothing to share with any pathan suit-wearing Pakistani. His dress is the specialty of a festival like Eid or Diwali. But the quaint is in the right arm that is lowered after releasing the stone hurled at the security forces confronting them. In a mechanical reaction the left arm is fully stretched back. The time of action and reaction was enough to take him on the crossed hair and pull the trigger. He is not even hooded or masked. On the day of the special morning prayer he has jettisoned the usual cover on his face because he has taken the risk to endanger his life but not to fail to register his protest and anger. What with morning prayer and all there was no time to go to prayer and also subsequently prepare for any camou-flage. So the protest has come from within the hearts and minds of the protestors and was not funded by anyone and was spontaneous as transfer of money or food is beyond even the remotest thought. There was no transfer of animals or money for the whole period of protest since July 8 to September 13. Even net or phone connection was off. How Irfan shot and sent the photo is also difficult to guess. So grounded in the locale is the protest. Similarly contextualised is the figure of the native Mohammad Imran Parry riddled with pellets: The victims of oppression and suppression or terrorism cannot choose their attackers. In Kashmirs case it is the opposite. The victims choose to confront the security forces knowing fully well that they would be the easy target. They confront the police and Army from a close distance. You can choose your friends, though. India chose Israel, and now the US. These could not have the option like the Syrian child from Aleppo. PM Narsimha Rao had craftily chosen Moshe Dayan and had also chosen to go silent on the Babri demolition and further chosen to ignore Rajesh Pilot who came nearest to the hearts and minds of many Kashmiris. He had seen red in the Assistant Secretary of the US State Department Robin Raphaels questioning the finality of J&Ks accession to India coinciding with PM Benazir Bhutto of Pakistans remark that Kashmir was an unfinished business of partition. It was this Machiavellian move of Rao that was the undoing of the earliest solution we could have had. Rao struck again. He used his Home Minister, S.B. Chavan, to undermine Rajesh Pilot by dampening his enthusiasm and slowing down the progress he was making before putting an end to it. Much later Pilot died in a plane crash in 2000. The Prime Minister did not want any solution and offering the sky was a smoke-screen. If Rao was so secretive and hence sinister in his design, Modi, who took the rein of the government on May 16, 2014, was overtly against Muslims and made no bones of what was up in his sleeves. He was a pracharak or guide of the RSS and would be just that even if the heavens fell down. He disregarded the unsolicited advice of Muftil Mohammad Sayeed on November 24, 2014 to hold a dialogue which is the only way to solve the Kashmir problem and end hostility with Pakistan. He was prepared for neither of them because of his ideology. What followed Sayeeds utterance was, in his own words, a waste of time. In his standard RSS tactics he enacted the inanity of the charade of wasting time: prevarication. Being not a statesman like Vajpayee, but a demagogue, Modi exacerbated the matter by becoming more voluble and uttering too much on terrorism forgetting that 2002 too was terror and blaming Pakistan for bombarding Balo-chistan, Baltistan, Gigit and also part of Kashmir in Pakistans control. In contrast Vajpayee chose his words trying and succeeding in his utterances turning brevity into wit: A stable, secure and prosperous Pakistan is in Indias interest. Let no one in Pakistan be in doubt. India sincerely wishes Pakistan well. Pakistan was unfortunate but the wound has healed. One can choose ones friends, but neighbours are permanent. The difference between the pracharak and the orator is clear. The latter could jettison the ideology for realpolitik, the former could not. A highly practical solution was at hand much earlier. There was nobody in Delhi more sympathetic to Kashmiris or to their cause, in the Government of India, than Rajesh Pilot.2 Vajpayee had asked Modi to do his rajdharm, the duty of a ruler. Modi had replied pat tongue in cheek that he was just doing that. Today he would say the same. It has roots in mythology. Lord Krishna had asked Arjuna to do his duty and in war kill the enemy even if they were part of the overall familial society. So the 2002 pogroms were just that. This time around the victims are the same and more would fall victims of the pellet guns. Only the provenance has changed from Gujarat to Kashmir. In contrast stand the restructuring of the society and community, the two circles, which are essential for democracy and amity as well as integrity of the country. However, when Modi speaks of Mother India he excludes Muslims who love their biological mothers and still love the country of their birth. The RSS ideology is committed to nation-building: one language, one religion and one region. This could hardly be the society for a democratic and secular India. As Maulana Azad made it clear, there are two circles, one of the community to which you belong and the larger circle concentricto it is the Indian nation or society. The extremists among the BJP and Shiv Senas ruling alliance do not view Indian Muslims as part of India as a matter of realistically speaking. They target them occasionally and one such occasion was in the midst of the Kashmir turmoil on July 24, 2016 when Uddhav Thackeray, like his father Bal Thackeray, advocated Hindu nation to fight terror. He was speaking in Kashmirs context and said: There is no other option but to declare the country a Hindu nation. There is enough of secularism.3 This is not the way to reconstruct society or community. Nor will the Kashmir problem be solved by means of law and order operation. 1. http://www.rediff.com/news/interview/in-kashmir-were-in-a-tunnel-with-no-light-at-the-end/20160908.htm? pos=3&src=NL20160911&trackid=7MGeiBNRi Og Hpji U22XIw0UhYgsPCBFedrAsNDfdS8Q=&isnlp =0&isnlsp=0 2. AS Dulat. Kashmir, the Vajpayee Years, India: Harper Collins, 2015. pp. 18, 179-180. 3. The Asian Age, July 25, 2016. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2016 > Murder of Democracy in Arunachal Pradesh by V. Bijukumar Politics in Arunachal Pradesh assumed a new turn in the context of the mass migration of Congress MLAs, including its Chief Minister Prema Khandu, to the Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA), a regional outfit set up with the support of the BJP. When 43 Congress MLAs joined the regional party, the Congress strength in the Assembly was reduced to one as the former Chief Minister, Nabam Tuki, remained the lone Congress MLA. In the 60-member State Assembly, whose current strength is 57, the status of two MLAs, Wanglam Sawin and Gabriel D. Wangsu, is pending with the Speaker on the issue of disqualification. With the death of Kalikho Pul, the former Chief Minister, the emergence of the PPA as the single largest party is a political victory for the BJP. The current course of events in Arunachal can be viewed as a logical continuation of the political developments taking place in the border State since the end of the previous year. For quite some time, dissident activities both in the Congress party and government had been growing and the Central leadership of the party adopted a lukewarm attitude towards it leading to further aggravation of this situation. In December 2014 Nabam Tuki dropped Kalikho Pul, the Health and Family Welfare Minister, in a Cabinet reshuffle. Amid mounting anti-party activities in the State, that posed a challenge to the government, the Congress expelled Pul alleging anti-party activities in April 2015. In the beginning of the year, the BJP orchestrated defection in the ruling Congress party that saw political instability in the State culminating in the resignation of the Nabam Tuki Government and the House was kept under suspended animation. Subsequently, Presidents Rule was imposed under Article 356 on the recommendation of the Union Cabinet citing constitutional failure in the State. On February 19, 2016 the dissident Congress leader, Kalikho Pul, finally overthrew the Tuki Government with the outside support of the BJP. Although the Congress had the support of 47 MLAs in the 60-member House, 21 of them supported the rebel leader, Pul, who later formed the Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA). By encouraging defection, overthrowing the incumbent government and installing a new government led by the rebel Congress leader with its outside support, the BJP scored over the Congress in the border State. However, in a major setback to the BJP and the Central Government, the Supreme Court on July 13 ordered restoration of the Congress Government under Nabam Tuki, saying the clock should be turned back. It quashed the decision of the Governor, Rajkhowa, in February this year as a violation of the Constitution. The Supreme Court order had made the Congress jubilant and it termed the verdict as the victory of democracy in the State and a setback for the BJPs effort to dislodge the Congress regimes in India. However, the Governor set July 16 as the deadline for proving majority in the Assembly though Tuki sought at least ten days time for proving the governments majority. Though Chief Minister Tuki was confident of winning the trust vote by appealing to the dissident party MLAs to support his government in the confidence motion, the Central leadership smelled the upcoming dangers to the party in the State under the leadership of Tuki. On the eve of the trust vote in the floor of the House, the Congress party decided to change its Chief Minister taking into account the mood of the dissident MLAs. The replacement of Tuki by the young Prema Khandu, the son of former Chief Minister Dorgee Khandu, not only saved the Congress Government which had to face the crucial trust vote but also put hurdles to the anticipated BJP-orchestrated defection and resolved the political instability for the time being. The change of guard in the Congress Legislature Party in Arunachal Pradesh temporarily solved the political crisis brewing in the aftermath of the reinstatement of the former Chief Minister, Nabam Tuki. It was viewed that the truce in the Congress in Arunachal Pradesh would be a personal setback for Amit Shah, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Kiren Rijiju and their strategy towards the Congress regimes in the region. The reinstatement of the Congress Government with the change of guard in Arunachal Pradesh, it was thought, would check the BJPs attempt to dislodge Congress regimes both in Manipur and Meghalaya for the time being. However, after a gap of two months the State witnessed yet another political drama by the Congress MLAs merging with the PPA, thereby not only posing a challenge to the Central leadership of the Congress party but also providing a morale booster to the BJP. In Arunachal Pradesh, the BJP has a history of orchestrating defections in the Congress party, bringing down Congress regimes, supporting rebel leaders to form governments with its outside support, and also merging splintered political factions with the BJP. Perhaps, the partys first ever attempt to destablise Congress governments in the North-Eastern States goes back to 2003 with the Arunachal Pradesh experiment. In July 2003, during the Vajpayee-led National Demo-cratic Alliance (NDA) Government, the dissident Congress leader, Gegong Apang, toppled the Mukut Mithi-led Congress Government with 34 Congress MLAs and became the Chief Minister of the State under the newly floated United Democratic Front (UDF), which later merged with the BJP. However, in 2004, when the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government came to power at the Centre, Apang rejoined the Congress party and contested the next election under the Congress symbol. After this failed experiment, the BJP built up its strong base in Arunachal Pradesh, and over the years its vote-share has increased by making inroads into the electoral base of the Congress. In the 2004 general election, the party could win both the seats in the State with a vote-share of 53.85 per cent. Although in the subsequent general election in 2009, the party lost both the seats to the Congress and its vote-share was reduced to 37.17 per cent, in the 2014 general election it wrested one seat from the ruling Congress with a vote-share of 46.62 per cent. In a major jolt to the ruling Congress in the State, Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and the BJPs prominent face in the North-East, wrested the Arunachal West constituency from the Congress This spectacular victory in one of the two seats in the State gave added advantage to the NDA in the region. In the State Assembly elections held along with the general election 2014, the BJP won 11 seats with a vote-share of 30.97 per cent in the 60-member Assembly against its performance in 2009 when it could secure only three seats. The Congress won 42 seats with a vote-share of 49.9 per cent and the Peoples Party of Arunachal won five seats and independents two. The BJPs current effort to install the PPA-led government with its outside support has to be seen in the larger context of its politics in the region. Though the BJPs attempt to dislodge the State Congress Government began soon after the general election in 2014, this got further accelerated in the aftermath of the Assam Assembly elections in which the BJP formed its first ever government in North-East India. For instance, the recently floated North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), under the convenor-ship of Himanta Biswa Sarma, was trying to dislodge the Congress Government in the State by encouraging defections by alluring the MLAs with positions and money to achieve Amit Shahs goal of a Congress-free North-East. It needs to be underlined that in States like Manipur and Meghalaya the BJP, under the NEDA, is in a mood to dislodge the Congress governments by encouraging defections. The political developments in Arunachal Pradesh have a bearing on other Congress-ruled States in North-East India. Political pundits opine that after the enthusiasm generated in the BJP by its emphatic victory in Assam and the reinstate-ment of a government with its outside support in Arunachal Pradesh, the BJPs next target is Manipur. It has to be mentioned that hoping to secure political power in the 2017 Assembly elections in Manipur, the BJP is alluring a section of Congress legislators and preparing a roadmap to topple the Congress Government in Manipur, led by Okram Ibobi Singh, that enjoys the support of 47 members in the 60-member Manipur Assembly. In the two Assembly constituencies where by-elections were held in November 2015, the BJP candidates defeated the ruling Congress candidates and thereby opened its account for the first time in the State. In the Thangmeiband Assembly constituency Khumukham Joy Kishan Singh and in the Thongju constituency Bishwajit Singh of the BJP defeated the Congress candidates adding another feather in the formers cap in the State. In the civic elections too, the BJP emerged as a potent force in the State. In the January 2016 municipal and nagar panchayat elections, the BJP won 62 seats in the 278-member municipal council. In the elections held on June 2, 2016 to the 27-member Imphal Municipal Corporation, the BJP emerged as the second largest party winning 10 seats after the Congress which could secure only 12 seats. The emerging trends show that the BJP is emerging as an alternative to the Congress both in the rural and urban areas keeping its goal of capturing political power in the State in the February 2017 Assembly election. The political developments in Arunachal Pradesh may evoke an impact on the politics of Meghalaya too. It has to be noted that the BJP is desperately looking for overthrowing the Congress-led Mukul Sangma Government. As a prelude to make the State free from the Congress, the BJP is showing much interest in the internal squabbles in the State Congress led by former Chief Minister D.D. Lapang. There are reports that in the Garo region, the National Peoples Party of late Purno Sangma is alluring the Congress MLAs to dislodge the Mukul Sangma Government. The author is an Associate Professor, Centre for Political Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawa-harlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Less than a fortnight after forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar swept into four of Libya's oil ports, tankers are loading, production has jumped, and momentum has shifted firmly in the divisive former general's favour. For Haftar's opponents, and for Western powers, the move on the ports was alarming. Haftar and his backers in eastern Libya have been in a stand-off for months with a unity government in Tripoli, blocking any parliamentary vote to endorse it and challenging the U.N.-mediated deal to unify Libya. How Haftar and his allies will use control of the country's major oil exports - whether to leverage political advantage under that U.N. deal, or to extend military control across Libya - is still uncertain. But risks to stability are clear. "I think we have to regard [Haftar's] motives with a high degree of scepticism," said a senior Western diplomat. "I think there are significant risks to both the [unity government] and the whole political agreement if this is allowed to drift in the wrong direction." For now, the West may be forced to accept Haftar's move. After initially condemning the attack on the ports and calling on Haftar's forces to withdraw, the United States and European powers joined other countries on Thursday to "welcome the recent transfer of the oil facilities in the oil crescent to the National Oil Corporation (NOC) as well as the plans to increase oil production and exports". Some even see a chance for a breakthrough between loosely aligned pro- and anti-Haftar camps that have battled each other since 2014, setting up rival institutions in eastern and western Libya and deepening the turmoil that has plagued the country since late dictator Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011. After Haftar's forces swiftly handed operational control of the ports to the NOC, the NOC's early work to restore production has been only briefly disturbed by a counter attack that was repelled within the day. NOC Chairman Mustafa Sanalla said he hoped the concession of control would lead to "a new phase of cooperation and coexistence" between factions that have shut down most of Libya's oil output as they competed for power. Haftar himself, whose stature has gradually risen as his self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) has waged a long, bloody campaign in eastern Libya against Islamists and other opponents, has softened his tone. The move on the ports was aimed at "protecting national resources" and ending a blockade that was starving Libya of revenue and causing a financial crisis, he said in comments posted online by the LNA. Western powers can "rest assured that this operation is neither against reconciliation, nor does it have any political goals". Two weeks before the ports were seized, a Haftar ally suspended his boycott of the unity government's leadership, or Presidential Council, proposing a joint military council as a way of breaking a deadlock over the future leadership of the armed forces. The Council meanwhile is working to present a new list of ministers, as requested by Haftar's allies in the eastern parliament. The Council's leader, Prime Minister Fayez Seraj, has said he is ready to meet Haftar. Analysts and diplomats also say Haftar's forces are thinly stretched, still struggling to secure parts of the eastern city of Benghazi where they have continued to suffer heavy losses. The seizure of the ports was largely achieved through tribal negotiations and timing, the operation launched on the eve of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. General's Long History But none of this has reassured Haftar's opponents, who see the one-time Gaddafi ally, freshly promoted by the parliament based in the east to the rank of marshal from general, as a new military autocrat in the making. His history in Libyan politics worries critics. A one-time ally of Gaddafi, he fell out with the dictator when he was sent to lead a war in Chad, only to be captured and end up in exile in the United States. He spent decades living in Virginia. Haftar returned to help in the uprising against Gaddafi, then reappeared again in 2014 on television in uniform to present what he said was a plan to save the country. Later, he launched an operation against Islamist militants and others in Benghazi. He has gained support in the east, where he is seen by some as a saviour. But he is far from fully supported there. In the west, particularly the port of Misrata, many Libyans despise him as a remnant of the old regime and a would-be strongman. Opponents now point to recent moves to extend control in the east by replacing mayors with military men and cracking down on dissent, and say they need to protect the revolution of 2011, if necessary with force. After taking the oil ports, Haftar's forces advanced to within 150 km (95 miles) of Sirte, where rival brigades from Misrata that are aligned with the unity government are nearing the end of a campaign to capture the city from Islamic State. Opponents fear Haftar allies in the west are laying the ground for a move on Tripoli. On Wednesday the Misratan head of a State Council, an advisory chamber that was set up in Tripoli under the U.N. deal, issued a statement condemning Haftar's oil port move and claiming to assume legislative power from the parliament in the east. The statement appealed to "all honourable people of Libya and its revolutionaries  to resist the military coup" by Haftar. It called on the unity government's defence minister, a Haftar rival, "to secure areas under its control, especially the capital, Tripoli, and respond firmly to any attempt to undermine security and stability". But with Misrata's own factions divided and the unity government still struggling to impose its authority on armed groups that control the capital, there may be little scope for them to push back. "I don't think the Presidential Council has many alternatives or much margin for manoeuvre," said a North African diplomatic source. "It seems to me that they are in a position where they have to move towards a negotiated, peaceful solution that brings an answer for a population that unfortunately has lost all its patience  If not, a counter action could just serve to make the opposing party even more popular." (By Aidan Lewis, Editing by Patrick Markey and Peter Graff) WASHINGTON-Chuck Berry's candy red car sits in the museum, highlighting the accomplishments of its famous driver. There's a tribute to other legends like Prince and Bootsie Collins as well. Walk a little farther into the building and you come across an exhibit of a different kind, however. There's a coffin, one that housed the body of 14-year-old Emmitt Till, lynched in 1955 for just flirting with a white woman. The artifacts are there to help attendees understand more than 200 years of African-American history and how it impacts people even today. In many ways, Saturday marked the end of a journey that stretched more than a century. Martinsville and Henry County residents were on hand at the National Mall to celebrate the opening of the new Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture. I was just overwhelmed, Pastor Tyler Millner said. When you look at the museum and you see the stories held inside, you can see how far we've come as a nation. Millner, who serves as pastor of Morning Star Holy Church in Martinsville, said that he feels the museum will help people better understand the African-American story, highlighting contributions and also the struggles through the years. There's just so many stories inside, Millner said. It's from so many different perspectives. You don't just see the lives of slaves. That's part of the experience but you learn about soldiers and other people. You see how many ways we've told the story and how many ways we express it. I think it'll help us understand each other. It's a project that took a long time to become reality. In 1915, several African-American Civil War veterans met in Washington for a reunion and started talking about the need for a museum. They took the idea to multiple members of Congress and were rejected. The idea came up several times over the next 90 years, with no real progress made. Then, in 2003, Rep. John Lewis saw the bill he had fought 15 years for get approved by Congress. President George W. Bush signed it into law, making the project officially the 19th Smithsonian museum. Both Bush and Lewis spoke at the dedication ceremony Saturday morning, along with President Obama and others. They echoed Millner's belief that the museum could help people understand each other. It helps us better understand the lives, yes, of the president, but also the slave, the industrialist but also the porter, the teacher or the cook alongside the statesmen, Obama said. By knowing this other story we better understand ourselves and each other. Former president Bush said it was important for Americans to look back on history, both the good and bad and learn from it. A great nation does not hide its history, Bush said. It faces its flaws and corrects them. The 400,000-square-foot facility covers a five-acre tract near the Washington Monument, with more than 35,000 artifacts inside. In addition to Emmitt Till's coffin and Chuck Berry's Cadillac, there are things like a training plane flown by the Tuskegee Airmen and the uneven bar grips Gabby Douglas used to help Team USA capture gymnastics gold at the 2012 Olympics. Henry County resident Thomas Brookshaw came to the ceremony with his cousin David. Both men couldn't get inside, only because the opening weekend tickets were all picked up in August, less than a week after being made available, but said they wanted to be part of history. Both felt that something like the museum was needed now more than ever. There's just so many people who don't understand each other, Thomas said. I think that's what causes all these shootings and problems going on. People don't understand someone who's different and so they get scared. When you're scared, you make bad decisions. He pointed to the riots in Charlotte, North Carolina, after the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott and the death of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Closer to home, there was the case of Linwood Lambert Jr., who died after being taken into custody by South Boston police in 2013. This past week, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced that charges would not be filed against the officers, as there was not enough evidence to prove they violated federal law by using unreasonable force against the man. David agreed, feeling that if people knew the background and what happened in the past, it would help. A museum like this helps people see why some things are the way they are, David said. Maybe once they see it in person, it'll help us get along better. If you want to visit the museum, it will take some planning. All Smithsonian museums are free to the public, but you need a timed ticket to get inside. All times through November are sold out already, with one exception. Beginning Monday at 9:15 a.m., people can walk up to the museum and get a maximum of four passes from the visitor services staff. Those tickets have to be used the same day they're picked up. If you want to visit the museum later this year or next, you can get your ticket by going to atnmaahc.si.edu/passes. In Defence of Marxism is committed to safeguarding your privacy. At all times we aim to respect any personal data you share with us, or that we receive from other organisations, and keep it safe. This Privacy Policy (Policy) sets out our data collection and processing practices and your options regarding the ways in which your personal information is used. This Policy contains important information about your personal rights to privacy. Please read it carefully to understand how we use your personal data. We may update this Policy from time to time without notice to you, so please check it regularly. The provision of your personal data to us is voluntary. 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Please let us know if you have any queries or concerns whatsoever about the way in which your data is being processed by emailing the Data Protection Manager at webmaster@marxist.com LONGMEADOW -- On Sept. 17, more than 45 people received free dental care courtesy of Dores Dental at its 4th annual Dentistry from the Heart event. Dental staff and volunteers provided more than 50 dental care services to patients from around the Pioneer Valley. The event began with an opening address and ribbon cutting ceremony by Dr. James Dores, who welcomed those in attendance and thanking his staff, donors and sponsors like Rock 102 FM, which promoted and played music throughout event. "This year, we saw an increase in extractions and restorations," Dores said in a press release. "Many of the people had not seen a dentist in years. This is one of my favorite days to work. We are just thankful that we're able to give people their smiles back." Registration for the event was set for 7 a.m., but prospective patients had already started lining up an hour before for their cleanings, fillings or extractions. Some people even offered to help with event setup. Students of Springfield Technical Community College's hygiene program, Springfield dentist Dr. David Peck, and high school student Aidan Harvey provided assistance as event volunteers. State Rep. Brian Ashe, D-Longmeadow, attended the event and showed his support of Dores Dental's cause, posing for pictures with Dores and his dental assistant Joanne O'Connor. SPRINGFIELD -- The Massachusetts Department of Transportation said Friday that drivers should expect ramp closures next week as part of the ongoing rehabilitation of Interstate 91 in downtown Springfield. MassDOT said it will implement the following closures overnight from Monday to Friday so its contractor can install temporary construction lighting and perform other work in the interchange area: The closures are as follows: Exit 8 from I-91 north to I-291 east/Route 20 east: Exit 1A from I-291 west to I-91 south: Detour Routes: To reach I-291 east/Route 20 east from I-91 north: To reach I-91 south from I-291 west: MassDOT urges all those traveling through the area to plan accordingly and to use caution. SPRINGFIELD The St. Thomas More Society of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield will gather for its 15th annual Red Mass, honoring distinguished judges, lawyers and law-related personnel on Oct. 2 at 10 a.m. at St. Michael's Cathedral. A brunch and awards presentation will follow at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. The donation for the brunch is $50. The Red Mass is an adaptation of the church's age-old expression of dependence on God for the needs and institutions of the courts and the law. In particular, "the Mass calls upon the Holy Spirit to grant light and inspiration to the attorneys in pleading cases and to the judiciary in adjudicating them," noted Maureen C. Tobin, secretary of the St. Thomas More Society. "In our case, the banquet and awards are attached to the Red Mass, not the other way around," she explained. "We award a St. Thomas More medal to our honorees at the Red Mass and continue that recognition and celebration at a brunch following Mass." This year's honorees include Superior Court Judge Richard J. Carey, of Easthampton, Probate & Family Court Judge Richard A. Simons, of Pittsfield, attorneys Joseph B. Collins, Henry E. Gerberth Jr. and Eduardo Velazquez, Peter J. Martinelli, an administrative law judge for the state Office of Disability Adjudication and Review, Berkshire County probation officer Clifford J. Nilan, and Sister Mary T. Quinn, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, who has served as program coordinator for the Outer County Reentry Program at the Women's Regional Correctional Facility in Chicopee. Honorees do not have to be Catholic. "We look for Catholic individuals in the Springfield diocese who are attorneys, judges, court personnel or otherwise involved in the field of justice who conduct their professional and personal lives demonstrating the qualities of faith exhibited by St. Thomas More," Tobin said. "We also usually choose a non-Catholic honoree who exhibits those same qualities." St. Thomas More (1478-1535) was a husband, father, lawyer, statesman, public servant and martyr who was a recognized humanist scholar and occupied public offices, including that of lord chancellor during the reign of Henry VIII. He authored several scholarly and literary works and is recognized as having a major influence on developing equity as a segment of the legal system in English law. He was put to death by order of Henry VIII for refusing to support the king's plea to the pope for an annulment of his first marriage. More was canonized in 1935 and is recognized as the patron saint of statesmen and lawyers. The St. Thomas More Society of the Diocese of Springfield consists of Catholic members of the bar and bench and law-related personnel such as court officers and other public officials active in the legal profession. "We are interested in the relationship between our Catholic faith and the law," Tobin said. "Members of the society are inspired by one another at our monthly meetings and during our events to develop our Catholic faith as we work to incorporate the values of St. Thomas More in our daily professional lives." The group sponsors forums and other events that explore topics relevant to Catholics and the legal community. Past topics have included the death penalty, living wills and health care proxies and annulments. The group provides scholarship aid under its Kent B. Smith Scholarship Fund to Catholic students in the diocese who will study law in college and graduate school. The fund honors the memory of Smith, of Longmeadow, who was a respected member of the state Appeals Court. According to Tobin, the custom of a spiritual celebration for the bench and bar arose principally in England, France and Italy in the early 13th Century. The first recorded Red Mass was celebrated in 1245 in Paris. In England, the tradition of the Red Mass began in 1310 during the reign of Edward I. The entire bench and bar attended the celebration together at the opening of each term of court. Because the celebrant for the Mass wore red robes, the celebration became known as the Red Mass. The first Red Mass in the United States was celebrated in Detroit in 1877. For more information about the Red Mass in Springfield, call 413-734-3119. WILBRAHAM A bear was spotted near Soule Road School while dismissal was underway Friday afternoon, prompting a robocall from Superintendent Albert Ganem Jr. Wilbraham police were called as a precaution, even though the bear apparently wandered off and was not seen again after the initial sighting. Ganem sent the automated phone message to all school district families. "I am calling to let you know that late this afternoon, after school dismissal had begun, we were notified by the bus company that a bear was sighted in the Soule Road School area," Ganem said in the message. "The Wilbraham police were dispatched to the area and have kept a presence in the neighborhood," he said, asking parents to remain "watchful" and call police if they "suspect a dangerous situation." Bear sightings are fairly common in Wilbraham, and not just in the hilly, more rural eastern section of town. A bear was spotted wandering through residential yards in the area of Woodland Road and Ruth Drive a couple of months ago. And in March, police received multiple reports of bears in the area of Old Carriage Drive and Stony Hill Road. In August 2015, a bear casually strolled across the lawn of Wilbraham United Church in broad daylight before heading to the library. From there, the bear crossed Main Street to investigate the area of Ripley and Springfield streets, a densely populated area near the heart of town. Back-to-back daytime sightings of bears near Mile Tree Elementary School on Main Street and Wilbraham Middle School on Stony Hill Road had officials on high alert in June 2013. As a precaution, students at Mile Tree were kept indoors during recess. Soule Road School is directly across from Fountain Park, a popular 144-acre tract of forestland, trails and fields between Soule and Tinkham roads. The school is also near several other undeveloped woodland and wildlife areas. Authorities say the best thing people can do when they encounter a bear is to leave the animal alone. The Wilbraham Police Department's non-emergency phone number is 413-596-3837. MAP showing approximate area where bear was spotted: HOLYOKE -- Candidates will gather at Kate's Kitchen, 51 Hamilton St., next week in preparation for the ninth round of classes for the foodWorks program. The 12-week program, which began in 2013 under the Providence Ministries Service Network, offers clients with barriers to employment with the opportunity to learn culinary and job skills that will assist them in finding employment in the food industry. According to the Ralph Webb, the program's executive chef educator and creator, foodWorks takes people from various social service programs and shelters, including individuals with a criminal record, barring arson and sexual offenses. "I will give anyone a second chance," said Webb. "Everyone deserves a second chance." Since its start, the foodWorks program has offered three rotations of classes year-round in the fall, spring and summer. With 24 years of culinary educating experience, Webb offers hands-on training with clients in the program along with his partner and former Massachusetts Career Development Institute instructor Dalton Cook. For 11 weeks, participants will be trained in the culinary arts while also receiving life and job skills training from volunteer organizations. In that time members of the program will work within Kate's Kitchen preparing and serving food during hours of operation. In the final week, students serve in an internship at the Log Cabin & Delaney House. Interviews for the upcoming round of classes are still being conducted up until the starting day. police lights.jpg (The Republican) SPRINGFIELD -- The state troopers gave Stephon Welfare two chances to identify the object in his pants. In his first attempt, Welfare, 27, of Springfield, assured the officers it was a private part of his anatomy and not a concealed weapon, according to the arrest report. Stephon Welfare, 27, of Springfield The second answer was more to the point. "Man, it's a gun," he said. Asked if the gun was loaded, he responded: "Yes." The encounter Thursday night on Page Boulevard in Springfield ended with Welfare's arrest on eight charges, including illegal possession of a firearm and carrying a firearm without a license (second offense). Held overnight at the state police barracks, Welfare pleaded not guilty to the charges Friday during his arraignment in Springfield District Court. Assistant District Attorney Cary Szafranki asked for $50,000 bail, citing the new charges and the defendant's record of firearms convictions in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. A state trooper spotted Welfare driving without headlights and pulled him over around 10 p.m., Szafranski said. Asked for his license, Welfare responded, "Man, I'm gonna' be dead up with you. I don't even have a license," the arrest report said. A search turned up a .22-caliber handgun, loaded with four rounds, hidden in the defendant's pants, as well as more than $2,800 in his pockets and a bag of marijuana in his car. Welfare has no firearms identification card or permit to carry the gun, the prosecutor said. Defense lawyer David Pritchard asked for $5,000 bail. He said his client has two children and is a caretaker for his diabetic mother. While currently unemployed, Welfare works periodically as a landscaper, he said. Pritchard also questioned the legality of the police search, saying "a good motion to suppress" evidence will likely be filed in the case. Judge Robert Murphy set bail at $50,000 and continued the case for a pretrial hearing on Oct. 21. AMHERST -- While outdoor watering bans remain in place in many communities and the dry spell continues despite the recent rain, this is not the in worst drought in local history, according to University of Massachusetts hydrologist David Boutt. The worst was between 1962 and 1967, when the water level in the Quabbin Reservoir was 20 feet lower than it is today. "It might be a little more in our face during the growing season," he said of this year's drought. But at this point it's not even the list of top five worst area droughts, he said. The Quabbin Reservoir, meanwhile, is at 83.5 percent of capacity, even with 0.69 inches of rain Monday to Thursday, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority spokeswoman Ria Convery said in an email. While at the lowest point this season, she wrote, "it is still within normal operating range for this time of year." Graphic depicting rainfall, groundwater levels. Droughts are part of the normal hydrologic cycle, Boutt said. There was a 15-year period in which there was above-normal precipitation in the area. But that changed in 2013, which lead into this cycle. "We've basically built up a deficit over the last summer," Boutt said. He said precipitation is "slightly below average (since) about 2013, when we shifted back into drier (climate). It's going to take time for the soil moisture to build up, time for groundwater levels to recover." "Unless a tropical storm system comes up, we're not going to have the kind of rain that we need," he said. And he said when it rains in summer, most of that water "will replenish the shallow soil water (and) help seeds grow. It doesn't do a lot for generating stream flow and groundwater recharge." That comes with winter snow pack melting in the spring. He also said groundwater levels have not yet hit their lowest point. That will come in a couple of months, and it could take three or four months to replenish the groundwater. He said since the last drought 50 years ago, the state "has very good drought management plan." He said the "current infrastructure is able to manage dry periods like this." The water table will be helped once leaves fall from the trees and the trees no longer take in as much water, he said. And despite the brown lawns, Boutt said, "We're pretty fortunate. We get quite a bit of rain compared to other parts of the country." Still more than half the state is experiencing extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The state, meanwhile, has issued a drought warning for central, northeast and southeast Massachusetts, a watch for the Connecticut River valley and the Cape and Islands, and an advisory for Western Massachusetts. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering help to livestock producers in 11 counties, including Worcester, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire. The state is also stepping in. The Baker-Polito administration launched the Massachusetts Drought Emergency Loan Fund, which offers up to $1 million in micro-loans to family farms and other small businesses affected by widespread drought conditions in Massachusetts. More firms are dying than being born. Founders dream of selling their firms to one of the giants rather than of building their own titans. DISRUPTION may be the buzzword in boardrooms, but the most striking feature of business today is not the overturning of the established order. It is the entrenchment of a group of superstar companies at the heart of the global economy. Some of these are old firms, like GE, that have reinvented themselves. Some are emerging-market champions, like Samsung, which have seized the opportunities provided by globalisation. The elite of the elite are high-tech wizardsGoogle, Apple, Facebook and the restthat have conjured up corporate empires from bits and bytes. As our special report this week makes clear, the superstars are admirable in many ways. They churn out products that improve consumers lives, from smarter smartphones to sharper televisions. They provide Americans and Europeans with an estimated $280 billion-worth of "free" servicessuch as search or directionsa year. But they have two big faults. They are squashing competition, and they are using the darker arts of management to stay ahead. Neither is easy to solve. But failing to do so risks a backlash which will be bad for everyone. Full Story: http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21707210-rise-corporate-colossus-threatens-both-competition-and-legitimacy-business?fsrc=scn/tw_ec/a_giant_problem State information technology officials have strengthened their defenses against hackers and cybercriminals who attack their computer networks millions of times a day, but admit theyre not fully prepared for increasingly complex threats that could expose the personal information of their residents. A report by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) and consulting firm Deloitte & Touche LLP released Tuesday revealed that cybersecurity is the foremost priority for state IT officers, who are highly concerned about increasing efforts, especially by sophisticated crooks, to breach their systems. By Jenni Bergal Stateline.org Full Story: http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/national/state-computers-increasingly-under-attack-by-cybercriminals/article_35fa0831-5303-5e99-8c4a-cc8363135e8f.html Hundreds of for-profit colleges could close, leaving up to 600,000 students scrambling to find other schools, after the Education Department withdrew recognition of the nations largest accreditor of for-profit schools. By JENNIFER C. KERR Full Story: http://www.sltrib.com/home/4389127-155/feds-cut-ties-with-for-profit-colleges The McDowell County Rescue Squad and Alive Cubed are teaming up to hold a 5k run in memory of a fallen paramedic. The Corey Pittman Memorial 5K is a long-distance event being held by the McDowell Rescue Squad and Alive Cubed on Oct. 1 in honor of late Spruce Pine paramedic Corey Pittman. Alive Cubed, which is sponsoring the event, is a non-profit organization dedicated, in founder Alex Garcias words, to living life to the fullest and honoring heroes whove made a strong impact in the community. According to Garcia, Pittman fit the bill for a community hero and, after receiving blessings from Pittmans family, decided to collaborate with the McDowell Rescue Squad to hold an event for the beloved paramedic, with all proceeds going directly to Pittmans surviving family. Starting his career as a junior firefighter at the age of 14, Pittman led an over two-decade career as a paramedic for a number of agencies, including the Green Valley Fire Department in Avery County and the Linville Central Rescue Squad. Across the western part of the state, Pittman spent the last 10 years as a flight paramedic, flying critical patients in MAMA helicopters to treatment at Mission Hospital. As the director of critical care education at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, Pittman trained paramedics from as far away as Canada, England, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia over the past decade. Chief Ray Hollifield of the McDowell County Rescue Squad took several classes with Pittman and remembers his work fondly. Corey was an excellent teacher and was a tremendous help to the paramedics in western North Carolina, said Hollifield. With this event, we hope everyone will come out, have fun in the festivities and celebrate his life and the impact hes left in the area. Pittman passed away in May of this year at the age of 41, but he left behind a long and storied career that has influenced several paramedics in the area. McDowell Emergency Services Director William Kehler offered his reflections on Pittman: Corey was known throughout the United States as an exceptional paramedic and EMS instructor. He was known as the best of the best, and his loss not only affected western North Carolina, but affected agencies all over the world. The Memorial 5k will be on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 9 a.m. According to Garcia and Hollifield, the run will start at the tailgate market on West Henderson Street and finish at the McDowell Rescue Squad offices on State Street, with food and festivities to follow afterwards. We want to encourage everyone to honor Corey, said Garcia, who has reached out to agencies in Avery County and other areas to help make the event a huge success. If you want to walk, run or just have a good time, everyone is welcome to join us. To purchase tickets, visit the Corey Pittman Memorial 5k Facebook page or go to https://localraces.com/alivecubed/corey-pittman-memorial-5k. Donations can be made to the Corey Pittman Scholarship Fund: C/O Avery County Schools, 775 Cranberry Street, Newland, NC 28657. Elli Avram Sets The Internet On Fire With Her Bold And Sizzling Hot Pictures In A Towel; Check Here by Josh Engroff , Op-Ed Contributor, September 23, 2016 For anyone in the CPG industry still unclear about the power of direct-to-consumer models, Unilevers July purchase of Dollar Shave Club for $1 billion in cash was a deafening trumpet blast. The five-year-old startup, which had pole-vaulted from obscurity to huge consumer awareness through brilliant YouTube videos , had also created a large subscription business and millions of direct consumer relationships in the process. By going after a legacy CPG model that relies on retailers for distribution and broadcast media for messaging, Dollar Shave Club was able to price its product far below the competition while maintaining hefty margins, excellent customer service, and robust product innovation (as early investor David Pakman has eloquently articulated). One of the most powerful components of the direct-to-consumer (DTC) model is the closed feedback loop with consumers, which, like some kind of magic genie, turns so many wishes into reality: advertisement advertisement -- Marketing efficiency: Since a lot of product discovery happens in social channels, marketing is focused here rather than in inefficient broadcast channels. -- Margin efficiency, since there are no physical retailers or distributers to pay. -- Product efficiency, since direct feedback from customers fosters innovation and eliminates guesswork from product development decisions. The giants in the CPG industry, of course understand this -- which is why they tend to be most active acquirers of the very startups disrupting their space (AB InBev, Unilever and Post in particular). They know that existing revenue models can be hard to change, and that the subscription model, which is predicated on very low customer churn levels, doesnt work for all products. These companies realize that the only way to change their organizations while growing the top line at the same time is to invest in innovation. And for many, the quickest path to innovation is to acquire CPG startups and the fresh talent that comes with them. Direct-to-consumer isnt transforming just CPG, but every market in which physical goods are sold, from cars (Tesla) to mattresses (Casper) to smartphones (Xiaomi). This is partly due to the benefits mentioned above, and also due to the new kinds of business that are emerging, such as pre-commerce and participatory commerce. Pre-commerce means selling your product before you actually build it. This is particularly useful in manufacturing sectors with high marginal costs and a low appetite for unnecessary risk, like auto. The most famous example of this is Tesla, which earlier this year marketed its Model 3 on a pre-commerce model. Instead of actually building thousands of the cars, buying lots of TV air time to announce their availability, and then hoping people would show up to buy them, Tesla got nearly 400,000 people to agree to put down a deposit now for a car theyd receive in 18 months. This allowed Tesla to precisely gauge demand (thereby de-risking the manufacturing process), as well as create a sense of FOMO among consumers, since it wasnt clear how long the pre-sale would go on. Pre-commerce flows nicely into participatory commerce, which is when a brand gives consumers a direct say in which products and features to prioritize. The Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi does this exceptionally well through its user forums, where customers post 400,000 pieces of feedback each day, from bug reports to feature recommendations. This feedback directly informs later product releases. Over the coming years, as more brands adopt direct-to-consumer models, the downside will be felt most acutely within traditional media, particularly TV. For decades the default choice of nearly every CPG and auto brand, non-addressable traditional media is just not going to cut it anymore in an age of direct relationships, social discovery, and massive consumer choice. by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, September 23, 2016 Mediasmith, an independent digital agency based in San Francisco, has pulled out of the 4As, citing the trade associations failure to support the Association of National Advertisers media-buying transparency recommendations. The move marks the second agency to do so, following Cincinnati-based Empower MediaMarketings withdrawal. That came days after the 4As issued what some saw as a tepid response to an ANA-commissioned study by K2 Intelligence and Ebiquity and recommendations by the ANA to fix the problems revealed by it. The reason for the timing of Mediasmiths decision to officially withdraw its membership from the 4As last week, says Founder and CEO David Smith, was a 4As effort requiring members to put its own transparency principles into practice. advertisement advertisement We dont love having to walk away from the 4As, but they were requiring agencies to become signatories to their transparency guidelines and we felt the time was right to do that, explains Smith. Smith said he is not necessarily encouraging other agencies to do the same, but he said Mediasmith has drafted a "client bill of rights" explicitly spelling out the need for and terms of media transparency and has begun publishing on its Web site. Maybe well relabel it a Marketers Bill of Rights, so others can use it too, he said, adding that the ANA has already endorsed it. Empower's Andrew Susman said his agency did withdraw initially "as our own principled protest," but is glad to see others are taking a stand. "I am glad to see that David [Smith] and others are following suit," he added. "Maybe some agencies are starting to realize that accepting the AAAAs attempt to unilaterally set industry standards might make friends in the industry but they may not be the friends that matter. The ANA declined to comment on Mediasmiths decision to withdraw from the 4As, but Smith said Mediasmith is also considering joining the ANA as an associate member. The ANA has a couple of hundred associate members, including a number of agencies. While no holding companies are ANA members, some agencies owned by holding companies are, including Havas Arnold Worldwide, Interpublics FCB Chicago, WPPs Grey Worldwide, and Publicis Leo Burnett. An ANA spokesman said the main benefit of associate members is access to certain events and content from the ANA that is not available to non-members. Mediasmiths Smith said the main material benefit being lost from its 4As membership is the associations group health insurance benefit. From his perspective, Smith said the 4As' position on media-buying transparency began devolving when WPP acquired 24/7 Real Media in 2007, and lobbied the 4As to change its policies concerning members taking principal ownership of media. But as far as Mediasmith is concerned, failing to support the ANAs recommendations and requiring 4As members to sign on to its own principles were the last straw. He said the 25-year-old shop has been a 4As member for 16 years. The 4As is fighting a battle thats not our battle, Smith concluded. Its the battle of New York mega agency companies. Our battle is to distance ourselves from those in the industry that are doing arbitrage, doing kickbacks, and literally putting it in writing to the tech companies on when and where to send the money. It comes down to whether your feel its the clients money or not. We feel its the clients. No one from the 4As was available for comment at presstime. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a widely used type of antidepressant. However, their efficacy in the treatment of depression has long been debated. While there is currently no method of knowing ahead of treatment whether this type of medication will work effectively, researchers have found what may influence its success. Share on Pinterest Study findings reveal that the environment a person is subjected to may determine their response to antidepressants. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can help manage the symptoms of moderate to severe depression, as well as other mental health conditions, such as generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). SSRIs are suggested to work by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, which is a chemical messenger that carries signals between nerve cells and the brain. A rise in serotonin levels can improve symptoms and make people more responsive to psychotherapy. There is no doubt that antidepressants work for many people, but for between 30 percent and 50 percent of depressed people, antidepressants dont work, says Silvia Poggini, of Istituto Superiore di Sanita in Rome, Italy. No one knows why. This work may explain part of the reason, she adds. Poggini and a team of European researchers have developed a new theory of how SSRIs control depression and have tested the principle in stressed mice. They presented their findings at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) conference in Vienna. Serotonin increases brain plasticity, making it more susceptible to change The team has proposed that recovery from depression does not occur solely from increasing levels of serotonin with SSRIs. They suggest instead that the increased serotonin levels put the brain into a condition where change can take place by increasing the plasticity of the brain and making it more susceptible to change. In a certain way it seems that the SSRIs open the brain to being moved from a fixed state of unhappiness, to a condition where other circumstances can determine whether or not you recover. Silvia Poggini The researchers indicate that the environmental conditions people find themselves in at the time of antidepressant treatment may determine whether they are likely to get better or worse. Poggini and colleagues tested their hypothesis on mice that been subjected to an enriched or stressful condition for 2 weeks. Following the stressful period aimed at inducing depression-like characteristics, all the mice were treated with the SSRI fluoxetine. The mice were then split into two groups, half of which continued to be stressed and the other half subjected to a more comfortable environment. Measures of stress-related cytokines protein-related molecules that aid cell-to-cell communication in the immune system were analyzed in the brains of all the mice. Results indicated that compared with the stressed mice, the mice that were kept in a more comfortable environment presented increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreased anti-inflammatory-related genes, as well as showing fewer signs of depression. In contrast, the stressed mice showed decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased anti-inflammatory gene expression, with more signs of depression. The mice exposed to the comfortable environment had a 98 percent increase in the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1, and the mice subjected to a continually stressed environment had a 30 percent decrease in the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-. These findings show that the environment determines the response to antidepressants, says Poggini. We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. Advertisement "The study is exploratory," Maguire said. "We are the only site in the world conducting this trial; ecopipam has never been tested for stuttering. It has been tested for treatment of tics in Tourette syndrome, a neurological disease, with some encouraging results. Stuttering shares some similarities to the vocal changes seen in subjects with Tourette syndrome. We are hopeful ecopipam will yield beneficial effects in stuttering."Ecopipam is a first-in-class drug that selectively blocks the actions of the neurotransmitter dopamine at its receptor. Dopamine receptors can be broadly classified into two families based on their structures: D1 receptors and D2 receptors. Ecopipam blocks dopamine only at D1 receptors, and thus acts differently than other commercially available medications. This mechanism explains why ecopipam is being tested as a potential treatment for stuttering.The 10 patients selected for the clinical trial next month will undergo a physical examination and their medical history will be recorded. To ensure that their stuttering symptoms are sufficiently severe, their speech patterns will be analyzed by Professor Lisa LaSalle, a speech pathologist at the University of Redlands, and co-investigator on the study. Each patient will receive ecopipam for a limited time."We believe we could have results from our analysis in as soon as nine months," Maguire said. "A placebo-controlled clinical trial may then follow, pending approval. If ecopipam is found to be effective in controlling stuttering, we may have a viable solution for a disorder that can be traced back centuries."The study is being funded through philanthropic donations given to UCR specifically to study stuttering. Psyadon, a pharmaceutical company focused on treatments for neurology and psychiatry, will donate ecopipam.Earlier this year, Maguire was elected chair of the board of directors of the National Stuttering Association (NSA), a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing hope and empowerment to children and adults who stutter.A professor of psychiatry and neuroscience and a stutterer himself, Maguire earned his medical degree from St. Louis University School of Medicine in 1991 and his residency in psychiatry in 1995 from UC Irvine. His research interests include the medical treatments of stuttering and the pharmacologic treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and Alzheimer's dementia.Source: Newswise Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends. Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice. Back pain is characterized by pain in the back associated with the spinal cord. It may originate from discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, skeletal muscle and synovial joints of the spine. Human vertebrae column or backbone or spine has 33 bones stacked one on top of the other. The upper twenty-four are interlocked and divided from each other by intervertebral discs. The remaining is fused. In the descending order cervical vertebrae have 7 bones C1 to C7. Human thoracic vertebrae comprise 12 bones, T1 to T12. Lumbar vertebrae have 5 bones L1 to L5. Sacral vertebrae have 5 bones S1S5. Lower back pain is associated with Lumbar vertebrae or L1 to L5. Middle back pain is related to thoracic vertebrae bones T1 to T12. One major source of back pain is skeletal muscle including muscle spasm and strains, pulled muscles, strained ligaments and muscle imbalances. Slightest injury to the anterior ligaments of the intervertebral disc can cause significant pain. Intra-articular tissue associated with synovial joints of the spine can become displaced, pinched and give rise to pain. Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis, Arthritis, Fibromyalgia Spinal disc herniation Ruptured or bulging disks Lumbar spinal stenosis Fractures Inflammatory disease Other causes could be injury, infection, cauda equina syndrome or abnormal curvature of the spine. Advertisement The waking state is associated with movement unless one is meditating or one is a couch potato. There are various factors that lead to the different causes of back pain. Few of them, to note, are poor posture; lifting and carrying something heavy; lifting objects in a wrong way; pulling or pushing; over-stretching or twisting; sitting in a hunched position or bending for long durations; bad mattress or hunched bed; desk job without a break and long driving without a break whether one is hunched or not. Back pain duration has 3 phases depending on the healing of the connective tissue. Acute pain lasts up to 12 weeks. lasts up to 12 weeks. Subacute pain refers to the second half of the acute period or 6 th to 12 th week. refers to the second half of the acute period or 6 to 12 week. Chronic pain lasts beyond 12 weeks. The pain may radiate into the legs and the arms. Posture and Seat Arrangement Do not hunch or slump as it makes the spine deviate from its S shape. The whole back should align against the back of your seat. Thus, adjust the seat such that you can engage with the pedals and the steering without having to leave the back of the seat. Adjust the seats such that you can easily see the road; and the hips and the knees are at the same level when the foot rests at the pedals or the car floor. Keep the spine straight and the shoulders square. Pull the steering wheel towards you so that you do not need to stretch up and forward the elbows much. This will put less strain on the arms and neck. Your shoulders should firmly rest against the seat. Head Rest should be at the level with the top of your head or at least at the eye level. Mirrors should be adjusted in such a way, that one needs to sit straight to see through them. Holding the Steering Wheel While the lower back, upper back, shoulders and head should be in touch with the car seat, placement of arms is also important. Try to catch the steering wheel at 9 oclock and 3 oclock positions or even lower. The 10 oclock and 2 oclock positions put immense pressure on the arms and make the back muscles taut. Try keeping your wrist straight while holding the steering wheel. Getting in the Car When you are getting into the car, first sit and then swing your legs into the car. Just the reverse applies while getting out of the car. First slide the legs out and then get up. This will put less strain on the lower back. People generally let their leg get in and then dump their whole body in. This is an incorrect way of handling body weight. Do not keep anything in your back pocket or the side seat to avoid unsafe twisting of spine. Distribute the weight on both the legs and do not sit with all the weight resting on just one leg. Neck and Shoulder Exercise Red lights tend to be very irritating. However one can turn it to ones advantage. During the wait, you can drink fluids and water to hydrate the body. You can rotate your neck clock wise and anti-clock wise, till you feel light. Bend the head right and rest it on your shoulders. Repeat on the left side. Rotate your shoulders clock wise and anti-clock wise. These exercises will bring warmth and movement to the stiff muscles. This can help prevent back pain while driving. Advertisement Stretching Exercise Prolonged sitting at desk and in cars can make the joints stiff. Break the pattern of sitting by interspersing few stretching exercises. Wherever possible, park the car to the side and step out. The most relevant exercise is backward bend. It can be done with hands placed on the waist or with hands out stretched. There are various stretching exercises to choose from like side stretches with hands placed on waist or with hands out stretched; Paschimottanasana or Seated Forward Bend; Trikonasana or Triangle Pose; Uttanasana or Standing Forward Bend. This will help to alleviate back pain while driving. Bhujangasana or Cobra Pose; Dhanurasana or Bow Pose; Ustrasana or Camel Pose are good for spine. Spine Twists Spine twists help to promote blood flow throughout your spine, bringing instant relief in back pain. Katichakrasana or Standing Spinal Twist involves rotation of the waist with hands stretched forward. Other twists include Parivrtta Trikonasana or Revolved Triangle Pose; Natrajasana or Lying-down Body Twist; Jathara Parivartanasana or The Abdominal Twist. You can twist your spine, shoulders and neck even when sitting in the car. Support Your Back with Your Feet Feet are employed to press the pedals. Place your feet on the solid car floor or foot rest to avoid low back pain while driving. The knees and thighs should be at right angle to the lower legs and feet. If the seat is high use a foot rest. Low seat is not desired as the knees rise above the thigh level. The V shaped sitting puts immense pressure on the lumbar region and aggravates the lower back pain. Use of cruise control while driving for long distances helps to place the feet on the car floor for longer times. Cold Ice Pack Back pain is associated with inflammation. Carry ice pack or cold pack. You can keep mini refrigerator in the car. Cold presses soothe inflammation and soreness caused by it. Car Cushion Vibration of the car and jolting and bouncing of the car can create nerve tension that can result in back pain. Use car seat cushions or coccyx pillow as shock absorber. The tyres should be well inflated. Supporting Material Car seats do not support or match the natural curve of your back. Use rolled towels or pillow behind your lower back. The base of your spine should be in contact with the back of the seat. Some people may prefer a towel or pillow support at the shoulder level or for upper back support. Supporting material at the thoracic level or the lumbar level supports the spine. One should not forget that human spine is not straight but an S shaped. Thus proper seat arrangement, regular exercise and correct posture with pre-empt as well as alleviate back pain when driving. Have a safe journey. Alternate Foreign Minister for European Affairs, N. Xydakis, met today, in a particularly friendly atmosphere, with British Minister of State for International Development, Rory Stewart, after the latters return from a visit to refugee camps in Turkey and Jordan. The two Ministers focused on the refugee crisis and issues emerging from its management. They also discussed their bilateral cooperation in the aftermath of the British referendum. R. Stewart thanked the Greek authorities, and the Greek Government, for their efforts on behalf of all of Europe to deal with the refugee issue. He also expressed the intent of Britain to provide further assistance to Greece. The Alternate Minister, retorted that the British authorities have significant expertise and "know-how" in refugee and migrant return issues and also asylum procedures and noted that the contribution of Great Britain, in terms of technical and human resources, could be particularly useful. The EU-Turkey deal, he said, was based on the premise that huge quantities of human resources would be made available through experts, a prerequisite which has yet to be fulfilled. He nonetheless estimated that the proposal for a European return mechanism, which Greece is in support of, is being received positively. With regard to the "BREXIT", the Alternate Minister stated it is a historical event which could possibly prove to be a political and intellectual shock for Europe. He added that both the United Kingdom and the European Union should now work to establish the best relations possible.The two Ministers had no doubt whatsoever traditional bilateral relations between Greece and Great Britain would still grow stronger. At the end of the meeting the British Minister made reference to the upcoming visit to Greece of Sir A. Duncan, British Minister of State for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, in charge of European Affairs. Today we held another trilateral meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Cyprus and Greece. It is a tradition to meet here in New York. We prepared for the upcoming trilateral Summit of the Heads of State/Government, which is to be held in Cairo, on the 11-12 October. We discussed the implementation of projects agreed upon in previous meetings ahead of October 11, as well as potential ones to be launched during the Trilateral Summit. Moreover, we had an exchange of views on developments in the region, especially in Syria, and expressed our solidarity and support. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, H.E Ioannis Kasoulides, the Minister of Foreign affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, H.E Sameh Shoukry and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, H.E Nikos Kotzias held a trilateral meeting today on the 23rd of September 2016 in New York. This meeting, which took place for the fourth time, seeks to reaffirm the mutual commitment of the three states to develop their trilateral relations and work towards promoting security and stability in the East Mediterranean region. The Ministers stressed the importance of the coming trilateral summit of the Heads of State / Government to be held in Cairo on the 11-12 October 2016. The Ministers reviewed the progress on the implementation of the projects agreed upon during previous trilateral summits, especially in the fields of energy and agriculture. They also examined a number of potential projects to be launched during the upcoming Cairo summit including in the fields of maritime transport and tourism. The Ministers agreed to enhance economic cooperation among the three countries, in a manner that corresponds to the same level of the excellent political relations that already exists between them. The Ministers discussed a number of regional crises of mutual concern, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as the situations in Libya, Syria, and Yemen. They affirmed the importance of the peaceful settlement of disputes that would meet the aspirations of the people in the region. They reiterated their strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and agreed to intensify their joint cooperation to eradicate this menace of regional and global repercussions. The Ministers also welcomed the recent holding of the Rhodes Conference for security and stability as a forum to enhance cooperation between the countries of the region. The Ministers reaffirmed their unwavering support to the ongoing negotiations for a solution to the Cyprus problem. The solution must address the concerns and aspirations of the Cypriots themselves, without security arrangements, which allow for the right of foreign military intervention. The Ministers expressed their commitment to continue their cooperation, encouraged by the positive results of this trilateral mechanism and convinced of its strategic importance for the benefit of the three countries and the east Mediterranean region. More poor people are unnecessarily going to jail. According to the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission, Michigan ranks 44 out of 50 states in the amount of money spent on the quality of indigent defense. The problem with inadequately funding indigent defense is that more people unnecessarily go to jail which not only increases prison costs, but results in more appeals. The Michigan Supreme Court has ordered the Michigan Legislature to fix this problem of subpar legal representation for the poor. And the Legislature responded through legislation that is expected to be passed by the end of the year, and could be in effect as soon as October. Some of the legislations requirements include representation at the defendants first appearance in court. Other funding required under the new law would pay for: Legal education for appointed attorneys. An attorney coming to the jail to consult with the defendant within three days of appointment. Private space in which to meet the defendant in both the jail and courthouse is required. Speedy/electronic use of data for discovery. Using expert witnesses at trials. Using investigators for cases. All of the above are factors every defendant should be privileged to. In America, you are innocent until proven guilty. You are entitled to an adequate defense, no matter how rich or poor you are. Unfortunately, its common in our society for those with more resources to have better legal representation. So the question is: How do we pay for this? Well, the legislation includes state aid to help counties beef up their defense budget for indigent criminal cases. But local entities are required to pitch in some of the cost. This week, Huron County commissioners were briefed by a representative from the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission on just this issue. Barb Klimaszewski told commissioners the countys cost will be determined by the average spent on indigent defense for the fiscal years 2010, 2011 and 2012. That average is unknown at this time. However, what is known at this time is that Huron County currently spends $65 per hour on indigent defense, and Klimaszewski put the board on notice that this cost will increase because of the legislation. The county will have six months after passage to write a grant seeking funds for requirements of the new legislation, and any funds in excess of the local share will be covered by the state. One local commissioner rightfully questioned whether the state will continue to cover the excess of costs outside of the local share years down the road. The concern is whether this will be yet another unfunded mandate passed down from the state to local governments. We agree, that is a question to ponder. But that concern should not take center stage to the fact that we need to do more for indigent criminal cases. Klimaszewski told commissioners that Tuscola and Sanilac counties have a shortage of investigators, and she noted a regional public defender plan may work for the Thumb. This is something our local commissioners should actively pursue. No matter what, our costs are going to increase. Thats because the poor are not being adequately defended. Huron County and its Upper Thumb counterparts now have an opportunity to work proactively and collaboratively to be leaders in addressing this issue. Its an opportunity we shouldnt pass up. China Mobile Limited provides mobile telecommunications and related services in Mainland China and Hong Kong. The company offers local calls; domestic and international long distance calls and roaming services; and value-added services, such as caller identity display, call waiting, conference calls, and others. It also provides wireless Internet service, as well as digital applications comprising music, video, reading, gaming, and animation; wireline broadband services; and wireline voice services. In addition, it offers dedicated line and IDC services to corporate customers in a range of industry sectors; and basic corporate communication products comprising corporate VPMN and SMS, and tailor made solutions. Further, the company provides international telecommunications services, which includes IDD, roaming, Internet, MNC, and value added business services. Additionally, it offers telecommunications network planning, design, and consulting services; roaming clearance, IT system operation, and technology support services; value-added platform development and maintenance services; mobile data, and system integration and development services; network construction and maintenance, network planning and optimizing, and training services; electronic communication products design and sale of related products; and non-banking financial services. It also provides mobile cloud research and development services; call center services; e-payment, e-commerce, and Internet finance services; and mobile Internet digital content services, as well as operates a network and business coordination center. The company serves 950 million mobile customers and 187 million wireline broadband customers. The company was formerly known as China Mobile (Hong Kong) Limited and changed its name to China Mobile Limited in May 2006. The company was incorporated in 1997 and is based in Central, Hong Kong. China Mobile Limited is a subsidiary of China Mobile Hong Kong (BVI) Limited. 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 U.S. has yet to confirm that an Islamic State artillery shell fired in the general area of American troops in northern Iraq contained mustard gas, a military spokesman said Friday. The first test of an oily substance found on fragments of a shell fired near the Qayarah West airfield about 40 miles southeast of Mosul was positive for mustard agent, a second test was negative and a third was inconclusive, said Air Force Col. John Dorrian, a spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve. There were no deaths or injuries to U.S. or Iraqi personnel in the incident. In testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Joint Chiefs Chairman Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford said his initial information was that the shell contained "sulfur-mustard blister agent," but Dorrian said more testing will have to be done to confirm the initial finding. At the moment, "we have no conclusive evidence" that mustard gas was used, Dorrian said. In a video briefing from Baghdad to the Pentagon, Dorrian also said that the U.S. has at times used a controversial agent -- white phosphorus -- in the campaign in Iraq against militants affiliated with the the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. Dorrian essentially confirmed an article in The Washington Post saying that U.S. artillery had fired white phosphorous rounds in support of local forces, possibly to act as smokescreens. The use of white phosphorous, which has been condemned by human rights groups, can cause severe burns even for medical personnel treating victims, the Post said. White phosphorous has been used in previous campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Vietnam, U.S. artillery would often fire first with a white phosphorous "marker round" to be followed by a high-explosives barrage. Dorrian said the U.S. use of white phosphorous adhered to U.S. military rules and the Law of Armed Conflict by limiting the firing of white phosphorous rounds to areas where civilians were not thought to be present. Dunford has called the possible use of mustard gas by ISIS a "concerning development" as the U.S. continues to build up Qayarah West as a logistics and training hub for the planned offensive to retake the ISIS stronghold of Mosul. Dorrian said eight to 12 brigades of the Iraqi Security Forces were "ready to go" against Mosul, where ISIS has had nearly two years to build up defenses. The U.S. estimates that the group "no longer is able to mass enough forces to stop the advance" on the city and its fighters were experiencing "flagging morale" from the loss of territory and the unrelenting coalition airstrikes, Dorrian said. U.S. airstrikes recently destroyed an estimated 29 ISIS boats on the Tigris River and also blew up a bridge over which the group's vehicles were attempting to escape, Dorrian said. To defend Mosul, ISIS has built "intricate defenses," including elaborate tunnel networks and interconnected layers of improvised explosive devices along likely "avenues of approach" to the city, Dorrian said. The U.S. has also seen reports that ISIS has dug trenches and filled them with oil to be set on fire once the offensive begins. "They've built a hell on earth around themselves," Dorrian said. Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct the spokesman's service. --Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Related Video: Model Town legal battle enters decisive phase: Khurram Nawaz Gandapur PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur has said that our legal battle for justice in the Model Town case has entered a decisive phase. He said that 56 people brutally injured by the police have recorded their statements, adding that all documented proofs including audio and video evidences have been deposited in the anti-terrorism court. He said that we now await justice and hope that justice will be done in the matter and no expediency will be allowed to stand in administration of justice. Khurram Nawaz Gandapur expressed these views while talking to media persons after meeting the families of the martyrs at the central secretariat yesterday. Noorullah Siddiqui, Sajid Bhatti, GM Malik, Sohail Raza, Mazhar Alvi, Irfan Yousuf, and Raja Nadeem were also present on the occasion. The PAT Secretary General said that our struggle is for the sake of elimination of oppressive and exploitative system through democratic means. He said that Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri will soon announce the decisive second round of the Qisas movement. He said that we would not budge even an inch from our demand of Qisas in the Model Town tragedy. In reply to a question, Gandapur said that the country remains stuck in the quagmire of problems and the perpetrators of Model Town tragedy and culprits involved in the Panama leaks do not have the capacity and competence to steer the country out of the unchartered waters. He said that the PM failed to highlight the Kashmir issue at the UN, adding that his real visit would start from his stay in London where he would review the accounts full of looted money. He said that it is our desire that the opposition political parties get united on the single point agenda of ousting the government from power through public agitation. Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said that the PAT workers are waging exemplary struggle for elimination of corruption, oppression and injustice. He said that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar says that he has ordered thorough investigation into Bahamas leaks, adding that it has been five months since the Panama leaks issue came to surface but no action has been initiated to date. He said that all institutions have stated in the Public Accounts Committee that the existing law does not allow them to conduct inquiry into the Panama leaks. He asked the Finance Minister to tell as to how the Bahamas leaks will be probed. He said that corrupt rulers would not lay their hands on anyone because there are real corruption charges against them. As the Giants have struggled to lock up the ninth inning down the stretch, GM Bobby Evans discusses his decision not to push harder for a top-tier closer at this years deadline, as Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Evans told Jon Heyman of Fan Rag that the struggles have made him feel like a knucklehead, though he notes to Schulman that he was saying that in jest. The San Francisco general manager went on to explain a bit more about the teams efforts to acquire Mark Melancon, who ended up with the Nationals, from the Pirates. It was very comparable to what they ultimately got, he said of the Giants offer. You think about it. Was there something else I could have done? Was there another name I could have pushed across the table? They ended up getting one guy who throws 100 and another who throws 98. But as Evans went on to discuss, its ultimately a matter of hindsight. Those are just reflections, he said. All I can do is think about how I handled it and how far I went. The Cardinals are still tinkering with their pitching mix, and will now re-insert Jaime Garcia into the rotation in the place of Luke Weaver , as Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports. Garcia has shown well in his brief move to the pen, while Weaver has struggled in his most recent outings after an excellent start to his major league career. are still tinkering with their pitching mix, and will now re-insert into the rotation in the place of , as Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports. Garcia has shown well in his brief move to the pen, while Weaver has struggled in his most recent outings after an excellent start to his major league career. Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy has been diagnosed with a strained glute, as MLB.coms Jamal Collier reports on Twitter. Murphy last played a full game on September 17th and will rest for a few more contests before returning to action. Obviously, the Nats will be sure to rest him well with the NL East in hand, as Murphy figures to be a key piece of the teams postseason hopes after posting a remarkable .347/.391/.596 batting line thus far. second baseman has been diagnosed with a strained glute, as MLB.coms Jamal Collier reports on Twitter. Murphy last played a full game on September 17th and will rest for a few more contests before returning to action. Obviously, the Nats will be sure to rest him well with the NL East in hand, as Murphy figures to be a key piece of the teams postseason hopes after posting a remarkable .347/.391/.596 batting line thus far. Brandon McCarthy will become the latest Dodgers pitcher to return to action on Saturday, when MLB.coms Ken Gurnick says the veteran righty will be activated (Twitter link). The 33-year-old has produced strong results despite allowing over six walks per nine in his eight starts on the year, with a 9.9 K/9 mark and just twenty hits allowed helping to offset the free passes. It remains to be seen what role hell play in the postseason for Los Angeles after working back from a hip injury. will become the latest pitcher to return to action on Saturday, when MLB.coms Ken Gurnick says the veteran righty will be activated (Twitter link). The 33-year-old has produced strong results despite allowing over six walks per nine in his eight starts on the year, with a 9.9 K/9 mark and just twenty hits allowed helping to offset the free passes. It remains to be seen what role hell play in the postseason for Los Angeles after working back from a hip injury. Phillies reliever Joely Rodriguez looks to be a keeper, as Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes. Acquired in the Antonio Bastardo trade, the 24-year-old southpaw has developed upper-nineties heat in a relief capacity. He has allowed just a single hit in his first 5 1/3 major league innings, with four strikeouts and two walks also on his ledger. Sorry, we can't find the content you're looking for at this URL. Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - Security forces deployed heavily in Banjul Friday as counting got under way after a tense election, with early results showing Gambian President Yahya Jammeh had lost ground in the capital, his traditional stronghold. Counting was slow and there was still little indication of the eventual winner of an election marked by an ongoing internet blackout in the small west African nation. However, opposition leader Adama Barrow scored a symbolic victory in the capital Banjul, highlighting the strong challenge posed to Jammeh, who is standing for a fifth term. Barrow took nearly 50 percent of the vote in Banjul's three constituencies, while Jammeh had 43 percent. Third party candidate Mama Kandeh took 7.6 percent. Nationwide, less than 15 percent of the ballots had been counted from the almost 890,000 registered voters. Before dawn broke, military and police, some covering their faces, set up checkpoints every few hundred metres on the outskirts of the capital, while citizens were inside sleeping or watching the results come in. 'Generally peaceful conditions' Both Barrow and Jammeh said on Thursday they had won by a huge margin. "Power belongs to the people. You cannot stop us and you cannot stop them," Barrow said. Jammeh, who once said he would govern for a billion years if God willed it, predicted "the biggest landslide in the history of my elections." The United States said turnout appeared to be high and that the vote took place in "generally peaceful conditions", while The Gambia's Independent Electoral Commission hailed "a very successful election." The US State Department and Human Rights Watch voiced concern however over a blanket cut to internet and international phone calls, as well as claims of voter intimidation. "The government's communications cutoff and threatened protest ban are only likely to increase tensions between the government and opposition groups," said Babatunde Olugboji from Human Rights Watch. At his final campaign rally, Jammeh warned that protests over the election result would not be tolerated, saying The Gambia "does not allow" demonstrations. Information Minister Sheriff Bojang said Thursday the shutdown was to stop the spread of "false information" over the results, and described it as a "security measure". There was a brief resumption of service around 5:00am (0500 GMT), but diplomats believe the shutdown could last until Sunday. The opposition has relied on messaging applications and texts to organise rallies and move around roadblocks set up in Banjul during the last week of campaigning. The winner in the three-way race will serve a five-year term in the tiny former British colony with pristine beaches that occupies a narrow sliver of land surrounded by French-speaking Senegal. Jammeh is running for a fifth term with his ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC). He faces previously unknown businessman Barrow, chosen as the opposition flag bearer by a group of political parties who have joined forces for the first time and won unprecedented popular support. Third candidate Kandeh is popular among The Gambia's Fula people and is a former ruling party MP running for the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC). All three men are 51, born in 1965, the year The Gambia won independence from Britain. If Barrow were to win -- a tall order both in terms of votes and the likelihood of Jammeh giving up power -- he would likely decide to serve a three-year term at the head of a transition reform government. Borders closed No professional international observers were on the ground for the vote, diplomats confirmed, but a small team of African Union experts monitored events along with Banjul-based US and European delegations already present in the country. A Senegalese security source confirmed to AFP in Dakar that The Gambia had closed the borders on Thursday, a common occurrence during elections in west Africa. Jammeh seized power in a 1994 coup and has survived multiple attempts to remove him from the presidency. Some 60 percent of the population live in poverty in The Gambia, and a third survive on $1.25 (1.20 euro) or less a day, according to the UN. School children march for peace in the streets of Juba, South Sudan. By Albert Gonzalez Farran (AFP) 24.09.2016 LISTEN United Nations (United States) (AFP) - South Sudan's new vice president urged the United States not to push for an arms embargo while objecting to details of a planned UN-backed protection force in his war-scarred capital. "We are very much concerned because South Sudan does not need an arms embargo," First Vice President Taban Deng Gai told AFP in an interview on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. "We don't need more suffering." Washington has threatened to push for a UN arms embargo on the world's youngest nation if Juba blocks the deployment of a new regional protection force of 4,000 troops and impedes the work of UN peacekeepers. UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said Friday that there had been no progress on the force's deployment. "There have been contacts with the government but they have not been translated into progress," he told reporters. Under the current schedule, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expects to update the Security Council next month on whether South Sudan is cooperating. "This is a beautiful country that they have helped us liberate," Deng told AFP. "Why destroy it? Why destroy it imposing external solutions?" A member of #AnaTaban, formed by young South Sudanese artists calling for an end to civil conflict through the arts, paints a mural at the Aggrey Jaden cultural centre in Juba "The Americans should support us in strengthening the capacity of our police, insulating our army, helping us train this army so that it is professional." Deng said the primary objective of his visit was to tell the Americans, South Sudan's biggest humanitarian donors, that the country was back on track. 'War over' "I can report to you with confidence that the situation in our country is stable, peaceful and that my government is functioning and life is returning back to normal," he told the General Assembly. But it was statement few would believe. Two and a half years of fighting has killed tens of thousands of people and driven more than 2.5 million from their homes, including more than a million refugees, exacerbating the worst global refugee crisis since World War II. Countless villages have been burned to the ground, almost half the population relies on food assistance for survival, and human rights organizations say government and rebel forces have frequently used rape as a weapon of war. A child carries her young relative in the Protection of Civilians (PoC) camp in Malakal, for people displaced by violence in South Sudan The fighting erupted in December 2013 between supporters of President Salva Kiir and his archrival Riek Machar, whom Kiir accused of plotting a coup. Hopes of ending the conflict rose in April, when Machar returned to Juba to take up the job of vice president in a national unity government headed by Kiir. But deadly fighting erupted once again in Juba in July, leaving hundreds dead. Machar fled to Khartoum for what Sudan called "medical treatment" and Deng was suddenly appointed as his replacement. That flare-up prompted the Security Council vote to deploy the new force, which will be under the command of the UN peacekeeping mission. The United Nations wants it to provide security in the capital and at the airport, and protect UN facilities. 'Waste of resources' South Sudan President Salva Kiir (C) reluctantly agreed to the deployment earlier this month of a new regional protection force South Sudan reluctantly agreed to the deployment earlier this month but then irritated the West by asking to re-negotiate the force's size. Deng voiced numerous objections during his interview with AFP. "It's a waste of resources," he said. "Juba is peaceful, the airport is running 24 hours, so protection for what? For what purpose really? We don't understand." South Sudan does not want to surrender its airport to foreign troops and has requested a list of installations to be protected, he said. "Give Salva Kiir a chance, he is the president, help him to deliver especially that he has agreed to go into elections in two-and-a-half years or three years," he insisted. "If the people of South Sudan do not like him, they will vote him out. If they like him, they will maintain him," Deng added. South Sudan's new Vice President Taban Deng Gai said the main objective of his visit to the UN General Assembly was to tell the Americans the country was back on track Claiming the civil war was over, he accused Machar of inciting violence "for people to go back to civil war." "I don't think he will just jump in a plane then go to Juba, of course if he does so, then he will be arrested," he said. "But if it is going to be a process for him to go to Juba, then I believe the situation will be conducive for him to return." Ladsous said Friday that Machar "represents a very important element" of the South Sudanese community. "We need inclusivity," he said. Warri (Nigeria) (AFP) - The Niger Delta Avengers on Saturday claimed responsibility for the destruction of a major oil pipeline in southern Nigeria, breaking a ceasefire the militant group had declared a month ago. In a statement, NDA spokesman Mudoch Agbinibo said the group attacked the Bonny pipeline in Rivers State on Friday as "a wake up call", expressing frustration with the negotiations the militants have been holding with authorities. Agbinibo said the NDA was "still in favour of the dialogue" but accused the government of creating "shameful scenes obtainable in Nollywood acts", a reference to Nigeria's huge film industry, accusing authorities of intimidation and blackmail. "There has been no progress and no breakthrough," he said. The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), which operates the pipeline, said the damage was being investigated. "I can't categorically tell you if it was an attack," a company source told AFP, adding that a statement would be issued following an investigation. The NDA, active in the restive Niger Delta since the start of the year, announced on August 19 that it was laying down its weapons and resuming talks with the government. Targeting oil giants including Shell, Exxon and Chevron, it had hammered the Nigerian economy with months of attacks on vital oil and gas infrastructure, reducing output by a third at a time when global prices are already punishingly low. The NDA is seeking a fairer distribution of the oil revenues that make up 70 percent of state's income and has vowed to fight for development in the Delta where many people remain desperately poor despite the huge wealth of local natural resources. A week before the ceasefire announcement, the NDA threatened to unilaterally declare independence from Nigeria. In August the army launched "Operation Crocodile Smile" in the oil hub of Warri in a bid to re-take control of the region from a proliferation of militant groups. As well as large-scale sabotage, the army is also battling illegal refinery operations and frequent kidnappings. Nigerian army spokesman Sani Usman said Saturday that suspected militants on speed boats had launched a deadly attack against troops at Efut Esighi in Cross River State. "A soldier was killed in action while two soldiers were missing in action," Usman said, attributing the attack to a group close to the NDA, the Bakassi Strike Force. Two militants were killed as troops struck back, the army said. Nigerian oil production has sunk from 2.1 million barrels a day in the first quarter to 1.7 million barrels in the face of repeated militant attacks. Ratings agency Standard and Poor's cut Nigeria's credit worthiness last week, saying the drop in production and a restrictive foreign exchange regime were hurting the country's prospects. A ranking Member of Parliaments Public Accounts Committee (PAC) says the Auditor-General, Richard Quartey should partly be blamed for the tardy way Audit reports are handled in Ghana. George Loh says the pattern in which Audit reports are released four years later after incidence of malfeasance makes it difficult for culprits to be held accountable. Speaking on Joy FMs Ghana Connect programme held at the University of Professional Studies (UPS-A) Friday, Mr Loh said sometimes these culprits are either found to have died or have changed jobs making investigation and prosecution nearly impossible. How do you hold culprits accountable when they are dead? he asked. Mr Quartey has lamented the poor handling of previous Audit reports by the Committee which he said were undermining his work. He had disclosed to Joy News on March 15 that because of the inaction of PAC, his outfit has been compelled to encourage the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to set up their internal Audit Recommendation Committee to implement his recommendations. It is quite frustrating and it appears as if amounts of money invested in the work that we have done are going down the drain, he complained. But Mr Loh, who also doubles as the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Dayi said no member of the Committee takes delight in delaying the implementation of the Audit reports. He believes a timely release of the report would afford PAC the opportunity to exhaustively delve into the issues and ask culprits to refund money wrongfully taken from government kitty. He observed that issues such as ministries accessing money outside their budget should not take place but because we are running a human institution it is bound to happen. What you must understand is that it is normal because government has been unable to raise all the taxes, he said. But Vice-Chairman of PAC, Samuel Atta Akyea said it is unforgiving to find out that apart from the difficulties the Auditor-General faces on the field he is also starved of funds. He read a portion of the Audit report for 2013 in which the Auditor-General said his Auditors were forced to use their salaries to conduct the auditing but faced an uphill task in getting a refund from government. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers | Email: [email protected] Libreville (AFP) - Gabon's constitutional court upheld President's Ali Bongo's re-election victory, rejecting the appeal of his defeated challenger Jean Ping at a televised public hearing overnight Friday-Saturday. The court, while partially changing the results of the close August 27 vote, said Bongo maintained a lead over Ping. The announcement of Bongo's victory after the bitterly-fought election had sparked days of deadly violence. 24.09.2016 LISTEN The Bolgatanga Police Command in the Upper East Region has arrested two men in connection with the robbery and raping of a 40-year-old woman Tuesday. The suspects, Danteni Bugri, 30, and Baba Salli, 42, allegedly took advantage of the heavy downpour on the day to break into the room of the woman and perpetuated the crime. Upper East Regional Police Commander DCOP Simon Yaw Afeku disclosed at a press briefing that when they got wind of the incident they jumped into action leading to the arrest of Bugri at a drinking spot at Bolga Estates. He said the suspect without hesitation admitted having committed the offense with a friend. Bugri later revealed to the police that his friend Salli has started amassing properties with the money they got from the operation. DCOP Simon Yaw Afeku According to DCOP Afeku, when they apprehended Salli, he denied robbing the woman with Bugri saying that he only knows him as a customer. He claimed Bugri brings his mobile phones for repairs at his shop. Unconvinced by his claim of innocence, the police seized some electronic gadgets - some of which were still packed in their boxes - on sight and took them to their station. Meanwhile, less than 24 hours later Bugri corroborated Salli's account. He explained the only reason why he mentioned Salli's name was because he could no longer withstand the severe beating he received from the police. Joy News' Upper East Regional Correspondent Albert Sore who was at news conference reported that Bugri's face was swollen and his forehead is covered with. His left elbow was in bandaged. Some of the confiscated gadgets I have all these wounds because of the maltreatment of the police, Bugri told Joy News. The police are now hunting for one Nabil Mohammed whose name came up during the interrogation of Bugri. DCOP Afeku said Bugri had claimed Mohammed raped the woman. Johannesburg (AFP) - Delegates at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Johannesburg voted Wednesday to ban all trade of the endangered pangolin, the world's most heavily trafficked mammal. "(The) committee agrees all pangolins -- African and Asian -- move to appendix I," CITES said in statement, referring to the convention's highest category of protection, which bans all international trade. Academic activities at the various Colleges of Education are expected to return to normal soon. This is because the Colleges of Education Teachers Association (CETAG), has suspended its nationwide strike and have asked members to return to the lecture halls. The announcement comes after the government confirmed their migration from the payroll of the Ghana Education Service (GES), to the payroll of the Colleges of Education. Per this approval, salaries, retention premiums, allowances and conversion differences will be paid to staff in this sector. President of CETAG, Prince Obeng-Himah, also told Citi News their decision is to give government grace period to fully migrate all their members. In a meeting chaired by Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Finance Minister, Seth Terkper, was able to give us a copy of authorization that the Finance Ministry had issued to the Controller and Accountant General authorizing them to migrate us in October. Though Obeng-Himah observed that the October date isn't friendly in our system they have decided to call off the strike following the October assurance and looking at the fact that our students are on campus and a lot of people have pleaded with CETAG to rescind its decision. We have discussed modalities for the payment of arrears that may accrue as a result of that, we have signed MoU where in that meeting we all came to those agreements. So we are going to study the thing and from this time up to October, we have no problem; but if it doesn't work out, 1st November, the Council will decide the next line of action that we are going to take, he added. Background CETAG declared an indefinite strike last week to protest government's non-migration of its members onto their desired salary structure. The association noted that, the slow pace of the process might among others affect their salaries and fringe benefits. By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana Follow @AlloteyGodwin A 59-year-old kenkey seller at Akim Akroso, in the Eastern Region, has been electrocuted at her residence. The incident occurred when Agnes Enyonam, reportedly tried to switch off a faulty bulb on her compound. Alexander Ghartey, a son of the deceased said the matter had been reported to Akroso Police. He said Kofi Arhin, a carpenter, who was passing by at the time of the incident, found Madam Enyonams hand glued to the switch on the wall. The carpenter, after cutting the cable, raised an alarm and Madam Enyonam was first rushed to the Akim Akroso Polyclinic, but she was referred to the Akim Oda Government Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Police investigations continue, while the body has been deposited at the Akim Oda Government Hospital morgue awaiting an autopsy. There are no people more disrespected, oppressed, alienated, despised and castigated than the refugees no matter where they are. What is surprising is the amount of money allocated to the welfare and management by most of the countries including some of those countries where they are despised. We are talking about billions of dollars that could start a new country. Even policing them for their own protection cost money. It was inspiring to see them at Rio Olympic. Most refugees and migrants always start from afresh. Agriculture from scratch to the finished product must be foundation of United Countries of Refugees so that they could be sufficiently fed to the point where they could export their products. It does not make sense to create another basket case country looking for hand-out from the rest of the world. In other words, the world richest countries must not create another country just to feed their raw materials. Some countries like Italy, Canada and even United States locate some of these refugees in areas where their population is dying. Indeed, most countries dare not expose to their citizens that immigrants are needed in view of their dwindling birth rate and lack of young ones to support their elderly populations social security. The indignities meted out to refugees have been heightened by the disruption of African and Middle East countries by nation builders. It is hard for most people to believe that South Africa handles one third or fourth of worlds refugees and migrants. It has resulted in xenophobia among neighbors and fellow Africans that used to get along especially during the era of Apartheid when Africans unite in the struggle for Independence and Freedom from oppressors. South Africans are disillusioned and also in need. Lebanon with a population of 4 million, harbors 1.5 million Syrian refugees. Just as world powers have tried to shape individual countries according to their economic dreams as suppliers of raw materials that can be sold back to them as finished goods, African and some Asian countries have home grown dictators that have sent many of their talents out in the cold crossing seas and deserts looking for saviors among their colonial masters. By the time they find out that they can only become second-class citizens, they rationalize their plight. United Country of Refugees should be totally different from safe-zones where people of war-torn countries could settle. It must also be different from Israel where existing people were forced to give up their land with the consequences of civil wars and strife. If anything, we have to learn from those two types of creation in forming United Country of Refugees. Others may argue that there is no more habitable land. There are, China created islands in the South sea! This is why the rich and the powerful are searching the Universe for another planet where they can move to as they destroy the only planet we know: denying climate and global warning. In creating another country for refugees, we must re-define who qualifies and in what numbers. We know that once there are civil wars, helpless refugees are created. On top of that are economic refugees and conscientious migrants. Nobody thinks it was going to be easy to define. What is clear is that we are dislocated around the world by terrorism that has lowered our tolerance for one another. It is political suicide to welcome them. Class, political and religious divide between people in the same country has fractured civilized living and created enmity across the bridges. In that case, a classless, nonpolitical and nonreligious community could be a starting point. In other words, could humans function without class, religion or political beliefs? It has been postulated that Muslim refugees coming into Christian countries should leave their religion behind as essential qualification for acceptance. It becomes a question of which is more important to each refugee. Indeed, some refugees, running away from wars and economic ruins have opted to become Christians to enhance their acceptability into the new country. We also know that in Saudi Arabia, one of the conditions to work and stay temporarily is to abide by the Muslim (Sharia) laws. You cannot establish a Church or try to convert anyone in many of them. Religion is very important to man and we have always created one to instill the fear of God. Even among those that do not believe in religion, most think about some superior being. When we are alone, weak and desperate most people look up to something. We can call it love, luck, charm or devil. We pray for something to lean on when in need. Since some people believe that God created man in his image, some of us look for someone to lean on. Political belief is easier in these days of mix economy. The days of serfs and lords are gone but capitalism with a human face remains just as socialism with capitalist tendencies to create incentive to work hard and produce. But we have to be sincere; some people are followers while others are leaders. Even if each refugee is given a million dollars into their new country, by the end of a year or two, some will become penniless while others become billionaires. Money creates class. Whether we like it or not, classes will emerge in the new United Country of Refugees! People send their money differently. While some spend frivolously, others are guided in their spending, saving more than they spend. Indeed, the poor are more generous to one another than the wealthy. The very rich do not start giving their money away, until they get old and cannot take it with them. Even then , its among insightful or broadminded. See G. Soro. Waiting to solve or neutralize religious, political and economic interest is another form of procrastination. The united Countries of Refugees can be administered by the present United Nation taking representatives from the refugees and migrants until such a time when they can be granted Independence under laid down constitution that would minimize religious and ethnic differences. Most refugees and migrants always start from scratch in their new homes. Therefore, looking for space of land to allocate the refugees is a task in itself. If United Nation actually finds a land for United Country of Refugees, it may actually encourage more refugees from regimes they do not like or they disagree with. What is clear is that man has the capacity to create a new country but may lack the ability to sustain it. Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris offered to buy 1 of two privately owned Greek islands for Arab/African migrants and refugees. Airtel The Smartphone Network and Ghanas best Data and Internet Service Provider has been shortlisted in three coveted categories for the Africa Carrier 2016 Awards taking place on Tuesday 27th September at the exclusive five star Speke Resort and Conference Centre in the Ugandan capital city of Kampala. The inaugural Africa Carrier Awards seeks to recognise telecom companies in Africa with outstanding performance in terms of growth, innovation, Corporate Social Responsibility amongst others. Airtel Ghana has been shortlisted for Best West African Wholesale Carrier a recognition bestowed on the best telecom services provider in West Africa, Best Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative Recognising the most socially responsible and committed telecom company in Africa and the coveted Best Africa Service Innovation a category to celebrate the most innovative telecom service provider on the continent. The Awards is part of the Capacity Africa conference taking place from 27th 28th September and bringing together senior leaders from the telecom industry in Africa to deliberate on the possibilities within the industry for the future. Now in its 10th year, the Capacity Africa conference is introducing the Africa Carrier Awards to celebrate excellence in the telecom industry across the continent. Commenting on Airtels nominations, Richard Ahiagble, Head of Corporate Communications at Airtel Ghana said We are thrilled to be shortlisted among some of the continents leading telecom providers for this prestigious award. Airtel Ghana has been on the forefront of driving breakthrough innovations within the telecom industry in Ghana. We have seen tremendous growth in our customer base over the last couple of years becoming the fastest growing telecom company in Ghana and leapfrogging to the number three position in data customer base. Our leadership in innovation especially in data and digital services has truly set us apart in an industry where services have become commoditized. Our leadership in driving sustainable CSR programmes have transformed and empowered thousands of Ghanaians. It is refreshing to see that our efforts are being recognised not only in Ghana but across the continent. Winners will be announced on Tuesday 27th September. Details on the awards are available via www.capacityconferences.com/Capacity-Africa-Award.html Airtel Ghana has won several awards this year including being adjudged the Best Data and Internet Service Provider, Best Marketing Campaign and Best Use of Social Media at the Ghana ICT and Telecom Awards where its CEO, Lucy Quist was also adjudged the Telecom CEO of the Year. The ChangeMaker company has also won several CSR awards for its impactful programmes focusing on education, health, sports, empowerment and community development. The Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia on Wednesday inaugurated the first ever Specialist Indian Eye Hospital in Accra to cater for the treatment of all eye conditions and surgery. The $2 million state of the art facility is the first to be built in Ghana and second in West Africa by the Indian group, Dr. Agarwal's Group of Eye Hospitals. Inaugurating the Eye Hospital at Tesano in Accra, Alex Segbefia said he is confident the new centre will provide world class ophthalmic solutions to the people of Ghana as statistics have shown that at least 1% of the population is blind and another 3% considered visually impaired. Mr. Segbefia called on hospitals across the country to make eye care management a priority, while indicating that government has made significant investments in health care through the construction of the University of Ghana Teaching Hospital at Legon, the Ridge Hospital project among many others. Quoting Ghana Health Service statistics, Mr. Segbefia indicated that with the increasing population of the country, there are just about 90 ophthalmologists serving the over 25 millions Ghanaians with about 50% of this number based in Accra leaving other areas deprived especially the three regions of the North. Mr. Segbefia said the health facility will help make Accra the hub of eye care management. Speaking at the inauguration of the facility, Chairman of the Dr. Agarwal Group, Prof. Dr. Amar Agarwal, said the hospital will make Accra the Mecca of eye care for the entire West Africa. He also said the hospital with its specialized services will help boost medical tourism in the country while preserving and generating foreign exchange. Prof. Agarwal said the Group aims at providing accessible and affordable eye care services and treatments to Ghana and its neigbours by opening this facility. He further stated that the advanced diagnostics and eye care treatment with optical facility ensures comprehensive eye care under one roof will save time, money and the stress of travelling abroad for the treatment of eye conditions Ghanaian Ophthalmologist and Medical Director of the Dr. Agarwal Eye Hospital, Dr. Asiwome Senadza indicated that with this facility in place, Ghanaians will no longer have to bear the stress of travelling abroad to access world class eye care and treatment. According to Dr. Seneadza, the hospital will also serve as research hub and a centre for building capacity of Eye Specialists across the sub region. The 14,000 Sqft. facility was inaugurated in the presence of the Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr. Jaswant Singh and other dignitaries. The hospital through its 57 years of delivering world class eye care and treatment has won several awards. In March, 2006, the Founder of the hospital, the Late Dr. J Agarwal was awarded by the former president of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam for his service to the poor and humanity. The five storey hospital facility has special equipment which include, AB Scanners, Auto Perimeter, fundus flourecein angiography (FFA), Optical Coherence Tomographers etc. By: citifmonline.com File Photo 24.09.2016 LISTEN It is said that the Gospel should be used as a tool for fighting corruption and other social vices. It is a fact that good morals and values in the gospel when adhered to can change individuals who engage in corrupt practices. In recent times many men of God/church leaders have found it so convenient in scolding political leadership for not doing much in fighting corruption but interestingly these same men of God/church leaders who serve as spiritual/surrogate fathers to many of our corrupt individuals/personalities in the communities can be said to have equally and pitifully failed in counseling and guiding their devout congregants to resist the temptation and to remain upright in all their dealings to the glory of God. The unembellished truth is that, corruption is a moral issue. It is clear that collectively, we have all failed in putting our hands to the wheel in fighting the corruption menace in Ghana. The general hypocrisy in Ghana about corruption is sickening. We pretend we are holier than the person who has been caught red handed or perceived to have indulged in some corrupt practice.Indeed, our pastors, imams and men of God should equally bow their heads in shame for doing very little or virtually nothing in their churches/mosques to help in fighting the corruption upsurge in Ghana. Tackling corruption is not only the responsibility of our political leaders, the security agencies and anti-graft bodies but also, our religious leaders, need to battle the menace from the pulpit. Fighting corruption should be the collective responsibility of all; the ordinary Ghanaian, the teacher, the court clerk, judges, nurses, doctors, the security agencies, the journalist etc must get involved in the fight against corruption if only we desire a favourable outcome for the good of our dear mother Ghana. Nuhu Ndebilla Kumasi [email protected] Apostle Ishmael Anum-Sai in a pose with his wife 24.09.2016 LISTEN Rev.Ishmael Anum-Sai has been consecrated and ordained as an Apostle of the Calvary Apostolic Revival Church(CARC).He becomes the first apostle of the church under the new constitution. Until his new office,the the Rev. Anum-Sai was the President of the church from 2014 till date after being in the seat of the Chairman for a while. The ordination service was jointly performed by a senior bishop of the Action Chapel International,Bishop Isaac Clive Mould,as chief consecrator,a founding member of the Ghana Charismatic and Pentecostal Council,Apostle Daniel K.Saforo,the General Secretary of the Ghana Charismatic and Pentecostal Council,Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi and Bishop Ben Sallah. The grand ceremony was under the theme for the year,"My Year of Mercy" at La in the Greater Accra Region. .In a sermon,Bishop Mould urged leaders of the flock to restore sanity into the church and bring the church to its former glory. He called for spiritual revival in the church to impact positively on national development.Bishop Mould asked Apostles to take a cue from the early apostles who sacrificed for the edification of the body of Jesus Christ to win more souls for the kingdom of God. Bishop Mould reminded leaders of the flock to serve the people in humility,prepare and train others into their fold in order to advance the kingdom of God. In his acceptance speech,Apostle Anum-sai pledged to lead more people into the saving knowledge of Christ and conform to the doctrines of the church. Rising through the ranks of Chairman,President,and Apostle,the Rev.Anum-Sai has to his credit,the establishment of 13 branches of the church in Ghana.The Apostle gave the assurance that he will continue to propagate the good news through evangelism and establish more branches of the church by 2018. On the impending elections,he asked Christians to pray for a peaceful environment to consolidate the gains of Ghana's nascent democratic dispensation. GNA A former Director of the Institute of African Studies, Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo, has started a campaign asking for the removal of the statue of Indian independence icon, Mahatma Ghandi, from the University of Ghana campus. Prof Adomako Ampofo is urging members of the University of Ghana Council to heed her petition arguing among other things that, Ghandi was racist against black people and honoring him set the wrong example for students, (Source: ghanaweb, September 13, 2016). There are several historical information to confirm that Gandhi was a victim of racism but not racist as being mendaciously put out there by the learned professors of Ghanas best and premier university, University of Ghana (UG), Legon. Gandhi was a victim of racism in 1893. For example, Natal (South African province) in 1893 had a small Indian population as a result of the importation of indentured Indian laborers a few decades earlier to work in the sugar cane farm. Their numbers had increased marginally as the infiltration of immigrants into the colony gathered momentum. The conditions for Indians were, if not enticing, at least not obstructionist. Indians were seen as ordinary citizens with rights to property, to conduct business, to travel freely, and some even qualified for the franchise (Tutu, 2007). The conditions of Indians were more favorable than the native black South Africans. Nevertheless, Gandhi soon found out that underneath the surface, the racial tension was panic-stricken. He had not been in Natal long before he was required to travel to Pretoria on legal business. He booked a first-class train far from Durban, but a white passenger boarding at Pietermaritzburg two hours later objected to travelling in a carriage with an Indian. Railway officials were summoned, and Gandhi was directed to move to the third-class van at the end of the train for dark-skinned people (Tutu, 2007). He protested that he had a first-class ticket, but the officials were firmed on their stance. In the end he was forcibly ejected by the police and dumped on the station. Humiliated and manhandled Gandhi spent a wretched night in the stations waiting room. Throughout the shivering hours he agonized and pondered: should he fight for his rights or go back to India? He cogitated and reportedly said: to run back to India was cowardice. He put himself in the shoes of the blacks in South Africa and identified himself with their feelings, agony and disenchantment. He reportedly said according to Archbishop Desmond Tutu the hardship to which I was subjected was superficial-only a symptom of the deep disease of color prejudice. I should try, if possible, to root out the disease and suffer hardship in the process. Redress for wrongs I should seek only to the extent that would be necessary for the removal of the color prejudice. So how racist was Gandhi? Prof Adomako Ampofo cited the following 1894 quote attributed to Gandhi as an example of racial slur to support her petition " "A general belief seems to prevail in the Colony that the Indians are little better, if at all, than savages or the Natives of Africa. Even the children are taught to believe in that manner, with the result that the Indian is being dragged down to the position of a raw Kaffir. It should be noted that, the word Kaffir, is a derogatory term for black people with roots in Apartheid era of South African history (Source: ghanaweb, September 13, 2016). The aforesaid citation attributed to Gandhi was only revealing the prevailing conditions in the then colonial South Africa necessitated by the institutionalized apartheid system but not the convictions of the iconic freedom fighter, Gandhi. Was it true that Indians were better treated in the then apartheid South Africa than native blacks or not? In addition to the above, Gandhi would not have been a mentor for freedom fighters in South Africa if he was truly racist. In his book: Long walk to freedom, The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela page 91, Nelson Mandela asserted that The Indian campaign hearkened back to the 1913 passive resistance campaign in which Mahatma Gandhi led a tumultuous procession of Indian crossing illegally from Natal to the Transvaal. That was history; this campaign was taking place before my own eyes. Gandhis action motivated Mandela and his colleagues, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo and A. P. Mda. Gandhi and his men fought against the obnoxious Ghetto Act. The act was a grave insult to the Indian community and anticipated the Group Areas Act, would eventually circumscribe the freedom of all South Africans of color. Nelson Mandela asserted that they were contemplating on the use of hunger strike as used by prominent people like Mahatma Gandhi to register their discontent against the then apartheid regime (p. 369). Gandhi would not have been called great if indeed he was stereotypical towards black people in South Africa There are several sayings of Gandhi which project him as antiracist. Some of them are cited as follows: It is a bad habit to say that another mans thoughts are bad and ours only are good and that those holding different views from ours are the enemies. Outward peace is useless without inner peace. No man loses his freedom except through his own weakness. These are few examples. I cannot fault Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo, because I might not know her sources of information regarding Gandhi. However, even if Gandhi was racist as being speculated, the destruction of his image at UG campus is not the best. As he himself said, be the change you want to see in this world. The policy of retaliation has never succeeded (Mahatma Gandhi). Two wrongs cannot be right. Gandhi might have his shortcomings as human, even so I think Gandhi needs to be commended rather than condemnation. . I know that I am intelligent because I know that I know nothing. (Socrates) Reference Mandela, N. (1995). Long walk to freedom: The autobiography of Nelson Mandela. Boston: Back Bay Books. Tutu, D. (2007). The words and inspiration of Mahatma Gandhi, Peace, Colorado, Blue Mountain press. Feedbacks must be directed to [email protected] Nana Yaw Osei (Padigo), PhD Candidate, Psychology When I was attending middle school at Kyebi, in the Eastern Region, my task each morning was to go to the River Birem, where I would bathe and bring some water home. I wasn't the only one - scores of my schoolmates from Kyebi Government School and the rival State Primary School, congregated on the Birem's banks each morning, teasing one another and swapping stories. It never occurred to me then that River Birem could ever be destroyed. In one of those apostrophes that pay tribute to the poetry inherent their culture, the people called her Asuo 'Benaa (The Tuesday-born Female River) and endowed her with all the attributes of a human being. Examples: she was not to be visited on Tuesdays, because she would be resting from the long journey she had made from her source in the Atewa Range. She would use her rest-day to recharge her batteries and recover from the pollution that fishing and farming too close to her banks had wrought on her waters. Hey Birem was not to be played with! In the rainy season, she turned muddy-red: to warn everyone that she was angry. Where once people could tread in her, she would now be threatening their foothold with sharp currents. And her banks became soggy and slippery. So occasionally one heard that Birem has taken someone.! But because all this was known to the people, Birem generally never caused much harm. I drank her water for three solid years, and all that time, no water-borne diseases ever affected anyone that I heard about. Yet such diseases abounded elsewhere I myself caught bilharzia while I was attending a six-week course at the Atibie Emergency Teacher Training College near Mpraeso. I had never heard of such a disease, as I went my merry way bathing in a river not too far from the College, washing my clothes in it and fetching water home to drink. My shock at discovering at Atibie that I was urinating blood was considerable. I was lucky I wasn't in a sexual relationship because I would have concluded, in my ignorance, that my partner had infected me with a sexually-transmitted disease! One visit to the hospital confirmed it was bilharzia, a disease caused by a worm that is ejected into the water by a water-snail. The worm lodges in the human liver and blood in the urine is the signal that t has begun to attack one's liver. Fortunately, a single injection was all that was needed to cure the disease in my case. An experience like that never leaves one, and I have therefore been extremely saddened on reading that galamseyhas so threatened the Birem that even though there is a water-pumping and treatment plant at Kyebi, the water that s pumped into the plant is so muddy that it can no longer be treated by the plant. The plant has therefore been shut down. What will the people do, one asks. Water provided by tanker will probably be sold to them. What happens if one hasn't got money? Even free supplies of water could create tension, for some people hate to queue up in an orderly manner! Other massive Rivers such as the Ankobra, Offin, Oti and Pra are similarly under attack. Even Tanoh, whose purity has been acknowledged by ancient Asante fontomfromdrums (which always describe that River asTanoh kronkron[Pure or Holy Tanoh] whenever its name comes up) has been gutted by galamsey. In effect, what Ghana is witnessing today must be the worst, deliberately concerted assault on a people's water-bodies ever experienced by mankind. There have been droughts; there have been floods; yes -- both of which can contaminate water and make it unsafe to drink. But both are natural phenomena which no-one can do anything about. Ghana's water catastrophe, on the other hand, is entirely man-made. It is being undertaken in search of gold, a metal which nurtures greed in gigantic proportions. Gold's propensity to create life-threatening tragedies was sign-posted long ago by the cautionary tale of King Midas (who died of starvation because he had asked for the power to turn everything he touched into gold including the food he needed to eat inorder to continue to live!) So incredible is the situation created in our country by galamsey that one person on an Internet forum wrote: I am against the death penalty but this is clearly a genocide in the making and I would introduce the death penalty for anyone caught destroying our water-bodies through galamsey. I have said before that in China, if the Government discovered anti-social behaviour in the proportions we are witnessing from galamsey, it would summarily execute the perpetrators. China is in a position at least to prevent toh-toh-toh machines (used to dredge riverbeds) from being exported to Ghana. (Yes, the Government of Ghana could stop their importation, but won't do so because it does not have the true interest of its own people at heart). China can also easily establish what businesses its nationals in Ghana are carrying out, and order those engaged in galamsey to cease and return home forthwith, or face permanent exile. (Again, this is a duty which the Ghana Government ought to undertake but which it is too unpatriotic to contemplate.) It is a sad day for me as a Ghanaian, to put on China's shoulders, a responsibility that devolves wholly on my own government. But China's politicians are perfectly capable of analysing and understanding exactly what is going on in Ghana. They know from their own history, for instance, that unconcerned and greedy Chinese collaborators teamed up with Westerners to devastate the people of China during the soul-destroying Opium War. Ghana needs help of an unusual nature. I call on China once pagan to have no qualms about putting in its oar to save Ghana's threatened water-bodies. Before it is too late. Residents of the Upper East region are in a deep state of shock after two men, said to be ex-convicts, robbed a 40-year-old woman at Estates in Bolgatanga, the regional capital, and still had an absolute luxury to rape her in a policed community. Police say they have managed to arrest one of the suspects and a well-known electronic repairman alleged to have been stocking his shop with stolen items gladly received from the wanted gang. Danteni Bugre, 30, was paraded Friday at the police regional headquarters, with a quarter of his face swathed in broadband plasters and a shaved circle of his head tagged with an asterisk of plasters. Beneath the plasters are bleeding wounds he reportedly sustained when he strongly objected to a peaceful arrest. He was paired with the repairer in old handcuffs as the Upper East Regional Police Commander, DCOP Simon Afeku, narrated the midnight rape and robbery operations that led to the arrest. Police enraged over rape as perpetrator absconds According to DCOP Afeku, the suspects hit their target on a rainy dawn, when no one could have heard a scream within the neighbourhood, as she was alone in a whole apartment. Three communication gadgets, including two mobile phones and a tablet, and Gh1,000 were forced out of her hands by her assailants who also allegedly raped her. Items retrieved from the suspects When there was a heavy downpour, the two gentlemen, one of whom is in our custody, took criminal advantage of the heavy downpour and decided to break into the room of a woman aged about 40 with the help of some very sharp objects including knives. But the sad aspect, and the most serious aspect of interest, is one of these robbers raped their victim before bolting away with the booty. In fact, it struck the senses of the police and we decided to at all costs bring these perpetrators to book. With the help of the youth in the neighbourhood, one of the suspects, Danteni Bugre, aged about 30, was spotted in a drinking spot at the Estates hence was apprehended. He confessed to the crime but he explained that it was his accomplice (Nabil Mohammed) on the run who actually did the raping; but that is the subject of investigation, the regional commander said. Bugre, according to the commander, led the police to the abode of Nabil Mohammed but the armed huntsmen missed him narrowly. Public warned to be wary of stolen items The electronic repairer, Baba Sali, 42, was arrested at his residence after Bugre purportedly had told the police he was the one who usually receives the items that they steal. Upper East Regional Police boss, DCOP Simon Afeku, addressing the media today The repairman was picked up and items including digital boxes, remote control devices, mobile phones and yards of cloth branded with the Ghana Health Service logo were retrieved from his residence. Some weapons including a dagger and a pistol, believed to have been seized from Bugre, were also on parade. He was also arrested with four mobile phones and some other items which you can see being exhibited around here. The suspect was able to identify four mobile phones which he had previously sold to this gentleman. And, then, he described Baba Sali as the anchorman- that is the word he used for him- the anchorman who always received such booties from their robbery expeditions. Please, take very good note of Baba Sali. Its of public interest, so that everybody would know that he is the type that encourages criminal activities within our municipality, DCOP stressed. Rape victim traumatised The two suspects had a rare moment of speaking to the media in front of security chiefs. Both the repairer and the robbery suspect denied police report of a criminal link. Baba Sali identified Danteni Bugre as an unlicensed miner who only brought four mobile phones to him for repair and from whom he had wanted to buy one of the faulty phones. Bugre, in strong defence, affirmed that he was not involved in the Estates dawn raid and that the police had forced him to admit that he and the fugitive Nabil Mohammed were delivering stolen items to the repairer to resell to the public. Meanwhile, police say the victim of the rape is traumatised. The two suspects in police custody are being processed for court whilst the hunt for the runaway accomplice reportedly is in full swing. Charlotte Osei (3rd left) with the Commissioners at the launch The race to the Flagstaff House has intensified, as 23 presidential hopefuls have so far picked nomination forms to contest in this years December 7 general elections. Out of the 23 who have picked the forms, 16 are political parties and seven are independent candidates, including Jacob Osei Yeboah, Kwaku Antwi Owusu, Lawrence Yamil Nketia, John Alex Hamah, Major Ibrahim Rida (rtd), Kwame Asiedu Walker and Chief Dr Yaw Kumey. The political parties are the National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by John Mahama; New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; Convention Peoples Party (CPP), Ivor Kobina Greenstreet; Progressive Peoples Party (PPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom; Peoples National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Nasigri Mahama; National Democratic Party (NDP), Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings and United Front Party (UFP), Nana Agyenim Boateng aka Gyataba. The rest are Great Consolidated Peoples Party ( GCPP), Henry Lartey; Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Thomas Nuako Ward-Brew; Independent Peoples Party (IPP), Kofi Akpaloo; Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Akua Donkor; United Progressive Party (UPP), Akwasi Addai Odike; United Development System Party (UDSP), Richard Nixon Tetteh; United Love Party (ULP), Ramon Osei Akoto; All Peoples Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga and Reform Patriotic Democrats (RPD), Kwabena Adjei aka Bambata. The Electoral Commission (EC) on Tuesday, September 13, 2016, allowed interested political parties and individual candidates to pick nomination forms to contest in this years elections. Presidential candidates are to pay a filing fee of GH50,000, while parliamentary candidates will pay GH10,000. Dr Nduom's PPP has, however, gone to court over what it called 'killer fees,' asking the court to cause a reduction of the fees. Both the presidential and parliamentary candidates are required to return the nominations forms to the EC from September 29 to 30, 2016. It's not clear if all the aspirants would submit the forms upon paying the stipulated fees. Charlotte Osei, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, who was speaking at the launch of A Guide to Candidates and Their Agents which was compiled by the commission, said this years elections will be very competitive. This, she said, was due to the high level of interest shown in the picking of the nomination forms. Mrs. Osei said, For a democratic political system to be truly representative, voters need an electoral process that is imbued with integrity. Ensuring integrity in the electoral process demands that candidates, agents, voters and the electoral management body all conduct their activities in line with laid-down law and policies. This guide will help the various presidential and parliamentary aspirants and their agents to understand the requirements that they have to meet before they can be accepted as candidates in order to compete in these elections. In order to ensure integrity in the electoral process, she called on candidates, voters, agents, as well as the EC to conduct their activities in line with the electoral laws and policies. Content Of The Guide The Guide is divided into four parts. Part one contains guidelines on the process for becoming a presidential or parliamentary candidate, as well as other useful information for candidates. Part two deals with the important role of polling agents, their duties and responsibilities, spelling out what they should do and what they should not do. Part three gives general information about elections that will be useful for candidates and agents. Also included in this volume as an appendix is a form that candidates or political parties can conveniently use to appoint polling and collation agents. Part Four provides details on biometric and manual verification. By Cephas Larbi [email protected] Johannesburg (AFP) - Thousands of conservationists and top government officials went into talks in Johannesburg Saturday to thrash out international trade regulations on elephant ivory, rhino horn and hundreds of endangered wild animals and plants. The booming illegal trade of wildlife has put huge pressure on a treaty signed by more than 180 countries -- the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The plight of Africa's rhino and elephants, targeted for their horns and tusks, is expected to dominate much of the 12-day meeting. "We are now embarking on the largest meeting ever in the 43-year history of CITES," the convention's secretary general John Scanlon said at the start of the talks. Students hold up a cutout of a tiger during a rally during the "Global March" for Rhinos, Elephants, Tigers and Orangutans in Banda Aceh, Indonesia on September 24, 2016 ahead of the CITES talks in Johannesburg "We are going to review trade controls of close to 500 species of wild animals and plants. High on the agenda we have the African elephants, the rhino, the pangolin... the silky shark," he said. Illegal trade in wildlife is valued at around $20 billion (18 billion euros) a year, according to CITES. The meeting will consider whether to tighten, ease or not impose trade controls on the myriad of species, including special types of wood. Scanlon lauded the high level of political support being shown for tackling the illicit wildlife trade, which is ranked among the world's largest illegal businesses alongside arms, counterfeit goods, drugs and human trafficking. South Africa's President Jacob Zuma opened the Johannesburg talks. "Levels of exploitation of some animal and plant species are high and the trade is capable of heavily depleting their populations and even bringing some species close to extinction," said Zuma. Earlier this year French customs seized over 350kg of ivory tusks in less than a week, an 'exceptional' seizure and the most important one in ten years, the head of customs said The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) chief Erik Solheim called for more action to protect wildlife. "We are not doing as well when it comes to protecting species. There is huge challenges and that is why this conference is so important. We need to step up to protect the elephants, the rhinos, the orangutans," said Solheim. Scanlon said while all 183 CITES parties are "deeply committed to the survival of wild animals and plants, they sometimes have differing views on the best way to achieve this." A coalition of 29 African countries is pressing for a total halt to the ivory trade to curb poaching of elephants, but other delegates believe it would only fuel illegal trading. A recent census revealed that the savannah elephant population has declined by 30 percent over seven years. Carved elephant ivory from illegal trade is displayed after New York authorities seized $4.5 million worth of illegal elephant ivory items Britain's Prince William said in a pre-CITES speech this week that the census confirmed that "one of our planet's most treasured species is on course for extinction at the hands of poachers and traffickers". He added that when he was born there were one million elephants roaming Africa, but they could be extinct in the wild when his one-year-old daughter Charlotte turns 25. Insatiable demand CITES forbids trade in elephant ivory, but Namibia and Zimbabwe have made a proposal asking for permission to sell off stockpiles to raise funds for local communities that co-exist with the animals. On rhino horn trafficking, CITES banned that trade 40 years ago, but prohibition has not reduced illicit hunting, which has recently boomed in South Africa. Around 5,000 white rhino -- a quarter of the population -- have been slaughtered over the past eight years, with the majority killed in South Africa, home to 80 percent of the world's rhino. Illegal ivory is displayed before being destroyed in Singapore Rhino poaching is driven by insatiable demand in Vietnam and China for the horn, which is mistakenly believed to have medicinal powers curing everything from hangovers to cancer. Other species high on the CITES radar are devils ray, rock geckos, tomato frogs and the African grey parrot. Scanlon warned that illegal wildlife trafficking was "occurring on an industrial scale, driven by transnational organised criminal groups". Besides animals, timber will be a focus. When it first came into force in 1975, CITES only regulated a handful of timber species, but three years ago there were 600 types of timber listed under its appendices. This year there are 250 species proposed for listing, especially of sought-after rosewood. Issah Alhassan, Kumasi THE Ashanti Regional branch of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the Electoral Commission of a deliberate ploy to get potential transfer voters in the region disenfranchised in the upcoming December election. The party says it is reliably informed that ID cards of vote transfer applicants with sympathies to the NPP in the Ashanti are not attended to by the officials, for no justifiable reasons. The Ashanti NPP is also not happy about the ECs open bias constantly shown them anytime there is a nationwide electoral exercise, saying that such posture does not only expose the position of the commission and its chairperson in this elections, but subjects the country to avoidable political tension. The party says the EC, as part of its grand agenda has resorted to undue delays and interruptions in the process at their various offices, primarily to get people frustrated in the exercise, so that out of frustration they will stop their intention of transferring their votes in the region. Again, what the EC is doing, according to the NPP is that, the commission after working to frustrate those coming to do the transfer, will then ask them to leave their ID cards with them (EC) and come for them later. In a situation where there is a deliberate cause to delay the process. People go to write their names and they retain their cards and tell them to come for them another time, and people fill the forms then the EC tells them that they should go and that they are going to look at the forms and call them. All these are happening in the Ashanti region only, but are not happening anywhere else in the country, the opposition party alleged at a press conference in Kumasi, Tuesday. Areas which have seen EC officials retaining voters cards are: New Edubiase, Asawase, Tepa and Ejura, and the party want the general public to be aware of such a scheme. They also encouraged the voters to as a matter of urgency report any official of the commission who will attempt to ask them to leave their cards with them. Jointly addressed by regional party chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako and his Secretary Samuel Pyne, the party did not understand why it is only in this region that the commission has decided to retain peoples ID cards. We strongly believe the commission is rather playing pranks with this whole exercise, trying hard to ensure that no one is successful in transferring their votes in the region. Again, we in the NPP are aware that the EC is doing this with the support of the government, purposely to target this region, chairman Antwi Boasiako alleged. He reminded the EC boss Charlotte Osei to be fair in her dealings with the NPP, stressing: What you think is good for the NDC and which you are doing for them is equally good for us in the NPP too. Chairman Wontumi, as he is called in the political arena, noted that the people in the Ashanti region have been taken for a ride by the NDC and the EC for far too long, to the extent that they see the people here as toothless. The party chairman explained that the EC has always been bending its rules in the region only to support the NDC agenda. He cited the 2012 elections where the commission strictly ensured that all voters in the region were duly verified before they were allowed to cast their votes, whiles most regions were allowed to vote without being verified. According to him, if the country indeed want peace to prevail as have been trumpeted by various civil society groups, then justice must be served at all times, warning that what the Electoral Commission has started doing is a clear example of bias and a platform for unnecessary tension in the country. He lamented that, in spite of all these clear abuse of incumbency and lawlessness, the National Peace Council has remained quiet, lamenting that, it seems the Peace Council only see wrong when there is an attack on the government by individuals and other opposition parties. This country must have National Justice Council too because peace without justice is a threat to democracy, he added. Regional Secretary, Sam Pyne, categorically stated that the party will insist that laws governing the voter transfer process are applied fairly across the country, with no exception. We believe that every regulation in the CI 94 should permeate every region in the country, Ashanti region should not be singled out. Things that are happening in the Ashanti region are not happening in other parts of the country. So if we want peace as people talk about, then justice should prevail because peace without justice is a recipe for whatever the imagination of the Ghanaian people will be. We are, therefore, telling the EC that whatever they are doing in other parts of the country should be done in the Ashanti region too, he warned. By Maxwell Ofori [email protected] The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has descended heavily on the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), saying the latter should never think of counting its records against the former. The NDC said records showed that the last government of the NPP performed so poorly that it had to choose using foreign loans to pay salaries, which is contrary to what a foreign loan is supposed to do. Addressing journalists in Accra yesterday, Fii Fiave Kwetey, MP for Ketu South and Minister of Transport, said that the NPP had no moral right to describe the Mahama-led NDC as incompetent. Incompetence is when a government sets a budget deficit target of 4% in 2008 but finishes the year at 15% deficit thus missing the target by a massive 11% and in the process recording the highest budget overrun since 1993. Incompetence is when a government sets out to build four major road projects (Gang of four) without even knowing where the finance is coming from, he added. The press conference was the maiden edition of a series of press conferences dubbed 'Setting the Records Straight'. This has been a normal routine of the NDC in every election year. Hon. Fiifi Kwetey told the media that incompetence is when a whole government gets scammed by a phantom IFC company and goes through the global humiliation of chasing a non-existent $ 1 b loan all the way into a hairdressing saloon. He noted that, one could also define incompetence, when a government sets up a whole ministry for railways and still fails to deliver one centimeter of railway line but instead presides over the sale of some old lines as scrap. Incompetence is when a Flagbearer who is making claims of being able to transform Ghana, was unable to provide even basic potable water to his own constituency even though he was MP for 12 years and cabinet minister for 7 years. Incompetence is when a running mate goes round promising to remove taxes on pensions without even knowing no tax exists on pensions in Ghana. On foreign loans, Fiifi Kwetey indicated that the NPP borrowed $750m from the international financial markets in 2007 and despite that huge amount, the NPP still failed to allocate even one dollar out of that to pay for the critical gang of four roads. Supported by Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah , he stated that NPP's priority was procuring prepaid meters, buying locomotives when they had not built one centimeter of rail line and even using some of it to pay workers' salaries among others, adding that, that was when the NPP badly needed money for the critical gang of four roads. Most likely, because NPP was so wasteful with foreign loans, the party wrongly assumes the NDC has the same defect. No! We in the NDC have a great track record of using foreign debts to invest in solid investments. The following are just a few examples; The Gas Processing Infrastructure is not a 'debt', it is a massive investment. The Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange is not a 'debt', it is a massive investment. The Kpong Water Expansion project is not a 'debt', it is a massive investment The Tamale Airport Expansion project is not a 'debt', it is a massive investment. The University of Ghana 610 bed Teaching hospital is not a 'debt', it is an investment. The $ 1.5 b Tema Port facility is not a 'debt', it is a massive investment. We can go on and on, he told the media. He continued that, NDC in 1993 2000 delivered and achieved more for Ghana with less resources than the NPP, stressing that it is so simplistic to operate on the assumption that the Mahama-led NDC has achieved more development than the NPP only because it has received far more resources. He further stated, Total revenues and grants available to NDC1 (1993-2000) amounted 2.036 billion Ghana cedis, increasing from 63.9 million in 1993 to 539 million Ghana cedis in 2000. In eight years of the NPP, total revenues and grants amounted to 22.1 billion cedis, increasing from 846.1 million in 2001 to 5.6 billion cedis in 2008. NPP therefore had 11 times more revenues and grants than NDC1. We have not even touched on the fact that over the last four years, John Mahama has achieved such phenomenal accomplishments in the provision of water, road, transport, educational, health, energy and other infrastructure that it will take a whole press conference to discuss these projects that can be seen across the length and breadth of Ghana. As we said earlier, monkeys play by sizes. NPP does not come even close to NDC1 let alone the Mahama-led government. Centre 2nd From Sebastian R. Freiku, Kumasi The Manso Nkwanta District Police Administration on Wednesday arrested three out of the five suspected armed robbers who attacked passengers, including one Chinese national, along the Manso Nyamebekyere-Oiampeanika stretch of road. The names of the three suspected armed robbers were given as Kwadwo Asare, 19, from Manso Nyadeyeya, Kofi Mensah, 24, from Manso Adagya and Joshua Nson, a 17-year-old native of Bole in the Northern region. According to the District Police commander, Supt Daniel Kwabena Amoako, the police rushed to the scene, following a hint that the suspected armed robbers had attacked passengers and taken millions of cedis from them, amidst beatings. The Chinese national was shot in the hand by the robbers and was rushed to the St Martins Catholic hospital at Agroyesum for treatment. Supt Amoako said so far, 49 armed robbers have been arrested by the Manso Nkwanta police within one year. He said the Police Administration would continue to arrest all armed robbers who harass passengers and mining companies in the area. Pix: The three suspected robbers From Inusa Musah, Doryumu Residents of Doryumu in the Shai-Osudoku District have resolved to punish the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for looking on unconcerned, whilst their roads deteriorate. The area, since 1992, has been a waterloo for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) because of the residents' love for the NDC. They, however, told The Chronicle that they would vote for change in the December 7 polls. Crashed rocks for the construction of roads and expansion works at the Tema Harbour come from our land, yet the government and party we have so much loved has neglected our roads, Samuel Nubuor, a taxi driver at Doryumu said. Adzido Emmanuel, chairman for Doryumu Taxi Drivers told The Chronicle that they would embark on a couple of demonstrations before the elections to remind the area's electorates of the need to stab the government in the back for neglecting them. The President says he is fixing roads in the Greater Accra Region, which is true, but has he ever talked about our roads in any of his public deliveries? Our government has taken us for granted for far too long and the appropriate time to change this situation is on December 7, he said. The Doryumu road connects Kordiabe and Agormeda to Aseseso and to Koforidua, and so drivers who ply Ashaiman and Koforidua as well as Tema and Koforidua drive through pools of water to and from their destinations. Several vehicles break down on the stretch, as many engines are submerged because of the depth of the big potholes, which from afar appeared easily accessible. Abraham Teye Mensah, secretary to the Doryumu Traditional Authority told The Chronicle that several petitions to the government and Ghana Highways Authority to fix their roads are yet to receive any response. There are about 20 quarry sites and, therefore, wondered why rocks for the construction of roads in parts of the country could not be used by the government to give their horrible road the needed shape. Our road also links to Ayikuma, Madina and Larteh, and so you see, this is a major link road, but this government has taken us for granted. We can no more be lied to, Mr Mensah explained. He said the Traditional Authority had been holding back the youth of the area from mounting road blocks, because that will create a lot of insecurity in the area. When contacted, assemblyman for the Abieter Electoral Area, Jacob Buerter Emmanuel, said the Ghana Highways Authority awarded the contract to a local contractor, who had abandoned site because of the government's indebtedness to him. At Ayikuma, you will see heaps of gravels tipped on the flanks of the deplorable road, but the road has seen no show for years now, Mr Buerter told The Chronicle. The contract was awarded to the contractor, whose name or firm he could not readily recollect, three years ago. The assemblyman said he sometimes paid the youth of the area to fill some of the pools with pebbles and other hard materials to make them quite accessible for vehicles. In the dry season, the road became bumpy with deep potholes and could easily damage the shock absorbers of vehicles, he described. By Bernice Bessey An Indian eye specialist, Prof. Dr. Amar Agarwal, has opened a new state-of-the-art eye care facility in Accra to fill the deficit in ophthalmology care in the country. The hospital has modern equipment to treat and care for eye problems such as glaucoma and cataract. According to Prof. Dr. Amar Agarwal, the 14,000-square feet facility is to provide first class eye care service to the citizenry and other members of the sub-region. He said the advanced diagnostic and eye care treatment with optical facility ensures comprehensive eye care under one roof, and saves time, money and the stress of traveling abroad for retinal treatment for serious cataract surgeries, glaucoma management and pediatric eye care. He said the eye hospital has been in operation since 1957, and hopes to turn the fortunes of Ghana's health sector into health tourism to attract other countries to seek the best ophthalmic care. The advance and modern ophthalmology practices in the hospital can be felt with the presence of hi tech investigational and diagnostic equipment, meant for imaging and scanning purpose. The equipment like AB Scan, Auto Perimeter, Fundus Fluorescein Angiography (FFA), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) etc., not only support the ophthalmologists with precise diagnosis and status of eye ailments, but also helps in the decision of appropriate treatment, he added. Dr. Agarwal Eye Hospital was inaugurated by the Minister of Health, Mr. Alexander Segbefia, at Tesano, last Wednesday. According to the Minister, there are 90 ophthalmologists taking the responsibility to serve the population of over 26 million people, and 50 percent of these ophthalmologists are based in Accra. He indicated that the three regions in the north are the most affected, with a low number of ophthalmologists. He was hopeful that the establishment of a comprehensive specialist facility of this nature in the country would help to bridge the accessibility gap in eye care. I am happy to note that the idea behind this building is to help support the extremely low number of ophthalmologists in Ghana. The increasing population of Ghana, and the available health care facility, has always been a concern of society. One of the areas of concern is an eye care facility, which is among our priority issues, and which should addressed soon for the betterment of society. We are glad that Dr. Agarwal's eye hospital has been in eye care since 1957, thus, almost six decades, as old as Ghanas independence. It is known for pioneering interventions in the field of ophthalmologic care, with several works to its credit. Dr. Agarwal's Department (R&D) has over the period developed an excellent team of highly skilled ophthalmic specialist, surgeons and para medics to assist in its growth plans, he noted. Dr. Agarwal's Eye Hospital operates in 14 countries across the globe in over 67 hospitals, and Ghana is the 16th country in Africa where the hospital is operating. The hospital has its presence in the country to address eye ailments of both the rich and less privileged. UNDP engages media on women empowerment The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has engaged some media practitioners in Accra on the best ways to encourage and empower women to take up leadership roles in the communities and the nation as a whole. The media engagement was held recently to identify challenges hindering women from putting themselves out for positions that would translate into holistic national development. Among some of the challenges identified were poor traditions and customs, stigma, stereotype, and prejudice the women faced in their endeavours. Journalists, mostly from The Chronicle Newspaper, Daily Graphic, Daily Guide, Multimedia, TV3, Finder, Daily Searchlight and GBC among others, agreed that the problem with women and leadership must be addressed through the traditions and customs the various ethnic groups practice. Though they pledged to propagate and promote issues concerning in the green light, however, they believed that women must also gather confidence like their male counterparts to be selected to lead. Akroso (E/R), Sept. 24 GNA - Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has assured Ghanaians that the second term of President Mahama's government would not only be used for job creation but further the infrastructural expansion process. He said the government would continue to ensure that communities are given their fair share of the infrastructural development. Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur said this when he paid courtesy call on the chief of Akroso, Nana Kwabena Ofori II and other chiefs in the Akyem Kotoku Traditional area. The call by Vice President Amissah-Arthur on the chiefs and elders was to inform them of his mission in the area as he continues on the second day of his campaign tour of the Eastern Region. Vice President Amissah-Arthur also assured the chiefs that the development of the area would be the focus of government. Mavis Ama Frimpong, Eastern Regional Minister, appealed to the chiefs to support President John Dramani Mahama to get a second term to continue with his transformational agenda. Nana Kwabena Ofori II, Akrosohene, commended President Mahama for providing schools and others facilities in the area. He prayed for God's guidance and protection for the President as seeks for his second term in office. Nana Kwabena Ofori also appealed to the government for the rehabilitation of the only market in the town as well as the roads of the Akroso township. Later, at a rally near the Akroso market, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Director of Elections of the NDC, urged the people in the area to vote massively for President Mahama to continue with his development policies. He said President Mahama is not divisive and also does not discriminate in terms of projects in the sharing of national care. He said the NDC is the only political party that has the welfare and development of the area at heart. He urged the electorates to renew the mandate of President Mahama to continue with the provision of water, roads, educational infrastructure among others for the area. Vice President Amissah-Arthur also urged the electorates in the Akroso-Manso-Asene Constituency to vote massively to retain President Mahama to carry on with his good works. He said though in 2012 elections the electorates in the area voted for the NDC but it did not go far enough. He urged the foot soldiers in the Constituency to embark on house to house campaign to propagate the transformational policies of the NDC contained in the party's manifesto. Vice President Amissah-Arthur also introduced Mr Roland Acquaah, the NDC's parliamentary candidate for the Akroso-Manso-Asene, to the crowd. Vice President Amissah-Arthur and his team also addressed similarly rallies at Akim Achiase, Akim Swedru and Akim Oda constituencies where he introduced the NDC's parliamentary candidates Yaw Sam Kwachie, Robert Ansah and Kwabena Nkansah Asare respectively. GNA By Morkporkpor Anku, GNA Nkawkaw (E/R), Sept. 24, GNA - Dr J. K. Amoako, Deputy Director of Radiation Protection Institute (RPI), Ghana Atomic Energy, has said there is the need to ensure regular and routine monitoring of cell sites to ensure public safety and confidence. He said the Institute should consider organizing a Radiation Safety Training for technical staff, engineer and safety officers of mobile phone companies. Dr Amoako was speaking at a day public education workshop on: 'Public Education on Electromagnetic Fields and Health,' organised by the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) to correct certain misconceptions that radiation from the masts has led to the incidence of cancer in the vicinity. He also suggested that the National Communication Authority (NCA) should set up a National Compliance testing Laboratory for mobile phone handsets. He said all mobile phone companies, FM stations, TV stations and ISPs should ensure that they comply with provision of guidelines. 'Regulators should ensure strict enforcement of the approved guidelines to ensure compliance,' he said. He said Ghana should continue with research with set of scientific world to research into potential long term effects of Radiation Frequency (RF) fields on human being. He said current levels of RF Radiations in Ghana was much less than the recommended International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection level Dr Amoako said with the increasing use of higher frequency for mobile telecommunication and other applications it has become necessary to intensity the monitoring exercise. He cautioned mobile phone users to limit the number of hours they spent on the phone, adding that they could resort more to texting and use of hands free kits. Mr Kobby Akyeampong, the head of GIFEC, said the agency would continue to engage public to educate and to ensure their safety through constant monitoring of facilities of telecommunication operators. He said the GIFEC was on course with their educational agenda and they are yet to conduct a research on the impact on the activities. Other officers from the NCA, Ghana Telecom Chamber (GTC) and the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA) all stressed on the need for more education to disabuse the negative perception by the public on erection of telecom masts at residential areas. GNA India gave South Africa Gandhi the barrister and Africa gave India back Mahatma Gandhi the Great Soul (Nelson Mandela). We believe as much in purity of race as we think they doWe believe also that the white race of South Africa should be the predominating race (Mahatma Gandhi). It was not a shock because I know the levels of mis-education, dis-education and anti-education. If we knew better, we would do better...Its not a thing of Ghana versus India. Imagine if we sent a statue of Colonel Reginald Dyer and said it was a gift to India. How would they feel? Dyer was the British officer responsible for the Amritsar massacre in 1919. (Journalist Ruth Maclean quoting Dr. Obadele Kambon). SOME GENERAL QUESTIONS Of course, Gandhis case is a sad if unfortunate one. Yet the facts of history and the evidence of history are moral instructors of the highest kind. Here history majestically occupies the moral high ground. Again, history is never carved in stone or concrete and should therefore be amenable to revision based on scientific objectivity. When all is said and done, however, it really does not seem to matter much whether or not Gandhi was a saint. What probably matters is that from the viewpoints of deontology and utilitarianism and moral hierarchy, the facts of history and the evidence of history weigh heavily against him and his legacy. Yet we must also equally ask the following hard questions: Where was Prof. Ampofo when the statue was being erected? Why does Prof. Ampofo appear to raise an alarm now? How much did the statue cost? Did the Indian government (and its people) or the Ghanaian government (and its people) sponsor the statue? Or was it a collaboration between the two governments and their peoples? Was the statue built somewhere, India, say, and if so, was it sneaked into the country as the opposition NPP masterfully sneaked those Serbian and South African mercenaries into the country? Granted, it is not our place to address these questions as we do not have much to say about them by way of provable or ascertainable information. Unfortunately, these questions and their rather tentative or speculative responses do not exhaustively consume our preoccupations. One of these preoccupations is whether the people of India sponsored the construction of the statue at the center of national debate? If so, could the money not have been put to better purposes in India? India has millions of its citizens who live in abject poverty and the money involved in the statues construction could have been used to help out one or two poor families. How about using the money to fight womens causes in a country where women and girls are raped and burnt alive from time to time, mass illiteracy, and so ongender and sexual violence? Could the money not have been used to support the work of Sunitha Krishnan or to erect a statue in her honor? Indians domestic problems are not unique to it. Ghana resembles India in many ways in that it, too, still has many schools under trees, as well as the nagging problem of trokosi (ritual servitude), mass illiteracy and poverty, lack of pharmaceuticals and furniture (maternal beds, for instance) in hospitals and of teaching materials for schools, proliferation of Indian (and Chinese) counterfeit drugs on the Ghanaian market, and so forth. Thus, we have a huge problem on our hands if the Ghanaian government fully or partially underwrote the Gandhi statue. THE MERCURIAL PROF. MIKE OQUAYE AND THE DODGY QUESTION OF DIPLOMACY Prof. Oquaye cites diplomacy as his major reason why the statue should not be taken down. As a matter of fact he did not provide any intelligent justification for his policy position. For him, racism does not matter. No wonder he is a respected member of an ethnocentric political party, an organization one of whose deranged members and financiers called for Akans (Asantes) to kill Gas and Ewes. Instead, he merely explained away the brewing controversy as any unsophisticated thinker would, or should. Even also more troubling, perhaps, was his futile attempts to excuse historical Gandhi from moral culpability and criticism insofar as the ascertainable facts and evidence of history go. What is more, his explanation that some Indians wanted diplomacy broken in Ghana is neither here nor there. Why did those Indians want diplomacy broken in Ghana? Prof. Oquaye did not say. What he did not tell his listeners was that a large majority of Indians are opposed to a statue being erected in honor of Nathuram Vinayak Godse, the man who assassinated Gandhi, and that this social-political advocation to honor Godse is being spearheaded by a vocal fringe minority. The irony is that this vocal fringe minority essentially sees Godse as a national hero who deserves national idolization much like Gandhi. This example compares somewhat favorably with the position of a lunatic fringe minority in Ghana whose members want to see terrorist, political criminals and fifth columnists, such as J.B. Danquah, K.A. Busia, Akwasi Amankawa Afrifa, Yaw Manu, Kwasi Kotoka, Robert Otchere, and other national destroyers, honored as national heroes, that is, placed on the same adulatory plinth as the great Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah! Or that even South Africans are reevaluating their historical relationship with Gandhi and all colonialists. The Rhodes Must Fall protest movement across South Africa, which eventually led to a Cecil Rhodes statue being removed from the University of Cape Town, is a special case in point. Last year, for instance, there was a similar public agitation for the removal of a Cecil Rhodes statue at Oxford University, UK. In the United States, too, students have called for the removal of President Thomas Jeffersons statue from the University of Missouri for being a slave owner. Yet, as far as we can tell neither Ghanas National Reconciliation Commission (GNRC) nor South Africas Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) did address this question, a Commission Wole Soyinka criticized in his book The Burden of Memory, the Muse of Forgiveness. Of course, technically Ghanas National Reconciliation could not exercise jurisdiction over this particular matter. Prof. Oquaye should revisit the open pages of Africas political history for his own edification. Yet he, Gandhi, was not one to feel inferior in terms of color or race. Here is Orwell (Reflections on Gandhi): And though he came of a poor middle-class family, started life rather unfavorably, and was probably of unimpressive physical appearance, he was not afflicted by envy or by the feeling of inferiority. If he did not feel inferior as Orwell put it, why then must he make others inferior? This is a serious question an intellectual like Prof. Oquaye should have tried to address. We strongly believe Prof. Oquaye too will oppose such an act of sacrilege were he an Indian, given how much he idolizes Gandhi and how much he opposes the Gandhi statue being torn down. This is the same man who has consistently endorsed the terrorist, subversionary activities and political criminality of individuals from J.B. Danquah, to Obetsebi-Lamptey, to K.A. Busia These professional terrorists and political criminals killed and maimed children and innocent men and women with technical and intelligence assistance from their Western patrons and supporters, yet these same supporters and patrons would reject them at the very moments when these terrorists, fifth columnists, and national hypocrites needed them the most. Perhaps this act of rejection constitutes one of the greatest ironies of political realism. Then again Prof. Oquayes father who was a financier of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), the United Party (UP), and the National Liberation Movement (NLM) may have supported the terrorist and subversionary activities of these political criminals and terrorists. Even while he touted diplomacy in objecting to the statue being pulled down, Prof. Oquaye at the same time refused to inform the public that diplomacy between Ghana and India did not start with the Kufuor administration he served as Ghanas High Commissioner to India (2001-2004). That actually began with Nkrumah and his relationship with Jawaharlal Nehru, Indias first Prime Minister, the same with whom Nkrumah and others formed the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). The fact is that mutual respect (and benefit) underpins the concept of diplomacy. But it is quite obvious that, oftentimes, a relationship of unequal dichotomy defines the diplomatic arrangements African countries come into with non-African countries, specifically Asia and the West. In other words, we have hardly made comparative advantage a defining character of these arrangements. And yet, diplomacy does not imply political silence and absence of an active rhetoric of moral assertiveness in defense of the dignity of ones people, of ones national interests. Diplomacy also calls for tactical and strategic prudence in handling historical wrongs, their negation or extirpation through social and moral justice, and restitution. It also calls for solidarizing with our sisters and brothers in South Africa, with the rest of humanity that has equally suffered from one form of racism and ethnocentrism or another. In effect, diplomacy in this sense should be about humanism and making sure historical wrongs are treated with kid gloves in such a way that they do not make a comeback. This could be the philosophical basis of Prof. Ampofos moral crusade to reverse a historical wrong. Above all, Jews will never accept this diplomatic nonsense from Prof. Oquaye, a man who may be suffering from a spate of declining mentation and emotional lability. One wonders how a statue of this wannabe neo-conservative with his bulky bulldog-head, hypocritical chatoyant face and concrete Jewel Ackah-neck will look like. Or what Gandhi will say about this masquerading crazy baldhead called Prof. Oquaye. Let us hear Bob Marley on this: We gonna chase those crazy baldheads out of town Here comes the con man Chase those crazy baldheads These essentials are lost on our anachronistic professor of political science, a Baptist Pastor who can shamelessly lie and lie as though he owns the ever-lying tongue of the Devil himself. It is also quite possible that Prof. Oquayes objections to the statue being taken down stems from an insidious impetus to preserve his own legacy from his days as Ghanas High Commissioner to India. Prof. Oquaye should not forget that Americans have walked over others countries and taken down their leaders statues without the benefit of universal consensus. Muammar Gadhafi and Saddam Hussein are just two. Americans also assassinated Osama bin Laden and made sure that his body was disposed of in a way that prevented a shrine being built for it. We are not implying that Gandhi is Osama bin Laden, Muammar Gaddafi or Saddam Hussein. What we are rather implying is that it is high time we stood our ground and acted as a sovereign nation/continent with all the moral and political accoutrements of nationhood. Again, America blacklisted Nelson Mandela and other prominent leaders of the African National Congress (ANC) as terrorists from the standpoint of its national security, investment and commercial interests in South Africa. This strategy underpins the concept of comparative advantage. We are beginning to suspect that Prof. Oquaye may be hiding behind a more sinister reason or ulterior motive for his contrarian policy position, which is that he fears any such move to pull down the Gandhi statue will eventually wean us from an economic, scientific and technological, or industrial, dependence on the Indians. We should be doing more for ourselves and rather stop going to others with begging bowls. This was what Nkrumah stood for and for which the likes of Prof. Oquayes father resisted. No wonder we are in the tightening grips of neocolonialism, a sad situation of which Prof. Oquaye represents. But the crimes of racism and ethnocentrism are unpardonable. This is the kind of message we should be sending to antiquated Prof. Oquaye and others like him who mistake diplomacy for something else we cannot seem to place our fingers on. After all, diplomacy does not mean we should be uncritical about the facts of history. Alas, it is uncritical and unpatriotic leaders like Prof. Oquaye who are destroying the world. Finally, our post-Nkrumah leaders can learn from the modesty of Gandhi, including such concepts as Gandhian economics, and stop amassing wealth stolen from the people. As George Orwell put it, and aptly so (Reflections on Gandhi): Nobody ever suggested that he was corrupt, or ambitious in any vulgar waybut regarded simply as a politician, and compared with the other leading political figures of our time, how clean a smell he has managed to leave behind! Ironically that "clean smell" leaves behind a trail of racism! WHO SHOULD REPLACE GANDHIS STATUE? Yet the statues of J.B. Danquah, Obetsebi-Lamptey and others continue to haunt the national conscience, the survivors (as well as their descendants and families) who were at the receiving end of the paralyzing terrorism of these political criminals. If we should take down the Gandhi statue, who then do we have in mind as replacement (s)?: The inventor of All-Die-Be-Die and Yen Akanfuor? The deranged politician or political psychopath who directed Akans to kill Gas and Ewes and alleged that Madam Charlotte Osei traded her womanhood for the chairwomanship of the Electoral Commission? The parliamentarian who suggested that adulterous women should be stoned? The politician who said women above 30 were prostitutes? The politician who said only natural resource-rich Akans are qualified to rule the country? The financier of a major political party who was awarded a dubious judgment debt to the tune of tens of millions of dollars? A former Head of State who took millions of dollars in bribe from kleptomaniacal Sani Abacha and cannot even account for the money? The politician (s) who teams up with foreign interests to destroy our lands, vegetation and fauna, waters and homes through galamsey-related pollution? How about?: The children who died during the bombing campaigns of the National Liberation Movement (NLM) Ama Ata Aidoo Mabel Dove-Danquah Theodosia Salome Okoh Prof. Francis Allotey Kwame Nkrumah Azumah Nelson D.K. Poison (David Kotey) Dr. Ephraim Amu Philip Gbeho J.H. Kwabena Nketia James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey Tetteh Quarshie Dr. Victor Lawrence Nii Kwabena Bonne (by tradition the Oyokohene of Takyiman) Molefi Kete Asante Joseph Ephraim Casely Hayford Sgt. Cornelius F. Adjetey Wole Soyinka Chinua Achebe Nii Ayi Kushi, the founder of the Ga State by 1500 Dr. Kofi Kissi Dompere Dr. R.P. Baffour Anton Wilhelm Amo Nelson Mandela Nii Amon Kotei Marcus Garvey William Emmanuel Abraham Raphael Armattoe Bob Marley E.T. Mensah (The King of Highlife) Ngugi wa Thiongo Kofi Annan .. Or better yet, use the money to support the underprivileged in the Ghanaian society. From Lionel Richies Love Oh Love we leave our readers with the following great words of encouragement: Show the world and all its people All the wonders love can bring Give us strength and understanding Give us all one song to sing And let there be joy in the world And let there be no sorrow And let there be peace on earth For all Gods children Let them see the love Love, oh love Make it clear today CONCLUSION Serious thinkers, mature or experienced statesmen and stateswomen, academics and intellectuals do not dismissively casualize racism and ethnocentrism beyond the moral template of political correctness as Prof. Oquaye arguably did recently. Serious thinkers allow their consciences to ask hard questions of history without fear or favor, which is not so in the morally objectionable case of this hypocritical Baptist Pastor, political scientist, lawyer and historian. The hard facts and evidence of history mean nothing to him. Technically, his idea of objecting to the statue of Gandhi being pulled down, a morally unjustifiable gesture, reinforces the rightness of racism and the inferiority of African people. Furthermore, take Hopes and Impediments, Achebes well-reasoned critique of Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness, our own good friend Milton Allimadis How White Writers Created the Racist Image of Africa, Molefi Kete Asantes Erasing Racism, W.E.B. Du Bois The Souls of Black Folk, Nelson Mandelas Long Walk to Freedom, Ben Kiernans Blood and Soil, and Wole Soyinkas Of Africa among others, for instance, and one has no choice but to conclude that, indeed, the revisionist historian Prof. Oquaye is neither a serious thinker nor a serious student of the moral and political history of events from the last five hundred years or so. Significantly, though, the point is that these model scholars are not childishly reactionary in the creative enterprise of intellection as our mighty King of Comedy Central, His Highness Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye. This is a man who is fighting tooth and nail to have hardened terrorists, dubious political criminals and racists and questionable historical figures grace the soul of our national character. Yet we cannot singularly fault Prof. Oquaye for his feeble moral mindset and intellectual indiscretions. The issue is a universal one across the continent. Maybe we Africans need to look at ourselves closely in the mirror again and to begin to appreciate ourselves, love ourselves, for we cannot continue to hate ourselves and expect others to love us. The laws of nature do not work that way. We should not expect Indians and Gandhi to love us. India has its own intractable internal problems which includes its abiding inability to eliminate its caste system yet. Aside that even in that so-called strange topological space called post-racial America, there still exists chronic problems of racism, ethnocentrism and religious bigotry, a painful reminder of that countrys ignoble past. Bob Marley described this so well on Chant Down Babylon and Crazy Baldhead. The other fact is that the mental enslavement of the African mind has been more devastating than his physical bondage of yore. Bob Marley meant this when on Concrete Jungle he sang the following words: No chains around my feet, but Im not free; now I know I am bound here in captivity. Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, he sang on Redemption song, borrowing both words and concept of mental emancipation from the great Marcus Garvey. None but ourselves can free our minds. Both Garvey and Marley have imposed a great responsibility on us, to free the mind from the ignoble shackles of servile immobility so that it can take flight toward the greatest heights of creative possibilities. This responsibility is no truer than in the special case of Prof. Oquaye. It is a collective responsibility nonetheless. Prof. Oquayes moral development could be in an ectopic fix! Well said. It is not too late for our beloved professor to make a volte-face on his prior policy position. But charity, they say, begins at home. A SPECIAL NOTE TO OUR READERS We have since learnt that the Indian government led by President Pranab Mukherjee donated the statue to the people of Ghana. The statue itself was unveiled in Ghana on June 14, 2016, with Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, in attendance but who did not raise any objections. As a matter of fact it was Prof. Aryeetey who welcomed the Honourable President of India to Ghana and to the University of Ghana, according to the website of the University of Ghana. Again, here is the website of the University of Ghana (emphasis ours): He [Prof. Aryeetey] acknowledged the collaborations with warm welcome given to students and faculty through exchange programmes to study and train in Agriculture, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Pharmacy and many other disciplines. The fact is that as a Vice-Chancellor of the said university he must have known about the statue and therefore should have raised serious objections to its donation and acceptance and subsequent erection, a strategic move that would certainly have prevented the circumstances surrounding it, namely Gandhis well-documented racism, to degenerate into the present storm of public agitation. Sometimes, in fact quite oftentimes, our clueless leaders allow paternalism and foreign aid and their lack of reading and research habits to stifle their intellects and philosophical vision. Still, we do not think removing the statue should undermine the diplomatic ties between the two countries. Rather it should strengthen the ties between the two countries, a policy idea we believe and expect to lead to a better, deeper understanding of Gandhis and Indias role in human history as well as in the current trend of globalization. Here, advancing the body of human knowledge built on a strong foundation of historical truth and respect for humanism and equality of the races defines the primary motivation behind our policy position. This is why we support the petition in the first place. Even the Dalits, the so-called blacks of India (untouchables), starting from the pre-eminent Indian economist and legal scholar B.R. Ambedkar (had two PhDs, one in economics and the other in jurisprudence), a Dalit himself and one of the luminary pillars behind the writing of Indias national constitution and of the countrys independence negotiators, have mounted and still been mounting serious challenges to the sanitized versions of historical accounts on Gandhi. Ambedkar was a contemporary of Gandhi and the two did collaborate on the Dalit issue, albeit not always on the same side of strategy and tactic, of policy aims and objectives and moral philosophy. Then, according to journalist Adam Taylor of the Washington Post, As the statue was put up over the summer, many students did not know about it initially. Critics note that it is the only statue of a well-known figure on the campus, whereas there are no tributes to African figures. Gandhis open letter of 1894, The Natal Mercury, is the basis for the petition. Last but not least, it turned out Dr. Obadele Kambon had studied Gandhi and his works and was among those who initiated the task of distributing those Gandhi racist quotes to his colleagues at the University of Ghana. Finally, this author has also closely studied Gandhi and his works and was and still is, in consequence, more than familiar with the general trend and outlines of Gandhis racist ideas and doings several years back before the current petition storm in Ghana today. REMINDER We shall return with Part 4, the concluding segment. REFERENCES Ruth Maclean. (September 22, 2016). Petition Calls for Gandhi Statue to Be Removed from Ghana University. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/22/petition-calls-for-gandhi-statue-to-be-removed-from-ghana-university Gandhian InstitutionsBombay Sarvodaya & Gandhi Research Foundation. How Relevant Is Gandhis Nonviolence? Retrieved from http://www.mkgandhi.org/africaneedsgandhi/relevance_of_gandhi's_nonviolence.htm Removal of Gandhi Statue from Ghana Varsity Premises Sought. September 20, 2016. Retrieved from http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/removal-of-gandhi-statue-from-ghana-varsity-premises-sought/article9128520.ece Adam Taylor. In Ghana, Calls to Tear Down A Statue of Racist Gandhi. September 20, 2016. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/09/20/in-ghana-calls-to-tear-down-a-statue-of-racist-gandhi/ University of Ghana (main website). (June 14, 2016). SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA. Retrieved (pdf) from The scandal that has rocked GCB over the alleged granting of loans without corresponding collateral has left customers of the bank pondering over the future of their savings. Despite the media blitz surrounding the whole affair, the bank only issued a statement to scratch the surface, without touching on the core subject. The Board Chairman, Daniel Owiredu, has also not responded to the accusation levelled against him that, contrary to laid down procedure, he served as Chairman of the Credit sub-committee of the bank. Last week, the Board of Directors, headed by Mr Daniel Owiredu, was compelled to issue a statement signed by the latter, denying the allegation about the inappropriate granting of loans, but failed to address the very substantive issues raised against him (Owiredu). Mr Owiredu is the chairman of the Credit sub-committee that reports to the board, presided over by himself. 'The allegations were false and malicious and should be treated with contempt,' the statement said. 'It should be noted that GCB has the most stringent rules and procedures in the banking industry for the granting of the loans and under the leadership of its Board Chairman the bank has continued on its growth path and put in place robust risk management systems', it added. However, sources at the bank say top officials at the bank were not happy with the response, since it failed to address the critical issues raised in the various media publications. Why did the press statement refuse to touch on the Board chairman's role in the Credit subcommittee and his connection with some top officials of the bank? Additionally, the entire press statement was unconvincing. The Board Chairman must come again, a top official at the bank told this reporter. According to sources, Mr. Owiredu reviewed the credit policy of the bank which was used by his predecessors, Mr Fritz Gockel and Mr Kojo Thompson respectively and reconstituted the credit subcommittee to enable him chair, contrary to concerns raised by some of the board members who totally disagree with the board chairman on this credit policy. This development has, according to sources, empowered the Board chairman to unduly influence activities of the committee. There is also the growing concern of some stakeholders of the bank that Mr. Owiredu is running an Executive Board rather than the usual Governing Board which is currently the best corporate governance practice in the country. Why the Executive board? This is because the desperate board chairman is always caught in the day to day operations of the bank, as his consent is needed in the daily decisions of the biggest state bank, with Ghanaian tax payers being the largest shareholder. Mr. Owiredu is an eminent Mechanical Engineer and was the President of the Ghana Chamber of Mines and the Executive Vice-President, Managing Director of the then Ashanti Goldfields and Chief Operating Officer of Golden Star Resources Limited, a Canadian mining company operating in Ghana, before he was appointed to the GCB Board. More anon Ghana had total annual petroleum receipts of $ 3.208 billion from 2011- 2015. But from 2010-2015, it produced 161,797,171 barrels of crude oil, Mr Roland Affail Monney, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association and a member of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) had said. Mr Monney was speaking at a stakeholder's forum organised by PIAC on the Management of Ghana's petroleum revenue which was attended by 34 participants including representatives of pressure groups, professional and religious bodies and traditional authorities in Sunyani. PIAC is a non-whip, non-partisan body with complete independent representation of citizens' interest through compliance and monitoring and provision of platform for public debate among other functions. He said from 2011-2015 the amount had been spent in the provision of various infrastructure for the socio-economic sectors including health, education, water and housing delivery, energy, transport, roads, agriculture modernisation, capacity building and strengthening of institutions. Mr Monney cited among the PIAC's key concerns that Petroleum revenues have been used to tackle too many national problems at the same time, and that had weakened the potential impacts of oil revenues on the socio- economic development of Ghana. Only 11 per cent of the petroleum revenue has been allocated to the agricultural sector, which is the mainstay of the economy, he added. Mr Monney said PIAC believed there should be properly-defined guidelines on the selection of the priority areas of project implementation in the country. He urged the public to show interest about how the petroleum revenues were distributed and used for the general benefit of the country. He said the amount belong to the citizenry and is the duty of every individual to know how it is being spent for their benefit. Some of the participants expressed worry about the regular increases in prices of petroleum and its rippling effects on prices of goods and services and appealed to government to introduce measures to stabilise the situation in the interest of ordinary Ghanaians. GNA From Musah Umar Farouq, Lawra THE CHIEF of staff, Julius Debrah, has denied issuing a fiat to the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) to halt ongoing reforms within the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). The Secretary of the ECG Senior Staff Association, Patrick Binyemi, was quoted by a section of the media as saying that Mr Debrah gave the directive at a meeting at the Flagstaff House recently. Until the president is briefed and a directive comes, MiDA is directed to halt its activities, Binyemi said. However, Mr Debrah, who is in the Upper West region campaigning, used the occasion in the Lawra constituency to rubbish the report. There is a purported story attributed to me as having directed that MiDA should suspend all negotiations relating to ECG, I wish to say here categorically that I have been in the Upper West for the past three days and I've not issued any such statement. Indeed, government has not stated that it is privatizing ECG. What government has been talking about is a way of reforming by signing up to the compact, and in the long run the objective is how best to improve the performance of ECG, the former local government minister told journalists during his campaign. Meanwhile, MiDA has also issued a statement denying the report, saying no directive to halt its activities in respect of ECG Private Sector Participation has been given, and no such directive was discussed at the last meeting held at the Flagstaff House. By Pascal Kafu Abotsi Political instability and civil conflicts have given Ghana an economic advantage over Cote dIvoire, Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso, research conducted by United States-based Heritage Foundation has established. Ghana scored an average of 63 in this years Index of Economic Freedom, while Liberia, Sierra Leone and Cote dIvoire had 52.2, 52.3 and 60.0 respectively. A presentation by James Roberts, a research fellow for Economic Freedom and Growth at the Foundation, in respect of Ghanas performance in this years Index of Economic Freedom in Accra yesterday, showed that Ghana performed well in all four main pillars used for the assessment Rule of Law, Government Size, Regulatory Efficiency and Open Markets. Under Rule of Law, Ghana scored 50 points placing 54th in the area of Property Rights, while Freedom from Corruption earned it 48 points, which placed it 63rd. Government Size was sub-divided into Fiscal Freedom and Government Spending. Whereas the former scored the country 84.9 ranking it 51st that of the latter was 77 points, which made it occupy the 53rd position. Business Freedom, Labour Freedom and Monetary formed the categorisations of Regulatory Efficiency. For Business Freedom, Ghana had 61.5 points for which it clocked the 108th position and with 56.5, Labour Freedom landed the 110th position; the record for Monetary Freedom which gave it the 165th position, was 66.5 points. Again, the West African country had 60.0 points in the global Index of Economic Freedom, which rank was 38th, under Open Markets. Trade Freedom situated the country at the 148th position with an average of 65.0 points, whereas Investment Freedom fetched it the 83rd position with 60 points. Mr Roberts explained that the Economic Freedom Results provide compelling evidence that economic dynamism is best sustained when governments institutionalise economic policies that empower individuals. He added that when people had more choices, they were more likely to engage in entrepreneurial activity, which in turn gave creates jobs, investment opportunities and the new products and services that enriched our lives. In many respects, economic freedom is just shorthand for an environment that encourages entrepreneurship. The Freedom index is designed to show the close correspondence between economic freedom and entrepreneurship opportunity, he pointed out. According to the 2016 Index, economic freedom improved worldwide for the fourth year in a row, with the average score up by three-tenths of a point from the previous year. Of the 178 economies ranked, five made up of Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Switzerland and Australia earned the designation free with scores above 80. Canada, Chile, Ireland, Estonia and the United Kingdom completed the list of countries in the top ten performing economies. North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Turkmenistan, Eritrea, Congo Republic, Iran, Equatorial Guinea and Argentina formed the bottom 10 in this years economic freedom index. New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communications Director, Nana Akomea says the president giving money to a few people during a campaign tour cannot be described as sharing money. He said the video shows the President single out some people and handing what was said to be money to them. Speaking on Joy FM/MultiTVs news analysis program, Newsfile Saturday, he said it could be the President was showing concern to a hawker whose wares might have been scattered as the convoy was passing. In the video President John Mahama is seen handing over something to traders at Abossey Okai during his campaign tour of the Greater Accra Region. Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah on Thursday told Joy News the video showing the President purportedly sharing money to could have been doctored. He said regular practice does not allow the president to carry money on him when he is out of the office, therefore it is impossible that he could hand out cash to anyone. That is something people have not taken notice of presidents don't carry money around. I never knew until I got to the presidency, he said. However, Deputy Minister for Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, also said on the programme that he was grateful the incident was filmed. He said the video has enhanced the campaign of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) adding that the President does not need to buy votes to win the December polls. Mr Ablakwa said the President has already shared what he has in policies, infrastructure among others to win him the upcoming December election. He said the president gave out GH50 (about $14) to a girl whose wares destroyed as a crowd of people followed the Mahamas convoy. President Mahama in an interview with the Daily Post Newspaper has admitted giving out money during a campaign trail as captured. According to the newspaper, the president laughed off the claim that he was sharing money explaining that from the top of his vehicle, he saw a little girl with a tray of boiled egg in the crowd being pushed by the cheering crowd amidst the jostling. The tray fell from the girl's head and the crowd trampled on the fallen eggs. The girl then burst into tears. The report said Mr Mahama was touched by what only he could see because of where he was standing and ordered the man who commands his convoy to stop the convoy. The President then took GH50 from his ADC, pointed to the crying girl in the crowd and then reaching down from the top of the vehicle, gave it to a woman standing by her thinking she was with the girl. However, he was surprised to see the girl still crying so he asked her if the woman was the mother. When the girl shook her head and he noticed the woman had moved away, he took another GH50 from his ADC and gave it to the girl. This drew wild cheers from the teeming crowd, the report added. The newspaper said President Mahama recalled that it was the crowd that helped the girl forward towards his vehicle to enable her take the money because they knew he was compensating her for what she had lost. Some critics say President was buying votes, however, Nana Akomea said this does not qualify as a vote-buying incident although other incidents elsewhere by the president qualify. Mr Akomea was however disappointed people in government initially denied the incident. -myjoyonline Not wanting to take chances, Women Wing of the Greater Accra Regional chapter of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) party over the weekend, commenced its grass root mobilisation for the re-election bid of President John Mahama and his Vice, Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah Arthur. The womens Wing which was led by what the party called a cream of powerful mothers, is composed of Mrs Felicia Mekpoi Bortey, Regional Women's Organizer and her two Deputies, Hajia Sidi Foster and Madam Happy Amegashie. The powerful mothers as the are been described, took their campaign with a team of over 50 constituencies and branches women organisers to the rural areas of Shai-Osuduku constituency of the Dangbe West District. The women wing of NDC several communities including Asuature, Volivo, Abuviekpong, Dzorkpong and their adjourning settlements in the Shai Osuduku constituency and interacted with the rural women. The first point of call of the grass root campaign with the Green Book, was Asuature community, where they chat with the rural women farmers and shared the message of peace before, during and after the general elections. While in Asuature, the NDC regional women took time to explain the government policies and projects been executed in the pictorial Green Book as well as project the government intend implementing in the second term of President John Mahama. A number of women from other political parties in the Asuature community, especially members of the largest opposition party, the New Patriotic Party( NPP) were defected to the fold of NDC and branded in the party T-Shirts. Mrs Felicia Bortey and her cream of powerful mothers, who witnessed the endorsement by the rural women at Dzorkpong concludes that President Mahama is clearly set to clinch 95 percent of the total votes in the region going by the large turn-out of residents and indigenes to the NDC campaign. Going by the political scenario in Shai-Osuduku, especially in these rural communities, President John Mahama will win landslide in the forthcoming presidential election as there is a consensus of opinion that Mahama has been given a "blank cheque" in the region," she said. The campaign in the rural communities, they explained is to establish and re-enforce the strong relation of the rural folks with the party which is being taunted as a grassroots political party in the country contemporary politicking. According to the regional women organisers , their movements into the interior rural areas and townships, is yielding results and the gateway to building NDC support base and retain power. Mrs Bortey told The Enquirer, the aim is to retain all parliamentary seat currently been occupied the party and also increase the vote margin to enable the President get a one touch victory We are going to claim our victory come December 7, 2016 , as we are busy on the ground with our message of Changing Lives and Transforming Ghana. This is the first time we are embarking on this kind of campaign, going to the rural folks, this is the true and proper listening campaign and that is why we the NDC are been described as grassroots party," said Mrs Bortey. Her sentiments were echoed by the Regional Deputy Women Organiser, Hajia Siidi, who also said, We are already on the ground and already have Message. We have even established structures in the communities and we are reaching out to them, to get their concerns and to relay same to the party for development." While addressing the rural women, Felicia Bortey encouraged the women and the party supporters to ensure that their names are in the voters register in order to enable them to vote for the President and the parliamentary candidate, Ms Linda Akweley Ocloo. Please go and do a transfer to the community you live if your vote is not in this constituency, you cannot vote for the president and the PC if your name is not in register as voter in this constituency," she urged the residents. She also asked the rural folks not to vote for the opposition NPP leader, Nana Akuffo Addo, for he is a visionless and divisive leader and when entrusted with the country, there will be no peace, adding he is a violence man and could bring political instability of which women and children would be the most victims. The NDC women took time and explained the content of the Green Book and shared some to the community women leaders to keep for those yet to see the work to also glance through to know the extend of work done by John Mahama led government in the country. NDC party branded T-shirts, sandals, scarfs and other paraphernalia's were distributed to the rural women as they all sang the NDC slogan, "Edey bee keke," JM toaso," amplifying their support to President Mahama and Linda Ocloo. Some of the residents were extremely happy, because they said that was the first time political party leaders from the urban Accra visited their communities and share party items to them. According to them, they will never dine with the "Angel they don't know,"(NPP) and vowed their support for President Mahama in the upcoming general elections. Madam Tamata Tetteh, 42, said she has been dinning with the NDC party and do not intend changing her mind in the upcoming general election, but only requested for more pictorial poster of President John Mahama and the PC in their area. Another woman identified herself as Diana whose son is in Asuature Senior High School said, she only need government to upgrade their community road to enable her children attend to school on time as the deplorable road affect their easy transportation to school. The Greater Accra regional NDC women said, the rural communities campaign tour will be replicated in all the constituencies, after touring Bortianor, Prampram in the Bortianor/Ngleshie -Amanfrom and Ningo-Prampram constituencies respectively. ABC News(NEW YORK) -- Hillary Clinton has added her name to the growing list of people calling on police in Charlotte to release video of the shooting death of Keith Lamont Scott. Charlotte should release police video of the Keith Lamont Scott shooting without delay. We must ensure justice & work to bridge divides. -H Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 23, 2016 Beyond just the tweet, Clinton will now also be traveling to Charlotte on Sunday, according to a campaign aide.Scott was fatally shot by officers on Tuesday and police reportedly have video that shows that he was holding a gun, though it is unclear if he was pointing a gun in their direction.Scott's family has said he was holding a book, not a gun, while waiting for his son to be dropped off from school. After reviewing the footage, the family's attorney said in a statement that it's "impossible" to detect what Scott is holding and at no point did Scott appear or act aggressively."After watching the videos, the family again has more questions than answers," Justin Bamberg, a lawyer representing Scott's family, said in the statement Thursday. "When told by police to exit his vehicle, Mr. Scott did so in a very calm, non-aggressive manner. While police did give him several commands, he did not aggressively approach them or raise his hands at members of law enforcement at any time. It is impossible to discern from the videos what, if anything, Mr. Scott is holding in his hands."Family members were privately shown the police video, and they want it to be released publicly.Law enforcement officials have said that they intend to release the video but have not determined the appropriate timing.The city's mayor and police chief have said they believe that the video should be released but suggested that if it was released too soon it could impact the ongoing investigation. The State Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation.Scott's family released footage shot by his wife that shows his confrontation with police officers and the moments before the shooting as well as the aftermath, but it does not show the shooting itself.Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Cake baker Anh: Let me sweeten your day VietNamNet Bridge Roses, lilies, daisies, sunflowers and orchids are all in bloom or slightly open. They are no less beautiful than those displayed in any flower shop. Their brilliant grace charms all people upon first sight. Simple philosophy: For Anh, lifes meaning is so simple: He just wants to sweeten peoples days. They are even edible. Surprised? Theyre not real? Youre right. They are buttercream and sugar flowers made by baker Nguyen Vu Hoang Anh. At just 22, Anh is already the owner of Mito Sweets, a brand focusing on cakes, sweets and training. Hes also authored many magazine articles on how to make cakes. Anh gathered his knowledge and experience in book The Gioi Ngot Ngao (The Sweet World) in 2009, which received a warm welcome from baking lovers. Now, hes a famous trainer and judge of pastry contests, not only in Viet Nam but in other Asian countries. But people dont know that he didnt expect to one day become a maestro of the sweets world. Six years ago, Anh was a high school student. He once accompanied a young female neighbour to a bakery shop to collect materials. He was dazzled and became lost in the world of colourful molds, decorative objects and baking tools. Mimicking nature: From buttercream and gumpaste, Anh can create any kind of flower and make it look real. His neighbour was his first teacher. She showed him the basic steps to make a cake. Gradually, he was attracted to find out more. I never forget the glint in my friends eyes when I gifted them the cakes I made, he said. Baking had such an irresistible attraction to me that I decided to research it seriously, said Anh. Though Anh graduated from Ha Noi Universitys Chinese language faculty, he was determined to pursue his career as a professional baker. He spent a lot of time looking up material for himself on the Internet to learn more. After two years of self-study, he used all his savings to study abroad. The courses earned him a Masters and equipped him with further precious knowledge and experience. He discovered that he had an endless love, passion and inspiration for fondant and gumpaste cakes. This genre has recently appeared in Viet Nam and a common example is the exquisite and expensive gateaux. The material is wonderful, Anh said. Its partly like Japanese clay and partly like Vietnamese rice dough to make to he (toy figurines). I can use it to create any form I want; flowers, animals, animated characters and other symbols. He started with simple things like cupcakes, then tried himself with birthday cakes and finally wedding cakes, which require the most diligence and talent from bakers. This genre was new in Viet Nam and there were very few experienced bakers to consult with, so I had to learn and practise hard to master it, he said. The ingredients were so expensive. There was no ready-to-use gumpaste. So I had to mix it on my own. And can you imagine? A student like me didnt have much money to buy sophisticated molds from abroad. I used beer bottle caps to shape rose petals. It wasnt bad, actually. Gumpaste is very sensitive to temperature, moisture and to other ingredients. Thats why Anh experienced many failures that often discouraged him. The thing that helped him move forward was that he could always learn from defeat. You never know what you can do with gumpaste if you dont try, said Anh. I love flowers and remember their colours and characteristics. Then I try to mix colours to imitate real flowers. Its a happy feeling when I see the gumpaste flowers bloom from my hands. One artwork he is most satisfied with was inspired by Venus, the immortal god of all-encompassing love, beauty, sex, fertility, prosperity and desire. He spent four days making this cake. The first day was for making sugar eggs and all the roses. The golden egg on top symbolizes love, beauty and sex, and the gold dust colour represents immortality and desire. On the remaining days, he made the two tiers, painted the Venus picture and added other hand-modeled details. Because the Birth of Venus painting inspired this cake, I tried to paint Venus with coloured gel and alcohol to give the cake a nice watercolour effect. The alcohol dries very quickly, so all the details and colours will set beautifully on the fondant. He made a statue face and a rose by hand out of gum paste. Though income from making cakes now brings him an easy life, he doesnt presume on using molds, especially in this "Venus" cake, because he wants to make the details very unique. I made this cake with so many new techniques. I painted all the details with edible golden paint to make it resemble royal jewelry. My strong point is sugar flowers - so I made a rose bouquet on top of the egg. The bouquet is made to resemble roses growing from the egg. As a reward, it won the title "Cake of the Month" last year by Satin Fine Foods, a world-leading manufacturer of Satin Ice fondant distributing to over 60 countries worldwide. I cant work without music and every time I work in my studio I need to have music playing for inspiration, said Anh. I always choose a song to match the theme of the cake I am making. For this cake, he played the song Venus by Lady Gaga to get the inspiration he needed. The quick rhythm of the song gave me so much energy and helped me concentrate on the cake, he said. From a student who knew nothing about baking, Anh has now become famous and successful within his chosen genre. Hes busy with classes where he can meet people who share the same passion and bring him much energy and inspiration to work. Anh teaches in both Ha Noi and HCM City, and also receives invitations to train bakers in Singapore, Jakarta, Hong Kong and Manila. This month, he will head to the Macaron Pastry Training Centre in Bangkok for a course about floral cakes. Hes so proud that he has a chance to return to the place where he had once been a student. Days pass, but glossy buttercream and fondant cakes still bring Anh an infinite source of energy to create with. For Anh, lifes meaning is so simple: I just do something I love and inspire others, thats enough for me. Let me sweeten your day, he said. Big celebration: Wedding cakes are a challenge and an inspiration for him. Photos courtesy of Nguyen Vu Hoang Anh Golden masterpiece: The cake inspired by Venus won the title Cake of the Month by Satin Fine Foods. Spreading passion: Hes busy with classes where he can meet people who share the same passion and bring him much energy and inspiration to work. Photos courtesy of Nguyen Vu Hoang Anh VNS Minh Thu Banking consultant, Nana Otuo Acheampong has called on the management of GCB Bank to take steps to address allegations that the bank's board has been approving several huge loans without the requisite collateral needed. According to him, the act is likely to impact on the share price of the bank on the Ghana Stock Exchange if it goes unresolved. Media reports had suggested that, the Board of GCB Bank led by Daniel Owiredu together with two other officials from the bank, the Credit/ Risk Manager Sam Aquah and George Fuachie, Head of Corporate have been giving out 'uncollateralized' loans to cronies, thereby putting the bank's finances in awkward positions. The bank has since dismissed such reports. A statement issued on the matter urged the public to treat the allegation with the contempt that it deserved. Commenting on the matter to Citi Business News, Nana Otuo Acheampong, also the Head of the Osei Tutu II Centre for Executive Education and Research; described the issue is an internal one and should be addressed as such. This is an internal problem which can best be resolved internally; it must therefore be taken out of the public domain, he observed. Nana Otuo Acheampong added, As a listed company, when such alleged information is put in the public domain, the effect on share price is negative which causes the shares to drop in its price on the stock exchange. Meanwhile GCB Bank says it is committed to protecting its reputation and would, therefore, file a complaint with the National Media Commission (NMC). But sources within the bank have suggested the fact the board chairman chairs the Credit sub-committee, where loans are approved, and also the chairman of the board, which finally approves of the loans. Meanwhile Citi business News has gathered that the Bank of Ghana has taken over the issue by causing an investigation to ascertain the full truth behind the alleged allegations that involves the board chairman and two other officials of the bank. By: Norvan Acquah Hayford/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana An anti-corruption campaigner, Sydney Casely-Hayford, wants government to dissolve the Secretariat solely charged with the responsibility to disburse the District Assembly Common Fund, saying it is a waste of resources. According to him, the fund, together with its managers, only slow down development, and cost the country additional money that could be used for other projects. Speaking on The Big Issue on Citi FM on Saturday, Mr. Casely-Hayford said it would be prudent for government to employ an electronic system that will enable the transfer of fund directly to the various assemblies rather than distributing it through a central resource pool. He noted, you have built a district assembly common fund and administrator and you are spending money on him and a whole lot of staff and all that their job is, is to allocate money to districts. These are the fruitless things that we do and we say that because the money has gone to the district assembly common fund, its done and the districts have got money. According to him, an effective approach to allocating resources to the various districts for development was to scrap the District Assembly Common Fund Secretariat (DACF), and allocate resources [directly] to the districts. You are deciding that you are allocating resources to the districts and you are deciding that you are going to take 5% of all the revenues and it is going to the districts. You don't need anybody to manage it [independently], it can be managed by the ministry of finance or the ministry of local government. It is just a bank transfer, he said. 'Government to increase common fund' The National Democratic Congress (NDC) government in the highlights of its recently launched manifesto, stated THAT it would increase the common fund allocation for districts to be reserved for the disabled. A Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Dr. Kwesi Jonah, recently called for an increase in the district assembly common fund from 7.5 percent of tax revenue to 15 per cent. According to him, this would help promote faster development of the local communities. By: Jonas Nyabor/Citifmonline.com/Ghana The Inspector General of Police (IGP), John Kudalor, has assured that the Police Service is the position to quell any situation that may destabilize the peace of the country during the polls in December. The IGP made the remark in an address to journalists after observing a police simulation exercise on Friday. Mr. Kudalor also stressed the need for community involvement in policing, stating that it was a shared responsibility. We are trying to bring everybody on board; the chiefs, the youth, the parties, IGP Kudalor said as he urged all Ghanaians to be law abiding. As an institution, I assure you that wherever this violence, we shall do everything possible to curb them as they occur. I assure you that we shall leave a very secured society and environment after the elections, he added. 5,000 hotspots identified The Police Service has already revealed that, it has identified over 5,000 hotspots in the forthcoming elections, which must be managed to avoid violence. The Electoral Commission (EC) Chair, Charlotte Osei, also warned that the 2016 election could be the most fiercely contested and may lead to violence if not well managed. Mrs. Osei also warned against complacency stemming from the conduct of six prior peaceful elections; two of which involved a change in power. According to her, the proliferation of illegal small arms and the rising levels of drug abuse and joblessness among the youth is creating a fertile room for violence in this years elections. She cited reports conducted by the Small Arms Commission in 2014 noting that over 3.2 million weapons are in Ghana and out of this number 1.1 million are illegal. Follow the hashtag #GhElections on social media for more elections related stories By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana Health workers particularly, nurses have been charged to demonstrate friendly attitudes towards patients who visit the various health facilities in the country for treatment. The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira, said staff attitude in most cases serves as an affront to quality health care thus urged Health Workers to exhibit tolerance when dealing with patients. He indicated that healthcare should go beyond just treating ailments to offering a holistic approach towards healthcare by working in teams in an effort to nip the ailment in the bud. Dr Denkyira was speaking at the sidelines of an Annual General Meeting of Medical Superintendents Wednesday at Sogakope in the South Tongu District. According to him, GHS is gearing up to implement a framework to emulate initiatives by hospitals which are performing better in health service delivery and also put a human face on health care. Most times we are accused of not being nice and I want to change that perception about us doctors, if somebody comes and you take time, explain the condition to the person it makes them feel loved and cared for. It is a team work and we will do our best to make our patients feel at home anytime they visit the hospitals, he said. The national president of the Medical Superintendents group, Dr Ofori Boadu speaking to Joy News identified National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) reimbursement and remuneration are some challenges bedevilling them. The NHIS has been our main challenge and the commitment on the part of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is not enough as only a few hospitals have been reimbursed in the whole year. We are also appealing to the government to solve the issue of the remuneration of the doctors as early as possible, Dr Ofori Boadu Pleaded The Program which was on under the theme, 'Achieving the improved healthcare delivery outcomes using quality improvement methodology' saw all medical superintendents across the country at Sogakope in the South Tongu District. In his speech, the Volta Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Joseph Teye Nuetey said the persistent delays in reimbursing NHIS claims greatly contribute to the shortage of certain logistics and medicines in the facilities. He reiterated that managers cannot perform their duties to improve their availability without regular inflow of financial resources. According to him, experienced, committed and results-oriented managers have the wherewithal to significantly enhance the effectiveness of the process and systems. I have no doubt whatsoever that our medical superintendents possess these attributes to accomplish the task in the respective institutions, the system which we have built over the years are so resilient. That is why it has withstood all the economic pressure and had succumbed," Dr Nuetey said. In a speech read on behalf of the Volta Regional Minister, Helen Ntoso, by the DCE for South Tongu, Samuel Mawuko Eworyi, government appreciates the link between improve health delivery and development and is doing everything in its capacity to ensure that health care is improved He said, Government is working hard to ensure that health care is accessible ,equitable and affordable to the greater number of Ghanaians Even though we may have chalked some success, looking at where we have come from, where some of our health indicators were very high, I know that we still have a lot to do in the area of health infrastructure and the provision of human and material resources," Samuel Mawuko Eworyi said. Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com | Ivy Setordjie | Joy News The Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper says Transport Minister, Fifi Kwetey, was being deceptive when he said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) wasted a $750 million loan facility in 2007. Backing his challenge of Mr. Kwetey's claims with documents, Abdul Malik Kwaku Baako Jnr said it was baffling how the Minister would make such a claim when there is evidence of infrastructural projects that the loan facility financed. Some of the infrastructural projects that were financed with the loan facility were praised by the late President, John Evans Atta Mills, he revealed on Joy FM/Multi TV news analysis programme, Newsfile , Saturday. At a 'Setting the Records Straight' forum last Thursday, Fifi Kwetey said NPP has no reliable knowledge about debt servicing, citing how the opposition party wasted the $750 million Eurobond proceed when the party was in power. For us in the NDC, foreign loans are meant for investment. Most likely, because the NPP was so wasteful with foreign loans, the party wrongly assumes the NDC has the same defect. No! We in the NDC have a great track record of using foreign debts to invest in solid investments, Mr Kwetey had said. Fifi Kwetey However, rebutting Mr Kwetey's remarks on Newsfile Saturday, the Mr Baako produced a World Bank document prepared jointly between Government of Ghana and the World Bank that dealt with the facility. Reading copiously from the said document, he said, It says 'non-concessionary borrowing in 2007 was mostly used to raise energy capacity and that of 2008 is being accessed. Out of the $750 million borrowed in 2007 in the form of Eurobonds $595 million have been disbursed by January 2009. 'The proceeds were allocated primarily to support public investments in the energy sector according to the following distribution: 286 million dollars for investments by the Volta River Authority (VRA) 134 million dollars for investment by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) 54 million dollars for investment in the Bui Dam 31 million dollars for the government's equity investment in the West Africa Gas Pipeline, and 90 million dollars for public investment in roads infrastructure 'The information provided by the Government of Ghana confirms therefore that proceeds from the Eurobond were used for productive investment, primarily in electricity generation and distribution, two areas that have been identified in the 2007 programme as warranting additional investment to sustained economic growth', this from the Mills administration to the World Bank. He also cited a memorandum presented to the Cabinet of the late John Mills' administration by then Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor to corroborate the contents of the document jointly prepared by the World Bank and government. It can't be a waste, he told show host, Samson Lardi Anyenini. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | George Nyavor | [email protected] The Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu has received the Person of the Year award at the Africa Investor CEO Institutional Investment Summit hosted alongside the UN General Assembly in New York. He first acknowledged the staff and management of Transcorp Power, the biggest producer of thermal energy in Nigeria, providing about 18% of national output: In accepting this award, I want to dedicate it to Transcorp Power staff who remain committed to realizing our dream of improving access to electricity in Nigeria and making our vision of a well-lit, fully powered Nigeria come true. Transcorp Power has supported U.S. President Obamas Power Africa initiative with a $2.5billion commitment. Mr Elumelu thanked the broader coalition of investors in the African power sector, as he urged other institutional investors to consider long-term opportunities on the continent. I also dedicate this to all stakeholders working hard to improve access to power in Africa. I call on others to please join us in this journey to powering Africa out of poverty. As the economies of African regional powerhouses like Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Uganda, Nigeria and Angola struggle due to excessive exposure to commodities prices caused by limited diversification, Elumelu proffered a sustainable solution to reduce Africas historical external vulnerability. He noted: Africa has been faced with this same challenge, in my view, for far too long. I choose to look at the recent episodes of economic contraction across the continent as opportunities to diversify our economies and invest in building critical infrastructure, especially in power, to reduce our susceptibility to commodity shocks and break out of the perpetual boom-bust cycles. Mr Elumelu emphasized that to ensure a different type of growth trajectory for Africa one that does not rely exclusively on the export of primary commodities there must be reliable, accessible, affordable power to support industrialization. Industrialization must occur on a massive scale for our countries to be powered out of chronic dependency on commodities. We must power Africas next phase of development, by targeting and prioritizing growth of our manufacturing, industries and services. And power is the fulcrum that will make this happen, he said. Mr Elumelu stressed that while there is an abundance of private capital available to be deployed to develop the African power sector, government must play its part in attracting these investments. He explained: While there is huge private capital local and global seeking investment destinations, as we know, global private capital goes to where it is most welcome. Therefore, the challenge before African governments should be how to ensure they create the environment that will attract and retain these investments in our continent. To the foreign investors gathered at the forum, he advised, Though there are challenges in investing in Africa, these challenges can be overcome by investing in Africa through partnerships with qualified local partners who possess the right knowledge, requisite capital and technical know-how. Speaking further, Mr Elumelu urged private and public sector stakeholders to work together in what he describes as Shared Purpose. It is critical for the public and private sectors to work together in SHARED PURPOSE, which is a key tenet of Africapitalism the economic philosophy I espouse which calls for the private sector to play a key role in Africas social and economic development by investing in strategic sectors for both economic profit and social prosperity. Mr Elumelu, who is also co-chair of the African Energy Leaders Group (AELG), a community of African energy leaders including Presidents and leading corporates, concluded his remarks by examining the role of power in creating opportunities for Africas jobless youth. He noted: In the 21st century, the level of poverty we have in Africa and the dire youth unemployment, to a large extent, can be solved by improving access to power, and by extension other infrastructure deficiencies and deficits. Even though we are making progress, there is still a lot to be done. We need faster progress. Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com | Joy Business Johannesburg (AFP) - The world's biggest conference on the international wildlife trade got underway Saturday in Johannesburg, but African countries lashed out at Western charities for "dictating" how they should protect their elephants. Over the next 12 days thousands of conservationists and top government officials will thrash out international trade regulations aimed at protecting different species. A booming illegal wildlife trade has put huge pressure on an existing treaty signed by more than 180 countries -- the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). And the plight of Africa's elephants, targeted for their tusks, generated fierce debate as the talks kicked off. Students hold up a cutout of a tiger during a rally during the "Global March" for Rhinos, Elephants, Tigers and Orangutans in Banda Aceh, Indonesia on September 24, 2016 ahead of the CITES talks in Johannesburg A recent census showed a 30 percent decline in the savannah elephant population over seven years, and new data released by wildlife monitor TRAFFIC on Saturday showed a "rising trend in large raw ivory shipments" in 2015. The new data underlines "the crucial need for renewed efforts by governments meeting this week at CITES who need to redouble their efforts to bring the illegal ivory trade firmly under control," said Steven Broad, TRAFFIC's executive director. Ginette Hemley, who is heading the WWF delegation to the talks, described the data as "extremely worrying". But four countries -- Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa and Namibia -- castigated Western-based animal charities, saying they "dictated" on how African resources should be managed. "Please leave us alone, don't just come and dictate what we should be doing," Zambian Tourism Minister Stephen Mwansa told a news conference. Fortune Charumbira, head of Zimbabwe's traditional chiefs, blasted "elitist NGOs who are coming from countries where there are no animals", describing them as "domineering". A coalition of 29 African countries is pressing for a total halt to the ivory trade to curb poaching of elephants, but other delegates believe it would only fuel illegal trading. Insatiable demand Graphic on five high-profile species that will be among the topics of discussion at the CITES talks in Johannesburg CITES forbids trade in elephant ivory, but Namibia and Zimbabwe have made a proposal asking for permission to sell off stockpiles to raise funds for local communities that co-exist with the animals. The European Union said it "will support a continuation of the ban on international trade in ivory and press for the adoption of strong measures against ivory trafficking, as well as trafficking affecting rhinoceroses, tigers, great apes, pangolins and rosewood." Illegal trade in wildlife is valued at around $20 billion (18 billion euros) a year, according to CITES. South African President Jacob Zuma opened the talks with a warning of the dire consequences of failing to tackle the demand for elephant ivory, rhino horn and hundreds of other endangered wild animals and plants. "Levels of exploitation of some animal and plant species are high and the trade is capable of heavily depleting their populations and even bringing some species close to extinction," Zuma said. Illegal ivory is displayed before being destroyed in Singapore CITES' secretary general John Scanlon said the meeting would "review trade controls of close to 500 species of wild animals and plants", including the rhino, the pangolin and the silky shark. And while Scanlon hailed the deep commitment of all those taking part, he warned that "they sometimes have differing views on the best way to achieve this". CITES banned trade in rhino horns 40 years ago, but prohibition has not reduced illicit hunting, which has seen a recent boom in South Africa. Around 5,000 white rhino -- a quarter of the population -- have been slaughtered over the past eight years, with the majority killed in South Africa, home to 80 percent of the world's rhino. Rhino poaching is driven by insatiable demand in Vietnam and China for the horn, which is mistakenly believed to have medicinal powers curing everything from hangovers to cancer. But China is now taking steps to clamp down on domestic demand for ivory. "China has made significant moves to combat illegal trade in wildlife," Scanlon told reporters, adding it had started prosecuting people involved in illegal trade and closing down local retail markets. But he warned that illegal wildlife trafficking was "occurring on an industrial scale, driven by transnational organised criminal groups". The use of chemical weapons in Syria has outraged the world. But it is easy to forget that Britain has used them and that Winston Churchill was a powerful advocate for them Secrecy was paramount. Britain's imperial general staff knew there would be outrage if it became known that the government was intending to use its secret stockpile of chemical weapons. But Winston Churchill, then secretary of state for war, brushed aside their concerns. As a long-term advocate of chemical warfare, he was determined to use them against the Russian Bolsheviks . In the summer of 1919, 94 years before the devastating strike in Syria, Churchill planned and executed a sustained chemical attack on northern Russia. The British were no strangers to the use of chemical weapons. During the third battle of Gaza in 1917, General Edmund Allenby had fired 10,000 cans of asphyxiating gas at enemy positions, to limited effect. But in the final months of the first world war, scientists at the governmental laboratories at Porton in Wiltshire developed a far more devastating weapon: the top secret "M Device", an exploding shell containing a highly toxic gas called diphenylaminechloroarsine. The man in charge of developing it, Major General Charles Foulkes, called it "the most effective chemical weapon ever devised". Trials at Porton suggested that it was indeed a terrible new weapon. Uncontrollable vomiting, coughing up blood and instant, crippling fatigue were the most common reactions. The overall head of chemical warfare production, Sir Keith Price, was convinced its use would lead to the rapid collapse of the Bolshevik regime. "If you got home only once with the gas you would find no more Bolshies this side of Vologda."The cabinet was hostile to the use of such weapons, much to Churchill's irritation. He also wanted to use M Devices against the rebellious tribes of northern India. "I am strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes," he declared in one secret memorandum. He criticised his colleagues for their "squeamishness", declaring that "the objections of the India Office to the use of gas against natives are unreasonable. Gas is a more merciful weapon than [the] high explosive shell, and compels an enemy to accept a decision with less loss of life than any other agency of war." He ended his memo on a note of ill-placed black humour: "Why is it not fair for a British artilleryman to fire a shell which makes the said native sneeze?" he asked. "It is really too silly." A staggering 50,000 M Devices were shipped to Russia: British aerial attacks using them began on 27 August 1919, targeting the village of Emtsa, 120 miles south of Archangel. Bolshevik soldiers were seen fleeing in panic as the green chemical gas drifted towards them. Those caught in the cloud vomited blood, then collapsed unconscious. The attacks continued throughout September on many Bolshevik-held villages: Chunova, Vikhtova, Pocha, Chorga, Tavoigor and Zapolki. But the weapons proved less effective than Churchill had hoped, partly because of the damp autumn weather. By September, the attacks were halted then stopped. Two weeks later the remaining weapons were dumped in the White Sea. They remain on the seabed to this day in 40 fathoms of water. 24.09.2016 LISTEN By Morkporkpor Anku, GNA Accra, Sept. 24, GNA - The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has inaugurated an interim Creative Arts Council to support regulate the industry. The Council would help the Ministry to fashion out appropriate policies and administrative structures that can propel the growth of the industry as a major pillar for socio-economic advancement. Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, speaking at the inauguration, said the objective of the Council was to assist the Ministry to facilitate the establishment and management of the creative industry scheme. She said to ensure a holistic and integrated approach towards developing Creative Arts sector, the Ministry has established a nine-member committee and tasked them to develop the appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks for promoting the industry. Mrs Ofosu-Adjare said a draft creative arts legal and regulatory framework has since been developed. 'Ten Regional stakeholder's sensitization workshops have also been organised to present the document to industry players and stakeholders to incorporate their ideas into the final document which is currently being put together by the attorney general's department,' she said. The Minister said the Ministry has made some key creative arts' policy interventions and strategies including coordination among key MDAs as in the development of the creative industry, facilitation of access to finance and the export market for products of Ghanaian creative industry and facilitation of the establishment of a council for the creative industry. Mrs Ofosu-Adjare said the idea of constituting the Council was to assist the Ministry to facilitate the passage of the creative industry bill to mature into law. The members of this interim council have a responsibility to steer the affairs of the council and also to support the efforts of my ministry to secure the enactment of the creative arts law. Membership of the Interim Creative Arts include practitioners from Culture and Creative Arts bodies such as, Ghana Culture Forum, MUSIGHA, Ghana Book Publishers Association, Association of Visual Artists, Actresses Association of Ghana, CopyGhana and Ghana Fashion Designers Association. Mr Akunu Dake, a member of the Council, expressed gratitude to the Minister for her quality leadership to transform the industry. He said the Council would do its best to meet all their expectations to promote the interest of Creative Artists in the country. GNA By Francis Ameyibor, GNA Accra, Sept. 24, GNA - Volume traded at the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) hit 32,649 shares which were valued at GH128,171.34 at the close of trade on September 22, a stock market analysis paper made available to the Ghana News Agency, said. Nordea Capital is an investment bank licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which offers a comprehensive range of services in asset management, research and strategy, corporate finance and private equity to institutional, corporate and private clients. According to the paper the bourse continued on its bearish trajectory as activities were registered in 13 equities with five price changes; in effect, the benchmark GSE Composite Index dropped 0.1 per cent to close at 1,773.5 points. The GSE Financial Stock Index also fell by 0.2 per cent to close at 1,680.5 points. The gainers were CAL Bank which edged 1.3 per cent to close at GH0.76 per share, whiles Fan Milk inched up 0.1 per cent to close at GH9.76 per share. The laggards were Societe Generale which lost 6.4 per cent to close at GH0.73 per share; Benso Oil Palm Plantation dipped by 1.2 per cent to close at GH2.45 per share, whiles Standard Chartered Bank lost 0.1 per cent to close GH14.19 per share. GNA Accra, Sept. 24, GNA - The Ghana Insurers Association (GIA) has inducted into office, Mrs Aretha Abena Abrafi Duku, as the first female President of the Association. By the investiture, Ms Duku, whose father, Nana Agyei Duku, was the first President of GIA, becomes the 10th President of the Association. At an investiture ceremony held in Accra on Thursday, a 11-member new Board of Directors, chaired by Ms Duku was also sworn into office. Ms Duku, presently the Managing Director of Ghana Union Assurance (GUA) Company, having held the position of Deputy Managing Director of GUA for over 12 years, took over from Mr Ivan Avereyireh, immediate past President. Addressing the gathering, Ms Mona Hellen Quartey, Deputy Minister of Finance, congratulated Ms Duku for her remarkable achievement, and commended the inroads that ladies continue to make to the top ranks of the Ghanaian insurance industry. She cited the instance where for the third successive time, three women had climbed into the helm of affairs as Commissioners of Insurance and have proved themselves worthy of the position. 'May I take this opportunity to salute and congratulate all women holding Chief Executive and Senior Management positions in our insurance and broking companies. I hope our men friends do not feel threatened but appreciate the immense contributions of these professionally competent and managerially excellent women to the industry', Ms Quartey said. The Deputy Finance Minister urged the incoming President of GIA to attach serious thought to higher ethical customer service standards. 'Improving the image and public confidence in your industry depends among other things on how promptly and fairly you deliver on your promise to pay claims and how customer friendly your processes and procedures are to your esteemed customers' she said. She urged GIA to well explain the importance of insurance to the public, to help improve the knowledge of the citizenry on insurance, saying if people are aware and ready to use insurance products, it would increase the current insurance penetration rate of two per cent. She said government on its parts would continue to provide the enabling environment for all businesses including the insurance market in order to thrive, saying, the New Insurance Bill which was being reviewed by stakeholders seeks to address emerging insurance issues and prioritize licensing for specialized insurance such as micro-insurance. Ms Quartey called on the industry and the regulator to expedite action on the passage of the Bill to enhance the legislative and operational environment that would ensure that insurance awareness and business thrives in Ghana. Ms Lydia Lariba Bawa, Commissioner of Insurance, also welcomed the new GIA Board led by Ms Duku to the roundtable of insurance and asked them to help grow the insurance penetration while looking out for the interest and protection of policyholders. She said the National Insurance Commission (NIC) is poised to significantly improve the capacity and efficiency of the insurance companies, improve the insurance service delivery, and eventually grow the insurance penetration. Ms Duku said her presidency would ensure a stronger collaboration with stakeholders, especially with Ghana Insurance Brokers Association (GIBA) to create and harness the platform that would encourage self-regulation to help curb over-regulation. 'We need collaboration more than ever, we need cooperation to do it well, we can build a strong Association, lift the image of our industry and counter wrong public perception', she said. She said she would also work to ensure that insurance was brought to the door steps of everyone and made a preferred profession among the citizenry. Ms Duku also expressed her desire to lead in the construction of a forensic lab to enable the Association sieve legitimate claims from illegitimate ones GNA By Belinda Ayamgha, GNA Accra, Sept. 24, GNA - The Domestic Services Workers Union (DSWU) of the Trades Union Congress have urged government to ratify the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 189 on domestic workers. They said although Ghana is a member of the ILO, it had thus far not ratified the Convention, which safeguards the rights of domestic workers. Madam Esther Kosi, General Secretary of DSWU, speaking at the commemoration of the first anniversary of the Union in Accra, also called on government to expedite action on the passage of the Regulations to the Labour Act 651. She said the Labour Act 651, which regulated labour issues in the country, has been found to have some gaps and weaknesses in addressing the issue of domestic workers, such as the exclusion of people who worked in the domestic environment for their relatives from the definition of domestic workers. The Regulations to the Act was, therefore, to address the area of domestic work and to streamline the sector in line with the general labour laws. Madam Kosi said a better streamlining of the sector will enable it contribute more to the general economic growth of the country. The DSWU was established in September 2015 and currently has a membership of over 700 domestic workers. Madam Kosi urged members of the Union to ensure that they practiced greater professionalism in their work. The ILO's C 189, Convention on Domestic Workers 2011, adopted the 100th ILO Session defines a domestic work as any work performed in or for a household or households and a domestic worker as any person engaged in domestic within an employment relationship. It enjoins member countries who ratify the Convention to among others, promote the human rights of all domestic workers set out in the convention, as well the fundamental principles and rights at work including freedom of association and right to collective bargaining, elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour, abolition of child labour and elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. Madam Adwoa Sakyi, Africa Regional Women Coordinator of the International Union of Food Workers, said while the Convention acknowledged the importance of domestic work to the world of work and its contribution to the larger economy, it also recognised that there were many abuses and violence in the sector owing to its 'invisibility' and thus enjoins members to ensure the protection of domestic workers. She said since the implementation of the Convention was to be in line with national laws, the draft regulations when passed and implemented will held address the issues in the sector. Mr Eugene Korlettey, Chief Labour Officer at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, who represented the minister, said government was committed to the ratification of the ILO C189. He said the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and Employment and Labour Relations were working hard towards ratification of the Convention and were also putting together a framework to domestic the Convention for implementation. Mr Korlettey said the Draft Regulations to Act 651 was currently at the Attorney General's Office and was expected to be laid in and passed by Parliament before its dissolution and stressed the need for more sensitization and awareness creation of the Convention and Regulations among domestic workers and employers. Togbui Adom Drayi II, Head of the Organisation and Industrial Relations Department of the TUC, commended the leadership of the DSWU for organising domestic workers into a union and being able to grow its membership in their first year. He said many of the challenges which domestic workers face will be addressed with the effective implementation of the appropriate laws. GNA By Lydia Asamoah, GNA Accra, Sept. 24, GNA - Members of the International Land Coalition (ILC) in Africa and the Civil Society Coalition on Land (CICOL) have commended Ghana for its comprehensive Land Bill geared at addressing land reform concerns in the country. They also commended government of Ghana for involving diverse stakeholders in the process of the Bill, and showing the willingness to build consensus on contentious land issues. Mr Shadrack Omondi, Chair of ILC Steering Committee at a press briefing held on Friday at the end of a three-day Annual Conference and Regional Assembly meeting hosted by CICOL, said other African states should emulate the best practices embarked upon by Ghana in drafting the Land Bill where inclusivity, consultation and participation from diverse stakeholders had been applied and emphasized. 'This practice will not only ensure ownership by the stakeholders but be in line with the AU Guidelines on the land policy formulation processes. Indeed this fists into our ILC Arica slogan: Africa Land Forum: Time for Action Now: Connect, Mobilise and Influence', Mr Mondi who read a declaration at the meeting said. 'Most African countries do not have even a land policy let alone a Land Bill', Ms Lilian Bruce a member of the Steering Committee told the Ghana News Agency. Nii Osah Mills, Minister of Lands and Natural Resource, who opened the forum on Monday announced that through the Land Administration Project, (LAP), Ghana's Draft Land Bill had gone through the process of stakeholders' consultation and was being formulated for Cabinet approval. The forum which enabled participants to understand the intricacies of land rights, and governance issues within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) was on the theme: 'Promoting People-Centered Land Governance in the implementation of the post 2015 agenda: Challenges and Opportunities in Africa'. Participants drawn from 21 countries, constituted of 61 organisations representing farmers organisations, indigenous people, pastoralists, civil society organisations, international organisations and intergovernmental institutions, attended the conference. In a four point Declaration that emanated from the meeting, ILC and CICOL members urged Ghana to uphold the provisions of the Bill on Gender/spousal rights on land that would address gender disparities in spousal ownership of land. It said the Land Bill should provide a framework for the application of the Free Prior and Informed Consent and detail the procedures on how consultations should be done. It also called for the harmonization of the large scale land acquisition in order to safeguard and protect the interest of the smallholder farmers and the vulnerable groups against land-grabbers and speculators. The communique urged the Government of Ghana to provide the mandatory establishment of Customary Land Secretariat in every traditional area to enhance transparency and accountability on land governance. Meanwhile, ILC Africa has commended the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for giving 'particular consideration to prosecuting Rome Statutes Crimes that are committed by means of, or that result in, inter alia, the destruction of environment, and the illegal exploitation of natural resources of the illegal dispossession of lands'. By that order, any individual or organisations that would do anything to cause the destruction of land in any country could be reported to the International Criminal Court in Hague, in the Netherlands for prosecution. GNA 24.09.2016 LISTEN By Christabel Addo, GNA Accra, Sept. 24, GNA - Mr Alexander Segbefia, the Minister of Health, has called on African countries to prioritise the strengthening of their national health systems in order to achieve meaningful, effective and sustainable emergency preparedness. He said there was no doubt that weak and fragile health systems, coupled with inadequate resources hinder adequate response to emergencies in the region, and addressing the challenge would require leadership, ownership and alignment of partner agencies to support country priorities. He said it would also ensure the implementation of a collective, coherent and synergistic approach among international, regional and national stakeholders in responding to emergencies to produce desirable results. Mr Segbefia said it further requires countries to commit domestic resources for the implementation of International Health Regulation (IHR) 2005, while partners mobilise additional resources to supplement the countries' effort. The Health Minister made the call in a speech read on his behalf on the occasion of the certification for Training of 105 ECOWAS Regional Response Rapid Team (ERRRT) in Accra on Friday. The training which was initiated by the West Africa Health Organisation (WAHO) was aimed at strengthening the capacity of the Sub-region to effectively respond to public health emergencies. Mr Segbefia said 'we now appreciate better that global health security is all about strong and resilient health systems. The most vulnerable countries are those with the least developed systems, many of these are in our sub-region'. He said the whole region was at risk of emerging infectious diseases and with Sub-region having its fair share of devastating health emergencies including the serious outbreaks of Yellow fever, SARS, Zika, and the recent Ebola Viral Disease, critical lessons must be embedded into its preparedness effort for ongoing and future health threats. Unfortunately, majority of these infectious disease threats occur in the context of poor socio-economic status, weak health systems, rapid population growth, unplanned urbanisation, climate change, natural hazards such as floods and drought, armed conflicts and other social unrests, he said. These underlying factors, he said, exacerbates the vulnerabilities of the human and health systems and justifies the call for a holistic, multi-sector and all-hazard approach to emergency preparedness in the region. He said investing in preparedness for health emergencies reduces socio-economic disruptions and protects the country's economic achievements, however, inadequate preparedness and response capabilities, insufficient financial, human and logistical resources, fragmented health services, limited community engagement, inadequate inter-country collaborations and partnerships continue to present major challenges to attaining health security in the African Region and Global Health Security. 'We need stronger national public health capabilities, infrastructure, and processes built to a common standard and regularly assessed through an objective and transparent process that was fully consistent with the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005. He urged the members of the ERRRT to operate in harmony to ensure the security of their respective countries, the sub-region, the continent and Global Health Security at large. Dr Xavier Crespin, the Director General of WAHO, thanked ECOWAS, the African Union and its other development partners for their support and solidarity towards the building of strong and resilient health systems in the sub- region. Mrs Melinda Tabler-Stone, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Ghana, said the ECOWAS Rapid Responders would advance health security not only in West Africa, but also on a global scale, and called for commitment by countries and collaboration from all sectors in the integration of efforts. Mr Edouard Singnatey, the Vice-President of ECOWAS, urged the ERRRT to quickly anticipate the effect of such problems which contribute to breeds of such huge problems in order to avert them. Dr Ibrahim Soce Fall, the WHO Representative, also cautioned the ERRRT members to be mindful of culture and traditions of the people and communities they work within in order to maintain peace and security. Dr Benjamin Djoudalbaye, who represented the African Union, warned countries against the possibility of being complacent about the gains they have made so far, but to work hard to reduce the epidemic burden by further strengthening their health systems and sustaining emergency preparedness. GNA 24.09.2016 LISTEN By Benjamin Mensah, GNA Accra, Sept. 24, GNA - The Government of Ghana is making efforts to address the persistent structural weakness in fiscal formulation that relates especially to commitment control and contracts to ensure effective fiscal discipline in the management of public resources. Mr Seth Emmanuel Terkper, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, said part of the efforts was the introduction of the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act, which also makes provision for new policy measures regarding borrowing and debt management among others. Briefing members of the Parliamentary Press Corp and the Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists (IFEJ), on the Act, in Accra, on Tuesday, Mr Terkper said for the first time, the Government has provided a comprehensive, legislative framework to the operations of the entire public sector, which includes central government, local authorities, statutory funds and State Owned Enterprises. The PFM Act, which replaces the Financial Administration Act (FAA) of 2003 and its Amendments and the Loans Act was passed into law by Parliament on August 3, 2016 of 1970. The PFM Act has 104 sections and the provisions include general responsibility, Powers of Minister, Responsibilities of Chief Director, Duties of a Principal Spending Officer and Salary Negotiations in the Public Sector. Other provisions are Salary Negotiations for Public Sector, Performance Report by a Covered Entity, Framework for effective risk management from public corporations and state owned enterprises, Creation of Sinking Fund and Establishment of Audit Committees and Offences and Penalties among others. 'This Act is a key step in the move towards comprehensive and general government reporting and establishes government's commitment to meet good economic governance requirements, 'Mr Terkper said. Ms Eva Mends, Chief Economic Officer and Group Head of PFM, said the provision in the new law mandates local government authority, a public corporation or a SOE to borrow be in accordance with the Act by seeking approval from the Ministry of Finance before going ahead to take new loans. The approval is to give the ministry the opportunity to determine the risk level and ability of the borrowing institution to repay. Mr Patrick Nomo, the Acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance, passage of the new law is expected to provide government with the opportunity to codify some good practices introduced and evolved as part of the PFM Reform Implementation. He said the Act will underpin Ghana's ongoing reforms designed to address persistent weaknesses and promote fiscal discipline, transparency and accountability; and will help improve credibility of the budget, the predictability during budget execution, strengthen expenditure controls and reduce cash rationing, all of which contribute to improving the overall financial management of the public sector. GNA By D.I. Laary, GNA Accra, Sept. 24, GNA - The overall level of economic freedom in Ghana has grown higher than the country's neighbours, says the 2016 Index of Economic Freedom released by Heritage Foundation at Institute of Economic Affairs. The Washington based organisation scored 186 countries across the world on four fundamental pillars covering open market, rule of law, regulatory efficiency and limited government. There are 10 categories under the pillars which includes property rights, freedom from corruption, fiscal freedom, government spending, business freedom, labour freedom, monetary freedom, trade freedom, investment freedom, and financial freedom. Ghana outperformed its neighbours like Togo, Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire in the categories as the index showed the country progressed significantly well in all aspect of the four main pillars. The country scored 63 in the latest economic freedom index whiles Liberia 52.2, Sierra Leone 52.3 and Cote d'Ivoire scored 60. The improved performance of Ghana, he said: 'Comes as no surprise as our neighbouring countries are riddled with either political instability or civil conflict.' However, it performed woefully as compared to South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore, that had political independence in the same era as Ghana. But some analysts said the West African country's democratic evolution had been interspersed and frustrated by scores of military takeovers, until 1992 that saw the country make remarkable progress in ensuring rural of law. 'Just after independence in 1961, GDP [Gross Domestic Product] or per capita in Ghana was $ 190, whereas South Korea was a meagre $92.' 'Today as we speak, GDP/Capita for Ghana stands at $ 1,380 whereas South Korea is $ 27,222.' Nigeria posted a gain of almost 2.0 points, but 'the pace of job creation has been impeded by bureaucratic rigidity and corruption in the economy, leading to increasing frustration among underemployed youth,' the 484 page index said. Meanwhile, South Africa, 'is increasingly hampered by social instability exacerbated by frequent violent strikes and a lack of employment opportunity.' The Heritage Foundation described economic freedom as the fundamental right of every person to control his or her own labour and property. 'In an economically free society, individuals are free to work, produce, consume, and invest in any way they please,' James Roberts, Research Fellow at Heritage Foundation, said during the presentation in Accra. Mrs Karen Hendrickson, Director of Advocacy and Programmes, Heritage Foundation, said: 'the performance of Ghana in the rankings implies that, we have a long way to go to improve our economic freedom and to ensure economic development.' 'Overall, the index ranked Ghana as a 'mostly free' country - meaning we can still do better.' The Economic Freedom Index results provide compelling evidence that economic dynamism is best sustained when government institutionalise economic policies that empower individuals. 'When people have more choices, they are more likely to engage in entrepreneurial activity,' Hendrickson said, 'in turn, it is entrepreneurial activity that creates jobs, investment opportunities, and the new products and services that enrich our lives.' The Freedom index is designed to show the close correspondence between economic freedom and entrepreneurial opportunity. The discussion centred on the critical relationship between individuals and the government. The index showed that state action or government control that interferes with the individual autonomy limits economic freedom. GNA Accra, Sept. 24, GNA - Many market women from seven major centers in Accra have expressed their confidence in female Presidential or Parliamentary Candidates for Election 2016. They said it is high time women play active role in the governance structure. The market women were expressing their views during various interviews with the Ghana News Agency as part of its GNA Tracks Elections 2016. The GNA Tracks Elections 2016 project seeks to ensure gender and social inclusion in national politics and also provide voice for the youth, vulnerable groups, opinion leaders and broader spectrum of the society to contribute to peaceful elections. The markets visited included: Makola, Santana, Kaneshie, Mallam, Madina, Tema Station and Malata. Abena Konadu, a tomatoes seller at the Madina market, said given the chance, she would vote for female candidates because they have empathy. Madam Alimatu Sadia, a pepper seller also at the Madina market, said any female candidate who is willing to assist and champion gender issues will attract their vote Madam Deborah Ansong, a plantain seller at the Mallam Market, said she has decided to vote for females in both the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections explaining that 'we need a mother who can understand the concerns of women and address them accordingly'. Mrs Cecilia Akoto Mansah, another trader at Mallam Market, said she has decided to vote for Madam Akua Donkor, the leader and flag bearer of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP) in the December 7 polls. Madam Oforiwaa Acheamponmaa, a tomato seller, said she was very perturbed when Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings Presidential Nominee of the National Democratic Party (NDP) was barred by the EC from contesting the 2012 elections. Ms Gertrude Otchere, a vendor at the Tema Station market, said she would vote for a female candidate and urge females in leadership positions to avoid exhibiting authoritative postures. Ms Tawiah Olivia, an underwear seller at the Tema Station market, pledged to support female candidates stressing that women are more passionate and hardworking than men. She said "a mother will do everything possible to get the best for her child so I will support female candidates in the coming elections". Other women also based their support for female candidates mainly on gender dynamics stressing women are very compassionate in nature and will understand the concern of other women and address them immediate. Ms Francisca Ativor, a seamstress at Makola Market, said Ghana touted as a democratic yardstick for developing countries need to step up its affirmative action strategy to create more room for women participation in governance. She said the current number of women in parliament is woefully low and 'Elections 2016 must offer us the unique opportunity to increase the number'. Madam Serwaa Konadu, a fish seller at Santana Market near Tesano, commended the gender pace setters; am happy that at least women are beginning to get more interested and active in politics, this would bring a change in decision-making for the nation. Madam Opeibea Ofei, a vegetable seller, called on the electorate to vote for female candidates in the December polls; 'it my prayer that most, if not all the women contesting in this year's election would win to ensure gender balance in our Parliament'. Mrs Baaba Maison, a seamstress also at the Santana market, expressed her gratitude to all political parties who have given women the opportunity to play various roles in the parties. 'We are looking up to all the women in politics and hope we are not let down. We wish them well in the coming polls', she added. Out of 133 women who contested 102 parliamentary seats in Elections 2012 only 29 that is, 21.8 per cent won their seats. Greater-Accra topped the list with 8 women; the Northern and Western regions had the least with one each. GNA The Ghana Social Opportunities Project (GSOP), has rehabilitated sixty seven (67) dams and dugouts in communities across the Districts in the Upper East Region to assist the poor rural famers to undertake dry season farming. This came to light when the Regional Coordinator of GSOP, Mrs Adwoa Asotia-Boakye, undertook a monitoring visit with some Journalists to some of the rehabilitated dams sites. The Upper East Region falls within the Sudan Savanna zone which is characterised by a uni-modal rainfall regime lasting five to six months and a long dry period of six to seven months. Predominantly farmers, household food security becomes a major problem due to the unfavourable climatic conditions coupled with low soil fertility. The situation has necessitated a feeding calendar to be instituted by many deprived households in the region particularly in the rural areas. Between September and January, some households are able to feed three times a day, March to June, twice daily and from July to August once in a day and in some cases not at all because food is simply not available. This phenomenon accounts for the rural urban migration which is high in the region as many people from the area especially the youth and women have to travel to either Kumasi or Accra to do menial jobs leaving the aged behind. Speaking to the Media in an interview, the Bolgatanga Regional Coordinator of GSOP, explained that it was to help address the above phenomenon that the Government through GSOP initiated the rehabilitation of the dams and dugouts. She stressed that the rehabilitation of the dams which falls under the Labour Intensive Public Works (LIPW) component of GSOP seeks to provide targeted poor rural households with access to employment and income-earning opportunities. It sets out to maximize local employment while rehabilitating productive infrastructure assets, which have potential to generate local secondary employment effects and , protect households and communities against external shocks. Typical LIPW sub-projects include rehabilitation and maintenance of rural feeder and access roads, rehabilitation of small earth dams and dugouts, climate change mitigation interventions and related public infrastructure, Mrs Asotia-Boakye indicated. She stated that apart from the community members being temporarily employed and earning cash, the secondary benefits include the use of the dams for dry season farming, provision of water for livestocks , building and maintenance of local housing structures among others. Most of the dams that have been rehabilitated were completely broken down but now reinstated to their original or better state. Activities undertaken on these dams and dugouts include improvements to the earth embankments, rip rapping and planting of vertiva grass to protect the upstream and downstream slopes from erosion respectively, desilting of the reservoir areas, widening and r restoration of spillway structures as well as repairs to irrigation structures. Almost all the activities which took place at the dam sites lend themselves to the use of Labour Intensive Methods of construction and this makes it possible to engage the unskilled work force from the rural communities to undertake the works and earn cash into their pockets. Through the implementation of the dam and dugout subprojects for instance , 18,458 extreme poor persons have been engaged and earned a total of GHC7,749,026.00 as wages over the past four years Mrs Asotia-Boakye stated. The Ghana Social Opportunities Project which is funded by the World Bank and the Government of Ghana begun in the Upper East Region in 2011. Implementation of the Labour Intensive Public Works component of the Project is being undertaken through the various District Assemblies with facilitation and technical support from the Bolgatanga Regional Coordinating Office (BRCO) of GSOP. According to the Regional Coordinator, the Project has to date engaged over 42,349 unskilled persons from the rural communities in the Upper East region to rehabilitate their feeder roads to improve access, dams and dugouts, schools and clinics as well as Climate Change mitigation interventions such as re-afforestation, establishment of plantations of fruit trees and other woodlots. The subprojects are selected from the Districts Medium Term Development Plans and are declared eligible if they can be implemented using labour intensive methods of construction and have the potential to generate appreciable unskilled labour employment. In order to ensure efficiency in service delivery and a high level of beneficiary satisfaction, provision such as effective social accountability and grievance redress mechanisms, quality works supervision, an electronic payment system to enhance delivery and monitoring of payments to beneficiaries are some of the measures put in place by the Project to achieve the desired results. Among some of the dam subproject sites visited were Kayilo and Asunia both in the Kassena-Nankana West district. The Chiefs and people in the beneficiary communities expressed their gratitude to the Project Managers, the Government and the World Bank and indicated that it would help contribute significantly to the improvement of the livelihoods of the people. For some time now, the transfer of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs Registrar, Harry Anthony Attipoe has been dragging due to the failure on the part of the registrar to leave for his postings. Despite several letters affirming the registrars transfer by his sector Minister, the registrar, Harry Anthony Attipoe continues to disrespect his orders. According to the spokesperson for the Coalition of Ga-Dangme Youth, Emmanuel Okoe Thomy, the failure on the part of the registrar has rendered the incoming registrar Emmanuel Tetteh Adoquaye jobless and redundant as he is idling about in the region without doing any job. "My investigations have it that Attipoe's refusal to leave for his postings have rendered the incoming registrar redundant as he has no office to work. Attipoe has refused to hand over to the incoming registrar so the gentleman has no office to work and is currently idling about Why should this be allowed to happen? Mr Okoe Thomy asked. The situation is however creating tension within the Ga Dangme area as the youth in the region are unhappy with the development. According to the youth, the registrar is not setting good precedent to be followed by other civil servants and is calling for the registrar to be compelled to face the full consequences of his actions. The youth has however threatened to demonstrate in the coming days to ensure the registrar Harry Anthony Attipoe is compelled to leave the office. "Attipoe is not above the law and the office he occupies is not his personal office and cannot be allowed to run it as such" Mr Thomy noted that though the Coalition of Ga Dangme youth had earlier called off an intended picketing, the decision was to allow the registrar exit his office peacefully. "From all indications, Harry Anthony Attipoe wants to hijack the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs and we the Ga- Dangme youth will not see that happen," he said. "We shall storm there in our numbers and demonstrate with our placards to ensure the right thing is done" The group also alleged that, the said Attipoe who until last year was the substantive registrar for The Kpone Traditional Council for about a decade has again failed to hand over to the incoming substantive registrar at Kpone after he was asked to do so by the sector Minister. The Ministry of Chieftaincy in series of letters to the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs Registrar asking him to go to the Volta region as part of its routine posting being undertaken by the ministry has all fell on deaf ears. The registrar has since refused to heed to the directive for well over five months now. The registrar in an interview with journalists at his Dodowa office said he will not proceed to his new transfer post which is the Volta region despite the Chieftaincy Minister's series of reminder letters. According to Mr Attipoe, he is not working in anybody's interest but that of the chief's and will not proceed on any transfer until the chiefs asks him to do so. The group has however vowed to ensure the registrar is brought to book with his disrespectful attitude towards the civil service. "The Coalition of Ga Dangme youth do not have any personal grudge against Attipoe and we are not witch hunting but we are only seeking for the right thing to be done. Attipoe is a Civil Servant and is not above the law" 24.09.2016 LISTEN I was recovering from the adulations of self inflicted shame cause by a renowed professor Agyemang Badu Akorsah after he attempted to engage in a pathetic smear campaing against Bishop Obinim. I was shocked a professor of his caliber could disgrace himself in such a way. In my recovery mood comes another intellectual dishonest element I have known not in Ghanaian intellectual group. It was in a whatsapp group that someone sent a link of an article written by one Yaw Perbi. I decided to read, lo and behold! It was another satire by an envious and a jealous man refered to as a doctor, a doctor who has made name in the minds of shallow thinking individuals in Ghana and around the world. I had a different perception about him when i first read his biography. Yaw Perbi thinks attacking Obinim will increase his pupolarity in the country but it has failed. It is clear that was his plan and he exposed himself in his facebook post. "The insults are raining on ghanaweb" after his infamous 'why God hasn't kill Obinim article' Is clear his aim was to catch public attention. I read his biography and it was written that he abandoned his work as a medical doctor to preach the gospel. I understand him because is not a calling but influenced to support spread the gospel of Christ after a car ancident. I think he needs to have another car accident which will this time aide him understand the work of God well, maybe he can buzz almighty God to give him a call. Yaw perbi in his article did not state what Bishop Obinim has done wrong but he called him a false prophet. Becareful Yaw, Obinim is not just a prophet but an Angel of God. Haven't you read stories of his Angelic work? I know you are envious because Bishop Obinim did not read the books you read to get to your level so you think he doesn't deserve it, yes that is the favour of God! With all the books and charlatant intellectual acclaimations, you have not achieved what Bishop Obinim has. I will not quote the Bible in this article because your article did not give much desire to challenge you Biblically. It is vague and poor in content, I wonder how you think and understand yourself, it might be a drudgery for you. It is imperative for every Christian to recognize that certain historically accepted views, especially as they apply to essential Christian doctrine (e.g., the nature of faith, the nature of God, the nature of man, and the person and work of Jesus Christ), are significant, time-tested summations of fundamental Bible-based truths. To deviate from them is to reject the heart of Christian faith. Christianity In Crisis. Inasmuch as Bishop OBINIM is a cause for worry for you and shallow thinking minds of your kind, never loose count of his numerous Angelic work that has saved many, including patients doctors of your type failed to treat. Obinim has not done anything that deserve your attacks. Please concentrate on the men of God who out of evy has reduced God to a magician by thinking that every dumbfounding miracle has a magician behind it. Go after those with acumen and the sophistry to rip scripture out of context to sway any Christian. Yaw Perbi, let's go after "giants" in the African Word of Faith/Charismatic circles who are the purveyors of heresy. Those who wield the ability to twist scripture and have morphed into Angels of light leading millions astray.God hasn't killed them yet so why will he kill his precious son he has made an Angel. Your Assertion that Bishop Obinim claims to have the powers to turn into animal so he should have flew instead of joining a flight, exposes your intellectual acumen. It is sad a doctor turned preacher out of depression will think this way. It is a sad day for Christianity, very challenging times for Christian community! Remember the Bible is not like your books where you feed on the intellects of others. Is sad Yaw, that you will think the Bible is like the medical books. It is becoming a scourge in this country where some intellectual chicanery people are hiding behind their worldly acquired brains to besmirch Biblically ordained individuals in our society. Yaw, why do you want to use the name of such a great man of God to influence your popularity in an absurd way, that is evil and Machiavellian. What I read about you doesn't give credence to your output. Ok people lie or over polish their biography, I dont think Yaw will do that! If you abandon the envy, you will see Obinim in a good way. Many had the same misconception about Angel Obinim till they met him and did a research about what God is using him to do. Why God didn't kill you in the accident? God didn't kill you because you have something to offer the world, the same way God hasn't killed Obinim because he is created for greater purpose. God hasn't killed obinim because he is a gift to the Christian body, God hasn't killed Obinim because he is created to solve our problems, God hasn't killed obinim because he has made him an Angel, God hasn't killed Obinim because God is not like you, God is not envious, God hasn't killed Obinim because as the heavens is far from the earth, so is the thinking of God from that of man. Next time you think of why God hasn't killed Obinim, think of why God did not let you die in the car accident. Joseph Osei Oppong Brenya Media aide to Bishop Obinim. [email protected] 24.09.2016 LISTEN "... Member of parliament Kobina Tahir Hammond...called the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill a minefield, cautioning MPs: 'We must be very, very conscious as a nation, extremely conscious. There can be proper governance without a certain amount of secrecy...You dont open up the entire gamut of government to the prying eye of the entire public'... And, before his full-throated apology, Lawyer Mr. K. T. "Hybrid" Hammond jabbed that Dr. Kunbuor's statement was "...the most disgraceful statement that has ever been made by any member in (Parliament); it is insulting, it is foolish and should never be allowed...I ask for the statement to be withdrawn immediatelyMr. Speaker, I ask for the stupid and useless and foolish statement to be withdrawn immediatelyit is palpable nonsense...According to the Record from Parliament, on that day in July, debate on the bill was not completed because among other reasons......", (Mr. K. T. "Hybrid" Hammond, as shadowed by Prof Lungu, 10 Sep 16). To continue.... We must say that if there ever, ever, has been a "...most disgraceful statement that has ever, been made by any member in (Parliament), it is that statement by Lawyer Kobina Takir "Hybrid" Hammond with the respect to the "prying eye of the entire public" on matters and interests the "entire public" themselves owe, fund, and preserve in their own sovereign interest. LAWYER KOBINA T. "HYBRID" HAMMOND HAS NO LOVE FOR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL, NEITHER! Kobina Tahir "Hybrid" Hammond had the audacity to inform Ghana a couple of months ago while in Ada, while on the Peoples' dime, that regardless of what the NDC does, if the NPP comes to power this election cycle, they, the NPP, will revert back to the Ghana "Hybrid System", if the NDC does the right thing by Ghana and adopts Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) for Ghana, same laws used by all progressive countries to accrue more oil revenues for their countries, ad sovereign owners of the oil/resource. Imagine that! Then there is the case just 2 days after the initial meeting with GIGS, on 9 July, earlier. In that case, the Ghana Parliament was discussing the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill (or as they weakly call it, the Right to Information (RTI) bill)). Apparently, if Mr. Hammond, now with the NPP minority has his way, the FOI bill will never see the light of day. According to the Record from Parliament, on that day in July, debate on the bill was not completed because among other reasons: "...Member of parliament Kobina Tahir Hammond...called the bill a minefield, cautioned: 'We must be very, very conscious as a nation, extremely conscious. There can be proper governance without a certain amount of secrecy...You dont open up the entire gamut of government to the prying eye of the entire public'...". To that Hammond bewildering "secrecy and conscious as a nation" statement, MP and Minister for Science and Environment, Mr. Mahama Ayariga replied that "...it is the time to pass an RTI law....'I think this country has been cautious enough. It is rather time for us to courageously move forward when it comes to the passage of the Right to Information Bill..(because)...'good governance...underpins our constitution'.... So the other questions for Mr. Tahir "Hybrid" Hammond are these: 1. What is Mr. Hammond afraid of? 2. Why is it is a bad thing when "the prying eye of the entire public" is focused on items the public buys and pays for? You know, all those oil contracts, benefits, taxes, liabilities accrued, equipment purchased, oil cash actually received, etc., by Parliament and Mr. Hammond, on behalf of the People of Ghana. Imagine! Every month "high" public official Mr. Hammond receives more than GH12,000.00, all tax-free, with a catalog of free benefits (free housing, free staff, free transportation, per diem, etc), all tax-free. Mr. Hammond does not pay income tax on all his income and benefits. But it is the Ghanaian worker who lives in Akatechi, Kofevi, Navrongo, Cape Coast, Ho, Berekum, Cabo Corso, Ogwa, Kumasi, Tamale, Tema, Bongo, Karachi, Paga, Kukurantumi, Zvalungu, and all places in-between earning a whole lot less money, it is they who actually pay taxes to support Mr. Hammond, Mr. Dagadu, and a whole heap of them. Yet, Mr. Hammond wants secrecy for oil contracts. Mr. Hammond has no love for access to information held by government by citizens. To boot, Mr. Hammond wants less money for Ghana, even though the PSA accrues more money for Ghana, in the medium- to long-term. So, we ask this simple question of Mr. Kobina T. "Hybrid" Hammond and the NDC Deputy Minister For Energy and Petroleum, Mr. Benjamin Dagadu. QUESTION: If Texas/USA, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, etc., can have the "Gold-Standard" Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) that will over the medium- to long-term pay Ghana billions more in oil revenues, why can't Ghana have it? Why resist the PSA mathematics, logic, science, and symbolism? Here is our bottom-line! We believe that Mr. Kobina Tahir "Hybrid" Hammond, Mr. Dagadu, Damongo Mutawakilu, and all those officials in Parliament who support the NPP-contrived Ghana Hybrid System, or are otherwise silent, ought to sit up and do right by Ghana without further delays and loss of oil revenue to Ghana. Oil, after all, depletes! We are calling on all of them! Order! Order! Order! Order! SOURCES: 1. Ghanaweb. Im sorry KT Hammond begs, 7 December, 2013, (www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/I-m-sorry-KT-Hammond-begs-294396). 3. CitiFMOnline. Dont sack any Ghanaian technical staff, Petroleum Ministry warns Tullow, 18th March, 2015, (www.citifmonline.com/2015/03/18/dont-sack-any-ghanaian-technical-staff-petroleum-ministry-warns-tullow/#sthash.9ZM0JBg7.dpuf). See Mo', Read Mo' www.GhanaHero.com/Visions. Our thanks to the numerous Fair-Trade Oil Share Ghana (FTSO-Gh) supporters in Ghana and all over the world who continue to report on the FTOS-Gh Campaign and Petition. Subj: K. T. Hybrid Hammond is Scared FOIB Will Lead to Ghana's Lost $6 Billion-plus Oil Cash (2) Twitter: https://twitter.com/professorlungu Support Fair-Trade Oil Share Ghana Campaign/Petition https://www.change.org/p/ghana-fair-trade-oil-share-psa-campaign-ftos-gh-psa/ Brought to you courtesy www.GhanaHero.com24 Sep 16. Accra, Ghana. 23rd September, 2016 Captains of industry, chief executive officers and corporate leaders attended the 6th edition of the Ghana CSR Excellence Awards, the GHACEA, which has become the industry benchmark since 2011 and organised by the Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), West Africa. It was held at the Lapalm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra on 23rd September, 2016. MTN, Kosmos, Unilever, Guinness, Tigo, Vodafone, Airtel, PwC, Samba Foods, Prudential Life, Odebrecht Ghana, Huawei Technologies, Databank, Coconut Grove Hotel and Fidelity Bank made the winning list on the night and were well represented by top management-level directors and chief executives. Underlining criteria for the Awards included commitment to sustainability, beneficiary-focused initiatives, implementation of result-oriented CSR initiatives within the period under review and proven commitment to the triple bottomline (people, planet, profit). Entries are subjected to stringent verification and evaluation processes presided over by a multi-stakeholder jury drawn from academia, business associations, civil society organisations, regulatory agencies, international development partners and the media. Speaking at the Awards, Mr Joe Tackie, Chief Executive Officer of the Private Sector Development Strategy, a portfolio situated at the Ministry of Trade & Industry and the Office of the President reiterated that: Development is a collaborative effort and a painstaking exercise that requires commitment to standards. We are growing as a nation and our cumulative growth as a people is inclusive of the growth of the private sector. As government is striving to create the enabling environment for businesses, other stakeholders expect that businesses remain socially responsible and embrace sustainable practices. The GHACEA is becoming more competitive every year and we are beginning to receive entries from sectors of industry that would usually not bother so much about CSR & Sustainability. This means that our CSR advocacy with supports from notable organisations like the UNDP, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Chamber of Commerce and others, is pushing companies to be more socially responsible and sustainability conscious, Mr. Kojo Williams, Lead Project Manager revealed. The GHACEA has injected a new paradigm into how businesses give back to society. Companies are now becoming more informed about their roles in society and beginning to weave social responsibility and sustainability around their core business mandate. This is a departure from the erstwhile ad-hoc and one-off approach to CSR. The GHACEA was first held in 2011, when it was launched by then Minister for Trade & Industry, Hon. Hanna Tetteh, supported by the President of Association of Ghana Industries and the Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA. The 6th edition of GHACEA (2016) was launched by the President of the Federation of Association of Ghanaian Exporters, Mr. Anthony Sikpa, supported by the Chief Representative of JICA, Mr. Koji Makino and officials from the UNDP, AGI and other stakeholders in June, 2016 at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Accra. The Complete list of winners at the Ghana CSR Excellence Awards 2016: CSR Company of the Year (MTN) CSR Practitioner of the Year (GIFTY OSEI-BOAKYE BINGLEY TIGO) CSR CEO of the Year (LUCY QUIST - AIRTEL) CSR Telecom of the Year (MTN) CSR Bank of the Year (FIDELITY BANK) CSR Insurance Company of the Year (PRUDENTIAL LIFE INSURANCE) CSR Manufacturing Company of the Year (UNILEVER GHANA) CSR FMCG of the Year (GUINNESS GHANA) CSR Engineering Firm of the Year (ODEBRECHT GHANA) CSR Extractive Company of the Year (KOSMOS ENERGY) CSR SME of the Year (SAMBA FOODS) CSR ICT Company of the Year (HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES) CSR Hospitality Organisation of the Year (COCONUT GROVE BEACH RESORT) CSR Non-Banking Financial Institution of the Year (DATABANK) CSR Initiative/Campaign of the Year (TIGOs SHELTER FOR EDUCATION) CSR Consultancy of the Year (PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS GHANA) CSR Award for Health (VODAFONE GHANA) CSR Award for Education (TIGO) CSR Award for Safety & Well-Being (VODAFONE GHANA) CSR Award for Greening and Environmental Protection (UNILEVER GHANA) CSR Award for Production Standardization (GUINNESS GHANA) Akatsi North DCE James Gunu 24.09.2016 LISTEN The District Chief Executive for Akatsi North in the Volta region, James Gunu, has punched holes in the opposition New Patriotic Party's promise of giving each of the 275 constituencies, one million dollars a year, to facilitate development if they win power. According to him, the promise was nothing but a hoax intended to hoodwink Ghanaians into voting for the NPP. The NPP's running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia during a recent campaign tour of the Northern region, revealed the party's intention to cede a million dollars from the annual budget to fund infrastructure development in each constituency. This promise, in addition to the flagbearer's promise to build a factory in each district and also provide a dam for each village in the north, has generated comments from both sides of the political divide, with the governing NDC describing them as mere political rhetoric. Commenting on the issue, the Akatsi North DCE said the NPP lacks the credibility to implement such promises because they couldn't even provide seed money to newly created district assemblies during their tenure in government. "The NPP created some districts in their time, they couldn't give the districts seed money, but when the NDC created districts including my district, we were given seed money of GH1 million Ghana, that helped the district to take off." "So if today they (NPP) are promising that they will give every constituency $1 million, it is not true. They couldn't do it when they had the opportunity and they can't do it now," Mr. Gunu told journalists on the sidelines of a ceremony to present educational materials to schools in his area. He therefore appealed to electorates to retain President Mahama by voting massively for the NDC in the December 7, polls to continue with the infrastructural development and social intervention programmes started across the country. The Chief of Staff Mr. Julius Debrah has cautioned the youth to desist from acts that could plunge Ghana into chaos before, during and after the elections. The Chief of Staff gave the advise at a "Peace Walk" organised by NASSOBA, with support from the National Road Commission and the National Youth Authority aimed at educating the youth to stay out of political squabbles ahead of the next elections. "President John Dramani Mahama has stated on countless occasions his commitment towards protecting the peace and unity of Ghana intact, I am here to also amplify that government is desirous of safeguarding the country's peace intact beyond the 2016 elections," Mr Debrah said in the Upper West region. He urged the youth to be vigilant and to engage in acts that would enhance and promote productivity in their various communities. Addressing the enthusiastic crowd in a peace walk which was participated by some political parties including the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the People's National Convention (PNC) amongst others, the Chief of Staff said Ghana needs peace to accelerate her development. He stressed that Ghana would not burn under Mahama because he is committed towards seeing the masses go about their normal duties without fear or favor even before and after the elections. All representatives of the political parties, RSC, NASSOBA and the National Youth Authority urged the people to allow what unites us as a people be more than those they seek to divide us as a people. The regional minister Aminu Sullemana who was part of the walk also urged the youth to shun from being agents of violence in the December elections. you are here: Burke County Public Schools held its third of four town hall meetings at Patton High School late Thursday. The first meeting was held at Draughn High School last Monday, followed by East Burke High School on Tuesday, and the final meeting will be held on Monday night at 6 p.m. at Freedom High School. The stated purpose of the meetings is to gather input as the school system seeks to craft a five-year strategic plan. Along with BCPS administrators, Burke County Commissioners Johnnie Carswell and Jeff Brittain attended Thursday nights meeting. Other members of the community were also in attendance. BCPS Superintendent Larry Putnam began the meeting with a presentation. He covered a wide array of topics, including programs and practices the school system already has implemented. These included science, technology, engineering and math learning (STEM); mechatronics; agriculture programs; robotics; career skill-building programs; seat belts on school buses; the new elementary school being built in Morganton; and more. One of the things of which Putnam said he was most proud is the fact that the school systems graduation rate rose from 90.3 percent to 91.1 percent last year. That included 100 percent for Burke Middle College and 95 percent or more from Patton and Draughn. Putnam then posed a series of questions to those in attendance. He first wanted to know what challenges people believe the school system will face in the coming years. School board member Buddy Armour suggested that the growing presence of charter schools could bring about challenges for the school system. The school system says it paid out $500,000 to charter schools last year in compliance with state legislation. Carswell said that preparing students for the new jobs that will exist in a few years will be a challenge. He said that both students and parents will have to change their mindset about the jobs they are looking for, including manufacturing and industrial-type jobs. Putnam asked for input for opportunities on which the school system should try to capitalize in the future. Armour said the school system must continue to expand its curriculum for education focusing on jobs and skills. He wants to see that include apprenticeships with local industries. Among the potential outcomes Putnam wants to see for the school system in the next five years is the growth of the graduation rate to 95 percent, then higher. BOE Chairman Randy Burns wants to see the school systems career and technical education programs continue to grow, pointing out that many of those classes now are offered in honors categories, allowing a greater number of students with diverse aspirations to interact. In order to better serve students and the community, Armour called for more drug awareness programs. While the DARE program is still in place, Armour believes that more programs focused on prescription drug abuse which has become a significant problem locally are needed. Putnam wants to find a way to increase the use of school counselors in an effective way. Putnam also wants to continue expanding the school systems nutrition partnership with Chartwells. The two entities already are working on a grant for after-school snacks and are looking to pilot a program that serves a free dinner to all students and children 18 and younger at a local school. The school system wants to continue to receive input from parents/guardians and other members of the community. To achieve this, the school system has made available two surveys on its website. To take the parent/guardian survey, visit bit.ly/2cXqDDO. To take the community survey, visit bit.ly/2cJkWGI. Justin Epley can be reached at jepley@morganton.com or 828-432-8943. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) A Republican congressman who represents the Charlotte area said Thursday that people are protesting in the city because they "hate white people." U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger, whose district includes parts of Charlotte and its suburbs, was asked by an interviewer for Britain's "BBC Newsnight" what grievance the protesters have. In the video posted online Thursday, Pittenger responded: "The grievance in their mind is the animus, the anger they hate white people because white people are successful and they're not." He also complained that the government has spent too much on welfare programs that ultimately hold people back. He later released a statement apologizing for what he said, and his comments were condemned by some Democrats. "What is taking place in my hometown right now breaks my heart. My anguish led me to respond to a reporter's question in a way that I regret," he said in his apology statement. Protesters massed on the Charlotte's streets for a third night Thursday, though the demonstrations were peaceful. Two previous nights included chaotic protests that damaged property, injured people and led to one death. The protests stemmed from the shooting of a black man by a black police officer Tuesday. The North Carolina Democratic Party released a statement saying Pittenger's remarks were inexcusable and accused him of "fanning the flames of hate with his racist rhetoric." On Thurday night, Pittenger approached North Carolina Reps. G.K. Butterfield and Alma Adams, both black Democrats, on the House floor and apologized for his remarks, according to aides for the two lawmakers. "She appreciated the outreach," Rhonda Foxx, Adams' chief of staff, said Friday. Pittenger, who was first elected to his seat in 2012, won a razor-thin Republican primary this year after a recount, and he faces a Democratic challenger in the November election. His largely affluent district was redrawn under court-ordered redistricting and now includes poorer areas along the South Carolina border. Twenty-one local American Revolutionary War heroes will be honored at a special event at Quaker Meadows Presbyterian Church on Sunday, Oct. 2. Special signs baring their names will be on display at the church and Pastor Yvonne Thurmond will deliver a special patriotic message. The ceremony to honor the patriots will last from 10:30-11 a.m. in the church cemetery and a special historic sermon and worship service will take place from 11 a.m. to noon in the sanctuary of the church, located at 2698 N.C. Highway 181 in Morganton. The patriots who will be honored are Samuel Alexander, Waightstill Avery, Peter Brank, Robert Brank Jr., Robert Brown, John Duckworth, Alexander Erwin, Arthur Erwin, Sarah Robinson Erwin, Solomon Good, Grace Greenlee McDowell, James Greenlee, John Greenlee, John McDowell, Joseph McDowell, William Morrison, William Neill Sr., William Neill Jr., Robert Penland, Samuel Rock Tate and David Vance. Historic Burke Foundation board member Mary Lou Furr said the sacrifices these heroes made during the war is something that needs to be recognized. She said the original plan to honor the heroes changed due to variances in the patriots final resting places. The patriotism of the local heroes is something that we need to celebrate, Furr said. The (Overmountain Victory Trail) Association does grave markings at cemeteries. The idea started to be a grave marking at Quaker Meadows Presbyterian Church. Upon further examination of the members I could find in the history book, none of them were buried at Quaker Meadows due to several reasons. One is the members were buried at the McDowell Cemetery, which is also (part of) Quaker Meadows Cemetery, but not the church cemetery. Some, like the Erwins, were buried at their home family cemetery. Others moved in the 1820s and 1830s to a different church. Quaker Meadows has a history of being a little church that was up and down and didnt have pastors all the time in the early 1800s. There could be one who was a member of the church that was buried there, but were still (researching). Someone buried in the 1820s or 30s, the gravestone is almost unreadable unless theres proof that someone has copied it down. Since most of the heroes arent buried in the church cemetery, the plan changed into a ceremony to honor the patriots service. Part of that honor will be signs with the patriots names engraved in wood. The wood will be recycled from a 200-year-old pine pew from the original Quaker Meadows Presbyterian Church. The work will be done by Custom Laser Etchings Gary and Susie Pindell. Gary restored the wood and strengthened it. Susie will do the engraving. After the names are engraved, Gary will coat the dry wood with lemon oil. Thurmond said she plans to deliver a message that will pay respect to the patriots an honor their choice to fight for what they thought was right. Thurmond said that is a Presbyterian ideal that dates back to the Protestant Reformation. Thurmond shared an excerpt from her message she will deliver on Oct. 2 As we encounter the challenges and dangers which will come to us in coming years, may we all remember the courageous people who have gone before us. The pioneers of the new world, the patriots of the United States of America and the believers in God who have left us such a rich legacy of hope and freedom and faith. May we never take any of it for granted, and always live in gratitude to them and to God, who has given us all life. What Im trying to do is connect the Revolutionary War and those who came here as pioneers with hope for a better way of life, Thurmond said. Try to connect the hope and the faith to the fight for freedom from a country that was oppressing them. Ill try to connect those three things together. Justin Epley can be reached at jepley@morganton.com or 828-432-8943. A new study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine shows, once again, that immigration and immigrants are good for America. But don't expect hallelujahs from the restrictionist crowd or indeed even fair reporting. The Washington Times greeted the report with the highly misleading headline "Mass immigration costs government $296 billion a year, depresses wages," while Breitbart News screamed, "National Academies' Study Shows $500 Billion Immigration Tax on Working Americans." Both are so misleading as to constitute a disinformation propaganda campaign. No wonder so many on the right have abandoned Ronald Reagan's welcoming approach to "anyone with the will and the heart to get here." The study, which was conducted by an eminent group of economists including Harvard's George Borjas, who is a critic of low-skilled immigration shows both short- and long-term benefits from immigration for our economy and most workers. It also shows short-term costs to state and local governments mostly in the form of educating immigrants' children which are more than recouped when those children reach working age. Confusing? A bit, so let me break it down. The 40 million immigrants in this country fall mostly into two categories: high-skilled, highly educated adults and low-skilled, less educated adults and children, some of whom, about 11 million, are here illegally. The former group, according to the study, may improve wages for some groups of native-born workers, whereas the latter has some negative impact on the wages of two groups: prior immigrants and the native-born who have less than a high-school education. These effects, though real, are small and pertain to relatively few American-born workers. But what about the costs to taxpayers these immigrants incur? Contrary to popular belief in some circles, immigrants are taxpayers, too even most who are here illegally. All immigrants pay both sales and real estate taxes, either directly or through their landlords. These taxes help fund schools and state and local governments. Those who work also pay federal income and Social Security taxes. Some immigrants here illegally are paying into false Social Security accounts, but that hurts them, not other taxpayers or the government. Overall, immigrants contribute slightly more to the federal government than they receive in benefits, but immigrants can be a burden on some states, at least temporarily. The reason? Immigrants, especially those from Latin America, are likelier to have school-age children living in their home than the native-born population, primarily because they are younger. The median age of native-born Americans is roughly 40, while the median age of Hispanic immigrants is much lower, 26 for the largest group, Mexicans, with only Cubans approaching the national median. Educating children is expensive, but most Americans regard education as an investment, not a burden. In order to come up with the hysterical "cost of immigration," Breitbart News and the rest of the anti-immigrant right treat educating the children of immigrants as if it were a form of welfare. But the academies' study makes clear that this simplistic approach discounts that immigrants' children the majority of whom are American-born and therefore citizens grow up and pay back their "costs" in the form of taxes they pay as adult workers. When tax contributions from second- and third-generation individuals are taken into account, the costs of education show a small benefit in real dollars with some states benefiting more than others, depending on what they spend on education and the health of the state economy overall. One other point that restrictionists miss is that our aging population is the biggest drain on government. Seniors like to think they've already paid for the checks and the health care they receive from Social Security and Medicare, but for most people, it's not true. Current workers are paying for these benefits, because most people 65 or older will receive more in benefits over their lifetime than they paid in during their working years. Without younger immigrants paying into the system now, Social Security and Medicare would eventually collapse or prove so onerous on workers that the programs would depress the overall economy. The actuaries at the Social Security Administration predict that increasing immigration by nearly 50 percent a year would boost Social Security's long-term health significantly, contributing about a half-trillion dollars in increased contributions, thus narrowing the 75-year Social Security funding gap from 1.92 percent of total payroll to 1.67 percent. The academies' study is long and technical, but its general message is clear. "Immigration has an overall positive impact on long-run economic growth in the U.S.," as the press release states it. Too bad this message isn't getting through to everyone. Linda Chavez is the author of "An Unlikely Conservative: The Transformation of an Ex-Liberal." To find out more about Linda Chavez, www.creators.com. At least 153 people have been killed and 133 others injured in a deadly stampede in Seoul's Itaewon district as huge crowds of partygoers, many in their 20s, converged in the enter... WASHINGTON (AP) Ted Cruz announced Friday he will vote for Donald Trump, a dramatic about-face that may help unite a deeply divided Republican Party months after the fiery Texas conservative called Trump a "pathological liar" and "utterly amoral." Cruz said he was simply following through on a promise to support his party's presidential nominee, even though the New York billionaire had nicknamed him "Lyin' Ted," insulted his wife and linked his father to the John F. Kennedy assassination. But facing intensifying political pressure to back Trump, Cruz said he would cast a vote for Trump, while stopping short of an official endorsement in a statement posted Friday on Facebook. The distinction may matter little to voters, but helps Cruz save face among those supporters still unwilling to forgive Trump's heated attacks during their ugly and often intensely personal primary campaign. Cruz was booed by Trump supporters at the national convention for encouraging Republicans to "vote your conscience." "After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump," Cruz wrote Friday. Trump accepted Cruz's support, describing it as an "endorsement" in a statement. That's even after Trump claimed he didn't want Cruz's endorsement immediately after the convention chaos. "I am greatly honored by the endorsement of Senator Cruz," Trump said Friday. "We have fought the battle and he was a tough and brilliant opponent. I look forward to working with him for many years to come in order to make America great again." The development comes as a critical time in the 2016 presidential contest The first debate is on Monday and Election Day is less than seven weeks away. Early voting has already begun in some states. Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton remain locked in a tight race as both struggle to unite their party's behind them. Trump, in particular, has been branded as a phony by hard-line conservatives, Cruz among them, who see him more as a political opportunist than a true Republican. "This man is a pathological liar. He doesn't know the difference between truth and lies. He lies practically every word that comes out of his mouth," Cruz said of Trump in May, hours before ending his campaign. "Donald will betray his supporters on every issue," the Texas senator added, while calling Trump "utterly amoral," ''a narcissist," ''a bully," and "a serial philanderer," among other things. Clinton addressed the shift on social media by posting a tweet from Cruz himself calling on Trump to release his tax returns. The Texas senator released nine years of his returns, while Trump has refused to release any. Her running mate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine took a dig at Cruz for expressing support despite the personal insults Trump rained down on him during the primaries. "If somebody said that about my dad, they would never have me as a supporter for anything," Kaine said as he campaigned in Texas. Cruz finished second to Trump in the primary and balked at previous promises to endorse the eventual nominee. On Friday, he cited two reasons for his shift. "First, last year, I promised to support the Republican nominee. And I intend to keep my word," he wrote. "Second, even though I have had areas of significant disagreement with our nominee, by any measure Hillary Clinton is wholly unacceptable that's why I have always been #NeverHillary." Cruz also faced intensifying political pressure from all quarters. Since the convention speech, polls have suggested that Cruz's popularity was slipping nationally and in Texas where he could face a primary challenger for re-election in 2018. His base supported his refusal to back Trump at first, but the mood shifted recently. The vast majority of calls coming into Cruz's office had turned increasingly negative in recent weeks with many voters urging him to support Trump to prevent a Clinton victory, according to Republicans familiar with the situation. The Republicans spoke on the condition of anonymity because these were internal discussions. At the same time, the large staff that worked on Cruz's presidential bid pushed him not to endorse. Most refused to accept jobs with the Trump campaign when offered following Cruz's departure from the primary campaign this spring. And as recently as this week, some warned they would not work for Cruz again if he officially endorsed Trump. Cruz's decision also comes as he weighs the prospect of a 2020 presidential bid, where Trump's donors could play an important role. None are more important than the Mercer family, which backed a pro-Cruz political group this spring before becoming major Trump backers. Trump's naming of Cruz ally, Utah Sen. Mike Lee, in his updated list of potential Supreme Court picks announced Friday helped ease tensions between the two camps. Trump also backed Cruz's position in a congressional squabble over internet regulation. Yet bad blood remains. The decision to announce his intention to vote for Trump, rather than endorse him outright, was seen as a compromise even if voters see little distinction between the two. Other Republican leaders in difficult political situations, notably New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, have taken similar positions. "Hillary Clinton is manifestly unfit to be president, and her policies would harm millions of Americans," Cruz wrote Friday. "And Donald Trump is the only thing standing in her way." Poverty should not be barrier to ... Some of the first 911 calls released from inside and outside of Pulse nightclub give a glimpse of what it was like for survivors and family members who turned to officers during the ordeal. Pulse 911 callers reached out to dispatchers for help, comfort In one 911 call, dispatcher seems to be in disbelief 'It still feels like a nightmare,' brother of Pulse victim says RELATED: Transcripts released of police negotiations with Pulse gunman Full coverage of the massacre at Pulse nightclub It might sound weird, but I still message him," said Wigberto Cintron, the older brother of Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, one of the 49 people killed in the mass shooting at the gay nightclub just south of downtown Orlando. "I still message him. It's just in my daily basis." Cintron said he was supposed to be there that night. "It still feels like a nightmare. I still wait for him at home. Cintron instantly knew something was wrong when his 20-year-old brother didnt pick up the phone that night. So he called 911. 'Well, Im sorry we dont have any information,' " Cintron said he was told, mimicking hanging up the phone. "What else you need to tell me? The calls to 911, Orlando Fire and police dispatch calls reveal a gauntlet of emotions. Others in the nightclub that night tried to speak quietly to 911 dispatchers as they bravely called for help. Hes still inside, the unidentified caller said to the 911 dispatcher. "Whos still inside?" the dispatcher replied. The shooter. "The shooters inside. What address?" the dispatcher asked. Pulse Orlando. "Stay where you are, if you feel safe," the dispatcher told the caller. No, hes going to kill us. "OK. You havent seen him, none of you are injured?" the dispatcher asked. No. In another 911 call, a dispatcher seems to be in disbelief at what they're being told. Hello, (phone rings), uhhh, this is very unnerving. (phone rings), the dispatcher says. Scared and feeling helpless, Cintron said he had nowhere else to turn in the early morning hours of June 12 after receiving a frantic call from a concerned friend. I needed answers, he said. So, Im just supposed to sit here and what? It's the only number that Im supposed to call for emergencies. Cintron said not only did his lose his brother, but he also lost his best friend. It still feels unreal to me. I feel like hes on vacation, Cintron said. The City of Orlando is in the process of releasing additional 911 calls. In an emailed statement, public information officer Michelle Guido said: "We understand that some of the people who called 911 in the early hours of the Pulse tragedy were worried and anxious about the safety of their loved ones. Our emergency dispatchers were working while hundreds of calls were coming in about a very fluid active shooter scene. While the scene was still active, they could not give much information to the public, because our officers and other first responders were working to isolate and stop the gunman who ultimately murdered 49 people. Giving out too much information could have hindered the job law enforcement was out there to do. And due to the chaos of the scene, they may not have had information to provide each individual caller. The families' frustration is understandable; but we remain very proud of the way our dispatchers acted in a tragic scenario the likes of which we've never seen in Central Florida." 'I still message him,' says Wigberto Cintron, the older brother of Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, one of the 49 people killed in the Pulse nightclub massacre in June. (News 13) One person was hospitalized Saturday afternoon after an SUV struck an overhead sign, knocking it down on World Drive at Walt Disney World. SUV left roadway, struck overhead sign at Disney, troopers say 1 person taken to Celebration Hospital Overhead sign blocked SB World Drive A Dodge Durango left the roadway, then struck a guardrail and a support pole for the overhead sign near Epcot Center Drive, according to Sgt. Kim Montes of the Florida Highway Patrol. The sign blocked the southbound lanes of World Drive. The driver, identified as 20-year-old Joemar Torregrosa Matos, was taken to Celebration Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Montes said. He was ticketed for careless driving, according to the FHP report. FHP troopers, deputies from the Orange County Sheriff's Office and Reedy Creek Fire Department personnel responded to the crash. The WDW News Today blog WDWNT.com posted a picture Saturday afternoon of a road sign that had been knocked down on World Drive. BREAKING: Road Sign Falls Onto World Drive After Being Struck By SUVhttps://t.co/pBowkvIl0u pic.twitter.com/RMrgmrRPxY WDW News Today (@WDWNT) September 24, 2016 Traffic is backed up on southbound World Drive on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 24, 2016, where a SUV crashed into a support beam for an overhead sign at Disney World, knocking it down. (Dannette Benet, viewer) School districts in Central Florida are facing a teacher shortage, which is why Orange County Public Schools is holding a job fair today at Edgewater High School. OCPS facing a shortage of about 90 teachers Job fair held today at Edgewater High 400 people already registered for event The job fair takes place between 8 and 11 a.m. In Orange County, there are more than 14,000 teachers working for the district. But a month after the start of classes, the district is still short almost 90 teachers. School officials attribute the shortage to a few reasons. "We had over 300 teachers that retired last year, we opened three schools this year and also, we serviced over 200,000 kids," said Bridget Williams, the chief of staff for Orange Public Schools. "This is a great place to work, a great place to be." Williams said more than 400 people have registered for the event, but anyone can show up. Anyone interested in attending the job fair should bring a resume and be able to provide a teaching certificate or statement of eligibility. For more information, click here. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A growing number of Plainview residents want one of the areas newest residents, Stephanie Rene Lopez, to know that shes not welcome. Lopez was living in Las Cruces, New Mexico, when convicted in the 2002 death of her 5 month old daughter, Brianna Lopez. In 2003, she was found guilty of negligent child abuse resulting in death and child abuse and sentenced to spend the next 27 years in prison. She was released Wednesday from a prison in Grants, New Mexico, after serving about 13 years. The next day, she reported to her parole officer in Plainview, after being paroled her through the interstate compact that includes all 50 states and the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. Were just in shock that New Mexico would send her here, said Virginia Castro. This is a very close, tight community, and shes not welcome. Castro joined with a group of more than a dozen residents Friday who voiced their opposition to having Lopez in Plainview to a news team from KCBD-TV in Lubbock. They first heard that Lopez was coming to Plainview through Facebook and Instagram, and quickly began organizing. Its just crazy, Castro said. She needs to go. She needs to leave, that monster. We want her to know that we know shes here, and we dont like it. Casie Augustine, a mother of four between ages of 8 and 4, said the groups aim is not to promote violence against Lopez. Rather, its to serve as a voice for Baby Brianna. We wont let this baby be forgotten. Whether 10 or 100, Plainview has become her family and we are looking out for her. We are now Briannas mothers and fathers, her brothers and sisters, her grandmothers and grandfathers, and aunts and uncles. Augustine has organized a Balloons for Brianna vigil at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, at Kidsville Park. They plan to release pink and white helium-filled balloons and hold a candlelight vigil and walk for the child. Jason Clark, spokesman for the Texas Department of Corrections in Huntsville, confirmed Friday that Lopez reported to her parole officer in Plainview about noon Thursday and will be staying at a private residence in the Plainview area, possibly with family members. According to the Plainview Police Department, Stephanie Lopez will not be residing inside the Plainview city limits, but elsewhere in the region while reporting to the parole office here. Clark said Lopez will be under close supervision and be required to wear a GPS device around her ankle. She is forbidden to have contact with co-defendants and other felons, and must pay fees associated with her parole. She will be subject to random homes visits and drug testing, and must either find employment or seek educational opportunities. According to published accounts, Brianna Lopez - Baby Brianna - was born Feb. 14, 2002, and died just over five months later as a result of horrific abuse inflicted by her father, Andy Walters, and uncle, Steven Lopez. Those injuries included two skull fractures, broken ribs, broken legs, a broken arm, 15 human bite marks and numerous bruises all across her body. She also was sexually abused. Steven Lopez and Andy Walters were convicted in 2003 on several felony charges, including intentional child abuse resulting in death and first-degree criminal sexual penetration. Both remain behind bars after drawing sentences of more than 50 years. According to trial testimony, Stephanie Lopez was aware of the ongoing abuse but did nothing to intervene. She delayed calling for an ambulance for several hours following the final episode of abuse that took Baby Briannas life. New Mexicos Secretary of Corrections Gregg Marcantel, in a statement issued following Stephanie Lopez release, noted, The case sent shock waves through the community. Baby Brianna was horrifically tortured, raped and murdered, and we all want the monsters who took part in this brutal crime to face justice. Unfortunately, the law at the time allowed these violent offenders to have a much lighter sentence than what they deserved. As a result of the death of Brianna Lopez, the state of New Mexico in 2005 adopted the Baby Brianna Bill, which carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 30 years for intentional child abuse, up from a maximum sentence of 18 years when Brianna died. New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez was the Dona Ana County district attorney who prosecuted the Baby Brianna case. Since taking office, she has proposed reinstated the death penalty to include those charged with intentional child abuse resulting in death. The Plainview/Hale County Crimestoppers Committee will pay a reward of up to $350 to anyone with information that will lead to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons responsible for the following crimes: --On Sept. 20 someone damaged the ice vending machine at 509 W. 24th and took an undisclosed amount of money. During the first week of early voting in the Plainview ISD tax ratification election, a total of 360 ballots were cast. Through mid-afternoon Friday, 181 ballots were cast at the PISD Administration Building, 912 Portland St. Another 179 mail-in ballots have been received through Friday. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Breaking her public silence on the harassment endured by a female firefighter at a station near San Franciscos Chinatown, the citys fire chief strongly denounced the deplorable behavior of the womans male colleagues Friday and left open the possibility of further disciplinary action. The harassment which included urination in the female firefighters bed occurred at Powell Streets Station 2, according to a confidential document obtained by The Chronicle. Thats something, obviously, that we dont tolerate, said Chief Joanne Hayes-White, after an event at Fishermans Wharf to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the San Francisco Fire Department. She said the ordeal the male firefighters put their female co-worker through in an attempt to drive her out of the firehouse was a disappointment. The male firefighters involved in the string of incidents that started in November 2015 and continued until February 2016, according to the report, routinely discriminated against their female co-worker because she is a woman. According to the document, they pumped her lotion out in the womens bathroom at the firehouse, where the harassment victim also found feces on the floor. Her male colleagues also hid her firefighting gear and referred to her as a bitch on multiple occasions, the report said. Referring to her decision to reassign the entire Station 2 command staff to other firehouses in the city, Hayes-White said, We made some moves, and we will be making some more moves. Hayes-White said an internal investigation is ongoing into what she called egregious behavior of the male firefighters in a separate confidential letter also obtained by The Chronicle. On Friday, she described the disciplinary process as unfolding and evolving and said any firefighter found culpable could face additional consequences, including suspension or termination. Hayes-White, who joined the San Francisco Fire Department in 1990 at the age of 26, said she wouldnt be telling the truth if she claimed she didnt experience any harassment from male firefighters back then. When she donned her uniform almost three decades ago, there were just 10 female firefighters in the department, the chief said. There are about 250 women in the department now, a sure sign of progress, she said. Michael Bodley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michael_bodley An Oakland police officer pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of engaging in prostitution and obstruction of justice, becoming the first of seven current and former Bay Area law enforcement members to appear in court in connection with a sexual misconduct scandal involving a teenager. Officer Brian Bunton, who marked his two-year anniversary with the Oakland Police Department on Thursday, was ordered to surrender to the Santa Rita Jail by Monday or post $12,500 bail, which his attorney said he probably would do. The Alameda County district attorneys office plans to prosecute Bunton and six other East Bay officers for allegedly improper contact they had with the 19-year-old woman at the center of the sexual misconduct investigation. The charges against Bunton stem from texting conversations he had with the young woman who previously went by Celeste Guap, but now wants to be called by her first name, Jasmine. Jasmine has said she had sex with 29 law enforcement officers in the Bay Area in the last two years. Some of the interactions allegedly happened when she was 17, too young to legally give consent. She said some of the officers paid her, while others tipped her off about prostitution stings as Bunton is accused of doing or ran the names of people she knew through law enforcement databases. She always just wanted it to go away, Jasmines attorney, Pamela Price, said Friday after attending Buntons arraignment. Jasmine now is in the process of recovery and redemption. Bunton, 40, told Jasmine on March 5 to stay away from a specific area as police conducted an undercover operation targeting prostitution-related crimes, authorities say. Jasmine had sex with him in exchange for the information, prosecutors allege. Two days later, he texted her to ask if she had made all her money, then told her she needed a better manager when she said she hadnt, authorities said. Jasmine who saved Buntons contact information on her phone under the title Superman provided screen shots of their text conversations to prosecutors. Bunton, who is married and has children, did not speak with reporters Friday in the Hayward Hall of Justice. His defense attorney, Dirk Manoukian, called Bunton a family man, and said he was cooperating with investigators. He took responsibility and expressed remorse for his actions, Manoukian said. There has already been consequences here, Manoukian said outside court. Absolutely he understands there will be consequences. Also Friday, Richmond began the process of firing one police officer and disciplining eight others after an internal affairs investigation implicated them in the scandal. Richmond officials will seek to demote one officer, suspend one for 80 hours, suspend another for 120 hours and reprimand five others. All the officers are currently employed by the department and on full duty, except the officer facing dismissal, said City Manager Bill Lindsay. That officer is on administrative leave, said Lindsay, who declined to release his name. In addition to the nine officers facing discipline, two others were found to have broken policies, but they have since left the department, Lindsay said. Specific details on the misconduct of the officers were not released. Richmond Police Chief Allwyn Brown said earlier this month that none of the officers investigated in his department had committed any crimes. Richmond Mayor Tom Butt said he was both disappointed and outraged by the behavior of the officers involved in the scandal. Price, the civil rights attorney representing Jasmine, blamed Richmond police for sending the teenager to a drug rehabilitation clinic in Florida last month in the midst of multiple criminal and internal affairs investigations. She was arrested at the facility when she tried to leave and got into a fight with an employee. On Friday, Price said she was stunned that Buntons bail had been set at $12,500, while Jasmine had been held on $300,000 bail in Florida. She eventually pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery. Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate San Francisco school board member Sandra Lee Fewer, who is running for city supervisor, individually solicited campaign contributions from school district administrators and teachers. Fewer, one of 10 candidates on the ballot in District One (Richmond District), acknowledged this week she asked at least two school district employees to attend an April fundraising dinner, but said she couldnt recall if there were others. Two other school workers, including interim Superintendent Myong Leigh, told The Chronicle that Fewer asked them to participate in the event, which required a minimum $100 donation. Leigh donated $200 to Fewers campaign that day, after previously giving $100. All told, school district employees donated nearly $4,000 to Fewers campaign at the April dinner. Fewer said in phone and email interviews that she doesnt believe she did anything wrong. She noted that school district workers routinely donate to local candidates. Our campaign has practiced due diligence in following campaign finance laws and will continue to abide by the laws set by the San Francisco Ethics Commission, she said in an email Friday. Fewer, though, did not address her personal solicitation of contributions. City law prohibits city officers or employees from directly seeking donations from other city workers. Fewer, however, cited an opinion from the Ethics Commissions enforcement division that school district officers were not covered by that law. A city worker or supervisor cannot call or text someone, or walk into their office, and invite them to a campaign fundraising event, said Peter Keane, a member of the Ethics Commission. The law is designed to discourage putting pressure on someone who is an employee of the city to give money to a political candidate or a political race because of their particular positions, Keane said. The letter cited by Fewer, written by enforcement deputy director Jessica Blome, said the law does not apply to school district officers because they are not directly under the city and county government. Keane, however, said he believed the law did apply to the school district. In Leighs case, Fewer sought his contribution within a month of voting on his contract as deputy superintendent. The school board later appointed Leigh as superintendent in August after the departure of Richard Carranza. Leigh said he has supported Fewer in the past, and did not feel pressured to donate. However, one district employee who recalled being contacted by Fewer described feeling pressured to attend the fundraiser because the request came from a board member with oversight of budgets, contracts, policies and programs. The person declined to be identified out of concern for potential repercussions. Fewer said she attended ethics training for candidates in the city in February, and was aware vaguely of the rules meant to prevent the inappropriate use of authority. Fewer said the two district workers she recalled asking to donate to her campaign were people she knows well. I might have asked friends Ive known for a very long time, she said. I think that what happened is they asked, How can I help you? And I called and said, Would you like to come for a dinner? More than 20 school district central office administrators, principals and teachers attended Fewers April 21 dinner. Most donated $100, and a few donated more. While at least four employees heard about the event from Fewer directly, a few others said they heard about it from a friend or third party. Still others said they couldnt remember how they found out about it. Fewer said she also sent an invitation for the event to 10,000 people through a mass email. All told, she said, 100 people attended the fundraiser. The majority of district workers who donated to her campaign on the day of the event did not respond to emails asking if Fewer had personally invited them. School board President Matt Haney, who is running for re-election, said he has never solicited donations from district employees. While some workers have received his campaign letters sent in mass email blasts, he said he routinely deletes district email addresses that might be part of wider contact lists. Thats not what SFUSD employees should be receiving in their in-box, he said. Board members Rachel Norton and Jill Wynns, who are running for re-election, said they dont ask district employees for campaign donations. We do vote on their contracts, and we need to avoid the reality or the suggestion of a conflict of interest when it comes to political fundraising, Norton said. Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker Is there another living American director with a greater run of movies than Oliver Stone? The dozen films he directed over a span of 13 years, from 1986-1999, form a body of work unparalleled in contemporary cinema. They came one after the other artful provocations, sometimes clouded in disreputable airs, that delved into recent history and modern-day affairs with a defiant ferocity and style: Salvador, Platoon, Wall Street, Talk Radio, Born on the Fourth of July, The Doors, JFK, Heaven & Earth, Natural Born Killers, Nixon, U-Turn and Any Given Sunday. That stretch of movies brought Stone Oscar glory and Hollywood clout. It also influenced a generation of film buffs and critics, including Matt Zoller Seitz, who describes the streak in the preface to his book The Oliver Stone Experience this way: Its hard to describe to somebody who wasnt alive at the time (and old enough to see R-rated movies Oliver never made films for kids) how thrilling it was to watch him gain confidence and skill and break fresh ground with each project. His movies were brash, confrontational, sometimes assaultive, often tawdry or nasty, greedily sensual, anti-bourgeois, and fueled by the urgent energy of an artist who wanted to make big statements on subjects that the mainstream preferred to avoid. This might sound like Stone, who just turned 70, has retired, although of course he hasnt. His more recent films (Savages, Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps, W.) havent had the impact his earlier work did, but his artistic fire remains. His new movie Snowden, which just opened, stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Edward Snowden, the NSA whistle-blower who revealed the extent of the invasion of privacy the U.S. government had resorted to post-9/11 to combat home-grown terrorism. The film, which reportedly cost $50 million, was made with the participation of the real-life Snowden, who currently lives in Russia and makes a cameo in the movie. The large cast Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo, Rhys Ifans, Tom Wilkinson, Timothy Olyphant, Nicolas Cage could earn the attention of Oscar voters (the distributor is Open Road Films, which released last years Best Picture winner, Spotlight.) More Information The Oliver Stone Experience By Matt Zoller Seitz Abrams, $50 See More Collapse Snowden is discussed in the last chapter of The Oliver Stone Experience: Seitz links the film to the theme of The Beast, or the military-industrial complex, that recurs throughout Stones work. But most of the 480 pages of this massive, six-pound volume, which you dont so much read as you spend time with, are devoted to Stones life and career. The bulk of the book is Q-and-A conversations between Seitz and Stone, drawn from more than 100 hours of interviews conducted from 2011-2015, that cover everything from Stones childhood to his tour of duty in Vietnam; his film school education at NYU (Martin Scorsese was one of his professors) to his early work as a screenwriter (including Scarface, Year of the Dragon and Midnight Express, for which he won his first Oscar); his smaller, lesser-known projects, such as his ambitious 10-part documentary The Untold Story of the United States, which Stone calls his best work, or his controversial interviews with Fidel Castro; and an endless number of irresistible anecdotes, such as the directors combative relationship with producer Dino De Laurentiis, his original vision for Conan the Barbarian (a 12-film series) and his opinion of Stanley Kubricks Full Metal Jacket (Stone didnt like it the first time around but grew to love it). Seitz, who is best known as the TV critic for New York magazine, is also a veteran movie critic who was a 1994 Pulitzer finalist for his reviews for the Dallas Observer, wrote trenchant criticism for the now-defunct New York Press and is the editor-in-chief of RogerEbert.com. He has written two books about the films of Wes Anderson, elegantly illustrated in the style of Andersons movies. But The Oliver Stone Experience is his biggest, most ambitious project to date. The book is a combination of film criticism (For all its gore and cruelty . (U-Turn) is ultimately a comedy about the universes indifference to our wants), biography (Stone talks frankly about his parents divorce and losing his virginity to a prostitute his father hired for him), world history (extensive endnotes, compiled by Seitz and Keith Uhlich, annotate everything from Greek mythology to the Black Panther party) and coffee-table photography (the book is lavishly illustrated with photos, script pages, artwork, film frames and Stones personal memorabilia). The attention to detail is scrupulous: Short footnotes throughout double as a concise encyclopedia of popular culture (on Josh Brolin: Ruggedly handsome leading man who is starting to feel like the next-generation Nick Nolte as he ages). Stone can be a prickly interview subject, but hes also an uncommonly eloquent and informed artist who doesnt back down from his opinions. He spars with Stone about his portrayal of women in his early pictures, dives deep into the directors editing techniques and use of film grammar and explores the autobiographical strands in his movies. But what shines through brightest in The Oliver Stone Experience is Seitzs profound admiration and respect for Stones work and, by extension, the man. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Empire State Development will assume the upstate economic revitalization duties of SUNY Polytechnic founder Alain Kaloyeros, who was suspended after federal and state criminal charges were lodged against him this week. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the shift to the state's economic development arm at an event in Buffalo on Friday. The action came a day after Manhattan-based U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara unsealed charges in what he said was a sweeping corruption plot that featured allegations of bid-rigging from Syracuse to Buffalo by Kaloyeros and others, including a former top aide to Cuomo. Separate state charges were also unveiled on Thursday by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman accusing Kaloyeros of bid-rigging in conjunction with Albany developer Joseph Nicolla of Columbia Development Corp. Kaloyeros was suspended without pay by SUNY Thursday without pay. Cuomo said on Friday efforts to revitalize Buffalo and other upstate locales which had been run by Kaloyeros through two nonprofits that were arms of SUNY Poly would now by run Empire State Development president and CEO Howard Zemsky, a prominent Buffalo developer who serves the state for an annual salary of $1. "Howard's first mission is to learn from what happened and see how we can improve the system to make sure it never happens again," Cuomo said. Empire State Development has greater transparency requirements compared to the two taxpayer-backed nonprofits formerly run by Kaloyeros, Fuller Road and Fort Schuyler Management Corps. ESD has a staff of over 450 people located in 12 offices across New York, according to its website. Cuomo said a taxpayer-funded report on the state's procurement policies, written by outside investigator Bart Schwartz, is done and recommendations would be adopted. Schwartz, a former federal prosecutor, was retained by Cuomo in April at the same time a wide-ranging subpoena from Bharara was served to the administration. Neither a Schwartz spokesman nor a Cuomo spokesman provided a copy of the report upon requests on Friday. Seven others were charged by Bharara, while lobbyist and longtime Cuomo insider Todd Howe pleaded guilty earlier this week to a number of federal charges. Cuomo said his signature Buffalo Billion initiative would go forward in the wake of scandal, but he assigned Zemsky to come with a second phase of the plan over the next three months, which Cuomo will introduce in January's State of the State address. "It has nothing to do with those nine people," Cuomo told the supportive Buffalo audience. "It is much bigger, it is much more important. ... We are not going backward, my friends, we are going forward." Cuomo also addressed the allegations against Joe Percoco, a former top aide and confidant, who was at the center of the federal corruption charges, and whom the governor once described as "my father's third son." Gov. Mario Cuomo died in 2015. "It's the first time since I lost my father that I didn't mind him not being here yesterday because it would have broken his heart," Andrew Cuomo said. Zemsky spoke after Cuomo and joked about his wide-ranging new responsibilities. "Governor, I want to thank you for the vote of confidence," he said. "And I wasn't that busy, so thank you for extra work." After the event, Cuomo spoke to reporters for about 20 minutes and said he had no knowledge of the sprawling schemes laid out by Bharara. "No, I had no idea about anything that was contained in that complaint," Cuomo said. "These were secondary and tertiary-level situations. I was not aware of who some of these people were representing and who were their business consultants. ... The situations that were laid out in the complaint were breathtaking to me when I read them." When asked if he had anything for which to apologize, Cuomo said that the fault rests with "systemic" issues in the procurement process used by SUNY Poly and Kaloyeros. He noted that Kaloyeros had achieved major results revitalizing Albany's economy working for a handful of previous governors over many years to build a nanotech empire. "I think the procurement process was run through the state university system, a process that was not designed, by the way, by my administration, but had been in place for previous administrations," he said "Now, we find that there were flaws in the process." cbragg@timesunion.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Nassau A drunken driver whose car left the street in the village of Nassau Friday evening caused a trail of destruction before slamming into a church, police said. Nassau Officer Tom Jones said Brian Snow, 27, of East Greenbush, was speeding and intoxicated when the crash happened about 5:20 p.m. After the car left the road, it struck a mailbox, sideswiped a tree, demolished the concrete steps of a house and blazed through the parking lot of St. Mary's Church on Church Street before ramming the vestibule of the church, where it came to a stop, Jones said. After all that, Snow walked away with only superficial injuries, he said. The passenger, meanwhile, was taken to the hospital for injuries to his ankle. Snow was arrested and charged with aggravated DWI, police said. His blood alcohol content was 0.22 percent nearly three times the legal limit. More charges may be pending, Jones said. It's unclear how much damage the crash caused to the church, or if it can open for Saturday or Sunday Mass. Church officials were not immediately available for comment. Jones characterized the damage as "a lot," and said the front of the church was was being boarded up Friday night. bbump@timesunion.com 518-454-5387 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD City residents have denounced nearly everything about the state Department of Transportations plan to replace the dilapidated train station garage. The DOT struck a deal with a private developer and, because of that, the plan has remained mostly secret. The criticism is the DOT is focused on earning revenue from the project, which would create a $500 million office, housing, retail and hotel complex beside the train station and move commuter parking a quarter-mile away. Now there are serious questions about the DOTs chosen team, a partnership called Stamford Manhattan Development Ventures (SMDV) whose members included JHM Group, ECCO III Enterprises, Gilbane Development Co. and Ciminelli Real Estate Corp. Another Ciminelli company, L.P. Ciminelli Construction, was to build the complex. Now two of the five partners are out, and questions surround the status of the train station project. But Molly Stolmeier, general counsel for Gilbane Development, said Thursday in an email the company has not been involved in the Stamford project since 2013. Stolmeier shared the information because federal authorities announced that day another SMDV partner is among nine people indicted in a sweeping corruption investigation in New York . Louis Ciminelli, of Buffalo, N.Y., head of Ciminelli Construction, and two of his top executives have been charged in a scheme that included conspiring with New York government officials to rig bids so the company would be awarded lucrative projects, and handing out bribes to political figures who had influence over decisions about how billions of dollars in state money would be spent in a massive economic revitalization effort in upstate New York, authorities said. Louis Ciminellis construction company has been dropped from the Stamford project, DOT spokesman Judd Everhart said. But Ciminelli Real Estate Corp., run by Louis brother, Paul, remains involved. The Connecticut DOT continues to do its due diligence regarding Ciminelli Real Estate to make certain that there are no connections between the two companies, Everhart said in an email. Commuters consideration Work was supposed to begin in 2014. But the DOT is in its third year of trying to finalize a contract with SMDV to redevelop the Stamford station, one of the busiest commuter railroad stops in the nation and the key to the citys economic health. The DOTs goal is for the train station to be a model for transit-oriented development, which aims to get cars off the road by building housing, offices and retail near transportation hubs. Everhart said Friday the DOT is still negotiating with Ciminelli Real Estate, ECCO III, and the principal partner, JHM Group, headed by Darien millionaire John McClutchy. But the loss of two partners is troubling for a project that already has languished for three years, said Joe McGee, vice president of public policy for the Business Council of Fairfield County. The indictment in Buffalo raises serious concerns, said McGee, who was a member of the committee advising the DOT on the project in 2013. The delay in this contract has been quite extensive and not fully explained as it is. Now there is this new question about the partnership. Does McClutchy have the financial werewithall to negotiate the contract? John Hartwell, vice chairman of the Connecticut Commuter Rail Council, said all Stamford train-station users need is a place to park. The commuters want the parking garage to be rebuilt, in place. The DOT wants a transit-oriented development project, which will expand station uses and bring in revenue, Hartwell said. But they havent been able to deliver. And I think its time for them to reconsider. Michael Pollard, chief of staff to Mayor David Martin, said the DOT has largely left the city out of its plans, so commenting on the status of the project would really just be guessing at this point. The state will be responsible for whatever the state ultimately concludes, Pollard said. Barry Michelson, a former member of the Stamford Zoning Board, helped amend the regulations to require city approval for structural changes around the train station. Michelson cited a 1976 state Supreme Court case that found if a government agency uses its property to engage in a business enterprise, it is subject to city zoning regulations. The bidding should have been open, and the concerns of commuters and the overall benefit to the city should have been taken into account, Michelson said. I think the whole thing should be re-bid, because the way the DOT made the award, the secretiveness of the process, leaves a lot of room for speculation. Well-timed contributions Some of the speculation surrounds political contributions. Records show Louis and Paul Ciminelli and their families gave Connecticuts Democratic State Central Committee $42,500, including $20,000 on Oct. 16, 2014 less than two weeks before Gov. Dannel Malloys re-election. McClutchy and his wife and son wrote checks totaling $30,000 to state Democrats 10 days before the DOT announced SMDV was the preferred developer for the train station project. McClutchy wrote another $10,000 check in January 2015, three days before Malloy was sworn in to a second term. McClutchy and other executives involved in the train station project, and their families, contributed at least $165,000 to the state Democratic Partys federal account, a Hearst Connecticut Media review has shown. Jim Cameron, a longtime commuter advocate in Connecticut and founder of the Commuter Action Group, said considering the Ciminelli indictments in New York, he hopes Malloy seriously reconsiders the worthiness of the Stamford train station development team. The whole idea of anyone bidding on a state contract who then makes political donations is just wrong, Cameron said in an email. Whether there is any quid pro quo or pay to play is for the FBI and courts to determine. But on its very appearance, the donations by the partners who won the nod for the Stamford garage project certainly appear suspect. angela.carella@scni.com; 203-964-2296; stamfordadvocate.com/angelacarella. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD Family members who want to stay overnight with Stamford Hospital patients can now do so in relative luxury, in a private adjoining room that could cost hundreds a night. The signature suites are an added amenity offered at Stamford Hospitals new $450 million facility. The hospital will begin treating patients Monday at its new emergency room, the final step in moving many of its services to a state-of-the-art, 650,000-square-foot building at its existing West Side campus. Because we didnt have the space, we couldnt offer the suites before, hospital spokesman Craig Andrews said. The suites, he said, are designed to replace hotel stays for family members. Theyre also an upgrade from the sleeper sofas available in the new buildings 180 private patient rooms and 20 ICU rooms. The suites are for people to stay with their loved ones until theyre better and discharged from the hospital, Andrews said. Stamford is the only Fairfield County hospital to offer this kind of suite. Representatives for Western Connecticut Health Network, which operates Norwalk, Danbury and New Milford hospitals, and Yale-New Haven Health, which operates Greenwich, Bridgeport and Yale-New Haven hospitals, said neither health system offers suites. Hospitals in New York City are better known for featuring high-end amenities like spacious rooms and a concierge. The signature suites will be available in November and feature a bed, desk, refrigerator, ceramic sink with tile backsplash and floor-to-ceiling windows. The hospital has 15 identical suites, each totaling 350 square feet, available to patients receiving surgical, oncological and other medical care. Although final prices have not been set, they will fall within the market rate of $200 to $2,400 a night, Andrews said. Andrews said the cost of a suite will depend on the meal plan a patient and their family chooses they are not limited to standard cafeteria fare and the types of towels and sheets they want during their stay. The whole concept of the way we designed this hospital is having the most restful experience and environment, Andrews said, which in turn helps patients heal faster and get back to their lives more quickly. Although the sheets and towels may be nicer, hospital officials stress that signature suites do not come with extra medical care. This is not about care, this is about amenities, said Liz Longmore, director of clinical operations. Youre not increasing the amount of nursing care that you get or the way the staff interacts with you. Bolton Landing Top members of the state Senate Republican majority and its Democratic minority said Friday that this week's high-profile state and federal prosecutions won't affect the battle for the control of the narrowly divided chamber, though the drumbeat of reform won't die down through Election Day. "The issue of corruption and ethics is going to have a major impact," Democratic Senate Campaign Committee Chair Mike Gianaris, D-Queens, said Friday during a panel discussion with Sen. John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse, at the state Business Council's annual meeting at The Sagamore. "The issue of people getting in trouble for violating the law has been bipartisan at the Capitol. There's no one who hasn't been touched by it." The differences could be found in how candidates propose to address such issues. "There's going to definitely be discussion about reform," said DeFrancisco, who agreed that the corruption charges leveled against Joseph Percoco, a former top aide to the governor, and Alain Kaloyeros, until Thursday the head of SUNY Polytechnic Institute, and many others won't have an effect in November. "The concept that the Democrats are for reform and the Republicans are not you have to define what reform is, whether it makes sense," DeFrancisco said. "I don't think reform is having the public pay for campaigns of individuals. I don't want to pay for Mike's campaign by my tax collars when I don't want him to be the majority leader." (Gianaris is deputy minority leader.) DeFrancisco noted that he has a reform idea that Democrats won't go for: requiring voters to show IDs at the polls. After the panel, the Republican said the laws to ferret out corruption already exist. "It's a question of whether people are going to obey them," DeFrancisco said. "You've got to have people that are ethical. Every time there is a conviction or even an indictment, I would think most people whether you're ethical or not are going to think twice about continuing that activity. I just don't know what other laws can be put on the books that are stronger than the laws that are in effect right now to try to stop bad behavior." Senate Republicans currently maintain a majority of 31 GOP members combined with a rogue Democrat (Brooklyn Sen. Simcha Felder) and five members of the Independent Democratic Conference, with whom they have shared power. Already that math has adjusted slightly with Marisol Alcantara winning a Democratic primary for a Manhattan Senate seat in September and pledging to join the IDC. Thirty-two votes are needed to control the chamber. mhamilton@timesunion.com 518-454-5449 @matt_hamilton10 GREENWICH The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has said more tests need to be performed at Western Middle School fields to determined the range and depth of PCB contamination. Concurrently, a different state agency, the Department of Health, has issued a statement saying it agrees with towns environmental consultants that levels of soil contamination discovered at the school do not represent a serious health risk. Both statements were included in an announcement Greenwich Public Schools released Friday night. The order for additional testing was expected. Lori Saliby, from DEEPs PCB enforcement unit, told Greenwich Time last week that the agency would require more tests. We reviewed the reports about the fields with the federal EPA because it has purview over PCBs and we both agreed there are gaps in the data that the town will have to fill in, she said. Saliby said that Langan Inc., the school systems environmental testing consultant, has not yet clearly defined the contaminated area of the field. More testing should be done until clean samples are found, which will determine the perimeter of the contaminated region, she said. Last month tests by Langan found elevated levels of lead, arsenic, PCBs and semi-volatile organic compounds in different areas of the field. Access to the field remains closed off but the Department of Health said in the statement released Friday everyday use of the school can continue and children are safe. The hazard index for the levels of constituents present in the fields are below risk standards, indicating adverse health effects are unlikely to occur, the department said in the statement. But the department also recommended that excavation and remediation of soil occur in three spots in addition to those identified for remediation by Langan. The school districts announcement said the administration is reviewing the details and timelines in order to secure funding for the recommended remediation work. A plan for the next phase of testing is also being developed based on further conversations with DPH, DEEP and the towns Health Department, according to the announcement. The status of the fields will be discussed on Tuesday at a forum starting at 7 p.m. at Western Middle School. According to the district, representatives from the state Department of Health and Langan will be on hand as will school officials. Written questions from the audience will be taken that night. People can submit questions in advance by emailing the Western PTA at WMSPTA1@gmail.com or the district at greenwich_publicschools@greenwich.k12.ct.us by Monday at 5 p.m. People sending questions should use WMS fields as the subject line. kborsuk@scni.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Syrian government forces and their Russian allies launched a major new offensive on opposition-held areas of Aleppo on Friday, bombarding the city with dozens of airstrikes and threatening to launch a ground invasion. The escalation was the clearest sign yet that efforts to restore a cease-fire that ended this week had failed, and that the Syrian government had returned to trying to stamp out the rebel movement and seize ground through military force. The bombing Thursday night and Friday morning shook the ground and made streets impassible, according to anti-government activists in Aleppo. "There are no more roads to walk on," said Zaher Azzaher, an Aleppo activist reached through WhatsApp. "Even between our neighborhoods, the roads are full of rubble and destruction." The assault Friday on Aleppo left residents buried in the debris, including a child in the al-Marja neighborhood of the city. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which opposes the government and tracks the conflict from Britain, said at least 27 people had been killed in the overnight bombardment of Aleppo. Aid workers in the city said the death toll was higher, and deadly bombings were reported in other parts of northern Syria as well. "You don't know if you might stay alive or not," said Modar Shekho, a nurse at al-Dakkak hospital in opposition-held eastern Aleppo. Ammar al-Salmo, head of Aleppo's Civil Defense Force, a volunteer rescue organization, said that three of his group's centers had been bombed, and that some of their rescue vehicles had been knocked out. "It is as if Russia and the regime used the truce only to maintain their weapons and plan on next targets," Salmo said from Aleppo. "It is like doomsday today in Aleppo." The Syrian government announced the new offensive in its state-controlled news media Friday, quoting an unnamed Syrian military official who described the Aleppo operation as "comprehensive" and said it could continue for some time. The official said the operation would "include a ground offensive." That appeared unlikely, as many analysts have said that the Syrian miliary does not have the manpower to seize and hold significant territory. Its air force, however, is able to pummel rebel-held areas. The intensified assault on Aleppo came after efforts to revive a partial cease-fire in the conflict stalled in New York, where diplomats from the International Syria Support Group had been meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly annual session. Secretary of State John Kerry met informally Friday with his Russian counterpart, Sergey V. Lavrov, and told reporters that their talk had yielded "a little bit of progress." Kerry gave no further detail, and it remains unclear whether Russia is willing to accept his proposal for a flight ban over critical areas in Syria. Speaking at his own news conference, Lavrov said the United States had failed to ensure that moderate Syrian rebels separated themselves from extremist militants of the Qaida-allied Nusra Front. Until that happens, Lavrov said, any other measures would be "senseless." Jean-Marc Aryault, the foreign minister of France, one of the members of the International Syria Support Group, said earlier Friday that he feared the diplomatic paralysis reflected a growing weariness with the daily horrors of the Syrian war. "Will we be inured to this?" he asked. "Let's not let Aleppo become the 21st-century Guernica." Aleppo, Syria's largest city and industrial center before the civil war began in 2011, has been divided for years between government and rebel forces. NORWALK Building 1 of the Norwalk Avalon apartments on Belden Avenue were evacuated just after 6 p.m. Friday when the shingles on the back wall of a balcony caught fire. Firefighters encountered smoke on the second floor, but it took them several minutes to determine which unit it was coming from. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Kevin White joined the U.S. Army in 1980 when he was just 17, and in the two years he served for his country he was forced to grow up fast and stay focused. Even though, I was in the Army during a peaceful time, I still had that fear, White, a resident of San Francisco, said when talking about the possibility of deployment during his military tenure. Fast forward 36 years and White, now 53, said hes been in and out of prison for 20 years, and has battled post traumatic stress disorder and a drug addiction. Through his most recent incarceration for auto burglary, he was introduced to the San Francisco Veterans Justice Court, which helps veterans find housing after theyre released from prison, and gets them treatment for drug addiction and mental illnesses. On Friday, the Veterans Justice Court held its first celebration for formerly incarcerated veterans who graduated from the program. Ive been clean for almost a year now, White told a crowd on hand for the ceremony in the Police Commission Hearing Room at the Hall of Justice on Bryant Street. If you knew me, youd know thats really big. The Veterans Justice Court is part of the San Francisco Superior Court system and works in collaboration with various organizations, including the San Francisco Public Defenders office, the district attorney, Veterans Affairs and the San Francisco Sheriffs Department and the Human Services Agency of San Francisco. The court works with incarcerated veterans to develop a customized treatment plan to assist them with whatever troubles they may be facing once they are released from prison whether its homelessness or substance abuse, said Jenna Ferrara, a veterans justice outreach specialist at Veterans Affairs. The average time for veterans to complete the treatment plan is nine to 18 months. For White, the program not only helped him kick a crack cocaine addiction, it is also assisting him in finding permanent housing. Hes currently living with his mother in San Francisco, but hopes to soon have a place of his own. Incarceration is not the way to deal with most crimes, said Superior Court Judge Jeffrey S. Ross, who oversees the Veterans Justice Court. I believe in working with people so they dont come back to incarceration. Ross said the primary goal of the court is to reduce recidivism, and, in turn, boost public safety. During Fridays celebration, Ross invited veterans who graduated from the program in the last year to share their stories and rewarded them with a certificate and commemorative coin signifying completion of the course. About ten veterans were celebrated and about seven of them shared their stories with mentors from the program, representatives of Veterans Affairs and members of the Board of Supervisors who were sitting in the audience. The Veterans Justice Court was established in 2013 as part of a pilot program at the Community Justice Center in the Tenderloin. The program moved to the Hall of Justice in 2015 as part of an expansion to address the needs of veterans across San Francisco. Of the 84 veterans who have completed the program, only about seven percent have been rearrested. I understand now that I have a choice and Ive been making the right choice and Im going to continue to do that, White said. Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani STAMFORD An alleged loudmouth got locked up after talking smack on a New Haven Line train Friday afternoon, Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials said. The accused discordant commuter reportedly threatened and yelled at a Metro-North Railroad, but did not commit any physical violence, according to an MTA spokesperson. A man in his 50s who was sleeping in his north Houston home early Saturday was shot and killed, possibly by an intruder. Houston police were called to the in the 14800 block of Estrellita around 2 a.m. after the man's son reported returning to a ransacked home and finding his father with fatal gunshot wounds. Two new Zika cases have been confirmed in Bexar County, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District announced Friday. The number of reported cases in Bexar County was 13 at 11 a.m. on Friday, but later in the day the district had identified two more, bringing the total to 15 confirmed cases in San Antonio. All the cases were contracted outside the country, officials said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Ahead of next weeks third public hearing on the possibility of building a toll road in Cibolo, Schertz mayor Michael Carpenter said area officials have begun to talk about addressing the areas transportation issues in a different way. During the Northeast Partnership for Economic Development meeting on Sept. 8, Carpenter said a dialogue has started toward establishing a passage, a regional undertaking from Interstate 35 to Interstate 10 that would serve the entire Metrocom area, reaching into New Braunfels. RELATED: Buc-ee's anointed 'Best Rest Stop in America' by Bon Appetit You have (Interstate) 35, a north-south interstate, and you have I-10, a big east-west routeand the connectivity between the two is limited to downtown San Antonio, coming around Loop 410, and coming around 1604, and there are huge traffic issues, Carpenter said in an interview with the Northeast Herald last week. He said the notion arose at a recent Guadalupe County Regional Mayors Association meeting when New Braunfels Mayor Barron Casteel broached the subject. One consideration would be to create a highway linking I-35 to I-10 somewhere in Guadalupe County as a regional undertaking, he said. My idea would be to work with MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization), work with the Regional Mobility Authority, work with TxDOT, work with Guadalupe County, and maybe with the Legislature, to see if we cant put together a passage, to get that connector built. Carpenter cited three primary benefits of creating a highway - a non-toll road - to link two of the largest highways in Texas: economic development, traffic relief and pending non-compliance with pollution and EPA air quality standards. I think all of those are great reasons for a countywide coalition and as a non-toll road. RELATED: 11 years ago, one of the worst traffic jams in Texas history during hurricane evacuation Carpenter said the idea has been discussed between regional officials, spurred by Cibolos consideration of a toll road to circumvent traffic issues within its own city limits. Ever since Cibolo came up with the idea for a potential toll road, I think that sparked conversations with and for a lot of people, he said. I think people started brainstorming, What else could we do? (Cibolo) Mayor (Allen) Dunn and I were talking and just brainstorming. Carpenter alluded to Schertzs recent passage of a bond to build FM 1518, which includes millions of dollars of backing from the Texas Department of Transportation and the MPO. Maybe, as we go along, there could be a similar pooling of resources, as opposed to anybody trying to go it alone, he said. RELATED: RIP Lone Star Rail If youre traveling I-35, once you get past New Braunfels, it opens up. Once you get past Seguin along I-10, anything that would move traffic that way, would be beneficial, Carpenter said. The city of New Braunfels would benefit greatly from a connector route between I-35 and I-10, he said, adding, (New Braunfels) Mayor Casteel has been talking about finding a way to have connectivity between I-35 and I-10 for quite some time. Casteel could not be reached for comment. Such a route would not only serve residents of the rapidly growing cities of Schertz and Selma, but it could also serve as an outlet to relieve some of the traffic that must use San Antonio arteries to make their route connections. Maybe, if we get just some of the commercial traffic off 410 and off 1604 that would relieve congestion issues in and around San Antonio as well, Carpenter added. jflinn@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A 30-year-old man who allegedly approached an officer with a raised gun was shot dead by a San Antonio police officer after an hour-long standoff on the Southwest Side on Friday, said SAPD Chief William McManus. At about 4:45 p.m., a woman called 911 to report that her sisters boyfriend had threated to shoot her, officials said. The suspect then broke into a random house in the 700 block of Humboldt Street to hide, where he was surrounded by SWAT officers. After the man initially barricaded himself in the house and refused to speak with officers for an hour, he eventually emerged out of the back door of the residence with his gun drawn and approached a nearby officer, who opened fire, McManus said. That officer, a two-year veteran, has been placed on administrative duty as SAPD continues to investigate, added McManus, noting that the officer had no other alternative than to open fire on the suspect. The suspect advanced out of the back door towards the officer, who told him to stop and drop the gun several times, McManus said. (The officer) was then compelled to fire. RELATED: Man killed by Charlotte police, had troubled S.A. history The two women who called police werent the only lives at risk before the standoff, according to police. The suspect confronted and threatened at least three occupants of the house that he broke into on Humboldt. Two of those occupants fled the house, unharmed, before officers arrived on scene, according to police reports. The suspect pulled a gun on the third, who remained behind to call 911, before that occupant also safely fled the premises. SAPD was also able to safely evacuate families from houses surrounding the scene, McManus noted. From everything weve seen and looked at here, the officer didnt have any choice, he said. Unfortunately, officers are required to use deadly force in that situation. Video of the incident was not immediately available because the officer involved in the shooting was not wearing a body camera, according to police. Still, McManus noted that SAPD is in the process of issuing cameras to all its officers in its Southeast Substation, and pointed out that at least one other officer in the area was wearing a camera, which might have video of the encounter, though this footage has yet to be examined. As with any officer-involved shootings in San Antonio, area witnesses were taken downtown to give written accounts of the incident. This information will be reviewed by the district attorneys office, after which officials will make a determination as to whether to allow the officer to return to duty, McManus explained. You hate to see it happen, McManus said of the shooting. Officers dont look for those kind of encounters those encounters find them, and unfortunately in situations like this, the officer is sworn to protect himself or herself, or a third party. Check mysa.com for updates as this story unfolds. Jgerlach@express-news.net @jt_gerlach The Midland County Drug Court program, along with those of area counties, have been awarded a cut of $10 million in statewide grants. The Michigan Supreme Court announced more than $10 million has been awarded to 81 courts statewide to fund the operation of drug and sobriety programs. Instead of incarceration, these problem-solving courts closely supervise offenders who are required to enroll in treatment programs and be drug tested regularly. Extensive follow-up analysis shows that participants in these courts are far less likely to reoffend. If you arent seriously contemplating the biggest black swan event in American electoral history, you arent paying attention. Fifteen months ago, Donald Trump was a reality-TV star with a spotty business record and a weird penchant for proclaiming that he was on the verge of running for president. Now, hes perhaps a few big breaks and a couple of sterling debate performances away from being elected 45th president of the United States. Trump has no experience in elected office and, unlike past nonpoliticians elected president, hasnt won a major war. He barely has a national campaign. He perhaps knows less about public affairs than the average congressman. He has repeatedly advertised his thin-skinned vindictiveness and is trampling on basic political norms. No major political party has ever nominated anyone like this. If Trump were to prevail, it would make Barack Obamas unlikely rise from unknown state senator to first African-American president of the United States in about four years look like a boringly conventional political trajectory. Trump now has a legitimate shot at winning the general election because he got the lucky draw of at least the second-worst presidential nominee in recent memory and, pending how she fares over the next two months, perhaps the worst. All it took for Trump to wipe away most of Hillary Clintons lead was acting like a somewhat normal presidential candidate. Have a meeting with a foreign leader. Give some policy speeches. Read from a teleprompter at rallies. Use his NPR voice when appropriate. None of this required strategic genius, only a decision not to throw away the election with repeated episodes of self-indulgent stupidity. Democrats should be feeling a creeping sense of panic: They are trying to win with a candidate who is loathed and distrusted and has few redeeming qualities. As Yuval Levin, editor of the journal National Affairs, points out, corrupt and dishonest politicians are often entertaining, and dull politicians are usually earnest and honest. Hillary manages to be both boring and corrupt. If she decided to sit out the rest of the campaign and rely on surrogates to hit the trail, she might do no worse and perhaps better. No one can be certain that her health is what the campaign says it is. If Hillary did have a more serious condition than allergies and walking pneumonia, does anyone believe the Clintons would be forthright about it? Even if nothing else ails her, if Clinton has another episode in public like the one on Sept. 11, the bottom might fall out. Obama probably cant close Hillarys enthusiasm gap. For entirely understandable reasons (dull, inauthentic and old), the Obama coalition isnt excited by Clinton. Obama is an adept campaigner, but there is no evidence Obama ever successfully transferred enthusiasm for himself to another candidate. If the kitchen sink hasnt killed off Trump, what else is there? The Clinton campaign has already used his greatest hits of most offensive statements in countless TV ads. If none of this has sunk Trump, whats left that is going to have a new and different shock value? A compelling Trump debate performance could change perceptions of his suitability to be commander in chief. Hillary is trouncing Trump on this attribute by a 2-to-1 margin. If Trump shows up and seems plausible during the biggest moment of the campaign, he could vastly improve his standing on this basic question of readiness. All this said, Hillary probably still has an advantage. Presumably, she wont be as snakebit the rest of the campaign as she has been the past two weeks. She has a campaign and Trump doesnt, and that must count for something. Demographics favor her. But if Trump can hoist himself over the bar of acceptability, he might give the voting public enough permission to make this the change election it is naturally inclined to be. A Trump victory may not be likely, but it isnt far-fetched. And, no, stranger things havent happened. comments.lowry@nationalreview.com In recent years, local, state and federal policymakers have become increasingly concerned about the needs of youth experiencing homelessness or unstable housing. In response, organizations are conducting counts in cities and states across the U.S. to better measure and understand youth homelessness. One of those youth counts recently took place in San Antonio. San Antonio was one of 13 communities that participated in Youth Count Texas!, the first-ever statewide count and survey of homeless youth in Texas. Youth Count Texas! came about through the passage of House Bill 679, authored by Sen. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, during the 84th Texas Legislature, which required the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to coordinate the count and study. The aim of the legislation was to help the state better understand the needs of this vulnerable population and identify opportunities to help them. This fall, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs will release the results of the survey and study. While the final findings of the survey have yet to be released, we at Texas Network of Youth Services, which was contracted to conduct the count and survey, released a process evaluation report that reveals important insights into Texas homeless youth and what can be done to help them. Because Youth Count Texas! was the first survey of its kind in the state and because it was conducted on such a short timeline, many important lessons were learned that should be applied to future surveys to make them even more successful. But perhaps the most important finding was that youth are unique within the broader homeless community, with their own challenges and needs. These factors need to be taken into account when determining how to best support homeless youth. Texans are fortunate to have resources such as the Homeless Housing and Services Program, but as of now, there is no official state funding earmarked specifically for serving unaccompanied youth who find themselves without a roof over their heads. When looking at just how differentiated the needs of homeless youth are, it becomes clear that new strategies and resources must be dedicated to this population if we are to truly reach them and help them succeed. One of the main qualities that distinguishes homeless youth from their adult counterparts is how difficult it can be to identify them. Homeless youth often fly under the radar by staying with friends or relatives, couch surfing and working to avoid being identified as homeless. Homeless adults can often be found in camps or other outdoor locations. They often live in shelters and actively seek help or resources, creating more centralized locations for surveying them. Youth Count Texas! employed unique tactics to survey youth who were not as likely to be found on the street. It hosted events where young people could come to participate in sponsored activities, obtain food and information, and participate in the survey. Another strategy was to engage youth experiencing homelessness in the administration of the survey, getting their support on planning and marketing survey participation via social media, word of mouth and fliers. Another factor that creates both challenges and advantages when seeking to identify and support homeless youth is their relationship with the school system. Fortunately, access to education is protected for youth experiencing homelessness by the federal McKinney-Vento Act, and schools are an important source of support for these students. But because of concerns over safety and privacy on the part of schools, it can be difficult to gain access to students in this setting. That was a challenge. The Texas Network of Youth Services is grateful that the Texas Legislature voted to make Youth Count Texas! a reality, and we look forward to the release of the survey findings later this year. We urge our states leaders to pay close attention to those findings during the upcoming legislative session and press even further to learn more about this unique and vulnerable population, and find ways to support them in overcoming the distinctive challenges they face. Christine Gendron is executive director of the Texas Network of Youth Services. The District of Columbia and 31 states in the U.S. decided to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Texas is among those states that have not. This is a topic that provokes strong opinions for expansion and strong opinions against expansion. I offer two perspectives on why Texas should not expand Medicaid. One reason is the cost to taxpayers, and the other is the proper role of the federal government, states rights and sovereignty under the Constitution. It is concerning when people say, Let the federal government pay for it. Think about a pair of pants with two pockets in the front. The right pocket holds cash for taxes of the state, while the left has cash for the federal government. Regardless if spending is obligated by the state or the federal government, the taxpayers have money confiscated out of their own pockets and transferred to the state or the federal government. The argument that somehow Medicaid expansion will not cost a state taxpayer is 100 percent incorrect. The taxpayer at the state level is likely the same taxpayer at the federal level. Attempting to rationalize a distinction is an intellectually dishonest argument. Medicaid was enacted in 1965. The program offers federal funding to states to assist pregnant women, children, needy families, the blind, the elderly and the disabled in obtaining medical care. States had the option to adopt the shared funded program and, depending how many Medicaid members were disproportionately poor, the federal government offered states more money as an incentive to expand services and eligibility. For many states, the amount of money they have to raise in taxes from residents is enormous and represents 20 to 40 percent of the states budget overall. States not only agree to pay a share of the amount that is paid to Medicaid providers, the state must fund the costs to run the program. In Texas in 2013, tax dollars spent on Medicaid, including supplemental health care payments, was $33 billion. The average number of Texans on Medicaid in a given month is approximately 4 million. The amount Texas spends on all government programs, including local schools, is approximately $239 billion. Education and health care account for more than 51 percent of the states budget, including local spending. Since the ACA mandates that everyone have health insurance, the federal government provided health insurance to citizens who earn too much to be eligible for Medicaid but too little to pay for insurance. Whether the state created its own exchange or relied on the federal exchange, citizens are allowed a subsidy by the federal government if their income is less than 400 percent of the federal poverty limit. A family of four would have to make slightly less than $100,000 to be eligible for a federal subsidy. If Texas were to expand the Medicaid offering, the result would likely be similar to what California experienced. That was a 51 percent increase in Medicaid recipients. Medicaid would not all be funded by the federal government. Texas would be responsible for at least 10 percent of the additional 2 million recipients. Texas taxpayers would have to pay approximately $3.3 billion of the increase at the state level and another $33 billion at the federal level in addition to the existing $33 billion paid at the state level and another $33 billion paid at the federal level. The cost alone is a compelling argument. Yet there is another compelling argument against the federal mandated Medicaid expansion, and that is constitutional. Our forefathers, when designing the Constitution, wanted to make sure the federal government had limited power and only power enumerated to it by the people. Powers not enumerated to the federal government are reserved to the state and the people, according to the 10th Amendment. The ACA passed in 2010 mandated the states expand Medicaid. Many states sued the federal government, suggesting that the mandate was coercive and unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court sided with the states. The law mandated that if a state did not comply with the new coverage requirements, it would lose federal funding for Medicaid. The federal government, over the years, has used funding as a way to inspire states to adopt programs that it cannot provide as a matter of constitutional law. These are attempts to compel states to adopt federal social policies. Allowing Congress to tell the states how to govern would give way to a system that vests power in one central government, and individual freedoms and liberty would essentially vanish. When pressure from Congress turns into compulsion, it is contrary to our system of federalism. Congress essentially suggested in the ACA a take-it or leave-it stance on Medicaid expansion. That coercive action was found to be unconstitutional. In the Federalist Papers, Madison wrote compellingly that government needs to be constrained. Failure to constrain government leads to a tyrannical form of government. Madison said, But what is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. Madison knew that men were not angels, and when they acquired power they needed to be constrained. Madison said it best: The great difficulty lies in this: You must first enable the government to control the governed; and, in the next place, oblige it to control itself. Federalism is a system of government in which entities, such as states, share power with a national government. The key here is that states are not subservient to the federal government. States must constantly push back when the federal government oversteps its constitutional limitations. Texas has done just that in not expanding the ACA as the federal government attempted to coerce it to adopt an unconstitutional mandate. Dr. Alan M. Preston has been a professor for five years in San Antonio specializing in epidemiology, biostatistics and health care policy. Most of his career has been spent as a CEO for managed care companies and physician organizations. The U.S. House Freedom Caucus has demonstrated once again why Congress is held in such low esteem by voters. In attempting to impeach the IRS commissioner over alleged high crimes and misdemeanors, conservative Republicans chose political theater over the nations needs. A last-minute deal averted an impeachment vote recently, but the attempt itself is revealing of misplaced congressional priorities. Such effort might have gone to more important matters. As is, the deal requires Commissioner John Koskinen to testify before Congress and only delays a possible impeachment vote until after the November election. But Koskinen was not even in the job when accusations flew that the agency had targeted tea party groups for audits in 2013. Thats the real motivation. The alleged crimes Koskinen has committed is destroying documents on the matter. But an inspector general investigation revealed no criminal wrongdoing in how the documents came to be missing. If caucus members really believed they had a case, the House Judiciary Committee would have held full impeachment hearings. Instead, the conservatives resorted to calling up the measure as a privileged motion that would have gotten the matter directly to a House floor vote. Thats the vote that was delayed recently. A majority vote would have set up a Senate trial. The IRS being a favorite target, this was really about getting a Republican base to turn out to put a Republican in the White House and to prevent Democrats from retaking the Senate and making inroads in the House. What it isnt about is getting down to the nations business. A do-nothing Congress is looking, again, also like a circus Congress. The effort failed. But in undertaking the effort, the caucus failed the nation. And the entire episode reveals that House leadership must do more to rein in this wing of its party lest the nation face more gridlock even after the November election. The kind of voter fraud that voter ID laws would prevent is virtually nonexistent. So says an analysis of voter fraud cases in five states including Texas between 2012 and 2016, by the Carnegie-Knight News21 program. There were indeed 38 cases litigated at the state level, but none of the cases prosecuted was for voter impersonation, according to the report. And of those 38 cases, at least one-third involved election officials or volunteers, not voters. A person showing up to vote claiming to be another person doesnt happen often at all, including in Texas. Four years ago, News21 examined 2,068 alleged election fraud cases over 12 years in all 50 states. It found 10 cases of voter impersonation out of millions of votes cast. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker told News21 that the number of in-person voter fraud is irrelevant. All it takes is one person whose vote is canceled by someone not voting legally, and thats a problem, he said. I always tell people who oppose (voter ID), tell me whose vote they want canceled out. This ignores proportionality. The number of Texans without the proper photo ID is more than 600,000. Walkers reasoning is what led the judge who struck down parts of Wisconsins voter ID law to remark, Wisconsins strict version of voter ID law is a cure worse than the disease. Two courts, a U.S. District Court in Corpus Christi and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, had similar words when they ruled that Texas voter ID was discriminatory and ordered changes. And the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals said North Carolinas law intentionally targeted African Americans with almost surgical precision. Absentee voting disproportionately used by whites, and in use in Texas as well is more likely to invite fraud, but this isnt targeted by lawmakers. The court said North Carolina ignored absentee voting in favor of targeting voter impersonation, a problem that did not exist. These rulings indicate that the courts will no longer take legislative claims at face value when it comes to voting. In these cases, the courts did something legislatures didnt consider the facts. We hope this trend persists. This newest report joining others before it demonstrates that the reasons offered have indeed been bogus. In effect and intent, voter ID has been about voter suppression. A 16 year old marriage is on the rocks after a married woman allegedly cheated with her husbands workmate at a local farm in Guruve. The estranged wife, Emmilia Chimbwanda, 42, a teacher at Kondo high School is alleged to have taken advantage of her husbands absence and reportedly been bedding Pio Murambiwa, the transport manager and her husbands coworker at Chikonyora farm. H-Metro contacted Chimbwandas husband Lloyd Gunyungo who is the manager at Chikonyora farm and he confirmed that he discovered the shenanigans following a tip off. I am pained by this discovery following a tip off from the one who had been acting as a messenger. The affair started when I was away last year in March and Im reliably informed that they have been having intimate times at Mazowe hotel and a lodge in Glendale. I discovered that my wife was cheating on me with our Transport manager who is just a nobody so l could not take such a painful experience hence l divorced her, Gunyungo said. H-Metro caught up with Emmilia who professed ignorance of the alleged affair. What you are saying is not true and I have never been involved in such actions. I can even give you the phone and speak to my husband but he is taking a bath, explained Emmilia. This reporter made fruitless efforts to speak with the husband and wife together following Emmilias claims. Murambiwa refuted the claims saying he is not privy to the case and only knows the couple as they live on the same farm. I do not know this case, l only know the couple as people whom l live with on the same farm, he said. HMetro Breaking News via Email Marry Mubaiwa-the estranged wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has arrived at Rotten Row Magistrates Court in Harare where she is facing allegations of externalising US$1 million and fraudulently seeking to solemnise her marriage with neither the husbands knowledge nor consent. She also faces an additional charge of attempting to kill VP Chiwenga. Details to follow Herald Breaking News via Email Welcome to the Narco News Archives Narco News published original investigative journalism & analysis for 19 years (2000 - 2019) on the "war on drugs" from Latin America, and on social movements, community organizing, nonviolent resistance and election campaigns throughout the world. In 2001, Narco News won the landmark New York Supreme Court case, Banco Nacional de Mexico vs. Al Giordano, Mario Menendez and Narco News; this case extended First Amendment rights to the Internet and journalists who publish on it. The independent online newspaper did not accept advertising but cut a wide swath (Boston Globe), with "hard-hitting reporting" (Fairness & Accuracy in Media), that "broke a string of scoops" (The Guardian), that were "on the mark and well documented" (Washington Post). "The new, independent journalists of the Internet, as personified by Al Giordano" (Electronic Frontier Foundation), who "actually makes things happen" (Gary Webb, 1955 - 2004), invented "the platinum standard in Authentic Journalism" (Barry Crimmins, 1953-2018). You can read more of what the critics have said at www.narconews.com/mediacritics1.html. Here, free to the public, you will find two decades of reports in seven languages, including major drug war scoops by Bill Conroy, the censored San Jose Mercury-News "Dark Alliance" series by Gary Webb, early viral videos from Narco News TV, translations to English of Latin American and other international news stories otherwise unreported in the United States, in-depth reporting on the Obama presidential campaign in 2007 and 2008 by Al Giordano, "the prophet of the Obama paradigm shift" (Vanity Fair), and original reporting by hundreds of journalists from almost every corner of the planet. The nonprofit Fund for Authentic Journalism is currently rebuilding the Narco News site to fix broken links and graphics that too often on the Internet get disappeared forever as the technology of web platforms becomes regularly replaced and must be updated to preserve the history of early online journalism. We beg your patience as we complete this kind of archeological dig and repair of these vital reports and stories. Please consider supporting the preservation of real reporting through the nonprofit Fund for Authentic Journalism, via the donate links at our website: authenticjournalism.org. If you have tech skills and can volunteer to help repair and update this important historical record, please contact Al Giordano at al@organizeandwin.com. Thank you for your readership and participation in 19 years of journalism history and for your support as we continue to support authentic journalism in the present and future. The Fund for Authentic Journalism WWE Superstar AJ Styles takes on a weekend of NASCAR with Corey LaJoie See the photos from WWE wrestler AJ Styles' weekend at the Charlotte Roval as he gets the full NASCAR experience alongside Corey LaJoie. Niamh Kennedy's selection as Miss Ireland is the second time in four years that the coveted title has come to Tipperary. Clonmel's Aoife Walsh won the crown in 2013. And the organiser of the Miss Tipperary event, Esme Mansergh Wallace, has said she is thrilled that the crown has come back to the Premier County again. "I'm absolutely delighted with Niamh's success as Miss Tipperary Aherlow House Hotel", she said. "Being there watching her win Miss Ireland was amazing", she remarked. Esme said that Niamh has worked so hard and she thoroughly deserved it. " It's great to bring back the crown for the second time in four years and I am really confident as Niamh heads to Washington for Miss World. "A huge thank you to all this year's sponsors of the event who made the success happen" , said the Tipp town woman who has organised the Miss Tipperary pageant in recents years. Niamh Kennedy is pictured after her selection with first runner up Aoife McGrane (left) and second runner up Leanne Gray (right) at the Miss Ireland 2016 final at Northwood, Dublin. Picture - Brian McEvoy (NaturalNews) It must be a presidential election cycle because rarely does a day go by when the so-called "mainstream" media doesn't invent another "outrage" or "issue," and always with the campaign of Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump.You may have heard the most recent episode in the media circus of lies and deceit: Donald Trump, Jr., is being attacked for tweeting out a bowl of Skittles, the colorful gel candy, to make a point about Islamic extremist terrorists infiltrating the U.S. hidden within groups of Syrian refugees.The "offending" picture also contained a rather poignant question especially for our times: "If I had a bowl of Skittles and I told you just three would kill you. Would you take a handful?"That's our Syrian refugee problem."Mind you, the tweet and the comparison came on the heels of the latest terrorist attacks, this time involving the use of the same kind of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) used by militants against U.S. and allied forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.But to the idiot ideologues in the lamestream media, this was an outrage of epic proportions.It's completely asinine and 100 percent made-up. In fact, Donald Trump, Sr.'s running mate, Mike Pence, is just one of millions of Americans who are completely baffled by the ruckus."It's remarkable to me to see the level of outrage about a metaphor used by [Donald Trump Jr.] when Hillary Clinton is calling for a 550 percent increase in the Syrian refugee program," Pence said on MSNBC, as reported by"All the while, our FBI and public safety officials tell us that we can't know for sure who those people are coming into this country," he added.That would include the State Department too, by the way, which just recently admitted that indeed, terrorists are attempting to infiltrate the West and the United States by mingling with refugees But then again, this isn't new or news. We have known literally for months that terrorists are using the refugee crisis to smuggle themselves into the West, though again, the lamestream media refuses to acknowledge a very obvious (and easy) infiltration method ( here and here .)The larger point is that what Trump, Jr., tweeted out is not scandalous or offensive, unless of course you're a liberal more concerned about "feelings" than you are about American citizens being torn apart by bombs, bullets and other weapons of destruction. It is honest and, for a change, that is precisely what tens of millions of Americans want in a presidential candidate this time around, and that includes lots of former Democrats who believe nothing party leaders tell them. Especially the party's nominee, Hillary Clinton Indeed, when you examine the ingredients of Skittles, you begin to see there are a lot of similarities to Left-leaning politicians and the so-called "mainstream media." Trump Jr. could have just as easily made the comparison between the toxic and phony ingredients in the little candies as he did to terrorist infiltration.For instance, the liberal media's cover-ups, dishonesty, chicanery, shilling for specific candidates when they are supposed to be unbiased and so forth is comparable to the candy's artificial flavorings, corn syrup, hydrogenated palm kernel oil and modified corn starch. All are phony and toxic to the general welfare of the public. A team of researchers has successfully deciphered a severely damaged En-Gedi scroll through virtual unwrapping, revealing that the ancient scroll from the Dead Sea is, in fact, the oldest known copy of a Pentateuchal book from the Hebrew Bible. The charred En-Gedi scroll was unearthed in 1970 in the western part of the Dead Sea. The said scroll could not be unrolled or opened as it was already carbonized; however, archeologists tucked it away for safekeeping, hoping that advanced technology in the future could decipher the scroll, New York Times reports. Luckily, computer scientists from the University of Kentucky have figured out a way of knowing what's written in the Dead Sea scroll through a technology called virtual unwrapping. According to the study published in the journal Science Advances, the technique non-invasively unrolls the scroll by using high-resolution on scanning and creating a 3D image of the scroll. The artifact goes through several scanning processes. It first acquires a 3D volumetric scan of the manuscript, producing cross-sectional images of the scroll and its layers. Next, the 3D volumetric model will be passed in a virtual unwrapping pipeline, where they would scan each section of the manuscript, flatten it, and rescan it to extract the ink from the data in a process called texturing. Through this breakthrough technology, historians can now know what the ancient dead scroll is without physically unrolling and crumbling the artifact. Results showed that the text written in the scroll reveals a part of the Book of Leviticus from the Hebrew Bible. Through their new technology, Professor Brent Seales from the University of Kentucky and his team presented a master image of the virtually unrolled Dead Sea scroll featuring 35 lines of text. "We are releasing all our data for the scroll from En-Gedi: the scans, our geometric analysis, the final texture. We think that the scholarly community will have interest in the data and the process as well as our results," Seales said as per Science Daily. This new technology opens up new possibilities to further understand the past by analyzing artifacts, such as the En-Gedi scroll, that have been damaged over time. "There are so many other unique and exciting materials that may yet give up their secrets -- we are only beginning to discover what they may hold," Seales concluded. Otzi the iceman has fascinated the scientific community since its discovery in September 1991 and scientists intend to slowly uncover clues of who the mysterious glacier mummy was. Now, a new study has found out that the copper used to make Otzi's axe blade did not come from the Alpine region, but is, in fact, from Central Italy. Axe Linked to Central Italy According to a study from the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology via Science Daily, the copper axe's balde that was mined from Central Italy. Professor Gilberto Artioli from the University of Padua determined this by comparing the "fingerprint" of the ore or the proportion of the lead isotope with data from different mineral sites throughout Europe. "No one was prepared for this finding. We will commission further analyses in order to double-check these first results," said Angelika Fleckinger, Director of the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. Flekinger further said that the discovery of the axe's origin will open a lot of questions about who Otzi the iceman was, if he was, perhaps, a traveling trader and if people from the south went to the Alpine region for exchange of goods. "What concerns us most these days is to know who the man from the ice was, what role he played in society and what happened to him in the last days of his life. Sophisticated procedures, now available to scientists, are continually supplying us with new evidence," Flekinger added. Secrets Behind the Murder of Otzi the Iceman Otzi was murdered as suggested by an arrowhead found in his left shoulder, but what caused the gruesome crime is still unclear. Using latest criminal investigation methods, Chief Inspector Alexander Horn of the Munich Criminal Investigation Department tried to uncover the circumstances during the time of Otzi's murder. Investigation showed that prior to his murder, Otzi did not feel threatened due to his location, he could even be enjoying a hearty meal. Prior to his murder, he also incurred an injury on his right hand. The arrow shot that killed him could have been an act of treachery and was shot from a long distance. Horn suggested that because a valuable item like a copper axe was left in the scene, Otzi was not murdered due to theft but because of a personal conflict. Space X has finally unveiled the reason behind the controversial Falcon 9 explosion earlier this month. The company said on Friday that the explosion was caused by a large upper-stage helium system breach. "At this stage of the investigation, preliminary review of the data and debris suggests that a large breach in the cryogenic helium system of the second stage liquid oxygen tank took place," SpaceX announced on a statement posted on the company's website. "All plausible causes are being tracked in an extensive fault tree and carefully investigated. Through the fault tree and data review process, we have exonerated any connection with last years CRS-7 mishap." According to Reuters, on Sept. 1, the Elon Musk-owned space company launched a Falcon 9 rocket at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida for a routine test when a sudden fire ball appeared during the rocket's upper stage. The company said the problem was from a faulty bracket holding a helium bottle in the rocket's oxygen tank. No casualty from the incident has been reported. SpaceX spokesman Dex Torricke-Barton is quick to say that they are still investigating a range of plausible causes for the helium breach and will not quickly speculate. He further added that the destroyed Pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station will be repaired but did not give a target date of completion. The Falcon 9 explosion on Sept. 1 destroyed an Israeli-made Facebook satellite, which is estimated to have cost $200 million. The California-based company is hoping to resume its flights by November, as per a previous Nature World News report. "We're anticipating getting back to flight, being down for about three months, so getting back to flight in November, the November timeframe," said Gwynne Shotwell, president of SpaceX, said during the World Satellite Business Week Conference on Sept. 13. Contrary to earlier predictions made by scientists, Greenland ice is melting at 7 percent faster. According to a new study which made use of GPS, Greenland is losing approximately 40 trillion pounds in year. The estimate is more than what scientists had thought. Instead of losing an average of 550 trillion pounds of ice from 2003 to 2013, Greenland has lost more than 590 trillion pounds. This is what Michael Bevis of the Ohio State University claimed in his study, which was published in the journal of Science Advances, Wednesday. "If you look at the last 15 years since we've been having these measurements, it's clearly getting worse, the ice loss," stated Bevis, adding, "It is pretty scary." This amount is at a shocking 7.6 percent difference. Yet, authors of the study claim it is still a "small percentage" which adds just a "tiny amount" to the global sea rice. A climate scientist at Duke University, Drew Shindell, adds that the percent isn't at all a dramatic change that adds to the alarming pattern already obvious in the past decades. "Not good news certainly as the values are already larger than we'd had wished, but not a dramatic change in the overall already very alarming pattern we've been seeing over the past couple decades," explained Shindell. As for the new measurements made on the percentage of ice melting in Greenland, the study was made possible thanks to GRACE satellites. These are a set of twin crafts that had estimated the ice loss, which was based on the changes in the pull of gravity - all while the satellites orbited around planet earth. Conclusions on the study were made possible thanks to data taken from a network of GPS sensors. Thanks to the study, the ice melting in Greenland isn't the only focus. The study hopes to reveal the same problems in the current estimate of ice loss in some areas. Such areas would include Antarctica, which is by far bigger than Greenland. "Antarctica is losing ice," stated Bevis. "But Greenland is the most unstable ice sheet we have right now." Tiangong-1 or "Heavenly Palace," the first space station of China, is expected to descend to Earth earlier than expected. It will only take a matter of time before the eight-metric ton space station's orbital demise. What's more alarming is that without telemetry, no one exactly knows where exactly on Earth will the space station crash down. The Chinese space station is expected to fall down to Earth sometime in early 2017. But the Chinese space agency already confirmed that they lost telemetry with the space station; thus, they can no longer control its orbit. China did not disclose the reason why the space station is suddenly falling down from the orbit. Tiangong-1 started its launch into orbit last September 2011. The space station is used to practice rendezvous and docking procedures, and measures 10 meters long and 3 meters wide. Fears on how the "uncontrollable" space station's debris will pass through the atmosphere and will rain molten space debris and the possibility that it can cause harm on humans have already grabbed headlines. NASA and other space agencies said that it is difficult to compute the overall risk to any person in the planet. There is actually one in several trillion, as reported in Phys.Org As of press time, satellite tracking radar shows that the space station is at 380 km high and is traveling at 27,500 km per hour. With that current numbers of the speed and altitude, the Tiangong-1 can still travel the planet 5,000 more times before it feels the pressure of the upper atmosphere and starts it final descent. Huffington Post reported that most of the Tianggong-1 will burn up due to the aerodynamic heating in the Earth's atmosphere. The Chinese space agency admitted that some of heat-resistant elements of the space station may survive. It is still pretty unpredictable where Tianggong-1's debris final resting place will be. Even computer simulations cannot tell on which orbit it will re-enter. All that is known for now is that Tiangong-1 is moving fast. And how it breaks up is determined by how it plunges through the atmosphere. Calculating a debris ellipse are what most of the space agencies do to know where the parts will land. However, the odds are in the favor of not landing on land, as Earth's surface is covered mostly with water. Meanwhile, during a press conference for Tiangong-2 launch, Wu Ping, deputy director of China's Manned Space Engineering (CMSE) office mentioned that China has always given importance to the management of space debris. They will continue observing Tiangong-1 and will release a forecast of its landing and inform it internationally. A group of workers have successfully excavated a humongous meteorite out of the ground located in Campo del Cielo about 670 miles northwest of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The meteorite, which is estimated to weigh 30 tons, is believed to be one of the meteorites that hit the earth 4,000 to 4,700 years ago. According to Sky and Telescope, the rare meteorite was made of iron-nickel and is one of the biggest to be excavated yet. As of today, it is believed to be the second largest, next to a meteorite called Hoba. Santa Monica Observer reported that Hoba, which weighs 66 tons, was found in Namibia hundred of years ago. Because of Hoba's monstrous weight, it was never fully exhumed from the ground. "While we hoped for weights above what had been registered, we did not expect it to exceed 30 tons," Mario Vesconi (Astronomy Association of Chaco) told the Xinhua news service. "The size and weight [of Gancedo] surprised us," he added. The meteorite was named "Gancedo," after a nearby town. Gancedo might have been related to "El Chaco," another meteorite found in Campo del Cielo. Experts presume that Gancedo and El Chaco likely came from the same powerful meteor shower that landed on Earth. Reporting about Gancedo, Fox News quoted Vesconi saying that the process of excavating the meteorite was uneasy as there was an instance when water began to seep out into the work area. Nevertheless, they were provided with efficient equipment that made the excavation possible. The report also added that the meteorite will be weighed again for precise measurement. "We will weigh it again. Apart from wanting the added confidence of a double-check of the initial readings we took, the fact that its weight is such a surprise to us makes us want to recalibrate," Vesconi said. The American Museum of Natural History defines a meteorite as rocks that are far older than the Earth's rocks. They may consist of tiny particles that formed around other stars that are even older than the sun. Hunters Point is a scenic, yet controversial piece of land in San Francisco and it appears to be hitting a roadblock to redevelopment. Several government agencies have agreed to put a hold on land transfers at the former naval shipyard due to concerns over radiation. The government is investigating Navy contractor Tetra Tech, the company hired to clean up radiation at Hunters Point. In a letter sent to the Navy earlier this month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control reiterated an agreement that the Navy would not propose any further transfers of the property for redevelopment. The agencies are awaiting the outcome of government investigations into Tetra Tech or other Navy action necessary to clarify the actual potential public exposure to radioactive material at and near the [Hunters Point Naval Shipyard]. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and Supervisor Malia Cohen sent a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy earlier this week explaining that the city will not accept the transfer of any land until regulators are satisfied that the land is clean and safe and the citys health department validates the decision. The safety of our residents and workers is paramount, they write, and we are committed to a thorough cleanup at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. The NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit first exposed in 2014 that Tetra Tech mishandled soil samples and falsified radiation data it submitted to the Navy. This summer the Nuclear Regulatory Commission proposed a $7,000 penalty against Tetra Tech after it found the company deliberately falsified soil samples on a number of occasions. In March, a former worker at the site revealed to the Investigative Unit that his supervisors instructed him to conceal radiation by switching soil samples and dumping potentially contaminated dirt into the ground. Tetra Tech has won more than $300 million in federal contracts to clean up radiation at the shipyard and make way for future redevelopment including parks, offices and homes. For decades the Navy operated a radiological defense laboratory at the shipyard, where it performed radiation experiments on animals and decontaminated ships exposed to nuclear weapons. For years Hunters Point community group Greenaction has demanded a full and proper cleanup of radioactive and toxic waste. Staff members say its about time the government took action following NBC Bay Areas series of investigations. I believe that the role you guys played whether you wanted to our not was you guys exposed the truth, said Marie Harrison, Greenactions community outreach coordinator and longtime Bayview Hunters Point resident. I think you gave the voice to the community by going in, looking it up, digging in, doing the Freedom of Information Act, following these guys around. Tetra Tech did not respond to request for comment. The master developer of the shipyard, FivePoint a spinoff of Lennar Corporation said it will not accept any land until regulatory agencies have agreed its suitable for development. We absolutely want and expect the Navy to cleanup the Shipyard, and expect that this current review will be conducted thoroughly, FivePoints Northern California president Kofi Bonner wrote in a statement. This community has waited a long time for this land to be returned to productive uses. We are eager to create new housing, jobs and parks for the community. If you have a tip for the Investigative Unit email theunit@nbcbayarea.com or call 888-996-TIPS. Staff members at a Southern California animal shelter thought they had an intruder on their hands this month after alarms were set off one weekend inside the building. A check of the shelter in the San Bernardino County community of Apple Valley revealed items scattered around the front desk, but no sign of anyone in the building. Staff members said they found phones, papers and files pulled off the front counter, evidence that initially suggested the work of an escaped cat. Because usually, it is the cat. But the first clue came Sunday when a staff member noticed a dog missing from her adoption kennel near the back of the shelter. It wasn't a case of an intruder -- they had a furry fugitive on their hands. The missing dog was reported to the shelter Monday morning, about the time that staff members reviewed security camera video. The video showed Ginger the resourceful German shepherd as she opened doors and hopped on a counter to have a look around, explaining the untidy front desk. Ginger needed to open three doors between her kennel area and the front parking lot to make her great escape, according to staff. She can be seen on her hind legs in the front lobby, unlatching the last barrier to the parking lot and the wonders of Southern California's Victor Valley. Ginger was found safe about three miles from the shelter. She was returned to her kennel and is waiting for a loving, and secure, home. Visit the shelter's Facebook page for more information. A Chinatown icon was fondly remembered Friday night by San Francisco residents and elected leaders. Rose Pak, who never held political office, was known for being a powerhouse, who never held back her opinions. "She was a lot more than anyone can ever be able to express," said former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown. Hundreds flocked to a wake at the Green Street Mortuary in North Beach Friday to say thanks to Mama Rose, as she was called. Pak, 68, died Sunday of natural causes following a kidney transplant. "It was a very sad night but it was a celebration of an amazing person," said city Supervisor David Campos. Many neighbors say she built political careers and brought citywide growth after moving from China to the Bay Area in the 1960s. "She had the biggest thorn than anyone would know. All the politicians they were scared of her in some way," Rev. Norman Fong of the Chinatown CDC said. Pak is applauded for a long list of accomplishments, including helping to develop the Central Subway which will connect to Chinatown in three years. Now that Pak is gone, there's a push to grow new community leadership, but those in Chinatown believe that Pak is irreplaceable. "No words can match what she meant to me and what I think she meant to the city," says Willie Brown. Pak's funeral is scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday at Old Saint Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco. Dozens of veterans in the South Bay allege that they are missing out on crucial services. They say they go to the San Jose Veterans Center on North First Street for counseling and other treatment, only to be turned away by a man guarding the front gate. Three tenants occupy the building, and each is assigned a specific number of parking spots. However, when the Veterans Center uses up all its 10 spaces, the landlord refuses to let any of them in even if there are available spots on the premises. So the veterans, some with visible disabilities, are forced to park blocks away and walk to the center. I got my own problems, said veteran Juan Zuniga, adding that officials are meant to teach tolerance at the center. Fellow veteran Doug Dodd agreed. Many of them are suffering from PTSD, he said, and dont need additional stimuli to upset us. Dodd was assigned to the flight deck on an aircraft carrier during the Vietnam War, and visits the center twice every week for counseling. But on Friday, veteran after veteran was turned away from the parking lot. Well thats about the most insensitive thing you can do to a bunch of veterans, coming somewhere for resources, Supervisor David Cortese said. Cortese is now trying to help the Veterans Center find a new home one, he says, where veterans are welcomed and not forced to walk blocks to obtain services theyve earned. These people have given their all for this country and to have somebody disrespect them like that really upsets me, Dodd said. A teenage boy now faces the prospect of nearly 40 years in prison, after agreeing to a plea deal in a brutal East Bay rape case. Darrion Miles Jr. appeared in a Contra Costa County courtroom on Friday where he pleaded guilty to most charges stemming from the kidnapping and rape of a Dominos pizza delivery woman last year. Miles Jr. was 17 years old at the time of the Feb. 2015 crime, but was prosecuted as an adult. The Antioch teenager wore at monitoring device at the time of the attack that helped investigators identify him. On Friday, he pleaded guilty to the majority of charges, Deputy District Attorney Aaron DeFerrari said. There was a charge or two that carried potential life in prison, but he opted to take some of the other charges, so he could get 38 years in prison. Miles Jr.'s plea deal involved multiple forcible sex acts against a victim who is really a survivor, DeFerarri said about the outcome of a difficult and emotional case. In court on Friday, Miles Jr. responded only Yes or No to the questions he was asked, and a statement was read on behalf of the victims father, The brutal and premeditated crime against my daughter is something no woman should have to endure, the statement said, in part. DeFerrari agreed. It was a tremendously sad case, just a horrible set of facts, a terrible thing to happen. We are so proud, though, of the survivor ... She showed tremendous courage. People who use a popular San Francisco dog park are being warned that someone might be breaking bottles and embedding shards in the ground to harm pets. Word is spreading on social media about the potentially dangerous fragments being left around Stern Grove Dog Park. One dog owner told NCB Bay Area that he saw people trying to clean up the Vale Avenue area on Friday. Another posted on Facebook that he didn't believe it until he saw the glass for himself But no one is sure who is committing what many are referring to as a dog hate crime. Mary Rhodes already keeps a close eye on her pooches because in 2013 and 2014 someone left poisoned treats for dogs near Twin Peaks in San Francisco, killing one dog. The last dog scare I heard of was the meatball scare in Diamond Heights so I'm always cautious with what they touch what they do, Rhodes said. She said she wasnt surprised someone wants to hurt dogs, but is worried that the glass could hurt people too. We want the dogs to be protected, we want walkers to be protected, too, not to mention the kids who come to Pink Lake, she said. Police and Animal Care and Control officials say they have not received reports about the glass. The Parks and Recreation Department said there is a lot of illegal dumping at the park. Its officials are checking with Park Police about any reports. A San Francisco firefighter is under criminal investigation and could lose his job after police seized dozens of fittings and fire hoses from a building where he runs a sprinkler business in the citys Mission District. Mitchell Lee, 51, owns Pacific Automatic Sprinkler Co., where a fire started outside on the evening of April 14 that damaged the side of the building at 2601 Harrison St. After firefighters doused the flames, one fire captain spotted department issued hoses and fittings inside a garage. The department quickly identified firefighter Lee, according to a search warrant affidavit in the case, as a suspect as he gave the Harrison Street address as his residence of record. After obtaining a search warrant, police investigators seized 25 hoses and dozens of brass fittings. They also talked to Lee. He told them he bought the equipment at flea markets or picked up pieces firefighters had left behind at fire scenes, according to the summary of his interview in a search warrant. He admitted that he had neglected to return the equipment. Oddly, none of the items had been reported stolen. One fire official told investigators that it is not uncommon for fire teams to inadvertently take equipment that belongs to other stations and later return it. Lees attorney did not respond to calls seeking comment on Friday. Lees father, reached at the business, declined comment to NBC Bay Area. Prosecutors are still evaluating the case to determine whether to file criminal charges, said District Attorneys Office spokesman Alex Bastian. NBC Bay Area has also learned that while Lee has been notified he faces termination from the department, the investigation does not stop with him. Sources say at least one supervisor has been notified that he faces administrative discipline for allegedly failing to account for all the missing equipment in the police report. Two San Francisco paramedics are under fire after one was accused of having sex in a city-owned ambulance while on duty, and other of covering for him, sources say. The men work out of Station 49 in the Bayview District and took an ambulance out for a drive, sources say. They are then suspected of picking up a woman, who had sex with one of the men, while the other one drove, according to sources. An investigation, which was launched after someone filed a formal complaint with the Fire Department, is underway to figure out exactly what happened. It remains unclear who complained. At least one of the paramedics could lose his job over the allegations, sources say. On Friday, a Fire Department spokesperson declined to comment on personnel matters. NBC Bay Area has reached out to the accused firefighters and the union, but has not heard back. San Jose police have arrested two brothers accused of terrorizing street vendors at gunpoint. The suspects, 24-year-old Michaelangelo Cortez Lopez and 19-year-old Richard Cortez Lopez, both of San Jose, are accused of robbing at least 13 East San Jose vendors between July 30 and Sept. 16. Money, phones and food items were stolen from victims mainly ice cream and food vendors who also reported being beaten and pistol whipped, police said. "You never know what's going to happen and why, and when you come over there and that happens, then I'm actually involved in whatever is going on, so of course it makes you afraid," said Sanjuana Martinez, a street vendor's customer. The men were arrested at their East San Jose home on Wednesday, police said. It remains unclear what charges they will face on the heels of the alleged crime spree. Investigators canvassed neighborhoods, interviewed witnesses and collected physical evidence and surveillance footage for two months, police said, and also educated street vendors about safety. The pair viciously targeted a segment of our society that needed our help the most, San Jose police Sgt. Jaime Jimenez said. Immigrant groups already face numerous challenges and this criminal victimization does nothing to help their integration into the social embroidery of our city. Martinez agreed, saying, "I'm glad they're arrested because [the vendors] really work hard to make a living." An investigation is ongoing, said police, who believe more crimes may have gone unreported. People with information about the crimes are asked to contact the San Jose Police Departments Robbery Unit at (408)277-4166. A wave of intense airstrikes has left nearly two million people in the Syrian city of Aleppo without water, UN officials said Saturday as activists said at least 25 more civilians had been killed. UN children's charity, UNICEF, said this week's renewed airstrikes which further dashed hopes of reviving last week's cease-fire had damaged a water pumping station which supplies about 250,000 people in rebel-held eastern parts and violence is preventing repair teams from reaching it. Both candidates in the race for the U.S. Senate, Sen. Mark Kirk and Rep. Tammy Duckworth, have embellished stories about where they were and who they were with during the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, the Chicago Tribune reports. According to the report, Kirk said he was at a meeting with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld when a second plane hit the World Trade Center in New York, at which point those in the room realized the country was under attack. But it turns out Rumsfeld learned of the second attack on New York during a separate meeting. Kirk was meeting with Rumsfeld and other members of Congress that morning about defense spending when the first plane hit the World Trade Center. However, a 2004 report of the 9/11 Commission gave a contradicting account of where Rumsfeld was when the second plane hit, claiming he left the meeting with Kirk before he was informed of the second plane. However, the day after the attacks, Kirk told the Tribune that the Rumsfeld meeting was interrupted when an aide handed the defense secretary a note. Although Kirk said Rumsfeld allowed the meeting to proceed, he suspected the note was about the second plane hitting the World Trade Center. After winning the U.S. Senate seat previously held by President Barack Obama in 2010, Kirk claimed Rumsfeld broke up the meeting after being informed that a second plane had hit the World Trade Center. This week, Kirks campaign said Kirk attended the first meeting with Rumsfeld as a member of the House Armed Services Committee and by the time it was over, two planes were involved in New York. However, the senator's campaign manager, Kevin Artl, did not address whether Kirk was still in Rumsfelds presence when the second plane hit. Kirk came under fire during his initial bid for the Senate in 2010 for embellishing his military record by saying he served in the Gulf War and once commanded the Pentagon war room, among other things. He ultimately apologized for the misstatements, the Tribune reported. Additionally, as part of a 2013 interview for the Army that was used in an "educational" package on female patriots, Duckworth suggested she was at Midway Airport in Chicago with a Black Hawk helicopter unit during the attacks, the Tribune reports. That account conflicts with a 2011 Time Magazine interview wherein the congresswoman said she was backpacking in Scotland with her husband and younger sister. This week, Duckworth, who lost both her legs piloting a helicopter over Iraq in 2004, clarified the conflicting accounts, noting that she was in Scotland during the attacks, the Tribune reports. However, according to the report, military records show Duckworth was assigned as a company commander in the 106th Aviation Regiment at Midway as of December 2000. The congresswoman told the Tribune she was not trying to obfuscate her whereabouts on the historic day, but acknowledged she didnt know if theres anything recently in which she described herself as being in Scotland that day. She claimed she was referring to her unit being in Chicago at the time, noting, Maybe its because its more Army lingo when you think of the unit as you, and all I was saying is that here we were in Chicago." A manager with the Indiana Department of Transportation has been suspended without pay over an email he sent to a columnist from his work account, according to INDOT. New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow posted a screenshot of the email from David Brewer to his Facebook page Thursday. "Did your surname come from you being a cocaine addict or just from the fact that your opinion BLOWS? You have no basis in reality! And perhaps you should take a few classes in the English language before writing again. Your poor grasp of the language makes your written opinion less trusted and perceived as coming from an ignorant person," wrote Brewer, who identified himself as a manager of external audit at INDOT in his email signature. "So Indiana Department of Transportation, I received this from one of your officials, during office hours, USING HIS .GOV email address," Blow wrote. "Shouldn't David be working instead of shooting off nasty emails? Is this how you use tax dollars?" he asked. [[394685391, C]] Just a few hours later, INDOT shared Blow's post to its own Facebook page and announced that Brewer was suspended without pay effective immediately. "An email of this nature is an inappropriate use of INDOT resources. Further, the language used is unacceptable and does not reflect the values of INDOT," the post reads, adding that the matter remained under review. Authorities were investigating a possible shooting that left one person wounded on the Dan Ryan Expressway early Saturday morning. Two lanes of the southbound Dan Ryan near 18th Street as well as the ramp to outbound I-55 were closed around 7:30 a.m. as officers investigated a report of shots fired, according to the Illinois State Police. No shell casings were found at the scene, but authorities said one person arrived at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn with non-life threatening injuries stemming from the incident. The southbound lanes reopened shortly before 8:30 a.m., though the ramp to I-55 remained closed. Check back for updates on this developing story. An organized crime ring from Florida has returned to Naperville, police confirmed Friday. Police are warning residents not to leave anything of value in sight in your carseven for a few minutes. Over the last month weve had five incidences, said Naperville Police Cmdr. Lou Cammiso. The crime ring, called the Felony Lane Gang, is known for smash and grabs, especially in womens cars, targeting daycares, schools, sporting events and gyms, anywhere a woman might leave a purse in the car, police said. They see a mom go in with a child, Cammiso said. Not carrying a purse, they know that woman has a purse and they know the purse is in the car. Police say the thieves are looking for checkbooks so they can cash checks. Theyre known to cash the checks in the farthest lane of drive-thru banks so tellers dont notice them. They also have taken cash and credit cards, police said. Residents like Ashley Gonzalez say theyll be more careful in the wake of the police warning. In a nicer neighborhood like this you really dont expect it, so youre more likely to leave your guard down, Gonzalez said. A gunman police said killed five people in a Washington state mall remained at large Saturday as authorities appealed for help in identifying the suspect but said there were no indications the slayings north of Seattle were a terrorist act. People fled, customers hid in dressing rooms and employees locked the doors of nearby stores after gunshots rang out just after 7 p.m. Friday at the Cascade Mall. A helicopter, search teams and K-9 units scoured the area for the suspect, seen in surveillance video, in a police response that included more than 200 officers. Authorities say the gunman initially entered the shopping center without a weapon, but 10 minutes later, went inside Macy's with a rifle and opened fire. Mount Vernon Police Lt. Chris Cammock said Saturday that authorities recovered the weapon from the scene. He described it as a "hunting type" rifle. "There are people waking up this morning and their world has changed forever," Burlington Mayor Steve Sexton said Saturday at a news conference. "The city of Burlington has probably changed forever. This was a senseless act." Authorities said four females, ranging in age from teens to seniors, died after the gunman opened fire in the makeup department of a Macy's store. An adult male who was wounded in the shooting died early Saturday, officials said. His age was not given and no identifications of the victims were released Police said they were looking for a man dressed in black and last seen walking toward Interstate 5. The description, including that he appeared to be Hispanic, was based on statements from witnesses, said Given Kutz, a spokesman for the Skagit County Emergency Operations Center. "We do not have an identity on the individual yet," said Mount Vernon Police Lt. Chris Cammock. "We could certainly use the community's help." Authorities said the motive was unknown for the shooting about 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of Seattle. The FBI was assisting local authorities, but Michael Knutson, assistant special agent in charge of the Seattle FBI, said there was no evidence to point to terrorism. Stephanie Bose, an assistant general manager at Johnny Carino's Italian restaurant near the Macy's store at the mall, said she immediately locked the doors after hearing about the shooting from an employee's boyfriend. "He was trying to go to the mall and people were screaming," she told The Associated Press. "It was frantic." She said he could see police at the doors with assault rifles. It took hours for teams to search the 434,000-square-foot (40,000-square-meter) mall late Friday night. They escorted shoppers and workers who had sheltered in place outside. "It took several hundred to do that...clearing every room, to make sure the suspect wasn't still on the scene," Cammock said. The parking lot was closed and emergency management officials told people they would be able to retrieve vehicles Saturday. Gov. Jay Inslee said tragedy had struck the state. "We urge residents to heed all safety and detour warnings. Stay close to your friends and loved ones as we await more information and, hopefully, news of the suspect's capture," Inslee said in a statement. The Cascade Mall is an enclosed shopping mall that opened in 1990, according to the mall's website. It features J.C. Penney, TJ Maxx, and Macy's stores, among other stores, restaurants and a movie theater. On Sept. 17 a man stabbed 10 people at a Minnesota mall before being shot and killed by an off-duty police officer. Authorities say Dahir Ahmed Adan, 20, stabbed the people at the Crossroads Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota. What to Know President Obama joined civil rights leaders to open the newest Smithsonian Saturday, ringing a historic bell as the museum opened. Timed entry passes for the opening weekend are no longer available, but visitors can enjoy a free music festival without tickets. Be prepared for road closures, large crowds and heightened security in the area surrounding the National Mall. Bells rang out throughout Washington, D.C. Saturday as the Smithsonian's highly anticipated National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., opened after more than 100 years in the making. Centuries of struggles and strife, decades of planning and pain, and years of hoping for a place that African-American history can call home culminated as President Barack Obama officially dedicated the museum Saturday morning. The president opened the museum with the ringing of the historic Freedom Bell from the First Baptist Church in Williamsburg, Virginia, which was organized in 1776 by slaves. Obama said the new national museum will help to tell a richer and fuller story of the country. The president was helping to officially open the National Museum of African American History and Culture at an outdoor ceremony on the museum grounds. "It helps us better understand the lives, yes, of a president, but also the slave. The industrialist, but also the worker. The teacher or the cook, alongside the story of the statesman," he said. "By understanding this story, it binds us together and reaffirms we are all Americans." He continued his message of the inclusion of African Americans in American history, calling it "an act of patriotism to understand where we've been." "We're not a burden on America or a stain on America or an object of shame and pity for America. We are America. And that's what this museum explains," Obama said. "Hopefully, this museum makes us talk to each other and listen to each other and see each other." With thousands of items occupying 85,000 square feet of exhibition space, the new Smithsonian will chronicle the complex relationship between the United States and a people it once enslaved, and tell the story of those who worked to make the necessary changes to bring the country to where it is today. The dedication featured speeches by Obama, civil rights leader U.S. Rep. John Lewis, former President George W. Bush and the museum's founding director, Lonnie Bunch. It also featured rousing musical tributes with a local flair, including Howard University's "Showtime" marching band and an a capella presentation by a choir from D.C.'s Duke Ellington School for the Arts. The museum, the 19th and newest of the Smithsonians, opened to the public following the dedication ceremony. Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith share the work of African-American poets during the dedication of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. "It's a historic event," said Leslie Howard, who traveled from New Orleans to attend the dedication. "And the fact that we have our first black president to dedicate it shows you how God works." "We want to make sure we reinforce the commitment to preserve African-American history," said Glen Yonkers, Jr., a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, which was founded at Howard University in Washington. Members marched to the mall for the dedication Saturday. "Our fraternity was built for African-American men to have a place to share our history and stories," said fraternity brother Jude Collins. "This was the only place to be today." Seeing the dedication was a family event for many; Alicia Frayer came from Charleston with her husband and three daughters to attend. "I'm inspired by history," she said. "It's a major part of our history, and the fact that our history and culture are here for everyone to see is so important." Many celebrities came to the museum's dedication as well, including Oprah Winfrey, who has donated more then $20 million to the museum. The museum tweeted a video of Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae arriving. Robert De Niro, Angela Bassett, Will Smith and Patti LaBelle were among those presenting during the dedication. Off to celebrate @NMAAHC ! What a mighty powerful day. pic.twitter.com/dUABVxXhjD Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) September 24, 2016 Many of those present shared their personal connection to the museum's story, including D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton. As the great granddaughter of a runaway slave who fled to DC, I am proud to be at the dedication ceremony today for @NMAAHC #APeoplesJourney pic.twitter.com/62i5DjgkfN Eleanor Holmes Norton (@EleanorNorton) September 24, 2016 D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser spoke before the ceremony, honoring its opening and using the opportunity to call for statehood for the nation's capital, where residents do not have voting representation in Congress. "While we are proud to host this museum ... we know it will show how far Washington has to go," Bowser said. The museum is offering extended hours for the grand opening weekend, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 7 a.m. to midnight Sunday, but timed entry passes are no longer available. While entry is free, like at other Smithsonian facilities, the museum is instituting a timed pass system to control crowds and alleviate wait times. Those who didn't score tickets had the option to watch the museum's dedication ceremony in large-screen viewing areas at the Washington Monument grounds, or livestream the ceremony on the museum's website. A free three-day festival celebrating the talent and creativity of African-American artists is also taking place on the Washington Monument grounds. The Freedom Sounds festival features jazz, R&B, gospel and hip-hop artists throughout the weekend. The Roots, Living Colour and Public Enemy headlined the festival Saturday night, and a surprise special guest is slated to perform Sunday. Anyone heading toward the museum this weekend should be prepared for large crowds and heightened security. [NATL-DC]Thousands Attend Opening of National Museum of African American History and Culture The push for the museum began in 1915 with African-American Civil War veterans looking for a way to commemorate America's black experience. Former President George W. Bush signed the law authorizing the construction in 2003. Lewis, who co-sponsored legislation authorizing its construction, said the bronze-colored museum "is more than a building, it is a dream come true." For more information about the museum, check NBC Washington's full coverage here. Connecticut reached the two million registered voter mark earlier this month. Friday morning, Facebook provided an unexpected increase in registration with direct pushes on personal pages across the country. With National Voter Registration Day set for next Tuesday, Connecticut's top elections official, Denise Merrill, said it was a welcomed sight. It is always amazing to me how many people see these things," the Secretary of the State told NBC Connecticut in an interview. "So, even today, today is the first day that people have been seeing this Facebook feed, were already getting hundreds if not thousands of people registering to vote in Connecticut. Another major contributor has been the recently implemented, "motor voter program" which signs people up to vote when they visit the Department of Motor Vehicles. There was significant criticism of the program, mainly from Republicans, during the most recent legislative session for fears that the registration of more voters would lead to even longer wait times for routine transactions. Merrill acknowledged the timing wasn't great to roll out a new avenue for voter sign-ups. "It was a miracle of bad timing. It was just at the low point for DMV with the lines and all of that. However, she adds, "it wasn't a big leap," and over the summer there were seldom if any complaints that the motor-voter program was slowing down the delay-plagued agency. In the end, the program has led to major gains in voter registration. So far, more than 20,000 people have signed up to vote through DMV, When you think that we registered 15,000 voters in one month, thats more voters than weve registered from any source, ever," Merrill said. Next week, voter registration could increase even more, with Facebook expected to push even more users to register. Emergency crews pulled a man out of the water off the coast of Pleasure Beach in Waterford Saturday. Waterford police said the regional police boat and the Goshen fire department responded to reports of a capsized boat and found a man swimming in the water. Crews pulled him from the water. He was not injured. Police said this was the second call for a capsized boat Saturday. The first, on the Thames River, was handled by the US Coast Guard. The Quinnipiac University student pictured in a racially insensitive social media post said she doesn't condone the photo shared or its implications. Quinnipiac officials have cleared 18-year-old Sarah Goodrich of any wrongdoing. Her roommate who posted the photo on Snapchat with the caption, Black lives matter, is no longer a QU student, the university announced. "I chose to put a charcoal Origins mask on," Goodrich said, explaining the context when her former roommate snapped the photo last Sunday night. At the time, the Quinnipiac freshman had no clue the photo of her would quickly spread on the internet, sparking outrage on campus and beyond. "I know how much of a strong a movement that is," Goodrich said of Black Lives Matter. "Seeing someone make fun of it, especially with previous things that have recently happened, I immediately knew how awful that looks. Thats why it was so important to me that I needed to clear up that is not what I condone." Goodrich said she was afraid for her safety this week, after the photo was shared with thousands. "My parents were very scared as well, because there is the chance that somebody does recognize me in the mask and that Im the one who put it out there. So I was very scared to walk around and be confronted, she said. After sharing with school officials she was not responsible for the offensive post, Goodrich said the university has been very sympathetic. Campus security provided her escorts before the university released a statement saying she was not at fault. "(QU) wanted to do everything they could to clear up what happened and kind of take all that directed hatred and tell people thats not where it should be directed," she said. The roommate who took the picture chose to leave Quinnipiac on her own, Goodrich said. "The fact that she not only put words in my mouth, but she put them across my face, and she just felt absolutely horrible and I think thats why she made the decision that she did," Goodrich said. Goodrich said she hopes others can learn from her former roommates poor judgment. "You have to be so careful what you put on (social) media," she said. "Even if you think something is a joke, there are things that are just so beyond that, you cannot just joke about." Several of Goodrichs black friends from high school reached out to her this week. Goodrich assured them she was not behind the controversial Snapchat post and they encouraged her to set the record straight. The life of a Rhode Island coyote who was set to be euthanized has been spared, but it is unclear if the decision will hold up, according to necn affiliate WJAR. Police in Middletown initially said the animal living on Aquidneck Island was a public safety concern would be shot and killed. The coyote, named Cliff, has become comfortable around people and is tracked with a GPS collar. Friday, Middletown Police Chief Anthony Pesare issued a release rescinding the order to have Cliff killed. Instead, police intend to capture and move him. Newport City Councilman John Florez, however, tells WJAR it is illegal to transport wild animals unless they are going to zoos. Police are working with Florez on a plan to move Cliff to a zoo in the area. As of Friday, an online petition to save Cliff's life had 34,340 signatures, approaching its goal of 35,000. With U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry invoking North Korea's latest nuclear explosion as a "reckless act of provocation," the U.N. Security Council on Friday approved a resolution urging quick global implementation of a treaty that would ban tests of such weapons. Kerry said universal adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty would result in a "safer, more secure, and more peaceful planet," as the United States and 18 other council members approved the resolution, with none opposed and Egypt abstaining. Security Council approval comes as the Comprehensive Test Ban Organization set up to administer the treaty marks its 20th anniversary. CTBO chief Lassina Zerbo welcomed the vote, telling The Associated Press that "it will remind the international community ... that we have to finish what we started 20 years ago." European Union foreign policy coordinator Federica Mogherini said approval is "an important step" toward global enactment of the treaty. The Washington-based Arms Control Association called it "a very important reaffirmation of the global taboo against nuclear weapon test explosions and strong call for ratification" by key nations. Yet Friday's move was mostly symbolic. The U.S. remains one of the holdouts among the 44 countries that are designated "nuclear capable" the United States, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea and Pakistan that still need to ratify the treaty for it to enter into force. North Korean leaders appeared in no mood to ratify any time soon, with Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho vowing his country will expand its nuclear capabilities in defiance of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions. Speaking at the U.N. General Assembly on Friday, he condemned Washington for flying two supersonic bombers over South Korea earlier this week, vowing "the United States will have to face tremendous consequences beyond imagination." North Korea, he said, "will continue to take measures to strengthen its national nuclear armed forces in both quantity and quality in order to defend the dignity and right to existence and safeguard genuine peace vis-a-vis the increased nuclear war threat of the United States." Even without ratification, the U.N.'s CTBTO already polices the world for any sign of nuclear tests with a global network of monitoring stations that pick up seismic signals and gases released by such events. But until those eight countries embrace the treaty it is supposed to administer, it cannot go on site to inspect for tests. The White House has lobbied Congress for support since anti-treaty minded Republicans rejected ratification 17 years ago under President Bill Clinton, with Senate approval falling far short of the required two-thirds majority. But opposition remains strong, although advocates say that computer modeling and other cutting edge techniques make real testing obsolete. The treaty "should remain dead," Sens. Tom Cotton and James Lankford declared this year, arguing that it would allow U.S. rivals to cheat while diminishing America's security in an increasingly hostile world. Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, whose country has already ratified the treaty, said he hoped the next U.S. administration will demonstrate "more strength" in pushing for ratification. Kerry said the U.S. administration already is doing what it can to educate new members of the Senate that "in today's modern world of virtual capacity and of computerization and artificial intelligence, we don't need to blow up weapons to know what we can do." He said global implementation remained possible, citing the nuclear deal with Iran as an example of an achievement that "everybody thought was ... improbable." And Kerry focused on this month's North Korean bomb test "a dangerous and reckless act of provocation" in arguing for the need of a universally honored test ban treaty. Demonstrators carried signs, chanted and marched in a peaceful protest hours after the family of a black man shot by police released video showing the events leading up to his death. Friday's march through Charlotte's business district was the fourth night of demonstrations over the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott earlier in the week. After darkness fell, dozens of people took to the streets to urge police to release dashboard and body camera video that could show more clearly what happened. Police have said Scott was armed, but witnesses say he held only a book. The group, which appeared smaller than previous nights, carried a banner that said "Just Release the Tapes." Earlier in the day, footage recorded by Keith Lamont Scott's wife and released by his family shows his wife repeatedly telling officers he is not armed and pleading with them not to shoot her husband as they shout at him to drop a gun. The 2 -minute video released by the family does not show the shooting, though gunshots can be heard. In the video Scott's wife, Rakeyia Scott, tells officers that he has a TBI, or traumatic brain injury. At one point, she tells her husband to get out of the car so police don't break the windows. She also tells him, "don't do it," but it's not clear exactly what she means. As the encounter escalates, she repeatedly urges police, "You better not shoot him." After the gunshots, Scott can be seen lying face-down on the ground while his wife says, "He better live." She continues recording and asks if an ambulance has been called. The officers stand over Scott. It's unclear if they are checking him for weapons or attempting to give first aid. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said Friday that there is footage from at least one police body camera and one dashboard camera that shows the shooting. The family of Scott, 43, was shown that footage Thursday and demanded that police release it to the public. Putney said Friday that releasing the footage of Scott's death could inflame the situation. He has said previously that the video will be made public when he believes there is a "compelling reason" to do so. "It's a personal struggle, but I have to do what I think is best for my community," Putney said. During the same news conference, Roberts said she believes the video should be released, but "the question is on the timing." Charlotte is the latest U.S. city to be shaken by protests and recriminations over the death of a black man at the hands of police, a list that includes Baltimore, Milwaukee, Chicago, New York and Ferguson, Missouri. Earlier in the week, the Charlotte protests turned violent, with demonstrators attacking reporters and others, setting fires and smashing windows of hotels, office buildings and restaurants. Forty-four people were arrested after Wednesday's protests, and one protester who was shot died at the hospital Thursday. City officials said police did not shoot 26-year-old Justin Carr. A suspect was arrested, but police provided few details. On Thursday, protests were largely peaceful after National Guard members came to the city to help keep order and the mayor imposed a curfew. Scott's mother also asked protesters to "give up the rioting" on Friday because it's worsened the situation. The mother of Keith Lamont Scott told WCSC TV of Charleston, South Carolina, that he would not want the violence that followed his death Tuesday. Vernita Scott Walker of James Island says a peaceful walk is fine, but the rioting and looting "makes it bad for the family." On Friday, a choir from The Citadel Church in Greensboro stood a street corner singing spirituals for two hours, drawing a crowd of curious onlookers who were moved enough to clap along. The Rev. Gregory Drumwright directed the choir of approximately two dozen, saying they wanted to be "vessels of peace, vessels of righteousness, not rage." The halls of an elementary school in San Diego were covered in gold Friday as students showed their support for a resilient fellow classmate who has been cancer-free for three years after a bone marrow transplant from her little brother. Gold balloons and signs raising awareness for childhood cancer draped every corner of Park Village Elementary School in Rancho Penasquitos to highlight the need for more funding for pediatric cancer research. Park Village Elementary School rallied Friday for a 3rd grade student, Rina Sy, who has been cancer-free for three years after receiving a bone marrow transplant from her little brother. Students wore gold to highlight the need for funding for pediatric cancer research in Rinas honor. The Going Gold event was inspired by 9-year-old student Rina Sy and her incredible story of survival a story only possible thanks to her little brother, Patrick Sy. On Mothers Day 2013, at the age of just 5, Rina was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia Acute Lymphoblast Leukemia, Philadelphia Chromosome. Sy Family Photo Her mother, Marianne Sy, said the family immediately began exploring bone marrow transplant options for Rinas treatment, checking the compatibility of loved ones. Chances were slim, Sy said a one in four chance that someone would be Rinas match. The answer was right before their eyes: Rinas little brother, Patrick, turned out to be her perfect bone marrow match. Marianne said Patrick was only three years old at the time. To explain the magnitude of the situation to the boy in a manner that he could fully grasp, Marianne and her husband used an analogy involving the popular mobile games Angry Birds and Bad Piggies. The Sys told their son that Rina had Bad Piggies in her body and he had Angry Birds in his body that could fight the bad guys. [We told him] we have to figure out how to take those Angry Birds from your body and put them into your sisters body so they can have a battle with the Bad Piggies. And we dont know whos going to win, but we pray the Angry Birds are going to win, Marianne recalled. Sy Family Photo The process was long and complicated. The Sy family spent 18 months at Rady Childrens Hospital. Rina underwent five rounds of chemotherapy, six rounds of radiation and 23 blood transfusions. Patrick was hospitalized, too, and Marianne said doctors extracted 10 ounces of liquid marrow from his tiny body to transplant into Rinas body. The transplant worked. We are three years cancer-free today, Marianne told NBC 7 on Friday, beaming in her gold attire at Park Village Elementary School. Today, Rina is in 3rd grade and Patrick in 1st grade. The Sy family continues to share their story and to champion increased funding for pediatric cancer research, giving back to Rady Childrens Hospital in any way possible the place they called home for so many months. Park Village Elementary School stands behind them. Friday marked the second year the school has gone gold in September for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Marianne said her family is deeply touched by the support especially from the students themselves. The kids have become advocates, which is just my dream, she told NBC 7. These kids are hopefully going to be doctors and scientists and researchers someday but today, theyre advocates. Theyre rooting for their other classmates who are fighting cancer and beating it. Cancer survivor Rina Sy, 8, and her family are leading fundraising efforts to help support research for childhood cancer. Rina was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia at age 5, but her brother saved her. The school has been collecting donations to benefit cancer research for Rady Childrens Hospital in gold boxes placed in classrooms and through fundraising events like bake sales. Tanya Iraca, of Rady Childrens, said the hospital continues to be inspired by Rinas story and grateful for the familys philanthropic efforts as advocates in the fight against childhood cancer. The family knows the only way to eradicate pediatric cancer is through research, said Iraca. They give back in any way they can sharing their story and hosting fundraisers like this. Iraca said Rady Childrens Hospital diagnosed 290 young patients with cancer last year. Doctors want to see those numbers go down and Iraca said best way to make progress is to fund more research and obtain the best possible tools to win the fight. To learn more about Rinas story and how you can donate to her familys fundraising mission, visit the Resilient Rina blog. Below is a list of debate viewing parties around Los Angeles. A cellphone call has given detectives a glimpse into the last moments of the young Marine slain a week ago in Los Angeles, but more clues will be needed to identify the killer, police said Friday as the city council approved a $50,000 reward fund. "Don't give up on this. We need justice," implored Claudia Perez, a friend of the family of Lance Cpl. Carlos Segovia Lopez. He was on weekend liberty from Camp Pendleton and had just left the home of his girlfriend's family when he was fatally wounded with a single shot to the head. He was found slumped over the steering wheel of his car. Segovia Lopez was having a cellphone conversation when it appeared he became aware of something suspicion, and then the line went silent, according to Capt. Peter Whittingham, commander of the LAPD Criminal Gang Homicide section. "It is very possible that he might have seen some suspicious activity or maybe even a crime in progress," Whittingham said. "And it appears to us that something happened in that instant where he was killed, I'm sure by the person or persons who he observed and who he had some concerns about their activity." Nevertheless, investigators so far have been unable to obtain direct witness counts or evidence that incrimates a specific individual, and there does not appear to be any security camera video that could shed light on what happened, Whittingham told the council. A solemness descended on council chambers as Whittingham and loved ones of Segovia Lopez spoke of his dedication to service. In high school, he had begun volunteering for a number of non-profit causes, including LA on Cloud 9, which aids the homeless. After graduating from Foshay Learning Center last year, he enlisted in the Marine Corps, but during leave time continued to volunteer, said Perez, the organization's founder. After the shooting, which did devestating damage to the brain, Segovia Lopez remained on life support for several days before it was determined the injury was irreversible. He had chose to be an organ donor. His kidneys and pancreas were transplanted to recipients in northern California, a man in his 40's and a woman in her 70's, it was revealed Friday by Tom Mone, executive director of OneLegacy. Memorial arrangements for Segovia Lopez will include a viewing 4-9pm Thursday, October 4, at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall, 1816 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles. His life will be commemorated during a funeral mass at 9:30am the following morning at the Cathedral of the Angels, 555 W. Temple Street. "He was more than a brother. He was my hero," said his sister, Cynthia, 13. She spoke of her brother's ambitions someday to attend the University of Southern California and to become a leader. "Now I want to finish his dreams," she said, pledging to work for admission to USC, and to explore enlisting somebody in the US Navy. Family and investigators ask anyone with information on the case to contact detectives directly at 323-786-5110, or 877-LAPD247. Police are investigating a shooting at a Hollywood Checkers restaurant that left a man dead Saturday morning. Hollywood Police Department responded to a report of a shooting in the Checkers parking lot at 6171 Hollywood Boulevard around 12:20 a.m. Saturday. 21-year-old Tyshawn Marshall was shot killed, police say. Detectives are looking for a black male suspect in his 20s, driving a newer model black Ford Mustang. It is unknown at this time if the Marshall knew the suspect or what caused the shooting. Hollywood Detectives are also looking for anyone who was in the area at the time or if they know anything about the shooting to call the Hollywood Police Department at 954-967-4636. Information can also be given to Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. No more information has been made available at this time. A Miami firefighter was one of two victims killed in a drive-by shooting early Saturday morning. The shooting occurred in the area of NW 44th Court and 31st Court in Miami-Dade County around 1:28 a.m. City of Miami Firefighter Chadrick Davis, 32, and 22-year-old Earnest Williams were shot and killed in the drive-by shooting Saturday, police said. According to City of Miami officials, Davis was shot after attending a wake. I am very saddened by the loss of one of our firefighters and the continued senseless violence in our community," said Miami City Manager Daniel J. Alfonso. "My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and to all of our firefighters." Firefighters will be lining up along Northwest 19th Street and 10th Avenue to pay respects to Davis. Miami Dade Police Department is investigating the incident. This is a developing story; check back with NBC 6 for updates. Bill Nunn, the actor most famous for his role as Radio Raheem in Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing," died Saturday in Pittsburgh, Lee announced on Instagram. He was 62. "My Dear Friend, My Dear Morehouse Brother- Da Great Actor Bill Nunn As Most Of You Know Him As Radio Raheem Passed Away This Morning In His Hometown Of Pittsburgh. Long Live Bill NUNN," Lee wrote on Instagram. Nunn appeared in a number films throughout his career, which spanned from the late 1980s into the 21st Century. He acted opposite Tobey Maguire in the "Spiderman" franchise, in "New Jack City" with Wesley Snipes, and in "Sister Act" starring Whoopi Goldberg. But his most notable role was Radio Raheem, the Bedford-Stuyvesant resident who spoke in poetic prose about his brass knuckles emblazoned with the words "love" and "hate." In the film, racial tensions in the Brooklyn neighborhood simmer during a steamy summer day. They boil over at night when Nunn's character is choked to death by a New York City police officer. "RADIO RAHEEM Is Now RESTING IN POWER," Lee wrote on Instagram. "RADIO RAHEEM WILL ALWAYS BE FIGHTING DA POWERS DAT BE. MAY GOD WATCH OVER BILL NUNN." Hofstra University students are both piping up and pitching in ahead of the presidential debate on the college's campus next week. Dozens of students have been enlisted to help organize Hofstra's social media presence ahead of Monday's debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Others, meanwhile, used the extra attention to voice their opinion on the upcoming election. Madison Wright said it was "a miracle opportunity" to volunteer for the debate. She'll be using her skills in Snapchat, Twitter and Facebook to help push out updates on the debate next week. "Everyone's taking pictures for snapchat and I'm saying '#hofdebate16 hashtag it,'" she said. Other students voiced their concerns with Trump, in an ad produced by Not Who We Are, a political action committee opposing the Republican presidential nominee. "I don't think you can have a racist and a bigot as president," one student said. Another student, Rob Bielunas, wrote an open letter saying in part that "As members of the Hofstra community, we strongly stand against Donald J. Trumps divisive and damaging rhetoric." "modern history, there has never been a serious presidential candidate as reckless and divisive as Donald J. Trump," he added. Investigators are looking into whether the man who planted explosives in New York and New Jersey over the weekend took a train into New York Penn Station with the devices, senior law enforcement officials told NBC 4 New York. Officials said it's not yet clear how Ahmad Rahami got to and from Manhattan the night that two bombs were planted in Chelsea. A criminal complaint says that a car belonging to Rahami's family entered the Lincoln Tunnel that night at about 6:30 p.m. and returned at 11:30 p.m. But officials said surveillance camera coverage of the tunnel does not allow them to see who is driving. Officials said that investigators are also looking into the possibility he got to the city by other means, including a train to Penn Station or a car-for-hire service such as Uber or Lyft. It comes after sources familiar with the investigation told NBC 4 New York that Ahmad Rahami likely learned how to build the mechanisms that could trigger a bomb while in community college in the United States. Rahami took an electronics class while a student at Union County Community College, and the sources said he would have learned how to build a triggering-type device while in that class. The college said on Friday afternoon that Rahami enrolled in several non-credit courses at the college that are open to the general public. It said that there was no additional record that he went to class or enrolled in any additional courses. The college added that it is cooperating with the investigation. Rahami faces federal charges that he planted bombs last weekend in New York and New Jersey. One of the New York bombs exploded on 23rd St., injuring 31 people. He remains in a hospital after a shoot-out with Linden, New Jersey police on Monday. One of the questions investigators are trying to answer is whether he had any terror training during a variety of trips abroad. The sources also said that investigators have now spoken to Rahami's wife, who has been traveling for months and was apparently unaware of his plans. What to Know Police are investigating two reports of attempted abductions of girls in tow days in Roselle, New Jersey The girls were able to fight off the man in each case, police say Anyone with information is asked to contact Roselle police Police in a New Jersey community are investigating two attempted abductions of girls in two days. The first involved a 12-year-old girl walking to school in Roselle Tuesday, when a man at 7th Avenue and Chestnut Street allegedly lured her over to his car door and then grabbed her arm, police said. Two days later, a 16-year-old girl said someone at 5th Avenue and Walnut grabbed her waist, police said. In both cases, the girls were able to fight the man off. Both victims said their attacker was a man in his 30s with dark hair and a thin build, driving a silver SUV, according to police. Gus Lowther lives nearby and said police have asked if he had any surveillance video. "I'm very, very nervous about our community," he said. "I will be keeping my eyes open," said Alberta Mickens. Rutgers University police say they're investigating a report of a shooting on a campus parking lot in Piscataway Friday evening. Campus police say two men were seen arguing in Lot 103 just before 5 p.m., one armed with a machete and another armed with a handgun. The gunman reportedly fired at a parked car inside the lot, then fled in a black SUV away from campus, police said. Chopper 4 over the scene showed several parked cars askew, apparently pushed by the fleeing car. Rutgers University police is asking anyone with information to contact them, and remind students, faculty and staff that they provide security escorts upon request. Water test results for 65 households have been released by Horsham Township in the first "point source" data released as part of the ongoing water contamination issue for towns in Montgomery and Bucks counties surrounding military installations. The results show that the tested households have an average of 18.4 perfluorochemical (PFCs) parts per trillion in combined perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid) PFOA. The testing broke down the two PFCs related to a firefighting foam used for years on the former Willow Grove Naval Air Station and Warminster Naval Air Warfare Center. Six of the 65 households had PFC parts per trillion above 30. Another 22 households had PFC parts per trillion above 20. Horsham said in a statement released with the results that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's health advisory limit is 70 parts per trillion for the two PFCs at the center of months of concern among residents. A Harvard study, however, found that an "approximate" safe level of the chemical in drinking water should be 1 part for trillion. That study was included in a New York Times report in January about a lawyer taking on DuPont related to its decades of chemical creation and manufacturing. "Earlier this summer Horsham Township Council approved a point source water testing program to be initiated," the township said in a statement posted Thursday on Horsham's municipal website. "This will provide our citizens with information from their tap showing the level of Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) in their water and confirming the safety of the public water system." Related to the ongoing concerns with health of those who live or have lived in the areas around the two military facilities, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey held a hearing Thursday morning in Washington D.C. Philly.com reported that federal health officials for the first time indicated support for blood testing and health monitoring of residents who may have drank contaminated water. But no one at the hearing indicated who would pay for the expensive testing and monitoring of those residents. Test results for another 40 households will be released in the near future. The water-testing company that conducted the study, Public Utility Enterprises, Inc., tested a total of 115 households. Horsham also said that, as remediation efforts continue into 2017 to increase water quality through improved filtration systems and water purchased from North Wales, more tests on the same households will be done. Through those remediation efforts, which the township has described as short-term fixes, Horsham plans to get its public water PFC levels to 1 part per trillion. Since 2014, numerous public and private drinking wells in Horsham, Warrington and Warminster have been shut down because of concerns over PFOs. The chemical compounds have been linked to some cancers and other illnesses. To see the test results for each of the 65 households, click here. Many residents of the Philadelphia area will not remember Saturday for the Philly Free Streets event, but rather for the trip they had to make to the Philadelphia Parking Authority to retrieve their towed cars. At least 200 South Philadelphia and Old City residents went to bed knowing where their cars were parked, and woke up to find the streets empty. Anastasia Cappelli lives near 18th and Lombard Streets and last walked by her car, parked at 20th and Lombard at 7:30 p.m. last night and did not see any signs posted warning residents to move their cars. She'd heard about the Philly Free Streets event, but said she wasn't aware there would be parking restrictions. While down at the PPA waiting to pay the $175 towing and storage fee as well as a $76 ticket for parking in an area designated as "Temporary No Parking" by police, Cappelli found other upset residents in the same predicament. Some said their security cameras recorded signs being posted around 9 p.m. Friday. "I am disappointed that such a lovely event is now tarnished to the residents that live here," Cappelli expressed. "It seems like a violation of what we're allowed as city residents and it's a shame that this will be the aftermath of an event that was supposed to be great." Open Streets Philadelphia posted a blog post about the route that would be closed to traffic, but no mention or warning about parked cars. UWISHUNU also had a post about driving and linked to a parking restriction list that does mention cars would be prohibited on streets included in the route. "Due to miscommunication, some cars parked along the event route were ticketed and towed rather than simply relocated," Mike Dunn, City of Philadelphia Deputy Communications Director, stated. Dunn said the City will do the right thing for Cappelli and all the others who woke up to find their cars towed. "All tickets will be canceled. Anyone who already paid a towing charge to retrieve their car will have the payment refunded and anyone who has not yet retrieved their car will not have to pay," Dunn said. Posting signs along the 10-miles of shut down streets was a process Dunn said that started Thursday and was finished by 8 p.m. Friday. "Flyers [sic] were placed on doors and the Streets Department made robo-calls to inform affected residents of the parking restrictions." "The City apologizes for the inconvenience the towing may have caused," Dunn said in a statement Saturday afternoon. "Had someone done their job properly and provided ample notice, not at 8-10 p.m. the night prior, I am sure we would have participated in this event." Cappelli stated. A deputy city marshal charged with murder in the shooting of a 6-year-old boy is asking a Louisiana judge to throw out his indictment. Derrick Stafford is saying he acted in self-defense by opening fire on a car driven by the boy's father. Jeremy Mardis, the 6-year-old autistic boy shot by police during the November incident, was the youngest person shot by police in 2015. The boy's father, Christopher Few, was wounded after what officials described as a pursuit. Body camera video that captured the shooting led to the arrests, police said. Louisiana State Police superintendent Col. Michael Edmonson called the video "extremely disturbing." But a court filing by Derrick Stafford's attorneys says the police body camera video lacks audio for the first 27 seconds, making it impossible to determine if Stafford started shooting before or after Few raised his hands inside the car. Stafford's lawyers claim the Few ignored officers' commands to stop and rammed into a vehicle that another deputy marshal, Norris Greenhouse Jr., was exiting. Stafford and Greenhouse await separate trials on second-degree murder charges. Second-degree murder carries a mandatory punishment of life in prison without parole, the attorney general said. A charge of attempted second-degree murder carries up to 50 years in prison. Greenhouse is free on $1 million bail, while Stafford remains jailed, NBC News reported. A former manager of SeaWorld was sentenced Friday to 30 months in prison for embezzling more than $800,000 over a period of eight years while he was working there. Wilfred David Joseph Jobin-Reyes, 48, created fake invoices for a sham company called SJ Merchandise that he secretly owned and used his position as manager to approve payments from SeaWorld. Jobin-Reyes created a dummy email account and posed as SJ Merchandise owner John Caldwell to correspond with SeaWorld officials. He used his work computer to make fake invoices for inventory such as wildlife animal bookmarks, sea creature rings and purple shiny ornaments that that were difficult to trace. Jobin-Reyes accepted fraudulent payments for just under $10,000, the amount that would have triggered a further review. SeaWorld only discovered the fraud after he had embezzled over $800,000. Todays sentencing is a reminder to those who engage in financial fraud and identity theft that the U.S. Secret Service and its law enforcement partners will actively investigate and pursue prosecution of those who violate the trust of their employers for their own personal gain, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge David Murray said. Jobin-Reyes also claimed fake expenses for SJ Merchandise" on his tax returns and pretended his business with underwater with heavy losses to reduce the amount of taxes he owed, underpaying by more than $200,000 between 2010 and 2014. Business insiders who abuse the trust of their employers and the community should be warned that they face serious consequences and will be brought to justice, said U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy. We are dedicated to protecting our local businesses, citizens, and taxpayers from corruption and deceit. Along with his alias John Caldwell, Jobin-Reyes also stole the identity of a friend a former roommate who had once given him access to his personal information. He convinced his friend to open business banking and credit accounts, then used the accounts to receive and disburse the embezzled funds from SeaWorld. He also used his friends social security card to open several credit cards, racking up unpaid and overdue balances of at least $177,000. He also had credit cards opened for family members, adding more debt to his friends account. Jobin-Reyes spent the money on cruises, plane tickets, hotels, restaurants and shopping. As todays sentencing of Mr. Jobin-Reyes demonstrates, defrauding your employer, your friend, and deceiving the IRS results in serious consequences, both financially and in terms of ones freedom, stated IRS-Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony J. Orlando. IRS-Criminal Investigation is committed to working with our law enforcement partners, as well as with members of the local community, to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who commit fraud for their own personal financial gain. After his arrest in Dallas in March, Jobin-Reyes has been detained as a flight risk. He has been ordered to pay $818,000 to SeaWorld, $177,000 to the friend whose identity he stole and hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes and penalties to the IRS. Police are searching for a driver who ran over a man in San Diegos University City area Saturday morning and left the victim injured in the street. The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) said the hit-and-run happened just before 5 a.m. in the 9800 block of Genesee Avenue. Investigators said a man in his 60s was lying in the street though the reason for this is unknown. A driver approached the scene and ran over the man. The driver did not stop and continued east on Genesee Avenue, the SDPD said. The victim suffered a fractured leg in the hit-and-run and was taken to a local hospital. As of 9:40 a.m. Saturday, police did not have any details on the suspect or the suspects vehicle. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information can reach out to Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Two San Diego residents have filed a class-action complaint against Yahoo following a data breach that compromised 500 million accounts. The complaint was filed Thursday in U.S. District in San Diego by local attorney David Casey on behalf of Jennifer Myers and Paul Dugas. It came on the same day the email provider confirmed the massive security breakdown that dates back to late 2014. In the complaint, the plaintiffs allege their private information was compromised. The complaint accuses Yahoo of deceptive practices and negligence, alleging the tech company did not take reasonable care to prevent the hack. The complaint states that damage caused by identity theft in general registers in the billions of dollars. The type of information compromised in this data breach is highly valuable to perpetrators of identity theft, the complaint states. Names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, passwords and security question answers can all be used to gain access to a variety of existing accounts and websites. The complaint seeks an unspecified amount of damages to be determined at a jury trial. They're really angry this wasnt found out sooner, the plaintiffs attorney David Casey told NBC 7. For it to have occurred and then for it not to be discovered for a two-year period is pretty outrageous. Yahoo says it has more than 1 billion monthly users, although it hasn't disclosed how many of those people have email accounts. In July, 161 million people worldwide used Yahoo email on personal computers, a 30 percent decline from the same time in 2014, according to the latest data from the research firm comScore. The company said the attacker didn't get any information about its users' bank accounts or credit and debit cards. Yahoo told NBC 7 "We don't comment on ongoing litigation." To read the full complaint, go here. The Freedom Bell that rang to open the National Museum of African American History and Culture traveled from Williamsburg, Virginia, but its story began nearly 250 years ago. A group of free and enslaved African-Americans met secretly near the Virginia city and formed what is known as the First Baptist Church. It is believe to be the first Baptist church organized by and entirely for African-Americans. The bell was cast in 1886 after funds were raised by women at the church. Although silent through much of the civil rights era, it rang in early 2016 for the first time in years to mark the 240th anniversary of both the Declaration of Independence and the Frist Baptist Church of Williamsburg. "This is first and foremost about the First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, our community, and a larger message we hope to share with the nation," said Mitchell Reiss, president of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, in a February NBC News story. "Colonial Williamsburg was built by enslaved African-Americans, and it was rebuilt in the 1920s and '30s, largely by African-American workers. We believe that this is a moment in time where we can provide some of our assistance to the church to make a statement that we think will be heard across the country." President Barack Obama, along with first lady Michelle Obama, rang the bell at the end of the dedication ceremony, opening the new Smithsonian museum, located on the National Mall, to the public. The bell will be displayed at the museum until the beginning of October. It will return to Williamsburg in time for the official anniversary celebration of the church. WATCH the debate live at 9 p.m. ET. The man famous for getting in Hillary Clintons face during the campaign that launched her political career has some debate advice for Donald Trump. Stay at his lectern. Rick Lazio should know. The former Republican congressman didn't and paid the price for a performance that has become a textbook example of what not to do when your opponent is a woman. Lazio, today a partner with the Jones Walker law firm, ran against Clinton in 2000 for the U.S. Senate. At their first debate in Buffalo, New York, he crossed the stage to Clinton's lectern, pointing his finger as he urged her to sign a pledge about limiting the funding of their race. He was seen as hectoring, his campaign faltered and she went on to win. Lazio's misstep is being recalled as Clinton and Donald Trump prepare for their debate on Monday, pitting the first woman to run as a major party presidential candidate versus the former reality TV star who has made browbeating opponents a key to his success. "Little Marco," "Lyin' Ted" and "Low-energy Jeb" have given way to "Crooked Hillary," but will he fling insults at her when they meet at New York's Hofstra University? Will Clinton goad him to try to show he is not suited for the presidency? Trump said that he would curb his disparaging tone at the debate, to be moderated by NBC News' Lester Holt. The 90-minute debate will be televised by NBC and streamed on this site at 9 p.m. ET Monday. "I'm going to be very respectful of her," he told Fox News' "Fox and Friends." "I think she deserves that and I'm going to be nice. And if she's respectful of me, that'll be nice." That hasn't stopped him from mocking her on Twitter. Hillary Clinton is taking the day off again, she needs the rest. Sleep well Hillary - see you at the debate! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 20, 2016 "Hillary is taking the day off again, she needs the rest," he tweeted Tuesday about her bout with pneumonia. "Sleep well Hillary see you at the debate!" For Clinton's part, she zeroed in on Trump's derisive comments when she spoke on Steve Harvey's radio show. "I am going to do my very best to communicate as clearly and fearlessly as I can in the face of the insults and the attacks and the bullying and bigotry that we have seen coming from my opponent," Clinton said. "I can take it, Steve. I can take that kind of stuff. I have been at this, and I understand it is a contact sport." Lazio, who said that neither Trump nor Clinton had earned his support, has several suggestions for Trump: Present a positive vision, be aware of non-verbal communication and don't go for the knock-out punch, but rather, amplify Clinton's negatives. Demonstrate enough knowledge of policy details to establish his credibility as president without trying to duel with someone who has been in and around Washington for nearly 25 years. And with nearly two-thirds of the public feeling that the country is on the wrong track, distinguish himself as the change agent and Clinton as more of the failed and uninspiring status quo. "Have your team prepared and on high alert afterward to drive your debate message," he wrote. There are two debates as I well discovered the actual event and what gets covered by the media and watched by the public afterward. "And finally....stay at the podium!" Developers of a new multi-use building in downtown Winooski, Vermont are offering a potential game-changer for someone looking to start or expand a small business: free rent. The City Lights building is scheduled to open on East Allen Street in the summer of 2017. It's currently under construction. The builders are offering 463 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor rent-free to a business. Whoever is chosen to receive free rent will be responsible for all utilities, according to the request for proposals. After the first year, the developers' goal is to have the business become a long-term paying tenant. "It's sort of our way to give back and to make sure that space is filled and also be successful for the Winooski community," said real estate developer Jacquie Dagesse, of the Dagesse Company. "In that first year of business, cash flow can be a real challenge. So if we can help with cash flow concerns for a startup or an expanding business in that first year, it really could make a big difference." Dagesse told necn that a food or beverage company, such as a sandwich shop or a tap room, would be a good fit for the busy neighborhood. The City Lights property is next to the Community College of Vermont. It is within walking distance from a parking garage, close to on-street parking, and will have a limited number of parking spaces, Dagesse noted. The Dagesse Company is now accepting business proposals for the free year of commercial rent. More information is available here. While City Lights also will have residential space in the upper levels, the offer of one year of free rent only applies to the ground-level commercial space, Dagesse noted. This is not the first time the developers have given away something free. This summer, a historic house that used to sit on the City Lights land was moved from Winooski to Burlington, instead of being torn down. The City Lights developers gave the house away free, with its new owner paying for the majority of the costs of the move. Flags were at half-staff in Wilmington, Delaware Saturday in honor of two firefighters who were killed after the first floor of a burning row home collapsed. Loved ones continue to mourn Wilmington Fire Lt. Christopher Leach, 41, and Wilmington Senior Firefighter Jerry Fickes, 51. All of our family is hurting, significantly," said Wilmington Fire Department Chief Anthony Goode. "The entire city is hurting significantly. I know I am. Leach, who was assigned to Ladder 2, and Fickes, who was assigned to Squad 4, were two of the several firefighters who responded to a fire at a row home on the 1900 block of Lakeview Road in a development called Canby Park in Wilmington shortly before 3 a.m. Saturday. Smoke detectors inside the home began going off as a family of six slept. "We were like, 'wake up, wake up, it's a fire!'" said Winter Brooks, who lives inside the home. "It was really scary." After the first unit arrived, a report was transmitted of heavy fire from the rear and another engine was dispatched. Firefighters entered the home and tried to save the family members who they believed were trapped inside the basement. They didn't realize at the time however that the entire family had safely escaped the burning house. As the firefighters remained inside, the first floor of the home, which investigators say was soft and brittle, collapsed. Leach and Fickes then fell through to the basement and were trapped inside. A Wilmington firefighter declared a "mayday" at 3:14 a.m. and officials directed more resources to assist them. "Firefighters trapped, first floor," a dispatcher said in a recording obtained by NBC10. "Mayday has been declared. All units out." Wilmington Fire Chief Anthony Goode identifies the two fallen firefighters and asks the community to pray because its a very tough day for the department and families of Christopher Leach and Jerry Fickes. Read full story here Several firefighters searched through the home and eventually found Leach and Fickes. Both firefighters had died from their injuries. The saddest thing was having to watch them carry that firefighter out with an American flag over them, and it almost broke my heart, said neighbor Marion Veasey.[[394677361,C]] Veasey, who lives right behind the home that caught fire, said she was awakened close to 3 a.m. by all the commotion and ran to the back window. The flames were shooting out of the top of the house. It was everywhere. Everywhere. It was the most horrific thing Ive ever seen, Veasey said. The most horrible thing is a house can be replaced, but not these lives." Four other firefighters were also injured during the fire. Two of the survivors remain in critical condition at the Crozer Chester Medical Center Burn Center while two others were treated and released from Christiana Hospital. The fallen firefighters both leave behind children and families. Leach was with the department for 14 years and Fickes spent the last 13 years as a Wilmington firefighter. "He died a hero," said Betsy Arnold, a neighbor. A prayer service was held for the two Wilmington firefighters who died while battling a house fire. NBC10s Drew Smith has the story. A prayer service was held for the two firefighters at the Salesianum School in Wilmington where Leach had attended as a teen. Leach's son also currently attends the school. Leach had visited the school just last week to talk with students. "He told the students about how much he loved his job," said Salesianum School president Brendan Kennealey, who was also Leach's classmate in the 90s. Just last week, Leach left a Facebook post that seems to underscore his love of the job.[[394678451,C]] Vice President Joe Biden visited the scene of the deadly fire Saturday night. He was one of many leaders who tried to comfort the family of the fallen first responders. Delaware Senator Chris Coons also attended the prayer service. "It should remind all of us just how grateful we should be for all of our first responders who take up jobs where every day they don't know if they'll come home," Senator Coons said. In addition to their work as firefighters, Leach and Fickes were also known for helping others and collected coats for needy children during the winter. "Jerry and I started in the fire service many, many years ago," said Tim Taggart of Local 1590. "He's one of the toughest guys I know." Federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting in the fire investigation, which will be led by the state fire marshal's office. Its a good thing Instagram celebrity Doug the Pug lives in the United States. If he were from the United Kingdom, he might confront an unexpected stigma this week after the British Veterinary Association called for prospective dog owners to avoid flat-faced dog breeds. The warning targets canines of the brachycephalic variety, or dogs with little to no snout, like pugs, bulldogs, and shih tzus. According to The Guardian, Sean Wensley, president of the BVA, said prospective dog owners need to consider that these dogs can suffer a range of health issues throughout their lives, from eye ulcers to painful spine abnormalities and severe breathing difficulties that can result in otherwise preventable surgery. Many domestic canine lovers say the Brits are grossly overreacting. Richard Goldstein, chief medical officer at Manhattans Animal Medical Center, explained that nearly all thoroughbreds will come with baggage because of their specializations; if youre looking for a problem-free dog, he recommended swinging by a shelter and picking out a medium-sized mutt. That said, Goldstein has his own brachycephalic pooch, an 8-year-old English toy spaniel he absolutely adores. Our role is not to try to eliminate certain breeds or tell people that they shouldnt get them, said the vet. I definitely feel like theres a place for them, and I dont feel like we should be discouraging the appropriate owner from adopting one. The American Kennel Club agrees with the message, writing that it "emphatically supports freedom of choice in selecting a pet." "AKC actively promotes efforts to ensure that people are educated, understand the demands of responsible ownership and have access to healthy, well-bred dogs that are right for them," a spokesperson told NBC. They emphasized "that breeding programs should be undertaken responsibly for the purpose of preserving breed characteristics and producing healthy, well-socialized purebred puppies... Owners should be diligent in the care and overall well-being of their dog by keeping track of their exercise, health visits, vaccinations and other preventative measures that aid in their dog maintaining its best health." All breeds have their pros and cons, and flat-faced canines do come with flaws. Goldstein allowed that brachycephalic dogs are more prone to airway and back problems, and sometimes suffer from skin damage, like many breeds. According to Julie Legred, executive director at the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, "brachycephalic breeds have an increased risk of complications during anesthesia." But, she countered, by following protocols and using certified veterinary technicians, such surgical errors dramatically decrease. Because the dogs' faces are so close to the objects they sniff, their owners must be attentive, said Cynthia Cool, a pug breeder in Vacaville, California.. Theyre also more sensitive to weather than other breeds. If youre walking the dog, you need to exercise them when its cooler as opposed to too warm outside, she advised. In terms of life expectancy, Cool bragged that some of her pugs celebrated 16th birthdays. On average, the animals make it to 11 or 12, which is typical for a dog under 20 pounds. By contrast, Goldstein said that large dogs tend to have the shortest lives, with some considered geriatric at only 5 years old. John Little, president of the Bulldog Club of America, didn't seem convinced about his favorite pooch's deficiencies. The fact is that the bulldog is an exceptional breed, he added. Its a tremendous pet, and it has all the characteristics we want in it. Not all canine experts pushed back hard against the BVA's recommendations. The American Veterinary Medical Association said in a statement to NBC that flat-faced dogs and their associated physical attributes "that negatively affect the animal's welfare should not be bred, as those characteristics and related problems are likely to be passed on to their puppies." But rescues are a different story, the group said. "Existing dogs with these conditions should not be passed over for adoption as long as the potential owner is informed of the animal's potential health risks and is willing to provide an appropriate lifestyle and necessary veterinary care as issues arise." Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican vice presidential hopeful Mike Pence are both planning to visit the Granite State next week. Pence is scheduled to speak Monday afternoon at the Milford Auditorium in Milford. Clinton's campaign announced Sunday she will be speaking at the University of New Hampshire in Durham on Wednesday afternoon with Bernie Sanders. The two will discuss their shared belief on college cost and student debt. Polls have generally given Clinton an edge over Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in New Hampshire. Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren headed north on Saturday to stump for Clinton in Manchester, Nashua and Durham. Clinton's campaign said the upcoming visit is to "support her vision of an America that is stronger together, with an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top." The campaign also said Clinton wants supporters to keep volunteering up until Election Day and get people they know to fill out a "Commit to Vote" card. An necn investigation is prompting change for cleaner drinking water in Massachusetts for the 600,000 who live along the Merrimack River. Since our investigation first aired in August showing all of the cars, tires and trash that had been pulled from the Merrimack, reaction has been quick and strong. We returned as Clean River Project pulled car number 65 from the Merrimack River. It was a stolen 1985 Jeep Grand Cherokee that has been at the bottom of the river for 26 years. Decades later, oil and chemicals burp out of the cars into the river. Time is not watering down the environmental impact. The team surrounds the recovery area with gas and oil booms to protect the environment. Our investigation in August introduced you to this nonprofit footing the bill to pull 60-plus cars, 8,000 tires and dumpsters of trash over the last 12 years. They have cobbled together donations and grants to barely stay afloat. "Financially, it's a nightmare," said Rocky Morrison, the Clean River Project's founder. necn Investigates took the issue of no money to the mayors of the Merrimack. "That we have a responsibility for it is clear," Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera said. "That we should figure out a way to make it happen is also clear." After our investigation, three mayors agreed to to action, including Lowell and Methuen. Only the mayor of Lawrence vowed to put money into his budget and address the other mayors. "I'm going to bring it up in the mayors and managers meeting for the Merrimack Valley mayors and managers because the river really is an asset for us," Rivera said. The mayor of Methuen says he is "continuing to explore ways ... to support their efforts." The mayor of Lowell has asked the sustainability council to take on the issue in October. After repeated efforts, there have been no statements from Andover or Haverhill. Viewers responded too after seeing our story and three boats needing motors parked on the streets in three river towns. Ken Aspeslagh and his brother Glen own Ecamm, a software company. "I was driving along (Route) 125 and saw Rocky's banner asking for a hero to sponsor a boat motor," Ken said. "I pulled over, took a picture and texted it to Glen and said 'How about this?'" The twin brothers, whose great-grandparents immigrated to Lawrence over 100 years ago, donated $8,500. Another $8,500 check came from Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston. Congresswoman Niki Tsongas contacted the Clean River Project within days of our investigation. "I would be sorry to see the Clean River Project close its doors if it is unable to secure the needed funding to maintain operations," she told necn Investigates. "We stand ready to help Mr. Morrison identify federal grant sources. In fact, my office reached out to the Clean River Project this week." The checks for $17,000 are enough to buy motors for two of the three boats used by divers. Still, divers need to be paid, equipment rented and cranes to lift out the cars operated. So on what could still be the final cleanup, Keurig Coffee sent teams of volunteers to help clean the river banks. This week, Clean River Project is spending the final grant money from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust to pull 13 more cars from behind the Boys and Girls Club in Lawrence. Kids from the club watched closely from the riverbank. As each car was laid to rest along the bank waiting to be towed, Morrison checked for any fish, hollering "Shake out the fish! He found two catfish and walked them back down to the river, announcing, "These belong in the river, those (cars) don't belong in the river." "In a few minutes that will be out of here on its way to the tow yard and this wont be a hazard for the environment," Morrison said. But more cars lie beneath, rotting away in what has become a graveyard of environmental economics. American Rivers says the Merrimack River is third of the 10 most endangered rivers. They were there for the clean-up, telling necn that sometimes these nonprofits are taken for granted until its too late. Two people are facing charges after police say they witnessed a drug deal worth $15,000 on Saturday morning in Andover, Massachusetts. Police said detectives were conducting surveillance in the area of Campanelli Road at 11:30 a.m. when they allegedly witnessed a Lawrence, Massachusetts, man conducting a drug transaction with a woman from Nashua, New Hampshire. After approaching the man's Mercedes SUV, detectives allegedly saw bags of heroin in the man's possession. Police said a further search of the vehicle found additional heroin inside the SUV. Authorities said detectives seized a total of 350 grams of heroin from the vehicle. Police arrested Jose Morales, 27, and Christine Soukaras, 30. Morales was charged with trafficking class A substance and is being held on $50,000 bail pending his arraignment in Lawrence District Court. Soukaras was charged with possession of class A substance. It's unclear when she will be arraigned. Police in Lowell, Massachusetts, are searching for a suspect wanted on larceny and assault charges. According to police, the incident occurred on Thursday night at the Subway restaurant located at 254 Merrimack Street in Lowe.. Around 8:47 p.m. surveillance video shows a male suspect stealing money from a tip jar located next to the register and then leaving the store. A customer notified the store clerk who went to look for the suspect. The clerk located a small bag on the floor which police believe contained heroin. Later on, the suspect returned to the store and demanded the bag from the clerk who told the suspect to return the money. The suspect then grabbed the clerk by the arm but she was able to pull away and contact police. Police say the suspect is a white male with dark hair that is long on the top and shaved on the sides, was wearing khaki pants, a white t-shirt, and a blue backpack with rope style straps. He is wanted on numerous charges including larceny from a building and assault and battery. Anyone with information is asked to contact police. Police are looking for a man with dementia who went missing Friday in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Authorities say 71-year-old David Lane was shopping at the Colony Place Shopping Center on Commerce Way when he got separated from his wife. Lane was seen on camera in a nearby Walmart parking lot around 5:20 p.m. Police describe Lane as a white man who is about 6'4 with a thin build. He has longer hair with a beard and a mustache. When he went missing, he was wearing a white T-shirt with a light house, light cargo shorts and flip flops. Lane, according to police, is said to have speech and hearing problems. Anyone with information is asked to call (508) 746-1212. While the search for a New York woman's killer is now in its seventh week, residents in Princeton, Massachusetts, are still haunted by her murder. "Justice for Vanessa" signs have been placed on the town's Common as well as Route 68, the area where 28-year-old Vanessa Marcotte was killed on August 7. Marcotte, who had been visiting her mother, went jogging and did not return. Her body was found about a half-mile from her mother's house in a wooded area on Brooks Station Road. Investigators said Marcotte's body was naked and partially burned. They believe she had also struggled with her attacker. Authorities believe the murder took place between 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Area residents are hoping the signs, which were just put up this week, will remind others of Marcotte's murder and keep the investigation going with fresh leads in order to help investigators find her killer. More than 1,000 tips have been received in the case. Anyone with information is still being urged to call the police tip line at 508-453-7589. Photos circulating on social media show one New Hampshire who appears to be in blackface and another with a Confederate flag. One of the students, a senior at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, tells necn this is all a misunderstanding. He says he painted his face black for a school spirit event, and now people are calling him racist. "It was meant to be all black to support your school, and that's exactly what I did," said Tim Coulon. "It wasn't meant to be racist." The picture, in which he is wearing black face paint, is being spread all over social media, drawing criticism from strangers and friends. "It all kind of blew up overnight," he said. Coulon says he was dressed up in all black for Pinkerton's Blackout Day during School Spirit Week, and he decided to paint his face to match his clothes it didn't take long before he realized it was a bad idea. "I was walking to class and I got some looks and I washed it all off I washed it off right after the period," he said. Coulon showed another controversial photo from spirit week in which a student was wearing a confederate flag. "In the day and age we're in, I think it is concerning," said Derry parent Dorene Bergeron. "Things like that I think can escalate." Derry Police learned of the photos through Facebook. Captain Vern Thomas says his department is not involved. "It would appear there is no real issue with respect to racism," he said. "If there was, we would be involved." Pinkerton Headmaster Griffin Morse issued a statement saying, in part, "Students who make inappropriate, degrading, and/or inflammatory slurs will be subject to immediate suspension. That is our policy and we will continue our investigation of the incident." Coulon says he's well aware that that racial tension is one of the most serious problems facing our nation, aand he never intended to be at the center of it. The headmaster says the two students involved have been spoken to, but there's no word yet on whether or not they'll be punished. Christian welcome offered to Norwich-bound refugees Early on Saturday September 24, three boat loads of people navigated the river Wensum to alight at Pulls Ferry in a symbolic gesture to show that refugees and asylum seekers are welcome in Norwich. Helen Baldry reports As the first boat approached, jubilant singing could be heard from the passengers, which included local Christians and asylum seekers and refugees to the city. The purpose of the event was to be a display of welcome from the churches in the city, regardless of faith or nationality. Carrie Sant, from Norwich-based City Saints organised this event, which was inspired by the Bishops Pilgrimage day. It was announced that a prize would be given for the most imaginative way of travelling, which sparked Carries idea to orchestrate the river-bank welcome. She said, We are focusing on asylum seekers and refugees but the boats will be decorated with flags which include European and Eastern European flags also to make sure that the welcome is inclusive as part of our stand against racism. Carrie works closely with refugees and asylum seeks coming to the city and ensures they can access the support and services they need. Todays arrival on the river was symbolic of the many people to come to Norwich there were representatives from Sri Lanka, the Congo, Pakistan and Egypt. Bishops Chaplain Revd Susanna Gunner said, There is a long tradition of Norwich being a welcoming city. We are putting our heads above the parapet to show that our city is a welcoming place. The Bishop of Thetford Rt Revd Alan Winton said words of welcome to the travellers and helped them off the boat to be greeted by a group of people from various denominations and backgrounds. Words from the welcome that was said Museum exhibition on YMCA Norfolks 160 year impact Museum exhibition on YMCA Norfolks 160 year impact A group of young people who use the YMCAs services have been working to research the history of YMCA Norfolk over the last five months, culminating in the launch of an exhibition at the Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell on Thursday, September 22. A new exhibition celebrating 160 years of YMCA Norfolk's charity work in the city was marked by a launch event at the Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell on Thursday, September 22. A grant of 47,100 awarded from the Heritage Lottery Fund, supported young people to research and record history about the YMCA, as well as document the lives of some of the people who access YMCA services today. The Y-Heritage project has enabled the young people to develop new skills as well as giving them access to museum objects and archives, and to meet with museum and heritage professionals. The YMCA is the longest standing youth charity in Norfolk. In 1856 Norwich Young Mens Christian Association was founded by a group of young men to help apprentices and shop workers in Norwich and to improve the moral and religious life of the city. At times of crisis, the charity stepped forward to support the citys citizens. Almost 300 people who were evacuated from their homes in the floods of 1912 were given shelter. During the First World War, soldiers coming to the city were provided with food and accommodation and during the Second World War, the premises in St Giles were given over to feeding and entertaining troops and mobile vans toured remoter areas of the county with refreshments and essential items. After the war, the first summer camps were pioneered by the YMCA and enabled thousands of youngsters to enjoy an affordable summer holiday. Today YMCA Norfolk provides a safe home and support for over 240 young people every night across the county. At the launch YMCA Y-Heritage Project Officer Karina Flynn said: Working on this project has provided an important perspective of what local heritage can offer young people besides a greater understanding of their own background and identity. It offers an opportunity to share stories with the hope of generating understanding amongst other groups and wider communities. YMCA Norfolk Chief Executive Tim Sweeting said: For young people at the YMCA today creating an exhibition revealing this rich and diverse history has allowed them the chance to use the past as a tool for the future. It has also given them the opportunity to discover new skills and interests and to share their experiences of the YMCA today. Curator of Community History at the Museum of Norwich, Jenny Caynes said: We are delighted to have been partners working with YMCA Norfolk to celebrate this milestone in their history. The exhibition demonstrates the important role that the organisation has had in the city over the last 160 years, and the relevance of their work today. Luke Millman is one of the young people who have been working on the project and said From this experience Ive learnt about YMCA, its past and just how much its changed from supporting young soldiers during the war and how valuable to us as homeless young people the YMCA still is, and in that sense it hasnt changed The project will remain at the Museum until October 17 and will then go on to tour other sites across Norfolk. Norfolk County Councils Chairman of Communities, Margaret Dewsbury said: This exhibition showcases the significance of the internationally known YMCA, and how it has, over the last 160 years, had such an impact at a local level. Over the course of history, its support to the people of Norfolk has been immeasurable and I hope the young people who were involved with the research for this exhibition have enjoyed this very special experience. Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell Museum of Norwich Bridewell. Bridewell Alley, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1AQ Pictured L-R: Hannah Henderson, Curator of Social History at the Norwich Museum at the Bridewell; Jenny Caynes Curator or Community History from Norwich Museum at the Bridewel; Karina Flynn, YMCA Norfolk Project Officer; Robin Hanley, Head of Operations & Learning at Norfolk Museums Service; Young Participants from the project, Luke, Amy, Chelsea and Tom; Jo Reilly, Heritage Lottery Fund and Tim Sweeting, YMCA Norfolk Chief Executive Officer SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Cambodia has deported 13 Taiwanese nationals suspected of telecoms fraud to China, the Ministry of Public Security in Beijing has said, ignoring protests from Taiwan asking the Southeast Asian country not to proceed. The public security ministry said on Tuesday 50 Chinese nationals were also sent back with the Taiwanese deportees. They were all arrested in a Cambodian police raid in Phnom Penh and suspected of committing internet and phone extortion fraud. Such scams have cost billions of dollars and driven some victims to suicide. Cambodia, one of China's closest allies, does not have official relations with self-ruled Taiwan. It treats the island as part of "one China" in line with Beijing, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province. Uk Heisela, a senior official in Cambodia's immigration department, confirmed the deportations and said Taiwan had not been in touch with Phnom Penh over the case. "All victims are in China," he said. Cambodia has deported more than 200 people suspected of involvement in the fraud rings to China since November. Taiwan's foreign ministry said late on Tuesday it had protested strongly against the deportation of Taiwanese nationals to China and said Cambodia had been pressured by China. The Chinese public security ministry said the suspects were being brought back to help with investigations and because the victims of the gang-related fraud scheme were from the mainland. They will be tried in Nanjing, the capital of coastal Jiangsu province, it said. The ministry said authorities in Taiwan had been informed of the case. China has cooperated with police in Kenya, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia to break up 65 telecom fraud rings since November, the ministry said, leading to the arrest of 1,168 suspects, including 347 Taiwan residents. Taipei has accused Beijing of kidnapping when such countries have deported Taiwanese people to China. (Reporting by Brenda Goh; Additional Reporting by J.R. Wu in TAIPEI and Prak Chan Thul in PHNOM PENH; Editing by Paul Tait) Jim Cramer saw oil play out its same pattern of prices rising on rumors of an oil output deal, and then falling when it does not happen. Rather than pull his hair out worrying about it, he kept China and earnings on his radar for next week. "In October we have had a bunch of crashes. Be prepared to be scared again by the same naysayers and my advice, get over it, look for cheap stocks of great companies, and use the fear to buy, not to sell," the "Mad Money" host said. With this in mind, Cramer outlined the stocks and events on his radar next week: Monday: The presidential debate, Carnival, Vail Resorts, Thor Industries Cramer does not expect anything positive for business to come out of the debate. He anticipated that both banks and the drug companies will be hot topics, thanks to Wells Fargo and Mylan. "I say, thanks for nothing," Cramer said. With news that Twitter (TWTR) could potentially be sold to Salesforce.com (CRM), Alphabet (GOOGL) or other unknown suitors, Cramer was faced with a classic dilemma . "Left to its own devices, Twitter should be lower, perhaps appreciably lower because it doesn't have growth and growth is the magic elixir that's required for all tech companies," Cramer said. Cramer has argued in the past that if Twitter's management thought bigger and made the platform easier to use, it could be so much more than what it is now. It could be used for the ultimate customer relations tool. Ultimately, Cramer determined that it would be tough to get behind Twitter right now because it can only be recommended on a takeover basis. The fundamentals don't support its current valuation, though it is worth a great deal to some. "If you own Twitter, understand it's in rarefied territory and I am thinking it's four, five points up, and three down down if nothing materializes," Cramer said. Until very recently, Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance (ULTA) was one of the hottest stocks out there. It suddenly fell off a cliff for no discernible reason. Story continues "Eventually all growth stocks run into the problem of great expectations, but if the story is intact, they ultimately bounce back," Cramer said. The question now becomes whether Ulta is a broken stock or a broken company. If the company is broken, work has to be done before investors can make a move. But if merely the stock is broken, it could just be a matter of time before it makes a comeback. The verdict? This is a broken stock, not a broken company, Cramer said. "That is why I think it is worth buying, particularly if it keeps going lower on the same old information," Cramer said. When Hewlett-Packard broke itself up a year ago, it was obvious to Cramer that HP Enterprise (NYSE:HPE) would be the big winner of the two companies, as it was the high-growth business focused on networking, storage, servers, software and services. HP Inc. (HPQ) was the business dedicated to slower printing and personal computing, and was automatically cast off as the business no one on Wall Street wanted to bother with, thanks to what seemed like an unstoppable decline in the PC business. But HP Inc. surprised Cramer. It first fell 25 percent in the first three months on its own, but has since made a huge comeback. It is now up 22 percent since the breakup, and rebounded more than 65 percent from the market-wide bottom in February. "Believe it or not, things seem to be improving in the personal computer space, which means HP Inc. could be a very attractive buy, even after its recent run," Cramer said. In the Lightning Round , Cramer gave his take on a few caller favorite stocks: Advanced Micro Devices (AMD): "I think after they did that equity offering, they fixed the balance sheet, I'm a buyer not a seller. Everyone has turned on that one, that is wrong." Bluebird Bio (BLUE): "You're dealing with speculation there. You've got to know that if there is no takeover bid, you're going to give up that premium. I was talking to Bruce Kamich who does the chart work with me over at RealMoney.com and a lot of these look good. But just be aware that they are speculative and they are up a lot since the Medivation deal." The New Book by Dr. Andrew G. Hodges has been Published in a Timely Manner to Coincide with the Upcoming Presidential Election BIRMINGHAM, AL / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2016 / Forensic psychiatrist and profiler Dr. Andrew G. Hodges announces the release of his new eBook, The Stockholm Syndrome President: How Trump Triggered Obama's Hidden Confession. The book details how Hodges applies his cutting-edge forensic profiling method to uncover Obama's confession to the world. In previous books, Hodges has used this method to decode ransom notes and suspect statements in high-profile criminal matters including the O.J. Simpson case, the Jon Benet Ramsey murder and Natalie Holloway's disappearance in Aruba. In those cases, Dr. Hodges applied knowledge gained over decades as a therapist, the fact that human beings possess a brilliant unconscious which he calls the super intelligence. That often hidden, deeper intelligence reveals itself in the use of symbolic language, projections and stories which invariably point to the truth. Now this new eBook outlines the psychiatrist's psychological profiling of President Barack Obama in which Hodges decodes messages coming from Obama's super intelligence. Responding to a confrontation by GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump, Obama secretly reveals he is being controlled by radical Islam--an unconscious terrified Stockholm Syndrome victim. This explains, Hodges writes, why Obama refuses to use the term, "radical Islam." "Millions of Americans want to know why President Obama, endangering the entire world, continually favors radical Islam-for example, when he enabled the rise of ISIS and for Iran to soon manufacture nuclear bombs," Hodges said. "Subconsciously, he revealed in his speeches on June 12 and June 14, that because of the horrific abuse he suffered as a child, he's a programmed Stockholm Syndrome prisoner of Islamic terrorists and is under instructions to capitulate." Many have questioned the legality of Obama's presidency, and Dr. Hodges's profiling proves that there are good reasons for those questions. Furthermore, Hodges studies the motives behind mainstream media figures who have consistently ignored and bullied the people who have stood up to question Obama's eligibility. Story continues Hodges decodes Obama's specific confession deep down that he maximized his Stockholm Syndrome role to run as an illegal president, which directly assaulted America's most basic foundation: the rule of law. As president, Obama has repeatedly threatened national security. Though Obama will soon leave office, the psychiatrist believes that his influence will continue. "The daily erosion of the Constitution and the rule of law that President Obama has set in motion over the last eight years is not slowing down," Hodges said. "He plans to continue on as an unbelievably active ex-president. Obama's super intelligence warns us that the America's future depends on stopping the continued assaults on the rule of law." Obama's confessing to America that he has created a crisis, in his words "doing the terrorists' work for them" and predicting that "then the terrorists will win." In order to free himself of his victimization as a youth Obama must tell this secret story, a story as regretful as it is revealing. The new eBook is available from Amazon Kindle or on the author's website. About Dr. Andrew G. Hodges: Dr. Andrew G. Hodges is a board certified psychiatrist and a renowned forensic profiler with a private practice in Birmingham, Alabama. Formerly, he served as an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. In 1994, he released his findings in the breakthrough to the unconscious mind in the groundbreaking book, The Deeper Intelligence. Previously, he has consulted with law-enforcement authorities and the FBI, concerning criminal investigations. For more information about the author, visit www.andrewghodges.com. For more information, please visit http://www.andrewghodges.com Contact Info: Name: Dr. Andrew G. Hodges Email: drhodges@forensicthoughtprints.com Organization: Dr. Andrew G. Hodges Address: P.O. Box 43068 Birmingham, AL 35243-0068 Phone: (205) 913-1635 Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYHpJe2XHtBp52S3edzoQMQ SOURCE: Dr. Andrew G. Hodges Ecuador's President Rafael Correa (L) gestures as he arrives for a family photo during the 17th Non-Aligned Summit in Porlamar, Venezuela September 17, 2016. REUTERS/Marco Bello QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa said on Saturday he hopes OPEC countries will reach an agreement to stabilize the oil market at the upcoming meeting in Algeria, warning of "serious risks" for the group if they do reach a deal. Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) hold an informal meeting in Algeria from Sept 26 to 28. "It is a meeting being held for other reasons, but all the OPEC members will be there, so we hope to have other informal meetings and reach agreements to stabilize the oil market," Correa said in his weekly televised broadcast. "Otherwise the consequences could be very serious, it could lead to a disintegration of OPEC itself ... There is even a risk that internal disputes within OPEC could lead prices to plummet again." Ecuador supports the position of ideological ally Venezuela that major oil producers should freeze production levels to limit excess supply and support prices. The idea has received some support among oil producers. But oil prices slumped on Friday on signs that OPEC members Saudi Arabia and Iran were struggling to reach a preliminary consensus in the run-up to the Algeria talks. [L3N1BZ16Q] The smallest member of OPEC has struggled under low oil prices. The government has been forced to seek new sources of financing and reduce public investment. (Reporting by Alexandra Valencia, writing by Brian Ellsworth) What if one blood test could screen for more than 50 types of cancer? Champaign, IL (61820) Today A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low around 55F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low around 55F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Worldwide, good progress has been made towards some of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since 2000, particularly in reducing under-5 and neonatal mortality, family planning, and the rollout of universal health care. However, in areas beyond the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which came to an end in 2015, few inroads have been made. For example, there have been only minimal improvements in hepatitis B incidence rates, while childhood overweight, intimate partner violence, and harmful alcohol consumption have worsened. The new estimates, published in The Lancet, mark the end of the MDG era and provide the first independent analysis of performance on health-related SDGs. The aim is to provide a tool for global accountability on progress towards the 2030 SDG targets, and equip governments, policy-makers, aid organisations, and health professionals with evidence to identify successes, gaps and priorities in health care delivery. The study is the first annual assessment of SDG health performance and will be launched at a special event at the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday 21st September. The SDGs are 17 universal goals, 169 targets, and 230 indicators set by the United Nations in 2015 to guide a range of pressing problems including food and water security, poverty, and climate change up to 2030. The SDGs follow and expand on the MDGs, which expired at the end of 2015. Health is at the core of the SDGsthe third SDG aims to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages, and health-related indicators are also present among 11 of the other 16 goals. Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) study between 1990 and 2015, Professor Stephen Lim from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA and colleagues estimated the current status of 33 of the 47 health-related SDG-indicators. To enable easier comparison, they created a health-related SDG index (with a rating of 0-100) that combines these 33 health-related indicators to measure progress for 188 countries between 1990 and 2015. In 2015, the health-related SDG index was highest in Iceland, Singapore, and Sweden, with the UK ranking in 5th place just ahead of Finland. The Central African Republic, Somalia, and South Sudan had the lowest values of the health-related SDG index. Despite rapid economic growth, India was ranked 143rd, below Comoros, and Ghana. The USA ranked 28th in the world. This relatively poor performance was mainly driven by deaths due to interpersonal violence, HIV, harmful alcohol consumption, childhood overweight, and suicide. The USA also did badly compared to other high-income countries on maternal, child, and neonatal mortality reflecting the large differences in access and quality of healthcare in the USA. With more than 1870 individual collaborators in 124 countries and three territories, our independent analysis identifies high- and low-performing countries to help guide national policies and donor investments, and provides a strong basis for monitoring progress towards the health-related SDGs for 188 countries over the next 15 years, says Professor Lim. Despite creating a single measure of health (the SDG-index), the authors note that the findings are based on available data, estimates, and modelling, and call for more investment in high-quality data collection systems including censuses and vital registration and health management information systems, to ensure progress towards the SDGs can be properly monitored. This paper on the SDGs represents a baseline that informs health policy and decision-makers in all countriesas well as the United Nations, says IHME Director Dr Christopher Murray. It is essential that each year, over the next 15 years, nations be held accountable for the goals their leaders have committed to meet. This report contributes an important element to that accountability. Number of countries already meeting health-related SDG targets in 2015 Progress varied widely depending on the indicators. For instance, over 60% of countries have already met the 2030 targets on reducing maternal (less than 70 deaths per 100000 live births) and child mortality (25 deaths per 1000 live births). No countries have met any of the nine targets on the full elimination of diseases like tuberculosis and HIV, or reducing prevalence of health outcomes like childhood overweight and intimate partner violence to 0%. The authors warn that given the modest progress in HIV and tuberculosis over the last 25 years, the vision of ending these epidemics in the next 15 years is highly unrealistic. They write, A substantial change in the current trajectory of HIV and tuberculosis incidence will be neededlikely requiring major technological leaps coupled with universal deliveryto meet this target. Additionally, less than a fifth of countries have met the 2030 target to eliminate stunting and wasting in children under 5, whilst only around a quarter of countries have achieved the target to substantially reduce exposure to household air pollution, and less than a fifth of countries have achieved universal access to safe and affordable water and sanitation. Expected vs observed progress on health related SDGs The researchers created the Socio Demographic Index (SDI) as a measure of development in order to differentiate progress made on the SDG index from progress that countries would have been otherwise expected to make as they develop. The SDI is based on income per capita, educational attainment and total fertility rate key indices of a countrys development status. A number of regions recorded greater than expected improvement in the health-related SDG index between 2000 and 2015, including Timor-Leste, Tajikistan, Columbia, Taiwan, and Iceland, The authors point to a range of policies and interventions that may have been a factor in the progress of these countries. In Timor Leste, for example, access to health services for the poor was improved and under 5 and neonatal death rates, childhood stunting, and exposure to unsafe water and sanitation was dramatically reduced likely thanks to heavy government investment in health care reform; while Icelands comprehensive tobacco control policies and long-standing publicly funded health system may have contributed to the large falls in non-communicable disease death rates and smoking prevalence. At the other end of the spectrum, five countries performed much worse than expected, including Libya and Syria, mainly as a result of war and violence. While the SDI was highly predictive of the overall health-related SDG index, it did not impact on some key indicators such as interpersonal violence, self-harm, particulate matter pollution, and childhood obesity. The authors therefore conclude that prioritising increases in personal income, investing in education and family planning alone will not be sufficient to meet the ambitious SDG targets for 2030. According to Professor Lim: Our study is a starting point for further investigation on how and why countries are under performing or performing well compared to the average. This will be an annual effort to ensure progress is maintained and that lessons from successes are learned and rapidly transferred to other countries where progress is less impressive. Writing in a linked Comment, Devi Sridhar, Professor of Global Health at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK discusses whether the SDG index is relevant and useful to donors, academics, governments in middle- and low-income countries, and poor communities. She concludes: The SDGs, and the assessment of their progress in health, are incredibly complex even for the most astute development and health experts. But whether we like it or not, the SDGs have been agreed on. The best we can do is to acknowledge (as the GBD 2015 SDG Collaborators do in their conclusion) that they are mostly vague, largely immeasurable, somewhat attainable, and definitely relevant, and then put together the smartest minds and resources to communicate their importance through one index. Source: http://www.thelancet.com/ A diagnosis of IPF is news that few patients want to hear from their physician, but the reality is that approximately 3 million people worldwide are living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Its a devastating disease with a median life expectancy after diagnosis of approximately 2-3 years. As with the diagnosis of any life-threatening disease, it can be a distressing and emotional experience for patients and their families. It is a time when it can be difficult to take the news in as well as remember/understand the information shared by a doctor. In positive news, today results of a new global survey supported by Boehringer Ingelheim of over 120 patients with IPF show that 9 out of 10 patients were happy with the way their doctor informed them of their diagnosis. However, a group of patients in the survey revealed there was additional information that would have been helpful to have received at that time. These include information about support, treatment and the realities of living with IPF: 60% of these patients would like to have known what other support was available to help with their IPF 60% wanted to know if IPF requires long-term treatment and how effective those treatments are 50% of these patients wanted an insight into the realities of living with IPF over the long term 50% wanted an understanding of how their IPF would progress after treatment initiation, including if they will need to take oxygen A diagnosis of IPF is devastating for the patient, their partner, for everyone. It is very reassuring to see from this survey that these patients felt positive about how their physician managed their diagnosis discussion, said Klaus Geissler, European Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Related Disorders Federation (EU-IPFF). But we know that when patients are stressed and anxious that they can forget or not understand key parts of the conversation they have with their physician: its helpful for us to see that patients are keen to have more information about the support that will be available to them and details of treatment moving forward. I would recommend patients involve their families in the first interview with their physician in order to better understand and remember the discussion around diagnosis. The new global survey of 121 patients with IPF follows a 2015 global survey of over 400 pulmonologists. Both surveys were designed to provide insights into IPF and the realities of living with the condition. The new results revealed that the priorities for patients after being diagnosed with IPF closely matched what physicians believed their patients priorities were at that time. The top three priorities for patients were: seeing an IPF specialist (26%), getting information about the disease (21%) and initiation of an effective treatment (18%). The top three priorities physicians believed their patients had were: getting information about the disease (35%), initiating an effective treatment (23%) and seeing an IPF specialist (21%). In addition, when patients were asked what was most important to them in knowing how IPF will affect them, Knowing what treatment options are available to me was the top choice for patients (77%). In the 2015 pulmonologist survey, this was also the top choice for what physicians believed was most important to patients (77%). As a physician its encouraging to see the vast majority of patients happy with how they were informed about their IPF diagnosis, said Dr. Marlies Wijsenbeek, pulmonologist, Erasmus MC, The Netherlands. But good communication doesnt stop there we need to understand what patients wish to know and take into consideration their level of understanding. Seeing that physicians understanding of patients priorities are truly aligned with what patients report to be their priorities is a great first step to achieving this. NIGHTSEA, creators and manufacturers of the innovative Stereo Microscope Fluorescence Adapter (SFA), and Electron Microscopy Sciences (EMS) are pleased to award the second annual KEY Award for New Faculty to Dr. Sarah Petersen of Kenyon College. Dr. Petersen, the new Ashby Denoon Assistant Professor of Neuroscience, will receive a NIGHTSEA SFA outfitted with two excitation/emission combinations plus $750 in supplies from the EMS catalog. Recipient of the 2016 KEY Award from NIGHTSEA and EMS: Dr. Sarah Petersen, the new Ashby Denoon Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at Kenyon College (Ohio). The KEY Award was instituted by NIGHTSEA founder Dr. Charles Mazel to acknowledge his own mentors and to give back to science. Dr. Petersen continues that tradition. As she explains, "Kenyon College is a small liberal arts, undergraduate college, with limited research resources relative to larger research institutions. Nonetheless, I am confident that my undergraduates are capable of top-tier quality work with the right resources. She plans to make the SFA one of those resources, using it in both her undergraduate classroom and in research to identify novel genetic factors for nervous system development and to characterize small molecules that drive the generation of the myelin sheath that protects nerves. Her curriculum and research projects are designed to provide students with a background in genetics, developmental and molecular biology, pharmacology and neuroscience that will prepare them for careers in science, medicine, Pharma, and health policy. A key goal: to help students frame better questions with which to investigate the world. In addition, Dr. Petersen plans to use the SFA out in the community through her departments Neuroscience Club and in partnership with the Knox County and Wiggin Street School systems, as well as the Science Play-Space Initiative (SPI) Spot in neighboring Mt. Vernon, Ohio. I love the fact that the SFA is so portable. Now I can actually bring zebrafish demonstrations to the children and parents. Its much more exciting than static photos or even videos. Dr. Petersen recently completed her post-doc at Washington University (St. Louis) under Dr. Kelly Monk and has been awarded the tenure track Ashby Denoon Assistant Professorship in Neuroscience at Kenyon College in Ohio. Her research uses the zebrafish model to understand the relationships between neurons and glia and their environments during neurodevelopment. She is also the course coordinator of the Zebrafish Development and Genetics Course at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) at Woods Hole, MA. Royal Philips, Macquarie Universitys MQ Health in Sydney and Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, Georgia (US), today announced the launch of Australias first - and only - remote intensive care unit (eICU) monitoring program, to improve the outcomes of high risk patients in most need of round-the-clock observation. The partnership uses Philips remote intensive care unit (eICU) technology and will see Emory Healthcare intensivists and critical care nurses based onsite at Sydneys MQ Health. MQ Health is the first university-led integrated health campus in Australia, which brings together research and clinical care. This care model enables the Sydney-based US clinicians to provide continuous night-time critical care oversight to patients back in the United States during daytime hours, enabling the clinical team to be wide awake as opposed to working at night. Combining daytime coverage in Atlanta with night-time coverage from Sydney provides around-the-clock remote management of intensive care unit (ICU) patients by critical care specialists, when adverse events are most likely to occur, decreasing the risk of complications, shortening patients length of stay and saving lives. Critical care units such as ICUs are high-tech units to care for patients with severe and potentially life threatening conditions that require constant and close monitoring. Philips eICU program is a comprehensive program that enables health care professionals from a centralized eICU center to provide around-the-clock care for critically ill patients. A study that compared patients receiving usual ICU care with patients who received their ICU care from a hospital that utilized the eICU program, showed that the latter were 26% more likely to survive the ICU and discharged from the ICU 20% faster. We are operating in a time when connected health solutions can truly make a difference in a patients experience, said Kevin Barrow, Managing Director Philips Australia and New Zealand. We know that funding for critical care and critical access is not growing despite increases in demand driven by population growth. This program uses a proactive and continuous care model that enable the right care to be delivered remotely at the right time. Kevin Barrow added: We aim to transform the delivery of care to address growing clinician shortages while improving patient outcomes. I am confident that the application of these kinds of solutions will shape the future of healthcare. If we are able to do this across continents we can certainly replicate it locally, connecting Australian clinicians with patients in need across regional and remote areas. The solution allows for near real-time remote monitoring and early intervention via advance audio-visual technology and algorithms that can predict deteriorations in health, giving clinicians the ability to communicate with local caregivers via live video link, continuously monitor patient health, and advise on the best course of treatment from wherever they are located. This innovation means hospitals dealing with intensive care physician and nurse shortages can provide patients with 24/7 clinical expertise and additional, proactive support to the in-hospital care team. Bringing critical care closer to the patient, remote monitoring removes the hurdle of geography and reduces the burden of transporting patients. This will help healthcare providers avoid transport associated costs, while patients or their families wont have the stress of transferring to higher level critical care centers. Thanks to our eICU program we can continuously monitor Atlanta-based patients from MQ Health in Sydney and support the bedside team by recognising adverse physiology, making critical diagnoses and intervening before those issues become significant problems, said Dr Timothy Buchman, Chief, Critical Care Service, Emory Healthcare. In Australia, these types of technologies also have far-reaching potential to support care of rural and remote patients. Currently the optimal medical treatment, in a stressful setting such as the ICU, can be thousands of miles away. The introduction of electronically-delivered specialist care has the potential to standardise the quality of care between the CBD and the countryside. Clinicians collaborating with industry on innovative technological advances that lead to improvements in patient care is the vision of Macquarie University and MQ Health, said Professor Michael Parr, Clinical Program Head, Critical Care and Anaesthetics at MQ Health. This partnership will provide the opportunity to build on North American experience and improve intensive care outcomes for rural and remote Australia, and showing what is achievable through global collaboration. World leaders today signalled an unprecedented level of attention to curb the spread of infections that are resistant to antimicrobial medicines. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) happens when bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi develop resistance against medicines that were previously able to cure them. For the first time, Heads of State committed to taking a broad, coordinated approach to address the root causes of AMR across multiple sectors, especially human health, animal health and agriculture. This is only the fourth time a health issue has been taken up by the UN General Assembly (the others were HIV, noncommunicable diseases, and Ebola). The high-level meeting was convened by the President of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Peter Thomson. "Antimicrobial resistance threatens the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and requires a global response," Mr Thomson said. "Member States have today agreed upon a strong political declaration that provides a good basis for the international community to move forward. No one country, sector or organization can address this issue alone." Countries reaffirmed their commitment to develop national action plans on AMR, based on the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance the blueprint for tackling AMR developed in 2015 by the World Health Organization (WHO) in coordination with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Such plans are needed to understand the full scale of the problem and stop the misuse of antimicrobial medicines in human health, animal health and agriculture. Leaders recognized the need for stronger systems to monitor drug-resistant infections and the volume of antimicrobials used in humans, animals and crops, as well as increased international cooperation and funding. They pledged to strengthen regulation of antimicrobials, improve knowledge and awareness, and promote best practices as well as to foster innovative approaches using alternatives to antimicrobials and new technologies for diagnosis and vaccines. Antimicrobial resistance poses a fundamental threat to human health, development, and security. The commitments made today must now be translated into swift, effective, lifesaving actions across the human, animal and environmental health sectors. We are running out of time, said Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO. Common and life-threatening infections like pneumonia, gonorrhoea, and post-operative infections, as well as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria are increasingly becoming untreatable because of AMR. Left unchecked, AMR is predicted to have significant social, health security, and economic repercussions that will seriously undermine the development of countries. The high levels of AMR already seen in the world today are the result of overuse and misuse of antibiotics and other antimicrobials in humans, animals (including farmed fish), and crops, as well as the spread of residues of these medicines in soil, crops and water. Within the broader context of AMR, resistance to antibiotics is considered the greatest and most urgent global risk requiring international and national attention. AMR is a problem not just in our hospitals, but on our farms and in our food, too. Agriculture must shoulder its share of responsibility, both by using antimicrobials more responsibly and by cutting down on the need to use them, through good farm hygiene, said Dr Jose Graziano da Silva, Director-General of FAO. Effective and accessible antibiotics are as vital for protecting animal health and welfare and good veterinary medicine as they are for human health. We urge national authorities to strongly support all sectors involved, through promotion of responsible and prudent use, good practices and implementation of established standards and guidelines, said Dr Monique Eloit, Director-General of OIE. Leaders at the UN meeting called on WHO, FAO and OIE, in collaboration with development banks such the World Bank other relevant stakeholders, to coordinate their planning and actions and to report back to the UN General Assembly in September 2018. Countries called for better use of existing, cost-effective tools for preventing infections in humans and animals. These include immunization, safe water and sanitation, and good hygiene in hospitals and animal husbandry. Putting in place systems to ensure more appropriate use of existing and new antibiotics is also essential. In addition, they highlighted market failures, and called for new incentives for investment in research and development of new, effective and affordable medicines, rapid diagnostic tests, and other important therapies to replace those that are losing their power. They stressed that affordability and access to existing and new antibiotics, vaccines and other medical tools should be a global priority and should take into account the needs of all countries. The Smart 'smart control' smartphone and tablet app. (Photo: AFP Relaxnews) After 18 years and three iterations, Daimler's latest Smart cars look to be living up to their name as the intelligent choice for environmentally conscious commuters that live and work in cities. The new Smart Electric Drive range will consist of three models a two-seater, a convertible and a four-seat, four-door version when it goes on sale this spring.So in other words, there will be a battery-powered equivalent of every gas-powered Smart currently on sale. This makes Smart the first company in the world to offer an EV alternative of every one of its vehicles and it is something the firm's leaning on heavily in the accompanying publicity."The smart is the perfect city car, and with electric drive, it becomes a little bit more perfect," said Annette Winkler, Head of smart. "This is why we will soon be offering our entire range smart fortwo, smart cabrio and even our smart forfour as all-electric versions."When Mercedes and Swiss fashion watch maker Swatch first came together to create the Smart car, Mercedes envisioned and designed it as an electric car. Hence, its high seating position (to make room for a battery pack). But battery technology was so poor back in 1998 that the first-gen Smart debuted with a petrol engine. Battery versions did eventually follow but it's taken until 2016 for the technology to meet the average city driver's requirements. And according to Smart, those requirements are a range of 160 km (100 miles) between recharges and a recharging time of two-to-three hours with a dedicated wall box.Considering the compact dimensions of even the ForFour, plus the fact that the motor offers 80 hp and a 0-100 km/h time of 11.5 seconds (12.7 for the four-seater), in other words, almost identical to the gasoline models, the figures are genuinely impressive. The car's battery and charging status can be monitored via a smartphone app and from summer 2017 when the car rolls out globally, a 22 kW fast charger, that could recharge the batteries in just 45 minutes, will be available as an option.The Smart Electric Drive range will make its global debut at the Paris motor show from October 1. Smart is yet to confirm US pricing but has said that the four-seat, four-door ForFour won't be coming to North America. In Europe, where all three cars will be available, prices will start at 27,839. Houston: Baloch nationalists along with the Indian-American community members staged a protest outside Pakistan's Consulate against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Holding placards and shouting slogans against Pakistan for human rights violations, abduction and killings of civilians and rape of women, protestors condemned the recent "dastardly and cowardly act of Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack" in Uri. Many protesters, mostly American Friends of Balochistan activists and Indian-Americans, carried placards highlighting the oppression of minorities, women and children in Pakistan and urged the US government to stop funding Pakistan. A placard held by a soldier described Pakistan as the "Ivy League of Terrorism". Two days ago, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir had noted that the land of Taxila, one of the greatest learning centres of ancient times, "is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism" and attracts aspirants and apprentices from all over the world. The protest event ended with the gathering singing the national anthems of the US and India. "The attack was carried out by banned terror group Jaish- e-Mohammed with the active support of Pakistani army and ISI, it is high time that those at helm consider it as an act of war by Pakistan against India," activist Achalesh Amar said. The protest came after Congressman Ted Poe, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, along with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, introduced a bill in the US House of Representatives to designate Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism. "It is time we stop paying Pakistan for its betrayal and designate it for what it is, a state sponsor of terrorism," Congressman Poe had said after introducing the bill. 18 soldiers were killed when Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists attacked a highly-guarded army camp in Uri in Kashmir on Sunday morning. : Former Minister for Bengaluru Development and Town Planning, KJ George will take oath as a Minister in Karnataka Government on Monday. KJ George was forced to resign from his post by the opposition after his name featured in Managaluru Deputy SP, MK Ganapathy's suicide case.The Deputy SP had committed suicide on July 7, 2016, and in a video message named KJ George, AM Prasad and Pranab Mohanty responsible for his extreme step. However, the three accused were cleared of all charges by Karnataka CID due to lack of evidence on September 17, 2016.Also Read: Former Karnataka Minister KJ George Cleared in Ganapathy Suicide Case Meanwhile, the opposition has ramped-up the criticism against KJ George and threatened that if George is inducted into the cabinet on Monday, they will launch a state-wide protest. The opposition has also refused to accept the clean chit given by Karnataka CID and demanded a CBI probe into the case.Ganapathy's family had already decided to move Karnataka High Court and demanded a CBI probe after Karnataka CID cleared KJ George. Mumbai: The Navy on Saturday officially called off its search operations against the five suspected terrorists allegedly seen by the school children near the Uran Naval base. But the other forces, including the STF, Maharashtra police, NSG, the CISF and Maharashtra's force one - a specialised counter terror force - are combing Mumbai and Navi Mumbai for the five men. The Security forces have released the sketch of only one suspect as the others were reportedly wearing masks to cover their face. The Security agencies are looking for this man who was seen along with 4-5 others in Pathan suits, army fatigues, weapons and backpacks near the Uran base. Multi-agency search operations are on to trace them a day after a high alert was sounded along the Mumbai coast and adjoining areas. The schools and colleges in Uran and adjoining areas have been shut. "As per the reports, five to six persons were sighted in Pathan suits and appeared to be carrying weapons and backpacks," Naval spokesman Cdr Rahul Sinha had earlier said. Some reports said they were in military uniform. Despite carrying out massive combing operation in Uran and Karanja areas with the help of Navy, Coast Guard, CISF and Quick Response Team, police are yet to trace the suspects. Navi Mumbai Commissioner of Police monitored the situation throughout the night along with other top officials. A strict vigil by police and other security agencies is being maintained in the area. A high alert was on Friday sounded along the Mumbai coast and adjoining areas after a group of men were spotted moving suspiciously near a naval base at Uran in Raigad, leading to search operations by multiple agencies. The alert came four days after the Uri attack which left 18 soldiers dead. The fishing town of Uran is located across the eastern water front of the financial capital. The base located close to the town also houses units of MARCOS, the Navy's elite strike force. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met the chiefs of the Army and the Air Force along with the Vice Chief of the Navy reportedly to discuss India's security preparedness in the wake of Uri terror attack. The meeting assumes significance as it comes against the backdrop of the deadly Uri attack. However, Defence sources described the meeting as "routine". The chiefs of the armed forces have a monthly meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss various issues, they said. Apart from Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Air Chief Marshall Arup Raha and the Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, the National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval was also present in the meeting at the PM's 7 Lok Kalyan Marg residence. Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba was not present in the meeting as he is not in Delhi. Sources said, the Prime Minister was briefed about the situation on the borders and India's response to the Uri attack in which 18 Indian soldiers were martyred and four suspects were killed in a gun battle on September 18. Soon after the Uri attack, PM condemned the attack and tweeted that the perpetrators will not go unpunished. On last Sunday the armed terrorists lobbed grenades into tents and barracks at Uri Army base, while the soldiers were sleeping. (With PTI inputs) Washington: A top US diplomat will be visiting India and Nepal next week to explore opportunities that would strengthen the people-to-people relations through educational collaborations and women empowerment. The Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Evan Ryan will travel to India and Nepal from September 26 to 30, the State Department said in a release yesterday. Ryan will be in New Delhi from September 26 to 27 during which she will meet the exchange program participants, visit the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation projects near Humayun's Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and interact with local students, it said. The secretary will visit Mumbai on September 28 and will interact with students at a women's college, visit an Education USA advising site, and meet exchange program alumni who are leading entrepreneurs. Ryan will then visit to Kathmandu on September 29-30, where she will meet the Ministry of Education officials, engage an English Access classroom. She will also meet Nepali youth working on community projects to promote entrepreneurship and women empowerment, the release said. During her visit to Nepal, she will visit several cultural sites supported by the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, it added. New Delhi: West Pakistani refugees on Friday urged the Centre to grant them domicile right in Jammu and Kashmir, and sought a special package for rehabilitation in the State besides a host of other benefits. The demands were placed by a delegation of West Pakistani Refugees during their meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The charter of demands includes citizenship right in Jammu and Kashmir, special package for rehabilitation in the state, right to vote and contest state Assembly elections, among others. Allotment of land, special recruitment, right to education in technical/professional institutions, issuance of SC/OBC certificates are the other key demands of the team, an official release said. The delegation also sought the appointment of a Relief Commissioner for West Pakistani Refugees to look into and redress their grievances. While appreciating the sentiments of the members of the delegation, the Home Minister assured them that he will look into the matter and take necessary action. Singh said the Home Ministry has appointed a nodal officer to exclusively coordinate with the refugee community for redressal of their day to day issues. The Home Ministry is working on a suitable provision to overcome the problems faced by the West Pakistani refugees in terms of non-issuance of SC/ST/ OBC certificates by the State government, he said. The West Pakistani refugees settled in Jammu and Kashmir are citizens of India and they have the right to vote in Parliamentary elections. However, they are not permanent residents of the State in terms of Jammu and Kashmir Constitution. They do not enjoy voting rights to the State Assembly and local bodies. The conferment of permanent resident status to the West Pakistani refugees settled in Jammu and Kashmir falls within the purview of the State Constitution, which will enable them for jobs under state government, for admission into the State technical/professional institutions and the right to purchase/ acquire land/immovable properties in the State, the release said. Purab Kohli returns to television with a new television show titled P.O.W. Bandi Yuddh Ke. The actor who began his career with one of the most cult shows of Indian television, Hip Hip Hurray is now making a comeback on TV with Nikhil Advani's 1999 Kargil War based which is inspired by Israeli series Hatifum. The show starring Purab Kohli and Satyadeep Mishra, along with Sandhya Mridul and Amrita Puri is a story of two prisoners of war who are trapped by the army of the neighbouring nation and are released after 17 years. The show moves back and forth between time, questioning the credibility of these army jawans who may have been forced to change for the worse in those 17 years. Purab Kohli who's always been the quintessential boy next door, woes with his new raw tough look as an army soldier. Something different from the regular Indian television drama is finally out there and we can't wait to watch it! Jamshedpur: In the backdrop of the deteriorating relationship between India and Pakistan, following the killing of 18 Indian army personnel by militants from across the border at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir recently, the Congress on Saturday said the government's "emphasis" should be on "restoring peace and normalcy in the trouble-torn Valley". Curfew is in force for the last 75 days in the Valley and the government should make an effort to ensure that peace and normalcy returned there, AICC spokesman Ajoy Kumar said. "The Kashmir problem should be resolved within the framework of the Constitution to bring normalcy at the earliest," Kumar, a former parliamentarian, said. Talking to reporters, he said he did not see any hope of normalcy returning soon in the Valley and demanded "stringent action" against "forces instigating violence". Asked about the "strained" relationship between India and Pakistan, the Congress leader said the government should convince the world community to isolate the latter in every possible way, including on economic and diplomatic fronts. "Pakistan should be cornered on all fronts, including economic and diplomatic. It is our problem and we would have to solve it. We should not expect countries such as the US and China to solve the problem for us," he said. To a query on whether India should recall its diplomats from Pakistan in view of the growing tension between the two countries, Kumar said the government will have to take a call on it. He, however, said India should convince the world community to impose sanctions on Pakistan unless they initiate stringent action against terrorists operating against India. Kumar, however, held Prime Minister Narendra Modi "responsible" for the prevailing tension between the two neighbouring countries. "The relationship between India and Pakistan had never reached such a stage between 2004 and 2014 when the UPA government was in power. But, the tall talks of Modi on Pakistan as well as the wrong foreign policy of the government are responsible for the current situation," he said. : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday targeted Pakistan, saying that there is only one country that is exporting terror to the whole world. Speaking at the BJP National Council meet in Kozhikode, Modi directly addressed the People of Pakistan and said that the Pakistan government was "misleading" its people on Kashmir.He said that terrorism is affecting India's neighbours, including Afghanistan and Bangladesh."In the world when reports of terrorism come, then this news also follows that the terrorists came from that (neighbouring) country, or like Osama bin Laden, have found a hideout there."In reference to 18 soldiers who were martyred in Uri terror attack on September 18, PM Modi said, "Sacrifice of 18 soldiers will not go in vain, We will continue our efforts to isolate Pakistan globally."PM Modi said that "a day will come when people of Pakistan will go against its own Govt to fight terrorism."Hitting out at Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's repeated attempts to invoke Jammu & Kashmir in his addresses, PM Modi said that Pakistan is aiming for Kashmir, they should first look at the land they have already captured i.e. PoK, Gilgit and Balochistan.However, the Congress party was quick to come out and dub the PM's address as mere dialogue game. "This dialogue bazi is not going to work. I am seriously concerned if Prime minister continues to talk in this manner.. it's a bizarre diplomacy, Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury told CNN-News18.Read: Twitterati Hails PM Modi's Fiery Speech Against Pakistan In his first public address in the aftermath of Uri terror attack, Modi said, "Whenever I got an opportunity to visit Gulf countries, apart from my official talks with their leaders, I asked them to arrange a meeting with the people of India residing there, and especially the people of Kerala."Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said that he feels a sense of pride when he hears praise for the Kerala diaspora during his visits to Gulf nations."I felt a sense of pride when I heard the praise of people of Kerala for their hard work and dedication," the Prime Minister added.Modi also said that Kerala is God's Own Country, and is the "land of great saints". The place has an impression of purity and holiness."The devotion, spirituality is not because of the land but because of people, saints and culture here," Modi said, adding, "The people of Kerala are seen with respect in the country and the world."Also read: Narendra Modi to Pakistan: Uri Attack And Our 18 Martyrs Won't be Forgotten Kozhikode: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday will make his first public address in Kozhikode in Kerala since the Uri terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that martyred 18 Indian soldiers and left four terrorist dead in the gun battle on September 18. The Prime Minister is likely to reach Kozhikode on a two-day visit to attend the BJPs National Council Meet immediately after his meeting with the chiefs of the Army and the Air Force along with the Vice Chief of the Navy. PM Modis meeting was reportedly to discuss Indias security preparedness in the wake of Uri terror attack. He will fly down to Karipur to address a public rally at 5 pm on the Kozhikode beach. Read all the Latest News , Breaking News , watch Top Videos and Live TV here. Panaji: The assembly election in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Goa next year is "big challenge" for the Congress and fighting these elections is like waging a war against BJP and APP, senior party leader Digvijaya Singh on Saturday. "We have to enthuse the workers. We have to pump them up, we have to fight. The demoralised party cannot fight election. A demoralised army cannot fight wars. This is a war for us. The elections of Goa, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh are big challenges before Congress and we have to unitedly fight the BJP and AAP," Singh told party workers on Saturday. Accusing AAP of contesting in all these states to give support to BJP, Singh said, "(Union Minister) Nitin Gadkari himself has admitted that AAP will eat into the Congress votes. We have been saying this right from the beginning. If there is any gathbandhan (alliance) in this country, it is between BJP and AAP." "They (AAP and BJP) are two faces of the same coin. They are together and each of them is helping the other. (Delhi Chief Minister) Arvind Kejriwal is a creature of Vivekananda International Foundation, which is a think tank of BJP and RSS. And he is only targeting Congress," he said. Kejriwal is a part of 'Congress-mukt Bharat' campaign of BJP-RSS combine, Singh alleged. According to him, Congress party represents all communities, castes, religions, but BJP only talks of Hindutva. "Hindutva has nothing to do with Hindu religion, they want a Hindu nation, which means just as Pakistan is an Islamic nation, they want India to be a Hindu nation, which is not possible and which is against the constitution," Singh said. "They (BJP) talk of Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution, but don't believe in it because the very fundamental issue of the Indian Constitution is that every person has a right to follow the religion of his choice. Therefore, no one can be forced to follow some other religion. There can't be forced conversion that one should understand," Singh said. He said next month, Congress will organise a conference of SC, ST and OBC communities, businessmen and farmers in Goa. "All block Congress committees should also hold workers' convention," he said. 4 confirmed deceased in the mall, shooter(s) left scene b4 police arrived, unknown # of shooter, possibly just 1, police clearing mall now Sgt. Mark Francis (@wspd7pio) September 24, 2016 EMS starting to enter to attend to injured inside Mall w/ police escort and after initial clearance. pic.twitter.com/Nkfb7co6sa Sgt. Mark Francis (@wspd7pio) September 24, 2016 Here is the shooter. We believe just one shooter. Notify authorities if you see him. Armed with rifle. pic.twitter.com/GXeWCPYnx5 Sgt. Mark Francis (@wspd7pio) September 24, 2016 90% complete with building search. 11 search teams, 2 K9 teams on perimeter. Still actively searching for suspect throughout the area. Sgt. Mark Francis (@wspd7pio) September 24, 2016 Five people were killed on Saturday in a shooting at Cascade mall in Washington, US. The gunman described as a "Hispanic male" is still at large.Police are searching for one shooter and are sweeping stores in the Cascade mall, Sgt Mark Francis said about the shooting in Burlington, about a 100 km north of Seattle.Authorities said four women were killed in the shooting while a man was critically wounded.Francis, a spokesman for the state patrol, said the victims were shot in the makeup department of the Macy's store."We have one adult male victim from the Burlington mall shooting who arrived by air this evening to Harborview Medical Center at approximately 9:30 PM (local time Friday). He is in critical condition," hospital spokeswoman Susan Gregg was quoted as saying by CNN.Authorities released a surveillance image of the suspect apparently walking through a store and holding a rifle.Francis said police did not know the gunman's motive.He said the ages of the victims appeared to range from their 20s to elderly, but had no further identifying information.Washington Governor Jay Inslee said in a statement that many questions remain but state patrol and local law enforcement are on the scene working swiftly to locate the shooter and clear the area."Trudi and I send our condolences to the families of the victims and prayers for anyone injured," Inslee said."We urge residents to heed all safety and detour warnings. Stay close to your friends and loved ones as we await more information and, hopefully, news of the suspect's capture."The FBI's Seattle office announced that it was assisting local investigators with intelligence reviews and manpower.The bureau said on Twitter that it "has no information to suggest additional attacks planned" in Washington state but did not elaborate.Tari Caswell told the Skagit Valley Herald she was in the Macy's women's dressing room when she heard "what sounded like four balloons popping.""Then I heard seven or eight more, and I just stayed quiet in the dressing room because it just didn't feel right. And it got very quiet. And then I heard a lady yelling for help, and a man came and got me and another lady, and we ran out of the store," Caswell said.Authorities also released a photo of a man believed to be the gunman."Here is the shooter. We believe just one shooter...Armed with rifle," Francis tweeted.He said police are "actively searching for suspect, tracking leads."(With input from agencies) Lahore: China has assured Pakistan of its support in the event of any foreign "aggression" and also supported the country's stance on the Kashmir dispute, a media report said. Beijing conveyed the message during a meeting of its top diplomat in the provincial capital with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the Dawn reported. "In case of any (foreign) aggression our country will extend its full support to Pakistan," Consul General of China in Lahore Yu Boren said in a press release by the Punjab Chief Minister's Office. "We are and will be siding with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. There is no justification for atrocities on unarmed Kashmiris in (India)-held Kashmir and the Kashmir dispute should be solved in accordance with aspirations of the Kashmiris," the report quoted Yu as saying. Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising after the September 18 terror attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers. India has blamed the attack on militants from Pakistan which has rejected allegations of its involvement. Yu, who called on Shahbaz Sharif yesterday to felicitate him on his 65th birthday, discussed with him the situation developing in Kashmir and the progress being made on various projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). A portion of the USD 46 billion CPEC passes through a part of the disputed region because of which India has raised objections over the project. Liverpool: Left-winger Jeremy Corbyn was re-elected British Labour leader on Saturday, seeing off a challenge from his MPs but leaving the opposition party deeply divided, with its very future in question. Supporters in Liverpool, northwest England cheered the 67-year-old as results confirmed that he had defeated rival MP Owen Smith with 61.8 percent of the vote among party members and supporters. Corbyn, first elected this time last year, increased his share of the vote from then, when he received 59.5 percent after putting an anti-austerity, anti-nuclear agenda at the forefront of British politics for the first time in a generation. "Elections are passionate and often partisan affairs and some things are often said in the heat of the debate that we later come to regret," he said after the result was announced. "We have much more in common than that which divides us. "As far as I'm concerned, let's wipe that slate clean from today and get on with the work we've got to do as a party together." The result is a major blow to Labour MPs who launched a vote of no confidence against Corbyn after June's Brexit vote, arguing that he failed to campaign hard enough to keep Britain in the European Union. They complain that his left-wing views can never win power, and bitter rows, marked by allegations of intimidation and bullying by Corbyn supporters, have sparked fears of a split in the century-old party. There are also concerns that without a strong Labour opposition, Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservatives may be heading for a "hard Brexit" that would take Britain not only out of the EU but also out of the European single market. Corbyn claims his leadership has energised many people who felt left behind by mainstream politics, drawing comparisons with other anti-establishment movements across Europe. Labour's membership now stands at more than 550,000, up from just 200,000 18 months ago. But with the Tories up to 14 points ahead in some polls, and the Labour leader's personal approval ratings at rock bottom, analysts warn the party will not be entering Downing Street any time soon. "Labour is not going to win any elections in the near future," said Anand Menon, professor of European politics at Kings College London. 'Fragile equilibrium' The question now is how Labour MPs respond, with some calling for the party to unite. Labour's home affairs spokesman Andy Burnham told BBC radio shortly before the result that, while the "war of attrition" must stop, Corbyn must also build more support among the public, not just Labour activists. "No-one gets the right to take Labour down to a devastating (election) defeat," he added. He added that suggestions that Corbyn's supporters are planning to push for the deselection of MPs critical of his leadership must stop. Reports suggest more than a dozen MPs may be ready to return to Corbyn's shadow cabinet. However, more than 40 resigned from the front bench in the rebellion earlier this year and many prominent figures are thought unlikely to return. Corbyn's victory "really puts the parliamentary Labour party in a very difficult position", added Patrick Dunleavy of the London School of Economics. He predicted a "fragile equilibrium" would now develop between the MPs and the leadership, adding: "A lot depends on how Corbyn behaves." The first test will come later Saturday, when Labour's National Executive Committee meets to discuss plans to give Labour MPs a greater say in choosing Corbyn's front bench team in parliament. However, Corbyn wants to involve party members in shaping his top team, a move which would benefit him. Washington: US President Barack Obama has vetoed a bill that would have allowed the families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia, fearing that the move could have serious implications for America's national interests. The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) bill, passed by both the chambers of the Republican-controlled Congress, would have jeopardized the long-standing international principles regarding sovereignty and would have made adverse impact on US interests and nationals overseas, Obama said on Friday. He stressed that the bill departs from long-standing standards and practice under US Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, and threatens to strip all foreign governments of immunity from judicial process in the country based solely upon allegations by private litigants that a foreign government's overseas conduct had some role or connection to a group or person that carried out a terrorist attack inside the United States. "This would invite consequential decisions to be made based upon incomplete information and risk having different courts reaching different conclusions about the culpability of individual foreign governments and their role in terrorist activities directed against the United States," Obama said. "It is neither an effective nor a coordinated way for us to respond to indications that a foreign government might have been behind a terrorist attack," he added. Fearing its consequences, the US President said JASTA would upset long-standing international principles regarding sovereign immunity, putting in place rules that, if applied globally, could have serious implications for the country's national interests and it can even complicate relations with its closest partners. "If JASTA were enacted, courts could potentially consider even minimal allegations accusing US allies or partners of complicity in a particular terrorist attack in the United States to be sufficient to open the door to litigation and wide-ranging discovery against a foreign country," Obama said. Justifying his decision, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Obama is much more worried about the long-term impact of this legislation on the US national security as compared to his daily interactions with members of the Congress. "This is the president that ordered the operation to take Osama bin Laden off the battlefield. This is the president who time and again advocated for legislation that provided health care to recovery workers at Ground Zero, even in the face of some Republican opposition to that," Earnest said. "And this is the president who time and time again has spoken movingly about the impact that 9/11 has had on our country and the way that those who lost loved ones on 9/11 serve as a daily inspiration to the president and to Americans across the country and exhibiting the kind of resolve and resilience that's unique to this country," he said. The secretary said the bill, if signed into law, would open up potentially US service members and US diplomats to being hauled into court under spurious charges or claims in a way that would force the United States to expend significant resources, and in some cases diplomatic capital to go and defend them. "We also make a strong case that the most effective way for the United States to confront state sponsors of terrorism is to level a government-wide designation against them and take appropriate steps, including sanctions, to isolate them from the United States and the rest of the international community, that is a forceful way to compel them to stop supporting terrorism," he said Slamming the veto decision, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said, "President Obama's veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act is shameful and will go down as one of the low points of his presidency". "This bipartisan legislation was passed unanimously by both houses of Congress and would have allowed the families of nearly 3,000 people slaughtered by radical Islamic terrorists on September 11, 2001, the opportunity to seek justice in an American court of law," he said. Trump said Obama would deny the parents, spouses and children of those we lost on that horrific day the chance to close this painful chapter in their lives is a disgrace. These are wonderful people, and as a lifelong New Yorker, I am saddened that they will, for now, not have that opportunity, he said. "If elected president, I would sign such legislation should it reach my desk," Trump said. Islamabad: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech lashing out against Pakistan, was closely monitored by the Pakistani media, and within an hour of its delivery on Saturday evening, excerpts were on websites of major dailies, with most describing it as spewing venom against Pakistan. The News, one of the major English dailies of Pakistan, ran the headline, "Modi threatens to 'completely isolate' Pakistan globally, while 'The Express Tribune' ran the headline, "Modi threatens to 'isolate' Pakistan globally". In the same vein, Geo TV, one of the leading news channel of Pakistan, said: "Indian PM Narendra Modi threatens Pakistan". Geo further states, "Spewing hatred against the neighbouring country, Modi accused Pakistan of being 'the epicentre of terrorism' and claimed it was 'exporting terrorism' to the world." The News also termed Modi's speech as venomous and wrote, "Spewing venom, Indian PM Modi accused Pakistan of being 'the epicentre of terrorism' and claimed it was 'exporting terrorism' to the world." The Dawn also ran the headline, 'Modi says India will work to 'isolate' Pakistan internationally'. The Lynchburg Public Library wants public feedback on renovations of the building interior. The public is invited to attend a meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 5 at the library, 2315 Memorial Ave., to share ideas regarding the redesign of its interior. Library staff and representatives from the architectural firms retained to assist with the redesign will be available to provide information and to answer questions, according to a news release issued by the city Friday. Attendees are asked to use the front entrance of the library. The library opened in the former Sears building in 1984. There has not been a complete interior renovation since then, according to the release. For more information, contact Marilyn Martin at (434) 455-6330. Small businesses are considered the backbone of the economy, particularly as half the people who work in this country own or work for a small business. But Americas policies surrounding small businesses are in dire need of reform, according to a recent Harvard Business School (HBS) report on competitiveness. Professor Karen Mills, who was a member of President Barack Obamas cabinet running the Small Business Administration (SBA), explained that in order to make America more competitive, leaders need to focus on small business. What drives our economy? What drives innovation? Really our entrepreneurs. So if we dont have all our entrepreneurs working, creating jobs, our economy wont be as vibrant as it needs to be, and in some ways thats one of the things were worried about right now, Mills said. Mills explained that she sees promise in Hillary Clintons recently unveiled small business plan, which aims to tackle some of the gravest inequities between big corporations and smaller operations. A path to the middle-class While venture-backed companies have been able to thrive in this economywith tech behemoth Facebook (FB) being the most high-profile example of successthe majority of small businesses are struggling, according to Mills. After all, not all small businesses are the same. On the one hand, entrepreneurs at the higher end, the high tech companies, the venture-backed companies, are thriving, and on the other hand, the rate of entrepreneurship in this country is going down, Mills explained. The challenge to build the middle class falls largely on small business creation, she added. Entrepreneurship absolutely is a path to the middle class, Mills said. Its traditionally been the American dream.Now, half the people in this country dont believe the American dream is available to them. And thats partly related, we think, to this decline in the rate of startups. One key solution, explained Mills, is the availability of capitalnot just for the venture startups in Silicon Valley but for the smart ideas in Iowa and in South Carolina and Mississippi. Story continues If we dont have what we call an inclusive view of entrepreneurship, women, minority-owned businesses, different geographies, were not going to get all of our new startups and all of our entrepreneurs to contribute, and we wont have the economy and the growth that we need, Mills explained. For more on the HBS Competitiveness study, please see below: Harvard economist never thought his new study would take him where it did Harvard professor identifies the worst nightmare in America right now Harvard study singles out a game-changing economic opportunity: TAX REFORM Theres a silver lining behind the dark clouds hanging over US businesses Harvard Business Dean tells us what this huge 5-year study is all about Harvard Business Dean: The post-crisis monetary policy is running out of runway How improved infrastructure could end Americas vicious cycle of poverty Some companies have taken the next obvious step to filling jobs that sit vacant Theres one piece of tax reform that would have a real impact with little resistance Micwise fiery, raw and uncut It could fool the uninitiated into thinking the 27-year-old lyricist from the Southside has nothing to say. Wrong. Instead of rushing to Facebook, Micwise rushes for pen and paper and funnels the entirety of his grand personality into his music. Micwise dropped his latest album, Directors Cut 2 (DC2), on August 27, one year after Directors Cut 1, and its 12 tracks were fully produced and written by the workhorse that is Micwise. The productions boom bap style beats is reminiscent of the 90s rap music that Micwise would have soaked in as a teenager and it created the perfect bed for his rapping style. DC2 features other formidable rappers like St Ans, Don Druma, NISH, B Parris, Profess, and the soulful voice of John John Francis, all of them part of the rich underground community who tell our stories with an artistic purity that is refreshing in the era of Snapchat Filters and Rick Ross. Unlike Frank Ocean, Micwise delivered his second album complete and on time, but he remains blissfully unaware that his work ethic is abnormal. A lot of people think that once I home I just write, record, make beats, but nah. About two-three days I do music and on a weekend - probably a Saturday, said Micwise who works with an insurance company. How I doing this thing long time, certain things become kind of second nature. DC2s album art black and white photographs of Micwises favourite movie by directors Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese at work on set gives insight into the lyricists artistic motivations. When a movie comes out in theatres, that is not the directors final vision. The studio makes cuts, then the rating board cuts again. But on DVD or Blue Ray you get the directors cut. My music is uncut, it is raw, it is my vision from top to bottom. Raw indeed, as Micwise holds nothing back ripping into TT s ills. In Trinidad the Beautiful he says, Trinidad, beautiful paradise/ where the more power you got, the bigger the appetite/ where we numb pain with ah bottle and bag ah ice/and everybody soul seem to come with ah asking price. On VISA, Micwise extends his reach to the United States issues of police brutality and racism. He speaks of people advising him to go to the US to find the mainstream success that his talent deserves, but he expressed his fears about how he would be perceived and treated as a result of his skin colour. Micwise is not black in TT s understanding of the term. Here, his light-skin tone and naturally straight hair earns him the title of Syrian, but he, like many Trinidadians, is another weekend mix-up pot of many races. His mother is Indian, and his father is mixed with white, Spanish, Chinese, and mystery. Micwise noted that his ambiguous race has never been a cause for concern in the local hip hop community, but in visits to the US, he has been considered Hispanic, another racial group that is often the subject of police brutality and institutional racism. So, any thoughts of flying out wont be considered until he fully cements himself in the local mainstream. Unfortunately, in this land that spawns more talent than it has room for, artists in niche genres like hip hop do not look forward to receiving Going for Gold contracts or winning $1 million in a Hip Hop Monarch. Radio exists, but according to Joe Black, the CEO of Southside Lifestyle (SSL) - the artist management and promotion company who manages Micwise and other southern artists - radio has historically been unwilling to play them. Control of who gets played has been an ongoing issue with DJs and programme directors who may complain that the music production was not up to par but Jamaican dancehall would be played with much enthusiasm and poor production quality, Black said. But production quality has improved dramatically as local producers took courses in music production and dipped into their retirement funds to purchase expensive software and equipment. Black acknowledged DJs Pun, Chumps, and Genius for supporting the local hip hop community with a dedicated programme on 94.1 FM, but guess what? It airs between 12 am and 3 am while everyone except the haunted is asleep. Still, Black is not daunted. This does not affect SSL as it will only further fuel the hungry artistes on our roster. SSL plans to release videos for two more tracks off the DC2 album that would boost the reach of the songs. Hopefully they garner enough attention that radio stations would be silly to ignore. Directors Cut 2 can be downloaded from SoundCloud at Micwise868 for free. The rapper will also put on shows in the coming months. Install the Newser News app in two easy steps: 1. Tap in your navigation bar. 2. Tap to Add to Home Screen. Around 3,000 photographs were reported to have been stolen from Pippa Middleton's iCloud account which the High Court barred from being published (AFP Photo/Miguel Medina) (AFP/File) London (AFP) - British police said Saturday they had arrested a suspect following reports that 3,000 photographs had been hacked from Pippa Middleton, sister-in-law of Prince William, and were being touted for sale. The pictures were reported by The Sun and Daily Mail newspapers to have been stolen from Middleton's iCloud account and included shots of her sister Kate, plus her and William's children Prince George, three, and Princess Charlotte, one. Someone had been in touch with media via the encrypted messaging service WhatsApp to offer them for sale, the reports added. The Sun said it had been asked for A50,000 (58,000 euros, $65,000) for the shots. Scotland Yard police headquarters said they had received a report on Friday concerning the alleged hacking of a personal iCloud account and specialist officers were investigating. On Saturday, a 35-year-old man was arrested at an address in Northamptonshire, central England, they said. "He was arrested on suspicion of a Computer Misuse Act offence and is being taken into custody at south London police station," a statement said. "Enquiries continue." Pippa Middleton, 33, is the younger sister of Kate and found fame after acting as bridesmaid at her sister's wedding to William in 2011. She is engaged to hedge fund boss James Matthews and the couple are expected to get married next year. The allegedly hacked photos also reportedly included shots of her own wedding preparations. William and Kate and their children were due to start an eight-day tour of western Canada on Saturday. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set to view spectacular nature sites and meet with refugees and indigenous Americans during the visit. William's grandmother Queen Elizabeth II is Canada's head of state and he is second in line to the throne. (Newser) US intelligence officials are investigating a man who may or may not be a foreign policy adviser to Donald Trump and who may or may not be meeting with senior officials in the Russian government, Yahoo News reports. Carter Pagea businessman with a multitude of ties to Russiawas named by Trump as part of his "foreign policy team." That was downgraded by a spokesperson last month to "informal foreign adviser" and again this week to "has no role" in the campaign. Regardless, sources tell Yahoo there's evidence Page has been talking with officials in Moscow about lifting US sanctions on Russia if Trump is elected president. Top-ranking lawmakers briefed on Page's activities were reportedly "taken aback." Sen. Harry Reid says there is evidence of "significant and disturbing ties" between the Trump campaign and Russian government. Sources say Page's activities could compromise US foreign policy, and a US law enforcement official tells Yahoo, "It's being looked at." Page has made "provocative public comments" against US policy and in support of Putin while in Moscow. He says the US is hurting profits in Russia because of its "hypocritical focus on ideas such as democratization, inequality, corruption, and regime change." "He was pretty much a brazen apologist for anything Moscow did," one US official has said. Read the full story here. (Read more Donald Trump stories.) (Newser) Muslim families won't be offered any treats at the Treats Family Restaurant in Lonsdale, southern Minnesota: Owner Dan Ruedinger has arranged the sign board outside to read "Muslims Get Out." The sign says it is in "suport" of St. Cloud, where a Somali-American man stabbed nine people in a mall last weekend. Despite what his sign says, Ruedinger says he's not against all Muslims, only extremists. "Its time that people started standing up, not worrying about the PC crowd and do what is right, he tells CBS. "And I feel what were doing is right." Ruedinger, whose Yelp page has been inundated with negative reviews, says putting up the sign is his First Amendment right. Ruedinger says Islam is a "religion of hatred that preaches violence"and the Muslims who are "good people" should "hold the others accountable." The Lonsdale News-Review reports that Muslim leaders, including Jaylani Hussein of the state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, met Ruedinger for what Hussein describes as a "short conversation." A witness says Ruedinger became agitated and started shouting about his son's service in Iraq. Hussein says thousands of Muslims were "shocked and appalled" by the St. Cloud attack and they will continue to try to reach out to Ruedinger. (Read more Minnesota stories.) (Newser) After 18 years as a fugitive and four years on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list, Fidel Urbina is going to face justice. The former Chicago resident, who is accused of kidnapping, rape, and murder was arrested by Mexican authorities Thursday in a tiny village called El Polvo in a remote part of Chihuahua state, CBS reports. Authorities say the 41-year-old was working in a body shop in October 1998 when he raped and strangled a 22-year-old customer, the Chicago Tribune reports. He then allegedly stuffed her body into the trunk of a stolen car before setting it on fire and fleeing to Mexico. At the time of the murder, Urbina was out on bail after allegedly beating and raping another woman five months earlier. Five days after the the murder, a warrant was issued for Urbina's arrest when he didn't show up for a court date in the earlier case. Urbina "was wanted for his alleged role in two brutal attacks directed against innocent women," Michael J. Anderson, special agent in charge of the FBI Chicago Field Office, said in a press release. "Many family members have waited a long time for this day to come and they deserve the opportunity to face the accused in a court of law." Urbina is now in a federal prison in Mexico City awaiting extradition proceedings. (A woman on the Most Wanted list was captured in July.) (Newser) Every other day for months, Wolfram and Anita Gottschalk cried when they were separated and returned to the senior living facilities in which they'd been forced to reside apart. On Thursday, the tears were for another reason. Thanks in part to media coverage and a viral photo, the couplemarried 62 yearsis once again living together, CBC reports. "The reunion saw tears of joy for all involved," the couple's granddaughter, Ashley Bartyik, posted on Facebook. "They can now be under the same roof for their remaining years." Wolfram, 83, was hospitalized in January then moved into a facility in British Columbia. Because she didn't need as much care as her husband, who has dementia and lymphoma, 81-year-old Anita was moved into a different facility in July. Fearing that time apart would cause Wolfram's memories of Anita to fade, a family member drove 40 minutes every other day so they could see each other, CNN reports. Bartyik posted a photo of one of their tearful goodbyes in August, and their story went international. In her Facebook post this week, Bartyik thanks "everyone around the world" for making Thursday's permanent reunion at Anita's senior living facility possible. "We thank you for your continued prayers and messages we have received," she writes. In a video of the reunion, Anita holds Wolfram's face and tells him, "Look at me, look at me; I love you." (Read more uplifting news stories.) (Newser) Four women were fatally shot at a mall north of Seattle Friday night and one man was critically injured, police say. Washington State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Mark Francis says police are searching for a Hispanic man wearing black and armed with a "hunting-type" rifle who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5 after the shooting in the Macy's store at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, the AP reports. He says the victims were shot in the store's makeup department. No motive was immediately known. The FBI is assisting local authorities as dozens of police officers search for the shooter. The FBI's Seattle office tweeted that it "has no information to suggest additional attacks planned," but did not elaborate. Authorities initially reported four people were killed, then said three were dead, before revising the number again. Police say the number fluctuated as authorities searched the shopping center. Gov. Jay Inslee said tragedy had struck the state. "We urge residents to heed all safety and detour warnings. Stay close to your friends and loved ones as we await more information and, hopefully, news of the suspect's capture," he said in a statement. (Read more mass shootings stories.) (Newser) The Boss doesn't want people to vote for the Donald. In an excerpt from a Rolling Stone interview, Bruce Springsteen calls the Trump campaign a "tragedy for our democracy" and warns that "the republic is under siege by a moron." "When you start talking about elections being rigged, you're pushing people beyond democratic governance," Springsteen says. "And it 's a very, very dangerous thing to do." Springsteen says there has been a failure to address how "deindustrialization and globalization" in the US has hurt peoplebut all Trump is offering is "simple answers to very complex problems." In a separate interview with a Scandinavian talk show, Springsteen calls Trump's campaign a "great embarrassment" for the US, though he says he understands how some could find him "compelling," the Guardian reports. "We have certain problems in the United Statestremendous inequality of wealth distribution," he says. "That makes for ripe ground for demagoguery." Springsteen hasn't appeared at any Clinton events but in the Rolling Stone interview, he denies any a lack of enthusiasm. "I think she would be a very, very good president," he says. (Ted Cruz has decided that he's going to vote for Trump after all.) (Newser) An Inuit artist whose "impact was revolutionary" but who had trouble coping with "serious stardom" was found dead in a river this week. Annie Pootoogook's life changed dramatically in 2006, the Ottawa Citizen reports. She went from drawing in a tiny town in Canada's deep north to having her work displayed in Toronto, New York, Germany, and Switzerland. She won a $50,000 award for her art, which could sell for up $2,600 per piece. But it was "too much, too fast," says the art dealer who discovered her. According to the Globe and Mail, Pootoogook had largely stopped creating art by 2009. She was living on and off the street in Ottawa and struggling with drugs and alcohol. She could occasionally be found selling drawings for cigarette money. Authorities confirmed Friday that a body pulled from a river on Monday was Pootoogook. She was 47. Authorities haven't released a cause of death but aren't treating it as a homicide. "She has left a tremendous legacy to the Canadian cultural fabric, the Toronto Star quotes a statement from the Sobey Art Foundation. Her work will be remembered for portraying contemporary Inuit lifefrom women beading to spousal abusein a "poignant, often difficult way." "She was the kindest soul you could ever meet," a gallery curator tells CBC. "If you talk to anyone who has met Annie Pootoogook, they'll never forget her." (Her art was her photos. She didn't take a single one.) (Newser) Cats will need leashes just like dogs if a proposal before the Kenai council in Alaska wins approval, the AP reports. Kenai Mayor Pat Porter and council member Tim Navarre have proposed a cat leash law after complaints from residents about roaming felines. According to the Peninsula Clarion, current city code does not include cats on its list of animals that need to be restrained. The proposed ordinance also cites complaints about the impact of a growing cat population on the Kenai Animal Shelter's resources. Kenai City Manager Rick Koch says shelter resources are sufficient. Some residents are concerned about compliance and whether the law will tax animal control resources. A hearing and vote is set for Oct. 5. (Read more cats stories.) (Newser) For the moment it appears the woman who had an affair with Bill Clinton will be front-and-center during Monday's debate at Donald Trump's invitation, BuzzFeed reports. It started with the Clinton campaign inviting Bizarro-Trump Mark Cuban to the presidential debate at Hoffstra University. TPM quotes a Clinton aide as saying Cuban "has the best seat we have access to." CNN explains that each candidate gets a few tickets for the debate and can decide who sits where. "Just got a front row seat to watch Hillary Clinton overwhelm Donald Trump at the 'Humbling at Hofstra' on Monday," Cuban, an increasingly vocal critic of Trump, tweeted Thursday. "It is on!" "If dopey Mark Cuban of failed Benefactor fame wants to sit in the front row, perhaps I will put Gennifer Flowers right alongside of him!" Trump tweeted Saturday. In 1998, Bill Clinton admitted to having a sexual relationship with Flowers in the 1980s. The former model quickly accepted the invitation, tweeting, "Hi Donald. You know I'm in your corner and will definitely be at the debate!" and adding a kiss emoji. Flowers' assistant confirms to BuzzFeed that Flowers has accepted the invitation despite turning similar ones down in the past to avoid being a "sideshow." The Trump campaign hasn't said whether Trump's tweet constitutes an official invite. The co-chair of the debate commission tells CNN they "would frown upon" any attempt to use guests to "impact the debate." (Read more Gennifer Flowers stories.) Samsung is now ready to release 500,000 units of a new Note 7 version in the United States, following the recall the company made due to exploding battery problems. This allows Samsung to respond to half of the users who have already bought the newest Samsung mobile phone model. Statistics on the same reports states that the United States has over 1 million units of Note 7 to be recalled. However, according to USA Today, The company's spokeswoman said majority of the users who have acquired the previous Samsung Note 7 model opted for another Galaxy smartphone. Meanwhile, Yahoo disclosed the results taken from online survey development service company SurveyMonkey which said that there are about 35 percent of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 owners who want to get a refund while 26 percent of them wants to get the rival's latest model. Only 18 percent (that's one in five Note 7 users) wants to stick with the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. This survey results alone tell us about the challenge that is currently being faced by the smartphone giant. Analysts predict that this is one of the biggest blow against Samsung as it will cost them $904 million of recall expenses. @TMobile @SamsungMobile is there a plan for the note 7? And can I still get the 256 GB card with it? 15 year loyal customer :) #hookmeup Travis Stiles (@titostiles) September 18, 2016 Several Samsung loyalists also expressed their sadness over Samsung's latest setback . However, some happy and unmindful loyalists cheerfully asks for other freebies, other than the Note 7 replacement alone. Meanwhile, some loyal customers want the smartphone giant to skip Note 7 and produce the next model instead. Dear, #Samsung... Can you please crawl from the gutter (#Note 7) & release the S8? I just want the #S8. I believe in you. -Loyal customer Kelly (@KelzIsEclectic) September 17, 2016 According to branding expert David Rogers, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 recall is just a temporary bump for the smartphone giant since it has already proven years of quality products. Rogers also added that it won't be too long for the company to rise up again from the crisis, as long as they continue communicating with their loyal customers and the general public. Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Flurries and a few snow showers throughout the day. High 9F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 30%.. Tonight Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. Low -2F. Winds light and variable. Foreign Policy 4x3 On Tuesday, November 8, Americans will go to the polls and elect the next president. Both parties, Republican and Democrat, will make their cases to voters in the coming weeks. Some of the most daunting tasks facing the next president come in the realm of foreign policy. America's relationship to the rest of the world has changed drastically over the last decade. The next president will have to negotiate with a rising China, a newly resurgent Russia, a defiant North Korea, and a drawn out civil war in Syria, among other issues. We looked into where Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump stand on some of the most pressing foreign-policy questions facing the US today. They have some stark differences. Foreign Policy Graphic The Iran Deal trump clinton split The nuclear pact between the US and Iran offers Iran about $100 billion in relief from international sanctions in exchange for halting its nuclear program for the next 10 years. The pact represents a cornerstone of President Barack Obama's foreign-policy legacy as he prepares to leave office. But it has been viciously attacked by conservative hardliners both in the US and Iran. Hillary Clinton supports the Iran deal. As secretary of state, Clinton helped to impose sanctions on Iran that in part lead to the deal. Clinton holds that the Iran deal offered a diplomatic solution to an issue that could have become a war. Clinton talked about the Iran deal in San Diego, California, earlier this year: "When President Obama took office, Iran was racing toward a nuclear bomb. Some called for military action. But that could have ignited a broader war that could have mired our troops in another Middle Eastern conflict. "President Obama chose a different path. And I got to work leading the effort to impose crippling global sanctions. We brought Iran to the table. We began talks. And eventually, we reached an agreement that should block every path for Iran to get a nuclear weapon. Story continues "Now we must enforce that deal vigorously." Donald Trump has promised to rip up the Iran deal on day one of his presidency and said that it's "one of the worst deals I've ever seen negotiated" in "[my] entire life." Trump discussed of the Iran deal in his speech at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio: "Iran, the worlds largest state sponsor of terrorism, is now flush with $150 billion in cash released by the United States plus another $400 million in ransom. Worst of all, the nuclear deal puts Iran, the number one state sponsor of radical Islamic terrorism, on a path to nuclear weapons "In short, the Obama-Clinton foreign policy has unleashed ISIS, destabilized the Middle East, and put the nation of Iran which chants 'death to America' in a dominant position of regional power and, in fact, aspiring to be a dominant world power." Syria, Iraq, and ISIS syria jarablus After the invasion of Iraq in 2003 that deposed Saddam Hussein, the US has maintained a constant presence in the country as it struggles to establish new, credible leadership. Meanwhile, Syria descended into chaos after its president, Bashar Assad, violently suppressed pro-democracy demonstrators in 2011. In both nations, the Islamic State has risen as a powerful and brutal military force in direct opposition to the West. In 2014, the US intervened in the conflict by offering funding, training, and airstrikes to support moderate opposition to Assad's regime. In the same year, ISIS, an offshoot of Al Qaeda in Iraq, filled the power vacuum in the desert along the borders of the two adjacent, troubled nations. By almost all measures, ISIS has lost ground militarily since its peak. But it has continued to carry out or inspire attacks overseas. Hillary Clinton has expressed a three-point strategy to take out ISIS in Iraq and Syria in concert with our allies and the global community, paraphrased below: 1. Take out ISIS' Syrian and Iraqi capitals of Raqqa and Mosul, respectively, with increased airstrikes and support for local Arab and Kurdish forces, while pursuing a diplomatic strategy aimed at Syria and Iraq's leadership. 2. Disrupt ISIS' supply lines of money, weapons, fighters, and their ability to distribute propaganda. This extends beyond Iraq and Syria into Afghanistan, Libya, and other ISIS strongholds. And it includes combating their cyber and social-media presence, as well as rebutting their interpretation of Islam. 3. Harden US domestic defenses to a point where they deter attacks and discover plots before bad actors can execute. Donald Trump has repeatedly referenced a plan to destroy ISIS. But he has refused to reveal the details, at different times saying he didn't want his political opponents to parrot the idea and that he wants the US to be more unpredictable. Most recently, Trump said he would get counsel from top generals before deciding on a plan. "They will have 30 days to submit to the Oval Office a plan for soundly and quickly defeating ISIS. We have no choice. Any nation who shares in this goal will be our friend in this mission," Trump said. Trump maintains that he knows more about ISIS "than the generals do," and that US military's generals have been "reduced to rubble" under Obama's presidency. Terrorism There have been multiple lone-wolf-style attacks on US soil in in the last year. Mass shootings last year, according to one definition of the term, happened more than once daily on average. In at least one case the shooting in Orlando that left nearly 50 people dead the shooters have expressed support for overseas terror groups. Hillary Clinton says ISIS' shrinking power and influence in Iraq and Syria has made the group desperate. Therefore, she says, it lashes out internationally and at the West. In the aftermath of the ISIS-led attack on the Brussels airport, Clinton offered the following three-point strategy to combat terrorism: "First, we face an adversary that is constantly adapting and operating across multiple theaters, so our response must be just as nimble and far-reaching. "Second, to defeat this transnational threat, we need to reinforce the alliances that have been core pillars of American power for decades." "And third, we need to rely on what actually works not bluster that alienates our partners and doesnt make us any safer." Donald Trump has proposed a ban on all Muslims entering the country from "terror states" "until we figure out what the hell is going on," suggesting that Muslim immigrants to the US may be allied with ISIS or other anti-Western forces. He has since suggested a system of "extreme vetting" in immigration. He has also repeatedly criticized Clinton and Obama for refusing to use the words "radical Islamic terror." NATO and Russia Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) talks to Government Chief of Staff Vyacheslav Volodin during a meeting on the development of local self-government in Pskov's Kremlin, some 650 km (404 miles) northwest of Moscow May 23, 2011. REUTERS/Alexei Nikolsky/RIA Novosti/Pool Founded in 1949 by democratic nations in Europe and North America to defend against the spread of communism, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is the most powerful military alliance the world has ever known. Though the Soviet Union has collapsed, Russia, under President Vladimir Putin's rule, has risen again to become a world power and a military threat. Putin runs Russia with near total autonomy and violated international law with the 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine. Putin has been accused of having dissenters killed, war crimes, weaponizing the Syrian refugee crisis to fracture unity within the European Union, and multiple cyber attacks on the US. Despite NATO's size and strength, the migrant crisis, anxieties about terrorism, and strained economies present real weaknesses that experts say Putin has deftly exploited. Militarily, US generals concede that Russia poses real threats to the US. Furthermore, Russia supports Syria's Bashar Assad, while the US supports opposition forces. In Syria, Eastern Europe, and even the Pacific, Russia promotes causes contrary to the interests of the US and the democratic West. Hillary Clinton presided over Obama's "reset" in relations with Russia back in 2009 but has since come around to depicting Putin as a "bully." Speaking about Putin at a debate, Clinton said: "Well, my relationship, its its interesting. Its one, I think, of respect. Weve had some very tough dealings with one another. And I know that hes someone that you have to continually stand up to because, like many bullies, he is somebody who will take as much as he possibly can unless you do." Since Trump began publicly praising Putin, Clinton's campaign has portrayed him as potentially dangerous to US interests. "It is beyond one's imagination to have a candidate for president praising a Russian autocrat like Vladimir Putin," she has said. Donald Trump departs from orthodoxy in US politics in that he embraces the totalitarian leader Putin. Donald Trump has criticized the NATO alliance as "obsolete," and welcomed praise from Putin. When pressed to distance himself from Putin at NBC's Commander-in-Chief Forum earlier in September, Trump suggested that Putin is a better leader than Obama. "He is very much of a leader. The man has very strong control over his country ... You can say, 'oh, isnt that a terrible thing,' I mean, the man has very strong control over his country," Trump said. "Now it's a very different system, and I don't happen to like the system, but certainly in that system he's been a leader, far more than our president has been a leader." In the past, he has also called on Russian hackers to undermine the US election by releasing Clinton's deleted emails from her time as secretary of state, though his campaign later said it was a joke. Experts look at the hacking and leaking of information from the Democratic National Committee, for which they point the finger at Russia, as a sign that Putin welcomes a Trump presidency. Israel Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem May 10, 2015. REUTERS/Sebastian Scheiner/Pool/File Photo Israel is one of the US's most reliable allies, and one of the biggest clients for foreign military sales. Israel has been accused of wrongdoing in pushing out Palestinians from areas like the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Many Middle Eastern states, most prominently Iran, have come to resent the US for the alliance. Peace between Israel and Palestinians remains one of the most elusive and sought-after solutions on the world stage. Hillary Clinton helped broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas during her tenure as secretary of state, one of her more-touted achievements. She remains resolutely in support of Israel and hopeful about an eventual two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Clinton has questioned Trump's dedication to the cause, especially him claiming he'd try to remain neutral in talks between Israel and Palestine. "America can't ever be neutral when it comes to Israel's security and survival," Clinton told the American-Israeli Political Action Conference in March. "Anyone who doesnt understand that has no business being our president." Donald Trump has questioned the US's military alliances generally but claims to remain resolute in supporting Israel. As he fancies himself a world-class negotiator and deal maker, he's expressed genuine interest in trying to establish himself as neutral between Palestine and Israel and eventually striking a deal for peace between them. "I think it's probably the toughest negotiation of all time," said Trump in a March GOP debate. "But maybe we can get a deal done." North Korea kim jong un Since the end of the Korean War in 1953, North Korea has been a stronghold of communism and totalitarianism under the Kim dynasty. Recently, Kim Jong Un has made startling progress in developing nuclear warheads and advanced, long-range missiles to launch them. Perhaps no regime on earth is as openly antagonistic toward the US as North Korea. Only China has any modicum of influence over the Hermit Kingdom. Hillary Clinton's strategy of containment via sanctions toward North Korea makes no large departures from Obama's, though she has come out hard against the country's recent nuclear testing, saying: "We will not allow North Korea to have a deliverable nuclear weapon" to US territory. Clinton has also criticized Donald Trump for saying that he would host Kim Jong Un should he visit the US. Donald Trump has repeatedly questioned the wisdom of the US's alliance with South Korea, where more than 25,000 troops are stationed. He has also suggested that the US should pull away from Japan, musing about the country developing its own nuclear weapons to defend itself. Trump hopes his proposed hardline trade stance toward China would convince the country to intervene in North Korea. "China has total control over North Korea," Trump told "Fox & Friends" in January. "And China should solve that problem. And if they don't solve the problem, we should make trade very difficult for China." NOW WATCH: NATIONAL POLL: Trump and Clinton are virtually tied with just 8 weeks left More From Business Insider New Delhi: Indian Air Force on Friday successfully fired recently acquired long range air-to-air MICA missile on a manoeuvring target from Mirage-2000 Upgrade combat aircraft. With the success of this mission by 'Tigers', the first squadron of the force, IAF has become one of the few air forces in the world with the capability of such beyond visual range air-to-air missile, a Defence Ministry release said. The missile achieved a direct hit on a target which was much smaller than an actual aircraft and flying at a low altitude, it said. The target was destroyed on missile impact validating the launch envelope of the missile, it said. The operational success of this mission confirms a critical capability of IAF, it added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Only hours after Russiaas state news agency announced the first ever Russia-Pakistan military drill, Russian Embassy in India on Friday night clarified that Russia will not participate in any military exercise in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, including in sensitive areas like Gilgit-Baltistan.A aThe only venue of the exercise is Cherat. All reports alleging the drills taking place at the High Altitude Military School in Rattu are erroneous and mischievous,a the Russian Embassy in Delhi said in a statement. Russian state-run news agency TASS had earlier reported that the opening ceremony will take place at an army school in Rattu in Gilgit-Baltistan, which is in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). However, the information was later taken off from the TASS website. According to PTI report, a mechanised infantry unit of the Russian military arrived in Pakistan on Friday to participate in the first-ever joint military drills dubbed aFriendship-2016a starting from Saturday, reflecting growing military ties between the two former Cold War rivals. A statement by Russiaas Southern Military Command said the drills will involve over 70 servicemen of the Southern Military Command, including the Mountain Mobile Brigadeas personnel deployed to the Karachay-Cherkessia Republic (North Caucasus), and also officers from the headquarters staff. aA contingent of Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan for first ever Pak-Russian joint exercise from September 24 to October 10,a army spokesman Lt-Gen Asim Bajwa tweeted along with some photographs of the Russian and Pakistan troops. A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived Pak for 1st ever Pak- Russian joint exercise (2 weeks) from 24 Sep to 10 Oct 2016 pic.twitter.com/eWzQMlENL6 a Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 23, 2016 About 200 troops from the two countries will take part in the two-week long military drills called as aFriendship 2016a, which have been termed as a sign of growing military ties between the former rivals of Cold war era. (With Inputs from PTI) For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Congress leader aged 52-year-old was allegedly hacked to death by unidentified miscreants in broad daylight in Sullia on Friday, said police. The deceased, Ismail Nelyamajalu, was the Congress Minority Wing local Karavali Valaya (coastal unit) President. Police said that after Friday prayers at a mosque Ismail was about to reach his car in Irvanadu in Sullia when miscreants attacked him with machetes. He died on the spot. Also two years ago, Ismail and his wife Waheeda Ismail, who was the president of Bellare Grama Panchayat were attacked by miscreants. The latest attack could be a sequel to it, police said, adding that it could be personal and no communal angle had been revealed yet. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Panaji: Eight years after British teenage girl Scarlett Eden Keeling was found dead on a beach in Goa, a childrens court on Friday acquitted two local men accused of drugging, sexually abusing and leaving her to die on the shore. Goa Childrens Court Judge Vandana Tendulkar acquitted Samson DSouza and Placido Carvalho of all the charges in the high profile case, which had cast a shadow on the coastal resort, a former Portuguese enclave. Carvalho and Samson were charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, sexual abuse and drugging. As the verdict was pronounced in a jam packed court hall, Scarletts mother Fiona MacKeown did not hide her deep disappointment. I am devastated, I am shocked, said Fiona, who waited for long for the verdict in the case as the trial dragged on for years due to several reasons, including withdrawal of the initial prosecutor and failure to get the deposition of a key witness from abroad. Talking to reporters outside the court here, Fiona, who flew down to Goa from Davon (UK) to be present in the court for the final verdict, said, I am shocked. I was not expecting acquittal. I was expecting conviction. I will challenge the order. Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar termed the judgement as unfortunate, but said it will not hamper the image of the coastal state. I have just heard about the verdict, I have not gone through the entire judgement. I feel the outcome of the verdict is heartbreaking, it is very unfortunate. Unless, I go through the judgement I would not be in a position to detail my reaction, he said. It is a heartbreaking judgment...I feel that such a outcome of the case needs to be challenged in the higher court, he added. The 15-year-olds bruised and semi-nude body was found at Anjuna beach on February 19, 2008. After the body was found, Fiona stayed in Anjuna for a couple of weeks trying to piece together the evidence in the case. Goa Police was accused of trying to hush up the case. The police had initially dismissed it as a case of drowning, but later registered it as culpable homicide, after Fiona pressed for a second autopsy, which found that the girl was drugged and raped. CBI, to which the probe was handed over later following repeated pleas made by Scarletts family, had filed its chargesheet in the case in 2009. The case had grabbed international attention as British citizens used to form the largest number of tourists visiting Goa. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar on Friday proposed patriotic tourism to make the countrymen aware of the role of defence forces in providing people safety and comfort. We should visit our borders and the villagers living nearby to know the role of defence forces in our safety and comfort, Kumar said at a seminar, which was organised to celebrate Haifa Mukti Day by Forum for Awareness of National Security (FANS). The Day is commemorated to pay tributes to the sacrifice of more than 900 brave Indian soldiers who laid down their lives for liberating the Palestinian Port of Haifa from Ottoman Empire of Turkey during World War-1 on September 23, 1918. These soldiers were from the Lancers of Maharajas of Jodhpur, Mysore and Nizam of Hyderabad. The seminar, titled World Peace: Significance of Indo-Israel friendship, was also attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands Jagdish Mukhi, Israels Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon, among others. At the seminar, Kumar suggested action plan by proposing patriotic tourism to the audience as well, a release said tonight. He also moved a resolution, which was unanimously accepted by the audience, the release said adding the resolution proposed renaming Teen Murti Chowk as Teen Murti Haifa Mukti Chowk. According to the release, Carmon promised all support to FANS and Indo-Israel Friendship Forum for bringing the two countries closer and for the proposed visit of Indians to Haifa in 2018, the centenary year of Indian heroism in Haifa. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai: A court on Saturday granted anticipatory bail to music composer Vishal Dadlani in connection with a case registered against him by Haryana Police for allegedly hurting religious sentiments with his sarcastic tweet on Jain monk Tarun Sagar. District and Sessions Judge Deepak Gupta granted the bail setting certain conditions. Dadlani had filed for anticipatory bail on September 17. "It is directed that in the event of arrest of the petitioner-accused, he be released on bail on furnishing bail bond in the sum of Rs 50,000 with a surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the arresting officer, as and when he is sought to be arrested," the court observed. Also Read: Police complaint lodged against singer Vishal Dadlani over his tweet on Jain monk "This bail is subject to condition that he shall join the investigation as and when required by investigating officer and that he shall not leave India without permission of the court and will not make any attempt to influence the investigation," it further ruled. The public prosecutor submitted that since the petitioner had not cooperated with the investigation agency by not getting the recovery of the device effected from which he sent the tweet, so his anticipatory bail petition be dismissed. Counsel for Dadlani, however, pleaded that at no stage he has ever denied posting of the alleged objectionable tweets and therefore, non recovery of the device is immaterial. On September 21, Dadlani had met Sagar in Chandigarh and apologised to him in person for his tweet on the spiritual figure that had kicked up a storm. Ambala Cantt Police had registered a case recently against Dadlani and one more person under relevant sections including 153A (promoting enmity between classes), 295A (maliciously insulting the religion or religious beliefs of any class) and 509 IPC (uttering any word or making any gesture to insult the modesty of a woman etc). The case was registered on the complaint filed by Punit Arora, a resident of Ambala Cantonment and he is stated to be a follower of Jain monk. Dadlani came under sharp criticism from several quarters including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his tweet. After a barrage of criticism, he had tendered an apology for his tweet and also deleted it. The Jain monk had delivered a lecture 'Kadve Pravachan' at Haryana Assembly last month on the invitation of the state government. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has claimed that the Uri terror attack could be the result of a reaction of the people to the situation in Kashmir as he criticised India for blaming Pakistan without any evidence. The Uri attack can be the reaction of the atrocities in Kashmir, as the close relatives and near and dear ones of those killed and blinded over the last two months were hurt and outraged, Sharif told reporters on Friday in London, where he had stopped on his way back from New York after attending the UN General Assembly session. Sharif said that India hastily blamed Pakistan without any investigation. He said India behaved in an irresponsible way when it blamed Pakistan without any evidence. How could India accuse Pakistan only hours after the Uri incident without holding any inquiry or investigation, Sharif was quoted as saying by Pakistani media reports. Also read: Pakistan found no support from UNGA united against terrorism, says Akbaruddin The whole world knows about the Indian atrocities in Kashmir where around 108 people have so far been killed, over 150 blinded and thousands injured, he alleged. Stressing on alleged brutalities being perpetrated against innocent Kashmiris, the Pakistani Prime Minister said that before accusing Pakistan, India should have looked at its atrocious role in Kashmir. He called on India to also conduct a probe into the killings of Kashmiris. Sharif said the achievement of lasting peace in the region was impossible without the resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute. 18 soldiers were killed when Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists attacked a highly-guarded army camp in Uri in Kashmir on Sunday morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that those behind the despicable act will not go unpunished. Also read: Russia denies any military exercise with Pakistan in Occupied-Kashmir The incident triggered a diplomatic dust-up with both India and Pakistan hitting out at each other including at the UN General Assembly. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. FINEST KIND CLINIC AND FISHMARKET.... Discussing medicine, culture, and the joys of cooking Pansit. New Delhi: The chiefs of Indian Army and Indian Air Force, and Vice Chief of Naval StaffA met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg on Saturday. According to an ANI tweet, the discussions were held on prevailing security situation at the borders and India's response to Uri Attack. Correction: Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS) was present in the meeting with PM Modi, not Navy Chief Sunil Lanba a ANI (@ANI_news) September 24, 2016 Delhi: Army, Navy and Air Force Chiefs of Staff leave after meeting PM Narendra Modi at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg #UriAttack pic.twitter.com/daSo6ON04M a ANI (@ANI_news) September 24, 2016 Delhi: Army, Navy and Air Force Chiefs of Staff leave after meeting PM Narendra Modi at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg #UriAttack pic.twitter.com/YxO1xKootq a ANI (@ANI_news) September 24, 2016 More details awaited. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The chiefs of Indian Army and Indian Air Force, and Vice Chief of Naval Staff met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg on Saturday. According to an ANI tweet, the discussions were held on prevailing security situation at the borders and India's response to Uri Attack. 1) PM Modi meets chiefs of Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Vice Chief of Naval Staff to discuss India's response to Uri attacks The chiefs of Indian Army and Indian Air Force, and Vice Chief of Naval Staff met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg on Saturday. 2) Watch: Pak PM Nawaz Sharif points finger at India, says Uri attack could be 'reaction' to situation in Kashmir Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has claimed that the Uri terror attack could be the result of a reaction of the people to the situation in Kashmir as he criticised India for blaming Pakistan without any evidence. 3) Pakistan found no support from UNGA united against terrorism: Akbaruddin Pakistani Prime Minister left from United Nations General Assembly with an empty bag, they got no support, whilst there is a crescendo of support against terrorism at in the international community, according to a senior Indian diplomat at the United Nations. 4) Caught on Video: Hit-and-run captured on CCTV in Delhis Malviya Nagar, FIR registered A man was hit and seriously injured by a speeding car and the video of the incident was captured in a CCTV camera in Delhi. 5) Russia denies any military exercise with Pakistan in Occupied-Kashmir Only hours after Russias state news agency announced the first ever Russia-Pakistan military drill, Russian Embassy in India on Friday night clarified that Russia will not participate in any military exercise in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, including in sensitive areas like Gilgit-Baltistan. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In a new turn in the food on the floor case at Ranchi hospital, the suspended staff has revealed that the woman in the picture was mentally disable and always insisted on eating from the floor. Chandramani, an employee of Ranchi Institute of Medical Sciences, told Hindi newspaper Dainik Jagraan that the woman, identified as Palmati Devi, was not even a patient at the RIMS hospital, she was left there by her family members. I used to give her some food risking my job, and this is what I have earned from it, said Chandramani has been suspended after the picture of a patient eating from the hospital floor made it to the headlines. He further told the paper that he tried to persuade her and usually gave her food in a paper or plastic plate, but she always threw away the plate and ate only from the floor. I tried to give her chapatti instead of rice sometimes, as she would eat chapatti in hands, but on that day I did not have any chapatti so I gave her rice, Chandramani said. Reports of an orthopaedic patient forced to eat from hospital floor at Ranchis premier medical institution RIMS had shot to headlines on Friday after another Hindi daily reported the incident. According to the report, when Palmati Devi asked for food, she was initially rudely turned away and later, served daal, rice and vegetables on the floor of the corridor of the orthopaedic ward where she was admitted. The kitchen staff told her they had no plates. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Houston: Baloch nationalists along with the Indian-American community members staged a protest outside Pakistans Consulate in US against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Holding placards and shouting slogans against Pakistan for human rights violations, abduction and killings of civilians and rape of women, protestors condemned the recent dastardly and cowardly act of Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack in Uri. Many protesters, mostly American Friends of Balochistan activists and Indian-Americans, carried placards highlighting the oppression of minorities, women and children in Pakistan and urged the US government to stop funding Pakistan. A placard held by a soldier described Pakistan as the Ivy League of Terrorism. Also read: Pakistan found no support from UNGA united against terrorism: Akbaruddin Two days ago, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir had noted that the land of Taxila, one of the greatest learning centres of ancient times, is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism and attracts aspirants and apprentices from all over the world. The protest event ended with the gathering singing the national anthems of the US and India. Also read: Indian-American community launch White House petition to designate Pak sponsor of terror The attack was carried out by banned terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed with the active support of Pakistani army and ISI, it is high time that those at helm consider it as an act of war by Pakistan against India, activist Achalesh Amar said. The protest came after Congressman Ted Poe, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, along with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, introduced a bill in the US House of Representatives to designate Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism. It is time we stop paying Pakistan for its betrayal and designate it for what it is, a state sponsor of terrorism, Congressman Poe had said after introducing the bill.18 soldiers were killed when Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists attacked a highly-guarded army camp in Uri in Kashmir on Sunday morning. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Beirut: At least 25 civilians were killed in heavy Russian and Syrian strikes across the rebel-held east of Aleppo on Saturday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Among the dead were seven people killed as they queued to buy yoghurt at a market in the Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, the Britain-based monitoring group said. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Jammu: An organisation representing Kashmiri Pandits urged the central government to announce a smart city in Kashmir on Saturday. While strongly advocating the need for such a township for the displaced community members, the organization claimed that the Pandits were living a life of "refugees in their own country". "We were expecting that the Modi government would have announced a smart city for displaced community in the third round announcement of 27 more smart cities. But unfortunately we have again been ignored despite the fact that we are the worst victims of the ongoing terrorism and are living as refugees in our own country for the last 26 years," YAIKS president Ram K Bhat said here. "A total of 60 out of 100 smart cities have been announced this year without any consideration of KP community," he added. "We appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Housing and Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu that as per their assurances they should announce the smart city for displaced community without any delay," he added. The organisation said the government has sent out "feelers" of rehabilitation packages but never drawn any comprehensive long term plan for repatriation of Kashmiri Pandits, he added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. United Nations: With US Secretary of State John Kerry invoking North Korea's latest nuclear explosion as a "reckless act of provocation," the UN Security Council has approved a resolution urging quick global implementation of a treaty that would ban tests of such weapons. Kerry said universal adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty would result in a "safer, more secure, and more peaceful planet," as the United States and 18 other council members approved the resolution yesterday, with none opposed and Egypt abstaining. Security Council approval comes as the Comprehensive Test Ban Organisation set up to administer the treaty marks its 20th anniversary. CTBO chief Lassina Zerbo welcomed the vote, telling The Associated Press that "it will remind the international community ... that we have to finish what we started 20 years ago." European Union foreign policy coordinator Federica Mogherini said approval is "an important step" toward global enactment of the treaty. The Washington-based Arms Control Association called it "a very important reaffirmation of the global taboo against nuclear weapon test explosions and strong call for ratification" by key nations. Yet yesterday's move was mostly symbolic. The US remains one of the holdouts among the 44 countries that are designated "nuclear capable", the United States, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea and Pakistan that still need to ratify the treaty for it to enter into force. North Korean leaders appeared in no mood to ratify any time soon, with Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho vowing his country will expand its nuclear capabilities in defiance of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. Speaking at the UN General Assembly yesterday, he condemned Washington for flying two supersonic bombers over South Korea earlier this week, vowing "the United States will have to face tremendous consequences beyond imagination." North Korea, he said, "will continue to take measures to strengthen its national nuclear armed forces in both quantity and quality in order to defend the dignity and right to existence and safeguard genuine peace vis-a-vis the increased nuclear war threat of the United States." Even without ratification, the UN's CTBTO already polices the world for any sign of nuclear tests with a global network of monitoring stations that pick up seismic signals and gases released by such events. But until those eight countries embrace the treaty it is supposed to administer, it cannot go on site to inspect for tests. The White House has lobbied Congress for support since anti-treaty minded Republicans rejected ratification 17 years ago under President Bill Clinton, with Senate approval falling far short of the required two-thirds majority. But opposition remains strong, although advocates say that computer modeling and other cutting edge techniques make real testing obsolete. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Congress criticized the Rs 59,000-crore Rafale fighter jet deal on Saturday while raising several questions on it. Further, the party claimed that the absence of any provision of technology transfer has the ability to cost India "very heavily". Former Defence Minister A K Antony also demanded that the inter-governmental agreement with France should be made public. He wondered how India would bridge the gap with respect to China and Pakistan by acquiring just 36 aircraft when the original plan was for 126. Addressing a press conference along with party spokesman Manish Tewari at the AICC headquarters, Antony lamented that the idea of 'Make in India' which was there in the original plan has also "gone" in the present deal. "During UPA, we had planned to buy 126 aircraft to strengthen IAF which was its urgent operational requirement considering security situation in the country," Antony said wondering why only 36 aircrafts were being bought. "Is it enough to meet operational requirement of the IAF which has a sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons and.... at present there are just 32 squadrons?", Antony asked. A squadron has generally 18 aircrafts. Suggesting that more aircrafts were necessary for the operational requirement of the IAF, he said, otherwise, by 2022 the squadron available with IAF would be reduced to 25. "I don't want to comment on the present price before I know the exact details. Government must publish the details of the final contract," Antony said "Today we read inspired pieces in some media, which claim the present Government has saved money by hard negotiations. That's not true!", he said adding, "You can't compare the Rafale deal price during UPA Government's time and now." India yesterday inked a Euro 7.87 billion (approx Rs 59,000) deal with France for purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons and equipped with latest missiles that will give the IAF greater "potency" over arch rival Pakistan. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Jamshedpur: India and Pakistan's relations have recently deteriorated to a vast extent regarding the killing of 18 Indian armed personnel by militants from across the border at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir. Congress asked the government on September 24 to emphasize on "restoring peace and normalcy in the trouble-torn Valley". Curfew is in force for the last 75 days in the Valley and the government should make an effort to ensure that peace and normalcy returned there, AICC spokesman Ajoy Kumar said here. "The Kashmir problem should be resolved within the framework of the Constitution to bring normalcy at the earliest," Kumar, a former parliamentarian, said. Talking to reporters, he said he did not see any hope of normalcy returning soon in the Valley and demanded "stringent action" against "forces instigating violence". Asked about the "strained" relationship between India and Pakistan, the Congress leader said the government should convince the world community to isolate the latter in every possible way, including on economic and diplomatic fronts. "Pakistan should be cornered on all fronts, including economic and diplomatic. It is our problem and we would have to solve it. We should not expect countries such as the US and China to solve the problem for us," he said. To a query on whether India should recall its diplomats from Pakistan in view of the growing tension between the two countries, Kumar said the government will have to take a call on it. He, however, said India should convince the world community to impose sanctions on Pakistan unless they initiate stringent action against terrorists operating against India. Kumar, however, held Prime Minister Narendra Modi "responsible" for the prevailing tension between the two neighbouring countries. "The relationship between India and Pakistan had never reached such a stage between 2004 and 2014 when the UPA government was in power. But, the tall talks of Modi on Pakistan as well as the wrong foreign policy of the government are responsible for the current situation," he said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Lahore: China came out strongly in support of its all weather ally Pakistan and assured it of all sorts of support regarding any foreign "aggression" on its soil. Further, it also supported Pakistan's stance on the Kashmir dispute, a media report said. Beijing conveyed the message during a meeting of its top diplomat in the provincial capital with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the Dawn reported."In case of any (foreign) aggression our country will extend its full support to Pakistan," Consul General of China in Lahore Yu Boren said in a press release by the Punjab Chief Ministers Office."We are and will be siding with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. There is no justification for atrocities on unarmed Kashmiris in (India)-held Kashmir and the Kashmir dispute should be solved in accordance with aspirations of the Kashmiris," the report quoted Yu as saying.Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising after the September 18 terror attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers.India has blamed the attack on militants from Pakistan which has rejected allegations of its involvement. Yu, who called on Shahbaz Sharif yesterday to felicitate him on his 65th birthday, discussed with him the situation developing in Kashmir and the progress being made on various projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).A portion of the USD 46 billion CPEC passes through a part of the disputed region because of which India has raised objections over the project. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Lahore: A petition filed in the Lahore High Court on September 24 sought a ban on release of Indian movies in Pakistan unless and until the Kashmir issue was resolved. The petition, filed by Advocate Azhar Saddique, alleged that Indian forces are committing atrocities in Kashmir and the Pakistan government has allowed Indian movies to be exhibited in local cinemas and this act is not only hurting the sentiments of Kashmiris but also Pakistanis. It said the Indian movies are opposed to Pakistan's Kashmir policy and are a 'big hurdle' in the freedom movement of Kashmiris. "To express solidarity with Kashmiris the Pakistani government should be ordered to put immediate ban on exhibition of Indian movies across the country," it pleaded. Besides, the petitioner alleged that the Indian government and other extremist organisations are threatening Pakistani actors to leave India after Uri attack. Keeping this threat in mind, the Pakistani government should respond to India in a firm manner and ban its movies. The court will fix the date of hearing next week. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Chennai: The state-run Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) has informed the Madras High Court that so far about 900 retail liquor vending shops in the state, have been identified as being located within a prohibited area, in violation of government rules. TASMAC made the submission when the matter came up before the First bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan on September 16. In the affidavit filed by TASMAC, it was mentioned that there were 6,200 retail liquor vending shops in the state, which have been identified and measurements have been carried out as per the Tamil Nadu Survey and Boundaries Act. The Advocate General also submitted that about 900 shops have been identified, which may be in violation of Rule 8 of the Tamil Nadu Liquor Retail Vending (in Shops and Bars) Rules. However, the exercise was incomplete in the sense that there may be some inaccuracy in terms of measurement of the distance, he added and sought time of two more months to complete it and file the compliance report. Acceding to his request, the bench said, the two months time would be adjusted within the time frame of six months already given to shift the shops located within the prohibited area and posted the matter for November 25 to file the compliance report. The bench also pointed out that the exemptions to Rule 8, more specifically clause (b), should be looked into closely, as exemption was provided in case educational institutions, places of worship come into existence subsequent to the establishment of the shop. The matter relates to a PIL filed by social activist A Narayanan to declare Rule 8 (1) of the Tamil Nadu Liquor Retail Vending (in Shops and Bars) Rules as unconstitutional. As per the PIL, the rule lays down that "No shop shall be established in Municipal Corporations and Municipalities within a distance of 50 metres and in other areas 100 metres from any place of worship or educational institutions" and adds that "provided that the distance restriction shall not apply in areas designated as "Commercial or Industrial" by the Development and Town Planning Authorities." Earlier, when the matter came up for hearing in March 2016, TASMAC had sought six months time from the court for collection of data on location of shops by actual measurements and another six months for shifting them, wherever required. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed a public rally in Calicut of Kerala. Touching on several subjects, PM Modi gave out a strong message to Pakistan against terrorism. Challenging Pakistan, Modi asked the neighbouring country to declare war on poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. This is PM Modis first speech since the Uri attack in which he lashed out at Pakistan and warned its leadership that the terror attack will not be forgotten. Also Read: (10 big highlights of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally) Here are the big things PM Modi said about Pakistan: #There is one nation in Asia whose aim in this century does not become Asia's and is associated with terrorism. #Question is not only about India, everywhere this is one country which is exporting terrorism everywhere. #Wherever terrorism is happening across Asia, the affected nations are blaming only 1 nation. #Whenever news about terrorism comes, news also comes either the terrorist came from there or like Osama went there after the act. #Our 18 soldiers had to sacrifice their lives because of terrorists exported by our neighbouring country. #There's anger in entire country post Uri attack.18 of our soldiers sacrificed their life after our neighbour exported terrorists there. #Leaders of neighbouring country used to say that they will fight for 1000 years, but where are they lost now. # In the last few months, our neighbour tried to destroy our country by exporting terrorists more than 17 times but our army defeated them. # I want to inform Pakistan that before 1947 even your leaders used to salute this land. #You can imagine, our neighbour was successful in one incident and our 18 soldiers had to sacrifice their lives, if they would have succeeded in the other 17 times, what would have happened? #Pakistan is aiming for Kashmir, they should first look at the land they have already captured ie PoK, Gilgit and Balochistan. #We are exporting engineers all over the world, whereas Pakistan is exporting terrorists in entire world. # I want to tell Pak people, India is ready to fight you. If you have strength, come forward to fight against poverty. # Lets see who wins? who is able to defeat poverty and illiteracy first, Pakistan or India? #A day will come when people of Pakistan will go against its own Govt to fight terrorism. #India has been successful in isolating Pakistan, and will intensify that so that you are are completely isolated. #I call upon people of Pakistan to come forward,fight a war on who defeats unemployment, poverty, illiteracy first. Lets see who wins. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Islamabad: Pakistan has decided to approach Interpol regarding extradition of Baloch nationalist and leader Brahamdagh Bugti. The Baloch issue has gained steam as Bugti seeks political asylum in India, a media report said. The Pakistan government has decided to write to Interpol for the extradition of Bugti. "The Federal Investigation Agency will send a formal reference to Interpol within the next few days for the extradition of Brahamdagh Bugti," interior minister Nisar Ali Khan was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune. Pakistan yesterday warned India that by granting asylum to Bugti, it will become an "official sponsor of terrorism". Bugti, who has been living in Switzerland, on Tuesday approached the Indian Embassy in Geneva seeking asylum in India and exuded confidence of a positive response from New Delhi. His application seeking political asylum was received by the Home Ministry in New Delhi which is examining it. Bugti is the President and founder of Baloch Republican Party. He is the grandson of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader killed by the Pakistan army in 2006. Pakistan government had blamed India for helping Bugti flee Pakistan to Geneva in 2010 via Afghanistan. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Dr. Jill Stein addressed a group of supporters on Thursday, at Center Connecticut State University. One of the main talking points was her plan to deal with student loan debt. The Green Party candidate's position is different from those put forth by the two major party candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, and fellow minor party candidate, Gary Johnson of the Libertarian party. Dr. Stein called student loans 'predatory' and said that it was not acceptable for many young people to be trapped in large amounts of debt just because they wanted an education. By announcing her plan to end student loan debt completely, Stein hopes to attract more of the millennial generation's votes. The idea of forgiving all current student loan debt is not without its cost. Stein points out that it would cost the same amount as the debt owed, which is currently about $1.3 trillion. She has a solution to this cost and proposes that all Wall Street financial transactions be subject to a 0.5% tax. She also spoke about perspective and how the $1.3 trillion is a small amount compared to the $16 trillion the federal government spent to bail out several financial institutions during the recession of 2008. Stein's appeal to young voters has garnered her many supporters among millennials. According to polls, though, she still trails Clinton, Trump, and Johnson by a significant margin. Find out quickly at what rate you can refinance your student loan. OTTAWA, Sept. 23, 2016 /CNW/ - The Canadian Association of Journalists adds its voice to those of its Quebec colleagues in criticizing the Surete de Quebec's seizure of Michael Nguyen's computer. The computer was seized as a result of an investigation being conducted by Quebec's judicial council based on Nguyen's reporting of Quebec Court Judge Suzanne Vadeboncoeur behaviour published by the Journal de Montreal in June. The SQ are seeking information on the source of a video used as the basis for the reporting. "Journalists are not police officers, officers of the court or part of law enforcement to be so would threaten journalists' independence that is vital to public-interest reporting," said CAJ president Nick Taylor-Vaisey. "In this case, a journalist did his job in bringing a matter of immense public interest speaking to the integrity of those serving on the bench to light. "Rather than seize this journalist's materials, the public interest would be better served if investigators focused on the subject of Nguyen's reporting." The computer in question is under judicial seal until a judge can rule on the validity of the search warrant used to obtain it. The CAJ hopes it will be excluded as necessary evidence and returned to Nguyen promptly. The CAJ is Canada's largest national professional organization for journalists from all media, representing nearly 500 members across the country. The CAJ's primary roles are to provide public-interest advocacy and high-quality professional development for its members. SOURCE Canadian Association of Journalists For further information: Nick Taylor-Vaisey, CAJ president, 647-968-2393, [email protected] Many scientists consider graphene to be a wonder material. Now, a team of researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has succeeded in linking graphene with another important chemical group, the porphyrins. Porphyrins are well-known because of their striking functional properties which for example play a central role in chlorophyll during photosynthesis. These new hybrid structures could also be used in the field of molecular electronics, catalysis or even as sensors. Hardly any material is currently receiving as much attention in research as graphene. It is flexible, extremely thin and transparent, while at the same time it has very high tensile strength and conducts electricity, ideal prerequisites for a wide variety of application areas. However, using graphene to capture solar energy or as a gas sensor requires other specific properties as well. These properties can be achieved by fusing functional molecules with the carbon layer. In previous research, scientists were primarily concerned with wet-chemical methods for attaching the molecules to the surface of the material. Together with his colleagues, Molecular Engineering at Functional Interfaces Professor Wilhelm Auwarter decided to take a different approach: They were able to link porphyrin molecules to graphene in a controlled manner in an ultra-high vacuum using the catalytic properties of a silver surface on which the graphene layer rested. When heated, the porphyrin molecules lose hydrogen atoms at their periphery and can thus form new bonds with the graphene edges. Nature Chemistry Fusing tetrapyrroles to graphene edges by surface-assisted covalent coupling Clean and Controllable This method creates a clean and controllable environment, explains Professor Auwarter. We can see exactly how the molecules bond and what types of bonds occur. Here the researchers use the latest in modern atomic force microscopy to depict the chemical structure of individual molecules, the atomic skeletons, so to speak. For the first time the scientists have succeeded in attaching functional molecules to the edges of graphene covalently, i.e. with a stable chemical bond. We want to modify only the edges of the material; this way the graphenes positive properties are not destroyed, says Auwarter. The researchers chose the porphyrin molecules as the partner for graphene because of their special properties. For example, porphyrins are responsible for transporting oxygen in hemoglobin, he continues. The molecules change their properties depending on which metals are at their center and can take on various different tasks, e.g. specifically bonding with gas molecules such as oxygen and carbon dioxide. In the future this new method may make it possible to bond other molecules to graphene as well. The researchers also want to take even better control of the reaction, achieving targeted modifications by attaching molecules to carbon nanostructures such as graphene ribbons. These nanostructures are of central importance in electronic applications. SOURCES Nature Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Youtube 1. The Paris Climate Change Agreement crossed the first of two thresholds required for it to enter into force after 31 governments yesterday formally submitted their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. It is expected to cross the second threshold ratification by countries representing a total of 55% of global emissions later this year. Sixty countries representing 47.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions have now joined the agreement A further 14 countries, representing 12.58% of emissions, have committed to joining the agreement in 2016, virtually assuring that it will enter into force this year Entry into force will transform the climate action plans, or Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), submitted by nations in the run up to the Paris conference into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Governments will also be obligated to take action to achieve the two temperature limits enshrined in the agreement. Nuclear power will play a part in many countries decarbonisation plans. World Nuclear Association director general Agneta Rising said last week the nuclear industry can achieve the momentum required to create an additional 1000 GWe of new capacity by 2050 needed to meet increasing global energy demand whilst ensuring climate goals can also be achieved. The contribution that each individual country should make in order to achieve the worldwide goal are determined by all countries individually and called nationally determined contributions (NDCs). Article 3 requires them to be ambitious, represent a progression over time and set with the view to achieving the purpose of this Agreement. The contributions should be reported every five years and are to be registered by the UNFCCC Secretariat. Each further ambition should be more ambitious than the previous one, known as the principle of progression. Countries can cooperate and pool their nationally determined contributions. The Intended Nationally Determined Contributions pledged during the 2015 Climate Change Conference serveunless provided otherwiseas the initial Nationally determined contribution. The level of NDCs set by each country will set that countrys targets. However the contributions themselves are not binding as a matter of international law, as they lack the specificity, normative character, or obligatory language necessary to create binding norms. Furthermore, there will be no mechanism to force a country to set a target in their NDC by a specific date and no enforcement if a set target in an NDC is not met. Not part of the Paris Agreement (and not legally binding) is a plan to provide US$100 billion a year in aid to developing countries for implementing new procedures to minimize climate change with additional amounts to be provided in subsequent years. In early March 2016, the Obama administration gave a $500 million grant to the Green Climate Fund as the first chunk of a $3 billion commitment made at the Paris climate talks 2. The restart of Japans nuclear power reactors is critical to the success of the countrys energy policy, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Japans idling of its entire fleet of nuclear power plants after the accident left a gap of some 30% in electricity supply. This gap has been filled with expensive, imported fossil fuels. By the end of 2013, import dependence had risen to 94% from 80% in 2010. Meanwhile, annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from power generation had increased by 110 million tonnes. Electricity prices increased by 16% for households and 25% for industry. By the end of 2015, just two reactors had been restarted and accounted for 0.9% of Japans electricity generation that year, compared with nuclears share of 25.3% in 2010. To date, five Japanese reactors have been given final approval to restart, although two of these have remained offline due to a legal challenge. Another 20 reactors are moving through the restart process, which has been prioritized to bring on the most-needed reactors first, in the localities and prefectures more supportive of restart. In April 2014, the government adopted the fourth Strategic Energy Plan (SEP) and, based on that plan, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry prepared the 2015 Long-Term Energy Supply and Demand Outlook to 2030, which was adopted in July 2015. This outlook assumes Japans nuclear generating capacity will partially be restored, reaching 20%-22% of electricity supply by 2030. The country also announced plans in late 2015 to reduce CO2 emissions by 26% from 2013 to 2030. By www.wrc.com 24 September 2016 - 14:41 Mads stberg will become the newest recruit to the WRCs centenary club when he starts his 100th world rally at next weeks Che Guevara Energy Drink Tour de Corse (29 September - 2 October). The Norwegian, currently in his second spell with the M-Sport World Rally Team, made his WRC debut at the 2006 Swedish Rally and has fond memories of that outing in a Subaru Impreza World Rally Car. I was always spectating in Sweden so it was a great moment to be part of the rally, he said. I didnt know exactly what it would be like but I remember especially that the recce was very hard, much harder than I knew from national rallies I had been doing before that. It was a big move to step into that, long days of recceing and early mornings on the rally. It was a huge challenge and quite exhausting, but I really enjoyed it. stberg, who spent two years with the factory Citroen team between his M-Sport stints, scored his maiden WRC win in Portugal in 2012. But it was second in Sweden the previous season, the first of his 16 podiums, that remains his greatest memory. Last months ADAC Rallye Deutschland was stbergs 99th WRC round Sweden has always felt like my home rally and even though I have done a couple of Rally Norways, its probably my favourite rally of the year. My best result before that was sixth in Portugal and to be fighting for the win in Sweden was fantastic, he told wrc.com. stberg will become the 26th driver to reach 100 starts. The list is headed by Carlos Sainz on 196, while the most experienced current driver is Jari-Matti Latvala who has started 165 rounds to place him fourth in the list. stberg has yet to finalise his 2017 plans but the 28-year-old admitted talks were progressing well. We are in negotiations with a few different teams and I feel its going quite well. Its never easy to know at this point of the year what might happen next year, but Im very positive that we will find a good solution and that I can be in a good team, he added. The Peoples Democratic Party has dismissed allegation by the All Progressive Congress that the party plans to rig Wednesdays gubernator... The Peoples Democratic Party has dismissed allegation by the All Progressive Congress that the party plans to rig Wednesdays gubernatorial election in Edo state. In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, the spokesman of the party, Prince Dayo Adeyeye said the allegation by the APC was a smokescreen designed to deceive Nigerians and were made to distract people from plans perfected by APC to rig the Election.According to Adeyeye, the statement is not only false but it is misleading and totally in keeping with the All Progressives Congress (APC) principle of propaganda over no substance. It is common knowledge that the ruling APC controls the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as all the security agencies and has shown a willingness to use the apparatus of state to manipulate the electoral process.The record of poor and inconclusive elections since the inception of the current administration is an example of how far APC is willing to go to subvert the will of the people he said. He further reiterated that the APC was planning to manipulate the electoral process in Edo State by collaborating with INEC staff to gain access to INEC remote servers to disrupt and manipulate the e-collation process; Ensuring card reader failure in PDP strongholds in the State and using the national security apparatus to rig the Election and intimidate voters.He added that as a demonstration of this plans, the Federal Government has changed the Commissioner of Police in Edo State for an unprecedented 3rd time in 3 weeks. John Osakues comments is therefore a smokescreen designed to deceive Nigerians and were made to distract people from plans perfected by APC to rig the Election.. The objective is to falsely curry sympathy from the Nigerian public while orchestrating and perpetrating their nefarious activities.We urge the Obaseki Campaign Organization as well as the APC to stop peddling the falsehood for which they have become renowned as the people of Edo State have made up their minds to reject them on Wednesday September 28, 2016. We urge our teeming members, supporters and the good people of Edo State to shun the propaganda of the APC and come out en masse to vote for our Candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, on September 28, 2016 the statement added. Next Friday (September 30) would be the 900th day since the abduction of Chibok girls and the BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) movement plans to... Next Friday (September 30) would be the 900th day since the abduction of Chibok girls and the BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) movement plans to mark the unfortunate milestone with a World Press Conference.According to the co-coordinators of BBOG, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili and Hajia Aisha Yusuf, the focus of the group is for the sustenance of global interest in the plight of about 214 girls who were abducted from their school hostel by insurgents.Critical areas to be covered during the press conference include a chronicle of events and messages, our body of demands and a formal response to the Federal Governments Press Briefing of Friday, September 16th, 2016.We call on all citizens and our friends in the media, from within Nigeria and across the world, to join us, they stated in Abuja on Friday evening.The BBOG movement has steadfastly pursued a relentless demand for emphatic action by Federal Government towards rescuing the girls.Boko Haram insurgents who abducted the girls and the nations security agencies have been in a game of wits in truncated negotiations that is yet to reach a conclusion despite citizens prolonged expectations. Renowned Nigerian lawyer, Femi Falana has kicked against the house of Representatives' decision to investigate Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin ... Renowned Nigerian lawyer, Femi Falana has kicked against the house of Representatives' decision to investigate Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin over his budget padding allegations.According to reports, Falana wrote a letter to Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, demanding an immediate discontinuation of the probe.Falana, who is Mr. Jibrins lawyer, said in his letter that Mr. Dogara should disband the committee because its constitution contravened the house rules.Citing order 9 rule 5 of the House, he said Mr. Dogara lacked the powers to constitute a panel over a matter that was before a court. The father of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra [IPOB], HRM Eze Israel Kanu, has called on President M... The father of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra [IPOB], HRM Eze Israel Kanu, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to free his son, maintaining that his son has not committed any crime to warrant his being kept in prison.It will be recalled that Kanu has been in detention in Abuja prison since October 2015 over alleged treasonable offence.Speaking with newsmen yesterday in his palace at Afarukwu Umuahia, Kanus father, the traditional ruler of Afaraukwu autonomous community, said his son was innocent of all the charges preferred against him by the Federal Government and should be released.According to Eze Kanu, the Nigerian constitution guarantees freedom of speech for all citizens, wondering why his son should continue to be held behind bars for merely demanding for self- rule for his people.The monarch said, I want my son released by President Buhari because he committed no crime. He was not armed when he was arrested, he is only fighting for his rights for the freedom of his people.The traditional ruler used the forum to commend the IPOB for the sit-at- home directive to its members to press home their demand for the release of his son, adding that an aggrieved person has the right to express his grievances.He expressed support for the order, noting that it was better than street protest, which often leads to the loss of more lives, saying that the sit-at-home directive will not give security agencies the excuse to shoot anyone.The octogenarian, who strongly contended that the people had the inalienable right to express their feelings about how they are governed, called on the international community to prevail on the Nigerian government to release his son and other detained Biafran activists.Eze Kanu said there was nothing wrong with Nigeria conducting a plebiscite to determine if the agitation for Biafra is popular or not, stressing that doing that will solve many problems for both sides of the divide.He, however, accused the Igbo political class of docility over the ordeals of his son and the Biafran project, saying that they preferred to remain taciturn because of their political interests.The monarch urged the political elite should not leave the struggle for the ordinary people, arguing that if Biafra is eventually actualized, it is the political class that will benefit most. Simon Ancona, UKs assistant chief of defence staff, says the success of the Nigerian military in the fight against insurgency has put it ... Simon Ancona, UKs assistant chief of defence staff, says the success of the Nigerian military in the fight against insurgency has put it on a positive radar of global assessment index.According to Rabe Abubakar, Nigerias defence spokesman, Ancona made the expression when he led a delegation of the UK ministry of defence on a courtesy visit to Gabriel Olonisakin, Nigerias chief of defence staff.The UK general commended the military and allied security agencies for their doggedness and sacrifice that have led to the decimation of the sect, and called for sustenance of the onslaught to wipe out insurgency.He pledged that his countrys armed forces would continue to work closely with its Nigerian counterpart to strengthen capacity.Ancona explained that the delegation was in Nigeria as a follow-up to variety of regional and global security matters discussed at a peace keeping conference which held in the UK earlier in the year.He said the visit would further strengthen and improve the harmonious bilateral relationship between the two nations.Olonisakin expressed profound gratitude to the UK government for all the assistance it has rendered the Nigeria, and solicited stronger tie in intelligence sharing, military hardware, manpower capacity building and training in counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and deep penetration detection devices (DPDDs). The Nigerian Army said it had freed over two million women, children and adult males held captive by members of the Boko Haram sect in t... The Nigerian Army said it had freed over two million women, children and adult males held captive by members of the Boko Haram sect in the North-East since President Muhammadu Buhari came to power.The army said the feat was achieved after series of coordinated attacks and operations conducted against the terrorists.The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, represented by the Chief of Civil Military, Maj.-Gen. Peter John Bojie, stated this in Abuja during a conference organised by Bassey Etuk Williams, President of Coalition of Civil Society Groups, a Non-Governmental Organisation, in commemoration of the United Nations World Peace Day, with the theme: Civil society, media and military synergy in the sustainability of peace and generation of objective narratives.According to him, such achievements would not have been recorded without the support of the Federal Government.The COAS said the political will, clear directives of President Buhari and supports by all the tiers of government were responsible for the morale boost witnessed in the military.Buratai said, All symbols of government authorities and infrastructure were sacked and destroyed respectively. The situation was so bad that the entity called Nigeria was seriously threatened. Over four million people were displaced and most of them sought sanctuary in Maiduguri up till July 2015.Today, the story has changed, as the tide has turned against the insurgents. The Nigerian Army, in synergy with sister services and security agencies, had liberated, captured territories and rescued over 40,000 civilians, arrested many suspects, while over two million women, children, including adult males held captive have been freed from the hands of the terror group following series of coordinated attacks and operations conducted against Boko Harams camps.He further said the military had been able to restore normalcy to most affected communities in the North-East through its Quick Impact Projects.These are rehabilitation of damaged roads such as Gamboru-Ngala, Gwoza and Firgi bridges, construction of NTA Maiduguri studio room/generating set, opening of roads along Maiduguri -Damboa, Maiduguri-Monguno-Baga, Maiduguri Dikwa Ngalla and Gwoza-Mubi.Others include food and medical outreach to the Internally Displaced Persons in Baga, Cross-Kawa and sinking of boreholes in Bama, Buniyadi and other IDP camps within the states in the North-East.Buratai said, A bakery was constructed in Kukawa Local Government Area for the civil populace, renovation of schools, among others in most of the librated areas were also carried out. An example of artist Adam Carnes' 'Chunkist ' paintings - with some of the more grotesque elements cropped. (Courtesy Adam Carnes) You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close A family photo of Keith Jones, 27, sits on the block of Burgundy Street where Jones was fatally shot Thursday night (Sept. 22, 2016). WASHINGTON (AP) The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has issued a subpoena to Donald Trump. The nine-member panel sent a letter to the former president's lawyers on Friday, demanding his testimony under oath by mid-November and outlining a series of corresponding documents. The decision by lawmakers to exercise their subpoena power comes a week after the committee made its final case against the former president, who they say is the "central cause" of the multi-part effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. It remains unclear how Trump and his legal team will respond to the subpoena, if at all. We value your privacy. Focus Taiwan (CNA) uses tracking technologies to provide better reading experiences, but it also respects readers' privacy. Click here to find out more about Focus Taiwan's privacy policy. When you close this window, it means you agree with this policy. Melbourne Storm's Cooper Cronk goes head-to-head with Canberra Raiders' Aidan Sezer in an NRL Telstra Premiership preliminary final. The Storm and Raiders finished first and second respectively on the 2016 Telstra Premiership ladder and now face off with a spot in the NRL Grand Final at stake. The Storm have scored 99 tries so far this season, 24 less than the Raiders who have scored 123 tries. However the Storm have conceded just 53 tries compared to the Raiders who have let in 83 tries. Cronk plays his 300th NRL game in an all-important milestone match, while Sezer will run out for his 94th appearance in the top grade. Who will come out on top? Draw Widget - Finals Week 3 - Storm vs Raiders [2016] Telstra Premiership: Cooper Cronk Aidan Sezer Game on. Data off. Stream every NRL game, including finals, live and data free with a 2016 Footy Pass, exclusive to Telstra mobile. Watch all the NRL action live on your compatible tablet or mobile device with data-free streaming on your Telstra mobile plan. Get your 2016 Footy Pass now! For use in Australia only. The United Steelworkers Union has warned Congressman Pete Visclosky, D-Merrillville, and the Congressional Steel Caucus that passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership would make conditions significantly worse for domestic steelmakers. The United States is facing a crisis with approximately 19,000 steel workers across the country facing layoffs, reduced hours and expiring unemployment benefits, President Leo Gerard wrote in a letter to Congress. How Congress and our government responds to this crisis domestically and on the global stage are vitally important to ensuring national security, middle-class jobs and a domestic manufacturing industry." The Obama administration and business interests like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have pushed for the trade deal, which theyve said would give America more say over the future of trade in Asia than rival global powerhouse China. Critics like the USW have attacked the lack of labor and environmental standards, which they say would result in good-paying jobs being outsourced. For instance, theyre concerned that under the trade deal cars could get a Made in America stamp even with 63 percent of parts coming from abroad. Negotiators in Washington have failed factory workers in previous trade pacts, and this one is no different, Gerard said in his letter. Our current trade policies are not working for Americas steelworkers, Gerard wrote. The TPP is a prime example of a failed trade policy in steel as it simply follows the existing template of past agreements." Gerard wrote that since the passage of the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement, South Korea has become the third largest exporter of steel into the United States, while the U.S. export market share into South Korea is down by 5.3 percent since 2014. The union fears the TPP would worsen the trade deficit in steel and threaten half a million jobs on the supply chain since the steel trade deficit was already 2.8 million tons in 2014. This trade deficit in steel will not only continue, but will worsen, Gerard wrote. There are a multitude of reasons why the USW has no doubt that the U.S. steel trade deficit will deteriorate further under the TPP." The union boss gave examples such as an unacceptably low domestic content requirement in the act. The proposed trade deal would lift tariffs for steel parts that only needed minor alteration like stamping, which the USW says is a loophole that will exploited. By not encouraging a melted and poured standard for steel products it is quite likely that non-TPP countries such as China will be able to ship semi-finished steel and have it merely stamped in a TPP country and have that product eligible for preferential treatment under the agreement, Gerard wrote. This along with many other shortfalls in the Rule of Origin will dramatically and negatively impact the domestic steel industry. * In a newly released relocation plan from the East Chicago Housing Authority, the local agency outlines tenants' rights and moving assistance for more than 300 families being forced to leave the lead-contaminated West Calumet Housing Complex eyed for demolition. Despite housing counseling assistance, some residents facing a time crunch to leave are reporting trouble finding a new home. * Also in Lifestyle: Sam Provenzano, a Region native currently on "Finding Prince Charming," talks to Times reporter Eloise Valadez about the struggles he had as a closeted gay athlete attending a Catholic high school, and the process of coming out. Provenzano said he's come a long way since his high school days: "I have nothing to hide anymore and I'm most definitely not ashamed of who I am." The dedication and official opening of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture won't just be celebrated in Washington. On Chicago's South Side, it will be viewed during a free watch party Saturday at the 55-year-old DuSable Museum of African American History, one of the oldest museums of its kind. Officials there and at other local and regional venues that offer more local stories on the struggles and contributions of blacks in the United States expect the new national museum to spur interest and steer more visitors their way. "It's become an incredible opportunity in terms of raising awareness," said Leslie Guy, chief curator at DuSable, where attendance dropped by nearly 20,000 visitors from 2014 to last year. The dedication ceremony on Saturday at the $540 million museum on the National Mall is expected to be attended by President Barack Obama. Exhibits include a slave cabin from South Carolina, pieces of a slave ship, a reproduction of Oprah Winfrey's television show set and artifacts from Obama's first presidential campaign. "There will be tens of thousands of people there in person and around the world watching," said Andrea Taylor, president and chief executive of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in Alabama. "Once people have that experience they will want to know more about what's happening in their local community." The Birmingham museum gets about 150,000 visitors per year. Annual attendance at the African American Museum in Philadelphia rose from about 70,000 to 82,000 last year. Both could see even more guests as people seek to learn more about black history. The audience that needs to see and hear the stories of African-American struggles and contributions "is large enough for all of us," said Patricia Wilson Aden, president and chief executive of the Philadelphia museum. "It's not a matter of one versus the other. It's a matter of shared mission." The museums in Philadelphia and Birmingham are part of the Smithsonian community, which means they have the opportunity to share with the new museum and access its collection and other Smithsonian exhibits and items. Smaller museums can benefit "if the local directors are savvy enough to take advantage of this moment," said Farah Griffin, professor of English and African-American studies at Columbia University. "The local museums don't have the kinds of resources the national museum has, so it helps to really focus on something," Griffin said. "They have to focus on their strengths ... tell a story in a way the national museum cannot." But some like the bigger stage a national museum can provide. Shirley Burke considered donating a violin that's more than 150 years old to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit before she and her family decided it deserved a larger audience and greater appreciation. The violin was passed down through generations after being played by her great-grandfather, Jesse Burke, for his slave owners in Arkansas. "Giving to the national museum will make it more visible and accessible to family members located all around the United States," said Burke, 73, a former administrator and teacher in Detroit's public schools. The national museum like local African-American history venues has its place, said Juanita Moore, Charles H. Museum president and chief executive. "African-American history is American history and it should be (in Washington)," Moore said. "I'm so proud that the beautiful edifice is there. It makes people excited about the stories we're telling." Sam Provenzano wants to help anyone struggling with a decision to "come out" to be encouraged after watching the new show "Finding Prince Charming." Provenzano, who grew up in St. John, is currently a contestant on Logo TV's "Finding Prince Charming," which is the first gay reality dating show. He, along with 12 other contestants are vying for love and attention from the show's "prince" Robert Sepulveda Jr. "To be able to be on this groundbreaking show is very exciting," said Provenzano. "Love is love ... and everyone deserves the chance to find it." Provenzano, 32, is the founder of Right Fit for You, an LGBTQ-friendly personal trainer network in Chicago. He hopes his participation in the show will encourage others who are gay to see they can get through any struggles associated with various prejudices and/or stereotypes. Letting people know he's come through his own personal struggles, he said, will hopefully help others to realize they can survive, too. "One of the reasons I did this show, to be honest, is because I have nothing to hide anymore and I'm most definitely not ashamed of who I am." The "Finding Prince Charming" contestant said he's a very spontaneous person and thought being on the show would be a "once in a lifetime experience." "I thought, you only live once, so just go for it." "Finding Prince Charming" recently aired its third episode and Provenzano said the show was taped in June and July. There are eight episodes in the series and also a reunion show that's planned. This type of show, revolving around gay contestants, Provenzano said, had never been done before and he definitely feels privileged to be a part of it. "There was a lot of pressure and a lot of expectations. ... For me, it was a great experience. I learned a lot about myself," he said. Provenzano said they've pretty much made him out to be the "bad guy" on the show, and in some instances viewers will see the contestant lash out at others in various ways. As viewers will see on the show, Provenzano is not a wallflower. He said he no longer feels like he has to hide away or be afraid of others. He's come a long way since his high school days at Andrean High School in Merrillville. (Provenzano also attended St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in St. John). "High school was difficult for me. And being a closeted gay athlete at a Catholic high school made it even tougher. People definitely picked up on the fact that I was a little different and trust me, at times (a slur) was thrown my way and there were a lot of nights I'd cry myself to sleep, knowing I just couldn't be me," he said. Those experiences made Provenzano fall into a deep depression. "A part of me (now) hopes that people who tried to tear me down in the past will see or hear about the show and realize that they didn't succeed. ... I survived and am in a great place in my life and career." Provenzano said he's happy if his participation in the show can help "people come out of the closet." During the reality show, Provenzano said he had to talk about and think about things he hadn't thought of in years, including his struggling high school days. Provenzano, who was born in South Holland, said since the age of about 5, he realized he felt different. "I gravitated toward female characters on shows," he said, adding he enjoyed playing with his sister's dolls and toys. As a teen, though, he kind of put up a front because he was an athlete and gay. Provenzano's coming-out process happened during college and he said he told family and friends little by little. "I told one friend at a time. Some people were surprised. And some said, 'I always knew you were gay.'" His family, he said, always has been supportive of him. And Provenzano said his Catholic faith remains a part of his life. "I am still Catholic. I believe God made everyone who they're supposed to be. ... I know God loves me. He made me," Provenzano said. After Provenzano came out, he said he felt like a heavy weight was lifted from him and he could finally relax about being himself. Provenzano's mother, Mary Lou, said her son's school experiences were definitely a "tough" time in his life. "He silently suffered. ... It's a sad thing to watch your child go through that," she said. "But what didn't kill him, made him stronger," she added. "When he came out to me, I wasn't disappointed in him. I was scared about what the world would do to him." Mary Lou Provenzano said these days, it's easier to come out than during the time period about a decade ago when her son came out. She added that she's proud of everything her son has accomplished and that he's overcome so many challenges. "He refused to be put down and refused to be silent." Sam Provenzano's friend Nikki Remijas, a Dyer native who now lives in Chicago, went to college with him. She said she feels he can be a "good role model" for other gay men. "He really is a good person with a huge heart," Remijas said. Remijas knew Provenzano since his high school days and witnessed the ups and downs of his life although she didn't know for sure that he was gay. "I didn't want to make any assumptions," she said. "I know, though, that it wasn't easy for him. ... It's hard when you can't live your truth." Remijas said it's great to see Provenzano in a much better place now. "It's been a long road, but he's definitely much happier." CHICAGO Relatives of a man whose dismembered remains were discovered in a Chicago garage are suing the estate of his wife, whom they suspect killed him before killing herself. Fifty-one-year-old Milan Lekich was found Oct. 5 wrapped in plastic and a blanket inside his garage in the Hegewisch neighborhood on Chicago's South Side. An autopsy found Lekich died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head. His wife, 49-year-old Teresa Jarding of Fowler, Indiana, died Sept. 25 of a drug overdose after police performing a well-being check found her near-death in a recliner with a handgun on the armrest. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Lekich's mother and two sisters are seeking more than $100,000 from the Jarding's estate in a wrongful death lawsuit filed Friday in Cook County Circuit Court. ___ Information from: Chicago Sun-Times, http://chicago.suntimes.com/ SPRINGFIELD Bloomington physician David Gill is asking the United States Supreme Court to restore his name to the Nov. 8 ballot as an independent candidate in the 13th Congressional District. Gills campaign announced Friday morning that it has appealed to the nations high court to reverse a decision from the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that ultimately removed the candidate from the ballot. The appeals court blocked an order from a lower court that would have guaranteed Gill a spot on the ballot, and the Illinois State Board of Elections voted unanimously Monday to remove him. We live within a rigged political system, and our inability to obtain a fair hearing before the Court of Appeals is not surprising, Gill said Friday in a prepared statement. We turn now to the Supreme Court, with hopes that our case receives the same level of intellectual honesty that we received in U.S. District Court. Gill, whos run for Congress four times previously as a Democrat, collected only 8,491 of the 10,754 valid signatures he needed on his nominating petitions to earn a spot on the ballot alongside U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, and Democratic challenger Mark Wicklund of Decatur. After Wicklund and former Macon County Republican Party Chairman Jerry Stocks objected to his petitions at the elections board, Gill filed a federal lawsuit challenging the states signature requirement for independent congressional candidates. He argues that its unconstitutional because its out of line with the requirement for major party candidates. Davis and Wicklund each had to gather fewer than 740 signatures. After hearing arguments last month in Springfield, U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough didnt rule on the merits of Gills argument, but she ordered the elections board to allow him on the ballot because he and his supporters would suffer irreparable harm if he were excluded. She said the state failed to show that it would be harmed by allowing him to appear. A three-judge panel of the Chicago-based appeals court blocked that order and denied Gills requests for a quick hearing so that a decision could be made before Election Day. Sam Cahnman, the Springfield attorney representing Gill in the case, acknowledged that the chances of the Supreme Court stepping in are low. Anytime you go to the Supreme Court, its a long shot, Cahnman said, but no other options remained after the appeals court refused to take up the matter swiftly. They wont even give us an opportunity to have a decision on the merits, he said. Gill has until a week before the election to notify local election authorities if he wishes to run as a write-in candidate. The Illinois attorney generals office, which is representing the elections board in the case, did not respond Friday to a request for comment. Local election authorities had until Friday to prepare absentee ballots to mail to military and overseas voters. GARY A 19-year-old is accused of throwing a brick into someone's car windshield during a dispute early Wednesday. A Lake County Sheriff's officer was in the area of 49th and Broadway streets a little after 7 a.m. Wednesday when he stated he saw Eihlan Hunt, of Gary, running down an alleyway, according to department spokesman Mark Back. When officers made contact, Hunt allegedly said he had been in a dispute with another person and that the fight had escalated. According to Back, Hunt had reportedly thrown objects at the other person and threw a brick into the person's car windshield. Hunt was arrested for battery and intimidation. A witness to an armed robbery just outside Michigan City followed the suspects across the state line, giving police enough information to locate and arrest the two suspects. Krista Caldwell, 25, and David Moss, 32, were being held Friday in connection with three robberies that occurred in the South Bend area, which is where the capture was made for the Thursday afternoon holdup at Next Door Foods along U.S 12. A store manager was taken by ambulance to a local hospital and treated for a cut and bruises to the head after a pistol whipping, police said. An individual pulling into the gas station stopped following close to New Buffalo when the suspect behind the wheel realized she was being tailed and began driving recklessly, police said. However, the witness was involved just long enough to obtain a complete vehicle description and partial license plate number, police said. Credit is also due to the working relationship between law enforcement in Indiana and Michigan who quickly initiated a search and teamed up during the apprehensions, said LaPorte County police Capt. Mike Kellems. Kellems said pursuing officers from one state dont stop when they reach the border in crimes extending across the line, occasionally a barrier in the past. I think in years past it may have been an impediment to law enforcement, but we are probably cooperating and communicating better than we ever have in the history of the departments existence, Kellems said. After the witness backed away from the pursuit, the vehicle seemingly disappeared until an officer 30 miles to the east along U.S 12 in Michigan spotted and followed it to a Speedway north of South Bend where officers from both states converged. Investigators were still meeting Friday with prosecutors to decide charges in connection with the Michigan City area robbery. The amount of money taken was not disclosed. New Buffalo Police Chief Larry Pitchford endorsed witnesses going after crime suspects as long as they dont place themselves at-risk. Im sure not going to encourage you to run 100 miles per hour or anything like that, but to keep a visual on it is very helpful to law enforcement. If you can do it safely, I strongly recommend and request the publics assistance, but please dont put yourselves in harms way, its not worth it, he said. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. The U.S. interstate highway system, celebrating its 60th birthday this year, is showing its age. Many roads and bridges need repair or expansion. Similar problems exist for public drinking and wastewater systems, dams and levees, airports, railroads and mass transit systems. Politicians generally agree the nations infrastructure is in need of improvement. Deciding how to pay for it and which projects should take priority is more difficult. Where they stand To hear Clinton or Trump talk, a staggering amount of money is going to be spent on infrastructure if Congress goes along. Democrat Hillary Clinton has proposed spending $250 billion over the next five years on infrastructure. She proposes to repair and improve roads and bridges, expand public transit, make affordable high-speed internet access available to all households by 2020 and modernize passenger rail systems, airports, dams, levees and wastewater systems. Clinton also proposes to direct $25 billion over five years to a new national infrastructure bank, which she said could support about $225 billion in loans for local infrastructure projects. A similar lending bank was proposed by President Barack Obama during his first term but failed to win congressional approval. Republican Donald Trump has said he wants to spend at least double the amount Clinton has proposed for infrastructure, financed through low-interest bonds. His campaign said a more detailed plan is coming. In his 2015 book, Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again, Trump said a large-scale public infrastructure plan could create the biggest economic boom in this country since the New Deal, a series of programs started in the 1930s by President Franklin Roosevelt. Libertarian Gary Johnson doesnt seem to have addressed infrastructure needs. He has said spending overseas should be cut back to fund domestic needs, but he hasnt been specific. The Libertarian Party platform doesnt mention transportation directly, either. Why it matters A reliable infrastructure system strengthens the nations economy, enhances public safety and can improve the quality of life. Public health can be put at risk by poor infrastructure, such as when lead-tainted pipes contaminated the water supply of Flint, Michigan. According to a report last year by the Congressional Budget Office, the share of gross domestic product generated by government spending on public transportation and water infrastructure peaked in 1959. Spending on such projects fell by 5 percent from 2003 to 2014 when measured as a percentage of GDP, with highway spending leading the decline. Officials have taken some steps to try to reverse that. Congress broke a political logjam last year by passing a five-year, $305 billion transportation plan. More than half the states also have acted since 2013 to boost transportation spending through higher taxes, fees and borrowing. Yet the needs remain great. About 20 percent of the nations 900,000 miles of interstates and major roads needs resurfacing or reconstruction, according to one analysis. A quarter of the 600,000 bridges are considered structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. In a report earlier this year, the American Society of Civil Engineers projected the U.S. will face a funding gap of more than $1.4 trillion by 2025 for its roads and bridges, drinking and wastewater systems, electrical infrastructure, aviation and water ports. VALPARAISO For more than 40 years, volunteers in a city neighborhood have been organized for the common good. The Central Neighborhood Associations mission is to preserve, protect and promote the integrity and character of its historic neighborhood, which is defined as the area north of Lincolnway, south of the CN (formerly Grand Trunk Western) railroad tracks, east of Campbell and west of Morgan. Its mission is also to create a safe, inclusive and supportive neighborhood for all its residents. Bill Durnell, the associations president, said its origins go back to the late 1970s when concerned neighbors began getting together. It became an official nonprofit, nonpartisan corporation in the early 90s thanks to Doug Pierce, a former president and current board member. After it had kind of fallen off over time, the association was reconstituted in the last few years with the help of City Councilman Robert Cotton, its former acting president and current treasurer. Its been one of the most instrumental forces in the preservation and the public preservation of the enhancement of the central neighborhood, Cotton said. Regular monthly meetings began in the spring as well as often impromptu social gatherings called Drinks On The Stoop where neighbors can casually get to know one another better. There are no dues at the CNA, and if you live within the boundaries, youre considered a member. Durnell said there are also affiliated members who live across the street from a boundary or someone who is an engaged public leader. One big issue the CNA has been facing lately is the situation with a nearly 100-year-old home at 105 Michigan St., now owned by the Porter County Public Library, which plans to either tear it down or have someone relocate it to another lot. The library already has demolished surrounding properties it owns to make room for more parking. The association plans to continue fighting to keep the home intact in the present location and have a family occupy it. Engagement like that leads Durnell to know there is a benefit to the association because he could feel it. Neighborhoods are great at implementing ways to help people, he said. Well have more of the Drinks On The Stoop, where weve met a lot of great people and had a lot of good times. And when we need to fight, like we will with this library house, we will have the social bond to come with force and make a difference in our community. In the last few months the CNA has met with Mayor Jon Costas and forged a partnership with Garner Tullis, former Bethel Church senior pastor, now of Our Greater Good, which focuses in improving lives of people in Center Township. His vision and model is all centered around how do you create a sense of place and engage people civicly so it can create opportunities to help one another, Durnell said. He calls it the art of neighboring. The association has also launched a new website, centralneighborhood.org, and started a project with the help of the Porter County Museum to digitize and share the history of the neighborhood. We would like to share whats happening in Central Neighborhood with a broader audience because we hope to inspire similar associations in other neighborhoods and need the support of fellow citizens for some of our issues like the house at 105 Michigan, Durnell said. A couple of decades ago, I had a chance to see and hear jazz great Dave Brubeck play the Elco Theater in downtown Elkhart. It was a mesmerizing concert. At one point, Brubeck sat at his piano in the spotlight and began a cadence, The Peace of Jerusalem, the Peace of Jerusalem, tapping his foot and clicking his fingers. After the concert, many of us crossed Main Street to Flytraps, a downtown restaurant. As we sipped cocktails and awaited dinner, I could see an entourage cross the street. The door swung open, and there was Brubeck himself adorned in a great coat. There was a pregnant pause, one of almost disbelief, followed by an emotional, rousing standing ovation. A great man was in our midst. It was a spectacular display of the art of leadership: The broaching of a grand concept and then its articulation through cultural media, hitting a chord with those who listened. Politics is quite a different genre. I bring this up as Hoosiers and Americans prepare for one of the most fascinating, and potentially consequential, two weeks in the early years of the 21st century. On Monday, presidential nominees Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will meet for the first of three debates, and the stakes are utterly epic. As Clinton put it earlier this week, The next 50 days will determine the next 50 years. On a state level, gubernatorial candidates John Gregg, Eric Holcomb and Rex Bell will debate at 10:30 a.m. next Tuesday at Lawrence North High School, and then again Oct. 3 at the University of Indianapolis. This is another race that could play a transformative role in where our state heads in the next four years. This comes after four controversial years under Gov. Mike Pence, who then dropped out of the race to join Trump on his ticket. In midstream, Holcomb went from being a U.S. Senate candidate, then the lieutenant governor for four months to the new GOP gubernatorial nominee. He faces Gregg, the former Democratic House speaker who entered this race seeking a rematch with Pence. In the gubernatorial race, both candidates are not widely known, with 31 percent in the Sept. 6-8 WTHR/Howey Politics Indiana Poll not knowing who Gregg is, and 44 percent who dont know Holcomb. In the horse race, Gregg had a 40-35 percent lead, with the Libertarian Bell coming in at 6 percent. That leaves 16 percent who have yet to make a decision, a hefty number as we head into the final six weeks of this campaign. We live in a state where the economy is shifting. Jobs from coal mining to branch banking are rapidly changing. In the span of a century, weve gone from an agrarian economy, to manufacturing, then service and now logistics, information and advanced manufacturing. Without proper education and training, a wide swath of our population could be left behind. On top of these challenges, Indiana is facing drug and public health crises. As if methamphetamine production here isnt bad enough, we are now faced with an even more sinister curve ball cheap heroin mixed with carfentanil. There were so many overdoses in Jennings County a few weeks ago that the state had to rush naloxone to public safety crews. Hoosiers need good leaders. Many of us have a lot to learn about Gregg and Holcomb. On the presidential level, Trumps clarion call has been to build a wall with Mexico. Clintons overall message has been less clear. Anyone who reads this column on a regular basis knows I am deeply skeptical about Trump and his leadership abilities, as well as Clinton. In our WTHR/Howey Politics Poll, many Hoosiers are tormented by this choice. While Trump led Clinton 43-36 percent, on the temperament question, 45 percent found him very poor and 24 percent mixed, compared to 30 percent who found Clintons very poor and 23 percent mixed. Theres a yard sign on Indiana 229 north of Oldenburg that reads, President Obama, worst president ever and a big liar. Next to it stands a Trump sign, though Politifact reports almost three quarters of Trumps statements are false or pants on fire lies. But in this weeks NBC/Wall Street Journal Poll, 41 percent felt Clinton had a problem with the truth, compared to 31 percent for Trump. So leadership is in the eye of the beholder. Mondays debate could be one of those events that sears a voters perception into a solid choice. President Obama lead the grand opening of a national museum that is focused on African American history as tens of thousands of spectators gathered to celebrate the historic moment. Our Cheryl Wills was there and filed this report from Washington D.C. President Obama rings in a new era and cuts the ribbon for the Smithsonian's newest crown jewel The National Museum of African American History and Culture. Both Obama and former President George W. Bush shared the significance of the triple tiered repository, which is situated adjacent to the Washington Monument. "I was honored to sign the bill authorizing the construction of this national treasure," said former President George W. Bush. "We're not a burden on America of a stain on America or an object of pity or charity for America," said President Barack Obama. "We're America!" Stevie Wonder, Patti Labelle, Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith and Robert DeNiro were just some of the celebrities that took part in Saturday's dedication ceremony. Inside the museum which cost more than $500 million to build are more than 3,000 artifacts from slavery to freedom. Tens of thousands of Americans from all corners of this country are here on the National Mall and they say were determined to be a part of history. "We wanted to witness the historic opening of the museum which celebrates us which includes our donation to the United States of America," said one. "Our grandmothers, our great grandmothers who are not here anymore could only dream of experiencing something like this," said another. And there is plenty of pop culture in the museum as well. There's a hip-hop display that features the hat of legendary rapper Kangol Kid. "The hat being in the museum is absolute validation," he said. "We did this as fun, for fun as entertainment, not knowing that we were creating a culture and now it's gonna last forever." The 400,000 square foot museum was more than a century in the making but officials say its impact will be well worth the wait and will be felt for generations to come. A rally was held in Times Square Friday in solidarity with Dominicans who are being denied citizenship in their home country. It's now been three years since a court ruling in the Dominican Republic stripped nationality from nearly a quarter-million residents born of Haitian descent. In 2014, lawmakers vowed to restore nationality to a portion of affected residents. But activists gathered outside the Dominican Consulate say they haven't lived up to their word, and told us what they're protesting for "To ensure that the sentence that was passed in 2013 is reversed and ultimately Domincans of Haitian descent, Haitian-migrants that are living in the Dominican Republic are treated as humans and treated as members of the society that they are a part of," said one protester. "Many people because of threats of violence have fled their homes and you've seen people who are being expelled from their own country living along the border," said another. Haiti shares the same island with the Dominican Republic. Police have closed an investigation into what they thought was an attempt to abduct a 9-year-old girl in front of her Queens school. Police say the girl's father dropped her off in front P.S. 129 on 7th Avenue in College Point around 8 a.m. Friday. That's when the man approached the girl and asked where her mother was. Police say the girl ignored him, but the man grabbed her hand and tried to drag her down the street. She was able to escape and told a teacher what happened. After an initial investigation, police say they were able to determine that the man is a friend of the family, but the girl did not recognize him. No charges were filed and the invesigation has been closed. There is little the public knows about the conversations Mayor Bill de Blasio has with his so-called "agents of the city," so NY1 filed a request to view some of those e-mails. NY1's Grace Rauh filed the following report. Mayor Bill de Blasio likes to share news stories with his so-called "agents of the city." After a former aide, Peter Ragone, sent de Blasio an Associated Press story about the mayor's attempt to push the Democratic presidential candidates to the left, the mayor forwarded the article, just before midnight, to two key outside advisers: Jonathan Rosen, who co-founded the political PR firm BerlinRosen, and John Del Cecato, a Democratic strategist. He included a comment with the story as well, but the city redacted it. Rosen and Del Cecato are among five outside advisers to the mayor with special status at City Hall. The mayor's lawyers have argued that they are protected from certain public records requests, even though they are not employees of the city. NY1 and the New York Post have sued the mayor over his refusal to turn over emails between top city officials, including himself, and Rosen. In this case, though, the city did turn over some e-mails to NY1. But while we received 87 pages of e-mails in all, we learned that when the mayor had something to say, it was often blacked out. When de Blasio sent a New York Times story about stagnant middle-class incomes to top city advisers, Del Cecato and his wife, Chirlane McCray, his note to the group was redacted. It was the same with a New Yorker story about Hillary Clinton that he forwarded to his wife and Del Cecato. The mayor's message is blocked. "These emails show how ridiculous it is to designate these consultants as agents of the city," said Dick Dadey of Citizens Union. "These emails, in particular, are benign. They are talking about political stories and news stories, and for them to be protecting the mayor's comments just shows how ridiculous this whole matter is. De Blasio's handling of his emails have also raised complaints that he is failing to live up to the transparency promises he made as a candidate for City Hall. City Hall did not respond to a request for comment. And just like that, the end of Milan Fashion Week is nigh. But if you thought there would be a respite this weekend, think again. There are more shows than ever packed in on Saturday and Sunday, ahead of Tuesdays start in Paris of the final leg of fashion month. Here is what should be on your radar over the next 48 hours: NEWARK The admitted mastermind of the mysterious George Washington Bridge lane closings broke a three-year silence on Friday, testifying in federal court here that everything he did in his job was at the direction and for the benefit of Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey. David Wildstein, who has confessed to coming up with the scheme to close the lanes and is cooperating with federal prosecutors in the trial of two top Christie administration officials accused of conspiring with him, described the governor and his aides as scheming for creative ways to use government resources to help Mr. Christies re-election and, ultimately, his ambitions to run for president. Mr. Christie and his aides were looking for favors to hand out to officials they hoped would support the governor, he said. And they saw the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the $8 billion-a-year two-state agency that runs the bridge along with other major transportation hubs and systems in the region, as a particularly sweet goody bag, as an email revealed in court described it. The Christie administration used the agency to spread money and jobs, as well as emotionally rich gifts like pieces of mangled steel and ceremonial flags from the World Trade Center and private tours of the construction site there, Mr. Wildstein said. Mr. Wildstein, who had been hired at the Port Authority by one of the defendants, Bill Baroni, Mr. Christies top staff appointee at the agency, recalled a conversation he and Mr. Baroni had soon after they started their jobs in 2010, establishing what they called the one constituent rule. A Brooklyn man was convicted on Friday of participating in a racially charged beating of a black college student in fall 2013 that left the victim without vision in his right eye. Justice Danny K. Chun of State Supreme Court in Brooklyn issued the guilty verdict after a bench trial that included video surveillance footage, DNA evidence and testimony from the victim, Taj Patterson, who described being set upon by up to 20 men as he walked through the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn early one morning. Appearing before a hushed gallery that was filled to capacity, Justice Chun announced that he found the defendant, Mayer Herskovic, 24, guilty of unlawful imprisonment, menacing and gang assault. The last charge carries a penalty of three and a half to 15 years. The brutal beating of Mr. Patterson in a primarily Hasidic neighborhood drew comparisons to previous attacks on black men in white ethnic enclaves, like one that occurred three decades ago in Howard Beach, Queens. The assault in Williamsburg also raised questions about the private security forces known as shomrim, a Hebrew term meaning guards, which patrol ultra-Orthodox parts of Brooklyn. While some have said the groups provide a sense of safety, others have said they sometimes act like vigilantes. Since he was captured on Monday, Ahmad Khan Rahami, the man accused of carrying out bombings last weekend in Manhattan and on the Jersey Shore, has been hospitalized in Newark, recovering from gunshot wounds he sustained in a confrontation with the police. From his bed at University Hospital, he has been charged by three different prosecutors: the United States attorneys in Manhattan and New Jersey, for his alleged role in the bombings; and the Union County, N.J., prosecutor, for allegedly trying to kill police officers who tracked him down on Monday in the city of Linden. A New Jersey judge has ordered him held on $5.2 million bail on the state charges. Yet despite the burst of legal proceedings and litany of charges made public this week, Mr. Rahami has not had a lawyer for almost the entire time he has been in custody, and even now, the question of his legal representation remains unsettled. On Thursday, Peter A. Liguori, a state public defender in Union County, sought to meet with Mr. Rahami but was prevented by a lawyer with the Union County prosecutors office, according to a filing Mr. Liguori submitted to a judge in Superior Court in Elizabeth, the county seat. This week, education officials decided to make a change to the New York specialized high school entry exam, a standardized test that is the sole factor in whether students are admitted to some of the citys most competitive high schools, like Stuyvesant High School or Brooklyn Technical High School. A portion of the test called scrambled paragraphs is being removed and replaced with multiple choice questions intended to evaluate writing skills. The scrambled paragraphs had been a part of the test since 1994. Students were given the first sentence of a paragraph, and then instructed to place the following five sentences in the proper order. These paragraphs were, to put it politely, unpopular with many students and their families, and were often criticized as having little relation to what students were taught in school, which could give an advantage to those who could afford to pay for test preparation. The citys Education Department decided to remove them to align the test more closely with classroom instruction. The department has been trying to increase the number of black and Hispanic students at specialized schools, where they make up just 11 percent of students, despite being 68 percent of the citys public school students. 4. If I wasnt a Muslim myself and had not personally experienced and practiced the truthful, peaceful side of religion, I would have a hard time believing my own words too. When you see young Muslim men murdering innocent people across the world in the name of my religion, how can I convince you that Islam, my religion, is a religion of peace. I understand your fears. I understand your perspective. And I only hope that you can understand mine. I hope you can find some compassion for the 1.6 billion people who are currently watching their/our religion being hijacked by the extremists. I hope you can try to find some compassion for the millions of us in this country, who hold our breath waiting for the name of suspects to be released after an act of violence and either breathing a sigh of relief when its a random white guy or choking on that breath and cringing at the thought of what tomorrow will be like for us and our families when the person in question belongs to Muslim faith. Just like you, we are also angry, and afraid, and hurt. Some of us are having a harder time dealing with this than others because one hateful and violent person suddenly represents the rest of us who are trying to do good in this world. Riz in Minnesota, reacting to an article about the arrest of Ahmad Khan Rahami in connection with the bombings in Manhattan and on the Jersey Shore last weekend. This year the United States will take in 85,000 of the worlds most vulnerable so they can begin new lives in America, the highest number since 2001. But at a time when 65 million people have been displaced by violence, and 20 million of them are classified as refugees more than half of them children it is not enough. Recently, the Obama administration took a small step forward, raising the number of refugees the country will let in to 110,000 for the next fiscal year. The next step is for Congress to allocate resources for resettlement something it has always done, in a bipartisan fashion, since the refugee crisis after World War II. Unfortunately, this time, a vocal minority in Congress, the states and the public are arguing that we should respond to this humanitarian crisis by pulling up the welcome mat, even for families fleeing the civil war in Syria and the brutality of the Islamic State. Senator Jeff Sessions, Republican of Alabama, called the administrations increase reckless and extreme. Fear of refugees is not new. In 1939, the United States turned away more than 900 Jews fleeing Hitlers Germany because of worries that some might be Nazi conspirators or Communists. More than a quarter of those refugees died in the Holocaust. Deductibles for individual coverage increased 63 percent on average, to $1,221 per year, from 2011 to 2016 for people who get health insurance through their employers, according to a report released last week by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust. Workers contributions to premiums grew more slowly than in previous five-year periods but still jumped 23 percent, to $1,129 a year. By contrast, average incomes were up just 11 percent, which means many people are being forced to cut back elsewhere to pay for care. And some people are choosing to forgo or delay going to doctors and hospitals when they are sick. The cost of prescription drugs is another big problem for people with or without coverage. The average price of brand-name medicines jumped 164 percent from 2008 to 2015, according to Express Scripts. And 24 percent of Americans find it very or somewhat difficult to afford prescription drugs, according to a 2015 Kaiser Family Foundation survey. Mr. Trump seems oblivious to these trends. His sparse health care proposal is built around a repeal of the Affordable Care Act, without any regard for the millions of people who would be hurt by that change. Twenty million Americans have gained health care coverage in the six years since the law was passed, bringing the uninsured rate to a record low. The law has problems for example, there are too few insurers offering coverage on the health exchanges in rural and suburban areas that the next president and Congress will need to fix. But it is generally working effectively and has cost the government less than expected, according to the Congressional Budget Office and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation. With the ringing of a bell and a speech from President Obama, the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington is to officially open its extraordinary collection to the public on Saturday. But the museum can claim another, equally important achievement: helping resolve the protracted debate about the contributions of black people to American history and, indeed, about whether they had a history worth preserving at all. Those questions were at the heart of the nations original debate about whether, and how, black lives matter. For years, the issue was whether black people were fit to be more than slaves. Never yet could I find that a black had uttered a thought above the level of plain narration; never see even an elementary trait of painting or sculpture, Thomas Jefferson wrote. I advance it, therefore, as a suspicion only, that the blacks, whether originally a distinct race, or made distinct by time and circumstances, are inferior to the whites in the endowments both of body and mind. The connection between humanity and history was central to this debate, and in the estimation of some Enlightenment thinkers, blacks were without history and thus lacked humanity. The German philosopher Hegel argued that human beings are human in part because they have memory. History is written or collective memory. Written history is reliable, repeatable memory, and confers value. Without such texts, civilization cannot exist. At this point we leave Africa, he pontificated, not to mention it again. For it is no historical part of the world; it has no movement or development to exhibit. Black people, of course, would fight back against these aspersions by writing histories about the African-American experience. In the 1880s, George Washington Williams, whom the historian John Hope Franklin called the first serious historian of his race, published the History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1880; he confessed that part of his motivation was to call the attention to the absurd charge that the Negro does not belong to the human family. In an era of unbridled campaign spending, the Federal Election Commission has consistently and shamefully ducked its responsibilities. It has made it possible for tax-exempt social welfare organizations to operate as partisan attack machines. And it has dismissed complaints and failed to police this rise of dark money from hidden donors that is pouring into elections. While most campaign professionals treat the F.E.C. as an impotent joke, a Federal District Court judge shed light this week on the commissions dereliction. Judge Christopher Cooper ordered the commission to reconsider its dismissal of complaints against two conservative groups that claimed to meet the nonpartisan requirement for tax-exempt social welfare agencies, even while they financed television ads in 2010 targeting Democratic candidates. It blinks reality, Judge Cooper ruled, questioning how the Republicans on the commission found a $1 million attack ad to be in compliance with the law. In the ads, three Democratic lawmakers were cited by name, charged with voting to provide Viagra for convicted sex offenders and free health care for illegal immigrants because they supported President Obamas health care reform program. The ads called for fixing this problem in the voting booth. WEEKEND An art review on Friday about Jerusalem 1000-1400: Every People Under Heaven at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and schedule information with it, misstated the day the exhibition opens to the public. It is Monday, not Sunday. The review also misstated the year that Muslim forces under Saladin reconquered Jerusalem from the Crusaders. It was 1187, not 1197. Because of an editing error, a dance entry in the Listings pages on Friday about Nichole Canuso, Geoff Sobelle and Lars Jan at New York Live Arts in Manhattan misstated the starting time of their performances, which will begin on Wednesday. It is 7:30 p.m., not 8 p.m. Because of an editing error, a classical music entry in the Listings pages on Friday about Momenta Festival II, which opens on Wednesday at the Tenri Cultural Institute in Manhattan, misstated the address. It is 43 West 13th Street in Manhattan, not 3 West 13th Street. ARTS & LEISURE An picture on Page 10 this weekend with an interview with the soprano Nina Stemme, in which she cites her favorite page from the score of Wagners Tristan und Isolde, was published in error. It shows Page 20; the picture should have been of Page 17, which she says is her favorite because it includes one of the few introverted moments for Isolde. CHARLOTTE, N.C. This citys leaders, faced with mounting demands for transparency after a fatal police shooting of a black man led to rioting, resisted calls on Friday for the immediate release of video of the killing and argued that a rushed disclosure could compromise a criminal inquiry. The status of the police video of the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, 43, and the shootings circumstances have been debated here for days, and the discussion deepened on Friday, especially after lawyers for Mr. Scotts wife, Rakeyia, released a cellphone video that she took of the episode on Tuesday afternoon. During a news conference shortly before Ms. Scotts video became public, city officials alternated between declaring their commitment to openness and insisting that no official footage should be released before the conclusion of the inquiry by the State Bureau of Investigation. Philippe Reines, a longtime aide to Hillary Clinton and one of the most astute observers of her personal and political vulnerabilities, is playing Donald J. Trump in her mock debate sessions, according to people familiar with Mr. Reiness involvement. Mr. Reines, who was Mrs. Clintons chief defender, enforcer, and gatekeeper during most of her years in the Senate and as secretary of state, is a deft practitioner of the combative, no-holds-barred politics that Mr. Trump favors. His selection as the Trump stand-in means that Mrs. Clinton wants an opponent in her mock debates who knows her flaws and how to exploit them and who is fearless about getting under her skin the way that Mr. Trump might at their first debate on Monday night. He is also known as one of a small handful of members of her inner circle willing to be tough and blunt with Mrs. Clinton about her own missteps. Mrs. Clinton, in her memoir Hard Choices, described Mr. Reines as passionate, loyal, and shrewd and added, I can always trust him to speak his mind. WASHINGTON A federal judge on Friday ordered the State Department to finish preparing roughly 1,000 pages of Hillary Clintons emails for release by Nov. 4, a more protracted timetable that means the bulk of Mrs. Clintons emails that were uncovered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation will not be released until after the election. In August, the judge, James E. Boasberg of Federal District Court, raised the prospect of a flood of Clinton emails being released during the final weeks of the campaign, when he ordered the State Department to accelerate the release of nearly 15,000 new emails. But Judge Boasberg acknowledged the burden for the departments lawyers in reviewing thousands of emails, as well as responding to multiple lawsuits under the Freedom of Information Act that seek documents relating to Mrs. Clinton, her aide Huma Abedin, and the Clinton Foundation. Under the order issued on Friday, in a lawsuit brought by the conservative group, Judicial Watch, the State Department will release 350 pages of emails by Oct. 7, 350 pages by Oct. 21, and another 350 by Nov. 4. After that, it will produce 500 pages a month. Judge Boasberg summoned the lawyers for another status report on Nov. 7, the day before the election. TULSA, Okla. White rioters poured into the streets, burning and looting homes, businesses and churches in a black neighborhood and leaving this city deeply traumatized. That was 1921. Last week, not far from where those haunting events took place, the streets of Tulsa were calm after a white police officer shot and killed an unarmed black motorist. The video of the shooting angered many Tulsa residents, but the subdued reaction was markedly different from the violent clashes that took place in Charlotte, N.C., in recent days, after the police killed a man there. Why one place erupts and another does not is never easy to discern. Tulsa quickly released videos showing the facts. But some here trace part of the reason for Tulsas emphasis on prayer, and not protest, in recent days to the lingering scars of the 1921 riot, which is regarded as one of the deadliest race riots in the countrys history and still lingers in Tulsas consciousness. It had been a white mob, on the verge of a lynching, that surged through a black neighborhood, killing between 150 and 300 people, most of them black. LIBREVILLE, Gabon Gabons constitutional court on Saturday upheld President Ali Bongo Ondimbas victory last month in a disputed election, raising fears of continued unrest as the Bongo family extends its political dynasty of nearly half a century in Gabon. The announcement read by the courts president, Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo, put an end to the legal challenges available to the opposition candidate, Jean Ping. Mr. Ping had sought a recount of the votes after provisional results showed him losing by less than two percentage points. The courts announcement indicated that Mr. Bongos margin of victory was in fact larger than previously announced 50 percent of the vote, up from the provisional result of 49 percent. I will make this victory one for all Gabonese, Mr. Bongo said in a statement posted on his Twitter account. The migrants mostly men have arrived in Tijuana carrying little, usually no more than a knapsack or a plastic bag. Some also carried toddlers and infants. One woman gave birth this month after crossing the border from Guatemala into Mexico. She was on a bus with her infant the next day for the three-day trip to Tijuana. The route generally led from the Brazilian interior to Peru, through Ecuador and on to Colombia. Many then took a boat before they started walking again, sometimes for days, through the Darien Gap of Panama, always with a relay team of hired guides, each of whom charged from $10-$20 a head. Costa Rica became a key staging ground for what many said was the most difficult stretch of the trip: crossing Nicaragua. Getting through that country required a smuggler. Guides charged from several hundred dollars to $1,500 per person and the trip took several days, some of it on foot. But payment offered no guarantees of safe passage. Haitians here told how their smugglers abandoned their groups midway through the crossing, leaving them vulnerable to bandits or, worse, the Nicaraguan security forces, who returned the migrants to the Costa Rican border. Some migrants got stuck for weeks or even months in Costa Rica waiting for family or friends to wire them money to complete the journey. At the Mexican border, most Haitians have masqueraded as citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The collective wisdom is that the Mexican authorities treat Africans better than Haitians and are more inclined to give them 20-day transit passes. Real Africans find this masquerade laughable. They dont even know there are two Congos, scoffed Evans Demorais, 31, a Nigerian migrant here. They are saying: Please, are you from Africa? What is the capital of Congo? Who is the president? Satellite photos by Google can be a fun way to see your house or your neighbors from high above. But in the case of an island in the South China Sea that is claimed by four countries, sometimes those photos can be too revealing. That is the position maintained by Taiwan, which has asked Google to blur satellite images of the disputed island Itu Aba, also known as Taiping Island that show what appear to be new military installations. Allison Gale Gans, a daughter of Donna J. Gans and Robert M. Gans of San Diego, was married Sept. 24 to Brian Michael Fischer, the son of Susan V. Fischer and Jay A. Fischer of Alamo, Calif. Rabbi Jerry Levy officiated at Nestldown, an estate in Los Gatos, Calif. The bride, 32, is taking her husbands name. She is a marriage- and family- therapist intern in Walnut Creek, Calif., and a crisis-intervention counselor at Acalanes High School in Lafayette, Calif. She graduated from the University of Michigan and received a masters degree in counseling from San Francisco State University. The groom, also 32, is the director of sales for Cantaloupe Systems, a software company for the vending-machine industry, based in San Francisco. He graduated from Ithaca College. Using JDate, the couple met for the first time in July 2013 or so they thought until a few weeks before the wedding. Ms. Gans was thumbing through some of Mr. Fischers childhood photos when she spotted a familiar face. When I was discharged from the hospital late the next day, the cabdriver asked me, Where do I take you? I couldnt remember the name of my street. I handed him the discharge paperwork with my address on it, arrived home and slept for a long while. Being so young, I had not even considered that having a stroke was a possibility. But I have since learned that they are on the rise among younger people. My doctor did not directly link my stroke to overwork, but said it could have been aggravated by stress, overexertion and exhaustion. After being released from the hospital, I felt helpless and humiliated over my loss of control. My aura of invincibility had shattered. But I slowly recovered. Every night, Id practice spelling polysyllabic words, like arachnophobia and Czechoslovakia, backward; Id do complex math problems; I worked on relearning memories that had been disrupted. I practiced yoga and meditation. The more I accepted my imperfect mind, the more I settled into a place of contentment. Thanks to the support of my colleagues, I returned to work, but by necessity my frenetic daily sprint had to slow to a crawl. Now I made time for pauses and reflection and my work, and my life, became richer as a result. Because of the stroke, I reset my professional priorities. With each new career opportunity from writing books to starting a company to consulting on various projects I learned the value of a calendar and how to avoid overcommitment. I began to own my calendar and live by it. I scheduled everything in it: work commitments, exercise, walks, social gatherings and even sleep time. I continue to do so to this day. I now have a daily mental reset hour that is usually every afternoon around 4 or 5. I walk with my wife, I breathe, I smile, I meditate and say hello to random people and animals, and I write in a journal or draw. Even today, as I run multiple ventures and travel frequently, I still make time to untangle from the digital world and plug back into what really matters: time with people I love, time for creativity and time in nature. As for my career, I look at it as a series of meaningful projects stacked one on top of another, none of them too consuming or overwhelming. Seven years ago, I heard the name of a prominent Iranian diplomat, Mohammad Javad Zarif, at least 118 times. That was how many days I spent imprisoned in Iran for doing my job as a journalist and how many days I was beaten by an intelligence officer in the hard-line Revolutionary Guards. He demanded that I falsely confess to being a C.I.A. agent and invent false stories that Mr. Zarif had connections to Western intelligence agencies. Rather than cooperate, I somehow withstood the daily torture. This month Mr. Zarif, now Irans foreign minister, has been in New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly meeting, alongside other Iranian diplomats and President Hassan Rouhani. Together, they have tried to give Irans government a humane face as champions of Middle East stability, while denying its human rights abuses. Theirs is a thankless task: They must know they are lying. Iranian diplomats are caught between their desire to join the modern world and the reality of the government they represent. They also know their own rights are at risk if they dont follow the wishes of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans supreme leader. In 2006, when the hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was president, one diplomat told me he had one of the worlds most unenviable jobs. I wont endanger him by naming him, so Ill call him Amir. He told me: If youre a conscientious man who tries to help his country by changing the system from within, you cant stop feeling suicidal. When you work for this government you can see how corrupt the system is and how erratically the Guards and the judiciary system can behave. And all this happens on the supreme leaders watch. When youre scared, do you feel safer with Mommy or with Daddy? That, at heart, is the visceral question voters must address as they consider whether Hillary Clinton or Donald J. Trump is the leader they trust to protect them in an age of terror. A key test will come in Mondays debate. Like so much else in this confounding election, the answers explode just about everything we thought we knew. This campaign has seen an eruption of old-fashioned misogyny. The insults to Megyn Kelly and Carly Fiorina. The Hang the Bitch chants. The testosterone on display at Trump rallies. This sexism coexists with indeed, is most likely prompted by a change in gender attitudes that tears up the old political playbooks. The conventional wisdom among political scientists and pollsters has long held that voters drew on traditional gender roles in deciding whom to trust on what issue, said Marianne Cooper, a sociologist at Stanfords Clayman Institute for Gender Research. Similarly, Mrs. Clintons occasional missteps, combined with attacks on her trustworthiness, have distorted perceptions of her character. She is one of the most tenacious politicians of her generation, whose willingness to study and correct course is rare in an age of unyielding partisanship. As first lady, she rebounded from professional setbacks and personal trials with astounding resilience. Over eight years in the Senate and four as secretary of state, she built a reputation for grit and bipartisan collaboration. She displayed a command of policy and diplomatic nuance and an ability to listen to constituents and colleagues that are all too exceptional in Washington. Mrs. Clintons record of service to children, women and families has spanned her adult life. One of her boldest acts as first lady was her 1995 speech in Beijing declaring that womens rights are human rights. After a failed attempt to overhaul the nations health care system, she threw her support behind legislation to establish the Childrens Health Insurance Program, which now covers more than eight million lower-income young people. This year, she rallied mothers of gun-violence victims to join her in demanding comprehensive background checks for gun buyers and tighter reins on gun sales. After opposing drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants during the 2008 campaign, she now vows to push for comprehensive immigration legislation as president and to use executive power to protect law-abiding undocumented people from deportation and cruel detention. Some may dismiss her shift as opportunistic, but we credit her for arriving at the right position. Mrs. Clinton and her team have produced detailed proposals on crime, policing and race relations, debt-free college and small-business incentives, climate change and affordable broadband. Most of these proposals would benefit from further elaboration on how to pay for them, beyond taxing the wealthiest Americans. They would also depend on passage by Congress. That means that, to enact her agenda, Mrs. Clinton would need to find common ground with a destabilized Republican Party, whose unifying goal in Congress would be to discredit her. Despite her political scars, she has shown an unusual capacity to reach across the aisle. When Mrs. Clinton was sworn in as a senator from New York in 2001, Republican leaders warned their caucus not to do anything that might make her look good. Yet as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, she earned the respect of Republicans like Senator John McCain with her determination to master intricate military matters. Her most lasting achievements as a senator include a federal fund for long-term health monitoring of 9/11 first responders, an expansion of military benefits to cover reservists and the National Guard, and a law requiring drug companies to improve the safety of their medications for children. Professors Dyer and Watson write that Lewis had a very limited view of governments role and warrant, was skeptical of its capacity to inculcate virtue and worried about its paternalistic tendencies. The duty of government was to restrain wrongdoing. Because he believed in the fallen nature of humanity, Lewis was concerned by the concentration of political power. It is easy to think the State has a lot of different objects military, political, economic, and what not, Lewis wrote. But in a way things are much simpler than that. The State exists simply to promote and to protect the ordinary happiness of human beings in this life. Lewis was wary of morals legislation. For example, during a period when the criminalization of homosexuality was considered by many to be justified, Lewis asked, What business is it of the States? Nor did he believe it was the duty of government to promote the Christian ideal of marriage. A great many people seem to think that if you are a Christian yourself you should try to make divorce difficult for everyone, he wrote in Mere Christianity. I do not think that. At least I know I should be very angry if the Mohammedans tried to prevent the rest of us from drinking wine. My own view is that the Churches should frankly recognize that the majority of the British people are not Christians and, therefore, cannot be expected to live Christian lives. Lewis was committed to classical liberalism in the tradition of John Locke and John Stuart Mill, according to Professors Dyer and Watson, meaning he believed in the wisdom of limited government, equality under the law, and a robust private sphere. Lewis also presciently warned that Christians were tempted to abuse political power in ways that were bad for both Christianity and the state. He believed that theocracy was the worst form of government and detested the idea of a Christian party, which risked blaspheming the name of Christ. The danger of mistaking our merely natural, though perhaps legitimate, enthusiasms for holy zeal, is always great, Lewis wrote. The demon inherent in every party is at all times ready enough to disguise himself as the Holy Ghost; the formation of a Christian Party means handing over to him the most efficient makeup we can find. Lewis knew that a faith-informed conscience could advance justice and that Christianity played an enormous part in establishing the concept of natural rights and the dignity of the human person. But he also believed that legislation is not an exact science; that a Christian citizen does not, in the words of Professors Dyer and Watson, have the authority to represent his or her prudential judgment as required by Christianity; and that no political party can come close to approximating Gods ideal. Christianity is about ends, not means, according to Lewis, and so he spent a good deal of his life articulating what he believed was the telos, the ultimate purpose, of human beings. Lewis was convinced that partisan political engagement often undermined that effort. For those of us who believe in the truth of Christianity and still believe in the good of politics, the last several decades and the last 15 months in particular have often been painful. Like water that refracts light and changes the shape of things, politics can distort and invert Christianity, turning a faith that at its core is about grace, reconciliation and redemption into one that is characterized by bitterness, recriminations and lack of charity. There is a good deal of hating and dehumanization going on in the name of Christ. Followers of Jesus arent doing a very good job of living faithfully in a broken world, perhaps because were looking inward instead of upward. Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in, Lewis reminded us. Aim at earth and you will get neither. If youre a pregnant woman and have a backache or headache, or a fever, your options for over-the-counter treatment basically boil down to one medication: the pain reliever acetaminophen, better known as Tylenol. Doctors advise against using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, like ibuprofen and aspirin, during late pregnancy because they can compromise fetal circulation and have other adverse consequences. But evidence has accumulated that, when taken during pregnancy, acetaminophen may increase the risk that children will develop asthma or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The elevated risk in most studies is small, and whether the drug itself is really to blame is debatable. But considering that more than 65 percent of pregnant women in the United States use acetaminophen at some point during their pregnancy, the number of children with problems stemming from it could be substantial. The odd thing about acetaminophen is that even after decades of widespread use, no one knows precisely how it blunts pain. But it has earned a reputation for strange side effects. Experiments indicate that it impedes peoples ability to empathize. It may undercut the brains ability to detect errors. When taken after a vaccine, it may suppress the immune system. Why might the drug affect both asthma and A.D.H.D. rates? Scientists have variously speculated that it could tweak the immune system during pregnancy, or disrupt hormones, or change growth factors in the developing brain. In short, no one knows. The prevalence of asthma doubled between 1980 and 2000. At the same time, worries over Reyes syndrome, a rare complication in children who take aspirin, led to a rise in the popularity of acetaminophen. On the basis of this circumstantial and rather weak evidence, 16 years ago, scientists at Kings College London proposed a link between rising acetaminophen use and the so-called asthma epidemic. Their reasoning was that acetaminophen depleted the bodys native antioxidant, called glutathione, spurring inflammation of the lungs. This month, as the luxury cruise ship Crystal Serenity completed its pioneering transit of the Northwest Passage, a Canadian expedition announced the discovery of the Terror, a British ship that vanished along the same general Arctic route some 170 years ago. For the Crystal Serenity, the biggest luxury liner ever to complete the passage, it was smooth sailing on waters that in the Terrors day were covered by sea ice so impenetrable that it trapped the ship and another British vessel as they sought a route across the top of North America. All 129 men on what was known as the Franklin expedition died. Charlotte, N.C. On Wednesday, I spent the day here teaching a workshop for senior police leaders from around the country deputies and sheriffs who are one step away from taking control of police departments of their own. That night, I went back to the Omni Charlotte Hotel. From my window, I could see lines of police officers assembled, and I could see protesters throwing various objects. I watched the officers release tear gas into the crowd. All week, Id been talking to police leaders from around the country about the challenges they face in building trust in their communities, getting accurate information out when misinformation flies so quickly on social media, and how to keep people safe. It was a coincidence that our training workshop took place in Charlotte last week, but what is happening in this city is a lesson for everyone. Im no stranger to police officers in riot gear. I came up in the Chicago Police Department in the late 1960s. In my early career, you had your helmet in your trunk all the time. I was chief of police in Washington, D.C., for nine years, where we had World Bank and International Monetary Fund protests, and I was the police commissioner in Philadelphia for eight years, during Occupy Wall Street and other large events. I was a police chief in major cities for 17 years before I retired in January. This is the most challenging period I have ever witnessed. IN the history of do-overs at The New York Times, there is one example that may seem of no large consequence but nonetheless infuriated readers. It involved an obituary about a rocket scientist named Yvonne Brill. In its first incarnation, the obit referred to 88-year-old Brill in the first paragraph as a woman who made a mean beef stroganoff, followed her husband around from job to job and took eight years off to raise three children. In secondary fashion, it mentioned that Brill was a pioneering scientist who invented a propulsion system that kept communications satellites in orbit. Seven hours later, after infuriated readers let loose, that version disappeared and a new story popped up with a less chauvinistic perspective emphasizing her exceptional career. No editors note or other explanation for the changes was given. This was in 2013, and I raise it not because there arent fresher examples (there are) but because this story was a cultural touchstone in the realm of what is often criticized as stealth editing. It remains among the most-viewed pieces in the history of the website NewsDiffs, the top destination for comparing versions of news articles. My predecessor, Margaret Sullivan, signaled the changes to this piece. She wrote about seven other such episodes. Ive already written about two. Times editors have thus far rejected appeals to flag readers when stories are reworked, unless its a correction. They argue that making such edits are a routine part of digital publishing you edit a piece, publish it, then report more or add more context, then republish it again, on through the news cycle. Q. A young woman moved into our co-op in Long Beach, N.Y., two years ago. At her board interview, she said she lived alone. But afterward, a man quietly moved in. Recently, police posted notifications around the building alerting tenants that a sex offender the man who moved in with this woman lives in the area. She has a premier apartment overlooking the pool where children swim. What can we do to get this man off our premises? Can we force the deceitful shareholder to sell? A. I can imagine that posted sex-offender signs would put residents on high alert. But while startling, those signs do not necessarily answer a critical question: Does this person endanger your community? In New York State, soliciting a prostitute could land you on the sex-offender registry alongside someone who has committed rape, two crimes with different risks to public safety. There are a lot of people on these registries, said Cynthia Calkins, an associate professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Sometimes people end up on these things because they urinated in public. A few things stand out to me about this attack. Its obviously terrible for everyone whose information has been breached, and it also comes at a terrible time for Yahoo, which is in the process of selling most of its assets to Verizon. What happens to that sale, now, seems in question; this sort of disclosure could affect aspects of the deal, including the price. After all, although Yahoo has long been in decline, the company still has a loyal user base that has stuck with it for email and other web services. To the extent that those people are scared away by this breach, Verizon may well want to reconsider. What do you think? Are the endless Yahoo acquisition talks going to get even more endless now? Pui-Wing: What was interesting was the terseness of Verizons statement about the Yahoo hacking. Verizon said they only found out about Yahoos security incident two days before it was announced and basically wouldnt say much else. That seems to indicate Verizon was feeling some rage at this. But its unclear how that might affect the price of the deal, or if Verizon will walk away from Yahoo. Hackings now happen all the time and to almost every corporate entity. So Verizon couldnt very well build in an escape clause on a deal for an industrywide problem, though it may have some leverage to chip away at price or some other deal conditions. All I know is that a horde of lawyers and investment bankers must be getting well paid right now to figure it all out. Farhad: It seems we can never go a week around here without mentioning cars and tech. So here we are: The United States Department of Transportation announced its first guidelines for companies looking to build self-driving vehicles. The rules are pretty much what people in the auto and tech industries had been looking for they dont tell companies which specific technologies or approaches to use for creating autonomous vehicles, and instead allow them wide latitude as long as the cars are deemed safe. THE MESSAGE: The quick cuts and pacing convey the sense of movement Mr. Trump is claiming. But while it is largely a pro-Trump ad, it sneaks in a critical note about his opponent, Hillary Clinton. As the narrator talks about leaving the past behind, it shows a clip of Mrs. Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, from a 1992 60 Minutes interview when Mr. Clinton was questioned about a reported affair with Gennifer Flowers. THE TAKEAWAY: Until now, every ad from Mr. Trump has been negative in tone and harshly critical of Mrs. Clinton, while the candidate has claimed on the stump that his opponent was running a negative, hate-filled campaign. It strikes a balance, with an energetic and uplifting feel that allows Mr. Trump to say hes running on a positive message, while still offering his fervent supporters a negative image of Mrs. Clinton. Changing channels ... Famous Faces One by one, they chide and jest, smirk and implore: This election is the most important one of our lifetime. Seeking to poke fun at the corny, overtly sincere, celebrity-packed political commercial, everyone from Robert Downey Jr. and Leslie Odom Jr. to Scarlett Johansson and Neil Patrick Harris appear in a new digital ad from Save the Day PAC, a pro-Clinton group founded by the director Joss Whedon. It begins like a typical nonpartisan appeal to civic duty, before Don Cheadle reveals the ads true intent: an effort to stop a racist, abusive coward who could permanently damage the fabric of our society. It also includes a few non-famous people to, as the ad acknowledges, balance the celebrity endorsement of Mrs. Clinton with real people. The joke ends by promising a nude scene from the actor Mark Ruffalo if viewers vote against Mr. Trump. Third in a Series The Clinton campaign has chosen a unique motif for some of its more powerful ads attacking Mr. Trump: They simply show some of his more caustic comments, along with those whom the candidate mocked or denigrated watching the insults. In the latest iteration, titled Mirrors, young girls look at themselves in the mirror, or on a smartphone camera, as the misogynist comments from Mr. Trump soundtrack the ad. A person who is flat-chested is very hard to be a 10, Mr. Trump is heard saying. The ad concludes with a question, asked in white text on a black background, set to soft piano music: Is this the president we want for our daughters? Earshot When a candidate has a name like Evan Bayh (pronounced BYE), the political puns write themselves. The first to take advantage of this homonym this election cycle: the National Rifle Association. Trying to make Mr. Bayh appear extremely anti-gun in his bid for a Senate seat from Indiana, the ad notes Mr. Bayhs previous support for gun control measures before concluding: If Evan Bayh wins in Indiana, you can kiss your gun rights Bayh-Bayh. Donald J. Trumps hotel chain agreed to pay a $50,000 penalty and revamp its data security policies after a couple of breaches exposed 70,000 credit card numbers and other personal information of its customers. Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman of New York, who announced the settlement on Friday, said in a news release that banks tracing fraudulent card use last year determined that the cards had last been legally used at Trump hotels, indicating the security breach had happened there. Further investigation found malware at several Trump hotels and that an attacker in 2014 had gained unauthorized access to steal sensitive information. The high-end hotel chain, which includes the Trump Soho and Trump International in New York and properties in Chicago, Las Vegas and Waikiki, Hawaii, knew about the initial infiltration as early as June 2015, but did not warn customers for nearly four months, which the attorney generals office said violated state laws requiring expedient notification. Mr. Schneiderman said that delays in implementing security measures may have contributed to additional exposure of personal data in November 2015, a breach that was discovered in March. Betty Jo Shelby drew her gun and warned the man to stop walking. But Terence Crutcher continued moving toward his S.U.V., which he had left in the middle of the road, the drivers side door open and the engine running. He was mumbling to himself, but his hands were raised in the air. Moments later, Officer Shelby fired a single shot, leaving Mr. Crutcher dead in the street. She told investigators she believed he had a weapon. But he was unarmed. Prosecutors indicted her on Thursday on a charge of first-degree manslaughter. In many ways, the shooting, which took place in Tulsa, Okla., was a familiar one: A white police officer. An unarmed black man shot dead. A disturbing confrontation captured on video that prompted outrage across the country. But this time, the officer firing the deadly shot was a woman, a rarity in fatal police encounters. That is an anomaly, said Chuck Wexler, the executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, a policy group. One of things we know from our work on developing training is that the skills that women use in these situations primarily communication and engaging with the person are enormously effective in defusing potentially volatile encounters. KAIFENG, China The rooms where ruddy-faced Chinese men and women once assembled to pray in Hebrew and Mandarin are silent. Signs and exhibits that celebrated centuries of Jewish life have disappeared. An ancient well, believed to be the last visible remnant of a long-demolished synagogue, was recently buried under concrete and a pile of earth. After locking down Buddhist monasteries in Tibet and tearing down church crosses in eastern China, President Xi Jinpings campaign against unapproved religion and foreign influence has turned to an unlikely adversary: a small group of Jews whose ancestors settled in this now faded imperial city near the banks of the Yellow River more than 1,000 years ago. A few hundred residents had staged a lively, sometimes contentious rebirth of Kaifengs Jewish heritage in recent decades, with classes, services and proposals to rebuild the lost synagogue as a museum. Some residents even migrated to Israel. For years, the city government tolerated their activities, seeing the Jewish link as a magnet for tourism and investment. But since last year, the authorities have come down hard on the revival, in an example of how even the smallest spiritual groups can fall under the pall of the Communist Partys suspicion. The government has shut down organizations that helped foster Jewish rediscovery, prohibited residents from gathering to worship for Passover and other holidays, and removed signs and relics of the citys Jewish past from public places. Three of seven artificial islands in the Spratlys are designed as military bases, the American military says. Among them, Subi Reef has a harbor bigger than Pearl Harbor, and another, Mischief Reef, has a land perimeter nearly the size of the District of Columbias, a submarine warfare officer in the United States Navy, Thomas Shugart, said in a paper issued this past week. Together, the three islands could probably accommodate as many as 17,000 military personnel and support aircraft able to deter or counter an American military intervention, said Mr. Shugart, who is serving as a senior military fellow at the Center for a New American Security in Washington but writes as an independent analyst. Scarborough Shoal, with a deep lagoon covering nearly 60 square miles, offers an even bigger prize as a potential Chinese military base. The picture would become even worse were China to build and militarize a similar island base at Scarborough Shoal, Mr. Shugart wrote. Both China and the Philippines claim the shoal, which the United States used as a firing range during the Vietnam War. Until 2012, Chinese and Filipino fishermen operated there. Then China seized the shoal, and Chinese Coast Guard vessels have chased away Filipino fishermen ever since. Just 150 miles from the Philippine coast and Subic Bay, where the United States stations fighter jets and naval vessels, the shoal is in a particularly strategic place. Its conversion into a military base would enable China to project military power across the South China Sea from a triangle of bases formed by the shoal, the Spratly archipelago to its south and the Paracel Islands farther to the west and closer to the Chinese mainland, Mr. Shugart said. The result tightened Mr. Corbyns grip on the party and isolated many of its members of Parliament from a growing membership that is younger and more left-leaning, drawn by Mr. Corbyns policies to reduce inequality, make Britain non-nuclear and renationalize key areas of the economy, like the railways and energy. The party has almost tripled its membership to more than 500,000, making it the largest political party in Western Europe, Mr. Corbyn said. But opinion polls regularly indicate that if an election were held tomorrow, Labour under Mr. Corbyn would suffer a historic defeat in the country as a whole. In a victory speech, Mr. Corbyn called for unity, said that more held the Labour family together than divided it and vowed that the party would win the next election under his leadership. Mr. Corbyn also promised forgiveness to the rebels, noting that many heated things are said in a campaign that are later regretted. Lets wipe that slate clean from today and get on with the work we have to do as a party together, he said. There are concerns among the rebels in Parliament that Mr. Corbyn and his team will move against them. Electoral districts are to undergo boundary changes as the House of Commons shrinks from 650 members to 600, and Mr. Corbyns opponents fear the leadership team will use those changes to replace them with other candidates. Some of Mr. Corbyns allies have been pressing for mandatory reselection of all candidates in every district before another British election. The New York Times spoke to 20 local and international aid workers, rescuers and residents who either witnessed the attack or were involved in preparing the convoy, and reviewed dozens of videos, photographs, social media posts and records kept by aircraft spotters. Together, the interviews and other material indicate that there was a sustained, coordinated attack carried out by Russian or Syrian aircraft, probably both. About 30 explosions erupted, starting after 7 p.m. and lasting for hours, the interviews and documentation show. The blasts created large fireballs over the warehouse, and set trucks aflame amid the sound of helicopters and jets in the sky. A second and, some said, a third wave hit as rescuers tried to pull out the dead and injured, driving them back. The convoy had come from government territory, with meticulously extracted permissions, and was marked conspicuously with the logos of the United Nations and the Red Crescent. But it did not, as many such convoys do, have the extra shield of United Nations staff members on board, because the Syrian government had blocked them. As always, on board were volunteers from the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, which is state-supervised in government areas but also has self-governed local branches in rebel territory. Dozens of its volunteers have been killed or jailed during the war. Mr. Barakat, a father of six, was a crucial link in divided and devastated Aleppo Province. His ties to rebel groups and clerics in rebel-held areas as well as to his aid-worker colleagues from the government-held section of Aleppo city had previously made it safe for international Red Cross officials to visit the organizations warehouse in Urum al-Kubra. This time, though, would prove different. A convoy was approved, but not United Nations attendants The cease-fire was a week old and fraying when the green light came. The Syrian Foreign Ministry, which must approve all aid deliveries from government territory, authorized the convoy to depart on the morning of Sept. 19, said Kevin Kennedy, the United Nations regional humanitarian coordinator in Amman, Jordan. Many pairs of eyes from the Syrian government, the United Nations and the Red Crescent watched as the trucks were loaded at Red Crescent headquarters in the government-held section of Aleppo. Government security officials searched the trucks and saw them sealed, to make sure only approved items were inside: flour, food, blankets and winter clothes for 78,000 people. BAGHDAD A triple suicide bombing at a security checkpoint north of Baghdad on Saturday killed at least 11 members of the security forces, a police officer said. Three militants rammed their explosives-filled vehicles into the main checkpoint near the town of Al-Salam at the provinces northern entrance of Salahuddin Province, the spokesman for the provincial police force, Col. Mohammed al-Jabouri, said. Thirty-four other security officers were wounded, Colonel Jabouri said. The attack occurred, he said, as the local police chief and the leader of the provincial security committee were visiting the site. Both escaped unharmed. Almost at the same time, another group of militants on foot attacked a checkpoint at the eastern edge of the province, killing four police officers and wounding two others, he said. One militant was killed in that attack, and the others fled, he said. If you held up two maps of Syria one from last September, when Russian forces first intervened in the chaotic civil war there, and one today you would see that the battle lines look quite similar. Russias intervention has succeeded in freezing its interests, along with Syrias battle lines, largely in place. But hundreds of airstrikes, dozens of casualties and months of diplomacy have done little to demonstrably advance those interests: The war remains stalemated, with key areas under rebel control and pro-government forces unable to retake them. Vladimir V. Putin, the Russian president, has succeeded at winning Moscow a seat at any table where Syrias future might be decided. But he has failed to leverage Syria into rapprochement with Western governments that still shun him and impose economic sanctions. Nor has his Middle Eastern adventure rallied the Russian public. Though Americans sometimes perceive Mr. Putin as being on an endless victory march across the Middle East, dictating terms to allies and adversaries alike, analysts say the reality is more modest. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia As wave and after wave of bombs fell on areas of eastern Aleppo in Syria, ground forces loyal to the Syrian government seized a rebel-held neighborhood on Saturday, intensifying the siege against the rebels and the many civilians who live among them. The advance was the first sign that an intensive bombing campaign by Syrian and Russian jets that began Thursday night was working to bolster the position of the Syrian governments forces. Since a cease-fire brokered by the United States and Russia collapsed this past week, the Syrian government has made no secret of its intention to use military force to crush its enemies. At the United Nations on Saturday, Syrias foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, said the army was making great strides in its war against terrorism, thanks to support from Russia, Iran and fighters from Lebanons Hezbollah group. All politicians bend the truth to fit their purposes, including Hillary Clinton. But Donald J. Trump has unleashed a blizzard of falsehoods, exaggerations and outright lies in the general election, peppering his speeches, interviews and Twitter posts with untruths so frequent that they can seem flighty or random even compulsive. However, a closer examination, over the course of a week, revealed an unmistakable pattern: Virtually all of Mr. Trumps falsehoods directly bolstered a powerful and self-aggrandizing narrative depicting him as a heroic savior for a nation menaced from every direction. Mike Murphy, a Republican strategist, described the practice as creating an unreality bubble that he surrounds himself with. The New York Times closely tracked Mr. Trumps public statements from Sept. 15-21, and assembled a list of his 31 biggest whoppers, many of them uttered repeatedly. This total excludes dozens more: Untruths that appeared to be mere hyperbole or humor, or delivered purely for effect, or what could generously be called rounding errors. Mr. Trumps campaign, which dismissed this compilation as silly, offered responses on every point, but in none of the following instances did the responses support his assertions. Tall Tales About Himself Mr. Trumps version of reality allows for few, if any, flaws in himself. As he tells it, the polls are always looking up, his policy solutions are painless and simple and his judgment regarding politics and people has been consistent and flawless. The most consistent falsehood he tells about himself may be that he opposed the war in Iraq from the start, when the evidence shows otherwise. He said a supportive crowd chanted, Let him speak! when a black pastor in Flint, Mich., asked Mr. Trump not to give a political speech in the church. Fox News interview, Sept. 15. There were no such chants I was against going into the war in Iraq. Speech in Florida, Sept. 19. This is not getting any truer with repetition. He never publicly expressed opposition to the war before it began, and he made supportive remarks to Howard Stern. He said any supportive comments he made about the Iraq war came long before the war began. Fox News interview, Sept. 18. He expressed support for the war in September 2002, when Congress was debating whether to authorize military action. He said he had publicly opposed the Iraq war in an Esquire interview pretty quickly after the war started. Fox News interview, Sept. 18. The Esquire interview appeared in the August 2004 edition, 17 months after the war began. Before the Iraq invasion, he said, he had told the Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto something pretty close to: Dont go in, and dont make the mistake of going in. Fox News interview, Sept. 18. Not remotely close. He told Mr. Cavuto that President George W. Bush had to take decisive action He said that when Howard Stern asked him about Iraq in 2002, it was the first time the word Iraq was ever mentioned to me. Fox News interview, Sept. 18. Mr. Trump expressed alarm about Saddam Hussein and the situation in Iraq in 2000 in his own book Unfounded Claims About Critics and the News Media Its not just Mrs. Clinton whom Mr. Trump belittles and tars with inaccurate information. He also distorted the facts about his Republican critics, including President George Bush and Gov. John Kasich of Ohio. And he claimed that Lester Holt, the NBC anchor moderating the first presidential debate, is a Democrat but Mr. Holt is a registered Republican. In the primaries, Mr. Kasich won one and, by the way, didnt win it by much that was Ohio. Fox News interview, Sept. 19. Mr. Kasich crushed him in Ohio , winning by 11 percentage points. Lester Holt, the NBC anchor and debate moderator, is a Democrat. Fox News interview, Sept. 19. Mr. Holt is a registered Republican, New York City records show. The presidential debate moderators are all Democrats. Its a very unfair system. Fox News interview, Sept. 19. Only one, Chris Wallace of Fox News, is a registered Democrat. He said it hasnt been reported that Mrs. Clinton called some Trump supporters deplorable. Speech in North Carolina, Sept. 20. It would be difficult to find a news organization that didnt report her remark Inaccurate Claims About Clinton Mr. Trump regularly dissembles about his opponent, attributing ideas to Mrs. Clinton that she has not endorsed, or accusing her of complicity in events in which she had no involvement. Hillary Clinton and her campaign of 2008 started the birther controversy. I finished it. Remarks in Washington, Sept. 16. Mrs. Clinton and her campaign never publicly questioned President Obamas birthplace ; Mr. Trump made it his signature cause for five years. Mrs. Clinton had the power and the duty to stop the release of unauthorized immigrants whose home countries would not accept their deportation after they were released from prison. Numerous speeches, including in Colorado, Sept. 17, and Florida, Sept. 19. The secretary of state does not have the power to detain convicted criminals after they have served their sentences, and has little power to make foreign countries accept deportees. Mrs. Clinton has not criticized jihadists and foreign governments that oppress and kill women, gay people and non-Muslims. Has Hillary Clinton ever called people who support these practices deplorable and irredeemable? No. Speech in Florida, Sept. 19. She has denounced jihadists and foreign countries on the same grounds, if not necessarily using the same words. Do people notice Hillary is copying my airplane rallies she puts the plane behind her like I have been doing from the beginning. Twitter , Sept. 20. He did not invent the tarmac rally or the campaign-plane backdrop. Mrs. Clinton destroyed 13 smartphones with a hammer while she was secretary of state. Speeches in Florida, Sept. 15 and Sept. 19. An aide told the F.B.I. of only two occasions in which phones were destroyed with a hammer. He said Mrs. Clinton is calling for total amnesty in the first 100 days, including a virtual end to immigration enforcement and for unauthorized immigrants to receive Social Security and Medicare. Speech in Colorado, Sept. 17. She has not proposed this. Mrs. Clinton is effectively proposing to abolish the borders around the country. Numerous speeches, including in Texas, Sept. 17. She is not even proposing to cut funding for the Border Patrol. Hillary Clintons plan would bring in 620,000 refugees in her first term alone, and would cost $400 billion. Numerous speeches, including in North Carolina, Sept. 20. She endorsed admitting 65,000 Syrian refugees this year, on top of other admissions. Mr. Trump is falsely claiming that she wants to do this every year and is estimating the cost accordingly. Stump Speech Falsehoods Some warped or inaccurate claims have become regular features of Mr. Trumps stump speech. He routinely overstates the scale and nature of the countrys economic distress and the threats to its national security, and exaggerates the potential for overnight improvements if he were elected. Esoteric Embellishments Mr. Trump often dissembles on subjects of passing interest, like the news of the day or the parochial concerns of his local audiences. But his larger pattern of behavior still holds: These misstatements, too, accentuate the grievances of his supporters, and cast his own ideas in a more favorable light. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. The U.S. Olympic Committee and LA 2024, the local bid organizing committee, on Friday reached an agreement on the management of an Olympic marketing program and how to divide the billions of dollars it would generate should Los Angeles be awarded the 2024 Olympic Games. The joint marketing program agreement approval comes nearly a year before the International Olympic Committee selects the 2024 host city and is further evidence of the contrast in the USOCs relationship with LA 2024 compared with other recent U.S. bids. Were on the same page, USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun said. We have finalized the terms of a partnership, subject to IOC approval, in terms of how were going to manage the marketing arrangements. The agreement will be submitted to the IOC on Oct. 7 as part of Stage II biding documents. The Los Angeles City Council is also expected to sign off on the agreement Wednesday after being briefed by the city administrative officer and chief legal analyst. The IOC will select the 2024 host city on Sept. 13, 2017 in Lima, Peru. The USOC and LA 2024 agreed to combine their marketing assets into a single program. The agreement sets the terms on how that marketing entity will be managed and how the revenues will be split between the two organizations. LA 2024 bid documents project a third Los Angeles Olympic Games receiving $1.5 billion in television and international sponsorship revenue from the IOC and $1.437 billion in domestic sponsorship revenues. LA 2024 has projected a $161.1 million surplus on Games that are expected to come with a $4.66 billion price tag. Negotiations between the USOC and previous bid committees have reflected the sometimes strained working relationships between the Colorado Springs-based organization and the local groups that have to some degree helped undermine recent American Olympic bids. Blackmun said the lack an an agreement between the USOC and bid committees with New York in 2005 and Chicago in 2009 ended up hurting those cities in the bid process. Both USOC and LA 2024 officials have described the relationship between the two groups as more of a partnership than previous U.S. bids. The fact that weve been able to reach an agreement with LA 2024 that our board signed off on today, I think is very, very meaningful, Blackmun said. We feel great about L.A. Its fantastic and I think kind of noteworthy in terms of the strength of our partnership with L.A. that we were able to get through that so quickly. VERSAILLES, France Former French rogue trader Jerome Kerviel will not have to pay 4.9 billion euros ($5.5 billion) in damages to the bank that used to employ him, but a more modest 1 million euros, a court ruled Friday. The court said Kerviel was partly responsible for huge losses suffered in 2008 by Societe Generale through his reckless financial trades. But it also ruled that the banks deficiencies in its management, controls and security systems contributed to the losses, which Kerviel would have had no realistic way of reimbursing. Im hoping to get to zero (civil damages) in the end because I still think I do not owe anything to Societe Generale. The battle continues, Kerviel told reporters following the ruling. His lawyer David Koubbi said they will decide later whether to appeal Fridays decision. Societe Generales lawyer Jean Veil said the bank was satisfied with the ruling. He said that the courts decision means the damages are now realistic and enforceable. In one of the biggest ever trading fraud cases, Kerviel was sentenced to three years in prison for nearly bringing down the bank with the losses, just before the financial market meltdown in 2008. The 39-year-old was found guilty of forgery, breach of trust and fraudulent computer use for covering up bets worth 50 billion euros more than the market value of the entire bank at the time. In 2014, Frances highest court upheld Kerviels criminal conviction and three-year sentence, but annulled the 4.9 billion euros in civil damages, saying they were disproportionate and that the bank had its share of responsibility in its own losses. The initial amount of damages, which were equivalent to the total losses reported by the bank in the fraud, was so huge that Kerviel wouldnt have been able to pay them anyway. As a result, the top court ordered a new civil trial. Kerviel says his managers were aware of his risky operations, which had initially earned the bank 1.4 billion euros in 2007, weeks before turning sour in early 2008. He claims the bank had quietly welcomed his unauthorized trades when they made money, but dropped him when they began making losses. The lawyers for Societe Generale have said Kerviel used his computer, financial skills and fake documents to conceal his unauthorized trading from managers. Also at stake for the bank in the new civil trial are big tax credits it received from the French state in compensation for the losses incurred from Kerviels fraud. If Societe Generale is ultimately found responsible for faults in handling the Kerviel case, the French government could ask the bank to pay back the tax credits, reportedly worth 2.2 billion euros. In a statement, Finance Minister Michel Sapin said he has asked tax authorities to look into the consequences of Fridays ruling for Societe Generales tax situation and to fully safeguard the interests of the state. Societe Generale argued in a statement that the court decision has no effect on its tax position. Veil, its lawyer, said it is ruled out that the bank pay back the tax deduction to the state. Kerviels legal saga is expected to go on, with his lawyer now trying to have his clients criminal conviction overturned. The battle is also about image and reputation, both for the bank and Kerviel, who has tried to portray himself as a victim of an improperly regulated banking sector and a crusader against the ills of the financial world. Fabian Gosin watched eagerly as his daughter Zephaniah Zephy was born. Named after a prophet in the Old Testament, Zephaniah, which means the Lord is my secret, was born without sound, movement or breath. All her dad, an Orange County native who served in the Air Force, can remember is this: She was gray, like a raincloud. Doctors at the hospital in Okinawa, Japan, where Gosin lives with his wife, Lynsey, put Zephy on a table. She was born with the umbilical cord wrapped twice around her neck. She wasnt breathing. They frantically pumped her chest and whisked her away in an ambulance to another hospital. For 24 days, thats where she has remained, on life support. Doctors said Zephy had suffered hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, which means her brain has been permanently and irreversibly damaged because she didnt have enough oxygen to breathe. But her brain is still hanging by a thread, sending out feeble waves. Zephy hasnt been declared brain dead not yet. Fabian Gosin says he and his wife are doing what parents in their position might do. We are hoping for the best and preparing for the worst, he said. The best-case scenario for these devout Christians, who have made Okinawa their home, is a miracle. If the worst happens, they would like her fully functioning, potentially life-saving organs to go to other children who desperately need them. But, as it stands, that might not be possible unless Zephy is on American soil, because neonatal organ transplants very rarely are done in Japan. The family is trying to raise $100,000 so they can fly the infant on life support to the U.S. A longstanding law in Japan prevented harvesting organs from children under 6. A revised organ transplant law, which took effect in 2010, allows organs to be taken from anyone regardless of age with family consent. But tougher, brain-death criteria are applied to children under 6. So far, since this law passed, there have been just three cases in which organs have been taken for transplant from brain-dead children under 6. The first case, in June 2012, involved a boy who was declared brain dead at Toyama University Hospital. What is Zephys mission? Is it to play a part in saving other lives? Her parents think so. Theyve been contacting organ transplant agencies, doctors, hospitals and even the U.S. Consulate to examine their options. Since their daughters birth, theyve also led a strange existence. The couple were married in 2010, and Zephy is their first child. The crib they bought and decorated for her is bare. They drive one hour each way every day to the hospital to see her. And yet, they can barely see her face because she is hooked to breathing and feeding tubes. Lynsey pumps breast milk every day and drops off the bottles at the hospital, where they are fed to Zephy through a tube. I still do it because its hard for me to stop providing for my baby, Lynsey said, choking up. Fabian says Zephy seems like his baby, just one he cant play with or hold. Shes super cute, he says. But all we see is spontaneous twitching, nothing more. I dont know how much more brain dead she can get. It breaks my heart to see her. In Japan, babies like Zephy are transferred from the neonatal intensive care unit to what is known as a chronic hospital. There Zephy would be on life support until she is pronounced brain dead. That is not what we want for our baby, Fabian said. In Japan, the death of the brain often is viewed differently than it is in the U.S., where personhood and individuality are more likely to be seen as being located in the brain. Here, we can think of a loved one as gone even if their heart is beating, said Angela Jenks, assistant teaching professor of anthropology at UC Irvine. For many people in Japan, a person isnt only located in their brain, and death of the brain doesnt automatically mean the death of a person. In Japan, death is often recorded twice when brain death is confirmed and when the heart stops beating, Jenks said. For many in Japan, mistrust of the medical system was worsened by what is known as the Wada case in 1968, when Dr. Wada Jiro performed one of the earliest heart transplants from a donor he had declared to be brain dead. However, investigations suggested that the recipient did not actually need a transplant and that there was no evidence the donor had been brain dead. Wada was charged with homicide and negligence. Even though the charges were later dropped, the case had a huge influence on laws about brain death and organ transplants in Japan. In Japan, the brain-dead are often thought of as patients with human rights, not dead bodies, Jenks said. Concerns about possible abuse of those who are brain dead extend even more to children, who are particularly vulnerable. But, like Fabian Gosin, his mother, Lawrene Bottorf, believes her granddaughter was born with a mission. If the Lord chooses to heal her, that would be miraculous, said Bottorf, a Dana Point resident. But, it does seem to us that her mission is to sustain life in other babies. She has a damaged brain but healthy organs. And there are so many children who are waiting for healthy organs. If Zephy were to be flown stateside to facilitate organ transplants, that could be unprecedented, said UCLA pediatric neurologist Dr. Alan Shewmon. This is just the opposite of some of the recent high-profile cases in the U.S. where families have gone to court to force hospitals to continue life support for their child who was declared brain dead, he said. If a young child diagnosed as brain dead is given life support indefinitely, it is likely that she would remain permanently comatose, unless the brain-death diagnosis was incorrect, Shewmon said. These children are also likely to have a shortened life span, dying quickly of complications such as an overwhelming infection, he said. There always is a risk of damage to organs while transporting any patient requiring life support, Shewmon said. But there is no reason to be concerned that the trip, per se, would damage organs, he said. As the Gosins ponder the eventual demise of their child, over the last few days they also have been taken by surprise. On Thursday, Zephy began to breathe on her own. She didnt need any tubes, for the first time. But the Gosins say they dont know what to make of these signs that seem like improvements despite the fact that her brain remains severely damaged. They continue to raise money and as of Friday had a little more than $26,000. For most parents, these improvements would be a source of delight, Fabian Gosin said. But, for us, it just adds a bit of confusion. She has autonomous reflexes because her body is alive. It means shes not completely brain dead, just severely brain dead. They already knew that, he said. This weeks events did bring us temporary joy, Gosin said. But not much more hope that we already have that God needs to do a complete miracle for Zephy. Theyve been approached by a family in California that needs a kidney for their son who has the same blood type as Zephy. But this weeks events makes it more difficult for Zephy to qualify as a donor, Gosin said. Our situation stays the same, he said. We still dont know what to do. Hope remains a precious commodity as something else happened on their most recent hospital visit. Zephy opened her eyes for the first time. They are brown. Contact the writer: 714-796-7909 or dbharath@scng.com A suspect in an attempted homicide was arrested Friday night after a brief stand-off in Buena Park that involved the Orange County Sheriffs SWAT team, police said Saturday. At about 8 p.m., police served a warrant at a residence in the 6300 block of Crescent Avenue in Buena Park. The SWAT team was deployed in case the man was armed, Buena Park Sgt. Mike Lovchik said in a news release. The suspect was identified as Andrew Jungin Rah, 18, from Cypress, and was taken to Orange County Jail. He was being held on $1 million bail. Another male at the scene was arrested on an unrelated outstanding arrest warrant, but his identity and details of the warrant have not been released. As the outbreak of infections among children treated at an Anaheim pediatric dental clinic climbed to 20 cases Friday, a doctor at Childrens Hospital of Orange County said the affected children have not only undergone extensive surgeries and received powerful antibiotics, but many have also lost permanent teeth. Five doctors and a team of hospital staff have been caring for the 20 children, who remain hospitalized at CHOC for several days now, said Antonio Arrieta, the hospitals Director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. Doctors and staff have been taking X-rays of the childrens jaws and chest area to detect infected areas, and all children have required surgery to rid their bones of the infection, he said. Unfortunately, many have lost permanent teeth, Arrieta said. All of the children are receiving antibiotics intravenously and will have to get that treatment for four to six months, he said. Also, on Tuesday, CHOC got the green light from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to give these children oral antibiotics, if they choose to go that route, Arrieta said. This could be a problem because some of the children are too young to swallow tablets, which cannot be crushed or powdered. Children will get the oral antibiotics only if their parents agree to this course of treatment, Arrieta said. He added that since the antibiotics are strong and highly toxic, children must be monitored closely with blood work and hearing evaluation. Weve identified a home self-care agency that will help administer the antibiotics in their homes, he said. We will have the children come in to the hospital every two weeks for the evaluations. The average length of hospitalization for the affected children is two to four weeks, Arrieta said. California Childrens Services, a state-funded program to aid children with certain diseases and health conditions, and the CHOC Health Alliance, a CalOptima Health Network that comprises the hospital and CHOC Physician Network, have stepped up to help some of the families in need of assistance with coverage of treatment costs, he said. Arrieta praised the countys Health Care Agency and the Childrens Dental Group of Anaheim for helping identify the affected children so they could receive much-needed treatment. The children, ages 3 to 9, all underwent baby tooth root canals, or pulpotomies, at the Childrens Dental Group clinic between April and July. In all, 500 children underwent the procedure in recent months. So far, five water samples from the clinic have tested positive for Mycobacterium chelonae/abscessus group. The clinic is continuing to cooperate with the authorities, not performing any procedures that involve water until the internal water system is replaced. The Health Care Agency has information for parents in English and Spanish at ochealthinfo.com/dentaloutbreak. Staff writer Courtney Perkes contributed to this report. Contact the writer: 714-796-7909 or dbharath@scng.com BEIRUT Syrias military threatened a ground offensive in Aleppo and pounded the citys rebel-held neighborhoods with airstrikes on Friday, killing dozens, demolishing buildings and damaging a main water station in an escalation that could doom faltering attempts to revive a cease-fire. Rebels vowed to fight to keep President Bashar Assads forces out of their districts and shelled government neighborhoods, wounding several people, according to state media. Diplomatic efforts in New York have failed to salvage a Syria cease-fire that lasted nearly a week, before giving way to what residents and activists say is a new level of violence. The bombing, which began in earnest late Wednesday, has been unprecedented, targeting residential areas, infrastructure and civil defense centers. Aleppo, Syrias largest city and one-time commercial center, has been contested since July 2012, but in recent weeks its eastern rebel-held neighborhoods have been under siege by government forces and their allies. During the cease-fire, aid convoys remained stuck on the Turkish border unable to reach rebel-held parts of the city where some 250,000 people live, even though aid delivery was part of the U.S.-Russia truce agreement. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 27 civilians, including three children, were killed in dozens of raids that began overnight. A member of the citys forensic team, Mohammed Abu Jaafar, said he had documented 54 deaths since late Thursday, including many women and children. A photograph circulating on social media showed the bodies of a woman and her two children who were killed in one of the airstrikes on Aleppo. The three were shown lying in bed, their bloodied bodies covered in dust and debris as a rescue worker crouched next to them. The woman held a bloodied infant; lying next to her was the body of a young boy, his blue shirt covered in blood. The Observatory said dozens of people were wounded and an unknown number remained buried under the rubble of buildings destroyed in the airstrikes that began in the early hours Thursday. A young girl was pulled out alive from a collapsed building in the citys Bab al-Nairab neighborhood early Friday, according to Ibrahim Alhaj, a rescue worker with the Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets. A video posted online by several Syrian social media sites showed the girls rescue. In other footage a weeks-old infant girl was shown being pulled from under the rubble of an apartment building. Dozens more civilians were killed in other parts of Aleppo province, including at least 15 in the village of Bushqateen, three in Kfar Hamra and 11 in Al-Bab, a stronghold of the Islamic State group, according to forensic team member Abu Jaafar and the Observatory. President Richard Nixons economic adviser, the late Herbert Stein, still is known for his dictum: If something cannot go on forever, it wont. It should be the rallying cry for Californias pension reformers. The numbers dont lie, they say. Services are being cut to pay for oversized pensions, they note. Something must be done because the debt cannot keep growing forever. Theyre right. And it wont go on forever. It cant go on forever. At some point, even the most dogged public-pension defenders will realize the gravy train six-figure guaranteed lifetime pensions inflated by myriad spiking gimmicks will end because the math must catch up with the wishful thinking. New York and Chicago already pay for more retired cops than for officers patrolling the streets. Some cities have gone belly up, with Stockton and Vallejo the most visible California examples of what happens without adult supervision. Even healthy cities are slashing services and raising taxes to meet escalating pension bills, to pay for those who often receive far more in retirement than most residents earn during their working years. Even the rest of the media have come to the party, however late. At the Orange County Register, writers have been pointing to the disastrous fiscal effects of Senate Bill 400 for years. Thats the 1999 legislation that started a wave of unsustainable, retroactive pension increases, not just in state government, but in cities and counties across California. As reported in the Los Angeles Times last week, With the stroke of a pen, California Gov. Gray Davis signed legislation that gave prison guards, park rangers, Cal State professors and other state employees the kind of retirement security normally reserved for the wealthy. California Highway Patrol officers could retire at 50 and receive as much as 90 percent of their peak pay for as long as they lived. The deal was promised to pay for itself, but instead has plunged California into an unsustainable fiscal mess. Surprise. Indeed, Stein was right that unsustainable things ultimately will be, err, unsustainable. But theres no underestimating the ability of officials to delay the day of reckoning at least until they are comfortably retired at their beachfront condos. One website covers the coming pension tsunami. Its great imagery, but the problem is less tsunami and more steadily rising floodwaters. The result is the same, but timing is everything. Sometimes it takes decades for problems to wreak havoc. Those who make predictions sometimes have to wait until the audience becomes receptive to their message. Those pension reformers have been warning about the flood for years. Theyve attempted legislative fixes. Theyve taken local reform measures to the ballot. Theyve tried to qualify measures statewide. Theyve gone to court. Usually they are stymied by the more politically powerful public-employee unions. In a fit of despair, I wrote that reformers ought to abandon ship. Thats not because they are wrong actuarially, but because they are politically outmatched in our union-dominated state. But once again, pension reform is resurfacing. Last month, a state appeals court rebuked a Marin County public-employee union that was challenging the states modest effort to rein in some pension enhancements, or spiking. In doing so, the court ruled that the so-called California Rule (forbidding the state from reducing pension benefits for current hires, even going forward) could be jettisoned. As Judge James Richman ruled, (W)hile a public employee does have a vested right to a pension, that right is only to a reasonable pension not an immutable entitlement to the most optimal formula of calculating that pension. Thats big news because the pension mess cannot be fixed merely by lowering benefits for new hires, most of whom wont retire for decades. More impetus for reform came from The New York Times, which reported recently that the California Public Employees Retirement System has two sets of books to evaluate the size of the states pension debt. It has its official, rosier estimates, which say the system can count on a rate of return on its investments of 7.5 percent annually (higher returns make the taxpayer-backed unfunded liabilities seem smaller). Then there are the market estimates the much lower (2.64 percent) expected rates of return CalPERS uses to calculate how much agencies must pay it if they want to leave the system. Most reformers say these numbers are closer to reality. The Times article said such market estimates result in a cost projection that is alarmingly large. This is nothing new. In a 2011 column, I argued the situation was unsustainable. It cant go on forever, but it would be nice if the states leaders would muster some courage and fix it, rather than just waiting to see if Stein had a point. Steven Greenhut is Western region director for the R Street Institute. Write to him at sgreenhut@rstreet.org. SANTA ANA For the families of Samuel Herr and Juri Julie Kibuishi, it was the end of a six-year wait for justice. Daniel Patrick Wozniak, a 31-year-old former community theater actor from Costa Mesa, was sentenced to death on Friday for killing the two in an attempt to fund his 2010 wedding. Dozens of those close to the victims filled the courtroom. They hugged and wiped away tears after Judge John D. Conley handed down the death sentence in a case delayed for years after it got swept up in an Orange County informant scandal. Its a relief, said Julies mother, June Kibuishi. Weve been waiting more than six years for this day to come. A jury on Jan. 11 deliberated for one hour, 14 minutes before recommending the death penalty, one of the shortest death penalty deliberations in Orange County history. Jury forewoman Jenny Wong was one of several jurors who came for the sentencing. Im just glad we were able to in some small way provide closure for the family, she said. Sitting quietly next to his attorney, Wozniak stared straight ahead as the judge read the sentence. He will join more than 740 other inmates on San Quentins death row. Were happy for the family that justice was finally done, said Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy, who prosecuted the case. THE THEATER ACTOR Herr and Kibuishi met in anthropology class at Orange Coast College and became good friends. Kibuishi was a bubbly dancer from Irvine who loved music and fashion. Herr was an Afghanistan war veteran working to earn his college degree so he could re-enlist in the U.S. Army and become an officer. Herr, an only child, was close to parents Steve and Raquel Herr. When Steve Herr couldnt reach his son all day on May 22, 2010, he drove to the young mans Costa Mesa apartment and let himself in with a key. In the bedroom, he found Kibuishis partially clad body and called 911. Police initially believed Sam Herr was a fugitive. But they grew suspicious when they saw $400 ATM withdrawals from his bank account and charges to a Long Beach pizza parlor. Days later, they caught a 16-year-old boy using Herrs ATM card. The boy told police that Wozniak had put him up to it. Wozniak, an out-of-work community theater actor, was Herrs neighbor and friend. Police arrested him at his bachelors party, at a sushi restaurant in Huntington Beach, two days before his wedding. Under intense questioning from Costa Mesa detectives, he unraveled a grisly story. Broke with no money to pay for his wedding and honeymoon, he hatched a plan to kill Herr and drain his $60,000 in savings from combat pay. On May 21, Wozniak lured Herr, 26, to the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, where he shot and killed him. He later cut off his head, hand and forearm and tossed the body parts in Long Beachs El Dorado Park. Herrs body would be identified by a chest tattoo: Mom & Dad. That evening, Wozniak performed as the lead in the musical Nine at the Hunger Artists Theatre Company in Fullerton. In an attempt to throw police off of his trail, Wozniak went to Herrs apartment and used Herrs cellphone to lure Kibuishi, 23, pretending to be in need of help. He then shot and killed her and staged the crime scene to try and make it look like Herr had killed Kibuishi in a jealous rage. Rachel Buffett, Wozniaks ex-fiancee, was arrested and charged with being an accessory after the fact for allegedly lying to police. She has pleaded not guilty. A LEGAL BATTLE With evidence and a video-taped confession, family members thought it was a black-and-white case. Wozniak led police to Herrs body at the Los Alamitos air station, then told investigators about the body parts at the park; it took a lengthy search to find them. Still, it it took more than five years for the case to reach trial. The case was delayed as Wozniaks attorney, Assistant Public Defender Scott Sanders, alleged systemic misconduct by Orange County prosecutors and sheriffs deputies involving the use of jailhouse informants. In another one of his cases, involving Scott Dekraai, who pleaded guilty to fatally shooting eight people and critically injuring another at a Seal Beach salon in 2011, Sanders persuaded a different judge to remove the entire Orange County District Attorneys Office from the penalty phase. That decision has been appealed. Sanders had contended that authorities conspired to place Wozniak next to a prolific jailhouse informant to gain incriminating evidence. But Conley found that the allegations of misconduct raised by Sanders had no bearing on the Wozniak case. The sentencing was delayed for several months this year when it was revealed that Orange County Sheriffs deputies over five years kept hundreds of pages of notes on informant activities in a secret Special Handling log buried in a jail computer system. The notes had details on interactions between Wozniak and an informant. In a last effort to convince the judge to dismiss the death penalty, Sanders on Friday said the Sheriffs Department has yet to turn over information on what replaced the jailhouse log after it inexplicably ended in 2013. Before you end this case, there is no reason not to demand an answer from the Sheriffs Department, Sanders told the judge. A culture that devalues (the turning over of evidence) is one where the death penalty should not be allowed to live. Conley, however, denied the motion to dismiss the death penalty and a motion for a new trial, noting that informants were never used as witnesses in the case and that the sheriffs notes were not relevant to the trial. The defendant got a fair trial, and thats the bottom line, the judge said. A FAMILYS JUSTICE In the courtroom on Friday, June Kibuishi, standing next to her husband, Masa, addressed Wozniak for the first time. On May 22, 2010 you took my beautiful, caring daughters precious life to cover up your heinous crime for a pathetic reason for wanting money for your wedding? she said. For six years and four months I sat behind you, seeing you come out smiling for the cameras and audience, enjoying being the center of attention. Did I ever see you show any remorse? Not even once. Julie, her third of four children, was born on Valentines Day: My Valentine girl, June Kibuishi calls her. Flanked by eight U.S. Army veterans, some of whom served with his son in Afghanistan, Steve Herr also addressed Wozniak in court. You, Dan, are a coward and a poster boy for the need for an effective death penalty in California, he said. The families noted that the two victims were kind and caring people who died while believing they were helping a friend. Sam Herr was lured to the Los Alamitos air station under the guise that he was helping Wozniak move boxes. Kibuishi was lured to Herrs apartment thinking Herr needed emotional support. An ex-Marine from New Jersey, Steve Herr, 68, has now attended 192 court hearings for his sons killer. Wozniaks Long Beach parents never attended a hearing and his father recently died, Herr said. Looking for answers, Herr even visited Wozniak three times in jail. He said Wozniak has apologized to him but doesnt show real remorse for his actions. Ill never forgive you, but I might hate you less, he told Wozniak at the jail. Sam Herrs mother is also relieved that the years of court hearings are over. She finds comfort through her faith in God. I know my son is in heaven, she said. I feel like he went for a long trip, and one day Ill see him again. Contact the writer: kpuente@ocregister.com Ah, fall. The return of all things pumpkin-spiced, cooler weather and the new school year (which this mom is thrilled about). Its also an opportune time to buy a home and possibly snag a great deal in the process. Buyer demand begins to wane this time of the year, which means motivated homesellers are more likely to play ball with you in negotiations. If you didnt find the right home during the busy summer season, or if youre just starting the process as a first-time homebuyer, here are four reasons why buying a home after school is back in session might be the best move youll make this year. 1. Less competition Once school starts, there are fewer buyers to compete with on your offer. Most families prefer to move before their darlings head back to school. Also, cooler weather drives down demand. In fact, from now until February, buyers have more leverage than during the rest of the year because theres still a large amount of inventory relative to the time of year, says Jonathan Smoke, Realtor.coms chief economist. In 2015, sales of existing single-family homes nationwide declined 3.7 percent from 4.86 million in July to 4.68 million in October, according to the National Association of Realtors. Granted, if you live in a market with a tight inventory and brisk sales (such as San Francisco and Seattle), you still might face stiff competition. But in markets like Indianapolis or St. Louis, youll see a lot less gladiator-style jostling and more chances to negotiate with sellers when you buy a home. 2. Prices match market value If homes listed during the busy summer months didnt sell, chances are that they were overpriced. That means homebuyers will see prices fall more in line with market value, says Mark Goldman, a real estate instructor at San Diego State and a loan officer with C2 Financial Corp. For example, in 2015, the U.S. median sale price dropped 5.5 percent from $233,400 in July to $220,600 in October, according to NAR. Working with a real estate agent who can assess asking prices can help you avoid overpaying, Goldman says. If you want to buy a home thats priced higher than what your agent estimates to be appropriate, submit an offer thats in line with market value and with comparable sales data attached to back it up. 3. Time on market Another issue that works against sellers (but favors buyers) is the length of time a home has been on the market. The longer a home sits unsold, the more bargaining power a buyer has, Smoke says. Also, inventory tends to increase from summer to fall because homes arent selling as quickly. Active listings on Realtor.com remained for a median of 65 days in May and June. But in August, that number was projected to increase to 72 days. That shouldnt dissuade potential buyers from considering a home, Smoke says. If the home and location seem to fit, dont cross it off your list just because of the time of the year or the time on market, Smoke says. There will always be sellers who need to put their home on the market. Also, the services related to buying moving, buying furniture, signing up for cable tend to be discounted toward the end of the year and during winter, Smoke notes. 4. More flexibility on terms In a typical sellers market where bidding wars and multiple offers abound, buyers have little room to ask for concessions. But in a slower selling season, the tables are turned and buyers have the upper hand, Goldman says. In a slower market, youll find more flexibility on terms such as: Closing costs. Repairs/cash credits toward repairs. Buyer concession to sell home first. Closing timeline. Likewise, if you are willing to give a seller more time to close, he or she might sweeten the deal by leaving behind a hot tub or offering a repair credit. If you want to ask for reasonable concessions when you buy a home, this is the time to do it. Deborah Kearns is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: dkearns@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @debbie_kearns. The article 4 Reasons to Buy a Home After School Starts originally appeared on NerdWallet. Edward Snowden wants to be pardoned. According to historys most famous leaker, when people look at the calculations of benefit, it is clear that in the wake of 2013 the laws of our nation changed, he told the Guardian. Congress, the courts and the president all changed their policies as a result of these disclosures. At the same time there has never been any public evidence that any individual came to harm as a result. Even setting aside that dubiously legalistic language, however, Snowden is pleading an exceptionally weak case. And no matter how much stronger our own bruised idealism might make it seem, it would be a serious mistake for President Obama or any president to hand him a pardon. In an age when were apt to look up to the most consequential people because breakout significance is often a hallmark of extraordinary talent, its easy to get emotionally carried away by Snowdens importance. Without a doubt, his determination did pull back the veil on some practices that are far out of step with the basic standards of a free society. On the other hand, those revelations came at a cost so steep that Snowden, like do-gooder transparency groups more generally, was swiftly eclipsed by patently hostile groups working to exploit his acts to harm the United States. Today, the initial truth bomb Snowden dropped has given way to a long, painful aftermath systematic Russian-led and Russian-fed cyber operations against our government, our citizens and our political process. In todays context, the sheen of courage and heroism that many associated with Snowden in the early days has more than worn off. Once one of the most important people in the world, Snowden is now greatly diminished; the adverse consequences of his actions, however, have only grown and grown. So, too, have suspicions that Snowden himself was little more than a pawn in a game orchestrated from Russia. As ex-surveillance and intelligence operative John Schindler recently noted, Moscow has admitted that Snowden has cooperated with Russias intelligence services, but likely functioned more as their hapless enabler than some kind of super-mole. In an exhaustive, classified investigation of the reality behind the curtain, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence concluded that Snowden caused tremendous damage to national security, and the vast majority of the documents he stole have nothing to do with programs impacting individual privacy interests they instead pertain to military, defense, and intelligence programs of great interest to Americas adversaries. In a letter to president Obama, the Committees bipartisan members spoke unanimously against a pardon. Snowden is not a patriot, they concluded. He is not a whistleblower. He is a criminal. Surely it is even enough to conclude, against a pardon, that Snowdens crimes led to a national security debacle that started off bad and has only grown steadily worse, with little end in sight. The truth about what Snowden wrought is even worse than it first appeared. Initially, great cynicism and disillusionment gathered around how much the U.S. government, however well-intentioned, overstepped its bounds with secret surveillance. Now, with Americas cyber-enemies racking up wins against presidential candidates and multiple U.S. agencies, the NSA included, Americans should focus even greater outrage and disgust around how vulnerable and pathetic our country and its defenses have been made to appear. As harsh as it is to accept, without Snowden and without the truth he laid bare America would be much stronger and more secure, and the road ahead would be much less treacherous and uncertain. We may not learn the inner workings of the dark new cyberwar for many years to come. But we do know one thing about his role. Whatever the details, it was so unusual, relative to other U.S. hackers who have run afoul of the law, that Snowden cannot be used to set an example or provide a symbol of hope to those who want greater freedom online. Lesser and more innocent hackers facing jail time and punishment might even look on Snowden as a bellwether or rallying point for their own cause. Snowdens unique revelations, and the massive injury to national security that they triggered, bear little in common with the activities of even the most visionary or piratical online renegade. So there would be little to cheer in letting him off the hook while weaker individuals lacking the protection of adversarial foreign governments languish. In fact, special treatment for Snowden would be a slap in the face to those hit with harsher punishments for far, far less. If anything, some radical criminals who believe information must be free ought to be treated more mildly, and Snowden more harshly. That does not necessarily mean that Edward Snowden should be hanged from the neck until dead. But it certainly means that pardoning him would inflict one more humiliation on the United States, and offer one more victory to those who believe they can defeat us because we are so foolishly adept at defeating ourselves. James Poulos is a columnist for the Southern California News Group. Southern California police agencies regularly lose track of all manner of firearms, from high-powered rifles and grenade launchers to standard service handguns weapons that often wind up on the street. An Orange County Register investigation of 134 state and local police agencies from Kern County to the Mexican border found that over the past five years at least 329 firearms were lost by or stolen from law enforcement agencies. RELATED: Database of lost, missing or stolen police guns in Southern California Dozens of these weapons wound up in the hands of criminals and some were involved in crimes. In Northern California, a missing police gun was used in a suspected murder. But the number of guns known to be missing or stolen is almost certainly a fraction of the actual number that have made the jump from police agency to street. Not every department audits its weaponry. If agencies performed such audits, theyd find they were missing more guns. That was the case at one of the biggest police agencies in the country. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, following a request by the Register, assembled a team of nearly two dozen employees to track through thousands of files on gun location and gun assignments. The research found that at least 103 L.A. County Sheriffs Department guns, ranging from service handguns to shotguns, were lost or stolen over the past five years. A spokesperson said the agency didnt previously know how many guns were missing, and hadnt recently conducted a centralized count of its service handguns. The missing weapons are a tiny portion of the departments 20,000-gun arsenal. NOT A PRIORITY? But the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department isnt the only big police agency to conduct an audit and learn that it has lost a lot of guns. In recent years, police departments in Oakland and San Jose counted their weapons, and each found more than 300 service firearms had vanished over a six-year period, according to a report from Southern California News Groups sister publications in the San Francisco Bay area. The number of guns missing isnt always a high priority. At least 24 agencies contacted over the past three months didnt respond to requests for data on missing or stolen weapons. And the Long Beach Police Department, one of the bigger agencies in Southern California, said it doesnt track weapons because its officers provide their own guns. Thats not true at every department. Some of the biggest proponents of police counting and tracking their weapons are, in fact, police chiefs. In Hermosa Beach, the Police Department conducts an internal audit of its armory every year, tracking serial numbers of weapons, matching them with the officers who use them, and listing any weapons that have gone missing over the previous year. The department hasnt lost any guns, nor have any been stolen, according to agency records. Its a policy thats been in place in Hermosa Beach for years, and was supported by Police Chief Sharon Papa when she came to the force two years ago. Im just thrilled that we have our annual audit and we didnt run into problems other agencies have, said Papa, a former assistant chief at the Los Angeles Police Department. Tracking weapons, Papa added, just isnt a regulated area for police. So, they dont think about it. NO LAW TO FOLLOW What are the differences among police agencies when it comes to tracking guns? Choices. There are no state or federal laws requiring police agencies to account for their firearms. Any agency that conducts a gun count or sets formal rules for how officers store and carry weapons is doing so voluntarily. Likewise, there is no requirement that individual officers or deputies tell anybody, including any state or federal agency, when their weapons are lost or stolen. Instead, police agencies voluntarily report missing weapons to a database kept by the state. Also, on- and off-duty police officers are allowed to store and carry weapons in ways that would be unlawful for other citizens in California. The theory behind that law is to make sure an officer doesnt have to unlock a stored gun to use it in an emergency, but in practice it often leads to police guns being stolen. Its also unclear what happens to officers who lose their weapons. The internal reports from police agencies didnt include gun-related reprimands, if any were issued, because the information is considered a confidential personnel matter. There are about 300 million guns in America, and nobody knows how many are owned or controlled by police agencies. What is known is that its not rare for police and their weapons to go separate ways and that, in general, lost or stolen police guns account for some of the weapons used to commit crimes. A significant source of guns in illegal hands, on the black market, come from stolen firearms, said Ari Freilich, staff attorney with San Franciscos Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. We should be concerned that police and all individuals that keep deadly weapons know where their guns are. LOST OR STOLEN Glocks, Sig Sauers, Remington shotguns, rifles, even grenade launchers all these and more were reported lost or stolen from police inventories or individual officers. In all, Southern California agencies said at least 108 of the missing firearms were reported stolen by their officers. At least 22 of the stolen guns were retrieved. Authorities in Mexico recovered some guns stolen from U.S. law enforcement, while U.S. police found other weapons in the hands of fleeing felons. Often, the reports show, officers treated their guns in ways that wouldnt be legal for most civilians. High-caliber firepower was stowed in backpacks or gym bags and stuffed behind car seats. Handguns were stashed in center consoles or glove boxes. Burglars looking for weapons that on the street can be sold for several hundred to a couple of thousand dollars found them. In January, an Irvine Police sergeant slipped his .45 caliber Sig Sauer into a computer bag on the passenger seat of his unlocked Chevrolet cargo van, parked in the driveway of his Laguna Niguel home, according to a sheriffs report. He returned to find the bag gone, gun and all. The handgun was found that same night after two men ditched the bag at a gas station. In April 2013, an Irvine reserve officer stored his service weapon in the center console of his Ford Expedition before spending the day at Shapell Park in Yorba Linda. He returned to find the gun missing. There were no signs of forced entry, which can sometimes mean the vehicle was left unlocked, according to Orange County Sheriffs Department officials. In November 2015, an Orange County Sheriffs detective left her 40-caliber service Glock in an unmarked department Ford Taurus outside her home. The gun disappeared along with two magazines. There were no signs of forced entry. A San Diego County Sheriffs deputy left his 40-caliber Glock in his car outside his home in El Cajon in October 2012. The handgun was stolen and recovered a few days later from a fugitive parolee captured at the immigration checkpoint in Pine Valley. Eighteen firearms were reported stolen from San Diego County deputies, including one assault rifle, which was later recovered. Two of the firearms Glock 40-caliber handguns turned up in Mexico, where authorities are holding both. Its regrettable; we dont like to lose our firearms, said San Diego County Assistant Sheriff Mike Barnett. Its a problem we are trying to deal with. Law enforcement officers unlike most civilians dont have to follow state law requiring that guns left in unattended vehicles be locked in the trunk or secured in a locked gun box and placed out of sight. State Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, has authored a bill now heading to the governors desk that would eliminate that loophole for police. (Guns) become such a part of their existence, that they may lose significance. Its kind of like your cellphone, Hill said. Its carelessness, and its a lack of respect for the power of that weapon. There also is no state law requiring that police or anyone else report stolen firearms to authorities. Proposition 63 on the November ballot would make it mandatory for gun owners to report stolen weapons to police and for police to report their stolen weapons to their departments. In California, guns that are reported as stolen or lost are voluntarily logged into the Automated Firearms System kept by the state Department of Justice. BIG NUMBERS, BIG GUNS Most, but not all, police agencies provide service weapons to their officers. Most agencies also replace lost or stolen weapons. Agencies can buy a handgun for prices starting at about $500 each, without a trade-in. But the range of weapons that go missing runs far beyond handguns. The Registers analysis found: The San Diego Police Department lost track of 30 firearms, including four rifles and 21 shotguns, most of which are used to shoot bean bags. Gun dealers point out that the bean bag guns can handle regular shotgun rounds, meaning they are potentially lethal if used on the street. About 10 high-powered weapons, including eight AR-15s and two M16s, were missing, stolen or lost from departments in Orange County, San Diego County, Riverside County, Pomona, San Gabriel, Desert Hot Springs and Carlsbad. Two deputies, one in San Diego County and one in Orange County, separately left assault rifles worth $1,500 apiece on the trunks of their patrol cars and drove away. The Orange County deputy had put the rifle down to take a call on his cellphone, according to authorities. By the time the deputies realized what they had done, the weapons were gone. The California Highway Patrol found the San Diego rifle. The Orange County rifle remains on the streets. The Riverside Police Department early this year couldnt find 26 firearms, including 17 shotguns. Ten shotguns and one training handgun still havent been located. Officials said the shotguns were lost because they are used by multiple divisions and were stored in different lockers. Also missing is a 40 mm launcher that can be used for anything from bean bags to grenades. The department is revamping how it counts and tracks its shotguns. The police department that patrols the Port of Los Angeles couldnt find 11 firearms when it conducted a recent audit. An additional eight guns were stolen from its officers, including one taken from the home safe of a retired range officer. That officer told the department that he didnt know he had the gun, according to a police report. POTENTIAL FOR DISASTER Weapons that are lost or stolen can lead to potential disaster. Kate Steinle was killed last year while strolling on San Franciscos Pier 14 by a man armed with a handgun stolen from the unsecured car of a federal park ranger. When Costa Mesa police searched a motel room rented by a convicted drug dealer in 2012, they found a gun taken several months earlier from a car parked in the garage of a Yorba Linda home. The gun belonged to an Orange County District Attorneys investigator. It was stolen from a bag behind the cars front seat. Two years ago, a San Gabriel officer locked his patrol car but left a window partially open outside Cheers Bar and Grill. That was opportunity enough for a drunken patron to shove his hand through the opening, unlock the door and yank an AR-15 assault rifle out of its rack, according to an internal report. Police later recovered the weapon at the mans house. VANISHED Its unclear if agencies would welcome regulations requiring regular gun counts, but some police leaders believe the profession could do a better job of keeping track of weapons. Obviously firearms are an important thing to safeguard, said Ventura police Chief Ken Corney, who is also president of the California Police Chiefs Association. It should be happening, whether or not theres a state law. Some of the nations biggest police agencies agree, at least in part. The Houston Police Department requires its officers to provide their own guns, and it doesnt track those. But the department does conduct regular audits of every weapon it owns, including the assault rifles, shotguns and other firearms and equipment that go to its SWAT teams and others, said spokesperson Jodi Silva. They even count the damn chairs, Silva said. But even with strict gun counts, agencies wouldnt always know why a gun goes missing. The Registers analysis found many guns are lost with no explanation. In Downey, the Police Department recently was unable to locate eight guns. Nearly all the officers assigned those weapons said they had turned them in. One said he left his gun in his locker when he resigned. Gun experts say a general lack of oversight wouldnt be tolerated in retail or manufacturing or any other level of the gun market. For example, Chuck Michel, an attorney who specializes in gun laws, said if police agencies were gun stores, many would go out of business for the way they keep inventory. Every gun dealer is required to know where every gun is at all times, Michel said. Why arent these police departments holding themselves to at least these standards? Bay Area News Group investigative reporter Thomas Peele contributed to this report. Contact the writer: tsaavedra@scng.com AKROTIRI, Cyprus British Tornado and Typhoon aircraft stationed at a U.K. air base in Cyprus are pounding Islamic State targets ahead of a major offensive by Iraqi security forces next month to recapture the key northern city of Mosul from Islamic State militants, a senior Royal Air Force officer says. Air Commodore Sammy Sampson said Iraqi forces are confident they can retake the countrys second-largest city from Islamic State and that British warplanes will provide the needed support to get the job done. Well stand by them. Well support them. We will make it do-able for them, Sampson told reporters Thursday on a guided tour of the RAF Akrotiri bases operations. Sampson said the eight Tornado and six Typhoon aircraft flying out of RAF Akrotiri have in recent days destroyed numerous Islamic State targets to pave the way for the start of the advance on Mosul in the coming weeks. Mosul is Islamic States last major urban stronghold in Iraq, 225 miles northwest of Baghdad. U.S. officials have said for some time that they expect the Mosul operation to begin in October. One Typhoon strike last week hit an Islamic State training camp just inside Iraq on its border with Syria, killing some 40-50 fighters, said Sampson. The aircraft later destroyed Islamic State weapons stockpiles and rocket launchers north of Ramadi in support of Iraqi forces. But Sampson, who commands the U.K.s warplanes in the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State, said air strikes to start reclaiming territory from Islamic State both in Iraq and Syria are far from new. We were striking targets to weaken (Islamic State-held) Mosul from the very beginning of the campaign, said Sampson, who is based in the Combined Air Operations Center in Qatar. Sampson said the same applies for the Syrian city of Raqqa, which Islamic State considers its de facto capital. He said air strikes in the Syrian city are part of the plan until the decision is made how and when the liberation of Raqqa is going to be achieved. Sampson said air power has made the difference in beating back Islamic State over the last two years as the extremist group has tried to carve a caliphate out of Syria and Iraq. Ive seen air power help transform the situation on the ground, said Sampson, adding that while Islamic State militants were advancing aggressively two years ago, the group is now on their heels, and we can see that every day. The air component and the air support have helped partner forces on the ground. And in many, many areas, those partner forces have stopped Daesh (the Arabic acronym for Islamic State) dead in their tracks, said Sampson. Air power has also lifted morale among Iraqi forces, he said, which has allowed them to retake the battlefield initiative from Islamic State, knowing that they can rely on the most sophisticated air package anyone has ever used. He said a deflated Iraqi army that was once intimidated and hesitant to emerge from their garrisons and take the fight to the militants is now aware that air power has given them an immense amount of capability. I do not think our relationship with our partner forces could be any better, said Sampson. We have never failed them. When they want us, we are there. Another key component of the air campaign is the intelligence that aircraft have been able to collect with sophisticated on-board equipment on how Islamic State operates, which have allowed coalition forces to shift tactics to make the airstrikes more effective. We are adapting our processes, our procedures, our tactics, our understanding, every single minute of every day. Im absolutely confident that were outpacing Daesh in that area, said Sampson. Since the start of the September 2014 air campaign against Islamic State, Typhoon and Tornado jets based at RAF Akrotiri have dropped a combined 1,600 bombs and missiles on Islamic State targets. On a mission Wednesday, a Tornado dropped a Paveway laser-guided bomb and sunk an Islamic State boat ferrying a truck bomb across Iraqs Tigris river. On the same mission, a Typhoon killed three Islamic State fighters after hitting their bunker in a palm grove on the northern bank of the Euphrates with two bombs. An Associated Press reporter and photographer were among a handful of journalists permitted to fly aboard the U.K.s Voyager tanker aircraft, which conducted midair refueling for those warplanes over central Iraq. Daesh is falling back and not making any advances, and air support has been a strong enabler of that, said a Typhoon pilot who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with British Ministry of Defense rules. I cant think of anything better than helping someone trying to save their country. CAMP PENDLETON Chad Robichaux, a Force Recon Marine and former MMA fighter, spoke to Marines and sailors Friday about the military lives lost to war and the far greater number of military lives lost to suicide. I was thinking about how as a young Recon Marine Id respond to a suicide pep talk, said Robichaux. Id probably be a little arrogant and not want to listen. But Ive been on the other side of it. After eight deployments to Afghanistan in the special operations community, I know thats one extreme. The other is just military service and the stress it brings. Military life will change you 100 percent. The change will be either for the worse or the better, thats up to you. Robichaux now runs the Mighty Oaks Warrior Program, dedicated to curtailing the high veteran suicide rate and helping American military and their families suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. He spoke at the seaside base as part of the second annual Suicide Prevention and Awareness Walk. We lost 6,882 in combat since 9/11, he said But the more significant number is the 22 lives a day from suicide. Since 9/11 weve lost 120,000 to suicide. We learn to push through in our mission but sometimes, we cant push through in our personal lives. Robichaux relayed the story of a Marine wife he recently counseled. Her husband had shot himself standing in the street surrounded by police. The last thing he said to police was, Tell my wife, Im doing this for her, Robichaux said. She later told me, Suicide didnt take away my husbands pain, it just transferred the pain to those that loved him. The suicide prevention walk was held by the 1st Dental Battalion. More than 1,000 Marines and sailors walked 3 miles around the Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital. Marine Corps Community Services set up booths providing information on resources and support programs. Its very important we talk about the things that may not be easily spoken about, said Master Chief Petty Officer Anna Wood, the command master chief with 1st Dental Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group. It provides an opportunity for those who may need assistance, she said. When you have a large group of people all walking for the same reason, it opens people up to talk about whats bothering them because they feel more comfortable with the situation and know they are not alone. A U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs report issued in 2012 put veteran suicides at 22 a day. A broader study released in 2014 that examined 55 million veteran records shows the suicide rate at 20 a day. Kolin Williams, a veterans counselor at Saddleback College, teaches a course on re-entering civilian life at the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton. Creating awareness on the base does two things, Williams said. It puts out the recognition that vets are still dying by suicide at a higher rate than the civilian community, and it brings the community together. Instead of hiding it, they are addressing it and taking a stand. Committing suicide is a shameful thing. If you have someone who commits suicide that you were close to and you didnt recognize it, he said, its a trickle down effect and everyone needs to be aware. Contact the writer: 714-796-2254 or eritchie@ocregister.com Tomorrow is One-Hit Wonder Day, and many radio stations will be playing songs from artists who soared on the charts once but could never repeat. Here are a few with California connections. 15 MINUTES OF FAME Song: My Sharona Notable lyric: Ooh, my little pretty one, my pretty one / When you gonna give me some time, Sharona California connection: Berton Averre and Doug Fieger founded the Knack in Los Angeles in 1978. Fieger wrote the song named for Sharona Alperin whom he met in Los Angeles. Alperin posed for the cover of the single and went on to become a real estate agent in Los Angeles. It was recorded in Glendale. In a strange California twist, Weird Al Yankovic did one of his first parody songs of this track called My Bologna while he was a student at Call Poly San Luis Obispo. Chart success: Fieger said the lyrics took him 15 minutes to write and the song went gold 13 days after if was released and then stayed No. 1 for six weeks in 1979. CALIFORNIA CHEER Song: Mickey Notable lyric: Oh Mickey, youre so fine / Youre so fine you blow my mind, hey Mickey, / Hey Mickey California connection: Toni Basils video in the early days of MTV propelled this song to the top of the charts in 1982. The catchy drum beat and Basil bouncing in her Las Vegas High School cheerleader outfit became a hallmark of bubblegum pop. The other cheerleaders dancing in the video were from Carson High School. Chart success: In 1982, the song was No. 1 for one week in the U.S. and the U.K. It is estimated to have sold 2 million copies and is listed as the sixth-greatest one hit wonder of all time by VH1. ALL THE WAY TO GEORGIA Song: The Night the Lights Went out in Georgia Notable lyric: He looked through the screen at the back porch door He saw Andy lying on the floor In a puddle of blood and he started to shake California connection: Though the song is classified as Southern gothic, it was sung by California native Vicki Lawrence, who grew up in Inglewood and attended Morningside High School. Lawrence was a star on The Carol Burnett Show at the time she recorded husband Bobby Russells song. Chart success: In 1973 the song was No. 1 for two weeks in the U.S. and Canada. PENGUINS IN THE SUN Song: Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine) Notable lyric: Earth angel, earth angel Will you be mine? My darling dear Love you all the time California connection: Released in 1954, Earth Angel was a massive success and widely considered one of the greatest doo-wop songs ever. The song was recorded by the Penguins, a band formed at Fremont High School in Los Angeles. The song was recorded in a garage in South Los Angeles. Chart success: The record remained No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 from November 1954 into 1955. It is believed to have sold more than 10 million copies. It is the only hit the Penguins had. WHATS IN A NAME Song: California Sun Notable lyric: Well, Im goin out west where I belong California connection: The connection is obvious California Sun has a history that cooled quickly. The song written by Henry Glover and Morris Levy was first recorded in 1961 and performed by Joe Jones. Jones version barely made it into the top 100. California Sun rose again in 1966 when Roulette Records released the South Bend, Indiana-based Rivieras supercharged surf-sound version. Chart success: It rose to No. 5 on the charts in 1964 and stayed there for 10 weeks. The Rivieras broke up in 1966 when two members enlisted in the Marines. UNCOMMONLY KNOWN Song: King Tut Notable lyric: Born in Arizona, moved to Babylonia (King Tut) California connection: The song written in 1978 by Steve Martin, who grew up in Southern California and worked at Disneyland, would be enough of a connection but it gets even better. The backup band, The Toot Uncommons were members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, which was founded in Long Beach. Chart success: The single sold more than a million copies and reached No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was also included on Martins A Wild and Crazy Guy album and performed live on Saturday Night Live. ROLLING STONES LIST From a survey held in 2011 of Rolling Stone magazine readers asked what their favorite one-hit wonders of all time are. 10. The Vapors, Turning Japanese 9. ? and The Mysterians, 96 Tears 8. Chumbawamba, Tubthumping 7. Blind Melon, No Rain 6. The Knack, My Sharona 5. Soft Cell, Tainted Love 4. Big Country, In A Big Country 3. Norman Greenbaum, Spirit In The Sky 2. Dexys Midnight Runners, Come On Eileen 1. A-ha, Take On Me Sources: Sources: Billboard, Rolling Stone, The Associated Press, VH1, NBC Photos: The Associated Press, NBC, Wiki Media Commons Sugar prices exploded this week, pushing over 23 cents per pound, the highest level in over four years. Prices have more than doubled during the last year as a global sugar shortfall looms after two years of disappointing harvests. Sugar is produced around the world, extracted from sugar cane in tropical climates and sugar beets in higher latitudes, but almost half of all sugar production comes from just three countries: Brazil, India and Thailand. All three nations sugar cane crops were hurt by the recent El Nino cycle, which stripped them of much-needed rains. As a result, global supply will likely fall short of demand again this year, which has led to rampant buying from end users and investors alike. As of midday Friday, raw sugar for delivery in October traded for 22 cents per pound in New York. Copper climbs Copper prices shined on a one-month high on Friday, nearing $2.20 per pound. Prices had been languishing near $2 for the last year, causing global miners to scale back production. Global demand, especially from China, has been tepid, but the cutback in production has led to a global supply deficit. If Chinas growth returns to its former levels, some analysts expect that the global copper deficit could turn to a shortage by 2018, which might take prices back toward the 2011 high over $4.50 per pound. Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity and heat, making it widely used in the manufacturing and construction sectors. Unfortunately for builders, as coppers cost is rising, so too is lumbers, which is near its highest since 2015. Cattle market turns down After showing signs of life recently, the cattle market turned sharply lower at the end of the week, plunging Friday. The drop came as U.S. beef prices fell to a three-year low, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Weak consumer demand for beef and overwhelming supplies of cattle are causing meatpackers to lower the price theyll pay cattle producers, driving the futures market lower. The market was especially active Friday as ranchers, meatpackers, and traders positioned themselves ahead of the USDAs monthly Cattle on Feed Report, which was released after the market closed. Walt and Alex Breitinger are commodity futures brokers in Silver Lake, Kansas. They can be reached at 800-411-3888 or www.paragoninvestments.com. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on Friday told a room of international trade boosters in Omaha that much of the rhetoric coloring todays political climate is misguided and could end up hurting the nations farmers and ranchers. The U.S. ag sector could lose out to foreign counterparts if politicians fail to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement among the U.S. and 11 Pacific Rim countries, Vilsack told a gathering hosted by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and the Aksarben Foundation at the CenturyLink Center Omaha. (The deal) comes at a time we would like to have more sales, a reduction of worldwide surpluses of crops and commodities and steadier prices, Vilsack said. Its unfortunate that the conversation today in this country seems to be to look inward at a time when the world needs us to look outward. A report issued in May by the Nebraska Farm Bureau estimated Nebraska crop and livestock producers could benefit from an additional $378 million as a result of drummed-up exports, with 40 percent of the increase coming from boosted beef sales. But despite support from the likes of President Barack Obama, state and national heads of agriculture and Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, the trade deal has failed to gain the support of either partys presidential candidates. Trade deals like TPP have been derided on the campaign trail as job killers. That illustrates a disconnect between how citizens perceive international trade and how it can benefit them, said Michael Scuse, acting deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Scuse said what people outside the agriculture industry dont fully understand is the ripple effect of international trade within the borders of the U.S. For every $1 billion we have in trade, it creates around 6,800 jobs. Im not talking only about farm jobs, Scuse said. These are off-farm jobs in packaging and processing, its truckers and railroads and longshoremen at the ports, too. Scuses remarks came during a brief question-and-answer session with New Zealand Minister of Primary Industries Nathan Guy and Ricardo Negri, Argentinas Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. They, too, emphasized the importance of communicating the role of trade in their respective countries. We have a job to do, quite a bit of educating people to make them understand that milk doesnt just come from the refrigerator, Guy said. Even though Argentina is included in the TPP like New Zealand and the U.S., Negri also said communication is critical in establishing the role of agricultural trade in his country. If only one farmer does the wrong thing with agricultural chemicals, for example, that will give us a strong challenge of communicating (a commitment to) sustainability to the rest of society, Negri said. LINCOLN The Nebraska state senator who sponsored the repeal of the death penalty said Friday that he thinks an Omaha judge is using Nikko Jenkins to manipulate voters into overturning the repeal at the polls. Earlier this week, Douglas County District Judge Peter Bataillon scheduled a Nov. 14 death-penalty hearing for Jenkins, convicted of the 2013 killings of four Omaha residents. The judge set the hearing for after the Nov. 8 general election, during which Nebraska voters will decide whether to reinstate capital punishment. State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha mailed a letter to the judge criticizing him for setting a date for the hearing now instead of waiting until after the election to schedule it. I am extremely chagrined that you would behave, as a judge, in a manner that apparently is designed to have an influence on the outcome of the vote, Chambers wrote. Bataillon was out of the office Friday afternoon and could not be reached for comment. Lawmakers repealed the death penalty in 2015, which ignited a petition drive by capital punishment supporters to put the repeal on hold until voters could decide the issue at the ballot box. If not for multiple delays related to questions over the mental capacity of Jenkins, he would have been sentenced by now. Jenkins pleaded no contest to murdering four people within three weeks of his release from prison in 2013, where he had served the previous decade for two carjackings. Bataillon has declared Jenkins competent to undergo sentencing. The judge announced the hearing date in a written order released Tuesday. In his letter, Chambers said he believed that the judges timing was intended to send a message. Your purpose was to signal voters that if you dont want this murderer to escape the appropriate punishment for his crime, you had better vote to retain the death penalty, Chambers wrote in his letter. The senator also noted that a day after news coverage of the judges order, a letter appeared in The World-Heralds Public Pulse section that said executing Jenkins would be a strong reason to repeal the repeal. STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE A charge of soliciting prostitution has been dropped against a southwest Iowa priest after the Catholic Church decided to return him to his home country of Ghana, according to a prosecutor and court documents. Dominic Yamoah, now 41, was arrested in Fremont County on July 9; authorities accused him of offering to purchase the services of a confidential informant for a sex act. The Diocese of Des Moines said in a statement after the arrest that Yamoah very sincerely regrets his actions and that it had suspended him from public ministry, according to the Associated Press. Yamoah, who was released on bail, had been a pastor of churches in Clarinda, Bedford and Villisca. A police officer last month unintentionally shot a man in Carter Lake with a handgun the officer pulled from the civilians waistband, the authorities said. Brandon D. Kinnear, 24, survived the wound to his groin. The citys police chief, Shawn Kannedy, declined to discuss the shooting with a reporter in the hours after it happened on Aug. 30, and the department had not released information about it since. The Iowa Department of Public Safetys Division of Criminal Investigation has been probing the shooting and offered an account Friday after inquiries from the Omaha World-Herald. Kinnear was shot after the Carter Lake Police Department received a call on its non-emergency line that reported a man walking with a handgun in his waistband, a DCI spokesman said. The man asked the caller for a jack or a spare tire and said the cartel was after him, according to a police radio exchange. Based on the physical and clothing description provided by the caller, Officer Gary Chambers found the man, Kinnear, near North 11th Street and Avenue O in Carter Lake about 10 p.m. Chambers, a 12-year-veteran, told Kinnear to show his hands. Kinnear did not initially comply, but ultimately obeyed the command, the spokesman said. Chambers holstered his weapon and patted Kinnear down. According to the DCI spokesman, Chambers found what he believed was the handle of a handgun in Kinnears waistband. As Chambers tried to remove the weapon, Kinnear made a furtive movement that the spokesman did not describe. Chambers quickly tried to remove the .22-caliber gun. It fired one round that struck Kinnear, who was taken with injuries that were not life-threatening to Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha. Kinnear was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, a felony. The shooting investigation was incomplete Friday, and Pottawattamie County Attorney Matt Wilber said he had not reviewed the DCI report. In a conference room in the First National Tower on Friday, 12 team members met for the first time. They will meet again this morning at the airport, ready to depart for 10 days in Sofia, Bulgaria. The six First National Bank customers and six employees chosen for a Habitat for Humanity Global Village trip will spend those days building a home for a needy family in Sofia. This is the sixth trip sponsored by First National Bank and the first time customers were invited to apply. Previous trips to China, Haiti, Macedonia, Paraguay and Romania were open only to bank employees. This year, more than 130 customers and 160 employees applied for the trip. The 12 winners, eight from Nebraska, were chosen for their commitment to volunteerism. Nebraskans on the trip include customers Cortney Christensen and Kerry Ecklebe of Omaha and Ashley Kehler of Lincoln; and Omaha employees Zuhair Khan, Pavlin Netsov, Shane Roberts, Chad Williams and Carrie Zoucha. Participants from other states include employee Ashley Tafoya of Fort Collins, Colorado, and customers Victor Dzirasa of Fort Collins, Diane Mora of Overland Park, Kansas, and Patricia Poorten of Sycamore, Illinois. Netsov, an analyst with the bank, came to the U.S. from Bulgaria three years ago. He will extend his visit to see his own family, but he said he is just as excited to meet the family hell be helping. This is just such a good way to go back and help, he said. An opportunity like this happens maybe once in your life to get to build a home for someone, look in their eyes and see the impact you are making. Kehler also is planning to extend her trip to visit friends in Bulgaria. She spent more than two years there as a Peace Corps volunteer from 2009 to 2011, working at a center for at-risk youth. I cant wait to go back to the country that changed my perspective and my life and give back to the place that gave me so much, she said. Kehler started crying when she found out she was selected for the trip. She called friends and family and those she knew back in Bulgaria. She even told her cat, Jaliah named for the Bulgarian word meaning I wish. I get to go home, baby, she said to the feline that shed brought back with her from Bulgaria. Hes now a happy American cat, she said, so he might not have been as excited as she is. Christensen has already downloaded an app to learn a few key phrases in Bulgarian. He admitted he hasnt looked at it as much as hed hoped but hes determined to memorize ways to greet the family. I want to really experience the culture there, he said. This will be physical work, but to me, its not work at all. Id so much rather take my vacation days to do this than go to a beach in Cancun and sip cocktails. Those kinds of vacations are relaxing, Christensen said, but they dont always bring the kind of global and cultural awareness he wishes more people could experience. Our country would be so much better off if we all took a trip like this one, he said. Leadership conference: Holly Weill and Jill Idelman of Omaha participated in the Jewish Womens Renaissance Project Leadership Conference in College Park, Maryland. The conference, held in collaboration with Israels Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, gathered Jewish women from across the world to hone their leadership skills and create a global Jewish womens movement. The annual conference was launched in 2013 with 65 participants from the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and has grown to include some 300 people from nine countries: Australia, Cuba, Greece, Israel, Panama, Russia, Spain, South Africa and the U.S. Science and spirituality: The first Science and Spirituality Colloquy will be held at First Central Congregational United Church of Christ, 36th and Harney Streets, Saturday, Sept. 24 and Sunday. The event opens at 1 p.m. Saturday with music and panel discussions. A science fair and theatrical performances will also be held. For more information, call the church at 402-345-1533 or go online to firstcentral.org. Mission Circus: Trinity Lutheran Church, 6340 N. 30th St., will host a Mission Circus from 9 to 10:45 a.m. Oct. 9 on the front lawn of the church. The public is invited to see how Trinity is active in the north Omaha community. Free concerts: The Morten Alfred Hoirup trio will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday at Blair Congregational Church, 16th and Colfax Streets in Blair. There is no charge; offerings will be accepted. For more information, call 402-456-7601. St. Paul United Methodist Church, 5410 Corby St., will host Scott Youngs, organist, and Stephen Hartman, harpist, in concert at 3 p.m. Sunday in the church sanctuary. The professional duo from Phoenix is sponsored by the St. Paul Music Ministry, the local chapters of the American Guild of Organists and the American Harp Society, as well as the Cathedral Arts Project. A meet-and-greet reception will follow the program. There is no charge for the concert, with donations accepted. Craft fairs: St. Luke United Methodist Church, 11810 Burke St., will host its 30th annual craft fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24. Vendors will display fabric arts, jewelry, yard art, country crafts, baskets, clothing, wood art, ceramics, toys and floral displays. Also featured: a bake sale, silent auction and book sale. The Harvest Arts and Crafts Boutique will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 15 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 11204 S. 204th St. in Gretna. Benson Baptist Church, 6319 Maple St., will hold its fall craft and vendor fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 22. Admission is a freewill donation. The fair will also feature chili, hot dogs, coffee, apple cider and cookies. Proceeds will benefit the churchs youth programs. Parish festivals: Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 2110 S. 32nd Ave., will have its Fall Festival from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. The event will feature a silent auction, games, live music, a rummage sale, food, a raffle, rides and more. The second annual Fall Family Festival at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 7790 S. 192nd St. in Gretna, will be from noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 2. The festival is open to the public and will feature inflatables, table games, a cake walk, raffles, music, pumpkins, food, beverages and more. All profits from the festival will go toward the educational building fund. For more information and coupons for the event, go to westofunfest.com. Every month Omaha Public Library employees recommend reading based on different writing themes, genres or styles. Sunday will mark the beginning of Banned Books Week, an annual campaign celebrating the freedom to read and highlighting the value of free and open access to information. Library staff recommended some of their favorite banned or challenged works. Find these titles at your local branch or omahalibrary.org: David Dick, library clerk at Charles B. Washington Library, recommended the Saga series by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples. Saga is a science fantasy series about a young couple who are former soldiers from opposing armies in an interstellar war. They are pursued by the leaders of their home planets. Themes of family, redemption and forgiveness are explored throughout the series, plus there is a character named Lying Cat. Jaime Ebane, library clerk at W. Dale Clark Library, picked Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan. This book presents a story that intertwines two boys making a statement in current time, a few friends who are assisting and the ghost voices of the men before them who paved the way. This combination provides the reader with a stepping stone into understanding the LGBTQIA culture. Colby Jenkins, senior clerk at Millard Library, recommended Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Repeatedly banned since its 1932 publication, Brave New World describes a utopia where everyone is satisfied but no one thinks or forms attachment. The novel asks which is preferable: stability or individuality? Kyle Porter, library specialist at W. Dale Clark Library, recommended The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. This book shares a coming-of-age story through the eyes of Christopher, a 15-year-old with Aspergers syndrome. In an attempt to become more independent, Christopher embarks on a Sherlock Holmes-type investigation that reveals far more than he expected. This book has been banned or challenged for several reasons. Christophers lack of understanding of human emotion is often expressed through the repeated use of curse words. If you can get past the language, you will find a unique way of thinking and an unexpected outcome. Titles of the Top 10 Most-Challenged Books of 2015: 1. Looking for Alaska by John Green 2. Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James 3. I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings 4. Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin 5. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon 6. The Holy Bible 7. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel 8. Habibi by Craig Thompson 9. Nasreens Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan by Jeanette Winter 10. Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan To see more Chalkboard photos from area schools, scroll through the gallery above. Other local school news includes: Teacher award: Monica Yankus, a kindergarten teacher at St. John the Baptist School in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, has received the 2016 Lucille McLean Award. McLean was a longtime teacher in Cass County. The award is given each year to an outstanding educator active in their community. Yankus began her career as an art teacher and has been a member of Church of the Holy Spirit in Plattsmouth for 30 years. She currently serves on St. John the Baptists the schools strategic planning committee. She is a past member of the Organization of Plattsmouth Women and Extension Club, and has served on the Plattsmouth Public Library board. Gross Catholic events: Gross Catholic High Schools Night at the Museum Homecoming Dance will be from 9 to 11:30 tonight. The coronation begins at 9:15 p.m. The All School-All Alumni Mass will be held at noon Sunday in the Holy Family Chapel. Northwest Hall of Fame: Northwest Magnet High Schools Alumni Association inducted 11 members into its Hall of Fame on Thursday. Inductees were Anny Boykins, Gary Ciurej, Don Croft, Scott Fletcher, Ron Kellogg, Bill Lovgren, Cindy McWhirter, Ernie Perez, Kim Pickering, Todd Thomsen and Harry Wallar. The alumni group also presented the school with a formal portrait of a former principal, Herman Colvin (2009-2014). Colvin served the district for 33 years. Trip to museum opening: More than 40 North High students traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to attend the dedication of the National Museum of African American History & Culture, which opens Saturday. The African American Unity Fund through the Omaha Community Foundation sponsored the trip. LPS Learning Lunch: The first Lincoln Public Schools Learning Lunch of the 2016-17 school year is noon Tuesday, featuring city historian Ed Zimmers talk, The Power of Education: Tales of Two Waiters. The Learning Lunch will be held in the boardroom at the LPS District Office. Doors open at noon, the program begins at 12:15 p.m., and a question-and-answer session begins at 12:45 p.m. Bring your own lunch. Dessert will be provided. LPS fishing tournament: Lincoln Public Schools fourth annual Fishing Impoundments and Stream Habitats tournament will be held Thursday at Holmes Lake. The event is a fun fishing tournament for high school students who have completed the National Fishing in Schools program. Tournament headquarters will be in Shelter No. 3 on the northeast side of the lake. First flight will be at 8:30 a.m. Safety in technology and social media: Lincoln Public Schools are hosting community events this fall centered on safety in technology and social media. More will be held next fall. This years dates and times are: Culler Middle School, Tuesday, 6 p.m.; Scott Middle School, Oct. 3, 6:30 p.m.; Pound Middle School, Oct. 24, 7 p.m.; Park Middle School, Nov. 14, 7 p.m.; Schoo Middle School, Nov. 17, 6:45 p.m. Lincoln Trivia Night: Test your fun-fact knowledge and support Lincoln Lutherans Blue Angels Dance Team at Trivia Night on Oct. 8 at Messiah Lutheran Church. A silent auction of items for all interests begins at 6 p.m., with the trivia game starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person or a table of 10 for $150. Constitution Day Celebration: Lincolns Pyrtle Elementary held an event in honor of Constitution Day. The day before the actual holiday, which was on Sept. 17, the whole school gathered around the flagpole as the fifth-graders sang the Preamble to the Constitution for the whole school. Boy Scouts raised the flag and The Star-Spangled Banner was sung by the whole school. Youth poster contest: The Nebraska Department of Aeronautics Aviation Art Contest theme for 2017 is Beyond the Clouds. There are three age categories for the poster-art contestants: 6-9, 10-13 and 14-17 for boys and girls. The goal is to motivate young people to participate in aeronautics, engineering, math and science. Entries for the contest need to be submitted to the Department of Aeronautics and postmarked by Jan. 20, 2017. An awards ceremony will be held in Lincoln during April, recognizing the state, national and international winning students. The winning art will be exhibited along with numerous aircraft on static display. For more information and an entry brochure, contact David Morris at the Department of Aeronautics by calling 402-471-2371 or email David.Morris@nebraska.gov. Painters galore: Watch artists paint historical buildings and prairie spaces at the second annual Historic Seward Plein Aire Saturday in downtown Seward and Sunday at Spirit Hawk Acres in rural Seward County. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Powwow: The 25th annual Fort Omaha Intertribal Powwow will be hosted by Metropolitan Community College from 1 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday at MCCs historic Fort Omaha Campus, 30th and Fort streets. Celebrating regional Native American cultures, the powwow will feature traditional dances, music, artistry, oral history and foods of various tribes across Nebraska and the region, including, but not limited to, Northern Ponca, Omaha, Santee Sioux and Winnebago. The event is free and open to the public. Touch a truck: The Child Saving Institute Guild proudly presents the 10th annual Touch-A-Truck event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in the First Data/University of Nebraska at Omaha parking lots, just south of 69th and Pacific Streets. Kids, accompanied by their parents or guardian, can explore emergency and military vehicles, semitrailers, cranes, race cars and other commercial vehicles and talk to the people who operate them. Other activities will include face-painting, prizes, bouncy tents, clowns and more. The event is free. Elvis show: Joseph Hall from Americas Got Talent will perform his Elvis tribute show at 2:15 p.m. Sunday at The Center at 714 S. Main St. in Council Bluffs. Tickets are $20 per person and are available at The Centers welcome desk. Sasson Sassy Reuven, a veteran of the Israel Defense Forces daring 1976 rescue of hostages at Entebbe Airport in Uganda, will speak at 7 p.m. Monday at Bellevue University. Reuven, a paratrooper in Operation Thunderbolt, will talk about the counterterrorist rescue carried out by 100 commandos on July 4, 1976. A week earlier, an Air France flight from Tel Aviv had been hijacked. Killed during the nighttime rescue was the Israeli commander, Lt. Col. Yonatan (Jonathan) Netanyahu, brother of current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. All seven hijackers, three hostages and 45 Ugandan soldiers also were killed. Reuvens speech, co-sponsored by the Chabad House of Omaha and Bellevue University, will be in the universitys Hitchcock Humanities Center. Family, friends and fellow soldiers gathered in Omaha on Friday to say goodbye to seven Nebraska National Guard soldiers who are deploying to the Middle East. One first lieutenant and six noncommissioned officers from the Omaha-based 195th Forward Support Company will be gone for six months, said Lt. Col. Kevin Hynes, a Nebraska National Guard spokesman. The location wasnt disclosed. The soldiers are part of an airborne-qualified special operations unit and will give logistical support to Special Forces troops operating in the area. The unit is capable of building small bases from the ground up, Hynes said, and is skilled at many tasks including wiring, construction, bricklaying, medical support, truck repair and even mail delivery. It is one of only two such units in the country, and its members deploy frequently in small groups. Another team returned from a deployment during the summer, Hynes said. Brig. Gen. Kevin Lyons, the Nebraska Guards land-component commander, spoke at the ceremony, which was held at the North Omaha Readiness Center, 11650 Rainwood Road. Labour leadership: Jeremy Corbyn defeats Owen Smith BBC News24 September 2016Jeremy Corbyn has been re-elected as Labour leader, comfortably defeating his challenger Owen Smith.He won 61.8% of the vote, a larger margin of victory than last year.He vowed to bring Labour back together, saying "we have much more in common than divides us", insisting the party could win the next election as the "engine of progress" in the country.More than half a million party members, trade unionists and registered supporters voted in the contest.In a result announced on the eve of Labour's party conference in Liverpool, Mr Corbyn won 313,209 votes, compared with Mr Smith's 193,229.The BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith said it was a big win for Mr Corbyn which boosted his mandate. The result raised "serious questions" for Mr Corbyn's critics, he added.One critic of Mr Corbyn said the leadership question was now "settled" but others said the Labour leader needed to heed calls for change.Mr Corbyn said he was "honoured" to have been elected in a contest that followed months of tension with many Labour MPs and urged people to "respect the democratic choice that has been made".Addressing supporters, Mr Corbyn said he and his opponents were part of the "same Labour family" and everyone needed to focus their energy "on exposing and defeating the Tories"."We have much more in common than divides us," he said. "Let us wipe that slate clean from today and get on with the work that we have to do as a party," he said.Recognising that the election had been "partisan", he condemned online abuse of Labour MPs and supporters which he said "demeaned and corroded" the party.Mr Corbyn was first elected Labour leader in September 2015, when he beat three other candidates and got 59.5% of the vote.Turnout was higher this time around, with 77.6% of the 654,006 eligible party members, trade union members and registered supporters - 506,438 in total - confirmed as taking part.Mr Corbyn won comfortably in each of the three categories - winning the support of 59% of party members, 70% of registered supporters and 60% of affiliated supporters.Despite winning the leadership in a vote of the wider membership and registered supporters last year Mr Corbyn, who spent three decades as part of a marginalised leftwing group of Labour MPs in Parliament, has never had the support of more than about 20% of Labour's MPs.And the contest came about after more than 170 MPs supported a motion of no confidence in their leader - the vote came after dozens quit his shadow cabinet and other frontbench roles.There has been speculation that a number of criticial Labour MPs, including some who resigned from Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet in June over his leadership in the wake of the EU referendum, could return in an attempt to heal the divisions over the party's future direction.Labour MP Chuku Umunna said the "leadership issue was settled" and Mr Corbyn, through his re-election, was the party's "candidate to be prime minister".Shadow cabinet minister Jon Ashworth said MPs needed to respect the "handsome margin" of victory but that the leader needed to consider calls for shadow cabinet elections to be reinstated.Mr Smith - a former work and pension spokesman - has said he will not serve under Mr Corbyn and will remain on the backbenches.And Labour MP Louise Ellman said Mr Corbyn must appeal to more than his "cheering fans" and the public at large weren't "impressed with him and that needs to change"."It no good being surrounded by people who already agree with you. That is not enough." Navy veteran James Swift shuffled down the path at Omahas riverfront Freedom Park when, suddenly, a familiar sight loomed above him in a most unfamiliar place. It was the USS Marlin, a former Navy training submarine called a T-boat that hed served aboard in his teens, standing high and dry above the Missouri River. Hed last seen her in 1959, at anchor in Key West, Florida. Well Ill be a monkeys uncle! exclaimed Swift, 79, of Nashville, Tennessee. Swift is one of about 25 veterans of the Marlin and two other training submarines, the USS Mackerel and the USS Barracuda, who are holding a T-boat reunion this week in Omaha. The group was invited by the USS Marlin Base chapter of the U.S. Submarine Veterans Inc., whose members have maintained the Marlin since it was located in Freedom Park in 1974. The park also is home to the USS Hazard, a World War II-era minesweeper; two fighter aircraft and a military helicopter. Marlin Base leader Jon Howery said volunteers have worked long hours spiffing up the sub for the reunion, repainting the 131-foot boat from bow to stern, and scrubbing the interior. I love to have the crew members come back and see their old home, said Howery, who served on seven subs during his own Navy career. Its been a long voyage back since the 2011 Missouri River floods, which inundated Freedom Park. The floodwaters crept within 3 inches of the Marlins main hatch, and they floated the Hazard, said Navy veteran Carol Applegate, the Marlin Base treasurer. Fortunately, neither ship was seriously harmed, but the parks small gift shop was ruined. Freedom Park remained closed until a year ago, and is still only open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (It will close two hours early today, though, because of the T-boat reunion.) The T-boat group typically holds its biennial reunions in Florida or some Navy-oriented locale, said John Delihanty of Portland, Oregon, the reunions chief organizer. But at the groups last reunion in 2014, he learned that many of the T-boat veterans had never seen the Marlin at its Midwestern home. It is the only one of the three training subs that survives since the three ships were decommissioned in 1973. The Barracuda was scrapped, and the Mackerel was sunk as a target ship. We would not have had a reunion here, except for the Marlin, Delihanty said. The Marlin made Omaha a popular destination. The veterans, accompanied by their wives, poked around in the galley, peered into the torpedo tube and examined some of the eight bunks that the crew of up to 16 enlisted sailors shared, a practice called hot-racking. Unlike other submarines that deployed for months at a time, the training boats rarely traveled far from their base in the Florida Keys. Their job was to act as targets for anti-submarine warfare ships and aircraft. They would go out to sea and hide, waiting for the attackers to find them. Youre trying to hide from four or five of them, said Robert Moss, who served on the Barracuda. Sonar is the thing we feared the most. Hardly anyone knows the Marlin better than Forrest Gizzy Phelps of Northport, Florida, who served four tours on the sub between 1960 and 1975. They always wanted me back, Phelps said. He served on the Marlin during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Cuba was only miles away. The training subs were sent to Charleston, South Carolina, to wait out Armageddon. They left so quickly, the crew had only the clothes on their backs. They were gone for a month. They wanted to get us out of the way, Phelps said. With a crew of fewer than 20 men, the T-boat crews were tight-knit. It was like family, he said. We were just young pups then. This was a fun boat in its day. After a tour of the Marlin, the veterans moved over to the deck of the Hazard for a memorial service. The ships bell tolled 52 times, once for each of the U.S. submarines lost during World War II. Taps was played for the growing list of T-boat veterans who have died, reminding the survivors that they are young pups no more. We used to run through these hatches, said Dave Garraway, 79, of Crossville, Tennessee, who served on the Marlin from 1960 to 1963. Now, I can hardly lift my leg. Still, seeing their old boat stripped away a few years for these old salts. Its always cool to have veterans (visit), Applegate said. Once their feet touch the deck, theyre 20 years younger. LINCOLN A state trooper who says he was unfairly denied a transfer to the governors security team lost a legal battle Friday to gain access to the internal records kept by the Nebraska State Patrol. The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that the score sheets filled out by the patrols hiring board during job interviews are not public records and do not have to be turned over to Trooper Todd Steckelberg. The veteran road trooper from Omaha sued his employer last year, alleging hed been treated unfairly because of a history of conflicts with Col. Brad Rice, the superintendent of the agency. Steckelberg argued that he was the most qualified applicant seeking transfer to the governors security detail, but was denied the transfer because Rice held a grudge against him and had turned other high-ranking patrol administrators against him. Steckelberg wanted the score sheets to bolster his case. He argued that they could not be withheld because they were not confidential personnel records. Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong ruled in the patrols favor, and the high court upheld that ruling. Rice served 29 years with the agency before his retirement in 2010. Gov. Pete Ricketts tapped Rice to lead the agency in 2015, but his road to confirmation was difficult after questions were raised about his attitude toward women in law enforcement. In 2007, a federal jury awarded $70,000 in back wages and damages to a female trooper who successfully sued Rice and other patrol administrators for denying her a promotion. She also won $172,000 in legal fees from the agency. During his confirmation hearing, state lawmakers questioned Rice about his views on women in the agency. He told state lawmakers that he would not base promotion decisions on gender. Fridays high court decision marks another setback for Steckelberg. In March, U.S. District Judge John Gerrard dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that the trooper had failed to raise a legitimate claim. Steckelbergs lawyer, Joy Shiffermiller of Lincoln, has refiled the lawsuit. A motion to dismiss it a second time is pending. The patrol is being defended by Attorney General Doug Peterson and his assistants. Why India should not ignore the rise of the Bengal Caliphate? Bengaluru oi-Vicky Bengaluru, Sept 24: As India puts its entire focus on terror emanating from Pakistan, intelligence bureau officials warn that groups such as the JMB-ISIS combine may try and make further inroads in other parts of the country. The JMB-ISIS combine which operates in Bangladesh, West Bengal and Assam has been looking to set up the Bengal Caliphate. The investigations conducted following the arrest of Mohammad Masiuddin at Tamil Nadu's Tirpur, a resident of Birbhum, West Bengal have revealed that there is a sinister plot in store. Also known as Musa, this 25-year-old alleged operative of the ISIS-Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, Bangladesh tells investigators that he was radicalised online. He caught the eye of the investigators when he posted a video online in which he is seen raising the ISIS flag in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. The rise of the ISIS-JMB Intelligence Bureau officials tell OneIndia that while studying the pattern, it becomes evident that the JMB carries out fieldwork in the name of the ISIS. The JMB shares the same ideology as the ISIS does and they have been working on setting up the Bengal Caliphate. There were attempts made by this group to infiltrate into Kashmir as well. Musa says that he had visited Kashmir and conducted a reconnaissance of targets. Also read: Why does ISIS refer to Indian Muslims as the 'Hindi Miskeens'? He also speaks about conducting similar operations in West Bengal as well. Investigators have also learnt that the Bengal Caliphate being planned by these groups would cover, Bangladesh, West Bengal, Assam and Jharkhand. Investigations have also revealed that the ISIS-JMB combine is being headed by Abu Sulaiman, a man of Bangladeshi origin. He is the one who roped Musa into the outfit and convinced him to survey a few targets. It has also been revealed that the outfit members were told not to source any guns or bombs. Instead focus on knife attacks they were told as it does not tend to catch the attention of the intelligence agencies. Musa also revealed that he had picked up a 13-inch knife which he had planned on using in the attack. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 24, 2016, 11:00 [IST] IndiGo, GoAir file made parties in the Vijay Mallya case Business oi-PTI Bengaluru, Sept 24: IndiGo and GoAir airline on Friday filed objections to interim applications of the consortium of banks led by Oriental Bank of Commerce, which pleaded before the Debt Recovery Tribunal under garnishee proceedings to direct the budget carriers to deposit the money to be paid to Airbus with it instead of paying to the aircraft maker in the Vijay Mallya case. A garnishment is a means of collecting a monetary judgment against a defendant by ordering a third party (the garnishee) to pay money, otherwise owed to the defendant, directly to the plaintiff. The objections were filed after Airbus failed to repay Rs 196 crore, availed by the aircraft-making company on behalf of Mallya-controlled Kingfisher Airlines Limited. The Oriental Bank of Commerce, Corporation Bank and United Bank of India, had made pre-delivery payment of Rs 196 crore to Airbus on behalf of Kingfisher after both the parties had signed a purchase agreement. Though Airbus is in receipt of the money, it failed to deliver the planes to the now-grounded Kingfisher Airlines promoted by Mallya, Mohammad Ibrahim, the counsel for bankers, said in his submissions. "The banks had made a pre-delivery payment of Rs 196 crore to Airbus on behalf of Kingfisher Airlines. Airbus admitted that it has received the money, but did not deliver the aircraft. Airbus should rightfully return the money to the company," he said. Earlier, Airbus had stated that it has withdrawn orders for planes by grounded Kingfisher Airlines saying the company may not need the planes, Ibrahim submitted. It was around this time the airline had stopped flying, he added. Earlier, lenders to Kingfisher Airlines had written to ministries of civil aviation and defence to restrain payments due to Airbus, commercial arm of aerospace firm Airbus Group NV, after the company failed to deliver aircraft as promised to the defunct airline and held back funds. A detailed questionnaire also was sent to Airbus seeking their stand on the issue, but was unanswered. The DRT Presiding Officer K Srinivasan posted the matter to September 26 for next hearing. The now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines owes over Rs 9,000 crore to a consortium of 17 banks led by SBI. Mallya, who left the country on March 2 and is now in UK, has been declared a proclaimed offender by a special PMLA court in Mumbai on a plea by Enforcement Directorate in connection with its money laundering probe against him in the alleged bank loan default case. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 24, 2016, 12:48 [IST] Gopuja at all Karnataka Temples today: Govt explains how it should be done Cauvery: Is Karnataka in contempt? Not yet India oi-Vicky New Delhi, Sept 24: A united Karnataka legislative assembly on Friday resolved that Cauvery water in the four reservoirs of the state would be released only for drinking purposes. It said that the water will be released for drinking purposes in the Cauvery basin and Bengaluru city. The resolution was carefully worded and nowhere does it mention that Karnataka will not follow the Supreme Court's order or not release water to Tamil Nadu. While there has been careful omission of the above mentioned, in reality it means at least for now that no water shall be released to TN and in effect the Supreme Court's directive will not be followed. Karnataka resolves to release water only for Cauvery basin and Bengaluru The Supreme Court in its last verdict had said that Karnataka should released 6,000 cusecs of water to Tami Nadu for the next seven days starting September 21. The question now is whether the resolution itself is sufficient for the Supreme Court to hold the state of Karnataka in contempt? Legal experts are of the view as of today it may not amount to contempt. Nowhere in the resolution does it say that the Supreme Court's order will not be followed. Neither does it say that no water shall be released to Tamil Nadu. However the court can interpret the resolution to mean that the orders of the Supreme Court are not being followed. Karnataka will tell the Supreme Court on Tuesday, 2 PM that it has passed a resolution. If the Supreme Court finds that the resolution amounts to willful disobedience of its order then it can hold Karnataka in contempt. If held in contempt proceedings would be held against the Chief Secretary and the Irrigation Secretary in whose name the petitions in the Supreme Court is filed. In their defence they could always tell the Court that they had advised the government against it. However this is a very unlikely scenario, legal experts point out. A conviction in a contempt case could result in a jail term of 1 day to 6 months. However the court would first need to declare the resolution as unconstitutional. Karnataka has made its intention clear that no further release of water to TN is possible. However Karnataka also states that there would be no requirement of water for TN as the North Eastern monsoon is about to set in which would fulfill the needs of the state. If Tamil Nadu does back down if it gets enough water from the monsoon, then Karnataka could expect a quietus on the issue. OneIndia News Gopuja at all Karnataka Temples today: Govt explains how it should be done Cong leader hacked to death in Karnataka India oi-PTI Mangaluru, Sep 23: A 52-year-old Congress leader was allegedly hacked to death by unidentified miscreants in broad daylight in Sullia near here today, police said. The deceased, Ismail Nelyamajalu, was the Congress Minority Wing local Karavali Valaya (coastal unit) President. Police said Ismail was about to reach his car after completing his Friday prayers at a mosque at Irvanadu in Sullia when miscreants attacked him with machetes. He died on the spot. Two years ago, Ismail and his wife Waheeda Ismail, who was the president of Bellare Grama Panchayat were attacked by miscreants. The latest attack could be a sequel to it, police said, adding that it could be personal and no communal angle had been revealed yet. Superintendent of Police Bhushan Gulabrao Borase, ASP Dushanth and other officials visited the spot. PTI Goa polls: Cong to meet on Sep 26 to decide candidates India oi-PTI Panaji, Sep 24: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) will hold a meeting on September 26 here, wherein the process to shortlist the candidates for upcoming state legislative Assembly elections will begin, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said today. Besides, the issue of proposal for an alliance with like-minded parties will also be discussed in the meeting. Congress is likely to soon announce the first list of candidates for the polls slated next year. "The first meeting of GPCC is going to be held on September 26. The consultation is taking place and where there is total unanimity and where there is no other candidate, we shall declare that candidate early," All India Congress Committee General Secretary Digvijaya Singh told party workers here. "Wherever there is (are) three-four-five candidates, we should have 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) of the Congress candidates within the party. If there is mahagathbandhan of every aspiring Congress candidate, then where is the dispute? "We have began consultations with the block and district committees and we would like to confine to those candidates proposed by these committees," Singh said. NCP may join hands with regional parties for Goa polls "There may be differences about the candidates, we will take care of that. We have started the process. Most of the block Congress committees have sent the recommendations and the District Congress committee has to send theirs," the senior leader added. He said there are diverse views about alliance amongst the senior leaders in Goa. "Some leaders in Goa say that there should be 'gathbandhan' (alliance), some say there should be no gathbandhan, this should stop," Singh said. "Now we are close to elections, I would appeal the senior leaders not to make such statements. Each of the senior leaders who are here, they are either in coordination committee, executive committee or PCC, please let us discuss. "Don't worry more about what media is printing, worry about the issues. We should highlight the promises made by (former Goa Chief Minister) Manohar Parrikar and how much of those have been fulfilled," he commented. Parrikar before taking his assignment as the Union Defence Minister was the Chief Minister of the coastal state. Singh said Congress is preparing to contest in all the 40 seats in Goa. "We are preparing for all the 40 seats and the decision to have some coalition or not will be discussed in the PCC meeting where all the senior leaders will be present," he told workers. PTI Digvijaya 'praises' Modi for behaving like an Indian PM on Pakistan India oi-IANS By Ians English Panaji, Sep 24: Sarcastically praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh on Saturday said that he had adopted a patient, non-confrontational approach while dealing with Pakistan as becoming of an Indian PM. He also noted that Modi's belligerence, when Gujarat Chief Minister, on the Pakistan issue and constant barbs aimed at then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, had evaporated since he himself took over the top post. "The BJP... in particular the PM, he had been making aggressive statements as CM and levelling charges of incompetence and weakness against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. But he is doing exactly what a PM of the government of India should do. "Both are countries with nuclear weapons and therefore war should be the last resort. All efforts should be made to negotiate and bring pressure on Pakistan," Singh told reporters after meeting Congress workers here. Singh called for an "aggressive campaign" to isolate Pakistan globally on the terrorism issue. "The UN is discussing the issue of terrorism in New York. We have to identify and bring concrete proof of the involvement of Pakistan establishment in the terror activities. First, Pakistan said it is Jaish-e-Mohammad who has done it. Jaish-e-Mohammad chief is Azhar Masood who was let off by the NDA government in the hijacking case of Indian Airlines. The Congress party never compromises with people who are terrorists or are involved in terror," he said. Read More: Vajpayee govt compromised with security by releasing Masood Azhar: Digvijay Singh Singh also suggested that the Modi-led government's foreign policy was not up to the mark, claiming that old diplomatic allies like Russia were now making overtures to Pakistan. "What is happening is even Russia who was our consistent friend, is unfortunately doing (military) exercises with Pakistan which has never happened before... This is an area of concern which the BJP should be looking at," he said. On the Kashmir crisis, Singh also said: "What is happening in Kashmir is a matter of concern for all of us. The Congress party has always supported the government in power, even when we are in the opposition in matters of national security." IANS Govt should emphasise on return of peace in Kashmir: Congress India oi-PTI Jamshedpur, Sep 24: In the backdrop of the deteriorating relationship between India and Pakistan, following the killing of 18 Indian army personnel by militants from across the border at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir recently, the Congress today said the government's "emphasis" should be on "restoring peace and normalcy in the trouble-torn Valley". Curfew is in force for the last 75 days in the Valley and the government should make an effort to ensure that peace and normalcy returned there, AICC spokesman Ajoy Kumar said here. "The Kashmir problem should be resolved within the framework of the Constitution to bring normalcy at the earliest," Kumar, a former parliamentarian, said. Talking to reporters, he said he did not see any hope of normalcy returning soon in the Valley and demanded "stringent action" against "forces instigating violence". Asked about the "strained" relationship between India and Pakistan, the Congress leader said the government should convince the world community to isolate the latter in every possible way, including on economic and diplomatic fronts. "Pakistan should be cornered on all fronts, including economic and diplomatic. It is our problem and we would have to solve it. We should not expect countries such as the US and China to solve the problem for us," he said. To a query on whether India should recall its diplomats from Pakistan in view of the growing tension between the two countries, Kumar said the government will have to take a call on it. He, however, said India should convince the world community to impose sanctions on Pakistan unless they initiate stringent action against terrorists operating against India. Kumar, however, held Prime Minister Narendra Modi "responsible" for the prevailing tension between the two neighbouring countries. "The relationship between India and Pakistan had never reached such a stage between 2004 and 2014 when the UPA government was in power. But, the tall talks of Modi on Pakistan as well as the wrong foreign policy of the government are responsible for the current situation," he said. PTI Hindu nationalist wave sweeping Kerala: Ex-Jan Sangh leader India oi-PTI Kozhikode, Sep 23: As top national leaders of the BJP meet here, veteran Sangh ideologue and a key organiser of 1967 national meet of Jan Sangh, P Parameswaran, today said Hindu nationalist wave is sweeping the state and saffron force will emerge as a major contender for power. "There is a sweeping Hindu nationalist wave across Kerala," said Parameswaran, who was entrusted with the task of building up the Bharatheeya Jan Sangh in Kerala in 1957 as its State Organizing Secretary. Parameswaran, who has worked alongside leaders like Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani, told PTI there have been Hindu upsurgences previously also but most of them were reactionary- in response to anti-national forces. "But the present one is genuinely positive. It is spearheaded by RSS. But, the BJP (not exactly a political wing of the RSS - It has none) largely stands to benefit from this wave," he said. Parameswaran, much revered by Sangh followers, said one noticeable feature is the present upsurgence has not created any adverse reaction in the non-Hindu communities in the state. "They have looked at it rather positively," he claimed. "It will surely make a great difference in the political spectrum. We can naturally expect BJP to reap a rich harvest. The present eruption of violence in various parts of the state has made the people think of a viable political alternative to the ruling Communist party -- Left or Right," he said. Parameswaran, one of the senior-most RSS pracharaks and ideologue, was the main organiser of the National Meet of Bharatiya Jan Sangh held in Kozhikode in 1967, in which Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya was elected as its President In 1968, he became and All India General Secretary and Later Vice President of the Jana Sangh. He was imprisoned during the period of emergency in 1975-77. PTI 'She'll kill you with kindness';Dog stabs woman with knifePostmedia NetworkFirst posted: Friday, September 23, 2016 07:08 PM EDT | Updated: Friday, September 23, 2016 07:18 PM EDTThis dog was definitely not a woman's best friend on this day.A Colorado woman was rushed to hospital after being stabbed by her dog on Wednesday, sparking a police investigation, KDVR reports.Hospital staff, not surprisingly, didn't believe Celinda Haynes' story, suspecting instead that it was domestic violence instead."She's lovable," Haynes said of her pooch Mia. "She'll kill you with kindness."The doggy drama played out after the canine, who was large enough to reach the kitchen counter, picked up a pairing knife by the handle with its mouth and inadvertently stabbed Haynes as she tried to retrieve it - even after offering Mia some treats."When she went over to eat the treat, she ran the knife across my arm and cut a big old gash about 4-5 inches long," Haynes told the station.Deputy Zach Johnson investigated the suspicious incident but opted not to charge Mia "because she's a dog."Mia accidentally stabbed owner Celinda Haynes after picking up a pairing knife by the handle with its mouth. (Denver7 The Denver Channel/YouTube screengrab) Hyd rains: KCR monitors situation; NDRF, Army kept on standby India oi-PTI Hyderabad, Sep 24: With heavy rains causing havoc in the capital and other parts of Telangana, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has ordered officials to set up control rooms in all the districts to reach out to marooned people with necessary relief. A team of Army personnel today visited some of the marooned areas in Alwal in Ranga Reddy district to asses the situation. According to an official statement issued by the CM's office at midnight, a 60-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has been kept on the standby in the city for necessary rescue operations. "Army personnel are also available as and when requested," the release said. Some of the low lying areas in Hyderabad are still cut off from the rest of the city, even as Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and some NGOs are offering essential food items such as milk towards relief of those affected. The CM also instructed the officials to take necessary steps to prevent spread of communicable diseases. According to a senior official of GHMC, Army officials met GHMC Commissioner Janardhan Reddy during the wee hours today and their forces are prepared to swing into action as and when called for. The district administration of Rangareddy, Khammam, Warangal and Medak besides GHMC have declared holiday for educational institutions today also. Yesterday, the Telangana government had said that it has kept two choppers ready to move people from low lying areas in the city, if necessary. Besides, four persons were killed and six others injured in separate rain-related incidents in Medak district yesterday. According to the weather report issued by the Indian Meteorological Department today, "heavy to very heavy" are likely to occur in isolated places in Telangana. PTI Pak calls off key trade exhibition in India India oi-PTI Islamabad/New Delhi, Sep 24: Pakistan has cancelled a trade exhibition which was scheduled to be held next month in India, amid heightened tension between the two neighbours in the aftermath of the terror attack in Uri. "Due to current situations between Pakistan and India which are beyond TDAP's control, the event planned for 2016 has been called off," Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) said in a statement yesterday. The third edition of 'Aalishaan Pakistan exhibition' was scheduled to be held in October in New Delhi. Reacting to the development, the Press Attache in Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi said,"Yes the environment here is not conducive for such an event. We have seen in the past how right wing parties reacted to such Pakistan events. The latest move by MNS against Pak artistes is a point in case." The TDAP was already working on holding the trade show after the success of similar exhibitions held earlier in 2012 and 2014. Revenge for Uri: Don't worry Mr PM we are ready says Indian Army The exhibition was meant to promote bilateral trade between the two countries and bring buyers and sellers together on one platform, the Express Tribune reported. For the two countries, bilateral trade amounted to Rs 206 billion during July-May of the last fiscal year, of which Rs 42 billion was exported by Pakistan and Rs 162 billion by India. PTI 5-year-old dies after being attacked by pack of dogs in MP PM to dedicate war memorial in Bhopal on Oct 14 India oi-PTI Bhopal, Sep 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate to the nation a newly-constructed war memorial and take part in a convention of ex-army men during his visit to the city on October 14. "Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan met Prime Minister at the latter's residence yesterday and invited him for dedication of the war memorial on October 14 in Bhopal and also for participation in an ex-army men's convention to be held the same day. "The Prime Minister has accepted the invitation to visit Bhopal for both the events," an official of the Public Relations Department said today. Chouhan also extended invitation for the war memorial event to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, besides Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs, he said. The war memorial on Arera Hills has been erected as a tribute to soldiers from Madhya Pradesh who sacrificed their lives while protecting the country. The memorial carries the names of all martyrs from the state. PTI 6 Rafale fighters to be flagged off by IAF chief from France Rafale deal to give India aerial edge, additional benefits India oi-IANS By Ians English New Delhi, Sept 24: The Indo-French deal for 36 Rafale multi-role combat jets, inked between Defence Ministers Manohar Parrikar and French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, will ensure some major concessions and special discount for India, officials said here on Friday. Sources said along with the 36 French fighters, India-specific enhancements and modern air-to-air missiles will give India a clear edge in aerial combat over Pakistan. The deal signed on Friday would help India save about 750 million euros, following intense negotiations by interlocutors after the Modi government took steps to rework the deal. Rafale jets as strategic weapons with the Indian Air Force would include Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile with a range in excess of 150 km, said to be much higher capability than 80 km range of such weaponry with Pakistan, sources said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India's plans to buy 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in fly-away condition during his trip to France last year. There is also additional offset clause which is expected to help Indian businesses. According to sources, three concessions worked out now would include free training for nine Indian Air Force personnel, including three pilots, besides additional guarantee for 60 hours of usage of training aircraft for Indian pilots. Another clause makes it clear that in case the "Indian infrastructure is not ready for storing" the weapons, there will be guarantee for free storage facilities for six months in France itself. The better weapons package and free training facilities as worked out would be worth 100 million euros. "There will be additional guarantee for Air Force, an additional 60 hours for the trainer version of Rafale fighters, and a concession to keep the weapons storage in France for an additional six months without any charge," the official said. IANS For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 24, 2016, 10:10 [IST] Revenge for Uri: Don't worry Mr PM we are ready says Indian Army India oi-Vicky New Delhi, Sept 24: Don't worry Mr Prime Minister, we are prepared and can hit them. This is the line that the India army has taken following the Uri attack in which 17 soldiers were martyred by four terrorists from the terrorist state of Pakistan. The Indian army has made two presentations to the government in which ways of attacking terrorist camps inside Pakistan were shown. The presentations were made to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval. In its presentation, the army chalked out a plan on how terror camps could be attacked in both covert and over strikes. The army has said that it is ready to carry out a strike, but would do so only if the government wishes so. Uri attack: It was over in a matter of 12 minutes The Prime Minister has told his National Security Advisor to keep in touch with the army and discuss viable methods to hit back at terror camps in Pakistan. The key to the operation would be the element of surprise, highly placed official sources told OneIndia. The army says that it is carrying out a two stage operation against terrorists. While one team would focus on flushing out militants who have already infiltrated the other would target anyone attempting to infiltrate. The message from the top is shoot to kill infiltrators. While both the army and government are not in favour of a full fledged war, there is a consensus on carrying out a sustained strike on specific targets. The war need not be escalated and all India wants is to strike at the terrorist camps, the officer also noted. Further it is also agreed that there would be no large scale troop build up along the borders as was seen in 2001 after the Parliament attack. However the government is firm that it wants complete readiness along the Line of Control. As a first step, the army has decided to go on an all out mission against infiltrators. Officials say that since the Uri attack, there have been five infiltration bids that have been stopped while nearly 14 terrorists have been killed. OneIndia news Bank holidays in November 2022: Here is the full list of non-working days Triple Talaq: "Don't confuse right to religion with allowing unfair practise" India oi-Vicky New Delhi, Sept 24: The centre will tell the Supreme Court that a practise like triple talaq has no place in secular India. The response to a petition which had sought a ban on triple talaq is ready with the government and the same would be submitted in the court next week. OneIndia had reported on September 15 that a ban on triple talaq will get the centre's nod. (Triple talaq ban likely to get Centre's nod) The response was drafted after consulting with Union home minister Rajnath Singh, finance minister Arun Jaitley, law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, defence minister Manohar Parrikar and women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi. The ministers decided that this be looked as a issue of gender justice. The government will tell the Supreme Court the fundamental right to religion cannot be confused with allowing a practise that is unfair and discriminatory. Further the government has also taken into account that several Muslim dominated countries have either banned or restricted this practise. The All Indian Muslim Law Personal Board had made some scathing observations in an affidavit while opposing the ban on triple talaq. The board had said that there is a good chance that if the practise is banned the husband may end up killing the wife if he is made to go through a lengthy divorce process. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 24, 2016, 9:06 [IST] As the countdown clock struck zero, rocket of Aakash BYJUS took off from Bandra Bandstand Twitter-ised journalism: When a Odia daily painted Rajdeep Sardesai as a terror suspect India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Quick. Here is today's News Wiz Quiz question: Is Rajdeep Sardesai one of India's best-reckoned TV journalists and anchors or is he a terror suspect? A local Odia newspaper, Sambad, on Friday splashed on its front page a sketch of Sardesai as a terror suspect. The sketch was part of the newspaper's story on the terror suspect school children were reported to have spotted in Mumbai on Thursday, which had sent Mumbai security forces into a tizzy for two days, but with no success in catching the suspect. The newspaper did apologise after a fuming Sardesai tweeted "@sambad_odisha is this journalism? U should be ashamed to put up photo shopped pics as news". Apology accepted but expect it with the same prominence on your front page Tomw. And start a refresher course. https://t.co/Z7IAqbUE4a Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 23, 2016 Sardesai accepted the apology but demanded that the newspaper publish the apology on the front page of the newspaper with the same prominence that they published the erroneous story with. Sardesai has tweeted that he suspects the sketch is the mischief of some right-wing troll from among the so-called 'bhakts', a fringe tribe of fanatic Narendra Modi followers and right-wingers who revel in posting the most indecent messages about anybody who does not agree with their views. Just saw a Odhiya newspaper Sambad puts up my sketch as a terror suspect based on RW Twitter gang mischief.If not war, these guys will kill! Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 23, 2016 Yet, it's a mystery how it made to the front page of a newspaper where it must have been reviewed at multiple levels of editors before being published. Was it motivated calumny against Sardesai? Photo shopped pics,lies,fake reporting, abuse: what next will this bhakt army stoop to on Twitter? And who will call their diabolical bluff? Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 23, 2016 For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 24, 2016, 11:23 [IST] Missile strike a slap on the face for US: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Farmers' Protest: US lawmakers back farmers protesting against new farm laws in India Trump supporters converging on Washington again over election US President Biden rushed to safe house after unauthorized plane violates airspace Trump promises Hindu holocaust memorial in Washington DC if he wins In Pics: What made headlines across the world International oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Sept 24: Four women were killed and a man was critically wounded in a shooting at a mall in the US state of Washington. The gunman described as a Hispanic male was still at large. Authorities released a CCTV image of the suspect walking through the mall holding a rifle. In other news, Mauritius Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth addressed the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters on Friday. Here are some images that made headlines across the world: 4 dead in shooting in mall in Washington Law enforcement officers stand in front of the Macy's store at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, where several people were fatally shot. The Obamas are all smiles President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama greet people in the crowd after the President spoke in the Grand Foyer of the White House in Washington at a reception for the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture. Britain continues airstrikes at IS targets A Typhoon aircraft refuels from a tanker aircraft, during a mission over central Iraq. British Tornado and Typhoon aircraft stationed at a U.K. air base in Cyprus are pounding Islamic State targets ahead of a major offensive by Iraqi security forces. UNGA: All leaders in one frame N European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini, United Nations General Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pose for photographers before a meeting of the Middle East quartet at U.N. headquarters. Mauritius PM speaks at the UNGA Mauritius Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 24, 2016, 16:38 [IST] India blaming us without concrete evidence: Pak on Uri attack International oi-PTI Islamabad, Sept 24: Pakistan's Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday accused India of blaming Pakistan for the Uri terror attack without having any concrete evidence and ruled out any immediate cooperation with India in probing the incident. "India itself does not have any evidence about the (Uri) attack so how will Pakistan help in carrying out any investigation," Khan said while talking to the media. He also accused India of hurling baseless allegations against Pakistan after the attack at the army camp in Uri. "India is responsible for levelling false accusations on us when the investigations are not even completed," he said. Khan also ruled out any immediate cooperation with India over the attack and accused the Indian government of launching a 'malicious campaign' to defame Pakistan by prematurely blaming it for the Uri attack. He said India imposed censorship on its media when it questioned its allegation about Pakistan. "We did not impose any censorship on the media but they did because their propaganda was earlier exposed by their own news channels," he said. Also read: Revenge for Uri: Don't worry Mr PM we are ready says Indian Army Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising since the September 18 attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers. Pakistan has rejected allegations of its involvement in the assault. Meanwhile, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Nafees Zakaria in an interview with state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) on Friday said India has the habit of blaming Pakistan for any untoward incident particularly in Kashmir. "Kashmir is the main bone of contention between Pakistan-India relations. We have always tried to resolve the issues with India through dialogue," he said. Zakaria said India has always blamed Pakistan but could not provide evidence, Radio Pakistan reported. He alleged that India was involved in subversive activities in Balochistan and Karachi and is financing terrorists to destabilise Pakistan. He said India wants to divert the attention of the world from its brutal activities in Kashmir by levelling allegations against Pakistan. He said the OIC has also strongly condemned the Indian atrocities against the innocent Kashmiris. To a question, he said Pakistan is the biggest victim of terrorism. He said seventy thousand civilians and seven thousand security personnel have been martyred in the war against terrorism. PTI North Korea tells UN 'going nuclear' is only option International oi-PTI United Nations, Sep 24: North Korea's foreign minister has told the United Nations that "going nuclear" is his country's only way to defend itself and vowed to further bolster its nuclear military forces. Speaking to the General Assembly, Ri Yong-ho yesterday said his country will "continue to take measures to strengthen its national nuclear armed forces in both quantity and quality." He spoke just two weeks after North Korea's fifth and most powerful nuclear test provoked worldwide condemnation, prompting the UN Security Council to begin work on a new sanctions resolution. "Going nuclear armed is the policy of our state," Ri, who has been foreign minister since May, told the world gathering. "As long as there exists a nuclear weapon state in hostile relations with the DPRK (North Korea), our national security and the peace on the Korean peninsula can be defended only with reliable nuclear deterrence," he said. North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests and test-fired more than 20 missiles this year alone. After the latest blast on September 9, Pyongyang claimed it had significantly advanced its ability and tested a miniaturised nuclear bomb for a warhead that could be mounted on a missile. In his address, Ri acknowledged that the nuclear tests "may not be easily understood by European countries," which he said were now "less sensitive" to security concerns decades after the end of the Cold War. But the foreign minister described the nuclear explosions as "practical countermeasures" against the United States and a demonstration of the "strongest-ever will" of North Korea's ruling party and people. Japan and South Korea used their addresses at the General Assembly this week to raise alarm bells over the threat from North Korea. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe demanded that the world find a new way to confront Pyongyang after a decade of UN sanctions failed to change its behaviour. "The threat to the international community has become increasingly grave and all the more realistic," he said Wednesday. "It demands a new means of addressing it, altogether different from what we applied until yesterday." South Korea's Foreign Minister Yung Byung-se suggested that the North could be stripped of its status as a member of the United Nations for refusing to accept the Security Council's decisions. "I believe it is high time to seriously reconsider whether North Korea is qualified as a peace-loving UN member," he said in his address on Thursday. However, such a proposal is likely to be opposed by China, Pyongyang's ally, which has repeatedly called for a de-escalation of tensions. North Korea's membership in the United Nations -- the only major international forum where Pyongyang has a voice -- dates back 35 years to when the two Koreas were admitted simultaneously. (AFP) Report says Fla. zookeeper screamed for help before fatal tiger attackTerry Spencer, THE ASSOCIATED PRESSFirst posted: Friday, September 23, 2016 11:27 AM EDT | Updated: Friday, September 23, 2016 08:05 PM EDTFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. A zookeeper screamed for help into her radio before she was fatally attacked by a Malayan tiger, but the 350-pound animal crushed her neck before her co-workers could reach her, an autopsy report released Friday showed.The Palm Beach County medical examiner determined that Stacey Konwiser, 38, died of a fractured spine, a lacerated jugular and other neck injuries suffered when she was attacked on April 15 by the tiger named Hati.The male tiger, then 12 years old, had been at the zoo for two years on loan from the zoo in Fort Worth, Texas.Konwiser had entered the tigers night house, an area where they eat and sleep that is not visible to the public, to prepare for a presentation.The report by medical examiner investigator Aleita J. Kinman says the tigers cage was supposed to be locked, but it was open, and Konwisers view of the animal may have been blocked by a large box inside the enclosure.Hearing her screams, Konwisers co-workers rushed to the tiger exhibit and found the tiger standing over her body.Zoo officials have defended their decision not to shoot the rare tiger, saying they feared a bullet could strike Konwiser or further enrage Hati if it didnt kill him instantly.Instead, they tried unsuccessfully to lure him into a cage before shooting him with a tranquilizer dart. Paramedics were able to reach her 17 minutes after the attack. She was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.No cameras were operating in the area of the attack. Officials have said they are only used to monitor breeding efforts, so were turned off.There are only about 300 adult Malayan tigers in the wild and they are considered endangered.Zoo officials didnt immediately return a call Friday seeking comment. Investigative reports on the attack by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are pending.Konwiser had worked at the Palm Beach Zoo for three years after working at the Palm Springs, California, zoo.Konwiser had given notice that she had accepted a job with the Food and Drug Administration, but the zoo had offered to match her salary and give her new responsibilities in an effort to keep her. She had not given a decision. Her husband, Jeremy, is a Palm Beach Zoo employee.In this March 7, 2015, file photo, Stacey Konwiser smiles during the dedication of the new tiger habitat at the Palm Beach Zoo in West Palm Beach, Fla. Stacey Konwiser screamed for help into her radio before she was fatally attacked by a Malayan tiger, but the 350-pound animal crushed her neck before her co-workers could reach her, an autopsy report released Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (Brianna Soukup/Palm Beach Post via AP, File) Media playing role of kangaroo court; we are against media trial: Mamata Banerjee Kalinga Literary Festival to celebrate India and the World at its 2022 edition Pakistani media calls PM Modi's speech venomous International oi-IANS By Ians English Islamabad, Sep 24: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech lashing out against Pakistan, was closely monitored by the Pakistani media, and within an hour of its delivery on Saturday evening, excerpts were on websites of major dailies, with most describing it as spewing venom against Pakistan. The News, one of the major English dailies of Pakistan, ran the headline, "Modi threatens to 'completely isolate' Pakistan globally, while 'The Express Tribune' ran the headline, "Modi threatens to 'isolate' Pakistan globally". In the same vein, Geo TV, one of the leading news channel of Pakistan, said: "Indian PM Narendra Modi threatens Pakistan". Geo further states, "Spewing hatred against the neighbouring country, Modi accused Pakistan of being 'the epicentre of terrorism' and claimed it was 'exporting terrorism' to the world." The News also termed Modi's speech as venomous and wrote, "Spewing venom, Indian PM Modi accused Pakistan of being 'the epicentre of terrorism' and claimed it was 'exporting terrorism' to the world." Will not forget Uri, ready to fight 1,000-year war: Modi The Dawn also ran the headline, 'Modi says India will work to 'isolate' Pakistan internationally'. IANS Resolve differences through diplomacy: US to India, Pakistan International oi-PTI Washington, Sept 23: The US today asked India and Pakistan to resolve their differences through diplomacy and not through violence. "We have long urged India and Pakistan to find ways to resolve their differences, not through violence, but through diplomacy," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters at his daily news conference. He was responding to a question on the death of 18 Indian soldiers at an army camp in Uri. "I've seen some of the public reports about this incident. You know, obviously, the United States strongly condemns acts of terrorism around the world," he said. Earnest said over the years, India and Pakistan made some important progress in that pursuit of resolving differences through diplomacy. "And you know, we're hopeful that they'll be able to continue to make the kind of progress that will bring greater stability to what is a rather volatile region of the world," he said. PTI In a shocking incident suspected spy pigeon from Pakistan is being inspected by officials from the state intelligence and the Army after it was found to have "some words written in Urdu" on its wings. Find out more about the development here. PM Modi today addressed a public rally in Kozhikode, this was the first public meeting of Modi after the Uri terror attack that killed 18 army jawans. Without naming Pakistan Modi said We've been hearing it for a while - 21st century is Asia's century. And Asia has all it takes to achieve that. But there is one country in Asia that is working towards thwarting that vision. It is doing all it can to ensure Asia is bloodied, it is bruised by violence, falls prey to terror. Modi asserted that India shall not let go sacrifices of our 18 martyrs, and shall isoloate, expose Pakistan. Community Its now easier than ever to connect and chat with others in your local area. You can connect with your community by asking general questions, give area updates and recommendations and even let your community know about local events that are taking place. 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Anthony 'Carlos Danger' Weiner rocks U.S. presidential race with his alleged sexting with 15-year-old girlJennifer Peltz and Jonathan Lemire, THE ASSOCIATED PRESSFirst posted: Sunday, October 30, 2016 12:35 PM EDT | Updated: Sunday, October 30, 2016 12:50 PM EDTNEW YORK Once a hard-charging young congressman, Anthony Weiner lost his career and his marriage to a habit of trading sexually explicit messages that he couldnt shake a lurid tale of personal self-destruction thats suddenly found its way into the race for president.Weiner is separated from Huma Abedin, the vice chairwoman of Hillary Clintons campaign and one of the Democratic nominees closest aides. Its the federal investigation into his sexting habits that is the unrelated case that led the FBI to a new batch of emails, which agency director James Comey told Congress on Friday may be pertinent to our investigation into Clintons use of a private email server as secretary of state.And that has once again cast a spotlight on Weiner, one-time rising Democratic Party star whose very name has become a punchline.Weiner was forced to resign his seat in Congress in 2011, after accidentally posting a picture of himself in his underwear a private message intended for a woman who was not his wife to his Twitter account.Abedin stood by him, and he had the audacity to ask for the voters forgiveness and run for mayor two years later. He spent time atop the polls, until fresh evidence emerged that he hadnt given up his sexting habit and destroyed his campaign.When Weiner was caught again sending racy messages last summer, Abedin left him. Federal investigators started a probe in September into whether he had sexted with a 15-year-old girl.I am filled with regret and heartbroken for those I have hurt, Weiner said after he and Abedin separated, lamenting what he called his terrible judgment.The former congressman did not respond to repeated requests for comment Saturday, as the impact of his sexting extended far beyond his household.Clinton, who has referred to Abedin as a second daughter, lashed out Saturday at the FBIs handling of a new email review that arrived as unexpectedly as did the revelation that Weiner was involved.The development led to a chorus of Democratic leaders decrying the bureaus actions, which came with a little less than two weeks remaining before Election Day. Clinton called it unprecedented and deeply troubling, and her campaign chairman, John Podesta, said there was no indication this is even about Hillary.The brash, liberal, ambitious and media-savvy Weiner spent seven terms in the House, building a profile as a Democrat who fights an amateur hockey player always ready for a face-off with Republicans.Some critics saw him as heavy on self-promotion and light on legislative accomplishments. But liberal supporters cheered his willingness to confront the GOP on such issues as public radio funding, Planned Parenthood, health benefits for 9-11 first responders and President Barack Obamas health care plan.Wise-cracking and scrappy, Weiner once suggested C-SPAN viewers start a drinking game in which theyd down a shot for every Republican misstatement during a debate on the health care plan please assign a designated driver, he quipped.As Twitter became popular, he proved a natural at delivering provocations, 140 characters at a time. And then it proved to be his undoing.In May 2011, a photo of a mans bulging underpants appeared on Weiners Twitter account. By then married and expecting a baby with Abedin, Weiner initially claimed his Twitter account had been hacked.But after more racy messages and photos emerged, Weiner acknowledged engaging in inappropriate exchanges with several women. He said he was getting treatment and resigned at a chaotic news conference, compete with hecklers shouting such comments as, Bye-bye, pervert!Weiner, however, wasnt out of the public eye for long.In 2013, he belatedly jumped into the race for mayor of the nations biggest city, a prize hed eyed since a strong primary run in 2005. I think that its up to New Yorkers to decide whether I get a second chance or not, and I hope the answers yes, he told The Associated Press.While some voters were aghast, Weiner topped polls of the primary field for several weeks until a woman went public with smutty messages and photos she said the candidate had sent to her, using the alias Carlos Danger.He acknowledged hed found new sexting partners after his resignation from Congress, saying hed since stopped. But his mayoral bid disintegrated into angry exchanges with voters and ended with a middle-finger farewell to reporters after he lost the Democratic primary.Still, Weiner didnt entirely leave the public stage. Over time, he re-emerged as an incisive political observer on a local cable news station, in one of the citys tabloids and on Twitter, until his reputation unraveled still further earlier this year.This past spring, a documentary feature film about his mayoral bid made viewers wince as they watched how he and Abedin had tried to keep the campaign and their marriage going.Then, in August, a new batch of sexts became public, including a bulging-underwear shot with Weiner and Abdeins toddler son in the frame that a woman said shed received from Weiner in 2015.By then deeply engaged in Clintons campaign, Abedin issued a short statement saying she had decided to leave Weiner. Anthony and I remain devoted to doing what is best for our son, who is the light of our life, it said.Weeks later, a 15-year-old girl told DailyMail.com that Weiner had sent her sexually explicit text and video messages. 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(Image by (U.N. photo)) Details DMCA Secretary of State John Kerry has engaged in another rush to judgment blaming the Russians for an attack on a United Nations relief convoy in Syria before any thorough investigation could be conducted and thus prejudicing whatever might follow, as he did with the Syrian sarin case in 2013 and the shoot-down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014. Eager to go on the propaganda offensive -- especially after a U.S. military airstrike last Saturday killed scores of Syrian soldiers who were battling the Islamic State in eastern Syria -- Kerry pounced on an initial report that the attack on the convoy on Monday was an airstrike and then insisted that the Russians must have been responsible because one of their jets was supposedly in the area. But the United Nations -- and I'm told CIA analysts -- have not ruled out the possibility that the convoy was instead hit by a surface-to-surface missile. On Friday, a source briefed by U.S. intelligence said one fear is that the jihadist group, Ahrar al-Sham, which has fought alongside Al Qaeda's Nusra Front but is deemed to be part of the "moderate" opposition, may have used a U.S.-supplied TOW missile in the attack. Ahrar al-Sham, like some other jihadist groups seeking to overthrow the Syrian government, has objected to limited cease-fires arranged by the Russians and the Americans, which still allowed attacks on its ally, the recently rebranded Nusra Front. Ahrar al-Sham thus had a motive for destroying the aid convoy, an act which indeed has upended efforts to negotiate an end to the five-year-old conflict and led to bloody new attacks inside the embattled city of Aleppo on Friday. Another possibility was that a Syrian government warplane was targeting a rebel artillery piece traveling alongside the convoy and struck the convoy by accident. But the assignment of blame required additional investigation, as other international officials acknowledged. On Tuesday, a day before Kerry's outburst, the U.N. revised its initial statement citing an airstrike, with Jens Laerke, a humanitarian affairs representative for the U.N., saying: "We are not in a position to determine whether these were in fact airstrikes. We are in a position to say that the convoy was attacked." He called the earlier reference to an airstrike a drafting error. Nevertheless, on Wednesday, Kerry made his high-profile denunciation of the Russians at the U.N. Security Council, the same venue where Secretary of State Colin Powell in 2003 presented a false case against Iraq for possessing hidden stockpiles of WMD. In fiery comments, Kerry accused Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of living "in a parallel universe" in denying Russian responsibility. From newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Colin_Powell: U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell presents a dummy vial of anthrax (Image by newworldencyclopedia.org) Details DMCA "The eyewitnesses will tell you what happened," Kerry said. "The place turned into hell and fighter jets were in the sky." Yet, the two points don't necessarily connect. Just because there are jets in the sky doesn't mean they fired the rocket that struck the convoy. They might have, but to determine that -- and if so, who was flying the jet that fired the missile -- requires more thorough study. Kerry also sought to excuse the U.S. airstrike near Deir ez-Zor last Saturday that killed some 62 Syrian soldiers, saying: "We did it, a terrible accident. And within moments of it happening, we acknowledged it. ... But I got to tell you, people running around with guns on the ground, from the air, is a very different thing from trucks in a convoy with big U.N. markings all over them." But what Kerry ignored was the fact that the United States has no legal authority to be conducting military operations inside Syria, attacks supposedly targeting the terrorist Islamic State but lacking the approval of the Syrian government. In other words, under international law, any such U.S. attacks are acts of aggression and thus war crimes. The mainstream U.S. news media, however, has little regard for international law, at least when the U.S. government is violating it, nor particular care for factual details. Despite the U.N.'s uncertainty about what struck the convoy, The New York Times continued to report the airstrike as a flat fact. On Thursday, the Times wrote , "a convoy of trucks taking aid to the besieged of Aleppo was destroyed in a deadly airstrike." Strangely, later in the article, the Times does note that "the United Nations has not confirmed what struck its trucks." Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). "In response to this very unexpected action, the district has assembled a team to provide support to students and families as they transition during this difficult time, just one month after the start of the district's traditional school year". -Los Angeles Unified School District (Image by LAUSD) Details DMCA Given the recent headlines, it is unclear what the California Charter School Association (CCSA) was actually celebrating. In May, the Los Angeles Daily News released the first in a series of articles detailing the "financial shenanigans" at El Camino Charter Real Charter High School. In July the California Attorney General's office "reached an $8.5-million settlement with [K12 Inc., that] it had accused of false advertising, misleading parents and inadequate instruction." Then the NAACP called "for [a] national moratorium on charters" in part because they "have contributed to the increased segregation rather than diverse integration of our public school system". A report released in August by the ACLU and Public Advocates found that "one in five charter schools 'illegally' screens applicants". Then less than a month into the school year, "City Charter Schools suddenly halted its high school program...leaving more than 100 students at the independent charter school scrambling to find alternatives". As "the largest district charter school authorizer in the nation, with about 250 independent and affiliated charter schools serving over 130,000 students", the LAUSD has failed to do its part in protecting students and taxpayers from these scandals. The District's Charter School Division, lead by a former CCSA staffer, has neglected its regulatory functions as it treats charters as "valuable partners" rather than the competitors described by the charter law. Its reputation as a toothless enforcer of the law is so great that in the case of El Camino, only a hired forensic accountant can look into the charges detailed in the October LAUSD Notice to Cure after the press ran a story about these charges in May. Perhaps the most flagrant example of the CSD's ineptitude is the fact that it allowed City High School to open. To cover its costs, the charter needed to enroll 150 students but on the first day "only 125 showed up and more dropped out in the first few weeks". By the time it shut down, "116 students [were] scrambling to make other arrangements." The facility that it had rented "had problems, including the lack of a working air conditioning, which would take weeks, and be costly, to fix". Somehow the CSD was unaware of these conditions and found the charter's closure to be "unexpected". For the sake of the students and taxpayers, the District needs to do a better job of performing its regulatory functions. Some of the steps that it needs to take can be found in my proposed resolution Improving LAUSD Performance as a Regulatory Agency for the Charters that I will introduce upon my election to the LAUSD School Board. It is the third in a series meant to move the School Board election into a discussion about solutions. ____________________________________________ I am a candidate for the District 2 seat on the LAUSD School Board, founder of Change The LAUSD and member of the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. You can voice your support for my campaign through DFA. Opinions are my own. You can interact with me on Twitter @ChangeTheLAUSD Indian Army sources have denied crossing over the line of control to avenge the killing of its soldiers. (Image by Moyan_Brenn) Details DMCA Indian Army sources have denied reports in a web magazine that Indian forces had crossed over the Line of Control near Uri to avenge the killing of 18 of its soldiers killed in Uri last week. The Times of India quoted the Indian Army sources as saying that no such action had been undertaken and the account was incorrect. In the early morning on Sept 18, armed militants entered an Indian army base in the garrison town of Uri killing 18 soldiers. Several hours later, four militants were killed in a shootout with the Indian army. The attack, which took place near the de facto border between India and Pakistan in the disputed region, was one of the deadliest on an army base in Kashmir since militant attacks began in 1989, according to CNN. The attack in Uri follows an assault in January against India's Pathankot air base, which was also blamed on cross-border militants from Pakistan. A report in TheQuint.com published Wednesday claimed that two units of the army's elite 2 Paras conducted the operation in the Uri sector and attacked three militant camps in Pakistan controlled Kashmir. "Two units of the elite 2 Paras comprising 18-20 soldiers flew across the LoC in the Uri sector in military helicopters and carried out an operation that killed at least 20 suspected terrorists across three terror camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK)." The operation happened during the intervening hours of 20 September and 21 September, according to The Quint. A war of words erupted on India television and social media, and carried over to print and online Indian publications. The thrust of the babble was revenge or the need to 'teach a lesson' to Pakistan. However, the official Indian response to the Uri terrorist attack was a more measured one. After Pakistan's high commissioner to India Abdul Basit was called in by the Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar, the Indian foreign affairs ministry issued a statement that ended with: "If the Government of Pakistan wishes to investigate these cross-border attacks, India is ready to provide fingerprints and DNA samples of terrorists killed in the Uri and Poonch incidents. We now expect a response from the Government of Pakistan." A military response from India towards Pakistan raises the specter of escalating tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals, who have fought three conflicts since the partition of the sub-continent in August 1947. Pakistan has said it "categorically rejects" any involvement in the raid, calling Indian statements of its complicity "vitriolic and unsubstantiated." On Monday, Pakistan's army chief said the armed forces were closely watching the region and were prepared to respond to any threats from India. India's options are limited, though. Airstrikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed camps, for example, are likely unfeasible given Pakistan's air defenses and the possibility they might prompt further escalation, Ramani Hariharan, a former Indian army intelligence officer, was quoted as saying by Bloomberg. There is also the risk Beijing -- which is pursuing a $45-billion strategic project called the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor that traverses Pakistan-controlled Kashmir -- might get involved, Sinha said. China might begin agitating on its own contested border with India in the Himalayas near Ladakh, he added. China and India fought a border war in 1962. The Uri incident has overshadowed the issue of Indian Army's brutal operation in the Indian controlled Kashmir, particularly the recent uprising triggered by the killing of Kashmiri leader, Burhan Wani on July 8. On Wednesday, Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif handed over a dossier containing details of Indian atrocities against civilians in India-held Kashmir to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and briefed him on gross human rights violations being committed in the region by Indian forces. 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 WSWS Hundreds of people took to the streets Tuesday night and again on Wednesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, to protest the latest horrific police killing in that city, and the 839th death at the hands of US policemen this year. Large numbers of police were bused in Tuesday to seal off the neighborhood near the University of North Carolina-Charlotte after groups of protesters began to break windows of police cars, blocked traffic on Interstate 85 and broke into a Wal-Mart store. Police officers decked out in riot gear again confronted angry protesters Wednesday, firing tear gas. At least one person was shot on Wednesday night, with officials claiming he was not shot by police. The confrontation in North Carolina's largest city is another expression of the seething social tensions in America, driven by an economic crisis that has produced record levels of long-term unemployment, poverty and social need, while real wages remain below the level of a decade ago, before the 2008 Wall Street crash. The spark in Charlotte was the shooting death of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, gunned down in broad daylight. Police arrived at the parking lot where Scott, a father of seven, was waiting to pick up his son at a school bus stop, looking for another man who had an outstanding warrant. Witnesses say that Scott was holding a book when he got out of his car and was shot four times by the police. Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney claimed that Scott was armed with a handgun and refused repeated police orders to hand over the weapon. The police have so far refused to release body camera videos of the shooting, and no cellphone video has yet emerged to show what really happened. From a legal standpoint, however, even the police version of events does not justify the use of deadly force. It is legal in North Carolina to carry a weapon openly, and if Scott had a gun, as police claim, they had no right to demand it without probable cause of a crime being committed. The killing of Scott is only the latest in an unending stream of horrors. Indeed, the shooting in Charlotte is the third highly publicized police killing in the past week alone. First came the killing of 13-year-old Tyre King in Columbus, Ohio on September 13, followed by the killing of 45-year-old Terrence Crutcher in Tulsa, Oklahoma on September 16, and then Scott on September 20. The fact that all three victims were African-American has been used to reinforce a racialized narrative of police violence as predominately one of white cops killing black men and boys out of ingrained white racism. Whatever role racism may play in particular police killings, it is not the fundamental issue. Here, the circumstances behind the killing of Scott are revealing. The police shooter, Brentley Vinson, is African-American, as is the police chief, Kerr Putney. The mayor of Charlotte is a woman, Democrat Jennifer Roberts. The police officer in Tulsa, moreover, was a woman. Of the 25 people shot to death by the police in the past week, beginning with Tyre King, at least half were white, according to the grisly tally kept by killedbypolice.net. Of the 702 people shot to death by police this year, according to a database maintained by the Washington Post, 163 were black men, about 23 percent of the total. Whites made up roughly half the victims, while Hispanics, Native Americans, Asians, black women and people of mixed race made up the balance. What nearly all the victims of police violence have in common is that they are part of the working class, and usually its poorest layers. Their deaths are a consequence of the basic social function of the police, as the armed bodies of men who defend the wealth and privileges of the financial aristocracy against the lower orders. The Charlotte killing and disturbances have been followed with the usual political homilies from government officials and presidential candidates. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump tweeted that "the situations in Tulsa and Charlotte are tragic," but he has consistently sided with the police in such situations while denouncing protests against police violence as tantamount to terrorism. He demanded an "immediate end" to the mass unrest in Charlotte. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential candidate, issued a statement Tuesday calling the fatal shooting of Terrence Crutcher "unbearable" and "intolerable." She added a tweet on Wednesday morning, "Keith Lamont Scott. Terence Crutcher. Too many others. This has got to end. -H." Such professions of concern coming from an arch-warmonger and candidate of Wall Street are about as unconvincing and insincere as every other comment that comes out of Clinton's mouth. 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 Gush Shalom SHIMON PERES is a genius. A genius of impersonation. All his life he has worked on his public persona. The image replaced the man. Almost all the articles written about him since he fell ill are about the imagined person, not the real one. As the Americans like to say: He is so phony he is real. ON THE surface, there are some similarities between him and me. He is just 39 days older than I. He came to this country a few months after me, when both of us were 10 years old. I was sent to Nahalal, a cooperative village. He was sent to Ben Shemen, an agricultural youth village. It can be said that both of us are optimists, and that we have been active all our lives. That's where the similarity ends. I CAME from Germany, where we were an affluent family. In Palestine we lost all our money very quickly. I grew up in utmost poverty. He came from Poland. His family was affluent in Palestine, too. I retained a slight German accent, he retained a very strong Polish one. Already in his childhood there was something that attracted the ire of his schoolmates in the Jewish school of his small native town. They often beat him up. His younger brother used to defend him. "Why do they hate me so?" Shimon asked him, he recounted. In Ben Shemen his name was still Persky. One of his teachers suggested he adopt a Hebrew name, as almost all of us did. He proposed Ben Amotz, the name of the prophet Isaiah but this name was snapped up by another pupil, Dan Tehilimsager, who also became famous. So the teacher suggested Peres, the name of a large bird. WE FIRST met when we were 30. He was already the Director General of the Ministry of Defense, I was the Editor-in-Chief of a magazine that upset the country. He invited me to the ministry in order to ask me not to publish an investigative article (on the sinking of an illegal refugees' ship in the harbor of Haifa by the Haganah before the founding of Israel). Our meeting was a story of mutual dislike on first sight. My dislike was already primed before the meeting. In the war of 1948 ("the War of Independence") I was a member of a commando unit called "Samson's foxes." All of us, the combat soldiers of that war, detested members of our age-group who did not enlist. Peres did not enlist, he was sent abroad by David Ben-Gurion to buy arms. An important job -- but one that could be fulfilled by a 60-year old. This fact hovered over Peres' head for a very long time. It explains why members of his age-group detested him and loved Yitzhak Rabin, Yigal Alon and their comrades. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. CTCs Prognostic Technologies Market to be Driven by Technological Advancements in Circulating Tumor Cells http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=2497 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ctcs-prognostic-technologies-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com This study provides a detailed analysis of the market, focusing on the current trends, major growth drivers, and barriers. The product segmentation, major geographical segments, and competitive landscape of the CTCs prognostic technologies market have also been mentioned in the research report. According to the study, in 2013, the global circulating tumor cells prognostic technologies market for was worth US$0.43 bn. The market is projected to register an impressive 26.30% CAGR between 2014 and 2020, reaching a value of US$2.16 bn by the end of 2020.Request a Free PDF Brochure with Report Analysis:Circulating tumor cells refer to specialized rare cells that are separated from the primary tumors, which further spread in the vasculature system of the human body. The dissemination of these cells further causes metastasis. CTCs act as a seed for the development of metastatic tumors in the vital distant organs; these tumors are considered as a major cause for cancer-related deaths. Technological developments in this field are one of the major factors contributing substantially towards the growth of the market.Furthermore, the growing prevalence rate of cancer, increasing evaluation of therapeutic monitoring, and high cost-benefit ratio are some of the other factors propelling the global CTCs prognostic technologies market. However, the lack of sensitivity and specificity and high costing associated with CTCs detection are projected to curtail the growth of the market in the coming years.By application, the global CTCs prognostic technologies market has been classified into prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and others. The others segment has been sub-classified into ovarian, pancreatic, and lung cancer. Among these, the prostate cancer segment is anticipated to exhibit a progressive 25.20% CAGR between 2014 and 2020. On the other hand, the breast cancer segment is estimated to register an impressive 27.10% CAGR between 2014 and 2020.By geography, the global CTCs prognostic technologies market has been broadly divided into Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and Rest of the World. At present, North America accounts for the largest share in the global CTCs prognostic technologies market and is anticipated to remain in this position in the next few years. The rapid growth of this region can be attributed to the growing adoption rate for advanced prognostic technologies and rising incidence of cancer across the globe. Nevertheless, the high development cost and low commercial viability of these technologies are some of the key factors leading to sluggish growth of the market. Furthermore, the Asia Pacific market for CTCs prognostic technologies is projected to witness substantial growth throughout the forecast period, owing to the increasing research and development activities in this region.The leading players operating in the global circulating tumor cells prognostic technologies market include Vitatex, Inc., Rarecells USA, Inc., Fluxion Biosciences, Inc., AdnaGen GmbH, Advanced Cell Diagnostics, Inc., Epic Sciences, Inc., Celula, Inc., AVIVA Biosciences Corporation, Veridex, LLC, and Silicon Biosystems, S.p.A. To provide a clear understanding of the market, the research study has mentioned the company profiles, contact information, financial status, business strategies, SWOT analysis, and recent news and developments, if any.Browse Research Report: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 ResearchTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Fibrin Glue Market Size and Global Industry Forecast 2016 to 2023 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=8452 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/fibrin-glue-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The skill of surgery has progressed over the years. Suture like threads produced from a wide-range of substances were used prior as a mechanical closure for the wounds. Surgical adhesives and hemostats consist of five new families, which consist of fibrin glue, cyanoacrylate, polyethylene glycol polymer, albumin cross linked with glutaraldehyde and bovine collagen and thrombin. Now in the last 30 years, fibrin glue has beenused in various indications throughout all surgical fields.Get Free Sample Research Report:Fibrin glue is a derivative of human blood products andanimaland it is mostly withdrawn from collective plasma and comprises of different quantities of purified and virally inactivated human proteins. Biological fibrin glue typically contains two basic components such as human thrombin and human fibrinogen, together with a fibrinolysis inhibitor to prevent fibrin degradation during the storage. The various features of fibrin glue are high surface adherence strength, high internal bond strength and capability to improve tissue regeneration and clot formation. Fibrin glue is primarily used inhemostasis, but it isalso used to heal the wounds and as biological sealants,it in different situations such as air, gastrointestinal, bile and lymphatic leaks on a larger scale. Fibrin glue reducesthe threat of infection, offersquick hemostasis on the treated part, and improves cosmesis. Fibrin glue permits the surgeon to execute the operation using minor incision and with reduced tissue trauma. It also encourages natural tissue healing. On the other hand, one of the drawback of fibrin glue is the risk of passing on of infectious organisms from human bodies to the glue. Additionally, their role in tissue engineering is recently under investigation. Recently fibrin glue has received approval from U.S. FDA and European Union for their use in spleen trauma, cardiovascular surgery and for the closure of colostomies. Tisseel, biocol, and beriplast are some of the commercially prepared fibrin sealants.The global fibrin glue market is segmented based on application and geography. The applications of fibrin glue arein cardiac surgery, pulmonary surgery, burn bleeding, vascular surgeries, orthopedic surgeries, lacerations of liver and spleen, neurosurgery, plastic surgery,general surgery and wound management. The burn bleeding and cardiac surgeriessegment dominates the fibrin glue market in applications category.Based on the geography, market is segmented intoNorth America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa. North America dominates the market due to higher ageing population and increasing number of surgical procedures whereas, developing countries such as India and China are expected to be fastest growing in the fibrin glue market due to high spending in health expenditure and increase in the government funding.In the recent years, the usage of fibrin glue has risen due to the factors such as increasing number of surgical procedures, rising incidences of complications such as diabetic ulcers, pressure sores chronic wounds etc. increase spending on health expenditure and increase in the ageing population. All these factors are responsible to drive the fibrin glue market. Government funding and technological advancement are known to create an opportunities for fibrin glue market.However,the rise in the minimum invasive procedures such as endoscopic and laparoscopic surgeries can hinder the growth of fibrin glue market.Browse Research Report:Some of the key players of fibrin glue market areHaemcure Corporation, Baxter International Inc., Omrix Biopharmaceutical, Inc., Vivostat A/S, CSL Behring, CryolifeInc.and Interpore Cross.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: China Thermometer Market - Global Trends and China Industry Analysis http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=188 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com China currently is the largest manufacturer of the mercury-based thermometer devices, manufacturing over 150 million thermometers per year, for both exports and domestic consumption. Most of the mercury thermometer demand in the country is cater through the domestic production. However, growing awareness about mercury pollution and global initiative for lowering the consumption of mercury has spur the demand for digital and other type mercury-free thermometer devices in the country, which is currently being catered through domestic production and imports.Get Free Sample Research Report:Growing healthcare infrastructure and mercury-pollution prevention initiative are the principal growth drivers of the China thermometer industry. Other key growth drivers for Chinese thermometer market include growing use of digital temperature monitors into home appliances and laboratory applications.For the purpose of the study, the study segments the China thermometer market by category and products. In terms of product categories, the market is classified as Mercury-based and Mercury free. On the basis of product type, the TMR study classifies China thermometer market into Mercury-free, LCD thermometer, Infrared thermometer, and others. Further mercury-free thermometers market is sub-segmented into resistance temperature detectors, digital thermometer, and thermocouples.As per the study findings, China is the largest manufacturer of mercury-based thermometers having production of over 150 million devices per year both for domestic and export purpose. As such, China thermometer market is predominantly held by mercury-based thermometers by volume. Further, TMR study finds out, mercury-based thermometers held 54.8% of the market in 2011, accounting for revenue of US$38.26 million.However, growing awareness for mercury catalyzed pollution and global initiatives to reduce consumption of mercury have stimulated the demand for mercury-free and other digital devices in China thermometer market. As such, mercury-based thermometers market is anticipated to witness negative growth for the forecast period. According to the publication, mercury-free temperature measurement devices will account for 68.8% revenue of the China thermometer market in 2016. The mercury-free thermometer devices market is anticipated to be at US$ 76.78 million in 2016 growing at CAGR of 19.5% between 2011 and 2016.Moreover with regards to volume, the market for mercury-free thermometer devices in China is projected to grow at 21.3% between 2011 and 2016, as per the study. Owing to the demand of mercury-free thermometer devices, the mercury-based thermometer devices are anticipated to register decelerated growth at CAGR of 1.9% and 2.0% in terms of revenue and volume.Scope and OverviewThe objective of the study on China Thermometer Market - Temperature Measurement And Monitoring Devices Market: China Industry Analysis, Size (Volume-Value), Trend and Forecast (2010 2016) is to gain detailed market insights forkey thermometer product segments that includemercury thermometer, digital thermometer, infrared thermometer and LCD thermometer. The market is analyzed on the basis of growth trends, ongoing developments, market penetration and revenue share.The report also covers the strategies followed by China Thermometer Market players.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Smart Glass Market Share, 2015 2021 http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/smart-glass-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/smart-glass-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/smart-glass-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/smart-glass-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com Zion Market Research has published a new report titled Smart Glass market by Technology (Electrochromic, Thermochromic, SPD, and PDLC) for Transportation, Electronics, Architecture, Solar Power Generation and Other Applications: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2015 2021 According to the report, global demand for smart glass was valued at over USD 2.1 billion in 2015, is expected to reach around USD 6.56 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of slightly above 19.0% between 2016 and 2021.Get a copy of free Sample Report @Glass is formed by the fusion of potash, lime and silica at the high temperature and to revise its properties different components are added. Smart glass is the advance technologies that has exterior stimulus properties and use the clean technology concept. Smart glass switches its property depending on the external temperature. Smart glass switches either automatically or manually to manage the glare, amount of heat and light. Smart glass can be damaged owing to large exposure to the UV rays.Government support coupled with large investment in automobile industry for innovative products accelerates the demand for smart glass market. Increasing demand for eco-friendly and energy efficient product drives the smart glass market. Another factor that contributes to the splendid growth of smart glass market is the reduced maintenance cost and cost efficiency. Conversely, limited commercialization and inadequate awareness is expected to impede the growth of smart glass market. Furthermore, durability of smart glass and performance can hamper the growth of smart glass market. Nevertheless, escalating demand for energy proficient and wide range of applications products offers strong growth opportunities for smart glass market in the forecast period.Get in-depth TOC (Table of Contents) with Tables and Figures @The smart glass market can be segmented on the basis of technology, application, and region. Electrochromic, thermochromic, SPD and PDLC are the technologies of smart glass. In 2015, suspended particle device (SPD) segment accounted for highest share for smart glass market owing to elevated demand and distinct properties such as power saving, protection from UV rays, high emission property that can transform transparent to dark and ultimate working capacity. Several numbers of applications of smart glass include transportation, electronics, architecture, solar power generation and other. Transportation emerged as potential segment owing to the significant use of smart glass in sunroofs, windows, rear mirror, windshields, skylights and doors. Smart glass is utilized to restrict viewing scope, provide shading and permit privacy. Highly developed automotive industry and rising consumer base are supporting the adoption of smart glass in the transport sector.The smart glass market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. China shows high growth for smart glass market due to advance technologies and government support for the use of energy efficient smart glass. North America is the largest market in terms of high consumption and production of smart glass. Europe is likely to witness noteworthy growth during the forecast period.Inquire more before buying this report @Some of the key players in smart glass market are Smart Glass International Ltd., Raven Brick LLC, Glass Apps, Gentex Corp., AGC Ltd, Research Frontiers, Inc., SPD Control System Corporation, Pleotint LLC, SAGE Electrochromics, Hitachi Chemicals Co. Ltd, Scienstry Inc., SAGE Electrochromics, PPG Industries and View, Inc among others.This report segments the smart glass market as follows:Smart Glass Market: Technology Segment AnalysisElectrochromicThermochromicSPDPDLCSmart Glass Market: Applications Segment AnalysisTransportationElectronicsArchitectureSolar power generationOtherBrowse the full report atSmart Glass Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia 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: Chelating Agents Market Share, 2015 2021 http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/chelating-agents-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/chelating-agents-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/chelating-agents-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/chelating-agents-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com Zion Market Research has published a new report titled Chelating Agents Market by Product (Sodium Gluconate, APCA, Organophosphonate and Others) Market for Pulp & Paper, Household & Industrial Cleaning, Agrochemicals, Water Treatment, Chemical Processing, Consumer Products and Other Applications: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2015 - 2021. According to the report, the global chelating agent market accounted for USD 4.80 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach USD 6.31 billion by 2021, growing at a CAGR of around 4.11% between 2016 and 2021.Get a copy of free Sample Report @Chelating agents are organic compound which are capable of forming coordinate bonds with metals through two or more atoms of the organic compound. Chelates compounds are more stable than nonchelate of comparable composition. Chelating agents achieve this by coordinating with metal ions at minimum of two sites.Global chelating agent market is primarily driven by increasing growth of pulp & paper industry across the globe due to increasing demand for graphic and tissue papers. Growth of cleaning & detergent industry coupled with high demand for water treatment chemicals is expected to uphold the growth of chelating agents market in the forecast period. Increasing availability of biodegradable aminopolycarboxylate products is expected to be high impact rendering factor for growth of chelating agents market over the years to come.Get in-depth TOC (Table of Contents) with Tables and Figures @Sodium gluconate and APCA together dominated the chelating agent market with combined share of 74% market volume in 2015. Increasing usage of APCAs in household and home care applications, mainly for water treatment coupled with increasing availability of biodegradable APCA products is expected to drive the demand for APCA segment significantly. Use of sodium gluconate in detergents, personal care products, and industrial applications leads to rise in demands of sodium gluconate with over 380 kilo tons in 2015.Pulp & paper emerged as the leading application segment in term of revenue as well as volume in 2015. It accounted for more than 35% of volume share in the same year. Major factors driving the growth of this segment includes rising demand for graphic and tissue papers , benefits such as enhanced effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide and hydrosulfite bleaches and lower bleaching costs. Household & industrial cleaning was the second largest segment valued over USD 970 million in 2015.Inquire more before buying this report @In terms of geography, Asia Pacific was the largest market for chelating agent in due to the increasing demand from of cleaning & detergent industry coupled with increasing growth of pulp & paper industry. In terms of industry volume, Asia Pacific accounted for over 38% share of total chelating agent market in 2015.Some of the key companies operative in the global chelating agent market includes Cargill Incorporated, BASF SE, AkzoNobel N.V., Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, Archers Daniels Midland Company, Dow Chemical Company, and Lanxess AG amongst others.Browse the full report atThis report segments the global chelating agents market as follows:Global Chelating Agents Market: Product Segment AnalysisSodium gluconateAminopolycarboxylate (APCA)OrganophosphonateOthersGlobal Chelating Agents Market: Application Segment AnalysisPulp & paperHousehold & industrial cleaningWater treatmentAgrochemicalsChemical processingConsumer productsOthersGlobal Chelating Agents Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificLatin AmericaMiddle 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 UsZion Market Research4283, Express Lane, Suite 634-143, Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +1-386-310-3803 GMTTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651Web :E-mail : sales@zionmarketresearch.com Mulch Film Market size, 2015 2021 http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/mulch-film-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/mulch-film-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/mulch-film-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/mulch-film-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com Zion Research has published a new report titled Mulch Film (Clear/Transparent, Black, Colored and Degradable) Market Analysis: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2015 - 2021. According to the report, the global Mulch film market accounted for USD 2.9 Billion in 2015 and is expected to reach USD 4.2 Billion by 2021, growing at a CAGR of around 6.3% between 2016 and 2021.Mulching is a way to keep crop weed free and healthy. In mulching soil around the crop is covered with any material for protection or improvement of the area covered. Mulch film is a polythene material used for mulching purpose. Mulch films are mostly blends of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) both are economical polymers with widely favorable chemical and mechanical resistance properties.Get a copy of free Sample Report @For light-spectrum modification, Israel pioneered the first colored mulch films to raise plant yields. Colors in mulch film were first introduced in Europe a decade ago and were anticipated to take over 20% of the market. Instead, colored mulch film has remained largely developmental. The cause of color in mulch films is specific to particular plants. By reflecting light in the red and far-red spectrum (580-700 nm) back onto the leaves and developing fruit, red mulch film encourages tomato plants to produce more fruit in this manner red mulch film encourages the yield.Get in-depth TOC (Table of Contents) with Tables and Figures @For crops like peppers and melons, green mulch film is best whereas blue mulch film gives good result with squash and eggplant. The colored mulch films are most successful in cooler regions. Colored mulch film has correlation with the change in season; for e.g. in midsummer a black or red mulch film would get so hot that it could burn the fruit or leaves of the crop hence the market is subject to change with the change in season. However, mulch film contributes a large share in crop cultivation. Qualities like prevention of weed growth, conservation of soil moisture by reducing water evaporation losses and lowering irrigation need it is driving the market. While the market increments, the raw material market will also increase. Mulching practice helps in increasing yields, providing better quality produce, enhancing insect management and early maturity of crops, which provides additional financial benefits to the grower.Inquire more before buying this report @The regulations in Western European markets on the usage of non-biodegradable plastics are restricting the demand for agricultural films. Furthermore, the high installation cost of the films is also a big challenge of the market.Browse the full report atSome key players operating in global mulch film market are BASF SE, British Polythene Industries PLC, AEP Industries Inc. and Armando Alvarez Group, Britton Group, ExxonMobil Chemical, Ab Rani Plast Oy, Plastika Kritis S.A., Group Barbier, Kuraray Group, The Dow Chemical Company.This report segments the global amphibious excavator market as follows:Global Mulch Film Market: Application Segment AnalysisClear/TransparentBlackColoredDegradableGlobal Mulch Film Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & 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 edgContact 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 Rare Earth Metals Market : Volumes and Revenues, 2014 2020 (Tons) (USD Million) http://bit.ly/1Rj5MHs http://bit.ly/2drslyr http://bit.ly/2cZ2Phc http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/rare-earth-metals-market-z38311 http://www.marketresearchstore.com Zion Research has published a new report titled Rare Earth Metals (Cerium, Lanthanum, Neodymium, Praseodymium, Dysprosium, Europium, Yttrium, Scandium and Others) Market for Magnets, Catalyst, Metallurgy, Polishing, Glass, Phosphorus, Ceramics and Other Applications: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecast, 2014 2020. According to the report, global rare earth metal market was valued at around USD 5.0 billion in 2014 and is expected to reach USD 9.0 billion in 2020, growing at a double digit CAGR between 2015 and 2020. In terms of volume, the global rare earth metal market stood at in 185 kilo tons 2014.Request Sample Report atRare earths are a series of chemical elements found in the Earths crust that are vital to many modern technologies, including consumer electronics, computers and networks, communications, clean energy, advanced transportation, health care, environmental mitigation, national defense, and many others. Because of their unique magnetic, luminescent, and electrochemical properties, these elements help make many technologies perform with reduced weight, reduced emissions, and energy consumption; or give them greater efficiency, performance, miniaturization, speed, durability, and thermal stability. There are 17 elements that are considered to be rare earth elements15 elements in the lanthanide series and two additional elements that share similar chemical properties. The group consists of yttrium and the 15 lanthanide elements (lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium). Scandium is found in most rare earth element deposits and is sometimes classified as a rare earth element. Rare earth metals are classified as heavy rare earth metals (yttrium, gadolinium, europium, terbium, holmium, dysprosium, thulium, erbium, ytterbium, and lutetium) and light rare earth metals (lanthanum, praseodymium, cerium, promethium, neodymium, and samarium).Rare earth metals and alloys that contain them are used in many devices that people use every day such as computer memory, DVDs, rechargeable batteries, cell phones, catalytic converters, magnets, fluorescent lighting and much more. The global demand for automobiles, consumer electronics, energy-efficient lighting, and catalysts is expected to rise rapidly over the next decade. Rare earth magnet demand is expected to increase, as is the demand for rechargeable batteries. New developments in medical technology are expected to increase the use of surgical lasers, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography scintillation detectors.Do Inquiry before buying atLanthanum, praseodymium, cerium, neodymium, samarium, promethium, europium, dysprosium, holmium, gadolinium, terbium, thulium, scandium, yttrium, erbium, ytterbium, lutetium and others are the key product segments of the rare earth metal market. Cerium oxide dominated the global rare earth metal market owing to strong demand from catalyst market. Cerium oxide accounted for around 40% share of the total rare earth metal market in 2014. Lanthanum is expected to be the fastest growing segment of rare earth metal market during the forecast period. This can be attributed to the rapidly growing demand for rare earth metal in car batteries and different electronics appliances. However, other products of rare earth metals like neodymium, samarium, promethium, europium, dysprosium etc., are also expected to exhibit robust growth between 2015 and 2020.On the basis of applications rare earth metal market can be segmented as magnets, catalyst, metallurgy, ceramics, phosphors, glass, and polishing. Magnet was the largest application market for rare earth metals and accounted for around 21% of the total rare earth metal volume consumed in 2014. Strong economical growth in emerging economies and support from governments has resulted into rapid growth in manufacturing of high technology products like tablet computers, TVs, advanced military technology, nuclear batteries, laser repeaters, miniature, superconductors, numerous medical devices, and rechargeable batteries. This in turn expected to drive the demand for rare earth metals, especially in Asia Pacific region. This in turn resulted into strong growth of rare earth metal in Asia Pacific region, especially in China. Strong growth prospectus of global wind turbine and automotive industry is also expected to boost demand for rare earth metals in the near future. Catalysts and metallurgy also accounted for significant share of the global rare earth metals market.Read full Table of Content atRare earth metal market was dominated by Asia Pacific with over 75% share in total volume consumption in 2014. Asia Pacific was followed by North America and Europe. China dominated the production and consumption of rare earth metals. Strong demand from China, India, Japan and South Korea is expected to fuel growth of this industry in the years to come. Rare earth metals market in North America is mainly driven by strong demand from defense industry. The military uses night-vision goggles, precision-guided weapons, communications equipment, GPS equipment, batteries and other defense electronics. Rare earth metals are key ingredients for making the very hard alloys used in armored vehicles and projectiles that shatter upon impact. However, wind turbine is an important application market for rare earth metals in Europe.Browse the full "Rare Earth Metals Market " report atGlobal rare earth metal market is highly competitive, with the presence of well-established global market participants. Arafura Resources, Alkane Resources Ltd., Avalon Rare Metals Inc., Quest Rare Minerals Limited, China Rare Earth Holdings Limited, Indian Rare Earths Limited, Lynas Corporation Limited, Great Western Minerals Group Ltd., Greenland Minerals & Energy Ltd., Rare Element Resources Ltd., Molycorp, Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Rare Earth Hi-Tech Co, Frontier Rare Earths Limited are some of the key vendors in the market.This report segments the global rare earth metals market as follows:Global Rare Earth Metals Market: Product Segment AnalysisLanthanumPraseodymiumCeriumNeodymiumSamariumPromethiumEuropiumDysprosiumHolmiumGadoliniumTerbiumThuliumScandiumYttriumErbiumYtterbiumLutetiumGlobal Rare Earth Metals Market: Application Segment AnalysisMagnetsCatalystMetallurgyCeramicsPhosphorsGlassPolishingOthersGlobal Rare Earth Metals Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeGermanyFranceUKAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaAbout UsZion Research is a market intelligence company providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Zion Research experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants uses proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@marketresearchstore.comWebsite: North America Forging Market Will Cross USD 15.41 Billion in 2020 http://bit.ly/1Rlq1Gz http://bit.ly/2d8goNt http://bit.ly/2dht2ar http://bit.ly/2ddbRe0 http://www.marketresearchstore.com Zion Research has published a new report titled Forging Market in North America(Rolled Rings, Open Die and Impression Die) Industry for Automotive, Aerospace, Oil and Gas, and Other Applications: Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast 2014 - 2020. According to the report, North Americas demand for forging industry was valued at USD 11.75 Billion in 2014 is expected to reach USD 15.41 Billion in 2020, growing at a CAGR of 4.76% between 2015 and 2020. In terms of volume, the North America forging market stood at 23.30 million tons in 2014.Request Sample Report atForging is a manufacturing process of shaping metals using compressive forces. Cold forging and warm (or hot) forging are two major forging processes. Forging is a robust technique as compared to other metal shaping techniques, as it owes to the powerful metal component. The forging mechanism can be exercised as ferrous (aluminum and titanium) forging and non-ferrous forging. Metal forging is done through either impression die, open die, or rolled rings. Forged metal components are widely used in the automotive, aerospace, construction, oil and gas, agriculture, shipbuilding, steel, bearing, and power industries.The forging market is segmented on the basis of different types of forging mechanism such as ferrous metal forging, and non-ferrous metal forging. Forging market can also be segmented as rolled rings, open die and impression die on the basis of product segment. Impression die dominated the North America forging market with over 60% share in total market in 2014. However, rolled ring die segment is expected to witness fastest CAGR during the forecast period. Rolled rings forging market is growing as demand for rolled ring forging equipments demand for automotive, aviation and oil & gas industry is growing. Aerospace industry dominated the demand for rolled rings forging equipments market in North America.Do Inquiry before buying atThe forging market in North America is segmented on the basis of application segmentation includes the automotive industry, aerospace industry, oil and gas industry, and other applications. The automotive industry is one of the largest industries contributing to the growth of the forging market through the high consumption of forging equipment. Impression dies are mainly used for making several metal components. Strong demand for impression die forging equipments from automotive industry is expected to boost the demand for forging market in the years to come. Aerospace is another important end market for forging industry.Browse the full report atThe key players for forging market in North America include Alcoa, American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, and Precision Castparts. The others prominent players for the forging market in North America include Ellwood Group, ATI Ladish Forging, FRISA, General Dynamics Ordnance & Tactical Systems, HHI Forging, Patriot Forge, Scot Forge, Sumitomo, Sypris Solutions, ThyssenKrupp.North America Market: Type Segment AnalysisFerrous Metal ForgingNon-ferrous Metal ForgingRequest for Table of Content atNorth America Market: Product Segment AnalysisRolled RingsOpen DieImpression DieNorth America Market: Application Segment AnalysisAutomotive IndustryAerospace IndustryOil and Gas IndustryOthersAbout UsZion Research is a market intelligence company providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Zion Research experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants uses proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@marketresearchstore.comWebsite: Karen Benton said Friday she never took seriously Susan Campbell's comments about trying to kill her sister-in-law. Even after Debbie Higbee Benton was found dead in May 2001, Karen Benton testified in Clackamas County Circuit Court, she never connected it to statements Campbell had made months earlier. The fact was that Campbell threatened to kill many people, including her own husband, she said. "I never took Susan seriously. She was always speaking grandiose things," Karen Benton said. "I thought she was just talking. She always talked like this." The prosecution called Karen Benton to the stand as her brother's murder trial closed in on its second full week. Lynn Edward Benton, a former Gladstone police sergeant, is accused of paying Campbell and her son, Jason Jaynes, $2,000 to kill Higbee Benton. The couple, who married in 2010, had separated in April 2011 after Lynn Benton's transition from woman to man frayed their relationship. Higbee Benton was found dead on the floor of her beauty salon, shot, strangled and beaten. Prosecutors say Campbell shot her and, when that didn't kill her, Lynn Benton watched as Jaynes strangled and beat her. Lynn Benton could face the death penalty if he is convicted of aggravated murder. He also faces charges of solicitation to commit aggravated murder, criminal conspiracy to commit aggravated murder and attempted murder. Campbell pleaded guilty in 2012 to attempted aggravated murder as part of a cooperation deal with prosecutors. However, a judge ruled that Campbell repeatedly violated the deal and it was revoked earlier this month. Karen Benton, Lynn Benton's older sister, met Campbell in the early 2000s, before Lynn Benton and Higbee Benton started dating, she told prosecutors on Friday. Karen Benton didn't know Campbell well, she said. She mainly interacted with Campbell when visiting her grandmother, whom Campbell was caring for in September 2010, she said. That same month, Campbell told Karen Benton that she had tried to kill Higbee Benton multiple times. She claimed she tried to poison Higbee Benton and push her into a river, Karen Benton said. She also claimed to be building a silencer for a gun. However, Karen Benton didn't believe her. "I didn't take them seriously," she said. "They were the ramblings of an individual who never meant what she said." In the days after Higbee Benton's death, she said that she didn't think about what Campbell's words. Instead, she focused on trying to support her brother, who was devastated, she said. Them about a week after the slaying, Karen Benton drove Lynn Benton to a local restaurant to meet Campbell. Her brother and his friend exchanged checks, she testified, then Campbell leaned through the car window where Karen Benton sat. Campbell asked if she had told anyone about what she'd said about Higbee Benton. "I didn't know what to think," Karen Benton said. "I didn't know at that point in time whether Susan was serious when she made those statements months ago (or) is she just being her typical Susan self and making more grandiose statements?" When investigators questioned her in November 2011, Karen Benton told them about Campbell's statements. She wondered then if things would have been different if she believed Campbell before, she said. "Maybe if I had taken her seriously months ago then maybe Debbie would still be alive," she said. Prosecutors also called Gladstone assistant city manager Jolene Morishita to the witness stand on Friday. Morishita recalled multiple conversations with Lynn Benton about his marital issues after his transition. At one point, he said Higbee Benton no longer loved him and that he believed she stole money from him, Morishita said. The trial will continue next week. -- Samantha Matsumoto Oregonian/OregonLive staff writer Everton Bailey Jr. contributed to this report. Thousands of college freshman start classes this month at Oregon's three largest public universities, and if history repeats itself, more than half will not have a degree in four years. And by 2022, chances are, roughly one-third of this year's full-time freshman will still remain degreeless. "We're mediocre," said Ben Cannon, executive director of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, which makes budget recommendations to the governor and influences state funding. "There's tremendous room for improvement." Oregon's graduation woes aren't new and, depending on the institution, the state hovers close to the national average. According to a national study released this week from the Commission on the Future of Undergraduate Education, just 60 percent of college freshman complete a bachelor's degree in six years. What's new is the drumbeat from corner offices in Eugene, Corvallis and Portland: The state must dramatically boost the graduation rate at its public schools. "This is something important that everyone in the state should care about," said Michael Schill, University of Oregon's president. In the 2015-17 budget cycle, tucked into the $665 million in operating support, lawmakers set aside $30 million for the state's seven public universities to help keep students in school and on track to graduate. Some of that money is already out the door. At Portland State, the school hired 12 advisers this fall, a 31 percent increase from last year, to reach out to students who may be struggling. UO spent $1.3 million in grants on 136 students who were close to completing a degree but were struggling financially. OSU expanded programs to help students in their first two years, when they are most at risk of dropping out. Everyone agrees the status quo isn't good enough. "A lot of students are having to support themselves more than say, in my generation," said OSU President Ed Ray, the longest-tenured public university leader in the state, "and the costs are tougher." Behind each failing stat is a student with a story that led to a degreeless departure. Some started off taking too few courses or changed majors multiple times. Others dropped out due to a family tragedy, crippling student debt or because they couldn't get into the classes they needed. For others, there's no clear reason. Collectively, the damage is clear. More than 500,000 Oregonians have attended college but have no degree to show for it. Those students earn on average nearly $20,000 less than peers who finished a bachelor's degree. "They're in the worst of all possible worlds," Cannon said. "No degree, and debt." Bridget Burns, executive director of the University Innovation Alliance, said Oregon's colleges aren't trying anything groundbreaking that she hasn't seen in other states. What's new is there's "a lot of enthusiasm and willingness to try new things," in Oregon in recent years, she said. Her alliance includes OSU and 10 other public institutions that share ideas and resources to make college more accessible, particularly for first-generation and low-income students. As schools try to boost graduation rates, Burns said, it's important to track how low-income students fare and whether institutions can slash away at the gap between overall grad rates and those for underrepresented minorities. "We need to do a better job with the students we've done the worst with in the past," Burns said. Portland State and other schools have started using data analytics to determine when students may be facing academic or fiscal challenges. What schools are doing A quick glance at PSU's graduation rate for incoming freshman proves unimpressive, but - officials say -- also perhaps misleading. The school graduates just 19 percent of its incoming first-year students, and 41 percent walk away from the Park Blocks with a degree in six years, if you analyze the data only for "first-time full-time freshman." While PSU has grown its traditional undergraduate ranks, it's still a commuter school and a haven for transfer students. Nearly two-thirds of the school's undergraduate body transferred from another school, the highest rate in the state. When considering just PSU transfer students' graduation rates, the four-year number is 58 percent. President Wim Wiewel said if PSU ever achieved a 95 percent success rate, it would still be failing. "It's very easy to get to 95 percent success rate if you just accept people with 3.7 GPAs," he said last week. "But the point is you want to give chances to students who might not make it." In the past two years, Wiewel said, PSU has "aggressively" started using data analytics to identify students who may be struggling with grades or money. The school is developing models where it can receive warnings about students who may be close to hitting an obstacle in their education. PSU is part of a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded group that is closely tracking graduation rates and student progress if they transfer to different institutions. In addition to the adviser hires, the school has given added weight to "much more intrusive advising" to get to students early rather than wait until they are already gone. PSU's student body is also older, at an average age of 26, and 40 percent of the student body is enrolled part-time, largely due to work. "We still have a long way to go," said Wiewel, who is retiring at the end of 2017. But after the 2015 legislative session the schools are "on a much more positive path." At UO, Schill differs from other state colleges by his insistence that the four-year graduation rate is the more important metric to track than the nationally used six-year model. "We aspire to be one of the great public universities, public research universities in the country," Schill said, "and those schools are focused on the four-year rates." Those schools, such as the University of Michigan, graduate at least three-quarters of students in four years. Beyond the prestige angle, Schill said, getting students a degree in four years is critical to keeping UO affordable. The school's attendance cost more than $25,000 per year. "Where we turn out not to be affordable," Schill said, "is when you tack on extra years." Schill said he's focused on pushing students to register for a full 15-credit course load from day one. The administration has posters on campus nudging students to take more classes earlier. UO is also setting up a "student success collaborative," which includes a database connecting each college on campus with advisers so students' struggles don't get overlooked. He is also vocally opposed to the dominant narrative that student debt is a national crisis. Schill said the average debt of UO students $20,000 to $25,000, and he called it "the best debt you can have," because of the economic rewards of a degree. "A moderate amount of debt is an OK thing," Schill said. His advice for students: "Don't work all the time and pay attention to your school work." At Oregon State, Ray and the student success staff are mapping out for students what each year on campus should look like. The school will announce a new capital campaign to raise money exclusively for student academic support programs. Susana Rivera-Mills, vice provost and dean of undergraduate studies, said OSU is trying to remove barriers that prevent students from moving forward with their education. She said that could include offering supplemental instruction for courses where OSU tracks higher failure rates. "If we can get our students into their junior year, the chances of them not completing their degree is minimal," she said. Tabitha Pitzer, a 20-year-old junior at OSU studying political science, made it to that third year but is nervous about what comes next. Pitzer works at least 20 hours a week to supplement her student loans, which she said doesn't cover her rent, books and tuition costs. She doesn't qualify for Pell Grants because her parents earned too much money, but she estimates she'll graduate with roughly $30,000 in debt regardless. While many OSU students graduate in five years because they took a term off for an internship or the degree program includes a more intense coursehold, Pitzer expects to take five years to graduate because she's been taking 12 credits to get by instead of the recommended 15. While she loves OSU, the five-year path isn't what she envisioned. "When you're going to school, school should be your main priority." Students ride bicycles on 13th Avenue in Eugene on the University of Oregon's campus. What could happen next year Oregon and Oregon State both have ambitious goals to boost graduation rates. The former hopes to raise its four-year rate to 60 percent by 2020. But that, Schill said "is not good enough." Ray wants to boost OSU's six-year graduation rate to 70 percent by 2020. The president, who signed a five-year contract last year, said he will forgo his own raises each year in favor of supporting student programs for the remainder of his tenure. His entire focus will be on boosting student graduation rates, he said. "I am on this, because I am not satisfied. This is my biggest regret to this point." Both Ray and Schill say the state can't afford to go backward and cut funding following the education gains from the 2015 Legislature. Schools are worried about a potential revenue shortfall of more than $1 billion due to public pension obligations. But the schools are asking for $943 million in state investment next year, a 42 percent increase from current spending levels Universities also have a financial incentive to boost graduation rates. Last year, the state changed the formula of how it pays schools. Instead of basing state support strictly on the number of students enrolled, public universities will increasingly be rewarded based on how many students graduate. That outcomes-based model will be phased in over the next three years and includes extra credit for the performance of minority, low-income and rural and veteran students and for degrees in high-demand fields such as science, technology engineering and math, health professions and bilingual education. -- Andrew Theen atheen@oregonian.com 503-294-4026 @andrewtheen Forest Grove United Church of Christ Forest Grove United Church of Christ provides an emergency shelter for individuals and families in the winter months. (Kelsey O'Halloran/Forest Grove Leader) The Forest Grove United Church of Christ, in collaboration with Sonrise Church Forest Grove, is sponsoring the Run for Shelter, a 5K and 1-mile Run-Walk along with a "Tot Trot," on Saturday, Oct. 8. The run begins at 9 a.m. at Forest Grove High School, 1401 Nichols Lane. The event is a fundraiser for the temporary emergency shelter (formerly known as the severe weather shelter) operated by the two churches. It will directly benefit low income persons and under-served populations, notably children and those with disabilities. For the past eight years, the churches have operated the shelter through the fall and winter months with the help of community volunteers and work study students from Pacific University. They will open their ninth season Nov. 26. The shelter is open at Forest Grove United Church of Christ Mondays and Tuesdays and Sonrise Church Forest Grove on Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. each night. The churches provide a safe, warm place to sleep and a hot meal, snacks and breakfast. Register for the Run for Shelter online at http://cudatiming.com/index.php/fgucc5k/ or in person the day of the event. Participants of the 5K will receive official race results (not chip-timed), and everyone receives snacks, awards and prizes following the completion of the Run-Walk-Trot. There is no set registration fee. Runners and walkers are asked to give a donation amount of their choosing to support the shelter. You can also simply make a donation to the shelter -- not need to run or walk. Donations are accepted via Paypal at a link on http://www.fgucc.org/. -- Information from Sonrise Church A year goes by and you still haven't sold your house. That seems odd, considering that the average days on the market in Multnomah County is 55, according to Zillow, a real estate database. You might want to rethink your asking price or marketing strategy, or maybe paint over the trompe l'oeil clouds on the ceiling. That is, unless your home is valued at $1.5 million or more. That bracket requires special handling and patience. Dori Olmsted, a principal broker and manager of Cascade Sothebys International Realty's Portland Pearl District Office, says the pool of buyers for high-priced, luxury homes is small. So the net has to be wide. Her agency markets Oregon properties across the world. Even then, it takes time to match a buyer to a seller in this niche market. "A lot of these homes are on a grand in scale, and someone who wants an extraordinary property has something specific they are looking for such as acreage, lake front, river front," she says. "I frequently have agents from New York or London with a particular buyer who wants a luxury property at a certain price point to cater to a specific lifestyle." More often than not, they buy without financing, she adds. Her firm lists farm, ranch and vineyard properties. Want a wine cellars, two-story libraries or indoor pools? In this week's real estate gallery, we look at expensive homes that have been on the market for more than 500 days. All have over-the-top bells and whistles - one even has a railroad. -- Janet Eastman jeastman@oregonian.com 503-799-8739 @janeteastman balzer doc.jpg Former Coffee Creek Correctional Facility corrections officer Brian Balzer describes the state's only prison for women in a three-year-old marketing video. Balzer is facing two felony charges for allegedly having a sexual relationship with an inmate and for providing her with contraband. Full video below. (Oregon Department of Corrections, AFSCME) (Oregon Department of Corrections, AFSCME) Brandy Lee Buckmaster is among 56 women filling two stories of cells in the female general population unit at the Washington County Jail in Hillsboro. From her second-floor window, she can see the corrections deputies come and go. She's been there for 38 days -- lights on at 5 a.m., breakfast 30 minutes later, lunch at 10:30 in the morning and dinner around 5 p.m. She's one of about 500 women and men at the jail spending each of their days that way. But, according to jail records, she's the only one who hasn't been accused or convicted of breaking the law. Buckmaster, 41, is an alleged victim of a crime, one that the state says occurred behind prison walls. She's been jailed on a material witness hold, with bail set at $50,000, awaiting the trial of Brian Balzer, an ex-corrections officer. Balzer is accused of having sex with her while she was an inmate at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville nearly four years ago. Buckmaster spoke Friday to the The Oregonian/OregonLive from inside a visiting room in the jail's lobby. She had pulled her curly reddish-brown hair into a single braid. She wore standard inmate garb: orange shirt, pink T-shirt beneath it, and green-and-white striped pants. Her hope is that speaking out will help others report alleged sexual misconduct or abuse in prisons and will change the Oregon law that allows material witnesses to be jailed for an unlimited number of days. "I'm being punished," she said. "I'm the one in jail. I feel like I'm the one being accused of something." Balzer, 42, remains free after posting bail in December. He's charged with one count each of first-degree custodial sexual misconduct and supplying contraband. His trial is set for Oct. 4. Buckmaster is worried that the date will get pushed back. "I don't want to be here anymore," she told her attorney, Betsy Rawls, through a window in the visiting room. The Oregonian/OregonLive doesn't generally identify alleged victims of sex crimes, but Buckmaster wanted her name used. She also gave an earlier jail interview to The Guardian. The sounds of jail - deputies laughing as they talk with each other, the thud of heavy doors, jail keys jingling on a belt - take her back to her days at Coffee Creek and remind her of what happened there, she said. Buckmaster arrived in Hillsboro on Aug. 16, after serving 20 days in custody in Lane County for violating her parole. The violation came after a methamphetamine relapse last winter, she said, that led to her failing drug tests and eventually to her failing to check in with her parole officer. During that time, the Washington County District Attorney's Office, which is prosecuting the Balzer case, issued a material witness warrant for Buckmaster because the state feared she wouldn't show up at the former guard's trial to testify. A material witness is someone with information about a case who has been deemed unlikely to appear at trial. Buckmaster said she had little understanding of what the warrant meant until she arrived in Washington County. Her attorney told her about the county's controversial decision to jail a material witness in a murder case for more than 900 days until his release last year. Buckmaster has been in jails before, and she's served a variety of sentences at Coffee Creek dating to 1996, including convictions for various drug crimes, identity theft and burglary. But this stay, she said, has been different. "This time is the most difficult because I didn't do anything wrong," she said. "I'm not the one to blame." She's spent plenty of time blaming herself anyway, she said. She's wondered whether she brought it on herself, whether she deserved what happened. She describes spending her days reading, pacing in her cell and dreaming about building a treehouse far out in the woods away from everything. The reality of jail is constant: It's cold. It's lonely. And everything costs money - which she has little to spend on things like shampoo or phone calls, she said. She already owes the jail $21 for buying hygiene products - an expense she'll repay with the money the state owes her for being a material witness. She's making $7.50 a day. Buckmaster said she doesn't understand why she can't give a deposition, why she can't wear an ankle-monitoring bracelet, or why she can't agree to check in daily with her parole officer. Last week, prosecutor Dan Hesson objected in court papers to Buckmaster providing a deposition. But she hopes her story can help change the law and put different practices in place. "It won't help me now," she said. "It doesn't help you now," her attorney replied. But, they agreed, it might help someone some day. As they spoke, a deputy from the lobby approached the room. "It's past visiting time," he called over. Out went her visitors and Buckmaster walked back in. -- Rebecca Woolington 503-294-4049; @rwoolington After more than 44 years, Capt. Douglas Ferguson finally got to come home. Ferguson, a 24-year-old U.S. Air Force co-pilot, died in December 1969 when his plane was struck by anti-aircraft fire and exploded over Laos. For decades, the young first lieutenants remains were never found. But in 2014, Penny Minturn, a forensics bioarchaeologist at Offutt Air Force Base, found some important clues that would help bring closure for Fergusons family in Washington state. Minturn talked about her work during the Friday morning meeting of the Fremont Cosmopolitan Club 100. She later spoke at Fremont High School. Minturn works for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), which strives to locate and identify the remains of missing military personnel from the Gulf War back to 1940, and return them to their families. The agency began because of the POW-MIA movement founded by families and veterans of the Vietnam War so a lot of time has been spent working in Southeast Asia and many missing personnel from that area have been returned. But many more personnel have not been found. Currently, more than 73,000 World War II personnel are missing around the world. There are almost 8,000 Korean War and 1,600 Vietnam War personnel missing in Southeast Asia. To help find the missing, the DPAA has a main laboratory office in Honolulu and opened a satellite lab at Offutt in 2013. Workers travel throughout the world, searching for downed service personnel. Minturn, who has helped recover remains for at least 23 individuals, talked about the work that goes in finding just one person. Its a complicated job, especially since many have been missing for years. Workers do background research, poring over personnel files. That can be tough since many military files were lost in a fire in St. Louis, Mo., in 1973. Researchers study maps and lists of military people reported missing on certain days. They look at medical records and X-rays. People can be individuated by the shape and size of clavicle (collar bone) and even the bumps on it. Its an excellent tool for Korean War personnel, almost all of whom had tuberculosis X-rays before they left. Historians also talk to witnesses, local residents and veterans to gather information. Minturn talked about the specific case involving an aircraft with Ferguson and another man missing in Laos. An archeologist identified for areas of priority. Two areas were excavated, but the plane wasnt found. During the next year, Minturn did extensive research and found a man whod written an article about the area and had photos. That was incredibly difficult to find, she said. Based on her findings, Minturn singled out one site. She and others began digging. There, she found red and white material and then saw the star of an American flag. You should have seen my face when I realized it was a flag, she said. It was very exciting. The flag was part of a blood chit, a notice carried by military survivors with a message in several languages, seeking help and promising a reward. Minturn then found two dog tags in excellent shape along with remains. Back at the lab, another archeologist analyzed the findings. Minturn said bones found at a site can help tell the age, sex and race of the person. A lot of times we cant tell much, but we do as much as we can, she said. DNA extracted from a bone can help in identification, but only if there is a family reference sample. Dental records are used, too. In the Ferguson case, researchers got the information they needed to identify the man, whose remains were returned to his home in Lakewood, Wash. Everything I read about him sounds like he was a wonderful, funny, outgoing guy, said Minturn, who met his cousin and nephew. Fergusons obituary talked about his earning a Silver Star, just nine days before he died. The Silver Star citation said that despite adverse weather and intensive hostile ground fire, Ferguson successfully prevented the capture and possible death of two downed airmen, both of whom were rescued. Ferguson was buried with full military honors in a plot just a few feet from where his parents are buried. Minturn said she still wants to return to Laos to search for the pilot, Fielding Featherston. She also said the DPAA is working at Offutt on a disinterment project for men lost on the USS Oklahoma, which was sunk in the Pearl Harbor attack. Thirty-five crew were saved. Remains were buried in graves in a Honolulu cemetery. The DPAA told the U.S. Navy that it could use DNA to identify the men and return them to their families. The first casket was disinterred in 2003. In that single casket, 95 different mitochondrial DNA sequences were found. That means there were 95 different people in that casket, she said. There were 429 men missing on the boat, 35 survived. In these graves, there should be about 387. We get 95 in one casket, that means we have a quarter of everybody were looking for is in that one casket. The DPAA did something similar to remains returned in 208 boxes by the North Koreans. As of today, DPAA is up to 587 individuals and has identified 170 military personnel. Minturn said 5,000 DNA samples from men on the USS Oklahoma have been sent to a lab in Washington, D.C. Thus far, theyve identified 39 people. Theyre also looking for DNA family reference samples for men on the USS Oklahoma. They have about 30 percent of family DNA samples. Minturn also said that on Thursday, the remains of 1st Lt. Ben B. Barnes were released to his family and a service is set for Oct. 15 in Miller, S.D. Barnes, a pilot, was killed in World War II after his single seat aircraft encountered enemy aircraft, northeast of Berlin, in December 1944. Minturn found Barnes remains in Germany on a single mission after 70 years. He was only 24, she said. Minturn said that between Hawaii and Offutt, the DPAA has eight archeologists, 25 to 30 anthropologists and many students who help. She, whose dad fought in World War II and brother served in Vietnam, goes to sites with a military team. That has been my greatest joy in this job is to be able to work with the young men and women that serve us today, she said. They are awesome people. 1poster.jpg ( ) By Elizabeth Hovde Portland Public Schools is facing allegations that it put out racist posters. It's also being criticized for cultural insensitivity after banning rap music on buses. Portland's Parkrose School District has received a request to start an after-school Satan club on a school campus. That's all just in the past month. The hits will keep coming in an era far removed from the one-room schoolhouse. Now school districts could use a handful of rooms just to house the public relations and legal staffs needed to navigate a highly litigious, sensitive constituency occasionally bent on grandstanding. Taxpayers should be annoyed. Schools are being nitpicked, used for political statements and rarely given the benefit of the doubt. I can only imagine the amount of time and resources drained by so many distractions from the primary task of educating students. PPS couldn't put a number on it, but there was this, somewhat related: The district says it is seeing an increase in public records requests. From July 1, 2015, through September 15, 2015, there were 16 public records requests. During the same timeframe in 2016, there were 79 public records requests. Such requests are an important part of transparency in government. But it's reasonable for PPS to charge some sort of records request fee, to weed out the frivolous ones and stop one-hit wonders from utilizing the useful tool to the public's detriment. Being swamped with public records requests is just one example of what can eat up a school district's time. The controversies listed above also chomp. Take the ad pulled early this month after complaints were made that it was racist. Why was the ad racist? Because it was highlighting PPS' Reconnect Campaign, which seeks to re-engage high school dropouts, and it featured four people -- all of color. Never mind that all four of those people were involved in the campaign and willing to be featured on an ad that was going to be posted around the city, according to Courtney Westling, the interim chief of community involvement and public affairs and director of government relations for the district. How sad that PPS would have been better off staging that photo with four high-fivin' white guys. Featuring real people involved in the life-changing work and willing to represent it, regardless of race, backfired. Sure, sitting on the sidelines, we say we can be sure we would have caught the potential PRtrophe. But we might not have. "This particular ad includes students who graduated as a result of outreach efforts and the staff who are on the Reconnection Services outreach team," Westling told The Oregonian/OregonLive. "However it does not represent the students of all races and ethnicities that have been successful through the efforts of our reconnection work, nor does it represent all the races and ethnicities of students that need to be reengaged." This PPS mea culpa came a week after the district reversed a ban on rap music on school buses. Rap was on the out list as the district was hearing several complaints about the genre. I get that. I ban the stuff in my home. It's too often obscenity-laden and carries messages I don't want around my kids. But saying it was not allowed on buses angered some. (Religious and talk radio were also banned along with rap.) I think the best solution would have been to ban all radio on buses. ("Enjoy the view, kids!") Instead, school districts have urged bus drivers to use their best judgment in regard to radio stations. Add Satan to the list of distractions. I listened to an OPB Think Out Loud segment highlighting an organization called the Satanic Temple. It wants to shut down Bible-based, parent-permission-requiring, after-school programs in some schools by acting as if it wants to bring its own program to a Portland school. It's part of a national campaign, and the Satanic Temple hit several communities with its agenda recently. Whether or not it succeeds at reminding us all why a clear separation between church and state is important, it will create headaches for many districts, even those not targeted. Schools face a pile of time-consuming, frivolous -- and not frivolous -- issues all the time. I'm glad a bunch of pretty interesting ones hit Portland in the same season. Perhaps it will inspire more understanding by taxpayers of everything that adds up when we talk about tax dollars devoted to education. * Elizabeth Hovde's column appears on the fourth Sunday of the month. KGW reporter Chris Willis apologized Friday for comments he made in a video interview with Joel Magid, the Portland musician who admitted to a sexual assault in a Facebook post. "A note to my Facebook fans: I am sorry for the comments I made in a recent interview that was published on KGW's website," Willis wrote on his Facebook page. "They do not reflect my views or values. I did not intend to offend anyone in any way and I apologize unreservedly for what was said. I understand the remarks I made were offensive. That was not my intent, but it was the result and I am devastated by that. I sincerely apologize and pledge to learn from this experience as I continue to cover the important issues affecting our community." A note to my Facebook fans: I am sorry for the comments I made in a recent interview that was published on KGWs... Posted by Chris Willis KGW on Friday, September 23, 2016 The apology followed on the heels of a Thursday statement from the station's executive news director, Rick Jacobs, who issued an apology for the interview's "insensitive comments." In the interview with Magid, released Tuesday, Willis asked him about the accusations of rape leveled by another woman after Magid's admission to the first assault. (Magid's lawyer, Lissa Casey, has denied the accusations.) "So is her claim," Willis said, "are the police investigating it? Is she a stripper?" "A burlesque dancer I believe but I'm not sure," Casey, sitting next to Magid, responded. "We have burlesque in Portland?" Willis said, laughing. "I'm hanging in the wrong social circles." A production hand on set added, "And then you're a victim of that. You're victimized." Viewers on social media criticized the exchange, calling the interview "disgusting" and "victim blaming." KGW took down the video before posting it again with the ending edited out, and finally removed it entirely. As Willis released his statement, nearly 20 protesters just steps from KGW's Southwest Portland offices discussed the comments on a Facebook Live video stream broadcast from the scene. -- David Greenwald dgreenwald@oregonian.com 503-294-7625; @davidegreenwald Instagram: Oregonianmusic katz statue.jpeg A worker with the Regional Arts and Culture Council cleans up vandalism on former Portland Mayor Vera Katz' statue on Sept. 21, 2016. Someone had painted a Nazi swastika on the statue's chest and painted the top of her head orange. (Andrew Theen/The Oregonian/OregonLive) By Steven M. Wasserstrom "This image says it all. Let's end the politically correct agenda that doesn't put America first," tweeted Donald J. Trump Jr., last Monday. His commentary referred to a Trump/Pence campaign ad displaying a bowl of candy under the caption: "If I had a bowl of skittles and I told you just three would kill you. Would you take a handful? That's our Syrian refugee problem." Within 48 hours, the statue of Vera Katz seated on Portland's Eastside Esplanade was defaced. The Regional Arts and Culture Council laudably removed the vandalism within hours. This "image that says it all" suddenly appearing in Portland was a large (and accurately oriented) yellow swastika filling the front torso of the former mayor, along with yellow paint covering her face and the top of her hair. Alongside the defaced statue, someone had written "Vera wants affordable housing." It is not known whether the yellow paint and the "caption" were applied by the same hateful hand. But even if they were the work of two angry Americans, they appeared at almost the same time and can be understood to comment on each other - like, say, a nasty campaign caption and a tasty bowl of Skittles. We must take seriously this vandalism as a political message. After all, Vera Katz spent her career as an Oregonian politician and the caption "Vera wants affordable housing" explicitly mocks her politics. What exactly, in this electoral season, is the political intent of these messages defacing the statue erected in honor of the former Speaker of the Oregon House and mayor of Portland? First, we can assume that the Nazi vandal, informed enough to paint on her chest an accurate yellow swastika, also knew that the former mayor was a Jew who fled Nazi Germany when she was a toddler refugee, not long before Jews wore a yellow star on their chests to identify them as Jews. Other "artistic" touches make the political message all the more perversely pointed (whether consciously intended does not matter). The dark bronze of the statue was yellowed to present her with "whiteface" and blond hair. Second, the caption is a strikingly efficient blend of specific policy commentary and vicious innuendo. "Vera wants affordable housing," succinctly phrased in the third person singular, present tense, sarcastically lashes an insult relevant to the present moment. It refers to her disrespectfully by her first name, putting its point in the present tense even though she left public office a dozen years ago. The "caption" mocks her liberal policies proposed in compassion for those in need of housing. Donald J. Trump Jr. supplied the proud endorsement, "This image says it all," to underwrite his father's candied ad. Meanwhile, in the sculpted face of the honorable Vera Katz, a parallel packaging of image with caption sends a singular political message. This "image that says it all" elegantly combines a menacing swastika and the specter of affordable housing. Share your opinion Submit your essay of 700 words or less to commentary@oregonlive.com. Please include your email and phone number for verification. In both cases, appearing within 48 hours of each other in the open public sphere, we beheld a colorful image and explanatory caption that scorned those desperately in need. As for the proposed solution to "our Syrian refugee problem," a bit of history gives some perspective. After the successful Nazi "final solution" to the "Jewish problem," a Canadian immigration official, responding to pressure to admit a pitiful few surviving Jewish refugees in 1945, notoriously declared, "None is too many." For the Trump/Pence ad, as well as for the Portland Nazi vandals, the sadistic retort to toddlers like the little Vera Katz, who simply need a safe place to lay their heads, is "None is too many." * Steven M. Wasserstrom is the Moe and Izetta Tonkon Professor of Judaic Studies and Humanities at Reed College in Southeast Portland. By E.J. Dionne, Jr. WASHINGTON -- Like it or not, the decision we make in this November's election will be a choice on behalf of the entire world. How we vote will determine whether the forces of democracy, openness and religious tolerance remain strong, or whether our country throws in its lot with tribalism, prejudice and authoritarianism. This sounds like melodrama. It isn't. And while it may ring familiar -- citizens of other countries always tell us how important our electoral verdicts are to them -- Donald Trump requires us to make a judgment more monumental than any we have faced in our lifetimes. This is the underlying import of President Obama's speech to the United Nations on Tuesday, which may prove to be one of the most important of his presidency. He spoke of a "growing contest between authoritarianism and liberalism," and he was not referring to the L-word we fight about here at home, but to the philosophy of free expression, entrepreneurialism and participatory decision-making that has long been our country's hallmark. It's the philosophy that most Americans, conservatives included, honor. Obama cast the matter this way: "We can choose to press forward with a better model of cooperation and integration. Or we can retreat into a world sharply divided, and ultimately in conflict, along age-old lines of nation and tribe and race and religion." He criticized "a crude populism -- sometimes from the far left, but more often from the far right -- which seeks to restore what they believe was a better, simpler age free of outside contamination." And lest anyone miss that he was talking not only about political currents in Europe and elsewhere but also about Trump, he added this: "Today, a nation ringed by walls would only imprison itself." Obama's critics have every right to question whether his policies may have hastened this moment of decision. In a normal election, contention over Obama's approach to foreign affairs would be central to our debate. But this is not, in any way, a normal election. Conservatives who have problems with Obama or Hillary Clinton but share their understanding of the country's democratic obligations need to recognize that allowing Trump to win would strengthen the autocratic Vladimir Putin in Russia and the far right in Europe with which he is now allied. A Trump victory would also empower violent extremists in the Islamic world that want nothing more than for the United States to cast every Muslim as our enemy. And it would be a decision in favor of what Obama called the "strongman, a top-down model, rather than strong, democratic institutions." The fact that Trump has been so verbally chummy with Putin should be a key issue in this election. And this underscores the unusual importance of Trump's making his tax returns public, as have all recent candidates. Americans need to know definitively whether or not he is financially entangled with foreign interests hostile to the United States and to our values, including Russian oligarchs. There was a second level to Obama's U.N. speech that should affect our thinking after this election is over. After issuing an enthusiastic defense of an open global economy, he was careful not to dismiss those who have risen up in protest against its injustices. He argued that "those trumpeting the benefits of globalization have ignored inequality within and among nations" and that "the existing path to global integration requires a course correction." He forcefully called for strengthening labor unions, echoed Pope Francis in criticizing "a soulless capitalism that benefits only the few" and insisted that efforts "to curb the excesses of capitalism" were designed "not to punish wealth, but to prevent repeated crises that can destroy it." I do not expect conservatives to rally to this part of his case, although I would like them to take more seriously the idea that preserving the very aspects of the system they revere requires more egalitarian public policies and a clear acknowledgement of capitalism's limits. This, however, represents the sort of healthy quarrel that people of goodwill in free nations can have with each other after the immediate threat that Trump represents to the democratic left, right and center alike has been turned back. I know it asks a great deal of my conservative friends not only to oppose Trump but also to support Hillary Clinton. But she is the only person standing between us and a United States that abandons our shared commitment to the ideals of inclusion, toleration and, yes, democracy itself. E.J. Dionne's email address is ejdionne@washpost.com. Twitter: EJDionne. (c) 2016, Washington Post Writers Group 1clinton.JPG Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on stage during a campaign rally Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/TNS) By Charles Lane Who's to blame for the fact that November is just around the corner and Donald Trump is within shouting distance of electoral victory? The media, of course. Journalistic institutions stand accused of facilitating Trump's rise, through reportorial lassitude or outright connivance with him for the sake of ratings. The scapegoating reached its reductio ad absurdum in a recent blog post by Paul Krugman of the New York Times, who labeled the media "objectively pro-Trump" for allegedly ganging up on Hillary Clinton like a "high school clique bullying a nerdy classmate because it's the cool thing to do." As if her email issue had not been reported first by the decidedly not-pro-Trump Times itself, for the very good reason that it's newsworthy. This is silly. The media have been very tough on Trump, relentlessly so. To cite just one organization, The Post, our David A. Fahrenthold has been terrier-like in pursuit of the damning facts of Trump's phony philanthropy. A Post team published a critical book about the Republican nominee, for heaven's sake. Our editorial board produced one of the first on-the-record interviews exposing Trump's disturbingly cavalier view of the United States' NATO commitments, then followed it up with a series of scathing opinion pieces. And so on and so on; let's count the parade of anti-Trump messages served up by various Emmy winners during Sunday's award show, too. But for those indulging in it, media-blaming does have one advantage. It helps avoid a much more relevant, and sobering, question: Why do so many Americans support Trump despite months and months of negative, truthful coverage about him? To be sure, there has been too much media puffery about Trump, whether unfiltered live coverage of his rallies by cable networks or Jimmy Fallon's sickeningly friendly tousling of the Republican candidate's hair on "The Tonight Show." Journalists were slow to take him seriously at the beginning of the Republican primaries. The fact remains, as Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, noted in an interview with the Times published Sunday: "Nobody is confused about the differences between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. . . . Is she perfect? Of course not. But you've got enough information to make the choice." What must be going on is that people - an alarmingly large number of people, it seems - back Trump even though they know, or could easily learn, that he is a charlatan, clueless about policy, bizarrely sympathetic to Russia's dictator, disturbingly prone to offending women and minorities, and a serial liar to boot. Trump is benefiting from the political equivalent of jury nullification. This is the well-known phenomenon whereby a jury returns a "not guilty" verdict despite its awareness that the prosecution has proved its case. Jurors do this for many reasons, but generally it's a form of protest, either against the law that the defendant is alleged to have violated, the system that the prosecution represents, the prosecution's methods - or some combination of these. American colonists practiced jury nullification when they stood up for press freedom by acquitting journalist John Peter Zenger of seditious libel in 1735, as law professor Doug Linder of the University of Missouri at Kansas City has noted. Nullification was at work in a Washington jury's refusal to convict the popular African-American mayor, Marion Barry Jr., of the most serious drug-related charges against him in 1990. In short, jury nullification happens when people regard accusations as an expression of an illegitimate institution or system and seize their momentary power to thwart it - even at the expense of truth, or, as nullifiers would put it, in service of a higher truth. To be clear: There's no moral equivalence between a vote for Trump and the admirable instances of jury nullification in U.S. history, such as the Zenger case or the refusal of Northern juries to convict alleged violators of the Fugitive Slave Law. There is a psychological similarity, however. Trump's campaign is fueled by a sense among his supporters that America is "rigged," as the candidate puts it, against people such as them. Like nullifying jurors, they sense a secret-vote opportunity to vent their grievance about this at little or no immediate personal risk. Against Trump, the press is a particularly ineffective prosecutor, for the obvious reason that "mainstream media" enjoy so little legitimacy among his followers. Only 14 percent of Republicans express trust and confidence in the media, according to Gallup. The figure for independents, who also lean toward Trump, is 30 percent. In fact, sticking it to the "liberal" press is probably one of the things his backers enjoy most. By and large, the American free press has performed its democratic function with respect to Donald Trump - and then some. Instead of carping about the alleged insufficiency of that vetting, the critics should be reflecting on its futility. (c) 2016, The Washington Post PERS.JPG Steve Rodeman, executive director of the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System, speaks at the Oregon Leadership Summit in Portland last December. Rodeman appeared last week, in Salem, at Sen. Betsy Johnson's work group session to explain the mechanics underlying PERS' $22 billion unfunded liability. (Stephanie Yao Long/Staff) http://media.oregonlive.com/opinion_impact/photo/agenda-2013jpg-da8a3522a991b9c6.jpg Editorial Agenda 2016 Get Oregon centered Better leadership in education Make Portland a city that works Build Oregon prosperity Protect and expand personal freedom Get pot right _______________________________ Whether to reform Oregon's Public Employees Retirement System produces many responses, but only two that matter politically. The first is that an unfunded liability approaching $22 billion might not actually pose risk to future generations, particularly in a year when a ballot measure would, if OK'd by voters, bolster state coffers by $6 billion in the next biennium alone. And the second, common among statehouse leaders, among them the governor, is that no changes to PERS proposed thus far would withstand a test in court, so why bother? Both positions are wrong. The first is a dreamy form of denial, fed by errant thinking about where Measure 97 money would go - again, if it even passes. PERS's unfunded liability is so all-consuming to future generations that basic services statewide, among them public education, would be hollowed from budget cuts. The second answer is wrong, because the justices who nixed PERS reforms passed by the Legislature in 2013 made clear that while an Oregon retirees' benefits cannot be altered after-the-fact, changes to the pension plan could be made that affect current and future public employees, driving costs down. Last week a work group met at the statehouse in Salem to address recent but familiar calculations that PERS would eventually walk Oregon off the fiscal cliff. Sen. Betsy Johnson, D-Scappoose, led the discussion in an effort to hear any solutions from anyone. The two-hour meeting was sparsely attended, ignored by the do-nothing crowd. A few intriguing suggestions were heard. Significantly, Johnson's hearing followed a recent meeting of the Oregon Investment Council at which the council's vice chair, the finance professional Rukaiyah Adams, was plainly frustrated as she spoke of passing $22 billion in unfunded promises to future taxpayers, Ted Sickinger of The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. "This is becoming a moral issue," Adams had said. "We can't just talk about numbers anymore." But it was the council's chair, Katy Durant, who raised the stakes further after the meeting by describing a pension system "beyond crisis" that's "a little bit like a Ponzi scheme." Full stop. PERS reform must happen in the 2017 legislative session. Only the Legislature - not cities, not counties, not other jurisdictions - can do this. The fortunes of the state ride on it. Lawmakers preparing now for the session should think hard and show that they can summon the political will and creativity to take on the PERS beast: again. In an interview with The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board, Johnson explained that she needs time to process the possibilities of her group's work. But she was characteristically blunt about her purposes: "This is a very complicated issue. But do we have the option of doing nothing? No. I do not believe we have the option of doing nothing." Oregonian editorials reflect the collective opinion of The Oregonian editorial board, which operates independently of the newsroom. are Laura Gunderson, Helen Jung, Mark Katches, John Maher and Len Reed. To respond to this editorial: Post your comment below, submit a , or write a . If you have questions about the opinion section, contact Laura Gunderson, editorial and commentary editor, at lgunderson@oregonian.com or 503-221-8378. That sentiment places her and some significant Republicans, Sen. Ted Ferrioli among them, squarely at odds with quite significant Democrats. Gov. Kate Brown told Sickinger she was concerned about pension costs but that she felt a handful of PERS reform ideas floating about were "not legally viable and not likely to result in significant financial savings." Ditto Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, and House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland. Saying no is easy. Getting to yes is hard. Undaunted is Tim Nesbitt, a former adviser to Governors Ted Kulongoski and John Kitzhaber and past president of the Oregon AFL-CIO. He goes to the heart of the challenge in declaring the PERS crisis a matter of fairness as much as it about numbers. He delivered comments he'd prepared last year for business leaders at Johnson's hearing last week and, in an interview with the editorial board, echoed Adams' moral concern: "It's a promise we kept but cannot afford. Some solutions may not feel fair. But the legacy cost problem is itself unfair: to young employees, to school kids, to young and growing families." Nesbitt suggests focusing on the second of two PERS retirement plans, in which 6 percent of an employee's earnings are placed in an individual account, and directing much of those contributions to help reduce PERS' liability. At this point it's just an idea, one among a few needing refinement and dollar calculation. But it's also another start. And the problem deserves as many starts as required to stave off fiscal calamity. Deniers, wake up. Fatalists, re-engage. -The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board 1cruz.JPG In this Feb. 25, 2016 file photo, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas listen as Donald Trump speaks during a Republican presidential primary debate at The University of Houston in Houston (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) By Chris Cillizza Ted Cruz's endorsement of Donald Trump's presidential candidacy sets up a very delicate dance over the next 46 days -- with the Texas Republican senator's political future hanging in the balance. On the most basic level, Cruz's move makes sense. He wants to run for president in 2020 -- or 2024 -- and you can't do that if you don't vote for the party's nominee this time around. (So, breaking news, Jeb! Bush isn't going to be the Republican presidential nominee.) Cruz is neither a) dumb nor b) politically naive. He knows that supporting Trump is a sine qua non for his chances of running for and winning the Republican presidential nomination down the line. So, he did it. "A year ago, I pledged to endorse the Republican nominee, and I am honoring that commitment," Cruz wrote in a Facebook post announcing his decision Friday afternoon. "And if you don't want to see a Hillary Clinton presidency, I encourage you to vote for him." Thus begins a debate within the Republican Party over what this endorsement says about Cruz and whether it helps or hurts his own prospects of winning the Republican presidential nomination in the future. Start here: Cruz's high-profile snubbing of Trump in a speech at the Republican National convention did two things. First, it made the Trump forces -- and many rank-and-file Republicans -- very angry. Second, it set him up to make the case that he was the only principled conservative who stood his ground during the Trump-ing of the GOP in 2016. What Cruz is trying to do in acknowledging his support for Trump is split the baby. He wants to appease rank-and-file Republicans who saw his non-endorsement as evidence that he cared more about himself than the broader GOP while also maintaining the perception that he is first in line when it comes to being committed to conservative core principles. That's a VERY delicate dance -- and one that the early evidence suggests won't be easy for Cruz to perform. Cruz's former comms guy, @rickwtyler, to me just now: "It's mourning in America for conservatives. We lost our leader today." The challenge for Cruz is to be just supportive enough of Trump to signal to base Republicans that he is committed to the party and not just himself while not being so supportive that all of his past rejections of Trump and Trumpism aren't seen as the sort of political hypocrisy people hate. And, remember, Cruz's denunciations of Trump weren't only loud. They were very, very public. There was this one -- when Cruz called Trump a "sniveling coward": And this one -- where Cruz deemed Trump a "pathological liar," "utterly amoral," "a narcissist at a level I don't think this country's ever seen" and "a serial philanderer": There were lots and lots more. And they came in response to a number of remarkable actions by Trump -- from retweeting an unflattering picture of Cruz's wife to overtly suggesting that Cruz's father was involved in the assassination of John F. Kennedy. (Writing that sentence reminded me that this has been one hell of a campaign.) Given all that has been said and done between the two, Cruz risks giving up all credibility as a committed conservative who stands on principle if he comes out -- or is perceived as coming out -- too vocally for Trump. How can you actively support someone who a) insinuated your wife is unattractive b) said your father might be involved in the assassination of an American president c) labeled you "Lyin' Ted"? Or, viewed another way, how can you vocally endorse someone whom you called "a serial philanderer" and a "pathological liar" 143 days ago? (Cruz made those comments on May 3, the day of the Indiana primary.) To be clear: Cruz will never be the first (or second or third) choice of the most devoted Trump supporters in either 2020 or 2024. That will either be Trump or, if Trump loses in November, Mike Pence. Nothing Cruz says or does will change that. But that's less important to Cruz's political future. What really matters is that with this endorsement he avoids being viewed as a pure political opportunist by the average Republican voter. Cruz's great strength in the 2016 race -- and in any future presidential contest -- was/is his seemingly unflagging commitment to the foundational pillars of conservatism. People who supported -- and support -- the Texas Republican did so because they believed he actually believed what he said about the country and where it needed to go in the future. And that he wouldn't change those views based on which way the political winds were blowing. Any erosion of the "principled conservative" brand is a disaster for Cruz's future political prospects. That's why the "why" and "how" of this Cruz move matter -- a lot. And why it's a very complicated gambit he is trying to pull off. (c) 2016, The Washington Post Fish and Wildlife Budget FILE - In this Aug. 21, 2013, file photo, fisherman Dan Quick of Corvallis, Ore., brings his float tube to shore at Hosmer Lake, Ore., as the moon rises next to Mount Bachelor. ACTIVE Network, which manages hunting and fishing license sales in Oregon, Washington and Idaho, mailed out about 1 million notices to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife license customers and 1.5 million to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife customers on Sept. 19, 2016. Someone hacked into systems accessing names, dates of birth, addresses and driver's license numbers on Aug. 23, 2016. (AP file photo) A Texas-based company is promising credit repair services for millions of people who have been licensed to hunt or fish in Oregon, Washington and Idaho after a data breach last month. ACTIVE Network, which manages hunting and fishing license sales in the three states, mailed approximately 1 million notices to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife license customers and 1.5 million to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife customers on Sept. 19. Last month, both state wildlife departments announced that their online systems maintained by the company were hacked. The Oregon wildlife department had shut down its online license sales on Aug. 25 while officials investigated the breach. Online sales represents 20 percent of all license sales, and they resumed Sept. 9. This week's letter from the company states the breach included access to people's names, addresses, driver's license numbers and dates of birth. Oregon's wildlife department said the breach applies to people who created "customer profiles" before July 2007, and it does not apply to anyone who purchased licenses after September 2007. The breach also applies to customers who applied for licenses before 2007 in Idaho and before 2006 in Washington, according to the company's letter. Rick Hargave, a spokesman for Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, said Saturday that the breach did not access Social Security numbers or credit card information, and so far, there isn't any indication of fraudulent crimes stemming from the stolen information. However ACTIVE Network will provide two years' worth of identity repair services for those people who received letters. The company also has set up a website to help people access the credit repair services. Hargave said the state's cybersecurity workers, along with Oregon State Police and federal law enforcement agencies, are continuing their investigation. An ACTIVE Network spokesperson could not be reached for comment Saturday. -- Tony Hernandez thernandez@oregonian.com 503-294-5928 @tonyhreports The Oregonian/OregonLive columnist Bill Monroe contributed to this post. debate The first debate between Gov. Kate Brown and challenger Dr. Bud Pierce will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, in the Deschutes Room at Riverhouse on the Deschutes in Bend. The first debate between Gov. Kate Brown and challenger Dr. Bud Pierce will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, in the Deschutes Room at Riverhouse on the Deschutes in Bend. The event is hosted by the Oregon Territory Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. General admission tickets to the event have sold out, but a few premium seats are still available. If you're in Bend, you can watch the debate live on KTVZ. Outside of Bend, you can watch a livestream at KTVZ.com. You can also catch a live broadcast on KXL radio in Portland, 101.1 FM. The hour-long debate will focus solely on issues facing Oregon's rural residents. Candidates will field questions from a panel of journalists: Emily Cureton, producer and host with Jefferson Public Radio; Erik Lukens, editor of The Bend Bulletin; Pedro Quintana, reporter with KTVZ; and Tim Trainor, deputy managing editor of The East Oregonian. Sara Roth, producer of longform and investigative projects for KGW.com, will moderate. BivinsPix.png Pro-gun demonstrators rally on the steps of the Oregon Capitol Friday shortly before setting fire to an effigy of Gov. Kate Brown. The burning immediately was denounced by not only Brown, but by some pro-gun Oregon legislators. (Mike Bivins via Eugene Weekly) Pro-gun demonstrators, many of them armed, gathered on the front steps of the Oregon Capitol on Friday and burned an effigy of Gov. Kate Brown before going into the building to meet with legislators. Brown's office, noting that the governor was out of town and not present to witness the burning, promptly condemned the action. "Hate adds nothing to civic discourse," said Kristen Grainger, Brown's spokeswoman. "Misogyny, even when hiding behind free speech, is still misogyny." Demonstration organizers initially said they expected "thousands" to attend the rally. Ultimately, it appeared that maybe 100 showed up. One attendee, flying a large Confederate flag from the bed of his pickup, parked nearby. Pro-gun rally in Salem hangs and burns Gov. Brown in effigy https://t.co/Ww1QHKXOtd pic.twitter.com/1C7cl9A1Zd KOIN News (@KOINNews) September 23, 2016 Demonstrators gave speeches, passed out pocket-sized copies of the U.S. Constitution and generally denounced the role of government before setting fire to a small, spectacle-wearing effigy of Brown. Oregon State Police stepped up their usual presence at the Capitol in response to the rally. "Any time there's a larger presence at the Capitol, we also want to increase our presence to keep people safe," said Capt. Bill Fugate, a spokesman for the Oregon State Police. "Today, in the interest of public safety, we increased our staffing levels." Officers informed anyone who wanted to openly carry a firearm in the Capitol that they had to produce a concealed handgun permit. About one dozen did. State police supervisors eventually sent officers elsewhere as it became clear that the originally expected numbers weren't going to show up, Fugate said. Brown's office had already stepped up security measures this year, citing threats that started with the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupation and continued after Brown called for tighter gun rules in Oregon. Among the changes, some which officials wouldn't disclose, her state police security detail added a sixth member. Rep. Bill Post, R-Keizer, said on his blog Friday that though he considers himself a "gun guy" and disagrees with Brown on gun control, "just because we disagree on almost everything in politics, doesn't mean we don't respect nor care for each other. I hope she feels the same about me." "Today these people entered a whole new world of horrible wrong," he wrote. "They didn't just rally, they didn't just give a speech, they did something SO deplorable I am loathe to even post it here. THIS DOES NOT HELP OUR CAUSE!!!" Post went on to "disassociate himself" from the group, whose members he said he invited to his office. He called on other gun rights supporters to publicly condemn the effigy. "I had been in support of their 'open carry' rally and in fact invited them to come talk to me in my office," Post wrote. "Then I saw these pictures. I am ashamed of this behavior and first apologize on behalf of the firearm community to Gov. Kate Brown, and apologize myself personally to Gov. Brown." In a statement, the president of Oregonians for Gun Safety, which advocates for stricter gun laws, also denounced what she called "today's revolting display of violence." "Regardless of where you stand on gun violence prevention, we should all agree that hate-fueled aggression has no place in our political discourse," Jenn Lynch said. "As tensions run high and political speech turns violent across the country, now is the time for our leaders to speak out, loudly, in opposition to this group and their display." -- Dana Tims 503-294-7647; @DanaTims Melissa Diers has always had the mentality that anybody can be a philanthropist. It doesnt take an inordinate amount of money, it simply takes the willingness to give ones time, talent and treasure. Anybody can be a philanthropist, Diers said. You do not have to have the wealth of Bill Gates to be a philanthropist. Its just all about giving back. Diers, who has served as the executive director of the Fremont Area Community Foundation since 2013, spends a great deal of time helping the organization improve the quality of life in the Greater Fremont area by connecting donor interests with community needs, and serving as a leader and catalyst in the development of solutions. Because of her diligent work, Diers was named one of the Fremont Tribunes 2016 Pathfinder recipients. Diers emphasized that while she is the one being recognized, its the Fremont Area Community Foundation as a whole that deserves the real credit for being a Pathfinder. And while Diers humbly deflected credit, theres no doubt that an operation like the FACF would be unable to fulfill its duties without superb internal leadership. Since being founded in 1980 by Marv Welstead and a few other key players, the foundation has served as a catalyst between donors and the public. Over the course of its 37 years of operation, the Foundation has provided more than $16 million in grants. In terms of where money is allocated, the Foundation focuses on five key areas, including: arts and culture, civic improvements, education, health and recreation and social services. Under Diers guidance, two years ago the Foundation started providing $1,000 grants to six students in the greater Fremont area enabling them to complete Youth Philanthropy projects. So many youngsters want to get involved in their communities, they just dont always have the resources to make it happen. They have had a very direct hand in touching the lives of people, and helping to make their lives better, Diers said. There is nothing that feels better than that. We planted the seed and made it possible, and they have made the most of it. Like many of the children completing Youth Philanthropy Projects, Diers got her start in Fremont, too its her home town. After graduating from Fremont High School, Diers attended Midland Lutheran College now Midland University -- studying business and journalism. She wasted no time getting her feet wet, diving into the job as Director of Public Relations during her senior year six months prior to graduation. Along the way, she married her husband, Kirk, whose family owned and operated Diers Farm and Home Center, which was eventually bought out by Bomgaars Supply Inc. After three years in that position, Diers transitioned into the role of Director of Development, where she really found her passion for raising money for important causes. That was a new set of challenges, she said. I spearheaded annual fund campaigns and also ran a major capital campaign. It was called A Vision Inspired, and it we raised over $16 million for a variety of bricks and mortar projects we built up our endowment funds, we did a number of different improvements to facilities and programs, as well as raising money for scholarships. We actually surpassed our goal. After spending seven years as Director of Development, Diers kick-started her own marketing consulting firm. Marketing is something that Diers has always been passionate about. I provided marketing consulting and graphic design support to a number of small businesses in Fremont, and also outside of Fremont, actually, she said. One of the realities with businesses in Fremont is they are often times too small to have their own marketing function handled internally, but they still need that kind of support. But while Diers enjoyed running her own business, she missed non-profit work, and all of the good that comes with it. I enjoyed the relationships I built but I missed the non-profit work, and thats what kind of drew me back into that arena, Diers said. I kind of feel like youre sort of born with a passion for it, lots of times it just sort of comes naturally to you, and thats where my heart lies. So this opportunity with the foundation was just too good to pass up. No one should ever underestimate the amount of good a community foundation can do, Diers said. One of her jobs is to keep in contact with the FACFs four affiliate foundations located in North Bend, Uehling, Arlington and Hooper. All of those community foundations are under our umbrella, she said. They have their own identity within their own communities, but we provide that backbone administrative support for them, and we also help them further their mission as a key funder within their communities. And thats what the real goal is at the foundation, to help generate those ever-important funds for Nebraska communities. All non-profits fall under the title of Pathfinder, Diers said. She doesnt believe that she can individually accept the title as a Pathfinder, it takes a lot more than one person to bring about positive change. The spirit of the pathfinder are individuals who find ways I think to make things happen, Diers said. And that is really what the Community Foundation is. So for me, the nomination is lovely, but its not even so much about an individual personal thing, its really about whoever is sitting in this chair and leading this organization forward. Its a huge team effort, and this is for the community foundation itself. Screen Shot 2016-09-20 at 5.12.04 PM.png James Raussen, shown here in a promotional video for the Oregon Educators Benefit Board, was put on leave last week and is the subject of a state investigation. He joined the board as its director last November. A mammoth state insurance contract for 150,000 workers and their families may be decided under the cloud of a Department of Justice investigation. The Oregon Educators Benefit Board put Director James Raussen on indefinite leave last week and directed justice department lawyers to investigate Raussen's actions. The sudden leadership change comes just as the board tries to select new health insurers. The obscure agency has tremendous power: it decides which insurers provide insurance for 150,000 school district employees and their dependents, making it one of the largest insurance customers in the state. More than a week since Raussen was banned from the board's Salem offices, the reasons for the sudden move remain shrouded in mystery. Among those still in the dark, he says, is Raussen himself. The 45-year-old said he was unaware of any complaints or concerns about his performance before Sept. 9. "They called me into a room and told me to go home," he said in a brief interview at his Wilsonville apartment. "It was a surprise to me. There was no prior discussion." Unlike some large companies and other large groups, the educators board is not self-insured, meaning it hires private insurance companies to serve its members. It's big business for Moda and Kaiser Permanente, the two companies that currently hold the biggest parts of the educators board account. Moda received $569 million in premium dollars in the 2015-16 fiscal year while Kaiser got $149 million, according to the Oregon Health Authority. Officials at both companies said they had no knowledge of any investigation and had done nothing improper. The board will grade the bids it received from insurance companies in October. It hopes to make a final decision on the winning bidders in January. Officials at the board and its parent agency, the Oregon Health Authority, declined to offer any reasons for its actions against Raussen. In a written statement, health authority officials declared they are "fully committed to ensuring full integrity in the operations" of the board. Raussen was put on paid leave. He'll continue to collect his $126,456 annual salary. Department of Justice spokeswoman Kristina Edmunson confirmed the department will launch an investigation at the board's request. The department will hire a private law firm to conduct the probe, which officials at the Health Authority said will be completed by the end of October. Edmunson characterized it as a personnel -- not criminal -- investigation. Moda officials said the board's action came as a complete surprise to them. "We were not informed by OEBB of the board meeting on Monday and have not been informed since of its outcome," said Moda spokesman Jonathan Nicholas. "We have not heard of any 'investigation' and have been asked no questions about anything by anybody." The board hired Raussen last November after a search that took more than a year. A native Ohioan, he served as a Republican representative in the Ohio Legislature between 2003 and 2008, where he chaired a committee dealing with insurance issues. Afterwards, he joined Ohio's economic development agency for three years. In 2011, Raussen moved to Chicago to become the city's managing deputy comptroller, a job that involved responsibility over risk management, insurance and employee benefits, among other things. Raussen's boss in the Chicago Comptroller's Office was Amer Ahmad, who was later convicted of accepting a $522,000 bribe. Raussen was never implicated. -- Jeff Manning 503-294-7606, jmanning@oregonian.com The Washington County Sheriff's Office flubbed its response to a deputy caught on video making a string of inappropriate comments to a 14-year-old girl, Sheriff Pat Garrett now says. "It was just poorly coordinated on our part and I take full responsibility for that," Garrett told The Oregonian/OregonLive. "Not our best work when it came to communicating." Sheriff's officials didn't immediately convey "the seriousness or the scope" of the deputy's remarks, he said. "The statements are inappropriate, insensitive, careless to start with, and there was no disputing that," Garrett said in an interview this week. "We believed that from the get-go." Deputy Brian Klostreich had gone to an apartment in Tigard to investigate a mother-daughter fight on Sept. 10 and ended up arresting the teenager and telling her over the course of 25 minutes: "You could be in the Middle East somewhere. Having to wear a rag over your face. And you're scum." "If we could afford it in this society, the man should be working, and the mom should be home." "If my kid did that to me, I'd pretty much beat the hell out of him." A neighbor took a cellphone video of the encounter from a staircase outside the apartment, alerted by the deputy's voice and tone. Sheriff's officials at first released a statement that appeared to threaten the neighbor with a criminal investigation for the recording, saying they believed it was made illegally and that sharing it also would break the law. Garrett backed down from that and said his agency never started a criminal investigation and never asked another police agency to do so. The response, Garrett said, was meant to address the privacy rights of the girl and her family, but they botched it. The Sheriff's Office now plans to coordinate a training for all deputies with the Domestic Violence Resource Center - whose leaders criticized Klostreich's performance, saying the deputy appeared to know little about the dynamics of family violence. Garrett said deputies periodically receive diversity and domestic violence training and he wants to work with the organization. Sheriff's officials are also talking with the county Juvenile Department for possible training. On the night he learned of the video, Garrett said, he called members of the Muslim community and a Latino group to tell them what happened and to assure them he'd look into it. A sergeant and the agency's communications manager also spoke to Klostreich, the sheriff said. Sgt. Bob Ray, a sheriff's office spokesman, said an internal review has concluded but declined to say whether Klostreich was disciplined. The sheriff's office issued a second statement the day after its first one that noted Klostreich made "inappropriate comparisons to women of other beliefs and cultures." It appears to be taken, in part, from a Sept. 12 agency-wide internal email from Chief Deputy Shawn Fischer warning staff that a "potentially negative article" could be on the horizon. Fischer's email addressed some problems with Klostreich's comments but also supported him. "While the recording revealed mostly solid work by our deputy, there were a couple points where he expressed his own personal opinions and compared her situation with that of women in other cultures in his attempt to make an impactful connection with her," Fischer wrote. None of the statements released by the sheriff's office addressed Klostreich's comments about corporal punishment or that women should stay home. Fischer told The Oregonian/OregonLive he didn't intend for his message to be all encompassing. "I tried to keep it as focused and generic as possible because we don't ever discuss disciplinary issues or investigations into individuals in a group email like that," Fischer said. "My intent was to just say this happened, we recognize it wasn't good ... and then I tried to close it with, 'Hey, let's take a lesson from this.'" It's clear from the video, Garrett said, that Klostreich was using scare tactics with the girl, including his comments about corporal punishment. The techniques he used, the sheriff said, are outdated. "So, is he a juvenile counselor?" Garrett said. "Nope. Clearly, clearly falls short." The sheriff's office has described Klostreich's contact with the family as "solid" because he tried to have a meaningful connection with them, Garrett and Fischer said. Earlier this week, neither Garrett nor Fischer had watched the video in its entirety, but the sheriff said he has since viewed all the footage. Juvenile Department Director Lynne Schroeder said she offered to provide deputies training to help them effectively communicate and work with children. The training would include information on adolescent development, teen impulse control, how youth best learn and what motivates them to change, she said. Sara Wade, executive director of the Domestic Violence Resource Center, also offered to help. "Traditional, rigid gender roles are part of the dynamic of domestic violence," she said. "If he would have known that, perhaps he wouldn't have used that kind of language." Wade also was concerned with the deputy's statements about parents hitting their children and the way he spoke with the girl in front of her parents, instead of separating them. Ideally, she said, two deputies would have responded to the apartment, and one would have talked to the girl while the other interviewed her family. At the end of Klostreich's interaction with the family, he walked the cuffed girl out of the apartment. She was arrested on a harassment accusation in the fight with her mother, but she wasn't jailed, Juvenile Department officials said. So far, she hasn't faced charges in Juvenile Court. Klostreich, the girl and her family, according to Garrett, were reunited later that night off camera. The mother hugged the deputy. But the sheriff said, "It doesn't excuse what he said." -- Rebecca Woolington 503-294-4049; @rwoolington After four decades in Fremont, Sid and Hazel Dillon have become known not only for their businesses, but their generosity. What began with an Oldsmobile-Cadillac dealership in 1976 has become a large business. We are in seven towns and have 14 buildings, said Sid Dillon Jr. The company also has 24 franchises and almost 500 full-time employees. Along with that success has come a commitment to the community. The Dillons have given to many local entities including the Fremont Family YMCA, The Hope Center for Kids-Fremont, Care Corps Family Services, Midland University, Fremont Area Art Association and First Lutheran Church, where theyve attended for years. Theyve donated to many area entities, including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. For their longtime community service, Sid and Hazel Dillon are among the 20 Pathfinders. Sid Dillon Sr. invested in his first Mazda dealership in Omaha with two business partners in 1973. That November, the dealership sold 104 Mazdas, Dillon said in an August 2016 Tribune article. The dealership sold and Dillon took his portion of the proceeds and started leasing the Oldsmobile-Cadillac dealership on Somers Avenue. At that time, the dealership was owned by Clarence Bahner, who was ready to step away from the business but had no family to take over it. Dillon was prepared to move ahead with a new business venture. But that first December, Dillon wondered if hed made the right decision in moving his wife, Hazel, and children Blake, Lori (Sajevic), Sid Jr. and Cathy (Peetz) to Fremont. Days of brutal winter weather had Dillon struggling to maintain his optimism. I was locking up at night alone and the snow was blowing through the building I hadnt seen a customer in three days, Dillon said. I said to myself, Dillon, this is the dumbest thing youve ever done. Yet business would improve. After leasing the Somers Avenue for five years, he bought the Chrysler dealership building, but not the business. In 1981, he moved the familys Oldsmobile and Cadillac business to the lot where the Buick Cadillac GMC Mazda dealership is today. His son-in-law, John Sajevic, has been the stores general manager since March 1990. Fremonts Chevrolet dealership closed in 1986. That September, the Dillons took over the operation. Two years later, Dillon bought a Pontiac, Buick and GMC dealership. The business continued to expand. In 1991, Dillon opened an Oldsmobile, Chevrolet and Pontiac dealership in Blair. He opened a Buick, Nissan and Hyundai dealership in Lincoln. Eventually what followed was two Harley-Davidson locations and those in Wahoo, Crete and Ceresco. Dillons children have all been involved in the family business. His appreciation automobiles, staff and clients has remained steady through the years. Hes truly been a car enthusiast his whole life, Sid Jr. said. Thats what drove him in business. Hes enjoyed the cars, his employees and the customers. Sid Jr., commended the employees. The loyalty and the commitment of his employees have been what always ignited the growth, Sid Jr., said. He hired really good people and theyre still with us 35 to 40 years later. Sid Dillon Sr., would decide to step back a little from his leadership role in the 1990s. In 2013, he was inducted into the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame. Although now fully retired, Sid Sr., and Hazel have remained consistent community supporters. He served for several years on the Midland University board of directors. Dillon and his family have been involved in numerous church and civic organizations and activities, including Lutheran Family Services, the Fremont Family YMCA Foundation, Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity and many others. Sid and Hazel Dillon were capital campaign co-chairpersons for the Care Corps Family Services Shelter in Fremont. Recently, the Dillon family was a large benefactor for the new Dillon Family YMCA Aquatic Center, which when complete, makes the Fremont Family YMCA the largest square-foot Y in the world. This year, the Sid Dillon Family also was the recipient of the 2016 Friend of Education Award by Fremont Public Schools. During a special event honoring the Dillons, FPS Superintendent Mark Shepard talked about how hes worked closely with several Dillon family members. Whether through the Fremont Family YMCA board, the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce Board or through the Fremont Public Schools Foundation Board, Shepard said hes seen the vital impact the Dillons have made. Members of the Dillon family have been great supporters of our various booster clubs and our volunteer organizations here at Fremont High School, he said. I am continuously impressed with the commitment to our community that is constantly on display, and truly part of their DNA. The Dillons motivation for helping others has stemmed from their own blessings. He feels like he has been blessed, Sid Jr. said of his dad. God has led his life in a way that he has been tremendously blessed and they (Sid and Hazel) both have wanted to share with others. Growing up, Bob Missel said he always admired what a tremendous presence his grandfather Gerald Sampter had with people. I owe a great deal to my grandfather, he said. He was a smart businessman while at the same time always being able to connect with his customers on a personal level. At the time the opportunity came to run Sampter's in downtown Fremont, he and his wife Michele were living in Michigan. One of my grandfathers employees reached out to my parents and asked if there was a family member that may be willing to come to Nebraska, he said. "My grandfather (Gerald) was in his 80s and still working full time. My father encouraged me to give it a try and I convinced my wife to move to Nebraska. We made the move together and never looked back. Missel feels blessed to have been a part of the clothing business for over 30 years. The business has changed over those years and our store has had to change with it, he said. One of my greatest challenges was entering the ladies business. Our store was an exclusive mens store up until the late 90s when we began to offer a small selection of ladies sportswear. Missel said that business represents a third of the business and is still growing. Making that shift in product offering was one of my biggest challenges and one of my most rewarding, he said. But there is nothing more rewarding than working with a customer. Working with customers is not the only passion Missel has. He is involved in a plethora of community activities, including Dodge County Board of Supervisors. Because of his community activity through business and politics, Missel has been named one of the Tribune's 20 Pathfinders. I am grateful to the community for supporting me and my store, he said. I have always felt the need to give back to my community. In 2004 Missel accepted an appointment to the Dodge County Board of Supervisors. This has been a very rewarding experience, he said. I also have served locally on many boards including the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce, MainStreet Fremont, Fremont Rotary Club, Fremont Coin Club, the Downtown Improvement District and the First United Methodist Church. Nationally Missels national board resume includes being board president of Northwest Buyers Association of Minneapolis, Minnesota and as president of the Nebraska Numismatic Association. Although it was the family business that brought him from Michigan to Fremont, he says both he and his wife Michele call Fremont their home. My wife and I have raised two daughters here, Jen and Megan, he said. As parents we loved everything Fremont offered, great schools, good neighborhoods and a base of friends that have been supportive and caring. Robin Ritter says her first life journey was getting married, starting her own family and the blessings of motherhood. The second was her relationship with God. Her third significant journey is with Uniquely Yours Stability Support where she currently works as Chief Executive Officer. For her vision and community work, Ritter has been named one of the Tribune's 20 Pathfinders. Uniquely Yours Stability Support (UYSS) began in 2007 to focus on the dynamics of homeless prevention and moving out of homelessness. They provide services that include community collaboration, and intelligent, planned giving to ensure long-term housing stability. It began many, many years ago when I found myself a divorced mom, three beautiful children, in need, and falling through service gaps -- I was compelled to ask why, she said. Why are there gaps? What is happening to those other families? Ritter prayed and reflected on these questions and experiences. There is no doubt in my heart, mind and soul that God not only answered my prayer, but provided me with a clear plan on what to do about it, she said. The concept and creation of UYSS was set, but remained in her head for many more years. There were times Id think about it, feeling guilty that I hadnt done something with this gift, she said. I believe it was divine intervention. After dealing with serious spinal problems that resulted in six surgeries she longed to be productive again. I had worked in Omaha as a Program Specialist, allowing me to work with at risk adults and youths. I connected with our local Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation and used my federal ticket to work, to see if I could get reconnected to the world again, she said. Through this experience she was connected with Care Corps Homeless Services for a volunteer opportunity. Care Corps will forever have my heart and gratitude, she said. I believe it was in Gods plan to connect me with such an outstanding agency. Care Corps took a chance on having me and their willingness to work with my physical limitations and desire to contribute to our community. Ritter said Care Corps played such an important role in where she and UYSS is today. I started with Care Corps when they were located in the old motel, with a staff of three or four programs, she said. Our partnership was strong. They created a position for me. My heart was with them and I was honored to be a part of their journey. Ritter said the former staff, Tammy Evans as Executive Director, and Jessica Jones, Case Manager of Care Corps contributed greatly to UYSS becoming a reality. I was invited to write my name over a beam during the construction of their new building during the Beam Signing Event, she said. They were there for me during another spine surgery. This experience reminded Ritter once again about the gift she was given. I witnessed on a daily basis the need for an agency like UYSS with the philosophy of addressing service gaps identified by agencies working within the dynamics of homelessness, she said. Cindy Wagner, my friend, and confidant, encouraged me to put my vision of UYSS into action, where area agencies could sit around the same table, discussing how UYSS could address gaps in services within our community. Ritter began by reaching out to an accountant regarding the cost to start the 501-c3 nonprofit status. Since there was no funding available to pay the estimated $2,000, I was determined to complete and submit the application myself. In 2007 UYSS was awarded their 501-c3 status and received their first donation of $300. Due to the unique collaborative structure of the organization we were able to help many families and individuals with this donation. And the rest is history. Doors opened May 1, 2014 and Ritter said they did not anticipate the magnitude of families and individuals coming through them. Because their mission didnt allow self-referrals they quickly faced the fact that they were creating a gap in services. It is difficult for families to come through an agency door, share their story, and be referred to a partnering agency, only to be referred back, if needed. It was clear they were not going to the referred agencies, she said. UYSSs Board of Directors quickly agreed to change our mission statement to allow both agency and self-referrals. From then on, anyone could walk through the doors, meet with a Community Resource Navigator, get connected with other agencies and services and/or utilize any of their services. We rose to the demand and need for a Community Center, an inviting place where anyone was welcome, she said. Ritter added that although she was excited walking through the front door for the first time, she sensed that something was different. This time I was setting up my office and planting my roots, she said. I was living out my mission through UYSS. I was not alone. It wasnt just me meeting families in random locations or agencies, trying to figure how to raise funds to help our community. I was a part of a team, all as passionate about our mission as I was. Although the corners they are trying to turn are wide and long, Ritter remains determined, passionate and capable of working hard for Fremont. UYSS belongs to this remarkable city. Fremont is strong and proud, she said. We have gone through growing pains and look at us now. NORMAL -- Is the end near? What does the Bible say about the future of America and Israel? What is God up to in these perilous times? These questions and more are answered in Gods Word, particularly in the books of Revelation and Daniel, said David Fanning, executive director of Until He Returns Bible Prophetic Ministries. The Morton-based ministry is launching a new class on those topics at Grace Church, 1311 W. Hovey Ave., Normal, starting at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 3 and continuing on the first and third Mondays of each month. Millions of people are scared and anxious about our future as a nation. Our class will address those concerns from a biblical perspective and respond to any questions, Fanning said. Until He Returns was formed four years ago as a non-profit, independent and nondenominational organization, and also offers classes in Morton and Peoria, along with a radio program heard on 20 stations across the country, including WPEO in East Peoria. We have two very gifted prophecy teachers right here in the Bloomington area and were glad they joined our team, said Malcolm Amstutz, a founding member of the ministry. The Rev. Ralph Wingate, who was senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Normal for more than 30 years, and Jim Cox, a semi-retired professor of marketing at Illinois State University and adult Bible teacher at Grace Church, will lead the classes. Wingate, who retired from Calvary Baptist three years ago, emphasizes the importance of prophecy. If prophecy doesnt need to be studied, why did God put so much of it in Scripture? The Bible is more recent than tomorrows newspaper and allows us to see Gods program for the future. Cox echoes that sentiment. When the Bible was written, over 25 percent was prophecy, he said. We may be near the conclusion of Gods plan for the world. Its certainly not uncommon for a machinery technician to save the day during harvest season, but it is rare for one to literally save a farmers life. BLOOMINGTON Welbrook Senior Living is making its first investment in Illinois a big one. The El Segundo, Calif., company is building a $4.5 million assisted living home and memory care facility in east Bloomington, scheduled to open in fall 2017. We are always on the lookout for markets where theres a need to improve quality of life for seniors ... and through our market research, Bloomington came up, said Mark Guth, vice president of business development. The facility, at 1402 Leslie Drive, will offer 54 assisted living beds and 26 memory care beds. Assisted living is "the minimum amount of assistance people need in order to still be independent, while memory care is for those with ailments, including Alzheimer's disease, that require more care. Theres two variables that make an exact opening date difficult to project. One is construction and weather," Guth said. The other is that these facilities go through a licensing process. The company will begin to promote the facility next year, Guth said, and Bloomington-Normal residents who want a preview can check the website for Welbrook's other locations. Welbrook has two facilities in California, two in Nevada and one in Utah. The company also plans to open two more locations in California, one in Arizona, one in Colorado and one in New Mexico by summer 2017. Welbrook began with assisted living and some memory care units, and weve now expanded our service line to include short-stay rehabilitation, Guth said. Were in the development process for several of those facilities. The development is the latest in a series of memory care or assisted living facilities that have opened or are in development across Central Illinois over the last few years. The residents, and family members who have sent them, have been very happy with the programs we offer, so were very excited to bring that to the Bloomington community, Guth said. Paul Swiech contributed to this report. MONTICELLO The arrest of a Mansfield man on murder charges apparently has solved the 26-year-old homicide of the man's estranged wife, according to Piatt County officials. Gregory J. Houser, 56, is expected to be arraigned Monday on four counts of first-degree murder in the death Sheryl Houser. The 29-year-old nurse was found dead on Oct. 5, 1990, with a rope tied around her neck on the floor of the garage of her rural home between Mansfield and Mahomet, authorities said. Charges against Houser, who may face 20 to 60 years in prison if convicted, were filed early Thursday by Piatt County State's Attorney Dana Rhoades, and he was arrested without incident later that day by Illinois State Police. Although Houser reportedly was a suspect from the outset investigators thought it was a staged suicide the case went cold after a coroner's jury ruled the manner of death was undetermined. Subsequent advances in DNA technology allowed authorities to detect genetic material from Sheryl and Gregory Houser on a condom found just outside the garage, authorities said. In another coroner's inquest July 8, the jury ruled the death a homicide. Houser testified at that inquest, invoking his right to remain silent to all questions. Forensic pathologist Dr. Scott Denton reviewed materials related to the case in 2011. His findings, presented at the inquest, were that Sheryl Houser died from strangulation and that there was an attempt to conceal the cause of death by staging a hanging from the ceiling. Although the case has been considered cold because of the extraordinary length of time involved, the Illinois State Police, the lead investigating agency, had never closed its investigation. Houser, who was 30 at the time of his wife's death, was awaiting trial on charges alleging he sexually assaulted her Sept. 20, 1990, 15 days before her death. He was free on bond the morning first responders found Sheryl Houser's body, authorities said. The emergency crews were sent to the house after she failed to show up for her work shift at Carle Foundation Hospital. Houser was jailed without bond in the Piatt County jail. SPRINGFIELD YWCA McLean County has asked the Illinois Supreme Court to review a settlement awarded to a former employee whose claim of racial and gender discrimination was upheld by the 4th District Appellate Court. Eric Tapley, who is African American, was awarded $67,647 in 2014 by the Bloomington Human Relations Commission. Tapley alleged that the YWCA fired him after an incident involving a white female intern at the agency. The appellate court upheld the commission's decision in August. In the appeal to the Supreme Court, the YWCA argues that Tapley failed to provide evidence that the YWCA discriminated against Tapley because of his race or gender. The agency contends that Tapley's dismissal was based on six incidents in which he violated policy and engaged in improper conduct. In a statement on the request for a Supreme Court review, Tapley's lawyer Melissa McGrath said she "has never seen a worse case of waste of judicial resources and baseless arguments as she she has seen in the case of Tapley vs. YWCA, which has been litigated since Mr. Tapley's termination in 2012." Calling the petition an effort to delay paying the settlement, McGrath said Tapley is considering asking the Supreme Court to sanction the YWCA "for its wholly unwarranted request that the court review the appellate court's ruling." In a statement Friday, the YWCA said "the system which grants a litigant the opportunity to seek review through the appellate process is a right enjoyed by every citizen and organization." "The attempts by Mr. Tapleys lawyer to assert that the YWCA is vulnerable to any sanction is a misguided attempt to disparage Dontae Latson, the current CEO of the YWCA, who has done a remarkable job of persevering against an effort by Mr. Tapleys supporters to blame the current CEO and his leadership team for events that happened in 2012 when no one from the current administration had any leadership role in the organization," said the statement. The Supreme Court will decide if it will review the case. NORMAL The McLean County Unit 5 school bus driver ticketed and fired for his involvement in a three-vehicle crash last week has been rehired as a monitor on a bus transporting special-needs students. The crash was the latest in a list of concerns that have plagued the Normal-based school district and its bus contractor, First Student, since the beginning of the fall term. Hundreds of parents have complained about early departures, late arrivals, overcrowded buses and confused students. Unit 5 and First Student say the problems arose when the district changed its start times and reduced the number of buses. Yahya Khalilallah was driving students Sept. 13 when his bus rear-ended a trailer pulled by a sport utility vehicle on Veterans and Commerce parkways, Bloomington. The SUV then collided with another car, according to police reports. Khalilallah was charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Unit 5 attorney Curt Richardson said Thursday the district "requested the driver be removed from Unit 5 routes because we understand it was a preventable accident." First Student said last week that the driver had been terminated because he violated company policy. First Student spokesman Chris Kemper said Friday that the driver was fired and not reassigned initially. "He was terminated per our normal processes and protocols," Kemper said. "After a subsequent conversation with the district the decision was jointly made to rehire him as a monitor." In response to questions from The Pantagraph on Friday, Unit 5 replied the district approved a request from First Student late last week to allow Khalilallah to work as bus monitor. District officials did not mislead the public about the driver's termination, which only applied to his employment as a bus driver, the district said in its reply. Elaina Guerra of Normal, the mother of a student on Khalilallah's newly assigned bus, said she was surprised to see him Thursday when she went to meet her daughter's bus. "I'm very concerned if he's on that bus, especially since Unit 5 is saying he was terminated. That's not OK with me," said Guerra. According to First Student, Khalilallah had been driving for the Ohio-based company for more than two years. No one was injured in the accident but several parents took their children to the hospital later to be checked out, according to a police report of the incident. First Student has been struggling since the beginning of the school year to hire enough drivers to cover all the Unit 5 routes. Earlier this week, Daniel asked whether police and fire departments and the National Guard could provide qualified drivers on a short-term basis. Elon Musk, the Tesla CEO and founder is all set to unveil Tesla and SolarCity's new solar roof product on October 28 in the SF Bay area. The new solar roof product will be directly integrated with version 2.0 of the Tesla's PowerWall solar storage battery for the home, as well as Tesla car charger. Aiming for Oct 28 unveil in SF Bay Area of new Tesla/SolarCity solar roof with integrated Powerwall 2.0 battery and Tesla charger. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 22, 2016 Musk took it Twitter on Thursday to tease a SolarCity solar panel roof, new PowerWall battery and Tesla car charger. Though Musk has announced the date of October 28, it is possible for him to cross the deadline as he has done such announcements before. Tesla Motors CEO teased the first full-scale look at version 2.0 of the Powerball at an event in Paris earlier this year. Earlier, Tesla's PowerWall only worked with SolarEdge inverters. Customers who wanted to but a battery had to purchase the inverter as well. According to Tech Radar, the SMA inverter currently costs $1,240, while one from SolarEdge costs $2,944. In its financial update for the first quarter of 2016, Tesla confirmed it had shipped 25 megawatt-hours of storage capacity in the first three months of the year. "We delivered over 2,500 Powerwalls and nearly 100 Powerpacks in the quarter throughout North America, Asia, Europe and Africa," the company said in a shareholder letter. Rumors suggest that the SolarCity roof will be more subtle than the traditional solar panels placed on houses. According to Electrek, Tesla Motors CEO told investors last month, "It's a solar roof, as opposed to modules on a roof." According to Green Tech Media, the updated PowerWall will expand compatibility requirements, making it easier and cheaper to be installed at homes. Stay tuned for more updates on Green Technology. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie being the sexiest couple of Hollywood are fighting for divorce with allegations on Pitt for verbally and physically abusive to children on a private airline. The incident occurred on September 14 when the family were on a private plane and landed at an airport in Minnesota. It has been speculated that this caused the couple to separate the very next day and file for a divorce on Monday. A source close to the actor said to Page Six, "He was never physically abusive to her or the kids. He did yell at one of their children on the plane during an argument, but he didn't hit the child. Brad is denying claims of inappropriate behavior." According to Radar Online, Pitt's pal claimed that his wife Jolie - mother of their six children is waging a nasty campaign against him for personal reasons and not just because she is interested in the safety of the kids. "Angelina is putting out (the abuse) story to take the kids away from him," the source told Page Six. The Los Angeles Police Department was claimed to be investigating the issue however, LAPD has denied it. And under California law, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services cannot confirm or deny anything. "LAPD is not handling any report or allegations into child abuse against Brad Pitt," public information Officer Jenny Houser told USA TODAY "The law does not allow us to confirm or deny the subjects or content of our investigations," children's services spokesman Armand Montiel told USA TODAY. There were also speculations that Brangelina case was referred to the FBI because they allegedly took place in the air while the family was flying from France to the U.S. "The FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued," FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said to USA TODAY. Henry Shelton, right, the founder of the Pawtucket-based George Wiley Center, is pictured in a 2009 file photo. Shelton, a longtime activist who battled for more public spending on social welfare and anti-poverty causes, died Wednesday at age 86. Director of "Kami's Party" asks Iranians to download his banned film and donate to charity 09/24/16 Source: Tavoos Art and Iranian-filmfestival.com The Film was downloaded 5000 times in one day! Kami's Party Watch the trailer "Kami's Party" which had its world premiere at Black Nights Film Festival 2013, Cologne Film Festival 26-29 May 2016, and received the best film award at the 3rd Prague Iranian Film Festival, Czech Republic 2014, did not get the required permission to go on screen in his homeland. Protesting against the banning Ali Ahmadzadeh put a copy of his film on the internet for free download and asked those who downloaded it and were eager to pay, to donate the money to the Children's Charity Refaah. In a note to his audience Ali Ahmadzadeh wrote nobody received any salary for this film, but they will share in this act of charity together with you and your participation. Director: Ali Ahmadzadeh Original title: Mehmouniye Kami International title: Kamis Party Movie Type: Fiction, First Feature Producer: Ali Ahmadzadeh CAST: Mina Sadati, Nazanin Farahani, Pegah Ahangarani, Mehdi Koushki, Misa Molavi Synopsis Negin is spending a few days on holiday with her boyfriend Omid and her sister Nazanin in a villa on the banks of the Caspian Sea. Not having had news of Omid for several hours Negin decides to go with her friend Farnaz to a party being held by Kami, a common friend. The two young women drive off to Lavassan, a small district on the outskirts of Tehran, where the party is taking place. Negin doesn't realize, however, that a surprise awaits her in the trunk of the car. Director's Statement Kami's Party attempts to depict the relationships between young members of today's Iranian upper class which, for reasons unknown, have never been depicted in any other Iranian film. The movie does not judge its characters nor make any ideological statement, rather it tries to portray the everyday concerns of upper class young people. Seeing as certain explicit scenes cannot be shown in Iranian cinema, the road movie genre seemed to be the best way of both overcoming the problem and of tackling some of the issues raised regarding the lives of the characters in the film. US vows to change course on JCPOA: Iran's President Rouhani 09/24/16 Source: Press TV Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the United States has promised to change the way it is implementing last year's nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani departing New York (photo by Mona Hoobehfekr, ISNA) Speaking to reporters upon his arrival in Tehran from New York on Friday, Rouhani added that the ministerial meeting of a commission established to monitor the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) confirmed that the US is not complying with the nuclear agreement. "The Joint Commission verified the Islamic Republic of Iran's stance and did not see the US conduct as consistent with the JCPOA," the Iranian president said. European Union's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini: JCPOA Should Benefit Iran (Source: Iranian daily Financial Tribune) "In the ministerial meeting of the Joint Commission on the implementation of the JCPOA, all [sides] told the US what it is conducting is not consistent with the JCPOA and the US promised to rectify this trend," he added. Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia - plus Germany signed the JCPOA on July 14, 2015. It went into effect on January 16, and resolved a long-running dispute over the Iranian nuclear program. Source: Iranian daily Hafte Sobh Under the JCPOA, the Islamic Republic has agreed to roll back certain aspects of its nuclear program - including the volume of its uranium stockpiles enriched to the 20-percent level - and has provided international atomic monitors enhanced access to its nuclear facilities. In return, Iran's partners agreed to terminate all nuclear-related sanctions against Iran. Some international banks, however, still shy away from financing trade deals and processing transactions with Iran fearing US penalties. The Iranian president said the Islamic Republic has the right to make use of the opportunity created after the nuclear agreement's implementation and "seriously challenge any possible breach." "The New York Complaints" Source: Front page of Iranian daily Vatan Emrooz (affiliated with the hardliners) Rouhani was in New York to deliver a speech at the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. On the sidelines of the event, he held talks with senior officials including the prime ministers of Italy, Britain, Norway, Sweden, Iraq, Pakistan, Japan and Greece and the presidents of France, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Switzerland and Turkey. He also sat down with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The Iranian president attended a joint press conference following his speech on Thursday and met Muslim leaders and American intellectuals. Source: Iranian daily Setareh Sobh Its no Elite controller, but the Xbox Design Lab and new Xbox One S controller make for a colorful step up from the stock Xbox One gamepad. My $80 powder-blue-and-orange Xbox Design Lab controller arrived recently, and Ive fallen in love with its look. Maybe youre not so easily swayed. Maybe you hate it. Thats fine. More than fine, actuallythats kind of the whole point. Last year Microsoft released the $150 high-end Elite controller for a segment of the market traditionally supported by third parties and aftermarket parts dealers. That undertaking was by all accounts a rousing success, way beyond Microsofts predictions. And so at E3 this year Microsoft announced it would be stepping into another traditionally aftermarket realm: custom controllers. Xbox Design Lab lets you construct your own Xbox One S controller: For $20 more than the stock Xbox One S controller (available for its list price of $60 on Amazon), you can select the color of the front, rear, bumpers and triggers, D-pad, thumbsticks, face buttons, and the Menu and View buttons. Artistic expression I took a spin through the process, which is how I ended up with my GT40-inspired controller. The Design Lab website is easy enough to navigate, though much harder to use effectively. You can create some truly awful monstrosities. Honestly, the pool of colors to choose from isnt that broad, especially for some of the components, like the thumbsticks. Many of the colors arent complementary, either. Its much, much easier to design something hideous than attractive. Microsoft can tout however many millions of color combinations, but the reality is there are probably a hundred that look reasonably inoffensive. Maybe a few dozen that look capital-G good. But you still get quite a bit more choice than Im used to with first-party controllers. I spent about an hour tinkering with the website, creating various Frankensteins and even a tongue-in-cheek rendition of the stock Xbox One controller before looking at the highest-rated community designs for inspiration and settling on powder blue and orange. Im pretty excited by the result. The color here is infused into the plastic, not painted on afterward like with many third-party shops custom controllersa small distinction, but vital to maintaining that official first-party controller aesthetic. And the pad looks even better in person than it did on the sitethe difference between the matte plastic of the body and the glossy plastic of the bumpers/triggers is a subtle touch I didnt anticipate. Place in the lineup Now, the big question: How does this controller (regardless of custom color or not) stack up against the original Xbox One controllers? From left to right: The original stock Xbox One controller, custom Xbox One S, and Xbox One Elite (with rounded sticks). Short answer: The Xbox One Elite controller is still best of the best. Thats no surprise to meIve still got an Elite controller hooked to my PC and use it weekly for various console-first games. However, the Xbox One S controller is a step up from the original version of the Xbox One controller. It even has a lead over last years slight redesign. First and foremost, the Xbox One S controller has Bluetooth. You no longer need to buy Microsofts massive Xbox One wireless dongle then try to fit it into one of your USB slots (while blocking half a dozen others in the process). You can only connect one Xbox One S controller at a time with Bluetooth, but I doubt most people care about that limitation. And its rippled into other environments tooValve issued an update so the Steam Link works seamlessly with the Xbox One S controller through Bluetooth, too. That makes the Xbox One S controller more viable for wireless PC use (say, in the living room) than the Xbox One controller. It also folds in improvements Microsoft has introduced into the stock Xbox One controller since 2013, like the 3.5mm jack on the bottom of the controller. The requisite chat adapter thingamajig you needed for the original Xbox One controller was an ugly wart, and Im happy to see it die. You also get the myriad small design tweaks: The rear of the controller is now textured where the original stock Xbox One controller was smooth. The central Xbox logo jewel is slightly smaller, and the contour lines around it have been adjusted. The controllers overall shape has been slightly tweaked for a more ergonomic grip. A close-up of the textured back rear grips And the bumpers are now softer and squishiermore like the Elite controller. Thats excellent news, because the original Xbox Ones bumpers were so loud and stiff in 2013 as to be obnoxious. Unfortunately the Xbox One S D-pad seems similarly soft and squishy, which I dont like. Its still better than the Xbox 360s mushy D-pad, but its a step down from the original Xbox One controller. Bottom line My official ranking overall? The Xbox One Elite controller on top, then the Xbox One S, Xbox 360, and in last place the original stock Xbox One controller. The Elite still has quite a bit going for iteven after almost a year of use, my Elites analog sticks still glide like theyve been newly oiled. Its a beautiful controller, and Id love for Microsoft to create an Xbox Design Lab for custom Elite controllers. But the Xbox One S controller, in all its various color variants? Sure, you can get the stock Xbox One S controller for less, but the customization is damn nice. The Xbox Design Lab wouldve been great to have while growing up in a household with three other siblings. We couldve settled the No, this is my controller argument once and for all. Hell, thats pretty much my plan for this one. The powder blue controller? Thats mine now. You want to play at my house, you can use the Xbox One controller that came with my console, clicky bumpers and all. UPDATE (Wednesday, Nov. 16): California judge rejects charges involving escort site Backpage Five years after the National Association of Attorneys General urged classified advertisement website Backpage.com to remove its escort listings, law enforcement officials appear no closer to realizing their goal of eliminating what they consider thinly disguised solicitations for prostitution. Since the letter signed by all 50 attorneys general was sent to Backpage, there have been some successes in prosecuting the pimps who place the ads, which dance around the edges of the law by withholding most mentions of price for candy, massages, and service. Just last week, the San Bernardino County Human Trafficking Task Force arrested Marquell Deante Kell the King Stewart, who investigators said forced juvenile girls to work for him and advertised their availability on Backpage. In August, detectives said they broke up a ring trafficking enslaved Chinese nationals that operated in nine counties, including San Bernardino and Riverside, and advertised on Backpage. But the big prizes, Backpage.com and other websites that host the ads, remain out of reach, protected by federal law and the First Amendment. They are a tool for human traffickers, said San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos. We have seen the ongoing victimization of those being trafficked for sex in San Bernardino County and across the country. Liz McDougall, Backpages general counsel, disagrees. She says the company is on firm legal ground and works hard to report abuses of the website. Still, law enforcement officials are keeping their noses to the keyboard. Wednesday, Sept. 28, Ramos, president of the National District Attorneys Association, will be one of the opening speakers at an international human trafficking summit in Honolulu. Ramos said he plans to discuss successes his office has had fighting human trafficking suppression, victims rights, Stop the John and intervention and the next steps that should be taken with legislation. To me that is really just a crime that is so easy to access for both the john and the traffickers, Ramos said. PROTECTED SPEECH Any legislative action would likely involve Congress attempting to amend the Communications Decency Act, an effort that would be sure to touch off a constitutional fight, said Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Irvine School of Law. A court ruling in March strengthened Backpages legal position. The U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit against Backpage brought by three women who had appeared in escort ads posted by their pimps. The judges ruled that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act prohibits treating an online service provider such as Backpage as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider. Chemerinsky said the ruling that puts the onus on the advertiser to comply with anti-prostitution laws means Its going to be very difficult to stop things like Backpage from being able to have the ads. With the First Amendment protecting commercial speech, Chemerinsky said, law enforcements best alternative would be for police to target individual pimps, one lurid listing at a time. Theres no doubt what it is for, he said, while adding, Just because some (ads) are illegal doesnt mean they all are. BACKPAGE MUST ANSWER Police department vice squads scour Backpage ads, looking for cases to pursue. Theyll look for photographs that appear to depict minors and contact the advertiser to set up an undercover sting. They go after the pimps. Police now largely consider the prostitutes to be victims and offer them services and the opportunity to redirect their lives. Backpage has said it scans for 25,000 terms and code words linked to prostitution, sex trafficking and child exploitation, and it reports about 400 suspicious ads every month to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. I firmly believe what we are doing is part of the solution and in the best interest for the victims, said McDougall, the Backpage attorney. Backpage will have to prove that point after the U.S. Supreme Court this month refused to block a congressional subpoena seeking documents on how Backpage screens ads for human trafficking. The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations had sought the documents as part of its investigation into human trafficking over the Internet. McDougall, meanwhile, drew a distinction between the criticism from elected officials such as district attorneys and attorneys general, and what she said is support from front-line police who combat human trafficking. This has nothing to do with politics, and everything to do with victims, said Ramos, who has announced plans to run for state Attorney General in 2018. San Bernardino police vice Detective Kim Hernandez praised Backpage, to a point. She said Backpage is responsive to requests for records on those who purchase escort ads In that way thats positive, Hernandez said. But I think that they could do better as an organization to combat human trafficking if they didnt allow the escort ads at all. Asked if she is hopeful about her mission, Hernandez said: My biggest sense of hopefulness is that people are becoming more educated about human trafficking. My hopefulness comes from increasing sentencing requirements. RELATED Far from home, human trafficking ring causes an inhumane existence Contact the writer: brokos@scng.com or 951-368-9569 Gov. Jerry Brown has once again vetoed a bill to help four Riverside County cities in whats become the Inland Empires political rendition of the movie Groundhog Day. The governors office announced the veto of SB 817 on Friday, Sept. 23. The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Richard Roth, D-Riverside, would have restored vehicle license fee revenue to Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Menifee and Wildomar, which lost the income stream in 2011. Roth and the cities have been fighting to get it back ever since. In whats become a familiar pattern, Roths bill sailed through the Legislature, only to succumb to Browns veto as it did in 2012 and 2014. In his latest veto message, Brown noted he signed legislation in 2015 to provide $24 million in relief for the four cities. While I commend Senator Roths tireless commitment to assist the cities, this bill requires the state to make additional and long-term general fund spending commitments, Brown wrote in his veto letter. As such, this proposal must be considered in light of other budget priorities during upcoming budget deliberations. In a news release, Roth, whose district includes Eastvale and Jurupa Valley, said: While I am disappointed to see this effort vetoed, I am encouraged to see the governors recognition of the financial plight of our regions new cities. While helpful, one time funding has not resolved our cities struggle to provide essential services to residents. The four cities saga has gone to the heart of local leaders disdain for a Sacramento establishment seen as favoring other parts of California over the Inland Empire. Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Menifee and Wildomar all incorporated this century, and as new cities, they relied to a greater degree on vehicle license fee revenue. But faced with a budget crunch, state lawmakers in 2011 re-allocated the fees, leaving deep holes in the fledgling cities budgets. At one point, Jurupa Valleys council started down the path of disincorporation, fearing the city wouldnt have enough to pay for basic services. Contact the writer: 951-368-9547 or jhorseman@scng.com Like many 8-year-olds, Domenick Rodriguez has dreams for his future. The Norton Space and Aeronautics Academy student hopes to one day be a firefighter. He also has plans for his city, San Bernardino. Its cool, theres lot of fun things to do and I live here, Domenick said Saturday morning. He and his family were among the first to arrive at Perris Hill Park for a Fight the Blight community clean up event. We should clean it up because it makes our city look more better and clean. Proudly wearing his #FightBlight T-shirt and carrying a black trash bag, the small boy eagerly ran off to start picking up trash and rubbish from the park. He inspires me, said his mother, Brenda Rodriguez who said the young boy has always been mindful of what takes place in his community. For the last two years, Domenick, his mother and sister, Keilani, 13, have woken up a little earlier on trash day to clean up their neighborhood sidewalks. We live across the street from Bradley (Elementary) School and he says Mom, lets clean up there, too, Rodriguez said. He just always really wants to help everyone he can. Rodriguez said she learned of the community clean up through a post on the San Bernardino Police Departments Facebook page. She told Domenick about it and he immediately lit up, she said. We should all learn something from that young man, San Bernardino city spokeswoman Monica Lagos said. Its great to hear that thats ingrained in our youth. This really is their city and its what they make of it. The Rodriguez family were among more than 100 volunteers about 60 were from Cal State San Bernardino and the California Art Institute who gave up their Saturday morning to help clean up the park and the surrounding areas. In the first hour, volunteers collected at least a dozen large bags of trash and refuse. The clean up of Perris Hill Park was second such effort in the city. The first took place in June. That one went really well and today we should also have a great turnout, said Eileen Hards, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino Police Department, one of the partners that make up the Quality of Life team. Other agencies helping with Saturdays effort were the San Bernardino County Fire Department, Department of Public Works, Mayors Office, City Managers Office, CalTrans and Burrtec. While the group of volunteers for the first clean up was smaller than Saturdays, both Hards and Lagos agreed that all who showed up were enthusiastic and dedicated to tidying up the Waterman Corridor. The clean up days are a quarterly event that coincide with the citys free dump days where residents can bring large items to designated areas for disposal. I think its a good idea because it will make our city look nicer and hopefully eventually we hope it will help with other things like crime, Rodriguez said. The next clean up day will take place Oct. 29 at Seccombe Lake. A person who fell from a horse in Garner Valley, northeast of Anza, on Friday morning was the subject of a rescue. Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters were called to the area of Pathfinder Road and Table Mountain Road about 10:05 a.m., according to a news release from the department. When they reached the patient, they found he or she had serious injuries, according to the release. A Cal Fire spokeswoman did not know the patients age or gender. By 11:30 a.m., the patient was flown to a nearby hospital, the release said. A bill that could be adopted by the U.S. Senate this year would make it more difficult for labor unions to organize workers at Native American tribal businesses. But regardless of whether the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act makes it all the way through Congress and is signed by President Barack Obama which, based on a statement he made, appears to be unlikely some tribes that operate Californias Native American casinos appear to be making it easier, and not harder, for organized labor to increase its footprint in that industry. The federal law if passed in its current form would exempt casinos and other tribal enterprises from the National Labor Relations Act, the 1935 law that protects the rights of workers to bargain collectively for wages and other benefits and to negotiate with and join a labor union. The law also protects the rights workers have to discuss working conditions among themselves. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act last November on a 249-177 vote that mostly fell along party lines. A companion bill was approved by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in June. However, a number of California tribes that operate casinos, including three of the largest ones in the Inland region, have in the past six weeks amended their deal with the state, initiating changes that will make it easier for a labor union to attempt to organize casino employees. These amendments to the 1999 compacts that created Native American casinos in California would supersede the federal law. The amendments, known as the Tribal Labor Relations Ordinance, were adopted in August by the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. More than 20,000 people in Riverside and San Bernardino counties work at tribal casinos, and the overwhelming majority of them are not Native Americans. Nationally, an estimated 600,000 people work at Indian gaming operations. Tribal casinos across the country took in an estimated $29.9 billion in revenue in 2015, according to data from the National Indian Gaming Commission. That represented a 5 percent increase from the previous year. Jack Gribbon, California political director for UNITE-HERE, a union that represents workers in the hospitality and casino industries, said the states measure offers the same level of protection to the rights of workers as the 81-year-old federal law. Its an accommodation that works for the state, the tribes and the workers, Gribbon said. The amended compacts signed by the three Inland tribes and about nine others in California also reduce the revenue the tribes agreed to pay the state under the 1999 compact. The money the tribes would not be sending to the state will go to local communities and government agencies for economic and infrastructure improvement projects, along with fire and police agencies and education. It also allows tribes to send more money to Native Americans in more remote parts of California that do not have casino revenue. The new compact emphasizes and solidifies our ongoing commitment to local communities which we are proud to be part of and have consistently supported, Jeff Grubbe, tribal chairman of the Agua Caliente group, said in a statement released Aug. 4. The measure also gives the tribes more money to reinvest in their own casino operations, to ensure that gaming money stays in the area, Grubbe said. Any tribe with at least 250 employees is eligible to negotiate a revised compact. The House bill ratified last November was introduced by Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Ill. A representative from Rokitas office did not respond to several requests for comment. Sen. Jerry Moran, the Kansas Republican who introduced SB248, the Senates version of the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act, issued a statement after the June hearing that stressed the concept of tribal sovereignty. State, city and local government workers are not covered by the National Labor Relations Act, and he called on tribal governments to have the same status for dealing with their employees. SB248 would prevent an unnecessary and unproductive overreach by the NLRB into the sovereign jurisdiction of tribal governments, Moran wrote in a commentary on his website. Gribbon, the UNITE-HERE official, said the NLRB essentially protects workers rights, and he criticized the bill as an attack on unions, which do not represent many Southern California workers. Workers at the Pala Casino in northern San Diego County are the only ones with UNITE-HERE representation, Gribbon said. We dont care for it, Gribbon said of SB248. It undermines our ability to organize. Obama has not issued a definitive statement on whether he would sign the law, but has indicated that he would oppose a measure that he believed did not support workers rights. Last November when the House measure passed, he said in a statement he would support the measure only if the tribes adopt labor standards and procedures reasonably equivalent to those in the National Labor Relations Act. The issue of how federal labor laws should be applied to large tribal entities such as casinos is one that started to mushroom nationally in part because of an Inland case from more than a decade ago. In that case, the NLRB was asked to rule on a dispute at San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino near San Bernardino. The dispute was between two unions that wanted to represent San Manuel workers. One union filed an unfair labor practices charge against its competitor, claiming the other union was unfairly given better access to employees. But the real issue was whether the labor board, a five-member body of presidential appointees, had jurisdiction over a dispute over an enterprise owned and operated by a Native American government authority. The board in 2004 ruled that federal labor officials did have jurisdiction because the San Manuel casino and others like it were essentially competing with established casinos in Las Vegas about four hours away by car for the publics gaming dollar. That meant the tribal casinos were engaged in interstate commerce. Also, the NLRB found that, although it was a tribal casino, most of its employees were not Native Americans. San Manuel appealed that decision, but it was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 2007. Contact the writer: business@pressenterprise.com A few miles north of Idyllwild, nestled along the creek that flows through Dark Canyon, sits a Riverside County park facility known as Lawler Lodge. Used almost exclusively for youth group camping, its history dates back nearly 100 years to one of the most influential attorneys in Los Angeles. Oscar Lawler came to Los Angeles from Iowa in 1888 and studied law, eventually passing the bar. He quickly made a name for himself, and in 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt appointed him the U. S. attorney for Southern California. After spending some time in Washington during President Howard Tafts administration, he returned to Los Angeles and practiced law in the region. Lawlers wife, Hilda, was very active, performing endless charity work for children, especially the Childrens Hospital in Los Angeles. The Lawlers busy life made them desire a getaway place. Lawler had done some legal work with water companies in the San Jacinto Mountains and had fallen in love with the area. In 1915, he and his wife bought 80 acres in Dark Canyon. Within a couple of years, the Lawlers were constructing a lodge-style building on their property, modeled after the Yosemite Lodge that had only just been completed in that park. They even got the same contractor to build their scaled-down version. Completed in 1919, the lodge was constructed of cedar that was found and harvested in the area. It took the Lawlers little time to start enjoying their new home away from home, and soon the lodge was entertaining some of the more notable members of Los Angeles society of the 1920s and 30s, including movie stars, political dignitaries and even Will Rogers, their Beverly Hills neighbor. The Lawlers and their friends enjoyed the mountain retreat for some 35 years. On Feb. 11, 1954, Hilda Lawler died quite suddenly. Lots of tributes came in for her, including one from the noted social columnist Hedda Hopper, who said of Hilda Lawler and the Lawler Lodge, Many times I visited the Lawler mountain home near Idyllwild. From the broad veranda one looked down on four huge straight pine trees, and Hilda would say, Those are my four children. She referred to the trees which they all loved so much as her string of pearls. The widowed Oscar Lawler began trying to come up with a fitting memorial to his wife. He hit upon the idea of granting their mountain retreat to Riverside County for use as a youth camping facility. That objective came about on July 6, 1954, when Lawler deeded the facility to the county with the stipulation that, said property shall be used as a mountain campground and place of recreation for organized and supervised groups of boys and girls of school age The general purpose of such camp ground and place of recreation shall be to give the young people using it opportunity for experience in outdoor life, with recreational and educational features, having particular regard for the promotion of patriotism and good citizenship, self-reliance, the practice of the Golden Rule, nature study, protection of our forests and wild life and the like. More than 60 years later, Lawler Lodge still is providing the camping experiences wished for by Oscar Lawler in memory of his wife, Hilda. If you have an idea for a future Back in the Day column about a local historic person, place or event, contact Steve Lech and Kim Jarrell Johnson at backinthedaype@gmail.com. Some parents remain jittery but others said Friday they have no qualms about their children returning to the Jurupa Valley school where one student has now been confirmed to have leprosy. Still, many parents kept their children home for a week after a doctors diagnoses of leprosy, or Hansens disease, in two Indian Hills Elementary School students was reported to school officials by one of their parents Sept. 1. School attendance appeared back to normal Friday, a day after Riverside County public health officials reported that the National Hansens Disease (Leprosy) Programs lab confirmed one of the two students has leprosy. Friday morning, children were escorted to school by their parents or dropped off by car. Some parents said theyre anxious after hearing the lab results. Its just very, very scary, said Luis Estrada, walking his two young sons to school. Im just thinking, is it going to be secure to bring my kids here again? Test results didnt confirm the second student, who appears to live in the same house also has the disease. The two children stopped going to school after the diagnoses. Officials wont say if theyve returned. Health officials said the infected child is being treated and is no longer contagious. CONCERN MAKES SENSE A UC Riverside leprosy expert said she understands why parents of classmates might be worried about potential exposure. Before treatment began, there was a chance Mycobacterium leprae, the bacteria that causes the disease, spread via coughing, sneezing or even singing to children in close proximity in the same classroom, said Meera Nair, assistant professor of biomedical sciences. Yet thats more likely for family, who have closer contact. Children with healthy immune systems wouldnt likely have been infected even if exposed because immune systems easily get rid of it, said Nair, who lectures medical students about leprosy and other mycobacteria. I know the risk is low, but that doesnt mean parents wont be concerned, said Nair, who has a daughter in kindergarten. Children in the same classroom taking immunosuppressant drugs or with weakened immune systems would be at more risk. Nair advises their parents to seek medical advice if a child develops a big patch of lightened skin over the years. Estrada doesnt know if his sons, who are in kindergarten and third grade, shared a classroom with the infected child. He said hes not an expert, but is uneasy about contagion despite what officials say because he works in a hospital. Figures provided by Jurupa Unified School District indicate attendance returned to normal Sept. 12 at the school, where about 625 students are enrolled. Absentee rates gradually declined the first week after the news surfaced. On Sept. 6, the first day back after Labor Day, 93 students were absent. By that Friday, only 39 were out. Sixteen children missed school this Friday. var _ndnq = _ndnq || []; _ndnq.push([embed]); HARD TO PASS ON Fontana teacher Krista Gregg, whose three children go to Indian Hills school, said the lab results dont bother her after she talked with her family doctor and researched leprosy on the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Im not nervous at all about sending my kids there, she said Thursday night while watching her second-grade son play Little League baseball at Clay Park. Two other moms who took their children to school Friday morning said theyre not troubled by the leprosy. When there are problems at the school, officials quickly take action to protect students. They shut school down once when a student had lice, and alerted parents and decontaminated classrooms after the leprosy diagnoses, said Francesca Ruiz, dropping off her two daughters. Leah Edwards, 24, said she wont keep her kindergartner out of school. She said shes confident officials would have told her if her daughter had come into contact with the two students. It doesnt really bother me. Things happen, she said. Its just something thats so hard to pass on. Gregg, 39, said she thinks theres little chance her children came into contact with the disease and an even slimmer chance theyd get leprosy. Her children dont seem worried, but her fourth-grade son asked one day, Whats leprosy? Still, knowing symptoms can take two to 10 years to appear, Gregg said she wont hesitate to take her kids to the doctor if needed. I will be watching for anything weird any unusual rashes, she said. Before this, we would have just put ointment on it and moved on. Contact the writer: 951-368-9444 or shurt@scng.com Staff writer David Danelski contributed to this report. RELATED Tests confirm Jurupa Valley child has leprosy Schools chief at center of scare Diseases ancient stigma still a problem Classrooms sanitized after leprosy report Parents notified of leprosy fears Contact the writer: 951-368-9444 or shurt@scng.com Alondra Naves just transferred from Riverside City College to Cal Poly Pomona, and already shes thinking about pursuing graduate school. Naves, 21, is interested in the public health field. Growing up undocumented, she noticed a lack of quality health care in her community. Doctors and other providers didnt understand residents specific needs, and health care costs were too expensive. Theres a lack of cultural competency, said Naves, who wants to push for immigrant-friendly health care policies. Im setting it (graduate school) as a goal, she added. Graduate school is becoming a reality for many undocumented students. President Barack Obamas Deferred Action for Children Arrivals, or DACA, has encouraged more students to consider grad school since they would be authorized to work in the U.S. and put their degrees to use. And in California, a law that took effect in January allows them to obtain professional licenses in fields such as medicine and law. Public universities and some private schools are taking note. Cal State San Bernardino held its Dreaming of Grad School conference to inform such students how to prepare and pay for graduate school. We are the generation of the first to break through it, said Iveth Diaz, a graduate studies support coordinator at Cal State San Bernardino. We now are able to exercise our professions. However, not all agree that public universities should provide resources for these students. Tuition has been rising steadily. People are struggling to get through college, and the people they are most concerned about are people who are in the country illegally, said Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a Washington, D.C.-based group that advocates better border security and stopping illegal immigration. DISCOUNTED IN-STATE TUITION Statistics on the number of undocumented students attending California colleges are hard to find. About 74,000 students at UC, Cal State and community colleges last year received waivers allowing them to pay a discounted in-state tuition rather than the higher rate for nonresidents, according to EdSource, a nonprofit education-advocacy group. Most of the recipients are thought to be undocumented students, mainly from Latin America and Asia, who graduated from California high schools, EdSource said. UC 2013 data show that the number of undergrad and grad students receiving the discounted in-state tuition increased annually from 2002 to 2012. In the 2002-03 school year, 94 undergrad and grad students labeled as potentially undocumented received the funding. In 2011-12, that number rose to 619. In response to the rising enrollments of such students, Dreamer centers have opened in several public universities to help students navigate college life. These kinds of resources can exclude others who are not illegally in the U.S., Mehlman said. Undocumented students, he said, arent the only ones who have dreams and aspirations, but you would never know that from the way the University of California system seems to operate. PURSUING MEDICAL SCHOOL These students in college have shown a high interest in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or STEM, fields, and some are pursuing medical school and other public health degrees. A 2015 report from the UndocuScholars Project research team, a group of graduate students and professors at UCLA, found that 28.2 percent of the studys more than 900 participants reported pursuing studies in STEM fields. Theres definitely a tremendous interest and need for these students to have the resources, information and the support to pursue these fields at a graduate level, said Angela Chen, director of Pre-Health Dreamers, a network of more than 800 health career-bound undocumented students in more than 40 states. 800 health career-bound students living illegally in more than 40 states. Chen said a survey conducted among the Pre-Health Dreamers network found that more than 94 percent want to practice health services in underserved areas. A lot of folks have personal experiences with the lack of health care for themselves or for their family members, and usually at a young age they see how important it is for their families to have quality and accessible care, Chen said. Those seeds are planted in their educational journey a long time ago, she added. That motivation and passion for that work is really personal but also very communal. I think thats really the driving factor for many of them. OBSTACLES REMAIN Many of these students, though, find it challenging to pay for graduate school. While DACA allows them to get work permits and continue their education, they are not eligible for federal financial aid. Once you get to the grad school level, the options for paying are very minimal in terms of grants and financial aid, said Rafael Topete, a coordinator with the Dreamers Success Center at Cal State Long Beach. Topete said students are directed to available grants or fellowships. He said he has seen students write letters to foundations for funding, and some even create GoFundMe pages to pay for graduate school. One piece of legislation would address this challenge, particularly for those pursuing medical degrees. The Medical DREAMER Opportunity Act by state Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, would allow students to access the states scholarship and loan-forgiveness programs regardless of immigration status. The bill passed the Legislature and is awaiting Gov. Jerry Browns signature or veto. On top of funding challenges, students also encounter universities that are not aware of resources available to those with or without DACA. In June, the ACLU of Southern California accused Loma Linda University of violating federal civil rights law when it refused to enroll a would-be student in classes because of her DACA status. Veronica Velasquezs DACA status became a problem in April when she was accepted into the universitys graduate physical therapy program. Eight days later, according to the ACLU, Velasquez was told she couldnt enroll in classes. The university later admitted it had made a mistake and offered to enroll her. Velasquez declined, deciding instead to attend Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona. Diaz, who coordinates graduate studies support at Cal State San Bernardino, said students need to do their research for schools theyre aiming to attend. Being able to identify these undocumented- friendly schools is important, she said. Contact the writer: 951-368-9462, amolina@scng.com, or on Twitter @alemolina Like much about his campaign, Donald Trumps threat to sue the New York Times over unflattering coverage would be amusing if its implications werent so serious. It stems, of course, from the wish of all candidates and office holders to avoid headlines that might undermine their popularity and cost them elections. But the fact that all politicians have trouble with the news media doesnt mean that some examples arent worse than others. One of the worst when it comes to preventing the political press from doing its job of reporting what public officials are up to is Hillary Clinton. See the months she goes between news conferences. See her resistance to full disclosure of many aspects of her private and public life, including controversial parts of her record as U.S. secretary of state. See how her instinct for secrecy turns her personality from charming to taciturn as soon as a journalists notebook opens. But Trumps frequent outbursts and threats against the press and broadcast media take this to a different level. The latest happened Saturday. That day, the New York Times quoted public records to document how Trumps businesses had benefited from $885 million in tax breaks, grants and other public subsidies over the years. Separately, Times columnist Maureen Dowd, in a CNN interview, said she questioned Trump about violence at his campaign rallies, and the Republican presidential nominee said the rough stuff added excitement to the events. Trump responded with a series of missives on Twitter, ridiculing Dowd (crazy, wacky, a neurotic dope) and seeming to deny having the conversations she described. Trumps posts on the social media site included this: My lawyers want to sue the failing @NYTimes so badly for irresponsible intent. I said no (for now), but they are watching. Really disgusting. Legal experts mocked Trumps phrase irresponsible intent, which sounds like a legal doctrine but isnt. Perhaps Trump meant reckless disregard for the truth, which, along with malice, must be proven by a libel plaintiff under the precedent set by the U.S. Supreme Courts 1964 New York Times v. Sullivan ruling. Political observers doubted Trump actually would sue the newspaper. More likely, the candidate is just trying to work the media referees and stoke many supporters antipathy toward the press. Even if thats the intent, Trump is going about it in a way unseen in previous history. Along with his February proposal to open up our libel laws and make suing easier, and his campaigns barring of certain media outlets from his events, this talk betrays a contempt for a free press that would be worrisome in a president. One need not take sides in the decades-old fight between conservatives and the liberal media to think that elected officials must not be protected from press and public criticism. In fact, Trumps supporters, many of whom express wholesale distrust of the political class, should be as appalled as anyone by an attempt to stifle reporting and commentary about our leaders from media of any political stripe or no political stripe whatsoever. If Trump really took up this fight against the Times, it wouldnt end with this candidate and that newspaper. Let there be no doubt that Hillary Clinton would be right behind him in line at the courthouse door. The thorny issue of what defines an employee became a focus of a session on workers compensation at the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce convention Friday in Riverside. The issue matters because there is a high percentage of small businesses owned by Latinos in the state and an increasing number of independent contractors. The status of drivers for transportation provider Uber and some trucking companies has been questioned. Ive done five or six trials this year alone, all trucking companies with the truck drivers as independent contractors, and in each case they turned out to be employees, said Dora Padilla, workers compensation judge at the San Jose Workers Compensation Appeals Board and a panelist in the session. A lot of business owners arent sure what their obligations are to their workers, she said. I find a lot of problems where employers come in, and I believe them when they say, My attorney or my insurance person or my next door neighbor or my tio, they told me I can do this and have this person be an independent contractor and, no, I dont have workers comp insurance. And a person has gotten hurt. It never fails its some catastrophic injury. Employers are required to carry workers compensation insurance to pay for treatment for employees who sustain physical or psychological injuries on the job. According to Padillas presentation, a hirer is working with an independent contractor when the hirer: Lacks control over detail. Has no right to terminate the relationship. Makes payments by contract price. Does not furnish tools or materials. Does not have control over working hours. Calling employees independent contractors can have consequences, said Yvonne E. Lang, a partner with Pearlman, Borska & Wax. Payroll fraud dont do it! And if it is an independent contractor, youd better have a contract. Contact the writer: fbuck@scng.com or 951-368-9551. The Board Chairman of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB Bank), Daniel Owiredu is struggling to parry allegation of playing double roles in the running of the bank, having appointed himself as Chairman of the Credit Sub-committee of the bank. Following media publications pointing out several anomalies at the bank, including granting of huge loans to some clients with little or no security thereby over-exposing the institution, Mr. Owiredu admitted on Paul Adom-Otcheres Good Evening Ghana programme on Metro TV yesterday that indeed he is playing dual roles as the board chairman and presiding over the Credit Risk Sub-Committee where huge loans are approved. The final report of the Credit Sub-committee is usually presented to the board for final approval, which is incidentally chaired by Mr. Owiredu, raising serious conflict of interest situation. There is also a growing concern by some stakeholders of the bank that the chairman is operating like an executive chairman since he is said to be caught in the day-to-day operations of the bank as his consent is needed in the daily decisions of the financial institution. However, he explained that there was nothing wrong with him presiding over the credit committee since his predecessor had also played the same role. He cited his predecessors Dr Fritz Gockel and Kojo Thompson as having chaired the same committee. He said the Large Credit Sub-committee was established by Kojo Thompson in 2010 and he only follows the precedent. He said his chairing of the Credit Risk Committee doesnt affect checks and balances, explaining that there are other people in the bank who also approve loans but on limited levels. The Sub-committee reports to the board, presided over by Mr Owiredu after its work, thereby creating a big gap about good corporate governance issue. But he said loans are approved after the legal department has gone through the documents. However, some of the individuals and corporate entities could not service the loans and it is said that there is no adequate security to protect the bank. His inclusion, according to sources, empowered the board chairman to unduly influence activities of the sub-committee. Mr Owiredu had earlier issued a rejoinder denying the allegation that some dodgy loans had been approved without adequate collateral. Mr. Owiredu is a mining expert, having served as the President of the Ghana Chamber of Mines and Executive Vice President, Managing Director of the then Ashanti Goldfields and Chief Operating Officer of Golden Star Resources Limited, before he was appointed to the GCB Board. 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 Father of the lady who bit the penis of the fire officer who allegedly attempted raping her has jumped to her defence. Mr. Philip Ansah, the Techiman Municipal Fire Commander is currently battling his life following a bite on his penis by a community fire assistant under the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) who was stationed in the area. According to reports, the fire officer was said to have visited the lady who was posted to the station after midnight on Saturday and allegedly tried to have sexual intercourse with her without her consent. The lady whose name was given as Ataa, bit the penis of her superior after all attempt to resist the sexual act failed. The fire commander was later rushed to the hospital by his colleagues after an alarm was raised. Speaking in an interview with Kwame Tutu on Frontline on Rainbow Radio, father of the of the fire assistant,. Pastor Agyei Takyi confirmed the story adding that, ''my daughter bit his penis because the officer attempted to sexually abuse her. He said, the daughter was asleep and heard a knock on her door thinking that it was her fiancee who traveled back from Accra had opened the door only to see the commander standing behind the door. According to him, the commander had brought in some dirty clothes which he instructed her [daughter] to wash for him when sunrise. My daughter was extremely shocked that her commander knocked her door at dawn on grounds that he wanted his clothes washed. He later told her to give him water to drink and after she had done that, he started fondling and romancing her but she resisted. However, the commander insisted he will still sleep with her. But my daughter within 10 seconds bit his penis. He bled profusely. Source: rainbowradioonline.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 President John Mahama has denied reports suggesting he was bribing voters ahead of the December 2016 general elections. It followed a publication in yesterdays edition of DAILY GUIDE, which referred to a recent video in circulation in which the president was seen giving out cash to certain people while on a campaign trail. In another video footage, he was seen giving money to a Gonja chief in public. Immediately, the story came out, the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Julius Debrah, was first to shoot it down, claiming that it could not be true because the president does not carry cash with him when he is out and that if anything at all, it could have been campaign leaflets he (president) was sharing. Speaking on Joy FMs Super Morning Show programme yesterday, Mr Debrah, who has been paying courtesy visits to chiefs in the three Northern regions ahead of the elections, said although he had not seen the video, he did not believe the president would do such a thing. I believe sincerely that knowing President Mahama, he would not deliberately go to a market place and start throwing money around. He is a very experienced person. Having worked with him closely, I believe that under no circumstance will he be throwing money around, he stressed. The chief of staff indicated that it is also possible that it could be a leaflet. Anytime the president goes round, he does not carry cash on him; and that is the tradition from generation so I will be very surprised if the president had cash on him. Contradiction However, a source close to the president told DAILY GUIDE yesterday that the president gave out some money out of the goodness of his heart while campaigning in Accra and Sunyani recently. According to the source, regarding the first incident in which the president was seen in the video, which has gone viral, President Mahama saw a little girl crying because some boiled eggs she was selling in traffic had been pushed down by enthusiastic supporters and trampled upon. He therefore called the girl and gave her GH50 to compensate for the loss, the source added. In the second instance, as narrated to DAILY GUIDE, the source said President Mahama gave a woman GH20 to compensate for her onions which had also been scattered and trampled upon. There are other reports which suggest that President Mahama was seen giving money to a Gonja chief in public, which has raised concerns and also gone viral on social media. The source claimed the president gave an amount of GH500 during the NDC manifesto launch in Sunyani after the chief had appealed for funds to go to the hospital to treat an ailment. According to the source, President Mahama was worried about the impression being created that he was bribing voters wondering, With over 12 million voters, how many people can a person bribe to win an election? Interestingly, President Mahamas NDC Campaign Coordinator, who doubles as National Organiser of the NDC, Kofi Adams, raised doubts about the authenticity of the video footage. Speaking on Neat FMs morning show yesterday, he said, I doubt the authenticity of the video. And I doubt that what the president gave out was money. According to him, The president in the video pointed to one particular person to give out the gift. He might have done that for a reason. The president is compassionate and a giver. I dont see anything absolutely wrong about that. There is goodness in giving just like how others are giving waakye and koko. The video In that video, the presidential convoy is seen moving at a snail pace on the streets of Sabon Zongo at Abossey Okai, Accra, with the president spotting a white cap on top of a black coloured T-shirt and responding to cheers from the crowd. As the crowd cheered him on, he beckoned someone from the crowd to come and ordered his driver to halt. He is then seen reaching out for money from the vehicle and giving it out to the person, who meandered his way through the crowd amidst tight security to take the money. As the vehicle moved again, the president beckoned a few others to come and reached out for more cash from the vehicle and gave it out to them. He repeated the gesture a number of times, as the crowd surged forward to grab his hand for some cash. Since the beginning of this years electioneering campaign, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has shared a lot of goodies and freebies. The media have captured the sharing of gas cylinders, roofing sheets, outboard motors, fish pans, pieces of cloth sewing machines, motorbikes, bicycles, mobile phones, laptops and a whole lot of commodities apparently to entice the electorate to vote for the party. 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 Member of Parliament for Bantama, Henry Kokofu has lambasted President John Dramani Mahama for distributing what looks like money to market women at Abossey Okai. A video showing President John Mahama giving out something that is suspected to be money to some party supporters during a road campaign tour has gone viral. Though the President's Chief of Staff has discounted the claims that he was handing out money to the market women, some critics are not in congruity with the explanation given by Mr. Julius Debrah. That is something people have not taken notice of, Presidents dont carry money around. I never knew until I got to the presidency, he told Joy FM, adding he believes "sincerely that knowing President Mahama, he wouldnt deliberately go to a market place and start throwing money around. He is a very experienced person. Having worked with him closely I believe that under no circumstance will he be throwing money around. It is also possible that it could be a leaflet..." Speaking on Peace FM's 'kokrokoo', Hon. Kokofu wondered why the President would give money to market women at Abossey Okai when people in his hometown, Bole Bamboi, are living an impoverished life. According to him, the President's hometown Bole Bamboi has been recorded as the 7th poorest district in the nation with the residents struggling to make ends meet. He further bemoaned the neglect of the vicinity, saying the residents have also been complaining bitterly about their poor water system. Hon. Kokofu held strongly if the President has so much money to dash out, he should remember his own people and put measures in place to improve their living conditions. When you go to the poverty map designed by the government, it is the highest debt inequality in Northern Region. It is the third highest debt of poverty in the Northern Region. 7th poorest district in Ghana; 79.4% of the people there are below the poverty line of 3 cedis 50 pesewas," he told host Kwami Sefa Kayi. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has appealed to Ghanaians to save the country from the despondency, hardships, rising cost of living, widespread cases of corruption and record levels of unemployment currently prevailing in the country by voting out President Mahama in this years elections. According to Nana Akufo-Addo, the continued stay in office of President Mahama and his government is a threat to Ghanas future, as every sector of the Ghanaian economy, over the last 8 years, has been in constant decline, coupled with the collapse of every social intervention programme implemented by the Kufuor government. We have to save Ghana from John Dramani Mahama, and secure the future of our country. The continued stay in office of John Dramani Mahama is a threat to the future of our country. That is why in December, Ghanaians are voting for change. We (in the NPP) are coming to change Ghana, and bring in a government that is going to return the country onto the path of progress and prosperity, he said. The NPP flagbearer was addressing a mini-rally at BBC in Tema Community 2, in the Tema West constituency, on Friday, September 23, 2016, when he made this known. Nana Akufo-Addo stated that the ruling NDC government has been in office for the last 8 years, with President Mahama serving as Vice President for 4 years, and President for another 4 years. He (President Mahama) says despite all these years he has spent in office, he wants another 4 years so he can show to Ghanaians what he will do for them. In 8 years, we dont know what he has done for the people, and he wants another 4 years? he asked. The NPP flagbearer wondered, What does he want to continue? Is it the dumsor? Is it the record levels of unemployment? Today the NHIS has collapsed. Is this what he wants to continue? When schools reopen, every parent is in tears because there is no money to pay fees. Is this what he wants to continue? In spite of the hardships prevailing in the country, Nana Akufo-Addo is urging Ghanaians not to lose hope. Let no one deceive you that poverty is our lot in Ghana. This is not how God created us. God did not put us on this rich land to be poor. It is bad leadership that is making us poor. We are coming into office to create jobs and bring wealth and prosperity for all, without discrimination, he indicated. He assured that an Akufo-Addo government is coming into office, God-willing in 2017, to revive the NHIS, effectively implement the free SHS policy, undertake the industrial development of Ghana, which will include the 1-District-1-Factory policy, and revive our agriculture, amongst others. To bring all these into fruition, the NPP flagbearer appealed for the unalloyed support of residents in Tema West, stressing that Tema West has stood solidly behind the NPP, and were very grateful for that. We want this support strengthened further this year. He reiterated that I am not coming into office to steal the peoples money. I am coming into office so I can use the little wisdom and knowledge God has given me to help change the circumstances of our people. I need your help in order to do this. With barely 3 months to the holding of the December 7 elections, Nana Akufo-Addo urged all residents of Tema West to disregard any cries of skirt and blouse and vote massively for Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, the NPPs parliamentary candidate of the constituency. In the NPP the only process for selecting our leaders is through a vote. I was elected flagbearer by a vote. Likewise In Tema West, Hon. Abraham Osei Aidoo, Hon. Irene Naa Torshie and, now, Carlos Ahenkorah, were all elected by a voting process. It is not a surprise that you have Naa Torshie here supporting and backing Carlos Ahenkorah. These are the true blue NPP loyalists. We want a massive vote here in Tema West. We want all Ghanaians to come and ride on the back of the Elephant and push the NPP into Jubilee House. Ghana has become too miserable. We (in the NPP) are coming to change all these negative statistics and return the country onto the path of progress and prosperity, he concluded. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A little earlier today, One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson said she believed a same-sex marriage plebiscite wouldnt encourage hate speech against the LGBTI+ community, and that concerns it would have been blown way out of proportion. We could infer as much, really. The pressing thing is she said that on Melbournes JOY 94.9, a community broadcaster focused on the gay and lesbian community and just last week, JOY had to evacuate its studios after receiving a threat via email. Regarding the plebiscite, and the research predicting itll encourage seriously damaging rhetoric against already marginalised Australians, Hanson said I think you are actually blowing that out of proportion to make that an excuse why you shouldnt have a plebiscite. Despite the fact that Well, kinda seems like a pretty solid reason not to have a plebiscite, she was deadset that Australian society would have the ~ civil discourse ~ weve all been told so much about. Hanson said Well, Im sorry, I disagree. I dont believe theres going to be hate. Ever the optimist, that one. While she reaffirmed her commitment to populism and her stance that shed vote in the Senate for marriage equality if the Australian people called for it in a plebiscite, Hanson still outlined her personal grievances against the concept. When asked by a host if her partys goal of bringing about the necessary changes for fair and equal treatment of all Australians included giving straight and LGBTI+ Aussies the same marriage rights, Hanson said Ive come from a time when there was no discussion about gay marriage or gays and lesbians living together, or whatever but the gays and lesbians are now wanting to change my way of thinking, because they want to now take out the concept of marriage. To me marriage was between a man and a woman. Now youre wanting to change it. Then, seemingly as a final dismissal to thousands upon thousands of Australians who just want to get hitched, Hanson essentially said if you dont love it, leave: If you feel so strongly about it, Im sure you can move to that country and then you can have that marriage. Listen to the whole chat here. Source: JOY 94.9 / The Age. Photo:Sky News Australia / Twitter. This morning, the good people of Sydney woke up to an unusual sight more than a dozen memorial plaques, scattered around the city at the sites of departed music venues like Hugos, Goodgod and the Piano Room, emblazoned with the names and logos of the artists who got their start there. The likes of Flume, Alison Wonderland, Peking Duk, Flight Facilities, Nina Las Vegas, Anna Lunoe, Jagwar Ma, Bag Raiders, Sneaky Sound System, Yolanda Be Cool, RUFUS, Art vs Science, Cloud Control, The Preatures and Lorde herself gave their blessing to the campaign, intended to shift the conversation around Sydneys controversial lockout laws. Its sad to see the life and soul sucked out of our home town as the some of these venues are closing due to some very poorly thought out lawmaking. Clubs like this one are the cultural incubators that made it possible for ourselves and many other bands, DJs and producers to get a start in our careers. Its heartbreaking to see so many businesses close and we feel sorry for the next generation that they wont have the same opportunities we did coming up. STOP KILLING CULTURE!!! #keepsydneyopen A photo posted by BAG RAIDERS (@bag_raiders) on Sep 23, 2016 at 2:48pm PDT The guerrilla-style campaign is actually the result of months of hard work and planning by advertising creatives and life-long music lovers Jonno Seidler and Tristan Cornelius, in conjunction with the Keep Sydney Open movement. Seidler and friends had a hectic evening last night, whizzing around Sydney under cover of darkness to put the plaques up, and today, we spoke to him about the inspiration behind the campaign. PEDESTRIAN.TV: What was the thinking behind all of this? JONNO SEIDLER: I have been a music journo for 10 years, and what frustrated me about the conversation around the lockouts was that they all seemed to be focused around people drinking, getting into fights and being out late at night. Im almost 30, Im not out til 3am anymore, but I love live music its the reason I live, the reason Ive met most of my friends, and I felt like nobody was having a conversation about what was happening to the venues. P.TV: Live music venues have been hit hard by lockout laws JS: The venues are at the front line of the problem theyve been hit harder than anyone else. A lot of them couldnt take the pressure of the police presence, shorter trading hours, having to lock out patrons who were going outside to meet friends or have a ciggie. If they didnt shut down, they had to change their businesses to suit the new economy. Bar Brose in Darlinghurst is a hatted restaurant, but it used to be The Passage it was one of the places that had a 5am license, and musicians and DJs used to go there after they knocked off. They found it increasingly difficult to sustain a business after the lockouts, and there was no other way but to do something new. If youre not running a restaurant in Sydney, you cant survive. Some venues are still around, but theres nowhere near the amount of programming they used to have. P.TV: The plaques remind me of the ones you see around the London, at historical sites like Virginia Woolfs house was that the inspiration? JS: Yes. Tristan is an unbelievable art director, and we had a few chats about what we could do at one point, we had an idea of Sydney being silenced an using the mute button icon. At another point, we were going to take out silent ads on Spotify, with musicians like Flight Facilities talking at the very end. The idea we kept coming back to was was the blue plaques you see around London we thought it was an interesting idea to do that for people who were still alive. We played our first shows in venues that no longer exist. Theyve shut their doors because the lockout laws have crippled Sydneys late night economy. Tomorrow we headline Listen Out Festival in Melbourne for 15,000 people. We wouldnt have gotten here coming up in todays Sydney. So many other Australian artists may not be discovered without somewhere to play. Surely we arent the only ones who want our city back. #KeepSydneyOpen A photo posted by RUFUS / RUFUS DU SOL (@rufussounds) on Sep 23, 2016 at 2:03am PDT P.TV: Tell me about the work that went into putting this together JS: I know a lot of the artists through my line of work, so we reached out to them to get their approval and get them on board. We knew it would have a big impact if people got to see the plaques by their favourite artists sharing them on social media, because that gives this a lot of legitimacy. In terms of doing the plaques up the logistics were a bit of a nightmare. We had to get quotes for the materials, and Keep Sydney Open aint exactly drowning in money. In the end, we came up with a Frankenstein solution of laser-cut acrylic discs, with vinyl printed over them the logos of every band are laser-cut with a 3d printer. They were dreamed up by local sculpture artist Oliver Tanner. I physically stuck the logos on with superglue and that was a pain in the arse, because they they were finicky, and superglue dries quickly Played some fun as hell shows at Spectrum in Sydney over the years. Also Phoenix and QBar. All shutdown thanks to the Sydney lockouts. Music cannot flourish without decent venues, and the lockouts have decimated many. #keepsydneyopen A photo posted by Art vs Science (@artvssciencemusic) on Sep 23, 2016 at 1:25pm PDT P.TV: Are you worried theyll get torn down? JS: I was concerned the Hugos ones would go down and theyre apparently still there Im told Alison Wonderlands has been taken down. Weve also left about $1000 worth of flowers around the city, at the various memorials. P.TV: What are you hoping will be the end result of all this? JS: I want to change the conversation if were going to have a proper converation about the lockouts, we need to realistically take everything on board. More importantly, I think our country has a big problems with alcohol aside from all this. I think that rather than dealing with the actual binge drinking problem, were trying band-aid fixes like the lock-out, and were suddenly surprised when they dont really work. Its obvious that theres not going to be violence when theres no-one in a suburb anymore, but someone needs to step up and address the bigger issue. It wont be Mike Baird. Someone needs to say were going to talk to children about alcohol in the same way we do about sex. We need to have programs so kids dont learn about drinking by binging in a park. Its not surprising that we get from there to people going out and getting loaded and fighting in the street, when thats the environment. P.TV: What would be your best memory of a gig at one of the departed venues? JS: Thats a tough one, but Im going to make it a tie between live music and mechanically produced music, since Ian Callinan seems to think theres a difference. In the case of the former, I cant go past the classic Sosueme parties, which took over 34B, QW Bar and Spectrum. I swear in one evening I saw Joyride, Hayden James, Art Vs Science, Bag Raiders and Alison Wonderland all play live. For the latter, Bandits at Phoenix was a gem. Everything I know about electronic music, I learned from Nina Las Vegas, Anna Lunoe, Kato, Dan De Caires, Spruce Lee, Bad Ezzy and Levins. That club night was amazing. I miss it all the time. Photos: Patrick Stevenson & Sam MacDonald, Hobo / Facebook. Source: Keep Sydney Open / Jonno Seidler. BURLINGTON, Wash. -- Five people were fatally shot Friday night in the Cascade Mall in Burlington, and officers fanned out searching for the shooter, according to the Washington State Patrol. Four female victims were confirmed dead Friday evening, State Patrol Sgt. Mark Francis said. A male victim who had been flown to Seattle's Harborview Medical Center in critical condition died overnight, Francis tweeted at 3:28 a.m. Saturday. It's unclear if there were any other victims. No other details on the deceased were immediately available. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male in his 20s or 30s with a close-shaved haircut. He used a long gun similar to a hunting rifle, Francis said. Police released a security-footage photo of him shortly after 9 p.m. Francis said the suspected shooter was last seen walking west toward Interstate 5 from the mall around 7 p.m. A search at the mall and surrounding area included bomb-sniffing dogs and a helicopter. Just before 11 p.m., Francis said two-thirds of the mall had been cleared, but there were locked doors and rooms that needed to be opened. Emergency medics entered the 434,000-square-foot mall escorted by police, Francis said. Some people were still possibly holed up in the mall. The casualty count fluctuated through the evening. Law enforcement officers first said four people were fatally shot, then lowered the toll to three before raising it again. The four female victims were fatally shot in the Macy's store on the west side of the mall, the State Patrol said. Around 9:20 p.m., police were swarming an area directly across I-5 from the mall. Police were telling people, "Get out of here immediately; you're not safe here." Nearby residents were being told to stay inside and call 911 if they see anything suspicious. The Skagit County Department of Emergency Management also urged people to avoid the mall area. State transportation officials asked drivers to avoid the freeway near Highway 20, as well. Michelle Fuller said her niece was in the mall and heard the shots, and then led people to a nearby bathroom to hide. When her niece called her, "You could hear the panic in her voice." Tari Caswell told the Skagit Valley Herald that she was in the Macy's women's dressing room and heard what she thought were balloons popping, which seemed strange. "Then I heard seven or eight or more, and I just stayed quiet in the dressing room because it just didn't feel right," she told the Herald. "And it got very quiet. And then I heard a lady yelling for help, and a man came and got me and another lady, and we ran out of the store." People who were inside the mall were being taken to His Place Community Church near the mall, Francis said. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has no information to suggest additional attacks are planned in the state, spokeswoman Ayn Dietrich-William said. The FBI is sending a team to help local law enforcement with the investigation. Burlington-Edison's football game against Lakewood at Burlington-Edison High School was postponed, according to media reports. Gov. Jay Inslee released the following statement: "Tragedy has struck in Washington tonight. Our hearts are in Burlington." This marks Washington's seventh mass shooting with at least four people shot this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Most recently, three people were shot dead at a house party in Mukilteo in July. The nonpartisan organization, based in Washington, D.C., tracks and verifies incidents around the country, defining "mass shootings" as any single shooting incident in which four or more people are killed or wounded, not including the shooter. -- By Paige Cornwell, Jessica Lee and Rick Lund, The Seattle Times Seattle Times digital enterprise producer Evan Bush contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (AP) -- Centuries of struggles and strife, decades of planning and pain, and years of hoping for a place that African-American history can call home will culminate as President Barack Obama officially opens the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Obama tweeted from his presidential Twitter account Saturday morning that he was "Proud to help open @NMAAHC with so many heroes. African American history is a central part of our glorious American history." Proud to help open @NMAAHC with so many heroes. African American history is a central part of our glorious American history. President Obama (@POTUS44) September 24, 2016 Before formally opening the museum, Obama will ring the Freedom Bell, acquired in 1886 by the historic First Baptist Church in Williamsburg, Va., believed to be among the first Baptist churches organized entirely by African-Americans for African-Americans. It will be returned to the church for its 240th anniversary later this year. A shining bronze beacon on the National Mall, only steps away from a monument dedicated to a slaveholder president, the new Smithsonian chronicles the complex relationship between the United States and a people it once enslaved, and tell the story of those who worked to make the necessary changes to bring the country to where it is today. The museum is providing updates from today's ceremony on Twitter. Thousands gathered on the National Mall on Saturday morning to watch Obama, the nation's first black president, cut the ribbon to open the museum. People are flying in from around the country to be some of the first people inside, if they were lucky enough to get the much-coveted opening day tickets. "It's like walking across the desert and finally getting to a fountain of water to quench your thirst. It's absolutely breathtaking for me," said Verna Eggleston, 61, of New York City, who will tour the museum later Saturday. Ground was broken for the new museum in 2012 on a five-acre tract near the Washington Monument after a decades-long push for an African-American museum on the National Mall. Congressman John Lewis of Georgia, a longtime civil rights icon, worked with then-Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas to usher legislation through Congress, and President George W. Bush signed into law the bill that allowed the museum to move forward. President George W. Bush signed the legislation to create our museum. #APeoplesJourney #MakingHistory pic.twitter.com/A08ctjMPGh Smithsonian NMAAHC (@NMAAHC) September 24, 2016 The new museum "symbolizes all of the contributions, the culture and the crisis of black America," said Rev. Howard-John Wesley, pastor of Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va., whose members donated $1 million to the museum. "It's a beautiful thing, especially in this day and time when we're fighting to remind ourselves how important black lives are." Construction was completed earlier this year on the 400,000-square-foot museum designed by British-Ghanaian architect David Adjaye. The museum strikes a unique shape on the Mall with its three-tiered bronze exterior panels inspired by an African wooden column. The patterned bronze colored tiles are inspired by 19th century ironwork created by slaves in the South, and allow sunlight into the museum through patterned openings. Inside, museum officials say they have nearly 3,000 items occupying 85,000 square feet of exhibition space including exhibits like a Tuskegee Airmen training plane and the casket of Emmitt Till, a murdered African-American boy whose death helped rally the civil rights movement. "It's been 100 years in the making. So many people have dreamed about this, fought for this and wanted this to happen," said U.S. Circuit Judge Robert L. Wilkins, who wrote the book "Long Road to Hard Truth" about the struggle to get the museum open. "It's going to be a testament to their work and a testament to so many of our ancestors that this museum will open on the Mall." Millions of donors, both known and unknown, helped fund the museum. But some of the biggest donors' names adorn the walls inside, including the Oprah Winfrey Theater; the Michael Jordan Hall: Game Changers; and the newest named addition, Robert F. Smith Explore Your Family History Center. It is named after the CEO of investment firm Vista Equity Partners after a $20 million gift announced Monday. "Hopefully this grand occasion allows the rest of the nation to come out and see a building that's not just for African-Americans, it's for all of America," said Master Sgt. Donald Sparks of Houston, who just finished a yearlong deployment in Iraq. "I'm just elated and can't express how much joy and gratitude I have to be here today and witness history." BURLINGTON, Wash. (AP) -- Police searched Saturday for a gunman who authorities said fatally shot five people in a mall north of Seattle before fleeing toward an interstate highway on foot. People fled, customers hid in dressing rooms and employees locked the doors of nearby stores after gunshots rang out just after 7 p.m. Friday at the Cascade Mall. A helicopter, search teams and K-9 units scoured the area for a rifle-carrying man. "We are still actively looking for the shooter," Washington State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Mark Francis said at a Friday night news conference. "Stay indoors, stay secure." Authorities said four females, whose ages were not given, died after the gunman opened fire in the makeup department of a Macy's store. An adult male who was wounded in the shooting died early Saturday, officials said. His location in the mall was unclear. Police said they were looking for a man wearing black and armed with a "hunting-type" rifle and last seen walking toward Interstate 5. The description, including that he appeared to be Hispanic, was based on statements from witnesses, said Given Kutz, a spokesman for the Skagit County Emergency Operations Center. Screen grab of suspect in Cascade Mall shooting confirmed by authorities. pic.twitter.com/kxZQq1T15C KIRO 7 (@KIRO7Seattle) September 24, 2016 Authorities said the motive was unknown for the shooting about 60 miles north of Seattle. The FBI was assisting local authorities as dozens of police officers searched for the suspect. The FBI's Seattle office said on Twitter that it "has no information to suggest additional attacks planned" in Washington state but did not elaborate. The top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan says the Taliban controls about 10 percent of the the country and the Islamist extremist group is battling with government troops for control of at least another 20 percent. Army General John Nicholson also said at the Pentagon in Washington on September 23 that, separately, there are up to 1,300 Islamic State (IS) militants in Afghanistan who receive money, guidance, and communications support from IS leaders in Syria. He said Afghanistan is paying a high cost in casualties in its difficult fight against Islamist groups. Nicholson said many of the Afghan deaths are occurring at checkpoints, adding that many Afghan troops are not properly commanded, are ill-equipped, and poorly trained. He said the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan will help Afghans expand their control within the country and improve the quality of their forces. He said the U.S. and Afghan military have killed many IS leaders and members in recent months and that they are in fewer Afghan areas than they previously were, holding only three to four districts now compared to 10 one year ago. Nicholson said the IS fighters are largely in the Nangarhar region and are mainly former members of the Pakistan Taliban. He added that the Afghan government's peace deal with notorious Islamist warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar signed on September 22 is an "encouraging" step in bringing peace to the country. Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters A crash has shut down a section of Interstate 81 south of Chambersburg in Franklin County. The crash occurred between Exit 14 to Route 316 (Wayne Avenue) and Exit 10 to Route 914 (Marion), according to a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation traffic alert. All lanes of I-81 south were closed near the scene as of just after 10 p.m. No additional information was immediately available. For more traffic information, follow live traffic updates, accident reports and road closures below from PennDOT, Total Traffic Network and other Twitter sources. Get a look at conditions on local roads -- via PennDOT traffic cameras -- anytime here on PennLive. For Pennsylvania Turnpike updates and possible travel delays visit the Turnpike website here. Tweet us at @pennlive with any incidents you see on your commute or send a submission to submissions@pennlive.com. She's looking for a little boy. Her pink polished nails reach toward the picture window in a Camp Hill living room. Is he out there? Did he drown? Was he in an accident? These are the questions and fears troubling Kit's 97-year-old mind. Her son sits next to her and softly says, "Mom, it's me, Jeffrey. I'm that little boy." Kathleen "Kit" Lord's failing eyesight makes it hard to see him, even when her 65-year-old son's face fills up a TV screen. But she always recognizes the voice. "He talks all the time," Kit says, sharing her irritation with the constantly ringing phone and his numerous commutes to be on air in New York. Jeffrey Lord is scheduled to be on CNN every weeknight now through Election Day, trying to find balance between political analysis and caring for his elderly mother. He's attracting attention and scrutiny as one of the first people who said Donald Trump should run for president. In public, local supporters cheer when his name is mentioned during Trump rallies and ask for selfies when they see him in the supermarket. At home, he's caring for a mother who often doesn't know who he is. "It's wistful," Lord says. "It's emotional when your mother disappears like this, but I know she'll come back." On air Sometimes Kit is "totally with it," Lord says. Last Friday she was the cogent mom who raised him, the lifelong Republican woman who wasn't afraid to share her views in liberal Northampton, Mass. In that New England town where Lord grew up, Kit worked as a secretary at Smith College and his father, Neville "Buzz" Lord, was a hotel manager who also held the city council seat once occupied by Calvin Coolidge. That small town is where Lord learned people could disagree politically and still be friends - a lesson that has proved valuable after making several unpopular comments during the 2016 election cycle. The most notable parley came during the winter primary run when Lord said the KKK was the "military, terrorist arm of the Democratic Party." Liberal commentator Van Jones quickly responded: "The things that Donald Trump has done, and not just in this race, are horribly offensive...There is a dark underside here...he is whipping up and tapping into and pushing buttons that are very, very frightening to me and to a lot of people." Jones and Lord have frequently sparred on air, but both maintain they get along when the cameras are off. "You don't have to agree with someone to like them and care about them and appreciate what they're trying to convey," Jones says. "I think Jeffrey Lord is doing a great service to the country by speaking up for people whose opinions and voices are usually not welcome in mainstream conversations. These voices need to be heard. These conversations need to be had." Jones says he also thinks a lot of people have been shocked by what he called Lord's "revisionist history." CNN analyst Van Jones has debated Jeffrey Lord on air, but that hasn't ruined their friendship. "I think he's cherry-picked a world view on race, but he's not alone," Jones says. "There are millions of people who agree with Jeffrey Lord, with the vast majority not as well-educated, well-researched and kind-hearted. We get along great." Jones views a lot of Lord's controversial comments as a strategy that oversimplifies history to make Republicans look good and Democrats look bad. "I think he's a better man than that at the end of the day," Jones says. "Jeffrey Lord is universally beloved at CNN as a person." Lord brings good cheer and, even when he doesn't agree with some politically, he's never personally nasty, Jones says. Fellow CNN analyst Paul Begala, a Hillary Clinton supporter and former adviser to President Bill Clinton, also finds common ground with Lord because of their professional backgrounds. Begala will debate Lord at 8 p.m. Oct. 14 at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster. Both men were chosen for their past political experiences and recent analysis of the 2016 presidential election. Lord, an F&M alum, was a political director to former President Ronald Reagan and also worked for former U.S. Housing Secretary Jack Kemp during the George H.W. Bush administration. Paul Begala will debate Jeffrey Lord at 8 p.m. Oct. 14 at Franklin & Marshall College. "I respect Jeffrey for what he has done," Begala says. "He served a president, as I did. There is a bond, a comradeship, among those who have worked in that remarkable building. I know how stressful it can be and respect Jeffrey's service. I also like him as a person. Jeffrey is kind, considerate, charming, funny, self-deprecating. Of course he is deeply wrong about politics, but that does not make one a bad person." Sometimes Lord is having these political debates from a small office in his mother's rented home in Camp Hill. They live on the bottom floor of a two-story house, which was the perfect size for Kit and Buzz when they moved here from Massachusetts decades ago and no longer wanted to own a home. The office is a museum to both his love of politics and his life in it, with some books and artifacts revealing he was once a fan of Democrat John F. Kennedy. Lord says Kennedy would now be considered a far-right Republican - a statement Begala and Jones both dispute. Most of the office includes books on every president, a collection of Republican campaign hats and memorabilia from his days in the Reagan White House, including a portrait from the Oval Office that he moves behind him each time he's on CNN. Until CNN gave him special equipment, Lord's mother could sometimes be heard calling for him in the background. She yells for "Jeffrey" if he's in trouble and "Jeffers" if he's not. Off air Lord answers his mother's call, looking for the woman he once knew: The one in the cobalt blue hat, standing next to the Massachusetts governor. The one who danced and was invited to state dinners. The one who debated with her liberal friends during dinners and drinks. The one who tells him the TV is too loud. But sometimes even when he's holding her hand, she's not there. Kit looks at her only son convinced there's another boy somewhere. She longs for that child, as Lord tries to reassure her he is with her. Lord talks to his mom about people and places from their past to jog her memory, such as the Ruddy and O'Donnell families from Massachusetts. A recent phone call with Joan Ruddy Leonard seemed to help. Ruddy Leonard, 73, used to be Lord's babysitter. "I've known them since I was 11 or 12," she says of the Lord family. "I was the one cleaning up the snacks and emptying the ashtray after the dinners." "It was always politics they talked about," Ruddy Leonard says. "My father especially liked to egg on Kit. You could always tell how upset she was by how fast her leg was bobbing." Ruddy Leonard agrees those early debates helped shape Lord's approach to being friends with those who disagree with him. "When our parents discussed and debated the issues, there was never hard feelings or bitterness," she says. "I feel the same way today with Jeff." Ruddy Leonard is a Clinton supporter and sometimes jokes with Lord about how he supports Trump, sometimes sending emails after his CNN appearances. "Mostly I try to be supportive, even though I disagree with a lot of what he says," Ruddy Leonard says. She sees the man, not the politico. "This day and age it's extremely unusual for a son to take care of his mom as he is for her," Ruddy Leonard said. "I'm really touched by that. He really is a caring, loving son." The people at Chapel Hill United Church of Christ call him a saint. Deb Reinhard, a 65-year-old Enola resident and member of the Camp Hill church, sits with Kit while Lord is on air at home. Visiting Angels takes care of her when he has to be in New York. "I sit with her and hold her hand. She can get feisty at certain times of the afternoon and always wants to know when he's coming back," Reinhard says. When Reinhard is with her, Kit is concerned about "the other people over there." "There are no other people," Reinhard says. "Many times she thinks she has two sons. She's never sure where that other son is or what his name is." 97 year old mother Kathleen Lord sits on the couch in the living room of her Camp Hill home. Author, political strategist and CNN contributor Jeffrey Lord is a longtime resident of Camp Hill where he lives with and cares for his 97 year old mother Kathleen Lord. September, 16 2016. Daniel Zampogna, PennLive Buzz, Kit's late husband, used to act like this too. He would always have cocktails at 5 p.m., setting out seven glasses even though just three people were in the house. "They were always very sophisticated people, mannerly, intelligent sounding, just delightful people. It's just horrible what dementia does," Reinhard says. "What he goes through with her, I just can't imagine living like that," she says of Lord. "He's so good to her, so patient with her. We think he's a saint." In June, Lord hosted a 97th birthday party for his mom. He dressed her up and painted her fingernails "just so she would look nice for all her visitors." "To us, that's just angelic," Reinhard says. Lord admits it's not always easy, as he's been living with his family since December 2004. At that point it became undeniable his father had Alzheimer's. Lord was convinced when his father, who was always up on politics and the news, couldn't identify John Kerry and had no idea what happened on 9/11 or why anyone was talking about it. He navigated a new world in which his father would ask questions about his mother such as, "Who is that woman in there on the couch?" "That was after being married 60 years to his high school sweetheart," Lord says. "You don't think about your parents growing old. It just happens." And Lord still gets tears in his eyes when he explains his father didn't know him when he died. "I'd ask him every morning, 'Dad, what is my name?' He'd say, 'Jerry.' Then he'd try again and call me 'Jimmy.' I'd start to spell out my name and tell him 'Jeffrey.' By the end, he didn't know me at all," Lord says. He's hoping for a different outcome when his mother passes away. She still has a lot of lucid moments. On a recent Friday, Kit knew her son and understood what he was doing for a living. She said when she sees him on TV, she thinks, "That's my kid!" But she likes it more when he's home. "I don't know what I'd do without him," Kit says. "I'm so happy to have him here." Looking at him, she adds, "So don't go getting any ideas." Jeffrey Lord sits on the couch in the living room of his Camp Hill home with his 97 year old mother Kathleen Lord. Author, political strategist and CNN contributor Jeffrey Lord is a longtime resident of Camp Hill where he lives with and cares for his 97 year old mother Kathleen Lord. September, 16 2016. Daniel Zampogna, PennLive One of those ideas might be working in the Trump administration. During a campaign stop in Mechanicsburg last month, the applause was especially loud when Trump said he's taking Lord with him to the White House. Lord says no offer has been formally extended, the election is far from over, and he couldn't just leave his mom behind and move to Washington, D.C. "I'm not just going to walk out the door on mom," Lord says. Not long after he said that, the house phone rang. It was a telemarketer trying to solicit donations from seniors. "What would happen if she was here by herself? This is where seniors get in trouble," Lord says, claiming the call was a scam. In other moments, a blunt, quick-witted Kit seems like someone impervious to scams, claiming she wasn't impressed by the presidents and presidential candidates she met in her lifetime. She tells Lord he talks too much and yells at him to get off the phone. "See there, that's the mom I know," Lord says with a laugh. When she's lucid, she still talks politics. "I don't think we knew anything else but politics," Kit says. Hillary Clinton's candidacy is historic, but Kit won't be voting for her. She's supporting Trump. Kit has rough days sometimes and needs a wheelchair to get around, but quickly answers when asked if she will vote on Nov. 8: "Of course! Why wouldn't I?" In other moments, she asks where all their guests are, even if none are expected. Kit and her son are getting through it with a sense of humor. Lord looks at her and says, "Mom, you're nuts today," and they both laugh. But when all the cameras are off and there's no one asking for his opinion, Lord gives in to the emotion. Jeffrey Lord sits on a chair in the living room of his Camp Hill home. Author, political strategist and CNN contributor Jeffrey Lord is a longtime resident of Camp Hill where he lives with and cares for his 97 year old mother Kathleen Lord. September, 16 2016. Daniel Zampogna, PennLive "When any child looks at their parent, they're always seeing the parent who raised them. In my mind's eye, she's perpetually 40. She looks like a headshot taken in the 1970s. That's the way I think of her," he says. The woman in front of him now can't walk on her own. "She was always very active, energetic, very lively, loved to dance. I miss that certainly," Lord says. Even on the hardest days, Lord said he wouldn't dream of not taking care of her. "Well, she's my mom, and I just feel I'll never regret this," he says. If he had to give up anything, it would be the public attention gained during the election season. "I'd trade it in an instant just to have her know me again," Lord says. "When you're changing Depends every day, you gain perspective about what counts in life and what doesn't. One is reality, the other is just politics." UPDATE: A new date has been set for the ride because of heavy expected rains on Saturday Oct. 1. Ride will move to Sunday Oct. 2. Two local motorcycle clubs are joining forces to raise money for Pennsylvania's wounded veterans through a 115-mile charity ride and poker run on Saturday Oct. 1. The third annual charity ride starts in Camp Hill and features four stops, including a pit stop at the VA Hospital in Lebanon to eat lunch with veterans and escort them to an onsite car show. Motorcycles from the charity ride will be featured in the show. The veterans look forward to the rumble of the arriving motorcycles, said Larry Fortin, one of the organizers. Riders also get the chance to thank the veterans for their sacrifice. Proceeds from the event benefit the local Wounded Warriors group, which is complementary but different from the national Wounded Warrior Project. The local group focuses on helping military veterans through their long recovery process by providing emergency assistance with housing, medical, utilities, transportation and other expenses. The group pays directly to landlords, vendors and creditors, according to their website. Last year's motorcycle ride raised more than $2,000 for the charity. The ride begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic at 25 N. 32nd Street Camp Hill, where riders will draw their first poker card. Riders will then head to the Iron Valley Harley-Davidson dealership in Lebanon, PA before eating lunch with 50 members of the long-term care unit at the VA Hospital in Lebanon. The motorcyclists will then ride to the Lancaster Harley-Davidson dealership with the final destination of the Quaker Steak and Lube in Mechanicsburg. The winning poker hand gets a $200 prize. Interested riders can sign up on a website created by the organizing motorcycle groups, Ride4Life and LanCo. Entry fees are $25 per rider and $11 per passenger. Riders who can't participate can still donate to the event through the website. Kyle Muthler.jpg New Orleans police booked Kyle Muthler, a 24-year-old from Milton, Pa., with second-degree rape, second-degree kidnapping, aggravated battery, theft and illegal possession of stolen items stemming from what investigators said was a sexual encounter with another man in the French Quarter on June 10. (Courtesy of Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office) NEW ORLEANS -- New Orleans police have arrested a Pennsylvania man accused of raping and robbing another male tourist who claims to have been choked unconscious inside a French Quarter hotel room in June. Kyle Muthler, a 24-year-old from Milton, Pa., was booked Thursday with second-degree rape, second-degree kidnapping, aggravated battery, theft and illegal possession of stolen things, according to court records. Muthler had left the Orleans Justice Center by Friday after posting a $75,000 bond. Through his local defense attorney Townsend Myers, Muthler denied the accusations. "My client is not guilty of any offenses charged," Myers said, "and we intend to defend against them vigorously." According to police, Muthler met his unidentified accuser around 3:30 a.m. on June 10, inside the Good Friends Bar at 740 Dauphine St. in the French Quarter. After talking for about an hour, the two tourists decided to return to Muthler's nearby hotel room for sex, police said. The accuser told police that once inside the hotel room, Muthler discussed his penchant for rough sex, and desire to strangle partners until they lose consciousness. Muthler told the man he was a nurse and "knew how to make a person unconscious without harming them," according to the arrest documents. According to the report, the other man told Muthler he no longer was interested in getting intimate. But when he tried to get dressed to leave, the man said Muthler restrained him in a choke hold until he blacked out. The accuser told police he awoke to find he was being raped by Muthler. The police report said the man left the hotel after the encounter but did not report the rape to hotel staff "due to embarrassment." But after discovering that his ID, debit card and wristwatch were missing, he said he called police after reaching his own hotel room. Around 1 a.m. on June 13, the report said, the accuser spotted Muthler inside the Oz nightclub in the 800 block of Bourbon Street, wearing his missing wristwatch. The accuser pointed out Muthler to police, and the report said the officers who detained Muthler inside Oz "observed him remove a watch from his wrist and try to discard it on the ground." After the watch was recovered, the report said, Muthler told police, "He left it in my hotel room." The arrest warrant affidavit said Muthler was advised of his rights but "refused to provide a statement." Myers labeled that NOPD claim as false. "Police talked to him and he asked for a lawyer, because of the seriousness of the accusations, and they let him go," Myers said. "Then they go arrest him out of state, with no warning, no nothing. His intent was to cooperate all along. He said he was happy to talk, but that he wanted a lawyer first." Muthler returned to Pennsylvania, Myers said, thinking the incident was over until he suddenly was arrested about two weeks ago on the warrant requested June 13 around 9:30 p.m. Myers said his client had to post bond in Pennsylvania with a promise to appear in New Orleans' criminal courthouse, and then post another bond here in order to return home. "It was actually quite distressing and needless," Myers said. "If anyone had simply called and asked, he would have agreed to fly back down here." NOPD spokeswoman Dawne Massey said of the case, "At the time the suspect was located, the detective assigned to the investigation was actively seeking additional evidence. As a result of the ongoing investigation, the subject was released and an arrest warrant was obtained later that day." Muthler's next court date is set for Oct. 20. The State Police has teamed with a forensic anthropologist from the University of South Florida to investigate cold-case homicides across the state. To identify victims and help loved ones find closure, forensic anthropologist Erin Kimmerle has recently worked with state police on five cold case investigations in Carbon, Lebanon, Luzerne, Monroe and York Counties. She now plans to assists with four additional cases stemming from Luzerne County, police said. State police Cpl. Thomas C. McAndrew, a member of the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Investigation Assessment Unit, has helped locate unidentified victims buried across the state. McAndrew identified four such cases in Luzerne County, according to police. And through a federal grant from the National Institute of Justice, Kimmerle will exhume the bodies at Maple Hill Cemetery in Hanover Township and at St. Anthony's Cemetery in Courtdale Monday, police said. To help identify the victims, investigators could conduct facial reconstructions, chemical isotope testing and collect DNA samples to be submitted to a national database to help link them to family of missing people, police said. Police and Kemmerle have worked on the following cases: Case 1: 1973 - Two game commission officers found the partially decomposed remains of a female near Fort Indiantown Gap, Union Township, Lebanon County. The victim was nude and covered with green plastic tarps and leaves. She is estimated to be a white female between 13 - 19 years of age. A facial reconstruction and chemical isotope testing have been completed. Case 2: 2013 - A tree-trimming crew discovered a human skull near the West Manchester Mall in West Manchester Township, York County. This led to the discovery of additional skeletal remains. Police believe the remains belonged to a white, Hispanic or Asian male between the ages of 30-50. Investigators estimate that his remains were there three to 10 years before they were discovered. A facial reconstruction and chemical isotope analysis have been completed. Case 3: 1994 - Workers at a mine reclamation project discovered a human skull in the woods in Sugarloaf Township, Luzerne County. Additional skeletal remains also were found. The victim is believed to be a white female between the ages of 34-47. Investigators have completed a facial reconstruction and chemical isotope analysis. Case 4: 1976 - A teenage boy who was playing along the banks of the Lehigh River in East Side Borough, Carbon County, found the remains of a pregnant female. The victim had been sexually assaulted, dismembered, placed in three suitcases and thrown off of a bridge along Interstate 80. A facial reconstruction and chemical isotope testing have been completed. Case 5: 2011 - A person walking along Route 191 in Paradise Township, Monroe County, found the remains of a male wrapped inside four black garbage bags. Police believe the victim was killed within two months of the discovery. Chemical isotope testing was completed. The bodies to be exhumed Monday stem from the following cases: Case 6: 1973 - A driver found the partially decomposed remains of a black female on the side of Interstate 80 westbound in Black Creek Township, Luzerne County. The victim was wearing blue-green shorts, a pink blouse with lace trim, and blue & green slippers with a floral design. She was wrapped in a blanket and doused with sulfuric acid. Case 7: 1970 - The nude body of a black female was found along Interstate 81 south near Nuangola, Rice Township, Luzerne County. Case 8: 1979 - The partially decomposed remains of a white male were found by two men who were walking to a fishing spot. The victim is believed to be between the ages of 25-40 years. She was wearing a sterling silver bracelet with "Vedon" on the clasp and a 14k gold serpent design ring on his pinky finger. Case 9: 1980 - A landfill worker found the body of a white newborn baby boy among trash in Larksville Borough, Luzerne County. Police believe the baby was born 24 to 72 hours before the discovery. Anyone who can help identify the victims or provide information about these cases is asked to contact Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers at 1-800-4PA-TIPS, or submit tips at the crime stoppers website. Anyone who provides information to Crime Stoppers that leads to an arrest could be eligible for a cash reward. Uzo Aduba.jpg Uzo Aduba is campaigning for Hillary Clinton in Philadelphia Saturday afternoon. (Associated Press photos) A surprise guest showed up at a Temple University tailgate Saturday afternoon with an important mission - making sure the students and Owls supporters are registered to vote before the Oct. 11 deadline. The Lincoln Financial Field stop was the first of many Philadelphia campaign appearances for Uzo Aduba, who plays prison inmate Crazy Eyes on "Orange is the New Black." "I am here helping to share my support and love for Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton...and trying to activate as many people as I can...and share my thoughts on why Hillary Clinton should be the next president," Aduba said Saturday afternoon during a quick interview with PennLive. Here's our quick Q&A with Aduba: Why do you think Hillary Clinton should be the next president? We're looking at someone whose policy and presence has been tried and tested. As a woman and individual she has been tried and tested from her time at Wellesley College, as a lawyer, with the Children's Defense Fun, being a first lady, senator and secretary of state, she has the stamina and energy as a candidate. This is not something she woke up and decided to do. This is something she's been doing for years. I also agree with her policy-wise...in support of women's issues and women's rights, equal rights and civil rights. She really supports the LGBT community. I really think LGBT rights are the last frontier of civil rights. Until everyone in the country stands on the same fair ground, none of us stand on fair ground. She's shown resilience. Many times she's been met with challenges, and every time she meets them and overcomes them. That's what you want in a presidency. She's amazing. What issues are most important to you in this election? The issues most important to me are immigration and immigration reform. I'm looking for a president who displays a compassion for all men and women around this globe, who is interested in bringing out the best this country has to offer. Women's issues are wildly important. We're standing on a precipice at a critical time. We're going backwards on some women's issues. I think Hillary Clinton can, once and for all, finish the conversation on women's rights. LGBT issues are important to me. I work in an industry with countless friends who are part of the LGBT community. The denial of one person's rights is a denial to all. What's harder, prison or politics? (Laughing) Well, I've never been to prison, and I'm just getting involved in politics. I'm sure they're both hard. A Johnstown police officer had to be revived with Narcan after he reportedly overdosed while on duty Sunday. State police are investigating the incident involving a Johnstown police officer who was inside the public safety building on Washington Street when the incident occurred, according to a report by The Tribune Democrat. It was immediately unclear which drug caused the overdose, but Cambria County District Attorney Kelly Callihan confirmed the incident, the report said. Callihan told The Tribune Democrat via text message the following: "PSP is investigating an on-duty overdose of a JPD officer. They were called in at the request of JPD to ensure an independent investigation. That decision was supported by the DA. I have been briefed by PSP and they need time to continue their investigation. They found him unconscious at the police department and rendered Narcan." City police Chief Craig Foust declined comment. Authorities have not released the officer's name. It is one of the recent incidents in which Narcan - an opiate antidote - was used. In this Sept. 17, 2016 file photo, first responders work near the scene of an explosion in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, in New York. Although the pressure cooker bomb that wounded over two dozen people on the street went off in front of an apartment building for the blind, none of the building's residents were hurt in the blast. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, File) A Russian mechanized infantry unit has arrived in Pakistan to participate in two countries' first joint military exercise. The press service for the Russian Southern Military Command said on September 23 that its unit had arrived for the Friendship-2016 exercise involving more than 70 Russian servicemen. The exercise comes amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and its nuclear rival, India, and follows a military-cooperation agreement signed between Moscow and Islamabad in 2014. Pakistani military spokesman Asiam Bajwa said on Twitter that the exercise will kick off on September 24 and run through October 10. Hasan Askari, a Pakistani defense and security analyst, told AFP that the exercise signifies Russia's desire "to expand (its) options in South Asia" and is the "natural" result of India's closer ties with Washington. India and Pakistan exchanged accusations this week following a deadly militant attack on an army base Indian-administered Kashmir on September 18 in which at least 17 Indian soldiers and four attackers were killed. India accused Pakistan of masterminding the attack, allegations that Islamabad condemned as "vitriolic and unsubstantiated statements" aimed at shifting attention away from rights abuses in Kashmir. Based on reporting by TASS, AFP, and the BBC In this photo taken Sept. 22, 2016, President Barack Obama speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington. President Barack Obama has vetoed a bill that would have allowed the families of 9/11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia. The move sets Obama up for a possible first veto override by Congress. Both chambers passed the bill by voice vote. The House sent Obama the bill just before the 15th anniversary of the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) Canada is getting the royal treatment! Prince William, Princess Kate and their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte have touched down for their first tour as a family of four. Their Royal Canadian Air Force jet landed in Victoria, British Columbia, on Saturday afternoon. At one point, Charlotte could be seen peeking out of a plane window. After deplaning, the family met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Trudeau and other dignitaries before heading to Victoria for the rest of their royal duties. Kate wore a royal blue Jenny Packham suit with a matching hat and Queen Elizabeth IIs diamond maple leaf brooch. Charlotte, meanwhile, wore a light blue dress with a matching bow in her hair as she was carried by Kate. William and Kate both held Georges hands as the deplaned. George wore a blue sweater and shorts with knee socks. For William and Kate, the week-long visit is a perfect opportunity to introduce their children to a major Commonwealth realm before school schedules make these things difficult later on, their spokesman said at a pre-tour briefing. The family will be based at Government House in Victoria, and the couple in what aides call a hub and spoke model will head out from there for visits before returning at the end of the day. (There is one exception when the couple goes to Yukon for one night, leaving the children with nanny Maria Turrion Borrallo, who is a key member of the couples 12-strong entourage.) The royal parents have a jam-packed schedule with than 30 engagements, meaning Kate has had to pack a a suitcase full of carefully chosen looks. They hope to take George and Charlotte to at least outing most likely to be a childrens party for military families on Thursday. A group of military families have been invited to share what should be a really lovely morning with plenty of surprises for the children, the couples spokesman said at the palace briefing. Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter. The tour, which is expected to be mostly casual and sporty watch for mountain scenes and even fishing! will see them take in everything from the bustling global city of Vancouver to the remote and beautiful Bella Bella, home to less than 2,000 people, their spokesman explained. Along the way they will meet as many Canadians as possible, and will help celebrate Canadas First Nations communities, its arts and culture, pristine and beautiful environment, and its compassionate and innovative charitable sector. Shortly after landing today, as George and Charlotte settled in for the night, the royal couple headed to British Columbias Parliament Buildings, where they officially opened their tour by paying respects at Victorias Cenotaph and unveiling a new plaque paying tribute to the veterans of Canadas involvement in the Afghanistan conflict. The official welcome to Canada was made by an honor guard and included performances by the Lekwungen Traditional Dancers along with the Esquimalt Singers and Dancers and Victorias Childrens Choir. Thousands of well-wishers gathered on the Parliament Buildings lawn and the nearby Victoria waterfront to catch a glimpse of the royal couple. Related Video: Hear from the Australian fan who dared to kiss Prince Harry Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave remarks welcoming the Cambridges and promising that wherever you go, Canadians will make you feel right at home. Prince William then shared his warm memories from he and Kates first visit to Canada as newlyweds. Catherine and I are delighted to be back in Canada, he said. When we were here last time, we had been married only three months.The warm welcome that you gave us at that important moment in our lives meant a lot to us and we have never forgotten it. He added that he was thankful Prince George and Princess Charlotte could attend this visit, beginning their own lifetime of friendship with this wonderful country. At the ceremonys conclusion, the couple chatted with members of the crowd, beginning work on what William explained was his and Kates mission for the tour, to meet as many people from as many walks of life as we can while were here. William stopped to chat with 13-year-old William Rithaler, of Saltspring Island about his schooling and involvement in sports. He was nice, William told PEOPLE. I didnt know hed have a British accent! He was very polite and upbeat and even kind of relaxed, Williams mom, Loretta Rithaler, added. [Both William and Kate] seemed relaxed, she continued. Obviously their day started a few hours ago too theyve left their children behind now and scooted off to this event and you think, Oh my goodness their day is just beginning. So for them to have that much enthusiasm and make people feel welcome I think is very good. This is the couples second major tour of the year, following their visit to India and Bhutan in April. And the travel isnt over yet Kate is off to the Netherlands for a day next month, while William heads to Vietnam in November. Rachel Brougham: This is why Halloween is the best The specified legacy item Id was not found. for Sale - Petpeoplesplace.com AMES Iowa State University President Steven Leath, a licensed pilot certified to fly one of the two ISU-owned aircraft, on four occasions used the single-engine plane for trips that were a combination of university business and personal business, the university said in a statement Friday. Even though each of these trips had a component of university business associated with them, President Leath reimbursed the university for the costs of these trips, read the statement, which was released in response to questions from the media following comments Leath made during his annual address Sept. 14. The reimbursement was based on a predetermined formula developed by ISU Flight Service. ISU spokesman John McCarroll did not immediately provide the total cost of the four trips but said Leath reimbursed the university $4,637. Details of the trips including when and where they were, what type of business was involved and when Leath provided the reimbursements were not available Friday afternoon. According to the statement, Leath encountered a downdraft while flying the universitys Cirrus SR22 in July 2015. That resulted in a hard landing at the Bloomington, Illinois, airport and caused a wing flap to clip a runway light. While the aircraft remained airworthy, relevant repairs costing approximately $12,000 were subsequently made to the aircraft and were covered using non-general fund resources, according to the university. McCarroll said the $12,000 came from university discretionary funds consisting of interest on earnings. No one was injured in the incident and Leath reported it to the control tower and to the Federal Aviation Administration. ISU has owned and operated transportation aircraft since the 1950s, but officials say theyve gotten questions about Leaths use of the aircraft because he holds an FAA pilot certification and instrument rating. University officials said he occasionally piloted the single-engine Cirrus SR22 for university business and for flight training required by the FAA and the university insurer. Officials reported the foundation bought one of ISUs aircraft and donated it to the university. ISU bought the other. No taxpayer money was used to acquire either aircraft, according to the ISU release. Board of Regents President Bruce Rastetter on Friday released a statement affirming hes aware of Leaths use of the university plane. He also issued a statement on ISUs relationship with Ames over a $4.4 million Ames Municipal Airport development project that will cost the university hundreds of thousands of dollars. ISUs Flight Service is based at the airport. Partnerships such as the agreement between Iowa State University and the city of Ames on the continued development of the citys airport are critical to help encourage growth, Rastetter said. DES MOINES Another poll shows a double-digit lead for longtime incumbent Chuck Grassley in his bid for a seventh term in the U.S. Senate. Grassley, a Republican, was chosen by 55 percent of likely voters, and 43 percent chose Democratic challenger Patty Judge in a Quinnipiac University Poll published Friday. It is the third post-Labor Day poll to put Grassleys lead over Judge in double digits. An Iowa-based Simpson College/RABA Research poll showed Grassley with a 13-point lead, and a Monmouth University Poll showed Grassley with a 17-point lead. In his six terms in the U.S. Senate, Chuck Grassley has become almost a family member across the Hawkeye State, Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, said in a news release. He is a Republican who runs even with his Democratic challenger among women, something that Republicans rarely accomplish, and his 25-point edge among men is typical of his history with voters, added Brown. Quinnipiac University surveyed 612 likely Iowa voters from Sept. 13-21. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. Women are split on the U.S. Senate race in Iowa, according to the Quinnipiac Poll: Grassley and Judge both were selected by 49 percent of women respondents. Men went for Grassley, 61 percent to 36 percent. Grassleys overall 12-point lead over Judge in the Quinnipiac Poll is up slightly from August, when his lead was 9 percentage points. CLARKSVILLE The Shell RockRiver, headed for a record-tying crest, overran a temporary levee in Clarksville Thursday night forcing more than 280 people of the community of 1,400 from their homes, said Barry Mackey, Clarksville police chief. About three dozen people displaced were residents of Westside Assisted Living who were moved elsewhere. The facility stayed dry but residents were moved as a precaution, Mackey said. The evacuations came after Gov. Terry Branstad has issued a verbal disaster declaration for Butler, Chickasaw and Floyd counties, where the cities of Shell Rock, Greene, Clarksville, Nashua, Nora Springs, Charles City and others were hit by flooding this week. Clarksville evacuations began at about 10:30 p.m. when officials realized a temporary levee on the west end of town wasnt going to hold the Shell Rock River flood waters. Residents said they had plenty of warning from the Clarksville Fire Department on social media. Fire and police went door-to-door to let people know to leave or prepare for flooding. We had a little lead time, said Matt Behrends, Clarksville assistant fire chief. We tried to let everybody know by social media and we went door to door. Joyce Hinders was alerted to the levee breach and began moving things out of the basement and moved items to higher ground. She and her husband had a short nap before the sound of water rushing into their basement. The couple then watched as water continued to encroach on their home. Hinders had help from friends, neighbors and her son moving items and pumping water from the home. Like many residents, Hinder had been through this before when flooding in 2008 was worse. In 2008, the water was all around the house, Hinders said. Water over roadways made getting into some Northeast Iowa towns difficult. Iowa Highway 188 into Clarksville from the south was over topped with water. Shell Rock was basically split with people on the west end having to go detour to a county highway to 218 to get to the east side of town. Iowa Northern railroad tracks in Clarksville also appeared to be damaged by the flood. Railroad officials were assessing that damage and checking its entire line, and railroad offices had temporarily relocated to Waterloo-Cedar Falls from offices in Greene due to flooding. In Waverly, about 50 homes on the citys southeast side were affected by flooding on the Cedar River. Water covered Seventh Ave. Southeast Thursday night. City officials moved fast to evacuate the area of town as the river began rising faster than earlier forecast. We looked at the data and it (the river) was coming up fast, said James Bronner, Waverly city administrator. About 50 homes in that area of the city were to be affected by flooding, at least with no access. Bronner said. The forecasted Saturday crest was downgraded from about 16 to 14 feet by the National Weather Service Friday. Despite the floods, the Waverlys Oktoberfest celebration is planned as scheduled. Volunteers worked to set up a tent and stage on First Avenue S.E. The original location, Kohlman Park and First Street N.W. will be affected by flooding. Branstad issued his disaster proclamation a few hours before water overtopped the Clarksville levee. Additional counties are expected to be added to the disaster proclamation and a formal proclamation is expected in the days ahead, Branstad spokesman Ben Hammes said. The state of Iowa stands ready to assist all local governments as they respond to this threat, Branstad said, including anticipated flooding next week in Cedar Rapids. Iowans should take the necessary precautions to remain safe until the flooding has receded, noting additional counties may be added The state is proactively assisting in staging sandbags, deploying water pumps and flood barriers, placing traffic barricades and providing assistance to law enforcement in affected areas, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds said. CHARLES CITY Their shirts smudged by dirt and boots crusted by mud, teenage brothers Dominique Bill and Quincy Bill sat on the tailgate of a pickup and surveyed the fortress that was once their yard. A hastily built levee surrounded their home on Cedar Circle, in the heart of the evacuation zone along the Cedar River. Sandbags were piled on top. Flood resources from the ISU Extension Service The resources on this page provide information Iowans can use to plan before a flood situati Rock, dirt, whatever we could get ahold of at the time, explained Dominique, 16. After days of preparation, the Bill family and many others could only sit and watch as the Cedar River inched upward. They received good news Friday when forecasters lowered the anticipated crest to 21.8 feet. Although thats still well into major flood stage the third highest ever recorded it is 2 feet lower than the 24.2 feet originally predicted. That means many of the homes that were evacuated, including on the Bill brothers street, may not be as heavily impacted as originally thought. Those homes were chosen for voluntary evacuation based on the 24.2-foot projection. Now (that) theyre hopefully not going to reach that projection a lot of those will not be affected, the ones that were evacuated, said Charles City Police Chief Hugh Anderson. If they are, they wont be near as severe as they could have been, including some of the businesses on the South Grand (Avenue) side that wouldve definitely been affected very heavily at the 24-foot mark. That was a relief to Renee Hissner, who rents a home on North Clark Street with her husband, Curt. Like the Bill brothers, the Hissners were taking shifts monitoring the sump pump belching water from their basement onto their street. Its not the sort of thing they experienced at their former home in Philadelphia. Overwhelming I was overwhelmed because living in Philadelphia Ive never lived through something like this and seeing the river get so high was overwhelming, Renee Hissner said, taking a break on her porch. I go, what do you mean we have to sandbag? What are you taking about? Whats a sump pump? She learned what a sump pump was when they drove all the way to Mason City to buy one after finding none left in Charles City. As of Friday morning, it was doing the trick. Since (Thursday) at 3 p.m. its been filling up every half hour, she said. Although Hissners basement was dry, others in town werent so lucky. Officials said water and sewer backups had been reported at residences on the north side of town. Fearing overtaxing the faltering wastewater plant, officials urged all residents and visitors of Charles City not to flush toilets or let the water run down the drains. The drinking water was safe, but two large pumps failed at the citys wastewater treatment plant. A number of smaller pumps kept it functioning, but officials wanted to limit the inflow to keep the system from being overloaded. Two new pumps were ordered. In the meantime, residents are asked to use portable toilets set up around town. Locations include Washington Elementary, Charles City High School, Kmart, Floyd County Medical Center, the county courthouse and the Board of Health building. Disaster areas County officials said Friday said theyd declared Floyd County a disaster area in order to obtain additional assistance for homeowners. Friday afternoon, Gov. Terry Branstad issued a disaster declaration for 13 Iowa counties including Butler, Chickasaw, Floyd, Franklin and Wright in North Iowa. The proclamation allows for state resources to be used toward flood mitigation efforts. Branstad also activated the Iowa National Guard to help with flood prevention and cleanup efforts as needed. We just have to deal with whatever situation comes our way, Branstad said. We need to be as well-prepared as possible. In a situation like this, in major cities like Waterloo and Cedar Rapids, obviously we have a little time to prepare and we want to do everything we can for the state to assist the communities and do the best job we can to avoid and mitigate damage. Branstad said the state has dispatched more than 120,000 sandbags and four dump truck loads of sand, deployed or staged 22 water pumps, placed or staged 48 pallets of flood barriers and placed 50 traffic barricades. Assessing needs Adjutant General Tim Orr said the Iowa National Guard will begin its work by sending liaison teams to communities in the impacted region to determine what further resources are necessary. The Guard first will assess what the needs and requirements are, Orr said. Right now we have no missions that have been tasked to the Guard for soldiers or equipment. This is really, I think, the key to any successful operation, is getting out in front of it. And thats what were really trying to do now, is identify potential needs so we have time to respond. Branstad, Orr, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Homeland Security and Emergency Management director Mark Schouten on Saturday will tour flood-impacted areas in Clarksville, Shell Rock and Cedar Rapids. Reynolds said they likely will tour more areas in the coming days. Branstad said it is the first time he has activated the National Guard since flooding on the Missouri River in 2011. The disaster proclamation makes grant money available for low-income families impacted by flooding. The grants are available through the state Department of Human Services. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, of Iowa, said the federal Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the National Weather Service also are involved in flood response efforts. Erin Murphy of the Globe Gazette Des Moines Bureau contributed to this story. Novartis receives three new FDA approvals for the expanded use of Ilaris treating rare Periodic Fever Syndrome conditions Details Category: Small Molecules Published on Saturday, 24 September 2016 11:06 Hits: 1830 Ilaris (canakinumab) is the first and only US FDA-approved biologic treatment for patients with TRAPS, HIDS/MKD and FMF disease These three simultaneous approvals conducted under FDA Priority Review follow Breakthrough Therapy Designations to address the unmet need of patients Ilaris provides rapid, sustained and complete disease control for patients with these rare and debilitating Periodic Fever Syndromes BASEL, Switzerland I September 23, 2016I Novartis announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted three simultaneous approvals for the expanded use of Ilaris (canakinumab) to treat three rare and distinct types of Periodic Fever Syndromes. Ilaris is the first and only FDA approved biologic treatment for Tumor Necrosis Factor-Receptor Associated Periodic Syndrome (TRAPS), Hyperimmunoglobulin D Syndrome (HIDS)/Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency (MKD) and Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). All three conditions are part of a group of rare autoinflammatory diseases called Periodic Fever Syndromes[2], which are also referred to as Hereditary Periodic Fevers (HPF). The most common syndrome is FMF, which mainly affects people of Eastern Mediterranean ancestry. It affects 1 in 250 to 1 in 1,000 individuals in these populations, many of whom are children[3]. "Gaining three simultaneous FDA approvals of Ilaris is a momentous turning point for people who suffer with these severe, debilitating diseases," said Paul Hudson, CEO, Novartis Pharmaceuticals. "There is a significant unmet need in these conditions, particularly in children, and Novartis is proud to provide a new treatment option to those who so desperately need it." The FDA approvals are based on results from the pivotal Phase III CLUSTER study which showed rapid (at Day 15) and sustained disease control with Ilaris compared to placebo through 16 weeks, in patients with either TRAPS, HIDS/MKD or FMF[1]. As a result of the superior data, the FDA granted Ilaris Breakthrough Therapy status and priority reviews for each of the three Periodic Fever Syndrome conditions. Periodic Fever Syndromes are a group of rare autoinflammatory diseases that cause disabling and persistent fevers which may be accompanied by joint pain, swelling, muscle pain and skin rashes with complications that can be life-threatening[2].Ilaris is already approved and marketed in the US as an effective and well-tolerated treatment for another Periodic Fever Syndrome condition - Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS), and another autoinflammatory condition - Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA). In August 2016, the European Commission approved Ilaris for a license extension to also treat patients with Adult-Onset Still's Disease (AOSD). About Periodic Fever Syndromes Periodic Fever Syndromes are a group of diseases that cause serious recurrent fever and pathogenic inflammation through non-infectious activation of the immune system. Most patients present with symptoms in infancy or childhood, but in some patients the condition only becomes apparent or diagnosed in adulthood[2],[3]. Previous treatments for these rare conditions consisted of oral anti-inflammatory drugs, such as corticosteroids, which were used only to help manage the symptoms. While other medicines, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, have also been used to help reduce symptoms, they do not prevent or change the overall course of a flare[2]. About Ilaris Ilaris is a selective, high-affinity, human monoclonal antibody that inhibits Interleukin-1 (IL-1) beta, which is an important part of the body's immune system defenses[4]. Excessive production of IL-1 beta plays a prominent role in certain inflammatory diseases[5],[6]. Ilaris works by blocking the action of IL-1 beta for a sustained period of time, therefore inhibiting inflammation that is caused by its over-production[4]. Ilaris is currently approved and marketed for the treatment of SJIA in the US and EU and for the treatment of AOSD and the symptomatic treatment of refractory acute gouty arthritis in the EU. Ilaris is also approved in more than 70 countries, including in the EU, Switzerland, Canada, and Japan for the treatment of the Periodic Fever Syndrome CAPS: rare, lifelong, genetic disorders with debilitating symptoms. In the US, Ilaris is approved for two subtypes of CAPS: Muckle-Wells Syndrome (MWS) and Familial Cold Autoinflammatory Syndrome (FCAS). The approved indications may vary depending upon the individual country. About Novartis Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care and cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2015, the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.4 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 8.9 billion (USD 8.7 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 118,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are available in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com. References [1] Novartis Data on File. [2] Cleveland Clinic. Periodic Fever Syndrome. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/orthopaedics-rheumatology/diseases-conditions/periodic-fever-syndrome. Accessed September 2016. [3] National Amyloidosis Centre. Amyloidosis Patient Information Site: The inherited periodic fever syndromes - general information. Available at: www.amyloidosis.org.uk/fever-syndromes/inherited-fever-syndromes/. Accessed September 2016. [4] Dhimolea E. Canakinumab, MAbs. 2010 Jan-Feb;2(1):3-13. [5] Jesus AA, Goldbach-Mansky R. IL-1 blockade in autoinflammatory syndromes. Annu Rev Med. 2014;65:223-244. [6] Toker O, Hashkes PJ. Critical appraisal of canakinumab in the treatment of adults and children with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS). Biologics. 2010;4:131-138. SOURCE: Novartis Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Hillary Clinton is demanding answers after the Trump campaign was rocked by the news that one of Trumps foreign policy advisers is under FBI investigation due to his ties to Putin. Michael Isikoff of Yahoo News reported, U.S. intelligence officials are seeking to determine whether an American businessman identified by Donald Trump as one of his foreign policy advisers has opened up private communications with senior Russian officials including talks about the possible lifting of economic sanctions if the Republican nominee becomes president, according to multiple sources who have been briefed on the issue. The Clinton campaign responded with a call for Trump disclose his Russian relationships and business dealings: Its chilling to learn that U.S. intelligence officials are conducting a probe into suspected meetings between Trumps foreign policy adviser Carter Page and members of Putins inner circle while in Moscow. You have to ask why he would meet with Igor Diveykin, who is believed by U.S. officials to have responsibility for intelligence collected by Russian agencies about the U.S. election. This comes as Russian hackers continue their attempts to influence the outcome of our elections, something Trump openly invited. This is serious business and voters deserve the facts before election day. Just one day after we learned about Trumps hundreds of millions of dollars in undisclosed Russian business interests, this report suggests Page met with a sanctioned top Russian official to discuss the possibility of ending U.S. sanctions against Russia under a Trump presidency an action that could directly enrich both Trump and Page while undermining American interests. This is precisely what more than fifty national security experts warned against when they called on Trump to disclose and divest his conflict-laden foreign assets that could endanger our national security. Weve never seen anything like this in American politics. Every day seems to cast new doubts on whats truly driving Donald Trumps decision-making: the interests of the American people or his own bottom line. He needs to immediately disclose the full extent of his business relationships and foreign assets so the voters can make that determination for themselves. The Trump/Putin situation has gone beyond where theres smoke, theres fire. This is a towering inferno that voters deserve answers to. Trump appears to be cutting backdoor deals with the Russian government in exchange for their meddling in the presidential election. It will be considered an act of journalistic malpractice if Trump isnt asked about this investigation at the presidential debate. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Ted Cruz has his eyes firmly set on the Republican presidential nomination in 2020, but by supporting Donald Trump, Cruz just trashed any hopes that he ever had of being a future Republican nominee. In a Facebook post, Cruz wrote: After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump. Ive made this decision for two reasons. First, last year, I promised to support the Republican nominee. And I intend to keep my word. Second, even though I have had areas of significant disagreement with our nominee, by any measure Hillary Clinton is wholly unacceptable thats why I have always been #NeverHillary. . Our country is in crisis. Hillary Clinton is manifestly unfit to be president, and her policies would harm millions of Americans. And Donald Trump is the only thing standing in her way. A year ago, I pledged to endorse the Republican nominee, and I am honoring that commitment. And if you dont want to see a Hillary Clinton presidency, I encourage you to vote for him. Ted Cruzs conscience told him to support a man who attacked his wife and accused his father of being involved in the JFK assassination. After not endorsing Trump at the Republican convention, Sen. Cruz was in a prime position to be a favorite for the GOP nomination in 2020. Cruz could have been the far-right Republican who was right on Trump all along after Trump loses, but the Senator from Texas decided that a much more cynical calculation required him to support Trump. Cruz is supporting Trump because he thinks he will need Trump voters to win the Republican nomination in 2020. Unlike Chris Christie and others who endorsed Trump, Cruz isnt looking for a job in the Trump administration. Instead, he is looking to poach Trump voter the second after Hillary Clinton is declared the victor on Election Night in November. Sen. Cruz is misjudging the future direction of his party. The most cynical and self-absorbed politician in the United States just made a play that will ruin his White House dreams. With one endorsement of Donald Trump, Ted Cruz turned himself into a man without a base and just committed career suicide. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print BERLIN (Reuters) Activists from the online campaign group Avaaz tore down a cardboard wall near the site of the former Berlin Wall to urge American expats in Germany to vote against Republican nominee Donald Trump in the U.S. election on Nov. 8. Many identify Trump with his proposal to build a huge border wall between the United States and Mexico to keep migrants out; moreover, the event was staged in front of the Brandenburg Gate, near the place where U.S. president Ronald Reagan publicly urged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987 to tear down this wall. Holding red and blue placards saying Stop Trump and Tear Down Trumps Wall, dozens of cheering activists toppled the 2.5 meter (8.2 foot) structure, emblazoned with a picture of Trump, with their hands and rubber mallets. Many of the 150 or so onlookers chanted The wall must come down! as it was knocked over. Around 8 million Americans live abroad but only 12 percent of them voted in the 2012 election, Avaaz said in a statement. Americans abroad are the Swing State that nobody knows about, who could, however, decide the vote this year. A large number of them live in Germany, said Emma Ruby-Sachs, deputy director of Avaaz. In a Reuters/Ipsos poll published last week, 42 percent of likely voters supported Clinton, a former secretary of state, and 38 percent backed the Republican real estate tycoon. (Reporting by Reuters TV; Writing by Caroline Copley; Editing by Kevin Liffey) Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Kurt Eichenwald dropped a bombshell on Donald Trumps campaign when he demonstrated that Trump either lied at the Republican debate when Jeb Bush said Trump tried to get casino gambling in Florida, or in a 2007 deposition as part of a lawsuit surrounding his attempt to bring casino gambling to Florida. Donald Trump committed perjury. Or he looked into the faces of the Republican faithful and knowingly lied. There is no third option. Thats right. Trump either lied under oath as part of a lawsuit against Richard Fields, whom Trump had hired to manage the expansion of his casino business into Florida, or he lied to Republicans at the CNN GOP debate. And for the record, PolitiFact ruled in Jebs favor almost exactly a year ago, as did CBS News. Trump either lied and broke the law, or he lied. Here is reality, tweeted Eichenwald. Trump committed perjury or lied to Republicans while standing in the Ronald Reagan Library. So sad! Eichenwald explains that, The deposition was part of a lawsuit hed filed against Richard Fields, whom Trump had hired to manage the expansion of his casino business into Florida. In the suit, Trump claimed that Fields had quit and taken all of the information he obtained while working for Trump to another company. Under oath, Trump said he did want to get into casino gambling in Florida but didnt because he had been cheated by Fields. Of course, you all remember Trumps back and forth with Jeb Bush at the Republican debate when Trump said if hed wanted casino gambling in Florida hed have gotten it: The one guy that had some special interests that I know of that tried to get me to change my views on somethingthat was generous and gave me moneywas Donald Trump, Bush said. He wanted casino gambling in Florida. Trump interrupted Bush: Trump: I didnt Bush: Yes, you did. Trump: Totally false. Bush: You wanted it, and you didnt get it, because I was opposed to Trump: I would have gotten it. Bush: Casino gambling before Trump: I promise, I would have gotten it. Bush: During and after. Im not going to be bought by anybody. Trump: I promise, if I wanted it, I would have gotten it. Bush: No way. Believe me. Trump: I know my people. Bush: Not even possible. Trump: I know my people. Here is Trumps other version of events, told under oath: Lawyer: You knew that Governor Bush, Jeb Bush at that time, was opposed to expansion of gaming in Florida, didnt you? Trump: I thought that he could be convinced otherwise. Lawyer: But you didnt change his mind about his anti-gaming stance, did you? Trump: Well, I never really had that much of an opportunity because Fields resigned, telling me you could never get what we wanted done, only to do it for another company. In other words, Trump did not fail to get casino gambling because he really did not want it, but because he was unable to get it as a result of the actions of Richard Fields. Eichenwald said in a tweet, This story proves that if Trump loses, he will scream fraud. Because he cannot psychologically admit to losing. As he explains in Newsweek, If Trump was telling the truth that night, so be it. But if he was lying, what was his purpose? His If I wanted it, I would have gotten it, line may be a hint. Contrary to his many vague stories on the campaign trail about being a cash-doling political puppet master, this story has a name, a specific goal and ends in failure. If Bush was telling the truth, then Trump would have had to admit he lost a round and, as he assured the audience, that would not have happened. When he wants something, he gets it. Donald Trump either lied under oath in a deposition, or he lied to America in a debate. Either way, he lied. It is just a matter of determining which utterance is a lie. As Eichenwald puts it, Trump regularly peddles facts that arent true, describes events that never happened or denies engaging in actions that everyone saw him do. The Clinton campaign just released a staggering 19 pages of fact-checked Trump lies. Trump lied. And never more publicly or explosively than here, where he is either exposed as a man who lies under oath, or someone who lies to the people he wants to vote for him and worse, based on the myths he has created of himself failed to get what he wanted. MASON CITY The proposed Prestage pork processing plant, killed by a 3-3 City Council vote in May, is still an issue with Mason City voters, based on results of Tuesdays special City Council election. The leading vote-getter, Andy OBrien, received 1,428 votes, 32.7 percent. He favored moving forward with the Prestage plan. In the runoff Dec. 6, OBrien faces Paul Adams, an opponent of Prestage. Adams received 1,337 votes, 30.6 percent. Seven of the eight candidates vying for the open at-large council seat said they opposed the building of the Prestage plant and their combined vote totals represented two-thirds of the total vote. OBrien said he realizes the challenge he has in the run-off, but says voters need to consider more than just Prestage. I did not have a vote. Six members of our council voted their conscience, he said. I was in support for the City Council and community moving forward to see how a project of this magnitude could work for our city. There were several sides to this issue, not just an against or for the project. It was imperative to visit with all sides to find out the barriers. Was it because it was too fast, too much money given or environmental? All good points and why I asked everyone to come together to find out the answers. OBrien said too many people were unwilling to listen to the other side, so there was no way to find out the truth about the pros and cons of the project. Adams said, It is obvious the Prestage issue is still front and center for a lot of residents, and I think it will be one of the deciding factors of the run-off election. One candidate in the run-off election, me, did not think the Prestage slaughterhouse was a good fit for Mason City and did not think that is what responsible economic growth looks like. He pointed out OBrien supported the project and helped organize the Center of Influence meeting that had a goal of bringing back the proposal after it was rejected by the City Council. On putting the Prestage issue aside, Adams said, How we move on is tough to gauge. Before we can move on, the community needs to come back together and heal. How that is done or how long it takes is an unknown. The healing process and decisions that are made moving forward need to include all citizens and I am the candidate that will represent all the great residents of Mason City. OBrien said the runoff election should be a vote on who the best candidate is to help take Mason City forward in a positive manner. Look at the history of the candidates, he said. Who has a proven track record of volunteering for all different groups, working with others to lead change? Who of us understands how public and private businesses work together? Who of us has been instrumental in helping other businesses grow and hire more people? Who already has experience working with the idea of business and entrepreneurial growth in the state? I do all of these things and will continue to work to bring all parties together for the common good of our community. Yes, I want growth and it is going to take everyone working together and doing their part, not sitting on the sidelines, OBrien said. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print David Alan Dave Brat, a former professor of economics who now serves in the United States House of Representatives for Virginias 7th congressional district, says institutional racism is taking the Bible out of public schools. According to Brat, the people rioting in Charlotte were radical groups funded by George Soros or just confused people. Apparently, if they had a Bible-based moral education, they wouldnt mind being gunned down by the police for no reason whatsoever. Listen courtesy of Right Wing Watch: According to Brat, The Democrat policy in education is holding back an entire generation from being successful, and then you end up with this racial system when your school system [is] teaching them about isosceles triangles but were not giving them any hope. O where O where can you find hope? One guess: There is institutional racism, and if Obama and Hillary want to talk about institutionalized racism, I just mentioned the source of it. Its their own policies. thats where the institutional racism is, right? When you dont tell people what is ethically good and bad, right, if you cannot even define what a morally good life is anymore and you block the Bible and you block the Judeo-Christian tradition and you block the Baptist church, which is fundamental in the African-American community, from being the voice of power and the only hope you give is a broken federal system of government This appeal to the Bible as the cure for racism is an interesting claim, given the Bibles key role in the defense of Southern slavery. And even after the Civil War freed the slaves, as Carol Kuruvilla noted at HuffPo, This rhetoric of supremacy sanctioned by God was repeated in churches across the South. And before you get all factual and protest that this is confusing racism with religion, let Brat dig his hole a little deeper by claiming the only source of morality is the Bible, and an invented intellectual construct labeled Judeo-Christian. Of course, morality is entirely possible without the Bible, as centuries of moral people lived before the Bible was written. And science has now proven it. And there is no Judeo-Christian anything. The Jews rejected Jesus and Christianity made Jews pay for that fact with centuries of persecution, forced conversions, and pogroms. There is a strong undercurrent of anti-Semitism among Trump supporters that is undeniable. From a quick appeal to Wikipedia a short list can be made of those which came before the Law of Moses: Code of Urukagina (2,380-2,360 BCE); Cuneiform law (2,350-1,400 BCE); Code of Ur-Nammu, king of Ur (ca. 2050 BCE); Laws of Eshnunna (ca. 1930 BCE); Codex of Lipit-Ishtar of Isin (ca. 1870 BCE); Babylonian laws / Code of Hammurabi (ca. 1790 BCE); Hittite laws (ca. 16501100 BCE); Code of the Nesilim (c. 1650-1500 BCE); Assyrian laws / Code of the Assura (c. 1075 BCE). For exammple, Hammurabi says, Anum and Enlil named meHammurabito cause justice to prevail in the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil, that the strong may not oppress the weak. When we finally arrive at the Law of Moses, we find it was compiled over a period of centuries from the ninth to the fifth centuries BCE. Moreover, it is unoriginal, being written in the style of a Hittite vassal treaty,* which itself is a Near Eastern treaty form which dates back to before the Hittite civilization. Yet Brat expects us to believe no moral person existed before the Law of Moses, or, more precisely, Jesus. Yet the Roman Twelve Tables date to the fifth century BCE, and as one scholar notes in a study of early Christian morality, we find in the Iambi ad Seleucum of Amphilochius of Iconium, friend of the Cappadocians and cousin of Gregory Nazianzen, the exhortation to follow the ethics of the pagans but not their theology.** Nothing wrong with non-Christian ethics then, Brats claims aside. That same scholar notes that Christian apologists of the second century took pains to emphasize the similarities rather than the divergences between their beliefs and the pagan wisdom of the Roman Empire. Yet we find Brat saying the source of racism is the absence of any nationally prominent philosophers or theologians out there promoting the Judeo-Christian tradition in the African-American community and across the board in education. This is a base absurdity. Morality is not dependendent upon any religion, including Brats version of Christianity. It is oxymoronic to expect that Trump supporters, who are both racist and religious, can cure their racism with their religion, yet this is the logical conclusion of Brats assertion. Violating the First Amendment will not provide a cure for racism. Its roots run much deeper. As Dr. David Livingstone Smith wrote in Psychology Today, In the end, both Nazis and North American racists looked to a persons ancestry to determine their race. This strategy was based on the bizarre idea that race is carried by something that is found in bodily fluidsespecially bloodand thereby transmitted down the bloodline of descent. Lets face it. Kooky ideas about bloodlines and descent arent going to be cured by the Bible. Noam Chomsky has said that even with the Thirteenth Amendment, Black life was criminalized by overly harsh codes that targeted black people. Black people are still being targeted today, and it isnt that those people who are being targeted lack a Bible-based moral education but that the people shooting them have kooky ideas about race that have nothing to do with the Bible. * George Mendenhall Covenant Forms in Israelite Tradition The Biblical Archaeologist 17 (1954), 58-60. ** John Whittaker Christianity and Morality in the Roman Empire Vigiliae Christianae 33 (1979) 210 Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Donald Trump claims, in defense of racial profiling, Do we really have a choice? Were trying to be so politically correct in our country, and this is only going to get worse. Trump, of course, has invented hosts of Muslims celebrating the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers on 9/11. Trump is also known for inventing his own reality as he goes, one that has little or no relationship to our own. All to justify the hate and fear he peddles daily. We do have a choice, however. And that choice is illustrated by a 17-year-old American Muslim girl, born and raised here, who would be victimized by Trumps policies, along with many other American-born Muslims. Her letter was sent to President Barack Obama and along with others, was shared with the president in July in celebration of Eid al-Fitr. The letter below appears at WhiteHouse.gov, and Aleena Khan has now made a video of herself reading the letter. Watch courtesy of CNN: Dear Mr. President, As-Salaam-Alaikum. My name is Aleena K , and I currently go to Northwest High School in Germantown, Maryland. Per the requirements of an honors research program I participate in, I completed a senior research project on a topic of my choosing. I wanted to make my project something that I could use as a learning experience, something that would correctly embody the passion I have for helping people. That was when I settled on my topic: Muslim-Americans. As a practicing Muslim-American, I am all too familiar with the difficulties of being a Muslim in a non-Muslim majority country. Thus, my project, titled Split in the Middle: Why Muslim-American Teenage Girls Struggle with their Identity, was born. Completing this project was difficult. I had to face not only my insecurities, but the harsh rhetoric of other Americans. Because one of the potential causes of an identity crisis is the media, I had browse through the comments section of various articles that pertained to Muslim-Americans. I spent a couple of hours, sitting on the floor of my bedroom, reading thousands of comments from other people throughout America. The multitude of people who expressed their desire for deporting Muslims shocked me the most. I am an American, I grew up here. I say the Pledge of Allegiance every day. And yet, I am a Muslim. I fast during the month of Ramadan and celebrate Eid. I read the Quran, go to religion class, and pray. Which one was I allowed to be? It is a question that plagues me to this day. Today, I watched you give a speech at a mosque in Baltimore. You talked about how society needs to stop its rhetoric, because it is not fair to profile a group of people as a result of the actions of one person. You mentioned how we are not just Muslims, or just Americans, but we are both. We are Muslim-Americans. Amongst the negative comments and the rising hatred of Muslims in this country, your speech was like an oxygen tank. It allowed me to breathe a sigh of relief and give me hope that maybe, just maybe, there was an influential figure who believed in us. As I am writing this letter, I am listening to Adeles song All I Ask on her new album. And all I ask is for acceptance and tolerance from others. I know that this can eventually be achieved, not from the work of just one individual, but from Muslims and non-Muslims alike. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your faith in us. Sincerely, Aleena K CNN reports that an estimated 3.3 million Muslims live in the United States [and] violent extremists are outnumbered nearly 10,000 to 1which means that Omar Mateen, who killed 49 people at an Orlando nightclub this year, is not the norm. Aleena Khan is. She is an American, like Trump, and the Constitution says she has the same set of rights. Trump says we dont have a choice, but we do, and all Aleena Khan is asking is the same respect Trump claims for himself. We do have a choice. We just have to look past the hate and the fear and make it. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print *The following is an opinion column by R Muse* It is, on some level, easy to comprehend why a fair number of Americans have difficulty trusting the mainstream media any longer; if they ever trusted them in the first place. Once upon a time, regardless the various interpretations of what the so-called Fourth Estate really was, the press could be counted on to at least report the truth no matter who it affected. That was the job of the Fourth Estate in that its responsibility was to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable in a way that protected the common man from scam artists posing as politicians in the employ of the extremely wealthy. Even though those days are past, the least one expects of the media is to report the truth about a political candidates veracity, or lack thereof. In covering and commenting on the 2012 presidential race, one seriously thought that no politician would ever best Republican presidential candidate Willard Romneys record for lying on the campaign trail, but Donald J. Trumps dishonesty beats Willards mendacity hands down. Over the past week or so, there has been a tad more responsible reporting about Trumps predilection to lying from a major news outlets, but it is woefully inadequate during a presidential election and Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman assailed the press for failing to call Trump what many people know he really is: a dirty liar. Krugmans column on Friday, the aptly titled The Lying Game, addressed the press coverage of the presidential election in total thus far, but he began noting what anyone with a brain anticipating the upcoming debate already knows. Donald Trump will lie repeatedly and grotesquely, on a variety of subjects. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton might say a couple of untrue things. Or she might not. It is noteworthy that Pulitzer Prize-winning Politifact reported that Hillary Clinton was by far and away the most truthful candidate of either party during the primaries; a fact the media has never cited. The media, according to Krugman, is under intense pressure to seem fair and what he calls the huge problem with news coverage during this election; fear of being accused of having partisan bias. As an occasional print journalist, this author has never heard the term partisan bias in pointing out a blatant lie whether it was accusing a public official or corporation of lying. A lie is a lie and Krugman, a world-class economist, reminded the media that what their job as journalists is and what he is calling on them to do. Just calling on it to report what is actually happening, without regard for party. In fact, any reporting that doesnt accurately reflect the huge honesty gap between the candidates amounts to misleading readers, giving them a distorted picture that favors the biggest liar. Krugman also thought it might be helpful to explain why, in his mind, some may forego doing their jobs as journalists and pretend Donald Trump is not the biggest liar in modern American politics. He cited what most journalists consider just part of their job: Point out a Trump lie and you will get some pretty amazing mail if we set aside the attacks on your race or ethnic group, accusations that you are a traitor, etc., most of it will declare that you are being a bad journalist because you dont criticize both candidates equally. Of course Mr. Krugman is right, particularly about the nasty comments including questioning ones loyalty to America for criticizing any Republican, but the idea of being a bad journalist for not criticizing both candidates equally when one candidate is responsible for mountains of lies is no reason to report a worse lie that both candidates are equally honest. Perhaps the media is weary of being criticized for not reporting Trumps lies, or they are still exercised because Trump punked them into providing a half-hour free ad time for his new hotel, but there have been a couple of instances where mainstream media called Trumps lies for what they are; really blatant lies. Whether it is payback for being tricked, once again, by Trump, or the specific entities were just overcome with professional guilt for not, as Krugman says, simply do[ing] their job, which is to report the facts, there has been a small improvement. It is something only the New York Times has started doing as of late. CNN had a very brief bit of journalistic conscience back in June when they reported Trumps lies, but theres been a dearth of truth ever since. Just the fact that the Times started calling out Trumps lies qualified as a newsworthy story this week. Laura Clawson noted: In at least five articles in the New York Times on Sept. 17, including the lead story in the print edition, the words lie, false, falsely claimed and untrue appeared in headlines, lead paragraphs, and top sections of the papers Trump coverage. Now, when reporting on an honest-to-dog pathological liar like Donald Trump, that there are only at least five articles with those synonyms for dirty liar appearing on one day seems like under-reporting. Trump has certainly provided more than five opportunities to call him a liar in any given day throughout the campaign. But a little truth in reporting is better than none and it may indicate a trend toward the media doing its job. The executive editor of the New York Times, Dean Baquet, said his paper was going to start doing what one expects all news media to do all the time; their jobs. Mr. Baquet said, I think our investigative worksee [the Sept. 17] story on Trumps tax breakshas always been hard hitting. But we have decided to be more direct in calling things out when a candidate actually lies. [] The birther issue represents, well, outright lying. And he lied over a long period. It is a real word and we will use it when warranted. What Mr. Baquet could have said in fewer words was that the Times was going to start doing its job. It is a sad fact of life, though, that the people who need to see that everything Trump says is a lie are highly unlikely to ever read the New York Times, or any print media for that matter. Until broadcast media, in all its iterations, starts reporting the truth about Trumps lying, the majority of Americans will still be in the dark, and that more than anything is what troubles Paul Krugman going into the first presidential debate. Of course, Trump is going to lie faster than an assembly of fact-checkers can work, but the moderators know the topics and can at least tell Mr. Trump that he is lying, and he is certainly going to lie about some easily-debunked topics; he cant help himself. No-one in their right mind expects the media to afflict the comfortable when the comfortable own and control it. In fact, the medias rush to serve the needs and wants of the comfortable and their chosen political party (Republicans) began in earnest during the George W. Bush administration and has continued unabated. The media didnt call out Bushs, Cheneys, or Rumsfelds lies and they have allowed Republicans to lie like demons throughout the entirety of President Obamas Administration; including during the 2016 presidential primaries and general election season. Writing about politics is not always rewarding, but it is a relatively easy task when all thats required is reporting facts. And as the Times executive editor said, lie, liar, and lying are all real words and there is no penalty for using real words when covering a candidate seeking the highest office in the land; there really isnt. No American is asking for miracles from the media, in fact, the preponderance of Americans demand exactly the same thing as Paul Krugman; Journalists should simply do their job, which is to report the facts. It may not be easy but doing the right thing rarely is. There hasnt been too much right about mainstream media outlets for roughly 15 years and it is arguably the only reason Republicans still exist as a viable political party. MANKATO The Mankato-North Mankato Metropolitan Statistical Area had the fastest growing economy in the state from 2014 to 2015 and was the third fastest in the Upper Midwest. The gross domestic product of Blue Earth and Nicollet counties grew at 3.2 percent during the time period. The results are from a report by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. "The performance looks very good," said John Considine, director of regional business intelligence at Greater Mankato Growth. One sector that fueled growth locally was agriculture. Considine said the way GDP is calculated, the yield of crop harvest is weighted heavily, meaning bumper crops last year added to the GDP growth. ADVERTISEMENT "If farmers do get good yields (this year), the GDP will still look very positive." But he noted that the current low crop prices and tight balance sheets for farmers doesn't mean big yields equal big money. "There are other things to look at for the actual health of the ag economy." Considine crunched numbers going back 15 years to get a longer view of the local economy and found that recent years generally have been stronger than prerecession years. "In the last five years, after the recession, we've seen on average only zero to two sectors that have negative growth rates. Before the recession, in the early 2000s, we had one to five sectors declining," Considine said. "So when looking at the total growth of sectors it seems pretty balanced, there's not one big booming sector that is carrying all the growth." NEW YORK It is a double-edged cybersword: a negative review of a restaurant or other business, posted for the world to see. Anyone who peruses Yelp!, TripAdvisor, Google and companies' own websites can see complaints about bad food, surly sales associates, late deliveries or defective merchandise. But some business owners, even when they are chagrined or embarrassed, regard a bad review as valuable information that will help them improve. Jeff Gates, who co-owns eight restaurants in the Boston area, says online reviews give him a steady flow of feedback and likens them to the comment cards few diners fill out. He reads and responds to every post and consults with staffers to understand what worked and what didn't. "If multiple people are picking up on the same issue, that's something we really want to focus on," says Gates, whose restaurants include Aquitaine and Gaslight Brasserie. Some negative reviews may be inevitable, especially with a business that has hundreds of customer interactions each day. Miscommunications can lead to mistakes, restaurants can be short-staffed and businesses do fall down on the job. ADVERTISEMENT Gates also looks at who's leaving the reviews. If there's a pattern of skewering restaurants, it could be a customer who can't be satisfied. Jim Turner, who owns Turner's Seafood restaurants in Melrose and Salem, Mass., says he knows customers who have too much to drink and are asked to lower the volume will post complaints about how they were treated. "You have to accept that everybody is going to have that; everybody is going to have those customers," says Turner, who responds to each review privately. Negative reviews can be irritating, Turner says, but because they point out issues such as poor service, they spur him to address any problems, which in turn lifts the restaurants' ratings. Owners who contact reviewers are sometimes able to get a bad review updated and improved. But even businesses that take a constructive attitude can find it difficult or even impossible to get a review removed. They can appeal to site operators, but most reviews stand. Some angry businesses owners have sued people who wrote the reviews, but unless they can prove they were libeled because of false information, they're not likely to win. Some businesses also have sued sites such as Yelp!, but also unsuccessfully. Last week, a federal appeals court ruled against an owner who contended Yelp! should be held responsible for a negative review. Lawmakers are taking steps to protect reviewers and review sites. The House has passed a bill that would prevent businesses from requiring customers to sign agreements they won't post negative reviews. A similar Senate version passed last year, so the two will have to be reconciled before the measure goes to the president. A law outlawing such agreements took effect in California last year. Brandon Gerson, who oversees marketing for Hudson Allergy, a medical practice in New York, actually considers reviews part of that strategy. Patients are given tablet computers and encouraged to write reviews before they leave the office. If they're unhappy with any aspect of the practice, they get a response. Shirley George Frazier says she's posted five negative assessments among about 50 reviews of restaurants, hotels and other businesses. She says reading customer reviews help her make informed decisions and hopes negative reviews will motivate business managers to correct the situation. ADVERTISEMENT "I expect good service and a good environment, and when that goes downhill in whatever way it does, the room or front desk or room service, I am absolutely disappointed," says Frazier, who lives in Paterson, N.J. An owner who gets a nasty or unreasonable review may want to make a snarky response, but that will only invite more vitriol, says Darnell Holloway, Yelp!'s director of business outreach. People who see a contentious exchange may give that business a pass. A long and angry Google post that complained about the food and service at BBQ'd Productions in Third Lake, Ill., and made personal comments about the staff "felt like a punch in the gut," owner Kris Schoenberger says. He resisted responding in kind but posted a reply offering to speak with the reviewer. "You have to take the high road, and you have to be bigger and better," says Schoenberger, whose company has a 4.6 rating on Google. Some owners try to limit the number of jabs people can take. Opera Bracelets owner Cindy Battisti allows only those who have bought her jewelry inspired by opera stories to post reviews on her site not "people who haven't had a bracelet in their hand." If people make disparaging comments on Battisti's Facebook ads, she responds with more information about the bracelets and a link to her website. "It's easy to take it personally, because my business is me, but you've got to be professional," says Battisti, who lives in Rochester, N.Y. Eighty percent of the reviews on Yelp! are three stars or higher, says Holloway. And while businesses want high ratings overall, many owners believe a perfect score looks dishonest. ADVERTISEMENT "There's something sort of suspicious about a business that has an immaculate record," Gerson says. "You can't please everyone." HIGH FOREST TOWNSHIP After a lifetime of selling vehicles of all kinds, 79-year-old Jon Nelson has found a unique niche making and selling replica World War II Jeeps. "There's more than one way to skin a rabbit," says the gravelly voiced Nelson with a grin, while standing in his garage full of parts, photos and a half-completed Jeep. Many veterans and collectors are looking for original World War II Willys Jeeps, but they are rare commodities. However, some of the civilian Jeep models made right after the end of the war until 1950 still are around in farm fields, old garages or even being used to plow snow. Those early CJ2 civilian vehicles were not much different than their M3B predecessors. That's where Nelson saw an opportunity. "It's almost impossible to find (WW II Jeeps), but it's very easy to make a regular CJ2 into one," he said. ADVERTISEMENT For the past seven years, he has searched the country for old Jeeps to retrofit to meet the WWII standards. Nelson says he sells about three of his replicas per year on eBay, where they go for $7,000 to $9,000 each. His latest one is all ready to be delivered to its new owner in New Orleans. "The rule is you buy on Craigslist and sell on eBay. If you happen to have the right item, you make a few bucks," he said. Many of the buyers are veterans looking for vehicles to drive in parades. One of his Jeeps even has made it to the shores of Normandy to be used in the historic ceremonies held there. Other Nelson creations are driving around Norway, England and Mexico. Turning a civilian Jeep into a WWII one means replacing a tailgate with a welded steel plate, moving the spare tire from the side to the back and a few other modifications. Many authentic split windshields need to be added because most were replaced with the more familiar one-piece windshields. The war-time vehicles sported a number of welded handles all around the body for soldiers to lift a stuck Jeep out of the mud. Nelson adds those to his retrofitted models. The tricky part in the operating is finding 1940s Jeeps to modify. ADVERTISEMENT "Ah, that's what I call the thrill of the hunt," he said. His hunt has taken him as far as Grand Junction, Colo., as well as most of the Midwest. One of his finds, which had a perfect front half, had its back end sitting in a creek for 20 years. After years of asking, a guy "who was a hundred years old" finally agreed to sell his Jeep that he was using to plow snow in Minneapolis for $800. That deal came with a bonus of two running lights for a 1934 Packard touring car. He turned around and sold those lights for $300 each. Each Jeep and every part has its own backstory of how it was acquired and fixed. Nelson's Jeep business is full of challenges. "Every one of them has something. If they were all perfect, it'd be too easy," he said. "If you can do this kind of stuff, why not? I love it." Three years ago, on today's date to be exact, our youngest son was born. Rather easily he entered this world at a hefty 10 pounds 5 ounces. His first few months of life followed the steady developments as expected; however, he did roll over rather early. So early that my mother was in disbelief, and I had to send her a video to prove it. About the time one would expect their child would use their legs to stand on their holder's lap, we began to notice weakness. Then the rolling over stopped. As weeks went by, and he learned to sit up, we observed him never transitioning to crawling, pulling himself up or standing with assistance. At his one-year well-child checkup, our doctor suggested seeing a specialist for his leg and overall body weakness. Throughout the appointments, we were in "awe" at his hip flexion -- his legs could go so far behind his ears it was incredible. It also was indicative of a problem. Upon seeing a pediatric orthopedist, we were informed Jacob had benign congenital hypotonia. Essentially, we had a "floppy baby." He was unable to bear weight and did not hit gross motor milestones for crawling, standing or walking. This diagnosis usually has a positive outcome, and for Jacob, would require the help of physical therapy. Two weeks before Jacob's second birthday, he took two very wobbly steps, and by his birthday, he could almost cross a room. With the help of his two therapists, their patience, their expertise and a year's time that got him there. ADVERTISEMENT Parker Deen, an early intervention teacher and service coordinator, serves children from birth to 3 for four school districts in Fillmore and Houston counties. Parker has a master's degree in early childhood special education from the University of Iowa. She told me her interest was sparked by autism when she was only 6 years old, and she began reading anything she could on the subject. When Deen started graduate school, she initially focused on a program "Behavior Disorders," but after a year, found she was drawn to working in homes with families and young children who had development concerns. She wasn't sure it was a "field" or what it was called at the time, but she knew it was her calling in life. Originally from southern Mississippi, she took a year off from the university to become a resident of Iowa, then returned and shifted her studies to early childhood special education. Her favorite part of her job? "I love meeting new families and working together to find ways to empower the family to enrich their lives and promote the development of their child(ren)," Deen said. "I especially enjoy puzzling over why something might or might not be happening developmentally, and seeing the brilliance that comes from collaboration to support growth. My current interest is mental health in early years and across generations, and the role of movement in development across all areas. It helps to have fantastic co-workers and supervisors!" For young women considering this field, Deen advises, "Begin by being patient with yourself and trusting your skills; your comfort will grow with experience. Having a mentor is a great thing when just beginning. Find empathy and genuine caring for the families you work with." She added, "People don't care what you know, until they know you care." In addition to her job, she just became certified in Yoga Calm for Children. Yoga Calm is a program combining yoga, mindfulness and social emotional well-being. ADVERTISEMENT In the past year, I have found Deen to be caring (as she advises), genuinely interested in Jacob and his development and deeply invested with my child and others she speaks of. Jacob graduated last week from physical therapy and was released from the care of a pediatric orthopedist. We are extremely thankful for Deen's involvement with our family for well more than a year. The diminutive but distinct constellation Corona Borealis has been out all summer long and is now making its curtain call in our evening sky for 2016. By this time next month, because of the Earth's orbit around the sun, Corona Borealis will be nearly below the western horizon as darkness sets in. Right now it's still hanging in there in the low western sky. Corona Borealis is Latin for "The Northern Crown," and you can certainly make the case for how the Greeks and Romans saw it as a crown of shining jewels. To me it looks much more like a cereal bowl, even though it doesn't have all that much snap, crackle and pop. I love how the Australians refer to it as a boomerang. It's easy to see how the constellation got that name Down Under. In China it's known as a "cord," and according to the Shawnee Indian legend, these stars are the homes of maidens that occasionally danced in the fields on the earth. As night falls, look for my cereal bowl in the western sky just to the upper left of the constellation Bootes the Hunting Farmer. Bootes looks more like a giant kite than a hunter, with the bright star Arcturus at the tail. ADVERTISEMENT Arcturus is easy to find by using the Big Dipper's handle. Just extend the curve of the handle down to the lower left and you'll run right into Arcturus. It's extra easy because Arcturus is the brightest star in that part of the sky in the early evening. The brightest star in Corona Borealis is Alphecca, pronounced al-feck-ah, a hot bluish-white star about 75 light-years away. The light that we see from Alphecca tonight left that star in 1941 as America was entering World War ll. According to Greek mythology, Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown, is the crown of Princess Ariadne. The story goes like this. Ariadne was the daughter of the evil king of Crete who, once a year, sacrificed seven young men and seven young women to the horrible monster the Minotaur. This beast had the body of a bull and an incredibly ugly human head. Sound like your boss? Anyway, as the men and women were being led to the Minotaur one year, Ariadne made eye contact with Theseus, one of the men being led to slaughter and poof! It was love at first sight. Ariadne secretly armed Theseus with a sword. Theseus turned the Minotaur into Swiss cheese and as he ran from his conquest, Ariadne was waiting for him. The couple quickly dashed off in a boat and stopped overnight on the island of Naxos. No one really knows what happened. Maybe Theseus got cold feet, or maybe it was Ariadne's snoring, but whatever the reason, Theseus ditched Ariadne, leaving her sobbing uncontrollably on a beach at Naxos. The island of Naxos was run by Bacchus, the god of wine. The wine-sipping god fell in love with Ariadne, big-time. Once again Ariadne immediately fell in love, but with Bacchus it was real love. Bacchus and Ariadne were eventually married. He gave her a very extravagant gift. He took off his own crown and threw it into the air so high that it sprouted stars, symbolizing his everlasting love for the princess. Ariadne has long since left us, but her crown shines on in the northwest sky tonight. ADVERTISEMENT CELESTIAL HUGGING THIS WEEK: On Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 27-28, in the early morning twilight hours the waning crescent moon will pass by the bright star Regulus and the planet Mercury. Look about a half hour before sunrise in the low eastern sky. What a way to start the day! Dear Answer Man, does Mayo Clinic have a "destination medical center" project going in Jacksonville, Fla., too? Not really, but the CEO of Mayo's Jacksonville campus has used the phrase recently for the $100 million in new construction underway there. According to the Jacksonville Business Journal , Dr. Gianrico Farrugia"said work on the 150,000-square-foot destination medical center will have just under a two-year timeline, with the projected completion being summer 2018." A spokesman told one of my associates Thursday that construction will begin next month. The four-story building will be built to handle another 11 stories, if Mayo feels the need, and it will handle about 125,000 patients in its first year. Also part of the investment in Jacksonville is a PET radiochemistry facility. ADVERTISEMENT Farrugia has said the expansion will "build up Mayo Clinic's medical tourism and attract a regional, national and international reach," and more expansion plans could be announced by year end. "Farrugia said the potential for growing Mayo's medical tourism footprint is huge, and that there are about 37 million people that live within an hour's flight of Jacksonville who can not just visit Mayo, but other hospitals in Jacksonville," according to the Business Journal. "He said the aim is to make Jacksonville a 'southeastern hub' for medical treatment." Maybe so, but what puts Mayo Rochester's DMC into a whole 'nother league is the way it leverages nearly $600 million in public money over 20 years with the clinic's investment of roughly $3 billion. That's supposed to spur a like amount in private development. A Mayo spokesman told my I-Team member there's no public money involved in the Jacksonville project. LEDing the way As you know if you read this column every day , which is an excellent mental-hygiene habit to be in, you know that Xcel Energy is planning to change out the street lights in dozens of area towns to more efficient LED lights. A helpful Minnesota Department of Transportation spokesman in Rochester tells me they're doing the same thing. "Last year, MnDOT installed 393 LED fixtures on Highway 52 and 212 fixtures on I-35. Additional LEDs have been installed as replacements elsewhere, and it's the standard in new construction projects such as the Highway 52-Goodhue County Road 9 interchange south of Cannon Falls and the U.S. Highway 14 roundabout at Minneosta Highway 42 near Eyota." WINONA June Hawley leaned over intently as she carefully applied blue paint to the "u" in "Trump" on a do-it-yourself lawn sign. With Winona County Republicans unable to get many campaign signs from Donald Trump's campaign, they started getting creative. Volunteers grabbed a bunch of old campaign signs, painted over the design with white and began making their own Trump lawn signs. Hawley estimates she's already made 30 signs, and on a recent weekday, the GOP volunteer planned to spend five hours painting signs. "I love having something to do when I'm here. The time goes by fast. I'm better at it than I thought I would be," Hawley said. Republican Chairwoman Lynae Hahn said the party has seen a huge demand for the Trump lawn signs in recent weeks. An order of 65 signs from the Trump campaign were gone within a couple of days. And while some local Republican groups opt to buy signs from third parties to sell, Hahn said Winona County Republicans are on a tight budget and decided to try this approach instead. "The demand is just kind of crazy. We keep making them, and we keep taking them, and we run out and we make more, and it just keeps happening," Hahn said. ADVERTISEMENT Fewer Trump campaign resources in Minnesota When it comes to Minnesota, Trump's campaign has invested less in headquarters and staffing than Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Julie Quist, a Trump campaign volunteer who is heading up efforts in the First Congressional District, said there is one paid campaign staffer in the state. However, she said a volunteer organizer has been assigned to each of Minnesota's congressional districts. Compare that with Clinton's campaign. The former Secretary of State's presidential campaign has a campaign headquarters in St. Paul. Teddy Tschann, with the Clinton campaign, declined to detail exactly how many Clinton campaign offices there are in the state and how many paid staffers. However, Senate District 26 DFL Chairwoman Deb Staley said there is a paid staffer housed in the Rochester DFL office who is focused on Clinton's campaign. The Minnesota DFL has 25 field offices across the state. The big unknown is whether the Trump campaign will begin shifting more resources to Minnesota, which hasn't voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1972. A recent Minneapolis Star Tribune poll showed Clinton with the lead, but Trump is gaining. Of those polled, 44 percent favored Clinton over Trump. The poll had a margin of error of 4 percentage points. Is Minnesota in play? Olmsted County Republican Party Chairman Aaron Miller is among those who believe Trump has a shot at winning Minnesota. Miller said he has seen a dramatic shift in attitudes among local Republicans since he first announced he'd back Trump six months ago. "There were people in that room six months ago that called me everything you can call me at a meeting because I was going to be a Trump delegate, and I was standing up saying, 'Folks, the party has selected a candidate, and we need to get behind that candidate,'" Miller said. Last week, he said he saw some of those critical Republicans grabbing Trump lawn signs. ADVERTISEMENT 'Growing enthusiasm' for Clinton But Democrats remain confident Minnesota will remain blue. Staley said her office has had a hard time keeping up with demand for Clinton signs. She said it also is tough to get official signs from the Clinton office. So instead, local Democrats decided to buy 1,000 lawn signs from a third-party vendor. They have been asking people for a $5 donation to help with the cost. Meanwhile, 1st Congressional District DFL treasurer Pat Stallman said he is seeing support for Clinton growing across southern Minnesota. He said people who had supported Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders' campaign are coming around. "I think there's growing enthusiasm. We're attracting the former Bernie supporters who are coming over because of the general liberal/progressive beliefs Hillary has always had or adopted," Stallman said. Andy Post, the Trump campaign's battleground state director, declined to provide specific staff numbers for Minnesota. However, he said the Trump campaign has all the resources it needs to win Minnesota in November. "As we saw from the overwhelming support he received in the national GOP primary race, Mr. Trump is not a typical politician. Attempting to measure the strength of his campaign by old-world comparisons fails to reflect the enthusiasm and grass-roots support evidenced by the tens of thousands of old and new voters he is attracting to his events and his campaign across the country, including scores of independents and disaffected Democrats," Post said in an emailed statement. Meanwhile, Hillary for Minnesota State Director Mackenzie Taylor said the campaign is putting in the work to get people to show up at the polls and vote for Clinton. "While Donald Trump continues to prove he is temperamentally unfit to be president, Hillary for Minnesota is working every day to elect Democrats up and down the ticket," Taylor said in an emailed statement. "With early vote currently underway, our volunteer-driven organization is already getting people to the polls to make their voices heard. We are engaging with communities of color, college campuses, the LGBT community, union members, seniors and rural communities." ADVERTISEMENT Caledonia man among 2 killed in accident PINE CITY Two men have been struck and killed along an eastern Minnesota highway. The State Patrol says the two had been in a minor accident on Highway 18 in Pine County Thursday and got out of their vehicles to inspect the damage. They were hit by a car driven by a 44-year-old Rutledge man. The patrol says 68-year-old Ronnie Colsch, of Caledonia, died at the scene. A 63-year-old Finlayson man died at a Duluth hospital. The name of the second victim was not immediately released. Authorities say Colsch sideswiped a semi driven by the second victim as it backed into a driveway along the highway. Associated Press ADVERTISEMENT Man pleads not guilty in in Fargo woman's death in mid-May FARGO, N.D. A Minnesota man has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in the death of a woman whose body was discovered in a Fargo town house in mid-May. Twenty-two-year-old Landon Lauwagie on Thursday also entered a not guilty plea to the charge of gross sexual imposition. Lauwagie, of Ponsford, Minn., was charged in June in the death of 40-year-old Cory Terlecky on or about May 14. Authorities say in court documents that Lauwagie sexually assaulted Terlecky and that she died of asphyxiation. Lauwagie is being held at the Cass County Jail. His attorney did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the case Friday. Associated Press Fatal apartment stabbing investigated ST. PAUL Police are investigating a fatal stabbing in St. Paul's Ramsey Hill neighborhood. ADVERTISEMENT Officers were called to an apartment about 2 a.m. Friday and found an adult male who had been stabbed. The man was rushed to Regions Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Investigators are questioning witnesses at police headquarters. The victim has not been identified. Associated Press FBI seeks public's help in mall stabbings MINNEAPOLIS Federal investigators are asking for the public's help as they investigate the stabbings of 10 people at a Minnesota mall. The FBI issued an appeal Thursday for information or cellphone video from people who were at Crossroads Center in St. Cloud on Saturday evening. Authorities say Dahir Ahmed Adan, 20, wounded 10 people before he was shot and killed by an off-duty police officer. An Islamic State-run news agency claimed Adan was a "soldier" for the group. Federal authorities have said they are treating it as a potential act of terrorism, but have released little information since the attack. Family members and friends have said Adan wasn't highly religious and they didn't know what might have prompted the attack. Associated Press ADVERTISEMENT Feds OK loans for Wisconsin, Minnesota WABASHA Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says federal officials have granted his request to provide low-interest disaster loans to individuals and businesses impacted by flash flooding in western Wisconsin in August. Walker announced Thursday that the U.S. Small Business Administration has declared Buffalo County as well as the contiguous counties of Eau Claire, Pepin and Trempealeau eligible for loans. The SBA also listed Minnesota's Wabasha and Winona counties as eligible. Homeowners in those counties can get up to $200,000 to repair or replace damaged homes. Businesses can get up to $2 million. Eight inches of rain fell on the region on Aug. 11, causing flash flooding and damaging homes, businesses and roads. Buffalo County emergency officials have reported more than 25 homes and businesses sustained significant damage and uninsured losses exceeded 40 percent. Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS Several Midwestern states are a soggy mess after up to 10 inches of rain fell in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa and triggered mudslides that caused one death. Washed-out railroad tracks derailed a train in southwestern Wisconsin, where a mudslide destroyed a house and killed the man inside. Crews built dams to protect a cheese cave and a woolen mill in southern Minnesota. And in northern Iowa, about 100 people were evacuated from their apartments. The rain mostly moved through the states Wednesday evening and early Thursday. While much of the water began to recede or drain Thursday, its effects could be found throughout the area. Mud pushed a home onto Wisconsin State Highway 35 in Vernon County on Thursday morning. It took search and rescue crews until the afternoon to find his body, emergency management officials said. His name was not immediately released. About 40 miles (64 km) south in Crawford County, two BNSF Railway locomotives and five cars derailed. The crew wasn't injured, but one of the fuel tanks ruptured, spilling about 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel some into the Mississippi River, the railroad said. BNSF crews placed booms downstream to capture the fuel. Wisconsin emergency officials said 15 people who lived nearby were evacuated as a precaution. ADVERTISEMENT Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker declared a state of emergency for 13 counties to help local governments pay for the costs of damage and cleanup to public infrastructure. In Minnesota, the northern suburbs in the Twin Cities area saw up to 10 inches of rain. Seventy miles (113 km) south, Waseca saw nearly 14 inches of rain over two days. Basements were flooded across the community, and several residents were evacuated. "We've never had it like this, never," Joyce Brown, who has lived in Waseca for 42 years, said about the standing water on her property. "Never never never never never." To the southwest, the city of Faribault declared a state of emergency as it worked to hold back the Cannon and Straight Rivers. Crews placed sandbags to protect the Faribault Woolen Mill, a popular tourism destination, and built a berm to keep the water out of the Caves of Faribault, which are known for their award-winning, cave-aged blue cheeses. In northern Iowa, authorities evacuated about 100 people from two apartment complexes in Mason City after Chelsea Creek left its banks, Cerro Gordo County emergency management spokesman Michael Groesbeck said. About 60 homes in the town of Greene took on waist-deep floodwaters from the Shell Rock River in Butler County. Audrey Smith's husband had to be rescued Thursday after the tractor he used to try to retrieve a freezer of meat was swamped. She said they'd worked all night removing items from their home, but didn't finish before floodwaters arrived. The Smiths rebuilt after a devastating flood in 2008. "Guess what? We aren't rebuilding again," she said. ADVERTISEMENT ST. PAUL A very small number of Minnesota students actually go to charter schools. Just over five percent in the 2014-2015 school year. But you wouldn't know it by the size of the debate the publicly financed, independently run schools can stir up. Former Black Lives Matter St. Paul leader Rashad Turner said a recent call by the national Movement for Black Lives group for a moratorium on charter schools pushed him to leave the group he's been so active in. "People need choice, so to say that the NAACP national group or BLM national group are able to just say, 'Hey, we shouldn't have these type of charter schools' to me it's unfair to take away choices," Turner said. The umbrella group that includes Black Lives Matter made a charter school moratorium part of its education demands. Turner said his split with the group was a long time coming Black Lives Matter St. Paul is not actually listed as an official chapter on the national website. ADVERTISEMENT But around the same time, a call from the national NAACP also raised questions locally. The NAACP called for a moratorium on "privately managed" charters in a resolution that still needs board approval. The Minneapolis NAACP hasn't taken a position on the resolution, but its president Nekima Levy-Pounds said children of color can excel at charters, where curriculum may be more likely to emphasize the students' own cultural backgrounds. Sasha Cotton of the St. Paul-based African American Leadership Council echoed that call for options. "We are primarily concerned about the quality of education that any school can provide to young people from African American communities, whether that be charter, public, private or even homeschooling," Cotton said. Among charter advocates, one set of schools comes up again and again as an example of success: the Harvest Network of three schools in Minneapolis, which serves almost 100 percent black students. A 2013 study from the University of Minnesota found two Harvest schools among several charters that scored much better on state tests than expected based on their poverty levels. But critics say that even with some over-performers like the Harvest schools, the casualties of choice are way too high. The 2013 report is critical of charters overall, showing that more Twin Cities students go to under-performing charters than over-performing ones. Even Harvest's test scores have fallen since 2013. "I've had CEOs tell me that they can't promote people who don't have cultural and co-existing meaningful experiences with women, with people of color, with immigrants, with people with disabilities," said St. Paul NAACP first vice president Yusef Mgeni. Mgeni says schools that serve a single racial or cultural group limit students. He also argues charters take money school districts need and lack accountability. ADVERTISEMENT In Minnesota charters are run by elected boards, but only school staff, parents and board members are eligible to vote for the board. Charters are exempt from some laws governing school districts. Across the river in Minneapolis, NAACP officer KerryJo Felder suggests district schools could provide the cultural emphasis some parents look for in charters using a model called "full-service community schools". That approach has taken hold in the Brooklyn Center district and elsewhere. Full-service schools join with community groups to offer extra services like healthcare. "The full-service community school has its own agenda," Felder said, "and that agenda belongs to the community, the teachers, the parents, the students." Amid the debate, voices on both sides sound one similar note: pro- or anti-charter may not be thinking big enough. Minnesota has one of the largest academic achievement gaps in the country between students of color and their white peers. "It's not about the charter schools and whether or not the charter schools are successful," said north Minneapolis consultant Dave Ellis, who trains teachers and others to respond to trauma. "Some of the kids at the charter schools are doing really well, some of them probably are not doing so well. Some of the kids in the public school system are doing really well. Some of the kids are not doing so well. So we've always got this other side." Ellis says he'd like to see a solution that would boost both charter and district school students. He admits he doesn't have the answer. But he says he's ready to talk about it. As rioters and looters went on the rampage in Charlotte on Wednesday evening, WBTV News reported live via Twitter that protesters (my quotes, not WBTVs) on I277 were stopping traffic and surrounding vehicles. AVOID. Glenn Reynolds retweeted the item and commented: Run them down. Falling into the category of What oft was thought, but neer so well expressd, I found that cathartic. The powers-that-be at Twitter, however, were having none of it. They promptly suspended Glenns account. On the condition that he delete his tweet, they also restored his account the following day. Twitchy preserves the record of what went down here. Glenn commented at InstaPundit here. I thought Twitters suspension of Glenns account was ludicrous and its restoration of his account on the condition that he delete his tweet almost laughable. Yet this was only the beginning of the saga. Glenn had started a joke that started the whole world crying but, unlike the guy in the Bee Gees song, the joke wasnt on him. I would be shocked if Glenn isnt the most popular contributor to USA Today. His twice-a-week column for the paper is certainly must reading. Yet USA Today felt it had to get in on the act, suspending Glenns column for one month on account of his tweet. Here is Glenns expression of second thoughts in his own words: Wednesday night one of my 580,000 tweets blew up. I didnt live up to my own standards, and I didnt meet USA TODAYs standards. For that I apologize, to USA TODAY readers and to my followers on social media. I was following the riots in Charlotte, against a background of reports of violence. Joe Bruno of WSOC9 interviewed a driver whose truck had been stopped by a mob. Trapped in her cab, she feared for her life as her cargo was looted. Then I retweeted a report of mobs stopping traffic and surrounding vehicles with the comment, Run them down. Those words can easily be taken to advocate drivers going out of their way to run down protesters. I meant no such thing, and Im sorry it seemed I did. What I meant is that drivers who feel their lives are in danger from a violent mob should not stop their vehicles. I remember Reginald Denny, a truck driver who was beaten nearly to death by a mob during the 1992 Los Angeles riots. My tweet should have said, Keep driving, or Dont stop. I have always supported peaceful protests, speaking out against police militarization and excessive police violence in my USA TODAY columns, on my website and on Twitter itself. I understand why people misunderstood my tweet and regret that I was not clearer. Well, I got it the first time, no explanation necessary, but okay. Can this be the end of the story? No, it cannot. Glenn must also be the most distinguished member of the University of Tennessee (Knoxville) Law School faculty, so the University of Tennessee was yet to be heard from. Law school dean Melanie Wilson announced: University administrators, college faculty, and I are investigating this matter. The university is committed to academic freedom, freedom of speech, and diverse viewpoints, all of which are important for an institution of higher education and the free exchange of ideas. My colleagues and I in the universitys leadership support peaceful civil disobedience and all forms of free speech, but we do not support violence or language that encourages violence. Good for you, Dean Wilson. You possess virtuous sentiments and demonstrate mastery of the operative cliches and shibboleths of your ilk. Dean Wilsons statement is a joke. Dean Wilson, university administrators and college faculty investigating the matter are a joke. National Reviews David French gets the joke: Whats there to investigate? He wrote a tweet, it says what it says, he deleted it, and he made his explanation. Well, they must perform to appease the crazy campus gods and others that Glenn had the temerity to taunt in his tweet. Dean Wilson, university administrators and college faculty investigating the matter are kin to the mob that descended on Sherburn in Huckleberry Finn. As Sherburn put it, a MANS safe in the hands of ten thousand of [their] kind as long as its daytime and [theyre] not behind him. Glenn will have the last laugh. Having demonstrated to many of us the highest and best use of Twitter, he has vowed to quit Twitter [a]s soon as this settles down. And he wont be the only one. JOHN adds: There is no right to close down a highway, and if drivers just kept going, it couldnt happen. Most likely no one would get hurt, either; the rioters would get out of the way. But any personal injury would be the fault of those who wandered on to the highway, not the motorists. Still more is this the case when motorists are being threatened by a mob. Like Scott, I didnt think Glenns comment required either interpretation or apology. Lets hope the witch hunt doesnt go any further. The Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, said the state spent over N3 billion on this years pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia by Muslims from the state. Mr. Ganduje said the expenditure covered subsidy on accommodation and medication of the states pilgrims in the exercise, and sponsorship of officials and medical personnel to the hajj. Mr. Ganduje, at the hajj, spoke with journalists in his hotel room in Makkah shortly after the completion of the Hajj rites. Excerpt: Question: What is your assessment of the 2016 Hajj? Ganduje: This years Hajj is very successful because a lot of public enlightenment was undertaken. For example in Kano, we took a lot of time to ensure that all the pilgrims actually almost memorised how to perform the Hajj right from what they are expected to do in their houses, when they come to the airport, when they come to Medina, Jeddah, and when they come directly to Makkah. All the principles of Hajj, all the sunnah of Hajj, they have been imparted physically; because they even created Tawaf so that they will know where to start the Tawaf, what prayers to recite either in Arabic or in English or in Hausa and to also see what you are not expected to do while doing the Tawaf; because there are a lot of irregularities by some people who are not well enlightened. The same thing with Safa da Marwa. They made a depiction of it and learnt what they were supposed to say and also the stay in Muna, where they are supposed to be there to rest and pray. Then down to Arafat, when they are supposed to be doing some prayers and combine the Zuhr and Asr prayers, and move to Mustalifa immediate its Magrib. All these, they were taught in Kano practically. We also constituted a Hajj tribunal for those who misbehaved here. When we go back, then we will take them to court. But, I am happy to tell you that the chairman of the tribunal told me that his book does not contain anything for him to report about indiscipline. Question: Could that be because of the enlightenment of the pilgrims back home? Ganduje: Yes. So, nobody was found wanting in the Holy Land. We also have a very good medical team for those who are sick, we have a very good team of Hisba; we have a very good team of preachers; that is the extension of the public enlightenment that we learnt. Question: What about the authorities of Saudi? Ganduje: Alhamdulillahi! Saudi Arabia too has tried so much with the infrastructure that we have seen; especially the tunnel, especially the light rail and the well-arranged movement of vehicles with direction, and so on. So, we can say that this years Hajj has been very successful. Question: Are there any challenges that are faced here especially from your states pilgrims? Ganduje: Well, the challenges we faced are very few with regards to accommodation and sometimes feeding. But you know, in the case of feeding, there is a lot of rushing, so it constitutes a problem, otherwise other problems are mainly Hajj-related problems, like getting exhausted and the government cannot do much about that. But even the accommodation, according to the National Hajj Commission, all our houses were graded as Grade A. Only one of them was graded as B; and A, B, C, D are acceptable. So, we got As and only one B, which means that we got houses that are containing thousands of pilgrims. You know we have almost 6,000 pilgrims this year. Some of the house contained 1,500, some 2,000, some 800. So, overall, there is really not much challenge from what we have seen because I visited them in Arafat, we prayed together with the Ulama that came along with them and then with the members of the board. I also visited all the Sheikhs with the pilgrims, including the women. We talked to them, we prayed together and we are so happy. Question: But, there were complaints from the pilgrims about the distance of their accommodation from Haram (Grand Mosque). Is there anything you intend to do about that? Ganduje: Well, some of them mentioned it. But, you see, the issue is very dicey because, one, there is provision for vehicles; two; the government had to spend over N700 million in order to top up what the pilgrims paid. So, let us not deceive ourselves; if we are to get a house very near to the Kaaba, the state government will spend well over N1.5 billion extra. Hajj is not an easy thing. Hajj is for those who can afford it. But, we have tried our best to see that we put them in a clustered accommodation and also where it is easy to reach the clinic. And then, the Imams are able to enter the houses and do some preaching, and the welfare officers can easily reach the houses and easy evacuation of the pilgrims at a designated place so that they can be taken to Muna or any other place. So, it is also an issue of money, I dont want to deceive anybody; and everybody knows that there is no money now. So, the services we are providing and the Pilgrims Welfare Agency officials we are sponsoring the Medical staff and all the medication, if you put it together, you will see that we spent over N3 billion. Kano is a highly populated place. But I assure you, even if you give them houses close to Kaaba, some will still complain. Question: Arent you worried that your visit to pilgrims in Arafat may be interpreted as playing politics with religion? Ganduje: (Silence .Laughs) Somebody who is not a politician can say that, somebody who is not well-versed on Islamic knowledge can say that. As you know, there is leadership in Sharia. Do you know there is visitation by leaders to their subjects as part of Islam, whether in the pilgrims lodge or at home? So, how can we interpret that as political? So, a leader should just hide himself, governor should just stay in his hotel and not see his people because they will say it is political? The other part is that, supposing it is political; what is the problem? (Laughter). Who voted for us, is it not the same people? So, even if it is politics, yes. But, one thing we have done is to see that we abolished government sponsorship, for a long time even during our last administration, because we discovered that government was spending billions of naira to sponsor some people to come. So, during our last administration, we cancelled it. In fact I was the one who made the announcement and some people thought heavens would fall because we cancelled it. And when I came in, we did not have problem because people are used to it. So, the only people we can sponsor are stakeholders, medical team, the Ulamas who are preaching here and the civil servants from the Pilgrims Welfare Agency. These are the people that have to be here. So, whatever you take it, I think its okay for me. Question: Presently, states have to be given bailout to pay salaries, what is the situation in Kano? Ganduje: Well, right from the beginning, we inherited a liability of over N300 billion and we have an amount of less than N30 million. So, we were in the first group to go for the bailout. So, we received bailout in order to pay liabilities; retirees pension. That was the only problem. So, if you look at that problem, the first thing I did was to dissolve the Internal Revenue Board and advertise the positions nationally for the job so that we can get competent hands, experienced hands and also honest young people, well educated in different fields of tax collection. That is how we started. We reviewed all the laws so that they can conform with what we intend to do. And immediately we employed and inaugurated them, they went into action. First by meeting with all the stakeholders, the rich people, the industrialists and commercial people, the market people, the banks, and institutions in order to discuss with them that a new law is now on the ground. We also employed technical officers from different fields. Some specialized in reconciling bills disbursements, both for the state and the local governments. Some are specialized in pursuing Pay As You Earn by other organizations like Federal Government organizations, like commercial banks and other institutions. So, they go to various organizations to reconcile to see how much we are supposed to be given. Some on motor vehicles, some on landed property. They said that of land; we have to make another law in order to capture everything well. We also harmonized the taxes between local governments and the state so that we can avoid multiple taxation and to reduce double effort. By so doing, our revenue started increasing. We shall succeed to capture almost every house within the city and the local governments. But, we are on it now. Question: By what percentage do you think the IGR will grow with all these projects put in place? Ganduje: I think it is up to 60 percent. Question: So how much was generated before and how much are you generating now? Ganduje: It had a peak at one time and whenever major contracts are awarded, because of the part we used to take from the contractors. We were collecting less than N1 billion. Unless if we awarded a lot of contracts that we can reach that stage. But now, we collect over N2 billion and are still at infant stage. Question: Lagos in the first quarter got N101 billion. As an industrial hub in the north, despite the problems, is there any benchmarking with Lagos, for instance, that Kano can learn from? Ganduje: I sent my board to Lagos and they spent almost two weeks. They also went to Edo State when we learnt that they too were doing well. The team gathered a lot of information; so we have to review our laws or something like that. Question: What is your target? Ganduje: Our target is up to N30 billion. We want to reach 10 billion monthly, but eventually we are looking at N30 billion per month. Question: How far about the proposed introduction of female artisans in Kano? Ganduje: Well, 75 students were sent to Peugeot Automobile Nigeria, PAN, and they are graduating in October. We have now started recruiting both male and female. We want to send at least 100. If we can get up to 50% women to go and learn different trades, that will be good for us. But, in order to actualize that, we are building an ultra-modern Skills Acquisition Center, which His Excellency, the Vice President, has laid the foundation stone. The building is going on now and very soon we shall award contract for the equipment. About 24 different trades will be taught. We had to carry out a survey to identify those trades in Kano to see what is the manpower gap, both in government and in the private sector. We have to make some kind of innovation to see the skilled areas which is dominated by people not from Kano. We have to include such areas into what we intend to do. By the time we complete that center, we will have all what we require in terms of skills acquisition and I am sure every youth will benefit from that. For the time being, before the completion, we are using different areas like the PAN you have mentioned. Since 1988, Books for Africa, a small Minnesota-based charity, has been shipping tonnes of books to Africa to improve literacy, reading culture and all-round educational development in the continent. Patrick Plonski, the executive director of the charity with the simple but lofty goal to end the book famine in Africa told PREMIUM TIMES how the group has managed to consistently send no fewer than 36 million books in 28 years. PREMIUM TIMES: Tell us about Books for Africa. How was the idea birthed? Plonski: It started when our founder Tom Warth sold his book business. He had created a book business selling car books for people who are interested in cars, like collectors cars, old cars and stuff. It was a very profitable niche. And someone bought the company from him. He retired early because he made a lot of money from selling his business. So he was traveling around the world. Hes an Englishman. His grandfather had been in Africa; he was in Jinja, Uganda, and was invited to tour a library, and when he visited the library, he saw that they had no books. This was in 1988. He came back to Minnesota and sent a few books to Jinja, Uganda. They were very well received and so they set up Books for Africa and said lets keep doing it. In those early days, he worked with his friends in the publishing industry, and it grew from there and that was 36 million books ago. PREMIUM TIMES: Book for Africa started by sending books to Uganda. What other countries in Africa have you sent books to since you were established? Plonski: We have shipped books to 49 countries in Africa. We are the worlds largest shipper of books to Africa. We sent over 36 million books to 49 countries; almost all countries in Africa have received books. They go by the tonnes, over 2 million books a year. It is basically where English is one of the official languages. So Nigeria gets a lot of book. I think Ghana is our number one recipient, followed by Ethiopia, followed by Nigeria and there is a bunch of others Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Liberia. PREMIUM TIMES: You said Nigeria is your third largest destination for books. How many books have you sent to Nigeria in the last five years, for instance? And who are some of your biggest receivers of books in the country? Plonski: Let me say we have sent about 3 million books to Nigeria; maybe 4 million since 1988. We sent a lot of books into the Port Harcourt area and a lot of books into Abuja. Not so many books in the north because its difficult to transport and more Islamic; and Arabic speaking. I dont know why we have not been able to send more books to Lagos. The books that go into Lagos seem to be passing through. For some reason, Lagos, I cant figure it out. In Nigeria, we dont really have one key recipient, its always sending to somebody different. We have sent books to a lot of universities. In some other countries we have a go-to partner or a repeat donor who is always ordering books. We dont really have that in Nigeria with the exception of Sir Emeka Offor. He is our largest single donor and he would order containers of books for Nigeria. There are a lot of university books and a lot of science books in Nigeria but we send everything because I know a lot of times they request for some types of books we dont have in stock and we say you have to wait five months for us to send you shipment or can you show some flexibility on what we put in your container. PREMIUM TIMES: What is the value of books Sir Emeka Offor has ordered for Nigeria so far? Plonski: He has paid shipping cost of over a million dollars to send books to Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa. His last quota for Nigeria was 16 containers. Every container is 20 tonnes that is 320 tonnes of books and computers that he has ordered. I look forward to being in Nigeria later this year or early next year. I think we are going to have some sort of distribution centre. PREMIUM TIMES: So how does it work? Do you just send books to high schools, Universities or public libraries? And how do you make sure the books get to where they were intended? Plonski: They go everywhere from pre-school to universities to hospitals and everything in-between. The way it works is, the donators decide. You are from Lagos, lets say you talk to me that you want to get books to a library in Lagos, I would say to you okay you got to raise the money to send the books. I could put 20 tonnes of books in Lagos; the cost is $10,300 so you would raise the money and get it to Books for Africa and then we would send the books to you or who you tell me to send them to. So at the end of the day, Im not responsible for deciding where the right place is, you are because you are funding it. Its all donor-driven. I call it the Amazon.com model. Whoever is paying for it tells us where to send the books. PREMIUM TIMES: What impact has Books of Africa had in the countries it sends books to? How do you calculate the impact your programme has had over the years? Plonski: Its hard to do. Traditionally, because it is a demand-driven model, we say the impact is large a) we sent out a lot of books; b) there is a demand for a lot of books. So if there is a lot of demand for your product you say we must be successful. I know that is not always true, because the funders arent the same ones receiving the books. So over the last 28 years that is how we measure it. Because there is a lot of demand and we know there is so many needed we know that the impact is good. We do site visits and we do get a lot of feedback from recipients on the books are the books good; what you want more; what you want lesser? In an ideal world we would spend money into pre-imposed assessment into education, reading culture, literacy level and all of the classical assessment, we have done a little of that and we are thinking of doing more of that whereby we would do more assessment of impact. We are also commissioning a firm to do that for us. There is a firm in Minneapolis that does programme assessment and evaluation. We are small non-profit, that stuff is expensive. That is something that USAID, World Bank, they have money to do all of that. We havent done much as we would have liked to. Mainly because weve sent so many books and its a demand driven model. PREMIUM TIMES: The books you send to Africa, are they new or used books? Plonski: Most of what we send are used books. But we do send a lot of new books as well from publishers. First of all, there are fewer publishers around. The publishers are going into more of just in-time publishing and they are publishing extra books they used to do in the past. Also, sometimes publishers will donate books but with restrictions. For example, they would say you cant send these books to Nigeria, why? Because they are trying to sell books in Nigeria, or they fear of corruption in Nigeria; their books are going to be reproduced or something. So the publishers would attach restrictions. At times they would donate what is useful for them or donate a lot of the same thing but with second hand books you get a lot of variety. So the used books we find are more useful to people. You get a greater variety of them and you get less restrictions on where you can send them. PREMIUM TIMES: Talking about used books. There is a huge used books market in Africa. How do you ensure that some of the books you send dont end up with people who are selling them for profit? Plonski: Truth be told; Im tempted to say I dont care. The goal is to send books out there. Amazon.com when they sell a book they dont care who the end user is. Somebody wanted a book, somebody got a book. But, usually that is the responsibility of whoever funded the shipment. We are not overly concerned about it because if they found their way into the second hand market, somebody is using them and that is adding value. PREMIUM TIMES: But someone is profiting from them illegally. Donated books are of immense help to pupils who couldnt afford to buy book. You certainly dont want that in the hands of people who want to make profit from them. Plonski: It is true. It is true. Books for Africa is sort of a highbred of a charity and a business. We dont ignore the value of the marketplace. People will order books because they believe the books are valuable. We would price the books according to the market. We maintain what the price points are. For instance, what is the value of a container of 20 tonnes of used books. We know that with $10,000 someone will donate for that, if it was $50,000 they wouldnt, if it was $4,000 or $3,000 we couldnt cover our cost. There is an economic element to this. I know I need to cover my cost. It is a concern. We dont want children in schools going without books because somebody stole them but I do like the idea that books are in demand. And the second hand book market is a good thing. If somebody is selling a book and somebody is buying a book that shows there is demand for books. Im actually looking at opening a bookstore in Lagos for that very reason. We want to open a large scale bookstore and we think Lagos is the place. The largest city in Africa, right? To summarise we dont condone the theft of books but using the power of the market is an important element of what we do. Books for Africa, we have cost, and we have to cover our cost. Sometime we send books to book trust that charge a dollar a book, that is a good way to get books into Ghana. Ghana is the number one recipient of books in Africa because they use book trust. They would pay us for a container of books and they would charge a dollar a book. It is a very good way to distribute books. Children in primary schools, they dont have a dollar to buy a book so somebody has to cover those cost and we understand. PREMIUM TIMES: How do you make sure the books you send to educational institutions in Africa correlate with their syllabi or curriculum requirement and not just in a library gathering dust because they are not what among the recommended texts? Plonski: The books that we send do not meet the curriculum of any country in Africa. They are supplemental to the books that are being provided to the ministries of education. So everything that we send is supplemental. In an ideal world, we fill up the libraries and the ministries of education and the government and the universities, they provide the core competences in the book in the reading list and the curriculum. The unfortunate reality is that when there are no other books supplemental becomes the main books. I dont have books in Nigerian literature to send but I do have books on basic chemistry, and I do have encyclopaedia set so why would you want to reprint identical books. It is a matter of getting them into the right place where somebody wants them. They do not substitute for prepared books but are supplement. They fill up libraries; libraries are about vast quantity of knowledge, in my opinion. Students are able to go out there and find whatever is of interest to them. Unfortunately, you find places where there are not enough books. Ministries of educations are into providing enough books. The school books that we are sending are all there is. PREMIUM TIMES: The proliferation of mobile devices in Africa has resulted in people increasingly using these devices as their primary access to information. What are you doing to make sure that the books are available digitally and what are your plans in competing with electronic suppliers of books? Plonski: We do send a lot of computers. We send mostly hard copy books but we send computers -laptops and desktops and they are loaded with contents. So there is a lot easier-to-read a book off because their screens are bigger. In terms of phones, I use my phone a lot, I would never want to read a phone out of this thing. Its good for certain types of things, its good for short news articles, and things like that. In this day and age, at least in the United States, we are seeing a sort of multi-dimensional information thing, to use myself as an example. I read a news story on my phone, maybe Id read a newspaper on my computer too, but it is multi-dimensional nobody really wants to read a book in a model phone. I was traveling to Montana, and I read a book on tape. Audio book is a lot better. I think we dont want to abandon those technology, but in the United States, the richest country in the world, the market penetration of e-books is 20 percent. That is 80 percent of books are still being consumed in a traditional way. Who knows what the future holds. I think in Africa we dont want to say in five years the book is going to be obsolete so we are not going to send you any today. You have to deal with where you are right now and help people right now. In five years things may change. In five years no one may want books from Books for Africa because of something better. There would be demand for information. Maybe we would be sending more computers in the future. It is a question of adding value. We collect donated books and distribute them. If we put books on Kindle, a Kindle is $100, you can buy a kindle for cheap. The kindle is the delivery mechanism, the questions we would ask ourselves in the future. It is about adding value. The Nigerian blogger who was arrested by the police on Monday may not be released till next week, the police indicated on Friday. Jamil Mabai, a blogger based in the Northwestern state of Katsina, was arrested by officers of the Nigerian Police Force on Monday in Kaduna. The Magistrate Court 1 in Katsina on Thursday declined jurisdiction to try him. The judge instead asked that he be further detained till he is arraigned before an appropriate court. The police on Friday failed to file the case before an appropriate court like the high court so the blogger can get bail. When asked on the status of the case, Katsina police spokesperson told PREMIUM TIMES that It is not in the hands of the police now since they have been taken to Court. They are not in custody of the police now. Mr. Mabai will therefore remain in prison till Monday or beyond when the police decide to finally file the appropriate charges. GOING TO PRISON A source familiar with the travails of the blogger told PREMIUM TIMES on Friday that Mr. Mabai and two others arraigned with him were taken to the main prison in Katsina town. They have taken them to the Prison till Monday when they would be arraigned before a State High Court, the source said. He added that the bloggers family has gotten in touch with a lawyer who is currently working on getting them out on bail. Mr. Mabais arrest is believed to have been ordered by the Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina; a claim the latters spokesperson, Abdu Labaran, denied. The blogger is a known critic of the Katsina administration led by Aminu Masari on his blog, Cliqq Magazine. A family friend of Mr. Mabai had on Thursday told PREMIUM TIMES that the governor was not happy with his recent post condemning the recent purchase of 3000 metal coffins for distribution to Mosques in the state. Mr. Mabai said by purchasing the coffins, Mr. Masari is simply saying Katsina people deserve to die. He also questioned the rationale behind buying the coffins at N40,000 each at a time the government was unable to pay civil servants outstanding arrears of salaries. GOING AFTER BLOGGERS The two people arraigned alongside Mr. Mabai are Bashir Dauda and Umar Faruq. They were accused of writing about Mr. Mbais story with the intent to cause civil disturbance and expose Mr. Masari to public ridicule. Their arrest and arraignment is coming on the heels of the arrest and detention two weeks ago of another blogger, Emenike Iroegbu, on the orders of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State. Mr. Iroegbu who publishes Abia Facts Newspaper was accused of defaming Mr. Ikpeazu. He allegedly published a story accusing the governor of burying a 9-year-old boy in the government House, Umuahia. In the same vein, another blogger, Abubakar Usman, who publishes abusidiqu.com was recently arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, who accused him of cyber stalking. Mr. Usman was released after much public condemnation. A senior Nigerian lawyer, Femi Falana, has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes, EFCC, to promptly investigate a range of dealings involving alleged diversion of public funds over the years by government establishments, including the central bank, under former governors, Chukwuma Soludo and Lamido Sanusi. Mr. Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said the finance minister, Kemi Adeosun, had not taken steps to recover billions of dollars either criminally diverted or illegally withheld from government account. He said the EFCC needed to act now given the increasing pressures being mounted on the Federal Government by the parasitic faction of the ruling class to auction the remaining assets of the nation. The comment followed calls by businessman, Aliko Dangote, and the senate president, Bukola Saraki, for the government to sell national asset to stem recession. Mr. Falana listed the following cases for investigation: 1. By a letter dated January 27, 2016 the National Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) disclosed to us that from five cycles of independent audit reports covering 1999-2012 it had confirmed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, some oil companies and certain agencies of the Federal Government had withheld $20.2 billion from the Federation Account. Despite repeated requests of some civil society organizations the Federal Government has refused to recover the said sum of $20.2 billion. 2. Sometime in 2006, former Central Bank Governor, Profesor Chukwuma Soludo removed $7 billion from the nations external reserves and doled it out to 14 Nigerian banks. Two years later, the Central Bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (the current Emir of Kano) also gave a bailout of N600 billion to the same banks. The request of some civil society organisations for the recovery of the huge loan of $7 billion and N600 billion from the commercial banks has been ignored by the management of the Central Bank. 3. On September 6, 2016, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) announced that arrangements had been concluded to recover the sum of $9.6 billion in over-deducted tax benefits from joint venture partners on major capital projects and oil swap contracts. Although the NNPC has recovered the said sum of $9.6 billion, it has failed to remit same to the Federation Account without any legal justification. 4. In 2009, Mobil Oil Producing Nigeria Unlimited applied to the Federal Government for the renewal of three oil blocks. Upon granting the application, the NNPC asked Mobil to pay the sum of $2.5 billion for the renewal of the licenses. While Mobil made a part payment of $600 million it undertook to invest the outstanding sum of $1.9 billion in the energy sector. But as Mobil did not invest the said sum in the energy sector the Civil Society Network Against Corruption has requested the EFCC to investigate the fraudulent transaction. 5. From 1998-2014, the Federal Government successfully recovered over $4 billion from the Abacha loot. However, based on the refusal of the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to account for the recovered loot the Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) applied to the Federal High Court for an order of mandamus. Even though the Court granted the order the Federal Government has failed to account for the recovered loot. In the circumstances, we have submitted a petition to the EFCC to investigate the alleged criminal diversion of the recovered loot. 6. In the Appropriation Act, 2011, the sum of N245 billion was earmarked for fuel subsidy. In violation of the Act, the Central Bank of Nigeria headed by Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi paid the sum of N2.5 trillion to a cabal of fuel importers. Following our petition the EFCC conducted an investigation into the fraud but the exercise was compromised due to pressure from the former Jonathan administration. Even though the EFCC has charged some of the suspects to court the investigation ought to be reopened with a view to getting to the root of the monumental fraud. Mr. Falana offered to provide all relevant documents to facilitate your investigation of the serious economic and financial crimes disclosed in this petition. In view of the foregoing we are compelled to request you to use your good offices to recover the aforesaid sums of money and proceed to prosecute the corporate bodies and individuals involved in the economic sabotage which has contributed to the nations economic recession, he said. Messrs. Soludo and Sanusi could not be immediately reached for comments. The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has restated that no local government area in Borno or any territory in the North East Zone is being occupied by the Boko Haram sect. The denial followed recent developments suggesting the insurgents were still in control of some areas within the country. Boko Haram militants have launched a series of daring attacks recently. On Thursday, the extremists attacked a military location in Borno State killing two soldiers. The insurgents were, however, repelled by soldiers who killed 15 of them, the Army said. Apart from the two dead soldiers, four others were injured in the attack, Mr. Usman said. Mr. Buratai spoke on Saturday while responding to questions at a special congress of the FCT Council of the Nigerian Union Journalists, NUJ. The army chief, who said the military had routed the insurgents and was currently securing the region, said terrorism was complex and called for patience. Mr. Buratai also called on journalists to show understanding in reporting the insurgency for the sake of national interest. He said there was mistrust in the past between the media and the army and assured of seamless flow of information as long as it does not affect national security. Earlier, the Chairman of the FCT Council of the NUJ, Paul Abechi, called for understanding between the military and the media in the interest of the nation. Mr. Abechi said while Nigerians depended on the military for safety, they also depended on the media for information, urging both parties to work together. He noted the successes so far recorded in the fight against insurgency in the North East Zone and commended Buratai for providing the required leadership in the campaign. In his remarks, the National President of NUJ, Waheed Odusile, stressed the need for the army to provide journalists with needed information to enable them report correctly. Mr. Odusile noted with satisfaction that normalcy was returning to Borno and other parts of the North East Zone and commended the leadership of the army. He said that the occasional conflict between the military and journalists often arose out of the different roles each party plays for the wellbeing of the society. The NUJ president described the Nigerian media as patriotic, saying that the media only criticise the military to make it to perform better. (NAN) The Nigerian Army has confirmed that militants killed one of its personnel in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River on Saturday. Sani Usman, the Director of Army Public Relations, who confirmed the incident in a statement, however, said the troops killed two of the militants in the attack that occurred in the morning. He linked the attack to Benjamin Simplee, aka G1, a suspected militant leader. According to Mr. Usman, the other militants escaped with gunshot wounds. He said the attackers also burnt a military pick-up vehicle. Mr. Usman said two soldiers earlier declared missing in the attack were found when reinforcement was sent to the area. He said the militants came in several speed boats and attacked troops deployed at Efut Esighi waterfront in Bakassi. The troops location has been reinforced with more gunboats and air component. The clearance and pursuit operation is ongoing, he said. We would like to assure the public that this singular act would not deter us from the discharge of our duties. Therefore, the perpetrators of this dastardly act would be found and brought to justice. The Nigerian Army wishes to send an unequivocal warning to all the criminal elements in the society that intend to attack any of its locations to have a rethink, Mr. Usman said. (NAN) A former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, has declared his readiness to face investigations into his tenure at the top bank. Mr. Sanusis comments came as a response to a call by Femi Falana, a senior lawyer, urging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate alleged diversion of government funds by the CBN, under Mr. Sanusi. Mr. Falana also called for the probe of Mr. Sanusis predecessor, Charles Soludo. Sometime in 2006, former Central Bank Governor, Profesor Chukwuma Soludo removed $7 billion from the nations external reserves and doled it out to 14 Nigerian banks. Two years later, the Central Bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (the current Emir of Kano) also gave a bailout of N600 billion to the same banks. The request of some civil society organisations for the recovery of the huge loan of $7 billion and N600 billion from the commercial banks has been ignored by the management of the Central Bank, Mr. Falana said in a statement on Saturday. In the Appropriation Act, 2011, the sum of N245 billion was earmarked for fuel subsidy. In violation of the Act, the Central Bank of Nigeria headed by Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi paid the sum of N2.5 trillion to a cabal of fuel importers. Following our petition the EFCC conducted an investigation into the fraud but the exercise was compromised due to pressure from the former Jonathan administration. Even though the EFCC has charged some of the suspects to court the investigation ought to be reopened with a view to getting to the root of the monumental fraud. Mr. Sanusi said he was always available at any time to answer questions regarding his stewardship at the central bank. On fuel subsidy, he said The Central Bank does not pay and has never paid subsidy to marketers and the only circumstance this would happen is the Central Bank acting as banker to Government and carrying out instructions to make payments from Government accounts. There is absolutely no circumstance under which the CBN would have disbursed its own money for payment of subsidy or disbursed money on behalf of Government without authorization, Mr. Sanusi said late Saturday. He said the CBN was at the forefront of the effort to expose the corruption in the subsidy regime and put a stop to it. He called allegation on bank bailouts strange. The money was not given to bank shareholders and management but was provided to ensure that ordinary Nigerians and other depositors who kept their money in banks did not lose their savings as a result of the mismanagement of these banks and bad loans, he said. The money remains a loan to those banks and is to be repaid from a combination of sources over the years. These include sale of collateral backing non-performing loans held by AMCON, recovery of those loans, sale of share of the banks held by AMCON and a sinking fund into which all banks are to make annual contributions. This will continue no matter how long it takes until the banking industry repays all amounts due to AMCON and the bondholders are repaid. All of this is in line with the law setting up AMCON and the purpose of setting it up in the first place. The resolution of the Nigerian banking crisis and the AMCON model are actually being held up as an example of how to deal with severe and systemic banking crisis. Not a single depositor in any Nigerian bank lost a single kobo due precisely to these arrangements. The primary objective of the Nigerian governments fiscal stimulus plan is not about selling off all major national assets, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udoma, has said. He said the government was considering selling off some asset in a way that would be profitable to the country. Mr. Udoma, who was briefing journalists in Lagos on Friday on the forthcoming Nigerian Economic Summit (NES), said the governments intention was to raise immediate funding to reflate the economy and finance critical capital projects in the 2016 budget. Estimates from recent ministerial retreat showed the government would need between $10 and $15 billion (about N4.72 trillion) to stimulate economic recovery. The stimulus plan, Mr. Udoma said, was to help mobilise funding to make up for the shortfall in revenue to fund the over N6.06 trillion 2016 budget and stimulate economic growth. The intention of government is just to get enough money to fund the 2016 budget and get the economy back on the path of recovery, he explained. Government needs to inject a large dose of funds into the system to get the economy back on track and to faithfully implement those provisions in the capital budget tailored at reflating the economy and aiding the diversification process, he said. He said stimulus plan would be realised through asset sales, advance payment for license rounds, infrastructure concessioning, use of recovered stolen funds, among others, to reduce the huge gap. He did not provide any clue on what asset the government was considering selling. The proposal has drawn widespread criticism. The minister said the economic team did not consider wise the option of additional borrowing and loans to fund the budget, in view of the unsustainable level of debt service. The government, he said, was exploring several options in the asset sales proposal, including repurchasing of assets options, which includes provision for buy-back of those assets when the situation improves. Acknowledging the hardship the economic downturn has brought on the people, Mr. Udoma assured that th government was committed to redressing the situation. Our goal is to unlock the economic potentials of the non-oil and high-employment generating sectors, to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth, ensure majority of Nigerians become more productive, and reduce poverty, he said. He said the government was working deliberately to diversify the countrys economy by ensuring the non-oil sector became the main driver, contributing the most to the gross domestic product (GDP) and controlling the most employment. He said getting the economy back on the path of sustainable growth would require the contribution of every sector and collaboration with key government groups like the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG). Such collaboration, he said, would provide avenue to forge a consensus on national development issues, while evolving a common strategy and policy framework for addressing constraints to national development. This years edition of the Economic Summit, scheduled for October 10 and 12, would focus on need to encourage more production and consumption of made in Nigeria goods and services. Police in Lagos State, have arrested a man for allegedly raping his 15-year-old daughter and administering drugs on her to prevent pregnancy. The spokesperson of the state police command, Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday. Ms. Badmos said the Gender Unit of the command was investigating the suspect, Uchena Elumadu, for a case of defilement. She said a neighbour, who resides at Martins Street, new Oko Oba, Agege Lagos, reported the case to the police. She said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect had on different occasions, raped the JSS 3 student who is his daughter. The police spokesperson said that Mr. Elumadu usually administered drugs to prevent his victim from getting pregnant after having intercourse with her. The victim said that her father, on countless occasions wakes her up in the middle of the night to rape her, mostly when her mother is on night duty, she said. The mother is a casual worker in one of the outfits attached to airport. On the night of Sept. 19, the mother discovered the suspect having intercourse with the victim and raised the alarm and one of their neighbours reported the case to the police, Ms. Badmos said. She said the victim had been admitted at the Police Cottage Hospital, Ikeja Police College, where she is receiving treatment in partnership with Mirabel Centre LASUTH. The spokesperson said medical examination was being carried out on the victim. Mr. Badmos said the Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Owoseni, had directed that the father, who admitted raping his daughter on three occasions, be charged to court. The commissioner has vowed that the command will no longer tolerate cases relating to domestic and sexual abuse in the state, she said. (NAN) The Nigerian Army has denied attacking journalists at a hotel in Benin, Edo State. The Army, in a statement by its spokesman, Sani Usman, on Thursday, admitted arresting 10 persons at a hotel, but said they did not identify themselves as reporters. It said the operations followed credible security reports suggesting that hoodlums lodged in the hotel were planning to attack the state. The Watchdog News had on Wednesday raised alarm about the arrest of its staff. The crew, which comprised reporters, producers and a driver, arrived in Benin on Tuesday evening and subsequently checked in at Douban Hotel along Airport Road, Taiye Garick, the editor of Watchdog Media, told PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday. The affected journalists and their designations as listed by Mr. Garrick in an email to PREMIUM TIMES are as follows: Tony Abulu (Production Manager); Richard Hasley (Reporter), Opara Uche (Reporter), Handy Romeo Eze (Reporter), Kelvin Toryila (Video Editor) and Lanre Ogunleye, an IT associate. Others include: Balogun Ehigie (IT), Kenneth Danpome (Head IT), Mathew (Logistics Manager) and Joe Epi (Driver). The Army said quite a number of incriminating items including INEC sensitive materials were recovered from them. That notwithstanding, all the suspects were treated humanely and in the most dignified manner which has always been in accordance with our Code of Code and the tradition. Therefore none of them was molested at all during the operation and subsequent handing over to the relevant security agency, it said in a statement. It is important to state that sequel to the prevailing security situation in the state which led to the postponement of the earlier scheduled Gubernatorial Election in Edo State, there were credible security reports that some unpatriotic persons have hired hoodlums with the intention of causing mayhem during the forthcoming election in the State. The reports further showed that the suspected hoodlums have been lodged in some hotels within Benin City and its environs. Acting on this, the DSS in conjunction with troops of 4 Brigade Nigerian Army carried out cordon and search operations in the suspected areas. This led to the arrest of 10 suspected persons in one of the hotel. Among the suspects arrested was a deserted soldier, Mr. Sani said. Mr. Sani said the individuals arrested did not identify themselves as reporters. At the conclusion of his five-day activities during the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA71), President Muhammadu Buhari declared that he had a very successful outing. Addressing the media to round off his visit to New York, the president reviewed all his major and side events during the visit and highlighted the issues on which he sent a direct message to world leaders. I highlighted the need for the international community to work together to liberate humanity from poverty, save our planet from the devastation of climate change and rid the world of terrorism for a more peaceful and prosperous future, a statement from his office said. President Buhari also said that, I mentioned that the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) arising from Boko Haram terrorism is of particular concern to us. For this reason, we have taken concrete steps to address their humanitarian needs and to ensure that necessary conditions are established to enable the voluntary return of the displaced persons to their homes in safety and dignity. While acknowledging that Nigeria as a developing country has been adversely affected by the global economic downturn, he however, said that we are undeterred and have embarked on a wide range of reforms in our efforts to diversify our economy and shift emphasis to mining, agriculture, industrialization, infrastructure development and the creation of the enabling environment for Foreign Direct Investment. He also noted that fighting corruption remains of prime importance to our administration, adding that the campaign is already yielding positive gains including significant stolen assets recoveries. The president stated clearly Nigerias position on Climate Change, development in developing countries, youth development, statehood for the Palestinians, and reform of the UN Security Council with Nigeria ready to serve on a reformed Council to advance international peace and security. President Buhari listed his meetings with world leaders and the benefits from some of the side events such as the US-Africa Business Forum during which discussions focused on how top American business executives can collaborate with us to diversify our economy, which will in turn drive development, job creation and general business development in Nigeria. He mentioned his meeting with top Nigerian professionals in the United States and the urgent need to reclaim the shrinking Lake Chad, even as he expressed delight that some countries notably the United Kingdom and United States pledged additional support in the tune of US $391 million humanitarian aid for the Lake Chad region. President Buhari used the occasion of the media event to thank relevant United States authorities for efficient security and administrative arrangements, and officials of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for demonstrating that we still have capable officers in our Foreign and Civil Services. He commended the Nigerian officers for the tireless effects in projecting a positive image to our country, even in difficult times. President Buhari did not forget members of the Nigerian media, as he thanked them for going through elaborate security checks and clearance procedures to follow my activities and hectic schedule in order to keep all our people at home well informed of my meetings and engagements. Re: An advertising agency must leave its office building. To save overhead [ #permalink 3 Kudos 1 Bookmarks The senator representing Oyo South, Rilwan Akanbi, has cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari against selling national assets to help the country out of recession. Nigerian billionaire, richest man, Aliko Dangote, recently suggested that it made more economic sense to sell off the countrys asset like the multi-billion dollar Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Joint Ventures, and use the proceeds to help the economy out of recession. The proposal has been backed by Senate President Bukola Saraki and the National Economic Council which comprises state governors, the Vice President as the Chairman, Central Bank Governor, Finance Minister and others. But many Nigerians have risen against the plan. Mr. Akanbi told PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday that the asset may be undervalued if sold at desperate times. The assets will end up with the capitalists who actually dont have the resources. They will then run to banks to take deposits of ordinary Nigerians to buy assets which originally belong to them, the ordinary Nigerians. So what you have eventually is a situation where Nigerians are exploited through banks and also dispossesed of publicly owned assets. Apart from the economic dimension, national assets are instruments of unity in a country that is plural like ours. Yoruba, Ibo, Hausa, Ijaw and all other groups have the consciousness that national investments unite us and that gains or otherwise therefrom are nationally shared, the Senator said. He added that privatisation in Nigeria has been a big failure because it has always been a process of letting few persons who lack the required wherewithal but are well positioned and have access to power and money deposited by Nigerians benefit from artificial misery or crisis in various sectors. We must not take that route again. He said there were other ways through which the government could raise money and bring the country out of recession. One alternative, according to Mr. Akanbi, is to give special support to SMEs and others in the micro economy through access to low-interest loans. He also urged greater investment in agriculture. We need the state of Nigeria to lead the development process by deliberately linking agriculture with industrialization and support farmers so that we can attain self-reliance in food production. Spending billions of dollars on food importation is not sustainable; we must therefore produce what we eat by ensuring crops are not just brought of the ground but also converted to food. He said Nigeria should increase tarrif on imported food and improve quality of ones produced locally. Mr. Akanbi said, it is now imperative for all public office holders across the organs of government to make sacrifice and be set for pay cut. We must reduce cost of governance and cut wastes so that the government can have money to work for the people and the development of the country. He also urged state governments to implement terms of the Fiscal Sustainability Plan designed for them by the federal government, saying that improved governance that is people and development-focused at sub-national levels is crucial for a lasting solution to our woes. Four people were feared dead in Warri River on Friday in a boat mishap involving the funeral party to the burial of late Thomas Ekpemupolo, father of Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo). A community leader in Gbaramatu Kingdom, who requested anonymity, told journalists on Saturday in Warri that the victims included a man and three women. He said two of the female victims were from Kurutie and Ogulaha communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the victims boarded the ill-fated speed boat at the Miller Waterside in Warri to attend the weeklong funeral which commenced on Friday. We were already at the funeral celebrating Chief Thomas Ekpemupolo when we got news of the accident. Initially, we were told only two persons died, later we heard that the victims were four. The male victim, who was apparently from the northern part of the country, was on a mission to sell some wares at the funeral ground, he said. Mr. Ekpemupolo died on September 7 at Lily Clinic, Warri. Delta Police spokesperson, Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the incident, said the number of casualties were yet to be ascertained. I was regretfully informed that AW-19 boat mounted with 115 horsepower Yamaha engine capsized at Warri river. My patrol team rescued 11 persons; searching and investigation is ongoing. For your information, there is no manifest to show the number of passengers in the boat. So the number of deaths is not certain yet, the bodies will float by tomorrow, said the Delta police spokesperson. Tompolo is a former militant leader in the area. He is wanted by law enforcement agents in Nigeria. (NAN) The Adamawa Government says it has relocated no fewer than 350 Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs) made up of mostly women and children. The IDPs were relocated from the transit camp in Mubi to the designated camp in Malkohi, Yola South Local Government Area of the state. Haruna Furo, the Executive Chairman of Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Yola on Saturday. Mr. Furo said the move was to ensure adequate welfare of the IDPs and easy coordination of operations. The relocation, he said, would also enable the state government to reopen the Mubi Burnt Brick Factory initially used as a transit camp. We relocated about 350 Internally Displaced Persons, mostly women and children, from the Mubi transit camp to Malkohi camp in Yola South Local Government Area. The development is to bring together all IDPs in the state under designated and secured camps, Mr. Furo said. He said all the IDPs arrived safely and were camped successfully.( NAN) Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has said that his administration will work hard to industrialise the state, so as to boost earnings and improve the quality of life. Mr. Emmanuel said his dream was to make Akwa Ibom Nigerias largest economy, just as California is the United States of Americas biggest economy. If the State of California which is a part of the Continental USA is the sixth largest economy in the world and where, as the saying goes where California goes is where America goes we too, can make Akwa Ibom State, a large economy in Africa, with a GDP larger than some African countries, Mr. Emmanuel said, in a broadcast on Friday to mark the 29th anniversary of the states creation. That is my dream and thats what propels me. Mr. Emmanuel said he was working assiduously to industrialize the state as he promised during his election campaign. He said the government was building electricity metering manufacturing plant in Onna local government area which, according to him, would create over 150 jobs when completed. Thirty-two indigenes of the state are already on training for that in China, while 10 will be sent to Italy for some specialized training, Mr. Emmanuel said. We have also commenced revolutionary agricultural initiatives in coconut plantation and refinery, cocoa plantations as well as rice production. Our intention is to ensure we feed our populace from within in the next few years. The governor, however, advised the people to see industrialisation as a process that takes time. We live in a federal system where the centre still has to approve a number of things before full implementation of such projects can take off. We need to exercise patience and not get caught up with quick fixes ours is a developmental paradigm that is as enduring as it is sustainable. The governor listed his achievements to include steady payment of workers salary, despite the current economic crisis in the country, payment of over N600million Naira to the West African Examination Council as examination fees for students in the state, and the construction of over 250 kilometres of roads, 17 bridges and other infrastructural amenities across the state. Mr. Emmanuel said the governments policies of free and compulsory basic education, and free medical services for the aged, children between the ages of one to five, and pregnant and nursing mothers, remained intact. He called for love and peace among the people of the state. Unity and brotherhood are the first fundamentals of my faith and the last fundamentals of my creed. Akwa Iboms greatness lies in its ideals of love and sacrifice defined by our founding fathers, and its future lies in the same undying ideals of love and sacrifice that we all must show. It is these ideals which drive me and give me the courage to declare that there is a lifting up where other narrative may be that there is a casting down. It is what drives our many projects when in other places projects are winding down. To put it simply, to make this State a better place is an abiding article of faith, a duty which must be accomplished and an obligation which must be discharged. Kick Start Session a Master Classes for Start-ups at PHD ( Read 3183 Times) 24 Sep 16 Share | Print This Page PHD Chamber of commerce and industry has organized an exclusive session for start ups. Many Industry experts and panelist have attended the session. Mr. Sameer Rastogi, Managing Partner, India Juris & Chief Advisor Venture Catalyst (DelhiNCR), was the key moderator for this session on Importance of Business Model in fund raising by Start-Ups. Mr. Rastogi has shared his thoughts on negotiation between start-ups and investors covering crucial points like Tranches of Investment, ESOP Pool, Anti-Dilution and reserve matters together with understating representation and warranties by founders, liabilities and Information rights. Mr. Sameer Rastogi, said As the Startup eco system is developing in the country it is very important for the startups and founders to understands their rights and learn the art of negotiation with the investors for the growth and betterment of their company in future. Indian start-ups aim to promote entrepreneurship at scale. The Start-Up Ecosystem Sensitization explains nuances of starting a business in terms in today's competitive and transitional time demand. The session aimed to bring together key stakeholders - startup incubators / accelerators, angel investors, venture capitalists, mentors and technology corporations. Right now, there is hyper growth inflection point for the Indian startup ecosystem. At this pace of growth, with the constructive support from Government it is estimated that by 2020 more than 11,500 start-ups are expected to flourish in our country, generating massive employment opportunities for our youth added Mr. Rastogi. The session was very successful with enthusiastic audiences comprising start-ups, various entrepreneurs and industrialists. The session lasted for around two and half hours and closed after a Q & A session with the audience. Source : This Article/News is also avaliable in following categories : Business News Your Comments ! Share Your Openion GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP It may have been Harvey Kesselmans moment, but it was Stockton Universitys history on display Friday at the presidential inauguration. Just moments after his formal investiture as president, Kesselman turned the spotlight on those who came before him, unveiling portraits of Stocktons four previous presidents that will hang in the Campus Center. Each of them has been critical to our history, Kesselman said of Richard Bjork, Peter Mitchell, Vera King Farris and Herman J. Saatkamp. It is time to put their portraits up. As a student in the first Stockton class, then an employee, Kesselman has known all four of his predecessors in his 45 years on campus and said all four contributed to his development as a person and a leader. He took a moment to mention their accomplishments and invited family members to help with the unveiling. Artist James Raczkowski, a 2011 Stockton graduate and professional artist in New York, said it never occurred to him as a student that his work would hang at the university. Im excited and a little nervous, he said. Working from photographs, he spent the past few months painting nonstop to finish them on time. More than 1,000 people attended the presidential inauguration, including students, staff, alumni, local and state officials, and representatives from other colleges in the state. There were several jokes about Kesselmans 4 a.m. emails, and stories about his commitment to students and Stockton. Student Senate President Maryam Sarhan recalled walking on campus with Kesselman one day when he stopped to talk to another student. When she asked how he knew him, Kesselman replied that they had never met before. He greets every student as if hes known them for years, she said. He believes that students always come first. Richard Dovey, president of the Stockton Foundation, was also in the first class at Stockton and recalled that when they attended, the state paid 90 percent of the cost and students could earn enough over the summer to cover the rest plus necessities like books and beer. Today, he said, the students bear most of the cost. We need to do more to give more students the same opportunity we had, he said. Featured speaker Jon Blair, a filmmaker and producer with a long history with Stockton, said Kesselman is the only university president who started at the same university as one of its first students. He called Kesselman a father figure to students and a leader who will equip them to interpret the real world of today, and to look for evidence and not just emotion. Kesselman recalled his own feelings of arriving in 1971 to a sense that we were embarking on something new. We came here based on the promise of what we could become, he said, citing the innovation and experimentation that were central to Stocktons mission. I promise to uphold and continue that tradition. He said he has had a front-row seat as Stockton defined its mission and is proud to continue that work. I love what I do, and I love Stockton, he said. Together we can ensure that what began as that little college in the pines warms our memories of the past, fires our imaginations in the present and lights our dreams in the future. Contact: 609-272-7241 Twitter @ACPressDamico BURLINGTON, Wash. The first 911 call came in just before 7 p.m. on a busy Friday night at the Cascade Mall: A man with a rifle was shooting at people in the Macys Department Store. By the time police arrived moments later, the carnage at the Macys makeup counter was complete. Four people were dead and the shooter was gone, last seen walking toward Interstate 5. A fifth victim, a man, died in the early morning hours Saturday as police finished sweeping the 434,000-square-foot building. There are people waking up this morning and their world has changed forever. The city of Burlington has probably changed forever, but I dont think our way of life needs to change, Burlington Mayor Steve Sexton said Saturday at a news conference. This was a senseless act. It was the world knocking on our doorstep and it came into our little community. As the small city absorbed the news, critical questions remained, including the identity of the shooter, his motive and his whereabouts. A massive manhunt continued and police broadcast a plea for tips. The FBI said terrorism was not suspected. The gunman was described by witnesses to police as a young Hispanic man dressed in black. Surveillance video captured him entering the mall unarmed and then recorded him about 10 minutes later entering the Macys with a hunting type rifle in his hand, Mount Vernon police Lt. Chris Cammock said. Authorities did not say how the suspect may have obtained the weapon whether he retrieved it from outside or picked it up in the mall but they believe he acted alone. The weapon was recovered at the scene. The identities of the victims four women who ranged in age from a teenager to a senior citizen were withheld pending autopsies and notification of family. The identity of the man who was fatally shot was also withheld and may not be released until Monday. Probably one of the most difficult moments for us last night was knowing that there were family members wondering about their loved ones in there, Cammock said. As police scrambled to find the shooter, the small city about 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of Seattle settled into a new and nerve-wracking reality. The community of 8,600 people is too far from Seattle to be a commuter town, but its population swells to 55,000 during the day because of a popular outlet mall, retail stores and other businesses. Burlington is the only major retail center within 30 miles (48 kilometers) in a region where agriculture is king, said Linda Jones, president of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce. Surrounding Skagit County has deep agricultural roots and is home to families that have worked the land for generations. Residents, rattled by the fact that the shooter was still on the loose, relied on those bonds Saturday to comfort each other at a community gathering in a city park. Its too scary. Its too close to home, said Maria Elena Vasquez, who attended the gathering with her husband and two young children. Im a little nervous even taking her to her soccer game today with this person still on the loose, she said of her 7-year-old daughter. But I want to keep it normal for her. Those who survived were still trying to process what happened as their community became the latest entry on a list of places known by the rest of world for mass shootings. As the shots rang out, shoppers hid in dressing rooms and bathrooms and made hushed, terrified phone calls to relatives. One woman started running with her 4-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter only to slip and fall and then watch as the shooter strode past her terrified children, KIRO-TV reported on its Twitter feed. We have never been so scared in our lives, the woman texted the station. Joanne Burkholder, 19, of nearby Mount Vernon, was watching the movie The Magnificent Seven in the malls theater when security guards came in and told them to evacuate immediately. Dozens of panicked moviegoers gathered in the hallway, and Burkholder heard screaming as the officers escorted them to safety in a parking lot. As she drove home later, she had to pull over because she was shaking so hard, she told The Associated Press. Im just very thankful for my life this morning. Ive never been so terrified in my life, she said Saturday, trying to hold back tears as she attended the community vigil. Youd think it would happen in Everett or Seattle, but a small town of Burlington, Id never dream something like this would happen. Noel Cuevas, 39, who lives in nearby Mount Vernon, was eating dinner with his family at the mall when he saw people running. A woman told them to evacuate and he grabbed his 5-year-old daughter and he and his wife ran outside and across the street. When he finally got home Friday night, Cuevas made sure all his doors and windows were locked. Nobody knows who it is. Hes out there, he said, as he waited Saturday to pick up the truck he had left in the mall parking lot. He could be anywhere. Emergency management officials started to allow some people to retrieve their vehicles Saturday, though the mall was shuttered through Monday morning. People who believed they may have lost loved ones were being sequestered at a church three blocks from the mall, where counselors and a golden retriever therapy dog were present. Another vigil was planned for Saturday evening in the nearby town of Sedro-Woolley. The Cascade Mall is an enclosed shopping mall that opened in 1990. It features J.C. Penney, TJ Maxx, and Macys stores, among other shops, restaurants and a movie theater. On Sept. 17, a man stabbed 10 people at a Minnesota mall before being shot and killed by an off-duty police officer. Authorities say Dahir Ahmed Adan, 20, stabbed the people at the Crossroads Center in St. Cloud. ___ Flaccus reported from Portland, Oregon. Associated Press writers Lisa Baumann in Seattle and Kimberlee Kruesi in Boise, Idaho, contributed to this report. OCEAN CITY Rain misted down on the crowd gathered in front of the Music Pier Saturday morning as hundreds listened to the words of US Marine Staff Sgt. Brian Siegman. Siegman was one of the two featured guests at the eighth Walk for the Wounded on the Ocean City Boardwalk, sponsored by Ocean City Home Bank. The annual 3-mile walk raises money for Operation First Response, which in turn goes to help soldiers wounded on the job to pay bills and make ends meet. Siegman served nine years between 1999 and 2010, completing two tours of duty in Iraq. After leaving the Marine Corps, he served as a police officer for three and a half years. Siegman continues to battle Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. On Saturday, Siegman spoke about the plight of veterans returning from war. He said that as many as 20 veterans a day commit suicide. Thats because the war is not over once we come, he said. The risk for veterans to commit suicide is 21-percent higher than civilians. Siegman said its not just the young men and women returning from tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, but older veterans who are of retirement age and find they no longer have a purpose in life. Once they retire, they lose that sense of whatever it is that keeps them going, Siegman said. PTSD can come on 40 years later. Siegman urged family members and friends of veterans to keep a close eye on their loved ones. Nobody gets unless youve been there yourself the things that we go through, he said, holding back tears. But please, if you see a vet there that needs help the worst words out there are Im fine. Do not accept Im fine. Siegman called onto the stage several veterans in the crowd that morning to praise them for their service. Operation First Response founder Peggy Baker joined Army Sgt. Jesse Wallace and his mother, Sandra Engstrand, at the podium to present Wallace with a handcycle that was purchased partially through funds from the nonprofit. In 2007, Wallace was deployed to Iraq for one year. During his next deployment to Afghanistan in 2010, he was severely injured when Taliban forces attacked his convoy. After undergoing an above-knee amputation, Wallace retired from the Army and is now pursuing a degree in engineering. Wallace led the walk Saturday on the handcycle. The Walk for the Wounded first came to Ocean City in 2009 due to the efforts of Steven Brady, president and Chief Executive Officer of Ocean City Home Bank. According to spokeswoman Tricia Ciliberto, 600 walkers attended Saturday, including many veterans and several members of the Ocean City Fire Department. Firefighter Dan Coan of Upper Township said that it was important to attend Saturday because there are many veterans in the fire department. Its nice to know that people that need help are getting it, Coan said. Its a shame that not everyone gets the help they need. New this year was a sand sculpture on the beach at Moorlyn Terrace created by John Gowdy, a New Jersey-based sand sculptor. Organizers hoped to raise more than $100,000 this year for Operation First Response, the final figure was not immediately available. Contact: 609-272-7251 With the summer season coming to a close, we are reminding the public that New Jersey has been aggressively responding to the potential threat of the Zika virus since early this year. This remains a priority as we learn more about Zika and continue to collaborate with our partners in a unified effort to protect the public from mosquito-borne illnesses. The New Jersey Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Protection have worked closely with public health and county mosquito control partners to educate the public, monitor and reduce the mosquito population, and prepare for this virus. New Jersey has decades of experience tracking and preventing mosquito-borne illnesses that pose a threat to human health and domestic animals, namely West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. These more common threats will remain with us until the first frosts of fall. It is important to note that so far, New Jersey has seen no local transmission of Zika, although nearly 130 individuals who traveled to countries where Zika is active have tested positive for the virus. The risk of local transmission here remains low, but it's important to know what the state has done in response to this theat. Together, we have invested more than $5 million to carry out a variety of activities. These include testing 1,300 individuals for the virus, creating the #ZapZika public awareness campaign, preparing Zika prevention kits for pregnant women, establishing a 24/7 Zika hotline (1-800-962-1253), and providing additional resources to county mosquito control commissions to increase mosquito surveillance and reduce the mosquito population. DOH has also been monitoring babies born to mothers who may have been exposed during pregnancy to connect them to services. The 23 county LINCS agencies will soon have Zika prevention kits for FQHCS and WIC offices in their communities. Thousands of health-care providers, local public health, EMS and emergency preparedness professionals, and staff in WIC clinics and hospitals receive regular updates via trainings, webinars and conference calls led by the Department of Health. Both departments partnered with the New Jersey Association of County and City Health Officials in June to host a Zika workshop with local health and mosquito control agencies to share lessons learned and discuss how to further educate communities. More than 30 public events have taken place to educate pregnant women and potential travelers to the nearly 60 countries currently impacted by Zika. DEP has awarded an additional $500,000 in grants to county mosquito control for reimbursements incurred for mosquito control, monitoring and identification efforts, as well as supplies and additional staffing. DEP has also provided county mosquito control commissions with specialized traps for collecting Aedes mosquitoes and mosquito dunks (ecologically-safe tablets placed in standing water to destroy mosquito larvae before they hatch into adult mosquitoes). To date, more than 7,000 mosquitoes have tested negative for the virus. If a mosquito carrying the disease is identified, the state Mosquito Control Commission, county mosquito control and DEP are ready to deploy a comprehensive, rapid response to immediately attack the threat. In addition, DEP has raised and stocked more than 460,000 fish that eat mosquito larvae and will continue stocking suitable larval habitats through the fall. The department also established a regional distribution center in Camden County to increase capacity so southern counties can have quick and convenient access to these mosquito-eating predators. The Department of Health's #ZapZika campaign features radio and bus ads, and social media. Education materials are available on both Departments' websites. A DEP podcast features leaders from both agencies talking about Zika response efforts. But for everything we do at the state level, it remains critically important that residents take steps to reduce mosquito breeding around their properties by removing any sources of standing water. Mosquitoes can breed in standing water in a container as small as a bottle cap. Remember: standing water plus seven days equals mosquitoes. Clean out gutters, change water in bird baths, make sure trash cans are tightly sealed and dispose of old flower pots. If venturing outdoors, wear protective clothing and use EPA-registered mosquito repellents. Working together, we can ensure that we are not only protected from Zika but from other mosquito-borne diseases that we have been combatting for years. Cathleen Bennett is commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health and Bob Martin is commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. 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. DUBLIN, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Market Report On Boc-Lys(Me)2-Oh 2016" report to their offering. The Global Market Report on Boc-Lys Me 2-Oh provides comprehensive data on Boc-Lys Me 2-Oh global and regional markets including Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America, etc. The report captures Boc-Lys Me 2-Oh market trends and pays close attention to Boc-Lys Me 2-Oh. The report is broken into three main parts including manufacturing methods & technology development, market landscape & trend analysis, and distribution policy. In the manufacturing methods & technology development section, the main manufacturing methods of Boc-Lys Me 2-Oh are introduced. Key Topics Covered: Part 1: Introduction of Boc-Lys Me 2-Oh Chapter 1: Brief Introduction of Boc-Lys Me 2-Oh Chapter 2: Product Identification Chapter 3: Physical Properties Chapter 4: Quality Specifications Part 2: Manufacture Methods and Technology Development of Boc-Lys Me 2-Oh Chapter 1: Introduction of Main Manufacture Methods Chapter 2: Introduction of Patent Manufacture Methods Chapter 3: New Progress on the Manufacture Technology Part 3: Application of Boc-Lys Me 2-Oh Chapter 1: Application Review Chapter 2: End Products(Downstream Products) of Boc-Lys Me 2-Oh Chapter 3: New Applications of Boc-Lys Me 2-Oh Part 4: Production Situation of Boc-Lys Me 2-Oh Chapter 1: Current Production Situation Chapter 2: Manufacturers in China Chapter 3: Manufacturers Outside of China Chapter 4: Production Trend Analysis Part 5: Market Situation of Boc-Lys Me 2-Oh Chapter 1: Market Supply Status and Trend Forecast Chapter 2: Downstream Consumer Market Analysis Chapter 3: Supply and Demand Analysis and Forecast Chapter 4: Price Analysis Chapter 5: Import & Export Situation Part 6: Distribution Policy of Boc-Lys Me 2-Oh Chapter 1: Market Size in Major Use Segments Chapter 2: Major End Users Chapter 3: Potential Users Part 7: References For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/s3d7p7/global_market Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com SOURCE Research and Markets DUBLIN, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Ultrasonic Technologies Market Analysis & Trends - Industry Forecast to 2025" report to their offering. The Global Ultrasonic Technologies Market is poised to grow at a CAGR of around 12.1% over the next decade to reach approximately $69.8 billion by 2025. This industry report analyzes the global markets for Ultrasonic Technologies across all the given segments on global as well as regional levels presented in the research scope. The study provides historical market data for 2013, 2014 revenue estimations are presented for 2015 and forecasts from 2016 till 2025. The study focuses on market trends, leading players, supply chain trends, technological innovations, key developments, and future strategies. With comprehensive market assessment across the major geographies such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Latin America and Rest of the world the report is a valuable asset for the existing players, new entrants and the future investors. The study presents detailed market analysis with inputs derived from industry professionals across the value chain. A special focus has been made on 23 countries such as U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Germany, Spain, France, Italy, China, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, etc. The market data is gathered from extensive primary interviews and secondary research. The market size is calculated based on the revenue generated through sales from all the given segments and sub segments in the research scope. The market sizing analysis includes both top-down and bottom-up approaches for data validation and accuracy measures. The Ultrasonic Technologies Market report provides data tables, includes charts and graphs for visual analysis. Key Topics Covered: 1 Market Outline 2 Executive Summary 3 Market Overview 4 Ultrasonic Technologies Market, By Product 5 Ultrasonic Technologies Market, By Geography 6 Leading Companies 3mensio Medical Imaging Bv Advanced Sonic Processing Systems Airmar Technology Corp. Ametek Drexelbrook Baumer Electric Ag Biosound Esaote Inc. Branson Ultrasonic Corp. Cameron Measurement Systems Ge Healthcare, Ltd. Hitachi Medical Corp. Kistler-Morse Micro Propulsion Corp. Philips Medical Systems Samsung Medison Co., Ltd Siemens Ag Tokyo Keiki, Inc. Tomtec Imaging Systems Gmbh Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. Ultrasonic Power Corp. Weber Ultrasonics Gmbh Yimei Dental Industry Co., Ltd For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/bl97b5/global_ultrasonic Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com SOURCE Research and Markets If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here New Delhi, Sep 22 : Avoiding a direct reply on whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the 19th Saarc Summit in Islamabad in November, India on Thursday said that "diplomatic relations do serve useful purpose". "Yesterday (Wednesday), we called the Pakistani High Commissioner and confronted him with evidence of Pakistan's involvement in Uri and the previous attacks," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said when asked whether it is worthwhile to maintain diplomatic relations with Pakistan in the wake of the Uri attack. Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar on Wednesday summoned Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit here following Sunday's cross-border terror attack on an army base at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 18 Indian soldiers lost their lives. "We told him that if you like to conduct investigations, we are ready to assist in that. Now, such demarche is possible only if you have diplomatic relations. So, having diplomatic relations serves useful purpose," Swarup added. Responding to a direct query on Modi's visit to Islamabad for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Summit, Swarup quipped: "I think I have already answered that question." On isolating Pakistan in the region by urging Bangladesh and Afghanistan to 'rethink' participation in the summit, Swarup said he could not comment on the issue but added that "all victims of terrorism do stand in solidarity". Swarup said Saarc stands for regional cooperation underpinned by peace and stability, and the biggest threat to peace and stability is terrorism. "Squarely addressing this challenge (terrorism) will benefit the entire region and also strengthen regional cooperation. I think all member-countries should reflect on that," he said. Patna, Sep 23 : Its the house in Dumraon, some 110 km from here, where shenai mastero Ustad Bismillah Khan was born and lived in for the first six-seven years of his life. Over time, sundry Chief Ministers have promised to preserve the house and develop the town, one of Bihar's oldest municipalities -- but to no avail. Now, a musician, a poet and two theatre activists have petitioned the Bihar government against efforts by anti-social elements to usurp the property and the considerably large grounds around it and said that an "anganwadi" day-care centre for children is being forcibly run from the house. The action came after Subhan Khan, the caretaker of the house, complained to the police that attempts were being made to usurp the property. Pramod Kumar, a district official in Dumraon, said a probe is underway and legal action would soon be taken against the guilty. "Bismillah Khan's ancestral house is a heritage property for the country and its people. It should be protected by the government," Gajender Narain Singh, a musician and a Padma Shri recipient, told IANS. Well-known Hindi poet Alok Dhanwa, the president of the Sangeet Natak Academy here, said the government must promptly initiate action against those involved in the attempted landgrab. "It is shameful and unfortunate that some people have reportedly tried to capture Bismillah Khan's his ancestral house. We will protest against this," Dhanwa told IANS. Theatre activists Anish Ankur and Jai Prakash said the attempt to take over the property exposed the fact that it has remained neglected for years despite top leaders of Bihar repeatedly promising to develop it. "It is not acceptable that a house which should be treated as a heritage property is under attack," Ankur said. Local residents in Dumraon, a part of the Buxur Lok Sabha constituency, admitted that Bismillah Khan - recipient of the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian honour -- was not given due respect in his hometown. Two Bihar Chief Ministers and a host of other politicians have promised to develop the property but beyond tokenism, there has been nothing concrete on the ground. Lalu Prasad had, in 1994, laid the foundation stone of a town hall-cum-library in Bismillah Khan's memory. In 2006, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced the construction of a museum and installation of a life-size statue after the shehnai masetro's death in August of that year. "But nothing has happened so far, Even the marble foundation stone that Lalu Prasad laid has been gathering dust at the Dumraon police station for several years," Murli Manohar Srivastava, who has written a book on Bismillah Khan, said. "It was ironic that promises made to develop the maestro's birthplace remained unfulfilled and were not an issue at the polls," he rued. Bismillah Khan was born Qamruddin on March 21, 1913, at the house, located in Dumraon's Bhirung Raut Ki Gali. According to the locals, his ancestors were court musicians and used to play in the naqqar khana -- a drum house or orchestra pit -- in the erstwhile princely state of Dumraon. His father was a shehnai player in the court of Maharaja Keshav Prasad Singh. Bismillah Khan moved to his maternal grandfather's home in Benaras (now Varanasi) when he was barely six or seven. His uncle, Ali Baksh 'Vilayatu', a shehnai player attached to the holy Kashi Vishwanath Temple, was his guru. Bismillah Khan, who died on August 21, 2006, was a rare recipient of all four of the country's top civilian honours -- the Padma Shri (1961), the Padma Bhushan (1968), the Padma Vibhushan (1990) and the Bharat Ratna (2001). (Imran Khan can be contacted at imran.k@ians.in) Washington, Sep 24 : Ted Cruz has endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump for the presidency in a stunning turn of events after a contentious primary filled with personal attacks and a dramatic snub at the Republican National Convention. "After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump," Cruz wrote in a Facebook post on Friday, CNN reported. "A year ago, I pledged to endorse the Republican nominee, and I am honoring that commitment. And if you don't want to see a Hillary Clinton presidency, I encourage you to vote for him." "I am greatly honored by the endorsement of Senator Cruz," Trump said in a statement obtained by CNN. "We have fought the battle and he was a tough and brilliant opponent. I look forward to working with him for many years to come in order to make America great again." The move -- three days before Trump's critical first debate with Clinton -- comes as the Trump and Cruz camps have moved closer in recent weeks. Trump's vice presidential nominee Mike Pence played a key role in bringing Cruz into the fold. Pence and Cruz traded multiple messages, then spoke at length once on the phone and again in person, when Pence visited Capitol Hill a few weeks ago, a source close to Pence said. Trump has hired key Cruz allies such as Kellyanne Conway as his campaign manager, and Jason Miller as a spokesman. Wednesday, Trump's campaign expressed support for a Cruz-backed, Internet-related proposal in government funding talks in the Senate. Cruz cited Trump's pledges on the judiciary in his Facebook post. "We know, without a doubt, that every Clinton appointee would be a left-wing ideologue. Trump, in contrast, has promised to appoint justices 'in the mold of (the late Antonin) Scalia,' Cruz wrote. "For some time, I have been seeking greater specificity on this issue, and today the Trump campaign provided that, releasing a very strong list of potential Supreme Court nominees - including Sen. Mike Lee, who would make an extraordinary justice - and making an explicit commitment to nominate only from that list." A Cruz endorsement could be the last pillar to helping Trump shore up the support of conservatives who have remained reticent about supporting his campaign. The move marks a dramatic turnaround from the personal insults Cruz and Trump traded during the previous year. Washington, Sep 24 : Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have cancelled a visit to the US city of Charlotte as protests against the police continued after a black man was shot dead. Mayor of Charlotte, Jennifer Roberts on Friday publicly asked the two candidates to delay plans to visit her city. "We appreciate the support of the candidates. We appreciate that they are concerned about Charlotte," Roberts told CNN. "At this point, we do have very stretched resources for security and they are working around the clock. If there would be a way to delay those visits in terms of giving us a chance to get our city back to order and back to more of a state of normalcy, that would probably be ideal," she added. Clinton's campaign announced late Friday that she would postpone a visit to the city after having announced that she would go to Charlotte on Sunday. A campaign spokeswoman said Clinton made the decision after consulting with community leaders and will instead visit on October 2. Also late Friday, two Trump campaign officials said they were no longer planning a post-debate trip next week to the city. The fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott on Tuesday has sparked protests in Charlotte and is the latest incident to fuel a national discussion about lethal police force, particularly against African-Americans. Clinton has called for officials in Charlotte to make public a police video showing the shooting of Scott. "Charlotte should release police video of the Keith Lamont Scott shooting without delay. We must ensure justice and work to bridge divides," Clinton said in a tweet. Two police videos from a dashboard camera and an officer's body camera show how Scott died, but have not been released to the public, CNN noted. Police allowed Scott's family to view the videos on Wednesday. Beijing, Sep 24 : Typhoon Megi, the 17th of this year, is expected to make landfall in China's Fujian and Guangdong provinces next week, weather officials said on Saturday. As of 5 a.m. Saturday, the storm centre was located about 1,780 km to the southeast of Taitung in Taiwan on the Pacific Ocean, packing wind of up to 23 metres per second, Xinhua news agency reported. Megi will head northwest at 20 km per hour to reach the Chinese mainland on September 28, the NMC forecasted. Meanwhile, heavy rains will lash northern and northeastern China over the coming three days. United Nations, Sep 24 : The G4 nations, including India, at a meeting on the sidelines of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly, have reaffirmed "unwavering commitment" to reforms in the UN Security Council (UNSC) reflecting the realities of the 21st century. "The G4 Ministers underscored their unwavering commitment to a comprehensive reform of the Security Council which needs to take into account the geopolitical realities of the 21st century," a joint statement issued following the meeting on Friday said. "More than 70 years after the founding of the UN, the Security Council also has to adapt in order to cope with the ever growing global challenges," the statement said. "With a view to the manifold conflicts and humanitarian crises, a more representative, legitimate and effective Council is needed more than ever to guarantee peace and security worldwide." The G4 nations -- India, Japan, Germany and Brazil -- are seeking permanent membership in the UNSC. While Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar represented India in the meeting, Brazil was represented by its Foreign Minister Jose Serra, Germany by Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and Japan by Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida. According to the statement, the ministers welcomed meetings of the Group of Friends on Security Council Reform, which brought together high-level representatives of member states from diverse regions aiming at pushing forward Security Council reforms. "In this regard, they called upon all reform-oriented member states to join efforts and finally bring about meaningful reform," it said. "The ministers expressed their support for equitable regional representation, underscoring the imperative for Africa's representation in both the permanent and non-permanent membership as well as adequate and continuing representation of small and medium sized member states, including the Small Island Developing States, in a reformed Security Council." The four countries, according to the statement, reiterated their resolve to continue contributing to the fulfilment of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and emphasised that they were "legitimate candidates for permanent membership and supported each other's aspirations". All the four nations thanked the President of the 70th General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft of Denmark, for his efforts on UNSC in the inter-governmental negotiations (IGN). "They also welcomed the expressions of flexibility made by numerous delegations during the past IGN session which resulted in the identification of areas of convergence in member states' positions on all issues related to the five clusters as identified by GA (General Assembly) Resolution 62/557 Security Council reform," the statement said. The four nations, however, concluded that substantial progress was still limited and that efforts needed to be intensified to build further momentum and to arrive at real text-based negotiations. "They pledged to continue to work towards a comprehensive Security Council reform in the framework of the IGN", the statement said. "They expressed their full support to the President of the 71st UN General Assembly, trusting that he will support swift and substantive progress towards a meaningful reform of the Security Council," it stated. "The ministers also briefly exchanged views on UN reforms to render the UN fit for the 21st century and discussed their expectations for the next Secretary General of the United Nations in this regard," it concluded. Chennai, Sep 24 : Actress Keerthy Suresh, last seen in Dhanush's "Thodari", has been roped in to play Allu Arjun's love interest in his upcoming yet-untitled bilingual project which marks his Tamil debut, says a source. "Keerthy Suresh is being paired with Arjun. It will be the first time they will be seen together on screen. The makers had several heroines under consideration; however, due to Keerthy's popularity in Tamil as well as Telugu industries, she was eventually signed on," a source from the film's unit told IANS. To be directed by Lingusami, the project will go on the floors in February 2017. It will be a joint venture between Studio Green and Geetha Arts. The rest of the cast and the technical crew are yet to be finalised. Currently busy shooting for Vijay-starrer Tamil entertainer "Bairavaa", Keerthy also has Telugu project "Nenu Local" in her kitty. New Delhi, Sep 24 : Earlier this week, Delhi's residents witnessed two completely different versions of crimes of passion. The suppressed rage of a spurned lover and a psychotic stalker spilled out into the streets and left everyone stupified. On Tuesday, a 34-year-old jilted lover, Sanjay Singh, stabbed a 21-year-old woman for an incredible 22 times in a rare act of brutality. A day before, another woman, married and 32 years of age, was chased and knifed repeatedly near her house, by an ex-lover who had been stalking her for years. Both died. And both cried for help as passersby who, either out of fear or indifference, chose to mind their own business and walked on or just stood and gaped. The explanations for such apathy could be as varied as there are minds. But for reputed sociologist and clinical psychologist Ashis Nandy, it's proof of the increasing brutalisation of our society. "We are getting more and more brutal. Very little is left in India in the way of culture and as a society, we are on our last legs," one of India's foremost public intellectuals, told IANS. He cited large-scale cultural change as a reason for this societal breakdown -- in the process, sketching out the average Indian male these days. "People these days are very, very manipulative, vile and calculative in their approach. This self-centeredness is the result of rapid cultural change and the change in education standards. Those days, when one would stick his neck out for his neighbor, are over," Nandi contended "Our society is leading to anomie, or normlessness, in simple words," he added. "If it was Calcutta (Kolkata) that man would've been lynched, people wouldn't have waited for police to come and no-one would say anything against such justice," he said, commenting on the passivity observed on the part of passersby in both the instances. Some experts describe the phenomenon as a matter of survival and protecting oneself from harm. S.K. Khandelwal, Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatry at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), explained: "People don't want to get into hassles. When you are met with such a situation, it either makes you aggressive or defensive. You either resort to violence yourself, or, if your very survival is at risk, you get into a defensive mode. We call it a fight or flight scenario." "It can be a moral issue as well, I'm not denying that. But we all are selfish beings and it is wrong to put the blame squarely upon bystanders' shoulders for their apathy," he added. Another expert had a different take on this. "Looking at group mentality, when such acts happen in a crowd, no-one dares to act alone, since he's not sure whether others will come forward to help him or not. We call it diffusion of responsibility," Kamna Chhibber, Clinical Psychologist and Head of Mental Health Fortis La Femme told IANS. "Another factor is the fear of retribution. One tends to think how interfering will impact him. If he fears a negative outcome like some harm or injury, then he will back out," she said. She also listed the efficacy of an individual oneself in changing the outcome of the situation as one of the reasons for making or not making a move. "People assess their ability before making a move. They think whether they are strong enough to overcome the opponent or whether they are trained enough to fight back... it's a combination of all these factors. We have no reason to think that it's only our society where people seldom interfere. It's a universal phenomenon," she explained. There's another aspect of our, and possibly of any society, which needs to be considered. As Surendra Nath Dubey, a retired professor and now the Editor-in-Chief of the Indian Journal of Community Psychology (IJCP), pointed out: "No-one wants to get into other people's matters; mainly out of fear of police harassment. We have seen it countless times, even in incidents of road-accidents, that no-one stops to help the victims. The attitude of police officers is a major cause in forcing people to become apathetic." One thing is for sure: This is not the last one has heard of such incidents. (Vishal Narayan can be contacted at vishal.n@ians.in) Hyderabad, Sep 24 : Two Telugu teachers, who were rescued last week after over a year-long captivity by Islamic State (IS) terrorists in Libya, returned home on Saturday. T. Gopikrishna and C. Balram Kishan reached here from New Delhi in the early hours. They merely said they were happy to reunite with their families, but declined to answer any queries from the media or share their experiences in captivity. The two teachers of the University of Sirte were abducted by Islamic State (IS) terrorists on July 29, 2015 while on their way to Tripoli airport to return to India. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had announced on September 15 that they had been rescued. Gopikrishna (35), an Assistant Professor at the University of Sirte, belongs to Tekkali in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, while Balram Kishan (52), a Professor at the same university, hails from Telangana's Karimnagar district. "I am very happy to reunite with my family. I don't have any words to express my happiness," said Gopikrishna talking to media persons at his residence in Nacharam here. He thanked the Libyan Army and the Government of India, especially the Ministry of External Affairs. "Thanks to their efforts, I could safely come back and reunite with my family," said Gopikrishna flanked by his wife and daughter. "I am really excited to return home after long captivity. I have already given all information to the Ministry of External Affairs as to what happened during my 414-day captivity," he said. Gopikrishna declined to speak on how they were freed and how they were treated in captivity. "I can't reveal all those details to you. I have given the information to the ministry," he said. The two teachers had reached New Delhi on Friday, after which officials of the Ministry of External Affairs met and debriefed them. Balram taught English and Gopikrishna Computer Science at Sirte University. They were among the four Indians kidnapped by IS the same day. Two of them were released a few days later. Lakshmikant and Vijay Kumar, hailing from Karnataka, had returned safely following their release earlier. Madrid, Sep 24 : Real Madrid Brazilian left-back Marcelo Vieira is suffering a "grade 2 muscle strain" in the right leg, according to a medical report, which was revealed by the club. Marcelo, 28, retired last Wednesday in the match between Real Madrid and Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabeu and "will continue to be monitored," the statement said on Friday,reports Efe. Meanwhile, fellow Brazilian Real Madrid player Casemiro, who was injured in last Sunday's encounter between Real Madrid and Espanyol (0-2), has a crack in the bone of his left leg and will be out for a month. Kanpur, Sep 24 : India was 52 for one at tea on the third day of the first Test against New Zealand at the Green Park stadium here on Saturday. Murali Vijay (14) and Cheteshwar Pujara (0) were at the crease when umpires called for the break. By tea, India's lead had grown to 108, with the openers adding 52 before opener K.L Rahul's stay was cut short by Ish Sodhi for 38 runs. The ball glanced off the high part of the bat and Ross Taylor at slip took an outstanding catch to bring the second session to an end. Brief score: India (First Innings) 318 and 52 for 1 (Rahul 38, Vijay 14(not out); Ish Sodhi 1/0) vs New Zealand 262 (Williamson 75, Latham 58, Jadeja 5-73, Ashwin 4-93). Islamabad/Geneva, Sep 24 : Pakistan has proposed former Health Minister Sania Nishtar, known for her bold and transformational leadership in health, for the post of Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Nishtar is one of only two women on the list to have been nominated for the post, for which six candidates are in the running. WHO's 194 member states put forth the list of candidates to replace the incumbent Director General Margaret Chan, who will step down next June after 11 years in the role. The other woman on the list is Flavia Bustreo, who was proposed by Italy and who is currently serving as WHO's Assistant Director-General for Family, Women's and Children's Health. Nishtar is founder and President of Heartfile, a health thinktank, and co-chair of the WHO's commission on ending childhood obesity, reported Geo News. The list of people to replace Chan includes former Health and Foreign minister of France Philippe Douste-Blazy, Foreign Minister and former Health Minister of Ethiopia Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and former Health Minister of Hungary Miklos Szocska. Britain's David Nabarro, a sustainable development adviser to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, completes the list of contenders. WHO said a shortlist of three would be presented in May at the agency's annual World Health Assembly, which will make the final appointment. The successful candidate will take office in July 2017. Experts believe the nominees will face a tough task in proving to the international community that the WHO is still competent as an agency delivering global health, particularly given the criticism it received after 11,000 persons died during the Ebola outbreak in Africa. "The next DG has a narrow window in which to change the narrative about the WHO," The Guardian quoted Ashish Jha, Director of the Harvard Global Health Institute and co-author of a report calling for urgent reform within the agency, as saying. "It has become an organisation that, when faced with real challenges, cannot perform," Jha added. The Director General is the WHO's chief technical and administrative officer, and oversees the organisation's international health work. The WHO is a vast UN agency with an annual budget of $4.4 billion that is responsible for coordinating global emergencies and raising awareness about health issues from pollution to tropical diseases. New Delhi, Sep 24 : Disney's "Moana", which features actor Dwayne Johnson's voiceover, will release in Indian theatres on December 2. The feature film is about an adventurous teenager who, with help from demigod Maui, sails out on a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder and save her people. Johnson has voiced the tattooed Maui. The actor has done a voice-role alongside newcomer Auli'i Cravalho in the movie, directed by the filmmaking team of Ron Clements and John Musker of "The Little Mermaid", "Aladdin and "The Princess & the Frog" fame. Produced by Osnat Shurer, "Moana" will release in 2D, 3D and IMAX formats. "We are extremely excited about the release of Disney's 'Moana' in India. The film is a fun-filled adventurous journey of two amazing characters - Moana and Maui - which will appeal to youngsters and families along with kids," Amrita Pandey, Vice President, Studios, Disney India, said in a statement. "Dwayne Johnson plays the vibrant Maui and audiences will love his humorous avatar. The film celebrates the coming together of fantastic story, brilliant creative vision, great talent, humour, music and adventure," Pandey added. Bhubaneswar, Sep 24 : The opposition Congress and BJP on Saturday demanded the constitution of a House committee to probe the case of Dana Majhi, who walked about 10 km with his wife's body on his shoulders after he was allegedly denied a hearse in Odisha. The demand of the opposition comes a day after the state government disputed the claim of Dana Majhi that he was denied a hearse or ambulance to take his dead wife to his village in Kalahandi district. The opposition raised the matter during the zero hour in the state Assembly on Saturday. "It's incorrect that Dana Majhi's wife was not declared dead and he was not denied a hearse by the hospital authority. Therefore, the demand for a House committee probe into the Dana Majhi case is fully justified," said leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra. An impartial probe is necessary to ascertain the truth, he added. Congress chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati sought a ruling from Speaker Niranjan Pujari to constitute a House committee to inquire into the matter. "The statement of the Health Minister that Dana Majhi did not ask for a hearse is completely false," said Bahinipati. BJP legislator Pradeep Purohit said a House committee probe could expose the lie of the state government in the Dana Majhi case. However, Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said this was just a preliminary report. "The Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO)'s report is a preliminary report. Inquiry is going on. We have already sacked a staff nurse and terminated a security agency. We would take strict action if anyone is found guilty," said the minister. Notably, the minister had on Friday rejected the claim of Dana Majhi that he was denied a hearse or ambulance to take his dead wife to his village in Kalahandi district. "As stated by the patients and their attendants in that ward, Dana Majhi took the patient without anybody's notice, as they were asleep at night," said the report of CDMO. The report also claimed that the patient was not declared dead. "Sri Dana Majhi had never sought for any help, ambulance or a hearse, from any of the hospital staff that night. In case of poor patients, if approached, transportation arrangement is made from CMRF/RKS or Red Cross funds," said the report. "But in the case of Sri Dana Majhi, neither himself nor anybody else had sought for any help or assistance," it stated. IANS cd/nir/bg New Delhi, Sep 24 : The Tiger Squadron of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully fired the recently acquired BVR (Beyond Visual Range) air-to-air MICA missile on a target from an upgraded Mirage-2000 aircraft, an official statement said on Saturday. "The missile achieved a direct hit on a target which was much smaller than an actual aircraft and flying at low altitude. The target was destroyed on impact, validating the missile's launch envelope," the statement said. The IAF has become one of the few air forces in the world with the capability of such missile. "The operational success of this mission confirms a critical capability of Indian Air Force," the release said. India purchased 450 MICAs from European missile major MBDA as part of the Mirage 2000 upgrade deal from France in 2012 for $1.23 billion. The MICA will be mounted on the 36 Rafale combat jets that India is purchasing from France, the deal for which was inked on September 23. Los Angeles, Sep 24 : Actor Brad Pitt may not be prosecuted for child abuse despite 'lunging for Maddox', say legal experts. According to legal experts, the Hollywood star will not face any action over the alleged fracas with 15-year-old Maddox as there are so many discrepancies, reports mirror.co.uk. It appears police officials did not receive a report of the recent incident and Maddox had no injuries when visited by social workers. A legal expert added: "It appears Brad made contact with Maddox somewhere in the vicinity of the shoulder area. The biggest issue -- whether it was intentional or inadvertent. It's the job of prosecutors to prove it was intentional, and we are told that would be extremely difficult." Because of the blurred line between abuse and parental discipline, experts say a successful prosecution would be unlikely. Meanwhile, Jolie, who is said to be staying at a top secret location with the family, is said to be stopping the 52-year-old from visiting their children allegedly until the FBI investigation has been completed. She had filed for divorce on Monday citing irreconcilable differences and asking for sole physical custody of their six children, including 11-year-old Zahara, 10-year-old Shiloh and 8-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne. Damsacus, Sep 24 : Syrian forces backed by Palestinian groups succeeded Saturday to recapture a camp of Palestinian refugees in Aleppo from the hands of rebels. The capture of Handarat camp, 13 km northeast of Aleppo, came after the Syrian army and Palestinian factions destroyed the last positions of the rebels there, Xinhua news agency reported. Meanwhile, the rebels' Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, said that the Syrian army and the Palestinian Liwa al-Quds succeeded to take the camp under heavy airstrikes from the Russian air force. Wresting back control over Handarat consolidates the government forces' control over key road of Castello, which had been used by the rebels as a main supply route, before the army captured it a couple of months ago. In August, the rebels took control of the entire camp, following battles with the army. The camp has a strategic importance as it overlooks several rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo, which has become under tight government siege after the Syrian army captured Castello. The Syrian Defense Ministry announced Thursday the commencement of a new offensive against rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo, urging the civilians to leave immediately and the rebels to lay down their weapons. On Friday, Syrian warplanes dropped leaflets over eastern Aleppo, renewing calls on civilians to stay away from the rebel positions and advising the rebels to surrender. The renewed military showdown in Aleppo came just days after a Russian-US brokered truce expired Monday with no extension. The Syrian army said in a statement that the rebels violated the week-long truce over 300 times, adding that the US-led coalition struck positions of the Syrian army during the truce in Deir al-Zour, killing 90 soldiers, which was deemed by Russia as the biggest violation to the truce. Moscow, Sep 24 : Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Saturday that the United States had apologized to Syrian President Bashar Assad for the airstrikes against Syrian government troops. "Yes, they have apologized," Xinhua news agency quoted Lavrov as saying in an interview. Commenting on restoring truce in the war-battered country, Lavrov said it is only possible on a collective basis, which need the "sincere" cooperation from Washington to separate the so called moderate opposition from terrorist groups. On September 17, the US-led coalition airstrikes killed over 60 Syrian government troops and injured some 100 others in Syria's eastern province of Deir al-Zour, incurring a strong response from Moscow, which accused Washington of violating the cease-fire accord in Syria. On September 10, Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry announced a nationwide cease-fire in Syria, which demands all warring sides stop attacks and airstrikes, and allow access to besieged areas, including Aleppo. However, crossfire has resumed in the first hours after the truce deal expired on Monday. Damascus, Sep 24 : Intensified bombings on the Syrian city of Aleppo have left at least two million persons without water, the UN said. Unicef said fierce strikes on Friday prevented repairs to a damaged pumping station supplying rebel-held districts of the city, BBC reported. A station pumping water to Aleppo had been switched off. Fresh strikes were reported in the city on Saturday, as the Syrian army pressed on with its push to retake rebel areas. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based group monitoring the conflict, said at least 25 persons, including women and children, were killed in fresh air strikes on Saturday. Unicef Deputy Director Justin Forsyth said: "Aleppo is slowly dying, and the world is watching, and the water is being cut off and bombed - it is just the latest act of inhumanity." A Unicef official said that the lack of running water could be "catastrophic" as residents now had to resort to contaminated water and were at risk from waterborne diseases. He said water was being used as a weapon of war by all sides. The pumping station supplying rebel-held parts of Aleppo was damaged on Thursday and subsequent strikes had made repairs impossible, the official added. "That pumping station pumps water to the entire population of the eastern part of city - that's at least 2,00,000 people and then in retaliation for that attack a nearby pumping station that pumps water to the entire western part of the city - upwards to 1.5 million people - was deliberately switched off," the official told the BBC. Activists said both Syrian and Russian warplanes were taking part in the latest offensive, though Russia has not confirmed its involvement. Russia supports the Syrian government, while the US backs the opposition. The two powers accuse each other of failing to rein in their respective allies on the ground. Medical sources said at least 91 persons were killed in Friday's bombardment. The Syrian army has said that it is preparing for a ground offensive, and told civilians to stay away from rebel positions. On Saturday government troops were reported to have captured the rebel stronghold of Handarat to the north of Aleppo, further tightening their grip on the city. Kolkata, Sep 24 : A motorcylist was killed and his pillion passenger injured when a car hit the two-wheeler early on Saturday, police said. The car driver had been arrested. The accident took place in south Kolkata's Charu market area. "At around 3 a.m., Josh Chowdhury's car hit a bike with two riders in front of Bhabani Cinema Hall near Charu market. The biker Sajal Kairi, 25, a resident of Behala in south Kolkata, died in this accident while the other rider was severely injured," police said. This is the second such reckless driving incident in the city within a week. Earlier, a luxury car hit Abhijit Pandey, 22, who was riding a scooter, leading to his death. Chowdhury was nabbed from his residence on Saturday on the charges of rash driving and causing death by negligence. Ahmedabad, Sep 24 : In a U-turn, the Gujarat government on Saturday withdrew a notification issued a day ago suspending the 10 per cent quota for Economically Backward Classes in the general category in jobs and educational institutes. Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel told reporters on Saturday that the notification which the government issued on Friday was "confusing and so we have decided to withdraw it." The government had declared reservation of 10 per cent in government jobs and educational institutions for the economically backward classes among the higher castes through an Ordinance in May following a pitched agitation by the Patidars that lasted over nine months. The decision was struck down by Gujarat High Court in August, calling it unconstitutional and this was upheld by the Supreme Court. After the government challenged the decision, the apex court had referred it to a larger bench. The admissions, which were already given in educational institutions under this quota, was allowed, but the process for any new admissions was frozen. The notification issued on Friday said the 10 per cent EBC quota had been kept in abeyance. The Supreme Court had referred the issue to a five-judge Constitution Bench in its interim order of September 9. It also said that admissions given to the students under EBC quota before August 8 would not be cancelled, but there would not be any further admissions under the quota. Similarly, any recruitment process in the government also remains on hold. Though the government brought a new notification overriding the one first made on Friday, thereby indicating that the quota decision stands, the implementation of the 10 per cent in any case remains on hold till the larger Supreme Court bench does not decide the case. In a major effect, the entire process of recruitment for 62,000 government jobs which was declared as the biggest exercise by the BJP dispensation this year also remains on hold. Not only EBCs, all other appointments would have to wait till the entire matter is settled. The notification of keeping EBC quota in abeyance drew sharp reactions from Patel leaders. Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel accused the government of misleading the three crore upper caste population of Gujarat. He reiterated the 10 per cent quota "was a lollipop". The government then withdrew the notification. Visakhapatnam, Sep 25 : Seafood should be treated as agricultural produce and exempted from the GST, proposed to come in force from April 1, 2017, said an advisor to a marine products exporters association. Raghavan Ramabadran, a Chennai-based partner in law firm Lakshmikumaran and Sridharan, which is an advisor to Seafood Exporters Association of India, said the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has been demanding the "exemption of seafood products from the GST" before the bill is implemented. "The authority has been doing a detailed analysis of the impact of GST on the marine industry," he said on the sidelines of the three-day-long 20th edition of the India International Seafood Show, jointly organised by the MPEDA and the SEAI, which began here Friday. Intended to provide a valuable forum for exchange of experiences and exposure to new technologies which will intimately help in boosting exports of the country's marine products, the IISS is also aimed at boosting India's aquaculture industry with the US, EU, Southeast Asia, Japan and China as major partners. This year's seafood show has been organised with the theme of "Safe and Sustainable Indian Aquaculture" to project the quality of aquaculture. On other issues facing the Indian industry, SEAI Secretary General Elias Sait said: "Under the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, approved in late 1994, the anti-dumping and countervailing duty may get removed after the sunset review from February 2016-2017." Under the anti-dumping duty, the US industries may petition India for relief from imports sold there at less than fair value ("dumped"), Elias said. Meanwhile, Ramabadran, citing MPEDA statistics, said: "India exports less than one per cent ready to be tabled marine products. They are further processed and labelled under a foreign brand. This makes India a consumer country and not a manufacturer." The exported products contain preservatives to increase the shelf life but are not completely processed, and are being transported in raw form only, he said. India, being the world's seventh largest seafood producer, needs to increase value added operations in the marine industry and promote sustained small scale aquaculture through empowerment of farmers, said Ramabadran. "The processing operations should be encouraged in the country under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' initiative. It will not only create employment but also boost the growth of the seafood industry," he added. (Priya Yadav can be contacted at priya.y@ians.in) Nagpur, Sep 24 : After nearly six months of speculation, Maharashtra's former Advocate General Srihari Aney on Saturday decided to take the political plunge and work for the cause of a separate state of Vidarbha, to be carved out of the state. Aney announced the launch opf a new political party, the Vidarbha Rajya Aghadi, which will get down to business right away by contesting the upcoming elections to Nagpur Municipal Corporation and other local bodies on the plank of a separate state. "The Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party are our enemies No. 1. Its because of them that the doors (of Vidarbha) will always remain shut," he said at the launch. However, supporters from Vidarbha can be from any party and they will be welcome to join us, said Aney, who quit as the state's top law officer in March this year for openly espousing the cause of a separate state. The renowned lawyer said he was not averse to entering into tie-ups or seat distribution with like-minded organisations or other political parties supporting a separate Vidarbha, during the forthcoming civic elections. While quitting the coveted post for which he was handpicked by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in October 2015, Aney described the reasons behind his move as "a conflict of duty and institutional stability". He reiterated his commitment to the cause of a separate Vidarbha state to effectively tackle the lack of developmental activities, and grappling burning issues like the farmers' suicides in that region, among others. A month after he quit in March, Aney created another controversy on his 66th birthday in April when he symbolically "cut" a cake of Maharashtra, sparking outrage among major political parties including the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. More recently, on September 13, Aney had lashed out at MNS activisits who disrupted a media gathering of Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti addressed by activisists Wamanrao Chatap, Shreenivas Khandewala and Nanda Parate here. The MNS move was also condemned by several other prominent Vidarbha supporters including Pune-based retired IPS officer Vikram Bokey and left-wing activist Jatin Desai. Vidarbha region comprises 11 eastern districts of the state including Amravati, Akola, Bhandara, Buldhana, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondiya, Nagpur, Wardha, Washim and Yavatmal, comprising around 32 percent of the land area supporting 22 percent of the population of Maharashtra. New Delhi, Sep 24 : The US Department of Defense announced that it has awarded defence major Boeing a $81 million contract to supply 22 Harpoon missile systems for Indian Navy's Shishumar class submarines. A Department of Defense release said the Boeing, the weapon manufacturer, is being awarded the $81,271,024 contract for firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract to exercise an option for the procurement of 22 Lot 89 Harpoon missiles and associated containers and components for India under the Foreign Military Sales programme. The contract is expected to be completed in June 2018. In 2014, India requested the US government for the Harpoon missiles for Shishumar class submarine. The request was made under Foreign Military Sale. The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) had July 2014 said that the Indian government has requested a possible sale of 12 UGM-84L Harpoon Block II Encapsulated Missiles, 10 UTM-84L Harpoon Encapsulated Training missiles, 2 Encapsulated Harpoon certification training vehicles, containers, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, US Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $200 million. It said that this weapon system, to be employed on the Shishumar class submarine (Type-209), will provide enhanced capabilities for defence of critical sea lines of communication. "India has already purchased Harpoon missiles for integration on Indian Air Force's Jaguar aircraft and Indian Navy's P-8I maritime patrol aircraft. India will have no difficulty absorbing these additional missiles into its armed forces," it added. Sources in the industry said that a contract was signed this June between Indian Ministry of Defence and US Department of Defense for supply of Harpoon systems for the submarines. To execute this contract, the US government has to buy the missiles from Boeing to supply to India. Realogics Sothebys International Realty (RSIR) announced today a progressive tour of legacy homes in the San Juan Island archipelago from October 4-9, which is scheduled during the Savor the San Juans initiative managed by the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau. A matchless collection of up to ten properties ranging from below $2,000,0000 to $17,000,000 will be available to preview for registered brokers on October 4th and 5th followed by open house viewings, by invitation, with prospective homebuyers on October 8th and 9th (by appointment). Participating lifestyle sponsors include Windermere Real Estate / Orcas Island, Kenmore Air, Rosario Resort, Seattle Magazine, Sea Magazine, Puget Sound Business Journal, Sundance Yachts, and GeekWire. "This is a matchless opportunity to experience some of the most extraordinary legacy homes available for purchase in the San Juan Islands and beyond," said Dean Jones, President and CEO of RSIR. Attending brokers and their clients will discover why this storybook lifestyle is such a well-kept secret and a relative value compared with our East Coast peer group. They will also discover considerable value being offered with these move-in ready estates. Among the properties on tour is Friday Harbor Estate, which is currently owned by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Steve Miller. Jones recently commissioned a research study, the Legacy Home Report to explore property values with the San Juan Islands compared to New Yorks Long Island. He concluded that not only are the homes in the Pacific Northwest a fraction of property prices in popular harbinger markets like the Hamptons but, in fact, several are being offered below replacement costs - but perhaps not for much longer. As the Seattle/Bellevue metro area continues to prosper as the next global city on the rise, so, too will the concept of legacy home acquisitions in the destination communities that surround this booming economy, adds Wally Gudgell of Windermere Real Estate and longtime resident of Orcas Island. Our property tour and the Savor the San Juans promotion will provide a convenient and seamless lifestyle experience for locals and newcomers alike. Gudgell says island living spans a broad spectrum of lifestyles from modest farmers and craftsmen to Hollywood A-listers and tech titans, which helps create the diverse and dynamic culture scene supporting demand for all property types and price points. An enviable lifestyle and a lack of a state income tax in Washington have encouraged many to seek residency in the San Juan Islands for the majority of the year while traveling the world or enjoying a second home in warmer climates during the winter months. The Legacy Home Tour will officially commence on October 4th where attending brokers will arrive to Rosario Resort and enjoy a wine tasting reception at a nearby listing for sale. On October 5th a series of shuttles will tour an Orcas Island estate before returning to the marina where guests will board a collection of yachts to visit or float by waterfront estates on San Juan Island, Shaw Island and Reef Island. The flotilla will return to Orcas Island where chartered flights operated by Kenmore Air will return guests to Seattle while others will stay to enjoy other festivities. Along the way, event sponsors promise to stimulate the senses with the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touch that is unique to the region. John Spear, Director of Custom Publishing and Associate Publisher at Large for Tiger Oak Publishing, owner of Seattle Magazine will attend the festivities to document the experience for his readers. During the weekend on October 8th and 9th the properties will be available for private showings by appointment with qualified homebuyers. Guests are encouraged to enjoy commercial flights operated by Kenmore Air and stay at the famous Rosario Resort, which was once a legacy home built by philanthropist Robert Moran that was later converted to a hotel and is featured in the report. "We welcome guests to experience the natural wonder that we live in every day, said Lance Evans, Director of Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce. Most people think of our community as a destination resort but the islands are home to full time residents with year-round services and amenities, renowned schools, and a robust cultural scene. The Savor the San Juans campaign spans seven weeks from September 22nd through November 12th, which promotes food, farm and film experiences throughout the three main islands that comprise San Juan County Lopez, Orcas and San Juan. The program includes an abundance of wine tastings, harvest dinners, farmers markets, film festivals and cultural experiences, http://www.VisitSanJuans.com/Savor. Properties showcased during the Legacy Home Tour include: Cormorant Bay Estate | Orcas Island | $17,000,000 presented by RSIR Friday Harbor Estate | San Juan Island | $16,800,000 presented by RSIR Madroneagle Estate | Orcas Island | $10,000,000 presented by Windermere & RSIR Langdon Road Estate | Orcas Island | $6,200,000 presented by Windermere Private Waterfront Residences | Orcas Island | Undisclosed presented by Windermere Crane Island Estate | Crane Island | $3,200,000 presented by Windermere Reef Island Property | Reef Island | $5,000,000 presented by Windermere Spring Hill Lodge | Orcas Island | $1,880,000 presented by RSIR Braveheart Estate | Orcas Island | $1,895,000 presented by RSIR Lopez Island Estate | Lopez Island | $1,229,000 presented by RSIR A lifestyle video has been created by Realogics Sothebys International Realty to showcase several of the properties and a marketing campaign has been launched to build awareness for the Legacy Home Tour. For more information, visit http://www.LifeintheSanJuans.com ### About Realogics Sothebys International Realty (http://www.RSIR.com) - Artfully uniting extraordinary homes with extraordinary lives, Realogics Sothebys International Realty is a leading global sales and marketing brokerage firm in the Pacific Northwest. Recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal amongst the fastest-growing private companies in Washington State for 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 the boutique real estate firm of 180+ brokers consistently rank among the top producing firms within the markets that it serves with branches in downtown Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Kirkland, Issaquah and now Madison Park. EDITORS NOTES: For high-resolution photography contact Andrea Savage at 206.448.5752 or email Andrea.Savage(at)RSIR(dot)com. Forty college-bound childhood cancer survivors throughout the United States will have fewer financial burdens this year, thanks to scholarships theyve been awarded from The National Childrens Cancer Societys (NCCS) Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship Program. The program provides financial assistance to young adults as they move forward with their lives after cancer, helping them to pursue their education and career goals. September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a fitting time to remind everyone who knows a child with cancer that their future can be bright. College is a goal for many childhood cancer survivors. We want to do everything we can to help them attain that goal and pursue their careers, said Mark Stolze, president and CEO of the NCCS. These young people are courageous and resilient - we are honored to help them fulfill their dreams. Riley Steiner, a 20-year-old sophomore at the University of Miami in Oxford, OH, received a Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship last year and was awarded one again this Fall. She was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia at 17 during the summer before her senior year of high school. She has been receiving chemotherapy since that time and will finish treatment in October. Riley said that without the scholarship from the NCCS, she would need to take a student loan. It definitely helped my family financially, and also helped my parents keep me debt-free up to this point in my college journey. The scholarship requires recipients to donate time to help other children with cancer and their families. Last year, Riley served as a mentor to a younger girl who was battling the same type of cancer. This month she is speaking at the American Legion Children and Youth Conference about the importance of volunteering. My goal in the speech is to emphasize how valuable volunteers are when kids are in scary situations like cancer, she said. I had so many people who gave time to help me during my treatment. They made things a lot better for me. Other scholarship recipients also are expressing eagerness to start their volunteer work with the NCCS, said Beyond the Cure Coordinator Pam Gabris. They are some pretty amazing young adults and they have a very positive impact on the organization. Beyond the Cure is the NCCSs survivorship program, which prepares survivors and their families for life after cancer. In addition to scholarships for young adult survivors, it offers them opportunities to connect and encourage one another and assists them in learning how to manage their long-term healthcare needs. To date, nearly $800,000 in scholarships has been awarded to childhood cancer survivors throughout the country. The NCCS is extremely grateful to the Englehardt Family Foundation and Centene Corporation for their generous support of the program. This years scholarship winners span the country and will attend a diverse group of schools in the 2016-17 academic year. The recipients are: Centene Scholars Hometown School attending 2016-17 Olivia Bliven Magnolia TX University of Houston JoAnne Chung Holland OH University of Michigan Vanessa Perez Sheboygan WI Florida State University Riley Steiner Dublin OH Miami University William Weishaar Webster Grove MO Missouri University of Science & Technology John Worm Grand Rapids MI Grand Valley State University Englehardt Scholars Jessica Allen Concord CA St. Marys College of California Cara Antonaccio Long Valley NJ Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Alyssa Baker Oklahoma City OK University of Oklahoma College of Law Cooper Barghols Oro Valley AZ Southern Methodist University Harrison Bond New Orleans LA Vanderbilt University William Brennan Mt. Sinai NY Stony Brook University Lenn Brown Rockaway NJ Syracuse University Dean Brownworth Merrick NY University of Massachusetts-Amherst Farah Contractor Churchville PA University of Pennsylvania Virginia Finigan-Carter Randolph Center VT Eckerd College Madelyn Giegling St. Louis MO Truman State University Kristen Glavee San Ramon CA Azusa Pacific University Mikaella Granzen Princeton NJ Wesleyan University Luke Hertzler Harrisonburg VA Hesston College Kodi Jones Battlefield MO Ozarks Technical Community College Neha Kundagrami Bethesda MD University of Maryland, College Park Morgan Matthews Grantsville UT University of Utah Nishant Mysore San Diego CA University of California-San Diego Kevin Nguyen Moorpark CA University of California-Los Angeles Lacey ONeal Virginia Beach VA Old Dominion University Grace Padilla Prescott AZ Westminster College of Salt Lake City Gabriella Palasthy Virginia Beach VA Old Dominion University Braeden Paskett Parachute CO Brigham Young University Ashley Persson Winchester CA California State University Sarah Pierce Providence RI Stanford University Halle Redfearn Laguna Beach CA University of California-Berkeley Benjamin Seeley Tustin CA Chapman University Daniel Shank-Rowe Centreville VA Virginia Tech Allison Taylor Marietta GA Kennesaw State University Catherine Terry Santa Clara CA Occidental College Sophia Tilley Benton AR Arkansas Tech University Lily Upp Berkley MI University of Michigan Cecilia Wang Beaverton OR Robert D. Clark Honors College Bethany Wells Cedar Hills UT Brigham Young University About The National Childrens Cancer Society The mission of The National Children's Cancer Society is to provide emotional, financial and educational support to children with cancer, their families and survivors. To learn more about the NCCS and its support services, visit thenccs.org. The National Childrens Cancer Society is a 501C(3) organization that has provided over $62 million in direct financial assistance to more than 38,000 children with cancer. To contact the NCCS, call (314) 241-1600. You can also find the NCCS on Facebook and Twitter. After extensive interviews and selection process, the PIDX Board of Directors unanimously ratified the hiring of Sheri Roberts as new CEO. Chris Welsh, Chair of PIDX International Board of Directors commented, Sheri brings a whole new perspective to PIDX, which the board is excited about. Her prior leadership experience and solid reputation will help PIDX focus on its strategic vision that solves the big inter-company issues we have in Oil and Gas today and anticipates the changes that are inevitable on our horizon. With Sheri at the helm, PIDX will ensure it is the go-to standard for Oil & Gas collaboration and inter-operability in electronic commerce. Sheri brings more than 25 years of experience in the oil and gas and petrochemical industries. Starting her career with Shell in 1989, she held several commercial roles with increasing levels of responsibility before moving to the Netherlands to work in Royal Dutch Shell headquarters as a leader in the Leadership and Performance Development team. In her last two roles with Shell, Sheri was CEO for Shell Mauritius Limited located in Africa and ran the Ethylene Glycol and Ethylene Oxide businesses for Shell Chemicals in North and South America. In 2010, she joined Tyco Flow Control as President, Tyco Valves & Controls, LP and Vice President, Global Oil & Gas. More recently, Sheri was Executive Vice-President for Actuants Energy Segment. Sheri studied Honors Chemistry at Purdue University and received her MBA from University of Illinois. She currently serves as Board Director for Genesis Water and Silberline Manufacturing and is an active member of Young Presidents Organization and the Executive Womens Partnership of Greater Houston Partnership. Sheri, upon being informed of her selection, shared, I am delighted to be joining PIDX with a such a strong and committed team of volunteers. I look forward to using my experience in the industry to contribute to our mission and serve our member companies. I am honored to play a role in shaping the future of PIDX. About PIDX PIDX International is a not for profit organization made up of member companies from the Oil & Gas industry. It standardizes business processes that deal with data exchange between trading partners in their industry. Their list of standards encompasses not just XML schemas, but Best Practices Documents, Business Process Guidelines, Implementation Guides, Industry Code Lists, the Data Dictionary and the Petroleum Industry Glossary. Florida Farm Bureau honors members of the 114th Congress for their dedication and commitment in support of agriculture and Farm Bureau policy with the Friend of Farm Bureau award. The following legislators are being recognized at various Farm Bureau county annual meetings this fall: Rep. Jeff Miller (R); Rep. Ted Yoho (R); Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R); Rep. Ron DeSantis (R); Rep. John Mica (R); Rep. Dan Webster (R); Rep. Rich Nugent (R); Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R); Rep. David Jolly (R); Rep. Dennis Ross (R); Rep. Vern Buchanan (R); Rep. Tom Rooney (R); Rep. Bill Posey (R); Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R); Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R) and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R). The Friend of Farm Bureau award is given at the end of each Congressional session to those members of Congress who were nominated by their respective state Farm Bureaus and approved by the American Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors. Florida Farm Bureau, the states largest general agricultural organization, represents more than 144,000 member-families. We serve to enhance farm enterprise and improve rural communities. ### The Miami personal injury attorneys at Freidin Brown, P.A. are honored to accept the 2016 WebAward for Outstanding Achievement in Web Development for Professional Services Standard of Excellence. For more than 17 years, The Web Marketing Association (WMA) has helped set the standard for online marketing. To do so, the organization hosts an annual WebAward Competition, which names the most exceptional websites across 86 industries. This achievement is presented to businesses, companies, and firms that demonstrate extraordinary and visually engaging websites. An Outstanding Website for Their Outstanding Legal Services Freidin Brown, P.A. is dedicated to providing top-tier legal services for those who have suffered injuries as a result of another individuals negligence, recklessness, or carelessness. That is why the legal team believes that an exceptional and functional website is crucial to matching the level of expertise they provide to their clients. When a person enters the firms website, the legal team is confident because they know that potential and current clients can access information regarding the firms services with ease. About Freidin Brown, P.A. At Freidin Brown, P.A., the Miami personal injury lawyers provide compassionate and efficient legal representation for each one of their clients. Because the team understands the complexities and anxieties a family can suffer after an accident occurs, they work diligently to handle each case with the professionalism and compassion needed to obtain positive results on behalf of clients. Led by two founding attorneys, Philip Freidin and Joel Brown, who are board certified in civil trial law by the Florida Bar Board of Specialization & Education, the team is ready to fight for the rights of their clients both inside and outside the courtroom. To learn more about Freidin Brown, P.A., visit the firms website or call (888) 650-0918. As a surprise to absolutely no one, the Times endorsed Hillary Clinton today. The editorial board heralded her for her "intellect, experience and courage," and made the case for voting for Clinton not just because "she isnt Donald Trump," but because of her experience, proven leadership record, and grace under pressure. Though they did note that Trump is "the worst nominee put forward by a major party in modern American history," so there's that. The Grey Lady, which previously endorsed Clinton in the Democratic primary, urged voters to consider her not as the reluctant alternative to Trump, but as a future president who would combat global terrorism, ease national economic tension, champion policy that would help women and children, and enact sweeping legislation on crime, policing, race relations, climate change, college debt, and small business support, to name a few. The endorsement ran through her record as Secretary of State, U.S. Senator, and First Lady, and acknowledged her weaknessesbut the attacks on her character, per the Times, "have distorted perceptions of her character": She is one of the most tenacious politicians of her generation, whose willingness to study and correct course is rare in an age of unyielding partisanship. As first lady, she rebounded from professional setbacks and personal trials with astounding resilience. Over eight years in the Senate and four as secretary of state, she built a reputation for grit and bipartisan collaboration. She displayed a command of policy and diplomatic nuance and an ability to listen to constituents and colleagues that are all too exceptional in Washington... ...Mrs.Clintons service spans both eras, and she has learned hard lessons from the three presidents she has studied up close. She has also made her own share of mistakes. She has evinced a lamentable penchant for secrecy and made a poor decision to rely on a private email server while at the State Department. That decision deserved scrutiny, and its had it. Now, considered alongside the real challenges that will occupy the next president, that email server, which has consumed so much of this campaign, looks like a matter for the help desk. And, viewed against those challenges, Mr. Trump shrinks to his true small-screen, reality-show proportions, as well argue in detail on Monday. Through war and recession, Americans born since 9/11 have had to grow up fast, and they deserve a grown-up president. A lifetimes commitment to solving problems in the real world qualifies Hillary Clinton for this job, and the country should put her to work. Earlier this week, the Los Angeles Times endorsed Clinton, pointing out that Americans have to choose between "an experienced, thoughtful and deeply knowledgeable public servant or a thin-skinned demagogue who is unqualified and unsuited to be president." And the Cincinnati Enquirer, which has not endorsed a Democrat since Woodrow Wilson, also endorsed Clinton this week, albeit begrudgingly: The Enquirer has supported Republicans for president for almost a century - a tradition this editorial board doesnt take lightly. But this is not a traditional race, and these are not traditional times. Our country needs calm, thoughtful leadership to deal with the challenges we face at home and abroad. We need a leader who will bring out the best in all Americans, not the worst. Thats why there is only one choice when we elect a president in November: Hillary Clinton... ...Trump is a clear and present danger to our country. He has no history of governance that should engender any confidence from voters. Trump has no foreign policy experience, and the fact that he doesn't recognize it - instead insisting that, "I know more about ISIS than the generals do" - is even more troubling. His wild threats to blow Iranian ships out of the water if they make rude gestures at U.S. ships is just the type of reckless, cowboy diplomacy Americans should fear from a Trump presidency. Clinton has been criticized as being hawkish but has shown a measured approach to the world's problems. Do we really want someone in charge of our military and nuclear codes who has an impulse control problem? The fact that so many top military and national security officials are not supporting Trump speaks volumes. On the other hand, yesterday Trump got the only endorsement that matters. Archive Dive Apple just released iOS 10, its newest operating system for the iPhone, which features a way to send text messages with invisible inkmessages or photos hidden until the receiver swipes over them. To show how far weve come with this technology, heres an ad from our July 8, 1933, issue, in which Houghton Mifflin advertised an invisible-ink trick of its own. From the Newsletters Tip Sheet Ruth Franklin, author of the biography Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life (Liveright), shares 11 things you probably didnt know about Shirley Jackson. Childrens Bookshelf Three years after releasing its first title, the Lizzie Skurnick Books imprint of Ig Publishing is halting acquisitions due to very disappointing sales. PW Daily Get every days publishing news delivered to your inbox. The most-read review on publishersweekly.com last week was Abandon Me by Melissa Febos (Bloomsbury). Podcasts Week Ahead PW senior writer Andrew Albanese talks with Brian F. OLeary about what he might bring to his new role as executive director at BISG. Plus, a look ahead to the Frankfurt Book Fair. More to Come Interviews with Carla Speed McNeil (cartoonist of the aboriginal SF series Finder), and Ben Katchor on the 25th anniversary of Cheap Novelties: The Pleasures of Urban Decay, with Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer. KidsCast Author/illustrator David Shannon talks about Duck on a Tractor, a sequel to Duck on a Bike, in which Duck and his fellow barnyard animals pile onto a tractor and drive into town. PW Radio Author Robert Kanigel discusses his new book, Eyes on the Street: The Life of Jane Jacobs (Knopf). And PW editorial director Jim Milliot digs into Canadian publishing trends. Blogs ShelfTalker On the sometimes-confounding timing of how book releases are (or arent) synced to coincide with movie releases. Suspected Chelsea bomber Ahmad Khan Rahami has not yet seen a lawyer, and a public defender in New Jersey says he was denied access to Rahami by a prosecutor. Union County state public defender Peter Liguori claimed in a letter to the judge that Ann Luvera, a prosecutor in Union County, refused to give Liguori permission to see Rahami, who has been hospitalized in Newark since he became involved in a shootout with police last week. Luvera apparently told Liguori that Rahami, who sustained several gunshot wounds in the shootout, was "unconscious and unable to speak." Rahami, who was charged with bombing a public place and using weapons of mass destruction on Tuesday following last weekend's bombings in New Jersey and Manhattan, has not yet spoken with an attorney. "It is outrageous that the prosecutor is refusing to give permission to the public defender to visit Mr. Rahami," Udi Ofer, executive director of the ACLU of New Jersey, told the Times. "It is vital that the public defender be given access to his client so that Mr. Rahamis medical condition may be verified and his rights are protected." Though, when needed, a public defender is usually promptly appointed by the court after an arrest, in this case Rahami was not provided with a lawyer until his father asked the Union County state public defender's office to represent him late last week. The extent of Rahami's injuries are also unclear, and officials have not provided much information beyond that he was shot several times and that he was still intubated on Thursday. Meanwhile, a new video obtained by NBC 4 shows Rahami leaving luggage containing a pressure cooker on West 27th Street on Saturday night. The video shows two men later removing the bomb from the luggage, taking the luggage with themonce the device was left on the street, dozens of people walked by it, and a few people even kicked the pressure cooker. The woman who alerted cops to the device, Jane Schreibman, told the station, "I looked at it and said, 'That looks like a child's science equipment, they must have thrown it out in the garbage.' I realize there was no garbage because it's not garbage day." In its annual summary of ISBNs registered for self-published works, Bowker reported that nearly 730,000 were issued in 2015, up from 153,000 in 2010. The numbers cover ISBNs issued for both print and digital formats. The ISBN is a useful way to monitor sales across the supply chain, but works published on a single platform can forgo the identifier and rely on platforms such as Amazon to report performance. Because the creators of many self-published works do not apply for ISBNs, the number of new works published each year is believed to be greater than Bowker is able to report. When the number of self-published works was lower, this gap in the data was something the publishing community could live with. As the number of self-published titles has grown, however, theres a sense that the share of sales for these works is also growing. The debate about the true size of the self-published market continues. Traditional publishers and advocates for independent works have each tried to position the market as more or less tilting their way. To date, weve not seen much of a discussion about why knowing the size of the book market matters. Heres one reason it matters: mobile content discovery and consumption. Pew Researchs recently published study Book Reading 2016 has been widely cited within industry circles for its finding that 28% of the U.S. adults it surveyed had read an e-book in the prior year. That number has held steady since 2014. Traditional publishers, perhaps tired of the constant stream of digital disruption stories, welcome these numbers as a sign of stability. With 65% of those surveyed claiming they read a book in print form, print remains the dominant format for reading. Whats missing from that analysis, though, is how physical and digital books are bought. When Bookstats, a joint effort of the Association of American Publishers and Book Industry Study Group, was disbanded by the organizations themselves after reporting on 2013 sales, online sales of physical and digital formats totaled more than 51% of sales at retail. The share of books purchased online had grown steadily from 2008 through 2013. Even in 2013, it was clear the tipping point had been passed. Online discovery and purchase was the single largest retail channel at that time, and its lead has likely continued to grow. The movement online is increasingly intertwined with mobile devices. Five years ago, tablets and cell phones lagged behind dedicated e-book readers as the device of choice for consuming e-books. In 2016, consumers told Pew that they are now most likely to use tablets and cell phones to read e-books. This shift from dedicated e-readers to multifunction devices offers important opportunities to companies that have been working to develop consumer-facing Web presences, such as HarperCollins. Online access and mobile connectivity provide a chance to develop true first-party relationships, outside of those mediated by online retailers. Those first-party relationships can help publishers personalize offers, identify readers across multiple platforms, and broaden the ways that they reach existing and new audiences. Publishers can again become allies with readers in a market where content abundance is a challenge. As multifunction tablets and cell phones come to dominate the e-reading landscape, they also pose challenges. The threat of substitute products is higher, particularly on devices that are already known for information snacking (or consuming short-form content). The presentation of traditional book content, already challenged on the smaller tablet screens, increasingly must be rethought for still-smaller devices. Taking advantage of these new opportunities requires investments. Thats why the size, shape, and trends of the online marketplace matter. Its not just a debate about traditional versus independent publishing, although that discussion will go on for some time. Understanding the market gives authors and publishers the data needed to inform where and how they spend their time and resources. Using mobile access as a gateway to establish direct relationships is not easy work. But the data we already have show clearly that online purchases and mobile access are overtaking bricks-and-mortar channels. This isnt an argument against sales of physical books in physical bookstores. That channel will continue to serve book publishers well. But the growth in online purchases and consumption gives the publishing community a chance to address another Pew trend: a steady decline in the share of U.S. adults who say they read even one book in the past year. Thats where consistent use of identifiers can generate better sales data, which in turn lets us understand and serve the market. Brian F. OLeary is founder and principal of Magellan Media, a management-consulting firm that works with publishers. Roanhorse Strikes Lightning at Saga Joe Monti at Simon & Schusters Saga Press took world rights to two books by debut author Rebecca Roanhorse, in a preempt, from agent Sara Megibow at KT Literary. The first book under contract, Trail of Lightning, is set on a Navajo reservation in the near future, after the collapse of society. It follows a young Navajo woman who, Megibow said, hunts monsters with the help of an untested medicine man. The book was pitched, she added, as an indigenous Mad Max: Fury Road. Trail of Lightning is scheduled for publication in summer 2018. NBA Finalist Reynolds to Marvel Press In a world rights deal, teen/middle grade novelist Jason Reynolds signed with Marvel Press to write a YA novel featuring the Marvel superhero Miles Morales, who debuted in 2011 and is the first African-American and Puerto Rican character to become Spider-Man. Reynolds, a Coretta Scott King Award winner and National Book Award finalist, was represented by Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties; she brokered the agreement with Emily Meehan, associate publisher at Disney-Hyperion (which Marvel Press is an imprint of). The book is slated for summer 2017. Steiger Takes Her Heart To HC At HarperCollins Kristen Pettit nabbed North American rights to the contemporary YA novel When My Heart Joins the Thousand by A.J. Steiger. Claire Anderson-Wheeler, the Regal Hoffmann & Associates agent who represented Steiger, said the book is about a girl named Alvie with Aspergers syndrome, who falls in love with another young outcast. Alvie must then, Anderson-Wheeler explained, test her strength against a society that doesnt understand her, and a past thats coming back to bite her. Minotaur Re-ups Castillo In a three-book world rights agreement, Linda Castillo signed a new deal with her longtime publisher, Minotaur Books. Andrew Martin, v-p at Minotaur, and executive editor Charles Spicer brokered the deal with Nancy Yost, who has an eponymous shingle. The deal covers three more titles in the authors bestselling Kate Burkholder series, which is set in Amish country; Minotaur has, to date, published eight Burkholder books. Mira Tackles Forever by Hunt In a six-figure deal, Denise Zaza at Mira Books took world English rights to two books by Margot Hunt. The first book in the agreement, Best Friends Forever, is a dark thriller that, the publisher said, explores how powerful the friendships that women form can be, and how devastating it is when those friendships fall apart. Agent Ethan Ellenberg, who has eponymous shingle, represented the author. Norwegian Instagram Sensation Goes to Adams Media Cartoonist Line Severinsen sold a book based on her popular Instagram account to Eileen Mullan at Adams Media. Jennifer Weltz at Jean V. Naggar Literary represented Severinsen in the North American rights deal. The book, Im So Pregnant, is based on the authors Instagram feed, which has more than 130,000 followers and features cartoons about the often-not-so-pleasant side of pregnancy. The book will be, Weltz said, a collection of irreverent cartoons about pregnancy. The author, who is from Norway, has been featured on a number of media outlets, including Mashable and The Doctors. Im So Pregnant is set for publication in May 2017, timed for Mothers Day. Flatiron Nabs Aussies YA Novel Sarah Dotts Barley at Flatiron Books took North American rights to Australian author Shivaun Plozzas Frankie. The publisher called the YA novel darkly funny and genre-hopping; it follows a girl from a gritty suburb of Melbourne who goes looking for answers about her family. The heroine, Flatiron explained, has only one person in her life willing to help [her]a boy with stupidly blue eyes, a criminal record, and plenty of secrets of his own. Barley acquired the title from Allison Hellegers at Rights People, who brokered the deal on behalf of Penguin Random House Australia. Flatiron is planning to publish Frankie in fall 2017. 5:30 p.m. About 100 homes in low-lying areas of the small Linn County town of Palo along the Cedar River have been evacuated. City Clerk Trisca Dix tells The Associated Press that the mandatory evacuation in the town of about 1,000 took place Saturday afternoon before the river was expected to crest Sunday night at 24.5 feet. Mayor Tom Yock told the Des Moines Register that volunteers and work crews scrambled Saturday to protect as much of the town from flooding as possible. Yock said the town, which was devastated by record flooding in 2008, is trying to be more proactive this time around. He says many people moved their belongings to the upper levels of their homes and built sandbag barriers before evacuating. 4:10 p.m. Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and several other state leaders on Saturday toured flood damage in Clarkesville and Shell Rock and assessed flood preparedness plans underway in Cedar Rapids. Branstad was joined by Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Tim Orr and Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Mark Schouten. Branstad and Reynolds also expect to assess flood damage next week. On Friday, Branstad signed a disaster proclamation for 13 northeast Iowa counties affected by flooding. It activates the Iowa National Guard to assist in preparedness and in response when there's damage. 3:30 p.m. Cedar Rapids officials are asking curious residents to stay out of downtown and flooded areas. City Manager Jeff Pomeranz said Saturday that people wanting to get a glimpse of rising Cedar River have been getting in the way of workers trying to protect property. Pomeranz says heavy equipment brought in to build earthen dams and erect flood barriers was hindered Friday because of heavy traffic from gawkers. Officials also don't want traffic from onlookers clogging streets for those trying to evacuate areas around the river before it's expected to crest on Tuesday. 11:10 a.m. Officials have lowered their estimate of where the swollen Cedar River will crest in Cedar Rapids, but they are still asking people to stay out of the Iowa city's downtown on Sunday night. City Manager Jeff Pomeranz said Saturday at a news conference that the river is expected to crest at 24.5 feet on Tuesday, which is nearly a foot below the earlier expected crest of 25.3 feet. Downtown Cedar Rapids is still expected to see flooding that will affect an estimated 1,500 properties. Fire Chief Mark English asked those living in an area outlined on a flood map posted on the city's website to evacuate their homes by 8 p.m. Sunday. A curfew will be in place from then until 7 a.m. Monday. Police chief Wayne Jerman says 73 checkpoints will be set up to ensure that residents and their properties remain safe. ___ 10 a.m. Iowa officials are pleading for volunteers to help fill sandbags and scrambling to erect earthen dams and berms to stave off flooding. Cedar Falls officials issued calls Friday night and Saturday morning for volunteers, ahead of heavy rains forecast for Saturday night. Volunteers have been asked to bring work gloves, appropriate footwear and shovels. Flooding has already forced road closures and evacuations in several communities upstream. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the area, including Waterloo, Waverly, Hampton and Eagle Grove in Iowa. While sunny skies were expected for much of Saturday, the weather service says storms Saturday night into Sunday are expected to bring more heavy rain to the area. Steven Blair, 57, of East Moline, is the winner of the 2016 Ghost Tales contest sponsored by the Col. Davenport Historical Foundation and The Dispatch/The Rock Island Argus. He will read his story at the Ghost Tales program at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, on the grounds of the Col. Davenport House on Arsenal Island. Contest entries were required to be tied to early Quad-Cities area history. Mr. Blair, a reading teacher at Wells Elementary School in East Moline, says of his entry: "Winning the Col. Davenport essay contest is a great honor. I have always been interested in Arsenal Island and its history connected to the Civil War, and this tale reflects that. The two main characters that you will meet are not fictional. They actually could have crossed paths so long ago. One is buried in the Confederate Cemetery in Rock Island, and the other is buried in eastern Iowa. "I have wanted to enter the contest in the past but never could commit to it. But this year, with my wife Amy's support, I gave it a go. She was a big help with the research and editing. Enjoy the story." This is the chilling account of a curse that was placed on my family 152 years ago. We have kept it a secret and only discuss it behind closed doors. But I feel it is now time to bring the occurrences of Oct. 9, 1864, to light. My great-grandfather, Quinn T. Blair, was a fledgling private stationed on the Rock Island Arsenal and assigned to guard the Confederate prisoners. It was a damp and chilly autumn evening. Great-Grandfather was at his post when he noticed a prisoner dashing toward the north edge of the island, attempting to escape. He raised his rifle, steadied and fired. When Great-Grandfather reached the fallen Confederate, his body was half in and half out of the cold Mississippi River. As he turned the body over, the Confederate was still clinging to his last few breaths of life. He was just a boy. He looked no older than Quinn's 16-year-old brother back on the farm. The Confederate spoke these last words, "My name is McDuffie Hastings Byrd. You have killed me. I swear on my mother's tears that I will haunt you and your family for 200 years." Quinn T. Blair dutifully served his time for the Union cause. He retired years later as a sergeant major from the 59th Infantry. He relocated his family to a farm in rural Scott County, Iowa. As I have heard many times, Great-Grandfather lived a tormented life. He succumbed to the agony of his insanity on Oct. 9, 1882, by hanging himself in the family barn. On the main beam next to his limp body, scrawled in black coal, were the initials M.H.B. As you can see, the suicide of my great-grandfather, Quinn T. Blair, came exactly 18 years after McDuffie Hastings Byrd's promise to haunt my family for 200 years. I must remind you, this is not a fictitious paranormal tale. These are truths my loved ones and I live with every day, especially every year on Oct. 9. To follow are just a few of the terrors we have kept secret until today ... Oct. 9, 1902. On the farm in rural Scott County, James Blair was going through old photographs from the attic. A picture labeled "The Family Blair" was lying right on top. It showed the entire family of six, along with a younger cousin, atop a horse. To the fear and astonishment of all, the image of Quinn T. Blair has been replaced by that of a teenage boy in a Confederate uniform. Was it McDuffie Hastings Byrd? Oct. 9, 1934. On a rural road in Henry County, Illinois, James Blair and his wife, Caroline, were traveling from Atkinson to Geneseo for a dinner date with friends. On a sharp "S" curve, James had to suddenly swerve to miss a young man who was standing in the middle of the road. James Blair was killed instantly when the averted car slammed into a tree. In her hospital bed, Caroline Blair described the young man in the road as being dressed in a Confederate uniform. Also, between sobbing tears, she revealed that as the headlight beams brushed the man's face, he was smiling! After a thorough investigation by authorities, it was determined there was not a single person in the area that night besides the Blairs. Was it McDuffie Hastings Byrd? It is painful to tell these truths. Should my family feel shame? Should we feel remorse for McDuffie Hastings Byrd's death? If any other families have been burdened by evils like these, please, please let me know. We desperately need someone to talk to. Doctors turn us away as mere storytellers. Top-notch officials at the Rock Island Arsenal know the facts but refuse to meet with us. This is real! I must continue ... Oct. 9, 1980. This is when it hit close to home for me. I am the great-grandson of Quinn T. Blair, and I was a victim of the terror that McDuffie Hastings Byrd promised so long ago. It was late, maybe 10:30 p.m. My wife and I were asleep. Our 9-month-old daughter, Kimberly, was asleep in her crib in the same room. I was stirred from my sleep by some rustling and creaks coming from the corner of the room around the crib, but I thought nothing of it. Then, the hallway light turned on all by itself. I jumped up and stumbled to take a look, but there was nothing there. As I returned to our room, I clicked on the lamp by the crib. I was a grown man, but I screamed in horrifying fear. Draped across the rail of the crib was a Confederate flag, and next to Kimberly's head on the sheet were penciled the initials M.H.B. She was not touched at all. Why were we spared death that night? McDuffie Hastings Byrd? Kimberly Blair Smith now lives far away and has a daughter of her own. Can she and her family hide from McDuffie Hastings Byrd? I hope so with all my heart. There are 48 years until this promise of fear and terror will come to an end for my family. I have a proposal for you, McDuffie Hastings Byrd. This Oct. 9, 2016, come for me. Come for me with whatever evil plan you have. Come for me, and end this curse early. Do you want an apology? Do you want another Blair dead? I will be waiting ... I will be waiting ... This was difficult to share. The realness of it all came rushing back. As I conclude, I will share with you what goes through my head each night before I slip off to sleep: "My name is McDuffie Hastings Byrd. You have killed me. I swear on my mother's tears that I will haunt you and your family for 200 years." This winning entry will be read at the Col. Davenport Historical Foundations Ghost Tales program at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, on the grounds of the Col. Davenport House on Arsenal Island. Other area storytellers also will be featured at the family-friendly event. Complimentary guided tours of the Col. Davenport House will be offered beginning at 5:30 p.m. Those attending the Ghost Tales event should bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Refreshments will be sold. Admission is $6, $4 for seniors 65 and older, and free for children 12 and younger and for active military members. Proceeds will help preserve the historic Col. Davenport House, which was built in 1833. Attendees age 16 and older must show a U.S. photo ID because the island is a working military facility. Visitors should enter through the Moline gate. For more information, visit davenporthouse.org. An extension of an order of protection was granted in Henry County Circuit Court on Friday for a Cambridge man. The order protects Shawn Johnston, the 31-year-old son of accused murder William Johnston, from his mother's boyfriend, William Favri, 60. Cheryl Johnston died on July 13 at a Davenport hospital from a stab wound incurred at her home in Cambridge. Her husband, William Johnston, Shawn's father, is charged with murder in the case. The order of protection was first granted July 18; this is the second extension. Mr. Favri is prohibited from going within 500 feet of Mr. Johnston's residence. According to the case file, the order of protection was first granted after Shawn Johnston noticed Mr. Favri driving slowly by the Johnson home several times a day. Shawn Johnston also said he found some "clearly forged" letters in the locked home that he believe were placed there by Mr. Favri. A status hearing in the order-of-protection case was set for Nov. 9. William Johnston has a Sept. 30 final pretrial hearing in the murder case; the jury trial is tentatively set for Oct. 24. Almost 50 Illinois counties have filed lawsuits against Democratic Governor, JB Pritzker, and the ill crafted SAFE-T Act. Introduced in the General Assembly by the Illinois Black Caucus, the Act passed the Democratic-led General Assembly in the wee hours of Jan. 13, 2021. Amongst many of its weaknesses and deficiencies, the Act eliminates cash bail, emboldens criminals, and makes it even more difficult for law enforcement to keep offenders off our streets. Public Safety personnel and States Attorneys across our great State have decried the legislation, noting that it was drafted and written with very little constructive input from Public Safety leadership, from either party; potentially impacting every Illinois community with dangerous consequences. Allowing perpetrators to bail out of jail, based on their good word that they will be glad to return to court is laughable, at best, and both ludicrous and dangerous, at worst. Soon after the SAFE-T Act was passed at the State level, the Republican-led Henry County Board drafted a resolution, requesting that the General Assembly repeal and replace the SAFE-T Act with a new criminal justice bill, this time with input from professional law enforcement, States Attorneys from across the State, and other Public Safety officials. We unanimously passed our resolution on May 19, 2022, and encourage all County Boards in Illinois to follow our lead. Our Republican-led Board in Henry County believes we all, Democrats, Independents, and Republicans, deserve effective and fair law enforcement in our communities. 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! The Pardee RAND Graduate School (PardeeRAND.edu) is home to the only Ph.D. and M.Phil. programs offered at an independent public policy research organizationthe RAND Corporation. At the Third Plenum of the 18th Central Committee in November 2013, the Communist Party of China formally announced a series of major reforms[1] to the People's Liberation Army (PLA). So far, those reforms have included a reduction of 300,000 personnel, a reorganization of the former seven Military Regions into five theater commands, and the restructuring of the former four General Departments into 15 smaller organizations that all report directly to the Central Military Commission (CMC). Official media coverage has also detailed an extensive anti-corruption campaign that has led to disciplinary action against dozens of high-ranking PLA officers, as well as plans for an end to fee-based services that had been run by PLA personnel as secondary sources of income. This newest round of reforms has been portrayed as a far-reaching process for both the PLA and Chinese society as a whole. It is expected to last until 2020, and will improve the military's efficiency, warfighting capability, andmost importantly, from the Party's perspectiveits political loyalty. However, the reforms also challenge entrenched interests within the PLA, and could lead to reluctance within the military to adjust to new realities. Nevertheless, the reforms will likely succeed due both to recognition within the PLA of continued weakness in operational capabilities and to the senior Party leadership's ability to co-opt support from various groups within the institution. The Rationale for Reform The main goals of the reforms are to guide the PLA toward the correct political direction of Communist Party control and to improve the PLA's ability to fight and win wars. On January 1, 2016, the CMC released a document explaining the rationale for undertaking the reforms as well as the priority areas for reforming the PLA.[2] According to the Opinion on Deepening the Reform of National Defense and the Armed Forces, the reforms are necessary both for the PLA and for China as a whole. In addition to being the only path forward to transform the military into a modern fighting force, they are also one component of policies designed to help China reach broader national-level goals, which official policy statements have detailed as becoming a moderately prosperous society by 2021 and becoming a modern socialist country by 2049. The main goals of the reforms as described in the Opinion are twofold. The first is to guide the PLA toward the correct political direction of Communist Party control and away from the perceived laxness of the pre-reform PLA, which was seen as corrupt and too opaque for Party leadership to administer. The second is to improve the PLA's ability to fight and win wars. Which Reforms Do We Know About So Far? Organizational. The reforms that have been publicly announced have already had far-ranging effects on the PLA. The main set of reforms includes changes to the relationships among the major bureaucratic organizations within the PLA, which have been newly defined in the Opinion as the CMC manages, the theater commands focus on warfighting, and the services focus on building [the forces]. Several organizational changes have occurred to date. First, the CMC's oversight over the four old General Departments has grown, as their functions were reorganized into 15 bodies that are under its direct control. Previously, many of these organizations reported directly to the General Departments and were thus less visible to the highest level of military leadership. Second, the seven military regions have been renamed and consolidated into five theater commands. These commands have been tasked with developing a more joint command structure, called a joint operations command system, to be used during wartime operations. This contrasts with the former military regions, which were largely ground force-dominated and focused on peacetime administration. Third, the relationships among the services are changing. Prior to the reforms, the PLA Army did not have its own service headquarters, and its administrative functions were carried out by the four General Departments. Partially because of this, and because of the historical dominance of the PLA Army within the PLA over the other services, the General Departments were largely ground force-dominated. In December 2015, however, an Army headquarters was established for the first time, putting the service on an equal footing with others in terms of organizational structure. The Second Artillery Force, which controls China's nuclear and conventional missile forces, was additionally elevated to a service and renamed the Rocket Force (PLARF). Including the Navy and the Air Force, this brings the current number of services to four (the newly created Strategic Support Force, although not a service, will focus on cyber, information and electromagnetic warfare, and likely some areas of space operations). Theoretically, the roles of the services will be changing as well. Although their leadership has traditionally played a role in commanding operations, pursuant to the new guidance the services are supposed to focus on force building, or manning, training, and equipping the armed forces, while the theaters themselves focus on warfighting. Personnel. In recent decades, the PLA has embarked on multiple rounds of personnel reductions, most recently with a 200,000 personnel cut that left roughly 2.3 million troops remaining as of mid-2000s.[3] This latest reduction of 300,000, over half of which will come from demobilizing officers, is expected to be completed by 2017.[4] Although no major reductions have been announced yet, a significant portion of these cuts will likely take place within the PLA Army. A China Daily article on changing trends in military recruitment noted that 24 percent fewer students would be admitted to ground force-related programs of study in military schools in 2016 compared to 2015, while students focusing on aviation, missile, and maritime topics would increase by 14 percent. The number of students focusing on space-, radar-, and drone-related topics was expected to grow by 16 percent.[5] As personnel reductions get underway, reintegrating hundreds of thousands of PLA officers and soldiers into the civilian workforce is a concern for the CPC leadership. As personnel reductions get underway, reintegrating hundreds of thousands of PLA officers and soldiers into the civilian workforce is a concern for the CPC leadership. During a senior leadership meeting earlier this summer, President Xi Jinping noted that finding employment for demobilizing officers is a political task that is closely tied to the PLA's reforms.[6] At a June conference, Liu Yunshan, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee (PBSC), stated that performance criteria for evaluating and promoting government officials, which typically include metrics such as economic growth, should also include their success in finding employment for demobilized officers in their respective jurisdictions.[7] Anti-corruption. The Opinion discusses improvements to PLA regulatory systems that would reduce the corrupt practices publicized in recent years, including bribery and position-buying. In addition, an anti-corruption campaign, primarily focusing on mid- to high-ranking officers within the PLA, has resulted in disciplinary action and/or jail time for dozens of officers.[8] In May 2016, the PLA and the People's Armed Police Force held a meeting in Tianjin where they outlined a pilot plan to shut down fee-based services in non-military fields, such as real estate leasing, medical treatment, publishing, and hospitality services.[9] Lingering Questions As the reforms continue to unfold, the extent to which they have impacted the PLA in some areas remains unknown to outside observers. For most of these, key developments could arise as a result of the 19th Party Congress in late 2017 and the Central Committee plenums leading up to it. Some areas where key questions still remain include trends in the jointness of the theater commands, if any; the relationship between the new commands and supporting organizations; and the role of the CMC as the PLA evolves. First, although the services are now more equal in terms of organizational structure and hierarchy, the new commanders and political commissars of the five theater commands still all come from the ground forces. This implies continued Army dominance within the system. After the current transition leadership of the new theater commands eventually retires, one area to watch will be how Navy and Air Force officers are integrated into the leadership of the commands. Second, the relationship between the theater commands and the Strategic Support Force is also unclear. If the force has operational control of troops, it is not yet known how it will coordinate those operations with the theater commands during wartime. Third, the composition and role of the CMC itself may change as the PLA continues to reform. The CMC's portfolio of organizations over which it has direct oversight has expanded from four to 15, increasing its workload during a period in which it is also developing and enacting major reforms within the PLA. Will the CMC's support staff be augmented to increase its ability to monitor all these organizations? Prior to the reforms, membership of the CMC generally included two vice chairmen, the defense minister, the leaders of the four General Departments, and (since 2004) the PLAN, PLAAF, and PLASAF (now PLARF) commanders. As the relationship among the services, theater commands, and other organizations evolves, the CMC's membership is likely to shift as well.[10] Implications The wide scope of initiatives included in the reforms raises questions about how long they will take to implement, how likely they are to succeed, and their overall impact on the PLA's capabilities. The timeline the PLA set to complete the reforms by 2020 is ambitious, and though formal structures and procedures are likely to be in place by then, efforts to improve warfighting capabilities and dismantle corruption networks will likely continue beyond that date. The reforms challenge a number of entrenched interests within the PLA, which may incentivize members of the military to resist them or find loopholes to blunt the changes already underway. The reforms additionally challenge a number of entrenched interests (both corrupt and bureaucratic) within the PLA, which may incentivize members of the military to resist them or find loopholes to blunt the changes already underway. PLA officers who personally benefited from running fee-based services or engaging in other corrupt practices may oppose efforts to clean up the system. On the bureaucratic front, resistance to change may stem from inertia or power struggles within a large government organization, but may also reflect concerns about how the new system will work in practice. For example, the service headquarters will be focused on manning, training, and equipping their respective services, while the five new theater commands have been tasked with leading military operations. It is unclear, however, how decision-making that affects both the service and the theater commands will be coordinated with respect to acquisitions, training, and resource allocations. One commentary by a PLA officer expressed concern that the services may pursue force modernization that is not relevant to warfighting requirements, while the theater commands may not understand restrictions placed on the services due to personnel or costs. These concerns may indicate that the process for negotiating interactions between the theater commands and the services on these issues has not yet been developed.[11] Despite these incentives to push back, however, the reforms will likely succeed overall due to recognition within the PLA of continued weakness in operational capabilities and the senior Party leadership's ability to co-opt various groups within the PLA. In the first group are officers who either want to play a role in creating a more capable fighting force, or hope to advance their careers by implementing new policiesor a mix of the two. In the second are senior officers who have benefited from the pre-reform system and have been placated by being allowed to hold on to their current privileged status until they retire.[12] In the third group, influential senior officers who might otherwise resist the reforms, the threat of investigations, trials, or even worse fates that have befallen disgraced colleagues may prove persuasive enough for a majority to fall in line. Both PLA sources and senior Party leadership, including President Xi, have emphasized the importance of PLA reforms for carrying out military modernization and realizing broader goals for the Chinese nation. Whether or not the reform program meets the stated goal of 2020, Western observers' understanding of the success and implications of many of the proposed changes will depend on close examination of them, particularly as the lead-up to the 19th Party Congress gets underway. Successful, substantive reforms, ones which go beyond official propaganda, will be those that show significant progress not only in traditional benchmarks (such as the development and fielding of new systems), but also in how the PLA approaches joint operations, and in the training, personnel recruitment and retention, and professionalization required of a modern military. Endnotes Cristina Garafola is a project associate at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation. She contributed a chapter to Chinas Evolving Military Strategy (2016) and has also published in the Journal of Strategic Studies, the European Council on Foreign Relations China Analysis and the Jamestown Foundations China Brief. She holds a masters degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a certificate from the Hopkins-Nanjing Center for Chinese and American Studies. This commentary originally appeared in Defense Dossier on September 22, 2016. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. Had Syria's ceasefire agreement not collapsed on Monday, the United States and Russia would have begun coordinating air operations against terrorist groups there. It's time to put that plan to rest once and for all. A year ago, Russia intervened militarily in Syria to back the Assad regime. Moscow's move changed the equation on the ground and raised the risk that the United States and Russia could end up in a shooting war neither Washington nor Moscow wanted. In hope of reducing risks and getting Russia's broader cooperation in ending the war, the United States proposed direct cooperation with Russia against Syria's two main major terrorist groups the Islamic State and al-Qaida-linked Jabhat Fatah Al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusrah). Anything that can be done to end the catastrophic war in Syria deserves serious consideration. Russia may need to play a role down the line in securing a peace agreement. But as two botched airstrikes this week indicate, counter-terrorism cooperation with Russia is just too risky and probably wasn't feasible in the first place. There's just too little faith between the two countries for meaningful cooperation in this area. On Tuesday, Russian warplanes apparently struck a UN convoy loaded with humanitarian aid for the suffering people of Aleppo. Russia denies culpability, and the attack was likely an accident.... The remainder of this commentary is available on nationalinterest.org. Christopher S. Chivvis is associate director of the RAND Corporation's International Security and Defense Policy Center. This commentary originally appeared on The National Interest on September 23, 2016. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. As the new season of Spains Teatro Real opera has kicked off, Hispasat is to start live broadcasting opera and theatre across Spain, and time-shifted for Latin America. Othello will the first opera to be shown live in a number of public squares, museums and cultural centres in 80 cities throughout Spain. It will also be recorded and transported by Hispasat to be shown later in Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela.Othello is also the second Teatro Real production to be broadcast by Hispasat as part of a partnership for the royal theatres 200th anniversary which was inked less than a year ago. The agreement set forth the satellite operators provision of space capacity to the live satellite broadcast of several shows that the theatre will offer for this celebration.During the last year, Hispasat has also been part of a Teatro Real project for Ultra HD satellite-DTT broadcast, which also relied on RTVE, Cellnex, Albala Ingenieros, Kinepolis, Huri, Ovide, EVS, Dolby, Ericsson, Samsung, Abacanto Soluciones, SAPEC, Hewlett Packard and ATEME. The recent informal EU summit in Bratislava, Slovakia, was supposed to demonstrate solidarity and kick-start the post-Brexit reform process. But instead of displaying unity, the meeting revealed only further division. Property details: Begin investing in affordable land!! no payments! Bids start at $1 SELLING REGARDLESS-HIGHEST BID WILL OWNRELISTED BECAUSE OF NON PAYMENT The housing market is forecast to accelerate! Get your parcel of land now! they are not making any more of it. Phoenix Metro Small lot located directly behind a paper store. Quiet residential area. Currently zoned R5 and a total of 977 square feet. Although it is smaller you should be able to find some creative use for it. Call zoning authorities to see what i... Price: $ 2,850 Seller State of Residence: California Property Address: N 13th & W Monterrosa State/Province: Arizona City: Phoenix Type: Other Zoning: R5 Zip/Postal Code: 85013 Location: 850**, Phoenix, Arizona You will be redirected to eBay Nearby 85013 Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate , We're sorry, this article is not currently available As the year transitions into its final quarter, 2016 has presented several instances where relations between police and communities have been marred by racial discrimination and use of excessive force, leaving some wary of law enforcement. Courtesy of Dave Jacobs Professional Guide Service Pictured this week is guide Dave Jacobs and Bart Racca of Livermore with a bright Sacramento River fall king salmon caught this week on a guided salmon fishing trip with Dave Jacobs Professional Guide Service. SHARE Sacramento River salmon Fishing for Sacramento River salmon showed some signs of improvement this week. There is no doubt this salmon season has been way below average, yet there are some really nice salmon showing. More salmon are rolling around and there have been some good hook-ups this week river-wide. King salmon have been caught from Knights Landing up to the famed Barge Hole near Anderson-Balls Ferry. The salmon look mostly like three- and four-year old kings as many have been large to 30 pounds. Best bets have been using sardine-wrapped Brad's Killer Fish plugs in the KF-16 sizes and drifting/back bouncing roe/puffball combos throughout the day. The bite slowed on Friday as the Sacramento River flows dropped. The king salmon run should carry well into October. Feather River salmon The very good Feather River salmon fishing has continued and limit-style salmon fishing has been happening daily this week. The best fishing has been in and around the Outlet Hole near Oroville. The holes and runs below the Outlet Hole have also produced a mix of fresh and dark king salmon. The best bites have been coming on sardine-wrapped plugs and roe/puffball combos. The good fishing has been happening for both the bank and the boat fishermen in the Outlet Hole every day this week. Flows have dropped on the Feather, but the great salmon fishing bite has continued. This weeks Sacramento and Feather River salmon fishing reports are courtesy of Dave Jacobs Professional Guide Service. For more local salmon fishing information on Northern Californias rivers call guide Dave Jacobs direct at (530) 646-9110 or visit the website at www.sacramentofishing.com. Mike Daly/Special to the Record Searchlight A home burns in Cottonwood on Friday evening. SHARE Firefighters on Friday afternoon extinguished a house fire on First Street in Cottonwood. The fire apparently started in the attic and crews made good progress once they arrived at the scene, according to a spokesperson with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The fire was reported at 4:38 p.m. and crews had it under control about an hour later. Traffic closures were ordered on First Street between Smith Bottom Road and Memory Lane while crews fought the blaze. SHARE Day by day, we learn more about a growing forest of red flags that alerted federal law enforcement agencies to scrutinize New York bombing suspect Ahmad Rahami. Among those forehead-slapping clues: Rahami allegedly assembled his bomb-making materials in plain sight "ordering components on eBay, having them delivered to a New Jersey business where he worked, and even testing some of the material in his family's backyard," The Wall Street Journal reports. There's a cellphone video of a blast in that backyard, two days before investigators say Rahami put a series of bombs in New York and New Jersey. The video shows a black, partially buried container exploding in flames "followed by billowing smoke and laughter." Yes, laughter. It's frustrating that none of these blindingly obvious clues helped the feds avert last weekend's bombings in New York and New Jersey. The only lucky break in this case is that, miraculously, no one was killed. Cases like these are particularly unsettling to Americans because suspects aren't plotting in soundproof, airtight rooms deep underground. They're going about their terrorist planning chores out in the open. They travel to Syria or other terrorist hot spots to pursue jihad. They extol Islamic State on the internet, pledging allegiance to a savage cause that preys on the weak and innocent. They alarm friends and family with increasingly radical words and deeds. Rahami's father, for instance, shared with federal agents his concerns that this son could be involved in terrorism. And in many cases, these suspects come up on the radar of federal authorities. In 2014, Rahami was flagged for federal scrutiny when he returned from a nearly yearlong trip to Pakistan, The New York Times reports. Federal agents examined his travel history and Rahami's father's concerns over his son's increasingly violent behavior. But federal authorities apparently believed the case merited no deeper scrutiny. Don't get us wrong. We're not second-guessing feds or local police in this case. We're sure the FBI and other law enforcement agents sift through heaps of similar leads that yield nothing. The feds can't surveil everyone who may pose a threat. And they can't stop every attack. That's a given. But that's not a white flag. In Monday night's presidential debate, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will be asked about the Rahami case and the other terrorist attacks in Europe. Those attacks may be organized and executed by different people, but in one important respect they are not disconnected. They're part of the same Islamic State-inspired terrorism campaign. We hope to hear more from the candidates about what the U.S. can do to fortify its defenses, and to help its allies abroad. What new ideas do they have to battle this evolving threat? How would they demolish Islamic State in Syria and Iraq? What is an acceptable time frame in which to achieve that? Months? Years? Decades? How would they beef up law enforcement's ability to detect and thwart attacks? Do they think last year's congressional restrictions on the government's sweeping anti-terrorism surveillance powers play into this case? Or was there something more basic, more telling, in the failure of the feds to anticipate and intercept this plot before it fully hatched? This fight, at home and abroad, doesn't end when President Barack Obama leaves office in January. It will be President Clinton's fight. Or President Trump's. Our next president's most urgent and difficult task will be to build America's arsenal of weapons cyber and otherwise to deal with an elusive enemy that often hides in plain sight. Clinton, Trump, no more talking points about resolve and revenge. Monday night, pitch forward. What would you do? This editorial originally was published in the Chicago Tribune. SHARE While not excited about Hillary Clinton, I can't support an unstable, uninformed, world-class narcissist like Donald Trump. Most disturbing is that Trump is a consistent liar. It's factually wrong that many Americans think that Trump is more honest and trustworthy than Clinton. In fact-checking campaign statements, Politifact has found that Trump makes false, or "pants on fire," statements 53 percent of the time versus 13 percent for Clinton. Hillary's true and mostly true statements are rated 51 percent versus Trump's 15 percent! Among Trump's whoppers: The five-year racist birther lie about President Obama not being an American and then blaming that lie on Clinton; lying about his not supporting the Iraq War and toppling Libya's Gaddafi, lying that 81 percent of murdered white people are killed by black people when it's really 84 percent of murdered white people are murdered by other white people; lying about Obama and Clinton wanting to take in 250,000 from Syria when it's really 10,000 refugees who are vetted over two years. When Trump uses the frequent phase, "Believe me" it's a clue that he just told a lie or is about to tell a lie. Can you trust a billionaire with a history of ripping off blue-collar workers and businesses, investors and Trump University students and lying about his personal wealth or personal donations he has made to charity? Where's the beef of his tax returns? Is it a lie that Trump is being audited by the IRS? Trump hasn't even produced letters from the IRS that show he's being audited. Trump's too risky and dangerous for America. While Hillary's far from perfect, she's at least competent, emotionally steady and stable, has well-informed detailed plans and strategies, and has a work life committed to America's families and children. Please, don't be conned by Trump. Brad Seiser lives in Palo Cedro. At 235,000 tonnes per annum, Pakistan is the third largest importer of tea in the world as it cant grow tea because of adverse climate conditions. India supplies just about a tenth of tea imported the neighbouring country Despite rising political tension, sections of businesses continue being bullish on India-Pakistan trade relations. An example of this was seen in Ooty on Friday, far from the line of control where counter-infiltration operations were in full swing, where representatives of Pakistan Tea Association (PTA) said tea export from India could double if the supply of quality tea improves. The 11-member delegation was led by Mohammad Shakeel Jan, chairman, PTA, to the Indian International Convention 2016, organised by The United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI) and Tea Board of India. Jan said tea businesses were not concerned with political issues but with trade, which can strengthen the relationship between the two countries. At 235,000 tonnes per annum, Pakistan is the third largest importer of tea in the world as it cant grow tea because of adverse climate conditions. India supplies just about a tenth of tea imported the neighbouring country. In the early 80s, India was the biggest source of tea for Pakistan. However, India had put a ban on exports to meet the domestic demand. Tea exports started again in 2000 but the volumes did not pick up because of factors like lack of quality supply, said Mohammad Afzal, managing director, Usmania Traders in Karachi. A lot of exporters from India cancelled the letters of credit (LCs) and this resulted in a huge loss for Pakistani companies. They started looking at Kenya as an alternative, said a PTA representative. Today, at 72.94 million-kg, Pakistan is the largest importer of Kenyan tea. He said, while Kenyan sellers are giving 30-40 days credit facilities, without bank guarantees, Indian exporters dont give this facility to Pakistani importers. Abdul Majeed Paracha of Orient Traders from Karachi said quality was the biggest concern. For example, Indian tea has around 15 variants at the production stage, whereas it is uniform in Kenya. Our people have got used to the Kenyan taste, which is stable, said Paracha, adding that cost was also an issue. In 2005-06, Pakistans tea import from India was 9.5-million kg and its value was around $9.7 million. It decreased to 5.7-million kg in 2007-08, before increasing to 8.3-million kg in 2009-10 and 18.8-million kg in 2012-13. In 2015-16, it again dropped to 17.3-million kg. Average price of Indian tea increased to $1.43 a kg in 2015-16 from $1.02 a kg in 2005-06. Photograph: Jayanta Dey/Reuters 'Make no mistake, depriving water deliberately to a nation of 190 million people is a repugnant idea.' 'The world community won't forgive us,' warns Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar. Yashwant Sinha, dissident par excellence in the Bharatiya Janata Party, seldom misses an opportunity to embarrass the Narendra Modi government. And the fact of the matter is that he not only has an erudite mind and is articulate, but also has the wit to spot the Achilles heel of our besieged prime minister at any given time. Sinha, unsurprisingly, takes the most hawkish position conceivable on how India ought to retaliate against Pakistan over the attack on army base in Uri. His opinion piece in the Indian Express two days ago espousing 'jaw-for-tooth' will delight the RSS and Hindu nationalist constituency but hits Modi where it hurts, who is, of course, in the unhappy position of being accountable for his fateful decisions, some of which can even cause the loss of a million innocent Indian lives. Amongst Sinha's hard-hitting suggestions to teach Pakistan a lesson, he suggests: While the military response is being worked out, the government should: abrogate the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan with immediate effect. Treaty terms are observed between friends, not enemies. Pakistan is an enemy State of India. India will, therefore, be fully justified in abrogating the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan. To be sure, having been India's external affairs minister, Sinha isn't unaware why South Block never pursued such a bright idea to 'punish' Pakistan. But our 'hawks' of the Sangh Parivar with their tunnel vision may not know that although the Indus Waters Treaty is, strictly speaking, a bilateral covenant, it was negotiated behind the scenes by a third party -- the United States -- which even today takes pride that the covenant survived the ravages of time in the subsequent tortuous 55-year history of our subcontinent, since it was signed in Karachi in 1960. The sharing of waters between India and Pakistan was an idea that originally occured to a brilliant American mind, David Eli Lilienthal, who once headed the Tennessee Valley Authority in the US (which was created by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during the Great Depression for comprehensive development of the Tennessee Valley, especially for creating jobs through public investment). Suffice it to say, the Indus Waters Treaty showcased the US' commitment to assist the modernisation of agrarian societies. Lilienthal also had a strange weakness for our impoverished subcontinent whose acute problems of poverty somehow obsessed him. He later recounted in his journal: 'India and Pakistan were on the verge of war over Kashmir. There seemed to be no possibility of negotiating this issue until tensions abated. One way to reduce hostility... would be to concentrate on other important issues where cooperation was possible.' 'Progress in these areas would promote a sense of community between the two nations which might, in time, lead to a Kashmir settlement.' 'Accordingly, I proposed that India and Pakistan work out a program jointly to develop and jointly to operate the Indus Basin river system, upon which both nations were dependent for irrigation water.' 'With new dams and irrigation canals, the Indus and its tributaries could be made to yield the additional water each country needed for increased food production... I had suggested that the World Bank might use its good offices to bring the parties to agreement, and help in the financing of an Indus Development programme.' What a beautiful mind Lilienthal had! American pundits flag the 1960 Treaty as a golden moment vindicating that international mediation can actually work in resolving India-Pakistan issues. To be sure, Modi cannot but be aware that he can find no better way of causing annoyance to 'Friend Barack' (who is, by the way, a staunch believer in America's exceptionalism) than by erasing the finest moment in the chronicle of the untiring US mediatory efforts through several decades to navigate India-Pakistan relations away from the brink of war to cold peace. Simply put, it is a no-go area for the Modi government, which is wedded to the bandwagon with the US in Asia. This is one thing. Second, do the ilk of Sinha realise what impact such an act on our part will create in the minds of the international community? Do they really want Modi to be compared with Kim Jong-un, who, according to a newspaper with close ties to the Chinese Communist Party, once stripped naked his powerful uncle who fell out of favour, threw him into a cage to be eaten alive by a pack of ravenous dogs? Make no mistake, depriving water deliberately to a nation of 190 million people is a repugnant idea. It sucks. The world community won't forgive us. Besides, what would India's small neighbours think? A maverick country arouses negative feelings. How could Sri Lanka be sure that India would not abrogate the Kachativu Agreement? How far can Bangladesh be complacent that the land boundary agreements with India are the last word? Third, importantly, as the Bible says, 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' If we do this to Pakistan, we also forfeit our claim to expect or demand from China similar prerogatives, as Pakistan has enjoyed under the Indus Waters Treaty. Simply put, India will be creating a bad precedent. And, that will be exceedingly foolish, considering our very heavy dependence on waters flowing into our Hindi heartland from rivers that originate in Tibet. Above all, our folks do not realise that this entire repugnant discourse has a moral dimension to it. We seem to be no more cognisant that once upon a time we belonged to a culture, where, according to the Bhagavata Purana, Kuchela gave away the beaten rice to Krishna, and the Lord savoured every grain. 'In the last 55 years India and Pakistan have gone to wars, but nobody spoke about scrapping the Indus Waters Treaty.' IMAGE: A child stands near the Chenab river with the Baglihar hydroelectric project in Jammu and Kashmir. Photograph: Amit Gupta/Reuters The hawks in India feel Pakistan needs to be punished post the Uri attacks. Since war is unlikely, eyes are turning towards the over five-decade-old Indus Waters Treaty . The treaty, signed in 1960, has been the most successful treaty between India and Pakistan lining out the water sharing arrangement between the two nations. Dr Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, head of the earth sciences, geology and geophysics departments, University of Kashmir, explained to Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf why it is not possible to scrap the Indus Waters Treaty. There is a view that India needs to scrap the Indus Waters Treaty and cut off water supply to Pakistan. Is that possible? People who talk about scrapping this treaty have no technical understanding. I don't think it can be done. India is an emerging power and it is aspiring to become a permanent member of the United Nation Security Council, so I don't think you can scrap an international bilateral treaty which also involved the World Bank. In this treaty we have divided six rivers. Three rivers on the eastern front are given to India. On the western side three rivers have been given exclusively to Pakistan. This is a win-win situation. Both countries are happy and this is why the treaty has been working so well for the last 56 years. Will the World Bank step in if India abrogates this treaty? For many reasons it is not possible. Both countries are happy about this treaty. There are so many trans-boundary rivers in the world and countries have to find a mechanism to share water. All over the world the Indus Waters Treaty is referred as our most successful treaty. In the last 55 years India and Pakistan have gone to wars in 1965 then 1971 and Kargil too, but nobody spoke in past about scrapping this treaty. At this moment we are sharing water with Bangladesh and Nepal too. If we scrap this treaty we will scare these countries as well. So you should check out who is talking about scrapping this treaty. These are military generals or hawks. I don't think officially this is India's position. Vikas Swarup, the ministry of external affairs spokesperson, hinted at this. He said treaties depend on goodwill. That is what he said. That's all. And that is a fact. India and Pakistan are in conflict over Kashmir and you can't open another front. I don't think we can afford to do that now. There is lot of insecurity in Pakistan too because they feel India is controlling the water despite the fact that this treaty is running very well. I have not heard anyone in Pakistan talking about scrapping this treaty because I believe they cannot get anything better than this treaty. There is a belief that scrapping this treaty would teach Pakistan a lesson. Technically, it is not possible. Even if you put infrastructure to do so, it will take you 10 to 15 years to build (canals to divert the water). J&K is a mountainous state and you will have to build canals to take the water out of the state. Can you explain how many rivers flow from India to Pakistan? There are six rivers. On the eastern front we have the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi for which rights have been given exclusively to India in the treaty. On the western front we have the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. The rights of these rivers are given to Pakistan except the fact that some water is used from these rivers for J&K for the purpose of hydropower generation, for domestic use and for agriculture. The rest of the water is released to Pakistan. What can be the implications for Pakistan if we stop the water? You cannot do that and let us assume we stop the water supply for the sake of argument. Where would the water go? We do not have infrastructure to store this water. We have not build dams in J&K where we can store the water. And being a mountainous state, unlike Tamil Nadu or Karnataka, you cannot move water to another state. So you cannot stop water technically. Take another example of water flowing from Uttarakhand or Himachal Pradesh. We do not leave this water to Pakistan, but use it in Rajasthan. Will there be flooding in India if we stop the river waters from entering Pakistan? Yes, the Kashmir valley will flood as will Jammu. You just don't have the storage capacity. We never developed diversion canals which could have taken this water to some other state. In Kashmir you do not need too much water for irrigation purposes. If you look at the Indus Waters Treaty, India is entitled to store water, but has failed to develop that infrastructure in J&K. The People's Democratic Party, which currently rules Jammu and Kashmir, has always stated that J&K suffers losses because of the Indus Waters Treaty. That is a different aspect. If you see this treaty you will find that the people of J&K can use the water for non-consumption. We can use it for electricity. We cannot have dam projects. Even the National Conference had argued that this treaty was negotiated during 1960 and that the people of J&K were not taken into confidence and their government should be given compensation. These political parties were objecting because there are several restrictions on the usage of water. What is the role of the Indus commissioner? This treaty has set up a very good grievances redressal mechanism. Each country has its commissioner. If there is a dispute these two commissioners meet to sort out the problem. If they cannot reach an agreement, then they go to the foreign secretary level and failing that, the government. If the problem is not solved there as well, then they go to a neutral expert. That neutral expert panel is decided by these two countries. In the past neutral experts were from Europe and the US. Now even if they fail, then the issue goes to the International Court of Justice. Recently, we went to a neutral expert for the Kishanganga project in J&K where the decision went in India's favour. However, on appeal, the case went to the court of arbitration where the decision went in Pakistan's favour. Defeated Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz on Friday endorsed Donald Trump in the race for the White House. Cruz said he would fulfil his promise to vote for the Republican nominee and that electing Hillary Clinton would be "wholly unacceptable". "This election is unlike any other in our nation's history. Like many other voters, I have struggled to determine the right course of action in this general election," Cruz announced in a Facebook post. "After months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump," he added. Trump responded to Cruz's post by saying he was "greatly honoured" to have the endorsement of "a tough and brilliant opponent". The Texas senator fought Trump in a bitter primary battle, marked by mud-slinging and personal insults. He drew ire at the Republican National Convention in July, when he was booed off stage for not endorsing Trump. Photograph: Ted Cruz/Facebook United States US President Barack Obama has vetoed a bill that would have allowed the families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia, fearing that the move could have serious implications for America's national interests. The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act or JASTA bill, passed by both the chambers of the Republican controlled Congress, would have jeopardized the long standing international principles regarding sovereignty and would have made adverse impact with US interests and nationals overseas, Obama said. He stressed that the bill departs from longstanding standards and practice under US Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and threatens to strip all foreign governments of immunity from judicial process in the country based solely upon allegations by private litigants that a foreign government's overseas conduct had some role or connection to a group or person that carried out a terrorist attack inside the United States. "This would invite consequential decisions to be made based upon incomplete information and risk having different courts reaching different conclusions about the culpability of individual foreign governments and their role in terrorist activities directed against the United States," Obama said. "It is neither an effective nor a coordinated way for us to respond to indications that a foreign government might have been behind a terrorist attack," he added. Fearing its consequences, the US President said JASTA would upset longstanding international principles regarding sovereign immunity, putting in place rules that, if applied globally, could have serious implications for the country's national interests and it can even complicate relations with its closest partners. "If JASTA were enacted, courts could potentially consider even minimal allegations accusing US allies or partners of complicity in a particular terrorist attack in the United States to be sufficient to open the door to litigation and wide-ranging discovery against a foreign country," Obama said. Justifying his decision, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Obama is much more worried about the long-term impact of this legislation on the US national security as compared to his daily interactions with members of the Congress. "This is the president that ordered the operation to take Osama bin Laden off the battlefield. This is the president who time and again advocated for legislation that provided health care to recovery workers at Ground Zero, even in the face of some Republican opposition to that," Earnest said. "And this is the president who time and time again has spoken movingly about the impact that 9/11 has had on our country and the way that those who lost loved ones on 9/11 serve as a daily inspiration to the president and to Americans across the country and exhibiting the kind of resolve and resiliency that's unique to this country," he said. The secretary said the bill, if signed into law, would open up potentially US service members and US diplomats to being hauled into court under spurious charges or claims in a way that would force the United States to expend significant resources and in some cases diplomatic capital to go and defend them. "We also make a strong case that the most effective way for the United States to confront state sponsors of terrorism is to level a government-wide designation against them and take appropriate steps, including sanctions, to isolate them from the United States and the rest of the international community, that that is a forceful way to compel them to stop supporting terrorism," he said. Slamming the veto decision, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, "President Obama's veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act is shameful and will go down as one of the low points of his presidency". "This bipartisan legislation was passed unanimously by both houses of Congress and would have allowed the families of nearly 3,000 people slaughtered by radical Islamic terrorists on September 11, 2001, the opportunity to seek justice in an American court of law," he said. Trump said Obama would deny the parents, spouses and children of those we lost on that horrific day the chance to close this painful chapter in their lives is a disgrace. These are wonderful people, and as a lifelong New Yorker, I am saddened that they will, for now, not have that opportunity, he said. "If elected president, I would sign such legislation should it reach my desk," Trump said. Pakistan has cancelled a trade exhibition which was scheduled to be held next month in India, amid heightened tension between the two neighbours in the aftermath of the terror attack in Uri. Due to current situations between Pakistan and India which are beyond TDAP's control, the event planned for 2016 has been called off, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan said in a statement on Friday. The third edition of Aalishaan Pakistan exhibition was scheduled to be held in October in New Delhi. Reacting to the development, the Press Attache in Pakistan high commission in New Delhi said, Yes the environment here is not conducive for such an event. We have seen in the past how right wing parties reacted to such Pakistan events. The latest move by MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) against Pak artistes is a point in case. The TDAP was already working on holding the trade show after the success of similar exhibitions held earlier in 2012 and 2014. The exhibition was meant to promote bilateral trade between the two countries and bring buyers and sellers together on one platform, the Express Tribune reported. For the two countries, bilateral trade amounted to Rs 206 billion during July-May of the last fiscal year, of which Rs 42 billion was exported by Pakistan and Rs 162 billion by India. Meanwhile, Mumbai police issued a notice to MNS Amay Khopkar asking him not to get involved in any act which can cause disturbance in public. MNS had on Friday threatened Pakistani artists to leave Mumbai within 48 hours or they will throw them out. Terrorists should hear out clearly that India will never forget the Uri attack, says PM in first public address since the attack. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing public rally at the BJP National council meeting at Kozhikode on Saturday. Photograph: PTI Photo Launching a blistering attack on Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday warned its leadership that the Uri terror attack will not be forgotten and the sacrifice of 18 jawans will not go in vain. In his first public address after last Sundays deadly attack by terrorists from across the border, he said India will mount an all out offensive to isolate Pakistan diplomatically to expose its activities in exporting terror, killing of innocent people and spilling blood. Terrorists should hear out clearly that India will never forget the Uri attack.... I want to tell the leadership of Pakistan that the sacrifice of our 18 jawans will not go in vain, Modi told a largely-attended public meeting on the Kozhikode beach, held on the sidelines of the Bharatiya Janata Party national council meet. I accept this challenge. I want to tell you that India wants to fight with Pakistan. If you have the courage, then why not fight to end poverty, unemployment, illiteracy. Let us see which country wins, India or Pakistan Modi held Pakistan directly responsible for the Uri attack saying the country exported terrorists there due to which 18 soldiers sacrificed their lives. The prime minister said there is one nation in Asia whose aim is to spread terrorism and is working towards ensuring that the 21st century does not belong to Asia. Every nation is holding only one country responsible for terrorism. Only one country in Asia is safe haven for terrorists. This is the only country engaged in exporting terror across the world. Be it Afghanistan, Bangladesh or other nations, we have seen whenever the news of terror incidents comes, terrorists have either gone from this country (Pakistan) or have settled there after committing the crime, he said. The Prime Minister said India had never bowed to terror and will never do so in future and will strive to defeat it. Modi said there were 17 attempts by fidayen attackers sent by the neighbouring country which have been defeated by the brave Indian soldiers who have neutralised over 110 terrorists which is the highest in recent years. Terrorism is enemy of humanity. Humanitarians all over the world have to unite and condemn terror, he said. He assured the countrymen that India was safe and 125 crore people take pride in valour and bravery of its soldiers and security personnel. The leaders of the neighbouring country who read out scripts written by terrorists are singing the Kashmir song. Today from here, I want to talk to people of Pakistan directly. I want to remind them that before 1947, your forefathers had saluted this land. The leaders of the neighbouring country who read out scripts written by terrorists are singing the Kashmir song. Today from here, I want to talk to people of Pakistan directly. I want to remind them that before 1947, your forefathers had saluted this land. "You should ask your leaders why they were not able to handle PoK, erstwhile Bangladesh, Pakhtunistan, Gilgit and Balochistan and were trying to mislead you by talking about Kashmir, Modi said. The prime minister said, Pakistans public should ask its leaders as to why despite getting Independence together what is the reason India exports software and Pakistan exports terrorism. Lashing out at the neighbouring country, he said its leaders used to say that they will fight for 1,000 years with India and wondered where they are now. I accept this challenge. I want to tell you that India wants to fight with Pakistan. If you have the courage, then why not fight to end poverty, unemployment, illiteracy. Let us see which country wins, India or Pakistan, he said. He said his government will strive hard to end poverty and make India prosperous as envisioned by Jan Sangh founder Deen Dayal Upadhyay whose centenary celebration starts on Sunday. Earlier, Modi asserted that the sacrifices of Bharatiya Janata Party workers in Kerala will not go in vain and will bear fruit even as party president Amit Shah claimed that the saffron outfit will form the next government in the state. Referring to the big crowd at a party rally, Modi sought to link it with its increasing strength in a state where it has mostly been a minor player before emerging as a force to reckon by garnering near 15 per cent votes in the last assembly polls. In Kerala, workers of Bharatiya Jan Sangh and BJP have sacrificed their lives. Their martyrdom inspires party workers in the rest of the country. Their sacrifice and sufferings will not go in vain, Modi said. A Dalit family, including a pregnant woman, was allegedly assaulted at Karja village in Gujarats Banaskantha district after the members refused to dispose of a cow carcass, police said on Saturday. Six persons were arrested under the Indian Penal Code and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, police added. According to the first information report lodged by Nilesh Ranwasia, a group of around 10 people from Darbar community attacked his family including his pregnant wife Sangeeta last night after the family refused to dispose of the carcass. Six persons including Sangeeta and two other women sustained injuries. While Sangeeta was admitted to Palanpur civil hospital, Nilesh and others who had minor injuries were discharged after first aid, police said. Police immediately rushed to the village and within hours six accused were arrested, Banaskantha Superintendent of Police Neeraj Badgujar said. The arrested persons were identified as Batawarsinh Chauhan, 26, Maknusinh Chauhan, 21, Yogisinh Chauhan, 25, Bavarsinh Chauhan, 45, Dilvirsinh Chauhan, 23, and Naredrasinh Chauhan, 23. As tension prevailed in the village, police tightened security and intensified patrolling, Badgujar said. We have provided protection to the Dalit families in the village and are doing our best to maintain peace and harmony among various communities, he said. Protests had roiled Gujarat recently after some Dalit youths were beaten up at Una by cow vigilantes. In the aftermath of the incident, the community pledged not to skin dead cows, a traditional occupation of a section of Dalits. Image for representation only. Russia has rubbished reports that its troops will be holding joint military exercises with Pakistani forces in Gilgit Baltistan, which is a part of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and clarified the anti-terror drills will take place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. The denial came as Russian troops arrived in Islamabad on Friday for the first-ever joint exercises with Pakistani forces. The exercise begins from Saturday under the name Friendship-2016 and reflects growing military ties between the two countries. Deputy Director of Information and Press Department Yury Materiy said that Russia holds such military drills with other countries of the region as well. On September 23, Indra-2016 joint Russian-Indian anti-terror exercise started at Sergeyevsky training ground in the Primorye Territory, he added. In a statement from the Russian embassy in New Delhi on Friday, Russia said that contrary to some reports appearing in a section of the press, the Russia-Pakistan anti-terror exercise is not being held and will not be held in any point of so-called Azad Kashmir, or in any other sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit and Baltistan. The statement added the only venue of the exercise is Cherat, referring to a place in Kyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Russian embassy added that all reports alleging the drills taking place at the High Altitude Military School in Rattu are erroneous and mischievous. Photographs: @AsimBajwaISPR/Twitter The death toll in the Washington mall shooting rose to 5 after aa victim who was taken to Harborview passed away. Earlier, four women were killed in the shooting at a mall in the US state of Washington with the gunman described as a Hispanic male still at large. Police are searching for one shooter and are sweeping stores in the Cascade mall, Sergeant Mark Francis said about the shooting in Burlington, about a 100 km north of Seattle. IMAGE: Authorities are pictured at the Cascade Mall following reports of an active shooter in Burlington, Washington. Photograph: Matt Mills McKnight/Reuters Francis, a spokesman for the state patrol, said the victims were shot in the makeup department of the Macys store. Authorities released a surveillance image of the suspect apparently walking through a store and holding a rifle. Francis said police did not know the gunmans motive. He said the ages of the victims appeared to range from their 20s to elderly, but had no further identifying information. Washington Governor Jay Inslee said in a statement that many questions remain but state patrol and local law enforcement are on the scene working swiftly to locate the shooter and clear the area. Trudi and I send our condolences to the families of the victims and prayers for anyone injured, Inslee said. We urge residents to heed all safety and detour warnings. Stay close to your friends and loved ones as we await more information and, hopefully, news of the suspects capture. The Federal Bureau of Investigations Seattle office announced that it was assisting local investigators with intelligence reviews and manpower. The bureau said on Twitter that it has no information to suggest additional attacks planned in Washington state but did not elaborate. Tari Caswell told the Skagit Valley Herald she was in the Macys womens dressing room when she heard what sounded like four balloons popping. Then I heard seven or eight more, and I just stayed quiet in the dressing room because it just didnt feel right. And it got very quiet. And then I heard a lady yelling for help, and a man came and got me and another lady, and we ran out of the store, Caswell said. IMAGE: Latest reports said that the gunman wearing gray was still on the run. Photograph: Matt Mills McKnight/Reuters Authorities also released a photo of a man believed to be the gunman. Here is the shooter. We believe just one shooter... Armed with rifle, Francis tweeted. He said police are actively searching for suspect, tracking leads. Washington State Trooper Rick Johnson said they had reports of the suspect walking toward the freeway, had reports of him behind... some buildings, theyre canvassing the area right now, and... (he) has not been located at this time. According to local media reports, the shooter apparently entered the mall about 7 pm (local time Friday) through one of its stores Macys. Brandi Montreuil, who was at the mall, said she was at the movies when they were told to leave. I didnt know anything. The theatre attendant came in and apologised for stopping the movie and said they (theatre staff) were asked to have everyone leave immediately, she was quoted as saying by CNN. She said at first she thought it was a drill. But you immediately think about what happened in Aurora, Colorado, so you start moving faster, Montreuil said, referring to the shooting in 2012 that left 12 dead. When they got outside, they saw numerous police vehicles, but with no officers in sight. We didnt know if it was a fire so we were looking for smoke of some kind. Then a few officers started canvassing through the crowds asking if anybody saw anything, Montreuil said. She said an officer with a large gun started yelling for people to leave, and fast. The shooting marks Washingtons sixth mass shooting with at least four victims this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Three people were shot to death at a house party in Mukilteo in July. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a strong attack on Pakistan in a public address in Kozhikode on Saturday, his first since the terrorist attack in Uri last week. Here are the top quotes from his speech: 1. All but one countries in Asia are working forward to make sure that 21st century becomes Asias. There is one nation in Asia whose aim is that 21st century does not become Asia's and is associated with terrorism. One country in Asia is exporting terror to everywhere. They want bloodshed, killing of people and terror. 2. Leaders of Pakistan are misleading their people by talking of Kashmir. Their people should ask why India exports software and you export terror. People of Pak should question their leaders why they talk of Kashmir when they are not able to handle Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Balochistan, Gilgit and Pakhtunistan. 3. Our 18 soldiers had to sacrifice their lives because of terrorists exported by our neighbouring country. Theres anger in the entire country post Uri attack. 4. Leaders of present regime of the neighbouring country are reading out the script of terrorists. They say they will fight India for 50 years. 5. India accepts your challenge. Lets fight. Let both the countries fight to end poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and see who wins. 6. A day will come when people of Pakistan will go against their own government to fight terrorism. 7. India has been successful in isolating Pakistan, and will intensify that so that you are completely isolated. Sacrifice of our 18 jawans will not go in vain. We will leave no stone unturned to isolate Pak in the world. 8. I want to inform Pakistan that before 1947 even your leaders used to salute this land (of united India). 9. In the last few months, our neighbour tried to destroy our country by exporting terrorists more than 17 times but our army defeated them .More than 110 terrorists killed in the past few months by Indian army as they were trying to infiltrate. You can imagine, our neighbour was successful in one incident and our 18 soldiers had to sacrifice their lives. If they would have succeeded 17 times, what would have happened? 10. Terrorists should clearly hear out that India will never forget the Uri attack. India will never bow down to terrorism and will strive to defeat it. erty, unemployment, illiteracy and see who wins. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting in Kozhikode, Kerala on Saturday. Photograph: PTI Photo With the Centre hinting at revising the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh on Saturday said the state will fully support whatever decision is taken by the Union government on the 1960 agreement. The treaty has caused huge loss to Jammu and Kashmir as the people of the state cannot fully utilise the waters of various rivers, particularly Chenab in Jammu, for agricultural and other activities, Singh said. The state government will support whatever decision is taken by the central government on Indus Waters Treaty, he said. The people of Jammu and Kashmir were already raising the issue of loss to the state on account of Indus Waters Treaty. If the central government takes any decision in this regard, the state government will definitely support it, he said. We will support any move which will benefit the people of the state and any step that puts Pakistan under pressure, Singh said. India had earlier this week made it clear that mutual trust and cooperation was important for such a treaty to work. The assertion came amid calls that the government should scrap the water distribution pact to mount pressure on Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack. It cannot be a one-sided affair, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said when asked if the government will rethink on the Indus Waters Treaty given the growing strain between the two countries. Singh also hit out at Pakistan for its failure to honour its agreements with India, particularly the Simla Agreement signed in 1972. There is the Simla Agreement which Pakistan does not honour, there is Lahore declaration between the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the then President of Pakistan General Parvez Musharraf in which it was agreed upon that Pakistan will not use its land under its occupation to be used for sponsoring, aiding and abetting terrorism against India. They do not honour this and instead are violating the declaration by sponsoring terrorism, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader said. If they can violate such agreements and declarations why should we honour such treatiesThey want India to honour this treaty on the basis of it being an international treaty. This cannot go for a long. It is to be seen in totality, he said. Singh said Pakistan was sending terrorists to create disorder in the KashmirValley but does not understand that terrorism will affect it more. Pakistan does not understand that terrorism, which it sponsors, will ultimately affect it more. The country will not be able to keep itself united...We will expose the terror outfits in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, he said. On the unrest in Kashmir, he said normalcy was returning to the state and the central and state governments were taking all steps to restore peace. The situation is under control now. Pakistan is directly sending terrorists and its people to Jammu and Kashmir to create disorder, he said. Image: A man bathes his horse in Indus river waters in Gilgit. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters Shania Twain coming to Indianapolis on first tour in nearly five years Abilene's economic development efforts are being recognized by a statewide association. The Texas Economic Development Council is giving the city its top annual honor the Community Economic Development Award. The city was competing in the top category, those locales with populations of 100,000 or more. 'There were some big names in the 100,000-plus category,' said Abilene Mayor Norm Archibald. 'I am elated that our economic development program in Abilene has received this award. This is a really big win for Abilene.' Other nominees in that population category were Tyler, Round Rock, Frisco, Pasadena, Brownsville, Lubbock and San Antonio, according to a news release. The award recognizes exceptional contributions to the economic vitality of the city and state. Honors were awarded in lower population categories, as well. DCOA Chairman David Copeland said this is the first time in the award's 21-year history that Abilene has been a winner. Abilene's nomination was for its efforts to bring Prairie Dog Pet Products to town. 'This $30 million, 215-employee project involved all our partners, including the Abilene Industrial Foundation, Abilene Chamber of Commerce, Workforce Solutions and the city of Abilene,' said Kent Sharp, CEO of the Development Corporation of Abilene. The company is finishing construction on a building at Five Points Business Park, according to the news release. DCOA, which helped recruit the pet food maker to the city, owns the building. The company is expected to be fully operational early next year. The specific economic development project entries were judged on: innovation, how other cities could use the same approach, the commitment of the city, leverage, achievement of objectives of the project and other benefits. 'This award is very important in that site consultants, economic development professionals, utility companies and others look at you,' Sharp said. The award will be presented on Oct. 20 at the TEDC annual conference in San Antonio. TEDC is a nonprofit professional association dedicated to the development of economic and employment opportunities in Texas. A conclusion that might be reached from a national survey on how much influence houses of worship have in helping to solve social problems is that the surveyors must not have talked to anyone in Abilene. If they had, most likely the numbers would have been different. The survey, released in June by the Pew Research Center, showed that the percentage of people who believe that houses of worship contribute a 'great deal or some' to solving social problems dropped from 75 percent in 2001 to 58 percent in 2016. Likewise, the percentage who believe that houses of worship don't contribute anything or very little rose from 21 percent in 2001 to 39 percent in 2016. Attendance at recent meetings among church, police and civic leaders held in Abilene churches says that's not the case here. 'It starts at the church,' Demotis Sherman, pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, said during a meeting held Sept. 8 at Grace Point Church. The meeting was organized by black pastors in Abilene and hosted by the pastor of Grace Point Church, Richard Brown. The primary topic was the procedures that police follow during traffic stops and arrests. The purpose was to educate and share viewpoints so that deadly situations like those suffered in other cities won't occur here. Sherman's point was that true change in society is a spiritual issue. He encouraged other pastors present to step out of their churches and join efforts in the community to make life better for all citizens. 'This is God's world,' Sherman said. 'It's more than preaching the Bible on Sunday.' Tuesday night, a meeting of a different group, but with similar goals, was held in the fellowship hall of St. Paul United Methodist Church. It was a follow-up meeting to one held in July at The Mission church and sponsored by the Stop the Violence movement at the church. Pastor of The Mission, Chad Mitchell, and city councilman Anthony Williams are the prime movers behind the Stop the Violence program. At Tuesday's meeting, Felicia Hopkins, pastor of St. Paul, welcomed the crowd and made it clear she was pleased to have such a gathering at the church. 'We will make room for you,' she said. In an interview, Hopkins said that as a black woman with a teenage son, she has concerns and wants to be a part of community conversations about interactions with police. 'I know the only way,' she said, 'is when we come together and communicate and find a way forward.' Hopkins said Williams contacted her about hosting Tuesday's meeting in the fellowship hall at St. Paul. She was all in. 'That's an easy call for me,' she said. The Pew Research Center survey showed that white evangelicals remain among the most convinced that churches help solve social problems. White mainline Protestants and black Protestants, on the other hand, are less convinced. But at local meetings, pastors or other church representatives, black and white, evangelical and mainstream, have attended. At Tuesday night's meeting, among the pastors present in addition to Hopkins were Iziar Lankford, Southwest Drive Community United Methodist Church; Amanda Watson, assistant priest at Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest; Phil Christopher, First Baptist Church; Scott Beard, FountainGate Fellowship; Richard Brown, Grace Point; and numerous others. Watson has attended all the meetings and said in an email that she believes it is important for representatives of the church to take an active role. 'In the teachings of the church,' she wrote, 'we are taught that we are all one body and as such if any part of the body is hurt or harmed, the whole body is harmed and I am harmed.' If any part of the body police, citizen, any race, male or female is hurt, then the church is called to mend 'by offering to God that which is damaged,' she wrote. Watson believes strongly that the church is called be a part of the mending process whenever a rift or tear occurs. 'The first step to mending is to recognize the tear,' she wrote, 'then to understand what caused the tear and finally to begin to knit the pieces together.' At the Sept. 8 meeting held at Grace Point Church, Sherman, pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Abilene's oldest African-American congregation, made an impassioned plea. Unlike the Pew Research Center survey showed, he believes that the influence of the church on society is strong and nowhere is it stronger than in Abilene. 'I believe if we work together as a city, we can make a tremendous difference,' Sherman said. 'We have to be a city whose light shines brightly.' A woman who describes herself as 'a pastor-poet, listener-liturgist, lover of nature, and emerging mystic' will be guest speaker for a lecture series next week at Hardin-Simmons University. Since September 2015, Kyndall Rae Rothaus has been senior pastor at Lake Shore Baptist Church in Waco. Prior to accepting that pastorate, she held several positions in Baptist churches in San Antonio and Waco. She will bring her talents to Abilene next week as guest speaker for the annual Cornerstone Lecture Series Tuesday through Thursday. The series is free and open to the public. Overall theme for the series, which is celebrating its 50th year, will be 'The Voices of Hope: Lament, Protest, and Imagination.' Her opening lecture will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Behrens Auditorium on the Hardin-Simmons campus. While on campus, Rothaus will deliver three lectures and will be visit with students, faculty, and the community at two luncheons. Deadline for luncheon reservations has passed. Rothaus knows her way around the Hardin-Simmons campus. She is popular at college conferences and was featured during the Women in Ministry conference held at HSU a few years ago. 'She was one of the main speakers for that,' said John Hunt, director of Baptist Student Ministry at HSU who invited Rothaus as Cornerstone lecturer. 'She's kind of like nobody else I've ever heard.' Rothaus is a graduate of Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University. Her book, 'Preacher Breath,' was published by Smyth & Helwys in 2015. CORNERSTONE LECTURE SERIES When: Tuesday-Thursday Where: Hardin-Simmons University Speaker: Kyndall Rothaus, pastor of Lake Shore Baptist Church in Waco Admission: Free, public invited Theme: The Voices of Hope: Lament, Protest, and Imagination Schedule: Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 a.m. Behrens Auditorium; Wednesday 9:40 a.m. Behrens Auditorium I traveled Monday to the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District to take in the opening meeting of the Board Ambassador Academy, a program the Abilene ISD could emulate here in town to identify potential school board trustees and education community leaders. In my introductions to the district's various administrators, I met Joseph Harrington, who serves as the district's assistant superintendent for secondary education. Essentially he's in charge of the high school and middle school administration and function within the buildings. Before I ever shook his hand, though, Deanne Hullender the district's public relations and marketing manager took me aside for a brief conversation about the program, its history and a little about the school district itself. At its conclusion, I told her a little about myself, including the fact that I'm from Buffalo, New York. You need to understand, people from Buffalo, as a rule, talk about Buffalo. Like, all the time. To anyone who'll listen. It's about marketing, since that city gets a bad rap for its snowy, harsh winters. We feel the need to enlighten the uninitiated because otherwise they'll think we're Eskimos. After I'm done telling her about myself, she looks at me and says, '(Harrington) is also from Buffalo. And he'll tell you about it.' When I finally came face-to-face with him, Hullender says to Harrington, 'You two have something in common.' His unprompted response? 'Oh, Buffalo?' Priceless. BUS CONTROVERSY? I'm not a fan of starting controversies where they don't need to be, but a co-worker took a picture of a school bus Wednesday afternoon that caused me to take pause. Religion isn't a topic I cover here. I shouldn't. People practice all denominations of faith, some choose to practice none. But a public entity such as the Abilene ISD and all employees within should remember that not everyone agrees with their individual choice of supreme being. This school bus was seen with an 'In God We Trust' sticker on the back window. While free speech is certainly acceptable, what isn't is using public property to make such a statement. The Abilene ISD agrees with me, issuing the following statement when asked about the sticker: 'It is the district's practice that personal modifications, such as stickers, are not permitted on school buses. The issue is being addressed in the transportation department.' We don't know why it appeared and I'm not condemning the phrase's appearance. Maybe it's patriotic in nature, not religious. But we don't get a choice when the word 'God' appears. It should never be on public property. Yours isn't mine and mine isn't yours. And that's OK. MADISON MATH We got a letter earlier this week submitted by a parent of a Madison Middle School seventh-grade student taking advanced mathematics. She was upset because she thought her child's math class was being ended and he or she would need to go back to taking seventh-grade math. She alluded to the district needing to raise STAAR test scores as a potential motivation. Abigayle Barton, the Abilene ISD associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said this simply isn't the case. In an email, she said students in the pre-AP math program at Madison Middle are being taken from their classes with eighth-grade regular students and put into their own class, filled entirely with seventh-grade students. A letter to affected families was sent home earlier this week explaining the change, which begins Monday, Barton said in her email. COMMENDATION A brief follow up to a story this week about Abilene Christian High School senior Amanda Hernandez: The school announced Friday she is considered a Commended Student by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. She's one of 34,000 across the country recognized for exceptional academic promise demonstrated in the PSAT exam results. She was also named a member of the National Hispanic Recognition Program, also part of the NMSC, earlier this week. AUSTIN Two Texas governors, one past and one present, pulled the state back into the national spotlight last week for reasons both serious and a bit frivolous. Serious first. Gov. Greg Abbott announced that Texas will withdraw from the federal refugee resettlement program at month's end unless Washington provides an ironclad guarantee that foreign nationals brought into the state would pose no security risk whatsoever. At first blush, that sounds like no one fleeing Syria and other world hot spots will find their way to Texas because federal authorities promise that refugees are admitted into the United States only after going through 'stringent security screenings' but nothing is guaranteed. But what the governor's statement actually means is that Obama administration can continue to resettle refugees in Texas, just like it has been doing all along. Same is true for Kansas and New Jersey, which have also withdrawn from the program. What does change is that no state resources will be used to aid the newly resettled. Many of Abbott's Republican allies, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, are applauding the move. Some faith-based groups, meanwhile, say they will continue assisting refugees settling in Texas. 'Refugees come to Texas seeking shelter from religious intolerance, violence, and failed states. They have already experienced immeasurable hardships, rejection, death and deprivation,' said the interdenominational group, Texas Impact. 'Refugees see Texas as a place of freedom and safety for themselves and their families.' Now for the not so serious. While Rick Perry could waltz across the Texas political landscape as smooth as anyone during long career in elective office, the judges on TV's Dancing With the Stars say he's scootin' with two left boots. They ranked him and his dance partner dead last in their first couple of appearances on the show. If you missed it it's on YouTube. But Perry will live to dance again. And just as it was when he was in politics, Perry can thank the voters who apparently liked his moves better than the pros did. Texas' lieutenant governor, or Lite Guv in Capitol parlance, also found some time in the spotlight last week. Dan Patrick, who backed U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz during the presidential primary season, warned his former ally in a Texas Tribune report that he had better board the Trump train fast or risk finding himself in the GOP's 'rearview mirror.' The warning apparently worked. Cruz fell in line and issued a statement Friday saying that even though he harbors 'significant disagreements' with Donald Trump, he's better than the alternative. Recall that Cruz absorbed a nasty round of boos at the Republican National Convention when he pointedly refused to endorse the nominee. Democrats, outgunned in Texas for the better part of a generation, are trying to give the appearance that they can shoot something other than blanks in the Lone Star State. In the past week, the Hillary Clinton campaign announced it is opening offices in Austin, Dallas and El Paso. Even though some polls show only single digits separating Trump and Clinton in Texas, even the most exuberant Democrats don't see Texas turning blue this year. Coming up The legislative session doesn't begin until January, but several key committees have been gearing up for a while. A couple to watch in the week ahead: The House Appropriations and Education committees will meet in joint session on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss how best to deal with paying the state's share for public education. In May, the state Supreme Court ruled that while the current finance method meets constitutional muster, the 'Byzantine school funding 'system' is undeniably imperfect, with immense room for improvement.' Any change in how schools are paid for will come with how the state extracts tax money from pretty much every Texans. We'll keep a close eye on this one. Also on Wednesday, the House Transportation Committee will examine the state's plan for moving traffic during disasters needs any tinkering. This carries statewide ramifications, but it's particularly important to the coastal regions because that's where hurricanes hit first. One of the strategies for getting coastal residents to higher ground is called 'contraflow,' which means the inbound lanes on major highways are temporarily turned into outbound lanes. We'll keep you posted on this, too. Twitter: @JohnnieMo Senior executives from a major U.S. defense contractor toured China last month as part of their search for a foreign company to build a dry dock for Navy ships, with the help of the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The trip raised eyebrows both inside the Pentagon and among experts who don't believe a Chinese company should be involved in U.S. military-related projects. The company, Ingalls Shipbuilding, is a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, which advertises itself as 'America's largest military shipbuilding company' and has built more Navy ships than any other military shipbuilder. Ingalls is based in Mississippi. The problem is, it needs a new dry dock to build ships there and says there are no American companies that can do it. So Ingalls is looking abroad for help. Last month, senior Ingalls executives traveled to China for two weeks to visit several different ports. They also met with officials at the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai, a meeting facilitated by a very powerful Mississippi lawmaker. 'The staff of Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, has requested that Consulate Shanghai meet with a Mississippi constituent company Ingalls Shipbuilding,' wrote an official from the State Department's legislative affairs bureau in a July 19 email I obtained. 'The constituent is looking for a new Chinese vendor to build a new dry dock for their shipbuilding company. They would like advice from the Consulate to walk them through how to do business in China.' Ingalls executives met with U.S. officials in Shanghai, including Cameron Werker, the principal commercial officer at the consulate. In a follow-up email, Werker said Ingalls executives were planning to visit seven ports in China. The companalready hsa conducted technical evaluations of proposals, and 'China is the leading candidate,' Werker wrote. The other candidates are South Korea and Japan. Ingalls's only client is the Navy, according to Werker. He wrote that the plan is to build ships to about 50,000 tons in Mississippi and then float them out to the dry dock for adding another 20,000 tons of exterior work. The dock would then be used for 'launch and retrieve.' After the Ingalls executives left China, the defense liaison officer in Shanghai, Steve Angel, alerted the Pentagon, the Navy and the U.S. Embassy in Beijing about the trip. 'Ingalls Shipbuilding was here looking at Chinese shipbuilding companies to build a dry dock for USN ship construction,' Angel wrote. 'Lobbied for by a U.S. Senator (Cochran). Not sure what Big Navy's or OSD's awareness are, but wanted to flag this for awareness.' Larry Ferguson, China country director for the Office of the Secretary of Defense's policy shop, responded to Angel's email: 'I think it's fair to say we'll want to do some fact finding.' The Pentagon declined to comment Chris Gallegos, a spokesman for Cochran, told me that the senator's office didn't actually lobby for Ingalls to get meetings with U.S. officials in China, but only forwarded a request for a point of contact at the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai from Ingalls to the State Department. As for whether there is a security concern about having a Chinese company help build Navy ships, Gallegos said, 'Senator Cochran expects all security precautions to be in place to protect U.S. national security.' According to its public filings, Huntington Ingalls spent $4.8 million on lobbying in 2015. One of Huntington Ingalls's in-house lobbyists, Carolyn Apostolou, spent 26 years as a professional staffer on the Senate Appropriations Committee before joining Huntington Ingalls in 2013, according to the Center for Responsive Politics' Open Secrets project. Gallegos said Ingalls employees have also supported Cochran financially. 'Ingalls is the single largest private employer in Mississippi. Given Senator Cochran's strong record of support for industry in Mississippi, I suspect many Ingalls employees have supported his campaigns,' he said. Some Asia experts believe that there's a real security risk in having a Chinese company build a dry dock for Navy ships because all large Chinese companies have deep ties to the Chinese government. 'Any time you have an entity like that working on U.S. military systems, common sense tells you there's likely a security risk,' said Michael Auslin, Asia scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. 'We know that there are connections, we know there is influence, we know there is government assistance. The Chinese government will have the plans.' The Chinese government could use the project to implant surreptitious recording devices or other surveillance equipment near where sensitive Navy operations are ongoing, he said. U.S. intelligence agencies suspect that China uses projects of its largest telecom company, Huawei, as a means of spying on foreign countries. Moreover, the Ingalls project would be a boon to the Chinese defense industry at the expense of the defense industry of U.S. allies, Auslin said. The money is essentially coming from the U.S. taxpayer because the U.S. government is Ingalls's only client, he said. 'Wouldn't it be better to go with an ally like Japan or South Korea?' Auslin said. 'In an environment like this, you are basically subsidizing the Chinese defense sector. Is that something we want to do?' It's a shame the United States can't handle 21st-century shipbuilding with its own domestic industry. But if U.S. defense contractors have to go abroad, they might want to think twice before subcontracting to America's biggest naval competitor. It's either a security risk or an economic subsidy that could better benefit an allied country. Either way, it's a bad idea. Josh Rogin wrote this for The Washington Post. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below This just in... The Tajik government has rejected the UN Human Rights Councils call to release prisoners held on politically motivated charges, tackle torture in detention facilities, and redouble efforts to ensure media freedoms. Tajikistans response to a UN review has been made public ahead of the September 22 meeting in Geneva where a UN working group and Tajikistan government representatives are scheduled to discuss the human rights situation in Tajikistan. In the review and recommendations published in May, the UN called on Tajikistan to immediately and unconditionally release prisoners arrested on politically motivated charges, including members of the banned opposition groups Islamic Renaissance Party (IRPT) and Group 24. Tajikistan banned the IRPT in 2015 as a terrorist organization. The UN also called on Tajikistan to provide fair trials to jailed rights activists and defense lawyers, including Buzurgmehr Yorov, Shuhrat Qudratov, and Ishoq Tabarov and his sons. The Tajik government, however, said there was no political motive in the cases against the opposition officials, activists, and lawyers. The government also said it is not ready yet to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture. The government also rejected the councils recommendation to provide a better environment for media freedoms, saying Tajikistan has already created all necessary conditions for media development and free press. Warplanes have mounted a new wave of air strikes on rebel-held areas of Aleppo as part of a planned major offensive by the Russian-backed Syrian military. Ammar al-Selmo, the head of Civil Defense in the opposition-held east, told Reuters on September 24 that "unfortunately it continues. There are planes in the sky now." The director of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdulrahman, told Reuters "the raids are intense and continuous." Aleppo residents say air and missile attacks are using ordnance more destructive than anything previously deployed in the area, and many buildings have been destroyed. Images of blast sites show craters several meters wide and deep. A senior official in an Aleppo-based rebel faction, the Levant Front, told Reuters the weapons appeared designed to bring down entire buildings. The Syrian Army says it is targeting rebel positions in the city and denies hitting civilians. The United States and Russia failed in talks on September 23 to reestablish a cease-fire in Syria amid a day of massive air attacks on rebel-held areas of Aleppo which reportedly killed dozens of people. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reported "little progress" in getting a truce after talks in New York with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. Lavrov said September 24 that a revival of a cease-fire in Syria depends on all sides involved and not only on "Russia's unilateral concessions." "One can only speak about the cease-fire revival on the collective basis," he said in an interview for the TV news show Vesti. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported at least 30 air strikes had targeted different areas of Aleppo during the early morning of September 23 and said at least 27 civilians had been killed with dozens of others wounded and others still lying under rubble. The Syrian military, which is backed by the Russian air force, announced late September 22 it was starting a new operation against the rebel-held eastern part of the city, which is home to at least 250,000 people. An army source told Reuters on September 23 that the offensive would be "comprehensive," with a ground assault following air and artillery bombardment. In an apparent prelude to the ground operation, Syrian government forces captured a rebel-held area north of Aleppo on September 24. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, citing rebel leaders and Syrian state media, said the capture of Handarat camp "comes as a result of intensive bombardment by regime forces and the fierce, continuous bombardment by Russian and regime warplanes. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Armenia celebrated the 25th anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union with a military parade in Yerevan. Troops marched along with armored vehicles, Iskander missiles, and other advanced weapons, as President Serzh Sarkisian looked on with officials in Republic Square. (RFE/RL's Armenian Service) When voters in Azerbaijan head to the polls on September 26, they will simply be asked to vote "yes" or "no" to a raft of controversial amendments to the country's constitution that, if adopted, would expand President Ilham Aliyev's powers. However, many voters say they know little or nothing about the 29 proposed changes, which include key measures international constitutional experts say are at odds with democratic norms. "I am aware they are planning to make some changes," one young woman told RFE/RL recently in an informal street survey. "But I don't know which ones exactly." Like many Baku residents, she preferred not to give her name. "I have not heard anything, though of course I will participate," a middle-aged man said. "I am not going to lie to you," another man said. "I have no clue." The proposed changes include provisions that would extend the presidential term from five to seven years, empower the president to appoint a temporary successor, and give the president power to dismiss parliament. Azerbaijani opposition parties say the measures, if approved, would aid Aliyev to tighten the grip his family currently holds on power and extend it for another generation. The Council of Europe's Venice Commission, which advises on constitutional issues, said on September 20 said many of the draft proposals gave "unprecedented" powers to the president. It called the amendments "at odds with European constitutional heritage." The amendments were published in one state newspaper, the ruling partys mouthpiece Yeni Azerbaijan, and by state broadcaster AzerTac. However, the bullet-point lists of the amendments included no explanation of their consequences and the authorities appear to have employed a number of tactics that have helped keep voters in the dark. "The proposed amendments were never opened to public discussion," says Alasgar Mammadli, an independent lawyer in Baku. "The collection of signatures against the referendum, the absence of independent media, and [restrictions] against opposition parties assembling freely all serve as obstacles to informing the people about the true nature of the changes as well." The raft of amendments were proposed by Aliyev this summer to the Constitutional Court, which approved them at a session that lasted just two hours. Subsequently, the Central Election Commission denied registration to a group formed by one of Azerbaijan's opposition parties, Musavat, which intended to campaign against the amendments. Efforts by the country's struggling nonstate media to discuss the implications of the changes have been sharply limited by the September 6 suspension of the independent newspaper Azadlyq and the July closure of ANS TV. Unlimited Rule? The most sweeping of the proposed amendments is the extension of the president's term from five to seven years. If adopted, it would mean Aliyev, who has already been in power 13 years, would not have to run again until 2020, instead of 2018. The 54-year-old president, who took over power from his ailing father in 2003, would then only have to run again every seven years -- something he would be able to do repeatedly, since the tightly controlled parliament in 2009 scrapped any limit on the number of consecutive terms a president could serve. Azerbaijan's Proposed Constitutional Amendments Azerbaijan's Proposed Constitutional Amendments Some samples of how proposed changes to Azerbaijan's constitution have been presented to the public. Critics say the bullet-point list of 29 draft amendments includes no explanations of their consequences and helps keep voters in the dark. Article 25 3.1 Replace "nationality" with "ethnicity" in the first sentence of the third section; replace "nationality" with "ethnicity" in the second sentence; 3.2 Add the text below to Paragraph 6: "VI. People with physical and mental disabilities are entitled to all rights, and carry out all duties, confirmed by this constitution, except the rights and duties impeded by limited abilities." Article 29 4.1. Consider the 5th paragraph as the 7th paragraph; 4.2. Add the following to Paragraphs 5 and 6: "V. Private property causes social responsibility; VI. Property rights over plots of land might be limited by law to ensure social justice and the effective use of plots of land." Article 53 Remove "under no circumstances" and add [the following] after the word "citizenship" -- "except when citizenship is lost in cases provided by law." Article 89 Add an additional two sub-paragraphs to Paragraph 1, after sub-paragraph 5: 6) In the event of a violation of the provisions of Part III of Article 93 of this constitution; 7) Upon a gross violation of the code of ethical conduct for members of parliament provided by law There is no precedent in a democratic country that the presidential term is seven years and that the president can be indefinitely elected," Thomas Markert, secretary for the Council of Europe's Venice Commission, told RFE/RL on September 21. "That creates a serious risk of authoritarianism if one person has so much power without accountability through elections for such a long period." Equally controversial is an amendment that would give the president power to name his own temporary successor in the event he can no longer discharge his duties or is voted out of office. Currently, that successor is to be the prime minister, who is elected by parliament. However, under the proposed changes, interim presidential power would pass to a newly created post of "first vice president," whose holder would be directly chosen by the president (Aliyev) himself. "In Azerbaijan it is certainly legitimate to provide for a vice president, but then this vice president should be an elected vice president and not a vice president designated at will by the current president," says Markert. "This vice president may have important powers during some period and, of course, he also has an advantage for the succession because he may be temporary president when new elections are called, so it gives a lot of possibility to the outgoing president to influence the choice of his or her successor." Controversial Proposals The proposal to create a new office of first vice president, plus proposed amendments to remove the minimum age for presidential candidates and reduce the age for election to the legislature to 18, have been criticized by Azerbaijani opposition parties as creating conditions under which Aliyev could seek to keep presidential power within his family for yet a third generation. Aliyev's son Heidar -- named after his grandfather, who ruled Azerbaijan from 1993 to 2003 -- is currently 19, raising the possibility that he could be named first vice president or elected to parliament. Yet another controversial proposed amendment would give the president power to dismiss parliament if it seeks to repeatedly defy him or criticize his choice of top officials. The proposal would empower the authority to dissolve the legislature if twice in one year it passes a no-confidence measure in the government or rejects presidential nominees to key government posts. "This gives the president even more influence over the highest positions [for example] in the judiciary because parliament cannot really dare to refuse his proposals if it risks being dissolved," notes constitutional expert Markert. The upcoming referendum is the third since Azerbaijan's current constitution went into force in 1995. In both previous polls, in 2002 and 2009, voters also were presented a raft of proposals to approve or reject with little information beforehand. The new amendments come amid accusations by human rights groups that Azerbaijan's government has escalated repression against its critics, marking a deterioration of an already poor record. Human rights groups say dozens of human rights defenders, political and civil activists, and journalists have been arrested or imprisoned in recent years on politically motivated charges. Voters in Bosnia-Herzegovina's autonomous Bosnian Serb entity have cast their ballots in a controversial referendum held in defiance of a high-court ruling from Sarajevo. The September 25 referendum has led to the most heated debate between Bosnian Muslim and Bosnian Serb officials since the 1995 U.S.-brokered Dayton peace accords created the Republika Srpska as one of two constituent states within Bosnia-Herzegovina. The referendum asks whether voters in Republika Srpska want to maintain a "statehood day" holiday on January 9 -- a Serbian Orthodox Christian holiday and the anniversary of Bosnian Serb lawmakers' 1992 declaration of independence from Bosnia, which fueled three years of ethnic war. Authorities said turnout was between 56 and 60 percent. Preliminary results after 30.76 percent of the ballots were counted say 99.8 percent of the voters were in favor of the holiday. The voting ended at 7 p.m. local time without any major incidents. Dragan Lukac, Republika Srpska's interior minister and head of its election commission, said on September 25 at a news conference in the city of Banja Luka that "everything is going smoothly" and no incidents had been reported anywhere. He said there was an absence of voting in Bosniak areas of Republika Srpska, adding that more than a dozen polling stations were not even opened for voting. Critics of the referendum say it is stoking ethnic tension and is bolstering separatist sentiment within the Bosnian Serb ministate. Non-Serbs see the date as a symbol of their expulsion from Bosnian Serb-controlled territory and an indication that Republika Srpska is meant just for Serbs. On September 17, Bosnia's Sarajevo-based Constitutional Court banned the referendum, ruling that the January 9 holiday illegally discriminates against Muslim Bosniaks and Catholic Croats. The Bosnian Serb entity's nationalist president, Milorad Dodik, has pushed for it to go forward. His critics accuse him of trying to set the stage for a future referendum, possibly in 2018, on whether the Republika Srpska should secede from Bosnia. Such a move would effectively mean the end of the Dayton accords, which brought a formal end to Bosnias 1992-95 war. Dodik, speaking on September 25 to journalists in the town of Laktasi after casting his ballot, said it was an "important day, a solemn day." "There will probably be joy over the [referendum] results tonight; the atmosphere looks like that," he said. "The days ahead will bring something [new], but we will see in what way." Asked what his response would be to the Sarajevo-based Bosnian prosecutor's office that has announced it will file criminal charges against him for holding the referendum, Dodik said, "If somebody wants to arrest anybody, let them arrest the whole referendum and hold it accountable." Bakir Izetbegovic, the Bosnian Muslim member of Bosnia's tripartite presidency, has warned that holding the referendum in defiance of the Constitutional Court could lead to "an adventure" in which "things could slip out of control." Speaking in Sarajevo on September 17, Izetbegovic said that "no one is more prepared to defend this country than we are, to defend its constitutional order and territorial integrity." Dodik insists that secession is not part of his short-term plans for the Republika Srpska. "On our agenda there is no secession," Dodik told RFE/RL's correspondent in Banja Luka on September 19. "Will secession become a question in the coming years, whether my generation will do it or not? I don't know. But I suppose, having in mind the way things are moving and the brutal force used for imposing things and taking away...that this may get on the agenda." On September 20, Dodik said those describing the statehood-day referendum as a "secession referendum" were spreading "some sort of hysteria." "It is not a secession referendum," Dodik insisted. "Its not even the beginning of this process." In Belgrade in early September, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said that "Serbia is and will always be behind the Republika Srpska," adding that "anyone who thinks that they can overrun the Republika Srpska must know that this is impossible because Serbia is always behind Republika Srpska." Serbia's military forces have been ordered to be vigilant. Western officials have urged Republika Srpska to cancel the referendum, saying that it challenges the rule of law and the Dayton peace accords. Valentin Inzko, the European Union's high representative for Bosnia, said the planned referendum is "a direct attack against a constitutional court and, in such a way, it is also an attack on the state." Inzko said "in the past 20 years we have not heard such language" from officials in Bosnia. The U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo has said there would be unspecified "consequences" if the September 25 vote was not canceled. The Peace Implementation Council, an international body that oversees the Dayton accords, also has urged the Bosnian Serbs to cancel the referendum. It said in a statement that Bosnia's borders will not be redrawn and it called on all sides "to refrain from reactive measures and divisive rhetoric." But Russia, one of the council members and a traditional supporter of Orthodox Slavic Serbs, distanced itself from the statement. The Russian ambassador to Bosnia has publicly supported the September 25 referendum and called it an act of democracy. Underlining the Kremlin's support for the Republika Srpska, Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 22 welcomed Dodik to Moscow on an official visit where the two discussed what Russian state-controlled media described as "bilateral interaction." With reporting by RFE/RLs Balkan Service, AP, Reuters, AFP, AP, TASS, and Interfax Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accused Pakistan of trying to destabilize Asia by exporting terrorism while vowing to work to isolate it internationally. The criticism follows the deadly September 18 attack on an Indian army camp in Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan. The attack claimed the lives of 18 Indian soldiers. Speaking in a September 24 televised speech, Modi said Pakistans actions were affecting India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. "There is one nation in Asia whose aim is to spread terrorism and is working toward ensuring that the 21st century does not belong to Asia," he said, referring to Pakistan. "People of Pakistan should question their leadership on why, when both countries gained freedom together, while India exports software, Pakistan exports terrorists," he added. India has long accused Pakistan of backing militant groups in disputed Kashmir as well as of sending fighters to other parts of the country to carry out acts of violence. Pakistan has denied the allegations. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said that it would release an official reaction to Modi's comments. 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. CHISINAU -- Dozens of tents have been set up in the center of the Moldovan capital following a street protest that drew tens of thousands as public frustration over rampant corruption has reached the boiling point. But the question of what comes next remains unanswered. "Until their demands are met, the protesters say they will not leave the square," says journalist Natalie Morari, who writes a blog for RFE/RL's Moldovan Service. "They will remain on the square and they are not willing to compromise." The September 6 protest -- which dwarfed even the 2009 uprising that brought down Moldova's Communist government -- was the biggest in the country's post-Soviet history. Organized by a public organization called Dignity and Truth (DA), the demonstrators have demanded the resignation of Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti and the heads of various financial agencies responsible for combating corruption -- as well as early parliamentary elections to be held in March. They are also calling for the direct election of the president, who is now elected by a two-thirds majority of the parliament. Although the protesters rallied under European Union banners as well as the Moldovan flag, the demonstration could well bring down the fragile, pro-European-integration ruling coalition. "These governments have distinguished themselves with several corruption scandals, among which I would mention two -- the privatization of the Chisinau airport, which was carried out in a very opaque way, and the scandal in the banking system that resulted in the loss of about 1 billion euros from the national bank," said Dignity and Truth organizer and political analyst Arcadie Barbarosie. "All this has affected the quality of life in the country, on the strength of the Moldovan lei [and] its purchasing power, which has fallen by about one-fourth." The public organization Dignity and Truth was formed at the beginning of the year by a coalition of public activists from across the political spectrum. Its strength and attraction, says analyst Morari, lies in the fact that it is not a political organization. "The current political system is thoroughly discredited and the public no longer believes in any party -- at least none of the parties currently in power," she says. "They have so thoroughly discredited themselves that it is unlikely that such a large number of people would have come out to the square if they had been summoned under some party's banner." PHOTO GALLERY: Tens Of Thousands Protest In Chisinau Photo Gallery: Tens Of Thousands Protest In Moldova Against Bank Fraud Tens of thousands of people protested in Moldovas capital on September 6, calling on the president to resign and early elections to take place over a $1 billion bank fraud that has lowered living standards. The protesters arrived in Chisinau from all regions after a new mass organization called DA (Demnitate si Adevar, or Dignity and Truth) called on people to demonstrate in the central square outside the main government building. Protesters demanded the resignation of President Nicolae Timofti, the election of a new head of state, and the resignation of top officials at Moldovas central bank and the Attorney Generals Office. Police estimate that there were 60,000 people present, which would make the protest bigger than the mass anticommunist demonstrations of April 2009. Protesters shouted slogans such as We want our country back! and Down with the oligarchs. Police clashed with supporters of the far left Red Bloc party after they marched to the prosecutor-generals headquarters and attempted to break through a police cordon. According to Interfax, police detained several protesters, several others were injured, and one woman was hospitalized. Some 30 tents were set up in the evening on the main square of Chisinau and protesters vowed to remain there until their demands are met. Nearly $1 billion -- around one-eighth of the countrys gross domestic product -- disappeared from three banks shortly before the November 2014 parliamentary elections. The bank fraud prompted a rapid depreciation in the national currency, fueling inflation, and lowering living standards. Moldovas pro-European prime minister, Valeriu Strelets, who took up the post in July, has promised to crack down on corruption. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Email to a Friend Share on LinkedIn The weekend demonstration was the fourth that Dignity and Truth has organized, and it was the largest. That could be because the effects of the 1 billion-euro theft, which became known in late 2014 and for which no one has been held responsible, are now being acutely felt by the general public. Rates for electricity were recently hiked by about 35 percent. "It is clear that the people have had enough, particularly after the rate hikes for electricity and natural gas," says popular columnist Nicolae Negru. "The billion that was stolen is being paid for out of the pockets of ordinary citizens. So people have legally turned out to protest and it is a good thing, too, because our officials can't be persuaded by logic and will not act in accordance with their legal obligations." But can anyone tap into the electorates frustration and motivation if the government concedes to the protesters' demands and agrees to early elections? Civic Platform Political analyst and Dignity and Truth organizer Igor Botan says that the protest leadership has no plan to transform itself into a political force, despite the political nature of its demands. "Our platform will remain civic," Botan told RFE/RL's Russian Service. "It will remain an informal organization, nongovernmental, that will try to always be on guard so that those who come to power in place of those who leave and who we will initially consider to be an improvement, don't get off track and return to oligarchy and corruption." Botan says Dignity and Truth will not put forward electoral candidates and will not endorse anyone. The current changes in the country, he says, will bring forward people "with good qualities." "We are not a nursery for potential leaders and we won't go out and say, This guy is good -- support him,'" Botan says. "They must prove themselves." The September 6 demonstration seemed at one point to indicate support for former Education Minister Maia Sandu, a popular and charismatic politician of the Liberal Party who failed earlier this year in a bid to become prime minister. However, Botan insists Dignity and Truth is not looking to her as a potential replacement for Timofti. Columnist Negru backs this approach, saying that the best way Dignity and Truth can "defend the interests of the people" is by "remaining outside the political struggle." Fellow Dignity and Truth organizer Barbarosie, however, thinks the situation is not so simple. "I think that the logic of events will force the organizers of this action to move ahead with the formation of a political party," he tells RFE/RL's Moldovan Service. "Now it is very important that such a party is formed on healthy principles and that it tries to avoid falling into the traps that the existing parties are in, where the leader decides everything." Some observers have noted that the protest could ultimately benefit the main opposition party, the Socialist Party headed by Igor Dodon, or the relatively new Patria (Homeland) party of businessman Renato Usatii. Both parties have openly pro-Russia and pro-Eurasian Customs Union positions and have expressed support for the September 6 protest. But Morari cautions against assuming that the protests are being guided by Moscow's allies. "Over the last few months there have been efforts to discredit the civic platform through the mass media that are under the control of local oligarchs," she says. "In the first part of the year, the main accusation was that the [protest organizers] are unionists -- that is, they want to unify Moldova with Romania. But this idea didn't gain traction with the public, this bugbear didn't catch on, so the new bugbear is that the platform is controlled by agents of Moscow." Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said on September 7 that Moscow is watching developments in Moldova "with a wary eye." Journalist Leonid Litra, in a blog post for RFE/RL's Moldovan Service, writes that the government cannot ignore such a massive protest. "Those who are in power -- and those who are behind them in the shadows -- must meet the demands of the protesters and not just make statements about how much they understand them or how much they respect the right to protest," Litra wrote. "The stolen billion must be returned and those who are responsible must be punished. Everyone says that the billion euros are lost -- but in reality, no one has tried to get them back." Robert Coalson, RFE/RL's Russian Service, and Current Time TV contributed to this report Moldovan police have fired tear gas to disperse antigovernment protesters during a parade to mark the former Soviet republic's independence day. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on August 27 near the main square of Chisinau, Moldova's capital. Many shouted "Thieves!" and "Shame on you!" as President Nicolae Timofti and other officials laid floral wreaths at a monument honoring Stephen the Great, a 15th century Moldovan hero. Few citizens were permitted to enter the square amid heavy police security. No injuries from the clashes were reported. Underlining tensions, Timofti said in a speech earlier on August 27 that Moldova's independence and security were undermined by the presence of "foreign military forces that are on the country's territory against the wishes of the population." He was referring to the presence of 1,000 Russian peacekeepers in the pro-Russian separatist enclave of Transdniester in eastern Moldova. Moldova, sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine, declared independence on August 27, 1991, as the Soviet Union collapsed. Based on reporting by Interfax and AP Russian President Vladimir Putin says the world faces the most dangerous decade since World War II and predicted that the historical period of the West's "undivided dominance over world affairs" is coming to an end. Speaking on October 27 at a conference of international policy experts in Moscow, Putin said the decade ahead is "probably the most dangerous, unpredictable and, at the same time, important...since the end of World War II." Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, Russian protests, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. Putin laid the blame for the situation at the feet of Western countries, which he said have cast aside the norms of international affairs in order to maintain dominance and hold down countries they see as "second-class civilizations." The Russian leader also said he had no regrets about sending troops into Ukraine and sought to explain the conflict as part of the efforts by Western countries to secure their global domination. Putin claimed in his speech to the Valdai Discussion Club, a think tank, that the West had helped incite the conflict and also seeks to stoke a crisis over Taiwan in an attempt to enforce global dominance. Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, triggering the biggest military conflict in Europe since World War II and driving relations with Western countries that back Ukraine and its drive to be part of the European Union and NATO to their lowest depths since the Cold War. Putin cast the conflict in Ukraine as a battle between the West and Russia for the fate of the second-largest Eastern Slav country. It is partly a "civil war," he said, as Russians and Ukrainians are one people. Kyiv has flatly rejected both of those ideas. The goal of what Russia refers to as a "special military operation" is to take the eastern Donbas region, Putin said, adding that in his view the region would "not have survived" on its own had Russia not intervened militarily in Ukraine. WATCH: A local official told Russian conscripts "You are not cannon fodder" in a video published online recently. The men responded by angrily shouting that, actually, that's exactly what they are. But the war has gone far beyond the Donbas region, with Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, and other nonmilitary structures, killing tens of thousands of Ukrainians across the country. Putin used the speech largely to rail against the West, saying it has nothing to offer to the world "except its own domination," and the goal of globalization "is neocolonialism to dominate the world." He said Russia is only trying to defend its right to exist in the face these Western efforts. Putin also asserted that more and more nations refuse to follow Washington's demands and Russia will never accept the West's attempts to dominate the world. Citing gay pride parades and the acceptance of transgender people in Western countries, Putin also defended "traditional values" and said "nobody can dictate to our people how to develop and what society we should build." He also said Russia has never considered the West an enemy and has many things in common with it but will continue to oppose the diktat of Western neoliberal elites. U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Putin's speech presented no new ideas. "We don't believe that Mr. Putin's strategic goals have changed here. He doesn't want Ukraine to exist as a sovereign, independent nation state," Kirby said. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Putin's speech can be described as "for Freud," referring to psychoanalysis founder Sigmund Freud. "The person who invaded a foreign country, annexed its land, and committed genocide accuses others of violating international law and the sovereignty of other countries? One truth: The person who started a wind will get a storm. The storm is coming," he said on Twitter. Answering questions from journalists after his speech, Putin reiterated the Kremlin's assertion that Ukraine plans to use a so-called dirty bomb on its own territory. The claim has been dismissed as false by Ukraine and its allies, who say Russia may have raised the matter because it plans to use such a bomb in Ukraine as a pretext for escalation. "It was me who ordered [Defense Minister Sergei] Shoigu to inform by phone all his colleagues about it," Putin said, adding that Russia does not need to use dirty bombs in Ukraine. Putin also said he supported plans by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit Ukraine's nuclear power plants for inspections. "It must be done as soon and as openly as possible because we know that Kyiv authorities are now working to cover up such [dirty-bomb attack] preparations," Putin said, without giving any exact information proving the claim. Ukraine invited IAEA inspectors to visit its nuclear facilities after the Kremlin made its unsubstantiated claim about the preparation of a dirty bomb -- which would use the explosion of a conventional warhead to spread radioactive material or chemicals over a wide area. Ukraine said it would welcome inspections because it had "nothing to hide." According to Putin, Russia has never talked about the use of nuclear weapons in the war with Ukraine despite his own promise to defend Russian territory with any means at our disposal" and saying his words were "not a bluff." "We see no need for [using nuclear weapons in Ukraine]," Putin told reporters. "There is no sense for that, neither political, nor military." A pilot of the Pakistani armed forces was killed as his fighter jet crashed in the Khyber Agency tribal region on September 24. Muhammad Waseem, the public relations officer of the Pakistani Air Force, told Radio Mashaal that the aircraft was on a routine training mission when it crashed in the Jamrud area of Khyber tribal district in the countrys northwest. Flight Lieutenant Omar Shahzad succumbed to injuries after the aircraft crashed, said Waseem. He said no loss of civilian life or property has been reported. The official said the aircraft crashed due to a technical fault. An investigation has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident. During the last two years, authorities in Tajikistan have been carrying out a crackdown on political opponents. More of a crackdown than usual, that is to say, because the Tajik government has a long record of harassing the country's political opposition. But the recent campaign against the opposition features a large number of arrests. Already hundreds of people have been detained and dozens, so far, imprisoned. Some people in Tajikistan worry they might be next, and have fled the country. It has happened before, during the 1992-1997 civil war in Tajikistan. But for those fleeing now, the safe havens of 20 years ago are no longer safe, and they are having to travel further, to Europe. To look at who these people are, where they are going, and what is driving them there, RFE/RL assembled a Majlis, or discussion panel, to talk about these recent developments. Moderating the talk was RFE/RL Media Relations Manager Muhammad Tahir.Our friend Edward Lemon, a PhD candidate at the University of Exeter who specializes in Tajikistan joined us. Also taking part from Berlin was researcher and journalist Yan Matusevich, who is the author of a recent article in The Diplomat on the topic of Tajikistan's asylum seekers. As usual, I had a couple of things to say also. Emigre Numbers Surge The biggest opposition group -- the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) -- lost the last two seats it had in parliament in the March 2015 elections. It was a signal that the party's fortunes were about to take a drastic turn for the worse. During the six-month period that followed, state media launched a relentless campaign to blacken the image of the IRPT. The party lost is registration, was ordered to cease all activities, and, by the end of September, was declared an extremist group while its leaders were rounded up and put on trial. Matusevich said that, since the IRPT lost its last seats in parliament, "we've seen a surge in the number of Tajik asylum seekers making their way to Poland via Belarus." Their numbers are not large, yet, but as Matusevich noted, "Tajik asylum seekers went from being nonexistent in Poland to over 500 in 2015 and already in the first half of this year they've gone over 616 asylum seekers." More would be in Poland now except for the fact that Polish border guards have been turning them away at the frontier with Belarus. The reason they're showing up at the Belarusian-Polish border, Matusevich explained, is because "Poland just happens to be the closest EU border that they can make it to, transiting through Russia and Belarus, without a visa." Kremlin Cooperation In the past, including during the civil war days, most people fleeing Tajikistan for political reasons went to Russia, but this is now changing. "Russia is no longer safe for Tajik opposition members," Lemon said, noting that his research shows "a real increase since 2014 in the targeting of opposition activists" on Russian territory. No matter what the ties have been between the Kremlin and Central Asian governments, one aspect of these relationships that has remained solid has been the cooperation between Russian and Central Asian security services. Central Asians wanted on charges back home have sometimes disappeared from the streets of Russian cities only to reappear in jail cells back home. Turkey has been another possible destination for those fleeing Tajikistan in the past. But Lemon noted that this country has also no longer been considered safe ever since Umarali Quvatov, the leader of another Tajik opposition organization called Group 24, was assassinated in Istanbul in March 2015. Matusevich said this latest crackdown is so broad that some of the citizens of Tajikistan now trying to get into Poland have, at best, tenuous ties to political activity. "There was one case of someone who was trying to seek asylum in Poland who was a security guard for the Islamic Renaissance Party, who was completely apolitical," Matusevich recalled. "As soon as the party was shut down he felt he could, potentially, end up in prison." More Likely To Follow More of Tajikistan's citizens are likely to surface in Belarus, hoping to make it further west. Lemon said that, in Tajikistan currently, those with ties to opposition groups are subject to "threats to family, surveillance, monitoring, and that really leads them to have a real sense of insecurity." Lemon added that the crackdown in Tajikistan is unlikely to abate anytime soon. "I think the legitimization of an authoritarian government is always going to be based on the construction of an enemy," he said. "So they're [the Tajik authorities] always going to need some kind of an enemy; otherwise [President Emomali] Rahmon's regime will struggle to hold some kind of legitimacy." Matusevich said there are probably some 3,000 Tajik citizens who have been denied entry into Poland with some trying up to "40 times, 50 times, up to a point where the passport fills up with rejection stamps and they can no longer give it another attempt." But Matusevich credited those from Tajikistan for "really following the procedure despite facing all the difficulties at the border." "We haven't seen many Tajiks try to cross the Belarusian-Polish border irregularly or just somehow circumvent the border crossing," Matusevich said. "Many times they call ahead, [to] NGOs in Poland to make sure they're doing this in the right way but then finding difficulties on the ground in actually making it through." It is a very unfortunate situation. Europe is already facing its biggest refugee crisis since World War Two as people flee conflict in the Middle East. The thought of a new group of refugees coming from the east would not sit well with many people in Europe. On the other side of the coin, the list of perceived enemies of the state is growing in Tajikistan and that will force ever more people there to want to leave the country and try to find a secure place to live. They have limited options as to where they can flee. The Majlis discussed these issues in greater detail and delved into other topics concerning governance and tolerance in Tajikistan, the situation in Belarus for those who make it that far, and other matters related to the asylum seekers from Tajikistan. An audio recording of the Majlis can be heard here: Listen to or download the Majlis podcast above or subscribe to Majlis on iTunes. Yahoo News is reporting that U.S. intelligence officials are trying to establish whether a businessman identified by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as a foreign policy adviser has held private discussions with senior Russian officials on bilateral issues, including U.S. sanctions. In a report published September 23, the news outlet cited "multiple sources who have been briefed on the issue" as saying that the individual under scrutiny is Carter Page, a former Moscow-based investment banker whom Trump identified in March as part of his foreign policy team. Yahoo News cited an unidentified "Western intelligence source" as saying that U.S. officials have received intelligence reports that during his trip to Moscow in July, Page met with Igor Sechin, chairman of state-owned Rosneft and one of President Vladimir Putin's closest allies. Sechin is among numerous Russian officials and businesspeople sanctioned by Washington and the EU over Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and subsequent backing of armed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Yahoo News cited the same Western intelligence source as saying that U.S. intelligence officials have received reports that Page has also met with Igor Diveikin, a right-hand man of Vyacheslav Volodin, Putin's first deputy chief of staff and a key architect of Russia's political landscape during Putin's third term. The report said Page, who previously worked for Merrill Lynch in Moscow, declined to comment when reached by Yahoo News. Page raised eyebrows in U.S. political circles in July with a lecture he delivered to students and businesspeople in Moscow in which he accused "Washington and other Western capitals" of impeding other nations' "potential progress through their often hypocritical focus on ideas such as democratization, inequality, corruption, and regime change" -- criticisms that echo those frequently voiced by the Kremlin. Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks in August called Page an "informal foreign policy adviser" who "does not speak for Mr. Trump or the campaign." The Yahoo News report cited Trump campaign spokesman Jason Miller as saying this week that Page "has no role" in the campaign and that "we are not aware of any of his activities, past or present." Page said in an interview with Bloomberg in March that he had investments in state-owned Russian energy giant Gazprom, which has also been hit by U.S. and EU sanctions. He currently heads Global Energy Capital, a New York-based investment firm that says it focuses on the energy sector in emerging markets. Trump has said he will improve battered bilateral ties with Russia if he is elected to the White House and has spoken positively about Putin. He said earlier this month that the Russian president has been more of a leader for his country than Obama has been for the United States. Hillary Clinton, his Democratic rival in the November 8 election, has accused him of being too sympathetic to Putin. Her campaign has also suggested that hackers, alleged to be Russian, who have stolen and published e-mails of Democratic National Committee staff, are working on behalf of the Kremlin to improve Trump's electoral chances. Both Trump and the Kremlin have dismissed these suggestions as baseless. The Yahoo News report was published a day after leading Democrats on the congressional intelligence committees accused Russia of trying to influence the U.S. election via computer hacking and called on Putin to "order a halt to this activity." Based on reporting by Yahoo News, The Washington Post, and Reuters Tajikistan's government has quietly asserted the right of authorities to control the content of both state-run and privately owned broadcasters in a move that appears aimed at tightening officials' already firm grip on news and mass media. A five-year decree made public this week on "guidelines for the preparation of television and radio programs" stipulates that the government -- through a state broadcast committee -- has the right to "regulate and control the content of all television and radio networks regardless of their type of ownership." The decree, which urges Tajik journalists to promote national interests, describes its aim as providing the post-Soviet Central Asian nation of more than 8 million with "impartial information." But it has prompted criticism that it provides the authoritarian government in Dushanbe with more power to censor independent media. Its a negative development in terms of freedom of speech, in terms of political development of the country, says Edward Lemon, a researcher at the University of Exeter in Britain. Lemon, who specializes in Tajik affairs, says the new regulation gives the government a greater right to monopolize information and make sure everything fits with it representation of political, economic, and social reality. National culture, education, and healthy lifestyles are among topics that should be covered regularly, under the decree. But such obligatory content also includes the "propagation...of government policies in the socioeconomic and culture spheres, as well as in the fields of art, education, science, and sports." The decree cites the need for the regular monitoring and review of TV and radio programs by a special commission -- the so-called Arts Council -- within the TV and radio committee. Some Tajik journalists have likened the Arts Council to the Soviet-era Glavlit, the infamous General Directorate for the Protection of State Secrets in the Press that controlled content among media outlets. Saymuddin Dustov, a founder of an online publication and a news website, condemned the decree as more censorship by the state. Dustov called on authorities to cancel the regulation, saying it contradicts laws on media freedoms. Zafar Abdulloev, a Dushanbe-based independent media analyst, speculated that the decree won't change much because censorship and self-censorship are already widespread among Tajik media. The Tajik government has been widely criticized for restricting media freedoms and stifling independent media outlets. Tajikistan has consistently been rated Not Free by Freedom House, including in that U.S.-based watchdog's 2016 annual report. The Freedom House report noted that Tajikistans authorities continued to arbitrarily limit free speech, access to information, and the right to civic organization in 2015. Tajikistan was recently ranked 150th out of 180 states in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) annual index, slipping 34 places from the previous year. RSF said that Tajikistan has eliminated political opposition and is stepping pressure on the remaining independent media on the pretext of combating terrorism. Surveillance of communications is now routine, while the blocking of the main news websites and social networks is virtually permanent, RSF said in April 2016, referring to frequent blocking of Facebook, YouTube, and independent news websites. Researcher Lemon called the latest regulation another symbolic move to say that no one can oppose the government and media cant criticize the government. Tajik authorities say they are looking into reports suggesting fugitive Tajik Colonel Gulmurod Halimov, who joined the extremist group Islamic State (IS) last year, has been appointed IS's top military commander. Iraqi media reported on September 3 that Halimov had replaced Umar al-Shishani, who was reportedly killed in July in northern Iraq. Muhammadrizo Halifazoda, a spokesman for the Tajik Prosecutor-General's Office, told RFE/RL on September 5 that "measures to prevent Halimovs possible plans to destabilize Tajikistan" were being taken. He did not elaborate. On August 30, the U.S. State Department called Halimov a key member of IS and offered a reward of $3 million for information on his whereabouts. Halimov, the former commander of the Tajik Interior Ministry's special forces, known as OMON, joined IS in April 2015. Tajik authorities say he has been seriously injured twice in Syria. Tajikistans parliament has adopted a new law on amnesty proposed by President Emomali Rahmon last week. According to the law, adopted on August 24 by parliament's lower house, the amnesty will affect more than 12,000 people. More than 3,000 inmates will be released from prison and more than 4,000 people with suspended sentences will be pardoned under the new legislation. The prison terms of more than 5,000 people will also be shortened. Those convicted of serious crimes such as murder, terrorism, religious extremism, and other serious crimes are not subject to the amnesty. The amnesty was proposed to honor the 25th anniversary of Tajikistan's independence from the Soviet Union, which will be marked on September 9. International watchdogs and rights activists have criticized the Tajik government for using antiterrorism laws to crack down on dissent in the country. Tajik authorities say they are investigating an early-morning traffic accident in the capital that left two people dead after a car driven by the son of Deputy Prime Minister Davlatali Saidov slammed into a parked roadwork vehicle. Interior Ministry spokesman Umarjoni Emomali said the collision took place in Dushanbe early on September 10, and that two passengers -- a 25-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man -- were killed. The spokesman told RFE/RL's Tajik Service that the driver, 23-year-old Faromurz Saidov, remained in the hospital with injuries. Police are treating the case as a "traffic accident," Emomali said, adding that "it should not be called a purposeful criminal act." There were no immediate public comments from Deputy Prime Minister Saidov, who was appointed in 2013 after serving as the head of the youth affairs committee and a stint as Tajikistan's ambassador to Japan. An official close to the investigation told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity that Saidov and his friends had left the Royal Club bar and were riding in his Toyota Camry at high speed when the incident occurred. But RFE/RL could not independently corroborate that assertion. The accident happened not far from the scene of a deadly road incident in 2013 that was linked to a teenage son of Amonulloh Hukumov, a former chief of Tajikistan's state railways operator and a relative of President Emomali Rahmon. That crash killed three people and injured the driver. That incident sparked angry comments on social media demanding that the authorities bring the young driver to justice. Comments on Facebook and social network Odnoklassniki suggested ordinary citizens were closely following the investigation to see how Tajik police would treat well-connected people in such a case. Police eventually concluded that Hukumov's son wasn't behind the wheel at the time of the accident, although the vehicle was registered in his name. Later in 2013, Tajik authorities acknowledged that reckless driving by children of the country's elite had been responsible for fatal road accidents. The presidential press service said in November 2013 that 850 closed-circuit video cameras had been installed across Dushanbe to monitor the streets to prevent, among other violations, "deadly accidents [involving] the children of officials, state workers, and rich citizens." Tajikistan has released from prison the only woman among several high-ranking officials of the banned Islamic Renaissance Party (HNIT), her family says. Zurafo Rahmoni, who had been serving a two-year sentence, was released on September 5 according to a mass amnesty, the family said on September 6. Rahmoni, an adviser to the HNIT leadership, was arrested along with 13 other party leaders last year. The group was accused of conspiring with former Defense Minister Abduhalim Nazarzoda in a supposed armed bid to seize power in early September 2015. Tajik officials said Nazarzoda led attacks on a police station and an arsenal that killed at least 26 people. He was reportedly killed in an operation by government forces. The authorities blamed the HNIT for organizing the mutiny and banned the party as an "extremist and terrorist organization." Two deputy heads of the party were sentenced to life in prison, while 11 other high-ranking party officials were sentenced to terms ranging from 14 to 28 years. Party leader Muhiddin Kabiri, who now lives in exile, has denied the accusation. The mass amnesty, which affects more than 12,000 people, was not extended to the other jailed party leaders, who remain in prison. A leading member of a banned opposition party in Tajikistan jailed for purportedly showing support for the extremist Islamic State (IS) group in his town has reportedly died in jail. The Ozodagon website reported on August 16 that Qurbon Mannonov, 73, died in a detention facility in Dushanbe overnight. The site quoted Mannonov's relatives as reporting the death. No official confirmation has been made. Mannonov was the head of the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan's (IRPT) branch in the city of Nurak, 70 kilometers southeast of the capital, Dushanbe. He and 12 others were arrested in August 2015 in the wake of the government's crackdown on the IRPT, which was banned shortly afterwards. Mannonov was accused of masterminding the raising of an Islamic State flag in Nurak. He rejected the charges as being politically motivated. In February, the detained party members were sentenced to prison terms of between 10 and 25 years. In June, a court in Dushanbe sentenced the IRPT's deputy heads to life imprisonment and 12 other leading members of the party to prison terms of between two and 28 years on charges of conspiring with former Defense Minister Abduhalim Nazarzoda in a supposed armed bid to seize power in September 2015. Party leader Muhiddin Kabiri, who now lives in exile, rejected the accusations. With reporting by Ozodagon The wife and son of a jailed Tajik opposition politician have gone missing, according to relatives. Muhammadali Hayit's relatives told RFE/RL on August 23 that a day earlier several men in civilian clothes took the politician's wife, Savriniso Juraeva, and their 17-year-old son Firuz from their home in Dushanbe. The whereabouts of the two are unknown. The relatives said that officials at the State Committee for National Security promised to keep them informed but have so far refused to provide any information about their whereabouts. Hiyat, the deputy chairman of the banned opposition Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT), and another party deputy, Saidumar Husaini, were sentenced to life in prison in June. A court in Dushanbe found them and several other members of the party guilty of conspiring with former Defense Minister Abduhalim Nazarzoda in a supposed armed bid to seize power in September 2015. The IRPT leader, Muhiddin Kabiri, who now lives in exile, rejected the accusations. Human Rights Watch says it is checking reports that authorities in Tajikistan detained some 50 relatives of Tajik activists who had staged a protest at an OSCE conference in Poland this week. HRWs Central Asia researcher Steve Swerdlow told RFE/RL that, if confirmed, the detentions would be defined as a "human rights violation." Swerdlow said some 20 Tajik opposition and rights activists residing in Europe held a silent protest in Warsaw on September 19 during a conference session where the situation of human rights in Tajikistan was being discussed. The protesters wore T-shirts with portraits of Tajik opposition politicians and lawyers who were jailed in the country in recent months. Human rights groups have called the cases politically motivated. Tajik government officials told RFE/RL they do not have any information about the alleged arrests. Sources in Tajikistan's State Committee for National Security said the detentions took place across the country and have nothing to do with the protesters in Poland. Tajik authorities are reportedly investigating threats purportedly made by a former Tajik police colonel who joined the Islamic State (IS) extremist group in Syria. The Reuters news agency quoted two Tajik security service sources as saying on September 6 that some Tajik servicemen received text messages on their mobile phones in fugitive police commander Gulmurod Halimov's name. In the messages -- allegedly received this week -- he promised to "congratulate" the servicemen on Tajikistan's Independence Day on September 9, the sources told Reuters. According to Iraqi media reports on September 3, Halimov had recently been appointed a high-ranking IS commander. Iraqi media said Halimov replaced IS commander Umar al-Shishani, who was reportedly killed in July in northern Iraq. On August 30, the U.S. State Department called Halimov a key member of IS and offered a reward of $3 million for information on his whereabouts. Tajik authorities said on September 5 that they are taking measures to prevent any destabilization attempts in Tajikistan by Halimov and his supporters. Halimov, the former commander of the Tajik Interior Ministry's special forces, known as OMON, joined IS in April 2015. Tajik authorities say he has been seriously injured twice in Syria. Based on reporting by Reuters and RFE/RL's Tajik Service Uzbekistan has withdrawn its police and border guards from a disputed part of the border with Kyrgyzstan after they were deployed to the area almost a month ago. Kyrgyz Border Guarding Services say the Uzbek security forces on September 18 left the Unkur-Too Mountain, which is located in disputed territory along the border between the two Central Asian nations. According to the Border Guarding Services, Uzbek forces were withdrawn following talks between Uzbek and Kyrgyz officials. On August 22, Uzbek police officers were deployed by helicopters to Unkur-Too, the site of a Kyrgyz radio and television transmitter, and detained four Kyrgyz nationals, claiming that they were illegally on Uzbek territory. The four Kyrgyz men were released and returned home on September 8. About 300 of the 1,000-kilometer-long Kyrgyz-Uzbek border has remained in dispute since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. James and Diane Lynch, neighbors to Zarrella in Exeter, have been ordered to remove a pile of chicken excrement they placed near the wedding vendors property. Republican leaders are asking Del. Richard L. Morris, R-Suffolk, to resign days after he was charged for a series of crimes including offenses of cruelty and injuries toward a minor and assault and battery of a female relative. We are deeply concerned by the charges against Delegate Rick Morris. While we all believe that individuals are innocent until proven guilty and entitled to their day in court, these are serious and troubling allegations, the House of Delegates Republican leadership said a joint statement issued Saturday afternoon. Accordingly, we have asked Delegate Morris to resign his seat effective immediately. The statement was signed by House Speaker William J. Howell, Majority Leader M. Kirkland Kirk Cox, Caucus Chairman Timothy D. Hugo, Majority Whip Jackson H. Miller and Deputy Majority Leader C. Todd Gilbert. He needs this time to focus on his personal and family life and we pray for the comfort and healing of everyone involved in this situation, the members said in the statement. The Republican Party of Virginias Chairman John Whitbeck joined the House leaderships call for Morris to resign in a one-paragraph statement released Saturday evening. Whitbeck said that he was praying for Morris entire family and that the delegate must put the welfare of his constituents ahead of his political career. These are serious charges, and Delegate Morris cannot be an effective representative of the people while he answers them through the judicial system, Whitbeck said in a statement. Morris did not respond to a request, via email and phone call, for comment Saturday afternoon. According to his biography on the House of Delegates website, Morris is an attorney and graduate of Regent University School of Law. He is married and has nine children. He was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2012 and represents the 64th District, which includes parts of Isle of Wight, Prince George, Southampton, Surry and Sussex counties and the cities of Franklin and Suffolk. Morris was initially arrested Tuesday evening on two misdemeanor charges of assault and battery of a family member, plus one felony charge of cruelty and injuries of a child. After the initial arrest Tuesday, Morris was released on bond from Western Tidewater Regional Jail at about 1 a.m. Wednesday. Police continued to investigate, and while Morris was at Suffolk police headquarters on Thursday afternoon in relation to the accusations against him, he was served with additional arrest warrants. The Suffolk Police Department did not specify Morris exact relationship with his alleged victims earlier this week, but police did say the violence began as early as December and continued at various times this year. In Thursdays arrest, Morris was charged with three more felony counts of cruelty and injuries to children; three felony counts of child endangerment; three misdemeanor counts of domestic assault involving a minor; and two counts of misdemeanor domestic assault involving an adult female family member, Suffolk police said. In total, he faces 14 charges for crimes allegedly committed against the two family members, according to Suffolk police. After the first arrest, Morris was released on a $1,500 bond. After being arrested again Thursday on the 11 additional charges, Morris was released again on a $1,500 bond. In relation to the first three charges against Morris, police determined Morris had physically assaulted the boy relative on Sept. 16, causing injuries consistent with excessive physical discipline, police said. Suffolk police made contact with the boy after receiving a complaint from Child Protective Services. That same day, police also communicated with the adult woman in the Morris household, and police said they determined that Morris had assaulted and injured her days before Christmas. All of the offenses allegedly happened in Morris house in the 300 block of Babbtown Road in the Whaleyville section of Suffolk, police said. House leaders in their statement Saturday, said legislators are expected to conduct themselves in manner that is above reproach and consistent with the honor and dignity of this body. We are reminded now of the importance of preserving the publics trust and the expectations, obligations, and duties that come with the privilege of serving in the House of Delegates, the leadership said. Morris drew statewide attention in January when he took to the floor on the first day of the legislative session to denounce the Black Lives Matter movement, saying it promotes the killing of police officers and the destruction of cities, and suggested abortion has replaced slavery as Americas national sin. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Helena Burn worship rally set Helena Burn 24-7 invites you to join us for a 24-hour worship and praise event. We will be meeting Friday, Sept. 30, through Oct. 1 at Mountain Family Fellowship, 6145 N Montana Ave. The Helena Burn is a musician-led worship event where participants are free to worship through art, song, prayer, reflection or dance. For more information contact the Burn at http://helenaburn24-7.wix.com/helena-burn-24-7. Meeting to focus of children's welfare On Thursday, Sept. 29, there will be an interfaith gathering for those concerned about adversity and trauma in childrens lives in the Helena community. This event is designed to help our community, faith communities, and community groups unify around the common cause of the well being of Montanas children. Chaplain Chris Haughee has organized groups from the local Latter Day Saints, Baha'i, Jewish and Christian community to share in this gathering. The gathering will focus on creating space for different traditions to express their desire to support our children. The event will take place at St. Pauls United Methodist Church, 80 East Lawrence St. at 7 p.m. The entire community is welcome to experience this event and learn more about the work of faith communities in the work of Adverse Childhood Experiences(the ACE study). To learn more about ACEs and the study please go to http://www.elevatemontana.org. Therapeutic music Mary Stevens, of Harp for Healing, LLC, will present a lecture and demonstration of therapeutic music in ministry and healthcare settings at St. John's Lutheran Church on Saturday, October 1, from 1 to 3 in the afternoon. The presentation will include information on the history, types, and science of therapeutic music, the use of therapeutic music in ministry, and training options for therapeutic musicians. The presentation will include a generous number of musical demonstrations played on the harp. Following the lecture/demonstration, will be an opportunity for attendees to actually play a harp. Stevens will have with her several harps of various sizes, which will be used in a "harp circle". Participants are invited to bring their own harp if they have one. Participants will play the harps together in a fun group setting. St. Johns Lutheran Church is located at 1000 Helena Ave. in Helena. There is no cost to attend, but preregistration is requested by contacting the church at helenastjohns.org or call 442-6270. BILLINGS -- Cattle prices were losing value faster than autumn sheds daylight when the unexpected happened. China announced it was lifting its 13-year ban on U.S. beef. If you dont think a cowboy or two cried with joy, think again. China is the second largest beef customer in the world. Its expected to import 825,000 tons of beef this year. Thats the kind of shopper that could turn current prices around. The beef industry has suffered huge losses in the last 12 to 14 months, said Jim Peterson, who ranches near Buffalo. There are a lot of ag producers in both cattle production and farming who are looking for a light at the end of the tunnel. Calves are selling for almost half or less than half of what they were selling for last year. Calves selling for $700 to $800 now would have sold for $1,500 last fall. Peterson knows the China dilemma like few ranchers do. A former chairman of the U.S. Meat Export Foundation, hes traveled to China twice trying to undo the damage of a 2003 incident thats become known as the cow who stole Christmas. In late December 2003, a Washington dairy cow turned up with mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, BSE for short. Overnight, countries shut their doors to U.S. beef. Americas cattle market crashed, from $3 billion a year to $1 billion. Over the years many key markets returned. By 2011, exports had returned to pre-2003 volumes. But China was a holdout. Its been 13 years since our BSE incident closed that market, said Jim Peterson. Its taken forever to get beyond that Christmas cow. No one knows for sure why China announced it would lift its ban last week, said Kent Bacus, international director of trade and market access for the National Cattlemens Beef Association. However, demand for beef in China has never been higher. Last year, China imported $2.5 billion worth of beef, an amount just shy of all U.S. beef export sales before 2003, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Compare that to the $10 million in beef China imported the last year U.S. sales were permitted, and the excitement among American ranchers is understandable. Chinas middle class is booming, and so is its appetite for beef. This product is going to fly off the shelves, Bacus said. I think were going to have a great opportunity there. Theres still a lot of technical details that have to be ironed out. We dont have beef on Chinas shelves yet. When we do, well still have to promote the product and gain their trust. Peterson and other U.S. representatives that have met with Chinese officials over the years have always insisted American beef is safe. Persistence about U.S. beef safety, more than anything, is behind the proposed lifting of the ban, said U.S. Ambassador to China Max Baucus, a former U.S. senator from Montana. Youve got to be patient. Youve got to be positive. Youve got to be be persistent over here. Just stick with it, stick with it, Baucus said. Its hard to know when youre going to succeed because this country is so opaque. They just dont let you know when they are going to make a decision or not make a decision. Peterson said he thought China was close to lifting the ban two years ago, after he met Chinese officials during a trade mission with Montana Gov. Steve Bullock. The rancher wasnt sure how the meeting would go. A couple years earlier on a Beijing trip, Peterson had called out Chinese trade officials on whats known as the grey door or grey box route of U.S. beef to China. The U.S. Meat Export Federation estimates that despite the ban, China has continued to import U.S. beef by acquiring it from Hong Kong or countries like Vietnam where U.S. beef is welcome. Peterson angered the Chinese so badly, they filed a complaint with the U.S. Embassy. Before the day was over, he was contacted by U.S. officials in Washington, D.C., and told to cool it. On his trip with Bullock, Peterson played it calm and left thinking the ban was about to be lifted. I came back pretty optimistic. Looking back at it, maybe I was too naive, Peterson said. Later, I was kind of disappointed and got to thinking I sure hope I get to see this in my lifetime. The pressure from Montana ranchers for a solution has been conveyed to Montana politicians. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., met with Chinese leaders in May to discuss many issues, including territorial conflicts in the South China sea as well as other trade issues. But when he got to the table, the only thing that filled his thoughts was the beef ban. It might be his only chance to raise the issue. They were the first words out of my mouth. When are you going to remove the ban on beef exports? Daines recalled Friday. It sort of shot out of my mouth. China still hasnt said exactly when the ban will be lifted, which has Melville rancher Bill Donald skeptical. Donald is a past chairman of the National Cattlemens Beef Association. He noticed that live cattle prices didnt increase when the news broke Thursday. There are still plenty of conditions to meet to get U.S. beef into the country, including an age cap of 30 months, a restriction Japan imposed on U.S beef until just a couple years ago. Given that U.S. beef is entering China through trade backdoors now, Donald said hes curious to see whether demand improves if sales are normalized. Like others, Donald sees a huge middle class in China that has money and wants to eat. Hes excited. Their middle class has just really blossomed in the last 10 years or 12 years. Its bigger than the population of the United States, Donald said. And the one thing people want when they have more money is high protein. That fuels the body. A TEAM of work-mates from funeral firm hit the heights when they raised 600 for charity with a tough climbing challenge. Co-op Funeralcare colleagues from Edlington, Doncaster and Greasbrough supported the British Red Cross by climbing Mount Snowdon as part of a fundraising campaign to combat loneliness and social isolation. Melanie Rowland from Edlington, Jacqui Clifford from Doncaster and Karen Sansom from Greasbrough, were complete novices when it came to climbing, but were determined to do something which would challenge them physically and mentally, as well as raise funds for a worthy cause. The trek took the team just over six hours, and once completed, they treated themselves to a picnic at the summit. Their activity forms part of a wider effort by the Co-op to raise money in order to help tackle loneliness and social isolation across the UK, in partnership with British Red Cross. Since the Co-op first linked up with the charity in 2015, the campaign has so far achieved over 2million. Karen Sansom, funeral arranger from Greasbrough Co-op Funeralcare, commented: We completed a few practice walks and went to the gym in preparation for this challenge, but we felt that this activity played to our strengths for working as a team the most. It was such a fantastic way of fundraising for a worthwhile cause. The whole atmosphere and spirit of the event was so inspiring as well as good fun, and we hope that these funds help to give much-needed support to people who feel isolated throughout the UK. Research by the Co-op indicates millions of people find it difficult to admit they feel lonely, and the partnership will enable many vulnerable people to be reached. Tracey Crich, Senior Community Fundraiser for the British Red Cross, added: We'd like to thank the ladies from Co-op Funeralcare for their fantastic fundraising efforts. Climbing a mountain is certainly an unusual and strenuous way of raising money, but it will all go towards some very deserving people. Loneliness is an issue that impacts on thousands of people every day, and we hope that more people have the drive to complete incredible events like these. Office Depot, Inc. (ODP) announced that it intends to sell its European to The AURELIUS Group. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2016. The company said that the transaction is structured as an equity sale, for nominal consideration, with the buyer acquiring the European business with its assets and liabilities. Annual revenue for the European business is approximately EUR 2 billion. Office Depot had previously disclosed its intention to explore strategic alternatives regarding its European business, under a process that began earlier this year. "The sale of our European business will allow us to streamline operations and focus our resources on that will provide the best opportunity to implement our recently announced three year strategic plan," said Roland Smith, chairman and chief executive officer for Office Depot. Goldman, Sachs & Co. acted as Office Depot's exclusive financial advisor on the transaction. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News MISSOULA -- Mary Hanson was going through an odd time in her life, as she describes it. The Milwaukee resident, now in her sixties, said she'd been losing some friends and relatives. The news, meanwhile, was filled with election controversies and the racial tumult in her home city. At the end of a week of 90-degree weather, she went to check her mail. Among the junk mail and the bills, she found "this little bright pineapple" painted in watercolor and acrylic on a postcard. It was a simple thing, she said, but it touched her. "It just was very compelling to have that physical thing," she said in a phone interview. Not an ad, a tweet, or a Facebook post, but a small painted card from a complete stranger. It was mailed to her on Aug. 30 by Linds Sanders, a Missoula artist, as part of her Art by Post project, in which she creates one card a day and mails it to someone, either by request through a website or other means. She might even meet a stranger in the airport and ask for their address. She modeled her year-long endeavor after a haiku project by Andrew O. Dugas, a writer and poet who lives in San Francisco. Dugas wrote 1,001 haikus, one per day, and mailed them to strangers. Sanders received one in January 2014, in the midst of a stressful day. Its message was simple but more poignant for a Montana resident that Dugas may have realized: official winter! at long last we can begin the countdown to spring "It hit me at a time when I really, really needed it," Sanders said, so much so that she contacted him and said she wanted to create her own version. "He was amazed and flattered and helped be a mentor through the project," she said. A community-minded art project seems a natural fit for Sanders, who has a full-time job as the manager of the Zootown Arts Community Center, the bustling Northside arts center that encourages creativity for students of all ages. If you walk into the ZACC, she's probably the first person you'll see at the front desk, ready to help you find the class you're looking for or the activity that suits your needs. ZACC Executive Director Kia Liszak called her "the warm greeter who takes care of everyone" when they first arrive. "My favorite people are the people who feel like they don't belong," Sanders said. "The biggest step they made was walking through the door. By walking through the door, they're admitting they have a creative bone in their body." Adults in particular can feel more self-conscious about trying out art, but she believes everyone brings talent some might just need to be patient because it takes time to develop a new skill. Liszak, who hired Sanders, said she was impressed with everything Sanders had accomplished at such a young age. Sanders' signature is simply asking everyone who walks in a question: "What has been the highlight of your day?" It sounds so simple, Liszak said, but it always makes them stop and think. Sanders, a Billings native, came to Missoula to study journalism at the University of Montana. For an unofficial minor, she took every art class she could. "All the art professors kept asking me when I was going to apply for the BFA, because they thought I was an art student," she said. She grew up around art: her mother, Connie Dillon, is a photographer and painter who owns a gallery in Billings called Gallery Nine. After graduating in 2012, Sanders sold feather jewelry at the Saturday markets until her mother passed along a job posting for the ZACC, where Sanders had a solo exhibition as an undergrad. She applied for a fill-in post, and after someone else left, she became the manager. "Like all of our jobs here, it just grew and grew and grew," she said. She's also the volunteer coordinator, teaches the once-monthly glass fusing class, loads and looks after the kilns, and comes up with all the graphic design for the ZACC's myriad brochures, fliers, stickers, etc. And she's overflowing with community activities. Outside of the ZACC, she has a part-time job as the owner/designer of Ramble Journals handmade journals from recycled materials that are sold in stores in Missoula, Billings, Bozeman, Helena, and Big Timber. Twenty percent of the proceeds go to the Rina B. Moog Scholarship Fund, created in memory of a close friend. By the time Sanders was 15 years old, she'd seen people around her fall into the trap of substance abuse. She decided she's better off to her community if she abstains from drugs and alcohol and has been straight-edge ever since. "I'm really grateful that I found a good community here that knows the role that alcohol and substances play in their lives, and it's a healthy role," she said. Sanders is also a member of a women's mahjong group that meets every Monday. The mid-20-something is the second-youngest member the next in age is in her 60s. She came across the group at the library over three years ago and sat down because she wanted to know more. "Within an hour, they had me playing, and I just kept coming back every single week," she said. "They're awesome," she said. The group even traveled to Las Vegas in February to compete in a tournament. Beyond hiking, inner-tube water polo, and more, she says she likes to try a little bit of everything even taking dance classes, which she says she's not good at to the point of discomfort, which is part of the point. "I guess I seek out things that make me uncomfortable and try to stick with them long enough to wonder why I'm uncomfortable," she said. BUTTE -- EPA presented its fourth five-year review of the Silver Bow Creek and Butte area Superfund to members of the Citizens Technical Environmental Committee on Thursday evening. The document was published on the EPAs website Friday. EPA asked CTEC to comb over a fact sheet meant to summarize the five-year review and determine improvements in presentation and language that would make it more understandable to community members. The fact sheet summarizes the past, present and future of cleanup plans at each of the Superfund areas operable units. CTEC members took immediate issue with the abundance of acronyms and technical language they said make the fact sheet difficult to understand for EPAs target audience. CTEC President Dr. John Ray was also dismayed by the question and answer section of the fact sheet. One question asked whether any other information has come to light that could call into question the protectiveness of the remedy? the answer to which was no across all operable units. Ray claimed CTEC regularly provides EPA with documentation of specific remediation worries, particularly in regard to EPAs action levels for metals, which Ray and others dispute as too high to protect human health in Butte. How does EPA define information? Ray asked. EPA community involvement coordinator Robert Moler explained that while EPA had received plenty of information from the community, none of it called into question the protectiveness of the remedy. Nikia Greene, the EPA project manager for the Butte Priority Soils, gave the example of a four-wheeler tearing up a waste cap as the type of information EPA would consider consequential to clean up plans. Kay remained unconvinced information provided by CTEC to EPA would ever be considered substantial. Mary Kay Craig of CTEC asked why additional information on the Parrot Tailings wasnt considered substantial enough. CTEC and the state believe a toxic plume from the Parrot Tailings is working its way toward Silver Bow Creek, but EPA disagrees. Greene admitted that while groundwater is moving through the aquifer, thats different from plume movement, and EPA hasnt changed its stance that the tailings can be left in place safely. Moler said the purpose of CTEC reviewing the fact sheet was to offer recommendations on how to make the data within clearer, not to challenge the validity of the data itself. Greene said the biggest revelation in the five-year plan is that progress on the operable unit encapsulating the old Rocker Timber Framing and Treating Plant has been delayed. He said EPA needs more data before it can make a protectiveness determination for Rocker, including updating the site map and digging more wells, which would take at least 18 months. Theres a lot of unknowns at the Rocker site, Greeen said. Answers to questions from the public comment period of the five-year review are not included in the document published Friday, but Moler said the EPA plans to release them on October 17 along with the finalized fact sheet at a public meeting. SNc Channels: Search About Salem-News.com Sep-24-2016 01:28 TweetFollow @OregonNews Hempstalk: Cannabis Culture and the Fight For Equality The message of Hempstalk and cannabis advocates across this state still has not been heard Portland Hempstalk brings incredible artisans and craftsmen together. Photo: Sean King (PORTLAND, Ore.) - Portlands annual Hempstalk Harvest Festival advocates decriminalization of cannabis for medicinal, industrial, and social use in Oregon and across the United States. Founded in 2005 by The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation (THCF), the festival takes place on September 24- 25 in Waterfront Park, and features food vendors, live music, guest speakers and craft booths. This public event has always been free to attend. From 2009 to 2013, Hempstalk was held in Kelley Point Park, in the far Northwest corner of Portland, at the confluence of the Columbia River and the Willamette River. It is estimated 60,000 people attended the two-day event in 2013. In 2014, it was determined by Mayor Charlie Hales and Portland City Council that Waterfront Park was the proper location for our festival. Hempstalk stands for privacy protections for medical patients and users, smart and fair regulations, increased availability of expungement for those with prior marijuana convictions and decreased criminal penalties for the remaining marijuana crimes. We gather to remind the public that there are still prisoners of the drug war who need to be freed. We gather in remembrance of the warriors we have lost along the way. And we gather to celebrate our hard-fought victories to show prohibitionists that we will continue this fight until our freedom is complete. We believe, as a group, it is time to stand up against the petrochemical pharmaceutical military industrial transnational crony corporate elite ruling class. Over the years, Hempstalk speakers have included: 2016 Libertarian Presidential Candidate Governor Gary Johnson, 2016 Green Party Presidential Candidate Dr. Jill Stein, Poet John Trudell, Poet John Sinclair, Author Bill Drake, Imprisoned Cannabis Activist Eddy Lepp, Dr. Tod Mikuriya, Dr. Phillip Leveque, Seattle Hempfest Director Vivian McPeak and Hemp Pioneer Jack Herer. Some of the organizations speaking on our platform this year include: Pacific Green Party, Libertarian Party, The Bus Project, KBOO Community Radio, MS Society of Oregon, Safer Shirts, Compassionate Oregon, Salem-News.com, Portland NORML and Parents 4 Pot. The passage of Measure 91 marked a monumental shift in Oregons treatment of marijuana. Public discourse about the production, sale, and consumption of marijuana, for both medical and recreational purposes, continues to be a critical component of the development of policy and regulations at the state and local level. Public events, especially ones hosted in public spaces such as the parks in downtown Portland, are important venues for this ongoing dialogue. Parks have played, and continue to play, a central role in the narrative of public protest, demonstration, and the dissemination of ideas throughout the history of Oregon and the United States. For this reason, parks have become the quintessential public forum: a government-owned property that is open to public expression and assembly. According to Mayor-Elect Ted Wheeler, there are a number of ways that he plans to lead on cannabis policy and advocacy as the Mayor of Portland. He has stated if business owners and people know that Portland is a safe place where they're respected and welcomed, they'll open businesses here and hire Portlanders who want to work here. We know that Portland has already successfully hosted several public consumption events here. There will be growing pains, but there is no reason Portland cannot be a leader when it comes to cannabis-related festivals and events. Wheeler also believes that we must protect the rights of patients as was intended when Measure 91 was passed and that patients and people enjoying cannabis recreationally must have access to a safe place to consume indoors. He supports exploring regulation of public consumption venues locally. Cannabis cafes, for example, potentially represent a safe place to consume. There are industry advocates who will be bringing these issues before the legislature in 2017. "Cannabis shouldn't be consumed anywhere that cigarettes aren't consumed, but if the goal is safe public consumption, we have work to do in Portland, Wheeler has stated. It is clear that the message of Hempstalk and cannabis advocates across this state still has not been heard. When we voted to regulate cannabis, it was because we wanted to let the thousands of users in Oregon come out of the closet and to be seen as the productive contributors to society that we are. After regulation, when seeking special permitting for public event cannabis consumption, we find ourselves pushed back into those same old closets by fear motivated, overzealous regulators who still see us as criminals getting away with something. Alcohol drinkers can drink in public at bars, restaurants, and specially permitted park events. Cannabis consumers should be allowed the same opportunity. Source: Hempstalk Harvest Festival press release _________________________________________ Prohibition | Marijuana | Medicine | Business | Most Commented on Articles for September 24, 2016 | Articles for September 25, 2016 Kansas State's stellar report card after dominating Oklahoma State Here is how Kansas State's football team graded out in Saturday's big win against Oklahoma State. Yes its true that Samoa is a hard working nation but the question is; are we hard working because we have to in order to survive or because its in our nature? For Damian Peterson, 40, from the village of Faleasiu, we have always been a hard working nation because we need to. Running a road-side chicken and chips shack, Damian says that its his familys way of making ends meet. The only thing about living in Samoa that I know for sure of is that we need to work for what we want and need, he told the Village Voice. If you dont work then you wont be able to make any money to do things within the family and the many different obligations we have going on. The same goes for business people; if you dont come and do a restaurant or anything then you wont get anywhere. According to Damian, if you dont sweat then you wont get anywhere in life. The business I have is a chicken and chips shack, he said. I sell chicken and chips or fish and chips. I understand that I have to work hard because if I dont then my family will suffer. This is the life we Samoans face. I have only been doing this for three months. The main reason I started this business is because I needed to find a way to make money to take care of my family and children. I also needed money to take care of church commitments. It has always been like this for our people, if your head doesnt sweat then you wont get anywhere. With his chicken and chips shack being his familys only source of income, Damian says that he is doing pretty well but he knows he can do a lot better. I make a little over $100 a day but I made more before, he said. My shack was located in-land but I had to move here because the family who owned the land told me not to run my business there anymore. I would make $500 a day back in the old location. This is the only work I do. I would wake up early to go do my shopping before coming back to open up. I would work right throughout the day until it gets dark because I dont have any lights in here. Thats how my life is right now. You wont get anything if you dont sweat. On the other hand, Damian sees the rising number of Chinese owned businesses as a problem for Samoa. For me, it seems like a lot of people are so happy with the presence of the Chinese, he said. The businesses opened up by the Chinese gets a lot of support from our people. The shop just down the road just opened this month and people are going there a lot. People are no longer supporting the smaller village shops but instead, they want to go to the cheap Chinese shops. Thats how you know that the Chinese are very good at marketing. Our country is a poor one so we always go to whats cheaper and affordable rather than support our own people. The Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction of two individuals found guilty of running a money-making scam in Samoa. The decision was delivered by a panel of Supreme Court Judges including Justice Fisher, Justice Blanchard and Justice Panckhurst at the beginning of the month. Nicolas Giannos and Rosita Stanfield, who were stopped from leaving Samoa and arrested at the Faleolo International Airport last year, were found guilty of obtaining by deception with Giannos further convicted of false accounting. Through their lawyer, Leota Raymond Schuster, the couple appealed the decision including the conviction of false accounting against Giannos. In the end, the appeal against their convictions for obtaining money by deception was dismissed except Giannos conviction for false accounting, which was quashed. This is the continuation of the ruling which we started publishing on Wednesday: [35] That the appellants did not believe their own claims is apparent from something said by Mr. Giannos when questioned by Central Bank officials on the day when the appellants went back to the bank with their clarification. (We have to say that the clarification was nothing of the sort: it was merely another way of stating the same result for the investors but in terms of entry price, which would of course in a commercial context reflect the value of the investment.) The unchallenged evidence of Ms Tafunai, the Manager of the Financial Market Department of the Bank was as follows: Mr. Pereira of the bank had asked for clarification because they had stated during their presentation during the 15th that an investor from that point in time which was May up to July would earn ten times more from their initial investment. Pereira had asked them to clarify as to how this was possible given the short spending time ; how would an investor receive ten times more from that initial investment and Mr. Giannos was quick to say that it was impossible for any investors to receive ten times more of return from his investment in that short time , what they actually meant was that up to 21 July I believe it would be cheaper for an investor or for somebody to invest with the UFUN so up to the 21 July it would be cheaper but after the 21 July it would be more expensive for an individual to invest with the UFUN ... [36] So Mr. Giannos himself accepted that what the appellants had been telling the investors about a tenfold increase was impossible. In other words, there was no prospect of a tenfold increase resulting by 21 July. The representations were false. And, as we have said, the clarification was of the same nature and would have not changed the character of the representation even if it had been made to the investors or if they had actually understood the appellants to have been referring to entry prices. [37] In the case of one investor, the representation had been more specific: that the increase in value would be from $1580 to $10,000 by 21 July a more than sixfold increase. Such an increase was also impossible. [38] In two cases the representation was that the investment would double by 21 July and in one that it would double or treble by that time. Such predictions though unlikely to be fulfilled, were somewhat less in the world of fantasy than those representing a sixfold or tenfold gain. In other words, even if the issue of Utoken was continuing to trade, it is unlikely that its assets, and therefore the value of an investment in its financial product, would be such that there would be doubling or trebling in value as a result of an IPO. [39] However we need not take that further because in fact Ufun was not trading normally. It had, over a month earlier and before the appellants came to Samoa, had its headquarters in Bangkok shut down by the Thai police as part of a fraud investigation. Evidence of that had been given by a Thai police officer who was involved in the police raid on the Ufun office. [40] Like the Chief Justice, we were entirely unimpressed by the appellants assertion through their counsel, and the evidence of Mr. Giannos, that the Ufun company shut down in Bangkok was unconnected with their Ufun that it must have been an unrelated company which had taken the same name. Their cause was not assisted by the inclusion in their slide show presentation to the Central Bank and others of a photograph of the Ufun building which the Thai police officer identified as the one which was the subject of the police raid. [41] Nor were we impressed by the submission that any closure of the Bangkok operations of Ufun would have had no impact on its operations in Malaysia and Indonesia. Bangkok was the headquarters of the Ufun group. Ms Stanfield herself had said so in a letter to the Prime Minister of Samoa. [42] Although there is no direct proof that the appellants knew of the closure of the Ufun headquarters, the Chief Justice was entitled to conclude that they must have known. Plainly they remained in contact with Ufun, as appears from Mr Giannos explanation to the Central Bank for the belated arrival of the clarification note that it had not been available from Ufun at the time of the presentations made to investors and the bank. It is inconceivable that the forcible closure of the head office and the arrest of senior executives would have passed unnoticed by them even if, as they suggested, their dealings had been with the Malaysian branch. The deliberate failure to tell this to the investors they were enticing with representations of large increases in value was a very material omission of a particular that made their representation a deception in terms of s.172(2)(b). [43] For these reasons the appeals against the s.172 convictions must fail. The false accounting [44] On the other hand, we have concluded that Mr. Giannos appeal against the two convictions for false accounting must succeed. This is because the two ANZ International Telegraphic Transfer Application forms cannot properly be said to be documents required or used for accounting purposes in terms of s.198 of the Crimes Act. It is evident that their purpose is compliance with Samoan exchange control rules, not the keeping of ANZs financial accounts. They would not be required for the latter purpose nor has it been proved that they are relied upon by ANZ for accounting purposes. We are aware that in so concluding we are differing from the evidence of Ms Tuia of ANZ. She was its trade financial supervisor. She was not giving evidence as an accounting expert but because she had familiarity with remittance of moneys out of Samoa. She said, first of all, that the bank did not use the form for accounting procedures. They were used to check the telegraphic transfers but not for any other purpose. Despite that, she nevertheless accepted from counsel that the bank would rely on the forms in terms of its accounting procedures. [45] With respect to the witness, we rather doubt that she had any idea that the question was directed to a phrase in s.198 and it seems to us that she must have been correct when she said that the forms were used only to check the telegraphic transfers. It is hard to see how they could have had any use in relation to the banks accounts. In any event, there was no adequate proof to the contrary from a properly qualified witness. Appeals against sentence [46] In submitting that the sentences imposed on the appellants were manifestly excessive Mr. Schuster stressed the absence of any loss to the complainants. He was not, however, able to refer us to any Samoan precedents suggesting that the sentences were out of line when the level of the amounts obtained by deception is taken into account. There were six victims of the offending who were induced to part with an aggregate sum of $41,149. The appellants, in a calculated and pre-meditated way, were preying on naive and/or gullible victims. They took advantage also of Ms Stanfields family connection, so that there was an element of abuse of trust. [47] We have considered whether the overturning of the false accounting convictions should result in an adjustment downwards of Mr. Giannos three year sentence of imprisonment and have concluded that it should not. The false accounting, if it had been established, was a relatively minor matter as compared with the obtaining by deception, in respect of which he had played the leading role in the making of a series of false representations. Result [48] The appeals of Mr. Gianno sand Ms Stanfield in respect of their convictions and sentences for the s.172 offences are dismissed. [49] Mr. Giannos appeal against his convictions for the s.198 offences is allowed and the convictions are quashed. Honourable Justice Fisher Honourable Justice Blanchard Honourable Justice Panckhurst Samoa and India have signed an agreement for the exchange of information with respect to taxes. This was confirmed by Indias Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to the media in his country. The agreement will stimulate the flow of exchange of information between India and Samoa for tax purposes which will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance. There are no financial implications at present. Only in the event of extraordinary costs exceeding US$500, the same will be borne by India. India has similar provisions in other such tax information exchange agreement. Salient features of the Agreement: 1. The Agreement enables the competent authorities of India and Samoa to provide assistance through exchange of information that is foreseeably relevant to the administration and enforcement of the domestic laws of the two countries concerning taxes covered by this Agreement. 2. The information received under the Agreement shall be treated as confidential and may be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts or administrative bodies) concerned with assessment, collection, enforcement, prosecution or determination of appeals in relation to taxes covered under the Agreement. Information may be disclosed to any other person or entity or authority or jurisdiction with the prior written consent of the information sending country. 3. The Agreement also provides for Mutual Agreement Procedure for resolving any difference or for agreeing on procedures under the Agreement. 4. The Agreement shall enter into force on the date of notification of completion of the procedures required by the respective laws of the two countries for entry into force of the Agreement. Background: The Central Government is authorized under section 90 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 to enter into an Agreement with a foreign country or specified territory for exchange of information for the prevention of evasion or avoidance of income-tax chargeable under the Income-tax Act, 1961. Negotiations for entering into an Agreement for the exchange of information with respect to Taxes were finalized between India and Samoa in June, 2016 and both countries have agreed on the text of the Agreement. Theyre back. For the third time this year, water experts from Okinawa, Japan are in Samoa to work alongside their Samoa Water Authority (S.W.A) counterparts to improve water supply management. Their visit is facilitated by the Japanese International Corporation Agency (J.I.C.A). Masato Gushiken is here under the Capacity Enhancement Project for Samoa Water Authority in cooperation with Okinawa (C.E.P.S.O) project. His goal is to improve knowledge and procedures about water leak survey together with contributing to reducing non-revenue water rate for the Alaoa water supply scheme. Hitoshi Nakasone from Okinawa City Waterworks Bureau will be focusing on the analysis of water balance. He will also aim at calculating non-revenue ratio and measuring minimum night water flow to identify the quality of leakage occurred. Takuro Ohama, another expert for Asset Management from Naha city, capital of Okinawa, will be working with the Asset Management Unit of Samoa Water Authority to cope with the counterparts in creating accurate map of pipeline network. The officials will be working with the Samoa Water Authority representatives, sharing their knowledge and skills to build local capacity. Skills transfer will be achieved through a combination of practical field work, the provision of technical guidance in working with different kinds of pipes, and with the use of standard operation procedures. A curriculum will also be developed for ongoing training purposes. The assistance of these water experts will help the Samoa Water Authority meet its commitment to provide safe, good quality water for the people of Samoa so that they may enjoy life. DECATUR It doesn't matter to Mikhail Yanovitsky if the children he played for at Johns Hill Magnet School on Friday understood the skill and hours of practice it took for him to become a master pianist. He just wanted them to hear and appreciate music that has stood the test of time. I want them to be familiar with that kind of music, with music that lives for centuries, he said. Most commonly, contemporary generations listen to some celebrity songs, forgetting them and moving on to the next one. They forget the music that has lived for centuries. My job is to introduce them to it. He's been visiting schools and talking to children for years, he said. In 1991, I started at this kind of facility, which they called residency, Yanovitsky said. It included going to local schools before I performed at the concert hall, playing and meeting local children and explaining to them. I am very familiar with this kind of work, and I like it a lot. For his final selection, he offered the students a choice between Debussy and Gershwin, and they chose Gershwin, who is Yanovitsky's favorite American composer. Yanovitsky will be the featured artist at the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra's opening concert at 7:30 p.m. today in Kirkland Fine Arts Center. The program includes Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2, The Sunken Cathedral by Debussy, arranged by Stokowski and Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition by Ravel. Yanovistky's appearance at Johns Hill was organized by the Symphony Orchestra Guild of Decatur, to provide students a chance to hear a master perform live. Band teacher Tom Miller gives his students extra credit if they attend a professional concert, and this one is no exception. We were very fortunate we were able to set this up, he said. While the classical composers are probably unfamiliar to many of the youngsters, symphony music director and conductor Sergey Bogza hopes that a fire might have been lit under some of them. That's what inspired him to become a musician, when he was 11, and his school provided such an opportunity. Hearing an artist live is much different from seeing him on television or YouTube, Bogza said, and far more inspiring to aspiring young musicians. One of my priorities as the music director of the orchestra is that the guest artists are not only guests to the orchestra, but guests to the entire city, Bogza said. I really believe in community outreach and for children having access and hearing high level classical music live. So when selecting my guest artists, it was important for me to understand that not only will they play at a high level with the orchestra, but they'll be open to doing community outreach and playing in schools. How often do world-renowned artists play for children in Decatur? Yanovitsky played at Dennis School earlier Friday, and after Johns Hill was headed to Primrose Retirement Community to play for residents there. On Thursday, he gave a master class. The suspended Director of the National Prosecution Office (N.P.O.), Mauga Precious Chang, has rejected the charges against her. Before Judge Vaepule Vaemoa Vaai in the District Court yesterday, Mauga pleaded not guilty to charges of negligent driving causing injury and dangerous driving. Her plea was entered by her lawyer and former Attorney General, Aumua Ming Leung Wai. Also present in Court were two senior lawyers, Taulapapa Brenda Heather-Latu representing the N.P.O and Satiu Simativa Perese, for the Police. The Supreme Court will make a decision next week on which of the two will prosecute Mauga. In the meantime, Taulapapa told the Court the charges of negligent driving causing injury and dangerous driving are final. Satiu on the other hand told the Court he has not had any contact with the Police on whether the charges have been finalised yet. In relation to the issue of who would prosecute, Taulapapa presented a letter from the Acting Police Commissioner, Afamasaga Michael Soonalole to the Court. Written last month, the letter states that the Police did not approach the Office of the Attorney General to engage someone to prosecute the matter. But Satiu, who is in Samoa based upon instructions from the Office of the Attorney General, disagreed. He in turn presented a letter from another Acting Police Commissioner, Fauono Talalelei Tapu, which says the Police are waiting until the ruling from the Supreme Court on whom would be the prosecutor. In any case, Judge Vaepule made it clear to both counsels that the matter will now be adjourned to allow the Supreme Court to decide on who would carry out the prosecution. Judge Vaepule also emphasised that the District Court would not accept any further charge at that time. He said any additional charges should be filed by 3 October 2016. The hearing date for this matter has been set for 28 November 2016. Whether we like it or not, there is something extremely sad when we think about the governments extravagant spending while so many people are wallowing in sheer hardship and relative poverty in this country. You dont need to look further than the fact the majority of workers in Samoa remain on the measly minimum wage of barely $2 an hour. This is daylight robbery in our opinion considering the skyrocketing cost of living and demands of every day Samoan life. It becomes even harder to swallow when we stop to consider the millions wasted by the government of the day through one failed project after another. We dont need to tell you anymore. But if you must insist on examples, for the past couple of weeks, weve been highlighting the millions wasted in a number of those facilities at Tuanaimato and buildings elsewhere - that are slowly but surely rotting to the ground. And yet the governments penchant to invest in big buildings and infrastructure that would eventually turn to white elephants continues. You see, there are a couple of multi-million-tala projects in the pipeline that are truly mind blowing. While on the surface they appear necessary, one really has to question the wisdom on whether it is the best way to spend our limited resources at such a time as this. We say this because looking around Samoa today; things are not as rosy as people would say. Yes weve got more flashlights, taller buildings, more vehicles and what have you but as they say, all that glitter is not gold. It certainly isnt for the most vulnerable members of the community whom we feel continue to lag behind on so many fronts. Over recent weeks the Samoa Observers Village Voice has been making some eye-opening disclosures with stories about the reality of living in paradise. These stories without a doubt would dent our egos and bring us back to reality. They are the sorts of stories the power and mighty dont want the outside world to know. Even some village leaderships and church people in Samoa would deny outright whats being told by these people. But thats okay. The truth hurts. Whereas the demands of everyday Samoan life are driving some people to the edge, the cry for the very basic necessities like water, roads and street lights tells us there is a lot more work to be done. Now they say a picture is worth a thousand words. Some of the ones weve been publishing of people, their everyday lives and the kinds of shelters they call home are heartbreaking. Its difficult not to become affected. We should feel sad with them. The stories of mothers trying their very best to make ends meet, grandmothers who continue to toil day in and day out, fathers and husbands working the land and many other heartbreaking stories of struggles and hardship. Interestingly, one of the most common complaints from these village folks is the minimum wage and the lack of revenue generating opportunities. They are not wrong. In fact, they have a legitimate point. What is stopping the government from increasing the minimum wage? They could probably fund an increase with the cost of some of those pimped up government vehicles we see running up and down the road day and night without any control. Or they might like to reduce some of those trips to wherever in the world for meetings which have very little importance for Samoa. It would be interesting to find out how much is spent on an annual basis on these trips. Subsequently, it was intriguing that recently the Minister of Finance, Sili Epa Tuioti, denied claims his new offices refurbishment cost the public half a million tala. That is absolutely not right, Sili said. Its a standard office with a meeting room and space for my secretary. The office is a part of the Central Banks renovation upgrading in its 6th and 7th floors. Okay then. Fair enough. But how much did it cost? What is so secretive about the cost of a publically-funded project? We know Faumuina Liugas former office at the S.N.P.F Plaza cost $600,000 so why is the government not telling us how much the new Minister of Finances office cost? Its not such a hard question. Does nobody care about the truth anymore? Or has the old catch cry about transparency and accountability been thrown out the window? In any case, you be the judge. But lets come back to the issue of the minimum wage. Not so long ago, the Coordinator of the Samoa First Union, Jerome Mika, made an excellent case for an increase of the minimum wage to $3. Lifting the minimum wage is about fairness and equal relationships, Mr. Mika argued in a column he wrote for this newspaper. While profits are rising for many businesses, wages arent. A handful of wealthy overseas-based companies are creaming it while Samoans see their hard work, ingenuity and perseverance not rewarded in the way it should. Samoa has so much good work to be done, roads to be paved, kids to be taught, tourists to be hosted, he said. But when people are not paid enough to sustain their families and villages, or told to work more for less, then the workplace and the country isnt running fairly. We cant forget the principle of equal relationships. We cannot allow anyone to be paid less than they need to live a good life and provide for their families. Peoples hard work should be recognised and rewarded. Ladies and gentlemen, we couldnt agree more with Mr. Mika. Every single point he has made will strike a chord with Samoans at all levels. High-ranking officials in the public and private sector with their conscience intact will know that some of these people are being robbed when it comes to their wages. And the poorest of the poor in Samoa today will know this themselves. For years, they have had to put up with this. We are talking about hard working fathers, mothers and young people of this country who have had to endure such an injustice for so long. Imagine how demoralising it must be to open that pay cheque at the end of the week only to find a few talas after all that trouble at work? Some of them are out in the sun all day, having to put up with some of the most trying working conditions. Regardless of the circumstances, when we look at the minimum wage of $2.30 an hour compared to the cost of living and the millions wasted through mismanagement, abuse of power and corrupt practices within the government - dont you think this just downright cruel, immoral? Dont be shy to share your thoughts with us and suggest some ways we can continue to push this issue for the sake of our beloved Samoa. Have a restful Sunday Samoa, God bless! Dear Editor, Thank you Lesa for a wonderful editorial about the environment. My family and I gathered broken and useless electronics, with batteries still intact, dumbed into streams, which flow by our home and land of Fogautu in Vaimoso. Industrial wastes are the biggest threat to Small Island Nations, not to mention oil spills and pollutions from vessels coming into the harbor, car exhaust spewed into the environment, etc., etc. Environmental dangers that will accompany the kinds of development approved and desired by leaders who are clueless to long term damages. Leaders who just want to pour big monies into these projects and their pockets, without foresight, is a major problem for Samoa. Our Government, out of ignorance or just pure negligence, does not adhere to honest feasibility and environmental studies on any of their major projects. The Satitoa Aleipata Wharf, laying wasted as we speak, and the new proposed Vaiusu Wharf has none. A Mickey Mouse study was done for the Asau Wharf, I believe by the foreign company which profited from the logging business they did there. An airport, the Government proposed to build in Aleipata, have no such studies done. It is therefore safe to say, the government has no concern whatsoever, on long term economic sustainability and viability of anything, not to mention any adverse affects on peoples lives, livelihood, lands and the islands limited resources. Personal adulation, glorification with instant gratification of money in the pocket, is the present order of the day. As a side note, some decry President Obamas declaration, which protected a vast area of our Pacific Ocean. This is the best thing ever for Pacific Islanders towards reclaiming our ocean resources and sustainable food sources. Now, we do our part! Asipau McMoore Members of the Samoa Association of Manufacturers and Exporters (S.A.M.E) have returned from Thailand with a spring in their step, ready with new ideas to improve their work. Following initial consultations between S.A.M.E and the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Thailand, Virasakdi Futrakul, in Apia, a delegation of S.A.M.E representatives visited Thailand at the beginning of the month. Led by the President, Tagaloa Eddie Wilson, the delegation included John Seedhouse (Noras Plantation-Rep-Food & Beverage Sector); Galumalemana Patrick Rasmussen (Samoa Paints-Rep. Build Industry Sector); Fauono Sina Mualia (S.R.O.S rep. Agriculture & Agri-Process sector); Francisco Cafferelli (Building Sector) and Nash Yoshida (Manufacturing/Aqua-Sector). The delegation initially held consultations with the Thailand Office of S.A.M.E and Thailand P.I.F.S Office. They then visited the Panus Poultry Farm, the 2nd largest in Thailand; the Wonnapob Rice Mill (one of the largest in the world); the Boonsawang Aqua-farm (Sea Perch Farm); Utong- Area 7 DASTA (Designated Area Sustainable Tourism Admin); Theppadungporn Coconut Co Ltd; the Tropicana Oil Co; and SCG Heim (Prefab Buildings). At the end of the visit, the S.A.M.E delegation and Thailand Ambassador Maris Sangiampongsa discussed means and ways for ongoing cooperation between the two countries. They key outcomes nclude: 1. Training opportunities under the Thailand-P.I.F.S technical training program; 2. Joint Product Development & Research initiatives;. 3. Cooperation on Trade Promotions in the Pacific & Asia; 4. Business & Investment Partnering; 5. Annual Visits from selected members/industry reps to relevant industries in Thailand; 6. Facilitation of visiting Thailand SME/Industry Reps; Trade & Investment initiatives. The key findings lessons from the Mission point to the successful integrative and cooperative approach by the Government; Private Sector and support organizations in developing and promoting small and medium enterprises from development phase all the way to export/growth, a statement from S.A.M.E said. Strong support is provided in the areas of capacity building for processors, manufacturers; product development and research to market; trade promotion; export development and financing. Tagaloa said these are all areas S.A.M.E is engaged in to assist its members, however, the remaining key challenges outside its control are access to competitive finance and raw material supply. The visit and adopted strategies going forward will ensure and enhance the competitiveness of our local manufacturers and exporters of goods and services. S.A.M.E will be making a detailed presentation to its members and interested stakeholders at its Monthly meeting at Le Alaimoana Hotel-Vaiala this Wednesday. To be hosted by Wilex Samoa, the meeting starts at 5.30pm. Stars of shows Samoans here and abroad have come to embrace and love are back home. The biggest one perhaps is Robbie Magasiva who was spotted at Taumeasina Island Resort yesterday. He was with the crew of Fresh TV and Coconet TV; two major platforms promoting the Pacific. They are in the country to film a series of stories focussed on Samoa. Mr. Magasiva is working with Coconet Producer Lisa Taouma, Oscar Kightley and Maryjane McKibbin. According to Ms. Taouma, their focus is the youth of the Pacific. Right now we have a new show for Pacific Islands young people; the show is called Fresh which comes on here in Samoa, she told the Sunday Samoan. We also have an online channel called the Coconet TV so were here to film an episode for Fresh with Robbie Magasiva, Oscar Kightley and Maryjane McKibbin; the old Siones Wedding cast." We are just filming the last parts now. Were trying to do a big promotion of Samoa especially because of the bad publicity Samoa has had over the last two months." We will be playing that episode on Fresh where we will feature lots of stuff around Samoa. We are also here to shoot a lot of stories for our show, Coconet TV. Ms. Taouma believes an internet channel for the Pacific people is vital. Coconet TV is very important to us because all the Pacific shows on TV are on at very bad times; this is because TV New Zealand is ruled by mainstream palagi audience, she said. So where we win is online. The online space is very important for Pacific people because we are high users of the internet. In New Zealand Pacific people are one of the highest users of the internet." So weve got this channel the Coconet TV where we run lots and lots of stories mostly for Kiwi Islanders because thats what were funded for but what it is, it to bring stories of the islands to New Zealand born pacific people." The point of the Coconet is to understand the ways of doing things the Pacific way. According to Ms. Taouma, there is a real demand among overseas-based Samoans for local content that would educate them about themselves. With the ability to teach people the ways of the islands through the internet, Coconet has proven to be a great part of honing our Pacific Culture. Ms. Taouma says they will cover a wide range of stories in Samoa to give people a real feel of what the way of life is like over here. We will be doing a story on Adventure tourism in Samoa, she said. So things like off the beaten track places, eco-tourism; we are also looking at new accommodations in Samoa and a story of the best food in Samoa. But what inspires someone like Ms. Taouma to do what she does? What inspires me is when we do stories and you see the influence it has on young people, she said. Like when you see young people with T-shirt slogans made of things from your show and you see the total influence Fresh and Coconet has on these youngsters." The bottom line is, this is the first time weve had this many brown faces on TV so its amazing for this generation to see stories with brown people in them, it shows them that their identity matters. People like Robbie and Mario who have been in these movies shows these young kids that their stories are important." I think the single biggest inspiration is when you are able to tell Pacific kids that they and their stories are important. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has hailed the leadership of the United Nations Secretary-General, Tupua Ban Ki-moon, particularly his stance on climate change. Tuilaepa heaped the praise on Tupua when he addressed the 71st Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York yesterday. From Samoas perspective, Ban Ki moon has been and continues to be a true champion and persistent advocate of issues that are of immense significance to Small Island Developing States, he said. His passionate leadership on climate change, the undisputed priory concern of every Pacific island country and territory endear him to the Pacific region. Equally memorable is the rare distinction he holds as the only Secretary General in the 71 year history of the United Nations who has ever visited the Pacific region twice during his term of Office. That is no mean feat, given the constraints of isolation and travel. According to a summary of his address, Tuilaepa expressed hope that Tupuas successor would continue his legacy. While encouraged by the adoption of the Paris Agreement, the Prime Minister also emphasised that delivering on its promises and making good on its commitments was the seal of true leadership. He added that the challenge remaining for the Green Climate Fund and other funding institutions was to help Small Island developing States access their resources. To do that, he said partnerships are crucial. Tuilaepa also stressed the importance of protecting oceans, which were critical to the economic survival of small island developing States, and indeed, to global prosperity more generally. That vital resource was under threat from overfishing, climate change, ocean acidification, loss of habitat and pollution. Speaking about the mass migration of people fleeing war and terrorism, he stressed the need for a collective response that should begin with the Security Council. He called upon the Council to address the threat posed by the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea to the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region. On the issue of Security Council reform, he said it was time for an enlarged Council the membership of which would reflect contemporary geopolitical realities. It was also important that more democratic and transparent processes and procedures be put in place to govern the Council, and that it engage more effectively with the General Assembly. Finally, he pledged Samoas continuing commitment to provide civilian policemen and women for United Nations peacekeeping operations around the world. The governments decision to relocate Sogi residents which has led to a legal action against them is not only unfair, it is also insincere. Thats the opinion of the President of O Le Siosiomaga Society Inc, Fiu Mataese Elisara, who has urged Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi to tell the truth as to why they have evicted people from Sogi. The first one is the fact that the government is using climate change as an excuse and the main reason why they asked the people to relocate, Fiu told the Sunday Samoan. It seems that there is a conflict in the reasoning by the government when in fact they are actually talking about the Waterfront project. They already have a plan of the project as well." The decision seems insincere. Theyve used climate change as an excuse at the same time, they are planning to have the Apia Waterfront project and it contradicts their decision. Thats the first issue. According to Fiu, the government needs to stop making up excuses. They should tell them the truth and say that they are asking Sogi to relocate because of the waterfront project and not because of climate change. They need to be honest with the people of Sogi. Fiu, who is a strong advocate for indigenous rights, said he understands the government has the power to take away peoples land under the Taking of Lands Act 1964 to remove people from their lands for public purposes." However, Fiu he warns that the decision for the people of Sogi to relocate will have a huge impact socially. The decision will surely cause stress for the people of Sogi, he said. But no one is doing an analysis or a research on the impact assessment of resettlement. A lot of global policies we have now require the donors who have projects involving people, to carry out an Environment Impact Assessment (E.I.A). But they also need to look at the Social Impact Assessment and how it affects the mentality of the people. These people have been there for hundred years. That community is made up of generations and generations from hundred years ago. That is home for them. And if we ask them to relocate, thats violating their rights and thats an element of injustice." Because they finalized their decision without adequately consulting the people first. Moreover, Fiu believes that with this decision, the people who have been living together closer to each other will be divided. This community has been a very closed-community for years, asking them to leave will divide the community. Adaptation is another challenge the residents will face if they relocate, said Fiu. If they move out of Sogi, it will take them time to adapt to this new place, new lifestyle and new environment, he said. Itll be just like a life of a new born baby; its going to be hard for them." The other thing is, most of these people have families and relatives buried at Sogi. This is going to be one major issue for these people." Again, this needs to be covered during a Social Impact Assessment. Unfortunately, they dont carry out researches on the impact of these decisions and projects on people. Fiu said the government should have an integrated approach with regards to the Waterfront project. The question is, this is such a small community. If they are talking about integrated approach, why arent they able to actually plan and integrate with this community during their plan?" That would be an innovative thing to showcase the sincerity of the government on an integrated approach." That would save these people from having to relocate and also keep their rights from being violated. Sadly, Fiu said development and money are dictating our country. Because thats what happening in our country. They (govt.) dont care anymore about what happens to the people of the country. The only thing that matters is that for the people to listen and follow whatever decision they make depends on the policy of whoever will be funding the projects. Fiu said he is speaking up for the sake of those who do not know about these problems and also for the benefit of our children. We need to raise these issues because a lot of people do not know and realize that this is happening in our country. And thats why we are standing up for those people. They are depending on people like us who have some sense of concern and sincerity for justice, and also our concern for the rights of these people. Okay, for example look at P.U.M.A; they have a P.U.M.A Act, where they are very clear on development consent. But the question is, have there been development consents in regards to these projects? You see the thing is, they do away with developments by the government, but if its just an ordinary man building a new house, they will quickly run to him with their development consent. We are just raising the flags for those who do not know about some of these things we talked about. Because if we put ourselves in their shoes, you would feel that this is not an easy thing to go through. The saddest part about this is that these people voted those who are in parliament at the moment, but they dont care about them anymore because they (M.Ps) now have power and other things. But the very people who put them there in the first place are actually the ones who are shouldering the burdens of their decision making. So where is the justice in that? And in five years time, they will go back to the same people and ask them (community) to vote for them (M.Ps). So some people have to raise flags. Unfortunately, there are not many of us who are raising flags, most of them are scared. But I know that there are some people in the government who agree with what we are saying, but too scared to express how they feel about this issue. He also added that his views are not basically against the governments decision. We are just flipping the other side of the coin for people to know that there are always two sides of a story. I mean why would we object if we know that they are doing something nice for the country. This is also not just for the people of Sogi who are living there and have been living there for a lot of years. This is also for our children and the younger generation. They will grow up and say, My parents and grandparents fought for the rights of those people. Because we dont want them to grow up and blame us for not doing anything to save the people. When Yahoo reported Thursday that hackers had breached its databases and gained access to users emails, dates of births, encrypted passwords and security answers, cybersecurity experts werent surprised. Cyberattacks are, after all, now par for the course, and no company is immune. But what struck them as unusual was the size of the attack with at least 500 million accounts affected, one of the largest in the history of cyber attacks and that it took Yahoo two years to discover the breach. For a firm like Yahoo, which is a technology firm no less, you would expect that they would be able to detect and even disclose the breach a little quicker, said Rahul Telang, an expert in data breaches and cyberhacks who teaches at Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University. It was surprising that Yahoo didnt know about it until the user data hit the black market. Advertisement It takes on average 201 days for a company to detect a data breach, according to the Ponemon Institute, a research firm that focuses on cybersecurity and privacy. While 201 days is still a long time, technology companies tend to be more advanced and typically uncover attacks much sooner than their less tech-savvy counterparts, said Larry Ponemon, chairman of the Institute. Yahoo should have had the security infrastructure to detect it themselves, instead of accidentally discovering it, Ponemon said. Without knowing more about the details of the hack, its hard to pinpoint the vulnerability that led to the breach and what allowed it to go undetected since 2014. Yahoo said it believes the attack came from a state-sponsored actor, but did not provide any information on how they may have gotten into Yahoos systems. Cybersecurity experts posit that a number of factors were likely at play, such as sloppy security practices, instability from high turnover on its security team and the companywide stress of finding a buyer. When your whole business is up for grabs and you dont know where you will make money, the whole IT and security teams are under a lot of stress, Telang said. Its easy to lose track. On top of that, Yahoo has churned through three chief information and security officers since 2014: Alex Stamos served for 16 months before jumping ship to Facebook; Ramses Martinez lasted only two months before leaving for Apple; and Bob Lord has held the role for the last 11 months. All these distractions probably made the companys security secondary. Tech firms typically recover quickly from data breaches if they respond fast and take the necessary steps to notify their customers, said Alex Heid, chief research officer at SecurityScorecard, a cybersecurity risk monitoring platform. Even companies whose data breaches included users credit card information, such as Target in 2013 and Home Depot in 2014, have bounced back. But Yahoo may face additional scrutiny about the timing of its disclosure because the companys $4.8-billion sale to Verizon is still pending, and Verizon was unaware of the security breach when the deal was made in July. In a prepared statement, a Verizon spokesman said it was only notified this week. We understand that Yahoo is conducting an active investigation of this matter, but we otherwise have limited information and understanding of the impact, the statement read. While the security incident may have no material effect on the Verizon acquisition, its not unheard of for a deal to come undone because of a companys weak security systems, Ponomon said. If you look at a situation like this, why would Verizon want to acquire a company and incur this huge potential liability? he said. The companys valuation could also to take a hit, affecting the acquisition price and potentially leading to investor litigation. Lets say Verizon says, Were not going to pay whatever wed agreed to pay for your shares because this is a huge problem that you should have known about before we got into this deal, and the price is negotiated down, said Tyler Gerking, a litigator at law firm Farella Braun & Martel, I could definitely foresee investor actions by Yahoo shareholders against Yahoo officers and directors. These are all possibilities, Heid said. Given the the number of accounts affected and the two years that have lapsed since the breach, its hard to know the extent of the damage caused and what further damage may lie ahead. The only thing thats certain, he said, is Yahoo will not be the last company to experience a hack of this scale. With the way things are going, in a few months all eyes will be on a different company, Heid said. As soon as the next breach comes around that dwarfs this number, people will move on. tracey.lien@latimes.com Twitter: @traceylien ALSO Salesforce, Google may be interested in buying Twitter American Apparel is losing CEO Paula Schneider, who was supposed to turn it around SpaceX explosion: Large breach took place in helium system in second stage of rocket Surveillance video and phone records linked to an ambush shooting led police to the doorstop of the victims estranged wife, and then to her firearms instructor, according to newly obtained court documents. Details of the case against Diana Lovejoy and Weldon McDavid emerged in search warrant affidavits obtained Friday by the San Diego Union-Tribune. The sworn statements from Carlsbad police investigators lay out how a sketchy phone call lured Lovejoys husband to a dark Carlsbad road where he was shot, and outline how police zeroed in on the suspects. Lovejoy, 43, and McDavid, 49, were arrested about a week after the Sept. 1 shooting. Both have pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and attempted murder, and each is jailed in lieu of $2 million bail. Advertisement Police and prosecutors did not respond to requests for comment on the court documents, and Lovejoys attorney, Lacey Martz, declined comment. McDavids attorney, Rafael Acosta, said he looks forward to representing his client and shedding light on this unfortunate sequence of events. For two years, Lovejoy a technical writer and former personal trainer had been locked in a contentious divorce with her estranged husband Greg Mulvihill. The couple had been married for nearly seven years when Mulvihill filed for divorce in 2014 a month after Lovejoy obtained a temporary restraining order against him and had him removed from their Carlsbad home. The pair fought bitterly over custody of their son, who turned 4 earlier this month. Lovejoy initially had primary custody of the child, but she and Mulvihill were splitting custody at the time of the shooting. Lovejoy told police she bought a gun in August at an Oceanside shooting range where McDavid was a firearms instructor, and that McDavid taught her how to use the weapon. Over the course of the next several weeks, according to court documents, she said the two devised a plan on how to scare Mulvihill so that he would leave her alone. She agreed to pay McDavid $2,000 and the two got together Sept. 1 to put the plan in motion. According to search warrant affidavits, Mulvihill, who lives in San Marcos, called Carlsbad police just before 11 p.m. that night to ask for advice. He told the dispatcher hed gotten a call from a man who said he was private investigator and wanted to show him a package but Mulvihill was nervous about it. The dispatcher told him not to meet the stranger if he didnt feel comfortable. Sixteen minutes later, a friend of Mulvihills called police to report that Mulvihill had been shot. According to the affidavits, Mulivhill took a friend to meet the caller. They were at the designated meet site a power pole on a dirt access road of Avenida Soledad in Carlsbad when five or six shots rang out. Mulivihill was hit in his side. The injured Mulvihill and his friend whod brought bats and flashlights to protect themselves in case the meeting went bad ran, and eventually both got into Mulvihills SUV. Mulvihill drove off, but pulled over along Rancho Santa Fe Road at Melrose Drive to wait for police when he started to pass out. He was taken to a hospital. The friend was interviewed by police. Both told the same story, the affidavits say. At the scene of the shooting, forensic technicians found fresh cigarette butts, a shell casing and a towel with human feces. Carlsbad police traced the call that lured Mulvihill to a burner phone bought in mid-August in Encinitas. They looked at the stores surveillance video, and identified Lovejoy as the buyer. Police picked her up and searched her house late Sept. 7. According to a sworn search warrant affidavit penned Sept. 9, Lovejoy told police she bought a burner phone as McDavid instructed. When they met at a La Costa Park and Ride on Sept. 1, McDavid carried a long gun case as he climbed into her car. She told police she asked about the gun, and was told it was there to scare Mulvihill. She handed him the burner phone, then dropped him off in the vicinity of the dirt road. Lovejoy said McDavid called for a ride about an hour later. When she picked him up, he told her hed messed up, but would not elaborate. Lovejoy told police the plan was to pay McDavid $1,000 up front to scare Mulvihill, and another $1,000 afterward. She said did not pay the back half, and had not spoken to him since the Sept. 1 shooting. But the day after the shooting, a neighbor spotted McDavid and his truck at Lovejoys home. McDavid was arrested Sept. 8. During questioning, he told police hed gone for a run on the night of Sept. 1 in the area where the ambush happened, and stopped by a power pole to go to the bathroom. Pressed for more answers, McDavid told police he felt like he was being set up. He then stated, I was paid money to take two towels out to a power pole and leave them, the affidavit reads. With that, McDavid asked for a lawyer. Acosta, McDavids attorney, noted Friday that when police searched his clients home on Sept. 8, McDavids wife and 12-week-old son were displaced until 2 a.m. At this time, I am not aware that they found any evidence connected to this case, Acosta said, adding that he is waiting on forensic analysis of items police seized. The preliminary hearing a key pretrial proceeding where prosecutors must lay out their evidence is set for Dec. 15. teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT People who make musicals like to talk of the I want song a crucial first-act number that lays bare the heros overriding desire to find a better life, a higher purpose. In essence, to lift ones gaze from familiar old ground and look to the stars. October Sky has one of those three songs in, and its a good one. The tunes title: Look to the Stars. The musical, now getting an often stirring, deeply earnest West Coast premiere at the Old Globe, has the built-in benefit of being literally about shooting for the heavens: It centers on a group of teen-age boys in a 1950s West Virginia mining town who inspire (and incense) family and neighbors through their pursuit of rocketry. Advertisement The show is based on Homer H. Hickam Jr.s memoir Rocket Boys and the subsequent 1999 movie October Sky, which starred Jake Gyllenhaal as Hickam. As staged at the Globe, its a richly textured work, driven by a mix of country, bluegrass and good-time rock, and performed crisply by an appealing cast of some two dozen under Rachel Rockwells confident direction. (She also choreographed the show.) But forget the I want song October Sky is an I want musical to its marrow, with what can feel like a lot more yearning and burning (rephrased and reaffirmed in multiple songs with titles like If We Get It Right and Something Thats Divine) than actual progress toward its characters dreams. October Sky When: 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays (plus 2 p.m. Oct. 12); 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays (no evening performance Sept. 24 and no matinee Oct. 15); 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through Oct. 23. Where: Old Globe Theatres Darlene and Donald Shiley Stage, Balboa Park Tickets: $36 and up Phone: (619) 234-5623 Online: theoldglobe.org In the second act in particular (which comes with no fewer than six reprises), the wanting can get daunting, and you may find yourself wishing for it to come to fruition a bit more quickly. Of course, theres a serious laundry list of hopes to be fulfilled over the course of the show, which runs about 2 hours with one intermission. Young Homer (played by the soulful, strong-voiced Kyle Selig) not only dreams of something more than a future inside the mine, but aches for some sign of approval from his prideful father, John (the Broadway ace Ron Bohmer), who runs the coal operation. Homers mom, Elsie (a steely but deeply sympathetic Kerry OMalley); his teacher, Miss Riley (Sandra DeNise); his admirer Dorothy (Eliza Palasz); and his pals Roy Lee (Patrick Rooney), Quentin (Connor Russell) and ODell (a lovable goofball played by the San Diego favorite Austyn Myers) all have their own aspirations, most of which involve being somewhere other than Coalwood, W.V. Hence the anthem Never Getting Out Alive, which gives one of composer-lyricist Michael Mahlers most amusing couplets to the high schooler Emily Sue (Betsy Stewart): These boys have the grace and poise of a piggy when its greased / My mom says by senior prom find the one you loathe the least. Other standout numbers from Mahler include Were Gonna Build a Rocket, a funny, jittery rock tune laced with jabs of sax; the affecting Look to the Stars; and Moonshine, which has a jug band taking the stage as Homer and Co. show up to procure booze as rocket fuel. (While the show uses his name and story as well as those of his friends and relatives, the real-life Hickam has disavowed this musical due to a bitter legal dispute with Universal Pictures over rights to his characters and sequels. Universal, which made the movie, is a producing partner on the show; Hickam has his own musical on the same topic, titled Rocket Boys.) Music director/conductor/keyboardist Charlie Altermans nine-member band feels in tune with the scores often brooding vibe, which in turn matches the dusky, rustic shadings of Kevin Depinets set (featuring what looks like a dilapidated mine-train track arcing to the ceiling). Writers Brian Hill and Aaron Thielen bring wit and a fitting sense of wonder to the saga (as the town is wowed by the launch of Russias Sputnik satellite), and theres a welcome depth to the female characters in particular, although some of the high-school cliches are laid on a little thick. The plot thread of a mine strike led by the workingmans hero and union boss Ken (the powerful Kevyn Morrow, seen recently in Broadways The Color Purple) also raises the dramatic stakes. And you have to give credit to the shows own rocket team, which puts up an impressive succession of actual projectiles that soar out of sight with flourishes of smoke and sound. (Japhy Weidemans lighting, Garth Helms soundscapes and Shawn Sagadys projections are all first-rate, and Linda Chos costumes look period-perfect.) For all the musicals emphasis on chasing dreams, October Sky doesnt quite make clear despite a sweeping, sentimental finale whether Homer achieved his own beyond making it to the national science fair, a big moment in the show. (For the record: He did, with a long career at NASA after Army service in Vietnam, as well as success as a writer). But theres inspiration in this Sky just the same. Twitter: @jimhebert jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com DECATUR -- The back room of the St. Pauls Lutheran Church resembled an old-school assembly line on Friday afternoon. But instead of auto parts or machinery, the hundreds of volunteers were doing their part to prepare hundreds of thousands of meals to be sent to families in need across the world. For the third time, St. Pauls Lutheran Church and Tabernacle Baptist Church have teamed up to lead and sponsor a Feed My Starving Children Decatur Community MobilePack event. The two-day event, which wraps up today, will see volunteers pack at least 250,000 meals for children. The meals will be collected by Feed My Starving Children, a faith-based nonprofit agency that provides food to children in 60 nations. Its a unique chance to provide food for those that are really in need, said Andrea Gerhard, director of communications at St. Paul and a coordinator for the event. Each meal was placed in a sealed bag and contains items such as dehydrated carrots and vegetables, soy proteins from Archer Daniels Midland Co. and rice. The idea is that each bag, which can feed up to six people, has a variety of vegetarian options and meat to best serve the various cultures that could receive them, said Anthony Kasper, the MobilePack adviser for Feed My Starving Children. Officials expect 1,200 volunteers to help out over the two days, with five two-hour sessions scheduled to pack meals. Friday afternoon saw a unique mixture of volunteers, with more than 100 coming from a group from ADM; while others were members of St. Pauls who wanted to lend a helping hand. Among those were Melanie Brown, who helped to package bags alongside her sons Braden, 6, and Brody, 8. She said the idea of participating in a service project with her children was what drew her out Friday afternoon to help fill up bags while Braden worked the sealer. I think its fun; they think its pretty cool, too, Brown said. The mixture of volunteers, especially families, excited Gerhard. Its really neat to see whole families serving side by side and to see kids get to learn how to volunteer through their parents, she said. The 250,000 meals goal was 50,000 more than the previous MobilePacks goals the previous two times the church has held the event. With each meal costing 22 cents, organizers were hopeful to raise $55,000 to cover the costs of the meals. As of Friday afternoon, Gerhard said nearly $53,000 had already been raised, with more expected to come in. Money raised over the goal would go toward additional meals. The fact they were already so close to their goal was another reminder of how giving the Decatur community is, Gerhard said. Its amazing to me, Im reminded all the time that anything is possible, she said. It reminds me at the core that people are generous and helpful. That generosity was noted by Kasper. Though he has helped to organize similar events in major cities such as Miami, where more than a million meals were packed, he said there was something unique about Decatur. You can definitely tell this is a community that comes together, he said. Its really something they can be proud of. Those interested in making a donation can go to www.fundraising.fmsc.org/DecaturCommunity or drop a check off at St. Pauls Lutheran Church. Gerhard also said they will accept volunteers today to take three available shifts, from 9 to 11 a.m.; 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; and 2 to 4 p.m.; with a clean up session to follow from 4 to 6 p.m. Interested volunteers can register at the website or come to the church. At his murder trial this summer, Beong Kwun Cho claimed he was doing his childhood friend a favor when he shot him in the back of his head on the side of a deserted street in Anaheim. Cho, 57, tearfully testified in his own defense, saying his friend of four decades, Yeon Woo Lee, wanted to commit suicide and had asked him to pull the trigger. For the record: This story was updated to add details. His friend, Cho said, had orchestrated a plot to make his death look like a botched robbery, wanting his family to be free of the social stigma of suicide and for them to receive life insurance payouts. Advertisement Jurors weighing his fate appeared to accept his account, sparing Cho of a murder charge and instead finding him guilty of voluntary manslaughter. Only two people were out on that dark road in Anaheim Hills that night, and only one of them is here to tell what happened. Orange County Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals On Friday, Orange County Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals said he had thought long and hard about the extraordinary case before deciding what price Cho should pay for that alleged favor: 10 years in prison. The reality is ... only two people were out on that dark road in Anaheim Hills that night, and only one of them is here to tell what happened, the judge said. But evidence in the case, he said, painted a compelling picture that perhaps this was not a first-degree murder. Goethals handed down the sentence after an emotional victim impact statement from Lees daughter, Jumi Lee, who asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence of 21 years. Cho, she said, was maligning her father after murdering him, and her family was fearful of Cho returning to South Korea after completing his sentence. Dressed in black, Lee said her father was a man with a positive and strong mind who came to the U.S. to seek out business opportunities so that her family might immigrate to California. But he came back home as cold ashes, said Lee, who traveled from South Korea to give her statement. That the killer was her fathers longtime friend, she said, added a feeling of severe betrayal on top of her familys loss. Chos claims about her father being suicidal and manipulative, Lee told the judge, are worsening the wound which is still wide open. Cho, speaking after Lee, wept as he sought forgiveness. If I could give my life to apologize I would, he said, telling the judge, I will humbly accept any punishment, whether its 21 years or the death penalty. Lee, a South Korean national, was found dead in early 2011 lying next to his rental car with a flat tire and jack, a gunshot wound to the back of his head and an oversize footprint on his back. Cho told police, and later jurors, that it was his friend who procured the gun, purchased size 13 shoes and punctured the tire to stage the scene of his death. If I could give my life to apologize I would. Beong Kwun Cho Chos attorney, deputy public defender Robert Kohler, wrote in sentencing papers that Chos account was supported by overwhelming evidence presented at trial: surveillance footage at a gas station where the men met up and the Wal-Mart where Lee bought the shoes; Lees DNA, not blood, on the barrel of the gun indicating he himself had handled the firearm; testimony from a third friend who said Lee had a domineering personality and had wielded outsize influence over Cho for decades. Lee, Kohler contended, manipulated and coerced his longtime friend into going along with his plan, going as far as sexually assaulting Chos wife to motivate him to go through with it. In his testimony, Cho said he thought his friend would eventually abandon the plan, and only fired the gun in the heat of the moment when Lee made insulting remarks about his wife and daughter, referencing the assault. He did not care anything at all about the world he was leaving behind or who he hurt in his wake, the attorney wrote. This incident would never have happened had it not been for Mr. Lees desire to commit suicide. Deputy Dist. Atty. Scott Simmons said Friday that Cho made a deliberate choice to kill his friend, execution-style. He got a a huge break in the jurys manslaughter verdict, the prosecutor said. Mr. Cho made a decision that night. Mr. Cho could have walked away and Mr. Lee would still be alive, Simmons said. At trial, the prosecutor argued to jurors that even if Lee was suicidal, Cho was guilty of premeditated murder. The steps he took putting on black gloves, making the muddy shoe print on Lees back and pulling the trigger of the Smith & Wesson made it so, Simmons contended. Goethals said he was sympathetic to Lees familys pain, but said based on evidence presented at trial, the jurys verdict was fair. The judge said hed mulled over the case for weeks, weighing, among other things, how to factor in what he called a cultural defense from Chos attorney. A sociology professor testified for the defense about the shame and stigma attached to suicide and sexual assault in Korean society. Its hard to imagine a person born and raised in American culture convincing a jury this was a voluntary manslaughter, he said. When immigrants come to the United States ultimately they have to adhere to the laws of the United States and the state of California. In the end, Goethals said the mitigating and aggravating circumstances in the case were about evenly balanced, and said he elected to sentence Cho to the mid-range prison term for voluntary manslaughter including an enhancement for using a firearm. Cho will receive six and a half years of credits, for time served and other adjustments. victoria.kim@latimes.com For more California news, follow me on Twitter @vicjkim To read the article in Spanish, click here ALSO Man found dead with severe head trauma in Hollywood Hills home Customer throws cup of urine at McDonalds employee over cost of Bundt cakes FBI and L.A. social workers investigate allegation of altercation between Brad Pitt and his teen son UPDATES: 6:35 p.m.: This article was updated with further details. This article was originally published at 11:55 a.m. A Culver City man has been arrested on suspicion of operating a Ponzi scheme that bilked people out of more than $2 million through fake annuities and insurance policies, authorities announced Friday. Steven Edward Branstetter, 60, was booked on 13 felony counts of elder and grand theft and is being held on $715,000 bail. If he wants to be released from jail, he will have to prove the bail money is from a legitimate source. The California Department of Insurance said Branstetters business, LifeCo., offered annuities with healthy, reliable profits and life and disability insurance policies to the elderly, among others. Some of the policies were sold under the name AIIA Group, authorities said. Advertisement The alleged scheme operated from 2005 to 2014 and Branstetter created fake account statements and contracts he sent to clients to make his business look legitimate, insurance officials said. In some cases, he used money from some victims to pay others, authorities said. These individuals were seniors who were seeking long term investment vehicles to make sure they were secure in their retirements. He took advantage of that and ruthlessly targeted them, state Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones told the Times in an interview Friday. Were going to do everything we can to recover as much as we can from this individual. Some of the victims were so convinced of Branstetters honesty that they cashed in their other, real annuities and insurance policies so they could invest with him, insurance officials said. Branstetters insurance license expired several years ago, they said. The department said there were at least 18 victims and that Branstetter embezzled more than $2.25 million. Some victims were left penniless, authorities said. Jones said consumers should verify that their broker has an insurance license in good standing, that the company is licensed to operate in California and that the policy on offer is legal. Investigators began examining Branstetters business after one of his clients became disabled and tried to cash out an insurance policy in 2014, officials said. The person couldnt collect on the policy and notified regulators. Authorities said it appeared Branstetter spent most of the millions of dollars he took in from clients. No assets were seized during his arrest Friday, but investigators are still searching, authorities said. Joseph.serna@latimes.com For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter. ALSO Holy cow! Cattle truck tips over in Palmdale Mushrooms from community garden sicken Silver Lake schoolchildren Man found dead with head trauma in Hollywood Hills home of former Canadian TV personality While most eyes were on the sky Saturday at the MCAS Miramar Air Show, Navy veteran Michael Burns had his focused a little lower to the ground. To escape the 90-degree heat, Burns and his young San Diego family spread a blanket under the wing of a parked F/A-18 jet on display. While his wife, Sam, took their 5-year-old daughter Athena for a walk, he babysat their younger daughters, Trinity, 4, and Evangeline, 1. Although child-care duty sharply reduced the time Burns could spend watching the show, he said just being on base around the noise of airplanes is nostalgic. Weve come every year for the past four years. I love to reminisce, said Burns, who spent five years as a Navy corpsman. I know the girls are too young to enjoy it right now, but Id die a happy man if they grew up to become Navy officers. Advertisement MCAS Miramar Air Show When: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 Where: MCAS Miramar, Boyington Road. West, North and East gates will open at 8 a.m. Admission: Free. Reserved seating available for a fee. New rules for going on base: This years security has been tightened. ID is required. Only clear plastic bags will be allowed in (no backpacks or duffel bags). No coolers or ice chests. Online: miramarairshow.com First day of the Miramar Air Show. The Miramar Air Show delivered a successful first day. The soaring theatrics of the Navys Blue Angels Squadron and the French Breitling jet team may be the headliners of this years air show which continues Sunday with a final performance from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. but theres plenty to see, do and buy just off the tarmac. Showgoers could test drive a Lamborghini, invest in a Hawaiian time share, spin a chuckaluck wheel for a free hacky sack, have a chiropractic checkup, get a custom-engraved military-style dog tag, play a round of cornhole at the Penn State booth or buy a bag of gourmet dog food. For the toddler set, theres a bounce house, a model plane-making table and a booth where they can have their faces painted in a military camouflage design. Artist Jerri Bergen of Upland was doing a brisk business selling her 1940s-inspired pinup decals at her Victory Girl booth. The mildly risque bra-and-garter paintings of Betty Grable-like models are popular with Marine squadrons, but Bergens husband, Chris, said every 10 or so shows they get a mad housewife who disapproves. To lure visitors to their recruitment booths, every branch of the service had something interesting to offer. Father and son John and Gregory Ross took turns at the Marine Corps chin-up contest. Gregory, 24, earned a T-shirt after an impressive 22 pull-ups, but his 50-something dad was no slouch, finishing 14. Navy divers had a truck-size water tank with a glass wall where people could pose for selfies with the underwater servicemen. In the aircraft display area, San Francisco retirees Tom and Barbara McReynolds waited to tour a Marine Corps CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter. Tom spent four years in the Navy, piloting destroyer ships in the 1960s. In San Diego this week for his Navy company reunion, they decided to check out the show. The Breitling Jet Team is returning to the United States for a second American Tour and returning to the MCAS Miramar Air Show. The Breitling Jet Team is made up of L-39C Albatros aircraft, Czech-made twin-seater military training jets that can al My wife has never been on a helicopter, McReynolds said. I rode a lot of these when I was in the Navy, and I wanted her to see what I saw. One of the shows most popular performances was that of the Marine AV-8B Harrier jet. The plane has rotating exhaust nozzles that allow it to hover in place and take off and land vertically. It was just as popular on the ground in the static display, where a near-constant stream of show-goers climbed a stairwell to peer down inside the cockpit. Harrier pilots from the VMA-214 Black Sheep Squadron in Yuma took turns sitting in the cockpit to answer questions and pose for photos. Capt. J.D. Glover said he spends about four hours each day on air show cockpit duty and has heard just about every question imaginable (most people want to know how the plane hovers). But on Saturday, he got a question hed never heard before. A little girl asked me what my favorite dinosaur was this morning, he said. She stumped me on that. Three headlines that you cant miss. pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com From the graceful ballet of the Breitling Jet Team to the high-octane aerial drama of the Navys Blue Angels, the Miramar Air Show delivered a successful first day, underscoring the events prominence in the San Diego Fleet Week schedule despite the past uncertainty of military budgets. The only small hiccup Friday was a fire near the flight line that delayed the Blue Angels launch by several minutes. Otherwise, the crowd seemed pleased by the display of military air power and mechanical muscle. Advertisement Ava Chan-Crowder was wearing a T-shirt that read Got Jet Noise? She sat out in Fridays blazing sun all day with her camera trained on the sky. This was her happy place. Im a big air show fan. Im a big Blue Angels fan, said the Imperial Valley native, who grew up watching the Navy team at their winter home of El Centro. She and her husband regularly travel to see other military air shows, including in Pensacola, Fla., where the Blue Angels are headquartered, and Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii. This is the No. 1 air show, she said, explaining that all the Marine equipment used in the performance makes the difference. Indeed, the Marines from Camp Pendleton and Miramar Marine Corps Air Station performing to the home crowd may have dominated the scene simply by the number of aircraft presented and young Marines displaying their everyday skills. At least seven kinds of Marine Corps aircraft worked together to demonstrate how they operate on the battlefield. F/A-18 Hornets and AV-8B Harriers thundered overhead, following by AH-1Z Super Cobra helicopters training their guns at the ground. UH-1Y Hueys swooped in to offload infantry Marines showing their fast-roping skills. Then the Marines brought in their ground troops, with gusto. M1A1 tanks sped along the flight line at near top speed something one doesnt see every day, even in San Diego. After the explosions died away and the air ceased throbbing from afterburner, infantry Marines in full battle gear marched past the air show audience, shaking hands and high-fiving fans. Do the young Marines like putting on this annual air show, considering all the work involved? I think they do, said 2nd Lt. Casey Littesy, a public affairs officer on base, laughing. I sure think they do. They get to talk about themselves. And we love to talk about ourselves. The Breitling Jet Team performed for the second year of its two-year tour in North America. This jet group which is like Formula One racing compared to the Blue Angels Nascar vibe wowed the crowd with swooping passes in formation. The civilian team headquartered in France uses Czech-made trainer jets of the style formerly used by the Soviets. One member of the team said they wont be back next year, so this is the chance to see them. Peter Komuniecki was visiting from Canada, where air shows largely feature civilian performers. As he was talking, the Air Forces F-16 Viper fighter jet screamed past, making everyones ribs rumble. This is why we are here, Komuniecki, said, laughing with delight, when he could be heard again. Air shows nationally have had to depend on civilian performers in recent years, as federal budget woes made military performances difficult. The Miramar show was canceled altogether in 2013 when the government shut down. But the show appeared to be back at full strength on Friday. The Blue Angels team is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, after being formed following World War II to preserve public interest in naval air power. The performance went off without a hitch, after the sad loss of the No. 6 pilot, Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, in a June crash during team practice in Tennessee. Kuss was replaced by Navy Cmdr. Frank Weisser in the No. 6 cockpit. Missing, however, was the teams Fat Albert C-130 cargo plane. The aircraft is sidelined for the rest of the air show season for routine maintenance, a Miramar official said. That may have led to disappointment for Kali Smith, a 16-year-old San Diego teen who was one of 17 girls who wrote essays to secure grandstand tickets to the show. Friday was Girls in Aviation Day at the air show, sponsored by the international group Women in Aviation. Smith arrived wearing her pink Girls in Aviation shirt and hoping to meet the Fat Albert pilot, Marine Capt. Katie Higgins. Higgins is the first woman to fly with the Blues. She pilots the C-130 Fat Albert cargo plane that does demonstrations outside of the main team precision-flying performance. Shes a girl and she can fly, Smith said, explaining her reasons for being inspired by the Marine captain. For herself, Smith expects to earn her private pilots license in three months time. Some day, she wants to fly for Cal Fire, she said, because I think they are interesting and I like what they do. Smith isnt interested in the military, she revealed, but This is the next best thing. jen.steele@sduniontribune.com Facebook: U-T Military Twitter: @jensteeley Hundreds of Haitians in Tijuana preparing to present themselves to U.S. officials at the San Ysidro Port of Entry face an unpleasant surprise: the probability of detention and eventual deportation to their impoverished country under a new policy announced this week by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. A day after the changes went into effect, the Haitian men who gathered in small groups on Friday morning outside the Desayunador Salesiano Padre Chava, a shelter and soup kitchen, said they had heard nothing, and asked anxiously for details. I dont believe it, Miterson Derisseau, a 25-year-old tile-setter from Port-au-Prince said in French. Advertisement Did Obamas party decide this? He has a generous heart, he cannot deport us to our country, added Derisseau, who hopes to join his sister in Boston. Announced Thursday by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, the changes entail the resumption of regular, non-criminal deportations to Haiti, more than six years after these were suspended on the heels of the countrys 2010 earthquake. The situation in Haiti has improved sufficiently to permit the U.S. government to remove Haitian nationals on a more regular basis, Johnson said in a statement. Haitians without visas now face the same treatment as most foreigners who show up at the border without permission to enter the United States: detention and deportation, unless they express fear of persecution upon being sent back. The changes respond to an unprecedented and unexpected flow of Haitians to the San Diego border, 4,346 in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection figures released Friday out of a total of 4,844 nationwide. Last years total for San Diego was 315, while the national total was 795. In congressional testimony on Thursday in Washington, D.C., the director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Sarah Saldana, called it an emergency situation, and said she had learned of 40,000 Haitians who are en route to the United States. Most of the Haitians in Tijuana have come by land from Brazil, where they moved after the 2010 earthquake to find work, but found survival increasingly difficult as the South American country has suffered a severe economic downturn. The Haitians usually obtain safe passage through Mexico with a document called oficio de salida that allows them in the country for a limited period, usually about 30 days, enough time to make it to the U.S. border. Until this weeks changes, most Haitians presenting themselves at the San Diego border were allowed into the United States under humanitarian parole, and generally released with notices to appear before an immigration court at a later date. On Thursday, the reception changed dramatically, as undocumented Haitians became subject to a fast-track process called Expedited Removal that entails detention. It is unclear how soon the newly announced routine, non-criminal deportations to Haiti would take place, said Faye Hipsman, an analyst with the Washington, D.C.-based Migration Policy Institute. The big factor is cooperation with Haiti, Hipsman said. My understanding is that this was a unilateral decision made by DHS, she said, adding that the Haitian government has yet to publicly respond. Many of the Haitians who have crossed to San Diego in recent months have been making their way to established Haitian communities in New York City and Miami, where activists have been closely following news of the Haitians in Tijuana. Marleine Bastien, executive director of Haitian Women of Miami, was part of a group that traveled to border to meet with Haitians in Tijuana and San Diego. Were talking about people who have been on a three and four month journey, who have been subjected to the worst kind of abuse, physical, sexual abuse, said Bastien, who has been collaborating with members of the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium. With the changes in policy, first of all they need to apprised of their rights, Bastien said. They have the basic rights of due process. A Mexican immigration official estimated earlier this week that 800 to 1,110 Haitians are currently in Baja California preparing to cross to the United States, mostly through San Ysidro but with a smaller number through Calexico. But with the prospect of deportation, some may choose not to show up at the border on their appointed day, migrant advocates said. With the new policy, I would guess most Haitians would not wish to be detained, and could end up stranded at the border, said Steve Forester, immigration policy coordinator at the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti. The country is in no condition, post earthquake and given extremely difficult economic and other conditions there to be receiving an influx of people, he said. I think theyre probably not going to stay in Mexico, said Maureen Meyer, senior associate for Mexico and migrant rights at the Washington Office on Latin America. What they may end up doing is what Central Americans do, try to avoid detection and get into the United States regardless. Tijuana government officials have worked to distance themselves from the situation, saying that while the situation is cause for concern, the Haitian migrant issue is a federal matter, not a municipal one. Requests for interviews went unanswered this week. As they have attempted to serve the rising numbers of Haitian migrants, Tijuanas four main shelters have found themselves overwhelmed. Of 2,823 people receiving shelter at the Padre Chava center since May 27, a total of 1,831 have been Haitians, the center reported Friday. News of the new policy had yet to fully hit on Friday morning among the Haitians staying at the shelter. And the few who had an inkling of the changes remained undeterred, said Margarita Andonaegui, the shelters administrator. Up to now, everyone has decided to go ahead, and keep their appointments with U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Only one person asked me, What do you recommend? It was a routine piece of police work that almost went horribly and tragically wrong. On the morning of Feb. 20, San Diego police Officer Neal Browder was with other officers at an apartment on Bayview Heights Place, checking if a 30-year-old resident was complying with the terms of his court-ordered probation. As Browder went to search a dark bedroom, he tried to activate the flashlight attachment mounted on his handgun. Advertisement Suddenly a shot rang out. No one was hurt, but the bullet struck a babys crib in the room, ricocheted and lodged in the wall. The near tragedy came less than a year after Browder had shot and killed Fridoon Nehad in an alley in the Midway District. The veteran officer said he believed Nehad was armed with a knife and was a threat to him, but it turned out the 42-year-old man was carrying a pen. While police have released few details about the second shooting in the apartment, recent court documents filed in a federal lawsuit brought by Nehads family against the city of San Diego reveal that Browder fired into the crib while trying to turn on the flashlight using a switch located directly below the trigger guard. That remote contour switch is activated by applying pressure from a finger. The crib shooting wasnt the first time that gun-mounted flashlights, including those with the same pressure switch design as Browders gun, have been involved in accidental shootings. At least one person has been killed and several others injured, according to court records and news reports. In 2014, the Denver Police Department banned their officers from using flashlights where the switch is located below the trigger guard. The action came after two accidental discharge incidents by officers in less than a year. The San Diego Police Department has three authorized gun-mounted flashlights that patrol officers can use, including models made by Fountain Valley-based SureFire, but patrol officers are not allowed to use lights with a pressure switch, said police spokesman Lt. Scott Wahl. However, SWAT officers are authorized to use pressure switches. Those officers go through extra training, including night training, using the pressure-switch configuration, Wahl said. Browder is a 28-year veteran of the department and has been a SWAT officer for 22 years, according to his testimony at a deposition for the civil-rights lawsuit filed by Nehads family. By contrast, the San Diego County Sheriffs Department authorizes one type of flashlight manufactured by Streamlight, which does not use a pressure switch, sheriffs spokesman Ryan Kiem said. How many people have been injured or killed in accidental shootings by police officers using gun-mounted flashlights isnt known. The statistic is not tracked, but deaths or injuries appear to be rare. The Denver Post reported in 2014 it had found four cases since 2005 where someone was hurt when an officer mistakenly pulled the trigger instead of flipping on the flashlight. Experts on firearms and police training said that the flashlight mounts can be useful but emphasized proper training is crucial. Training is really the key, said Harvey Hedden, executive director of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. You want to make sure youre activating the right thing. That wasnt the case in a well-known accidental shooting by a police detective in Plano, Texas, in 2011. The detective tried to turn on the flashlight it had a pressure switch under the trigger guard and instead pulled the trigger, killing 25-year-old Anthony Alcala. The family ended up getting a $245,000 settlement from the city and later sued the flashlight manufacturer, SureFire, over the design. Luke Metzler, the Dallas lawyer who represented Alcalas family, said the case settled for a confidential amount in 2013. The company, which did not respond to repeated phone and email inquiries this week, didnt admit liability. Unfortunately, these types of errors and mistakes are going continue to happen, Metzler said. My opinion is its a bad idea to put anything on a gun. Its a particularly bad idea to put anything on a gun that increases the possibility of an unintentional trigger pull. In a 2011 case in New York, a man in the Bronx was shot in the stomach by a police officer using the same type of flashlight as was used in the Texas case. In March 2014 in Denver, an officer accidentally fired his gun while trying to turn on a flashlight at a traffic stop, according to a report from the citys Office of the Independent Monitor. That shooting was the second accidental firing in Denver involving flashlights with switches below the gun triggers in a year. It led to Denvers police chief issuing an order authorizing only flashlight attachments with a different configuration: those where the switch was located in front of the trigger guard. Ed Obayashi, a use-of-force expert, is a former San Diego police officer and now an Inyo County deputy sheriff. He said many police departments ban flashlights with a switch under or near the trigger. The overwhelming majority use a style where the light is manipulated by a toggle switch and not a pressure switch, Obayashi said. And its up front so the finger cant be anywhere near the trigger in order to activate the flashlight. Its unknown what type of flashlight Browder was using when he accidentally fired into the baby crib. San Diego police spokesman Wahl declined to answer specific questions about the type of equipment Browder had, citing the need for protecting the specialized equipment our SWAT team uses to maintain a tactical advantage during a critical incident. The crib shooting did not come to light until May when The San Diego Union-Tribune reported the incident and interviewed apartment residents. At that time, the role of the flashlight was not publicly known and police did not provide details of the incident. Browder testified about the event at a July 12 deposition in the Nehad family lawsuit. That portion of the testimony was sealed because city lawyers said questions about the crib shooting were unrelated to the fatal shooting and therefore irrelevant. Lawyers for the family pressed the case, however, and after the deposition asked a judge to order the city to turn over reports and other information about the accidental shooting. In its response, city lawyers said in court documents what Browder had testified to. Officer Browder attempted to activate his weapons light to see inside the bedroom, a city lawyer wrote in a declaration. As he attempted to activate the light attachment, he unintentionally discharged his handgun. In the fatal shooting, the Nehad family alleges he was shot without provocation and posed no threat to the officer. District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis concluded last year that Browder was justified in using deadly force. SDPD Midway shooting video A video of the fatal encounter captured by a nearby security camera has become a key point of contention in the case. It shows Browders patrol car pulling into an alley and Nehad walking toward it, then slowing. Browder emerges from the car and within seconds fires a single shot. Obayashi, the use-of-force expert, has reviewed the video and said he does not think Browder mistakenly pulled the trigger when he meant to turn on the flashlight. The video shows two flashes of light in quick succession. The first is the flashlight coming on and the second the muzzle blast, Obayashi said. There is a split second interval between the two. The flashlight isnt an accident, he said. He meant to turn it on. In Browders deposition, he was questioned extensively about the sequence of events that led to the shooting. He did not mention nor was he ever asked about the flashlight. When the lawsuit over the fatal shooting in Plano was filed, SureFire said more than 100,000 of its flashlights were in use, including tens of thousands with pressure switches beneath the trigger guard. The manufacturer said the 2011 Plano shooting was the first reported incident involving the flashlight in 25 years. Even so, Metzler, the lawyer for the family in that case, isnt convinced the flashlights are totally safe. No question, SWAT officers receive more training than a field officer. But its nowhere near the intensity of training the military personnel, who this device was designed for, receives, he said. Metzler said the equipment was first developed and used by Navy SEALs, who train extensively with the flashlights on their weapons. Like other weapons that were first developed for military use, the equipment was eventually marketed and sold to local police agencies. Before gun-mounted flashlights, an officer would carry a flashlight in one hand and a gun in the other, said Hedden with the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. Mounting flashlights on guns is an improvement, he said. But like anything, pepper spray or a baton, it requires some training to use it effectively and safely, he said. Hot, dry Santa Ana winds are forecast for this weekend, prompting a red flag fire weather warning for much of Southern California, including San Diego County. Fire agencies have increased their staffing levels and are expected to keep them in place through mid-week. The red-flag weather is expected to peak Sunday into Monday, with winds gusting up to 45 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Advertisement In San Diego, five additional brush engines are staged throughout the city, while both fire helicopters and their pilots, mechanics and fuel truck operators are on standby to be called on a moments notice, fire officials said. The rain this week decreased the fire danger slightly, but with the high winds, temperatures and low relative humidity that is being forecast, the already drought-stricken vegetation will dry out quickly, San Diego Fire Chief Brian Fennessy said in a statement. Fire officials are asking residents to take precautions, remain vigilant and review evacuation plans. It is important to follow evacuation orders and leave early as fires move very fast under these conditions, especially with the high level of tree mortality we are experiencing in many areas, Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director, said in a statement. kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @kristinadavis An 18-year-old man who stabbed two women at a City Heights apartment complex last year, including his ex-girlfriends mother, was sentenced Friday to 20 years to life in prison. Jorge Suarez Villalba pleaded guilty in August to second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Alfa Castillo, 45. He also admitted a charge of assault with a deadly weapon, stemming from the attack on the second victim Castillos neighbor. San Diego Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Fraser sentenced Suarez in accordance with the defendants plea agreement. Advertisement According to court documents, Suarez had been in an on-and-off relationship with Castillos daughter since early last year when she was 16 and the defendant was 17. The daughter ended the relationship that summer. On July 7, 2015, the girl received a text message from Suarez asking to speak with her face to face. She declined, saying she had met someone else and was moving on. She also sent a picture of herself with her new beau to the defendant. Suarez became angry, according to the documents. That afternoon, Castillo and her daughter went to a laundromat across the street from their apartment on Highland Avenue. After beginning a few loads of laundry, Castillo left her daughter at the laundromat and went home to wash some items by hand. By then, Suarez had already broken into the apartment, using a key he knew was hidden outside the residence. He had a pair of gloves with him because he intended to steal something from the home if the family was not there when he arrived, the documents said. As Suarez was fiddling with an iPod he picked up in the apartment, he heard Castillos keys at the door. When she entered, she spotted him and turned to run away. Suarez took a pocket knife off of his belt and stabbed Castillo in the upper torso, underneath her left arm. He chased her as she ran from the apartment and through a courtyard toward the street. She collapsed in a side yard, and the defendant ran off. The neighbor heard Castillos screams and went outside to investigate. She found Castillo, who was covered in blood, in the yard and pressed her hands against the wound. As the neighbor was trying to help Castillo, she saw Suarez whom she recognized as Castillos daughters boyfriend walking toward her. Initially, the neighbor thought Suarez was coming to help, but then he ran toward her suddenly and tried to stab her in the neck. He tried again, stabbing her twice in her left arm. Suarez then turned his attention to Castillo, who was still lying on the ground. He leaned over and cut her throat before plunging the knife into her torso again. As he ran off, Suarez called his ex-girlfriend and asked where she was. The girl refused to answer and hung up the phone. He then texted her, asking why there were fire trucks in front of her apartment. The neighbor called 911 and both women were taken to a hospital. Castillo died the next day. Suarez was arrested about 8:30 p.m. the night of the stabbings, San Diego police said. After the attacks, Suarez went home, where he changed clothes and washed the blood off of his knife, then walked to a nearby YMCA to work out, according to court documents. Later, he went to a park with a friend. When the friend dropped Suarez off outside his home, police approached and arrested him. Suarez admitted to police later that he had stabbed Castillo when she came home unexpectedly. He said he stabbed the neighbor because she was a witness. You can say I tried to get rid of her, he said, according to a report by the Probation Department. Deputy District Attorney Anthony Campagna, who prosecuted the case, said the neighbor attended the sentencing hearing Friday morning as did Castillos two daughters. None of them made a statement to the judge in court. Castillos younger daughter told a probation officer earlier that she was trying to find a way to forgive Suarez. I cant forgive him, but I know my mom has, she said, according to the report. She said her mothers kidneys were donated, which saved two lives. This is the one thing I know she would want, the daughter told probation. She would say, This was my purpose. dana.littlefield@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @danalittlefield At Cherokee Point Elementary School, first-grade teacher Hagit Patolai roams her classroom to asses student progress on a fact versus opinion writing assignment. She crouches down to read over the shoulder of a boy, asking him to point to the words (beautiful and cool) that indicate his illustrated story about a rainbow is based on his opinions. Why are peoples opinions important, she asks. Its a question that gets at more than the lesson at hand. Advertisement Patolai keeps detailed records on the performance of her students, sending home weekly progress reports to families. But she also promotes and tracks social and emotional learning. We cant solve the problems students have at home, but we can teach them how to cope, she said. And we can build in supports that will help them at school and in life. Situated in the heart of City Heights, Cherokee Point implemented social and emotional learning curriculum years ago when it became a trauma-informed school. The concept was born out efforts to help students who would show up to class often overcome by the effects of poverty, crime, abuse, language barriers and stress. Now social and emotional learning has emerged as a national movement, driven by attempts to address bullying, improve school climate, help students make connections with adults, and boost academic achievement. The California Department of Education this month appointed a team of educators to develop grade-by-grade social and emotional learning guidelines for schools throughout the state. The panel will represent California in the new multi-state Collaborating States Initiative, established by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning, a Chicago-based nonprofit. Over the next two years, the project aims to help state educators grasp the concept of social and emotional learning. That means teaching students social awareness, relationship skills, how to respect themselves and others, manage stress and set goals. The idea is to infuse social and emotional learning into everyday lessons instead of adding to a list of new demands for teachers. This is exactly what happens at Cherokee Point. The school has become a model in the community and the nation. Educators have taken the subjects beyond the classroom to families through the campus parent center. Workshops are offered on everything from child-rearing classes to anger management. Once a week, a nursing professor from San Diego State University holds class on the campus so students can understand the needs of the community. Cherokee Point is frequently visited by educators from across the country looking to implement similar initiatives to educate the whole child, said Principal Godwin Higa . He will host a team from Hawaii later this month. If a student is experiencing PTSD or toxic stress, they cannot learn. They know we care about them and we respect them so they feel safe here, said Higa, who was appointed by Mayor Kevin Faulconer to sit on the citys Human Relations Commission. We dont point to students and say, follow the rules or else. We build trust. Its not only schools with large populations of at-risk students that benefit from social and emotional learning, according to advocates who say the concept fits into Californias new Common Core academic standards that promote critical thinking skills. Its also compatible with restorative justice student discipline policies that teach students resolve conflicts through the cooperation of offenders, victims and their community. The San Diego County Office of Education has offered teacher training and professional development sessions on social and emotional learning to the countys 42 districts for years, with interest steadily growing, said Don Buchheit, the assistant superintendent of student support services who oversees the programs. It used to be just counselors came to our trainings, now its teachers, administrators even parents, he said. These core skill sets are relevant for everybody. Its about how we continue to function in a world that looks differently. Unlike the reward everyone self-esteem movement of decades ago, social and emotional learning helps students develop real-world skills, Buccheit said. Sometimes people see this as fluff, warm and fuzzies, he said. Its about connecting with students. Its about learning that behavior can tell us something about students.These core skill sets are relevant for everybody. Its about how we continue to function in a world that looks differently. Earlier this month , California adopted a new school accountability system, which will lead to a report card that gauges more than just academics. Campus climate, parent and teacher engagement will be included in school and district report cards alongside math and English language performance. No longer will our parents and our communities be asked to evaluate a school or a district based on a single number, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said in a statement. The new accountability system provides parents, educators, and community members with a wealth of information, allowing them to dig deep into a variety of areas that affect student performance and more effectively hold their districts accountable. It will also help educators more easily identify and assist schools and districts in need of help. The federal Every Student Succeeds Act does not require social and emotional learning. But it calls on states to rate schools using at least one nonacademic indicator, another sign that campus culture is taking on increased importance. The online education journal EdSource reported that the Aspen Institute established a commission to accelerate the distribution of research on social and emotional skill-building to educators nationwide. Three headlines that you cant miss. maureen.magee@sduniontribune.com Twitter: Maureen Magee The new emergency department at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla is six times larger than its predecessor by square footage, has twice as many beds and features up to four times as much capacity for trauma patients. Consuming the entire first floor of the recently opened Prebys Cardiovascular Institute right next door to Scripps Memorials main tower, the 33,000-square-foot, $33 million facility is part of a growing trend toward larger emergency spaces. Experts said the number of emergency cases nationwide is growing from 2.5 percent to 5 percent per year, pushing many facilities across the country to supersize their emergency rooms. They said this growth is driven by a complex mix of regulations, aging demographics and shifts in the way that primary care is delivered outside hospitals. Advertisement When the Barbey Family Emergency and Trauma Center opens to the public on Monday, all of that additional space and brand-new state-of-the-art equipment will provide a modern environment for Memorials emergency team, which had been making do in a space that has been undersized and showing its age for years. Dr. Christopher Wiesner said he he likes the facilitys new equipment, sure, but hes most excited about its 47 private patient rooms which can incalculably increase the dignity of a hospital visit. In our current facility, were having very private conversations with people, and, currently, were having them three feet away from another patient separated by a curtain. Everyone can hear everything, even if you try to speak discreetly and softly, Wiesner said. An ER can be a chaotic place, and these rooms, you can close the door and get a lot more peace and quiet than you could in our old ER. The evidence, said James Lennon, leader of the emergency department design team at international design firm HKS Architects, does show that privacy really does help doctors serve their patients. We know that patients are reluctant to tell the truth about their illnesses when they can be overheard by other patients. The more private the setting, the more likely they are to tell the truth, Lennon said. The San Diego-based architects employer bills him as having designed more emergency departments than any one individual in the United States. He said Memorial is behind the curve in going with private rooms. Most hospitals across the nation have already done so. And those rooms tend to be bigger, he said, because departments need to house ever-larger collections of technology, much of it that gets wheeled right to the bedside. Design guidelines for emergency rooms, he said, have jumped from 80 square feet to 120 square feet over the last 10 years. Regulation has also come to bear. The federal government has instituted new programs that reward or punish hospitals by increasing or reducing Medicare reimbursements based on how they do on patient-satisfaction surveys. So, having an ER that is, on balance, more spacious and capable of shielding patients from noise suddenly has a compelling business case. But there is, at the same time, a trend of increasing numbers of emergency patients arriving at hospitals nationwide. No one, Lennon said, fully understands this trend, but some suspect it has to do with changing patterns of health care delivery and with the fact that Americas largest demographic group, the baby boomers, are entering their retirement years when they are more apt to need medical services. Managed care, he said, has given primary care doctors less time to see patients and has also made patients wait longer than they used to for appointments in doctors offices. We think that one part of it is that people just dont want to wait. If youre sick and your health insurance company tells you that you have to wait a week to see a doctor, some people just dont do it. They just go into the ER where they know they can be seen right away by somebody that is very well trained, Lennon said. The Affordable Care Act, which many call Obamacare, has also added thousands of newly-insured patients to the mix. Many are newly insured and may be in the habit of using emergency rooms for all of their care. Academics are studying how much of recent increases in ER demand are brought about by health reform. This trend has made many think that ERs are full of impatient patients with problems that are not actually emergencies. But Lennon said that a through analysis of admissions data shows this is not the case. The biggest growth in utilization, he said, is from patients with problems like abdominal pain. These problems could go either way. They could be life-threatening internal bleeding or simply gas. This, he added, is where aging demographics come in. As people age, theyre more likely to have these kinds of complex problems that take a long time to diagnose. Patients with mid-range emergencies, he said, now make up half of the volume coming into most emergency departments. Weve seen a significant reduction in traumas and cardiac interventions in emergency rooms and yet, at the same time, the overall volumes of these other mid-range problems are going up, he said. There are other trends that also play into the overall ER equation. Hospitals must react to changing times, and that can be seen in the Memorials new Trauma operating room. It has four beds, twice as many as before, and can expand to eight. This capacity, explained Scripps chief executive Chris Van Gorder, will hopefully never get used but needs to be available. We are now more capable of handling, God forbid, a situation like what happened recently Orlando, Van Gorder said. The new trauma center is named for Dr. Brent Eastman, who helped invent San Diego Countys renowned trauma system in 1984. After checking out the new set up, complete with a mobile X-ray machine that travels from bay to bay on an overhead gantry, and a CT scanner just steps away, Eastman said he dreamed of such convenience during his career. I think this is an increase not just in speed and efficiency but also in accuracy. Those things together, thats what can drive down the preventable death rate, Eastman said. paul.sisson@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @paulsisson Filipinos in San Diego are often overlooked when it comes to outreach for a program that allows unauthorized immigrants who came to the U.S. as children to defer deportation and get work permits, according to Alliance San Diego, an advocacy group that is stepping up outreach efforts to that community. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, as the program is known, was created by President Obama four years ago. A recent report from the Migration Policy Institute said that unauthorized Asian immigrants are much less likely to apply for the program than immigrants from countries such as Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras. Alliance San Diego hopes to encourage Asian youth to apply with its Ready Now San Diego project. Since 2012, theres been countless stories of youth who have bettered their lives from the program, said Erwin Mendoza, spokesman for Alliance San Diego, citing the ability to get drivers licenses and bank accounts as examples of the benefits besides work permits. We want the Asian population to have those same benefits. Advertisement Since Filipinos are the largest portion of the Asian population in San Diego, the organization is focusing its efforts on that community. About 43 percent of San Diego Countys Asian population is Filipino, according to 2014 U.S. Census data. Mendoza said there are Spanish-language resources about the deferred action program, but Alliance noticed a lack of Tagalog resources, so the organization is working to correct that. Alliance has hosted immigration information sessions around the county with Tagalog interpreters in the past month. He said its easier to distribute information to Spanish-speaking audiences because there are Spanish-language television channels. Alliance has advertised in The Filipino Press, the Asian Journal and The Korea Times. To further engage the community, Alliance hired a new staff member, who is Filipino, to do the outreach, Mendoza said. The organization also reached out to several prominent Filipino community members, including Joel San Juan of Operation Samahan Health Centers. San Juan said he agreed to help the alliance with outreach. Since the early 1900s, there has been a steady stream of immigration from the Philippines to the US, San Juan said. Whole families immigrate. Thus children, some very young, come along. These children, who did not make the decision to come here, must not be jeopardized. Rudy Guevarra Jr., professor of Asian Pacific American studies at Arizona State University, said San Diegos Filipino community has been around since at least the 1920s. It has strong historical ties to the Navy and the countys agricultural production. The U.S. annexed the Philippines around the turn of the century, and Filipinos were considered U.S. nationals until the U.S. passed the Tydings-McDuffie Act in 1934. Filipinos in the U.S. were reclassified as immigrants, and Filipino migration reduced to a trickle until the 1965 Immigration Act allowed more to enter the country. In the meantime, many Filipinos earned U.S. citizenship by joining the military during World War II, Guevarra said. Pia Letecia Puray, a 21-year-old from Moreno Valley who is studying chemical engineering at the University of California San Diego, said she moved from the Philippines when she was 4. She said shes not sure what her status was when she arrived. She thinks she arrived with a visa that later expired. What Puray does know is by the time she was finishing high school, she was undocumented. I honestly didnt even know I wasnt allowed to work in the U.S., Puray said. I went to kindergarten in my hometown. I grew up here all my life. Maybe because I wasnt Latino, no one ever thought I was undocumented. Even now friends from high school are surprised when I mention it. She received her work permit under the deferred action program in 2013, after she learned about her status when she was applying for college, and has renewed it once since then. Shes used it to work a variety of jobs that have kept her student loans down, she said. Puray said she hopes other undocumented Asians will consider applying. I feel like the AAPI [Asian American and Pacific Islander] community gets neglected, Puray said. I feel like theres a very big lack of awareness. When you think of undocumented people, you dont think of AAPI, you think of people from Central America. In the Filipino community, undocumented immigrants are referred to as TNTs or tago ng tago which means to keep on hiding, according to Guevarra, who is a native San Diegan of Filipino and Mexican descent. He said the Filipino community doesnt want to see lack of documentation as a Filipino problem. Mendoza said thats one of the challenges the alliances outreach efforts face. Part of signing up for the program means admitting to unauthorized status. Its taboo to talk about immigration status. If youre here without papers, you dont talk about it, Mendoza said. You dont want to trouble the people who got you here or helped you out. He said the turbulent political climate leading up to the November election doesnt help allay fears either. Republican candidate Donald Trump has pledged to get rid of the policy if elected. The next information session with Tagalog interpretation will be Thursday, September 29 at the San Marcos Branch Library from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com, @bgirledukate An out-of-state consultant working for a county social-services provider billed the charity for limousines, first-class airline tickets and repeated $400-a-night stays at a Coronado resort and spa, records show. Joseph Naughton-Travers was a consultant to Pennsylvania marketing and management consultancy Open Minds, which did work for county contractor Mental Health Systems. According to the charitys records, Naughton-Travers billed for lunch at places such as Leroys Kitchen & Lounge and dinner at spots like Il Fornaio Cucina Italiana, while staying at the Coronado Marriott resort and spa. Advertisement It is truly outrageous that Mr. Travers and OM would continue to engage in such lavish conduct at the expense of a troubled nonprofit entity, attorneys for Mental Health Systems wrote to the Open Minds consultancy in a July letter. Mental Health Systems has been in turmoil at least since February, when an internal whistle-blower came forward with concerns about the nonprofit groups business practices including its contract with Open Minds. County officials who employ MHS for $35 million in annual contracts to provide shelter, rehabilitation, employment and other services for women, children, veterans and others reviewed the concerns and agreed upon corrective action with the charity. The CEO was removed from her post, as was her husband an MHS executive who also held a position on the Open Minds advisory board. The new management has been getting up to speed and going over records. Neither Naughton-Travers nor Open Minds chief executive Monica Oss responded to requests for comment. The new non-profit management referenced Naughton-Travers travel reports in the July letter to Open Minds, demanding a refund for $1.1 million of allegedly overbilled services and expenses. The charity included records showing the Open Minds senior associate racked up $105,000 in travel expenses between 2014 and 2016. Ten days after the MHS letter was sent, the consulting firm filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit against the San Diego charity. In its lawsuit, Open Minds (known formally as Behavioral Health Industry News Inc.) accused Mental Health Systems of reneging on an agreement to pay for consulting and other services. It wants the charity to pay $236,000 in outstanding debt and attorney fees. MHS has breached its contractual obligations to Open Minds by failing to pay Open Minds the sums due and owing to Open Minds pursuant to the services agreement and the hourly agreement, the suit states. Lawyers for the nonprofit have already filed a legal brief responding to the lawsuit. In it, they outlined a spate of what they called egregious billings. Mental Health Systems wants the Pennsylvania case dismissed or transferred to U.S. District Court in San Diego. Plaintiff Open Minds action is blatant forum shopping, the motion states, noting that the dispute regards work that Open Minds supposedly performed for the nonprofit in California. The brief filed Monday by Mental Health Systems included a copy of a contract that Open Minds signed with David Conn, who was an executive at MHS and the husband of then-CEO Kim Bond. Under the contract, Conn was to be paid $133 an hour for unspecified consulting work, along with commissions and extra money for published reports. One of the allegations in the whistle-blower complaint in February was that Conn served on an advisory board for Open Minds, which collected more than $1.2 million from MHS without any measurable work product. According to MHSs management, Open Minds also provided services based on verbal requests from MHSs management without a formal agreement documenting specific deliverables and compensation, a county audit said in reviewing the allegations. In response to the whistle-blower allegations, Bond said in February that Open Minds provided valuable market intelligence, strategic planning and tech solutions. She said her husbands position with the Pennsylvania consultancy was voluntary and unpaid. San Diego County spokesman Michael Workman did not respond to questions about the recent allegations in the court record. The federal judge in Pennsylvania has yet to rule on the request from Mental Health Systems to dismiss the case or order it moved to San Diego. Three headlines that you cant miss. jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald The Water Resources Management Agency of Armenias Ministry of Nature Protection is currently drafting a water usage permit for the Astghaber small hydropower plant that Telia Mining LLC wants to build on the Geghi River in Armenias southern Syunik Province. The site of the planned hydro plant falls within the borders of the Geghi community. The agency is also drafting a water usage permit for the Byurakan small hydro-plant that the same company plans to build on the Amberd River in the Aragatzotn Province of Byurakan. Telia Mining, founded in 2012, was once owned by Misak Hovsepyan, son of Aghvan Hovsepyan, a former Prosecutor General of Armenia and currently head of the countrys Investigative Committee. The company is now owned by Hakob Tadevosyan, a contemporary of Misak Hovsepyan. Nothing else has changed. The companys legal and business addresses remain the same, implying that the change in owners was a mere formality. In February 2013 the Byurakan Municipal Council decided to lease parcels of land to Telia Mining in order to lay and service pipes in return for 300,000 AMD per year. Misak Hovsepyan also owns shares in the Vardahovit hydro-plant built on the Karakaya tributary of the Yeghegis River. Narek Hovsepyan, another son of Aghvan Hovsepyan, shares ownership in the Holy Spring hydro-plant in the community of Horbategh. Water from the Geghi River (a tributary of the Vorotan River) is already being used to operate the Geghi-2 small hydro-plant owned by the Eremirenergy LLC. The plant uses water flowing through a 3-kilometer pipe. The length of the river is 30 kilometers. Two small hydro-plants built by Amberd HEK Ltd., 30% owned by Major-General Melsik Chilingaryan, Chief of the Department of Arms Control of the Armenian Armed Forces, already operate on the Amberd River. Pipes used by the two plants total 6.5 kilometers in length. The river itself measures 36 kilometers. Amberd HEK is now building a third plant on the river. Top photo: Amberd River (Wikipedia) 2016-09-23 Mr. President, Secretary General, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to congratulate and wish success to Peter Thomson, the President of this session and to thank his predecessor Mogens Lykketoft. I would also like to take this opportunity to express our high appreciation to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his able leadership. Mr. President, Two days ago, Armenia celebrated the 25th anniversary of its independence. In this relatively short period of time much has been done to strengthen democratic institutions, rule of law, good governance, protect human rights and advance economic reforms. We have been able to make a significant progress also with regard to the social and economic development agenda. However, challenges still remain. The needs of the most socially vulnerable groups have been placed in the center of Armenias Prospective Development Strategy for 2014-2025. Likewise, our Government has launched the Plan of Actions for its National Strategy on Human Rights Protection. In this regard, Armenia continues actively working with all UN human rights mechanisms, including special procedures and treaty bodies. Our new constitutional reform, which followed an inclusive process of broad public discussions aimed at achieving a new and improved governance system with increased transparency and accountability, was approved at a nation-wide referendum last December and welcomed by relevant international bodies. Mr. President, The United Nations has a considerable role to play in changing the environment conducive to intolerance, racial discrimination, xenophobia, violent extremism and terrorism. On numerous occasions Armenia has condemned the crimes committed by DAESH, other terrorist groups, which threaten the peoples of the region and beyond. The war in Syria has a devastating impact on its civilian population, including national and religious minorities who face existential threats due to identity based crimes. The violence has not bypassed Syrian-Armenians, many of whom lost their lives. The Armenian settlements, churches, schools and cultural institutions were destroyed. One hundred years ago Armenian refugees found shelter in many Arab countries after the Armenian Genocide. Today thousands of Armenians, together with other people of the Middle East, again are forced to flee their homes. From Syria alone more than 20 thousand found refuge in Armenia. Therefore, we know what it means to be a refugee and to host refugees. The Government of Armenia has undertaken considerable efforts in assisting the refugees and facilitating their integration. We believe that wider international cooperation is needed to adequately address the challenges posed by massive displacement. The full implementation of the commitments of the New York Declaration on refugees and migrants adopted few days ago by this august body stands as an important milestone in this regard. We would like to stress the significance of addressing the root causes of large movements of people through the prevention of crimes against humanity, peaceful settlement of disputes and achievement of lasting political solutions. Mr. President, Armenia has been continuously supporting and contributing to the elaboration of the mechanisms of prevention, in particular by regularly initiating Resolutions on the Prevention of Genocide in the Human Rights Council. As a nation who experienced the first genocide of the 20th century and continues to face the denial of this horror, Armenia reaffirms its strong support to the fight against impunity for genocide. 2016 marks the first anniversary of the UN General Assembly Resolution initiated by Armenia, proclaiming December 9th as an International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of Genocide. As the threat of violence continues to spread in different parts of the world it is crucial to make our joint efforts for peace and security more efficient. It is with this understanding that Armenia has participated in a number of UN and UN-mandated Peace Operations, thus actively contributing in the most direct way to the building of international peace and security. As the UN Assistant Secretary General noted Armenias support is important not only for its contribution but also for the Armenian history and the challenges overcome during it. Indeed, history teaches us that the security of one is closely connected to others. Mr. President, This year marks the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the International Covenants on Human Rights, as well as the 30th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development. These major documents proclaim that All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. It is well known that the UN Charter underlines the respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples as a purpose of this organization. Aggressive military response of the state to the peaceful aspiration of people to exercise their right to self-determination only legitimizes such aspiration and deprives the aggressor of any claim to authority over such people. The UN Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order rightly stated that rather than perceiving self-determination as a source of conflict, armed conflict should be seen as a consequence of the violation of the right to self-determination. Azerbaijan stubbornly refuses to recognize the right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to self-determination. As part of Azerbaijans policy of ethnic cleansing and aggression, starting from the late 80s and beginning of 90s Armenians were massacred and expelled from their homes. Nobel Peace Prize winner Andrei Sakharov called it a threat of a new genocide of the Armenian people. This year again, in early April in blatant violation of the cease-fire agreement, Azerbaijan unleashed another large scale aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh, indiscriminately targeting civilian infrastructures and population. Among the victims were a 12-year-old boy and 92 year old woman. Three captive soldiers of the Nagorno-Karabakh armed forces were beheaded in DAESH style, which was subsequently demonstrated in towns and villages and publicized through social networks. Furthermore, the leader of Azerbaijan publicly decorated the perpetrators of this crime. During the exchange of bodies of the deceased between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan, carried out through the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, it was registered that the corpses transferred from the Azerbaijani side had undeniable signs of torture and were mutilated. Such despicable atrocities go beyond elementary norms of the civilized world and constitute gross violations of international humanitarian law. The April aggression severely undermined the peace process. To restore the trust in peaceful resolution of the conflict measures should be taken to prevent the use of force and to create conditions conducive to the advancement of the peace process. This was the main aim of two Summits on Nagorno-Karabakh held in Vienna in May and in St. Petersburg in June. First of all, it is imperative to implement what was particularly emphasized and agreed upon at these Summits - first, the full adherence to the 1994-1995 trilateral ceasefire agreements, which do not have time limitations; second, the creation of mechanism for investigation of ceasefire violations; third, the expansion of the capacity of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. Against all odds the people of Nagorno-Karabakh have been able to defend themselves and create a free and democratic society. Armenia, together with the mediator countries - Russia, the United States and France the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, will continue its efforts towards exclusively peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Co-Chairs have proclaimed a rather civilized formula for the settlement ballots instead of bullets. The proposal outlined by the presidents of the Co-Chair countries stipulates future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh through a legally binding expression of will of its population. The mentality that supports medieval barbarism, as witnessed in April, can hardly accept the civilized approaches of the modern world. Mr. President, Armenia welcomes the integration of the Vienna Programme of Action for the Landlocked Developing Countries into the Agenda 2030 as an important step to promote sustainable and inclusive development. To ensure the effective implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action and mainstream it into our policies, the Government of Armenia has recently adopted a national strategy for its implementation. We deplore policies that stipulate unilateral economic measures as an instrument of political pressure. Agenda 2030 reconfirms once again that such measures are detrimental to sustainable development. The unilateral land blockade of Armenia by Turkey is a gross violation of international law. It continues to severely hamper regional transit communication routes, economic cooperation and integration. Mr. President, Armenia welcomes the central role of the United Nations in the implementation of the new and comprehensive Agenda. We do not underestimate the challenges facing all of us - equally we should not downplay the opportunities. More than seven decades on, we must show the same insight and vision to safeguard the future of this Organization and ensure the best possible future for the peoples of the United Nations. Armenia is fully committed to these goals. Thank you. Many government officials, both past and present, appear to have singled out the Czech Republic as a place to conduct their businesses. Here, Hetq reports on the real estate business interests of Yervand Zakharyan and his children in that country. Zakharyan, a member of Armenias ruling Republican Party, is a longtime government official who has served as Armenias Minister of Transport and Communications (1998-2000), Minister of State Revenues ((2001-2002), Yerevan Mayor (2003-2009), Minister of Energy and Natural Resources (2014-2016), among other top posts. In December 2008, Zakharyans children (Artak, Gayaneh and Lilit) owned equal shares in a company called ARGALIE (named after his children) founded in the Czech Republic engaged in real estate; the leasing of residential and commercial space. In April 2012, the company was renamed AREVS. Lilits husband Eric initially served as company director. Lilit and Artak joined Eric as directors in 2009, followed by Gayaneh in 2012. The companys charter capital amounted to 201,000 Czech Koruna (US$8,350). The company appointed Artoush Aghasaryan, a Czech citizen, as its legal proxy. Until 2012, ARGALIEs legal address was Starokosirska 6/11, in Prague. The Aghasaryan family had registered one of their companies at the same address. In 2012, AREVS was relocated to Stodulky, K Zahradkam 2605/5, where, according to the Czech Property Registry, Eric Sahakyan (Zakharyans son-in-law) owns an apartment and garage. Most likely, Eric purchased an apartment here and the company relocated. Eric Sahakyans partners and the Croatian mafia From 2010-2011, Eric Sahakyan was the director and a shareholder in a Czech company called MUJ BAR. The company was founded in 2008 and was previously called TIG & CO. It was founded by Hayk Tadevosyan, a citizen of Armenia. Later, the Avanesyans of Moscow became shareholders. In May 2010, Eric Sahakyan and Miroslav Bosnjak took control of the company, renaming it MUJ BAR. The two owned equal shares until September 2010 when Bosnjak sold his shares to Sahakyan. Originally, the company engaged in manufacturing, commerce and providing services. When Sahakyan and Bosnjak took control it also engaged in real estate leasing. In August 2011, Sahakyan sold the company to six foreign nationals. Who is Miroslav Bosnjak? Bosnjak is a shareholder and director of a number of companies. One is BONAPARTE NOVA, registered in Prague and founded in 1996 by Vjeko Slisko (photo left), at the time a member of the Croatian mafia. In 1999, Bosnjak and a partner purchased the company from Slisko and renamed it LUCKY LINE. Later on, Bosnjak became the sole owner. LUCKY LINEs sphere of business is diverse and has changed over the years tourism services, gambling equipment, real estate, commerce, betting, etc. Vjeko Slisko, nicknamed the King of Gambling, founded several gaming companies in the Czech Republic which, according to the local press, allowed him to launder monies illegally obtained in Croatia. LUCKY LINE continued its gambling operations under the control of Bosnjak. Slisko was killed in 2001 in Zagreb. As stated above, a number of Armenian officials and their families have started business in the Czech Republic. Hetq has already written about those owned by relatives of Robert Nazaryan, (President of Armenias Public Services Regulatory Commission) and those owned by family members of Armen Gevorgyan (Armenias former Deputy Prime Minister and currently Secretary of Armenias National Security Council) Scientific studies in the space are overwhelming and interesting. They are dissimilar with the experiments done on the planet Earth and you will be astonished on how things work beyond the sky. An experiment demonstrated by NASA astronaut Scott Kelly could allow scientists to understand the processes going on in the weightless environment. Kelly exhibited what happens when the color dye or food coloring and an antacid tablet were put to a clear floating ball of water in space. As you can see in the awesome video below when Kelly added color dyes the floating ball of water changed in color slowly until it became green that seemed to look like colored planets that were floating in the weightless environment. The green orb then had a cratered look when Kelly added the antacid tablets to the floating ball of water. According to Evolving Planet, NASA has been using the Red Dragon 4K camera to capture the experiments being conducted in International Space Station (ISS). This helps the astronauts to gather detailed information in their scientific studies. The camera is capable of recording at 300 frames per second at a resolution of 6,144 x 3,160 pixels. The 4K camera is about 4 times sharper than the regular high definition. This is about $57,000 high-resolution camera and very spectacular, according to Higher Learning. This camera was the same model that captured the shooting of the film the "Hobbit." This encapsulated more the details of the said film. Scott Kelly was then on a historic twelve-month mission aboard the International Space Station when he conducted the experiment. Meanwhile, watch the video below and look at one of the current tweets of Scott Kelly on Earth Art Autumn leaves. They are fantastic! Muscles do not really have a memory, well that's somehow true for endurance training based on a new study that tackles if muscle memory is real or not. During the study, the researchers found that other parts of the body may have that so-called 'memory' since it may remember the training performed. However, they found that long-term memory of muscles for endurance training like swimming, running or biking does not happen as stated by Science News. Karolinska Institute researcher Malene Lindholm from Stockholm, Sweden conducted the study and concluded that muscles do not really remember endurance training but it does not mean that endurance training is not good. Endurance training is proven to be a good action to fight off diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and some kinds of cancer. It also helps hasten metabolism. But the study wants to see how long the body can retain these improvements. Lindholm and her co-researchers observed the training of 23 sedentary people and instructed them to kick their leg 60 times in a minute for 45 minutes four times each week that lasted for three months. After that time period, they were asked to go back to their sedentary lifestyle for nine months. And Live Science reported that they again repeated the endurance training now for both legs. The researchers took muscle sample tissues of every participant before and after the study to compare and analyze them. they noted the changes in mRNAs of the muscle tissues and found that there was no difference in gene activity between the untrained and trained legs. Lindholm said that the training effects were likely lost during the time they were asked to rest. Even though muscle memory does not last long, other body organs do remember the training activities like the cardiovascular system and heart. They could go back to a previous fitness level if they happen to rest due to some circumstance. For comparison, strength training is remembered by the muscle in terms of muscle size getting bigger as training goes by. The muscles get bigger because they add more nuclei to each cell. But the case is opposite for muscle endurance training. Gonorrhea is ranked as the second most infectious disease in the United States. The disease is giving patients harder time for it is resistant from its cure. Current research shows that two of the antibiotics, which cure the infectious disease before do not work anymore. Reports were released from the health officials at the conference on Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Disease that a cluster of cases on Gonorrhea in the United States has shown the resistance of the double-antibiotic combination of treatment has failed. The researchers also estimated that 800,000 Americans a year could probably undergo untreatable gonorrhea if the disease will continue to establish resistance. The findings were studied through experts from Hawaii's state health department. They gathered samples from 7 gonorrhea patients. The results lead them that the disease is resistant to azithromycin a kind of antibiotic, and its resistance shows that it is in a "dramatically higher levels" than the usual. Among the 7 samples 5 of which shows resistance to ceftriaxone also an antibiotic, according to Washington Post. However, the patients were treated for the disease using the two drugs, experts are now worried for the pattern of resistance and the indication of the gonorrhea will still spread. Thus, Hawaii is in the front-line of the antibiotic-resistant form the disease. Hence, the state was able to catch the cluster cases early, through these findings. Health officials warned that the majority of the people is not aware that they are infected with gonorrhea for the disease has no symptoms. As a result, people who are infected with the disease remain untreated. For women, the danger is the chronic pain, infertility, and even life-threatening ectopic pregnancy. The infection also increases the risk of contracting and transmitting HIV for both men and women. In line with this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that options for the treatment are in jeopardy, director of CDC's division of STD prevention Gail Bolan said, "What's unique about this cluster now identified in Hawaii is that these strains, we've really never seen before." Meanwhile, president and chief executive of Consumer Reports Martha Tellado shared that "Countries need to launch high-profile public awareness campaigns, and institutions such as hospitals need to be more transparent so consumers can be informed about drug-resistant outbreaks," reported by Chicago Tribune. Cancer has been one of the leading causes of mortality around the world and a lot of efforts are put into finding ways to stop it. With that said, tech company Microsoft has announced its promise to "solve the problem of cancer" using computer science within the next decade. They plan to do that by cracking the code of affected cells so they can be reprogrammed back to its healthy state. According to reports, the tech company is planning to treat the disease like a computer virus that invades and corrupts the body's cells. Experts working for Microsoft have said that once they are able to treat the disease, they may be able to monitor the affected cells and potentially reprogram them to be healthy again. "I think it's a very natural thing for Microsoft to be looking at because we have tremendous expertise in computer science and what is going on in cancer is a computational problem," Chris Bishop from Microsoft Research told Sarah Knapton at The Telegraph. "It's not just an analogy, it's a deep mathematical insight. Biology and computing are disciplines which seem like chalk and cheese but which have very deep connections on the most fundamental level." Science Alert reported that in order to turn their goal a reality, Microsoft, which isn't really known for stepping out of its comfort zone, organized a team of biologists and computer scientists from around the world to work on different parts of cancer research. The details are still a little hazy, but one team plans on using machine learning and computer vision, where computers gather information from images or videos, to give radiologists a better understanding of the patient's tumor's progress. Chris Bishop, laboratory director at Microsoft Research, said: "I think it's a very natural thing for Microsoft to be looking at because we have tremendous expertise in computer science and what is going on in cancer is a computational problem." He added saying, "It's not just an analogy, and it's a deep mathematical insight. Biology and computing are disciplines which seem like chalk and cheese but which have very deep connections on the most fundamental level." Meanwhile, independent.co.uk also reported that the biological group at Microsoft is developing molecular computers built from DNA which can act like a doctor to find cancer cells and destroy them. "It's long term, but... I think it will be technically possible in five to 10 years time to put in a smart molecular system that can detect disease," said Andrew Philips, head of the group. It is also important to note that the programming and principles group has already created a software that copies a cell's healthy behavior so it can be compared to those cells infected with the disease, so they can work out where the problem is happening and look for ways to fix it. The Bio Model Analyser software is already being used to help researchers understand how to treat leukemia more effectively. If you love to view the world through Snapchat-colored filters then there's good news for you. Snapchat is soon going to launch a new gadget in the form of its Camera equipped glasses, which has been named Snapchat spectacles. The wearable gadget is to be launched sometime later this fall. Will it be a challenge to Google glass? Well, we'll get to know soon enough. The camera-equipped glasses also called Snapchat Spectacles, at present will have the ability to record about 10 seconds of video from the wearer's perspective by using a lens with an 115-degree angle, which almost resembles the human eye's field of view. A single tap on a button that's mounted on the upper edge of the left lens in the gadget will record yet another clip. Snapchat's CEO Evan Spiegel earlier told The Wall Street Journal that the Snapchat Spectacles will arrive on the market later this fall and might as well pose a challenge to Google Glass. The Camera equipped glasses are reported to come in only a single size at present. The wearable gadget will be available on a limited basis and can be bought in any of the three colors comprising black, teal and coral. The cost for these Snapchat spectacles is told to be $129.99 (around 100, AU $170), while the cost for Google Glass is around $1,500. "We'll take a slow approach in rolling them out," Spiegel said. "It's really about figuring out if it really fits into buyer's lives and to see how they like it." Snapchat, the Ephemeral media app does appear to be disappearing itself, reports techcrunch.com. The domain records and a video that was leaked previously suggest that the company will rebrand as Snap, Inc. along with the launch its first camera-equipped glasses called Snapchat Spectacles. The video that was earlier taken down by YouTube briefly showed the features of the Snapchat Spectacles. The camera-equipped glasses had big shades and an integrated camera above the left eye. Most of this was pretty clear from before when Snapchat bought the camera-equipped glasses manufacturing company Vergeance in 2014 for $15 million. Although it's highly unlikely that the Snapchat app will be renamed as it would be brand suicide, Snap Inc. is most likely to be the governing company in this budding media platform comprising the camera-equipped glasses. On any random day, Snapchat App reaches almost 41 percent of all the 18- to 34-year-old population in the United States, states the company. That's a lot of people that could be sporting the new Snapchat spectacles. If people find these glasses fun, then there's a possibility that unlike the Google Glass, a lot of people would wear these camera-equipped glasses in the future. DARLINGTON, S.C. This week, the S.C. Department of Education released results for several statewide tests for the 2015-16 school year, including ACT WorkKeys, ACT, International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme assessments, and the South Carolina Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (SCPASS). Harper Smith, now a senior at HHS, earned a Platinum level score on the ACT WorkKeys test. The first student in DCSD to do so, she is one of only about 100 out of more than 50,000 juniors tested in South Carolina last year to score high enough for Platinum certification. The ACT WorkKeys test measures a students readiness to enter the workforce following graduation. In order to attain Platinum certification, a student must score at least a Level 6 on each of the three assessments applied mathematics, locating information and reading for information. Just .2 percent of South Carolina juniors who took the test last year scored so well. Harper Smith's accomplishment by achieving a Platinum level score on the ACT WorkKeys assessment is no small feat, and we are proud of that accomplishment, said Dr. Eddie Ingram, DCSD superintendent. I believe we can and will grow that number over time. In DCSD, 85 percent of juniors tested high enough on the WorkKeys test to earn a National Career Readiness Certificate. That is on par with 86.8 percent of juniors across the state to earn a certificate. Were excited that Harper Smith has achieved Platinum status on WorkKeys, said Dr. Charlie Burry, HHS principal. She is a great example of the fulfillment of our mission at Hartsville High School: Preparing for the Future By Learning Every Day. Were proud of Harper and her teachers, and we know that she has more great things ahead of her. For the second year, all juniors in DCSD and South Carolina took the ACT. DCSD juniors average score was a 17.3, third highest of the 11 Pee Dee districts. That compares to the 18.2 state average for juniors last year. District-level data for 2016 graduating seniors scores on the ACT recently became available. DCSD seniors averaged a 17.9 on the ACT, which is the highest average in the Pee Dee. That compares to the states public school district average of 18.2. Hartsville High Schools IB Programme continued its success in 2015-16. Fifteen IB diplomas were awarded out of a possible 17. That success rate of 88 percent compares to the state average of 62 percent. Eighty-five HHS IB students took 221 subject area tests, scoring four or higher 76 percent of the time. That compares to the state average of 68 percent. Also, 30 HHS IB students took 47 Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay tests, scoring an A, B, or C at a rate of 70 percent. That compares to the 64 percent state average of applicable schools. Students in fourth through eight grades are required to take the SCPASS, unless they qualify to take the S.C. Alternative Assessment. SCPASS measures student performance on the South Carolina Academic Standards in science and social studies. I am proud of the efforts our students, teachers and administrators exert in order to achieve the results we have received, Ingram said. There is always more work to do. So we always strive for continuous improvement. More test results from the 2015-16 school year are expected to be released in the coming weeks. For more information about testing in DCSD, please contact the Office of Communications at 843-398-2284. FLORENCE, S.C. -- A four-day, three-county manhunt for a Marlboro County burglary suspect ended Saturday afternoon in a swamp between Wisteria Drive and Second Loop Road. Nickolas Riley Carter, 19, of Florence, was taken into custody shortly after 1 p.m. when South Carolina State Law Enforcement agents tracked him down near the dead-end of Marion Avenue off Second Loop Road, said Florence Police Chief Allen Heidler. Carter was booked into the Florence County Detention Center shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday on one charge of first-degree burglary, one charge of malicious injury to animals or personal property $2,000 or less, two counts of petit larceny $2,000 or less, two counts of first-offense failure to stop for blue light and one count of possession of a stolen vehicle valued at $5,000 or more. The arrest came about six hours after the Florence manhunt started shortly after 7 a.m., said Lt. Mike Brandt of the Florence Police Department. "A police officer observed him in the area and turned around on him. There was a brief pursuit where he collided with a tree and then fled on foot into the woods," Brandt said. That happened near the intersection of Santee and Juanita Drives. The Florence manhunt included officers, deputies, agents and troopers from Florence, SLED, Florence and Marlboro County sheriff's offices and the South Carolina Highway Patrol, Brandt said. Almost all the agencies had been out overnight searching for Carter in the Marlboro County/Darlington County/Society Hill area, said Maj. Mike Nunn of the Florence County Sheriff's Office. Brandt said that because the search teams were already assembled they were able to quickly respond in force to the area to continue the search. Law enforcement officers set up a command post at the intersection of Santee Juanita Drives and kept officers stationed throughout the neighborhood and along Cherokee Road and and Wisteria Drive while they used SLED's helicopter and multiple dog teams to search for Carter, Brandt said. Several Facebook posts to the Morning News' Facebook page indicated that officials used reverse 911 to alert residents in the affected areas of the events and steps they could take to stay safe. The search for Carter started Wednesday afternoon in Marlboro County. Carter is alleged to have been involved in a burglary Wednesday afternoon in the Summit Lane area off Red Hill Road in Marlboro County. According to Lt. Jamie Seales of the Marlboro County Sheriff's Office, Carter was seen allegedly stealing a backhoe and fleeing toward Society Hill. In the Wednesday Marlboro County incident two residents followed Carter and spoke with him briefly before calling 911. Carter then ran into a hunt club area, according to Seales. Marlboro County sheriff's deputies along with SLED agents initiated a search for Carter using tracking teams and other resources. Marlboro County wants Carter for burglary, larceny, weapons charges and failure to stop for a blue light, Seals said. Nunn said Florence County has a warrant outstanding on Carter from August for disregarding a blue light. Nunn said Carter would be initially booked into the Florence County Jail on the Florence and Florence County charges before being transferred to Marlboro County. A Yerevan court today lengthened the pre-trial detention of Andreas Ghukasyan, charged with fomenting public disorder, by another two months. Lawyers for Ghukasyan, a member of the civic group Votki Hayastan (Rise Up Armenia, had petitioned the court to release him on bail. At court today, Ghukasyan argued that he was being kept in detention purely for political reasons. Ghukasyans lawyers stated that police had offered false testimony against their client, noting that there was video evidence showing that Ghukasyan did not incite crowds on July 28 in Yerevans Sari Tagh neighborhood during the protests that followed the seizure of a local police building by the armed Sasna Dzrer group. Newly appointed Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan today named Shoushan Sardaryan as his adviser regarding public affairs. Sardaryan was serving as Gazprom Armenias public affairs director. It seems that Karapetyan, a former head of the national gas distributing company ArmRosGazprom, is assembling a team of people he knows from the energy sector. On September 24, while paying a working visit to New York, Edward Nalbandian, the Acting Foreign Minister, had a meeting with Ibrahim al-Jaafari, the Foreign Minister of Iraq. In the course of meeting, the joint steps aimed at the further deepening of cooperation between the two friendly countries were discussed. In this regard, the Ministers attached importance to the organization of high-level mutual visits, efficient activity of the intergovernmental committee, holding of regular consultations between the MFAs, as well as enhancement of interaction within the framework of international organizations. The sides mutually commended that year by year the business contacts are deepening, the trade turnover is expanding already reaching 120 mln US dollars. The Foreign Minister of Iraq briefed Edward Nalbandian on the establishment of stability and fight against terrorism in his country. The interlocutors exchanged views on a number of international and regional issues. If you found a typo you can notify us by selecting the text area and pressing CTRL+Enter JOOL Health's app creates an entire personalized wellness program, ShapeLog tracks your workouts, and MySwimPro puts a virtual master swim coach on your wrist. Press Release September 24, 2016 Legarda Urges DTI to Prioritize Micro Enterprises in Poorest Areas in the Country Recognizing the vital role of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in economic growth and poverty alleviation, Senator Loren Legarda, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to reach out to the poorest sectors, especially those in regions with high poverty incidence, by providing them access to livelihood opportunities. During the hearing for the proposed 2017 budget of the DTI, Legarda said that since the Department aims to target those at the "bottom of the pyramid", it should ensure that the poorest provinces are given priority in the Shared Service Facilities (SSF) Project. A major component of the MSME Development Program of the DTI is the SSF Project, which aims to improve the competitiveness of MSMEs by providing them with machinery, equipment, tools, systems, skills and knowledge under a shared system. Legarda has proposed amendments to the 2017 National Budget for SSF Capital Outlay in order to help MSMEs in the poorest regions. The Office of the Secretary has been tasked to come up with the required amount, based on the needs of the 20 poorest provinces in the Philippines. "I want you to look deeper into the situation and find ways on how we can reach the bottom of the pyramid--those who are not capable of joining trade fairs and those who have skills and indigenous resources but are unable to register or acquire the usual permits--so we can open up more opportunities for them," Legarda said. To empower the country's poorest, she encouraged DTI to mandate all its regional offices to take a more proactive approach in extending support to the marginalized through the conduct of entrepreneurship and livelihood training aimed at enhancing the value of each town's products and the competitiveness of rural enterprise. "We have to help those who have greater needs, those who will never be employed in mega businesses but could still have a fighting chance for profitable means of livelihood," she said. "The vigilance of the DTI in assisting and training more micro-entrepreneurs with product development, product quality, good management, labeling and marketing through their personnel assigned in the provinces will be an invaluable economic growth boost," Legarda concluded. Press Release September 24, 2016 PH to hold 1st Centenarian Day but no funds in '17 budget for cash gift The country will observe the first official National Centenarians Day two Sundays from now, on October 2, but funds for cash gifts for 100-year-old Filipinos pursuant to a new law have not been included in the 2017 budget, prompting Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto to prod both Palace and Congress to correct the oversight. Recto authored the Filipino Centenarians Act in the Senate, which was later sponsored by Senators Nancy Binay, Sonny Angara, and Chiz Escudero for floor debates. President Aquino signed it as Republic Act 10868 on June 23 - a week before leaving office. The bill, originally penned by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, was first vetoed by Aquino until a revised version got the presidential nod on the second try. Under Republic Act 10868, centenarians will receive a P100,000 cash gift from the government and "a personal letter of felicitation from the President." "In short, a treasury check and birthday card from President Digong," Recto said. But because the law was signed seven days "before the changing of the guards," the allocation for the cash gift was not included in the 2017 national budget, Recto said, stressing that "nobody is at fault here. " Recto said the cash gift "can in fact be given this year," with funds to be sourced from the P4 billion savings of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), from completed projects. "For as long as the transfer complies with recent Supreme Court ruling on budget augmentation, I suggest that it should be pursued," Recto said. The money can also be taken from the Contingent Fund of the President, Recto added. Based on the 3,553 centenarians in the database of DSWD, about P355 million for the cash gift is needed. This amount, however, did not make it to the DSWD's P129.8 billion proposed budget for 2017. Under RA 10868, DSWD takes care of distributing the cash gift. Recto said Congress should appropriate funds for the full implementation of the Centenarians Act in the 2017 budget. "And when it does, it should see to it that it will use the right census figures in computing the amount required," Recto said. He said the 3,553 cited by DSWD could just be one-fourth of the actual number of centenarians in the country. The official 2010 Philippine population census counted 4,728 centenarians in 2010. Their number was projected to increase to 9,195 in 2013 and to 12,775 by end of 2016. "So bigyan natin ang kayang bigyan this year, at yung balanse at yung magiging 100 years old sa 2017, isama natin sa 2017 budget," Recto said. Recto said because they are few, honoring centenarians "will not burn a hole in the government's pocket." "Only those born in 1916 and earlier - when the Stars and Stripes was flying over the land, there was no airport yet, when the population was 7.7 million, only 4,400 cars were running in the whole country, the total money in circulation was P51 million, and the land on which this building stands was still part of the sea - could qualify," Recto said in his speech sponsoring the measure. "These are .00454 percent of the population who have seen all our 15 presidents, lived through two world wars, witnessed our independence, survived hundreds of typhoons, and saw the birth of radio, telephone and television," he said. The husband of Alameda Mayor Trish Spencer has filed a claim against the city and its Police Department, alleging that officers stopped him without probable cause and arrested him on false allegations that he was driving drunk on St. Patricks Day. Joel Spencers claim, filed this week in Alameda County Superior Court, states he is seeking compensation for injuries to the body, defamation of character, (and) costs and fees to defend himself in (a) criminal proceeding. The city has 45 days to settle or deny the claim, at which point Spencer can file a lawsuit. Court records show that Spencer was arrested on March 17 on misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence. He pleaded not guilty on April 18, and the criminal case against him is pending. We are a little puzzled, said Alameda City Attorney Janet Kern, adding that the mayor and the City Council are both aware of the complaint, and that the city intends to investigate it as we would anything else. The mayor will not take part in that investigation, Kern said. Were also looking to see what the criminal case is going to do, Kern said. Frankly, I dont know why they decided to file this now. The mayor did not return calls or respond to an email on Friday, and her husband could not be reached for comment. His attorney, Andrew Dosa, declined to comment. An Alameda Police Department spokesman was also unavailable for comment Friday. Kern said that she and other city officials are confident that their police force does a very good job. We have no reason to believe there was improper conduct on the part of our police officers, particularly since the district attorney has decided to prosecute, she said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Rebecca Kaplan, the ebullient, left-leaning Stanford Law School alumna who since 2009 has held Oakland City Councils at-large seat, is facing a formidable challenger. The candidate with the best chance of unseating Kaplan in November, Peggy Moore, is a former senior special adviser to Mayor Libby Schaaf who helped run political campaigns for President Obama and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Like Kaplan, Moore is an outspoken lesbian with solid ties in Oakland City Hall and a history of community service. The two women used to be allies. They worked side by side in 2000 to try to defeat a state ballot proposition that invalidated same-sex marriages. Voters passed the measure, which was later struck down by the courts. Kaplan helped Moore in an unsuccessful 2005 bid for City Council, and Moore said she supported Kaplan in the 2010 mayoral race, which Jean Quan won. Shes a lesbian, Im a lesbian wed see each other on the campaign trail, and it would be like, Whats up, how you doing? You know, lesbian bonding, Moore said. Now they are locked in a bitter battle that at times seems wrenchingly personal. Kaplan, who frequently butts heads with Schaaf, sees Moores campaign as a calculated attack from the mayor. Moore clearly has a campaign thats staffed by, run by, funded almost entirely by the mayors people, Kaplan said, her voice rising. Whether that was the intention that was in Peggys heart, I dont know. A spokeswoman for Moores campaign said Moore and Schaaf share a common vision for Oakland and that many of the coalitions that backed Schaaf in the mayors race have also thrown their support behind Moore. But Moore, who was Schaafs campaign manager, says the decision to run this year was hers alone, not Schaafs. Its been in the back of my mind forever, she told The Chronicle during an interview in her campaign office on Oaklands Auto Row. If elected, she said she will try to bring peace to a leadership body known for squabbling. Im a community organizer. Ive been doing this for 25 years, Moore said a recent candidates forum in Rockridge hosted by the League of Women Voters. I have relationships that are statewide and national, and I think you need to have some folks to bring in new innovation, ways of thinking, and access to more stuff for our city. Kaplan has said she will focus on tenants rights, funding for new transportation projects, passing a citywide soda tax and recruiting more women and openly gay officers into Oaklands police force. She is currently pushing a city ballot measure to protect renters from eviction, and to require property owners to petition for certain rent increases. Of Moore, she said, We were close friends for years before she launched her career of campaigning against me. The at-large seat holds particular allure for anyone with higher political ambitions, said Oakland political consultant Jim Ross, who helped run Kaplans unsuccessful 2010 mayoral campaign. You get to build a citywide presence, Ross said. You can work on a fire issue in the hills, or an economic inequality issue in the flats. And then if you run for higher office state Assembly, Senate or mayor it gives you a much broader platform. Both Kaplan and Moore have tried for higher political posts in the past, with Kaplan bidding for mayor in 2010 and 2014, and Moore making a short-lived push for the Richmond-area state Assembly seat in 2014; she dropped out before her name got on the ballot. Three other candidates are muscling for the at-large seat, which represents the entire city about 400,000 constituents rather than homing in on the needs of a single district. Nancy Sidebotham, a board member of the Metropolitan Greater Oakland Democratic Club, has pledged to bring a community voice to City Hall. Matt Hummel, chair of the citys Cannabis Regulatory Commission, has promised to use community leaders as advisers, rather than lobbyists. Bruce Quan, a longtime friend of former Mayor Quan (no relation) has pledged to give everyone in Oakland equal access to education, housing and employment opportunities. Yet all eyes are on the top two contenders. I know Rebecca is running an aggressive campaign, which makes sense because Peggy is a real challenger, and she has real support from the mayor, Ross said. He argues that Moore, despite her political connections, will have a hard time unseating a well-liked incumbent. Usually a challenger has to raise more money, and also run as much of a mistake-free campaign as possible, he said. In August, Moores campaign made an embarrassing mistake. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The candidates hired polling firm, EMC Research Inc., emailed a poll to Oakland voters, falsely stating that Moore had support from Rep. Barbara Lee and Assemblyman Tony Thurmond, D-Richmond. Days later, Lees office sent the first of two statements to media outlets, saying the congresswoman had not endorsed Moore or any other Oakland City Council candidate. Moore said she was unaware of the gaffe until an audience member buttonholed her during a recent candidates forum. When it came to my attention I called EMC immediately. They made an adjustment, she said. On Aug. 30, the company sent out a correction, saying that Lee and Thurmond had not yet endorsed anyone in the at-large race. Moore has tried to put the incident behind her. Kaplan wont let it go. Shes saying, Oh no, Im not running out of some sleazy attack on Kaplan, Im running because I really want it for myself, Kaplan said. Well then, why are you having the people you paid to do your campaign work launch your campaign with a sleazy attack on me? Yet some political insiders say that Kaplan will only sabotage herself by framing Moore as the mayors proxy. I think the last thing (Kaplan) wants to do is turn this into a Rebecca vs. Libby race, said San Francisco State University Professor Joe Tuman, who ran unsuccessfully for Oakland mayor in 2010 and 2014. Because thats a race shes going to lose. Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan During a hearing before the Senate Banking Committee last week, Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf acknowledged that he knew as early as 2013 that employees were creating bogus savings and credit card accounts in the names of real customers. Ultimately, as many as 2 million fake accounts were created in an effort to meet sales goals. So why didnt the company disclose the information to the Securities and Exchange Commission at the time? It wasnt material, or relevant, to investors, he said. Stumpf certainly cant make that argument now. Aside from the $185 million fine it will pay to federal regulators and the city and county of Los Angeles, Wells Fargo faces lawsuits, a reported investigation by federal prosecutors and incalculable damage to its reputation. Since the scandal broke, Wells Fargos market value has declined over $20 billion. Two million fake accounts is not relevant based on what standard of materiality? said Michael Arnold, co-owner of Alco Partners, a consulting firm that advises financial institutions on risk management. What legal counsel would tell a big bank not to disclose such information to regulators? Under SEC rules, companies must tell investors about anything that may significantly impact financial performance. But such a standard has always been kind of squishy: The companys idea of what investors need to know at any given point can differ significantly from the opinion of regulators and investors themselves. When determining whether something is financially material, auditors often apply the 5 percent rule: Information is relevant to reasonable investors only if it impacts 5 percent or more of annual profit. Last year, Wells Fargo generated about $23 billion in profit. In other words, to be deemed material, the fake accounts would have needed to cause at least $1 billion in profit to fluctuate. But the SEC has warned companies that relying exclusively on the 5 percent rule to determine materiality is not appropriate. Materiality is not a simple calculation, corporate risk assessment manager James Vorhies wrote in the Journal of Accountancy in 2005. Rather it is a determination of what will vs. what will not affect the decision of a knowledgeable investor given a specific set of circumstances related to a fair presentation of a companys financial statements and disclosures. Arnold, a former executive at Citigroup and Bank of America, said the bogus accounts are material because the issue goes to the heart of Wells Fargos strategy of cross-selling. The controversial practice calls for employees to sell products across multiple lines of businesses whether mortgages, credit cards, student loans to the same customer. Stumpf argues that cross-selling helps Wells Fargo build deep relationships with customers. What hurts us so much is that we spend a lot of time trying to do the right thing, Stumpf told the hearing. People (who cheat customers) dont belong here. But critics say the cross-selling strategy creates a high-pressure sales culture in which employees pressure customers into buying products they dont need. Interestingly enough, Wells Fargos board of directors thought the risk was great enough to create a special committee in 2011 that was meant to head off customer complaints and keep them from harming the banks reputation. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes The Corporate Responsibility Committee, chaired by board member and former Energy Secretary Federico Pena, is supposed to monitor the companys reputation and review customer service and complaint matters and other metrics relating to the companys brand and reputation, including matters relating to the companys culture and the focus of its team members on serving our customers, according to SEC filings. So how can the bogus accounts that Stumpf knew about in 2013 not be material, when they subsequently caused Wells Fargo so much damage to its reputation and forced it to alter its business practices? The company recently said it will no longer establish product sales goals at its retail branches, effective in January. In a way, Wells Fargos problems are relevant now only because of the public outcry. Had Wells Fargo been able to keep the matter under wraps, the fake accounts might not have had any meaningful impact since they financially account for only a small part of its overall business. But that reasoning will no longer fly with regulators, said Richard Bove, an analyst with Rafferty Capital Markets. Congressional pressure is likely to force the SEC to examine why Wells Fargo didnt disclose the accounts to regulators as soon as Stumpf learned of them in 2013, he said. The SEC will ultimately determine what was material, Bove said. Even three years after the fact. Thomas Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: tlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByTomLee Teresa Briggs still had a 17-year-old son at home when her father was diagnosed with brain cancer. As her fathers health deteriorated over the next two years, Briggs, a managing partner and vice chairwoman of Deloitte LLPs western region, split her time between being a mom, a daughter and a caregiver, managing her fathers business and navigating her own career. It wasnt easy. When Deloitte unveiled a family leave policy this month that the company lauded as the most comprehensive in the professional services industry, Briggs said, she felt relieved. The policy, granting up to 16 weeks of fully paid leave to care for a new child, aging parent, spouse or sick sibling, is available to all full-time employees from the companys partners to those who work in the mail room. I was doing everything on nights and weekends because I felt I couldnt take a long-term leave, said Briggs, who works out of Deloittes San Francisco office and helped push for the policy. I understand what its like to have kids at home and aging parents to take care of. Its hard. Hopefully this will make it a little easier on our employees. Deloittes new policy raises the stakes in a battle among employers to offer the most compelling and competitive benefits package, experts said. But it also broadens the definition of family at a time when most leave policies cover time off only for new parents, if at all. Who do you consider family? said Ellen Galinsky, the president and co-founder of the Families and Work Institute. When you ask, people are likely to define family as your wife, your parents, your kids. Sometimes your siblings, though less often. ... Deloitte has set a new standard by combining all of this care into one policy. Paid maternity leave, what experts and advocates consider to be the most basic of family leave benefits, remains elusive to most American workers. Leah Millis/The Chronicle More than 70 percent of employers do not offer any kind of paid leave for new moms, according to the most recent statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor. Paternity leave is even rarer. When companies do offer additional leave, or promise employees paid time off, policies typically focus on new mothers. Elder care benefits that go beyond federal or state requirements are extremely uncommon, according to data collected by the Society for Human Resource Management. Business is pretty out of sync with the demographic changes in this country, Galinsky said. For instance, men are much more likely to want to be full participants in their childrens lives, but we dont see much movement in paternal leave policies. And more and more, people are having to be the caregivers for their aging parents. All U.S. employees are entitled to 12 weeks of unpaid time off per year under the Family and Medical Leave Act after the birth or adoption of a child or the illness of a family member for whom they provide care. But many do not take that time because they cant afford to stop working. Three quarters of companies report that they offer time off for elder care without penalizing their workers, according to a Families and Work Institute survey, but often that means the leave is unpaid or off the books. Flex time is one of the most accessible kind of benefits for elder care, said Dana Schroeder, associate director for React, a coalition of more than 30 companies and nonprofits that collectively employ more than 1 million workers. Emergencies might not pop up all the time, but you need to be there as needed. With child care, you have nine months to prepare to have a child. But you have about nine seconds to prepare for a crisis with an older person. About 17 percent of the workforce at any given time is providing care for an aging person and about half of them also have children under 18 at home, according to research by React. In 2013, about 40 million family caregivers in the United States provided roughly 37 billion hours of care to aging adults with limitations on daily activities, which, according to a recent study, was equal to about $470 billion of unpaid work. On average, caregivers also juggling full-time jobs spend an average of 16 hours a week providing hands-on care for an aging adult and an additional six hours a week doing indirect tasks such as arranging doctors appointments or dealing with finances, according to a 2014 survey conducted by the Families and Work Institute. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes We have this growing sandwich generation of adult children caring for their elderly parents as they age, while they also care for their own children, Schroeder said. At work, you might physically be there, but your mind is thinking about how am I going to pick up my parent from the senior center while also getting my kids from school. Deloitte decided to change its policy after a company-wide survey pushed the corporation to reconsider. Its previous benefits package which was replaced this month was singularly focused on new parents and offered eight weeks of paid time off to primary caregivers and three weeks to non-primary caregivers. In a survey of employees, 90 percent said they would value a benefits package that extended the ability to take paid leave to care for family members other than children. Galinsky said she hopes that other companies will follow suit. Its a silly argument, but it recalls the old adage: You choose to have children, but you didnt choose to have parents, she said. Most companies know what to do in an emergency if your mother falls or your father goes to the hospital but when theres a policy in place that allows people to take time as needed, they dont have to wait for an emergency. Briggs, whose father died this year, said the reaction to the policy change was immediate and intense, with employees sending thank-you notes and voicing their appreciation for the new benefit. Life events affect all people at every walk of life, she said. People have broader needs than (those of) new parents. We need to care for our kids, our spouses, our domestic partners, our aging parents. And we need time to do that without worrying about keeping our jobs. Marissa Lang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mlang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Marissa_Jae This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Nearly six decades after Russias tiny Sputnik 1 made satellite history, the Bay Area has become a launchpad for a new type of space race. As many as a dozen local ventures, with names like Planet, SpaceVR and Terra Bella, are building their own constellations of nanosatellites to send into orbit around the Earth. Also known as CubeSats, these satellites can be as small as a loaf of bread but powerful enough to beam back images or data that can be used by farmers, rescue workers, weather forecasters and even hedge fund managers. What I love about this sector is that five years ago, almost no one was actively investing in it it was just a dead zone, said venture capitalist Steve Jurvetson, a partner with Draper Fisher Jurvetson and an investor in Planet and SpaceX. Now, as the sector takes flight, he believes small satellites will eventually have an economic impact comparable to the transition from mainframe to mobile computers. The same mobile phone technologies, such as processing chips and sensors, that have upended the consumer world have also made it cheaper and quicker to build CubeSats. So its less financially catastrophic if the rockets that launch them into space fail. (The Facebook-backed satellite that blew up this month at a prelaunch SpaceX rocket test in Cape Canaveral was the size of a truck and weighed about six tons.) Michael Macor/The Chronicle Over the next two years, were going to see an explosion of data coming from these companies, said Sean Casey, founder of the Silicon Valley Space Center. While traditional satellites can cost up to $1 billion, CubeSats use more off-the-shelf components and can be built for less than $100,000, according to Dick Rocket, CEO of NewSpace Global, a Cape Canaveral space industry analytics firm. I dont really think of us as a space company, said Will Marshall, CEO of San Franciscos Planet, which he co-founded in 2010. I think of us as a data and software company. We happen to have some assets in space that enable that. Marshall likes to say that his company has made San Francisco the world leader in satellite manufacturing. Planet already has 60 digital imaging satellites in orbit, including eight deployed earlier this month from the International Space Station. Employees in its South of Market headquarters are busy assembling 100 more satellites that the company wants to launch within the next year. The two-story building, a 1940s-era warehouse, also has a testing chamber that simulates the cold, harsh conditions of space, and a mission control section next to an employee work break area. Planet has launched more than most nation states, said Micah Walter-Range, director of research analysis for the Space Foundation, a Colorado commercial space educational group. The larger traditional communications satellites, which orbit farther from the Earth than Planets small satellites, still make up the bulk of the industrys revenue. But in the past three years, satellite launches have increased from about 100 to 150 per year to 200 to 300 a year, and thats almost entirely due to nanosatellites, Walter-Range said. In a report released this month, NewSpace Global said 72 small satellites have been launched this year, with another 174 planned before years end. Investors have poured $4.52 billion into the small-satellite market since 2011. Planets satellites, named Doves, dont have their own propulsion system and cant sustain their orbit over the long haul. Planet expects each to fall back into the Earths atmosphere and burn up after two or three years in orbit. The company plans for about a 20 percent failure rate. Michael Macor/The Chronicle We think of them like disposable assets, Marshall said. If one doesnt work, OK. The Doves are 4-by-12-inch rectangular boxes with solar panel wings. (By comparison, the ball-shaped Sputnik 1 was 22 inches in diameter.) They are packed with high-resolution cameras that can pick out vehicles, vessels and trees from as high as 295 miles above Earth. CubeSats are small enough that you could put them all in a single launch vehicle to get them up there because theyre so tiny, Walter-Range said. But rocket launch failures have taken their toll. Planet lost 28 satellites in an October 2014 explosion of an Antares rocket lifting off from Virginia, and lost eight more in a June 2015 explosion of a SpaceX rocket from Cape Canaveral. Dick Rocket of NewSpace Global said small-satellite companies cant turn a profit until the commercial space industry can improve the rockets reliability. Once we begin to have launches at rates that are significantly higher than has ever been done, then well see these small-satellite ventures do the things that are truly transformative, like predicting the weather, providing high-definition images from space, expanding our understanding of nature, he said. Marshall said Planet can make a profit if it can meet its goal of having 150 nanosatellites constantly in orbit, providing a daily snapshot of every single inch of the Earth. Instead of images every few weeks or months provided by traditional satellites, frequent images make even subtle changes on the ground more visible, and the results are telling, he said. For example, Planets images were used by the Amazon Conservation Association to uncover an illegal gold mining operation in Peru earlier this year, while rescuers in Nepal were alerted to remote villages covered in mudslides after the April 2015 earthquake. The satellites have also captured detailed images of the devastation caused by recent California forest fires, and the spread of Syrian refugee camps. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes We can pick up any issues not visible with the naked eye, big or small, said Marina Barnes, vice president of marketing for Farmers Edge, a Canadian company that sells crop-management technology to farmers. Since the resolution can detect changes in about a 16-foot section of land, the satellites can help farmers see if a particular section of crops are over-watered or under-fertilized, she said. Farmers Edge buys Planets images because they provide more frequent updates than older satellites, which might miss weeks worth of changes if the farmers fields are covered with clouds during a fly-over, Barnes said. Some big names have embraced the small satellites. Google subsidiary Terra Bella, once named Skybox Imaging, had four small satellites launched into orbit this month, according to the industry publication SpaceNews. Aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, which built its first communications satellite in 1958, is experimenting with CubeSats for Earth science missions and for government customers, said Stephen Frick, a former NASA astronaut who is now director of Lockheeds Space Systems Advanced Technology Center in Palo Alto. Lockheed is also researching how NASAs deep-space Orion missions could take CubeSats to the moon or farther, he said. Other companies are building just one satellite like San Franciscos SpaceVR, which aims to put a virtual reality satellite into orbit in 2017. Spire Global, another San Francisco company, has two types of satellites, one used for ship tracking and the other for precise weather measurements of the atmosphere; so far the company has launched 17. Spokesman Nick Allain said his company, which makes its satellites in the United Kingdom, considers itself a data-collection firm, not a space company. CubeSats, he said, will never fully replace traditional satellites. Some instruments are simply too large to fit into a CubeSat, Allain said. Where satellites the size of Spires excel is in passively capturing radio signals using deployable antennas, in capturing data in very high speed about the entire planet at once and in having high system reliability. One failure, he added, doesnt take down the system. Benny Evangelista is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: bevangelista@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ChronicleBenny An Oakland police officer pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of engaging in prostitution and obstruction of justice, becoming the first of seven current and former Bay Area law enforcement members to appear in court in connection with a sexual misconduct scandal involving a teenager. Officer Brian Bunton, who marked his two-year anniversary with the Oakland Police Department on Thursday, was ordered to surrender to the Santa Rita Jail by Monday or post $12,500 bail, which his attorney said he probably would do. The Alameda County district attorneys office plans to prosecute Bunton and six other East Bay officers for allegedly improper contact they had with the 19-year-old woman at the center of the sexual misconduct investigation. The charges against Bunton stem from texting conversations he had with the young woman who previously went by Celeste Guap, but now wants to be called by her first name, Jasmine. Jasmine has said she had sex with 29 law enforcement officers in the Bay Area in the last two years. Some of the interactions allegedly happened when she was 17, too young to legally give consent. She said some of the officers paid her, while others tipped her off about prostitution stings as Bunton is accused of doing or ran the names of people she knew through law enforcement databases. She always just wanted it to go away, Jasmines attorney, Pamela Price, said Friday after attending Buntons arraignment. Jasmine now is in the process of recovery and redemption. Bunton, 40, told Jasmine on March 5 to stay away from a specific area as police conducted an undercover operation targeting prostitution-related crimes, authorities say. Jasmine had sex with him in exchange for the information, prosecutors allege. Two days later, he texted her to ask if she had made all her money, then told her she needed a better manager when she said she hadnt, authorities said. Jasmine who saved Buntons contact information on her phone under the title Superman provided screen shots of their text conversations to prosecutors. Bunton, who is married and has children, did not speak with reporters Friday in the Hayward Hall of Justice. His defense attorney, Dirk Manoukian, called Bunton a family man, and said he was cooperating with investigators. He took responsibility and expressed remorse for his actions, Manoukian said. There has already been consequences here, Manoukian said outside court. Absolutely he understands there will be consequences. Also Friday, Richmond began the process of firing one police officer and disciplining eight others after an internal affairs investigation implicated them in the scandal. Richmond officials will seek to demote one officer, suspend one for 80 hours, suspend another for 120 hours and reprimand five others. All the officers are currently employed by the department and on full duty, except the officer facing dismissal, said City Manager Bill Lindsay. That officer is on administrative leave, said Lindsay, who declined to release his name. In addition to the nine officers facing discipline, two others were found to have broken policies, but they have since left the department, Lindsay said. Specific details on the misconduct of the officers were not released. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Richmond Police Chief Allwyn Brown said earlier this month that none of the officers investigated in his department had committed any crimes. Richmond Mayor Tom Butt said he was both disappointed and outraged by the behavior of the officers involved in the scandal. Price, the civil rights attorney representing Jasmine, blamed Richmond police for sending the teenager to a drug rehabilitation clinic in Florida last month in the midst of multiple criminal and internal affairs investigations. She was arrested at the facility when she tried to leave and got into a fight with an employee. On Friday, Price said she was stunned that Buntons bail had been set at $12,500, while Jasmine had been held on $300,000 bail in Florida. She eventually pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery. Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov Jacom Stephens/Getty Images A Santa Rosa man was arrested by the California Highway Patrol on Friday morning after police said he sped through a school zone while driving drunk and high on methamphetamine with his 4-year-old son in the car. Pedro Riveros, 41, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and stimulants, child endangerment, possession of methamphetamine, violation of probation and failure to have an ignition interlock device. A November ballot measure that would limit the prices state agencies pay for prescription drugs is leading by more than a 3-1 ratio among likely voters, but more than one-third of the electorate remains undecided, according to a new Field-IGS Poll released Saturday. The online survey conducted between Sept. 7 and Sept. 13 found Proposition 61 favored by 50 percent of the representative sample of voters and opposed by 16 percent, with 34 percent undecided. Prop. 61 would prohibit state agencies from paying more than the price the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs pays drug manufacturers for the same drugs. The medications are provided to 4.2 million Californians, including state employees, state prisoners and some Medi-Cal recipients, whose health care is covered by the state. Only Medi-Cal recipients in fee-for-service health plans not the 10 million low-income people in Medi-Cal managed-care plans would be covered by the price ceilings. The opposition campaign, funded by the pharmaceutical industry, has said it plans to spend nearly $100 million to defeat Prop. 61. Roger Salazar, a spokesman for Yes on Prop. 61, said Friday that opponents have already spent $30 million on a message that voters dont appear to be buying. The new poll tells us Californians are sick and tired of high drug prices and are ready to send the pharmaceutical industry a message, Salazar said. He said supporters of Prop. 61 have raised $15 million, some of which they spent gathering signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot. Despite the poll numbers, Kathy Fairbanks, spokeswoman for the No on Prop. 61 Coalition, said, We are confident voters will reject this flawed measure when they learn more about it. Leading veterans, health and patient advocacy groups are opposed to Prop. 61 because it would increase prescription drug costs, reduce patient access to medicines, and hurt our nations veterans. While the industry is funding the opposition campaign, the most visible objections have come from veterans organizations and some consumer advocacy groups. Veterans fear that drug companies would respond to the California price limits by raising the prices they charge to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Consumer groups say manufacturers could try to offset price cuts for state-purchased drugs by charging more to private insurers. Supporters of Prop. 61, including the California Nurses Association and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, say it could be a big step toward lower drug prices nationwide at a time of nationwide anger over price-spiking for example, the $1,000-per-pill cost of a hepatitis C medication and the $600 charge for EpiPens, used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The new poll found at least a plurality of support for Prop. 61 in all regions of the state, among both men and women and among all racial and ethnic groups, age groups and income levels. Self-described conservatives favored it by 39 to 28 percent, liberals by 61 to 6 percent, Republicans by 33 to 26 percent and Democrats by 62 to 8 percent. One reason for the large number of undecided voters may be the uncertain fiscal impact of Prop. 61, the polling organizations said. The states official ballot summary, shown to those taking part in the survey, says the potential savings are of an unknown amount, depending on how the measure gets implemented and how drug manufacturers respond to the price limits. The responses came from 943 Californians who said they were likely to vote in November and who were chosen to reflect the states population of registered voters, regionally and demographically. The pollsters said the online sampling methods do not enable them to calculate the margin of error that normally accompanies random telephone surveys. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko The Oakland City Councils Public Safety Committee should have at least two items on hand when it meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday to debate changes to the equity permits in its new medical cannabis regulations: An update on state medical cannabis legislation and a copy of the U.S. Constitution. A pot of strong coffee might also help, because it will be a long night reworking the legislation which includes important social justice goals so that it does not end up driving cannabis business from Oakland and discriminate against far more individuals than it helps. Theres still time to make changes. The city administrators office has yet to issue medical cannabis permit applications and is looking for guidance from the City Council and the city attorneys office to address serious problems with the new permitting program. Its worth the effort. Oakland has long been a perceived leader in the cannabis legalization movement and in the fight for social justice. If Oakland is for real, it should be able to get this right. In May, Oakland approved rules to regulate its medical marijuana industry, including dispensers, cultivators and manufacturers. These approvals give the city a head start and some local control over medical cannabis permitting, which must be in place when new state laws take effect in 2018. Without a local permit, medical cannabis businesses cannot get a state license and cant operate. Public Safety Committee Chair Desley Brooks has said the equity rules are intended to assist lower-income communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by marijuana law enforcement. Studies show that blacks are almost four times as likely to be arrested for pot possession as whites even though they use the drug at roughly the same rates the Oakland police-beat-arrest data reflect the national stats. Now that more complete state rules regulating medical cannabis are being implemented and legalization of adult recreational cannabis is on the November ballot, many believe that cities must give a leg up to communities of color unfairly targeted by police for marijuana offenses and as a result, shut off from the same business opportunities as whites. Equity proponents note that of Oaklands eight medical pot dispensaries, only one is run by African Americans and none by Latinos. I believe that the goals underpinning equity permits are commendable. However, the way they have been handled at the City Council has been anything but. Brooks, who represents part of East Oakland on the City Council, has led the effort, and her approach has been divisive. More importantly and ironically it has been discriminatory. Brooks added the equity amendments after the ordinances had been 18 months in the making and threatened to strand the legislation at committee if her terms were not met. Those terms imposed unnecessary burdens, from a business standpoint. Worse, they exclude many of the residents historically targeted for marijuana arrests precisely those that Brooks claimed to want to help. As Brooks designed it, only residents living within six of the police departments 57 beats are eligible. A quick snapshot of the equity program as it stands shows its serious flaws. Half of all Oakland medical cannabis business permits are reserved for companies that meet these criteria: 50 percent ownership by a resident of one of six East Oakland police beats that had a high number of marijuana arrests, based on 2013 data. Or 50 percent ownership by an Oakland resident incarcerated for marijuana-convictions arising out of Oakland during the past decade. At all times, the number of equity permits issued must be at least equal to the number of non-equity permits. This means that fully compliant non-equity applicants could wait indefinitely if there are not enough equity applications approved. The most obvious problem with the 50 percent-ownership requirement is that it handicaps business owners who want a permit but may not know anyone from the selected police beats or an Oakland resident incarcerated for a pot offense. And the requirement is not consistent with current state law. Here is where the update from Sacramento comes in: In August, a bill legalizing for-profit cannabis operations died on the state Senate floor. That bill was intended to bridge the old state regulations which barred for-profit pot businesses with the new state rules that allow them, but wont go into effect until 2018. When the bill failed, the pot industry was forced to use the old rules for two more years. It goes without saying that Brooks 50 percent ownership rules dont make a lot of sense when cannabis businesses cant make a profit. What does ownership mean in that context and how are equity goals achieved? More importantly, no social justice policy will be taken seriously if it excludes equally deserving individuals in favor of others, with no rational basis for doing so. In a display of extraordinary cynicism, Brooks has insinuated that those who question her preference for East Oakland residents are racist. The U.S. Constitution would be a useful guide to undoing Brooks patently discriminatory preferences for East Oakland residents. Specifically, Article IV, the Privileges and Immunities Clause, precludes discrimination based on residence when government offers no substantial reason for the difference in treatment or it does not bear a substantial relationship to the governments objectives. The California Constitution also protects the right to migrate, resettle and find a new job. The only reason offered by Brooks for singling out East Oakland residents is that in 2013, six East Oakland police beats saw a disproportionate percentage of marijuana arrests. Brooks pushed her agenda despite years of data showing many more than six of the citys 57 police beats suffered a disproportionate percentage of marijuana arrests, including a number of beats in West Oakland. A group led by Matt Hummel, the chairman of Oaklands Cannabis Regulatory Commission, has offered amendments the Public Safety Committee is scheduled to consider Tuesday. Among them are to make an additional 13 police beats eligible for the permits and to include Oakland residents incarcerated anywhere in California. Adopting the amendments wont perfect the legislation, but it will make it more credible. Tax breaks and business assistance for entrepreneurs from impacted areas are two ideas of many to also consider. Unfortunately, Brooks and two council colleagues just last week proposed amendments that are counter to additional constitutional principles, including demanding partial city ownership from pot businesses in exchange for a city permit. Turning around Oaklands troubled medical cannabis permitting rules will be challenging, given the many legal issues and the cynical way they have been approached. The Constitution will be a useful guide. Thick skin and strong backbones also will be needed. Robert Selna is an Oakland land-use attorney. To comment, submit your letter to the editor at http://bit.ly/SFChronicleletters. Its very tempting to support Proposition 61, which would prohibit state agencies from paying more for prescription drugs than prices negotiated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which uses its volume-buying leverage to get discounts. The public outrage against the pharmaceutical industry is well founded. Mylans unconscionable 500 percent price gouging on the lifesaving allergy treatment EpiPens and Turing Pharmaceuticals unconscionable 5,000 percent increase on the antiparasitic used by patients with HIV or on chemotherapy underscored the cost of shielding an industry from any real semblance of competition and transparency. Neither the Republican-controlled Congress in Washington nor the Democratic-controlled Legislature in Sacramento has proved willing to stand up to an industry that is determined to bat down any proposal that might threaten its fat profits. So now voters will get their chance to rein in pharmaceutical prices with Prop. 61. Under the measure, the maximum price of prescription drugs paid by state agencies except managed care plans working within Medi-Cal would be linked to the deeply discounted prices paid by the federal VA. Why the VA? One, the federal agency serving almost 9 million veterans has shown it has the negotiating leverage to get deep discounts for its drugs. Second, because it actually can negotiate. In an outrageous gift to the industry, Congress actually made it a law that Medicare, the largest single payer for prescription drugs with its 40 million beneficiaries, is prohibited from using its buying power to negotiate for lower prices systemwide. The pharmaceutical industry, which is on track to spend $100 million against Prop. 61, warned against these potential side effects if it passes: Drug prices for veterans could go up. (This assumes that the industry would raise them to compensate for the lower profits in California as it did when Congress in 1990 capped Medicaid prices to the lowest paid by other public purchasers, including the VA. That provision was repealed within two years.) Research and development on new drugs could be reduced. (This assumes the industry would cut back on R&D instead of marketing or other costs to offset lower profits.) Fewer drug choices for public-sector workers. (The measure cannot force the industry to sell medicines to California agencies at VA prices. So this assumes the industry would not be willing to offer certain drugs at discounts provided to veterans.) Higher Medi-Cal spending. (This assumes the state may in some circumstances be getting a better deal than the VA on certain drugs. The argument is that Medi-Cals leverage is limited, even under Prop. 61, because it is required by federal law to offer medically necessarily drugs for enrollees.) Ask yourselves: Does anyone truly believe the pharmaceutical industry would be spending $100 million to defeat a measure that would bring it more revenue. The industrys arguments of unintended consequences sound more like threats than fact. After all, if VA prices go up or drugs become unavailable in California because of Prop. 61, it would be because of drug manufacturers actions. However, we must oppose Prop. 61, despite our disgust with the industry-bankrolled disingenuous advertising blitz. It is important to note that an array of consumer and health-advocate organizations that have no love for the pharmaceutical industry are opposed to Prop. 61. A link between Medi-Cal and the VA is not necessarily a good corollary; their respective patient bases have different demographics and medical needs. Also, the fear of reduced access to certain drugs is legitimate: It would rely to some extent on the good faith of an industry whose greedy practices were the inspiration for this initiative. Garry South, a top-shelf California political strategist and chief spokesman for Prop. 61, noted that the industry effectively killed two state bills last session that would have brought even modest transparency to drug pricing. This is the only game in town, South said. Right now they (drug manufacturers) need a 2-by-4 over the head and this is all we got. However, its worth waiting for the right solution, which is going to require a thorough public shaming of all our so-called representatives who are too addicted to the industrys campaign donations and junkets to look out for the public interest. A better approach would be legislation that blows up this notion that drug prices are somehow a trade secret. Governments at all levels should be able to find out what one another is paying for pharmaceuticals and have the authority to negotiate the best deal for patients and taxpayers. The now-standard confidentiality agreements on the spending of public money for drugs should be banned. Period. If our elected officials wont demand such transparency and negotiation, then Californians should be ready with another initiative. Other countries are paying significantly less for medicines through aggressive negotiation (example: Norway) or regulation (example: Canada). Perhaps the ideal outcome for Prop. 61 would be a one-vote loss, which would send a message to the industry and the politicians who cater to it that the status quo is not acceptable. This measure contains too much risk, with too many lives dependent on access to life-sustaining drugs. We cannot support its passage. Time is being turned on its head. In the 1960s, the federal government instituted fair housing laws about equal access designed to fight housing discrimination. The idea was that equal access would stamp out horrible practices such as racial covenants, whereby white homeowners were restricted from selling their property to African Americans and other minorities out of fear for neighborhood property values. Fast-forward to 2016. San Francisco still lacks equal access to affordable housing for all groups of people. But now, the reasons for the problem are very different. Rampant economic inequality has concentrated wealth, and access to San Franciscos exorbitant housing costs, in the hands of fewer people. These people tend to work in fields that are notorious for their lack of ethnic diversity. Not coincidentally, theres been an acceleration of displacement in San Franciscos historically African American and Latino neighborhoods. So San Francisco officials pushed for something that, at first blush, sounds like a return to the bad old days of discrimination a neighborhood preference program for a low-income senior development in the historically African American Western Addition. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development put up a fight. But Wednesday, HUD announced it would support the neighborhood preference provision. Its a historic shift and a flashing light for cities across the country. Times have changed, and ensuring equal access in a time of displacement requires different strategies. I get that the law is the law, said San Francisco Supervisor London Breed, who lobbied HUD for the neighborhood preferences. But I also understand that we can be creative and come up with a new way to interpret this law if its working in a way thats counter to what it was intended to do. San Franciscos affordable housing lottery is so competitive that even neighborhoods willing to fight for new affordable housing complexes were finding few of their residents were getting into them. That was the situation at the Willie B. Kennedy Apartments, a 98-unit for senior citizens in the Western Addition. Plus, the applications for affordable housing are long and complex and require a great deal of sophistication from applicants. So advantages in the system have historically accrued to those applicants with the greatest amount of organization and assistance behind them. Again, thats not an equal access situation. Theres a disconnect between the way the policys working and the people its intended to help, Breed said. The preference program wont automatically guarantee housing for anyone, she added. We also have to do the outreach and the work. The number of top San Francisco officials who lobbied HUD for the preference program everyone from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to Mayor Ed Lee suggests that the citys leaders are aware of the problem, and willing to make adjustments for the good of all of San Franciscos residents. The new program will have to be monitored carefully. But laws should be adapted when the circumstances for which they were designed have changed. And San Francisco in 2016 is surely a time of change. SACRAMENTO When Californians were asked four years ago whether wealthy people in the state should pay higher income taxes to prevent deep cuts to education and other public programs, opponents built a substantial war chest to fight the measure. More than $53 million poured in from businesses and wealthy donors to fight Proposition 30 or to support a competing ballot measure to raise taxes across the board, not just on the highest earners. Still, voters approved Prop. 30, which Gov. Jerry Brown sold as a temporary fix to the states fiscal crisis. The measure raised sales taxes by one-quarter cent and increased the income tax on single earners making $250,000 or more and couples making $500,000 or more. The sales tax expires at the end of this year, and the income tax expires in 2018. Now, a November ballot measure, Proposition 55, asks voters to extend part of Prop. 30 the income tax on the wealthy for 12 years. The sales tax would not be extended under the measure. Brown has refused to take a public position on the measure, which was placed on the ballot by education unions and health care groups. This time, if opponents are spending money to fight Prop. 55, its not much. They have bigger fish to fry, said Steve Maviglio, a Democratic strategist who is not involved with Prop. 55. They are focusing on legislative races. Not a dime has been reported to the secretary of state from opponents. Fundraising laws require spending to be reported to the state when it exceeds $2,000. Several Sacramento power players including the California Chamber of Commerce and Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association oppose the tax extension, but arent raising money to defeat it. Supporters, meanwhile, have raised $46 million, primarily from unions representing hospital and school employees. Among the supporters are the California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, Service Employees International Union and California Teachers Association. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle It wasnt too long ago that we lived through one of the greatest recessions since the Depression, and during that period the brunt of it was bore by schools, said CTA President Eric Heins. I think every community felt the impact of that. ... I dont think anyone wants to go back to that period. The cuts to education forced districts to lay off teachers and counselors while the state slashed social services amid years of multibillion-dollar budget deficits. Since Prop. 30 was approved in 2012, the measure has generated $31.2 billion, according to the state Controllers Office. This years measure, Prop. 55, is expected to raise $4 billion to $9 billion each year for the state, with half going to K-12 schools and community colleges and the rest going to the states general fund, budget reserves, debt repayment and Medi-Cal. The California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems has provided more than half of supporters campaign cash for a total of $25 million, while CTA has given almost $16 million. For hospitals, the incentive to support the initiative is clear. Prop. 55 includes up to $2 billion a year for the states Medi-Cal program, which covers more than 13 million low-income people and their families across the state. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Paul Chinn/The Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Paul Chinn/The Chronicle Show More Show Less For districts, like Mount Diablo Unified School District in Concord, where almost a quarter of the districts 32,000 students do not speak English as their first language, the loss of Prop. 30 would mean $40 million less a year of much-needed money beginning in 2018-19, said Superintendent Nellie Meyer. That could mean cutting after-school and enrichment programs or laying off teachers, Meyer said. The money is so embedded in our budget that we would be looking at cuts, she said. At the same time the Prop. 30 money could go away, Meyer said, school districts will be required to pick up more of its teacher pension costs. Brown created a 30-year plan to shore up the states teacher retirement system in 2014, in part by requiring teachers and school districts to contribute more to the pension fund. If those converge, then it would be detrimental to our district programs, Meyer said. David Kersten, an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco, said the tax extension would fund the increased costs to districts for teacher pensions and benefits, which he said runs counter to the message promoted by supporters of Prop. 55: that the money will go into classrooms. If we were able to tell the story of this being the case, people would vote it down, said Kersten, founder of the Kersten Institute for Governance and Public Policy. But on its face, people say: More money for education? Sure, lets go. He said he formed a small volunteer-only campaign to help fight Prop. 55 when he realized no one else was taking the lead. Kersten said hes hoping to raise $30,000 to $50,000 to cover the basic expenses of an opposition campaign as the Nov. 8 election approaches. Im reaching out to key donor lists to see if I can shake something free, and no luck yet, he said. Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, said small business owners are still considering a late run at an opposition campaign in the remaining six weeks before the election. Coupal said his group, however, is holding on to its checkbook until the 2018 election, when it expects to fight an effort to overhaul the states property tax law known as Prop. 13. Im not sure it will take a funded campaign to defeat Prop. 55, Coupal said. Prop. 30 was promised to be temporary during a financial emergency, and we are through the fiscal emergency. Melody Gutierrez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mgutierrez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MelodyGutierrez Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less. SACRAMENTO The states Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating allegations that the California Democratic Party funneled more than $4 million in political donations from oil and energy companies into the most recent gubernatorial campaigns of Gov. Jerry Brown. The commission notified Consumer Watchdog that it is investigating some of the allegations from Consumer Watchdogs report released last month titled Browns Dirty Hands. That report noted that between 2011 and 2014, energy companies donated $4.4 million to the state Democratic Party, and the party then gave $4.7 million to Browns re-election campaigns. The Consumer Watchdog report said that fossil fuel-reliant companies made their contributions as the governor was engaged in a public campaign to combat climate change. Consumer Watchdog president Jamie Court said those contributions, from companies including Chevron, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., and Occidental Petroleum Corp., appeared to flow from the party to Browns campaign in almost equal amounts, sometimes in close proximity. For example, the report noted that on Dec, 23, 2013, Chevron donated $350,000 to the Democratic Party. Seven days later, the Democratic Party donated $300,000 to Browns campaign for governor, which Consumer Watchdog alleges was the money Chevron intended to go to Brown after the company had already given the maximum allowed under law of $54,400 directly to his campaign. We can only point out the smoke coming from the house; it is up to the FPPC to go in and check for a fire, Court said. This is an important step for opening the books and checking to see if there is a secret ledger. The Fair Political Practices Commission said the agency is not investigating Brown or others in his administration. The commission does not comment on active investigations. Browns office declined to comment. Michael Soller, spokesman for the California Democratic Party, said the party has received the commissions letter regarding the investigation and has been cooperating fully with their inquiry. The Consumer Watchdog report highlighted other donations from energy and oil interests around the time lawmakers were voting on major legislation. After lawmakers approved a fracking bill in 2013 with industry-preferred amendments, the report noted that Occidental gave $100,000 to one of Browns favorite causes, the Oakland Military Institute. The commission already has an open investigation from March into Browns top aide Nancy McFadden regarding a Consumer Watchdog complaint that she failed to properly disclose her stock in her former employer, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. Browns office previously said those were inadvertent filing errors in McFaddens state conflict-of-interest forms, and the forms were amended to show that McFadden had stock in PG&E as recently as last year but that the stock has since been sold. Melody Gutierrez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mgutierrez@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @MelodyGutierrez This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A federal judge refused to dismiss a wrongful death lawsuit that accuses Berkeley police of improper conduct in a 2013 case in which officers restrained a black, transgender woman who stopped breathing and died. U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer said that while he believes Berkeley police had reason to arrest Kayla Moore, the question of whether police made mistakes that led to her death needs further scrutiny. A trial date is expected to be set next month. I believe there is some evidence the police conduct may have been wrong, Breyer told the court. But was it known to them that they were acting in an improper way as a matter of law? Moore, who was schizophrenic, was 41 when she died as police tried to arrest her in her apartment. Police were called by her roommate because he said Moore was behaving erratically and had kicked him out of the apartment. Moore stopped breathing after being restrained and handcuffed on her stomach on a futon. Moores father, Arthur Moore, sued Berkeley police, alleging officers unlawfully seized, restrained, arrested and battered his daughter. A coroners report found the cause of death to be a mix of codeine and methamphetamine, along with poor cardiovascular health and obesity. Moore weighed 347 pounds, according to police. However, in a review leaked to UC Berkeleys campus paper, the Daily Californian, in 2013, the Police Review Commission wrote that Officer Gwendolyn Brown did not consistently monitor Moores vital signs. The Commission is an independent body of civilians. Brown and the police union have since sued over the disclosure. A separate doctors report cited by Moores team found that pressure on Kayla Moores upper chest was a contributing factor in her death. The case has drawn attention from activists who say transgender people of color are especially vulnerable to police brutality. The National Transgender Discrimination Survey found that in 2013, 38 percent of black transgender people reported being harassed by police. On Friday, activists and supporters of the Moore family filled the six rows of Breyers courtroom at the Phillip Burton Federal Courthouse in San Francisco, many wearing shirts emblazoned with Moores face and the hashtag #BlackTransLivesMatter. I think the arrest of the decedent was appropriate I dont know how else to say it, Breyer said. That part of the case that is, they had no right to arrest the decedent (Moore) I disagree with as a matter of law. As to whether or not they used excessive force, Breyer continued. That is a question I want some discussion about. Arthur Moores lawyer, John Burris, said after the hearing that he hopes Breyer will further scrutinize the arrest warrant police say they acted on. Burris said it had almost no information on it except the name and approximate age of the suspect sought, a Xavier Moore in his early 60s. Xavier Moore was Kayla Moores legal name. Breyer ultimately did not decide whether the police were covered by qualified immunity, but said he saw that as the central question in the case going forward. Qualified immunity protects public servants from damages in civil suits unless they violate civil or statutory rights of which a reasonable person would have known. Community members seemed skeptical that police had not noticed Moores difficulty breathing. Shes dead, and that tells me that something else happened, something wrong, said Cheryl Davila, a Berkeley resident running for City Council. Filipa A. Ioannou is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email fioannou@sfchronicle.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A weekend heat wave is bringing near record-breaking temperatures across the Bay Area, with some parts in the region seeing 100-degree weather, officials said Saturday. The prospect for blazing weather has caused the National Weather Service to issue a heat advisory from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and Monday in the Bay Area. Meanwhile, a red flag warning, which indicates an increased fire risk, was issued for the North Bay mountains because of the expected hot and dry conditions combining with strong and gusty winds Saturday evening through Sunday afternoon. The increased fire risk caused the Marin County Fire Department to increase its preparedness. We have extra firefighters and equipment available to respond to new wildfires during this wind event, but we are reminding residents to be extremely cautious while outdoors in order to help prevent sparking a wildfire, said Fire Chief Jason Weber. While Saturday brought warm weather up to 79 degrees in San Francisco and lower 90s inland the true heat was expected Sunday and Monday. On both days, temperatures were predicted to reach between 99 and 101 degrees in Livermore, Walnut Creek and Pleasanton, said Anna Schneider, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Sunday could tie the warmest day of the year for downtown San Francisco with temperatures predicted to reach 87 degrees, the previous high in 2016, she said. Up north, Santa Rosa was expected to see temperatures in the upper 90s. Officials expect heavier traffic as motorists take to the roads. We just ask people to give themselves more time to get to their destinations as there probably will be more people out and about to enjoy the beautiful weather in the Bay Area, said Officer John Fransen, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol. Fransen also reminded drivers to not leave their children or pets unattended in hot vehicles because it definitely gets drastically hotter in the vehicle, even more than outside. The hot weather brought people to Ocean Beach in San Francisco for the often breezy conditions there. But Nathan Sargent, a spokesman for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, warned that Ocean Beach is not a swimming beach. Local air quality officials have also declared a Spare the Air alert for Sunday. The heat wave should come to an end Tuesday when cooler weather is expected to set in and last through Thursday, according to the weather service. Hamed Aleaziz is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: haleaziz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @haleaziz This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Gabriella Angotti-Jones/The Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Gabriella Angotti-Jones/The Chronicle Show More Show Less 3 of 3 In the ongoing celebration of its 150th anniversary, the San Francisco Fire Department brought together Friday its oldest living retired firefighter and the youngest member of the department to showcase historic steam-operated fire engines from the turn of the 20th century. Massive horses clopped along pulling the ornate engines a fraction of the size of hulking modern-day firetrucks in a slow loop around Pier 45 at Fishermans Wharf. When a company begins, a retirement plan is usually the last item on the laundry list. Many employers want to offer one, but uncertainty over costs and a time-consuming setup process deter many. That could explain why only about 14 percent of small businesses have employer-provided plans, according to data from the Government Accountability Office. But changes in technology, an expense war in the mutual fund industry and innovative plan offerings have made smaller companies take a second look. In a tight labor market, benefits like retirement plans are increasingly being viewed as necessities to attract quality, long-term employees. Michael Nemeroff started Printfly, which runs RushOrderTees, a custom T-shirt printing business, with his brother and sister in 2002 in Philadelphia. He began offering a 401(k) within the last year for his 180 employees, 80 percent of whom are Millennials. It was a great tool for recruiting and retaining employees, he said. I know that investing can be daunting at first, Nemeroff said. This gave them an extremely easy method of investing into their future. The company offers a 50 percent employer match on the first 3 percent of employee contributions. The company hired 1847 Financial, a division of Penn Mutual, to set up and administer the plan, and employees can invest in several funds offered by American Funds. It cost about $50,000 to set up the plan, administer it and educate his workforce, Nemeroff said. We wanted to make sure our employees understood it. Although such costs can be prohibitive for some young companies, Printfly reported $23 million in sales last year and is projecting growth of 40 to 60 percent this year. Yet for most startups, seeding a retirement plan doesnt seem as enticing to would-be employees as ownership or recreational benefits. Many typically offer a stake in the company, or nonmonetary benefits like eclectic cafeterias or pool tables. In recent years, the needle has barely moved when it comes to small companies offering 401(k)s. According to employer data analyzed for the New York Times by BrightScope, a San Diego financial information company, in 2006, about 36,000 401(k) plans at companies with fewer than 250 employees were new, or started that calendar year. Eight years later, slightly more than 34,000 401(k) plans were started by similar-size companies, said Brooks Herman, head of data and research for BrightScope, noting that there was a dip in new plans after the 2008 financial crisis. The companys snapshot does not include individual or small-employer individual retirement accounts, so the actual numbers are probably higher. Economic and market conditions have a greater effect on new benefits like a 401(k) plan being offered than the availability of cheap services, Herman said. Although they are subject to various rules and contribution limits, tax deductions are also available to employers for 401(k) plans. Businesses that start such plans can qualify for a tax credit of up to $500 for each of the first three years of their plans. To qualify, a business must have at least one employee, other than the owner, who earns less than $120,000 a year. Employers can also deduct any matching contributions. Still, costs matter for businesses. Entrepreneurs understandably watch every dollar, so the often-steep administrative expenses of a retirement plan can be discouraging. Most conventional 401(k)s involve a lot of paperwork, filing requirements and continuing administrative expenses. And small businesses often have higher 401(k) costs than larger corporations. According to a recent report by Employee Fiduciary, a provider of low-cost plans for small businesses, the average all-in expense covering everything was 2 percent of assets under management for a sampling of small-business plans with total assets under $2 million. The report looked at about 120 plans and included plans offered by insurance companies, which tend to be more expensive. Small employers are often saddled with higher costs because, the argument goes, they do not offer economies of scale. However, the mutual fund and exchange-traded fund industry is increasingly competing on expenses and has pursued smaller companies. For example, Vanguards Target Retirement 2050 Fund, a target-date bundle of four of the companys funds for participants who plan to retire around 2050, costs only 0.16 percent in expenses annually. Small-business retirement planning is turning into a startup industry in itself. For instance, Honest Dollar is selling such benefits for a monthly fee of $8 a month per employee, while ForUsAll has begun offering 401(k) plans for smaller companies. Employees and employers alike have also had other retirement savings options. The Simplified Employee Pension, or SEP IRA, for small-business owners and the self-employed, and the Simple IRA, which allows both employees and employers to contribute to an individual retirement account, have been available for decades and require minimal paperwork. Employees can set up their own IRA or retirement plans, but company-sponsored 401(k)s have distinct benefits. Employees can contribute up to $18,000 tax free to 401(k)s, and those 50 or older can contribute an additional $6,000. IRAs set up by individuals have contribution limits of $5,500 for employees under age 50. Simple IRA contributions are limited to $12,500 in 2016, plus an additional $3,000 for those 50 or older. More recently, states like California, Illinois and Maryland have moved toward creating their own low-cost programs for small businesses that do not offer retirement plans. To: Everyone From: Paul Farhi Subject: "The media." Folks, I know a lot of you don't like the people who work in my chosen profession, the news business. I'm aware you think we're lazy and unfair (yes, I got your emails and tweets on this topic - a few thousand of them). Of course, I disagree with you. I know a lot of fine people in the newsgathering arts and sciences. But that's not why I'm writing. I'm writing because I have a request: Please stop calling us "the media." Yes, in some sense, we are the media. But not in the blunt way you use the phrase. It's so imprecise and generic that it has lost any meaning. It's - how would you put this? - lazy and unfair. As I understand your use of this term, "the media" is essentially shorthand for anything you read, saw or heard today that you disagreed with or didn't like. At any given moment, "the media" is biased against your candidate, your issue, your very way of life. But, you know, the media isn't really doing that. Some article, some news report, some guy spouting off on a CNN panel or at CrankyCrackpot.com might be. But none of those things singularly are really the media. Fact is, there really is no such thing as "the media." It's an invention, a tool, an all-purpose smear by people who can't be bothered to make distinctions. Consider: There are hundreds of broadcast and cable TV networks, a thousand or so local TV stations, a few thousand magazines and newspapers, several thousand radio stations and roughly a gazillion websites, blogs, newsletters and podcasts. There's also Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and who knows what digital thing. All of these, collectively, now constitute the media. But this vast array of news and information sources - from the New York Times to Rubber and Plastics News - helps define what's wrong with referring to "the media." With so many sources, one-size-fits-all reporting is impossible. Those who work in the media don't gather in our huddle rooms each morning and light up the teleconference lines with plots to nettle and unsettle you. There is no media in the sense of a conspiracy to tilt perception. Instead, we are tens of thousands of people making millions of individual decisions about how we perceive the world and how to characterize it. We all don't agree on how to frame a candidate, an issue or last night's ballgame. So even if something on Fox News alarmed or infuriated you, Fox isn't "the media." Nor is NBC or MSNBC. Nor The Washington Post, the New York Post, the Denver Post or the Saturday Evening Post. Lumping these disparate entities under the same single bland label is like describing the denizens of the ocean as "the fish." It's true, but effectively meaningless. We not only don't agree from TV network to TV network, or publication to publication, but we don't agree within our own organizations. The editorial page of The Washington Post isn't the news side of The Washington Post. The newspaper's bloggers aren't the newspaper's op-ed writers; our op-ed columnists aren't our reporters. None of these people alone reflect the definitive, collective judgment of The Washington Post. It's true that many people say they mistrust "the media," and hold us in roughly the same contempt as Congress, telemarketers and Zika. (Two markers here: Gallup reported last week that "trust and confidence" in broadcast and newspaper reporting fell to its lowest level yet recorded; a poll published Wednesday by NBC and the Wall Street Journal pegged the "unfavorable" rating for "the news media" at just above that of "Vladimir Putin"). But I suspect that people don't really dislike us as much as they say they do. Much of what we produce is consumed gratefully, or at least without objection - breaking news stories, investigative journalism, "human-interest" features, news from up the street and around the world. People actually like and trust the news sources that they've selected for themselves, which is why they keep coming back to them day after day. Survey respondents just don't acknowledge this when asked about this shapeless abstraction known as "the news media." And yes, many people tell us "the media" is liberally biased. I suppose it would seem that way since conservative politicians and their supporters have been saying it for decades. Surely, some stories do display a tendency to favor the liberal position. But these are anecdotes. And like all anecdotal "evidence," they are subject to confirmation bias - the tendency to look for things that reinforce one's worldview, thus creating a perpetual motion machine of self-righteousness. The vast warehouse of academic research on media bias suggests a less satisfying conclusion: It depends. "Media bias" depends on what is studied, when, and even by whom; it depends, too, on one's definition of "liberal" and "conservative." In aggregate, however, liberal and conservative biases in reporting appear to cancel each other out, according to a 2012 "meta-analysis" (a study of studies) of media-bias research. Researcher David W. D'Alessio examined 99 studies of presidential-election reporting from 1948 to 2008. His conclusion? Left-leaning reporting was balanced by reporting more favorable to conservatives. A tie, in other words. In closing, a word of advice: The next time you're tempted to grumble about "the media" for some perceived trespass against The Truth, subject your grievance to the Five Ws we learned about back in journalism class. Who. What. When. Where. Why. Who said it or wrote it; where did they say it; and so on. (Admittedly, the "why" is the most difficult part of the equation.) You'll discover that your complaint is specific, not general. You'll discover, too, that calling out "the media" makes about as much sense as calling out "people." Some are fair, some aren't. But they're not all the same. It pays to know which is which. Thanks, Paul. Jean-Louis LeRoux, a gifted and versatile musician whose long career in San Francisco and abroad encompassed stints as an instrumentalist, conductor, teacher and musical entrepreneur, died on Wednesday, Sept. 21, at his San Francisco home. He was 89. Over the course of several decades in the Bay Area and elsewhere, Mr. LeRoux pursued a remarkable range of musical activities. He served as principal oboist for the San Francisco Symphony, and later as conductor of the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra. He was a co-founder of the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, which went on to enjoy a long and flourishing history, and he founded and led the Chamber Symphony of San Francisco, which did not. He taught at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and at Mills College in Oakland, and once shared the podium of the War Memorial Opera House with Frank Zappa, taking turns conducting music by Anton Webern and Edgard Varese. Mr. LeRouxs activities abroad were nearly as multifold, encompassing ballet, opera and contemporary music with equal relish. The common thread throughout, said composer Charles Boone, a lifelong friend and a co-founder of the Players, was Mr. LeRouxs spirit of adventure. The thing about Jean-Louis is that he loved to take chances, Boone said. He didnt want to do anything tepid or decaffeinated. He always wanted to make a splash. Mr. LeRouxs work as a conductor was marked by both technical rigor and expressive fluency. Whether in a demanding contemporary score or a lush Romantic ballet, he could bring out the sensual dimensions of the music without shortchanging its precision or structural clarity. Mr. LeRoux was born April 15, 1927, in Le Mans, France, the second of three sons of a railroad employee. During World War II, he studied business and law in addition to training as an oboist at the Paris Conservatory, and in 1950, according to a series of interviews he gave in 2002 to Caroline Crawford for the Regional Oral History Office of UC Berkeleys Bancroft Library, he moved to Brazil to join a chamber orchestra. His first wife, the former Marie-Louise Malnou, was the harpist with the orchestra; that marriage ended in divorce. In 1954, Mr. LeRoux received an offer from an orchestra in Montevideo, Uruguay, where he met and married the Uruguayan pianist Marta Bracchi. The couple moved to San Francisco in 1960. Mr. LeRoux wasted little time plunging into the artistic and social whirl that was 1960s San Francisco. In addition to a nearly 20-year tenure as assistant principal and principal oboe of the Symphony which in those years was also the orchestra for the San Francisco Opera he busied himself with the world of new music. He took over the leadership of the Mills Performing Group from composer Darius Milhaud, whom hed known in Paris, and began a low-budget but high-octane concert series called Bring Your Own Pillow, set in local art galleries. That series, with help from Boone and harpist Marcella De Cray, soon morphed into the Contemporary Players. In 1975, Mr. LeRoux began to conduct for the Ballet, working with Music Director Denis de Coteau. Throughout the ensuing decade and a half, both he and his wife were tireless presences in the areas concert halls, both onstage and off. But the couple returned to South America in 1991, living in Uruguay. Marta Bracchi-LeRoux died in 2000, and the next year Mr. LeRoux returned to San Francisco and married Jane Roos, a longtime board leader for both the Players and the Chamber Symphony. In his later years, he served as music director for the Calgary Ballet in Alberta. In addition to his wife, Mr. LeRoux is survived by two sons from his first marriage, Olivier of Tours, France, and Herve of Buena Park (Orange County); a daughter from his second marriage, Cecile of Alicante, Spaine; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be private. Joshua Kosman is The San Francisco Chronicles music critic. Email: jkosman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JoshuaKosman Betty Jo Shelby drew her gun and warned the man to stop walking. But Terence Crutcher continued moving toward his vehicle. His hands were raised. Moments later, Shelby fired a single shot, leaving Crutcher dead in the street. She told investigators she believed he had a weapon, but he was unarmed. Prosecutors indicted Shelby on Thursday on a charge of first-degree manslaughter. In many ways, the shooting in Tulsa, Okla., was a familiar one: A white police officer. An unarmed black man shot dead. But this time, the officer firing the deadly shot was a woman, a rarity in fatal police encounters. Police officers kill about 1,000 people each year, according to data collected by Philip Stinson, an associate professor of criminal justice at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Only a handful of those shootings are by women. Stinsons analysis shows that since 2005, 77 police officers have been charged with manslaughter or murder for an on-duty shooting. Only three of those, including Shelby, were women. The other two were not convicted. The reasons female officers kill less often than their male colleagues has been the subject of only limited research and attributed to a variety of factors. Most notable is that they are represented in only a small percentage of police forces. Other explanations range from the relative dearth of women who work some of the most dangerous police jobs, such as gang details, to an explanation that is common, though unproved: that female officers are less confrontational than their male counterparts. Most female officers interviewed said those stereotypes did not play out in the field. We have some men that are the first ones we would put in with difficult people because they are such good communicators, said Jacqueline Luthcke, police chief of Ridgewood, N.J. She and other female officers pointed to size as one of the only ways that gender might alter their approach to the job. They dont have the physical edge in encounters with citizens so, instead, they defuse the situation from the beginning, put more effort into trying to talk their way out of the situation than to try to resort to physical force, said Jane Castor, a retired chief of the Tampa Police Department. But prosecutors accuse Shelby, 42, who has been on the force for five years, of acting more aggressively than the male officers around her. Shelby was arrested, booked and bonded out Friday morning. 1 Confederate protests: Dueling protests over the future of Confederate monuments in New Orleans have taken to the citys Jackson Square. White supremacist David Duke and a small group of supporters Saturday converged on the square. As Duke, who is also running for Senate, called for the statues to stay put, he was heckled by bystanders. After Duke left, a few hundred people marched through the citys French Quarter to the square, calling for the monuments to be removed. The City Council voted last year to remove the four monuments, but thats been stalled in court. A major hearing on their removal is slated for Wednesday. 2 Imprudent driving: Authorities say a teen driver in suburban St. Louis struck another vehicle and then spun into people who were waiting for a high school homecoming parade to begin, injuring several of them. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Hazelwood, Mo., police say none the eight people who were hurt in Saturdays crash suffered life-threatening injuries. An unknown number were taken to hospitals. Police did not say whether those in the vehicles were among the injured. Police arrested the 17-year-old driver of the Ford Mustang that struck the parade-goers on charges of second-degree assault and careless and imprudent driving. They say the Mustang struck another vehicle near an intersection before spinning out of control and hitting the pedestrians. 1 Voters purged: Ohios process for maintaining its voter rolls wrongfully removes eligible people, a federal appeals court ruled Friday as the perennial presidential battleground state prepares for the fall election. The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio and the New York-based public advocacy group Demos sued Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted in April, claiming the state illegally drops registered voters from its registration list based on their failure to vote in recent elections. A three-judge panel of the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati found Ohios process violates the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act. 2 Obama veto: President Obama vetoed legislation Friday that could allow Americans to sue Saudi Arabia over whether it supported some of the Sept. 11 hijackers, potentially triggering the first veto override of his presidency. Obamas veto was the 12th in his eight years in office. But given the breadth of support for the bipartisan measure it passed unanimously in both the House and Senate the veto could be the first lawmakers are able to overcome with an override vote. The White House has warned that enacting the legislation could prompt legal and economic retaliation from foreign governments. Obama has raised the specter of the U.S. government being sued in courts all over the world, and has pointed to Saudi Arabias threat to sell off hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S. debt and other assets. BURLINGTON, Wash. The suspect in a shooting at a Washington state mall that killed five people and sparked an intensive, almost 24-hour manhunt is in custody, authorities said Saturday. Washington State Patrol Sgt. Mark Francis identified the suspect via Twitter as 20-year-old Arcan Cetin of Oak Harbor, Wash.. Authorities announced earlier that the suspect had been apprehended Saturday evening. A gunman opened fire at the Cascade Mall in Burlington on Friday night, killing four females and a male before fleeing. The first 911 call came in just before 7 p.m. on a busy Friday night at the Cascade Mall: A man with a rifle was shooting at people in the Macys department store. By the time police arrived moments later, the carnage at the Macys makeup counter was heavy. Four people were dead, and the shooter was gone, last seen walking toward Interstate 5. A fifth victim, a man, died in the early morning hours Saturday as police finished sweeping the 434,000-square-foot building. There are people waking up this morning, and their world has changed forever. The city of Burlington has probably changed forever, but I dont think our way of life needs to change, Burlington Mayor Steve Sexton said Saturday at a news conference. This was a senseless act. It was the world knocking on our doorstep, and it came into our little community. As the small city absorbed the tragic news, critical questions remained, including the shooters motive. The FBI said terrorism was not suspected. Surveillance video captured the gunman entering the mall unarmed and then recorded him about 10 minutes later entering the Macys with a hunting type rifle in his hand, Mount Vernon police Lt. Chris Cammock said. Authorities did not say how the man may have obtained the weapon, but they believe he acted alone. The weapon was recovered at the scene. The identities of the victims four females who ranged in age from a teenager to a senior citizen were withheld pending autopsies and notification of family. The identity of the man who was fatally shot may not be released until Monday. Probably one of the most difficult moments for us last night was knowing that there were family members wondering about their loved ones in there, Mount Vernon police Lt. Chris Cammock said. ALEXANDRIA, Va. A computer hacker who helped the Islamic State by providing names of more than 1,000 U.S. government and military workers as potential targets was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison. The sentence was much higher than the six-year term sought by defense lawyers, who argued that their client, Ardit Ferizi, meant no real harm and is not a true supporter of the Islamic State. A November ballot measure that would limit the prices state agencies pay for prescription drugs is leading by more than a 3-1 ratio among likely voters, but more than one-third of the electorate remains undecided, according to a new Field-IGS Poll released Saturday. The online survey conducted between Sept. 7 and Sept. 13 found Proposition 61 favored by 50 percent of the representative sample of voters and opposed by 16 percent, with 34 percent undecided. Prop. 61 would prohibit state agencies from paying more than the price the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs pays drug manufacturers for the same drugs. The medications are provided to 4.2 million Californians, including state employees, state prisoners and some Medi-Cal recipients, whose health care is covered by the state. Only Medi-Cal recipients in fee-for-service health plans not the 10 million low-income people in Medi-Cal managed-care plans would be covered by the price ceilings. The opposition campaign, funded by the pharmaceutical industry, has said it plans to spend nearly $100 million to defeat Prop. 61. Roger Salazar, a spokesman for Yes on Prop. 61, said Friday that opponents have already spent $30 million on a message that voters dont appear to be buying. The new poll tells us Californians are sick and tired of high drug prices and are ready to send the pharmaceutical industry a message, Salazar said. He said supporters of Prop. 61 have raised $15 million, some of which they spent gathering signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot. Despite the poll numbers, Kathy Fairbanks, spokeswoman for the No on Prop. 61 Coalition, said, We are confident voters will reject this flawed measure when they learn more about it. Leading veterans, health and patient advocacy groups are opposed to Prop. 61 because it would increase prescription drug costs, reduce patient access to medicines, and hurt our nations veterans. While the industry is funding the opposition campaign, the most visible objections have come from veterans organizations and some consumer advocacy groups. Veterans fear that drug companies would respond to the California price limits by raising the prices they charge to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Consumer groups say manufacturers could try to offset price cuts for state-purchased drugs by charging more to private insurers. Supporters of Prop. 61, including the California Nurses Association and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, say it could be a big step toward lower drug prices nationwide at a time of nationwide anger over price-spiking for example, the $1,000-per-pill cost of a hepatitis C medication and the $600 charge for EpiPens, used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions. The new poll found at least a plurality of support for Prop. 61 in all regions of the state, among both men and women and among all racial and ethnic groups, age groups and income levels. Self-described conservatives favored it by 39 to 28 percent, liberals by 61 to 6 percent, Republicans by 33 to 26 percent and Democrats by 62 to 8 percent. One reason for the large number of undecided voters may be the uncertain fiscal impact of Prop. 61, the polling organizations said. The states official ballot summary, shown to those taking part in the survey, says the potential savings are of an unknown amount, depending on how the measure gets implemented and how drug manufacturers respond to the price limits. The responses came from 943 Californians who said they were likely to vote in November and who were chosen to reflect the states population of registered voters, regionally and demographically. The pollsters said the online sampling methods do not enable them to calculate the margin of error that normally accompanies random telephone surveys. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko A Dane County judge in February 2015 dismissed Adams Outdoor Advertisings $740,000 lawsuit against the city that claimed the Cannonball Path bridge blocked views to its billboard along the West Beltline frontage road. You've probably seen the photo collages popping up on your Facebook feeds or throughout your Instagram follows. Everyone seems to be participating in 'Describe yourself in three fictional characters' this past week. The meme, which involves grabbing photos of three (and only three) fictional characters of film or television to describe oneself, is gaining steam - perhaps because nothing plays better on social media than self-involved, hashtag-friendly, pop culture fun. An idea that sparked over a dinner with friends visiting from Mexico, inspired Scott Hare to develop recipes and start his business, El Norteno Foods. We were talking about our passion for eating and making great-tasting, authentic food. During the conversation someone mentioned flavors como hecho en casa (like the taste of home). I listened closely and the idea of El Norteno was born, Hare explained. Over the course of a year, Hare developed the recipes for meat snacks with the help of friends from Guadalajara, Mexico. After the recipes had been perfected, taste tests were conducted in Guadalajara, Los Angeles and the Midwest, confirming he was on the right track. The recipes were then transferred to manufacturing partners located in Marshfield and Chicago for refinement. Because taste, quality and authenticity are the most important aspects of El Norteno products, Hare monitors each batch as the quality control and taste tester to ensure the final products are consistent with his standard of quality. The name of the business came via a suggestion from one of Hares friends from Guadalajara who was working in Madison. The friend suggested the need for authentic Mexican meat snacks with a meaningful name to address the growing Hispanic market. As they talked, the name El Norteno (The Northern) came up as being lively; a culture connected to dance, music, color and delicious food, an exciting and fun part of Mexicos cultural tradition. To prove our assumptions, while taste testing in Los Angeles, someone said, When we were kids, we wanted to be Nortenos, it was just about being cool. The imagery fit, the energy fit, so we named the business El Norteno, Hare said. The business opened in 2006 and is headquartered in Stoughton. El Norteno has three products available for sale. The Tira de Carne Habanero is a beef and pork snack stick flavored with habanero chilies and Mexican spice blend. The Tira de Carne Habanero y Limon is a beef and pork snack stick flavored with habanero chilies, Mexican spice blend and lemon. The Cecina with salsa picante is thin, dried beefa Mexican-recipe beef jerky, with a packet of hot sauce included in the bag. If youre unfamiliar with cecina, you may expect it to be like American jerky. El Norteno cecina is kind of the opposite of traditional American jerky. Our cecina is based on a traditional Mexican recipe which is a little drier, sugar-free, thin with just a hint of chile peppers, Hare said. American jerky in many cases is much sweeter and more moist. Hare said that adding Tapatio hot sauce which is included with the cecina makes for a different taste and a new way to enjoy the snack. A cecina with lime meat snack will be introduced soon. The meat sticks have a lightly smoked flavor with a habanero pepper back heat that comes on slowly until it peaks with just the perfect blend of heat and flavor. They are a healthier meat snack with fewer calories and less sodium than most traditional meat snacks and they are MSG free. The products have the ability to quickly satisfy an appreciation for Mexican flavors and a unique recipe. People experience the tastes, flavors and heat differently. For some the habanero chilies are nothing, but to others they taste really hot, so consumers are surprised by the heat level. I enjoy watching people taste and react to both the Tira de Carne and the Cecina, said Justin Jahnke, 36, El Norteno sales and marketing coordinator. Hare sources his product locally; the raw meat used to produce his products is mostly sourced in the Midwest. The spices and packaging materials are from companies in Wisconsin and Illinois. The products are available in many Wisconsin neighborhood markets including Maria Garcias Mercado Marimar and Madison Bazaar liquor store on Park Street in Madison as well as Woodmans Markets and Kelleys Markets. They are also located in the El Rey stores in Milwaukee and Cermak Fresh Markets and Walgreens in Wisconsin and Illinois. El Norteno can be found in 7-11s in California and Colorado and convenience stores throughout Texas, Florida and Georgia. Soon, the product will be in Road Rangers nationwide. We started with about five stores and have grown to over 1,000 since February 2016, said Jahnke. An online store recently opened on the El Norteno website. We were a sponsor of the Mexican Fiesta held recently in Milwaukee. To meet the demand of the many people we met at the fiesta, we created the online store. It was a truly epic fiesta, added Hare, 58. A new product, Machaca, is currently in development. Machaca is an extremely dried version of cecina, shredded to a very, very fine consistency nearly like saw dust. The product is then packaged to be added a few spoonfuls at a time, in its dry state, to eggs, potato, rice dishes and other entrees where it is then rehydrated back to a slightly softer, flavorful meat additive. Before starting El Norteno, Hare worked at a Madison-based corporation for 28 years. He recognized his true passion was to develop better tasting, higher quality meat snacks. Eventually, he realized the path to success was not the traditional meat snacks, but rather focusing on a demographic which has been overlooked. I love meat snacks and smoked meats and wanted to make improvements to the meat snacks that were already out there, Hare said I was totally dissatisfied with the quality and flavors of most everything I was buying. Most of what I bought ended up being treats for my dogs. I wanted to make something of higher quality that tastes great and is unique. Jahnke pursued music as a career for many years while working to grow and build a dog walking business in Chicago. Hes walked a lot of dogs and played a lot of gigs and learned a lot about entrepreneurship, marketing and growing a business on a tight budget. Hare said doing the homework and conceptually thinking about the end result are some of the skills needed to be successful in business as well as the ability to understand the sales and marketing side to include graphics and color, packaging design in order to optimize product attraction and sales are also skills are needed along with a great deal of energy and fortitude. Every new product developed we hope for the very best, quick results and sometimes we have to rethink things and refocus, Hare said. As Ive said for many years, developing a hit food product recipe cannot be that much different than writing a hit country song. It can take a lot of misses before you get that first hit, and then we want to believe the second hit comes quicker and easier. It had a good run but this years Tunes at Monona Terrace will be the last. The free indoor music series, now in its 19th season, concludes this fall with Wednesday evening concerts by the rock n roll band Little Vito and the Torpedoes on Oct. 5; an Elvis tribute by Tony Rocker & the Comeback Special on Nov. 9; and the female big band Ladies Must Swing playing the final date on Nov. 30. Itll be a meaningful gig for Ladies Must Swing, which also headlined the inaugural Tunes at Monona Terrace just as the now-established band was also getting its start. It really helped to solidify what we were doing as far as being an all-ladies band in Madison, Wisconsin, so were very grateful to them for offering a great venue and a wonderful audience over the years, said June Dalton of Ladies Must Swing. She expects the band will close out the series at Monona Terrace with the song Thanks for the Memories. For the rest of the show I think well just have a rip roarin good time playing all styles of jazz from throughout the years, she said. Tunes at Monona Terrace, which has entertained an estimated 50,000 people since the convention center opened in 1997, was founded by Jeff Bartell and the late George Nelson. But attendance at the event, which offers table seating, food, drinks and a dance floor, has slowly dwindled, said Monona Terrace spokeswoman Fran Puleo. Were getting about 150 people or so. And because the attendance is so low, its hard to keep sponsors interested. Monona Terrace supplies the venue, staff and marketing for the series, but relies on sponsors to pay the bands and stagehands, she said. Past sponsors included a number of assisted-living venues, but what has happened is that they have gotten bigger and bigger and bigger, and are producing a lot of their own events now, Puleo said. So theyre not busing (residents) out theyre keeping events in-house. It just seems theres not quite as much of a need. The convention center continues to produce about 120 events a year, and a lot of them are growing, Puleo said. This years inaugural Maker Faire was a big success and will be back again. Free music programs at the convention center include Concerts on the Rooftop, held Thursday nights in the summer; Lakeside Kids for young children; and the annual Dane Dances on August Friday nights. We (also) have the series Funky Dance, which is sort of the inside, winter version of Dane Dances, Puleo said. The ticketed event helps raise funds for Dane Dances, and will be expanded this year, she said. Things change and tastes change, said Dalton, noting that Ladies Must Swing has also performed at Dane Dances and often attracts a young crowd of swing dancers as well as those who just want to listen. Its not like music is going to end at Monona Terrace, she said. Its just going to take a different form. Tuesday is National Voter Registration Day, so please celebrate it with us. The best way to do that is to make sure youre registered to vote, and then to help a family member or friend get registered. To find out if youre registered, contact your city clerks office. The Madison number is 608-266-4601. Or go to myvote.wi.gov" href="http://myvote.wi.gov" target="_blank">myvote.wi.gov and click on My Voter Info. There have been a lot of news stories, court cases and confusion about what youll need to vote this year, so lets clear things up. Most people will find that registering to vote is not hard to do, and neither is voting itself. To register, you will need to establish who you are and where you live. If you happen to have a Wisconsin drivers license or state ID with your current address on it, youre all set. If not, you can still establish who you are by using the last four digits of your Social Security number. To prove residency, a Wisconsin fishing or hunting license or any government-issued document with your current address on it gets the job done. Or you can supply a utility bill, or bank statement or paystub. If youre in college, your student ID card will work if it has your photo on it and if you have a fee receipt thats less than nine months old. If youre homeless, you should get a letter from a public or private social service agency identifying you. Remember, you only need one of the above to prove residency. Then you can get your registration form online at myvote.wi.gov. Print it, fill it out, sign it and send it in to your town, village or city clerk, along with your proof of residency, by Oct. 19. Or go to your clerks office and register in person by Nov. 4. Between now and Oct. 19, you can also register at any public library in Madison, or with special registration deputies, such as the folks at the League of Women Voters of Dane County. Between Oct. 19 and Nov. 4, you can still register at your city or town clerks office. And even on Election Day, you can register to vote at your polling place, which you can also find on myvote.wi.gov. Then, once youre registered, all you need to vote is a valid ID. There is no special voting ID. Your Wisconsin drivers license or passport will suffice, and it does not have to have your current address on it. If you dont have either, you can get a free ID at your local DMV, or you can find out what other forms of ID will work at myvote.wi.gov. The Packers, the Badgers, cheese, beer and high voter turnout: Thats what Wisconsin is famous for. Please do your part to keep it that way by making sure you and a family member or friend are registered to vote, and then actually vote, in this crucial election. Proponents of an abolition on tipping in practically all of the nations million restaurants couldnt be more wrong in their assessment of the economics of tipping, and tipping abolition. Let me count the ways: Tipping abolitionists argue that tipping enables restaurants to exploit servers, trapping them in poverty. Servers deserve a fixed living wage, maybe $15 an hour. No doubt low-income servers can be found in the country, but that is hardly the case for servers at moderate-priced Applebees-level restaurants. I asked 40 servers in such restaurants in Orange County, California, the hourly wage they would require to forgo tips. The responses ranged from $18 to $50 an hour, with 62 percent of the servers getting $30 to $50 an hour (much of which can go untaxed). This means that two married servers between 25 and 40 years old earning only $30 an hour but working full-time would have an annual income of $124,800, putting them in the top 17 percent of all households and the top 12 percent of households in their age category. All servers were hostile to replacing tips with an hourly wage of $15 or even $18. Tipping abolitionists argue that tipping is a holdover from slavery, when slave-owners tipped slaves for their unusual efforts. The argument stretches credulity. Servers I interviewed dont see themselves enslaved to their restaurants. They can, and do, move to where the money is. Abolitionists argue that servers resent having to tip out a part of their meager earned tips to bussers and runners. Servers with whom I talked repeated a good, old-fashion economics lesson: Incentives matter. They reported often over-tipping out bussers and runners who do exceptional jobs in enabling them, the servers, to accommodate more customers and to garner more tips. Abolitionists argue that tips have little to no effect on the quality of service, and vice versa. The servers I interviewed were convinced that their work diligence affected their tip income, and substantially so. They reported that if they elevated their service level from average to exceptional, their percentage tips would rise by an average of 57 percent. They also unanimously reported that if tips were replaced by an hourly wage, service would seriously deteriorate, especially for inconsiderate customers. Abolitionists argue that tipping leads to pay discrimination among servers and between servers, runners and bussers, and kitchen workers. No doubt it does, appropriately. Many runners and bussers take their jobs in the hopes that one day they will become servers or, better yet, bartenders. Most servers believed that they were above average in the service provided, and they did not want their incomes reduced to the service level provided by less experience and diligent servers. Tipping abolitionists maintain that tipping serves no useful business function and only promotes sexual harassment of servers who must grovel for customers change. Female servers did report they confronted inappropriate comments and behaviors in their jobs, but most assured me they had become skilled in dealing with most inappropriate affronts and most had managers and bouncers guarding their backs. Managers and servers also recognized that tipping made servers sales people, giving them an incentive to use their local knowledge of customers to make more sales and to provide better, more individualized service to customers, especially regulars who, understandably, tend to leave bigger tips than occasional customers. A small number of restaurants have tried a no-tipping policy with higher menu prices, only to see server morale collapse and turnover rate skyrocket. Customers have also balked at the higher prices and loss of influence over their service. This isnt to say that tipping should be used everywhere in the highly diverse restaurant industry. But my overall point is that a blanket government ban on tipping is surely a policy snare and delusion, no matter how well intended. In California, embracing diversity is not just about being comfortable with demographic change. Its about protection against disasters, natural and man-made. California is a disaster-prone state, and when calamity strikes, diversity of all kinds keeps bad times from becoming even worse. The central insight into diversity as protection is biological: A diverse ecosystem is more resilient because it has a much broader variety of ways to respond to stress and calamity. This insight applies not only in forests but also in neighborhoods, governments and industries. When an ecosystem loses its diversity, when the variety of trees and plants and other species narrows, you get disasters that are more damaging than those weve seen before. Thats the story behind Californias mega-wildfires like the Soberanes Fire in the Big Sur area, now the costliest fire to fight in U.S. history. Instead of allowing smaller fires to thin and renew our lands, keeping them diverse, weve suppressed fires for decades. Now, when the calamities of climate change and drought are upon us, our lands lack protection. Something similar can happen when disasters strike neighborhoods. The most resilient communities are ones with people of different ages, varied levels of education and diverse sources of income. When the housing and foreclosure crisis struck California a decade ago, communities across the state got hurt. Bu the hardest hit were newer low- and middle-income communities inland whose residents conformed to a similar socioeconomic profile. Such tracts were all but wiped out by foreclosures, while neighborhoods that mixed home-owning retirees with families and young single renters were more likely to struggle through. At the same time the housing crisis hit, a lack of diversity was making the economic catastrophe even worse in my own profession: journalism. Economic and technological changes (especially the rise of the Internet) were going to do damage to newspapers and TV stations no matter what. But media outlets made things worse, by employing too many of the same kinds of people. At the papers where I spent my youth including the Los Angeles Times editors almost exclusively hired people with journalistic training, and were wary of technologists. In addition, the near absence of racial and ethnic diversity in newsrooms meant that media outlets lacked community allies willing to support them when times got rough. So these vital civic institutions didnt have the diversity of expertise and connection to protect against massive change in the business. When you think about all the ways a lack of diversity leaves us exposed to danger, the lesson should hit home. Diversity is not something to be celebrated or embraced as a virtuous luxury. It must be sought out and developed as a core strategy for survival. Unfortunately, California is so diverse that weve come to take our diversity for granted. The states racial and ethnic diversity is really a legacy of our parents and grandparents, who brought with them very different cultures and experiences. Todays Californians are majority homegrown, so, despite our different shades, we are more homogenous than ever before. With immigration levels to California declining dramatically from previous decades, we need to think about renewing our population, by attracting more people from around the world. In our old-line neighborhoods, we need to stop fighting affordable housing and new developments that bring badly needed diversity. And we need to stop obsessing about income inequality which is really just diversity of income and instead make sure that people with different incomes can afford to stay in California, and live and work productively together. We must stop protecting our highly centralized system of state government, in which Sacramento makes regulatory and tax decisions for us all, and return real control to local governments so they can embrace very different destinies. And we should fight back against those who demand ideological purity in our politics and parties and purge those who dissent from the party line. Those who create political monocultures are making it possible for dangerous people to invade and take over political institutions. (Ask your Republican friends theyll know what Im talking about). Biologists will tell you that the healthiest ecosystems often have gradual borders of transition, where, for example, forests slowly become grasslands. California communities need such spaces too. If your town is divided by a big highway or railroad tracks, build big parks or restaurants or grocery stores over these divides, to attract people from both sides. In the meantime, get out there and become part of our diversity. Make new contacts not like you, move to a different neighborhood, and ignore all your like-minded friends on Facebook. Youre not just turning over a new leaf. Youre protecting the forest from a bigger fire. Joe Mathews writes the Connecting California column for Zocalo Public Square. To comment, submit a letter to the editor at http://bit.ly/SFChronicleletters. PARIS French President Francois Hollande on Saturday confirmed plans to close the squalid Calais refugee camp known as the Jungle, saying he hopes authorities can relocate as many as 9,000 migrants to reception centers across France in the coming weeks. Hollande, visiting one of Frances 164 refugee reception centers in the central city of Tours, said conditions in the Calais camp are not acceptable and extremely difficult, especially for those who fled war to get there. JOHANNESBURG Poaching syndicates shipped large amounts of African elephant ivory last year despite global calls to dismantle the trafficking networks that often collude with corrupt officials, conservationists said as an international wildlife conference opened Saturday in South Africa. The illegal ivory trade has remained fairly constant at unacceptably high levels since 2010, and in 2015 there was a continuing upward trend in the seizure of larger shipments of more than 220 pounds, according to a document released by organizers. The transfer of big amounts of ivory indicates the key role of organized crime in poaching, the document said. The plight of elephants dominated the discussion on the first day of the 12-day Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, conference. Rhinos, sharks, pangolins, helmeted hornbills and other threatened species are also on the agenda at the meeting, which regulates trade in wild animals and plants with the aim of ensuring their survival. Last held in Bangkok in 2013, this years CITES conference ends Oct. 5. The U.N. group has 183 member countries and can recommend suspending trade in wildlife with countries that dont enforce its guidelines. Wildlife trafficking is estimated to generate billions of dollars a year globally. Interpol is among the delegations at the conference and will discuss crime, corruption and the illegal financial flows of poaching. Many delegates at the conference in Johannesburg are likely to push to tighten the international ban on the ivory trade, as well as close domestic ivory markets. Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, however, favor the sale of their ivory stockpiles, saying the money can be funneled back into conservation operations. The worlds main ivory consumer, China, has said it plans to close its domestic ivory market. The U.S. has announced a near-total ban on the domestic sale of African elephant ivory. Ivory has been used for centuries to make carvings, jewelry, furniture, piano keys and other items. Many conservationists say criminal syndicates launder illegal supplies through legal markets that permit the sale of antique ivory pieces or ivory exempted from a 1989 international trade ban. The number of Africas savannah elephants dropped by about 30 percent from 2007 to 2014, to 352,000, because of poaching, according to a recent study. 1 Yemen casualties: The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights on Friday expressed deep concern over increasing attacks against civilians in Yemen with a total of 180 civilians killed in one month, raising the death toll to nearly 4,000 since March 2015. Cecile Pouilly said that August also marked an increase in the number of attacks against civilian facilities including hospitals, markets and places of worship. Her statement came only two days after air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition bombed houses in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, killing at least 32 civilians. Meanwhile, rebels known as Houthis have continued to tighten their siege on the city of Taiz, where they are fighting local forces aligned with the internationally recognized government. 2 Kashmir unrest: One person was killed and dozens of others wounded Friday when Indian government forces fired live ammunition and shotgun pellets to stop protests against Indian rule in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, police said. Kashmir is witnessing the largest protests against Indian rule in recent years, sparked by the July 8 killing of a popular rebel commander by Indian soldiers. The protests, and a sweeping security crackdown, have all but paralyzed life in Indian-controlled Kashmir. KAMPALA, Uganda A top South Sudanese opposition leader called Saturday for armed resistance to the government in Juba a stance that suggests the troubled Central African nation could face a renewed civil war soon. Leader Riek Machar and top officials of the opposition SPLM-IO party issued a statement saying their forces would reorganize to wage a popular armed resistance against the authoritarian and racist regime of President Salva Kiir. Its the first political statement by Machar since he fled South Sudan in August. The statement came after a meeting Saturday of Machar and his supporters in Khartoum, Sudan. His call for armed resistance adds to South Sudans spiraling problems. South Sudan gained independence in 2011 but fell into a civil war in 2013 in which at least 50,000 civilians died and more than 2 million were displaced. A peace deal was forced on both Kiir and Machar last year, but fighting in the capital, Juba, in July put that deal in doubt. We have been driven back to the bush, James Gadet, a spokesman for Machar, said Saturday in a call from Nairobi, Kenya. Gadet called for the removal of Taban Deng Gai, who was controversially named to replace Machar as the countrys first vice president. He says the South Sudan government must stop attacking civilians and a regional protection force must be deployed in the country or there will be an escalation of the civil war, which he says began again on July 8. The document calls on the international community to declare the regime in Juba a rogue government, adding that international agencies monitoring the peace deal should suspend their activities until the agreement is resuscitated. Some critics blame American foreign policy in South Sudan, saying the U.S. has given Kiir a blank check to pursue a militant policy. Its not at all surprising to see Machar call for continued armed struggle, in light of the U.S. policy, said Kate Almquist Knopf, director of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Machar has demanded that the government accept the U.N. Security Councils decision to send an additional 4,000 peacekeepers to increase the size of the existing U.N. force of 12,000 in South Sudan. The Kiir government has resisted the U.N. decision, saying it violates South Sudans sovereignty. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia As wave after wave of bombs fell on areas of eastern Aleppo in Syria, ground forces loyal to the Syrian government seized a rebel-held neighborhood on Saturday, intensifying the siege against the rebels and the many civilians who live among them. The advance was the first sign that an intensive bombing campaign by Syrian and Russian jets that began Thursday night was working to bolster the position of the Syrian governments forces. Since a cease-fire brokered by the U.S. and Russia collapsed last week, the Syrian government has made no secret of its intention to use military force to crush its enemies. At the United Nations on Saturday, Syrias foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, said the army was making great strides in its war against terrorism, thanks to support from Russia, Iran and fighters from Lebanons Hezbollah group. Throughout the five-year conflict, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced half the population, Syrian officials have dismissed the rebels as foreign-backed terrorists seeking to destroy the country. The U.S. has blamed President Bashar Assad for most of his citizens deaths but has not launched a direct military intervention against him. Nor has the U.S. found a diplomatic means to end the violence or ensure aid reaches besieged civilians. Secretary of State John Kerry on Saturday called the situation in Aleppo unacceptable. It is beyond the pale, Kerry said at Tufts University, before a meeting with European foreign ministers. If people are serious about wanting a peaceful outcome to this war, then they should cease and desist bombing innocent women and children, cease cutting off water and laying siege to an entire community, and work with the international community in order to be able to bring peace to people who are starving. The recent bombing campaign has exacerbated the humanitarian situation in rebel-held areas of eastern Aleppo, which have been surrounded by government troops and cut off from aid. On Saturday, large bombs left craters in roads, destroyed buildings and buried residents in rubble. More than 45 people were killed in the city and at least seven others in the countryside, according to conflict monitors and rescue squads. Medics said hospital space and supplies were running low, while antigovernment activists shared videos of wounded men in bloodstained bandages sprawled on crowded clinic floors. The bombing helped government forces, and the militias that fight alongside them, to seize the Handarat camp for Palestinian refugees, which the rebels had controlled. Controlling the camp, on the citys north side, strengthened the governments position near what had been the rebels main supply road before the army seized it. 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E.C.H.O. was founded in 2008 by Sebastian "Sibbie" Angelico for the purpose of providing financial assistance to children and families experiencing a medical or living emergency with the goal of helping to ease the burden and brighten a child's life during a time of crisis. To date, E.C.H.O. has awarded more than $1.2 million in total grants. Honored during the evening's fare were Carol Stillwell and Luann and Paul Serra. Kim Guadagno, New Jersey's Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State was also recognized with the 2016 New Jersey Leadership Award recipient. Stillwell, of New Jersey, is owner, president and CEO of Stillwell-Hansen, Inc., a leader in data center infrastructure solutions including power, precision cooling, fire protection and traditional HVAC products. Carol Stillwell Together with her late husband, Gordon, she has helped the company realize unprecedented growth in terms of sales volume and has achieved numerous business awards and recognition for the company's customer service and expertise. Carol has subsequently been recognized as one of the top women business leaders in New Jersey in 2009-2015. She has "devoted her life to philanthropic causes in a mission to improve the lives of others." Carol has a twin sister Mary Ann Larkin who assists in her charitable endeavors; one son, Scott Belford; six stepchildren; and a number of grandchildren. Luann and Paul Paul Serra have more 50 years of combined experience in the refuse removal business. Paul began his career at Village Carting, and schooled by his father Patsy, he became a trendsetter in the industry. He went on to start New York Carting in 1982, where he met Luann, and eventually became the operator of PJ's Environmental Corp. Today he is the owner and operator of Economy Container Corp., servicing the five boroughs. Luann and Paul Serra Paul is one of five siblings and was born and raised in the New Dorp area of Staten Island. He has always been a generous supporter of charities on Staten Island. He is a father of two children, Beatrice and Paul Jr. Luann began working for Rite-Way Internal Removal Inc. in 1985 and moved on to become a partner and principal in 2005. She was raised in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and is the youngest of three children. After years of friendship, Paul and Luann wed in 2004, and along with the children became a family. They recently became the proud grandparents of Ave Anne. The event featured a surprise celebrity guest performance by freestyle recording artists TKA. "Once again, I am delighted to welcome over 600 guests to the Emergency Children's Help Organizations 'Enchanted Evening' gala, said Sebastian Angelico, chairman of the organization. He adds, "Your dedicated support and generosity is truly amazing." In addressing the crowd, Paul Dapolito III, vice chairman of E.C.H.O., noted:"We are truly blessed to have such deep rooted support within our community, along with our very dedicated Board of Directors and staff." "E.C.H.O. is now fully entrenched in our Capital Campaign which will result in the creation of the E.C.H.O. Pediatric Emergency Center and Children's Sleep Apnea Center," says Pasquale Lopocaro, executive director of E.C.H.O, before going on to explain: "The facility will be located at Northwell Health's (Staten Island University Hospital) South site on Seguine Avenue. The project is slated to be completed in late 2017. We are thankful for the opportunity to expand our mission for this project in order assist thousands of children in our community." Update: BFC Partners has sent a termination letter to LPCiminelli. Click here for more. -- CITY HALL -- Officials at the company managing construction for Empire Outlets were arrested Thursday on bribery charges in connection with another development project upstate. The charges are part of a sweeping federal complaint announced the same week a massive concrete pour marks a major milestone for the North Shore retail complex. The allegations have prompted the mall's developer to reconsider ties with construction company LPCiminelli. Buffalo developer Louis Ciminelli and two other top executives at LPCiminelli are accused of trying to defraud a state taxpayer-funded economic development program. Empire Outlets is not part of any alleged corruption schemes described by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara on Thursday. But LPCiminelli was named the construction manager for Empire Outlets by BFC Partners in June 2015. The project will receive some $47 million in state subsidies through a separate fund and grant. MALL DEVELOPER: 'DEEPLY TROUBLING' "These allegations are deeply troubling and we are reevaluating our relationship with LPCiminelli," a BFC Partners spokesperson said. LPCiminelli would not comment on the company's work for Empire Outlets on Friday. "We are confident that all company officials acted appropriately and legally," LPCiminelli President Frank Ciminelli said in a statement. "When given the opportunity to fully respond to these charges, we are confident everyone will be vindicated." Louis Ciminelli, the company's chairman and CEO, and executives Michael Laipple and Kevin Schuler were charged with allegedly paying hundreds of thousands in bribes to a former Albany lobbyist so that LPCiminelli would win a lucrative $750 million state contract to develop a manufacturing site. The Buffalo High-Tech Manufacturing Innovation Hub at RiverBend is among initiatives in Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Buffalo Billion program. Bharara said Thursday "pervasive corruption and fraud allegedly infected signature state development projects like the Buffalo Billion program." OTHER CASE WITH ISLAND TIES A former Staten Islander and former top aide to Cuomo, Joseph Percoco, was also charged with alleged corruption in a separate but overlapping scheme. Ciminelli, Laipple and Schuler have not entered pleas yet. Attorneys for Ciminelli and Laipple did not respond to requests for comment on Friday. "We've said our clients are not guilty," Schuler's attorney Terrence Connors said. "Kevin Schuler is prepared to defend himself -- he is an innocent man." Empire Outlets is the city's first discount brand-name shopping complex, expected to create more than 1,800 jobs and bring $285 million in private investment on the North Shore. The state Dormitory Authority awarded Empire Outlets a $25 million grant. Empire State Development is also putting up about $21.9 million for the $304 million project. Of that money, $16.5 million will come from the New York Works Economic Development Fund. This is instead of the controversial Transformative Investment Program, created by former state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, who was convicted of corruption charges last year. City agencies are also contributing $25.3 million to Empire Outlets and Staten Island Borough President James Oddo put up $1.5 million. Barack Obama In this photo taken Sept. 22, 2016, President Barack Obama speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington. President Barack Obama has vetoed a bill that would have allowed the families of 9/11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia. The move sets Obama up for a possible first veto override by Congress. Both chambers passed the bill by voice vote. The House sent Obama the bill just before the 15th anniversary of the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) (Carolyn Kaster) WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama nixed a bill Friday that would have allowed the families of 9/11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia, arguing it undermined national security and setting up the possibility that Congress might override his veto for the first time of his presidency. The bill had sailed through both chambers of Congress, with final passage just days before the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. But the White House said the bill, which doesn't refer specifically to Saudi Arabia, could backfire by opening up the U.S. government and its officials to lawsuits by anyone accusing the U.S. of supporting terrorism, rightly or wrongly. "I have deep sympathy for the families of the victims of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001," Obama wrote to the Senate in a veto message about the bill, known as the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act. But, he said, "the JASTA would be detrimental to U.S. national interests more broadly, which is why I am returning it without my approval." The move paves the way for Congress to try to override the veto, which requires a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate. Never before has Congress managed to overturn one of Obama's vetoes, but proponents have said they're confident they have the backing needed. Rep. Daniel Donovan (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) called the veto an "insult to 9/11 families who've already suffered unimaginable loss." Donovan added, "That the President believes a foreign government should be able to hide behind sovereign immunity after slaughtering Americans in our homeland is an outrage. Every American victim of terror deserves the chance to seek well-deserved justice against individuals and governments. I'll be joining my colleagues in Congress to override this veto." With lawmakers eager to return home to campaign ahead of the November election, a vote could come as early as Tuesday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's office said the Senate would take up the override "as soon as practicable in this work period." Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the Senate's No. 3 Democrat and a traditional Obama ally, came out swinging against Obama's veto while predicting lawmakers would reverse it "swiftly and soundly." "This is a disappointing decision that will be swiftly and soundly overturned in Congress," Schumer said in a statement. "I believe both parties will come together next week to make JASTA the law of the land. If the Saudis did nothing wrong, they should not fear this legislation. If they were culpable in 9/11, they should be held accountable. The families of the victims of 9/11 deserve their day in court, and justice for those families shouldn't be thrown overboard because of diplomatic concerns." A coalition of 9/11 victims' families, meanwhile, said they were "outraged and dismayed." In a response circulated by their lawyers, the families insisted the bill would deter terrorism, "no matter how much the Saudi lobbying and propaganda machine may argue otherwise." Fifteen of the 19 men who carried out the attacks were Saudi nationals. Families of the victims spent years lobbying lawmakers for the right to sue the kingdom in U.S. court for any role elements of Saudi Arabia's government may have had in the attacks. Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East, strongly objected to the bill. Obama long had objected, too, warning that if U.S. citizens are allowed to take the Saudis into court, then foreign countries could do the same to the United States, its diplomats and its service members. The administration was also apprehensive about undermining a longstanding yet difficult relationship with Saudi Arabia. The U.S. relies on the Saudis as a counter to Iran's influence in the region as well as to help combat the spread of terrorism throughout the Middle East. Since the bill's passage, the White House has lobbied aggressively to persuade lawmakers to withdraw support, and found some sympathetic listeners. The bill had passed by voice vote -- meaning lawmakers didn't have to go on the record with their positions -- and the White House was hoping the prospect of a recorded vote would lead some Democrats to reconsider publicly rebuking their president. Still, the White House said it was unclear whether it had peeled off enough lawmakers to block a veto override. Debate about the bill has spilled onto the presidential campaign trail, as candidates vie to appear tough on terrorism. The issue is one of a few where Democrat Hillary Clinton has publicly disagreed with Obama, with her campaign saying Friday that she supports efforts to "hold accountable those responsible" for the attacks. In the run-up to Obama's veto, the White House said the system the U.S. uses to identify and punish countries that support terrorism was set by law and is more effective than a "patchwork" of legal decisions. The bill's proponents disputed arguments of a boomerang effect if the measure were to become law. Another sponsor, Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., said foreign governments cannot look the other way if terrorist activities are being plotted or launched from inside their borders. The bill had triggered a threat from Saudi Arabia to pull billions of dollars from the U.S. economy if it was enacted. But Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir denied in May that the kingdom made any threats over the bill. He said his country had warned that investor confidence in the U.S. would shrink if the bill became law. The House vote on Sept. 9 came two months after Congress released 28 declassified pages from a congressional report into 9/11. The pages reignited speculation over links that at least a few of the attackers had to Saudis, including government officials. The allegations were never substantiated by later U.S. investigations into the terrorist attacks. Brian McGlinchey, director of advocacy for the website 28pages.org, said making the documents public "strengthened the resolve of 9/11 families and other advocates of justice to bring about the enactment" of the bill. He said a decision by Obama to deny the 9/11 families "their well-deserved day in court would truly stain his legacy." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Stapleton teen who was busted with a loaded gun on Staten Island Thursday night was a fugitive wanted in connection with a homicide in upstate New York, according to a law enforcement source. Devin Issac, 18, of Tompkins Street, was arrested in front of 14 Broad St., Stapleton, at 11:19 p.m. after five police officers from the 120th Precinct found him with a .380 semi-automatic gun, an NYPD spokesman said. Issac was charged with criminal possession of weapon, police said. After he was arrested, the NYPD investigation found Issac was a fugitive wanted in a murder by authorities in Newburgh, N.Y., the source said. Newburgh Police charged Issac with second-degree murder in the death of Deandric Little, 29, on Aug. 1, according to the Times Herald-Record. It is unknown if the weapon Issac was caught with is the one used to kill Little, a popular music producer and promoter, the paper reported. After he was shot, Little walked into the emergency room at St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital in Orange County and died the following day at Westchester County Medical Center, the article said. nazario.jpg Police activity on Forest Avenue near Decker Avenue across from Walgreens early Friday morning, April 3, 2015, where Tony Nazario stole hundreds of packs of cigarettes, said prosecutors. Police were searching the parking lot with flashlights and an ambulance from FDNY showed up at the scene. (Staten Island Advance/Bill Lyons) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A cigarette thief's scheme to obtain riches was nothing more than a costly pipe dream. Tony Nazario, 30, of Old Bridge, N.J., has been sentenced to six months in jail, five years' probation and ordered to pay $10,000 restitution for burglarizing a Walgreens in Port Richmond Center last year and swiping hundreds of packs of cigarettes. Nazario was busted around 12:05 a.m. on April 3, 2015, a few hours after he broke into the store at 1579 Forest Ave., said authorities. Nazario stole 300 packs of cigarettes, plus 19 cartons of smokes, a box of tissues, wet wipes, some lint rollers and razor blades, according to police. Nazario reportedly fell and broke his leg as he attempted to flee police, but was nabbed, according to the New York Post. In February, Nazario pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to third-degree burglary. At that time, his lawyer Matthew Santamauro said Nazario took "full responsibility" for his actions and was "punished accordingly." District Attorney Michael E. McMahon said then the plea and promised sentence, including restitution, held Nazario accountable for his criminal actions. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Believing they couldn't prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, prosecutors last year moved to dismiss criminal charges against a Richmond Valley property owner accused of threatening to shoot then-Councilman Vincent Ignizio in a dispute over land near PS 6. But as far as property owner John DePietro is concerned, the matter is far from over. DePietro has sued Ignizio, the city, the NYPD and Community Board 3, alleging he was falsely arrested for a phone call he made on April 27, 2015, to the community board in Rossville and maliciously prosecuted. "The defendants, their agents, servants and/or employees maliciously accused the plaintiff of terrorist acts and unlawfully arrested, detained, imprisoned and searched the plaintiff and took his property without any basis in law or fact ... thereby causing fright, shock, emotional distress and physical consequences," alleges DePietro's civil complaint. The suit, filed in state Supreme Court, St. George, seeks unspecified monetary damages. DePietro is representing himself. "I really feel that what Mr. Ignizio did to me was outrageous," DePietro, 69, said in a telephone conversation. "They took my personal belongings from me." Ignizio, who currently is chief executive officer of Catholic Charities of Staten Island, said the city Law Department is defending him because the incident occurred during his tenure as Republican minority leader of the City Council. "I was notified of a threat and went through the proper channels to ensure the safety of me and my family," Ignizio said. "I look forward to this frivolous lawsuit being dismissed." Community Board 3 referred all inquiries on the suit to the city Law Department. A Law Department spokesman said the lawsuit "is under review." According to a criminal complaint filed at the time, DePietro called Community Board 3 around 4 p.m. He allegedly told a receptionist: "PS 6 is sending their excess runoff water onto my property. Ignizio ruined my life, he demolished my house; I can't develop my property because of him." After stating his name and phone number, DePietro allegedly added: "Ignizio took my house; I'm going to shoot him," the criminal complaint said. A source with knowledge of the investigation said DePietro's statements appeared to be related to an abandoned building packed with debris and combustible propane and gas tanks which the city demolished in December 2007. The house was also loaded with items such as mattresses, a soda vending machine and plywood, the Advance reported. The razing of the structure at 527 Page Ave. came as a relief to staff at PS 6, located across the street from the building that had 15 open building code violations. DePietro maintained the construction of PS 6 in 2000 created a water problem on his property. DePietro did not speak to Ignizio, who at the time was the Republican city councilman for the South Shore, which includes Community Board 3. DePietro was arrested on April 29, 2015, after the incident was reported to police. Authorities said DePietro was living on Avenue L in Brooklyn. He was charged with a felony count of making a terroristic threat and a misdemeanor count of second-degree aggravated harassment. Under state law, a person is guilty of making a terroristic threat when he or she threatens to commit a specified offense with the intent of intimidating or coercing the public, influencing government policy or affecting government's conduct by murder, assassination or kidnapping, and there is a reasonable expectation he or she will carry out the threat. According to Advance reports, Yan Katsnelson, DePietro's criminal defense lawyer, confirmed his client telephoned Community Board 3 to discuss the $200,000 the city maintained DePietro owed for the demolition and violations associated with the property. But he said DePietro adamantly denied threatening bodily harm or to shoot anyone. "He never at any point said the word 'shoot'; he said 'sue,'" the Advance quoted the lawyer as saying. On Oct. 29, prosecutors moved to dismiss the charges in Criminal Court "in the interest of justice," a spokesman for then-Acting District Attorney Daniel Master told the Advance. "Although the People submit there was probable cause for the arrest of the defendant on the charges, the People believe they would be unable to sustain their burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt at trial," the spokesman said. He said the court file was sealed, and he couldn't comment further. A first-class ride for Cowboy Kel Bridle Path residents show love for mail carrier For the past six years, Kelvin Hoang has been delivering mail and smiles to people living in Simi Valleys Bridle Path neighborhood. We love Kelvin. Hes the best. Hes like... SV Womans Club to meet Detectives Kelly King and Jessica Getchius of the Simi Valley Police Department will discuss the problems faced by victims and perpetrators of domestic violence at the monthly luncheon meeting of... Womans flight aboard B-25 bomber honors grandfathers WWII bravery As Kerri Braemer-Castro looked down at the mountains and valleys of Camarillo from the cockpit of a World War II B-25 bomber earlier this month, she finally felt connected to... Shred your documents The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold a drive-thru document shredding event from 1 to 4 p.m. Fri., Nov. 11 in the parking lot behind the Chamber office, 40... 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 "We are deeply worried by the high numbers of wounded reported by the hospitals we support, and also know that in many areas the wounded and sick have nowhere to go at all they are simply left to die." But what if I don't like Labor or Liberal? In this case you need to get strategic. The five-member electorates will almost certainly return two Labor and two Liberal politicians each, with the final seat in each of the five electorates up for grabs. These are the seats that will decide the election and where the minor parties are pinning their hopes. The reality is their chances are slim; and other than possibly the Greens, none will get a quota - 17 per cent of the vote - in their own right. So to get elected, they must rely on preferences, and a significant flow of them. A voter wanting to elect independents and would do best to confine their vote to the independent columns - and not give preferences, even distant ones, to Labor, Liberal or the Greens. To see how this works, imagine Independent A gets 300 first-preference votes, the lowest of any in the seat. That person is eliminated and all of their votes redistributed to the candidate those voters numbered 2 on their list. If No 2 is from Labor, the Liberals or the Greens, the vote will head into those columns and likely stay there as more of the low-polling independents are eliminated. Independent B is likely eliminated next, with his or her No 2 votes distributed. You can see that if your vote stays entirely with independents and minor parties, and if there are enough people doing the same thing, an independent can stay in the count long enough to start getting preferences from the lowest-polling major party candidates as they are eliminated. This is a strategy to maximise the chances of independents, although given the magnitude of the vote required about 8000 votes - it is still a tough ask. Which is the grim reality for the about half the candidates standing, who are not part of Labor, Liberal or the Greens. As an aside, because of the number of voters who simply number 1 to 5 and stop, and because of the crucial need to stop preferences straying into the major party columns, one of the minor parties - the one led by Richard Farmer - is standing five candidates in Ginninderra. But who wants a crazy crossbench? Good point, especially for those with long memories who shudder at the chaos of the early days of self-government when three sitting politicians were elected under a party called No Self-Government in a kind of political non-sequitur, one for the Abolish Self Government Party and four were members of the Residents Rally, which came to a quick and inglorious end. There's also the danger of a fixated crossbencher holding the government to ransom on a pet project. However, an authority as cautious and apolitical as Assembly Clerk Tom Duncan said recently that a big crossbench meant a more active committee system and more inquiries, which can only be good for getting to the bottom of issues and for democracy. With the only Green a part of the Labor Cabinet in the past four years, the ACT parliament has effectively had no crossbench. The other useful thing about a decent crossbench is that the government must negotiate its legislation, which means first up that it must disclose and discuss its plans publicly and subject itself to the messy and more democratic process of public scrutiny and argument. But I like the major parties. I don't want to dump them, I just want to deliver a message to some of their candidates. The system seeks to put maximum power in the hands of voters to choose their candidates. One of the uncomfortable things for the major parties is they can't run lead candidates or effective how-to-vote cards because the order of candidates on the voting paper is quite comprehensively randomised. The order parties and groupings appear on the ballot paper is chosen by roll of the dice, and then the order candidates appear in each line is mixed up. So for each electorate, the five Labor candidates will appear in 60 different orders. Which means if you number 1 to 5 down the list you will be allocating your preferences differently to the person beside you doing precisely the same thing. It also means that Andrew Barr appears in Labor's No 1 position on the Kurrajong ballot papers and Jeremy Hanson in the top spot on the Murrumbidgee ballot papers only about one in five times. And the result of this is that candidates can't rely on the donkey vote or the support of their party to get elected. Effectively, Labor candidates are competing against each other for the two (or maximum three) seats that Labor will win in each electorate. Same for the Liberals and the others. It's a voting system that maximises voter choice. On the downside, it is rather utopian, requiring a level of interest in the election and knowledge of individual candidates that most voters simply don't have. Which seats are likely to determine the result? You don't need a pollster to tell you Labor and Liberal almost certainly have 10 seats each in the bag. The Liberals in Tasmania, which shares our lesser-known voting system, did win four out of five seats in one Tasmanian electorate recently, but that was a first and is concerned highly unlikely, Even when Labor's vote in Canberra dropped to a historically low 28 per cent under Wayne Berry's leadership in 1998, Labor won two seats in each five-member electorate. So if each electorate returns two Labor and two Liberal politicians, as is likely, it is the final seat in each electorate that will decide the election. Both major parties are privately giving the final Tuggeranong seat to the Liberals, which brings the Liberals' tally to 11. Both major parties are also confident the Greens will keep the fifth seat in the central electorate (Shane Rattenbury's seat), bringing Labor's effective tally to 11. The Woden-Weston seat is considered a contest between the Greens and the Liberals. The Greens are standing former Assembly member Caroline Le Couteur in the seat in the hope her name recognition and her voter appeal - insiders think her age will appeal to the older demographic - will pull enough votes for the Greens to win the seat. Others point out that Labor has no sitting politicians in the seat after dDeputy Labor Leader Simon Corbell resigned. And the Liberals have their leader Jeremy Hanson and personable sitting member Giulia Jones. One source suggested a healthy 1.4 quotas to Hanson and another 0.6 of a quota to Jones, leaving the Liberals in a healthy position to take get third seat. If the Greens win Murrumbidgee, Labor will almost certainly win government. If the Liberals win Murrumbidgee, the tally is Liberals 12, Labor (with Rattenbury) 11. Canberra's network of speed cameras picked up more interstate registered-vehicles than local cars in the first six months of the year. While more local motorists were caught driving in the highest speeding brackets, the majority of vehicles clocked for breaking the limit in school zones bore non-ACT plates. Sixty-one per cent of speeding vehicles captured on ACT fixed speed cameras, such as this one on the Monaro Highway, were registered interstate. Credit:Melissa Adams The data, taken from the ACT government's new road safety camera program website, shows 2133 or 54 per cent of all cars caught speeding by cameras on Canberra roads were registered interstate. The figures include infringements issued from red light, point to point, mobile and red light-speeding cameras, though only the June figures were available for the latter. Canberra-based relatives and friends have paid tribute to Australian art gallery owner Kevin Reid, who was shot dead by masked robbers in the United States. Described as a "jack of all trades" who became a beloved member of every community he lived in, Mr Reid was just days short of celebrating his first anniversary with wife Kari Graham-Reid when he was shot while walking along a residential street in Savannah, Georgia on Wednesday night. Kevin Reid and his wife Kari Graham-Reid on their wedding day. His brother Michael said the 54-year-old was the kind of person everybody knew and liked, and who would happily sit down for a beer to sort out a problem rather than fighting. "He'd remember everyone's names and could perfectly remember all these stories from decades ago," he said. "He was a real gentleman, and just an all-round good guy. I was proud to call him my brother." The protracted dispute between former Brumbies chief executive Michael Jones and the University of Canberra has come to an end after a late night settlement. Mr Jones said he was both "extremely frustrated" at the "broken" legal process and relieved to discontinue his claim against all five respondents after a mediation session which ended shortly before 9pm on Friday. Former Brumbies chief executive Michael Jones has settled his dispute against the University of Canberra and others. Credit:Rohan Thomson He had alleged the respondents pressured the Brumbies board to stand him down, as occurred in March, for blowing the whistle on financial irregularities with the sale of the club's former Griffith headquarters. The KPMG report at the centre of the dispute remains suppressed by the court. Two people have been charged after separate and unrelated fights at Canberra pubs in the early hours of Saturday morning. ACT Policing said a 23-year-old Jerrabomberra man and a 28-year-old Calwell man would be charged with assault over the incidents, at Mooseheads in Civic and PJ O'Reilly's in Tuggeranong respectively. "About 2.20am [Saturday], a man attended the Tuggeranong Police Station to report that he had been assaulted at PJ O'Reilly's in Greenway. The man had visible facial injuries and provided a description of the offender to police," police said. Police said they found a man who they believed was involved, and charged him with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Police were called to a disturbance at Mooseheads about 3.40am. When Elon Musk takes the stage of the 67th International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, it won't be to rehash terrestrial concerns like a fatal Tesla autopilot crash or a poorly received merger proposal. Instead, the space and electric-car entrepreneur will be talking about realising his boyhood dream: going to Mars. Musk's keynote address, entitled 'Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species', will tackle the technical challenges and "potential architectures for colonising the Red Planet," according to organisers. Translation: huge rockets, big spacecraft. No one has been anticipating the event more eagerly than Musk, who founded Space Exploration Technologies Corp., his rocket-launch company, 14 years ago with the express goal of putting humans on other planets to live and work. "I think it's going to sound pretty crazy," Musk said, referring to his Mars speech, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center last April. He was there celebrating another previously crazy-sounding accomplishment: launching a rocket into space and then landing the 14-story-tall booster on a floating drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX has gone on to repeat that feat three more times. He particularly warns against the pursuit of feel-good policies that, however well-intentioned, strain goodwill and inadvertently increase the scale of the refugee problem. But when it comes to refugees the subject of an exclusive summit chaired by Obama Turnbull argues forward-leaning leadership is counterproductive. Indeed, he believes political leaders would be unwise to do anything that does not attract wide public support lest it undermine migration more generally, and erode confidence in multiculturalism. "We've lost so many well paid jobs we're going to be bringing them back to Pittsburgh, we're going to be bringing them back to Ohio, we're going to be bringing them back all over the country," Trump said. Confidence is ebbing though. Vying for votes, both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton say the TPP is a bad deal for US labour. In a recent speech directed squarely at white male blue-collar workers in the crucial battleground states of Pennsylvania and Ohio, Trump promised not only to stop the globalisation of production, but to reverse it. Labor's decision to "humanise" the border regime once elected in 2007 demonstrably did both of these things. But there are several contemporary examples to cite as well, including the once unassailable Angela Merkel in Germany, who is being marked down by voters increasingly uneasy at the number of Syrians being settled at her invitation. Successive governments have found there are no picturesque answers in refugee policy. Everything feels bad at some level. Turnbull's sensitivity to this broke through on Wednesday in New York when probed about his pledge at the Obama meeting to accept refugees from Costa Rica. The surprise announcement had touched off speculation that a quid pro quo might be in the offing something akin to Labor's cynically blocked Malaysian people-swap program but without the badging. Turnbull denies any such arrangements. But it is a tantalising thought given that the prospects of closing those appalling centres seems otherwise stalled. Could it be that some of Australia's long-term Manus and Nauru detainees get quietly resettled in the US or other First World countries down the track? More likely, the Costa Rica proposal will turn out to be tiny in number, and was more a gesture and Turnbull's price of entry to the Obama summit. One thing was clear. While Turnbull had proudly asserted the Coalition achievement of stopping the boats, spruiked the most successful multicultural nation on Earth, and boasted of its generous humanitarian intake (third in the world per head of population) his silence on the world stage regarding Australia's indefinite third-country detention system was telling. As it was, when it was put to him that there was no moral qualitative superiority between the refugee-detainees in Central America and those detained and denied all hope on Manus, Turnbull became as animated as at any time since becoming prime minister, declaring angrily: "We know what works." What comes to mind when you think of revolution? Your mind might think of a specific social and political upheaval that shaped human history. A history teacher might tell you about the French Revolution, where a monarchy collapsed after centuries of rule. Or perhaps a major social justice movement, headed by the likes of Martin Luther King, may crop to mind. It's a moment of major change that ripples onwards, perhaps through generations. WA Greens Senator Rachel Siewert. Unfortunately, the term 'revolution' has become a buzzword for the Australian Minister for Social Services; it's almost like a by-line to the Prime Ministers incessant 'agile' and 'innovative' slogans that have yet to dissipate post-election. In a messaging decision that is both inaccurate and uninspiring, the term has been used by him to describe changes to Australia's income support system and services, starting with young carers, young parents, and students. Just last month, in another opinion piece about this issue, I emphasised that I had 'hope tempered with cynicism' about changes that would be modelled on the New Zealand approach to delivering income support. Having visited New Zealand last year to learn about their approach, I knew that there were some good lessons to come from our neighbours that might genuinely improve quality of life for some of our most vulnerable people here in Australia. Here's hoping Premier Mike Baird does not back down on his ban on greyhound racing. Certainly, he has been the target of a concerted media campaign, led by the likes of Alan Jones, and there is no doubt the Baird government has lost some bark because of it. But just as the killer blow for Kevin Rudd back in 2008 was when he buckled, under pressure, from his rightful commitment to take action on climate change and in hindsight he would have scored more points with the electorate by sticking to his guns so too, on this. There are good people, no doubt about it, involved in the greyhound industry and while I feel for them, the compensation packages offered to them are generous. But who can doubt that, as a "sport", greyhound racing has demonstrably been built on systemic cruelty both to the thousands of dogs who are annually ruthlessly slaughtered if they prove too slow, and those smaller animals used as the infamous live bait? Premier Baird and Deputy Premier Troy Grant were the drivers in banning greyhound racing because it was the right thing to do. They need support from the vast majority of us who understand that. The Hooper siblings, from Violet Town in northeastern Victoria, burst onto the music scene and soon released a string of hit songs including Weir, Mascara, and Outside of Me, but more noteworthy perhaps than the catchy tunes was the fact Ella Hooper was just 13 when Killing Heidi arrived. "I can't believe that now," she says. "What was I doing? Two years later I was doing it on the main stage at the Big Day Out," she adds, an obvious note of pride in her voice. "I was pretty determined and pretty self-assured, so that really helped. "Having a brother and a friend in the band, making all the crazy stuff that happened to us feel normal ... I think that's why it hasn't eaten me up and spat me out. It was an odd thing to do at 13, start a band, but I always had that drive." For a decade Killing Heidi were writing, recording and touring; performing to thousands of people as they became more popular, more in demand and more career orientated than they'd ever imagined possible. Overseas trips, far from Violet Town, didn't come with time. They came at the start. Hooper was still just 13 on her earliest trips to London, New York and Los Angeles when "KH" was "record deal shopping", as she puts it. "On my first trip to London I remember going to Camden market, I was in heaven ... it was very, very cool." High school in Benalla on the other hand, while something she looks back on fondly, couldn't compete with her passion for songwriting and live performance. School experiences provided inspiration for Hooper's early songwriting, with "politics, cool girls, nasty girls and boys" all featuring in her notebook. "It was songwriting gold," she says. "I'd write on the school bus. It had to come out and I'm still like that, there's still so much to write about." Confident and self-deprecating in equal measure, Hooper admits there were "some funny situations" in the band's early days that "you wouldn't really want a 15 or 16-year-old in," but says she could "hold my own" and did so. Recalling the transition from the folk-rock duo she formed with Jesse to the "KH" that topped the charts also brings back funny memories. "I was really into Smashing Pumpkins ... really sensitive, depressing lyrics, and Kettle, the song we entered into (Triple J song competition) Unearthed had the chorus 'I'm too young to die, too young to die' and it's like, no shit, you're 13," she says, breaking into laughter. Pic supplied for publicity. Photo by Kim Tonelli. Pic shows band Killing Heidi Growing up in a country town 200km from Melbourne - where city slicker teenagers in the '90s had music, magazines and movies at their fingertips - meant Hooper had to seek out those artists that became her influences and inspirations. "There were a lot of long afternoons sitting there staring at the hills, wishing for some music, a new record, a magazine that wasn't there ... and I've still got that hunger. It (limited access to new music) meant you didn't take anything for granted. "I remember getting this amazing record by Veruca Salt that was blowing my mind and my parents coming up the stairs every night saying 'turn that down, you've got school in six hours, turn that off' and I'd turn it down and wake up bleary eyed in the morning. I couldn't stop listening to new music, I'd get so excited by new records and new music on the radio." Far from stifling her ambitions, Hooper's parents were active participants in her creativity. "My mum and dad are amazingly supportive, interesting and clever people. There was never really a kids' table at our house, we had heaps of fun." Jesse, too, continues to be a hugely supportive presence in Hooper's solo career and life. "We both went through our bratty stage, we pissed each other off," she says of the period when Killing Heidi's workload had begun impacting on their lives away from the band - not that there was ever much time away between '96 and 2006. "As soon as we broke up the band and got a bit more space our relationship (she clicks her fingers) got so much better. Brothers and sisters don't usually spend that much time together ... the ups, the downs ... we were always going to break up. I was ready to let go a lot earlier than we did it, my feet got itchy and there was other things I felt I needed." Now with her own New Magic Band solo project, Hooper feels more in control of her destiny than any time in the past. The New Magic Band recently released the double EP Venom/New Magic and Hooper has a bunch of solo shows coming up as well as the much-anticipated Killing Heidi reunion. Hooper's seemingly boundless energy means she's also in demand as both a television and radio presenter, Melbourne Music Bank ambassador and "the random stuff that comes along" in between her main priority, performing live. "I feel like I'm just getting started, I feel like that (Killing Heidi) was a different lifetime ago, but also a really valuable one. I'm just getting my head around what I want to do with my art." At the moment, as our laksas are polished off, the chef pops out from the kitchen with his mobile phone in hand. Hooper's brilliant smile lights up and she pauses for another snapshot. "I'm so lucky," she says. "We (Killing Heidi) were outsiders, as successful as we were, we weren't cool and we became a favourite band of people who felt on the outer. I feel lucky to be part of the soundtrack to these peoples' lives ... those things make me feel this reunion is the right thing to do." Even Russian President Vladimir Putin was charmed by a koala during the 2014 G20. Credit:Andrew Taylor The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is one of China's major tourist destinations and Cr Quirk said Brisbane could well follow that lead. The Lord Mayor said a new $2 million koala research centre, confirmed in the council's 2016-17 budget, was central to those plans. Increased bushland acquisitions - 10 years' worth in the current four-year council term - would also play a role. "We're also looking at creating specific eucalypt plantations as well, making sure the right type of eucalypt tree for koalas are in abundance in our city," Cr Quirk said. Cr Quirk said the research centre would help ensure the "treasured icon" would not be lost to south-east Queensland. "To say that Brisbane is the koala capital of Australia is not an overstatement and ecotourism is going to become increasingly important in our city," he said. "It's not a case of taking advantage of the koala, it's just simply saying we have this wonderful, treasured iconic little animal and we ought not lose that opportunity." The potential of the cuddly animal to break down cross-cultural barriers was brought home during the Brisbane 2014 G20 meeting, Cr Quirk said. International leaders such as then-Australian prime minister Tony Abbott, US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Indian President Narendra Modi all posed for photographs with koalas at a G20 reception held at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art. Even Russian President Vladimir Putin managed to crack a smile when holding one of the marsupials, brought in from Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Cr Quirk also got in on the action, with two television crosses to India live from the Queen Street Mall. "I did a live cross on two occasions, both from the Queen Street Mall," he said. "There was a presenter from India, there was a koala in the middle and then I was being interviewed on the other side," he said. "That was to 30 million people in one case and 40 million in the other and, call it a coincidence if you like, but we had 48 per cent growth in Indian tourism over the next year as a result of the G20. "That was higher than any other place internationally, in terms of percentages - it wasn't numerically, but in terms of percentages it was - so I don't think we should underestimate the impact it can have." Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind said he had argued for some time that North Stradbroke Island should adopt a "koala island" tagline to boost its tourism industry. So he said he would welcome any push by Brisbane to leverage the koala to attract more tourism dollars. "The pulling power of something like a koala cannot be overestimated. It's a very powerful, iconic attraction and, to put it another way, koalas are probably the hardest working tourism staff we have," Mr Gschwind said. "They have done so much for Australian tourism, it's immeasurable. "We should really build on our strength in that regard and make the most of it, which means we have to look after them, of course, and make sure they hang around and they continue to do this hard work for us. "It's much easier to promote and build on what you have, rather than make something up and pretending to be something else. "It's a truly unique thing we can offer." Mr Gschwind said China's panda example would be a good one to follow. "We are all equally enamoured with the pandas and associated with China as a whole," he said. Forbes residents have evacuated under orders from the State Emergency Service as floodwaters are set to increase overnight and throughout Sunday. The town in central-western NSW has been hit by by floodwaters from the Lachlan River, which are poised to surpass 10.65 metres by midday on Sunday. More than 1000 residents were ordered to leave their homes on Saturday, and families heading west for the school holidays have been urged to avoid the area. Fairfax journalist Olivia Grace-Curran evacuated her Forbes home early Saturday afternoon, when SES workers began door-knocking after the water started "coming up quickly". Illustration: Matt Golding In a Senate estimates hearing in May, Labor senator Jenny McAllister raised the issue of Ms Holzapfel's donations with electoral commissioner Tom Rogers. She raised concerns about whether the donations genuinely originated with Ms Holzapfel and asked if the Australian Electoral Commission would consider if there had been a "deliberate attempt to conceal the nature of the donor". Ms Holzapfel insists the money came from her own pocket, angrily rejecting suggestions she merely channelled money that really came from her developer clients, which include Sunland. Contacted by Fairfax Media, Mr Robert refused to comment on the claims: "I don't speak about donations. Political parties talk about donations, individuals don't." But Mr Robert who was sacked from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's frontbench in February over a scandal involving a major Liberal donor maintains he has done nothing wrong and says claims to the contrary are "rubbish". That's despite top LNP officials publicly calling the Fadden Forum candidate donations "inappropriate". Mr Robert declined to say if he had been contacted or interviewed by the CCC. Ms Holzapfel did not respond to Fairfax Media's request for an interview but recently told the Gold Coast Bulletin she is a regular LNP donor. "My question is: What's wrong with that? I'm entitled under the law to donate to the Liberal Party and any party of my choosing," she told the paper. "This demonising of people who donate to the Liberal Party is unfair." Sunland which is fighting for Gold Coast City Council approval for a 44-storey development in an area with a three-storey limit is one of many developer clients Ms Holzapfel's SHAC Communications has represented. Mr Robert, who has long-standing links to Sunland, has lobbied the council to approve the development even though it is outside his electorate. "It's a good development," he told Fairfax Media. "I think all developments in the Gold Coast should go ahead. This whole city has been built on development." Mr Robert attended Sunland's proposal launch in September last year and subsequently wrote the council a glowing letter of support. He insists that is the only lobbying he has done. However, Fairfax Media can reveal that, during a council meeting held to discuss the Sunland issue on September 13, Mr Robert sent text messages to councillor Cameron Caldwell, a strong proponent of the plan. Mr Robert helped get Cr Caldwell elected in 2012. Cr Caldwell, who is now chair of the city's planning committee, supports the Sunland plan. However, the council's own city planners have recommended the proposal be rejected. Mr Robert admitted sending Mr Caldwell a "five word" text during the council meeting but declined to say what it was about. Fairfax Media does not suggest that Mr Robert, Ms Holzapfel or Cr Caldwell have broken any laws. Mr Robert was accused in 2012 of pressuring other candidates into preferencing Cr Caldwell in his initial council election bid. He denied the claims. Cr Caldwell was formerly an LNP state candidate but was sacked after revelations he visited a swingers' club dressed as a pirate. Cr Caldwell did not respond to requests for comment. There is strong opposition from local residents to the Sunland plan. Mr Robert's Liberal colleague Steve Ciobo, the federal Trade Minister who also represents the Gold Coast, is understood to support the retention of the three-storey limit. The notion the council could be stacked by stealth is not without precedent. In 2006, the Queensland CCC then known as the Crime and Misconduct Commission found "secrecy, deceit and misinformation" had corrupted the 2004 Gold Coast City Council election. It found that candidates who presented as totally independent were actually secretly funded by sitting party-aligned councillors who were pro-development. Sunland was among the companies that provided money. The CMC report found Sunland paid $10,000 into a trust account that would be channelled to "candidates whom Sunland would be happy to support". Those findings ultimately led to new disclosure rules, which require candidates to declare if they are affiliated or part of a grouping or bloc before the election, which Ms Boulton and Ms Stevenson are now accused of breaching. Ms Stevenson declined to comment when approached by Fairfax Media. Comment was sought from Ms Boulton. This is not the first time Mr Robert's connections to Sunland have come under scrutiny. He has been accused of overstepping his role as an MP when he intervened in a dispute between Sunland and Australian man Marcus Lee, who spent five years trapped in a legal nightmare in the Middle East. Mr Lee was arrested on fraud charges in Dubai in 2009 after a land deal between his company Nakheel and Sunland went bad. He spent years in jail and under house arrest before being acquitted in 2013. Mr Robert became involved in the saga when he made two speeches in Parliament defending Sunland. Speaking under parliamentary privilege, Mr Robert was critical of Mr Lee while lauding Sunland as a "solid Australian corporate citizen" and its directors as "fine, upstanding men" and "pillars of the community". The speeches sent shockwaves through Mr Lee's camp, which felt Mr Robert had damaged his chances of freedom. Mr Lee is now suing Sunland and its directors for more than $10 million for loss of income, distress and legal costs. Ms Holzapfel has also represented Nimrod Resources, the mining company led by big Liberal donor Paul Marks that was at the centre of the controversy that led to Mr Robert being sacked from the frontbench. Mr Robert was accused of using his ministerial office to open doors for Mr Marks during a trip to China in 2014. Labor has signalled it will pursue Mr Robert over the new scandal. "If he is found to have engaged in corrupt conduct he ought to be expelled from the Liberal Party," shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus told Fairfax Media. "Anything less will prove that Malcolm Turnbull is an even weaker leader than we thought." The scandals have bred resentment of Mr Robert in the Coalition party room and Liberals are furious he is making their fundraising efforts more difficult. And Brangelina were the ultimate showbiz portmanteau, a true Hollywood power couple comprising genetically blessed superstars who appeared to have it all: a loving family, solid home life, career success, unimaginable wealth and, for the most part, health and happiness. As the media coverage of the past few days has proven, there is an insatiable appetite for dredging up the details on big-name bust ups. The couple formerly known as Brangelina have asked the world to give them "space" during these difficult times as the inhabitants of planet Earth come to terms with the aftermath of Angelina Jolie filing for divorce from her partner of 11 years, superhunk Brad Pitt. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie attend the Inglourious Basterds Premiere held at the Palais Des Festivals during the 62nd International Cannes Film Festival on May 20th, 2009. Credit:Getty Images They had survived some of the biggest hurdles facing any marriage, not in the least Angelina's very public health dilemmas, not to mention the six children they were raising in a travelling caravan of nannies and assistants that criss-crossed the world depending on where either parent was filming their latest blockbuster. But all that glitters isn't gold and, within minutes of their divorce news being made public, the autopsy on the corpse of Brangelina had begun in earnest, with speculation as to the cause of death well under way even as the relationship was breathing its last gasp. First there was the rumoured romance between Pitt and his most recent co-star, the beautiful French star Marion Cotillard, though that theory was quickly denied by unnamed "friends" of the actress, who say she remains in a committed relationship with her long-term partner. Further analysis of Brangelina's entrails gave rise to several other theories, with the tabloid coroners claiming Jolie was fed up with Brad's partying ways. That she was tired of the Hollywood lifestyle and she did not agree with Brad's parenting style. The River Cruise If you're looking for an easy way to explore Europe, river cruising is the way to go it's like staying in a well-appointed hotel that takes you to some of the most desirable destinations in the world. No driving hassles, no traffic, no checking in and out of hotels you just step off the ship and straight into any number of historic cities, towns and villages along the way. Take the popular "grand Europe" cruise as an example. You board the ship in Amsterdam, spend about two weeks cruising through five countries (the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary), stop every day at another beautiful place, and end up in the heart of magnificent Budapest. All your meals, shore excursions and on-board gratuities are included in the fare; several companies also cover drinks and even butler service. If you prefer to explore on-shore independently, you're free to do so bicycles are often provided, or you can make your own arrangements and just return to the ship before it sets off for the next port or meet it the next day; look at it as your floating hotel. River ships in Europe are more or less the same size, so they can fit under bridges and between locks. They accommodate between 130 and 190 passengers, which means there are no queues to get on or off the ship or at the main dining room, and the atmosphere on board is sociable, so you're bound to bond with a fellow traveller or two. The most travelled European waterways are the Danube, Main and Rhine (the Amsterdam-Budapest route, and shorter segments in between); the Rhone and Saone (between Arles and Lyon in the south of France) and the Seine (from Paris to Normandy). In recent years, cruise lines have built ships specifically for the Bordeaux region's Dordogne, Garonne and Gironde rivers, for the Douro in Portugal, and the Elbe in Germany and Czech Republic. River cruising is also becoming increasingly popular in Russia, south-east Asia, India, China and America; Egypt's Nile goes in and out of favour according to the state of the nation but has been a classic journey for years, if not centuries. Best for: mature couples and solos, or families with older children; Uniworld and Tauck offer more family-friendly itineraries than most. Key river cruise lines: APT, Avalon Waterways, Scenic, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Viking River Cruises. The Luxury Ocean Cruise The word "luxury" is one of the most over-used in the travel industry, so what can you expect from a "luxury cruise"? Within this niche, there are lots of variations the size and age of ships, style of accommodation, on-board dress codes To qualify as true luxury*, cruise lines have to offer very high standards across a range of areas. These include service, wining and dining, accommodation and public spaces, enticing itineraries and shore tours, spas, imaginative enrichment programs, fares that include everything from drinks to tips and did I mention service? For the real five-star experience, look for ships that offer almost as many crew members as passengers. Highly trained crew will know you by name and preferred drink by day two, be friendly but always professional, and respond fast to any request, however outlandish. Fine dining is a given. Expect a selection of world-class restaurants, subtle lighting, tables set with the best china and cutlery, a sommelier to advise about wines from an extensive list and, naturally, superb service. While not all luxury ships offer vast balcony suites, most newer ones do. However, two of the most highly rated ships, SeaDream Yacht Club's SeaDream I and II, only have ocean-view (window) cabins; the reason they regularly top the luxury charts is that the experience they offer is akin to sailing on your own private motor-yacht. Size does matter in the luxury segment; ships carry between 120 (SeaDream) and 1070 passengers (Crystal Cruises), but the important thing here is space: "space per passenger" ratio. In a nutshell, that is the interior size of the ship divided by the number of passengers it accommodates. Crowds and queues don't exist on luxury ships. Several ships that don't make the acclaimed Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2016 guide's top ranks definitely deserve a mention; sometimes they are classified as "luxury lite". These include the ships in the new Viking Ocean Cruises line and Oceania Cruises' fleet of six. The demand for luxury cruising has never been greater; Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn and Silversea are all launching new ships within the next two years. Best for: well-heeled, sophisticated couples and solo cruisers aged 40-plus. Not appropriate for children. Key luxury cruise lines: Crystal Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, SeaDream, Silversea. * according to the cruise guide, Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2016. The rules More than 27,000 "illegal maritime arrivals" (IMAs) are living in the community on bridging visas. Asylum seekers on bridging visas are: Fear and tears: Nayser Ahmed's wife and family are on a bridging visa and living in Sydney. Credit:Kate Geraghty - required to advise the Department of Immigration and Citizenship of their address and any change to that address, and to report to the department on a regular basis. - must sign up to the department's Code of Behaviour, which prohibits "anti-social and disruptive" behaviour including spitting and swearing in public. Any breach of the code could see income support reduced or ended or your visa cancelled. They say this in turn benefits patients. "There's no requirement of any sort, there's no feeling that I'm beholden to anybody," said a senior nurse among the most courted by companies. But nurses and their employers have defended the pharmaceutical sponsorship, saying companies do not exert influence and it creates opportunities for professional development. Drug companies have splashed more than $650,000 sending nurses to conferences in six months and are targeting highly respected specialists, spending as much as $10,000 to send one nurse to a five-day event. Researchers are concerned the support is aimed at increasing prescriptions and will drive up the costs of medication. "These companies currently market some of the highest-cost drugs on the market for diseases such as cancer and hepatitis C," said Dr Quinn Grundy, a nurse and researcher at the University of Sydney. Dr Grundy's research last week revealed companies had spent $12.5 million on nurses over four years and that even though most can't prescribe, nurses attended twice as many sponsored medical events as doctors. A Fairfax Media analysis of transparency reports to industry group Medicines Australia shows 27 pharmaceutical companies disclosed spending more than $650,000 across 663 nurses in the six months to April 30. But the actual amounts could be much higher as 45 per cent of total contributions to health professionals were not identified in the data. About $565,000 of that was used to send nurses to educational meetings and conferences and a further $73,000 paid for the services of nurses who sit on their advisory boards. For example Bristol-Myers Squibb paid $46,703 for about 70 nurses from around Australia to attend an educational meeting in March at the luxurious Langham Hotel on Melbourne's Southbank. The view from Michael Barbour's Birrong apartment is not Sydney Harbour. But it's not bad a sunny perch looking out onto the red roofs and eucalypts of middle-ring Sydney suburbia. And Mr Barbour appreciates the quiet area, after spending months this year and last homeless and in boarding houses. "Certainly life has improved," said Mr Barbour. "My mental health has improved," he said. Mr Barbour is one of over 80 homeless or near homeless people or households to have moved into the 336 properties built so far with the proceeds of sales of public housing in inner-city Milson's Point. In an article in the Law Society of NSW's journal David Bitel boasted of being "the father of Bangladeshi Australians". In an article celebrating him in the society's journal he boasts of being known as "the father of Bangladeshi Australians". In a video interview produced this year by a website for expatriate Bangladeshis, bddiaspora.com, Bitel is introduced as the "Westerner" who has become closest to the expatriate community in Australia. Died awaiting trial: David Bitel. Credit:Paul Harris In it Bitel speaks with startling clarity of his cancer and details how he became known for his success in having Australia recognise that persecution of homosexuality in Bangladesh was a cause for being accepted as a refugee. "I actually acted for the first gay Bangladeshi in the world to be approved as a refugee in 1991, here in Australia ... on the basis of sexuality. Bitel's victims could be forgiven for thinking that the legal profession was cheering a lawyer-rapist on from the sidelines. Lawyer Mark Tarrant "That particular case was the first case in the world and it had some ramifications," he tells the interviewer. One of those ramifications, he says, is copycats people claiming to be homosexual to secure permanent residency. Bitel's career and reputation grew through the 1990s and 2000s and he was to become the lead partner at the Sydney firm Parish Patience. But also over that period allegations about his behaviour began to surface and swirl through legal circles. In 2002 a client of Tarrant's confided that David Bitel had told him it was easy for Bangladeshis to secure permanent residency in Australia by falsely claiming to be facing persecution for being homosexual. Tarrant was disturbed by the story. It suggested a high-profile colleague was breaking the law. In 2004 Tarrant heard another story about Bitel, this time from a New Zealand lawyer who Fairfax Media has interviewed. He told Tarrant he had come across claims Bitel had committed chilling crimes while in Dhaka, Bangladesh, a city he often visited for work. Tarrant recommended he contact the Australian Federal Police. After writing to the AFP, the lawyer says, New Zealand police interviewed Bitel but nothing came of it. Fast forward to around 2007. One day Tarrant has lunch with another immigration lawyer, Brett Slater, who says one of his clients, a Nepalese man, tearfully told him he had been sexually assaulted by Bitel in his office. The client, whose name has been suppressed by a court order, eventually returned to Nepal after his bid for residency failed. The following year Tarrant made his own work trip to Dhaka and heard further rumours about Bitel's behaviour. He made a side trip to Kathmandu in an effort to find the Nepalese victim. On April 30, 2008, the two met in the outdoor area of a tourist hotel called the Yak and Yeti. The man again wept as he told Tarrant of Bitel's alleged assault and confirmed he wanted to pursue the matter. According to a statement which the lawyers later took to police, in 1995 Bitel led the man into his Sydney office and locked the door behind him. "He quickly came very close to me, got down low, and opened the zip of my pants." Mr Bitel began performing oral sex. "I was stunned, I was wondering why he was doing this. I had never seen anything like this before in my life ... I was afraid ... I did not want him to do it ... I was crying. Tears were running down my face." The statement goes on to outline how the man backed away and the assault ended. In the following weeks Bitel made an application to the Refugee Review Tribunal on his behalf, falsely stating that he was a homosexual and faced persecution. He then instructed the man to give false evidence at his hearing. Back in Australia Tarrant and Slater came across a second Bitel client who told a similar story. He also cannot be named for legal reasons. In 2009 the second victim told Fairfax Media that Bitel told him during a meeting in his office that he could get him permanent residency if he said he was gay. At a second meeting Bitel was more blunt, the man told Fairfax Media. "If you sleep with me you will get permanent residency," he said, blocking the door to his office. Bitel then grabbed his penis through his trousers before opening his fly and saying, "Can I give you a head job?" The man says he pushed him away and left. Meanwhile, concerned Bitel might pose a risk to other clients, Tarrant and Slater took their material to the police, who began an investigation. Slater gathered their evidence and presented it to the Law Society of NSW, the NSW Legal Services Commissioner, which handles complaints about lawyers in this state, and the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority, another federal government body. To the dismay of the two men Bitel was allowed to continue practising, while the police investigation proceeded slowly. Detectives asked Fairfax Media not to publish its information at the time for fear of disrupting their work. Slater and Tarrant understand that during the course of the investigation another Bitel client walked into a police station to level charges. Also in 2009 Fairfax Media interviewed another of Bitel's former clients, Pedro Rojas, whose allegations never became part of legal proceedings. Rojas went on to become a student at Macquarie University and eventually a university lecturer in his native Venezuela, but in 1992 he had been just another young man hoping Bitel could secure him a life in Australia. On about the fourth time they met, according to Rojas, Bitel threw an open manila envelope full of photographs onto the desk between them. Some spilled out and Rojas recalls being chilled. "A few pictures came out from the envelope. I didn't touch them, I just saw a few pictures on the desk of a few boys, young kids on a boat and in a bedroom," Rojas told Fairfax Media. "He mentioned Thailand, Bangladesh and India. He said he goes often [on trips] and he do all these things ... He was on a bed and there were a few boys on the bed." Rojas said he was shocked and confused. "I was applying to stay in Australia. I was thinking, should I report this and then lose my residency?" Rojas said Bitel locked the door and told him, "If you don't want to pay for your case then you should do as I say." Bitel tried to grab him, Rojas pushed him away and fled. To this day he has never met the two lawyers who gathered evidence against Bitel, nor heard any other details about the case. Finally in 2012 Bitel was charged. But Tarrant and Slater are disappointed that until the day he died, Bitel remained registered to practise in NSW. "Bitel's victims could be forgiven for thinking that the legal profession was cheering a lawyer-rapist on from the sidelines," says Tarrant. He notes that despite the raft of charges laid in December 2012 the Law Council of Australia allowed his firm to sponsor a cocktail party for delegates of its immigration law conference at NSW Parliament House in March 2014. Bitel was included in the 2014-15 Best Australian Lawyers list, a brand owned by a New York company and published each year by The Australian Financial Review, which is also published by Fairfax Media. Those on the list were nominated by their peers. Two months after his arrest Bitel was a guest at a fundraiser at the University of NSW for ActionAid Australia, a charity that has helped vulnerable Bangladeshi children. Tarrant was also a guest, but left in disgust when he saw Bitel was present. As recently as Thursday evening at a conference for the International Bar Association in Washington, DC, a toast was held for David Bitel, who, it was said, had had a "troubled" few years. There was no mention of his alleged victims. Asked by Fairfax Media if it had failed to take action against Bitel, the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner declined to comment. Via a statement, the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority rejected the suggestion that any complaints had not been acted upon properly. "Any allegation that relates to sexual assault is a matter for police investigation. Criminal charges take precedence over registration matters," it said. "OMARA does not have the power to suspend an agent while an investigation is ongoing and before specific findings have been made." A spokeswoman for ActionAid said the fundraiser which Bitel attended was arranged by an independent fundraising arm. The Law Council said via a spokesman that Bitel's firm "Parish Patience was a minor sponsor of the 2014 Immigration Law Conference, where the firm sponsored the opening reception. "Given concerns over the accusations against Mr Bitel, Parish Patience's request for sponsorship was referred to the Chair of the Professional Ethics Committee prior to the event. Police have found what they believe to be the body of missing US tourist Gregory Osborn at Mount Coolum on Sunday morning. After searching through the night with a helicopter carrying heat-sensitive equipment, police and State Emergency Services workers located the body shortly after 8.15am on the Sunshine Coast. American man Gregory Osborn was last seen at the top of Mt Coolum on Saturday morning. Credit:Breeze.KatrinaL[CCC] The body was found at the base of southern face of Mt Coolum and police believe the 66-year-old may have fallen after walking to the top of the 208-metre summit. Mr Osborn was last seen on top of Mt Coolum around 10am on Saturday and his partner had contacted police and reported him missing. The father of two Queensland boys killed in a horror crash in New Zealand says his daughter, who survived the crash, is a "true hero". Stephen Phillips and stepsons Jasper Williams, 14, and Reuben Williams, 12, were killed when their car crossed the centre line and hit a truck in the North Island town of Huntly on Monday. Violinist Stephen Phillips. Credit:www.qso.com.au The boys' mother Belinda, also known as Bindy, Williams was rushed to Waikato Hospital with her daughter Tessa, 9. Tessa, Jasper and Reuben's father, Patrick Balk has rushed to New Zealand to be by the pair's side as they recover. The state government has been accused of delaying legislation to outlaw sex between prisoners and prison guards. Currently in Western Australia it is legal for prison officers and inmates to have consensual sex. Up to eight children are living with their mothers at Bandyup women's prison at any given time. Credit:Photo:ABC The situation was highlighted last week when news broke that a 31-year-old inmate at Bandyup prison had become pregnant. A prison officer has been suspended and is being investigated for "serious misconduct" - but the guard denies any wrong-doing. Detectives have charged a 63-year-old woman in connection with the 2010 murder of Dan Sun who was stabbed to death by her husband. It's understood the 63-year-old, who was arrested at Perth airport on Friday, is the mother of the murderer. Dan Sun and Nuo Zhao on their wedding day in 2008. Two years later, Zhao would murder his wife. Credit:7 News On Saturday morning police issued a statement saying Major Crime Detectives had charged her with being an accessory after the fact to murder and accessory after the fact to grievous bodily harm. The second charge relates to an attack on the dead woman's mother. New York: More than 100 illegal migrants are entering the small Central American country of Costa Rica every day, looking for "coyotes" to take them across the Nicaraguan border and on to the United States, Costa Rican President Luis Solis says. Eighty-five per cent of the new arrivals were from Haiti by way of Brazil, where many settled after Haiti's 2010 earthquake but whose construction jobs had disappeared now the Rio Olympics were over and the country wallowed in recession, Solis said on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Sandals decorated with a US flag motif lay next to its owner, a Cuban migrant sleeping inside of a public restroom inside the border control building in Costa Rica, on the border with Nicaragua. Credit:AP "The phenomenon has shifted quite significantly," Solis said. His government has set up centres that offer the migrants basic shelter and food, before they take the day-long bus trip through Costa Rica to the Nicaraguan frontier. Nicaragua does not allow the migrants to enter, so they are forced into the world of "coyotes", or illegal guides, often linked to criminal gangs. A 35-year-old man has been arrested by British police investigating claims that Pippa Middleton's iCloud account was hacked and 3000 intimate photos were stolen. Scotland Yard said they arrested the man on Saturday evening at an address in Northamptonshire. The theft of 3000 photographs including images of Middleton's sister, the Duchess of Cambridge, and her children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Naked photos of her millionaire fiance, James Matthews, were among the thousands of photos stolen, according to The Sun. Trump's appeals to white voters is working. Credit:AP 5. Short-term economy: The economy is not in recession during the election campaign. 6. Long-term economy: Real per-capita economic growth during the term equals or exceeds mean growth during the previous two terms. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton last week. Credit:AP 7. Policy change: The incumbent administration effects major changes in national policy. 8. Social unrest: There is no sustained social unrest during the term. 9. Scandal: The incumbent administration is untainted by major scandal. 10. Foreign/military failure: The incumbent administration suffers no major failure in foreign or military affairs. 11. Foreign/military success: The incumbent administration achieves a major success in foreign or military affairs. 12. Incumbent charisma: The incumbent party candidate is charismatic or a national hero. 13. Challenger charisma: The challenging party candidate is not charismatic or a national hero. Lichtman, a distinguished professor of history at American University, sat down with the Washington Post this week to reveal who he thinks will win in November, and why 2016 was the most difficult election to predict yet. The conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity. Question: Can you tell me about the keys, and how you use them to evaluate the election from the point where - I assume it's very murky a year or two out, and they start to crystallise over the course of the election. Lichtman: The Keys to the White House is an historically-based prediction system. I derived the system by looking at every American presidential election from 1860 to 1980, and have since used the system to correctly predict the outcomes of all eight American presidential elections from 1984 to 2012. The keys are 13 true/false questions, where an answer of "true" always favours the reelection of the party holding the White House, in this case the Democrats. And the keys are phrased to reflect the basic theory that elections are primarily judgments on the performance of the party holding the White House. And if six or more of the 13 keys are false - that is, they go against the party in power - they lose. If fewer than six are false, the party in power gets four more years. Q: So people who hear just the surface-level argument there might say, well, President Barack Obama has a 58 per cent approval rating, doesn't that mean the Democrats are a shoo-in? Why is that wrong? Lichtman: It absolutely does not mean the Democrats are a shoo-in. First of all, one of my keys is whether or not the sitting president is running for reelection, and right away, they are down that key. Another one of my keys is whether or not the candidate of the White House party is, like Obama was in 2008, charismatic. Hillary Clinton doesn't fit the bill. They keys have nothing to do with presidential approval polls or horse-race polls, with one exception, and that is to assess the possibility of a significant third-party campaign. Q: What about Donald Trump on the other side? He's not affiliated with the sitting party, but has his campaign been an enigma in terms of your ability to assess this election? Lichtman: Donald Trump has made this the most difficult election to assess since 1984. We have never before seen a candidate like Donald Trump, and Donald Trump may well break patterns of history that have held since 1860. We've never before seen a candidate who's spent his life enriching himself at the expense of others. He's the first candidate in our history to be a serial fabricator, making up things as he goes along. Even when he tells the truth, such as, "Barack Obama really was born in the US," he adds two lines, that Hillary Clinton started the birther movement, and that he finished it, even though when Barack Obama put out his birth certificate, he didn't believe it. We've never had a candidate before who not just once, but twice in a thinly disguised way, has incited violence against an opponent. We've never had a candidate before who's invited a hostile foreign power to meddle in American elections. We've never had a candidate before who's threatened to start a war by blowing ships out of the water in the Persian Gulf if they come too close to us. We've never had a candidate before who has embraced as a role model a murderous, hostile foreign dictator. Given all of these exceptions that Donald Trump represents, he may well shatter patterns of history that have held for more than 150 years, lose this election even if the historical circumstances favour it. Q: We're a little bit less than seven weeks out from the election today. Who do you predict will win in November? Lichtman: Based on the 13 keys, it would predict a Donald Trump victory. Remember, six keys and you're out, and right now the Democrats are out - for sure - [in] five keys. Key 1 is the party mandate - how well they did in the midterms. They got crushed. Key number 3 is the sitting president is not running. Key number 7, no major policy change in Obama's second term like the Affordable Care Act. Key number 11, no major smashing foreign policy success. And Key number 12, Hillary Clinton is not a Franklin Roosevelt. One more key and the Democrats are down, and we have the Gary Johnson Key. One of my keys would be that the party in power gets a "false" if a third-party candidate is anticipated to get 5 per cent of the vote or more. In his highest polling, Gary Johnson is at about 12 to 14 per cent. My rule is that you cut it in half. That would mean that he gets six to seven, and that would be the sixth and final key against the Democrats. So very, very narrowly, the keys point to a Trump victory. But I would say, more to the point, they point to a generic Republican victory, because I believe that given the unprecedented nature of the Trump candidacy and Trump himself, he could defy all odds and lose even though the verdict of history is in his favour. So this would also suggest, you know, the possibility this election could go either way. Nobody should be complacent, no matter who you're for, you gotta get out and vote. Q: Do you think the fact that Trump is not a traditional Republican - certainly not an establishment Republican, from a rhetorical or policy perspective - contributes to that uncertainty over where he fits in with the standard methodology for evaluating the Keys? Lichtman: I think the fact that he's a bit of a maverick, and nobody knows where he stands on policy, because he's constantly shifting. I defy anyone to say what his immigration policy is, what his policy is on banning Muslims, or whoever, from entering the United States, that's certainly a factor. But it's more his history in Trump University, the Trump Institute, his bankruptcies, the charitable foundation, of enriching himself at the expense of others, and all of the lies and dangerous things he's said in this campaign, that could make him a precedent-shattering candidate. It's interesting, I don't use the polls, as I've just explained, but the polls have very recently tightened. Clinton is less ahead than she was before, but it's not because Trump is rising, it's because Clinton is falling. He's still around 39 per cent in the polls. You can't win if you can't crack 40 per cent. As people realise the choice is not Gary Johnson, the only choice is between Trump and Clinton, those Gary Johnson supporters may move away from Johnson and toward Clinton, particularly those millennials. And, you know, I've seen this movie before. My first vote was in 1968, when I was the equivalent of a millennial, and lots of my friends, very liberal, wouldn't vote for Hubert Humphrey because he was part of the Democratic establishment, and guess what? They elected Richard Nixon. When and where to Trick-or-Treat? South Bend and area times listed local Welcome to SwanseaOnline - your home for the best news, sports and what's on coverage of the city. Never miss a Swansea story with our daily newsletter Sign up to comment on our stories here Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Swansea City news | Ospreys news | InYourArea Patch for the Mars Society's Mars 160 mission, during which seven crewmembers will conduct 80-day simulated Red Planet missions in the Utah desert and the Canadian Arctic. The first half of an ambitious 160-day-long simulated mission to Mars is getting underway. Seven people from six different countries are setting up shop today (Sept. 24) at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), a facility in the Utah desert operated by nonprofit group The Mars Society. For the next 80 days, the explorers will conduct a series of experiments and exploration campaigns to hone the skills and strategies that will be needed by real-life Red Planet pioneers in the future. The same crew will then venture to The Mars Society's arctic station in 2017 for another 80-day session to complete the full 160-day mission. "What we're doing is not an isolation experiment," Mars Society President Robert Zubrin told Space.com, contrasting this Mars 160 mission with other efforts such as Mars500, a Russian-European-Chinese project that kept six crewmembers cooped up inside a Moscow facility for 520 days in 2010 and 2011. [See photos from a 2-week MDRS mission in 2014] "I don't think a Mars mission is about isolation; a Mars mission is not about sending people to Mars to do nothing and watch them get bored," Zubrin added. "A Mars mission is about sending people to Mars and working them hard in an aggressive program of field exploration." See more So the MDRS crewmembers will do numerous "Mars walks" in the Utah desert and perform research in a number of areas, including geology, paleontology and microbiology, Zubrin said. The crew is commanded by Alexandre Mangeot of France. The other six are Japan's Yusuke Murakami; Russian journalist Anastasiya Stepanova; Canadian Claude-Michel Laroche; Australians Jonathan Clarke and Annalea Beattie; and Anushree Srivastava, who hails from India but currently lives in England. Americans Paul Knightly and Shannon Rupert are also part of the core team, though they're not suiting up in Utah. Tonight, the crew is expected to address the 2016 Mars Society Convention, which is being held in Washington, D.C. this weekend, via a Skype connection beginning at about 7:30 p.m. EDT (2330 GMT). You can watch the event live via The Mars Society's webcast. The second half of Mars 160 will take place next summer at The Mars Society's Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station (FMARS) in northern Canada. At that time, the same core group of crewmembers will conduct the same research and field campaigns they performed in Utah. Mars 160 whose principal investigator is Rupert should give The Mars Society a better understanding of the Utah desert's suitability as a Red Planet stand-in, Zubrin said. (The Canadian Arctic is more Mars-like, but it's also about 10 times more expensive to conduct missions there than in Utah, he added.) Mars 160 is a special event for The Mars Society. The nonprofit has conducted numerous missions at MDRS and FMARS over the years, but the vast majority have lasted just a few weeks. You can follow The Mars Society's Mars 160 mission as it goes on here: http://mars160.marssociety.org. Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com. Astrophysicist Stephen Hawking views a CGI alien civilization on the exoplanet Gliese 832c in this still from the new documentary "Stephen Hawking's Favorite Places." Humanity should be wary of seeking out contact with alien civilizations, Stephen Hawking has warned once again. In 2010, the famed astrophysicist said that intelligent aliens may be rapacious marauders, roaming the cosmos in search of resources to plunder and planets to conquer and colonize. He reiterates that basic concern in "Stephen Hawking's Favorite Places," a new documentary streaming now on the CuriosityStream video service. "One day, we might receive a signal from a planet like this," Hawking says in the documentary, referring to a potentially habitable alien world known as Gliese 832c. "But we should be wary of answering back. Meeting an advanced civilization could be like Native Americans encountering Columbus. That didn't turn out so well." For what it's worth, some other astronomers believe Hawking's caution is unwarranted. Any alien civilization advanced enough to come to Earth would surely already know of humans' existence via the radio and TV signals that humanity has been sending out into space since 1900 or so, this line of thinking goes. The alien musings are just a small part of "Stephen Hawking's Favorite Places." The 26-minute documentary shows the scientist zooming through the cosmos on a souped-up CGI spaceship called the "S.S. Hawking," making five separate stops. "In 1974, Caltech [the California Institute of Technology] offered me a job in California," the Englishman Hawking says in the documentary. "I jumped at the opportunity. In the sun with my young family, it was a world away from the gray skies of Cambridge, [England]. I've traveled the globe, but I've never found anywhere quite like this." You can watch a preview of "Stephen Hawking's Favorite Places," and learn how to subscribe to CuriosityStream, at the video service's website: www.curiositystream.com (opens in new tab). Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com. Apollo 1 astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee are seen participating in a 1966 spacecraft design review in California. The three men died in a launch pad fire on Jan. 27, 1967. Three NASA astronauts who died in a tragic fire on the launch pad 50 years ago this January may be honored by a new monument at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Apollo 1 crewmates Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Edward White and Roger Chaffee were taking part in a pre-launch "plugs out" teston Jan. 27, 1967 when a fire broke out inside the command module. The fire engulfed the capsule, fueled by a pure-oxygen atmosphere, leading to the men's death. Although other NASA astronauts had died in prior aircraft and automobile accidents, the Apollo 1 fire marked the first time that the U.S. space program suffered a fatal tragedy as part of its active spaceflight efforts. [Lunar Legacy: 45 Apollo Moon Mission Photos] The Apollo 1 Memorial Act, introduced Thursday (Sept. 22) by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), seeks to establish a memorial in Arlington Cemetery to honor the Apollo 1 astronauts. "As Arlington National Cemetery is where we recognize heroes who have passed in the service of the nation, it is fitting on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 1 accident that we acknowledge these astronauts by building a memorial in their honor," said Johnson, ranking member of the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Science, Space and Technology, in a statement. Joining Johnson as co-sponsors of the bill (HR 4167) were chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL) of the Committee on Veterans Affairs; Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL); ranking member Mark Takano (D-CA) of the Veterans Affairs committee; ranking member Donna Edwards (D-MD) of the Science, Space and Technology Committee's Subcommittee on Space; and Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL). The bill directs the Secretary of the Army, in consultation with NASA's Administrator, to construct at an appropriate place in Arlington National Cemetery a memorial marker honoring Grissom, White and Chaffee. "Though all three astronauts were posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, it is surprising we do not have a memorial to honor the lives of the crew of Apollo 1, as was done for the space shuttle Challenger and Columbia crews," said Johnson. The grave markers of Virgil "Gus" Grissom and Roger Chaffee are seen at Arlington National Cemetery in 2012. (Image credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls) In the wake of the Jan. 28, 1986 Challenger accident, the unidentified remains of the seven astronauts were interred near the grave for the mission's commander. According to the Arlington National Cemetery website, "it was decided by family members and NASA to construct the monument over the cremated remains." Family members of the STS-51L astronauts and about 400 people attended the monument's dedication on March 21, 1987, including then-Vice President George H.W. Bush. A similar monument was erected to honor the seven STS-107 crew members lost aboard the space shuttle Columbia on Feb. 1, 2003. Authorized and funded by the Columbia Orbiter Memorial Act, the monument was dedicated a year later on Feb. 2, 2004. The Apollo 1 Memorial Act would redress the "unfortunate omission" of a monument for Grissom, White and Chaffee, according to Johnson. The bill provides $500,000 from the U.S. Army's fiscal year 2017 operations and maintenance appropriated funds, as well as the authority for the NASA Administrator to accept donations of services, money and property for the Apollo 1 memorial marker. Grissom and Chaffee were buried at Arlington Cemetery. White was interred at the Military Academy at West Point in New York. "We have the opportunity to honor these three brave men and their contribution to America's preeminence in human spaceflight," stated Johnson. "It is time to build a memorial so that current and future Americans never forget their sacrifice." Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2016 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved. WASHINGTON Investigators have traced the explosion that destroyed a SpaceX Falcon 9 on the pad Sept. 1 to a "large breach" in the helium system in the rocket's second stage, although the root cause of the accident remains unknown. In a Sept. 23 update, the first released by the company in nearly three weeks, SpaceX said that an accident investigation team continues to study evidence from the explosion that took place while the rocket was being fueled for a static-fire test. "At this stage of the investigation, preliminary review of the data and debris suggests that a large breach in the cryogenic helium system of the second stage liquid oxygen tank took place," the company said in a statement. What caused that breach, though, is still a mystery. [SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket Explained] Helium is used to maintain the pressure of the liquid oxygen tank. In the June 2015 Falcon 9 failure, a strut holding a helium bottle in place within the upper stage's liquid oxygen tank failed at below its rated strength, causing helium to leak and the tank to overpressurize and break apart. SpaceX, though, said there was no link between that failure and this accident. "Through the fault tree and data review process, we have exonerated any connection with last year's CRS-7 mishap," the company said, referring to the June 2015 launch failure. The company said an accident investigation team, which includes SpaceX personnel as well as those from NASA, the U.S. Air Force and the Federal Aviation Administration, continue to examine "all plausible causes" of the accident. The failure took place quickly, SpaceX stated, with a loss of telemetry from the rocket less than a tenth of a second after the first signs of a problem. The pad explosion, which destroyed the Falcon 9 and its Amos-6 satellite payload, also damaged "substantial areas" of the pad at Cape Canaveral's Space Launch Complex 40. However, the company said that a support building at the pad and a new farm of liquid oxygen tanks were undamaged by the explosion. Tanks that store kerosene fuel were also "largely unaffected" by the blast. [Analysis | How SpaceX's Spectacular Pre-flight Failure Fueled a Jump in Hasty Conclusions] While the root cause remains unknown, and thus the scope of any corrective actions, SpaceX said it remains confident it can resume Falcon 9 launches as soon as November, resuming assembly of various vehicle components as they're cleared by the investigation. "We will work to resume our manifest as quickly as responsible once the cause of the anomaly has been identified by the Accident Investigation Team," the company stated. "Pending the results of the investigation, we anticipate returning to flight as early as the November timeframe." SpaceX also stated that the investigation is not affecting its work on NASA's commercial crew program, noting that the investigation "will result in an even safer and more reliable vehicle for our customers and partners." A company official made similar comments last week. "I still know what I have in front of me for the next day, the next month," said Abhishek Tripathi, director of certification at SpaceX, during a panel session at the AIAA Space 2016 conference in Long Beach, California, Sept. 16. "It doesn't affect my day-to-day work while they're working on the anomaly." The investigation also does not appear to affect plans by SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk to unveil long-awaited details of a human Mars mission architecture at the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico, Sept. 27. A page on the SpaceX website counts down the days until a webcast of his address, titled "Making Humanity a Multiplanetary Species." This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry. New York, September 24, 2016 (SPS) - Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez reiterated firm support of his country for the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination, in accordance with all relevant UN resolutions. The question of Western Sahara requires an effort to guarantee the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination in accordance with UN resolutions and respect for their legitimate right to live in peace in their territory, said Rodriguez in a speech before the 71st Session of the UN General assembly in New York. (SPS) 062/090/TRA New York, September 24, 2016 (SPS) President of Namibia Dr. Hage Geingob reiterated the support of his country to the struggle of the people of Western Sahara for delf-determination and independence. In a speech at the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly, the Namibian President called for the full implementation of resolutions calling for a referendum in occupied Western Sahara to allow its people to decide freely their own future . (SPS) 062/090/TRA STAMFORD Obstructed sprinkler controls and circuit panels. Self-closing doors that wont latch shut. Missing emergency lights and an exhaust system thats been out of order for at least two years. These are a few of the violations found in the citys public schools over the summer, a recent review of fire safety inspection reports show. The longest outstanding violation was at the citys newest high school the Academy of Information, Technology and Engineering where an exhaust system in the atrium has been broken since 2014. Rich Lyons, director of facilities for Stamford Public Schools, said the system has not been fixed because of a lengthy litigation between a contractor and a subcontractor. During that time, no one would commit to correct the issue, he said. The litigation was resolved about six months ago and the parts are on order, Lyons said. Despite the findings, Chief Fire Marshal Charles Spaulding said the number of violations has gone down in recent years. Were doing better, he said, adding that he was pleased to find better coordination among the districts facilities department, city engineers and service contractors. His office inspected all 21 schools between June and August, and it has gone back to ensure all the issues are corrected. Guy Semon, a physical education teacher at AITE and building representative for the Stamford Education Association, said his biggest fire-safety concern is that several classrooms in the district are overcrowded. In some older buildings, such as Cloonan Middle School, classrooms have more students per square feet than is permitted by the state fire code, Semon said. According to the code, classrooms should have 20 square feet of space per person while labs, shops and vocational rooms should have 50 feet for each person. The reality is its not adhered to, Semon said. The excuse is that many of the buildings are very, very old and they cant change the rooms or the number of rooms. Davenport tops list Spaulding and district officials said they were not aware of the issue, and they urged school staff to report such violations so they can be investigated. In a statement, the district said it is addressing all reported concerns. Student and staff safety is our top priority, the statement reads. As a district we are proud of our outstanding fire safety record and take any reports of code violations seriously. ... If any staff member, student or parent has a particular concern, they should bring it to the attention of their building administrator, who will work to identify and resolve any violations. The schools with the most violations were Davenport, K.T. Murphy, Springdale, Stark and Toquam elementary schools though none had more than 10. At Davenport, a circuit panel was found obstructed by cooking appliances. Lyons said his staff will relocate the equipment. At Stillmeadow Elementary School, emergency lights were missing in many areas and some self-closing doors were not latching shut, according to the report. Lyons said the city has gone out to bid for the lights at Stillmeadow at least twice, but the offers were too expensive. We value safety and health code compliance issues very seriously and we deal with them promptly, Lyons said. Special regulations Spaulding said many of the inspections are done before the districts own annual inspection, which is also carried out in the summer. Still, he said, fire marshals cant ignore violations, no matter how small. The main objective, Spaulding said, is to keep students and staff safe. Schools have their own unique fire safety regulations. Exits from classrooms must be easy to see and to reach; doors cant be covered with artwork that can obscure a clear outline; walls shouldnt be covered with too much student work or instructional material; sprinklers must be unobstructed; power strips and extension cords, which can lead to electrical fires, are prohibited; and doors must be kept closed, since fires spread through open doors. New safety regulations for schools around the country were last created following a devastating fire at a Chicago school in 1958. Fire detection and suppression devices, inflammable construction material and designated fire exits became mandatory for school buildings in the years that followed. Spaulding said the out-of-order exhaust system at AITE doesnt concern him as much as it would in an older building. AITE, an inter-district magnet school that opened in 2007, is covered by plate-glass windows and has working alarm and sprinkler systems with few combustible materials, such as bulletin boards. Spaulding said it would take a copious amount of smoke to cause a problem there. Its a new building, he said. Its actually no fault of anyone other than the vendor. Snap to attention Lyons noted that his department oversees a 2.8-million-square-foot area, with 21 schools, 16,000 students and more than 3,100 employees. When things are discovered, we correct them, he said. We try to prioritize as needed. Semon acknowledged the school population has grown and space and money are limited, but he said budget requests cut by the citys boards of finance and representatives forces the numbers in the room that violate the code. Its terrible that we dont follow the safety fire codes, he said. Does it take an incident to snap everybody to attention? The school board requested $39 million for capital budgets this year, but the Planning Board approved only $4.6 million. Lori Johnson, co-president of the Parent-Teacher Council of Stamford, was pleased no major violations were found this year. With 21 Stamford schools to maintain, it is encouraging to know that the issues were addressed and promptly corrected, she said in an email. Safety is every parents No. 1 priority, and I feel confident that our district treats safety as a prerequisite for the education of our citys children. Staff writer Robert Marchant contributed to this report. noliveira@hearstmediact.com, 203-964-2265, @olivnelson T he Standard has gone behind the scenes at the Natural History Museum in Kensington to discover hidden treasures in its conservation room and see the blue whale up close before it goes on display in Hintze Hall next year. Head of conservation Lorraine Cornish showed the Standard some of the hidden animals the public doesnt usually see, as scientists at the Museum prepare items for cleaning, repair and new exhibitions. Behind the scenes are some of the Museums most surprising items: a foetal elephant skull originally split in half to observe inside, a pair of birds shipped over and frozen for careful preservation, and a giraffe skeleton thats so large it requires a whole set of containers to collate the bones. In the pop-up conservation studio, the team are preparing the biggest single bones of any animal that has ever lived the blue whale. Each bone weighs around 500 kilos and must be cleaned and repaired before going on display in Hintze Hall in 2017, when it will replace Dippy the Diplodocus who is getting a goodbye celebration at the Museums Science Uncovered event. Inside the conservation room: A giraffe skeleton is being cleaned and repaired Head of conservation Lorraine Cornish said: When you start to take apart a giraffe skeleton you find there are many, many pieces to it. It was on very old mount, it was rusty, bits were falling off, so we are taking it apart, cleaning each piece, and then were going to make a brand new armature for it. Lorraine told the Standard about the work that goes into preparing the blue whale for display: When we took the skeleton down and started to take it apart, again like the giraffe, it takes up a lot of space so were actually working on the skeleton in three different locations. So weve got a whole range of whale skeleton material in here. Were having new armature built for the whale and were going to have it in a much more dynamic, diving pose. Bones of a blue whale are being prepared to replace Dippy the Diplodocus in the main hall Intriguingly, one of the things we discovered when we started to take this apart was the presence of newspaper so weve got a number of pieces of newspaper dating from 1930 to 1934, which were actually used to help mount this specimen. So were taking each piece of that newspaper, relaxing it so it flattens out, and were preserving it as part of the whale archive. Back in the day, when they put this up, they didnt really worry so much about the skeleton in terms of preserving data. So they drilled holes, wherever they liked really to actually mount the skeleton. We dont like to do that now we like to preserve as much data about the specimen as possible for research and so we will use the existing holes but then we will then add extra armature to support it because its actually going to be hanging above the public. The blue whale: 'The biggest single bones of any animal that has ever lived' We worked with the armature manufacturers to create a scale model of the whale its then much easier to articulate [with] a scale model than a 4.2 tonne specimen. Weve been talking to experts, using our own experts here, and weve come up with this pose which is basically showing the whale either just going into or coming out of a feed, where it opens its huge jaws and eats about 40 million krill in one go. So next year the public will be able to see this suspended above them, as they walk into Hintze Hall. This video is part of our Behind the Scenes video series, subscribe to the Evening Standard's YouTube channel to watch new episodes the day before they appear on the website. T he driver of the lorry believed to have struck an elderly man outside a busy Tube station has been traced by police. A 71-year-old man died after being hit by a HGV outside Earl's Court station on Friday night. Police released CCTV images of a lorry believed to be involved in the collision as part of an appeal and have now spoken with the driver. It was originally not known whether the driver, aged in his 40s, knew he had hit the man before driving off, but police have not arrested him and he is helping detectives with enquiries. Police and paramedics raced to the scene after the crash at 9.25pm. Medics fought to save the victim and he was rushed to hospital where he died a short while later. Londons Air Ambulance was also scrambled to the scene in Earl's Court Road. One Twitter user named Stan wrote: "Earl's Court completely locked off with "emergency response units" - red vans parked everywhere." Another user wrote: #EarlsCourt tube entrance is currently closed, terrible accident apparently. Thoughts for all involved. Detectives from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) continue to appeal for witnesses and information following the collision. Anyone with information is asked to call SCIU officers at Merton on 020 8543 5157 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. A man convicted of using an underage prostitute has been ordered to buy her feminist books and films by a judge. The man, 35, was also sentenced for two years after using a 15-year-old prostitute in Italy. The judge ordered him to buy the victim 30 feminist books and two feminist films, including Anne Franks Diary and the poems of Emily Dickenson Judge Paola Di Nicola reportedly hoped they would help the girl understand the damage done to her dignity as a woman. But, according to Corriere della Sera, one author included on the list said the judge should have read the literature to the man instead. "Adolescence is not the time for reflection. What he did was much worse: an adult who, knowingly, paid for sex with a minor," said Adriana Cavarero, a philosophy professor at Verona university and author of Notwithstanding Plato. The man was convicted after a three-year investigation into a major paedophile ring in Rome. The ring lured two girls ages 14 and 15 into sex work with cash that they used to buy new clothes and the latest mobile phones, investigators said. The mastermind has been jailed for nine years. A man has been arrested in connection with claims that Pippa Middletons iCloud account was hacked. Detectives investigating the alleged hacking have arrested a 35-year-old man at an address in Northamptonshire. Pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge and her children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, are reportedly among 3,000 images taken from Kate's sister. The anonymous seller is alleged to have asked for 50,000 within 48 hours for the photos. Private photographs: Pippa Middleton and fiance James Matthews. / PA The stash is also said to include images of Miss Middleton, 33, at a wedding dress fitting and partying, and naked pictures of her fiance. The photos were allegedly offered to the Sun and the Daily Mail via encrypted messaging service WhatsApp after being taken from Miss Middletons iCloud account. The Sun newspaper quoted a spokesman for Miss Middleton as saying: "Thank you very much for drawing this to the family's attention. "I can confirm that not only have the lawyers been informed but the police are about to be involved as well." The hack follows other high-profile image thefts from celebrities including Hollywood star Jennifer Lawrence. In July it was announced that Miss Middleton would marry her financier boyfriend, James Matthews in a society wedding in 2017, with William and Kate saying they were a "wonderful couple". Hedge fund boss Mr Matthews got down on bended knee during a trip to the Lake District after they had dated for less than a year. T he Metropolitan police is poaching firearms officers from the home counties and areas outside the capital to boost its numbers, it has been claimed. Figures show that amid a heightened terror threat - the Met recruited eight times as many officers from regional forces in 2015, than in the previous year, The Times reported. Police forces near London warned that the recruitment tactics risk leaving them without the necessary capability, according to the newspaper. Firearms officers are reportedly being lured to join the Met with a London allowance of several thousand pounds a year. The problem has emerged after government plans to increase the number of armed police were put in place in the wake of attacks including the atrocity in Paris at the end of last year, when 130 people were killed. The Met is required to increase its firearms capacity by 600 to 2,800 by next April. The first of the additional officers were fully trained and operationally ready in early August. The other 42 forces across England and Wales will gain 900 officers but the home counties are struggling to raise the extra numbers. Keith Prince, a Conservative member of the London Assemblys police and crime committee, told The Times: If increasing the number of armed officers in London simply means there are fewer elsewhere, this does not serve the purpose of keeping people safe. The Met told the newspaper in a statement that it always considers the impact on other forces and regional resilience when scheduling transfer dates to minimise impact. T he housemate and friends of the Czech businessman beaten to death after a row in a chicken shop have raised over 6,000 in one day in support of his family. Zdenek Makar, 31, was found dead on the streets close to his home in Poplar after being allegedly attacked by a group of men with a metal chain. His friends are now trying to raise 10,000 to send Mr Makar's body to his family in the Czech Republic. His housemate, Roman Blazovic, told the Standard that the amount raised is testimony to the amount of friends Mr Makar had. Murder victim: Friends described Mr Makar as a man with a 'huge heart' He said: "We are happy so much has been raised, we have had many many people coming to donate. He had many friends." Mr Makar moved to London ten years ago and lived with Mr Blasovic in a flat in east London. Mr Blasovic added: "We were very very close and he was a great man. "We went travelling all over the world and I lived with him for six years. "On the night he died, he had finished work and gone for two pints after work. He text his girlfriend saying he was going to get chicken on the way home and then this. "We are very shocked." Mirka Balekova, who set up the campaign, wrote: We are trying to raise money for our beloved friend Zdenek Makar, who tragically died on Wednesday evening close to his home. He was only 31-years old and loved living in England and had lived in Poplar east London for some time. There is nothing we can do for our friend now other than help his family in his own country receive his body back. So the money raised will be used for a transport of his body back home to Czech Republic. Please help us to make it easier for his family at this hard time. The GoFundMe page, set up on Saturday, has had almost 300 donations and has raised well over half its 10k target. Last night, friends paid tribute to Mr Makar as a man with a huge heart who was full of energy and positivity. Paying tribute on Facebook, one friend wrote that he was filled with great sadness after hearing of the attack. Fundraising campaign: The page raised more than 3,000 in six hours He wrote: You will always be remembered for your smile and positivism, for your energy and great friendship. It hurt me you left us this way bro. A post-mortem examination on Friday revealed Mr Makar died from head injuries. Officers believe he was involved in a confrontation with a group of men inside Perfect Fried Chicken in East India Dock Road before being followed down the street and attacked. Killed: Zdenek Makar was battered to death near to his home in east London / Met Police He was found by a passing cyclist who gave him CPR in a failed attempt to save the mans life. Police arrested two men and a 16-year-old on suspicion of murder in the early hours of Saturday morning. The boy and a 19 and 29-year-old have been taken to east London police stations for questioning. A Metropolitan Police spokesman: "Detectives continue to appeal for anyone who was in the area who witnessed the events prior to attack or the incident itself. They retain an open mind as to the motive for the attack." Anyone with information should call police on 020 8345 3985 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. A motorcyclist is injured in hospital today after a dramatic crash with a car near to a Tube station. Emergency services raced to the scene in Edgware Road after the smash in the early hours of this morning. Dramatic pictures emerged on social media of medics treating an injured man lying in the road before he was rushed to hospital. A witness told the Standard they were awoken by the sound of the crash and dialled 999. Police and paramedics said they were called to the scene at 4.30am. The road was closed for more than four hours as officers investigated the crash. Police said the injured mans condition is stable and his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said no arrests have been made. P olice have launched a probe after claims a hacker stole 3,000 private photos of the Royal Family from Pippa Middletons iCloud account. The anonymous seller is alleged to have asked for 50,000 within 48 hours for the photos which include images of the royal children and naked pictures of Miss Middletons fiance. The stash is also said to include private images of the Duchess of Cambridge as well as Miss Middleton, 33, at a wedding dress fitting and partying. A spokesman for Scotland Yard this morning said no one has been arrested but inquiries are ongoing. The photos were allegedly offered to the Sun and the Daily Mail via encrypted messaging service WhatsApp after being taken from Miss Middletons iCloud account. Private photographs: Pippa Middleton and fiance James Matthews. / PA The Sun newspaper quoted a spokesman for Miss Middleton as saying: "Thank you very much for drawing this to the family's attention. I can confirm that not only have the lawyers been informed but the police are about to be involved as well." The hack follows other high-profile image thefts from celebrities including Hollywood star Jennifer Lawrence. In July it was announced that Miss Middleton would marry her financier boyfriend, James Matthews in a society wedding in 2017, with William and Kate saying they were a "wonderful couple". Hedge fund boss Mr Matthews got down on bended knee during a trip to the Lake District after they had dated for less than a year. F our people have been shot dead after a gunman went on a rampage at a crowded shopping mall in the US. Police are hunting for the shooter who fled after opening fire on crowds with a rifle inside a Macys department store at the shopping centre near Seattle. Officers said they are searching for a Hispanic man, who wore black and was last seen heading towards the Interstate 5 motorway after the incident at the Cascade Mall in Burlington. They later issued a CCTV image of the suspect armed with a rifle. The gunman's motive is not yet known. Police at the scene of the attack where four women were killed(EPA) / AP Four women were killed at the scene and a man injured in the attack later died in hospital. Another woman suffered non-life threatening injuries. Terrified shoppers ran for their lives as the mall was evacuated at about 8.30pm local time. One witness, Tari Caswell, told reporters she was in the women's dressing room at Macy's when she heard "what sounded like four balloons popping". She added: "Then I heard seven or eight more, and I just stayed quiet in the dressing room because it just didn't feel right. And it got very quiet. And then I heard a lady yelling for help, and a man came and got me and another lady, and we ran out of the store." A man wanted in connection with the fatal shooting in Burlington / EPA Stephanie Bose, an assistant general manager at Johnny Carino's Italian restaurant near Macy's, said she immediately locked the doors to the restaurant after hearing about the shooting from an employee's boyfriend. "He was trying to go to the mall and people were screaming," she said. "It was frantic." Washington governor Jay Inslee said tragedy had struck the state. "We urge residents to heed all safety and detour warnings," he said. "Stay close to your friends and loved ones as we await more information and, hopefully, news of the suspect's capture." The Cascade Mall opened in 1990, and features JC Penney, TJ Maxx and Macy's stores, as well as restaurants and a cinema. On September 17, a man stabbed 10 people at a Minnesota mall. Dahir Ahmed Adan, 20, went on the rampage at the Crossroads Centre in St Cloud, Minnesota, before being shot and killed by an off-duty police officer. Protesters lined the streets of downtown Mooresville on Friday evening, some holding "hands up don't shoot" signs, others wearing "Black Lives Matter" T-shirts. But the demonstration, which was escorted by Mooresville police, remained largely peaceful, unlike protests in Charlotte earlier this week. Organizers, who obtained permits from the town on Friday to hold the march, said that was the goal. "We can't kill violence with violence," said Raynisha Caldwell, who applied for the permit after seeing hateful, racial comments from her Facebook friends, she said. She added, "We all deserve peace. We all deserve peace within ourselves and peace within our homes. We can't change everything but we can change ourselves. We can't go to Charlotte and we can't make a stand there but we're home and we will make a stand here." Participants gathered at the Moorseville Town Hall around 6 p.m. and set off on their march an hour later, traveling down Main Street and other downtown roads, which were blocked off by police for the march. Mooresville police lined the streets of the approved route, joined by units from the Iredell County Sheriff's Office, Davidson Police Department and Troutman Police Department. Mooresville Deputy Police Chief Bryan Anderson said law enforcement had contingency plans should violence, rioting, looting or other illegal activity break out. Anderson led the march, walking alongside Caldwell and other protestors. During the march, which was roughly one mile, protesters chanted "We want peace, not revenge." They also repeated phrases like "Hands up don't shoot," and "Who lives matter? All lives matter." Around 150 people in total joined in the march, including children and church leaders, both black and white. The march began and ended with prayers, with participants calling for peace, unity and change. Anderson said Mooresville had showed the rest of the nation that peaceful protests were possible, adding that he would "vigorously defend your right to protest." "We're you and you're us. The police are the community and the community is the police,"Anderson said to the gathered crowd. "We're all one." The march followed three days of protests in downtown Charlotte in response to the shooting death of a black man by a black Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer. The National Guard had been called into that city earlier this week and the mayor enacted a curfew. Protesters in Mooresville joined those in Charlotte in demanding change regarding the policing of African-Americans and racial disparities in the criminal justice system. "Some of these police need to stop trying to make a name for themselves," said Michelle Cherry, one of the marchers. "Stop trying to be John Wayne. Those days are gone. There's a lot of them that are trying to make a name for themselves. Stop trying to be better than us because you have a badge on. That don't make you better than us." Rita Thompson said she participated after hearing racists comments online which would ridicule stereotypical black behavior. "I can't believe some of these comments, these hurtful comments," she said. "You know, I think some people are still living in the Jim Crow laws. People are going backward. This is the 21st century and we need to go forward." Her son, Michael Thompson Jr., who is a student at Western Carolina University, agreed, adding he hoped the march would send a symbolic statement to the community. "It''s easy to hit Like on a post on Facebook or comment on a post but how many people will actually do something and come out here?" he asked. Tom Fyler, who identified himself as a member of the local Republican Party, said he participated to show his support for the cause. He said tension between black people and police in Charlotte stem from economic struggles, and he hoped that improving employment rates and decreasing poverty will ease those tensions. Once the march ended, the participants broke into applause and several thanked the police officers who were present. Caldwell, who embraced Anderson in a hug, called the event a success. "Every person who came out here, you are all successful," Caldwell said. "You have all made a difference. Today was an amazing day." Others in Iredell County joined the call for peace on Friday. The Upper Room, a Christian teen group, met in the evening for a night of prayer in response to protests in Charlotte, according to its Facebook page. The North Carolina Institute of Political Leadership and the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce will co-host a Hometown Debate for the office of North Carolina treasurer on Tuesday night. In this busy election year, featuring races for president and U.S. Senate, the staff and board of the North Carolina Institute of Political Leadership (NCIOPL) want to ensure that North Carolinians are familiar with the candidates and issues to be found in critical statewide races, said Nelle Hotchkiss, NCIOPL board chair and senior vice president of government relations at NCs Electric Cooperatives. We also want to ensure that North Carolinas smaller cities and towns are brought into the conversation and their issues and concerns are addressed. The debate will feature candidates for state treasurer, Dan Blue III and Dale Folwell, at the Statesville Civic Center. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m., followed by the debate at 7. We are pleased to bring this public service opportunity to our community, said David Bradley, president and CEO of the Statesville Chamber of Commerce. NCIOPLs mission is centered around fair political discourse on issues, and these debates will provide the opportunity to do just that. The debate will air on UNC-TVs NC Channel at 9 p.m. Wednesday and will be broadcast live on radio stations that are part of the NC News Network. The candidates will be questioned by local newspaper editors Dave Ibach of the Statesville Record & Landmark and Elizabeth Cook from the Salisbury Post. The Hometown Debates series is sponsored by five statewide organizations: the NC Advocates for Justice, the NC Association of Defense Attorneys, NCs Electric Cooperatives, the John William Pope Foundation, and the State Employees Association of North Carolina. NCIOPL is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate future political and community leaders in modern campaign strategy, ethical decision making, and governance, such that its participants will have a sound grounding in ethical behavior, consensus building, and cooperative and collaborative leadership. No other program in North Carolina offers such a comprehensive curriculum in strategic, nonpartisan political leadership development. For more information, contact Ross Harris at rharris@iopl.org or 336-908-7171. Plenty of alarmist voices are being raised against the wave of agribusiness consolidation, but the leaders of mainstream farm groups are not among them. Groups such as the National Corn Growers Association and the American Farm Bureau Federation are taking a nuanced view of proposed deals that would combine Monsanto with Bayer and Dow Chemical with DuPont. They have concerns, but say they understand why the mergers are necessary. They even see some upside for farmers. The deals must be viewed in the context of a severely depressed farm sector, executives of the two groups told a Senate committee last week. Farm income is projected to fall to $72 billion this year from $124 billion just three years ago. That means farmers have less to spend on the latest seed varieties, and its why Monsanto, before it accepted Bayers $66 billion buyout offer, was planning to cut 3,600 jobs this year and next. This wave of consolidation is first and foremost an offshoot of the current struggle within the farm economy, says Christopher Novak, chief executive of the Chesterfield-based corn growers group. If big ag companies cant count on farmers spending more money, they must become more efficient. Bayer expects to cut $1.2 billion in costs after it buys Monsanto, and executives say combining the German companys knowledge of chemicals with the U.S. companys seed genetics will make research more productive. The companies claim theyll be able to bring improved products to market more quickly. Some people might dismiss that as corporate hype, but Novak sees the benefit. Our farmers are being challenged to improve water quality, he said. Were being asked questions about climate change. That means we have to have new tools ... and those are all innovations that have to come from somewhere. But will Bayer and Dow-DuPont use their market power to raise prices for seeds and crop chemicals? The corn growers teamed with the American Soybean Association, based in Creve Coeur, to study the Dow-DuPont deal, and Novak expects to do a similar analysis of Bayer-Monsanto. The Dow-DuPont study raised some concerns, Novak told senators, but the Corn Growers concluded that the merger did not fundamentally undermine competition in corn seed. Bob Young, chief economist at the Farm Bureau Federation, says he wasnt surprised that the slump in farm income led to at least one big merger among seed and chemical suppliers. Once Dow and DuPont got together, he adds, it was in farmers interests to have a second company gain similar size and scope. If one of them happens, you really want another to happen so you have a couple of firms with strong chemistry and genetic traits in the same company, Young said. Deere and Case IH have been a farm-equipment duopoly for a long time, he noted, yet the competition between green and red tractors remains fierce. Each big agribusiness merger will, of course, get intense scrutiny from antitrust regulators. At a minimum, Monsanto and Bayer will be required to sell one of their cottonseed brands, which would have a combined market share approaching 70 percent. Monsanto disclosed last week that Bayer is committed to selling businesses with up to $1.6 billion in revenue. The stock market continues to express doubt about whether the deal will go through. As of Friday, Monsanto shares were 19 percent below the price offered by Bayer. Perhaps traders are listening to people like Bernie Sanders, who called the merger a threat to all Americans. If they listened instead to the voices of reason coming from farm organizations, they might be more optimistic about the deals chances. HOUSTON Sunoco Logistics, the future operator of the oil pipeline delayed this month after Native American protests in North Dakota, spills crude more often than any of its competitors. The company been responsible for more than 200 leaks since 2010, according to a Reuters analysis of government data. The lands of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe sit a half mile south of the proposed route of the Dakota Access pipeline. The tribe fears the line could destroy sacred sites during construction and that a future oil spill might pollute its drinking water. A tribal protest over the $3.7 billion project drew broad support from other Native American tribes, domestic and international environmental groups and Hollywood celebrities. In response to the tribe's objections, the U.S. government earlier this month called for a temporary halt to construction along a section of the 1,100 mile line in North Dakota near the Missouri River. While environmental concerns are at the heart of the Standing Rock Sioux protest, there is no reference to the frequency of leaks by Sunoco or its parent Energy Transfer Partners in a legal complaint filed by the tribe, nor has Sunoco's spill record informed the public debate on the line. Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Dave Archambault II told Reuters the tribe was aware of the safety record of Energy Transfer, but declined to elaborate. Sunoco Logistics is one of the largest pipeline operators in the United States. Energy Transfer is constructing the Dakota Access pipeline to pump crude produced at North Dakota's Bakken shale fields to the U.S. Gulf Coast. Once completed, it will hand over the pipeline's operation to Sunoco. Sunoco acknowledged the data and told Reuters it had taken measures to reduce its spill rate. "Since the current leadership team took over in 2012, Sunoco Pipeline has enhanced and improved our integrity management program," Sunoco spokesman Jeffrey Shields told Reuters by email. This significantly cut the amount of barrels lost during incidents, he said. The U.S. Department of Justice did not make any reference to the company's spill rate when it decided to stall the project. It highlighted the need for reform in the way companies building infrastructure consult with Native American tribes. Spokespeople for the Departments of Justice and the Interior, and the Army Corps declined to comment to Reuters on whether they were aware of Energy Transfer's leak statistics when they jointly decided to halt construction of the line. High spill rate Reuters analyzed data that companies are obliged to disclose to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) when they suffer spills and found that Sunoco leaked crude from onshore pipelines at least 203 times over the last six years. PHMSA data became more detailed in 2010. In its examination, Reuters tallied leaks in the past six years along dedicated onshore crude oil lines and excluded systems that carry natural gas and refined products. The Sunoco data include two of its pipeline units, the West Texas Gulf and Mid-Valley Pipeline. That made it the operator with the highest number of crude leak incidents, ahead of at least 190 recorded by Enterprise Products Partners and 167 by Plains All American Pipeline , according to the spill data reported to PHMSA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Enterprise said it has comprehensive safety and integrity programs in place and that many spills happened at its terminals. Sunoco and Enterprise both said most leaks take place within company facilities and are therefore contained. Plains All American did not respond to a request for comment. Sunoco's spill rate shows protestors may have reason to be concerned about potential leaks. The main option that was considered for routing the line away from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe reservation was previously discarded because it would involve crossing more water-sensitive areas north of the capital Bismarck, according to the project's environmental assessment. To be sure, most pipeline spills are small and pipelines are widely seen as a safer way to move fuel than alternatives such as rail. Sunoco and its units leaked a total of 3,406 net barrels of crude in all the leaks over the last six years, only a fraction of the more than 3 million barrels lost in the largest spill in U.S. history, BP Plc's Macondo well disaster in 2010. Sunoco said it found that crude lines not in constant use were a significant source of leaks, so it had shut or repaired some of those arteries. In 2015, 71 percent of pipeline incidents were contained within the operator's facility, according to a report by the Association of Oil Pipe Lines, a trade group. While total pipeline incidents have increased by 31 percent in the last five years, large spills of 500 barrels or more are down by 32 percent over the same time, the report said. Sunoco accounted for about 8 percent of the more than 2,600 reported liquids pipeline leaks in the past six years in the United States. Safety overhaul The company has made previous efforts to improve safety, a former Sunoco employee who declined to be identified said. It overhauled safety culture after a spill in 2000, and did so again another in 2005 that dumped some 6,000 barrels of crude into the Kentucky River from its Mid-Valley Pipeline. Sunoco acknowledged that some of its pipeline equipment dates back to the 1950s. A 2014 corrective measure regulators issued for Sunoco's Mid-Valley Pipeline cited "some history of internal corrosion failures" as a potential factor in a leak that sent crude into a Louisiana bayou near an area used for drinking water. Crude spills on Sunoco's lines in 2009 and 2011 drew a rebuke from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a settlement announced this year. The EPA said the settlement aimed to "improve the safety of Sunoco's practices and to enhance its oil spill preparedness and response." In September, Sunoco received another corrective measure for its newly constructed Permian Express II line in Texas, which leaked 800 barrels of oil earlier this month. The company is already contesting a proposed $1.3 million fine from regulators for violations related to welding on that line. Additional reporting by Ernest Scheyder of Reuters. Worries about this years soybean harvest in the Missouri Bootheel are no longer just projections. Theyre reality. As the harvest gets underway, some farmers in the states southeastern corner are beginning to get a better understanding of the financial losses they face from crop damage believed to be caused by illegal use of unauthorized or off-label varieties of the herbicide dicamba. Though harvest wont reach its peak until early to mid-October, initial indications paint a painful picture for yields. Mark Beaird, a soybean farmer near Parma, Mo., has harvested roughly a quarter of his 1,500 acres so far. In those areas, he says hes lost about a third of his crop compared to past yields, mustering 40-odd bushels per acre in fields that normally produce 65 to 75 an acre. With soybeans able to fetch close to $10 per bushel, Beaird says his losses approach $250 an acre. Multiply that by the nearly 400 acres harvested at this point and Beairds financial shortfall is just shy of six figures already, with more losses expected to follow. Im scared to get into the numbers, really, Beaird said. Were gonna be out a lot of money, I know that. And we started off with about as perfect a season as you can start off with. But things took a turn for the worse in late June and July, when complaints of crop damage skyrocketed across the Bootheel. In just over a one-month stretch, more than 100 incidents of suspected herbicide drift were reported from four Bootheel counties alone, surpassing the usual statewide total for an entire year. The cases, which remain under investigation by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, are thought by many to have been triggered by widespread, illegal usage of dicamba. The herbicide is highly volatile, especially in hot weather, tending to vaporize into a gas and drift across wide areas. For non-GMO soybeans and other crops, contact with even low concentrations of dicamba can be harmful. Soybean leaves, for instance, can become cupped and yellow after dicamba exposure. Meanwhile, Missouris largest peach farm, situated in the area, may lose half its trees to similar leaf damage from suspected drift. Though the herbicide is not new, it seems to have gained newfound popularity after this years release of dicamba-resistant soybeans known as Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans by Creve Coeur-based seed company Monsanto. But Monsantos form of dicamba meant to be applied to Xtend seeds was not released, as it has yet to be approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The unreleased dicamba variety would supposedly be less volatile, but many believe its absence led some growers with dicamba-resistant crops to spray older, off-label forms of the herbicide, leaving their fields unharmed but jeopardizing others. Even though clear warnings forbid use of unauthorized dicamba substitutes, Beaird believes that rule-breaking was inevitable, especially with insufficient fines in place for wrongdoers. I think the seed company is partially responsible because they put the seed out there without the chemical, Beaird said. Its like putting the carrot in front of the horses nose. Things may improve slightly for Beaird going forward. The early plantings hes already harvested are the ones that he says got hit the worst, catching multiple whiffs of drift, while other beans may have only been affected once or twice. He says this years crop damage didnt just hurt his yields, but also caused him to spend more time and money than ever before on weed control. When dicamba hit the beans they just about stopped growing, said Beaird, explaining that the slowed growth meant they couldnt shade out weeds. The next thing you know you got another crop of weeds you wouldnt have had. Beaird is not alone. Other soybean farmers are reporting similar, or even worse, crop losses. And many yet to harvest are nervously waiting to learn the price tag associated with their own damage. Theyre definitely damaged, I just dont know to what extent, said Ted Rouse, another area soybean farmer. Until I get em threshed, I wont have a whole lot of information. Insurance companies have indicated that they wont compensate farmers for losses from illegal herbicide usage. And while many are preparing for lawsuits to recover damages, Beaird worries that legal disputes wont be resolved in time to save some farmers from going out of business this year. Looking ahead to next year, Beaird says hell have to hedge his bets and switch to dicamba-resistant seeds. He says he needs assurance that he wont be a victim of suspected dicamba use again as he tries to work toward retirement. Edward Albee, who was 88 when he died Sept. 16 at his Montauk home, typically referred to Frances Albee as his adoptive mother, not as his mother. She and her husband (whom he seems rarely to have mentioned at all) adopted him when he was 2 weeks old. Obviously, it was not a warm relationship. For the long years when they did not speak to each other, it was no relationship at all. Yet the play that opens the St. Louis Actors Studios 10th season, Three Tall Women, profiles a woman very much like Frances Albee. The closest Albee came to autobiography, the play depicts a woman called A at three different stages of her life: as a demanding, physically failing woman in her 90s; as a socialite in her 50s who expresses more warmth toward her jewelry than toward her son; and as a fashion model in her 20s who doesnt know what life holds in store. They are played by three different actresses. Albee, in an interview with The Economist, described Three Tall Women as an exorcism. Wayne Salomon, who directs the St. Louis Actors Studio production, thinks Albee wrote it to resolve something for himself. And look at its movement through time. A is 25 in 1925, 52 in 1952, 91 in 1991 (when the play debuted, two years after Frances Albees death). As story is the story of the 20th century. And he lets you see how she got to be the way she was. One of the most influential and prolific playwrights of that century, Albee burst to fame in 1959 when The Zoo Story debuted in Berlin. (It opened in New York the next year). Short, violent and bursting with the potent language that was to be a hallmark of his work, The Zoo Story would be often copied but never equaled. Its instant acclaim may have surprised the author, who wrote it in three weeks as a 30th birthday present to himself. At that point, success was a new experience for him. His adoptive parents, the Albees, raised him as an only child in an atmosphere of wealth and comfort in Larchmont, N.Y. (The family owned a chain of more than 400 vaudeville houses across the country.) But by the time he was in his teens, it was clear that he wouldnt be the son the Albees had in mind. Gay, dismissive of religion and increasingly liberal in a conservative milieu, Albee was kicked out of several prep schools and lasted just three semesters at Trinity College in Connecticut. Then he took off for Greenwich Village and didnt look back for years. But once he started writing, he never stopped. Albee received his third Pulitzer Prize for Three Tall Women. (The others went to A Delicate Balance and Seascape but not to his most celebrated work, Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) Albee changed the course of theatrical history, says William Roth, the founder and artistic director of the St. Louis Actors Studio; Roth also played George in the theaters 2015 production of Virginia Woolf. Albee, he says, changed how stories are told and (he) busted wide open the discussion and examination of human relationships. Roth recalls having a memorable exchange with Albee before the 2007 Actors Studio production of A Delicate Balance. Albee was famous for his involvement in productions of his plays everywhere. Whether he was taking an interest, or meddling, seems to have been a matter of opinion. He wrote to Roth that A Delicate Balance like so many of my plays ... has, among its concerns, our failure as a people to live our lives fully ... coming to the ends of our lives (without) knowing we have lived. Is that what happens to A? Bruce Mann, editor of Edward Albee: A Casebook, taking care to draw a distinction between A and Frances Albee, suggests that this is precisely what Albee was dealing with himself when he wrote Three Tall Women. Frances Cotter Albee was a tall, demanding, wealthy socialite who did not understand her son, Mann writes in his own essay in the book. Her conservative views and hollow values fueled his rebellion ... He uses the play to understand his mother, thereby freeing himself from her hurtful treatment ... he can explore why she became a bitter woman. ... As Albee learns more about his mother and what motivated her, he takes away her power to hurt him. At the same time, his own sense of self strengthens. In real life, Mann says in the same essay, the rapprochement, begun at the playwrights instigation, remained tentative and unsatisfying. Mann quotes Albee about her final years: I was a very dutiful and good son. But she never quite approved of me or forgave me. That was life, but maybe art can be better. Three Tall Women closes with a tableau in which the three versions of A join hands, happy in an enduring present tense. The three women, Mann writes, have become symbols of renewal, Albees renewal. ... Albee, in this luminous play, draws on his literary muses to understand his mother and is reborn. The recent attacks in New York, New Jersey and Minnesota are very concerning for the community. Whenever there is a terrorist attack, we hope against the hope that there will not be another one and everyone is safe. We have a strong belief in our safety measures and the ability of law enforcement to catch radicals anywhere and every time. But that cannot be 100 percent true. This is a stark reality of our lives that if people are bent upon harming others, sometimes they may find a way no matter how strong our security measures are. The alleged bomber involved in New York and New Jersey was on law enforcement agencies radar. Most are asking the same question: why was he not arrested or under stricter surveillance. But with lack of any evidence, no further actions can be taken. The laws that protect the innocents in our society can sometimes help the criminals in the initial stages. Even one terrorist attack is too many. But we are unaware of scores of other attacks that have been thwarted by our law enforcement agencies. The fanatic carrying out the heinous crimes in two states was reported to the agencies by his father two years ago. He was flagged by Homeland Security, but without any concrete evidence could not be arrested. Another reality of our times is that the same technology that has connected the world tremendously, enhancing our abilities to interact at professional and social levels, has given an avenue to criminals to disrupt and at times destroy others lives. No matter how much we wish that every criminals moves are watched in real life and cyberspace, it is impossible. The best defense teams are made of law enforcement agencies and public at large. We are the eyes and ears for them. The simple rule see something, say something has shown multiple times to save lives. The perpetrator of the recent attacks was arrested, as a shop owner suspected him to be the one identified on the news media. Terrorist attacks that cannot be prevented are terrifying. Innocent people lose their lives, many are injured seriously. We lose our sense of security, become fearful, suspicious and look for a reason and someone to blame. These random attacks carried out by deranged people, being influenced by fanatic propaganda are a stark reminder that we live in a different time. Like other crimes, such as mass shootings, the people closer to the perpetrators may see the red flags. Most of the time, we may not want to believe that such horrific things might be happening and look the other way. Informing the law enforcement agencies does not mean that we do not love them or are disloyal. We might end up saving many lives and even helping the perpetrator by stopping the crime. The majority of the Muslims in America are vigilant and have helped and cooperated with the law enforcement agencies. We abhor these people more than non-Muslims. These deranged individuals also manipulate our faith to justify their acts. The faith denounces taking away a single innocent life with grievous punishment in the life after. Unfortunately, some of the politicians have started to use these tragic events to achieve political gains. Stoking fears and blaming Muslims will not solve the problem. Pointing fingers at the community, which is the ears and eyes for the security teams at large, is counterproductive. There are deranged people in every society, belonging to every faith. Our duty is to point them out, help to prevent young children to be prey of any hateful propaganda. Muslims and non-Muslims are together in this fight against internal or external threats. Our faiths teach us to hold hands, help each other and protect each other. Us vs. them will not win wars against terrorism. Hayat serves as chair of the public relations committee of the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis. She is a regular Faith Perspectives contributor to STLtoday.com/religion. Transgender students must be allowed to use bathrooms that align with their gender identity, President Barack Obamas administration told schools nationwide in May. The notice declared that transgender students were protected under Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities. Also in May, the Justice Department sued North Carolina over its state law that requires people to use public bathrooms that match the sex on their birth certificate. In August, a federal judge in Texas blocked enforcement of Obamas order while a lawsuit filed by 13 states proceeds. The states contend that the administration exceeded its authority and did not follow proper procedure for writing new rules pertaining to Title IX. Also in August, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a Virginia school board could block a transgender male from using the boys restroom while the court decides whether to take up the issue. Read more Katherine Derleth, the 13-year-old who police say was abducted by her stepfather from the Edwardsville area last week along with her infant son, has been found in a rural area of West Virginia near Charleston. Officers found the girl, her son and the girls stepfather, Christopher M. Derleth, about 1:30 p.m. Saturday shortly after a tip was called in, according to Kanawha County Sheriffs Sgt. Brian Humphreys. The elder Derleth was arrested. He will remain in West Virginia pending extradition, the Madison County Sheriffs Office said. The Charleston Gazette-Mail reported the girl and her three-week-old son were in good condition at a hospital where they were taken for examination. Madison County deputies were with federal marshals and West Virginia police when Derleth and the children were found. Humphreys said the break came when Derleth used his credit card at the convenience store near Cabin Creek on Friday. Cabin Creek is a small community on the Kanawha River, outside the Charleston metro area. Charleston is about 500 miles east of St. Louis. WCHS-TV in Charleston reported the three were found in a remote campsite near Kayford, a mining community about 10 miles south of Cabin Creek that is dotted with strip mines. The girl and her son disappeared last weekend. Shortly after, Derleth, 39, was charged in Madison County with aggravated kidnapping and child abduction. His minivan was spotted in West Virginia last Sunday, a few hours after a court-appointed guardian near Edwardsville realized the 13-year-old and her son were missing. Officials believe they were taken early last Sunday. They were last seen in the guardians home Saturday night. On Thursday, Madison County Sheriff John Lakin released medical information on Katherine Derleth to underscore investigators concern for her health. She has a congenital heart defect requiring a pacemaker. Equipment to monitor the pacemaker was found in Granite City, where the elder Derleth had an address. The teen delivered her son by cesarean section and was still under a doctors care for the surgery, Lakin said. Two weeks before the baby was born, the elder Derleth was named in a protection order barring him from seeing his stepdaughter pending a criminal investigation in Bond County. Derleth also had a residence in Greenville in Bond County; the stepdaughter lived with him before the Aug. 16 protection order. JEFFERSON CITY In a campaign season dominated by anti-politicians, Democratic candidate for governor Chris Koster has come out strongly against term limits. Although it may seem counterintuitive in a year when political outsiders have risen to the top, the two-term Missouri attorney general says combining a Legislature populated by short-timers with a politically untested rival could be a recipe for disaster in a state facing tough challenges in funding for schools, roads and health care. To say the answer to an inexperienced Legislature is an inexperienced governor? That cannot possibly be the answer, Koster told the Post-Dispatch in a recent interview. After cruising unscathed through the primary election season, Koster faces former Navy SEAL Eric Greitens on Nov. 8. Greitens, a newcomer to politics who had to fend off three well-financed opponents en route to winning the GOP contest in August, has campaigned hard on a message that change is needed in Jefferson City. Koster, by contrast, is betting that the outsider storyline of the 2016 campaign season is little more than a convenient narrative to explain primary wins by Republicans like Donald Trump and Greitens. My view of what is happening in our nation and our state doesnt buy into it. We are frustrated again with our political class, said Koster, who has held political office continuously for 22 years. I think that there are politicians that are trying to stimulate the extremes of both parties. But I think that could have been stimulated by an insider or an outsider. Eric with the machine gun ads kindled the same kind of far-right enthusiasm that Donald Trump was banging on, Koster said. But, he said, Someone has to know where the Department of Public Safety is. I dont think that he (Greitens) has anywhere close to the background to understand what it means to be $500 million underwater at MoDOT. Koster, 52, has been both an insider and an outsider in his more than two decades in politics. After serving as Cass County prosecutor from 1994 to 2004, he was elected to the Missouri Senate as a Republican and rose quickly into the leadership ranks. Within two years, he was plotting a bid for higher office. Koster, however, began to realize some of his positions no longer fit the GOP mold. The seeds of his switch began in the state Senate during a debate on legislation that would make a certain form of embryonic stem cell research a felony worth five to 15 years in prison. He filibustered against the measure, putting him in the crosshairs of anti-abortion forces in the Capitol. It created a rift with Missouri Right to Life that was never going to heal, Koster said. A second sticking point among his Republican colleagues was his support of labor. I would routinely work with Democrats when I was in Republican leadership to protect collective bargaining rights, to protect prevailing wage laws, to filibuster right-to-work, Koster said. His jump to the Democratic Party sent shockwaves through state government. It really surprised me, said state Rep. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, who served with Koster in the Senate. For the most part, his voting record was pretty conservative. But the abortion thing was not typical. And he was pro-labor. Youre not going to describe him as some left-wing nut. Koster now describes himself as a Conservative Democrat who, soon after the primary season ended, surprised political observers by winning key endorsements from the Missouri Farm Bureau and the National Rifle Association, two groups that have traditionally favored GOP candidates. With Missouris two large urban areas expected to stay on the Democratic side of the ledger in November, the support from the agricultural community and the NRA could help Koster outduel Greitens in the traditionally Republican rural areas of the state. Longtime Koster friend Chuck Hatfield, a Jefferson City attorney, said Kosters curiosity and his wide circle of friends and advisers may have helped him nail down the endorsements. He always likes to pick peoples brains, Hatfield said. I think Chris has been talking to those folks for years. Chris is not afraid to go in and talk to anybody. On labor, Koster is strongly opposed to Republican-led efforts to impose a right-to-work law he says would weaken unions and hurt families. Speaking to 2,000 delegates attending the recent International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers national conference in St. Louis, Koster delivered a passionate 10-minute speech outlining the perils of electing a Republican governor to go with a Republican-controlled Legislature. Right-to-work is designed to divide and dismantle unions, he told the crowd. Under a right-to-work law, no person can be compelled to join or not join a union or to pay dues to a labor union. The goal is to reduce wages in the United States of America, Koster added. But Koster also has roiled some from his party by disagreeing with Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon on a handful of high-profile issues. On a controversial voter-identification proposal vetoed by Nixon, Koster said the changes negotiated by Democrats after numerous filibusters made it more palatable. To the dismay of some of his Democratic counterparts from Missouris urban areas, he also said he wouldnt have vetoed Senate Bill 656, which would loosen the states gun law laws by allowing people to carry loaded weapons without first getting a permit or undergoing training. Those disagreements, said union electrician Gary McKay of St. Louis, are actually what make Koster an attractive candidate. It makes me think hes even-minded, McKay said after Kosters speech. Just as he switched parties, Koster also says he would vote differently on a number of issues now than he did when he was a member of the Senate. In 2005, he voted against a Medicaid expansion proposal, denying 100,000 poor people access to the health care program. Now hes running ads touting his support for expanding the government-funded health care program for the poor in order to leverage as much as $2 billion in federal aid for the program. I would not vote for the Medicaid cuts again, Koster said. In 2008, he voted to remove campaign contribution limits. Now, in an age where Greitens received a $1.975 million contribution during his successful primary run, Koster regrets that vote. If elected, he wants to raise the gas tax to boost spending on road repairs and construction. And, he decries the state of school funding in Missouri, saying it will take cuts in other parts of state government to boost spending on education. Its an outrage, he said. The hole that has been dug is profound. He did not say precisely what he would cut in order to divert more money to schools, but suggested the reductions would be felt throughout state government. Well get in there and figure it out. It will not be easy, Koster said. After eight sometimes tense years between Republicans in the House and Senate and their Democratic chief executive, Koster said his positions on some issues will help him better deal with lawmakers. In addition, he said he would be less formal than Nixon in hopes of forging cooperation with lawmakers. I think the temperature of the executive branch needs to be lowered, Koster said. My hope is to make the role of the chief executive a bit more approachable, a bit less formal. To get there, Koster must first beat Greitens. Since the Aug. 2 primary, he has kept a limited public schedule, favoring the private fundraising circuit in preparation for a financial onslaught by Republicans looking to pick up a governors seat as the term-limited Nixon leaves office. Along with touting his experience, Koster is hoping he has crossover appeal from the agriculture community and NRA members. Engler, for one, is among those who acknowledges experience is important when it comes to running state government. Thats not to say you cant get experience in other areas, said Engler, who was once a Democrat. But Ive seen incompetent people on both sides of the aisle. HILLSBORO Derrick Good carries the aura of a fixer. At lunch the other day at the Courthouse Grill, he knew everybody who walked through the door. His waitress even hit him up for legal advice. Good, 42, is a small-town lawyer who is involved in a lot of things. Charities. Baptist church. Republican politics, where he tends to work quietly behind the scenes. One year ago, he dove into the transgender arena after parents, the school district and reporters rushed in for help and public comment on an emotional issue. Hillsboro High School senior Lila Perry had shot up a flare from the rural hills of Jefferson County that was seen across the country and beyond. Perry, who was born male but identified as female, was telling news reporters that she would no longer settle for a unisex faculty restroom made especially for her. I am a girl, Perry, dressed in a skirt and long wig, said then. I am not going to be pushed away to another bathroom. All of a sudden, the school district, which has about 3,500 students, had an enormous situation on its hands. Students walked out. Some in support of Perry, others not. Some parents were caught off guard. Calls and emails backed up from all over. In the mix, three of seven school board members resigned. Good was tapped as an emergency replacement. He would go on to help develop a formal policy on how the school district would handle transgender students even though the law is still unclear. Foremost, Good said hes the father of two children, ages 14 and 9, in the district. But he became a spokesman for other parents like him who had serious concerns about a student with a penis using their daughters restroom without warning. Good gave multiple interviews to media outlets, anything from conservative talk radio to the Today Show. We dont need freshmen girls showing up on the first day of school with a biological male in the dressing room with them when their parents or they have no idea it could happen, Good said. That doesnt make any sense to me. Kids do better when there are rules, and there were no rules. And there were no easy answers. These kids grew up with this guy as a guy who now all of a sudden says: I am a girl, Good said. I would get crucified for saying it that way publicly, but I dont know how else to look at it. Thats the circumstance. Parents such as Good were on edge. As the transgender issue becomes more publicized, it forces parents to have tough conversations with their children before they are ready to do so. They question where parental rights end in dealing with juveniles. And while the rights of one child could be championed, they feel it could trample the rights of others. What about the physical privacy of the girls who know where they are at? Good said. Why does somebody else get to cross the line and force them into a situation that they dont want to be in? School districts around the state typically deal with transgender quietly, on a case-by-case basis. Perry, and her willingness to go public, changed the narrative in Hillsboro. Good and others felt that they needed to craft a policy. They were largely on their own. President Barack Obamas administration has said the failure to allow transgender students use of the bathroom, locker room or name associated with their gender identity amounts to discrimination based on sex. The guidelines are being challenged. The Supreme Court has yet to take a position on transgender in schools. The Missouri School Boards Association offered Hillsboro two starkly different model policies: one that follows federal guidelines and one that does not. The association doesnt recommend either because the law isnt defined. Regardless, Good said he wanted a policy that Hillsboro and other school districts could adopt. Every school district is dealing with it, whether you hear about it or not, he said. Over the summer, Hillsboro finalized two policies. Anyone who desires greater privacy can request alternative accommodations so long as the restroom or dressing area doesnt include that of the opposite sex. Students are allowed one written request for name and associated gender-pronoun change per school year with the support of their parents. The word transgender is not mentioned in the policies. Why am I going to make a policy aimed at one particular group of kids? Good said. Isnt that the definition of an equal-protection problem or discrimination problem? I am not going to make a Baptist-student policy or a Catholic-student policy. Lets make a facilities-use policy. This applies to all of our kids, not just one. Regarding special accommodations, Good said: Whatever your issue is, weve now come up with a rule that says we are here to protect you and make you successful. In my mind thats what we did. Who is to say there is a right and wrong? What we did is very fair. He said transgender decisions should be made after graduation. When people are adults and they have made decisions and there are surgeries available and physical change, thats different than when you are still in high school, he said. As his temporary position on the school board came to a close, Good ran for a permanent seat. He said he lost by eight votes. I am OK with it, he said. I really felt like we accomplished what I felt I needed to accomplish. And new duties arise. He was recently appointed president of the Jefferson County Port Authority. Hes still involved with transgender issues as an attorney affiliated with Alliance Defending Freedom, an Arizona-based organization that weighs in across the country. Though Lila Perry graduated, the superintendent of schools said there are several transgender students in Jefferson County. So far this school year, two Hillsboro students requested name and gender pronoun changes. No one asked for alternative restroom or dressing accommodations. We are not allowing comments on these stories. You can, however, leave a question or comment for a chat with the reporters on Tuesday. GARY, Ind. Donald Trump swooped into Gary, Ind., on his private jet and pledged to make the down-on-its-luck city great again. It was 1993, and the New York mogul was wooing officials in the mostly black city to support his bid to dock a showboat casino along a Lake Michigan shoreline littered with shuttered factories. Trump and his representatives later told state gaming officials he would leverage his incomparable experience to build a floating Shangri-La, with enough slot machines and blackjack tables to fill city coffers and local charities with tens of millions each year, while creating scores of well-paid jobs for minority residents. We are looking to make this a real peach here, a real success, Trump said of the project. Today, as the Republican presidential nominee pursues black voters with vows to fix inner-city troubles, many Gary residents say his pitch to solve the problems of crime and poverty is disturbingly familiar. Like others who have done business with Trump, they say their experience offers a cautionary tale. Little more than a decade after investing in Gary, Trumps casino company declared bankruptcy and cashed out his stake in the boat leaving behind lawsuits and hard feelings in a city where more than one-third of residents live in poverty. Trumps lawyers later argued in court that his pledges to the city were never legally binding. Trump told The Associated Press that his venture was good for Gary. Local civic leaders disagree. What you had was a slick business dealer coming in, said Roy Pratt, a Democratic former Gary city councilman. He got as much as he could and then he pulled up and left. Gary is a victim of the economic shifts Trump has bemoaned on the campaign trail. Just 30 miles southeast of Chicago, Garys fortunes fell with the steel industry. The remaining 77,000 residents abide persistent crime and chronic unemployment. In a presentation to the Indiana Gaming Commission in 1994, Trumps team touted his superior marketing and advertising abilities to pitch a 340-foot long vessel called Trump Princess with more than 1,500 slot machines. To sweeten the pot, Trumps representatives said they would try to ensure that at least two-thirds of the casinos staff would be minority residents from the surrounding area, according to a transcript. He offered to fund a new charitable foundation endowed with casino stock worth $11.5 million. His official proposal also listed eight local minority participants in the project, a diverse group of Indiana businessmen. The state gaming commission eventually awarded Trump a casino license. A May 1996 agreement signed by the Trump organization said the developer would endeavor to fill 70 percent of its 1,200 full-time jobs with minorities. Trump was to invest $153 million. The eight business partners in Trumps license application had been offered a chance to buy shares worth more than $1 million, but most didnt have the money. So both sides negotiated a deal for no cash up front offering the group 7.5 percent of the stock for the riverboat and another 7.5 percent into a trust for charity. However, the men said Trump reneged once the license was approved. None got stock in the casino, and the money for charity was less than promised. All eight sued for breach of contract, alleging they were dumped after Trumps license was approved. As construction proceeded in spring 1996, Trumps company began hiring in advance of the casinos grand opening in June. But his commitments to hire minorities and local businesses never came to fruition, according to local leaders. It simply did not happen, said Richard Hatcher, a Democrat who was Garys first African-American mayor. Hatcher helped bring a 1996 lawsuit alleging Trumps organization had only hired about 20 percent minorities. Though more than half of Trumps casino staff was eventually made up of racial minorities, the lawsuit said blacks were overwhelmingly relegated to minimum wage jobs, such as valets and janitors. Trumps lawyers argued the minority hiring goals were not legally binding and succeeded in getting the lawsuit dismissed. The other lawsuit, filed in federal court by the eight jilted business partners, continued. Six of the men dropped out of the case after Trumps company agreed to pay them a combined $2.2 million, but two refused to settle. The jury awarded them $1.3 million. But Trump appealed, and in 2001 a federal appeals panel overturned the jurys award, saying their agreements with Trumps company had not been legally binding. In 2004, Trump Hotel & Casino Resorts Inc., the parent company of the Gary casino, sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Trump sought to restructure $1.8 billion in debt, much of it tied to hotels and casinos in New Jersey and New York. Trump sold his companys stake in the Gary casino the following year for $253 million. According to financial disclosures, the proceeds from the sale were used to shore up the financial condition of Trumps other casino and resort properties. Through his spokeswoman, Trump told the AP he stood by his record. It worked out very well and was very good for Gary, Indiana, Trump said. The riverboat is still docked in Garys industrial harbor. On a recent workday, a sparse jeans-and-sweatpants crowd lined up for the serve-yourself soda and coffee between games. Asked about Trumps recent What do you have to lose? pitch to black voters, former Indiana gaming commissioner David Ross said it would be a bad bet. What you have to know is that Trump is for Trump and hes not for any black voters or anybody, Ross said. What hes looking for is to make some money for Trump. Maurizio Ulliana and his gondola on the aqueduct at Wootton Wawen WALKERS along the lock flight between Bishopton and Wilmcote last weekend could have been excused for thinking they had been transported to the Grand Canal in Venice as a gondola from Traditional Venetian Boats started its journey from Stratford upon Avon to London via the Stratford Canal, Grand Union and Oxford Canal. The lone helmsman was Maurizio Ulliana from Padua, Italy who has embarked on a four-week row to Little Venice in London to raise money for the restoration of traditional boats like gondolas. The 40-foot vessel proved eye catching for passers-by, one of whom was Fraser Pithie who captured this picture of the gondola on Monday as it passed over A3400 aqueduct on the Stratford upon Avon Canal adjacent to The Navigation pub at Wootton Wawen. I had a conversation with the gondolier as he passed me on the canal bank and he said the trip he is making is a sponsored event. He was in good spirits but hes got a long way to go, Fraser said SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Fair Political Practices Commission has launched an investigation into the California Democratic Party and alleged violations of the Political Reform Act in response to Consumer Watchdog's investigative report, Brown's Dirty Hands, the public interest group was told today. "We are pleased that the FPPC has launched an investigation into the troubling pattern of contributions to the California Democratic Party by oil, utility and energy companies uncovered in 'Brown's Dirty Hands,'" said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog. "The Party and members of the Administration who worked for it have a lot of questions to answer. Political parties shouldn't be used as laundry machines for money from unpopular companies or for campaign contributions in excess of candidate-permitted limits." For the FPPC letter announcing the investigation, go here: http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/fppc_cdp.pdf To read Brown's Dirty Hands, go here: www.consumerwatchdog.org/dirtyhands For a video on the report, go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t0ZgT-ahLg Consumer Watchdog released Brown's Dirty Hands on August 10. The report tabulated donations totaling $9.8 million dollars to Jerry Brown's campaigns, causes, and initiatives, and to the California Democratic Party since he ran for Governor from 26 energy companies with business before the state. The companies included the state's three major investor-owned utilities, as well as Occidental, Chevron, and NRG. An exhaustive review of campaign records, publicly-released emails and other documents at PUCPapers.org, court filings, and media reports, showed that Brown personally intervened in regulatory decisions favoring the energy industry, and points to Brown and his operatives having used the Democratic Party as a political slush fund to receive contributions from unpopular energy companies in amounts greater than permitted to his candidate committee. Between 2011 and 2014, the energy companies tracked by Brown's Dirty Hands donated $4.4 million to the Democratic Party, and the Democratic Party gave $4.7 million to Brown's re-election. Consumer Watchdog submitted its report to the Fair Political Practices Commission as a sworn complaint. Consumer Watchdog submitted the report, "Brown's Dirty Hands," to the FPPC as a sworn complaint in August. The timing of certain donations coincided with legislative or regulatory action on behalf of these companies. Among the examples detailed in the report: Southern California Edison donated $130,000 to the California Democratic Party, its largest contribution up until that time, on the same day PUC President Michael Peevey cut a secret deal with an SCE executive in Warsaw, Poland to make ratepayers cover 70 percent of the $4.7 billion cost to close the fatally flawed San Onofre nuclear plant. Brown backed the dirty deal, telling Edison's CEO personally, according to an email from the CEO uncovered by the Public Records Act, that he was willing to tell the media on the day of the plant's shuttering that the company was acting responsibly and focused on the right things. Three days prior to SCE's announcement that it would close San Onofre permanently, the company donated $25,000 to the California Democratic Party. Emails from PG&E's top lobbyist Brian Cherry to his boss claim that Brown personally intervened with a PUC Commissioner to persuade him to approve a natural gas-fired power plant called Oakley for the utility. In a January 1, 2013 email, Cherry described a New Year's Eve dinner with Peevey where Peevey reminded him "how he and Governor Brown used every ounce of persuasion to get [Commissioner Mark] Ferron to change his mind and vote for OakleyJerry's direct plea was decisive." PG&E donated $20,000 to the California Democratic Party the day after the PUC voted for the project. An appeals court would later strike down the decision because PG&E had not proved its necessity. While PG&E's lobbyist and then-PUC President Michael Peevey fed names to Brown's executive secretary, former PG&E vice president Nancy McFadden, to appoint the critical swing-vote PUC commissioner who would cast pro-utility votes, PG&E donated $75,000 to the California Democratic Party. The same day that Brown appointed ex-banker Mark Ferron to the commission, PG&E donated another $41,500. The appointment lifted the value of PG&E's stock and the PG&E stock held by McFadden and valued as high as $1 million. Chevron donated $135,000 to the California Democratic Party the same day lawmakers exempted a common method of well stimulation from legislation meant to regulate fracking. After the bill passed with an amendment dropping a moratorium on fracking permits, Occidental gave $100,000 to one of Brown's favorite causes, the Oakland Military Institute. Brown signed the weakened bill. On December 23, 2013, Chevron donated $350,000 to the Democratic Party. On December 30, the Democratic Party donated $300,000 to Brown for Governor 2014, while Chevron donated the maximum to Brown's campaign, $54,400, on the same day. Less than two months later, Brown came out publicly to oppose a proposed oil severance tax. The weakened fracking bill also helped Brown aide Nancy McFadden, who held up to $100,000 in Linn Energy that would acquire Berry Petroleum and its 3,000 California fracking wells. Visit our website at: http://www.ConsumerWatchdog.org To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fair-political-practices-commission-opens-investigation-into-ca-democratic-party-in-response-to-report-on-browns-dirty-hands-says-consumer-watchdog-300333560.html SOURCE Consumer Watchdog GENEVA, September 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Professor Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, former chair of the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), a part of the UN focusing on sanitation and hygiene, has received the Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa UN Habitat Award for Sustainable Development. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160923/411320 ) The ceremony was held at the United Nations headquarters in New York on the side-lines of the 71st UN General Assembly session, under the theme: "The Sustainable Development Goals: A universal push to transform our world". The prestigious award is presented every two years by the government of Bahrain and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and recognizes the outstanding efforts by individuals or institutions in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and is meant to promote efforts at national, regional and international levels to achieve the award's humanitarian goals. Professor Tibaijuka is a member of the Tanzanian parliament for Muleba South constituency since 2010, she is a former Minister of Lands, Housing and Human Settlement Developments, a former Undersecretary-General of the UN and Executive Director of UN-Habitat. She served as chair for WSSCC from 2011 to 2015. She is the first woman to receive the award in recognition of her role and contributions, through the posts she has held, to achieving urban and sustainable development, in addition to the efforts she has exerted in consolidating cooperation among various countries across the world, which entitled her to receive awards and appreciation certificates from government and international and academic agencies. During her term at WSSCC, the council made measurable gains in each of its outcome areas. Her leadership enabled WSSCC to reach some three million people with access to safe sanitation, to advance the cause of equality and non-discrimination through issues like menstrual hygiene management, to increase the number of individuals and organisations involved, to produce new knowledge and vital research, and to prepare the organization well for the post-2015 development period. The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) is at the heart of the global movement to improve sanitation and hygiene, so that all people can enjoy healthy and productive lives. Established in 1990, WSSCC is the only United Nations body devoted solely to the sanitation needs of the most vulnerable and marginalized people. In collaboration with members in 150 countries, WSSCC advocates for the billions of people worldwide who lack access to good sanitation, shares solutions that empower communities, and operates the GSF, which since 2008 has committed over $112 million to transform lives in developing countries. Contact: David Trouba, WSSCC SOURCE WSSCC Thousands of people demonstrate against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in the centre of Brussels, Belgium September 20, 2016. Reuters/Eric Vidal By Philip Blenkinsop and Tatiana Jancarikova BRATISLAVA (Reuters) - EU ministers took steps on Friday to approve a contentious free trade deal with Canada, while France and Austria demanded that talks towards a similar agreement with the United States should stop. Both deals have triggered demonstrations by unions and protest groups who say they will spark a 'race to the bottom' in labor, environmental and public health standards and allow big business to challenge governments across Europe. After a first session devoted to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) struck with Canada two years ago but still awaiting approval, ministers agreed the two sides would produce a binding declaration that spelt out the limits of the pact to dispel public concerns. The ministers are expected to convene an extraordinary meeting on Oct. 18, allowing the deal to be signed during the visit of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Brussels on Oct. 27. It could provisionally enter force early next year. "There was a great willingness to sign the agreement in October," Sigmar Gabriel, Germany's economy minister and vice-chancellor, told reporters. Gabriel on Monday overcame left-wing resistance to the deal within his Social Democrats, the junior coalition partners in government. However, lingering doubts remain elsewhere, notably in Austria, where Chancellor Christian Kern's Social Democrats have grave concern, and Belgium, where not all regions back the deal. Reinhold Mitterlehner, Austria's Christian Democrat vice chancellor, said a declaration making clear that standards were not under threat and that a special court would not allow big business to dictate public policy would help. NO TTIP? By contrast, Mitterlehner and his French counterpart argued that the EU-U.S. Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) talks, which have been going on for the past three-and-a-half years should be halted. The Austrian told reporters they should be relaunched after the U.S. presidential elections with greater transparency, clearer goals and a different name. The current process, he said, was doomed. Luxembourg and Slovenia also expressed strong reservations. Washington and Brussels are officially committed to sealing this deal before President Barack Obama leaves office in January. But their chances of doing so are remote given approaching elections on both sides of the Atlantic, with trade not a vote-winner, Britain's June vote to leave the European Union and the calls for a fresh start. EU trade chief Cecelia Malmstrom said all ministers had expressed doubts a deal could be struck before Obama's departure, adding it was "increasingly unlikely". A next round of talks would go ahead in October and Malmstrom said talks could continue after the November election. "If we do not conclude TTIP before January 19, then there will be a natural pause," she said, adding it was hard to say when they might restart. Some ministers spelt out the difference between concessions granted by Canada and what they said was U.S. intransigence. "If the Americans are not ready to meet at least the standard of CETA, with Canada, then there will be no chance of a deal," said Gabriel. Finnish trade minister Kai Mykkanen said most of his peers preferred to let the Commission push on with talks, with an assessment of progress in November. He said a possible relaunch under a new president might need a new name. "There are so many unreasonable fears and maybe they are tied to the name TTIP," he said. The name has become synonymous in many people's mind with the evils of globalization and big business. Outside the ministers' meeting in Bratislava, around 100 local trade unions and Friends of the Earth activists held banners, mostly in English and German, denouncing CETA and TTIP. On the other side of the Danube river, Greenpeace unveiled a large banner on the top of a tower reading "No TTIP". (Additional reporting by Alissa de Carbonnel; Writing by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Richard Balmforth) A Wells Fargo branch is seen in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois, U.S. on February 10, 2015. REUTERS/Jim Young/File Photo By David Bailey (Reuters) - Two former Wells Fargo & Co (NYSE: WFC) employees have filed a class action in California seeking $2.6 billion or more for workers who tried to meet aggressive sales quotas without engaging in fraud and were later demoted, forced to resign or fired. The lawsuit on behalf of people who worked for Wells Fargo in California over the past 10 years, including current employees, focuses on those who followed the rules and were penalized for not meeting sales quotas. "Wells Fargo fired or demoted employees who failed to meet unrealistic quotas while at the same time providing promotions to employees who met these quotas by opening fraudulent accounts," the lawsuit filed on Thursday in California Superior Court in Los Angeles County said. Wells Fargo has fired some 5,300 employees for opening as many as 2 million accounts in customers' names without their authorization. On Sept. 8, a federal regulator and Los Angeles prosecutor announced a $190 million settlement with Wells. The revelations are a severe hit to Wells Fargo's reputation. During the financial crisis, the bank trumpeted being a conservative bank in contrast with its rivals. A Wells Fargo spokesman on Saturday declined to comment on the lawsuit. The lawsuit accuses Wells Fargo of wrongful termination, unlawful business practices and failure to pay wages, overtime, and penalties under California law. Former employees Alexander Polonsky and Brian Zaghi allege Wells Fargo managers pressed workers to meet quotas of 10 accounts per day, required progress reports several times daily and reprimanded workers who fell short. Polonsky and Zaghi filed applications matching customer requests and were counseled, demoted and later terminated, the lawsuit said. While executives at the top benefited from the activity, the blame landed on thousands of $12-per-hour employees who tried to meet the quotas and were often required to work off the clock to do so, the lawsuit said. Employees with a conscience who tried to meet quotas without engaging in fraud were the biggest victims, losing wages, benefits and suffering anxiety, humiliation and embarrassment, the lawsuit said. Wells Fargo was aware many accounts were illegally opened, unwanted, carried a zero balance, or were simply a result of unethical business practices, the lawsuit said. "Wells Fargo knew that their unreasonable quotas were driving these unethical behaviors that were used to fraudulently increase their stock price and benefit the CEO at the expense of the low level employees," the lawsuit said. (Reporting by David Bailey in Chicago; Editing by Matthew Lewis) President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi Mansour of Yemen addresses the 71st United Nations General Assembly in the Manhattan borough of New York, U.S., September 23, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri By Yara Bayoumy and Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Yemen President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi vowed at the United Nations on Friday to "extract Yemen from the claws of Iran" as he accused Tehran of impeding peace by intervening in the country. A Saudi-led Arab coalition has been fighting Iran-allied Houthi rebels in Yemen since March 2015 in a bid to restore the internationally-backed Hadi to power after rebels took over the capital Sanaa, made gains in other provinces and forced Hadi's government to flee into exile. Saudi Arabia sees Iran as the paramount threat to the Middle East's stability because of its support for Shi'ite militias that Riyadh says have inflamed sectarian violence. Tehran views the Houthis as the legitimate authority in Yemen but denies accusations by Saudi Arabia and Yemen that it supplies the rebels with weapons. The Houthis say they are fighting a revolution against a corrupt government and its Gulf Arab backers. "We shall extract Yemen from the claws of Iran, we shall raise the Yemeni flag over every foot of our precious Yemeni soil and we will lay the foundation for a just federal state," Hadi said in a speech at the annual United Nations gathering of world leaders. U.N.-sponsored talks to try to end the fighting that has killed more than 10,000 people collapsed last month and the Houthi movement and allied forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh resumed shelling into neighboring Saudi Arabia. "We tell the whole world in very clear terms that extremism and sectarian terrorism sponsored by Iran in the region has created and will create a terrorism counter to that," Hadi said. Hadi defended a move to appoint a new central bank governor and move the bank's headquarters from the rebel-held capital Sanaa to the southern port city of Aden, the main foothold of fighters loyal to Hadi. "We decided to move the central bank to the interim capital, Aden, in order to save what we could save so that the bank would not reach zero reserves," Hadi said. Arab central bank governors said on Friday they supported the move. The central bank has been the last bastion of the impoverished country's financial system in the civil war and is effectively running the economy, according to central bank officials and diplomats. The government has accused the Houthis of squandering some $4 billion on the war effort from central bank reserves. The Houthis said the funds were used to finance imports of food and medicine. (Writing by Yara Bayoumy; Editing by Grant McCool) The two-week long exercise will continue till 10th of next month. Around two hundred military personnel of both countries will participate in the drills. On Friday, Russian forces had arrived in Pakistan to participate in joint military exercises. Also Read:Russian troops arrive in Pakistan for First joint military exercise A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan for first ever Pak- Russian joint exercise (two weeks) from September 24 to October 10, DG ISPR Lt-Gen Asim Bajwa tweeted on Friday. A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived Pak for 1st ever Pak- Russian joint exercise (2 weeks) from 24 Sep to 10 Oct 2016 pic.twitter.com/eWzQMlENL6 Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 23, 2016 The Russian troops will be in the country for two weeks from September 24 to October 10. The joint military drill is seen as another step in growing military-to-military cooperation, indicating a steady growth in bilateral relationship between the two countries, whose ties had been marred by Cold War rivalry for decades. BMW, Benz possible for Ministry Secretaries By Bandula Sirimanna Top officials in lucks way as monthly vehicle rental now close to half a million rupees a month View(s): View(s): Top public officials including Ministry Secretaries are in lucks way with their monthly vehicle entitlement being increased to a maximum of Rs. 425,000 (excluding VAT) effective October from Rs. 300,000 earlier. The new September 19 directive Treasury circular 1/2016 (1) which also covers officers of equal rank was issued by Treasury Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga last week. This makes them entitled to hire luxury vehicles like BMW and Benz which is around Rs. 400,000-Rs.450,000, Toyota Avillion and Prado at Rs. 350,000 or Montero at Rs. 220,000, according to market rates. Normal vehicle rentals in the market range from Rs. 40,000 to about Rs. 100,000, car dealers said. The circular to Ministry Secretaries, Chief Secretaries and Heads of Department is based on a September 13 cabinet decision and revises rates issued earlier in March this year. The other new monthly rentals of the operational leasing of vehicles are as follows: Category 11 Additional Secretaries/Director Generals/District Secretaries/Chairmen of boards or officers of equivalent capacity: Rs. 200,000 from Rs. 119,500 earlier. Category 111 Senior Asst. Secretaries/Directors or Officers of equal rank: Rs. 135,000 from Rs. 98,700 earlier. Category IV Double cabs as pool vehicles: Rs. 165,000 vs Rs.158,000 earlier Category V Passenger vans 16 seater: Rs. 170,000 vs Rs. 139,100 earlier In March this year, the Treasury introduced the new rental scheme shifting from the earlier practice (under the former government) of purchasing new vehicles and auctioning it after three years of use as maintenance of new vehicles was too costly. The purchase of vehicles for Ministries, Departments, and Provincial Councils and Government agencies earlier was made through the Consolidated Fund. Under this scheme the Department of National Budget (NBD) would negotiate with the Bank of Ceylon (BoC) and the Peoples Leasing Company, a subsidiary leasing company of Peoples Bank (PLC), on the terms and conditions of the leasing arrangement relating to purchase of vehicles in accordance with guidelines on procurement of vehicles. Under the new scheme, vehicle importers say that wont be any transparency in hiring vehicles as the owners of vehicles can quote any price less than the maximum price to hire their vehicles and the ministry has no expertise to evaluate the condition of the vehicles and category. The reason for the rental scheme is since the Government has to spend a large sum of money on the purchase and maintenance of vehicles obtained for the use of public sector institutions due to high cost of repairs. With a view to overcoming the weakness in the system and reduce unnecessary costs of maintaining a large vehicle fleet by each and every public institution and to enhance the efficiency while promoting the leasing industry in the country, the 2016 budget proposed the Operating Leasing System to hire vehicles on use and return option and on a 60-month fixed rental basis. Under this scheme, the lessor will bear charges for the insurance, license, all repair costs and the government will only bear the cost for fuel and drivers. The new system of hiring vehicles from private sector began from March this year and a revision of the maximum monthly rental was made in the September 19 Treasury circular. First-ever book on BPO in Sinhalese View(s): The first ever book on Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) in the Sinhala language titled Sinhalen BPO has been authored by Yasas Vishuddhi Abeywickrama. It has been published by Vijitha Yapa publishers. It explains the BPO sector in a simple language so that school children, school leavers, young job seekers, parents as well as any other person can read and grasp what this sector is all about. IT and BPO sectors go hand in hand. Although there is much awareness about the IT side of the industry, BPO side of it has not been made that popular. There are many professionals already working in BPO companies, in professional areas around Accounting, IT Services, Customer Services and other functional lines, says the author. There is high potential to win more work from foreign countries, get them outsourced to Sri Lanka, and service them with our talented young people from here. However, there is lack of awareness resulting in most students not picking this exciting area. This book aims to answer that challenge by educating everyone with a simple language. Mr. Abeywickrama initially worked at Virtusa, then moved to Australia where he worked for the South Australian government and Accenture. Five years later in 2010 he returned to Sri Lanka and co-founded Lanka BPO Academy, said to be Sri Lankas first successful organisation for training people for the BPO industry. He is an active member of the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL), which is the apex body for IT professionals in Sri Lanka and is currently the Vice President. The book was launched recently at Ananda College Colombo, the authors old school by handing over the first copies to S.M. Keerthiratne, Principal of Ananda College and Jayantha Wickramasinghe, President of Ananda OBA. The book can be bought online at http://www.vijithayapa.com/product/view/30628 Greener pastures beckon Ceylon Tea estates By Sunimalee Dias Dilemma of Sri Lankas biggest agricultural export View(s): View(s): PEDRO ESTATE, Nuwara Eliya An eerie silence pervades Sri Lankas aesthetic tea estates that are dotted today with only a few women using their agile fingers to pluck two leaves and a bud. But unknown to them strong undercurrents, due to low leaf prices, are in boardrooms of management companies to steer the future towards a new model of higher yields and higher wages. The hilly estates are monetarily not a viable option for the workers of today or for privately-owned companies both of whom are paying a high price for their economic sustenance. Trade unions, which get in the way, seem to be losing popularity with limited political clout. But an interesting sign on the horizon is plans to venture into diversified crops like coffee, in the latter case turning back the pages of history and time. If not for the coffee blight that destroyed the crop in the 1870s, tea would never have emerged as an alternative. Tea estates in Sri Lanka have a long drawn history with the crop marking 150 years next year and continuing to observe age-old practices even today, despite lifestyles of workers and livelihoods drastically changing. No more is the labour captive though private sector regional plantations believe this is the only way to sustain the plantations. A Business Times team visited the Pedro Estate owned by Kelani Valley Plantations of the Hayleys Group last week. Established in 1887, it has 2000 hectares of lush tea fields producing under the labels Lovers Leap and Mahagastote. And so it was here that we had the opportunity to talk to workers and staff about living on an estate and how the lives of future generations on the plantations could change if the work structure shifts to a productivity-based model. A number of key issues persist with one of the most important being that workers are clueless about the progress of ongoing discussions between trade unions (representing workers), plantation owners and the Government on a new model and other changes. Traditions and practices From womb to tomb workers are looked after by estates and in their own words they told us; we get all welfare at our place on the estates. Dependence on the estate is across all boundaries. For instance a letter of recommendation from the Estate Manager helps workers to secure a bank loan, get them out of trouble with the police or get a job for their children outside the plantations. While workers have been bound to the estate by a strict system of traditions, they no longer are tied to this lifeline as most have shunned it in search of greener pastures. The annual Sami Kumbran (a Hindu festival) is given concessions like the use of at least three estate-owned vehicles and holidays for workers on the days of the feast. These traditions are applicable to Christians as well. The company is also duty bound to provide paint, kerosene oil, sacks, lime for whitewashing the kovil and labour to clean it. Moreover, upon the death of an estate worker, workers are released to carry out the duties of burying their dead. In addition, vehicle expenses are provided to bring down the body from wherever the place of death for burial on the estate. On the day of the funeral there would only be one stretch of work hours till around 2.00pm for that division to which the deceased worker belongs to. Labourers involved in pruning the plants which takes place every five years are provided with sugar, milk and bread and tea as a practice. Factory workers are given bun or bread and evening tea. The kankani, who organizes the estate labour, is provided an extra rate for his services in this capacity in addition to the attendance pay. Company observations The plantation sector today is riddled with a host of problems with the removal of subsidies and weedicides adding to the chaos that has already arisen due to falling prices in the world market for tea. Pedro Estate Manager Anura Senanayake said that today on the plantation out of a resident population of about 7000, only about 1100 are registered workers and out of that too only about 850 workers turn up daily. This has been attributed to people finding employment in vegetable fields and other jobs, it was explained. In fact, he noted most of the children today have been provided education facilities as a result of which they seek other jobs in other sectors as well as on the plantations own factory. This has resulted in the plantations having a very poor turnout of workers. Our biggest problem is that we have a shortage of workers, Mr. Senanayake complained. A pressing concern on the estates is the withdrawal of the fertilizer subsidy provided by the government until 2015. Previously it cost them Rs. 26,000 per metric tonne with the subsidy payment which has now nearly doubled to Rs. 53,000 per tonne following the removal of the subsidy. Moreover, glyphosate a widely used herbicide sprayed on the plants to kill weeds has been banned in Sri Lanka as a result of which large scale agricultural lands have been increasingly affected. Basta, an alternative weedicide, is expensive and costs the estate Rs.18,000 per can whereas weeding with glyphosate would cost only Rs.4000 per can. Mr. Senanayake noted that copper oxychloride, a fungicide not available in the market for the last six months resulted in the propagation of blister blight fungus. This causes the leaf to turn black as a result of which about 30 per cent of the crop has been affected. While these concerns were the general issues on the ground level, overseas Sri Lankan tea has been frowned upon by its key buyers: Russia with its own concerns on the tea prices since it has been affected by a drop in the rate of the Ruble, Iranian sanctions, Syrian crisis and the Iraq problems have all added to the costs and drop in prices of Ceylon Tea. But problems are not restricted to the management. Workers have their own share of issues though it is unlikely that they would walk out the estates and start an entirely new life in an alien environment. Issues of workers Ms. Vimaladevi (35), a mother of two and a tea plucker for the past 12 years, complained that the pay on the estates was not sufficient to meet their daily requirements as a result of which she was compelled to work a few days of the month on vegetable fields outside the plantation. She is the sole breadwinner of the family with an alcoholic husband. If we are paid more, we will not go out to work it is only if we go out that we can earn more, she asserted. in about Rs.7500 per month she is able to earn Rs.900 per day on the vegetable fields where she works for 2-3 days per week. We want our children to get into other jobs, she said when asked about the next generation and added; thats why we send them to school. Most workers are attracted by the Rs.900 daily wage offered by nearly vegetable field owners compared to the overall Rs.620 inclusive of EPF and ETF or basic salary of Rs.450. Vegetable field owners drive in their trucks to the estates boundaries to pick up workers willing to come along. Work on these fields were said to be tedious since they were not allowed to get up during work hours causing much strain. They are offered soup. At times workers would have to return to the estate if there was an excess of labour on a particular day. Another tea plucker, Ms. Sudarambai (39) says that if they could earn extra she would spend on building a ceiling in her home, purchasing household goods, warm clothing, shoes and raincoats. At present she invests money in a seettu for the purchase of jewellery and savings for the children. She complained that her husbands pay did not help in generating any savings since he would spend at least Rs.300-400 per month on alcohol conveniently forgetting to purchase medicine for her eldest child, who suffers from epilepsy, since the medicines were not freely available. Ms. Sudarambais 13 year old daughter and 10 year old son attend school. Life is sad so we dont want to pass on this sadness to our children, she said pointing out that the next generation prefers moving out of the estate. N. Navaneethan (35), is the only person in her family working on the tea estate in a family of six where the mother in law stays at home, father in law is engaged in odd jobs and the husband earns about Rs.30,000 a month as a driver outside the estate. With two children educated in a semi-government school their expenses are high including Rs.1000 school fees and she is looking at obtaining a loan from the local bank and obtain a separate house on the estate. P. Devagi (38) on the other hand is not married but earns for her family since their parents had died. Living on the estate has proved good to her as she was able to get a house which she has given to her sister and her husband who are both working outside the estate. However, all members of the family including her elder brother who is currently on retirement and another brother who is trying to get a job, live on the estate obtaining all the facilities. Others on the estate like M. Lawrence has got approval to obtain extra space to their line rooms which have being transformed to more comfortable abodes with a dining, two bedrooms, sitting room, kitchen, toilet and pantry. Out-grower model vs productivity model Manager Mr. Senanayake explained that during his time on other estates he was able to convince some of the workers into engaging in the out-grower model. The regional plantation companies had proposed to adopt a method similar to the smallholder concept where workers would be paid according to the output of green leaf with plots allocated to them that would then enable them to get higher wages. This system has been adopted in a number of estates and proved to bring in a higher yield and improved gains. However, Mr. Senanayake pointed out that workers at Pedro Estate had clearly shown their dislike towards this model slamming their palms on his table, during one discussion, opposing the model. What workers say is that since all family members cannot work on the estate, a higher yield is not possible. Field watcher R. Savundarapandyan, also Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) representative and Assistant Secretary of the Co-operative Society of Estate Workers said; We will have to employ our children and we dont want to do that, he said adding however, living on the estates was meaningful to them since it provided the necessary security and even the ability to get a loan from the bank among other welfare benefits. It is through the Co-operative Society that members who are workers on the estate have the ability to get a house. Under the proposed productivity model, the workers would be paid Rs.620 per day for three days of the week and from the fourth day workers will function on a productivity based system whereby they would be paid Rs.35 per kg of tea plucked daily. However workers and even union representatives were clueless about the new model. Trade unions Trade unions, the middle man or the face of the worker at high level meetings that sit around to discuss particularly wages related issues, are fast losing their popularity. Workers today openly oppose unions with Ms. Devagi pointing out, We do not believe in the unions. In fact she also noted that they did not know about the new system either. S. Tillainathan who started out as an office assistant at the factory has risen to becoming an English-speaking guide at the Tea Centre, said They dont tell us properly. They have misled us. Our grandfathers, fathers, and we want the estates but our sons dont want it. The CWE, the most powerful plantation union, has lost its popularity being unable to win the wage demands of workers even after more than 18 months have lapsed since the Collective Agreement ended in March 31, 2015. Future Mechanisation to pluck leaves gets work done faster and in an improved time period for which two persons are employed and paid a basic salary of Rs.450 each until 2.00pm and another Rs.450 basic salary for anything more after 2.00pm. However, problems on this front are that the machines are not functioning due to poor quality as a result of which the plantations are compelled to use manual labour. RPCs have diversified into coffee as well with the Hayleys plantations already started with five hectares in Hatton in addition to a number of other companies as well that have looked at producing this crop and pepper. It would likely be marketed overseas, Hayleys Plantations Managing Director D Roshan Rajadurai said. They have also diversified into the leisure sector as well with at least four bungalows to be upgraded to boutique hotels under the Amaya brand. Mr. Senanayake, when asked why they do not want the workers to live outside estates, says that this was not possible as these people have no place to go and were descendants of the Indian origins brought down by the British colonials. However, these colonial structures are falling fast and even the trade unions are looking at new models like establishing these workers outside the estates in communities in one village which seems a distant reality. Workers want to remain on estates but not most of the new generation. The promise of new labour is hard to find but the estate owners believe they need to hold onto them for what seems like more than a lifetime. Worker benefits vs reality Water is free but some workers pay for this service if they had obtained the facility through a different government programme. Seven creches provide facilities at a Child Development Centre where a 42 day-old baby to 5 year-old children are looked after. Co-operative Society provides housing loan and charges Rs.850 for gas and cookers. Rs.2000 per coffin and free tea and labour and vehicle for funerals Powdered milk and 1kg flour for babies under one year Children are given up to 10 years free wheat flour n Medicines are said to be free but it was found that some drugs were not available as a result of which the workers were compelled to purchase these from outside the estate. What may have gone wrong Weak management (in some cases) Poor recruits (in some cases) No passion for the job (managerial level) unlike in the 1960s-1980s Alcoholism a major issue In most cases it has become a cash cow and not a national venture No replanting Large percentage of tea bush over 75 years old Bulk of tea sold to ME, CIS and Russia. These markets are unsustainable Should have expanded markets to Europe and US with niche product rather than dependence on traditional markets. Hopes of depositors fade over early solution to CIFL crisis By Quintus Perera View(s): View(s): The hopes of depositors of the failed Central Investment and Finance Ltd (CIFL), lifted last week with the arrival of German investment group to revive the company, are turning to despair, a week later. Depositors say they have been sidelined from key meetings the 5-member delegation of Vandell Financial Services SA, Germany has had so far with the President, Finance Minister and other officials. The September 15 arrival of the investors was exclusively reported by the Business Times (BT) as an effort to finalise a plan to rescue CIFL. In addition the delegation also had plans to invest in the North and the East. W. Gunawardena, President, CIFL Depositors Association (CIFLDA) said that a preliminary MoU between the German investors and the authorities is yet to be signed on the way forward. Earlier it was stated that the investor would pump in Rs. 5 billion to rescue CIFL with the bailout plan being to pay 60 per cent of the depositors money outright, 20 per cent to go as a compulsory saving and the other 20 per cent to be converted into shares. In the meantime, CIFL director Lakshman Rupasinghe, who has been associated with the visit, in a notification to the Colombo Stock Exchange said that the delegation met with several VVIPs. He said the investors have expressed a desire to acquire 100 per cent ownership of the company. We have submitted all the clarifications to the investor delegation and awaiting their response from them in the form of a MoU indicating the future plan of action setting the milestones in reaching the final objective of reviving CIFL and handing over the management to the new investors, the note said. He also told the Business Times that he received a letter on Wednesday from the Central Bank stating that the Monetary Board has the authority to give controlling interest of the company provided certain conditions are fulfilled. Mr. Gunawardene said that they met the German delegation on Thursday for discussions and it is likely that the team would return to Germany over the weekend. He could not say whether a MoU would be finalised by then. The team is led by Joachim Spatz, former Member of the German Parliament and an advisor to Vandell Financial Services and includes Prince David Yogeesen, Sri Lanka-born financial advisor at Vandell Financial Services. Sri Lanka prepares for possible power shortage by 2018 By Bandula Sirimanna View(s): View(s): Sri Lanka is preparing for a possible power shortage by 2018 while approval has been granted by the electricity sector regulator to the Ceylon Electricity Boards 2015 -2034 Least Cost Long Term Generation Expansion Plan (LCLTGEP), a senior official said. The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has insisted that the power plants listed in the LCLTGEP for the period of 2017-2020 should be built, to prevent the possible power shortage in year 2018 and beyond due to non-operation of hydro power plants during drought conditions. PUCSL Director General Damitha Kumarasinghe told a media conference in Colombo on Monday that under drought conditions, even with planned plant additions, there would be energy and capacity shortages in years 2018/2019 and beyond. According to the CEBS plan around 1,275 MW of power would be added to the national grid in the next four years. The proposed power plants include two thermal power plants with the capacity of 170 MW in the Southern region, 105 MW gas turbines, and 300 MW natural gas power plant and several renewable energy power plants with the capacity of 700 MW including three major hydro power plants, he disclosed. The failure to implant those power plants on time will result in power shortages. The commission stressed the need of a National Demand Side Management (DSM) Programme, development of planned conventional power plants on time and expediting grid integration of planned renewable energy based plants. The Government is to introduce a new energy policy and a complete study iss underway with JICA assistance for this purpose, Mr. Kumarasinghe disclosed. A special committee appointed under the leadership of economist Prof. Sirimal Abeyratne is studying the possibilities of using LNG power plants in Sri Lanka. Once these studies are completed the Government will come out with its long-term generation plan for Sri Lanka for the period 2018 2037, he revealed. However energy experts have suggested building a 500MW coal power plant or a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)-fired combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant on the west coast. An LNG CCGT plant could be built in Kerawalapitiya. CEB had already identified Colombo North Port as a suitable site for a LNG terminal and Kerawalapitiya for building a gas-fired CCGT, they pointed out. Sri Lanka would be able to supply electricity to consumers at low price as the coal power generation cost is around Rs. 8.11 per unit, they said. Citing an example, an energy expert said Sri Lanka now generates 50 per cent of its electricity from Norochcholai coal power plant bringing electricity costs down to Rs. 15 from Rs. 23 per unit. Even though the 2015-2034 LCLTGEP was sanctioned, the PUCSL emphasised that the CEB should submit the extension plan for the period of 2018-2037 for the approval of the commission, by April 2017 giving priority to the governments policy framework and the least cost principle. Sri Lankan government wants to regulate e-commerce By Sachith Perera (Courtesy http://www.readme.lk/) View(s): View(s): It was announced recently that the Sri Lankan government wants to introduce regulations for the local e-commerce industry. Sri Lanka is a country that relies on exporting various goods and services to generate income. Among this income is what we as a country have managed to propagate through the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. According to the Central Banks 2015 annual report, IT related activities have seen a significant growth of 21.1 per cent in 2015, compared to just 9.3 per cent the year before. Statistically our country has managed to double its growth in terms of IT and the infrastructure required to facilitate it. With the ever-growing developments that are happening around us, it is safe to assume that this growth is set to increase in the years to come. A significant portion of this growth can be accredited to e-commerce which has managed to change the entire way on how the economics of the country work. This whole revolution has managed to produce an ever-growing number of websites and mobile apps to enter into the market, essentially engaging in commercial transactions. This is not something which is only happening in Sri Lanka but across the world. These new entrants to the market have fundamentally changed how people transact. In short, theyve disrupted the market. So whats the Sri Lankan government trying to do? Recently, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake revealed that the government is planning to regulate businesses operating in the e-commerce sector. Essentially, the government wants these businesses to operate under the accounts of banks which are locally based. This is in light of the whole process where Sri Lanka is trying to come up with more flexible foreign exchange laws under the Exchange Control Act. Minister Karunanayake also stated that the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) has requested such regulations to be imposed considering the fact that budget hotel booking apps like AirBnB have entered the Sri Lankan market. With THASL representing many of the high-end hotels in Sri Lanka, its not too surprising that such a request was made. He made these statements at the 9th Ease of Doing Business Forum organised by the Ministry of Finance. What the Sri Lankan e-commerce industry thinks of it ReadMe reached out to entrepreneurs operating in the e-commerce space to gather their idea as to what they thought about this news. We found that there is a mix of opinions amongst the local e-commerce companies regarding the issue. Not too surprising since the Minister only made a vague statement, without an action plan on how the regulations will be implemented. Some like Sachira Fernando, CEO of NicNac, were against the Sri Lankan government introducing e-commerce regulations. Speaking to ReadMe, he said, The government should first come up with proper technologies which support local e-commerce entities such as PayPal, easy to integrate and secure payment gateways, which we dont have at the moment. This point was also echoed by Dhanika Perera, CEO of Bhasha and PayHere. He told ReadMe that that one of the main reasons why earnings from Sri Lankan e-commerce businesses go abroad is due to a lack of proper payment method available locally. This is why Dhanika says, he founded PayHere. Sachira went onto state that the government should first pursue initiatives supporting the growth of e-commerce businesses. By bringing in legislation, to regulate them, it might take the industry backward. This is because its already a challenge to start an e-commerce business in Sri Lanka. To have it grow and expand into global markets is an even greater challenge. If the government doesnt pursue initiatives to support these businesses before bringing in legislation, they could leave to more supportive startup ecosystems abroad. For AirBnB stopping operations in Sri Lanka is nothing. They will close down and they wont care. Who is losing from it? Close to 7000 families who make a living by renting out their spare room. The sharing economy should be motivated, not put down like this, he said. Sachira also pointed out that companies like AirBnB and even Uber actually promote entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka. If you rent a spare room or decide to use your car to give people Uber rides, then by definition, youd be an entrepreneur. Should the legislation be poorly written, then its more likely that these local entrepreneurs would suffer, rather than the foreign companies. We recently saw this happen in Dubai when the government regulations against Uber and other ride sharing services went into overdrive. Upon further analysis of these foreign e-commerce businesses, one could also argue that they face intense local competition. An example would be Uber, which faces competition from PickMe. To capture even a decent share of the market, they have to spend considerable amounts of money in Sri Lanka. These costs wont be recovered overnight. Until they do, its unlikely these companies will see any great profits. Meanwhile, its the local entrepreneurs building their jobs and earning money with these services that truly win. This is the disruption in the e-commerce industry that the sharing economy has created. As Shakya Lahiru Pathmalal CEO of Takas says, speaking to ReadMe, Disruption is a very good thing in the 21st century. It is how economies grow and how jobs are created. As such, the legislation needs to be well thought out by the Sri Lankan government. If not it would stifle innovation. The above point was also echoed by Kumar Melvani, CEO of MyDeal.lk when he too spoke with ReadMe. However, Kumars opinion differed from the previous entrepreneurs. He believes that the Sri Lankan government trying to regulate the e-commerce industry might be a good thing. Why? Because this could potentially pave the way for consumer finance safety and other measures coming into place. However, Kumar went on to say that the government is only listening to one side of the story. That side is those of existing large scale corporations. The other side of the story, the side of the local e-commerce businesses has been ignored so far. Until the government does so, no form of legislation would be effective. If at all, it would be detrimental to the e-commerce industry. Another titan in the e-commerce industry that shares Kumars thoughts, is Dulith Herath CEO and founder of Kapruka. He too believed that the government needs to listen more closely and get input from e-commerce businesses. This is why some of the local e-commerce businesses are looking at forming a collective organisation. According to Dulith, the purpose of this organisation would be to give the e-commerce industry of Sri Lanka a collective voice when it comes to matters such as this. Dulith went on to state that he wasnt against the Sri Lankan government introducing regulation to the e-commerce industry. In fact, he welcomed it. This was because e-commerce businesses in Sri Lanka are currently registered as retailers. With the introduction of new legislation by the Sri Lankan government, its believed that e-commerce businesses will get proper recognition in the legal sphere. Additionally, Dulith disagreed with the sentiments Sachira shared with us. According to Dulith, its actually very easy for anyone to come to Sri Lanka and start an e-commerce business. Once the business is set up and has captured a significant share of the market, theres nothing technically stopping them from taking all the profits they earn abroad. Whereas, in other industries, this is not the case. For example, in the tourism industry, no foreign business can build a hotel in Sri Lanka without following certain strict regulations. The e-commerce industry doesnt enjoy such protections. To ensure that local e-commerce businesses stand a fighting chance and have a level playing field, Dulith believes that regulation will be necessary. However, Dulith also agreed with the sentiments shared by Lahiru. He stated that the government should be cautious when drafting the legislation. The biggest challenge the government could face would be with taxes. For e-commerce businesses, it might make sense to charge a smaller tax from them. But this would be a short-lived solution. It wouldnt be long before the owners of brick-and-mortar shops decide to vent their frustration at the government. As such, itd be best for the government to take a page from the US: charge a flat tax on both e-commerce sales as well as those from brick-and-mortar shops. So whats next? Irrespective of where you stand on the Sri Lankan government regulating e-commerce, one thing is clear. The government must open a dialogue and listen to the needs of local e-commerce businesses. If the government fails to do so, then its likely that this legislation would end in disaster. Not only would the government run into a series of complicated problems but it could also stifle innovation. As a result, the legislation could be very detrimental to the entire industry. Not only for larger well-known names like Kapruka, MyDeal.lk, Takas and NicNac but also the many local entrepreneurs using services like AirBnB. Should that happen, the local e-commerce industry will be significantly held back from growing. As such, if the Sri Lankan government is serious about regulating e-commerce in Sri Lanka, we hope theyll reach out to the local industry soon. If not, we might see many entrepreneurs close shop and some even leave Sri Lanka. An amendment that defeats its entire purpose View(s): It is unfortunate that a Bill purporting to amend Sri Lankas Code of Criminal Procedure Act made public this week takes away existing rights to suspects detained by the police through constitutional precedents. Torture is at the early stages This is in relation to a suspects right to consult a lawyer of his or her choice at the earliest point after arrest. The amendment purports to give that right only after a suspect has been interrogated by the police and statements recorded. This is manifestly unacceptable at several levels. For years, the demand by advocates had been to liberally interpret Article 13(3) of the Constitution which states that any person charged with an offence shall be entitled to be heard, in person or by an attorney-at-law, at a fair trial by a competent court. As criminal law practitioners are aware, long before glamorous notions of constitutional rights gripped our collective imagination, these same rights had been secured in a solid body of jurisprudence which was developed quietly and without much fanfare by Sri Lankas appellate court judges in relation to accepted criminal procedures. Much of these safeguards were however displaced by national security laws to the point of negation. One noticeable absence concerned the failure of the criminal procedure law and constitutional provisions securing the prompt right of legal counsel to a suspect.For practical reasons, this right became of the utmost importance as endemic practices of torture by the law enforcement machinery became evident, whether in relation to petty crimes or in interrogating suspects in graver offences. As studies have extensively documented, torture takes place at the very early stages that a person is taken into a police station. State policy needs to be clear Non-access to a lawyer has been a pivotal step in this perverted chain of custodial torture. The Special Rapporteur on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Manfred Novak has rightly observed that this failure deprives Sri Lankas Criminal Procedure Act of basic safeguards preventing torture (see Mission to Sri Lanka 1-8th October 2007 (A/HRC/7/3/Add.6, 26 February 2008, at para. 36). Indeed, if the wish of the Prime Minister is to give effect to the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) as frequently declared on the floor of the Parliament and elsewhere, there can be no better way to do this than to revise this amendment so as to allow access to legal counsel at the very first point of arrest. Issuing a General Comment under the ICCPR, the United Nations Human Rights Committee has stressed that the right to communicate with counsel requires that the accused is granted prompt access to counsel. Counsel should be able to meet their clients in private and to communicate with the accused in conditions that fully respect the confidentiality of their communications (General Comment No. 32, Article 14: Right to equality before courts and tribunals and to a fair trial, U.N. Doc. CCPR/C/GC/32 (2007). It has also reiterated this same point in several Communications of Views against State parties. The proposed amendment therefore defeats the entire purpose of changing the law in the first place. As the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka warned in an excellent statement released on Friday, such an amendment will gravely impact on the right to a fair trial which commences at the time of investigation. Unacceptable excuses cannot be tolerated In their earlier avatars, senior state lawyers of the Department of the Attorney General, (now yahapalanaya crusaders), defended the failure to give the right of access to legal counsel to a suspect at the earliest point on some novel arguments. Thus for example, in a 2002 report to the Committee against Torture submitted in terms of Sri Lankas obligations under the Convention Against Torture, it was stated that this was because police investigators should be able to conduct the initial investigation and interview suspects in an unhindered manner. Therefore, (as was said), such interview, by counsel representing suspects should not take place prior to the recording of the statement of the suspect. Imaginatively it was further proclaimed that the suspect is free to divulge any assault or harassment at the time of initial production before the magistrate. It was also affirmed that counsel/attorney-at-law representing arrested suspects have the right to interview the officer-in-charge (OICs) of the relevant police station any time after the arrest (even prior to the recording of the first statement of the suspect) with a view to ascertain the basis of allegations against his client (suspect) and the date, time and location relating to the production of the suspect before a magistrate. These explanations however are fundamentally unconvincing. They must not be allowed to stand if these are the same reasons as to why this particular amendment has been framed in such completely unacceptable terms. The stark reality is that when lawyers do indeed, proceed to interviewing the OIC or any relevant senior officer, he or she is open to the real risk of being chased out of the police station. This was indeed what happened to one gentleman at the Bambalapitiya police station in consequence of which the Supreme Court detailed the right of a lawyer to represent a client at a police station and directed the OIC to facilitate such access without hindrance. Reconsider the ill-wisdom of this amendment Where law reform is concerned, the right of a suspect to counsel after arrest has been grudgingly conceded in some cases but here too, this is not afforded at the earliest point. Thus special provisions amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure, which were operative for specified periods of time, afforded a suspect the opportunity to consult an attorney-at-law of his choice to suspects. But this was only in relation to a particular category of serious offences and not pronounced as a general principle. This reluctance needs to be overcome. If this Government wishes to live up to its promise that Sri Lanka is not a police state any longer, it is imperative that the basic right to independent legal representation must be available as of rights to suspects at the earliest point after arrest. It is hoped that the profound ill-wisdom of bringing this amendment in its current form will be reconsidered. Back to school to reconcile state-private higher education By Chandani Kirinde- Lobby Correspondent View(s): View(s): Matters of dispute within the School and University Education system in the country came up for discussion this week in Parliament, with both, Higher Education Minister Lakshman Kiriella and Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariawasam, sounding somewhat beleaguered with a fight on their hands with those in the Medical profession. Education Minister Kariawasam who has been on the warpath with the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) for several weeks, over their demand for their childrens admission to popular government schools, in a lengthy statement to Parliament on Tuesday, explained why the GMOAs demands cannot be accommodated. I cannot give into the unreasonable demands of the GMOA and deprive other children of admission to these schools, the Minister said, while tabling several documents in the House, which he said exposed how some GMOA office bearers have forged documents and give wrong information to get their children admitted to schools in Colombo. The GMOA in turn has sought an appointment with President Maithripala Sirisena to submit a list, they say, the Association has compiled to show how over 100 politicians have admitted their children to popular government schools, bypassing stipulated procedure. And while Minister Kariawasam will no doubt have to contend with the GMOA matter in the coming weeks, Higher Education Minister Kiriella too is faced with an uphill fight with the Medical profession. It revolves around the opposition by both, doctors and students in State-run Medical Colleges, to SAITM (South Asian Institute of Technology & Medicine), which they allege has enrolled students who are unsuitable to become doctors, as they have been recruited without the basic minimum qualifications for university entrance, to study Medicine. The SAITM matter became the main topic of discussion on Thursday when Parliament took up for debate the Universities (Amendment) Bill, which increases the retirement age of nonacademic staff of universities from 57 to 60. The JVP which has consistently opposed private education, stuck to its guns with its Kalutara District MP Dr Nalinda Jayatissa insisting, the Government take over SAITM and absorb the qualified students to State-run Medical Colleges. State-run universities can accommodate more students, particularly in the Medical Colleges. It is better to increase the student intake into these facilities, as SAITM is run fraudulently without proper authorisation, he alleged. Megapolis Minister Champika Ranawaka said that, with nearly 1,200 students now in their final year at SAITM, the Government cannot allow this matter to drag on any longer, and must intervene to bring about a settlement to the matter. We encountered the same situation 30-years-ago, when the North Colombo Medical College (NCMC) was started. It is tragic that 30 years later, we are facing an identical problem, he noted. The Minister also said that, its time to bring about radical changes in both School and University Education systems in the country, which have remained unchanged for over four decades. In 1992, there were 93 Advanced Level candidates who got A grades in all subjects, but in 2016, there were 6,329. In 2015, over 200 candidates got A grades in all subjects in the Commerce stream, but could not get placements in State universities. The district quota system has to be rethought, as competent children from certain schools lose out on university admission, due to higher cutoff marks in their areas, he said. Minister Ranawaka said that, while free Higher Education is a necessity, it was time for these universities to admit other qualified students on a paying basis, so that no student should lose out on the opportunity of Higher Education. A State-run Medical College spends around Rs 3 million per undergraduate, for their five years in campus, while places like SAITM charge massive amounts each year. If the State universities admit students on a paying basis, they would have to pay much less and still use the facilities at these institutions and get a proper education, he said. Higher Education Minister Kiriellla said the Government is of the opinion that SAITM should be run on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) basis. He said SAITM was started under the previous administration and no one had objected to it then. We even had a debate in Parliament at the time, but no one objected to it, due to fear, he said. There is no doubt the Education sector at both, School and University will continue to be problematic for the Government. While a higher allocation from the national Budget does go some way to address the problems in the sector, Minister Ranawakas warning that unrest within universities, which are at a heightened level at present, if left unaddressed, could pave the way for another bloodbath like in 1971 and 1989-90 era, needs to be heeded with all seriousness. Patients losing their patience and people too View(s): So much is being said in Sri Lanka these days about our medicine men, of their practice and practices, their haps and mishaps that the news has been carried by wind and wave, not to mention technology, to this part of the world too. It does remind one of a recent report in the local media of Asian hornets that are said to have invaded this pulsating heart of the old empire and are decimating the local bees that even Brexit might have to take a back seat until Scotland Yard launches a sting operation to deal with it. It was bad enough that the natives here have been bristling with anger at being virtually swamped by their European cousins who are being denigrated as benefit vultures and fattening themselves on British social welfare. But now for the Brits to hear that aggressive hornets from their once far-flung colonies could possibly wipe out local bees pollinating the flowers they nurture with such tender care unlike patients in some of Sri Lankas hospitals, have had their lips moving in apoplectic dissonance. Not even such disturbing reports of the birds and the bees could kill the interest of Sri Lankans here who are regularly fed with first-hand stories of the goings-on in the medical fraternity brought here by returning members of the community or sent via so-called social media though one sometimes wonders what is so social about it. Just a couple of days ago I was told of the on-going war of words between some officials of the Government Medical Officers Association more popularly known by the abbreviation GMOA and Education Minister Akila Kariyawasam, with the GMOA spokesman threatening to sue the daylights out of the minister. One recalls that shortly after the change of guard in the Presidential Secretariat and Temple Trees there were so many politicians of varying and changing hues threatening legal action against others that one thought that perhaps the plethora of alleged cases of bribery and corruption would not even reach the perimeter of the court house. If the briefless among the legal fraternity were salivating at the thought of a sudden boost to their bank balances, their hopes would have suffered deflation because those threats were as empty as the promises of politicians. So one would have to wait and see whether the flexing of muscles and the threatened launch of legal missiles would have the devastating potential of those released by the Great Leader Kim Jong-un. Meanwhile, it is worth recounting a couple of stories at least about Sri Lankas medical world brought to us from the Asian Miracle and the miraculous escapes some have had from sliding into bankruptcy at the sight of their medical bills and miscellaneous expenses. The miracle, of course, is that some of them have managed to survive the heart seizures that followed the sight of their medical bills. It used to be said-and some say it is even truer today than then that some doctors cure their patients with pills and then kill them with their bills. One story was told by a person living in London who took a relative along to a Colombo private hospital for treatment. The patient was immediately warded and over a couple of days all sorts of tests carried out, under whose instructions he did not know. Having paid the unbelievably expensive bills he brought copies of the medical reports to London where he showed them to two consultants here. Both had said that half the tests done in Colombo were unnecessary and not related to the patients medical complaint. That is how some private hospitals make their money at the expense of the patients. Another story comes from a Sri Lankan consultant physician working in a major hospital here. This doctor had passed out of the Medical College in Colombo and worked for several years in Sri Lanka before moving to Britain. While on holiday in Sri Lanka recently she had taken a relative to a private hospital for a consultation. She was shocked to find when they walked into the consultants room there were already two patients there. There was no privacy and the patient the doctor was examining had his medical details revealed before the other patients in the room. This is the state of medical care in some of the private hospitals where consultants are more concerned with making sure of their fees and as quickly as possible, with cursory concern for the patients. I know of an incident that occurred at a private hospital in Colombo some 40 years or so ago. To repeat that somewhat nauseating story might upset many. Some might not even believe it. This incident was reported on the front page of the Sunday Observer under Talking Point. I remember it well because I wrote it and a witness to what happened then lives to this day in Colombo. The other two incidents mentioned above came to light recently. But the media in Sri Lanka have been replete with observations and commentaries about the unsavoury practices of some of our doctors attached to even state institutions which clearly indicate their propensity to serve mammon rather than man. If one were to look at the litany of complaints over the years about the practices of some doctors and their preoccupation with wealth at the expense of the people one wonders whatever happened to that Hippocratic Oath which set out among other things the ethical conduct that those in the medical profession is expected to follow. It may be that unlike in the past that oath has been deposited in the dustbin as newly passed-out medical graduates do not have to take it though morally they should abide by it. Some say that to expect ethical conduct and an adherence to a moral code today from politicians down to some professionals and non-professionals be it the state or private sectors, is like expecting the sun to rise in the west. Painting all doctors with the same brush would be to carry this too far. There are many responsible and dedicated doctors who put patients before self. One needs to be wary about damning entire professions and groups of people because of the disgraceful conduct of some. But in recent times we have heard or read of numerous doings by individuals that bring their professions or vocations into disrepute. The problem is when a group of professionals act in concert and exert pressure on a government or an institution to concede demands that might be unfair by the rest of the community and is prejudicial to the well-being of people generally. The current contretemps involving school places for the sons and daughters of government medical doctors is a case in point. If the rules and regulations adopted by the Education Ministry militate against a particular group of persons because they are subject to a different set of rules, then there is obviously a need to rationalise the systems so that nobody is penalised as a result of conflicting regulations. If the children of doctors do not have schools it is the duty of the state to provide them places at that grade because education is compulsory up to a certain age. The problem here is not a lack of schools to accommodate these children. The problem is over the demand that Grade One level children be provided with places in a select number of schools in Colombo and other principal towns. If the children of government doctors are to be accommodated in a select number of schools, those in other professions or government sector employment have a right to ask why doctors should be given preferential treatment. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe was correct when he said that one career path should not be considered more important than another. If the children of doctors get priority in the school placement process, it could well mean that other parents who probably have a better case to make on behalf of their children lose out. That cannot be allowed to happen because doctors think they have a prior claim to the better schools. The answer of the doctors association is to use their profession as a weapon to brow-beat the government and hold the people hostage just as the LTTE before its ultimate demise. The GMOA has been increasingly using its medical role to confront governments on issues that are not directly relevant to its status as a trade union in the medical profession. The GMOA does not seem to really care that in its selfish pursuit of the best for themselves they are actually hurting the people of Sri Lanka whose tax money went into providing them with a free education that allowed them to become doctors. The more the doctors go on strike causing a disruption in the work they should be doing and their duty to the people, the more the wrath of the people accumulates against them. From their demands for duty- free cars, probably to travel from their State work- places to their places of private practice, to objecting to a trade deal with India, all the people see is a group of professionals that fatten themselves on the citizenry because self-aggrandizement is their goal. No wonder then that some wag has termed the GMOA the Government Meddlesome Officers Association. Doubtless others have even more appropriate names to describe this agglomeration that has turned Hippocrates into hypocrisy. Preparing the 2017 Budget: Too many cooks may spoil the soup View(s): Preparing the 2017 budget is a challenging task. Bringing down the deficit to 5.5 per cent of GDP; increasing revenue substantially; fiscal reforms to achieve these; finding the fiscal space for development and much needed social expenditure are enormously demanding tasks in the current economic and political context. Furthermore, the processes and procedures of budget formulation have become more complex and confusing than ever before. This is a sequel to last years budget fiasco and the unity government being composed of two parties with different perspectives on the objectives of the budget, its priorities and principles of taxation. Last budget The last budget had 16 amendments and revisions and its fiscal objectives remained mostly unrealised. These changes included the reintroduction of the capital gains tax, changing the income tax threshold, increasing and extending the Value Added Tax (VAT) and removing several tax exemptions. In fact these amendments have created considerable confusion about the taxation in 2016. Although the budget was passed by a two third majority there was much discontent from within the government itself and hostility from certain sections of the opposition. Some of the procedures that have been introduced have been to ensure a more acceptable budget by the two main parties of the government and the people. Two committees Consequently the government is putting in place a complex modus operandi for the preparation of the budget. Two committees have been appointed to finalize the 2017 budget proposals. One of them consists of the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake and Minister for Special Assignments Dr. Sarath Amunugama. Meanwhile President Maithripala Sirisena also has appointed a committee of six ministers to oversee the budget proposals to ensure that the 2017 budget proposals would be in line with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party policy manifesto. Conspicuously absent from both these committees are ministers who have knowledge and experience of economics and finance. The objective of the Presidents committee is to ensure that the 2017 budget reflects the SLFP political and economic principles and is not only a UNP one. On the other hand, the Prime Minister and Finance Minister though of the same party appear to be of different modes of thinking as seen in the divergences between the Prime Ministers Economic Policy Statement of November 5th 2015 and the budget a few days later. There were fundamental differences in the approach to taxation. The 2016 Budget hardly reflected the economic strategy outlined by the Prime Minister. Disagreements The overall objective of these committees is to mould a more consistent and acceptable budget. However, it is highly unlikely that they would reach a consensus. There could even be differences within them. There is a likelihood that the process itself may generate much debate and disagreement and the compromises reached may render the achievement of the fundamental objectives of the budget difficult. These two committees could be at variance with each other and there could be differences within them as well. Public proposals In addition it has become a ritual of budget preparation for the Ministry of Finance to seek public views on the preparation of the budget. Is this a meaningful exercise that improves the budget or is it only a politically popular move? According to a report in last Sundays Business Times, the reality is that the inclusion of proposals sent by citizens in previous national budgets has been minimal as most of them are confined to personnel needs of individuals and did not serve the countrys interest or government policy. Although one or two citizens proposals were incorporated in budgets presented during the last five years. In contrast around 30 to 50 per cent of proposals submitted by various organisations, trade unions, private sector institutions, the trade chambers, pressure groups and professionals have been incorporated in previous budgets. According to this Business Times report public proposals for budget 2017 are pouring into the Finance Ministry where officials are grappling to tackle the massive fiscal deficit, unbearable public debts and adverse trade deficit affecting the countrys economy. The Finance Ministrys is sorting out suitable proposals in various fields relating to social welfare schemes, health and education, management of public sector income and expenditure and the infrastructure development, policy improvements in the area of trade and investment, SME sector and the deployment of the labour force. According to this data, the department received 1,285 proposals for the 2016 budget, which was nearly a five-fold increase when compared with the proposals received for the 2015 budget. The average per year of citizens proposals for the budgets presented during the last five years was around 900 although the number of proposals dropped to 257 for the 2015 budget. Data shows that 609 proposals were included in the 2016 budget and of that around 300 had been submitted by various organizations, trade unions, private sector institutions, the trade chambers, pressure groups and professionals. This is to be expected as most proposals would be from the perspective of personal advantage or vested business interest and would not be concerned with the stringent fiscal situation of the country. Hopefully some of these proposals would contribute towards more efficient revenue collection and finding the fiscal space for the countrys expenditure priorities. Decisive issue The critical issue is whether the next budget would address the key fiscal issues of containing the fiscal deficit, increasing revenue, finding fiscal space to finance education and health adequately and finance infrastructure and development projects without excessive borrowing. These are difficult tasks as recent experience has shown. However unless government revenue is increased substantially there would be no fiscal space for increasing expenditure on education, health and the development of infrastructure. Fiscal imperatives The main objectives of the 2017 budget has been stated as the reduction of the budget deficit to 5.5 per cent of GDP, maintain government investment at 6 to 8 per cent of GDP, maintain the economys investment rate at 30 per cent of GDP and achieve a GDP growth of more than 6.5 per cent. Would the two committees and the public proposals come up with taxation proposals that would achieve this target and reduce the fiscal deficit to 5.5 per cent of GDP that the government is committed to achieve or will these committees and disagreements among them lead to a lack of adequate taxation measures to rein in adequate revenue? Mobiles: If they are smart, be smarter View(s): For some time now, Sri Lankas mobile phone users have been charged for value added services that a majority of them did not knowingly subscribe for or want. It is not clear how long the scam has been going on. The service providers are vague, the regulator only just found out, and there is no evidence that anyone at ministerial level knows or cares. According to the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, the country still has no laws to tackle the issue. On the one hand, the Government is picking pockets through the illegal Value Added Tax (charged even before the levy was approved in Parliament). Now we find telecommunication companies doing it and getting clean away, laughing all the way to the bank. This sort of third-party billing is commonly described as cramming. In Sri Lanka, it occurs when mobile phone companies enter into partnerships with third parties who inveigle consumers into enlisting for services they were not even aware of, typically through the internet. The 2015 Central Bank Annual report places mobile phone penetration at a whopping 116 percent. There are more mobile phones in Sri Lanka than there are people! Admittedly, a large number of these are traditional instruments and not smart phones that enable internet access. This would indicate that the number of mobile phone users affected by unauthorised charges for value-added services is lower than it might have been. But the use of smart phones is growing, encouraged by service providers offering discounted phones but standing to gain from increased use of mobile applications and data. One mobile phone company is even providing smart phones on easy payment terms with a view to widening internet penetration. All this is well and good, but the regulatory and consumer protection component of exploding mobile phone usage has just not kept up. The Consumer Protection Authority is neither protecting nor has the authority, it seems. Mobile service providers make hefty profits; a cursory glance at their annual accounts provides ample proof of that. One company has routinely made around Rs. 5-6 billion in net profit each year for the past several years. A significant area of growth is value-added services. This means that, unless the regulator steps in, more and more customers will find themselves mired in the scam. But the regulator itself is clueless. And the politicians even more. No world peace with blood money In New York, USA this week World leaders were welcomed by twin bomb blasts in the city (that never sleeps) bringing to them the message that all is not well with the world they govern. And if that happened outside the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, inside the august assembly none other than the head of the 192 member-state organisation, Ban Ki-moon let fly, rather uncharacteristically and somewhat belatedly the following words: Present in this hall today are representatives of governments that have ignored, facilitated, funded, participated in or even planned and carried out atrocities inflicted by all sides of the Syrian conflict against Syrian civilians. No truer words have been uttered by the Secretary General of the UN, and sadly these scathing remarks fell short of naming and shaming, the obvious culprits involved in the raging, virtual Armageddon in Syria. The fact that the UNSG who, in typical style of his countrymen indulges in self-criticism, blaming the world body he heads for inaction in the worlds war zones made these remarks only at the end of his second five-year term, is a shame. He could have been more assertive after his re-election as SG. One only hopes as an act of penance, he doesnt do what many of his countrymen do and jump off the UN building, particularly if he has set his sights on being the next President of South Korea. US President Barack Obama also hit round the podium, so to say, in his valedictory address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, accusing Russia of wanting to win back its lost Empire (a reference to arming anti-Government troops in Ukraine but not saying that the West backed an anti-Government peoples movement to topple the former regime in Ukraine and now supports anti-Government troops in Syria). He hit out at China for wanting a market economy (capitalism) without the attendant individual liberties (democracy) and took a swipe at his own domestic political rivals. World leaders who followed him to the podium blamed everyone, but themselves, for all the worlds problems. The fact that the world leaders had to have a summit to discuss the refugee problem caused by the wars in West Asia and the economic depravity in other parts of the world due to unequal playing fields, spoke louder of the reality that the UN which was formed in the aftermath of World War II to end all wars has succumbed to the worlds powerful arms trade. That the Generals have won over Diplomats; the Hawks over the Doves. Pope Francis set the stage for the assembly of world leaders in New York when he said in not far away Washington DC last month while addressing the US Congress, the first time a Pope has done so, that those behind the arms market should be ashamed of themselves for bringing about the misery that exists around the world. He made it plain: Here we have to ask ourselves; why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering to individuals and society? Sadly, the answer, as we all know, is simply money, money that is drenched in blood, often of innocent blood. The Pope called it shameful that the arms trade continues in the way it does and he told it to US politicians who are recipients of their contributions in an election year. The arms merchants and contractors have donated US$ 25 billion to parties and candidates in the 2013-2014 election cycle of US politics and so far in 2016 up to US$ 5.9 billion a fraction of the profits they reap from this bloody industry. President Obama also did make a passing reference to this arms industry and asked delegates how much financial assistance the US can give to the world at large from even a fraction of the monies it spends in its military budget in Iraq. The talk shop that is the United Nations General Assembly will wind up next week and it will be the business of killing and maiming and the destruction of property and refugees spilling all over as usual, thereafter. The flip-side of it all is; what if there is no United Nations to even talk of world peace. Celebrating 100 Years of Roald Dahl Magic! View(s): The hundred year anniversary of Roald Dahl, one of the greatest childrens authors of Britain, falls on September 13, 2016. The British Council organized many events during the month of August/September to commemorate this milestone. Three creative writing programmes were conducted by one of the leading English authors in Sri Lanka, Prashani Rambukwella. The workshops were aimed at introducing children to concepts of creative writing, whilst making sure they had a lot of fun and got a chance to display their talents. At the workshops, the children were divided into six oddly named groups. They were magical words from Roald Dahl books. He was famous for creating new words, especially in The BFG. The children had a great time trying to guess their meanings, until Rambukwella revealed at the end that all six words meant caught! Each group wrote their own story, learning along the way how to create characters, build worlds and plan the plot of a story. At the end, it was time to read out the stories they had written, and then there was a vote for the best story. The group that earned the most points during the competitions and games was declared the winner. But as Rambukwella stressed, as everybody took part, had fun and learnt to write a story, they all were winners! Later that evening there was a movie screening of The BFG held at the library. followed by a series of film adaptations of Roald Dahls beloved classics. Captivating as Roald Dahls stories are, Quentin Blakes lively illustrations will always be etched in our minds. Giving a chance for children to develop their artistic talents, a cartoon workshop was conducted on August 29 by the renowned Sri Lankan cartoonist Nirosh Perera. Valuable lessons were learned, such as how to bring out expressions and using props. The workshop was based on The BFG and the children drew its scenes and characters. Each child was to submit a drawing of a scene from a Roald Dahl book. Presently an exhibition of the art work created by the children based on Roald Dahl stories are on display at the Library and as the days pass, more and more pictures will be flowing in. As the world readies itself to celebrate this anniversary, British Council, Colombo is sure to leave its mark. Friendship through Service View(s): Girl Guide and Senior Guide branches of the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association conducted an All Island Joint Service Project from August 27 30, 2016 in Jaffna under the theme Friendship through Service with the participation of 135 Guides, Senior Guides and Guiders. The project was conducted under three phases, namely, cleaning the Nallur Kovil premises and Perumal Kovil premises in Nallur during the kovil festival and cleaning the premises of Nagadeepa Temple in Nainatheevu. This annual service project which is usually held in Adams Peak was shifted to the Northern part of the island this year with the aim of bringing about reconciliation and religious harmony. The participants also visited places of interest in Jaffna including the Public Library, the Fort, Dambakolapatuna, Keerimalai Pond and the Denzil Kobbekaduwa Memorial. Other interesting activities were the participation in the kite show at Kankasanthurai, a boat ride to Nainatheevu and shopping at the Jaffna market. Ceylon Tours celebrates 70 years View(s): Ceylon Tours, a pioneer tour operating company in Sri Lanka, marked its 70th anniversary this July. In view of this milestone the management is organising a musical event which will feature several international artistes who will perform on October 1, 2016. Ceylon Tours, a pioneer tour operating company in Sri Lanka, marked its 70th anniversary this July. In view of this milestone the management is organising a musical event which will feature several international artistes who will perform on October 1, 2016. In celebration of the successful journey in the industry, they together with Cargills PLC, Prestige Automobile (BMW) along with E Fm Radio presents The Best Sixties Show since the Sixties. The show deemed the revival of an era gone by will feature the former front man of the Jetliners; Indra Raj and other iconic musicians such as the founding member and Rhythm Guitarist, Anton Gunawijeya. They will be joined by internationally acclaimed artistes such as the famed bass guitarist Alan Jones, Elvis Presley sound alike Pete Roth, and Cliff Richard impersonator Dave Roberts singing Cliff Richard songs to name a few. The concert event will take place at the Museaus College Auditorium at 7.00 pm and the exclusive sit down dinner show will be held on the October 2 at 7.30 pm at the Galadari Hotel Colombo. Speaking on the show, Suren Ediriweera,Managing Director of Ceylon Tours said that over the years, they have had a strict clientele. This I believe shows the quality of our service. Customer satisfaction is very important to us and therefore we always give priority to their choices. Founder of Ceylon Tours, P. A Ediriweera, has worked with a vision to explore dream vacations and destinations for deserving customer. Although it initially started off extending services to inbound tours, today the company also specialises in providing outbound tours. As such the company has extended its services to provide specialised tours to countries such as the Maldives, Brazil, Cuba, Vietnam, UK, Germany and France. In addition to that, Ceylon Tours was one of the first travel companies to become a member of International Air Transport Assosiation (IATA) and works closely with all airlines. Equipped with their own fleet of vehicles, the company ensures a quality experience for its customers. Daredevil Ok, lets get the elephant in the room out of the way, Ben Affleck wasnt actually that bad in this. However, whilst Batfleck seems to have found his place in Wayne Manor, he was woefully miscast as blind attorney Matt Murdoch in this 2003 comic offering.It gave us a weird blend of gritty reality and OTT (Colin Farrells wonderfully psychotic Bullseye looks like he has escaped from Joel Schumachers Batman and Robin). This tonal dichotomy, twinned with Afflecks inexplicable tight leather suit that looked like it had been stolen from a BDSM convention (Jennifer Garners Elektra isnt much better), and some ropey writing, led to this film getting a lot of hate. Oh, and Nickelback did the soundtrack. Yep, Nickelback, who were dated even in the early noughties. Jon Favreau and Michael Clarke Duncan do well to elevate their parts, but the best way to enjoy this is to sit back and watch a party-era Colin Farrell (modern sober Colin Farrell is SO much less interesting) have great fun over-acting as a crazy Irishman (a stretch for him I know). Not Bens finest acting turn, but he does have a knack of playing decent superheroes in pretty awful films (yes, Im looking at you Dawn of Justice). In fact to quote Jay and Silent Bob Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms yo!. Jetwing Yala and Tented Villas Escapism into the wild View(s): I magine the wild growths of an untamed semi-arid jungle red dust, thick scrub and lakes as still as glass. Imagine also, the life this wilderness holds from the graceful wings of endemic and migrant birds to the quiet footfalls of the elusive leopard. Now imagine waking up with all this wonder outside your window. I magine the wild growths of an untamed semi-arid jungle red dust, thick scrub and lakes as still as glass. Imagine also, the life this wilderness holds from the graceful wings of endemic and migrant birds to the quiet footfalls of the elusive leopard. Now imagine waking up with all this wonder outside your window. At the world-renowned Jetwing Yala and Jetwing Tented Villas, you will be fully immersed in the magic that is the wild of south-western Sri Lanka. Located barely ten minutes from the gates of the Yala National Park, the properties are designed to allow guests to embrace the natural wonders of the region while basking in the luxury experience that Jetwing offers. In addition to the variety of amenities it offers, Jetwing boasts a tremendous commitment to sustainability and the environment. Jetwing Yala hosts one of the islands largest privately-owned solar parks. This, coupled with responsible wildlife tourism under the guidance of Jetwings expert naturalists, ensures that your stay in the wild has a memorable, positive impact. With 80 rooms built to seamlessly blend into the surroundings, spending time in the resort premises allows you to fully soak in the natural terrain while sampling the comforts of a luxury stay. Featuring three bars in the lobby, by the pool and by the sea alongside an international dining and a fusion dining restaurant, Jetwing Yala spoils its guests with the finest dining opportunities featuring dishes created with care by expert chefs. If you are an outdoor enthusiast the glamping experience at Jetwing Tented Villas in essence has the best location in view of the endless seas, the majestic star studded sky, and few visitors from the animal kingdom. The fully-fledged 10 decked luxurious villas come with butler service and packages inclusive of unlimited supply of beer and safari packages to the Yala National Park. The guests can choose from the many dining options be it by the beach or bonfire or on the deck, the Jetwing Tented Villas are a private enclosure closer to the natural world. The beachfront area is staffed by internationally trained lifeguards and guests can enjoy dips in the warm sea all year round, though this area of the island is at its finest between the months of October through May. The sand dunes of the seashore make the perfect setting for a romantic dinner under the stars, with the ocean a few feet away; this unforgettable dune dining experience can be arranged through the dedicated hotel associates. A visit to this region would be incomplete without a thrilling safari in the Yala National Park, brimming with wondrous flora and fauna an album of memories to last a lifetime. Committed Jetwing naturalists ensure that your experience in the park is both adventurous and educational, as you learn about all the majestic creatures that you see. The region is also rich with religious history the temples at Tissamaharama, Kirinda, Sithulpawwa are beautifully set in the rough landscape. The shrines at Kataragama, just over an hours journey from the hotel, draw devotees of all faiths from across the island to the multi-cultural places of worship. For more information or reservations please call on 011 4 709 400 or e-mail on resv.yala@jetwinghotels.com. To enjoy discounts at the properties log on to special offers on www.jetwinghotels.com. Family owned and in the tourism industry for the past 43 years, Jetwing Hotels has surpassed expectation at every aspect. Building on their foundation of being passionate, as well as the experience of true, traditional Sri Lankan hospitality, constantly pioneering discoveries captures the essence of the brand. Such a strong statement and direction have enabled Jetwing Hotels to imagine, create and manage marvels and masterpieces, where distinctive design and elegant comfort complement each other and the environment. In line with the Jetwingw Hotels Sustainable Strategy, across all properties sustainable and responsible practices are given precedence with resource efficiency, community upliftment and education, and awareness being some of our key focus areas. Red Butterfly dream in India By Susitha R. Fernando Priyantha Kaluarachchis maiden film View(s): View(s): Young filmmaker Priyantha Kaluarachchis maiden film Rathu Samanala Hinayak- A Girl with Red Butterfly Dream has been selected to be screened at the All Lights India International Film Festival. The film will be screened at the Official Selection section at the festival held from September 24 to 27. The film has also been selected to represent Sri Lanka at the 17th Asiatica Film Festival in Rome. The festival starts this week. Priyantha started his career producing documentaries for television and directed award winning stage plays. Priyantha directed the documentary about Tsunami caught train, Peraliya and it got selected at the Berlinale Talent Campus at the 57th Berlin International film Festival in 2007. Peraliya also got selected and short listed at the 15th edition of Cinerail International Festival in Paris in 2007. Priyanthas debut feature Rathu Samanala Hinayak is set in the post war Sri Lanka. Samantha and Ajith lives in a flat close to Colombo. Ajith is a contract killer with connections to the underworld. Samantha is his friend. He gets occasional attacks of epilepsy. His uncle is a preacher at a shrine of gods. Samantha and Uncle hold an ancient script. It is said in the script that a treasure can be attained by sacrificing a virgin with four birthmarks lined in her neck. Samantha meets a young Tamil girl with four birth marks placed accordingly on her neck. Her name is Rajini. She comes to Colombo in search of her lost sister. Her sister has been a member of L.T.T.E. Even though there are four birthmarks on neck Samantha is doubtful of her virginity. Samantha goes against the sacrificing of Rajini for the treasure that does not reveal itself. Samantha goes insane and meets the Rajinis sprit. He entangles himself in her sprit with love. At one point it struck me that there is something unsaid about this three decade long human catastrophe. I visualized this story in my mind for a long time. Few years after the war, there came a point where I felt as the ideal time to share my story. The fundamental challenge in telling this story was how to convey the message that only humanity could bridge the gap between the Sinhalese and the Tamils and that any other approach with a sectarian tag on it would be futile. In order to achieve that, I gave a deeply human twist to the narrative of the film Priyantha noted describing about his first filmmaking attempt. Before making Rathu Samanala Hinayak- Priyantha successfully completed the Film and Appreciation course held by Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) 2006 in Sri Lanka.. Boy loses leg after fall from train View(s): A schoolboy had to undergo amputation below the knee following a train accident, police said. The boy, on his way to a tuition class, was travelling on the footboard when he fell off the train at Dematagoda. His leg hit an iron post on the side of the track at Mount Mary in Dematagoda. The student, Ashen Dilhara, 17, had gained admission to Ananda college, Colombo, from Gurukula Vidyalaya Kelaniya to follow Advanced Level classes. The accident occurred on his first day at the new school. Police said it was the residents living by the side of the track who alerted the train driver and halted the train. Two policemen on traffic duty had rushed the student to the National Hospital where he had to undergo the amputation. CCTV for 100 police stations with cells not visible By Sandun Jayawardana View(s): View(s): The Law & Order Ministry will initially instal CCTV security cameras in the cells of 100 police stations where the location of the cells made it difficult to be monitored by the police officers, Ministry Secretary Jagath Wijeweera told the Sunday Times. The move comes in the wake of Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayakes directive last week to Police chief Pujith Jayasundara to instal CCTV cameras in the cells of all police stations following the controversy over the alleged suicide of a suspect inside the cell of the Pussellawa police station on September 17. Although police claim the man hanged himself, relatives of the deceased have expressed doubt. Peradeniya Hospital Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) issued an open verdict on the death and parts of the mans body were sent to the Government Analysts Department for further tests. A sub inspector and a constable who were on duty on the night of the incident have already been suspended, while the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the station has been transferred. An internal investigation is currently ongoing. According to the Sri Lanka Police, there are 460 police stations islandwide. Mr. Wijeweera said eventually cameras would be installed in the cells of all police stations islandwide, adding that the process would be completed in a few months. Although the government did not know how much the whole operation would cost the secretary was confident that the allocation of funds would not be an issue. Customs work-to-rule ends, backlog to be cleared Govt. says going ahead with proposed Bill, unions optimistic only changes to Ordinance View(s): View(s): The Government is to go ahead with the proposed Bill on Customs Department reforms including revenue collection despite objections from a section of officials as importers were struggling yesterday to overcome losses suffered during a five day work-to-rule campaign by Customs officials. The Port yesterday started clearing a backlog of 4,000 containers as importers claimed they have suffered losses and demurrage charges running to over one billion rupees. They have appealed to the Government for concessions over the charges. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake told the Sunday Times that it is hoped to go ahead with the Customs draft Bill which includes new revenue collecting measures raising targets to Rs 1,000 billion annually by next year. We hope to discuss the draft Bill with the Customs officers. There will be no change in the plans, we will go ahead with the proposed Bill, he said. On Friday Customs officials called off their work-to-rule campaign after arranging a meeting with the Finance Minister on Tuesday. However, the unions claim that they have an assurance from Finance Ministry officials that instead of proceeding with the draft Bill, the Government will introduce changes to the existing Customs Ordinance. All Ceylon Customs Services Union Secretary J. A. Gunathilaka told the Sunday Times that in addition to being invited to a meeting with the Finance Minister, they had also received an assurance by Finance Ministry officials that instead of introducing a completely new Customs Ordinance Draft Bill, the Government would introduce amendments to existing legislation. He said they had assured that the changes will be made after consulting with all relevant stakeholders including trade unions. Eight trade unions representing Sri Lanka Customs took part in the campaign which severely disrupted Customs activities this week. Customs Spokesman Dharmasena Kahandawa stated the main task of officials after the work-to-rule campaign ended on Friday was to clear the backlog at the Customs Import Goods Declaration Processing Centre, popularly known as the Long Room. Officials and trade union representatives reached a compromise on Friday where all Customs officers agreed to work over the weekend considering them as normal working days in order to clear the backlog. The Essential Food Commodities Importers Trade Association has sought a meeting with the Finance Minister to call for a waiver of the demurrages charged on them by the Ports Authority during the work-to-rule campaign. A spokesman for the Association said that only some 200 containers were cleared during the work-to-rule campaign as against 1,500 on a normal day. Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Dhammika Ranatunga said a concession regarding demurrage charges will be considered, if a request is made. Death by drowning: SL has more than 3 a day By Anushiya Sathisraja View(s): View(s): Sri Lanka has one of the highest drowning rates in the world, with more than three deaths a day. It is estimated that 500,000 people drown each year globally, and 1.3 million people sustain injuries as a result of near-drowning experiences. According to the Life Saving Association of Sri Lanka (LSASL), last year alone, 1,250 people died from drowning. Swimming or bathing under the influence of liquor has been one of the main causes leading to drowning, while 25%-50% of adolescent and adult deaths are associated with water recreation activities and drowning. Alcohol use is highest in the age group of 20-34 years. Adults aged 25-44 years had the highest number of drowning deaths followed by those aged 45-64 years. Most cases of drowning came from recreational activity, with holidaymakers at the sea, tanks or rivers, who completely ignored basic safety measures, LSASL Secretary General Asanka Nanayakkara said. Lakes were reported as the key locations for drowning incidents in Sri Lanka, followed by sea. A 2014 study by the World Health Organization (WHO), the drowning rate for Sri Lanka over three years 2012-2014 was 4.2 deaths per 100,000. Sri Lanka ranked 12th out of 61 countries, and 10th highest when compared with 35 Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC). An average of 74 people drowned in the Sabaragamuwa Province each year. There are 14 main points where a majority of drowning incidents occurred. They are, Matara, Mirissa, Galle, Hikkaduwa, Beruwala, Kalutara, Panadura, Dehiwela, Mt Lavinia, Wellawatta, Galle Face Green, Negombo and Nilaveli. Mr. Nanayakkara also explained that, in tackling drowning, there were a lack of learn-to-swim programmes, lack of identified safe swimming zones with lifesaving services, difficulty to access safe swimming environments for many, and/or lessons, lack of resources to promote and deliver water safety education and awareness. 300 people drown in the Western Province (WP) each year, compared with 52 in the Northern Province. Males consistently had a higher drowning rate than females, ranging from 5.5% in WP to 3.5% in Uva Province, he said. Most of these deaths are preventable, yet, public awareness and prevention strategies are lacking, said Dr. Harsha Perera of Kalubowila Hospital. Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training. If the person has stopped breathing, immediate first aid by bystanders in the form of mouth-to-mouth respiration (kiss of life) is critically important. Even skilled swimmers can drown, supervision at all levels is important. Parents who take children to swimming pools and other open bodies of water should supervise them very closely, he said. Dont leave conservation solely to Wildlife Dept: Former DG Pilapitiya By Malaka Rodrigo View(s): View(s): Sri Lanka has the potential of being the best wildlife tourism destination outside Africa, but only if done the right way, Department of Wildlife Conservations (DWC) former Director General Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya said at a public lecture on Thursday. Delivering the Wildlife and Nature Protection Societys (WNPS) monthly lecture on the topic, Civil Societys Role in Conservation Dr. Pilapitiya, who resigned from the post in June this year after serving for a few of months, called on civil society to stand together and play a role in conserving wildlife as the DWC cannot do it alone, especially when it comes under political pressure. While revenue generation from wildlife tourism is important, it should not be done at the expense of conservation because if there is no wildlife, there is no chance for generating revenue from wildlife tourism. Therefore, DWC should give priority to conserving and protecting the countrys wildlife resources, he stressed. A survey carried out in 2010 by a university on visitor experience in wildlife parks revealed that a majority of foreign visitors who repeatedly holidayed in Sri Lanka visited a national park only during their first visit.The quality of the visitors experience is much more important from the point of view of both wildlife conservation and revenue generation than the quantity or number of tourists visiting our national parks, Dr. Pilapitiya said. Expanding on the aspect of quality, the former Director General said DWC guides have to be better trained in nature interpretation to provide visitors with a memorable experience. In addition, safari jeep operators should also be trained in driving etiquette and nature interpretation since many jeep drivers are not accompanied by DWC guides due to lack of staff. Discipline of safari jeeps and other vehicles entering the national parks was key to a better visitor experience, the former DG stressed. He said currently about 650 safari jeeps are registered in Yala Block-I while ideally the number of vehicles should be in the range of 150 a day to prevent overcrowding of the park. However drastic measures to limit the number of vehicles should not be taken overnight as there could be possible repercussions. If we immediately restrict the number of vehicles many could lose their jobs. Economic opportunities in areas surrounding Yala are limited and these jeep drivers wont have a source of livelihood. Dont forget they know every bush in this wilderness and there is a lucrative market for bush meat. So what is the guarantee that such an act would not push them to be poachers which is far worse, Dr. Pilapitiya pointed out, adding that the solution should be gradual and well thought out. Over-visitation was a serious problem mainly in three parksYala Block-I, Minneriya and Horton Plains. He warned that there were signs of it becoming a problem in parks such as Wilpattu, Udawalawa and Kawdulla. Lets prevent over-visitation by imposing regulations now itself, Dr.Pilapitiya said. The former DG also questioned the prudence of national planning that doesnt envisage the bigger picture. He cited the plan to keep the Minneriya tank at spill level throughout the year for irrigation endangering the annual elephant gathering. Hundreds of elephants gather during the dry season around the Minneriya tank bed to feed on fresh shoot of grasses. If Minneriya tank is at spill level year round, a large area of the grassland that emerge during the dry season would be submerged depriving the elephants of food. This would escalate human-elephant conflict in surrounding areas in the short term time with elephants looking for fodder compelled to raid crops. In the long term the future conservation of the 300-400 elephants of the area would be in jeopardy. The gathering has been recognised as one of the 10 wildlife spectacles of the world. The overall revenue gained from wildlife tourism around the gathering is estimated to be $1.25 million, but this would be lost if Minneriya tank was at spill level year round. Besides, no agricultural revenue generated from this irrigation project would add $1.25 million to the national economy, Dr. Pilapitiya pointed out. The Government recently signed an agreement for a $45 million loan from the World Bank to carry out a project on Ecosystem Conservation and Management Project (ESCAMP) which has provision to fund activities to improve Wildlife Tourism. Dr.Pilapitiya stressed the importance of using these resources to make a significant improvement in the quality of wildlife tourism here. Stand up for Conservation: Pilapitiya tells civil societyWhile the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) should be the driving force of the Conservation Agenda of the country, the systematic politicisation of the public service since the 1970s does not allow the department to do its job. While political authorities should provide policy direction and allow the agencies to implement the policies, now politicians not only provide policy direction but they get involved in implementation as well. Unfortunately, a politicians long term planning horizon is usually six years which is the election cycle, but for good conservation initiatives, planning must be on a much longer time horizon, Dr. Pilapitiya said.While we should stand up against such interference, it is unreasonable to expect a person whose survival depends on the job to stand up to political pressure. There are many instances in this country where public servants who stand up to political pressure have been victimised. Here Civil Society can play a bigger role. They do not face the pressure that DWC officers face, so if they can collectively have a voice, it can help mitigate some of the detrimental decisions that would hurt conservation goals, Dr.Pilapitiya stressed adding that private enterprises should utilise their CSR money for more wildlife research as data was required to make sound decisions. He said Government funds allocated to departments hardly support research and information gathering. Gold worth Rs 30m, Rs 100,000 cash heist by SI-led gang of four By Damith Wickremasekara View(s): View(s): A robber gang of four, led by a Sub Inspector (SI) with two army deserter accomplices and another person, claiming to be officials from a Foreign Bureau checking on Indian nationals working illegally as goldsmiths in jewellery shops, got away with 3.7 kg of gold worth nearly Rs 30 million and Rs 100,000 in cash. The SI was an Intelligence Officer attached to a police unit in the outskirts of Colombo. The smartly clad SI in a long sleeved shirt and slacks, approached the manager of a jewellery manufacturing shop at Wolfendhal Street, Colombo 13, and showed an identity card, claiming he was an officer of the Foreign Bureau. He then said they had information that Indian nationals without valid visas were employed here, while a stock of gold without licences was also being stored here. The SI stayed with the manager and ordered his men to search all four floors of the building. Nine Indian nationals working there had their passports and mobile phones seized. One of the intruders suddenly produced a small bottle and said they had found heroin in it, and questioned the staff whether they were packing heroin for distribution at this location. Then each employee was handcuffed and put into a room. With the staff out of the way, the rogues visited every room and collected all the gold in whatever form. Then, just before exiting the shop, the manager was locked in another room. Following a 40-minute operation they left the premises after placing a padlock on the main gate. One of the handcuffed staff members managed to free himself, jumped out of a window and alerted people outside. The Police on being summoned were able to identify the vehicle in which the gang escaped, on close analysis of the CCTV footage obtained from nearby premises, while also being able to identify that a Sub Inspector was involved with the gang. Police have traced the driver of the car and found he was a hired hand, while the rest of the gang is yet to be apprehended. Director- Colombo Crime Division, SP Nishantha Soysa told the Sunday Times that investigations are proceeding with the assistance of the Wolfendhal Police. We are in possession of vital information on this robbery and expect to make a breakthrough soon, he added. HSBC CEOs exit advanced View(s): The Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Sri Lanka is being moved out prematurely, authoritative banking sources told the Sunday Times. They said Patrick Gallagher, whose term was scheduled to end in April 2017, will return to London and a new foreign CEO will be installed in his place in October. Mr. Gallagher was appointed to Sri Lanka in 2013 and had secured a one-year extension from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. His predecessor Nick Nicolaou had served in Sri Lanka for five years after having scored extensions. During Mr. Gallaghers term, the local branch of the multinational banking corporation suffered its biggest ever shakeup with some senior managers having to leave over allegations that incentives-linked performance figures were fudged. This was a result of terminations as well as voluntary resignations prompted by the scandal. At the time, a bank spokesman said: HSBC Sri Lanka has made important senior management changes following an internal investigation. We cant comment on individuals but we can confirm a number of executives have left the bank as a result of this investigation. It is also learnt that several senior management positions that were vacated as a result of the shakeup have been or are tipped to be filled with foreigners. Innovative Bay businesses are one of the major reasons why the countrys economy is growing healthily, says National MP Gerry Brownlee. With Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller as his guide, Gerry visited several local companies who are at the forefront of their respective industries during a tour of the region on Friday. Hamilton Police are attending a crash on Victoria Street, after a pedestrian and a vehicle collided shortly before 1:45pm today. The male pedestrian is in a critical condition but no one else was injured. The northbound lane on Victoria Street is closed between Bryce Street and London Street. Diversions are in place but motorists are asked to avoid the area. No further information is available at this stage while the Serious Crash Unit investigate the incident. SOURCE: New Zealand Police Bay of Plenty residents are encouraged to join The Tauranga Walk 2 DFeet this Sunday to raise at least $4000 in funds locally for Motor Neurone Disease in New Zealand. The 3km wheel-friendly, pram and stroller-friendly walk, starting at Fergusson Park this Sunday morning, is of 14 nationwide raising funds for the MND Association of NZ and supporting people with the condition. OSWEGO, N.Y. -- In one day, police seized 24 fake IDs from three bars in Oswego. Investigators from three agencies teamed up with the owners of three city bars on Friday to combat underage drinking and discourage people from using fake drivers licenses, said Police Chief Tory DeCaire, of the Oswego Police Department. DeCaire said the operation was conducted at three Bridge Street bars: Alley Cat, The Raven and The Sting. City police, state Department of Motor Vehicles investigators and New York State University Police at Oswego looked for people trying to use fake licenses. Fake IDs were seized and 24 citations were issued, DeCaire said. The bust was part of "Operation Prevent," a state-wide campaign to deter underage drinking and keeps roads safe, DeCaire said. A Western New York woman pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a substance abuse and addiction patient in her care at a rehabilitation facility. Pamela Grzechowiak Pamela Grzechowiak, 46, of Hamburg faces six years probation for having sexual contact with a male adult patient at Cazenovia Recovery Systems in Buffalo. She pleaded guilty to one count of Forcible Touching, a class A misdemeanor. Grzechowiak was a former Licensed Mental Health Counselor at the facility, but was fired during her arrest in June. She originally faced a charge of felony rape, along with an additional charge of misconduct, WIVB-TV reported at the time. According to the NYS Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs, sexual contact between employees and patients at such inpatient facilities constitutes a sex crime. "This defendant chose an individual battling addiction. Such conduct is not only criminal, as anyone receiving services in facilities overseen by OASAS are legally incapable of consent to sexual contact with employees, it is detrimental to treatment," Special Prosecutor Patricia E. Gunning said in a news release. "The plea in this case allowed the victim to avoid the rigors of a trial while still holding the defendant accountable for her conduct." Justice M. William Boller of Erie County State Supreme Court is expected to sentence Grzechowiak in December. As part of her plea agreement, Grzechowiak has waived the right to challenge any decisions by the Justice Center, including preventing her from serving in a similar role in the future. The Commission on Presidential Debates, which has run them since 1988, last week announced initiatives with social media, academics, and media organizations to engage the American public in substantive conversations before, during and after this years debates. The first debate between presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump is scheduled for Monday at Hofstra University in New York. A single vice presidential debate, between Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence, is set for Oct. 4. The second presidential debate will take place on Oct. 9, and the third and final Clinton-Trump face-off is scheduled for Oct. 19. Nuts and Bolts Facebook and Google will provide the debate moderators with data about online searches and comments pertaining to the election, the candidates and the issues. Facebook, Google, CollegeDebate16, and other social media grassroots organizations will work with moderators to help source questions for the candidates. Facebook is the exclusive social media sponsor for the first and third debates, and members of the media, students, and the campus community will use Facebook Live to broadcast the events worldwide. Facebook users will be able to ask questions and post comments. Snapchat will run a Live Story from each debate site, offering a variety of perspectives. Twitter, Yahoo and YouTube also will live-stream the debates. MIT Media Labs Electome Project will analyze Twitter conversations about the election. It also will offer journalists a Web-based dashboard at the debate site media centers. Illinois State University researchers will analyze comments about the debates on social media, websites and major blogs from eight states, and display visualizations of their findings on their website and social media accounts. A graduate research seminar at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will monitor social media discourse during the debates and on election day from the universitys Adam Brown Social Media Command Center. The Importance of Social Media We now have more robust social media applications, and many people now have multiple social media accounts, so theyre more engaged than ever across social media, noted Stuart Brotman, Howard Distinguished Endowed Professor of Media Management and Law and Beaman Professor of Communication and Information at the University of Tennessee. Brotman is running the University of Tennessee seminar. Fact-checking could become a major factor in the debates, he said. If thousands of people on social media point out a statement is wrong, and thats made known to the moderator, will the moderator make that known to candidates? We had that issue with the commander-in-chief interview with Matt Lauer, he told TechNewsWorld. Minor Party Candidates Excluded Social media involvement is largely a hoax, remarked Jeff Cohen, cofounder of RootsAction, which has launched a petition to open the presidential debates to minor party candidates. Social media sites cant be trusted to deliver tough questions to the major party candidates, because they dont want to jeopardize their access to them, he told TechNewsWorld. The Commission on Presidential Debates, which is a nonprofit corporation, is controlled by the Republican and Democratic parties, Cohen asserted, adding that it says something about the lack of democracy in our country and the lack of a free press that the major networks are going along with a debate that excludes all alternatives except the two unpopular major parties. The CPD maintains that it is nonpartisan as well as nonprofit, and that its mission is to ensure that the debates provide the best possible information to the public. Samsung has never shied away from taking inspiration from Apple's iPhone designs over the years. In what appears to be a direct response to the popularity of the Jet Black and Black iPhone 7 Plus, Samsung is planning to release a Black Onyx Galaxy Note 7. Over the last few iPhone release cycles, Apple has introduced a new color option that was exclusive to its latest iPhone series. Sales of these devices were always strong, as sporting one let the world know and gave the owner bragging rights of having the latest and most sought-after iPhone. Apple launched the Gold iPhone 5s in 2013 and released the Rose Gold iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus in 2015, which as expected, completely sold out at launch. Samsung introduced its response to Apple's Rose Gold iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus when it announced and recently began selling a Pink Gold Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. With the release of this year's iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, Apple added two new color options that were exclusive to the iPhone 7 series: Black and Jet Black. As expected, when Apple opened up iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus preorders, both the Jet Black and Black color choices quickly sold out. Now that Samsung is in the process of putting its faulty Galaxy Note 7 battery fiasco behind it, the company clearly has Apple's new Jet Black and Black iPhone 7 Plus in its sights and is preparing to launch a Black Onyx Galaxy Note 7, starting in its home country of South Korea. "We are going to resume our sales of Galaxy Note 7 on the 28th," a high-ranking officer for Samsung Electronics said. "We are planning to formally introduce Black Onyx model in early October." Samsung had already launched a new Blue Coral Galaxy Note 7, which proved popular since it was also exclusive to its latest and greatest phablet. The report notes that Samsung released a Black Onyx Galaxy Note 7 in India in August and the color option received major interest. The company and wireless retail stores in South Korea appear to believe that the new Black Onyx Note 7 could help turn things around. "Because colors like gold and silver already have placed themselves as trends in South Korean markets, we still have to wait and see how much Black Onyx model is going to draw attentions from consumers," a cellphone store representative said. "As Black Onyx model is set to be released in South Korea soon, it will be enough to act as a role of lubricant that will turn around an environment that is in disarray due to recall process." While the Black Onyx Galaxy Note 7 will first launch in South Korea in early October, the report confirms that Samsung is considering launching the new color option in other regions. Samsung often introduces new features on its home turf before expanding to other territories, and we'll keep you posted on any additional details on the rollout as they become available. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Warning! This article contains spoilers from episode 2 of American Horror Story: My Roanoke Nightmare. Read at your own risk, or bookmark for later! Even though viewers are still wondering what American Horror Story: Roanoke is really about, after this season's second episode we started to learn more about this colony of 16th-century ghosts. We know that they have a thing for roasting people like a pig, and they are out to kill everyone living in the house. That still doesn't tell us much, but besides this Lost Colony story line, audiences were also introduced to a separate story. In "Chapter 2," Matt Miller (reenactment played by Cuba Gooding Jr.) goes to investigate a noise coming from downstairs in the middle of the night. To his surprise he finds two women in pure white nurse outfits and an elderly patient in a hospital bed in the dining room. We learn later - thanks to the background story from Denis O'Hare's character who is hiding out in the bunker outside the house - about these two nurses who have a bloody good time with ending patients' suffering. He reveals that the two sisters named Miranda and Bridget Jane worked as nurses in Rochester, New York, but fled to avoid charges after they were suspected of intentionally killing a patient. They moved into the Millers' house in North Carolina in the '80s and opened a nursing home. However, they were particular about who their patients were, making sure these were old people whose families didn't want to deal with them anymore. They also made sure the letters in their first names spelled out their favorite word: MURDER. The sisters only made it has far as M-U-R-D-E before vanishing from the house. We are not surprised that there is a story within a story here, especially since showrunner Ryan Murphy has been teasing at a big twist coming in episode six that will spilt this season into two sections. Fans of the series also know that the creators are no stranger to using real-life events to inspire their story lines. And yes, there is actually a true story behind these sister nurses. The characters are based on a real murder case involving aides in an assisted living home. But instead of these nurses being sisters, in real life they were thought to be lovers. The nurses' real names were Gwendolyn Graham and Cathy Wood, a lesbian couple who also shared a love for killing. The two met and fell head over heels for one another while working at the Alpine Manor nursing home as nurse's aides in Walker, Michigan from 1985 to 1988. As their romance blossomed, instead of planning dates, they plotted ways to kill their patients. And they were crazy about each other to actually do it. There were eight deaths that were suspicious during the "Lethal Lovers'" time at the nursing home, and they were later arrested and arraigned for murder. The most creepy part about this case is that a New York Times article from the time cites that there was a theory that the women were attempting to spell out the word "murder" from their victims' names. Police could not confirm if there was any truth to this at the time, but one of the victims had a name that started with the letter "M," and another with the letter "E." Besides selecting their victims based on their name, Graham and Wood would make sure they were too weak to defend themselves and made the murders look like the patients died of natural causes. In the series, we see the nurses murdering the patients in various different ways, such as rat poison and a bullet to the head. The first death reveals they suffocated the elderly person with a washcloth. According to the real-life investigation, the women were suspected to have suffocated their victims. Things got messy for the women because Graham got tired of doing all the kills herself and wanted Wood, who was always on lookout, to prove her love. Wood would eventually tell her husband the story, and it was he who contacted police. Their love wasn't that strong because both women turned on each other in court. Wood pleaded guilty to second-degree murder charges and was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison in 1989 after testifying against Graham to avoid a life sentence. She has been eligible for parole since 2005, and a set release date of June 6, 2021. Graham was convicted of five counts of first-degree murder and is serving five consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. What's also chilling is that the women told their story, much like how the fictional characters in Roanoke are, for the TV docu-series The Serial Killers. We can't wait to see if these murdering nurses find their "R" when American Horror Story: Roanoke airs on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on FX. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Apple has just triggered a flurry of speculations as news was confirmed that it had acquired Tuplejump Software Pvt Ltd., a machine learning company operating in Hyderabad, India. The acquisition was reportedly completed last June and it rounded up the series of Apple startup purchases dabbling in artificial intelligence. Previously, the company acquired Turi Inc. for $200 million and it was followed by Emotient for a still unconfirmed amount. This last company is known in the industry for its employment of AI on facial expressions. These purchases are widely believed to be part of Apple's drive to improve its virtual assistant technology amid growing competition with Google. Such competition is highlighted by the fact that the search engine company has been beefing up its own AI stable with its several tech acquisitions that include the purchase of API.AI, which develops popular chatbot technology. Presently, little is known about how Apple will tap Tuplejump's expertise. The company certainly did not help in this aspect as it remained tightlipped about the purchase, invoking its customary position where facts are buried in ambiguous wordings. "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans," a spokesperson told TechCrunch. Observers, however, speculate that what Tuplejump has developed so far could be utilized in improving Apple's cloud services. The iPhone maker has been focusing on this particular area as evidenced by the integration of the iCloud Drive into the recently released macOS Sierra. It could also complement existing technologies in Apple's virtual assistant Siri as well as apps like iTunes and the App Store. Specific rumors also detail how Apple's recent investments are driven by an emerging interest on FiloDB, which is an open-source technology built to implement machine learning in analyzing huge amounts of data. Tuplejump's role could prove significant in this drive if one considers the insights taken from its website, which has been taken down after the acquisition. Archived images of the webpages showed how the startup explained the capability of services to simplify data management technologies with tools that are scalable and easy to use. The scramble for AI-based technologies is not only limited to Apple and Google. Facebook is also increasingly integrating chatbots into its own platform. Amazon has also set aside $100 million to develop Alexa, its own voice search AI, building on its capability to understand languages and dialects as well as their nuances, including accents. Alexa currently powers smart home devices such as the Amazon Echo. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Causing much anxiety, China's first space lab Tiangong-1 will be falling back to Earth in the second half of 2017. Currently, the "Heavenly Palace" is orbiting at an altitude of 370 kilometers (230 miles). China's official confirmation about the falling space lab came from Wu Ping, deputy director of the manned space engineering office of China. She said the space lab has ended the six years data service in March and "comprehensively fulfilled its historical mission." The official sought to put any concerns to rest by saying that most parts of the space lab will be burned up, and has ruled out any major threat to aviation or ground activities. Some reports say that China had lost control of Tiangong-1. Thomas Dorman, an amateur satellite tracker noted that China will wait until the last moment to tell the world that it has a problem with the space station. The Chinese space agency officials have now admitted telemetry loss happened with the space station and that led to the loss of control over the space lab's orbit. This means re-entry through Earth's atmosphere will be unbridled and chances of Tiangong-1 hitting down as a bunch of molten metal will be low. Normally the unburned debris has to fall in the ocean as two-third of the Earth's surface is covered by water. However, such "take it easy" counsel was challenged by Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. He said the risk of the denser parts of the space station hitting Earth still exists. "There will be lumps of about [220 pounds] or so, still enough to give you a nasty wallop if it hit you," he said. Issue Of Managing Space Debris Now that the 8-ton Chinese space station will certainly crash into Earth, experts have started to raise questions about mechanisms related to the management of space debris. After announcing the fall of Tiangong-1, China launched its second space lab Tiangong-2 on Sept. 15. This has put the onus on China to explain how the "no control situation" happened with the first space lab and what safeguards are there with the second one. In 1979, the predicted fall of NASA's Skylab created a lot of panic with no clue on where the ship was going to crash. Fortunately, Skylab landed harmlessly in the Australian outback. According to experts, Russia has a commendable record in space debris management. It disposed of Mir with effective firings of the onboard rocket engine and safely brought down the remains to the South Pacific. NASA is expected to act in the same way for the ISS when its life ends in the next 10 years. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Airbnb has raised $555 million during a funding round, documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) show. In August, rumors surfaced about the company filing official documents with the State of Delaware, which revealed Airbnb's aim to attract more late-stage capital. The Form D filed on Sept. 23 backs the story, but insiders familiar with the matter are pointing out that Airbnb is far from closing the round. According to sources, the company might push the ceiling to a figure of $850 million. It is rather standard procedures for ventures to file with the SEC preemptively, maintaining a flexible ceiling so that final deal terms can be tweaked as the funding round is still undergoing. It is yet undisclosed if the company maintains its initial valuation of $30 billion. Should this be the case, it could lead to modifications in the price of the round. A more pragmatic and down to earth valuation will become available after the deal is formally closed. Keep in mind that, should the initial valuation be proven correct, Airbnb would become the fourth most valuable private startup. A myriad of strategic investors is part of the recent deal, people close to the matter are reporting. The company is far from lacking cash, but the eight-year-old venture might be starting to be under pressure from employees who are unable to cash in on common stock. Additional pressure is perceivable from early-stage investors, who are eager to tap into liquidities coming from the Airbnb's mounting success. The additional capital drawn in the recent round will help the company expand and will ease some of the pressure the company is under, as it still postpones an initial public offering (IPO). The Wall Street Journal reports that Airbnb is being aided in the funding by Technology Crossover Ventures (TCV) and Google Capital. Additional rumors indicate that no employees of Google Capital nor of TCV will join Airbnb's board. As both investors are new to the home-sharing company, their efforts will coagulate around helping the enterprise grow. The funding round happens amid a number of legal disputes between the company and various authorities. Airbnb is currently in court with the City of San Francisco. What is more, the city council of Barcelona asks its residents to rat out illegal rentals (aka Airbnb offerings). Despite having enough cash to keep going, the fact that a number of municipalities (including New York) are still uneager to approve home-sharing services does not make Airbnb's life any easier. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. SpaceX's loss of its Falcon 9 rocket at the beginning of September may have been caused by a breach in the upper-stage helium system of the vehicle, investigations revealed Friday. Three weeks ago, one of the aerospace company's Falcon 9 rockets exploded on its launch pad at Cape Canaveral just as it was being geared up for a static fire test. No one was seriously injured, but the blast could be heard 48 kilometers (30 miles) away from the company's launch pad. The static fire test was designed to determine if the rocket was ready for the upcoming launch of the Amos-6 communications satellite. Both the rocket and the satellite were destroyed as a bright fireball emerged around the upper stage of the vehicle. Initial review of the debris and data suggests that a huge breach in the second stage liquid oxygen tank's cryogenic helium system may have taken place before the static fire test, according to SpaceX. However, the company has yet to determine what triggered the helium tank breach in the first place. The Accident Investigation Team is still analyzing 3,000 channels of data, examining audio and video recordings of the Sept. 1 incident, and reviewing the accident timeline, which all boils down to 93 milliseconds. "All plausible causes are being tracked in an extensive fault tree and carefully investigated," SpaceX said. Not Related To Other Incidents The Sept. 1 incident is in no way connected to the Falcon 9 rocket explosion in June 2015, although both failures originated in the rockets' upper liquid oxygen tanks, The Verge reported. "We have exonerated any connection with last year's mishap," SpaceX said. Still, the 2015 explosion was caused by a faulty strut in the Falcon 9 rocket's liquid oxygen tank. SpaceX replaced thousands of brackets and resumed launch six months after the June explosion. In the meantime, the company will repair damaged areas at the primary launch site. It did not disclose how much the repair would cost, or when the repair would be completed. SpaceX is also working to recover from the explosion as soon possible, aiming to return to launch by November this year. The company is also working on getting vehicles prepared for NASA's Commercial Crew Program. A spokesperson said that determining the source of the Sept. 1 explosion will make the crew program "more robust." Lastly, getting back to flight safely is the company's main priority, the spokesperson said. Photo: SpaceX | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Snapchat's erstwhile super-secret smart glass wearable project has been officially unveiled with the launch of a product called Spectacles today. The announcement was made by Evan Spiegel, Snapchat CEO, before a group of reporters, who were also treated to the news that Snapchat has undergone rebranding and has been renamed as Snap Inc. Spiegel primarily cited Spectacles as a toy in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. It is, however, still expected to have potentially powerful impact since it will free the Snapchat ecosystem from smartphone cameras. Spectacles is capable of taking 10-second videos. More importantly, it is distinguished by the way it takes circular videos, which is the same as saying footages resemble the human vision. This is made possible by the 115-degree angle lens, which are touted to be significantly wider than a smartphone camera's field of view. Spiegel explained that the new video format is imperative due to the company's view that rectangular photograph is "an unnecessary vestige of printing photos on sheets of paper." No other detailed specifications were provided except the information regarding how the device can sync with smartphones wirelessly for easy video sharing. Prior to Spectacles' launch, a leaked video has already provided the public with a preview of the prototype. In what appeared to be an ad clip, Spectacles was shown with a camera lens mounted at the top part of sunglasses. It was equipped with flash and could capture videos by pushing a dedicated button located in its frame. Essentially, the operation is as straightforward as wearing and using Google Glass. Tech Times has already reported that Snapchat might be developing a Google Glass-like contraption, citing the company's acquisition of Vergence Labs, which also manufactures smart eyeglasses. This was followed by a series of high-profile hirings, which include Mark Dixon, who had been part of Microsoft's HoloLens team, and Lauryn Morris, an eyewear designer. The wearable was already spotted in August, when Spiegel was photographed wearing a Spectacles prototype while spending time with model Miranda Kerr. According to Snap Inc., Spectacles will start rolling out this fall, and they will cost $130 apiece. This is significantly cheaper than Google's highly controversial Google Glass, which costs more than $1,000. Spectacles will come, however, in limited quantity to allow the company opportunity to gauge reception and demand. The cautious approach seems to take insights from Google's experience. Interest for the Google Glass has gradually fizzled in the past years due to privacy concerns. It prompted the search company to downsize its Project Glass initiative. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Can alcohol hangovers soon become a thing of the past? A scientist in Britain claims to have found a synthetic alcohol that could let drinkers enjoy the sensation of being drunk while completely avoiding the terrible hangover that usually follows. Known as an "alcosynth," the non-toxic synthetic alcohol mimics the positive effects of normal alcohol and skips the negative side effects, according to creator David Nutt. The former government drugs advisor who now works as a professor at Imperial College London told The Independent that he has already patented around 90 different alcosynth compounds. Two of these 90 compounds are now being tested for widespread use. With that, Nutt hopes alcosynth could replace normal liquor in the market by 2050. No Negative Side Effects By researching substances that work on the brain in the same way as alcohol, Nutt and his colleagues were able to design and manipulate the properties of the alcosynth. Nutt said brain science on alcohol has become well-understood in the last three decades. Because they know where the positive effects of alcohol are moderated in the human brain, they were able to mimic them. Alcosynths supposedly do not cause nausea, dryness, headaches or any other long-term health issues, researchers said. The positive effects of alcosynth supposedly last for a couple of hours. It's the same with traditional alcohol. Nutt and his team have also managed to limit the effects, so in theory, it would be impossible to "get drunk," he said. "[B]y not touching the bad areas, we dont have the bad effects, said Nutt. Benefits Of Alcosynth In the United Kingdom, alcohol drinking is the third major risk factor for disease and death, according to Alcohol Concern. In the United States, statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that excessive alcohol consumption has cost the government as high as $223.5 billion in 2006. Advocates believe alcosynth could revolutionize public health by relieving it from the burden caused by alcohol-related issues. On the other hand, a Health official in the UK has said that Nutt's idea is "interesting," but too much of it is still in its infancy for any comments. The spokesperson said the government won't have to fund the research until it was a "little further along." Indeed, the huge cost of funding research on the product means that it could be a long time before an alcosynth is out in the market. Other experts are also not convinced with the alcosynth's alleged benefits. Neil Williams, head of media at the British Beer and Pub Association, believes that alcosynth is "not necessary," asserting that there are other strategies to avoid a hangover. One example is by drinking low-strength alcohol, particularly beers, he added. Photo: Quinn Dombrowski | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The counting of the votes is expected to be fast thanks to the electronic system used in the country, and the result is expected to be known in a few hours. | Read More A Baton Rouge man who police claim instigated a confrontation that led to the April fatal shooting of two female Southern University students denies that allegation and is sorry the young women were killed, his attorney said Friday. The comments from Brandon Henderson's lawyer came moments after a Baton Rouge state judge slashed Henderson's bail from $525,000 to $50,000. The lawyer, Neal Wilkinson, said he expected Henderson to be released soon from East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, where he has been held for more than four months. Henderson, 25, initially was booked on two counts of second-degree murder and a count of illegal use of a weapon in the April 10 slaying of 19-year-olds Annette January and Lashuntae Benton. But an East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury on Wednesday cleared him on the murder counts while charging him with aggravated assault with a firearm. Henderson has admitted firing his gun into the air on that early April 10 morning. Henderson, who pleaded not guilty to that charge Friday, is accused of assaulting Ernest Bernard Felton with a firearm. Police have alleged that Felton fatally shot January and Benton, two innocent bystanders outside The Cottages apartment complex on Ben Hur Road, while returning fire at Henderson. The grand jury, however, took no action Wednesday against Felton, who is accused of two second-degree murder counts, two counts of illegal use of weapons and single counts of attempted second-degree murder and obstruction of justice. Wilkinson said Henderson has expressed to him his feelings about what happened that tragic morning. "He is very contrite that anything happened," Wilkinson said outside District Judge Beau Higginbotham's courtroom. "He's sorry that any of this happened." Higginbotham noted Friday that Henderson had no prior criminal history. Brandon Henderson told police his brother, Anthony, had been involved in a fistfight with a group of people outside The Cottages the morning of the shooting. Brandon Henderson drove to the complex to meet up with his brother, later driving up to a crowd with his brother inside the car, according to a police report. "He's got an angry crowd around the car that has already beat up his brother," Wilkinson said, adding that Brandon Henderson was merely trying to extricate himself from the situation by firing his gun. "Was it a good decision? I don't know," Wilkinson said. "He certainly had a right to defend himself." Anthony Henderson was extradited last week to Baton Rouge from Texas following an arrest earlier this month on unrelated drug charges. He was wanted for questioning in the double-murder. Wilkinson insisted Friday that Brandon Henderson is not responsible for instigating the shooting deaths of the Southern students. After Henderson fired his gun, he drove around a curve and into a dead end in the parking lot, and as he turned around and tried to leave, Felton fired at the car, striking January, a freshman, and Benton, a sophomore, the police report states. Felton, 23, was released from Parish Prison on Wednesday night. He was a part-time student at Southern at the time of the shooting, and was suspended the following day. Henderson attended the university from 2009 to 2014 but did not graduate. Once he is released on bail, Higginbotham said Henderson will be under house arrest and on bond supervision, and must comply with a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. His next court date is in December. In April 1983, Kelly Runnels had just relocated his growing elementary school to newly purchased property along South Harrells Ferry Road when the rains began. The historic flood of that year brought water to within 16 inches of his new campus. Thirty-three years later, he wasnt so lucky. Floodwater submerged every building on the campus, which was much larger than it was in the 1980s. As in 1983, the water was from the nearby Amite River. Runnels initially assessed the damage of the school from the seat of a canoe. When the water dropped, work began to repair the devastated campus and hasnt stopped since. Its been hard, hard in every kind of way, he said. Runnels, then an LSU chemistry professor, began what became Runnels School with his first wife in 1965 in the back of his College Town house with just three students. He continued to run the school on the side while he worked for LSU for 32 years. In 2015, Runnels and his second wife, Gladys, whom he credits for the schools signature focus on the arts, celebrated the schools 50th anniversary. Runnels School is also unusual in Baton Rouge in that it is an independent private school not affiliated with a church. Runnels celebrates 50 years The Runnels School celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding at a gala and fundraiser Enrollment is now more than 700 students, from pre-school to 12th grade. Its main campus is at 17255 South Harrells Ferry Road, though its preschool, which did not flood, is located across town at 6455 Jefferson Highway. Now 78, Kelly Runnels no longer heads the school, although he continues as president of the nonprofit corporation that oversees it. He says he and his wife are retired, though thats become something of a bitter joke. Ive never worked so hard in my life as when Im retired, Runnels said. +3 Runnels chooses new leaders Longtime educator Greg Brandao has taken over as headmaster of Runnels School. With the campus still flooded, Runnels leaders called off the planned Aug. 15 first day of school, and scrambled to find an alternative home. It found two: Broadmoor United Methodist Church to house grades five to 12, and fellow private school, Brighton Academy for grades one to four. Classes resumed at Broadmoor on Aug. 24, and in the other grades by Aug. 29. Repairs at the main campus have moved fast, as fast as repairs at any of the flooded schools in the greater Baton Rouge area. The school is shooting to reopen by Halloween. The school has hired two contractors: US Restoration LLC based in Jefferson Parish, is remediating the flooding, and McMath Construction of Mandeville is handling the repairs and rebuilding. US Restoration's part is nearly done. It has declared two high school buildings officially clear of mold and is readying to clear several more. Wayne Catalano, US Restorations president, said hes not worried about potential parent complaints. "When they see how clean those rooms are, they are going to want to sleep in there," Catalano said. Rob Parker, a parent and a member of the board of trustees, said getting back into the main campus quickly is a must, despite concerns with how the school will pay for the estimated $4.5 million in damage. "We can't wait," Parker said. "We won't be a school if we wait." Repair to the buildings serving elementary grades are running behind those for the upper grades, but after initial delays those are moving now as well. Before we can reopen any of the buildings, we have to have all the buildings squared away first, Parker said. The auditorium, a centerpiece of the school, is presenting a special challenge. The floodwater destroyed every seat, a mixing board that had recently been installed, even the grand piano on the stage, itself a replacement of one damaged when the auditorium's roof collapsed during 2005s Hurricane Rita. (The auditorium) was a bowl, Parker recalled. There were crawfish and fish swimming around there for days. You could have given swimming lessons in that theater, Catalano said. During a Sept. 14 visit, the auditorium floor was still wet. Trickles of water burbled up through cracks in the foundation. A sump pump which burned out during the flooding has been replaced and is steadily drawing the water out. Repairs, though, cant begin until its all dry. Next door to the auditorium is the gym. Higher up than other parts of the campus, it was one of the first buildings restored, though the ruined gym floor will need to be replaced. Its second floor, which has a few classrooms, never got wet. The inside of the gym has been turned into a clean room, the place where everything thats been salvaged and cleaned is being stored. Parker pointed to stacks of desks and table salvaged, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Much, though, had to be junked. And some things just disappeared, including the Runnels school sign screwed into the brick marquee at the front of the school. The gym floor is covered with white garbage bags filled with salvaged items separated by classroom. The school is pulling items from these bags and sending them to teachers as requested. Mark Landry, wasn't so lucky. He has no white garbage bags to draw from. Every now and then I think of something and go, I wish I had that! Landry said. Landrys new home is in Room 201C in the Adult Education Building at Broadmoor United Methodist Church. It is one of 27 classrooms Runnels has set up at the church, at 10230 Mollylea Drive. Landry does not have Room 201C all to himself. He shares it with three other teachers. Its the high school math department in action all at once. Algebra is to his right, Algebra II is directly across and Geometry is diagonal to him. Landry himself teaches calculus, precalculus and trigonometry and is head of the math department. His colleagues have small school-supplied dry erase boards, but Landry, who likes to write big, decided to build his own, complete with a homemade easel of sorts. I got a neighbor to build what I call a lean-to, he said. The buzz of four classrooms operating at once has obvious potential for distraction. In practice, students appear to be on task. The school used tall dividers at first to separate the teachers, but the dividers soon broke and were abandoned. With four things going, its better than just two, where you hear everything they say, Landry said. With four, its background noise. The crowding has its upsides, he said. I enjoy the opportunity to watch my fellow teachers, he said. Dont get to do that normally. Walk out of Room 201C and look down the stairwell, Runnels makeshift Main Office appears. Administrators are working on couches and coffee tables. At class change, children flood through this tiny space. We had no idea that we were capable of putting together a new school in three days, said Conchetta Foshee, assistant head of school. Runnels is a machine that works, noted Head of School Marcia Mackay. We just put it in another place. Livingston schools hit worst in flooding, but is not alone Of the Louisiana school districts affected by the floods, Livingston Parish is reporting the Broadmoors chorus building is now the Runnels music department. Student are blowing horns, depressing piano keys, bowing strings, or plucking harps, an instrument often identified with Runnels. Its like being back in music school, said David Shaler, the churchs music director. I hear music coming from every room. It's not what it was. For instance, Johnice Thomas, who teaches piano and chorus at Runnels, is using her old music, much of which was stored above the floodwaters, but her piano instructional books didnt survive. Shes also managed to cobble together eight acoustic and digital pianos. The 11 pianos at the main campus, though, were destroyed. They were swimming. They are not supposed to swim, Thomas said. They arent meant to be amphibious. Runnels was able to reopen quickly thanks to serendipitous personal connections with both Broadmoor United Methodist Church and Brighton Academy. At Broadmoor, newly installed Senior Pastor Donnie Wilkinson had just moved to Baton Rouge from Alexandria weeks before the flooding. His wife was newly hired as a fifth-grade teacher at Runnels and his two children had just enrolled. When he heard of the schools plight, he quickly offered the school space at the church while they rebuilt. He said Runnels has added greatly to what is during much of the week an underused church facility. Just to see so much vitality is amazing, Wilkinson said. They bring joy to our lives. In the case of Brighton Academy, a Brighton teacher is married to someone who teaches at Runnels. Brighton specializes in helping children with dyslexia, dysphasia and related maladies. As it happened, Brighton had unused space at its 9150 Bereford Drive and offered it up. Runnels accepted and has nine classrooms serving children in grades one to four. Kenneth Henderson, Brightons principal and executive director, said having Runnels students on their campus has required adjusting. Dyslexic children work best in small groups with little distraction, but after some initial getting-used-to-each-other, the two schools have been able to work well alongside each other, he said. It was good coming together, Henderson said. Thats one thing Ive seen with this whole flood situation. Weve had a lot of people reach out and helping another. Like many flooded schools, Runnels has also received help from generous individuals, former students, and from other schools. But the damage is costing more than the money that has come in so far. Kelly Runnels said after insurance, FEMA reimbursement and other proceeds are factored in, hes guessing that the school will need to raise about $1 million to pay its bills. So far, he said, only a handful of its 700-plus students have transferred to other schools, but if the school doesnt get back home soon, hes worried that wont last and the financial hole will get deeper. If you cant give parents some hope that youll come back, theyll go someplace else, Runnels said. He said Runnels is keeping tuition flat for this year and next, but it will increase $500 for all students in the 2018-19 school year to help defray loans the school is preparing to take out. Base tuition, for those who pay early and in full, ranges from $7,100 in preschool to $9,200 for high school. Board member Parker said Runnels is working to catch up with other established private schools in tapping its alumni for donations. We are not big on that, but we are trying to get better, he admitted. For Parker, returning Runnels' main campus to operation is is not just financial, but crucial to restoring Runnels sense of identify. "The school, yes, it's the people, he said. But it is also the place. Its the feeling of the place. Citing public interest, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal wants Najeeb Jung to reconsider the decision of scrapping the appointment of Krishna Saini. By Parbina Purkayastha: AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has urged Governor Najeeb Jung to reconsider the decision of scrapping the appointment of Krishna Saini as chairperson of Delhi's power regulator DERC in public interest, provided AAP government has followed all laid down procedures during the selection process. "The DERC chief plays a key role in many decisions and his appointment will make a difference. If apart from political pressure there is no other reason to scrap his appointment, then he (Jung) should reconsider his decision in the public interest" said AAP Leader Dilip Pandey. advertisement KEJRIWAL WRITES TO JUNG In a note to the Governor, Kejriwal said cancelling the appointment will only lead to "serious problems" for the power section which will have huge adverse impact on the consumer which could not been the 'intention' of the Lt Governor. "The entire selection process was conducted in a fair and transparent manner and in full conformity with law while bearing public interest in mind. There is not an iota of malafide, bias or other irregularity in the process," Kejriwal said in the note. POWER OF POWER AAP believes it has galvanized the people of Delhi through power and its low bills. "After AAP came to power, the electricity bills have come down dramatically it is because of high level corruption during Sheila Dikshit's regime. People know the DERC chief plays key role on bills, like deciding the rates and it will affect the citizens" said Pandey. SAINI APPOINTED WITHOUT JUNG'S STAMP The LG's office had said Saini was appointed as chief in March without Jung's approval, as mandated under rules and procedures. Delhi government had constituted a selection committee to appoint the chairman of DERC this year. The CM said that the committee was headed by a retired High Court judge and included the chairman, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) and the Chief Secretary as members. "If someone from corporate takes over as DERC chief then it will definitely be a compromise with the people of Delhi" said Pandey. The LG and AAP government have been at loggerheads over a range of issues including appointments and have even been fighting it out in court. The Delhi High Court had last month held that LG is the administrative head of Delhi following which the AAP government had challenged the verdict in the Supreme Court. --- ENDS --- With ACT residents heading back to the polls just three months after the federal election, voters could be forgiven for suffering election fatigue. Not so much for Steph Gorman, who will be voting for the first time on October 15. Steph Gorman, 21 of Belconnen will be a first-time voter at the upcoming ACT election. Credit:Karleen Minney Having missed the federal election due to being overseas on student exchange, the Belconnen resident, 21, is looking forward to the chance to have her say at the ballot box. While much of the election debate has been surrounded by hospital funding and the future of the light rail, Ms Gorman said she has a very different set of election priorities. Canberra could become the Las Vegas of Australian greyhound racing if the Labor government reversed it's ban on the industry, dog advocates have said. The claims came as Canberra Greyhound Racing Club members said some Labor MLAs had expressed support for the industry. Alan Tutt campaigns with Debbie Collier at Hawker shops. Credit:Rohan Thomson Club secretary Debbie Collier said the end of racing in NSW, expected from next June, would make it viable to hold six or seven races in the ACT each week as NSW owners looked for the nearest outlet. The club upped its weekly races from one to two last month. Researchers have slammed the voting down of a needle exchange program at Canberra's Alexander Maconochie Centre saying it should be evidence rather than unions that decide public health policy. ACT corrections officers voted down the plan to introduce a needle and syringe exchange program and injecting room at the jail by an overwhelming majority last week. Public Health researchers have slammed the ACT government for allowing unions to 'dictate' health policy. Credit:Michael Clayton-Jones Burnett Institute head of Justice Health Research, Associate Professor Mark Stoove, said after years of planning the vetoing by members of the Community and Public Sector Union stifled an opportunity for the ACT to take national leadership on the issue. "It is really disappointing from the ACT government that they have allowed this process to play out where it is the unions dictating health policy rather than evidence or ACT Health themselves," he said. Missing Canberra man Richard Nield found safe and well Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss The entire situation is a tragedy and a travesty. Back in 2008, Leifer, a mother of eight, was found to have abused girls under her charge. Instead of denouncing her to the police, school leaders immediately arranged a late-night flight and she escaped to Israel, where she remained at large for several years. The tickets were funded by members of the Adass community. There is no suggestion of which I am aware that current students are being abused. But the available evidence indicates the school leaders have failed to adequately grasp their responsibility to ensure any current or former members of the school community can seek the most appropriate help should they have been involved in the Leifer atrocity or any similar occurrence. The Adass Israel School looks like a prison. Upon its looming, grim walls perch security cameras. Its gates are locked. Security guards prowl throughout the day. These unusual measures are presumably to protect the children. But the enemy has been within. There is a school in the inner Melbourne suburb of Elsternwick that exclusively serves a small and secretive Jewish sect, the ultra-Orthodox Adass Israel community, comprising about 200 families. It has been the scene of shocking sexual abuse, and is at the centre of an ongoing scandal that allegedly involves community members helping to finance the life of the exiled perpetrator, the predatory former principal Malka Leifer, who was protected by school leaders after her crimes were discovered. Supreme Court judge Jack Rush has indicated in a judgement that some of the school and community leaders responsible for such a perversion of justice may well have broken the law, and police are reportedly belatedly investigating. What sort of message does protecting a child-sex criminal send to the obedient and reserved members of the Adass community, who undoubtedly cherish their children as much as any other people? When he awarded one of Leifer's victims $1.2 million compensation last year, Justice Rush lambasted then and current Adass Israel school board president Yitzhak Benedikt and board member Mark Ernst for organising the 1.20am flight hours after her sacking in full knowledge of the hideous, criminal abuse of trust and power she had allegedly committed. The judge said: "It is apparent that either it was not a priority for Messrs Benedikt or Ernst that Leifer answered to the criminal law of this state or that this state's jurisdiction was deliberately flouted," Justice Rush found. "Upon consideration of the manner in which the school arranged for Leifer's departure from the country, I find the deliberate flouting of jurisdiction the most likely motivation." His honour said Benedikt knew Leifer she was a "serial sexual abuser". Leifer was finally apprehended and placed under house arrest in Israel, and Australia has been seeking her extradition for years. She reportedly made it clear to friends and family that she would do anything to prevent her return to face more than 70 charges. She's had lamentable success at evading a reckoning and one could be forgiven for thinking that she is again being protected, this time by medical and legal professionals in Israel who should be concerned about her child victims rather than this disgrace of a woman. Every time she's due to face court, Leifer argues she's suffering so much anxiety she simply can not show up. She's recently been released and roams free in a community that reportedly is horrified she's near their children. It gets worse. The Israeli court has decided the woman has such bad anxiety she might not be able to front the court for 10 years. It beggars belief, and is a terrible insult to the Adass community here and particularly to the victims and their families. It also beggars belief that some members of the Adass community are reportedly sending her money to fund her existence in Israel. The Aam Aadmi Party has launched the 'spot the kachra' campaign in Delhi to expose the BJP-led MCD as garbage cleaning is the responsibility of civic bodies. By Parbina Purkayastha: To expose the failure of the BJP-led MCD, the Delhi government has launched 'spot the kachra' campaign over the unattended garbage in Delhi. The Aam Aadmi Party said cleaning the garbage was the responsibility of BJP-ruled civic bodies. "We will spot all filthy sites and stick a sticker to expose the state of Delhi. The AAP workers will clean all the sites but after exposing them," said Dilip Pandey, Delhi Convenor, AAP. advertisement Also Read: Delhi civic body helpline flooded with 20,000 complaints as piles of garbage are linked to chikungunya outbreak CAMPAIGN AIMS TO INFORM RESIDENTS OF MCD'S RESPONSIBILITIES The campaign aims to inform the residents of Delhi that maintaining sanitation is the responsibility of the civic bodies. The AAP volunteers are pasting stickers at the sites where the garbage is scattered. The text on the sticker reads---BJP's MCD is responsible for disposing this garbage. "The campaign is not to prove anything but bring awareness and educate people about MCD'S responsibilities," Pandey said. The campaign comes at a time when the city is battling a public health crisis due to a spurt in mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya. Delhi's civic bodies are facing flak for failing to prevent mosquito breeding. Also Read: Chikungunya: AAP and BJP fog together 105-yr-old made Swachh Bharat Abhiyan mascot after she sells off her goats to built toilet --- ENDS --- About 21 million people in the world today are considered to be refugees a number that's not far short of the collected population of Australia. And no, before the shrill warnings of the Pauline Hansons or Donald Trumps of the world start to ring in your ears, not every refugee is about to get on a boat. Many refugees live in squalid camps, yet most choose to make the best of a life displaced, hoping to some day return to a lost home. About a quarter of global refugees are Palestinians. The total number of refugees judged by the United Nations to need permanent resettlement is expected to be closer to 1.2 million next year. And no, Australia has no obligation to offer everyone in need a new home, which is regrettably the type of a straw man proposition that the turbulent debate swirling about refugees in this country seems to reward. But it is true that there are far more refugees in the world today in need of resettlement than places available. I think the adrenalin takes over in those moments. It's weird. I'd hate to think I was ever numb or detached, but certainly, in the moment, the adrenalin plays a part and allows you to work and not get overwhelmed by what you're seeing. You're there to do something and the adrenalin and professional ambition kicks in. It's a distraction in a way that is helpful. If you find yourself in a combat zone or the aftermath of a bombing, things happen so quickly, and chances are you'll get kicked out or it will finish and you want to make the most of it and get what you can. Explain the circumstance of the General John Campbell dinner photograph, it's quite biblical. General Campbell was the commander of US forces when the hospital was bombed. It was an assignment for The Washington Post, to follow Campbell and his chief civilian aid around for a few days. They had a gala dinner in his honour, with the president and the Afghan chief executive in the palace. I knew it was significant within the context. Very lavish, a long table, very different from what you're seeing outside. Tell me about what it was like photographing Haji Ghalib. That was a commission for the The New York Times. They'd come across this guy, it was a pretty crazy story. Haji Ghalib was a former Guantanamo inmate. His cell mate in Guantanamo is now the head of ISIS in Afghanistan and the two of them are fighting each other. He's got the government side and his cell mate is his opponent. A promising athlete abused by her parents over 14 years has spoken of the anguish at being kept away from her siblings during their almost six-year battle for justice. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, this week appeared in Sydney's District Court to give her victim impact statement at the sentencing hearing for her mother and her father. Those who sat in on the 12-week trial have described it as the worst case of child abuse they have heard. Fairfax Media previously revealed the horrifying details of the more than decade-long abuse of which the father has now been convicted of 73 child sex offences against his own daughter, and the mother of 13 counts of acting indecently towards her own child. The woman, who has gone on to finish her schooling and then put herself through a university degree, was abused from the age of five until she escaped at 18. An external independent investigation to ask "big questions" into Queensland's foster care system was now essential, Queensland's opposition said yesterday. Queensland has 5000 foster parents. Minister for Child Safety Shannon Fentiman. Credit:Chris Hyde This came as Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman on Saturday fast-tracked the appointment of an extra 47 front-line child safety workers by Christmas. Ms Fentiman said the Queensland Child and Family Commission set up in 2014 after former chief magistrate Tim Carmody investigated Queensland's child protection services in 2013 would also investigate foster-care approvals. A man has been charged for allegedly striking a police constable in the face and trying to strangle him as police were trying to break up a fight at the Mount Isa Racecourse. The fight involving a group of people occurred at 10.30pm on Saturday. The male constable was treated at Mount Isa Hospital for bruising to his face and concussion. Police said the man tried to strangle a constable during the melee. A 25-year-old Soldiers Hill man has been charged with serious assault of police and obstructing police, and is due to appear in the Mount Isa Magistrates Court on Monday. AAP The thought of the school holidays, of idle days doing nothing, might be every child's dream, but for many parents, keeping children occupied on those long days can be a nightmare. In an effort to help families and retain valuable staff, a number of companies are running school holiday programs on site. Some of the schemes are funded by the businesses, while others require families to pay. Nathan Jones, and his children, have found the school holiday program at his workplace, Insurance Australia Group, a boon. Credit:Wayne Taylor The programs have been welcomed by hard-pressed parents. Nathan Jones says he and his wife, Nikki, had struggled to find things for their three children to do during the school holidays especially as they have no family in Melbourne. They knew it was coming. Yet another big employer was soon to close in the already disadvantaged Latrobe Valley. But it was a blow for valley residents to wake up to news on Saturday morning that the Hazelwood power station would almost certainly close in April. The Hazelwood Power Station could be closed as soon as April. Credit:Chris Hopkins They say they are angry at the Andrews government, which they believe hasn't done enough to create new jobs for the up to 1000 workers who will be left unemployed when French energy giant Engie shuts down the brown coal-fired plant. "I don't want to see Latrobe Valley turn into a ghost town," Hazelwood North resident Elisse Schoer said. "There's too much unemployment as there is." The state government has rushed to allay fears in the wake of news that Hazelwood power station is likely to close as early as April, a move that could cost the Latrobe Valley up to 1000 jobs. The Age reported a meeting of the station's French owner, energy giant Engie, to be held next month would almost certainly decide to close the nation's dirtiest coal-fired power station. Subsequently Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio called the owner for reassurance and was sent to the valley on Saturday to talk with nervous locals. Under cloud: The Hazelwood power station on Saturday. Credit:Chris Hopkins As the government scrambles to put together a transition plan to offer hope to the struggling community, Ms D'Ambrosio drove to Morwell on Saturday morning to speak to locals about new job opportunities. The minister called Engie's senior management on Friday night seeking more information, but told a press conference the French company gave her no indication that closure was imminent. Nor did they give her a timeline for the possible shutdown, she said. Hundreds of people blocked the busy Flinders Street intersection on Saturday night in support of an anti-racism campaigner who was pepper-sprayed by police on Friday. Uganda-born Jafri Katagar returned to the tram stop in front of the Young & Jackson pub where he regularly stands with a sign reading "Stop Racism Now". About 4.30pm on Friday, Mr Katagar was sprayed in the face after police asked him to move. Police said they had received "reports of a number of near misses between passing traffic and a protester standing in the middle of the street". Hundreds of protesters converged at the intersection on Saturday in a show of support for Mr Katagar and to demand accountability from Victoria Police. A trail bike rider has been killed after crashing into a tree near Kinglake, northwest of Melbourne. The 45-year-old Castella man died at the scene after his bike struck a tree in Toolangi State Forest about 9.20am on Saturday. Police spotted a van bearing allegedly stolen number plates. The forest is a popular destination among trail bike riders. Police will prepare a report for the coroner. Ajay and Kajol were in US for the promotion of his upcoming film Shivaay. By Siddharth Husain: While on their visit to the US for the promotions of Shivaay, the Devgn's made a stop-over in the San Francisco Bay Area (California) and visited the Headquarters of Google and Facebook. Being a gadget freak himself and given the advanced use of technology in his upcoming movie Shivaay, Ajay was really looking forward to these visits! advertisement Together Ajay and Kajol were given a tour of the Google and Facebook offices. At the Facebook office, they were also given a demo of the really cool oculus device (virtual reality headset). It was then that Kajol decided to give her fans good news of her joining Facebook officially. She picked this day also because it was her mother, Tanuja's birthday. ALSO READ: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil v/s Shivaay at the box office is giving Bollywood sleepless nights The two interacted with the employees over Q&A at the town hall where they were asked questions on how they strike a balance between personal and professional lives, on their film Shivaay amongst few others. Ajay was immensely proud to see so many Indians doing incredible work and holding important positions globally. On this shirt trip to the US, they visited New York, Dallas, Chicago and San Francisco for promotions. Looks like the Devgn's are leaving no stone unturned to make the most of their US tour! --- ENDS --- A woman watched on as two cars were stolen from her home in a brazen raid in Melbourne's south-east. The 27-year-old woman was woken in her Clyde North home by the sound of car engines about 1.30am on Wednesday. Amarok stolen from Clyde North house. When she went outside the Ryndhurst Street home to investigate, she saw the family's red BMW sedan and black 2012 VW Amarok ute being reversed out of the driveway. Senior Constable Alistair Parsons said investigators believed the keys to both vehicles were stolen from inside the home while the three occupants were sleeping. Fancy picking up a bit of Perth broadcasting history? Hundreds of items from Channel Nine have been put up for auction after the station moved from its Dianella headquarters to its new offices on St George's Terrace. Fancy buying Emmy Kubainski's make-up chair? Its up for auction. Credit:Nine News You can bid for chairs used by the newsreaders in the studio as well as their make-up chairs. For the technically minded there are hundreds of studio/stage lights, flat screen televisions, DVD and CD players, sound speakers and computer monitors. A manhunt is under way for a gunman who the police say fatally shot five people at a mall north of Seattle on Friday night (Saturday AEST). The attacker killed four women in the cosmetics department of a Macy's department store at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington State, the authorities said. A man was also critically wounded in the shooting and transported to Harborview Medical Centre in Seattle, where he died. The youngest woman killed was described as a teenager, law enforcement officers said during a news conference on Saturday morning local time. The gunman, who was armed with a rifle, left before the police arrived. The mall was evacuated after the 7.45pm shooting (12.45am Saturday AEST), said Sergeant Mark Francis, a spokesman for the Washington State Patrol. Beirut: Syria's war escalated abruptly on Friday as government forces and their Russian allies launched ferocious aerial assaults on opposition-held areas of Aleppo amid threats of a big ground offensive. The targets included three of four shelters run by civil defence rescuers the White Helmets, in what could be a deliberate attempt to target the group. Repeated airstrikes that obliterated buildings and engulfed neighbourhoods in flames killed about 100 people in the divided northern Syrian city that has epitomised the horrors of the war, turning the brief ceasefire of September 9 and hopes for humanitarian relief into faint memories. The bombings knocked out running water to an estimated 2 million people, the United Nations said. "My roommates and I were sitting in our common area when we heard a female scream," she said. "We ran to the window to see what was going on and within seconds cops flooded the scene. We left in the next two hours, because we heard that there were still fugitives on the loose and we did not feel comfortable staying there (in our home)." Local police described one of the suspects as a black male wearing a light-coloured bandanna over his face. The other two suspects were described as black males. "There hasn't been an arrest in the case yet," Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson Darnisha Green said. Ms Green declined to say if Mr Reid was shot after refusing to hand over money to the robbers. His friends said the easygoing Australian likely would not have tried to fight off the men. "If I had to guess, when he was approached Kevin would have said, 'Oh come on. I'll give you some cash. Let's go and get a beer'," a friend Marcia Banes, of Old Savannah Tours, told AAP. According to WOTC-TV news, a police report indicates Mr Reid was resuscitated after the shooting and asked to see his wife, but died in the ambulance on the way to hospital. Mr Reid developed a great love of Aboriginal art after living in Alice Springs for 25 years. His Savannah gallery specialised in contemporary central and western desert art and jewellery created using paintings by the Warlukurlangu artists of the Northern Territory. Mr Reid, who first visited the art friendly community of Savannah in 1992, opened what he believed to be the only Aboriginal art gallery on America's eastern seaboard. He moved to Atlanta, Georgia last July, relocating to Savannah in February and opening his gallery in April. In interview last month aired on WOTC-TV, he said he had always been drawn to Savannah. "I married by beautiful wife here in Savannah last year. I'm from Alice Springs right in the middle of Australia, 27,000 people, so I said to her if I'm going to move over to America I ain't going to live in Atlanta. So we flipped a coin and Savannah came up," he said. Ms Graham-Reid, an American, said the happiest day of her life was when they married. "Kevin was the most wonderful man I've ever known, he would give the shirt off his back to help anyone in need," Ms Graham-Reid wrote. "He was bright, funny and deeply loyal. The happiest day of my life was the day we got married. I treasure every minute we had together. "He made an impact on people wherever he went and he will be missed by countless." Michael Owens, president of the Tourism Leadership Council, said Mr Reid had been a highly regarded member of the community. "We are all deeply saddened by this loss and our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and family," said. Savannah, with its cobblestone streets and rich history as an important site during the American Revolution and US Civil War, is a popular tourist destination. Australians are Savannah's fifth largest international tourism market. However, locals are concerned by an uptick in violence and filled message boards on local websites with heartfelt messages for Mr Reid and his family, outrage at crime in the area and debated Georgia's lax gun laws. One local wrote she was going to buy a gun "ASAP" to protect herself because she lived just two minutes from the shooting. Christopher Chemsak, who lived in Mr Reid's apartment building, recalled how he sat with him on the front porch a few days ago and the Australian remarked how "life is good". "Last night I heard a wife scream as her husband was shot point blank by three strangers who jumped out of the shadows, only footsteps away from her front door," Mr Chemsak wrote on the Savannah Morning News website. "The only sound more horrifying than the crack of the gunfire was his body's last attempts to maintain life." Antony alleged the nearly Rs 59,000 crore that India will pay for 36 fighter jets comes at a steep cost and the jets will not be manufactured in the country under the Make In India initiative. By India Today Web Desk: Former Defence Minister and senior Congress leader AK Antony today criticised the Narendra Modi-led NDA government over Rafale fighter jet deal. Antony alleged the nearly Rs 59,000 crore that India will pay for 36 fighter jets comes at a steep cost and the jets will not be manufactured in the country under the Make In India initiative. advertisement India on Friday inked a Euro 7.87 billion (approx Rs 59,000) deal with France for purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons and equipped with latest missiles that will give the IAF greater "potency" over arch rival Pakistan. The 'vanilla price' (just the aircraft alone) will cost about 91.7 million Euros each for a single seater and about 94 million Euros for a two-seater trainer aircraft. Antony said 36 Rafale jets are not enough for the Indian Air Force (IAF). "The UPA government had decided to purchase 126 jets for urgent operational requirement of the IAF, 126 was the minimum urgent need. Are 36 jets enough?", he questioned. Antony expressed his fear that India will be unable to maintain qualitative and quantitative advantage over Pakistan and China at a time when the two neighbours are modernising their air forces. He said the IAF is currently down to 34 squadrons as against a sanctioned strength of 44 and the country needs more aircraft. "The present strength 32 squadron, in 2022 this will be reduced to 25, so how the government will equip the air force with more aircraft and how will they fill up the gap?", the Congress leader asked. "India will lose heavily if there is fraud in the deal. In UPA, we used to finalise defence contracts only after examining all aspects of the deal. There is no comparison between UPA and NDA. We didn't finalise the deal until France agreed to our terms and conditions. We had set our own conditions regarding 50 per cent offset price, 18 imported jets from France, and production of another 108 jets in HAL. But that condition is gone and Make in India is also gone. ON RUSSIA-PAKISTAN JOINT MILITARY DRILL Speaking on the Russia-Pakistan joint military drill, the Congress leader said, "After independence, this is the first time that Russia is having a joint exercise with Pakistan. Never has Russia or former Soviet Union had a joint exercise with Pakistan". The Rafale combat aircraft to be manufactured by French aviation company Dassault will come with various India- specific modifications including Israeli helmet mounted displays, radar warning receivers, low band jammers, 10 hour flight data recording, infra-red search and tracking, towed decoy systems among others. advertisement ALSO READ:AK Antony attacks Manohar Parrikar on defence issues The Inter-Governmental Agreement was signed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his visiting French counterpart Jean Yves Le Drian 16-months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India's plans to buy 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in fly away condition during his trip to France. These combat aircraft, delivery of which will start in 36 months and will be completed in 67 months from the date the contract is inked, comes equipped with state-of-the-art missiles weaponry that will give IAF a capability that had been sorely missing in its arsenal. The features that make the Rafale a strategic weapon in the hands of IAF, which is currently down to 34 squadrons as against a sanctioned strength of 44, includes its Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Meteor air-to-air missile with a range of 150 kilometers. --- ENDS --- if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi... Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/09/2016 (2227 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. If you would like to have a hand in creating a Canada Day masterpiece, opportunity knocks. A community mural is being created to celebrate Canadas 150 anniversary next year and Steinbach residents will have the chance to paint one of 600 tiles that will make up the mural. Workshops will be held throughout the day and evening on Nov. 2 and Nov. 3. Participation is on a first come, first serve basis. Register at www.steinbach.ca. By PTI: Chandigarh, Sep 24 (PTI) Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today demanded that India must go for "limited retaliatory action" against Pakistan for "abetting" and "sponsoring" the terror attack on an Army camp in Uri of Jammu and Kashmir. "While the nature and type of retaliation should be decided by the Army, it must at no cost let the perpetrators of the terror attack go unpunished," he said. advertisement Speaking to mediapersons after flagging off 13 campaign vehicles here, Amarinder said that though he is a strong advocate of people-to-people contact as common men on both sides want peace and cordial relationship, that does not mean our Army should let the killing of our soldiers go unpunished. "It is a question of maintaining the morale of our Army and that is non-negotiable," he said. Eighteen soldiers were killed when Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists attacked an Army camp in Uri in Kashmir on Sunday morning, drawing outrage in the country. To a question on the possibility of some leaders joining the party, Amarinder said, "Congress is competent and confident of winning the polls on its own and it was not dependent on the support of outsiders". He, however, welcomed the homecoming of some party leaders, but not those who had "ditched" the party at a critical time. To a question about the possibility of the "fourth front" leaders joining or aligning with Congress, Amarinder said, "Let them make up their mind and let you ask them about their plans before asking me for our reaction." Days after announcing the launch of Aawaaz-e-Punjab, former BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu said they have decided against forming a political party as it is too short a time to prepare for Punjab Assembly polls, but added that they are open to "alliance" for betterment of the state. Earlier, during a function at Punjab Congress Bhawan, Amarinder flagged off 13 vehicles of the Punjab Congress Express, which will touch every nook and corner of the state as part of the 37-day-long Congress Liyao, Punjab Bachao Campaign. Amarinder was accompanied by senior leaders including AICC in charge for Punjab Asha Kumari, Campaign Committee chairperson Ambika Soni, AICC secretary Harish Chaudhry, CLP leader Charanjit Singh Channi, former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, PCC senior vice president Laal Singh and others. PTI VJ NSD RG NSD --- ENDS --- The Mellerio Ruby Parure Tiara (Photo: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images) The Dutch tiara collection is so large that it includes not one but two major ruby tiaras. Today were going to look at the bigger of the two: the grand ruby tiara made for the family by Mellerio. Photo: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images Mellerio dits Meller is a major French jewelry firm with a seriously glittering history. Theyve been making pieces for centuries, and this tiara is only one of several Mellerio tiaras in royal collections today. The Dutch ruby tiara was made by the company for Queen Emma around 1888 as a part of a larger ruby parure. The pieces were a gift from Emmas husband, King Willem III. (The parure even includes a ruby-encrusted fan. How Victorian!) Photo: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images All four of the Dutch queens since Emma have worn the tiara and at least parts of the rest of the parure; the piece has also been worn by many Dutch princesses. Queen Juliana reportedly loved this parure, so much so that she even chose the brooch to wear on the day she was inaugurated as queen. Above, Juliana wears the tiara and the accompanying pieces of the parure in 1976. Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images The piece has a very classic tiara shape, with rows of diamonds suspended between the larger elements; that shape fits well with both Princess Beatrixs retro bouffant and Queen Maximas sleeker hairstyles. Above, Beatrix wears the tiara at the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden in 2010. Photo: JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images Maxima even chose the tiara for her first official portrait as queen. Shes reached for it more than once for glittering occasions over the past several years; her appearance in the tiara at the wedding of Prince Carl Philip of Sweden in 2015 (pictured above) was hailed as an especially major bejeweled triumph. And since its a part of the familys jewel foundation, it will sit atop various Dutch royal hairstyles for years to come. Note: This is an updated version of an earlier post, with new text and images. Just last weekend, Pippa Middleton gave an interview in which she bemoaned the intrusion into her privacy which her position as sister of the future queen, Kate Middleton, occasions. Today, those fears have taken on a nightmarish reality with the news that Pippas iCloud has been hacked, and that stolen pictures allegedly showing intimate scenes from royal life as well as shots of her boyfriend naked are being hawked to the media, with the hacker demanding sums upward of $65,000 for a cache of 3,000 pictures. However late on Saturday evening, reports began to filter out that a man suspected of the crime had been arrested. The 35-year-old suspect was taken into custody at a south London police station after being arrested on suspicion of a Computer Misuse Act offence, police said. The hacker had offered the pictures for sale but had also indicated that he was not averse to blackmailing Pippa, offering to return the pictures if paid. The Sun newspaper said that the cyber thiefwho contacted them through the Jabber encrypted messaging serviceclaimed to have obtained a vast trove of pictures and other data from Pippas account. The pictures are said to include shots of Pippa at a wedding dress fitting and ones of her fiance in the nude. The Sun also says that the thief claimed to be in possession of pictures of Pippas sister Kate, and her brother-in-law Prince William. The incursion could prove to be the biggest breach of royal privacy in history if the pictures end up being disseminated online by the thief. If the pictures emerge into the public domain, the fall out for the royals would far outweigh any previous incidents involving long lens paparazzi intrusions. There was widespread amazement over British breakfast tables this morning that Pippa had apparently continued uploading pictures to the cloud after so many accounts were publicly compromised last year. In August 2014 more than 500 accounts were raided and hundreds of personal and compromising images and videos were stolen and disseminated, most famously naked pictures of the actress Jennifer Lawrence. Lawrence described the intrusion to Vanity Fair as a sex crime. The paper says that to prove the authenticity of his claims, the crook calling himself Crafty Cockney emailed two photos showing the socialite at what appeared to be her wedding dress fitting session. Other data and pictures stolen allegedly include pictures of Kate and the royal family with the royal children and private pictures of Pippa and James and friends partying. A spokesman for Pippa and James confirmed to The Sun that the leak was genuine, with a spokesperson saying, Thank you very much for drawing this to the familys attention. I can confirm that not only have the lawyers been informed but the police are about to be involved as well. News of the arrest will come as a welcome relief to the Middletons. If the police have the right man, their action will significantly reduce the chances that the pictures will enter the public domain. Last week, 40-year-old Terence Crutcherwho is blackwas gunned down after his SUV was stopped on the street in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Several police cameras captured Crutcher, unarmed and with his hands over his head, absorbing a fatal gunshot wound from Officer Betty Shelby while walking back toward his car. The vehicle, according to an affidavit, had already been cleared of any potential threats. Manslaughter charges were later brought against Officer Shelby for unlawfully and unnecessarily shooting Crutcher, according to the criminal complaint. The shooting death of Crutcher was followed by another officer-involved shooting in Charlotte, North Carolina, wherein Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old black man, was shot and killed by police after cops claim he waved a gun in their directionthough there have been conflicting accounts of this, and the video footage has yet to be released to the public. The killing of Scott has led to a series of protests in downtown Charlotte that turned violent, resulting in the civilian-on-civilian shooting death of Justin Carr, 26. On Friday nights edition of HBOs Real Time, host Bill Maher addressed Republican presidential candidate Donald Trumps asinine reaction to the Charlotte protests. Of course, Donald Trump is making the situation betteras he always does, Maher quipped. He actually said this, he said, If youre not aware, drugs are a very big factor [in the protests]. Hes like your 90-year-old aunt: Theyre all taking something! Yeah, theyre taking something alright: bullets. The other day, Trump said, African-American communitiesbecause he would knoware absolutely in the worst shape they have ever been ever, ever, ever, added Maher. Yes, Donald Trump, of all people Donald Trump knows why the caged bird sings: because it used to live in his hair. Later on, during the panel discussion portion of the program, Maher discussed the shooting of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the recent manslaughter charges brought against the shooterOfficer Betty Shelby, a white woman. You have to do it better, said Maher. The woman cop [in Tulsa] who shot the guy, now she is charged with manslaughter. I mean, she shouldnt have done that, but I must say: she is also a victim. Shes a victim of bad police training. Police do not train the way they should! If youre that nervous, you cant do this job. The Charlotte shooting, which we have some video, he continued, before playing a portion of the cell-phone footage released Friday that was taken by Scotts wife, Rakeyia Scott. OK, we dont know whether he had a gun, but even if he did, you dont have to kill every time somebody does something that makes you nervous. We have to train our police to not be that guy who just empties the clip. If I was the police academy, I would say, Wait until later in the encounter before you shoot. They seem to be teaching, Shoot first thing in the encounter. Reacting to the state government's request, Nasscom sent an advisory to all its members asking them to allow employees to work from home, if possible, in view of the heavy rains. By Press Trust of India: Incessant rains continued to batter the city for the third day today, prompting Telangana government to ask IT companies to allow their employees in the city to work from home even as help has been sought from the Army for rescue operation in some areas. Reacting to the state government's request, Nasscom sent an advisory to all its members asking them to allow employees to work from home, if possible, in view of the heavy rains. advertisement Following the downpour, which crippled normal life in some parts of the city, the state government has declared a holiday for educational institutions in Greater Hyderabad area today and tomorrow. CM REVIEWS SITUATIONS Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is in the national capital, reviewed the situation and instructed the Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma to take stock of the situation and estimate damage caused by rains. Accordingly, Rajiv Sharma ordered all the District Collectors to prepare a list of damages and loss due to the heavy rains, an official release from CM's office said. Help has been sought from the Army for rescue operation in some areas in Hyderabad. Help has been sought from the Army for rescue operation in some areas in Hyderabad. ALSO READ:Hyderabad: Rain cripples city, roads flooded, schools shut Telangana's Information Technology Secretary Jayesh Ranjan said they have sent an advisory to IT companies' association to either declare a holiday or allow their employees to work from home following forecast of heavy rains today and tomorrow. "We have asked the IT associations to send an advisory to all the IT companies located in the city. Accordingly, they issued advisory to all the IT firms. This is in the interest of safety of the employees. The response from companies is good," Ranjan said. Heavy rains have been lashing the city, which is a major center for the technology industry, and some other parts of Telangana since the last couple of days. ARMY DEPLOYED The government has sought help of the Army for rescue operation in some areas of the city, for which the Defence wing has agreed, a senior official of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) said today. Four columns of Army have been deployed in areas of Begumpet, Nizampet, Hakimpet and Alwal of the Greater Hyderabad. The Army has also setup a control room at GHMC office and in coordination with the GHMC and NDRF officials are closely monitoring the situation on ground round the clock. Army columns are already on track to provide relief material and medical aid in the slum areas of Alwal. Other columns of the Army have been kept on standby, to be deployed when required. "We sought their help and they also came forward. They have been given maps and other information of areas like Gachibowli, Nizampet, Alwal and Hakimpet. They are willing to swing into action whenever we call them, the GHMC official said. advertisement ALSO READ:Rain wreaks havoc in Hyderabad and Mumbai, life crippled Some localities in the low-lying areas of Miyapur, Bachupalli and Nizampet continue to be inundated since the last two days. GHMC has been supplying food packets to the people in rain-affected areas. Meanwhile, the state government said it had kept two choppers on stand-by to shift the people from low-lying areas of Hyderabad if necessary. An official release said the Minister for Municipal Administration K T Rama Rao had made an appeal to those who live in low-lying areas to move to safer places. The government had kept two helicopters ready for rescue operations, the release said quoting the minister. Rao visited Hussain Sagar area and ordered the officials to take remedial measures to release the excess flood water. ALSO READ:Heavy rains disrupt normal life in Hyderabad GHMC authorities appealed the people not to believe the rumours making rounds on the social media. Mayor Bonthu Rammohan warned that the government would take stringent action against those who spread rumours. advertisement "We are monitoring the situation from minute to minute and are engaged in rescue operations. If anyone tries to spread rumours on social media, we will track IP address and take legal action against them," he said. A man carries a cot through a flooded steet after heavy downpour in Hyderabad on Friday. (PTI Photo) RESCUE OPERATIONS GHMC is also supplying drinking water by tankers to the low-lying areas. During the 24 hours from 8.30 AM on Thursday, Hyderabad has recorded 73 mm of rainfall. Heavy rains have been recorded in several areas of city including Nizampet, Begumpet, Alwal, Quthbullapur, Charminar and Malkajgiri. State IT Minister KT Rama Rao and other ministers along with senior officials toured the city and reviewed the situation. KTR instructed officials to evacuate people from low-lying areas. Talking to reporters, he said the situation in the city is under control and requested the public not to believe in rumours. "Army and NDRF teams are ready to extend help," he said. Normal life in some low-lying areas of the city has been disrupted due to the water-logging. "Hyderabad traffic police has advised commuters to avoid undertaking unnecessary journeys. We see less Traffic today possibly due to holiday announcement to educational institutions and also people avoided unnecessary journeys," Deputy Commissioner of Police (traffic) said --- ENDS --- advertisement MORELIA, Mexico One day in the late spring of 2012, Mexican police pulled over Efren Olivares Valdez and told him he was delivering his truckload of raw pine resin to the wrong refinery. The grandfatherly driver, a leader of his indigenous tribal community, knew that the officers acted as enforcers for the murderous Knights Templar crime cartel. Look, sir, the refiner in Morelia has already paid for this, Olivares told the policeman inspecting his papers. Ignoring his protests, the officer told him to deliver the cargo to a rival refinery in Ario, in the opposite direction. Faced with an unknown and possibly deadly fate, Olivares turned his truck around and did as he was told. In this part of Mexico, where everybody knows the cartels, and everybody knows what they can do to you, even businesses that have no connection to drugs have to bend to the will of the narcotraficantesor run risks that are difficult and dangerous to calculate. The pine resin business has been for many years the main livelihood of people living in the lush and deservedly famous forests of Michoacan. In living memory they were famous as homes to deer, puma, yellow-headed parrots, and various reptiles, great and small. In one part of the state, a special reserve has been set aside for the stupendous migration of the monarch butterflies that come by the millions each year to Michoacan, arriving, more or less punctually, at the beginning of November on the Day of the Dead. Much of that natural beauty and diversity has been threatened by cattle ranching, mining, legal and illegal lumbering of precious wood, and the hunting of rare animals to kill or capture for sale. Efren Olivares and his people are not part of that. Pine resin harvesting is an ecologically sustainable business that provides a livelihood for thousands of rural families. A single tree can produce resin for 80 years, keeping people employed for generations. Forest workers, called tappers, make cuts into the pine tree bark for the resin to drip into small containersa procedure roughly similar to tapping maple trees for the sap that is boiled to make pancake syrup. The resin is transferred to larger containers, and delivered to community collection points by backpack, mule, or pickup truck. From there, it is sold to distilleries that refine the liquid resin into solid rosin. Chemical companies buy the rosin as base ingredients for food, soft drinks, cosmetics, household products, and industrial adhesives. A byproduct of the distillation process, turpentine, is either sold in its raw form as a solvent, or further refined into household and industrial cleaners and disinfectants. Companies in Mexico and abroad pay the distillers, and if the distillers pay a fair price to the tappers, they can survive. If they are chiseled or cheated, they cannot. For years, Efren Olivares and his ejido, or community, had sold their resin at market rates to the Pinosa refinery in Morelia, the beautiful colonial capital of Michoacan. Now it was with something like a sense of doom that Olivares let the officers escort him to the end of their jurisdiction. They had radioed ahead to their counterparts in Ario to await the load of 40 barrels. We knew that the refinery was with the Templarios, Olivares told The Daily Beast. As he passed through the plant gates, another group of gunmen, armed with AK-47 assault rifles, took control of his truck. Its my property now, said Martin Ornelas Pineda, the plant owner. If you want to continue working, youll have to work with me. (Ornelas, currently serving a prison term after his arrest on weapons charges, was not available for comment.) The Ario refinery was well known as one of five in Michoacan under a network called Unored, which Ornelas founded and led, and which multiple sources in Michoacan in sworn statements and in interviews with The Daily Beast, identified with the Knights Templar. Now Unored would receive resin shipments from Olivaress community for a cut-rate price extorted from the tappers. People are poor here, and much of the police, legal and judicial system has been corrupted, infiltrated, and sometimes taken over entirely by the cartels. So those who want to end the extortion look for allies where they can. Some have taken the law into their own hands, others have begged foreign corporations they believe buy rosin from the cartelsin this case a specific American multinational corporationto help them out. In that, they were grievously disappointed. Several Unored refineries allegedly supplied rosin to Eastman Chemical of Kingsport, Tennessee, an international corporate behemoth with annual revenues of $9.5 billion. So the producers worked together, gathering evidence, including facts about the hijacking of Olivaress truck, to show a pattern of criminal activity. Another resin distiller, not connected with the network, retained the husband and wife law firm of Joseph diGenova and Victoria Toensing (yes, the former federal prosecutors connected with the Benghazi hearings, with Toensing now heading lawyers for Trump) to help the pine tappers of Michoacan present their case to Eastman, pleading with the company to stop buying from suppliers tied to the Knights Templar. Eastman assured Mexican producers in 2012 that it had investigated the pine workers complaints and found nothing. We take all allegations of potential supplier misconduct seriously, Eastman spokesperson Candi Eslinger told The Daily Beast in a June 16 email. Eastman has engaged two independent, reputable firms to investigate the potential involvement of certain Eastman suppliers in criminal activity in Mexico, and we found no credible evidence supporting those allegations. Eastman Vice President and Assistant General Counsel David Woodmansee responded to the complaints at the time. He said that the company would start its own investigation and then reported back that it had found nothing to the allegations. Eastman apparently never questioned its own plant manager in Uruapan, Michoacans second largest city. When I was plant manager, I was aware that Eastman Uruapan purchased rosin from the Unored companies, Marco Antonio Chavez said in a sworn statement taken by Toensing as part of a civil action in the United States to get Eastman to cease and desist. Chavez, who swore under oath that the company knew all along about the Unored suppliers, had worked at the same facility for 24 years. In his statement, Chavez listed the supplier companies and responsible Eastman officials by name. Eastman was aware of the Unored connection to members of organized crime, Chavez swore. In fact, organized crimes connection to Unored and the resin industry in Michoacan was common knowledge as it was widely reported in the local and national media. Woodmansee referred all inquiries to spokesperson Candi Eslinger, who said, Eastman continually monitors the performance of its suppliers and will take appropriate action if credible evidence demonstrates that any supplier, whether in Mexico or elsewhere, is affiliated with criminal activity. Eastman did not respond to direct questions about its investigations in 2012 and 2013, or the measures it has taken since 2010 to ensure that its suppliers are not associated with organized crime. In 2014, after failing to convince Eastman, a family of pine extract producers formally requested the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Washington to get Eastman to stop. The SEC is the independent federal agency responsible for investigating publicly traded companies for alleged corrupt practices. Julio Rodriguez, president of the National Resin Industry Union of Mexico, was the first to warn Eastman executives in Tennessee. On March 5, 2012, he informed Eastman Chemical that its Uruapan plantthen under Chavezs managementwas buying rosin from the Unored group of criminal-linked distilleries. Rodriguez asked Eastman to stop. Woodmansee responded to Rodriguez a week later that the company had no knowledge of the problem but would get to the bottom of it. He said that Eastman hired an international law firm with offices in Mexico City to investigate, and instructed the lawyers to contact Rodriguez. The following month, Woodmansee said that the lawyers contacted all of Eastmans suppliers in Mexico, which would have included the Unored refineries, and that no evidence was found to support the allegations. But that does not square with what the former plant manager in Uruapan told Toensing in his sworn statement. When I left Eastman Uruapan in April 2013, said Chavez, it was still purchasing rosin from Unored companies. Eastman did not respond to repeated requests for comment about Chavezs allegations. It would not say whether its investigators had interviewed its former plant manager after the company was accused of buying criminal cartel-supplied materials. In his most recent letter to Eastman, on March 31 of this year, Rodriguez said that organized criminals murdered more than two dozen indigenous pine workers and family members, and raped and kidnapped others. He pleaded with Eastman again to cut off the corrupt rosin suppliers. Eastman spokespersons did not respond to requests to comment about the Rodriguez letter and the allegations it contained. Fredo Arias-King, president of a Texas-based company that buys turpentine from resin distillers in Michoacan, said that his firm, T & R Chemicals, refused to buy from any suppliers connected to Unored or the cartels. It was Arias-King who hired DiGenova and Toensing to investigate. In an interview with The Daily Beast, Arias-King said he provided sworn declarations to the fraud section of the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Unit of the Enforcement Division of the SEC, seeking civil action. The lack of action from Eastman, Arias-King said, devastated Mexicos rural pine workers, who could not turn to local authorities for help. He said he is frustrated that U.S. officials are silent about their response to his complaints. But Toensing does not find that extraordinary. Its a usual procedure for the government not to get back to the complainant, she said. It doesnt mean that theyre doing something or not doing something. Not only did the cartels damage the pine workers livelihoods by stealing their income from producing resin, but they clear-cut thousands of acres of pine forests that deprived families of a lifetimes worth of income, said Arias-King. He and his family have provided three million pine seedlings to the indigenous community of Cheran toward restoring nearly 30,000 acres of ruined forests. Tappers like Olivares sold their resin to Pinosa, an established, eight-decade-old distillery owned by Arias-Kings family in Morelia, which pays market rates. When the Knights Templar tried to shake down Pinosa to force it to pay protection money, the company refused. Instead, it took out newspaper ads offering to pay tappers full market prices for pine resin. We knew this was going to upset the cartels, but our goal was to tell the tappers what the real market price was, and to encourage them to be brave against the criminals, Arias-King said. In July 2012, armed arsonists burned the block-long Pinosa distillery to the ground. After that, Arias-King flew to Tennessee to meet with Eastman executives to lay out the evidence and try to persuade the company to cut off the cartel. He said that in August 2012, he met personally with Woodmansee. Eastman blames Arias-King for the controversy, brushing off the allegations as business competition. At an in-person meeting with Mr. Arias-King in 2012, Eastman requested that Mr. Arias-King make all source information including boxes of documents that he claimed to possess available to Eastman to assist in its investigation, and he declined to do so, Eslinger told us. Eastman didnt seem to want the facts they had said they wanted. They refused to receive the evidence, said Arias-King. I took photos, newspaper articles, police reports, security camera videos, sworn eyewitness testimonies, and other specific information about how the crime cartels had infiltrated the resin industry in Michoacan, he said. When I passed it across the table to them, they wouldnt even look. Its as if they touched it, they lost their plausible deniability. Emails show that Arias-King invited Woodmansee to meet in September, 2013, in the presence of neutral professionals from the Pine Chemicals Association, which represents the industry. Woodmansee responded in a one-sentence email: No, we are not interested in your proposal. Arias-King continues to retain DiGenova and Toensing to investigate, but he and his family-owned businesses lack the resources to challenge the multibillion-dollar international conglomerate. At this point we are not contemplating a civil lawsuit for damages against Eastman, he insists. Originally all we wanted was for Eastman to stop buying from criminal suppliers, said Arias-King. If Eastman had not bought rosin from the cartels that stole and extorted pine resin, the cartels would have stopped. The bottom line: if the impoverished pine tappers of Michoacan thought they could get help from a multi-billion-dollar corporation in the United States in their battle against the cartel, they were sorely disappointed. Change has come herebut it came when people took the law into their own hands. Townspeople in Cheran overthrew their corrupt town government, drove out the police who were in league with the cartels, and set up self-defense forces. We took the police weapons and built our own forest guard, David Romero, a Purhepecha tribal council leader in Cheran, told The Daily Beast. We lost 23 of our people. But we drove out the corrupt officials and the cartels. Other local groups raised their own vigilante forces to battle both cartels and crooked authorities. The cartels had controlled virtually the entire Michoacan state government and police forces. Rodriguez and Arias-King say that they filed 32 complaints with state police and prosecutors, to no avail. But the citizen-based vigilante movements spread. When national authorities finally did move in to restore some semblance of law and order in 2012, they arrested the governor and other officials, and they deputized Cherans forest guard as legitimate local police. The national government sent in military units and federales to combat the cartels in Michoacan, sometimes battling gangster-controlled state police units. Local news reports confirm that a Mexican army patrol arrested Ornelas after stopping his vehicle and discovering an AK-47 and other illegal weapons, and blanket-sized signs called mantas that gangsters display to make their demands public. Ornelas, who had taken Olivaress hijacked pine resin, is still in prison. The arrest came just days before Arias-King met with Eastman executives. The Ario refinery that Ornelas controlled went out of business after his arrest. Resin and rosin prices returned to market levels, Michoacan pine producers say, thanks to the combination of local resistance from citizen armed self-defense forces and the action from President Enrique Pena Nieto, which broke the cartel grip on Michoacan by 2014. After federal authorities arrested the governor, they imposed an administrator to run the state for two years. But organized criminal violence remains, and the pine workers, who eventually handed in their arms to the government, are worried that the cartels will return in force. Now other cartel groups are vying for control of Michoacan as the Knights Templar are trying to reassert themselves. Recently, gangsters showed off their new firepower by shooting down a police helicopter, killing four. In the future, the pine tappers of Michoacan will likely need all the allies they can get. But it looks theyll just have to pray that American corporations dont write them off for the sake of easy profits. At 11:45 a.m. Saturday morning, Theresa May, the newly ensconced leader of the Conservative Party, won a handsome victory at Britains next general election. It was also the time, the precise moment, when the Labour Party ceased to exist as a functioning electoral force. For it was at 11:45 a.m. that it was announced that, for a second time, Jeremy Corbyn was duly elected leader of the Labour Party. The Labour Party that has produced six prime ministers, from Ramsay MacDonald to Gordon Brown, is no more. It is an ex-party. It has ceased to be. A once mighty electoral machine built upon the sweat and passion of the working class has been taken over by the far left, a patchwork coalition of cranks and Trotskyites much more motivated by ideological purity than tedious, even banal, considerations of electability. In Corbyns world, winning elections is for losers. The Labour Party is not trudging into the wilderness, it is enthusiastically scurrying to the nearest, highest cliff from which it may leap. This is a party embracing its own downfall. It is quite a sight, the like of which British politics has not seen in decades. As Oscar Wilde nearly put it, to elect Corbyn once may be regarded as a misfortune, to do so twice looks like carelessness. The facts are these: Corbyn was re-elected as leader of the party with more than 60 percent of the votes cast by around half a million party members. That will be taken by his supporters as an overwhelming mandate even though his defeated challenger, the Welsh Member of Parliament Owen Smith, was a no-name, doomed-to-lose candidate who had risen without a trace and was only standing against Corbyn because, damn it, someone had to. Despite running a hapless and hopeless campaign, Smith won nearly 40 percent of the vote. In such circumstances, Corbyns call for party unity is as hollow as it is mirthless. Tellingly, Smith won a majority of the votes cast by Labour Party members who joined the party more than two years ago. The members, that is, who staff campaigns, canvass voters, deliver leaflets, and generally do the grunt work required to help win elections. Corbyns support, by contrast, came from the hundreds of thousands of new party members who, fed up with the compromises required for political victory, prefer the purityand sanctimonyof opposition. Many of them are not even diehard Labour supporters, being instead members of the hard left whose journey to Labour smacks of entryism. The Labour Party is now an extremist party of the far left that has no prospect, none at all, of persuading a moderately conservative country such as Britain to entrust it with power. At this point we are required to say that a world in which Donald Trump can be the Republican Partys presidential nominee is a world that has lost its capacity to astonish. If that can happen, and by god it has, then anything is possible. Even allowing for these malignant times, however, the idea of Prime Minister Corbyn stretches credulity far beyond its snapping point. This is not a matter of personal opinion. Rather it is a question of empirical evidence. One recent poll revealed that 46 percent of working-class votersupon whose support the Labour Party has always reliedconsider Corbyn an election loser. Just 19 percent think him a winner and only 22 percent believe he is in touch with voters. A mere quarter rate him competent. No Labour leader in history has plumbed such polling depths; Corbyn is stuck in a hole from which it is impossible to emerge even if he really wanted to. This, remember, is a poll of Labours natural constituency. Nor is it clear that he does desire to govern. It seems telling that Corbyn does not spend time talking about what he would do in governmentin the admittedly unforeseeable likelihood of him having that chancebut, rather, in terms of changing the tone and culture of politics. He does not advocate a politics of policy but, instead, one of attitude in which the banality of utopian left-wing dreaming substitutes for a credible program of government. His rise to prominence, however, reflects a wider crisis of the left. The triangulating managerialism of Tony Blair was scuppered by the Iraq War and then, after Blairs departure, by the financial crash in 2008. That ushered in a new era of astringent Conservative government whose austerity regime has proved unpopular but still more palatable than anything offered by a Labour Party that has lost its sense of purpose. The British people never learned to love David Cameron but, when push came to shove, they trusted him just enough to put him into Downing Street not once, but twice. Corbynism, then, is a cry for help and a plangent whimper for an alternative to business as usual. That this veteran left-winger, a sponsor of doomed causes for all his 30 years in Parliament, has become Labour leader proved a surprise to him as much as anyone else. Last year he only made it onto the ballot for his first tilt at the leadership thanks to the generosity of Labour MPs who gave him the support needed to qualify for the contest as an act of charity designed to widen the debate. This, as more than one such MP subsequently admitted, was a moronic act even if they were not to know Corbyn would only go and win the contest, capitalizing on the sudden entry into the Labour Party thousands of diehard leftists. Ever since, the parliamentary party has been riven by division. Fewer than a fifth of Labour MPs support Corbyns leadership. Those who are not openly hostile to him keep quiet, for fear they will be deselected by activist local party branches who value ideological purityand faithfulness to the gray leaderabove trivial concerns such as electability. Polling evidence shows that even Corbyns supporters do not think he can win a general election; it also shows they do not care. Even so, the ineptitude of the so-called Labour moderates remains startling. Over the summer they attempted a coup, rebelling against Corbyns self-evidently hapless leadership. Unfortunately, they did so without proper ammunition, planning or ideas. The Labour rebels went to a knife fight armed with nothing more substantial than rubber spoons. Hence Smith. Where Corbyns renewed mandate leaves electable Labour is anyones guess. The party has split before and may do so again. The last time the Labour left was ascendant, in the 1980s, right-wingers left to form the Social Democratic Party (now a part of the Liberal Democrats). A similar split may again be unavoidable, now that the Labour Party is a husk of what it was. At present the party is held together with sticky tape and only residual loyalty to the ancient idea of what Labour should bea party that seeks to win elections to advance the interests of ordinary working peoplekeeps many long-standing Labour members within the fold. Labours crisis could be entertaining if it were not so serious. You would never know it right now, but Theresa Mays Conservatives are themselves deeply split between those who favor leaving the European Union at any cost and those whod prefer a soft Brexit. Mays government has not hitherto given a convincing impression of an administration that knows what it is doing. Instead her ministers prattle that Brexit means Brexit without acknowledging that there are many different types of Brexit, and it would be useful if her government chose one of them. Sensible government, however, requires a plausible alternative. That is the greatest check available in a democracy. Healthy opposition keeps a government honest and, more than that, sane. It acts as a check on its own worst impulses and instincts. In the absence of that opposition, government becomes as arrogant as it is complacent. There is a grave danger that this is precisely the kind of government Britain will now enjoy at a moment when it requires just the opposite kind of government. But by electing Corbyn once again, Labour has sold its own supporters down the river. Worse than that, the party membership has betrayed the British national interest. The very last thing the U.K. needs right now is an unelectable opposition. That is exactly what it has, however. Corbyn has been Labour leader for a year now, amply long enough for the British peoplewhose millions should not be confused with the half million or so Labour membersto deliver their verdict upon his leadership. That verdict has been a withering one: Hes not up to it. By committing electoral suicide, however, Labours members have ensured a Tory government until 2025 and, perhaps, well beyond that. Corbyn is not an ordinary, one-election disaster. Hes much worse than that: the kind of calamity that may prove fatal. If that is the case, even a novice pathologist will be able to calculate the precise moment of death: 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. As the first images of Charlotte protesters flashed across the television screen, I sat straight up and balled my fists into my chest as I began to rock and cryfor the scene unfolding Wednesday night, for the centuries-long injustices that have divided cities and towns like it across the country, and for the death of another reportedly unarmed black man. I tried, with no avail, to soothe myself with the words of Dr. King: A riot is the language of the unheard. That the police officer who shot Keith Lamont Scott to deathas he sat waiting for his childs school bus to arrivewas black changed nothing for me. It almost certainly did not for the throngs of black, brown, and white people who filled the streets of the Queen City for three consecutive nights. It is, after all, comparatively rare for an African-American cop to kill a suspect in the line of duty. According to tracking data released by Pro Publica, black officers pull the trigger in only 10 percent of all fatal incidences. And, when they do, eight out of 10 of the suspects are black. That statistic was not likely known to the mass of protesters who took over Tryon Street and other avenues, climbed atop the marquee of the uptown Ritz Carlton Hotel, or bashed random car windows. The language of the unheard. Keith Scott was blackan allegedly unarmed, black husband and father, living with disabilities. He had a traumatic brain injury, sustained in a 2015 motorcycle accident. The officer who shot him was black too, but the demonstrators would have been no less prone to believe the shooting was unjustified if he had been white. The only color they saw, the only one that mattered for them, was blue. Still, I watched tearfully and conflicted as an all too familiar set of events played out. There had been Ferguson, Baltimore, Chicago, and Oakland. Despite calls by some social justice activists to diversify police departments and specifically recruit officers to serve in their own neighborhoods, there is no evidence that those demographic ties would result in fewer shooting deathseven when the officer and the victim are both black. Implicit bias in policing, believing a black suspect older and more prone to criminality despite no specific prior knowledge of an individuals background, crosses the racial divide. While the lions share of officers involved in the fatal shooting of suspects are whiteresponsible for nearly 70 percent of the people of color killedthe number of unarmed victims of color is exponentially higher no matter the race of the officer. I embraced the pain for a time, as the mayor called for a midnight curfew, allowing it to burn through me like the fires that alight on the streets of Charlotte, wondering how or even if the city would reconcile itself to the work that undoubtedly lay ahead. There are two Charlottesone largely black and poor, the other mostly white and affluent. The shooting death of Keith Scott laid bare the economic and racial divide that has persisted throughout its 261-year history. The social contract, built on post Jim Crow self-segregation, maintained a fragile peace for decades. Charlotte believed itself to be different, a post-racial city, only to see its differences rupture with a single flashpoint. To be black and male, living in America, is to live under near constant fear of mistaken identity irrespective of the ethnic background of the responding officer. Whether confused for an actual suspect description sought by law enforcement or regarded immediately as inherently prone to violence and, thus, an explicit threat during otherwise routine encounters, in data drawn from reports filed between 2010 to 2012the three most recent years for which FBI numbers are available, tabulated by Pro Publicablack men are 21 times more likely than their white peers to be killed by police. These are our husbands, fathers, and brothers. All too frequently, when we raise our voices about the demonstrably inequitable encounters with law enforcement and recorded disparities in police violence, when we complain about invariably broad physical descriptions or about the shooting of unarmed victims, our voices fall on deaf earsamong public policymakers and police unions, alike. And, when a black officer is involved, their ethnicity is often used a counter-argument to racial animusas if an African-American cop cannot harbor implicit or explicit bias against other people of African descentby a cast of cultural conservatives. For them, bigotry is dead and the presence of a badge is exculpatory evidence. They believe, specifically in the case of Keith Scott, that the blackness of the officer is irrefutable proof that race played no role in his killing. They are the same people who would have you believe that 12-year-old Tamir Rice drew his toy gun on a Cleveland cop or that Eric Garner simply died from asthma complications when he was choked-out by an undercover New York City police officer. Of the litany of high profile deaths of suspects during police encounters over the last three yearsincluding Rice and Garnerall of the officers involved were white. But, as studies show, black officers are not immune to acting on their racial biasesimplicit or expliciteven if they are involved in fatal shooting less frequently. I do not claim to know the mind of Brentley Vinson, the officer who shot Keith Scott, but, clearly, black officers are not immune to anti-black attitudes or other forms of racial bias. This I know: Without question, black officers have participated in and even led the implementation of policing practicesas beat officers, unit commanders, and police chiefsthat have resulted in disparate outcomes in non-white communities. The 1994 federal legislation that prompted and partially funded the hiring of new police officersand brought more African-American men and women into the ranksis universally understood to have resulted in over-policing in non-white neighborhoods and the mass incarceration of black people. Arguably, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act and companion pieces of state legislation did more to solidify and advance post-Jim Crow segregation, specifically by race and income, than any other law enacted in the last 50 years. Today, the public discourse is littered with a cacophony of voicesfrom CNNs Jeffrey Lord and retired homicide detective Harry Houck to former New York mayor Rudy Giulianiwho argue that aggressive targeted policing in predominantly black neighborhoods is not only vital to the common good but also warranted based on the criminal proclivities of the people who live there. Ninety-three percent of blacks in America are killed by other blacks. Were talking about the exception here, Giuliani said on NBCs Meet the Press. He failed, of course, to note that 84 percent of white victims are killed by white offenders and that violent crime is overwhelmingly intra-racial. But, Giuliani is not alone. Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke called black-on-black crime and public uprisings a function of black cultural dysfunction. He blames single parenting and told Fox News, If they really took a look at what was going on around them, what theyd be railing against is not the police and the police use of force. And, after unrest ensured in Ferguson, Missouri, in the wake of the death of 18-year-old Mike Brown, he called protesters vultures on a roadside carcass. Clarke and I see things quite differently. You see, in 2014, I witnessed first-hand the unrest Ferguson where I once lived. Ironically, I attended Normandy High School nearly 30 years before Michael Brown walked its halls and I am personally familiar with policing-for-profit in North St. Louis County. Then, months after Ferguson, I led a reporting team into Baltimore where I watched rioters loot a liquor store and burn down a pharmacy in 2015. I investigated Freddie Grays rough ride and each of the six officersblack and whitewho were involved. Then too, I went to North Charleston, South Carolina, and traced the last steps of 50-year-old Walter Scott, who was chased down and shot in the back five times by former police officer Michael Slager who was recorded planting a weapon on the victim. And I tend to agree with Rev. William Barber III, president of the North Carolina NAACP, when he says, To condemn the uprising in Charlotte would be to condemn a man for thrashing when someone is trying to drown him. A riot, Dr. King echoed again in my head, is the language of the unheard. For the record, I have known both white and black officers who hid their misdeeds behind the cover of a shield and the good officers who protected them. Better to be judged by 12, than carried six, my stepfather, a retired chief city homicide detective and state fugitive squad captain, reminded us when we were coming up in East St. Louis. When my mothers husband walked the beat, there were no squad car dashboard cameras and it was years before the proliferation of civilian smartphones with videotape capability. Today, there is greater scrutinythanks in part to Sunshine Laws and social mediawhen an officer fires their gun. However, until officers of the lawblack and whiteare trained to eschew implicit and explicit racial biases and to advance equal protection, we can expect more national news stories and more unfortunate social media hashtags. Given the statistical outcomes, until those informing prejudices are rooted out, we knowwithout failingthat there will be another Keith Scott. ROME Letizia Battaglia has smelled the blood and heard the desperate cries of despair caused by the Sicilian Mafias wrath. At 81, this truly extraordinary photographer remembers not just the moments of horror she witnessed, but what was going on outside the frame, from the background sounds to what she was doing when the call came in to rush to the scene. She can describe all of it perfectly. I was not afraid in these moments, she told me in a recent interview. I was full of rage, because it did not seem possible that one man killed another man. In Palermo it was like a war, but the enemy didnt come from somewhere else. It was brothers killing each other. Her black and white photography book Anthology, published by Drago will be released in the United States this month. In it, she manages to choose just 168 shots from her 600,000-image archive. Among them are pictures of Mafia judges and police officers, many dead in their cars with blood so fresh it glimmers like water. There are also pictures of daily life in her native Sicily, including young girls playing on the cobbled streets and wealthy women in fur collars sipping champagne. She also headlined the Imbavagliata (gagged) exhibition in Naples last week, showcasing conflict photographers from around the world, and her work will be featured in an exhibition at Romes MAXXI National Museum of the 21st Century Arts. And she is still taking pictures. Now she says she focuses on beauty and youth, but the many years spent chasing death continue to haunt her. I remember when the telephone call came. Run! Run! There is something in this street or that, she says. We go out with the Vespa We didnt know why we were running, we only know that something was happening. When I think about it now I feel the nausea I felt then to meet death so many times. Violent death is terrible. There is nothing like the smell of the blood of fresh, violent death. Battaglia was married at 16 and had three daughters before her 21st birthday. By the time she was 30, she asked her husband for a divorce and decided to get on with her career. By then it was 1965 and Palermo was under siege by the Cosa Nostra. She had originally dreamed of being a writer, but when she got her first assignment, her editor asked her where the pictures were to go with the article. She bought a camera and headed to the front line in her lifelong battle against the Mafia. Battaglia was the only female photographer doing that type of work at the time, and she received threats and warnings not just from mobsters, but also from politicians and businessmen who were complicit in corruption. When Italian prime minister Giulio Andreotti was indicted for Mafia collusion in 1993, police sequestered her archives and found two photos that tied the former prime minister to the mob. He was later acquitted for the crimes despite the damning photos. But Battaglia also received awards for her work. She was the first woman ever to receive the W. Eugene Smith Grant for Humanistic Photography. She also received scores of awards in the United States and Europe over her long career. She says that over the years, the Mafia has changed with the times. Its worse perhaps now, she says. Its dangerous like ISIS. Its not like The Sopranos or the Godfather films. Now there are drugs, cocaine, arms trafficking. Now the Mafia dont kill policemen and judges like they used to. It is no longer about blood. Now it is about corruption, and in many ways that is worse. As she turns the pages of her book, Battaglia remembers each photo as if the visual sensation brings back everything else: the feel of the street, the scent of the people alive and dead, the taste of the air. Some of the pictures make her smile. Others make her turn away. We knew all these people, she says, stopping to linger over photos of anti-Mafia judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, who were killed in separate Mafia hits in 1992. The best judges, the best policemen, the best people were killed. I cant finish my life accepting that this is the way it is. In her 50s and 60s, Battaglia became a social activist, leading protests and doing everything she could to fight the Mafia, corruption and injustice. I did my part. I did my little part. I was not complicit. My job, my work, was to denounce corruption and to exalt beauty, she says. We were obliged to face these terrible situations. Im not a fanatic. I want to laugh. I want to love. I want to enjoy life, but we are slaves of this situation. Now in her 80s, Battaglia has no intention of stopping. She is hoping to open a school for photographers in her native Palermo and she still hopes to become a writer. I was there with my camera and I forgot all about writing, she says, between puffs of a cigarette. Maybe now Ill write a book. Perhaps now Ill become a writer. For years, the U.S. has experienced a shortage of registered nurses. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that while the number of nurses will increase by 19 percent by 2022, demand will grow faster than the supply, and that there will be over one million unfilled nursing jobs by then. Those aged 65 or over comprise a bigger percentage of the U.S. population than ever, and by 2030, 20 percent of the U.S. population, or roughly 69 million people, will be senior citizens. While enrollment at nursing schools is up, these programs arent big enough to accept the number of applicants required to fill these positions. So whats the solution? Robots. Japan is ahead of the curve when it comes to this trend, given that its elderly population is the highest of any country. Toyohashi University of Technology has developed Terapio, a robotic medical cart that can make hospital rounds, deliver medications and other items, and retrieve records. It follows a specific individual, such as a doctor or nurse, who can use it to record and access patient data. Terapio isnt humanoid, but it does have expressive eyes that change shape and make it seem responsive. This type of robot will likely be one of the first to be implemented in hospitals because it has fairly minimal patient contact, works with staff, and has a benign appearance. Robots like Terapio are also useful in nursing homes or other caretaking situations. A Nursebot called Pearl reminds patients to take their medicine, to use the bathroom or shower, and to get ready for appointments. Pearls designers have also focused on how to avoid the robot becoming an irritating nag while still performing a crucial function. They also want to avoid patients becoming dependent on Pearl, which could speed memory lapses through lack of practice and responsibility. Pearls programming allows for flexibility and responsiveness to situations, given that not everything happens exactly when and how it is scheduled. Pearl also keeps patients company, which is an increasingly important function. Robots capable of social engagement help with loneliness as well as cognitive functioning, but the robot itself doesnt have to engage directlyit can serve as an intermediary for human communication. Telepresence robots such as MantaroBot, Vgo, and Giraff can be controlled through a computer, smartphone, or tablet, allowing family members or doctors to remotely monitor patients or Skype them, often via a screen where the robots face would be. If you cant get to the nursing home to visit grandma, you can use a telepresence robot to hang out with her. A 2016 study found that users had a consistently positive attitude about the Giraff robots ability to enhance communication and decrease feelings of loneliness. A robots appearance affects its ability to successfully interact with humans, which is why the RIKEN-TRI Collaboration Center for Human-Interactive Robot Research decided to develop a robotic nurse that looks like a huge teddy bear. RIBA (Robot for Interactive Body Assistance), also known as Robear, can help patients into and out of wheelchairs and beds with its strong, actuated arms and tactile sensors. Nurses help patients sit, stand, and walk dozens of times a day, which adds up to significant wear and tear. Robear can help alleviate that strain, while also being cute in a gigantic, non-cuddly ursine way. Robear is currently in the prototype phaseits team wants to improve its design and functionality, and bring down its price (~$200,000)but Robear will work overtime without complaint and wont file a workers comp claim from all that heavy lifting. On the less cute and more creepy side, Actroid F skirts the edge of the uncanny valley. Its so human-like that some patients may not know the difference, which may or may not be freakier than realizing a robot doppelganger is on night watch. This conversational robot companion has cameras in its eyes, which allow it to track patients and use appropriate facial expressions and body language in its interactions. During a month-long hospital trial, researchers asked 70 patients how they felt being around the robot and only three or four said they didnt like having it around. The National Science Foundation is allocating $1 million to the development of robot nurses, so you can expect to see more mechanized caretakers in hospitals and nursing homes. Granted, there are challenges here, ranging from patient comfort to the robots ability (or lack thereof) to make ethical decisions. Its important to note that robotic nurses dont decide courses of treatment or make diagnoses (though robot doctors and surgeons may not be far off). Instead, they perform routine and arduous tasks, freeing nurses up to attend to patients with immediate needs. This is one industry where it seems the integration of robots will lead to collaboration, not replacementthat is, until patients decide theres nothing they love more than giant robot bears. In Kill Bill: Vol. 2, David Carradine, as Bill, explains the mythology behind super heroes: that all but Superman put on a costume to inhabit their powerful alter-egos. But not Superman. He does it the other way around. His costume is Clark Kent. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent? Bill asks. Hes weak, hes unsure of himself, hes a coward. Clark Kent is Supermans critique on the whole human race. The presidency is, in many ways, Americas comment on itself; our collective national costume. In the occupant of our sole nationwide elected office, we see who we think we are, or who we want to be. In Teddy Roosevelt, the country could glimpse its potential for valor and derring-do; in John Kennedy its desire for youth and vigor (though the vigor was an image, dutifully protected by the media of Kennedys day). Dwight Eisenhower presented a face of America that was heroic and resolute; Ronald Reagan represented a return to confidence and glamour after the weary Carter years. Barack Obamas election represented a complete break with the previous iterations of our national self. Not only was the new president black. He was exotically black, and with a foreign-sounding name; an African Muslim-turned-atheist father and a white mother whose taste for adventure included breaking the taboos of racial and cultural miscegenation not once but twice. Obama possessed some of the tropes of traditional American identityhis maternal grandfather fought in World War II and his grandmother was a real-life Rosie the Riveter. He was an academic standout and was earnest in telling the allegory of America. He represented a hopeful and audacious country seeking economic revival after the Great Recession, but also racial and political renewal. Obama was and is the face of the new Americayoung, urban and multiracialthat elected him. Some Americans havent gotten over it. From the start, Republicans, led by Sarah Palin and her vicious rally crowds, questioned everything from Obamas religion (with their pointed references to his middle name Hussein) to his very love of country. They were appealing to that segment of Americans who saw in Obama an America slipping away. Now, millions of them have elevated an authoritarian carnival barker whose nods to white identity politics careen from winking to blaring, to within spitting distance of the White House. Donald Trumps rise from reality show vulgarian to the Republican Partys presidential nominee was fueled in large part by his willingness to embrace the birtherism his campaign is now trying to conveniently discard just weeks before the election (and according to Frontline, his desire for vengeance against Obama and everyone else who ever mocked him.) Its a testament to the cult of personality Trump has created that his followers and spokespeople, now joined by the head of the Republican National Committee, are attempting a truly Orwellian rewrite on the matter, trying to foist birtherism off on Hillary Clinton, as if the truth and lies are utterly interchangeable in Trumps almost Soviet-style concept of leadership. Trump is, in every way, the anti-Obama. If Obama was fundamentally different from prior presidents, Trump seems to violate every tenet of what Americans have long sought as our national image. His casual cruelty, his eagerness to return to Bush-Cheney-era torture as a solution to international terrorism, his ethnic and religious fear-mongering and his tawdry exhibitions of glee when violence flares at his rallies are unlike anything weve seen in a major presidential candidate since George Wallace. His lack of self-control and reflex to lash out at perceived personal slights are a sobering preview of what he would be like in control of our national security apparatus. The only conceivable parallel to what he represents, this side of Italys ex-prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, are the right wing ultranationalist parties currently rotting their way through Europe. Indeed, its hard for many, both inside and outside the United States to believe that substantial numbers of Americans would want to cast the nations image in that of a demagogue and braggart who reeks of such neediness and insecurity that he falls into the arms of Vladimir Putin at the faintest praise. That pluralities of Americans could tell pollsters that Trump is A) racially intolerant, B) in possession of an unpresidential temperament, and C) their preferred candidate, seems almost insane to outsiders looking in at a country that twice elected Obama. And yet, here we are. And at a certain point, we have to put aside our reflex to venerate the sainted voter and confront the fact that Trump, and all he represents, is what a not-insignificant number of our fellow citizensmostly white and male and blue collar (though many are affluent and surely eager for a return to the trickle-down economics Trump is promising)affirmatively want. Whether they agree with every aspect of Trumpism or not, Trumps supporters either dont care or can live with the fact that he cheated people with a fake university, stiffed undocumented Polish workers to build Trump Tower and that his foundation appears to be a vehicle for him to spend donors money on his own needs and desires, including potential bribes of public officials, garish self-portraits and payments to settle his own debts. They either dont care or can live with the prospect that his international business entanglements could conflict with our national interests. It doesnt matter to them how ignorant or outrageous, inarticulate or just plain crazy he sounds; or that little that he says is either realistic or even true. No matter what they hear from him or from alarmed fellow Americans, they want this country to be represented and led by such a person. (How many times have you heard from a Trumpist that so long as he isnt Hillary Clinton, they dont care what Trump says, is or does?) Donald Trumps durability as a candidate has alarmed many. But it is real and reflects a basic desire, on the part of a significant number of Americans, to restore a particular meaning to the word president. In The End of White Christian America, demographer Robert P. Jones touches on that desire for restoration of what many view as a better time, before the racial and gender upheavals of the 1960s, when people like them, even if they were down on their luck financially, felt they were the nations cultural center. Trump is, to those who support him, broadly recognizable as an American ideal. He is rich and white and male, with a beautiful wife who does what he says (plus a couple exes who keep nice and quiet); adult children who revere him and a platform to tell the snooty, politically correct, celebrity-filled, secular world to go to hell; and to put certain peopleimmigrants and women and even not nice journalistsin their place. Its no coincidence that a New York Times analysis during the primaries found Trump support strongest in places where white identity mixes with long-simmering economic dysfunctions. A Trump presidency would place the people his followers fearMuslims and Black Lives Matter activists and Mexican migrants under brutal surveillance by the state, and in the case of immigrants, at risk of removal. Meanwhile, a Trump administration would hand more power to those his supporters revere: namely the super-rich and those who make money dragging oil and gas and coal out of the earth; restoring a Reagan-era Dallas and Dynasty costume to Trumpists collective identity. And while that idea is frightening to many, who glimpse the alt-right hipster Nazis and other racial extremists waiting in the wings to join in the revival, perhaps with the kind of spasmodic violence against immigrants and others that weve seen in post-Brexit Britainto a group of Americans who feel like weak, disempowered Clark Kents, a President Trump would make them feel like Superman. Forget those pampered pooches at the local kennel club, the coyote is the great American dog. Environmental historian Dan Flores tracks the pedigree, chronicles the plight, and sings the praises of Canis latrans in his new book, Coyote America: A Natural and Supernatural History. Although his academic research is wide-ranging and his presentation nuanced, theres no doubt Flores heart is on the side of the animal. It wasnt the call of the wild that sparked a young Floress coyote consciousness. It was the wonderful world of Walt Disney. As a boy growing up in rural Louisiana, Flores was drawn to the outdoors and surrounded by family hound dogs, but it was Disneys immensely popular weekly television show that in 1961 gave him a primer on a subject that has held his fascination in the ensuing decades with an episode titled, The Coyotes Lament. The film offered, as Disney himself said, the coyotes side of the story, which is an amazing and true tale of resilience and surprising prosperity in the face of more than a century of attempts at extermination. And why not? Indefatigable and adaptable, the coyote not only has survived all attempts to eliminate it from the landscape, but it has actually managed to greatly expand its range: From the deserts of the West to the streets of New York. These days it is as at home in Chicago as the Cubs and, Flores writes, is believed to be colonizing the suburbs. Theres also evidence coyotes have hybridized with wolves and dogs in the South and Northeast. Why havent more people rooted for its survival? That, Flores said in a recent interview, may be as much a matter of politics and marketing as environmental awareness. It was long ago bullied into the shadows by its big brother, the gray wolf, and forced to adapt. That skill came in handy once wolf-wary European settlers began their migration to the West in the 1800s. While wolves were no match for guns and traps and were brought to the brink of extinction, little brother proved harder to kill. Had settlers paid more attention, Flores argues, they would have saved themselves and the coyotes a lot of trouble. Costly attempts by the federal government (many millions of taxpayer dollars spent by the Division of Wildlife Services in large part as a gift to the sheep industry) have produced prodigious slaughter, but the coyote has managed to win the war by moving and, when necessary, breeding prolifically. Efforts to poison them have for decades littered the landscape with toxic carcasses. The use of deadly Compound 1080, Flores writes, produced a classic poison overreach, almost wiping the giant California condors off the planet. Coyotes were long ago classified as varmints in many states, meaning they were pests that could be killed at any time for any reason. With wolves essentially out of the picture by the 1920s, ranchers began blaming it for stock losses and the Animal Damage Control Act of 1931 put the coyote in the crosshairs. It was labeled the arch-predator of our time. In Native American culture, Coyote is a deity for all time. Stories and songs featuring it in many roles are featured throughout native religion and lore. Fascinating to me, unlike a perfect deity -- such as Carl Jungs savior figure or a Jesus who teaches a codified morality and sets himself up as a role model to humans striving for godlike perfection -- Coyote personifies the whole suite of human traits, Flores writes. He is a god who is not merely good, but also, transparently, very, very bad. Flores relates hilarious and even racy Native American coyote stories to illustrate the animals indelible and essential place in Indian lore. One part jester, one part trickster, the coyotes role as a kind of liaison between the natural and so-called civilized world. Through Coyote, native culture related the lessons of human nature to generations who didnt need an advanced degree to obtain a lick of good sense. As the stories seem to ask, how can one not see the Coyote impulse writ large in humanity? Flores asks. Indeed, given what we now know about ourselves, when we look back at a Coyote canon thats thousands of years old, what does it say about how well Coyote -- that is to say, people -- grasped human nature long before modern science emerged to help us figure ourselves out? Even the tricksters greatest pranks and deceptions didnt rate an attempt at genocide. Gassed and garroted, shot and trapped, if it were merely an enemy combatant in a declared war, the coyote would have been protected by the Geneva Conventions. And still it survives. In its own clueless way, Flores writes, Wildlife Services begs the question of how North America ever functioned without us. Its irony as a taxpayer program is that its relentless, lethal harassment of coyotes in the rural West is a principal reason why there are coyotes running through the streets of New York City today. With the rise of environmental consciousness and the repopulation of the wolf, the coyote at last is receiving a modicum of deserved respect. While its still trapped and slaughtered in cruel numbers, it has found its way in the world. Unless youre a sheepherder, or a Congressman from mutton country, youll likely find yourself rooting for the coyotes survival against withering odds and some downright sinister attempts to kill it. And if by chance you hear its distant song at sunset, know it is having the last laugh. John L. Smith is a longtime Las Vegas-based journalist and the author of a dozen books. By PTI: Guwahati, Sep 22 (PTI) Assam Tourism Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has asked United Kingdom and Australia to immediately rectify their travel advisory to its citizens on Assam. The clubbing together of Assam with some disturbed parts of the country and alluding to the state as a forbidden destination was a "careless oversight which must be immediately addressed to," Sarma said in a statement today. advertisement "Assam is a fine abode of natural beauty and its peace loving people give immense love and affection to all those who come here. Any misrepresentation of the actual situation creates unnecessary fear and impacts the tourism potential of the state," he said. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) issued advisory to its citizens saying, "Although the overall security situation in the North-East of India is improving, some areas within the North-Eastern states, especially in Manipur and Assam, still experience sudden and random outbreaks of violence. The minister said the law and order situation in Assam is "perfect and any fear or apprehension is unfounded". The Australian advisory also urged travellers to reconsider their need to travel to these areas due to the "risk of armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, and separatist and insurgent violence," including in rural areas. "I wish to reassure my distinguished friends in the Governments of UK and Australia that Assam is a wonderful land of peace loving people comprising various tribal groups, rich flora and fauna, magnificent cuisines, mesmerizing landscapes and the world famous Kaziranga National Park, which is home to the very rare single horned Rhino, he said. Assam will highly appreciate if the two country immediately withdraws the said advisory, Sarma added. PTI DG SUS DIP --- ENDS --- A lock down is also in effect following gunshots reported in a Macy's store. By India Today Web Desk: At least four people were killed today in a shooting at a mall in the US state of Washington. The shooter involved in the crime fled the scene. Police are searching for the shooter, lone gunman described as a "Hispanic male", and are sweeping stores in the mall, Sgt Mark Francis said about the shooting at the Cascade mall in Burlington, about a 100 kilometers north of Seattle. advertisement A lock down was also in effect following gunshots reported in a Macy's store. Police were enforcing evacuation orders of the mall and the Department of Emergency Management of Skagit County asked the public to avoid the area. "Four confirmed deceased in the mall, shooter(s) left scene before police arrived, unknown number of shooter, possibly just 1, police clearing mall now," Spokesman Washington State Patrol Francis tweeted. A lock down was in effect following gunshots reported in a Macy's store. (ANI photo) The suspect was last seen walking toward the Interstate 5 highway from the mall before police arrived, Francis said. "We're actively searching for suspect, tracking leads, etc," he added. According to local media reports, the shooter apparently entered the mall about 7 pm (local time Friday) through one of its stores 'Macy's'. Local police described the suspect as appearing between 20 to 25 years old, with a "skinny built", black messy hair and wearing a black shirt. "HISPANIC MALE" INVOLVED IN SHOOTING: COPS Francis described the shooter as a "Hispanic male". Brandi Montreuil, who was at the mall, said she was at the movies when they were told to leave. The shooter apparently entered the mall about 7 pm (local time Friday) through one of its stores 'Macy's'. (ANI photo) "I didn't know anything. The theater attendant came in and apologised for stopping the movie and said they (theater staff) were asked to have everyone leave immediately," she was quoted as saying by CNN. She said at first she thought it was a drill. "But you immediately think about what happened in Aurora, Colorado, so you start moving faster," Montreuil said, referring to the shooting in 2012 that left 12 dead. When they got outside, they saw numerous police vehicles, but with no officers in sight. "We didn't know if it was a fire so we were looking for smoke of some kind. Then a few officers started canvassing through the crowds asking if anybody saw anything," Montreuil said. She said an officer "with a large gun started yelling for people to leave, and fast". --- ENDS --- advertisement Amar Singh said that after emerging as the single largest party in the Assembly elections held last year, Lalu had the right to become Chief Minister but in order to keep communal forces at bay, he handed over the reign of the state to Nitish Kumar. Amar Singh said Nitish Kumar was plotting conspiracy to send Lalu to jail in the fodder scam, however, it was the greatness of the RJD President who made Nitish the Chief Minister of Bihar. Photo: PTI By Rohit Kumar Singh: Newly appointed National General Secretary of Samajwadi Party, Amar Singh has taken a jibe at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asserting that Nitish became the Chief Minister of Bihar because of Rashtriya Janata Dal(RJD) President Lalu Prasad. Singh, who was on a day's visit to Gaya on the occasion of "Pind-daan" of his ancestors said Nitish Kumar was plotting conspiracy to send Lalu to jail in the fodder scam, however, it was the greatness of the RJD President who made Nitish the Chief Minister of Bihar. advertisement AMAR SINGH SINGS PRAISE Amar Singh said that after emerging as the single largest party in the Assembly elections held last year, Lalu had the right to become Chief Minister but in order to keep communal forces at bay, he handed over the reign of the state to Nitish Kumar. "Lalu made Nitish Kumar Chief Minister despite having more numbers of legislators in the alliance. Lalu's priority was to keep BJP out of power", said the National Secretary of Samajwadi party. Amar Singh spoke on the release of RJD strongman Shahabuddin. "What's the big deal if Shahabuddin has been released on bail?", questioned Singh. Singh said Lalu was a big-hearted man and he would campaign for the Samajwadi party in Uttar Pradesh polls scheduled for next year. --- ENDS --- Iowa organizations earn grants from A Community Thrives initiative Seven Iowa organizations receive grants from the USA TODAY Network to support families in need, local initiatives. By Rohit Kumar Singh: Former deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Sushil Modi has asked ten questions from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on the ongoing controversy related to the release of RJD strongman Mohammad Shahabuddin from jail and his return to Siwan. Modi demanded an answer from the Chief Minister about the Shahabuddin issue and asked him not be become "Manmohan Singh" (who remained silent) on the questions. advertisement Also Read: RJD-JD(U) playing friendly match over Shahabuddin, says Sushil Modi HERE ARE THE 10 QUESTIONS SUSHIL MODI ASKED: RJD MP and senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani will be appearing for Mohammad Shahabuddin on Monday in the Supreme Court. Will the state govt field a senior and top lawyer to challenge Shahabuddin's bail ? Is the government ready to ensure that all cases related to Shahabuddin are monitored by the Apex court ? Is the government ready to extern Shahabuddin from Bihar and get all cases relating him be tried outside Bihar ? Why has Nitish Kumar not pressured RJD Chief Lalu Prasad to sack Shahabuddin from RJD as he is a history sheeter ? Why has the state govt not made an effort to re-start trial in Shahabuddin's pending cases in which trial have stopped for last three years ? Even after six months, the state govt did not challenge the bail which was granted to Shahabuddin in the murder of two brothers- why ? Despite Patna High Court's orders, why trial did not start in eyewitness Rajiv Roshan murder case even after 6 months ? Why did state government not challenge bail granted to Shahabuddin in apex court and why it waited for senior counsel Prashant Bhushan to first challenge the don's bail ? Why no action has been taken against Bihar Minister Abdul Gafoor who had met Shahabuddin in jail in March this year ? Why the victory procession of Shahabuddin from Bhagalpur to Siwan was not stopped after his release from Bhagalpur jail? Also Read: Shahabuddin, Tej Pratap under SC watch in journalist Rajdeo murder case Ready to go back to jail, says Siwan strongman Shahabuddin Can Nitish stop Jethmalani from fighting Shahabuddin's case, questions BJP leader Sushil Modi --- ENDS --- When the European Commission recently recently declared that Apples tax rate in Ireland was unfairly low and that the company should have to pay $14.5 billion in back taxes, that ruling triggered a hearty round of applause from critics such as former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. Related: Why Corporate Tax Reform Is Not Enough The case, Warren and Reich contend, proves that the United States is not collecting enough revenue from its multinational corporations. But the truth is, it illustrates the dangers of having the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's highest tax rate. To understand the significance of the Commissions decision, we should consider four things. First, the United States is one of the few countries that fully taxes the foreign income of its corporations. The current rate of 35 percent creates a large tax liability for U.S. companies, regardless of where they operate. The only consolation is that the system allows those companies to avoid double taxation by deducting the taxes they pay abroad from their U.S. obligations, when they bring their profits back to the United States. Second, this country does not tax foreign income until it is brought home. And because many American technology companies have actually delayed doing this, the impression that emerges is that they are undertaxed and could easily afford to pay more. Third, many European countries believe that the current rules for valuing transactions among corporate subsidiaries allow American companies to avoid paying taxes on the profits they make from European consumers. These so-called transfer-pricing rules are supposed to replicate prices that independent companies would agree to, but critics question whether thats how it works in practice. Fourth, many policymakers in Brussels have sought to dampen the pressure to lower tax rates in order to attract foreign and domestic investment. The Commissions decision gives them the opportunity to address both concerns at once. Related: Report: Apple to Pay Italy $348 Million to Settle Tax Fraud Case A country that raises its corporate tax rate normally would have to worry about its domestic companies moving to foreign lower-tax jurisdictions. Indeed, as the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (where I am a fellow) has documented, many economic studies have shown a negative relationship between tax rates on the one hand, and productive investment, jobs and innovation on the other. But for U.S. multinationals, thats not so much the case. Because the United States taxes all of those companies' worldwide earnings -- and because our system allows them to deduct foreign taxes from their U.S. obligations -- they know they will eventually have to pay 35 percent of their profits, no matter what. This means that Apple may not care very much about which country gets the revenue. Apple, in fact, has less incentive to move toward low-tax countries just for the sake of it. An unfortunate consequence of this scenario, however, is that if other countries can effectively target their tax laws toward American companies like Apple, they can then safely slice off larger shares of the companies U.S. tax liabilities. The Commissions decision thus invites more European nations to do exactly that -- and it will come at the expense of U.S. taxpayers, not shareholders. Warren is among those who have implied that the Commission would not have reached its ruling if the United States had not allowed Apple to defer paying taxes on foreign profits. In truth, however, the Commissions logic does not depend upon whether or when this country imposes its tax. Even if Apple had faced an immediate U.S. tax of 35 percent, the Commission would presumably still have found that the companys tax-planning did comply with transfer-pricing rules and that the low Irish tax rate constituted forbidden state aid. The large sum of unrepatriated earnings that results just makes it easier for Apple now to pay a large tax liability to Europe; it does not have to scramble to raise the cash. But eliminating deferral this way will not change the underlying fact that high U.S. tax rates encourage other countries to collect more revenue from American companies, because foreign tax payments lower their U.S. tax liabilities. Outside the United States, most international tax law is based on taxing profits where they are earned. There is no question that countries should reform the complex rules now governing transfer-pricing for transactions within multinationals. For the last several years, the Obama administration has been participating in a multilateral effort to address base erosion and profit shifting (known as BEPS) among multinationals. But if the Commission is now going to unilaterally impose new understandings that calculate tax liability using other criteria, such as sales or payroll, rather than profits, then the goals of the BEPS process are moot. The United States should suspend its participation in the effort until it resolves this dispute with the Commission. Related: Too Bad We're Number 1: High U.S. Corporate Tax Fuels Capital Flight The Commissions position on the taxing of U.S. technology firms is clear: The organization believes that those companies European tax liabilities should rise, even if their worldwide tax payments do not. This represents a direct threat to U.S. tax revenues. The federal government needs to aggressively fight this revenue grab and insist on compliance with existing tax treaties and transfer-price regulations. Otherwise, U.S. taxpayers will end up losing a lot more. Related: Apple and America's Tax-Revenue Giveaway What Is Business' Role in the Migration and Refugee Crisis? Google May Face More Than $400 Million Indonesia Tax Bill for 2015 Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Do you have concerns about the state of your neighborhood? Are there changes that you need help instituting around your community? Ones voice can easily go unheard. Amplify that voice by dozens, or hundreds, and that voice is much less likely to be ignored. Dont miss an opportunity to align yourself with others who are similarly looking to make a change at the monthly meeting of the Coalition of Norwalk Neighborhood Associations (CNNA) on Monday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. in Room 101 at City Hall. Topics this month include updates on neighborhood issues and initiatives; inquiries from residents seeking to form associations; a call for new executive committee members; and initial discussions on 2017 priorities. All residents of Norwalk are always welcome, and CNNA Member Associations are each urged to send at least one representative to the monthly meetings. The CNNA seeks to provide a common voice on larger Norwalk issues by providing information to members on important issues, meetings and events and to solicit fair and equal participation of neighborhood association and residents. For more information visit norwalkneighborhoods.com. ROWAYTON The advent of October may bring with it nippy weather, thicker jackets and an end to outdoor gatherings, but its early stages also carry with it one last day or two of respite from the falls swift advance. Nothing remedies the summer hangover quite like one last great hurrah before the fall gloom settles in. On Oct. 1, Munich-style festivities will return to the Rowayton Community Center for the Fourth Annual Oktoberfest Fundraiser. Grab your lederhosen and press your dirndl, and join your neighbors for a festive evening of German food, music and bier from 4:30-10 p.m. The event kicks off with a march through town led by horse drawn carriages. Once back at the Community Center Tent, a cannon will mark the ceremonial tapping of the kegs. From there, crowds will enjoy German fare such as bratwurst, roasted chicken, pork shank, hashed potatoes, and thick pretzels. Ice-cold Spaten will be served in custom RCA steins with crisp Spatburgunder, buttery Chardonnay and sparkling soda available as alternatives. Prepare to dance and sing Ein Prosit into the night before the dance floor evolves into a flash mob dance party to cap off the night. Admission costs $100 per person. Attendees must be 21 years old and over to attend. While traditional Oktoberfest clothing is encouraged, it is not required. EAST NORWALK One of the most amazing aspects of music is its capability to connect people of different predilections. In todays divided political and cultural climate, this important role that music plays is especially imperative. Bask in the reparative glory that music has to offer as Music on the Hill opens its fall 2016 season with a new work by artistic director Ellen Dickinson. This years concert, Threads of Light, weaves together 30 spirituals in three movements Hope, Journey, Glory and includes both familiar songs (Deep River, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot) and others rarely heard. The concert features the Music on the Hill Festival Chorus and the Special Projects Choir of the Unitarian Church in Westport with soloist Harriett Alfred, soprano Edward Pleasant, along with trumpet, upright bass, and bells. The public is warmly invited to attend the free event. For more information, check out threadsoflight2016.bpt.me. Back in July, President Barack Obama claimed that drones and other air strikes killed between 64 and 116 civilians during his administration a calculation that was later criticized as an underestimation. Regardless of the veracity of Obamas statistics, one thing is clear: technological advances have re-shaped the terrain of modern warfare, and whether these advances are for better or for worse remains to determined. To remind citizens of the danger that these new technologies pose, the U.S. Drones Quilt Project in conjunction with Veterans for Peace will run an exhibition from Sept. 26 to Oct. 30. The U.S. Drones Quilt Project is a work of collective art designed to remind us that often the victims of drone attacks are people like us who are afraid, alone and innocent. The exhibit will feature quilts made square by square by individuals from all over the world to commemorate the civilian victims of Americas weaponized drone strikes in Somalia, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries. These quilts are visual reminders of the names of real people, mostly women and children, who are the collateral damage of U.S. and Israeli drone programs. An opening reception, with noted peace activist Ed Kinane as the featured speaker, will take place on Monday, Sept. 26 from 5:30-7 p.m. in the auditorium on the second floor. For additional information, please call Chris Bradley at 203-899-2780, ext. 15126, or Pat Fahy at 860-508-3186. Share your neighborhood news To share your community and neighborhood news with The Hour, contact staff writer Pat Tomlinson at 203-354-1046, or at ptomlinson@thehour.com. "Black lives matter, Chinese lives matter, but most important - white lives matter," she said and painted herself white to avoid police brutality. She even wore a blonde wig because white really matters. By India Today Web Desk: In the last two weeks, the US has witnessed cold-blooded police shootings which left two black men dead. It even resulted in protests and riots questioning the legitimacy of the killings. So now the question is, how to dodge a police bullet in the US? Watch: This police video of an unarmed black man being shot has sparked anger in Oklahoma advertisement Tashala Dangel Geyer, a black woman from Daytona Beach has found a perfect solution it seems. Paint yourself white because "Black lives matter, Chinese lives matter, but most important - white lives matter," Tashala said as she painted herself white on Facebook live last night. She streamed the video as she wore a blonde wig and coated her body, saying, "This is the best sh*t I ever thought of. This is saving my life". Watch the video here. This video was taken down by Facebook (why wouldn't they do it, presumably because of Geyer's nudity), but was up and playing again as it quickly appeared on other social media channels and was even re-posted on Facebook itself. TASHALA'S WORD OF ADVICE "If you want to survive, I'ma keep saying it: Go white! You'll live a long time!" --- ENDS --- OMAHA United States Attorney Deborah Gilg announced Thursday that a federal grand jury has returned indictments charging three Grand Island residents with drug offenses. Jesus Bueno-Hernandez, 39; Alejandro Heras-Real, 26; and Karla Marrufo, 24, all of Grand Island, are charged in a seven-count indictment. Count I charges Heras-Real with distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine on or about July 25. Count II charges Bueno-Hernandez and Heras-Real with distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine on or about Aug. 3. Count III charges Bueno-Hernandez with distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine on or about Aug. 11. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5 million fine, a 4 year term of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. Count IV charges Marrufo with distribution of a mixture of methamphetamine on or about Aug. 11. The maximum penalty if convicted is 20 years imprisonment, a $1 million fine, a 3 year term of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. Counts V and VI charge Bueno-Hernandez with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine on or about Aug. 18. The maximum penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $10 million fine, a 5 year term of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. Count VII charges Marrufo with possession with intent to distribute a mixture of methamphetamine on or about Aug. 18. These indigenous drones will hover over the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea claimed by both China and Japan, an official said. These drones will use the Beidou navigation system (Chinese equivalent to Google). Photo: Reuters By Indo-Asian News Service: China is capable of flying drones over the disputed South China Sea to keep a watch over the contested waters spread over 3.5 million sq km. These indigenous drones will hover over the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea claimed by both China and Japan, an official said. WHAT CAN THESE DRONES DO "Many of the islands and reefs in the South China Sea have much larger underwater portions than what is visible above water, making them harder to survey and map," Li Yingcheng, General Manager of China TopRS Technology Co. Ltd said. advertisement "In response to this challenge, China has designed drones to handle such complicated surveying, including the ZC-5B and Zc-10 unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The ZC-5B has a maximum flight distance of 1,400 km, and can stay in the air for up to 30 consecutive hours," Li added. "Its design makes it especially stealthy, which comes in handy for open sea reef surveying and mapping" Li further added. These drones will use the Beidou navigation system (Chinese equivalent to Google). ROW OVER SOUTH CHINA SEA Last month, China had launched a high-resolution satellite for the protection of its maritime rights amid disputes with maritime neighbours over the South China Sea. In July, an international court rejected China's claims over the South China Sea in a case brought by the Philippines. Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan have overlapping claims over the world's most important waterway through which trade worth $5 trillion passes every year. Beijing has rejected the ruling as illegal. WHY SUCH MEASURES Experts say it is difficult for one single power to control and keep a watch over such a large water body which is believed to have oil reserves of seven billion barrels. "Reefs and islands are important parts of our national territory. Precise information of their geology is crucial evidence for the demarcation of territorial waters and for safeguarding national maritime interests and security," Li said. --- ENDS --- The Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago is commemorating 100 years of flight and space exploration with a new exhibit that launches guests into the future of aerospace technology and air travel. Above and Beyond, a new interactive experience exploring innovations in aerospace, will debut Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at MSI. The exhibit is presented by Boeing in celebration of its 100th anniversary in 2016. The 5,000-square-foot space will offer an unprecedented interactive demonstration of advances in aviation and aerospace, from the first powered flights to the newest innovations on Earth and in space. As guests enter Above and Beyond, they will be welcomed with an immersive, wraparound theater that highlights the epic quest to challenge the limits of flight. MSI is honored and excited to host Above and Beyond in Chicago to celebrate 100 years of aerospace history and success, said Anne Rashford, director of special exhibitions. Guests will enjoy the many opportunities in this exhibit to learn about the past, present and future of flight and space exploration. Guests will have opportunities to explore hands-on, interactive areas that teach them more about flight. They can step into a simulated space elevator that takes them to the edge of the space, design and test a supersonic fighter jet to face off in a virtual high-speed flying competition, and experience a flying simulation with motion-sensing technology to get a sense of what its like to fly like a bird, while exploring the forces of flight. Sparking an interest in the wonder of aerospace at an early age is a priority for Boeing, and the Above and Beyond exhibition provides future engineers, pilots or astronauts with an interactive glimpse into how they can achieve their dreams and inspires them to pursue careers in science and technology, said Greg Hyslop, Boeing chief technology officer. The exhibit opened October 4, 2016 and will run through January 8, 2017. It will be included with Museum Entry ($18 for adults and $11 for kids ages 3-11), but will require a free, timed-entry ticket available at the exhibit entrance. Above and Beyond is produced by Evergreen Exhibitions in association with Boeing, in collaboration with NASA and the Smithsonians National Air and Space Museum, and in educational collaboration with The Museum of Flight. About Boeing As the United States' biggest manufacturing exporter, Boeing supports airlines and U.S. and allied government customers in more than 150 countries. Boeing products and tailored services include commercial and military aircraft, satellites, weapons, electronic and defense systems, launch systems, advanced information and communication systems, and performance-based logistics and training. Headquartered in Chicago, Boeing employs approximately 160,000 people across the United States and in more than 65 countries. The company also leverages the talents of hundreds of thousands more skilled people working for Boeing suppliers worldwide. Total company revenues for 2015 were $96 billion. About the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago (MSI) The Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago (MSI), one of the largest science museums in the world, offers world-class and uniquely interactive experiences that inspire inventive genius and foster curiosity. From groundbreaking and award-winning exhibits that cant be found anywhere else, to hands-on opportunities that make you the scientista visit to MSI is where fun and learning mix. Through its Center for the Advancement of Science Education (CASE), the Museum offers a variety of student, teacher and family programs that make a difference in communities and contribute to MSIs larger vision: to inspire and motivate children to achieve their full potential in science, technology, medicine and engineering. Come visit and find your inspiration! MSI is open 9:30-4 p.m. every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas day. Extended hours, until 5:30 p.m., are offered during peak periods. The Museum is grateful for the support of its donors and guests, who make its work possible. MSI is also supported in part by the people of Chicago through the Chicago Park District. For more information, visit msichicago.org or call (773) 684-1414. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ni Nyoman Wira (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 24, 2016 Graphic diaries may appear to be like comic books at a glance, but they are actually more personal, spontaneous and honest due to their accommodation of their creators' daily life. The benefits of keeping a graphic diary were discussed during Ideafest 2016's first day session in Jakarta, featuring Bandung-based comic artist Tita Larasati as speaker. Tita, who is also the general secretary of Bandung Creative City Forum (BCCF), explained that graphic diaries have a positive impact on the senses. When we create one, we directly observe our surroundings, such as where the door is located, she said, adding that her graphic diary helps her reflect on the reality of her perceptions. It also helps her to narrate stories concisely without boring her readers, and it improves her empathy. (Read also: BookWORM: Tita Larasati: A trilogy that inspires daughter's name) Graphic diaries may appear to be like comic books at a glance, but they are actually more personal, spontaneous and honest due to their accommodation of their creators' daily life.(Facebook/-) In her first graphic comics, Tita illustrated how she had to cook Indonesian food for 11 people, went to IKEA, built her own bike, cleaned up her apartment, and do other daily activities. It was actually just fragments of highlights of the day, she said. Her books include the paperback version of her 2008 graphic diary, Curhat Tita (Tita Tells Her Stories), Curhat Tita: Back in Bandung (2008), Kid Stuff (2010), and Transition, which is published under her own publishing company Curhat Anak Bangsa. She also collaborated with other artists in various books. Tita has loved drawing since she was little and went to Germany in 1995 for an internship program in a product design company. Her boss at that time urged her to keep in touch with her family by writing a letter every week. I was too lazy to write, so I faxed my family a comic in a piece of paper, she said. The comics were then copied by her mother and distributed to her family and friends. (Read also: Over 200 tech minds to share ideas in Jakarta) Comic artist Tita Larasati shares her graphic diary in one of the Ideatalks sessions on Ideafest 2016 in Jakarta.(JP/Ni Nyoman Wira) Tita is one of 150 speakers who participated in Ideafest's first-day session alongside film director Nia Dinata, screenwriter Salman Aristo and blogger Astrid Satwika. One first-time visitor, Mega Kharismawati, said the event was full to the brim with knowledge from the professional speakers. It offers many categories and topics that we can choose from depending on our preference, she told The Jakarta Post. There are so many sessions that I wanted to attend, but I think [some] good topics are being held at the same time, so people may find it difficult [to choose]. The line of visitors of one of the Ideatalks session on Ideafest 2016, Jakarta.(JP/Ni Nyoman Wira) In addition to new sessions, the second day of the event will also feature a conference and Indovidfest. Prominent figures scheduled to speak at the conference include President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, presenter and journalist Andy F. Noya, Grab co-founder Hooi Ling Tan and Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil. Meanwhile, Indovidfest is a collaboration between Ideafest and Indovidgram that is said to be the biggest creative video festival in the country. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, September 23 2016 With more people now becoming more reliant on their smartphones, the Jakarta Police have decided to launch an Android-based application system to help people in distress get immediate assistance. We expect to launch the application next month, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Moechgiyarto said on Wednesday. The application, named Sistem Informasi Aplikasi Pelaporan Polda Metro Jaya (Information System Application for Jakarta Police Reporting), would allow users to report incidents through their phones as the app was designed to have a panic button. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani and Margareth S. Aritonang (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 24, 2016 The surprise decision by former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to nominate his eldest son, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, for the Jakarta gubernatorial election has been seen as the former generals attempt to groom a political heir within his Democratic Party. The 38-year-old major has filed his resignation from the military to pave the way for his political bid in Jakarta, which was only revealed on the day the deadline for registration at the Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD) fell. Agus will run with Sylviana Murni, the Jakarta governors assistant for tourism. Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo confirmed on Friday that Agus had submitted his resignation letter. It is a one-way ticket: After quitting, he will not be able to come back to the military, whether he wins or loses the election, as stipulated by Law No. 34/2004 on the TNI. He has submitted the resignation. He has been permitted to continue his career in politics because he has been in the military for 16 years, meaning he has completed his first 10-year contract, Gatot said. Yudhoyonos decision has baffled many, not only because Agus was believed to have had a stellar career in the military, but also because the former president has himself previously spoken against military personnel using their military careers as a stepping stone to becoming regional leaders. Military personnel, he once said, should aim to become generals, or air marshals or admirals. But Yudhoyono seems to have been forced into pulling Agus into the world of politics, with his party facing a leadership crisis following a series of graft scandals implicating many of the partys young and promising members, including former party chairman Anas Urbaningrum and Andi Mallarangeng, who were both imprisoned for their roles in the Hambalang graft case. Dems leaders have placed high hopes on Agus. Party deputy chairman Syarif Hasan said Agus had a good educational background and leadership capability. When asked about Agus lack of political experience, he said Agus still had five months before voting day to introduce himself to the public. His battalion trusts him, meaning that he has brilliant leadership capability. Thats what makes us sure that he is the candidate Jakartans hope for [...] and of course, Yudhoyono wants his son to have a career that will make his family proud, Syarif said. But many believe Agus nomination is bigger than the Jakarta election. By endorsing Agus to run in the [Jakarta] election, SBY is attempting to introduce Agus into the countrys political arena as soon as possible, Dimas Oky Nugroho of the Jakarta-based Akar Rumput Strategic Consulting (ARSC) firm said. Dimas predicted that in addition to carrying out regeneration in the party, the Dems were also aiming to win over first-time and swing voters in the upcoming election. Even if Agus loses the gubernatorial race, he has started his career in the Democratic Party as well as in politics, he emphasized. Another analyst, M. Qodari of Indo Barometer, said that Yudhoyono aimed to retain his influence within his party by preparing Agus as his successor. The Democratic Party is SBY. SBY is the Democratic Party, Qodari said, referring to Yudhoyonos popular moniker. Qodari argued that even if Agus lost the Jakarta election, he would potentially be a strong contender for the 2019 presidential election as a result of his fathers clout. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 24, 2016 Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama, who is contesting the 2017 gubernatorial election, kept an uncharacteristic silence toward the press on Saturday before undergoing a health check at the Dr. Mintohardjo Navy Hospital in Central Jakarta. On a talking strike, he said at the hospital as quoted by Antara news agency. Ahok is considered by journalists to be a politician who talks a lot, always answering questions with quotable, sometimes controversial statements, which has made him a media darling. It is also felt that when Ahok talks, it is hard to make him stop. His running mate, Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, also only threw a smile to journalists and remained silent. The head of Jakarta General Elections Commission, Sumarno, said Saturday that after physical checkups, the hopefuls would undergo psychological tests followed by drug tests at the National Narcotics Agency (BNN). (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 24, 2016 Retail giant Alfa Group is expanding into the apartment business with its Kingland Avenue condominium in Alam Sutera, South Tangerang, Banten Province. Its property arm AlfaLand has formed a joint venture with Growth Steel Group and Hong Kong developer Kingland Holding for the project under PT Hong Kong Kingland. It is the first high-rise residential project for AlfaLand since its establishment in 1999. "We are taking advantage of the tax amnesty program. People will repatriate their assets, which have to be locked in Indonesia for three years. They will choose property as the place to put their money," Alfa Group Chairman Djoko Santoso said after a press conference in Jakarta on Friday. He said the government had created a conducive environment for the property sector next year. The central bank has cut its rate and eased the loan-to-value (LTV) rule. "Rather than putting [funds] in a deposit with low interest, property will give you a much higher rate of return," he added. The first tower The Venetian will be built next year, with 85 percent of the units already sold. (evi) Comedian Raju Srivastava has registered his 'protest' against Pakistan for the Uri terror attack by cancelling his show in Karachi. By Rohit Mishra: Following the brutal Uri attack, famous Indian comedian Raju Srivastava extended his support to the call to ban Pakistani actors and artist to work in India and urged the film industry to hire Indian performers instead. "If Pakistani actors won't work here then our film industry would not shut down. They are the same actors or artist who gives their view on terrorist attack in France but here prefer to be silent," he said. He added that he was not against artists but it was impossible to work with Pakistani people whose country promotes terrorism. advertisement "There are also many new artists in our country who are not able to get those opportunities, we should give them the opportunity not that Pakistani," said Srivastava. Raju Srivastava also cancelled his comedy show at Karachi in Pakistan which was supposed to take place on December 25. "We are artist and we cannot go to the border with guns but can support our soldiers," he said. He said that he is saddened with terror attack and cancellation of his show is in protest against Pakistan. "I don't think I can go to Pakistan to entertain those who murdered our soldiers," added Srivastava. We cannot go to the border with guns. Ive cancelled my show in Karachi, this is just a way to protest: Comedian Raju Srivastava #UriAttack pic.twitter.com/KWQIUoox0s ANI (@ANI_news) September 24, 2016 --- ENDS --- Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 24, 2016 Former education and culture minister and Jakarta gubernatorial hopeful Anies Baswedan revealed his vision for Jakarta after speaking at Ideafest 2016 in Jakarta on Saturday. We want to make Jakarta a better city, a city that makes people happier, a city that protects and makes people more prosperous, Anies said on the sidelines of Ideafest 2016 as quoted by Antara news agency. Ideafest is an annual creative festival that claims it "inspires and connects creative communities to collaborate". He refused to elaborate on his vision for the future of Jakarta, saying he was focusing on the registration process with the Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD). Anies and running mate Sandiaga Uno underwent health checks as part of registration requirements at the Dr. Mintohardjo Navy Hospital. Two other candidate pairs, incumbent Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama-Djarot Saiful Hidayat and Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and Sylviana Murni, also underwent checkups in the morning. My focus is to make sure that I fulfill all the requirements until the candidacy is final and confirmed, Anies said. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Banyubening Prieta (The Jakarta Post) Sat, September 24 2016 CASSIS KITCHEN GETS A MAKEOVER After a rebranding process thats lasted the better part of a year, Cassis Kitchen, one of the oldest French restaurants in Jakarta, is introducing its concept of fun dining, rather than fine dining. Through a new program, dubbed the Tasting Table, guests can sample sumptuous multi-course menus specially crafted by top visiting international chefs, such as Carlos Montobbio of Esquina Singapore, who cooked an inagural nine-course meal of Spanish tapas. The mastermind behind the evening, Cassis Kitchens operations chief Budi Cahyadi, spent almost a decade holding senior food and beverage positions at the Mandarin Oriental hotels in Hyde Park and Jakarta. Budi is also behind the restaurants repositioning from fine French dining to more casual contempoary European fare. The menu hes devised is aimed at young adventurous foodies who are keen to explore. From my last trip to Europe in 2015, I noticed something different in the European dining experience, Budi said. The era of fine dining is nearly over. Young people at restaurants dont dress up formally anymore, Budi noted. Even the music played is more contemporary than classic jazz. Those were trends Budi was keen to capitalize on. People in Jakarta do not seek formality anymore, Budi said. They are tired by traffic and the office and want to relax after a busy day. Budi said that he doesnt want Cassis Kitchen to be visited only on special occassions. We want people come here for brunch, dinner, meetings or quick lunches. Keeping with this new approach, Cassis Kitchen regularly offers set five-to-seven course menus, in addition to the bimonthly event dinners with visiting international chefs. Budi says that potential diners shouldnt think that a multi-course dinner automatically will leave them too full. The combination of specific dishes and portions have been tested many timesto get the right formula, Budi says. Many ladies said that five courses would be too much. I guarantee that having five courses will not leave you too full. Try it. If youre full by the fourth course, I will make an exception and stop the service. Its enough to encourage the hesitant, Budi adds. Once the ladies hear my promise, their confidence grows and they just enjoy the food, he says. I have never stopped the service because a guest felt too full. Serving courses of contrasting flavors is the key to making diners happier with a meal of many smaller plates, Budi says. When indulging in a single flavor, like a bag of potato chips, people will only feel full after they have eaten too much, he says. In contrast, serving different tastes, such as sweet, sour, bitter, acidic, hot and cold, over a series of dishes, will lead to satiated diners. The sensors in our tongue taste things differently. Its the brain that will start sending the message that you are fullnot necessarily because the volume of the food eaten, but rather because the palate has been satisfied through different taste profiles, according to Budi. You dont need to eat a lot to feel full. It is just right. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Indra Budiari (The Jakarta Post) Sat, September 24 2016 City secretary Saefullah was supposed to take leave for his gubernatorial bid after several political parties tapped him as a strong candidate for the top post in the capital. However, the parties are not interested in actually nominating him. The official, instead, has ended up covering Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama and Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, who are running in the 2017 election, when they take leave during the campaign period as required by the Regional Election Law. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ken Thomas (Associated Press) White Plains, NY Sat, September 24, 2016 Hillary Clinton said Friday that the police video of the fatal shooting of a black man by Charlotte police should be released immediately as she announced and then abruptly postponed plans to make a pre-debate visit to the embattled North Carolina city. Clinton wrote on Twitter that authorities in Charlotte should release the police video of the Keith Lamont Scott shooting "without delay. We must ensure justice & work to bridge divides." The Democratic presidential nominee's campaign initially said she would travel Sunday toCharlotte, where protests have broken out after the police shooting. But Clinton decided to postpone the trip hours later after Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts also a Democrat told CNN her city's security resources were stretched thin and urged Clinton to delay her visit. Jennifer Palmieri, Clinton's campaign communications director, said in a statement that after "further discussion with community leaders" Clinton had decided to postpone the trip "as to not impact the city's resources." Palmieri said Clinton planned to visit Charlotte on Sunday, Oct. 2. "In the meantime her prayers are with the people of Charlotte during these difficult days," she said. Republican rival Donald Trump crowed about the turn of events on Twitter. "Crooked Hillary's bad judgement forced her to announce that she would go to Charlotte on Saturday to grandstand," he tweeted. "Dem pols said no way, dumb!" A video of Scott's shooting, recorded by his wife, was released Friday by his family. It does not indicate whether Scott had a gun. Police have said he was armed, but witnesses have said he held only a book. In the days leading up to Monday's first presidential debate, both Clinton and Republican Donald Trump have been confronted with questions about police violence after the North Carolina shooting and a separate incident in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where a white police officer was charged with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man whose vehicle had broken down in the middle of the street. Clinton said Wednesday that the shootings had added two more names "to a long list of African-Americans killed by police officers. It's unbearable and it needs to become intolerable." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Maggie Tiojakin (The Jakarta Post) Sat, September 24 2016 About two years ago, an American woman lets call her Alma who had been living in Bali for a couple of years came up to me at the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival and asked whether we could have a quick chat. I was a bit suspicious of her tone, and the seriousness embedded in what appeared to be a perfectly light, friendly request. Alma introduced herself as a writer. Then she introduced her next book, and in that second introduction was the point of the whole chat: Im currently writing a novel set in Indonesia, and the protagonist is Acehnese and Im afraid I might get some of the details and emotions wrong. What do you think I should do? Do you know anyone I can reach out to? Oh God, I thought. Immediately, I conjured up the following images: she will take that story back to the US or the UK or Europe and everyone will brand it as an exotic, tender and explosive work and they will have no choice but to publish it. Then she will sell millions and millions of copies. Then she will be crowned an expert on Indonesia and the Indonesian way of life. And on and on and on. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 24, 2016 The government is processing the return of four Indonesian hostages who have been freed by the notorious Abu Sayyaf militant group, following the release of one more captive a few days after the release of three other sailors, a senior minister has said. Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto said the fourth Indonesian fisherman, named Harman Manggak, would return with three other captives who were released Sunday. "It's still in process, but they will return to Indonesia soon. [I hope] the process will take no more than a week," Wiranto told journalists on Friday. Harman, a fisherman from Bulukumba, South Sulawesi, was the captain of a Malaysia-flagged fishing boat. He was taken hostage by the Filipino militants in Sabah waters, Malaysia, on Aug. 3. He is currently under the care of the Indonesian Consulate General in Davao. Five other Indonesian sailors, who were crewmen on the Indonesian-operated tugboat Charles, have been held captive since June 21, making them the longest-held captives in the latest string of abductions of Indonesian sailors. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nethy Dharma Somba and Andi Hajramurni (The Jakarta Post) Jayapura/Makassar/Gorontalo/Cilacap/Padang Sat, September 24 2016 Two mayoral candidates in Jayapura, Papua, claim to have the support of the Golkar Party in the Feb. 15 election but the partys local executive board has denied this, saying it is only endorsing one candidate. There is no way that the Golkar Party supports both candidates. Our support goes to the Benhur Tommy Mano-Haji Rustam Saur pair, said Marthinus Werimon, acting secretary of Golkars Papua chapter, in Jayapura on Friday. Originally, Golkar had lent its support to the Abisai Rollo-Dipo Wibowo ticket as shown in a letter signed by Golkar chairman Setya Novanto on June 2. Later, the party conducted a survey and it found around 56 percent of respondents favored Benhur and only 6 percent would vote for Abisai. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 24, 2016 The government has launched a program to digitize the medicine supply chain by implementing a universal barcode system and launching e-procurement in selected health community centers (puskesmas) and hospitals. The Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) signed an MoU with Australian PNORS Technology Group on Thursday. The agreement includes a pilot project, capacity building and technological partnership. "The automation of the medical supply chain can eliminate problems like running out of stock, expired medicines, and fake medicines, which happened recently here," PNORS Group CEO Paul Gallo told The Jakarta Post in Jakarta on Friday. In Australia, supply chain digitization has reduced costs by 52 percent and eliminated at least three links from the supply chain. Puskesmas or hospitals will be able to order medicines through a system that is connected with suppliers. "You also save the environment as you do not need paper anymore," Gallo added. The pilot project is expected to be evaluated after three months but digitizing all of Indonesia may take up to nine years as there are 9,700 puskesmas and 2,500 hospitals throughout the country. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Grace D. Amianti (The Jakarta Post) Sat, September 24, 2016 The government is preparing a set of incentives to attract oil and gas companies to invest more in the upstream industry to compensate for its plan to reduce its cost-recovery budget next year. The tax and non-tax incentives will be offered in the upcoming revision of the 2010 Government Regulation (PP) No. 79/2010 on cost recovery and tax treatments for the upstream oil and gas industry. The government believes that current cost recovery the reimbursement scheme for oil and gas companies exploration and production costs has been ineffective in attracting contractors to conduct exploration activities and is in fact a burden on the state budget. In a joint press conference on Friday, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and interim energy and mineral resources minister Luhut Pandjaitan explained that the incentives would contain waivers of several tax requirements during exploration and exploitation phases. During the exploration phase, firms will be exempted from the requirement to pay the import value-added tax (VAT), import duty, domestic VAT and property tax (PBB). Meanwhile, during the exploitation phase, firms will have the opportunity to avail of similar waivers, but only if their projects meet the governments own economic valuations. With regard to non-tax incentives, the government says it will provide clearer rules on investment credit and domestic market obligation (DMO) holidays. A DMO is the requirement imposed on firms to allocate a certain amount of oil or gas production to meet domestic needs. Sri Mulyani added that another point in the revision would be the implementation of a sliding-scale concept that would enable the government to achieve higher profit-sharing from sharp price increases. Based on past experiences, the government doesnt have the ability yet to earn higher profits when oil prices increase significantly. With a sliding-scale concept, there will be a new regime, in which the government and contractors can share the pain and the gains, she said, insisting that the new concept would be based on fairness. The government expects the incentives will increase the economic value of oil and gas projects which is mainly measured by internal rate of return (IRR) to 15.16 percent from the current 11.59 percent, making the upstream side more attractive. The revision announcement was made a day after the government told lawmakers at the House of Representatives that it sought to slash over US$1 billion from its planned cost-recovery budget next year. If approved, the 2017 cost-recovery budget will stand at $10.4 billion, down from the original proposal of $11.7 billion. The announcement apparently took business players by surprise as they had expected a different outcome. Sammy Hamzah, Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) head of energy and mineral resources division, said he was dismayed by the incentive offers. The finance minister said that the spirit of the incentives was to return to the assume-and-discharge concept, but this is not like that, he said, referring to the concept that was dismissed in 2010 when cost recovery was put in place. Indonesian Petroleum Association (IPA) executive director Marjolijn Wajong also said it was actually hoping to see the government reinstate the assume-and-discharge concept, which she claimed provided greater business certainty. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 24 2016 Tamansari Police personnel arrested a 32-year-old man, identified only as AS, on Thursday night for allegedly distributing crystal methamphetamine in the Tamansari area, West Jakarta. Police found 12 packages of methamphetamine with a total weight of 42 grams in the suspects pocket. Tamansari Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Nasriadi said AS had been a police target for the last month, and officers had waited until they were certain of AS criminal activities before making the arrest. We had been following him for one month to make sure he was really a methamphetamine dealer, Nasriadi said on Friday as quoted by tribunnews.com, adding that most of his customers were people living in boarding houses nearby. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login The delegation told the LG about the irregularities in the Mohalla clinics and demanded a CBI enquiry into it, said Ajay Maken. By Parbina Purkayastha: A delegation of Delhi Congress unit led by President Ajay Maken met Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged "financial irregularities and illegalities" in the Mohalla clinics run by the Aam Aadmi Party government. The delegation told the LG about the irregularities in the Mohalla clinics and demanded a CBI enquiry into it, said Ajay Maken. advertisement Congress reiterated how the Government breached CVC guidelines and tendered deals to its party workers. "The AAP government extended advantage to members and office bearers of the party by paying more than the prevailing market rent to owners whose lands were used for opening Mohalla clinics," Maken alleged. The memorandum submitted to Jung also said that Mohalla clinics "lacked basic health facilities" and established health guidelines were being "violated". Delhi Congress on Thursday released its report on the Mohalla clinics, accusing the government of flouting all norms while running them. Also Read: Delhi Congress writes to CVC, say AAP's mohalla clinics flouted norms --- ENDS --- Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Indra Budiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 24, 2016 Ending a marriage is not always an easy thing to do, but more couples are getting divorced in the country, including in Jakarta. There are plenty of reasons why people choose to split up. Financial reasons and infidelity are often cited as the main causes of divorce. Many unfortunate women also opt for divorce because they cannot handle staying in an abusive marriage. In Jakarta, however, social messaging services and urban lifestyles are being blamed for the spike in divorce. Marriage Law No. 1/1974 contains very strict requirements for couples wanting to divorce, which include being able to present many witnesses to prove the marriage is failing. The rise of communication technology seems to have changed that. Fernandes Raja Saor, a divorce lawyer, said with the ubiquity of smartphones couples were no longer required to present the necessary witnesses in court. Now we can use a screenshot of WhatsApp messenger chat to show the judges that a husband [or wife] is having an affair or a couple is fighting a lot, he said. Data released by the Jakarta Religious High Court suggested that divorce petitions were piling up at the courts desk, where progressive increases in the number of cases could be seen with 9,654 petitions in 2012 to 12,770 in 2014 and 12,792 last year. The courts data also found that in Jakarta, wives are the party that filed most of the divorce petitions, accounting for almost 70 percent of the cases. Most of the women cited disharmony and husbands lack of responsibility as a pretext for filing divorce. JF Warouw, a sociology expert from the University of Indonesia (UI), believes that living in a big city like Jakarta could be another factor to why divorce seems to be more common. He argues that the individualistic culture in Jakarta makes people less dependent on second opinion from their close friends in making important decisions. Many studies have found that a culture of individualism is more conducive to divorce than that of more tight-knit cultures in small cities, he says. Another reason why more couples are calling it a day to their marriage is because people have changed their views about marriage. The modern and relatively more educated society in Jakarta have a more open mind to divorce unlike people in small towns or villages, Warouw said. Nico Angelo, 28, said he nor his former wife were at fault for their marriage ending, which had lasted six years. He believed that they married too young, before seeing their differences and eventually grew apart. He and his wife then agreed that staying together was not ideal for them and their daughter. We realized that there were too many differences between us and getting separated was the right thing to do, he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 24, 2016 Indonesia has called for stronger cooperation between ASEAN and the UN to help align the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 with the UNs 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development during a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly's (UNGA) 71st gathering in New York. Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said it was important to boost cooperation between the two organizations across four priority areas, namely the political-security field, economics, the socio-cultural realm and secretariat cooperation. "Closer cooperation between ASEAN and the UN will eliminate gaps in information and development at the regional and global levels," Retno said in a statement released by the Foreign Ministry on Friday. She was speaking at a meeting between ASEAN foreign ministers, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and UN general assembly chair Peter Thomson on the sidelines of the UNGA. Retno said ASEAN could help eradicate poverty, empower micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and develop maritime infrastructure. These things together could contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out by the UN, she went on to say. At the meeting, Retno also conveyed Indonesia's readiness to host the ASEAN-UN Regional Dialogue from Nov. 7-9. The dialogue will formulate recommendations on how ASEAN and the UN can work together to tackle issues such as such irregular migration and the threat of terrorism and radicalism. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 24, 2016 Indonesia will offer a set of recommendations for the new UN secretary-general to encourage the global institution to be more transparent, effective, inclusive, accountable and efficient. "Indonesia together with Colombia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Jordan, Mexico and Uruguay have joined with Norway to compile a set recommendations, named the UN70 Initiative, to be conveyed to the new secretary-general," Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said in a statement released by the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Friday. The initiative was launched by Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende in February 2015 to evaluate the 70-year history of the UN. Expected to take office on Jan. 1, 2017, the new UN secretary-general is urged to adopt new approaches to respond effectively to humanitarian needs. The recommendations also call for the new leader to continue pushing for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Agenda and the Paris Climate Agreement, as well as advocate for human rights. Ban Ki Moon, who has led the UN since 2007, will officially end his second term at the end of this year. An Indonesian delegation led by Vice President Jusuf Kalla is currently in New York to attend a series of meetings as part of the UN General Assembly's 71st gathering. Indonesia is campaigning for a non-permanent member seat on the United Nations Security Council for the period 2019-2020. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 24, 2016 The candidates for the Jakarta gubernatorial election received health check-ups on Saturday at Navy Hospital Dr. Mintohardjo in Central Jakarta. Incumbents Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama and Djarot Saiful Hidayat were the first to arrive at the hospital. They arrived at around 6:30 a.m. Ahok and Djarot registered with the Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPU Jakarta) on Wednesday. They have been endorsed by the countrys ruling party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), and three other parties: the Golkar Party, Hanura Party and the NasDem Party. Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and Sylviana Murni will together challenge Ahok and Djarot in the election. Antara reported that Sylviana arrived at the hospital at 6:45 a.m., while Agus, son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, arrived at 7:25 a.m. Agus and Sylviana have been endorsed by the Cikeas Coalition consisting of the Democratic Party, the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party and (PKB) and the National Mandate Party (PAN). Sumarno, the head of KPU Jakarta, said the third pair to compete in the election, Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno, asked to receive their health check-ups later on in the day. Anies, the former culture and education minister, and businessman Sandiaga have been endorsed by the Gerindra Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). Sandiaga arrived at the hospital at 12:30 p.m. while Anies arrived at 12:50 p.m. Anies will compete for the position of governor and Sandiaga will compete as his running-mate. Sandiaga said he had lost sleep lately because he had stayed awake for three days to see whether he would be nominated as the governor candidate or the deputy governor candidate. In the end, Anies was nominated as the candidate for governor. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 24, 2016 Bank Indonesia expects that its latest rate cut will quicken monetary transmission to the banking industry, to balance the impact from the bank's decision to be cautious in disbursing loans due to a rising non-performing loan (NPL) rate, which as of July stood at 3.2 percent. The central bank now projects lending growth to reach 7 to 9 percent by the end of this year, lower than its previous estimate of 10 to 12 percent. Bank Indonesia Governor Agus Martowardojo explained that the100 basis point (bps) rate cut between January to August was only able to decrease lending interest by 52 percent. "With the rise in NPL, banks tend to be more cautious in disbursing loans. We can see that loan growth has remained weak and the lending rate remains slow," Agus said in Jakarta on Friday. The weak demand in lending, Agus continued, was due to the global economic slowdown. In fact, Bank Indonesia revised down its estimation on global economic growth, which it previously predicted would reach 3 percent, to only 2.9 percent. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 24, 2016 The youth wing of Muhammadiyah, Indonesias second largest Muslim organization, has called on the government to strengthen collaboration with civil society organizations to counter terrorism. Muhammadiyah argues that military and security operations carried out by security personnel cannot solve the root causes of terrorism. Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, the youth wings chairman, said that because deradicalization required a more holistic approach, the government should provide more room for the participation of religious groups such as Muhammadiyah to help steer people away from terrorism. "In most cases, counterterrorism operations in the country do not reduce the spread of radicalism, but instead trigger more radicalization because security authorities use violence in the operations. We want approaches to deradicalization that can address the root causes of the problem," Dahnil said on Friday. He further said that hard approaches to counterterrorism were not effective and would likely result in legal violations such as what happened to Siyono. The terror suspect died while in the custody of counterterrorism unit Detachment 88 (Densus 88). Dahnil said he had raised his concerns during his meeting with Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto. He said the minister had agreed to evaluate current counterterrorism mechanisms. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 24, 2016 The youth wing of Indonesias second-largest Islamic organization Muhammadiyah has called on the government to uphold its commitment to eradicating corruption, saying that any policy that could weaken law enforcement on corruption in the country must be rejected. The youth wings chairman Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak said President Joko Jokowi Widodo should reject the draft revision of Government Regulation (PP) No.99/2012 on remission, which made it easier to grant remissions for graft convicts. "The commitment [to eradicate corruption] should be maintained and the government should stop easing the remission mechanism for graft suspects," Dahnil said following his meeting with Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto on Friday. He further said Wiranto had reiterated his commitment to strengthen the country's anticorruption measures during the meeting. He quoted the ministers statement, in which he said that he would support the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to combat corruption in the country. Following a meeting with a number of prominent legal experts on Thursday, Jokowi rejected Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly's plan to make it easier for graft convicts to get sentence remissions, saying that once he received the final revision draft, he would return it to the ministry without any doubt. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 24 2016 On the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly (UNGA), Indonesia and several other countries have argued for a more transparent, effective, inclusive, accountable and efficient UN to the new UN secretary-general. Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said Thursday a five-point recommendation statement entitled UN70 Initiative, or UN70, invited the new secretary-general and others to put the prevention of conflict as the UNs main objective in the area of peace and security. The UN has done much to maintain security, peace and welfare in the world. But there are still plenty of things that need to be done by the UN in the future, she said in a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login TheJakartaPost Please Update your browser Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below. Just click on the icons to get to the download page. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Safrin La Batu, Indra Budiari and Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 24, 2016 Three pairs of candidates had registered at the Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD) when the poll body closed registration on Friday night. Incumbent Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama and Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat will compete against the Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno and Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono-Sylviana Murni tickets, which were announced at the 11th hour. As the election has turned out to be a three-way race, it is expected to be a two-round contest as none of the candidates are seen as strong enough to garner more than 50 percent of the vote to win the February election, as stipulated by the 2007 Law on the Jakarta administration. The Kinship Coalition, which was set up to unseat Ahok, failed to agree on a single candidate and dropped its plan to defeat the incumbent in a head-to-head race. The Gerindra Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) insisted on nominating former culture and education minister Anies Baswedan and businessman Sandiaga Uno. The other members of the coalition the Democratic Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the United Development Party (PPP) refused to back Anies and came up with their own candidates: Agus, the son of Dems chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and Sylviania, Ahoks assistant for tourism. We didnt reject Sandi or Anies. But Sandi had been declared by Gerinda and the PKS, and we were not involved in the decision-making process. Anies also got a lukewarm response from our coalition, Dems deputy chairman Syarif Hasan said. Anies attended the Dems presidential convention for the 2014 election. The party, which had a lackluster performance in the 2014 legislative election, ended up not nominating anyone. Anies then joined the campaign team for Joko Jokowi Widodo, who was then still serving as Jakarta governor. Anies nomination also came as a surprise as he is now backed by the political parties he fought against in the 2014 polls. He also crushed the hopes of former law and human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who announced his gubernatorial bid long before Anies. Gerindra and the PKS had been trying to find figures that would be ready to serve [the city]. Anies and Sandiaga are neither Gerindra nor PKS members, but that wasnt taken into consideration. We want candidates that can make changes in the city, said Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto, who lost the presidential election to Jokowi. Political analyst from the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI), Siti Zuhro, said the Jakarta election had become a battleground for political heavyweights: Yudhoyono, Prabowo and PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri. Whoever wins the race, she said, will get a golden ticket for the 2019 presidential election. It may be [a strategy] for the 2019 presidential election, because the parties important figures play important roles, Siti said. The latest polls have shown that the Ahok-Djarot pairing remains the ticket to beat, even though the polls say they would only secure around 40 percent of the vote in a head-tohead race. Anies and Sandiaga have been touted as formidable contenders for Ahok. Both candidates have also been mentioned in many polls even though their electability ratings are still below that of the governor. Despite his lack of experience, Agus, analysts said, could become the dark horse of the election. It is not about Agus. He is relatively new in politics compared to Ahok and Anies. But given his background as the son of a former president, his electability rating may soon soar, Sirajudin Abas, a researcher at Jakarta-based Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC), told The Jakarta Post on Friday. Given that all the candidates, including Agus, have the opportunity to attract voters from different partisan and demographic divides, the election will likely have another cycle. I am sure nobody, including Ahok, who has topped many of the recent surveys, will be able to secure the 50 percent plus one votes [required in order to for the election to go through just one cycle]. A survey revealed by pollster Poll-tracking Indonesia last week showed that Anies would be a serious contender for Ahok if he was paired with Sandiaga. In a match-up scenario between Ahok-Djarot versus Anies-Sandiaga, Ahok was favored by 37.95 percent of 400 respondents that participated in the survey. That survey showed that Anies-Sandiaga was edging closer to Ahok-Djarots ranking with 36.38 percent of respondents having chosen them. The survey also showed that under that head-to-head scenario, undecided voters amounted to 25.67 percent. Poll-tracking Indonesia executive director Hanta Yudha said during the release of the survey that Anies might beat Ahok in the election given his current electability rating. He said that, unlike Ahok, who declared his bid to run in the election last year, Anies had only been mentioned recently and therefore had not done anything to lure voters. The number of undecided voters is also high. This may be a serious threat for Ahok, Hanta said. BASUKI TJAHAJA PURNAMA Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama set a nearly impossible mission for his volunteers, Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok), who wanted him to run as an independent candidate in the Feb. 15, 2017 gubernatorial election. He demanded that they get 1 million people to pledge support for his candidacy. Each supporter was required to attach a copy of their indentity card (KTP). Ahok needed at least 750,000 pledges according to electoral regulations. The group announced in June that it had got more than 1 million voters. Learning from his experience as deputy governor from 2012 until 2014, and then as governor until now, Ahok, however, realized that he needed the support of political parties in the City Council. His volunteers gave him full freedom to make that decision. Four political parties have now pledged their support. Ahok became governor in 2014 after the victory of Joko Jokowi Widodo in the presidential election. The controversial Ahok, who was born in Manggar, East Belitung on June 29, 1966, has often been in the spotlight as a result of his straightforward and outspoken style. He has also been widely praised for his achievements in providing better public services, including health and education, and maintaining public order, which have been acknowledged by both friends and enemies. Ahok, despite his double-minority status as a Christian Chinese-Indonesian in Muslim-majority Jakarta, has topped nearly all opinion polls for the election so far. Ahok earned his Bachelors Degree from Trisakti University, Jakarta, majoring in geology in 1990. Subsequently, he received a Masters Degree from Prasetiya Mulya University in 1994. Ahok started his career in politics as a member of the regional legislative council in East Belitung regency in Bangka Belitung province. He then became regent of East Belitung from 2005 to 2006. In 2009, he was elected to the House of Representatives, representing Golkar. He resigned from the House to become Jokowis running mate in the 2012 gubernatorial election, running as a member of Gerindra. Ahok is married to Veronica Tan and the couple have three children, Nicholas Sean, Nathania and Daud Albeenner. DJAROT SAIFUL HIDAYAT Djarot Saiful Hidayat, the Jakarta deputy governor, will be Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnamas running mate in the gubernatorial election. Djarot was mayor of Blitar, East Java, for two periods from 2000 to 2005 and from 2005 to 2010, during which time he successfully managed the issue of 1,000 street vendors who were operating on the citys main streets. He was known to have strongly opposed the construction of supermarkets and minimarkets. He preferred to organize the street vendors as he believed they could help boost the citys economy. Under his leadership, Blitar was awarded the Adipura environmental award for clean and green cities three times in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Djarot became Ahoks deputy in December 2014. Djarot studied administrative sciences at Brawijaya University in Malang, East Java. He got a Masters Degree in Political Science in 1991 from Gadjah Mada University, Jakarta. He is married with three daughters. AGUS HARIMURTI YUDHOYONO Agus was born in Bandung, West Java, on Aug. 10, 1978. He is the eldest son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. He graduated from the National Military Academy in 2000 and earned a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore in 2006. In 2010, he graduated from the John Kennedy School of Government with another Masters Degree in Public Administration. He also earned a Masters Degree in Leadership and Management from Webster University in 2015. In 2006, when a war raged between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, Agus, who was serving in a mechanized infantry battalion, was deployed to the conflict zone as part of the Garuda XXIII-A contingent. Agus was promoted to commandant of an airborne infantry battalion in 2007. In 2005 he married model Annisa Larasati Pohan. They have one daughter. SYLVIANA MURNI Sylviana Murni was born in Jakarta on Oct. 11, 1958. She obtained her Bachelors Degree in Administrative Law from Jayabaya University, and has a Masters Degree in Population Management from the University of Indonesia (UI). She earned a Doctorate in Education from the Jakarta State University in 2005. She started work with the Jakarta administration in 1985. The positions she has held include head of the Jakarta Population and Civil Registry from 2001 to 2004 and mayor of Central Jakarta from 2008 to 2013. Her current position is assistant to the governor on tourism and culture. She is married to H Gde Sardjana and they have two children. ANIES BASWEDAN When President Joko Jokowi Widodo dismissed Anies Baswedan as culture and education minister in July, just 20 months after being appointed, there was speculation that the latters ambition to contest the 2019 presidential election had bothered the President. The soft-spoken scholar helped Jokowi during the 2014 presidential election campaign and it was no surprise when he got the Cabinet position. Anies earned his PhD in Political Science from Northern Illinois University in 2005, his Masters Degree in Public Policy from the University of Maryland and his Business Management degree from Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta. Anies most notable innovation is the Gerakan Indonesia Mengajar, or Teaching Indonesia Movement, a program that gathers young people to contribute to the nations education. Through this initiative, he has recruited, trained and sent 16,000 young volunteer graduates to teach in remote regions across the archipelago. Anies was born on May 7, 1969, in Kuningan, West Java, he is married to Ferry Farhati Ganis and they have four children. SANDIAGA UNO Sandiaga Uno was born in Rumbai, Pekanbaru, on June 28, 1969, where his father, Razif H. Uno, was working for an oil company. He is better known as a businessman rather than a politician and is thought to be one of the countrys richest men. In 1997, he co-founded PT Recapital Advisors with his high school friend, Rosan Perkasa Roeslani and a year later he co-founded Saratoga Capital with Edwin Soeryadjaya. Sandiaga graduated from Wichita State University in the US in 1990 and earned a Masters of Business Administration from George Washington University two years later. The court, however, has attached some conditions in its order. It has asked WhatsApp to not share any user data, which was generated before September 25. The court has given users time till September 25 to delete accounts if they value their privacy. By Sneha Agrawal: The Delhi High Court has given its nod to WhatsApp's new privacy policy under which the company will share some user data, including phone number of a user, with its parent company Facebook. NOT TO SHARE USER DATA BEFORE SEPTEMBER 25 The court, however, has attached some conditions in its order. It has asked WhatsApp to not share any user data, which was generated before September 25. advertisement It has also told the instant messaging firm that data of any user who deletes his or her WhatsApp account before September 25 will have to be deleted from WhatsApp servers. While a similar matter is pending before the Supreme Court, Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal have allowed Whatsapp to continue with its new privacy policy for the time being. DRASTIC CHANGE IN PRIVACY POLICY The court was ruling on a petition that alleged that after Facebook acquired WhatsApp, there has been a drastic change proposed in the privacy policy. "Having regard to the complete security and protection of privacy provided by WhatsApp initially while launching WhatsApp and keeping in view that the issue relating to the existence of an individual's right of privacy as a distinct basis of a cause of action is yet to be decided by a larger bench of Supreme Court, we consider it appropriate to issue the following directions to protect interest of users of WhatsApp,"the bench said. The HC has also directed the government and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to look into the issue of regulation of chat apps. ALSO READ: Facebook, WhatsApp honeytraps: Border villages, police put on alert against bogus Pakistan messages Dont share with FB info of users who stop using WhatsApp: HC --- ENDS --- Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Indra Budiari, Safrin La Batu and Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 24 2016 The race for the top post in the nations capital is on. Three pairs of candidates had registered at the Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD) when the poll body closed registration on Friday night. Incumbent Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama and Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat will compete against the Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno and Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono-Sylviana Murni tickets, which were announced at the 11th hour. As the election has turned out to be a three-way race, it is expected to be a two-round contest as none of the candidates are seen as strong enough to garner more than 50 percent of the vote to win the February election, as stipulated by the 2007 Law on the Jakarta administration. The Kinship Coalition, which was set up to unseat Ahok, failed to agree on a single candidate and dropped its plan to defeat the incumbent in a head-to-head race. The Gerindra Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) insisted on nominating former culture and education minister Anies Baswedan and businessman Sandiaga Uno. The other members of the coalition the Democratic Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the United Development Party (PPP)refused to back Anies and came up with their own candidates: Agus, the son of Dems chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and Sylviania, Ahoks assistant for tourism. We didnt reject Sandi or Anies. But Sandi had been declared by Gerinda and the PKS, and we were not involved in the decision-making process. Anies also got a lukewarm response from our coalition, Dems deputy chairman Syarif Hasan said. Anies attended the Dems presidential convention for the 2014 election. The party, which had a lackluster performance in the 2014 legislative election, ended up not nominating anyone. Anies then joined the campaign team for Joko Jokowi Widodo, who was then still serving as Jakarta governor. Anies nomination also came as a surprise as he is now backed by the political parties he fought against in the 2014 polls. He also crushed the hopes of former law and human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who announced his gubernatorial bid long before Anies. Gerindra and the PKS had been trying to find figures that would be ready to serve [the city]. Anies and Sandiaga are neither Gerindra nor PKS members, but that wasnt taken into consideration. We want candidates that can make changes in the city, said Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto, who lost the presidential election to Jokowi. Political analyst from the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI), Siti Zuhro, said the Jakarta election had become a battleground for political heavyweights: Yudhoyono, Prabowo and PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri. Whoever wins the race, she said, will get a golden ticket for the 2019 presidential election. It may be [a strategy] for the 2019 presidential election, because the parties important figures play important roles, Siti said. The latest polls have shown that the Ahok-Djarot pairing remains the ticket to beat, even though the polls say they would only secure around 40 percent of the vote in a head-to-head race. Anies and Sandiaga have been touted as formidable contenders for Ahok. Both candidates have also been mentioned in many polls even though their electability ratings are still below that of the governor. Despite his lack of experience, Agus, analysts said, could become the dark horse of the election. It is not about Agus. He is relatively new in politics compared to Ahok and Anies. But given his background as the son of a former president, his electability rating may soon soar, Sirajudin Abas, a researcher at Jakarta-based Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC), told The Jakarta Post on Friday. Given that all the candidates, including Agus, have the opportunity to attract voters from different partisan and demographic divides, the election will likely have another cycle.I am sure nobody, including Ahok, who has topped many of the recent surveys, will be able to secure the 50 percent plus one votes [required in order to for the election to go through just one cycle]. A survey revealed by pollster Polltracking Indonesia last week showed that Anies would be a serious contender for Ahok if he was paired with Sandiaga. In a match-up scenario between Ahok-Djarot versus Anies-Sandiaga, Ahok was favored by 37.95 percent of 400 respondents that participated in the survey. That survey showed that Anies-Sandiaga was edging closer to Ahok-Djarots ranking with 36.38 percent of respondents having chosen them. The survey also showed that under that head-to-head scenario, undecided voters amounted to 25.67 percent. Polltracking Indonesia executive director Hanta Yudha said during the release of the survey that Anies might beat Ahok in the election given his current electability rating. He said that, unlike Ahok, who declared his bid to run in the election last year, Anies had only been mentioned recently and therefore had not done anything to lure voters. The number of undecided voters is also high. This may be a serious threat for Ahok, Hanta said. ___________________________________ To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kornelius Purba (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 24 2016 Indias democracy is in chaos! That was the initial conclusion of an Indonesian journalist after reading several local newspapers and watching the reportage of TV channels during his six-day stay in New Delhi earlier this month. The people are persistent and even annoying! That was his early perception when he attended an international seminar in the subcontinent nation, and witnessed how the speakers and the participants from India were very eager in pinpointing the substance of their opinions. New Delhi air is much cleaner than Jakarta! He concluded that after observing cars and other modes of transportation consume compressed natural gas (CNG) and other clean energy. Indonesia, in contrast, is a major gas producer but Jakarta is among the worlds most polluted cities. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Sat, September 24 2016 This is a response to the article Poor irrigation threatens food self-sufficiency in the Sept. 21 edition of The Jakarta Post. The province of Central Sulawesi has an area of more than 61,800 square kilometers and is home to a population of 2.63 million as per the 2010 census. It is also the fifth-poorest province in the country, riddled with issues of ethnic clashes, natural calamities and poor infrastructure. Agriculture is the main source of income for its inhabitants, with rice, corn, soybean and cocoa being the main crops. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login (lead article) Washington-Moscow truce in Syria unravels US seeks deal to protect imperialist interests Inset: Reuters/Abdalghne Karoof Above, remains of aid convoy to Aleppo that Washington says was attacked by Syrian or Russian airstrike Sept. 19, two days after Washington bombed Syrian troops near Deir Ezzor. Right, destruction after U.S. airstrike in Kfredrian, Idlib province, Syria, Sept. 23, 2014. Washington continues to seek a way to get Moscows collaboration to broker a new break in fighting in Syria, at the same time the partial truce they forged Sept. 12 unraveled. The U.S. rulers see a deal with Moscow as the only possible way to secure some stability for their imperialist interests and to deepen attacks against Islamic State. But conflicts of interest between Washington, Moscow, Tehran and other capitalist powers in the region, along with the relative weakening of U.S. imperialism, keep plaguing their efforts. Within a week after the deal was announced, the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad and Russian warplanes had resumed bombing areas under control of government opponents in the city of Aleppo and elsewhere. On Sept. 17, U.S.-led airstrikes in eastern Syria killed more than 60 Syrian government troops, the first time U.S. forces have attacked Syrias army. When Russian military officials informed U.S. officers what they were doing, Washington halted the bombing and apologized, saying the intended target was Islamic State. And on Sept. 19 U.S. and U.N. authorities blamed Russia or Syria for airstrikes that destroyed an aid convoy outside Aleppo, incinerating 18 trucks carrying food and medical supplies and killing some 20 people. At the same time, U.S. special forces began conducting ground operations with Turkish troops who are deepening their offensive in northern Syria ostensibly fighting Islamic State, but with the primary goal of pushing back Kurdish militias from territory they have gained. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told the media Sept. 19 that in future talks we cant limit the dialogue to two countries, angling for a greater role for Paris, Syrias former colonial ruler. The French government conducts airstrikes in Syria and Iraq as part of the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State. The catastrophe for working people in Syria continues to mount, from the death toll and refugee crisis to the scarcity of food. In the rebel-held section of Aleppo the price of rice has shot up fivefold in recent months, sugar tenfold and flour is not available. A key aspect of the collapsing truce negotiated between Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was that if the cease-fire held, Washington and Moscow would begin to share targeting and intelligence information in order to carry out coordinated attacks on Islamic State and the former Nusra Front. This provoked debate between the State Department and the Pentagon, with several high-ranking officers publicly questioning the idea of sharing information with Moscow. It would be premature to say that were going to jump right into it, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, commander of the U.S. Air Forces Central Command, said Sept. 13. The next day Gen. Joseph Votel, head of the U.S. Central Command, said he supported the initiative but there is a trust deficit with the Russians. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter downplayed the division, pledging Pentagon loyalty to the administrations course. We in the Defense Department will play whatever role we have, he told reporters Sept. 14. There is growing bipartisan agreement in Washington that U.S. imperialist power has weakened over years of failed military interventions in the Middle East and elsewhere. A deal with Moscow, they believe, holds the only hope for continuing U.S. influence and exploitation in the region. U.S. troops join Turkish intervention U.S. officials said Sept. 16 that about 40 special operations troops are joining the Turkish military in northern Syria, operating as combat advisers. The same day, one of the Turkish-backed Syrian opposition militias said they drove out a handful of U.S. soldiers who entered Syria near al-Rai on the Turkish border. We wont accept any Americans joining us, said a person videoing their trucks leaving. The Americans havent saved any Syrian lives from Assad or ISIS, another fighter told the Financial Times. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sept. 19 that Ankara and its Syrian allies were pushing south toward the town of al-Bab, and may extend this area to 5,000 square kilometers [3,100 square miles] as part of a safe zone. This would imply a long-term Turkish military presence, and would prevent the Kurds from connecting the two regions they control in Syria. Washington has demanded the Kurds pull back from the area west of the Euphrates River that Ankara intends to control. Meanwhile, the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, headed by Masoud Barzani, hosted a meeting Sept. 19 with representatives of Washington and the Iraqi army to discuss military cooperation to retake Mosul from Islamic State. Over the last month the Kurdish peshmerga militias have taken control of villages near Mosul that had been held by IS. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi warned them not to push further, worried the territory will become a bargaining chip to negotiate greater autonomy for the KRG. The Kurdish people the largest nationality in the world without its own state are divided among Syria, Iraq, Iran and Turkey. Related articles: Oppose US Mideast wars, attacks on political rights US rulers: NY bombs mean less rights, more spying Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home (front page) US rulers: NY bombs mean less rights, more spying NEW YORK Following a Sept. 17 pressure-cooker type bomb explosion that injured 31 people in New York Citys busy downtown Chelsea neighborhood, city and state authorities deployed 1,000 armed cops and National Guard. They shut down dozens of streets and subway stations, and broadcast a manhunt alert that set off millions of cellphones across the city during Monday morning rush hour Sept. 19. That day New Jersey cops shot and arrested Ahmad Khan Rahami, an Afghani-born U.S. citizen who worked in his familys restaurant in Elizabeth, New Jersey. From Hillary Clinton to Donald Trump to New York officials, government and media figures have called for new restrictions on political rights they say are necessary to further the U.S. war on terror. The propaganda hysteria also serves to justify U.S. military interventions in the Middle East and promote attacks on Muslims and mosques. After the Chelsea explosion New York cops found a second pressure-cooker bomb several blocks away. Authorities charged Rahami with placing both bombs, as well as an explosion earlier that day in Seaside Park, New Jersey, before a Marine Corps charity race, and with abandoning a backpack containing explosive devices in Elizabeth. Rahami was taken into custody Sept. 19 after a gun battle in Linden, New Jersey, and charged with attempted murder of a police officer. The next day he was charged by federal authorities with use of weapons of mass destruction and other crimes. No group has taken credit for the bombs, but authorities say Rahami was carrying a notebook praising jihad and al-Qaeda leaders. The same evening as the New York explosion, nine people were stabbed at a St. Cloud, Minnesota, mall by Somali-born 20-year-old Dahir Adan, called a soldier of Islamic State by the IS-linked news agency Amaq. The Socialist Workers Party calls on working people and all defenders of democratic rights to oppose efforts by the capitalists, their government and their politicians to use these attacks as a pretext to escalate restrictions on the political rights of working people and fan the flames of anti-Muslim bigotry, SWP vice-presidential candidate Osborne Hart said in a Sept. 20 statement. At a Sept. 18 news conference in St. Cloud, members of the Muslim and Somali communities expressed condolences to the victims of the attack and called for vigilance against attacks on Muslims. We are also concerned about the potential backlash, said Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The Central Minnesota Islamic Center in St. Cloud and the community it represents has no relationship with Islamic State or other Islamist outfits, spokesman Mohamoud Mohamed said. We are victims of those terrorist groups. Stoking up an atmosphere of panic that encourages attacks and government spying against Muslims, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump told supporters in Colorado Springs, Colorado, We better get very tough, folks. We better get very, very tough. (front page) Fight continues 45 years after Attica rebels said, We are men, not beasts AP Photo On Sept. 9, 1971, 1,281 workers behind bars at Attica State Prison in upstate New York stormed the heavens. Rebelling against abusive conditions, they proclaimed, We are men. We are not beasts and we do not intend to be beaten or driven as such. The conditions they denounced still exist in prisons across the United States. Thats why their rebellion, the bloody retaliation by guards and police in the retaking of the prison including outright murder and torture and the government lies and cover-up continue to reverberate today. At the opening of the 1970s, the fight for Black rights that had swept the U.S. over the last decade and the mass movement against the war in Vietnam were giving more confidence to working people behind bars. On July 29, 1970, some 450 inmates in the Attica metal shop went on strike for two days, winning a raise to a minimum of 25 cents and a maximum of $1 a day. In October that year an uprising in a Long Island City, New York, jail spread to the Manhattan House of Detention for Men, known as the Tombs, and two other jails before cops retook them. In early November prisoners at Auburn State Prison rebelled after officials put 14 inmates in solitary confinement for defying a prison ban on celebrating Black Solidarity Day. After prisoners surrendered, guards forced them to run gauntlets and beat them with batons. That same month hundreds of prisoners at Folsom State Penitentiary in California held a 19-day strike. In June 1971 prisoners calling themselves the Attica Liberation Faction sent a list of demands, modeled on Folsoms, to Commissioner of Correctional Services Russell Oswald, newly appointed by Gov. Nelson Rockefeller. Among the 27 demands: proper medical care; an end to political persecution, racial persecution and the censoring of newspapers and books; prosecution of prison guards who perform cruel and unusual punishment, and clean dishes and eating utensils. Oswald, who saw himself as a liberal reformer, replied that he would study what improvements could be made. Prisoner solidarity Attica officials worries grew a few days after well-known Black Panther George Jackson was killed in San Quentin State Prison in California. Guard Jack English later told thethat prisoners walked into the cafeteria on Aug. 22, 1971, but nobody took any food. They looked straight ahead and nobody made a sound. Almost all the prisoners Blacks, Caucasians and Latinos were wearing black armbands or something else that was black. It scared us because a thing like that takes a lot of organization, a lot of solidarity, and we had no idea they were so well-organized. On Sept. 9, 1971, some prisoners, upset at the beating of two inmates the night before, broke through a locked gate and took control of a wing of the prison. Some 40 guards and civilian prison employees were taken hostage. Prisoners rapidly organized to get a guard who had been severely injured in the initial confrontation out for medical care, but he died a few days later. The prisoners poured into the open-air D yard. Roger Champen, a Korean War veteran and respected jailhouse lawyer, grabbed a bullhorn. We have to pull ourselves together, he said. Soon they formed a multiracial leadership committee. Among those who came forward were Herbert X Blyden, a veteran of the Tombs rebellion; Don Noble and Frank Lott, two of the authors of the Attica Liberation Faction demands; Black Panther Tommy Hicks, who had been in the Auburn rebellion; Young Lords leader Mariano Gonzalez; jailhouse lawyer Jerry the Jew Rosenberg; and Elliot L.D. Barkley. They dug latrines, since prison authorities cut off water to the toilets. They rigged up a sound system. They set up a racially integrated security force and made sure no harm came to the hostages. They set up a medical aid station. They cooked food and distributed mattresses and bedding, giving the hostages priority. They banned drug use. Hoping to get the prisoners to give up by giving some small concessions, Oswald allowed the press into D yard. With TV cameras rolling, Barkley read their manifesto and initial demands. (See excerpts below.) Tom Wicker, a New York Times associate editor, who arrived the next day, was struck by aspects of that strange society its strikingly effective organization, its fierce political radicalism, its submergence of racial animosity in class solidarity. He was astonished. He reported that while a Black prisoner was speaking about the disadvantages suffered by blacks in America, an inmate shouted back at him in a heavy Puerto Rican accent: Dont forget our white brothers! Theyre in this too. An orgy of terror Oswald and Rockefeller claimed they would agree to all the demands for better conditions except the two that were most important to the prisoners: amnesty for any alleged crimes connected to the rebellion and removal of the hated warden Vincent Mancusi. When the prisoners refused to immediately agree, Rockefeller on Sept. 13 ordered the assault officials had been preparing since day one. It became an orgy of terror. Under the command of Mancusi and a low-ranking state police official, more than 1,000 state troopers, local cops and prison guards began the assault, along with National Guardsmen. They were armed with shotguns, rifles with dum dum bullets and their personal weapons. As soon as a helicopter dropped debilitating CS tear gas, they opened fire indiscriminately, killing prisoners and hostages alike. By the end of the day 29 prisoners and 10 hostages were dead. New York officials immediately publicized a blatant lie. They said the hostages throats had been slit and several castrated by the prisoners. A few days later the truth came out: All the hostages had been killed by gunfire. The prisoners didnt have a single firearm. The terror continued for days. Prisoners were forced to crawl on their stomachs through broken glass. They were stripped naked and made to run gauntlets with guards on either side beating them. They were left naked in cells for days. Troopers forced prisoners to remove their dentures and eyeglasses and smashed them. Troopers and guards singled out alleged leaders for abuse. Doctors from the National Guard reported hearing troops and guards tell Caucasian inmates they were beating, This is what you get for hanging around with niggers. Barkley was shot while lying already wounded on the floor. He wasnt the only leader of the rebellion killed in cold blood after order was re-established. The prisons of this country exist for one reason to try to terrorize people into accepting an inhuman, irrational social system based on maintaining the rights of the few over the majority, wrote Mary-Alice Waters in the pamphlet Attica: Why Prisoners Are Rebelling, distributed widely by the Socialist Workers Party to get out the truth about the rebellion. Until that changes, there will almost certainly be more Atticas. Related articles: Declaration of the Attica rebellion Prisoners protest conditions, mark Attica anniversary across U.S. Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home (front page) SWP: What is deplorable is capitalist crisis, not working class Half of Republican candidate Donald Trumps supporters are a basket of deplorables. racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic you name it, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said Sept. 9. They are irredeemable, but thankfully theyre not America. Democratic Party leaders and liberal pundits defended Clinton, saying she was accurate in fact, understated. Considering Caucasian workers backward bigots is a widely held proposition among liberals and the left. They look at those who come to Trump rallies and see danger. Trump who also has no proposals to advance the interests of working people as they face slow burn depression conditions and worse to come takes advantage of workers search for an alternative to capitalist politics-as-usual and the Clintons lack of credibility. But much of what he offers is rightist demagogy, aimed at dividing the working class. He moved to capitalize on the angry reaction of many workers to Clintons contemptuous remark, declaring himself the representative of the deplorables. What is deplorable is what working people face in the U.S. and around the world, Socialist Workers Party presidential candidate Alyson Kennedy, the only candidate representing the interests of the working class in the election, told the Militant Sept. 19. When I campaign door to door with supporters, workers tell us about the reality they face joblessness, low wages, speedup on the job and more dangerous conditions. They tell us of social problems like opiate and heroin addiction ravaging their communities. Kennedy said her experience and that of hundreds of campaign supporters talking to workers about the SWP and its program on their doorsteps shows opposition to racist attacks and a desire to build unity among workers of all nationalities against attacks by the bosses and the government. The capitalist rulers are afraid of the working class. They portray the majority, workers who are Caucasian, as reactionary to divide and discourage us, Kennedy said. But its not working. The mass movement that overthrew Jim Crow segregation, as well as recent protests against police killings, inspired millions of workers of all races and strengthened the working class. If this wasnt true, how could you explain the speed and breadth of Confederate flags being taken down at statehouses all across the South over the past year? she said. We meet workers of all races and nationalities who are attracted to the SWPs confidence that working people are capable of fighting for unity, organizing the unorganized, and opposing the bosses and their governments wars, Kennedy said. By doing this we will become strong enough to displace the capitalist dictatorship and build a new society run by workers and farmers based on values of solidarity and dignity. In a Sept. 15 Financial Times article, Edward Luce interviews people in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, especially Caucasian workers who say theyre leaning toward voting for Trump. Hazleton was built by workers from all across Europe who emigrated for jobs and made a living mining anthracite coal and in other factory jobs that have since shut down. The town began to shrink. But it began to grow again, as the Latino population, largely Dominican, grew from 4 percent in 2000 to nearly half today. In 2006 then Mayor Louis Barletta gained nationwide notoriety trying to demonize the newcomers. Much has changed in 10 years. A striking thing about Hazletons Trump supporters is their reluctance to copy their candidates derogatory language about Hispanics, Luce writes. Every time I see a Dominican they greet me and they smile, Karen Ezak, 73, who favors Trump, told Luce. I have never had a problem with them. Theyve brought life back to the schools and churches. Members of the Socialist Workers Party knocked on doors in a working-class area in Hazleton Sept. 18. Im a full-time office worker, but I need a second job, Dottie Pisano, 52, told the socialists. I dont live a flashy life. But I cant make it month to month with one job. And if you get sick, forget about it you have to move in with your folks. She doesnt like Trump but leans toward him, saying, I refuse to vote for that woman, meaning Clinton. Pisanos neighbor Angela Carrasco, in her 20s, at home on parental leave caring for her month-old son Johnny, was born in the Dominican Republic but grew up in Hazleton. Like many in the town she works for the big Amazon distribution center. There was a lot of discrimination against Dominican immigrants in the past, Carrasco said, but its much less now. Writing off large numbers of workers who are Caucasian, the Clinton campaign is counting on votes from African-Americans and Latinos, as well as those of women. But leaders of Clintons campaign are worried about lack of enthusiasm among Blacks. The Clinton campaign has refocused its efforts to a big turnout push directed at black and young voters, the New York Times reported Sept. 18. Younger black voters, in particular have expressed misgivings about Mrs. Clinton because of some of the policies of her husbands administration, including the 1994 crime bill, which imposed tougher sentences for nonviolent drug offenders and Clintons moves to end welfare as we know it, which resulted in deeper poverty, insecurity and social crisis for millions of working-class women and children. I will consider it a personal insult an insult to my legacy if this community lets down its guard and fails to activate itself in this election, President Barack Obama, revealing some panic and a meritocratic contempt for Black workers, told the Congressional Black Caucus Sept. 17. Related articles: SWP campaigns in United Kingdom, among US miners Socialist Workers Party joins protest in Puerto Rico Join SWP campaigning, contribute funds Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home By Tanseem Haider: Delhi police have arrested a man for sending morphed obscene pictures to about 50 girls. Rajesh Gambhir was arrested after a resident of Ashok Vihar filed a complaint against him. Gambhir who stalked girls send the morphed pictures using Whatsapp and Facebook messenger. According to the police, the girls were between nine and 16 years of age. Police said that the accused to harass the young girls by sending them their morphed pictures along with lewd messages. advertisement On September 22, a person from Ashok Vihar filed a complaint stating that an unknown person was sending her morphed images of her daughter. The complainant also handed the morphed images to the police. The complainant's daughter's face was morphed on obscene pictures. The victim is a student of class nine. SIM CARDS OBTAINED USING FAKE IDS Primary investigations revealed that the number used to send these images were obtained using fake identity documents. Gambhir was tracked down after the police conducted an extensive search operation. The police recovered three mobile phones and several SIM cards from the accused. According to the police, the accused owns a mobile shop. During the analysis of data of recovered from his mobile phones, the morphed pictures of the complainant's daughter as well as morphed pictures of several other girls were recovered. DOWNLOADED FACEBOOK PROFILE PICTURES During interrogation, the accused admitted that he used to stalk random girls on Facebook and saved their profile pictures. Gambhir later morphed these pictures on obscene images using a cut and paste application on his phone. He disclosed that he used to chat with the girls and even threatened them with dire consequences if they did not comply to his demands. Gambhir told the police that he obtained the cut and paste application in his mobile using Google play store. He had also blocked about 40 mobile numbers. It has also been revealed that he had been selling SIM cards of different companies from his shop and he used the identity documents of his customers for procuring additional SIM cards to be used to threaten the victims. Also read: Salem: Morphed Facebook images drive woman to suicide --- ENDS --- Ever tire of being a human? Briton Thomas Thwaites took his dissatisfaction a step further and decided to live as a goat for three days and won a prize for his efforts. We all know the feeling: its Tuesday morning, youve got deadlines coming out of your ears and you yearn for a simpler life. In a field. Eating grass. Atsuki Higashiyama of Japan demonstrates his own research how the world looks between your legs (Michael Dwyer/AP) Admittedly this might not sound like your cup of tea, but who needs tea when the worlds most prestigious spoof Nobel committee wants to reward you for the attempt? Thwaites designed prosthetic limbs that allowed him to walk on all fours and graze with goats on a farm in the Alps. Sounds idyllic, doesnt it? He published his research in a book entitled GoatMan: How I Took A Holiday From Being Human, and the work earned recognition from the annual awards, which are awarded for the most unusual or trivial achievements in scientific research. Master of ceremonies Marc Abrahams holds up the 2016 Ig Nobel award (Michael Dwyer/AP) Thwaites, wearing his prosthetic limbs, said the award was a huge honour as he collected the prize at a ceremony at Harvard University in the US. He said: I got tired of all the worry and the pain of being a human and so I decided I would take a holiday from it all and become a goat. Other notable winners included German car manufacturers Volkswagen, who won the Ig Nobel chemistry prize for solving the problem of car emissions (in reference to their attempts to cheat emissions tests for new vehicles in 2015). Thwaites shared the biology prize with another British author, Charles Foster, who also spent time living as a variety of animals. IG Nobel prize in CHEMISTRY for Volkswagen, for solving the problem of excessive automobile pollution emissions! Well deserved! https://t.co/5WFaFSIjTp Nicolas Wohrl (@Icewalker1974) September 23, 2016 His work, Being A Beast, saw him take on the perspective of a badger, an otter, a fox, a red deer and a swift. Foster, a fellow at the University of Oxford, told the audience: We have five glorious senses. Normally we use only one of them vision. 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They managed to solve the daylight robbery case of New Ashok Nagar , the armed daylight robbery case of MS park in North East Delhi and the armed robbery case of Faridabad district. advertisement In all cases the criminals ended up being people with previous involvement in similar cases. The plan to commit the crime with respect to the Kalyan Puri case was supposedly hatched in Bhondsi jail. ALSO READ: Daylight robbery attempt foiled in Delhi's Khichripur area, 1 held Caught on camera: Woman stabbed 22 times in broad daylight in Delhi --- ENDS --- By Pankaj P. Khelkar: Former Revenue Minister Eknath Kadase, a senior Maharashtra BJP leader, how now found himself in a fresh controversy. In the first week of June this year after allegations of wrongdoings were levelled against Eknath Khadse by a Pune-based builder in connection with an MIDC land deal and pressure had starting mounting, the then revenue minister had to resign. Now almost after 4 months, the Aam Aadmi Party has accused him of abusing his position to favour a multi-millionaire builder in Pune. AAP leader Preeti Sharma Menon said Khadse used his influence to benefit a multi-millionaire builder in Pune that would eventually result in loss of around Rs 1,000 crore of property revenue to the Maharashtra Government. advertisement The allegations by Preeti Menon are in reference to the 200 plots in Vijayanagar Cooperative Housing Society near E-Square in Shivajinagar area meant for gazetted officers. Also read: India Today Impact: Eknath Khadse resigns amid charges of corruption, links with Dawood Ibrahim GOVT WILL LOSE REVENUE OF OVER RS 1,000 CRORE Talking to the media in Pune, Preeti Menon alleged that she has documents showing a government land measuring 24 acres that was given to gazetted officers on a lease basis. As per the 1951 GR, if anyone wants to transfer land to a third party, the original lessee has to take the government's permission and 50 per cent of sale value has to be deposited in the government treasury to transfer the land to some other party. Menon said,""This issue concerns a huge property in Pune's Shivajinagar area, known as Vijaynagar Cooperative Housing Society, a 24-acre government plot that was demarcated into 200 plots and leased out to gazetted officers, and as per the 1951 GR, these plots cannot be sold. If any gazetted officer wants to sell it, a proper goverment permission is needed and 50 per cent of the sale value is to be paid to the goverment treasury." Also read: Former Maharashtra Minister Eknath Khadse vacates Ramtek Bungalow NGO, BHRASTACHAR VIRODHI GANDHIGIRI JAN ANDOLAN FIRST EXPOSED THIS LAND FRAUD The AAP leader said that 90 per cent of the plots had been sold off to third party and the government had not recovered land transfer taxes. She said, "There is one NGO called Bhrastachar virodhi. The NGO had complained about two plots -- one plot has Avinash Bhosale's ABIL corporate office and one more plot. The complaint was registered with the Pune District Magistrate (collector) alleging that land transfer taxes were not recovered. The District Magistrate passed an order that the land transfer taxes should be recovered, the amount should be calculated and a fine of 25 per cent of the sale value should also be recovered." advertisement Menon added that this issue was too complicated because such wrongdoings would set an altogether wrong precedent and other property lessee would using this example, evade taxes of government land transfer. She said, "While Eknath Khadse was the revenue minister, he had given a decision without giving the complainant NGO a chance to explain their position. Neither did the officers at Pune District Collectorate attend the hearing. An ex-party order was passed and a stay was given on the DM's order to recover land transfer taxes." She went on to say, ""The land belongs to the state government and subjecting the state government to a loss of Rs 1,000 crore just to save Rs 50 crore of a ABIL group is absolutely unacceptable. Khadse being the revenue minister is directly responsible for the government's revenue loss of Rs 50 crores from one party." The AAP leader emphasised that the AAP party condemns such politics and such corruption. Menon said, "The AAP has demanded that Maharastra CM Fadnavis revoke the order passed by then Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse. A thorough inquiry should be conducted. Property transfer taxes evaded by all property holders of Vijaynagar Cooperative Housing Society should be recovered after levying a 25 per cent fine. After all, government revenue is public money and it can be put to use of needy farmers who are in dire need." advertisement Also read: EXCLUSIVE: Eknath Khadse threatened cops to file case against whistleblower DON'T EXPECT FADNAVIS TO ACT Preeti Menon has said that the AAP's first step will be filing a complaint with Maharashtra CM Fadnavis. She said she hopes the same action is taken as the CM has revoked many of the orders passed by Eknath Khadse. "So first, we will wait for CM's action. If Fadnavis does not do anything, we will take our agitation to another level. But it is also true that CM hasn't taken any action when the Aam Aadmi Party carried out such sort of expose. That is the reason we have no expectations of any action from Devendra Fadnavis. AAP will continue with its fight to eradicate corruption." ABIL REJECTS AAP LEADER'S CHARGES Business Tycoon and multi-millionare builder Avinash Bhosale's ABIL company's MD Amit Bhosale has issued a press release, refuting all allegations levelled by AAP leader Preeti Menon. The release says police have already submitted their investigation report on the said subject to the court. So let us wait for the court's decision on the same. "These allegations are absolutely baseless and we would be filing a defamation case against those leveling wrong charges", the release added. --- ENDS --- advertisement Car flips on Phuket road as driver swerves to avoid dog PHUKET: A 24-year-old Phang Nga woman was lucky to escape unhurt when her Pajero slammed into a streetlamp and flipped on a road in Chalong earlier today (Sept 24). transportaccidentspolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Saturday 24 September 2016, 06:07PM The woman hit swerved to avoid a dog, bit hit the street light instead. Eakkapop Thongthub The woman hit swerved to avoid a dog, bit hit the street light instead. Eakkapop Thongthub The woman hit swerved to avoid a dog, bit hit the street light instead. Eakkapop Thongthub The woman hit swerved to avoid a dog, bit hit the street light instead. Eakkapop Thongthub The woman hit swerved to avoid a dog, bit hit the street light instead. Eakkapop Thongthub Chalong Police were called to respond to an accident on Chao Fa East Rd near Land & Houses Park Phuket at around noon. At the scene, officers found a Mitsubishi Pajero lying on its side next to a downed street light pole. The driver of the car, 24-year-old Choukwan Pattanakitviboon, told police that she was heading towards Phuket Town when a dog suddenly ran in front of her car. The woman swerved to avoid hitting the dog, but lost control of her vehicle, which slammed into a streetlamp and flipped onto its side. The dog escaped unhurt, while Ms Choukwan suffered a minor injury to her a arm. Police have yet to confirm whether or not she will face any charges for the accident. Culture: Luk Kreung a key ingredient in Thailands cultural melting pot Many cultural theorists have explored the relationship between farang and Thai national identity or Thainess. They posit that since the 1950s and the beginning of the 21st century, foreign influences have played an increasing role in how modern Thai identity is made. The mixed-race children of Thai and foreigners or luk kreung, as they are know here, have become a popular symbol of how Thai and Western cultures interact in the modern world. By Sirinya Pakditawan Saturday 24 September 2016, 02:00PM These Thai-Western unions, and luk kreung, have been known since the Ayutthaya period. However, it is only in post-Vietnam War era that they have become a widespread social phenomenon and been woven into the cultural fabric of Thailand. Prior to the later decades of the 20th century, interracial marriages were generally limited to small groups of people. These marriages were most often between people who were at the forefront of cultural contact, such as Christian and Chinese-Thai folk, who worked closely with Europeans. Nevertheless, there were some rare cases of Thais marrying foreigners which occurred among royals or the elite. For instance, Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath (Prince of Bisnulok) married his Ukranian wife Ekaterina Katya Desnitskaya and the union produced their son Prince Chula Chakrabongse. Another prominent example is the marriage between Prince Rangsit Prayurasakdi and the German lady Elisabeth Scharnberger. They had three children, two sons and a daughter called Princess Charulaksana Kalyani Rangsit. In fact, there were a few Thai men of royal descent who married Western women at the beginning of the 20th century. For instance, there was Lady Ludmilla Ivanovna Barsukova from Russia who was married to General Mhomjao Thongtekhayu Thongyai. They had four children together and stayed in Hua Hin. Lady Ludmilla, who is probably of Russian royal lineage, lived in Thailand until she died in 1980 at the age of 90, her Thai name was Mhom Mali. Among common folk, Thai-farang relationships started becoming more common in the 1960s when American GIs were stationed at the US military bases in upcountry Thailand. Some of these American soldiers formed relationships with Thai women most of whom came from poor rural areas. There was often a social stigma attached to these relationships and as a result luk kreung from the Vietnam War era were not regarded as desirable. Despite the often negative perceptions of luk krueng in the 1970s and 80s, it now seems that Thailand has re-invented them as representatives of a modern form of Thainess. For example, the movie The Siam Renaissance (2004) starring Thai-French actress Florence Faivre, deals with how modern Thai identity has been in some ways been subsumed by the influence of powerful Western culture. The Thai fascination with luk kreung has only increased and it is now common to see them as characters in novels, movies and television series. A fascinating book which touches on this subject, The Ambiguous Allure of the West. Traces of the Colonial in Thailand (2010), charts the rise of luk krueng as television and advertising stars and suggests that they provide a way for Thais to reassess how they see their cultural selves on the world stage. In this way, luk krueng are often presented as being more cosmopolitan, globalised and modern than their Thai contemporaries. This trend towards adopting Western culture is often described as originating in the late 19th century with the Siamese peoples rapid adoption of siwalai or civilised things. The present popularity of Western-Thai luk kreung in soap operas, advertising and the media in general, makes it clear that they play an important role in the construction of the modern Thai national identity. Sirinya Pakditawan is a luk kreung, or half-Thai, born and raised in Hamburg, Germany. She enjoys writing about Thailand, with a focus on culture, art, history, tradition and on the people, as well as a mix of topics concerning Thai popular culture, travelogues and articles about Thai food. Sirinyas aim is not only to entertain you but to provide you with information and facts about Thailand, its culture and history that may not be generally known, in particular to the Western world. She has a PhD in American Studies from the University of Hamburg. To read the original story, and many more, be sure to check out Sirinyas blog: www.sirinyas thailand.de Three injured as Phuket speedboat engulfed in flames PHUKET: Three people have been injured after a speedboat became engulfed in flames at Cape Yamu off Phukets east coast this morning (Sept 24). tourismmarineaccidentstransport By Eakkapop Thongtub Saturday 24 September 2016, 09:58AM The speedboat burst into flames off Phukets east coast this morning (Sept 24). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The fire broke out at about 9:10am shortly before it was to pick up 45 Chinese tourists waiting at the pier in Baan Yamu, in Pa Khlok, to get on board for a day trip to Phi Phi Island. Lt Sunand Phetchanoo of the Thalang Police confirmed to The Phuket News that two boat staff with minor injuries were taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town, and one staffer with serious injuries was taken to Thalang Hospital. The boat was operated by PCL Transport, formerly known as 858 Insee Marine Co Ltd, Lt Suannd said. The boat was valued at about B2 million, he said. Insee Marine was one of the 17 companies raided in the crackdown on the illegal tour network syndicate operated under Tranlee Co Ltd. (See story here.) The boat was one of the many speedboats auctioned off two weeks ago among the fleet of buses and boats seized by the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) in raids on the illegal network of companies operating under Chinese tour operator Tranlee Co Ltd. (See story here.) Four things we learnt from last weeks Premier League action Weve now passed week five in the Premier League and things at both the top and bottom of the table are starting to take shape, leaders Manchester City continue to impress under Pep Guardiola, but Jose Mourinho has problems at Manchester United after a third consecutive defeat in all competitions, and Stoke arent what they used to be a they prop up the teams at the bottom of the table. But that doesnt necessarily mean that teams fortunes cant change around. football By AFP Saturday 24 September 2016, 04:00PM Man Citys Kevin De Bruyne was in superb form against Bournemouth. Photo: Oli Scarff/AFP Here are four things we learnt from last weekends action: De Bruyne plugs Aguero gap for Man City Manchester City have been without striker Sergio Aguero for their last two league games, but they have not missed him thanks to the superb form of attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. 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Weve taken on board the managers instructions this season and the team is playing with confidence. The big teams need fear Liverpool Liverpool have wasted no time flexing their muscles this season, beating Arsenal, Leicester City last seasons top two and 2015 champions Chelsea in their first five games. Last Fridays 2-1 win at Chelsea was another lesson in asphyxiating intensity and breathless endeavour. Dejan Lovrens volley and Jordan Hendersons superb long-range curler put the visitors in control and although Diego Costa reduced the arrears, the margin of victory was misleading Liverpool were never in trouble. Jurgen Klopps side look a match for any team in the division, but as their 2-0 loss at Burnley demonstrated, they can struggle when opponents sit back and force them to take the initiative. It may be matches such as this weekends home fixture with Hull City, rather than the glamour games in which they have already excelled, that dictate whether Liverpool can go the distance. Stoke aren't very Stoke any more Stoke City manager Mark Hughes was applauded for introducing a slicker playing style at the club last season, with talented forwards Xherdan Shaqiri, Marko Arnautovic and Bojan Krkic delighting neutrals. They finished ninth, but have made a dreadful start to the current campaign and were left bottom of the table after losing 4-1 at Crystal Palace. Palaces first three goals all stemmed from set-pieces exactly the kind of goal Stoke were renowned for not conceding under Hughess no-nonsense predecessor Tony Pulis. Phuket beaches closed as Portuguese man o war wash ashore PHUKET: Officials at Sirinath National Park have closed Nai Thon and Nai Yang beaches after box jellyfish and Portuguese man o war have been found washed ashore by storm surf. tourismmarineanimalshealth By Yutthawat Lekmak Saturday 24 September 2016, 02:13PM Phuket's Nai Yang and Nai Thon beaches have been closed to swimmers following Portuguese man o war and box jellyfish being washed ashore. Photo: Phuket LIfeguard Service The two beaches are closed and beach-goers are urged not to enter the water, Park Chief Kitipas Tharapibal confirmed to The Phuket News today (Sept 24). Park Chief Kitipas issued an urgent warning yesterday (Sept 23) after lifeguards discovered Portuguese man o war and box jellyfish washed at Nai Thon, Nai Yang and several other beaches. (See story here). Please, dont play in the water or engage in any water activities at these beaches. Also, please dont touch creatures found on the sand, Mr Kitipas said. These species are among the most toxic in the world, he added. Last year a young German tourist and a Thai national died after suffering box jellyfish stings in Surat Thani. There have not been any recent reports of fatal stings by jellyfish-like Portuguese man o war in Thailand, but the venom of these jellyfish-like creatures can also cause severe pain or worse in case of allergic reaction. The Phuket Lifeguard Club Chief Prathaiyut Chuayuan told The Phuket News that he supports the closure of two beaches within Sirinat National Park I think this is a good idea during this time of year, he said, admitting that tourist safety should be priority. Travel: Take the roads less travelled in Nepal With China to the north and India to the south, Nepal sits between two cultures and two geographies. Eight of the worlds 10 tallest mountains fringe the land-locked nations northern border with the Tibetan region of China. Its a trekking and climbing paradise with plenty of astonishing geography that poses challenges for the locals and tourists. tourism By Tim Newton Saturday 24 September 2016, 11:37AM Getting to Nepal is easy, there are flights from many capitals including Bangkok, straight into the capital Kathmandu. From there, however, things get a bit more tricky as you have to navigate one of the most adventurous terrains in the world. You have plenty of local bus services with varying degrees of comfort and mechanical reliability. Id vote for the many local small to mid-sized planes. I tried both. The Nepalese love their car and motorbike horns youll hear plenty of them whilst getting around. Kathmandu is a city of some two million, not long into repairs following the traumatic earthquake in April 2015. There remains a lot of negotiating between the Nepal Government and NGOs on exactly how the worlds generosity should be spent. In the meantime many of the historic sites of old Kathmandu the palaces, the town squares, the ancient temples remain either closed, ignored, propped up with bits of timber and, generally, unloved. The Nepalese people are a hybrid of the cultures and countries around them and, even inside Nepal, there are a lot of smaller regions and tribes who, kept apart by geography, havent blended together as much as they would have with better transport and connections over the decades. The food, too, is equally diverse certainly lots of Indian influences with curries and spicy dishes. I had no problem finding excellent food in most areas and didnt have any tummy problems during the trip (I was prepared for anything!). The Nepalese speak English as a second language so communication was relatively easy and the locals were always eager to help. If you like climbing things then youve come to the right place. Pretty much, the only way is up in Nepal. Temples are poised atop hills with hundreds of steps to climb to reach them and the trekking will have you heading upwards over some of the thousands, yes, thousands, of hills to enjoy the views beyond. Most of the lower-area trekking will be in moderate to hot temperatures. It gets colder in winter of course but still within the limits of a normal wardrobe. Its only when you get a bit more ambitious and look to the Himalayan mountains youre going to need specialist guides, clothing and probably a lot of preparation. Highpoints (of the trip, not the landscape) were Pokhara and Chitwan, on a tourist triangle from Kathmandu with plenty of travel and accommodation options. Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, is also a popular destination in the same region. Pokhara is a lake town where its pleasant at 30C in the summer as you stroll around the area or take one of the many boat trips around the Phewa Lake. Around the region are a lot of adventure and eco-tours: para-sailing, zip-lines, trekking, spelunking and white-water rafting. And the backdrop to all this, as you cast your eyes upward, are the jagged peaks of the central Himalayas. Youre looking at the top of the world, from the comfort of your moderate temperature zone and T-shirt. You feel like you can reach out and touch these soaring summits which draw adventure tourists and the truly ambitious to their slopes in ever-increasing numbers each year. Locally, the Nepalese are doing their best to find sustainable ways for the world to visit this unique attraction, whilst at the same time keeping it safe and accessible. Chitwan is a national park in the southern region where the jagged, snowy peaks give way to the flatter agricultural plains. The humidity kicks in as your proximity to the Indian border gets a lot closer. Chitwan is where you go to enjoy the past Royal familys hunting grounds. But no longer are the animals hunted, now you can see elephants, deer, crocodiles, exotic birds and rhinoceros in the wild from a lazy canoe floating down the rivers or from on top of an elephant (I dont condone elephant trekking but its still very popular in this region.) Nepal is a step off the regular tourist map. It will challenge and surprise you, either with its stunning geography, or some of the teeth-rattling bus rides youre going to have to endure if you decide to get around on the cheap. Tim Newton travelled to Nepal with Thai Airways who fly to Kathmandu from Bangkok every day. Upen Patel and Karishma Tanna were seen screaming, arguing and crying on a busy Mumbai street while returning from the screening of Banjo. By India Today Web Desk: While UpMa watching a movie together sounds like a good news for their fans, reports of a bitter fight that ensued right after the movie screening and that too on a busy street, is a big dampener. According to reports, the couple were seen screaming, arguing and even crying on a busy Mumbai street, while returning from the screening of Riteish Deshmukh's Banjo. An onlooker told Filmfare website that Upen was seen shouting at someone over the phone and after some time, Karishma asked him to get into the car. Upen, however, refused to do that and yelled at Karishma as well. One of their common friends also got off the car to convince Upen to get inside, but to no avail. The Bigg Boss star kept shouting for atleast ten minutes. advertisement Also read: Karishma Tanna finally opens up about her break-up with Upen Patel According to DNA, when Upen refused to pay heed to Karishma, the actress told her friend, "He is not ready to get in the car. He is very stubborn." Sources also informed Filmfare website that Upen had left the movie screening half-way and had fought with Karishma there as well. Sad! --- ENDS --- After clashes broke out in Coimbatore yesterday following the murder of a Hindu Munani leader, the outfit has warned that Tamil Nadu may become another Gujarat. By Akshaya Nath: Tamil Nadu will become another Gujarat, if the attacks on party workers don't stop, Kadeswara C Subramaniam, state president of Hindu Munnani party, has warned as emotions ran high in Coimbatore after the murder of a Hindu Munani leader. The city was literally burning yesterday with several parts of Coimbatore witnessing violent attacks. SHOPS VANDALISED advertisement Hindu Munani party workers, much like an unruly mob, pelted stones at churches and mosques and even attacked houses and shops of people. Later in the evening, as many as 2,500 police officials from neighbouring districts were called in to tighten security. Also read: Coimbatore: Tensions rise as Hindu Munnani leader hacked to death "The police officials did not act promptly. The bandh was announced on Thursday and they could have stopped the violence. There is an all-party protest planned for Saturday and we have sought permission for the same," said Arumugam from CPI-M, who is also a former MLA. Three Hindu Munani workers in the district have been murdered recently, the most recent being Hindu Munnani spokesperson C Sasikumar. "Sashikumar was a very calm and genuine person. He has always ensured that he never gets into a fight and generally is the one who calls for peace talks," said Sudhakar, a friend remembering Sashikumar. Also read: Petrol bomb attack on Hindu Munnani leaders house SECURITY OF HINDU MUNANI LEADERS BEEFED It has been learnt that the Intelligence apparatus in the state has warned some of the Hindu Munnani leaders and appointed a security officer individually for their protection. Subramaniam said, "Had these intelligence agencies worked efficiently, our workers would have been alive." Coimbatore, at this point, is in a relatively calmer situation. As many as 2,500 extra police officials have been deployed to keep the situation under control. Also, 108 people who had allegedly caused the violence, have also been taken into custody. TWO TAKEN INTO CUSTODY The police yesterday evening also took into custody two people for their alleged involvement in the murder of Sashikumar. Investigation in the case is underway. While situation in Coimbatore is now calm, shops have been shut in many parts of the city to avert untoward incidents. --- ENDS --- 11AAA semis will be awesome and more from HS football quarterfinals high-school-sports Yet another shocking hit and run incident has came to light in Delhi as a fast moving Maruti Ritz car rammed into two persons identified as Mandeep and Siddharth. By Tanseem Haider: Yet another shocking hit and run incident has came to light in Delhi as a fast moving Maruti Ritz car rammed into two persons identified as Mandeep and Siddharth. The car then rammed into an iron gate and was stuck for a brief moment. The driver then wiggled the car free and fled the spot, with the whole incident being caught on CCTV camera. advertisement One of the victims is badly injured and currently undergoing surgery in a private hospital in Chanakey Puri. DRIVER TRACKED DOWN Police tracked down the owner of the vehicle based on the registration number and it was found that the car belongs to a Rajender Mohan, a doctor by profession. However, no action has been taken against him as he is pressing the victim's family for settlement rather than lodging a complaint. ALSO READ: Insensitive Delhi: CCTV captures hit-and-run victim robbed of his phone Telangana: Car hits man, doesn't stop for over 2 km with victim's body on roof --- ENDS --- By PTI: From Lalit K Jha Washington, Sep 24 (PTI) A 48-year-old Indian-American doctor in Alabama has been charged with a health care fraud of USD 9.5 million through illegally conducted tests, and prescribing controlled substances for illegitimate purposes. Shelinder Aggarwal simultaneously filed guilty plea to the charges. In the plea, he agreed to forfeit his former clinic on Turner Street Southwest in Huntsville, along with USD 6.7 million, the Justice Department said yesterday. advertisement Aggarwal had earlier repaid USD 2.8 million to Medicare and USD 45,843 to Blue Cross afer audits, according to his plea agreement. The agreement stipulates a 15-year prison sentence. A federal judge must accept the terms of the agreement before it is final. The doctor has been charged with one count of distributing a controlled substance outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose in July 2012 and with one count of conspiring to execute a health care fraud scheme against Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. According to the Justice Department, Aggarwal surrendered his medical license in 2013, along with his federal Drug Enforcement Administration certificates to prescribe controlled substances, after the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners initiated an investigation. "Shelinder Aggarwal treated his medical license like a license to deal opiate drugs," US Attorney White Vance said. "He also defrauded Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of more than USD 9 million by performing drug tests he never used to treat his patients. Thanks to this prosecution, Aggarwal is no longer a drug dealer masquerading as a doctor," he said. "His pill mill is closed, he must repay the money he stole from health insurers and he will serve time for his crimes," Vance added. According to the court papers, Aggarwal was a pain management doctor who operated chronic pain care dervices in Huntsville. The documents state that in 2012, about 80 to 145 patients a day visited Aggarwals clinic. He saw majority of the patients and wrote all prescriptions. Initial patient visits typically lasted five minutes or less, and follow-ups two minutes or less. Aggarwal did not obtain prior medical records for his patients, did not treat patients with anything other than controlled substances, often asked patients what medications they wanted and filled their requests. He also prescribed controlled substances to patients whom he knew were using illegal drugs and did not take appropriate measures to ensure that patients did not divert or abuse controlled substances. advertisement According to Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), Alabama pharmacies filled about 1,10,013 of Aggarwals prescriptions for controlled substances in 2012. That would amount to around 423 prescriptions per day if he worked five days a week, and resulted in about 12.3 million pills. The PDMP rated Aggarwal as the highest prescriber of controlled substances filled in Alabama in 2012, with the next highest prescriber writing a third as many prescriptions. PTI LKJ ASV --- ENDS --- Grinnell Colleges new alcohol policy, put into effect this year, has poured metaphorical Hawkeye onto our campus fiery Self-Gov debate. Is Self-Gov dead, or alive? In my opinion, you shouldnt care. Arguing Self-Gov semantics does nothing to improve Grinnell students ability to function in an academically-rigorous school (see: GrinnHell) that has come under repeated fire for inadequate mental health care. Our school discourse on Self-Govs vitality has reached the point where our insubstantial arguments about life-or-death absolutes rest upon the subjective opinion. If you believe Self-Gov is alive at Grinnell College, then your belief is all that matters. The converse is equally true. So lets talk about topics that can make a difference for daily student life. Lets talk about Self-Love. In my view, Self-Love is a personal realization everyone can use effectively to tackle lifes daily challenges, such as deciding to get out of bed in the morning. In my column every week (the name of which unfortunately sounds similar to the popular literary trivialization of the BDSM community), I will be conducting four interviews, each with different people of various backgrounds. This weeks question is: What does Self-Love mean to you? I posed this question to better understand the differences, as well as the similarities, we all derive from the concept of Self-Love. Sam Han 17 posed the idea that Self-Love inevitably stems from ones self worth: Its like [South Korean entertainer Rain] once said. He took out a hundred dollar bill and said to one of his disciples: do you want this hundred dollar bill? The disciple said yes. He then took that bill and stepped on it, crumpled it up and threw it in the trash. He said do you still want the hundred dollar bill? The disciple still said yes. The point of the exercise was to show that no matter what happened, whether it was crumpled on or stepped on, the hundred dollar bill kept its value. Another member of the Grinnell community, who wished to remain anonymous, added an important point about how self-worth shouldnt be a competition. You want to be not better than. Dont go for better than, because nobody is better than anyone else. Say Im as good as anyone else. Han pushed further to the topic of real-world application. A very secure person [who loves themselves] is vocal through their actions. Catherine Cuddy 19 built on Hans model of personal security-then-action by contributing her personal experience. I started to focus on a system. For every negative thought I had, I would force myself to recognize something positive. [Negative thoughts] would still come to my mind, but I would make a deliberate effort to not stay them aloud. After a few months of really pushing it, I was able to change my inner monologue so it was more positive. It has really helped overall with my ability to feel confident all the time. But what do those methods look like for each person? Could you write a comprehensive step-by-step WikiHow guide (with pictures!) to achieve self-love? John McNamara 18 agreed that Self-Love is entirely based on ones circumstances. Self-Love is taking care of myself at a base level and working my way slowly up to more complex tasks. For example, taking a shower leads to being more motivated leads to getting a paper done! Self-Loves feeling of satisfaction occurs at the chemical level for everyone, but the pathway to that chemical release varies greatly across social, ideological, and cultural borders. The crux I found in this weeks five-person discussion was this philosophical kernel: Self-Love is understanding that you have inherent worth as a human being, independent of anyone elses achievements. If I could make a personal plug, let me say this: you are worth it. Go enjoy life the way you want to. The two Pakistan nationals apprehended on September 21 by the Indian Army and BSF are from PoK and have been working for Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit, helping them infiltrate the LoC. The two Pakistani nationals were apprehended in a joint operation by Army and BSF on September 21. Photo: Reuters By Indo-Asian News Service: The Indian Army today said it has apprehended two Pakistan nationals in Uri town of Kashmir who were acting as 'terror guides for Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) outfit'. WHAT HAPPENED Colonel S.D. Goswami, spokesman of Army's Udhampur headquartered northern command, told IANS in Jammu that security forces had arrested "two Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) nationals who have been working for JeM terror outfit and acting as guides for infiltrating groups along the line of control in Uri sector". advertisement The two Pakistani nationals were apprehended in a joint operation by Army and BSF on September 21. "During investigation, the individuals revealed their identities as Ahasan Kursheed alias DC, son of Muhammad Kursheed of Khaliana Kalan and Faisal Hussain Awan, son of Gul Akbar of Pottha Jahangir, both in PoK. "The duo was recruited two years ago by JeM and were guiding terrorists to infiltrate across the Line of Control. The details provided by them are being examined and corroborated by concerned agencies," he added. The Army has said four JeM suicide terrorists were responsible for the September 18 Uri attack in which 18 soldiers were killed and 30 others injured. Watch the video here --- ENDS --- By PTI: Panji, Sep 24 (PTI) Expressing concern over Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan curtailing supply from solar plants, power producers body IPPAI has sought governments intervention to address the issues faced by discoms. "Even as the government is taking various steps to increase power generation from solar, generators are facing many issues especially in the backdrop of states like Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan discoms curtailing solar power generation and also issuing backing down instructions," Independent Power Producers Association of India (IPPAI) President Harry Dhaul said at the 17th Regulators and Policymakers Retreat (RPR). advertisement Considering the importance of renewable energy, the discoms must not be asked to back down or terminate supply, he added. "We are hopeful regulators are able to impress the states to continue with adoption of renewable energy," he said. Both Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan have backed down their commitment towards green power sources as they claim they have already made lot of provisions for it. Speaking at the event, Hindustan Clean Energy Chief Executive Rajya Ghei said, "There is an urgent need to bring in new debt instruments to reduce the cost of raising capital for setting up solar projects, especially when the government has set an ambitious renewable energy target of 175 GW by 2022, of which 100 GW is for solar power." He further said solar tariffs have been falling on year-on-year basis and are now becoming competitive compared to conventional energy sources. This has brought in lot of acceptance from discoms towards green power. PTI MAS PSK NRB ABM --- ENDS --- Soundarya Rajinikanth, through her media group released a statement clarifying her post with AWBI denoting that she had nothing to do with Jallikattu. By Pramod Madhav: Major protests unfolded in Tamil Nadu a few days ago against the decision to appoint Soundarya Rajinikanth as the brand ambassador of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). Various pro-Tamil organisations marched together in Trichy on the 20th of September demanding that Soundarya Rajinikanth quit her position with AWBI as they held the organization responsible for engineering a ban on Jallikattu, a traditional annual bull fighting sport. advertisement PROTESTS SPREAD TO KUWAIT A group of Tamilians residing in Kuwait, also held a protest condemning Soundarya Rajinikanth becoming the brand ambassador of AWBI. The confused and angry mob tore her pictures apart. Things took an awkward turn when the angry group mistakenly denounced her assosiations with PETA instead of AWBI. The group wanted to make it clear that they were not attacking her because she was a famous cinema personality but instead because she worked for an organisation that was against the interest of Tamilians. SOUNDARYA RAJINIKANTH RESPONSE Soundarya Rajinikanth, through her media group released a statement clarifying her post with AWBI denoting that she had nothing to do with Jallikattu. However, the pro-Tamil groups were not ready to accept her explanation. They maintained that she was going against her father Rajinikanth who had endorsed Jallikattu through several of his movies. ALSO READ: Pro-jallikattu group protests Soundarya Rajinikanth's decision to join animal welfare board Can't justify Jallikattu because it is 5,000 years old: Supreme Court --- ENDS --- By Shreya Goswami: If you think that barbecuing is something that just Americans do a lot, you're wrong. Barbecuing, or braai, is an integral part of South Africa's culinary culture. It is one of the most common ways of cooking in the country. It's no wonder then that on their Heritage Day, which is today, South Africans across the globe are coming together to braai together and share their meals with the world. Indians, who have always had close ties with South Africa, even before Mahatma Gandhi settled there. And both our cultures have a lot of similarities. Braai or barbecuing is an integral part of South Africa's culinary culture. Pitcure courtesy: Instagram/zola_nene advertisement For example, we all believe in community cooking and sharing love while sharing food. And Indians are no strangers to cooking over charcoal or open flames! So this weekend, let's braai the way South Africans do with this easy barbecued lamb recipe by South African celebrity chef, Reuben Riffel. And what's the trick to nailing this recipe? "Don't overcomplicate the ingredients," says Riffel. "If you cook it slowly, the fat starts to crisp. With lamb, when you taste it for what it is-especially on the shank because it's so close to the bone-you get that incredible lamb flavour better than on other cuts." Also read: MasterChef Australia's Matt Sinclair is serving up food the Indian way--without any cutlery Make sure you do make the pesto or something else that's herby to go with this braai. "Rich lamb goes very well with something fresh and herbal so when braaied and served with a green sauce, it's the perfect marriage-whether that sauce is pesto, salsa verde or even mint sauce. I also include something sweet by adding in wholegrain mustard," Riffel explains further. Reuben Riffel is a South African celebrity chef, restaurateur, and media personality. Photo: Reuben Riffel Reuben Riffel is a South African celebrity chef, restaurateur, and media personality. Photo: Reuben Riffel Lambo in camo (Lamb shanks and pesto) Serves 4 Ingredients: 4 medium lamb shanks 8 tsp sea salt 4 tsp freshly ground black pepper 1 onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 4 sprigs thyme 150g butter Lemon wedges For the pesto 75ml extra-virgin olive oil 2 garlic cloves 50g pine nuts 50g Parmesan 2 bunches fresh basil 1 bunch flat-leaf parsley 2 tbsp wholegrain mustard 2 tbsp honey Method: 1. To make the pesto, blend the olive oil, garlic and pine nuts in a blender until fine. Add the Parmesan, basil and parsley and blend until chunky (you still want some texture in the sauce). Mix in the mustard and honey until well combined. 2. Rub the shanks with one teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Cut four 70cm-long heavy-duty foil pieces. Evenly divide the onion, garlic and thyme onto the middle of each foil sheet. Then place a shank on each piece. Wrap tightly and evenly. 3. Cook over medium-high heat for two hours, ensuring there are no flames. Try make the onion and garlic surround the shank. It's best if it's not too tightly wrapped in foil--there needs to be some distance between the foil and the shank, to allow for better steaming and prevent hard roasting that will toughen the meat. Remove from the heat and unwrap. 4. Melt the butter in a pot until it starts to turn brown. Season each shank with one teaspoon salt and, with a pastry brush, brush on the brown butter. 5. Place the shanks over medium-high heat. Keep basting with the butter until they're a delicious dark brown on the outside. 6. To serve, place the shanks on a platter with a dollop of pesto on each. Serve family-style with the lemon wedges. advertisement You will just love this recipe by Riffel, because it infuses that enticing smoky flavour that the perfect barbecues have. Just get some charcoal, or turn on your electric barbecue, and give this amazing recipe a try! --- ENDS --- Montreal, CA (H4T1V6) Today Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low near 40F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low near 40F. Winds light and variable. But the tribe has a long way to go Ramkumars father Paramasivam will be moving the Supreme Court to get a doctor of their choice for the post-mortem. By Akshaya Nath: Justice N Kirubakaran of the Madras High late Friday night has asked the Tamil Nadu state government to preserve Ramkumars body. Ramkumars father Paramasivam will be moving the Supreme Court to get a doctor of their choice for the post-mortem. On Thursday, Sep 22, Justice N Kirubakaran had passed an order that the postmortem should be conducted befor September 27, and allowed a fifth doctor from AIIMS to do the postmortem, but he had rejected the fathers plea to have a doctor of his choice. advertisement ALSO READ: Infosys techie Swathi murder case: Accused Ramkumar's mysterious death sparks controversy Ramkumar, the main suspect in the murder of Swati, a techie, at the Nungambakkam railway station, is alleged to have bitten a live wire and committed suicide. But Ramkumars family and lawyer have been crying that there has been a foul play and have been demanding a monitored postmortem to be conducted on the body. Justice N Kirubakaran who has asked the state government to preserve the body till September 30 and said that the postmortem has to be done by October 1. This order was passed by the honourable judge at around 10pm on Friday at his chambers. ALSO READ: HC defers post-mortem of techie murder accused till Sept 30 The family had moved the Madras high court on September 19, a day after Ramkumars alleged suicide. Judge TS Sivaganam rejected the fathers plea after which the family filed another petition and this time the case was heard by a two judge bench and this was further transferred to a third judge due to difference of opinion. The family has been asking that the postmortem be conducted in the presence of Sampath Kumar, the vice-principal of Ramachandra private medical college. Ramkumar died on September 18, after bitting a live wire in the Puzhal jail where he was a prisoner. --- ENDS --- The BJP government flip flopped on the circular which suspended the implementation of 10 per cent EBC( Economically Backward Classes) quota, revoking the same late on Friday night. Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel called a press conference on Saturday to clarify their stance. Earlier this year, the then chief minister Anandiben Patel had announced a 10 per cent quota for EBCs. This was done to pacify the Patidars, who were demanding reservation under the OBC category. Vijay Rupani-led BJP govt had, in a U-turn, suspended the implementation of EBC quota until further notice. The circular was revoked later on. BJP was already on the backfoot, when his much hyped 'Twitter Townhall' exercise to answer direct questions of the public proved to be a damp squib. After the Gujarat High Court termed the reservation as 'unconstitutional', the Gujarat Government appealed in the Supreme Court. The case is set to come up for hearing. Nitin Patel said that Rupani and he would discuss the matter and the case would be put up before the apex court. Patidar leaders had reacted sharply to the governments move of suspending the implementation of the quota. Meanwhile, minister of state for social justice and empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, who was in Vadodara on September 23, said that the constitution should be amended to provide reservation benefits for communities that are economically backward. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hit out at Pakistan strongly in the backdrop of the terror attack on an army camp in Uri, saying he wanted to tell the rulers of the neighbouring country that the sacrifice of the 18 soldiers who died in the strike would not go in vain and that India would not forget their killing. The rulers of Pakistan should listen to this. The sacrifice made by our 18 jawans will not go in vain, a visibly angry and aggressive Modi said in his first public reaction to the attack in Uri as he addressed a rally in Kozhikode. Modi referred to the immense public anger with regard to the attacks. These days, there is tremendous anger in the entire country. Our neighbouring country has been exporting terrorists to Jammu and Kashmir, and our 18 jawans were sacrificed. The terrorists should listen to this carefully. This country will never forget this, he said. There was tremendous anticipation with regard to what Modi would say in his speech amid speculations that the government would take some tough steps against Pakistan in the wake of Uri attack. And he did not disappoint, with more than half an hour in his hour-long speech dedicated to attacking Pakistan. Modi, however, largely desisted from naming Pakistan, referring to it as the neighbouring country. The first time that he named Pakistan in his speech was when he said he wanted to talk directly to the people of Pakistan and tell them to ask their leaders why they coveted Kashmir when they were unable to control PoK, East Pakistan (today's Bangladesh), Sindh, Gilgit, Pakhtunistan and Baluchistan. He went on to say, The two countries became independent together. Please, ask your rulers why India is exporting software but your country is exporting terrorists. Continuing to address the people of Pakistan, he said their leaders talk of fighting with India for a thousand years. The government in Delhi is ready to accept your challenge, he said. But immediately, he struck a statesman-like posture and said that India was ready to fight, but on the issues of poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and maternal and infant mortality. In an apparent effort to address the criticism that his government has been unable to thwart terrorist incidents, Modi said as many as 17 attempts had been made in the last few months to push in terrorists, bot the security forces stationed at the border foiled them, killing more than 110 terrorists. Our security forces have fought bravely and saved the country from 17 possible terrorist incidents. In one successful attempt of the neighbouring country, 18 brave men were martyred. If the 17 attempts would have been successful, they could have caused so much destruction, he said. Modi also sad that the leaders in Pakistan read out speeches written by the heads of terrorist organisations and sing the Kashmir song. Trying to answer questions raised about what action his government was taking, the prime minister said India would isolate Pakistan on the global stage. We will force you to be alone in the entire world, he said. Not just India, but the entire world held Pakistan responsible for exporting terrorists and being a haven of terrorism, he said. Modi said that while he foresaw the people of Pakistan rebelling against their leaders on the issue of terrorism, he was certain that India has a future filled with peace, unity and amity. The prime minister arrived in Kozhikode on Saturday to attend the BJPs three-day national council meeting, which will conclude tomorrow. The meet is taking place under the shadow of the Uri attack, and its main agendalaunching a 'Garib Kalyan slogan to commemorate the birth centenary of party ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyayahas been overshadowed by the issue of terrorist attacks and how India will act against Pakistan in this regard. Former Bengaluru Development minister K.J. George will be re-inducted into the Siddaramaiah government on Monday (September 26) at Rajbhavan. The move comes following the CID giving a clean chit to the Sarvajnanagar MLA in the Mangaluru DySP M.K. Ganapathy suicide case. George is expected to focus on expediting infrastructure projects in the state capital The CID filed a B report (FIR 89/16) before the JMFC court, which had directed the local police to register a case of abetment (Section 306 IPC) against three people named by the family in its criminal complaint. A Madikeri magistrate court has granted 10 days time for filing of objections to the 'B' report filed by the CID. Meanwhile, the high court dismissed the plea made by Ganapathy's 75-year-old father K. Kushalappa and younger brother Machaiah seeking a CBI probe into the case. Ganapathy's son Nehal has ruled out an appeal saying the family is "alone" in the battle and that he has lost out on a lot of time already in pursuit of justice. Ganapathy, who allegedly committed suicide by hanging in his room at a lodge in Madikeri on July 7, had accused George and two senior IPS officers of harassment in an interview to a TV channel a few hours before his death. After the local police refused to file an FIR, Nehal filed a criminal complaint in the first additional JMFC court in Madikeri against George and senior cops Pranob Mohanty and AM Prasad accusing them of harassing his father. The government had immediately ordered a probe by the SIT, while the Madikeri court allowed the CID to probe the alleged abetment to suicide charges, following a high court order. With pressure mounting on the Congress government by both the BJP and the JD (S) to drop the tainted minister from the cabinet, George resigned from his post on July 18. Now, with the decks cleared for George's comeback, the mood in the ruling Congress seems to be in favour of an early election. The Cauvery crisis has earned the party some goodwill for its decision to "defy" the SC order. George, a close aide of the Gandhi family is likely to have a crucial role when the state goes to polls in 2018 or earlier. Siddaramaiah, who had promised to appoint a minister dedicated to the city's development, had appointed then home minister George as Bengaluru development minister in October 2015, paving way for KPCC chief G. Parameshwara' s induction into the cabinet as the new home minister. After his re-induction, George is expected to focus on expediting infrastructure projects in the state capital to help fight the anti-urban image of Siddaramaiah. Breaking his silence in the aftermath of the Uri incident, PM Modi launched a frontal attack against Pakistan, claiming that one country in Asia was a haven for terrorists. "Only one country in Asia wants bloodshed. They are blocking the development of this continent. Wherever there is a terrorist attack, this country's name is mentioned. They either export terror or people like Osama bin Laden use this country as a safe haven after the attacks are conducted, he said. It is Narendra Modi's first public address since the deadly terror attack on an army camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir in which 18 soldiers were killed, set in the backdrop of the three day National Executive in Kozhikode. Terrorism is the enemy of humankind. But we will never bow down in front of them. The entire country is tense. One such terror attempt by our neighbour resulted in the death of 18 troops. We will not remain silent. We will respond. There have been 17 such attempts to infiltrate our borders over the past months. Our army was able to end the lives of almost 110 such terrorists. Our country is certainly proud and thankful for the Indian army who foiled all these attempts and continues to keep our border safe. Some of these leaders from the neighbouring countries said that they were prepared for 1000 years of war. Where is your bravado now? One of their leaders is now singing songs of Kashmir and reading the speech of a slain terrorist, he said. "I wish to speak to the people of Pakistan. There is no use talking to the leaders who recite speeches of terrorists. But I wish to speak to the people. PoK is in your control. Why aren't you able to handle you own land. What about Sindh, Baluchistan, Gilgit? What happened to Bangladesh? The Government is trying to fool the citizens of Pakistan. You should ask your Government. We got independence at the same time. India is exporting technology, they are exporting terrorism. We will take up the challenge of a 1000 years of war- the war to exterminate poverty. We will see who accomplishes it first. Come, let us start a war, a war against unemployment. Let us see who completes the goal first. We will not let the death of the jawans go in vain." "When I went to the Gulf countries, I met with the leaders there. But, it was my bigger wish to meet the Malayalees who toiled in the foreign soil. While meeting the leaders, I felt proud when they showered praises on the hardworking Indians, the Malayalees," PM Narendra Modi said. "In this soil, in 1967, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya became the president of Jan Sangh after a conclave at Kozhikode. Over the years, BJP has become the single largest party which is governing the country now. There were three prominent personalities in the last century who shaped India- Mahatma Gandhi, Deenadayal Upadhyaya, Ram Manohar Lohia. When I first came into power, I promised one thing. This would be a Government which would remain dedicated to the poor. And we have proved it in the past 2.5 years. Sab ka Saath, Sab ke Vikaas. That is our motto going forward. We are implementing schemes that will uplift everyone," he said. He said that eventhough the party could not come to power in Kerala, it was the selfless commitment of BJP cadre and balidanis (martyrs), who were fighting for their ideology and beliefs, that lent the party its strength. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here on Saturday evening to take part in the BJP National Council meeting, that began here a day ago. He was received by top state and national level party leaders. Modi, who arrived in an IAF aircraft at Karipur International Airport, took a helicopter to a stadium near the venue. After the public meeting, Modi will chair a meeting of top party functionaries. In the night he will meet three Christian bishops at the Kozhikode Guest House, where for the first time a Prime minister of the country is staying overnight. On Sunday, Modi will again take part in the party meeting. He will also meet up with state level leaders of NDA allies in Kerala. Modi will also partake of the traditional 'Onam' feast and then return to Delhi. (With inputs from IANS) After few days of relative lull, heavy rain lashed some parts of the country claiming 13 lives in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana while also troubling Mumbaikars. Andhra Pradesh reported four fresh rain-related deaths on Friday which took the toll to ninesix in Guntur district, three in Visakhapatnam. In Medak district of neighbouring Telangana, four persons were killed and six others injured in separate rain-related incidents. In Andhra Pradesh, the K.L. Rao Sagar reservoir is almost filled due to copious showers in Guntur and the upper catchment areas of the Krishna river. While its full level capacity is 45.77 tmc ft, it is now holding 30 tmcft of water. As much as 1.51 lakh cusecs of flood water is being discharged from K.L. Rao Sagar reservoir which is reaching Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada on Krishna. The Barrage is overflowing as close to 2 lakh cusecs of water flowing in. This is the first time in over five years that the Barrage has witnessed such massive inflow. Train services between Guntur and Secunderabad remained suspended for the second consecutive day as over two km tracks near Sattenapalli was washed away due to overflowing rivulets. Meanwhile, the national capital had a sultry day today with mercury settling two notches above normal- maximum 36 and and minimum 27 degrees Celsius. Relative humidity oscillated between 73 and 91 per cent. Incessant rains continued to batter Hyderabad for the third day on Friday, prompting the Telangana government to ask IT companies there to allow their employees work from home as it sought Army's help in rescue operation in some areas. The state government declared a holiday for educational institutions in Greater Hyderabad area for Friday and Saturday. "They (Army) have been given maps and other information of areas like Gachibowli, Nizampet, Alwal and Hakimpet. They are willing to swing into action whenever we call them," an official said. Some localities in the low-lying areas of Miyapur, Bachupalli and Nizampet continue to be inundated since the last two days. GHMC has been supplying food packets to the people in rain-affected areas. Mumbaikars this morning woke up to heavy showers as intermittent rains continued to lash the city and its outskirts for sixth day even as the weatherman predicted more heavy downpour in the metropolis. According to disaster management control room of the civic body, no injury or casualty has been reported so far. The disaster management cell said they have received several complaints of potholes on roads across the city which have been causing inconvenience to the motorists. "Heavy to very heavy rains are likely to occur at one or two places in the next 24 hours," IMD, Mumbai Director V.K. Rajiv said. An affluent African lady is refused entry into the swimming pool of her apartment. Two African women are shooed away while hailing a taxi to return home after an event. These are just some of the instances of racism that Africans face daily in India. Photographer Mahesh Shantaram focuses on their stories through his solo exhibition, Racism in India: The African Portraits. Vitu, a psychology student from Malawi, strikes a pensive pose. Shantaram felt the urge to create awareness about the plight of the Africans after a mob assaulted a Tanzanian student in Bengaluru in January this year. It took a few days for the media to give proper attention to this issue. I felt saddened and wanted to do something, he says. He befriended an African boy at Soladevanahalli on the outskirts of Bengaluru, and won his trust by telling him about his trip to Uganda. The lad took me to one of his parties, where I met many of his friends, who shared their experiences with me, he says. Shantaram met Africans in Manipal, Delhi, Jaipur and Hyderabad, and tells, through photographs, the tales of 35 Africans, most of them students. Asked if the intensity of racism varied from city to city, he says, The one cultural aspect that unites all Indians is our racism. One of the photographs shows Vitu, a psychology student from Malawi, sitting pensively, the shadows of a structure falling on her. In another picture, Ameenou, from Nigeria, leans against a car in front of an elephant in Jaipur. They are not mere portraits but reflections of emotions of people grappling with the insecurity they face daily. Most of the photographs were taken at dusk or night. At night, I have the power to shape the light in interesting ways, direct the imagination of the viewer and create mystery within the situation, says Shantaram, who has been a portrait specialist for more than a decade. Currently, Shantaram is in Delhi attending a six-week residency programme at the Khoj International Artists Association. The programme, titled The Coriolis Effect, is on India-Africa relations. Eight artists will come out with their work on the theme by the end of September. Racism in India: The African Portraits is on at the Tasveer gallery in Bengaluru till September 23. A man misjudged his terrible prank when he tried to pull it off on a girl. He tried to push her into a pool but the girl hit the concrete, flipping into the water. By India Today Web Desk: A man tried to play a prank on a girl but it all went terribly wrong when he misjudged it all. In the video, the girl is seen grinning by the pool, not knowing what was to come the next moment. The man who was running extremely low on spatial intelligence ran up to her and tried to shove her into the pool. advertisement In that precise moment his plan massively backfired and the girl instead of splashing straight into the pool, crumpled onto the concrete. The bikini girl ended up with just her head submerged, and the rest of her body remained sprawled on the hard surface. She had to flip herself into the water completely before she could catch her breath. Watch the video here (Video courtesy: Jukin Media) The head first into the water did not work out for the crazy prankster at all, it seems. --- ENDS --- The United States and Russia ended any pretenses Thursday of their cease-fire for Syria remaining in force after days of increased violence and the Syrian militarys announcement of a new offensive in Aleppo. We cant go out to the world and say we have an agreement when we dont, Secretary of State John Kerry said after meeting the top diplomats from Russia and more than a dozen European and Middle Eastern countries. Kerrys statement, after three days of private and public diplomacy on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, provided an ominous endnote to a week diplomats had hoped would be a major capstone toward peace. Instead, Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who negotiated the truce two weeks ago, went their separate ways as violence in Syria flared up anew and the relationship between the two key foreign powers in the conflict appeared to reach a new low. No one spoke of being able to quickly resuscitate the cease-fire. While Kerry and Lavrov were set to hold more talks Friday, even confidence-building measures seemed beyond their reach at this point. As the diplomats huddled in a New York hotel, Syrias military command said it would restart operations in the northern city of Aleppo, scene of some of the bitterest fighting in recent months. According to one official present in the gathering, Kerry was informed of the news when his chief of staff showed him a headline on his BlackBerry. A furious Kerry then told the entire room, Lavrov included, that even while we are meeting here, they are doing this, said the official, who wasnt authorized to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity. Lavrov told Russian media that consultations would continue to guarantee the cease-fire. But even as Kerry vowed to press on with all efforts to find a peaceful solution to the war between Syrian President Bashar Assads Russian-backed government and U.S.-backed rebels, the American acknowledged the current strategy wasnt working. We cant be the only ones trying to hold this door open, Kerry told reporters. Russia and the regime must do their part or this will have no chance. He called for the immediate grounding of planes and helicopters that have launched airstrikes, including a Russian one earlier this week that the U.S. says hit an aid convoy, killing 20 civilians. Russia has denied responsibility, while raising a range of ulterior scenarios for how the caravan might have been struck. Absent a major gesture like this, we dont believe there is a point to making more promises or issuing more plans or announcing something that cant be reached, Kerry said, describing a moment of truth for Syria, Russia and all those trying to halt the bloodshed. The meeting came after Assad told the AP in an interview in Damascus that the United States was to blame for the deals failure. He cited U.S. inability to control terrorist groups and a weekend attack that killed dozens of Syrian soldiers. The U.S. apologized for what it described as a mistake. Lavrov had sought a three-day pause in fighting to revive the cease-fire. But U.S. officials said there was no point returning to a situation in which rebels would be pressed to hold fire, while the Syrian and Russian militarys could violate the agreement. American officials described the two-and-a-half-hour meeting in the Palace Hotel as contentious. Kerry and others made the point repeatedly to Lavrov that Russia had to undertake new steps that went beyond previous agreements to salvage the process. Lavrov pushed only for all sides to recommit to the Sept. 9 truce, according to officials. Russia provided unsatisfactory answers, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said. Kerry said he would wait for Lavrov to tell him Friday if Russia would suspend airstrikes for a significant period of time. At the U.N., Assads other major supporter also rejected the U.S.-led call for aircraft to be grounded. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said doing so would aid terrorists. This course has no foundation, no logic, said Rouhani, whose country has directed Iranian troops and Hezbollah forces in support of Assad. The war has killed as many as a half-million people, contributed to Europes worst refugee crisis since World War II and allowed the Islamic State group to emerge as a global terror threat. (AP) Plea: Co-op boss Richard Pennycook Co-op boss Richard Pennycook has issued a plea to Theresa Mays Government to make a humane decision over the future of European workers in the UK. Pennycook, whose business employs 70,000 people, said 3,000 staff at the group had been plunged into uncertainty after the Brexit vote. He said: The situation of EU citizens in the UK has troubled us and theyre obviously going though uncertain times. Were concerned about that and the sooner they can get reassurance the better. This affects about 10,000 people at Co-op when you add together our colleagues and their families. Irrespective of the discussions to come on immigration, which we all recognise will be complex and have to take place, wouldnt it be great and humane if we were able to say as a nation, If you were here on June 23 and you were entitled to be here, then you can stay and you are welcome. There are an estimated 2.2 million EU workers in the UK. Business leaders in construction and farming have raised concerns over a possible shortage of staff if EU workers are driven away or barred by tighter immigration controls. Pennycook, who has taken a 60 per cent pay cut, said he regularly asks for the views of shop staff, including those who have arrived from the Continent in recent years. It has been more than two months since the rape and murder of a 14-year-old in the village of Kopardi in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra. Three Dalit men were accused of the crime-the violence of which was shocking, reminiscent of the Nirbhaya incident in Delhi in December 2012-and not only are the statewide, caste-based reverberations still being felt but are also building in intensity. Earlier this month, around 300 Marathas, Maharashtra's dominant community and the one to which the teenage girl belonged, gathered in Ahmednagar to plan a march in the city on September 23. They raised Rs 1 crore in two hours to fund it, as much an example of the community's anger as its financial clout. On the same day, in the same city, the Dalit community too will organise a somewhat retaliatory march. Maratha-Dalit ties have hit a nadir, the lowest ebb since 1991, when a movement arose to rename the Marathwada University after Dr B.R. Ambedkar. advertisement The Kopardi rape and murder has lit the touchpaper for a variety of festering resentments. The Marathas have been turning out in street protests in their hundreds of thousands. There have been several marches so far, attended by as many as 300,000 people, including in Aurangabad, Osmanabad, Jalgaon, Beed and Parbhani. Their demands include stopping the 'misuse' of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, widely referred to as the Atrocities Act, and reservations for Marathas in jobs and education. A still from the film Sairat, where a maratha girl falls in love with a Dalit boy Apparently, the catalyst for the Maratha animus against the Atrocities Act were reports that the perpetrators had threatened to have the victim's family booked under it if the crime was reported. The evidence for this is skimpy, but it hasn't stopped political leaders from fanning the flames. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray said there was "a need to discard the Atrocities Act entirely" while senior Maratha leader and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar argued that the "Act should be amended". Pawar, though, couched this in the guise of sympathy for the Dalits, claiming that the Act had "been misused by the upper castes... local leaders are exploiting the Act, using Dalit youths to settle their own squabbles". Politicians have been making a series of irresponsible statements, one even blaming the immensely popular Marathi film, Sairat, a love story between a young Maratha girl and Dalit boy. It may be nonsensical but it's politically expedient-some protesters have suggested that the film portrays Maratha girls in a poor light. The Maratha Kranti Morcha, as the demonstrations have come to be known, is gathering momentum. Meetings are being held in practically every district of Marathwada to help community leaders mobilise the people. Their slogan-Ek Maratha, lakh Maratha-underlines the mass nature of the protests, Solidarity is not an option. The uprising was meant to be spontaneous, but there are plenty of politicians seeking to jump on the bandwagon. Purushottam Khedekar, founder of the Maratha Seva Sangh and leader of the Sambhaji Brigade (a group that became notorious after they vandalised the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune in 2004 to protest the publication of the American scholar James Laine's book on Shivaji), has acknowledged in interviews that the protests go beyond the rape-murder, that they are the result of a symptomatic economic neglect. "Our protest," he says, "is against the Atrocities Act but [it is] also about the need for reservations for the community." Udayanraje Bhosale, NCP MP from Satara and a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji, says "almost 90 per cent of the cases filed under the Act are bogus". He says he will join the demonstration in Satara. The Dalits have responded to the Maratha protests with marches of their own. Minister of state for social justice and Maharashtra native Ramdas Athawale has said that the Atrocities Act cannot be repealed. But, like Pawar, he also makes the point that "upper caste people misuse the act by inciting Dalits to file cases against their rivals". State social justice minister Rajkumar Badole says, far from scrapping the Act, "we will recommend that the Centre be more stringent in its implementation". According to National Crime Records Bureau data, the number of cases registered under the Atrocities Act in Maharashtra has over a decade seen an increase in numbers, from 258 in 2005 to 290 in 2015 (though there has been a slight dip since 2010). In the same period, crimes against Dalits registered under the Indian Penal Code increased from 865 in 2005 to 1,816 in 2015. Statistics show that only a tiny fraction of the cases filed under the Atrocities Act result in convictions. Marathas use this to suggest that this is because most cases filed are false; others attribute it to the biases within the system. advertisement The government needs to be wary of the growing Maratha anger spilling over from Marathwada. Prakash Pawar, professor of political science at the Shivaji University, Kolhapur, points to the collapse of the cooperative banks and small financial institutions, which the Marathas controlled, as part of the reason for their frustration. "These banks and institutions are dying as nationalised banks and private sector giants have taken over even the rural market. The Marathas dominated because they controlled the economy. Now that they are losing that control, they are becoming volatile." advertisement The NCP has tried to take political advantage of this growing insecurity by suggesting that under a Brahmin chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, it was inevitable that the Marathas would get a raw deal. The CM himself believes that the marches are an attempt to dethrone him. "They are politically motivated, it's a bid to dislodge me. I want a solution to this issue through talks," he says. The community has long held power in the state and, as professor Pawar says, "since they believe they are born rulers, Marathas are struggling to adjust to their reduced political status". A standard Maratha complaint at the rallies is that their power in Maharashtra is misunderstood, that the reason they are demanding reservations is that political power and wealth have been concentrated among a tiny elite. "Power in Maharashtra," says Dr Sanhay Dabhade, a Pune-based writer, "was always limited to a few Maratha families. They have not let others grow. Instead, Maratha leaders have used the community as a tool to grab and hold power." His contention is that the leaders were callous in the face of farmer suicides from the community, and that while they controlled education and cooperative banking, they did little to help ordinary Marathas. A case is being heard in the Supreme Court to grant 16 per cent reservation to Marathas. If the demand is granted, OBCs may find their 27 per cent reservation eaten into. Caste problems in the state might get to be a bigger challenge than anyone anticipated, say analysts. advertisement The Maratha Kranti Morcha, while theoretically leaderless, has thrown up Bhaiyyu Maharaj, the Indore-based spiritual guru, as a major figure. A former model with a taste for luxury, Maharaj came into prominence after being picked by the government as one of the mediators trying to talk Anna Hazare into discontinuing his fast at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi back in 2010. He has since grown into an important figure, with a huge following in the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions, where he has installed water tanks in villages, distributed free seeds to farmers and arranged free education for their children. The "chikna-chupada Maharaj", as Janata Dal (United) chief Sharad Yadav once dubbed him, may not be the official leader of any movement yet, but as a disciple concedes, "most of those involved in the planning or execution of these rallies are Guruji's followers". Many observers feel Bhaiyyu Maharaj could become the Hardik Patel of Maharashtra. He has avoided the media but he has ambitions, those close to him suggest, of turning the Maratha agitation into a full-fledged movement. Meanwhile, Sambhaji Raje, another descendant of Shivaji who the BJP nominated to the Rajya Sabha in June, has been surprisingly reticent. In 2011, Maratha organisations had anointed him their leader on the issue of reservations. But with his close ties to the BJP, he is thought to be politically compromised. Raje now says "the demonstrations are an outcome of the inequality between the Maratha and Dalit, especially in Marathwada, an inequality that will end once Marathas get reservations". The Kopardi incident, he says, "has become a reason for them to vent their anger. That said, the younger Maratha generation knows they have been used by their leaders for their own political gains". "But in a way, it's a good sign," Raje argues, "the community is coming together to fight for their cause." The Maratha demand for reservations is not new but a horrifying crime has galvanised the community into action, the nature of which will become clearer in the coming weeks. Follow the writer on Twitter @kirantare --- ENDS --- A massive scheme costing billions to fit smart meters into small business premises and homes came under fire last night as MPs accused the Government of failing to justify the cost. Energy firms have been told to install up to 53million smart meters in more than 30million premises, with consumers paying for the cost through their bills. But a new report by the Science and Technology Select Committee said there was a lack of clarity about the move and called the Governments justification for the plan weak. Unjustified? A massive scheme costing billions to fit smart meters into small business premises and homes came under fire last night as MPs accused the Government of failing to justify the cost The meters measure gas and electricity use and automatically send readings to suppliers. Consumers are supposed to be able to cut energy use because they can see what activities cost the most. The report said the plan risked becoming an inefficient way of helping consumers to make small savings on their energy bills. It estimated savings at as little as 2 per cent. The criticism came a day after similar complaints by The Institute of Directors (IoD), which told The Mail on Sunday last night that the projects cost had been underestimated by almost half. It estimated the switch will cost 11billion, or 400 for each premise. Dan Lewis, policy adviser at the IoD, said: The report is right to highlight transparency concerns and it is deeply worrying that they, like us, have struggled to obtain updated evidence from Government on costs and benefits. Oil and gas prices have halved in the last two years and cheaper smart grid technologies are now available without smart meters but the programme plods on with delays and incompatible meter deployment. Meanwhile, a company that tried to sue British Gas over its installation programme has had a 30million claim thrown out after a judge dismissed a patent filed in 2000. The action would have affected two million smart meters that have already been installed. Risks: Don Jordison, who has invested in the Baytree shopping centre in Essex, shuns trophy buildings Anyone who has sold a home knows the transaction cannot be made in a hurry and that if a quick sale is wanted, the only option is to reduce the price sharply. When the nation voted for Brexit in June and a wave of worry hit the property market, some commercial property funds were forced to devalue or sell assets to meet the expected demand of investors withdrawing their cash. As selling at bargain prices is not ideal, some managers chose to put up the shutters on their funds, stopping investments and withdrawals to give themselves breathing space to sell or for the market to recover. Three months on, alarm has subsided and, says broker Hargreaves Lansdown, the freeze is beginning to thaw. Threadneedle UK Property, run by Columbia Threadneedle, will re-open its doors tomorrow, as will Henderson UK Property in October. Aviva, Standard Life and M&G funds remain closed for now. The fund's managers are Don Jordison, since February 2007 and Gerry Frewin, since May 2015. Jordison, who suspended the fund reluctantly, hopes the worst is behind him. He says: The negative sentiment ultimately left us with no option if we were to protect the interests of most investors, who had not redeemed. The fund has sold or agreed to sell more than 30 properties, worth about 200 million in total, since July 7. He says: These were all sold at pre-Brexit price levels. The behaviour of tenants has been a big positive for him. He says they appear untrammelled by the referendum result. He adds: If tenants had left at the same rate as investors, I would have been worried. Facts at a glance: Threadneedle UK Property Jason Hollands, of broker TilneyBestinvest, shares his optimism. He says: Despite the wobbles, commercial property can be a really useful source of income where the underlying tenants are of solid quality at a time when good yields on other asset classes are scarce. THREADNEEDLE UK PROPERTY: AT A GLANCE Size: 1.3bn Returns One year: -4.3% Three years: +18% Five years: +19% Ongoing charges: 0.81% Jordisons fund differs from others in that it avoids pricey Central London, the hardest hit region since the referendum. Just 3 per cent of its properties are in London against 36 per cent for the MSCI UK Property Index. Hollands agrees that this could help to avoid the potential threats ahead for City firms. He says: The market catering to financial services could be hit by any loss of regulatory passporting rights that enable these firms to do business across the EU. Jordison avoids the capital because it is expensive, the rental yields are low and we find few properties that would benefit our investors long term. London tends to be more cyclical than the more mundane markets we prefer. Investment: Baytree shopping centre in Essex The fund contains hundreds of shops, offices and industrial properties throughout the country, such as Baytree shopping centre in Brentwood, Essex, and Hemel One, an office block in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. We do not own trophy buildings that have high values and low yields that are dependent on growth and would carry the risk of having to discount heavily if sold under pressure, Jordison says. He adds that leases are typically for five to ten years, which tend to span most business cycles. Our diversified portfolio yields 6.6 per cent. Rents, leases, new lettings and vacancy rates are all at pre-referendum levels. But Hollands is more cautious, and points to the unexpired leases of properties in the fund lasting just over four years. He says: I would prefer a longer lease profile, given Brexit will occur in just over two years. In 1994, Juliet Davenport was a young graduate, with an Oxford degree in atmospheric physics and a masters in economics. The combination had fired her up with an enduring interest in climate change and a determination to do something about it. Five years later, she set up Good Energy Group, which was designed to allow homes and businesses to be powered with locally produced renewable energy. Long-standing interest: In 1994, Juliet Davenport was a young graduate, with an Oxford degree in atmospheric physics and a masters in economics Today, Good Energy is listed on AIM and has 115,000 domestic gas and electricity customers and 4,000 business customers. These range from small, one-man firms to PwC, the largest professional services firm in the world, which uses Good Energy for all its UK offices. In 2015, Davenport launched a plan to deliver a five-fold increase in customer sales by 2020. Progress has been good to date and the shares, now 239p, should rise as the company expands. Renewable energy attracts strong opinions. Some people dismiss it as poppycock and think that wind turbines and fields full of solar panels are blots on the landscape. But a growing number of individuals and businesses are enthusiastic supporters. Davenport herself combines idealism with pragmatism. A fervent believer in renewable energy, she nonetheless recognises that most people will not buy it unless Good Energy prices are competitive. The companys energy is cheaper than most standard tariffs, but it also aims to deliver good customer service and has come first or second in the rankings at consumer group Which? for the past five years. When Davenport first started, she went round the country looking for people who were quietly generating electricity in their own homes or farms, principally through solar panels or single wind turbines. Many of these individuals could not find buyers for their energy so Good Energy created a marketplace for them, buying their electricity and finding consumers who wanted it. Since then, the company has built up its own wind and solar sites in places such as Delabole in Cornwall, Woolbridge in Dorset and Doncaster. Today the group generates about a quarter of its own power, but it still sources gas and electricity from more than 1,000 locations, ranging from single homes to companies such as Wessex Water, which operates a major project turning sewage into biofuel. The group also provides advice for customers who want to generate their own electricity, which fosters a particularly loyal customer base, many of whom are also investors in the company. Good Energy even launched an online energy platform this summer allowing consumers and generators to contact each other directly so they can choose who they buy from and sell to. Coined the eBay of energy, the scheme has been enthusiastically received and is likely to be rolled out more widely over time. On September 13, Good Energy reported strong interim profits and Davenport expressed confidence in the future. Brokers expect 2016 profits to increase by 14 per cent to 2.5million, rising to 2.8million next year. The group also pays a dividend pencilled in at 3.4p for this year and 3.8p next. The AA is expected to reveal profits of 194million this week as it tries to arrest declining customer numbers. The roadside assistance group is set to unveil revenues of 461million for the first half of the year on Wednesday. Profits, according to the EBITDA measure, are expected to be slightly lower than the 199million seen in the first half of 2015, according to analysts, but the company has since sold its Irish business which had boosted last year's figure. Analysts at Morgan Stanley said a different measure, profits before tax, would be up on last year. Fewer customers: At the end of January AA had 3.67million members, down from 3.77million the year before It raised its revenues from roadside assistance in 2016 despite falling customer numbers, by earning more per member. At the end of January it had 3.67 million members, down from 3.77 million the year before. Analysts at Morgan Stanley said they expected another small fall in this weeks numbers, with the decline set to level off in 2017. Roadside assistance makes up the bulk of The AAs revenue and profits. It also sells acts as an insurance broker and runs the AA and BSM driving schools. The AA is still suffering from huge debts, a legacy of its private equity ownership. It still has net debt of 2.8million and sold its Irish business for 156million earlier this year to pay some of it off. Co-op boss Richard Pennycook is that rarest of beasts a company chief executive who asked for a pay cut. The accountant-turned-retailer declared in April that he should have his salary chopped and promptly gave up half a million pounds a year. Perhaps this should not have been a surprise after all he apparently did not want the job in the first place. Rare: Co-op boss Richard Pennycook is that rarest of beasts a company chief executive who asked for a pay cut The 52-year-old joined The Co-operative Group at the height of its recent crisis, with its bank on the brink of collapse. He had just left Morrisons, where he had been finance director, and the last thing he was looking for was a new executive role. When the Co-op bank blew up Id already made a plan and was looking to take on a portfolio of non-executive and advisory roles. It was just at the point when I was available and I got a call saying: Can you come and help; this is urgent. In my family history the Co-op was really important, a genuine institution. The thought that it might fail was completely horrendous. 'I said I would come and help fix the bank for three months and then go back to my original plan. Of course, three months became a bit longer, he says. Co-op soon hit a fresh crisis over its complex management structure as activist members clashed with the professionals at the helm of the group. Disgraced: Former Co-op boss Paul Flowers The then boss Euan Sutherland stormed out in fury and Pennycook became interim chief executive. At the time he said he had no intention of becoming the permanent chief. A few months later he took the job. So what changed? He says that at the time, lay people were running the company. The now notorious Methodist minister Paul Flowers, revealed by The Mail on Sunday in 2013 as paying for drugs, had stepped down just before Pennycooks arrival. But the board was still dominated by non-business people. It was clear to me that if we couldnt fix the governance structure then this was not going to have a happy ending. 'If that happened I wasnt prepared to be chief executive, says Pennycook. It was only when the governance reforms went through that I thought we had really created an opportunity for the Co-op to thrive again. Those reforms mean while members form a council the running of the group is, as Pennycook puts it, by professionals. The turnaround has been marked. Co-op Groups supermarket operation is now the fastest growing major supermarket in the UK barring German invaders Aldi and Lidl. Figures out on Friday showed sales rising at more than 3 per cent a year a stellar performance in comparison with Tesco or Sainsburys. Pennycooks pay will be reduced next year from a base salary of 1.2million to 760,000. For a boss to ask for such a cut is almost unheard of. Reduction: Pennycooks pay will be reduced next year from a base salary of 1.2million to 760,000 It was, he says, the right thing to do to reflect how the hardest work was over. We were through the crisis and through the period of extreme effort and I personally wanted to reflect that, he says. But dont feel too sorry for him. That period of effort was well paid. Pennycook earned a total of 3.6million last year including his bonus and could earn a similar sum for 2016. The crisis phase may be over but Co-op is still in the midst of radical change. And those changes have been costly. The group may be outperforming rivals on sales but the costs of restructuring, keeping prices competitive and raising staff pay meant profits fell sharply in the first half of this year. Last week it relaunched its membership terms, shipping out five million new membership cards. The card provides a 5 per cent reward for Co-op brand purchases and 1 per cent passed on to local causes to be decided by local members. There are myriad examples of businesses who think in the right way and do business in the right way and the Co-op is one of those. What we are saying is, You can own a part of it and have a say in how its run. Pennycook says he wants to emphasise the community roots of the business and the ethical policies such as local sourcing and longer term supply contracts to help farmers plan for the future. And he says now is the perfect time for the Co-op to dust down its traditional credentials following the financial crash in 2008 and more recent corporate scandals such as BHS and the collapse of its pension scheme. When something like BHS is playing out through the media it gives the impression of something that is not right in business. There are extremes of poor behaviour in any walk of life, as we all know. I dont think we want to preach and say the Co-op is somehow better than others, but there is a lack of trust in big institutions so there hasnt been a better time for generations for the Co-op to prove that a different model can be effective. To achieve that the first thing we have to do is fix the business. We cant be dewy-eyed about it. But there is also a vein to tap into disenfranchisement, disenchantment with big business and remote institutions. My grandparents always talked about the Co-op and when people got the dividend it helped pay for Christmas. As a child that gets ingrained in you. Along the way that got lost and we were all concerned that the Co-op had become a bit of a shadow of its former self. But this has been an opportunity to reverse that. He says things couldnt feel more different now than in 2013. This is an organisation that overwhelmingly feels it is going in the right direction. Were connecting with a new generation of membership millions of members rather than just a few activists. Our purpose is clear and the new governance structure is working really well and the board is a really high calibre. Pennycook admits that Co-op may have an image as a shop for older people, but he argues its ethos is in tune with the Facebook generation. For the younger generations, for Millennials, they think in a very co-operative way more connected, more thoughtful but they havent thought about joining the Co-op. We need to make it clear this is a different organisation and wed love them to join. The crisis of recent years may appear to be something that would damage this halo, but Pennycook argues the heritage is deeper than a recent scandal and even argues that the way Co-op handled its crisis was an example of its ethical approach. I think people can look through that and say this is an organisation with a 170-year history and many good examples of doing the right thing. And you can look at how we saved the bank as an example of us doing the right thing at huge cost to the group. A private equity company would probably have allowed the bank to fail and say, Let the taxpayer pick up the difference; let the Pension Protection Fund pick up the bill. The Co-op Group is now a minority shareholder in Co-op bank alongside largely American investment funds. In the Brexit era Pennycook also says he is concerned for thousands of Co-op workers from the EU whose future may feel uncertain. Co-op employs 70,000 people, a significant proportion of whom are EU nationals. He told The Mail on Sunday: This affects about 10,000 people when you add together our colleagues and their families. Business support groups are set to unite to demand policies for productivity and growth this week after it was revealed that confidence had fallen into negative territory for the first time in four years. Company owners feeling confident are now outnumbered by those that feel the opposite, a study by the Federation of Small Businesses found. And though many conditions are improving, with small firms reporting greater access to finance, a rise in employment and reduced spare capacity, FSB chairman Mike Cherry said: The Autumn Statement comes at a critical time for UK businesses of every size. Support: Business support groups are set to unite to demand policies for productivity and growth this week after it was revealed that confidence had fallen into negative territory for the first time in four years With Labours annual conference taking place now, the Conservatives due early in October and the Autumn Statement just weeks away on November 23, FSB members met Chancellor Philip Hammond in Downing Street last week and pressed him to focus on policies including business rates reform, giving the green light to infrastructure projects and a simplified modern tax system. Cherry said: FSB members report a continued dip in confidence, and there are a series of domestic policy decisions we now need from Ministers to boost the economy. 'Top of the list is delivering infrastructure projects, both large and small, to connect small businesses and to open up public procurement to them. 'In addition, we want to see expansion of the annual investment allowance to drive innovation, a streamlining of the tax system to boost economic growth and new help for the self-employed. Emma Jones founder of small business network Enterprise Nation and co-founder of the private sector funded StartUp Britain campaign told The Mail on Sunday: I feel very clearly that the Government is very different to the previous one and is listening more. 'The first thing the Prime Minister did was hold a round table where she heard what small business bodies had to say. Jones, who in July was made small business Crown representative by the Government to help smaller firms bid for and win important state contracts, said: If ever there was a time for the small business groups to get together and present a united voice, it is now. Pressure: With Labours annual conference taking place now, the Conservatives due early in October and the Autumn Statement just weeks away on November 23, FSB members met Chancellor Philip Hammond, pictured, in Downing Street last week We have talked to 15 groups, including the British Chambers of Commerce, the FSB, IPSE, the Centre for Entrepreneurs and the Scale Up Institute. We have said: Lets find common areas of interest, lets all come together. With party conferences, all organisations are going to want politicians to do too many things. It becomes easy to ignore. We hope that if we all get together it will be difficult to ignore us. We are calling Thursdays event United for Small Business. She said topics of discussion were likely to include certainty over when Article 50 will be triggered, the treatment of dividends, the Living Wage, European funding for businesses and industry strategy. The BCC warned on Tuesday that businesses were still in the dark on apprenticeship funding reforms, including the apprenticeship levy. With just over six months until it is introduced, a survey of 1,600 business leaders in August showed that nearly two in five still had no understanding of it or had not heard of it. Meanwhile, a YouGov poll of small business owners for Heathrow Airport has found 60 per cent see a third runway at Heathrow as the best way to show the UK wants to trade internationally, compared with 19 per cent for Gatwick, 16 per cent for the HS2 rail link and 22 per cent for the Hinkley Point nuclear plant. Seventy-nine per cent believe infrastructure investment is key to making Brexit a success. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. was founded in 1869 by Marcus Goldman as an investment bank catering to institutions and businesses. Among the firm's first products are the revolutionary use of commercial paper for entrepreneurs which opened a new method of finance for business and industry. The original firm expanded to Goldman Sachs in 1882 with the inclusion of son-in-law Samuel Sachs and again in 1885 with a son and another son-in-law. The firm joined the New York Stock Exchange in 1896 expanding into trading of its own and in 1898 it was worth $1.6 million. The company began its work in the IPO market in 1906 with the initial public offering of Sears, Roebuck & Co., and then moved on to Ford and other prominent names of the time. The 1930s brings a change of leadership and a new direction for the firm. The company shifted toward a purer play on investment banking and embarks on a campaign of acquisition that lasted until the present day. The company doesnt go public itself until 1999 and from that point on it will change into a bank holding company that not only offers investment banking services but takes deposits too, and in 2016 the company added consumer banking to its list of services. Today, Goldman Sachs is a financial institution that provides a range of financial services for corporations, institutions, governments, and individuals globally. The company operates through four segments that include Investment Banking, Global Markets, Asset Management, and Consumer & Wealth Management. According to US banking regulations, it is systemically important to the financial health of America. The company is headquartered in New York, New York, and operates 6 regional headquarters as well. Regional headquarters are located in financial hotspots such as London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Bangalore, and Warsaw. Among its many prominent CEOs are John Corzine and Hank Paulson who both went on to successful work in government. The company's Investment Banking segment provides a full range of financial advisory services as well as underwriting for the public markets. The financial advisory services include but are not limited to strategic advisory for mergers and acquisitions, divestiture, restructuring, and spin-offs. This segment is also engaged in middle-market lending and transaction banking. Underwriting services include IPOs, preferred stock, debt instruments, and bridge loans. Goldman Sachs Global Markets segment facilitates market transactions for institutions, banks, brokerages, corporations, and governments. Services include execution, derivatives, financing, clearing, settlement, and custody. The Asset Management segment manages client portfolios across the investment spectrum while the Consumer & Wealth Management segment provides advisory and banking services to consumers. The rally at Ahmednagar was significant because the incident of rape and murder of a minor girl that triggered the protests took place in Kopardi village of the same district. The father of the victim also participated in the mammoth rally. By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: Lakhs from the Maratha community took to the streets in Ahmednagar city on Friday as part of the ongoing rallies by the community to voice its demands. The Silent Rally (Mook Morcha) at Ahmednagar witnessed the largest crowd of the 14 rallies that took place in different parts of Maharashtra. RALLY AND DEMANDS The rally at Ahmednagar was significant because the incident of rape and murder of a minor girl that triggered the protests took place in Kopardi village of the same district. The father of the victim also participated in the mammoth rally. advertisement The march started from Wadia College and ended at the Ditrict Collectorate where a memorandum of demands was submitted by 5 girls. Apart from demanding justice for the Kopardi victim, Marathas are also demanding reservations for the community and amendments in the SC/ ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. POLITICIANS ASKED TO STAY BACK Several political leaders from the state participated in the rally but were requested to walk at the rear of the marching crowd. These rallies have so succeeded in maintaining a non-political image. Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, BJP MLA Shivajirao Kardile, all marched in the rally. The organisors strongly objected when they saw some omembers of the rally giving sound bytes to TV News Channels warning them not to hikack the protests. RALLY IN NASHIK TODAY The series of huge rallies will continue on Saturday at Nashik. Huge turnout is expected in the city as many from Nashik amd the adjoining districts of Northern Mabarashtra are expected to attend. Elaborate arrangements have been made by the police. Traffic on the route of the rally has been diverted. ALSO READ: Daylight robbery attempt foiled in Delhi's Khichripur area, 1 held Caught on camera: Woman stabbed 22 times in broad daylight in Delhi --- ENDS --- Ecolab Inc. provides water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Global Industrial, Global Institutional & Specialty, and Global Healthcare & Life Sciences segments. The Global Industrial segment offers water treatment and process applications, and cleaning and sanitizing solutions to manufacturing, food and beverage processing, transportation, chemical, metals and mining, power generation, pulp and paper, commercial laundry, petroleum, refining, and petrochemical industries. The Global Institutional & Specialty segment provides specialized cleaning and sanitizing products to the foodservice, hospitality, lodging, government and education, and retail industries. Its Global Healthcare & Life Sciences segment offers specialized cleaning and sanitizing products to the healthcare, personal care, and pharmaceutical industries, such as infection prevention and surgical solutions, and end-to-end cleaning and contamination control solutions under the Ecolab, Microtek, and Anios brand names. The company's Other segment offers pest elimination services to detect, eliminate, and prevent pests, such as rodents and insects in restaurants, food and beverage processors, educational and healthcare facilities, hotels, quick service restaurant and grocery operations, and other institutional and commercial customers. This segment also provides colloidal silica for binding and polishing applications in semiconductor, catalyst, and aerospace component manufacturing, as well as chemical industries; and products and services that manage wash process through custom designed programs, premium products, dispensing equipment, water and energy management, and reduction, as well as real time data management. It sells its products through field sales and corporate account personnel, distributors, and dealers. The company was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Markandey Katju wrote in a Facebook post that our justice delivery system has largely broken down. Find out why. By India Today Web Desk: Former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju, known for his opinionated posts on social media, wrote in a recent Facebook post about how India's justice system is flawed. Katju, former Chairman of Press Council of India, described the Indian justice system using a scene from German writer Franz Kafka's novel 'The Trial'. "The protagonist 'K' is never told what he has been arrested for. His trial is farcical, and he is finally murdered in a quarry outside town. Indian justice may not be exactly that, but it is close to it," he wrote in the Facebook post. advertisement Also read: Justice Markandeya Katju is back on social media, slams Sharia law Claiming that 'our justice delivery system has largely broken down', Katju described how he had to "choose between two untruths". "As a judge, I had to decide on the basis of the evidence. But what could I decide when I knew both sides were probably lying?". In his Facebook post, he writes that it is impossible to get independent witnesses in a criminal case because people are afraid of the consequences of coming forward and revealing the truth due to "threats or fear of attacks". Katju points out lawyers often have a hand in this. "The defence lawyer often advises the accused to somehow break down the prosecution witnesses by threats or by suborning them." Also read: Keralites are the real Indians, says Justice Katju. And Malayalis on Facebook go gaga Katju's point about cases taking an inordinate time to decide and litigants getting 'tareekh ke baad tareekh' will resonate with many Indians. "In the Allahabad High Court criminal appeals filed 30 years ago are coming up for hearing today. Civil cases too often take decades to dispose off finally after appeals/second appeals/revisions/writ petitions, etc". While talking about how judges have become "shamelessly corrupt", he tells that many judges say "Jis thaali mein khaaya hai, usi mein chhed kar raha hai". --- ENDS --- The following companies are subsidiares of Accenture: 2nd Road, ?What If!, ?What If! China Holdings Limited, ?What If! Holdings Limited, ?What If! 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Limited, DI Futures Corporation, Data Essential SARL, Davies Consulting, DayNine Consulting, DayNine Consulting (New Zealand) Limited, DayNine Consulting LLC, Declarative Holdings LLC, Decora Marketplace LLC, Decorado Marketplace Ltda-EPP, Defense Point Security, Deja vu Security, Design Strategy and Research de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Designaffairs LLC, Digiplug S.A.S., Digital Results Group LLC, Double Digit Limitada, Double Digit Pty SA, Droga5, Droga5 LLC, Droga5 Studios LLC, Droga5 UK Limited, Duck Creek Technologies, ESR Labs, ESR Labs AG, EdenOne Solutions Limited, Edenhouse ERP Holdings Limited, Edenhouse Solutions Limited, Enaxis Consulting, Enaxis Consulting LP, End to End Analytics LLC, End-to-End Analytics, Endorphin Medici (M) Sdn Bhd, Energuia Web S.A., Energy Management Brokers Limited, EnergyQuote JHA, Enimbos, Enimbos Global Services S.L., Enkitec, Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions LLC, Enterprise System Partners, Enterprise System Partners B.V., Enterprise System Partners Bilisim Danismanlik Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Enterprise System Partners Global Corporation, Enterprise System Partners Limited, Enthusian Pty Ltd, Entropia, Entropia (M) Sdn Bhd, Entropia Holdings Pte Ltd, Entropia Intercraft Sdn Bhd, Epylon, Ergo, Espedia S.r.l., Ethica Consulting Group, Ethica Consulting S.p.A., Evopro Group, Exactside Limited, Experity, Exton Consulting, Exton Consulting Spain Strategy&Management S.L., Exton Germany GmbH, Exton International SAS, Exton Italia S.r.l., Exton SAS, FGM LLC, Fairway Technologies Inc, Farah BidCo Limited, Farah MidCo Limited, Farah Topco Limited, Filmproduction ApS, First Annapolis Consulting Inc., First Annapolis Consulting LLC, Fjord, Focus Group Europe, Formicary, Founders Intelligence, Fruendo S.r.l., FusionX, Future State Consulting LLC, FutureMove (Beijing) Automotive Technology Co. Ltd., FutureMove Automotive, FutureMove Automotive Co. Ltd., GRA Supply Chain Pty Ltd, Gagel Group S de R.L. de C.V., Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda, Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda., Genfour, George Group Consulting L.P., Gestalt LLC, Gevity, Gren utvikling AS, H.B. Maynard and Co. Inc., HRC Retail Advisory, Hagberg Consulting Group, Hahntel Ltda, Halo Partners LLC, Hamilton Holding Company S.A, Hangzhou Aiyunzhe Technology Co. Ltd., Happen, Happen GP Limited, Happen Limited, Headspring, Hjaltelin Stahl, Hjaltelin Stahl A/S, Hjaltelin Stahl K/S, Hytracc Consulting AS, Hytracc Consulting AS, Hytracc Consulting Malaysia Sdn Bhd, IBB Consulting, ICM.S S.r.l., IMJ Corp, IMJ Corporation, INSITUM, IQSP Consulting LLC, IT One Company Limited, ITBS Servicios Bancarios de Tecnologia de la Informacion SL, Icon Integration, Icon Integration (NZ) Limited, Icon Integration Pty Ltd, Imagine Broadband (USA) Limited, Imagine Broadband USA LLC, Imaginea Inc, Imaginea Technologies LLC, Industrie IT (Hong Kong) Ltd, Industrie IT (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Industrie IT Group Pty Ltd, Industrie IT Pty Ltd, Industrie&Co, Infinity Works Consulting Limited, Infinity Works Holdings Limited, Infinity Works Management Limited, Infinity Works Midco Limited, Informatica de Euskadi S.L., Innotec International EAD, Innotec International S.p. z.o.o., Innotec Marketing GmbH, Innotec Marketing International Ireland Limited, Innotec- Marketing Spain S.L, Insitum Consultoria Argentina SRL, Insitum Consultoria S.A. de C.V., International Biometric Group LLC, International Biometric Group UK Limited, Intrepid, Intrepid Futureworks Sdn Bhd, Intrigo Systems Inc, Intrigo Systems India Pvt. Limited, Intrigo Systems LLC, Inventor Technology Ltd, InvestTech, Investtech Systems Consulting LLC, ItSafer Continuity Services S.L., JKD Consulting LLC, Javelin Group, K Comms Group Limited, KSC Studio LLC, Kaper Communications Limited, Karma Communications Debtco Limited, Karma Communications Group Limited, Karma Communications Holdings Limited, Karmarama, Karmarama Comms Limited, Karmarama Limited, King James Group, Knowledge Rules Inc., Knowledgent, Knowledgent Group LLC, Kogentix, Kogentix LLC, Kogentix Limited, Kogentix Singapore Pte Ltd, Kogentix Technologies Private Limited, Kolle Rebbe, Kolle Rebbe GmbH, Kream Comms Limited, Kunstmaan, Kurt Salmon, Kurt Salmon Canada LTD, Kurt Salmon US LLC, LEXTA, LINKBYNET, LINKBYNET Indian Ocean (L.I.O) Ltd, LabAnswer, Lexta GmbH, Lexta UK Limited, Lien par le reseau Inc, Lien par le reseau infrastructures Inc, Lin Bo (Shanghai) Network Technology Co. Ltd., Link By Net SAS, Link By Net SRL, Link By Net Vietnam Company Limited, Linkbynet East Asia Ltd, Linkbynet Singapore Pte Ltd., Loud & Clear Creative Pty Ltd, Lumenup S.A., MAXIM Systems Inc., MCG US Holdings LLC, Mackevision CG Technology and Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Mackevision Japan Co. Ltd., Mackevision Korea Ltd, Mackevision LLC, Mackevision Medien Design, Mackevision Medien Design GmbH, Mackevision Singapore Pte Ltd, Mackevision UK Limited, Maglan, Maglan Information Defense Technologies Research Ltd, Maihiro, Matter, Maud Corp Pty Ltd, Maxamine International, Measuretek LLC, Media Audits Ltd., Media Hive, Mediasenz Pty Ltd., Meredith Specialty LLC, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing LLC, Meridian Informed Purchasing Ltd., Mindtribe, Mistral Wind Operations Servicos Empresariais Unipessoal Lda., MobGen, Mortgage Cadence LLC, Mortgage Cadence an Accenture Company, Most Champion Ltd, Mudano, Mudano Limited, Myrtle Consulting Group LLC, N3, N3 (Dalian) Business Consulting Co. 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Ltd., Nashco Consulting, NaviSys Inc., Nell'Armonia Israel Ltd, Nell'Armonia SAS, Nell'Participation SAS, NellArmonia, Neo Metrics Analytics S.L., Neo Metrics Chile S.A., New Content, New Content Editora e Produtora Ltda, New Energy Group, News Imaging LLC, NewsPage, NewsPage (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, NewsPage Pte Ltd, Northstream, Novetta Holdings LLC, Novetta LLC, Novetta Solutions LLC, Novetta Topco LLC, OCTO Technology, OPS Rules Management Consultants, Octagon Research Solutions Inc., Octo Technology Pty Ltd, Octo Technology SA, Odgaard ApS, Olikka, Olikka Pty Ltd, Olympus Systems Corporation, Openmind, Openmind S.r..l., Openminded, Openminded SAS, Operaciones Accenture S.A. de C.V., OpusLine, Orbium, Orbium AG, Orbium Consulting Limited, Orbium Inc., Orbium Ltd, Orbium Pte Ltd, Orbium Pty Ltd, Origin Digital, PCO Innovation, PLM Systems S.r.l, PRION GmbH, PT Accenture, PT Asta Catur Indra, PT Kogentix Teknologi Indonesia, PacificLink Group, Paja Finanssipalvelut Oy, Parker Fitzgerald Inc, Parker Fitzgerald International Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Limited, Parker Fitzgerald PTY Ltd, Parker Fitzgerald Services Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Solutions Limited, Pecaso Ltd., Pegasus Production A/S, Pegasus Production K/S, Phase One Consulting Group, Pillar Technology, Pollux, Pollux Automation Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pollux Canada Inc, Pollux S.A.S., Pollux USA LLC, Pragsis Bidoop, Pragsis Bidoop UK Limited, Pramati Technologies Europe Limited, Pramati Technologies Private Limited, Presence of IT Workforce Management North America LLC, PrimeQ, PrimeQ Australia Pty Ltd, PrimeQ Ltd, PrimeQ NZ Pty Limited, Procurian Inc., Prof. Homburg GmbH, Proquire LLC, PureApps Ltd., Qi Jie Beijing Information Technologies Co. Ltd., RBCP Fund 1-A Vapor Blocker LLC, RBCP Platform Vapor Blocker I LLC, REPL Consulting LLC, REPL Consulting Limited, REPL Digital Limited, REPL Group K.K., REPL Group Pty Ltd, REPL Group Worldwide Limited, REPL Pte Ltd, REPL Software Limited, REPL Technology Limited, Radiant Services LLC, Random Walk Computing Inc., Reactive Media Pty Ltd., Real Protect, Realworld OO Systems Ltd., Redcore, Redcore (New Zealand) Limited, Redcore Group Holdings Pty Ltd, Redcore Pty Ltd, Revolutionary Security, RiskControl, Root LLC, Rothco, Rothco Limited, S3 TV Technology Ltd., SALT Solutions GmbH, SEC Servizi, SOPIA Corp., Sagacious Consultants, Salt Solutions, Sandbox Studio LLC, Sapling Bidco Limited, Sapling Midco Limited, Sapling Topco Limited, Schlumberger Business Consulting, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace (UK) Limited, Seabury Consulting, Seabury Corporate Advisors LLC, Seabury Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Search Technologies BPO Inc, Search Technologies International LLC, Search Technologies LLC, Search Technologies Limited, Securiview SAS, Sentelis, Sentor Managed Secuirty Services AB, Servicios Tecnicos de Programacion Accenture S.C., Seven Seas Business Ventures LLC, Shackleton, Shackleton Chile S.A., Shackleton S.L.U., Shanghai Baiyue Advertising Co. Ltd., Shun Zhe Technology Development Co. Ltd., SigInt Technologies LLC, Silveo, Silveo Consulting India Private Limited, Simian Pty Ltd, SinnerSchrader, SinnerSchrader AG, SinnerSchrader Content GmbH, SinnerSchrader Deutschland GmbH, SinnerSchrader Praha s.r.o., Sirvart S.A., Sistemes Consulting S.L., Skylink SAS, Soltians Limited, Solutions IQ LLC, SolutionsIQ, SolutionsIQ India Consulting Services Private Limited, Somers Ventures Ireland Limited, Somers Ventures LLC, Spacelink SAS, Storm Digital, Structure Consulting Group LLC, Sutter Mills, Synership LLC, Systor AG, T.A. Cook, TXF LLC, Tambourine, TargetST8, Tech - Avanade Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Tecnilogica Ecosistemas S.A., Tecnilogica, The Brand Learning Partners Limited, The Callisto Integration Corporation, The Monkeys, The Monkeys Pty Ltd, The Myrtle Group, Total Logistics, Tquila, Trivadis, Trivadis AG, Trivadis Austria GmbH, Trivadis Denmark AS, Trivadis Germany GmbH, Trivadis Holding AG, Trivadis Partner AG, Trivadis Services AG, Trivadis Services SRL, Troop Studios Pty Ltd, VanBerlo, Vector Acquisition Company LLC, Vector Topco LLC, Verax Solutions, Vertical Retail Consulting (Shanghai) Ltd, Vertical Retail Consulting Ltd, Vivere Brasil Servicos e Solucoes SA, Vivere Brasil Solucoes De Credito Ltda., Wabion GmbH, WaveStrike LLC, White Cliffs Consulting LLC, Wire Stone, Wire Stone LLC, Wise Partners SAS, Wolox, Wolox Colombia S.A.S, Wolox LLC, Wolox Mexico S.R.L de C.V., Wolox S.A., Wolox SpA, Workforce Insight, Workforce Insight LLC, Yesler, Yesler LLC, Yesler Limited, Yesler Singapore Pte Ltd, Zag, Zag Australia Pty Ltd, Zag Limited, Zag USA LLC, Zebra Worldwide Australia Pty Ltd, Zebra Worldwide Group Limited, Zebra Worldwide Media Pty Ltd, Zenta, Zenta Global Philippines Inc, Zenta Mortgage Services LLC, Zenta Recoveries Inc, Zenta US Holdings Inc, Zestgroup, Zielpuls, Zielpuls (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zielpuls GmbH, avVenta, designaffairs, designaffairs Business Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., designaffairs GmbH, designaffairs group China Co. Ltd., dgroup, i4C Analytics, iDefense, solid-serVision.com GmbH, and umlaut. Read More AutoZone, Inc. retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories. The company offers various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. Its products include A/C compressors, batteries and accessories, bearings, belts and hoses, calipers, chassis, clutches, CV axles, engines, fuel pumps, fuses, ignition and lighting products, mufflers, radiators, starters and alternators, thermostats, and water pumps, as well as tire repairs. In addition, the company offers maintenance products, such as antifreeze and windshield washer fluids; brake drums, rotors, shoes, and pads; brake and power steering fluids, and oil and fuel additives; oil and transmission fluids; oil, cabin, air, fuel, and transmission filters; oxygen sensors; paints and accessories; refrigerants and accessories; shock absorbers and struts; spark plugs and wires; and windshield wipers. Further, it provides air fresheners, cell phone accessories, drinks and snacks, floor mats and seat covers, interior and exterior accessories, mirrors, performance products, protectants and cleaners, sealants and adhesives, steering wheel covers, stereos and radios, tools, and wash and wax products, as well as towing services. Additionally, the company provides a sales program that offers commercial credit and delivery of parts and other products; sells automotive diagnostic and repair software under the ALLDATA brand through alldata.com and alldatadiy.com; and automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products through autozone.com. As of November 20, 2021, it operated 6,066 stores in the United States; 666 stores in Mexico; and 53 stores in Brazil. The company was founded in 1979 and is based in Memphis, Tennessee. The National Commission for Minorities has slammed the Centre over rising cases of cow vigilantism and the consequent "fear" it was instilling among Muslims. By Siddhartha Rai: The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has pulled up the Central government over increased instances of cow vigilantism and the consequent "fear" that it was instilled among the Muslim minority. It is "vitiating the social fabric of the country" and endangering the "climate of co-existence" among communities, it said. MEWAT SITE OF DOUBLE RAPE, MURDER A two-member fact-finding team of the NCM also toured Mewat, especially the village of Dingerheri that was the site of the double rape and murder in August this year. The team told Mail Today that though the state government had ordered a CBI inquiry in the matter, the victims needed swift justice. COW VIGILANTISM NOT GO UNPUNISHED: RAJNATH SINGH advertisement Acting on three back-to-back complaints by Maharashtra Congress secretary Shehzad Poonawalla, who cited several instances of cow vigilantism in his petitions to the minority rights' body, the NCM has written a terse letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The NCM, in its letter, called upon the Central government for a "very strong statement from the highest levels of government that such outlandish behaviour will neither be tolerated nor can it go unpunished". "It is true that law and order is a state subject, but certainly the Central government would be well within its powers to ask the states to handle such situations with a heavy hand and to enforce sense of security among the minorities in all seriousness," said NCM chairperson Naseem Ahmad in his letter to the home minister. RESENTMENT, INSECURITY AMONG MUSLIMS IN HARYANA Meanwhile, NCM member Praveen Davar, who was part of the fact-finding team told Mail Today that there was a lot of resentment and insecurity among the Muslims of the region in Haryana in the wake of the activities of cow vigilantes. "While we met the bereaved family, they alleged that apart from the four accused arrested by the police so far, there were some three or four more people who are still at large. The police must look into their testimony and act," he said. "Most of these gau raksha dals or cow vigilante groups are not only engaging in anti-social activities as the PM himself said recently but they are a challenge to rule of law and the Constitution. TREAT GAU RAKSHAKS LIKE TERRORISTS Flogging Dalits, gang-raping women, and beating up and killing Muslims in Delhi or the case of Ayub in Gujarat, Akhlaq in Dadri, killing of Noman or Zahid or hanging Muslims in Latehar , Jharkhand. All in the name of the cow show that these groups are no better than terror group ISIS or SIMI," said complainant Poonawalla. Poonawalla demanded that the Centre ban gau rakshaks "like any other terrorist group". "If the BJP government protects these groups as they are affiliated to the Sangh Parivar, I will approach the Supreme Court to do the same," he added. advertisement Also Read: Congress to PM Modi: Ban gau rakshaks or we will approach Supreme Court Man beaten to death by gau rakshaks in Ahmedabad --- ENDS --- Spectris plc manufactures and sells measuring instruments and controls worldwide. It operates through Malvern Panalytical, HBK, Omega and Industrial Solutions segments. The Malvern Panalytical segment provides measurement and materials characterization and efficiency in R&D and manufacturing sectors. The HBK segment offers differentiated sensing, testing, modelling and simulation solutions for product development. The Omega segment provides process improvement, specialist sensors, and omni-channel distribution services. The Industrial Solutions segment operates high-value precision in-line sensing and monitors businesses. It also provides particle measuring systems, a solution to measure and monitor contamination levels in clean and controlled environments. In addition, the company offers red lion controls, an industrial automation tool that provides solutions to connect, monitor, and control disparate assets, as well as provides servomex, a specialist in gas and moisture analysis solutions. Further, it provides data and insights, test equipment and software for industrial applications. Additionally, the company offers sensor, instrument, software, and services technology, as well as provides training, technical support, spare parts, calibration, and maintenance services. It serves pharmaceutical, automotive, electronics, semiconductors, technology-LED, and primary and advanced materials industries. Spectris plc was incorporated in 1986 and is based in London, the United Kingdom. The aim of the mission is to improve family planning services. By Neetu Chandra Sharma: Is the family planning working in BIMARU states? It seems that's not the case, with Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Assam contributing 44 per cent of the total population of the country. And the Union Health Ministry is worried - it has now plans to launch 'Mission Parivar Vikas' across 145 high focus districts in these states where the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is the highest. Adding to the worries are the adolescent mothers.` advertisement The aim of the mission is to improve family planning services. It comes in the wake of Union Health Minister JP Nadda's directions to the ministry to develop a strategy within three months where vulnerable districts in the country will be targeted for intensive and improved family planning services. ACCELERATE FAMILY PLANNING CHOICES The main objective of 'Mission Parivar Vikas' will be to accelerate access to high-quality family planning choices based on information, reliable services and supplies within a rights-based framework. "The key strategic focus of this initiative will be on improving access to contraceptives through delivering assured services, dovetailing with new promotional schemes, ensuring commodity security, building capacity (service providers), creating an enabling environment along with close monitoring and implementation. 145 DISTRICTS IN ONE GO The Mission will be implemented in all the 145 districts at one go," an official statement from Health Ministry issued on Friday said. These 145 districts have been identified based on total fertility rate and service delivery for immediate, special and accelerated efforts to reach the replacement level fertility goals of 2.1 by 2025, the statement said. Recent data suggests that these 145 districts have TFR of more than or equal to 3.0 and are home to 28 per cent of India's population i.e. about 33 crore. GOVT REACHES OUT TO PVT SECTOR "However, only 22 per cent of India's protected couples and 40 per cent of India's couples with unmet need reside in these districts. These districts also have a substantial impact on maternal and child health indicators as about 25-30 per cent of maternal deaths and 50 per cent of infant deaths occur in these districts Moreover, 115 of these districts i.e. 79 per cent have high percentage of adolescent mothers," the statement said. The Centre has also reached out to the private sector for dispensing family planning services in poor performing states. The National Population Stabilisation Fund will introduce Social Franchisee Scheme (SFS) as PPPs by contracting agencies that will work as Social Franchising Organisations (SFOs). They will work in at least four to five adjacent districts of UP and Bihar, and contract local private health provider, standalone clinics, private accredited facilities, community-based health organisations, NGOs working in the health sector to join a franchised chain for quality family planning services. advertisement SOCIAL FRANCHISING "Social franchising is expected to make family planning more efficient and equitable, increase coverage and reach, and reduce operational burden on the government. It will also help improve access to essential services due to unavailability or shortage of public providers," said a senior official of the National Population Stabilisation Fund. --- ENDS --- NextEra Energy, Inc. is the largest electric utility holding company in the US. It operates a network of power generation and distribution facilities that include fossil-fuel-generated and green energy. As of mid-2022, the company was capable of generating 58 GW of electricity with nearly 60% of the load produced by green sources including wind and solar. In their view, going green isnt an option, its the solution. NextEra Energy has been recognized multiple times as a leader in clean energy and ESG practices and was ranked the #1 electric and gas utility on the Forbes list of Most Admired Companies. The company is the result of several mergers that begin with FPL Group. FPL Group is now a subsidiary of NextEra Energy and the third-largest provider of electricity in the US servicing nearly half of Florida. FPL and its affiliates are the single largest provider of renewable energy generated from wind and sun. The group changed its name in 2010 following a decision to shift focus onto renewable energy sources. Today, NextEra Energy, Inc through its subsidiary FPL serves about 12 million people in eastern and southwestern Florida. The company employs nearly 14,900 people who service 5.8 million accounts. The company is in business to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity to retail and wholesale clients. Electricity is generated through wind, solar, nuclear, natural gas, and coal-fired facilities. The company is also engaged in the construction and operation of new facilities, specifically renewable power generation, storage, and delivery facilities, and can offer custom solutions tailored to any need. Offerings include tailored services to assist businesses with their transition to clean energy. NextEra Energy also owns and operates 7 nuclear power stations in Florida, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin generating power for the wholesale market. Unlike other companies that are targeting net-zero emissions, NextEra Energy has a plan to reach real zero and is investing heavily to reach that goal by 2045. The company had invested nearly $50 billion in green energy infrastructure and initiatives by mid-2022. The plan is to first work on reducing its own emissions and then take its knowledge and expertise to the world. The following companies are subsidiares of UnitedHealth Group: 1070715 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, 1st Avenue Pharmacy Inc., 310 Canyon Medical LLC, 4C MSO LLC, 4C Medical Group PLC, 5995 Minnetonka LLC, ABCO International Holdings LLC, ACN Group IPA of New York Inc., ACN Group of California Inc., AHN Accountable Care Organization LLC, AHN Central Services LLC, AHN Target Holdings LLC, AMIL International S.a.r.l., APS Assistencia Personalizada a Saude Ltda., ASC Holdings of New Jersey LLC, ASC Network LLC, ASC Operators-East Bay LLC, ASC Operators-San Francisco LLC, ASC Operators-San Luis Obispo LLC, ASC Operators-Santa Rosa LLC, ASC Operators-South Bay LLC, ASV-HOPCo-SCA Cornerstone LLC, ASV-HOPCo-SCA Florida LLC, AbleTo Behavioral Health Services P.C., AbleTo Inc., Accurate Rx Pharmacy Consulting LLC, Administradora Clinica La Colina S.A.S., Administradora Country S.A.S., Administradora Medica Centromed S.A., Advanced Surgery Center of Clifton LLC, Advanced Surgical Center LLC, Advanced Surgical Hospital LLC, Advocate Condell Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate Southwest Ambulatory Surgery Center L.L.C., Advocate-SCA Partners LLC, Aliansalud Entidad Promotora de Salud S.A., All Savers Insurance Company, All Savers Life Insurance Company of California, Alliance Surgical Center LLC, Allina Health Heart and Vascular Surgery Center LLC, Allina Health Surgery Center-Brooklyn Park LLC, Aloha Surgical Center LLC, Ambient Healthcare Inc., Ambient Holdings Inc., AmeriChoice, AmeriChoice Corporation, AmeriChoice of New Jersey Inc., American Health Network of Indiana Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Indiana II LLC, American Health Network of Indiana LLC, American Health Network of Kentucky LLC, American Health Network of Ohio Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Ohio II LLC, American Health Network of Ohio LLC, American Physicians Inc., Amico Saude Ltda., Amil, Amil Assistencia Medica Internacional S.A., Angiografia e Hemodinamica Madre Theodora Ltda., Anne Arundel-SCA Holdings LLC, Anne Arundel-SCA Surgicenter LLC, Antelope Valley Surgery Center L.P., Analisis Clinicos ML S.A.C., Apothecary Holdings Inc., AppleCare Medical Management LLC, Aquitania Chilean Holding SpA, Arcadia JV Holdings LLC, Arcadia Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., ArchWell Health LLC, ArchWell Health MSO LLC, ArchWell Health Professional Services Holding Co., ArchWell Health Professional Services of Alabama LLC, ArchWell Health Professional Services of North Carolina P.C., ArchWell Health Professional Services of Oklahoma LLC, Archwell Health Professional Services of Arizona LLC, Archwell Health Professional Services of Nebraska LLC, Arise Physician Group, Arizona Physicians IPA Inc., Arlington Surgery Center LLC, Aspectus Inc., Associacao Lusiadas Knowledge Center Health Education and Research, Audax Health Solutions LLC, Aurora Hospitalist P.C., Austin Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., Avella Specialty Pharmacy, Aventura Medical Tower Surgery Center LLC, Avery Parent Holdings Inc., Aveta Inc., AxelaCare Intermediate Holdings LLC, AxelaCare LLC, B.R.A.S.S. Partnership in Commendam, BOSC Holdings LLC, BSC Holdings LLC, Ball Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Banmedica Colombia S.A.S., Banmedica Internacional SpA, Banmedica S.A., Barranca Surgery Center LLC, Beach Surgical Holdings II LLC, Beach Surgical Holdings III LLC, Beach Surgical Holdings LLC, Beaver Medical Group P.C., Bedford Physicians Risk Retention Group Inc., Behavioral Healthcare Options Inc., Beltway Surgery Centers L.L.C., Benefit Administration for the Self Employed L.L.C., Benefitter Insurance Solutions Inc., Bergan Mercy Surgery Center LLC, Bergen-Passaic Cataract Laser and Surgery Center LLC, Bessler MD PLLC, Bind Benefits Inc., Bind LH Holdings Inc., Bind Re Inc., Birmingham Outpatient Surgery Center Ltd., Birmingham Outpatient Surgical Center LLC, Bloomfield ASC LLC, Blue Ridge Day Surgery Center L.P., Blue Ridge GP LLC, Blue Ridge Properties LLC, Boca Raton Outpatient Surgery & Laser Center LTD., Bordeaux Barbados Holdings I SRL, Bordeaux Barbados Holdings II SRL, Bordeaux Barbados Holdings III S.r.l., Bordeaux Holding SpA, Bordeaux International Holdings Inc., Bordeaux UK Holdings I Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings II Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings III Limited, Bosque Medical Center Ltda., Brandon Ambulatory Surgery Center LC, BriovaRx Infusion Services 102 LLC, BriovaRx of Florida Inc., BriovaRx of Maine Inc., BriovaRx of Massachusetts LLC, CCEC Anesthesia Management LLC, CDC Holdings Colombia S.A.S., CLISA Clinica de Santo Antonio S.A., CMO Centro Medico de Oftalmologia S/S Ltda., CMS Central de Manipulacao e Servicos Farmaceuticos Ltda., COI Clinicas Oncologicas Integradas S.A., Cabin Enterprises LLC, Cabin Holdings LLC, California Medical Group Insurance Company Risk Retention Group, Camp Hill Ambulatory Centers, Camp Hill-SCA Centers LLC, Capital City Medical Group L.L.C., Cardinal Holding Company LLC, Care Improvement Plus Group Management LLC, Care Improvement Plus South Central Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus Wisconsin Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus of Texas Insurance Company, Care Logistics LLC, CareMount Dental Member LLC, CareMount Health Solutions ACO LLC, CareMount Health Solutions Employer LLC, CareMount Health Solutions LLC, CareMount Holding LLC, CareMount Medical Foundation Inc., CareMount Value Partners IPA LLC, Carr PLLC, Casa de Saude Santa Therezinha Ltda., Castle Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Castle Rock SurgiCenter LLC, Catalyst360 LLC, Catamaran 2 Unlimited Company, Catamaran Finance Ireland Unlimited Company, Catamaran S.a.r.l., Cedar Park JV Partners LLC, Cedar Park Surgery Center LLC, Cemed Care Empresa de Atendimento Clinico Geral Ltda., Center for Quality Improvement LLC, Center for Restorative Surgery at Maple Grove LLC, Center for Surgery of North Coast L.P., Central Indiana Care Organization LLC, Central Ohio Care Organization LLC, CentriHealth Corporation, CentrifyHealth LLC, Centro Medico Hospitalar Pitangueiras Ltda., Centro Odontologico Americano S.A.C., Centro de Entrenamiento Capacitacion en Reanimacion y Prevencion Limitada, Centro de Servicios Compartidos Banmedica SpA, Centromed Quilpue S.A., Centros Medicos y Dentales Multimed Ltda., Centura-SCA Holdings LLC, Centurion Casualty Company, Channel Islands Surgicenter L.P., Channel Islands Surgicenter Properties LLC, Charleston Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Charleston Surgery Properties LLC, Charlotte Surgery Center LLC, Charlotte Surgery Properties LTD., Charlotte-SC LLC, Chatham Orthopaedic ASC LLC, Childrens Surgery Center LLC, Citrus Regional Surgery Center L.P., Claims Management Systems Inc., Cleburne Surgical Center LLC, Clinical Partners of Colorado Springs LLC, Clinton Partners LLC, Clinica Alameda SpA, Clinica Bio Bio SpA, Clinica Ciudad del Mar S.A., Clinica Davila y Servicios Medicos S.p.A., Clinica Iquique S.A., Clinica Medico Cirurgica de Santa Tecla S.A., Clinica Portoazul S.A., Clinica San Felipe S.A., Clinica Santa Maria S.p.A., Clinica Sanchez Ferrer S.A., Clinica Vespucio S.A., Clinica del Country S.A.S., Coachella Valley Physicians of PrimeCare Inc., Coalition for Advanced Pharmacy Services Inc., Cobranzas Banmedica SpA, Cogent Healthcare IPA of New York Inc., Cogent Healthcare Inc., Cogent Healthcare Management of New York Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Arizona P.C., Cogent Healthcare of California Prof. Corp., Cogent Healthcare of Georgia P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Illinois LLC, Cogent Healthcare of Iowa P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Jackson MS LLC, Cogent Healthcare of Jacksonville LLC, Cogent Healthcare of Mississippi Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Missouri Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Montana P.C., Cogent Healthcare of New Jersey P.C., Cogent Healthcare of North Carolina P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Oregon P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Pensacola L.L.C., Cogent Healthcare of Tennessee P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Virginia Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Washington P.C., Cogent Medical Care P.C., Cogent Patient Safety Organization Inc., Cogent/Endion Medical Care of New York P.C., Collaborative Care Holdings LLC, Collaborative Care Services Inc., Collaborative Realty LLC, Colmedica Medicina Prepagada S.A., Colonial Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Colorado Innovative Physician Solutions Inc., Colorado Springs Surgery Center Ltd., Comfort Care Transportation LLC, Comprehensive Hospital Physicians of Florida Inc., ConnectYourCare Inc., ConnectYourCare LLC, Connecticut Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Connecticut Surgery Properties LLC, Connecticut Surgical Center LLC, Consorcio Regenero S.A., Constructora Inmobiliaria Magapoq S.A., Consumer Wellness Solutions Inc., Continuum Physicians Group Inc., Continuum Physicians Group of Washington PLLC, Cornell Surgicenter LLC, Cornerstone Surgery Center LLC, Cornerstone Surgicare LLC, Corpus Christi Endoscopy Center L.L.P., Country Scan Ltda., Critical Care Physician of New York P.C., Critical Care Physicians of Illinois LLC, Critical Care Physicians of New Jersey PC, Critical Care Physicians of Pennsylvania P.C., Cross Timbers Surgery Center LLC, Cypress Care Inc., DBP Services of New York IPA Inc., DSP Flint Real Estate LLC, DSP-Building C LLC, DTC Surgery Center LLC, DWIC of Tampa Bay Inc., Dallas Inpatient Specialist PLLC, Danbury Surgical Center L.P., Day-Op Surgery Consulting Company LLC, Definity Health, Dental Benefit Providers Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of California Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of Illinois Inc., Denton Endoscopy Surgery Center LLC, Denton Surgery Center LLC, Derry Surgical Center LLC, Diagnostico Ecotomografico Centromed Ltda., Diasnostico por Imagenes Centromed Ltda., Digestive Disease Center L.P., Dilab Medicina Nuclear Ltda., Diplomat Blocker LLC, Diplomat Corporate Properties LLC, Diplomat Pharmacy, Diplomat Pharmacy Inc., Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy Great Lakes Distribution Center LLC, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy of Chicago LLC, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy of Ft. Lauderdale LLC, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy of Los Angeles County LLC, Distance Learning Network Inc., Divisadero Holdings LLC, DocASAP Inc., DocASAP India Technologies Private Limited, DocASAP US LLC, Doctor + S.A.C., Dry Creek Surgery Center LLC, Dublin Surgery Center LLC, Duluth Surgical Suites LLC, Durable Medical Equipment Inc., E Street Endoscopy LLC, EM Orange Tree LLC, EP Campus I LLC, EPIC Health Plan, EPIC Management Services LLC, East Bay Endoscopy Center L.P., East Brunswick Surgery Center LLC, Echo Locum Tenens Inc., Electronic Network Systems Inc., Elual Participacoes S.A., Emerald Coast Surgery Center L.P., Emisar Pharma Services LLC, Emmaus Holdings LLC, Emmaus Surgical Center LLC, Empire Physician Management Company LLC, Empremedica S. A., Endion Hospitalist North P.C., Endion Hospitalist of Western New York P.C., Endion Medical Healthcare P.C., Endion Medical Services P.C., Endoscopy Center Affiliates Inc., Enterprise Life Insurance Company, Equian, Equian LLC, Equian Parent Corp., Esho Empresa de Servicos Hospitalares S.A., Everett MSO Inc., Excelsior Insurance Brokerage Inc., Executive Health Resources Inc., Executive Surgery Center L.L.C., Eye Clinic Oftalmologia Clinico Cirurgica e Diagnostico Ltda., Eye Specialists Surgery Centers LLC, FMG Holdings LLC, Family Health Care Services, Family Home Hospice Inc., Ferrell Physician Services P.C., Fideicomiso Clinica Barranquilla Portoazul FA-517, First Coast Orthopedic Center LLC, First Family Insurance LLC, Florence Surgery Center L.P., For Health Inc., For Health of Arizona Inc., Fort Sutter Medical Building a California Limited Partnership, Fort Worth Endoscopy Centers LLC, Fortified Provider Network Inc., Foundation Surgery Affiliate General of Huntingdon Valley LLC, Foundation Surgery Affiliate of Huntingdon Valley L.P., Franklin Surgical Center LLC, Freedom Life Insurance Company of America, Freeway Surgicenter of Houston LLC, Frontier Medex Tanzania Limited, FrontierMEDEX Inc., FrontierMEDEX Kenya Limited, FrontierMEDEX US Inc., Fundacion Banmedica, GLBESC LLC, GRANTS PASS SURGERY CENTER LLC, Gadsden Surgery Center LLC, Gainesville Surgery Center L.P., Gainesville Surgery Properties LLC, Genoa, Genoa Healthcare Inc., Genoa QoL Wholesale LLC, Genoa Technology Canada Inc., Genoa Technology Inc., Genoa Telepsychiatry Inc., Genoa of Arkansas LLC, Gladiolus Surgery Center L.L.C., Glenwood Surgical Center L.P., Glenwood-SC Inc., Global One Ventures LLC, Golden Gate Endoscopy Center LLC, Golden Outlook Inc., Golden Rule Financial Corporation, Golden Rule Insurance Company, Golden Triangle Surgicenter L.P., Grandview Surgery Center LTD., Greater New Haven ASC LLC, Greensboro Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Greenville Surgery Center LLC, Greenway Surgical Suites LLC, Grossmont Surgery Center L.P., Grove Place Surgery Center L.L.C., H&W Indemnity SPC Ltd., H.I. Investments Holding Company LLC, HCP ACO California LLC, HCentive Technology India Private Limited, HFHS-SCA Holdings LLC, HMG Holding Corporation, HMG Holdings LLC, HMP of Baltimore USH P.C., Harken Health Insurance Company, Harrison Endo Surgical Center LLC, Hawthorn Place Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., Hays JV Partners LLC, Hays Surgery Center LLC, Health Care-ONE Insurance Agency Inc., Health Inventures Employment Solutions LLC, Health Inventures LLC, Health Plan of Nevada Inc., HealthCare Partners ASC-LB LLC, HealthCare Partners Affiliates Medical Group, HealthCare Partners Management Services California LLC, HealthCare Partners RE LLC, HealthEast Surgery Center-Maplewood LLC, HealthFirst IPA Inc., HealthMarkets Group Inc., HealthMarkets Inc., HealthMarkets Insurance Agency Inc., HealthMarkets LLC, HealthMarkets Services Inc., HealthSCOPE Holdings Inc., HealthScope Benefits Inc., Healthcare Solutions Inc., Healthplex America LLC, Healthplex Dental Services Inc., Healthplex I.P.A. Inc., Healthplex Inc., Healthplex Insurance Company, Healthplex of CT Inc., Healthplex of DC Inc., Healthplex of MD Inc., Healthplex of ME Inc., Healthplex of NC Inc., Healthplex of NJ Inc., Healthplex of TX Inc., Heartland Heart and Vascular LLC, Help Seguros de Vida S.A., Help Service S.A., Help SpA, Hemonefro Hemodialise e Nefrologia Ltda, Highlands Ranch Healthcare LLC, Home Medical S.A., Honodav SpA, Hospice Inspiris Holdings Inc., Hospitais Associados de Pernambuco Ltda., Hospital Alvorada Taguatinga Ltda., Hospital Ana Costa S.A., Hospital Santa Helena S.A., Hospital de Clinicas de Jacarepagua Ltda., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of Broome County PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Binghamton P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Buffalo P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Newburgh P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Nyack P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Patchogue P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alabama TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alabama TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alaska TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alaska TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Goodyear Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Nogales Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Phoenix II Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Phoenix Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Sierra Vista Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Tucson II Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Tucson Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arkansas TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arkansas TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Buncombe County PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Apple Valley PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Bakersfield PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Camarillo PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Crescent City PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Fairfield PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Fremont PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Grass Valley PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Jackson PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Oceanside PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Oxnard PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Salinas PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - San Bernardino II PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - San Bernardino PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - San Leandro PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Sonoma PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Stockton II PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Stockton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Thousand Oaks PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Vacaville PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado - Brighton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado - Denver PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut - Manchester LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut - Rockville LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut - Wallingford LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of DC PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of DC TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of DC TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Delaware TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Delaware TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Ft. Lauderdale LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Jacksonville II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Jacksonville LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Palm Coast LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Fredericksburg LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - Atlanta PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - East Point PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - Lavonia PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - Savannah PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Hawaii - Kealakekua Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Hawaii TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Hawaii TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Idaho - Nampa PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Idaho TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Idaho TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Downers Grove LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Elmhurst LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Rockford LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Winfield LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana - Clinton LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana - Mishawaka LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana - Terre Haute LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa - Cedar Rapids PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa - Mason City PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas - Topeka LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas - Wichita II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas - Wichita LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana - Alexandria Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana - Bossier City Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana - Lake Charles Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana - Shreveport Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maine - Bangor PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maine - Lewiston PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maine TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maine TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Cheverly PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Cumberland PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Frederick PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Laurel PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Rockville PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Brockton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Dorchester PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Framingham PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Holyoke PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Natick PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Norwood PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Springfield PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Stoughton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Taunton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Worcester PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Alpena PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Dowagiac PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Escanaba PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Grand Blanc PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Grayling PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Kalamazoo PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Plainwell PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Port Huron PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Saginaw PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Tawas City PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Minnesota TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Minnesota TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Mississippi LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Mississippi TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Mississippi TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri - Bridgeton Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri - Richmond Heights Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Billings PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Butte PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Miles City PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Missoula PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Multiple Practice Sites LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nebraska TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nebraska TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Henderson Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Henderson II Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Las Vegas Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Las Vegas II Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada TCG Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada TCS Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Hampshire TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Hampshire TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Jersey - Hackensack PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Jersey - Paterson PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Jersey - TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Jersey TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Mexico - Clovis LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Mexico - Rio Rancho LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Mexico - TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Mexico - TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New York PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Burlington PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Clyde PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Elizabeth City PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Jacksonville PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - New Bern PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Rocky Mount PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Dakota TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Dakota TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Akron Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Batavia Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Canton Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Cincinnati II Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Cincinnati III Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Cincinnati Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Circleville Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Columbus II Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Columbus Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Dover Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - East Liverpool Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Fairfield Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Martins Ferry Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - 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Alexandria LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Front Royal II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Front Royal LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Mechanicsville LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Midlothian LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Richmond II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Richmond LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Winchester LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Arlington PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Auburn PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Bellingham PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Bremerton PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Burien PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Coupeville PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Enumclaw PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Federal Way PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Gig Harbor PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Lakewood PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Mount Vernon PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Puyallup PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Tacoma II PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Tacoma III PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Tacoma PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Vancouver PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington County LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia Martinsburg PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia South Charleston PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia Wheeling PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Wisconsin Ltd., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Wyoming - Casper LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Wyoming TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Wyoming TCS LLC, Hospitalists Management Group LLC, Humedica, Humedica Inc., Hygeia Corporation, Hygeia Corporation Ontario, IEC Holdings LLC, IHD Holdings LLC, INOV8 Surgical at Memorial City LLC, INSPIRIS of Texas Physician Group, Illinois Independent Care Network LLC, Imagen Technologies Inc., Impel Consulting Experts L.L.C., Impel Management Services L.L.C., InTouch Pharmacy LLC, Indiana Care Organization LLC, Indiana Endoscopy Centers LLC, Inland Surgery Center L.P., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3001 S.A., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3600 Ltda., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo S.A., Inmobiliaria Clinica Santa Maria S.A., Inmobiliaria Vinamed Ltda., Inmobiliaria e Inversiones Alameda S.A., Inpatient Services P.C., Inpatient Specialists of California P.C., Inspiris, Inspiris Inc., Instituto Radium de Cammpinas Ltda, Inter-Hospital Physicians Association Inc., International Healthcare Services Inc., Inversiones Clinicas Santa Maria SpA, Ironman Holdco Inc., Ironman Intermediate Holdco LLC, Isapre Banmedica S.A., JPM Healthcare LLC, Johnston Surgicare L.P., Joliet Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Jordan Ridge Family Medicine LLC, Joyable Inc., Kansal Inc. A Professional Corporation, Knox Diagnostic Imaging Center LLC, Kokomo Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, LDI Holding Company LLC, LDI Management Services LLC, LGH-A/Golf ASTC L.L.C., LHC Group, La Esperanza del Peru S.A., Laboratorio ROE S.A., Laboratorios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., Landmark Group Holdings LLC, Landmark Health Holdings LLC, Landmark Health LLC, Landmark Health NY IPA LLC, Landmark Health NY PO LLC, Landmark Health Technologies Private Limited, Landmark Health of California LLC, Landmark Health of Massachusetts LLC, Landmark Health of North Carolina LLC, Landmark Health of Oregon LLC, Landmark Health of Pennsylvania LLC, Landmark Health of Washington LLC, Landmark India LLC, Landmark Intermediate Holdings LLC, Landmark MSO LLC, Landmark Medical of Idaho PC, Landmark Medical of Massachusetts PLLC, Landmark Medical of Tennessee PC, Landmark Primary Care LLC, Laser Acquisition Holdings III LLC, Leehar Distributors LLC, Lemhi Ventures Fund I LP, Lemhi Ventures Fund II LP, Level2 Medical Services P.C. Alaska, Lexington Surgery Center Ltd., Liberty Anesthesia Services LLC, LifePrint Health Inc., LifeWell. Ltd. Co., Lifeprint Accountable Care Organization LLC, Limestone Medical Center LLC, Litomedica S.A., Logan Surgical Suites LLC, Lotten-Eyes Oftalmologia Clinica e Cirurgica Ltda., Louisville S.C. Ltd., Louisville-SC Properties Inc., Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center at Oakbrook Inc., Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center at Oakbrook L.P., Lusiadas - Parcerias Cascais S.A., Lusiadas A.C.E., Lusiadas Algarve S.A., Lusiadas S.A., Lusiadas SGPS S.A., Lutheran Campus ASC LLC, MAMSI Life and Health Insurance Company, MCNA Health Care Holdings LLC, MCNA Insurance Company, MCNA Systems Corp., MD Ops Inc., MD-Individual Practice Association Inc., ME AHS UC LLC, MGH/SCA LLC, MHC Real Estate Holdings LLC, MIAMI SURGERY CENTER LLC, MSLA Management LLC, Main Line Spine Surgery Center LLC, Managed Care of North America Inc., Managed Physical Network Inc., Mansfield Endoscopy Center LLC, March Holdings Inc., March Vision Care IPA Inc., March Vision Care Inc., March Vision Care of Texas Inc., Marin Health Ventures LLC, Marin Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Marin Surgery Holdings Inc., Marlin Holding Company LLC, Maryland Ambulatory Centers LLC, Maryland-SCA Centers LLC, Massachusetts Assurance Company Ltd. PIC, Massachusetts Avenue Surgery Center LLC, McKenzie Surgery Center L.P., MedExpress Primary Care West Virginia Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care Alabama LLC, MedExpress Urgent Care Inc. - Ohio, MedExpress Urgent Care Maine Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care New Hampshire Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care of Boynton Beach LLC, MedSynergies, MedSynergies LLC, Medical Clinic of North Texas PLLC, Medical Hilfe S.A., Medical Support Los Angeles Inc., Medical Surgical Centers of America Inc., Medical Transportation Services LLC, Melbourne Surgery Center LLC, Memorial City Holdings LLC, Memorial City Partners LLC, Memorial Houston Surgery Center LLC, MemorialCare Surgical Center at Orange Coast LLC, MemorialCare Surgical Center at Saddleback LLC, Mesquite Liberty LLC, Metro I Stone Management Ltd., Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of Tennessee, Midlands Orthopaedics Surgery Center LLC, Midwest Center for Day Surgery LLC, Mile High SurgiCenter LLC, Mississippi Medical Plaza L.C., Mobile Medical Services of New Jersey PC, Mobile-SC LTD., Modality Accountable Care Organisation Limited, Moen M.D. P.C., Mohawk Surgery Center LLC, Monarch Management Services Inc., Montgomery Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Monument Health LLC, Moore Orthopaedic Clinic Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Morris County Surgical Center LLC, Mt. Pleasant Surgery Center L.P., Multiangio Ltda., Murrells Inlet ASC LLC, Muskogee Surgical Investors LLC, Mustang Razorback Holdings Inc., My Wellness Solutions LLC, NAMM Holdings Inc., NPN IPA Washington PLLC, NSC Channel Islands LLC, NSC Greensboro LLC, NSC Greensboro West LLC, NSC Lancaster LLC, NSC Seattle Inc., NSC Upland LLC, Naperville Surgical Centre LLC, National Foundation Life Insurance Company, National Pacific Dental Inc., National Surgery Centers LLC, Navigator Health Inc., Nebraska Spine Hospital LLC, Neighborhood Health Partnership Inc., Netwerkes LLC, Nevada Pacific Dental, New Orleans Regional Physician Hospital Organization L.L.C., New West Physicians Inc., New York Proton Management LLC, Newton Holdings LLC, Niagara Hospitalist P.C., Nomad Buyer Inc., North American Medical Management California Inc., North Coast Surgery Center Ltd. a California Limited Partnership, North Dallas Surgical Center LLC, North Kitsap Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, North Puget Sound Oncology Equipment Leasing Company LLC, Northern Nevada Health Network Inc., Northern Rockies Surgery Center L.P., Northern Rockies Surgicenter Inc., Northern Utah Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Hills JV Partners LLC, Northwest Medical Group Alliance LLC, Northwest Spine and Laser Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Surgicare LLC, Northwest Surgicare Ltd. an Illinois Limited Partnership, OC Cardiology Practice Partners LLC, OCC MSO LLC, OSB Tecnologia e Servicos de Suporte Lda., Omesa SpA, OmniClaim LLC, Oncocare S.A.C., One World Surgery, Ophthalmology Surgery Center of Dallas LLC, Optimum Choice Inc., Optum Bank Inc., Optum Biometrics Inc., Optum Care Inc., Optum Care Networks Inc., Optum Care Services Company, Optum Care of New York Management Inc., Optum Clinics Holdings Inc., Optum Clinics Intermediate Holdings Inc., Optum Compounding Services LLC, Optum Digital Health Holdings LLC, Optum Direct To Consumer Inc., Optum Financial Inc., Optum Frontier Therapies Holdings LLC, Optum Frontier Therapies II LLC, Optum Frontier Therapies LLC, Optum Genomics Inc., Optum Global Solutions Colombia S.A.S., Optum Global Solutions India Private Limited, Optum Global Solutions International B.V., Optum Global Solutions Philippines Inc., Optum Government Solutions Inc., Optum Growth Partners Holdings Inc., Optum Growth Partners LLC, Optum Health & Technology Holdings US Inc., Optum Health & Technology Hong Kong Limited, Optum Health & Technology India Private Limited, Optum Health & Technology Servicos do Brasil Ltda., Optum Health & Technology Singapore Pte. Ltd., Optum Health & Technology US LLC, Optum Health Plan of California, Optum Health Services Canada Ltd., Optum Health Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, Optum Health Solutions UK Limited, Optum Health and Technology FZ-LLC, Optum Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services LLC, Optum Inc., Optum Infusion Services 100 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 101 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 103 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 200 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 201 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 202 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 203 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 204 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 205 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 206 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 207 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 208 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 209 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 301 LP, Optum Infusion Services 302 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 305 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 308 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 401 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 402 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 403 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 404 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 500 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 501 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 550 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 551 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 553 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 554 Inc., Optum Insurance of Ohio Inc., Optum Labs Inc., Optum Labs LLC, Optum Life Sciences Canada Inc., Optum Management Consulting Shanghai Co. Ltd., Optum Networks of New Jersey Inc., Optum Operations Ireland Unlimited Company, Optum Oregon MSO LLC, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Pennsylvania Inc., Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Texas Inc., Optum Perks LLC, Optum Pharma Services Holdings Inc., Optum Pharmacy 601 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 700 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 701 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 702 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 704 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 705 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 706 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 707 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 800 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 803 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 805 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 806 Inc., Optum Public Sector Solutions Inc., Optum Rocket LLC, Optum SCA CS JV Holdings LLC, Optum Senior Services LLC, Optum Services Inc., Optum Services Ireland Limited, Optum Services Puerto Rico LLC, Optum Solutions UK Holdings Limited, Optum Technology LLC, Optum UK Solutions Group Limited, Optum Venture Global Partners II LP, Optum Venture Global Partners LP, Optum Venture Partners II LP, Optum Venture Partners III LP, Optum Venture Partners LP, Optum Washington Network LLC, Optum Women's and Children's Health LLC, Optum of New York Inc., Optum360 LLC, Optum360 Services Inc., Optum360 Solutions LLC, OptumCare ACO New Mexico LLC, OptumCare ACO West LLC, OptumCare Clinical Trials LLC, OptumCare Colorado ASC LLC, OptumCare Colorado LLC, OptumCare Colorado Springs LLC, OptumCare Endoscopy Center New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Florida CI LLC, OptumCare Florida LLC, OptumCare Holdings Colorado LLC, OptumCare Holdings LLC, OptumCare Management LLC, OptumCare New Mexico LLC, OptumCare New York IPA Inc., OptumCare Portland LLC, OptumCare South Florida LLC, OptumCare Specialty Practices LLC, OptumHealth Care Solutions LLC, OptumHealth Holdings LLC, OptumHealth International B.V., OptumInsight Holdings LLC, OptumInsight Inc., OptumInsight India Private Limited, OptumInsight Life Sciences Inc., OptumRx Administrative Services LLC, OptumRx Discount Card Services LLC, OptumRx Group Holdings Inc., OptumRx Health Solutions LLC, OptumRx Holdings I LLC, OptumRx Holdings LLC, OptumRx Home Delivery of Ohio LLC, OptumRx IPA III Inc., OptumRx Inc., OptumRx NY IPA Inc., OptumRx PBM of Illinois Inc., OptumRx PBM of Maryland LLC, OptumRx PBM of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx PBM of Wisconsin LLC, OptumRx PD of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx Pharmacy Inc., OptumRx Pharmacy of Nevada Inc., OptumRx of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumServe Technology Services Inc., Oregon Healthcare Resources LLC, Oregon Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Orlando Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., OrthoNet Holdings Inc., OrthoNet LLC, OrthoNet New York IPA Inc., OrthoNet West Inc., OrthoNet of the South Inc., OrthoWest MSO LLC, Orthology Inc., Orthopedic Center of Palm Beach County LLC, Orthopedic Surgery Center of Palm Beach County LLC, Orthopro Management LLC, Ovations Inc., Owensboro Ambulatory Surgical Facility Ltd., Oxford Benefit Management Inc., Oxford Health Insurance Inc., Oxford Health Plans CT Inc., Oxford Health Plans LLC, Oxford Health Plans NJ Inc., Oxford Health Plans NY Inc., P2P Link LLC, PCCCV Inc., PHC Subsidiary Holdings LLC, PHYSICIANS DAY SURGERY CENTER LLC, PMI Acquisition LLC, PMSI Holdings LLC, PMSI Settlement Solutions LLC, POMCO Inc., POMCO Network Inc., PPH Holdings LLC, PPH Management Company L.L.C., PPH-Columbia Inc., PPH-Gardendale Inc., PS Center LLC, PacifiCare Health Systems, PacifiCare Life Assurance Company, PacifiCare Life and Health Insurance Company, PacifiCare of Arizona Inc., PacifiCare of Colorado Inc., Pacific Cardiovascular Associates Medical Group Inc., Pacific Casualty Company Inc., Pacifico S.A. Entidad Prestadora de Salud, Panama City Surgery Center LLC, Park Hill Surgery Center LLC, Parkway Surgery Center LLC, Patient Care Associates L.L.C., PatientsLikeMe, Patrimonio Autonomo Nueva Clinica, Payment Resolution Services LLC, Peninsula Eye Surgery Center LLC, Penzo Enterprises LLC, Peoples Health, Peoples Health Inc., Perham Physical Therapy LTD, Perimeter Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., Pharmaceutical Technologies LLC, Physician Alliance of the Rockies LLC, Physicians Health Choice of Texas LLC, Physicians Health Plan of Maryland Inc., Physicians' Surgery Center of Downey LLC, Pinnacle III LLC, Plano de Saude Ana Costa Ltda., Plus One Health Management Puerto Rico Inc., Plus One Holdings Inc., Pocono Ambulatory Surgery Center Limited, Polar II Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes Multiestrategia, Polo Holdco LLC, Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center Inc., Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Post-Acute Care Center for Research LLC, Practice Partners in Healthcare LLC, Preferred Care Network Inc., Preferred Care Network of Florida Inc., Preferred Care Partners Holding Corp., Preferred Care Partners Inc., Preferred Care Partners Medical Group Inc., PreferredOne, PreferredOne Administrative Services Inc., PreferredOne Insurance Company, Premier Choice ACO Inc., Premier Surgery Center of Louisville L.P., Premiere Medical Resources LLC, Presidio Surgery Center LLC, Prime Health Inc., PrimeCare Medical Network Inc., PrimeCare of Citrus Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Corona Inc., PrimeCare of Hemet Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Inland Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Moreno Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Redlands Inc., PrimeCare of Riverside Inc., PrimeCare of San Bernardino Inc., PrimeCare of Sun City Inc., PrimeCare of Temecula Inc., PrimeDoc St. Francis P.C., PrimeDoc of Richmond P.C., ProHEALTH Care Associates L.L.P., ProHEALTH Care Associates of New Jersey LLP, ProHEALTH Medical Management LLC, ProHealth Physicians ACO LLC, ProHealth Physicians Inc., ProHealth Proton Center Management LLC, ProHealth/CareMount Dental Management LLC, Procura Management Inc., Professional Coverage Services PLLC, Progressive Enterprises Holdings Inc., Progressive Medical LLC, Promotora Country S.A., Pronounced Health Solutions Inc., Prosemedic S.A.C., Prospero Benefits Management LLC, Prospero Care Management LLC, Prospero Management Services LLC, Providence & SCA Development LLC, Providence & SCA Off-Campus Holdings LLC, Providence & SCA On-Campus Holdings LLC, Providence & SCA Outreach Markets Holdings LLC, Pulse Platform LLC, QoL Acquisition Holdings Corp., R Cubed Inc., RABessler M.D. P.C., ROC Surgery LLC, ROCS Holdings LLC, RX Ricardo Campos Ltda., Rally Health Inc., ReMedics LLC, Real Appeal Inc., Redding Surgery Center LLC, Redlands Ambulatory Surgery Center, Redlands-SCA Surgery Centers Inc., Reliant MSO LLC, Reliant Medical Group Inc., Reliant Medical Group The Endoscopy Center LLC, Research Surgical Center LLC, Resonancia Magnetica de Colombia Ltda., Resonancia Magnetica del Country S.A., RightCare Solutions Inc., River Valley ASC LLC, Riverside Corporate Wellness LLC, Riverside Electronic Healthcare Resources Inc., Riverside Medical Management LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Meadowlands LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Newark LLC, Robert A. Bessler MD PLLC, Rockville Eye Surgery Center LLC, Rocky Mountain Health Maintenance Organization Incorporated, Rush Oak Brook Surgery Center LLC, SC Affiliates LLC, SCA AHN JV Holdings LLC, SCA Alaska Surgery Center inc., SCA Athens LLC, SCA Austin Holdings LLC, SCA Austin Medical Center Holdings LLC, SCA Aventura Holdings LLC, SCA BOSC Holdings LLC, SCA Bloomfield Holdings LLC, SCA Cedar Park Holdings LLC, SCA Clifton LLC, SCA Colorado Springs Holdings LLC, SCA Community Service Foundation, SCA Cottonwood Holdings LLC, SCA Danbury Surgical Center LLC, SCA Denver Holdings LLC, SCA Development LLC, SCA Duluth Holdings LLC, SCA Duncanville Holdings LLC, SCA Duncanville MSO LLC, SCA ESSC Holdings LLC, SCA Englewood Holdings LLC, SCA Global One Holdings LLC, SCA Greenway Holdings LLC, SCA Grove Creek Holdings LLC, SCA Guilford Holdings LLC, SCA Hays Holdings LLC, SCA Health Value Enterprise LLC, SCA Heartland Holdings LLC, SCA High Point Holdings LLC, SCA HoldCo Inc., SCA Holding Company Inc., SCA Holdings Inc., SCA IEC Holdings LLC, SCA Indiana Holdings LLC, SCA Lutheran Holdings LLC, SCA Maple Grove Holdings LLC, SCA Mohawk Holdings LLC, SCA Murrells Inlet LLC, SCA Northern Utah Holdings LLC, SCA Northwest Holdings LLC, SCA Outside New Jersey LLC, SCA Pacific Holdings Inc., SCA Pacific Surgery Holdings LLC, SCA Palisades Holdings LLC, SCA Pennsylvania Holdings LLC, SCA Pinnacle Holdings LLC, SCA Premier Surgery Center of Louisville LLC, SCA Providence Holdings LLC, SCA ROCS Holdings LLC, SCA Rockledge JV LLC, SCA Rush Oak Brook Holdings LLC, SCA SSSC Holdings LLC, SCA Sage Medical LLC, SCA Sage Medical MSO LLC, SCA San Diego Holdings LLC, SCA Skyway Holdings LLC, SCA South Ogden Holdings LLC, SCA Southwestern PA LLC, SCA Specialists of Florida LLC, SCA Specialty Holdings of Connecticut LLC, SCA Stonegate Holdings LLC, SCA Surgery Holdings LLC, SCA Surgicare of Laguna Hills LLC, SCA Teammate Support Network, SCA West Health Holdings LLC, SCA Westgreen Holdings LLC, SCA Woodbury Holdings LLC, SCA eCode Solutions Private Limited, SCA of Clarksville Inc., SCA-Albuquerque Surgery Properties Inc., SCA-Alliance LLC, SCA-Anne Arundel LLC, SCA-Applecare Partners LLC, SCA-Bethesda LLC, SCA-Blue Ridge LLC, SCA-Bonita Springs LLC, SCA-Brandon LLC, SCA-Castle Rock LLC, SCA-Central Florida LLC, SCA-Charleston LLC, SCA-Chatham LLC, SCA-Chevy Chase LLC, SCA-Citrus Inc., SCA-Colonial Partners LLC, SCA-Colorado Springs LLC, SCA-Connecticut Partners LLC, SCA-DRY CREEK LLC, SCA-Davenport LLC, SCA-Denver LLC, SCA-Denver Physicians Holdings LLC, SCA-Derry LLC, SCA-Doral LLC, SCA-Downey LLC, SCA-Dublin LLC, SCA-Encinitas Inc., SCA-Eugene Inc., SCA-First Coast LLC, SCA-Florence LLC, SCA-Fort Collins Inc., SCA-Fort Walton Inc., SCA-Franklin LLC, SCA-Frederick LLC, SCA-Freeway Holdings LLC, SCA-Ft. Myers LLC, SCA-GRANTS PASS LLC, SCA-Gainesville LLC, SCA-Gladiolus LLC, SCA-Glenwood Holdings LLC, SCA-Grove Place LLC, SCA-Hagerstown LLC, SCA-Hamden LLC, SCA-Hilton Head LLC, SCA-Honolulu LLC, SCA-Houston Executive LLC, SCA-IT Holdings LLC, SCA-Illinois LLC, SCA-JPM Holdings LLC, SCA-Kissing Camels Holdings LLC, SCA-MC VBP Inc., SCA-Main Street LLC, SCA-Marina del Rey LLC, SCA-Mecklenburg Development Corp., SCA-Memorial City LLC, SCA-Memorial LLC, SCA-Merritt LLC, SCA-Midlands LLC, SCA-Midway Management LLC, SCA-Mobile LLC, SCA-Mokena LLC, SCA-Morris Avenue LLC, SCA-Morris County LLC, SCA-Mt. Pleasant LLC, SCA-Naperville LLC, SCA-Naples LLC, SCA-New Jersey LLC, SCA-Newport Beach LLC, SCA-Northeast Georgia Health LLC, SCA-PORTLAND LLC, SCA-Palm Beach LLC, SCA-Palm Beach MSO Holdings LLC, SCA-Panama City Holdings LLC, SCA-Paoli LLC, SCA-Phoenix LLC, SCA-Pocono LLC, SCA-Practice Partners Holdings LLC, SCA-River Valley LLC, SCA-Riverside LLC, SCA-Riverside Partners LLC, SCA-Rockville LLC, SCA-Sacred Heart Holdings LLC, SCA-San Diego Inc., SCA-San Luis Obispo LLC, SCA-Sand Lake LLC, SCA-Santa Rosa Inc., SCA-Somerset LLC, SCA-South Jersey LLC, SCA-Sparta LLC, SCA-Spartanburg Holdings LLC, SCA-St. Louis Holdings LLC, SCA-St. Louis LLC, SCA-St. Lucie LLC, SCA-SurgiCare LLC, SCA-Swiftpath LLC, SCA-VERTA LLC, SCA-VLR Holdings Company LLC, SCA-Wake Forest LLC, SCA-Western Connecticut LLC, SCA-Westover Hills LLC, SCA-Winchester LLC, SCA-Winter Park Inc., SCA-Woodlands Holdings LLC, SCAI Holdings LLC, SCLHS-SCA Holdings LLC, SCP Specialty Infusion LLC, SHC Atlanta LLC, SHC Austin Inc., SHC Hawthorn Inc., SHC Melbourne Inc., SJ East Campus ASC LLC, SRPS LLC, SSSC Holdings LLC, SVHS-SCA Florida JV LLC, Sacred Heart ASC LLC, Saden S.A., Sage Medical Prof. LLC, Salem JV Holdings LLC, Salem Surgery Center LLC, Salveo Specialty Pharmacy Inc., San Diego Endoscopy Center, San Diego Sports and Minimally Invasive Surgery Center LLC, San Francisco Endoscopy Center LLC, San Luis Obispo Surgery Center a California Limited Partnership, Sand Lake SurgiCenter LLC, Santa Barbara Endoscopy Center LLC, Santa Cruz Endoscopy Center LLC, Santa Helena Assistencia Medica S.A., Santa Rosa Surgery Center L.P., Santos Administracao e Participacoes S.A., Sanvello Health Holdings LLC, Sanvello Health Inc., Sanvello Health Limited, Scanner Centromed S.A., Seashore Surgical Institute L.L.C., Seisa Servicos Integrados de Saude Ltda., Senate Street Surgery Center LLC, Senior Benefits L.L.C., Serquinox Holdings LLC, Servicios Integrados de Salud Ltda., Servicios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., Servicios Medicos Bio Bio Ltda., Servicios Medicos Ciudad del Mar Ltda., Servicios Medicos Santa Maria Ltda., Servicios Medicos Vespucio Ltda., Servicios de Entrenamiento en Competencias Clinicas Ltda., Serviclinica Inmobiliaria S.A., Serviclinica S.A. Ex Los Leones La Calera, Servisalud Inmobiliaria S.A., Servisalud S.A. Ex Los Carrera Quilpue, Shark Holdings P.C., Sierra Dental Plan Inc., Sierra Health Services Inc, Sierra Health Services Inc., Sierra Health and Life Insurance Company Inc., Sierra Health-Care Options Inc., Sierra Home Medical Products Inc., Sierra Nevada Administrators Inc., Sistema de Administracion Hospitalaria S.A.C., Small Business Insurance Advisors Inc., Sobam Centro Medico Hospitalar S.A., Sociedad de Inversiones Santa Maria SpA, Solstice Administration Services Inc., Solstice Administrators Inc., Solstice Administrators of Alabama Inc., Solstice Administrators of Arizona Inc., Solstice Administrators of Missouri Inc., Solstice Administrators of North Carolina Inc., Solstice Administrators of Texas Inc., Solstice Benefit Services Inc., Solstice Benefits Inc., Solstice Health Insurance Company, Solstice Healthplans Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Arizona Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Colorado Inc., Solstice Healthplans of New Jersey Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Ohio Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Tennessee Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Texas Inc., Solstice of Illinois Inc., Solstice of Minnesota Inc., Solstice of New York Inc., Solutran LLC, Somerset Outpatient Surgery L.L.C., Sound Inpatient Physicians Inc., Sound Inpatient Physicians Medical Group Inc., Sound Inpatient Physicians of Ohio LLC, Sound Inpatient Physicians of Texas I Inc., Sound Inpatient Physicians Michigan PLLC, Sound Intensivists of Nevada RBessler M.D. PLLC, Sound Kenwood Hospitalists of Cincinnati Inc., Sound Kenwood Hospitalists of Cincinnati LLC, Sound Physicians Advisory Services Inc., Sound Physicians Alaska Hospitalist Group LLC, Sound Physicians Anesthesiology of Texas PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Arizona Inc., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Georgia P.C., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Illinois LLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Kansas LLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Kentucky PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Louisiana Inc., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Michigan PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Nevada Bessler PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of South Carolina LLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Southern California P.C., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Texas PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Washington PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of West Virginia PLLC, Sound Physicians Holdings LLC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of Arizona Inc., Sound Physicians Intensivists of Georgia PC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of South Carolina LLC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of Virginia LLC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of Washington PLLC, Sound Physicians Palliative Care of Maryland P.C., Sound Physicians Telemedicine Inc., Sound Physicians of Florida IV LLC, Sound Physicians of Georgia III P.C., Sound Physicians of Hawaii Inc., Sound Physicians of Idaho PLLC, Sound Physicians of Illinois LLC, Sound Physicians of Indiana LLC, Sound Physicians of Iowa PLLC, Sound Physicians of Kankakee Illinois LLC, Sound Physicians of Massachusetts II P.C., Sound Physicians of Massachusetts Inc., Sound Physicians of New Jersey LLC, Sound Physicians of New York PLLC, Sound Physicians of North Carolina PLLC, Sound Physicians of South Carolina LLC, Sound Physicians of Wyoming LLC, South Arlington Surgical Providers LLC, South County Surgical Center LLC, South Sound Inpatient Physicians PLLC, Southern California Medical Practice Concepts LLC, Southland Hospitalists P.C., Southwest Medical Associates Inc., Southwest Michigan Health Network Inc., Southwest Surgery Center LLC, Southwest Surgical Center LLC, Space Coast Surgical Center Ltd., Spartanburg Surgery Center LLC, Specialists in Urology Surgery Center LLC, Specialized Pharmaceuticals Inc., Specialty Benefits LLC, Specialty Billing Solutions LLC, Specialty Surgical Center LLC, Spectera Inc., Spectera of New York IPA Inc., Sports and Spinal Physical Therapy Inc., St. Cloud Outpatient Surgery Ltd. a Minnesota Limited Partnership, St. Cloud Surgical Center LLC, St. Louis Cardiovascular Institute LLC, St. Louis Specialty Surgical Center LLC, Stonegate JV Partners LLC, Stonegate Surgery Center L.P., Summer Street ASC LLC, SunSurgery LLC, Surgery Center Holding LLC, Surgery Center at Cherry Creek LLC, Surgery Center at Cottonwood LLC, Surgery Center at Grove Creek LLC, Surgery Center at Kissing Camels LLC, Surgery Center at South Ogden LLC, Surgery Center at St. Vincent LLC, Surgery Center of Boca Raton Inc., Surgery Center of Colorado Springs LLC, Surgery Center of Des Moines LLC, Surgery Center of Easton LLC, Surgery Center of Ellicott City Inc., Surgery Center of Fairfield County LLC, Surgery Center of Fort Collins LLC, Surgery Center of Lexington LLC, Surgery Center of Louisville LLC, Surgery Center of Maui LLC, Surgery Center of Mt. Scott LLC, Surgery Center of Muskogee LLC, Surgery Center of Rockville L.L.C., Surgery Center of Southern Pines LLC, Surgery Center of The Woodlands LLC, Surgery Centers of Des Moines Ltd. an Iowa Limited Partnership, Surgery Centers-West Holdings LLC, Surgical Care Affiliates, Surgical Care Affiliates LLC, Surgical Care Affiliates Political Action Committee, Surgical Care Partners of Melbourne LLC, Surgical Caregivers of Fort Worth LLC, Surgical Center of Greensboro LLC, Surgical Center of San Diego LLC, Surgical Center of South Jersey Limited Partnership, Surgical Center of Tuscaloosa Holdings LLC, Surgical Eye Experts LLC, Surgical Health LLC, Surgical Health of Orlando LLC, Surgical Hospital Holdings of Oklahoma LLC, Surgical Management Solutions LLC, Surgicare LLC, Surgicare of Central Jersey LLC, Surgicare of Jackson LLC, Surgicare of Jackson Ltd. a Mississippi Limited Partnership, Surgicare of Joliet Inc., Surgicare of La Veta Inc., Surgicare of La Veta Ltd. a California Limited Partnership, Surgicare of Minneapolis LLC, Surgicare of Minneapolis Ltd. a Minnesota Limited Partnership, Surgicare of Mobile LLC, Surgicare of Mobile Ltd., Surgicare of Oceanside Inc., Surgicare of Owensboro LLC, Surgicare of Salem LLC, Surgicenters of Southern California Inc., Symphonix Health Holdings LLC, T.M. Carr M.D. P.C., THE SURGICAL CENTER OF THE TREASURE COAST L.L.C., THR-SCA Holdings LLC, TeamMD Holdings Inc., TeamMD Iowa Inc., TeamMD Physicians of Texas Inc., TeamUP Insurance Services Inc., Tecnologia de Informacion en Salud S.A., Texas Health Craig Ranch Surgery Center LLC, Texas Health Flower Mound Orthopedic Surgery Center LLC, Texas Health Orthopedic Surgery Center Alliance LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Alliance LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Bedford LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Chisholm Trail LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Irving LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Las Colinas LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Preston Plaza LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Rockwall LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Southwest Fort Worth LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Waxahachie LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Willow Park LLC, The Advisory Board Company, The Alaska Hospitalist Group LLC, The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company, The Eye Surgery Center of the Carolinas L.P., The Intensivist Group of Langhorne LLC, The Lewin Group Inc., The Outpatient Surgery Center of Hilton Head LLC, The Polyclinic MSO LLC, The Surgery Center of Easton L.P., The Surgical Center of Connecticut LLC, Thomas Johnson Surgery Center LLC, Three Rivers Holdings Inc., Three Rivers Surgical Care L.P., Tmesys LLC, Topimagem Diagnostico por Imagem Ltda., Touchpoint Health Plan, Trails Edge Surgery Center LLC, Trauma Surgery Affiliates LLC, Travel Express Incorporated, Treasure Valley Emerald Properties LLC, Treasure Valley Hospital Limited Partnership, Tri-City Medical Center ASC Operators LLC, Tri-County Surgery Center LLC, Trinity Cardiovascular Care PLLC, Tufts Health Freedom Insurance Company, Tufts Health Freedom Plans Inc., Tuscaloosa Surgical Center L.P., U.S. Behavioral Health Plan California, UCSD Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, UCSD Center for Surgery of Encinitas L.P., UCSD Surgical Center of San Diego LLC, UCSD-SCA Holdings I LLC, UCSD-SCA Holdings II LLC, UHC Finance Ireland Unlimited Company, UHC International Services Inc., UHC of California, UHCG Holdings Ireland Limited, UHCG Services Ireland Limited, UHCG FZE, UHG Brasil Participacoes S.A., UHG Holdings UK IV Limited, UHG Holdings UK V Limited, UHG Holdings UK VI Limited, UHIC Holdings Inc., UMR Inc., UPHT-SCA Holdings LLC, USHEALTH Academy Inc., USHEALTH Administrators LLC, USHEALTH Advisors LLC, USHEALTH Career Agency Inc., USHEALTH Funding Inc., USHEALTH Group Inc., USMD ASC IV1 LLC, USMD ASC IV2 LLC, USMD Administrative Services L.L.C., USMD Affiliated Services, USMD Holdings Inc., USMD Hospital at Arlington L.P., USMD Hospital at Fort Worth L.P., USMD Inc., USMD PPM LLC, Unidad Medica Diagnostico S.A., Unimerica Insurance Company, Unimerica Life Insurance Company of New York, Unison Health Plan of Delaware Inc., United Behavioral Health, United Behavioral Health of New York I.P.A. Inc., United Group Reinsurance Inc., United Health Foundation, United HealthCare Services Inc., United Medical Park ASC LLC, United Resource Networks IPA of New York Inc., United in Advancing Health Equity Foundation, UnitedHealth Advisors LLC, UnitedHealth Group Employee Assistance Fund, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, UnitedHealth Group International Finance Ireland Unlimited Company, UnitedHealth International Inc., UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services LLC, UnitedHealthcare Benefits Plan of California, UnitedHealthcare Benefits of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of California Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas L.L.C., UnitedHealthcare Consulting & Assistance Service Beijing Co. Ltd., UnitedHealthcare Europe S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Global Medical UK Limited, UnitedHealthcare Inc., UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of America, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of the River Valley, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Designated Activity Company, UnitedHealthcare Integrated Services Inc., UnitedHealthcare International Asia LLC, UnitedHealthcare International I B.V., UnitedHealthcare International II S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International III B.V., UnitedHealthcare International III S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International IV S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VIII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International X S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Parekh Insurance TPA Private Limited, UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley Inc., UnitedHealthcare Service LLC, UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits LLC, UnitedHealthcare of Alabama Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arizona Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arkansas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Colorado Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Florida Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Illinois Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Kentucky Ltd., UnitedHealthcare of Louisiana Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Mississippi Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New England Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New Mexico Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New York Inc., UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oklahoma Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oregon Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., UnitedHealthcare of South Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Utah Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Washington Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midlands Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Rockies Inc., Unity Health Network LLC, Upland Holdings LLC, Upland Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Urgent Care Holdings Inc., Urgent Care MSO LLC, Urology Associates of North Texas P.L.L.C., VERTA MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC, VPay Benefits Corporation, VPay Inc., VPay Intermediate Holdings LLC, Valley Hospital L.L.C., Valley Physicians Network Inc., Vascular Labs of the Rockies ASC LLC, Vascular Labs of the Rockies PLLC, Via Vitae MSO LLC, Vida Integra S.p.A., Vida Tres S.A., Virtua-SCA Holdings II LLC, Virtua-SCA Holdings LLC, Vivify Health Canada Inc., Vivify Health Inc., WESTMED Practice Partners LLC, Wake Forest Ambulatory Ventures LLC, Walnut Creek Endoscopy Center LLC, Walnut Hill Surgery Center LLC, Wauwatosa Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Wauwatosa Surgery Center LLC, Wayland Square Surgicare Acquisition L.P., Wayland Square Surgicare GP Inc., Waypoint Minnesota PC, WellMed Medical Management Inc., WellMed Medical Management of Florida Inc., West Coast Endoscopy Holdings LLC, WestHealth JV Holdings LLC, WestHealth Surgery Center LLC, Western Connecticut Orthopedic Surgical Center LLC, Westgreen Surgical Center LLC, Wilson Creek Surgical Center LLC, Winchester Endoscopy LLC, Winter Park LLC, Winter Park Surgery Center L.P., Woodbury Surgery Center LLC, XAS Infusion Suites Inc., XLHealth Corporation, XLHealth Corporation India Private Limited, divvyDOSE, divvyMED LLC, eCode Solutions LLC, gethealthinsurance.com Agency Inc., hCentive Inc., inPharmative Inc., naviHealth Care at Home LLC, naviHealth Coordinated Care LLC, naviHealth Coordinated Care SC P.C., naviHealth Holdings LLC, naviHealth Inc., naviHealth Michigan HBPC P.C., and naviHealth SM Holdings Inc.. Read More The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation provides a range of financial products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and Other segments. The Securities Services segment offers custody, trust and depositary, accounting, exchange-traded funds, middle-office solutions, transfer agency, services for private equity and real estate funds, foreign exchange, securities lending, liquidity/lending services, prime brokerage, and data analytics. This segment also provides trustee, paying agency, fiduciary, escrow and other financial, issuer, and support services for brokers and investors. The Market and Wealth Services segment offers clearing and custody, investment, wealth and retirement solutions, technology and enterprise data management, trading, and prime brokerage services; and clearance and collateral management services. This segment also provides integrated cash management solutions, including payments, foreign exchange, liquidity management, receivables processing and payables management, and trade finance and processing services. The Investment and Wealth Management segment offers investment management strategies and distribution of investment products, investment management, custody, wealth and estate planning, private banking, investment, and information management services. The Other segment engages in the provision of leasing, corporate treasury, derivative and other trading, corporate and bank-owned life insurance, renewable energy investment, and business exit services. It serves central banks and sovereigns, financial institutions, asset managers, insurance companies, corporations, local authorities and high net-worth individuals, and family offices. The company was founded in 1784 and is headquartered in New York, New York. By Vidya : Mumbai police has issued a notice to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for threatening and giving ultimatum to production houses who have hired Pakistani artists. The notice is under section 149 of Indian Penal Code for unlawful assembly. The section 149 reads as - Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object. If an offence is committed by any member of an unlawful assembly in prosecution of the common object of that assembly, or such as the members of that assembly knew to be likely to be committed in prosecution of that object, every person who, at the time of the committing of that offence, is a member of the same assembly, is guilty of that offence. advertisement NOTICE ISSUED TO CHITRAPAT SENA The notice has been issued to the Chitrapat Sena which is an association of film workers headed by Amey Khopkar. The notice says that the police has came to know about MNS planning to threaten Pakistani artists after the Uri terror attack and that they have threatened that if these Pakistani artists do not leave then they will be "taught a lesson in MNS style". The notice also reiterates that Mumbai police fears that there could be law and order problem and so MNS should not indulge in such activities. Also read: MNS at it again; gives 48-hour ultimatum to Pakistani artists to leave India The notice elaborates that if there is any unlawful assembly or a situation where law and order goes out of hand and disturbs the peace in the city then there would be cognizable offences that would be registered and cases against them would proceed in the court of law. The notice was issued on Saturday evening by Milind Idekar, the senior police inspector of Mahim police station. MNS had made the announcement on Friday morning saying that the 'clock has started to tick.' The ultimatum by the party members ends on Sunday morning. Also read: MNS men ransack censor board office in Mumbai --- ENDS --- Sharad Sonawane who won the 2014 assembly elections from Junnar Constituency in Pune district has recently formed his own outfit "Aapla Manus, Aapli Aaghadi". By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: MNS supremo Raj Thackeray's woes continue to grow. After being reduced to just one seat from a potential 13 in the Maharashtra assembly, Raj Thackeray may soon loose this lone MLA as well. NEW CHALLENGE Sharad Sonawane who won the 2014 assembly elections from Junnar Constituency in Pune district has recently formed his own outfit "Aapla Manus, Aapli Aaghadi" ( Your Man, Your Front). The office of this local outfit was inaugurated in Junnar recently. advertisement Addressing a Press Conference after floating his own party Sonawane said "I have formed this party for the local body elections, I have not resigned from the party". But sources close to Sonawane said that the MLA is distancing himself from the party as he believes that the fortunes of the party are dwindling. Any association with a party like MNS that is on the down slide may loosen his grip on local politics. CONFUSION OVER SONAWANE'S STATUS Sonawane apparently has also not been happy in the party right from the beginning. The MNS that had 13 MLAs in the 2009 assembly lost all the seats in 2014. Some of its top leaders like Ram Kadam , Pravin Darekar and Vasant Gite shifted to the BJP. Kadam retained his Ghatkopar seat on a BJP ticket while Darekar was elected to the Upper house. The MNS meanwhile is in a state of confusion over Sonawane's status. "Even though he has formed his own party, Sonawane will technically continue to be MNS MLA as he has not resigned from the party", said a senior leader from the MNS. ALSO READ: MNS attacks Ae Dil Hai Mushkil: Raj Thackeray's unrequited love for Bollywood and Mumbai MNS at it again; gives 48-hour ultimatum to Pakistani artists to leave India --- ENDS --- PM Modi, who arrived in an IAF aircraft at Karipur International Airport, took a helicopter to a stadium near the venue where he is addressing a public meeting of his party workers. By India Today Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kozhikode today evening to take part in the BJP National Council meeting, that began a day ago. He was received by top state and national level party leaders. Modi, who arrived in an IAF aircraft at Karipur International Airport, took a helicopter to a stadium near the venue where he addressed a public meeting of his party workers. This is PM's first public address after the attack on army base in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri sector in which 18 jawans were martyred. advertisement HERE ARE THE LIVE UPDATES: India should be free from atrocities against women: Modi The nation should be free of pollution, corruption, unemployment: Modi India should be a nation free of injustice: Modi Our nation should be free from prejudices and stand in unity: Modi India should be free form poverty and prosperous in the 21 century: Modi Pandit Deen Dayal Updhyay birth anniversary will be observed as the welfare of poor: Modi The future of our nation depends on peace and unity: Modi Change will happen when Pakistani citizenry come to forward to fight against terrorism: Modi Lets fight infant mortality rate and pregnancy deaths in both the countries: Modi I want to tell children in Pakistan to fight towards illiteracy. Lets wage a war against illiteracy and see which nation wins: Modi Both nations gained independence at the same time, why does India exports software and while you export terrorism? Modi They should ask leaders to first focus on their own issues: Modi Pakistanis should ask their leaders that why are they not able to manage PoK, Sindh, Gilgit,Pashtunistan and Balochistan: Modi I want to remind the citizens of Pakistan that before 1947 your ancestors too paid respects to this great nation: Modi Now they are reading speeches written by terrorists and singing songs about Kashmir: Modi Leaders of the neighboring nation claimed to be prepared for a 1,000 battles, where is their bravery?: Modi Our Army, CRPF, BSF and our entire security forces have been consistently winning the battles. It is not merely because of arms, but the collective will power of the nation which is their strength: Modi The 125 crore citizens are proud of the security forces and their efforts to eliminate those threatening our nation: Modi Security forces and army have worked to protect the nation from the 17 incidents in the past: Modi In the past few months 110 terrorists were executed by our Army: Modi These fidayeen attackers were shot down near the LoC by our soldiers: Modi Over 17 times in the past, fidayeen attackers attempted to attack the nation. Our brave soldiers have foiled their plans: Modi India is prepared to answer the perpetrators in their language: Modi Those involved in Uri attack should remember that India will never forget this: Modi Terrorism is the enemy of humanity. We will not bow down before the terrorists: Modi My government has worked towards rescuing the daughters of Kerala from the terrorists: Modi The people of Kerala know what is terrorism. Terrorists have abducted the daughters of Kerala who worked as nurses in the foreign nations: Modi Every Asian country is blaming one nation for terrorism. This one nation is exporting terror everywhere: Modi This country is infamous for offering haven for terrorists like Osama Bin Laden across the world: Modi There is one nation that is obstructing the growth of Asia and working towards spreading terror and killings of innocents: Modi Asian countries are working towards contributing to making the most of 21 century: Modi Fishermen, labourer, farmer, the government is here to empower all. Our schemes are focused on social welfare: Modi Sacrifices of BJP workers in Kerala will not go in vain: Modi Kerala is has potential to become the best state in the country. BJP will provided all the support for the state's growth: Modi Even before joining politics, I have been fortunate to be involved with the work of the party. All the top leaders and their thoughts have shaped our party: Modi Kerala BJP activists have sacrificed and suffered atrocities. They have not come to power, yet they continue to toil and work towards bringing the party to power and inspire people here: Modi Mahatma Gandhi, Deen Dayal Upadhyay, Ram Manohar Lohia - three great thinkers of the last century whose works and efforts have influenced the governance today: Modi It was 50 years ago that Deen Dayal Updhyay took over Bharatiya Jan Sangh, but there was no political discourse on it then: Modi I don't think any discussion on Bharatiya Jan Sangh took place 50 years ago. The party raised to top ranks in the last 50 years: Modi Every leader I met in the Gulf countries praised the work, ethics and discipline of Indians especially Malayalis. It is a matter of pride for me: Modi I visited the Middle Eastern nations, but it was not merely for diplomatic affairs, but also to meet Malayalis serving there: Modi Malayalis are respected across the country: Modi Gods own country evokes a spiritual feeling. The devotion and spirituality is not because of the land but because of the people, saints and culture here: Modi He wins the crowd by greeting them in Malayalam. Express gratitude in Malayalam Modi welcomes, Gadkari, Rajnath, Kerala BJP leaders, Centre and state ministers and the crowd. Those resorting violence and propaganda against BJP will not be spared. They will be dealt democratically: Amit Shah Attacks and violence will not stop BJP or its development works. Those using these tactics are delusional. BJP workers will strive and work towards progress: Amit Shah Ever since the inception of BJP activities in Kerala, we have been subjected to attacks: Amit Shah Janadhan, Ujwala, Startup, PM crop irrigation and through several other schemes we are living Upadhyay's aim of uplifting the poor. Our schemes will realize Deen Dayal Upadhay's welfare schemes: Amit Shah We sought the support of the people and they gave as 15 per cent votes and supported us. We express our gratitude to the people of Kerala: Amit Shah. Only got 15 per cent votes in the last Kerala elections, overwhelmed with the huge gathering for Modi: Amit Shah With the large turnout, we are confident that Kerala will have BJP government in the next elections: Amit Shah BJP leadership under PM Modi has accelerated the efforts to abolish poverty in the last 2.5 years: Amit Shah Amit Shah evokes Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay become legend. Announces to celebrate Upadhyay's birth anniversary in presence of PM Modi in Kozhikode. Welcomes Narendra Modi, LK Advani, Kerala BJP leaders, Centre and State Ministers. Amit Shah addresses the crowd with chants of Bharat Mata ki jai. After the public meeting, Modi will chair a meeting of top party functionaries. In the night he will meet three Christian bishops at the Kozhikode Guest House, where for the first time a Prime minister of the country is staying overnight. On Sunday, Modi will again take part in the party meeting. He will also meet up with state level leaders of NDA allies in Kerala. Modi will also partake of the traditional 'Onam' feast and then return to Delhi. Watch the video here: --- ENDS --- Hopewell Community Park remains a 'labor of love' for local community The lush green park is a product of the combined efforts of the Hopewell Township community and a symbol of decades of conservation efforts in Beaver County. Clay County tax official faces allegations in criminal and civil court A Clay County tax official faces allegations that could land her in prison if proven, and the county seeks to oust her from office. Torin Halsey/Times Record News Johnny Dormier, recovering from a stroke last year, talks with Sherry Dennis, an in-home caregiver from Visiting Angels, while she washes dishes in his home. The service also helps clients who need assistance with household chores, shopping, exercise and more. SHARE Torin Halsey/Times Record News Katie Stone, a certified nursing assistant, helps Fred Mount with some light physical therapy as he recovers in his home from a surgical procedure. Stone works for Visiting Angels, an in-home service for elders to help with a wide variety of everyday tasks that may allow an elderly person to remain in their own home longer, instead of going to an assisted living center. Service can be provided on an hourly basis or around the clock. Torin Halsey/Times Record News Visiting Angels caregiver Katie Stone, a certified nursing assistant, helps Fred Mount use his walker to get around his home after a recent surgery. His wife, Wanda, right, also has used the in-home elder care company for help after previous surgeries. Visiting Angels can help with errands, laundry, cooking, house cleaning and hygiene assistance. Torin Halsey/Times Record News Visiting Angels caregiver Sherry Dennis helps Johnny Dormier prepare a meal at his home in Iowa Park. Dormier suffered a stroke in 2015, and Visiting Angels began providing services earlier this year. The in-home, nonmedical elder care company provides such services as housekeeping, meal preparation, cleaning, physical assistance, errands and grocery shopping. By Ted Buss, Special to the Times Record News The growing trend for senior lifestyles today is the concept of "aging in place." Because people are living longer, healthier lives, there is a natural desire to remain surrounded by the comforts and memories of their own home. An American Association of Retired Persons study in 2015 showed 90 percent of today's older Americans prefer to remain in their own home as opposed to retirement or nursing facilities. However, the aging process eventually leads to most everyone needing some outside assistance whether it is meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, errands and appointments, bathing/showering, physician visits, grocery shopping and more. This is where Visiting Angels comes in. Under the direction of Derik Schneider, Visiting Angels offers living assistance services in Wichita Falls and Lawton, Oklahoma. Nationwide, more than 500 Visiting Angels locations bridge the gap with services that help seniors remain active, healthy and secure in their own homes indefinitely. "I grew up being close to my dad and grandfather," Schneider said. "I saw how each of them wanted to remain surrounded by friends and families in their own comfortable environments. It made an impression on me to the point that Visiting Angels became a career choice." Schneider, a 2003 graduate at Midwestern State University, lives in Wichita Falls with his wife Sarah and their two children. He opened Visiting Angels here and in Lawton in 2013. The client roll here is well over 200, and trained caregivers number up to 125. "The scope of what we do varies along with the amount of time a client may need us," he said. "It could be a two-hour visit on a Friday to help pick up around the house or grocery shop, or it could be 24/7 shift care, live-in care or weekends and holidays. It depends on what the person needs. We sit down with the senior and family members and work in conjunction with what they require. We'll match needs to specific caregivers and let them meet their caregiver for questions and answers. "Our commitment is clear," he added. "We help your loved one to continue living at home in a natural state of where they want to be, and we help family members find peace of mind." Currently Visiting Angels here and in Lawton works with 45 retired veterans through a contract with the Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs. Visiting Angels also works in collaborative relationships with Hospice and the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. "We partner with agencies," he said. "Our license is not medical. We don't administer medication, but we do things that other agencies may not have time to do. If a person has trouble getting in and out of the shower, we're there to help. We work through whatever insurance may be available to assist in costs." Remaining at home, however, can be a challenge because the home a person grew older in may not be senior friendly. Doorways may be too narrow, cupboards too hard to reach and bathroom fixtures that are potentially hazardous. Social scientist Susan Bosak quipped, "It becomes a challenge because we live in Peter Pan houses designed for people who never grow old." AARP recently teamed with the National Association of Home Builders to create a plan to help modify residences for the elderly. Changes can include touchless faucets, accessible kitchen drawers rather than cabinets, nonslip flooring in bathrooms, doorways and ramps for wheelchair accessibility, lower light switches, or easier access to cars. "To many, a home is more than just meeting our need for shelter," Schneider said. "It holds our memories. It is where we can be ourselves and age gracefully." Visiting Angels can be reached by calling 940-257-6265. It is located in the Union Square building at 1401 Holliday, suite 330. Masiuddin is in NIA custody. He had two handlers - ISIS India head Shafi Armar, now in Syria, and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen's Abu Suleman, a terrorist from Bangladesh. By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: Mohammad Masiuddin was a travelling terrorist till authorities arrested him two months ago. Better known as Musa, the 25-year-old from West Bengal's Birbhum district emerged as the face of trans-national, trans-organisational jihad, which is the newest threat to India's security even as the country fights Pakistansponsored terrorism on the western borders. HAD TWO ISIS HANDLERS The man in the National Investigation Agency's custody had two handlers-ISIS India head Shafi Armar who's now based in Syria, and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen member Abu Suleman, a Bangladeshi national and a wanted terrorist. advertisement RADICALISED ONLINE Musa had moved from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu where he worked at a shop in Tirupur. Like many ISIS recruits, he got radicalised online. A terror plan in mind, he recced his carefully chosen targets in J and K and West Bengal. But what surprised even the NIA was when he appeared in a YouTube video, raising the ISIS flag in downtown Srinagar. Also Read: Iraqi PM vows to end ISIS as troops launch operation to take back Mosul India has the world's third largest Muslim population at nearly 175 million but only a handful of them have joined the West Asian group. However, JMB, which is aspiring to set up a Bangladeshi Caliphate, has been active in India and has set up base in states like West Bengal, Jharkhand and Assam. Analysts say growing radicalisation in the neighbouring country has made it a hotbed for ISIS-inspired extremists who could spill over to India or weave alliances to carry out attacks. ARMAR'S RISE THROUGH TERROR Musa is the Indian face of ISIS JMB, an ominous symbol of new kind of terrorism. He travelled to Kokata and Srinagar to recce targets on instructions from Shafi Armar alias Yusuf Al Hindi who asked him to hit foreign nationals from the United States, UK, Canada and Israel. Also read: Clinton says Trump gives 'aid, comfort' to ISIS recruiters Armar started off as a member of the banned militant outfit Indian Mujahideen. In early 2009, he fled to Pakistan with a few of its top-ranking members - including Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal. He later left IM to join ISIS and is involved in recruiting and luring Indian youth. Musa told NIA and Bangladeshi interrogators who visited Kolkata to question him this month that Abu Suleman was his handler for JMB. Even as a siege unfolded on July 1 at a Dhaka cafe that shook the world, India watched with bated breath as Rapid Action Bangladesh (RAB) forces dealt with one of the deadliest terror attacks there. advertisement KEY LINKS FOUND The key link to the strike emerging from India was not just Indian televangelist Zakir Naik who is under the home ministry scanner, but also the links to the JMB wing owing allegiance to ISIS. Soon after the attack, Suleman, a wanted man, was suspected to have slipped into West Bengal. He had earlier visited India twice, raising alarm bells in the security establishment. When asked by Suleman to join JMB full-time, Musa simply said, "I have a family." In India, Suleman attempted to set up a JMB module with the help of Musa, who was then working in Tirpur. Musa's journey to the JMB-ISIS module began in June 2015, when he liked a Facebook page of ISIS Bangladesh from the id Sabilillahkhan. He was instantly contacted by Suleman, also known as Jihadi John. Also read: ISIS recruits from Kerala: 11 out of 22 missing Keralites suspected to be in Syria NIA BREAKTHROUGH Musa had Rs 60,000 in his bank account, money he had saved by selling a small property. He used his own money to travel to both Bengal and Kashmir. He took the long route to Srinagar, reaching till Jammu by train and then taking a bus. Musa then visited Kolkata where he reportedly bought a 13-inch machete. He then boarded the Visva Bharati passenger train from Howrah and left for his hometown in Birbhum. Acting on specific intelligence by the NIA, he was picked up by GRP and Burdwan police. --- ENDS --- advertisement Providence, R.I. As the two leading presidential candidates tout competing campaign proposals to provide paid leave to care for a baby, the three states that already have such programs show how it could work. The proposals from Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump are significantly different in how they'd be funded and who they'd help. But they have a clear precedent: not just the dozens of other rich countries that guarantee time off to care for a child or a sick family member, but also California, New Jersey and Rhode Island. "It's working fine in all three states," said Jane Waldfogel, a professor at Columbia University's School of Social Work who has studied the effects and said the benefits are greatest for lower-income workers who don't get any paid time off. California pioneered paid family leave in 2004, followed by New Jersey in 2009 and Rhode Island in 2014. New York will have the nation's most generous program when it launches in 2018, and many other states are considering similar laws that pay for the benefits in the same way they pay for disability insurance. Leave for fathers Fathers, who would be excluded from Trump's maternity leave program, are increasingly signing up for plans in the three states that allow paid family leave. "A lot of moms can get stressed out with a newborn child," said Ryan Smith, of Cranston, Rhode Island, who took two weeks of state-paid leave this year to bond with his newborn daughter. "When there are two parents there, it's definitely better than one." Questioning benefits Not all researchers are confident paid leave is helping young mothers. A paper co-authored in 2014 by Solomon Polachek an economics professor at the State University of New York at Binghamton who studied California's program found that the number of young women in the labor force increased as a result of paid leave, but so did the number of young women who were unemployed, along with the duration of time they were unemployed when compared with men and older women. "Basically what happened is this law induced more young women to enter the labor market or stay in the market as opposed to dropping out," Polachek said. "At the same time, companies looked at it and were a bit more reluctant to hire women." That's not enough to worry paid family leave's champions, who question that study's methods and argue the societal benefits go beyond job numbers. For now the program also gives Rhode Island an advantage in retaining a workforce to improve its economy, said state Sen. Gayle Goldin, a Providence Democrat who introduced the paid family leave legislation in 2013. Candidates' proposals Clinton's plan would guarantee 12 weeks of paid leave and cover about 67 percent of a person's salary, up to a certain cap. Trump's plan, which his daughter Ivanka unveiled this month, would offer six weeks, but only to mothers who gave birth to the child. Unlike Clinton's plan or what the states provide, it would exclude men, adoptive parents and people caring for relatives who are seriously ill. Clinton says she would pay for hers with higher taxes on the wealthiest Americans, while Trump says he would pay for his by cutting unemployment insurance fraud. State plan differences California: Leave covers 55 percent of a person's salary for up to six weeks, and limits pay to $1,129 weekly. A new law passed this year will expand the pay to 60 percent of wages starting in 2018, or 70 percent for low-income workers. The program is funded through employee-paid payroll taxes. Just over 249,000 parents used it to bond with a child in the fiscal year that ended in June; nearly 36 percent were men. New Jersey: Leave covers about 67 percent of wages for six weeks, limited to $615 weekly. About 25,000 New Jersey residents used the state's paid leave to bond with a new child in 2014, the most recent year for which data are available; nearly 13 percent were men. Rhode Island: Leave covers 60 percent of wages for four weeks, limited to $817 weekly. It's funded by employee payroll taxes and run through the state's temporary disability program. It also includes job protection that covers more people than those protected by federal leave policies. Nearly 3,100 claimants used it for bonding with a child so far this year; 37 percent were men. New York: Its family leave law won't take effect until 2018, but it will be the most generous of any U.S. paid leave program so far. It will provide 50 percent of wages for up to eight weeks when the program launches, and 67 percent of wages for up to 12 weeks by 2022, as well as job protection. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 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. Hyderabad and Qutbullahpur area of Telengana on received a cumulative rainfall of 7.6 and 5 cm of rain overnight. By Ashish Pandey: The Hyderabad city on received a cumulative rainfall of 7.6 cm since Thursday night while on Friday- Saturday night Qutbullahpur area of Telengana received 5 cm of rain overnight. As the IMD has predicated more rain CM K Chandrashekhar Rao instructed officials to seek help of Army as well as NDRF. The army unit put on standby and deployed at ALwal Are under GHMC. advertisement The Urban Development and Information Minister K Tarak Ramarao along with Home minister N Narsimha Reddy, GHMC Mayor B Rammohan, and commissioner Janardhan Reddy conducted a high level meeting with Army NDRF and other officials on Friday-Saturday Night at GHMC control room. He also visited Qutbullahpur, Alwal, MAlkajgiri which is worse affected to assess the situation. The Warangal district on Friday received very heavy rainfall. Dharmasagar of the district recorded 181.4 MM of rain in Telangana while Pidgurala of Guntur district Andhra Pradesh received 204.2 mm of rain yesterday. The CM of Andhra Pradesh too conducted a review meeting with the officials and directed them to provide immideate relief to all those affected. Meanwhile a total of 13 rain related deaths reported from both the Telugu states. Maximum death reported in Andhra Pradesh as 4 more people lost their life on Friday mounting the toll to nine while in Medak district of Telangana, four persons were killed in rain-related incidents. --- ENDS --- Melissa Deletant, who graduated from Maplewood High School in 1999, will receive the 2016 Utah Elementary Educator of the Year award in February. [September 23, 2016] U.S. FDA Approves Labeling Update of REXULTI (brexpiprazole) For Maintenance Treatment of Schizophrenia Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (Otsuka) and H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the labeling update of REXULTI (brexpiprazole) to reflect clinical data for maintenance treatment of schizophrenia. The approval was based on results from a long-term randomized withdrawal trial in adults with schizophrenia aged 18 to 65 years. "There are approximately 2.4 million adults in the U.S. with schizophrenia1 and 75% of patients2 experience relapses where their symptoms return or worsen," said Dr. Christoph U. Correll, professor of psychiatry, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine and medical director, Recognition and Prevention Program (RAP), Zucker Hillside Hospital, both in New York. "These data, as included in the product labeling, confirm the utility of REXULTI in the maintenance treatment of patients with schizophrenia in order to help delay the time to relapse, giving patients and their physicians new data to consider when selecting an antipsychotic." Clinical Trial Results (Clinical Trials ID: NCT01668797) The safety and efficacy of REXULTI as maintenance treatment in adults with schizophrenia aged 18 to 65 years was demonstrated in a long-term randomized withdrawal trial. After cross-titration from a prior antipsychotic to REXULTI, and a 12-to 36-week, single-blind REXULTI stabilization phase, patients who had been symptomatically stable on REXULTI for 12 consecutive weeks in the stabilization phase were randomized in a double-blind treatment phase to either REXULTI (n=97) or placebo (n=105). Impending relapse during the double-blind phase was determined if patients met any of the following pre-specified criteria: worsening symptoms defined by changes in PANSS or CGI (News - Alert)-I scores; hospitalization for worsening psychotic symptoms; suicidal behavior or; violent/aggressive behavior. An interim analysis conducted after a pre-specified number of impending relapses (in order to minimize continued exposure to placebo) demonstrated a statistically significant longer time to relapse in patients randomized to REXULTI compared to placebo. The trial was subsequently terminated early because maintenance of efficacy had been demonstrated. The final analysis demonstrated a statistically significant longer time to relapse (hazard ratio: 0.292, p < 0.0001) in patients randomized to REXULTI (1 mg/day to 4 mg/day) compared to placebo. The key secondary endpoint, the proportion of subjects who met the criteria for impending relapse, was statistically significantly lower in REXULTI-treated patients compared with placebo group. About REXULTI (brexpiprazole) REXULTI was discovered by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in Japan and co-developed by Otsuka and Lundbeck. The mechanism of action for REXULTI in the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder or schizophrenia is unknown. However, the efficacy of REXULTI may be mediated through a combination of partial agonist activity at serotonin 5-HT 1A and dopamine D 2 receptors, and antagonist activity at serotonin 5-HT 2A receptors. REXULTI exhibits high affinity (subnanomolar) for these receptors as well as for noradrenaline alpha 1B/2C receptors. The drug was approved in the U.S. in July 2015 as an adjunctive therapy to antidepressants in adults with major depressive disorder and as a treatment in adults with schizophrenia. Otsuka and Lundbeck anticipate submitting a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA (News - Alert)) for the use of brexpiprazole in the treatment of adult patients with schizophrenia. INDICATIONS and IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION for REXULTI (brexpiprazole) INDICATIONS REXULTI is indicated for: Use as an adjunctive therapy to antidepressants in adults with major depressive disorder Treatment of schizophrenia in adults IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION WARNING: INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at increased risk of death. REXULTI is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis. WARNING: SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS Antidepressants increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in patients aged 24 years and younger. Monitor for clinical worsening and emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The safety and effectiveness of REXULTI have not been established in pediatric patients. Contraindication: In patients with known hypersensitivity reaction to brexpiprazole or any of its components. Reactions have included: rash, facial swelling, urticaria and anaphylaxis. Cerebrovascular Adverse Events, Including Stroke: In clinical trials, elderly patients with dementia randomized to risperidone, aripiprazole, and olanzapine had a igher incidence of stroke and transient ischemic attack, including fatal stroke. REXULTI is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS): NMS is a potentially fatal symptom complex reported in association with administration of antipsychotic drugs. Clinical signs of NMS are hyperpyrexia, muscle rigidity, altered mental status and evidence of autonomic instability. Additional signs may include elevated creatinine phosphokinase, myoglobinuria (rhabdomyolysis), and acute renal failure. Manage NMS with immediate discontinuation of REXULTI, intensive symptomatic treatment, and monitoring. Tardive Dyskinesia (TD): Risk of TD, and the potential to become irreversible, are believed to increase with duration of treatment and total cumulative dose of antipsychotic drugs. TD can develop after a relatively brief treatment period, even at low doses, or after discontinuation of treatment. For chronic treatment, use the lowest dose and shortest duration of REXULTI needed to produce a clinical response. If signs and symptoms of TD appear, drug discontinuation should be considered. Metabolic Changes: Atypical antipsychotic drugs have caused metabolic changes including: Hyperglycemia/Diabetes Mellitus: Hyperglycemia, in some cases extreme and associated with ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar coma or death, has been reported in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics. Assess fasting plasma glucose before or soon after initiation of antipsychotic medication, and monitor periodically during long-term treatment. Hyperglycemia, in some cases extreme and associated with ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar coma or death, has been reported in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics. Assess fasting plasma glucose before or soon after initiation of antipsychotic medication, and monitor periodically during long-term treatment. Dyslipidemia: Atypical antipsychotics cause adverse alterations in lipids. Before or soon after initiation of antipsychotic medication, obtain a fasting lipid profile at baseline and monitor periodically during treatment. Atypical antipsychotics cause adverse alterations in lipids. Before or soon after initiation of antipsychotic medication, obtain a fasting lipid profile at baseline and monitor periodically during treatment. Weight Gain: Weight gain has been observed in patients treated with REXULTI. Monitor weight at baseline and frequently thereafter. Leukopenia, Neutropenia, and Agranulocytosis: Leukopenia and neutropenia have been reported with antipsychotics. Agranulocytosis (including fatal cases) has been reported with other agents in this class. Monitor complete blood count in patients with pre-existing low white blood cell count (WBC)/absolute neutrophil count or history of drug-induced leukopenia/neutropenia. Discontinue REXULTI at the first sign of a clinically significant decline in WBC and in severely neutropenic patients. Orthostatic Hypotension and Syncope: Atypical antipsychotics cause orthostatic hypotension and syncope. Generally, the risk is greatest during initial dose titration and when increasing the dose. Monitor in patients vulnerable to hypotension, and those with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Seizures: REXULTI may cause seizures and should be used with caution in patients with a history of seizures or with conditions that lower the seizure threshold. Body Temperature Dysregulation: Use REXULTI with caution in patients who may experience conditions that increase body temperature (e.g., strenuous exercise, extreme heat, dehydration, or concomitant use with anticholinergics). Dysphagia: Esophageal dysmotility and aspiration have been associated with antipsychotics. including REXULTI, and should be used with caution in patients at risk for aspiration Potential for Cognitive and Motor Impairment: REXULTI has the potential to impair judgment, thinking, or motor skills. Patients should not drive or operate hazardous machinery until they are reasonably certain REXULTI does not affect them adversely. Concomitant Medication: Dosage adjustments are recommended in patients who are known cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 poor metabolizers and in patients taking concomitant CYP3A4 inhibitors or CYP2D6 inhibitors or strong CYP3A4 inducers. Most commonly observed adverse reactions: In clinical trials, the most common adverse reactions were: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) (adjunctive treatment to antidepressant therapy; =5% incidence and at least twice the rate of placebo for REXULTI vs. placebo, respectively): akathisia (9% vs. 2%) and weight increase (7% vs. 2%) (adjunctive treatment to antidepressant therapy; =5% incidence and at least twice the rate of placebo for REXULTI vs. placebo, respectively): akathisia (9% vs. 2%) and weight increase (7% vs. 2%) Schizophrenia (=4% incidence and twice incidence of placebo for REXULTI vs. placebo, respectively): weight increased (4% vs. 2%) Dystonia: Symptoms of dystonia may occur in susceptible individuals during the first days of treatment and at low doses. Pregnancy: Adequate and well-controlled studies to assess the risks of REXULTI during pregnancy have not been conducted. REXULTI should be used during pregnancy only if the benefit justifies the risk to the fetus. Lactation: It is not known if REXULTI is excreted in human breast milk. A decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. at 1-800-438-9927 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (www.fda.gov/medwatch) Please see accompanying FULL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION, including BOXED WARNING. About Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (OPDC) is an innovative, fast-growing healthcare company that discovers and develops new compounds that address unanswered medical needs and advance human health. With a focus on neuroscience, oncology, and cardio-renal treatments, OPDC is dedicated to improving the health and quality of human life. For more information, visit www.otsuka-us.com and follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) at @OtsukaUS. OPDC is a subsidiary of Otsuka America, Inc. (OAI), a holding company established in the U.S. in 1989. OAI is wholly owned by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The Otsuka Group employs approximately 42,000 people globally and its products are available in more than 80 countries worldwide. Otsuka welcomes you to visit its global website at http://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/index.php. About Lundbeck Lundbeck is a global pharmaceutical company specialized in brain diseases. For more than 70 years, we have been at the forefront of research within neuroscience. The key areas of focus are Alzheimer's disease, depression, Parkinson's disease and psychosis. An estimated 700 million people worldwide are living with brain disease and far too many suffer due to inadequate treatment, discrimination, a reduced number of working days, early retirement and other unnecessary consequences. Every day, we strive for improved treatment and a better life for people living with brain disease - we call this Progress in Mind. Our approximately 5,500 employees in 57 countries are engaged in the entire value chain throughout research, development, production, marketing and sales. Our pipeline consists of several late-stage development programs and our products are available in more than 100 countries. We have research centres in China and Denmark and production facilities in China, Denmark, France and Italy. Lundbeck generated core revenue of DKK 14.6 billion in 2015 (EUR 2 billion; USD 2.2 billion). For additional information, we encourage you to visit our corporate site www.lundbeck.com and connect with us on Twitter at @Lundbeck. Lundbeck in the U.S. In the U.S., Lundbeck employs more than 800 people focused solely on accelerating therapies for brain diseases. With a special commitment to the lives of patients, families and caregivers, Lundbeck US actively engages in hundreds of initiatives each year that support our patient communities. To learn more, visit us at www.LundbeckUS.com and connect with us on Twitter at @LundbeckUS. 1 The National Alliance of Mental Illness, Mental Illness Facts and Numbers. March 2013. Available at: http://www2.nami.org/factsheets/mentalillness_factsheet.pdf 2 British Medical Journal of Clinical Evidence. Schizophrenia (maintenance treatment). April 2009. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19445748 View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160923005874/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 23, 2016] World Leaders, Cultural Icons and NGOs Gather to Honor Heroes of the Global Campaign Against Violent Extremism A Tribute Ceremony to honor ten individuals and groups for their extraordinary contributions to the global campaign against violent extremism was held last night, September 22, at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160923005840/en/ Wolf Blitzer (Photo: Business Wire) The event, emceed by CNN's Wolf Blitzer, and co-hosted by a group of seven women leaders, including Sara Bloomfield, Director of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum; Irina Bokova, Director General of The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); Ambassador Esther Coopersmith, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador; Meera Ghandi, Founder and CEO, The Giving Back Foundation; Francine LeFrak of the Harvard Women's Leadership Board; Deborah Lehr, Chairman and Co-founder of The Antiquities Coalition, and Catherine Reynolds, Founder and CEO of the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation. The event included a posthumous tribute to Elie Wiesel by Ambassador Ronald Lauder in the presence of Marion Wiesel. Other speakers and dignitaries present included President Plevneliev of Bulgaria; President Nishani of Albania; Daniel H. Weiss, President of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and his predecessor, Emily Rafferty, President Emerita of The Metropolitan Museum of Art; the Archbishop of New ork Timothy Dolan; and jazz legend Herbie Hancock. The important contribution of religious leaders to peace and intercultural harmony was recognized in a tribute to three outstanding leaders: Rabbi Arthur Schneier, Founder and President of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation; Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See (represented by Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations); and Dr. Ali Goma'a, Grand Mufti Emeritus of Egypt, whose special envoy Dr. Waleed El-Ansary addressed the gathering on his behalf. The Heroes whose contribution to the global campaign to prevent and overcome violent extremism was celebrated at this event were: Abdihafid Yussef Abdi (Kenya), for his courageous and innovative work as a co-founder of Teachers Against Violent Extremism, a network of educators fighting radicalization in Kenya. Nicholas Kristof (USA), New York Times columnist, for his steady focus on the root causes and cultural and political ramifications of violent extremism. Turki Al-Dakhil (Saudi Arabia), Director General of Al-Arabiya TV, for his outspoken advocacy of tolerance, freedom of the press, the rights of minorities and women in the Gulf region. A team of students at the Rochester Institute of Technology (News - Alert) (USA), who won the Peer-to-Peer Challenging Extremism Initiative award organized by the State Department, for their innovative approach to countering hate speech on the internet. Nadia Murad (Iraq), a Yazidi woman who survived the massacre of her family and sexual enslavement by ISIS, for her valorous exposure of atrocities committed by terrorists against her people. Hafsat Mohammed (Nigeria), a former radio journalist turned civil society activist, for her resilient campaign against religious intolerance in Nigerian schools and for leading a grass root multi-faith effort to denounce Boko Haram. Serge and Beate Klarsfeld (France and Germany), for their lifetime dedication to expose and bring to justice Nazi war criminals, and their tireless efforts to use the lessons of history to denounce racism and bigotry. Emanuel Jal (South Sudan), musician, actor, former child soldier, and political activist, for his engagement to bring peace and reconciliation to his people through music and art. Li Yongjun (China), for his innovative leadership in preserving and promoting intangible cultural heritage in China and around the world. This event was made possible in part through the generous support of the French telecom company Orange (News - Alert) and the consumer products company Tylt. For photos of the event, please see https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tnxmpwrvz7r07d8/AAAYe23r6KqF-TJKigitPNqza?dl=0 View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160923005840/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 24, 2016] Huawei to Further its "Make in India" Commitment, Starts Smartphone Manufacturing in India NEW DELHI, September 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Made In India devices to hit Indian market as early as October, 2016 Reaffirming its commitment to India, Huawei today announced it will start to manufacture smartphones in India in collaboration with leading Sketch-to-Scale solutions provider, Flex, in October. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Hon'ble Union Minister, Information & Technology, Law and Justice made the announcement at Huawei's 'Make in India' inauguration ceremony in the Indian capital, New Delhi. Starting from first week of October 2016, the Flex manufacturing plant in Chennai will manufacture one of the Honor smartphones models. The plant will have the capacity to make three million units by the end of 2017. In addition, Huawei will be strengthening its after sales services in India with over 200 service centers, including more than 30 exclusive Huawei service centers in India. Underlining its customer-centric approach, Huawei Consumer Business Group will also expand its distribution network by partnering with more than 50,000 retail outlets by the end of 2016. This retail network will add to the existing 350+ distributors in India to create a comprehensive, nationwide distribution system. Huawei, over the years, has established global appreciation for its products, both under the Huawei and Honor brands. Announcing the manufacturing facility from Delhi, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Honb'le Union Minister, Information & Technology, Law and Justice said, "I would like to congratulate Huawei on their commitment to pursue their 'Make in India' vision. The Government of India is pleased to see so much enthusiasm for our "Make in India" initiative. We are working towards making India an electronic manufacturing hub. As India is set to become the second largest smartphone market, our government would like to invite even more businesses to come and manufacture in India. This is an opportune time to start manufacturing from India. The smartphone landscape in India is growing every day and such initiatives by technology leaders will help accelerate the growth of local manufacturing industry in India." Mr. Jay Chen, CEO, Huawei India said, "We have been prsent in India for the last 16 years and as part of our India focus, we have been consistently expanding our footprint in the market. This year especially has been of significance in our India journey. We recently launched our world class GSC in Bengaluru and the start of manufacturing in India is an affirmation of our commitment to India and supports the Make in India campaign. We are convinced about the growth potential and future of India and we'll keep looking for opportunities to increase our presence here." Adding further to the development, Mr. Peter Zhai, President, Huawei India Consumer Business Group stated, "We have seen significant acceptance of our smartphones in India over the last few years and have big plans for India. We have been evaluating a manufacturing unit for a long time and have partnered with Flex given their legacy, expertise and knowledge in providing sketch to scale solutions to leading companies globally." Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Jeff Reece, Head of Flex Telecom segment said, "We are thrilled to expand our global partnership with Huawei. Our alliance with Huawei in India is a testament of our commitment towards boosting local manufacturing. It also further demonstrates our commitment to bring innovative supply chain solutions, high-quality advanced manufacturing and after-market services to Huawei and ultimately the consumers. Mr. Reece further added, "Flex has been in India over the last 16 years and has the right building blocks to help our customers who wish to design, build, distribute and service their products both domestically and globally." India is a very important market for Huawei and the company has renewed its focus on India working with two brands, Huawei and Honor, to cater to the widest cross section of consumers. Huawei has established strong consumer confidence in India by launching a series of products, for both the Huawei and Honor brands, including the launch of Huawei's flagship P9 in India this year. Google has also collaborated with Huawei to make its premium Nexus 6P device. Huawei's latest manufacturing initiative is part of its commitment to the Government of India's 'Make in India' vision by harnessing local talent, coupled with the infusion of hi-tech R&D expertise and knowledge into the country. The smartphone manufacturing announcement is another milestone in Huawei's 16-year journey in India which includes its largest overseas R&D Center and the recently inaugurated Global Service Center in Bengaluru. ********************************************************************************************** About Huawei Consumer BG: Huawei's products and services are available in more than 170 countries, and are used by a third of the world's population, ranking third in the world in mobile phone shipments in 2015. Sixteen R&D centers have been set up in the United States, Germany, Sweden, Russia, India, and China. Huawei Consumer BG is one of Huawei's three business units and covers smartphones, PC and tablets, Wearables and cloud services, etc. Huawei's global network is built on 20 years of expertise in the telecom industry and is dedicated to delivering the latest technological advances to consumers around the world.For more information, please visit please visit: http://consumer.huawei.com/cn About Flex: Flextronics International Ltd. is the Sketch-to-Scale solutions provider that designs and builds intelligent products for a connected world. With approximately 200,000 professionals across 30 countries, Flex provides innovative design, engineering, manufacturing, real-time supply chain insight and logistics services to companies of all sizes in various industries and end-markets. For more information, visit http://www.flextronics.com or follow us on Twitter @Flextronics. Flex - Live Smarter. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Briggs: Elkharts RV workers are only essential until a recession RV sales are great for job security in Elkhart, yet horrible for human bodies. At his first public rally after Uri terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Pakistan the sole exporter of terrorism in the world while exhorting the people of Pakistan to question their own leadership for misleading the nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi mounted scathing attack on Pakistan at his first public rally after Uri terror attack at Kozhikode, Kerala. (Photo: PTI) By India Today Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday gave a strong message to Pakistan blaming it for exporting terrorism across the globe and impeding economic progress in Asia. The prime minister said, "We often hear that 21st century will be the century of Asia. Every single country is striving to make 21st century the century of Asia except one. That one country is working to deny Asia this opportunity. It is conspiring to make Asia bloodied by using terrorism." advertisement He further said, "Only one country is exporting terrorism everywhere. It's not a question about India only. This country is exporting terrorism to Afghanistan, Bangladesh and rest of the world." READ: Those involved in Uri attack should remember that India will never forget this: Modi in Kozhikode "Irrespective of where terror activities take place, it has connection with one country. In almost all the cases, the perpetrators of terror have links with only one country, like Osama bin Laden, who was found hiding there," the prime minister said. Terrorism is the enemy of humanity. The world will have to defeat terrorism. India has never bowed before terrorism and it will never do so, Modi said. READ: Has India already avenged Uri by killing 20 Pakistani terrorists in PoK? 'READY FOR FIGHT' Modi launched a scathing attack on Pakistan's leadership for its 'thousands cut policy' towards India. He said, "Leaders of our neighbouring nation used to say that they will fight against us for thousand years. Where they disappeared, no one knows. And, today's leaders read speeches written by the terrorists and sing the tunes of Kashmir." READ: Uri attack: India summons Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit, offers evidence of involvement of Pak-based terrorists DIRECT ADDRESS TO PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN PM Modi gave a spin to India's diplomatic offensive by appealing to the people of Pakistan. "I want to have a straight dialogue with the people of Pakistan. World doesn't have any expectation of the leaders, who read out scripts prepared by the terror lords," Modi said. Addressing the people of Pakistan directly, Modi said, "The people of Pakistan must ask their leaders that you have PoK, but you can't handle it, you had Bangladesh, you couldn't handle it. You can't handle Gilgit, Balochistan, Sindh and Pashtunistan. People of Pakistan must ask their leaders to first handle the regions that they have under their control before talking about Kashmir." READ: Uri attack: Terrorists deleted GPS logs, used matrix codes to evade location advertisement 'QUESTION YOUR LEADERSHIP' Modi exhorted people of Pakistan to ask questions to their leaders. "India and Pakistan got independence at the same time. People of Pakistan must ask their leaders as to what is the reason India exports software, but they export terrorism," the PM said. "I want to tell you that your leadership is misleading you by telling you that they are prepared to fight with India for a 1,000 times. We are ready to fight," he said. "People of Pakistan, we are ready to fight. Let's fight poverty. Let's see who finishes poverty first. I hope, people of Pakistan would accept this challenge. Youth of Pakistan, come and fight against unemployment. Let's see who defeats unemployment first," the prime minister said. Highlighting the problem of illiteracy and infant mortality, Modi said, "I want to have a dialogue with children of Pakistan. Let's wage a war against illiteracy. Let's see who defeats illiteracy? Infant mortality and maternal mortality are common problems in India and Pakistan. Let's wage a war against infant and maternal mortality. Let's see who wins the war." READ: Nervous Pakistan braces for 'Indian response'; many flights cancelled, highways shut for fighter jets 'SACRIFICE WON'T GO WASTE' advertisement He said, "Leadership of Pakistan must listen. The sacrifice of our 18 soldiers will not go waste. India has succeeded in isolating you. We will make sure that you are left with no friends in world." "That day is not far when the people of Pakistan will come out on the streets to force their leaders to fight against terrorism," said Modi READ: Uri effect: India may withdraw Most Favoured Nation status accorded to Pakistan ANGER AGAINST TERRORISM "There is a general resentment in the country. At Uri in Jammu and Kashmir, terrorists exported by our neighboring nation. Our 18 jawans lost their lives. Terrorists must listen, this country will not forget their sacrifice," the PM said. The prime minster said, "There have been 17 attempts from across the border in past few months to disrupt peace in the country, but our brave soldiers have killed these fidyeen attackers. Our jawans have killed more than 110 fidayeens from across the border." "Had they (terrorists) been successful in all 17 attempts, one can only imagine the scale of casualties," Modi said. READ: 10 terrorists gunned down in Uri after Pakistan violates ceasefire again POLITICAL SPEECH Beginning his speech in Malayalam, Modi expressed his gratitude towards the people of Kerala and recalled the state's connection with Jan Sangh, the precursor to BJP. He said, "When we think of Kerala, we think of God's Own Country, it has an impression of purity and holiness." advertisement The prime minister said that BJP was deeply influenced by Jan Sangh founder Deen Dayal Upadhyay. He evoked Mahatma Gandhi, Deen Dayal Upadhyay and Ram Manohar Lohia as the three greatest thinkers of the 20th century India. This was prime minister's first public rally after Uri terror attack. He is on a two-day visit to Kerala to take part in BJP conclave, which begins in Kozhikode on Sunday. READ: Uri terror attack was planned for August 15, say top Army sources TERRORISM HAS NO RELIGION Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu addressed the Kozhikode rally before prime minister. He asserted that the NDA government is committed to deal with terrorism with stern hand. He said that terrorism should be seen through the prism of religion. "Terrorism has no religion, but some people are trying to give it a religious colour so that these crimes can be covered," Naidu said. Earlier in the day, the prime minister held a comprehensive meeting with the chiefs of Indian Army, Navy and Air Force at his residence in New Delhi. He is understood to have discussed the security scenario and defence preparedness in the wake of Uri terror attack PM Modi is also scheduled to address the nation through his radio programme, Man ki Baat on Sunday. It will be the first monthly radio broadcast of the prime minister after Uri terror attack. ALSO READ: Uri attack: India will not spare Pakistan, says BJP national secretary Sidharth Nath Singh WATCH HIS FULL SPEECH HERE: --- ENDS --- We don't necessarily disagree but let's not pretend that editorial doesn't dictate coverage . . . Fact is, most Kansas City voters inside city limits will vote for Kander . . . Sen. Blunt hasn't done anything for this town during the course of his career and deserves very little support from local voters who actually care about KCMO municipal issues.Still, once again the myth that the newspaper provides "objective" coverage has yet another example for local Conservatives (in the minority on this race) can criticize . . . Take a look: Blunt the insider vs. Kander the outsider sums up U.S. Senate contest in Missouri In fairness, we linkthat can be kinda funny from time to time . . . And because we realize that success of any politico rarely benefits the average dude or lady walking around on local streets. New York Times: Yielding to Pressure, Charlotte Will Release Videos of Keith Scott Shooting KANSAS CITY ACTIVIST ALONZO WASHINGTON URGES LOCALS TO PUT PRESSURE ON KCPD TO SHARE DEADLY SHOOTING VIDEO!!! The question of public information and police transparency is taking shape across the nation given recent protests and Kansas City activist Alonzo Washington raises this question locally.First the latest news on police protest controversy making global headlines:Now back at home . . .Here's theA provocative note aboutWith police body cameras on the way, the subject of public access to shooting footage will become a more important issue and Mr. Washington is at the forefront of the move to develop a local policyeven more Kansas City controversy erupts.You decide . . . It was presided over by senior officials of the Disaster Management Cell of Noida along with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) which was the driving force behind it. By Mail Today Bureau: To promote disaster preparedness and youth involvement for effective disaster management, a volunteer training programme of the students of Degree College, Sector 39, Noida, was inaugurated on Friday. It's a week-long programme to be held from September 23-30. It was presided over by senior officials of the Disaster Management Cell of Noida along with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the driving force behind it. advertisement Noting the conditions of the sanitation facilities in the premises, Care Today Fund of the India Today Group has decided to support repairing of the toilets in the college. This activity has also been supported by the CSR funds received from TV Today Network (TVTN) of India Today Group. HOW TO MINIMISE EFFECTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS The college, headed by Principal Dr Manju Sharma, is also playing an active role. Deepak Agarwal, chief executive officer of the Greater Noida authority, addressed the audience."There is a saying, 'The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.' Even in this age of modern technology, we cannot predict calamities like earthquake. In such a scenario, it's important that we be mentally read," he said. "The NDRF has been making great efforts but however fast it maybe, neighbors and friends are first to reach in such situations. It's important we know how to minimise the effects of an earthquake-like disaster," he added. BUILDERS TO MAKE BUILDINGS EARTHQUAKE-RESISTANT As Noida falls in seismic zone 4, a decision has been taken to ask builders to seek approval from structural engineers at every 20 per cent of construction on how earthquake-resistant their building is, he informed. "Noida has seen so much rapid and indiscriminate construction, this is extremely important," he clarified. Professor Santosh Kumar, Director of The National Institute of Disaster Management said 'disaster' comes from combining 'dis' and 'aster,' meaning a bad star. PC Haldar, Former director, Intelligence Bureau, cautioned: "Usage of equipment below standardisation is a hazard authorities must watch out for." Also Read: As floods ravage several states in India, NDRF relentlessly helping stranded people Bihar floods: NDRF help woman deliver baby on board its boat --- ENDS --- In the digital age, offshore secrets are hard to keep. In its latest revelations, investigations have been published based on the leak of 1.3m internal files from the company register of the Bahamas, one of the worlds most notorious tax havens. The data has brought to light on Wednesday details of the financial interests of politicians, entrepreneurs, financiers and fraudsters. Five months after the release of the Panama Papers, this new cache of information from the world of offshore tax havens contains the names of directors and some shareholders at nearly 176,000 shell companies, trusts and foundations. It was received by the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, and will be shared with the public in a Bahamas leaks database, built by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) in Washington and also launched on Wednesday. The Bahamas has bilateral information-sharing agreements with 32 countries, including the UK, Germany, France and the US, but has completed no new deals since 2013. Many of these agreements are of limited use because they are with other tax havens, such as Guernsey and Malta, or with tiny economies such as Greenland. With $223bn (172bn) stashed in the small Caribbean nations banks, 26 times its GDP, the former British colony is increasingly seen as clinging to the secrecy that has allowed it to attract such money. Representatives from the Bahamas have been touring the conference circuit. Bahama leaks Greek names The names of the Greeks who are associated with the Bahama leaks are more than 70, and some of them very well known. Between them, Lavrentis Lavrentiadis, the major shareholder in Proton, and George Kiriakidis, son of Petros Kiriakidis who is a collaborator of the businessman but hasnt yet faced justice since he had fled right before the issue of his warrant in March 2013. Lavrediadis and Kiriakidis are members of the board in Dionar Foundation that was founded six years ago in the Bahamas, according to the recent revelations of thw Bahama Leaks. The Bahamas have been also the right place for the business activities of the gun merchant Vlasis Kabouroglou , as well as stockbroker George Daskaleas, whose name appears as the manager of GP&K company. Moreover, investigation from Judicial Authorities revealed that there were companies that operated to secure kickbacks for the supply of equipment systems for the Ministry of Defense. The data released today involve the basic building blocks of offshore companies: a companys name, its date of creation, the physical and mailing address in the Bahamas and, in some cases, the companys directors. At a basic level, this information is crucial to day-to-day commerce. In other cases, police, detectives and fraud investigators use registries as starting points on the trail of wrongdoing. Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Greek Economy Minister Giorgos Stathakis called for a temporary suspension of negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) during his speech at the Foreign Affairs Council on trade in Bratislava on Friday. Stathakis said that no progress has been made on sensitive European issues concerning reciprocity in the liberalization of public procurement, shipping issues, farm products with a geographical indication, protection of consumers against genetically modified products, and complex environmental protection issues. He said TTIP is a major political issue for the European Union and that there are numerous open issues. We need a new framework for the negotiations, a new start on a new basis and the right timing, he added. The meeting in Bratislava discussed the liberalisation of trade with some of the EU's major trading partners, in particular the USA and Canada. Ministers also addressed the issue of how to modernise the EU's current legislative framework of trade defence instruments against unfair trade and the expiry of certain provisions of Chinas WTO Accession Protocol with regard to granting market economy status to China. Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Greece, Egypt and Cyprus' strategic cooperation develops and broadens. The Foreign Ministers of the three countries met on Friday in New York and agreed to continue and promote their cooperation. "Today we held, yet again, a trilateral meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Cyprus and Greece, said Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias after the end of the trilateral meeting. "It is a tradition to meet here in New York. We prepared for the upcoming trilateral Summit of the Heads of State/Government, which is to be held in Cairo on the 11-12 of October. We discussed the implementation of projects agreed upon in previous meetings ahead of October 11 as well as potential ones to be launched during the Trilateral Summit. Moreover, we had an exchange of views on developments in the region, especially in Syria, and expressed our solidarity and support" said Kotzias. Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report In Vienna, Tsipras will be able to stress once again the challenge facing Greece due to the migration crisis Greeces Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will be among the Balkan and European Union leaders that gather in the Austrian capital on Saturday for a mini-summit on the issue of migration along the Balkan corridor. Greece has a clear agenda that was presented during the United Nations meetings on migration in New York and would open on a European level on Saturday. The summit was convened by Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern and brings together the heads of state and government of Germany, Greece, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovenia, Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Serbia. Also to attend are European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos and the European Council President Donald Tusk. The Greek prime ministers contribution to the summit meeting is expected to be particularly significant, as one of the countries directly affected by the crisis. Greek government sources said the prime minister will emphasise that the refugee issue posed a major threat of destabilisation and humanitarian crisis in 2015, whereas the foundations for managing the crisis had now been laid and it was clear what policies worked and what needed to be done. For this reason, they added, the prime minister will draw a line and stress that there is no point in making this a global issue, if states are going to then raise fences to keep refugees away and trap them in other countries. Regarding the EU-Turkey agreement, the government estimated that all members should meet their commitments and added that the implementation of the agreement also depends on the Greek-Turkish relations. In Vienna, Tsipras will be able to highlight the challenge facing Greece due to the migration crisis, noting that 60,000 refugees and migrants were now trapped in the country since its northern borders were unilaterally closed. He is also expected to make clear that if Greece fails in its efforts to cope with the crisis, only the most xenophobic, nationalist and far-right forces in Europe stand to gain, as reflected in elections and polls in Austria and neighbouring countries. Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Game of Thrones is filming on a beach in Spain's Basque Country in October Game of Thrones is filming on a beach in Spain's Basque Country in October, and the anticipation is already building, travelandleisure.com reports. Everything is surrounded by a lot of mystery, the local mayor, Roberto Munoz, told Spanish outlet El Correo. We don't know exact dates or who will come, nor if new extras will be needed. Muriola Beach is a nude beach about 10 minutes from Barrika, according to the local tourism board. This other-worldly beach is perfect for Game of Thrones. Located in a small cove facing east and protected by cliffs of great beauty, the tourism board describes Muriola as a wild sandy area that is the ideal place to those who seek a quiet atmosphere. Tourist booms Previous filming locations for the series have enjoyed tourist booms: Northern Ireland, where much of Game of Thrones is filmed, gets thousands of visitors looking to experience the real-life places where the fictional action happens. The rock formations and landscapes on this northern Spanish coast are gorgeousit's no wonder the show's location scouts thought it would make for a great background to season seven. While no official information is available, fans have speculated online that the beach could be where Daenerys lands her huge fleet, according to Stuff.co.nz. Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Theklan License: CC-BY-SA Bahrain-based Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE) said the last date for casting votes via Facebook for the best stand at its summer trio of exhibitions - Gulf Construction Expo (formerly called gulfBID), The Gulf Property Show and gulfInteriors Exhibition - will be October 17. The 3Gs, as the shows are collectively known, are considered valuable launch pads into the multi-billion-dollar construction, interiors and real estate markets of the northern Gulf. "The Best Stand Awards recognises the dedication, creativity and design input of our exhibitors to promote their products and services at the exhibitions," explained Ahmed Suleiman, the exhibitions director of HCE. Those shortlisted for Gulf Construction Expo are Kuwaiti Manager Contracting, Al Nooh Wood Design, and Modern Glass Technology (all from Bahrain) and Espac from Saudi Arabia, while for the Gulf Property Show, the lucky ones to make it to the list are Ahmed Al Qaed, Bin Faqeeh, Diyar Al Muharraq, Eagle Hills, Eskan Bank and First Bahrain Development Company. For gulfInteriors exhibition's best stand award, those shortlisted include Hempel Paints, Creative Closets, Titolo Design and Build, Mobilio Uno, Viola Decor Contracting and National Paints. "The task of selecting a shortlist of companies is always difficult and controversial, but the winners will be selected by popular demand via a Facebook poll," he stated. The nominees stand designs are available for voters to view online at the respective Facebook pages for Gulf Property Show, Gulf Interiors and Gulf Construction. The winners will be presented the award at the HCE 2017 Events Launch Reception next month.-TradeArabia News Service A senior military officer of Yemen's Houthi movement has been killed in clashes on the border with Saudi Arabia, a source in the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iranian-allied group said on Saturday. Major-General Hassan Almalsi, head of Houthi special forces, was killed on Thursday while attempting to infiltrate a squad of Houthi fighters into the kingdom's southern province of Najran, the source said. The coalition has been fighting the Houthis since March 2015 to try to restore the internationally-backed government to power after Houthi rebels took over the capital Sanaa, made gains in other provinces and forced the government to flee into exile. UN-sponsored talks to end the fighting that has killed more than 10,000 people collapsed in failure last month and the Houthi movement and allied Yemeni forces resumed shelling into neighboring Saudi Arabia. Houthi forces fire missiles or mortars almost daily into southern Saudi border areas including Najran, and often test Saudi defenses with guerrilla-style incursions.-Reuters As far as Opec decision-making is concerned, Algeria, which plays host to oil ministers next week, has always been the land of surprises. The last two meetings of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) held in Algeria -- in 2004 and 2008 -- shocked the market with unexpected production cuts to prop up prices. The stars could align for Opec again next week when its ministers return to Algiers and look ready to curb output for the first time in eight years, according to Opec officials and sources. Saudi Arabia and Iran, arch-rivals in oil markets and in politics, are sending conciliatory signals that they want to work together, along with Russia which is involved in talks although not a member of Opec. This comes despite their backing for different sides in conflicts in Yemen and Syria. Behind the scenes, Opec experts are trying to work out last-minute details for an output-limiting deal that would impress the market but also allow oil ministers to claim victories at home in front of their respective domestic audiences. "This time I think (things are) a little bit different because circumstances are a little bit better, helping (producers) to reach a deal," Iraq's Opec governor Falah Alamri said on Thursday. He said Opec had to act when it meets Russia on the sidelines of an energy producers and consumers conference in Algeria next week simply because current oil prices at $45-50 per barrel were not acceptable to the group's members. [O/R] Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Russia have all ramped up output to historic highs over the past year to fight for market share with higher-cost producers such as the United States where production has been declining due to low oil prices. Iraq is seen as one of key stumbling blocks to a global oil production deal given that it wants to increase output further next year, while Russia and Iran have probably both hit peak capacity and Saudis have never tested higher production levels. But Alamri said Iraq would not kill the deal: "We are not intending to flood the market, we are intending to support the market.... we will not participate in any action that will reduce the price." Opec last reduced supply in 2008 when the global economic crisis crippled demand. The first attempt at an output freeze deal between Opec and Russia collapsed earlier this year after the Saudis said Iran needed to contribute to it as production recovered following the end to Western sanctions in January. Tehran has argued its production needs to reach pre-sanction levels before it agrees to any action. In the past three months, Iranian oil output has stagnated but Tehran is still insisting on certain exemptions from any Opec deals to curb supplies. Saudi Arabian and Iranian Opec officials are meeting in Vienna this week, according to sources, to try to figure out the shape of a possible output deal. "It seems that they all want to get some sort of consensus in Algiers. You can see that in the amount of meetings and diplomacy taking place. There is a real push," an Opec source said. Other sources said the main debate was about baseline production figures from which output could be frozen or cut. Opec has two sets of figures, estimates by countries themselves and estimates by independent market experts known as secondary sources. The latter estimates have recently been lower and a more accurate reflection of actual production numbers. Gulf producers are insisting on using these in any output deal, according to sources, in order to help better monitor supply levels. One Opec source familiar with discussions suggested that if output was frozen at levels seen at the start the year or the average of the first six months of 2016, it would effectively represent a cut from current real production levels. "Logically speaking, it could be viewed as a cut if (all) agreed on using secondary sources," the Opec source said. Several other Opec sources said that Libya and Nigeria could be granted exemptions as their output is curtailed by unrest. In the city of Oran in December 2008, ministers emerged from hours of talks to announce a huge supply cut of 4.2 million barrels per day (bpd), causing prices to jump. The number actually included earlier cutbacks from previous meetings in the year. And in 2004, when growing Chinese demand was straining supply, Opec met in Algiers and announced a surprise supply cut. Prices jumped and within weeks the decision was reversed. Now, Opec produces a third of global crude or around 33.5 million barrels per day with Russia and the United States producing around 10-11 million bpd each. Record Opec production has led to a massive spike in global oil stocks, currently standing at over 3 billion barrels. The International Energy Agency said this month oil supply will outpace demand at least until the second half of 2017, meaning prices will remain depressed and further stretching the budgets of Opec producers and Russia. Several Opec officials have publicly suggested levels by which global output shall drop to help prices recover. Algeria's oil minister said this week supply should be reduced by at least one million bpd. Russia said it was in theory ready to cap output by 5 percent. Opec's secretary general has said the output freeze deal shall last to October 2017. "It is the closest Opec has come to a deal in a long time but of course challenges remain and the elephant in the room is Iran and to a certain extent Iraq," said Amrita Sen from Energy Aspects. She said that if Opec cut output by 1 million bpd it would help rebalance the market as it would reduce stocks by 290-330 million barrels over the course of the year, even if U.S. production started to recover due to higher oil prices.-Reuters In the past three years, they were denied a go-ahead by the local administration following objections by a few Muslim families in the village. By Soudhriti Bhabani: It's been the fourth consecutive year when 300-odd households in a village in West Bengal's Birbhum district are running from pillar to post seeking permission from the district administration just to organise a Durga puja in their village. In the past three years, they were denied a go-ahead by the local administration following objections by a few Muslim families in the village. advertisement The incident came to light at Kanglapahari village under Nalhati police station in the district, a Hindu-dominated village located near Bengal-Jharkhand border under Rampurhat sub-division. The organisers knocked the doors of the district administration and submitted their plea to the office of the district magistrate, police superintendent, sub-divisional officer (SDO) and sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) of Rampurhat and Block Development Officer (BDO) of Nalhati-I on September 1. But no response have come so far. REPEATEDLY DENIED PERMISSION TO PUJA COMMITTEE All the district administrative machinery repeatedly denied permission to the puja committee, Kanglapahari Durga Mandir Committee, following objections by about 25 Muslim families in the village. In the past three years, the local administration, panchayat and Nalhati police jointly prevented puja organisers from hosting the puja on the grounds of law and order issues. "I don't know about the matter. I have not received anything as of now. Once I get it, I will definitely consider the matter," Birbhum SP N Sudheer Kumar told Mail Today on phone. The appeal was first submitted to the offices of the DM and SP on September 1 this year, and again followed up on September 23. "On Friday too, we went to the SP and DM's office to submit our second appeal. But there was no positive development," said Chandan Sau of Kanglapahari Durga Mandir Committee. Sau said that since they have not been able to organise the annual festivity in their village, all women and children have to travel three to eight kilometres to celebrate the occasion in nearby villages. Also Read: Kolkata's Durga Puja pandals to get an audio-visual, Shakespearean twist DURGA IDOLS LIE HALF DONE "A piece of land has already been donated by a villager, Mohanlal Sau, to construct a mud temple in the village where the puja can be organised peacefully. We don't have to erect any pandal (marquee) as we have put up a mud structure with whatever little amount we could manage. Like the last three years, this year too we started constructing the Durga idol, which is now lying half-done. advertisement DONT WANT TO ANGER MUSLIMS District officials are not responding as they don't want to antagonise the Muslims," Sau said. When quizzed, Birbhum DM P Mohangandhi tactfully sidestepped the question. He said: "The formal procedure is to submit the appeal to the SDO and he's the person to issue the necessary permission depending on the law and order situation. " Dhruba Saha, a local resident, who took up the matter with the local administration, said that a petition had also been filed in Calcutta High Court and there is a hearing on Monday. Sources in the district Trinamool Congress said that police and other district officials have already held meetings at all block levels and finalised on the number of pujas that will be held across Birbhum this year. Thus, there is no question of allowing any new puja anywhere in the district. Also Read: Delhi's popular Durga Puja pandal to promote peace with French-themed festivities --- ENDS --- A Samsung smartphone stored in an overhead baggage compartment on an Indian plane emitted smoke in mid-flight on Friday, India's aviation regulator said, but there was no damage and the aircraft landed safely. Passengers on board an IndiGo flight smelled smoke coming from the baggage bin and alerted cabin crew who saw sparks and smoke coming from a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 phone, the airline, owned by InterGlobe Aviation, said in an emailed statement. Flight crew used a fire extinguisher on the phone and put it in a container filled with water, the airline said. The IndiGo flight was on its way to Chennai from Singapore. The regulator described the incident as a suspected fire but the airline said there had been no fire. Samsung recalled its new Note 7 phones across the globe this month due to faulty batteries causing the devices to catch fire while charging or in normal use, raising fears for the future of the flagship device. There have been no previous reports of similar problems with the Note 2 model, first released in 2012. Samsung is looking into Friday's incident, a company spokesman said in an emailed statement. "We are in touch with relevant authorities to gather more information," he said. Samsung, the world's largest smartphone maker, did not confirm if the device is a Note 2. India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), will send an advisory to airlines warning passengers to keep all Samsung Note smartphones switched off during flights or avoid carrying the phones on commercial jets altogether, a spokesman said. The DGCA has called Samsung representatives to its office in New Delhi on Monday to discuss the incident. Regulators and airlines in several countries, including the United States and China, have issued warnings to air travelers to keep Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones turned off and unplugged during flights. The problems with the Note 7 knocked billions of dollars off the market value of Samsung Electronics, which had tried to pre-empt rival Apple Inc by launching the almost $900 Note 7 on Aug. 19, about a month ahead of the latest iPhone release. Asked about the incident in India, a spokesman for Europes air safety regulator, the European Aviation Safety Agency, referred to previous guidance stating passengers should inform cabin crew if any electronic device is damaged, hot, produces smoke, is lost, or falls into the seats. It has advised airlines to tell passengers not to turn on or charge their Galaxy Note 7s when on board. Reuters Paris, often, is like a pretty woman. You never tire of looking at her. This time, do it differently. By India Today Web Desk: Day 1 Forget the double-decker red buses or cruise on the Seine. Hop into the original 2CV, better known in French as Deux Chevaux. A chauffeur, doubling up as the guide, deconstructs Parisian history as you drive past glorious monuments. If you are adventurous, glide on the Segway (tours are available all day). Or, get humble and edgy with sightseeing on a colourful tuk-tuk. End your day by the Louvre, walk a few steps into Le Fumoir. advertisement Day 2 Head to the Clos Montmartre for an encounter with a Parisian vineyard. Owned by the City of Paris, you will find 27 varieties of wine made from fine varieties of Gamay, Pinot Black and Metis grapes. If you happen to be visiting in October, do not miss Les Vendanges de Montmartre, the annual harvesting festival. If you really love wine, Des Vinis Illustribus is a must-do. Do not miss on wine tasting in this wine cellar and shop near the Pantheon. Also read: A must-add to your Paris itinerary: a museum tracing the history perfumes Day 3 Book with Cultival (www. cultival.fr) for backstage guided tours of Parisian monuments-go backstage at Opera Garnier; step into the machinery room of Eiffel Tower to see how the hydraulics work. Have lunch on the rooftop of restaurant Le Jules Verne. Go on a haunted tour in Le Manoir de Paris, a National Heritage Site where every single scary Parisian legend will be brought back to life by more than 20 actors in costume. Day 4 Love books? Go to Shakespeare and Company Bookstore (37 rue de la Bcherie). Want a stunning black/white portrait? Pose in Studio Harcourt that is famous for celebrity photos. Drive to the miniature park, Elancourt, that features scale models of major French landmarks and monuments in an outdoor park. Stick to a rendezvous with elephants, bears, pandas at the Chteau de Thoiry (35 minutes west of Paris). Or, laze in La Villette, the largest urban cultural park here. --- ENDS --- Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 24 A student of a Landran private college was booked for allegedly using the same registration number plate for his two vehicles. The police said accused Jagandeep Singh, a resident of Sector 38 (West), has been using the same registration number (PB-05AB-7070) on his Audi car and Mahindra Thar jeep. The accused is the son of a farmer in Ludhiana. The police acted after receiving a complaint against him. During the police investigation it was found that number (PB-05AB-7070) was registered for his Thar jeep, but he also used the same name for his Audi car. A case under Section 472 of the IPC has been registered at the Maloya police station. Two vehicles found with fake numbers Two other similar cases were reported from the city. A motorcycle of Satnam Singh, a resident of Phase XI, Mohali, was found parked at Sector 47 with fake registration number PB-65-AA-4985. While Hansa Singh, a resident of Mohali, was found using fake number plate PB-65Z-3551 on his Platina motorcycle and was arrested near Dhanas on Friday. Cases under Sections 473 of the IPC have been registered at the Sector 31 police station, and Sarangpur station, respectively. ASI RR Chowdhary was riding his motorcycle on the Bakhtiyarpur-Patna expressway when assailants opened fire near Fatuha area. By Rohit Kumar Singh: An assistant sub-inspector was shot dead in Patna by unidentified criminals on Saturday afternoon. The incident happened around 3 pm when RR Chowdhary, posted as ASI at Telhara police station in Nalanda, was coming to Patna. Chowdhary was riding his motorcycle on the Bakhtiyarpur-Patna expressway when assailants opened fire near Fatuha area. Chowdhary died on the spot, the assailants escaped and also took his service revolver. advertisement Chowdhary's motorcycle has been recovered from the spot. Reason behind the murder is not yet known. Chowdhary's body has been sent for post-mortem and investigations have begun in the case. The incident is a grim reminder of the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Police is investigating whether the killing is a result of personal rivalry or otherwise. Also Read: LJP leader Sudesh Paswan shot dead in 'lawless' Bihar --- ENDS --- SD Sharma Chandigarh, September 23 The fact that music, especially its traditional genre, has an universal appeal and acceptance found its endorsement as the tricity audience relished the soulful European highland folk instrumental and vocal music presented by acclaimed Slovakian folklore maestro Michal Smetanka at a concert held at Randhawa Auditorium, Punjab Kala Bhawan, here today. The special programme organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), UT Cultural Affairs Department and the Punjab Arts Council featured Michal Smetanka and famous Indian flautist Pandit Ajay Parsanna. Smetanka performed on nine unique folk musical instruments created or improvised by him which include Tujara a two-m-long flute; Drumbla overtone flute, bagpipe (gjadi), three, six, nine-holed and double six-holed flutes, besides ocarine horn and Gajidica a horn and flute instrument. He rendered songs in Slovak, meaning Go Slow my sheep, I am very old Shepherd, Storm and rain. Later, the globe-trotting flautist Pandit Ajay Parsanna mesmerised the audience with exposition of raga yaman through an alaap followed by a medium-paced and a fast-paced composition, both in teen tal. He presented a thumri Yaad piya ki ayi before teaming up with Smetanka for a fusion piece Vaishnav jan ko.. amid applause. Later, regional director of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations Nalini Singhal honoured the artistes. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 24 Former Prime Minister and noted economist Dr Manmohan Singh will start teaching at his alma mater Panjab University (PU) here soon. He is finalising his teaching schedule and will send it to the PU Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Arun Kumar Grover, souces told Chandigarh Tribune here today. Recently, a parliamentary panel had given its nod to Dr Singh for holding the Jawaharlal Nehru Chair of the PU. After Prof Grover gave a detailed presentation to the parliamentary panel in New Delhi in which representatives of Finance, Human Resources Development and Law Ministries were also present, the approval was given to Dr Singh to go ahead and accept the Chair of the PU as it was not an office of profit. Now, the communication of approval will be sent to the Rajya Sabha, which will further send it to Dr Singh, who will then finalise the date of his visit to the PU and convey it to the VC. The VC said as the parliamentary panel had approved the proposal of holding the Chair on the campus, the university was waiting for Dr Singhs confirmation about the date of his visit in the coming month. Dr Singh has already shared his idea about his visit with the VC. During the visit, he is keen to interact with students and faculty members. The VC further said that suggestions on the topic of the discussion would be sought from senior professors and students. And after going through these, Dr Singh will finally decide on the topic. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 24 A French delegation led by Alexandre, Ziegler, Ambassador of France, and Jean- Yves Le Drian, Defence Minister of France, along with other members today called on Punjab Governor-cum-UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore at the Punjab Raj Bhawan here. Discussing various issues at length, the Governor said there was a scope for cooperation in the areas of sustainable development, particularly in transport, waste management and urban development. He said the most important area was segregation of waste and they needed latest technology in this field. Badnore said Chandigarh was number one city in India for many reasons. It was known for its architecture, cleanliness, greenery and also it was a leader in tapping rooftop solar energy in the country. He said he did not want the city to be restricted only to the Smart City tag, but he wanted to see Chandigarh as the smartest city. Alexandre, Ziegler, Ambassador of France, told the Governor, We will extend all possible cooperation in sharing the latest technical know-how in the areas of your interest. Badnore also presented them a model of the Golden Temple. In the meeting, MP Singh, Additional Chief Secretary to the Governor, and Parimal Rai, UT Adviser, were also present. The French delegation also visited Alliance Francaise in Sector 36. Senior Advocate ML Sarin took the delegation around and briefed them about the centre. Gurdeep Singh Mann Tribune News Service Bathinda, September 24 A routine mock drill performed by the Army authorities in Bathinda Cantt today created panic among residents when report of the primary stage of the drill was spread by an onlooker on the social media with distorted facts. Todays mock drill was part of routine combat operations and army preparations to counter any eventualities, said a senior Army officer, pleading anonymity. He said such sorties and mock drills were a part of the Armys routine exercise to keep soldiers on high alert. In todays mock drill, two Army jawans were supposed to gain entry to the cantonment area and the security contingent was to find and capture them, the officer said. The drill, however, got preponed as the men who tried to gain entry with dummy weapons were seen by a civilian who raised an alarm and passed on the information to the security officials at the nearby main entrance, the officer said. He said the role of the civilian probably a parent of a child studying in one of the schools in the Cantonment area was appreciated. But later the half-baked reports about the incident went viral through the social media, which somehow led to panic in the area. Any sensitive issue related with the Army or countrys security should not be forwarded or circulated by a responsible citizen on the social media in larger public interest, the officer said. The officer admitted that public and Army officials minutely watch any suspicious activity nowadays in the wake of the recent Uri attack and this too may have proved instrumental in quick circulation of the rumour on WhatsApp. SSP Swapan Sharma admitted receiving reports about spotting Army men in or around the Cantonment area, however it was found to be a rumour. In the wake of heightened security after the Uri attack, the police too are in touch with the Army authorities and I had a word with the officer concerned over todays issue. It was a successful mock drill executed by the Army inside the military area and there was nothing to be worried about, Swapan said. Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 23 Divisional Railway Manager (DMR), Northern Railway, Arun Arora said that the railways had dispatched a letter to the Municipal Corporations of Delhi for flagging off a mosquito terminator train on September 8, but it was delayed somehow. The train was flagged off today by the General Manager, Northern Railway, A. K. Puthia from New Delhi Railway Station. When asked whether the dengue and chikungunya fever would have been controlled had the train been flagged off on time, the DRM said, "We just provide train. Material and manpower and fogging machines are given by the municipal corporations. Without their cooperation, the railways cannot do the fogging." Before flagging off the train jointly with the MCDs, the GM, Northern Railway, said that this was an annual programme to check mosquito-breeding in the water bodies along the track in the city area. The South Delhi Municipal Corporation has provided a truck-mounted power sprayer to the railways which sprays insecticide in water bodies around the tracks. The train carrying mosquito terminator will pass through Sarai Rohilla, Patel Nagar, Delhi Cantonment, Palam, Safdarjung, Kishanganj, Lajpat Nagar, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Adarsh Nagar, Rathdhana, Shahdara, Palam and Gurgaon, the GM said. Fogging machines to cover more areas On the second day of the special fogging drive undertaken by the government, the Public Works Department deployed professional agencies which used around 200 small and 25 big machines to carry out the work in different parts of the national Capital which is in the grip of chikungunya and dengue infections. Special fogging work in the areas maintained by the municipal corporations had begun on Thursday. The drive is being supervised by PWD engineers on the ground quite vigorously and fogging will be done in every street and locality on alternate days, said the government. At least seven to eight fogging machines will be operational in every constituency in next few days. Ravinder Saini Tribune News Service Mahendragarh, September 24 The negative portrayal of Army personnel in a play staged at Central University of Haryana (CUH) in Jant-Pali village three days ago has flared tempers. Representatives of students and social outfits took out a shav yatra (funeral procession) of an effigy of CUH Vice-Chancellor Ramesh Chander Kuhad here today. They burnt the effigy at Azad Chowk after passing through markets. Army men are sacrificing their lives to protect the nation from terrorists. But the university is defaming them by portraying them as rapists, said Ram Bhushan Sharma, district ABVP vice-president. He said the protesters demanded police action against those engaged in staging the play. The protesters announced a daylong dharna outside the university on September 26. The dharna will see an overwhelming response, Sharma claimed, adding an 11-member committee had been constituted to keep the fire of protest burning. The play Draupadi by Mahasweta Devi courted controversy because an actor presented figures about atrocities by Army men against tribal women. The play highlights the plight of tribals in 1970s. The VC told The Tribune: I have sought explanation from the Head of English Department and two conveners of the play. A committee has been formed to look into the matter. It will scan the recording of the play and submit its report. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 24 The Haryana Government has revised guidelines for the grant of minority status to the minority educational institutional in the state. An official spokesman said the Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, would be the competent authority to grant recognition to the minority educational institutions in Haryana. The minority status would be accorded to the applicant society by the state government if a minimum of two-third of the members of the society or trust belonged to the same minority community and a certificate for each member was submitted, which was issued by the SDM concerned, he added. He said at the time of submission of the application, the sponsoring body should be in possession of two acres of land either by way of ownership or on a perpetual irrevocable lease of at least 33 years in case when the proposed land fell in municipal limits and five acres in case the land fell in the rural area. Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service Shimla, September 24 Though CNG and battery-operated electric buses on the Manali-Rohtang road remains a big challenge for the transport authorities, the government will begin trial of electric buses between October 15 and December 31 following the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives. Himachal is the first state to experiment with electric buses on a hilly terrain like Rohtang. No automobile company in India manufactures battery-operated electric buses and these will have to be imported from abroad. Seven companies have submitted bids invited by government for electric buses. It is in pursuance of the NGT directives to ply only CNG or electric buses between Manali and Rohtang that the government is exploring the possibility of making this happen at the earliest. Since the laying of the CNG pipeline between Una and Manali by Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) will take six months, the purchase of CNG buses has been put on hold till January 31, 2017. Two companies Ashok Leyland and Gold Stone have offered to hold a trial run between Manali and Rohtang, said Ashok Tiwari, Managing Director, Himachal Road Transport Company (HRTC). He said the trial run would be held regularly between October 15 and December 31 to assess their performance and suitability for the 50-km stretch. The companies which have evinced interest in supplying electric buses include Ashok Leyland, Mahindra, Gold Stone, Tata, Kiti and JBM. If any company, besides Ashok Leyland and Gold Stone, want to give trial run of their model, it will be welcome, said Tiwari. The last date for sending their bids for electric buses is September 30 but this is likely to be extended to October 15 as the interested companies have certain reservations. The companies had expressed apprehensions at the pre-bid conference held earlier with regard to supply of electric buses. As such, the last date for sending in their bids is likely to be extended shortly. The HRTC has also decided to purchase 20 CNG buses with each vehicle to cost about Rs 60 lakh. The CNG Mother Station will come up in Una and the Daughter Station at Manali and the state government has already provided land and other infrastructure required for the purpose. The Ministry of Surface Transport has already agreed to provide 75 per cent funding to Himachal for the purchase of 25 electric buses, with each one likely to cost about Rs 2 crore. Shimla, September 24 State BJP vice-president Roopa Sharma today hit out at the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) and the state government for irregular water supply to Kasumpati and Mehli. Sharma said residents in these were being billed at commercial rates. The SMC has miserably failed to ensure regular water supply to the areas. Complaints of exorbitant bills have not been addressed. The SMC and the local MLA are responsible for the crisis, she said. In a statement issued today, she said Mayor Sanjay Chauhan had assured the residents of regular supply, but the latter were not getting water even after five days. If the situation is not improved, the BJP will be forced to launch an agitation, Sharma warned. Media head of the state BJP today said the development claims of the state government were false and that it was not with the poor people. The stabbing of a youth in Una, attack on an Excise Department team at Amb and sexual exploitation of a five-year-old girl at Mehatpur have exposed the claims of the government that the law and order situation was good. OC Arteev Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, September 24 In the midst of strained Indo-Pak relations and rumours of war-mongering following the Uri terror attack, a fear psychosis over the possible border hostility between the two countries and chances of mass migration has gripped the people residing along the 198-km international border from Kathua, bordering Punjab, to Akhnoor, north of Jammu. Although the administration and security forces are yet to formally ask people to remain alert and prepared for any volatile situation, the growing bitterness in the relations between India and Pakistan have put the border residents on their toes. However, their woes have mounted in view of the failure of the Central and the state governments to construct community bunkers (to take shelter during firing and shelling) in border belts and provide them residential plots at safer places. Official sources said an informal alert had been issued to the border people wherein they had been asked to maintain a constant vigil and remain prepared for any volatile situation against the backdrop of killing of 18 soldiers by terrorists at the Uri Army base. We dont want to create a panic among the people. The rumours of war-mongering have forced us to convey to the border residents not to panic but, at the same time, they have been asked to remain prepared for any situation, a senior official of the state administration said. Bharat Bhushan, senior vice president of the Border Welfare Union, Kathua, Hiranagar and Samba, said, A fear psychosis has been prevailing among the people of 33 border villages as they are uncertain about each day, especially following the Uri terror attack. They are afraid of tense situation which may explode any time. They will be the first victim of any border skirmish. He claimed that the Pakistani forces burst firecrackers after the 18 soldiers attained martyrdom at Uri. Their (Pakistani forces) act was to provoke the people, including the BSF, which maintained complete restraint. We had a meeting with officers of the Kathua administration, informing them about the prevailing situation. We have been asked to maintain a close watch on the situation and remain prepared to deal with any eventuality, he added. He said it was the high time for the Centre to have a decisive battle with the hostile neighbour for restoration of permanent peace along the border. We do not want to leave our home and hearth every time. It has become a routine now. The time has come to settle all contentious issues once for all. We have not been provided the promised five-marla plots in safe zones, while no community bunker has been constructed in border areas, Bhushan said. Pertinently, the Home Ministry had approved construction of 60 concrete community bunkers in the border blocks of the Jammu region at an estimated cost of Rs 3 crore to protect border residents from cross-border shelling of Pakistan. By PTI: From Shirish B Pradhan Kathmandu, Sep 24 (PTI) A major tragedy was averted today in Nepal when a private jet with 32 people onboard overshot the runway at Bhairahawa airport situated near Indo-Nepal border, officials said. All the 29 passengers and three crew members onboard the small jet belonging to Nepals Yeti Airlines were safe, the airline said in a statement. advertisement The plane overshot the runway and came to a rest on a grassy land some 250 metres away during its landing. The cause of the incident was not immediately known, officials said. The plane was bound for Bhairahawa, some 400 km southwest from here. The Kathmandu-based airline has a fleet of seven aircraft and offers domestic flights to 10 destinations. PTI SBP CPS --- ENDS --- Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 24 Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today asked party leaders to work hard for the restoration of peace and reach out to the people, admitting that she was in a difficult situation. She said this while talking to the party leaders who met here for the first time since the unrest began in Kashmir following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8. I am in a difficult situation, but people who have great expectations from the PDP should trust me, a senior party leader quoted the Chief Minister as having said during the meeting. The party agenda and its mission is dear to me. Power is only meant to meet the end and the objective. I have lived with people, struggled along with them, so they are dear to me. They have expectations (from me) and should trust me. I am in a difficulty but we will certainly overcome it. And I promise to people that I will not let them down, she was quoted by the leader. She asked the party legislators and leaders to work again for improving the ground situation for creating a congenial atmosphere in J&K to rebuild the peace and reconciliation process. I wish that peace is restored at the earliest so that we are able to fulfil the agenda with fidelity, she was quoted. We are concerned about the situation. The loss of lives is a great loss. We all have sympathies with those who have suffered. But anything can happen if peace is not restored amid confrontation, Mehbooba said. The meeting, attended by MPs, legislators and senior party leaders, was held at a time when the party is facing intense protests, especially in its bastion, south Kashmir. Many party leaders have faced attacks over the past two months. Mehbooba said she felt that everything was fine in south Kashmir as she got a convincing win during the elections. South Kashmirs four districts have been the epicentre of the unrest as a majority of the civilian killings took place in these areas. I got a convincing victory from south Kashmir. I felt that everything is fine, but it changed overnight. We have to improve the situation, which is important for the peace process. In 2002, Kashmir atmosphere was good. Only then we could do other things, she told the party leaders who huddled together on how to play a role in normalising the situation that has crippled the region. We have to again work to improve the situation. Mehbooba, who is also the president of the Peoples Democratic Party, said there would have been visible progress on the Common Minimum Programme, but due to the disturbances it could not be achieved. The other party leaders who spoke said nothing against the alliance with the BJP. The party leadership did not discuss anything on party founder Tariq Karras resignation. However, an MLA without naming Karra said that some people come and go and it makes no difference. Party MP and senior leader Muzaffar Baig said soon after Mehbooba took over, there was sudden upsurge which spread to rural areas and she has shown enough wisdom and patience to deal with such a kind of grave situation. Azhar Qadri Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 24 An uninterrupted spell of shutdown that has continued for the past 11 weeks is heading for its first major break on Sunday when the separatists have called for a relaxation during afternoon. If successful, this can have a lasting impact on the situation in the Valley. The relaxation in shutdown, which is scheduled to begin at 2 pm on Sunday, is the first during the daytime in the past two months and will depend on the protesters to allow it to happen. The last time when the separatists had called for a daytime relaxation in shutdowns was on July 26 which had drawn protesters out in defiance, forcing a shutdown and closure of roads in the region. In the aftermath of the reaction on July 26, the separatists had retreated from giving daytime relaxation in shutdown, limiting the shopping hours to evenings. However, as the unrest entered its twelfth week on Saturday, many protesters have been arrested and some are fatigued which has curtailed the intensity and spread of protests. Fewer protests have taken place in the recent days in the region and the movement of traffic mostly private cars and motorcycles has increased. It is an important day and if business activity and movement will be allowed, it will help in easing the situation, said Imtiaz Ahmad, a hotel owner in Srinagar. Many expect that markets will reopen during the relaxation hours. Arun Joshi Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 24 Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has concluded that last Sundays terror attack on the Army base in north Kashmirs Uri sector in which 18 soldiers lost their lives and many more injured could be a reaction to the situation in Kashmir, an unmistakable reference to the ongoing disturbances in the Valley. This statement is a self-indictment of Pakistan. In all senses of the word, reaction clearly states that the militants hurt by the Kashmir situation in which more than 80 lives have been lost had mounted the attacks. Hence, he believes that Pakistan is blameless, and India, without waiting even for the conclusion of the attack had blamed Pakistan without any evidence. First of all, the question is why Nawaz Sharif did not assert this position in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, when he drew an angry imagery of the Indian brutalities on Kashmiris peacefully protesting for their right to self-determination. If the intifada in Kashmir and the attack are cause and effect, then why did Pakistani premier hide this revelation from the world body. India would have been on the back foot and the listeners would not have ignored his ill-informed bluster. It could have been a reaction, but Nawaz Sharif did not tell that where from the militants originated, but by going by the conventional wisdom, he meant that they were locals and Pakistan had no hand in it. This could be a possibility, but the facts speak otherwise. The reality is that militants, who hurled grenades and showered bullets on the soldiers at the crack of dawn in the hilly Uri area, and their commanders and organisations are headquartered in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Even if the attackers were locals, again the question is who had declared Burhan Wani, a militant commander killed in July 8 encounter, as martyr and had observed black day on July 20, and who hailed him as a young leader of the Valley the answer is Pakistan. The Islamabad-Rawalpindi were keen to turn the death of Burhan to their advantage and cause disturbances and violent protests in Kashmir at the time when the people were preoccupied with their normal activities, tourists were landing in hordes and the children were in schools. How could India raise accusing fingers towards Pakistan when the operation was still in progress, Pakistan Prime Minister has asked this question which may sound very valid and in need of convincing answer. There is a template of fidayeen attacks, which are mounted by the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, both headquartered in Pakistan. If they were locals, there are so many Army camps in Kashmir, which could have been targeted. There was no need for the local militants to travel all the way to remote Uri, a border area lying adjacent to the Line of Control where, otherwise, there is no presence of militants. The template of such attacks in Poonch, Mohra, Pampore, Pathankot had all the fingerprints of Pakistan. So, why Pakistan should get edgy about it? It must learn to own its people but then there is a history that it was Nawaz Sharifs government that had refused to take back Pakistani soldiers bodies during the Kargil conflict. Denial is the best weapon with Pakistan, but it doesnt work all the time. Jammu, September 24 The Indian Army on Saturday said it has apprehended two Pakistani nationals in Uri town who were acting as terror guides for Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) outfit. Colonel S.D. Goswami, spokesman of Armys Udhampur headquartered northern command, said in winter capital Jammu that security forces had arrested two Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) nationals who have been working for JeM terror outfit and acting as guides for infiltrating groups along the line of control in Uri sector. The two Pakistani nationals were apprehended in a joint operation by the Army and BSF on September 21. During investigation, the individuals revealed their identities as Ahasan Kursheed, alias DC, son of Muhammad Kursheed of Khaliana Kalan, and Faisal Hussain Awan, son of Gul Akbar of Pottha Jahangir, both in PoK. The duo was recruited two years ago by the JeM and was guiding terrorists to infiltrate across the Line of Control. The details provided by them are being examined and corroborated by concerned agencies, he added. The Army has said four JeM suicide terrorists were responsible for the September 18 Uri attack in which 18 soldiers were killed and 30 others injured. IANS Hyderabad, September 24 Four columns of the Army have been deployed in rain-affected areas of Hyderabad and neighbouring Ranga Reddy district after heavy downpour wreaked havoc in the Capital and other parts of Telangana cutting off low-lying areas. Army troops have been moved into Begumpet, Nizampet and Hakimpet areas in the city and Alwal in Ranga Reddy district to provide necessary relief, according to a Defence release. The Army has also set up a control room at GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation) office and, in coordination with the GHMC and NDRF officials, is closely monitoring the situation round the clock, it said. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Army columns are already on track to provide relief material and medical aid in slum areas of Alwal. Other columns of the Army have been kept on standby, to be deployed when required, the release added. The Army officials had met GHMC Commissioner Janardhan Reddy during the wee hours today and apprised the administration that their forces are prepared to swing into action as and when called for. Also, following instructions from Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, a 60-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has been kept on the standby in the city. Besides, the Chief Minister has ordered officials to set up control rooms in all the districts across the state to reach out to marooned people with necessary relief, said an official statement. Some of the low-lying areas in Hyderabad are still cut off from the rest of the city, even as GHMC and some NGOs are offering essential food items such as milk for relief of those affected. The Chief Minister also instructed the officials to take necessary steps to prevent spread of communicable diseases. Also, the district administration of Rangareddy, Khammam, Warangal and Medak besides GHMC have declared holiday for educational institutions today in view of heavy rains. Yesterday, the Telangana government had said that it has kept two choppers ready to move people from low lying areas in the city, if necessary. Four persons were killed and six others injured in separate rain-related incidents in Medak district yesterday. According to the weather report issued by the Indian Meteorological Department today, heavy to very heavy rains are likely to occur at isolated places in Telangana. Meanwhile, the South Central Railway (SCR) today cancelled the Guntur-Secunderabad Intercity Express and Secunderabad-Guntur Intercity express trains. The Secunderabad-Bhubaneswar Express, scheduled to depart from Secunderabad at 1650 hours, has been rescheduled to leave at 18.50 hours due to late arrival of pairing train, an SCR release said. PTI Houston, September 24 Baloch nationalists along with the Indian-American community members staged a protest outside Pakistan's Consulate here against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Holding placards and shouting slogans against Pakistan for human rights violations, abduction and killings of civilians and rape of women, protestors condemned the recent "dastardly and cowardly act of Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack" in Uri. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Many protesters, mostly American Friends of Balochistan activists and Indian-Americans, carried placards highlighting the oppression of minorities, women and children in Pakistan and urged the US Government to stop funding Pakistan. A placard held by a soldier described Pakistan as the "Ivy League of Terrorism". Two days ago, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir had noted that the land of Taxila, one of the greatest learning centres of ancient times," is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism" and attracts aspirants and apprentices from all over the world. The protest event ended with the gathering singing the national anthems of the US and India. "The attack was carried out by banned terror group Jaish- e-Mohammed with the active support of Pakistani army and ISI, it is high time that those at helm consider it as an act of war by Pakistan against India," activist Achalesh Amar said. The protest came after Congressman Ted Poe, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, along with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, introduced a bill in the US House of Representatives to designate Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism. "It is time we stop paying Pakistan for its betrayal and designate it for what it is, a state sponsor of terrorism," Congressman Poe had said after introducing the bill. 18 soldiers were killed when Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists attacked a highly-guarded army camp in Uri in Kashmir on Sunday morning. PTI Washington, September 24 The Unites States Department of Defence has given a $ 81 million contract to Boeing for the supply of all-weather, over-the-horizon, Harpoon anti-ship missiles to India. According to the contract details, Boeing has been awarded $ 81,271,024 for firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract to exercise an option for the procurement of 22 Lot 89 Harpoon missiles, associated containers and components for the Government of India under the Foreign Military Sales program. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The missiles will be manufactured at several places in the United States, with the majority of them being in St Charles, Missouri. Some manufacturing process would also be done in the United Kingdom. The missiles are expected to be ready in June 2018. PTI Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, September 24 Two films starring Pakistani actors, 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' and 'Raees', due for release in the next few weeks face an uncertain future after Raj Thackeray-led MNS and the Shiv Sena asked Pakistani artistes to leave India immediately, failing which the shooting of their movies will be stalled. BJP general secretary Sanjay Upadhyay has demanded that exhibitors do not allow these films to be screened. While Pakistani star Fawad Khan plays a major role in Karan Johar's 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil', Mahira Khan from the neighbouring country is in the lead role in 'Raees' opposite Shah Rukh Khan. The BJP wants the roles of the Pakistanis to be snipped entirely from the two films. A beleagured Karan Johar has, however, received support from film producer Mukesh Bhatt who lobbed the ball in the court of the Indian government. He told reporters that it was the government which decided on allowing Pakistanis to work in India and filmmakers who roped in actors from the neighbouring countries should not be victimised. Suresh Dharur Tribune News Service Hyderabad, September 24 The Army stepped in today to assist the civic authorities in evacuating people and distributing food and medicine in submerged areas as the city bore the brunt of torrential rains for the fourth consecutive day. Four columns of Army have been deployed in the rain-affected areas while a 60-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has been kept on the standby in the city. Eight Army task force teams of 40 men each have been deployed in submerged areas along with boats, medicines and rescue equipment. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) We are at this moment providing food and medical aid to the stranded people. We will evacuate them if need arises, said Maj Jamwal after visiting the worst affected Bhandari Layout in Nizampet area, close to the citys IT hub. An officer of the rank of a Major heads each column deployed in the worst-affected areas. Normal life has been thrown out of gear and several low-lying areas were inundated as the city received the highest rainfall in the last 100 years. Heavy rainfall was expected till September 28. Almost all the 10 districts in Telangana recorded a rainfall of over 20 cm in the last few days. Nizampet is the worst affected area. At the governments request, Nasscom has asked the IT companies to allow staff to work from home. The government also kept two private helicopters ready to transport people from submerged areas, while 17 trains have been cancelled in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. By PTI: Panaji, Sep 24 (PTI) The assembly election in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Goa next year is "big challenge" for the Congress and fighting these elections is like waging a war against BJP and APP, senior party leader Digvijaya Singh today. "We have to enthuse the workers. We have to pump them up, we have to fight. The demoralised party cannot fight election. A demoralised army cannot fight wars. This is a war for us. The elections of Goa, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh are big challenges before Congress and we have to unitedly fight the BJP and AAP," Singh told party workers here today. advertisement Accusing AAP of contesting in all these states to give support to BJP, Singh said, "(Union Minister) Nitin Gadkari himself has admitted that AAP will eat into the Congress votes. We have been saying this right from the beginning. If there is any gathbandhan (alliance) in this country, it is between BJP and AAP." "They (AAP and BJP) are two faces of the same coin. They are together and each of them is helping the other. (Delhi Chief Minister) Arvind Kejriwal is a creature of Vivekananda International Foundation, which is a think tank of BJP and RSS. And he is only targeting Congress," he said. Kejriwal is a part of Congress-mukt Bharat campaign of BJP-RSS combine, Singh alleged. According to him, Congress party represents all communities, castes, religions, but BJP only talks of Hindutva. "Hindutva has nothing to do with Hindu religion, they want a Hindu nation, which means just as Pakistan is an Islamic nation, they want India to be a Hindu nation, which is not possible and which is against the constitution," Singh said. "They (BJP) talk of Babasaheb Ambedkars Constitution, but dont believe in it because the very fundamental issue of the Indian Constitution is that every person has a right to follow the religion of his choice. Therefore, no one can be forced to follow some other religion. There cant be forced conversion that one should understand," Singh said. He said next month, Congress will organise a conference of SC, ST and OBC communities, businessmen and farmers in Goa. "All block Congress committees should also hold workers convention," he said. PTI RPS NP RG --- ENDS --- Sacrifice of our 18 jawans will not go in vain. We will isolate Pak in the world One country in Asia is exporting terror everywhere, they want bloodshed Terrorists should clearly hear out that India will never forget the Uri attack Leaders of neighbouring country are reading out the script of terrorists Our soldiers have defeated 17 attempts by fidayeen attackers sent by neighbour Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service Kozhikode, September 24 After the Uri attack, India was anticipating a strong reaction from Prime Minister Narendra Modi against Pakistan. And they got it today here at the Calicut beach where he used the platform of the BJP National Council meeting to take on the neighbouring country. He said Pakistan was exporting terror and India would never forget the sacrifices made by its 18 soldiers. Labelling Pakistan a haven of terrorism, the PM also used the opportunity of a public rally here to talk to the people of Pakistan, warning them that their hukmaran (rulers) were misguiding them. This was an obvious dig at Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his speech praising Burhan Wani at the UN General Assembly and his latest diatribe calling Uri a result of the reaction of people to the situation in Kashmir. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Making a comparison between India, a country of peace, unity and amity which has a bright future, and Pakistan, an exporter of terrorists, the Prime Minister also sought to mark Pakistan in the neighbourhood as a country intent on keeping Asia blood-soaked and backward. The smart balancing act saw him soothe frayed nerves of people demanding strong action against the troublesome neighbour. The country will never forget the sacrifices made by the 18 bravehearts in Uri. There is anger in the country, let the terrorists know India will never forget the Uri incident, he said. And then, speaking directly to the people of Pakistan, perhaps a rare attempt by a world leader to engage with the people of another country, he said they should ask their hukmaran why when India is exporting software, they (Pakistan) are exporting terrorists. Striking a statesman-like posture, Modi said India was willing to go on a war with Pakistan but over social maladies like poverty, unemployment and illiteracy. Let us wage a war and see who wins it, he said. The attempt evoked varied reactions. While many political observers dubbed this as an attempt to incite the people of Pakistan, others saw it a smart attempt to show India as one-up, which would also cater to its current circumstances. As per Modi, the rulers of Pakistan were reading out speeches written by heads of terrorist organisations and singing the Kashmir song but the day is not far when the people of Pakistan will wage a war against their own leaders. Your leaders, trying to misguide you, talk of waging a war against India for 1,000 years. Let me tell you, the kind of government we have in India, we are ready, he said. In an apparent effort to address the criticism that his government has been unable to thwart terrorist incidents, Modi said as many as 17 attempts were made in the last few months to push in terrorists, and the security forces stationed at the border had foiled these, killing more than 110 terrorists. Our security forces have fought bravely and saved the country from 17 possible terrorist incidents. In one successful attempt of the neighbouring country, 18 brave men were martyred. If the 17 attempts would have been successful, they could have caused so much destruction, he said. Trying to answer questions raised about what action his government was taking, he said India would isolate Pakistan on the global stage. We will force you to be alone in the world, he said. Not just India, the entire world held Pakistan responsible for being a haven of terrorism, he said. Pak calls off key trade exhibition Islamabad/New Delhi: Pakistan has cancelled a trade exhibition which was scheduled to be held next month in India, amid heightened tension between the two neighbours. The third edition of Aalishaan Pakistan exhibition was scheduled to be held in October in New Delhi. The exhibition was meant to promote bilateral trade between the two countries. PTI Islamabad wants Bugti extradited Islamabad: Pakistan is to contact Interpol to extradite Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti, who is seeking political asylum in India. The Federal Investigation Agency will send a formal reference to Interpol within a few days for the extradition, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali said. His statement came after India said it was examining Bugtis application for political asylum. The Baloch Republican Party chief visited the Indian consulate in Geneva to inquire about the process of seeking asylum. IANS QUOTES Today I am speaking to the people of Pakistan directly. Before 1947, your ancestors used to consider undivided India their land, worshipped it. Please ask your leaders, you have PoK. You cannot manage it. Bangladesh used to be yours, you couldnt manage it. You cannot manage Gilgit, Baltistan, Pakhtun, Balochistan, Sindh... and you are talking about Kashmir. People of Pakistan must ask their leaders to first give secure lives to their citizens. Ask your leaders, both our countries got freedom together. Why does India export software and your country export terrorists? If you have what it takes, lets compete to end poverty in our countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Uri could be reaction to Kashmir situation: Sharif Uri attack can be the reaction of atrocities in Kashmir, as the relatives and near and dear ones of those killed and blinded were hurt and outraged... how could India accuse us just hours after the Uri incident without any inquiry? Nawaz Sharif, Pak PM New Delhi, September 24 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met the Army, Navy and Air Force Chiefs of Staff to discuss the prevailing security condition. Apart from Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba and Air Chief Marshall Arup Raha, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval was also present for the meeting at the Prime Ministers residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg here. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Besides discussing the prevailing security situation, discussion was also held on Indias response to the Uri attack, for which New Delhi has held Islamabad responsible. Later in the day, the Prime Minister will fly to Kerala, where he will address party office-bearers in Kozhikode and is expected to break his silence on the governments response to the terror attack on the Army base. Immediately after the Uri attack, the Prime Minister had vowed in a strongly worded tweet that he would not let the perpetrators go unpunished. Earlier, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had asserted that the Prime Ministers promise to punish those behind the Uri terror attack would not remain just words. Last Sunday, a militant attack on an army base in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, had claimed the lives of 18 soldiers. The armed militants lobbed grenades into their tents and barracks, while the soldiers were sleeping. The ensuing fire led to a large number of casualties. Twenty-eight injured soldiers are being treated at a military hospital. ANI Rome, September 24 Pope Francis today called for a sincere dialogue between Christians and Muslims as he met grieving relatives and survivors of Frances Bastille Day attack, in which a jihadist ploughed his truck into a crowd. The Pope, who this week denounced violence in the name of religion declaring there is no God of war met 180 people who were wounded, or left traumatised or bereaved by the July 14 attack in Nice which claimed 86 lives. We need to start a sincere dialogue and have fraternal relations between everybody, especially those who believe in a sole God who is merciful, he said, speaking in the Vaticans giant Paul VI audience hall, and calling this an urgent priority. It is with a feeling of great emotion that I am meeting you, those who are suffering in body and in spirit because an evening of festivity turned into one of violence which struck blindly at all, without taking into account their origins or religion, the pontiff said. We can only respond to the Devils attacks with Gods works which are forgiveness, love and respect for the other, even if they are different, he said. While speaking out against violent acts carried out in the name of any god, Francis this week reminded the West that there were parts of the world being flattened by fighting. Speaking in the Italian town of Assisi on Tuesday, he said, We are frightened... by some terrorist acts, but this is nothing compared to what is happening in those countries, in those lands where day and night bombs fall. French police on Tuesday arrested eight associates of Mohamed L Bouhlel, a 31-year-old Tunisian who rammed a truck through a crowd on the seafront on July 14, before police shot him dead. AFP Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 24 Equipped with the latest missiles which widen the arch of offensive operations, the Rafale fighter will be a potential game-changer for Indias airborne capability on several fronts. India has signed a contract with France to buy 36 such jets at a cost of Rs 58,828 crore, a huge sum but modern technology does not come cheap. Chiefly the Rafale will provide: dependability of having the very latest technology-backed air-strike platform; ability to hit enemy targets which are further away due to its flight radius of some 1,000 km; be available for five sorties per day instead of three of the Sukhoi 30 MKI; a new set of onboard radars to help pilots navigate and also strike; a new set of missiles that hit targets further away; and infusion of new technology in the Indian Air Force that is presently operating at its lowest level of fighter jets in the past decade. The Rafale will bridge the shortfall of the fast-dwindling fighter squadrons. India needs 45 fighter squadrons to counter a combined threat from Pakistan and China. Currently, it has only 33, where each squadron has 18-20 jets. Of these, the vintage MiG-21 and MiG-27 form 11 squadrons. The Sukhoi 30-MKI populates 10 squadrons, the 1970s design British Jaguar six, followed by French Mirage 2000 and Soviet Unions MiG-29 in two and three squadrons, respectively. The last three are being upgraded with better missiles and avionics. Rafale will be in some ways be superior to what the Chinese presently have in their arsenal, but Beijing is producing its own platforms and weapons and with the next generation J-20 fighter jet getting established, India will need to carry forward its plans rapidly and catch up with Beijing over the next five-six years by widening its make in India footprint. The first of the Rafales will start coming in by September 2019 and the full fleet shall be operational by April 2022. In the intervening period, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) led by Manohar Parrikar, needs to focus on a multi-pronged approach to meet future needs. The Rafale deal was negotiated for 18 months lightning fast going by MoDs record. As the good news filters in, the MoD is already working on multiple options at least four of which are known to bridge the technology gap of the IAF and add newer planes. The first is to quickly induct the 106 Tejas Mark-1A. The MoD has set a 2018 deadline for the first aircraft to be ready with a target to complete its production by 2022-23. The second is to have an additional assembly line of Indian-made fighter jets. This could be a joint venture with a US or European company setting up a plant in collaboration with an Indian partner. The third is completion of the production schedule of 272 of the Sukhoi 30-MKI, expected by 2020. The fourth is to ink an agreement with Russia to co-develop and produce a fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) with stealth features and the works. The Sukhois were ordered in phases since 1997, the IAF wants 272 of these in its fleet by 2020. The agreement for the FGFA is expected to be inked when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet next month. Make deal details public: Antony New Delhi: The Opposition Congress on Saturday expressed concern over the diluted Rafale aircraft agreement reached between India and France yesterday and demanded that details of the deal be made public. Former Defence Minister AK Antony raised several question marks on sufficiency of the deal asking the BJP-led government how it planned to arm the IAF with a mere 36 aircraft deal. During the UPAs tenure, it was decided to purchase 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft to meet the IAFs urgent operational requirement. As per the IAF, 126 was the minimum operational need then. Today, the scenario is even more critical. What is the plan of the government? said Antony, addressing reporters on Saturday. The former minister cited the sanctioned strength of the Air Force as 42 squadrons and said in the current volatile situation, the country needed more, and not less, jet strength. The sanctioned strength is 42 squadrons and the available strength is 32 squadrons. By 2022, this strength will be reduced to 25 squadrons. How will the government equip the IAF with more aircraft, asked Antony. Antony asked how the government would bridge the gap with respect to China and Pakistan who were augmenting their air strength. TNS Boeing to supply Harpoon missiles to India Washington: The US Department of Defence has given a $81 million contract to Boeing for the supply of all-weather, over-the-horizon Harpoon anti-ship missiles to India. According to the contract details, Boeing has been awarded $81,271,024 for firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract to exercise an option for the procurement of 22 Lot 89 Harpoon missiles, associated containers and components for the Government of India under the Foreign Military Sales programme. The missiles are expected to be ready in June 2018. PTI Shahira Naim Tribune News Service Lucknow, September 23 Promoting interfaith harmony was clearly the message of the Lucknow leg of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhis Kisan Yatra today. On the 16th day of his 2500-km Deoria-to-Delhi yatra, Rahul visited a Saint Josephs Cathedral, Hanuman Mandir, Raidas Mandir, famous Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama as well as the historical Yahyaganj Gurdwara during the course of his road show, seeking blessings for his UP-2017 mission from the religious heads of all four religious institutions. Congress CM candidate Sheila Dikshit, UPCC chief Raj Babbar, partys UP in charge Ghulam Nabi Azad and other leaders accompanied Rahul. At public meeting in the old city at the end of the road show, Rahul reiterated the need for a separate Kisan Budget. I will suggest a separate Kisan budget to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. This will benefit the farmers, he said. Recalling his struggle to prevent the government from acquiring the land of farmers in Bhatta Parsaul, Rahul said the present NDA government led by PM Narendra Modi has attempted thrice to usurp farmers land. He lashed out at Modi for ignoring the interests of farmers and not fulfilling his poll promises. Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 24 The Supreme Court has again come down heavily on the chewing tobacco industry for flouting the food safety laws of the country which impose a blanket ban on the sale of gutkha, khaini, zarda and other such food products containing tobacco and nicotine. In an important judgment, the court while hearing an appeal filed by the manufacturers of pan masala, gutkha and chewing tobacco (zarda) against state government notifications issued under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Regulations, again directed them to strictly comply with the law. The regulation in question Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) that was issued on August 1, 2011 by the apex food regulator, FSSAI, for the first time banned the sale of gutkha and other forms of smokeless tobacco on grounds that food cannot contain substances harmful to human health. The SCs orders came on a plea from amicus curiae Gopal Subramaniam who argued that the manufacturers of chewing tobacco are circumventing the courts direction to implement the gutkha ban by selling the same product in twin pouches, The amicus said he was speaking for millions of users of chewing tobacco who were not present before the court but were suffering from numerous diseases due to products manufactured by the petitioners. Subramanian brought to the notice of the court the following content in the government affidavit on the subject: To circumvent the ban on the sale of gutkha, the manufacturers are selling pan masala (without tobacco) in one packet and flavoured chewing tobacco in another sachet often conjoined and sold together by the same vendor to defeat the purpose of the FSSAI rule. So consumers can buy the pan masala and flavoured chewing tobacco and mix them for consumption. Hence, instead of the earlier ready to consume tobacco mixtures, chewing tobacco companies are now selling gutkha in twin packs to be mixed as one. The apex court taking note of the submissions directed all state food safety officers concerned to ensure strict enforcement of the gutkha ban and file a compliance report by November 9. The Health Ministry had issued orders banning gutkha sale on the basis of a report of the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare which found there were over 3,095 chemical components in smokeless tobacco products including 28 proven carcinogens. The report further indicates a strong association between smokeless tobacco usage and incidence of oral, esophageal, stomach, pancreatic, throat and renal cancers. The Global Adult Tobacco Survey India recently showed 35 per cent of all Indiana adults used tobacco in some form. Of these, 21 per cent used smokeless tobacco, 9 per cent smoked and 5 per cent used both chewing and smoking tobacco. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 24 The Haryana Governments attempt to put a veil from the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the police investigations into more than 2,000 FIRs registered in connection with the Jat reservation stir backfired today. Refusing to bring down the curtains on its supervision of the probe, a Division Bench categorically said it would not buckle. Referring to an affidavit filed by Haryana Secretary (Home Department) Nitin Kumar Yadav, Justices SS Saron and Lisa Gill said the averments suggested that the High Court should refrain from perusing the matter. But in view of the material on record, including the Prakash Singh panel report, it would not be expedient for it not to carry on. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The assertion came as amicus curiae (friend of the court) Anupam Gupta quoted the affidavit as saying, When the jurisdictional magistrates are seized of the matter and the investigation is going on, discussions, deliberations or criticism of the investigation seriously hampers the course of law under the CrPC and may not be in the interest of justice. It is respectfully prayed that in view of the same, further supervising such investigation by this High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India may not be in the interest of justice. The Bench added: You want us to walk out. But we are not laying our hands off. First you do not want to take action on Parkash Singh panel report, and now you want us out. Haryana also suggested the setting up of a committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, with Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Director General of Police and the Advocate General or his representative, as its members to periodically monitor and supervise the investigations in all FIRs. Appearing on the states behalf, Additional Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta said the proposed committee could recommend a CBI probe on finding lacuna in the investigation. Mehta also told the Court that the case registered in connection with arson at the instance of Finance Ministers brother was also being referred to the CBI. Appearing for the FMs brother, senior advocate RS Rai said the statement by state counsel on the arrest of three people was found to be factually incorrect. He added FSL Director, on basis of site visit, expressed opinion that it was a case of vandalism, looting and arson. But FSL report stated kerosene, petrol, diesel or its residues could not be detected. Rai said the material was sent to FSL after a months delay. Responding to the assertions, the state counsel said a SIT had also been constituted. Dubbing the developments as disheartening, the Bench said the situation was pathetic. For the first time the high court was informed about the second SIT. So far it was aware of just one SIT for Murthal case. The impression was that the Finance Ministers brother was not getting justice It is devastating and demoralising. Even during the peak of terrorism in Punjab, the situation was not as bad as it was during the stir. Fixing October 22 as the next date, the Bench clarified that the investigation may be conducted in any manner the state likes, provided it was genuine, effective and concrete. CBI unwilling to join in The CBI on Saturday expressed its unwillingness to probe 2,000 FIRs registered in connection with reservation agitation. The agencys counsel, Sumeet Goel, said a probe at such a large scale was not possible, citing infrastructural problems. Anguished, the Bench said: Haryana Police have washed its hands off. How can the culprits be brought to book how do we retrieve the confidence of public? It was always a bit risky. Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) don't always work out. Profit and public service make for strange bedfellows at the best of times. On the other hand, there is clear evidence that commercial enterprise is rather good at delivering the kind of efficiency that democratic processes can only dream of. And so, in June last year, when Rajasthan's state cabinet, under Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, chose to employ the PPP model to revitalise the state's moribund primary health sector, the reaction was predictably mixed. But first, some context: The last national census (2011) pegged Rajasthan's population at about 68 million, with 75 per cent classified as 'rural'. The birth rate was in the region of 25 babies per 1,000 people. Put another way, about 1.7 million babies were born in Rajasthan in 2011. Unlike urban populations, village folk are almost entirely dependent on the government for basic medical services such as pre- and post-natal care for new mothers and their babies, and in Rajasthan, the outlook is quite grim. National Health Mission (NHM) data suggests that the 'infant mortality rate' in the state was 47 per 1,000 births in 2013. (That translates to about 80,000 dead babies that year). For reference, in Germany-which is just a shade larger than Rajasthan, both in terms of land and population-the comparative number was 3.3 per 1,000 births. advertisement In India, the public health system for rural populations has three tiers. The first point of contact is known as a sub-centre (SC), which is responsible for maternal and child health, among other things. For every six SCs, there is one public health centre (PHC), which serves as a four- to six-bed 'mini hospital', and for every four PHCs, there is one community health centre (CHC), which is a 30-bed hospital. Under NHM norms, Rajasthan should have about 15,000 SCs. At 14,407, the actual number is about 600 short. Similarly, the number of PHCs should be in excess of 2,300, but there are only 2,083 in existence. Adding to the difficulty is the fact that many of these existing facilities are woefully understaffed, undersupplied, or even worse, entirely defunct. And so, in June last year, the state cabinet approved a pilot PPP. Partnering with the Wadhwani Initiative for Sustainable Healthcare (WISH), the Vasundhara Raje government handed over control of 30 PHCs and 153 SCs-chosen from among the worst-performing centres-across 12 districts in the state. The deal involved WISH taking responsibility for day-to-day management, bringing in technical support and innovative technologies to upgrade services, as well as carrying out government-mandated immunisation and vaccination programmes. In return, the government would reimburse operating costs, improve the regulatory environment and scale up successful innovations across the public health system. The task was daunting-aside from the problems of infrastructure, the public health system is also plagued by chronic understaffing and absenteeism, not to mention an abysmal retention rate for medical professionals. The results-though self-reported and unverified-appear promising. A brochure published by WISH claimed that they had got 98 per cent of the staff requirement for these PHCs (12-14 medical professionals in various categories) and SCs (2-3) within the first three months of operation. Six months later, 75 per cent of those doctors had been retained, as had 85 per cent of paramedics. The outpatient departments at these centres saw an 80 per cent increase in patients in this time and institutional deliveries had increased by 35 per cent. Sumitro Ghosh, the CEO of WISH, had this to say: "The experiment has possibly averted some 2,000 maternal and 150 neo-natal deaths across the population of 400,000 it has covered until now." WISH is working with other stakeholders, including Aajeevika Bureau, Karuna Trust and Piramal Swasthya. Also involved are ex-government officials, such as R.K. Meena, who served as the chief medical and health officer for the district of Sawai Madhopur. Dr Meena now heads the PHC at Bharoti. In his words, progress has been nothing short of "drastic". The Bharoti PHC now reportedly serves over 2,000 patients, including 200 in-patient admissions every month. Another aspect of the PPP relates to new technology. Speaking to India Today in July, Chief Minister Raje said that she was impressed with the sheer range of innovation WISH had to offer, including a non-invasive, smartphone-based test for haemoglobin levels and a mobile pathology lab that is equipped to perform 37 different kinds of tests at a fraction of the current cost (see box: A Wish Fulfilled). In addition, WISH is also increasing the 'active' component of healthcare: free ambulances for expecting mothers, follow-up visits for two months after birth, as well as roving 'auxiliary nursing midwives' who bring PHC healthcare services to village homes. "I could sense lot of innovative ideas in technology," CM Raje said, "and in the way health services should be managed." advertisement However, many remain sceptical. "The real challenge will come when [it] is extended to the entire health system," says Amit Mehta, a Hisar-based alumnus of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (Delhi), who runs a multi-speciality hostpital in the state. He believes that unless private companies have a sense of public service, this could devolve into a mere money-making enterprise. Nagendra Sharma, a neuro-surgeon and president of the association of medical practitioners in Jodhpur, says the same, adding that the project could "serve a death blow to national [health] programmes". Nonetheless, CM Raje evidently has great expectations of it. Given the history of this problem, as well as the scale, it is clearly going to be a long haul. That being said, if she manages to see it through to the end, the CM will have achieved something that few politicians have managed so far: she will have genuinely improved the lot of the common man. advertisement Follow the writer on Twitter @rohitO --- ENDS --- Jitendra K shrivastava Patna, September 24 Tributes were paid to Uri martyrs on the concluding day of the three-day International Sikh Conclave today. Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovinds talked about how Guru Gobind Singh had raised his voice against terrorism and atrocities. The Governor invited the delegates to attend the 10-day Parkash Utsav in Patna beginning December 10 to celebrate the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh. It would be a grand affair and would continue till January 10, he said. Talking about the contribution of the Sikh community to the nation, the Governor said: A fairly large number of Sikhs serve the Indian Army. They were awarded with five Param Vir Chakras, 40 Ashok Chakras and 209 Vir Chakras. Wherever they go, they leave their imprint of bravery, devotion for the work and honesty as they tread on the path of Guru Gobind Singh who was a soldier, saint and a scholar. The Bihar government has a challenge to conduct the mega event peacefully, but we are proud to have the Gurus birthplace in Patna, he said. Jasbir Singh, Chairman, Rajasthan Commission for Minorities, said: With the divine power of the Sikh Guru, India has got an idea to be the most powerful country in the world and it is the highest tribute to him on his 350th birth anniversary. Sikhs have proved their worth everywhere and we cannot forget MS Randhawas contribution to the nation. During the concluding session, noted scholar and bureaucrat Amita Paul said: Patna has become the spiritual capital as it has already conducted international conclaves for the Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and the Jains. But Guru Gobind Singh cannot be confined to the Sikhs alone as he had taught the lessons of humanity, love and spiritual uplift to all. Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 24 Torn pages of Guru Granth Sahib were found floating in a canal near Sher Singh Colony on the Jalandhar-Kala Sanghian road here on Saturday morning. As the word spread, Sikh youths gathered there and expressed their anguish. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The incident came to light when a passerby spotted the pages and raised the alarm. Soon, youths gathered there and entered the canal to collect the pages. Sources said around 30 pages were recovered and the youths were looking for more. Police reached the spot and started the investigation. The police are also looking for CCTV footage to identify the miscreants. People at the spot said their priority was to collect the torn pages first, and they would plan their further course of action later. Later, a copy of the Bhagavad Gita was also recovered from the canal. Archit Watts Tribune News Service Malout, September 24 The SADs student wing Students Organisation of India (SOI) has started appointing college students as the chairman, president and vice-president of schools. Malout MLA Harpreet Singh, accompanied by SOI district president Lovepreet Singh Lappi Ennakkhera, recently presented a siropa (robe of honour) to certain boys while appointing them chairman, president and vice-president of schools in Malout. Speaking over the phone, Harpreet said, Youngsters must come forward in politics. Other parties, too, should set up school units. He added, The students given the posts of SOIs school wing are studying in colleges. They will only visit the schools, make the students aware of the works done by the state government and the SAD. The school students will not be asked to join SOI. Shubhmandeep Singh Gaggu confirmed his appointment as the SOI schools president of Malout. Gifti Randhawa and Akash Sandhu have been appointed chairman and vice-president, respectively. SOIs Malwa zone 1 president Robin Brar was not available for comment. Harish Khare Since the times of the Mahabharata when false news of Ashwatthamas death was manufactured, we have known that misinformation and rumours do play an important part in the conduct of wars between nations and armies. In the wars of the twentieth century, the leaders and generals have devoted considerable importance and resources to propaganda battles. Propaganda is important as much for reassuring citizens as for confusing and demoralising the enemy. In the twenty-first century, this game has now acquired an altogether chaotic dimension. The governments all over the world with the possible exception of China have lost their monopoly over the outflow of information. Now, the social media has created a million warriors, each equally capable of floating a rumour of war, battles won and lost or imminent. Anyone spending fifteen minutes in front of an Indian television channel this week would have had the powerful impression that we are about to have a total, all-out war with Pakistan. Since the Uri outrage, the television news industry has whipped up a mood of revenge, retaliation and retribution. The social media warriors have pitched in and a frenzy has come to take possession of our collective fortitude. How to defuse this dangerous mood? The Army has rightly asserted that India would respond to the Uri provocation at a time and place of its choosing. But the ultra-nationalist social media warriors would not be so easily palmed off. They want action, here and now. Very sensibly, the Modi government is not allowing itself to be swamped by the war noises in the television studios. Every senior political leader in this country is aware of the Kandahar episode, when the Vajpayee government succumbed to the hysteria whipped up by the television channels. Every single member of the Vajpayee government regrets, at least in the privacy of his drawing room, that shameful day when India had to release four hardcore terrorists. On that fateful day, the gains of the Kargil War got dissipated Pakistan regained its psychological cockiness, and its Army discovered the usefulness of terror groups. The twenty-first century is a deadly century. Governments and responsible leaders have to learn how to keep their cool, how not to surrender their considered judgment to emotional tsunamis. Some leaders feel that they have a reputation to keep and get tempted to take unwise decisions. It is increasingly recognised that professional agencies across the world are engaged in manipulating the internet and its latest cousin, the social media, to spread rumours and half-truths. The Pakistanis capacity to play with this game competently and sophisticatedly should not be underestimated. They surely are able to play games with our minds. Take, for example, the Friday morning convulsions. Our television news channels got all excited because of a Pakistani journalists tweet, with an unverified and unverifiable claim of having spotted Pakistan air forces F-16 fighter planes over Islamabad. Just a tweet! Not more than 140 characters. And the entire Indian television world spent its energy and its breadth in drawing fabulous inferences. In this mood of super-anxiety and suppressed anger, the Indian citizen becomes vulnerable to any rumour. If the storytellers in the social media are to be believed, we have already waged a covert war on Pakistan and won it. And, the charm of a good rumour is that it can neither be denied nor acknowledged. So be it. On Saturday morning, I had called up Natwar Singh to ask him whether he had received the honorarium cheque The Tribune had sent him a few days ago. In turn, he asked me: Are we going to go to war with Pakistan? Taken aback, I said: Sir, you are a wise man, an experienced diplomat and a former foreign affairs minister. I should be asking you that question. He lamented all this war-talk after the Uri attack. Seventy policemen were killed by the extremists in Chhattisgarh and no one got excited, angry. Natwar Singh is one of the few men in India who are well-versed in the history of warfare in the twentieth century. He indignantly asked me: What is all this loose talk of teaching Pakistan this or that lesson? Illiterate editors and writers are quoting Chanakya and arguing about how to go to war. Do these people understand that Chanakyas advice was relevant to his time and age? It is amazing that people are always quoting Chanakya or Machiavelli to sound knowledgeable, without realising how the times have changed, how much the technology of war and diplomacy has changed. It was not for me to quarrel with this wise mans very valid indictment of our cultivated blood-thirstiness. Navtej Sarna will be our new man in Washington. An ambassadorial assignment in the United States is the second-most coveted posting for an Indian Foreign Service officer. India has had a string of distinguished men and women represent the country in Washington. Asaf Ali, Vijay Laxmi Pandit, BK Nehru, Abid Hussain, Naresh Chandra, Siddharth Shankar Ray, Meera Shanker, Nirupama Rao. A veritable roster of talent, experience and professionalism. Sarna will be the first turbaned Sikh to join the distinguished band. Kewal Singh, though, was the first Sikh to be our envoy in Washington. When he joined the Indian Foreign Service, Kewal Singh used to sport the mandatory turban and beard, but soon thereafter chose to become a mona. Besides being a first-rate professional diplomat, Sarna is also widely respected as a man of letters. I first came to know Navtej as a literary critic when I was working for The Hindu. He wrote a regular books column for The Hindu. It is a redeeming sign indeed that a first-rate literary reputation has not come in the way of his professional advancement. I return once again to Ms Priyanka Chopra, who the other day hogged the limelight as a presenter at the Emmy Awards show. She deserves every bit of attention and praise, not just as a celebrity but also as a symbol of a new generation of talented Indians who are not afraid to go out and test themselves against competition on the world stage. What lends loads of oomph to Ms Chopra is the self-assurance and confidence that she possesses. Priyanka Chopras appearance at the Emmy Awards night in Los Angeles stands out in very, very sharp contrast to the ugly noises being heard in a section of Bollywood about the presence of Pakistani artistes in Mumbai. While our talented artistes, intellectuals, writers and professionals avail themselves of the opportunities offered by the openness in the West, we want to shut our doors on the creative outsiders, especially if they happen to be Pakistani. Second-rate minds and mediocre artistes invoke patriotism and nationalism to badmouth artistic talent from Pakistan. This kind of phony indignation and xenophobic righteousness sits unhappily with our claims of being a rising global power. Ms Chopra quietly tells a different story. I am sure very many Indians must have found totally incomprehensible an Indian diplomats charge that Pakistan was host to Ivy League of Terrorism. Perhaps, the convoluted formulation was meant for the American ears. As a product of the original Ivy League, I think a bit of explaining is in order. The term Ivy League is used for eight centres of higher learning on the north-east coast of America, but its reputation and record of exclusiveness, excellence, and elitism are best personified by three universities Harvard, Princeton and Yale. Between the three of them, these universities have supplied the best of talent for the United States in all walks of life. Almost every outstanding president in last hundred years Woodrow Wilson, FD Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Clinton, the two Bushes, Barrack Obama have had their education or association with one of these three centres of learning. I am not sure that anyone with an Ivy League education would be thrilled by the reference to Pakistan and its institutionalised addiction to terrorism. But these are times of over-excitement and over-speak. Let all this rumour-mongering not spoil the taste for a cup of good coffee. Do join me. kaffeeklatsch@tribuneindia.com Vishav Bharti in Chandigarh It is hardly a time to talk about communism in Punjab where political discourse has already been skewered to panthic issues, and where ideas and ideologies are being used up to bloat a system that flaunts power and pelf and heaps scorn on those who stand their ground. A communist would dare say that this is no time to be apologetic either, for being a mere post script in the evolutionary changes determining a social order. And no, a Left ideologue would also argue, this is not the time to offer an obituary to flaccidly structured semantics about wealths cause and effect. Yet its time for an inquest, or plain curiosity, as to where and why the once fashionable Left has disappeared in a state where comrades were always at hand for political course correction or were cursed for being so un-godly as to demand equality over religiosity, honesty of purpose over parochial regionalism and firmness of belief in a classless society over ever-increasing layers of the middle class. In a country where Centrists and Centre-Left have acquired a reverential status, the Right has been kept largely shut up; its a mere spectator, left to pat itself on the back over scoring some brownie points over religion. Moreover, in the evolving situation globally, there are concerns over Rights slide into Alt-Right (Alternative Right, as in the United States). The Left, despite retaining some of its charm, has been forced to jettison or re-revise much of its copy-book revolutionary tactics such as its vaguely defined, but hotly debated, dialectical materialism (diamat) in order to make some sense of the new global economic order. Punjabs case For the champions of the Left ideology, Punjab with big communist names such as Harkishan Singh Surjeet, Prof Randhir Singh and Satpal & Vimla Dang attached to it could have been a Bengal, Kerala or Tripura. But the state turned out to be different: social unrest took an extremist religious hue, vested interests promoted self-righteous, corrupt politicians and money power gave rise to disparate social entities where farmers, the oppressed Dalit peasantry and jobless youth stood on one side and the omnipresent custodians of religious sects on the other. In this flux, the industry suffered and is barely managing to survive in a highly competitive domestic and global market. The days of philosophical jargons were to be over. The election results gave a firm indication: in 2014, the communists in Punjab finished just after NOTA (none of the above) option. The communists expected it. But where are they? Punjabs history does demand an answer, though principal players in present-day politics are simply not bothered. Amorphous, ineffective Those on the Left seem to have lost the dreams they once had the most terrible thing that can ever happen to a people, wrote Marxist scholar Prof Randhir Singh around a decade back. But what happened in Panjab University recently was unthinkable. Left-leaning Students for Society emerged as the single largest party in the student council polls. How does one see this vis-a-vis the Communists dwindling popularity? Can we write them off in a state that has had a tradition of rebellion against the establishment or Khalistani militants? Nobody can deny that they have also strongly influenced Punjabi literature and theatre. Despite being one of the oldest communist movements in the country, communism in Punjab is practically dead, declares Gurharpal Singh, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of London, who has done research on Punjabs communist movement. In many ways it was the most unsuccessful politically because it failed to extend its mass appeal beyond the Sikh peasantry, he says. After Partition, it became a minor footnote. After the 70s, the movement dissipated into factional feuds and personal fiefdoms. Electorally, the best performance of the Left was in the 1977 assembly elections, when CPI and CPM won 15 seats. The situation is such that in the last Lok Sabha elections, the Left was even defeated by NOTA. In the last assembly elections they couldnt save their deposit on even a single assembly seat. The mass base of communists has shrunk among workers and peasants, agrees Dr Joginder Dayal, member of the national executive of Communist Party of India (CPI). Green Revolution brought some new challenges, we couldnt properly identify the problems and failed to intervene, he says. This was followed by Sikh militancy, of which Communists were worst sufferers by losing a large cadre and some of the best leaders, says Dr Dayal. Another jolt, he says, came in the 1980s and 90s when BSP emerged and Lefts class base shifted to caste politics. Divorced from religion London-based writer Amarjit Chandan, who has almost five-decade association with the communist movement in Punjab, says the state has been dominated by Panthic issues. Despite the fact that the first-generation communist leadership, including the Ghadris and people such as Sohan Singh Josh, Teja Singh Sutantar, was the product of Sikh politics, the communists total divorce from religion became a reason of their failure, he says. Politics is now a money game. The Left cant afford this dirty business, he says. However electoral politics is not the only yardstick to gauge Communists, a section feels. There has been a tendency to dismiss the Left as a failure. But the argument relies on a rather arbitrarily defined index of success and failure. Given its own objectives and dreams, obviously the Left failed, but not without profoundly impacting the political landscape with ideas and ways of conducting politics. In that sense, the Left was influential in Punjabi politics, says Muhammad Ali Raza, a Berlin-based scholar who did his PhD on pre-1947 Punjabs Communist Movement from Oxford University. Art & literature More than political organization, Gurharpal feels, the influence of Punjabi communists was stronger in the realm of ideas. The Naxalite movement influenced Avtar Pash, Surjit Patar, Lal Singh Dil. The Indian Peoples Theatre Association (IPTA) offered space to Gursharan Singh. Gursharan Singh said the Punjabi theatre may not be world class in aesthetics, but is one of the most active theatres in the world. Even novelist Gurdial Singh never hid his association with communists. When the Naxalite movement suffered a setback, Punjabi poet Lal Singh Dil engaged in a dialogue with himself and asked: Has the wave died down? It was there, it is there, it will be there, answers Darshan Khatkar, a poet and one of the founders of the Naxalite movement in Punjab. However, the times have changed the shape of the communist movement, he says. The Assembly polls might shed some light. The Tribune Team They have been hailed as torch-bearers in a long march of village women in Haryana: from being mere bearers of children and passive co-applicants in ancestral largesse, they have come to occupy a position of decision-maker. Their avowed goal is not to submit to the whims and fancies of their male counterparts. And they have taken upon themselves the task to rebuild their villages and change the way their families and district authorities look at them: They are sarpanches, panches and much more in a state known for all the wrongs committed in gender insensitivity. Around eight months back, they made their presence official in many villages: they were elected in over 40% seats in polls conducted in January this year. The poll figures were encouraging: The number of unanimously elected candidates increased from 39 per cent to 56 per cent this year. It might be attributed to lack of qualified candidates but indirectly, it is a step towards social harmony. The state government is awarding Rs11 lakh to a unanimously elected panchayat. How real are their stories? Are the elected women trying to convert their state-sponsored power into an instrument of true empowerment? Or are they yet again reduced as dummies for their husbands or male heads of their families? Nine months are too short a period to gauge the village mood. Yet the intensity of action is in evidence. Reports suggest many bold initiatives such as cleanliness drives as a part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, freeing village land from encroachers, punitive measures against wastage of water and open defecation and demanding development funds. Over to the Haryanas rural hinterland: Social acceptance Sonepat: There are 304 gram panchayats in the district and out of these 63 gram panchayats are headed by the women in the district. Anju (22), sarpanch of Shamri Lochab Baran gram panchayat, is gradually getting accustomed to the new responsibility. She said Samajik Prampraon Ka Dhyan Rakhte Hue Kaam Kar Rahee Hun Aur Pariwar Ka Pura Sehyog Mil Raha Hai (I work keeping in mind the social conventions. I am getting full cooperation from my family members). She says project reports of construction of an open drain in the village, installing a pumping set to meet the drinking water requirements and pavement of village streets have gone to the department authorities. But funds are yet to arrive. Nisha (29), sarpanch of Kasanda village, is very comfortable with the post as her late father-in-law too served in the same capacity. Development grant of around Rs 25 lakh was available when I took over. The sanctioned works included repair of chaupal, construction of the boundary wall of the cremation ground for the people of a minority community, she said. District Development and Panchayat Officer, Sonepat, Dev Raj Dangi says the government had released grant of Rs 5.65 crore including about Rs 2.39 crore under Gramin Vikas Yojna Scheme (SCSP) and Rs 3.27 crore for special development works during July. He said monitoring committees have so far not been formed in any village. BS Malik Saving girl child Panipat: Educated women sarpanches have started off with improving the gender ratio. The sex ratio of Shimla Mulana is 825 females per 1000 males. Sarpanch Pinki Devi of village Shimla Mulana has passed a resolution offering Rs 1,100 as shagun to newly born girl child. Kuan Poojan and distribution of sweets mark the birth of girl child in the village. Out of total 174 village panchayat 72 female sarpanches were elected of which 18 are class 8-pass, 35 are tenth-pass, 11 are twelfth-pass and 8 are graduate or above. I had started a cleanliness drive immediately after my election. Though sweepers are doing well, all panchayat members including me run a special drive to clean public places in a week, said Pinki. We have not received any grant for development. But we are doing our best within our limited resources. The panchayat has installed water coolers with RO filters in the village and initiated an anti-encroachment drive which resulted in widening of roads. The panchayat has announced that if anyone is found wasting water three times in a row, the person would be fined Rs 1,000. Some of the women representatives are educated and take keen interest in development. The government has released about Rs 30 crore for about 170 development works in the villages, says Rupinder Malik, District Development and Panchayat Officer. Mukesh Tandon Out of the shell Ambala: Gurmeet Kaur (42) has been elected as the sarpanch of Sullar village for a second time. But she says elderly men in the village prefer to approach her husband. He often attends the official meetings along with her and visits government offices for village-related work. I recently briefed the panchayat monitoring committee about the works done and money spent. The gram panchayat has decided that a yogshala should be constructed on two acres. Land has alrbeen provided for Gaushala while six kanal ntly briefed has already been provided for a veterinary hospital. The panchayat has allowed the local administration to conduct a survey for setting up a solid waste treatment plant and a water plant, says Gurmeet. She has started a campaign to make Ambala open defecation free (ODF). There are 30 homes that dont have a toilet facility of which 15 have been warned to construct toilets at the earliest as they have received money from the administration. We hope our village will be ODF soon. District Development and Panchayat Officer (DDPO) Renu Jain says training sessions are being organized for the panches in Ambala. They are educated and understand the directions. Nitish Sharma Dummy culture persists Karnal: Over 45% of the panchayats are ruled by women sarpanches and more than 43% women panches are governing the panchayats in the district. The irony is that on their name the panchayats are being run by some or the other male members of their family including husband, father, father-in-law and brother-in-law and son. The male members of the family of most of the sarpanches and panches had given their mobile numbers to the election commission, which are being displayed on the website of the Panchayati Raj Institution, Mahari Panchayat. When TNS tried to contact several female sarpanches and sarpanches as per the phone numbers displayed on the website, they were answered by the male family members. They admitted that they run the show. Yet there are exceptions. Reetu, sarpanch of Bir Dandari village, has set an example by getting 23 toilets constructed on her own to make the village open defecation-free. Parveen Arora Security first Faridabad: Though all the 116 villages in the district got new panchayat heads in the elections, it is Anju Yadav (22) of Chandawali village who has done something unique: her village is now covered under 24x7 CCTV surveillance. A second year MA student of local Aggarwal College, Anju decided to take a plunge in village politics after the government made education qualification mandatory and the post was reserved for a woman. She says since the village is in close vicinity of the Industrial Model Township, the movement of outsiders in and around the village needed to be watched. Village transformation is a reality thanks to the youth like Anju, said deputy commissioner Chandershekhar. Bijendra Ahlawat Shortage of funds Hisar: Though the gaon ki sarkar elected about six months ago awaits development grants, some newly elected women sarpanch have tried to make their villages a better place to live in. Newly elected Dalit sarpanch of Dobhi village says she has initiated some projects from the development grants pending with the previous panchayat. A park is being set up near the bus stand in the village while an anangwari centre is also under construction. Besides, two streets are also being laid in the village, she said. The all-women panchayat of Bhiwani Rohilan village drew applause from the government. But the village has not received any funds. Our plans are ready. We want to construct toilets for women, a stadium and a library besides an efficient water supply scheme. But every project needs funds, said village sarpanch Asha Devi. Deepender Deswal Ishfaq Tantry in Srinagar A look at the placid Jhelum at Uri town, encompassed by 41 villages and inhabited by about a lakh residents, would prompt you to ask: could there be anything better than peace? Barring some spillover from Valleys unrest post Burhan Wanis killing in July, the town in north Kashmirs Baramulla district has conducted itself well, as good as any other Indian border village would. Yet Uri cant detach itself from an inherent scare. The oft-repeated, unanswered question is: can peace stretch to permanence, now that the country has lost 18 soldiers in a terror attack? Such a question turns the clock back to the 2003 ceasefire pact between India and Pakistan. The truce holds, as tenuously as the pendulum of time, between war, talk of war and peace. We fear escalation along the LoC. In the eventuality of a skirmish or war, the people of Uri would be the first victims. Only the border residents know what war or an escalation means, says Iqbal Ahmad, a government employee and an Uri resident. During my stay in Uri, I have realized that the livelihood of the residents living close to LoC depends on peace, says Mohammad Shafi Lone, a senior bank official, who spent almost five years in the area, while working with J&K Bank. Peace stakes The residents talk of Muzaffarabad (PoK), of times the trade prospered, of how to remain in sync with lockdown-prone Valley, and of course, of how to keep good faith in the Army. A scribbled message on an Army post near a steel bridge just before Uri summarizes the sentiment: Doubt Everybody, Leave Nobody, and Respect Everybody. Thats sounds like a left-handed compliment to Uris topography: the edge of a valley surrounded by Line of Control (LoC) on three sides, sliced off by the Jhelum that gushes through the heart of the border town before entering Muzzaffarbad. Skirmishes between Indian and Pakistani forces have been occasional in the last over a decade and so have been infiltrations and militant attacks. A few years back, Uri residents demanded opening of a well-equipped trade centre in the region, which would help them to reap benefits from India-Pakistan trade taking place via Muzaffarabad road link. India and Pakistan had decided to introduce a truck service on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road in 2008, nearly three years after the historic bus service was launched on the same route. The Indian side had sent a list of 14 products to Pakistan for approval, out of which the authorities had selected Kashmiri carpets, saffron, rugs, shawls, fruits, flowers, silk products for trade purposes in Pakistan. The Uri people have benefited from the opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road, both in terms of travel and trade. Those having relations across the LoC in Muzaffarabad and other areas have been able to meet them through the Muzaffarabad bus service. The trade activities have also benefitted the locals in terms of employment generation, export of local produce like walnut across the LoC and the availability of cheaper Pakistani goods, says Mohsin Janwari, an engineer. As the cross-LoC trade is at present based on a barter system, people feel the real potential of this trade activity is yet to be realized. Past & present The garrison town has been one of the worst hit since the area was divided by the LoC, which before the Simla Agreement was known as Ceasefire Line. The line divided thousands of families. Then, there have been a spate of cross-border shelling, making the lives of residents hell, as hundreds were maimed. This came to a halt in November 2003. The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Road was developed first as a cart road by Dogra ruler of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja Pratap Singh. On the advice of British residents, the construction of the road began first between Kohala (now in Pakistan occupied Kashmir) and historic Baramulla town, which passes through Uri town, in 1881. Subsequently, the road, earlier known as Jhelum valley cart road, was opened for traffic in 1890. Travel & hydel power In normal times, the journey beyond the Baramulla town towards Uri and Kaman Post, where the Peace Bridge is located linking Srinagar and Muzaffarabad cities is mesmerizing. The road snakes through the Jhelum valley, a narrow gorge through which the river passes and leaves the main Kashmir Valley for its onward journey to Pakistan. The road also overlooks the Lower Jhelum Hydel Project and the remnants of the now defunct historic Mohra Hydel Project, one of the oldest and first such power projects. Near Kaman post, travelers encounter the upcoming Uri-II Hydel Power project. All these projects highlight the hydel power potential of the Uri sector, which if harnessed can illuminate the region, even beyond the LoC. Long before the Partition, Kashmiris would travel along this road, unhindered, with caravans of tongas and ikkas (horse and oxen-driven carts) trading famed fruit, carpets and other crafts of the Valley with other regions of the sub-continent. With the extension of the Jhelum Valley cart road up to Srinagar between 1893-95 covering over 117km between the summer capital and Kaman post in Uri, trade and travel activities picked up on this strategic highway, with north Kashmir town of Baramulla, 55km from Srinagar, turning into a important trading town. Uri also gained from this development. Uri will see, hopefully, better days. The country may forget the Uri episode, the PMs of two countries may shake hands again, but it is the common man who would suffer the most during hostilities, says Mohsin Janwari, an engineer posted in the town. Dinesh Kumar in Chandigarh Another surprise attack, more precious lives lost, another humiliation, some strong condemnatory statements followed high-level visits to Srinagar and a flurry of high-level meetings in New Delhi, only to culminate in a return to business as usual. This sums up the standard sequence of events starting with security lapse and intelligence failure that gets repeated with monotonous regularity in a country that prides itself on being the worlds third largest military. History undoubtedly is replete with examples of intelligence failure and of countries being caught by surprise to attacks from adversaries. There is nothing unusual about that and there are library full of books to explain why it happens and why intelligence failures are difficult to prevent. But it takes only a few expressions to describe why in India it has become a habit to be caught unawares and to suffer attrition at the hands of a country one-third its size that brazenly resorts to terrorism as an instrument of state policy and unhesitatingly resorts to nuclear blackmail. And that is incompetence and repeated failure and inability to learn its lessons by the countrys security establishment that often finds it difficult to protect even itself leave aside its citizens. Remember Haji Pir? Uri, located close to the Line of Control (LoC), is a virtual gateway to the Kashmir Valley located not far from the 8,652-ft Haji Pir Pass, a dominating feature situated on the western fringe of the formidable Pir Panjal range that divides the Kashmir Valley from Jammu region. Most significantly, the Haji Pir bulge provides a direct ingress to both these regions of the state. It is through this militarily fortified Pass that was infamously returned to Pakistan after its capture by the Indian Army following a tough fight against all odds on August 28, 1965 that Islamabad has been infiltrating terrorists into the Jammu and Kashmir for over a quarter of a century. Again, it was this Pass through which prior to the start of the 1965 India-Pakistan War that the Pakistani Army, as part of its dubious Operation Gibraltar, had surreptitiously launched the main influx of its infiltration campaign into the Kashmir Valley. The Indian Army is heavily deployed all along the jagged and militarily illogical 740-km long LoC that runs along mountain ranges starting from gentle heights of 3,000 feet near Naushera in Jammu region to hostile high altitudes of over 20,000 feet in barren and mountainous Ladakh. Harsh terrain and severe weather are the two biggest enemies for soldiers which on many occasions renders ineffective the high technology wiring and sensors positioned at many places along the LoC. A hundred percent prevention of infiltration is impossible considering that the Berlin Wall built by the Soviets and the East Germans during the Cold War as also the wall built by a highly security conscious Israel at its Palestinian border could not deter 100 per cent infiltration. What goes wrong? But how would one explain the Armys inability to secure its own establishments and repeatedly suffer attrition from small groups of young illiterate terrorists armed with rifles and grenades? From the terrorist point of view, it makes sense to attack the very instrument entrusted with securing the state, especially along the LoC. But the fact that four terrorists could so easily breach the Armys security reflects poorly on the men in olive green. It reflects adversely on the Armys state of alertness and awareness to its immediate environment (such as movement of people) in the vicinity of the cantonment. To top it all, the outrageous incident occurred when there is continuing violent unrest in the Valley and at a time when relations between India and a Kashmir-obsessed Pakistan are at a low. In fact this is the time when the Army and all security agencies ought to be in a heightened state of security. As was the case prior to the May-June 1999 Kargil War, the Army yet again was caught shamefully unawares. Terrorists from Pakistan have been consciously targeting military installations along the LoC and the International Border - the attack on Pathankot airbase starting from last New Year eve being the last such major attack on a military establishment. Like Uri, Pathankot is located close to the border with Pakistan and was (and continues to be) both a target for Pakistan and a front-line fighter airbase for India during wars between the two countries. Only six months earlier, in July last year, terrorists from Pakistan had attacked a police station in Dinanagar, not far from Pathankot. Where it hurts most Within a period of six months between December 2014 and May 2015, the security forces, mainly the Army, have been attacked by terrorists in their locations. Less than two years earlier (December 5, 2014), a group of heavily armed terrorists stormed the Armys 31 Field Ordnance Depot (a major depot where ammunition for Army units in the area is stored), located at Mohra, near Uri, killing nine Army men including a Lieutenant Colonel and three policemen. Six terrorists were also killed. Three months later, on March 20, 2015, a group of terrorists stormed into Kathua police station killing five including three security force personnel and wounding 12. Yet, the very next day an Army Major and a soldier were injured in another terrorist attack on an Army camp located not far from Kathua on the Jammu-Pathankot highway. Another two months later (on May 31, 2015), an attack on the Armys Brigade headquarters in Tangdhar, a bulge ahead of Kupwara that juts into PoK, was foiled. In all there have been over 20 attacks on security force installations in Jammu and Kashmir in the last two years. Get to the basics India, which is engaged in purchasing big-ticket items such as aircraft carriers, submarines and fighter aircraft, needs to very critically also sweat the small stuff comprising equipment such as thermal imagers and other night fighting equipment, direction finding sensors, better close-quarter battle weapons, high-security perimeter fencing around cantonments etc considering that India has and will continue to be engaged in fighting Pakistans low-cost proxy war in a state on which it is not expected to give up until either a decisive and long-lasting action is taken or there is change of heart. Deficient overtly, covertly What is obvious is that for many years now, Indias huge defence and security establishment and a current defence budget of a staggering Rs 3.5 lakh crore has failed to deter Pakistan. Despite the huge monetary budget, the armed forces are lacking in equipment, War Wastage reserves are restricted, and even the operational readiness of a significant percentage of existing military equipment is suspect. There are issues pertaining to the quality of leadership and training as also the fact that the Army has ceased to attract the best and the brightest among the youth for many years now made no better by grievous anomalies in successive Central Pay Commission awards. Indias covert operations capability is severely restricted while serious qualitative and quantitative deficiencies continue in the countrys operational intelligence gathering capability. The countrys higher defence organization remains structured in a manner whereby the armed forces remain integrated with the Ministry of Defence only on paper while in reality remain outside the decision-making process on issues of national security. This leaves India with non-military options which are slower and time-consuming and, some would argue, a wiser approach. More money and equipment apart, the question is whether Indias political executive is taking active interest in and ensuring qualitative supervision of Indias defence and security institutions. But then how could they when they themselves are militarily illiterate and disinterested, focused as they are on vote bank politics, political manipulations and making money and on seeking to secure themselves for the next election. Until then, Pathankot, Uri and the like will recur and the country continue to slowly bleed to which the response in all probability is likely to remain the passive application of bandages to a thousand cuts with statements only getting louder and shriller. Tribune News Service Dehradun, September 24 Santosh Kumar Mall, IAS, Commissioner of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), visited Kendriya Vidyalaya, FRI, today to congratulate students and staff for emerging as the best vidyalaya in the country under Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. He addressed the students and the staff during the morning assembly and patted their back for achieving the feat. He said he was impressed to see the cleanliness on the campus, dedication of staff, belongingness of the students, upkeep of the vidyalaya infrastructure, discipline and the quality of education at KV, FRI. India is the oldest living civilisation that had set many examples before the entire world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a call for a Swachh Bharat as many evils had erupted in the Indian society. KVS had taken the initiative in letter and spirit, which had resulted in the form of the first rank being given to KV, FRI by the Government of India, he added. Principal Dr Charu Sharma will be felicitated by the Prime Minister on September 30 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. She extended a warm and hearty welcome to the commissioner and other officers of KVS and assured them that KV, FRI, would strive to excel in academics as well. Deputy Commissioner Somit Srivastav proposed the vote of thanks on the occasion. Assistant Commissioner PK Tamta, vice-principal SK Joshi, staff members and students attended the assembly. Tribune News Service Mussoorie, September 24 Oak Grove School was declared the overall winner of the 28th Master Naveen Sharma Memorial Painting Competition held at Gandhi Niwas Society in Mussoorie today. The competition was held in three categories, namely junior, inter and junior divisions. It was based on the theme Swach Bharat Abhiyan for the junior division, world peace for the inter division and the Rio Olympics for the senior division. Tejaswani from Oak Grove School was declared the winner in the junior division while Nandini from Vidya Mandir stood second and Rohit from St Lawrence School was adjudged third. Tenzing Norlin from Central School for Tibetan was awarded a consolation prize. In the inter division, Ankit from Oak Grove School stood first, Kanishka Negi second while Akansha from Sanatan Dharm School came third. Uttam Kumar from Oak Grove School won the consolation prize. In the senior division, Tathagat from Oak Grove School was declared first, Rinzen form CST second, while Rishika Agarwal from Waverly Convent School was adjudged third. Sania Nayak from Wynberg Allen School was awarded the consolation prize. Journalist Shoorvir Bhandari gave away citations and awards to the winners. Sanjay Dhaundiyal, Aman Deep and Rajiv Goyal were the judges. The Pakistan media said that the tactical drills will be held from September 24 to October 7 in the Army High Altitude School in northern Pakistan's Rattu and at a Special Forces Training Centre in Cherat. Russian troops arrived in Pakistan on Friday for the first-ever joint military exercise by the Cold War rivals. By Indo-Asian News Service: As Russian troops landed in Pakistan on Friday for the first joint military exercises, Moscow, taking note of India's concerns, denied the military drills were being held in "so-called Azad Kashmir" or in sensitive areas like Gilgit and Baltistan, but in an area in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. The Russian embassy in New Delhi, in a statement, said: "Contrary to some reports appearing in a section of the press, the Russia-Pakistan anti-terror exercise is not being held and will not be held in any point of so-called "Azad Kashmir" or in any other sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit and Baltistan." advertisement "The only venue of the exercise is Cherat. All reports alleging the drills taking place at the High Altitude Military School in Rattu are erroneous and mischievous," it said. Cherat is located in Nowshera district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. Rattu is in Astore district in Gilgit Baltistan, an area claimed by India. Russian troops arrived in Pakistan on Friday for the first-ever joint military exercise by the Cold War rivals. The Pakistan media said that the tactical drills will be held from September 24 to October 7 in the Army High Altitude School in northern Pakistan's Rattu and at a Special Forces Training Centre in Cherat. INDIA EXPRESSES ITS CONCERNS TO RUSSIA India had earlier conveyed its concerns to Russia over the military exercises. "There has been continuous communication between MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) and our counterparts in Russia," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in his weekly media briefing in New Delhi on Thursday. "This issue was also discussed at a very high level -- at the inter-governmental commission -- that was held between India and Russia," he said. Describing Pakistan-administered Kashmir as part of sovereign Indian territory, Swarup stated: "So, our sensitivities in this regard are well known internationally and given our privileged and strategic partnership with Russia, we have rightfully conveyed our concerns to them." Russian servicemen gather near self-propelled howitzers and other military vehicles at the international military-technical forum ARMY-2016 in Moscow region, Russia, September 6, 2016. Reuters PAKISTAN LOOKING TO RUSSIA FOR ARMS The Russian statement came soon after its military personnel taking part in the drill arrived in Pakistan, belying earlier media reports that Moscow had cancelled the exercise in the wake of the terror attack that killed 18 soldiers at an army camp in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, on September 18. About 200 servicemen from both sides will be participating in the exercise, called Druzhba-2016 (Friendship-2016). "The objectives of the joint exercise include developing cooperation between ground forces of the two countries, improving tactical abilities of the participating military personnel and developing a foundation for future interactions," the Pakistan embassy in Moscow said in a statement. It said the exercises were a "manifestation of the desire" of Islamabad and Moscow "to enhance bilateral cooperation in all fields of mutual interest including defence". advertisement Analysts have noted a warming of Pakistan's ties with Russia, even as its ties with its long-term ally, the US, seem to be cooling. Pakistan is particularly looking to Russia for arms. Reports said Moscow recently secured a deal for four Mi-35 attack helicopters, even as Islamabad is also exploring the possibilities of buying Su-35 fighter jets. The two countries signed a military cooperation agreement in 2014 to enhance defence cooperation. Incidentally, India on Friday signed a deal with France for buying 36 Rafale multi-role combat jets "off the shelf". ALSO READ: Not holding any anti-terror exercise with Pakistan in 'so-called Azad Kashmir', says Russia --- ENDS --- Tribune News Service Dehradun, September 24 The state government has signed nine memorandums of intent for projects across the state at the Inaugural Incredible India Tourism Investors Summit (IITIS) 2016 being held in New Delhi. According to a press release, the government signed agreements worth Rs 507 crore to set up a tent city, wellness resorts, yoga and wellness institutes, a hill resort in Tehri Lake and Dak bunglow operations and maintenance in Uttarakhand. Speaking at the event on Saturday, Tourism Secretary and Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board CEO Sailesh Bagoli said We are overwhelmed to receive such an enthusiastic response from investors who are keen to invest in the tourism sector in Uttarakhand. The government is fully committed to supporting all stakeholders contributing towards growth and development of tourism in the state. Our single window mechanism is a proactive step towards facilitating ease of doing business in the state. We are jointly working with YES Bank to prepare the new state tourism policy which will further boost development of tourism in the state. It is to be mentioned here that YES Bank has tied up as knowledge partner for the Inaugural Incredible India Tourism Investors Summit 2016. The marquee event, held by the Ministry of Tourism at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi from September 21-23, is an initiative of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in association with the Tourism Finance Corporation of India and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The IITIS is a platform for domestic and international investors to meet project owners from across Indian states and the private sector. Los Angeles, September 24 Five people were killed today in a shooting at a mall in the US state of Washington with the gunman described as a "Hispanic male" still at large. Police are searching for one shooter and are sweeping stores in the Cascade mall, Sgt Mark Francis said about the shooting in Burlington, about 100 kms north of Seattle. Authorities said four women and a man were killed in the shooting. Francis, spokesman for the state patrol, said the victims were shot in the makeup department of the Macy's store. Authorities released a surveillance image of the suspect apparently walking through a store and holding a rifle. Francis said police did not know the gunman's motive. He said the ages of the victims appeared to range from their 20s to elderly, but had no further identifying information. Washington Governor Jay Inslee said in a statement that many questions remain but state patrol and local law enforcement are on the scene working swiftly to locate the shooter and clear the area. The FBI's Seattle office announced that it was assisting local investigators with intelligence reviews and manpower. The bureau said on Twitter that it "has no information to suggest additional attacks planned" in Washington state but did not elaborate. Tari Caswell told the Skagit Valley Herald she was in the Macy's women's dressing room when she heard "what sounded like four balloons popping." "Then I heard seven or eight more, and I just stayed quiet in the dressing room because it just didn't feel right. And it got very quiet. And then I heard a lady yelling for help, and a man came and got me and another lady, and we ran out of the store," Caswell said. Authorities also released a photo of a man believed to be the gunman. "Here is the shooter. We believe just one shooter...Armed with rifle," Francis tweeted. He said police are "actively searching for suspect, tracking leads." PTI Lahore, September 24 China has assured Pakistan of its support in the event of any foreign aggression and also supported the countrys stance on the Kashmir dispute, a media report said. Beijing conveyed the message during a meeting of its top diplomat in the provincial capital with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the Dawn reported. In case of any (foreign) aggression our country will extend its full support to Pakistan, Consul General of China in Lahore Yu Boren said in a press release by the Punjab Chief Ministers Office. We are and will be siding with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. There is no justification for atrocities on unarmed Kashmiris in (India)-held Kashmir and the Kashmir dispute should be solved in accordance with aspirations of the Kashmiris, the report quoted Yu as saying. Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising after the September 18 terror attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers. India has blamed the attack on militants from Pakistan which has rejected allegations of its involvement. Yu, who called on Shahbaz Sharif on Friday to felicitate him on his 65th birthday, discussed with him the situation developing in Kashmir and the progress being made on various projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). A portion of the $46 billion CPEC passes through a part of the disputed region because of which India has raised objections over the project. PTI Liverpool, September 24 Jeremy Corbyn was re-elected leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party on Saturday and called for unity after ending a "coup" by more centrist lawmakers who say his left-wing agenda can never deliver victory at the polls. The veteran campaigner's triumph, by 313,209 to 193,229 votes, over challenger Owen Smith cements his authority over the divided party and will fuel a drive further Left, a move many lawmakers say will see them out of power and allow the ruling Conservatives free rein over Britain's divorce from the EU. Welcoming the result which handed him a larger share of the vote than his first leadership victory last year, Corbyn called on lawmakers and members at the party's annual conference in the northwestern city of Liverpool to come together to fight the Conservative Party and bring "real change" to Britain. "Elections are passionate and often partisan affairs, things are sometimes said in the heat of the debate ... which we sometimes later come to regret. Always remember in our party we have much more in common than that which divides us," he said to roars from the crowd of largely his supporters. "Let's wipe that slate clean and get on with the work we have got to do as a party together," he said, moving to ease fears that his re-election will widen the divide between the Labour Party's left and centre-left wings and that he may trigger moves to force centrist lawmakers from the party. His victory marks the next phase in a battle for control of the Labour Party. In power for 13 years until 2010, Labour was dealt a crushing blow by the Conservatives five years later after they cast doubt on whether the party's left-wing policies would protect the economy. The ruling party, under new Prime Minister Theresa May, still leads by seven percentage points in opinion polls and looks set to plot Britain's exit from the EU largely unopposed. Corbyn told the conference his anti-austerity policies had attracted thousands to Labour, helping to almost treble its membership to make it western Europe's largest, and he was ready to lead a more democratic party to election victory in 2020. But he faces an uphill battle to win over those who voted Labour at the last election but then supported Britain's exit from the EU, after a YouGov poll showed more than half of them have now abandoned Labour. He also has to convince many Labour members of parliament, some of whom decided not to attend the annual conference, that his left-wing policies, such as renationalisation and campaigning against nuclear weapons, can have broad appeal. Reuters His views on key policies BREXIT Jeremy Corbyn, who critics have accused of being a lacklustre campaigner for Britain's EU membership during referendum campaign, has rejected calls for a second referendum and said the vote to leave must be respected. He has said Labour will be pressing for Britain to have full access to the EU's single market, but without requirements to liberalise and privatise public services. It will also call for protections for social, employment and environmental rights to be maintained in the Brexit deal. ECONOMY Corbyn opposes the Conservative government's spending cuts and has pledged to create a National Investment Bank and network of regional investment banks to invest 500 billion over 10 years into infrastructure and high-tech industries. Under his leadership, Labour has set out a "fiscal credibility rule", which would require it to balance day-to-day spending with money raised through taxes, only allowing borrowing for investment. He Corbyn wants to strengthen employment and trade union rights DEFENCE A long-time pacifist, Corbyn favours scrapping Britain's nuclear weapons. He defied official Labour Party policy and put himself at odds with many of his lawmakers by opposing renewing the Scottish-based nuclear-armed Trident submarines at a parliamentary vote in July. Corbyn, who has said he will create a minister for peace and a minister for disarmament if he were in government, would also like to see Britain pull out of the NATO military alliance. FOREIGN AFFAIRS Corbyn has previously criticised the US for putting pressure on Britain to boost its military expenditure and has said the long-term impact of US foreign policy will be to divide the world. The Labour leader has said he regrets describing members of the Palestinian group Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah as friends. He has a history of political sympathy for Gerry Adams, the leader of Sinn Fein, the former political wing of the IRA which ran a 30-year armed campaign against British rule in Northern Ireland. Washington, September 24 US President Barack Obama has vetoed legislation allowing families of victims of the September 11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia, which could prompt Congress to overturn his decision with a rare veto override, the first of his presidency. Obama said the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act would hurt US national security and harm important alliances, while shifting crucial terrorism-related issues from policy officials into the hands of the courts. The Bill passed the Senate and House of Representatives in reaction to long-running suspicions, denied by Saudi Arabia, that hijackers of the four US jetliners that attacked the United States in 2001 were backed by the Saudi government. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals. Obama said other countries could use the law, known as JASTA, as an excuse to sue US diplomats, members of the military or companies even for actions of foreign organisations that had received US aid, equipment or training. Senator Chuck Schumer, who co-wrote the legislation and has championed it, immediately made clear how difficult it will be for Obama to sustain the veto. Schumer, the No. 3 Democrat in the Senate, issued a statement within moments of receiving the veto, promising that it would be swiftly and soundly overturned. He represents New York, home of most of the 9/11 victims. Both the Democratic and Republican candidates for president, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, said they would have signed the Bill into law if they were in the White House. If two-thirds of the lawmakers in both the Senate and House vote to override, the law would stand, the first such override since Omaba became President in 2009, and possibly the last. Obama leaves office in January. Fridays veto was the 12th of his presidency. Reuters Washington, September 24 US President Barack Obama has vetoed a Bill that would have allowed the families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia, fearing that the move could have serious implications for Americas national interests. The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) Bill, passed by both the chambers of the Republican controlled Congress, would have jeopardised the long standing international principles regarding sovereignty and would have made adverse impact with US interests and nationals overseas, Obama said yesterday. He stressed that the Bill departs from longstanding standards and practice under US Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and threatens to strip all foreign governments of immunity from judicial process in the country based solely upon allegations by private litigants that a foreign governments overseas conduct had some role or connection to a group or person that carried out a terrorist attack inside the United States. This would invite consequential decisions to be made based upon incomplete information and risk having different courts reaching different conclusions about the culpability of individual foreign governments and their role in terrorist activities directed against the United States, Obama said. It is neither an effective nor a coordinated way for us to respond to indications that a foreign government might have been behind a terrorist attack, he added. Fearing its consequences, the US President said JASTA would upset longstanding international principles regarding sovereign immunity, putting in place rules that, if applied globally, could have serious implications for the countrys national interests and it can even complicate relations with its closest partners. If JASTA were enacted, courts could potentially consider even minimal allegations accusing US allies or partners of complicity in a particular terrorist attack in the United States to be sufficient to open the door to litigation and wide-ranging discovery against a foreign country, Obama said. Justifying his decision, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Obama is much more worried about the long-term impact of this legislation on the US national security as compared to his daily interactions with members of the Congress. This is the president that ordered the operation to take Osama bin Laden off the battlefield. This is the president who time and again advocated for legislation that provided health care to recovery workers at Ground Zero, even in the face of some Republican opposition to that, Earnest said. And this is the president who time and time again has spoken movingly about the impact that 9/11 has had on our country and the way that those who lost loved ones on 9/11 serve as a daily inspiration to the President and to Americans across the country and exhibiting the kind of resolve and resiliency thats unique to this country, he said. PTI Islamabad, September 24 Pakistan will contact Interpol to extradite Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti, who is currently seeking political asylum in India. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will send a formal reference to Interpol within the next few days for the extradition of Brahamdagh Bugti, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali said. Nisars statement on Friday came a day after Indias Home Ministry said it was examining Bugtis application for political asylum in India. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Baloch Republican Party (BRP) Chief Bugti visited the Indian consulate in Geneva, Switzerland, to inquire about the process of seeking asylum in India. Nisar, to a question about Indias offer of citizenship to the rebel Baloch leader, said the offer had made it clear as to who was supporting terrorism. It has substantiated the Indian Prime Ministers statement of interference in Pakistan, he said, at the headquarters of the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA). Their (Indians) feelings about Brahamdagh Bugti and their invitation to him unmistakably establish who is behind terrorism (in Balochistan), Nisar was quoted as saying. The minister also accused India of blaming Pakistan for the Uri terrorist attack without any concrete evidence. The Indians dont have any evidence, so what sort of investigation can Pakistan carry out? They have blamed us just to defame Pakistan, he said. Eighteen Indian soldiers were killed in a terror attack on an army base camp in Uri town in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18. IANS Rome, September 24 Pope Francis on Saturday called for a sincere dialogue between Christians and Muslims as he met grieving relatives and survivors of Frances Bastille Day attack, in which a jihadist ploughed his truck into a crowd. The pope, who this week denounced violence in the name of religion declaring there is no God of war met 180 people who were wounded, or left traumatised or bereaved by the July 14 attack in Nice which claimed 86 lives. We need to start a sincere dialogue and have fraternal relations between everybody, especially those who believe in a sole God who is merciful, he said, speaking in the Vaticans giant Paul VI audience hall, and calling this an urgent priority. It is with a feeling of great emotion that I am meeting you, those who are suffering in body and in spirit because an evening of festivity turned into one of violence which struck blindly at all, without taking into account their origins or religion, the pontiff said. We can only respond to the Devils attacks with Gods works which are forgiveness, love and respect for the other, even if they are different, he said. Members of 58 families were flown in especially from the French Rivera resort city of Nice. They were joined in Rome by 150 others who travelled from France by car and a delegation from a French regional interreligious group, including the Catholic bishop of Nice and Muslim, Jewish, Orthodox and Protestant representatives. Last month the Argentine pontiff met French President Francois Hollande to offer his support and condolences to a country which has been rocked by a series of deadly attacks since early 2015. While speaking out against violent acts carried out in the name of any god, Francis this week reminded the West that there were parts of the world being flattened by fighting. Speaking in the Italian town of Assisi on Tuesday he said, We are frightened... by some terrorist acts, but this is nothing compared to what is happening in those countries, in those lands where day and night bombs fall. Vincent Delhommel Desmarest, who runs a restaurant on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice where the attack happened, said he has been on sick leave ever since and now sees a psychologist three times a week. I dont sleep at night. The whole scene of the lorry moving, the mutilated bodies, decapitated, the entrails, he said. AFP Aleppo, September 24 Heavy Syrian and Russian air strikes on rebel-held eastern areas of Aleppo city killed at least 25 civilians on Saturday, a monitor said, overwhelming doctors and rescue workers. The toll was expected to rise because people remained trapped under rubble, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The intense raids continued for a second night, after Damascus announced an operation late Thursday to recapture all of the city. Seven people were killed in a strike on the Bustan al- Qasr neighbourhood as they queued to buy yoghurt at a market. Bustan al-Qasr is along the frontline that divides the government-held west from the rebel-held east of the city. The attack left a pool of blood and bodyparts strewn at the site, according to an AFP correspondent. At least 47 people were killed in heavy bombing yesterday, among them seven children, according to the Observatory. There was massive destruction in several neighbourhoods, including Al-Kalasseh and Bustan al-Qasr, where some streets were almost erased by the bombardment. Unexploded rockets were still buried in the roads in some areas, and elsewhere enormous craters around five metres deep and wide had been left by the bombing. Residents and activists described the use of a missile that produced earthquake-like tremors upon impact and razed buildings right down to the basement level where many residents desperately seek protection during bombing. The civil defence organisation known as the White Helmets was left overwhelmed by the scale of the destruction, particularly after several of its bases were damaged in bombing yesterday. The group says it has just two fire engines left for all of east Aleppo which, like its ambulances, are struggling to move around the city. With no electricity or fuel for generators, the streets of Aleppo are pitch black and difficult to navigate at night, and the fuel shortage has also made it tough to fill up vehicles. In many places, rubble strewn across streets has rendered them impassable and has effectively sealed off neighbourhoods to traffic. This morning, the streets were nearly empty, with just a few residents out looking for bread. The approximately 2,50,000 people in east Aleppo have been under near-continuous siege since government troops encircled the area in mid-July. A truce deal negotiated between Moscow and Washington brought a few days of respite from the violence, though no humanitarian aid, earlier this month. But the deal has fallen apart, and on Thursday the Syrian army announced an operation to retake all of Aleppo, urging civilians in the east to distance themselves from terrorists and promising them safe passage to government-controlled areas. AFP Three militants rammed their explosives-laden vehicles into the main check point near the town of al-Salam at the province's northern entrance. By AP: A triple suicide bombing against a security check point north of Baghdad on Saturday killed at least 11 members of the security forces, a police officer said. ATTACK The spokesman for the Salahuddin province police force, Col. Mohammed al-Jabouri, said three militants rammed their explosives-laden vehicles early Saturday morning into the main check point near the town of al-Salam at the province's northern entrance. Al-Jabouri added that 34 other security officers were wounded. advertisement He said the attack occurred as the local police chief and head of the provincial security committee were visiting the site. Both escaped unharmed. NOBODY HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but ISIS militants have claimed multiple similar attacks. The Sunni extremists frequently launch attacks targeting Iraq's security forces and civilians in public areas. The group stepped up attacks in recent months as it has lost territory in northern and western Iraq that it had captured in 2014. In April 2015, Iraqi security forces drove out Islamic State militants from the Salahuddin provincial capital, Tikrit, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) north of Baghdad. The attack came days after government forces recaptured the town of Shirqat, north of Tikrit, from IS militants. OPERATION AGAINST ISIS Backed by the US-led international coalition and paramilitary forces, the Iraqi government is gearing up for a major military operation to dislodge the militants from the city of Mosul. The city, about 360 kilometers (225 miles) northwest of Baghdad, is the last major ISIS urban stronghold in Iraq. US. officials have said for some time that they expect the Mosul operation to begin in October. ALSO READ: Pakistan terror heats up India's war room Has India already avenged Uri by killing 20 Pakistani terrorists in PoK? --- ENDS --- The District Magistrate of Gopalganj has adopted Gandhgiiri to end open defecation in the district and make Swachh Bharat a success. Gopalganj DM Rahul Kumar organises Ratri Chaupal in his district to end open defecation and make Swachh Bharat a success. By Rohit Kumar Singh: Gopalganj District Magistrate Rahul Kumar has resorted to Gandhigiri to appeal to the people of the district not to indulge in open defecation. The DM's move comes on the occasion of completion of two years of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan on October 2, an ambitious scheme launched by PM Narendra Modi. RATRI CHAUPAL, NIGHT PATROLLING MAKE PEOPLE AWARE advertisement Kumar, in a bid to make people aware not to defecate in the open, is carrying out night patrolling and wherever he finds villagers defecating in open, he with folded hands asks them to refrain from doing so. "I have initiated this move to clean Gopalganj district. Centre and state are running several schemes to end open defecation in the country. We are informing people about those schemes", said Rahul Kumar, Gopalganj DM. People listening to the DM during one of the Ratri Chaupal. Rahul Kumar wants at least two blocks in Gopalgang- Panch Devri and Thawe- to become free from open defecation ahead of October 2, when the country would celebrate Gandhi Jayanti. Also Read: 105-yr-old made Swachh Bharat Abhiyan mascot after she sells off her goats to built toilet Kumar is also organizing "Ratri Chaupal" in his district to make Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a success. The DM talking to people in his district. "We are trying to end open defecation in Gopalganj district by 2017. We are also working on building four lakh toilets in the district by the same year." Moved by the efforts of the DM, villagers have started building toilets in their homes. Also Read: Odisha: Taking strides in Swachh Bharat, 325 villages declared open-defecation free Swachh Bharat gets comic relief: Amar Chitra Katha joins hands with govt to create comics on campaign Pleading, scaring, shaming, scolding: 11 outlandish ways people are trying to create a Swachh Bharat --- ENDS --- Ms Maliwal, who is facing an ACB probe herself over alleged irregularities in recruitment to the Delhi Commission for Women, presented a 128-page document detailing all the wrongdoings by the three which had been submitted to the ACB. DCW chief Swati Maliwal hits out at predecessors Shukla and Kiran Walia, accusing them of financial fraud. By Parbina Purkayastha: It is an eye for an eye for the current and former DCW chiefs. In a case filed by Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal against former DCW chief Barkha Shukla Singh who said that whoever is guilty will be punished. Taking a dig at the current DCW chief, Barkha Singh said that Ms Maliwal is remembering things only after she filed a complaint with the ACB. Barkha added that she is not scared of the probe. "If there were irregularities, she should have filed a case against me earlier," she said. advertisement MASSIVE CORRUPTION Barkha Singh's comments come after Swati Maliwal on Friday accused former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and former DCW chiefs Barkha Singh Shukla and Kiran Walia of indulging in massive corruption and asked the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) to arrest and imprison them. "These are baseless allegations and they will have to apologize to us soon" said Kiran Walia. FINANCIAL IRREGULARITIES In her complaint to the ACB, DCW chief said she had uncovered "gross financial irregularities and high misappropriation of government funds" by Barkha Singh and Walia, prima facie under the directions of Dikshit from 2007 to 2015. Ms Dikshit was the Chief Minister of Delhi during the Congress regime from 1998 to 2013. 128 PAGE REPORT Ms Maliwal, who is facing an ACB probe herself over alleged irregularities in recruitment to the Delhi Commission for Women, presented a 128-page document detailing all the wrongdoings by the three which had been submitted to the ACB. Also Read: AAP leader Swati Maliwal claims brothels in Delhi's Red Light District are owned and protected by Union Minister Delhi BJP seeks removal of DCW chief Swati Maliwal --- ENDS --- A federal jury acquitted a Tulsa man Friday of cyberstalking a Washington, D.C.-based journalist who is a regular contributor to Fox News. Charles Jason Moreland, who has a history of sending threatening emails, looked toward the ceiling with his mouth agape as he rocked back in his chair after the not guilty verdict was announced Friday afternoon in Tulsa federal court. U.S. District Judge John Dowdell ordered 33-year-old Moreland, who has been jailed since his arrest in June, to be freed immediately. The acquittal concluded a week-long trial that focused largely on the nearly 400 emails that Moreland sent to Katie Pavlich, a frequent Fox News Channel contributor and news editor, over a one-year period. Federal cyberstalking law says charges can be filed when someone with intent to injure, harass, intimidate uses email, regular mail and other means to engage in a course of conduct that caused, attempted to cause, and would be reasonably expected to cause substantial emotional distress to a person. The acquittal comes about two years after Moreland pleaded guilty to sending threatening emails to U.S. Sen. Harry Reid when the Nevada Democrat was Senate majority leader. Moreland was originally sentenced in January 2015 to serve one month in federal prison after pleading guilty to the misdemeanor charge involving Reid. However, he was arrested in November on allegations he violated the terms of his supervised release and subsequently sentenced in December to serve an additional five months in prison. A grand jury indicted Moreland on June 7 on one count of cyberstalking Pavlich, editor for the online news site Townhall.com. Pavlich, 28, testified during the trial, which began Monday, that she began receiving emails from Moreland in May 2015, with the first one only saying, Thank you. Pavlich said the topics of the first emails from Moreland dealt with politics, but she said they quickly became very personal when the defendant began emailing her photos of her dog and made references to other members of her family. Pavlich testified that she never responded to Morelands email messages and blocked him from some of her personal social media accounts. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Shores during his closing arguments to the jury said Pavlich didnt do a single thing other than to be victimized. When Pavlich didnt respond to his overtures, Moreland looked for pressure points that included sending emails referencing her family members and contacting one of her friends, Shores said. When a woman remains silent it does not mean yes, Shores said. Pavlich said the tone of the emails soon ranged from romantic to threatening. Some advised her on what she should be buying for her dog, which she displayed photos of on her Instagram social media account. Pavlich said she first told her friends and family members about the unwanted emails, but later contacted the FBI, thinking that her life was in imminent danger after receiving emails from Moreland that indicated that he would fight to the death after the FBI raided his home and another that suggested she should leave the country. Morelands federal public defender, Rob Ridenour, admitted that his client was infatuated with Pavlich. And who wouldnt be, Ridenour told the jury during his opening statement. She is someone a man like Charlie Moreland would be infatuated with. Ridenour claimed Moreland merely wanted to share his interest in conservative politics with Pavlich, noting that her personal website and other public outlets invited the public to feel free to send her an email. Yes, he sent her nearly 400 emails over four to five months, Ridenour said. No one told Mr. Moreland to stop sending emails, Ridenour said. So, he kept sending them. Some people dont get it, Ridenour said. Does that mean that this is stalking? Pavlich said one day said she received an email that directed her to go to her office if she wanted an answer. I felt very creeped out and threatened, Pavlich said about the email message. At this point I knew there was serious problem. At the office, Pavlich said, a package awaited her. Inside the cardboard package, displayed for the jury, were several items for a dog, including a dog toy, a dog bones and a collar. Pavlich said on other occasions Moreland sent her an edible arrangement gift and some light bulbs, the latter apparently in reference to when she mentioned once on a social media account that she had used the last her personal stock of incandescent bulbs. Moreland allegedly once emailed Pavlich a message that included a link that if clicked would display a video clip of Pavlichs brother, a Tulsan, shooting a gun at a range. Emails from Moreland sent to Pavlich included those that read: Yes, I am aware you want to kill me. and Even morons know how to use firearms. One of the final emails Moreland sent read: No one has won anything. Feds raided my house again so the gloves are now off. Thus, a fight to the death now! While being cross-examined, Ridenour asked Pavlich about the perceived threats. He never tells you he is going to shoot someone does he? Ridenour asked. He says , Pavlich responded. Maam, Ridenour interjected. No, Pavlich concedes. Later, Ridenour asked Pavlich if she had personal knowledge that Mr. Moreland knew you were receiving the emails he sent? No, but I did have personal knowledge that Mr. Moreland had sent me 393 emails, Pavlich replied. In his closing statement, Ridenour said the government had failed to prove that Moreland knew Pavlich had received the his messages he had sent to her. He sent a bunch of creepy emails to an email site and never heard back, Ridenour told the jury during his closing statement Thursday. Ridenhour said an element to reach a cyberstalking conviction requires proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the actions caused a reasonable person substantial emotional distress. Rather, Ridenour maintained that Morelands actions had merely irritated Pavlich. He irritated her and she wants her pound of flesh, Ridenour said. Prior to the trial, Moreland rejected a plea bargain offered by the U.S. District Attorneys office that called for him to serve a two-year prison term. The cyberstalking charge carried a maximum five-year term upon conviction. Vice President Joe Biden admitted that Ankara provided "concrete evidence" about terror leader Fetullah Gulen being the mastermind of a recent coup attempt in Turkey, that countrys Justice Minister said Thursday. Bekir Bozdag, who is accompanying President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on a visit to New York for the annual UN General Assembly meetings, made his remarks as he answered journalists' questions. "We have enough information, document and proof that shows Fetullah Gulen is the leader of this terror group that had tried to make a coup," Bozdag said, referring to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) that Ankara implicates in the coup attempt. "Mr. Biden also accepted and stated that there was concrete evidence," he said. Bozdag said Turkey expects the U.S. to take the necessary "second step" and temporarily arrest Gulen. "We hope that it won't be delayed and happen on a short notice," Bozdag said. "We requested a temporary arrest on Gulen because of the July 15 coup bid and him being the mastermind behind this. He is a terrorist that conducted this coup bid from Pennsylvania." Ankara maintains that the overthrow attempt was organized by followers of Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the state of Pennsylvania since 1999, and his FETO terror group. Gulen is also accused of leading a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state. Anadolu Agency Turkish Foreign Ministry said Friday that it does not recognize the results of Russias parliamentary elections recently held in Crimea. "The results of the elections in Crimea are not legitimate for us," spokesman Tanju Bilgic said in a statement, adding Turkey would continue to support the territorial integrity of Ukraine including Crimea. Elections to the State Duma, Russias 450-seat lower house of parliament, took place on Sep. 18. Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean peninsula in March 2014 following a contested referendum. Since then, the regions Tatar community has regularly denounced increasing repression including arbitrary arrests and detentions. Anadolu Agency The United States arming the PYD/YPG is a source of concern for Turkey as these terrorist organizations pose a threat to Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday. It is a source of concern, Erdogan told Bloomberg in New York in an interview, speaking about U.S. cooperation with those terrorist groups. Three days ago, America landed two planes loaded with weapons. Where? In Kobani. For whom? For the PYD and YPG, Erdogan said, referring to a Syrian city within sight of Turkeys southern border. A very serious mistake is being committed before the worlds eyes, he added. Erdogan went on to slam the rationalization that the PYD and YPG are being armed since they are fighting Daesh. Now, Al-Nusra is a terror organization. Al-Nusra in the same way is fighting Daesh. If those who fight Daesh are not terrorists then Al-Nusra too, is not terrorist. Erdogan said that PYD and YPG are affiliates of the PKK terrorist organization that is fighting Turkey. They are together. They are the same, he said. Erdogan called once more for the international anti-Daesh coalition made up of 65 countries to bring down Daesh without the help of terrorist groups. Dont worry about that. We can do that together, he said. Erdogan said that trying to distinguish between good and bad terrorist groups constitutes wrongdoing against Turkey. Because right now we are worried by the organizations you defend. These pose a threat to our country, Erdogan said, adding that those who give weapons to the PYD/YPG terrorist groups are strengthening future threats to Turkey. On a possible safe zone in northern Syria, Erdogan said that world leaders such as U.S. President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, and even Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously agreed to the proposal. But once we say lets move forward on this, unfortunately this step was somehow not taken, he added. Erdogan said they want infrastructure and residences to be built in the proposed safe zone so Syrians need not leave their country to flee the war. Gulens extradition Turning to Ankaras request for the extradition of Fetullah Gulen, the U.S. exile who Turkey says is the mastermind of the bloody July 15 coup attempt, Erdogan said, We trust our political partner [Washington], and we want our political partner to give the proper response. We wish there wont be any mistake, he said. It is useful to give it a little time. But you know, no country can have plans without alternatives It is not possible for a country like Turkey to have no alternatives, Erdogan said, without going into specifics. Asked whether he believes any part of the U.S. government including the CIA or State Department played a role in the coup attempt or knew about it beforehand, Erdogan replied: It does not interest me whether they knew or not before the coup, what is important is the period after the coup. My people are asking this. If we held a referendum and asked: Who is behind this coup? The answer the Turkish people would give is FETO [the Fetullah Terrorist Organization]. Ok. Where is FETO? In America. How many years has he been there? He has been there for 17 years. Erdogan said that although Ankara has sent the U.S. 85 boxes of files showing that Gulen and his followers are responsible for the coup, this man is here, is in Pennsylvania, a state adjoining New York. Asked whether he believes that is the behavior of an ally, Erdogan replied: This is what is saddens us. All the documents, for example testimonies, have been given, Erdogan said, adding that Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akars aide coup-plotter Lt. Col. Levent Turkkan has admitted that Pennsylvania is behind this, and that the night of the foiled coup, Akars kidnappers even tried to connect him with Gulen by phone. All this is in the records, so what are we going to prove? Erdogan asked. We are strategic partners, we are together in NATO, we want him, give [him], and let us try [him]. Lets do what is needed. But they said the court is going to decide. Im sorry, but we cant wait for these kinds of decisions from these kinds of courts, because this crime was not committed in the U.S., it was committed in Turkey, so let us make the decision. Anadolu Agency By PTI: Colombo, Sep 24 (PTI) Thousands of Sri Lankan Tamils led by Northern Province Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran today staged a demonstration in Jaffna to highlight issues faced by the minority community in the country. "It has been seven years since the war ended. Tamil people are yet to receive reasonable solutions to their grievances," he said, referring to the defeat of LTTE which was fighting for an independent state for minority Tamils. advertisement Army crushed the Tamil Tigers after a three decade-long conflict in 2009 and eliminated top LTTE leadership including V Prabhakaran who had made Jaffna rebels capital. Tamil Makkal National Front organised todays protest march and a rally to highlight issues faced by the community. The demonstrators asked the government to halt Sinhala majority settlements and stop building Buddhist religious shrines in Tamil areas, return of the Tamil civilian lands held for military purposes, release of Tamil political prisoners and assistance in tracing missing people. Analysts said this was the first time the northerners took part in a public gathering of this scale since Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena took over in January last year. "Businesses remain shut in the Jaffna town in solidarity," the residents said. The main Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance, shunned the demonstration. "The TNA pledged Tamils a federal solution at the last election. So the Tamils can be only happy with a federal solution by merging the north and east," TNA lawmaker Dharmalingam Siddathan said. PTI CORR KJ ZH KJ MAV --- ENDS --- Scores of people were killed Friday when Assad regime and Russian warplanes targeted opposition-held parts of Syrias northwestern city of Aleppo, local sources have said. Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Najib Ansari, a civil defense official based in Aleppo, put the total number of casualties at 86. According to sources at local field hospitals who spoke anonymously due to fears for their safety, warplanes struck residential neighborhoods in the citys Al-Ansari, Al-Sokkari, Tariq al-Bab and Al-Shear districts -- all of which remain under siege by regime forces. Ibrahim Abu Laith, another Aleppo-based civil defense official, told Anadolu Agency that Russian jets had targeted civil defense centers and fire departments in the citys Al-Ansari and Masaken Hanano districts. A number of ambulances, he added, had been destroyed by the airstrikes. At the White House, spokesman Josh Earnest said if a nationwide cease-fire that calmed the situation in Syria for about a week has any chance of going back into force, "Russia's going to need to step up and prove it. And they've got some work to do." Syria has been locked in a devastating civil war since 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests -- which had erupted as part of the "Arab Spring" uprisings -- with unexpected ferocity. The Syrian Center for Policy Research, a Beirut-based NGO, has put the death toll from the six-year-old conflict at more than 470,000. The CEO of Ramps Logistics says he is "really really disappointed" with the Guyana Revenue A TV has been chockful of females who are a gun at their profession but struggle to control their domestic lives: Greys Anatomy, Ally McBeal, The Mindy Project, Love Child and a certain show called Offspring. Meet The Wrong Girl, 29 year old Lily Woodward (Jessica Marais) a TV producer on The Breakfast Bar. She lives with flatmate Simone (Hayley Magnus) in the hip, inner burb of Yarraville. But a spontaneous one night stand with best friend Pete (Ian Meadows) unsettles her at the same time as pressure mounts on the work front. Breakfast Bar producer Sasha (Doris Younane) rejects Lilys latest story pitch and instructs her to assist segment producer Nikkii (Christie Whelan Browne) into coaxing hunky chef Jack (Rob Collins) becoming their new TV chef. However a distracted Lily manages to make a bad first impression on Jack, who consequently plays hard to get. Also in this busy ensemble are Lilys parents Mimi (Kerrie Armstrong), Anthony (Steve Vizard) and brother Vincent (Hugo Johnstone-Burt), Petes dad Ivan (Kevin Harrington) and The Breakfast Bar team Eric (Craig McLachlan), Erica (Madeleine West), Hamilton (Hamish Blake) and producer Dale (David Woods). Writer Judi McCrossin sets up plenty in the opening episode, adapted from Zoe Foster Blakes novel, and despite the parade of characters it hangs together quite well under director Daina Reed. Marais again exudes confidence as the centre of a TV universe -literally- allowed more lightness than the darker ripples of Love Child. In the frenzied goldfish bowl of breakfast television (where McLachlan is having fun as a restless, vain anchor), Lily looks set to save the day with her experience. But she is paddling madly below the surface. The relevance of the title is not readily apparent in the opening episode, but it alludes to Lilys tug of war between two males. Theres also a fair slice of Men from Mars and Women from Venus in McCrossins script too. Both Ian Meadows and Rob Collins arrive as men with opposing approaches, with Meadows afforded a more rounded character from the outset. Im very happy to see faces such as Kerry Armstrong and Doris Younane back on our screen and the fine Hugo Johnstone-Burt will extend the depth of characters here. Id be remiss not to mention the TV within TV element of this drama. Its doubtless a risk. Media as workplaces can appear aloof to audiences and this one has its share of shallow types (you can play guess the real world inspiration). Dialogue such as Is he interested on being on network television? Have you got any sponsors interested in your story idea? and The segment pays for itself, had the ring of authenticity. The Wrong Girl gets off to a promising start and so long as viewers are happy to buy Marais in another series role, it should slip snuggly into TENs female-skewing Wednesday line-up. The Wrong Girl premieres 8:30pm Wednesday on TEN. Militants launched 28 attacks on positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Donbas over the past day. This is reported by the ATO Headquarters press center. In particular, terrorists violated ceasefire 13 times in Donetsk direction. The militants shelled Avdiivka, Novoselivka, Zaitseve, Novhorodske, using grenade launchers, heavy machine guns, and small arms. In addition, they used 82-mm mortars to shell Avdiivka and Novoselivka Druha, reads a report. In Mariupol direction, 11 ceasefire violations were spotted. The militants used small arms to shell Marinka, Starohnativska, Talakovka, and Taramchuk. Four ceasefire violations were recorded in Luhansk direction. The terrorists shelled Novooleksandrivka and Novozvanivka, using grenade launchers, machine guns, and small arms. ish By PTI: Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said "the whole world and the entire nation" is waiting to hear from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who will address the UN General Assembly on September 26. Swarup did not elaborate on elements of Swarajs address but said "you can expect a continued focus from India on the theme of terrorism which is today undoubtedly the single biggest challenge to international peace and security." advertisement Swaraj is expected to give a stinging response to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs UNGA speech, in which he focused elaborately on Kashmir. In its strong Right of Reply to Sharifs speech, India called Pakistan home to the "Ivy League" of terrorism and a "terrorist state" that commits "war crimes" by using terrorism as an instrument of state policy. Akbaruddin said what is finding resonance among the international community is the terror threat that India is facing and not what Sharif said in his speech. "Of the 131 nations which have spoken in the General Debate so far, 130 have not referred to the primary issue that Pakistan has raised. So what does that mean?" he asked, adding that India is gratified by the support it is getting with countries increasingly standing up and voicing their support to deal with the menace of terrorism. Akbaruddin pointed out that in the plethora of bilateral meetings and multilateral engagements that Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar held on the sidelines of the General Assembly session, "there was resonance" of India being a victim of terrorism and solidarity with it. "The resonance of India being a victim of terrorism, India tackling terrorism diligently has gone way beyond distance. In all bilateral meetings, including with Sri Lanka, there has been resonance and immediate response" on the attack on the army base in Uri. He said during the meeting of SAARC foreign ministers, Akbar raised the issue of terrorism and how India is countering that. The Minister of State also thanked all those who expressed support and condolences to India on the tragic incident in Uri. Adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had attended the SAARC meeting. When asked if the ministers from India and Pakistan had any exchange at the meeting, Akbaruddin said the meeting was a luncheon and "they were all at the table." Akbaruddin said reform of the Security Council will also be the focus of India in the current UNGA session. "This is an ongoing effort. That effort is plugged into our greater approach of having a resurgent India on the global platform," he said. PTI YAS NSA --- ENDS --- advertisement Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman has called on MPs of Ukraine to include in the agenda and to consider a Governmental bill on special confiscation that will lead to return to the Budget USD 1.5 billion stolen by officials. This was stated by Volodymyr Groysman during an hour of questions to the Government at the Parliament. The Prime Minister noted that the Government and he personally had repeatedly expressed thierposition regarding the funds that were stolen from the Ukrainian people in the amount of USD 1.5 billion. "The Government has clearly expressed its position; it voted and passed the draft Law on special confiscation to the Ukrainian Parliament. We did it on Tuesday," he reminded. ish The Foreign Ministry advises Ukrainians to refrain temporarily from traveling to the Republic of Gabon. This has been reported by the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine. "Due to the risk of destabilization of the political situation in the Republic of Gabon, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry recommends citizens of Ukraine to refrain from traveling to the Republic of Gabon in the near future," reads a statement. In case of emergency situations Ukrainians should contact the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Senegal, the press service noted. ish Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin met with the Italian parliamentary delegation headed by Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Italian Chamber of Deputies Fabrizio Chikitto and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between Ukraine and Italy in the fields of mutual interest. This has been reported by the press service of the Foreign Ministry. "During the visit to New York, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin met with the Italian parliamentary delegation headed by Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Italian Chamber of Deputies Fabrizio Chikitto. During the meeting, the parties discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between Ukraine and Italy in the areas of mutual interest," reads a statement. In addition, the Italian side assured that it supported the territorial integrity of our state and confirmed its willingness to continue defending the inviolability of the principles of the international law. ish On September 25-28, OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) Principal Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug will visit eastern Ukraine to assess the security situation as well as to call on all concerned parties to contribute to peace and settlement of the situation in Ukraine. This has been said on the OSCE website. Hug will visit Donetsk and Luhansk regions on September 25-28 and will meet with the SMM teams and representatives of the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC). The deputy chief monitor also plans to meet with leaders of unlawful armed units in Donetsk and Luhansk regions in order to discuss restrictions on the SMM's free movement, the statement reads. ish Captain Amarinder Singh said that India must go for retaliatory action against Pakistan for Uri attack. He said the nature and type of retaliation should be decided by the Army. Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh it was a question of maintaining the morale of the Army. Photo: PTI By Indo-Asian News Service: Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today said India must go for limited retaliatory action against Pakistan for abetting and sponsoring the terror attack on a military base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir, that left 18 Indian soldiers dead. "While the nature and type of retaliation should be decided by the Army, it must at no cost let the perpetrators of the terror attack go unpunished," he told reporters here. advertisement 'IT'S THE QUESTION OF MAINTAINING ARMY'S MORALE' Amarinder Singh however stressed that though he was a strong advocate of people-to-people contact between India and Pakistan, this incident should not go unavenged. "Since the common man on both sides want peace and cordial relationship, that does not mean our army should let the wanton killing of our soldiers go unpunished," he said. "It's the question of maintaining the morale of our Army and that is non-negotiable," said Singh, who also served in the Indian Army. Also Read: Uri attack: Comedian Raju Srivastava registers 'protest', cancels Karachi show Sacrifice of 18 soldiers will not go in vain, will isolate Pakistan: Modi in Kozhikode How to punish Pakistan Has India already avenged Uri by killing 20 Pakistani terrorists in PoK? --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: Even though, the National Investigation Agency is probing the Uri attack, Pakistan's interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has rejected the evidence implicating the country. The officials involved in the investigation found Pakistani markings on weapons, food packets and medicines recovered from the terrorists, but Islamabad is in denial. Nisar Khan, instead, accused India of blaming Pakistan for the recent Uri attack 'without having any concrete evidence'. advertisement "The Indians themselves don't have any evidence, so what sort of investigation can Pakistan carry out? They have put the blame on us just to defame Pakistan," Nisar Khan told the reporters in Islamabad. READ: Has India already avenged Uri by killing 20 Pakistani terrorists in PoK? Nisar Khan further said, "Even their DGMO rejected the statement attributed to him regarding evidence against Pakistan," adding, "So Pakistan has nothing to answer. Whatever clarifications are required, have to be given by India." Eighteen jawans had lost their lives in Uri attack on September, 18. All the four terrorists were killed by in retaliatory action by the army. READ: Uri attack: India summons Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit, offers evidence of involvement of Pak-based terrorists UNDENIABLE EVIDENCE Investigator found definite imprint of Pakistan's hand behind the worst terror attack on army camp in decades. With evidence clearly indicating towards Pakistan, foreign secretary S Jaishankar on Wednesday summoned its high commissioner to India, Abdul Basit to register protest. Jaishankar reminded Basit of Pakistan's commitment to ensure that its soil wouldn't be allowed to be used for anti-India terror acts. The foreign secretary also offered to give evidence of Pakistani hand behind Uri attack by sharing DNA samples and fingerprint details of the terrorists killed by the forces. READ: Uri attack: Terrorists deleted GPS logs, used matrix codes to evade location Pakistan has been defiant in its denial about harbouring terror outfits that have anti-India objectives. From its prime minister to high commissioner, everyone has been denied cross LoC role in the attack. READ: Uri effect: India may withdraw Most Favoured Nation status accorded to Pakistan SHARIF'S RANT CONTINUES Meanwhile, Pakistan's prime minister Nawaz Sharif repeated his Kashmir rant while blaming India for the Uri terrorist attack. On his way back from New York to Islamabad, he tried to draw a connection between the agitation in Kashmir and Uri attack. READ: 10 terrorists gunned down in Uri after Pakistan violates ceasefire again "The Uri attack can be the reaction of the atrocities in Kashmir, as the close relatives and near and dear ones of those killed and blinded over the last two months were hurt and outraged," Sharif told reporters in London. advertisement Interestingly, neither Sharif nor his interior minister or Pakistan's high commissioner accepted India's offer to hand over undeniable evidence in the form of DNA samples and fingerprints of the terrorists killed in Uri and Poonch. ALSO READ: Uri attack: India will not spare Pakistan, says BJP national secretary Sidharth Nath Singh Uri terror attack was planned for August 15, say top Army sources Nervous Pakistan braces for 'Indian response'; many flights cancelled, highways shut for fighter jets --- ENDS --- It was around the beginning of July, and the CBI's newly formed special investigating team (SIT), looking into the Vijay Mallya loan default case, were in Mumbai to meet a group of senior bank executives. These were the same officials from a bank consortium that had approved nearly Rs 7,000 crore in loans to the head of the now defunct Kingfisher Airlines Ltd (KFL). For reasons best known to them, the officials were reluctant to accept that Mallya had any mala fide intentions vis-a-vis returning their money. For them, it was a case of "business failure". At this point, the SIT asked them the meaning of 'wilful defaulter', a term the lead lender, the State Bank of India, officially used for Mallya in November 2015. The bankers had no convincing answer. Rakesh Asthana, head of the SIT, was at his wit's end. "If a person deliberately decides to not pay back a loan, he is called a wilful defaulter. Doesn't this amount to cheating? Why didn't you file an FIR against Mallya?" he reportedly thundered. He warned the bank executives of action on complicity charges if they delayed filing of a complaint any further, while lauding the way the IDBI Bank had gone about the case (it had filed charges against the fugitive businessman in July 2015). Cornered, the bank officials, led by an SBI deputy MD, said that they would hold a meeting of the consortium that had extended the loans and would come back to the CBI with their decision. An emergency meeting was held within a week and the SBI lodged an FIR against Mallya on July 27. advertisement This development signifies the change in the CBI approach in the probe against Mallya following Asthana's appointment as head of the SIT. The probe, which was initiated in 2015, was progressing at a slow pace till June this year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi moved Asthana, one of his trusted officers, to the CBI and made him head of the SIT. Asthana, now an additional director with the CBI, had earlier investigated several high-profile cases, such the fodder scam involving Lalu Prasad Yadav and the Godhra train burning case. As Surat police commissioner (2013-15), he played a key role in bringing godman Asaram Bapu to book. The case has been progressing well since the SIT took over and, according to an estimate, around four dozen bank officials are under the scanner and could face action as the CBI probes the case of each bank separately. There has also been talk of political pressure on the banks to facilitate the loans to Mallya. According to sources, bank officials have already named two senior ministers of the UPA government who played a key role in getting Mallya the loans. Before the 15-member SIT was set up, the CBI probe had been disjointed as different wings of the agency handled different aspects of it (for example, the banking part was dealt by the banking and securities fraud wing while the corruption part was dealt with by the anti-corruption department under headquarters). In the two months since taking charge, Asthana and his team have held over 15 meetings with different bank officials to understand the systems in place and how Mallya had been favoured. There were some initial hiccups as the bank officials tried to soft-pedal matters, even to the extent of avoiding handing over the original documents of their dealings with Mallya. This was perhaps because the consortium of 17 nationalised banks had gone to ludicrous extents to facilitate the loans for Mallya. In 2010, the consortium sanctioned the second instalment of Rs 2,500 crore as master debt recasting loan to allow Mallya to cover his earlier unpaid loans of Rs 4,000 crore. For this, the only surety accepted was the brand value of Kingfisher Airlines; no physical assets were involved. Apparently, this was done on the basis of a credit rating granted by UK-based consulting agency Grant Thornton. Predictably, the brand value of the airline came crashing down as soon as the loan amount was released to the company. In another glaring example of misuse of privileges, this time of the IDBI loan to KFL in 2006, the CBI has found that CMD Yogesh Agarwal opened the bank specially for Mallya on a Sunday to start the loan proceedings. Kingfisher received the loan amount in just two days. The IDBI exposure to KFL runs to over Rs 950 crore (total accrued loan), and the bank's FIR filed against Mallya in 2015 charged him of misappropriation, cheating and conspiracy to misuse bank's funds in connivance with public servants. The SIT now plans to file 17 different chargesheets. advertisement With the PMO assuring that there would be zero political interference, the SIT is now focusing on getting Mallya back from London, notwithstanding the fact that extraditions have almost been impossible because of the UK's legal system which gives more powers to the courts than the government in such cases. "Just one FIR is enough for extradition proceedings. Mallya now has two bank FIRs against him. Letters rogatory are being issued to the countries where Mallya is alleged to have diverted the funds to. We are planning a watertight case which should stand scrutiny in the British courts," says one of the SIT officers. According to sources, the government is even ready for a diplomatic intervention, if needed, for Mallya's extradition. "We are on the right track and are hopeful of bringing Mallya back," says Asthana. advertisement But it has been no cakewalk for the SIT. When its officials held out a veiled threat to bank officials saying that they could be booked for their involvement, the latter complained to the top authorities in government through the department of economic affairs, alleging coercion by Asthana and his team. The PMO, though, refused to intervene and instead sent out a message that the SIT had complete freedom to do their job. The SIT is also examining how Mallya diverted the loan amount to himself instead of using it for the avowed purpose. "Mallya has made assets out of these loans very skilfully. Most of it is in the name of family members, children Siddharth, Tanya and Leana, and wife Rekha," says a CBI official. The bureau has so far found 49 properties worth Rs 3,413 crore in his family's name outside India, in the US, UK, France, Mauritius, British Virgin Islands, South Africa and a few other countries. Investigators say in the coming days more properties are likely to surface. There is also discrepancy in the list of 49 properties he has declared in the courts so far. Some of these apparently were not revealed to the banks, but much later when the Supreme Court got involved. The banks had approached the court after he took flight to London. advertisement On August 23, the ED registered a fresh case against Mallya and Kingfisher Air for loan default of Rs 6,027 crore. According to sources, the Union home ministry has asked the ED to approach MEA to initiate the extradition process under the India-UK Extradition Treaty norms. But the extradition record between the UK and India has been dismal. So far, not one high-profile individual wanted by India, be it music director Nadeem Saifi or navy war room leak accused Ravi Sankaran, have been extradited under the treaty that came into effect on December 30, 1993. Even in the case of former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, who is facing money-laundering charges, the government is yet to initiate the extradition process. But with the determination of a committed SIT and the full backing of the PMO, this negative extradition history between India and UK could change in the Mallya case. Significantly, Mallya managed to flee the country because the CBI's lookout notice last year at the international airports had exercised the softer option of "look out and inform", and not "look out and stop". Had the second option been there as a directive at the airports, Mallya would have probably been in jail today. Over the years, the CBI has a built up a negative image, of being a 'caged parrot' for those in power. Perhaps its success in the Mallya case will be a step towards redemption. Follow the writer on Twitter @UdayMahurkar --- ENDS --- Hunters of Unidentified Flying Objects have discovered a mysterious object that orbits the sun in an image taken by cameras mounted in the Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) on Sept. 11 last week. Experts in UFO have claimed that this gigantic four-armed spaceship apparently feeds on the sun's energy and multiplies itself into subparts. It has also been reported that the spacecraft has been seen on a number of images over the past five years, but NASA never really acknowledged it, Express.co.uk reported. A lot of conspiracy theorists also assumes that NASA is trying its best to cover this alien spaceship issue despite the flooding images of it in the internet. The UFO that was reported to have four bulging arms was captured by SOHO, a satellite that revolves around the sun and is managed and operated by NASA itself together with the ESA or European Space Agency. SOHO satellite constantly monitors activities of the sun as well as sending data back to earth that necessarily helps in predicting the space weather and other differing factors that could possibly disrupt the Earth's satellites systems. Last September 12, Streetcap1, a UFO hunter, have uploaded in the video-sharing platform YouTube of SOHO images together with the alleged spacecraft. Streetcap1 is questioning the negligence of NASA, despite the public release of the images, according to Sputnik News. Moreover, in another video uploaded by Streetcap1, he or she capitalizes on the idea that the images aren simply just Coronal Mass Ejection or energies emitted by the corona of the sun. this alleged spaceship has been caught by camreas ever since 2011, and several of them are caught in 2012 and the latest is the images captured in September this year. In the meantime, there are no solid evidence that would support this alleged spaceship claims as well as the very existence of extraterrestrial beings or UFOs lurking in the universe. Mathilde Freund turned 100 during the summer break but that did not stop her from waking up at 5:00 in the morning, having her fix of Colombian coffee, toast and news from BBC, getting a shower then taking the M11 bus to get to Fordham to attend her classes. She commutes to the Lincoln Center daily to attend her classes at Fordham University. This lovely lady is part of the College After 60 program and is taking up a course called "Studies in Social Science on the Brink of Cultural Breakthroughs" Ms. Freund said she's always been fond of literature, philosophy and psychology. Adding that she's still curious and would like to know what's going on. In an interview with CBS earlier this month she also said, "As long as you are able, you should go and learn and read books, because you never know enough, and it's very, very stimulating and very interesting, and it keeps your mind young." A lot of people are curious about what Ms. Freund's secret to longevity. When The Wall Street Journal asked her the question, she simply answered, ""But I do everything like everyone else. The only thing is, I'm not bitter. That would ruin my life." This woman had a right to be bitter having lived through the Second World War. The family had to flee Austria to avoid the Nazis. They hid in the forests in France and she lost some family members, including her husband running away from the Holocaust. Last summer Mathilde celebrated her 100th birthday and everyone in New York wished her well including President Obama. A regular in the Grand Bazaar at the Upper West Side for the past 30 years, Ms. Freund is loved by her fellow vendors and customers alike. Not only is she pleasant and patient, she also enthrall shoppers with the 6 languages she's mastered. Mathilde Freund is someone who doesn't want the unnecessary attention and just enjoys living an old woman's life. Tending to her business once a week from which most of the proceeds go to charity, goes to school and learn more about culture going to museums and the theaters in the city as well as dining with friends. "Some people are 25, and they're not interested in anything they cannot understand. They're not interested in life, what's going on." The centenarian observed. Her advice to younger people is to enjoy their lives, do good and think of others. At her age, she still thinks that life ""it's very precious, and it goes so fast. It's like a dream." Your amazing and acquainted enterprise software provider have provided avenue for your corporate data. And right now, it aims to provide you with AI or Artificial Intelligence- fueled insights that would yield to tons of characters-Einstein, Watson, Alexa, Cortana, Siri-a lot of verbiage and with any good some real automated digital experiences. Salesforce's Einstein is being talked about by Oracle CTO Larry Ellison in the OpenWorld in San Francisco. Salesforce aims to utilize every single CRM data coursing through it and other touch points to produce Einstein, an AI platform, in the background. The idea is that every single person on earth will be scientists, according to Fortune. Certainly, you may end up liking the former before getting into details with the latter destination. It is no doubt that there are some machines and devices that could simply do better than humans, however humans still have tons of things going on for them. Here's a sneak peak of how this two separate entities are going to work in concert to provide a much more amazing future for the Information Technology aspect as well as the human race. Ellison have capitalized that Oracle has a number of consumer data similar to that of Facebook. Ellison says that you can't have intelligent apps or cloud tools without data. And artificial intelligence is one of the most competent factor one could tap into, ZDNet reported. The point of the matter is that: Business and technology companies are going to have some overdose with the Artificial Intelligence marketing. The best path to take is to have a step backwards for a little bit and think as a whole, with outline, what Artificial Intelligence is going to look like in integration with your very own corporate systems. Because if you fail to do so, we will have to enter the age of AI tech and spread very speedily. But this characterization of the Rouhani government has been fiercely disputed during its three years in power, with various human rights organizations and political groups like the National Council of Resistance of Iran insisting that the administrations differences are merely window dressing and that some aspects of life in the Islamic Republic have actually gotten worse following Rouhanis 2013. Helped along by foreign negotiating partners, particularly the administration of US President Barack Obama, the Rouhani administration was able to keep hold of its moderate image at least as long as those parties were engaged in nuclear negotiations, which ultimately yielded the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in July 2015. However, the subsequent implementation of that deal has contributed to questioning of Rouhanis and Zarifs moderate credentials, and for reasons other than Irans consistently bad human rights record. That had been the focus of much, though not all of the criticisms of claims about Tehrans burgeoning moderation. Human rights groups worried that narrow focus upon the nuclear issue was distracting attention away from Irans domestic issues such as the escalating rate of executions, which reached nearly 1,000 individuals in 2015. However, President Obama had made comments around the time of the agreement, insisting that Irans human rights record and support for terrorism would continue to be addressed, separately from the nuclear issue. It seems to be generally understood that the Obama administrations expectations were that these other issues would begin to see marginal improvements under the Rouhani government after the JCPOA set the stage for larger-scale political and cultural contacts between Iran and the West. But this expectation began to face trouble even before the nuclear negotiations concluded, as Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei anticipated attempts at cultural infiltration and insisted that Iranian officials avoid all negotiations with the US over issues unrelated to the nuclear deal. This in turn set the stage for instead of broader reconciliation intensification of Irans anti-Western propaganda. And over the course of the subsequent year, this escalation not only went forward, it proceeded with direct participation from the so-called moderate Rouhani. The Reuters on Rouhanis speech to the General Assembly suggests that this pattern is continuing, as the Iranian president took the opportunity to once again accuse the US of inadequate adherence to the JCPOA. In the same speech, Rouhani also actively contributed to the ongoing escalation of tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, describing the latter as a divisive force in the Middle East. Iran News Update previously reported that some analysts and commentators had been looking forward to Rouhanis visit to the General Assembly and wondering if he would strive to increase his public profile by reaching out to his American counterpart, or if he would instead choose to further appease hardliners and the supreme leader, who has ultimate authority over all policy matters and largely controls Irans public media narratives. It appears that Rouhani chose the latter alternative in the present case. But in so doing, he merely reiterated anti-American sentiments that both he and Zarif have expressed repeatedly in recent months. Specifically, Rouhani accused the US of a lack of compliance with the nuclear deal, due to the ongoing difficulties that the Islamic Republic faces in regaining access to international banking institutions. The US financial system is still barred from interacting with the Iranian system, and this has understandably contributed to reluctance on the part of entities that might have interactions with both of them. The continued enforcement of these restrictions does not constitute violation of the JCPOA, but Tehran has repeatedly insisted that the US should be doing more to facilitate Irans economic recovery. Rouhanis speech also asserted that the international community would be in agreement with Tehran and would object to any failure on the part of the United States in implementing the nuclear deal. This appeal to the international community is arguably reflective of earlier strategies to encourage European businesses to put pressure on the US to remove obstacles to their investment in Iran. In what may be one example of that strategy, Iran recently withdrew its order for six of the 118 aircraft it had arranged to purchase from the European manufacturer Airbus. In so doing, Iran claimed that the US had delayed too long in providing Airbus with licenses that are required for the sales as a result of the American parts in the aircraft. Similar licenses are required for the sale of aircraft by Boeing, the American aircraft manufacturer that arrived at an agreement with Iran shortly after Airbus did. The threat of more lost sales may have actually had an effect on the process of providing these licenses, as Airbus announced on Wednesday that it had received necessary permissions for the first of two bulk sales. According to the Associated Press, this was followed shortly afterward by a similar announcement from Boeing. The AP report noted that these announcements were indicative of the Obama administrations ongoing commitment to financial reconciliation with Iran. However, this enablement of Iranian transactions with both Europe and the US did not appear to impact Iranian rhetoric, considering that Rouhanis speech the following day lodged the same complaints that Iranian officials had been repeating before the transactions were given the go-ahead. The close proximity of the American licensing and the unfriendly Iranian speech can be expected to further contribute to perceptions that the Obama administration has been overly permissive with the Islamic Republic. That perception was expressed in a new context on Wednesday when the Daily Mail reported that President Obama had promised to veto a bill aimed at revealing the assets of Iranian leaders. The president argued that such a bill would have adverse effects, prompting Iranian officials to more carefully conceal their assets while also potentially exposing US intelligence-gathering methods. But the bills sponsor presented it as a way of bringing new attention to Irans human rights abuses and support for terrorism at a time when these issues remain arguably hidden by the shadow of nuclear negotiations and the prospect of new trade deals. The criticism of Obamas veto threat apparently suggests that his administration has been intentionally downplaying Irans worst activities so as not to cut against public support for rapprochement. But regardless of the motives or causes behind such neglect, it is a problem that has been observed by a variety of commentators, both within Western nations and throughout the Middle East. In an editorial published by the New York Times on Thursday, Lebanese Member of Parliament and former Prime Minister Saad Hariri suggested that the international community is suffering from amnesia regarding former Iran-supported terrorist activities and that this has left the victims of Irans Lebanese proxy Hezbollah dumbfounded. Hariri also said that Iran is blatantly extending its influence in the Middle East and pursuing Shiite-dominated hegemony while disregarding the extended hand of the Arab states. Such comments closely reflect statements by the leaders of those Arab states, particularly Saudi Arabia, explaining the reasons for escalating tensions with the Islamic Republic. However, those comments also contradict the portions of Rouhanis speech that sought to blame the Saudis for worsening relations and also for the rise of sectarianism in the region. But notwithstanding the accusations that the Obama administration is whitewashing Irans recent record, the regimes efforts to simultaneously lash out at the US and its traditional allies may have a strong impact on future US policies. That is to say, it may undercut the motives behind the Obama administrations regional reorientation and put the US back into alignment with Saudi Arabia and other enemies of Iran, at least once a new president takes over next year. The Associated Press addressed this possibility in its report on the Airbus and Boeing deals, noting that the upcoming elections could still interfere with those deals, in spite of the White Houses current commitment to pushing them forward. If this does happen, and if US policy shifts back toward a pressure-based approach to Iran, then the US will likely find itself with ready support from other states whose animosity toward the Iranian regime has only intensified in the interim. As a possible indicator of this, Reuters reported on Thursday that at least six fires have taken place within Irans oil industry infrastructure since July, and that this may have been the result of highly sophisticated hacking and sabotage efforts. Iranian officials have recently acknowledged that some industrial systems have been corrupted by malware, although they refused to link this to the fires, each of which have been given less potentially embarrassing explanations. Reuters explicitly stated that if the fires were the result of cyberattacks, it would mean those attacks were almost identical to the famous Stuxnet infection that damaged some of Irans uranium enrichment centrifuges at Natanz. No state or other entity claimed responsibility for that attack, but it is widely assumed to have been a joint US-Israeli operation. Israel remains the likeliest candidate for having carried out more recent attacks, but collaboration with the US is unlikely in light of Obama administration policies and resulting discord between the US and Israel. But there have been occasional signs of burgeoning Arab-Israeli cooperation as the Saudis and Israelis both becoming increasingly anxious about escalating Iranian influence. If Israel is responsible for recent attacks and needs a partner in carrying them out, it is somewhat possible that Saudi Arabia and its regional allies could fill that role until such time as US policies change once again. UW Adjusts Timeline for Action on Academic Program Reviews The University of Wyoming has adjusted the timeline for implementing potential changes stemming from a preliminary review of close to 60 relatively low-enrollment academic programs. UWs Office of Academic Affairs currently is gathering additional information from the universitys deans regarding 16 degree programs and a center recommended for elimination. The university then will begin the official notifications of the affected programs, students and faculty by mid-October, initiating the formal process under UW Regulation 6-43. That process provides for a 60-day period for responses from department heads and deans in those proposed-for-elimination programs, in consultation with the faculty and academic professionals who serve in the programs and the students enrolled in them -- along with any other people who wish to comment. Provost Kate Miller then will have 10 days to submit the proposals and all comments received to the student, faculty and staff senates. They, in turn, will have 60 days to provide a written review and recommendation to the provost, who will have 30 days to make final recommendations to President Laurie Nichols. The president then will provide copies of all prior responses and reviews, the provosts recommendations and her recommendations to the UW Board of Trustees, and that is expected at the boards May or June meeting. The exact comment deadlines will be publicized after the formal process is initiated. It is important that we follow the university regulation with exactness, and thats why we must vary from the timeline we originally announced, Miller says. Everyone in the affected programs will receive official, written notification, and we will update our website as the timeline takes shape throughout the process. After initiating academic degree program reviews in March, the Office of Academic Affairs has preliminarily recommended elimination of six low-enrollment bachelors degrees, eight masters degrees and two doctoral degrees. The recommendations also include proposals to consolidate or reconfigure several academic units, including the American Studies Program, the Department of Statistics, the Department of Philosophy, the Department of Religious Studies, and the Science and Mathematics Teaching Center. Bachelors degrees recommended for elimination are: American studies, Russian, energy systems engineering, art education, modern language education and technical education. Masters degrees recommended for elimination are: French, German, neurosciences, philosophy, food science and human nutrition, sociology, environmental engineering, and adult and postsecondary education. Ph.D. programs that would be eliminated are: adult and postsecondary education, and statistics. The provosts recommendations follow two rounds of reviews of 56 programs: undergraduate majors with fewer than 50 graduates total from 2010-15; masters programs with fewer than 25 graduates from 2010-15; and other programs requested for review by deans. Recommendations were based on additional factors including mission centrality and quality of the programs. Quality factors include external demand for graduates; internal demand for courses; quality of inputs, such as faculty credentials and facilities; and quality of outputs, such as attainment of student learning outcomes, placement of graduates; and grants, publications and scholarly and creative work of faculty. Students in programs and majors recommended for elimination -- in total, there are just 97 undergraduates and 33 graduate students in those programs -- will be allowed to complete those degrees. The preliminary proposal calls for the American Studies Program to be consolidated into a Division of Interdisciplinary Studies, along with the Gender and Womens Studies Program and perhaps others; the Department of Statistics to merge with the Department of Mathematics; and the departments of Philosophy and Religious Studies to consolidate with similar units. The goal is to achieve efficiencies through shared business and administrative services. The Science and Mathematics Teaching Center, meanwhile, would be reconfigured with a broader role in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education -- becoming a P-16 STEM education center dovetailing with UWs science, engineering and education initiatives. Cost savings from the proposed changes have not been analyzed in detail. Although the academic reviews will inform components of a plan to reduce UWs operating budget by up to $15 million in the 2017-18 fiscal year, the provosts recommendations are distinct from the efforts of the president and the Financial Crisis Advisory Committee to present an FY 2018 budget-reduction and revenue-creation plan to the UW Board of Trustees in November. Further details regarding the academic program reviews may be found at www.uwyo.edu/acadaffairs/program-review/. Since Cody Rhodes left WWE on May 16th of this year he has been a very busy man. He has been working the independent scene over the last few months and has wrestled Zack Sabre Jr, Marty Scurll, Drew Galloway and Johnny Gargano and in what has been a whirlwind last few months for Cody. Cody has become a huge free agent and both Ring of Honor and TNA have secured the signature of Rhodes. On July 19, 2016, Rhodes announced that he would appear at Ring of Honor's Final Battle pay-per-view on December 2. ROH made the official announcement on July 20th in what is a non-exclusive deal. By signing a non-exclusive deal with ROH, Rhodes was also able to sign with TNA. Cody revealed he will make his official live debut at the TNA Bound For Glory pay-per-view on October 2nd through a vignette in which he stated that his past is behind him, and where he is going he is bound for adventure and there is glory, then he sped off as he said all roads lead to Bound For Glory. On September 22, TNA made it all official as they confirmed Rhodes, billed simply as "Cody", would be debuting for the promotion on October 2 at Bound for Glory. Now all TNA will be wondering what Rhodes' agenda when he arrives on October 2nd. Here are some potential first feuds for Cody Rhodes Bobby Lashley- Bobby Lashley is the Current TNA Heavyweight Champion and Cody Rhodes will be looking to make an immediate impact in TNA and going after the champion would make an empathic statement. Mike Bennett- Cody and his wife Brandi have been involved in a rather heated feud with "The Miracle" Mike Bennett and his wife Maria and with Brandi also singing with TNA this may be a great point from which to start the Rhodes' off in TNA. Eli Drake- On the other hand they may have Cody take on a smaller fish someone like Eli Drake. So it is now only a matter of time before we find out as Bound for Glory is just 8 days away. Partyers at LAX Nightclub inside Luxor Hotel and Casino were freaks in the morning, freaks in the evening on Thursday, Sept. 22, when Adina Howard and Al B. Sure! took over for a special Throwback (Photo credit: Powers Imagery). Photo credit: Powers Imagery. Howard kicked off the night when she performed several hit songs for the amped up crowd, including Freak Like Me. Sure!, who served as Throwback Thursdays special guest host, delivered a set of his classic hits from Off on Your Own (Girl) to Nite and Day. Photo credit: Powers Imagery. R&B bad girl Adina Howard skyrocketed on the charts in 1995 upon the release of her debut album, Do You Wanna Ride and its lead single, Freak Like Me, which went on to be sampled and covered by notable artists. Other popular hits include Whats Love Got To Do With It? with Warren G, (Freak) And U Know It, and Nasty Grind. Photo credit: Powers Imagery. Al B. Sure! is a three-time GRAMMY-nominated artist and producer who released his debut album, In Effect Mode, in 1988, which featured the hit single Nite and Day. Topping the charts for seven weeks, the record reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. Sure! has worked with several industry notables including Quincy Jones, Jodeci, Tevin Campbell, Faith Evans, and more. While pursuing a career in film and on television, Sure! was nominated for several awards and won an American Music Award for Best New R&B Artist. Murray SawChuck, the all-around entertainer Las Vegas Headliner, Magician, Comedian, Host and now viral sensation YouTuber just found out he is up for a possible spot to Co-Host on Live with Kelly. They announced the TOP 40 on the show this morning and Murray was named as one of chosen as possible Co-Host with Kelly Ripa. Murray shared with us that his buddy Paul Cockrill, a producer friend in LA texted him one day the link and said, You should upload a quick video to be a co-host with Kelly. So Murray, while visiting his mom up in Vancouver, Canada, literally pulled out his phone when he was in the backyard, did a quick intro and uploaded it. He never thought anything of it again until his Facebook started blowing up that he was one of the Top 40 contenders for Co-Host with Kelly Ripa. Murray said, Its so funny how some things you rehearse and try so hard for in this world and some you just do naturally to see what happens and sometimes is DOES just happen, like todays news! Im thrilled! Life certainly felt beautiful as day one came to a close at the Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival in Downtown Las Vegas. Positive vibes filled the air while the energy was electric, as all the senses were transfixed by the music, art, ideas and tastes (Photo credit: Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival). Photo credit: Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival. The three-day adventure kicked off with Life is Beautiful creators meeting with Mayor Goodman and Yellow Bird from Mystere by Cirque du Soleil at the neon Life is Beautiful playground to celebrate the fourth year of the festival in Downtown Las Vegas. Photo credit: Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival. Located in the Northwest corridor of the festival grid, the Downtown Stage was the go-to spot to witness the major headliners of the evening. Set against the skyline of Downtown Las Vegas, guests enjoyed remarkable sets by Bloc Party, Tegan & Sara, The Shins for their only U.S. tour date and Mumford & Sons. Photo credit: Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival. Those looking for an electric experience found exactly that at the Troubadour Stage with performances by fan favorites including Galantis and Zhu. Organized by Insomniac, this stage features more than 10 lasers, 200 lighting fixtures and 590 video tiles hanging from the towering ceiling. The Troubadour Stage pulsed with light and dance music, allowing guests to get lost in a sea of whimsy and bass. Photo credit: Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival. Dallas Greens City and Colour lit up the night at the Huntridge Stage with his first Las Vegas play since 2013. Following this set, rhythm and blues new queen, Kehlani, brought the soul with her performance at the Ambassador Stage. Photo credit: Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival. G-Eazy closed out the Ambassador Stage to a roaring cheer from fans, while gracing them with a surprise interview with WERD at The Venue Las Vegas. Photo credit: Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival. Cirque du Soleil returned to their roots and graced the streets of Downtown Las Vegas today with their iconic costumes and interactive performances throughout the afternoon and into the evening. All seven Las Vegas resident shows were in attendance, dazzling fans with 30-minute sets of acrobatics and dances interwoven throughout the artistic experience. The memories created by these special interactions were seen in the eyes and faces of all who watched, solidifying the creative mastery of the Life is Beautiful vision. Photo credit: Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival. As a major pillar of Life is Beautiful, each mural and art installation took onlookers breath away, including the a stand-out mural belonging to Felipe Pantone, which blended bold colors, geometric shapes and abstraction, revealing that harmony can be achieved in the most unlikely places. Photo credit: Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival. Additionally, a show-stopping sculpture made of two 18-wheelers, Mike Ross Big Rig Jig found its permanent home in Downtown Las Vegas. Catching the eye of everyone who walked past, the bent steel and sheer magnitude of the piece showcased the imagination and innovation present in all of Life is Beautifuls installations. Photo credit: Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival. Music and art isnt all Life is Beautiful has to offer. One of the most invigorating pillars of the festival is the IDEAS Series, showcasing great thinkers and stimulating the minds of festival-goers. Two of the stand-out speakers today were Stacey London and Shepard Fairey. Best known for the hit series What Not to Wear, London is one of Americas foremost fashion experts and she took the stage sharing her experiences and wisdom with the crowd, not to mention her sass and style. Founder of the OBEY GIANT art campaign, Fairey shared his innovations in changing the way people see art in the urban landscape. Photo credit: Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival. For a laugh, ticketholders popped in to The KINDLAND House to enjoy comedy sets between 4 and 8 p.m. Sponsored by Zappos, Sam Tallent hosted the evening and comics like Eddie Pepitone had the crowd bursting with laughter. Pepitones show was an exciting combination of calm and chaos, full of social commentary and the occasional aura of self-doubt. He channeled the power of the rant like few others are able and left everyone wanting more. Photo credit: Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival. For fans who couldnt make it to the festival, Pandora, the go-to music source for fans and artists alike, live streamed day one and will continue to stream the next two days. Now fans everywhere can have the experience of listening to beautiful music and feel the culture of Life is Beautiful through the audio live stream. Photo credit: Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival. Photo credit: Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival. Photo credit: Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival. Photo credit: Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival. To close the evening, Mumford & Sons made their long-awaited return to Las Vegas, performing at the Downtown Stage. They walked out to cheers from the audience, who had been anticipating this moment for five years. Glees Mark Salling didnt let a little rain stop him as he kicked off a party at TAO Beach celebrating his new solo album, Pipe Dreams, which also raises awareness for the American Red Cross (Photo credit: Al Powers/Powers Imagery). Photo credit: Al Powers/Powers Imagery. Salling, who plays Puck on the hit show was joined by Glee co-star Chord Overstreet, who plays Sam, and a few friends. The group drank strawberry mojitos and snacked on crispy rice while braving the sudden rainstorm sitting poolside. Photo credit: Al Powers/Powers Imagery. The party continued Saturday night at TAO, where Hollywood royalty Rumer Willis met up with the group back at TAO for the first time since celebrating her 21st birthday at the hot spot last year. They all dined under TAOs Buddha before hitting the club, where Salling was surprised with a cake recognizing both the album and his love for birds he is an avid bird watcher and rescuer. Willis made her way to the DJ booth to say hi to friend DJ Vice and request a few songs while girls in the club clamored to get close to Salling, who graciously posed for photos. Overstreet seemed to have eyes for Willis, but the newly single actress was happy just to bounce around the club and dance. Photo credit: Al Powers/Powers Imagery. Also spotted up in the nightclub, Stacy Keibler and a group of 15 friends enjoying Cristal, Patron and Grey Goose, while Bam Margera partied with his wife and a group of friends at another VIP table. Photo credit: Al Powers/Powers Imagery. Brian Baumgartner from The Office dined on Lobster Wontons and Yellowtail Jalapeno with a small group before heading up to the nightclub to join the owners table. At LAVO, Joan Rivers returned with friends for the third night in a row to enjoy her favorites including the Kobe Meatball, Sea Bass and Chicken Marsala, along with Veuve Clicquot Champagne and wine. Photo credit: Al Powers/Powers Imagery. Photo credit: Al Powers/Powers Imagery. With the opening of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on December 15, 2010, the resort will unveil a boutique collection, a thoughtfully curated line-up of avant-garde boutiques and youthful brands known for their singular personality and fresh sense of style. The boutiques at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas are a new way of approaching retail in Las Vegas, says John Unwin, CEO, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Retail in the city has become expected but our thoughtful merchandising and unique mix is specifically curated for the brand and unlike anything that has come before it. The experience at the boutiques is an extension of our commitment to creating a sense of discovery for the guest. The eclectic retail environment sets the stage for a tangible experience that invites guests to explore, discover and engage with each distinct brand. In a city known for its first-class shopping, this editorial mix of unique-to-the-market retailers combined with an inspiring venue will provide a retail concept like no other on the Las Vegas Strip the perfect fusion of fashion, lifestyle, beauty, and design with a broad range of price point. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas will feature nearly 36,000-square-feet of retail space including a collection of nine luxury boutiques with a youthful, modern sensibility. Stores include: ALLSAINTS SPITALFIELDS British brand AllSaints is acclaimed for its collection of vintage inspired, sharp edge and directional designed apparel. Offerings range from graphic tees, knitwear jersey, dresses, denim, leather, tailoring and accessories for men, women and children. AllSaints currently has a portfolio of over 70 stand alone stores and 70 concessions worldwide. www.us.allsaints.com BECKLEY The Beckley experience is synonymous with luxury lifestyle and provides unparalleled client services such as personal shoppers, stylists, tailors, highly trained staff, and a relaxed atmosphere. The boutique features womens ready to wear, evening wear, lounge wear, accessories and shoes from top designers as well as emerging industry talent. www.beckleyla.com CRSVR Sneaker Boutique CRSVR (pronounced crossover) Sneaker Boutique specializes in limited edition sneakers and mens & womens casually dressed up fashion. Originally based in Santa Barbara, CA and co-owned by Las Vegas most well known resident DJ, DJ Vice, CRSVR also features live in-store DJs, a Beats by Dre listening station, and distributes CDs to guests with every purchase. Featured brands will include: Nike (Tier zero) Footwear, Nike Sportswear, Supra Footwear, Native Footwear, The Hundreds, Five Four Clothing, And Still La Brea, Brixton, Krew, SLVDR, Shwood Eyewear, G-Shock, and Beats by Dre headphones. www.crsvr.com DNA2050 The one stop shop for the ultimate denim fit, style, and trend, DNA2050 is a boutique chain offering a unique and contemporary way to shop for a favorite pair of jeans and accessories. Inside the shop, the selection of denim represents todays most well-known premium brands, as well as todays rising stars in the denim world. Evocative and expressive, the collections represent the latest trends seen in men and womens fashion. DNA2050 stays on the pulse of new names in ready-to-wear fashion. DROOG Droog started in 1993 as a statement on design, a no-nonsense, down to earth mentality. A unique way of thinking has defined the conceptual design company and has played a role in defining Dutch design internationally. Droog stands for a luxury of content and experience that change perspective on daily life